Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Xi’s Southeast Asia tour promotes good-neighborliness, mutually beneficial cooperation: Chinese FM
BEIJING, April 18 — Chinese President Xi Jinping’s just-concluded Southeast Asia tour focused on good-neighborly relations and promoted mutually beneficial cooperation, and achieved a complete success, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said during a press briefing that Xi’s trip to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia from Monday to Friday was the first overseas tour of the Chinese head of state this year.
The tour sent a strong signal that China firmly defends multilateralism and international trade rules, Wang said.
On Xi’s visit to Vietnam, Wang said that the strategic guidance of the top leaders of the two parties and countries is the biggest advantage of and the most important political guarantee for the development of China-Vietnam relations.
The leaders of the two parties and countries unanimously confirmed that in accordance with the overarching goals characterized by “six mores,” the two sides will advance the development of their comprehensive strategic cooperation with higher quality and on deeper levels, and accelerate the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, he said.
During Xi’s visit to Vietnam, bilateral railway cooperation has been expanded and upgraded, which particularly demonstrated the determination of the two countries to seek common development, Wang said.
On Xi’s visit to Malaysia, Wang said its most significant outcome was that the leaders of the two countries elevated China-Malaysia relations to a new height and announced the building of a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future.
This marks another leap in the positioning of the bilateral relationship after China and Malaysia announced the joint building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future in 2023, Wang noted.
A highlight of this visit is that the two sides agreed to become a pacesetter for regional cooperation on new quality productive forces, focusing on cutting-edge fields such as digital economy, green economy and artificial intelligence, he added.
Speaking of Xi’s visit to Cambodia, Wang noted that the highlight was the joint announcement by Xi and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on elevating the China-Cambodia relationship to an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, which marks the first time that China has elevated its bilateral relationship with a Southeast Asian country to an all-weather level.
Wang said that during Xi’s Southeast Asia tour, the Chinese president pointed out that economic globalization benefits all countries and no country can retreat into isolation.
Trade wars will undermine the international trading system, the stability of the global economic order and the legitimate interests of all countries in the world, especially developing countries, Xi noted.
As key members of the Global South, China and neighboring countries should strengthen coordination and cooperation, stand together to combat the undercurrent of camp-based confrontation, jointly oppose unilateralism and counter the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak with the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, so as to safeguard the bright prospects of our Asian family, Xi said.
Xi underscored that despite the headwind of mounting protectionism, China will pursue high-quality development, expand high-standard opening up and share development opportunities with neighboring countries.
China’s mega market is always open to neighboring countries, and China welcomes more high-quality products from ASEAN members, he added.
Tech giant Google has just suffered another legal blow in the United States, losing a landmark antitrust case. This follows on from the company’s loss in a similar case last year.
Social media giant Meta is also currently embroiled in a landmark legal battle in the US that could change not only how it operates, but how millions of people around the world communicate.
Hearings in the Meta case commenced earlier this week in a court in Washington DC, after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg failed to settle the case for US$450 million. Brought by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the suit alleges Meta broke antitrust laws and illegally secured a monopoly over social media platforms.
Along with Google and Meta, Amazon and Apple are also currently facing significant antitrust challenges in the US.
All of these actions are continuing despite major changes in both the FTC and the US Department of Justice as a result of the election of Donald Trump.
Collectively, these cases represent a substantial regulatory push to examine and potentially curb the market power of big tech. So what are all of these cases about exactly? What are the next steps in each of them? And what might they mean for consumers?
The cases against Google
The case Google just lost was related to online advertising.
The US Department of Justice alleged Google had behaved anticompetitively to monopolise the complex digital advertising technology market. This market facilitates the buying and selling of online ads.
The US district judge, Leonie Brinkema, agreed Google has a monopoly over the tools used by online publishers to host ad space, and the software that facilitates transactions between online publishers and advertisers.
In her ruling, Judge Brinkema said Google had “wilfully engaged in a series of anticompetitive acts” which ultimately resulted in it obtaining “monopoly power in the open-web display publisher ad server market”.
Google has said it will appeal the decision. The Department of Justice will ask the court to require Google to divest parts of its ad tech business when the remedies phase of this trial starts later this month.
The second case involving Google is related to internet search.
The Department of Justice argued Google used exclusionary agreements, such as paying Apple billions annually to be the default search engine on iPhones, to lock out competitors.
The case has now moved to the remedies phase. A crucial remedies trial is scheduled to begin next week. During this, the court will hear arguments on what actions should be taken against Google. Potential remedies could be significant, with regulators previously suggesting measures such as restrictions on Google’s Android operating system or even forcing the sale of its Chrome browser.
Google has stated its intention to appeal this ruling as well.
The core of the FTC’s argument is that Meta employed a “buy-or-bury” strategy to eliminate competitive threats.
This allegedly involved acquiring nascent rivals, most notably Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014, specifically to neutralise them before they could challenge Facebook’s dominance.
The FTC points to internal communications as evidence of anticompetitive intent. These include Mark Zuckerberg’s statement, “It is better to buy than compete”. They also include an internal memo which showed Zuckerberg considered spinning off Instagram in 2018 over concerns about antitrust scrutiny.
The commission argues Meta’s actions stifled innovation and harmed consumers by limiting choices. It’s seeking to force Meta to divest, or sell off, both Instagram and WhatsApp.
Meta vigorously defends its actions. It argues it does not hold a monopoly, facing fierce competition from platforms such as TikTok, YouTube and X (formerly Twitter).
The company contends the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp were pro-competitive, allowing Meta to invest billions to improve and scale the apps, ultimately benefiting users. A key defence point is that the FTC itself reviewed and approved both deals over a decade ago.
The trial is expected to last eight weeks.
The cases against Apple and Amazon
In March 2024, the Department of Justice, along with several states, sued Apple, alleging it illegally maintains a monopoly in the smartphone market.
The lawsuit claims Apple uses its control over the iPhone ecosystem to stifle competition and innovation by, for example, degrading messaging quality between iPhones and Android devices and limiting the functionality of third-party digital wallets and smartwatches.
Apple filed a motion to dismiss the case in August 2024. The litigation is in its early stages and is expected to continue for several years.
In September 2023, the FTC, joined by numerous states, also sued Amazon.
The lawsuit alleges the tech giant unlawfully maintains monopoly power in both the market for “online superstores” (where consumers shop) and “online marketplace services” (for third-party sellers).
The FTC claims Amazon uses interlocking anticompetitive tactics. These include punishing sellers for offering lower prices elsewhere, coercing sellers into using its services, degrading search results with excessive ads, and charging exorbitant seller fees.
In late 2024, the presiding judge largely denied Amazon’s attempt to dismiss the core federal claims, allowing the case to proceed.
Taken together, these lawsuits represent the most significant antitrust enforcement push against major technology firms in the US in decades. They signal a fundamental re-examination of how competition laws apply to fast-evolving digital platforms and ecosystems.
The outcomes could potentially lead to major structural changes. These changes could include the forced breakup of companies such as Meta, or significant behavioural remedies restricting how these firms operate.
Regardless of the specific results, the decisions in these cases will likely set crucial legal precedents. In turn, these will profoundly shape the future competitive landscape for technology. They will also likely influence regulation globally, and impact innovation and investment across the digital economy.
What the cases do not reflect is the change in independence of regulatory bodies in the US, where consistency with White House policy is now paramount. The outcomes will surely test the relationship between Trump and the “tech bros” who’ve, quite literally, been at his side recently.
Rob Nicholls is a member of the Sydney University Centre for AI, Trust, and Governance and also receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)
Today, Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA-50) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) introduced the Smart Ship Repair Act (SSRA) of 2025, a follow-up to Rep. Peters’ SSRA of 2023 and SSRA of 2024, which have both become law. This iteration of the SSRA would increase the amount of time a ship is allowed to stay in its homeport for repairs before the Navy can move a ship and its crew to other locations for maintenance work.
The SSRA of 2025 would require the Navy to change its current practice of soliciting ship repair contracts on a coast-wide basis for work periods longer than 12 months to only those that are projected to last more than 18 months. Currently, ships homeported in San Diego that need more than 12 months of maintenance could be moved to other facilities along the West Coast if the Navy receives a more cost -effective bid from other companies to perform the work. This makes it difficult for San Diego’s ship repair industry to recruit and maintain its workforce and invest in its facilities. It also forces sailors to possibly spend their time ashore away from their families after long deployments at sea.
“San Diego is home to a vibrant ship repair industry that employs nearly 8,000 workers and supports the Navy’s force posture in the Asia-Pacific,” said Rep. Peters. “This bill will help protect those jobs and support a high quality of life for sailors and their families while also ensuring the Navy can meet its ship repair needs as it prepares for the threats of the future.”
“From 2014 to 2024, the Navy’s surface fleet in Hampton Roads decreased from 48 to 28 vessels, creating challenges for our ship repair industry and causing a 30% workforce reduction,” said Rep. Kiggans. “One of the best ways we can support our Navy and bolster our ship repair industry is to ensure our ships are repaired within their homeports. I am proud to introduce this important legislation that will support the highly skilled men and women who repair our ships, strengthen our maritime industrial base, and provide a better quality of life for our servicemembers.”
“PSDSRA enthusiastically supports the proposed legislation to extend the coast wide bid threshold to 18 months,” said Gordon Rutherford, President, Port of San Diego Ship Repair Association. “This not only keeps work in San Diego that supports all of our businesses, it also provides stability and better quality of life for the crews of San Diego based ships who already spend enough time away from home in defense of our country.”
“Austal USA appreciates Congressman Peters continued efforts to support and bring stability to the ship repair industry in San Diego,” said Larry Ryder, Vice President of Business Development & External Affairs at Austal USA. “The Smart Ship Repair Act of 2024 will help San Diego continue to provide world class ship repair services to the U.S. Navy and support jobs in San Diego.”
“BAE Systems appreciates Congressman Peters’ and Congresswoman Kiggans’ continued leadership in support of U.S Navy ship maintenance,” said Paul Smith, Vice President and General Manager of BAE Systems Ship Repair. “We believe the Smart Ship Repair Act of 2025 further enhances predictability and stability for necessary naval repair work. This would allow sailors to remain close to home during repair periods up to 18 months, while preserving shipyard worker jobs in the Navy’s key homeports.”
According to the Port of San Diego Ship Repair Association, the San Diego shipbuilding and repair industry contributed more than $3.7 billion to the region’s economy in 2023. The nearly 8,000 jobs in the industry support an estimated additional 7,430 jobs in related industries and the local economy. Nearly $474.8 million in tax revenues were generated by shipbuilding and ship repair in 2023. Approximately $307.1 million went to the federal government and $167.7 million went to state and local governments.
RESTORING ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE: Today, President Donald J. Trump’s Office of Personnel Management (OPM) took action to implement President Trump’s Executive Action titled “Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce.”
OPM proposed a rule to amend the civil service regulations to include Schedule Policy/Career for career employees with important policy-determining, policy-making, policy-advocating, or confidential duties.
These employees will serve as at-will employees, without access to cumbersome adverse action procedures or appeals, overturning Biden Administration regulations that protected poor performing employees.
Line federal employees who implement those policies, like Border Patrol agents or wage and hour inspectors, will generally be excluded.
This rule empowers federal agencies to swiftly remove employees in policy-influencing roles for poor performance, misconduct, corruption, or subversion of Presidential directives, without lengthy procedural hurdles.
Schedule Policy/Career positions remain career positions, filled through existing nonpartisan, merit-based hiring processes.
These employees will keep their competitive status and are not required to personally or politically support the President, but must faithfully implement the law and the administration’s policies.
OPM estimates 50,000 positions will ultimately be moved into Schedule Policy/Career, approximately 2% of the Federal workforce.
The proposed rule does not directly move positions into Schedule Policy/Career. That will be done by a subsequent executive order after a final rule issues.
FIXING A BROKEN SYSTEM: The proposed rule tackles systemic issues in federal workforce accountability, addressing unaccountable, policy-determining federal employees who put their own interests ahead of the American people’s.
Federal employees report their agencies do not hold employees accountable:
The Merit Principles Survey shows less than a quarter of federal employees believe their agencies address poor performers effectively.
When asked what typically happens to poor performers in their work unit, federal employees’ most common response is they “remain in the work unit and continue to underperform.”
This happens because the process for removing federal employees is lengthy and difficult:
The Government Accountability Office reports it takes 6 months to a year to remove poor performers, even before appeals.
Only two-fifths of federal managers are confident they could remove employees who committed serious misconduct.
Just one-quarter believe they could remove an employee for poor performance in a critical element of their job.
Unaccountability allows corruption to fester in agencies:
For example, a recent audit of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) found widespread misconduct by senior leaders, such as male supervisors pressuring female subordinates for sexual favors in exchange for career assistance.
The FDIC almost never seriously disciplined employees for such corrupt behavior. Not a single complaint to the agency’s Anti-Harassment program resulted in a removal, or even a demotion.
The auditors found the FDIC tolerated misconduct because the removal process was too difficult to use.
Some bureaucrats also use the protections the system gives them to oppose presidential policies and impose their own preferences:
Recent polling asked senior federal employees in Washington, D.C., what they would do if the President gave them a lawful order they considered bad policy. A plurality said they would ignore the order and do what they thought best.
During the first Trump administration career attorneys in the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division would not assist in litigation charging Yale University with racially discriminating against Asian and Caucasian applicants.
In the President’s first term, career employees in the Department of Education would not constructively assist in drafting major rules like the Title IX rules.
An Equal Employment Opportunity Commission administrative judge (AJ) recently sent an agency-wide email stating that the agency’s Acting Chair (who was appointed by President Trump) was “not fit to be our chair much less hold a license to practice law” and that the AJ would not implement President Trump’s Executive Orders.
Unaccountable bureaucracy undermines democracy. For the government to be accountable to the American people, elected officials must be able to hold policy-determining and policy-making career employees accountable for their performance and conduct.
DRAINING THE SWAMP: President Trump is delivering on his promise to dismantle the deep state and reclaim our government from Washington corruption.
In his first term, President Trump signed an Executive Order to reclassify certain federal workers in policy-related roles as “Schedule F” employees, enabling swift accountability for those in influential positions.
When President Biden took office, he revoked this Executive Order, reinstating protections that shielded unaccountable bureaucrats.
President Trump vowed on the campaign trail to reinstate this Executive Order, a promise he kept on his first day returning to office.
Launch of the April 2025 Regional Economic Outlook for the Middle East and Central Asia
The Regional Economic Outlook (REO) report provides comprehensive insights into recent economic developments and future prospects specifically for countries in the region. It analyzes the impact of economic policy changes on performance, highlighting key challenges faced by policymakers in navigating complex economic landscapes. The Regional Economic Outlook: Middle East and Central Asia is published twice a year, in the spring and fall to review developments in the region.
RELEVANT DATES
THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 10:30 AM ET: Regional press briefing in Washington, DC (webcast live on this page and on IMF Live)
Speakers:
Jihad Azour, Director, Middle East and Central Asia Department, IMF
Moderator: Angham Al Shami, Communications Officer, IMF
THURSDAY, MAY 1, 11:15 AM GMT+4 | 3:15 AM ET: Report release in Dubai, UAE
The full report and related materials will be available on this page at the time of the Dubai event.
CHICAGO, April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Monroe Capital Corporation (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: MRCC) announced today that it will report its first quarter ended March 31, 2025 financial results on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, after the close of the financial markets.
The Company will host a webcast and conference call to discuss these operating and financial results on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The webcast will be hosted on a webcast link located in the Investor Relations section of our website at http://ir.monroebdc.com/events.cfm. To participate in the conference call, please dial (800) 715-9871 approximately 10 minutes prior to the call. Please reference conference ID # 9094217. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, the webcast will be available for replay on the Company’s website approximately two hours after the event.
About Monroe Capital Corporation Monroe Capital Corporation is a publicly-traded specialty finance company that principally invests in senior, unitranche and junior secured debt and, to a lesser extent, unsecured debt and equity investments in middle-market companies. The Company’s investment objective is to maximize the total return to its stockholders in the form of current income and capital appreciation. The Company’s investment activities are managed by its investment adviser, Monroe Capital BDC Advisors, LLC, which is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and an affiliate of Monroe Capital LLC. To learn more about Monroe Capital Corporation, visit www.monroebdc.com.
About Monroe Capital LLC Monroe Capital LLC (including its subsidiaries and affiliates, together “Monroe”) is a premier asset management firm specializing in private credit markets across various strategies, including direct lending, technology finance, venture debt, alternative credit solutions, structured credit, real estate and equity. Since 2004, the firm has been successfully providing capital solutions to clients in the U.S. and Canada. Monroe prides itself on being a value-added and user-friendly partner to business owners, management, and both private equity and independent sponsors. Monroe’s platform offers a wide variety of investment products for both institutional and high net worth investors with a focus on generating high quality “alpha” returns irrespective of business or economic cycles. The firm is headquartered in Chicago and has 11 locations throughout the United States, Asia and Australia.
Monroe has been recognized by both its peers and investors with various awards including Private Debt Investor as the 2024 Lower Mid-Market Lender of the Year, Americas and 2023 Lower Mid-Market Lender of the Decade; Inc.’s 2024 Founder-Friendly Investors List; Global M&A Network as the 2023 Lower Mid-Markets Lender of the Year, U.S.A.; DealCatalyst as the 2022 Best CLO Manager of the Year; Korean Economic Daily as the 2022 Best Performance in Private Debt – Mid Cap; Creditflux as the 2021 Best U.S. Direct Lending Fund; and Pension Bridge as the 2020 Private Credit Strategy of the Year. For more information and important disclaimers, please visit www.monroecap.com.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements. Any such statements, other than statements of historical fact, are likely to be affected by other unknowable future events and conditions, including elements of the future that are or are not under the Company’s control, and that the Company may or may not have considered; accordingly, such statements cannot be guarantees or assurances of any aspect of future performance. Actual developments and results are highly likely to vary materially from these estimates and projections of the future. Such statements speak only as of the time when made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any such statement now or in the future.
Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
04.18.25
Cantwell, Murray, Randall Introduce Legislation to Place Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and Quinault Indian Nation Lands into Trust
The Lower Elwha Kallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act is one of the last steps of the Elwha and Glines Canyon Dam removal project & will help restore fisheries
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Emily Randall (D, WA-06) introduced a pair of bills to transfer land back to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and Quinault Indian Nation to be held in trust. Land is taken into trust when land is transferred to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to be held in trust for the benefit of the tribe.
“The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe led a historic regional effort to restore salmon runs by removing obsolete dams along Elwha River,” said Sen. Cantwell. “Now, it’s time to return over 1,000 acres of land that was taken to build the dams and allow the Lower Elwha Klallam people to reclaim ancestral lands.”
“For generations, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe have acted as stewards of the lands along the Elwha River—transferring this land back to Tribal ownership is not only the right thing to do, but it will support important Tribal-led habitat restoration and salmon recovery efforts, improving these precious ecosystems for everyone,” said Senator Murray. “As the Trump administration shutters Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service facilities, fires the people responsible for ensuring our nation is living up to its trust obligations to Tribes, and terminates federal funding that is owed to our Tribes, I will keep fighting back with everything I have and working to ensure that Tribes in the Pacific Northwest have the support they need to not just survive, but to thrive.”
“Since time immemorial the Lower Elwha Klallam and the Quinault Indian Nation have stewarded these lands and waters for today’s inhabitants, and for the benefit of the next seven generations,” said Rep. Randall. “These bills — transferring land into trust and restoring the original reservation lands — are part of our federal government’s promise, our constitutional responsibility, and our treaty obligation to protect Tribal Lands and the people who call them home.”
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act:
This bill would transfer three parcels of land totaling 1,082 acres to the BIA to be held in trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.
The land is just outside the boundaries of the Olympic National Park and includes 1,061 acres originally acquired by the National Park Service to demolish two dams along the Elwha River.
The two remaining parcels were acquired by the U.S. Department of the Interior to construct a pipeline to transfer surface water to the Tribe’s new fish hatchery – the House of Salmon.
The land transfer would boost habitat restoration efforts led by the Lower Elwha Tribe and federal agencies, aiding in the recovery of all five species of Pacific salmon and other native fish, including Chinook, coho, chum, pink and sockeye salmon, along with steelhead and bull trout.
This bill is an important action in the decades long effort to restore the Elwha River.
“The Tribe is excited by the introduction of this bill by Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray and Congresswoman Emily Randall,” said Chairwoman Frances Charles, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. “This bill is an important final action to the dam removal project and the restoration of the Elwha River ecosystem and salmon fisheries. The transfer of these lands along the Elwha River to the Tribe will safeguard the federal investment in the restoration of the river and fisheries through tribal management of the resources. The bill will also protect the Tribe’s sacred cultural homelands by restoring them to the stewardship of the Tribe.”
The proposal for the land to be taken into trust is supported by WSDOT, the Makah Tribe, and the City of Port Angeles.
“Returning 72 acres of the Quinault Indian Nation’s original reservation will restore the Tribe’s ancestral lands and help preserve one of the area’s last remnants of old growth forest as a living museum for future generations,” said Sen. Cantwell.
“The Quinault Indian Nation Land Transfer Act will right a historic wrong by transferring 72 acres of land from the Forest Service to be held in trust for the Quinault Nation, more than 100 years after the forced breakup and sale of their lands irrevocably changed their way of life,” said Senator Murray. “I’m proud to be part of this important effort to fulfill our nation’s promise to the people of the Quinault Indian Nation—and I’ll keep doing everything I can to fight back against Trump and Elon’s disastrous cuts across the federal government that are hurting Tribes and undermining our nation’s ability to live up to our trust and treaty obligations.”
Quinault Indian Nation Land Transfer Act:
This bill would transfer 72 acres from the Forest Service to the Bureau of Indian Affairs to be held in trust for the Quinault Indian Nation.
The 72 acres, known as Allotment 1157, was originally part of the Quinault reservation that was established by the Treaty of Olympia of 1856.
After the passage of the Dawes Act of 1887, the Quinault Indian Reservation was separated into individual allotments and in 1928, Allotment 1157 was given to away through a Trust Deed signed by President Calvin Coolidge.
The Allotment was eventually sold to a timber company and was purchased by the U.S. Forest Service in 1996 for conservation.
Allotment 1157 is one of the last remnants of old growth forest, particularly old growth cedar, that were a significant part of the Quinault’s reservation.
The Quinault Nation plans to utilize this land as a living museum for educational purposes, where students and college interns will learn how to preserve other historical places. Trees and downed wood on this land will be utilized for cultural purposes as has been done in the past.
The proposal for the land to be taken into trust is supported by Jefferson and Grays Harbor County, the Hoh Tribe, and the Quileute Tribe. A document containing written letters of support is available HERE.
With the passage of the Dawes Act in 1867, the Quinault Reservation was broken up into 80-acre allotments, many given to individual Tribal Members. As private interests quickly moved in to buy up the allotments, including allotment 1157, reservation land was lost to the Tribe.
“The forced breakup of our reservation erased one of the foundations of our way of life, our view that the land and waters of our homeland were for communal use by all. The Quinault Indian Nation Land Transfer Act will help right a historic wrong,” said Quinault Indian Nation President Guy Capoeman. “This legislation helps fulfill the promise the United States government made to the Quinault Nation that the lands set aside for the Quinault Indian Reservation will always belong to the Quinault Nation. We thank Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray and Congresswoman Emily Randall for introducing this important legislation and for her leadership in Congress.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)
Termination of Naturalization Grants Leaves Legal Residents Without Support to Become U.S. Citizens
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) is leading 54 House Democrats in demanding the Trump administration reinstate the Citizenship and Assimilation (C&A) Grant Program after it was fully terminated last month—just weeks after a surprise funding freeze. This move abruptly cut off support for local organizations helping lawful permanent residents become U.S. citizens, despite the fact that these grants were fully funded by Congress and legally awarded. A list of grant recipients impacted by the funding freeze is available — click HERE for FY23 recipients and HERE for FY24 recipients.
“We write to express our outrage regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) decision to terminate all work under the Citizenship and Assimilation (C&A) Grant Program,” wrote Rep. Gomez and the lawmakers. “We demand immediate action to restore funding for the C&A Program and a prompt response to our questions regarding the rationale and legal basis for its termination.”
“This action marks a significant escalation since an abrupt funding freeze was announced just weeks ago on February 4, 2025,” continued the lawmakers. “The sudden and unilateral decision to terminate legally awarded grants funded by Congressional appropriation, without prior notice to Congress or affected grantees, raises serious concerns about due process, legal authority, and the Department’s commitment to advancing naturalization services for aspiring citizens.”
The lawmakers’ new letter follows an effort led by Rep. Gomez on March 7 demanding answers after the program was frozen without warning. DHS has still not responded. Then on March 27, grantees were notified the program was being shut down — some immediately, others with just 30 days’ notice. Since 2009, the C&A Grant Program, previously known as the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program, has funded organizations that assist immigrants with citizenship applications, English language instruction, and civics education. The lawmakers warn its sudden termination will disrupt services and harm immigrant communities.
Rep. Gomez was joined in demanding answers by Reps. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Lou Correa (CA-46), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Jason Crow (CO-06), Danny Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Chuy García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), John Larson (CT-01), Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Rob Menendez (NJ-08), Grace Meng (NY-06), Dave Min (CA-47), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Adam Smith (WA-09), Darren Soto (FL-09), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Norma Torres (CA-35), Juan Vargas (CA-52), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07).
The letter was supported by the following organizations: National Partnership for New Americans, NALEO Educational Fund, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), UnidosUS, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition, Language & Communication Workshop, Immigration Institute of the Bay Area, Emerald Isle Immigration Center, CARECEN, Asian Counseling and Referral Service, CASA, Make the Road New Jersey, Make the Road Connecticut, Make the Road New York, Make the Road Pennsylvania, Make the Road Nevada, Make the Road States, Refugee Council USA, Welcoming America, Project Citizenship, Maine Immigrants Coalition Rights, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, Building Skills Partnership, Refugee Women’s Alliance, Asian Law Alliance, Jones Library, Inc., Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, Hamkae Center, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, MinKwon Center for Community Action, International Rescue Committee, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Woori Juntos, Kentucky Refugee Ministries, Inc., HANA Center, The International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit, Inc, Korean Community Service Center (KCSC), Hispanic Federation, Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative, East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, Chinese Mutual Aid Association, GALEO Impact Fund, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project, Refugee Congress.
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, along with BIRAC conducted the 12th Webinar in its Biofoundry and Biomanufacturing Initiative series on 17th April, 2025. The session focused on “Cell and Gene Therapy”, a critical domain under the Precision Biotherapeutics thematic area of BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment) Policy for fostering high-performance biomanufacturing. Approved by the Union Cabinet in August 2024, the BioE3 Policy aims to position India as a global leader in bio-based innovations. The rapidly evolving field of “Cell and Gene Therapy” with transformative potential for treatment of a range of complex and previously untreatable diseases is a priority segment under the Precision Biotherapeutics vertical of the BioE3 Policy. The Webinar provided a platform for academia, industry leaders, start-ups, and researchers to discuss advancements, as well as, opportunities in Cell and Gene Therapy.
Dr. Alka Sharma, Senior Adviser/Sc ‘H’, DBT, highlighted the BioE3 Policy’s vision to foster high-performance biomanufacturing by supporting sustainable green growth. She summarized that BioE3 Policy has been approved by the Hon’ble Prime Minister for fostering high-performance biomanufacturing. She said today’s Webinar will deliberate upon current landscape, emerging opportunities, challenges, and the strategic interventions which are essential for strengthening this sector in the country.
Dr. Kamakshi Chaithri, Scientist ‘D’, DBT, provided an overview of the thematic sector. She highlighted the need for prioritizing this sector at a critical time, emphasizing the importance of these therapies in offering a potential curative outcome for several life threatening diseases including cancers and rare diseases. She touched upon how the sector is positioned globally and nationally, and stressed on the need for a focused and holistic approach for addressing the challenges in the cell and gene therapy product development chain. She further highlighted the steps taken by DBT under the BioE3 Policy, to foster innovation and facilitate a conducive ecosystem for development of indigenous cell and gene therapies.
Dr. Debojyoti Chakraborty, Principal Scientist at CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi discussed the gene editing technologies under development for various diseases such as sickle cell disease, ocular diseases etc. He highlighted the need to address the manufacturing and regulatory hurdles in the pathway from discovery to commercialization of these therapies and the issues to be considered in bringing about development of affordable and accessible therapies.
Dr. Anil Kamat, Head, Clinical Development, Immuneel Therapeutics, touched upon the local and global landscape of cell and gene therapies and elaborated on the commercial approval of the BIRAC supported CAR-T Cell therapy by Immuneel Therapeutics. He discussed various challenges in scale up and manufacturing of cell & gene therapies. He further suggested way forward for improved access, availability and affordability of these therapies.
The session concluded with a vibrant Q&A segment moderated by DBT and BIRAC officials. Participants actively engaged with the experts, discussing challenges and opportunities in biomanufacturing for cell and gene therapy and addressing the regulatory requirements.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs fully supports National Security Education Day The Open Day featured meaningful activities, including an exhibition on national security education to enhance public understanding of national security and introduce Customs’ work in safeguarding this key area. Visitors enjoyed the performances by the Customs Detector Dog Team and the Dragon and Lion Dance Team as well as the display of firearms and weapons. Game booths and an inflatable jumping castle for children were also set up. The games were designed to introduce the department’s responsibility of performing its gatekeeping role in an interactive manner. In particular, the virtual reality games enabled the participants to experience Customs work in a simulated environment, while a number of fitness tests including an isometric strength test and standing long jump arranged at the recruitment booth to strengthen the participants’ understanding of Customs fitness requirements.
The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, also attended the event and took part in an eye-dotting ceremony to kick off a dragon-lion dance performance with the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat.
The public’s response to the open day was overwhelming, demonstrating that the event helped enhance their understanding of the significance of Customs in safeguarding national security. Issued at HKT 20:00
The Government has introduced key policy measures aimed at strengthening the allocation framework for domestic natural gas, in alignment with its vision of promoting cleaner energy access, enhancing urban air quality, and bolstering domestic energy security.
With a focus on ensuring the sustained availability and affordability of natural gas for key public-facing segments—Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) used in transport and Piped Natural Gas (PNG) used in domestic households for cooking—the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) has introduced the following important enhancements to the Domestic Gas Allocation Policy:
1. Advance Quarterly Allocation:
From Q1 FY 2025-26, domestic natural gas allocations for CNG (T) and PNG (D) segments will be done on a two-quarter advance basis.
Allocation will also now include New Well Gas (NWG) from nomination fields of ONGC and OIL.
Estimations by GAIL and ONGC will help ensure supply visibility to CGD entities in advance, enhancing planning and delivery efficiency.
2. NWG Allocation on Pro-Rata Basis:
Auction-based allocation for NWG has been replaced with a quarterly pro-rata allocation to ensure timely and reliable supply.
GAIL will allocate NWG to CGD entities in proportion to their requirements, in accordance with prevailing MoPNG guidelines.
3. Allocation Ratios maintained:
Despite increasing demand in the CGD sector, allocation ratios of domestic gas have broadly been maintained:
Q3 2024–25: 54.68% of projected demand allocated
Q1 2025–26: 55.68% allocation
Q2 2025–26 (Projected): 54.74% allocation
Broad trajectory in domestic gas allocation reflects the Government’s commitment to prioritize public-facing segments like transport and domestic cooking.
4. Pricing Linked to Indian Crude Basket:
As both APM gas and New Well Gas prices are linked to Indian Crude Basket prices, calculated monthly, with the recent decline in crude prices, this allocation of domestic gas would make natural gas more affordable for CNG (T) and PNG (D) consumers.
These strategic measures by the Government will lead to enhanced ability of CGD entities to forecast demand and manage supply efficiently, improved supply predictability and better affordability for CGD companies due to crude-linked pricing. These measures will ensure a stable, affordable, and transparent domestic gas supply system for the critical transport and domestic segments under the CGD network, benefitting millions of urban and semi-urban consumers across India.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government strongly opposes and expresses grave dissatisfaction towards the United States (US) authorities’ imposition of port fees on vessels owned, operated, or built by Chinese companies and other relevant measures.
A spokesperson for the HKSAR Government said, “Under the unique institutional strengths of ‘one country, two systems’, Hong Kong, as a globally renowned international maritime centre, has long been providing a free and open, level-playing and efficient, as well as a well-regulated business environment for shipping enterprises worldwide to operate. The US measures are blatantly discriminatory, deliberately dividing the international maritime community and undermining the spirit of solidarity and co-operation built over the years. Such actions fall short of the basic standards of international conduct.”
The HKSAR Government condemns such bullying acts. Hong Kong will continue to uphold the spirit of openness and co-operation, working with global maritime partners to safeguard free trade principles and promote the healthy development of the international shipping industry. The spokesperson emphasised that only by adhering to fairness and justice, mutual benefit, and win-win co-operation can the common interests of the global maritime community be truly protected.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah appeals to the Naxalites to lay down their arms as soon as possible and join the mainstream by adopting the surrender policy of the Modi government Cobra Commandos and Chhattisgarh Police have arrested 22 notorious Naxalites with modern weapons and explosive materials in various operations in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh
11 Naxalites have surrendered in Badesetti Panchayat of Sukma, due to which this Panchayat has become completely Naxal-free
22 other Naxalites also surrendered in Sukma, taking the total number of surrendered Naxalites to 33
We are determined to free the country from the scourge of Naxalism before 31 March 2026
Posted On: 18 APR 2025 8:05PM by PIB Delhi
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah has appealed to the Naxalites to lay down their arms as soon as possible and join the mainstream by adopting the surrender policy of the Modi government.
Union Home Minister in his post on ‘X’ said that Cobra Commandos and Chhattisgarh Police have arrested 22 notorious Naxalites with modern weapons and explosive materials in various operations in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh. He said 11 Naxalites have also surrendered in Badesetti Panchayat of Sukma, due to which this Panchayat has become completely Naxal-free.
Home Minister said, he appeals to the hiding Naxalites to lay down their arms as soon as possible and join the mainstream by adopting the surrender policy of the Modi government. We are determined to free the country from the scourge of Naxalism before 31 March 2026.
Shri Amit Shah said that 22 other Naxalites also surrendered in Sukma, taking the total number of surrendered Naxalites to 33. I congratulate the security force personnel and Chhattisgarh Police for this success towards the Naxal-Mukt Bharat campaign.
छत्तीसगढ़ के बीजापुर जिले में विभिन्न ऑपरेशन्स में कोबरा कमांडो और छत्तीसगढ़ पुलिस ने 22 कुख्यात नक्सलियों को आधुनिक हथियारों और विस्फोटक सामग्रियों के साथ गिरफ्तार किया है।
साथ ही, सुकमा की बडेसेट्टी पंचायत में 11 नक्सलियों ने आत्मसमर्पण किया है, जिससे यह पंचायत पूरी तरह…
New Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme to Deepen India’s Role in Global Value Chains: Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw Electronics production has increased five times, reaching Rs. 11 lakh crore, while exports have grown six-fold, crossing Rs. 3.25 lakh crore : Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw
Global confidence in India’s electronics manufacturing surges with rising product quality and stronger IP safeguards
Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurates VVDN’s largest SMT line and Mechanical Innovation Park in Manesar
Posted On: 18 APR 2025 7:57PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Railways, and Information & Broadcasting, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, today highlighted the significant strides India has made in electronics manufacturing in the last 10 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Speaking at VVDN industry facility in Manesar, Haryana, the Minister highlighted that the New Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme, recently cleared by Cabinet, further strengthens India’s position in global electronics supply chains. The Minister also said that the scheme guidelines will be issued soon.
In a landmark development for India’s electronics manufacturing landscape, Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw also inaugurated an VVDN Technologies’ state-of-the-art Surface Mount Technology (SMT) Line and Mechanical Innovation Park at the company’s Global Innovation Park in Manesar, Haryana.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that electronics manufacturing in India has grown fivefold in the last six years, with the total value crossing ₹11 lakh crore. Exports have seen a sixfold increase over the last decade and now exceed ₹3.25 lakh crore. Terming this as one of the biggest success stories of the ‘Make in India’ initiative, Shri Vaishnaw said that the sector now employs over 25 lakh people and is poised for exponential growth in the coming years.
During his visit to the facility, Shri Vaishnaw noted the growing strength of India’s design ecosystem, pointing out that the location hosts a team of over 5,000 engineers working on complex, AI-embedded systems. “India now has the talent not only to manufacture but also to design sophisticated electronic products,” the Minister said, adding that this gives the country a significant edge over others lacking in design capability. Union Minister also interacted with the engineers and workers of the facility and urged them to continue to work towards boosting the electronics manufacturing ecosystem in India.
He also emphasized the importance of indigenously produced tools, stating that India is now designing and manufacturing design tools domestically—an important leap in achieving technological self-reliance. Citing the recent deployment of 6,000 AI servers by VVDN, Shri Vaishnaw termed it a milestone that showcases India’s hardware capability.
The Minister reiterated India’s commitment to building a trusted electronics manufacturing base, anchored in the protection of intellectual property rights, design-led innovation, and diverse rare earth supply chains. He also shared details of a three-tier skilling strategy, which includes basic training, on-site product-specific training, and industry-aligned university courses—especially relevant for high capital-expenditure skills in the sector.
New Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme
Shri Vaishnaw also made a key announcement about the recent Cabinet approval of the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme said that while active components are covered under the National Semiconductor Mission, passive components will be supported through this scheme. Together, they will complete the bouquet of electronics component manufacturing—making India truly self-reliant, he said.
Union Minister added that the scheme is expected to significantly boost domestic production, create jobs, and reduce import dependency. He expressed confidence that India’s integrated approach to design, manufacturing, skilling, and trusted innovation will propel the nation to a leadership position in the global electronics landscape.
About the Facilities
The newly inaugurated SMT Line is VVDN’s largest to date and supports PCB sizes up to 850mm x 560mm with an industry-leading speed of 250,000 components per hour. It will enable the mass production of high-tech products such as AI servers, networking devices, and motherboards.
Meanwhile, the Mechanical Innovation Park, spanning 1,50,000 sq. ft., will house facilities for tool-making, CNC, EDM, injection molding, and more creating a fully integrated design-to-production ecosystem.These facilities are expected to generate over 3,000 new skilled jobs, furthering the government’s vision for employment generation and high-tech skilling.
VVDN is an Indian company focused on design-led manufacturing with full backward integration. With 11 R&D centres and a team of over 5,000 engineers, VVDN is a leader in developing next-generation solutions such as AI servers, EV products, cameras, Wi-Fi 7 access points, and more. During the event, the Minister also visited VVDN’s cutting-edge R&D Labs including the Server R&D Lab, 5G R&D Lab and Video Image Tuning Lab, along with the server and camera production lines.
The inauguration event serves as a testament to the synergy between progressive government policy and dynamic private sector initiatives. Under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has created an enabling environment marked by improved ease of doing business, reliable power supply world-class infrastructure, and strong institutional support.
India Reaffirms Commitment to Sustainable Agriculture at 15th BRICS Meet Agriculture for India is not merely an economic activity but a source of livelihood, food, and dignity for millions of families : Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Global food security and rural development goals would remain incomplete unless small farmers are protected and empowered : Shri Chouhan
We cannot leave smallholders to fight climate change, price volatility and resource scarcity challenges alone; they need our policy support : Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh
For India, empowering women socially, economically and politically is a mission: Shri Chouhan
BRICS Agriculture Ministers launches the “BRICS Land Restoration Partnership” to address land degradation, desertification and soil fertility loss
Shri Chouhan invites BRICS nations to participate in World Food India 2025 and World Audio-Visual Entertainment Summit 2025
Posted On: 18 APR 2025 7:43PM by PIB Delhi
At the 15th meeting of BRICS Agriculture Ministers, India reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive, equitable, and sustainable agriculture. Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized the need to place the welfare of small and marginal farmers at the centre of global agricultural strategies and clarified that agriculture, for India, is not merely an economic activity, but a source of livelihood, food, and dignity for millions of families. He underscored that global food security and rural development goals would remain incomplete unless small farmers are protected and empowered.
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan highlighted that the world’s 510 million smallholder farmers are the backbone of the global food system and are also the most vulnerable in the face of climate change, price volatility, and resource scarcity. Shri Chouhan stated that we cannot leave smallholders to fight these challenges alone; they need our policy support. He presented cluster-based farming, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), cooperative models, and natural farming as effective approaches for the collective empowerment of small farmers and improving their market access.
The meeting underlined the need to make agricultural trade fair, control global price volatility, and ensure remunerative prices for small farmers. He reiterated the importance of public food stockholding systems, minimum support prices (MSP), and value chains that connect smallholders directly to consumers. Shri Chouhan cited India’s food storage and distribution capacity during the COVID-19 crisis as a case in point, through which free rations were distributed to over 800 million people.
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan shared its technological initiatives – Digital Agriculture Mission, AgriStack, drone technology, and Climate-Resilient Villages – and explained how these innovations have significantly improved service delivery, transparency and farmer incomes. Union Minister also mentioned initiatives like Lakhpati Didi and Drone Didi as examples of India’s commitment to the social and economic empowerment of rural women, stating, “For India, empowering women socially, economically, and politically is a mission.”
During the meeting, He called for deeper collaboration to combat climate change by sharing its key programs – National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), Waste to Wealth, Circular Economy, bio-fertilizers, and traditional farming practices. In this context, the BRICS Agriculture Ministers launched the “BRICS Land Restoration Partnership” to address land degradation, desertification, and soil fertility loss. He supported this initiative, highlighting that it would benefit small farmers, tribal communities, and local cultivators through the convergence of traditional knowledge and scientific innovation.
In the Joint Declaration, BRICS nations collectively reiterated their resolve to make the global agri-food system fair, inclusive, innovative, and sustainable. The declaration emphasized commitments to food security, climate adaptation, empowerment of women and youth, sustainable fisheries and livestock development, soil and land restoration, digital agriculture certification, and promotion of financial and trade mechanisms for the agricultural economies of the Global South. The formal announcement of the BRICS Land Restoration Partnership further reinforced the group’s collective commitment to halting land degradation and desertification.
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan also invited BRICS nations to participate in World Food India 2025 and the World Audio-Visual Entertainment Summit 2025, positioning these platforms as avenues for innovation, partnership, and global collaboration. Concluding his address with India’s ancient Vedic values, the Shri Chouhan offered a universal benediction; May all be happy, may all be healthy, may there be welfare and well-being for all. This vision reflects not only India’s national priorities but also its leadership role on the international stage.
The claims that the Government is considering levying Goods and Services Tax (GST) on UPI transactions over ₹2,000 are completely false, misleading, and without any basis. Currently, there is no such proposal before the Government.
GST is levied on charges, such as the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR), relating to payments made using certain instruments.
Effective January 2020, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has removed the MDR on Person-to-Merchant (P2M) UPI transactions through the Gazette Notification dated 30thDecember 2019.
Since currently no MDR is charged on UPI transactions, there is consequently no GST applicable to these transactions.
The Government remains committed to promoting digital payments via UPI.
To support and sustain the growth of UPI, an Incentive Scheme has been operational from FY 2021-22. This scheme specifically targets low-value UPI (P2M) transactions, benefiting small merchants by alleviating transaction costs and promoting wider participation and innovation in digital payments.
The total incentive payouts under this scheme over the years reflect the Government’s sustained commitment to promoting UPI-based digital payments. Allocation under the scheme over the years has been:
• FY2021-22: ₹1,389 crore
• FY2022-23: ₹2,210 crore
• FY2023-24: ₹3,631 crore
These measures have significantly contributed to India’s robust digital payments ecosystem.
According to the ACI Worldwide Report 2024, India accounted for 49% of global real-time transactions in 2023, reaffirming its position as a global leader in digital payments innovation.
UPI transaction values have seen an exponential increase, growing from ₹21.3 lakh crore in FY 2019-20 to ₹260.56 lakh crore by March 2025. Specifically, P2M transactions have reached ₹59.3 lakh crore, reflecting growing merchant adoption and consumer confidence in digital payment methods.
Awareness Programmes on Bleeding Disorders organized across the Country on World Haemophilia Day Theme – ‘Access for All: Women and Girls Bleed Too’
Posted On: 18 APR 2025 6:59PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, organised various awareness programmes on the World Haemophilia Day, through its National Institutes and Composite Regional Centres (CRCs) across the country.
The day is observed annually on April 17 as a global healthcare initiative to create awareness on bleeding disorders. It aims to promote better control and prevention of haemophilia, through collaboration with local policymakers, as well as to ensure improved treatment and care for those affected.
The theme for World Haemophilia Day 2025 was,‘Access for All: Women and Girls Bleed Too’. It highlights the need for better diagnosis and treatment for women and girls with bleeding disorders and aims to ensure equal access to care for the female population.
On 17th April 2025, the Swami Vivekananda National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research (SVNIRTAR), Cuttack, organized a special programme to raise awareness among healthcare professionals, students, and the general public on this crucial health issue. Experts discussed haemophilia-related information, prevention, and diagnosis.
The National Institute for Locomotor Disabilities (NILD), Kolkata, organized an awareness programme and webinar. The institute’s Rehabilitation Nursing Department conducted a health talk on the symptoms and prevention of haemophilia. Professionals in the field highlighted the importance of this day. Approximately 130 Divyangjan/patients and their caregivers participated in the event.
The National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation (NIMHR), located in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, celebrated the day with a series of impactful educational, cultural, and community-based events aimed at increasing awareness about the disorder.
The Composite Regional Centre (CRC), Nellore, conducted awareness sessions for nursing college students about bleeding disorders and also organized a blood donation camp in collaboration with the Indian Red Cross Society. Around 150 participants, including CRC staff, D.Ed trainees, and parents of Divyangjan, took part in the event.
CRC Tripura conducted an awareness programme where institute officials and experts shared detailed information about haemophilia. CRC Rajnandgaon organized a blood donation camp, while the regional center of NIEPID, Navi Mumbai, hosted a webinar on the topic ‘Haemophilia: Care and Rehabilitation’.
CRC Davangere, CRC Jaipur, and several other National Institutes and CRCs under the DEPwD also conducted a series of awareness programmes to mark the occasion.
ANRF Supports 18 Hub Institutions and 106 Partnering Spokes Under PAIR Program Strengthening India’s Research Ecosystem Through Strategic Mentorship and Collaboration
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has announced the selection of PAIR Networks—comprising 18 Hub institutions and 106 partnering Spokes—under its flagship initiative, the Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR) Program.
The network connects universities and colleges with leading research institutions through structured mentorship and collaboration. The PAIR program aims to strengthen India’s higher education and research ecosystem by nurturing innovation, building research capacity and promoting excellence across regions.
The academic community responded enthusiastically to the call, with 30 proposals received from top academic institutions for Hub selection and 166 institutions as potential Spokes. After rigorous evaluation, 18 institutions have been selected as Hubs to lead collaborative research and capacity-building efforts in partnership with 106 Spokes across the country.
The selected institutions have been categorized into two strategic modes to foster deeper research engagement and inclusive growth:
Category A: 7 Hub institutions with 45 Spokes
Category B: 11 Hub institutions with 61 Spokes
Rooted in the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the PAIR Program is a pivotal step in ANRF’s mission to unlock the untapped research potential of India’s academic landscape. By fostering strategic partnerships and mentorship, the initiative is set to transform institutions into centres of innovation, leadership and global relevance.
The complete list of selected institutions is given in Annexure-I (Attached).
INS Sunayna, currently on deployment to Africa as Indian Ocean Ship IOSSAGARarrived at Nacala Port, Mozambique on 17 Apr 25. The ship had earlier participated in the inaugural session of the India-Africa maritime partnership exerciseAIKEYME25, at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
IOSSAGARis a unique mission based on the Government of India’s regional initiative of maritime collaboration titledSAGAR, which stands for Security and Growth for All in the Region. The mission is aimed at fostering international cooperation between India and several African countries.
The ship was flagged off on her mission from Karwar on 05 Apr 25 by Hon’ble Raksha Mantri. She had embarked 44 naval personnel from nine friendly foreign nations, including Comoros, Kenya, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and South Africa, on her departure from India.
On her arrival at Nacala, the ship was welcomed by Commander Nelson H. Mabjaia, Chief of Commission, with the Mozambique Naval Band in attendance.
A range of collaborative activities and outreach programs are planned to be held during the port stay, aimed at promoting capacity building, operational synergy, and community engagements with the Mozambique Navy. These include joint training on Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) drills as well as firefighting and damage control procedures. The ship will also host a deck reception on board for local officials and dignitaries in a celebration of maritime friendship.
Community interactions by the ship’s crew will feature a yoga session to promote wellness and health, ship visits for Indian diaspora and local school children, an interschool quiz competition focused on maritime awareness and regional history as well as a guided tour for military cadets of the Nampula Military Academy, to offer firsthand insights into naval operations.
On completion of her port visit, the ship will embark personnel of Mozambique Navy as Sea Riders for a joint surveillance mission in the Mozambique Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), reaffirming the shared commitment to maritime security and countering non-traditional threats.
The port call marks a significant milestone enhancing maritime cooperation and interoperability between the Indian and Mozambique Navies. It also underscores India’s enduring commitment to strengthening maritime partnerships in the Indian Ocean Region, enhancing mutual trust, and fostering collective regional security in consonance with the vision of theSAGARinitiative.
Headline: Microsoft’s Secure by Design marks a year of success
Cybersecurity is one of the top risks facing businesses. Organizations are struggling to navigate the ever-evolving cyberthreat landscape in which 600 million identity attacks are carried out daily.1 The median time for a cyberattacker to access private data from phishing is 1 hour and 12 minutes, and nation-state cyberattacks are on the rise.2 Organizations also face unprecedented complexity, making security jobs harder—57% of organizations are using more than 40 security tools, which requires significant resourcing and effort to integrate workflows and data.3 These challenges are magnified by the global security talent shortage organizations are facing and there are more than 4 million security jobs unfilled worldwide, rising insider risks, and the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape today.4 These cybersecurity challenges can not only increase significant business disruptions, they can also create devastating economic damages—the cost of cybercrime is expected to grow at 15% year over year, reaching $15.6 trillion by 2029.5
Get the latest Secure Future Initiative updates
In November 2023, to address the evolution of the digital and regulatory landscape, and the unprecedented changes in the cyberthreat landscape, we announced the Microsoft Secure Future Initiative. The Secure Future Initiative (SFI) is a multiyear effort to revolutionize the way we design, build, test, and operate our products and services, to achieve the highest security standards. SFI is our commitment to improve Microsoft’s security posture, thereby improving the security posture of all our customers, and to work with governments and industry to improve the security posture of the entire ecosystem.
Last year, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), through its “Secure by Design” pledge, called on the technology industry to prioritize security at every stage of product development and deployment. This approach of embedding cybersecurity in digital delivery from the outset is also reflected in the United Kingdom’s Government’s Cyber Security Strategy as well as in the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC)’s “Essential Eight” mitigation strategies to protect against cyberthreats. Throughout this blog post, the term “Secure by Design” encompasses both “secure by design” and “secure by default.”
Read CISA’s Secure by Design pledge
Microsoft committed to work towards key goals across a spectrum of Secure by Design principles advocated by numerous government agencies around the world. These goals aim to enhance security outcomes for customers by embedding robust cybersecurity practices throughout the product lifecycle. We continue to take our learnings, feed them back into our security standards, and operationalize these learnings as paved paths that can enable secure design and operations at scale. Our SFI updates provide examples of Microsoft’s progress in implementing secure by design, secure by default, and secure in operations principles, and provide best practices based on Microsoft’s own experience, demonstrating our dedication to improving security for customers.
Keep reading to learn about the initiatives Microsoft has undertaken over the past 18 months to support secure by design objectives as part of our SFI initiative. It is organized around our SFI principles to provide our customers and partners with an understanding of the robust security measures we are implementing to safeguard their digital environments.
Enhancing security with multifactor authentication and default password management
Phishing-resistant multifactor authentication provides the most robust defense against password-based cyberattacks, including credential stuffing and password theft. This includes promoting multifactor authentication among customers, implementing it as a default requirement for access, and participating in efforts to establish long-term standards in authentication.
In October 2024, Microsoft implemented mandatory multifactor authentication for the Microsoft Azure portal, Microsoft Entra admin center, and Microsoft Intune admin center. Since then, Microsoft has worked with our customers to reduce extensions and rapidly advance multifactor authentication adoption. A key achievement is our progress in eliminating passwords across products. Microsoft has introduced enhancements to streamline authentication and improve sign-in experiences, emphasizing usability and security. Users can now remove passwords from their accounts and use passkeys instead, addressing vulnerabilities and preventing unauthorized access.
On March 26, 2025, Microsoft launched a new sign-in experience for more than 1 billion users. By the end of April 2025, most Microsoft account users will see updated sign-in and sign-up user experience flows for web and mobile apps. This new user experience is optimized for a passwordless and passkey-first experience. Microsoft is also updating the account sign-in logic to make passkey the default sign-in choice whenever possible.
Additional examples of Microsoft improving authentication and how customers can learn from Microsoft’s approach and solutions include:
Microsoft recommendations for organizations to get started deploying phishing-resistant passwordless authentication using Microsoft Entra ID.
Security defaults make it easier to help protect against identity-related cyberattacks like password spray, replay, and phishing common in today’s environments. Learn more about preconfigured security settings available in Microsoft Entra ID.
Microsoft’s Conditional Access uses identity-driven signals as part of access control decisions.
To help prevent phishing, Microsoft added additional hardening to Windows Hello, which is the multifactor authentication solution built-in to Windows. Windows Hello has also been extended to support passkeys, which are an industry standard, and which we continue to evolve. With Hello and passkeys, on Windows, it means much of the web can be protected with multifactor authentication, and people no longer need to choose between a simple sign-in and a safe sign-in.
Learn how Microsoft is advancing decentralized identity standards and verifiable credentials.
Following GitHub’s April 2024 update on a year of progress in pushing multifactor authentication adoption, further cohorts requiring multifactor authentication enablement have been rolled out in the past year. This effort continues to drive multifactor authentication utilization with almost 50% of contributing GitHub users having multifactor authentication enabled. Of those, more than 38% of users have two or more methods of two-factor authentication enabled and more than 3.6 million users have a passkey enabled on their account. Additionally, GitHub has pushed for best practices in multifactor authentication methods, and in November 2024 shipped enhancements to the management of multifactor authentication settings for organizations and enterprises that allow the restriction of insecure methods of multifactor authentication such as text messaging.
Reducing entire classes of vulnerabilities
Most exploited vulnerabilities today stem from types that can often be mitigated on a large scale, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and memory safety language vulnerabilities. Governments aim to reduce these by encouraging companies to adopt practices like eliminating authorization validation logic mistakes, enabling the use of memory-safe languages, creating secure firmware architectures, and implementing secure administrative protections. The goal is to minimize exploitation risks by addressing systemic vulnerabilities at their root.
Our introduction of mandatory use of the Microsoft Authentication Library (MSAL) across all Microsoft applications helps ensure that advanced identity defenses, such as token binding, continuous access evaluation, and advanced application attack detections, are consistently implemented. This standardizes secure authentication processes, making it significantly harder for attackers to exploit identity-related vulnerabilities. MSAL enables developers to acquire security tokens from the Microsoft identity platform to authenticate users and access secured web APIs.
Read the updated Windows Security book and stay secure with Windows
Microsoft is also committed to adopting memory-safe languages, such as Rust, for developing new products and transitioning existing ones. This approach addresses common vulnerabilities related to memory safety. Microsoft is investing heavily into safe language to enhance the safety of our code, and we are applying this new approach to our security platform and other key areas like Microsoft Surface and Pluton security firmware.
In Windows 11, we’ve applied a secure by design strategy from the very first line of code. We have established a Hardware Security Baseline, which helps to ensure every Windows 11 PC has consistent hardware security forming a secure foundation. Windows 11 has secure by default settings and stronger controls for what apps and drivers are allowed to run. This is important as unverified apps and drivers lead to malware and script attacks. And most malware and ransomware apps are unsigned, which means they can be authored and distributed without being provably safe. For consumers and smaller organizations, Smart App Control is a new feature that uses cloud AI to enable millions of known safe apps to run, regardless of where you got them. For larger organizations, IT admins can layer on App Control for Business policies and deploy them using Intune.
With Windows powering business critical solutions across a wide variety of customers, we are committed to helping ensure that Windows remains the most secure and reliable platform. At Microsoft Ignite in 2024, we announced the Windows Resilience Initiative focused on enhancing the security and resilience of the Windows operating system. This involves implementing advanced security features, improving threat detection and response capabilities, and to help ensure that Windows can withstand and recover from cyberattacks. As part of the Windows Resilience Initiative, we are working to protect against common cyberattacks in addition to strengthening identity protection mentioned above.
As part of this we are addressing the long-standing challenge of overprivileged users and applications, which create significant risk. Yet many people do not want to give up admin control of their PC. To help strike the balance of admin privileges and security we are introducing Administrator protection (currently in Windows Insiders). Admin protection gives you the protection of standard user permissions by default, and when needed you can securely authorize a just-in-time system change using Windows Hello. Once the process has completed, the temporary admin token is destroyed. This means admin privileges do not persist. Admin protection will be disruptive to cyberattackers, as they no longer have elevated privileges by default, which will help organizations ensure they remain in control of Windows.
We are also collaborating with endpoint security partners to adopt safe deployment practices. This means all security product updates will be gradual, minimizing deployment risks and monitoring to help ensure any negative impact is kept to a minimum. Additionally, we are developing new Windows capabilities that allow security product developers to build their products outside of kernel mode, reducing the impact to Windows in the event of a security product crash.
Another key development is our secure by design user experience (UX) toolkit. Human error causes the majority of security breaches. The UX toolkit helps build more secure software and improve user security experiences. This toolkit represents a new way of thinking—where design and security aren’t siloed but are working together from the very beginning. Adopted internally and shared externally, the toolkit helps other software organizations in enhancing their security practices.
Other activities Microsoft has worked on to eliminate classes of vulnerabilities include:
Continued support to enable developers to use the memory safe language Rust on Windows.
Taking steps to mitigate Windows NT LAN (NTLM) Relay Attacks by default against Exchange Service, Active Directory Certificate Services and Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP).
Zero Trust Domain Name System (DNS) preview expanded to include Windows 11 enterprise customers. This feature helps lock down devices to only access-approved network destinations.
Surface embedded firmware products use of a common firmware architecture.
Launch of the Windows 365 Link, which is the first Cloud PC device for Windows 365. Windows 365 Link eliminates local data and apps and has no local admin users and provides employees a way to more securely stream their Windows 365 Cloud PC.
GitHub released CodeQL support for GitHub Actions workflow files. This new static analysis capability identifies common continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) flaws both in existing code bases and before they are introduced to help eliminate this class of vulnerabilities. Using this new feature, the GitHub Security Lab was able to help secure more than 75 GitHub Actions workflows in open source projects, disclosing more than 90 different vulnerabilities.
Boosting patch application rates
Timely and effective patch management is necessary for cybersecurity, as this is how we can reduce the window of opportunity for malicious actors to exploit software flaws.
Microsoft has made measurable increases in the installation of security patches, which we achieved by enabling automatic installation of software patches when possible and enabling this functionality by default, as well as by offering widespread support for these patches.
Microsoft continues to roll out major security updates on the second Tuesday of each month, known as Patch Tuesday. This regular schedule ensures that all systems receive timely updates to address critical vulnerabilities, thereby reducing the risk of exploitation by cyberattackers.
Building on this foundation, Microsoft has made significant strides in improving the update process with Windows 11. By reducing the number of required system restarts from 12 to four per year through the use of Hotpatch updates, we have further streamlined operations and encouraged organizations to remain compliant with patching requirements.
Other examples of our efforts in to boost patch and security update rates include:
Windows Hotpatch: Announced at Microsoft Ignite 2024, this provides a 60% reduction in time to adopt security updates, assisted by applying updates seamlessly without system restarts.
Microsoft has emphasized the importance of clearly communicating the expected lifespan of products at the time of sale and investing in provisioning capabilities to ease customer transitions to supported versions when products reach the end of their lifecycle. This strategy ensures that customers are well-informed and can smoothly adapt to new technologies.
Adopting a Vulnerability Disclosure Policy (VDP) and Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE)
Coordinated vulnerability disclosure, a practice Microsoft adopted more than a decade ago, benefits both security researchers and software manufacturers by enabling collaboration to enhance product security. A VDP that authorizes public testing of products, commits to refraining from legal action against those who follow the VDP in good faith, provides a clear channel for reporting vulnerabilities, and permits public disclosure of vulnerabilities according to coordinated vulnerability disclosure best practices and international standards makes a real difference for cybersecurity. Additionally, manufacturers can demonstrate transparency by including accurate Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) and Common Platform Enumeration (CPE) fields in every CVE record for the manufacturer’s products.
Our adoption of the CWE and CPE standards in every CVE record for its products is an important achievement. This transparency facilitates accurate and detailed information about vulnerabilities, facilitating timely and effective remediation. By issuing CVEs promptly for all critical or high-impact vulnerabilities, Microsoft demonstrates its commitment to maintaining a secure environment and protecting its customers from potential cyberthreats.
Another notable highlight is the publication of a machine-readable CSAF files, which provide a clear channel for reporting vulnerabilities and authorizes public testing of Microsoft products. This fosters collaboration between security researchers and software manufacturers, enabling the identification and mitigation of vulnerabilities in a coordinated manner.
Other activities Microsoft has worked on to adopt VDP and CVE include:
Empowering customers to detect and document intrusions
Organizations should do more to detect cybersecurity incidents and understand their impact. To ensure they can do that, manufacturers should provide artifacts and evidence-gathering tools, like audit logs.
An example of Microsoft’s commitment in this area is our implementation of robust sensors and logs, enhancing detection of cyberthreats. This initiative provides customers with actionable insights into potential intrusions, enabling swift responses and risk mitigation.
Other activities Microsoft has worked on to empower customers to detect and document inclusions include:
Microsoft Purview has expanded its audit logging and retention periods, among other security enhancements, to increase security visibility and incident response capabilities for cloud-based services.
Microsoft Security Copilot offers prebuilt promptbooks to automate security-related tasks, such as incident investigations, user analysis, and threat intelligence assessments, enhancing efficiency and accuracy in cybersecurity operations.
Microsoft has provided detailed guidance on implementing the United States Department of Defense (DoD) Zero Trust Strategy, with activities categorized into target and advanced phases to achieve full Zero Trust adoption by 2032.
Microsoft’s Expanded Cloud Logs Implementation Playbook provides detailed guidance on operationalizing new logging capabilities in Microsoft Purview Audit (Standard).
Microsoft has published a whitepaper on lessons learned from red teaming more than 100 generative AI products at Microsoft. The whitepaper highlights the importance of understanding AI systems, breaking them without computing gradients, and the necessity of human involvement in AI red teaming, among other topics.
GitHub shipped enhanced capabilities to the GitHub audit log to provide customers with increased visibility of API events and features to enable enterprise management, automation, and integration.
Read the latest SFI updates
To learn more about Microsoft Security solutions, visit our website. Bookmark the Security blog to keep up with our expert coverage on security matters. Also, follow us on LinkedIn (Microsoft Security) and X (@MSFTSecurity) for the latest news and updates on cybersecurity.
1Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2024.
2Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2022.
3IDC North America Tools and Vendors Consolidation Survey, 2023.
Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz
Published: 04.17.2025
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to open up the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument to commercial fishing.
“At a time when the climate crisis is threatening our fragile ocean ecosystem and costing us lives and livelihoods every year, President Trump’s response is to gut protections for some of our nation’s most important natural resources, including the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument.
“Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was unequivocal when he assured me during his confirmation hearing that consultation would take place prior to any actions on fisheries in the Pacific. No such consultation occurred in advance of today’s executive order. The public deserves answers, and I expect him to come before Congress to explain this misguided decision.
“We should be protecting the Pacific’s unmatched ecology and biodiversity for future generations – this order does the opposite.”
While in Japan, Premier Smith will meet with government officials, importers and energy and agricultural sector leaders to position Alberta as the partner of choice to meet Japan’s growing demand for energy and food security.
In addition to making new inroads for Alberta in Japan, Premier Smith will head to Gangwon State, South Korea, to further entrench Alberta’s longest-standing sister province relationship. Premier Smith’s stop in Gangwon comes on the heels of last year’s visit to Alberta by Governor Kim Jin Tae of Gangwon State, Republic of Korea, to reaffirm this relationship and celebrate its Golden Jubilee.
“I am excited to head to Japan and South Korea to advance work under Alberta’s memorandum of understanding with the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security and celebrate the success of our decades-long twinning relationships with Hokkaido, Japan and Gangwon State, South Korea. I will be taking this opportunity to strengthen the mutually beneficial ties rooted in these agreements, identify new opportunities for collaboration across our resource, agri-food and technology sectors and underscore Alberta’s position as a global leader in secure, reliable and responsible energy development.”
Japanese investment in Alberta’s energy sector over the years has helped fuel the province’s economy and support jobs for Albertans. As Japan looks for ways to secure and diversify its energy supply, Alberta is in a prime position to help them meet this need by supplying everything from oil, natural gas and hydrogen, while boosting collaboration in developing our energy and natural resources.
With this year marking a landmark 45 years of Alberta’s successful twinning relationship with Hokkaido, meetings with Japanese officials and private sector leaders will also focus on opportunities to strengthen our robust ties in agriculture and agri-food, while building on our long history of cooperation in sports, culture and educational exchanges.
While in South Korea, Premier Smith will meet with government officials and private sector leaders to build on decades of co-operation and strengthen our links in sustainable energy development, energy and agrifood export growth, technology and innovation, investment attraction and more. Premier Smith will also showcase Alberta’s strengths and offerings in sectors where Alberta and Korea show natural synergy and promise for mutually beneficial growth. Major Korean companies have also made a number of substantial investments in Alberta with several establishing Canadian headquarters in Calgary. This mission will serve as a launch pad for attracting even more investment to our province.
Mission expenses will be posted on the travel and expense disclosure page.
Quick facts
Canada and Japan have been members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement since 2018.
Bilateral trade between Alberta and Japan totalled more than $3.0 billion in 2024.
In 2024, Japan was Alberta’s third-largest export market, with Alberta’s exports to Japan totalling almost $2.7 billion, and energy exports making up almost $1 billion of that total.
The Republic of Korea, known informally as South Korea, is an important economic partner for Alberta.
Bilateral trade between Alberta and South Korea totalled about $1.5 billion in 2024.
Alberta’s total exports to the region in 2024 totalled $1.2 billion, and consisted primarily of energy, nickel, meat and wood pulp.
Several major South Korean energy companies have Canadian headquarters in Calgary, including KOGAS, Korea National Oil Corp and SK Eco-Engineering.
Itinerary for Premier Smith*
April 18-19
Travel to Tokyo, Japan.
April 20
Travel to Sapporo, Japan.
Attend event hosted by the Government of Hokkaido.
April 21
Participate in meetings with Hokkaido government officials.
Bilateral meeting with the Governor of Hokkaido.
Lead roundtable with Hokkaido officials and representatives on sports, cultural and educational exchanges.
Travel to Seoul, South Korea.
April 22
Travel to Chuncheon, Gangwon State, South Korea.
Bilateral meeting with the Governor of Gangwon State.
Attend luncheon hosted by the Governor of Gangwon State.
Tour data center.
Travel to Seoul, South Korea.
April 23
Meetings with representatives from a regional energy importer and national energy companies.
Host working luncheon with leaders and representatives from South Korea’s energy and agriculture sectors.
Travel to Tokyo, Japan.
April 24
Meetings with senior Japanese government officials.
Meeting with representatives from the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC).
Chair energy roundtable with Japanese private sector leaders.
Attend celebration honouring Alberta’s 55-year presence in Japan.
April 25
Tour Costco Japan head office and store.
Meeting with Japanese oil and gas company.
April 26
Travel to Alberta.
*Subject to change.
Related news
Partnering with Japan to expand our energy horizons (Mar. 11, 2025)
Building on 50 years of friendship with Gangwon (Sept. 23, 2024)
Spokane, Washington – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict in the trial of Luis Esquivel-Bolanos (a/k/a “Colorado”), age 45, of Guerrero, Mexico. Esquivel-Bolanos was found guilty on multiple drug trafficking and firearms charges.
United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice presided over Esquivel-Bolanos’s trial, which began April 14, 2025. At sentencing, which is set for July 16, 2025, Esquivel-Bolanos faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life in prison. He may also face removal from the United States.
The evidence presented at trial established that in January 2023, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) identified Esquivel-Bolanos as a member of a drug trafficking organization, which had flooded the Eastern District of Washington, including the Oroville area and the Colville Indian Reservation, with methamphetamine and fentanyl. The organization spread as far as central Montana, where many of the illegal drugs were being sold on Tribal land, including on the Crow, Northern Cheyenne, Rocky Boy’s, Fort Belknap, and Flathead Reservations. Within Eastern Washington, the organization was run by Esquivel-Bolanos and his co-defendant, Erubey Arciga Medrano. Esquivel-Bolanos was directly below Medrano, who previously pled guilty to his role in the drug trafficking conspiracy.
The evidence at trial further established that the organization used threatening tactics to maintain control over their drug-distribution activities. In one instance, the organization threatened that the Jalisco Cartel, who supplied drugs to Esquivel-Bolanos and his associates, would kill a confidential informant, who was strip searched when the informant was accused of being a “snitch.” On a separate occasion – not long before police were able to intervene and shut down the organization – Esquivel-Bolanos and others arranged for members of the organization to go to the home of a person suspected of stealing more than thirty pounds of methamphetamine from the organization and to threaten to kill that the suspected thief.
On April 19, 2023, BIA, DEA, the North Central Washington Narcotics Task Force, and other Federal, State, Local, and Tribal law enforcement, executed a series of federal search warrants at a number of homes in rural Okanogan County, near Oroville, Washington. In total, investigators seized approximately 161,000 fentanyl-laced pills (to include Mexi-blues and rainbow-colored pills), approximately 80 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately 6 pounds of heroin, and more than 2 pounds of cocaine. The BIA, DEA, and their partners also seized approximately 12 firearms. Many of these drugs were obtained inside a trailer, where Esquivel-Bolanos was living at the time.
“I was able to work on this case and the investigation from the outset,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Richard Barker, who tried the case along with his colleagues Nowles Heinrich and Echo Fatsis. Acting U.S. Attorney Barker continued, “The volume of drugs removed from Eastern Washington and Montana communities, including from Tribal land, is staggering. At the time of Mr. Esquivel-Bolanos’s arrest, and even now, the seizure from the Medrano-Bolanos drug trafficking organization was one of the largest ever in rural Washington. I am grateful for the tremendous law enforcement efforts by the BIA, DEA, and others, who put an end to the dangerous and threatening tactics used by Mr. Esquivel-Bolanos and his associates.”
“Those who traffic drugs into our tribal communities need to know that they will be caught and prosecuted to full extent of the law. I want to thank Acting U. S. Attorney Barker, the BIA Division of Drug Enforcement, the DEA, and all of the law enforcement agencies and AUSAs in Montana and Washington for their dedicated work on these cases,” said Kurt Alme, U. S. Attorney for Montana.
“The conviction of this drug trafficker, who was part of a Mexican Cartel, is the result of intense collaboration and coordination between many Tribal, Federal, State, and Local law enforcement agencies. These agencies came together to address the drug trafficking occurring across many communities in Eastern Washington and Montana, including seven different Indian Reservations,” said Deputy Associate Director Tom Atkinson of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Division of Drug Enforcement. “This investigation revealed the purposeful and specific exploitation of Indian Country by the members of this criminal network, illustrating the importance of continued vigilance and cooperation among law enforcement agencies. This conviction sends a strong message that drug trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable communities will not be tolerated. The Bureau of Indian Affairs remains committed to empowering tribal law enforcement and to working with its partners to ensure the safety and well-being of all communities affected by drug trafficking.”
“Mr. Esquivel- Bolanos was second in command of the drug trafficking ring responsible for flooding the Oroville area and Colville Indian Reservation with deadly fentanyl and meth,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Drug traffickers who purposely prey on our tribal communities are the worst offenders, and with the help of the jury this Mexican National will be held accountable.”
This case was prosecuted under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. The OCDETF program provides supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved in the investigation of transnational drug trafficking and related offenses. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement to specifically identify the criminals responsible for these drug related offenses in the Eastern District of Washington and pursue criminal prosecution.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the North Central Washington Narcotics Task Force. The investigation team was assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Okanogan County Sheriff, Colville Tribal Police Department, and the Kalispel Tribal Police Department. The Eastern Washington cases are being prosecuted by Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker, Assistant United States Attorney Nowles H. Heinrich, and Contractor Echo D. Fatsis. Twenty-seven defendants were charged and convicted through a parallel prosecution handled by AUSAs and support staff in the District of Montana.
SOUTH BEND – Jaterria M. Davis, 42 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon Leichty after pleading guilty to a federal felony for misappropriation of postal funds, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
Davis was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay $37,023 in restitution to the United States Postal Service.
According to documents in the case, Davis was employed as the Lead Sales and Service Associate at the United States Post Office in Mishawaka, Indiana. Her duties included gathering the daily deposits of cash and checks paid to the post office for postal goods and services that were to be forwarded on to the post office for deposit. However, from on or about July 20, 2024, through August 14, 2024, Davis violated her position of trust by embezzling for her own use, $37,023 in cash deposits paid to the post office.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Service-Office of Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke N. Reilander.
Ageas announces the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meetings of Shareholders of ageas SA/NV
As the quorum required for the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Wednesday 23 April 2025 will not be attained, ageas SA/NV is organising the Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) on Wednesday 21 May 2025 at 10:30 a.m. The Meeting is being held at the Auditorium of AG Insurance, AG Campus, in 1000 Brussels, Rue du Pont Neuf 17.
The general conditions for attending the Meeting as well as the below documents are available on the Ageas website:
the convening notice, together with the agenda containing the items:
the approval of the annual report and accounts for 2024,
the approval of the 2024 dividend,
the discharge of liability,
the approval of the remuneration report,
the approval of the proposal for the reappointments of Board members,
the confirmation of the appointment of the statutory auditor for the audit of the non-financial reporting (CSRD),
the approval of proposed amendment to the Articles of Association (authorized capital), and
the authorisation for the company to acquire ageas SA/NV shares.
the special report by the Board of Directors on the use and purpose of the authorized capital prepared in accordance with article 7:199 of the Companies and Associations Code,
the proxy model,
the annual report 2024 of ageas SA/NV.
Shareholders will be able to register, vote and ask questions at the Meeting if, on the date of registration, they hold the number of shares for which they have indicated their intention to exercise their voting rights, irrespective of the number of shares they hold on the day of the Meeting. The registration date has been set at Wednesday 7 May 2025 at midnight (CET).
Shareholders who wish to attend the Meeting must make their intentions known no later than Thursday 15 May 2025 by communicating their instructions to the company, their bank or their financial institution. The proxies with which shareholders can pass on their voting instructions must be in the company’s possession no later than Thursday 15 May 2025.
Ageas is a listed international insurance Group with a heritage spanning of 200 years. It offers Retail and Business customers Life and Non-Life insurance products designed to suit their specific needs, today and tomorrow, and is also engaged in reinsurance activities. As one of Europe’s larger insurance companies, Ageas concentrates its activities in Europe and Asia, which together make up the major part of the global insurance market. It operates successful insurance businesses in Belgium, the UK, Portugal, Türkiye, China, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, and the Philippines through a combination of wholly owned subsidiaries and long-term partnerships with strong financial institutions and key distributors. Ageas ranks among the market leaders in the countries in which it operates. It represents a staff force of about 50,000 people and reported annual inflows of EUR 18.5 billion in 2024.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today expressed its strong opposition to and grave dissatisfaction towards US authorities’ imposition of port fees on vessels owned, operated, or built by Chinese companies, and other associated measures.
In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government outlined that under the unique institutional strengths of “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong – as a globally renowned international maritime centre – has long provided an open, level, efficient, and well-regulated business environment for shipping enterprises around the world to operate in.
It iterated that the US measures are blatantly discriminatory, deliberately divide the international maritime community, and undermine the spirit of solidarity and co-operation built over many years, adding that such actions fall short of the basic standards of international conduct.
Describing the actions by the US as bullying, the Hong Kong SAR Government stressed that Hong Kong will continue to uphold the spirit of openness and co-operation, work with global maritime partners to safeguard free trade principles and promote the healthy development of the international shipping industry.
Only by adhering to the principles of fairness, justice, mutual benefits and win-win co-operation can the common interests of the global maritime community be truly protected, it added.
INDIANAPOLIS— Juan Morales, 49, of Mexico, has been sentenced to 37 months in federal prison followed by one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien after deportation.
According to court documents, on November 6, 2024, Morales was convicted of operating a motor vehicle without ever receiving a license. Further investigation revealed that Morales had been removed from the United States on two separate occasions in 2007 and 2018.
Morales has a lengthy criminal history, including two previous federal convictions for illegal reentry, as well as two convictions in Indiana and Illinois for dealing cocaine and methamphetamine.
“While in the United States unlawfully for a third time, this defendant has repeatedly broken the law, demonstrating time and time again a fundamental lack of respect for this country,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Our office is committed to working with ICE and our other law enforcement partners to ensure criminal defendants like Mr. Morales cannot continue to pose danger to our communities.”
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young
Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany J. Preston and Samantha Spiro, who prosecuted this case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)
The Customs & Excise Department today held an open day at the Customs College to promote national security education, with more than 1,000 students taking part.
Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing attended the event and officiated at an eye-dotting ceremony for a dragon and lion dance performance.
Besides an exhibition on the department’s work to safeguard national security, the open day featured performances by its detection dog team, and a dragon and lion dance team. There was also a display of firearms and weapons, while game booths and an inflatable jumping castle were set up for children to enjoy.
Games, including virtual reality simulations of customs operations, showcased the department’s gatekeeping role in an interactive manner.
Meanwhile, a recruitment booth featuring fitness tests – including an isometric strength test and a standing long jump test – gave attendees an understanding of the department’s fitness requirements.
U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF)
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Drew Schumann, a public affairs specialist with the 127th Wing, Michigan Air National Guard, poses with members of Armed Forces Liberia, Staff Sgt. Matthew Kakaris, broadcaster from Armed Forces Network Europe, Sembach, Germany, and Maj. Joe Legros, a public affairs officer from U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, Vicenza, Italy, following a public affairs workshop in Monrovia, Liberia, Jan. 23, 2025. Organized by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), and as part of the State Partnership Program (SPP), three U.S. public affairs specialists took part in a military-to-military PA workshop from Jan. 19-24, 2025, bringing together a diverse team from across the military public affairs domain. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Drew Schumann) (Photo Credit: Tech. Sgt. Andrew Schumann) VIEW ORIGINAL
MONROVIA, Liberia — Arriving in Liberia for my first visit to the African continent, I was unsure of what to expect. However, I knew my purpose—to share my expertise as a public affairs specialist and state partner in the Michigan Air National Guard with the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL).
Organized by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), and as part of the State Partnership Program (SPP), I had the privilege of participating in a military-to-military workshop from Jan. 19–24, 2025. This mission brought together a diverse team from across the military public affairs domain.
Joining me were U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Kakaris, a broadcaster from Armed Forces Network Europe in Sembach, Germany, and U.S. Army Maj. Joe Legros, a public affairs officer currently assigned to SETAF-AF in Vicenza, Italy. Together, we provided public affairs training to a select group of AFL soldiers at a military training center in Mambah Kaba, Liberia.
Our lead partner, Maj. El Dorado Jebboe, AFL public affairs officer, guided a motivated and dedicated group of soldiers through the training. We covered topics such as media relations, photography, interviewing techniques and command messaging strategies—skills essential to telling their story and connecting with the Liberian public.
Although we were there to teach, the mission quickly became a collaboration. The AFL soldiers brought valuable perspectives and shared challenges, demonstrating a passion for building trust and transparency through public affairs.
One standout moment occurred during an interview exercise to practice strategic communication. As the soldiers applied their newly learned skills, their confidence grew with each response. By the end of the training, their progress was evident, showcasing an eagerness to learn and strengthen their communications capabilities.
“This training builds enthusiasm with our members to take on further missions,” said Maj. Jebboe. “With upcoming events such as Liberian Armed Forces Day and field training exercises, the skills learned here during this public affairs training will help sell the image of Armed Forces Liberia.”
His words highlighted the broader goal of our mission: not just teaching technical skills but fostering a foundation for lasting communication between the AFL, the Liberian public and the world audience.
The mission aligned seamlessly with the objectives of the U.S. Defense Department’s SPP, which pairs U.S. National Guard units with foreign military organizations to foster long-term relationships, enhance interoperability, and support regional stability.
As part of the Michigan National Guard’s partnership with Liberia—active since 2009—this mission underscored the enduring strength of the bonds we’ve built over the years.
Over the course of this partnership, Michigan and Liberia have collaborated on numerous initiatives, including disaster response training, medical readiness exercises and leadership development programs. These engagements have not only enhanced the AFL’s capabilities but have also created lasting friendships and mutual understanding. For example, previous missions focused on engineering and infrastructure development have helped Liberia improve its logistical networks and emergency preparedness, further strengthening the country’s resilience.
Managed by the National Guard Bureau, the State Partnership Program supports more than 100 partnerships worldwide. It leverages the expertise of National Guard members to build enduring connections and promote mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations.
However, the program is more than military training. It is about fostering relationships built on trust, cooperation and mutual respect.
For me, this mission underscored the importance of our role as public affairs professionals. It’s not just about capturing photos or writing stories—it’s about empowering others to share their narratives and foster meaningful connections.
In Liberia, I witnessed the power of these connections firsthand. I am proud to have contributed to strengthening the AFL’s capacity to communicate and engage with the public.
Returning to Michigan, I carry with me a deep appreciation for the AFL’s dedication and a renewed sense of purpose in my work. This mission was a powerful reminder of the value of partnerships and the impact of shared knowledge.
About the State Partnership Program
The Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program has been successfully building relations for more than 30 years and now includes 106 partnerships with 115 nations around the globe.
Current partnerships in U.S. Africa Command’s area of responsibility include:
Benin, Ghana, Togo | North Dakota National Guard (2004, 2014)
Botswana, Malawi, Zambia | North Carolina National Guard (2008, 2024, 2024)
Burkina Faso | District of Columbia National Guard (2018)
Cabo Verde | New Hampshire National Guard (2021)
Djibouti | Kentucky National Guard (2015)
Gabon | West Virginia National Guard (2024)
Kenya | Massachusetts National Guard (2015)
Liberia, Sierra Leone | Michigan National Guard (2009, 2024)
Morocco | Utah National Guard (2003)
Niger | Indiana National Guard (2017)
Nigeria | California National Guard (2006)
Rwanda | Nebraska National Guard (2019)
Senegal | Vermont National Guard (2008)
South Africa | New York National Guard (2003)
Tunisia | Wyoming National Guard (2004)
.About SETAF-AF
U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.