Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 23, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
BEIJING, June 23 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang held talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is on an official visit to China, in Beijing on Monday.
Noting that China and Singapore are friendly neighbors and important partners, Li said that under the strategic guidance of their leaders, the traditional friendship between China and Singapore has been continuously deepened since the establishment of diplomatic relations 35 years ago, with bilateral relations enhanced and practical cooperation achieving fruitful results.
He said that China is willing to work with Singapore to uphold the traditions of mutual respect and trust, equality and mutual benefits, while maintaining close high-level exchange, enhancing strategic communication, and consolidating political mutual trust.
Li said that China stands ready to make full use of its bilateral cooperation mechanism with Singapore, implement their cooperation plan for the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, and expand and strengthen flagship cooperation projects. China is also ready to increase the scale of two-way trade and investment, actively expand cooperation in third-party markets, and foster new cooperative initiatives in areas such as the digital economy, the green economy, artificial intelligence, smart cities and ocean energy.
He called on the two countries to strengthen exchange in education, culture, tourism and media, and to adhere to open regionalism and true multilateralism, actively promote the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, and maintain the stability and smooth operations of global industrial and supply chains.
China is willing to work with ASEAN member states, including Singapore, to promote the timely signature and implementation of the upgraded Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area pact, implement the high-quality Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, and accelerate the process of regional economic integration, Li said.
Wong said that Singapore looks forward to maintaining close high-level exchange and cooperation in various fields with China, deepening friendship and mutual trust, and promoting flagship cooperation projects such as the Suzhou Industrial Park. It is also willing to explore cooperation potential in emerging fields such as the digital economy, the green economy, artificial intelligence and biomedicine, and to expand third-party cooperation and enhance people-to-people and cultural exchange.
Wong noted that Singapore is full of confidence in the Chinese economy, and is willing to enhance communication and collaboration with China on regional and multilateral platforms to safeguard free trade and the multilateral trading system.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 23, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 23 — China has earmarked 300 million yuan (about 41.8 million U.S. dollars) of central government funding to support local authorities in dealing with natural disasters and carrying out emergency rescue efforts, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said on Monday.
The funds, allocated by the MOF and the Ministry of Emergency Management, were provided to seven provincial-level regions, including Hunan, Guangdong, Chongqing, Guizhou and Hubei.
The funding support comes as some parts of south China experience heavy rains, leading to severe flooding and geological disasters in certain regions, according to the MOF.
The funds will be used for emergency response and rescue efforts, the evacuation and resettlement of affected people, the removal of hazardous objects, risk mitigation, and risk inspections to prevent secondary disasters, it said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
ZHENGZHOU, June 23 — China Post has officially launched a new international cargo route between the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou and Luxembourg, with a freighter departing from Zhengzhou on Monday morning.
The route will initially operate one flight per week, with plans to increase frequency based on market demand. It will expand beyond traditional cross-border e-commerce to carry high-tech and high-value-added goods such as pharmaceuticals and precision manufacturing components, according to a China Post official.
Zhengzhou in Henan Province has been actively developing into an international air cargo hub in recent years. To date, 33 all-cargo airlines have launched 58 dedicated cargo routes from the city, including 43 international routes.
Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport handled 239,000 tonnes of international or regional cargo in the first five months of this year — a year-on-year increase of 45.8 percent.
USAG BAVARIA – HOHENFELS, Germany – The U.S. Army Lodging Operation of the Year Award recognizes outstanding performance and dedication in Army lodging operations, and U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria’s Army Lodging in Hohenfels recently received the award in the small category (1-60 rooms).
The Hohenfels lodging facilities were established 1951 and have since been integral to supporting training activities and operations.
“We are getting recognized for something that the team here has put a lot of hard work into over the last year, and I’m just really proud of what they’ve done,” said hotel manager Clifford Martin. “We focused a lot on customer service over the last couple of years, and I think we’ve been able to provide that to the guests, the Soldiers and our scores and our staff and everything reflects that at this point.”
Winning organizations exhibit outstanding leadership by prioritizing customer service, fostering strong employee relations, ensuring effective financial management, and optimizing back-of-house systems critical to maintaining seamless operations.
“Winning this award brings a lot of pride to me,” Martin said. “I’ve had the opportunity to really work with a great team. And in doing so, we’ve been able to offer a great facility to the guests for PCS and TDY into the Hohenfels area. So I am just really grateful and honored to have the team that we have here to be able to provide this service to the Soldiers.”
The Army lodging team in Hohenfels consists of 18 staff members, and together they take care of 40 guest rooms spread across six buildings.
“With everybody who is coming here, we are the first people that they come see, and we provide them with a place to stay and get them acclimatized to the area,” said assistant manager Marshall Smith. “And then we also support everybody going into the training area as they come and stay with us. So they have a place to come back to every night.”
Army lodging guests range from Department of Defense travelers on official business, military members and their Families traveling on permanent change of station orders, retirees and military Families
“This is a testament; it’s impressive to win this,” said USAG Bavaria commander Col. Stephen C. Flanagan, when he took part in the award presentation. “There are so many Army lodges all around the world, and you are one of the best. And it’s really important right now to take care of our warfighters and everyone that supports them coming through.”
The Hohenfels Army Lodging is dedicated to provide quality lodging and hospitality services to their patrons to support the garrison’s mission and the community.
“And I know you’re also working with older facilities, and we are working on that,” Flanagan said. ”What shines through is the customer service and the teamwork and that leaves everyone with a better experience. And you clearly go above and beyond to earn this award.”
Some of the buildings are from 1949; A new Army Lodging facility is planned for 2028. The new six-floor facility will offer 82 apartments.
Flanagan also presented the garrison coin to the lodging staff as part of the presentation.
A group of U.S. Army Soldiers lie in a field after exiting a UH-60 Black Hawk at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Johnson, La., June 10, 2025. Soldiers practice entering and exiting the aircraft to enhance proficiency for real-world missions. (Photo Credit: Spc. Ruth Harrington)VIEW ORIGINAL
FORT POLK, La. – More than 4,000 Soldiers from the Iowa Army National Guard trained throughout June at Fort Polk, undergoing one of the Army’s most demanding combat training events in preparation for an upcoming overseas deployment.
Known since the Vietnam War era as “Tigerland,” Fort Polk and the Joint Readiness Training Center have become synonymous with forging combat-ready Soldiers through intense, realistic training. For Iowa’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, this rotation marks a pivotal moment: their first full brigade deployment since 2010.
At the Joint Readiness Training Center, or JRTC, Soldiers are evaluated under pressure. Their minds are stressed, their physical limits are tested and their endurance is pushed to the edge. From junior enlisted Soldiers to senior Iowa Army National Guard leaders, all participants endure mental, physical and emotional exhaustion.
The JRTC is one of four Army combat training centers. The others are the Joint Multinational Readiness Cente in Hohenfels, Germany; the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; and the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California.
The JRTC, however, is known for being the most grueling. The simulated combat environment, complete with force-on-force scenarios and constant stressors, provides Soldiers with some of the most realistic training they will encounter in their careers.
“There are a lot of methods that we use to test Soldiers while they’re in the training area. One is simply the stress and pressure of combat,” said Brig. Gen. Derek Adams, the senior trainer for rotation 25-08. “We try to simulate that as best we can.”
Soldiers assigned to 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, take part in a briefing on upcoming operations at Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Johnson, La., June 7, 2025. Rotational units at JRTC synchronize battle rhythms to ensure mission success during the 21-day training cycle. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Spc. Diana Nguyen)VIEW ORIGINAL
As the senior trainer, Adams works closely with observer-coach/trainers and the JRTC leadership to design, execute and evaluate the training rotation. He coordinates with the operations group, which oversees the exercise, monitors unit performance across all warfighting functions and delivers objective feedback through after-action reviews to improve readiness at every level.
“JRTC emphasizes DOD’s priorities of lethality, warfighting and readiness by training the entire brigade combat team, from the individual Soldiers to the brigade combat team level,” Adams said. “It’s a large, complex organization, and this training reflects that.”
This type of training marks a broader shift in Army doctrine.
The Army is transitioning from the counterinsurgency operations of the past two decades to large-scale combat operations, or LSCO. Large-scale combat operations prepare Soldiers for potential conflicts with near-peer adversaries by emphasizing large-scale maneuvers, complex logistics and sustained combat power.
“LSCO changes sustainment operations sheerly in the magnitude of what occurs,” said Col. Tony Smithhart, commander of the 734th Regional Support Group. “You’re talking about large numbers of Soldiers, large numbers of equipment.”
A U.S. Soldier assigned to the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, pulls security at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La., June 15, 2025. JRTC is designed to improve unit readiness through force-on-force exercises that prepare Soldiers for missions they may be assigned in real-world operations. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Ryan Reed)VIEW ORIGINAL
The Regional Support Group is structured to provide logistical support to up to 20,000 Soldiers in a deployed environment. As the Regional Support Command for the JRTC, the RSG was tasked with coordinating all sustainment efforts. This included feeding more than 5,800 Soldiers, managing medical treatment and staging and preparing more than 2,500 pieces of equipment for operation.
Planning for the JRTC began more than a year before the first boots hit the ground.
“I made my first trip to Fort Polk about 18 months ago to determine the actual area we’d operate in,” Smithhart said. “Since then, my team at the 734th Regional Support Group has returned about six times to coordinate with Fort Polk staff, validate our node concepts and rehearse operations to support reception, staging, onward integration and base camp management.”
The JRTC has earned its reputation. The environment is humid and rainy, the terrain is unforgiving and the scenarios evolve constantly.
All of these factors come together to form a stressful and taxing exercise, but one that will toughen Soldiers. Despite numerous aspects working against them, the Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, proved they not only have the grit to complete their upcoming deployment successfully but also to complete any mission that is asked of them.
“The scale of this operation is critical to the development of our Soldiers,” Smithhart said. “It’s been called a generational training opportunity, and I believe that’s accurate.”
U.S. Army Sgt. Joseline Sosa, a forward observer with 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard, relays information to her Polish counterparts during training in remote observation techniques in Toruń, Poland, June 6, 2025. The Illinois National Guard and Poland are partners in the Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program, which pairs Guard elements with partner nations worldwide for mutual training and subject matter expert exchanges. Servicemembers with the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team are spending two weeks alongside their Polish counterparts training on sniper operations, the Javelin anti-tank weapon system, combat medical care, and remote observer techniques. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Amber Peck)VIEW ORIGINAL
TORUŃ, Poland — Soldiers with the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Illinois Army National Guard, recently spent two weeks in Torún, Poland, training alongside members of the Polish Territorial Defence Force.
Since 1993, the Illinois National Guard and Poland have been partners in the Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program — an initiative that pairs Guard elements with partner nations worldwide for joint military training and subject matter expert exchanges.
The recent two-week training focused on sniper operations, combat medical care, the Javelin anti-tank weapon system and remote observer techniques.
For the sniper teams, the goal was to strengthen leadership skills in employing and overseeing sniper sections as well as developing advanced sniper expertise.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Bruno Rios, a cavalry scout with C Troop, 2nd Battalion, 106th Cavalry Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard, confirms that the weapon of his Polish counterpart is clear of ammunition following the completion of a shooting drill at a range near Toruń, Poland, June 7, 2025. The Illinois National Guard and Poland are partners in the Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program, which pairs Guard elements with partner nations worldwide for mutual training and subject matter expert exchanges. Servicemembers with the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team are spending two weeks alongside their Polish counterparts training on sniper operations, the Javelin anti-tank weapon system, combat medical care, and remote observer techniques. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Amber Peck)VIEW ORIGINAL
“Our goal as a training team is to ensure we are equipping the Polish snipers with the tools to employ themselves against drones and thermal environments,” said Sgt. 1st Class Hussein Mashal, an infantryman with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard. “By merging our techniques with theirs and the lessons learned from the Ukrainian war, we hope to strengthen their sniper employment capabilities and survivability.”
In the medical realm, Soldiers with the Illinois Army Guard’s C Company, 634th Brigade Support Battalion, shared casualty care treatment procedures — from the point of injury to the final point of care.
This iteration included complex training scenarios that allowed participants to triage and evaluate casualties in a realistic, stressful simulated combat environment.
“It’s always worth it working with the National Guard,” said Polish TDF 2nd Lt. Jakub Piotrowski, a medical team member and instructor. “We do the same things in different ways so it’s worthwhile to see how a different army is doing the same thing and then be able to cooperate with it.”
U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Rojas, a cavalry scout with C Troop, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard, observes as a Polish Territorial Defence soldier engages targets on a range near Toruń, Poland, June 7, 2025. The Illinois National Guard and Poland are partners in the Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program, which pairs Guard elements with partner nations worldwide for mutual training and subject matter expert exchanges. Servicemembers with the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team are spending two weeks alongside their Polish counterparts training on sniper operations, the Javelin anti-tank weapon system, combat medical care, and remote observer techniques. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Amber Peck)VIEW ORIGINAL
Javelin instructors echoed that sentiment.
“The Polish soldiers were extremely motivated and eager to learn,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nicholas Broden, a training noncommissioned officer with C Company, 1st Bn., 178th Inf. Regt. “They were always asking questions and were very hands on with the equipment.”
Previous training exchanges meant many of the Polish soldiers already had foundational knowledge of the Javelin systems. That allowed the training to advance quickly to more strategic and tactical discussions, said Broden.
For the forward observer teams — or remote observers — the focus was on establishing the fundamental skills for indirect fire coordination, a capability the TDF is actively strengthening as they expand artillery capabilities.
“We started off pretty basic with basic call for fire and then basic joint fires observer skills,” said U.S. Army Master Sgt. William Aitken, an operations NCO with the 33rd IBCT. “It’s kind of an abbreviated forward observer program for the TDF.”
U.S. Army Sgt. Joseline Sosa, a forward observer with 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard, receives information from her Polish counterparts during training on remote observer techniques in Toruń, Poland, June 6, 2025. The Illinois National Guard and Poland are partners in the Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program, which pairs Guard elements with partner nations worldwide for mutual training and subject matter expert exchanges. Servicemembers with the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team are spending two weeks alongside their Polish counterparts training on sniper operations, the Javelin anti-tank weapon system, combat medical care, and remote observer techniques. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Amber Peck)VIEW ORIGINAL
The training also included high tech capabilities — such as employing small drones – combined with improvised concealment techniques to help Polish soldiers observe from a distance while staying hidden. The team practiced setting up hasty observation posts, coordinating drone feeds with command elements, and minimizing visual and electronic signatures — skills directly influenced by lessons learned from the war in Ukraine.
Overall, the training helped strengthen and continue the 30-plus year partnership.
“Our partnership with Poland, which began in 1993 and included 19 years of co-deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, is the gold standard of deployments,” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams, the Illinois National Guard’s assistant adjutant general for Army. “We learn, we teach and we develop new tactics and techniques together with each critical knowledge exchange event. Our capabilities have improved, we’ve expanded our capacity and our partnership has grown even stronger the past two weeks.”
Gene Willie Strahan Jr., a devoted automotive mechanic, beloved colleague and cherished friend, passed away on June 10, 2025. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)VIEW ORIGINAL
VICENZA, Italy – The military communities of U.S. Army Garrison Italy, including Vicenza and Camp Darby, are mourning the loss of Gene Willie Strahan Jr., a devoted automotive mechanic, beloved colleague and cherished friend.
Strahan knew cars—especially BMWs, his favorite. Friends described him as a gentle giant who loved car shows, fishing and spending time with his tiny dog, Thor.
A U.S. Army veteran, Strahan served in Germany in the 1980s. As a civilian, he began working in Mannheim, Germany. He later moved to Camp Darby, where he worked as a contractor and later at the post exchange. Many remember him from his time at Camp Darby’s Auto Skills Center. Following downsizing there, Strahan relocated to Vicenza, where he worked at the Auto Skills Center, part of the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation.
Strahan’s love of cars translated to a sincere dedication to community members who sought his help. He offered mechanical expertise to soldiers and civilians at Caserma Ederle with humility and genuine warmth. A few minutes in the shop with Strahan often felt more like catching up with an old friend than speaking with a mechanic.
Over the years, Strahan earned several awards for his work. But his joy came from engaging with the community and making connections that lasted.
News of his June 10 passing sparked an outpouring of online condolences from Americans and Italians in Vicenza and Camp Darby, as well as friends around the world who remembered his kindness during their time in Italy.
Jimmy Roddy, DFMWR’s Business Recreation Division chief, first met Strahan 24 years ago at Camp Darby. There, Strahan helped organize the summer car show and became known for offering help to anyone with automotive issues.
“A big guy, big smile with a bigger heart—always helpful,” Roddy said. “He was very low-key, for as big as he was. He was a gentle giant.”
Strahan loved to fish as much as he loved cars. Mostly, he loved helping the community solve their auto repair problems. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)VIEW ORIGINAL
Nicknamed “The Frenchman” by fishing buddies, Strahan was born on Dec. 7, 1963 in France into a military family. He grew up around Army bases, to include time in Germany.
Timothy Gordon, a friend from the Camp Darby days, recalled spending long hours fishing Italian rivers with him—a tradition that continued after both relocated to Vicenza. Another shared passion was cars.
“If you asked him about a BMW, he could tell you about it from top to bottom,” Gordon said.
In Vicenza, Strahan was often seen with Thor, a canine companion that went with him nearly everywhere.
“The smallest dog you could imagine with the biggest man you could ever imagine,” Gordon said. “People would just watch them walk down the road. He just loved small dogs.”
Strahan also befriended Soldiers, including Spc. Haron Palomo, a volunteer at the Auto Skills Center. Over the past two years, they joked, shared stories and discussed car repairs while Palomo restored a 1993 Honda Civic. As he did with other customers, Strahan offered tips on finding affordable parts.
“Sadly, he didn’t get to see it finished,” Palomo said.
Strahan is survived by his mother, daughter, sister and brothers, including Michael Strahan, a television host and former professional football player.
A memorial service will be held at noon on June 25 at Caserma Ederle’s Chapel. A second service is scheduled for noon on June 26 at Camp Darby’s chapel.
Dwayne D. Key II, deputy to the garrison commander at USAG Bavaria and Professor Dr. med. Clemens Bulitta, president of OTH Amberg-Weiden, signed thepartnership contract May 22, 2025. (Photo Credit: Simmel, Natalie )VIEW ORIGINAL
TOWER BARRACKS, Germany – U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria and Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Amberg-Weiden celebrated their official partnership May 22, 2025, marking the beginning of an initiative that creates an innovative learning environment.
This partnership aims to support and promote the exchange between practical and theoretical learning, which is achieved by integrating OTH students and faculty into real-world projects with USAG Bavaria.
“This is a massive win-win,” said Dwayne D. Key II, deputy to the garrison commander at USAG Bavaria. “I’m most excited not just about meeting the students and seeing ourselves through their eyes. And I think this present generation of learners is so phenomenal.”
With the support of 120 professors across its four faculties and 54 degree programs, OTH Amberg-Weiden serves approximately 4,200 students and is known for its innovative, future-oriented education.
Professor Dr. med. Clemens Bulitta, president of OTH Amberg-Weiden, emphasized the importance of this new addition to the university’s partnership network.
“It’s all about networking and about bringing people together,” Bulitta said. “When you bring people together, they will exchange thoughts, create ideas, become innovative, and they will drive and strengthen partnership and push developments. And now you become part of this network and the doors are opening on both sides.”
“This partnership drives innovation,” said Lukas Miserra, management analyst for USAG Bavaria. “It strengthens USAG Bavaria by integrating academic expertise and fostering collaboration between students and professionals with the garrison, providing valuable insights and practical experience.”
Both sides expressed enthusiasm for growing the partnership and involving more regional actors in future cooperation.
“There’s so much linked here in in this region and such a longstanding tradition of exchange between the communities,” Bulitta said. “We want to get to the point where young people become part of this exchange culture. Bringing people together opens options.”
Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey has welcomed prescribing changes that will enable GPs and nurse practitioners to diagnose and treat adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
“I applaud Pharmac and Medsafe’s decision to widen prescribing rules for ADHD medicines from next February, this decision will give New Zealanders faster access to assessments and treatment,” Mr Doocey says.
“This is a common-sense change that will make a meaningful difference in many lives of New Zealanders. I have heard stories of many people with ADHD who have been unable to get a diagnosis and treatment in a timely manner because of long wait items and costs associated with seeing a specialist.”
Currently, GPs and nurse practitioners can only prescribe ADHD medicines to patients with a written recommendation from a paediatrician or psychiatrist, or after someone has already been diagnosed and had their first prescription.
“This is a great step forward for timely access to support and for system efficiency. A number of our GPs and nurse practitioners are already working closely with psychiatrists to treat ADHD, so they already have the skills to manage this work,” Mr Doocey says.
“It is still crucial that we balance risks. The Ministry of Health is working with sector representatives to develop a clinical principles framework for the assessment and treatment of ADHD. This will ensure there is quality and consistency for supporting patients with ADHD in New Zealand.
“I want to acknowledge the many advocates with lived experience and others who have spent years advocating for this change. This decision is based on the recommendations received from both healthcare practitioners and patients.
“We have heard your feedback loud and clear, and we know the positive impact this decision will have on many people’s ability to access what is often life-changing medicines.”
This change is only one in a suite of measures to increase access to ADHD medicines. Last year, Pharmac also removed the requirement for funded access to stimulant medicines to be renewed every two years and is funding a new ADHD medicine, lisdexamfetamine.
Note to editors:
Health agencies will be working closely with health sector groups over the next few months to support these changes. Not all GPs and nurse practitioners will be equipped to carry out this work immediately after the regulatory changes come into effect.
For younger people under 18, this change will allow nurse practitioners working within a multidisciplinary setting as part of paediatric or child and adolescent mental health services to diagnose and start treatment for ADHD.
From February 2026, general practitioners (GPs) and nurse practitioners will be able to start medical treatment for adults with ADHD, following decisions by Medsafe and Pharmac.
This is a change to the current system, under which GPs and nurse practitioners can only prescribe ADHD stimulant medicines to patients on a written recommendation from a paediatrician or psychiatrist, or after someone has already been diagnosed with ADHD and given a first prescription.
Pharmac’s Acting Director Advice and Assessment, Catherine Epps says the new rules, which come into effect in February 2026, will mean that over time, more GPs and nurse practitioners will be able to diagnose and start adults on treatment for ADHD. For children and adolescents, who currently require input from a paediatrician or psychiatrist to initiate medical treatment for ADHD, the changes will allow nurse practitioners, working within child health or mental health services, to diagnose and start treatment for ADHD.
“The decision, which is based on feedback from psychiatrists, paediatricians, GPs, nurse practitioners and patients, is one of many changes we are making to increase access to ADHD medicines. It follows our decision last year to remove the two-yearly renewal criteria for these medicines, making it easier to access ongoing treatment,” says Epps.
Medsafe Group Manager Chris James says the change draws on the skills of GPs and nurse practitioners to improve access to ADHD treatment for the public.
“We have a workforce of highly experienced general practitioners and nurse practitioners, a number of whom are already working closely with specialists to treat patients with ADHD. Implementing this change will mean they can do this work more quickly and efficiently without needing to wait for approval from a specialist.
“It’s important we ensure a high quality of ADHD assessment, and that people can expect to receive appropriate care and support. We have been working closely with sector representatives to develop a clinical framework which will set out principles for diagnosing and treating ADHD, including the appropriate clinical care required of healthcare practitioners,” says Chris James.
Earlier this year, Medsafe and Pharmac asked for feedback on the proposal to change the regulatory and funding restrictions for stimulant treatments for ADHD. More than 940 people and organisations responded to the consultation.
Overall, most of the feedback was supportive. People explained how this decision will improve access to diagnosis and treatment for people with ADHD.
Some were concerned about the supply issues affecting methylphenidate, and the impact this decision would have on it.
To respond to these concerns, health agencies have delayed the implementation date of the decision. It will now come into effect in February 2026, rather than July 2025.
This will also allow more time for more GP and nurse practitioners to develop further clinical expertise to begin assessing adults for ADHD and initiating their treatment.
Dexamfetamine, lisdexamfetamine, and methylphenidate are medicines used in the treatment of ADHD. They are classified as Class B controlled drugs by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.
Approval from the Minister of Health is needed for doctors and nurse practitioners to prescribe these medicines. The approval process is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health and is done by Medsafe.
Currently, to be diagnosed with ADHD, a person needs to see a psychiatrist or a paediatrician. To start on ADHD medicines, they need to be prescribed by a psychiatrist or a paediatrician, or by a doctor or nurse practitioner with a written recommendation.
The Ministry of Health is changing the approval notices for these medicines, so that more general and nurse practitioners are able to prescribe them.
We expect that more doctors and nurse practitioners will be able to assess and diagnose people with ADHD over time.
The Government is recognising Matariki at the official ceremony near Ohakune today, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Paul Goldsmith and Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka say.
“We are honoured to be guests of Ngāti Rangi for this traditional hautapu ceremony,” Mr Goldsmith says.
“This is the fourth national Matariki broadcast but the first time it has been hosted by a marae, and the first year Puanga is the star of national celebrations.
“Matariki and Puanga are both stars that sit in the night sky together to signal the start of the Māori new year for different iwi.
“We are very fortunate to have this opportunity to witness and share in the Puanga traditions of Ngāti Rangi.
“The theme for this year’s celebration is Matariki mā Puanga, which means celebrating together. I hope that no matter where people are, they get the chance to remember, celebrate and look to the future. Mānawatia a Matariki!”
“For many Iwi, Puanga shines brightest above our communities as we grow the tradition of celebrating together,” Mr Potaka says.
“These Puanga observations signal the year is coming to a close, and inform forecasts for the future. It’s a time to reflect on the past, remembering and giving thanks to those who have passed on before us.
“It’s also a time to reflect on what was achieved over the past year. Along with the rising of Matariki, we welcome the dawn of a new year and plan ahead with ancestral wisdom.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Division of Market Oversight (DMO) of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission is seeking public comment on a proposed no-action position to MIAX Futures Exchange, LLC (MIAX Futures), a designated contract market (DCM), pursuant to Commission Regulation 140.99. Comments must be submitted by 12 p.m. EDT on June 25, 2025. By letter dated June 23, 2025, MIAX Futures requested that DMO issue a letter stating that it will not recommend enforcement action to the Commission in connection with MIAX Futures’ temporary provision for the trading of Minneapolis Hard Red Spring Wheat (HRSW) options on futures (HRSW Options) exclusively through block trades. The requested relief is necessary due to the unavailability of an electronic trading system for the HRSW Options and is intended to allow market participants, including those who are not eligible contract participants (ECPs) as defined in section 1a(18) of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), to trade or offset open positions. MIAX Futures has proposed amendments to its rulebook, effective from June 30 through August 29, 2025, to: (i) permit block trading of HRSW Options outside of a centralized market; (ii) lower the block trade threshold for HRSW Options from 15 contracts to one contract; and (iii) permit non-ECPs to participate in block trades of HRSW Options. In order to implement these rulebook amendments, MIAX Futures seeks no-action relief from DCM Core Principle 9, Commission Regulation 1.38, and CEA section 5c(c) and related regulations under Part 40. Staff proposes granting time-limited relief, as described in the proposed letter, to reduce the risk of market disruption and to provide market participants additional time to manage or exit open positions in HRSW Options. Due to the novelty of MIAX Futures’ block-trade only proposal, DMO seeks public comment on the above issues. The abbreviated comment period is necessary to facilitate a timely decision in advance of the proposed June 30, 2025, trading date – when the current electronic trading system will cease to be available – if the requested relief is granted. Comments may be submitted electronically through the CFTC’s online portal. All comments will be posted on CFTC.gov. MIAX Futures’ request for a no-action position is available here. DMO’s proposed no-action letter is available here.
Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Budd (R-NC), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in introducing the Safe and Open Streets Act in response to recent anti-ICE riots in Los Angles. The senators’ legislation would make it a federal crime to purposely obstruct, delay, or impact commerce by blocking a public road or highway, and would penalize lawbreakers through fines or up to five years in prison. Senator Tuberville called for the arrest of California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for their failure to punish the domestic terrorists in Los Angeles who were obstructing roads, putting American citizens in danger and compromising the free flow of commerce.
“For nearly a week, we watched as domestic terrorists assaulted ICE and law enforcement officers, set fire to cop cars, and blocked streets in Los Angeles and in other blue cities across the country—all while Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass sat on their tails and did nothing,” said Senator Tuberville. “The First Amendment gives us the right to freedom of assembly, but it doesn’t give the right to block our streets and put American lives at risk. I’m proud to join the Safe and Open Streets Act that restores law and order by holding radical protestors accountable.”
Complete text of the bill can be found here.
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.
For years, Samsung has designed its devices around what people need: better performance, sharper cameras, and smarter ways to stay connected. But today, the shift isn’t just about what devices can do – it’s also about how people interact with them. As AI rapidly becomes the new user interface, it’s redefining how we interact with our devices. No longer just a collection of apps and tools, the smartphone is evolving into smart companions that understands user intent and responds in real time. This transformation moves us from reaction to anticipation – where, as AI becomes the UI, intent becomes instant.
This future is already unfolding, and the best of Galaxy AI1 and Samsung craftsmanship is set to be unveiled. Galaxy devices are being reimagined around this new AI-powered interface, supported by breakthrough hardware built to unlock its full potential.
On July 9, Samsung Electronics will host Unpacked in Brooklyn, New York – a borough with an extraordinary spirit and a distinctive history. Brooklyn is where visionary thinking and bold ideas shape the future, so it’s only fitting that Samsung unveils the latest and greatest additions to the Galaxy portfolio in a place known for its culture, creativity, and collaboration. The event will be streamed live on Samsung.com, Samsung Newsroom, and Samsung’s YouTube channel beginning at 10 a.m. ET, 3 p.m. BST, and 4 p.m. CET.
Stay tuned and make sure to visit samsungmobilepress.com for all upcoming teasers, trailers and updates ahead of Unpacked 2025 and head over to Samsung.com to learn more about Reserve offers – including how you can earn a $50 Samsung Credit towards the latest Galaxy device.2
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
June 23, 2025
The Senator raises substantial concerns regarding Bedford’s refusal to commit to protecting 1,500-hour pilot training standards that help keep the flying public safe
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Ranking Member of the CST Aviation Subcommittee—issued the following statement announcing her strong opposition to Bryan Bedford’s nomination to serve as Federal Aviation Administrator. Her announcement comes after Bedford refused to commit to upholding the 1,500-hour certification standard for our nation’s pilots after Duckworth pressed him on the issue.
“It is deeply disturbing that at this critical moment in aviation safety Mr. Bedford refuses to commit to upholding the 1,500-hour pilot training requirement. Amid a surge in near-misses, an air traffic controller shortage, aging air traffic control equipment and facilities, and in the wake of the first major deadly commercial crash in more than a decade, now is not the time to weaken flight hour requirements for all aspiring airline pilots. Incident after incident, it has been pilots who have made last second decisions to avert disaster. Well-trained pilots are our last line of defense, and I cannot support a nominee who as a corporate executive prioritized—and gained notoriety for—his failed effort to convince the FAA to exempt him from the 1,500-hour rule and let him hire less experienced pilots. I will be voting no on Mr. Bedford’s nomination.”
In light of Bedford’s previous comments and actions against the 1,500-hour rule, Duckworth underscored at his nomination hearing that he would unilaterally attempt to weaken this standard and produce less-prepared pilots despite the serious challenges our nation is facing with regard to aviation safety. When Duckworth asked Mr. Bedford for his commitment to not reduce the 1,500-hour rule if confirmed, Mr. Bedford refused to commit. Duckworth’s remarks can be found on the Senator’s YouTube.
In 2022, while Bedford was CEO of Republic Airways, the airline asked the FAA for an exemption to the 1,500 hour requirement for graduates from the airline’s training academy. The airline argued its graduates needed only 750 hours of flight time to become first officers, but FAA rejected the application, finding it did not provide an equivalent level of safety.
Last week, the families of the Colgan Air Flight 3407 crash announced their opposition to Bedford’s nomination.
For years before the deadly DCA crash, Duckworth has been sounding the alarm that we must make critical aviation safety investments to prevent all-too-often near-misses from becoming catastrophic tragedies. Last Congress, Duckworth chaired two CST Aviation Subcommittee hearings—one last December and the other a year prior—to address our aviation industry’s chilling surge in near-deadly close calls and underscore the urgent need to improve air traffic control systems to protect the flying public.
Duckworth helped author the landmark bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 that was signed into law last year and included several of her provisions to safeguard the 1,500-hour rule, improve safety, expand the aviation workforce and enhance protections for travelers with disabilities.
Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)
Safe and Open Streets Act is a Direct Response to Radical Tactics Used by Anti-ICE Riots in L.A.
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) in introducing the Safe and Open Streets Act. The bill would make it a federal crime to purposely obstruct, delay, or affect commerce by blocking a public road or highway.
“Protestors who willfully block traffic pose a serious threat to public safety by impacting the flow of emergency vehicles and personnel. They can also significantly inconvenience Americans trying to get to and from work, school, or important personal business. The First Amendment protects the right to assemble and protest peacefully, but it does not permit such behavior. I’m proud to join Sen. Tillis and our colleagues in ensuring America’s streets are kept clear for everyone,”said Senator Budd.
“The emerging tactic of radical protestors blocking roads and stopping commerce is not only obnoxious to innocent commuters, but it’s also dangerous and will eventually get people killed. It needs to be a crime throughout the country. I’m proud to introduce the Safe and Open Streets Act so that radical activists who resort to these reckless and dangerous tactics are held accountable under the full weight of the law for endangering public safety,”said Senator Tillis.
Read the full bill text HERE.
Background
The Safe and Open Streets Act is in direct response to radical tactics of anti-ICE protestors who have intentionally blocked roads and highways across the country, including in Los Angeles, stranding drivers and compromising the free flow of commerce. The bill would penalize lawbreakers through fines or up to five years of imprisonment.
Greater security delivered for the British people with record billion-pound investment in new national biosecurity centre
Huge investment in new National Biosecurity Centre to protect the British public and the economy from future pandemics.
The country’s ability to prevent a future pandemic has been significantly enhanced today (Tuesday 24th June) with the announcement of a £1 billion investment in a new National Biosecurity Centre.
This funding will deliver the next phase of a new National Biosecurity Centre – a cutting-edge scientific campus in Surrey that will serve as the UK’s foremost animal biosecurity facility.
The investment is one part of the new National Security Strategy, to be published today, which marks a step change in this country’s approach to securing British interests whilst also creating jobs, wages, and growth for the British people as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.
Animal disease outbreaks represent a serious and increasing risk to public health, food security, and the UK economy. Approximately 60% of all known human infectious diseases are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans. Furthermore, about 75% of emerging infectious diseases originate in animals, making the fight against these diseases about human health and security too.
Without strong and modernised biosecurity infrastructure, disease incursions could severely impact our farmers, agricultural production, devastate rural communities and disrupt key supply chains. The export of livestock, meat and meat products, dairy and animal by-products is worth £16 billion per year alone to the UK economy.
The funding will now enhance the country’s detection, surveillance and control capabilities for high-risk animal diseases such as avian influenza, foot and mouth disease and African swine fever, whilst enhancing our ability to manage concurrent disease outbreaks.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed said:
The first role of any Government is national security.
That is why we are making a record investment into the nation’s biosecurity capabilities, and in turn our national security, after years of chronic underfunding.
Farmers and food producers will now be better protected from diseases, our food security strengthened, and public health better safeguarded against future pandemics. This government is getting on with delivering on our Plan for Change.
The new National Biosecurity Centre will play an essential role in addressing the full range of biological threats we face, including from hostile nations, and will ensure that the UK retains the scientific capability, infrastructure and expertise needed to lead international efforts to identify, manage, and mitigate disease threats in the years ahead.
The high containment laboratories for animal health, run by the Animal & Plant Health Agency at Weybridge in Surrey, urgently need renewal to handle escalating disease risks, which are growing in the face of our changing climate. The Government inherited laboratories in poor condition with their long-term future in doubt and the country facing increased risk without action.
The new facility will join a network of national centres set up by the Cabinet Office under the UK Biological Security Strategy and announced in the National Security Strategy. This new network of government laboratories provides a sovereign capability that keeps the public safe and is essential to responding to biological security risks.
The network will strengthen and formalise existing collaborations between the UK Health Security Agency, the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. It will ensure we are better prepared for a crisis, can respond more effectively when an incident does happen and deliver a more holistic approach to biological research.
Jenny Stewart, Senior Science Director at the Animal and Plant Health Agency, said:
This funding is a vital milestone in the delivery of a world-leading facility that will protect the UK from animal disease threats for decades to come.
Our scientists and specialists at Weybridge are at the heart of the UK’s disease surveillance and response capability and provide a global centre of expertise.
Investment on this scale will enable them to continue their critical work in modern, fit-for-purpose facilities, supported by the very latest technologies.
Preparatory work at the Weybridge site is already underway. Planning Consent has been secured, and a contractor has been appointed to build the main new facilities. The first interim labs to support critical science while we transform the site will be ready in 2027 and 2028. The main construction works start in 2027, with the full NBC live and operational in 2033/34.
UK Government honours exceptional exporters with Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards
Twelve exceptional UK-based SMEs have been named today as winners of the Department for Business and Trade’s 2025 Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards.
Twelve SMEs announced as winners of the 2025 Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards
Now in their third year, the awards celebrate outstanding small businesses achieving exporting success
Winning entries highlight the UK’s strength in sustainability and AI innovation
From ethical metal recycling to AI-driven edtech and digital identity, twelve exceptional UK-based SMEs have been named today as winners of the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) 2025 Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards.
Now in their third year, the awards celebrate the international growth of the UK’s most dynamic small businesses. While the awards naturally reflect the sectoral diversity of British innovation, this year’s winners signal a global appetite for UK leadership in two high-growth areas: sustainability and artificial intelligence. From Osbit’s offshore wind infrastructure to Twin Science’s gamified climate action kits and ubloquity’s AI-enhanced trade platform, British SMEs are exporting solutions to tackle some of the world’s most urgent challenges.
Gareth Thomas, Minister for Services, Small Businesses and Exports, said:
The innovation and entrepreneurship shown by the businesses entering the Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards demonstrate the best of British business.
When small businesses export, the whole economy benefits. By celebrating the outstanding international trade achievements of UK SMEs, we hope to encourage more businesses to get on the exporting ladder and take the best of Britain to markets around the world.
This year’s winners were chosen from hundreds of entries across 12 sector-focused categories, including two new areas—Digital & Technology and Export Services—introduced to reflect evolving global opportunities. Each category includes one winner and up to three highly commended businesses.
In the Digital & Technology category, Porotech stood out for its AR and AI-powered wearables, with 90% of revenue from exports and partnerships with Amazon, Microsoft and Foxconn. Twin Science & Robotics, winner in Education & EdTech, exports to over 40 countries and has seen 70% annual revenue growth through its STEM kits focused on AI, robotics and climate literacy.
Sustainability also remains a major theme across the winners. Osbit, winner in Low Carbon Energy, delivers mission-critical offshore wind technology, with 65% of revenue from exports. Meanwhile, Avon Specialty Metals, recognised in Advanced Manufacturing & Construction, recycles high-performance metals and alloys and has grown international sales by 192% over three years.
Winners like Gerald McDonald & Company (Agriculture, Food & Drink) and LIMB-art (Healthcare) underscore the global demand for British-made, high-quality products. From innovative prosthetics to premium fruit derivatives, these SMEs prove that exporting drives resilience, expansion and innovation.
This year’s winners will receive a bespoke promotional package, including a one-year membership to the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, a working capital masterclass with Lloyds Bank, an invitation to the winners’ reception in London, professional photography of their business, bespoke promotion on DBT channels and a digital badge, certificate and trophy to commemorate their achievements.
By creating jobs, driving innovation and exporting world-class British products and services, these businesses are making a vital contribution to the Government’s mission to go further and faster for economic growth as part of its Plan for Change.
A key part of this mission is supporting SMEs to grow, scale and enter global markets—recognising that when more businesses trade internationally, the entire UK economy benefits. Exporting supports a fifth of UK employment1, paying on average 7% higher wages2 and delivering 21% higher productivity for goods exporters3.
To help achieve its mission, the Government recently revamped the Board of Trade to boost SME exports and will soon launch its Trade Strategy. This will set out its approach to maximising export opportunities, including those arising from recently signed agreements with India, the US and the EU.
2025 Winners of the Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards:
Advanced Manufacturing & Construction – Avon Specialty Metals (Gloucester): Selling to 20+ countries with exporting accounting for 31% of revenue from sustainable alloy/metal recycling and AI-driven processing
Agriculture, Food & Drink – Gerald McDonald and Company Ltd (Basildon, Essex): World’s largest supplier of premium Japanese yuzu juice, exporting to 4 continents
Consultancy & Professional Services – Champions Speakers (Loughborough): Exporting to 66 countries, 122% growth in two years
Creative Industries – Luminous Show Technology (Exeter): Special effects hardware used in Harry Potter and the Commonwealth Games, with 35% export revenue
Digital & Technology – Porotech (Cambridge): 90% export revenue; cutting-edge AR and AI display tech
Education & EdTech – Twin Science & Robotics Ltd (London): STEM tools used in 40+ countries, 93% export revenue
Financial Services & FinTech – Ozone Financial Technology Ltd (London): Exports to 15 countries; 77% of revenue from international markets
Healthcare – LIMB-art (Conwy, Wales): Stylish prosthetics sold in 10 countries; 30% of revenue from exports
Infrastructure & Engineering – Maritime Developments Limited (Aberdeen): 92% export revenue from offshore energy tech
Low Carbon Energy – Osbit (Riding Mill, Northumberland): Bespoke offshore wind equipment exported to 9 countries
Retail & Consumer Goods – Jenolite UK Ltd (Biggleswade, Bedfordshire): Iconic rust removal brand exporting to 50+ countries, with £2.9M in export revenue
Export Services – ubloquity (Scarva, Northern Ireland): AI, blockchain and digital identity solutions empowering businesses to scale globally
2025 Highly Commended Businesses:
Advanced Manufacturing & Construction – Bespoke Stairlifts (Huddersfield), Delta-Xero Distribution Ltd (Fareham), John King Chains (Leeds)
Last updated 24 June 2025 Last updated 24 June 2025
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The Customer Contact Group will be closed from 3pm on Friday 27 June, reopening 8.30am on Monday 30 June. Please email customerservice@tec.govt.nz with any queries.
We know that many Maritime Transport Operator Certificates (MTOC) expire this year and we have worked on our business processes so decision times for MTOC renewals are now much faster.
Of course, not all applications will be the same, with some being more complicated than others, and these more complicated applications can take longer to process. However, the changes we have made to how we do our work, and operators sending us all the information we need early and paying promptly, mean the overall processing times are much faster.
Help your own application – don’t delay
Six months before your MTOC expires, we’ll send you everything you need to renew it – to avoid delays, please then apply as soon as you can. Don’t wait.
It’s important to apply before your MTOC expires because we can’t renew an expired MTOC. Applying for a new one is a much longer process which includes a site visit. You would also be unable to operate until we issue a new MTOC. We don’t want that to happen.
If you haven’t applied within three months of our email, we’ll send you a reminder but it’s best to not wait.
We can help you
We want to help your application go smoothly. If you have any questions, need assistance or think you might have missed your six-month email, please:
A United Nations report ranking New Zealand’s fisheries among the world’s most sustainable is strong recognition of the sector’s hard work, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says.
“The report compared fisheries around the world and found the region including New Zealand’s waters have the second highest levels of sustainable stocks in the world.
“New Zealand has a reputation around the world for high quality, sustainable kaimoana and, as this report shows, the reputation is richly deserved,” Mr Jones says.
The section of the report on the Southwest Pacific, including all of New Zealand and the Australian New South Wales coast, said 85.5 percent of fish stocks were considered sustainably fished.
“The report confirms what we already knew – that the quota management system (QMS) works well to keep our fisheries sustainable and continues to be the best framework for managing fisheries sustainably,” Mr Jones says.
“It is a good validation of our approach and it didn’t happen by accident. It is the result of generations of effort since the introduction of our quota management system in 1986. Fishers, scientists, kaitiaki, volunteers and regulators all work hard to keep our fisheries sustainable.”
“While these results are incredibly positive, I believe that our fishery management system can be even better, which is why I have proposed changes to the Fisheries Act. These changes will build on what we are already doing well, and make our fishing industry more efficient and productive, to allow the sector to meet its potential.”
Improved groundwater quality indicator reveals a mixed picture of New Zealand’s aquifers – media release
24 June 2025
An improved groundwater quality indicator, with more comprehensive data, additional measures, and refined methodology, has been released by Stats NZ today.
“This release has greatly improved data coverage, helping us better understand the current state of groundwater and how it’s changing over time,” environment statistics spokesperson Tehseen Islam said.
“It’s a step forward in how we assess and report on groundwater quality.”
Groundwater is water stored underground in aquifers – layers of water-bearing rock or sand. It is commonly accessed through wells and can also emerge naturally through springs.
Groundwater plays a crucial role in supporting rivers, lakes, and wetlands, and supplies drinking water to nearly half of New Zealand’s population.
Visit our website to read this news story and the indicator page:
NAB today announced the appointment of Pete Steel as Group Executive, Digital, Data & Artificial Intelligence.
In this new role reporting to NAB Group Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Irvine, Mr Steel will lead the bank’s digital, data and AI teams and initiatives to deliver better experiences for customers. He will also be accountable for design, customer onboarding and NAB’s digital bank ubank.
“Digital, data and AI are critical enablers for the delivery of our strategic ambition of customer-centricity and now is the right time to have an executive solely accountable and focussed on accelerating our progress in these areas,” Mr Irvine said.
“Pete’s deep experience in using digital and technology solutions to deliver for customers and driving commercial outcomes will be a valuable addition to my Executive Leadership Team.”
Mr Steel is Managing Director, Customer Engagement, at Lloyds Banking Group in the UK, leading a division of approximately 16,000 people responsible for consumer sales and service, digital, artificial intelligence, personalisation, branches, call centres and advisers.
Prior to joining Lloyds, he founded fintech startup Expertli and served as a Senior Adviser on digital transformation at Boston Consulting Group. Previously, he spent 16 years at CBA in executive roles including Group Chief Digital Officer.
Mr Steel will start at NAB on January 5, 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and on completing his employment at Lloyds.
Following these changes, Group Chief Operating Officer Les Matheson will continue to have responsibility for several of NAB’s key strategic priorities including Business-led Technology Modernisation, Payments, Customer Experience, Group Marketing and Enterprise Simplification.
The more we learn about orcas, the more remarkable they are. These giant dolphins are the ocean’s true apex predator, preying on great white sharks and other lesser predators.
They’re very intelligent and highly social. Their clans are matrilineal, centred around a older matriarch who teaches her clan her own vocalisations. Not only this, but the species is one of only six known to experience menopause, pointing to the social importance of older females after their reproductive years. Different orca groups have fashion trends, such as one pod who returned to wearing salmon as a hat, decades after it went out of vogue.
But for all their intelligence, one thing has been less clear. Can orcas actually make tools, as humans, chimps and other primates do? In research out today by United States and British researchers, we have an answer: yes.
Using drones, researchers watched as resident pods in the Salish Sea broke off the ends of bull kelp stalks and rolled them between their bodies. This, the researchers say, is likely to be a grooming practice – the first tool-assisted grooming seen in marine animals.
This video shows whales using kelp tools in what appears to be social grooming behaviour. Credit: Center for Whale Research.
Self kelp: why would orcas make tools?
Tool use and tool making have been well documented in land-based species. But it’s less common among marine species. This could be partly due to the challenge of observing them.
This field of research expands what we know these animals are capable of. Not only are orcas spending time making kelp into a grooming tool, but they’re doing it socially – two orcas have to work together to rub the kelp against their bodies.
To make the tool, the orcas use their teeth to grab a stalk of kelp by its “stipe” – the long, narrow part near the seaweed’s holdfast, where it tethers to the rock. They use their teeth, motion of their body and the drag of the kelp to break off a piece of this narrow stipe.
Next, they approach a social partner, flip the length of the kelp onto their rostrum (their snout-like projection) and press their head and the kelp against their partner’s flank. The two orcas use their fins and flukes to trap the kelp while rolling it between their bodies. During this contact, the orcas would roll and twist their bodies – often in an exaggerated S-shaped posture. A similar posture has been seen among orcas in other groups, who adopt it when rubbing themselves on sand or pebbles.
Why do it? The researchers suggest this practise may be social skin-maintenance. Bottlenose dolphin mothers are known to remove dead skin from their calves using flippers, while tool-assisted grooming of a partner has been seen in primates, but infrequently and usually in captivity.
Orcas across different social groups, ages and genders were seen doing this. But they were more likely to groom close relatives or those of similar age. There was some evidence suggesting whales with skin conditions were more likely to do the kelp-based grooming.
Humpback whales are known to wear kelp in a practice known as “kelping”. But this study covers a different behaviour, which the authors dub “allokelping” (kelping others).
A surprise from well-studied pods
Interestingly, this new discovery comes from some of the most well-studied and famous orcas in the world – a group known as the southern resident killer whales. If you were a child of the 90s, you would have seen them in the opening scene of Free Willy, the movie which set me on my path to study cetaceans.
These orcas consist of three pods known as J, K and L pods. Each live in the Salish Sea in the Pacific Northwest on the border of Canada and the US.
Researchers fly drones over these resident pods most days and have access to almost 50 years of observations. But this is the first time the tool-making behaviour has been seen.
Unfortunately, these pods are critically endangered. They’re threatened by sound pollution from shipping, polluted water, vessel strike and loss of their main food source – Chinook salmon.
A pod of killer whales off Vancouver, Canada. Vanessa Pirotta, CC BY-NC-ND
Orcas are smart
In one sense, the findings are not a surprise, given the intelligence of these animals.
In the Arctic, orcas catch seals by making waves to wash them off ice floes. Before European colonisation, orcas and First Nations groups near Eden hunted whales together.
While orcas are often called “killer whales”, they’re not whales. They’re the biggest species of dolphin, growing up to nine metres long. They’re found across all the world’s oceans.
Within the species, there’s a surprising amount of diversity. Scientists group orcas into different ecotypes – populations adapted to local conditions. Different orca groups can differ substantially, from size to prey to habits. For instance, transient orcas cover huge distances seeking larger prey, while resident orcas stick close to areas with lots of fish.
Not just a fluke
Because orcas differ so much, we don’t know whether other pods have discovered or taught these behaviours.
But what this research does point to is that tool making may be more common among marine mammals than we expected. No hands – no problem.
Vanessa Pirotta 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 Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) released the following statement after Iran launched retaliatory targeted attacks on a U.S. military base in Qatar:
“I condemn Iran’s missile launches targeting U.S. forces in Qatar and am thankful our troops are safe and unharmed. In addition to endangering U.S. forces, these strikes put at risk millions of civilians in Doha. This retaliation would never have taken place if President Trump had not been led into this conflict by Prime Minister Netanyahu. It is clear that Netanyahu’s goals in Iran go well beyond Iran’s nuclear program—clearly evidenced by intentionally bombing universities, television broadcasters, and natural gas sites. Netanyahu wants regime change. It raises serious questions about President Trump’s motivation for dropping bombs without first seeking the support of Congress, as required by the Constitution.
“I strongly support Senator Kaine’s War Powers Resolution, which permits U.S. forces to continue defending Israel from attacks by Iran, while enforcing the President’s constitutional obligation to seek Congressional authorization before launching a war with Iran.”
Earlier this week, Senator Welch released a statement condemning President Trump’s decision to enter a war with Iran. Senator Welch also shared a video voicing his opposition to taking action in the conflict between Israel and Iran, and urged Senators of both parties to strongly oppose allowing Netanyahu to pull the U.S. into yet another war in the Middle East.
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined a bipartisan group of Appropriations Committee members led by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jack Reed (D-RI) in sending a letter to Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, urging the DOL to reverse its decision to close Job Corps Centers nationwide.
“The sudden announcement that the Department of Labor began the process of closing all Job Corps Centers on May 29, 2025, will harm students and local economies in every state across the nation,” the Senators wrote. “We urge you to retract this announcement and to faithfully implement the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Full-Year Continuing Resolution Act, which President Trump signed into law and which includes $1,760,155,000 for Job Corps.”
“Job Corps has helped millions of young people, ages 16 to 24, many of whom face significant economic and social challenges, develop the skills and resilience they need to succeed in work and in life through intensive education, training, and support services in a residential setting since its creation in 1964,” they continued. “The sudden closure of Job Corps Centers not only puts young people’s lives at risk, but local communities will pay a steep price, especially the thousands of individuals who work at the Centers and will lose their livelihoods.”
“Abruptly canceling contracts for the nation’s Job Corps Centers will leave students and communities in the lurch and will undermine opportunities for young people to get education and training to succeed in valuable trades. While we would be pleased to work with you to improve the Job Corps program to do even more to serve our young people and address growing workforce needs, it is essential that you faithfully implement the program in accordance with the FY 2025 Continuing Resolution and reopen all Job Corps Centers,” the Senators concluded.
The letter was also signed by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), John Boozman (R-AR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).
Senator Baldwin has been strongly opposed to President Trump’s moves to close down Job Corps sites, including the one in Milwaukee. During President Trump’s first term, Senator Baldwin blocked the administration from trying to close a Job Corps center near Laona that provides economic opportunities in rural Wisconsin. At a hearing for President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal in May, Senator Baldwin pressed DOL Secretary Lori Chavez-Deremer on proposed cuts to workforce training programs, including the Job Corps program. After the Trump Administration announced a new round of cuts in May, Senator Baldwin demanded they reverse course on the decision to shutter Job Corps training sites across the country.
A full version of this letter is available here and below.
Dear Secretary Chavez-DeRemer:
The sudden announcement that the Department of Labor began the process of closing all Job Corps Centers on May 29, 2025, will harm students and local economies in every state across the nation. We urge you to retract this announcement and to faithfully implement the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Full-Year Continuing Resolution Act, which President Trump signed into law and which includes $1,760,155,000 for Job Corps. That includes funding to enroll students in Job Corps Centers for the new program year that starts July 1, 2025. We expect the Department to prevent any interruptions or delays in serving students or program options by making the necessary changes or extensions to contracts and quickly restarting background checks.
Job Corps has served millions of young people, ages 16 to 24, many of whom face significant economic and social challenges, develop the skills and resilience they need to succeed in work and in life through intensive education, training, and support services in a residential setting since its creation in 1964. Today, many jobs require training beyond a high school diploma but not a college degree, including those of strategic national importance, such as electricians needed to build data centers to power artificial intelligence, machinists, pipefitters, and welders to manufacture the next generation of submarines and destroyers, wildland firefighters to keep our communities safe, and nurses to help care for our families. Job Corps is one of the few national programs that fills the gap by recruiting young people who are out of the labor force and providing them with the career and technical education to address these critical workforce needs.
Job Corps Centers contribute to their local communities and economies. They have developed partnerships with employers, local workforce development boards, local government agencies, and community-based organizations. The sudden closure of Job Corps Centers not only puts young people’s lives at risk, but local communities will pay a steep price, especially the thousands of individuals who work at the Centers and will lose their livelihoods.
Abruptly canceling contracts for the nation’s Job Corps centers will leave students and communities in the lurch and will undermine opportunities for young people to get education and training to succeed in valuable trades. While we would be pleased to work with you to improve the Job Corps program to do even more to serve our young people and address growing workforce needs, it is essential that you faithfully implement the program in accordance with the FY 2025 Continuing Resolution and reopen all Job Corps Centers. Thank you for your attention to this request, and we request your prompt reply no later than June 24, 2025.
– Letter dated 28 May 2025 from the President of the Security Council, acting in the absence of a Facilitator for the implementation of resolution 2231 (2015) addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2025/335)
– Nineteenth report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2231 (2015) (S/2025/397).
The legislation has been reintroduced following Trump’s attack on immigrant communities, including 563,000 TPS recipients
Washington, D.C.— U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., joined 30 senators today in reintroducing legislation to provide qualified Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure recipients a path to legal permanent residency.
“Donald Trump’s all-out war on immigrants spits in the faces of our Founding Fathers,” Wyden said. “Torching TPS is not the answer to repairing our country’s broken immigration system. Immigrants are the backbone of American communities, making the most out of hard-working everyday jobs that prop up our local economies. This bill offers a pathway to permanent residency to TPS recipients so they can fulfill their dream of building a life here in America.”
Currently, 860,000 people live in the United States with TPS status, a program that provides temporary, legal immigration status to those fleeing natural disasters, violence, and political security in their home countries. Similarly, DED is a temporary and discretionary administrative stay of removal granted to foreign citizens from designated countries. These grants are usually in response to war, civil unrest, or natural disasters through an executive order or presidential memorandum that provides eligibility guidelines to conduct foreign relations.
The reintroduction of the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency (SECURE) Act follows the Trump administration and the Supreme Court’s attack on TPS. The Supreme Court upheld the Trump administration’s repeal of TPS for an estimated 563,000 recipients, putting hundreds of thousands of immigrants at risk of deportation and significant danger in their home countries.
This legislation is endorsed by AFL-CIO, Laborers’ International Union of North America, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades , CASA, National TPS Alliance, Working Families United, the National Network for Arab American Communities, International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Service Employees International Union , and Communities United for Status and Protection.
In addition to Wyden, Senators Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., introduced the legislation, and was joined by Senators Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Chris Coons, D-Del., Catherine Cortez-Masto, D-Nev., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Tim Kaine, D-Va., Andy Kim, D-N.J., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., Edward Markey, D-Mass., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Jack Reed, D-R.I., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Mark Warner, D-Va., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.
Specifically, the SECURE Act would ensure current and past TPS recipients and DED eligible individuals – who have been continuously present in the United States for at least three years – are eligible to apply for legal permanent residency.
.Under the SECURE Act:
A spouse, domestic partner, child, or unmarried child of a qualifying non-citizen would be eligible to obtain permanent resident status (upon meeting certain requirements).
Individuals with a pending TPS application will receive work authorization and be eligible for travel authorization.
Non-citizens with a pending application on intention to apply for permanent legal status are shielded from deportation. Non-citizens who have a pending application or are prima facie eligible for permanent status under the bill and intends to apply are shielded from deportation.
Information from an applicant’s application may not be shared or used for immigration enforcement purposes, with limited exceptions such as identifying fraudulent claims.
DHS must provide reasonable explanation to Congress before terminating a country’s DHS status.
Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
06.23.25
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, joined U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Chair of the Appropriations Committee, and Jack Reed (D-RI) in sending a letter to Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, urging the Department of Labor (DOL) to reverse its decision to begin the closure of Job Corps Centers nationwide.
In addition to Murkowski, Collins, and Reed, Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Boozman (R-AR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) also signed the letter.
“The sudden announcement that the Department of Labor began the process of closing all Job Corps Centers on May 29, 2025, will harm students and local economies in every state across the nation,” the Senators wrote. “We urge you to retract this announcement and to faithfully implement the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Full-Year Continuing Resolution Act, which President Trump signed into law and which includes $1,760,155,000 for Job Corps.”
“Job Corps has helped millions of young people, ages 16 to 24, many of whom face significant economic and social challenges, develop the skills and resilience they need to succeed in work and in life through intensive education, training, and support services in a residential setting since its creation in 1964,” they continued. “The sudden closure of Job Corps Centers not only puts young people’s lives at risk, but local communities will pay a steep price, especially the thousands of individuals who work at the Centers and will lose their livelihoods.”
“Abruptly canceling contracts for the nation’s Job Corps Centers will leave students and communities in the lurch and will undermine opportunities for young people to get education and training to succeed in valuable trades. While we would be pleased to work with you to improve the Job Corps program to do even more to serve our young people and address growing workforce needs, it is essential that you faithfully implement the program in accordance with the FY 2025 Continuing Resolution and reopen all Job Corps Centers,” the Senators concluded.
Mr. President of the General Assembly, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,
We are so honoured to welcome home the original UN Charter.
It is more than parchment and ink; it is a promise — of peace, dignity and cooperation among nations.
And as we open this exhibition that celebrates our earliest days, we are reminded that the Charter was only the beginning.
The ideals it enshrined had to be put into action — by people, by process, and sometimes, by something as simple as a wooden box.
In the spring of 1946, at Hunter College here in New York City, the first UN ballot box for the Security Council was opened for a routine inspection before the first vote.
To everyone’s surprise, there was already a slip of paper inside.
It was a message from the box’s maker — a mechanic named Paul Antonio. Apparently, there have been some Antonios around.
He wrote:
“May I, who have had the privilege of fabricating this ballot box, cast the first vote?
May God be with every member of the United Nations organization and through your noble efforts bring lasting peace to us all – all over the world.”
That message — humble, hopeful, and heartfelt — captures the spirit of the United Nations at its founding.
And it reminds us why we are here today.
Eighty years is a blink of an eye in history.
And yet, until the United Nations, humanity never had a single place where every government and all peoples could unite to fix the world and build something better.
The UN is a living miracle — and the women and men of the United Nations bring this miracle to life every day and everywhere:
Forging peace.
Tackling poverty, hunger, and disease.
Advancing human rights.
Delivering lifesaving aid.
And striving to make our organization stronger.
Today, our world faces age-old challenges — and newer threats like the climate crisis and runaway technology, not to mention the horrible conflicts we are witnessing.
But we have the tools and the norms of international law to guide us, starting with the United Nations Charter.
And as we reflect on the artifacts of our founding — the documents, the symbols, the memories — I keep thinking about that note in the ballot box.
Paul Antonio never sat in a General Assembly seat.
He never gave a speech or signed a treaty.
But he believed in what this Organization could become.
He believed in us.
Eighty years later, I hope we can all carry that same spirit — of quiet conviction, of hope, and of belief in peace — into the future we are building together.
