Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Xi to pay state visit to Russia, attend Great Patriotic War Victory celebrations on May 7-10
BEIJING, May 4 — Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Russia from May 7 to 10 and attend the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow, at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Sunday.
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
Taiwan sends delegation to the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies of the President-elect and Vice President-elect of the United States
Date：2025-01-18
Data Source：Department of North American Affairs
January 18, 2025
No. 022
The 60th Inaugural Ceremonies of the President-elect and Vice President-elect of the United States will be held in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025. The government of Taiwan has again organized a cross-party delegation to convey the Taiwanese people’s sincere congratulations to the United States. This demonstrates the importance that the government and people of Taiwan place on the close Taiwan-US partnership and reciprocates the United States’ goodwill in sending a delegation to the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim last year. Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu will lead the delegation at President Lai’s behest and will be joined by seven other legislators: Ko Chih-en, Wang Ting-yu , Ko Ju-chun, Lee Yen-hsiu, Chen Kuan-ting, Kuo Yu-ching, and Chen Gau-tzu.
The delegation is departing for the United States on January 18 and is scheduled to return home on January 24. During the visit, the delegates will engage with US Congress members and other prominent political figures and convey Taiwan’s congratulations. They will participate in exchanges with US think tanks and other important friends on such issues as the current international landscape and Taiwan-US relations. They will also proactively seek to achieve the three missions entrusted to them by President Lai: to extend the best wishes of the people of Taiwan, to convey Taiwan’s firm commitment to democracy, and to pursue new milestones in Taiwan-US relations.
The US presidential and vice presidential inauguration is organized by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. The theme of this year’s ceremonies is “Our Enduring Democracy: A Constitutional Promise.” Due to forecasts for severe weather, the committee announced that the inauguration would be moved from outdoors into the Capitol Rotunda, where the swearing-in ceremony will be held and the inaugural address delivered. In accordance with the US Constitution, on January 20 President-elect Donald J. Trump will take the oath of office as the 47th president of the United States, while Vice President-elect JD Vance will become the 50th vice president.
Taiwan sincerely congratulates President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect Vance on their upcoming inauguration. It hopes that the two countries can build on their existing close partnership to further deepen cooperation across all domains; pursue their common interests; and work jointly to advance peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and the rest of the world. (E)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Task Group on New Medical School meets with universities that submitted proposals (with photo)
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, said, “Establishing a third medical school is an important project in the development of medical education in Hong Kong. I am pleased to see the positive feedback from the three universities that submitted detailed proposals within a specified period. During the two-hour session with each university today, our expert advisers of the Task Group and representatives from the relevant policy bureaux had fruitful exchanges with the university representatives on the content of the proposals, including innovative strategic positioning, curriculum structure and assessment methodologies, and financial sustainability. We also took the opportunity to further understand the preparatory work and resource plans underpinning each proposal, such as collaboration models with local and non-local partners and the allocation of resources for software and hardware of the curriculum, teaching manpower and student recruitment and training. The Task Group will enhance speed and efficiency in the next phase of work, adopting a holistic and integrated approach to assess the proposals, with a view to completing the assessments within this year and recommending to the Government the option that best supports the development of Hong Kong into an international medical training, research and innovation hub.”
The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, said, “The 2024-2035 master plan on building China into a leading country in education newly released by our nation strives to accelerate the development of world-class universities and advanced disciplines. To tie in with this important blueprint, Hong Kong is making forward-looking preparations for a third medical school to further enhance our status as an international post-secondary education hub. We expect the new medical school not only to drive the overall advancement of the host university but also to strengthen Hong Kong’s competitiveness on the global stage. Strategically located in the Northern Metropolis University Town with a prime geographic location, the new medical school has immense potential for fostering synergy among academia, research, and industry within the vicinity and the Greater Bay Area. We hope the selected university will seize this valuable opportunity to take Hong Kong’s medical academic and research excellence to new heights through active collaboration within the region.”
Established in October last year, the Task Group comprises seasoned local, Mainland and overseas academics in medical education and university management, professionals, representatives from the Medical Council of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, as well as representatives from the relevant government bureaux and departments. It has already set the overall direction and parameters for establishing the new medical school. The 10 key parameters for consideration are: (1) innovative strategic positioning, (2) staffing, (3) campus and teaching facilities, (4) clinical exposure and learning resources, (5) curriculum structure and assessment methodologies, (6) student admission arrangements, (7) funding arrangements, (8) implementation plan, (9) teaching and learning quality, and (10) research excellence. The Task Group issued a letter of invitation on December 2 last year to all University Grants Committee-funded universities to invite local universities interested in establishing the new medical school to submit proposals by March 17 this year, and three proposals were received by the deadline.
Issued at HKT 20:05
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Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
PORTLAND, Ore., May 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Clackamas Progress Partners (CPP), a Fengate Asset Management-led (Fengate) consortium, today announced the completion and handover of the new Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse – the first courthouse to be delivered as a public-private partnership (P3) in Oregon.
CPP – comprising Fengate (developer), PCL Construction (design-builder), DLR Group (designer), and Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) (services provider) – joined client Clackamas County, the Oregon Judicial Department, and public officials on site for a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the new 257,000-square-foot courthouse.
Karl Schaefer, Fengate Project Executive for the Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse Replacement Project, said:
“The new Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse is the epitome of P3 success – complex public infrastructure delivered efficiently, sustainably, and collaboratively with our public sector partners. We are grateful to our valued trade partners for their hard work to deliver this state-of-the-art courthouse on schedule for the Clackamas County community. Our P3 team is honored to have brought this decades-long vision to life for Clackamas County, and we congratulate our client on the official opening of their new home of justice.”
Fengate is managing this investment on behalf of Fengate Infrastructure Fund IV and its affiliated entities, including an investment by the LiUNA Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada.
W.T. Sermeus, Senior Project Manager at PCL Construction, said:
“Delivering the Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse was a true team effort – one that reflects the power of partnership, innovation, and accountability. From day one, our focus was on creating a high-performing, enduring facility for the County and the justice system it supports. Thanks to our subtrade and design partners whose collaboration made this vision a reality.”
Billal Hammoud, President and Chief Executive Officer of Honeywell’s Building Automation segment, said:
“The innovative Honeywell automation solutions being used in this new home for justice will help ensure a more efficient and secure environment for Clackamas County residents. We are grateful to Fengate, PCL Construction and DLR Group for the commitment and collaboration that led to the on-time grand opening of this state-of-the-art facility.”
Erica Loynd, FAIA, Northwest Region Leader and Principal at DLR Group, said:
“We didn’t just want to build a courthouse. Every aspect of the building focuses on the people within the space, from citizens coming to have one of their most important moments to the staff who spend every day in the building.”
A landmark for sustainable civic infrastructure, the facility targets LEED Gold certification and is expected to achieve an annual greenhouse gas reduction of 62.2% during operations. With several environmental and social impact accolades, the award-winning facility demonstrates how successful collaboration between the public and private sectors can revitalize and help decarbonize infrastructure in the United States.
The new facility meets the needs of Clackamas County’s increasing population, which has grown to 430,000 residents in 2025 from less than 50,000 residents in 1936 when the original courthouse was built. Designed to serve the community for decades to come, the courthouse improves the efficiency and safety of the local judicial system with 16 modern courtrooms, 20 judicial chambers, district attorney offices and safe corridors for courthouse users.
CPP was contracted in 2022 to design, build, finance, operate, and maintain the new courthouse for a 30-year period. The partner companies have completed more than 40 courthouse construction projects across their combined portfolios.
Further information about the new Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse is available here.
About Fengate
Fengate is a leading alternative investment manager focused on infrastructure, private equity and real estate strategies, with more than $7 billion of capital commitments under management. The firm has been investing in infrastructure since 2006 with a focus on mid-market greenfield and brownfield infrastructure assets in the transportation, social, energy transition and digital sectors. Fengate is one of North America’s most active infrastructure investors and developers with a portfolio of more than 45 assets. Learn more at www.fengate.com.
About PCL Construction
PCL is a group of independent construction companies that operates throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Australia. As one of the largest contracting organizations in North America, PCL completes more than $8 billion USD in work annually, building projects that shape communities. The company’s 100% employee ownership model fuels a culture of commitment for clients in the buildings, civil infrastructure, heavy industrial and solar markets. With a strategic presence in more than 30 major centers, PCL’s leadership teams consistently drive innovation and set new benchmarks for excellence, bringing unparalleled skill to every project. Watch us build at PCL.com.
About DLR Group
DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new construction, renovation, and adaptive reuse. Our promise is to elevate the human experience through design. This promise inspires sustainable design for a diverse group of public and private sector clients; local communities; and our planet. DLR Group is 100 percent employee-owned and fully supports the initiatives and goals of the 2030 Challenge and is an initial signatory to the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment.
Media contact
Maddison Sharples
Vice President, Communications and Marketing
+1 416 254 3326
maddison.sharples@fengate.com
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The “Task Group on New Medical School” today met the three universities that have submitted proposals for the establishment of a third medical school.
Co-chaired by Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau and Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-Lin, the discussions were focused on proposals from the Baptist University, the Polytechnic University and the University of Science & Technology.
Prof Lo said that during the exercise the task group’s expert advisers and representatives from various bureaus conducted fruitful exchanges with the university representatives on matters including strategic positioning, curriculum structure and assessment methodologies, and financial sustainability.
The task group also took the opportunity to better understand the preparatory work and resource plans underpinning each proposal. This includes collaboration models involving local and non-local partners, the allocation of resources for curriculum software and hardware, teaching manpower, and student recruitment and training.
Prof Lo added that the task group will increase speed and efficiency in the next phase, adopting a holistic and integrated approach to assessing the proposals, with a view to completing the assessments within the current year and recommending to the Government the option that best supports Hong Kong’s development into an international medical training, research and innovation hub.
Ms Choi highlighted that the 2024-2035 master plan for building China into a leading country in education strives to accelerate the development of world-class universities and advanced disciplines. To tie in with this important blueprint, she added, Hong Kong is preparing to establish a third medical school to further enhance its status as an international post-secondary education hub.
Strategically located in the Northern Metropolis University Town, the new medical school will have immense potential to foster synergy among academia, the research community and industry within the vicinity and the wider Greater Bay Area, Ms Choi added.
The task group issued a letter of invitation on December 2 last year to all University Grants Committee-funded universities. The letter invited local universities interested in taking the new medical school project forward to submit proposals by March 17 this year. Three proposals were received by the deadline.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 3 — President Xi Jinping has called on Chinese youth to dedicate themselves to the country’s modernization drive by serving where the nation needs them most.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a reply letter to a group of volunteer teachers working in a remote border school in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Chris Lamb, Professor of Journalism, Indiana University
President Donald Trump was asked during a press conference on April 30, 2025, about the possible impact of his tariff policies and trade war with China.
Trump answered that American children should prepare to make sacrifices at Christmas.
“Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, you know,” he said, “and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.”
The New York Times reported that Trump appeared to be telling kids they would have to manage with fewer toys this year for the sake of his economic agenda.
Jane Mayer, a reporter with The New Yorker, called it “Trump’s Marie Antoinette moment.”
This was not the first − or last − time Trump said something that left many Americans with mouths open and heads shaking.
Hours after his Marie Antoinette moment, Trump, whose first 100 days back in office have been characterized as chaotic and damaging to democracy, was asked during a phone interview at a town-hall broadcast on NewsNation what the biggest mistake he’d made thus far in his second presidency.
“I don’t really believe I’ve made any mistakes,” Trump replied.
The audience, representing a cross section of Americans, burst out laughing.
Trump’s gaffes aren’t just part of his presidency; gaffes are part of the storied tradition of the American presidency. Some of those comments have clung to presidents and even affected history.
Here are examples from each president over the past 50 years or so of statements that at least some of them were embarrassed by or came to regret. Each was made when the president was serving in the White House. The quotes are organized chronologically.
On Nov. 17, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, in the midst of the Watergate scandal that would end his presidency, defended himself against charges of corruption.
“People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook,” Nixon said. “Well, I’m not a crook. I’ve earned everything I’ve got.”
Instead of quelling the scandal, as Nixon hoped, his words produced the opposite reaction. He resigned from the presidency nine months later in August 1974.
Gerald Ford, Nixon’s vice president who became president after Nixon’s resignation, subsequently ran for election in 1976.
During one of his televised debates against Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter, Ford inexplicably claimed the Soviet Union did not control Eastern Europe.
“There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe,” Ford said, “and there never will be under a Ford administration.”
To which the moderator, New York Times editor May Frankel, said, “I’m sorry, what?”
Ford’s remark was so outrageously incorrect that it may have contributed to his defeat in the tight presidential election.
Carter defeated Ford and was elected in 1976. He ran for reelection against Republican nominee Ronald Reagan in 1980. During one of their debates, Carter said he sought the advice of his 13-year-old daughter, Amy, on what was the most important issue facing America.
“She said she thought it was nuclear weaponry,” Carter said, “and the control of nuclear arms.”
Carter tried to show that arms control was a subject that had great resonance to even 13-year-olds. Instead, it left viewers puzzled why he had inserted his daughter into the debate. A wire service story at the time summarized the response by saying that reporters covering the debate winced and others groaned.
Reagan, a former television and movie actor who defeated Carter in the 1980 presidential election, was known as “the Great Communicator” for his eloquence.
A well-known anti-Communist, Reagan was not always careful about what he said.
Before a speech on Aug. 11, 1984, Reagan joked during a sound check, “I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.”
The joke on the open mic, which was not broadcast live but leaked later, resulted in a Soviet red alert − and temporarily moved the U.S. and Soviet Union toward war.
Reagan’s successor, his vice president, George H.W. Bush, by comparison was no great communicator. His words came out of his mouth and appeared to go in separate ways.
“I have opinions of my own, strong opinions,” Bush said, “but I don’t always agree with them.”
Democrat Bill Clinton defeated George H.W. Bush in the 1992 presidential election.
Clinton’s presidency was dogged with accusations of unethical behavior and extramarital affairs. Clinton, in testimony before a grand jury investigating his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, was asked whether he was lying when he told aides that “there’s nothing going on” between him and Lewinsky.
“It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is,” Clinton responded. “If the − if he − if ‘is’ means is and never has been, that is not − that is one thing.”
Slate magazine said that this response may have been the “defining moment” of his presidency and, in doing so, captured his contribution to semantics. As Time magazine pointed out,
“Until then, America hadn’t been sure there was more than one definition of ‘is.’”
George W. Bush, the son of George H.W. Bush, succeeded Clinton in the White House. Americans learned that Bush had more in common with his father than just the same last name.
“There’s an old saying in Tennessee − I know it’s in Texas,” Bush said, “probably in Tennessee, that says, fool me once, shame on − shame on you. Fool me − you can’t get fooled again.”
Barack Obama, like Reagan, was known for his sense of humor. And like Reagan, Obama learned that not everything was a joking matter.
While appearing on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno in 2009, Obama said he had improved his bowling by practicing at the White House bowling alley. He told Leno he had bowled a pedestrian score of 129, provoking a sarcastic response from Leno.
Obama then made the following joke: “It’s like the Special Olympics or something.”
Obama quickly apologized to the Special Olympics, the athletic competition for people with intellectual disabilities.
Trump was first elected president in 2016 but was defeated by Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Trump and Biden faced each other again in 2024.
During a television debate on June 27, 2024, CNN anchor Jake Tapper asked Biden why voters should trust him to solve the immigration crisis. Biden said he changed a law that allowed Trump and his administration to separate immigrant families and put children in cages.
Biden’s train of thought then jumped the tracks.
“And I’m going to continue to move until we get the total ban on the − the total initiative relative to what we’re going to do with more Border Patrol and more asylum officers,” Biden said.
“I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence,” Trump said, “and I don’t think he did, either.”
The same could be said for much of what Biden said during the debate.
Biden withdrew from the presidential race three weeks after his poor debate performance.
Chris Lamb does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. What is the biggest gaffe, blooper or blunder that a recent president has made? It may depend on what your definition of ‘is’ is – https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-biggest-gaffe-blooper-or-blunder-that-a-recent-president-has-made-it-may-depend-on-what-your-definition-of-is-is-255755
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Chris Lamb, Professor of Journalism, Indiana University
President Donald Trump was asked during a press conference on April 30, 2025, about the possible impact of his tariff policies and trade war with China.
Trump answered that American children should prepare to make sacrifices at Christmas.
“Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, you know,” he said, “and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.”
The New York Times reported that Trump appeared to be telling kids they would have to manage with fewer toys this year for the sake of his economic agenda.
Jane Mayer, a reporter with The New Yorker, called it “Trump’s Marie Antoinette moment.”
This was not the first − or last − time Trump said something that left many Americans with mouths open and heads shaking.
Hours after his Marie Antoinette moment, Trump, whose first 100 days back in office have been characterized as chaotic and damaging to democracy, was asked during a phone interview at a town-hall broadcast on NewsNation what the biggest mistake he’d made thus far in his second presidency.
“I don’t really believe I’ve made any mistakes,” Trump replied.
The audience, representing a cross section of Americans, burst out laughing.
Trump’s gaffes aren’t just part of his presidency; gaffes are part of the storied tradition of the American presidency. Some of those comments have clung to presidents and even affected history.
Here are examples from each president over the past 50 years or so of statements that at least some of them were embarrassed by or came to regret. Each was made when the president was serving in the White House. The quotes are organized chronologically.
On Nov. 17, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, in the midst of the Watergate scandal that would end his presidency, defended himself against charges of corruption.
“People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook,” Nixon said. “Well, I’m not a crook. I’ve earned everything I’ve got.”
Instead of quelling the scandal, as Nixon hoped, his words produced the opposite reaction. He resigned from the presidency nine months later in August 1974.
Gerald Ford, Nixon’s vice president who became president after Nixon’s resignation, subsequently ran for election in 1976.
During one of his televised debates against Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter, Ford inexplicably claimed the Soviet Union did not control Eastern Europe.
“There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe,” Ford said, “and there never will be under a Ford administration.”
To which the moderator, New York Times editor May Frankel, said, “I’m sorry, what?”
Ford’s remark was so outrageously incorrect that it may have contributed to his defeat in the tight presidential election.
Carter defeated Ford and was elected in 1976. He ran for reelection against Republican nominee Ronald Reagan in 1980. During one of their debates, Carter said he sought the advice of his 13-year-old daughter, Amy, on what was the most important issue facing America.
“She said she thought it was nuclear weaponry,” Carter said, “and the control of nuclear arms.”
Carter tried to show that arms control was a subject that had great resonance to even 13-year-olds. Instead, it left viewers puzzled why he had inserted his daughter into the debate. A wire service story at the time summarized the response by saying that reporters covering the debate winced and others groaned.
Reagan, a former television and movie actor who defeated Carter in the 1980 presidential election, was known as “the Great Communicator” for his eloquence.
A well-known anti-Communist, Reagan was not always careful about what he said.
Before a speech on Aug. 11, 1984, Reagan joked during a sound check, “I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.”
The joke on the open mic, which was not broadcast live but leaked later, resulted in a Soviet red alert − and temporarily moved the U.S. and Soviet Union toward war.
Reagan’s successor, his vice president, George H.W. Bush, by comparison was no great communicator. His words came out of his mouth and appeared to go in separate ways.
“I have opinions of my own, strong opinions,” Bush said, “but I don’t always agree with them.”
Democrat Bill Clinton defeated George H.W. Bush in the 1992 presidential election.
Clinton’s presidency was dogged with accusations of unethical behavior and extramarital affairs. Clinton, in testimony before a grand jury investigating his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, was asked whether he was lying when he told aides that “there’s nothing going on” between him and Lewinsky.
“It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is,” Clinton responded. “If the − if he − if ‘is’ means is and never has been, that is not − that is one thing.”
Slate magazine said that this response may have been the “defining moment” of his presidency and, in doing so, captured his contribution to semantics. As Time magazine pointed out,
“Until then, America hadn’t been sure there was more than one definition of ‘is.’”
George W. Bush, the son of George H.W. Bush, succeeded Clinton in the White House. Americans learned that Bush had more in common with his father than just the same last name.
“There’s an old saying in Tennessee − I know it’s in Texas,” Bush said, “probably in Tennessee, that says, fool me once, shame on − shame on you. Fool me − you can’t get fooled again.”
Barack Obama, like Reagan, was known for his sense of humor. And like Reagan, Obama learned that not everything was a joking matter.
While appearing on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno in 2009, Obama said he had improved his bowling by practicing at the White House bowling alley. He told Leno he had bowled a pedestrian score of 129, provoking a sarcastic response from Leno.
Obama then made the following joke: “It’s like the Special Olympics or something.”
Obama quickly apologized to the Special Olympics, the athletic competition for people with intellectual disabilities.
Trump was first elected president in 2016 but was defeated by Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Trump and Biden faced each other again in 2024.
During a television debate on June 27, 2024, CNN anchor Jake Tapper asked Biden why voters should trust him to solve the immigration crisis. Biden said he changed a law that allowed Trump and his administration to separate immigrant families and put children in cages.
Biden’s train of thought then jumped the tracks.
“And I’m going to continue to move until we get the total ban on the − the total initiative relative to what we’re going to do with more Border Patrol and more asylum officers,” Biden said.
“I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence,” Trump said, “and I don’t think he did, either.”
The same could be said for much of what Biden said during the debate.
Biden withdrew from the presidential race three weeks after his poor debate performance.
Chris Lamb does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. What are the biggest gaffes, bloopers and blunders that recent presidents have made? It may depend on what your definition of ‘is’ is – https://theconversation.com/what-are-the-biggest-gaffes-bloopers-and-blunders-that-recent-presidents-have-made-it-may-depend-on-what-your-definition-of-is-is-255755
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
Details
2025-05-01
President Lai meets Japan’s LDP Youth Division delegation
On the morning of May 1, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Youth Division. In remarks, President Lai thanked the guests for demonstrating support for deepening Taiwan-Japan ties through concrete actions. The president expressed hope that Taiwan and Japan can continue to conduct exchanges in such areas as national defense, the economy, education, culture, sports, and the arts so that bilateral relations reach even greater heights. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I want to welcome our distinguished guests, who include Diet members in the LDP Youth Division and guests from Junior Chamber International (JCI) Japan, to the Presidential Office. It is also a pleasure to see LDP Youth Division Director Nakasone Yasutaka, House of Representatives Member Hiranuma Shojiro, and House of Councillors Member Kamiya Masayuki again today. I look forward to discussions with all our distinguished guests. The LDP Youth Division and JCI Japan have once again demonstrated support for deepening Taiwan-Japan ties through concrete actions. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I also want to thank the LDP Youth Division for launching a fundraising campaign to help those affected by the earthquake in Hualien County on April 3 last year. LDP Youth Division members will be important leaders in Japan’s political arena in the future. Taiwan deeply values our exchanges with the Youth Division and hopes to bring about concrete results from such exchanges. Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are critical to the security and prosperity of the world, and Taiwan and Japan can work together to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo and Kishida Fumio, and current Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru have repeatedly stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait at important international venues. Taiwan is deeply grateful to Japan’s current and former prime ministers for their concern and support for this issue. Taiwan and Japan can also cooperate in industry and the economy. As our industries are complementary, further cooperation can create win-win outcomes. In the semiconductor industry, for instance, Taiwan’s strengths lie in manufacturing, while Japan’s strengths lie in materials, equipment, and technology. If we work together, the semiconductor industry is sure to see even more robust development. In addition to the economy and national defense, Taiwan and Japan can also conduct exchanges in such areas as education, culture, sports, and the arts. Our countries have long shared deep ties – Director Nakasone’s grandfather, former Prime Minister Nakasone Yasuhiro, was stationed in Taiwan and lived in what is now the Mingde New Residential Quarter of Kaohsiung City’s Zuoying District. I am confident that on the basis of our already solid foundations, Taiwan-Japan relations can reach even greater heights. Director Nakasone then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for finding time in his busy schedule to meet with the visiting delegation. He said that the LDP Youth Division sends a visiting delegation to Taiwan each year and is always granted the opportunity to meet with the president, demonstrating his high regard for the delegation, for which the director again expressed his gratitude. He remarked that he, together with House of Representatives Member Suzuki Keisuke, visited Taiwan last July, and that whenever he visits Taiwan, it feels as if he is returning home. Director Nakasone recalled President Lai’s earlier remarks, saying that he hopes the young people of Taiwan and Japan can fully engage in exchanges in the areas of national defense, the economy, culture, education, and the arts. The director said he believes that in today’s complex and difficult international situation, such directives are necessary. This is especially so, he emphasized, during United States President Donald Trump’s second term, when things once taken for granted are no longer so, and when the global economy is undergoing significant changes. Director Nakasone expressed his full support for strengthening Taiwan and Japan’s practical and strategic cooperation. He said he believes each side will be able to benefit from such cooperation and hopes that exchanges will progress toward shared goals. He pointed out that, as maritime nations, Taiwan and Japan share the goals of protecting the ocean and using marine resources wisely, goals that we ought to cooperate on and devote our full efforts to. The peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait are critical to the peace and stability of East Asia and even the world, he said, so we must ensure that the world and its leaders recognize this point, and Japan will do its utmost to advocate for it. Director Nakasone said, on the topic of semiconductors, that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s new fab in Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture has made the area very lively, adding that the Japanese government is providing more than 1.25 trillion yen in subsidies. Moving forward, the Japanese government plans to inject an additional 10 trillion yen, he said, to aid in the development of AI and other fields. Noting that Taiwan and Japan both excel in semiconductors, he expressed his hope that each can give free rein to its strengths to produce an even greater effect. Director Nakasone said that despite Taiwan’s facing formidable internal and external circumstances, it saw 4.6 percent economic growth last year under President Lai’s strong leadership, and it continued to promote measures to enhance overall societal resilience, all of which is admirable. In closing, the director thanked President Lai once again for taking the time to meet with them. Also in attendance were Japanese House of Representatives Members Nemoto Taku and Fukuda Kaoru, and Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Katayama Kazuyuki.
Details
2025-04-29
President Lai meets NBR delegation
On the morning of April 29, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR). In remarks, President Lai stated that as Taiwan stands at the very frontline of defense of global democracy, we are actively implementing our Four Pillars of Peace action plan, which includes continuing to enhance our national defense capabilities, demonstrating our commitment to defending freedom and democracy. The president said he hopes to further advance national security and industrial cooperation between Taiwan and the United States. He also expressed hope that this will help boost economic resilience for both sides and establish each as a key pillar of regional security, elevating our relations to even higher levels. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I am delighted to meet with Admiral John Aquilino again today. I also warmly welcome NBR President Michael Wills and our distinguished guests from the bureau to Taiwan. I look forward to exchanging views with you all on Taiwan-US relations and the regional situation. During his tenure as commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Aquilino placed much attention on the Taiwan Strait issue. And the NBR has conducted a wealth of research and analysis focusing on matters of regional security. Thanks to all of your outstanding contributions and efforts, the international community has gained a better understanding of the role Taiwan plays in the Indo-Pacific region and in global democratic development. For this, I want to extend my deepest gratitude. Taiwan stands at the very frontline of defending global democracy and is located at a strategically important location in the first island chain. We are actively implementing our Four Pillars of Peace action plan, which includes continuing to enhance our national defense capabilities, building economic security, demonstrating stable and principled cross-strait leadership, and standing side-by-side with the democratic community to jointly demonstrate the strength of deterrence and safeguard regional peace and stability. At the beginning of this month, I announced an increase in military allowances for volunteer service members and combat troops. The government will also continue to reform national defense and enhance self-sufficiency in defense. In addition, we will prioritize special budget allocations to ensure that Taiwan’s defense budget exceeds 3 percent of GDP. These efforts continue to strengthen Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities and demonstrate our commitment to defending freedom and democracy. As we mark the 46th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act, we thank the US government for continuing its arms sales to Taiwan and strengthening the Taiwan-US partnership over the years. We believe that, in addition to engaging in military exchanges and cooperation, Taiwan and the US can build an even closer economic and trade relationship, boosting each other’s economic resilience and establishing each as a key pillar of regional security. I expect that your continued assistance will help advance national security and industrial cooperation between Taiwan and the US, elevating our relations to even higher levels. Once again, I welcome our distinguished guests to Taiwan and wish you a pleasant and successful trip. I hope that through this visit, you gain a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of Taiwan’s economy and national defense. Admiral Aquilino then delivered remarks, thanking the Ministry of National Defense for the invitation and President Lai for receiving and spending time with them. Mentioning that this is his second visit in five months, he said he continues to be incredibly impressed with the president’s leadership and the actions he has taken to secure Taiwan and defend its people. Admiral Aquilino said that he has watched the efforts of the ministers on whole-of-society defense to demonstrate deterrence and added that the pace of the work is nothing short of inspiring. Admiral Aquilino noted that Taiwan’s thriving democracy is incredibly important to the peace and stability of the region. He stated that he, alongside the NBR, will continue to offer support, noting that President Wills and his team are an asset to Taiwan and the US that helps continue our close relationship and ensure peace and stability in the region.
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2025-04-28
President Lai meets Japanese Diet Member and former Minister of State for Economic Security Takaichi Sanae
On the afternoon of April 28, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Member of the Japanese House of Representatives and former Minister of State for Economic Security Takaichi Sanae. In remarks, President Lai thanked the government of Japan for repeatedly emphasizing the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait at important international venues. The president expressed hope that in the face of China’s continually expanding red supply chains, Taiwan and Japan can continue to cooperate closely in such fields as semiconductors, energy, and AI technology to create non-red supply chains that enhance economic resilience and industrial competitiveness for both sides, and jointly pave the way for further prosperity and growth in the Indo-Pacific region. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: First, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Representative Takaichi as she returns for another visit to Taiwan. I am also very happy to have Members of the House of Representatives Kikawada Hitoshi and Ozaki Masanao, and Member of the House of Councillors Sato Kei all gathered together here to engage in these very important exchanges. Our visitors will be taking part in many exchange activities during this trip. Earlier today at the Indo-Pacific Strategy Thinktank’s International Political and Economic Forum, Representative Takaichi delivered a speech in which she clearly demonstrated the great importance she places upon the friendship between Taiwan and Japan. For this I want to express my deepest appreciation to each of our guests. The peoples of Taiwan and Japan have a deep friendship and mutual trust. We have a shared commitment to the universal values of democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights, but beyond that, we both have striven to contribute to regional peace and stability. I also want to thank the government of Japan for repeatedly emphasizing the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait at important international venues. Tomorrow you will all make a trip to Kaohsiung to visit a bronze statue of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, who once said, “If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem.” We will always remember the firm support and friendship he showed Taiwan. Since taking office last year, I have worked hard to improve Taiwan’s whole-of-society defense resilience and implement our Four Pillars of Peace action plan. By strengthening our national defense capabilities, building up economic security, demonstrating stable and principled cross-strait leadership, and deepening partnerships with democratic countries including Japan, we can together maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and across the Taiwan Strait. At the same time, in the face of China’s continually expanding red supply chains, we hope that Taiwan and Japan, as important economic and trade partners, can continue to cooperate closely in such fields as semiconductors, energy, and AI technology to create non-red supply chains that further enhance economic resilience and industrial competitiveness for both sides. Going forward, Taiwan will work hard to play an important role in the international community and contribute its key strengths. I hope that, with the support of our guests, Taiwan can soon accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and sign an economic partnership agreement (EPA) with Japan so that we can jointly pave the way for further prosperity and growth in the Indo-Pacific region. Lastly, I thank each of you once again for taking concrete action to support Taiwan. I am confident that your visit will help deepen Taiwan-Japan ties and create even greater opportunities for cooperation. Let us all strive together to keep propelling Taiwan-Japan relations forward. Representative Takaichi then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai and Taiwanese political leaders for the warm hospitality they extended to the delegation, and mentioning that the visiting delegation members are all like-minded partners carrying on the legacy of former Prime Minister Abe. July 8 this year will mark the third anniversary of the passing of former Prime Minister Abe, she said, and when the former prime minister unfortunately passed away, President Lai, then serving as vice president, was among the first to come offer condolences, for which she expressed sincere admiration and gratitude. Representative Takaichi stated that Taiwan and Japan are island nations that face the same circumstances and problems, and that Japan’s trade activities rely heavily on ocean transport, so once a problem arises nearby that threatens maritime shipping lanes, it will be a matter of life and death for Japan. Taiwan and Japan are similar, as once a problem arises, both will face food and energy security issues, and supply chains may even be threatened, she said. Regarding Taiwan-Japan cooperation, Representative Takaichi stated that both sides must first protect and strengthen supply chain resilience. President Lai has previously said that he wants to turn Taiwan into an AI island, she said, and in semiconductors, Taiwan has the world’s leading technology. Representative Takaichi went on to say that Taiwan and Japan can collaborate in the fields of AI and semiconductors, quantum computing, and dual-use industries, as well as in areas such as drones and new energy technologies to build more resilient supply chains, so that if problems arise, we can maintain our current standard of living with peace of mind. Representative Takaichi indicated that cooperation in the defense sector is also crucial, and that by uniting like-minded countries including Taiwan, the United States, Japan, the Philippines, and Australia, and even countries in Europe, we can build a stronger network to jointly maintain our security guarantees. Representative Takaichi expressed hope that Taiwan and Japan will continue to strengthen substantive non-governmental relations, including personnel exchange visits and information sharing, so that we can jointly face and respond to crises when they arise. Regarding the hope to sign a Taiwan-Japan EPA that President Lai had mentioned earlier, she also expressed support and said she looks forward to upcoming exchanges and talks. The visiting delegation also included Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Katayama Kazuyuki.
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2025-04-23
President Lai delivers remarks at International Holocaust Remembrance Day event
On the afternoon of April 23, President Lai Ching-te attended an International Holocaust Remembrance Day event and delivered remarks, in which he emphasized that peace is priceless, and war has no winners, while morality, democracy, and respect for human rights are powerful forces against violence and tyranny. The president stated that Taiwan will continue to expand cooperation with democratic partners and safeguard regional and global peace and stability, defending democracy, freedom, and human rights. He said we must never forget history, and must overcome our differences and join in solidarity to ensure that the next generations live in a world that is more just and more peaceful. Upon arriving at the event, President Lai heard a testimony from the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, followed by a rabbi’s recitation of the prayer “El Maleh Rachamim.” He then joined other distinguished guests in lighting candles in memory of the victims. A transcript of President Lai’s remarks follows: To begin, I want to thank the Israel Economic and Cultural Office (ISECO) in Taipei, German Institute Taipei, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs for co-organizing this deeply significant memorial ceremony again this year. I also want to thank everyone for attending. We are here today to remember the victims of the Holocaust, express sympathy for the survivors, honor the brave individuals who protected the victims, and acknowledge all who were impacted by this atrocity. It was deeply moving to hear Ms. [Orly] Sela share the story of how her grandmother, Yehudit Biksz, escaped the Nazi regime. I want to thank her specially for traveling so far to attend this event. From the 1930s through World War II, the Nazi regime sought to exclude Jewish people from society. In their campaign, they perpetrated systematic genocide driven by their ideology. Policies and directives under the authoritarian Nazi regime resulted in the deaths of approximately 6 million Jews. Millions of others were persecuted, including Romani people, persons with disabilities, the gay community, and anyone who disagreed with Nazi ideology. It is one of the darkest chapters in human history. Many countries, including Taiwan, have enacted anti-massacre legislation, and observe a remembrance day each year. Those occasions help us remember the victims, preserve historical memory, and most importantly, reinforce our resolve to fight against hatred and discrimination. Twenty-three years ago, Chelujan (車路墘) Church in Tainan founded the Taiwan Holocaust Memorial Museum. It is the first Jewish museum in Taiwan, and the second Holocaust museum in Asia. Its founding mission urges us to forget hatred and love one another; put an end to war and advocate peace. Many of the exhibition items come from Jewish people, connecting Taiwan closer with Israel and helping Taiwanese better understand the experiences of Jewish people. In this way, we grow to more deeply cherish peace. When I was mayor of Tainan, I took part in an exhibition event at Chelujan Church. I was also invited by the Israeli government to join the International Mayors Conference in Israel, where I visited the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. I will never forget how deeply that experience moved me, and as a result, peace and human rights became even more important issues for me. These issues are valued by Taiwan and our friends and allies. They are also important links connecting Taiwan with the world. Peace is priceless, and war has no winners. We will continue to expand cooperation with democratic partners and safeguard regional and global peace and stability. We will also continue to make greater contributions and work with the international community to defend democracy, freedom, and human rights. This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. However, we still see wars raging around the world. We see a resurgence of authoritarian powers, which could severely impact global democracy, peace, and prosperous development. Today’s event allows for more than reflection on the past; it also serves as a warning for the future. We are reminded of the threats that hatred, prejudice, and extremism pose to humanity. But we are also reminded that morality, democracy, and respect for human rights are powerful forces against violence and tyranny. We must never forget history. We must overcome our differences and join in solidarity for a better future. Let’s work together to ensure that the next generations live in a world that is more just and more peaceful. Also in attendance at the event were Member of the Israeli Knesset (parliament) and Taiwan friendship group Chair Boaz Toporovsky, ISECO Representative Maya Yaron, and German Institute Taipei Deputy Director General Andreas Hofem.
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2025-04-23
President Lai pays respects to Pope Francis
On the morning of April 23, President Lai Ching-te visited the Taipei Archdiocesan Curia to pay respects in a memorial ceremony for His Holiness Pope Francis. As officiant of the ceremony, President Lai burned incense and presented flowers, fruits, and wine to pay his respects to Pope Francis. At the direction of the master of ceremonies, the president then bowed three times in front of Pope Francis’s memorial portrait, conveying his grief and deep respect for the late pope. After hearing of Pope Francis’s passing on April 21, President Lai promptly requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express sincere condolences from the people and government of Taiwan to the Vatican. The president also instructed Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) to convey condolences to the Holy See’s Apostolic Nunciature in Taiwan.
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2025-04-06
President Lai delivers remarks on US tariff policy response
On April 6, President Lai Ching-te delivered recorded remarks regarding the impact of the 32 percent tariff that the United States government recently imposed on imports from Taiwan in the name of reciprocity. In his remarks, President Lai explained that the government will adopt five response strategies, including making every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations, adopting a support plan for affected domestic industries, adopting medium- and long-term economic development plans, forming new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements, and launching industry listening tours. The president emphasized that as we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and expressed hope that all parties, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: My fellow citizens, good evening. The US government recently announced higher tariffs on countries around the world in the name of reciprocity, including imposing a 32 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan. This is bound to have a major impact on our nation. Various countries have already responded, and some have even adopted retaliatory measures. Tremendous changes in the global economy are expected. Taiwan is an export-led economy, and in facing future challenges there will inevitably be difficulties, so we must proceed carefully to turn danger into safety. During this time, I want to express gratitude to all sectors of society for providing valuable opinions, which the government regards highly, and will use as a reference to make policy decisions. However, if we calmly and carefully analyze Taiwan’s trade with the US, we find that last year Taiwan’s exports to the US were valued at US$111.4 billion, accounting for 23.4 percent of total export value, with the other 75-plus percent of products sold worldwide to countries other than the US. Of products sold to the US, competitive ICT products and electronic components accounted for 65.4 percent. This shows that Taiwan’s economy does still have considerable resilience. As long as our response strategies are appropriate, and the public and private sectors join forces, we can reduce impacts. Please do not panic. To address the reciprocal tariffs by the US, Taiwan has no plans to adopt retaliatory tariffs. There will be no change in corporate investment commitments to the US, as long as they are consistent with national interests. But we must ensure the US clearly understands Taiwan’s contributions to US economic development. More importantly, we must actively seek to understand changes in the global economic situation, strengthen Taiwan-US industry cooperation, elevate the status of Taiwan industries in global supply chains, and with safeguarding the continued development of Taiwan’s economy as our goal, adopt the following five strategies to respond. Strategy one: Make every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations using the following five methods: 1. Taiwan has already formed a negotiation team led by Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君). The team includes members from the National Security Council, the Office of Trade Negotiations, and relevant Executive Yuan ministries and agencies, as well as academia and industry. Like the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, negotiations on tariffs can start from Taiwan-US bilateral zero-tariff treatment. 2. To expand purchases from the US and thereby reduce the trade deficit, the Executive Yuan has already completed an inventory regarding large-scale procurement plans for agricultural, industrial, petroleum, and natural gas products, and the Ministry of National Defense has also proposed a military procurement list. All procurement plans will be actively pursued. 3. Expand investments in the US. Taiwan’s cumulative investment in the US already exceeds US$100 billion, creating approximately 400,000 jobs. In the future, in addition to increased investment in the US by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, other industries such as electronics, ICT, petrochemicals, and natural gas can all increase their US investments, deepening Taiwan-US industry cooperation. Taiwan’s government has helped form a “Taiwan investment in the US” team, and hopes that the US will reciprocate by forming a “US investment in Taiwan” team to bring about closer Taiwan-US trade cooperation, jointly creating a future economic golden age. 4. We must eliminate non-tariff barriers to trade. Non-tariff barriers are an indicator by which the US assesses whether a trading partner is trading fairly with the US. Therefore, we will proactively resolve longstanding non-tariff barriers so that negotiations can proceed more smoothly. 5. We must resolve two issues that have been matters of longstanding concern to the US. One regards high-tech export controls, and the other regards illegal transshipment of dumped goods, otherwise referred to as “origin washing.” Strategy two: We must adopt a plan for supporting our industries. For industries that will be affected by the tariffs, and especially traditional industries as well as micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, we will provide timely and needed support and assistance. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and his administrative team recently announced a package of 20 specific measures designed to address nine areas. Moving forward, the support we provide to different industries will depend on how they are affected by the tariffs, will take into account the particular features of each industry, and will help each industry innovate, upgrade, and transform. Strategy three: We must adopt medium- and long-term economic development plans. At this point in time, our government must simultaneously adopt new strategies for economic and industrial development. This is also the fundamental path to solutions for future economic challenges. The government will proactively cooperate with friends and allies, develop a diverse range of markets, and achieve closer integration of entities in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of industrial supply chains. This course of action will make Taiwan’s industrial ecosystem more complete, and will help Taiwanese industries upgrade and transform. We must also make good use of the competitive advantages we possess in such areas as semiconductor manufacturing, integrated chip design, ICT, and smart manufacturing to build Taiwan into an AI island, and promote relevant applications for food, clothing, housing, and transportation, as well as military, security and surveillance, next-generation communications, and the medical and health and wellness industries as we advance toward a smarter, more sustainable, and more prosperous new Taiwan. Strategy four: “Taiwan plus one,” i.e., new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements: While staying firmly rooted in Taiwan, our enterprises are expanding their global presence and marketing worldwide. This has been our national economic development strategy, and the most important aspect is maintaining a solid base here in Taiwan. We absolutely must maintain a solid footing, and cannot allow the present strife to cause us to waver. Therefore, our government will incentivize investments, carry out deregulation, and continue to improve Taiwan’s investment climate by actively resolving problems involving access to water, electricity, land, human resources, and professional talent. This will enable corporations to stay in Taiwan and continue investing here. In addition, we must also help the overseas manufacturing facilities of offshore Taiwanese businesses to make necessary adjustments to support our “Taiwan plus one” policy, in that our national economic development strategy will be adjusted as follows: to stay firmly rooted in Taiwan while expanding our global presence, strengthening US ties, and marketing worldwide. We intend to make use of the new state of supply chains to strengthen cooperation between Taiwanese and US industries, and gain further access to US markets. Strategy five: Launch industry listening tours: All industrial firms, regardless of sector or size, will be affected to some degree once the US reciprocal tariffs go into effect. The administrative teams led by myself and Premier Cho will hear out industry concerns so that we can quickly resolve problems and make sure policies meet actual needs. My fellow citizens, over the past half-century and more, Taiwan has been through two energy crises, the Asian financial crisis, the global financial crisis, and pandemics. We have been able to not only withstand one test after another, but even turn crises into opportunities. The Taiwanese economy has emerged from these crises stronger and more resilient than ever. As we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and I hope that all parties in the legislature, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. Let us join together and give it our all. Thank you.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
April 30, 2025
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) wants to know whether Amazon founder Jeff Bezos received any “promises or favors” from President Donald Trump in exchange for his “subservience” after dropping all plans to show customers the cost of tariffs. In a letter sent on Wednesday, Warren questions Bezos about the details of his conversation with Trump and raises concerns “about the potential for tariff-related corruption.”
On Tuesday, Trump called Bezos to complain after a Punchbowl News report said that Amazon planned on showing the cost of tariffs right next to a product’s total price. Amazon later issued a statement saying that displaying tariff prices “was never approved and is not going to happen,” adding that the company only “considered” showing the fees on its Haul store, which ships products directly from China. Trump then told reporters that Bezos is “very nice” and “solved the problem very quickly,” as reported by The New York Times.
Warren says Bezos’ conversation represents “another example of Big Tech working together with President Trump to seek special favors or support his policies.” She also criticizes Amazon’s move not to show the impact of tariffs on its products.
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Read the full article here.
By: Emma RothSource: The Verge
Source: GlobalData
Consumers switch to local products and value alternatives amid rising tariffs and price pressures, says GlobalData
Posted in Consumer
In an increasingly complex global landscape shaped by inflation, rising tariffs, and political volatility, consumer behavior is undergoing a profound transformation. Cost-of-living pressures and trade policy disruptions are not only fueling economic anxiety but also prompting tangible shifts in how and why consumers shop. These forces are accelerating a move toward value-driven decision-making, increased scrutiny of product origin, and a growing preference for local alternatives, according to the Q1 2025 consumer survey* by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Concerns over trade-related inflation are widespread. More than half (56%) of global consumers say they are “extremely” or “quite concerned” about the impact of trade wars and import tariffs on the prices of the products they buy. This concern is even more pronounced in countries directly affected by US trade policy, including Canada (66%) and Mexico (62%). Despite being at the center of trade friction, China stands out for its lower levels of concern, with 40% of respondents saying they are not worried about tariffs, highlighting regional differences in public perception and economic insulation.
Prerana Manral, Senior Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “These concerns are not abstract. They are driving tangible changes in consumer behavior across everyday categories such as food, drinks, toiletries, clothing, and homewares. According to the survey, 54% of consumers are now checking or comparing prices online before making a purchase, and 47% are switching to cheaper brand alternatives.
“Private labels are seeing a notable rise, with 33% of consumers saying they are buying more store-owned brands to manage costs. Additionally, 38% of shoppers are turning to discount retailers or cheaper outlets, while nearly one-third (32%) have stopped buying certain products altogether because they have become too expensive.”
Manral continues: “Trade policy is no longer just an economic lever; it’s a force that is reshaping everyday consumer choices. What we’re seeing is a structural shift in how people engage with brands and pricing. Consumers are now making sharper, more value-conscious decisions, and many are actively abandoning higher-priced products or stores.”
Beyond pricing responses, the survey highlights a growing ideological and environmental awareness in consumer preferences, particularly around product origin. On average, 68% of the respondents globally say they prefer to buy local products: 67% cite price, or 65% say environmental friendliness, as the main reasons, while 71% say they do so to support local brands.
Political sentiment is also playing an influential role, with 58% of global consumers* reporting that recent political events have made them more attentive to the country of origin of products they purchase. This intersection of cost-consciousness and conscious consumerism is emerging as a powerful force in a politically volatile economy. While affordability remains the entry point, values such as environmental impact and national loyalty are increasingly determining purchasing behavior.
Manral concludes: “As consumers increasingly respond to rising tariffs and price pressures by shifting toward local products and value-driven alternatives, FMCG companies must recognize this as a long-term behavioral shift rather than a temporary adjustment. To remain competitive and relevant, brands should invest in localized sourcing and production, expand affordable and private-label offerings, and strengthen communication around value, sustainability, and origin.”
*GlobalData 2025 Q1 global consumer survey, 22,000 respondents across 42 countries
US Senate News:
Source: The White House
Washington, D.C.–Today, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) sent President Trump’s topline discretionary Budget request for fiscal year 2026 to the U.S. Congress.
The Budget, which reduces non-defense discretionary by $163 billion or 23 percent from the 2025 enacted level, guts a weaponized deep state while providing historic increases for defense and border security. The Budget also provides support for air and rail safety as well as key infrastructure and our Nation’s veterans and law enforcement.
This is the lowest non-defense spending level since 2017. Savings come from eliminating radical diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and critical race theory programs, Green New Scam funding, large swaths of the Federal Government weaponized against the American people, and moving programs that are better suited for States and localities to provide.
Defense spending would increase by 13 percent, and appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security would increase by nearly 65 percent, to ensure that our military and other agencies repelling the invasion of our border have the resources they need to complete the mission. These increases will be made possible through the passage of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which will be enacted with a simple majority in the Congress, and not be held hostage by Democrats for wasteful spending increases that have been the status quo in Washington.
“For decades, the biggest complaint about the Federal Budget was wasteful spending and bloated bureaucracy. But over the last four years, Government spending aggressively turned against the American people and trillions of our dollars were used to fund cultural Marxism, radical Green New Scams, and even our own invasion. No agency was spared in the Left’s taxpayer-funded cultural revolution. At this critical moment, we need a historic Budget—one that ends the funding of our decline, puts Americans first, and delivers unprecedented support to our military and homeland security. The President’s Budget does all of that,” said Russ Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Highlights of the President’s key priorities include the following:
End Weaponization and Reduce Violent Crime. The Budget ends the previous Administration’s weaponization of the Government by eliminating programs like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s disinformation offices that targeted and censored Americans, eliminating so-called Fair Housing programs that waged war on America’s suburbs, ending the Environmental Protection Agency’s unfair harassment of citizens over “environmental justice” directives, and halting the ATF’s criminalizing of gun-owning Americans and instead, focusing on stopping illegal firearms traffickers and violent gang members.
The Budget prioritizes Department of Justice (DOJ) key functions—restoring law and order to America’s communities, fighting crime, and supporting America’s men and women in Blue. To that end, the Budget proposes to eliminate more than 40 DOJ grant programs that fund things like a “feminist, culturally specific nonprofit” to address “structural racism and toxic masculinities” and training Fa’afafine advocates—an organization of biological men that describes themselves as a “third-gender” in Samoa. The Budget also reflects the President’s priority of reducing violent crime in American cities and protecting national security by getting Federal Bureau of Investigation agents into the field.
Defund the Harmful Woke, Marxist Agenda. Every single agency across the Federal Government was engaged in funding and advancing DEI and other radical, harmful ideologies such as: $315 million for grant programs to push “intersectionality,” “racial equity,” and LGBTQIA+ programming for preschoolers; housing grants that funded activities such as an “Equity Audit” to reverse “land use patterns that have roots in systemically racist policies in L.A. County; and “addressing White Supremacy in the STEM profession.” The Budget ends all of that.
Secure the Border. The Budget request empowers the Department of Homeland Security to implement the President’s mass removal campaign and secure the border. This funding is in addition to historic investments in border security the Administration proposes to provide through mandatory funding, as part of the congressional Budget reconciliation process. The discretionary request includes an additional $500 million for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to expedite the removal of illegal aliens through the support of 50,000 detention beds, $766 million to procure cutting-edge border security technology funding, and funding to maintain 22,000 Border Patrol Agents and hire additional Customs and Border Protection officers for a total of 26,383 officers. The Budget also cuts off the flow of taxpayer funds that have been abused to facilitate migrant caravan invasions. Departments whose task it was to prevent those invasions allocated billions in funding to non-governmental organizations running “border aid stations” and legal services to criminal aliens—all of which will be eliminated under this new budget.
Realign Foreign Aid. The Budget ensures that foreign aid spending is efficient and consistent with U.S. foreign policy under the America First agenda. The Budget reorganizes the U.S. Agency for International Development into the Department of State to meet current needs and eliminates non-essential staff that were hired based on DEI and preferencing practices. The Budget also expands the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to support U.S. national security and American interests—generating returns to the taxpayer and reducing reliance on foreign aid. This includes $3 billion for a new revolving fund to allow DFC to recycle any realized returns from its initial investments.
Rebuild our Nation’s Military. The Budget request for the Department of Defense builds on the President’s promise to achieve peace through strength by providing the resources to rebuild our military, re-establish deterrence, and revive the warrior ethos of our Armed Forces. In combination with $119 billion in mandatory funding, the Budget increases Defense spending by 13 percent, and prioritizes investments to strengthen the safety, security, and sovereignty of the homeland, deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific, and revitalize our defense industrial base.
Achieve American Energy Dominance. The Budget supports the President’s commitment to unleash America’s affordable and reliable energy and natural resources. The Budget cancels over $15 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Green New Scam funds provided to the Department of Energy for unreliable renewable energy, removing carbon dioxide from the air, and other costly technologies that burden ratepayers and consumers. The Budget reorients Department of Energy funding toward research and development of technologies that could produce an abundance of domestic fossil energy and critical minerals, innovative concepts for nuclear reactors and advanced nuclear fuels, and technologies that promote firm baseload power. The Budget also cancels an additional $5.7 billion in IIJA funding provided to the Department of Transportation for failed electric vehicle charger grant programs.
Make America Healthy Again (MAHA). The Budget request builds on the President’s MAHA Commission. The Budget provides resources to the Department of Health and Human Services that would allow the Secretary to tackle issues related to nutrition, physical activity, healthy lifestyles, over-reliance on medication and treatments, the effects of new technological habits, environmental impacts, and food and drug quality and safety. The Budget also supports the creation of MAHA food boxes, that would be filled with commodities sourced from domestic farmers and given directly to American households. The Budget includes resources to ensure food safety nationwide, including support for increased production and demand for services.
Support Our Veterans. The Budget provides increased funding for healthcare services tailored to U.S. veterans’ needs, both at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and in the community. Combined with $50 billion in mandatory funding from the Toxic Exposures Fund, the Budget ensures that the Nation’s veterans are provided with the world-class healthcare that they deserve. In addition, veterans who qualify for access to care with local community providers would be empowered to make the choice to see them, rather than having to drive in some cases hours to access the nearest VA facility. The Budget includes $1.1 billion in new VA funding to make a down payment on President Trump’s commitment to eradicate veterans’ homelessness, the largest funding increase in the last decade.
Preserve Social Security. The Budget supports the President’s promise to not touch Social Security benefits. It also includes sufficient resources for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to improve customer service by expanding and improving online services, and reducing customer wait times in field offices and on the phone. The Budget also includes investments in program integrity, to reduce fraud and abuse in Social Security programs, and in investments in artificial intelligence to increase employee productivity and automate routine workloads. These efforts would help ensure that SSA delivers timely and accurate Social Security services to the public.
Streamline K-12 Education Funding and Promote Parental Choice. The Budget continues the process of shutting down the Department of Education. The Budget maintains full funding for Title I, that provides Federal financial assistance to school districts for children from low-income families, and special education funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). To limit the Federal role in education, and provide States with more flexibility, the Budget creates a new K-12 Simplified Funding Program that consolidates 18 competitive and formula grant programs into a new formula grant, and a Special Education Simplified Funding Program that consolidates seven IDEA programs into a single grant. The Budget also invests $500 million, a $60 million increase, to expand the number of high-quality charter schools, that have a proven track record of improving students’ academic achievement and giving parents more choice in the education of their children.
Make America Skilled Again (MASA). The Budget proposes to give States and localities the flexibility to spend Federal workforce dollars to best support their workers and economies, instead of funneling taxpayer dollars to progressive non-profits finding work for illegal immigrants or focusing on DEI. Under this proposal, States would now have more control and flexibility to coordinate with employers and would have to spend at least 10 percent of their MASA grant on apprenticeship, a proven model that trains workers while they earn a paycheck and offers a valuable alternative to college.
Support Space Flight. The Budget refocuses the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) funding on beating China back to the Moon and on putting the first human on Mars. By allocating over $7 billion for lunar exploration and introducing $1 billion in new investments for Mars-focused programs, it ensures that America’s human space exploration efforts remain unparalleled, innovative, and efficient. To achieve these objectives, the Budget would streamline the NASA workforce, IT services, NASA Center operations, facility maintenance, and construction and environmental compliance activities. The Budget also eliminates “green aviation” and other climate scam programs as well as failing space propulsion projects.
Maintain Support for Tribal Nations. The Budget preserves Federal funding for the Indian Health Service and supports core programs at the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education, sustaining the Federal Government’s support for core programs that benefit tribal communities. The Budget also weeds out radical woke grants and programs and streamlines other programs for tribal communities that were ineffective.
Address Drug Abuse. The Administration is committed to combatting the scourge of deadly drugs that have ravaged American communities. The Budget prioritizes Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) resources on traffickers of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs that are driving America’s overdose crisis. This includes redirecting DEA’s foreign spending to regions with criminal organizations that traffic significant quantities of deadly drugs into the United States—Mexico, Central America, South America, and China.
Support Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Research. The Budget amply funds research in artificial intelligence and quantum information science at key agencies to ensure the United States remains on the cutting edge of these critical technologies’ development and responsible use.
Improve Wildland Firefighting. Federal wildfire responsibilities currently are split across five agencies in two departments. The Budget would consolidate firefighting responsibilities into a new Federal Wildland Fire Service at the Department of the Interior that would coordinate with non-Federal partners to combat the wildfire crisis.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
May 02, 2025
CHICAGO— U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined small business owners in Lincoln Park to discuss the impacts of President Trump’s tariffs.
“The Trump Tariffs are already driving up costs for manufacturers, disrupting our supply chains, and inspiring retaliatory tariffs, which will hurt small businesses like Lori’s Shoes, Art Effect, and Lost Soul Found, as well as their customers,” said Durbin. “President Trump has doubled down on these tariffs with nothing to show for it. Our small businesses here in Chicago are terrified to fail or be forced to lay off employees as they face the brunt of this trade war.”
“The premise that the tariffs are making America rich, and the origin pays for the import tariff, is unequivocally false. A tariff is a tax on American businesses and American consumers. To set the record straight – the importer of record, in this case Lori’s Shoes, is 100% financially responsible for these tariffs on our imports,” said Matt Andre, Footwear Buyer, Lori’s Shoes.
“The uncertainty of the future of small business in the United States and the livelihood of manufacturers is hanging on these tariffs. As a small business owner, we rely on these imports. I worry that come Christmastime, we’ll have empty shelves and empty storefronts in our community,” said Esther Fishman, Owner, Art Effect.
“As a city retailer, I know how much we all love strolling down a vibrant street, popping into unique shops, and discovering something unexpected—it’s part of what makes urban life feel alive. But that experience is under real threat. Tariffs, rising costs, and economic uncertainty are making it harder for small businesses to survive, and if we’re not careful, the rich variety we cherish could be replaced by empty storefronts and sameness,” said Suzanne D’Addario Brouder, Owner, Lost Soul Found.
In the wake of Trump’s tariff standoff, manufacturers have laid off thousands of workers, and foreign countries have retaliated by slapping their own tariffs on U.S. agricultural and manufactured goods. Current tariffs could result in up to 15,000 job cuts in the Chicago area and a $3 billion drop in its gross domestic product.
Durbin spoke on the Senate floor about the impact President Trump’s tariffs will have on small businesses, manufacturers, consumers, and workers in Illinois, which received $127 billion of imports from China, Canada, and Mexico in 2023. Durbin also joined fellow U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture member U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and 17 of their colleagues in a letter to ask U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer for information on how the Trump Administration’s tariffs will impact farmers across the nation.
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Source: The Conversation – USA – By Chris Lamb, Professor of Journalism, Indiana University
President Donald Trump was asked during a press conference on April 30, 2025, about the possible impact of his tariff policies and trade war with China.
Trump answered that American children should prepare to make sacrifices at Christmas.
“Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, you know,” he said, “and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.”
The New York Times reported that Trump appeared to be telling kids they would have to manage with fewer toys this year for the sake of his economic agenda.
Jane Mayer, a reporter with The New Yorker, called it “Trump’s Marie Antoinette moment.”
This was not the first − or last − time Trump said something that left many Americans with mouths open and heads shaking.
Hours after his Marie Antoinette moment, Trump, whose first 100 days back in office have been characterized as chaotic and damaging to democracy, was asked during a phone interview at a town-hall broadcast on NewsNation what the biggest mistake he’d made thus far in his second presidency.
“I don’t really believe I’ve made any mistakes,” Trump replied.
The audience, representing a cross section of Americans, burst out laughing.
Trump’s gaffes aren’t just part of his presidency; gaffes are part of the storied tradition of the American presidency. Some of those comments have clung to presidents and even affected history.
Here are examples from each president over the past 50 years or so of statements that at least some of them were embarrassed by or came to regret. Each was made when the president was serving in the White House. The quotes are organized chronologically.
On Nov. 17, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, in the midst of the Watergate scandal that would end his presidency, defended himself against charges of corruption.
“People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook,” Nixon said. “Well, I’m not a crook. I’ve earned everything I’ve got.”
Instead of quelling the scandal, as Nixon hoped, his words produced the opposite reaction. He resigned from the presidency nine months later in August 1974.
Gerald Ford, Nixon’s vice president who became president after Nixon’s resignation, subsequently ran for election in 1976.
During one of his televised debates against Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter, Ford inexplicably claimed the Soviet Union did not control Eastern Europe.
“There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe,” Ford said, “and there never will be under a Ford administration.”
To which the moderator, New York Times editor May Frankel, said, “I’m sorry, what?”
Ford’s remark was so outrageously incorrect that it may have contributed to his defeat in the tight presidential election.
Carter defeated Ford and was elected in 1976. He ran for reelection against Republican nominee Ronald Reagan in 1980. During one of their debates, Carter said he sought the advice of his 13-year-old daughter, Amy, on what was the most important issue facing America.
“She said she thought it was nuclear weaponry,” Carter said, “and the control of nuclear arms.”
Carter tried to show that arms control was a subject that had great resonance to even 13-year-olds. Instead, it left viewers puzzled why he had inserted his daughter into the debate. A wire service story at the time summarized the response by saying that reporters covering the debate winced and others groaned.
Reagan, a former television and movie actor who defeated Carter in the 1980 presidential election, was known as “the Great Communicator” for his eloquence.
A well-known anti-Communist, Reagan was not always careful about what he said.
Before a speech on Aug. 11, 1984, Reagan joked during a sound check, “I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.”
The joke on the open mic, which was not broadcast live but leaked later, resulted in a Soviet red alert − and temporarily moved the U.S. and Soviet Union toward war.
Reagan’s successor, his vice president, George H.W. Bush, by comparison was no great communicator. His words came out of his mouth and appeared to go in separate ways.
“I have opinions of my own, strong opinions,” Bush said, “but I don’t always agree with them.”
Democrat Bill Clinton defeated George H.W. Bush in the 1992 presidential election.
Clinton’s presidency was dogged with accusations of unethical behavior and extramarital affairs. Clinton, in testimony before a grand jury investigating his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, was asked whether he was lying when he told aides that “there’s nothing going on” between him and Lewinsky.
“It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is,” Clinton responded. “If the − if he − if ‘is’ means is and never has been, that is not − that is one thing.”
Slate magazine said that this response may have been the “defining moment” of his presidency and, in doing so, captured his contribution to semantics. As Time magazine pointed out,
“Until then, America hadn’t been sure there was more than one definition of ‘is.’”
George W. Bush, the son of George H.W. Bush, succeeded Clinton in the White House. Americans learned that Bush had more in common with his father than just the same last name.
“There’s an old saying in Tennessee − I know it’s in Texas,” Bush said, “probably in Tennessee, that says, fool me once, shame on − shame on you. Fool me − you can’t get fooled again.”
Barack Obama, like Reagan, was known for his sense of humor. And like Reagan, Obama learned that not everything was a joking matter.
While appearing on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno in 2009, Obama said he had improved his bowling by practicing at the White House bowling alley. He told Leno he had bowled a pedestrian score of 129, provoking a sarcastic response from Leno.
Obama then made the following joke: “It’s like the Special Olympics or something.”
Obama quickly apologized to the Special Olympics, the athletic competition for people with intellectual disabilities.
Trump was first elected president in 2016 but was defeated by Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Trump and Biden faced each other again in 2024.
During a television debate on June 27, 2024, CNN anchor Jake Tapper asked Biden why voters should trust him to solve the immigration crisis. Biden said he changed a law that allowed Trump and his administration to separate immigrant families and put children in cages.
Biden’s train of thought then jumped the tracks.
“And I’m going to continue to move until we get the total ban on the − the total initiative relative to what we’re going to do with more Border Patrol and more asylum officers,” Biden said.
“I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence,” Trump said, “and I don’t think he did, either.”
The same could be said for much of what Biden said during the debate.
Biden withdrew from the presidential race three weeks after his poor debate performance.
Chris Lamb does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. What is the stupidest thing a recent president has said? It may depend on what your definition of ‘is’ is – https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-stupidest-thing-a-recent-president-has-said-it-may-depend-on-what-your-definition-of-is-is-255755
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Judiciary Committee’s Intellectual Property Subcommittee, and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, reintroduced the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA). This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will restore patent eligibility to important inventions across many fields while also resolving legitimate concerns over the patenting of mere ideas, the mere discovery of what already exists in nature, and social and cultural content that everyone agrees is beyond the scope of the patent system. It also affirms the basic principle that the patent system is central to promoting technology-based innovation.
Representatives Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) and Scott Peters (D-Calif.) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“When American innovators know their ideas are eligible for patent protection, they take the risks that push us into the future – whether that’s the next medical test or the latest AI technology,” said Senator Coons. “PERA restores clarity to the law on what can be patented and what cannot – guidance that federal courts have been requesting for years and that the Supreme Court has refused to provide. Congress must step up to provide America’s inventors with the stable legal foundation they need to produce the cutting-edge technologies that power our economy.”
“Clear, reliable, and predictable patent rights are imperative to enable investments in the broad array of innovative technologies that are critical to the economic and global competitiveness of the United States, and to ensuring the national security of our great country,” said Senator Tillis. “Unfortunately, a series of Supreme Court decisions have rendered patent eligibility law unclear, unreliable, and unpredictable, resulting in U.S. inventors being unable to obtain patents in areas where our economic peers offer patent protection. This is particularly concerning in the economically critical areas of biotechnology and artificial intelligence. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation maintains the existing statutory categories of eligible subject matter, which have worked well for over two centuries, while addressing inappropriate judicially created eligibility limitations by creating clear rules for what is eligible. We cannot allow foreign adversaries like China to overtake us in key areas of technology innovation due to the current state of patent eligibility law. I look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders on this important matter. Passing patent eligibility reform is one of my top legislative priorities.”
“American innovators have been at a disadvantage in recent years because of the U.S. patent system,” said Representative Kevin Kiley. “Convoluted Supreme Court rulings and tests on subject matter eligibility have made it increasingly difficult for inventors to receive patents, leading to foreign companies overtaking our own. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the bi-partisan Patent Eligibility Restoration Act, which will dramatically reverse this trend, and unleash a tide of economic growth and job creation here at home.”
“For more than two centuries, a U.S. patent has guaranteed inventions will be protected from theft, helping the U.S. become the innovation capital of the world. San Diego, in particular, is the proud home of a thriving life sciences and technology ecosystem that has benefited from these protections,” said Representative Peters. “Over the last 15 years, however, several Supreme Court decisions have created confusion about what exactly is eligible for a patent. Innovators, consumers, and even the judges who adjudicate patent law have called on Congress to provide clarity on what can be patented. I look forward to working with Congressman Kiley, Senator Coons, and Senator Tillis to advance our Patent Eligibility Restoration Act and protect American innovation.”
Due to a series of Supreme Court decisions, patent eligibility law in the United States has become confused, constricted, and unclear in recent years. This has resulted in a wide range of well-documented negative impacts – inconsistent case decisions, uncertainty in innovation and investment communities, and unpredictable business outcomes.
In 2021, all 12 then-sitting judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit lamented the state of the law. Witnesses and stakeholders from a wide array of industries, fields, interest groups, and academia have testified and submitted comments confirming the uncertainty and detailing the detrimental effects of patent eligibility confusion in the United States. There is now widespread bipartisan agreement in Congress and across all recent administrations that reforms are necessary to restore the United States to a position of global strength and leadership in key areas of technology and innovation, such as medical diagnostics, biotechnology, personalized medicine, artificial intelligence, and 5G technology.
The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act achieves this critical goal by restoring patent eligibility to important inventions across many fields, while also resolving legitimate concerns over patenting of mere ideas, the mere discovery of what already exists in nature, and social and cultural content that everyone agrees is beyond the scope of the patent system, which is a system aimed at promoting technology-based innovation. As a general approach, the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act maintains the existing statutory categories of eligible subject matter, which have worked well for over two centuries, but eliminates the overly malleable set of current judicial exceptions – replacing them with five specific and clear statutory exclusions. By eliminating and replacing the current judicial exceptions, the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act provides predictable patent eligibility for important computer-implemented technological developments and medical advances, creating a solid bedrock for America’s innovation future.
The following organizations support the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act: Innovation Alliance, C4IP, AUTM, AIPLA, IEEE-USA, USIJ, MDMA, BIO, NCLifeSci, Adeia, Nokia, Sisvel, Conservatives for Property Rights, Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense Fund, U.S. Business & Industry Council, Center for a Free Economy, Center for Individual Freedom, American Policy Center, Less Government, 60 Plus Association, American Association of Senior Citizens, Frontiers of Freedom, Consumer Action for a Strong Economy, Center for American Principles, Prosperity for Us Foundation, Market Institute, Inventors Defense Alliance, Lauder Partners, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Heritage Action, 21C, Netlist, and FICPI.
“Congress has not made substantive changes to what subject matter is patentable in the United States since the Patent Act of 1793, making it difficult for courts, inventors, and the public to understand how 21st-century technologies fit within an 18th Century patent statute,” said Andrei Iancu, board co-chair of C4IP and former Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director from 2018 to 2021. “I commend Congress for advancing PERA in order to finally modernize our patent laws and promote U.S. global leadership in biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and other modern technologies.”
“PERA provides the clarity needed to unlock the full potential of cutting-edge technologies and solidify U.S. leadership in scientific and technological breakthroughs,” said David Kappos, board co-chair of C4IP and former Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director from 2009 to 2013. “We cannot allow legal uncertainty to stall the next wave of American innovation.”
“Patent Eligibility is an important issue for cancer patients – both for life-saving, early diagnosis and for promising new treatments. PERA will provide the certainty needed to enable innovative breakthroughs to reach patients. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute applauds Congress for introducing and advancing this important bill – the patients are waiting,” said the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
“Passing PERA is essential if the US is to catch up to Europe and Asia, especially China,” said Judge Paul Michel (retired). “They make eligible for patenting many classes of inventions held ineligible here. The very uncertainty of the zone of eligibility is itself an obstacle to companies getting the investments they need to compete both domestically and globally. Only Congress can fix this chaotic mess because the courts are trapped in their own harmful precedents.”
“In my former court, which hears patent cases on appeal, concurring and dissenting opinions in patent eligibly cases have proliferated,” said Judge Kathleen O’Malley (retired). “Veteran jurists have described the state of affairs as ‘incoherent,’ ‘unclear,’ ‘fraught,’ and ‘inconsistent.’ The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act would return clarity to patent eligibly law and encourage continued innovation in key emerging technologies – technologies that are central to the United States remaining the world’s innovation leader.”
“NCLifeSci thanks Senator Tillis for reintroducing the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act of 2025, which restores the confidence in our nation’s patent laws by bringing much needed clarity to Section 101 of the Patent Act. Confidence that the life sciences industry needs to robustly invest in the future of medicine. For too long, fields like diagnostics, precision medicine, cell and gene therapy, RNA medicine, and digital health have been threatened by unclear and uncertain patent-eligibility standards that put America’s innovators at a disadvantage, and that discourage local investment. Through this legislation, our members – which include leading innovators who operate cutting-edge gene therapy manufacturing facilities here in North Carolina and research potential treatments and cures for Alzheimer’s and cancer —will be able to continue to take the bold risks and make the high levels of investment necessary to take fields like these to their next level, with the confidence that our patent laws will continue to hold up through future waves of technological progress,” said the NC Life Sciences Organization.
“The Innovation Alliance applauds Senators Tillis and Coons and Representatives Kiley and Peters for sponsoring the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act, which will provide much needed predictability and clarity to the hopelessly confused law of patent eligibility. The Supreme Court has provided no workable framework to guide patent owners or the courts, and it has repeatedly refused to clarify the law, rejecting requests by the Federal Circuit and others to do so time and again. Investment dollars are flowing out of the United States as a result, jeopardizing the future of America’s innovation economy. It is past time for Congress to act,” said the Innovation Alliance.
“This bipartisan and much-needed bill would strike a decade of judicial tinkering that has needlessly turned the question of patent eligibility into a confusing mess and harmed the U.S. versus our economic competitors. While the U.S. has spent a decade holding back innovations in areas such as fintech, diagnostic solutions and medical devices trying to figure out whether they are ‘abstract’ or not, our competitors are moving forward and protecting these inventions. PERA would be particularly beneficial to American startups and innovators by providing the clarity needed to attract investment for new ventures in essential areas such as medical devices, diagnostics, manufacturing and a whole new range of advancements powered by software,” said the Alliance of U.S. Startups & Inventors for Jobs.
“AUTM – the association representing technology transfer professionals – thanks Senators Tillis and Coons and others for their leadership in introducing PERA. This legislation is crucially needed to address the ambiguities that the courts have created about what is, and what is not, patent eligible. At a time when the U.S. is competing for innovation leadership, its patent system needs to clearly delineate this process so that it can move forward on numerous discoveries that otherwise would wither on the vine,” said AUTM.
“The reintroduction of the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA) marks a pivotal move toward restoring clarity and consistency in U.S. patent law. By providing clear statutory guidelines, PERA offers inventors, entrepreneurs, and research institutions the certainty needed to innovate confidently. We commend Senator Tillis and Senator Coons for their leadership on this critical issue and remain committed to collaborating with Congress to support a patent system that fosters transparency and predictability,” said the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA).
“The Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform applauds Congress for reintroducing PERA. This legislation represents a significant step forward in clarifying patent eligibility while maintaining necessary standards on what is ultimately patentable. 21C applauds these efforts as they will make sure that the United States remains the most attractive place in the world to invest, invent, and grow,” said the Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform (21C).
The text of the bill is available here.
Source: NASA
The Trump-Vance Administration released toplines of the President’s budget for Fiscal Year 2026 on Friday. The budget accelerates human space exploration of the Moon and Mars with a fiscally responsible portfolio of missions.
“This proposal includes investments to simultaneously pursue exploration of the Moon and Mars while still prioritizing critical science and technology research,” said acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro. “I appreciate the President’s continued support for NASA’s mission and look forward to working closely with the administration and Congress to ensure we continue making progress toward achieving the impossible.”
Increased commitment to human space exploration in pursuit of exploration of both the Moon and Mars. By allocating more than $7 billion for lunar exploration and introducing $1 billion in new investments for Mars-focused programs, the budget ensures America’s human space exploration efforts remain unparalleled, innovative, and efficient.
Refocus science and space technology resources to efficiently execute high priority research. Consistent with the administration’s priority of returning to the Moon before China and putting an American on Mars, the budget will advance priority science and research missions and projects, ending financially unsustainable programs including Mars Sample Return. It emphasizes investments in transformative space technologies while responsibly shifting projects better suited for private sector leadership.
Transition the Artemis campaign to a more sustainable, cost-effective approach to lunar exploration. The SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion capsule will be retired after Artemis III, paving the way for more cost-effective, next-generation commercial systems that will support subsequent NASA lunar missions. The budget also ends the Gateway Program, with the opportunity to repurpose already produced components for use in other missions. International partners will be invited to join these renewed efforts, expanding opportunities for meaningful collaboration on the Moon and Mars.
Continue the process of transitioning the International Space Station to commercial replacements in 2030, focusing onboard research on efforts critical to the exploration of the Moon and Mars. The budget reflects the upcoming transition to a more cost-effective, open commercial approach to human activities in low Earth orbit by reducing the space station’s crew size and onboard research, preparing for the safe decommissioning of the station and its replacement by commercial space stations.
Work to minimize duplication of efforts and most efficiently steward the allocation of American taxpayer dollars. This budget ensures NASA’s topline enables a financially sustainable trajectory to complete groundbreaking research and execute the agency’s bold mission.
Focus NASA’s resources on its core mission of space exploration. This budget ends climate-focused “green aviation” spending while protecting the development of technologies with air traffic control and other U.S. government and commercial applications, producing savings. This budget also will ensure continued elimination any funding toward misaligned DEIA initiatives, instead designating that money to missions capable of advancing NASA’s core mission. NASA will continue to inspire the next generation of explorers through exciting, ambitious space missions that demonstrate American leadership in space.
NASA will coordinate closely with its partners to execute these priorities and investments as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Building on the President’s promise to increase efficiency this budget pioneers a focused, innovative, and fiscally-responsible path to America’s next great era of human space exploration.
Learn more about the President’s budget request for NASA:
Aero-Budget
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Bethany StevensHeadquarters, Washington771-216-2606bethany.c.stevens@nasa.gov
Source: United Nations – Geneva
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination today concluded its consideration of the combined eleventh and twelfth periodic reports of Kyrgyzstan, with Committee Experts commending the State on resolving all known cases of statelessness, and asking about measures to prevent hate speech and the practice of bride kidnapping.
Mazalo Tebie, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, and other Committee Experts commended Kyrgyzstan on having resolved all known cases of statelessness in 2019. They asked how the State party was bringing its legislation on statelessness in line with international standards.
Guan Jian, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said conflicts between the country’s various ethnic groups had occurred in recent years. The State party needed to consider early detection and preventative measures to prevent hate speech. Could the delegation provide data on crimes motivated by racist hate speech occurring online and in the media?
Ms. Tebie also said there was a phenomenon in Kyrgyzstan called “ala kachuu” (bride kidnapping), in which young women or girls from marginalised and vulnerable ethnic groups were abducted by men and forced into marriage. How did the State ensure the effective implementation of laws prohibiting the practice?
In opening remarks, Marat Tagaev, Deputy Minister of Culture, Information and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan and head of the delegation, said Kyrgyzstan fully adhered to its international obligations under the Convention. The President had approved the national development strategy until 2040, one of the main priorities of which was to ensure interethnic harmony and strengthen the unity of the people.
In addition, Mr. Tagaev said Kyrgyzstan continued systematic and continuous work on the issues of refugees, internally displaced persons and stateless persons. In 2019, it became the first country in the world to resolve all known cases of statelessness. It had also introduced a universal system that ensured 100 per cent registration of births.
On measures to address hate speech, the delegation said a new bill on the media had been prepared in 2022 which prevented the spread of disinformation online. In 2025, only 25 complaints related to online hate speech had been received by the State; the State had moved to block websites in response in seven cases.
The delegation said bridal theft was a form of violence against women. Persons who abducted women for the purpose of marriage were punished with up to seven years imprisonment, or up to 20 years for the abduction of minors. In 2022, courts found 42 individuals guilty of these crimes. In all schools, a special subject was taught that addressed kidnapping and abductions, explaining that these actions were crimes.
In concluding remarks, Michal Balcerzak, Committee Chair, said the dialogue had been very constructive, addressing many issues. The information provided by the delegation would allow the Committee to develop targeted concluding observations.
Mr. Guan, in concluding remarks, thanked the State party for its contributions to the dialogue, which had helped to make it a success.
Mr. Tagaev, in his concluding remarks, said that the Committee’s comments and questions would help the State party to strengthen measures to promote equality and prevent discrimination. Kyrgyzstan would continue to take active steps to prevent racial discrimination and implement the Convention, working in collaboration with civil society.
The delegation of Kyrgyzstan consisted of representatives of the Supreme Court; General Prosecutor’s Office; Ministry of Internal Affairs; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Labour, Social Security, and Migration; Ministry of Education and Science; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Economy and Commerce; Cabinet of Ministers; State Commission on Religious Affairs; Administration of the President; and the Permanent Mission of Kyrgyzstan to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Committee will issue its concluding observations on the report of Kyrgyzstan after the conclusion of its one hundred and fifteenth session on 9 May. The programme of work and other documents related to the session can be found here. Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here.
The Committee will next meet in public on Friday, 9 May at 4 p.m. to close its one hundred and fifteenth session.
Report
The Committee has before it the combined eleventh and twelfth periodic reports of Kyrgyzstan (CERD/C/KGZ/11-12).
Presentation of Report
MARAT TAGAEV, Deputy Minister of Culture, Information and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan and head of the delegation, said that since Kyrgyzstan gained independence, the human rights and freedoms of its citizens, regardless of their racial and ethnic affiliation, had remained absolute and unchanged in the State. Kyrgyzstan fully adhered to its international obligations under the Convention. It was a multi-ethnic State with representatives of more than 100 different ethnic groups, including Uzbeks, Russians, Dungans, Uyghurs, Tajiks and other ethnic groups. The Constitution prohibited discrimination based on race, language, ethnicity, religion, origin, as well as other circumstances. The commission of a crime based on racial, ethnic, national, religious or interregional enmity was an aggravating circumstance.
Set up in 2013, the Coordinating Council on Human Rights aimed to improve the mechanisms for ensuring the protection of human and civil rights and freedoms, and the implementation of international obligations in the field of human rights. The Council included the heads of key State bodies whose activities were related to the protection of human rights, and it was headed by the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyzstan continued systematic and continuous work on the issues of refugees, internally displaced persons and stateless persons. In 2019, it became the first country in the world to resolve all known cases of statelessness. It had also introduced a universal system that ensured 100 per cent registration of births. Draft laws on Kyrgyzstan’s accession to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Reduction of Statelessness Convention had also been submitted for public discussion.
The courts of the country applied not only the laws of Kyrgyzstan but also international treaties that had entered into force. The Convention was thus an integral part of the legal system. The President had approved the national development strategy until 2040, one of the main priorities of which was to ensure interethnic harmony, strengthen the unity of the people, and protect the rights of citizens, regardless of their ethnicity.
In November 2020, the President of Kyrgyzstan had approved the plan for the promotion of a civil identity Kyrgyz jarany (Kyrgyz citizen) for the period 2021-2026. The purpose of the plan was to develop a favourable environment for the promotion of the civic identity of Kyrgyz jarany, including through forming of a conscious understanding of the civil identity of Kyrgyz citizens; strengthening the unity of the people of Kyrgyzstan, increasing tolerance and promoting diversity; developing and promoting the State language and preserving multilingualism; promoting equal access to decision making; and increasing confidence in political institutions and public authorities. Various national and international stakeholders were involved in developing the plan.
The People’s Assembly, which included 30 ethnic associations, played an important role in strengthening interethnic harmony, and preserving languages, culture and traditions of ethnic groups living in Kyrgyzstan. In April 2025, the National Agency for Religious Affairs and Interethnic Relations was established, which implemented State policy in the field of religious relations, strengthening interethnic harmony, providing early warning, and preventing interethnic conflicts.
Public reception offices for interethnic relations operated in 23 multiethnic districts, carrying out preventive measures, monitoring work in places where multiethnic communities lived, and promoting effective interaction with the civil sector. In 2024, these offices carried out more than 1,100 early warning and prevention measures regarding interethnic conflicts, and close to 4,000 measures over the past four years. As a result of this work, the number of interethnic incidents had decreased four-fold.
Kyrgyzstan had created a legal framework to prevent discrimination in the courts. The constitutional principle of equality before the law and the courts was reflected in the Criminal Procedure Code and laws on the status and behaviour of judges, as well as on the Supreme Court and local courts.
The State party supported members of all ethnic groups in Kyrgyzstan to preserve, study and develop their native languages. In 161 local schools, students had the opportunity to study in Uzbek. In 22 of them, education took place only in Uzbek. The State strove to implement a balanced language policy that would foster a new trilingual generation of Kyrgyz citizens who spoke the official languages and one foreign language, while ensuring guarantees for the preservation of the native languages of ethnic communities. Kyrgyzstan had developed a regulatory framework for its multilingual and multicultural education programmes.
Questions by a Committee Expert
GUAN JIAN, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said that the high-level delegation showed the great importance that the State party attached to the dialogue.
The demographic data that the State party had provided was not sufficiently comprehensive or specific. How did the State party apply the principle of self-identification in data collection on ethnicity, and how would it implement the Committee’s recommendations on data collection as soon as possible?
Mr. Guan commended the State party’s legislative work. However, in its previous concluding observations, the Committee expressed concern about the persistent lack of anti-discrimination legislation, calling on the State party to adopt such legislation in line with the Convention, with assistance from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Had progress been made in this regard? How did the Criminal Code of 2019 contribute to combatting racial discrimination? A draft anti-discrimination law was submitted to Parliament in 2023 but was subsequently removed from its agenda for revision. Why was this?
The previous concluding observations also called for compliance with Convention obligations in the judicial field. During the reporting period, law enforcement units initiated 189 criminal cases related to incitement to ethnic, racial, religious or interregional hostility. Were all these cases brought before the courts? Did the judicial system have internal guidelines for handling cases involving racial discrimination? Were there rules and procedures on cooperation between judicial bodies and the Office of the Ombudsperson on such cases? Were regular training courses on anti-racial discrimination provided for judicial personnel? Could the delegation provide examples of cases of racial discrimination where the provisions of the Convention had been invoked in, or applied by, domestic courts?
Mr. Guan expressed appreciation for the State party’s policy efforts related to racial discrimination, including the national action plan on development of the civil identity of Kyrgyz jarany (Kyrgyz citizen) for the period 2021-2026 and the national development strategy for 2018-2040. What preliminary achievements had been made by these policies, and by the State programme for the security and socioeconomic development of border areas, and what challenges remained?
The Committee was concerned that the Office of the Ombudsperson was not in compliance with the Paris Principles and that it received a low number of complaints of racial discrimination. What measures had the State party taken to strengthen the mandate of the Office to effectively promote human rights and to independently monitor and evaluate progress in the implementation of the Convention, while ensuring adequate financial and human resources to carry out its mandate? Had the State adopted a 2017 bill aiming to strengthen the independence of the institution? Why had its head been dismissed in 2023?
Mr. Guan expressed appreciation for the State party’s endeavours to prohibit and punish racist hate speech and hate crimes, including in the media and over the internet, according to its Constitution, Criminal Code and other laws. The State party had also reported that there were no recorded cases over the reporting period of racist statements in the media or incitement to hatred by politicians or public figures. However, conflicts between the country’s various ethnic groups had occurred in recent years, and development gaps and uneven opportunities between different ethnic groups in some regions still existed.
The State party needed to consider early detection and preventative measures to prevent hate speech, including awareness raising campaigns, incentives for strengthening self-regulation of media, systematic monitoring of online hate speech, and capacity building for State authorities. Could the delegation provide data on cases of hate speech and ethnic groups involved in conflict, and rates of completion of trials on such cases?
The Committee had previously called on the State party to put an end to racial profiling by the police, undertake effective investigations into all allegations of racial profiling, hold those responsible accountable, and provide effective remedies to victims, as well as to develop training programmes for law enforcement officers on identifying, investigating and prosecuting racist incidents. Mr. Guan welcomed educational seminars and training of citizens as part of the programme on Kyrgyz jarany (Kyrgyz citizen). What measures were in place to ensure that law enforcement officers did not engage in racial profiling?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Kyrgyzstan was committed to its obligations under the Convention and took every effort to prevent racial discrimination. A bill on the rights of minorities had been prepared to strengthen legal mechanisms to prevent racial discrimination. However, Parliament had called for the revision of this bill to consider different views and proposals; this process was ongoing.
Kyrgyzstan was a poly-ethnic State. As of January 2025, the State had a population of 7.2 million. The 2022 census revealed that Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, Russians, Uyghurs and Kazakhs represented the largest ethnic groups. Citizens had the right to voluntarily report their ethnic identity in the census. The Constitution enshrined the equality of all citizens regardless of their nationality or ethnicity.
Discrimination in all forms was prohibited in Kyrgyzstan. No person could be discriminated against based on race, ethnicity or other characteristics. The State provided judicial protection from all forms of discrimination. Courts treated people equally regardless of their ethnicity. All persons subjected to discrimination could file a complaint with the courts. The Supreme Court had called on the State party to revise laws that contravened the Constitution. In cases of serious crimes such as murder and ill-treatment, discriminatory motives based on race, ethnicity, religion, language or other grounds were considered to be aggravating circumstances and could be qualified as crimes against humanity.
The Ministry of the Interior provided 1,000 hours of training for newly recruited law enforcement officers, which included classes on human rights, international human rights law, and preventing all forms of discrimination. Disciplinary cases had been brought against 5,400 officials in recent years. A service had been established for submitting complaints against law enforcement officers. There were 53 cases related to racial discrimination in 2023 and 47 in 2024. The judicial academy, from 2019, had also trained 429 judges on international human rights standards. There were judges of Russian, Tartar and Kurd ethnicity in the Supreme Court.
The Office of the Ombudsperson provided oversight on human rights issues in the State. A new constitutional law on increasing the independence and powers of the Office and bringing the Office in line with the Paris Principles had been developed. Recently, the Office’s budget had been increased to allow it to carry out its activities more effectively.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
GUAN JIAN, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, asked whether the national statistics committee had a fixed term for carrying out the next census. How many staff members did the Ombudsperson’s Office have and what were their roles? What were the sources of its funding and what was its annual budget? How did it work with courts and law enforcement? Did the Office have branches in each region of the country?
A Committee Expert said racist incidents in the country seemed to have increased over the years, but disciplinary measures against the police seemed to be decreasing. In how many disciplinary cases had police officers been convicted? What were the outcomes of disciplinary proceedings?
One Committee Expert congratulated the State party on having completely eradicated statelessness. Did the State party ensure the independence of the Council of Human Rights, which was under the President’s Office? What findings had the Council made? How did it cooperate with civil society?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that currently, 115 persons worked for the Ombudsperson’s Office, which had branch offices in seven regions. The Office’s financial resources had increased each year in recent years. The Office had departments for oversight on human rights and children’s rights, a complaints department, and a department for judicial activities. The Office monitored the rights and freedoms of citizens during both open and closed judicial proceedings. It cooperated with law enforcement agencies and monitored the compliance of these agencies with their human rights obligations.
All law enforcement agents underwent training activities on human rights. Disciplinary offences for police officers were not administrative or criminal processes; they were internal processes. Persons could submit complaints against officers via social media and email. If investigations found that crimes had been committed, cases were transferred to the Prosecutor’s Office. There had been an increase in complaints recently, which had led to an increase in disciplinary proceedings, but around half of complaints were found to be groundless.
The Kyrgyz jarany (Kyrgyz citizen) project promoted respect for diversity, social cohesion and statehood. Under the project, some 23 regions had established offices that carried out monitoring and activities to prevent interethnic conflicts, including meetings with ethnic community representatives and training activities.
The State programme on the development of border areas aimed at improving the living conditions of the population in these areas, strengthening the State border and reducing internal migration. There were plans to develop infrastructure, agriculture and electrical supply, and reduce natural disasters in these areas. The comprehensive programme of socio-economic development of regions was also in place, which included policies for the development of mountainous and border regions.
Questions by a Committee Expert
MAZALO TEBIE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said public offices responsible for interethnic issues had received 167 requests in 2022 related to preventing discrimination against ethnic groups. What follow-up was given to these requests? Could the delegation provide data on investigations into crimes motivated by racist hate speech and hate crimes occurring online and in the media? How did the State help victims to access legal aid and support services?
Reportedly, women and girls belonging to ethnic minorities, such as Uzbeks, Tajiks and Dungans, and rural women remained underrepresented in the public and political sphere, and patriarchal norms and socio-economic barriers restricted their access to education and professional opportunities. How were they encouraged to participate in public and private life? What measures were in place to prevent gender and ethnic stereotypes? Were there quotas or mechanisms to ensure fair representation of women from ethnic minorities in decision-making bodies? How did the State party support access to basic social services for minority women?
Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community had reportedly faced difficulties in accessing health services, and were frequently exposed to blackmail, intimidation, extortion, as well as arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment. What measures were in place to include these persons in awareness raising campaigns, prevent and investigate discrimination and violence against them, and ensure their access to legal protection?
There were reports of restrictions of rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and opinion in the State party. Human rights defenders and journalists were frequently exposed to threats, stigmatisation, arrests, arbitrary detentions, and sanctions such as fines, expulsions or closures of entities. Kyrgyzstan had fallen 50 places in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index, to 122nd out of 180 countries. What was being done to prevent the intimation of human rights defenders, to guarantee freedom of expression and other fundamental freedoms, and to release detained journalists, human rights defenders and non-governmental organization leaders?
In 2024, the President promulgated a law on “foreign agents”. How would the State party address concerns related to this law, which seemingly could force some non-governmental organizations to close or self-censor? What safeguards were in place to ensure that civil society organizations could operate freely, regardless of their foreign funding? Many non-governmental organizations had reported an increase in negative attitudes to their work by State representatives. What measures were in place to protect non-governmental organizations from interference and intimidation by public authorities?
A general ban on public assemblies had been imposed in 2022 to prevent certain peaceful assemblies. Why was this ban introduced? How did the State party ensure that citizens could exercise their right to freedom of assembly? What measures were planned to prevent abuses of this ban by the police? Were there any redress mechanisms for citizens sanctioned under this ban?
New laws had been implemented that banned wearing of religious clothing, including the niqab, in public spaces, and proselytising outside places of worship. Why had these new restrictions, which ran the risk of violating the right to freedom of religion, been introduced? How did the State party protect the right to freedom of religion and prevent religious minorities from being marginalised by these laws?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said non-profit organizations played an important part in life in Kyrgyzstan, helping to solve societal problems. Amendments were brought to the law on non-commercial organizations in 2024 that aimed to ensure transparency and accountability for these organizations. Inclusion of these organizations in the State register ensured transparency in their finances.
The State party banned discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, who were guaranteed equal access to justice. In one case, it was found that a television station had recorded a member of this community without their permission; the station was issued with a fine in response.
There were 21,000 civil service employees, of which 35 per cent were women. There were 340 members of minority groups in the civil service. There were no quotas for employment in the civil service.
The draft bill on freedom of worship and religious associations sought to bring State legislation on religion in line with international norms. It included regulations on registration of religious organizations and sites and labour relations in such organizations. Freedom of worship was a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution and the legal system. There was no ban specifically on religious clothing, only a ban on covering one’s face in public institutions. Religious organizations could not proselytise, but there were no other bans on their activities.
Under State law, no one had the right to restrict peaceful assemblies. Laws prevented citizens from being forced to participate in meetings. Public authorities needed to ensure public safety, and could ban public meetings that threatened public order.
A new bill on the media had been prepared in 2022. The bill was now under review in the President’s Office. Representatives of the media fully supported this bill, which prevented the spread of disinformation online. In 2025, only 25 complaints related to online hate speech had been received by the State; the State had moved to block websites in response in seven cases.
Questions by Committee Experts
MAZALO TEBIE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said that the State party had established several measures to prevent discrimination against minorities. How did it evaluate the effectiveness of these measures? Could women wear the niqab? How did the State party ensure freedom of religion?
There was a phenomenon in Kyrgyzstan called “ala kachuu” (bride kidnapping), in which young women or girls were abducted by men and forced into marriage. This practice was said to mainly affect women and girls from rural communities, and from marginalised and vulnerable groups. What actions had been taken to ensure the effective implementation of laws prohibiting the practice, and to raise awareness among rural communities about women’s rights? What support services were available to abducted women and girls? Did the State party have up-to-date data on the most affected ethnic groups or regions?
Another Committee Expert asked whether there was a framework for the participation of minorities in all law-making processes.
FAITH DIKELEDI PANSY TLAKULA, Committee Expert and Follow-Up Rapporteur, said that the Committee’s previous concluding observations had called on the State party to implement the views of the Human Rights Committee and pardon Azimjan Askarov, considering his poor health. The Committee deeply regretted that he had passed away five days after the State party had reported that his health was improving. What measures were in place to protect human rights defenders, journalists and non-governmental organizations working on the rights of ethnic minorities from reprisals?
A Committee Expert welcomed that there were thousands of civil society organizations in the State party. Did they take part in meetings preparing for the current dialogue? How many of these organizations had been banned?
Another Committee Expert said that in one court case concerning an attack against homosexual persons, the court had sent back the case to the prosecution. What happened to the case after this? Was the fine issued to the television station for recording a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community without their permission sufficient?
GUAN JIAN, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, welcomed measures to promote the protection of equal rights for all ethnic groups. The Committee had previously expressed concern about the low living standards of the Mughat, characterised by high unemployment and school dropout rates; land expropriation, home demolitions and forced evictions, disproportionately affecting Uzbeks from Osh and Jalalabad and frequently carried out in the absence of due process guarantees; discrimination against Uzbeks in access to work; and the absence of remedies for persons arbitrarily dismissed from their posts following the events of 2010. What measures were implemented to address the Committee’s concerns?
Parliamentary deputies’ seats had in 2021 been reduced from 120 to 90. Representatives of minority ethnic communities had held 16 seats in 2021. What impact did the reduction of seats have on the representation of ethnic groups? As of 2022, some 11 per cent of members of local councils and four per cent of State and municipal administration staff were members of minority ethnic groups, while 3.1 per cent of police officers were from minority groups. What measures were in place to increase minority representation in these bodies and the judiciary?
Mr. Guan welcomed the State party’s efforts to promote multilingual education. The law on education stated that educational services could be provided in a foreign language. Were minority languages considered to be “foreign languages”? What financing was provided for multilingual education? There were only 2,450 ethnic Uzbeks, 125 ethnic Tajiks, and 417 Dungans studying in their mother tongues in Kyrgyzstan in 2021. Why were these numbers so low?
Many institutions had been established by the State party to address interethnic tensions, such as the public advisory councils on interethnic relations; community liaison offices; the monitoring centre of the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sport and Youth Policy; and the interagency commission. Were these organizations run by the State or non-governmental organizations? What were each of their tasks, including in implementing the Kyrgyz jarany (citizens of Kyrgyzstan) plan? What personnel did these institutions have, how were their powers divided, and how did they cooperate with law enforcement?
Related to June 2010 ethnic violence in the south of the State, among a total of 5,642 criminal cases initiated by law enforcement agencies, proceedings had been suspended in 3,919 cases, a majority of the cases, while inquiries were being conducted. What data could be provided on these suspended cases?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said bridal theft was a form of violence against women. This crime was punished under criminal legislation and punishments had recently been strengthened. Persons who abducted women for the purpose of marriage were punished with up to seven years imprisonment, or up to 20 years for the abduction of minors. No amnesty was provided to perpetrators. In 2022, courts found 42 individuals guilty of these crimes. In all schools, a special subject was taught that addressed kidnapping and abductions, explaining that these actions were crimes.
Some 97 per cent of children in the State party attended schools. The State promoted education in native tongues and official languages. More than 4,000 children were being taught in the Uzbek language, and there were also special schools teaching in other minority ethnic languages such as Tajik.
Currently, there were around 1,500 members of ethnic minorities serving as civil servants, some 35 per cent of whom were women. There were three representatives of minority ethnic groups currently serving in Parliament. Uzbeks, Dungans, Russians and Kazakhs were represented in parliamentary deputy seats, five per cent of which were held by women.
After the events of June 2010, more than 5,300 criminal cases had been launched and more than 300 people had been brought to justice, including one life sentence conviction. Investigations were based on respect for human rights and ethnicity was not a factor in the consideration of cases. Kyrgyzstan was committed to carrying out fair trials in line with international standards. There were some 42 cases involving murder, and several cases involving destruction of public and private property. Some three billion som in damages were incurred by the State.
Regarding the death in custody of Azimjan Askarov, the central prison hospital had diagnosed him with pneumonia and had provided him with treatment; however, he had rejected this treatment, leading to his death. An investigation into the death was ongoing.
The case of an alleged attack on homosexual people had been dropped after being returned to the prosecution. Regarding the case of a transgender girl recorded by a television station, courts provided financial compensation for moral damage, considering the degree of damage caused and the circumstances of the case.
Questions by Committee Experts
GUAN JIAN, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, called for more detailed information on public works undertaken in Osh city without the permission of local residents, and the situation of the Mughat community, some members of which were relocated after their lands were flooded. Were affected people provided with compensation?
A Committee Expert said that racial discrimination and climate change inhibited access to health for the Mughat community. How did the State party promote access to health, safe food and drinking water for this community, and access to reproductive health rights for its women and children?
Another Committee Expert asked whether parents who refused to send their children to school were criminally prosecuted by the Ministry of Justice.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the State party was implementing a project to digitally register all newborns, which had promoted 100 per cent registration of births in the Mughat community. Some 95 per cent of the Kyrgyz population had access to drinking water. The State party was building water pipelines to increase access to drinking water in remote communities, including to the Mughat community.
Citizens had the inalienable right to healthcare services, regardless of their ethnicity or other characteristics. The programme on State guarantees approved in 2023 aimed to improve access to medical services for vulnerable groups and increase the quality of health services.
Parents were required to send school age children to school. They had the right to choose the language of education and between public and private schools or homeschooling. A bill had been developed that called for fining of parents who refused to send their children to school.
The State party had identified sites for demolition in Osh in a project to develop public roads. Some 69 million som had been provided in compensation to persons whose homes or property were affected. Persons who felt that their property rights had been infringed by State development projects could file complaints in court.
The Coordinating Council on Human Rights was an advisory council that sought to improve the implementation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the State party. Headed by the Deputy Prime Minister and including representatives of State authorities and the Ombudsperson, it coordinated the preparation of reports to international treaty bodies and implementation of these bodies’ recommendations.
Parliament included representatives of national ethnic groups, who were involved in drafting legislation. A web portal had also been set up that allowed citizens to make comments on legislative proposals.
Questions by a Committee Expert
MAZALO TEBIE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said the Committee welcomed the State’s initiatives regarding the protection of refugees, including planned accession to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, and the national action plan on migration management for 2022 to 2025. However, there was a high rate of rejection of applications for refugee status, and some refugees reportedly lived in precarious conditions, including in overcrowded temporary shelters with limited access to healthcare, clean water and education. Uyghur, Uzbek and Chechen refugees and asylum seekers were reportedly extremely vulnerable. What measures were in place to protect the rights of refugees and asylum seekers and promote access to residence?
In 2024, protests against migrants had been held, leading to violence against foreigners with legal residence status. What measures were in place to prevent violence against foreigners, including irregular migrants, and to provide victims with support? Migrants employed in the agricultural and construction sectors often faced precarious working conditions, with limited access to health and support services. What measures were in place to protect the rights of migrant workers, establish clear standards for the employment of migrants, and promote their integration into society? Were there institutions that assessed working conditions for migrants?
Nearly one in four Kyrgyz citizens migrated to neighbouring countries to work. These emigrants reportedly struggled to access basic services in host countries. Why did many women choose to emigrate? What measures were in place to support them, including in Russia? There were some Kyrgyz nationals in Syria and Iraq that were reportedly waiting to be repatriated. How was the State party supporting their return?
The Committee had received reports of numerous cases of extradition of refugees and asylum seekers, including Uyghurs from China and Uzbeks. How did the State party prevent refoulement? How many extradited migrants had been subjected to refoulement?
The State party had implemented a law that guaranteed the civil registration of all children. Kyrgyzstan was also the first country in the region to have resolved all known cases of statelessness; this was commendable. However, the Government had proposed amendments in 2023 to the citizenship law that prevented the conferral of Kyrgyz citizenship to the children of foreign parents born in Kyrgyzstan. This could lead to statelessness. How was the State party bringing its legislation on statelessness in line with international standards?
What measures had been taken to provide continuous training to judges and lawyers on human rights, discrimination and the application of the Convention? How many judges and lawyers had been trained?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that in Kyrgyzstan, refugees had the right to health and education services and the right to freedom of movement. The State assessed each application for refugee status in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and promoted the integration of refugees into society. From 2019 to 2024, the State party had received around 300 appeals against decisions to refuse refugee status. Around 140 of these cases had gone to the cassation court, which had decided to grant refugee status in some cases.
Kyrgyzstan upheld the principle of non-refoulement. Extraditions could not be carried out if there was suspicion of the person involved being subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Kyrgyzstan worked with international partners to assess risks in individual cases. In 2024, the State party extradited 49 foreign citizens, including seven to the Russian Federation. None of these persons had requested refugee status.
Some 37 criminal cases had been initiated in response to violent incidents relating to 2024 protests against migrants. The State party was carrying out activities to prevent broad-scale violations against foreign nationals, including ongoing informational activities. Local populations now understood better the rights of foreign nationals.
State laws regulated the situation of stateless persons in Kyrgyzstan. Efforts to address statelessness were ongoing. The State party had devised procedures for providing the children of stateless persons with identification documents, including the 2024 project that ensured 100 per cent issuance of birth certificates to newborns.
Consular services provided for the protection of Kyrgyz citizens abroad, including migrant workers. The Ombudsperson’s Office received complaints of rights violations from migrants and implemented response measures. Children of Kyrgyz migrants needed to be able to speak basic Russian to attend school in the Russian Federation; the State party thus provided Russian language courses to these children.
The State party had trained 429 judges in 2025 on international human rights standards. The judiciary was committed to promoting diversity and equality.
In 2021, the State party repatriated more than 400 citizens from Iraq and Syria, including children. Measures had been implemented to promote the reintegration and rehabilitation of these citizens and prevent their stigmatisation.
Questions by Committee Experts
MAZALO TEBIE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked whether only foreigners who did not have refugee status could be extradited. The Committee hoped that the law implementing the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol would be adopted soon. If foreign women who were married to Kyrgyz men divorced, did their children keep Kyrgyz nationality? Why did the State party require foreigners to take HIV tests? The State party had developed a “compatriots of foreign nationality” card. Who were these “compatriots of foreign nationality”?
A Committee Expert said there had been a reported drop in teaching of the Uzbek language after the 2010 violence. Were nation-wide examinations conducted in the Uzbek language for students learning in that language?
Another Committee Expert asked if training course for judicial officials addressed the application of the Convention in civil and criminal cases. Were there examples of judicial decisions where the Convention was applied?
A Committee Expert congratulated the State party on eradicating statelessness as of 2019, and for developing a statelessness determination procedure. Kyrgyzstan needed to ratify the statelessness conventions and share its best practices with other nations.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that under national legislation, refugees could not be extradited. The State party waited until processes considering applications for refugee status concluded before considering extradition. Two draft bills on acceding to the 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol were currently under consideration.
If one parent had Kyrgyz nationality, children could receive Kyrgyz nationality, regardless of the location of their birth. Children of stateless parents born in Kyrgyzstan were also granted Kyrgyz nationality. Persons could lose Kyrgyz nationality if they served in the army of a foreign State or if they received citizenship after submitting falsified documents. Kyrgyz citizens could change their citizenship only once; persons needed to submit documents proving their ethnic identity to change their citizenship. Divorces were not grounds for changing citizenship.
To enrol in universities in Kyrgyzstan, students needed to sit the General Republican Exam in either Kyrgyz or Russian.
Kyrgyzstan did not required foreigners to submit a certificate showing that they were HIV-negative when applying for a visa. Information related to HIV tests was not made public. Forced tests were carried out in a confidential manner based on court decisions.
Courts could apply international conventions directly. All criminal cases related to the June 2010 events had been closed, but affected persons had the right to appeal cases and seek compensation.
The children and grandchildren of Kyrgyz citizens who lived overseas had the right to apply for the “compatriots of foreign nationality” card, which allowed them to live and work in Kyrgyzstan without additional residence or work permits.
Closing Remarks
MICHAL BALCERZAK, Committee Chair, said the dialogue had been very constructive, addressing many issues. The information provided by the delegation would allow the Committee to develop targeted concluding observations.
GUAN JIAN, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, thanked the State party for its contributions to the dialogue, which had helped to make it a success. He expressed hope that the State party would follow-up on remaining unanswered questions and closed by thanking all persons who had contributed to the dialogue.
MARAT TAGAEV, Deputy Minister of Culture, Information and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan and head of the delegation, said that the Committee’s comments and questions would help the State party to strengthen measures to promote equality and prevent discrimination. Kyrgyzstan would continue to take active steps to prevent racial discrimination and implement the Convention, working in collaboration with civil society. The State party would work to implement the Committee’s recommendations and to build an inclusive and just society.
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not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.
CERD.25.08E
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
LOUISVILLE, KY – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chairman, Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement on the outlined President’s budget request:
“It is peculiar how much time the President’s advisors spend talking about restoring peace through strength, given how apparently unwilling they’ve been to invest accordingly in the national defense or in other critical instruments of national power. In March, the Trump Administration missed a tremendous opportunity to answer their predecessors’ chronic underinvestment in the U.S. military with robust, full-year funding for FY25. Now, it appears the Trump Administration’s FY26 defense budget request will double down on the Biden Administration’s material neglect for the glaring national security threats challenges about which they speak with great alarm.
“Make no mistake: a one-time influx reconciliation spending is not a substitute for full-year appropriations. It’s a supplement. OMB accounting gimmicks may well convince Administration officials and spokesmen that they’re doing enough to counter the growing, coordinated challenges we face from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and radical terrorists. But they won’t fool Congress. The correct response to the most dangerous threats to U.S. interests in decades is not a fifth straight budget request that proposes a real-dollar cut to the U.S. military.
“America cannot expect our allies to heed calls for greater annual defense spending if we are unwilling to lead by example. Fortunately, Presidential budget requests are just that: requests. Congress will soon have an opportunity to ensure that American power – and the credibility of our commitments – are appropriately resourced. I hope and expect that my colleagues will join me in placing America’s national security first as we begin the FY26 appropriations process.”
Source: Microsoft
Headline: Honoring the cultures of Asian and Pacific Islander communities
video
Drawing empathy from her upbringing in China and her mother’s resilience, Sonja, a product marketing manager at Microsoft, transitioned from banking to tech with a goal in mind: to pioneer solutions and foster company evolution. Embracing her introversion, she now confidently contributes in a way that reflects her own growth. 3 of 11
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Selim Raihan, Professor of Economics, University of Dhaka
The world has witnessed a resurgence of protectionism since Donald Trump returned to the White House. So-called “reciprocal” tariffs, imposed on all US trading partners at varying degrees based on the tax they charge on American goods, have been one of the hallmark features of Trump’s economic policy. They aim to correct what he perceives as “unfair” trade practices.
In early April, Trump said many countries had “ripped us off left and right” and declared “now it’s our turn to do the ripping”. His administration swiftly imposed sweeping tariff increases, with some of the highest rates falling on poorer countries like Laos and Lesotho.
A 90-day suspension was eventually made for most of these tariffs, and Trump has now softened duties on imported cars and car parts. But the danger remains high. No one can be certain that the initial reciprocal tariffs will not be reinstated.
Developing countries, many of which rely heavily on the export of manufactured goods to the US, will be keeping a keen eye on what happens next.
We employed the Global Trade Analysis Project model to analyse the possible effects of US tariffs on trade and economic growth. The model captures interactions and feedback among economic agents (households, firms and governments), markets, sectors and regions in the world economy.
It can be used to forecast the effect of trade reforms on various indicators such as production, welfare, income, prices and trade flows. Based on certain assumptions, the changes are likely to be seen in between two and three years.
We used simulations to compute the effects of Trump’s tariff regime under two alternative scenarios. In the first, which reflects the global trade situation at the time of writing, baseline tariffs are levied on all countries at 10%. The duties are 25% on goods from Canada and Mexico, and 145% on China. Retaliatory duties by China on US goods are set at 125%.
In the second, across-the-board reciprocal tariffs are imposed on countries at the levels Trump declared in his initial plan on April 2. This is in addition to the 145% tariff on Chinese goods, 25% on those from Canada and Mexico and a 125% duty by China on imports from the US.
As shown by the graph below, our simulations suggest the US tariff regime will distort export patterns worldwide. The most painful effects will fall on China and the US itself.
Chinese exports would shrink by 10.8% in the first scenario and 10.9% in the second. The US would suffer an even larger loss of 11.7% and 14.9%, respectively.
The model suggests that other major US trading partners such as Canada and Mexico would also experience deep export declines of over 5% in both scenarios. Roughly 75% of Canada’s exports head south towards the US.
Among the developing Asian economies, Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines would experience substantial export declines. This is particularly the case in the second scenario, with losses ranging from 2% to 4.4%. These countries are particularly vulnerable to reciprocal tariffs because they rely heavily on exports and are deeply tied to global supply and production chains.
Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam may benefit in the first scenario due to a possible diversion of trade. These countries, which are known for having some of the lowest labour costs in the world, offer cheap alternatives for goods that US importers would previously have sourced from China.
But they are expected to lose the majority of these benefits in the second scenario under a full reciprocal tariff regime. The exceptions are Cambodia and Indonesia, which our simulations suggest will retain positive export growth – albeit reduced to 1.6% from 4% for Cambodia and unchanged at 0.7% for Indonesia.
This may be because Cambodia and Indonesia have slightly more diversified export baskets than countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and trade with more partners. However, these gains are likely to be short lived if global uncertainties continue.
Major advanced economies such as Japan, the UK and EU will lose exports by a moderate amount. And the Middle East, north Africa, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America (excluding Brazil) will see similar declines.
The second graph presents a concerning picture of how trade disruption could affect GDP, which economists use to measure the size of a country’s economy. The US and China are again set to suffer the steepest GDP losses, of 0.3% in the US and 1.9% in China under the second scenario. This confirms the well-established economic consensus that trade wars are mutually destructive.
Under the second scenario, most emerging and developing economies would suffer modest GDP declines between 0.3% and 1%. Thailand (1%), Malaysia (0.9%), Brazil (0.9%) and Vietnam (0.9%) are the worst hit countries in this category.
Like most of the developing countries in Asia, which are not directly involved in the trade war, many countries in Latin America, the Middle East, north Africa and sub-Saharan Africa would still face hits to their GDP. This underscores the global interconnectedness of trade and investment flows.
The simulations confirm what economists have been asserting for years: trade wars do not have winners. While some countries do benefit in the short term by way of trade diversion, the total losses are high and developing countries are not immune from the damage.
However, there are strategies developing countries can employ to improve their resilience to global trade disruptions. This includes diversifying their export markets by, for example, establishing stronger trade ties in regional blocs.
One example is the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a free trade agreement between the Asia-Pacific nations of Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Such ties can be strengthened further.
Developing countries should also use this turbulent period to streamline customs, upgrade port infrastructure and improve logistics. This can reduce costs, enhance competitiveness and help developing economies engage more deeply in international trade.
No country is exempt from disruptions to global trade. But those with diversified economies, strong regional linkages and resilient trade infrastructure will weather the turbulence more successfully.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. How Trump’s tariffs could hit developing economies – even those not involved in the trade war – https://theconversation.com/how-trumps-tariffs-could-hit-developing-economies-even-those-not-involved-in-the-trade-war-255435
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Francesco Grillo, Academic Fellow, Department of Social and Political Sciences, Bocconi University
Even before US president Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on all imported cars, European automakers had been facing a multitude of challenges. Sales have slumped and manufacturers face rising costs, while Chinese rivals have rapidly been gaining market share.
The day before the tariffs announcement, the combined market capitalisation of Europe’s five major automakers (Volkswagen, Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Renault) stood at around US$212 billion (£159 billion). This total is less than a quarter of the value of Tesla alone.
Yet the five European giants sell 25 million vehicles annually, accounting for a third of all cars purchased worldwide. Tesla, despite losing half of its market value since the beginning of the year, only just makes the top 15 automakers. It sells less than a third of what Stellantis alone delivers.
This essentially means that financial markets no longer believe that European carmakers can make money out of a business they have been dominating for almost a century.
The crisis does, in fact, stem from the obsolescence of the technology upon which the entire industrial model of the car was built.
The invention of German engineer Karl Benz, later made widely accessible to millions of consumers by American entrepreneur Henry Ford, was far more than just a product.
Cars enabled people to go anywhere whenever they wanted. This fuelled the last industrial revolution and one of the greatest leaps in human prosperity.
However, more than 100 years after the first assembly lines appeared in Detroit, the dream has stalled. In a world where economic and environmental resources are increasingly scarce, an entire industrial model looks unsustainable.
Why? Because it became inefficient.
A privately owned car is used for only 5% of its potential lifetime. It remains idle and occupying valuable parking space for the other 95%. It carries an average of just 1.2 passengers, utilising only a quarter of its capacity.
If an alien were to observe human civilisation, it might conclude that humans have lost that special ability that made them so different from all other species: to do more with less.
Additionally, around 80% of cars are still powered by fossil fuels that cost significantly more than electricity per mile. This is despite economies of scale that are bringing down the price of purchasing a plug-in electric vehicle (EV).
These issues have hit the European – and also the US – automotive industries hard. These regions were the birthplace of the industry itself. For CEOs and policymakers, who often belong to a generation (and a gender) steeped in traditional automotive culture, finding solutions has proven difficult. However, there could be a clear path forward.
Here are three ideas to bring the European automotive industry in the 21st century.
China has already secured a technological advantage in this field – similar to the dominance once held by Volkswagen when it first established factories in Shanghai.
In the same week when BYD announced that it has surpassed Tesla in terms of revenues of electric cars, the Chinese automaker also revealed that it had developed a system to charge an electric car with 400km (249 miles) of range in five minutes.
BYD and other Chinese manufacturers export less than 10% of their products to the EU. They will survive any import duty that the EU imposes on them. Instead of fearing Chinese automakers, the EU should entice them to establish production facilities in the bloc, encouraging competition and innovation within its borders.
New business models should focus on selling services as well as objects. This trend is prevailing in many industries, and carmakers should embrace it to develop partnerships with organisations that can make driving a less wasteful experience. Autonomous driving technology, for example, offers the chance to take vehicle-sharing to a much wider customer base.
And European automakers should trade on their history as a symbol of expertise and longevity. This is not so different to what camera-maker Kodak has done to survive to the digital revolution. It is notable that Ferrari is now worth more than its bigger sister company Stellantis.
For the transformation to succeed, governments must play a role. It is not about propping up the European industry with subsidies or treating cars as the new steel industry. Rather, it is about designing and implementing the infrastructure that the future of mobility requires.
A century ago, European cities were completely restructured to transition from horse-drawn carriages to the first Fiat Topolinos rolling out of the Mirafiori factory.
Today, we need new charging networks and dedicated lanes for electric and autonomous vehicles. This is already happening in China clearly showing that without a significant modernisation of infrastructure innovation does not happen.
Trump’s tariffs will hurt – badly. Volkswagen, which exports two thirds of its production outside western Europe, will suffer most after assuming that its “people’s cars” could be sold indiscriminately to different populations.
However, the era of tariffs should serve as a wake-up call rather than a death sentence. The European automotive sector must use this challenge to reinvent itself, just as it did in the post-war era.
In the 1960s, countries like Italy and France combined industrial strategy of the likes of Fiat and Renault with a vision of the future. This alignment of industrial ambition and pragmatic policymaking was a key part of post-war reconstruction.
Now European leaders must embrace the same spirit of bold, forward-thinking innovation to build a transport system that is capable of setting global standards. The automotive crisis is not just an industry-specific issue. It demands a revival of both vision and pragmatism.
Francesco Grillo is affiliated with Vision, an independent European Think Tank. Vision is the convenor of two global conferences: on “the Europe of the Future” (in Siena) and on “global governance of climate change” (in Trento).
– ref. Three strategies to help European carmakers regain their edge – https://theconversation.com/three-strategies-to-help-european-carmakers-regain-their-edge-255259
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
April 25, 2025
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, on Friday pressed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to explain why he gave “inside information” on President Donald Trump’s tariff plans to Wall Street insiders and not the broader public.
Speaking at a closed-door, invitation-only event hosted by JPMorgan Chase on Tuesday, Bessent said that the tariff standoff between China and the U.S. would soon de-escalate. When reports of his remarks leaked to the press, it caused stocks to rocket higher. Trump then spoke to reporters, essentially confirming Bessent’s remarks.
…
Read the full article here.
By: Greg RobbSource: MarketWatch
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Naomi Joseph, Arts + Culture Editor
I recently bought a Now TV subscription because we are in prime prestige TV season and I needed it to watch The White Lotus and The Last of Us. Deep into those big, confronting shows (which are brilliant but, let’s be honest, a lot), I was looking for something that was comforting and easy. If this is what you are also craving right now, I could not recommend Hacks more.
Hacks is a whip-smart and hilarious show with 30-minute episodes. It follows Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), an edgy comedy writer who isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and spiky Las Vegas comedy veteran Deborah Vance (Jean Smart). This pair are shoved together by their shared manager when Ava is fired from a writing gig for making an off-colour joke on social media, and Deborah loses her headline slot on the Vegas strip as the city moves on without her.
Since its first season, Hacks has provided insightful commentary on the male-dominated world of comedy. The push and pull relationship between Ava and Deborah is hilarious as they clash over generational differences on everything from comedy to sexuality. The show has been rightly lauded for its brilliant writing, which manages to go all the way up to the line without being hateful – a skill many comedians who argue that it’s hard to make comedy in our politically correct age could learn from.
Now in its fourth season, our reviewer, Jacqueline Ristola, an expert in the media industry and comedy, says Hacks has managed to maintain the quality (and hilarity) while finding new ground to explore women’s precarious place in the entertainment industry.
Read more:
Hacks season four tackles late-night TV – and is as funny and perceptive as ever
Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.
If you are in the mood for something a bit moodier and serious, then Sinners might be for you. The film follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan) who have returned home to Mississippi in an attempt to leave their troubles behind. What they find waiting for them, however, is much worse.
Sinners is set in Jim Crow-era Mississippi, a time of harsh segregation and racial injustice. While the horrors of this period are certainly enough to scare anyone, director Ryan Coogler has decided to tell a story grounded in supernatural evil. Vampires aside, there is a lot of history in Sinners too. Criminology expert Rachel Stuart found it interesting how the real stories of Irish and Choctaw oppression informed the film.
Read more:
Sinners: how real stories of Irish and Choctaw oppression inform the film
If you’re looking for something to read, we recommend the memoir Red Pockets. In this piece, Alice Mah, a professor in urban and environmental studies, writes about why she was inspired to create this book after a personal detour to her ancestral village she took while on a research trip.
In Red Pockets, Mah chronicles her journey from the rice villages of south China back to postindustrial England. Her research on pollution leads to growing eco-anxiety, and paired with this trip leaves her in spiritual crisis. Part memoir, part cultural history and environmental exploration, this book explores what we owe our ancestors and also future generations.
Also moody and brilliant is the Victor Hugo exhibition at the Royal Academy in London. I did not know that the French writer was an avid artist, and this exhibition is a wonderful and rare opportunity to gaze into the dark and surreal world of the mind behind Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Hugo’s inky paintings and drawings of townscapes and watery underworlds invoke a sort of nightmarish and apocalyptic reality. The low lighting in which these extremely fragile works must be kept adds to the whole foreboding atmosphere. The exhibition’s title comes from Van Gogh’s opinion of Hugo’s work as “astonishing things”, and they really are. Our review, expert in fine art Martin Lang, found “the sense of uncertainty to feel oddly relevant to today”.
Read more:
Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo at the Royal Academy is dark and brilliant
Another man whose art has had enduring appeal is designer William Morris. Most people probably have or know of someone who owns something adorned with one of his hypnotising patterns. His work has remained incredibly popular since he first started producing it in the 1860s. A new exhibition at the William Morris exhibition, Morris Mania: How Britain’s Greatest Designer Went Viral, explores how his work proliferated to such a degree.
While you may be able to spot a Morris, you might not know much about the man. He was a fervent socialist who championed a principle of handmade production that didn’t chime with the Victorian era’s focus on industrial “progress”. These ideals sit in opposition to how his work has come to be used today.
Our reviewer, an expert in applied art, found that the exhibition was sensitive to this, championing “ethical and bespoke production, while confronting the darker currents that move objects around our world”.
Read more:
William Morris: new exhibition reveals how Britain’s greatest designer went viral
– ref. Bingeable comedy, a Jim Crow-era vampire thriller and William Morris mania – what to watch, read and do this week – https://theconversation.com/bingeable-comedy-a-jim-crow-era-vampire-thriller-and-william-morris-mania-what-to-watch-read-and-do-this-week-255742
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tom Felle, Associate Professor of Journalism, University of Galway
Media freedom has long been essential to healthy democracy. It is the oxygen that fuels informed debate, exposes corruption and holds power to account. But around the world, that freedom is under sustained attack.
The actions of populist political elites, tech billionaires and foreign disinformation campaigns are reinforcing one another. This is weakening independent journalism and reshaping the global public sphere.
This convergence was on full display at US president Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration. The presence of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg signalled that the tech elite are no longer simply disruptors. They are increasingly aligned with populist politics, a project openly hostile to independent journalism and democratic accountability.
Nowhere is this clearer than on X (formerly Twitter). Musk’s takeover has transformed the platform into a breeding ground for conspiracy theories and misinformation, while systematically undermining the credibility of established media outlets. Meta’s decision to abandon factchecking political content in the US also marks a dangerous retreat from even the minimal efforts once made to curb disinformation.
At its core, journalism’s role is simple but essential: to inform the public and hold power to account. Independent media – outlets free from government, political, or corporate control – are essential to democracy. They play a critical role in exposing corruption, amplifying marginalised voices, scrutinising government decisions and challenging abuses of power.
When media organisations are weakened, this essential accountability collapses – allowing governments, politicians and corporations to operate unchecked. Minorities and vulnerable groups suffer most when no one is left to shine a light on abuse or discrimination. Human rights violations go unreported. Misinformation and rumour fill the void.
That is precisely what is happening, not just in fragile states but in established democracies. Populist leaders have attacked journalists as enemies of the people and smeared media outlets that challenge them.
Donald Trump infamously branded critical coverage as “fake news”. Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro vilified journalists who investigated corruption and environmental crimes. Hungary’s Viktor Orbán has systematically dismantled media independence. Slovakia’s Robert Fico called journalists “bloodthirsty bastards” and “possessed by the devil”.
These leaders know that controlling the narrative is key to holding power. Discrediting the media is the first step.
One of the clearest recent examples is the Trump administration’s shuttering of Voice of America (VOA). This move to silence a broadcaster that had promoted press freedom for over 80 years has been celebrated by authoritarian regimes. China’s state media mocked VOA as “discarded like a dirty rag”.
What makes this moment uniquely dangerous is that these political attacks are now supercharged by technology platforms retreating from accountability, and exploited by hostile foreign powers.
The latest European External Action Service (EEAS) Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference Threat Report paints a stark picture of how disinformation is used as a strategic weapon to weaken democracies from within.
In 2024, the EEAS – the diplomatic service of the European Union – detected
record levels of foreign manipulation, particularly from Russia and China. The EEAS recorded more than 500 coordinated manipulation campaigns targeting 90 countries.
These included AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating European politicians, such as a fabricated video of Moldova’s president endorsing a pro-Russian party.
Bot networks were deployed to amplify false narratives about migration and inflation, distorting online discourse and inflaming social divisions. Impersonation tactics cloning legitimate news websites like Le Monde and German media were used to disseminate pro-Kremlin disinformation. All these efforts were aimed at undermining trust in democratic institutions, inflaming social divisions and creating confusion.
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Disinformation has become a standard geopolitical weapon, often used as a precursor to military or economic action. In the lead-up to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia conducted a sustained disinformation campaign. Fabricated videos and false flag operations portrayed Ukraine as the aggressor to justify military action.
Similarly, during the 2020-21 border clashes with India, China spread disinformation downplaying its military build-up while casting India as the instigator.
Russia has also used disinformation to pursue economic goals, notably by spreading falsehoods about European renewable energy and gas supply stability, to influence energy policy and sow public doubt about the EU’s energy independence strategy.
While this happens, platforms like Meta and X are retreating from content moderation and fact-checking. The result is a perfect storm where domestic populism, platform failure and foreign manipulation reinforce one another. Platforms like X have become the key battleground, accounting for 88% of detected disinformation activity.
As these threats grow, the traditional media model is collapsing. Advertising revenue – once the lifeblood of newspapers, radio, and television – has shifted almost entirely to digital platforms. Local newsrooms are closing, while investigative journalism is increasingly rare, expensive and risky.
In the UK, more than 320 local papers have closed since 2009. Titles like the Evening Standard ended daily print in 2024 due to plummeting ad revenues. Across Europe, rising news deserts and newsroom cuts are weakening media’s democratic role.
In the US, things are even worse – 3,200 newspapers have closed since 2005. More than half of all counties now have little or no local news coverage.
As social media platforms abandon even basic content moderation, they create vast, ungoverned digital spaces where bad actors dominate the conversation.
Into this gap flood social media influencers, partisan outlets and state-backed propaganda. The result is a fractured, polarised information ecosystem. Facts struggle to compete with viral misinformation and coordinated disinformation campaigns.
In the end, it is citizens who pay the price, bombarded by propaganda and adrift in a sea of misinformation. This is not just a media problem, it is a fundamental threat to democracy itself. Without independent journalism, there is no one left to ask difficult questions, expose wrongdoing or defend the public interest.
Protecting media freedom must now be treated as a democratic priority, as essential as free and fair elections or an independent judiciary. Governments need to regulate tech platforms effectively, enforcing transparency over algorithms and bringing in meaningful protections against disinformation.
Public investment in journalism is critical to ensure the press can survive and hold power to account. Democracies must coordinate efforts to counter foreign information manipulation, and protect journalists facing harassment and threats from authoritarian regimes.
The future of democratic accountability now depends on whether governments, regulators and the media can reclaim this space before it is lost entirely. Above all, this means recognising that journalism is not a luxury or a relic. It is a vital public good.
Tom Felle does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Perfect storm of tech bros, foreign interference and disinformation is an urgent threat to press freedom – https://theconversation.com/perfect-storm-of-tech-bros-foreign-interference-and-disinformation-is-an-urgent-threat-to-press-freedom-252986
Source: Government of Canada regional news
Premier Tim Houston will leave on Sunday, May 4, for a provincial trade mission in two critical markets – Spain and the United Kingdom.
The Premier and Kent Smith, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, will head to Barcelona, Spain, to promote Nova Scotia’s seafood sector at events scheduled May 5-10. The Premier will also be attending meetings regarding defence and security as well as renewable energy before heading to London, England, for meetings and speaking opportunities to promote Nova Scotia to leaders in the United Kingdom.
“It is a privilege to represent Nova Scotians on these provincial trade missions. Leaders and the business community from other countries repeatedly tell me how highly they think of our province, people and products,” said Premier Houston. “Spain and the United Kingdom are top destinations for Nova Scotia’s fish and seafood exports. We want to strengthen that partnership as well as explore additional opportunities to do more trade with them. Nova Scotia has a lot to offer, and we’re making sure the world knows it.”
While in Spain, Premier Houston and Minister Smith will attend Seafood Expo Global, the largest international seafood event, which attracts serving industry professionals and buyers, at all points of the supply chain, from around the world. The Premier will also speak to international buyers, media and culinary decision-makers and influencers at an event promoting Nova Scotia’s seafood industry.
During his stop in London, Premier Houston will be the keynote speaker at the annual general meeting of the Canada-United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce at the House of Lords on May 13. Premier Houston will speak to chamber members and attendees about the long-standing ties between Nova Scotia and the United Kingdom and the opportunities that exist to strengthen cultural connections and the trade relationship.
Nova Scotia is currently focused on making the province more self-reliant by investing in the seafood sector, wind resources and critical minerals. The Province is also developing a comprehensive trade action plan to facilitate internal trade, enhance productivity and drive critical sectors with input from businesses and industry.
“The European market represents a great opportunity to grow Nova Scotia’s seafood industry. By promoting our premium-quality seafood, we are helping our companies expand internationally, driving economic growth and securing a sustainable future for our coastal communities.”
— Kent Smith, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture
Canada-United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce: https://www.canada-uk.org/
Seafood Expo Global: https://www.seafoodexpo.com/global/
Information about Nova Scotia seafood and exporters is available at: https://nsseafood.com/
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
Murray: “This is a proposal to raise costs and make life harder—and worse—for working people in every part of the country.”
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on President Trump’s fiscal year 2026 preliminary budget request, which proposes slashing critical investments in non-defense programs that matter immensely to families and our country’s competitiveness and future.
The Trump administration says this proposal will cut domestic funding by $163 billion (-23%); however, the real cut may be far worse—potentially exceeding a 30%, or more than $200 billion, cut to non-defense discretionary (NDD) spending. This preliminary request is very light on details. It fails to delineate funding levels for thousands of key programs, including programs like Head Start, which Trump reportedly wants to eliminate—and it is critical that this administration promptly provide its full budget request.
“President Trump has made his priorities clear as day: he wants to outright defund programs that help working Americans while he shovels massive tax breaks at billionaires like himself and raises taxes on middle-class Americans with his reckless tariffs.
“This budget proposal would set our country back decades by decimating investments to help families afford the basics, to keep communities safe, and to ensure America remains the world leader in innovation and lifesaving research. Donald Trump wants to slash funding for research into treatments and cures for cancer and other devastating diseases that have saved millions of patients’ lives, and he wants to kick hundreds of thousands of Americans out of their homes. He’s proposing to divest from America’s small businesses, ax funding for families to afford their energy bills, and rip resources away from students and teachers. Trump wants to rip away funding to safeguard Americans’ health, protect our environment, and to help rural communities and our farmers thrive. This president wants to turn our country’s back on Tribes—and let trash pile up at our national parks. Trump is even proposing to cut investments to prevent violent crime, go after drug traffickers, and tackle the opioids and mental health crises.
“This is a proposal to raise costs and make life harder—and worse—for working people in every part of the country, and it is a proposal to fundamentally make America less safe, healthy, and strong. China’s President Xi Jinping is no doubt thrilled at Trump’s proposal to halve our investments in scientific and biomedical research—and abandon America’s global leadership role.
“This president believes we should shred at least $163 billion in investments here at home that make all the difference for families and have been essential to America’s success—but that we should hand billionaires and the biggest corporations trillions in new tax breaks. That is outrageous—and it should offend every hardworking American who wants their tax dollars to help them live a good life, not pad the pockets of billionaires.
“This preliminary budget proposal is exceptionally light on details we desperately need—but this much is clear: Trump wants to eviscerate programs that matter most to working families.
“I will work with my colleagues in Congress to firmly reject Trump’s draconian proposal to slash investments in families and America’s future. But that alone is not enough because, at this very moment, Trump is brazenly ignoring our laws and blocking hundreds of billions of dollars owed to the American people—and we need Republicans in Congress to finally join us to force Trump to put an end to his devastating funding freeze.”
More specifics on President Trump’s budget request will be available HERE later today.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on Vice President JD Vance visiting Nucor Steel in Huger, South Carolina.
“I’m very pleased that Vice President Vance chose Nucor Steel in South Carolina to make the case for bringing high-paying manufacturing jobs back to America. I would urge the American people to support President Trump as he cleans up the trade mess that’s built up over the past 60 years.
“I have been a strong supporter of Nucor Steel. They have had to compete against China and other countries dumping low-cost steel. The Vice President made it clear the days of taking advantage of American businesses are over. I’m very glad he chose a South Carolina business to highlight this much-needed change.”
Source: US Representative Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07)
Contact: Riley Pingree
(May 1, 2025) WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 906, the Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency (FACT) Act.
Currently, U.S. law does not require public disclosure of companies tied to foreign adversaries operating in our technology and telecommunications markets. Although the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is prohibited from issuing new licenses to entities deemed national security threats, some companies linked to adversarial governments still hold certain approvals.
This bicameral, bipartisan legislation, introduced by U.S. Representative Robert Wittman (VA-01) and co-led by Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07), would require the FCC to publish a list of companies that both hold FCC authorizations and have any ownership ties to adversarial foreign governments, including China, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea.
“This week, Congress voted to protect the security and privacy of every American,” said Congressman Kean. “I am pleased to have co-led this bipartisan effort, which strengthens the FCC’s ability to hold foreign adversaries like China and Russia accountable for exploiting our telecommunications infrastructure. The FACT Act is necessary to securing our networks and ensures Americans are no longer left in the dark about who has access to them. It is important that we work across the aisle to recognize this threat and to reinforce our national security.”
Congressman Wittman (VA-01) said, “The House’s passage of my bipartisan FACT Act marks real progress in countering foreign threats to our tech infrastructure. The Chinese Communist Party continues to use every tool at its disposal to surveil Americans and infiltrate our telecommunications and technology markets. This legislation is a critical step toward exposing the CCP’s malign influence and preventing foreign adversaries from having unfettered access to our telecommunications infrastructure. I’ll continue advocating for strong, bipartisan action to protect our national security.”
Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce said, “The enemies of America have made a concerted effort to destabilize and undermine our communications networks. The FACT Act will increase awareness of whether companies with licenses or other authorizations to access our networks have ties to adversaries like China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. I thank Rep. Kean for his work gathering overwhelming bipartisan support for this legislation to secure our infrastructure and improve our national security.”
Read the full text of the bill here.
Congressman Kean was the Republican lead of the FACT Act on the Energy and Commerce Committee, making this his first co-led bill and fourth cosponsored bill to pass the House during the 119th Congress.
###
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and a bipartisan group of her colleagues introduced the Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security (SHIPS) for America Act, comprehensive legislation to revitalize the United States shipbuilding and commercial maritime industries.
“When it comes to shipbuilding, China has been eating our lunch. While Wisconsin workers and shipbuilding companies produce world-class vessels, we have failed to invest in this industry and set these workers up for success,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am proud to work with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to revitalize our shipbuilding industry because this will not only keep our country safe, but it will create good paying jobs and support American workers and businesses.”
There are currently 80 U.S.-flagged vessels in international commerce while China has 5,500. The SHIPS for America Act aims to close this gap and boost the U.S. Merchant Marine by establishing national oversight and consistent funding for U.S. maritime policy, making U.S.-flagged vessels commercially competitive in international commerce by cutting red tape, rebuilding the U.S. shipyard industrial base, and expanding and strengthening mariner and shipyard worker recruitment, training, and retention.
Specifically, the SHIPS for America Act would:
Coordinate U.S. maritime policy by establishing the position of Maritime Security Advisor within the White House, who would lead an interagency Maritime Security Board tasked with making whole-of-government strategic decisions for how to implement a National Maritime Strategy. The bill also establishes a Maritime Security Trust Fund that would reinvest duties and fees paid by the maritime industry into maritime security programs and infrastructure supporting maritime commerce.
Establish a national goal of expanding the U.S.-flag international fleet by 250 ships in 10 years by creating the Strategic Commercial Fleet Program, which would facilitate the development of a fleet of commercially operated, U.S.-flagged, American crewed, and domestically built merchant vessels that can operate competitively in international commerce.
Enhance the competitiveness of U.S.-flagged vessels in international commerce by establishing a Rulemaking Committee on Commercial Maritime Regulations and Standards to cut through the U.S. Coast Guard’s bureaucracy and red tape that limits the international competitiveness of U.S.-flagged vessels, modify duties to make cargo on U.S.-flagged vessels more competitive, requiring that government-funded cargo move aboard U.S.-flagged vessels, and requiring a portion of commercial goods imported from China to move aboard U.S.-flagged vessels starting in 2030.
Expand the U.S. shipyard industrial base, for both military and commercial oceangoing vessels, by establishing a 25 percent investment tax credit for shipyard investments, transforming the Title XI Federal Ship Financing Program into a revolving fund, and establishing a Shipbuilding Financial Incentives program to support innovative approaches to domestic ship building and ship repair.
Accelerate U.S. leadership in next-generation ship design, manufacturing processes, and ship energy systems by establishing the U.S. Center for Maritime Innovation, and supporting regional hubs for maritime innovation across the country by establishing a Maritime Prosperity Zone program.
Make historic investments in maritime workforce by supporting a Maritime Workforce Promotion and Recruitment Campaign, allowing mariners to retain their credentials through a newly established Merchant Marine Career Retention Program, investing in long-overdue infrastructure needs for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and supporting State Maritime Academies and Centers for Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education. The bill also makes long-overdue changes to streamline and modernize the U.S. Coast Guard’s Merchant Mariner Credentialing system.
Senator Baldwin has been a leading voice in revitalizing the shipbuilding industry and leveling the playing field for American workers. Last March, Senator Baldwin joined United Steelworkers and other labor leaders in support of the American shipbuilding industry and to call on the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to conduct a full investigation. In April 2024, the USTR announced they were heeding that call and launching an investigation into China, concluding in a report that China’s targeted dominance in these sectors was unreasonable and burdens or restricts U.S. commerce, and is therefore “actionable” under Section 301. This report laid the groundwork for the Trump Administration to impose appropriate penalties on China to support American workers. In January, Senator Baldwin applauded this USTR report outlining China’s unfair trade practices to undercut American shipbuilding and called on the President to act. In February, Baldwin led a group of her colleagues in calling on the Trump Administration to act on the results of the investigation and take immediate action to level the playing field for American workers, businesses, and national security.
The bill is led by Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Todd Young (R-IN) and co-sponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and John Fetterman (D-PA).
Full text of this legislation is available here.
A section by section of this legislation is available here.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
NEW YORK, May 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — According to the latest Insurance Marketplace Realities report from Willis, a WTW business (Nasdaq: WTW), the current market environment offers opportunities for well-prepared buyers to secure favorable terms, broaden coverage options, and to re-engage in strategic risk transfer decisions that may have been a bit constrained in recent years. While this points to a buyers’ market, there are meaningful macroeconomic headwinds including renewed supply chain challenges, unpredictable tariffs, volatile financial markets, and social inflation.
With policyholder surplus in the U.S. exceeding $1 trillion and global reinsurance capital surpassing $700 billion, the commercial insurance market is operating from a position of historic financial strength. Insurance carriers are pursuing growth strategies on the belief that rate adequacy has largely stabilized, prompting broader underwriting appetites and more competitive pricing.
“Buyers are finding more negotiating power and flexibility in today’s market,” said Jon Drummond, Head of Broking North America at Willis. “It’s a moment to reassess strategies, re-engage in broader risk financing strategies, and secure the coverage depth, or other program enhancements, that may have been limited during the hard market cycle.”
A standout in this evolving landscape is the increased capacity – even constrained sectors like excess casualty have recently seen a modest introduction of new capacity. New market entrants and innovative solutions like Willis’ ‘Gemini auto-follow facility’ are providing significant options for buyers to build effective programs and mitigate emerging risks.
WTW’s latest Marketplace Realities Report also features expert insights from Sam Harrison, Chief Underwriting Officer at Canopius, in a “View from the Top”, and also debuts a new policy wordings segment: “The Power of Clarity – Tariffs and Property Coverage,” where Helen Campbell, Head of Property Wordings for North America, explores critical clauses affected by tariff-related risks.
Willis is bullish on market opportunities stemming from ample capital, growing capacity, and renewed competition, and believes that this signals a healthy buyer’s market in 2025. Well-prepared buyers who clearly communicate risks, while leveraging strong brokerage relationships, are best positioned to benefit from the current market.
| Key Price Predictions for 2025 | |
| Property | |
| CAT-exposed | -10% to +10% |
| Non-CAT exposed | -5% to +5% |
| Domestic casualty | |
| General liability | +2% to +8% |
| Umbrella (high hazard) | +10% to +15% |
| Umbrella (low hazard) | +7.5% to +12.5% |
| Excess (high hazard) | +7.5% to +15% |
| Excess (low hazard) | +5% to +12% |
| Workers’ compensation | –5% to +2% |
| Auto | +10% to +20% |
| International | Flat |
| Executive risks | |
| Directors’ and officers’ public company (primary) | -3% to Flat |
| Directors’ and officers’ private / not-for-profit (overall) | -10% to Flat |
| Side A / DIC | -3% to Flat |
| Errors and omissions (large law firms) | +2% to +8% |
| Employment practices liability (primary) | Flat to +5% |
| Fiduciary (financial institutions) | -5% to + 5% |
| Cyber | |
| Cyber | -5% to +5% |
| Political risk* | |
| Low to Moderate Hazard Risks | Flat to + 20% |
| Terrorism and political violence | |
| Terrorism and sabotage | -10% to -2.5% |
| Political violence | -5% to +5% |
| * China-related political risk rates at 50%+ | |
About WTW
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Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you. Learn more at wtwco.com.
Media Contact
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