Home Newsroom Attorney General Labrador’s ICAC Task Force Arrests Cassia County Man for Child Exploitation
BOISE — Attorney General Raúl Labrador has announced that investigators with his Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit arrested Theodore Prevost on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, for alleged sexual exploitation of a child. “My office and ICAC unit remain committed to protecting families, educating parents, and keeping children safe online,” said Attorney General Labrador. “Anyone in Idaho who uses the internet to exploit minors will be found and held accountable by our ICAC investigators.” Forty-eight-year-old Theodore Prevost has been charged with four counts of distribution and two counts of possession of visual representations of a child through computer-generated imagery. Further charges are potentially pending. The Idaho ICAC Unit was assisted by the Cassia County Sheriff’s Office, the Rupert Police Department, affiliates from the Meridian Police Department, and Idaho Falls Police Department. Anyone with information regarding the exploitation of children is encouraged to contact local police, the Attorney General’s ICAC Unit at 208-947-8700, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678. The Attorney General’s ICAC Unit works with the Idaho ICAC Task Force, a coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, to investigate and prosecute individuals who use the internet to criminally exploit children. Parents, educators, and law enforcement officials can find more information and helpful resources at the ICAC website, ICACIdaho.org.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his official visit to the United Kingdom from July 23-24. The meeting, held at the British Prime Minister’s country residence, Chequers in Buckinghamshire.
The two leaders held a one-on-one meeting followed by delegation-level talks, covering the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation.
During the talks, the two sides welcomed the signing of the historic India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The agreement is expected to boost trade, investment, economic collaboration, and job creation in both countries, taking the strategic partnership to a new level.
In a key development, the two countries also agreed to negotiate a Double Contribution Convention, which will support professionals and service industries by reducing operational costs and promoting competitiveness. Prime Minister Modi also proposed deeper cooperation between India’s GIFT City-India’s first international financial services centre-and the UK’s financial ecosystem.
The two leaders adopted the India-UK Vision 2035, a roadmap for the next decade that aims to enhance cooperation in the areas of economy, technology, innovation, research, education, defence, climate action, health, and people-to-people ties.
The finalisation of a Defence Industrial Roadmap was also welcomed. It aims to promote joint design, development, and production of defence products for domestic use and global markets. Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the growing defence partnership and regular engagement between the armed forces.
Underlining the importance of emerging technologies, the Prime Ministers agreed to accelerate the implementation of the Technology and Security Initiative (TSI). The TSI, which completed one year, focuses on areas such as telecom, critical minerals, AI, biotechnology, semiconductors, health technology, advanced materials, and quantum research.
In the education sector, the leaders hailed the growing collaboration under India’s New Education Policy (NEP). Notably, Southampton University became the first foreign university to open a campus in India, in Gurugram, on June 16. Several other UK universities are expected to follow suit.
The two Prime Ministers also acknowledged the significant contribution of the Indian diaspora in the UK across various fields, calling them a “living bridge” between the two countries.
Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Starmer for his support and solidarity following the Pahalgam terror attack. Both leaders reiterated their commitment to combat terrorism and agreed to intensify bilateral cooperation to counter extremism and radicalisation. PM Modi also sought the UK’s assistance in bringing economic offenders and fugitives to justice.
The leaders also exchanged views on key regional and global developments, including in the Indo-Pacific, West Asia, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Prime Minister Modi extended an invitation to Prime Minister Starmer to visit India at a mutually convenient time and thanked him for the warm hospitality.
The following documents were signed/adopted by the two sides during the visit:
● Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement [CETA]
● India-UK Vision 2035
● Defence Industrial Roadmap
● Statement on Technology and Security Initiative
● MoU between Central Bureau of Investigation, India and National Crime Agency of UK
Two women have today appeared before Jersey’s Royal Court and been sentenced for attempting to import cocaine into the Island, with a street value of £21,000.
Stephanie Louise Dean, aged 42 from Tipton, was sentenced to two years and six months’ imprisonment, and Jaye Eleanor Henry, aged 28, from Stourbridge, was given a 384-hour community service order.
They arrived in the Island on Wednesday 16 April 2025 having travelled from Portsmouth on the Stena Vinga ferry. When questioned by Jersey Customs and Immigration Officers, the women explained that they were in Jersey for one night, having booked their travel the day before and would be staying at the Savoy Hotel. Dean and Henry stated that they had been driven from Birmingham to Portsmouth to catch the ferry.
During a search of their baggage several swabs were taken which gave positive indications for cocaine with both women admitting to cocaine use the previous weekend. Officers became suspicious that the women were importing drugs internally and they were subsequently arrested. Dean then stated to officers: “I have to come clean; I have got something on me”. She later produced a condom-wrapped package containing 83.74 grams of cocaine with a purity of 84%.
During interview Dean said she was unaware what the package actually contained, thinking it was cannabis, but agreed to import the drugs into Jersey to clear her drugs debt of between £800 and £900, that she owed to a man named “Bubba”.
Henry was found not to be carrying any drugs but stated that the individual who had driven them to Portsmouth had tried to pass her the package which she refused and was given to Dean. She stated that Dean was getting paid £2,000 to import the drugs and that she would receive spending money for travelling with her. Phone messaging indicated that Henry was aware of the package and was to be paid for the importation.
Paul Le Monnier, Senior Manager at Jersey Customs and Immigration Service, said: “Our officers continue to disrupt the importation of controlled drugs at our borders and whilst these two women were clearly not the organisers of the importation, Dean was the courier of the drugs and Henry a willing accomplice with both women being paid for their roles.”
Anyone with information on drug smuggling can report it anonymously via 0800 735 5555.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)
Congressional Artificial Intelligence (AI) Caucus Chair Don Beyer (D-VA), Vice Chair Doris Matsui (D-CA), and Democratic Members of the Caucus Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Sarah McBride (D-DE), Jim McGovern (D-MA), and Rob Menendez (D-NJ) today issued the following statement on the Trump Administration’s AI Action Plan and executive orders on AI:
“We are deeply concerned about the impacts of President Trump’s AI Action Plan and the executive orders announced yesterday.
“The President’s Executive Order on “Preventing Woke AI in the Federal Government” and policies on ‘AI neutrality’ are counterproductive to responsible AI development and use, and potentially dangerous. To be clear, we support true AI neutrality—AI models trained on facts and science—but the administration’s fixation on ‘anti-woke’ inputs is definitionally not neutral. This sends a clear message to AI developers: align with Trump’s ideology or pay the price. We have already seen private technology companies rewarded for catering to the Administration, including the Administration awarding a wildly inappropriate $200 million Pentagon contract for Elon Musk’s Grok AI despite that platform’s recent history of racist misinformation, antisemitism, and support for Adolf Hitler – which were prompted by the very ‘anti-woke’ training this order envisions.
“We are also alarmed by the absence of regulatory structure in this AI Action Plan to ensure the responsible development, deployment, or use of AI models, and the apparent targeting of state-level regulations. As AI is integrated with daily life and tech leaders develop more powerful models, such as Artificial General Intelligence, responsible innovation must go hand in hand with appropriate safety guardrails. In the absence of any meaningful federal alternative, our states are taking the lead in embracing common-sense safeguards to protect the public, build consumer trust, and ensure innovation and competition can continue to thrive. We are deeply concerned that the AI Action Plan would open the door to forcing states to forfeit their ability to protect the public from the escalating risks of AI, by jeopardizing states’ ability to access critical federal funding. And instead of providing a sorely needed federal regulatory framework that promotes safe model development, deployment, and use, Trump’s plan simultaneously limits states and creates a ‘wild west’ for tech companies, giving them free rein to develop and deploy models with no accountability.
“Finally, we are concerned about the implications of the Executive Order on ‘Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure’ for energy costs, demand on the grid, and the environment. AI training and inferencing have already driven up energy demand in the U.S, with ratepayers seeing higher utility prices due to the development of data centers. Trump recently signed partisan legislation that will significantly undercut clean energy projects, driving up costs and leaving us more reliant on dirty, polluting energy sources – trends which this plan will worsen considerably. At a time when Trump himself has increased the need for energy efficiency in AI development and deployment, this plan will do the opposite while increasing harm on the environment.
“While there are policies in the Action Plan that we agree with, including support for AI-driven science, improving AI evaluations and providing testing resources, and putting our American workforce first, we are deeply concerned about the partisan policies included in the Action Plan and Executive Orders that poison what should have been a good-faith, non-partisan effort. We will closely monitor the implementation of these policies, and will continue to advocate for the responsible development, deployment, and use of AI.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (Virginia 4th District)
Washington, D.C. –Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) issued the following statement after the Department of Justice and Department of Education launchedinvestigationsinto George Mason University for allegations of racial discrimination and antisemitism:
“Less than a month after demanding the removal of former University of Virginia President James Ryan, the Trump Administration now sets its sights on George Mason University, the largest public research higher education institution in Virginia.
“These investigations hijack existing civil rights laws to advance this Administration’s extreme agenda to undermine local governance of educational institutions, reshape them in its ideological image, and undo the progress made to open educational opportunities to more people. The Trump Administration has already sought to defund and dismantle the Department of Education entirely, a move that undermines the Department’s core mission to ensure every student, regardless of background, receives a safe and quality learning environment and education.
“These attacks don’t just distract and drain resources that could be used for cases of genuine civil rights violations, but take a deeply concerning step towards stripping away the independence and academic freedom entitled to our higher education institutions. I fear for the future of Virginia’s education system.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lauren Boebert (Colorado, 3)
EATON, CO—With the month of July underway, the County Fair Season is approaching quickly in the 4th Congressional District with events, performances, and contests taking place across the Eastern Plains. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert offered the following statement on the start of County Fair season, with dates and informational websites for all 21 county fairs listed below:
“Our amazing County Fairs highlight the importance of community, the talents of our ag sector workers, and the excitement of a summer season in the 4th District. I encourage all 4th District constituents to make a plan to attend their local County Fair to see everything our district has to offer. From live concerts and rodeos featuring cowboys and Mutton Bustin’ to entrepreneurs selling their crafts and our young 4-H and FFA leaders showing off their livestock, our county fairs have something for everyone to enjoy. Even if the fair food isn’t MAHA-approved, I hope everyone in the 4th District gets to spend a day at their County Fair!”
State Representative Dusty Johnson added,“County fair time – one of my favorite times of the year – is just about here! It’s a time to showcase the projects of our hardworking 4-H and FFA youth and come together as a community to celebrate our rural way of life.”
Dates and websites for 4th District County Fairs:
Cheyenne County Tumbleweed Fair, July 11-19
El Paso County Fair, July 12-19
Weld County Fair, July 19-28
Kit Carson County Fair, July 19-26
Phillips County Fair, July 22-27
Eastern Colorado Roundup (Washington County Fair), July 22-27
Crowley County Days, July 22-26
Sedgwick County Fair, July 23-27
Arapahoe County Fair, July 24-27
Logan County Fair, July 24-August 3
Douglas County Fair, July 25-August 3
Morgan County Fair, July 25-31
Elbert County Fair, July 26-August 3
Baca County Fair, July 26-August 2
Bent County Fair, July 26-August 2
Yuma County Fair, July 29-August 4
Adams County Fair, July 30-August 3
Lincoln County Fair, July 30-August 9
Larimer County Fair, August 1-5
Sand & Sage Round-Up(Prowers County Fair), August 2-9
YOUNG people can learn to become storytellers as part of a fun four-week summer holiday project at Leicester’s Central Library.
The Young Storytellers Club is free to attend and will run on Tuesdays 29 July and 5, 12 and 19 August, from 3-5pm.
Leicester City Council has teamed up with Leicestershire Guild of Storytelling to run the club, which is aimed at young people aged 11-16 and will focus on the ancient art of oral storytelling.
Matthew Vaughan, who works for Leicester Libraries and is secretary of the Guild, said: “From the dawn of time and at the heart of every culture, people have told each other stories. Long before the first word was ever written, stories were passed down by word of mouth.
“What’s more, those stories have travelled far and wide. Everyone has heard of Cinderella. Well, it’s not that surprising when you consider that some scholars estimate there are over 3,000 different versions of that story.
“This summer, we’re offering this pilot project with a view to setting up an ongoing storytelling club in the city. It’s perfect for young people from any background and any confidence level. No writing or reading is required, it’s just a chance to take part in some fun games and exercises that will fire the imagination and get the words flowing.”
Cllr Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for libraries and community centres, said: “We’re really pleased to be able to offer lots of free reading-themed activities throughout the summer.
“More than 6,000 children took part in our summer reading challenge last year, so it’s clear that stories are a big part of the summer holidays for lots of our young people.”
Lots of events and activities are taking place in libraries throughout the summer holidays as a part of Story Garden, the summer reading challenge. To find out more, visit www.leicester.gov.uk/summerreadingchallenge
People in Leeds are being asked to take note of the traffic and travel arrangements that have formed a key part of the planning for a major new sporting event.
The inaugural IRONMAN Leeds triathlon is being held this Sunday, July 27, with around 2,500 athletes set to push themselves to the limit as they tackle a 2.4-mile swim in Roundhay Park’s Waterloo Lake followed by a 112-mile bike ride and a 26-mile run.
A wide-ranging programme of temporary road closures will be in place in and around north Leeds to ensure that the event – which is being organised by the IRONMAN Group with support from Leeds City Council – passes off safely and smoothly.
And, with the final countdown to the big day now under way, residents are being encouraged to take a few minutes to acquaint themselves with the closure timings and locations.
Significant traffic disruption is expected, with the epic nature of the event – and the lengthy race times that come with it – meaning restrictions will be in force for much of Sunday.
The IRONMAN team has been working hard to publicise the plans for the day, with a total of 60,000 information leaflets being distributed to local properties.
More than 100 businesses in affected areas have also received direct e-mails with details about the event that they can share with their staff and customers.
Vehicle crossing locations will be dotted along the cycling and running routes, while full emergency service road access will be maintained throughout. Pedestrians will be able to cross the routes at any point, provided it is safe to do so.
People with enquiries regarding road access – including carers who need to carry out home visits – are asked to contact the IRONMAN team via leeds@ironmanroadaccess.com or 03330 116600.
Enquiries about other IRONMAN-related matters should be e-mailed to leeds@ironman.com.
Leeds is one of only two places in the UK hosting a full IRONMAN challenge in 2025, with previous events in locations such as Bolton and Pembrokeshire generating millions of pounds for their local economies.
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said:
“IRONMAN Leeds promises to be a fantastic occasion, and one that will further strengthen our city’s reputation as a respected host of high-profile sporting events.
“The exploits of local triathletes such as the Brownlee brothers have given Leeds a real interest in this sport, so hopefully people will be turning out in numbers on Sunday to support the competitors in Roundhay Park and along the rest of the course.
“The road closures that are needed for the safe operation of the event will inevitably cause some disruption and we thank the public in advance for their patience and understanding.
“Please do take the time, if you haven’t already, to familiarise yourself with all the relevant traffic and travel arrangements and how they might affect your plans.”
IRONMAN Leeds will have a staggered start, with the first swimmers venturing into Waterloo Lake from 6am on Sunday.
The event’s second discipline, the bike race, begins and ends in Roundhay Park and will cover three loops of a circular route that runs through or near communities such as Shadwell, Thorner, Bardsey, Wike, Harewood, Eccup, Arthington, Adel and Alwoodley.
Roads that will be affected by the closure programme needed for this part of the day include:
Carr Lane between Shadwell and Thorner (closed 6am to 3.30pm)
Bramham Road and part of Thorner Road, both to the east of Thorner (closed 6am to 3.30pm)
The A61 Harrogate Road between the A659 at Harewood and Wike Lane (closed 7am to 4.30pm)
The A61 Harrogate Road between Wike Lane and Wigton Approach, near the Grammar School at Leeds (closed 7am to 5.30pm)
Alwoodley Lane between its junctions with King Lane and the A61 Harrogate Road (closed eastbound 7.30am to 5.30pm)
IRONMAN Leeds’s third and final discipline, the run, will follow a looped course that takes in the western side of Roundhay Park and a host of residential streets in the wider Roundhay area.
Athletes are expected to start crossing the finishing line – which will be located near the park’s cricket pavilion – from around 2pm.
Spectators heading to this area to cheer the runners home can look forward to a party atmosphere as well as food stalls, music and other attractions.
Roads in Roundhay that will be closed for much of Sunday to facilitate both the run and general event access include North Park Grove, Gledhow Avenue, Jackson Avenue, Old Park Road and the stretch of Street Lane between Devonshire Avenue and Princes Avenue. Park Avenue will be closed near the Lakeside Cafe from 6am on Saturday until 5pm on Monday (July 28).
Tropical World will be open as normal throughout the event.
Lewis Peacock, race director for IRONMAN Leeds, said:
“We can’t wait to welcome thousands of athletes to the home of triathlon as the very first IRONMAN Leeds heads to town.
“It’s set to be an incredible day of racing and a great moment to have a full distance IRONMAN race return to England for the first time since 2023.
“The spectator support in Roundhay Park is expected to be massive, so make sure you head down to soak up the atmosphere!”
Further information about road closures along the cycling and running routes – together with suggested diversions for people wanting to drive to Harewood House on Sunday – can be found here.
[?being, and driving economic development. By championing a vibrant arts sector through public art galleries, visual and performing arts and arts service organizations, Alberta’s unique culture and history are preserved and shared in communities across the province.
Alberta’s government is further strengthening direct support for artists and expanding access to the arts, by bringing total arts funding to a record $36.1 million. This includes a responsible, steady $4.5?million increase for the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) as part of our multi-year commitment that will grow AFA funding to more than $43 million annually by 2027-28.
“Alberta is home to thousands of gifted artists who are a vital part of our economy, with arts industries contributing more than $1.3 billion in GDP each year and supporting more than 18,000 jobs. Our government is proud to sustain the highest level of arts funding in Alberta’s history, strengthening communities and enhancing quality of life for all Albertans.”
“I want to express our appreciation for the Alberta government’s commitment to increasing funding to the AFA for the second consecutive year. This year, our focus has been to raise the level of AFA funding support for arts organizations. With this additional funding, we will be able to significantly impact more than 400 Alberta organizations. This follows the extra funding that we were able to give to more than 700 individual artists last year. We are proud of our role in investing in Alberta artists, art and cultural materials.”
Alberta’s government provides grant funding to the arts sector through the AFA in three important ways:
Operational grants to arts-based organizations that create and provide access to art experiences and generate job opportunities for artists and cultural workers.
Project grants to non-profit organizations, including schools, to increase capacity and/or accessibility for arts-related activities.
Project grants and awards for individual artists that can support art production or creation, research, marketing, or training and professional development.
“Alberta Ballet is best known for its artistry on the Jubilee stages in Edmonton and Calgary. What is less known is how funding from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts fuels Alberta Ballet’s growing impact across the province. With this support, Alberta Ballet is building a stronger arts ecosystem and lasting connections in cities throughout Alberta.”
“For Shumka, this increase in funding means more than just financial support. It’s an investment in creativity, in cultural heritage, and in the people who bring stories to life through dance. As we look ahead, this support helps ensure that the legacy of Shumka, more than 60 years strong, continues to evolve and inspire future generations. Thank you to the Government of Alberta and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts for believing in the power of the arts, and for recognizing the value that organizations like ours bring to the cultural fabric of Alberta.”
Alberta proudly supports the arts and, through the AFA, is dedicated to empowering artists and arts organizations across the province. Since April 2025, the AFA has already approved $19.1 million in grant funding to 223 arts organizations and 192 individual artists.
Quick facts
The 2025 budget for Arts is $36.1 million, including $34.6 million for the AFA. Funding for the AFA increased by $4.5 million.
In 2024-25, the AFA provided $20.4 million through 656 grants to organizations as well as $5.2 million through 446 individual arts grants to support their activities.
In 2024-25, the AFA increased the maximum eligible amount for its project grant programs for artists to $18,000 and nearly doubled the total number grants awarded to artists.
In 2023, the visual and applied arts and live performance industries contributed approximately $1.3 billion in GDP and sustained over 18,000 jobs in Alberta.
Related information
Alberta Foundation for the Arts
Multimedia
Watch the news conference
Le budget de 2025 prévoit 4,5 millions de dollars pour soutenir les artistes par l’intermédiaire de l’Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA). Ce financement sans précédent continue de stimuler le secteur artistique albertain.
Les arts jouent un rôle essentiel dans la qualité de vie des Albertaines et des Albertains. Ils favorisent la santé et le bien-être, et ils stimulent le développement économique. En soutenant le dynamisme du secteur artistique — dans les galeries d’art publiques, grâce aux arts visuels et de la scène et par l’intermédiaire des organismes de services artistiques —, le caractère unique de la culture et de l’histoire de l’Alberta est préservé et présenté aux collectivités de toute la province.
Le gouvernement de l’Alberta renforce encore davantage le soutien qu’il offre directement aux artistes, en plus d’élargir l’accès de la population aux arts, en portant le financement total au secteur à un niveau record de 36,1 millions de dollars. Ce financement comprend une augmentation mesurée et stable de 4,5 millions de dollars à l’Alberta Foundation for the Arts dans le cadre d’un engagement pluriannuel qui portera le financement annuel de l’organisme à plus de 43 millions de dollars d’ici à 2027-2028.
« L’Alberta est le foyer de milliers d’artistes talentueux qui jouent un rôle essentiel dans notre économie. En effet, les industries artistiques contribuent à plus de 1,3 milliard de dollars au PIB chaque année et elles soutiennent plus de 18 000 emplois. Notre gouvernement est fier de maintenir le niveau de financement aux arts le plus élevé de toute l’histoire de l’Alberta, financement qui permet de renforcer les collectivités et d’améliorer la qualité de vie de toute la population. »
« Au nom de l’AFA, je remercie le gouvernement de l’Alberta d’augmenter le financement de l’AFA pour une deuxième année consécutive. Cette année, nous nous concentrons sur l’augmentation du soutien financier aux organismes artistiques. Grâce à ce financement supplémentaire, nous jouerons un rôle déterminant dans le succès de plus de 400 organismes en Alberta. Cette augmentation s’ajoute au financement additionnel que nous avons pu accorder à plus de 700 artistes l’an dernier. Nous sommes fiers de participer activement à la valorisation des artistes, du secteur des arts et du patrimoine culturel de l’Alberta. »
Le gouvernement de l’Alberta, par l’intermédiaire de l’AFA, offre les trois grands volets de subvention suivants au secteur artistique :
Subventions de fonctionnement aux organismes qui créent et offrent des expériences artistiques et génèrent des emplois pour les artistes et les travailleurs culturels.
Subventions de projet aux organismes sans but lucratif, y compris les écoles, pour accroître la création d’activités artistiques ou leur accessibilité.
Subventions de projet et prix à l’intention d’individus, qui permettent de soutenir la production ou la création artistique, la recherche, le marketing, la formation ou le perfectionnement professionnel.
« L’organisme Alberta Ballet a fait sa renommée sur les scènes des auditoriums Jubilee à Edmonton et à Calgary. Ce que l’on sait moins, c’est que le financement de l’Alberta Foundation for the Arts est au cœur du rayonnement croissant d’Alberta Ballet dans la province. Grâce à ce soutien, notre organisme renforce l’écosystème artistique et crée des liens durables dans les villes de l’Alberta. »
« Pour Shumka, ce financement accru signifie bien plus qu’un apport financier. C’est un investissement dans la créativité, dans le patrimoine culturel et dans les personnes qui donnent vie à des récits par la danse. En regardant vers l’avenir, nous savons que ce soutien contribue à assurer que l’héritage de Shumka, fort de plus de 60 ans, continue d’évoluer et d’inspirer les générations futures. Nous remercions le gouvernement de l’Alberta et l’AFA de croire au pouvoir des arts et de reconnaître la valeur que les organismes comme le nôtre apportent au tissu culturel de l’Alberta. »
L’Alberta soutient fièrement les arts et, par l’intermédiaire de l’AFA, elle s’engage à autonomiser les artistes et les organismes artistiques de toute la province. Depuis avril 2025, l’AFA a déjà approuvé 19,1 millions de dollars en subventions destinés à 223 organismes artistiques et à 192 artistes.
En bref
Le budget de 2025 attribué aux arts est de 36,1 millions de dollars, dont 34,6 millions à l’AFA. Le financement de l’AFA a augmenté de 4,5 millions.
En 2024-2025, l’AFA a accordé 656 subventions à des organismes artistiques, pour un total de 20,4 millions de dollars, ainsi que 446 subventions à des artistes, pour un total de 5,2 millions de dollars.
En 2024-2025, l’AFA a augmenté à 18 000 $ le montant maximal admissible dans le cadre de ses programmes de subventions de projet d’artistes et l’organisme a presque doublé le nombre total de subventions accordées.
En 2023, les arts visuels, les arts appliqués et les arts de la scène ont contribué à environ 1,3 milliard de dollars au PIB et soutenu plus de 18 000 emplois en Alberta.
High-resolution elevation data have proven to be a resource of great economic value for Vermont, empowering state agencies, local governments, and others to make informed decisions on geologic resource assessment, landslide hazard mitigation, natural resource management, and more.
Quality level 2 lidar is available across the State as a result of partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey through the 3D Elevation Program. Quality level 1 lidar was also collected statewide in 2023.
Download the new 3DEP State Fact Sheet to learn about available lidar and the many beneficial uses of the data. You can access the fact sheet through the linked button above and at the USGS publication page. Fact sheets for other states are also available in the 3DEP State Fact Sheet repository.
To view and access 3DEP lidar data, please visit the USGS LidarExplorer. To download these and other National Map products, please visit The National Map Downloader.
ATLANTA (July 24, 2025) — Recently, Lt. Governor Burt Jones appointed Sen. Greg Dolezal (R–Cumming) to serve as a member of the Senate Special Committee on Eliminating Georgia’s Income Tax.
“I am grateful to Lt. Governor Burt Jones for appointing me to this crucial committee,” said Sen. Dolezal, Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. “Thanks to the fiscally conservative budgeting of the Georgia General Assembly, we’ve lowered the income tax rate from 5.39% to 5.19%, with a plan to reduce it by another tenth of a percent annually starting in 2026. However, that’s not good enough. Georgia can only stay ahead if we keep pushing for a tax structure that lets families keep more of their paychecks and gives job creators every reason to grow here. I’ve championed eliminating the income tax since my first term, and this special committee is our chance to build a fiscally sound plan that finishes the job.”
Sen. Blake Tillery (R–Vidalia) will serve as Chairman of the Special Committee on Eliminating Georgia’s Income Tax. Additional Senators appointed to the special committee include Senators Jason Anavitarte (R–Dallas), Ed Harbison (D–Columbus), Chuck Hufstetler (R–Rome), Steve Gooch (R–Dahlonega), John F. Kennedy (R–Macon), Nan Orrock (D–Atlanta), Michael “Doc” Rhett (D–Marietta), Larry Walker III (R– Perry) and Sam Watson (R–Moultrie).
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Sen. Greg Dolezal serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Transportation. He represents the 27th Senate District, which includes a portion of Forsyth County. He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-7127 or via email atGreg.Dolezal@senate.ga.gov.
For all media inquiries, please reach out toSenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.
The #ErasmusDays are an international six-day celebration of the Erasmus+ programme. During these days, people throughout the world are invited to come together and either organise or participate at events that celebrate the projects and opportunities proposed by Erasmus+. For students, teachers, trainers, professionals and more generally, all citizens, the #ErasmusDays represent a unique moment to promote the multitude of benefits that result from the programme. In 2025, the 9th edition of the #ErasmusDays will take place from the 13th until the 18th October.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alvina Hoffmann, Lecturer in Diplomatic Studies, Department of Politics and International Studies, SOAS, University of London
The United States has imposed sanctions against the UN’s special rapporteur in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese. It’s an unprecedented situation. The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, cited as the reason her direct engagement with the International Criminal Court “in efforts to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute nationals of the United States or Israel”.
The statement also described Albanese’s “threatening letters to dozens of entities worldwide, including major American companies” as an escalation of her strategies. The sanctions were framed as preventing “illegitimate ICC overreach and abuse of power” and as part of Trump’s Executive Order 14203 on imposing sanctions on the ICC.
This raises the question: who are special rapporteurs and why would Albanese’s performance of her role elicit such a strong reaction from the US? Special rapporteurs are independent human rights experts, part of the UN Human Rights Council’s special procedures system established in 1979. There are 46 “thematic mandates” on issues such as extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and the environment, and 14 “country mandates”, including in Palestine.
Experts on human rights from academia, advocacy, law and other relevant professional fields are appointed to fulfil a variety of tasks. These include undertaking country visits, sending communications to states about individual cases of human rights violations, developing international human rights standards, engaging in advocacy and providing technical cooperation based on their legal and thematic expertise.
In 1967, 22 years after it was set up, the United Nations established institutional provisions for independent experts on human rights. This happened first in 1967 when it appointed an ad hoc working group of experts on apartheid and racial discrimination in southern Africa. In 1968 the same group of experts was appointed to investigate “Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories”. This is still in place today.
Neither South Africa nor Israel allowed experts to enter their territories to inspect their human rights record at the time. But in 2003, nearly a decade after it first held democratic elections, South Africa issued a standing invitation to all thematic special procedures, meaning they committed themselves, at least in theory, to always accept requests to visit from rapporteurs.
Attacks on individual rapporteurs
Albanese, a specialist in international human rights law, is the eighth rapporteur since the creation of her mandate in 1993. She was appointed to this pro bono position in 2022 for three years, and her mandate was recently renewed for another period of three years.
It was her most recent report from June 30 which led to her being sanctioned by the US. The report focused on the role of the corporate sector in “colonial endeavours and associated genocides” and named over 60 companies as “complicit”.
A host of institutions and leading human rights figures have come to her defence. Agnes Callamard, a former special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, now the secretary general of Amnesty international noted the “chilling effects for all special rapporteurs” of the US decision. Top UN human rights officials denounced this dangerous precedent and called for its reversal.
In February 2024, the government of Israel declared Albanese persona non grata in response to her remark that “the victims of the October 7 massacre were not murdered because of their Jewishness, but in response to Israeli oppression”. As with the newly imposed sanctions, she called this step a distraction and called upon the world to keep their focus on Gaza.
Diplomatic immunity
Special rapporteurs are granted diplomatic immunity which, in theory, should enable them to speak up or write critical reports without the fear of reprisals. But in 1989 and 1999 the ICJ had to intervene with an advisory opinion on two cases when this status was jeopardised after the home countries of two special rapporteurs tried to restrict their freedom of speech. This involved Romanian national Dumitru Mazilu, tasked with writing a report on “Human rights and youth”, and Malaysian national Dato’ Param Cumaraswamy, special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers.
Special rapporteurs wrote a collective letter denouncing the second case, when the Malaysian government filed several legal proceedings against Cumaraswamy. The body of experts called this “judicial harassment of a special rapporteur” and “a challenge to the status of the United Nations as a whole, its officials and its experts on mission”.
Special rapporteurs occupy an ambiguous institutional position. They take their mandate from the Human Rights Council, but they act in their personal capacity, and hence are not considered to be UN officials. In practice, they need to balance relations carefully between the UN secretariat, civil society, state representatives and, at times, their own countries.
The advisory opinions helped clarify that it was the secretary general, as the head of the United Nations, that entrusts them with the privileges of diplomatic immunity. The arrangement also leaves the door open for national courts to disagree with the secretary general. This enabled individual countries in some cases to exercise some form of control over their own nationals.
The recent attack on Albanese adds to the broader budgetary crisis of the UN, as the Trump administration is withholding funds of about US$1.5 billion (£1.2 billion) in addition to other countries such as China, Russia and Saudi Arabia. These are serious challenges for the UN human rights and humanitarian aid programmes. As past cases of attacks against individual rapporteurs have shown, it is important for all rapporteurs to stand together as one body and defend the integrity of the system as a whole.
Despite these attacks on her integrity and person, Albanese maintains faith in the human rights law instruments. As she stated during a public talk I attended at SOAS University of London in November 2024, we are yet to unlock the full potential of these instruments. This can only be done as a collective.
Alvina Hoffmann has previously been funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (UKRI).
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jennifer Mathers, Senior Lecturer in International Politics, Aberystwyth University
Protests have erupted in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities against a new law that threatens the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions. The legislation was hastily passed on July 22 by parliament and signed by the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, that same day.
It places Ukraine’s national anti-corruption bureau and its special anti-corruption prosecutor’s office under the direct control of the prosecutor general, one of Zelensky’s appointed officials. Zelensky has argued that the measure was necessary to address Russian infiltration of anti-corruption bodies.
Critics of the measure, however, believe the real purpose of the law is to give the president the power to quash ongoing investigations into alleged corruption by members of his inner circle. These include his close ally and former deputy prime minister, Oleksiy Chernyshov.
Politicians from opposition parties and civil society activists also regard the new law as an example of the president attempting to take advantage of wartime conditions to silence critics and consolidate power.
The protests have involved thousands of ordinary people. This includes veterans of the war against Russia’s invasion, some with visible war injuries such as missing limbs. Anger at the attempt to curb the independence of anticorruption bodies has broken the informal agreement between the government and Ukrainian society to show a united front to the world while the war continues.
The protests may be the most serious domestic political challenge Zelensky has faced since he was elected president in 2019.
Ukrainians protest after Zelensky signs law clamping down on anticorruption agencies.
Formally, Zelensky’s political position is secure. His Servant of the People party holds the majority of seats in parliament and governs without the constraints of coalition partners. Zelensky and his party will also not face voters anytime soon. There is a ban on holding elections during martial law, which is due to continue for the duration of the war.
Zelensky is not unpopular in Ukraine. According to a survey conducted in June by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, Zelensky’s personal popularity was running at 65%. This is down from the heady heights of 90% in the first few months after Russia’s 2022 invasion, but up significantly from 52% in December 2024.
However, Zelensky was quick to respond to the street protests by promising to reverse the new law. He said he would submit a new bill to parliament to restore independence to the agencies. The speed of his response reveals the sensitivity of the president – and indeed most Ukrainian politicians – to criticism on the corruption issue.
Why corruption is a big issue
Corruption is a topic that resonates strongly with Ukrainian society. Anger at the corruption of Viktor Yanukovych’s presidency fuelled the Maidan protests of 2013 and 2014, which began in response to his decision to break off negotiations with the EU and instead pursue closer political and economic ties with Russia.
The “revolution of dignity” that followed robustly rejected Yanukovych’s leadership and his policies, and ultimately saw him ousted from power. The revolution was a resounding demonstration of the strength of Ukraine’s civil society and its determination to hold its elected officials to account.
Any suggestion that Ukraine is failing to address corruption is also a matter of great concern for Ukraine’s international supporters. This is especially the case for major lenders such as the International Monetary Fund. Its willingness to disperse the large loans that help keep the Ukrainian economy functioning depends on Kyiv reaching the good governance milestones it sets.
European leaders have expressed concern at the new law and the possibility that Zelensky may be taking a backwards step when it comes to dealing with corruption.
President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, phoned Zelensky to express her strong concerns and ask for an explanation for diluting the independence of anti-corruption bodies. French and German leaders have also indicated that they intend to hold discussions with Zelensky about the issue.
Meanwhile, Russia has been quick to take advantage of the protests in Ukraine. According to intelligence from Ukraine’s ministry of defence, Moscow has already distributed doctored photographs of the protesters that show them holding pro-Russian signs. It has falsely claimed that Ukrainians are coming on to the streets to demand an immediate end to the war.
So far, there are no indications that these protests will spill over from demanding the reversal of one controversial piece of legislation into calls for a change of government. Some protesters have even been explicit in their remarks to the media that they are broadly supportive of Zelensky, but are calling on him to take action on this specific issue.
However, Zelensky cannot afford to be complacent. He needs to act quickly to keep his domestic and international supporters on side. A great deal of effort has been expended to demonstrate Ukraine’s commitment to democratic values and its suitability to join western institutions like the EU and Nato. Any hint of backsliding on anti-corruption could undermine that message.
Ukrainians continue to be remarkably united in their support for the war effort and their approval of the armed forces. But the mobilisation process is itself tainted with corruption. Ordinary citizens are reluctant to respond to the state’s call for more soldiers when it is widely known that the family members of powerful and wealthy Ukrainians are able to avoid military service and instead lead comfortable lives abroad.
Zelensky cannot afford to let dissatisfaction with corruption grow. Even if it does not threaten his hold on power today, society’s anger at corrupt practices and the inequalities they create is already damaging the war effort. Ukraine’s political leaders need to demonstrate that their commitment to democracy is as strong as that of the society that they lead.
Jennifer Mathers 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.
As South Africa’s current budget process has not kept pace with the country’s evolving fiscal, institutional and political realities, government has published changes that will be implemented in the 2026 budget process.
The changes are aimed at clarifying trade-offs, reducing waste and prioritising high-impact programmes.
“A review of the budget process revealed a critical limitation of the process, including fragmented decision-making, poor policy-budget alignment, and weak consensus on trade-offs in the context of competing priorities and limited fiscal space,” National Treasury said on Wednesday.
The key actionable reforms to address challenges in the government process have been outlined in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) Technical Guidelines 2026 (https://www.treasury.gov.za/publications/guidelines/2026%20MTEF%20Guidelines.pdf).
The guidelines have been issued in terms of Section 27(3) of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), which provides that National Treasury must prescribe the format in which an annual budget must be prepared.
“The guidelines reaffirm government’s commitment to a more disciplined, transparent, and strategically aligned budget process that supports South Africa’s long-term fiscal objectives and national development priorities.
“Importantly, the guidelines outline the economic environment under which the 2026 MTEF is formulated, signals recommendations from the review that will be implemented, and incorporates lessons learned from the 2025 budget cycle. As a first step in the reform process, these guidelines and the accompanying budget calendar have been formally approved by Cabinet,” National Treasury explained.
The fiscal objectives, as set out in the 2025 Budget, are to stabilise debt-to-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio, achieve a primary surplus, expand infrastructure investment, and support the social wage. These objectives are set to continue into the 2026 Budget.
The principles for the 2026 MTEF include using Targeted and Responsible Savings (TARS) to create fiscal space for key priorities set out in the Medium-Term Development Plan.
Some of the initiatives that will be utilised for the identification of programmes to be included in the TARS process are:
Spending reviews • Previous work should be updated, where appropriate, to inform implementation; • Outcomes of new sectoral reviews, such as the Active Labour Market Policy (ALMP), and • The review of infrastructure conditional grants should be implemented.
New data driven approaches • Use of technology to eliminate double dipping in social grants and other programmes (e.g. community works programme); • Annual audit of ghost workers and payroll irregularities; • Updated proposals on public entity and departmental rationalisation; • Implement personnel expenditure review completed by the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), and • Finalise extended review of public entities remuneration.
Treasury further said that detailed technical baseline analyses and institutional reviews will ensure that departments and public entities are appropriately aligned to the set mandates. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Petra Alderman, Manager of the Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science
There has been a dramatic escalation in a long-running border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. On July 23, five Thai soldiers from a border patrol unit in Ubon Ratchathani province were seriously injured after stepping on a land mine – a second such incident in a week.
This prompted the Thai government to expel Cambodia’s ambassador from the country and recall its own ambassador from Cambodia. The following morning, Cambodia retaliated by expelling the Thai ambassador and recalling its embassy staff from Bangkok. Both sides have exchanged increasingly lethal fire.
Cambodia has fired rockets and artillery across the Thai border into several provinces, killing at least 11 civilians and one soldier. Thailand launched air strikes at Cambodia in return, reportedly targeting military bases in the disputed area around the Preah Vihear Hindu temple. Verified information is currently scarce as both sides are blaming each other for starting the fight.
The current flare-up started in late May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a exchange of fire between the two armies. But the roots of the conflict date back to the colonial era in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Before European powers expanded their colonial interests to south-east Asia, the concept of a bordered nation-state was alien to local rulers. Life in pre-colonial south-east Asia was organised into loosely structured polities that had no clear boundaries.
There were several larger cities, which served as important centres of power and trade, and many smaller towns and villages that maintained relations with these cities. The further these towns and villages were from the cities, the less control and influence the cities had over them.
The British and French introduced the concept of nations with borders to mainland south-east Asia, drawing the first official maps of Thailand (then known as Siam) and Cambodia. In the case of Thailand, the only south-east Asian nation never to be formally colonised, the mapping was also done at the request of the Siamese kings.
Thailand’s current borders were shaped by several different maps and treaties that followed the 1893 Paknam incident, during which two French gunboats sailed up the Chao Praya River and blockaded Bangkok.
To preserve its sovereignty as an emerging nation, Siam ceded considerable territorial claims to France after this incident. This included several provinces in present-day Cambodia, which are home to ancient temples.
A 1907 map drawn by the French defined these territories, although with a considerable degree of vagueness. The map became a sore point in Cambodia-Thai relations following Cambodia’s independence in 1953, especially in regard to disputes over the Preah Vihear temple.
Preah Vihear temple
Following France’s withdrawal from south-east Asia in 1954, Thailand occupied Preah Vihear. Cambodia raised the issue of Thai occupation with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia based on the French map. Thailand reluctantly accepted the ruling, but continued to dispute the area surrounding the temple.
The conflict flared up again in 2008 when the UN world heritage body Unesco awarded the temple world heritage status. Cambodia’s application initially received support from the then new Thai government of prime minister Samak Sundaravej, a close ally of the recently ousted Thaksin Shinawatra.
Anti-Thaksin groups used the government’s support to drive an ultra-nationalist campaign against the Samak government. This eventually contributed to large-scale domestic political protests that saw Samak’s government and that of his successor, Somchai Wongsawat, both ousted from power in 2008 in a series of judicial coups.
The period from 2008 to 2011 was marked by high tensions between the two countries, with sporadic armed clashes between their respective armies in the areas surrounding the temple.
The newly appointed Thai government of Abhisit Vejjajiva was sympathetic towards the ultra-nationalist anti-Thaksin groups. So there was no de-escalation of the conflict from the Thai side. Hun Sen, who was then Cambodia’s prime minister, also benefited from the conflict as it helped buttress his nationalist credentials.
But a particularly violent round of armed clashes followed in February 2011, resulting in at least eight civilian fatalities, 20 injured soldiers and many displaced civilians on both sides. Hun Sen then raised the issue of Cambodian sovereignty over the temple and its surrounding area with the ICJ.
The ICJ issued a provisional ruling favouring Cambodia and ordered both sides to withdraw military personnel from the area. Despite the initial refusal of Thai troops to leave, the two countries agreed to withdraw their forces in December 2011.
The final ICJ ruling came in late 2013, again affirming Cambodia’s sovereignty of the area. It coincided with another period of domestic political instability in Thailand. The government of Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin’s younger sister, was facing mass public protests from anti-Thaksin groups.
While the ruling did not play a decisive role in the eventual downfall of her government, it added fuel to the already explosive political environment. The border conflict went largely dormant after the 2013 ICJ ruling, until the new round of clashes broke out in May 2025.
Thai and Cambodian troops have periodically clashed in the area surrounding the Preah Vihear temple. Kim Za / Shutterstock
Given the history of tensions and armed disputes over territory between Cambodia and Thailand, the recent escalation is not without precedent. What is new, though, is that this round is as much between two countries as it is between two ruling families.
Over the past 20 years, a close personal relationship formed between Hun Sen and Thaksin. But this relationship unravelled when Hun Sen, who remains a hugely influential figure in Cambodian politics, released a private audio recording of his call with Thaksin’s daughter, Paetongtarn. The leak put her premiership on the line.
Paetongtarn has since been suspended from office pending a court ruling, with Cambodia-Thai relations reaching new lows. Given the intermixing of personal animosities, a quick diplomatic resolution to the escalating conflict seems unlikely.
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Petra Alderman 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.
The logic behind these states withdrawing from the treaty is mostly because of the threat posed by Russia. At first glance landmines seem like a cost-effective way to deter or slow an invader. Proponents see them as a necessary evil to protect national sovereignty against the threat from a much larger conventional force deployed by an aggressive neighbour.
But this short-term thinking can be dangerous, because it doesn’t consider the long-term cost of putting explosive devices into the ground. According to the Landmine Monitor for 2024, more than 110,000 people were killed by landmines and explosive remnants of war in the past 25 years, and over 5,700 died just last year. Eight out of ten of those killed were civilians, many of whom were children.
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Although it is cheap to lay landmines, demining is expensive and creates a financial burden for future generations. The UN estimates that it can cost between five and 100 times more to clear a mine than to lay one, depending on the circumstances.
In Angola, for example, demining efforts continue nearly 50 years after the civil war broke out and 23 years after it ended. Encouragingly, Angola has reduced the threat with help of Halo Trust, a UK-based nongovernmental organisation. In 30 years they destroyed over 123,000 landmines. But to get Angola landmine free will require about US$240 million (£177 million) in additional funding.
While Angola aims to be landmine-free within a few years, the current scale of contamination in Ukraine will pose a deadly hazard to civilians for generations, as Sarah Njeri – a landmines expert at SOAS, University of London, wrote in 2023.
Looking through the prism of peace
What Europe needs today is better analysis and more public awareness of the current crisis and its long-term effects. This is a tricky task, especially for the media, because the violence is “asynchronous”. This means that mines can be laid years before anyone is harmed by them. It’s important to have open and honest conversations in public so that both politicians and the public have something clear and trustworthy to rely on when making these fateful decisions.
This means accepting that the concerns of the Baltic nations, Poland and Finland are valid. Their actions are a response the threat posed by Russia and the uncertainty surrounding America’s future role on the world stage. But there’s also an opportunity. Nobody in these countries takes the decision to use landmines lightly. This means, that if their European allies can provide credible security guarantees, these countries might change their plans.
Nevertheless, the Peace Report 2025, compiled by four leading German peace research institutes, highlights that this way of thinking remains rooted in a military mindset. The planned increase in military budgets among Nato countries should be complemented by greater investment in diplomacy, peace research and peace building.
The Peace Report lists nine recommendations for a more peaceful world, which are not pacifist. They recognise the need to close the gaps in European defence capabilities – but this is not enough. To create a peaceful Europe the legitimate security interests of all sides need to be considered. This includes Russia. At the same time, the report emphasises the need to strengthen, not weaken, the rules-based order. Abandoning the Ottawa treaty will further weaken that order.
Withdrawing from the landmine treaty is not just a military calculation, and it affects more than just eastern European countries. It’s an issue that presents a real challenge to Europe as a whole. Laying mines would litter future farmland and forests with an indiscriminate threat that recognises no ceasefire and cannot distinguish friend from enemy, combatant from civilian or adult from child.
If we don’t learn from the past, future reports will still be counting thousands of child casualties, but from the landmines laid in the 2020s.
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Marcel Vondermassen 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.
In the past two months, more than 1,000 people seeking food have been killed, according to the UN Human Rights Office. While the figure has been disputed by Israel and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation which was set up to distribute aid, 28 nations this week condemned the “horrifying” killing of Gazans trying to get food.
For all the talk of a ceasefire – one that is long overdue – there is little hope. Israeli military operations continue and Gazans must risk their lives in search of food and aid.
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Malnutrition is rife. According to the IPC’s report in May – the international organisation that monitors food security – “goods indispensable for people’s survival are either depleted or expected to run out in the coming weeks” with nearly 500,000 people considered to be facing “catastrophe”, with a further 1.1 million in an “emergency” risk category.
For the IPC, the catastrophe category is one of extreme food shortages, critical malnutrition leading to starvation and high death rates. The emergency category is one of severe food shortages, very high malnutrition and even death.
Israeli officials continue to speak of moving Gazans into what has been termed a “humanitarian city” but what former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert described as a “concentration camp”. In the same interview Olmert called decision to move Gazans into the camp as “ethnic cleansing”.
All the while, the world’s leaders look on. Most are apparently content to condemn – but little action has been taken.
The clamour for Israel’s allies to take a harder stance on its actions in Gaza is growing louder by the day. On July 23, a group of 38 former EU ambassadors published an open letter to EU heads of states and senior officials accusing Israel of taking “calculated steps towards ethnic cleansing” and calling out the EU’s failure to “respond meaningfully to these horrific events”.
But what do actions look like? Pressure must be applied to the Netanyahu government. In the UK, both prime minister Keir Starmer and foreign minister David Lammy have been quick to stress that the UK has urged Israel to respect international law.
They point to the sanctions the UK has imposed on Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, two rightwing ministers in Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government, as a result of their repeated incitements of violence against Palestinians. While Lammy suggests that further sanctions could follow if Israel does not change its behaviour in Gaza and bring about an end to the suffering, the atrocities continue.
Practical steps to pressure Israel
Pressure is growing on the UK government to recognise Palestine as a state – something that I was told by a contact in the Labour government more than a year ago was on Labour’s agenda before October 7. Lammy insists the government is committed to a two-state solution, but this is not diplomatically viable given that the UK only recognises one state involved in these events.
The state of Palestine is recognised as a sovereign entity by 147 other members of the UN. That’s 75% of all members.
Other steps could be a full arms embargo, something that has long been called for but rejected by the UK government, which has banned some, but by no means all arms sales to Israel. A number of countries have properly banned arms sales to Israel since October 2023, including Italy, Spain, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium and Japan.
There are other more incendiary options. One would be for the UK and others to properly adhere to their obligations under international law.
The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November 2024. There are 125 countries that have signed up to the ICC (the US isn’t one of them). They could arrest Netanyahu if he enters their countries.
There are a range of other things that could be tried. A look at what the international community did to make South Africa a pariah during the later years of apartheid would be worthwhile.
EU should use its diplomatic muscle
As Israel’s biggest trading partner, the EU has the potential to wield considerable clout, so the question must be asked: why has so little been done, beyond mere words.
In June, the EU found Israel to be in breach of its human rights commitments under the terms of the EU-Israel association agreement. Yet to date there have been as yet no moves to suspend trade.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief declared that “all options remain on the table if Israel doesn’t deliver” on its pledges. These include full or partial suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, sanctions on members of government, military or settlers, trade measures, arms embargoes, or the suspension of academic cooperation – including the prestigious Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme.
Of course, getting all 27 member states to agree to such an approach is easier said than done. And national leaders will obviously have to consider that taking steps to put pressure with Israel could damage relations with the Trump administration in the US.
But all the while, the situation on the ground is deteriorating, with the world watching while Gaza burns. The failure by Israel’s allies to take meaningful steps to pressure Israel to prevent the wanton killing and displacement is a stain on humanity.
After the horrors of the second world war, Rwanda, Myanmar and Srebrenica, the world said “never again”. Without action, there’s a risk it will shrug its shoulders and say “never mind”.
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Simon Mabon receives funding from Carnegie Corporation of New York and The Henry Luce Foundation.
The UN Secretary-General has strongly condemned a deadly attack on peacekeepers serving with the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic, or CAR, which claimed the life of a Zambian peacekeeper and left another wounded.
Attack may be a war crime
In a statement released by his Spokesperson on Sunday, Secretary-General António Guterres extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved families, as well as to the Government and people of Zambia, and wished a swift recovery to the injured soldier.
He stressed that attacks against UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law and urged the Central African authorities “to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of this tragedy so that they can be brought to justice swiftly”.
This marks the third fatal attack against MINUSCA peacekeeping patrols since the start of 2025.
In March, a Kenyan peacekeeper was killed in the Haut-Mbomou prefecture, and a month earlier, a Tunisian ‘blue helmet’ lost his life in the north. Earlier this week, two Nepalese peacekeepers were injured during an assault in the southwest.
Valentine Rugwabiza, head of the UN mission, decried the “multiplication of attacks against peacekeepers” and echoed the call for justice, urging the authorities to act decisively against those responsible.
Since its deployment in 2014, MINUSCA has suffered significant losses, with around 150 peacekeepers paying the ultimate price.
The 17,000-strong force was established to help stabilise CAR, a country wracked by decades of political instability, armed conflict, and humanitarian crises.
According to a February report by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), worsening insecurity across parts of the country has forced MINUSCA to step up patrols in several regions, including areas near the border with Sudan where violence and displacement have surged in recent months amid the brutal civil war between rival militaries there.
The Secretary-General reaffirmed the UN’s solidarity with the people and Government of CAR, underlining the world body’s continued commitment to peace and stability in the region.
Rural and remote communities, First Nations and not-for-profit organizations can submit applications to fund projects that strengthen and diversify their economies.
This is through the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP). The fourth intake opened on Thursday, July 24, 2025, and runs until Oct. 31, 2025.
In its first three years, REDIP will have invested as much as $142 million in more than 450 projects throughout B.C. that will create an estimated 7,000 jobs in rural areas. These projects promote economic diversification, resilience, clean-economy opportunities and infrastructure development.
Communities can receive funding through four streams:
capacity – helps communities build internal capacity for economic development by providing up to $50,000 per year for up to three years and access to development funding of up to $100,000 to launch priority projects;
development – supports business planning, feasibility assessments and other developmental steps for business and economic diversification opportunities in rural B.C., up to $100,000;
implementation – supports the development of new economic infrastructure and the implementation of economic services, programming or operations directly related to diversification in rural communities, up to $1 million; and
community transition – supports communities experiencing a major economic change resulting from the loss of a major employer or linked to major projects in the province.
Business BCeIDs are now required as part of the REDIP application process. As BCeID account registration can take several weeks, applicants are encouraged to register early at: https://www.bceid.ca/
Learn More:
For more information about the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program and to see a list of approved REDIP projects from previous intakes, visit: https://gov.bc.ca/redip
Saskatchewan families with children and youth participating in sports, culture, and recreation can access the Active Families Benefit, a tax credit that helps keep these activities more affordable.
Starting in 2025, the refundable tax benefit has been doubled to $300 per child, or $400 per child, who are eligible for the federal Child Disability Tax Credit. In addition, the benefit is now available to families with a gross family income of $120,000 or less.
“One of the best ways to ensure strong and healthy families in our province is to have children and youth involved in sport, recreation and cultural activities,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Alana Ross said. “Fulfilling our commitment to doubling the Active Families Benefit means that more than 69,000 or 56 per cent of all families with children will be eligible in our province, ensuring that the families who need it most can access it.”
Parents who enroll their children in sport, culture and recreation activities in the 2025 calendar year are reminded to keep their receipts so they may claim the benefit when they file their taxes for 2025.
Many communities offer affordable and accessible activities for children and youth through local recreation facilities and community organizations.
“Programs like the Active Families Benefit make a real difference for families in Moose Jaw,” City of Moose Jaw Mayor James Murdock said. “By helping reduce the cost of sports, recreation, and cultural activities, we are not only supporting affordability we are investing in the health, development, and wellbeing of our children.”
The following are eligible for the Active Family Benefit:
Sporting activities: that provide exposure, training, or participation in any field of sport in an organized and competitive environment that requires strategy, physical training and mental preparation.
Recreational activities:
that provide exposure, training, or participation in any field of recreation designed to refresh, provide satisfaction, entertain, and provide physical or mental benefits.
Cultural activities:
that provide exposure, training, or participation in the field of arts, heritage or multiculturalism.
For more information on the Active Families Benefit visit the frequently asked questions at:
The rain that fell through wide parts of the province over the weekend was a positive sign for many producers. However, even within regions that received the rain the impact on crop and pasture conditions was variable. In some areas, the rain came just in time to carry crops forward through flowering and grain fill, while in other areas the rain came too late to make a difference to crops or pastures.
For areas that received precipitation, producers are hopeful pasture grass recovers from grazing and stress from dry conditions. In areas where heavy rain was received, livestock water sources should see some replenishment, reducing the need to haul water for livestock.
The cooler weather and recent rainfall have helped sustain or improve topsoil moisture in the province. Topsoil moisture is highly variable region to region, but most regions have seen an increase in ratings after the recent rainfall. Provincially, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 71 per cent adequate, 22 per cent short and five per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 60 per cent adequate, 30 per cent short and nine per cent very short. Lastly, pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 59 per cent adequate, 30 per cent short and 11 per cent very short.
The rain, along with the cool weather, will give crops a break from the lack of moisture they have been under and will help them fill. The Eston area reported the most rain this week with 83 millimetres (mm), followed by the Bethune area with 74 mm, and finally the Admiral area reported 68 mm. There were many areas that reported rainfall from 15 mm to 50 mm, while other areas saw rainfall ranging from 2 mm to 15 mm.
Crop development has leveled out closer to normal for the province, and crops should use the recent rain and cooler temperatures to develop at a regular pace rather than rush or delay development due to stress. Crop development varies from region to region, with drier areas showing the most accelerated crop development.
The rain impeded haying operations over the weekend as producers waited for the crop to dry before proceeding with baling. Haying operations are almost complete with 20 per cent standing, 21 per cent cut and 59 per cent baled or put up as silage. Hay quality is rated as nine per cent excellent, 55 per cent good, 31 per cent fair and five per cent poor.
Producers report their crops are still showing damage and stress from the numerous weeks of heat and overly dry conditions this growing season. Gophers and grasshoppers are causing minor to moderate damage to crops this week with some areas seeing higher damage depending on pest populations. With the large amounts of rainfall seen in some areas, flooding was a concern for some producers as low spots in their fields have filled with water. The rain and strong winds have led to cereal crops lodging across many regions, and producers are hopeful the damage is minor and their crops can recover in time for harvest.
Producers whose crops are furthest along are beginning to get their equipment ready. The Ministry of Agriculture reminds producers to operate safely during the pressures of harvest time. Please remember to use every precaution available for fire prevention as the extremely dry conditions increase the risk of combine and grass fires.
Over the upcoming weeks, producers will be busy finishing fungicide spraying, haying and getting equipment ready for harvest. Producers are reminded to keep safety top of mind while working.
For any crop or livestock questions, producers are encouraged to call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, toll free: 1-866-457-2377.
This can be a stressful time of year for producers as weather conditions can be unpredictable. The Farm Stress Line can help by providing support for producers toll free at 1-800-667-4442.
A complete, printable version of the Crop Report is available online.
Follow the 2025 Crop Report on Twitter at @SKAgriculture.
ICE immediately lodged an arrest detainer to ensure this criminal illegal alien will never be released into American communities
WASHINGTON — On July 15, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a detainer for Jose Armando Carcamo-Perdomo, an illegal alien from Honduras, charged by local police with kidnapping and assault. This criminal illegal alien is suspected of sex trafficking and assaulting a Chinese woman.
According to local reports, Carcamo “kept the sex-trafficking victim hostage for five days without food or water — while he beat her and sexually assaulted her.” A nearby Ring doorbell camera recorded Carcamo picking up the victim on the street and abducting her. Local reports say he is also accused of tying her up, punching, and raping her.
“This accused kidnapper and suspected sex trafficker was just one of the countless criminal illegal aliens who inexplicably had their removal proceedings terminated by the Biden Administration and were allowed to remain in the country,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.“Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Noem, criminal illegal aliens are being locked up and will no longer be allowed to terrorize American communities. Our message is clear: criminals are not welcome in the United States.”
Carcamo illegally entered the United States at the southern border on November 24, 2020. Under the Biden Administration, ICE filed a motion with an immigration judge to have his removal proceedings terminated.
On September 8, 2023, a judge granted the Biden Administration’s motion.
Following his arrest for kidnapping and assault, ICE, in accordance with the Laken Riley Act, issued a detainer for his arrest to ensure this criminal illegal alien will never be released into American communities.
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, has closed and disbursed €75 million of an €85 million sovereign facility to Government of Angola, through the Ministry of Finance, to support the construction of 186 priority bridges and critical upgrades to the national road network. The project, part of Angola’s National Development Plan (2023–2027), is aimed at reducing transportation costs, facilitating access to markets for agricultural producers, and creating approximately 900 direct jobs, while strengthening the resilience, efficiency, and inclusivity of Angola’s transport system.
Solely arranged and financed by AFC, the transaction marks a significant milestone in the €381.5 million financing package previously announced, with AFC serving as the mandated lead arranger on the commercial tranche, and the U.S. Export-Import Bank through the U.S. Private Export Funding Corporation leading the export credit agency tranche. Other key partners include Standard Chartered Bank as the coordinating and structuring bank; Conduril, a leading Portuguese civil engineering firm which is the main EPC contractor; and Acrow, a U.S. construction industry giant as the bridge supplier. This disbursement reinforces AFC’s commitment to working alongside African governments to deliver infrastructure that supports inclusive growth, regional connectivity, and economic transformation.
“We are proud to advance this catalytic investment that will connect underserved regions, enhance regional trade, and improve the quality of life for millions of Angolans,” said Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of Africa Finance Corporation. “This disbursement demonstrates AFC’s unique capacity to structure and fund impactful infrastructure projects that address critical national priorities and accelerate economic transformation,” he added.
The project is expected to significantly strengthen the resilience of Angola’s transport network to climate-related disruptions, reduce travel times, and lower logistics costs for communities, farmers, and businesses. It also supports regional integration by enhancing trade corridors and cross-border connectivity across Southern and Central Africa. With this transaction, AFC reaffirms its role as a trusted partner to African governments in delivering bankable infrastructure solutions that address the continent’s most urgent development challenges.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).
Media Enquiries: Yewande Thorpe Communications Africa Finance Corporation Mobile: +234 1 279 9654 Email: yewande.thorpe@africafc.org
About AFC: AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for pragmatic infrastructure and industrial investments across Africa. AFC’s approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.
Eighteen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 45 member countries and has invested over US$15 billion in 36 African countries since its inception.
The historic commencement of operations at the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Refinery has redefined Africa’s refining ambitions, establishing a new epicenter for oil product supply across West Africa and beyond. As the continent’s largest single-train refinery – and one of the most technologically advanced globally – Dangote represents a turning point for African energy self-sufficiency, reducing import dependence and reshaping traditional trade flows within the Atlantic Basin.
Already, the refinery has begun exporting refined products, with early shipments pointing to a diversification of destinations – from regional African markets to Europe and Asia. These developments are ushering in a new era for crude and product flows, as well as domestic monetization strategies. The facility’s ability to process a slate of Nigerian and other light sweet crudes is having far-reaching implications not only for Nigeria’s upstream sector but for oil producers across the Gulf of Guinea, potentially prompting shifts in production plans, infrastructure investment and regional trade dynamics.
As Africa’s premier energy event returns to Cape Town, African Energy Week (AEW) 2025: Invest in African Energies will place a critical spotlight on West Africa’s evolving refining landscape with a dedicated workshop on the “The Dangote Refinery and its Impact on the African Refining Balance.” Hosted by the African Energy Chamber (AEC) and S&P Global Commodity Insights, the session will take place on Monday, September 29 from 11:30 to 12:30, drawing key industry stakeholders and policy leaders into a dynamic discussion on one of the most transformational projects in the continent’s oil and gas sector.
Beyond reshaping crude and product markets, the refinery is also impacting fuel quality and environmental standards in the region. Dangote’s state-of-the-art configuration allows it to produce Euro V standard fuels, a major step forward for countries long reliant on lower-quality imports. This creates new opportunities for West African governments to strengthen fuel specifications, improve urban air quality and reduce exposure to volatile global supply chains.
The workshop will also explore the broader impact of Dangote on Africa’s existing refining infrastructure. With aging, underutilized refineries scattered across the continent, the rise of a mega refinery capable of meeting domestic and regional demand poses significant questions for legacy plants. Will they modernize, reposition themselves to serve niche needs or shut down entirely in the face of more efficient competition? The discussion will address the strategic responses by national oil companies and private operators as they navigate this new refining era.
“AEW 2025 continues to serve as the continent’s definitive platform for energy dialogue, investment and innovation, with the Dangote workshop exemplifying the type of forward-looking conversations shaping the future of African energy. As West Africa’s refining ambitions begin to bear fruit – and as the continent seeks to capture more value across its energy value chain – the implications for energy security, trade and industrial development are profound,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
About African Energy Week: AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Aaron Bean Florida (4th District)
WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) proudly introduced the LEO K9 Protection Act, a bill aimed at strengthening penalties for individuals who use a deadly weapon to harm a federal police dog or horse in the line of duty.
Named in honor of K9 Leo, a fallen Marion County, Florida, canine deputy, the bill expands federal protections to include any state, county, or local police animal assisting a federal agency. It also provides a good-faith exception for emergency veterinary care and directs USDOT to allow EMS providers to transport injured police K9s, at their discretion.
This announcement comes as attacks on ICE agents have surged 830%, underscoring the urgent need to extend protections to their canine and equine partners, who face the same threats in the line of duty.
Upon introduction, Congressman Bean said: “Our police dogs and horses serve on the front lines, protecting officers and communities alike. They deserve real protection, not just praise—and the “LEO K9 Protection Act” will deliver tougher penalties against those who harm these heroic animals in the line of duty.”
The legislation was introduced in collaboration with K9s United, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and advocating for law enforcement animals.
“This is a defining moment in the fight to protect federal working K9s who defend our nation every day,” said Debbie Johnson, president and founder of K9s United. “Working K9s are loyal partners, fearless protectors and beloved family members. They charge into danger without hesitation to safeguard communities and they deserve to be protected and treated with the urgency their service demands. The introduction today of the LEO K9 Protection Act is the result of years of tireless advocacy and we are proud to carry this mission forward. We are deeply grateful to Congressman Bean for standing with us to honor and protect our nation’s four-legged heroes.”
In the past year alone, 21 police K9s lost their lives in the line of duty, including K9 Leo.
“K9 Leo was more than a partner; he was family. He gave his life to protect others, and not a day goes by that I don’t feel his absence. The Leo K9 Protection Act ensures that the sacrifices of courageous K9s like Leo are never forgotten and that the next injured K9 has the best chance of returning home. By supporting this bill, we can guarantee that federal working K9s receive the urgent care they deserve and help prevent more handlers from experiencing the heartbreak of losing their partners in the line of duty,” said Sergeant Justin Tortora, Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Read the exclusive on the Leo K9 Protection Act in the Daily Caller here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)
Washington, DC – Yesterday, House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific Chairwoman Young Kim (CA-40) and Representative Sydney Kamlager‑Dove (CA-37) introduced the bipartisan Partner with Korea Act (H.R.4687) to encourage greater collaboration between U.S. and Korean businesses.
The Partner with Korea Act builds on the U.S.–Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) by creating an allotment of 15,000 E-4 highly skilled work visas for Korean nationals with specialized education or expertise, provided that potential employers ensure the visa holders are not hired for positions that American workers could fill. Similar visa categories have been created through free trade agreements with countries, such as Australia and Singapore.
“As the Chinese Communist Party and North Korea increase aggression and work to rewrite the world’s rules-based international order, our partnership with South Korea has never been more vital,” said Rep. Young Kim. “South Korea’s highly skilled workforce can help support our economic and national security amid rising threats in the Indo-Pacific. As we mark 72 years of the U.S.-ROK alliance, I’m proud to join forces with Rep. Kamlager-Dove to unlock new economic opportunities that strengthen both of our nations.”
“Immigrants power our economy—not just in Los Angeles but nationwide,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “Korean immigrants are an integral part of America’s fabric, making essential contributions in various industries, from technology to healthcare and beyond. As a proud representative of the vibrant Korean American community in Los Angeles, I am honored to introduce legislation that will open doors for high-skilled workers from the Republic of Korea. When we fail to attract and retain immigrant talent, our businesses and economy suffer—that’s why the Partner with Korea Act is crucial for keeping America competitive.”
The KORUS FTA passed Congress in 2011 and took effect in March of 2012. The Partner with Korea Act was previously introduced in the 113th, 114th, 115th, 116th, 117th, and 118th Congresses by the late Congressman Gerry Connolly (VA-11). Rep. Kim has helped lead this bipartisan effort since she’s been in Congress.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05)
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05) and Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) introduced theStopping Teachers Unions from Damaging Education Needs Today (STUDENT) Actto rein in the National Education Association (NEA) through its federal charter and rededicate the organization to the pursuit of increased student learning and quality education in schools across the United States.
TheSTUDENT Actmakes substantial and much needed limitations and conditions to the NEA charter, bringing it in line with other federally chartered organizations. The bill establishes the following charter changes and best practices:
Ensures the NEA is no longer exempt from paying D.C. property tax, a wholly unnecessary benefit for the largest union in America.
Keeps the NEA from engaging in discrimination or employing hiring quotas.
Requires all members to explicitly consent to paying dues and fees.
Prevents the corporation and its affiliates from calling for strikes or work stoppages.
Requires any NEA officer to be a U.S. citizen.
Makes the corporation keep track and account for all records, meeting notes, and other documents.
Sends all assets to the Department of the Treasury if the NEA ever dissolves.
Prohibits the union from encouraging or requiring members to adhere to any critical race theory concept.
“The NEA long ago transformed from an educational association into a political machine, pushing a progressive agenda that puts activists ahead of students’ needs,” said Rep. Fitzgerald. “The STUDENT Act reins in NEA’s federal charter, restores accountability, and demands a return to its original purpose: educating, not indoctrinating, American children.”
“The NEA has exploited its federal charter to advance a radical political agenda that puts ideology before education,” said Sen. Lummis.“Wyoming parents and teachers deserve better than a union that prioritizes woke politics over student achievement. The resolution passed at the NEA Representative Assembly to cut ties with the Anti-Defamation League because of its support for Israel is abhorrent and does nothing to stem the rising tide of antisemitic incidents we’ve witnessed nationwide. Federal charters should be reserved for organizations that serve patriotic, charitable, historical, or educational purposes – not for unions that push divisive and antisemitic ideologies.”
“Rep. Fitzgerald and Sen. Lummis should be commended for their leadership in introducing the STUDENT Act, which would address some of the NEA’s most concerning conduct and make it more accountable to the public and even its own members,” said Freedom Foundation CEO Aaron Withe. “The Freedom Foundation is proud to stand with these courageous lawmakers in the fight to restore sanity to public education.”
BACKGROUND: The NEA, a teachers’ union, was given a federal charter through an act of Congress in 1906. Congress has granted charters to organizations with a patriotic, charitable, historical, or educational purpose, which provides these organizations with prestige and, in some cases, indirect financial benefit. The NEA, the largest union in the United States, while supposedly “non-partisan,” has time and time again supported woke, liberal causes through their endorsements and other political contributions.
A2023 report by the Freedom Foundationfound that because the NEA was incorporated in the District of Columbia prior to its grant of a federal charter, revoking such charter would neither strip it of its corporate existence, nor cause it to alter its operations. Reforming, rather than repealing, the NEA’s federal charter, will provide greater accountability to its members and rid the organization of its partisan slant.
WASHINGTON, D.C.– On July 24, 2025, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02)announced that his office has successfully returned over $4.3 million to constituents in New Mexico’s Second District in 2025.
“I’m excited to announce that my office has put over $4 million back in constituents’ pockets,” saidVasquez. “New Mexicans deserve an accessible, accountable government that works for them without red tape or bureaucracy. These success stories are a testament to my office’s commitment to ensuring hard working folks get every last dollar they deserve.”
Rep. Vasquez’s casework team works directly with constituents to resolve issues with federal agencies including the IRS, Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, and more.
“With the help of Congressman Vasquez, our case was resolved in just two weeks — with back pay of $4,555.00 and monthly benefits of $421.00. We are so grateful for the fast, successful outcome thanks to Congressman Vasquez. After a tough year of loss and disappointment, their help turned everything around,” said Dorothy and Stefanie of Socorro.
“Congressman Vasquez was a great help in helping me recover $9,512 in delayed income tax refunds from the past two years, which had been held up after my husband passed away,” said Kate of Las Cruces.
“Before my VA benefits were approved, I was barely getting by, unable to afford basics like food. With the $78,816 I received in benefits and back pay, I paid off high‑interest debt and now can live with dignity. I’m deeply grateful to Congressman Vasquez and his office for helping make this possible,” said Jerome of Belen.
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Raking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on The Constitution, this week denounced the President Trump’s attacks on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Civil Rights Division, including the Administration’s plans to freeze all new civil rights cases or investigations at the division.
Ahead of yesterday’s hearing, Senator Welch released a memorandum with the new policy statements provided to career attorneys at the Civil Rights Division. These directives, which have not previously been made public, show how the Division’s enforcement priorities have been narrowed, changed, and in some cases reversed under the leadership of Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon, to mirror and advance President Trump’s political agenda. The memo also sheds light on Assistant Attorney General Dhillon’s efforts to oust career attorneys through reassignments and resignations. Senator Welch’s office obtained data showing that since the beginning of President Trump’s second term, more than 368 individuals have left the Civil Rights Division and only two Section chiefs remain in place.
“The Civil Rights Division is a crown jewel in the Department of Justice of the United States of America,” said Senator Welch. “But there’s a profound difference in the Justice Department today than there was the day before the election. The new policy directives that are being issued to DOJ attorneys is the zealous and faithful pursuit of, ‘The priorities of the President.’ No! It’s the priorities of the Constitution. It’s the priorities of the legislation passed by Congress. It is not the priorities of any person, even if that person is the President of the United States. That is not what the job of the Justice Department is to do.”
Watch Senator Welch’s full remarks below:
Read Senator Welch’s opening remarks as delivered here.
Senator Welch questioned Ms. Dhillon about whether the Trump Administration influenced the DOJ’s highly irregular decision to order mid-decade redistricting of Texas’ congressional districts. The Senator also called out Ms. Dhillon for her refusal to acknowledge that President Biden won the 2020 Presidential Election.
Read key excerpts from Senator Welch’s exchange with Ms. Dhillon:
“As you know, President Trump has recently ‘encouraged’—I’ll use that—Texas Republicans to do mid-cycle redistricting in order to gain more seats in the House of Representatives. I understand that after the President made that decision, or that announcement, you personally sent a letter on July 7 to Texas—in your capacity as Assistant Attorney General—arguing that four Democratic districts violate federal law,” said Senator Welch. “Before you sent the letter on July 7, did you have any conversation with any representatives of the White House?”
Ms. Dhillon: “Senator, as you’re aware, there are privileges that are involved in all Executive Branch communications and without—I’m not able to testify without breaching the Department of Justice’s guidelines in that regard. So, I’m unable to answer any questions about conversations I may have had with other Executive Branch officials.”
Senator Welch: “I’m not asking you what the content of the conversation was. I’m asking whether there was any conversation with anyone from the White House before you sent that July 7 letter.”
Ms. Dhillon: “Senator, I have the same answer. I think you’re aware of the scope, the broad scope of privileges that apply to lawyers’ conduct.”
Senator Welch: “Well, here’s what I’m aware of: the President made a directive—which is highly unusual—telling a legislature, the Texas legislature, mid-decade to do redistricting when we do that every ten years. And oh, it just so happened the Assistant Attorney General sent a letter to that legislature—after the President made his announcement—and said that your investigations suggest four districts are in violation of federal law.”
Ms. Dhillon: “Is there a question, Senator?”
Senator Welch: “There’s a point here that it’s hard to believe that that wasn’t coordinated.”
Senator Welch has been a leading voice in pushing back against the Trump Administration’s attacks on the rule of law and efforts to undermine the Department of Justice. In April, Senator Welch led six Senate Judiciary Committee colleagues in demanding answers from the DOJ concerning the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the Department’s Civil Rights Division. The Senators separately called for Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, to immediately hold an oversight hearing with Assistant Attorney General Dhillon on the politicization of DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.
During President Trump’s first week in office, Senator Welch slammed the President’s plans to freeze all new civil rights cases or investigations at DOJ’s Civil Rights Division and suggestions that it would sideline police reform agreements established by the Biden Administration.