Stoke-on-Trent City Council is delighted to welcome Ben Gothard as the Director of their newly created Repairs and Maintenance Service.
The Repairs and Maintenance of the city council’s 17,500 houses and 600 public buildings, was bought back into the city council in April 2025, having previously been contracted to Unitas Stoke-on-Trent Ltd.
Having listened to our tenants, the new service is operating with a renewed focus on first time repairs, improved customer service and a more proactive approach to maintenance.
Ben is due to start in his post on 21 July 2025 and arrives with 20 years’ experience working in Social Housing Repairs and Maintenance and experience of working with Housing Associations and Local Authorities, having previously held the position of Head of Repairs and Maintenance for Sheffield City Council. He will manage all aspects of the RMS Team including Asset Management and Investment, Responsive Repairs and Planned Management.
Ben said: “I am really passionate about delivering excellent services for customers and it feels like a really exciting time to be joining Stoke on Trent City Council’s team. I am looking forward to concentrating on the improvements already recognised and welcome the opportunity to deliver a top performing service.”
Councillor Chris Robinson, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning said: “We’re delighted to welcome Ben to the Repairs and Maintenance Service. His experience and knowledge make him ideally suited to support our expert tradespeople on delivering a service our customers deserve.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3
Speech
The onus is on Russia and Putin to show they are serious about peace: UK statement at the UN Security Council
Statement by Fergus Eckersley, UK Minister Counsellor, at the Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security.
We’ve listened very carefully to the Russian delegation, including their attacks on the UK.
Let me say one thing.
Let us all hope that Russia engages more seriously and with more sincerity in the peace talks than we’ve heard here today.
Russia has just blamed the UK and other European countries for somehow sabotaging peace.
They’re trying to complicate things and confuse us.
But the reality is quite simple. Let me restate a few simple facts.
1) Russia invaded Ukraine twice in fact, in recent years.
2) Russia violated the UN Charter.
3) Russia is right, as we speak, trying to annex Ukrainian land.
4) Russia appears, from its public statements, to be seeking the overthrow of the government in Kyiv and to impose limits on Ukraine’s independence.
5) Russia has rejected an unconditional ceasefire.
6) Russia continues to bomb cities across Ukraine, 900 drone and missile attacks in just three days last week.
There is plenty more we could talk about, including Russia’s use of sophisticated weaponry in urban areas, killing civilians, or its reckless seizure of the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.
We could talk about the enablers of Russia’s war, such as weapons flows from Iran and its military partnership with DPRK, in violation of Council resolutions, and weaponised dual-use goods from other third parties.
But in the end, we don’t really need to look beyond the most essential facts about Russia’s invasion to understand the situation and what needs to happen next.
Ukraine on the other hand:
1) Is defending its territory.
2) Is defending the principles of the UN Charter.
3) Has agreed to an unconditional ceasefire.
President Zelenskyy has even offered direct talks with President Putin, which President Putin has rejected.
So yes, the UK stands proudly with Ukraine as it seeks a just and lasting peace.
Supporting Ukraine to defend itself from Russian attacks is not the cause of this war; it is a necessary response to it.
The onus really is on Russia, and President Putin, to show they are serious about ending the war that they started. Let us hope they do that very soon.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Monica De La Cruz (TX-15)
Washington, DC – Co-chairs, Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (R-TX) and Congresswoman Emilia Strong Sykes (D-OH), along with Vice-Chairs, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) and Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (D-OR) announce theBipartisan Women’s Caucus priorities for the 119th Congress.
The Caucus outlined the following legislative priorities:
Caregiving:Exploring ways to better support caregivers
Food and Nutrition:Expanding access to healthy and nutritious food
Small Business and Entrepreneurship:Promoting programs for women-owned businesses
STEM/STEAM:Creating greater opportunities and a pipeline for women and girls
Women Veterans:Addressing military sexual trauma and enhancing research on women veterans’ health
Violence Against Women:Supporting efforts to promote the economic security of survivors
Women’s Health:Strengthening and funding maternal health, mid-life health and expanding IVF insurance coverage
Women’s History Museum:Ensuring women’s contributions throughout our country’s history is recognized and honored
“As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus, I’m committed to working across the aisle to advance policies that support women-owned small businesses, strengthen families, and expand access to childcare and elder care.Empowering women is at the heart of our mission, and I look forward to delivering commonsense solutions on the priorities we share.”-Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15)
“As the representative for one of the most bipartisan congressional districts in the country, it is an honor to Co-Chair the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus to prioritize real change for women and girls in America. Whether we are working to raise awareness around violence against women, improving women’s health, expanding opportunities for women and girls in STEAM, or engaging in efforts to improve access to healthy foods and ensure food is safe for our children, I am grateful for the opportunity to work with so many amazing women across the political spectrum to make sure that women and girls are not left behind by our government.”–Congresswoman Emilia Strong Sykes (OH-13)
“As Vice-Chair serving in the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus, I remain committed to advancing commonsense, bipartisan policies that support women and families nationwide. We’ve worked to increase the Child Tax Credit and expand women’s health care, support women-owned businesses, advance STEM opportunities, supporting solutions to increase access to child care, and champion a National Women’s History Museum. We’re working across the aisle to empower current and future generations of women and girls.”-Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis.
“Every day I hear from Oregonians that want lower costs, better jobs, and a fair chance at the American Dream. I remain firmly committed to working across the aisle as Vice-Chair of the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus to deliver real results to improve Americans’ quality of life.”-Congresswoman Janelle Bynum
“In keeping with their 48-year history, the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus’ legislative priorities for the 119th Congress demonstrate their continued commitment to work across the aisle to ensure women and their families are economically secure, healthy and safe. WCPI will continue to work alongside the Caucus to hold regular briefings and engage in thoughtful bipartisan discussions and learning opportunities for Members and congressional staff.”-President of the Women’s Congressional Policy Institute (WCPI) Jennifer Lockwood-Shabat
Background:
The Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues was founded in 1977 and later renamed to the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus (BWC). When it was founded, the Caucus included 15 of the 18 women servingin the House of Representatives. Today, nearly one-third of the House are women members. With its founding, the Caucus offered a space for women members to speak in public and with each other about women’s policy issues with the goal of developing, initiating, and promoting bipartisan legislation and public policies for women.
Some of the early accomplishments of the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus included:
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (1978)
The Retirement Equity Act (1984)
The Women’s Business Ownership Act (1988)
The Breast and Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act (1990)
Source: United States House of Representatives – Monica De La Cruz (TX-15)
De La Cruz Advocates to Combat New World Screwworm in Hidalgo County
Washington, May 29, 2025
WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins advocating for the USDA to establish anew sterile fly facility at the Moore Air Base in Hidalgo County, Texas. The facility is critical to protecting Texas livestock and wildlife from New World Screwworm.
In the 1960s, Moore Air Base housed a sterile fly facility that helped successfully eradicate the New World Screwworm. Given Hidalgo County’s proximity to the border and the existing infrastructure, it is strategic and beneficial to select this location for a potential new sterile fly facility.
Read the full letter here or below.
“Dear Secretary Rollins,
I write to you today regarding the potential establishment of a new sterile fly facility within the United States, a matter of critical importance to the protection of our livestock and wildlife. As you know, the threat of invasive fly species, such as the New World screwworm, poses a significant risk to the health and economic well-being of our agricultural sector and the delicate balance of our ecosystems.
Given the strategic importance of this facility, I strongly advocate for its location within Texas’ 15th Congressional District, specifically at Moore Air Base. This base was previously the site of a facility to help combat screwworm in the 1960’s. Additionally, the United States Department of Agriculture currently operates a fruit fly rearing and eclosion facility in this area and the addition of a new sterile fly facility would logistically make sense due to the existing USDA infrastructure in place and the operational runway at Moore Air Base. This region also presents a compelling case for consideration, primarily due to its proximity to the United States-Mexico border.
The Moore Air Base location offers several key advantages:
Border Proximity: The proximity to the border with Mexico is crucial for effective monitoring and control of potential incursions of invasive fly species. A facility in this region would allow for rapid response and containment, minimizing the spread of infestations into the United States.
Existing Agricultural Infrastructure: The region boasts a robust agricultural sector with established infrastructure and expertise in livestock management. This existing framework would facilitate efficient integration of the sterile fly facility and streamline its operations. Additionally, Moore Air Base has operations runways equipped to distribute sterile flies.
Strategic Location: Moore Air Base offers a central location for distribution of sterile flies to other areas in the southern United States, if such a need arises. Additionally, this base was the site of a facility used in the 1960’s to successfully combat screwworm.
Economic Impact: The establishment of such a facility would provide valuable economic opportunities for the region by generating jobs and stimulating local economies.
I understand the Department of Agriculture’s commitment to safeguarding our agricultural resources and natural habitats. I believe that locating this vital facility in Texas’ 15th Congressional District would be a prudent and strategic decision, enhancing our ability to protect our livestock and wildlife from the devastating impact of invasive fly species.
I respectfully request that you give this matter your full consideration and explore the feasibility of establishing the sterile fly facility within Texas’ 15th Congressional District at Moore Air Base. I am prepared to provide any additional information or support that may be required during your evaluation process.
Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Yorkshire Water fined after pumping station sewage incident
Yorkshire Water has been fined £350,000 after one of its sewage pumping stations polluted a York watercourse.
Following an investigation by the Environment Agency, the company appeared at York Magistrates’ Court on Friday 30 May for sentencing for two offences – one of illegally polluting Foss Dyke with sewage and another in relation to failing to maintain a pump at the pumping station.
It had previously pleaded guilty to the two offences in November 2024.
The court heard that Yorkshire Water was aware Fossbridge Sewage Pumping Station’s backup pump had not been working for five months.
It had failed to repair it, despite the issue having been noted repeatedly during regular maintenance checks. It should have been fixed within 24 hours.
Yorkshire Water ‘failed to take action’
Martin Christmas, Area Environment Manager for the Environment Agency in Yorkshire, said:
Water companies have a responsibility to ensure their assets are maintained and in working order to protect the environment.
Yorkshire Water failed to take action despite being aware of the risks posed by one of its pumps being out of action, which led to a sewage spill.
We expect full compliance and are committed to taking robust enforcement action where we see serious breaches.
Alongside increased inspections at sewage treatment works, additional enforcement tools and better reporting we’re determined to hold water companies to account.
Sewage pumping stations pump sewage through the system to sewage treatment works. It is illegal, unless authorised by an environmental permit, to discharge pollution into watercourses.
Under the environmental permit for Fossbridge Sewage Pumping Station, such a discharge is only allowed in an emergency, such as an electrical or mechanical failure or a blockage, which, if it occurs, must be remedied without delay.
Fossbridge pumping station has a main pump and a backup pump. There is an emergency overflow pipe which discharges sewage into the River Foss if the station fails, to avoid nearby homes connected to the system from being inundated.
Sensors enable Yorkshire Water to monitor the station’s performance including power, pump condition, levels and the operation of the emergency overflow.
Backup pump was blocked
On 5 October 2017, Yorkshire Water noted the inlet pipe feeding the backup pump was blocked and effluent couldn’t reach it, meaning the pump could not operate.
Although a job was raised to fix this blockage, and it was noted it needed repairs during several subsequent regular maintenance visits, it was never carried out.
Comments from Yorkshire Water during interview said the repair of the backup pump was to be done by an external contractor but had ‘got lost in the ether’.
On 12 March, 2018, the sewage pumping station filled to the point where telemetry alarms sounded indicating a discharge of sewage into Foss Dyke. The alarms were noted at Yorkshire Water’s control centre and attributed to high rainfall.
High rainfall was not a valid reason as the sewage pumping station was only allowed to discharge in an emergency as set out in its environmental permit and not, as with some water company assets like combined sewer overflows, in ‘storm conditions’.
Yorkshire Water did not attend the pumping station, despite the data indicating a sewage spill.
Report of discharge of sewage
Two days later on 14 March, Yorkshire Water received a report from the public about a discharge of sewage from Fossbridge pumping station.
It was found the main pump was running but on ‘low amps’ – which indicates a potential air lock – and the backup pump was still not repaired. Yorkshire Water had no functioning pumps at the pumping station.
The company stopped the discharge and arranged for tankers to transport the sewage away from the pumping station while it was repaired. Reports suggest the pumping station had been discharging intermittently into the watercourse on 12 March, 2018.
Over the following days, two further discharges took place at the pumping station, one because only one tanker was being used to transport sewage from the pumping station and it had not been able to keep up with the flow, and another after the main pump blocked again.
Water samples showed high ammonia levels in the watercourse.
If members of the public see any signs of pollution, they should report it to the environment Agency’s incident hotline on 0800 807060.
Background
Full charges
Yorkshire Water Services Limited between 11 and 19 March 2018, caused a water discharge activity, namely the discharge of sewage into the Foss Dyke near York which was not authorised by an environmental permit.
Contrary to Regulation 38(1)(a) and Regulation 12(1)(b) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.
Yorkshire Water Services Limited between 1 October 2017 and 19 March 2018 at Fossbridge Sewage Pumping Station, York, failed to comply with condition 1.6.2 of Environmental Permit number 27/24/0440, in that the company failed to maintain the standby pump in working order.
Contrary to regulation 38(2) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Government completes exit from NatWest
Final share sale ends nearly 17 years of public ownership
Final share sale ends nearly 17 years of public ownership
Millions of savers and businesses protected during the financial crisis
Taxpayers prioritised through value-for-money sales at market price since this government came to office
The government has sold its remaining shares in NatWest Group (formerly Royal Bank of Scotland, RBS) — ending public ownership that began when it stepped in to protect millions of savers and businesses during the financial crisis.
That intervention prevented the UK economy and financial system from going over the edge – protecting millions of savers, businesses and jobs.
Over 2008 and 2009, the government provided £45.5 billion to stabilise RBS (now NatWest), which at the time was one of the largest banks in the world- with over 40 million customers and operations in more than 50 countries.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:
Nearly two decades ago, the then Government stepped in to protect millions of savers and businesses from the consequences of the collapse of RBS. That was the right decision then to secure the economy and NatWest’s return to private ownership turns the page on a significant chapter in this country’s history. We protected the economy in a time of crisis nearly seventeen years ago, now we are focused on securing Britain’s future in a new era of global change.
Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Emma Reynolds said:
Bringing NatWest fully back into private ownership marks a significant milestone for the UK banking sector following the financial crisis.
Since coming into government, we have halted the NatWest retail share sale, which could have cost taxpayers hundreds of millions. Instead, we put taxpayers first by only selling NatWest shares at market value— securing more money to invest in vital public services.
To date, £35 billion has been returned to the Exchequer through share sales, dividends and fees. While this is around £10.5 billion less than the original support, the alternative would have been a collapse with far greater economic costs and social consequences.
The Office for Budget Responsibility are clear on this point: the cost of doing nothing would almost certainly have been far greater than the difference between the capital injected and proceeds returned.
Allowing the bank to fail would have devastated people’s savings, mortgages and livelihoods — and shattered confidence in the UK’s financial system.
Since taking office in 2024, the government has prioritised securing value for taxpayers — scrapping plans for a retail sale that could have cost hundreds of millions of pounds due to the need to sell shares at a discounted price to attract retail buyers.
Instead, shares were sold only at market price and when it represented value for money — helping fund the Plan for Change to invest in the NHS, education and defence.
The government has now exited all banking sector interventions made during the financial crisis.
Notes to editors
Shares were sold through three accelerated bookbuilds in 2015 (£2.1bn), 2018 (£2.5bn), 2021 (£1.1bn), five directed buybacks of shares by NatWest in March 2021 (£1.1bn), March 2022 (£1.2bn), May 2023 (£1.3bn), May 2024 (£1.2bn), and November 2024 (£1bn), and a trading plan from 2021–2025
The final shares were sold through the trading plan on 30 May 2025. In total, the trading plan generated over £13.2bn in proceeds from sales of NatWest shares
Peak government stake in RBS was 84.4%
A retail sale, proposed under the previous government, was cancelled in 2024 due to the additional costs to taxpayers, estimated in the hundreds of millions
UK Government Investments (UKGI), who managed the shareholding on behalf of HMT, ensured all sales delivered value for money
Explainer of total amount received by government in relation to NatWest shareholding:
Type
Amount (£bn)
Comments
Sale proceeds
24.77
Total combined proceeds from sales of the shareholding between 2015 and 2025.
Dividends
4.91
Total combined dividends received since the bank recommenced dividend payments in 2018.
Dividend Access Share
1.51
Combined value of payments made to retire the DAS, which provided enhanced dividend rights to HMT following the provision of capital support to RBS. The DAS was retired in 2016.
Asset Protection Scheme fees
2.50
Fees paid by RBS in exchange for its participation in the APS, which protected against exceptional credit losses on certain portfolios of assets. RBS exited the APS in 2012.
Contingent Capital Facility fees
1.28
Fees paid in return for the provision of an £8bn CCF to RBS by HMT in 2009. The CCF was terminated in 2013.
Headline: High School Teams from Across North Carolina Amaze in Ready, Set, App! Competition
High School Teams from Across North Carolina Amaze in Ready, Set, App! Competition lsaito
Raleigh, NC
Today Governor Josh Stein announced the three winning North Carolina high school teams of the sixth annual Ready, Set, App! competition. Nine student teams from across the state attended the final event to pitch their original mobile apps to a panel of business and tech-industry professionals along with a live audience of family members, teachers, and peers.
“I am proud to recognize these competitors for their technical acumen and hard work to develop apps that will make a difference for their friends, family, and neighbors,” said Governor Josh Stein. “We must expand opportunity so that students can apply what they learn in the classroom to solve real problems. I look forward to seeing all that these students achieve in the future.”
The following teams were selected as the winners for this year’s competition:
First place was ASLephant from Mallard Creek High School in Mecklenburg County, who created an app to teach users about the foundations of American Sign Language (ASL) through a gamified leveling system, which features unique quizzes and flashcards. Team members include Elizabeth Bui, Linh Thai, and Laylah Pegues. Watch ASLephant’s presentation here.
Second place went to Color Catch from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics – Morganton in Burke County. Their app empowers individuals with color blindness by enabling them to easily identify the colors of everyday objects, enhancing their independence. Team members include Rohin Patel, Avika Gera, Peter Tenholder, Sai Yadavalli, and Ishaan Joshy. Watch Color Catch’s presentation here.
Third place was ApneaAid from Enloe High School in Wake County, who created an AI-powered app that detects sleep apnea risk using your phone’s microphone and provides unique recommendations and trends to improve sleep quality. Team members include Madhav Annachi, Sehajpreet Bajwa, Aarush Jain, Ahan Jaiswal, Abhinay Ruddarraju. Watch ApneaAid’s presentation here.
The Ready, Set, App competition is hosted by the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE), a business-led, education non-profit within the Governor’s Office, and sponsored by Lenovo. The contest challenges student teams to design and develop an original android mobile application to solve a problem in their school or community.
This year, Ready, Set, App! teams are comprised of three to five students along with an advisor. The competition set participation records this year, engaging 425 students with 107 teams from across 30 counties. From the registered teams, 51 submitted completed projects, including a full app demonstration accompanied by a compelling video pitch. Projects were then judged by Lenovo professionals, educators, business leaders, and government officials to determine the nine finalists. Teams then pitched their apps on stage at the Lenovo headquarters in Morrisville for the chance to win brand new Lenovo tech.
“We are incredibly proud to recognize the outstanding talent and innovation showcased by all the participants in this year’s Ready, Set, App! competition,” said Libby Richards, community engagement manager at Lenovo. “These high school students have demonstrated not only technical skill, but also a forward-thinking problem solving using technology. We congratulate the winners on their impressive achievements and applaud every student who took part in this inspiring competition.”
This year’s team was led by Kishan Rajeev Jagadeesh from Apex Friendship High and Wisdom Walker from Harper Middle College. New additions this year include Evan Kim from Weddington High School, Mariya Tinch from Nash-Rocky Mount Early College, Nachammai Annamalai from South Iredell High School, and Swayam Shah from Enloe Magnet High School.
Ready, Set, App! is open to all North Carolina high school students and will be held again next school year with a kickoff planned for fall 2025. Intern applications will open in September and team registration will open shortly after.
Click here or more information about the Ready, Set, App! Competition.
Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)
Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate TuSimple Holdings – a Chinese autonomous trucking company – for potential violations of U.S. export controls, unauthorized transfers of sensitive technology to the People’s Republic of China, and any associated breaches of national security.
In the letter, Senator Hawley wrote, “According to recent investigative reports, TuSimple systematically shared proprietary data, source code, and autonomous driving technologies with Chinese state-linked entities, in blatant disregard of a 2022 national security agreement with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). These reports also revealed communications from TuSimple personnel inside China requesting the shipment of sensitive Nvidia AI chips and detailed records showing ‘deep and longstanding ties’ with Chinese military-affiliated manufacturers. To date, TuSimple has not faced serious consequences for sharing American intellectual property with China.”
He continued, “If the reports about TuSimple are accurate, they represent not just a violation of export law, but a breach of national trust and a direct threat to American technological leadership. The American people deserve to know how and why a supposedly U.S.-based company was allowed to serve as a conduit for the transfer of sensitive innovations to the Chinese Communist Party.”
Senator Hawley concluded, “I urge the Department to act swiftly and without hesitation. Any individual or entity found to have violated our laws must be held fully accountable.”
Read the full letter here or below.
May 28, 2025
The Honorable Pam BondiAttorney GeneralU.S. Department of Justice950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20530
Dear Attorney General Bondi,
I write to urge the Department of Justice to open a formal investigation into TuSimple Holdings Inc., a Chinese autonomous trucking company, for potential violations of U.S. export controls, unauthorized transfers of sensitive technology to the People’s Republic of China, and any associated breaches of national security.
According to recent investigative reports, TuSimple systematically shared proprietary data, source code, and autonomous driving technologies with Chinese state-linked entities, in blatant disregard of a 2022 national security agreement with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)[1] These reports also revealed communications from TuSimple personnel inside China requesting the shipment of sensitive Nvidia AI chips and detailed records showing “deep and longstanding ties” with Chinese military-affiliated manufacturers. To date, TuSimple has not faced serious consequences for sharing American intellectual property with China.
If the reports about TuSimple are accurate, they represent not just a violation of export law, but a breach of national trust and a direct threat to American technological leadership. The American people deserve to know how and why a supposedly U.S.-based company was allowed to serve as a conduit for the transfer of sensitive innovations to the Chinese Communist Party. I urge the Department to act swiftly and without hesitation. Any individual or entity found to have violated our laws must be held fully accountable.
As you conduct your investigation, please consider the following questions:
1. Did TuSimple provide protected information to Hydron, Foton, BAIC Group, or any other affiliated Chinese entity?2. What steps has the Department of Justice taken to ensure that Bot Auto—a new, Texas-based self-driving truck company staffed with former TuSimple employees and backed by Chinese capital—does not engage in similar behavior?3. What activities were covered by TuSimple’s national security agreement with CFIUS?4. What were the infractions of this agreement for which TuSimple paid a $6 million settlement?5. Are “national security agreements” an adequate mechanism for controlling high-risk companies with known ties to the Chinese Communist Party?
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,Josh HawleyU.S. Senator
Luján Visits Las Cruces, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe; Holds Town Hall With Rep. Stansbury
New Mexico – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) concluded a series of events across New Mexico this week, meeting with health care providers, seniors, families, and union members to highlight the impact of Republican efforts to cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP.
This week, Senator Luján traveled from Las Cruces to Albuquerque to Santa Fe to speak directly with New Mexicans about what’s at stake and to reaffirm his commitment to protecting the essential programs that thousands of New Mexico families, children, seniors, and communities rely on
Candlelight Memorial Ceremony in Las Cruces
Senator Luján began the week on Monday by honoring fallen service members at the 12th Annual Candlelight Ceremony in Doña Ana County.
“On Memorial Day, we pause to remember the heroes who gave everything for our country. I was proud to stand with the community in Las Cruces to honor their service, their sacrifice, and their families,” said Senator Luján.
Roundtable on Republican Benefit Cuts in Las Cruces
At the Munson Senior Center on Tuesday, Senator Luján met with health care professionals, senior service providers, and AARP to discuss how Republican cuts would harm New Mexicans.
“We heard firsthand how Republican cuts would shut down clinics, rip away food and care, and leave families with nowhere to turn,” continued Senator Luján. “For seniors living on fixed incomes, for parents working to make ends meet, and for rural communities already facing barriers to care – these programs are lifelines. I will keep fighting in the Senate to stop these cuts and protect the dignity and well-being of every New Mexican.”
Town Hall with Representative Melanie Stansbury in Albuquerque
Tuesday evening, Senator Luján joined Rep. Melanie Stansbury for a town hall focused on threats to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and SNAP.
“This Republican-led bill is a total rip-off for New Mexicans – all to line the pockets of people like President Trump and Elon Musk,” said Senator Ben Ray Luján. “The Republicans’ priorities couldn’t be more clear: tax handouts for billionaires and massive corporations, paid for by cutting health care, food assistance, and benefits for New Mexicans. We are not backing down.”
Health Care Roundtable at CHRISTUS St. Vincent in Santa Fe
Senator Luján met with health careleaders and providers to discuss the impact of federal budget cuts on care delivery, staffing, and rural access.
“Gutting Medicare and Medicaid would take health care away from those who need it most – especially in rural communities,” continued Senator Luján. “Providers are already stretched thin. These cuts would force closures, delay care, and put lives at risk. Our hospitals and health care workers need support, and I’ll keep fighting to make sure they get it.”
AFSCME and SNAP Labor Event in Santa Fe
Senator Luján concluded the tour with AFSCME union members, focusing on how GOP cuts to SNAP and public services would affect workers and families.
“AFSCME members keep our state running, and SNAP keeps families fed. These cuts are a direct attack on both,” said Senator Luján. “That’s why I’ve introduced legislation to strengthen the SNAP workforce because supporting workers means better service for families. I’ll always stand with New Mexico’s workers and the communities they serve.”
Throughout the statewide tour, Senator Luján underscored the devastating impact of the GOP budget proposal that slashes health and nutrition programs, raises costs for New Mexicans, and adds to the national debt – all to fund massive tax handouts for the wealthiest Americans and corporate interests.
Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper
Legislation would expand access to capital to more Americans
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper joined eleven of his Senate colleagues to reintroduce the bipartisan CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act, which would strengthen Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) to jumpstart economic development and increase access to capital for more Americans.
“CDFIs open doors for communities that traditional financing leaves behind,” said Hickenlooper. “Strengthening our CDFIs will deliver more small businesses, more jobs, and a stronger economy.”
CDFIs play a critical role providing financing to a wide range of small businesses, homeowners, and housing developers. The bipartisan bill will extend the authorization of the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program, which provides long-term, low-cost capital to CDFIs, and make it more reliable and accessible to smaller CDFIs.
The program’s authorization lapsed in 2014, but it has been extended on a year-by-year basis in annual appropriations bills. The bipartisan legislation would authorize the program for four years to provide greater certainty to borrowers and lenders.
Additionally, the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act will reduce the minimum loan size from at least $100 million to $25 million. It also removes the annual limit on guarantees to allow smaller CDFIs to use the program and to support more community development projects.
The Pictou County Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit (PCISCEU) has charged two people with multiple offences following a search warrant execution in Westville.
On May 28, as part of an ongoing firearms investigation, the PCISCEU attended a residence on Picken St. Two people were safely arrested at the property after a man pointed a loaded rifle at officers and tried to flee the area on an all-terrain vehicle. A woman, who was also at the residence, attempted to flee on foot.
During the search of the home, three firearms, several replica firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, knives, and swords were seized.
Darren Brent Snell, 41, and Sherri Lynn Hallam, 39, both of Westville, have been charged with:
Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose (nine counts)
Careless Use of Firearm (four counts)
Unauthorized Possession of Firearm (three counts)
Unauthorized Possession of Prohibited Weapon
Resist Arrest
Snell has also been charged with:
Pointing a Firearm
Possession Contrary to Order (12 counts)
Snell has been remanded into custody pending future court appearances. Hallam was released on conditions and is due to appear in Pictou Provincial Court on July 21.
Several teams assisted with the search warrant execution, including the Nova Scotia RCMP Emergency Response Team and Critical Incident Command, Pictou County District RCMP, Westville Police Service and Stellarton Police Service.
Note: The PCISCEU is made up of police officers from Pictou County District RCMP, Westville Police Service, and Stellarton Police Service.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Florissant, Mo., man appeared in court today on an indictment alleging that he possessed firearms after a prior felony conviction.
Jerald Cortez Harris, Jr., 27, was charged with being a felon in possession of firearms in an indictment returned on May 13, 2025, by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City, Mo. The indictment, which was unsealed upon Harris’s arrest and appearance in court, alleges that between March 14, 2025, and March 27, 2025, Harris possessed two firearms: a Glock, model 30, .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun, and a Beretta, model APX A1 Compact, 9 mm semi-automatic handgun. Harris has a prior felony conviction and is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer. It was investigated by the Columbia, Mo. Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
MIAMI – A former Key West firefighter made his initial appearance in federal court today to face an indictment charging him with the possession of a destructive device and possession of a short-barreled rifle.
According to the indictment, on March 14, Vincent Michael Vega, 38, was in possession of a combination of parts used in converting a device into a destructive device, i.e. an explosive bomb or similar device. Vega was also in possession of a modified semi-automatic rifle, which had a barrel of less than 16 inches. The firearms were not registered to Vega in the National Firearm Registration and Transfer Record, as required under federal law.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and acting Special Agent in Charge Gordon Mallory of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, made the announcement.
ATF Miami is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Hannah is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-10023.
SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 413 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from May 23 through May 29.
Among the new cases, Salvadoran national Jaqueline Del Carmen Aleman-Aguilar was charged with one count of illegal re-entry in San Antonio. According to a criminal complaint, Aleman-Aguilar was convicted for transportation of aliens in June 2015 and sentenced to six months in federal prison. She was then removed from the United States to Mexico in July 2015.
Christian Ruben Corea-Benavides, a Nicaraguan national, was charged in El Paso with attempting to transport illegal aliens. U.S. Border Patrol agents allegedly observed Corea-Benavides pick up five illegal aliens just over four miles west of the Fort Hancock Port of Entry. A criminal complaint alleges that during a traffic stop, the investigating USBP agent observed a female passenger in the front seat of the vehicle, and four additional passengers lying on top of one another in the backseat—all appearing to be wet and muddy.
Mexican national Sabino Renteria-Alvarado was arrested May 28 at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry after he attempted to enter through the pedestrian entrance and allegedly presented the Customs and Border Protection officer (CBPO) with a false claim that he had been a Legal Permanent Resident, but that police in Nevada possessed his LPR card. The CBPO referred Renteria-Alvarado to Passport Control Secondary, where records revealed he had been previously removed in January 2024 through Nogales, Arizona. His criminal record includes a 15-year prison sentence for a sexual assault of a minor conviction in 2017. Renteria-Alvarado is currently charged with one count of illegal re-entry.
Two U.S. citizens were arrested in the Del Rio area as the result of separate human smuggling attempts, as alleged in criminal complaints. Nancy Anna Gwyn, of Houston, was encountered during a May 22 traffic stop near Carrizo Springs. USBP agents allegedly uncovered three passengers in her vehicle who were identified to be citizens of foreign countries and illegally present in the U.S. On May 24,an immigration checkpoint inspection near Eagle Pass allegedly revealed that Anastasia Lee Daneill Godfrey, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was attempting to transport two illegal aliens to San Antonio in the trunk of a sedan.
Honduran national Walter Alonso Martinez-Chandias is charged with illegal re-entry. He has one prior removal—in June 2013 through Alexandria, Louisiana—and a lengthy criminal record that includes convictions in Birmingham, Alabama for drug trafficking and homicide, for which he was sentenced in 2018 to five years and 20 years in prison, respectively. In 2017, he was convicted in Birmingham for unlawful transport of firearms and sentenced to 81 months in prison. A criminal complain alleges that when he was arrested on May 25, Martinez-Chandias refused to comply with Border Patrol agents’ commands and resisted attempts to be placed in custody and handcuffs by running and kicking.
Luis Alberto Olivarez-Hernandez, of Mexico, was arrested May 27 near Eagle Pass for illegal re-entry. He has two prior removals, the last one being Feb. 25 through Laredo, five days after a felony conviction for unlawfully carrying a weapon in prohibited places. Additionally, Olivarez-Hernandez was convicted in 2010 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Armando Vazquez-Ruiz, also a Mexican national, is charged with illegal re-entry after being found near Eagle Pass less than two weeks after his most recent removal. Vazquez-Ruiz had been convicted in Georgetown May 7 for assault causing bodily injury and was deported May 8 through Laredo.
In Austin, Mexican national Basilio Luna-Luna was encountered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Travis County Jail May 24, where he was detained for what would be his seventh DWI, if convicted. Luna-Luna was previously removed from the U.S. in November 2014 and voluntarily returned to Mexico twice—once in 1998 and once in 2009.
Juan Alberto Zarate-Salgado, also of Mexico, was encountered at the Travis County Jail as well and is charged with illegal re-entry. Zarate-Salgado has two prior removals and multiple convictions for assault of a family/household member and assault causing bodily injury to a family member.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CHNV was an unlawful scheme to unleash over 530,000 poorly vetted aliens into America
WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secured a legal victory in its effort to terminate parole for more than 530,000 illegal aliens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) who were released into the country by the Biden Administration. The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 7-2 order, staying a District Court’s order pending appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
With this decision, DHS can once again start removing illegal aliens under the disastrous CHNV parole programs as the case progresses. This order comes after an activist judge ruled that DHS could not outright end the CHNV program.
DHS released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the Trump Administration to keep Americans safe:
Statement Attributable to Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin
“Today’s decision is a victory for the American people. The Biden Administration lied to America. They allowed more than half a million poorly vetted aliens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela and their immediate family members to enter the United States through these disastrous parole programs; granted them opportunities to compete for American jobs and undercut American workers; forced career civil servants to promote the programs even when fraud was identified; and then blamed Republicans in Congress for the chaos that ensued and the crime that followed,”
“Ending the CHNV parole programs, as well as the paroles of those who exploited it, will be a necessary return to common-sense policies, a return to public safety, and a return to America First.”
Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the selection of Jeff C. Coffman and Benjamin Klein as Chiefs of the Office’s White Plains Division, as well as the retirement of Perry Carbone, Chief of the Office’s Criminal Division, who previously served with distinction as Chief of the White Plains Division.
Mr. Coffman joined the Office as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division in 2018, following five years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of New York and one year as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia. Prior to becoming a prosecutor, Mr. Coffman worked at the law firm of Trout Cacheris, PLLC and co-founded and managed a small law firm in Washington, D.C. Mr. Coffman received Bachelor of Science degrees from Virginia Tech and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. After graduating from law school, he clerked for the Hon. James C. Cacheris of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Mr. Klein joined the Office as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division in 2021. Before becoming a prosecutor, Mr. Klein worked at the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. Mr. Klein received a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University, and a J.D. from the Yale Law School, where he served as an editor of TheYale Law Journal. After graduating, Mr. Klein clerked for the Honorable Thomas M. Hardiman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
“I am pleased to announce the selection of Jeff Coffman and Ben Klein as co-chiefs of the Office’s White Plains division,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Jeff and Ben will bring a wealth of prosecutorial talent and experience to lead the critically impactful work of the division. Together with our agency partners, they will drive our commitment to safety and fairness for millions of New Yorkers. On behalf of the hundreds of women and men of the Southern District who have benefited from working with Perry Carbone, I say thank you, Perry, for your commitment to justice and your devotion to the Office and your colleagues. Perry has been a consummate prosecutor for decades and has admirably spent his career as a selfless advocate for public safety. We all thank Perry for doing so much good for so many. I am also especially grateful to Margery Feinzig, Deputy Chief of our Criminal Division, who stepped in as Acting Chief of the White Plains Division during this transition. Her steady leadership, professionalism, and tireless commitment ensured that the White Plains Division continued to function at the highest level. We are fortunate to have had her at the helm.”
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Derris Mayberry, 37, of Denver, was sentenced to 110 months in federal prison after being convicted by federal juries in two trials of one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
According to the facts established at the trials, on the evening of March 22, 2024, a woman approached an officer conducting surveillance for an undercover operation and offered the officer “dope.” She then told the officer that she knew someone who could get “blues,” meaning fentanyl pills. The woman ultimately led undercover police officers to an alley near the Colorado State Capitol where Mayberry was waiting. An audio recording captured the undercover officer negotiating the price and amount of fentanyl pills. The officers then observed the woman make a hand-to-hand exchange with Mayberry, immediately after which the woman handed four fentanyl pills to the undercover officer in exchange for $20. Law enforcement contacted Mayberry shortly thereafter at a bus stop only feet away from where the deal had taken place. During a pat down, law enforcement found a loaded .22 caliber revolver in his shorts pocket. Mayberry had previously been convicted of multiple felonies and, therefore, was prohibited from possessing the loaded revolver. During a search incident to his arrest, law enforcement found additional fentanyl pills and the $20 used by the undercover officer to purchase the drugs.
“Illicit fentanyl destroys lives,” said Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell. “Our office will continue to prioritize putting fentanyl traffickers behind bars.”
“Felons illegally possessing firearms and distributing deadly drugs like fentanyl pose a serious and immediate threat to public safety,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Chris Ashbridge. “We are grateful for our local and federal partners who are unified in our commitment to pursue these violent criminals and hold them accountable for their actions.”
“What began as great, proactive police work ended with an armed dealer of dangerous narcotics being sentenced to prison to a lengthy term,” said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas. “The Denver Police Department, in partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and U.S. Attorney’s Office, remain committed to stopping the availability of dangerous drugs in Denver.”
United States District Judge Daniel D. Domenico presided over the sentencing. The Denver Police Department VICE unit and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Theodore O’Brien and Celeste Rangel handled the prosecution.
Louisville, KY – A Louisville couple was sentenced this week to federal prison for engaging in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud and disaster fraud.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Licari of the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG), Midwestern Region, Special Agent in Charge Kelly J. Blackmon of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburgh Division made the announcement.
According to court documents, Yeniseis Saavedra, 35, was sentenced on May 28, 2025, to 3 years and 6 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of making a false statement, two counts of disaster fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Alien Saavedra, 36, was sentenced on May 20, 2025, to 1 day in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of disaster fraud.
Between 2019 and 2020, Yeniseis Saavedra and Alien Saavedra engaged in a conspiracy to defraud factoring (trucking loan) companies by submitting false bills of lading. Yeniseis Saavedra and Alien Saavedra also aided and abetted each other in committing disaster fraud by filing for lost wage assistance payments authorized by a Presidential Memorandum resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic with the Kentucky Office of Unemployment. The filing for lost wage assistance payments was on behalf of Alien Saavedra and failed to report that Alien Saavedra was receiving wages from the motor carrier industry.
In 2020, Yeniseis Saavedra made a false statement to the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration when she falsely filed an application on behalf of another, C.S., claiming that C.S. was going to operate a trucking company. However, C.S. was not aware of the application filing, and Yeniseis Saavedra was operating the company.
Yeniseis Saavedra also filed for lost wage assistance payments authorized by a Presidential Memorandum resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic with the Kentucky Office of Unemployment on behalf of C.S. Again, C.S. was unaware of the filing, this time for lost wage assistance payments, and C.S. did not receive any of the lost wage payments. Instead, the lost wage payments were sent to a bank account controlled by Yeniseis Saavedra.
Lastly, Yeniseis Saavedra was sentenced for aggravated identity theft for using the identity and Social Security number of C.S. without C.S.’s authorization to obtain the lost wage assistance payments.
There is no parole in the federal system.
Alien Saavedra was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $111,143.78.
Yeniseis Saavedra was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $156,147.78
This case was investigated by the DOT-OIG, HHS-OIG, and USPIS.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Ansari prosecuted the case.
New York, NY – The U.S. Marshals (USMS) New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force (NY/NJ RFTF), assisted by the USMS Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF), on Wednesday apprehended the second suspect wanted in the violent attack of an off-duty NYPD officer.
Wayne Lucas was identified as the second suspect involved in the brutal attack of the NYPD Officer. The first suspect, Taveon Hargrove, was arrested by the NY/NJ RFTF with assistance from the CARTF on Tuesday in North Chesterfield, Virginia.
Investigators learned that Lucas fled the New York area with Hargrove and the two had remained together for some time. Lucas appeared to have been alerted to Hargrove’s arrest and was believed to have left the North Chesterfield area. The team developed information that Lucas was at an apartment in Richmond, Virginia, and set up surveillance. Lucas was observed in a wig, attempting to disguise himself, exiting the apartment to smoke a cigarette. He was immediately taken into custody.
“The U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force and NYPD has apprehended the final suspect sought in connection with the brutal assault on an NYPD Officer. I commend them for their perseverance throughout this investigation. I hope this arrest brings a sense of justice and closure to the officer and his family,” said Jhovanny Gomez, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of New York.
The NY/NJ RFTF began operations in April 2002 and was the first regional fugitive task force to become fully operational following the Presidential Threat Protection Act of 2000. The NY/NJ RFTF was the flagship that has allowed seven other regional fugitive task forces to be created across the country. With partnership agreements with over 90 federal, state, or local agencies and 13 fully operational offices, the NY/NJ RFTF has successfully apprehended over 95,000 fugitives since inception.
In the margins of the first Italy-Central Asia Summit held in Astana today, the President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, had a series of bilateral meetings with Heads of State of the region, confirming Italy’s will to strengthen cooperation with Central Asian nations at both bilateral and regional level with the 1+5 format.
Over the course of the day, President Meloni met with the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov, with the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, and with the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
The meetings provided an opportunity to reaffirm the intention to continue dialogue on all key regional and international issues, as well as the process of strengthening bilateral relations in all areas of common interest, with a particular focus on energy, critical raw materials, infrastructure, water resources, the environment, agriculture, connectivity and cultural and academic cooperation as well as cooperation on security matters.
Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday announced a major expansion in the country’s national AI infrastructure and talent development ecosystem. Speaking at the ‘IndiaAI – Make AI in India, Make AI Work for India’ event in New Delhi, the Minister said India’s national compute capacity has now crossed 34,000 GPUs, bolstered by the addition of 15,916 new units to the existing 18,417.
The announcement was accompanied by the selection of three more startups to develop indigenous foundation models under the IndiaAI Mission, following a rigorous multi-stage expert evaluation process.
Calling the expansion of GPU infrastructure a critical enabler for India’s AI ambitions, Vaishnaw reiterated the government’s commitment to democratizing access to technology. “Technology should not be left in the hands of a few. It is important that a larger section of society can access it, develop new solutions, and get better opportunities. That’s the philosophy behind the IndiaAI Mission,” he said.
The Minister urged the newly selected startups to aim for a top-five global position in their respective domains and highlighted the Mission’s progress across its key pillars: compute infrastructure, foundational models, safety standards, open datasets, and talent development.
As part of this effort, 367 datasets have already been uploaded to AI Kosh, India’s AI-specific open data repository.
The IndiaAI Foundation Model pillar, which focuses on building large-scale AI models trained on India-specific data, received over 500 proposals since the call was launched. On April 26, Sarvam AI was selected to build India’s sovereign LLM ecosystem, including a 120-billion parameter open-source model for public service use cases like Citizen Connect 2047 and AI4Pragati.
Now, three more proposals have been greenlit. Soket AI will build an open-source 120-billion parameter model optimized for India’s linguistic diversity, targeting applications in defense, education, and healthcare. Gnani AI will develop a 14-billion parameter multilingual Voice AI foundation model for real-time speech processing and reasoning. Gan AI will focus on building a 70-billion parameter multilingual model aimed at achieving superhuman text-to-speech (TTS) capabilities.
The compute expansion has been supported by seven industry partners who offered competitive commercials across different GPU categories. These include Cyfuture India Pvt. Ltd., Ishan Infotech Ltd., Locuz Enterprise Solutions Ltd., Netmagic IT Services Pvt. Ltd., Sify Digital Services Ltd., Vensysco Technologies Ltd., and Yotta Data Services Pvt. Ltd. This shared GPU pool will provide a common AI training and inference platform for startups, researchers, and government agencies.
As part of the IndiaAI Applications Development Initiative, the winners of the IndiaAI I4C CyberGuard AI Hackathon were also announced. Jointly organized with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Ministry of Home Affairs, the hackathon led to the development of AI-based solutions capable of interpreting handwritten FIRs, screenshots, and audio files to better classify cybercrime complaints and detect evolving crime patterns.
IndiaAI, an independent business division under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), serves as the implementing agency for the IndiaAI Mission. It aims to democratize the benefits of AI, strengthen India’s position as a global AI leader, and promote ethical and responsible AI use across sectors.
Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –
On May 30, the General Meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences summed up the results of the elections for academicians and corresponding members of the RAS. About 1,800 people took part in them. Among those elected this year were scientists from the Higher School of Economics.
Vladimir Pudalov was elected as an academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the specialty “Physics and Astronomy”. Vladimir Moiseevich is a professor Department of Electronic EngineeringMIEM, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, awarded the medal of the Order “For Merit to the Fatherland” 2nd degree.
HSE scientists were also elected as Corresponding Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Konstantin Petrosyants was elected as a Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the specialty “Computing, Location, Telecommunication Systems and Element Base”. Konstantin Arestovich is a leading research fellow at the Department of Electronic Engineering at MIEM, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, laureate of the Russian Federation Government Prize in Education, Science and Technology, and Honorary Worker of Higher Professional Education of the Russian Federation.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Mike Allen, Associate Professor of Single Cell Genomics, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter
Picture a place at the centre of a global seaweed revolution. I’ll bet the small English seaside town of Paignton in south Devon is not what comes to mind. A decade ago, I moved from the edge of Dartmoor to the coast. It was about a simple change in work-life balance, but what followed was more surprising.
The kids were four and seven. I’d always tried to inspire them with my scientific research. Moving to Paignton and walking along Broadsands beach one day, I started noticing piles of seaweed.
I’d spent my entire professional career researching microalgae (microscopic marine plants) but knew next-to-nothing about their bigger macroalgal cousins, the seaweeds. This felt like an opportunity to have some fun and for all of us to learn together.
So I bought us a seaweed guidebook, some stickers and set the Allen family the task of finding ten different seaweeds on our local beach. We’d mark a page with a sticker when we found it – the ultimate scientific reward chart. A few weeks later, we’d found 30 and exhausted our sticker sheet.
I was amazed at the diversity that I had never previously noticed. The colours, the textures, the structures – it was like I’d never really seen seaweed properly before. The professional scientist in me kicked in.
My kids and I started taking samples home. I built the kids a lab in a lean-to on the back of the house. We dried them out and put them in little jam jars, akin to a seaweed spice rack. It got me thinking of useful or sustainable things I could do with them.
One day, I posted a picture of these jars on Twitter, with the hashtag #SeaweedApothecary. It started something I could never have predicted.
Seaweed has an astonishing number of uses. It can be used to produce biofuels and fertilisers, foods such as laverbread, nori sheets for sushi and crisps, cosmetics and toothpaste, pharmaceuticals and food supplements like omega-3. I’d also been incorporating seaweed in my day-to-day research at the University of Exeter, trying to convert it into a biofuel.
Then, my colleagues in the broader academic and industrial science community started asking for samples. Like me, they’d been ignoring seaweed too – until they saw my social media posts and realised the potential.
The kids (now both teenagers) are acknowledged on at least a dozen scientific research articles and have continued to help me unlock the potential of seaweed. We’ve done degradation experiments in the raised beds in our garden, tested different seaweeds as feeds for a friend’s chickens, trialled them as fertilisers for our tomatoes – even mixed dried seaweed powder in with cement, to see if it can be used as a structural material filler. All fun, simple science that anyone can do at home.
Local science, global stories.
This article is part of a series, Secrets of the Sea, exploring how marine scientists are developing climate solutions.
In collaboration with the BBC, Anna Turns travels around the West Country coastline to meet ocean experts making exciting discoveries beneath the waves.
Swamped by sargassum
Then came a call from a Mexican friend, asking me to take a look at a seaweed problem. Every year, Caribbean islands and Mexican coasts are inundated with 30-40 million tonnes of floating sargassum seaweed washing ashore.
Paddy Estridge and Mike Allen in Puerto Morelos, Mexico, surveying potential sites to monitor seaweed blooms. Mike Allen, CC BY-NC-ND
I was asked to do a podcast on the subject. The presenter, Paddy Estridge, and I chatted about seaweed’s problems, opportunities and potential – and by the end of it, we were both pretty inspired. Together, we founded a company called SeaGen to harness the power of seaweed using autonomous robotics that can seed, cultivate, monitor and harvest it.
Seaweed holds huge potential to create a more sustainable future. But at the moment, this industry lacks the ability to safely seed, grow, monitor, harvest and process seaweed at scale. Solving these challenges is what SeaGen is all about. We’re designing a suite of automated robotic solutions to make abundant, sustainable supply an economic reality.
Our mission is a long way from those initial experiments with the kids, but the joy and pursuit of knowledge remains the same. The sticker chart perhaps holds less appeal to teenagers, but we’ve nearly hit 70 different species and I’m always on the look out for the next.
Those initial seaweed samples paved the way for a whole new aspect to my research portfolio, led to millions of pounds in grant funding, and the creation of a company employing a dozen people. Now, I’m part of a global seaweed and robotics revolution.
Not a bad outcome from a walk along the beach.
Listen to episode two of Secrets of the Sea here on BBC Sounds, presented by Anna Turns for The Conversation.
Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
Mike Allen works for Exeter University and is Cofounder and Chief Scientific Officer for Seaweed Generation Ltd (SeaGen). He currently receives funding from Innovate UK, Natural Environment Research Council, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, The Leverhulme Trust, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.
Headline: Introducing Sora and video playground in Azure AI Foundry
Introducing Sora and video playground in Azure AI Foundry
[embedded content]
The video playground in Azure AI Foundry is your high-fidelity testbed for prototyping with cutting-edge video generation models – like Sora from Azure AI Foundry Models – ready for commercial use. Read our Tech Community launch blog on gpt-image-1 and Sora.
Modern development involves working across multiple systems—APIs, services, SDKs, and data models—often before you’re ready to fully commit to a framework, write tests, or spin up infrastructure. As the complexity of software ecosystems increases, the need for safe, lightweight environments to validate ideas becomes critical. Video playground was built to meet this need.
Purpose-built for developers, video playground offers a controlled environment to experiment with prompt structures, evaluate model consistency relative to prompt adherence, and optimize outputs for industry use cases. Whether you’re building AI-native video products, tools, or transforming your enterprise workflows, video playground enhances your planning and experimentation — so you can iterate faster, de-risk your workflows, and ship with confidence.
Rapidly prototype from prompt to playback to code
Video playground offers an on-demand, low-friction-setup environment designed for rapid prototyping, API exploration and technical validation with video generation models. Think of video playground as your high-fidelity prototyping environment – built to help you build better, faster and smarter – with no configuration of localhost, importing clashing dependencies or worrying about compatibility between build and model.
Sora from Azure OpenAI is the first release for video playground – with the model coming with its own API – a unique offering available for Azure AI Foundry users. Using the API in VS Code allows for scaled development in your VS Code environment for your use case once your initial experimentation is done in the video playground.
Iterate faster: Experiment with text prompts and adjust generation controls like aspect ratio, resolution and duration.
Prompt optimization: Debug, tune and re-write prompt syntax with AI, visually compare outcomes across variations you’re testing with, use prebuilt industry prompts, and build your own prompt variations available in the playground, grounded in model behavior.
Consistent interface for API: Everything in video playground mirrors the model API structure, so what works here translates directly into code, with predictability and repeatability.
Features
We built video playground for developers who want to experiment with video generation. Video playground is a full featured controlled environment for high-fidelity experiments designed for model-specific APIs – and a great demo interface for your Chief Product Officer and Engineering VP.
Model-specific generation controls: Adjust key controls (e.g. aspect ratio, duration, resolution) to deeply understand specific model responsiveness and constraints.
Pre-built prompts: Get inspired on how you can use video generation models like Sora for your use case. In the pre-built prompts tab, there is a set of 9 curated videos by Microsoft.
Port to production with multi-lingual code samples: In the case of Sora from Azure OpenAI – this reflects the Sora API – a unique offering available to Azure AI Foundry users. Using the “View Code” multi-lingual code samples (Python,JavaScript, GO, cURL) for your video output, prompts and generation controls that reflect the API structure. What you create in the video playground can be easily ported into VS Code so that you can continue scaled development in VS Code with the API.
Side-by-side observations in grid view: Visually observe outputs across prompt tweaks or parameter changes.
Azure AI Content Safety integration: With all model endpoints integrated with Azure AI Content Safety, harmful and unsafe videos are filtered.
See a demo of these features and Sora in video playground in our dedicated breakout session at Microsoft Build 2025 here.
No need to find, build or configure a custom UI to localhost for video generation, hope that it will automatically work for the next state-of-the-art model, or spend time resolving cascading build errors due to packages or code changes required for new models. The video playground in Azure AI Foundry gives you version-aware access. Build with the latest models with API updates surfaced in a consistent UI.
What to test for in video playground
When using video playground, as you plan your production workload, consider the following as you’re visually assessing your generations:
Prompt-to-Motion Translation
Does the video model interpret my prompt in a way that makes logical and temporal sense?
Is motion coherent with the described action or scene? How could I use Re-write with AI to improve my prompt?
Frame Consistency
Do characters, objects, and styles remain consistent across frames?
Are there visual artifacts, jitter, or unnatural transitions?
Scene Control
How well can I control scene composition, subject behavior, or camera angles?
Can I guide scene transitions or background environments?
Length and Timing
How do different prompt structures affect video length and pacing?
Does the video feel too fast, too slow, or too short?
Multimodal Input Integration
What happens when I provide a reference image, pose data, or audio input?
Can I generate video with lip-sync to a given voiceover?
Post-Processing Needs
What level of raw fidelity can I expect before I need editing tools?
Do I need to upscale, stabilize, or retouch the video before using it in production?
Latency & Performance
How long does it take to generate video for different prompt types or resolutions?
What’s the cost-performance tradeoff of generating 5s vs. 15s clips?
Run Sora and other models at scale using Azure AI Foundry—no infrastructure needed. Learn more in our recent Microsoft Mechanics video that shares more about the Sora API in action:
[embedded content]
Get started now
Sign-in or sign-up to Azure AI Foundry.
Create a Foundry Hub and/or Project.
Create a model deployment for Azure OpenAI Sora from the Foundry Model Catalog or directly from video playground.
Prototype in video playground; iterate over text prompts and optimize generation controls for your use case.
Prototype done? Switch to scaled development in VS Code with the Sora from Azure OpenAI API.
Headline: Introducing Sora and video playground in Azure AI Foundry
Introducing Sora and video playground in Azure AI Foundry
[embedded content]
The video playground in Azure AI Foundry is your high-fidelity testbed for prototyping with cutting-edge video generation models – like Sora from Azure AI Foundry Models – ready for commercial use. Read our Tech Community launch blog on gpt-image-1 and Sora.
Modern development involves working across multiple systems—APIs, services, SDKs, and data models—often before you’re ready to fully commit to a framework, write tests, or spin up infrastructure. As the complexity of software ecosystems increases, the need for safe, lightweight environments to validate ideas becomes critical. Video playground was built to meet this need.
Purpose-built for developers, video playground offers a controlled environment to experiment with prompt structures, evaluate model consistency relative to prompt adherence, and optimize outputs for industry use cases. Whether you’re building AI-native video products, tools, or transforming your enterprise workflows, video playground enhances your planning and experimentation — so you can iterate faster, de-risk your workflows, and ship with confidence.
Rapidly prototype from prompt to playback to code
Video playground offers an on-demand, low-friction-setup environment designed for rapid prototyping, API exploration and technical validation with video generation models. Think of video playground as your high-fidelity prototyping environment – built to help you build better, faster and smarter – with no configuration of localhost, importing clashing dependencies or worrying about compatibility between build and model.
Sora from Azure OpenAI is the first release for video playground – with the model coming with its own API – a unique offering available for Azure AI Foundry users. Using the API in VS Code allows for scaled development in your VS Code environment for your use case once your initial experimentation is done in the video playground.
Iterate faster: Experiment with text prompts and adjust generation controls like aspect ratio, resolution and duration.
Prompt optimization: Debug, tune and re-write prompt syntax with AI, visually compare outcomes across variations you’re testing with, use prebuilt industry prompts, and build your own prompt variations available in the playground, grounded in model behavior.
Consistent interface for API: Everything in video playground mirrors the model API structure, so what works here translates directly into code, with predictability and repeatability.
Features
We built video playground for developers who want to experiment with video generation. Video playground is a full featured controlled environment for high-fidelity experiments designed for model-specific APIs – and a great demo interface for your Chief Product Officer and Engineering VP.
Model-specific generation controls: Adjust key controls (e.g. aspect ratio, duration, resolution) to deeply understand specific model responsiveness and constraints.
Pre-built prompts: Get inspired on how you can use video generation models like Sora for your use case. In the pre-built prompts tab, there is a set of 9 curated videos by Microsoft.
Port to production with multi-lingual code samples: In the case of Sora from Azure OpenAI – this reflects the Sora API – a unique offering available to Azure AI Foundry users. Using the “View Code” multi-lingual code samples (Python,JavaScript, GO, cURL) for your video output, prompts and generation controls that reflect the API structure. What you create in the video playground can be easily ported into VS Code so that you can continue scaled development in VS Code with the API.
Side-by-side observations in grid view: Visually observe outputs across prompt tweaks or parameter changes.
Azure AI Content Safety integration: With all model endpoints integrated with Azure AI Content Safety, harmful and unsafe videos are filtered.
See a demo of these features and Sora in video playground in our dedicated breakout session at Microsoft Build 2025 here.
No need to find, build or configure a custom UI to localhost for video generation, hope that it will automatically work for the next state-of-the-art model, or spend time resolving cascading build errors due to packages or code changes required for new models. The video playground in Azure AI Foundry gives you version-aware access. Build with the latest models with API updates surfaced in a consistent UI.
What to test for in video playground
When using video playground, as you plan your production workload, consider the following as you’re visually assessing your generations:
Prompt-to-Motion Translation
Does the video model interpret my prompt in a way that makes logical and temporal sense?
Is motion coherent with the described action or scene? How could I use Re-write with AI to improve my prompt?
Frame Consistency
Do characters, objects, and styles remain consistent across frames?
Are there visual artifacts, jitter, or unnatural transitions?
Scene Control
How well can I control scene composition, subject behavior, or camera angles?
Can I guide scene transitions or background environments?
Length and Timing
How do different prompt structures affect video length and pacing?
Does the video feel too fast, too slow, or too short?
Multimodal Input Integration
What happens when I provide a reference image, pose data, or audio input?
Can I generate video with lip-sync to a given voiceover?
Post-Processing Needs
What level of raw fidelity can I expect before I need editing tools?
Do I need to upscale, stabilize, or retouch the video before using it in production?
Latency & Performance
How long does it take to generate video for different prompt types or resolutions?
What’s the cost-performance tradeoff of generating 5s vs. 15s clips?
Run Sora and other models at scale using Azure AI Foundry—no infrastructure needed. Learn more in our recent Microsoft Mechanics video that shares more about the Sora API in action:
[embedded content]
Get started now
Sign-in or sign-up to Azure AI Foundry.
Create a Foundry Hub and/or Project.
Create a model deployment for Azure OpenAI Sora from the Foundry Model Catalog or directly from video playground.
Prototype in video playground; iterate over text prompts and optimize generation controls for your use case.
Prototype done? Switch to scaled development in VS Code with the Sora from Azure OpenAI API.
“For the past several days in New York’s 10th Congressional District in Lower Manhattan, masked, plain-clothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have been stationed in the lobby of the federal building that houses immigration court in order to arrest immigrants coming out of court so they can be deported on an expedited basis. These arrests are part of a coordinated effort within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) where DHS lawyers move to dismiss deportation proceedings against these immigrants – most of whom do not speak English nor have legal representation — in order to place them in a different, “expedited” deportation proceeding.
“In effect, instead of targeting convicted criminals as the Trump Administration has repeatedly said, DHS is using these immigrants’ good faith efforts to appear in court and follow proper procedures to surprise them with an end-run around the law to tear them away from their families and communities via immediate detention and deportation.
“The immigrants attending their court hearings are doing exactly what the law asks of them: they are showing up, complying with the process, following our laws and going through the immigration system the right way, often asserting their legal right to seek asylum – which is a lawful pathway to enter this country. However, it appears DHS is exploiting a procedural technicality to fast-track deportations far away from the border where this authority is primarily used.
“Today, I confronted these masked ICE officers after they detained multiple immigrants in the lobby of the federal building that also contains my Manhattan District Office. These officers were carrying printed-out papers with immigrants’ names and faces, wearing masks, and attempting to intimidate reporters on site – all while avoiding questions I asked them as a duly-elected Member of Congress carrying out my oversight responsibilities as a member of the Homeland Security Committee.
“We are a nation of immigrants, founded by successive waves of people from across the world seeking the American dream and the promise it offers. These egregious, authoritarian tactics by the Trump administration stand in stark contrast to our values as a nation, founded upon the rule of law and due process for all.”
Congressman Goldman: “This is Gestapo-like behavior where plain-clothed officers, wearing masks, are terrorizing immigrants who are doing the right thing by going to court, following up on their immigration proceedings, and trying to come into this country lawfully, which is through asylum.”
Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today held an emergency press conference after witnessing and confronting masked ICE agents detaining immigrants attending routine immigration court appearances in the lobby of his 290 Broadway Manhattan district office. The press conference followed Congressman Goldman attending an immigration court proceeding this morning at the Executive Office for Immigration Review New York – Broadway Immigration Court in Manhattan where ICE agents have been detaining both immigrants and observers, including a pastor from Queens.
VIDEO: The event is available to stream on Youtube and can be downloaded HERE
PHOTOS: Photos of the event can be found HERE
A rush transcript of the Congressman’s remarks is available below:
Dan Goldman: We’re standing in front of 290 Broadway, which is a federal building where my district office is and where immigration court is. Today, I had the opportunity to both observe immigration court and observe plainclothes officers wearing masks, arresting and detaining immigrants who were here to appear in front of a judge as part of their court case.
The Department of Homeland Security has implemented, over the last week, a coordinated effort to do an end run around our legal system in order to remove nonviolent, non-criminal immigrants trying to come into this country through a lawful pathway of immigration proceedings, and in many cases, asylum proceedings.
By recommending dismissal of their cases, the Department of Homeland Security is essentially taking jurisdiction away from the court, removing the asylum application from going forward, and then allowing the immigration agents to arrest these people and put them in a deportation proceeding under a different authority than the one that they just dismissed, which has fewer rights and applies in very few circumstances.
This is Gestapo like behavior where plain-clothed officers, wearing masks, are terrorizing immigrants who are doing the right thing by going to court, following up on their immigration proceedings, and trying to come into this country lawfully, which is through asylum.
I observed the courtroom today, where there was one proceeding where the Department of Homeland Security moved to dismiss the case judge granted dismissal. The gentleman left the courtroom and then was arrested.
As I was leaving the courtroom, there were about 15 other people there, and I asked if anyone spoke English. There wasn’t a single person who spoke English. There did not appear to be a single lawyer there representing them.
These are routine appearances. They’re updates. They’re administrative. There is no reason for anyone to have expected anything unusual to happen today. And yet they’re ripped away from their families, from their communities, even though they’re trying to do the right thing and pursue the American dream as so many of us and our ancestors have.
I was a federal prosecutor for ten years right there. I worked with the Department of Homeland Security. I worked with ICE agents. I worked with Homeland Security Investigations. I have never seen any plainclothes officer wearing a mask.
And, when I asked them, ‘Why are you wearing a mask?’ One person told me, ‘Because it’s cold.’ I asked him if he would testify to that under oath, and he walked away and wouldn’t respond to me.
Another person admitted that they were wearing masks so that they are not caught on video. And my question to them is: ‘if what you are doing is legitimate, is lawful, is totally aboveboard, why do you need to cover your face?’
Law enforcement officers do not cover their faces. And in fact, the Trump administration is cracking down on universities for allowing protesters to wear masks. So, apparently it is not okay to wear a mask if you are protesting the government, but it is okay if you are the government.
This is not America. This is not who we are. And if you are a violent criminal, if you’re a convicted criminal, then you should be deported. I 100% agree with that. But these people are doing it the right way. They’re not criminals. They’re not murderers. They’re not rapists. They’re trying to seek a better life. They’re trying to escape horrific conditions at home and come to this great democracy and pursue the American dream. This is not who we are.
This is not how our government should behave. And we will continue to demand answers from the Department of Homeland Security about what they are doing, why they are doing it, and why they are doing this end run around the legal process.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Ciscomani (Arizona)
‘As we continue the meaningful work of safeguarding these vital benefits while reducing waste and increasing efficiency, we need to understand CMS’ processes and what is driving up Medicare costs and premiums’
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani reintroduced legislation to increase transparency with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid’s (CMS) billing codes.
Specifically, Ciscomani’s legislation, theOversight of Medicare Billing Code Cost Act(H.R. 3580) directs the Office of Inspector General within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct a study of the processes and procedures used by CMS when determining Medicare billing codes. This would help identify inefficiencies, increase transparency, and provide patients, physicians, and policy makers greater insights into how billing decisions by CMS impact healthcare costs.
“Seniors in my district, and across the U.S., who are on Medicare deserve full transparency about their healthcare costs and coverage,” said Ciscomani. “As we continue the meaningful work of safeguarding these vital benefits while reducing waste and increasing efficiency, we need to understand CMS’ processes and what is driving up Medicare costs and premiums. My bill is a commonsense solution to identify trends and inefficiencies, reduce waste, and provide greater transparency to CMS’ process and the factors they consider when altering, removing, or approving new billing codes.”
Ciscomani is joined by Reps. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) and Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) in this effort.
“We can’t allow unaccountable federal bureaucrats to jeopardize the well-being of Medicare beneficiaries,” said Harshbarger. “Even as Medicare faces financial instability, CMS has been expanding services without input from Congress—driving costs sky-high. The Oversight of Medicare Billing Code Cost Act is a practical solution that will help control runaway spending, bring much-needed transparency to the billing system, and ensure that Medicare patients and their benefits remain protected.”
“Congress and the American public deserve greater transparency into how the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) modify billing codes,” said Smucker. “Understanding what drives program costs is essential—especially as Medicare faces insolvency in just over a decade. We must act urgently to shed light on CMS’s billing and coding processes, delivering an accountable system that the American people can fully trust.”
Goa has officially become a 100 per cent literate state, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced on Friday. The declaration was made on the occasion of the 39th Goa Statehood Day and marks a key milestone in the state’s education journey.
Speaking at an event in Panaji, Sawant credited the success to the implementation of the ULLAS Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (Understanding for Lifelong Learning for All in Society), also known as the New India Literacy Programme (NILP), a centrally sponsored initiative aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
“Our sustained collective efforts to strengthen the education sector with new advancements and NEP 2020 have yielded results,” the Chief Minister said.
Launched with the goal of achieving nationwide literacy by 2030, the ULLAS programme targets individuals aged 15 and above who missed out on formal education. It focuses on functional literacy — reading, writing, and numeracy — while also addressing financial literacy and essential life skills.
In Goa, the campaign was implemented through a network of schools, supported by Resource Adult Trainee Coordinators (RATCs) and a wide volunteer base that included retired teachers, NSS units, teacher trainees, and education professionals.
To support learners, the state developed multilingual primers in Konkani, Marathi, Hindi, and English, tailored to adult education needs.
Officials said a total of 2,981 non-literate individuals were identified across the state’s 12 talukas and brought into the fold of the programme. “This is not just a statistical achievement; it is a social transformation,” an education department official said.
