Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Moscow, June 24 /Xinhua/ — The joint implementation of China’s Belt and Road Initiative has entered a new stage of high-quality development. China intends to accelerate the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and deepen strategic cooperation with Russia in various fields, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said in a written interview with the Russian newspaper Izvestia on Monday.
“Currently, global, epochal and historical changes are unfolding in an unprecedented way, and the joint construction of the Belt and Road has entered a new stage of high-quality development. We will accelerate the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union, comprehensively deepen strategic interaction between China and Russia and practical cooperation in various fields, and invest even more effort in the joint development of the two countries, in the implementation of modernization by our countries, and in protecting multilateralism and the free trade system,” the ambassador emphasized.
As Zhang Hanhui noted, China and Russia are good neighbors, time-tested true friends and natural partners in the joint construction of the Belt and Road. He recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin has attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation three times and delivered an important speech in support of this initiative, which “fully reflects Russia’s serious attention and support.”
The Chinese ambassador pointed out that in May this year, during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Russia to attend the ceremonial events marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the leaders of China and Russia signed a Joint Statement on Further Deepening Comprehensive Partnership and Strategic Cooperation in the New Era. The document reaffirms the commitment of both sides to both jointly promoting the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with the EAEU and promoting the joint and coordinated development of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Greater Eurasian Partnership. According to the diplomat, this outlined the direction for further deepening cooperation between the two countries within the framework of the joint construction of the Belt and Road.
“The Chinese side is willing to take the implementation of the important agreements reached by the two heads of state as an opportunity to firmly adhere to the Silk Road spirit of peace, cooperation, openness, inclusiveness, mutual learning, mutual benefit and win-win, as well as the principle of joint discussion, joint construction and shared benefits,” Zhang Hanhui said.
He also noted that, in accordance with the agreement reached, the Russian President will visit China and take part in commemorative events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the Victory in the World Anti-Fascist War. “This not only clearly demonstrates the strong personal friendship between the leaders of the two states, but also fully reflects the high level and special nature of the Chinese-Russian relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction,” the Chinese Ambassador to the Russian Federation added. –0–
Construction will begin this summer for the new ferry terminal in downtown Victoria, following the awarding of a design-build contract to Pomerleau Inc.
Early work will begin by the end of June with major construction of the new landmark terminal to begin later in the summer. Once complete, the new terminal will provide a more comfortable and seamless experience for those travelling to and from downtown Victoria by ferry.
“The new Belleville terminal will provide a smoother and more secure travel experience for tourists coming to Victoria and the south Island, supporting local jobs, businesses and our region’s economy,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Transportation and Transit. “A modern ferry terminal has been a goal of the community and all levels of government for over two decades. This major milestone brings us another step closer to offering improved ferry services and more convenient travel for decades to come.”
Construction of the new facility will involve demolishing existing Clipper terminal infrastructure and building a new pre-clearance terminal building with modern border-security standards. It also includes replacing aging wharf facilities and building a new commercial goods processing facility.
“As an international gateway for goods, services and tourism, enhancing safety, security and trade between Vancouver Island and Washington state is integral to Canada’s economy,” said Will Greaves, MP for Victoria. “Our government looks forward to the construction of the pre-clearance terminal and commercial goods processing facility, which will strengthen our commitment to a sustainable economy and support local tourism in Greater Victoria.”
The new pre-clearance terminal will comply with the Canada-U.S. Land, Rail, Marine and Air Transport Preclearance Agreement, and will make travel faster and easier by allowing passengers to complete the customs and immigration process in Victoria prior to disembarking in the U.S.
Through competitive request-for-qualifications and request-for-proposal processes, Pomerleau Inc. was awarded a $304-million design-build contract. The overall project cost has increased from the $331 million budget that was approved in 2024, due to complex geotechnical and seismic conditions, site constraints and significant soil contamination that will require extensive remediation. Other factors include inflation and safeguarding against economic uncertainty related to tariffs on steel and other products. The federal government has confirmed it will increase its contribution to more than $45 million for the project. The new cost of the project is $416 million.
The Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project is taking place within the territories of the lək̓wəŋən (Lekwungen) people, represented by the Esquimalt Nation and Songhees Nation. The project team is working collaboratively and respectfully with both Nations.
The project is expected to be completed in 2028.
Quotes:
Marianne Alto, mayor of Victoria –
“I’m excited we are embarking on the next phase of the Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project. This bold step forward underscores Victoria’s shared commitment to developing innovative and sustainable infrastructure and lays the foundation for improved travel for residents and visitors for years to come.”
Bruce Williams, CEO, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce –
“The chamber has been an outspoken proponent for modernizing Belleville terminal for decades, and we’re happy to see the project meet new milestones along its way to completion. With so much uncertainty affecting the economy, we support this project as an important investment in the future of Greater Victoria and as a confirmation of the value the Clipper and Coho bring to our region.”
Paul Nursey, CEO, Destination Greater Victoria –
“With 30 years of dedicated advocacy for Belleville terminal’s redevelopment, our organization, as the region’s tourism board, values the steady progress being made. We recognize the importance of this project and are encouraged by the federal government’s increased investment. Clear dates and timelines remain a priority for our members, and we look forward to the significant benefits this project will bring to Greater Victoria’s visitor economy once complete.”
Quick Facts:
Phase 1 of the Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project is complete.
Key upgrades completed during Phase 1 include:
the expansion and reconfiguration of the Steamship wharf;
renovations and an expansion to the Steamship building; and,
enhancements to the Black Ball building and property to ensure Clipper, Black Ball Ferry Line, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Canadian Border Services Agency can continue operating during Phase 2 construction.
These improvements were designed to ensure uninterrupted ferry service between Vancouver Island and Washington state during the next stage of construction.
Learn More:
Visit the Belleville project website for the latest updates: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/bellevilleterminal
Saskatchewan residents are now able to check the water quality at local beaches.
Starting this week, the Ministry of Health will begin posting the results of the Healthy Beaches program, which reports on the water quality at select recreational beaches across the province. Accurate information about water quality can provide protection to beachgoers who want a safe and enjoyable experience.
“Saskatchewan beaches are an important part of summer recreation for residents,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. “The Healthy Beaches program provides valuable safety information, and we encourage residents and visitors to check the status of the beach they are visiting before they head out.”
Water samples are collected and analyzed from June through August at various Saskatchewan public beaches including Regina Beach, Echo Lake and Pike Lake. Sampling is conducted to determine whether water quality meets the Canadian Recreational Water Guidelines. Water sampling began June 23 and results will be available later this week.
Results will be available on the Healthy Beaches Public Map. If water quality falls below acceptable safety standards advisories will be issued.
“The Healthy Beaches program is essential to public health,” Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said. “This will help people make decisions about their in-water activities when visiting provincial lakes.”
The public is encouraged to check the Healthy Beaches webpage before making summer plans and adhere to advisories. Residents are asked to report any concerns about water quality to their local Public Health Inspection office.
It is also important that residents follow notifications posted at the beach as closures can happen evenings or weekend and may not be immediately reflected on the website.
For more information about the Healthy Beaches program, including water quality reports and safety tips, visit: www.saskatchewan.ca/healthy-beaches.
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For more information, contact:
Media Relations Health Regina Phone: 306-787-4083 Email: media@health.gov.sk.ca
June 24, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
The Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, will make his inaugural visit to Latvia from June 25 to 26, 2025. During his trip, he will participate in a flower laying ceremony ahead of his first bilateral meeting with Andris Sprūds, Defence Minister of Latvia. Minister McGuinty will also personally thank Canadian Armed Forces members deployed in the country for their service.
The Minister will attend the Transfer of Command Authority ceremony for the Canadian-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization Multinational Brigade in Latvia, where he will deliver remarks. Following the ceremony, Minister McGuinty will hold an audio-only callback with media.
Minister McGuinty’s visit underscores Canada’s steadfast dedication to NATO and its commitment to supporting deterrence and defence efforts in the region.
Media Callback Details:
Date: June 26, 2025
Time: 5:30 p.m. EEST
Registration: Media are requested to pre-register by emailing mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca. Further information will be provided upon registration.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)
WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement in response to President Trump ordering the U.S. military to conduct military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
“I condemn in the strongest terms the President’s decision to order the U.S. military to strike Iran’s nuclear sites. The President did not seek authorization from Congress or demonstrate that Iran posed an immediate threat to the security of the United States. Furthermore, the President failed to provide clear objectives for these actions and there are no guarantees that it will eliminate the possibility of Iran developing a nuclear weapon or how long it might set their program back.
“Engaging in direct conflict places U.S. service members and military sites in the Middle East squarely in the crosshairs of Iran and its many proxies. Tonight’s actions could further escalate tensions, destabilize the region, and drag the United States into an avoidable war.
“The way to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and to protect American service members is through diplomacy and negotiation, not entering into direct conflict. The path that the President has chosen risks unleashing a wider war in the region that is both incredibly unpredictable and treacherous and that threatens the safety and security of the United States, Israel, and ultimately the world.”
The research, led by the Université de Toulouse and partners, highlights how coastal erosion and shoreline movement vary significantly with time and with latitude. By analyzing waterline positions—where land meets ocean—between 1997 and 2022, scientists found that in the Pacific Northwest, seasonal waterline movements often exceed 25 meters, while shifts in Southern California and farther south rarely top 10 meters.
The driving forces behind these changes also vary by region. Wave power is the dominant force in the northern parts of the coast, while farther south, sea-level fluctuations and southern hemisphere swell become important. This reflects a transition in how wave climate affects coastal processes from north to south.
“This paper is the synthesis of [lead author Marcan Graffin’s] many separate efforts, from developing satellite shoreline-detection algorithms, to generating large-scale data sets, and then analyzing them alongside climate data. We’ve learned a great deal about the nuances of shoreline variability on the U.S. West Coast from Marcan’s work,” said USGS Research Oceanographer Dr. Sean Vitousek, a co-author of the study.
In addition, the study examines the outsized influence of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the recurring climate pattern that swings between warm (El Niño) and cool (La Niña) phases in the Pacific Ocean, on shoreline positions. During El Niño years, intense storm tracks shift southward, boosting wave energy and accelerating erosion from Southern California to Baja California Sur. La Niña events, on the other hand, are associated with smaller winter waves and mild shoreline accretion across the subregion.
However, farther north—from Northern California through the Pacific Northwest—the impacts of ENSO are less predictable. There, shoreline response depends on a complex blend of storm path changes, wave-energy intensity, and local geography.
These patterns help explain why some coastlines erode dramatically during strong El Niño winters while others seem to hold steady, demonstrating how regional climate signals interact with local coastal dynamics.
The study is one of the first to examine shoreline changes along such a large, diverse stretch of coast using a consistent satellite-derived dataset. The 25-year archive of shoreline imagery allowed researchers to tease out both seasonal and interannual trends—critical for anticipating how coastlines will respond to future climate extremes.
Read the study, Waterline responses to climate forcing along the North American West Coast, in Nature Communications: Earth & Environment.
This article was featured in the Summer 2025 IAM Journal and was written by IAM Communications Representative Bill Harkum.
The gavels used at the 2024 International Convention in New York City symbolize the diverse crafts and skills of our membership. Four unique gavels were produced by four proud lodges within the Eastern Territory.
The IAM Ritual used at union meetings tells us that by tradition, two raps of the gavel are a call to order for the gathered members. Three raps of the gavel require the members to stand and be silent. One rap of the gavel means members take their seats and maintain order.
THREE RAPS OF THE FIRST GAVEL
One gavel was made by Local S6 members in Maine, home to Bath Tron Works and members who build ships for the U.S. Navy. Derek Bozeman of IAM Local S6 collaborated with Jeremy Tripp, a member of Bath Maine Draftsmen Association Local 3999, collaborated to produce a gavel out scrap ship material and stainless steel. The result is an impressively balanced and weigh ted gavel that looks like materials representing the yard of this ship building facility.
Tripp said “we were able to incorporate a lot of the identity of the yard, the shipyard, into it.”
The shine of the stainless steel against an inlaid TAM brass coin and a brass outline of a Navy ship as a crown piece above the hammerhead shows the skill and creativity to turn a simple tool into a showpiece.
“The pride, execution and talent that went into this gavel speaks for itself when you see it,” said IAM District 4 Business Representative Chris Wiers.
THREE RAPS OF THE NEXT GAVEL
The next gavel is from Local 175 in York, a home of Harley-Davidson motorcycles manufacturing. Using scrap steel, three members of the lodge fashioned a Harley handlebar and throttle into a gavel, and a Harley gas tank into a strike plate.
“The theme was, ‘We make the eagle fly,”‘ said Sam Santiago, one of the Local 175 craftsmen to do the intricate work by hand.
William Anthony IV is the member who artistically trimmed, bent, and hand painted the steel to look like bird feathers. Scott Karaschak produced the handle bar and motorcycle throttle body used in the gavel itself.
“I am in total awe of what our members did at local 175, from the beginning to the finished product,” said TAM District 98 Assistant Directing Business Representative Kermit Forbes Jr.
THREE RAPS OF THE NEXT GAVEL
The next gavel is made by a member of Local 1943 at Cleveland-Cliffs in Middletown, Ohio. This factory is the largest producer of flat-rolled steel in North America, much of which is used in automobile production.
Michael Wilhelm is a maintenance technician, responsible for attending to and fixing the machinery within this steel mill, for over a decade. He’s known for always staying busy, and finding projects to work on, regardless of the rest cycles in the plan. Wilhelm made all the parts and components of this gavel by band.
The gavel is made from flat stainless steel and some brass. It features a rotating center coil, driven by a step down motor that Wilhelm had to specially tweak to appear to be levitating inside the hammer head. It has a micro furnace with burner boxes at the corners, and a blower motor to move the air from the furnace.
“Mike is a real go-getter. No idle time, always working,” said Local 1943 President and Directing Business Representative Shawn Coffey. “I knew it would be a success and he would knock it out of the park.”
THREE RAPS OF THE NEXT GAVEL
The final gavel was made by IAM Local 4 member John Wible at the Winpisinger Center in Hollywood, Md. It is the only gavel for this convention made from wood, and the craftsmanship is just as intricate as its steel siblings used at the International Convention.
Wible is a full time maintenance technician at the Winpisinger Center. When not at work he is a life member and volunteer firefighter at this local fire department. “We are so proud of every gavel that’s being made. It showcases the talent our members have, the creativity that our members have,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. ‘The gavel is very, very important to our process, and anybody who has the honor to swing that gavel, needs to respect that gavel, and respect our members, and always do what’s right for our members.”
All four gavels are now on dis play at IAM Headquarters.
One rap of the gavel so that all can be seated.
Watch Video Here
The post International Convention Gavels appeared first on IAM Union.
UConn, consistently one of the top ten most sustainable universities in the United States, will be getting even better at upholding sustainable practices with the help of seven student-led projects this year.
These innovative projects are funded by the Environmental and Social Sustainability Grants (ESSG) Program through the Office of Sustainability. Creative student-faculty teams applied for funding to support campus programs that enhance environmental and social sustainability while engaging students and community members. Applicants shared ideas spanning education, research, authentic community engagement, and campus operations. This is the fourth round of ESSG funding since 2021, which has helped launch the Swap Shop (now Thrift Den), a composting privy at Spring Valley Student Farm, and efforts to combat food insecurity via hydroponic farming.
“The ESSG program is just one of the Office of Sustainability’s growing suite of experiential learning programs available to all UConn students. In alignment with UConn’s strategic goals, we are excited to be able to award these funds to empower students to take action on addressing real-world challenges that impact the wellness of people and the planet. Faculty and staff mentors play an instrumental role in ensuring the success of these projects and we’re also incredibly grateful for their support,” said Patrick McKee, Director of the Office of Sustainability.
Seven projects were awarded funds due to their interdisciplinary nature and ability to advance sustainability and equity.
Harnessing Phosphorus
Phosphorus is a key piece in fertilizing crops and producing food. This project aims to explore sustainable, easy ways of getting phosphorus out of wastewater to make it easier, cheaper, and less climate-intensive for farmers to grow food in underprivileged areas.
Student: Brenny Alcantara ’27 (CLAS)
Staff Mentor: Katie Milardo, Associate Director, Energy & Water Conservation
The Grove of Generosity: Sustainable Food Forest for Students
A food forest to create community for people, plants and wildlife on the Storrs campus. Using native plants, this project will provide habitat, food for all, and space to make connections between people and nature.
Students: Olivia Ballaro ’26 (CAHNR), Ella May ’27 (CAHNR), Howard Truax ’26 (CAHNR)
Faculty Mentor: Phoebe Godfrey, Professor in Residence, Sociology
Sustainability Practicum: Designing a UConn Hartford Service-Learning Course
This project will create materials for a UConn Hartford geography service-learning course titled “Sustainability Practicum,” designed to develop student leaders of environmental & social sustainability in collaboration with & in service of Keney Park Sustainability Project, a nonprofit developing sustainable community-based food systems in urban North Hartford.
Students: Thomas Bonitz, Ph.D. Candidate in Geography
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Carol Atkinson-Palombo, Professor in Geography
Project Racoon
Project Raccoon is a student-led initiative that collects redeemable bottles and cans to reduce waste, increase recycling, and fund student scholarships. With this grant, the program will expand to over 50+ bins and engage more volunteers.
Student: Abigail Koval ’26 (BUS), Anny Zheng ’26 (COE), Jennifer Weng ’26 (COE), Virginia Weng ’26 (COE)
Staff Mentor: Cody Ryan, Innovation Zone Supervisor
Seeds2Sustain: Hartford & Stamford Campuses
Seeds2Sustain is a program designed to help students address food insecurity on a personal level by using hydroponics. Over 9 weeks, students are taught about the evolution of food production, food insecurity, hydroponics, nutrition, cooking and more to gain a solid foundation of knowledge.
Faculty Mentor: Johnathan Moore, Executive Director, Digital Frontiers Initiative, Director of OPIM Innovate Labs
Disasters in Society: Working Towards Resilient & Sustainable Futures through Experiential Learning & Service
This project captures Asheville’s recovery from Hurricane Helene, highlighting student engagement and hands-on learning in disaster resilience. Through storytelling and service, they aim to expand access to fieldwork and promote support for sustainability-focused education.
Students: Lisel Nee ’26 (COE), Melia Marshall, MPP Candidate, Daniel Kraemer, Ph.D. Candidate in Geography, Brandon Soto, Masters of Energy and Environmental Management Candidate
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Carol Atkinson-Palombo, Professor in Geography
Sustainable Dairy Wastewater Treatment Using Microalgae at UConn
This project addresses the challenge of dairy wastewater from the UConn barns, which can be a significant source of pollution if not properly managed. By using microalgae to treat wastewater, we can convert it into a sustainable biomass that can be used as poultry feed. This approach not only helps clean and recycle wastewater but also aligns with circular bioeconomy principles, turning waste into valuable resources. This initiative advances UConn’s environmental goals and contributes to a more sustainable campus ecosystem.
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Yu Lei, Professor in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Dr. Yongku Cho, Associate Professor in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Over $37,000 will be awarded in total to support these student-lead projects.
Thomas Bonitz, a grantee pursuing a Ph.D. in Geography says, “As an aspiring educator, I am thrilled to work on designing a “sustainability practicum” course for the UConn Hartford campus. There is obvious educational and community value getting students out of the traditional classroom setting to learn from and contribute to real-world efforts to practice sustainability.” His project exemplifies UConn’s dedication to promoting student success and providing service to Connecticut communities.
“I look forward to moving onto the next stage for my Harnessing Phosphorus project and being able to work with more resources. I’ve been working on this project independently since my first semester at UConn, so receiving this grant and finding support from new mentors is a reminder of how far I’ve come. It’s great to see the University also believes in my project’s potential,” shares Brenny Alcantara ’27 (CLAS) who will be working on ways to make fertilizer more accessible, less likely to cause algae blooms, and decrease the carbon footprint of a critical agricultural ingredient.
Students will present their project findings and impacts this fall at the Climate Change Cafe poster symposium in December.
For more details on the Environmental and Social Sustainability Small Grants Program, please visit: https://sustainability.uconn.edu/environmental-social-sustainability-small-grants-program/
“Congratulation to Dr. Damion Grasso on his election as President of the Society of Clinical Psychology,” shares Department of Psychiatry Professor and Chair Dr. David C. Steffens. “There is little doubt that his term as President will be successful.”
The Society of Clinical Psychology (Division 12 of the American Psychological Association) is the professional home of clinical and health service psychologists.
Grasso, an elected fellow of the Division 12 of the APA, has always had a strong, longstanding commitment to the Society of Clinical Psychology. Since graduate school he served as a campus representative for the Society. Over time, he took on several leadership roles – most recently as Secretary on the Board and co-chair of the Committee on Science and Practice. As the Committee’s co-chair, Grasso has played an instrumental role in advancing SCP’s efforts to evaluate and inventory empirically supported psychological treatments (ESTs).
As President, Grasso plans to prioritize these efforts by expanding SCP’s capacity to engage and inform the public with resources designed to promote ESTs, establish an informed consumer-base, and caution against the growing trend for non-efficacious and potentially harmful approaches.
SCP’s mission is to promote the integration of clinical psychological science and practice in education, research, application, advocacy, and public policy. Also, the Society seeks to engage students and clinical and health service psychologists at any stage of their career in support of this mission.
“I am honored to serve as the president-elect of the Society of Clinical Psychology. Since graduate school, the Society has been my professional home, connecting me with mentors and pioneers in our field I wouldn’t have otherwise come to know. This community has truly helped shape my career,” says Grasso. “My intent is to pay it forward and grow our community of students and early career professionals so that we can support the next generation of clinical psychologists – especially during these challenging times.”
Grasso serves UConn Health, Connecticut’s only public academic medical center, caring for patients as a licensed clinical psychologist and associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UConn School of Medicine with a secondary appointment in its Department of Pediatrics.
Additionally, his research broadly focuses on understanding biobehavioral mechanisms involved in trauma- and stress-related disorders in children and effective strategies for assessing and treating trauma-related impairment. He co-leads the UConn Health Family Adversity and Resilience Research (FARR) Program and provides evidence-based psychotherapy interventions for treating trauma-related disorders in the UConn Health Psychological Trauma Clinic.
Grasso graduated from Skidmore College with his undergraduate degree in psychology, earned his master’s degree in general psychology at Wesleyan University, completed his Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Delaware, and his clinical internship was performed at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
BOSTON – A Haverhill man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for trafficking cocaine and illegal firearms in and around the Boston area.
Cordell Miller, 29, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 42 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In February 2025, Miller pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, aiding and abetting and one count of trafficking in firearms and conspiracy to do so. Miller was arrested and charged in November 2023 along with co-conspirators Malcolm Desir and Alan Robinson.
Miller was identified as a firearms and ammunition trafficker in the metro Boston area. In August 2023, Miller arranged for the sale of distribution weight cocaine and several firearms to a cooperating witness. Prior to his arrest in November 2023, Miller and Robinson facilitated the sale of four separate firearms: an AR-15 “ghost gun” rifle; a Polymer 80 “ghost gun” pistol; a HIPOINT 9mm rifle; and a Ruger .38 caliber pistol.
In April 2025, Robinson was sentenced to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Desir was sentenced on June 18, 2025 to seven years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, with the first year to be served in home detention.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Scott Riordan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
International Monetary Fund. European Dept. “Iceland: 2025 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report and Statement by the Executive Director for Iceland”, IMF Staff Country Reports 2025, 141 (2025), accessed June 24, 2025, https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229014298.002
Turkey is stepping up its influence in west Africa as the geopolitical and economic landscape in the region shifts. In Senegal, the state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation has entered a key partnership in the oil and gas sector. Meanwhile, Karpowership, a company providing electricity via floating power plants, now supplies energy to eight African countries. But Turkey’s not stopping there. As part of its soft power strategy, it is also winning hearts and minds through education and culture while deepening trade and security ties.
Historian Issouf Binaté, who has studied Turkey’s growing presence in west Africa, breaks down how Ankara is positioning itself as an alternative to both former colonial powers and newer global players competing for influence on the continent.
What drives Turkey’s growing influence in west Africa?
Turkey’s foreign policy in west Africa leans on two main pillars.
The other is more grassroots, led by non-state actors such as religious foundations and NGOs.
These groups laid the groundwork for Turkey’s African expansion long before Ankara officially stepped in.
A key player in Turkey’s earlier outreach was the Gülen movement, named after preacher Fethullah Gülen (1941–2024). The Gülen movement pioneered Turkey’s soft power approach with “Turkish schools”, starting with the Yavuz Sultan Selim and Yavuz Selim-Bosphore high schools in Dakar in 1997.
Also at the end of the 1990s a network composed of Turkish business leaders and social activists under the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists, which claimed over 100,000 member companies, expanded Turkey’s influence across Africa. At that time, Turkey had only three diplomatic representations for the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.
The more recent contact with Africa comes at a time when western hegemony faces growing criticism from a new generation of Africans engaged in decolonial movements. Gülen-affiliated institutions now number 113, alongside religious and secular schools run by other groups like Mahmud Hudayi Vakfi and Hayrat Vakfi. Since the 2016 political rift between Gülen and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, these schools were gradually transferred to Maarif Foundation, Turkey’s state-run overseas education arm.
Back in 2003, Turkey had only 12 diplomatic missions across Africa. Today, that number has grown to 44, bolstered by Turkish religious foundations (like Mahmud Hudayi Vakfi and Hayrat Vakfi), NGOs, and entrepreneurs who have filled the gap left by the Gülen movement.
Another powerful player in Turkey’s Africa strategy is Turkish Airlines, now one of the top carriers on the continent. It is now flying to 62 airports in 41 African countries.
What role do west African students trained in Turkey play?
By investing in education, Turkey didn’t just open its doors to African students. It also planted the seeds for a long-term influence strategy. These students, and more broadly young African migrants trained in Turkey, are now among the key messengers of “Turkishness” back home.
In doing so, Ankara is following a familiar path once used by colonial powers. They used student mobility as a powerful tool for their diplomacy.
Then, in the 1990s, Turkey continued this effort through a scholarship programme for African students, supported by the Islamic Development Bank. During this period, Turkey launched the Büyük Öğrenci Projesi (Great Student Project), which provided scholarships to international students.
Starting in 2012, this programme was re-branded as YTB (Yurtdışı Türkler ve Akraba Topluluklar Başkanlığı, or Directorate for Turks Abroad and Related Communities). It introduced reforms, including a digital application process for scholarships via an app on the YTB website. This shift caused a dramatic spike in interest. Applications soared from 10,000 to 155,000 between 2012 and 2020.
For non-scholarship students, Turkey simplified visa processes, reduced tuition fees, and offered other incentives. These measures contributed to a significant increase in the number of applicants to study in Turkey. As the number of universities in Turkey jumped from 76 to 193 between 2003 and 2015, the country became increasingly attractive.
By 2017, Turkey had become the 13th most popular destination for students from sub-Saharan Africa, according to Campus France (a platform that supports international students studying in France). By 2019, there were an estimated 61,000 African students studying in Turkey.
Now, nearly three decades into this strategy, many of these former students are stepping into new roles. They are taking over from Turkish entrepreneurs in fostering socioeconomic ties with Africa. They also act as bridges, promoting Turkish universities and supporting visitors in areas like medical and industrial tourism.
In Istanbul, some run cargo companies – some of them informal – that ship goods to Africa. Others are working to formalise these ventures and build long-term economic bridges. Groups like Bizim Afrika, a network of African Turkish-speakers, and the Federation of African Students in Turkey (founded in 2019), are playing key roles in shaping this next chapter of Turkey–Africa relations.
How is Turkey’s strategy in west Africa different from that of China or France?
In substance, Turkey’s strategy isn’t so different from that of France or China. It also carries traces of colonial thinking, even though its approach leans more on religious soft power like building mosques across Africa. Unlike France, which used force in its colonial past, Turkey is trying to gain influence through other means. It uses familiar tools: embassies, schools, cinema, security services, and development agencies.
While access to Europe, the US and Canada has become more difficult due to stricter visa rules, Turkey has opened its doors. It eased visa procedures for African business people, expanded its universities, and promoted medical tourism.
Turkey has become a hub for several sectors. It’s a major centre for nose surgery (rhinoplasty), hair transplants, and textiles. Its textile industry now supplies traders at Makola Market in Accra, Adjamé’s Forum in Côte d’Ivoire, and the Grand Marché in Bamako.
Turkey’s presence in Africa is now visible in several symbolic ways. You can see it in Maarif schools, murals at Abidjan airport, the “Le Istanbul” restaurant in Niamey’s government district, or the National Mosque in Accra, modelled after Istanbul’s Blue Mosque.
Turkey’s engagement is a work in progress. But its outreach to Africa is already yielding results. Trade volume reached US$40.7 billion in 2022. The return of the first waves of African students trained in Turkey has shifted the dynamic. Cooperation no longer relies solely on Turkish business people and social entrepreneurs.
Even though African elites often speak English, French or Arabic, new voices are emerging. Young people trained in Turkey are beginning to find their place. Many work in import-export, construction, and even Islamic religious leadership. This trend points to promising prospects for long-term ties.
For Turkey, Africa represents a continent with major economic opportunities. Becoming a trusted partner is now a key goal. On the diplomatic level, Turkey gained observer status at the African Union in 2005 and has hosted Turkey-Africa summits in Istanbul since 2008.
This growing involvement suggests that Turkey’s role in Africa is likely to last. It will depend on the continent’s market needs, especially at a time when many African countries are rethinking their relationships with traditional western powers and international institutions.
Issouf Binaté does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Turkey is stepping up its influence in west Africa as the geopolitical and economic landscape in the region shifts. In Senegal, the state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation has entered a key partnership in the oil and gas sector. Meanwhile, Karpowership, a company providing electricity via floating power plants, now supplies energy to eight African countries. But Turkey’s not stopping there. As part of its soft power strategy, it is also winning hearts and minds through education and culture while deepening trade and security ties.
Historian Issouf Binaté, who has studied Turkey’s growing presence in west Africa, breaks down how Ankara is positioning itself as an alternative to both former colonial powers and newer global players competing for influence on the continent.
What drives Turkey’s growing influence in west Africa?
Turkey’s foreign policy in west Africa leans on two main pillars.
The other is more grassroots, led by non-state actors such as religious foundations and NGOs.
These groups laid the groundwork for Turkey’s African expansion long before Ankara officially stepped in.
A key player in Turkey’s earlier outreach was the Gülen movement, named after preacher Fethullah Gülen (1941–2024). The Gülen movement pioneered Turkey’s soft power approach with “Turkish schools”, starting with the Yavuz Sultan Selim and Yavuz Selim-Bosphore high schools in Dakar in 1997.
Also at the end of the 1990s a network composed of Turkish business leaders and social activists under the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists, which claimed over 100,000 member companies, expanded Turkey’s influence across Africa. At that time, Turkey had only three diplomatic representations for the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.
The more recent contact with Africa comes at a time when western hegemony faces growing criticism from a new generation of Africans engaged in decolonial movements. Gülen-affiliated institutions now number 113, alongside religious and secular schools run by other groups like Mahmud Hudayi Vakfi and Hayrat Vakfi. Since the 2016 political rift between Gülen and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, these schools were gradually transferred to Maarif Foundation, Turkey’s state-run overseas education arm.
Back in 2003, Turkey had only 12 diplomatic missions across Africa. Today, that number has grown to 44, bolstered by Turkish religious foundations (like Mahmud Hudayi Vakfi and Hayrat Vakfi), NGOs, and entrepreneurs who have filled the gap left by the Gülen movement.
Another powerful player in Turkey’s Africa strategy is Turkish Airlines, now one of the top carriers on the continent. It is now flying to 62 airports in 41 African countries.
What role do west African students trained in Turkey play?
By investing in education, Turkey didn’t just open its doors to African students. It also planted the seeds for a long-term influence strategy. These students, and more broadly young African migrants trained in Turkey, are now among the key messengers of “Turkishness” back home.
In doing so, Ankara is following a familiar path once used by colonial powers. They used student mobility as a powerful tool for their diplomacy.
Then, in the 1990s, Turkey continued this effort through a scholarship programme for African students, supported by the Islamic Development Bank. During this period, Turkey launched the Büyük Öğrenci Projesi (Great Student Project), which provided scholarships to international students.
Starting in 2012, this programme was re-branded as YTB (Yurtdışı Türkler ve Akraba Topluluklar Başkanlığı, or Directorate for Turks Abroad and Related Communities). It introduced reforms, including a digital application process for scholarships via an app on the YTB website. This shift caused a dramatic spike in interest. Applications soared from 10,000 to 155,000 between 2012 and 2020.
For non-scholarship students, Turkey simplified visa processes, reduced tuition fees, and offered other incentives. These measures contributed to a significant increase in the number of applicants to study in Turkey. As the number of universities in Turkey jumped from 76 to 193 between 2003 and 2015, the country became increasingly attractive.
By 2017, Turkey had become the 13th most popular destination for students from sub-Saharan Africa, according to Campus France (a platform that supports international students studying in France). By 2019, there were an estimated 61,000 African students studying in Turkey.
Now, nearly three decades into this strategy, many of these former students are stepping into new roles. They are taking over from Turkish entrepreneurs in fostering socioeconomic ties with Africa. They also act as bridges, promoting Turkish universities and supporting visitors in areas like medical and industrial tourism.
In Istanbul, some run cargo companies – some of them informal – that ship goods to Africa. Others are working to formalise these ventures and build long-term economic bridges. Groups like Bizim Afrika, a network of African Turkish-speakers, and the Federation of African Students in Turkey (founded in 2019), are playing key roles in shaping this next chapter of Turkey–Africa relations.
How is Turkey’s strategy in west Africa different from that of China or France?
In substance, Turkey’s strategy isn’t so different from that of France or China. It also carries traces of colonial thinking, even though its approach leans more on religious soft power like building mosques across Africa. Unlike France, which used force in its colonial past, Turkey is trying to gain influence through other means. It uses familiar tools: embassies, schools, cinema, security services, and development agencies.
While access to Europe, the US and Canada has become more difficult due to stricter visa rules, Turkey has opened its doors. It eased visa procedures for African business people, expanded its universities, and promoted medical tourism.
Turkey has become a hub for several sectors. It’s a major centre for nose surgery (rhinoplasty), hair transplants, and textiles. Its textile industry now supplies traders at Makola Market in Accra, Adjamé’s Forum in Côte d’Ivoire, and the Grand Marché in Bamako.
Turkey’s presence in Africa is now visible in several symbolic ways. You can see it in Maarif schools, murals at Abidjan airport, the “Le Istanbul” restaurant in Niamey’s government district, or the National Mosque in Accra, modelled after Istanbul’s Blue Mosque.
Turkey’s engagement is a work in progress. But its outreach to Africa is already yielding results. Trade volume reached US$40.7 billion in 2022. The return of the first waves of African students trained in Turkey has shifted the dynamic. Cooperation no longer relies solely on Turkish business people and social entrepreneurs.
Even though African elites often speak English, French or Arabic, new voices are emerging. Young people trained in Turkey are beginning to find their place. Many work in import-export, construction, and even Islamic religious leadership. This trend points to promising prospects for long-term ties.
For Turkey, Africa represents a continent with major economic opportunities. Becoming a trusted partner is now a key goal. On the diplomatic level, Turkey gained observer status at the African Union in 2005 and has hosted Turkey-Africa summits in Istanbul since 2008.
This growing involvement suggests that Turkey’s role in Africa is likely to last. It will depend on the continent’s market needs, especially at a time when many African countries are rethinking their relationships with traditional western powers and international institutions.
Issouf Binaté does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Oscar Gakuo Mwangi, Adjunct Associate Professor, Departnent of Social Sciences, Pwani University
Kenya has once again been reminded of brutality within its police force. Two events in mid-June 2025 pointed to the grave challenge that Kenya must confront to reform the service.
The first was the death in police custody of a teacher and blogger. A few days later a bystander at the scene of a protest in Nairobi was shot and severely injured by police.
The use of excessive force to disperse and arrest peaceful demonstrators has got worse since the nationwide protests by young Kenyans in June 2024. Police have also been behind disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
Excesses by the National Police Service have prompted action in the past. Repressive laws have been repealed and mechanisms are in place to identify, report and punish police excesses.
Wide-ranging policing reforms mandated by the 2010 constitution have also been carried out since 2013. As part of these reforms, the Independent Police Oversight Authority was set up to investigate police wrong-doing. The conviction and dismissal rates are low, however, because of defective prosecutions, poor investigations, witnesses fearing retribution or victimisation, lack of evidence, and lengthy court trials.
I am a political scientist with a focus on Kenya’s security sector. It is my view that the quest to change police behaviour in Kenya must go beyond the rule book, recriminations and repeated political proclamations of police reform.
In my view real change will come about only if the state, firstly, puts funds into the recurrent and development expenditures of the police. The aim should be to ensure these institutions are able to enforce compliance and accountability. Secondly, the state needs to strengthen its partnership with local-level civil society organisations affected by policy brutality. And lastly, it must set up digital channels that people can confidently use to lodge their complaints.
Funding gaps
The National Police Service is underfunded. This has constrained its ability to maintain law and order. It has:
inadequate and poorly maintained equipment and gear
insufficient monthly fuel allocations for patrols and other critical functions
poor training and operational physical facilities.
Added to these constraints are dehumanising working conditions and deplorable living conditions. This undermines their morale and ability to deliver quality services.
Another blow to police morale is the entrenched culture of corruption. Corrupt practices skew recruitment, transfers, deployments, promotions and procurement.
At the same time, the police service is expected to deal with a host of domestic and global security challenges. These include cybercrimes, cross-border security, violent extremism and terrorism.
Money needs to be allocated to improve facilities, equipment and gear. This should also enhance its logistical and technological capabilities, and provide affordable and decent housing and medical cover for its officers.
Providing adequate resources can also counter the culture of corruption, which is often driven by poor renumeration and working conditions.
Budget allocations should sustain police reforms. This should include:
Community policing in Kenya makes a significant contribution to local-level security. This form of policing is citizen-centred with an emphasis on addressing crime risk factors by encouraging citizen participation.
Also known by its Kiswahili name, Nyumba Kumi, meaning “Ten Households”, the key strategy is anchoring community policing at the household level. Despite several problems associated with formulation and implementation, community policing in Kenya has improved local-level police-community relations in some areas of the country.
The community policing strategy is aimed at addressing emerging security needs such as infiltration by terrorist groups. It serves the whole of Kenya in terms of local-level security and is viewed as one of the key areas of police reform and a shift to democratic policing.
Community involvement can address the lack of trust between citizens and police officers due to police bias or brutality. But this is a gradual process that happens through daily interactions between communities and the police.
Public participation channels
Public participation is enshrined in Kenya’s constitution as one of the principles and values of good governance. By establishing a complaints and redress mechanism, public participation can become an integral component of promoting effective handling of complaints.
The constitution has created different institutions to address public complaints. These include the Commission on Administrative Justice (Office of the Ombudsman), Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, and the Independent Police Oversight Authority. Some of these have digital public complaints systems, which provide more confidentiality and better access for people.
Other channels of handling complaints include civil society actors and the media. Civil society organisations provide civic education and mobilise citizens to take part in monitoring and evaluation government’s performance.
Making these channels more effective could help absorb public anger that could turn into violence.
Conclusion
Police brutality in Kenya has arisen through historical, social, economic and political factors. Mitigating it therefore requires a long-term, combined top-down and bottom-up approach.
Genuine political support from the country’s political leaders is essential to instil positive attitudes about Kenya’s political and security institutions. It also requires genuine support from local-level or grassroots communities. This, in turn, entails communities trusting each other and building social cohesion.
Oscar Gakuo Mwangi does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Oscar Gakuo Mwangi, Adjunct Associate Professor, Departnent of Social Sciences, Pwani University
Kenya has once again been reminded of brutality within its police force. Two events in mid-June 2025 pointed to the grave challenge that Kenya must confront to reform the service.
The first was the death in police custody of a teacher and blogger. A few days later a bystander at the scene of a protest in Nairobi was shot and severely injured by police.
The use of excessive force to disperse and arrest peaceful demonstrators has got worse since the nationwide protests by young Kenyans in June 2024. Police have also been behind disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
Excesses by the National Police Service have prompted action in the past. Repressive laws have been repealed and mechanisms are in place to identify, report and punish police excesses.
Wide-ranging policing reforms mandated by the 2010 constitution have also been carried out since 2013. As part of these reforms, the Independent Police Oversight Authority was set up to investigate police wrong-doing. The conviction and dismissal rates are low, however, because of defective prosecutions, poor investigations, witnesses fearing retribution or victimisation, lack of evidence, and lengthy court trials.
I am a political scientist with a focus on Kenya’s security sector. It is my view that the quest to change police behaviour in Kenya must go beyond the rule book, recriminations and repeated political proclamations of police reform.
In my view real change will come about only if the state, firstly, puts funds into the recurrent and development expenditures of the police. The aim should be to ensure these institutions are able to enforce compliance and accountability. Secondly, the state needs to strengthen its partnership with local-level civil society organisations affected by policy brutality. And lastly, it must set up digital channels that people can confidently use to lodge their complaints.
Funding gaps
The National Police Service is underfunded. This has constrained its ability to maintain law and order. It has:
inadequate and poorly maintained equipment and gear
insufficient monthly fuel allocations for patrols and other critical functions
poor training and operational physical facilities.
Added to these constraints are dehumanising working conditions and deplorable living conditions. This undermines their morale and ability to deliver quality services.
Another blow to police morale is the entrenched culture of corruption. Corrupt practices skew recruitment, transfers, deployments, promotions and procurement.
At the same time, the police service is expected to deal with a host of domestic and global security challenges. These include cybercrimes, cross-border security, violent extremism and terrorism.
Money needs to be allocated to improve facilities, equipment and gear. This should also enhance its logistical and technological capabilities, and provide affordable and decent housing and medical cover for its officers.
Providing adequate resources can also counter the culture of corruption, which is often driven by poor renumeration and working conditions.
Budget allocations should sustain police reforms. This should include:
Community policing in Kenya makes a significant contribution to local-level security. This form of policing is citizen-centred with an emphasis on addressing crime risk factors by encouraging citizen participation.
Also known by its Kiswahili name, Nyumba Kumi, meaning “Ten Households”, the key strategy is anchoring community policing at the household level. Despite several problems associated with formulation and implementation, community policing in Kenya has improved local-level police-community relations in some areas of the country.
The community policing strategy is aimed at addressing emerging security needs such as infiltration by terrorist groups. It serves the whole of Kenya in terms of local-level security and is viewed as one of the key areas of police reform and a shift to democratic policing.
Community involvement can address the lack of trust between citizens and police officers due to police bias or brutality. But this is a gradual process that happens through daily interactions between communities and the police.
Public participation channels
Public participation is enshrined in Kenya’s constitution as one of the principles and values of good governance. By establishing a complaints and redress mechanism, public participation can become an integral component of promoting effective handling of complaints.
The constitution has created different institutions to address public complaints. These include the Commission on Administrative Justice (Office of the Ombudsman), Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, and the Independent Police Oversight Authority. Some of these have digital public complaints systems, which provide more confidentiality and better access for people.
Other channels of handling complaints include civil society actors and the media. Civil society organisations provide civic education and mobilise citizens to take part in monitoring and evaluation government’s performance.
Making these channels more effective could help absorb public anger that could turn into violence.
Conclusion
Police brutality in Kenya has arisen through historical, social, economic and political factors. Mitigating it therefore requires a long-term, combined top-down and bottom-up approach.
Genuine political support from the country’s political leaders is essential to instil positive attitudes about Kenya’s political and security institutions. It also requires genuine support from local-level or grassroots communities. This, in turn, entails communities trusting each other and building social cohesion.
Oscar Gakuo Mwangi does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Florida 20th district))
Washington, D.C. ─ Today, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) led the Florida Democratic delegation in urging Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to reverse recent staffing cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) as Florida enters hurricane season.
Due to the Trump-era DOGE initiative, NOAA has laid off approximately 20% of its workforce—including 9% of the NWS staff. These sweeping reductions come at a dangerous time, undermining the ability of meteorologists to monitor and respond to severe weather. The cuts have resulted in delayed weather balloon launches, critical staffing shortages at Gulf Coast NWS offices, and the elimination of overnight shifts—jeopardizing the timely delivery of life-saving storm tracking data.
“These sudden firings at NOAA and NWS directly endanger the health and safety of my constituents and all Floridians,” said Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20). “Florida is one of the most hurricane-prone states in the nation. Our families, emergency responders, and local governments rely on NOAA and NWS for accurate, real-time information. Slashing these agencies just as storm season begins is both reckless and dangerous. I’m proud to stand with my Florida colleagues in demanding these job cuts be reversed immediately.”
“The Trump Administration’s cruel, short-sighted decision to push out NOAA’s critical weather forecasters, data scientists, and storm modelers – just weeks before hurricane season – shows a callous disregard for the safety of all Floridians,” said Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25). “These are the very experts whose work guides local officials, emergency managers, and families on when to evacuate, when to seek shelter, and how to protect their homes and businesses. Cutting them loose is not just short-sighted, it’s dangerous.”
“The beginning of Hurricane season always stirs a rush into the hearts of South Floridians, especially many of the coastal communities I represent,” said Congresswoman Fredrica Wilson (FL-24). “The firings at the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are nothing short of outrageous and reckless—especially for South Florida, which sits on the frontlines of hurricane season year after year. When a storm is brewing, families across our region turn to these centers and services for real-time updates, life-saving alerts, and clear guidance on how to stay safe. Who does this administration expect residents to turn to in these moments of crisis if we allow the very institutions that safeguard us to be gutted? These firings only weaken our emergency response, undermine public safety, and leave Florida more vulnerable at the exact moment we should be strengthening our defenses.”
“We are deeply alarmed by the recent workforce cuts at NOAA and the National Weather Service under the DOGE initiative,” said Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09). “These reductions pose an unacceptable risk to hurricane preparedness and emergency response efforts in Florida. With our state facing increasingly severe and frequent storms, we cannot afford to weaken our frontline defense. All cuts to NOAA and NWS must be immediately reversed, and hiring freezes lifted to ensure Florida communities remain protected and informed.”
“When I was Director of Emergency Management in Florida, I saw firsthand the critical role that NOAA and the National Weather Service play preparing for hurricanes and other disasters,” said Congressman Jared Moskowitz (FL-23). “Putting these agencies at risk puts public safety at risk. That’s why I introduced bipartisan legislation to fill critical vacancies at NOAA and the NWS, and it’s why I’m proud to join my Florida colleagues pushing to lift hiring freezes and restore all cuts at the agencies. With hurricane season already here, Florida can’t afford for NOAA and the National Weather Service to be anything but fully equipped with what they need.”
“Hurricane season already is dangerous and anxiety-inducing enough without Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts undermining the resources and specialists we rely on to keep Floridians safe,” said Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14). “Gutting NOAA and NWS, cutting forecasters and grounding hurricane hunters leaves our communities vulnerable and uninformed while storms grow more frequent, more severe and more costly. Sec. Lutnick rightfully acknowledged the Trump Administration’s grave error in haphazardly firing essential NOAA and NWS workers. However, much more must be done to lower the risks and costs of the climate crisis and the extreme events tied to it. Firing essential problem-solvers and public servants ends up costing Floridians more.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Florida 20th district))
Washington, D.C. ─ Today, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) led the Florida Democratic delegation in urging Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to reverse recent staffing cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) as Florida enters hurricane season.
Due to the Trump-era DOGE initiative, NOAA has laid off approximately 20% of its workforce—including 9% of the NWS staff. These sweeping reductions come at a dangerous time, undermining the ability of meteorologists to monitor and respond to severe weather. The cuts have resulted in delayed weather balloon launches, critical staffing shortages at Gulf Coast NWS offices, and the elimination of overnight shifts—jeopardizing the timely delivery of life-saving storm tracking data.
“These sudden firings at NOAA and NWS directly endanger the health and safety of my constituents and all Floridians,” said Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20). “Florida is one of the most hurricane-prone states in the nation. Our families, emergency responders, and local governments rely on NOAA and NWS for accurate, real-time information. Slashing these agencies just as storm season begins is both reckless and dangerous. I’m proud to stand with my Florida colleagues in demanding these job cuts be reversed immediately.”
“The Trump Administration’s cruel, short-sighted decision to push out NOAA’s critical weather forecasters, data scientists, and storm modelers – just weeks before hurricane season – shows a callous disregard for the safety of all Floridians,” said Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25). “These are the very experts whose work guides local officials, emergency managers, and families on when to evacuate, when to seek shelter, and how to protect their homes and businesses. Cutting them loose is not just short-sighted, it’s dangerous.”
“The beginning of Hurricane season always stirs a rush into the hearts of South Floridians, especially many of the coastal communities I represent,” said Congresswoman Fredrica Wilson (FL-24). “The firings at the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are nothing short of outrageous and reckless—especially for South Florida, which sits on the frontlines of hurricane season year after year. When a storm is brewing, families across our region turn to these centers and services for real-time updates, life-saving alerts, and clear guidance on how to stay safe. Who does this administration expect residents to turn to in these moments of crisis if we allow the very institutions that safeguard us to be gutted? These firings only weaken our emergency response, undermine public safety, and leave Florida more vulnerable at the exact moment we should be strengthening our defenses.”
“We are deeply alarmed by the recent workforce cuts at NOAA and the National Weather Service under the DOGE initiative,” said Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09). “These reductions pose an unacceptable risk to hurricane preparedness and emergency response efforts in Florida. With our state facing increasingly severe and frequent storms, we cannot afford to weaken our frontline defense. All cuts to NOAA and NWS must be immediately reversed, and hiring freezes lifted to ensure Florida communities remain protected and informed.”
“When I was Director of Emergency Management in Florida, I saw firsthand the critical role that NOAA and the National Weather Service play preparing for hurricanes and other disasters,” said Congressman Jared Moskowitz (FL-23). “Putting these agencies at risk puts public safety at risk. That’s why I introduced bipartisan legislation to fill critical vacancies at NOAA and the NWS, and it’s why I’m proud to join my Florida colleagues pushing to lift hiring freezes and restore all cuts at the agencies. With hurricane season already here, Florida can’t afford for NOAA and the National Weather Service to be anything but fully equipped with what they need.”
“Hurricane season already is dangerous and anxiety-inducing enough without Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts undermining the resources and specialists we rely on to keep Floridians safe,” said Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14). “Gutting NOAA and NWS, cutting forecasters and grounding hurricane hunters leaves our communities vulnerable and uninformed while storms grow more frequent, more severe and more costly. Sec. Lutnick rightfully acknowledged the Trump Administration’s grave error in haphazardly firing essential NOAA and NWS workers. However, much more must be done to lower the risks and costs of the climate crisis and the extreme events tied to it. Firing essential problem-solvers and public servants ends up costing Floridians more.”
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
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The National Football League (www.NFL.com) hosted a women’s flag football coach education clinic in Cairo, Egypt as part of an ongoing strategy to accelerate the development and growth of the game across Africa.
36 participants from Egypt, Nigeria and Morocco received both classroom and on-field learning, as the clinic looked to improve the skills of new and experienced coaches – helping to promote and enable further long-term flag football engagement and participation on the continent.
Expert coaches delivering the sessions included:
Ameena Soliman – Philadelphia Eagles’ Director of Football Operations and Pro Scout
Afia Law – NFL Flag international development lead
Elisa De Santis – French national flag team captain and IFAF and NFL Global Flag Ambassador
Kris Durham – Head of Development at the NFL Academy Europe-Africa
Jordan Mabin – Football Development Manager at the NFL and former NFL player
Fast-paced and accessible for all, flag football is spearheading extraordinary participation growth worldwide with more than 20 million players in 100 countries and women and girls driving some of the largest growth in participation.
The women’s flag football coach education clinic in Cairo follows one held in Ghana in April 2025, which saw 50 coaches and officials from Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia, and Uganda attend the event as football development efforts continue to focus on engaging and upskilling more flag football coaches across the region.
The NFL also hosted a series of wraparound activities in Cairo including:
Led by two-time Super Bowl Champion and NFL Africa Lead Osi Umenyiora, the NFL hosted a football talent identification event with prospects from 5 different African countries, including Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon, Kenya and South Africa. Athletes showcased their skills and abilities with the potential to advance to the NFL Academy Europe-Africa program in Loughborough, U.K. or the International Player Pathway (IPP) program — two core pillars of the NFL’s global football development initiatives.
In collaboration with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) and the Egyptian Federation of American Football (EFAF), U13 teams of boys and girls from Africa competed in an NFL Flag Continental Championship. The tournament saw Egypt claim the title to become the first ever African youth continental champions.
Earlier in the week, 11 teams from eight nations, spanning the African continent, participated in Africa Flag – the first of IFAF’s continental championships series for 2025, with Nigeria crowned champions across both the men’s and women’s event. The tournament is the starting point for what will be the biggest and most important competition cycle in flag football history, culminating in the Olympic Games LA28.
– on behalf of National Football League (NFL).
Multimedia links: Youth flag tournament – This is the one Egypt won – https://apo-opa.co/44ff9Ul Talent ID and Women’s coaching clinic – https://apo-opa.co/4ehf3A5
For more information on IFAF: Visit: www.AmericanFootball.sport
For more information on NFL Flag, the official flag football program of the NFL: Visit www.NFLFlag.com
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
Oluchi Nwagboso, a Field Engineer at SLB, is part of a new generation of talent driving innovation and sustainability in Africa’s energy sector, her story is one of curiosity, determination and a deep commitment to making a lasting impact both on the field and in the lives of others.
Oluchi’s passion for energy was sparked at a young age. “It began with a high school project powering a lightbulb with a battery,” she recalls. That simple experiment ignited a desire to understand how the world is powered, setting her on the path to engineering. As she advanced in her studies, Oluchi became increasingly aware of the energy challenges faced by communities across Africa, which inspired her to join the sector with the goal of contributing to a future where energy is reliable, sustainable and affordable for all.
In her role at SLB, Oluchi has worked on a range of impactful projects that have shaped both her technical expertise and sense of purpose. A standout achievement was introducing a new drilling fluids technology – the Rheoprofiler 200 – to SLB’s clients in Namibia. As the first engineer, and notably the first female engineer, to represent SLB in Namibia since it launched operations there in 2022, Oluchi played a pivotal role in demonstrating how innovation can drive efficiency, reduce waste and support responsible energy development.
Beyond the technical arena, Oluchi has dedicated herself to mentoring young minds. While still a student, she tutored and guided 15 high school students initially in South Africa, and more recently in Namibia, encouraging especially young women to explore science and engineering. “Impact isn’t only measured in technical achievements – it’s also in the lives we uplift and the futures we help shape,” she says.
Oluchi credits SLB’s culture of continuous learning and support for helping her grow from a trainee to a confident field engineer. Through technical schools in the UAE and the U.S., day-to-day mentorship and hands-on experience, she has developed the skills needed to thrive in high-stakes environments. This growth aligns closely with her long-term goal: contributing to the development of a sustainable energy sector in Namibia that fuels economic growth and provides access for all.
A defining moment in her career came during her first offshore rotation as a field engineer. Faced with logistical inefficiencies, Oluchi proposed and implemented a new delivery schedule for essential components, improving both timelines and costs. The experience reinforced her belief in taking initiative, advocating for change, and trusting her judgment – even early in her career.
To young women aspiring to enter the energy industry, Oluchi offers this advice: “Embrace and own your personal narrative. Your background, experiences and unique perspective are what make you stand out. Be confident, stay curious and never stop learning. The energy industry needs more voices like yours – bold, authentic and driven to make a difference.”
Oluchi’s journey is a testament to the power of curiosity, resilience, and the support of an empowering environment and learning communities. Her achievements reflect the impact that driven individuals can make when given the opportunity to grow and lead. While her story is uniquely her own, it resonates with the broader vision shared by many across the continent, including networks like the African Energy Chamber’s AWBEN, that believes in empowering women to innovate, lead, and shape Africa’s energy future. By celebrating stories like Oluchi’s, we highlight the importance of creating inclusive spaces where talent, regardless of background, can thrive and drive meaningful change.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Oscar Gakuo Mwangi, Adjunct Associate Professor, Departnent of Social Sciences, Pwani University
Kenya has once again been reminded of brutality within its police force. Two events in mid-June 2025 pointed to the grave challenge that Kenya must confront to reform the service.
The first was the death in police custody of a teacher and blogger. A few days later a bystander at the scene of a protest in Nairobi was shot and severely injured by police.
The use of excessive force to disperse and arrest peaceful demonstrators has got worse since the nationwide protests by young Kenyans in June 2024. Police have also been behind disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
Excesses by the National Police Service have prompted action in the past. Repressive laws have been repealed and mechanisms are in place to identify, report and punish police excesses.
Wide-ranging policing reforms mandated by the 2010 constitution have also been carried out since 2013. As part of these reforms, the Independent Police Oversight Authority was set up to investigate police wrong-doing. The conviction and dismissal rates are low, however, because of defective prosecutions, poor investigations, witnesses fearing retribution or victimisation, lack of evidence, and lengthy court trials.
I am a political scientist with a focus on Kenya’s security sector. It is my view that the quest to change police behaviour in Kenya must go beyond the rule book, recriminations and repeated political proclamations of police reform.
In my view real change will come about only if the state, firstly, puts funds into the recurrent and development expenditures of the police. The aim should be to ensure these institutions are able to enforce compliance and accountability. Secondly, the state needs to strengthen its partnership with local-level civil society organisations affected by policy brutality. And lastly, it must set up digital channels that people can confidently use to lodge their complaints.
Funding gaps
The National Police Service is underfunded. This has constrained its ability to maintain law and order. It has:
inadequate and poorly maintained equipment and gear
insufficient monthly fuel allocations for patrols and other critical functions
poor training and operational physical facilities.
Added to these constraints are dehumanising working conditions and deplorable living conditions. This undermines their morale and ability to deliver quality services.
Another blow to police morale is the entrenched culture of corruption. Corrupt practices skew recruitment, transfers, deployments, promotions and procurement.
At the same time, the police service is expected to deal with a host of domestic and global security challenges. These include cybercrimes, cross-border security, violent extremism and terrorism.
Money needs to be allocated to improve facilities, equipment and gear. This should also enhance its logistical and technological capabilities, and provide affordable and decent housing and medical cover for its officers.
Providing adequate resources can also counter the culture of corruption, which is often driven by poor renumeration and working conditions.
Budget allocations should sustain police reforms. This should include:
Partnerships with communities
Community policing in Kenya makes a significant contribution to local-level security. This form of policing is citizen-centred with an emphasis on addressing crime risk factors by encouraging citizen participation.
Also known by its Kiswahili name, Nyumba Kumi, meaning “Ten Households”, the key strategy is anchoring community policing at the household level. Despite several problems associated with formulation and implementation, community policing in Kenya has improved local-level police-community relations in some areas of the country.
The community policing strategy is aimed at addressing emerging security needs such as infiltration by terrorist groups. It serves the whole of Kenya in terms of local-level security and is viewed as one of the key areas of police reform and a shift to democratic policing.
Community involvement can address the lack of trust between citizens and police officers due to police bias or brutality. But this is a gradual process that happens through daily interactions between communities and the police.
Public participation channels
Public participation is enshrined in Kenya’s constitution as one of the principles and values of good governance. By establishing a complaints and redress mechanism, public participation can become an integral component of promoting effective handling of complaints.
The constitution has created different institutions to address public complaints. These include the Commission on Administrative Justice (Office of the Ombudsman), Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, and the Independent Police Oversight Authority. Some of these have digital public complaints systems, which provide more confidentiality and better access for people.
Other channels of handling complaints include civil society actors and the media. Civil society organisations provide civic education and mobilise citizens to take part in monitoring and evaluation government’s performance.
Making these channels more effective could help absorb public anger that could turn into violence.
Conclusion
Police brutality in Kenya has arisen through historical, social, economic and political factors. Mitigating it therefore requires a long-term, combined top-down and bottom-up approach.
Genuine political support from the country’s political leaders is essential to instil positive attitudes about Kenya’s political and security institutions. It also requires genuine support from local-level or grassroots communities. This, in turn, entails communities trusting each other and building social cohesion.
– Kenya police brutality – it will take more than laws and public anger to change behaviour – https://theconversation.com/kenya-police-brutality-it-will-take-more-than-laws-and-public-anger-to-change-behaviour-259327
Source: US Whitehouse
THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL DELIVERS FOR THE AMERICAN WORKER: The One Big Beautiful Bill delivers the largest tax cut for working- and middle-class Americans in history. Put simply, President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill will unleash our economy and deliver a Blue-Collar BOOM.
Bigger Paychecks: Hardworking Americans and families will see an average increase in take-home pay of OVER $10,000 per year.
Historic Tax Relief for Workers: 15% tax cut for Americans earning between $30,000 and $80,000 per year.
No Taxes on Overtime or Tips: Saves overtime and tipped workers nearly $2,000 annually.
Historic Tax Breaks for Seniors: Introduces unprecedented financial relief for seniors.
Made-in-America Tax Breaks: Interest deduction for loans on new American-made vehicles.
Large Standard Deduction: Keeps the doubled standard deduction used by 91% of taxpayers, ensuring taxpayers keep more of their money with a simpler tax break.
Provides Historic Relief for Working Families
Bolsters Child Tax Credit: Increases and makes permanent the child tax credit, supporting over 40 million families.
Supports Working Families: Expands childcare access and makes the paid leave tax credit permanent.
Establishes Trump Investment Accounts for Newborns: Creates savings accounts to secure financial futures for every American child from birth.
Improves Housing Affordability: Expands the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to incentivize the construction of affordable homes for American families.
Supports Family Farms: Raises death tax exemption, Increasing the amount family farms can inherit without paying taxes—protecting two million family farms from excessive taxation.
Empowers School Choices: Enhances 529 savings accounts to make education affordable and empower American families and students to choose the education that best fits their needs.
Drives Economic Growth Through America First Tax Policies
Incentivizes Made-in-America Manufacturing: Full expensing for new factories and improvements to unleash domestic production.
Expands Opportunity Zones: Permanently renews program, unlocking $100B+ for rural and distressed communities.
Boosts American Businesses: The bill delivers full 100% expensing for new factories, equipment, and machinery.
Puts Main Street Over Wall Street
Promotes Growth: Helps small businesses keep more money by making permanent—and enhancing—the small business tax deduction, making it easier to grow and hire.
Doubles Small Business Expensing: Raises the limit for small businesses to immediately deduct up to $2.5 million in equipment and property costs, helping them hire more workers and expand.
President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill lowers tax rates to keep more money in Americans’ pockets—PREVENTING THE LARGEST TAX HIKE IN HISTORY.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Issouf Binaté, enseignant-chercheur, Université Alassane Ouattara de Bouaké
Turkey is stepping up its influence in west Africa as the geopolitical and economic landscape in the region shifts. In Senegal, the state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation has entered a key partnership in the oil and gas sector. Meanwhile, Karpowership, a company providing electricity via floating power plants, now supplies energy to eight African countries. But Turkey’s not stopping there. As part of its soft power strategy, it is also winning hearts and minds through education and culture while deepening trade and security ties.
Historian Issouf Binaté, who has studied Turkey’s growing presence in west Africa, breaks down how Ankara is positioning itself as an alternative to both former colonial powers and newer global players competing for influence on the continent.
What drives Turkey’s growing influence in west Africa?
Turkey’s foreign policy in west Africa leans on two main pillars.
The other is more grassroots, led by non-state actors such as religious foundations and NGOs.
These groups laid the groundwork for Turkey’s African expansion long before Ankara officially stepped in.
A key player in Turkey’s earlier outreach was the Gülen movement, named after preacher Fethullah Gülen (1941–2024). The Gülen movement pioneered Turkey’s soft power approach with “Turkish schools”, starting with the Yavuz Sultan Selim and Yavuz Selim-Bosphore high schools in Dakar in 1997.
Also at the end of the 1990s a network composed of Turkish business leaders and social activists under the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists, which claimed over 100,000 member companies, expanded Turkey’s influence across Africa. At that time, Turkey had only three diplomatic representations for the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.
The more recent contact with Africa comes at a time when western hegemony faces growing criticism from a new generation of Africans engaged in decolonial movements. Gülen-affiliated institutions now number 113, alongside religious and secular schools run by other groups like Mahmud Hudayi Vakfi and Hayrat Vakfi. Since the 2016 political rift between Gülen and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, these schools were gradually transferred to Maarif Foundation, Turkey’s state-run overseas education arm.
Back in 2003, Turkey had only 12 diplomatic missions across Africa. Today, that number has grown to 44, bolstered by Turkish religious foundations (like Mahmud Hudayi Vakfi and Hayrat Vakfi), NGOs, and entrepreneurs who have filled the gap left by the Gülen movement.
Another powerful player in Turkey’s Africa strategy is Turkish Airlines, now one of the top carriers on the continent. It is now flying to 62 airports in 41 African countries.
What role do west African students trained in Turkey play?
By investing in education, Turkey didn’t just open its doors to African students. It also planted the seeds for a long-term influence strategy. These students, and more broadly young African migrants trained in Turkey, are now among the key messengers of “Turkishness” back home.
In doing so, Ankara is following a familiar path once used by colonial powers. They used student mobility as a powerful tool for their diplomacy.
Then, in the 1990s, Turkey continued this effort through a scholarship programme for African students, supported by the Islamic Development Bank. During this period, Turkey launched the Büyük Öğrenci Projesi (Great Student Project), which provided scholarships to international students.
Starting in 2012, this programme was re-branded as YTB (Yurtdışı Türkler ve Akraba Topluluklar Başkanlığı, or Directorate for Turks Abroad and Related Communities). It introduced reforms, including a digital application process for scholarships via an app on the YTB website. This shift caused a dramatic spike in interest. Applications soared from 10,000 to 155,000 between 2012 and 2020.
For non-scholarship students, Turkey simplified visa processes, reduced tuition fees, and offered other incentives. These measures contributed to a significant increase in the number of applicants to study in Turkey. As the number of universities in Turkey jumped from 76 to 193 between 2003 and 2015, the country became increasingly attractive.
By 2017, Turkey had become the 13th most popular destination for students from sub-Saharan Africa, according to Campus France (a platform that supports international students studying in France). By 2019, there were an estimated 61,000 African students studying in Turkey.
Now, nearly three decades into this strategy, many of these former students are stepping into new roles. They are taking over from Turkish entrepreneurs in fostering socioeconomic ties with Africa. They also act as bridges, promoting Turkish universities and supporting visitors in areas like medical and industrial tourism.
In Istanbul, some run cargo companies – some of them informal – that ship goods to Africa. Others are working to formalise these ventures and build long-term economic bridges. Groups like Bizim Afrika, a network of African Turkish-speakers, and the Federation of African Students in Turkey (founded in 2019), are playing key roles in shaping this next chapter of Turkey–Africa relations.
How is Turkey’s strategy in west Africa different from that of China or France?
In substance, Turkey’s strategy isn’t so different from that of France or China. It also carries traces of colonial thinking, even though its approach leans more on religious soft power like building mosques across Africa. Unlike France, which used force in its colonial past, Turkey is trying to gain influence through other means. It uses familiar tools: embassies, schools, cinema, security services, and development agencies.
While access to Europe, the US and Canada has become more difficult due to stricter visa rules, Turkey has opened its doors. It eased visa procedures for African business people, expanded its universities, and promoted medical tourism.
Turkey has become a hub for several sectors. It’s a major centre for nose surgery (rhinoplasty), hair transplants, and textiles. Its textile industry now supplies traders at Makola Market in Accra, Adjamé’s Forum in Côte d’Ivoire, and the Grand Marché in Bamako.
Turkey’s presence in Africa is now visible in several symbolic ways. You can see it in Maarif schools, murals at Abidjan airport, the “Le Istanbul” restaurant in Niamey’s government district, or the National Mosque in Accra, modelled after Istanbul’s Blue Mosque.
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Turkey’s engagement is a work in progress. But its outreach to Africa is already yielding results. Trade volume reached US$40.7 billion in 2022. The return of the first waves of African students trained in Turkey has shifted the dynamic. Cooperation no longer relies solely on Turkish business people and social entrepreneurs.
Even though African elites often speak English, French or Arabic, new voices are emerging. Young people trained in Turkey are beginning to find their place. Many work in import-export, construction, and even Islamic religious leadership. This trend points to promising prospects for long-term ties.
For Turkey, Africa represents a continent with major economic opportunities. Becoming a trusted partner is now a key goal. On the diplomatic level, Turkey gained observer status at the African Union in 2005 and has hosted Turkey-Africa summits in Istanbul since 2008.
This growing involvement suggests that Turkey’s role in Africa is likely to last. It will depend on the continent’s market needs, especially at a time when many African countries are rethinking their relationships with traditional western powers and international institutions.
– Turkey is stepping up its influence in west Africa – what’s behind its bid for soft power – https://theconversation.com/turkey-is-stepping-up-its-influence-in-west-africa-whats-behind-its-bid-for-soft-power-256929
NORFOLK, Va. — Nearly 4,500 Sailors assigned to the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group departed Naval Station Norfolk and Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, June 24, for a regularly-scheduled deployment to the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) area of responsibility.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said that the government has drawn up plans to build tunnel projects worth Rs 2.5–3 lakh crore over the next 10 years as part of the country’s infrastructure development.
Speaking at the inauguration of the International Workshop on ‘Sustainable Tunnelling for Better Life’ at MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU), the minister said, “India is entering a golden era of infrastructure development, with tunnels playing a crucial role in connectivity, safety, and sustainability.”
Gadkari highlighted the need to reduce construction costs without compromising quality. “That means using new technologies and sustainable fuels like CNG, ethanol, hydrogen, and electric alternatives to diesel. We should also refurbish old tunnelling machines, import used ones from European countries like Austria, Norway, and Spain, and eventually manufacture our own,” he explained.
The minister pointed out that India’s geology varies by region, so research and training are essential. Industry experts and experienced engineers should guide students alongside faculty.
“My ministry is ready to support this initiative with equipment and training. Together, with innovation, research, and commitment, we can make India self-reliant in tunnelling technology and infrastructure development,” Gadkari said.
He also lauded MIT-WPU for taking the first step towards research in sustainable tunnelling technology, which is the need of the hour for a developing country like India.
Earlier, Gadkari inaugurated the International Workshop on ‘Sustainable Tunnelling for Better Life’ at MIT-WPU. The two-day event was organised in collaboration with the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association’s Committee on Education and Training (ITA-CET).
The workshop brought together global experts from India, Europe, the UK, and the US.
A key highlight of the event was the inauguration of the Centre of Excellence for Tunnelling and Underground Construction at MIT-WPU — India’s first-of-its-kind facility featuring a Tunnel Monitoring Laboratory and a Drilling and Blasting Laboratory. The Centre of Excellence, set up in collaboration with Sandvik and Tata Projects Ltd, aims to support advanced research and training in underground construction technologies.
The workshop featured technical sessions, keynote addresses, and panel discussions led by eminent experts such as Arnold Dix (Past President, International Tunnelling Association) and other noted figures in the field.
Dix said, “This Centre of Excellence is of global importance, as it addresses the disconnect between engineering expertise and practical skills. Too often, young workers are placed at risk because they lack the training needed to safely construct what has been so carefully designed.”
The fight against the Emergency has kept Indian democracy alive, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday, stressing that the memories of the dark days imposed by late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s “Kitchen Cabinet” should never be allowed to fade away.
Addressing the “Aapatkaal Ke 50 Saal” programme, Shah said, “It has been 50 years in the documents, but even today, the wound in the hearts of crores of Indians inflicted by the tyranny of the Congress remains as fresh as it was during the Emergency.”
Shah said that during the Emergency, the entire country was turned into a prison. Everyone was thrown into jail, and no one was given a chance to be heard. The judiciary, executive, legislature, media, and artists were all enraged but unable to react, he added.
Leaders like George Fernandes and Acharya Kripalani were jailed without any explanation, he added.
“Some people question the benefits of remembering an incident that took place 50 years ago, but I insist that this exercise is a powerful means to guard against the return of such dark days,” he said.
“An event that shook the foundation of a democratic nation and represented a dictatorial mindset must be remembered to prevent its supporters from rearing their heads again,” Shah added.
“It took 21 months for democracy to return after the imposition of the Emergency. Therefore, I call the night of June 24, 1975, the longest night ever in the country as it ended with the lifting of the Emergency,” Shah said.
The Constitution—which guaranteed citizens civil liberties, laid down judicial practices, and took over two years to draft with 1,100 hours of debate—was dismissed by the “Kitchen Cabinet’s declaration” in one minute, he added.
“A democratic nation’s multi-party system was sacrificed on the altar of a dictator’s ego. Imagine being turned into a dictator’s slave from a citizen overnight. Imagine a media person being branded anti-national overnight. Imagine a student — the future of the nation — being treated as a threat to the establishment”.
“Even social workers were jailed for being a threat to the nation,” he added, noting that 1.1 lakh people were jailed.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Case study
New Smarter Regulatory Sandbox developed to increase compliance
HSE and the Safetytech Accelerator developed the Smarter Regulatory Sandbox, a collaborative environment to test digital products and increase compliance.
Two construction workers in a building site
Background
Construction workers face a wide range of challenges – from physical health risks to exposure to hazardous substances.
Importantly, a range of factors, such as the diverse nature of construction projects, varying levels of expertise among contractors and complex supply chains, create fragmented health and safety practices, presenting unique challenges.
For example, smaller companies or subcontractors may lack the resources or knowledge to implement robust safety measures, leading to higher risk of accidents, injuries, and even fatalities. Therefore, protecting construction workers often requires going beyond regulatory compliance; it requires a proactive approach to creating safer, healthier work environments.
The Knowledge Asset solution
The team at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) explored approaches to strengthen health and safety practices in the construction industry in order to reduce injuries, improve regulatory compliance, and foster a culture where workers’ wellbeing is prioritised at every level.
One of the findings resulted in a partnership with the Safetytech Accelerator to develop the Smarter Regulatory Sandbox (SRS), the first of its kind.
The groundbreaking Smarter Regulatory Sandbox applied digitised health and safety data to several health and safety challenges, increasing regulatory compliance, boosting efficiency across the construction sector and enabling the development of innovative products.
By combining a Sandbox approach with regulatory data, HSE and the Safetytech Accelerator created a flexible and collaborative environment where regulators, construction companies, and technology developers could come together to explore the potential of digital innovation, such as AI and robotics.
One example of this innovative approach involved exploring how using CCTV footage from construction sites not only to monitor project progress but also – when combined with regulatory data- to distinguish between compliant sites and those posing health risks to workers.
Who will this help?
The construction industry: Making health and safety regulations machine-readable helps reduce the regulatory burden and provides clearer guidance on compliance.
The workforce: Better understanding of regulatory compliance and application of safety standards enhances protection from work-related injuries
Tech companies: Combining the Sandbox approach with regulatory data, supports innovation, creates a collaborative space to test digital products, and understand their real-world impact.
Regulators: Creating a safe and collaborative environment allows exploration of how new technologies affect compliance and safety outcomes.
Funding awards
The HSE was awarded £249,580 in the ‘Extend’ band of the Knowledge Assets Grant Fund in September 2023.
GOTT’s role
GOTT provided grant funding to the project.
Early results
The SRS project provided several positive results:
Accessing content directly from the regulator improved the accuracy of the Large Language Model by 30%
Using CCTV images helped track construction progress against plans and identify potential risks in advance
Creating common data standards facilitated the development of automatic compliance checks
Using AI-driven compliance solutions positively impacted the construction sector, although accessing quality source data remained challenging
Trialling a workplace fatigue app helped detect acute fatigue, provided user feedback to improve performance, and highlighted gaps in fatigue management
Next steps
The team continue to make products enhancements and collaborate with industry partners.
The next steps for the SRS project include:
Continuing collaboration with industry partners to broaden health and safety data and improve AI models for better compliance checks
Adding synthetic knowledge to increase prediction accuracy and help AI better understand compliance data
Improving structured audit, assurance data, and training AI with more diverse datasets
Combining AI insights with human expertise to make compliance monitoring more effective and support the shift to automated checks
Developing a blueprint for a regulatory Sandbox design, so that other Regulators can apply learnings and insights gained through this work
Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has welcomed today’s announcements regarding the situation in Iran and stressed the need for a resumption of the IAEA’s indispensable safeguards verification work in the country following a 12-day military conflict that severely damaged several of its nuclear sites.
In a letter to Iranian Foreign Minister Dr Abbas Araghchi, Director General Grossi also proposed that they meet soon.
“Resuming cooperation with the IAEA is key to a successful diplomatic agreement to finally resolve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear activities. I’ve written to Foreign Minister Araghchi stressing the importance of us working together and proposing to meet soon,” he said.
IAEA inspectors have remained in Iran throughout the conflict and are ready to start working as soon as possible, going back to the country’s nuclear sites and verifying the inventories of nuclear material – including more than 400 kg of uranium enriched to 60% – which they last verified a few days before the Israeli air strikes began on 13 June.
Even though the conflict interrupted safeguards inspections in the country, the IAEA has been closely monitoring the impact of the military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites at Arak, Esfahan, Fordow and Natanz as well as the possible consequences for human health and the environment, based on relevant information received from Iran’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority.
“As I have repeatedly stated – before and during the conflict – nuclear facilities should never be attacked due to the very real risk of a serious radiological accident,” Director General Grossi said.
“During these attacks, we have seen extensive damage at several nuclear sites in Iran, including its uranium conversion and enrichment facilities. Our assessment is that there has been some localized radioactive as well as chemical release inside the affected facilities that contained nuclear material – mainly uranium enriched to varying degrees – but there has been no report of increased off-site radiation levels,” he said.
Still, the IAEA is aware of concerns in the region regarding any radiological consequences as a result of the strikes on nuclear facilities.
“Based on the data available to us, the IAEA can provide assurances that there has been no radiological impact to the population and the environment in neighbouring countries. Crucially in terms of nuclear safety, Iran’s research and power reactors were not targeted,” Director General Grossi said.
In addition to the detailed assessment that Director General Grossi provided to the IAEA Board of Governors on Monday, the IAEA has identified additional impact points at nuclear sites at Fordow and Natanz as a result of strikes carried out before today’s announcements on the situation in Iran.
Regarding the additional strikes to Fordow that were reported early on Monday – after the U.S. bombing of the facility early on Sunday – the IAEA assesses that access roads close to the underground facility and one of its entrances were hit.
At Natanz, the IAEA has identified two impact holes from the U.S. strikes above the underground halls that had been used for enrichment as well as for storage. Based on its knowledge of what these halls contained, the IAEA assesses that this strike may have caused localized contamination and chemical hazards.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01), Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, released the following statement on the third anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling.
“Three years ago today, the Supreme Court took the unprecedented step of stripping Americans of a constitutional right it had previously guaranteed, ending nearly 50 years of legal precedent by dismantling Roe v. Wade.
“Just last month, under the orders of Donald Trump, House Republicans voted to defund Planned Parenthood. The Big Ugly Bill he’s trying to force through Congress would block Medicaid reimbursements to its health centers and ban abortion coverage on ACA plans—moves that would create chaos in the insurance market. These policies would devastate access to care for over one million Medicaid recipients who rely on Planned Parenthood each year, slashing access to maternity care, birth control, cancer screenings, and more.
“This is only the latest attack. Over the past three years, 20 states have enacted abortion bans, leaving millions of people without access to essential care. And we’ve seen patients forced to travel hundreds of miles across state lines, facing delays and uncertainty. In my home state of Colorado—a critical haven for care in the Mountain West—we’ve seen one of the largest increases in out-of-state patients in the country. Our clinics are strained, providers are overwhelmed, and our constituents are facing longer wait times for basic reproductive care.
“As Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, I refuse to let this extremist vision go unchallenged. I’m proud to lead the fight in Congress to restore the protections of Roe through the Women’s Health Protection Act—a landmark bill that would ensure the right to abortion nationwide, regardless of your ZIP code.
“I stand with the majority of Americans who believe health care decisions should be made by patients and their doctors, not politicians, not judges, and not a radical minority trying to impose their beliefs on the rest of us. We will not stop until every person—no matter who they are or where they live—has the freedom to make their own reproductive health care decisions.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)
DENVER, CO — Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following statement after Donald Trump announced that the United States carried out military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.
“Donald Trump’s unauthorized strike against Iran is an act of war that requires Congressional approval. He did not come to Congress to explain his reasons for bombing a sovereign nation and to seek authorization for these strikes. These reckless actions are going to put the lives of American servicemembers and American citizens at risk.
“Additionally, these unconstitutional strikes threaten to expand conflict and further destabilize an already vulnerable region. The United States must now put its full diplomatic strength behind finding a peaceful resolution to this conflict. I am cosponsoring the war powers resolution in the House, and the administration must brief Congress as soon as possible.”