Source: United States Department of Defense
U.S. forces in the Middle East are laser-focused on warfighting, lethality and readiness, and they are performing superbly, Navy Vice Adm. Charles B. Cooper II, deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.
Source: New Zealand Police
Police used 111 calls to track a fleeing driver, who was arrested after allegedly crashing into two innocent motorists at Ōhaupō yesterday.
Inspector Hywel Jones, Waikato Acting District Commander praised the multiple people who called 111 to report a vehicle’s dangerous driving.
“Those members of the public not only helped us locate and track a stolen vehicle that was being driven dangerously, they’ve potentially saved lives. Thankfully there were no serious injuries following yesterday’s incident, but it’s a miracle there weren’t other crashes based on the information we were getting.”
The incident began about 11.15am in Huntly, when officers were responding to several reports of dangerous driving. After initially spotting the suspect vehicle travelling towards Hamilton on the Waikato Expressway, Police lost sight of the car.
Reports from the public at 12pm led Police to Pine Avenue in Hamilton, then State Highway 3 at Ōhaupō five minutes later.
“Officers have monitored the car for several minutes and then signalled the driver to stop. He’s continued driving, so other units laid road spikes further down State Highway 3.
“In an attempt to avoid the spikes, the fleeing driver nearly collided with a member of the public’s vehicle.”
Inspector Jones said a pursuit was authorised about 12.10pm, but less than a minute later, at the West Road intersection, the fleeing driver crashed into two other vehicles being driven by members of the public.
“Thankfully, neither of those innocent drivers was injured, and somehow the alleged driver of the fleeing vehicle was also unharmed. He fled the scene on foot, but was tracked by a Police dog and arrested at 12.15pm.
“I want to thank those people who called 111 when they saw this horrendous driving – those calls were critical for us and helped us locate the alleged driver and ultimately arrest him.
“It’s only down to luck that we aren’t dealing with a death as a result of this driving, and a large part of that has been down to fast-thinking people picking up the phone.”
The 19-year-old driver has been charged with failing to stop for police, unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle, dangerous driving, and failing to stop or ascertain injury. He is scheduled to appear in Hamilton District Court on 27 June.
State Highway 3 at the intersection with West Road was closed for several hours while the Serious Crash Unit conducted a scene examination. The road has since reopened.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre.
Source: US International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
When the hiring process starts, we’ll be ready to go. We want to give them qualified men and women.
On April 2, Homer City Redevelopment and Kiewit Power Constructors Co. announced plans to redevelop the former Homer City Generating Station site. Once the largest coal-fired power plant in Pennsylvania, the 3,200-acre property will be transformed into a natural-gas-powered data center campus.
The new facility will meet the growing demand for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. Top technology companies are hungry for more computing power and this project aims to deliver.
Construction will generate hundreds of new jobs for the Boilermakers, according to L-154 (Pittsburgh) Business Agent and Homer City native Shawn Steffee. In addition to Boilermakers, the project will employ thousands of unionized skilled trade workers during the build.
The closure of the coal plant in 2022 was a major blow to Homer City and the local workforce.
“The shutting of coal-fired plants and refineries caused a noticeable drop in our membership and the loss of many skilled Boilermakers to other trades,” said L-154 Business Manager Michael Stanton. “However, we are encouraged by the natural gas industry and excited about signs of a coal resurgence in America.”
Steffee remembers how damaging it was for friends when Homer City closed the coal plant.
“I knew the people who worked here, and the closure was devastating,” said Steffee, who’s thrilled at the prospect of work for Boilermakers in his local. “The Homer City Energy Campus will be a series of natural-gas plants that will power a massive data center campus. What’s really interesting is that this is going to be 4.5 gigawatt, the largest in North America, when it’s done.”
The power block build itself is a $10 billion investment. Another $10 to $15 billion is planned for investment in data centers.
The build can’t be done with renewables. According to Steffee, it would take 75 million solar panels across 230 sq. miles to generate the kind of output the new power block will provide. For wind, the numbers are 5,000 wind turbines across 1,875 sq. miles of land. He said the American people need to understand where reliable power comes from when they switch on a light. And renewables aren’t reliable.
The Homer City project brings security to the grid and eliminates reliability issues.
“Natural gas, coal and nuclear, these are reliable power,” he said. “What’s really great for the state of Pennsylvania is using the Marcellus and Utica formation. The plant will take 530 million cubic feet of gas per day.”
The local is up for the task of recruiting and training the needed number of Boilermakers for this job. Stanton said they indentured a new apprentice class in May and are actively recruiting through job fairs, school visits and community outreach.
“To strengthen our recruitment efforts, we utilized the M.O.R.E. Work Investment Fund to partner with a media team to enhance our social media presence and outreach, showcasing the benefits of a Boilermaker career.”
The local will need more Boilermakers because Steffee sees even more work coming. So, he’s keen on being the best craft on the project and fully manning it.
“When the hiring process starts, we’ll be ready to go. We want to give them qualified men and women. We want to build more. We want to build our numbers back up. This project is just the beginning,” he said. “This is just the beginning for us. I couldn’t be happier for our local. We needed the good news.”
To strengthen our recruitment efforts, we utilized the M.O.R.E. Work Investment Fund to partner with a media team to enhance our social media presence and outreach, showcasing the benefits of a Boilermaker career.
Source: US FBI
FBI Houston Field Office Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Douglas Williams announced the addition of Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Mosquera Serrano, 37, is the first Tren de Aragua (TdA) member featured on the notorious list. SAC Williams was joined by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas Nicholas Ganjei, who provided remarks on the federal charges Mosquera Serrano faces.
Fugitive Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano, an alleged senior leader of Tren de Aragua, is wanted for numerous federal charges. He is the 536th addition to the FBI’s list of notorious fugitives and the first TdA member to appear on the list. TdA is a violent transnational gang and designated foreign terrorist organization that originated in Venezuela and now operates throughout Latin America and the United States. Tren de Aragua is allegedly responsible for sending gang members to the U.S. who engage in drug trafficking, human trafficking, weapons trafficking, and violent crime. Mosquera Serrano should be considered armed and dangerous.
“Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano’s leadership fuels an organization that thrives on brutal murders, forced prostitution, kidnappings, and the destruction of lives across continents,” said Douglas Williams, special agent in charge of FBI Houston. “Today’s announcement makes it clear: No border will shield him from justice. With the public’s help, we will eradicate TdA and end their transnational campaign of terror and crime.”
A federal arrest warrant was issued for Mosquera Serrano in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas after he was charged with conspiring to provide and providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, as well as conspiracy and distribution of cocaine in Colombia intended for distribution in the U.S. This case is being investigated as part of Joint Task Force Vulcan, a national task force created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 that now also targets TdA.
If you have any information about Mosquera Serrano’s location, please contact the FBI via WhatsApp or Telegram (neither government-operated nor government-controlled platforms) at 281-787-9939. You may also contact your local FBI office or the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. You can also submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
The U.S. Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program is offering a reward of up to $3 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano. Investigators believe that Mosquera Serrano may be in Venezuela or Colombia. Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano’s description can be found at fbi.gov/wanted/topten/giovanni-vicente-mosquera-serrano.
Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano is FBI Houston’s third Top Ten fugitive currently on the list. The two others are Wilver Villegas-Palomino, a ranking member of the Colombian National Liberation Army (ELN); and Yulan Adonay Archaga Carias, the alleged leader of MS-13 for Honduras.
The FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list was established in March 1950. Since its inception, 536 fugitives have been placed on the list, 497 of whom were apprehended or located; 163 were a direct result of citizen cooperation. You can visit our Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list FAQ page to learn more about the list.
SAC Williams and U.S. Attorney Ganjei made the announcement alongside SAC Joseph Burnette of the Diplomatic Security Service’s Houston Field Office; Acting SAC William Kimbell of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Houston Division; SAC Chad Plantz of Homeland Security Investigations’ Houston Office; Acting ASAC Derrick McCullar of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ Houston Field Division; Regional Director Gerald Brown of the Texas Department of Public Safety; Chief Deputy Tommy Diaz of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office; and Executive Assistant Chief Keith Seafous of the Houston Police Department.
FBI Houston would like to thank our partners assisting with this investigation, especially the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas; the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Houston Division and Bogotá Office; the U.S. Department of State; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Texas Department of Public Safety; the Houston Police Department; the Harris County Sheriff’s Office; the Colombian National Police; the Colombian Attorney General’s Office; and the FBI’s legal attaché office in Bogotá.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
———————————
Highlights:
Iran/Israel
Iran/Qatar
UN Charter
Security Council
Security Council/Non-Proliferation
Occupied Palestinian Territory
UNIFIL
Ukraine
Sudan
Democratic Republic Of The Congo
Chad
Refugees
Panel On Chemicals
Internet Governance Forum
Women In Diplomacy
Guests Tomorrow
__________________________________________
IRAN/ISRAEL
The Secretary-General welcomes US President Trump’s announcement of a cease-fire between Israel and Iran. He urges the two countries to respect it fully. The fighting must stop, the people of the two countries have already suffered too much, he said.
The Secretary-General hopes that this ceasefire can be replicated in the other conflicts in the region.
IRAN/QATAR
In a statement yesterday, the Secretary-General expressed his deep alarm at the further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
On social media, he strongly condemned the attack yesterday by Iran on Qatar, a country that has been active for peace in the region and further afield.
The Secretary-General urges all Member States to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law.
UN CHARTER
Yesterday evening, the Secretary-General delivered remarks at a ceremony that took place here at the UN headquarters to welcome home the original UN Charter, 80 years after it was written. Eighty years is a blink of an eye in history, and yet, the Secretary-General said, until the United Nations, humanity never had a single place where every government and all peoples could unite to fix the world and build something better.
SECURITY COUNCIL
Hannah Tetteh, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya, briefed the Security Council this morning by VTC and said that the UN Mission in Libya, UNSMIL, has helped to support the preservation of the fragile truce that had been reached on 14 May, develop mechanisms to facilitate a de-escalation of tensions in order to prevent further clashes, and ensure the protection of civilians.
She warned that there are reports of continued build-up and fears among many Libyans that armed clashes will resume. UNSMIL urges all political and security actors to refrain from provocative rhetoric and actions that would only serve to deepen the lack of trust and undermine all the de-escalation efforts being made to sustain the fragile truce.
Ms. Tetteh noted the calls from many Libyans for UNSMIL to act swiftly to facilitate a Libyan led and owned political process that leads to credible elections and unified institutions. She said that UNSMIL will intensify its engagement in the coming weeks, building on the momentum generated by the Berlin meeting earlier this month.
SECURITY COUNCIL/NON-PROLIFERATION
At 3 p.m., Security Council members will meet for an open briefing on the Secretary-General’s report as requested by resolution 2231 that refers to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action otherwise known as JCPOA.
Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, is expected to brief.
Full Highlights:
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/ossg/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=24%20June%202025&_gl=1%2A10sej4q%2A_ga%2AMTc3MDMwNDcyOS4xNzMzMDUxOTcy%2A_ga_TK9BQL5X7Z%2AczE3NTA3ODk2MzEkbzgwJGcxJHQxNzUwNzkyOTI0JGo2MCRsMCRoMA..
Source: Government of Qatar
Doha, June 24
HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani reiterated the State of Qatar’s strongest condemnation of the attack on Al-Udeid Air Base by the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Monday, stressing that it is an unacceptable act that violates Qatar’s policy of good neighborliness.
In a joint press conference with HE Prime Minister of the sisterly Republic of Lebanon Dr. Nawaf Salam, His Excellency said that Qatar condemns in the strongest terms the attack that occurred Monday on the Al-Udeid Air Base by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, and Qatar denounces such behavior by a neighboring country with which Qatar has relied on a policy of good neighborliness and transparency, and with which it continues to adhere and maintain a policy of good neighborliness.
His Excellency pointed out that the State of Qatar condemned the Israeli attacks on the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran from the first day. The Iranian people are a neighboring people, and Qatar does not wish them harm. Qatar wants them to rise and develop. However, the act of attacking the State of Qatar is unacceptable.
His Excellency added that Qatar has been making significant diplomatic efforts with its regional and international partners to calm the situation, but unfortunately, Qatar was surprised by such an attack on a base in a fraternal country to Iran.
In his remarks, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs praised the role played by Qatar’s Armed Forces, under the leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, in confronting the attack. He said that HH the Amir was constantly informed and closely monitoring the situation from the time intelligence information was received about the anticipated attack on bases hosting US forces in the region, until the attack was repelled.
His Excellency added that he would like to point out in particular that Qatar’s Armed Forces performed a heroic act in repelling these attacks, as was explained Monday at the press conference, as Qatari air defenses intercepted all missiles except for one that fell in an open area.
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs also expressed the State of Qatar’s deep gratitude to its sisterly and friendly countries for their solidarity with Qatar and their rejection of the attack, especially the brothers in the GCC countries, who were quick to express their support for Qatar and stand with it.
His Excellency said that Doha will host, at the request of the fraternal State of Kuwait, the current chair of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the 49th extraordinary meeting of the GCC Ministerial Council to discuss this dangerous development in the region.
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed the need to view the events taking place in the region with the utmost responsibility and wisdom, adding that the blatant Israeli attacks witnessed against several countries in the region, including the Islamic Republic of Iran (despite the attacks against Qatar), are clear evidence that random and irresponsible actions only generate instability in the region and may lead the region to an even more difficult situation.
His Excellency noted that after the attack on Al-Udeid Air Base, the armed forces, under the directives of the Supreme Commander, HH the Amir, studied the scenarios through which such an attack could be responded to. However, Qatar prefers diplomacy and wisdom and prioritizes the public interest of the region above all else.
He added that the message Qatar is trying to deliver first is that the State of Qatar, with the capabilities available to its armed forces, has been able to prove to everyone that it can defend itself, its citizens, and its residents. Everyone here is one people and has stood together.
HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani emphasized that the precautionary measures taken by Qatar on Monday were sound and helped spare the country any losses or casualties. He urged everyone not to be swayed by rumors and false news and to obtain their information from official sources.
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that HH the Amir received numerous calls following the attack on Al-Udeid Air Base, including one from US President Donald Trump. He noted that the conversation between the two leaders was extensive and focused on the events, their repercussions, and how to deal with them.
His Excellency also referred to the US President’s announcement of a complete ceasefire on all fronts, saying that the United States asked the State of Qatar to communicate with the Iranian side to determine their readiness for a ceasefire, and that Qatar made the necessary contacts that resulted in the announcement made by the US President.
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed the State of Qatar’s welcome of this announcement, “despite the violations seen today of the ceasefire.” Qatar hopes the ceasefire will continue and that the matter will return to its diplomatic track, and Qatar urges the parties to adhere to what was agreed upon.
His Excellency also urged the American and Iranian sides to return immediately to the negotiating table to resume nuclear talks and reach a diplomatic solution, which Qatar has long called for and sought to achieve.
His Excellency added that Qatar wants a safe zone free of nuclear weapons, and wants this to be based on an agreement that guarantees the security and interests of all, as well as the interests of Iran, which is, after all, Qatar’s neighbor.
His Excellency also noted that HH the Amir received a phone call on Tuesday from the Iranian President, who expressed his regret that the target that was attacked on Monday was in Qatar.
His Excellency said that Qatar made it clear to the Iranian President that the State of Qatar is, after all, a neighboring country and has always relied on good neighborliness in its relations with Iran and did not expect such an action.
His Excellency stressed that despite all attempts to inflame this situation, the State of Qatar will always handle matters wisely, while affirming that the violation of its sovereignty is unacceptable, and that all diplomatic and legal measures will be taken in this regard.
His Excellency also expressed hope that the issue will be contained as quickly as possible and that this chapter will be in the past. He added that it must not be forgotten at this point that everything happening in the region is an expansion of the conflict and aggression against Gaza.
HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani said that the State of Qatar has sought from day one to prevent the escalation of this conflict and to stop the bombing of the people of Gaza. He stressed that these efforts are continuing, in partnership with the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States, to achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible.
His Excellency added that Qatar is engaged in ongoing negotiations that have not ceased, even under the difficult circumstances the region has been experiencing. Qatar’s goal is to reach a ceasefire and lift the injustice suffered by the people of the Gaza Strip. Qatar believes it is time for the world to stand together and put an end to Israel’s irresponsible actions in the region, to halt this aggression against the Strip, and to stop the use of humanitarian aid as a tool for political blackmail.
His Excellency also said that Monday’s attack on Al-Udeid Air Base was a shock not only to the government but to the people of Qatar, and Qatar considers it a violation of the good-neighbor policy that Qatar has adopted from the beginning.
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed Qatar’s ability to defend itself and deter anyone who attempts to undermine its security, while maintaining peaceful relations with neighboring countries based on friendship, mutual interest, and benefit, and striving to avoid disputes.
His Excellency stressed that the State of Qatar does not adopt an escalatory policy and always calls for and resorts to diplomacy. He added that what happened Monday will have an impact on the relationship with Iran, but with time, Qatar hopes everyone will learn the lesson, and that relations between neighboring countries must not be violated.
HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani also affirmed that the attack on Al-Udeid Air Base will have no impact on relations with the United States, noting that the two countries have enjoyed a close alliance and partnership for decades, and that events have proven that this partnership is beneficial to both countries, as well as to security and stability in the region.
HE added that Qatar’s Armed Forces demonstrated Monday their ability to defend and ensure the protection of everyone, including Americans and others. He said that he does not believe that the attack will affect relations between Qatar and the United States, except that the partnership between the two countries will grow.
His Excellency voiced his hope that good-neighborly relations with Iran would return to normal as soon as possible, and that no hostile operations will be witnessed in the future.
His Excellency stressed that the State of Qatar always seeks peaceful good neighborliness, and that the Gulf states are a center of stability in the region, and that challenges and threats are shared. He noted that the opportunity is ripe for a better future for everyone in the Gulf region. He said that Qatar would like to see Iran share this vision and enter into partnerships with Qatar and the Gulf states based on the principle of good neighborliness and partnership for the prosperity of all.
In response to a question about the legal and diplomatic measures Qatar will take regarding Monday’s attack, His Excellency indicated that Qatar is still studying them. Qatar submitted a briefing to the Security Council Monday night about what happened, and today, the emergency meeting of the GCC Ministerial Council will be held. He reiterated that the State of Qatar does not seek to escalate its stance, but rather seeks sustainable diplomatic solutions and always seeks to end any crisis through dialogue, and will not be a spearhead in escalating any stance.
He added that as he said, geography imposes this on Qatar. Iran is a neighboring country, and the Iranian people are fraternal. Ultimately, Qatar wants good neighborly relations with them. Qatar would like there to be a very clear understanding that any attack on Qatar or infringement on the sovereignty of any Gulf state is completely rejected and condemned, and that everyone will stand together.
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs also called for a clear mechanism for dealing with neighboring countries in the future, and for a unified regional security system to prevent any party from attacking another.
Regarding Gaza, His Excellency indicated that Qatar, following the calls between HH the Amir and both the US President on Monday and the Iranian President today, sought to ensure a continuation of the ceasefire, but ultimately, the matter depends on the parties involved.
His Excellency said that today, the situation remains murky, and no party wants to be the one to receive or end the final blow. However, what Qatar hopes for is a serious stance, for all parties to deal responsibly with the security of the region, just as the State of Qatar dealt responsibly with the attack launched against it on Monday, and for there to be a complete ceasefire between Iran and Israel.
His Excellency also called for full pressure on Israel to immediately cease fire in Gaza, noting that discussions on this issue are ongoing in cooperation with the Arab Republic of Egypt, and that communication is ongoing with the Israeli side and Hamas to try to find a compromise formula and common ground based on the American paper.
His Excellency stressed that various achievements had been made in recent weeks, adding that unfortunately, the Israeli escalation and aggression against Iran disrupted and hindered these efforts for a period.
His Excellency added that Qatar is continuing its efforts and is looking for an opportunity within the next two days to hold indirect negotiations between the two parties (Israel and Hamas) to reach an agreement.
His Excellency urged the Israeli side not to exploit the ceasefire with Iran to continue bombing Gaza. He also called on the international community to pressure Israel to implement a ceasefire and for Hamas to accept a deal that ends the war and releases all hostages and prisoners.
Regarding the discussions with HE Prime Minister of the sisterly Republic of Lebanon Dr. Nawaf Salam, His Excellency indicated that the discussions focused on bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries.
His Excellency also said that the two sides discussed ways to support Lebanon and enhance its stability, noting that the energy issue and how to work together to develop and restore the energy infrastructure was one of the most important issues discussed. In this context, he referred to the discussions held between the energy ministers of the two countries, saying that these discussions will be followed by an action plan, as Qatar promised HE the Prime Minister, in the coming months.
In a related context, His Excellency noted that the discussions addressed the urgent need to provide energy to the brothers in Lebanon during the summer, indicating that this issue will be discussed with the Qatar Fund for Development and QatarEnergy to ensure that whatever is available is provided.
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs also noted that the discussions with HE Dr. Nawaf Salam addressed support and cooperation in the transportation and air navigation sectors, as well as possible efforts for reconstruction, particularly in areas destroyed by the Israeli occupation forces.
His Excellency said that the meeting was an opportunity to discuss regional developments, expressing in this context the State of Qatar’s full condemnation of Israel’s violations of the ceasefire agreement and its continued violation of the sovereignty of Lebanon.
His Excellency added that this is clearly and explicitly unacceptable and condemned, and Qatar looks forward to the Security Council fulfilling its role and working to halt these irresponsible Israeli actions in the region.
His Excellency indicated that the discussions also covered developments in Lebanese-Syrian relations, wishing them a better future. He said that Qatar understands HE Dr. Nawaf Salam’s utmost keenness to develop relations with Arab countries, especially neighboring countries, including Syria, and the State of Qatar fully supports these paths.
HE Prime Minister of the Republic of Lebanon, Dr. Nawaf Salam renewed his country’s gratitude to the State of Qatar and to HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, for the continued support and assistance extended to Lebanon – particularly through the Quintet Committee for political support, which remained active for over two years.
Speaking during the press conference following his official talks in Doha on Tuesday, HE Dr. Salam expressed appreciation for Qatar’s backing across several fields, most notably its support for the Lebanese army and various development projects. He noted that both sides agreed to continue discussions aimed at reaching an executive framework for Qatari support in key sectors, including energy and the supply of gas to Lebanon.
HE Prime Minister shared that during his visit, he briefed HH the Amir and HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs on the Lebanese government’s recent reform achievements. These include a legislative focus on transparency, competitiveness, and the restructuring of public administration, in addition to efforts to ensure judicial independence – all aimed at creating a more attractive climate for investment.
HE Dr. Salam also reiterated Lebanon’s strong condemnation of the attack that targeted Qatar on Monday, calling it a violation of Qatari sovereignty and international law. He expressed hope for regional de-escalation and praised Qatar’s efforts in halting military operations, voicing his wish for a renewed path of diplomatic engagement.
Furthermore, he condemned the Israeli aggression against Iran, describing it as a breach of Iran’s sovereignty and international law – a stance that Lebanon has upheld from the outset.
The Lebanese Prime Minister stressed that the government is committed to asserting full state authority across all Lebanese territory, using its own national resources and in line with Taif Agreement. He emphasized the need for Israel to withdraw from five remaining occupied points along the southern border and to cease its near-daily violations of Lebanese sovereignty.
He affirmed that Lebanon is actively working to rally political and diplomatic support – from Arab states to permanent members of the UN Security Council, including the United States – to compel Israel to end its aggression and occupation. He stated that there can be no real security in Lebanon, as long as Israel continues to occupy Lebanese territory, urging the international community to exert pressure on Israel to achieve this goal.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Dave McCormick (R-Penn.) introduced the China Exchange Rate Transparency (CERT) Act, which would direct the U.S. Executive Director at the IMF to advocate for enhanced transparency in China’s exchange rate arrangements at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The bill also calls for stricter oversight of China’s compliance with its commitments under the IMF’s Articles of Agreement which prohibit countries from manipulating currencies.
“As we work and trade with countries all around the world, it’s critical that every nation follows the same rules that make our global system fair,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I will continue to push for Communist China to be held accountable for unfair trade practices, like currency manipulation, which take advantage of the rest of the world.”
“China’s currency manipulation and secrecy are further examples of the CCP putting American businesses at a disadvantage in the global economy,” said Senator McCormick. “We need more transparency and stricter oversight of China’s economic commitments. That’s why I’m proud to partner with Senator Cortez Masto and fellow Pennsylvanian Rep. Dan Meuser on this legislation to stand up to China’s economic malpractice.”
Under Article IV of the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has committed to orderly exchange rate arrangements, the avoidance of exchange rate manipulation, and cooperation with the Fund to ensure ‘‘firm surveillance’’ of PRC exchange rate policies. However, according to the Department of the Treasury’s most recent report on Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners of the United States, “China stands out among our major trading partners in its lack of transparency around its exchange rate policies and practices.” When any country artificially lowers the value of their currency, it allows them to sell to more countries than other nations who are trying follow the rules, gaining an unfair trade advantage.
Read the full bill here. The House companion bill, H.R. 692, was introduced by Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Penn.-09) and passed the House of Representatives on February 10.
Senator Cortez Masto has led efforts in Congress to stand up to the Chinese Communist Party’s influence and protect the American national and economic security. She introduced the PASS Act to ban individuals and entities controlled by China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea from purchasing agricultural land and businesses located near U.S. military installations or sensitive sites and the Strengthening Exports Against China Act, which would incentivize economic growth by eliminating barriers for American businesses competing directly with China in emerging industries like artificial intelligence and semiconductors. She’s also introduced the Pacific Partnership Act to strengthen the United States’ strategic partnerships with Pacific Island nations, support sustainable development, and combat the increasing Chinese aggression in the region.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
***WATCH: SENATOR MURRAY’S REMARKS***
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered the following remarks at a press conference marking the three-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s disastrous decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning the constitutional right to abortion. Joining Senator Murray at the press conference were Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), abortion access advocates Shanette Williams and Ashley Ortiz, Planned Parenthood President Alexis McGill Johnson, and Kimberly Inez McGuire, Executive Director of URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity.
At the press conference, Senator Murray highlighted the devastating consequences of Republican abortion bans for women and health care providers across the country, and how Republicans’ attacks on abortion access are only escalating. In particular, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Republicans are pushing through Congress right now would defund Planned Parenthood—threatening the closure of 200 health centers across the country, 90 percent of which are in states where abortion is legal—and effectively ban ACA marketplace health plans from covering abortion services.
Senator Murray’s full remarks at today’s press conference are below and HERE:
“Three years in, it’s clear that the heartbreak and damage being caused by Republicans’ war on abortion is only growing, but so is the public opposition. The outcry is getting louder and louder as more and more people see the full horror of abortion bans in ways they cannot ignore, and will never forget.
“Meanwhile, Republicans aren’t just sticking their heads in the sand, they are sticking to the same, dangerous agenda that is already denying women health care that they need, pushing maternal and reproductive health care providers out of red states in droves, driving a dangerous spike in pregnancy complications and maternal deaths, and forcing women to stay pregnant—regardless of their health or their own wishes.
“Republicans are doubling down with even more anti-abortion extremism. Trump is undermining emergency abortion care, and the basic safety protections for abortion clinic staff and patients. Far-right groups are pushing junk science and trying to rip medication abortion off the shelves nationwide—and they are finding support among top health officials in this Trump administration.
“And Republicans are trying to block marketplace insurance from covering abortion care in their big ugly bill. Not to mention, as Senator Schumer said, they are trying to defund Planned Parenthood—one of the biggest health care providers in the entire country.
“And, let’s not forget Republicans are sneaking fetal personhood language into everything from state laws to Trump’s executive orders. We are talking about an ideology so extreme that it would strip pregnant women of their rights and impose a complete and total ban on abortion, IVF, and even some forms of birth control.
“And they think they can just slip it onto the books without anyone noticing? Not a chance. We are not going to stop calling out these attacks. We are not going to stop pushing to restore and expand abortion access for patients nationwide. We are not going to stop lifting up the voices of women across the country.
“And we are going to keep a bright and burning spotlight on the harm Republicans are causing with their anti-abortion extremism. Which is exactly what I will be doing this afternoon at the spotlight forum joined by many of my colleagues—and I hope to see many of you there.
“We are in this battle, we are not stopping.”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
ICYMI: Senator Murray, Former ACIP Member from WA State Raise Alarm Over Purge of Entire CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Washington, D.C. – Today, Senator Patty Murray, a senior member and former chair of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee released the following statement regarding the upcoming meeting of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which is scheduled to begin tomorrow. The meeting would be the first since Secretary Kennedy fired every single member of the 17-member board, and announced his own slate of eight members just two weeks ago, many of whom have aligned themselves with dangerous anti-vaccine ideologies or outright conspiracy theorists and the majority of whom are not vaccine experts.
“We need qualified vaccine experts evaluating the RSV and influenza shots families are counting on to protect them this fall—not the unvetted slate of eight members handpicked by RFK Jr. that includes people with long records of promoting anti-science conspiracies. The only way the upcoming ACIP meeting should proceed tomorrow is with the original board of vetted, qualified individuals that Secretary Kennedy chose to abruptly fire without any semblance of a legitimate reason or appropriate process. Short of that, ACIP must postpone this meeting until the board once again has a full slate of qualified members who have been fully and appropriately vetted.
“It is perilous to move ahead with this meeting with a bench of largely unqualified members with anti-vaccine backgrounds who seem all but certain to set back public health and confidence in ACIP’s important work to protect Americans from deadly illnesses.”
Earlier this month, Senator Murray held a press call with Washington state-based Dr. Helen Chu, one of the 17 ACIP members abruptly fired by Secretary Kennedy, to raise the alarm about how this move threatened public health and vaccine confidence.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
ICYMI: Murray Sounds Alarm on Chronic Staffing Shortages at Naval Hospital Bremerton, Presses for Answers from Defense Health Agency
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s questioning***
Washington, D.C. — Today, at a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing on the President’s fiscal year 2026 budget request for the Department of the Navy, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, questioned Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan and Acting Chief of Naval Operations Admiral James W. Kilby about the Trump administration’s litmus tests to hire for civilian roles, staffing cuts at Naval Hospital Bremerton, and frigate production.
[CIVILIAN STAFFING]
Senator Murray began her questioning by addressing how OPM has encouraged federal workers across the country to leave their jobs, including civilian workers that support key installations and operations, stating: “Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, located in my home state of Washington, is one of the largest shipyards in the country, and the only shipyard on the entire west coast that can dry dock Nimitz Class aircraft carriers. It’s a huge asset to the Navy and the overall Indo-Pacific strategy. Right now, PSNS is undergoing important renovations to address seismic vulnerabilities and prepare for the new Ford Class aircraft carriers. This administration, however, is actively encouraging our shipbuilders to leave their jobs and putting up absurd barriers to hiring new civilian workers. Almost 2,000 naval shipyard workers have already taken the deferred resignation under the threat of looming mass layoffs. And Trump’s Office of Personnel Management is insisting on approving civilians one-by-one, which is creating massive slowdowns and ballooning waitlists to hire the workers that we need at every base in this country. And on top of that, on May 29th, OPM added a requirement for new civilian nonpartisan hires to write about how they would ‘advance the President’s Executive Orders and policy priorities’ as part of the application process.”
“Secretary Phelan, how does a welder’s fluency in, or support of Trump’s Executive Orders relate to their qualifications as a welder?” asked Senator Murray.
Secretary Phelan answered, “I did visit Puget Sound and saw a lot of the impressive work that was done there. As to your question on—I believe what you’re referring to is the civilian loyalty oath—and my understanding is the Department of the Navy continues to use the same appointment affidavit it’s been using since 2002 for civilian hires. And we are waiting for guidance from the Department of Defense as it relates to any revisions.”
Senator Murray pressed, “Well will you push back on OPM’s political purity tests, and object to them individually approving civilian hires?”
“I will have to wait to see what it is they recommend before I can tell you that,” Secretary Phelan responded.
“Well from my position, a nonpartisan government hire should not need to articulate which Trump policy they like best just to get hired. And a welder should not need to share their favorite Trump Executive Order. This is putting us behind. So, I just think this is something that we all need to take notice of. And I hope, as you get your guidance, that you push back on that,” said Senator Murray.
[NAVAL HOSPITAL BREMERTON]
Senator Murray continued her questioning by turning to the issue of staffing cuts at Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB) completely eliminating on-base health care for servicemembers and their family at Naval Base Kitsap: “Naval Base Kitsap, also in my state, is the third largest Navy base in the United States. It’s home to 15,000 servicemembers, nearly 18,000 family members and retirees. But since 2022, the Defense Health Agency has repeatedly ordered the base’s hospital to cut critical staff and medical care—which has been devastating for our servicemembers and their families’ access to health care. Right now, in fact, Naval Hospital Bremerton’s Internal Medicine department has no—zero—physicians for over 2,000 patients. Instead of hiring anyone, DHA is forcing patients to travel over an hour, on a good day, each way, to Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Mr. Secretary, this is just unacceptable.”
Senator Murray asked, “Can you fill me in on what the Navy is doing to fill those vacancies at Bremerton?”
“As you know, I’ve been visiting a number of different installations of ours, and from some of the conditions of the barracks to some of the conditions in the medical facilities, et cetera, we have issues at most of them. On that specific one I’m going to have to get back to you and get some more detail on it. Which, I will do,” Secretary Phelan responded.
“Admiral, do you have anything to add?” Senator Murray asked Admiral Kilby.
Admiral Kilby replied, “I agree with your assessment ma’am, there are challenges with DHA across the board, for the Navy. And we’re working, like all the other services, to make sure we’re providing the best health care we can for our servicemembers and our families.”
“This is a readiness issue. It’s a retention issue. It’s personal for these families. So please, if you could get back to me about what steps we are going to take to fix this,” said Senator Murray.
[NAVAL STATION EVERETT FRIGATES]
Senator Murray then asked about years of delays on frigate production, stating: “Finally, let me ask you about Naval Station Everett. It was designated as the home station for the new class of Frigates in 2022. However, the design delays have postponed production for the last three years. I understand you and the Department leadership are considering several options for the future of the Constellation-class frigate—and I’d emphasize this committee needs the budget details to put this bill together. So, if you can make sure we have that and talk for a minute about what you see as the implications for Everett under the different scenarios the Department might propose for the frigate program.”
Secretary Phelan replied, “Let me take that one from the record and come back to you.”
“I would appreciate the response to that. Thank you very much,” concluded Senator Murray.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s opening remarks***
Washington, D.C. – Today, on the three-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s disastrous decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overturned the constitutional right to abortion, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered the following opening remarks at a spotlight forum she hosted for Senate Democrats titled Under Attack: Republicans’ Escalating War on Reproductive Freedom. The forum was co-led by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Tina Smith (D-MN).
In her remarks, Senator Murray highlighted the many ways President Trump and Republicans are attacking abortion access and reproductive health care right now and laid bare the Republican strategy to implement a backdoor nationwide abortion ban by ultimately making abortion impossible to access for everyone, everywhere—including in states where abortion remains legal.
Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:
“I want to thank all of our panelists who are here to share your stories and your expertise.
“As I said, it has been three years since Trump and Republicans succeeded in overturning Roe, ripping away a Constitutional right for the first time in American history, and causing a full-blown health care crisis in our nation.
“Already, we have seen with painful clarity, how—on a daily basis—Republican abortion bans are putting women’s lives in danger, forcing providers to close their doors, decimating access to maternal health care, and forcing women to remain pregnant, no matter their personal circumstance.
“Dobbs was never the end of this fight for Republicans, we all need to know that, their goal has always been a national abortion ban.
“And since Republicans know they do not have the votes right now to pass a national abortion ban outright, they are slowly, but surely, advancing a backdoor nationwide abortion ban, and chipping away at access to reproductive health piece-by-piece—even in states where abortion is protected.
“Republicans are hoping no one will notice these attacks—as if people don’t care when their rights are stripped away. As if it’s easy to miss the moment your health care decisions are out of your control. As if someone forced to stay pregnant because of Republican bans might just forget about it.
“Well, we know what Republicans are doing, and we are putting their tactics on full blast.
“To start, just days into his presidency, Trump pardoned people en masse who blockaded abortion clinics and assaulted and injured clinic staff. And Trump’s Justice Department has made clear if anyone else wants to break the law and intimidate abortion clinics, they won’t do anything to stop it—except in the most extreme circumstances.
“Republicans are also attacking lifesaving abortion care for pregnant women who face a medical emergency. Earlier this month, the Trump Administration quietly revoked CMS guidance that made clear hospitals are required to provide emergency abortion care when it is necessary to save a patient’s life, as it can be in the case of hemorrhage or sepsis.
“Republicans are also attacking abortion medication. Trump’s FDA recently announced it will undertake a ‘comprehensive review’ of mifepristone. Why? Because of discredited junk science from the same anti-abortion activists who helped write Project 2025.
“And unfortunately, we know exactly where this is going: Trump ripping mifepristone off the shelves, reinstating unnecessary restrictions, banning telehealth prescriptions, and curtailing access in every single state. And that’s at a minimum. Many Republicans want to revoke the approval of mifepristone altogether.
“Meanwhile, Republicans have been sneaking so-called personhood language into Trump’s Executive Orders. Fetal personhood is an extreme ideology that would strip pregnant women of their rights and impose a complete and total ban on: abortion, on IVF, and even some forms of birth control. It does not get any more extreme than that.
“And you know Trump’s Big Betrayal Bill that Republicans are working around the clock to pass right now? That one that would strip 16 million people of their health care? The one that would shutter rural hospitals across the country? That includes even moreattacks on abortion—they just can’t help themselves.
“They are effectively barring ACA marketplace plans from covering abortion care—something that is actually required in many states, including my home state of Washington. Even worse, Republicans want to shut the doors of one of the largest health care providers in our country.
“Their bill would defund Planned Parenthood, putting 200 clinics across the country at risk of closure—90 percent of which are in states where abortion is legal.
“These are clinics that don’t just provide lifesaving abortion care, but they provide cancer screenings, birth control, and other essential health care services for over one million patients. Republicans will do just about anything they think they can do to get away to undermine abortion across this country.
“The one thing Republicans still refuse to do? Reckon with the consequence of their action.
“They really seem to think that if they don’t talk about the damage they are causing, the people they are hurting, the lives they are destroying—it doesn’t exist. It will somehow just go away. Big mistake.
“Republicans may be silent, but women across the country are speaking up about the suffering and heartbreak Republicans’ draconian anti-abortion policies are causing.
“Women are sharing their stories of being forced to carry a doomed pregnancy for months or being pushed to death’s door before their doctors could provide care without the threat of spending the rest of their lives in jail.
“And families are speaking up about the deaths—because, yes, these Republicans’ extreme policies have led to women dying. And it’s not just patients telling stories, it is cold hard data. In Texas, sepsis rates have rocketed over 50 percent since their abortion ban.
“And in state after state that banned abortion, health care providers are leaving town en masse. Because why stay, when doing your job—and saving a patient’s life—could land you in prison? As hard as Republicans might try, the damage they are causing is undeniable.
“But that does not mean that we give up. Women’s lives are at stake, Democrats are not going to stop pushing back—not ever.
“We will keep pushing for legislation to protect women and health care providers from Republican prosecution; to help people access and afford the reproductive health care that they need; to protect women’s private health data; to protect the Right to Contraception and the Right to IVF; and to restore the right to abortion nationwide—nothing less.
“We will keep fighting tooth and nail against every new strategy Republicans cook up to ban abortion and shutter the doors of health care providers in our country.
“And we will keep lifting up the heartbreaking stories of people who have experienced firsthand the cruelty of Republican policies; and shining a bright light and burning spotlight on how dangerous—and how deadly—these attacks on abortion truly are.”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
June 24, 2025
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the whistleblower disclosures of Mr. Erez Reuveni, formerly the Acting Deputy Director for the Office of Immigration Litigation at the Department of Justice, on Emil Bove’s nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit:
“As a senior Justice Department official, Mr. Bove has abused his position in numerous ways, including firing January 6 prosecutors and agents and ordering career prosecutors to dismiss charges against Eric Adams for blatantly corrupt reasons, among other troubling actions. And now, we have Mr. Reuveni, a 14-year career attorney at DOJ, coming forward under the Whistleblower Act to shine a further light on Mr. Bove’s alleged misconduct.
“These serious allegations, from a career Justice Department lawyer who defended the first Trump Administration’s immigration policies, not only speak to Mr. Bove’s failure to fulfill his ethical obligations as a lawyer, but demonstrate that his activities are part of a broader pattern by President Trump and his allies to undermine the Justice Department’s commitment to the rule of law.
“I want to thank Mr. Reuveni for exercising his right to speak up and bring accountability to Mr. Bove. And I implore my Senate Republican colleagues: do not turn a blind eye to the dire consequences of confirming Mr. Bove to a lifetime position as a circuit court judge.”
-30-
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The Prime Minister spoke to the Amir of Qatar His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani this evening.
The Prime Minister spoke to the Amir of Qatar His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani this evening.
The Prime Minister began by reiterating the UK’s steadfast support for Qatar and underscored his deep concern at the volatile situation in the region.
He paid tribute to Qatar’s Armed Forces for their response to Iran’s attack yesterday.
The leaders agreed it was now vital all sides seized the opportunity presented by the ceasefire to secure a diplomatic way forward.
Turning to Gaza, the Prime Minister and His Highness discussed the horrific situation on the ground and the need for all sides to agree an urgent ceasefire.
The Prime Minister then updated on his discussions at The NATO Summit in The Hague.
The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following statement after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before the Health Subcommittee hearing on the Fiscal Year 2026 HHS budget request.
“Today’s testimony from Secretary Kennedy showed either an effort to obfuscate his agenda for the department or a complete lack of knowledge of the cuts that are happening under his leadership. He didn’t know what vaccine guidance is on his own website and didn’t know the impact of the HIV and Alzheimer’s studies he is cutting.
“Since Secretary Kennedy entered office, he has caused nothing but chaos and destruction. The Department of Health and Human Services is vital to our country, helping to keep Americans healthy while pioneering new cures and treatments for diseases like cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. The United States has long been the gold standard for medical research — RFK Jr. has tarnished that reputation.
“He failed to aggressively respond to the measles outbreak while hawking unproven treatments like cod liver oil, he released an error-ridden report with fabricated sources, he replaced experts on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices with anti-vaxxers, he fired some of the leading medical researchers in the world, he failed to respond to outreach from Democrats on the Energy & Commerce Committee, and he is setting American biomedical research back a generation.
“Now, his proposed budget would only further hamper our ability to pursue lifesaving cures and groundbreaking treatments. The FY26 budget request cuts the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by nearly 54 percent, National Institutes of Health by nearly 40 percent, Food and Drug Administration by 11 percent, among other cuts to mental and behavioral health and primary care. This is an unacceptable reduction in funding for agencies that are carrying out lifesaving work.
“His budget request is a blueprint to make American sicker and poorer, and his stewardship of HHS is having devastating consequences to our public health. Today’s hearing showcased his ineptitude, inexperience, and inability to string together coherent and cogent responses on the issues that fall under his department’s jurisdiction.”
###
Source: New Zealand Police
The northbound lane of Wobern Road, Lower Hutt is closed after a car has rolled.
At about 7.30am emergency services were notified.
Injuries are unknown.
The carriage way is currently closed with diversions using Myrtle Street.
Drivers are advised to avoid the area and be patient in the area due to the volume of traffic this morning.
ENDS
Source: Maritime New Zealand
The annual Maritime and Oil Pollution Levies for the year 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026 will be invoiced in late July 2025.
Make sure your contact details are up to date
Domestic commercial operators of applicable vessels can expect to receive their annual levy invoices via email or post in late July 2025. Please notify us if your contact and vessel details, including email and postal address, have changed so that you receive the right invoice. If you have recently bought or sold a commercial vessel, or you have stopped operating, please notify us. This will ensure that your annual levy invoice is correct.
How to notify Maritime NZ and update your details
Complete this Change of vessel status or ownership form and email it to [email protected]. If the change applies to more than one vessel, please complete a separate form for each one.
Find out more about these levies, why we collect them, current rates and how they’re calculated.
Source: US Congressional Budget Office
H.R. 3029 would authorize the appropriation of $5 million annually from 2026 through 2030 for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop best practices for managing the risks of engineering biology and biomanufacturing, and for biosecurity measures related to nucleic acid synthesis. That synthesis is the process of creating nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, within or outside of a cell. To conduct those activities, NIST would be required to meet with experts and other interested parties and report its findings to the Congress.
Based on historical spending patterns for similar activities, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $24 million over the 2025-2030 period and $1 million after 2030, assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts.
The costs of the legislation, detailed in Table 1, fall within budget function 370 (commerce and housing credit).
|
Table 1. Estimated Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation Under H.R. 3029 |
|||||||
|
By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars |
|||||||
|
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
2030 |
2025-2030 |
|
|
Authorization |
0 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
25 |
|
Estimated Outlays |
0 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
24 |
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Kelly Durand. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
Phillip L. Swagel
Director, Congressional Budget Office
Source: US State of North Carolina
Headline: First Case of Measles Identified in North Carolina
First Case of Measles Identified in North Carolina
stonizzo
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed a case of measles in a child who was visiting Forsyth and Guilford counties. The child became ill while traveling to NC from another country where measles outbreaks have recently been reported. To protect the individual and their family’s privacy, no additional information about this individual will be released. This is the first confirmed case of measles in the state in 2025. NCDHHS is recommending all unvaccinated individuals ages one year and older receive measles vaccination to protect themselves and those around them.
NCDHHS is working closely with the Forsyth County Department of Public Health and Guilford County Health Department to identify locations and times where people might have been exposed to measles.
If you visited a listed location during the dates and times below, review your immunization records or contact your health care provider to make sure you are up to date on the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Laboratory testing is not recommended for people who were exposed unless they develop symptoms of measles, including fever and rash. Symptoms of measles can start seven to 21 days after being exposed. If symptoms develop, please call ahead before visiting the doctor or emergency room so steps can be taken to prevent exposure to others.
In some situations, people who have been exposed to measles may be eligible to receive post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to reduce their risk of becoming ill. The timeframe for PEP has passed for most people who were potentially exposed to this case, but those who are at higher risk — including infants too young to receive MMR vaccination, immunocompromised individuals or pregnant women — should contact their doctor or local health department to see if PEP is needed.
“Getting vaccinated against measles continues to be the most important step we can take to protect ourselves and our loved ones,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “It is important to check with your health care provider to ensure you are current with all your vaccines.”
North Carolina residents can contact their health care provider or visit their local health department for additional information on ways to obtain the vaccine and schedule an appointment. Children eligible for the Vaccines for Children program may receive the vaccine from a provider enrolled in that program. For more information about measles, please visit dph.ncdhhs.gov/measles.
To address this case, NCDHHS State Epidemiologist Zack Moore, M.D., MPH and partners from Forsyth and Guilford counties will be available to news media on Tuesday, June 24, at 4:30 p.m.
WHAT: NCDHHS virtual media availability on North Carolina’s first measles case and potential exposures
WHO: Dr. Zack Moore, State Epidemiologist, NCDHHS
Joshua Swift, Director of Public Health, Forsyth County Department of Public Health
Maura Trimble, Public Health Nursing Supervisor, Forsyth County Department of Public Health
Susan Banville, Communicable Disease Nurse, Forsyth County Department of Public Health
Anita Ramachandran, Interim Director of Public Health, Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services
LaTanya Pender, Clinical Services Director, Division of Public Health, Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services
Tammy Koonce, Communicable Disease Nurse Consultant, Division of Public Health, Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services
WHEN: Tuesday, June 24
4:30-5 p.m.
WHERE: Zoom. Credentialed media should RSVP for the link by emailing news@dhhs.nc.gov
Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease that is spread by direct person-to-person contact and through the air. The virus can live for up to two hours in the air where the infected person was present. Symptoms of measles usually begin 7-14 days after exposure, but can appear up to 21 days after exposure and may include:
With the risk for community spread, parents are encouraged to make sure their children are up to date on all their childhood immunizations, including the measles vaccine. 90% percent of unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to measles will become infected. About one in five people who get measles will be hospitalized. In addition to North Carolina’s case, 1,214 measles cases have been reported in 2025 in 36 other jurisdictions as of June 19, 2025.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kevin Veale, Senior Lecturer in Media Studies, part of the Digital Cultures Laboratory in the School of Humanities, Media, and Creative Communication, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University
Deputy Prime Minister and ACT Party leader David Seymour says he is being “playful” and having “fun” with his “Victim of the Day” social media posts, targeting opponents of his Regulatory Standards Bill.
But the posts – which have singled out academics and MPs who have criticised or made select committee submissions against the bill, accusing them of suffering from “Regulatory Standards Derangement Syndrome” – have now led to at least two official complaints to Cabinet.
Wellington City mayor Tory Whanau has alleged they amounted to “online harassment and intimidation” against academics and were in breach of the Cabinet Manual rules for ministers. According to the manual, ministers should
behave in a way that upholds, and is seen to uphold, the highest ethical and behavioural standards. This includes exercising a professional approach and good judgement in their interactions with the public, staff, and officials, and in all their communications, personal and professional.
Academic Anne Salmond, one of those targeted by the posts, has also alleged Seymour breached the behaviour standards set out by the manual. According to Salmond:
This “Victim of the Day” campaign does not match this description. It is unethical, unprofessional and potentially dangerous to those targeted. Debate is fine, online incitements are not.
Seymour’s claim he was being “playful” while using his platform to criticise individuals follows a pattern of targeting critics while deflecting criticism of his own behaviour.
For example, in 2022 Seymour demanded an apology from Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi, after Waititi earlier joked about poisoning Seymour with karaka berries. At the time, Seymour said:
I’m genuinely concerned that the next step is that some slightly more radical person doesn’t think it’s a joke.
But the same year, Seymour defended Tauranga by-election candidate Cameron Luxton’s joke that the city’s commission chair Anne Tolley was like Marie Antoinette and should be beheaded.
In 2023, Seymour joked about abolishing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples:
In my fantasy, we’d send a guy called Guy Fawkes in there and it’d be all over, but we’ll probably have to have a more formal approach than that.
Māori researcher and advocate Tina Ngata criticised Seymour’s argument that he was joking:
Calling it a joke does not make it any less white-supremacist. What it does is point to the fact that in David Seymour’s mind, violence against Pacific peoples is so normalised, that he can make a joke out of it […] but he’s not any person is he? He is a politician, a leader of a political party, with a significant platform and the means and opportunities to advance that normalised violence into policy and legislation.
An analysis of Seymour’s recent social media posts by researcher Sanjana Hattotuwa at the Disinformation Project has argued they have the potential to lead to online harassment, saying they are:
designed to silence opposition to the controversial Regulatory Standards Bill whilst maintaining plausible deniability about the resulting harassment, harms and hate.
The “Victims of the Day” posts about Anne Salmond and former Green leader Metiria Turei were textbook examples of “technology-facilitated gender-based violence and online misogyny”, Hattotuwa argued. And the use of the term “derangement” framed academic criticism as a mental disorder – undermining expertise.
As my own research shows, online harassment and violent rhetoric can raise the chances of real-world violence.
Since the early 2000s, researchers have used the term “stochastic terrorism” to describe a way of indirectly threatening people. Nobody is specifically told “harm these people”, so the person putting them at risk has plausible deniability.
Seymour is already aware of these dynamics, as shown by his demand for an apology from Waititi over the karaka berry poisoning “joke”.
Seymour and ACT have long presented themselves as champions of free speech:
Freedom of expression is one of the most important values our society has. We can only solve our most pressing problems in an open society in which free thought and open enquiry are encouraged.
By going after critics of the Regulatory Standards Bill, Seymour may only be ridiculing speech he does not like. But he has taken things further in the past.
In 2023, he criticised poet Tusiata Avia for her poem “Savage Coloniser Pantoum”, which Seymour said was racist and would incite racially motivated violence. He made demands that the government withdraw NZ$107,280 in taxpayer money from the 2023 Auckland Arts Festival in response.
ACT list MP Todd Stephenson also threatened to remove Creative NZ funding after Avia received a Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement. Avia said she received death threats after ACT’s criticism of her work.
The more serious purpose of saying something contentious is “just a joke” is to portray those who disagree as humourless and not deserving to be taken seriously.
ACT’s “Victim of the Day” campaign does something similar in attempting to discredit serious critics of the Regulatory Standards Bill by mocking them.
But in the end, we have to be alert to the potential political double standard: harmless jokes for me, but not for you. Dangerous threats from you, but not from me.
Kevin Veale does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Playful or harmful? David Seymour’s posts raise questions about what’s OK to say online – https://theconversation.com/playful-or-harmful-david-seymours-posts-raise-questions-about-whats-ok-to-say-online-259658
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
TAIYUAN, June 24 (Xinhua) — Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing has called for promoting high-quality development of the manufacturing industry and steadily strengthening industrial safety.
Zhang Guoqing, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour of north China’s Shanxi Province from June 22 to 24.
High-quality development of the manufacturing industry is a top priority in achieving high-quality economic development, Zhang Guoqing stressed, pointing out that it is necessary to promote scientific and technological innovation and accelerate the construction of a modernized industrial system with advanced manufacturing as the core.
The Vice Premier of the State Council called for promoting high-tech, digital and green transformation of the manufacturing industry.
We should cultivate and strengthen green and low-carbon industries, increase the clean and efficient use of coal, and continuously promote the high-quality development of sectors such as coal liquefaction and gasification, fine chemicals and new materials, Zhang Guoqing said.
The Vice Premier of the State Council also called for strengthening industrial safety in coal mines, combating various illegal activities in mines, and implementing strict liability measures for ensuring industrial safety. –0–
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) — China supports Iran’s efforts to safeguard its national sovereignty and security and achieve a genuine ceasefire on this basis that will restore people’s normal lives and contribute to an early de-escalation of the situation in the Middle East, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday.
During the conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, said that China intends to promote the UN Security Council in fulfilling its due role and most important responsibility in maintaining world peace and security.
Wang Yi said China hopes Iran will continue to ensure the safety of Chinese institutions, personnel and diplomatic missions in the country.
A. Araghchi, for his part, emphasized that the dangerous actions of Israel and the United States, which attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities, are a serious violation of international law, and therefore Iran has no choice but to fight back.
The Iranian diplomat noted that genuine negotiations can only begin after Israel stops its aggression.
Iran wants to maintain close contacts with China and expects China to play a stronger role in easing tensions, A. Araghchi added. –0–
Source: IMF – News in Russian
Faster investment approvals, greater labor force participation, public-private R&D collaboration and steps to harness critical minerals and renewable energy can support higher growth
Many of Chile’s current socioeconomic debates—such as those related to fiscal sustainability, pension adequacy and college loans—can be attributed to the country’s growth slowdown over the past two decades. Back in the 1990s, Chile grew 6.2 percent per year on average and was Latin America’s posterchild success story. Over time, this robust growth trend steadily waned, and by the 2020s, growth barely went above 2 percent. The IMF’s recent annual economic health check of the country (Article IV consultation) addresses how Chile can reverse this trend.
Comparing Chile to its peers, there is scope to grow faster. Higher-income countries that were once at a comparable income level to Chile grew at a rate of around 2.9 percent per year. However, Chile faces challenges that most of those economies did not encounter at the same stage of development: such as an aging population and a global slowdown, both of which will make it more difficult for Chile to reach this pace.
Historical patterns
As countries get richer, sustaining rapid growth simply becomes harder because of diminishing gains from investment and less scope for technology catch-up. To evaluate Chile’s growth potential, we compared its trajectory with other countries when they reached similar income levels, such as Australia in the late 1980s and Korea in the 2000s. According to the Penn World Table and our calculations, Chile’s GDP per person tripled from US$8,200 in 1990 to around US$26,000 in 2025, in constant 2017 U.S. dollars after purchasing power parity (PPP) adjustment.
Among 28 economies that crossed the US$26,000 real GDP per capita threshold between 1950 and 2010, median annual GDP growth over the subsequent decade was 2.9 percent. This benchmark is well below Chile’s 1990s boom, but still above its current trend.
Demographic and external drags
While the comparison is useful and offers some optimism, Chile faces an aging population and a less favorable global growth environment – impediments that many of these other higher-income economies did not face during their development stage.
Though still relatively young, Chile’s population is aging. According to the UN’s median population projection, Chile’s working-age population (15-64) will grow by just 0.15 percent per year during 2025-35. With modest gains in labor participation, employment will likely grow by 0.2-0.3 percent annually – below the 0.8 percent seen in the comparison group. This demographic drag alone saps ¼ percentage point from Chile’s potential growth.
Global technological trends could also weigh on Chile’s outlook. In the 1990s, information technology boosted productivity across countries. Our comparison group of countries benefitted from a U.S. GDP growth rate – taken as a proxy for global technological trends – of 3.1 percent per year on average. In contrast, economists now expect more modest U.S. growth of 2.1 percent for the next decade. We estimate that a one-percentage point reduction in 10-year U.S. annual growth translates to a further 0.8 percentage point restraint on Chile’s potential growth.
Transformational reforms
While these are rough estimates, and outcomes could vary widely, the exercise suggests a long-term growth trend of around 1.9 percent, if Chile were to perform in line with the median country and the demographic and external headwinds persisted.
So, how can Chile increase its potential and defy these drags on growth? Short-run macroeconomic stimulus is not the answer, and Chile’s economy is already balanced. The solution lies in deepening supply-side structural measures, consistent with the policy messages in our latest annual review of Chile’s economy (the Article IV consultation).
First, it is critical to make regulatory requirements more efficient. As an extreme example, it can take up to 10 years to sort out permits and navigate bureaucracy to get a large mining project off the ground. Streamlining this lengthy process would help reduce barriers to investment and support technology adoption. Similarly, modernizing regulations related to maritime transport could lower trade costs and improve Chile’s competitiveness.
To address demographic challenges, Chile could stimulate labor participation, for example by improving the access to quality childcare that would enable more women to enter the labor force.
Chile’s R&D spending is also substantially below the OECD average. Greater public-private collaboration here is essential, given limited budgetary resources. The proposed technology transfer bill, enabling university researchers to create tech companies and commercialize their work, could help narrow this gap.
Finally, as the world’s largest copper producer, second largest lithium producer, and as a nation richly endowed with solar and wind resources, Chile can benefit from the high global demand for these critical minerals and through use of low-cost renewable energy.
While there is no silver bullet for growth, together these reforms improve the chances of a better outcome. Lifting Chile’s growth potential is critical for improving living standards and addressing social and fiscal pressures. Chile has an established track record of prudent macroeconomic management. Building on this solid foundation, the country can achieve stronger growth in a challenging global environment.
*****
Si Guo is a senior economist and Andrea Schaechter is an assistant director in the Western Hemisphere Department.
https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/24/cf-chile-can-grow-faster-but-it-wont-be-like-its-the-1990s-again
Source: US Whitehouse
Everyday Americans joined top lawmakers to detail how the One Big Beautiful Bill will affect their livelihoods:
Agricultural leaders outlined how the One Big Beautiful Bill will deliver for America’s farmers, ranchers, and producers.
The National Association of Manufacturers launched a new ad campaign to highlight what’s at stake if the Trump Tax Cuts aren’t extended in the One Big Beautiful Bill: “If Congress doesn’t act, manufacturers will be hit with the largest tax increase in U.S. history. Six million jobs could be lost — that’s our neighbors, our communities, our futures.”
Secretary of Energy Chris Wright discussed how the One Big Beautiful Bill ENDS the Biden-era Green New Scam: “It’s going to get rid of these subsidies and distortions that have hurt not just our electricity market, but our broader energy markets … The One Big Beautiful Bill — it is big. There are a lot of things in it, but a lot of them are just cleaning out underbrush and nonsense so it’s easier to build things in our country again, remove the distortions from the energy markets, unleash American businesses to build energy productions of all different kinds — but kinds that work, without subsidies.”
Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America, says extending the Trump Tax Cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill is a top priority for preventing American jobs from being exported to foreign countries: “These tax rates were meant to get the U.S. competitive on taxes on corporations … Remember back to people were exporting business outside the United States for lower tax rate reasons … All that’s been gone for the last seven or eight years, and so we need to make sure these extend or that will start up again.”
Source: US Whitehouse
Striving for Gold Standard Science – that all science should be reproducible, open and transparent, free from conflicts of interest, and collaborative – is among them. As OSTP Director Michael Kratsios wrote in an op-ed today, “Science and politics need not be in conflict. Ensuring that the science used in decisions conforms to the highest standards of research integrity makes these judgments themselves transparent and scientific.”
Yet some within the science community put partisanship before professionalism when it comes to the commonsense principles of Gold Standard Science – for no reason other than politics.
As Science journals Editor-in-Chief Holden Thorp put it in a piece today: “it is possible to support science and hold it accountable at the same time.”
“..The defensiveness of investigators and institutions in responding to problems severely heightens the suspicion. Rather than filing lawsuits and hiding behind carefully crafted statements, the scientific community should be engaging in a conversation about problems and potential solutions.”
This is exactly why President Trump signed his Restoring Gold Standard Science executive order. President Trump wants America to return to the standard of excellence our scientific community is historically known for.
The simple truth is that there is a disconnect between the American people and the scientific enterprise. It’s a relationship that needs to be rebuilt.
Now is the time to work with the Administration towards a solution.
###
Source: US Congressional Budget Office
S. 320 would amend the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 to make changes to the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, an interagency program focused on reducing earthquake-related risks to life and property. S. 320 also would authorize appropriations of $161 million annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2028 for the U.S. Geological Survey, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology to implement the program.
Additionally, the bill would require the agencies to develop best practices to assist state, local, and tribal governments with creating inventories of critical buildings and structures, and with developing evacuation plans and expanding early warning systems. The agencies also would be required to report to the Congress every two years about activities related to the program.
CBO assumes that the bill will be enacted near the end of fiscal year 2025 and that the authorized amounts will be provided for each year beginning in 2025. In 2024, the agencies allocated $164 million for the program from funds provided in the appropriation acts for that year. Based on historical spending patterns, CBO estimates that reauthorizing the program would cost $596 million over the 2025-2030 period and $29 million after 2030, assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts.
The costs of the legislation, detailed in Table 1, fall within budget functions 250 (general science, space, and technology), 300 (natural resources and environment), 370 (commerce and housing credit), and 450 (community and regional development).
|
Table 1. Estimated Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation Under S. 320 |
|||||||
|
By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars |
|||||||
|
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
2030 |
2025-2030 |
|
|
U.S. Geological Survey |
|||||||
|
Authorization |
92 |
92 |
92 |
92 |
0 |
0 |
368 |
|
Estimated Outlays |
17 |
137 |
90 |
89 |
23 |
3 |
359 |
|
National Science Foundation |
|||||||
|
Authorization |
54 |
54 |
54 |
54 |
0 |
0 |
216 |
|
Estimated Outlays |
2 |
30 |
39 |
46 |
43 |
26 |
186 |
|
Federal Emergency Management Agency |
|||||||
|
Authorization |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
36 |
|
Estimated Outlays |
* |
4 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
5 |
28 |
|
National Institute of Standards and Technology |
|||||||
|
Authorization |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
24 |
|
Estimated Outlays |
1 |
9 |
6 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
23 |
|
Total Changes |
|||||||
|
Authorization |
161 |
161 |
161 |
161 |
0 |
0 |
644 |
|
Estimated Outlays |
20 |
180 |
140 |
148 |
74 |
34 |
596 |
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Kelly Durand. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
Phillip L. Swagel
Director, Congressional Budget Office
Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, and Harry Chavis, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, announced that TONY STERLIN CANTAVE, 45, of Shelton, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven for defrauding a COVID-19 pandemic relief program.
In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the distribution of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDLs”), through the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”), which provided working capital to eligible small businesses to meet operating expenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2020, Cantave applied for EIDL funding through the SBA. The application contained a number of materially false statements, including that the business for which Cantave sought the loan, Arbitrage 1 Media, was an ongoing, legitimate business involved in the limousine and transportation business, and that he was not more than 60 days delinquent in his child support obligations. After the SBA reviewed and approved the fraudulent EIDL application, Cantave received $96,200. He then used the proceeds from the loan to pay for personal and non-business expenses, including $16,607.26 to pay off an automobile loan.
Cantave pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money and one count of making an illegal monetary transaction. Each charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Cantave has agreed to pay $104,176.21 in restitution.
Cantave is released pending sentencing, which is not scheduled.
Cantave has two prior federal convictions. In December 1999, he was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 18 months of imprisonment for a firearm offense, and in February 2015, he was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 13 months of imprisonment for his participation in a U.S. Postal Service money order fraud scheme.
This investigation has been conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.
Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Conrad Daniel Mackenzie Wilson, PhD candidate in Earth Sciences, Carleton University
In 2015, two members of the Blue Beach Fossil Museum in Nova Scotia found a long, curved fossil jaw, bristling with teeth. Sonja Wood, the museum’s owner, and Chris Mansky, the museum’s curator, found the fossil in a creek after Wood had a hunch.
The fossil they found belonged to a fish that had died 350 million years ago, its bony husk spanning nearly a metre on the lake bed. The large fish had lived in waters thick with rival fish, including giants several times its size. It had hooked teeth at the tip of its long jaw that it would use to trap elusive prey and fangs at the back to pierce it and break it down to eat.
For the last eight years, I have been part of a team under the lead of paleontologist Jason Anderson, who has spent decades researching the Blue Beach area of Nova Scotia, northwest of Halifax, in collaboration with Mansky and other colleagues. Much of this work has been on the tetrapods — the group that includes the first vertebrates to move to land and all their descendants — but my research focuses on what Blue Beach fossils can tell us about how the modern vertebrate world formed.
The modern vertebrate world is defined by the dominance of three groups: the cartilaginous fishes or chondrichthyans (including sharks, rays and chimaeras), the lobe-finned fishes or sarcopterygians (including tetrapods and rare lungfishes and coelacanths), and the ray-finned fishes or actinopterygians (including everything from sturgeon to tuna). Only a few jawless fishes round out the picture.
This basic grouping has remained remarkably consistent — at least for the last 350 million years.
Before then, the vertebrate world was a lot more crowded. In the ancient vertebrate world, during the Silurian Period (443.7-419.2 MA) for example, the ancestors of modern vertebrates swam alongside spiny pseudo-sharks (acanthodians), fishy sarcopterygians, placoderms and jawless fishes with bony shells.
Armoured jawless fishes had dwindled by the Late Devonian Period (419.2-358.9 MA), but the rest were still diverse. Actinopterygians were still restricted to a few species with similar body shapes.
By the immediately succeeding early Carboniferous times, everything had changed. The placoderms were gone, the number of species of fishy sarcopterygians and acanthodians had cratered, and actinopterygians and chondrichthyans were flourishing in their place.
The modern vertebrate world was born.
Blue Beach has helped build our understanding of how this happened. Studies describing its tetrapods and actinopterygians have showed the persistence of Devonian-style forms in the Carboniferous Period.
Whereas the abrupt end-Devonian decline of the placoderms, acanthodians and fishy sarcopterygians can be explained by a mass extinction, it now appears that multiple types of actinopterygians and tetrapods survived to be preserved at Blue Beach. This makes a big difference to the overall story: Devonian-style tetrapods and actinopterygians survive and contribute to the evolution of these groups into the Carboniferous Period.
But significant questions remain for paleontologists. One point of debate revolves around how actinopterygians diversified as the modern vertebrate world was born — whether they explored new ways of feeding or swimming first.
The Blue Beach fossil was actinopterygian, and we wondered what it could tell us about this issue. Comparison was difficult. Two actinopterygians with long jaws and large fangs were known from the preceding Devonian Period (Austelliscus ferox and Tegeolepis clarki), but the newly found jaw had more extreme curvature and the arrangement of its teeth. Its largest fangs are at the back of its jaw, but the largest fangs of Austelliscus and Tegeolepis are at the front.
These differences were significant enough that we created a new genus and species: Sphyragnathus tyche. And, in view of the debate on actinopterygian diversification, we made a prediction: that the differences in anatomy between Sphyragnathus and Devonian actinopterygians represented different adaptations for feeding.
To test this prediction, we compared Sphyragnathus, Austelliscus and Tegeolepis to living actinopterygians. In modern actinopterygians, the difference in anatomy reflects a difference in function: front-fangs capture prey with their front teeth and grip it with their back teeth, but back-fangs use their back teeth.
Since we couldn’t observe the fossil fish in action, we analyzed the stress their teeth would experience if we applied force. The back teeth of Sphyragnathus handled force with low stress, making them suited for a role in piercing prey, but the back teeth of Austelliscus and Tegeolepis turned low forces into significantly higher stress, making them best suited for gripping.
We concluded that Sphyragnathus was the earliest actinopterygian adapted for breaking down prey by piercing, which also matches the broader predictions of the feeding-first hypothesis.
Substantial work remains — only the jaw of Sphyragnathus is preserved, so the “locomotion-first” hypothesis was untested. But this represents the challenge and promise of paleontology: get enough tantalizing glimpses into the past and you can begin to unfold a history.
As for the actinopterygians, research indicates they survived and diversified during Devonian times and had shifting roles during the birth of the modern vertebrate world — at least until more fossils are found that could determine whether that’s the case.
Conrad Daniel Mackenzie Wilson receives funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Ontario Student Assistance Program, and the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology.
– ref. A chance discovery of a 365-million-year-old fossil reveals a new type of ray-finned fish – https://theconversation.com/a-chance-discovery-of-a-365-million-year-old-fossil-reveals-a-new-type-of-ray-finned-fish-254246
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
Welch Puts Spotlight on Vermont, West Virginia, and Tennessee in Remarks
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) last night took to the Senate floor to call on Congress to kill Republicans’ disastrous budget bill, which will rip away health care coverage for more than 16 million Americans, including 32,000 Vermonters.
The Republican budget will hike health care costs, close rural hospitals, and force millions of middle-class families to lose their coverage altogether, all to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. In addition to draconian Medicaid cuts, Republicans are raising premiums and out-of-pocket costs for tens of millions of people who buy health insurance coverage on their own. Senator Welch highlighted that the Republican bill will impact red and blue states alike: 76,000 West Virginians and 290,000 Tennesseans would lose health care under the legislation.
“What’s happening in this bill is the infliction of bipartisan suffering. Whether it’s in the State of Vermont, or the State of West Virginia, or the State of Tennessee, folks who are depending on Medicaid are going to lose it,” said Senator Welch. “We’ve got to protect the people first. We take away their hospitals, they have no protection…There’s a cruelty in this bill. There’s an irresponsibility in the Senate if we don’t acknowledge explicitly what the impact of this bill will be on the people we represent, on the hospitals that are dependent on us, and on the future of community strength in all of our rural communities. Let’s kill this bill.”
Watch Senator Welch’s speech below:
Read Senator Welch’s remarks as delivered here.
Senator Welch has been a leading voice in calling to protect Medicaid and health care in the Senate. Earlier this month, Senator Welch took to the Senate floor to slam Republicans’ tax bill, and joined Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) for a virtual roundtable highlighting the harmful consequences of Republicans’ reconciliation bill for patients in Vermont.
Learn more about Senator Welch’s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The Prime Minister met Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof in The Hague today.
The Prime Minister met Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof in The Hague today.
The Prime Minister began by thanking Prime Minister Schoof for his hospitality, adding that he was delighted to return to the city.
Discussing the significant investment pledge made at this year’s summit, the Prime Minister said it was vital the next generation was able to enjoy the same peace and security that Allies had today.
The leaders also discussed the situation in the Middle East and agreed now was the time for diplomacy to prevail.
On Ukraine, the leaders underscored the need to secure a just and lasting peace, and to step up support through shared industrial capability and defence innovation.
The leaders looked forward to speaking again later today.
Source: United Nations
In an update to the joint UNESCO-WRI-IUCN report “World Heritage forests: carbon sinks under pressure”, new data reveals that fires have accounted for approximately 75% of tree cover loss in World Heritage sites. Steadily increasing tree cover loss due to fires, fueled by climate change, has led to record high emissions, and threatens the robust carbon sinks of forests in World Heritage sites.
Since 2001, approximately 4.5 million hectares of forest—more than the area of Switzerland—have been lost across World Heritage sites, with fires responsible for around 75% of that loss. The vast majority — approximately 80% — of all fire-related tree cover loss occurred in high-latitude forests, primarily across North America and Siberia. Forests in Australia account for an additional 15% of the loss, while all other regions contributed approximately 5%.
Solid lines show annual tree cover loss in World Heritage sites by cause, while dotted lines indicate long-term trends.
Source: WRI Land & Carbon Lab
While the number of World Heritage sites affected by fires annually has slightly declined in recent years — averaging around half of all forested sites per year — the severity of these events is escalating. Since 2020, fire-related tree cover loss has averaged approximately 240,000 hectares per year — more than twice the annual average recorded in the early 2000s.
In contrast, non-fire-related tree cover loss has remained relatively stable, averaging around 45,000 hectares per year. This loss is primarily attributed to anthropogenic land-use pressures, such as illegal logging, wood harvesting, and agricultural encroachment related to livestock grazing and crop production, mainly in sites included in the List of World Heritage in Danger. Increases in non-fire-related forest loss were observed in 2016-2017 and 2020, linked to the impacts of hurricanes and storms in the Caribbean and Asia, and intensified agricultural expansion resulting from limited ability to monitor illegal activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. However, forest loss from non-fire causes has since gradually returned to pre-pandemic levels.
“The data is clear: climate change is no longer a distant threat—it is here, now, and it is threatening the irreplaceable natural heritage of our world.”
The steady increase in fire-related tree cover loss highlights the growing influence of climate change on fire regimes in World Heritage sites. While fire plays a natural role in many ecosystems —particularly in temperate and boreal forests in higher latitudes— rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and changing weather patterns are creating conditions that fuel more intense fires. When forests burn, they release vast amounts of carbon stored in trees and soils into the atmosphere, primarily as carbon dioxide (CO₂). These emissions further exacerbate climate change and increase the likelihood of further fires in a self-reinforcing “fire-climate feedback loop.”
Source: WRI Global Forest Watch
Forest fires in World Heritage sites have resulted in an average of nearly 60 million tonnes CO2-equivalent (Mt CO2e) emissions per year, equivalent to Austria’s annual fossil fuel emissions[1]. Largely due to extreme fires, fire-related emissions in World Heritage forests have surged in recent years. In 2023, a record-breaking fire swept through over 300,000 hectares of forest in Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park, releasing an estimated 190 Mt CO₂e—roughly equivalent to Argentina’s annual fossil fuel emissions. This more than doubled the previous record set in 2021 in Canada’s Pimachiowin Aki (86 Mt CO2e). Australia’s devastating 2019–2020 fires torched around 300,000 hectares in the Greater Blue Mountains Area, emitting over 45 Mt CO2e.
Tree cover loss due to fires (brown) in Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park after the 2023 fires (left), Pimachiowin Aki after the 2021-2022 fires (middle) and Australia’s Greater Blue Mountains Area after the 2019-2020 fires (right)
Source: WRI Global Forest Watch
In the tropics—where fires have historically been rare—fire activity has surged, driven by intense outbreaks in sites such as Bolivia’s Noel Kempff Mercado National Park in the Amazon Basin, and Brazil’s Pantanal Conservation Area. Since 2020, fire has been responsible for approximately 35% of tree cover loss and associated emissions in World Heritage tropical forests—more than four times the annual average recorded in the early 2000s.
Source: WRI Land & Carbon Lab
“These intensifying fires are not just destroying tree cover and understory—they are unraveling ecological systems and pristine primary forests which underpin people’s livelihoods and provide several ecosystem services, such as climate regulation and human health maintenance.”
Fires can have profound negative impacts on ecosystems, particularly by contributing to climate change and biodiversity loss. Covering more than 70 million hectares of forests—more than the area of Germany— World Heritage sites have traditionally played a crucial role in sequestering carbon. However, as fire intensity and frequency increases, this role is under threat. Fire-related emissions in World Heritage forests now account for about 40% of the carbon these forests absorb each year (80 vs. 200 Mt CO2/year), resulting in a net carbon sink of 120 Mt CO2e/year. High-latitude World Heritage forests have now collectively shifted from being carbon sinks to becoming net carbon sources, emitting around 5 Mt CO₂e/year. In contrast, lower latitude forests—mainly in the tropics—remain strong carbon sinks, absorbing roughly 130 Mt CO₂e/year. However, fires in tropical regions are especially damaging because their dense vegetation and high biomass cause them to release more carbon per unit of forest lost than fires in cooler regions. This makes tropical fires a growing threat to climate stability, accelerating the fire–climate feedback loop and pushing ecosystems closer to irreversible tipping points.
Beyond carbon, fires are also placing fragile ecosystems at serious risk. In ecosystems not adapted to fire—such as tropical rainforests and wetlands—fires can permanently alter habitats, disrupt species interactions, and erase biodiversity that has taken millennia to evolve. Australia’s 2019–2020 fires, for example, are estimated to have affected the habitats of at least 293 threatened animal species and 680 threatened plant species. In the Greater Blue Mountains Area alone, over 140 million animals were impacted, including approximately 15 million mammals, 17.7 million birds, and 110.4 million reptiles. Similarly, in the Pantanal Biosphere Reserve—which includes the Pantanal Conservation Area World Heritage site—an estimated 17 million vertebrates may have perished during the 2020 fires. These fires also drastically worsened air quality, exposing surrounding communities to hazardous levels of smoke and particulate pollution, which can lead to serious respiratory and cardiovascular health problems and straining healthcare systems.
© M & G Therin-Weise / Jaguar coming out of the forest, Pantanal Conservation Area, Brazil
“The transformation of carbon sinks into carbon sources signals not just an ecological crisis, but a critical tipping point in our climate system — one that threatens both the natural world and the communities that rely on it. Investing in robust fire prevention and response systems is essential to combat wildfires, especially in carbon-rich forests.”
As fire continues to threaten both ecological integrity and human livelihoods, proactive fire response and preparedness are more critical than ever. Communities living in and around World Heritage sites are often the first affected by these events—facing loss of land, water resources, cultural heritage, and biodiversity that their lives and traditions depend on.
To support rapid and informed action, UNESCO has been leveraging real-time fire alert data through platforms like Global Forest Watch, developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI). These tools enable early detection of fire outbreaks and offer actionable insights that help local authorities and conservation managers respond quickly and effectively.
Complementing this, Land & Carbon Lab – an applied geospatial research lab convened by WRI and the Bezos Earth Fund – provides critical data on carbon storage, emissions and sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems—enhancing global understanding of how fires and other human activities are imperiling carbon sinks and converting some forests to carbon sources. This data helps inform not only emergency response, but also long-term restoration and climate resilience strategies.
A notable example of these data in action is their integration into the World Heritage Online Map Platform (WHOMP), which has supported the deployment of the Rapid Response Facility (RRF)— a joint initiative from UNESCO and Fauna and Flora. These tools have helped guide emergency response efforts at critical sites, including Brazil’s Pantanal Conservation Area and Bolivia’s Noel Kempff Mercado National Park. In these areas, satellite monitoring and fire alerts have enabled early fire detection, faster mobilization of resources, and timely support for both ecosystems and local communities.
© Fundación para la Conservación del Bosque Chiquitano
“The grant from the Rapid Response Facility (RRF) was crucial in quickly mobilizing resources to keep the ranger corps, community brigade firefighters, and firefighting authorities active in Noel Kempff Mercado National Park. Without this swift support, the damage to the park’s forests and the species that depend on them could have been far more severe.”
© Panthera
“The Rapid Response Facility (RRF) made it possible to train brigades, improve communication, support government institutions and, above all, strengthen integrated firefighting actions between the various stakeholders involved.”
Beyond immediate response, these efforts also strengthen local capacity, foster community engagement, and promote sustainable land management practices. By combining cutting-edge technology, operational monitoring systems based on Earth observation data, and on-the-ground collaboration, UNESCO and its partners are helping vulnerable communities become more prepared and resilient in the face of escalating fire risks. Ultimately, these initiatives play a vital role in safeguarding the world’s natural heritage for future generations—preserving the ecological, cultural, and climate value of these irreplaceable landscapes.
UNESCO thanks the support of the Government of Norway to the Rapid Response Facility (RRF) and the Government of Flanders (Belgium) to the World Heritage Online Map Platform (WHOMP). WRI thanks the Bezos Earth Fund and Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI).
[1] All country emissions equivalencies are for CO2 emissions from fossil fuels in 2023, according to the Global Carbon Atlas produced by the Global Carbon Budget: https://globalcarbonatlas.org/emissions/carbon-emissions/
