ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 20, 2025.
Liberals easily win most seats at Tasmanian election, but Labor may form government Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne With 63% of enrolled voters counted in today’s Tasmanian state election, The Poll Bludger is projecting that the final results will give the Liberals 39.7% of the
Palestine solidarity rally greeted by Rainbow Warrior Gaza protest Asia Pacific Report Palestinian supporters and protesters against the 21 months of Israeli genocide in Gaza marched after a rally in downtown Auckland today across the Viaduct to the Greenpeace environmental flagship Rainbow Warrior — and met a display of solidarity. Several people on board the campaign ship, which has been holding open days over
ICE deportation action lands Marshallese, Micronesians in Guantánamo ‘terror’ base By Giff Johnson, editor, Marshall Islands Journal/RNZ Pacific correspondent United States immigration and deportation enforcement continues to ramp up, impacting on Marshallese and Micronesians in new and unprecedented ways. The Trump administration’s directive to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest and deport massive numbers of potentially illegal aliens, including those with convictions from decades
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
NT Police are calling for information following a suspicious structure fire in Braitling on Saturday evening.
Around 6:45pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received multiple reports of a unit on fire at a residential complex on Elliot Street.
Emergency services attended and NT Fire and Rescue Services extinguished the blaze, with a search of the premises confirming no one was inside at the time.
Initial investigations indicate the fire is suspicious, with two mattresses, one on the ground floor and another on the top floor, identified as the points of ignition.
A crime scene was declared, and investigations remain ongoing.
Police urge anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area, or who may have CCTV or dash cam footage around the time of the incident, to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number NTP2500073181.
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Note: The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports. SEL7
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Tornado Watch Number 527 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 315 PM CDT Sat Jul 19 2025
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Tornado Watch for portions of Western into Central Nebraska
* Effective this Saturday afternoon and evening from 315 PM until 1100 PM CDT.
* Primary threats include… A couple tornadoes possible Scattered damaging winds and isolated significant gusts to 75 mph possible Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2.5 inches in diameter possible
SUMMARY…Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are forecast to develop and intensify this afternoon and pose a risk for large to very large hail. The stronger storms will be supercells. The risk for tornadoes will begin late this afternoon and maximize during the evening. The risk for severe gusts will probably increase during the evening as one or two clusters possibly evolves.
The tornado watch area is approximately along and 80 statute miles north and south of a line from 75 miles west of Mullen NE to 10 miles north northeast of Broken Bow NE. For a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU7).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings.
&&
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 526…
AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to 2.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 65 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 550. Mean storm motion vector 29025.
…Smith
Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas. SAW7 WW 527 TORNADO NE 192015Z – 200400Z AXIS..80 STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF LINE.. 75W MHN/MULLEN NE/ – 10NNE BBW/BROKEN BOW NE/ ..AVIATION COORDS.. 70NM N/S /43ENE BFF – 55WNW OBH/ HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..2.5 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..65 KNOTS. MAX TOPS TO 550. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 29025.
LAT…LON 43200253 42729956 40419956 40880253
THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS FOR WOU7.
Watch 527 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.
Los Angeles, California, July 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EthransactionCloud mining has become the first choice for stable investment-if ordinary investors buy Bitcoin directly, they not only have to bear the risk of market fluctuations. If they choose to mine cryptocurrencies themselves, they also have to face high mining machine costs and electricity consumption. Ethransaction cloud mining uses advanced cloud computing technology and intelligent contract planning operation mode, so that users can easily participate in Bitcoin mining through the platform without purchasing physical mining machines and enjoy stable income.
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Los Angeles, California, July 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EthransactionCloud mining has become the first choice for stable investment-if ordinary investors buy Bitcoin directly, they not only have to bear the risk of market fluctuations. If they choose to mine cryptocurrencies themselves, they also have to face high mining machine costs and electricity consumption. Ethransaction cloud mining uses advanced cloud computing technology and intelligent contract planning operation mode, so that users can easily participate in Bitcoin mining through the platform without purchasing physical mining machines and enjoy stable income.
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne
With 63% of enrolled voters counted in today’s Tasmanian state election, The Poll Bludger is projecting that the final results will give the Liberals 39.7% of the statewide vote (up 3.0% since the March 2024 election), Labor just 25.7% (down 3.1%), the Greens 14.1% (up 0.2%), the Shooters 3.2% (up 0.9%), the Nationals 1.7% and independents 15.4%.
Tasmania uses the proportional Hare-Clark system for its lower house elections. As described previously, the five seats Tasmania has at federal elections each return seven members for a total of 35 MPs. A quota for election is one-eighth of the vote, or 12.5%.
The main Poll Bludger page gives projected quotas for each electorate for the Liberals, Labor and the Greens. The Liberals have just under four quotas in Braddon, over three in Bass and Lyons and over two in Clark and Franklin, suggesting 14 definite seats with more possible.
Labor is just above or just below two quotas in all five seats, and should win ten seats. The Greens have 1.8 quotas in Clark, over one in each of Franklin, Bass and Lyons and 0.6 in Braddon, so they should win at least five seats.
Of the independents, environmental campaigner Craig Garland has 0.8 quotas in Braddon and will be re-elected. Left-wing independent Kristie Johnston has 1.3 quotas in Clark, and will also be re-elected. In Franklin, both former Labor leader David O’Byrne and Teal Peter George (0.9 and 1.3 quotas respectively) have been elected.
In Lyons, the Shooters candidate, with 0.6 quotas, is well positioned to win the final seat. In Bass, it appears more complex, but the final seat is likely to go to either the Liberals or the Shooters. None of the three former Jacqui Lambie Network MPs who won seats at the March 2024 election have been re-elected.
Overall, the right-wing parties (Liberals and Shooters) are likely to win 16 of the 35 seats, but Labor, the Greens and left-wing independents are likely to win 19 seats. So even though the Liberals will win the most seats, Labor may be able to cobble together a government, but only if they cooperate with the Greens.
This overall result assumes a 4–3 right split in Bass, Braddon and Lyons, but a 5–2 left split in both Clark and Franklin. In Franklin, the Liberals would be unlucky not to win three with 2.7 quotas, but Labor has 1.8 quotas and preferences from George should assist Labor.
Many pre-poll votes have not yet been counted, and postals won’t be counted until next week. Postals are likely to assist the Liberals. The postal effect should be accounted for by The Poll Bludger’s projections.
YouGov poll badly understated Liberals
A late YouGov poll, conducted July 7–18 from a sample of 931, gave the Liberals 31% of the statewide vote (steady since June), Labor 30% (down four), the Greens 16% (up three), the Nationals 2%, the Shooters 1% and independents 20% (up two).
A two-party vote is not applicable in Tasmania’s proportional system, but this poll gave Labor a 55–45 lead over the Liberals. Labor leader Dean Winter also led Liberal incumbent Jeremy Rockliff as better premier by 55–45. Rockliff was at -19 net approval and Winter at -13.
The only other public Tasmanian polls were conducted by DemosAU. The final DemosAU poll, which I covered on Tuesday, gave the Liberals 34.9%, Labor 24.7%, the Greens 15.6%, the Nationals 2.7%, the Shooters 1.8% and independents 20.3%.
The results show the Liberals headed for about a 14-point vote share win over Labor, so YouGov badly understated them.
Federal Bradfield legal challenge
Last Monday the Liberals challenged Teal Nicolette Boele’s 26-vote win in Bradfield at the May 3 federal election to the High Court, acting as the Court of Disputed Returns. Boele will be seated until the court resolves the case.
The court can either confirm Boele’s win, void the election for this seat and order a byelection in Bradfield, or overturn the result and declare the Liberal candidate elected.
After the official declaration of the election on June 12, the 40-day period for legal challenges to the results expires on Tuesday. Tuesday will also be the first sitting of federal parliament since the election, though it could have sat at any time after June 12.
The Bradfield challenge will delay a Labor vs Liberal two-party count in that seat until the challenge is resolved. It’s likely the Australian Electoral Commission’s (AEC) current estimate in Bradfield is understating Labor, and therefore Labor is being very slightly understated nationally.
DemosAU polls on democracy in Australia and Queensland federal
DemosAU has emailed me a poll on democracy and voting systems in Australia. This poll was conducted in two waves in May and June from a total sample of 1,713.
By 69–12, respondents thought Australian democracy is something to be proud of, and by 71–19 they did not think Australia needs a PM like Donald Trump. By 67–15, respondents trusted the AEC. By 53–23, they did not want the number of MPs increased.
Asked for preferred voting system in the House of Representatives, 36% selected compulsory preferential voting (CPV), 27% first past the post (FPTP), 25% optional preferential voting (OPV) and 12% proportional representation (PR).
Head to head, CPV and OPV both beat FPTP by 53–47, while CPV beat OPV by 54–46. All single-member systems were much preferred to PR.
I previously covered the Queensland state DemosAU poll. In the federal Queensland poll, Labor led by 53–47 (50.6–49.4 to the Coalition at the election). Primary votes were 35% Labor, 31% Coalition, 13% One Nation, 12% Greens and 9% for all Others.
Adrian Beaumont does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The Russian team showed an impeccable result at the 66th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), which ended in the Sunshine Coast (Australia). Six participants representing our country won 5 gold and 1 silver medal. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov congratulated the schoolchildren and their mentors on their success at the prestigious intellectual tournament.
“Our country is the birthplace of a whole galaxy of outstanding mathematicians. We are sincerely glad that modern schoolchildren continue these glorious traditions and show high results. Our President Vladimir Putin emphasizes the importance of high-quality teaching and the enthusiasm of schoolchildren for mathematics. We thank teachers and mentors for their knowledge and support of children in developing their talents, and the schoolchildren themselves – for a reason to be proud of their success. Congratulations on your medals and I wish you the realization of your talents and a worthy application of your knowledge in the future,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.
Russia is among the top ten countries in terms of quality of education and among the top three in international Olympiads. The number of medals, including gold, is growing.
Taking into account the awards at the International Mathematical Olympiad, Russian students won 16 medals at the main international Olympiads and 52 at intermediate (training) ones in 2025.
This year, more students chose to take exams in the natural sciences. Thus, there is an increase in the number of participants in the 2025 Unified State Exam in natural sciences: specialized mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, biology.
The head of the Ministry of Education noted that the medals are a fair reward for their talent, hard work and perseverance.
“I congratulate you on your successful participation in the 66th International Mathematical Olympiad. I am sincerely glad that in a fair fight with peers from different countries you demonstrated excellent preparation, team unity and the will to win. Your results are a true sign of the quality of the Russian education system and the national mathematical school. Special words of gratitude go to the teachers, coaches, mentors and relatives who share with you the joy of this well-deserved victory,” emphasized Sergey Kravtsov.
Gold medals were awarded to:
— Ivan Chasovskikh (Secondary comprehensive school with in-depth study of individual subjects No. 14, Khimki, Moscow region), who scored 42 points;
— Dmitry Grishko (Moscow State Budgetary General Educational Institution “Fifty-Seventh School”), who scored 36 points;
— Ilya Zamotorin (Presidential Physics and Mathematics Lyceum No. 239, St. Petersburg), who scored 35 points;
— Vasily Patrushev (Secondary comprehensive school No. 9 with in-depth study of the Chinese language, Vladivostok, Primorsky Krai), who scored 35 points;
— Artem Sadykov (Physics and Mathematics Lyceum No. 31, Chelyabinsk, Chelyabinsk Region), who scored 35 points.
Ivan Kokarev (Physics and Mathematics Lyceum No. 31, Chelyabinsk, Chelyabinsk Region) won silver.
In addition, Russian team member Ivan Chasovskikh won absolute 1st place.
The Russian national team was headed by the head of the resource center for additional education at the State Budgetary Educational Institution “Presidential Physics and Mathematics Lyceum No. 239” Kirill Sukhov. Deputy heads were Pavel Kozhevnikov and Ilya Bogdanov from MIPT, as well as Alexander Kuznetsov from the Presidential Physics and Mathematics Lyceum No. 239 in St. Petersburg.
The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) is the largest and most prestigious of all international intellectual tournaments among high school students. In 2024, the Russian national team won six medals: four gold and two silver.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force are investigating after 7-year-old child died in Tiwi this afternoon.
Around 1:55pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received a report that a 7-year-old female was struck by a falling palm tree at an address in Tiwi while playing in the yard.
Police and St John Ambulance attended the scene, and the victim was conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital; however, she was pronounced deceased prior to arrival.
A 11-year-old male was struck also struck by the palm tree and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The incident is not believed to be suspicious.
Investigations are ongoing and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 19, 2025.
Systematic bias: how Western media reproduces the Israeli narrative COMMENTARY: By Refaat Ibrahim “If words shape our consciousness, then the media holds the keys to minds.” This sentence is not merely a metaphor, but a reality we live daily in the coverage of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, where the crimes of the occupation are turned into “acts of violence”, the siege targeting civilians
From ‘Stone Age’ treasury boss to National Party Senator: John Stone 1929-2025 Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Head, Canberra School of Government, University of Canberra AUSPIC John Owen Stone AO was a legendary leader of the Commonwealth Treasury. He was secretary (departmental head) from January 1979 to September 1984 but was an intellectual driving force before then as deputy secretary from 1971
Mark Latham’s portrait may come off federal caucus wall Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Labor caucus tolerates having the odd “rat” among the photos of ALP leaders on the party room wall, but Mark Latham may have now pushed it too far. After the latest bizarre scandal surrounding the one-time federal Labor leader,
Connie Francis was the voice of a generation and the soundtrack of post-war America Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leigh Carriage, Senior Lecturer in Music, Southern Cross University Hulton Archive/Getty Images Connie Francis dominated the music charts in the late 1950s and early 1960s with hits like Stupid Cupid, Pretty Little Baby and Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You. The pop star, author and actor
Trump has ‘chronic venous insufficiency’. Is it dangerous? Can it be treated? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Theresa Larkin, Associate Professor of Medical Sciences, University of Wollongong Anna Moneymaker/Staff/Getty US President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with “chronic venous insufficiency” after experiencing some mild swelling in his lower legs. According to a letter the White House published from the president’s doctor, the condition is
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Northern Territory Police have arrested a 50-year-old female in relation to an aggravated assault that occurred in Palmerston on Friday evening.
Around 8:20pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports that a man had allegedly been stabbed during a domestic violence disturbance at the Palmerston Bus Exchange.
Police and St John Ambulance attended the scene, where the male victim was located unconscious. He was conveyed to Palmerston Regional Hospital for treatment with non-life-threatening injuries.
A 50-year-old female was arrested at the scene and a crime scene was established. CCTV footage has been obtained, and investigations are ongoing.
Police urge anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that may assist, to contact 131 444. Please quote reference number P25192391. Anonymous reports can be made via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or through https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.
“If words shape our consciousness, then the media holds the keys to minds.”
This sentence is not merely a metaphor, but a reality we live daily in the coverage of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, where the crimes of the occupation are turned into “acts of violence”, the siege targeting civilians into “security measures”, and the legitimate resistance into “terrorist acts”.
This linguistic distortion is not innocent; it is part of a “systematic mechanism” practised by major Western media outlets, through which they perpetuate a false image of a “conflict between two equal sides”, ignoring the fact that one is an occupier armed with the latest military technology, and the other is a people besieged in their land for decades.
Here, the ethical question becomes urgent: how does the media shift from conveying truth to becoming a tool for justifying oppression?
Western media institutions promote a colonial narrative that reproduces the discourse of Israeli superiority, using linguistic and legal mechanisms to justify genocide.
But the rise of global awareness through social media platforms and documentaries like We Are Not Numbers, produced by youth in Gaza, exposes this bias and brings the Palestinian narrative back to the forefront.
Selective coverage . . . when injustice becomes an opinion “Terrorism”, “self-defence”, “conflict” . . . are all terms that place the responsibility for violence on Palestinians while presenting Israel as the perpetual victim. This linguistic shift contradicts international law, which considers settlements a war crime (according to Article 8 of the Rome Statute), yet most reports avoid even describing the West Bank as “occupied territory”.
More dangerously, the issue is reduced to “violent events” without mentioning their contexts: how can the Palestinian people’s resistance be understood without addressing 75 years of displacement and the siege of Gaza since 2007? The media is like someone commenting on the flames without mentioning who ignited them.
The Western media coverage of the Israeli war on Gaza represents a blatant model of systematic bias that reproduces the Israeli narrative and justifies war crimes through precise linguistic and media mechanisms. Below is a breakdown of the most prominent practices:
Stripping historical context and portraying Palestinians as aggressor
Ignoring the occupation: Media outlets like the BBC and The New York Times ignored the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories since 1948 and focused on the 7 October 2023 attack as an isolated event, without linking it to the daily oppression such as home demolitions and arrests in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Misleading terms: The war has often been described as a “conflict between Israel and Hamas”, while Gaza is considered the largest open-air prison in the world under Israeli siege since 2007. Example: The Economist described Hamas’s attacks as “bloody”, while Israeli attacks were called “military operations”.
Dehumanising Palestinians Language of abstraction: The BBC used terms like “died” for Palestinians versus “killed” for Israelis, according to a quantitative study by The Intercept, weakening sympathy for Palestinian victims.
Victim portrayal: While Israeli death reports included names and family ties (like “mother” or “grandmother”), Palestinians were shown as anonymous numbers, as seen in the coverage of Le Monde and Le Figaro.
Israeli political rhetoric: Media outlets reported statements by Israeli leaders such as dismissed defence minister Yoav Gallant, who described Palestinians as “human animals”, and Benjamin Netanyahu, who called them “children of darkness”, without critically analysing this rhetoric that strips them of their humanity.
Distorting resistance and linking it to terrorism Misleading comparisons: The October 7 attack was compared to “9/11” and described as a “terrorist attack” in The Washington Post and CNN, reinforcing the “war on terror” narrative and justifying Israel’s excessive response.
Fake news: Papers like The Sun and Daily Mail promoted the story of “beheaded Israeli babies” without evidence, a story even adopted by US president Joe Biden, only to be disproven later by videos showing Hamas’ humane treatment of captives.
Selective coverage and suppression of the Palestinian narrative Silencing journalists: Journalists such as Zahraa Al-Akhras (Global News) and Bassam Bounni (BBC) were dismissed for criticising Israel or supporting Palestine, while others were pressured to adopt the Israeli narrative.
Defaming Palestinian institutions:The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal claimed the Palestinian death toll figures were “exaggerated”, ignoring UN and human rights organisations’ reports that confirmed their accuracy.
Manipulating legal and ethical terms Denying war crimes:Deutsche Welle stated that Israeli attacks are “not considered war crimes”, despite the destruction of hospitals and the killing of tens of thousands of civilians.
Legal misinformation: The BBC referred to Israeli settlements in the West Bank as “disputed territories”, despite the UN declaring them illegal.
The Israeli military joins settlers in attacks because terrorizing Palestinians is state policy. But Western media doesn’t report it that way.
Double standards in conflict coverage Comparison with Ukraine: Western media linked support for Ukraine and Israel as “victims of aggression”, while ignoring that Israel is an occupying power under international law. Terminology shifted immediately: “invasion”, “war crimes”, “occupation” were used for Ukraine but omitted when speaking of Palestine.
According to a 2022 study by the Arab Media Monitoring Project, 90 percent of Western reports on Ukraine used language blaming Russia for the violence, compared to only 30 percent in the Palestinian case.
This contradiction exposes the underlying “racist bias”: how is killing in Europe called “genocide”, while in Gaza it is termed a “complicated conflict”? The answer lies in the statement of journalist Mika Brzezinski: “The only red line in Western media is criticising Israel.”
False neutrality: Sky News claimed it “could not verify” the Baptist Hospital massacre, despite video documentation, yet quickly adopted the Israeli narrative.
Consequences: legitimising genocide and marginalising Palestinian rights Western media practices have contributed to normalising Israeli violence by portraying it as “legitimate defence”, while resistance is labelled as “terrorism.”
Deepening Palestinian isolation: By stripping them of the right to narrate, as shown in an academic study by Mike Berry (Cardiff University), which found emotional terms used exclusively to describe Israeli victims.
Undermining international law: By ignoring reports from organisations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, which confirm Israel’s commission of war crimes.
Violating journalistic ethics . . . when the journalist becomes the occupation’s lawyer Journalistic codes of ethics — such as the charter of the “International Federation of Journalists” — unanimously agree that the media’s primary task is “to expose the facts without fear”. But the reality proves the opposite:
In 2023, CNN deleted an interview with a Palestinian survivor of the Jenin massacre after pressure from the Israeli lobby (according to an investigation by Middle East Eye).
The Guardian was forced to edit the headline of an article that described settlements as “apartheid” after threats of legal action.
This self-censorship turns journalism into a “copier of official statements”, abandoning the principle of “not compromising with ruling powers” emphasised by the “International Journalists’ Network”.
Toward human-centred journalism Fixing this flaw requires dismantling biased language: replacing “conflict” with “military occupation”, and “settlements” with “illegal colonies”.
Relying on international law: such as mentioning Articles 49 and 53 of the Fourth Geneva Convention when discussing the displacement of Palestinians.
Giving space to victims’ voices: According to an Amnesty report, 80% of guests on Western TV channels discussing the conflict were either Israeli or Western.
Holding media institutions accountable: through pressure campaigns to enforce their ethical charters (such as obligating the BBC to mention “apartheid” after the HRW report).
Conclusion The war on Gaza has become a stark test of media ethics. While platforms like Al Jazeera and Middle East Eye have helped expose violations, major Western media outlets continue to reproduce a colonial discourse that enables Israel. The greatest challenge today is to break the silence surrounding the crimes of genocide and impose a human narrative that restores the stolen humanity of the victims.
“Occupation doesn’t just need tanks, it needs media to justify its existence.” These were the words of journalist Gideon Levy after witnessing how his camera turned war crimes into “normal news”.
If Western media is serious about its claim of neutrality, it must start with a simple step: call things by their names. Words are not lifeless letters, they are ticking bombs that shape the consciousness of generations.
Refaat Ibrahim is the editor and creator of The Resistant Palestinian Pens website, where you can find all his articles. He is a Palestinian writer living in Gaza, where he studied English language and literature at the Islamic University. He has been passionate about writing since childhood, and is interested in political, social, economic, and cultural matters concerning his homeland, Palestine. This article was first published at Pearls and Irritations social policy journal in Australia.
Northern Territory, Australia — In a historic first for the Indo-Pacific, U.S. and Australian forces executed a fully integrated precision fires sequence, July 15-16, 2025, leveraging the U.S. Army’s Mid-Range Capability (MRC), also known as the “Typhon” missile system, in coordination with the U.S Army’s 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF), the Australian National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), and key enablers from the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) 25.3 Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) to clear air and sea domains in support of joint and combined littoral maneuver during Exercise Talisman Sabre 25.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL)
Donalds Votes To Create Digital Asset Framework For America And Block CBDC Tyranny
Washington, July 18, 2025
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) voted to pass a landmark financial services package that blocks the formation of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in America and creates a clear framework for the growing proliferation of digital assets.
The legislative package included three bills: (1) H.R. 3633 – “The CLARITY ACT,” (2) S. 1582 – “The GENIUS Act,” (3) H.R. 1919 – “The Anti-CBDC Surveillance Act.” While H.R. 3633 and H.R. 1919 advanced to the U.S. Senate for consideration, this afternoon, S. 1582 was signed into law by President Trump. Congressman Donalds released the following statement:
“Central Bank Digital Currency would give unelected bureaucrats in our federal government absolute control over your money. This is wrong, this is a dangerous threat to freedom, this is un-American, and immediate action had to be taken. I am proud to have joined my colleagues in voting to block this globalist tyranny from infiltrating our nation and ensure there’s a clear framework for the proliferation of digital assets in America.”
Background on H.R. 3633 – “The CLARITY Act”:
Passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a vote of 294-134.
The CLARITY Act, sponsored by House Committee on Financial Services Chairman French Hill (AR-02) and House Committee on Agriculture Chairman G.T. Thompson (PA-15) was introduced on May 29, 2025. The bill advanced out of both Committees with bipartisan support on June 10, 2025. The CLARITY Act establishes clear, functional requirements for digital asset market participants, prioritizing consumer protection while fostering innovation. By providing strong safeguards and long-overdue regulatory certainty, this legislation advances U.S. innovation and reinforces U.S. leadership in the global financial system.
Read the full text of the legislation HERE.
See Congress.gov bill profile HERE.
Background on S. 1582 – “The GENIUS Act”:
Passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a vote of 308-122.
Signed-into law by President Trump on July 18, 2025.
The GENIUS Act, introduced by Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), provides a clear regulatory framework for the issuance of payment stablecoins, a payment product that is currently offered in the United States with little, if any, federal oversight. The GENIUS Act prioritizes consumer protection, fosters innovation, and strengthens the U.S. dollar’s reserve currency status. The GENIUS Act passed the U.S. Senate by a bipartisan vote of 68-30 on June 17, 2025.
Read the full text of the legislation HERE.
See Congress.gov bill profile HERE.
Background on H.R. 1919 – “The Anti-CBDC Surveillance Act”:
Passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a vote of 219-210.
The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, sponsored by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (MN-06), prohibits unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. from issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) that undermines Americans’ right to financial privacy. Unlike decentralized digital assets, CBDCs are digital forms of sovereign currency issued and controlled by government, with transactions occurring on a government-managed ledger. In short, a CBDC is government-controlled, programmable money that, if not designed to mimic cash, could provide the federal government with detailed transaction data on individual users and the ability to program the CBDC to suppress politically unpopular activities.
Read the full text of the legislation HERE.
See Congress.gov bill profile HERE.
Watch House passage of H.R. 3633, S. 1582, and H.R. 1919 HERE.
Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and U.S. Representative Mark Harris (R-N.C.) introduced the National Education Association Charter Repeal Act to revoke the congressional charter of the nation’s largest teachers’ union and the only labor union with a federal charter:
“Time and again, teachers’ unions have shown they’ll put their political agenda ahead of students’ needs,” said Senator Blackburn. “The National Education Association has made it crystal clear it’s a partisan organization, and it shouldn’t be rewarded with a federal charter that platforms woke gender ideology, antisemitism, and left-wing propaganda. Our students deserve better.”
“Congress established the NEA in 1906 to support America’s teachers and strengthen our schools, but it has abandoned that mission in favor of a radical agenda,” said Representative Harris. “From branding President Trump a fascist to embracing divisive gender ideology and walking away from efforts to fight antisemitism, the NEA has become nothing more than a partisan advocacy group. Since the NEA is clearly not prioritizing students, parents or even teachers, it’s time to remove Congress’ seal of approval from this rogue organization.”
BACKGROUND
Last week, the National Education Association (NEA) voted to fight against President “Trump’s embrace of fascism,” promote LGBTQ events in public schools, and sever all ties with the Anti-Defamation League. These latest examples of NEA’s blatant political bias, along with its recent promotion of hatred and antisemitism, are a clear departure from the organization’s intended purpose.
The NEA has a long list of egregious violations of public trust:
In the 2024 election cycle, 98 percent of NEA political donations went to Democrats.
In 2023, the NEA partnered with the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), who collaborated with the Target Corporation to promote an obscene, radical agenda in their stores.
In July 2021, the NEA adopted measures to support critical race theory.
The NEA stood in the way of reopening schools in 2020 and 2021 by threatening strikes and influencing CDC guidance process to make it harder for schools to reopen.
THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION CHARTER REPEAL ACT
The National Education Association Charter Repeal Act would:
Eliminate the congressional authorization of the NEA; and
Formally remove Congress’ “seal of approval” and the suggestion that the government is responsible for the NEA’s operations.
Click here for bill text.
ENDORSEMENTS
The National Education Association Charter Repeal Act is endorsed by Moms for Liberty, Heritage Action, Young America’s Foundation, American Principles Project, and the National Right to Work.
“It’s incredibly sad that the nation’s largest teachers union has put woke politics before America’s children. The NEA’s embrace of radical left policies and antisemitism combined with their rejection of parental rights has forced moms and dads across America to condemn this organization. Moms For Liberty is incredibly thankful for Congressman Mark Harris, and his bold stand to remove the NEAs congressional charter. While other members just talk, Mark stepped up and took action,” said Tina Descovich, CEO of Moms for Liberty.
Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Senate Judiciary Committee considers advancing EmilBove–who’s been called “Trump’s worst nomination yet”– to be a Third Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals, Judiciary Committee member U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) has been calling out Bove for his unethical behavior, professional scandals, and failure to meet the ethical standards essential for a lifetime judicial appointment.
OnMSNBC’s Deadline with Nicolle Wallace, Senator Booker spoke about a letter he sent to Bove requesting information about his involvement in Trump’s Epstein cover up.
Senator Booker: “Either Bove and the Justice Department are lying about the Epstein situation…or they are showing a dangerous lack of transparency.”
See more about Senator Booker’s work to hold Bove accountable:
The Hill: Booker seeks Epstein info from Trump judicial nominee Emil Bove
The New York Times: Bove Denies Suggesting Justice Dept. Ignore Court Orders
NJ.com: Booker slams Trump judicial nominee: ‘Complete disregard for the rule of law’
New Jersey Globe: Republicans turn down Booker’s request for extra hearing with Bove whistleblower
@SenBooker:
Booker: “I wrote a letter directly to Emil Bove today about his role in withholding the Epstein files from the American people. This is a portion of the letter…
“Mr. Bove on behalf of myself and the American people I represent, we deserve answers, especially before you’re put on one of the highest courts in the land.”
THE FACTS ABOUT EMIL BOVE:
A corroborated allegation from a whistleblower revealed that Bove directed attorneys to defy a court order.
Federal criminal defense lawyers described Bove as a “drunk driver” as a prosecutor.
An editorial in the Philadelphia Inquirer stated that Bove is “one person who has no business working in the federal government, let alone receiving a lifetime appointment as a federal judge.”
New Jersey’s Tom Moran stated, Bove is “Trump’s worst nomination yet.”
Meanwhile The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board wrote, Bove’s reputation “is as a smashmouth partisan who wields the law as a weapon.”
There is a clear link between low vitamin D levels and an increased risk of being hospitalised by COVID-19
As the latest wave of COVID-19 shows no signs of abating, University of South Australia experts say it’s not just booster shots that could offer protection – healthy levels of vitamin D may also play a role.
In new research conducted in partnership with the King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation, researchers found a clear link between low vitamin D levels and an increased risk of being hospitalised by the virus.
No association was found between low vitamin D and the risk of catching COVID-19.
The study assessed more than 150,000 participants in the UK Biobank, undertaking analyses to determine whether the risk of COVID-19 was higher among people with Vitamin D deficiency (<25nmol/L in their blood) and vitamin D insufficiency (25-49 nmol/L) compared with those who had normal levels of Vitamin D (50+ nmol/L). They also compared risk of being hospitalised due to COVID-19 across these three groups.
Australian-based researcher and epidemiologist, UniSA’s Dr Kerri Beckmann, says the findings could identify vulnerable people and guide future public health advice.
“Vitamin D plays a key role in regulating the immune system, so it’s plausible that low levels may influence how the body responds to infections like COVID-19,” Dr Beckmann says.
“Our study found that people with a vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency were more likely to be hospitalised with COVID-19 than those with healthy levels of Vitamin D – but they weren’t more likely to catch the virus in the first place.”
The study also explored associations between vitamin D and COVID-19 outcomes among cancer patients, as well as across different ethnic groups.
People of Asian or African/Afro-Caribbean heritage were found to have a slightly higher risk of infection if they had low vitamin D levels, though the association between low vitamin D and severe illness was only seen in people of Caucasian backgrounds.
No association was found between vitamin D and COVID-19 outcomes among people previously diagnosed with cancer, though researchers caution this may reflect the smaller sample size.
Dr Beckmann says that while risk from COVID-19 has lessened over time, the virus remains a public health concern.
“COVID-19 may not be the threat it once was, but it still affects peoples’ well-being,” Dr Beckmann says.
“Understanding who is most at risk helps those individuals take extra precautions, including monitoring their vitamin D levels.
“It could be that people who are in poor health to start with may also have low vitamin D levels. So, at this stage, we don’t know whether vitamin D supplements in themselves could reduce the severity of COVID-19.
“It’s certainly an area worth exploring – especially as we continue to live with the virus.”
MAKING AMERICA THE LEADER IN DIGITAL ASSETS: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law, a historic piece of legislation that will pave the way for the United States to lead the global digital currency revolution.
The GENIUS Act prioritizes consumer protection, strengthens the U.S. dollar’s reserve currency status, and bolsters our national security.
The GENIUS Act will make America the undisputed leader in digital assets, bringing massive investment and innovation to our country.
PROTECTING CONSUMERS IN THE DIGITAL MARKET: President Trump supports the GENIUS Act because it protects consumers from nefarious actors in financial markets.
This long-overdue legislation creates the first-ever Federal regulatory system for stablecoins, ensuring their stability and trust through strong reserve requirements.
The GENIUS Act requires 100% reserve backing with liquid assets like U.S. dollars or short-term Treasuries and requires issuers to make monthly, public disclosures of the composition of reserves.
Stablecoin issuers must comply with strict marketing rules to protect consumers from deceptive practices. Crucially, they are forbidden from making misleading claims that their stablecoins are backed by the U.S. government, federally insured, or legal tender.
The GENIUS Act aligns State and Federal stablecoin frameworks, ensuring fair and consistent regulation throughout the country.
In the event of insolvency of a stablecoin issuer, the GENIUS Act prioritizes stablecoin holders’ claims over all other creditors, ensuring a final backstop of consumer protection.
ENSURING U.S. DOLLAR GLOBAL RESERVE CURRENCY STATUS: By driving demand for U.S. Treasuries, stablecoins will play a crucial role in ensuring the continued global dominance of the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency.
The GENIUS Act will generate increased demand for U.S. debt and cement the dollar’s status as the global reserve currency by requiring stablecoin issuers to back their assets with Treasuries and U.S. dollars.
Additionally, the GENIUS Act will play a key role in attracting more digital asset activity to the country by providing clear rules and promoting responsible innovation in the stablecoin market.
COMBATING ILLICIT ACTIVITY IN DIGITAL ASSETS: Through regulation and registration of stablecoin issuers, along with coordination with the Treasury Department on sanctions enforcement, the GENIUS Act reinforces our national security.
The GENIUS Act explicitly subjects stablecoin issuers to the Bank Secrecy Act, thereby clearly obligating them to establish effective anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance programs with risk assessments, sanctions list verification, and customer identification.
This legislation improves the Treasury Department’s ability to combat illicit stablecoin activities by enhancing its sanctions evasion and money laundering enforcement capabilities.
All stablecoin issuers must possess the technical capability to seize, freeze, or burn payment stablecoins when legally required and must comply with lawful orders to do so.
DELIVERING ON PROMISE TO MAKE AMERICA THE CRYPTO CAPITAL OF THE WORLD: President Trump is fulfilling his campaign promise to position America as the global leader in cryptocurrency.
President Trump promised to make the United States the “crypto capital of the world,” emphasizing the need to embrace digital assets to drive economic growth and technological leadership.
In his first week in office, President Trump signed an Executive Order to promote United States leadership in digital assets.
In March, President Trump signed an Executive Order to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile, positioning the United States as a leader among nations in government digital asset strategy.
President Trump has long been a proponent of the GENIUS Act, saying it “is going to make America the UNDISPUTED Leader in Digital Assets — Nobody will do it better, it is pure GENIUS! Digital Assets are the future, and our Nation is going to own it. We are talking about MASSIVE Investment, and Big Innovation. The House will hopefully move LIGHTNING FAST, and pass a ‘clean’ GENIUS Act. Get it to my desk, ASAP — NO DELAYS, NO ADD ONS. This is American Brilliance at its best, and we are going to show the World how to WIN with Digital Assets like never before!”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) joined Congresswoman Norma Torres (D-CA), Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Congressmen Derek Tran (D-CA), Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), and the entire California Democratic Congressional Delegation in demanding the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) immediately release nearly $7 billion in Congressionally-appropriated funding for K-12 schools and adult education — including $928 million owed to California.
With the start of the new school year approaching in California, the Trump administration gave states only one day’s notice that these critical funds would be indefinitely frozen past their typical release on July 1, 2025. As a result, California schools are already being forced to roll back programs, lay off staff, and cut student services.
“These programs support some of the most vulnerable and underserved students and communities in California and have been demonstrated to have lifelong benefits to students’ educational attainment, income, and other measures of well-being. Each passing day that these funds are unlawfully withheld hurts our schools and students and strains already limited budgets,” said the Members. “In California alone, the Trump administration’s funding freeze is affecting hundreds of thousands of students and educators. For many of California’s school districts, this funding had already been accounted for in school budgets for the upcoming school year. Now, our schools are being forced to delay hiring and reduce resources to help students.”
The withheld funding includes vital investments in:
Reducing class sizes and teacher recruitment and retention, especially in underserved areas.
After-school, before-school, and summer learning programs in low-income communities.
School-based mental health services, accelerated learning courses, STEM education, and college and career counseling.
Academic Support for English learners and children of migrant workers.
Adult education and workforce readiness programs.
With nearly 5.8 million K-12 students in California, the illegal freezing of these funds is already hurting our schools and students. Many school districts had already budgeted for these federal dollars, leaving them scrambling to fill massive funding gaps just weeks before the school year begins.
“We demand that the Department of Education and the Trump Administration stop holding K-12 student funding hostage and release the nearly $7 billion in funding meant to help our students, teachers, and families, including the $928 million being unlawfully withheld from California,” the members continued. “This illegal freeze in funding is setting our students and schools up for failure. Our teachers, families, and children deserve better than the Trump Administration’s reckless upheaval and chaos.”
The letter was also signed by Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Ami Bera (D-CA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Gilbert Cisneros (D-CA), Lou Correa (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Laura Friedman (D-CA), John Garamendi (D-CA), Robert Garcia (D-CA), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Adam Gray (D-CA), Josh Harder (D-CA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Mike Levin (D-CA), Sam Liccardo (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Dave Min (D-CA), Kefvin Mullin (D-CA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Scott Peters (D-CA), Luz Rivas (D-CA), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA), and George Whitesides (D-CA).
The full letter can be found here and below:
The Honorable Linda E. McMahon Secretary U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Ave., SW Washington, D.C. 20202
The Honorable Russell Vought Director Office of Management and Budget Executive Office of the President 725 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20503
Dear Secretary McMahon and Director Vought:
As Members of the California Congressional Delegation, we write to express deep concerns regarding the Department of Education’s illegal and reckless decision to withhold nearly $7 billion in funding for K-12 schools and adult education, including $928 million for California. With the start of the new school year approaching, on June 30, 2025, States were just given one day’s notice that the funds would be indefinitely frozen past their typical release on July 1. This freeze leaves our communities scrambling and is already forcing schools in California and across America to roll back programs, lay off staff, and cut services for our students. Releasing these funds, which support critical education programs and services for millions of students, is required by law. We call on you to immediately reverse your illegal decision and distribute the funding to States.
These funds make up more than 10% of federal investments in K-12 schools in most states. With nearly 5.8 million K-12 students in California, the illegal freezing of these Congressionally appropriated funds is already hurting our schools and students, impacting the planning, operation, and funding for programs that support:
Reducing class sizes; recruiting and retaining teachers, including in underserved areas; and improving the effectiveness of teachers, principals, and other school leaders through the Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants program (Title II, Part A);
Quality, local after-school, before-school, and summer learning for students, particularly those in underserved communities, through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers program (Title IV, Part B);
Local community efforts to improve students’ academic performance, such as accelerated learning courses, school-based mental health services, STEM education, and college and career counseling, through the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program (Title IV, Part A);
English language learners in learning and gaining proficiency in English through the English Language Acquisition program (Title III, Part A);
Education for children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers who do the hard work to ensure Americans have food on their tables, through the Migrant Education program (Title I, Part C); and
Providing adults and out-of-school youth with the basic skills, like reading, math, and problem-solving, needed to be productive workers, family members, and citizens, through the Adult Basic and Literacy Education State Grants.
These programs support some of the most vulnerable and underserved students and communities in California and have been demonstrated to have lifelong benefits to students’ educational attainment, income, and other measures of well-being. Each passing day that these funds are unlawfully withheld hurts our schools and students and strains already limited budgets. In California alone, the Trump Administration’s funding freeze is affecting hundreds of thousands of students and educators. For many of California’s school districts, this funding had already been accounted for in school budgets for the upcoming school year. Now, our schools are being forced to delay hiring and reduce resources to help students. Rather than being able to work towards and plan for a successful learning environment for our students, each day that goes by means schools are forced to consider rolling back the programs mentioned above, lay off teachers, and cut back essential services.
We demand that the Department of Education and the Trump Administration stop holding K-12 student funding hostage and release the nearly $7 billion in funding meant to help our students, teachers, and families, including the $928 million being unlawfully withheld from California. This illegal freeze in funding is setting our students and schools up for failure. Our teachers, families, and children deserve better than the Trump Administration’s reckless upheaval and chaos.
Thank you for your urgent attention to this matter. Given the imminent start of the next school year, we request a prompt response no later than July 21, 2025.
Multiple U.S. Air Force and Royal Australian Air ForceC-17 Globemaster IIIs executed a joint force-entry operation into Australia, deploying U.S. Armyand international paratroopers in support of Talisman Sabre 25.
Originating from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, the mission spanned the immense distances of the Pacific, sustained by U.S. Air Force aerial refueling operations. It culminated in the precision insertion of 314 U.S. Army 11th Airborne Division, Australian Defence Force and German Army paratroopers into a designated drop zone in eastern Australia.
“We employ large formations to quickly and effectively place mass at the time and place of our choosing,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Christopher Bukowski, 535th Airlift Squadron, 15th Wing, director of operations. “Executing a drop like this at speed and scale, and in conjunction with our allies and joint partners, is crucial to honing that skill and sending a deterrent message to our adversaries.”
The one-way, trans-Pacific journey spanned over 6,200 miles and was conducted by 13 C-17 aircraft assigned to the 15th Wing, Pacific Air Forces, 437th Airlift Wing, Air Mobility Command, and 164th Airlift Wing, Tennessee Air National Guard, underscored the robust U.S.-Australia partnership and shared commitment to regional defense.
“Through the strategic employment of U.S. Air Force mobility aircraft, our highly proficient teams—operating in close coordination with partners and allies — refined the ability to project personnel and mission-critical material across the vast Pacific with precision and speed,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Ana Donohue, 535th Airlift Squadron C-17 pilot. “This critical capability was showcased during a recent joint forcible entry operation, where the air domain proved to be the decisive bridge between strategic airlift and ground-based objectives, enabling the rapid achievement of essential outcomes across a geographically expansive and demanding operational theater.”
The meticulous planning required for this complex joint force-entry operation extended months in advance of the Talisman Sabre 2025 exercise, highlighting the extensive coordination between allied forces.
Talisman Sabre, the largest bilateral military exercise between Australia and the United States, is pivotal to advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific. It fortifies relationships and interoperability among key allies and partners, concurrently enhancing collective capabilities to address a spectrum of complex security challenges.
Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council
NEW YORK, 18 July (United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs) — On 17 July, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced the appointment of an independent scientific panel of experts tasked with examining the physical effects and societal consequences of a nuclear war on a local, regional and planetary scale in the days, weeks and decades following a nuclear war.
The panel was established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 79/238, titled “Nuclear War Effects and Scientific Research”, and is mandated to examine “the physical effects and societal consequences” of a nuclear war “on a local, regional and planetary scale, including, inter alia, the climatic, environmental and radiological effects, and their impacts on public health, global socioeconomic systems, agriculture and ecosystems, in the days, weeks and decades following a nuclear war”.
The panel is tasked with publishing a comprehensive report on these matters, making key conclusions, and identifying areas requiring future research. The report will be considered by the UN General Assembly at its eighty-second session in 2027.
The last cross-sectional United Nations study of this kind was undertaken almost four decades ago in 1988 (Study on the Climatic and Other Global Effects of Nuclear War, United Nations publication, Sales No. E.89.IX.1).
The panel consists of 21 members drawn from a range of scientific fields, including: nuclear and radiation studies; atmospheric sciences and climate; environment and environmental studies; agriculture, biology and life sciences; public health and medicine; and behavioural and social sciences and applied economics.
As mandated by resolution 79/238, the Secretary-General selected members of the panel based on “their leading scientific expertise across relevant disciplines, while ensuring impartiality, and equitable geographical and gender balance”. In selecting the panel, the Secretary-General drew on the expertise and recommendations of relevant agencies from the United Nations system.
The panel will engage the widest possible range of stakeholders, including international and regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, civil society, affected communities, and peoples from around the world, in order to understand local, regional and global perspectives on the effects of nuclear war. Member States, relevant international and regional organizations and others are encouraged to support the panel’s work.
The independent Scientific Panel on the Effects of Nuclear War will consist of the following 21 members, each participating in their personal capacity:
Arlene Alves dos Reis, Head, Division of Dosimetry at the Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN);
Ana María Cetto Kramis, former Deputy Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Full research professor at the Physics Institute of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Founder and current holder of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chair on Science Diplomacy and Heritage at UNAM;
Manvendra K. Dubey, Senior Scientist and Fellow, Earth Systems Observations, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL);
Friederike Renate Friess, Senior Scientist, BOKU University, Department of Landscape, Water and Infrastructure, Institute of Safety and Risk Sciences;
Abel Gonzalez, Senior Adviser to the Argentina Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Olenum member of the National Academy of Sciences of Buenos Aires, the Argentine Academy of Environmental Sciences, the Argentine Academy of the Seas, and the International Nuclear Energy Academy;
Md Ahsan Habib, Professor at the Department of Chemistry, University of Dhaka, Fellow, Chinese Academy of Sciences;
Andrew Haines, Professor of Environmental Change and Public Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Co-Director World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre on Climate Change, Sustainable Development and Health;
Gi Hoon Hong, former President and Research Professor, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology;
Togzhan Kassenova, Senior Fellow, Center for Policy Research, University at Albany, State University of New York, former member of the Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters (ABDM);
Ausrele Kesminiene-Suonio, Senior Visiting Scientist, Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO), former head of the Lithuanian Chernobyl Medical Centre;
Peter Klimek, Director of the Supply Chain Intelligence Institute, Austria, Associate Professor, Section for Science of Complex Systems, Medical University of Vienna;
Karina Meredith, Director of Environment Research and Technology at Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Adjunct Professor in the Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences school at University of New South Wales;
Thobela Nkukwana, Senior Lecturer, University of Pretoria, Sub-editor for the South African Journal of Animal Sciences, Editorial Board member and Sub-editor of Welwitschia International Journal of Agricultural Sciences;
Sébastien Philippe, research scholar at the Princeton University Program on Science and Global Security, member of the Scientific Advisory Group of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons;
Laura Revell, Associate Professor in Atmospheric Chemistry at the University of Canterbury, member of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP) panel;
Neil Rowan, Professor, Faculty of Science and Technological Health, University of the Shannon, Adjunct Professor to the School of Medicine, Nursing and Biomedical Science at the University of Galway;
Rabia Sa’id, Professor of atmospheric and space-weather physics and a researcher at Bayero University Kano, Co-founder of Nigeria’s Association of Women Physicists;
Georgiy L. Stenchikov, Professor Emeritus at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Professor of Earth Sciences, Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Earth Sciences and Engineering Program, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology;
Masao Tomonaga, Emeritus Director, Atomic Bomb Hospital, former Director of the Japanese Red Cross Nagasaki Atomic Bomb (Genbaku) Hospital, President of Nagasaki Prefecture Hibakusha Association and current President of IPPNW Nagasaki Branch. A hibakusha from Nagasaki;
Hüseyin Yalçinkaya, Anakara University Institute of Medical Sciences, Department of Animal Nutrition and Nutritional Diseases, Veterinary Officer at the Turkish Directorate General for Food and Control/Department of Border Control for Animal and Animal Products; and
Zhao Wuwen, Professor at the Center for Strategic Studies, China Academy of Engineering Physics.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)
**STATE-BY-STATE FACT SHEET**Republicans Slash Vital Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Funding for States
Washington, DC — Today, House Democrats exposed how Republicans’ Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee 2026 funding bill increases costs for American households, undermines infrastructure investments, and weakens our national security.
The bill:
Increases energy costs, jeopardizes energy independence, and hurts United States’ competitiveness by slashing the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs nearly in half, revoking more than $5 Billion from the Department of Energy’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law resources, and eliminating funding for the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations.
Weakens national security and leaves Americans more vulnerable to nuclear threats by cutting the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation account by 17 percent.
Abandons commitments to communities to clean up radioactive waste by eliminating funding for the Corps of Engineers’ Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program and cutting the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management by 9 percent.
“Sadly, this Republican Energy and Water bill did not have bipartisan input, and does not meet the moment to set the course for our nation’s future in the new age frontiers of energy and water,” Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) said. “This bill cedes American leadership in the global energy race to adversaries including the Chinese Communist Party. It weakens vital nuclear nonproliferation programs that help keep our country and world safe. By turning their backs on communities suffering from the long lasting impact of our early atomic weapons programs, Republicans show the callous disregard they have for America’s forgotten communities. We must invest in energy independence in perpetuity — or we will live to regret it, as our children and grandchildren inherit a future devoid of opportunity. The passage of this ill considered, and careless bill will hurt our communities from coast to coast, and is a true disservice to all the generations to come.”
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur’s full remarks arehere.
“House Republicans are wrapping up a long, chaotic week by advancing yet another funding bill that increases costs. This time, they are raising energy costs for American families and businesses,” Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) said. “Their cut of nearly half the budget for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is a direct attack on the programs that lower energy bills for working families, create good-paying jobs in our communities, and keep America competitive.Republicans’ funding bill undermines the very programs that help us stop the spread of nuclear weapons, detect nuclear activity, and uphold arms control efforts that make America and the world safer – and it underfunds efforts to clean up sites contaminated by our nation’s early atomic energy program.Instead of working with Democrats to lower prices and invest in technology that promotes our energy independence, House Republicans are pushing a bill that raises energy costs for families and businesses and eliminates good-paying jobs.”
During today’s markup, Democrats fought to make changes to Republicans’ bill, including to:
Prohibit the implementation of tariffs that would raise consumer energy prices.
Prevent the Department of Energy and other agencies from terminating critical projects simply based on the alignment with administration policies.
Prohibit the Republican’s Bonanza for Billionaires efforts to modify or terminate clean energy tax credits.
Increase funds for the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E).
These changes were rejected by House Republicans.
A summary of the bill is here. A fact sheet is here.
The text of the bill, before the adoption of amendments in full committee, is here. The bill report, before the adoption of amendments in full Committee, is here. Information on Community Project Funding in the bill is here.
A state-by-state breakdown of the amount of funding House Republicans are trying to slash from the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) programs is here.
Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council
The General Assembly today adopted, by consensus, a resolution welcoming the Secretary-General’s efforts to strengthen the United Nations so that the Organization can keep pace with a changing world and be fit for present and future challenges.
That text, titled “UN80 Initiative” (document A/79/L.99) also saw the Assembly look forward to receiving the Secretary-General’s proposals in the framework of that initiative, “taking into account the necessity to have clearly defined objectives and an evidence-based approach, and aiming at strengthening the impact of the United Nations and enhancing its agility, responsiveness and resilience while addressing the issue of duplicative efforts and ensuring effective and efficient mandate delivery across all three pillars of the work of the United Nations”.
Further, the Assembly called on UN entities and specialized agencies to align their reform efforts with this approach, as appropriate.
Following the adoption, the representative of Japan underlined her country’s commitment to multilateralism and the UN80 Initiative. Detailing her delegation’s understanding that the UN is drawing lessons from previous reforms where “negotiations on mandates faced deadlock between Member States”, she said that today’s resolution “is not intended to obstruct these efforts but, rather, to support and complement them”.
However, several speakers took issue with the timing of today’s resolution.
The representative of Switzerland, also speaking for Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, welcomed that today’s resolution recognizes the importance of Member States providing the Secretary-General with the necessary space and political backing for the UN80 Initiative. However, he added: “We were not fully convinced that the timing of this resolution was optimal or conducive to the ongoing discussions.”
The representative of Australia, also speaking for Canada and New Zealand, emphasized that discussions concerning the UN80 Initiative should be based on clear, robust advice and proposals from the Secretary-General. Further, they should be grounded in evidence-based, documented analysis. “So, we believe a resolution at this stage is premature,” she said, pointing out that “it risks limiting both the scope and ambition of forthcoming proposals”.
Similarly, Denmark’s representative, speaking for the European Union and its member States, expressed regret that “the process leading to the adoption of this resolution was premature and unnecessarily rushed”. The limited time available for meaningful consultation and reflection did not allow for the constructive engagement required. And, while the text aims to address duplication and promote efficiency, he stressed that the process leading to its adoption — “regrettably did not reflect these principles”.
Following those statements, the representative of the Russian Federation took the floor to exercise the right of reply. Recalling that his delegation conducted several rounds of consultations — “and, most importantly, took into account the red lines specified by delegations” — he urged the European Union to take such an approach in future negotiations. Thanking those present for their consensus support, he said: “It is because we seek success in the UN’s adaptation to current and future challenges that the Russian Federation presented this draft.”
July 18, 2025 Ottawa, Ontario Natural Resources Canada
With wildfires impacting Canadians across the country, the federal government is taking action to prevent wildfires, mitigate their effects and boost resilience. The Government of Canada’s first priority is protecting Canadians and supporting those affected by wildfire.
Today, the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience, announced an investment of $11.7 million over four years to establish the Wildfire Resilience Consortium of Canada (WRCC). Funded through the Wildfire Resilient Futures Initiative, the WRCC will serve as a national centre of excellence and virtual hub for wildland fire innovation and knowledge exchange.
The WRCC will advance many of the actions in the Kananaskis Wildfire Charter, agreed to by the leaders of the G7 this spring in Canada and endorsed by the leaders of Australia, India, Mexico, the Republic of Korea and South Africa. It will bring together domestic and international governments, communities impacted by wildfires, the private sector and individual experts to share knowledge, facilitate collaboration and accelerate the use of cutting-edge science and technology in wildfire prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response. It will also support Indigenous fire stewardship and the cultural use of fire, recognizing and respecting traditional knowledge as a critical component of wildfire resilience.
Minister Hodgson also delivered the latest national wildfire forecast. Looking ahead, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s weather forecasts point to above-average temperatures across much of Canada from July through August, with dry conditions expected to intensify in the coming weeks, particularly in the west and north.
Based on these weather forecasts, Natural Resources Canada’s modelling predicts elevated wildfire risk from Yukon eastward to northwestern Ontario and in Nova Scotia and eastern New Brunswick. By August, wildfire activity is expected to continue to increase and persist to well-above-average conditions over much of western Canada, with the highest fire danger in southern British Columbia.
Throughout this wildfire season and beyond, Canada is coordinating cross-jurisdictional collaboration, supporting those on the front lines, protecting Canadians and equipping communities with the tools and knowledge they need to stay informed and stay safe.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) joined her Democratic Women’s Caucus colleagues, including Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Congresswoman Deborah Ross (D-NC), and Congresswoman Norma Torres (D-CA), in urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Government Accountability Office, and the Warden of Richwood Correctional Center to conduct an immediate investigation into the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP)’s mistreatment of women in their custody. The Members raised serious concerns about ICE and CBP’s disturbing patterns of abuse, mistreatment, and medical neglect of women, including pregnant and postpartum women. Reports detail cases of women being violently detained, denied medical care, and subjected to inhumane treatment while in detention.
Specifically, the Members highlighted the troubling cases of Iris Dayana Monterroso-Lemus and Cary López Alvarado. Monterroso-Lemus, a pregnant detainee, suffered a stillbirth after ICE repeatedly denied her requests for medical care. Doctors later concluded her baby’s death was a result of the lack of prenatal care, which she had repeatedly sought.
López Alvarado, a U.S. citizen who was nine months pregnant at the time, was violently shoved by an ICE agent after identifying herself as pregnant while trying to protect her husband. She was hospitalized with sharp pains after her release and received no documentation about the incident.
“Disregard for women’s health and safety is not just a one-time instance, the abuse and neglect are part of a larger, systemic failure to treat women with dignity, compassion, and basic medical care,” the members explained in the letter.
The Democratic Women’s Caucus is demanding transparency, accountability, and immediate action from the administration. The Members are calling for a full investigation into Monterroso-Lemus’ pregnancy loss and broader patterns of mistreatment of women in ICE and CBP custody, particularly pregnant and postpartum individuals.
“Over and over again, women are being mistreated by ICE, CBP, and contractors from detainment to detention. These horrifying stories are the result of systemic neglect, cruelty, and policy failures that we must confront head-on. We demand answers, accountability, and action. Your administration cannot claim to ‘protect women’ when your agents are on video ripping babies out of women’s arms and pushing them to the ground aggressively.”
The letter was also signed by Representatives Alma Adams, Yassamin Ansari, Suzanne Bonamici, Shontel Brown, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Judy Chu, Yvette Clarke, Jasmine Crockett, Diana DeGette, Maxine Dexter, Sarah Elfreth, Valerie Foushee, Lois Frankel, Laura Friedman, Sylvia Garcia, Pramila Jayapal, Summer Lee, Teresa Leger Fernández, Doris Matsui, April McClain Delaney, Betty McCollum, Gwen Moore, Kelly Morrison, Eleanor Norton, Ilhan Omar, Brittany Pettersen, Chellie Pingree, Delia Ramirez, Luz Rivas, Andrea Salinas, Janice Schakowsky, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Norma Torres, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Nikema Williams, and Frederica Wilson.
The full letter can be found here and below:
The Honorable Kristi Noem Secretary Department of Homeland Security 2707 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE Washington, DC 20528-0525
The Honorable Gene Dodaro U.S. Comptroller General Government Accountability Office 441 G St., NW Washington, DC 20548
The Honorable Joseph V. Cuffari Inspector General Department of Homeland Security 245 Murray Lane SW Washington, DC 20528-0305
Ms. Lisa Bowen Warden Richwood Correctional Center 180 Pine Bayou Circle Monroe, LA 71202
Dear Secretary Noem, Inspector General Cuffari, Comptroller General Dodaro, and Mr. Deville:
As members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, we write with grave and urgent concern about the treatment of women in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. Too many disturbing stories have emerged from women’s interactions with ICE agents over the last few months–even elected officials have encountered aggressive, unprovoked, and unacceptable treatment. In addition to this aggression, we are deeply concerned about women’s access to health care, especially maternal health care, in ICE detention. The reported assaults, medical neglect, and overall mistreatment of women by ICE agents and contractors demands immediate and thorough oversight and accountability, and this abuse must stop immediately. We request an immediate and in-depth investigation into the violations against women while in ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody.
These accounts of abuse are horrifying but not new. In September 2020, during Trump’s first term, a complaint was filed at the Irwin County Detention Center (ICDC) regarding the unethical treatment of detainees at ICDC – medical neglect and a concerningly high rate of women undergoing gynecological procedures without proper informed consent. It was also reported that ICDC staff downplayed the health concerns from detainees. These reports were confirmed in an investigation in 2022. It is beyond our comprehension that women were unknowingly sterilized without their consent while in government custody. Although the facility was shut down, this was not an isolated case; rather, this is a consistent pattern perpetrated by this administration.
We also know that this is an intentional action by the administration and not an unintended consequence to mass detention. In May, CBP quietly repealed protections for pregnant and postpartum women in custody, removing requirements for appropriate medical care, lactation accommodations, and basic supplies like diapers and baby formula. Your disregard for women’s health and safety is not just a one time instance, the abuse and neglect are part of a larger, systemic failure to treat women with dignity, compassion, and basic medical care.
In May 2025, Iris Dayana Monterroso-Lemus, a pregnant woman, was arrested in Lenoir City, Tennessee and taken into ICE custody. Throughout her detainment, Monterroso-Lemus repeatedly requested medical care but was denied. Monterroso-Lemus reported experiencing pain and no fetal movement for three days, yet she was ignored. She told reporters on a phone call, “They didn’t give me medical attention — nowhere. Not in Louisiana, not in Alabama. I was in Alabama too, sleeping on the floor.” After multiple transfers and too many pleas, she was finally admitted to a hospital on April 29th, where she delivered a stillborn baby. The doctors noted that her loss was a result of not receiving prenatal care – the care she asked for repeatedly.
In the same facility that Monterroso-Lemus was overlooked and neglected during her pregnancy pains, multiple reports surfaced that highlighted Richwood’s horrific conditions. In 2020, the National Immigrant Justice Center alongside several other organizations released a report that found numerous reports of delayed care and medical neglect at the Richwood Correctional Center. For example, the medical staff interviewed admitted that treatment for a broken arm could take a week. In 2023, the Office of Inspector General conducted an investigation and found that the detention center violated and compromised the health, safety, and rights of detainees. Richwood Correctional Center was found not to have a reliable system for detainees to file grievances and denied detainees the right to file medical grievances. How can women like Iris Dayana Monterroso-Lemus seek justice and reconciliation if the facility refuses to permit a system of accountability?
In addition to the treatment of women in detention, we are deeply worried about the aggression ICE agents have shown when arresting people, particularly women. Earlier this month Cary López Alvarado, a nine-months pregnant U.S. citizen was detained by agents in Harthorne while trying to protect her undocumented husband and co-worker on private property. Agents accused her of obstructing an arrest, despite her repeatedly stating she was pregnant and unable to resist. During the confrontation, she was shoved by an officer, falling to the ground. Following her release from ICE detention, López Alvarado was hospitalized for sharp pains and monitored due to concerns of her and her baby’s well being, as her due date was only a week away. She was told agents would contact her regarding the obstruction allegations, but received no documentation or citation related to the incident.
Over and over again, women are being mistreated by ICE, CBP, and contractors from detainment to detention. These horrifying stories are the result of systemic neglect, cruelty, and policy failures that we must confront head-on. We demand answers, accountability, and action. Your administration cannot claim to ‘protect women’ when your agents are on video ripping babies out of women’s arms and pushing them to the ground aggressively. We request a response to the following questions within 60 days of receipt:
What concrete and immediate steps will this administration take to protect the rights, health, and lives of women in detention?
How will you ensure transparency, accountability, and oversight across bodies responsible for their care?
How will you uphold women and their babies’ basic human dignity and ensure their health needs are met without delay or discrimination?
We demand a full, transparent investigation into the pregnancy loss of Iris Dayana MonterrosoLemus’s and the broader mistreatment of pregnant and postpartum women in ICE and CBP custody. We request a report that outlines the incident, accountability, and corrective actions.
The Democratic Women’s Caucus will not stay silent while women, many of them mothers, many of them fleeing violence and hardship, are mistreated and neglected in government custody. Again, we request a prompt and thorough investigation into the treatment of women within ICE and CBP custody.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) joined Congressman Dan Goldman (D-NY) and Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) in announcing the introduction of the No Secret Police Act, legislation that would prohibit law enforcement officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from concealing their identities during immigration enforcement operations.
The bill would require DHS agents, including those working for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to clearly display their name, agency, and official insignia when detaining or arresting individuals. It would also ban the use of homemade or non-tactical masks that obscure an officer’s face.
“Trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve is the foundation of public safety. When federal agents conceal their identities behind masks and anonymity, it fractures that trust and calls into question the very legitimacy of their authority,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “These tactics have no place in a democracy. No one should live in fear of being taken from their home or community by individuals who refuse to identify themselves, nor should anyone ever have to question who is detaining them, or whether those individuals are acting under lawful authority. This bill is not just about transparency – it’s about making clear that no agent of the federal government operates above the law or beyond public accountability.”
“As a former federal prosecutor for ten years, I have worked alongside ICE and DHS agents to get violent criminals off our streets – and none of them ever wore masks,” said Congressman Dan Goldman. “Across the country, plain-clothed federal agents in homemade face coverings are lying in wait outside immigration courts to snatch law-abiding, non-violent immigrants going through our legal system the right way. This isn’t about protecting law enforcement, it’s about terrorizing immigrant communities. The United States is not a dictatorship, and I’m proud to introduce this commonsense legislation ensuring that our federal government’s laws are enforced by identifiable human beings, not anonymous, secret agents of the state.”
“If you uphold the peace of a democratic society, you should not be anonymous. DHS and ICE agents wearing masks and hiding identification echoes the tactics of secret police authoritarian regimes – and deviates from the practices of local law enforcement, which contributes to confusion in communities. Many immigrants come to America seeking opportunities, hope, and freedom to escape draconian practices, and under no circumstance should they, or anyone, fear being disappeared by masked and armed individuals in unmarked vehicles. If you are upholding the law, you should not be anonymous. Our bill aims to safeguard from tyranny while upholding the values of our nation,” said Congressman Adriano Espaillat, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
The No Secret Police Act would amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require law enforcement officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to clearly display identification and insignia when detaining or arresting individuals. Specifically, the bill would:
Prohibit DHS officers from wearing face coverings or any item that conceals their face during detentions or arrests
Require officers to identify the specific component of DHS they work for (e.g., ICE, CBP)
Mandate that official insignia or uniforms be clearly visible to others
The bill also directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology and in coordination with relevant departmental components, to conduct research and development to enhance the visibility of law enforcement officers’ official insignia or uniforms. This includes developing technologies that ensure these identifiers remain clearly visible during detentions or arrests, particularly under varying conditions such as different locations, times of day, and weather circumstances.
Authored by Rep. Dan Goldman, the No Secret Police Act is also co-sponsored by Representatives Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (D-GA), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), André Carson (D-IN), John Garamendi (D-CA), Timothy M. Kennedy (D-NY), Shontel M. Brown (D-OH), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL), Wesley Bell (D-MO), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Dave Min (D-CA), Derek Tran (D-CA), Sean Casten (D-IL), Luz M. Rivas (D-CA), Summer L. Lee (D-PA), Becca Balint (D-VT), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL), George Latimer (D-NY), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Donald S. Beyer (D-VA), Hillary J. Scholten (D-MI), Nikema Williams (D-GA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Morgan McGarvey (D-KY), John B. Larson (D-CT), Marc A. Veasey (D-TX), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX), and Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA).
The text, introduced by Russia and adopted without a vote, “welcomes the efforts of the Secretary‑General to strengthen the United Nations in order to keep pace with a changing world” and calls on UN entities and specialised agencies to align their reform efforts “as appropriate”.
In the resolution, the 193-member Assembly “recognises the central role of Member States in the reform process, which should be inclusive and transparent”.
It also “looks forward to receiving, in accordance with established procedures” the Secretary‑General’s proposals under the initiative, “taking into account the necessity to have clearly defined objectives and an evidence-based approach, and aiming at strengthening the impact of the United Nations and enhancing its agility, responsiveness and resilience while addressing the issue of duplicative efforts and ensuring effective and efficient mandate delivery across all three pillars of the work of the United Nations.”
Launched by the Secretary-General in March, the UN80 Initiative centres on three priorities: enhancing operational efficiency, assessing how mandates – or key tasks – from Member States are implemented and exploring structural reforms across the UN system.
Mixed reactions on timing
Several delegations voiced backing for the reform effort, but questioned the timing of the resolution.
Speaking for the European Union, Denmark said the process was “premature and unnecessarily rushed”, noting that limited time for consultations “did not allow for the constructive engagement such an initiative requires”.
Australia, on behalf of the CANZ group (Canada, Australia and New Zealand), echoed that view, warning that an early resolution “risks limiting both the scope and ambition of the forthcoming proposals”.
Switzerland, speaking for a group including Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, also stressed that reform should be “ambitious and strategic”, building on existing assets while ensuring long‑term efficiencies.
Japan emphasised its “commitment to multilateralism” and said the initiative responds to the urgency of revitalising the UN.
“The success of the UN80 initiative relies on our shared and complementary responsibilities,” its delegate said.
Member States in the driving seat
Exercising its right of reply, Russia rejected claims that the text was rushed, saying it had “conducted several rounds of consultations” and “took into account the red lines specified by delegations, which came out in the silence procedure”.
The silence procedure sets out a window of time for delegations to express objections to a draft resolution or decision before it is formally acted upon.
The Russian delegate said the resolution puts Member States “into the driving force of this process” while recognising the Secretary‑General’s prerogative as chief administrative officer under the UN Charter.
“We seek success in the UN’s adaptation to current and future challenges,” the Russian delegate said, calling the resolution’s adoption “a very important step” to ensure universal support for the initiative.
A bipartisan measure to reverse President Trump’s executive order that denies collective bargaining rights to millions of federal workers is making headway — and we need your help to win for working families.
Federal sector workers in the IAM Union and the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), along with allies in labor and Congress, are pushing for a discharge petition that would put the Protect America’s Workforce Act on the House floor for a vote.
“An attack on our federal workers is an attack on all workers, and we can’t let this administration trample on our right to join a union,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “Let’s pass the common-sense Protect America’s Workforce Act and restore the rights of this essential workforce.”
NFFE-IAM National President Randy Erwin recently appeared alongside House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) to call for an immediate vote on the Protect America’s Workforce Act.
“Our civil service has been stressed to an unprecedented degree, and the critical services federal employees provide, and the American people rely on, are at risk as long as this assault on collective bargaining rights goes unchecked,” said Erwin. “I call on every House member to sign this discharge petition today — to reinforce an essential right of working Americans protected by the Constitution.”
Call 202-224-3121 to tell your Representative to sign the discharge petition and put the Protect America’s Workforce Act to a vote today.
The post 🚨 TAKE ACTION : Tell Your Representative to Restore Federal Worker Collective Bargaining Rights appeared first on IAM Union.
July 18, 2025 – Durban, South Africa – Department of Finance Canada
With global political and economic uncertainty abounding, strong relationships and cross-continental collaboration with reliable nations has never been more important. Canada is spearheading a new era of collaboration and partnership with nations it can trust and whose priorities it shares.
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue, today concluded his participation in the G7 and G20 meetings of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) in Durban, South Africa – a key engagement under Canada’s ongoing G7 Presidency and a demonstration of Canada’s commitment to strong international partnerships.
At the G20 meeting, Minister Champagne outlined Canada’s vision for the global economy, as well as for the international financial architecture, international taxation and ways to improve longer-term growth prospects for Africa. Discussions during the meeting included the importance of sustainable finance and the role of resilient infrastructure in supporting economic development.
The Minister leveraged the occasion to engage in a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts, further strengthening Canada’s relationships and fostering collaboration with key global partners. This included meetings with Ministers from Indonesia, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Norway, Sweden, Singapore, Italy, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and Japan, along with pull-asides with South Africa and Denmark.
On the margins of the G20 meeting, Minister Champagne co-chaired with Tiff Macklem, Governor of the Bank of Canada, the fourth G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ meeting under Canada’s G7 Presidency. Discussions focused on ways to work together to reduce the ongoing trade and economic policy uncertainty, notably by establishing new uninterrupted trade routes with reliable partners and lifting existing barriers to trade. Russia’s illegal and unjust war against Ukraine, and actions to improve supply chain resilience including for critical minerals, were also discussed. Australia and South Korea joined the discussion on supply chains.
During a short stay in Cape Town prior to the G7 and G20 meetings, Minister Champagne also met with local business leaders and government officials to advance Canada’s goals of partnership, economic development and innovation.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)
Washington, DC – This week, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40), chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee, was recognized by American Chambers of Commerce (AmChams) of Asia Pacific for her valuable contribution to increase trade and investment between the United States and the Asia Pacific.
“In our global economy, economic policy should be at the forefront of our U.S. foreign policy. Anything less is unacceptable and hurts American businesses both here at home and overseas,” said Congresswoman Kim. “I am humbled to be recognized by AmChams of Asia Pacific and will keep working as East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee Chairwoman to ensure our foreign policy prioritizes fair policies that strengthen American businesses’ access to foreign markets.”
Congresswoman Kim has championed improving the State Department’s economic statecraft policy and led commonsense bills to deepen engagement in the region and promote fair trade policies and level the playing field such as:
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is Not a Developing Country Act, which became law in the FY24 NDAA to ensure the United States opposes the PRC’s “developing country” label in international organizations;
The Reviewing Economic and Protection Objectives for the Reciprocal Tariffs Act (REPORT) Act to restore Congressional oversight of the executive branch’s tariff authority;
The Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act to promote the inclusion of Taiwan as a member of the International Monetary Fund;
The Taiwan Travel and Tourism Coordination Act to enhance U.S.-Taiwan economic and trade ties, expand market access in the Indo-Pacific region, and facilitate safer travel to the U.S.;
The PARTNER with ASEAN Act to extend diplomatic privileges to ASEAN partners, promoting market access and mutual economic prosperity; and,
The Strengthening the Quad Act to boost Quad cooperation, including on technology and energy innovation, critical minerals supply chains, and other economic priorities. The Quad includes the U.S., Australia, Japan, and India.