I have been researching the possibility of living on Mars for several years. But it took an invitation to give a talk about space at HMP Erlestoke in England – a category C men’s prison – to make me realise that there are a surprising number of similarities between the challenges that would be faced by would-be Martians and daily life in jail.
The talk was part of a literary festival called “Penned Up”. As I discussed the parallels between Mars and prison with those incarcerated at HMP Erlestoke, the men agreed with me that, despite seeming so different, they both would share long-term isolation, confinement and psychological challenges (not to mention bad food).
So, as plans for exploration of Mars advance and we consider how to survive on this distant and hostile world, could there be important lessons from an environment closer to home – the modern prison? Understanding this overlap could be critical for ensuring the wellbeing of those we send to Mars. We know the terrible conditions of prisons can have a severe impact on people, and perhaps we can learn from that to help keep others safe and well.
It’s important to recognise the fundamental distinction between prisons and space exploration. Prisons are a punitive measure, depriving individuals of their freedom, while space exploration is a highly selective, paid endeavour undertaken by choice. As I saw, living in prison is a profoundly challenging environment. Despite legal minimum standards, overcrowding and shortages mean many prisons fail to uphold them.
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The profoundly negative impact of poor prison conditions highlights the urgent need for effective solutions. But the knowledge gained from this could also then help support people in other challenging and remote environments, such as space exploration.
We have many years’ experience of studying psychological and team challenges from isolated, confined and extreme environments such as submarines, polar research stations, space simulators on Earth and space stations. But few people have looked to the public prisons on our doorstep for what we can learn.
Extreme routine
Daily life in both a prison and in space is governed by structured routines. In prisons, days are often planned down to the minute, dictating everything from waking to sleeping. This rigid scheduling is mirrored by mission-controlled timetables for astronauts.
Mandatory work is another common thread. Prison routines often include assigned tasks, such as kitchen or laundry duty, which serve the needs of the facility. Similarly, Martian astronauts would need to perform scientific experiments, equipment maintenance and resource production duties. Mandatory work can sometimes lead to resentment if there’s little autonomy.
Basic food and limited sleep is another common factor. When I asked the inmates what the food was like, they laughed. A staff member explained that the budget is £3.08 per person (the government benchmark figure is even less at £2.70 per person per day). Prison food can be of low nutritional value and meal times are fixed, impacting both health and morale.
The author, Lucy Berthoud, giving a talk at HMP Erlestoke. Photo by Andy Aitchison., CC BY-SA
On Mars, astronauts would consume carefully planned dehydrated meals, which would no doubt have a higher budget and be nutritionally richer, but it is not as good as freshly cooked food back on Earth.
Sleep, a fundamental need, can also be elusive in both environments. In prisons, it can be disrupted by noise and poor conditions. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are continuously exposed to an average noise level of 72 decibels, which is equivalent to the sound of motorway traffic from a distance of 15 metres.
Limited space
Prison cells are famously small, often measuring little more than a few square metres, and frequently housing several people. They offer minimal personal space and little privacy. The European standard – if it’s upheld – is a minimum of four square metres per person in a single cell.
Similarly, Martian habitats, designed to function with the minimum resources and with a focus on life support, will also be challenging space-wise.
For example, the Apollo Command and Service module which went to lunar orbit had a volume of just 6.2 cubic metres for three astronauts. This lack of personal space and privacy in both settings can lead to heightened stress levels and challenges to emotion regulation.
Both places also provide a potentially high-risk environment. The threats may be different – often interpersonal in prisons – from violence, sexual assault, and extortion to potential staff abuse-, mainly environmental – radiation, cold and lack of air on Mars. But they can lead to a persistent state of vigilance which can significantly impact mental well-being in both cases.
Dealing with isolation
Perhaps the biggest parallels lie in the psychological challenges arising from prolonged isolation. Imprisonment involves a significant separation from family, friends, and the outside world, leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness.
While astronauts on a mission to Mars are highly trained professionals and have chosen to go, they too will operate under a significant degree of control. With a likely round trip time of two years, astronauts embarking on a mission to Mars may also experience isolation. This could lead to feelings of disconnection and homesickness, as has been studied in volunteers on Earth.
Prisoners experience a near-complete lack of control over even the most basic aspects of their daily existence. You can see the importance of feelings of control in the fact that even astronauts and cosmonauts sometimes rail against or even disobey mission control’s strict guidelines, as the Nasa astronaut Clayton Anderson has written about in his candid book The Ordinary Spaceman.
Social dynamics
Both groups require living in close quarters with a limited, unchanging set of companions. In prison, people are confined to a relatively small social environment, which can lead to complex subcultures and the potential for interpersonal conflict and violence, though supportive relationships can also be a crucial resource.
Equally, for Martian crews, strong group cohesion and mutual support will be absolutely essential. However, the inherent stress of the mission, confined living conditions and significant communication delays with Earth could still lead to tensions.
So we see that lessons learned from studying the experiences of people in jails can provide valuable insights for mitigating the negative impacts of life on Mars.
Strategies such as designing habitats to maximise personal space and privacy, improving food and maximising autonomy will be needed for Martian travel. It will be important to provide access to meaningful activities to combat monotony, ensuring access to comprehensive mental health support and fostering strong social connections and support networks. These have all been studied in prisons.
By trying to improve prison conditions and continuing to learn from prisons, we can better prepare our pioneers for the unprecedented challenges of making a home on Mars, improving their chances of survival and their ability to thrive.
Lucy Berthoud receives funding from UK Space Agency and UKRI.
Chinese tourists at Everest’s northern base camp, Rongbuk in Tibet, photograph the world’s highest mountain.Carl Cater, CC BY-NC-ND
To the discerning eye, other mountains are visible – giants between 23,000 and 26,000 feet high. Not one of their slenderer heads even reaches their chief’s shoulder. Beside Everest they escape notice, such is the pre-eminence of the greatest. (George Mallory, 1922)
The climbing season on Mount Everest peaks in late May and early June every year. Extreme weather patterns at this location and altitude mean the main climbing season is remarkably short, perhaps only a few weeks between the winter freeze and monsoon storms.
Even within that time, the precise location of the jetstream that accelerates wind speeds at the summit creates pinchpoints of ideal climbing conditions, leading to images of long queues of mountaineers at particularly challenging points such as the Hillary Step – named after one of the two men who first climbed Everest on May 29 1953.
In the 30 years after Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay first stood at the summit, only 150 men and women matched their feat. But since then, the number of climbers has sky-rocketed. In 2019, a record 877 people summited the mountain, and in 2024 ascents were only just shy of this.
Rebecca Stephens, the first British woman to climb Everest in 1993, has described how the “global obsession with the world’s highest mountain is shaping its future and the future of the people who work on it”.
Stephens said her ascent in 1993, when there was only one commercial expedition on the mountain, felt like a watershed moment. Since then, commercial expeditions have mushroomed on Everest’s southern base camp on the Khumbu glacier (altitude: 5,364 metres), which now boasts a wide range of facilities including coffee shops and party tents.
The explosion of interest in climbing Everest has been aided by the fact that, despite its altitude and dangers, it is far from the most difficult high-altitude mountain. A member of the Tibet Mountaineering Association who had summited five times told me, on a good day, Everest was “very straightforward” – and that climbing Denali in Alaska (North America’s tallest peak) had been much more difficult.
By the end of 2024, there had been 12,884 ascents and 335 deaths on Everest, a survival rate of 97.4%. But the so-called “death zone” above 8,000 metres, combined with avalanches, extreme weather and frostbite, will always present significant hazards to the people who visit these slopes.
This climbing season, a Scottish former marine described quitting his attempt 800 metres below the summit after encountering two dead climbers. Meanwhile, four other ex-British special forces soldiers including UK government minister Alastair Carns used xenon gas and hypoxia training to travel to Everest and summit in under a week – leading to concerns that this could further increase the number of people attempting to scale the increasingly crowded mountain.
But while images of high-altitude queues and stories of occasional fatalities hog the headlines, most visitors to Everest do not attempt to climb it. And by far the majority of these tourists are on the “other side of Everest”, in China-administered Tibet.
Unlike a century ago, Everest is now easily accessed by tarmacked roads. (To compare the images, move the white bar right and left.) Sandy Irvine/Royal Geographical Society (1924)/Carl Cater (2024)
China’s “economic miracle”, combined with its desire to develop peripheral regions, has meant that Qomolangma (the Tibetan name for Everest) is now easily accessible, with tarmacked roads all the way to the northern base camp at Rongbuk (altitude: 5,150 metres).
From having lower numbers of visitors than the Nepalese side 20 years ago, the Tibetan side of Everest now welcomes more than half a million tourists a year – the vast majority from mainland China. Short Chinese holidays mean most of these visits are whistlestop trips that also take in the nearby high-altitude cities of Lhasa and Shigatse. Because of the lack of altitude acclimatisation time, many tourists carry oxygen bottles or wear oxygen backpacks during their visits.
The date of our visit was significant, being a century since the disappearance of early Everest adventurers George Mallory and Sandy Irvine on June 8 1924. We set out to examine both the human and environmental changes that have occurred over the intervening hundred years – using century-old journals and photographs as a baseline.
As geographers rather than high-altitude mountaineers, our aim was to retrace some of the reconnaissance routes used by the British in the 1920s – a time when Nepal was closed to foreign visitors. Between 1921 and 1924, three expeditions organised by the Royal Geographical Society and the Alpine Club visited Tibet with the aim of being the first recorded people to climb Mount Everest. None, as far as we know, reached the top – and the remains of the two leaders of the final expedition, Mallory and Irvine, were only discovered on Everest many years later.
While the vistas are equally spectacular today, climate change has had a significant impact on glaciers throughout the region. Recent scientific estimates suggest that there has been between a 26% and 28% reduction in the glaciers surrounding Everest between the 1970s and 2010.
In 1921, the leader of the first expedition, Charles Howard-Bury, camped just below the Langma pass – the highest but most direct easterly route to Everest – and photographed “a peak of black rock with a glacier just below it”. It is apparent from this “slider” comparison, using a photograph I took from the same spot, how much this hanging glacier has retreated over the past century.
This glacier to the south of the Langma pass has retreated significantly. Charles Howard-Bury/Royal Geographical Society (1921)/Carl Cater (2024)
The human impact on Everest
Everest’s permanent northern base camp at Rongbuk in Tibet now welcomes up to 3,000 visitors a day in high season. Tourists are initially disgorged into a regimented tented village – modern versions of Tibetan yak herder accommodation.
Some of these jet-black tents, made from thick yak hair which breathes when dry and is waterproof when wet, provide simple (but heated and oxygenated) accommodation for the hardier tourists who want to be at the mountain early for the best photo opportunities.
Wandering up the astroturf lining the central boulevard, we meet a range of souvenir sellers before reaching the “world’s highest post office” and a circular plaza commemorating the various scientific and political achievements of the region. The near-landscape is largely brown: when he was here, Mallory described the contrast between the rain-shadowed “monotonously dreary, stony wastes” of Rongbuk with the beauty of the snowy mountains looming above.
Today, a boardwalk takes tourists marginally further to Rongbuk monastery – founded in 1902 and rebuilt after being damaged during the Chinese Cultural Revolution – and a final viewpoint of the north face of Everest. A yellow sandstone band is clearly visible just below the summit – evidence that this mighty mountain was once at the bottom of the ocean.
An astroturf walkway in the tourist village at Everest’s northern base camp, Rongbuk in Tibet. Carl Cater, CC BY-NC-ND
The mood on our trip was a sharp contrast to my visit in November 2007, when our Tibetan guide had been keen to evade any security checkpoints (albeit to maximise his personal profit, rather than any ethical standpoint). With only a few thousand annual, mostly international, visitors, the facilities back then were very limited, beyond a warning to tourists to proceed no further or face significant fines – and a shiny new sign proclaiming mobile phone coverage.
However, we were able to walk to the snout of the Rongbuk glacier, a jumble of shattered sandstone rocks at the terminal moraine. Today, tourists cannot go far beyond the monastery and are corralled on new boardwalks.
Tourism has brought rapid economic change to this region of the Tibetan plateau – including diversifying from traditional livelihoods. Central government efforts to reduce overgrazing in the fragile ecosystem have led to a system of payments to traditional herders – and a drop in livestock numbers from a peak of nearly 1 million in 2008 to below 700,000 today.
In contrast, the permanent human population of the Qomolangma National Nature Preserve (the protected area that includes the Tibetan side of Everest) has more than doubled since the 1950s to more than 120,000 people, with especially accelerated growth over the last decade coinciding with the rise in tourism. The Pang La pass which crosses into the Rongbuk valley, described as “desolate” by English mountaineer Alan Hinkes in the 1980s, is now festooned with souvenir shops and mobile coffee baristas.
Concern about the environmental impacts of these tourists led to the introduction of a fleet of electric buses in 2019, with visitors instructed to park their vehicles in the small town of Tashi Dzom before taking a 30-minute electric bus ride to the northern Everest base camp.
Tourists are brought up the mountain to Rongbuk in electric buses. Carl Cater, CC BY-NC-ND
Now there are plans to move the bus transfer station to a gleaming new park centre closer to the main highway, to save tourists having to drive the numerous switchbacks over the Pang La pass to Tashi Dzom, then negotiate traffic jams and parking challenges nearer the peak.
This is partly to cope with another western import to China: the concept of the “road trip”. For Chinese car enthusiasts, the 5,000-kilometre Route 318 from Shanghai to the foot of Everest is now one of their most popular long-distance drives.
‘The most beautiful valley in the world’
We visited the east and north faces of Everest in Tibet armed with photographs and accounts from those three early British expeditions more than a century ago – the first recorded attempts to climb the world’s highest mountain.
The first (1921) expedition led by Howard-Bury, an army lieutenant-colonel, botanist and future Conservative MP, was a detailed scientific and topographical survey of the area. In their attempts to find a route to the summit, approaches via the northern (Rongbuk) and eastern (Kama) valleys were reconnoitred.
Views of Kharta, location of the 1921 expedition’s second base camp. Charles Howard-Bury/Royal Geographical Society (1921)/Carl Cater (2024)
Although less visited than the Khumbu base camp in Nepal or the Rongbuk base camp in Tibet, the eastern approach to Everest via the Kama valley is a wonderful trek with unobstructed views of the immense eastern face of Everest. Howard-Bury described the allure of the valley which remains today:
We had not been able to gather much information locally about Mount Everest. A few of the shepherds said that they had heard that there was a great mountain in the next valley to the south … They called this the Kama valley, and little did we realise at the time that in it, we were going to find one of the most beautiful valleys in the world.
The valley is accessed from the settlement of Kharta, a small-but-booming town on the banks of the Bong Chu-Arun river. Just below Kharta, the river enters a steep gorge, dropping from nearly 4,000m to 2,000m as it enters Nepal. Today, the Kama valley route is becoming popular with Chinese trekkers, although there are very limited facilities to deal with their impact on the area – notably, the human and plastic waste.
The 1921 expedition selected Kharta as the location of its second base camp after several months of exploration at Rongbuk. All were relieved to find such an amenable climate and greenery after the dry and cold of the Tibetan plateau. With the help of the dzongpen (village head) and a local fixer, they rented a farmhouse where many of the photos from the expedition were later developed. Located in a grove of poplar and willow with small streams trickling along its boundary, we also visited this farmhouse – now owned by a Tibetan farmer who cheerily showed us around and introduced the three generations of his family.
Three generations of the Tibetan family who now own the farm used by the 1921 British expedition. Carl Cater, CC BY-NC-ND
The British expeditions’ investigations of the Kama valley are of particular interest as this valley sits on the climatic boundary between drier and wetter areas to the north and south of the Himalayan range. Howard-Bury described thick mists coming up the Kama valley each evening, providing significant moisture to the region:
As usual, in the evening, the clouds came up and enveloped us in a thick mist … When we started the following morning, there was still a thick Scotch mist which made the vegetation very wet … On the opposite side of the valley were immense black cliffs descending sheer for many thousand feet.
Still evident today, this precipitation, combined with great variations in altitude and temperature, supports a profusion of plants – as well as animal life that our predecessors described as “extraordinarily tame”. Now as then, in summer, the hillsides are covered with the yellow, white and pink flowers of rhododendrons and azealas, and huge juniper trees grow in the lower valley. Howard-Bury described spending “the whole afternoon lying among the rhododendrons at 15,000 feet – admiring the beautiful glimpses of these mighty peaks revealed by occasional breaks among the fleecy clouds”.
Adorned with prayer flags, the high passes are still used by local people as portals to the sacred Kama valley. In 1921, when he crossed the Langma pass to enter this “sanctuary”, Mallory wrote that the grumblings of his previously stubborn porters had suddenly transformed into “great friendliness” and “splendid marching” – such that they were “undepressed with the gloomy circumstance of again encamping in the rain”. Descending into the Kama valley, Howard-Bury effused:
To the west, our gaze encountered a most wonderful amphitheatre of peaks and glaciers. Three great glaciers almost met in the deep green valley that lay at our feet. One of these glaciers evidently came down from Mount Everest.
While the topography here remains largely unchanged, the very significant reduction in the volume of the central glacier is evident in these comparison images:
The spectacular Kama valley photographed from below the Langma pass. Mount Everest is the distant right peak. Charles Howard-Bury/Royal Geographical Society (1921)/Carl Cater (2024)
In 1921, the expedition wrote that the outflow from the Kangshung glacier (which descends from Everest) had to “hurl itself into a great ice cavern” in order to flow under the Kandoshang glacier (from Makalu, the world’s fifth-highest peak) and become the Kama river. Today, as a result of glacial retreat, that ice cavern is no longer present and the main stream from the Kangshung glacier flows unimpeded along the snout of the Kangdoshang glacier.
Further up the valley, the 1921 expedition established another base camp in the high meadows towards the head of the valley at Pethang Ringmo, which, as well as a final camp stop for trekking groups today, remains an important grazing area for migratory yak herders. These herders were important sources of information for the early explorers, but today there is some evidence of overgrazing. Howard-Bury commented:
We found ourselves among pleasant grassy meadows – it was a most delightfully sunny spot at 16,400 feet, right under the gigantic and marvellously beautiful cliffs of Chomolönzo – now all powdered over with the fresh snow of the night before and only separated from us by the Kangshung glacier, here about a mile wide. Great avalanches thunder down its sides all day long with a terrifying sound.
A century later, avalanches continue to show us this is a dynamic landscape in a state of constant flux. Often, we would glimpse the rapid tumbling of ice and snow in a long white cloud, rushing down the steep couloirs seconds before the terrifying sound reaches you – reminding us of one of the major threats to climbers.
The ‘gigantic’ cliffs of Mount Chomolönzo viewed from Pethang Ringmo. Charles Howard-Bury/Royal Geographical Society (1921)/Carl Cater (2024)
At the head of the Kama valley, the Kangshung face of Everest is perhaps the most impressive of all the sides of the mountain, towering some two miles above the glacier below. Both the north-east (Tibetan) and south-east (Nepalese) ridges – the most popular routes to the summit – are clearly visible from here. The Kangshung face itself was not climbed successfully until an assault by an American team in 1983, and the first British ascent of Everest without oxygen by Stephen Venables in 1988.
While initially, the mountains and peaks look remarkably similar to the 1920s, the drop in the level of the glacier quickly becomes apparent. The ordered glacial flow has been replaced by rocky detritus and numerous perched lakes, leaving a lunar-like landscape.
During his first visit, and despite having spent much of his life in the mountains of Europe, Mallory wrote that he was in awe of the vista here:
Perhaps the astonishing charm and beauty here lie in the complications half-hidden behind a mask of apparent simplicity, so that one’s eye never tires of following up the lines of the great arêtes, of following down the arms pushed out from their great shoulders, and of following along the broken edge of the hanging glacier covering the upper half of this eastern face of Everest.
This view of the south-east ridge of Mount Everest shows the retreating Kangshung glacier. George Mallory/Royal Geographical Society (1921)/Carl Cater (2024)
While Everest was the prize sought by all the expeditions, the sight of the Makalu massif, dominating the Kama valley to the south, appears to have had a greater impact on both the climbers. Howard-Bury claimed it was by “far the more beautiful mountain of the two”, while Mallory “saw a scene of magnificence and splendour even more remarkable than the facts suggest”. He wrote:
Among all the mountains I have seen, and, if we may judge by photographs, all that ever have been seen, Makalu is incomparable for its spectacular and rugged grandeur. It was significant to us that the astonishing precipices rising above us on the far side of the glacier as we looked across from our camp – a terrific awe-inspiring sweep of snow-bound rocks – were the sides not so much of an individual mountain, but rather of a gigantic bastion or outwork defending Makalu.
In fact, according to Howard-Bury, “the shepherds would insist that Makalu was the higher of the two mountains, and would not believe us when we said that Mount Everest was the higher”.
The future of the Everest region
This historical comparison of hundred-year-old images and quotes represents both the enduring mountains but also the rapid changes that the Himalayas now face. Forces of tourism on one hand and climate change on the other are posing huge challenges for these marginal environments.
Our research shows that tourist and climbing activity is having significant impacts on the region. The causes are both directly at the mountain but also at home, particularly in the damage that all of our consumptive lifestyles are having on Himalayan glaciers.
Of course, these activities have also brought much-needed development opportunities to local populations, and the residents of both the Nepalese and Tibetan sides are generally much better off than populations in less-visited areas of their respective countries.
The expected redesignation of the Qomolangma National Nature Preserve as a national park in the current Chinese central government plan may bring opportunities for further management locally as the crowds continue to grow. However, we also identified a shortfall in protecting the significant cultural heritage and longstanding spiritual relationship to the mountain, which is often eclipsed by its physical size.
Perhaps a more balanced relationship to the mountain and its people is required, one that reevaluates our rather unhealthy obsession with just one peak. Reading the accounts from the 1920s, one is aware that there was a deep reverence for the region – not only from local people but also from its British visitors.
Journeys through Tibet’s Kama valley to Mount Everest more than a century apart. Video: Carl Cater and Linsheng Zhong.
In the intervening years, summit bids on the Tibetan side have historically been much lower than in Nepal. Closed to outsiders for much of the latter half of the last century, Tibetan ascents briefly became more popular in the 1990s and 2000s, with a few well-organised commercial operators. But closures in 2008 during Olympic preparations, and again during the COVID pandemic from 2020 to 2023, once again meant a much-reduced number of attempts.
Combined with less reliance on foreign exchange, China has been able to exert much more control on the climbing industry, and in 2024 did not charge a permit fee at all, preferring to ensure climbers were appropriately experienced. There may be merit in this approach, as no one was killed on the Tibetan side in 2024, as opposed to the eight climbers who perished on the southern side.
But on both sides of the mountain, it is highly unlikely that our global obsession with Everest will wane. As longtime chronicler Alan Arnette notes, the mountain has an “immutable attraction that is oddly perverse”. So, it is important we continue to monitor the changes in this dynamic landscape wrought by both its visitors and climate change.
To counter the rising commercialisation of both mountaineering and mountain tourism requires, above all, greater respect for our mountains and the people who reside on them. According to Lakhpa Puti Sherpa, president of the Nepal Mountain Academy, notes:
The Himalayan mountains are holy spots – and we, the Sherpas, worship them. Before climbing any mountain we worship it, begging apologies on having to step on it on the top, and asking to absolve the sin we are going to incur from this particular violence.
Watch more image comparisons of the Everest expeditions here. All historical photographs are published courtesy of the Royal Geographical Society. Slider comparisons built using Juxtapose.
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Carl Cater received funding from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ President’s International Fellowship Initiative. With thanks to Linsheng Zhong, Professor of Human and Tourism Geography at the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Yuxiang Lin, Doctoral Researcher, Centre for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies, University of Birmingham
The EU has given the green light for Bulgaria to join the euro from January 1 2026. This huge step towards European integration comes just six months after Bulgaria became a full member of Schengen area, within which people can move freely across borders.
However, while rapprochement moves apace at the top level, euroscepticism shows little sign of abating at the grassroots level in Bulgaria, or in national party politics.
Protests calling for Bulgaria to stick with its national currency have sprung up in both capital city Sofia and in several towns around the country. A May poll showed that 38% of Bulgarians were against the euro and only 21% agreed that the switch should go ahead in January.
Others wanted to wait a few years. In a similar poll in January, 40% of respondents said they never wanted Bulgaria to join the euro.
Anti-euro protests tend to be associated with the Bulgarian nationalist political parties. The most influential of these, Vazrazhdane, has become increasingly popular and won 13.63% in the most recent parliamentary elections in October 2024. It had won just 2.45% in elections held in April 2021.
Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007. When, in December 2021, I interviewed a former spokesman for the political party NDSV (National Movement Simeon II), which was in government from 2001 to 2009, they said Bulgarians had very high expectations ahead of becoming part of the bloc.
They had thought it would take just a few years for Bulgaria to be as economically developed as Switzerland, and that their standard of life would soar. The dream was that Bulgaria to become the so-called “Switzerland of the Balkans”, as both countries have similar population size and a similar touristic appeal.
The EU has channelled €16.3 billion into Bulgaria since the country joined EU, particularly for infrastructure development. However, a year of fieldwork has shown me that Sofia has been the main benefactor of this investment.
Small municipalities and rural communities have not felt the benefit as clearly. Among the €16.3 billion, Sofia received €3.1 billion and Plovdiv received €0.8 billion.
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Whereas Sofia gets new metro lines during recent years, citizens in some municipalities still struggle with basic public services for survival. Nearly 15% of the country’s population struggles with regular quality water supply.
The imagined “European” standard of life has not yet reached small municipalities and rural areas. Europe still feels far away.
Becoming part of the EU has given opportunities to Bulgarian citizens to work and live abroad in European countries. Official figures show 861,054 Bulgarian citizens lived in other EU countries in 2022. Recently a total of 74% of young people in Bulgaria are considering more or less seriously the idea of emigrating abroad.
However, the trend of young people working abroad in Europe has caused brain drain and has partially contributed to the decreasing population of Bulgaria, which fell from 7.68 million before it joined the EU in 2006 to 6.44 million in 2024.
According to a research analyst at a Sofia-based non-governmental organisation who I interviewed recently, many Bulgarian parents hope that their children working abroad in Europe will return to work in Bulgaria, because jobs for migrants abroad tend not be for high-skilled workers.
Accession to the eurozone is more likely to benefit Sofia-based people who do business abroad rather than older people living local lives in small municipalities or rural areas. Younger and working people have already been shown to be the ones who benefited most from European integration in Bulgaria and Romania in the first place.
That said, support for EU membership has been rising recently.
Holding a coalition together
Despite euroscepticism, European integration is one of the few issues that unites Bulgaria’s fragile coalition government – although not all political parties agree with joining the eurozone.
Bulgaria held seven parliamentary elections between April 2021 and October 2024. It therefore has been a surprise that amid the political turmoil, the coalition government that was formed in October 2024 has survived. A very important motivational source here is unity on the question of Europe.
But with mixed results so far and with meaningful levels of opposition the joining the euro, Bulgaria’s government will have to be careful about the potential for eurosceptic movements to grow as they have in several other EU nations.
Yuxiang Lin does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By John Kiely, Department of Physical Education & Sport Sciences, University of Limerick
If you’ve sustained an injury while exercising, giving up alcohol while you recover could be key.Andrey_Popov/ Shutterstock
Rest, rehab and patience are cornerstones of injury recovery. But should quitting alcohol be a part of any recovery plan? This is what England cricket captain Ben Stokes has done – saying he’s given up alcohol in a bid to quickly recover from a serious hamstring injury.
While this may seem extreme, emerging research shows that even small amounts of alcohol can interrupt recovery and delay healing in five key ways:
1. Disrupting immune function
Alcohol disrupts immune cells’ ability to reach and repair injured tissues – slowing the regeneration of healthy muscle, tendons and ligaments. This delays the clean-up of damaged cells and also prolongs swelling and sensitivity, which further delays the process of repair.
The effect of heavy drinking (more than four or five drinks at one time) on the immune system can leave your body vulnerable to infection and delay repair for between three to five days afterwards. Even moderate drinking (one to three drinks at one time) stalls tissue regeneration and prolongs swelling and tenderness in the injured area.
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2. Interfering with muscle rebuilding
Muscle protein synthesis – the process of repairing and rebuilding muscle – is reduced for 24 to 48 hours after even moderate alcohol consumption. In one study, muscle protein synthesis was shown to be reduced by 24-37% after drinking.
When this process is impaired, muscle regeneration slows. This results in persisting weakness, soreness and greater susceptibility to re-injury.
3. Delaying bone and tissue healing
When bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles are damaged, signals from these injured tissues trigger natural repair processes. But alcohol disrupts these signalling pathways and interferes with the body’s natural repair mechanisms, delaying healing and increasing swelling and scarring of the injured tissues.
Heavy drinking can prolong healing from a bone fracture by one to two weeks, and extend recovery from sprains and strains by two to three weeks.
4. Disrupting hormonal balance
Hormones are chemical messengers that coordinate many of the body’s recovery processes – including tissue repair, inflammation and muscle growth. Two especially helpful healing hormones are testosterone and growth hormone. Both help rebuild muscle and other connective tissues after injury.
Alcohol lowers circulating levels of these hormones and blunts the body’s ability to regenerate damaged tissues.
At the same time, alcohol raises cortisol levels. Cortisol is the body’s primary stress hormone. Elevated cortisol levels convince the brain that there’s an immediate threat. The brain subsequently seeks to mobilise available energy in preparation for a “fight” or “flight” response.
Clear communication between the brain and body is essential for smooth, precise and coordinated movement. But alcohol interferes with this communication.
As a result, coordination, balance and reaction times all plummet. The subtle movement impairments caused by even moderate drinking can linger for a couple of days afterwards. These increase the risk of movement errors and re-injury to the already vulnerable tissues.
Alcohol and injury recovery
Current research illustrates that there’s no safe threshold of alcohol consumption during rehabilitation. Even low-to-moderate drinking impairs athletic performance and injury recovery for a couple of days, depending on the dose, the person and the aspect of recovery being measured.
Binge drinking (periods of abstinence followed by consuming four or five drinks in one session) causes substantial short-term damage. Low-to-moderate drinking causes subtler disruptions, but these disruptions typically happen more frequently.
Stokes’ decision to abstain from alcohol is not an overreaction – it’s a clear-headed, evidence-led commitment to optimal recovery. As new evidence reshapes our understanding of alcohol’s multiple impacts, the message is simple: rehabilitation doesn’t happen in the pub. Whether you’re a professional athlete, a recreational runner or an enthusiastic “weekend warrior”, every drink counts.
When returning from an injury, the less you drink, the better your chances of a complete recovery. If a rapid and complete recovery is your goal, then less is better, and none is best.
Deciding to drink alcohol during rehabilitation is a personal choice. But if healing is the priority, one of the simplest, most controllable ways to skew the odds in your favour is to follow Stokes’ lead and skip that drink.
John Kiely 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.
Pterosaurs were an amazing group of flying reptiles that occupied the skies around the same time that dinosaurs roamed on land. Appearing in the fossil record around 230 million years ago, pterosaurs survived until 66 million years ago, when an asteroid impact helped wipe them, and many other life forms, out.
The pterosaurs are often the animals in the background, while the dinosaurs occupy the foreground. However, they are worthy of much more recognition than they are commonly given, not just as interesting ancient animals, but because they could also inspire aircraft designs.
Pterosaurs were the first vertebrates to evolve powered flight. They were in the air 80 million years before birds and around 180 million years before bats. However, their flight apparatus was rather different to either. The wings of bats are supported by multiple digits (like our fingers). Birds use feathers as structural units in the wings.
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But pterosaurs primarily had one finger to support their wings. Their main wing was composed of a single giant “spar” – a structural unit – made of up of the bones of the arm and the greatly elongated fourth finger, with a membrane that stretched from the tip of the finger down to the ankle. This membrane acted as a flight surface.
As a group, pterosaurs were diverse – some were specialist fishers, filter feeders, terrestrial predators, insect hunters, seed crackers, and more. Some could climb well and many species were highly mobile on the ground.
They also got very large. The biggest pterosaurs had wingspans of over 10m and could weigh over 250kg. Even the smallest pterosaurs could fly: juveniles with 10cm wingspans were probably capable of flight within days or even hours of hatching.
The bones of pterosaurs, like those of birds and many dinosaurs, were filled by extensions of the lungs called air-sacs, and they were extremely thin walled. This made the skeletons of the animals very stiff for their weight (rather important when flying). It also made their skeletons very fragile after death, and so pterosaur fossils are rare.
However, in a handful of sites around the world – most notably in Germany, Brazil and China – where the preservation of fossils is exceptionally good, we have huge numbers of pterosaur fossils with both complete skeletons and a lot of soft tissue. This gives us an incredible insight into the shape and structure of their wings and how they flew.
In addition to the main wing surface, pterosaurs had two other smaller subsidiary surfaces that would have given them extra control. At the front of the main wing sitting in the crux of the elbow was a small membrane between the wrist and the base of the neck, supported by a unique long wrist bone called the pteroid.
At the back of the body, earlier pterosaurs had a single large sheet of membrane between the legs, supported in the middle by a long tail and on each side by long fifth toes on the feet. Later pterosaurs split this rear membrane and had only a small piece of membrane running from the ankle on each leg to the base of a short tail.
As well as the outer skin-like layers, the wings had at least three major layers, comprising blood vessels, a layer of muscles, and a layer of stiffening fibres. Some might well have had extensions of the airsacs in the main wing membranes too, which could presumably be inflated and deflated to a degree. The wing as a whole was therefore extremely elastic and flexible.
Artist’s impression of pterosaurs in flight. Natalie Jagielska
This would have given pterosaurs extraordinary control over their wings. All of this makes them an intriguing model for future aircraft design.
Flight challenge
Aircraft wings are not (and cannot) be perfectly stiff. Adding flexibility, or better still, actual shape changing potential, could give them substantial performance benefits. But stiffness and flexibility need to be balanced. Problems with aeroelasticity – the tendency of a soft wing to vibrate in ways that greatly reduce performance (or even cause flight to fail outright) – limit how pliable the wings can be.
Pterosaurs had multiple mechanisms to address this challenge, from passive mechanisms, such as fibres within the wing, to active mechanisms, such as the muscles that ran throughout the wing and could tighten on demand. This wing tensioning anatomy is*is?* among the most sophisticated aeroelastic control systems known to science.
The key to applying our knowledge of pterosaurs to future aircraft design comes not in closely mimicking the exact shape and form of pterosaurs, but instead, in understanding and extracting core principles from their anatomy.
The membranous wings of pterosaurs were great at changing shape. The leading
edge could lie flat or depress to a sharp angle, thanks to the small anterior membrane. The main wing surface could change its curvature, or camber. There is even evidence that the wing could manage what is called reflex camber – a shape in which the trailing edge of the wing curves upwards.
Even the stiff portion of the wing (the spar) made of bone and surrounding muscles, was mobile – through motions of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist and flexibility within the bone itself near the wingtip. This soft, shape changing structure gave pterosaurs exceptional control over their moment-to-moment wing performance, optimising for lower speed or higher speed within fractions of a wingbeat. This would have made them particularly adept at slow speed flight – good for tight turns and precise, soft landings.
Greater manoeuvrability and pinpoint landings are a premium for autonomous vehicles working in busy environments – such as cities or natural disaster zones full of debris. So future survey and rescue drones could take lessons from pterosaur wing control systems.
The jointed, flexible wing anatomy of pterosaurs also meant that the wings could fold tightly, and unlike the wings of birds, the folded wings of pterosaurs doubled as powerful walking limbs. Because the hands contacted the ground while walking, the forelimbs were available to help push the animals into the air during take-off leaps. Mathematical models predict half-second launch times, from a standing start, in even the largest pterosaurs.
The exceptional mechanical loads associated with these launches were handled
by one of the highest stiffness-to-weight skeletons to ever evolve. This folded-wing, rapid-launch system has great potential for applications to future technologies.
So much so, in fact, that a prototype folding wing system modelled on pterosaurs has already undergone some testing (through a Nasa-funded university project on which one of the authors, Michael Habib, consulted). A folding, flapping wing that doubles as a launch system could allow future drones to take off with limited space – perhaps while on ships at sea. It could also be used to allow small flying drones to land and launch again out of craters on Mars.
The red planet has just enough atmosphere to make flapping wing and rotor wing systems work. But it’s energetically costly and hovering is tough – better to land, measure and launch again. Similarly, rapid take offs from uneven terrain, precise landings, tight turns, and on demand tweaks to improve performance are all features that could be applied to the drones of the future, in wingsuits, and more.
As the control systems for drones become increasingly driven by intelligent software, we will need a new generation of hardware to match. Pterosaurs may hold the keys to unlocking a future of highly manoeuvrable autonomous aerial vehicles that are competent in harsh conditions and urban environments. These would be ideal for search and rescue or surveys in locations that are too dangerous for humans.
So despite having been extinct for 66 million years, the pterosaurs have huge potential as the inspiration for aircraft design. Sometimes looking back can be the best way to look forward.
Michael Habib has worked on a prototype folding wing system based on pterosaur flight through a Nasa-funded university project.
David Hone and Liz Martin 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.
Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
June 13, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Renewable Fuels Standard rulemaking noticing Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for 2026 and 2027:
“President Trump and Administrator Zeldin have held true to their promises to unleash American energy and to implement the Renewable Fuels Standard consistent with the law. Today’s Renewable Volume Obligation rulemaking marks an important day for biofuels, American farmers, and Nebraska agriculture. Strong targets drive strong biofuel markets which benefits energy consumers, agricultural producers, and the environment.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Florida 20th district))
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) released the following statement regarding the detainment of Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA).
“The violent and forceful detainment of Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) by federal agents is a national disgrace and a dangerous escalation in the ongoing assault on our democratic norms.
“A sitting United States Senator was forcibly removed, thrown to the ground, and handcuffed—for doing what every public servant has a duty to do: ask questions and hold this administration accountable.
“What happened in Los Angeles is not just an affront to Senator Padilla (D-CA)—it is an affront to every American who believes in the right to speak, question authority, and seek truth. That he was treated as a threat for simply asserting his identity and demanding to be heard speaks volumes about the dangerous political climate under Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown.
“I stand in full solidarity with Senator Padilla (D-CA) and echo his call for peaceful protest and resistance. We must reject these authoritarian tactics and reaffirm our commitment to justice, due process, and the constitutional rights of all people—documented or not.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA, 14)
FOX NEWS: Marjorie Taylor Greene launches probe into Planned Parenthood’s use of taxpayer funds
Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) today launched an investigation into Planned Parenthood’s misuse of federal funds for abortion and so-called “gender affirming care” procedures for minors. In a letter to Planned Parenthood President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson, Subcommittee Chairwoman Greene requests information about Planned Parenthood’s financial statements, federal funding, and documents pertaining to its abortion and “gender affirming” medical and surgical interventions on children.
“Planned Parenthood is an abortion giant that harvests organs from babies and uses nearly all of its resources to kill babies, not provide real healthcare. Despite receiving billions in taxpayer dollars, they offer almost no prenatal care, push late-term abortions, and even supply aborted babies for grotesque experiments. As a Christian, I believe every life is a gift from God, and I believe it’s time Congress holds them accountable and stops the flow of federal funds to this evil and barbaric organization,” said Subcommittee Chairwoman Greene.
Despite receiving 39 percent of its annual revenue from federal funds intended for essential health services, such as cancer screenings and wellness exams, Planned Parenthood is increasingly using its resources to offer abortions to its patients. In FY 2023, Planned Parenthood provided fewer health care services and performed more abortions than years prior. The latest Planned Parenthood annual report shows that it performed more than 400,000 abortions, an increase of 23 percent over the last 10 years. Compared to a decade ago, Planned Parenthood provided 63 percent fewer prenatal services and 38 percent fewer contraceptive services.
Additionally, Planned Parenthood provides “gender affirming care,” including cross-sex hormones, puberty blockers, and surgical referrals, with allegedly little to no medical or psychological evaluation. In FY 2022, Planned Parenthood reported 45 affiliate health centers provided “gender-affirming” hormones. The exact number of these services is not disclosed in public reports. Planned Parenthood’s official policy varies by state, but some Planned Parenthood health centers will provide cross-sex hormones to minors as young as 16 years old with parental consent.
Below are excerpts from the letter. Read the full letter to Alexis McGill Johnson here.
“The Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency is investigating Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. and its affiliates’ provision of abortion services and ‘gender affirming care’ for minors. Recently released audio recordings expose multiple Planned Parenthood facilities offering a minor same-day access to cross-sex hormones with little medical supervision and questionable adherence to parental consent laws.
“As a recipient of nearly $800 million in federal funds in fiscal year (FY) 2023 and the second largest provider of gender hormone therapies in the United States, the Subcommittee is concerned that Planned Parenthood may be commingling federal funds and using them for unpermitted purposes. It is imperative that federal funds provided to Planned Parenthood via Title X of the Public Health Service Act (Title X), Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Therefore, the Subcommittee seeks documents and information from Planned Parenthood about its delivery of these services and stewardship of taxpayer funds.
Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) sent a bipartisan letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem urging the immediate release of emergency funds provided by Congress to repair Coast Guard facilities in Maine and New Hampshire that were damaged by recent storms.
“We write to request that you urgently obligate the emergency supplemental funds Congress provided to recapitalize Coast Guard facilities in Portland, ME, Southwest Harbor, ME and New Castle, NH,” the Senators wrote. “A combination of severe storm damage and resource constraints have hampered the ability of the Coast Guard to perform its important missions in Maine and New Hampshire, such as escorting submarines as they arrive and depart from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.”
“These facilities not only support our local communities and economies, but they also serve vital national security interests. The Coast Guard has a long and growing backlog of stations and facilities in need of repair or recapitalization. We see these issues firsthand in Maine and New Hampshire,” they continued. “In February 2025, the Government Accountability Office found that 49% of the Coast Guard’s shore infrastructure is beyond its expected service life and that the agency has a $7 billion backlog in shore infrastructure projects.”
“We respectfully request your commitment that the Department of Homeland Security and the Coast Guard use the supplemental Procurement, Construction & Improvements funds as soon as possible to recapitalize Coast Guard stations in Rockland ME, Portland, ME, Southwest Harbor, ME and New Castle, NH,” they concluded.
Earlier this year, Senator Collins announced that she had secured more than $40 million in funding that the U.S. Coast Guard requested for repairs to the Coast Guard facilities in Rockland, Southwest Harbor, and Portland damaged by recent storms. This funding was included in disaster relief legislation that has passed Congress and been signed into law. It included more than $210 million for construction projects, of which a portion was allocated for repairs to Coast Guard facilities in Maine.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
The End of Light Goods Vehicle Acquired Rights
Since May 2022, transport companies and couriers using vans and car and trailers over 2.5 tonnes to transport goods in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland have needed a Standard International Goods Vehicle Operator Licence and have a designated transport manager.
Over the past year the Office of the Traffic Commissioner has been working with the 293 operators who relied on a transport manager that holds an Acquired Rights Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) for light goods vehicles.
As the certificate could only be used to satisfy the professional competence requirements on an operator’s licence until 20 May 2025, it was important that they had a suitably qualified person specified on their operator’s licence before this date. Without it, their operator’s licence is at risk of revocation.
The transport manager is a vital part of a transport company. They are responsible for helping to ensure that all goods and passengers reach their destinations safely. They ensure drivers have a valid licence and do not speed or break the drivers’ hours rules, vehicles are taxed and insured, have a valid MOT, are properly maintained and are loaded safely and the vehicle operator does not break safety rules.
Gaining the CPC can take up to a year and the majority of those with acquired rights have spent the time and effort gaining the CPC qualifications they need. Some operators have appointed new, already qualified transport managers. Some no longer need the licence and have surrendered them, but for around 90 operators, licence revocation is now immanent, jeopardising their businesses through inaction.
TAQA Drilling Solutions Inc. pleaded guilty to one charge under occupational health and safety (OHS) laws and was sentenced on June 4 in the Edmonton Court of Justice.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on a work site in Edmonton on March 23, 2022. A worker was disassembling oilfield drilling equipment when the worker was struck by a projectile, causing serious injuries.
The company, as an employer, pleaded guilty to one count under the OHS Code for failing to provide safeguards if a worker could come into contact with objects thrown by machinery or equipment. The Crown withdrew eight other counts. Under a creative sentence, the company was ordered to pay $126,000 to the Glenrose Hospital Foundation for neuromodulation research at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital.
The OHS Act provides a creative sentence option in which funds that would otherwise be paid as fines are directed to an organization or project to improve or promote workplace health and safety.
Both the company and the Crown have up to 30 days to appeal the conviction or penalties.
Alberta’s OHS laws set basic health and safety rules for workplaces across the province. They provide guidance for employers to help them ensure their workplaces are as healthy and safe as possible while providing rights and protections for workers. Charges under OHS laws may be laid when failing to follow the rules results in a workplace fatality or serious injury.
Quick facts
Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration does not provide sentence documents. These are available through the Edmonton Court of Justice.
Victim fine surcharges apply to fines payable to the Crown. They are not applied to payments to other entities under creative sentences.
Kingston, Ontario, June 13, 2025 – Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) would like to provide an update on the temporary closures for marine openings on the LaSalle Causeway, following the public notice issued on June 3.
The LaSalle Causeway was originally scheduled to be fully closed to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians on Sunday, June 15, from 6 am to 10 pm. The timeframe for this closure has been extended by 2 hours and is now:
Sunday, June 15, at 6 am to Monday, June 16, at 12 am
The extended closure of the causeway is required to carry out modifications to the bridge structure. The rest of the schedule for marine openings remains unchanged and is available on PSPC’s LaSalle Causeway page.
Additionally, PSPC wishes to advise users that there will be off-peak alternating lane closures on the LaSalle Causeway to carry out modifications to the bridge structure during the following period:
Monday, June 16, from 9:30 am to 12 pm
During this period, only 1 lane will be open to traffic in alternating directions, and access to the sidewalk may be temporarily interrupted. Road signage will be in place, with flag persons directing motorists, pedestrians and cyclists. Users may experience delays.
The schedule may change depending on weather conditions.
PSPC encourages all users to exercise caution when travelling and thanks them for their patience.
The Chinese Culture Festival 2025 opened today at the Cultural Centre, launching over 280 events to be held from June to September, with Chief Executive John Lee addressing the opening ceremony via a video speech.
The festival is presented by the Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau and organised by the Leisure & Cultural Services Department.
In his video speech, Mr Lee said that the Government will fully leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the “one country, two systems” principle to promote outstanding traditional Chinese culture globally and ride on Hong Kong’s international network in telling good stories of China to the world.
He pointed out that an important strategic direction featured in the Blueprint for Arts & Culture & Creative Industries Development, published by the Government last year, is on the promotion of the profound traditional Chinese culture.
Mr Lee expressed confidence that the Chinese Culture Festival will become an annual signature cultural event in Hong Kong, presenting the rich and vibrant Chinese culture to audiences through innovative approaches.
The Chief Executive added that the Government will continue to promote the essence of Chinese culture to citizens of Hong Kong and visitors from overseas and the Mainland, with a view to achieving “shaping tourism with cultural activities and promoting culture through tourism” and fostering the integration and mutual reinforcement of culture and tourism.
Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law attended the opening ceremony as an officiating guest.
The opening programme of this year’s festival staged tonight is a contemporary dance performance “Dongpo: Life in Poems”. Through contemporary dance, the production deeply integrates various fine traditional Chinese culture elements, such as poetry writing, traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy, seal engraving, guqin, Chinese opera and martial arts.
The programme also featured an open rehearsal under the “Chinese Culture for All: A Special Performance Series” this afternoon at the Grand Theatre of the Cultural Centre. Close to 400 primary and secondary school students and teachers as well as members of the community were invited to attend, free of charge.
The thematic exhibition on “Dongpo: Life in Poems” is currently being held at the Cultural Centre Foyer, introducing the concept and structure of the production. The exhibition will run until tomorrow. Admission is free.
Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
Washington – On Thursday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) introduced a Resolution commending federal, state, and local law enforcement for their efforts in protecting Americans by combating drug trafficking and agroterrorism and for their recent actions in Kansas and across the country.
“At a time when our communities are under threat from both foreign and domestic criminals, I want to commend our hard-working law enforcement officials at all levels for the work they do each and every day to keep America safe,” said Senator Marshall.
The Resolution highlights work done by the Emporia Police Department, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in stopping and preventing crime.
“I am very thankful for the combined efforts of the Emporia Police Department, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and the federal agencies that assisted in this matter,” said Trey Cocking, Emporia City Manager. “Their work demonstrates the power of true professional collaboration. Together, we can take meaningful steps to stem the tide of illegal substances impacting our communities.”
“Thank you to Senator Marshall for recognizing law enforcement’s continuing efforts to fight against the threat of illicit drugs that have infiltrated every corner of Kansas,” said KBI Director Tony Mattivi. “Our federal, state, and local partnerships are critical in standing up to drug trafficking organizations who threaten our communities.”
“Kansas Wheat is grateful for the law enforcement agencies working to protect the national security of our food supply,” said Justin Gilpin, CEO of Kansas Wheat. “Threats from foreign adversaries using agriculture to disrupt our food safety and security systems must be taken seriously and acted upon.”
Click HERE to read the full resolution.
Background:
In May 2025, a joint team consisting of agents from Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and the Emporia Police Department arrested six individuals for transporting more than 85 gallons of liquid methamphetamine from Mexico to Emporia, Kansas.
On June 5, 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration executed a record drug bust, seizing over 93 kilograms of fentanyl, 97 kilograms of methamphetamine, nearly 18 kilograms of heroin, and about 10 kilograms of cocaine. The value of this confiscation exceeds $9 million, and the quantity could have killed nearly 50 million individuals.
On June 10, 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested two Chinese nationals, with alleged Chinese Communist Party ties, who were caught smuggling the fungus Fusarium Graminearum into the United States. This fungus can cause ‘head blight’, which devastates wheat, barley, maize, and rice crops, and has caused billions of dollars in economic losses globally.
Source: Government of Ireland – Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation
13th June 2025
This afternoon, Michael Carey tendered his resignation as Chair of Enterprise Ireland.
A process will now commence through the Public Appointments Service to appoint a new Chair. Jim Woulfe sits on the board of Enterprise Ireland and has agreed to act as interim Chair in advance of the formal process concluding.
I would like to thank Michael Carey for his work and dedication to Irish enterprises over the last two years as Chair of Enterprise Ireland and wish him all the best in the future.
The Government and Enterprise Ireland have ambitious plans over the coming period, including to increase exports to €50bn by 2029, to establish 1,700 new Irish-owned exporters and to increase jobs in companies supported by Enterprise Ireland to 275,000.
Supporting Irish SMEs, together with realising the significant potential we have in our innovative economy, remain my absolute priority. I am working closely with Jenny Melia, as CEO designate, and the board of Enterprise Ireland in this regard.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)
Washington, DC – Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Marlin Stutzman (R-IN), Lou Correa (D-CA), and Jack Bergman (R-MI) introduced bipartisan legislation repealing the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019. Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) joined as an Original Cosponsor, as well.
The Caesar Act which imposed sanctions on Syria in response to the Assad regime’s war crimes was waived by Secretary of State Marco Rubio last month for 180 days. However, unless Congress permanently repeals the law it will require waivers every 180 days until the law expires in December 2029, thereby creating economic uncertainty which will harm efforts to reduce the massive humanitarian and economic hardship in Syria which has been ravaged by years of war.
On May 21, Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. In response to a question regarding Syria sanctions from Rep. Wilson, Sec. Rubio said, “The sanctions in Syria are largely based on a statute, the Caesar Act, and so that allows the President to do rolling waivers, I believe 6 months at a time. So the goal is ultimately to make enough progress, so that Congress will permanently repeal those.”
Ambassador Thomas Barrack, who is U.S. ambassador to Türkiye, was named as Syria’s U.S. envoy on May 23; he noted Syria had been under U.S. sanctions since 1979. Some of the toughest were implemented in 2020 under the Caesar Act, which Barrack said must be repealed by Congress within a 180-day window. “I promise you the one person who has less patience with these sanctions than all of you is President Trump,” Amb. Barrack said.
“For far too long, the Syrian people suffered under the brutal dictatorship of the Assad regime. With the ousting of this regime, it is critical that we give the new government the opportunity to deliver for the Syrian people,” said Rep. Jayapal. “The repeal of these broad sanctions will give foreign partners the certainty they need to invest in the Syrian economy and give their new government a chance to succeed.”
“The Assad regime sanctioned by the Caesar Act no longer exists, and it is time to repeal the law to provide long-term certainty to those who would like to invest in the reconstruction and rebuilding of Syria,” said Rep. Wilson.
“With the fall of the Assad regime, the Syrian people have renewed hope for a better future,” said Rep. Panetta. “By repealing the Caesar Act, the United States can better support the Syrian people and their economy during this critical transitional period. Syria is at a turning point, and as geo-political adversaries try to take advantage of the turmoil, the United States must position itself as a partner for continued progress.”
overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of Mosaic Apartments, a 60-unit affordable housing development in the Mont Pleasant neighborhood in the City of Schenectady. Half of the apartments in the $27 million development are reserved for individuals and families struggling with homelessness and in need of support services, including older New Yorkers. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State Homes and Community Renewal has financed more than 4,700 affordable homes in the Capital Region, including more than 600 in Schenectady County. Mosaic Apartments continues this effort and complements Governor Hochul’s $25 billion five-year housing plan, which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.
“New York is committed to creating affordable homes and supporting our most vulnerable communities,” Governor Hochul said. “Mosaic Apartments is creating new housing opportunities for 60 households and continues statewide efforts to build more housing and tackle the housing crisis. I am proud to have partners at the local level who support our housing agenda and are helping to make New York more affordable for individuals and families.”
Units at Mosaic Apartments are available to households earning up to 50 percent of the Area Median Income. Tenants living in the supportive apartments will receive services including case management, healthcare coordination, transportation, community integration, and independent living skills education.
The fully-electric development features rooftop solar panels, ENERGY STAR(r) appliances, electric heating and cooling, and energy-efficient lighting. There are also water‐conserving plumbing fixtures and electric hot water heaters.
Mosaic Apartments complements the ongoing planning and revitalization efforts in the City of Schenectady’s 2020 Mont Pleasant Neighborhood Plan and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2018 Mont Pleasant Renewal Area Plan. The site was assembled by the City of Schenectady’s unified economic development team including the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority and the Capital Region Land Bank. The development is walking distance from a County library branch, convenience store, and schools.
DePaul Properties is the project’s developer and DePaul Community Services is providing the on-site support services. Applications for Mosaic Apartments are now being accepted and qualified individuals can apply online at https://www.depaul.org/locations/mosaic-apartments/.
Mosaic Apartments is supported by New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, which generated $11 million in equity, $5.8 million from its Federal Housing Trust Fund, $4 million from its Supportive Housing Opportunity Program, and $330,000 from its Clean Energy Initiative program, created in partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The project is also supported by $4.3 million from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program and a $226,200 program development grant from the New York State Office of Mental Health. Additional funding includes $525,000 from the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority and $200,000 from the Capital Region Land Bank. Operating funding for the supportive apartments is provided by the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative administered by the New York State Office of Mental Health.
New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Mosaic Apartments will give 60 households an affordable, modern, and energy-efficient place to call their own. This $27 million investment in the Schenectady community builds on the city’s continued efforts to enhance quality-of-life throughout the Mount Pleasant neighborhood and provides much-needed support to vulnerable residents. We thank the Governor for her ongoing efforts to increase housing opportunities across the state, Mayor McCarthy for his continued collaboration, and for our development partners for making this project a reality.”
New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinnsaid, “The 30 apartments with supportive services will help vulnerable New Yorkers who have experienced homelessness to access vital services while remaining safely housed. We are grateful to all of our partners for the successful completion of Mosaic Apartments and what it represents–that supportive housing can strengthen communities while stabilizing lives.”
NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “New York continues to prioritize expanded access to clean, modern, affordable living opportunities across the state, especially for those who have been historically marginalized. Adopting all-electric and energy efficient building features such as electric heating and cooling and rooftop solar, like we see at Mosaic Apartments, demonstrates how we can create accessible living environments that prioritize the needs and well-being of our communities.”
New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “All New Yorkers should have the ability to age with dignity within their community. The Mosaic Apartments will provide stable homes and supportive services for older adults living with mental illness. This project represents Governor Hochul’s strong commitment to developing new supportive housing throughout our state to help older adults live safely in independent settings.”
Representative Paul Tonko said, “I’m so proud to celebrate the completion of Mosaic Apartments, an all-electric, energy-efficient affordable housing development that will address critical housing needs in the Schenectady area. Investments in sustainable, affordable housing are an essential part of our efforts to build stronger communities. Now, thanks to significant federal funding from the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, this development will help advance our efforts to provide quality living spaces for all residents of our Capital Region — particularly for seniors and individuals with disabilities — while also moving us toward a cleaner, greener future.”
Schenectady County Legislature Chair Gary Hughessaid, “We thank Governor Hochul for making this $27 million investment in Schenectady County possible. By working as a team, we have been able to build more than 3,000 new housing units in our community in recent years and this pro-housing effort has helped to make Schenectady County the fourth fastest growing county in New York State.”
Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy said, “The new Mosaic development adds to the momentum in our neighborhoods replacing vacant properties with new quality apartments that we are proud to showcase at this grand opening today.”
DePaul President Mark Fuller said, “DePaul is grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul and partners for assisting us in increasing our ability to provide permanent housing where residents can access the support services they require to live successfully. We look forward to changing even more lives for individuals in Schenectady and across New York State by offering housing stability for the most vulnerable populations.”
Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda
Governor Hochul is committed to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and more livable for all New Yorkers. As part of the FY 2025 Enacted Budget, the Governor secured a landmark agreement to increase New York’s housing supply through new tax incentives, capital funding, and new protections for renters and homeowners. Building on this commitment, the FY 2026 Enacted Budget included more than $1.5 billion in new state funding for housing, a Housing Access Voucher pilot program, and new policies to improve affordability for tenants and homebuyers. In addition, as part of the FY 2023 Enacted Budget, the Governor announced a five-year, $25 billion Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. Nearly 60,000 homes have been created or preserved to date.
The FY 2025 Enacted Budget also strengthened the Pro-Housing Community Program which the Governor launched in 2023. Pro-Housing certification is now a requirement for localities to access up to $750 million in discretionary funding. Currently, more than 300 communities have been certified, including the City of Schenectady.
Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
WASHINGTON –Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Vice Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement on press reporting that experienced FBI leaders – including the head of the FBI field office in Richmond, Va., and a top deputy at the field office in Norfolk, Va. – have been pushed out of their positions:
“I’m deeply concerned by press reporting that more experienced FBI leaders have been pushed out of their roles by Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino. From day one, this administration has shown a willingness to undermine the integrity of our federal agencies in service of political loyalty. Virginians, and all Americans, deserve a Federal Bureau of Investigation that follows the facts and enforces the law without fear or favor, not one reshaped to serve the political whims of the president or his allies. These actions are unlikely to make us any safer.”
Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
WASHINGTON –Tonight, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Vice Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement:
“This is a rapidly evolving situation, and it’s critical that the United States work with our allies and avoid steps that will cause further escalation across the region. For years, Iran has threatened the safety of Israel and the region and Israel has an undeniable right to defend itself and its citizens. At the moment, my foremost concern is the safety of American troops, diplomats, and personnel stationed throughout the Middle East. As Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I am carefully monitoring developments and staying in close contact with our intelligence and national security agencies.”
Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from the historic Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement (RCBA) reached between the Federal Government and the Six Sovereigns—the states of Washington and Oregon, and the Nez Perce Tribe, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation:
“Donald Trump doesn’t know the first thing about the Northwest and our way of life—so of course, he is abruptly and unilaterally upending a historic agreement that finally put us on a path to salmon recovery, while preserving stable dam operations for growers and producers, public utilities, river users, ports and others throughout the Northwest. This decision is grievously wrong and couldn’t be more shortsighted.
“The Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement was the result of years of painstaking work—this was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernize infrastructure across the Columbia River Basin, support reliable clean energy, and save imperiled salmon and steelhead runs. The Trump administration’s senseless decision to tear it up is a betrayal of our Tribes and a tremendous setback for the entire Northwest.
“After nearly 30 years of litigation, this agreement also led to a durable stay in court proceedings, which is now in jeopardy. I am going to continue doing everything I can to support the restoration of healthy and abundant salmon runs—including through the annual Appropriations process. We must save our salmon.”
In August 2022, Senator Murray and Governor Inslee released joint findings and recommendations at the conclusion of an extensive, months-long joint federal-state process that evaluated the feasibility of breaching the Lower Snake River Dams as a way of protecting endangered salmon and steelhead species. Murray and Inslee concluded that breach was not feasible at that time as more needs to be done to replace the benefits of the dams–particularly investments in clean energy—but that it is imperative to prioritize major salmon recovery projects that can be undertaken in the near term. Senator Murray’s statement on the findings of the Murray-Inslee joint federal-state process is HERE.
A final version of the independent report commissioned by Senator Murray and Governor Inslee can be found HERE. The independent report—along with months of public input, and discussion with stakeholders and Tribes—helped guide the Senator and Governor’s August 2022 recommendation.
In December 2023, Senator Murray applauded the agreement reached between the federal government and the Six Sovereigns to allow for an extended stay in court proceedings on litigation involving the management of the Columbia-Snake River System.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
AAIB Update: Air India flight AI171
Update on the fatal accident which occurred in Ahmedabad, India on 12 June 2025
A team of four investigators from the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has arrived in India. They have expertise in aircraft operations, engineering and recorded data. Their role is to provide additional support and expertise to the safety investigation being led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.
The UK AAIB has ‘Expert’ status in the Indian safety investigation. In accordance with international protocols, release of information on the investigation rests solely with the Indian authorities.
British nationals who require consular assistance or have concerns about friends or family should call the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO): 020 7008 5000.
The Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham, and Minister for External Relations, Deputy Ian Gorst, represented Jersey at the British-Irish Council, BIC, Summit in Northern Ireland on Thursday 12 to Friday 13 June.
The 43rd Summit, hosted by the First Minister of Northern Ireland, Michelle O’Neill, and the Deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly, brought together all the representatives of the BIC administrations, including the Irish, Welsh, Scottish and UK Governments, the Northern Ireland Executive, and the Governments of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
The theme of the meeting was ‘The Role of AI in Reform and Transformation’.
After the summit, Deputy Farnham said: “The British-Irish Council remains a vital forum that brings together member administrations to discuss, and address, our many joint challenges and opportunities. Deputy Gorst and I had useful conversations with ministers from across the British Isles against the backdrop of challenging global and national events.
“I would like to thank the First Minister and Deputy First Minister for the kind hospitality that we were shown throughout the Summit.”
Deputy Gorst added: “It was immensely worthwhile to discuss how AI can enhance our public services, particularly in health diagnosis and prevention of illness. We will be sharing expertise with other jurisdictions which are exploring advances in many of the same areas.”
B.C. will lead a delegation of companies to the BIO International Convention in Boston, Mass., to attract more investment to the province’s life-sciences sector and build relationships with other countries to help strengthen the economy against ongoing U.S. tariffs.
Diana Gibson, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, will be at the conference June 15-19, 2025.
BIO is the largest and most comprehensive international event for biotechnology, bringing 20,000 industry leaders together from across the globe. The ministry will showcase B.C.’s award-winning Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy to international delegates. The strategy builds on the momentum of the rapidly expanding sector and supports businesses to more easily commercialize their innovations.
“We want attendees at BIO to know that B.C. is open for business and we are ready to welcome new investors and talent to join our growing life-sciences, health-care and technology sectors,” Gibson said. “With our competitive advantages, our talented people, world-class universities, and rich startup and scale-up ecosystem, B.C.’s life-sciences and biomanufacturing sector is growing faster than anywhere else in the country.”
Gibson will highlight B.C.’s life-sciences sector as a global leader in innovative discoveries and world-leading products and services. Meetings are set with potential investors, venture-capital and other business partners to explore opportunities and foster critical relationships.
“British Columbia’s life-sciences sector is an innovation powerhouse with world-class research, top-tier talent and a dynamic startup ecosystem,” said Wendy Hurlburt, president and CEO, Life Sciences BC. “As global investors and strategic partners seek impactful, breakthrough technologies, B.C. is at the forefront, offering exceptional opportunities to shape the future of health. At BIO 2025, Life Sciences BC and our delegation of almost 40 companies is inviting the world to discover why British Columbia is the place where the future of life sciences is being built.”
Life Sciences B.C. will host its opening reception, which is one of the main go-to Canadian events at the conference with more than 200 attendees and approximately half being international audiences. B.C. delegates will promote common goals and their Team B.C. approach at the convention.
“British Columbia is home to exceptional scientific talent and a life-sciences sector with real, growing momentum,” said Kenneth Galbraith, chair and chief executive officer of Zymeworks. “At Zymeworks, we’ve grown from our roots in Vancouver to a global company that is partnering with some of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical organizations to advance novel therapies for difficult-to-treat cancers. Our experience and expertise reflect the strength of British Columbia’s innovation ecosystem and its ability to support companies as they scale to make a real impact for patients in need.”
Key discussions will include international talent mobility and workforce development, technology commercialization, strengthening collaboration between post-secondary institutions, expanding research and innovation partnerships in priority sectors, such as artificial intelligence and health tech, and highlighting B.C.’s strength as a clean-tech hub.
B.C. continues to make record investments in its world-renowned research centres to support their discoveries and innovations. To date, government has invested more than $737 million and leveraged more than $1.2 billion in federal funding and private investment to expand the life-sciences sector.
As Canada’s gateway to the Pacific, British Columbia is ideally located for easy and cost-effective international commerce, with a business day that conveniently overlaps with afternoon working hours in Europe, the morning in Asia and is synchronized for the full day with California and Washington state.
Learn More:
To learn more about the advantages of doing business in British Columbia, visit: https://www.britishcolumbia.ca
For information about B.C.’s Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/technology-innovation/life-sciences-biomanufacturing
For more information about the BIO International Convention, visit: https://www.bio.org/events/bio-international-convention
June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and the Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan (FCAA) is encouraging all Saskatchewan residents to consider naming a Trusted Contact Person (TCP) and providing it to your registered financial advisor. This can help protect their financial assets in the future.
“A health crisis can happen at any time, leaving a person vulnerable to financial exploitation or issues that might affect their capacity to make financial decisions,” FCAA Executive Director of Securities Dean Murrison said. “Naming a Trusted Contact Person can provide you with peace of mind knowing your registered financial advisor has someone you trust that they can contact if required.”
A TCP is someone you authorize your registered financial advisor to contact in certain circumstances. It lets your registered financial advisor know who you trust and who they have permission to contact if required.
If you have a TCP, your registered financial advisor may need to contact them if:
they are having difficulty contacting you;
they are concerned you are vulnerable and being financially exploited;
you have a health issue and they need to confirm your wellbeing; or
they need confirmation of your legal representative(s).
A TCP should be someone you trust and someone who is capable of handling difficult conversations about your personal situation. Consider choosing someone who:
will protect your interests;
will be comfortable talking to your registered financial advisor;
knows you well enough to notice changes in your personal situation;
is familiar with your support network;
agrees to take on the role; and
is typically not involved in your financial decisions, and preferably, is not your Financial Power of Attorney.
More information about naming a TCP can be found on the FCAA website at: https://fcaa.gov.sk.ca/consumers-investors-pension-plan-members/investors/financial-literacy/seniors/senior-financial-abuse/trusted-contact-person-tcp.
If a senior has faced financial exploitation or if fraud has occurred, contact local police, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and the Securities Division of the FCAA at 306-787-5645 or fcaa@gov.sk.ca.
For more information about senior financial abuse and tips for family members and caregivers visit: https://fcaa.gov.sk.ca/consumers-investors-pension-plan-members/investors/financial-literacy/seniors/senior-financial-abuse.
The Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan (FCAA) is warning residents of scams that are targeting wildfire evacuees. The messages claim to be from the Canadian Red Cross and request personal and banking information in order to process payments.
The Canadian Red Cross has issued a fraud alert regarding Manitoba and Saskatchewan wildfires advising that individuals eligible for financial assistance will NOT need to provide their social insurance number, bank account information or credit card number during their registration to receive assistance.
In light of this recent scam, the FCAA encourages all Saskatchewan residents to be mindful if you are contacted by a charitable organization requesting personal or banking information.
Scam red flags (email, phone and text)
Emails coming from a domain that does not match the company.
Unsolicited calls or texts from unknown numbers.
Messages with spelling or grammar errors.
Requests for personal or banking information.
Pressure to act quickly.
Too-good- to-be-true offers.
Suspicious links and attachments.
If you are unable to confirm the organization’s registration or licence.
Tips to protect yourself from scams
Do not answer or engage with unsolicited messages.
Do not click on any links or attachments.
Never share personal information (SIN, bank account, credit card) through email, phone or text.
If you suspect you have received a scam email, phone call or text, contact your local police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre immediately.
The FCAA licenses for-profit charitable fund-raising businesses acting on behalf of a registered charity. Click here to check the charitable fundraising businesses licensed through the FCAA. Charities acting on their own behalf, including the Canadian Red Cross, are registered with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Click here to check the charities registered with the CRA.
For more information about donating to a charity, visit the FCAA’s website at https://fcaa.gov.sk.ca/consumers-investors-pension-plan-members/consumers/donating-to-charity.
President Wavel Ramkalawan visited the Paradise Arena at Roche Caiman earlier this week to assess preparations for the upcoming International Boxing Tournament being organised by Tides Seychelles.
Set to be hosted on home soil later this month, the highly anticipated event will welcome boxers from across the Indian Ocean and beyond, further establishing Seychelles as a growing hub for regional sporting competitions.
During his visit, the President had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Colvin Beaudouin representative of Tides Seychelles, as well as Mr. Ameer Afif from Hunt, Deltel & Co Ltd—the main sponsor of the event. The President also interacted with several local boxers and their coaches Mr Jerry Legras and Roland Raforme, commending their discipline, perseverance and dedication to the sport.
President Ramkalawan expressed his appreciation for the initiative undertaken by Tides Seychelles and praised the collaborative effort between private sponsors, local organisers, and the boxing community in promoting youth engagement and sporting excellence in Seychelles.
“The boxing ring is not just a platform for physical strength, but a symbol of discipline, respect and unity. I am proud to see our youth so determined and focused. Seychelles is proud of you,” said the President.
He further encouraged the young athletes to continue striving for greatness, reminding them that representing Seychelles on an international stage is both a privilege and a powerful opportunity.
The International Boxing Tournament promises to be a thrilling event on the nation’s sporting calendar and will serve as an inspiration for aspiring athletes across the country.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-01)
— Remarks as Delivered —
“Thank you, Mr. Speaker,
“Iowans overwhelmingly rejected the Washington status quo in November, demanding an end to unelected bureaucrats misusing taxpayer resources.
“President Trump’s rescissions package cuts $9.4 billion dollars, including: $3 million for Iraqi Sesame Street, $6 million for “Net Zero Cities” in Mexico, and $1 million for voter ID in Haiti, not here in the United States.
“We are only scratching the surface with this package, but imagine redirecting that to veterans’ care or specialty crop programs in a state like mine.
“This package also rescinds funds for NPR and PBS.
“For decades, public broadcasting has not adhered to objectivity standards enshrined in law – it has pushed biased narratives and forced inappropriate content on children, like a movie celebrating the sex change of a child, and a feature on the racial origins of fat phobia…whatever that means.
“Children should not be fed woke propaganda – certainly not on the taxpayer dime – that is coming from a former broadcaster.
“I want to thank President Trump for exposing this waste and working to protect Americans’ hard-earned dollars.
“I urge my colleagues to join me in passing his bill, and I yield back. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.” – Congresswoman Ashley Hinson
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50)
Washington, D.C.— Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) was joined by Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) in reintroducing H.R.4009, the Protecting and Enhancing Public Access to Codes Act (Pro Codes Act), which would protect public access to important federal rules and regulations.
“Standards in federal rules and regulations matter, and never more so than when they are at the crossroads of streamlining public access or blocking it,” said Rep. Issa. “The Pro Codes Act will ensure our standards remain transparent, accessible, and available.”
As more codes get incorporated by reference into legal standards by courts, the Pro Codes Act will protect a code or standard’s incorporation by ensuring the copyright doesn’t extinguish. The bipartisan bill ensures that the public retains free access to the information. Just as some online services have a free version of their product with limited functionality and a paid premium version with greater functionality, under this bill, those that invest in code development will still be able to sell the materials in certain formats so long as they are simultaneously providing access to the information for free.
