Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh interacts with women crew members of Navika Sagar Parikrama (NSP) II online on the eve of International Women’s Day “Their courageous journey aboard INSV Tarini, tackling the immense challenge of circumnavigating the globe, stands as a beacon of Nari Shakti”: Raksha Mantri
Posted On: 07 MAR 2025 7:02PM by PIB Delhi
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh interacted with the crew members of Navika Sagar Parikrama II (NSP II), Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A of the Indian Navy, through video conferencing today on 7 March, 2025 on the eve of International Women’s Day in New Delhi. Their sailing vessel INSV Tarini, currently in the South Atlantic Ocean at a distance of 450 nautical miles from the previous port of call Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands, is heading to Cape Town, South Africa.
During the interaction, the Raksha Mantri lauded the courage, dedication, and resilience of the NSP II crew, who have embarked on a challenging voyage of circumnavigating the globe, as part of India’s continued efforts to showcase Nari Shakti in high-endurance missions. He congratulated the crew for the remarkable milestones of crossing Point Nemo, the world’s most isolated waters and sailing through the Drake Passage, one of the most treacherous water bodies.
On the eve of International Women’s Day, I interacted with the amazing crew of Navika Sagar Parikrama II. Their courageous journey aboard INSV Tarini, tackling the immense challenge of circumnavigating the globe, stands as a beacon of Nari Shakti. Their unwavering resilience,… pic.twitter.com/M20YzFer2F
Raksha Mantri reiterated the government’s vision of a gender-inclusive armed force, encouraging more young women to aspire for careers in defence and adventure sports. He acknowledged the invaluable role of women in bolstering national security and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding opportunities for women in the defence sector.
Navika Sagar Parikrama II (NSP II) is a flagship initiative of the Indian Navy, aimed at circumnavigating the globe through a two-women crew on board. NSP II symbolises India’s resolve to encourage women’s participation in maritime and defence sectors, fostering leadership and self-reliance. The crew, comprising two women officers of the Indian Navy, underwent rigorous training in navigation, weather management, and ocean survival techniques before undertaking this prestigious journey, which was flagged off on 02 October 2024 at Goa by the Chief of the Naval Staff.
The Ministry of Defence has been at the forefront of ensuring greater representation of women in the Indian Defence Forces. Various initiatives, including permanent commission opportunities, increased intake in the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Indian Naval Academy (INA), and leadership roles in combat and aviation branches, have significantly contributed to a more inclusive force.
NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed foreign fugitive Torsten Ew Torz, 31, a native of Germany and citizen of Romania, March 6.
Torz is wanted by law enforcement authorities in France for identity theft and credit card fraud.
“We continue to work closely with our international law enforcement partners to ensure foreign fugitives are held accountable for their crimes overseas,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Newark Field Office Director John Tsoukaris. “Removing criminal aliens like Torz keep our American communities safe.”
Torz entered the United States without admission or parole by an immigration official on an unknown date and at an unknown location.
The Garden City Police Department in New York arrested Torz on Dec. 19, 2023, for grand larceny, possession of a forged instrument and criminal possession of a forgery device.
The Paris Judicial Court in France issued an arrest warrant for Torz on March 25, 2024, on charges of “swindling carried out by an organized gang” and’ “involvement in a criminal conspiracy for the purpose of conceiving an offense punishable by 10 years of imprisonment.”
ICE arrested Torz on Oct. 16, 2024, and issued him a notice to appear. He was detained at the Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey, without bond, pending removal proceedings.
An immigration judge in Elizabeth, New Jersey, ordered Torz removed from the United States on Nov. 19, 2024.
Torz was turned over to Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 21, on an outstanding warrant. The District Court of New York in Suffolk County convicted Torz for unlawful possession of a skimmer device intended for use in identity theft and sentenced him to time served. Torz returned to ICE custody Jan. 29, where he remained until his removal from the U.S.
Members of the public with information can report crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
Learn more about ICE Newark’s mission to increase public safety in our New Jersey communities on X: @ERONewark.
NEW YORK – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Axel Ramirez-Hernandez, a 32-year-old Guatemalan national with convictions for sexual assault of a victim less than 16 years old and illegal reentry after deportation, March 6 in Spring Valley with a criminal warrant of arrest for illegal reentry after deportation.
“ICE is committed to apprehending predators who commit horrific acts of violence against our youngest citizens and residents,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations New York City acting Field Office Director William P. Joyce. “Our officers will find these criminal aliens and seek their removal from the United States.”
Ramirez illegally entered the United States on an unknown date and at an unknown location without admission or by an immigration official. ICE served Ramirez with a notice to appear July 6, 2012, charging him with being inadmissible to the U.S. An immigration judge ordered Ramirez removed from the U.S. July 18, 2012, and he was subsequently removed to Guatemala Aug. 16, 2012. The U.S. Border Patrol encountered Ramirez April 13, 2013, in McAllen, Texas, after he illegally reentered the U.S. and served him with a notice of intent to reinstate a prior order. ICE removed him from the U.S. to Guatemala Aug. 11, 2014. Ramirez again reentered the U.S. on an unknown date at an unknown location without admission by an immigration official.
The Superior Court of Connecticut for the Judicial District of Stamford/Norwalk convicted Ramirez of sexual assault on a victim under 16 years old June 6, 2011, and sentenced him to five years in prison, 18 months supervised release and 10 years of probation. The U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Texas convicted Ramirez of illegal re-entry after deportation Jan. 23, 2014, and sentenced him to 18 months incarceration. Ramirez also has local criminal charges pending for driving while intoxicated in Ramapo, New York.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-347-2423 or completing ICE’s online tip form.
Learn more about ICE’s mission to preserve public safety on X at @ERONewYork.
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Cost savings of more than $30 million in first year through discontinuation of 91 studies
The Office of the Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) is scrapping its social science research portfolio as part of a broader effort to ensure fiscal responsibility and prioritize mission-critical activities. This initiative involves focusing resources on technologies essential for maintaining a strong national defense, aligning with the Administration’s commitment to efficient government and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.
The Department recognizes the value of academic research but – in response to President Trump’s Executive Orders and Secretary Hegseth’s priorities in his January 25, 2025, “Message to the Force” and January 29, 2025, Memorandum, “Restoring America’s Fighting Force” – recognizes that funded research must address pressing needs to develop and field advanced military capabilities. Several studies are affected by this shift, including those focused on global migration patterns, climate change impacts, and social trends. Examples include:
The Climate-Food-Urbanization Nexus and the Precursors of Instability in Africa
Social and Institutional Determinants of Vulnerability and Resilience to Climate Hazards in the African Sahel
Anticipating Costal Population Mobility: Path to Maladaptation or Sociopolitical Stability
Comparing Underlying Drivers of South-North Migration in Central America and West Africa
Democracy Quest
The Language of Parasocial Influence and the Emergence of Extremism
Weaponized Conspiracies
Beyond the Clock: Understanding Cross-Cultural Temporal Orientation of Military Officers
Food Fights: War Narratives and Identity Reproduction in Evolving Conflicts
Future Fish Wars: Chasing Ocean Ecosystem Wealth
The Department expects to see cost savings of more than $30 million in the first year through the discontinuation of 91 studies, including the examples listed above.
Secretary of Defense Hegseth has emphasized the importance of equipping the American military with the tools and capabilities necessary to deter adversaries and maintain a strong defense. This initiative directly supports that commitment by prioritizing investments in areas like hypersonic weapons development, AI-powered systems for enhanced battlefield awareness, and strengthening the domestic military industrial base.
The realignment also reflects the Department’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and ensuring every dollar invested in defense generates the greatest possible return for the American people. By focusing on the most impactful technologies, the Department is ensuring the U.S. military remains the most powerful and advanced fighting force in the world.
Professor John Mandyck, the CEO of the Urban Green Council and the former Chief Sustainability Officer at United Technologies, will speak on the topic, “Is Sustainability Dead?’’ next month.
The presentation is part of the Equity Now speaker series and it will be livestreamed at 6 p.m. March 27. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the university are welcome to participate. Pre-registration is required.
With the United States again out of the Paris Climate Treaty and the Trump administration favoring fossil fuels, it’s easy to wonder if the sustainability movement is over. It’s definitely not, according to Mandyck.
“Climate disruption now impacts everyone, everywhere,’’ Mandyck said. “There’s no escaping it and the trillions of dollars of damage from fires, floods, and extreme weather. Climate denialism and political short-termism cannot wish away these impacts that are shifting markets and investments as they scramble to manage growing risk.’’
Mandyck Highlights Three Reasons for Optimism
John Mandyck (contributed photo)
Mandyck will discuss his recent article, published in The Harvard Business Review, that predicts that despite strong headwinds, sustainability efforts will grow, for three key reasons.
States and cities will lead the way. Mandyck argues that history has shown that U.S. cities and states step up to fill sustainability voids. In 2019, for example, New Yor City passed a law that places carbon caps on large buildings, as a counter-response to Trump’s first-term environmental policies. More recently, 350 U.S. mayors recommitted to climate action in anticipation of changing national policy.
China will drive sustainability demand. Although it is the world’s largest carbon polluter, China’s growth in the sustainability arena continues to lead the world, Mandyck said. Almost half of the world’s solar and wind capacity already resides in China, with more renewable energy technology under development. China’s leadership will yield more affordable clean-energy technology for the world and China may possibly emerge as a stronger diplomatic force for climate negotiations as the U.S. turns its attention elsewhere.
Climate risk, extreme weather, will move markets. Climate denialism will not slow the growing disruption of extreme weather, Mandyck said. The news has been filled with articles about floods, fires, and other weather-created disasters, which are causing economic hardship and human disruption at a rapid pace. In Florida alone, the average homeowner’s insurance costs rose close to 60 percent from 2019 to 2023. This has further focused the business community in favor of addressing climate change, and lenders are looking closely at the sustainability risks associated with each big investment.
Students Still Face A Bright Future in Sustainability Careers
Mandyck’s advice to students interested in pursuing careers in sustainability is to stay-the-course.
“The global need for sustainability grows every day, and so will careers,’’ he said. “Terminology and semantics may change in the short-term, but the long-term direction is clear. Even the federal government cannot pull the full nation in retreat, with the state and local governments pressing forward and filling voids.’’
Mandyck leads the Urban Green Council, a nonprofit organization based in New York City, dedicated to decarbonizing buildings for healthy and resilient communities. Since 2018, he has helped triple the organization’s reach with research, public policy development and education, shaping some of the world’s foremost climate laws for real estate and buildings.
He retired as the global Chief Sustainability Officer for United Technologies after a 25-year career there. He’s an adjunct professor for sustainability at the School of Business and served as a visiting scientist at Harvard University. He’s the co-author of the book Food Foolish, which explores the hidden connection between food waste, hunger, and climate change.
The Equity Now speaker series is produced by the UConn School of Business in coordination with the Academy of Legal Studies in Business, Virginia Tech, Indiana and Temple universities. This is the fourth of five programs offered during the 2024-25 academic year. To register for the program, please visit: the registration page
H.J. Res. 25 would disapprove the final rule published by the Department of the Treasury in December 2024 relating to a provision of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58) that requires entities that qualify as “brokers” for cryptocurrency transactions to report certain information to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for tax purposes. The final rule defines brokers to include centralized, or custodial, participants and decentralized, or noncustodial, participants. By invoking a legislative process established in the Congressional Review Act, the resolution would repeal the rule and prohibit the issuance of the same or any similar rule in the future.
Estimated Federal Cost
The estimated budgetary effect of H.J. Res. 25 is shown in Table 1. The costs of the legislation fall within budget function 800 (general government).
Table 1.
Estimated Budgetary Effects of H.J. Res. 25
By Fiscal Year, Billions of Dollars
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2025-2030
2025-2035
Decreases in Revenues
Estimated Revenues
-0.1
-0.2
-0.3
-0.3
-0.4
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.6
-1.8
-4.5
Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation
Estimated Authorization
*
*
*
*
*
*
n.e.
n.e.
n.e.
n.e
n.e.
*
n.e.
Estimated Outlays
*
*
*
*
*
*
n.e.
n.e.
n.e.
n.e
n.e.
*
n.e.
Basis of Estimate
The Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended, stipulates that revenue estimates provided by the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) are the official estimates for all tax legislation considered by the Congress. CBO therefore incorporates such estimates into its cost estimates of the effects of legislation. The revenue estimates for the bill were provided by JCT.
Revenues
JCT estimates that enacting the bill would reduce revenues by $4.5 billion over the 2025‑2035 period.
The repeal of the rule would lead to a reduction in third-party reporting to the IRS by decentralized participants for cryptocurrency transactions. Because the IRS would no longer have third-party verification of certain transactions, taxable income related to cryptocurrency may be subject to greater misreporting.
Spending Subject to Appropriation
CBO estimates that the administrative costs to implement the resolution would not be significant over the 2025-2030 period. Any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
Uncertainty
JCT’s estimates of the budgetary effects of H.J. Res. 25 are subject to uncertainty: They are made on the basis of underlying projections and other factors that could change significantly. In particular, the estimates rely in part on CBO’s economic projections for the next decade under current law and on expectations of the way taxpayers might respond to changes in tax law.
Pay-As-You-Go Considerations
The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 establishes budget-reporting and enforcement procedures for legislation affecting direct spending or revenues. The net changes in revenues that are subject to those pay-as-you-go procedures are shown in Table 1.
Increase in Long-Term Net Direct Spending and Deficits
CBO and JCT estimate that enacting H.J. Res. 25 would not increase net direct spending in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036. JCT estimates that the bill would reduce revenues and increase on-budget deficits by more than $5 billion in at least one of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036.
Mandates
JCT has determined that the bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
Federal Costs: Jennifer Shand, Tax Analysis Division
Revenues: Staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation
Mandates: Andrew Laughlin; staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation
Estimate Reviewed By
Kathleen FitzGerald Chief, Public and Private Mandates Unit
Ann E. Futrell Senior Advisor, Budget Analysis Division
Joshua Shakin Chief, Revenue Projections Unit
H. Samuel Papenfuss Deputy Director of Budget Analysis
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Greenland is a self-governing Arctic island within the Kingdom of Denmark, which strives for economic self-sufficiency and future independence. This representative democracy of 56 542 inhabitants will elect 31 members to Greenland’s Parliament on 11 March 2025. These parliamentary elections are taking place against the fraught background of rising geopolitical tensions. In the context of a heating – literally and figuratively – Arctic, Greenland is a focus of geopolitical competition and growing confrontation between major powers – the United States (US), Russia and China. The island has high strategic importance, due to its proximity to the emerging Arctic shipping routes, its strategic location in relation to security and defence activities, and its vast untapped natural resources, including mineral reserves. According to its foreign policy strategy, Greenland is open to enhanced cooperation and dialogue with partners, including the US. Indeed, the US has been an important ally of Greenland and security guarantor since 1951. Relations have strengthened and widened during the last two decades, with cooperation now encompassing not only security, but also environment, science, health, technology, trade, tourism, education, and culture. However, US President Donald Trump’s rhetoric on acquiring Greenland has shocked Greenlanders, Danes and Europeans alike. Upon the island’s withdrawal from the European Economic Community (EEC, now European Union) in 1985, Greenland became an Overseas Country and Territory, associated through Denmark. The main areas of cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Greenland are fisheries, education, and, lately, green growth. The EU has recently stepped up its engagement with Greenland by opening an office in Nuuk in March 2024 and signing a Memorandum of Understanding for a strategic partnership to develop sustainable raw materials value chains in November 2023. The European Parliament engages with its counterparts from Greenland through meetings with the Nordic Council and West Nordic Council. In October 2021, the European Parliament called for the EU to establish an enhanced political dialogue on bilateral cooperation with Greenland.
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
Boston (March 7, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement ahead of the start of Daylight Saving Time (DST) on Sunday. Senator Markey is an original cosponsor of the Sunshine Protection Act to make DST permanent. In March 2022, the Sunshine Protection Act unanimously passed the U.S. Senate.
“Every year, we set our clocks back in the Fall and say goodbye to the sun for months of unnecessary afternoon darkness. This biannual ritual is not just frustrating and inconvenient, it also has real impacts on families and the economy,” said Senator Markey. “Congress must finally pass the Sunshine Protection Act to make this spring forward permanent. Daylight Saving Time means more time in the sun and more smiles all around.”
As part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, then-Representative Markey and Congressman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) amended the Uniform Time Act of 1966, extending the duration of DST in the Spring by changing its start date from the first Sunday in April to the second Sunday in March, and in the Fall by changing its end date from the last Sunday in October to the first Sunday in November. In 1985, then-Representative Markey partnered with Congressman Carlos Moorhead (R-Calif.) to extend DST by three weeks by changing the beginning of DST from the last Sunday in April to the first Sunday in April.
Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan
03.07.25
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), both members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), introduced the Representing VA with Accuracy (REP VA) Act to require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide rural states, such as Alaska and Hawaii, with an in-state call center to provide state-specific support for veterans seeking heath care appointments. This legislation follows years of work by Sen. Sullivan on this issue, including a recent commitment from VA Secretary Doug Collins during his nomination hearing.
“Veterans in Alaska need an in-state call center staffed by individuals who understand the unique needs of accessing health care in a rural state,” Senator Sullivan said. “When a call screener located in Washington state tells a veteran living on a remote island in Alaska to drive to Anchorage for their appointment, it’s pretty clear our veterans are not having their needs met. Our legislation requires the VA to give rural states their own, state-specific call center to quickly and accurately help veterans make their health appointments and bring down the unacceptable backlog in referral calls preventing our veterans from accessing their health benefits.”
“All veterans, especially those located in more rural and remote areas such as Hawaii and Alaska, should be able to pick up the phone and speak to someone at VA who is within their community and geographical time zone—people who will be able to better assist them and make them feel heard,” said Senator Hirono. “By requiring VA to establish call centers in rural areas and ensuring these call centers are clearly identified when contacting veterans, this legislation will help to reduce wait times while also taking steps to safeguard veterans from potential scams and help them to feel more secure.”
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
Deputy Secretary of the Treasury to Welch: Tariffs “may find its way into prices.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, this weekpressed Michael Faulkender, President Trump’s pick for Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Department, on how the Trump Trade War will raise costs for Vermont families. Senator Welch outlined the impact of Trump’s new proposed tariffs on imports from Canada, and potential retaliatory tariffs, which will result in higher costs and hurt employment for Vermonters.
“I’m getting increasingly concerned about where the economy is going, and there are a number of things I think we can’t ignore…There are policies that are creating an enormous amount of anxiety—certainly in Vermont—and that’s the tariffs,” said Senator Welch. “So, you’re telling me that the President is willing to make Vermonters pay 40 cents a gallon more for gasoline, maybe 10-15% higher for electricity, and 10-15% higher for home heating fuel. For our maple sugar producers to pay 25% more for the equipment they use—that that’s okay with the President?”
Watch the exchange between Senator Welch and Michael Faulkender, President Trump’s pick for Deputy
Secretary of the Treasury Department:
Read excerpts of their exchange below:
Sen. Welch: I just asked a very specific question…A Vermonter says, ‘Peter, how are we going to handle this? This is not a good thing for us.’ And I’m asking you: how are we going to handle this? They don’t want to hear about, ‘the President’s economic plan.’ They want to know how they’re going to pay their home heating bill.
Mr. Faulkender: Right, and the way that we’re going to do that is to bring down energy prices by unleashing American energy. Bring down the cost of food and clothing and other aspects that Vermonters and Americans rely upon by bringing down regulation.
Sen. Welch: Well, I’m all for dealing with regulation, but you could have regulation without higher tariffs, right?
Mr. Faulkender: And then on the tariffs, I think that the President’s objective is to address long-standing inequities in our international trade practices.
Sen. Welch: I’m talking about Canada.
Mr. Faulkender: As the president has explained the Canada tariffs are to get them to focus on the fentanyl crisis that has been causing deaths,
Sen. Welch: You know, I understand that at the southern border we’ve got full cooperation with Canada they hate fentanyl just as much as we hate fentanyl.
•••
Sen. Welch: You are talking about what the president’s goal is. I’m asking you as an economist, okay? There is a price that Vermonters will pay with these increased tariffs on Canada. Is that right or is that somehow magically wrong?
Mr. Faulkender: I think that to the extent that the promise of these tariffs will compel the Canadians to take greater effort to address their role in the fentanyl crisis then the President would be willing to remove those tariffs in order to have extracted that assistance.
Sen. Welch: I’ll try to make this clear: Will a 25% increase in tariffs, on those items I mentioned—home heating fuel, electricity, gasoline—mean that Vermonters pay more for home heating fuel, gasoline, and electricity?
Mr. Faulkender: Again Senator, it depends upon whether the Canadians take the steps the President’s looking for and whether those tariffs will remain in place.
Sen. Welch: But the tariffs are in place. I’m just asking whether those 25% tariffs will mean…Will Vermonters pay more as a result of those tariffs?…Does that mean Vermonters are going to pay more or less?
Mr. Faulkender: It’s split three ways. Some of it is going to show up in the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and U.S. dollar, some of it will be absorbed by the Canadian producers, and then some of it may find its way into prices in a one-time adjustment.
Earlier this week, Senator Welch invited Allison Hope, Executive Director of the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association, to be his guest for President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress. The Senator and Ms. Hope joined Senate Democrats for a press conference on Capitol Hill to share how Trump’s Trade War will hurt Vermont’s maple industry.
In February, Senator Welch took to the Senate floor to blast the proposed tariffs, which would be a tax on Vermonters. Senator Welch shared stories from Vermonters about how President Trump’s economic policies will impact their family, farm, and community. Watch his speech on the Senate Floor here and read his remarks as delivered here.
Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)
Secretary of State Marco A. Rubio meets with Botswana President Duma Boko at the Department of State, March 7, 2025.
———-
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The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.
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Headline: Celebrating women in gaming: Pioneers and innovators
Women have been influential figures across all areas of the gaming world—from design and development to storytelling and production. As we continue to break down barriers and champion diverse perspectives, we’re proud to amplify the voices of those who have shaped the industry’s past and are shaping its future.
In our exclusive interview with Roberta, she reflects on her pioneering journey in the gaming industry and shares her insights into her love of mysteries, the creation of Laura Bow; one of the first heroines in gaming, advise for young women looking to get into gaming, and what inspired her to return with a new adventure, Colossal Cave. Her groundbreaking work in interactive storytelling has inspired generations of creators, and her thoughts on the past, present, and future of women in gaming offer invaluable perspectives on the road ahead.
[embedded content]
As we honor the accomplishments of women in gaming, let’s also look toward the future. The work being done today by women in this industry is setting the stage for a new generation of creators who will continue to push boundaries and inspire others. Let’s ensure that women’s voices are heard, celebrated, and given the platform they deserve—today and every day.
Discover Games Shaped by Women Creators
Celebrate International Women’s Day through the power of play. During March and beyond, you can play a variety of game collections highlighting iconic games and franchises created by women developers, showcasing how their unique perspectives have shaped the gaming world we know today.
Check out a few highlights from our full Xbox Game Collection celebrating International Women’s Day:
KeyLocker – A Cyberpunk turn-based rhythm JRPG. Play as the singer and songwriter, B0B0. Fuel your moves with the electric power of music on this unforgiving planet by using real-time execution of moves in rhythm game style! Choose a unique class, battle the authorities, unlock the secrets of Saturn, play in your own band’s concerts, and hack into the network to bring an end to this corrupt system, for better or worse.
Play KeyLocker Today
Dungeons of Hinterberg– Welcome to Hinterberg, a new tourist hotspot in the idyllic Austrian Alps! You play as Luisa, a burnt-out law trainee taking a break from her fast-paced corporate life to conquer the Dungeons of Hinterberg. There are plenty of dungeons to find and adventures to be had in Hinterberg – will Luisa be sent packing on her first day, or remain to become a Master Slayer? Only one way to find out…
PlayDungeons of HinterbergToday
Avowed – Welcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger. Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment. You are the envoy of Aedyr, a distant land, sent to investigate rumors of a spreading plague throughout the Living Lands – an island full of mysteries and secrets, danger and adventure, choices and consequences, and untamed wilderness. You discover a personal connection to the Living Lands and an ancient secret that threatens to destroy everything. Can you save this unknown frontier and your soul from the forces threatening to tear them asunder?
Play Avowed Today
Spirit Swap: Lofi Beats to Match-3 To–Samar is a young witch working the spirit-swapping night shift in the eastern outskirts of Demashq. A recent spike in spirits crossing over from another dimension breaks the chill atmosphere of their night shift, so with her trusty Familiarz by her side, she sets off into the city to find out what’s happened. With a popular band scheduled to kick off their big comeback tour in Demashq, Samar needs to work quickly before the city is overrun with stans and spirits alike!
Play Spirit Swap: Lofi Beats to Match-3 To Today
Mexico 1921: A Deep Slumber – An intriguing narrative adventure where you try to solve a hundred-year-old mystery: who planned the assassination of President Álvaro Obregón? You play as Juan Aguirre, a photojournalist who will interview and photograph subjects, collect historical data and report the news that will shape Mexican history. Join Juan in post-revolutionary Mexico City to discover why Mexico ain’t no place for the weak. Developed hand in hand with the National Newspaper Library and the Popular Arts Museum, this game will be an interactive archive of Mexican post-revolutionary history.
Play Mexico 1921: A Deep Slumber Today
Colossal Cave–Embark on a timeless journey through a sprawling cave system packed with treasures, creatures, mazes, and wits-defying puzzles. The great grandpappy of adventure games will test you and tickle your problem-solving skills as you unearth its plot and secrets. Through cunning trial-and-error you will crawl through tight squeezes, encounter impressive caverns, collect inventory, locate treasure, thwart dwarf attacks, all while keeping your eye on the score before your lamp goes out.
Play Colossal Cave Today
Spotlighting Women Gaming Pioneers
Marcella Churchill – Sr. Director of Brand at SEGA of America
Marcella Churchill is a visionary leader in brand marketing with a track record of spearheading global brand campaigns at LucasArts, EA, Zynga, Discord, and now Sega of America. At Sega, she is redefining transmedia storytelling, transforming iconic franchises into multimedia powerhouses. She has played a key role in elevating Sonic the Hedgehog to new heights, leading brand marketing endeavors supporting blockbuster films, hit TV series, major brand partnerships, and best-selling games. Beyond Sonic, Marcella is driving the resurgence of beloved franchises like Jet Set Radio, Crazy Taxi, Persona, and Like a Dragon, expanding their reach and legacy. Passionate about innovation, she is dedicated to growing Sega’s global brand, crafting unforgettable fan experiences, and pushing the boundaries of brand marketing and gaming entertainment.
Q: You’ve seen incredible growth in the Sonic brand, from successful games to record-breaking movies. What do you think has been the key to Sonic’s ability to cross storytelling mediums and what’s next on the horizon for you and your team?
A: Sonic’s evolution from a beloved video game character to a full-fledged entertainment icon is a testament to the passion and dedication of our team. We’ve focused on staying true to the heart of Sonic—his energy, attitude, and sense of adventure—while expanding his storytelling across games, film, TV, comics, and beyond. By embracing a transmedia approach, we’ve introduced Sonic to new audiences while deepening the experience for longtime fans. The success of the films, alongside hit games like Sonic Frontiers and Sonic X Shadow Generations, has reinforced the strength of the franchise, and last year’s brand marketing campaign featuring the Year of Shadow was a significant moment, culminating in the movie release of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’.
Looking ahead, we have a lot in store for Sonic fans. While we can’t reveal everything yet, our team is committed to delivering exciting new, unique experiences and pushing the brand further. Whether through innovative game projects, fresh storytelling opportunities, or unexpected collaborations, we’re focused on keeping Sonic’s momentum strong and continuing to surprise and delight fans worldwide.
Q: As a woman in a leadership role in gaming, how have you seen Marketing in the gaming industry evolve over the years and where do you see it going?
A: Marketing in the gaming industry has evolved significantly, shifting from traditional print and TV ads to digital-first, community-driven strategies. Early on, marketing was heavily reliant on big-budget campaigns and retail partnerships. Still, engagement has become more personalized, pervasive, and interactive with the rise of social media, influencers, live service models, and more opportunities to collaborate with brands through collaborations and lifestyle partnerships. Players now expect direct communication, behind-the-scenes access, and content tailored to their interests. Looking ahead, I see marketing continuing to blend data-driven insights with creative storytelling, lifestyle partnerships, leveraging user-generated content, and emerging platforms to foster deeper player engagement and brand loyalty.
Q: As a leader in the gaming industry, what advice would you give to young women aspiring to build a career in marketing and gaming and how can they best prepare for the future you see ahead?
A: My advice to young women aspiring to build a career in marketing and gaming is to stay curious, build a strong network, and embrace creativity and data-driven decision-making. The industry thrives on innovation, so developing a deep understanding of player communities, emerging technologies, and digital marketing trends will be key. Seek mentors, advocate for yourself, and don’t be afraid to take up space in rooms where you may be the only woman. As the industry evolves, staying adaptable and continuously learning will be essential for long-term success.
Wonder Stormbreaker – Head of Studio Marketing at Undead Labs
As the Head of Studio Marketing at Undead Labs, Wonder Stormbreaker plays a crucial role in ensuring that the studio’s projects, particularly the State of Decay franchise, connect with audiences on a deep level. With a strong passion for storytelling and community engagement, Wonder’s work is centered around building immersive experiences for fans and amplifying Undead Labs’ voice in the gaming world. Whether through innovative marketing campaigns or leading the charge in social media outreach, Wonder is always thinking about how to bring players into the fold and create lasting relationships with the community.
Q: As Head of Studio Marketing, how do you approach creating authentic connections with fans and building a community around Undead Labs’ games?
A: One of my core values is integrity: be who you say you are and do what you say you’re going to do. That’s what players expect from us. We build strong relationships by delivering on what we’ve promised. To do that, we place a high value on players’ experiences and expectations. Trust is at the heart of strong relationships between studios and players.
Q: State of Decay has a passionate fanbase. What do you think has been the key to building that loyalty, and how do you keep the game’s community engaged over time?
A: It’s important to our studio culture that we never lose sight of the worth and power of an individual.
State of Decay’s popularity began as a grassroots movement. Personal touch is a priority for how we build community. I ask thorny questions: How do we make a larger, global audience feel connected and cared for? How do we automate what we do here to serve even more players, without depersonalization? We know we won’t always get the answers right on the first try, and frankly, I hate that. I would love to knock it out of the park the first time, every time. The important thing is that our players have evidence that we’re always improving their experience.
Q: Marketing in the gaming industry can be very dynamic and fast-paced. How do you stay ahead of trends, and what excites you most about the future of game marketing?
A: It’s important to think of games as one piece of the “entertainment-verse.” I have a theater and film background and often look to the film industry for clues about where we are headed, but really, it’s about how games fit into people’s lives when everything is vying for attention.
It’s easy to be swept into our own silos, even an Xbox silo. Right now, I’m working with the Turn 10 team on a few projects which is incredible for inspiration and new perspectives. I read industry newsletters like A16z’s speedrun and Naavik, as well as current event roundups like Mo News and Semafor. This may be surprising, but I avoid almost all social media. The firehose of micro-entertainment on social platforms can overwhelm the big picture, and the big picture is most interesting to me. That’s where vision flourishes.
Empowering Women Streamers with South of Midnight
In South of Midnight, we step into the shoes of Hazel, a strong, rough-edged protagonist navigating a world inspired by the American Deep South. Tasked with fixing what’s broken, Hazel must adapt to a hostile environment that’s barely recognizable. This month, Team Xbox continues its commitment to empowering women protagonists and celebrating women in the gaming industry in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland). As part of this, Xbox is partnering with the creator agency Instinct3 on a campaign to support and elevate emerging women streamers for South of Midnight. This initiative offers smaller, up-and-coming streamers the chance to apply and receive early access codes for the game. Focused on those who may not yet have the reach of more established streamers, the campaign aims to shine a spotlight on women creators by sponsoring their streams and giving them a platform to grow.
In the spirit of empowering women, streamers will support each other through Twitch’s raid mechanics, directing viewers from one stream to the next. These streams and raids will kick off with South of Midnight Early Access on April 3. Details will be shared via Xbox Wire DACH, along with opportunities to win Game Pass codes.
The campaign application opens on International Women’s Day, March 8, and runs through the month. Selected streamers will receive Game Pass and game codes, joining our paid campaign for Early Access.
Gaming with Impact
Rewards members in the United States can earn and donate points to organizations supporting women with Xbox. The organizations below will be available on the Rewards hub:
Women in Games International – Women in Games International works to cultivate resources such as advanced knowledge sharing, access to technology, and actionable mentorship programs to normalize diversity in the games industry through increased representation. (US only)
National Center for Transgender Equality– NCTE advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people. In the nation’s capital and throughout the country, NCTE works to replace disrespect, discrimination, and violence with empathy, opportunity, and justice. (US Only)
Xbox players 18 and older can earn Rewards points in various ways, such as playing games, completing Game Pass Quests (terms apply), and purchasing games and other eligible items at the Microsoft Store (exclusions apply). Start earning for impact today and redeem your points for great rewards. Donate your points on the Rewards hub or on the Rewards redeem page.
Wallpapers and Dynamic Backgrounds
The Xbox International Women’s Day design is available today as an Xbox wallpaper and dynamic background on console – follow these steps to apply the dynamic background:
Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide.
Select Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization > My background > Dynamic backgrounds.
You can choose between Games, Xbox, or Abstract dynamic backgrounds. Choose the background art that you want with the A button.
Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
03.06.25
Cantwell Challenges Deputy Treasury Nom on Trump’s Tariff Chaos: “People Can’t Even Follow What His Game Plan Is.”
In Senate Finance Committee, Cantwell highlights whiplash for manufacturers, growers, & consumers due to an administration that changes its tariff policies on a near-daily basis; In WA state, 2 out of every 5 jobs are tied to trade-related industries
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Finance Committee and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, pressed Michael Faulkender – President Donald Trump’s pick to serve as Deputy Treasury Secretary – on the whiplash caused by the administration’s ever-changing tariff policies.
On Jan. 31 — citing punishment for failing to crack down on fentanyl trafficking — the Trump administration announced plans to impose a 25% tax on many goods imported into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tax on goods imported from China, then abruptly postponed those tariffs. Last month, he doubled down, announcing an additional 25% tax on all steel and aluminum imports.
At 12:01 a.m. ET Tuesday, President Trump’s long-promised 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada and 10% tariff increase on goods from China took effect, causing stock prices in the United States to plummet. Then, yesterday, he announced that automobiles from Canada and Mexico would be exempt from his tariffs for one month. Just this morning, he announced that he would suspend the tariffs for some products from Mexico. Then, this afternoon, he announced he was suspending most new tariffs on products from both Mexico and Canada until April 2.
“I feel like we’re almost just having chaos about what are we doing. One day it’s about fentanyl, one day it’s about emergency services, one day we’ll give these exemptions, one day we’ll go back to this — and so I’m trying to get your views,” Sen. Cantwell said. “Apples, potatoes, and wheat are the largest agriculture exports in our state. They represent over $3 billion worth of agriculture products around the world. And so I’m trying to understand if you understand the uncertainty that’s being created right now with these tariffs. If you get that it’s hard for businesses to even follow what is the predictability and certainty about what the President is even doing or proposing, because it’s changing every day.”
Faulkender responded: “I think when you look at the President’s approach on Canada and Mexico, it was very much to get them to focus on the fentanyl crisis, on the fact that 100,000 Americans are dying of fentanyl.”
Sen. Cantwell: “Do you really think that Canada was our fentanyl problem?”
Faulkender: “I have not had access to the data on that. My understanding is that some of it does come in from Canada. I grant you that more of it comes from Mexico than Canada.”
Sen. Cantwell: “A lot more.”
She continued: “Does [Trump] understand the level of chaos that is happening now? Because people can’t even follow what his game plan is […] But I really, really hope that he understands how much damage is being done every day to the agricultural sector. And it’s not that people, rich people, won’t buy farmland — they will buy farmland. It’s just that we’ll have a lot less farmers.”
In Washington state, two out of every five jobs are tied to trade and trade-related industries. More information on how President Trump’s tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China will affect consumers and businesses in the State of Washington can be found HERE. Nationwide:
A 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico would add an estimated $144 billion a year to the cost of manufacturing in the United States.
Tariffs on Canada and Mexico could increase U.S. car prices by as much as $12,000.
According to the Yale Budget Lab, Trump’s proposed tariffs would result in the highest U.S. effective tariff rate in more than 80 years, and depending on the level of retaliation by other trading partners, will result in increased costs of between $1,600 and $2,000 per household. According to their analysis, food, clothing, cars, and electronics will all see above-average price increases.
Sen. Cantwell has remained a steadfast supporter of increased trade to grow the economy and keep prices in check in the State of Washington and nationwide.
Sen. Cantwell was the leading voice in negotiations to end India’s 20% retaliatory tariff on American apples, which was imposed in response to tariffs on steel and aluminum and devastated Washington state’s apple exports. India had once been the second-largest export market for American apples, but after President Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum in his first term, India imposed retaliatory tariffs in response and U.S. apple exports plummeted.
The impact on Washington apple growers was severe: Apple exports from the state dropped from $120 million in 2017 to less than $1 million by 2023. In September 2023, following several years of Sen. Cantwell’s advocacy, India ended its retaliatory tariffs on apples and pulse crops which was welcome news to the state’s more than 1,400 apple growers and the 68,000-plus workers they support.
Video of Sen. Cantwell’s Q&A in the Senate Finance Committee today is HERE; audio is HERE; and a transcript is HERE.
Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
03.07.25
Cantwell Bill Would Ensure Coasties Get Paid, Even if the Government Shuts Down
Pay Our Coast Guard Act would ensure members of the Coast Guard receive the same treatment as those in other U.S. military branches
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined her colleagues — Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Roger Wicker (R-MI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) — in reintroducing the Pay Our Coast Guard Act, bipartisan legislation that would ensure United States Coast Guard personnel receive pay and allowances in the event of a government shutdown.
This legislation would ensure that the Coast Guard gets the same treatment as the other branches of the armed services if there is a lapse in appropriations. Because the Coast Guard is housed within the Department of Homeland Security, it was left out of a previous stopgap funding bill that only covered the Department of Defense.
“This commonsense legislation would ensure that Coast Guard members receive their paycheck in the event of a government shutdown, just like the other members of the armed forces,” said Sen. Cantwell. “Coast Guard members and their families make sacrifices for us every day and provide an incredible service to the Pacific Northwest and the nation through search and rescue, emergency response, oil spill prevention, facilitating maritime commerce, and protecting national security. We must honor their commitment and service by guaranteeing they receive their pay on time.”
Sen. Cantwell is an ardent supporter of the U.S. Coast Guard and its families. Yesterday, the Senate unanimously passed the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025, which Sen. Cantwell introduced in February. It was first introduced last Congress, in December 2024. The bill would reauthorize $30.45 billion for the U.S. Coast Guard for Fiscal Years 2025 and 2026. It includes historic protections for service members from sexual assault and harassment, and boosts workforce development programs and availability of affordable housing, among other provisions.
In 2022, Sen. Cantwell led the passage of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022. The bill included provisions to reduce sexual assault and sexual harassment at sea and crack down on illegal fishing and forced labor. It also established the “Whale Desk” pilot program, which led to the creation of a whale traffic alert system at Coast Guard Base Seattle.
In 2021, Sen. Cantwell championed two Coast Guard provisions that were included in the landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including $309 million for repairs and new construction of Coast Guard owned housing and infrastructure across the country and $120 million to build Coast Guard owned and operated childcare centers, which are critical to the retention of women serving in the Coast Guard.
In 2017, Sen. Cantwell advocated for Coast Guard paid family leave policies to be expanded to include LGBTQ+ couples, adoptive parents, and secondary caregivers. The U.S. Coast Guard announced the expansion of their paid family leave policy in June 2018. In 2015, Sen. Cantwell authored an amendment to ensure Coast Guard members were not receiving less maternity leave than other branches of the military, such as the Navy. This resulted in paid maternity leave for Coast Guard members being doubled from 6 to 12 weeks.
The new political reality in Syria presents an opportunity to obtain long-overdue clarifications on the Syrian chemical weapons programme, rid the country of all such weapons and ensure long-term compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today.
“The importance of closing all outstanding issues related to Syria’s chemical weapons dossier cannot be overstated,” said Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, during her briefing to the 15-member Council.
Although the previous Syrian authorities submitted 20 amendments to Syria’s initial declaration, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Declaration Assessment Team was never able to confirm that the information was accurate. Over the last 11 years, the Team has raised and reported a total of 26 outstanding issues with Syria’s declaration.
“The OPCW Technical Secretariat has reported that the substance of the 19 outstanding issues remains a ‘serious concern’ as it involves large quantities of potentially undeclared or unverified chemical warfare agents and chemical munitions,” she added.
The OPCW Fact-Finding Mission and the OPCW Investigation and Identification Team have documented the use of chemical weapons in Syria, and in several incidents, identified the Syrian Arab Armed Forces as the perpetrators. The OPCW Technical Secretariat has reported that Syria continued to use, and possibly produce, chemical weapons after joining the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2013. “The situation left by the previous Syrian authorities is extremely worrying,” she went on to stress.
But, there are some encouraging signs. The OPCW Director-General recently received assurances that the new authorities are committed to destroying any remains of the chemical weapons programme, bringing justice to the victims and ensuring Syria’s compliance with international law. A new focal point for chemical weapons matters within the Syria’s Foreign Ministry travelled to The Hague for in-person meetings with the OPCW Technical Secretariat on how to advance the OPCW’s “Nine-Point Action Plan for Syria”.
In the coming days, a team of experts from the OPCW Technical Secretariat will be deployed to Damascus to establish OPCW’s permanent presence in Syria and start jointly planning deployments to chemical weapons sites. While the commitment of the caretaker authorities in Syria to fully cooperate with the OPCW Technical Secretariat is commendable, the work ahead will not be easy and will require additional resources from the international community. “I urge the members of this Council to unite and show leadership in providing the support that this unprecedented effort will require,” she said.
In the ensuing discussion among Council members, many speakers took note of the developments reported to date, underscoring them as important steps towards implementing relevant Council resolutions and securing Syria’s fulfilment of its international commitments. Several speakers also stressed the importance of ensuring that chemical weapons do not fall into the hands of non-State actors.
Need to Prevent Transfer of Mass Destruction Weapons to Terrorists
“Terrorists cannot be allowed to have access to weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons,” Pakistan’s delegate said. The new Syrian authorities must address long-standing questions and ensure unimpeded access to enable the OPCW to independently and fully verify the elimination of chemical weapons in Syria, he emphasised. China’s delegate also said that effectively resolving the Syrian chemical issue will help prevent chemical weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists. Resolving the issue of Syrian chemical weapons should be a top priority for the international community, he added, warning that the risk of terrorist organizations within Syria expanding their position in the country “remains high”.
Greece’s delegate stressed the importance of “securing chemical weapons-related locations and materials therein, during the [political] transition” in Syria. According to the latest OPCW monthly reports, he noted, no monthly report was received recently from Syria and its authorities have not completed declaring all the chemical weapons it currently possesses, including sarin, sarin precursors and chlorine. The interim Government must work constructively with OPCW to close the 19 outstanding issues, and thus to confirm that it has abandoned the use of chemical weapons and concluded the total destruction of stockpiles.
Several speakers highlighted the plight of the Syrian people, with Slovenia’s delegate emphasizing that Syrian civilians still await justice after 14 years of bloody conflict. “The use of chemical weapons has always resulted in a human tragedy,” she recalled. The representative of Denmark, Council President for March, speaking in her national capacity, stressed the importance of justice for Syrians who were victim to the Assad regime’s horrific chemical attacks. “The toppled regime of Bashar al-Assad had used these inhumane weapons against its own people in at least nine cases documented by independent investigations,” echoed France’s delegate. And for more than 11 years, the Assad regime obstructed the work of OPCW, he recalled.
‘Historic Opportunity’ for Renewed Momentum
“This is an opportunity that must not be squandered,” the representative of Panamastressed, echoing many speakers who also spotlighted this moment as a unique chance for Syria to start fresh. Efforts are being made to rebuild institutions and restore the rule of law. In the same vein, he also echoed several speakers as he expressed concern over increasing clashes and tensions across the country. “We urge all parties to halt this escalation and to prioritize dialog and stability,” he urged.
“We have a historic opportunity to close this dark chapter in history and to start a new one — creating a Syria that is safer for its people and more secure for the region and the world,” said the representative of the United States, underscoring that all elements of the Assad regime’s chemical weapons programme must now be secured, declared and safely destroyed under international verification. This imperative is two-fold: to bring Syria into compliance with its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention, and critically, to ensure that any remaining elements do not end up in the wrong hands, she said. However, “the window of opportunity is short”, she cautioned, highlighting “a tremendously important mission” before OPCW.
The fall of the Assad regime presents “a golden opportunity” to destroy Syria’s remaining chemical weapons programme, said the speaker for the United Kingdom, as he welcomed the commitments already made by the Syrian interim authorities to fully cooperate with OPCW. For things to progress, however, the international community must provide the financial and technical assistance that is required. He also urged Israel to de-escalate their actions in Syria, adding that such military moves risk destabilizing an already fragile situation. The representative of Republic of Korea also called on regional actors to refrain from actions that could impede Syria’s full implementation of its Chemical Weapons Convention obligations. Israel’s air strikes could not only create a risk of contamination, but also lead to the destruction of valuable evidence for investigations related to past use of chemical weapons. “Broader accountability measures must be pursued as part of Syria’s political transition,” he stressed.
Moscow Questions Expert Deployment to Chemical Weapons Sites
The Russian Federation’s delegate stated that his country was instrumental in Syria’s accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2013, which placed its chemical arsenal under international control. “On the whole, we support any progress that would help resolve the remaining outstanding issues in Syria’s initial declaration,” he said. However, he expressed doubts about the OPCW’s ability to carry out its technical mandate impartially, citing long-standing concerns over the politicization of its work. Cautioning against the deployment of full-fledged OPCW teams in Syria, he argued that any conclusions such missions might reach “won’t enjoy the trust of the international community”. Given the uncertain conditions in the country, verifying the presence of chemical weapons is “not the top priority for the current authorities,” he said, emphasizing: “We need to understand this and not push ahead with this topic.”
Other speakers commended recent diplomatic progress, with Algeria’s delegate, speaking also for Guyana, Sierra Leone and Somalia, acknowledging the recent engagement between Syria and OPCW and the designation by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs of a new focal point for chemical weapons matters. He commended Qatar’s “instrumental role” as a revitalizing channel for engagement. While recognizing the challenges faced by the Declaration Assessment Team in addressing all outstanding issues, he welcomed the readiness of the new Syrian leadership to inaugurate a new chapter of open and transparent relations with the Organization.
Türkiye’s delegate said that the high-level discussions during this visit of the OPCW Director-General “represent a crucial turning point in establishing direct cooperation between Syria and the OPCW, putting an end to years of stagnation”. Echoing several other speakers, he commended Qatar for temporarily assuming the role of representing Syria’s interests at OPCW, and also called on the Council to take decisive action against Israel’s expansionist and destabilizing acts.
New Foreign Policy, New Phase of Cooperation
For his part,Syria’s representative said his country is “keen to adopt a new foreign policy” grounded in international law, and to honour its obligations under international legal instruments it has acceded to. Accordingly, he reiterated his country’s commitment to cooperate with OPCW and “close this file once and for all”. However, he stressed that Israel’s aggression against several military and civilian facilities in Syria on 9 December 2024 complicates the relevant logistical, technical and practical challenges.
Highlighting “a new phase of cooperation” with OPCW, he requested that Syria’s privileges and rights as a State party — which have been suspended — be restored and collective punitive measures be lifted. “This undermined its efforts to achieve economic development and meet the needs of its people,” he observed, adding that Syria is keen today to eliminate the threat posed by prohibited chemical weapons, promote international peace and stability and “ensure that these atrocities will not occur in the future”.
HOUSTON – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed Ariel Nunez Figueroa, a 30-year-old Mexican national, to Mexico March 6. Nunez was wanted in Mexico for kidnapping and organized crime for his alleged role in the murder of 43 students from the Ayotzinapa Teachers’ College in September 2014.
ICE transported Nunez from the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas, to the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge Port of Entry in Laredo, Texas, and he was turned over to Mexican authorities.
“For nearly eleven years, this foreign fugitive evaded authorities while the family and friends of those 43 students who were brutally murdered patiently awaited justice for their loved ones,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston Field Office Director Bret Bradford. “Thanks to outstanding teamwork by ICE, Interpol and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, we were able to successfully track him down and remove him to Mexico to face prosecution for his alleged crimes.”
Nunez illegally entered the U.S. on an unknown date and at an unknown location. ICE received information from Interpol Sept. 3, 2024, indicating that he was potentially residing in the Houston area. ICE fugitive operations officers were able to quickly locate Nunez, and he was safely taken into custody Sept. 9, 2024. An immigration judge with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review ordered Nunez removed to Mexico Jan. 22.
For more news and information on ICE’s efforts to enforce our nation’s immigration laws in Texas follow us on X at @EROHouston.
Orlando, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the return of an indictment charging Jose Humberto Caceres-Martinez (25, El Salvador) with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. If convicted, Caceres-Martinez faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison.
According to court documents, Caceres-Martinez is a citizen and national of El Salvador. He was previously removed from the United States on August 20, 2019. On February 17, 2025, Caceres-Martinez was found in the United States again after he allegedly fled the scene of a vehicular accident in Brevard County. Caceres-Martinez did not receive the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security for the United States to apply for readmission to United States.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.
Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and John Thune (R-S.D.), members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry, reintroduced the Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation that would enhance the effectiveness and timeliness of multiple U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs that assist agricultural producers in the aftermath of adverse weather events. The bill would also provide USDA with direction to help improve the accuracy of the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM), which triggers certain disaster programs.
“Drought, wildfires, and extreme weather are making it harder for New Mexico’s farmers and ranchers to care for livestock, grow crops, and support our communities,” said Luján. “As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I’m proud to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation to help farmers and ranchers get the support they need when disaster strikes. USDA programs must respond faster and more effectively to provide the relief New Mexicans deserve. This legislation will help our agricultural producers weather the impacts of extreme weather and disasters and keep contributing to our economy and food security.”
“South Dakota farmers and ranchers are all too familiar with working through extreme weather conditions, especially drought,” said Thune. “These common-sense updates to disaster programs would help provide greater and expedited assistance to producers when they need it the most. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan legislation that would make the Drought Monitor a more effective tool and help ensure USDA programs are using accurate and consistent data in administering programs that are designed to help the agriculture community.”
The legislation would make the following reforms:
Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP):
Clarify that state and federal grazing permit holders are eligible for these programs
Streamline the ECP and EFRP permitting process to allow:
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) to waive the 30-day public comment period for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) applications during a drought emergency
BLM to accept archeological reviews completed by Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) field staff during a drought emergency
BLM to accept NEPA and endangered species reviews completed by NRCS field staff
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP):
Require ELAP honey bee assistance to factor in rates, including per-hive, per-colony, and per-standardized expected mortality, and require consistent documentation requirements
Expand honey producer coverage for losses and costs, including transportation related to adverse weather and drought
Livestock Forage Program (LFP):
Modify LFP to allow a one-month payment when a county reaches D2 (severe drought) for four consecutive weeks, compared to eight weeks under current law
USDM:
Convene an interagency working group consisting of representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of the Interior, and the state mesonet programs to develop recommendations to improve USDM data access, accuracy, and reliability
Require the U.S. Forest Service and the FSA to sign a memorandum of understanding related to coordinating drought-related designation and response activities
Full bill text is available here.
Amid the chaos of the Trump administration’s first few weeks in office, a court case regarding the president’s legal right to stop payment of nearly $2 billion in U.S. Agency for International Development contracts poses an important legal question whose answer may show just how strong the country’s separation of powers actually is.
On Jan. 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order pausing all foreign aid funding, most of which is administered by USAID. A little more than two weeks later, USAID laid off all but a few hundred of its 10,000 workers.
U.S. District Judge Amir Ali issued a temporary order on Feb. 13 for the administration to not end or pause any existing foreign aid contracts – and again ordered on Feb. 25 that the administration needed to pay the $2 billion owed to various aid organizations for completed work.
After the Trump administration filed an emergency appeal of the decision to the Supreme Court, the justices, in a 5-4 ruling on March 5, found that the federal judge’s decision can temporarily take effect while the district court considers the merits of the case.
Amy Lieberman, a politics and society editor at The Conversation U.S., spoke with Charles Wise, an expert on public administration and law, to understand what is fueling this court case and why it has become a test of how far Trump can push the boundaries of presidential power.
Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh, left, Amy Coney Barrett, center, and former Justice Anthony Kennedy speak with President Donald Trump after his speech at the U.S. Capitol in March 4, 2025. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
1. What is most important to understand about the Supreme Court’s ruling on USAID funding?
The Trump administration issued a blanket executive order freezing all USAID funds on Jan. 20, 2025. There have been many twists and turns in this case since then, but the Washington, D.C., district court determined in February that the organizations that receive USAID funding to deliver food or health care to people in need, as well as other recipients of USAID money in foreign countries, would suffer irreparable harm.
The U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., also said that the administration did not follow proper procedures in the law. The Administrative Procedure Act has a set of standards that requires the president to do certain things before making any unilateral kind of action to withhold funds.
The Supreme Court’s March 5 order is not the final ruling on the case, but it does allow the U.S. District Court decision to stand – at least for now. This ruling requires the government to release funds to USAID recipients. The Supreme Court’s decision also directs the district court to clarify what the government must do to comply with the district court’s order, including considering the feasibility of the timeline within which the government must release the money.
This is all taking place in a very short time frame, in the context of the D.C. district court issuing a temporary restraining order. It is saying: Let’s freeze the existing situation in place so we can have a full hearing on this issue.
2. Why is this case important?
Any administration is prohibited from just withholding funds for any program it doesn’t like without following the procedures prescribed by law. This case matters because the D.C. district court’s decision puts boundaries on what the Trump administration can do to withhold funds that Congress has appropriated. It forces the administration to follow the laws that Congress and previous presidents have agreed on and adopted.
It ultimately comes down to a contest between the branches of government, and, specifically, the presidency and Congress. This is where Articles 1 and 2 of the U.S. Constitution – and how they divided powers between the president and Congress – comes in. The Trump administration claimed that the court should have respected the president’s Article 2 powers to administer the federal government’s spending. The D.C. court acknowledged the president’s powers under Article 2 but said it has to be balanced against Congress’ right, under Article 1, to appropriate funds.
A terminated federal worker leaves the offices of the U.S. Agency for International Development in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 28, 2025, after being fired. Bryan Dozier/Middle East/AFP via Getty Images
3. What happens if Trump and his administration do not abide by this order?
Trump’s officials have a decision to make. Are they going to follow the executive order or the court’s order? That’s not a fun place to be. Administrative officials take an oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the U.S., which subjects them to court decisions.
The president himself is not responsible for distributing USAID funds. State Department officials are responsible for dispersing the funds, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio was appointed as the acting administrator of USAID on Feb. 3, 2025.
If Rubio and other officials refuse to comply with the court’s order, the D.C. judge, Amir Ali, can hold those officials in contempt of court. Ali has a variety of tools he can use – one is to levy fines against them individually. He could say they have to pay a thousand dollars per day for each day they don’t execute the court’s order.
4. What will happen next in this case?
The Supreme Court said in a brief opinion on March 5 that the Feb. 26, 2025, deadline for the government to pay USAID and its contractors had already passed and instructed Ali to “clarify what obligations the Government must fulfill to ensure compliance” with paying USAID.
The government has argued to the court that the timeline the judge initially set was too fast – they couldn’t do it that fast.
Now, a few things are going to happen. Ali has ordered the government to develop and release a new schedule to release funds and to have that ready by March 10.
The second part is that the district court judge will probably schedule a hearing on the merits of the case, in which Ali will be assessing the administration’s argument about whether the administration has violated the Administrative Procedure Act. Ultimately, the Trump administration could appeal Ali’s decision, and the case could wind up back at the Supreme Court.
Charles Wise had a cooperative agreement for work with USAID that ended in 2007.
Alberta’s population has grown rapidly in the last few years, and this unprecedented population growth has led to enrolment pressures on Alberta schools. To meet these challenges, in fall 2024, Alberta’s government announced a generational investment of $8.6 billion to build more than 100 new and updated schools across the province. Budget 2025, if passed, kick-starts this investment with funding for nine school projects in rural communities and smaller cities across the province.
New schools will be built for families in Lethbridge, Brooks, Fairview, Muskiki Lake and Cold Lake, with modernization projects taking place at Brooks Composite High School and École Dickinsfield School in Fort McMurray. To accommodate growing student populations, additions will also be made to Grande Prairie Composite High School and Holy Trinity Catholic High School in Fort McMurray. Together, these projects represent a significant investment in expanding student spaces outside the Edmonton and Calgary metro areas.
“We are taking action to address the challenges facing rural schools and communities outside metro Edmonton and Calgary. While some schools in rural Alberta are getting older and need to be modernized or replaced, other communities are experiencing growing enrolment. I’m proud to say our Budget 2025 commitment addresses both challenges – and this is just the beginning.”
In total, these nine school projects will deliver about 7,600 new and updated student spaces for smaller urban cities and rural communities in Alberta.
Budget 2025, if passed, funds a total of 41 new school projects across the province, which consists of 30 new schools, five replacement schools, three modernizations and three charter school projects. With these 41 projects funded in Budget 2025, there are now 132 active school projects across Alberta. More than one-third are in smaller centres outside the Edmonton and Calgary metro areas.
“Alberta Infrastructure is committed to getting students into desks as soon as possible, while ensuring their classrooms are well-built and well-maintained for generations of positive learning. Our province is built on strong communities and projects like these will have a generational impact on students as they learn and grow in these facilities.”
Details on school projects in the Edmonton and Calgary metro regions will be shared in the coming days.
“We are incredibly excited to learn the Alberta government has granted design funding for the modernization of the Career and Technology Studies spaces at Brooks Composite High School. We know these modernized and state of art CTS spaces will provide students with critical access and opportunities in the pursuit of career pathways, trades and workplace preparation.”
“We are thrilled to receive this planning funding for a new K-12 school for St. Thomas More in Fairview. We are extremely grateful to the provincial government for recognizing the importance of this investment in the community, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the students and families of St. Thomas More, and Catholic Education in Fairview.”
Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on supporting the economy.
Quick facts
The 2025 Capital Plan allocates $75 million over the next three years for the planning and design of the 41 school capital projects approved in 2025 and $2.3 billion to building and updating previously announced school projects.
With Budget 2025, if passed, there are now 47 school projects underway in communities outside of the Edmonton and Calgary metro areas:
27 projects in construction
6 projects in design
13 projects in planning
1 project in preplanning
Budget 2025, if passed, new school projects outside Edmonton and Calgary metro regions:
Community
School division
Project type/name
Design funding (2)
Grande Prairie
Grande Prairie Public School Division
Addition to Grande Prairie Composite High School
Fort McMurray
Fort McMurray Catholic Schools
Addition to 7 to 12 Holy Trinity Catholic High School
Planning funding (2)
Brooks
Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools
New 9 to 12
Lethbridge
Lethbridge School Division
New K to 5
Budget 2025, if passed, replacement school projects outside Edmonton and Calgary metro regions:
Community
School division
Project type/name
Planning funding (3)
Cold Lake
Northern Lights Public Schools
Solution for Art Smith Aviation Academy, North Star Elementary School and Cold Lake Junior High
Fairview
Holy Family Catholic Regional Division
Replacement of St. Thomas More School
Muskiki Lake
Program is delivered by Edmonton Catholic Schools
Replacement of Kisiko Awasis Kiskinahamawin
Budget 2025, if passed, modernization school projects outside Edmonton and Calgary metro regions:
Saskatchewan Families with Sick Children to Have a Place to Stay, Close to their Child’s Side
Today, the Government of Saskatchewan announced $3.5 million in funding to Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) to help build the first ever Ronald McDonald House in Prince Albert.
“This new Ronald McDonald House will offer comfort, affordability and convenience to Saskatchewan families with sick children who travel to Prince Albert for treatment,” Premier Scott Moe said. “I am grateful that our province can help create a space where families feel supported and cared for, a true home away from home.”
The Ronald McDonald Home in Prince Albert will support families whose children are undergoing treatments at nearby health care facilities. The design includes 12 bedrooms, a smudge room, communal kitchen, dining room, living room, play space and family games room.
“The support to build the Ronald McDonald House – Prince Albert will ensure that families traveling to the Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert, for the health care of their child or children, have a place to stay, close to their child’s side,” Chief Executive Officer of RMHC Saskatchewan Tammy Forrester said. “This historic capital investment by the Government of Saskatchewan into Ronald McDonald House Charities Saskatchewan is an investment into all Saskatchewan families.”
The new facility will be built on 5.6 acres located at 791 25th Street West in Prince Albert.
Families across the province have stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon. The Trudel family have experienced firsthand what the home offers.
“Staying at the Ronald McDonald House felt like home, in fact, when we eventually left, we missed it,” Shianne Trudel said.
Construction of the Ronald McDonald House Charities Prince Albert will begin late spring 2025 and is expected to be completed in early 2027.
Last month, the government announced $6.5 million to help build a 20-bedroom Ronald McDonald House in Regina, bringing the total provincial funding to RMHC to $10 million.
RMHC Saskatchewan was founded in 1985. RMHC currently operates two programs in Saskatchewan with Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon and Family Room in Prince Albert. Approximately 29,800 Saskatchewan families have been served by these programs.
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For more information, contact:
Media Desk Health Regina Phone: 306-787-4083 Email: media@health.gov.sk.ca
Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
03.07.25
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) joined Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) in introducing legislation to ensure all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers have designated nursing spaces. The bipartisan, bicameral Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act would ensure all medical centers managed by the VA contain a hygienic, private space specifically dedicated for nursing veterans, VA employees, and their partners. As of 2022, there were only 90 VA medical centers across the country with such rooms.
“There are over two million female veterans in this country, and yet only half of VA facilities have designated nursing rooms,” said Senator Murkowski. “We recently renamed the Alaska VA Medical Campus after Colonel Mary Louise Rasmuson to ensure that all veterans feel welcome in these facilities, but it takes more than a name to follow through on the broader promise to make sure that women, as the fastest growing demographic within the VA’s constituency, see their needs being met. We must support female veterans and their young children however we are able, and a key part of that is making sure young mothers have clean spaces designated for nursing.”
“VA facilities should be equipped to serve all veterans, including nursing mothers,” said Senator Rosen. “This commonsense, bipartisan legislation will make sure that veteran mothers, VA employees, and their family members have access to a private and hygienic place to nurse at VA medical centers.”
“Every mom should be able to breastfeed in a clean, safe, and private space, and our veterans deserve the best,” said Representative Underwood. “As a nurse, I know the health benefits of breastfeeding for moms and babies, and our bicameral legislation will make sure that VA facilities are properly equipped to support veteran families.”
Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)
StateDepartment Spokesperson Tammy Bruce: ‘Honored to participate in my first Department press briefing today. I talked about my commitment to the American people to always speak directly and clearly about the Department’s policies and priorities, and I outlined what President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have been doing to make America stronger, safer, and more prosperous. America is back!’
Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
Q: Why did President Trump address a joint session of Congress?
A: Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution says the president “shall from time to time” give Congress information about the state of the union. George Washington set the precedent by fulfilling this duty in person. Although his successors from 1801 to 1913 sent their messages to Congress in writing, President Woodrow Wilson resumed the tradition of delivering the address in person that’s continued through the 47th president. While President Harry Truman’s 1947 address was the first televised to the nation, LBJ’s address in 1965 started the tradition of delivering the televised address in the evening.
Since then, the nation’s chief executive has used the annual opportunity to speak directly to the American people, outline the priorities and achievements of the administration and offer legislative proposals for Congress in the coming year. Although it looks and sounds like a State of the Union address, that title refers to the annual speech after a president’s first year in office. So, while March 4th was the fifth time for President Trump to give an annual address before a joint session of Congress, this update covered the first 43 days of his second term. And that six-week timeline is notable for the remarkable breadth of executive actions – and achievements – since inauguration day on January 20.
Since Iowans first sent me to Congress, I’ve represented the people of Iowa under nine administrations. That adds up to a half-century of annual presidential addresses. In all that time, this is the first presidency that has dramatically upended business-as-usual since day one. I compare Trump’s first month in office of his second term as a hurricane uprooting the status quo. He wasted no time delivering on his promises to secure the border, bring manufacturing jobs back to America and reverse the disastrous policies of the previous administration that led to historic inflation and high cost of living.
Q: What were the highlights of President Trump’s message?
A: This president understands the power of the bully pulpit. Throughout his speech – the longest annual address in modern history, surpassing President Bill Clinton’s 85-minute State of the Union address in 1995 by 15 minutes –Trump grabbed the bull by the horns and charged full steam ahead, declaring “America is back.” His critics need to come to grips with reality. Trump won the popular vote and America witnessed a historical electoral shift that delivered Republican majority control in both houses of Congress and the White House. In our system of self-government, elections are intended to have consequences. The victories in November are a mandate for Trump’s agenda: the American people rejected the reckless policies of the previous administration that fostered historic inflation and open borders that allowed a wave of an estimated 10 million illegal immigrants to enter the country, empowering dangerous cartels to infiltrate communities with drug and human trafficking networks.
As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I recently held a hearing on my bipartisan HALT Act that would give law enforcement better tools to put an end to our nation’s deadly opioid crisis. Chinese fentanyl poured into the U.S. under the Biden-Harris administration’s open border. The bill I got passed out of committee in February is now one step closer to the president’s desk. Families grieving the loss of a loved one from deadly fentanyl are leading a grassroots effort to prevent other families from experiencing the crushing loss of an overdose death. During his address, Trump explained one of the reasons for the tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China were partly a response to their inaction toward the flow of fentanyl into the United States, which kills 200 Americans every day in our country.
Trump also doubled down on his work to scrutinize federal spending and curb the cost of living. By cutting costly regulations and unleashing the power of American energy, the Trump administration seeks to lower energy costs by investments in natural gas pipelines and expanding the production of rare earth minerals. With unapologetic pride and hope for America, the president highlighted a handful of Americans in attendance who captured the spirit of America for their sacrifice, heroism and pursuit of the American Dream. During the speech he made a 13-year-old cancer survivor an honorary Secret Service agent; told an aspiring candidate to the U.S. military academy he was admitted into West Point; and, shined a spotlight on grieving families of crime. Notably, the first bill Trump signed into law was the Laken Riley Act, which included Sarah’s Law, named after a young Iowan killed nine years ago by an illegal migrant while driving drunk. It was an honor to be at the White House signing ceremony in her memory, alongside Sen. Joni Ernst and Rep. Randy Feenstra who I worked with to get this legislation passed. The president presented a strong agenda to strengthen American sovereignty, uphold freedom and liberty and bring prosperity to households, farms and businesses across the country. As always, I’m committed to represent the views and concerns of Iowans as Congress continues work on the people’s business.
Solving the Nursing Shortage: Governor Shapiro Visits Temple University Health System to Highlight Investments in Nurse Training to Grow Pennsylvania’s Health Care Workforce
Governor Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Nancy A. Walker visited Temple Women & Families – part of Temple University Health System (TUHS) – to highlight the investments included in the Governor’s 2025-26 budget proposal aimed at tackling Pennsylvania’s nursing shortage and strengthening the Commonwealth’s health care workforce.
The Governor’s budget proposal includes a first-time state-level investment of $5 million to create the Nurse Shortage Assistance Program, which will provide funding to hospitals that partner with nursing schools to cover tuition costs for students who commit to a three-year work placement at Pennsylvania hospitals after graduation. This initiative aims to build a pipeline of trained nursing professionals- boosting retention, limiting turnover, and helping maintain a skilled health care workforce that delivers high-quality care all across the Commonwealth.
“We need to take action now to address Pennsylvania’s nursing shortage, and my budget makes strategic investments to do just that,” said Governor Shapiro. “By expanding education programs, providing tuition assistance, and strengthening workforce pipelines, we can ensure hospitals have the skilled professionals they need to deliver high-quality patient care. We know this model of tuition assistance works, and for the first time ever, we are proposing to help nursing students with an investment of state dollars that not only gives them peace of mind but creates a pipeline of new, highly trained nurses for our communities.”
List of Speakers: Michael Young, President and CEO of TUHS Governor Shapiro Carter Short, Chief Nursing Executive of TUHS Chaudron Maura Cabry,senior nursing student Nancy A. Walker, L&I Secretary
Shapiro Administration Leaders Encourage Postpartum Depression Screenings for All Pennsylvania Mothers, Call for Faster Referrals to Mental Health Services
Shapiro Administration officials from the departments of Human Services (DHS), Health (DOH),and Drugs and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) highlighted Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposal in this year’s budget to implement universal postpartum depression screenings for all Pennsylvania moms.
During a visit to the Allegheny Health Network’s (AHN) Alexis Joy D’Achille Center for Perinatal Mental Health, leaders shared how postpartum depression can occur weeks and months after childbirth, where mothers experience a broad range of symptoms including but not limited to sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, change in appetite, difficulty in sleep, mood swings and thoughts of self-harm that may make it difficult to carry out daily tasks, including caring for themselves and their babies. Postpartum depression affects one in eight mothers across the country. It not only impacts the well-being of Pennsylvania mothers, but also has profound effects on their families and communities.
“For more than two decades, as a pediatrician, I worked with new mothers and their babies and saw firsthand the impact pregnancy-related depression has on women and their families,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. “Implementing universal postpartum depression screenings and referrals to evidence-based treatment options for all Pennsylvania mothers is a meaningful action we can take to ensure women receive the care they need during a critical time in their lives.”
Speakers Include: Dr. Brian Johnson, AHN West Penn Hospital President Steven D’Achille, President of the Alexis Joy D’Achille Foundation Dr. Debra Bogen, DOH Secretary Sara Goulet, DHS Special Advisor Kelly Primus, DDAP Deputy Secretary Dr. Ewurama Sackey, AHN Medical Director of the Women’s Behavioral Health, Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Institute Dr. Priya Gopalan, Chief of Psychiatry for UPMC Magree-Womens Hospital Jessica Tucker, Patient at the Alexis Joy D’Achille Center for Perinatal Mental Health
Shapiro-Davis Administration Highlights Importance of Proposed 2025-26 State Budget Investment for Victims Compensation and the Critical Role of the Program for Victims and Survivors of Crime
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), Victim/Witness Services of the Lancaster District Attorney’s Office, and other local victim service providers highlighted the importance of supporting victims and survivors of crime and to encourage support for the Shapiro-Davis Administration’s proposed $9 million investment in the Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP) in the 2025-26 state budget.
“No crime victim should have to worry about how they’ll afford medical bills. No family should have to struggle with funeral expenses for a loved one lost to violence. And no sexual assault survivor should have to worry about costs of counseling to overcome their trauma,” said Kathy Buckley, Director of PCCD’s Office of Victims’ Services. “That’s why VCAP is so essential- it’s more than just financial assistance; it’s a lifeline. We need to continue raising awareness about the vital impact of this program and the importance of the Shapiro-Davis budget investment in VCAP to ensure it remains available for Pennsylvanians who need it most.”
VCAP serves as a critical financial lifeline for people who have experienced crime victimization. Each year, the program receives an average of 12,000 claims for eligible expenses including medical and counseling expenses, loss of earnings, loss of support, stolen cash, relocation, funeral costs, crime scene cleanup, and more. Over the past five years, PCCD has paid more than 67,000 VCAP claims totaling $67 million in eligible expenses for citizens across all 67 Pennsylvania counties.
List of Speakers: Kathy Buckley, Office of Victims’ Services Director, PCCD Deanna Weaver, Victim/Witness Services Program Director, Lancaster County DA’s Office Mary Halye, Lancaster County Children’s Alliance Manager Christine Gilfillan, Domestic Violence Services of Lancaster County Director, Community Action Partnership Mandy Billman, Sexual Assault Prevention and Counseling Center Director, YWCA Lancaster
On March 7 over one hundred fourth-year medical students presented their capstone scholarly projects at the annual Clinician Scholar Symposium at UConn School of Medicine.
The student presentations are a special part of the culmination of their medical school journey as they march toward UConn Health’s 54th Commencement on May 12 to receive their medical degrees.
The event’s keynote address was delivered by UConn School of Medicine alum Margaret K. Callahan, MD, Ph.D., who now serves as the chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at UConn Health and the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center. She spoke about the power of immunotherapy for cancer patients and beyond.
“I’m delighted to be back at UConn as a clinician scientist. My time here as a student was foundational in building this career – from clinical skills to research skills to my early interest in cancer immunotherapy – it all started here,” shared Callahan.
The soon-to-be future Dr. Cailyn Regan presenting her novel capstone project study findings in the Academic Rotunda on March 7.
“We are thrilled that the UConn medical school community came out to support our graduating fourth-year students as they disseminated their scholarly work. We have had really great projects and presentations. We wish them continued success,” said co-chair of the Clinician Scholar Symposium Stefan Brocke, MD, Ph.D.
“Thank you to all the faculty mentors for making the successful journey of our medical students and their capstone projects possible,” said Jeffrey Pella, Ph.D., MSc., also co-chair of the Symposium.
One of the fourth-year student capstone presenters was Cailyn Regan, 26, of West Hartford. Her project focused on infertility which is widespread in the U.S. impacting approximately 15 percent of couples. She explored “Lutei nizing hormone (LH) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) stimulate ovulation in an epiregulin (EREG)-dependent manner.” Her faculty mentor was Lisa Mehlmann, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Cell Biology.
“My project helped to highlight previously unexplored feedback loops in the ovulatory process. Research like this can expose new targets to explore for future treatment of infertility, IVF, or other hormonal disorders,” says Regan. “Reproductive health is an area of medicine that interacts with both the clinical status and livelihoods of patients. Being able to appreciate and explore both the scientific and humanistic sides of medicine is a pillar I’ve always tried to align myself with.”
Regan’s capstone project presentation has been a long time coming.
Fourth-year UConn medical student Cailyn Regan of West Hartford.
“It’s surreal knowing that presenting my capstone that I’ve been working on for years is the only thing that stands between me and graduation. It’s been a long road but an enriching one,” she reports.
Regan is looking forward to National Match Day on March 21 with her fellow classmates in the Class of 2025 and hopes to be beginning her journey with a match to a surgical residency, likely with research years.
As she presented her capstone findings, Regan’s father Dr. Thomas Regan, assistant dean for Admissions and Student Affairs and an emergency medicine physician at UConn Health, beamed with pride.
“She’s the best, she knows the information, and gave a phenomenal presentation,” he exclaimed.
Double Husky Maxime Braun, 27, of Simsbury presented her capstone on “Artificial Intelligence Screening of Computed Tomography Images for Identification of Findings Requiring STAT Read by a Radiologist.” Associate professor of radiology Dr. Michael Baldwin served as her faculty mentor.
UConn medical school’s Class of 2025’s Maxime Braun of Simsbury.
“Throughout my time in medical school, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a much more prominent presence in society, academia, and medicine. During my training, AI not only arrived on the scene but seems to have become ever more pervasive in day-to-day life. The role of AI seems to be questioned most heavily within the field of radiology,” Braun says.
Braun conducted research into the developments of AI use within the field as she hopes to pursue a diagnostic radiology residency training program and a future career in radiology.
“My research into the relationship between AI and the radiologist has led to my discovery of a few AI-driven tools that I had no previous knowledge of,” Braun reports. “A few of these screening modules that I have witnessed first-hand can detect breast lesions on mammograms, lung nodules on low-dose chest CT scans and, of course, large vessel occlusions on CT angiograms of the head and neck. While this project has certainly not wholly clarified the relationship between AI and radiology, it has confirmed that it is a highly effective triaging tool that increases efficiency for patient care.”
Braun adds, “As a future radiologist I am motivated to continue to investigate this relationship; it will be important to keep up with the development of AI as it will inevitably keep intertwining with the field.”
Maxime Braun, fourth-year UConn med student, presenting her capstone findings.
Braun’s conclusion about the Clinician Scholar Symposium: “It was remarkable witnessing and celebrating all that our class has accomplished. It’s pretty incredible how fast the past 4 years seemed to go by even when, at times, it felt like such a long road ahead. What I love most about UConn are the people I have met along the way. I will cherish the relationships I have formed with professors, mentors, staff, and life-long friends.”
Congrats to the future Dr. Regan, Dr. Braun, and all the future UConn-made doctors on their successful capstones!
Dr. Melissa Held, senior associate dean for Medical Student Education concluded, “This is one of my very favorite days of the year. I am incredibly impressed. Congratulations!”
UConn Health’s Dr. Thomas Regan looks on as his daughter Cailyn Regan presents her final capstone project and follows in his footsteps to become a physician.
Additional information on the event and the presented capstones.
