Source: United States Small Business Administration
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible businesses, nonprofits and residents in Oregon of the May 12, deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset physical damage caused by the July 10-Aug. 23, 2024, wildfires.
The disaster declaration covers Wheeler County.
Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.
Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include retrofitting structures to protect against wildfires and other physical disasters.
“One distinct advantage of SBA’s disaster loan program is the opportunity to fund upgrades reducing the risk of future damage,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “I encourage businesses and homeowners to work with contractors and mitigation professionals to improve their disaster readiness while taking advantage of SBA’s physical damage loans.”
SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for businesses, 3.25% for nonprofits and 2.688% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition. Interest does not begin to accrue, and monthly payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the initial disbursement.
To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The deadline to return for physical damage applications is May 12. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Dec. 15.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, this week joined Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), James Risch (R-Idaho), and Ted Budd (R-N.C.) to introduce the Recreational Trails Program Full Funding Act, bipartisan legislation to improve the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) by increasing the transparency accountability of its funding program. Since 1991, the Recreational Trails Program has provided funding to states to develop and maintain outdoor recreational trails, allowing millions of Americans and their families to enjoy activities such as hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and 4-wheel driving.
“From Vermont’s Green Mountains to Utah’s ‘Mighty Five’ National Parks, America is home to unmatched natural beauty. The Recreational Trails Program plays a vital role in helping build and maintain hiking trails across the country so folks can enjoy and explore our great outdoors,” said Senator Welch. “Our bipartisan bill will support this crucial program to ensure that future generations can experience the joy of hiking our nation’s scenic trails for many years to come.”
“Minnesota snowmobilers, hikers, ATV users, cyclists, and countless others who enjoy the outdoors rely on the Recreational Trails Program to explore our state’s natural wonders and support our local businesses,” said Senator Klobuchar. “Our bipartisan legislation will ensure states receive the resources they deserve to protect and improve these trails for generations to come.”
“The Recreational Trails Program provides Idahoans and visitors to our state with access to our public lands,” said Senator Risch. “This legislation ensures trail maintenance projects can continue and future generations can enjoy Idaho’s great outdoors for years to come.”
“From Murphy to Manteo, North Carolina’s network of recreational trails not only attracts tourism to our state, but also allows North Carolinians to enjoy the natural beauty our state has to offer. I am proud to join Senator Klobuchar in introducing this bipartisan legislation to help maintain, improve, and expand upon the natural infrastructure of our public lands,” said Senator Budd.
The RTP Full Funding Act—which is supported by recreational groups from snowmobilers to cyclists and hikers to off-highway power sport vehicle users—will ensure that federal funds collected for this program are maximized to support more trail projects in the future. The bipartisan bill signals strong support for bringing the Recreational Trail Program funding in line with the revenue collected from the federal gas tax already paid by off-road recreational vehicle users without impacting funding for other federal transportation programs, including the Transportation Alternatives Program.
The RTP Full Funding Act will increase the accuracy and transparency of RTP funding by:
Requiring a study to determine the total amount of funds collected;
Improving reporting on expenditures from the RTP to improve accountability and oversight; and
Streamlining RTP funding distribution to the states by reducing unnecessary paperwork.
In addition to Sens. Welch, Klobuchar, Risch, and Budd, the legislation is cosponsored by Senators John Curtis (R-Utah), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).
The bill is supported by the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC), Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT), Motorcycle Industry Council, Safe & Responsible Use at the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, American Trails, International Mountain Bicycling Association, The Corps Network, International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association, American Council of Snowmobile Associations, American Horse Council & American Horse Council Foundation, American Hiking Society, Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), PeopleForBikes, Back Country Horsemen of America, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Association, and Rails to Trails Conservancy.
“The Recreational Trails Program has produced tens of thousands of successes across the nation, benefiting the health, safety and enjoyment of millions of hikers and bicyclists and ATVers and snowmobilers and equestrians and more. It has forged national and regional partnerships among those who use trails – overcoming potential competition with plans that deliver great opportunities for all. RTP projects benefit from the sharing of best practices and from widespread volunteerism and Public-Private-Partnerships. Because RTP offers flexibility in uses including maintenance and education, the program can improve other trail projects. Best of all, RTP unifies the nation across our diversity – north and south, urban and rural, young and old, Red and Blue and more, and connects more Americans to their shared legacy of public lands and waters. We thank our wonderful Congressional Champions for making this possible!” said Marianne Fowler and Derrick Crandall, Co-Chairs of the Coalition for Recreational Trails.
“The RTP is vitally important to trail users everywhere. The program funds trail construction, maintenance, safety, interpretation, and other important projects. The funding for this program has remained flat for too long. We would like to thank the bill sponsors for taking action to ensure that these important priorities will be fully funded,” said Duane Taylor, Director of Safe & Responsible Use, Specialty Vehicle Institute of America.
“The International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association and the American Council of Snowmobile Associations applaud the continued leadership of Senators Klobuchar and Risch and the active support of Senators Welch, Budd, Tillis, Merkley and Curtis to return to outdoor recreation the resources required to build and maintain our recreational trail infrastructure. Their persistence in pushing for this funding partially addresses the greatest inequity contained in our federal aid highway program…This legislation is a step in the right direction for the continued support of the trails system – and the rural communities across the United States! Thank you for your support and leadership!” said Jaret Smith, President of the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association, and Christine Jourdain, Executive Director of the American Council of Snowmobile Associations.
“The Recreational Trails Program is vital for building and maintaining trails for cyclists across the country. At PeopleForBikes, we strongly support more funding for all bicycle infrastructure programs and applaud the bipartisan leadership of this legislation for their support of recreational trails,” said Jenn Dice, CEO of PeopleForBikes.
“American Hiking Society and the 59 million strong hiking community praises the bipartisan leadership of Senators Klobuchar and Risch in support of the Recreational Trails Program! The RTP Full Funding Act of 2024 will ensure that the over three decades long impact of RTP can continue to provide the tens of millions of non-motorized and motorized trail users in urban and rural areas the benefits of trails including health and wellness, connectivity, and economic growth. Hikers and trail users across the country thank Senators Klobuchar, Risch, Budd, Welch, Tillis, Curtis, and Merkley for their support of our nation’s trails!” said Tyler Ray, Senior Director for Programs and Advocacy, American Hiking Society.
Read the full text of the bill.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev, as part of a working visit to the Luhansk People’s Republic, visited a number of enterprises in the agro-industrial complex and also familiarized himself with the progress of spring field work.
Dmitry Patrushev got acquainted with the pace of barley sowing in the fields of one of the republic’s agricultural enterprises. At present, the work is proceeding as usual, and the farmers are provided with all the necessary material and technical resources. In addition, for the successful implementation of seasonal field work and technical modernization of the industry, Rosagroleasing JSC supplies agricultural machinery on preferential leasing terms.
“As part of the sowing campaign in Novorossiya and Donbass, 200 thousand hectares have already been sown with spring crops, 1.6 million hectares – with winter crops. Our agricultural producers are provided with all the necessary material and technical resources. As part of state support for farmers, including the food and processing industries, about 5 billion rubles have been allocated for these regions. This is significant money that allows them to feel quite confident. We really hope for a decent sowing and harvest as a result,” said Dmitry Patrushev.
The Deputy Prime Minister visited a number of enterprises of the agro-industrial complex, including a meat processing plant included in the free economic zone. Its products are widely represented in the Rostov, Voronezh, Belgorod regions and the Republic of Crimea.
Since last year, meat processing enterprises in the new regions have been provided with subsidies to support the processing of raw meat into food products in the amount of 20%. This year, 401.4 million rubles from federal funds have been allocated for these purposes.
Also during the working visit, Dmitry Patrushev assessed the production capacity of the largest production complex in Lugansk, where he inspected the bakery shop. The enterprise is the leader in the region in the production of flour, cereals, as well as all types of cereal flakes, pasta, sunflower oil and compound feed. State support for the bakery industry in new regions has increased to 270 million rubles this year.
“The enterprises of Donbass and Novorossiya are operating normally and producing products that are sold not only within the region, but also supplied throughout Russia,” concluded Dmitry Patrushev.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
During a working visit to Rostov Oblast, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev held a meeting dedicated to seasonal field work in the Russian Federation. The meeting was attended by the Minister of Agriculture, heads of Saratov, Rostov, Bryansk, Novosibirsk, Chelyabinsk Oblasts and Krasnodar Krai.
“In 2025, the total sown area is forecast to be about 84 million hectares, which is about 1 million hectares more than it actually was last year. Of these, about 20 million hectares are under winter crops. An assessment conducted in April showed that more than 93% of winter grain crops are in normal condition. This is especially significant given the extremely difficult weather conditions of last year. This year, 55.8 million hectares are planned for spring crops. Including, oilseed crops should increase by almost 600 thousand hectares. I ask the leadership of the regions to ensure control over compliance with the forecast structure of sown areas. This is a kind of guarantee of a balanced harvest. Spring sowing is entering an active phase – farmers from 42 regions are already working in the fields. Winter crops are being fed at an accelerated pace. Almost 3 million hectares have been sown with spring crops,” said Dmitry Patrushev.
The Deputy Prime Minister particularly emphasized that throughout the entire period of spring field work, the Ministry of Agriculture and the regions must monitor the provision of farmers with financial resources and means of production. The government maintains various instruments of financial and non-financial support.
More than 40 billion rubles have been allocated to provide new preferential loans in 2025, of which 34 are intended for short-term loans. Farmers can use them to prepare for seasonal field work. The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the dynamics of lending this year is better than last year.
Dmitry Patrushev emphasized that measures aimed at updating the agricultural machinery fleet remain, including preferential leasing. The government is additionally allocating more than 4 billion rubles for recapitalization of Rosagroleasing, which will increase the supply of self-propelled machinery.
The Deputy Prime Minister spoke about the continuation of the planned transition to seeds of our own selection. State support measures are also provided for this. By the end of 2024, the provision of seeds of our own selection amounted to more than 67%.
Dmitry Patrushev noted that it is especially important for regions to monitor the implementation of fire safety measures on agricultural lands and agro-industrial complex facilities, as well as to monitor the phytosanitary situation in the fields.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that it is during the spring sowing period that the bulk of federal government support funds should be delivered to farmers.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
The Metropolitan Police Service is tackling an influx of illegal gambling on Westminster Bridge with new tactics.
Illegal gambling gangs target tourists with games known as the ‘free cups challenge’ or ‘shell game’. Because the local Met officers have become so well known to these individuals, officers have had to come up with creative plans to deliver ‘vengeance’.
On Saturday, 15 February Inspector Darren Watson and Police Constable Osman donned their alter ego Batman and Robin costumes and launched their superhero mission.
Inspector Darren Watson, responsible for local neighbourhood policing in Lambeth North West –(also known as Batman) said:
“We know that two repeat offenders have been operating on Westminster Bridge and have come to recognise me and my team from our patrols.
“I knew that if we were going to catch them we would have the think outside the box, and then I remembered that I had Batman and Robin costumes to hand which could come in use.
“Although dressing up may not be the most conventional policing method, we were thrilled to see that in this case it worked perfectly and the team were able to get some great results, taking these people off the street and protecting tourists and Londoners from being fleeced.”
Eugen Stocia, age 32 (26.07.1992) of no fixed address and Constica-Gherorghe Barbu, age 53 (28.05.1971) of Herbert Road, Greenwich were arrested on Saturday, 15 February for providing the facilities to gamble.
Barbu was convicted at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 17 February after being remanded by police and fined £925.
Stocia was convicted in absence at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 10 April after failing to appear in court. A warrant is out for his arrest.
If you see illegal gambling gangs operating please report to the Met Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3
Summary
Company Announcement Date: April 11, 2025 FDA Publish Date: April 11, 2025 Product Type: Animal & VeterinaryFood & BeveragesPet FoodFoodborne Illness Reason for Announcement:
Company Announcement STATESVILLE, NC – April 10, 2025– Blue Ridge Beef is recalling 1,080 lbs. of their 2 lb logs of Kitten Mix Lot # N26 0114 and 1,380 lbs of their 2 lb logs of Puppy Mix Lot # N25 1230 (Lot numbers are stamped in the clips on the end of the chubs/bags) due to contamination with Salmonella and Listeria. Salmonella and Listeria can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products. Healthy people infected with Salmonella or Listeria should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella and Listeria can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers. Pets with Salmonella or Listeria infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product(s) and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. The products were distributed between January 3, 2025 to January 24, 2025. The product is packaged in clear plastic and sold primarily in retail stores located in the states of: Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York State, Tennessee, Rhode Island, Wisconsin. Image of product below: Due to a customer complaint of animal illness, samples of the products were collected on 3/20/25 by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. On 04/01/25, the firm was notified by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture that the products tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria. Products affected are:
Product
Size
Lot Numbers
Blue Ridge Beef Puppy Mix
2 lb
N25 1230
Blue Ridge Beef Kitten Mix
2 lb
N26 0114
Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to return them to the place of purchase or destroy the food in a way that children, pets, and wildlife cannot access. Do not sell or donate the recalled products. Do not feed the recalled product to pets or any other animals. Wash and sanitize pet food bowls, cups, and storage containers. Always ensure you wash and sanitize your hands after handling recalled food or any utensils that come in contact with recalled food. For more information email blueridgebeefnc@yahoo.com or call 704-873-2072 Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm EST. This recall is being made with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration.
The ATO Executive Committee focuses on the strategic matters that relate to the direction and positioning of the organisation.
Our Commissioner and Second Commissioners are statutory appointments. The ATO Executive Committee consists of the Commissioner, 3 Second Commissioners and the leads from the operations and technology sections of the ATO.
For more information about our organisation, see:
Commissioner and Registrar
Commissioner of Taxation and Registrar of the Australian Business Register and the Australian Business Registry Services
Rob Heferen
Rob Heferen was appointed as the 13th Commissioner of Taxation on 1 March 2024.
Rob has had a long career in the Australian Public Service, beginning in 1989 as a graduate at the Australian Customs Service. Over 35 years, he’s accumulated diverse experience across policy development and program delivery in a range of portfolios. Rob has represented Australia in international forums including the United Nations (UN), International Energy Agency (IEA) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
For almost 20 years, Rob’s interest and expertise in economics and tax policy led him to various roles in the ATO and Commonwealth Treasury. This included leading the Secretariat for the Australia’s Future Tax System Review (the Henry Tax Review) and culminated in his role as Deputy Secretary, Revenue Group at the Commonwealth Treasury between 2011–2016. Here he had responsibility for tax policy, tax legislation and revenue forecasting.
Rob’s other Senior Executive roles include:
Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Deputy Secretary of Higher Education, Research and International in the Department of Education, Skills and Employment
Deputy Secretary of Energy at the Department of the Environment and Energy (where he served as Australia’s representative on the International Energy Agency’s Governing Board)
Deputy Secretary of Indigenous Affairs at the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
Rob is a proven people leader, with an open, collaborative and authentic style. He has a strong record of achievement in leading organisations to help shape and deliver on Government priorities.
Rob has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tasmania, and a Graduate Diploma of Economics from the Australian National University.
Second Commissioner – Client Engagement
Jeremy Hirschhorn
Jeremy Hirschhorn was appointed to the Second Commissioner role from 16 April 2020. He has overall responsibility for the ATO’s Client Engagement Group, which fosters willing participation in Australia’s tax and super systems through well-designed client experiences.
Jeremy has more than 20 years’ experience in roles managing complex tax matters.
As Deputy Commissioner of Public Groups & International from April 2015, Jeremy was responsible for ensuring that the largest Australian and multinational companies were meeting their corporate tax obligations and providing the Australian community with confidence that these large companies were being held to account.
Jeremy also worked as Chief Tax Counsel, with responsibility for the provision of the ATO’s legal advice in relation to interpretation of the tax and super laws, when he joined the ATO in August 2014.
Prior to joining the ATO, Jeremy was a senior partner in KPMG’s tax practice.
Jeremy holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws from the University of NSW. He is a Chartered Tax Adviser and Chartered Accountant.
Second Commissioner Frontline Operations
David Allen
David Allen was appointed to the Second Commissioner Frontline Operations role from 1 November 2024. In this role, David leads the Frontline Operations Group which is responsible for a broad range of the ATO’s taxpayer services for all segments of the community.
These include:
processing all payments, activity statements, income tax returns, superannuation lodgments and other forms
administering the Tax File Number register, Australian Business Register and Director ID Services.
David joined the ATO in 2010 as an Assistant Commissioner in Public Groups & Internationals – working in Capital Gains Tax risk, Internationals. In 2016, he was the ATO’s delegate to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development (OECD) based in Paris.
In 2018, David was promoted to Deputy Commissioner and established the Enterprise Strategy and Design (ESD) business line – which takes the leadership role in working with business areas to shape the ATO’s strategic direction, risk management, planning and reporting, as well as internal audit and design.
Prior to joining the ATO, David held senior roles in different tiers of the public service including Commonwealth, United Kingdom, NSW and local government.
David has a degree in Engineering and a Masters of Business Administration from Australian Graduate School of Management.
Second Commissioner for Law Design and Practice
Kirsten Fish
Kirsten has overall responsibility for the ATO’s law practice, including law interpretation, public advice and guidance, independent dispute prevention, litigation and resolution, and the ATO’s contribution to policy and law design.
The Law Design and Practice Group serves the community, government and clients by ensuring the tax and super laws are informed, understood, administered and applied with confidence and integrity and is respected and trusted as the authoritative voice of the Commissioner on matters of law and revenue analysis.
Kirsten joined the ATO in 2014 and the ATO’s Chief Tax Counsel from 2015, one of the highest legal authorities within the ATO, leading the Tax Counsel Network and providing technical leadership in relation to significant tax issues, cases and rulings. Kirsten was acting Second Commissioner for 12 months before being formally appointed to the role in October 2021.
Prior to joining the ATO, Kirsten was a tax Partner at Clayton Utz with a focus on the financial services industry and providing finance and investment transaction advice.
Kirsten holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting), Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and Masters of Law (Tax).
Chief Operating Officer
Jacqui Curtis
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) leads the ATO’s Enterprise Strategy and Corporate Operations functions.
These functions include Strategic Planning, Governance, Finance, Corporate, Risk Management, People, Integrity, Change Management and Design for the organisation. In this role, Jacqui is a member of the ATO Executive, responsible for shaping and setting strategic direction and oversight implementation.
The COO position gives greater strength and integration to our corporate positioning, and ensures we are well positioned for Australian Public Service (APS)-wide reforms of corporate and shared services, and that our planning, governance and risk management is strategic and sensible. The COO brings together an integrated picture of our people and resource management and ensure we have the right capability and culture to meet our strategic intent.
This position has a role in managing the relationship with key stakeholders like our scrutineers.
All of these underpin our ability to deliver on a better client and staff experience.
Prior to the COO role, Jacqui joined the ATO in September 2013 as Deputy Commissioner ATO People and was responsible for delivering an enterprise-wide human resource management service which supports ATO employees in providing a sustainable, open and accountable workplace. Jacqui was also responsible for leading the Reinvention Program Management Office and the change management driving this key reform.
Before joining the ATO, Jacqui was General Manager of the People Capability Division with Services Australia, where she led the department’s leadership and change, people development, workforce planning and research functions. Jacqui has also worked for the Australian Public Service Commission, where she was responsible for delivering integrated people development, SES and APS-wide leadership and talent, change management, strategic recruitment, communications, and learning and development. She also has extensive international experience.
Jacqui holds an Executive Masters in Public Administration from the Australian National University and is a Fellow of Australian Human Resource Institute, and was appointed Adjunct Professor University of Canberra in 2018.
In October 2019, Jacqui was appointed the inaugural Head of the APS HR Professional Stream.
Chief Information Officer
Mark Sawade
Mark Sawade was appointed to the Chief Information Officer role from 11 March 2025.
In this role Mark has overall responsibility for the ATO’s Enterprise Solutions and Technology Group, who work to ensure we maintain a contemporary, secure and reliable technology environment that supports tax, super and registry systems into the future.
Mark has nearly 25 years’ experience in the Australian Public Service, primarily in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) leadership roles. Preceding his appointment at the ATO, Mark was the Chief Information Officer at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, where he led and delivered a range of digital transformation initiatives.
In 2019, Mark led the School Funding and Data Collection division in the Department of Education, where he delivered significant reform that focused on increased use of government data in the calculation of school funding entitlements.
Mark has also held ICT senior executive leadership roles in a number of public sector agencies, including at the Department of Education, Australian Bureau of Statistics, ComSuper and the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Computer and Information Science from the University of South Australia.
WASHINGTON, DC — Today U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner (RI-02) and Zach Nunn (IA-03) introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at preventing veteran suicide by strengthening mental health support for servicemembers transitioning to civilian life.
The Daniel J. Harvey and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Actimproves two federal programs – the Department of Defense’s Solid Start program and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Transition Assistance Program (TAP) – to better connect veterans with mental health resources and benefits.
“Our nation has a sacred duty to care for Veterans when they return from service, and that starts with recognizing that the most serious wounds of war are not always visible from the outside,” said Magaziner. “This bipartisan bill improves the VA Solid Start program and DOD Transition Assistance Program by increasing awareness of these mental health resources for servicemembers transitioning to civilian life. This is a necessary and long overdue step toward addressing a mental health crisis that has taken far too many lives.”
“America is the land of the free and home of the brave because of people like Cpl. Adam Lambert. A proud Marine from Iowa, Adam raised his hand to serve our country,” said Nunn. “Unfortunately, too often the transition back to civilian life is more difficult than it should be. In honor of Adam’s memory, I’m grateful to work with Adam’s parents to make the transition easier for America’s veterans by improving mental health services.”
The bill expands TAP to include more support for veterans dealing with PTSD, depression, substance use, and loneliness. It also strengthens Solid Start by increasing outreach and education to veterans on VA benefits and mental health services available to them after service.
The legislation is named in honor of two Marines who served together in Afghanistan: Lance Cpl. Daniel J. Harvey of Johnston, Rhode Island, and Cpl. Adam Lambert of Adel, Iowa. Both died by suicide within a year after returning home from service.
Veteran suicide rates are three times higher in the first year after leaving the military, making the transition period a critical window for intervention. Veterans are often unaware of the support offered to them through the Department of Defense and Department of Veteran Affairs.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dale Strong (Alabama)
WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Dale W. Strong (R-AL), alongside his colleagues Congressmen David Kustoff (R-TN) and Tracey Mann (R-KS), introduced the Winter Canola Study Act. This legislation would direct the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) to study the gap in crop insurance coverage for double-crop grown winter oilseeds, such as canola.
Additionally, the bill recognizes the economic and environmental benefits of double-crop grown canola and emphasizes the importance of investing in these oilseeds to provide a more robust market for our farmers, effectively boosting rural communities, creating jobs, and strengthening our energy security.
“The Winter Canola Study Act would give North Alabama farmers crucial new information and broaden the opportunity to plant winter canola as an alternative double crop option,” said Congressman Strong. “I am proud to work on behalf of farmers by joining Representative Kustoff and my colleagues in introducing this legislation. This research would help create a more competitive market for farmers while supporting the hard work they do to provide our food, fiber, and fuel.”
“America’s farmers keep our economy going by putting food on the shelves and fuel in our tanks,” said Congressman Kustoff. “By allowing our farmers to plant winter canola in the off season, the Winter Canola Study Act will expand opportunities for growers and producers across the nation.”
“Harnessing the potential of American-grown commodities like winter oilseed supports the entire agriculture and energy supply from grower to consumer,” said Congressman Mann. “I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation to help facilitate the growth of energy-abundant and sustainable fuel feedstocks by supporting access to risk management tools, research into yield improvements, and the environmental benefits of new crop rotations.”
overnor Kathy Hochul today celebrated April 11 as the inaugural New York Craft Beer Day in New York State. New York is the second largest craft beer market in the U.S. and has more than 500 independent craft breweries that support 22,000 jobs and generate a $4.8 billion economic impact across the state.
“Today, we raise a glass to more than 500 craft breweries across New York — small businesses that pour $4.8 billion into our economy and flavor into our communities,” Governor Hochul said. “On this Craft Brewers Day, let’s toast their creativity, their grit and their impact. And remember — if you’re going to celebrate, celebrate responsibly. Cheers!”
The Governor made this announcement at the recent New York State Craft Brewers Association Conference and competition in Albany where she awarded the 2025 Governor’s Excelsior Craft Beer Cup to Brooklyn’s Grimm Artisanal Ales for their Grimm Weisse wheat beer. A full list of winners can be found here.
To commemorate New York Craft Beer Day, patrons can download the free Official New York State Craft Beer App, created by the NYS Brewers Association, to find local breweries and is the only app that offers a map of every brewery in the state. To commemorate Craft Beer Day, customers can earn the exclusive “Inaugural New York Craft Beer Day Badge” with any passport stamp on Friday, April 11th.
Governor Hochul’s Support for Craft Producers
In 2023, Governor Hochul signed legislation providing breweries the option to renew their licenses every three years instead of annually, saving brewers $800 — or about 30 percent — in fees over three years. This change not only lowers costs but also reduces paperwork, allowing brewers to spend less time on administrative tasks and more time focusing on their craft and growing their businesses.
Additionally, recognizing the importance of helping craft producers open quickly, Governor Hochul signed legislation that went into effect in 2022 creating new temporary permits for all craft beverage manufacturers — including breweries. For the first time, manufacturers can now begin operating while their full liquor license is pending. These permits, which cost $125 and are valid for six months, allow new producers to begin manufacturing and selling alcoholic beverages while they await final approval. Temporary permits are generally processed in under 30 days, compared to the average six-month timeline for full licenses — significantly accelerating the launch of new craft beverage businesses across the state.
Continuing to build on New York State’s push to modernize outdated Prohibition alcohol laws, in 2024, Governor Hochul signed landmark legislation that allowed New York’s small craft manufacturers of spirits, cider and mead to ship directly to consumers. The law opens significant opportunities for the state’s growing craft beverage industry by providing a vital market expansion tool — allowing these producers to ship their unique products directly to consumers within New York and across state lines.
The craft beverage industry also provides a boost to New York agriculture as New York State has seen increased interest in locally produced craft beverages in recent years. This interest in locally produced beverages has increased demand for locally sourced ingredients. To continue to support the research needed to develop crop varietals of hops and barley that are disease resistant and can adapt to the climate in the northeast, the 2024-25 NYS Budget included more than $650,000 in funding to Cornell for the Geneva Barley program and the hops breeding program.
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “New York’s world-class craft brewers are reflective of New York’s long legacy in the craft brewery industry, committed to making the finest beers, using the very best ingredients, including those straight from the farm. I thank Governor Hochul for declaring today Craft Beer Day here in New York State; this celebration provides us all an awesome opportunity to recognize our brewers and their contributions to our local economies, from supporting jobs and tourism to boosting growth in the agricultural industry.”
State Liquor Authority Chair Lily Fan said, “New York’s craft brewers are among the most innovative and entrepreneurial in the country — constantly pushing boundaries with new flavors, creative branding and a true dedication to quality. In today’s competitive market, that kind of ingenuity deserves our support. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Hochul and the close collaboration with our partners at Empire State Development and the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the State Liquor Authority is proud to play a role in helping brewers across New York produce more, sell more, open quickly and save on overhead. We’re excited to celebrate the inaugural New York Craft Beer Day on April 11th — and we hope it brings new fans, fresh energy and increased foot traffic to taprooms across our state. Cheers to our craft brewers — and as always, drink responsibly and stay safe.”
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “New York’s community of diverse and creative craft breweries spans the entire state, creating unique libations and destinations that welcome residents and visitors alike. Breweries bring energy into our downtown areas, while supporting jobs and local economies. New York Craft Beer Day is a perfect opportunity to raise a glass and celebrate the New Yorkers who brew the distinctive drafts, and to support the small businesses that keep our communities quenched.”
Executive Director of the New York State Brewer’s Association Paul Leone said,“Beer has been part of New York’s history since the early 1600’s when the first known brewery was built on the southern tip of New Amsterdam, which is now Manhattan. Today there are over 500 breweries scattered throughout every region of the state, thanks to the passion and dedication of the craft brewers, owners and the customers that keep their small businesses alive. We are so honored that Governor Hochul would proclaim April 11th New York Craft Beer Day starting in 2025, which will give us one day every year to shine an extra bright light on an industry that employs over 22,000 hard working New Yorkers, and will give craft beer fans one more reason to celebrate and raise a glass to New York State craft beer!”
State Senator Michelle Hincheysaid, “New York’s inaugural Craft Beer Day is a well-earned toast to the producers who’ve turned their passion into one of our state’s most beloved agricultural sectors. From grain to glass, craft beer is creating jobs, contributing to the economic resurgence of our upstate communities, and keeping New York ingredients in New York products. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners of the 2025 NYS Craft Beer Awards, including the outstanding brewers representing the Hudson Valley. We’re thrilled to celebrate the care and craftsmanship behind every batch and the pride it brings to so many hometowns across New York State.”
Assemblymember Donna Lupardo said, “Cheers to New York Craft Beer. A special day devoted to celebrating NY’s amazing craft brewers and their products is very much appreciated. Some of the finest craft beer in the country can be found in every region of the state.”
In addition, New York State, through its New York State Grown & Certified and Taste NY programs, continues to support New York’s craft beverage industry and its’ breweries through direct marketing, social media and a number of special initiatives and events that spotlight the industry, including at sports arenas and venues across the State. For example, Taste NY is partnering with Minor League Baseball teams across New York State again this year, and in 2024, brought the very best of New York’s local food and beverages, including local craft beverages, to more than 1.2 million fans at stadiums across New York. In 2023 and 2024, Taste NY sponsored a Tasting Yard at the Great New York State Fair, which featured a rotating selection of New York State craft breweries over the course of the Fair, giving visitors a taste of New York’s world-class craft beverage products and giving brewers the opportunity to meet new customers as nearly one million visitors come through the Fair gates.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Government extends ban on personal meat imports to protect farmers from foot and mouth
Ban on personal imports of meat and dairy products extended to cover all EU countries to safeguard the UK food system and farmers against food and mouth disease
The Government has taken measures to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease (FMD) following a rising number of cases across Europe.
From tomorrow (Saturday 12th April), travellers will no longer be able to bring cattle, sheep, goat, and pig meat, as well as dairy products, from EU countries into Great Britain for personal use, to protect the health of British livestock, the security of farmers, and the UK’s food security.
This includes bringing items like sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats or milk into Great Britain – regardless of whether it is packed or packaged or whether it has been bought at duty free.
Whilst FMD poses no risk to humans and there are no cases in the UK, it is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals such as wild boar, deer, llamas and alpacas, and the outbreak on the continent presents a significant risk to farm businesses and livestock.
FMD can cause significant economic losses due to production shortfalls in the affected animals, as well as loss of access to foreign markets for animals, meat and dairy.
The Government has already banned personal imports of cattle, sheep and other ruminants and pig meat as well as dairy products, from Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria earlier this year in response to confirmed outbreaks of FMD in those countries.
Today’s new EU-wide restrictions better safeguard the UK against the changing disease risk, and provide clear rules for travellers, helping them to comply with the regulations. The new restrictions apply only to travellers arriving in Great Britain, and will not be imposed on personal imports arriving from Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man.
Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said:
This government will do whatever it takes to protect British farmers from foot & mouth.
That is why we are further strengthening protections by introducing restrictions on personal meat and dairy imports to prevent the spread of the disease and protect Britain’s food security.
UK Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer for international and trade affairs Dr Jorge Martin-Almagro said:
Following the detection of foot and mouth disease in EU countries resulting in a rising risk of introduction into Great Britain, we have extended restrictions on the personal imports of food products that pose a risk in FMD transmission.
Robust contingency plans are already in place to manage the risk of this disease to protect farmers and Britain’s food security. This biosecurity measure combined with all others we have implemented are critical to limit the risk of FMD incursion.
I would urge livestock keepers to continue exercising the upmost vigilance for signs of disease, ensure scrupulous biosecurity is maintained and to report any suspicion of disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
Information for travellers entering the UK
From Saturday 12 April, it will be illegal for travellers from all EU countries entering Great Britain to bring items like sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats or milk into the country. This is regardless of whether it is packed or packaged or whether it has been bought at duty free.
Detailed information is available for the public which [sets out a limited set of exemptions from these rules](https://www.gov.uk/bringing-food-into-great-britain](https://www.gov.uk/bringing-food-into-great-britain). For example, a limited amount of infant milk, medical foods and certain composite products like chocolate, confectionery, bread, cakes, biscuits and pasta continue to be allowed.
Those found with these items will need to either surrender them at the border or will have them seized and destroyed. In serious cases, those found with these items run the risk of incurring fines of up to £5,000 in England.
Information for animal keepers
There are currently no cases of FMD in the UK, though the UK Chief Veterinary Officer is urging livestock keepers to remain vigilant to the clinical signs of FMD following an incursion of the disease in Germany, followed by an unrelated incursion affecting Hungary and Slovakia.
Clinical signs to be aware of vary depending on the animals, but in cattle the main signs are sores and blisters on the feet, mouth and tongue with potentially a fever, lameness and a reluctance to feed. In sheep and pigs, signs tend to manifest with lameness with potential for blistering.
While horses and companion animals are not susceptible to FMD, hay feed or straw bedding, if sourced from an infected area, could act as a fomite and therefore also prevented from entering GB.
Maintaining good biosecurity is essential to protecting the health and welfare of herds and critical to preventing the spread of diseases such as FMD and preventing an outbreak spreading.
Foot and mouth disease is a notifiable disease and must be reported. If you suspect foot and mouth disease in your animals, you must report it immediately by calling: * 03000 200 301 in England * 0300 303 8268 in Wales * your local Field Services Office in Scotland
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Vinothan Naidoo, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Administration, University of Cape Town
South Africa’s multi-party government of national unity (GNU), which emerged in the wake of the May 2024 elections, marked a turning point in the country’s political history. It took South Africans back to the 1990s, when the country showed that political opponents could find common cause.
The formation of the government of national unity expressed the hope that the country could do it again.
But just nine months into its term, the good will and pragmatism which marked its formation have worn thin. A major budget impasse between the two major actors, the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), threatens the coalition.
South Africans have long been accustomed to viewing the world of politics, governance and bureaucracy through the lens of a top-down “strong” state – a vicious apartheid state, an East Asia style developmental state, or a collusive “predatory state”.
But as recent analyses we co-authored with others have detailed, the vision of a top-down politically cohesive state no longer fits South Africa’s realities.
The government of national unity promised the hope that the country was embracing an approach that is key to success for almost all inclusive constitutional democracies. That is – abandon “all or nothing” confrontation, and instead pursue pragmatic bargains to achieve mutually agreeable policy outcomes.
At the most basic level, the government of national unity achieved this, at least for a while. The sharing of cabinet ministries between multiple parties created a diverse platform for executive power-sharing that was not dictated by a single dominant party, and which prevented the risks of parties building institutional fiefdoms.
In our view, failure to overcome deeply ingrained political differences could set off a downward spiral in the country.
Achievements on the governance front
On governance, the government of national unity created the space to pursue two sets of gains.
The first comprises the potential benefit of bringing together unlikely bedfellows.
The former opposition parties brought into a power-sharing arrangement were bound to be performance-driven, given the country’s long deteriorating government performance and ethical integrity. They had made “good governance” and criticism of the ANC central to their political brands.
New “outsider” eyes brought into formerly cloistered and factionalised ANC-run departments created the possibility of a new urgency to perform.
It’s too soon to tell whether this is happening, but anecdotal evidence suggests there are some green shoots.
The second governance gain comprises the crucial task of building a capable and professional state bureaucracy. The challenges include being able to pay the public sector wage bill, fostering a culture of delivery, and consolidating the bloated network of government departments.
Based on their party manifestos and public utterances, members of the government all aim to professionalise the public service.
Detailed technical work is already happening on issues such as training and competency assessment, transferring powers of appointment from politicians to senior public servants, and instituting checks in the recruitment and selection process. The National Assembly’s recent adoption of the Public Service Commission Bill forms part of this agenda.
The government of national unity has struggled to create effective mechanisms to translate agreement on a broad agenda of policy priorities into specific outcomes. This came at a higher cost than expected.
Still, it has made gains in challenging policy areas. These gains have repeatedly been undermined by the perverse determination of sections within both the ANC and the DA to engage in brinkmanship.
On health, both parties agree on the principle of universalising access. They differ on how to achieve this. But at least one seemingly intractable sticking point has been resolved. Both sides agree that private medical aid schemes need to be retained as part of a broader strategy of pursuing health system reform.
On basic education, the public spat over the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill overshadows the potential to agree on balancing the autonomy of school governing bodies with the oversight role of provincial departments.
On land expropriation, the emotive rhetoric which followed the signing of the Expropriation Bill and the unwelcome and toxic intervention of international actors has overshadowed technical concerns which can be resolved.
On pro-growth policies: Operation Vulindlela, a joint Presidency and National Treasury initiative to unblock constraints in targeted economic sectors, has made significant strides. It has laid the groundwork for new rounds of growth-supporting infrastructural reforms and has the potential to build cohesion in the government of national unity. However, the DA’s attempt to lobby for a greater role in the strategic oversight of Operation Vulindlela in exchange for supporting the budget risks souring relations with the ANC.
What now?
A thriving inclusive society depends on powerful actors visibly committed to co-operation.
For all of the challenges confronting the government of national unity, it was built on a foundation of pragmatism. For the sake of South Africa’s future, it remains vital to build on this foundation. Obsolete top-down governing approaches must go. Pathways to performance must be lifted above political grandstanding. Constructive solutions should supersede ideological rigidity. South Africa has done it before. It can do it again.
– South Africa’s coalition government is crumbling: why collapse would carry a heavy cost – https://theconversation.com/south-africas-coalition-government-is-crumbling-why-collapse-would-carry-a-heavy-cost-254302
The Parliamentary Committee on Estimates, chaired by Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal, Member of Parliament, undertook a field visit to the Sunmaster Agrivoltaics Plant at Issapur, Najafgarh, Delhi. Organized by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), the visit focused on reviewing the implementation of two key schemes – PM-KUSUM and PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
The visit offered Members of Parliament and officials an on-ground perspective of agrivoltaics technology, which allows dual use of land for both solar energy generation and agricultural cultivation—maximizing land productivity and supporting farmer income.
The delegation was welcomed by Shri Sudeep Jain, Additional Secretary, MNRE, who provided a comprehensive briefing on the objectives and impact of PM-KUSUM in promoting clean, sustainable energy for agriculture. He emphasized how the scheme empowers farmers by enhancing energy access while ensuring both food and energy security.
The session featured a comparative analysis between ground-mounted solar systems and stilt-based agrivoltaic models, highlighting key advantages in terms of cost-effectiveness and land-use efficiency—critical pillars of the PM-KUSUM vision.
During the visit, the Committee members also engaged in interactions with local farmers, gaining firsthand insight into the transformative role of solar energy in rural livelihoods.
In a symbolic gesture of environmental commitment, Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal and Members of the Committee participated in a tree plantation drive under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative. The Members also took a tractor ride with farmers, reinforcing their grassroots engagement and commitment to understanding the realities of the agricultural sector.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Jaiswal lauded MNRE and stakeholders for their well-coordinated efforts and the potential of agrivoltaics to synergize energy and agriculture. He recommended further studies to explore its scalability and maximize benefits for farmers across rural India.
This visit reflects the Government of India’s strong push for clean energy solutions that also support inclusive rural development under the leadership of MNRE.
The Magic of Indian Silk From Sericulture to Masterpiece
Posted On: 11 APR 2025 1:16PM by PIB Delhi
Silk connects India’s history, tradition and art, evident in iconic silk sarees like Kanchipuram and Banarasi.
Silk is made from silkworms that eat mulberry leaves. The silkworms spin cocoons, which are then turned into silk threads and woven into fabric.
India is the second-largest producer and consumer of silk globally.
India’s raw silk production increased from 31,906 MT in 2017-18 to 38,913 MT in 2023-24.
The area under mulberry plantations grew from 223,926 ha in 2017-18 to 263,352 ha in 2023-24.
Silk and silk goods exports grew from ₹1,649.48 crores in 2017-18 to ₹2,027.56 crores in 2023-24.
Introduction
Silk is a thread that connects India’s history, tradition and art. From the rich, bright colors of Kanchipuram sarees to the earthy beauty of Bhagalpur Tussar, every silk saree tells a story. They are made from pure mulberry silk, woven with care and skill by artisans. This craft has been passed down through generations. As the loom hums with the rhythm of their hands, the silk saree comes to life—not just as clothing, but as a symbol of India’s diverse and vibrant soul, stitched together by the art of silk.
India’s Journey of Sericulture
Life Cycle of Moth
Sericulture is the process of farming silkworms to make silk. Silkworms are raised on mulberry, oak, castor, and arjun leaves. After about a month, they spin cocoons. These cocoons are collected and boiled to soften the silk. The silk threads are then pulled out, twisted into yarn, and woven into fabric. This careful process turns small silkworms into shiny silk.
Economic Role of Silk in Developing India
India is the second largest producer of silk and also the largest consumer of silk in the world. In India, mulberry silk is produced mainly in the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir and West Bengal, while the non-mulberry silks are produced in Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Orissa and north-eastern states.
Mulberry silk comes from silkworms that eat only mulberry leaves. It is soft, smooth, and shiny with a bright glow, making it perfect for luxury sarees and high-end fabrics. 92% of the country’s total raw silk production comes from mulberry.
Non-mulberry silk (also known as Vanya silk) comes from wild silkworms that feed on leaves from trees like oak, castor and arjun. This silk has a natural, earthy feel with less shine but is strong, durable, and eco-friendly.
Silk is a high value but low volume product accounting for only 0.2 % of world’s total textile production. Silk production is regarded as an important tool for economic development. The developing countries rely on it for employment generation, especially in rural sector and also as a means to earn the foreign exchange.
India’s Silk Market Overview
India’s raw silk production has experienced steady growth, rising from 31,906 MT in 2017-18 to 38,913 MT in 2023-24.
This growth is supported by the expansion of mulberry plantations from 223,926 ha in 2017-18 to 263,352 ha in 2023-24, which boosted mulberry silk production from 22,066 MT in 2017-18 to 29,892 MT in 2023-24.
Total raw silk production increased from 31,906 MT in 2017-18 to 38,913 MT in 2023-24.
Exports of silk and silk goods rose from ₹1,649.48 crores in 2017-18 to ₹2,027.56 crores in 2023-24.
As per Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS) reports, the country exported 3348 MT of silk waste in 2023-24.
Silk waste consists of leftover or imperfect silk from the production process, such as broken fibers or pieces of cocoons. While it’s regarded as waste, it can still be repurposed to create lower-quality products like silk yarn or fabric, or even recycled into new silk items.
Government Schemes in Silk Development
Government schemes play a crucial role in the growth of the silk industry in India. These initiatives provide financial support and resources for various activities related to sericulture:
The Silk Samagra Scheme is an important initiative by the government to improve the sericulture industry across India. Its objective is to scale up production by improving the quality and productivity and to empower downtrodden, poor & backward families through various activities of sericulture in the country.
The scheme comprises four (4) major Components:
Research & Development, Training, Transfer of Technology and I.T. Initiatives,
Seed Organizations,
Coordination and Market Development and
Quality Certification Systems (QCS) / Export Brand Promotion and Technology Up-gradation.
Silk Samagra-2 is an extension of this effort with a budget of Rs. 4,679.85 crore for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26. These interventions help improve the entire silk production process, from raising silkworms to producing quality silk fabrics.
So far, Rs. 1,075.58 crore has been provided in central assistance, benefiting over 78,000 people.
Financial support has been given to Andhra Pradesh (Rs. 72.50 crore) and Telangana (Rs. 40.66 crore) for the last three years to help with Silk Samagra-2 components.
In addition to Silk Samagra-2, there are other schemes that support the silk and handloom sector:
Raw Material Supply Scheme (RMSS): The Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS) with partial modification and renamed as Raw Material Supply Scheme (RMSS) has been approved for implementation during period from 2021-22 to 2025-26. To make available quality yarn & their blends to the eligible Handloom weavers at subsidized rates. Total 340 lakh kg of yarn has been supplied during financial year 2023-2024 under the Scheme.
National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP): The National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), running from 2021-22 to 2025-26, aims to support weavers in the handloom sector, including silk fabric producers. The scheme takes a need-based approach to foster the integrated development of handlooms and improve the welfare of handloom weavers. It provides support for raw materials, design, technology upgrades, and marketing through exhibitions. Additionally, it helps create permanent infrastructure like Urban Haats and marketing complexes, benefiting weavers both within cooperatives and in Self-Help Groups.
Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector Scheme (SAMARTH): Launched by the Ministry of Textiles, it is a demand-driven and placement-oriented program. Extended for 2 years (FY 2024-25 & 2025-26) with a budget of Rs. 495 crore to train 3 lakh people. Scheme focuses on entry-level training, as well as upskilling and reskilling in Apparel & Garmenting, handloom, handicraft, silk, and jute.
These schemes have helped improve the quantity and quality of raw silk produced, contributing to the growth of the silk industry in India.
Conclusion
India’s silk industry has grown well with help from schemes like Silk Samagra and Silk Samagra-2. These have supported farmers, weavers and rural families. With more focus on training, new ideas, and better markets, India can become a global leader in silk. This will also help keep our silk traditions alive.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi lays foundation stone, inaugurates development works worth over Rs 3,880 crore in Varanasi,Uttar Pradesh In the last 10 years, the development of Banaras has gained a new momentum: PM
Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule ji worked throughout their lives for the welfare of women empowerment, their self-confidence and the welfare of the society: PM
Banas Dairy has changed both the image and destiny of thousands of families in Kashi: PM
Kashi is now becoming the capital of Good Health: PM
Today, whoever goes to Kashi, praises its infrastructure and facilities: PM
India today is carrying forward both development and heritage together, Our Kashi is becoming the best model for this: PM
Uttar Pradesh is no longer just a land of possibilities but of competence and accomplishments!: PM
Posted On: 11 APR 2025 12:56PM by PIB Delhi
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated various development projects worth over Rs 3,880 crore today in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Addressing the gathering, he highlighted his deep connection to Kashi, expressing heartfelt gratitude to the people of his family and the region for the blessings and acknowledged the love and support that has been extended to him. He emphasized his indebtedness to this love, stating that Kashi is his, and he belongs to Kashi. Noting that tomorrow is the auspicious occasion of Hanuman Janmotsav, Shri Modi expressed his honor at having the opportunity to visit Sankat Mochan Maharaj in Kashi. He highlighted how, ahead of Hanuman Janmotsav, the people of Kashi have gathered together to celebrate the festival of development.
“In the last 10 years, the development of Banaras has gained a new momentum”, exclaimed the Prime Minister, adding that Kashi has embraced modernity, preserved its heritage, and adopted a bright future. He remarked that Kashi is no longer just ancient but also progressive, now positioned at the center of Purvanchal’s economic map. He further noted that the Kashi guided by Lord Mahadev himself is now driving the chariot of Purvanchal’s development.
Mentioning the inauguration and foundation laying of numerous projects connected to Kashi and various parts of Purvanchal earlier in the event, Shri Modi emphasized the strengthening of connectivity through infrastructure projects, the campaign to provide tap water to every household, and the expansion of education, health, and sports facilities. He remarked on the commitment to provide better amenities to every region, family, and youth, stating that these initiatives will serve as milestones in transforming Purvanchal into a developed region. He noted that every resident of Kashi will benefit greatly from these schemes and extended congratulations to the people of Banaras and Purvanchal for these development efforts.
The Prime Minister marked the occasion of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule’s birth anniversary today, recognizing his and Savitribai Phule’s lifelong dedication to the welfare of society and the empowerment of women. He highlighted the ongoing efforts to advance their vision and commitment to women’s empowerment. He further stated that their Government treads on the mantra of ‘Sabka saath, Sabka Vikas’. He extended congratulations to the livestock-rearing families of Purvanchal, particularly the hardworking women, who have set a new example for the region. He remarked that trust, when placed in these women, has created history. The Prime Minister noted the distribution of bonuses to livestock-rearing families associated with Uttar Pradesh’s Banas Dairy Plant. He emphasized that this bonus, exceeding ₹100 crore, is not a gift but a reward for their hard work and dedication, reflecting the value of their labor and perseverance.
Emphasising the transformative impact of Banas Dairy in Kashi, which has reshaped the lives and destinies of thousands of families, Shri Modi highlighted how the dairy has rewarded hard work and given wings to aspirations. He proudly noted that the efforts have enabled many women in Purvanchal to become “Lakhpati Didis,” transitioning from concerns of sustenance to a path of prosperity. He remarked that this progress is evident not only in Banaras and Uttar Pradesh but across the country. “India has become the largest milk producer globally, with a nearly 65% increase in milk production over the past decade”, he highlighted, attributing this success to millions of farmers and livestock owners, recognizing that such achievements are the result of continuous efforts over the last ten years. He pointed out the initiatives undertaken to advance the dairy sector in mission mode, including linking livestock owners to Kisan Credit Card facilities, increasing loan limits, and introducing subsidy programs. The Prime Minister also mentioned the free vaccination program against Foot and Mouth Disease to protect livestock, as well as efforts to revive over 20,000 cooperative societies for organized milk collection, incorporating lakhs of new members. He underlined the focus on developing indigenous cattle breeds and improving their quality through scientific breeding under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission. These initiatives aim to connect livestock owners with new development pathways, better markets, and opportunities. He lauded the Banas Dairy complex in Kashi for advancing this vision across Purvanchal and noted that Banas Dairy has distributed Gir cows in the region, with their numbers steadily increasing, and has begun arrangements for animal feed in Banaras. He commended the dairy for collecting milk from nearly one lakh farmers in Purvanchal, empowering them and strengthening their livelihoods.
The Prime Minister mentioned the privilege of distributing Ayushman Vay Vandana Cards to several senior citizens. He highlighted the sense of satisfaction evident on their faces, calling it a testament to the scheme’s success. He acknowledged the concerns families have had for their elders’ healthcare and recalled the difficulties faced across Purvanchal 10-11 years ago regarding medical treatment. Noting the drastic improvements in the region, he stated “Kashi is now becoming a health capital”. He remarked that advanced hospitals, once limited to cities like Delhi and Mumbai, are now accessible near people’s homes. He emphasized that this is the essence of development—bringing facilities closer to the people.
Emphasising the significant strides made in healthcare over the past decade, not only increasing the number of hospitals but also enhancing the dignity of patients, Shri Modi highlighted the Ayushman Bharat scheme as a boon for the poor, providing not just treatment but also instilling confidence. He remarked that thousands in Varanasi and lakhs across Uttar Pradesh have benefited from the scheme, with every treatment, operation, and relief marking a new beginning in their lives. He further noted that the Ayushman Bharat scheme has saved crores of rupees for lakhs of families in Uttar Pradesh, as the government has taken responsibility for their healthcare. Recalling his promise of free treatment for senior citizens, which led to the launch of the Ayushman Vay Vandana scheme, the Prime Minister highlighted that this initiative ensures free treatment for every senior citizen above 70 years of age, regardless of their income. He remarked that Varanasi has issued the highest number of Vay Vandana cards, with nearly 50,000 cards distributed. He emphasized that this is not just a statistic but a commitment to service, eliminating the need for families to sell land, take loans, or face helplessness for medical treatment. He assured that with the Ayushman card, the government now bears the financial responsibility for their healthcare.
The Prime Minister highlighted the remarkable transformation of Kashi’s infrastructure and facilities, which have earned widespread praise from visitors. He noted that millions of people visit Banaras daily, offering prayers to Baba Vishwanath and bathing in the sacred Ganga, with many remarking on the city’s significant changes. He emphasized the challenges Kashi would have faced if its roads, railways, and airport had remained in the same condition as a decade ago. He recalled the traffic jams during small festivals, where travelers had to navigate through the entire city, enduring dust and heat. He remarked on the construction of the Phulwariya flyover, which has shortened distances, saved time, and brought relief to daily life. The Prime Minister also highlighted the benefits of the Ring Road, which has drastically reduced travel time for residents of rural areas in Jaunpur and Ghazipur, as well as those from Ballia, Mau, and Ghazipur districts heading to the airport, eliminating hours of traffic congestion.
Underlining the improved connectivity in the region which has led to faster and convenient travel to cities like Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Mirzapur, and Azamgarh with widened roads, Shri Modi remarked that areas once plagued by traffic jams are now witnessing the speed of development. He emphasized the investment of approximately ₹45,000 crore over the past decade in enhancing connectivity in Varanasi and surrounding regions. He stated that this investment has transformed not just infrastructure but also trust, benefiting Kashi and neighboring districts. He announced the expansion of infrastructure projects, including the foundation laying of projects worth thousands of crores. The Prime Minister highlighted the ongoing expansion of Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport and the construction of a six-lane underground tunnel near the airport to improve connectivity. He noted the initiation of projects connecting Bhadohi, Ghazipur, and Jaunpur, as well as the long-awaited construction of flyovers at Bhikharipur and Manduadih. He expressed happiness over the fulfillment of these demands. He also announced the construction of a new bridge connecting Banaras city and Sarnath, which will eliminate the need for travelers from other districts to enter the city while heading to Sarnath.
The Prime Minister remarked that in the coming months, once the ongoing projects are completed, commuting in Banaras will become even more convenient, stressing that this progress will boost both speed and business activities in the region. He highlighted the enhanced ease for those visiting Banaras for livelihood and healthcare purposes. He also mentioned the commencement of the trial for the city ropeway in Kashi, which will position Banaras among the select cities globally to offer such a facility.
Underscoring that every development and infrastructure project in Varanasi benefits the youth of Purvanchal, Shri Modi highlighted the government’s focus on providing continuous opportunities for Kashi’s youth to excel in sports. He remarked on the construction of new stadiums in Banaras and the development of excellent facilities for young athletes. He noted the opening of a new sports complex, where hundreds of players from Varanasi are undergoing training. He also mentioned that participants in the MP Sports Competition have had the opportunity to showcase their talent on these grounds.
Emphasising India’s journey of balancing development and heritage, highlighting Kashi as the finest example of this model, the Prime Minister remarked on the flow of the Ganga and the consciousness of India, describing, “Kashi is the most beautiful representation of India’s soul and diversity”. He noted the unique culture in every neighborhood and the distinct colors of India visible in every lane of Kashi and expressed happiness over initiatives like the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam, which continue to strengthen the threads of unity. He announced the upcoming Ekta Mall in Kashi, which will showcase India’s diversity under one roof, offering products from various districts across the country.
The Prime Minister highlighted the transformation in Uttar Pradesh over recent years, noting that the state has not only changed its economic landscape but also its outlook. He remarked that Uttar Pradesh is no longer just a land of possibilities but has become a land of capability and achievements. He stressed on the growing resonance of ‘Made in India’ globally, with Indian-made products now becoming global brands. He noted the recognition of several products with Geographical Indication (GI) tags, describing these tags as more than just labels—they are certificates of identity for the land. He remarked that GI tags signify that a product is a creation of its soil, and wherever GI tags reach, they open pathways to greater market success.
Underscoring Uttar Pradesh’s leading position in GI tagging across the country, Shri Modi mentioned the growing international recognition of the state’s art, crafts, and skills. He noted that over 30 products from Varanasi and its surrounding districts have received GI tags, describing them as a passport of identity for these items. He listed products from the region that have been recognized, such as Varanasi’s tabla, shehnai, wall paintings, thandai, stuffed red chili, red peda, and tiranga barfi. He also mentioned that products like Jaunpur’s imarti, Mathura’s sanjhi art, Bundelkhand’s kathiya wheat, Pilibhit’s flute, Prayagraj’s moonj art, Bareilly’s zardozi, Chitrakoot’s woodcraft, and Lakhimpur Kheri’s Tharu zardozi have recently been awarded GI tags. “The fragrance of Uttar Pradesh’s soil is now crossing borders, spreading its legacy far and wide”, he added.
Remarking that preserving Kashi means safeguarding the soul of India, the Prime Minister concluded by emphasising the collective commitment to continually empower Kashi and to keep it beautiful and connect its ancient spirit with a modern identity.
The Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Smt Anandiben Patel, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath were present among others at the event.
Background
Prime Minister laid the foundation stone and inaugurated various development projects worth over Rs 3,880 crore in Varanasi. In line with his commitment to infrastructure development, particularly enhancing road connectivity in Varanasi, he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various road projects in the region. Furthermore, he laid the foundation stone for a road bridge between Varanasi Ring Road and Sarnath, flyovers at Bhikharipur and Manduadih crossings of the city and a highway underpass road tunnel on NH-31 at the Varanasi International Airport worth over Rs 980 crore.
Giving a boost to the electricity infrastructure, Prime Minister inaugurated two 400 KV and one 220 KV transmission substations and associated transmission lines of Jaunpur, Chandauli and Ghazipur districts of Varanasi division worth over Rs 1,045 crore. He also laid the foundation stone of a 220 KV transmission substation at Chaukaghat, Varanasi, a 132 KV transmission substation in Ghazipur and augmentation of the Varanasi city electricity distribution system worth over Rs 775 crore.
Prime Minister inaugurated a Transit Hostel at the Police Line and barracks at PAC Ramnagar Campus, to improve facilities for the security personnel. He also laid the foundation stone of new administrative buildings at various police stations and a residential hostel in Police Line.
In line with his vision to ensure education for all, Prime Minister inaugurated projects including a Government Polytechnic College at Pindra, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Government College at village Barki, 356 rural libraries and 100 Anganwadi centres also. He also laid the foundation stone for renovation of 77 primary school buildings under the Smart City Mission and the construction of a new building for Kasturba Gandhi School at Cholapur, Varanasi. Promoting sports infrastructure in the city, Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for a synthetic hockey turf with floodlights and spectator gallery at Uday Pratap College and a mini stadium at Shivpur.
Prime Minister also inaugurated the redevelopment of Samne Ghat and Shastri Ghat at Ganga river, 130 rural drinking water schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission worth over Rs 345 crore, improvement of six municipal wards of Varanasi and landscaping and sculpture installations at various sites of Varanasi.
Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for MSME Unity Mall for artisans, infrastructure development works of Transport Nagar Scheme at Mohansarai, 1 MW solar power plant at WTP Bhelupur, Community halls in 40 Gram panchayats and beautification of various parks in Varanasi.
Prime Minister presented Geographical Indication (GI) certificates to various local items and products including tabla, painting, thandai, tiranga barfi among others. He also transferred over Rs 105 crore bonus to milk suppliers of Uttar Pradesh associated with Banas Dairy.
काशी का तेजी से चहुंमुखी विकास हो रहा है। इसी कड़ी में आज विभिन्न विकास परियोजनाओं का लोकार्पण-शिलान्यास करना मेरे लिए सौभाग्य की बात है। https://t.co/6vY4qCCLYp
महात्मा ज्योतिबा फुले और सावित्री बाई फुले जी ने जीवन भर नारी शक्ति के हित, उनके आत्मविश्वास और समाज के कल्याण के लिए काम किया: PM @narendramodipic.twitter.com/m0hui2d0Xh
1. The Commission strongly supports the work of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), as the EU’s independent public prosecution office responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU. It cooperates with the EPPO under the terms of their cooperation agreement[1]. On the issue referred to by the Honourable Members, the EPPO has brought suspects of fraud before the competent Greek Court, as stated in its press release[2], and criminal proceedings are currently ongoing.
2. The Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) has performed several systems’ audits in Greece over the years and, where needed, applied the appropriate financial corrections to protect EU funds. Under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Member States’ Paying Agencies must respect strict accreditation criteria established at EU level. Following DG AGRI’s request, the Greek competent authority put the Greek Paying Agency under probation in September 2024 and drew up an action plan aimed at remedying the deficiencies identified in relation to compliance with the accreditation criteria by the Certification Body and DG AGRI. The action plan is currently being implemented by the Greek authorities . DG AGRI closely follows the implementation of the accreditation action plan and the risk to the EU funds under ongoing conformity enquiries.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Vinothan Naidoo, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Administration, University of Cape Town
South Africa’s multi-party government of national unity (GNU), which emerged in the wake of the May 2024 elections, marked a turning point in the country’s political history. It took South Africans back to the 1990s, when the country showed that political opponents could find common cause.
The formation of the government of national unity expressed the hope that the country could do it again.
But just nine months into its term, the good will and pragmatism which marked its formation have worn thin. A major budget impasse between the two major actors, the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), threatens the coalition.
South Africans have long been accustomed to viewing the world of politics, governance and bureaucracy through the lens of a top-down “strong” state – a vicious apartheid state, an East Asia style developmental state, or a collusive “predatory state”.
But as recent analyses we co-authored with others have detailed,
the vision of a top-down politically cohesive state no longer fits South Africa’s realities.
The government of national unity promised the hope that the country was embracing an approach that is key to success for almost all inclusive constitutional democracies. That is – abandon “all or nothing” confrontation, and instead pursue pragmatic bargains to achieve mutually agreeable policy outcomes.
At the most basic level, the government of national unity achieved this, at least for a while. The sharing of cabinet ministries between multiple parties created a diverse platform for executive power-sharing that was not dictated by a single dominant party, and which prevented the risks of parties building institutional fiefdoms.
In our view, failure to overcome deeply ingrained political differences could set off a downward spiral in the country.
Achievements on the governance front
On governance, the government of national unity created the space to pursue two sets of gains.
The first comprises the potential benefit of bringing together unlikely bedfellows.
The former opposition parties brought into a power-sharing arrangement were bound to be performance-driven, given the country’s long deteriorating government performance and ethical integrity. They had made “good governance” and criticism of the ANC central to their political brands.
New “outsider” eyes brought into formerly cloistered and factionalised ANC-run departments created the possibility of a new urgency to perform.
It’s too soon to tell whether this is happening, but anecdotal evidence suggests there are some green shoots.
The second governance gain comprises the crucial task of building a capable and professional state bureaucracy. The challenges include being able to pay the public sector wage bill, fostering a culture of delivery, and consolidating the bloated network of government departments.
Based on their party manifestos and public utterances, members of the government all aim to professionalise the public service.
Detailed technical work is already happening on issues such as training and competency assessment, transferring powers of appointment from politicians to senior public servants, and instituting checks in the recruitment and selection process. The National Assembly’s recent adoption of the Public Service Commission Bill forms part of this agenda.
The government of national unity has struggled to create effective mechanisms to translate agreement on a broad agenda of policy priorities into specific outcomes. This came at a higher cost than expected.
Still, it has made gains in challenging policy areas. These gains have repeatedly been undermined by the perverse determination of sections within both the ANC and the DA to engage in brinkmanship.
On health, both parties agree on the principle of universalising access. They differ on how to achieve this. But at least one seemingly intractable sticking point has been resolved. Both sides agree that private medical aid schemes need to be retained as part of a broader strategy of pursuing health system reform.
On basic education, the public spat over the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill overshadows the potential to agree on balancing the autonomy of school governing bodies with the oversight role of provincial departments.
On land expropriation, the emotive rhetoric which followed the signing of the Expropriation Bill and the unwelcome and toxic intervention of international actors has overshadowed technical concerns which can be resolved.
On pro-growth policies: Operation Vulindlela, a joint Presidency and National Treasury initiative to unblock constraints in targeted economic sectors, has made significant strides. It has laid the groundwork for new rounds of growth-supporting infrastructural reforms and has the potential to build cohesion in the government of national unity. However, the DA’s attempt to lobby for a greater role in the strategic oversight of Operation Vulindlela in exchange for supporting the budget risks souring relations with the ANC.
What now?
A thriving inclusive society depends on powerful actors visibly committed to co-operation.
For all of the challenges confronting the government of national unity, it was built on a foundation of pragmatism. For the sake of South Africa’s future, it remains vital to build on this foundation. Obsolete top-down governing approaches must go. Pathways to performance must be lifted above political grandstanding. Constructive solutions should supersede ideological rigidity. South Africa has done it before. It can do it again.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
A large-scale durian cultivation project will be launched in southern Laos’ Attapeu province, covering hundreds of hectares of land to support the government’s push for commercial fruit farming.
The move supports Laos’ ambition to become a durian supplier to neighboring China, the Lao national TV reported on Thursday.
More than 273 hectares of land have been allocated for durian cultivation as part of a national policy to promote private investment in agriculture and forest conservation amid a rising demand from China.
The Lao government is encouraging farmers and producers to supply more goods to the domestic market and produce more for export to bring in much-needed foreign currency.
The government is targeting a 4.3 percent growth in agriculture for 2025, aiming to increase the sector’s contribution to the country’s gross domestic product to 22.4 percent.
Swim along the edge of a coral reef and you’ll often see schools of sleek, torpedo-shaped fishes gliding through the currents, feeding on tiny plankton from the water column.
For decades, scientists assumed these plankton-feeding fishes – or planktivores – shared specialised traits: forked tails and streamlined body forms for speed, large eyes for spotting small prey, and small extendable jaws for suction-feeding.
But our new study, published in Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, shows there is more nuance to this story. We found plankton-feeding fishes don’t follow a single uniform design. To our surprise, they display the widest range of body forms of any feeding group among reef fishes.
Evolving similar traits
A core idea in evolutionary theory since Charles Darwin is that species facing the same problem often evolve similar traits. This is a process known as convergent evolution. It explains the pattern we see among dolphins, sharks, and tunas – distantly related lineages unified in their streamlined body shape used for fast swimming.
We set out to test whether the same phenomenon was true for plankton-feeding reef fishes. Planktivores are an ideal group to study in this case.
For one, plankton-feeding is the most common feeding group among reef fishes – giving us many distantly related species to compare. For another, they all share the same challenge of having to spot and suck out small prey from the water column.
So we asked: do plankton-feeding fishes have a distinct body shape? And do patterns of convergence hold true across a diversity of plankton-feeding reef fishes?
The broadest range of body shapes
To answer these questions, we collected shape data from nearly 300 species of reef fishes from 12 globally distributed families – including surgeonfishes, wrasses, snappers, and damselfishes. We measured 15 feeding, swimming, and vision-related traits such as jaw length, tail shape, and pupil size.
By combining these measurements with evolutionary trees, we tested whether plankton-feeding fishes were distinct in shape to their counterparts.
But what we found surprised us. Plankton-feeding fishes aren’t converging on a specific body shape. It is quite the opposite – they display the broadest range of body shapes among reef fishes. Some species – such as the schooling fusiliers – truly fit the typical “plankton-feeding” model. They exhibit traits such as a forked tail, torpedo-shaped body, large eyes, and small, extendable jaws.
But most others break the mould entirely. For example, tiny gobies – just three centimetres long – cling onto whip corals and adopt a sit-and-wait approach for plankton to pass by.
Other deep-bodied damselfishes depart a small distance from their coral hosts to feed on plankton. But how can we explain this diversity of planktivore body shapes?
The answer lies in the vast diversity of their behaviours and environments.
Their body shape isn’t dictated by plankton-feeding alone – it’s shaped by where, when and how they feed. Some planktivores feed during the day, others at night. Some inhabit deep reefs, others are mere metres below the surface of the water. Some are restricted to rubble slopes while others prefer the reef edge. Some even target specific sizes and types of the plankton itself.
This diversity in activity patterns, habitat use, and prey preferences places different demands on their body forms – explaining why we see such a range of shapes and sizes among plankton-feeding fishes.
Even species we don’t typically think of as planktivores will feed on plankton when the chance arises. Just last year, while on Lizard Island, we watched yellowmask surgeonfishes – normally feeding on algae and detritus – swimming high above the reef, targeting plankton.
Perhaps this flexibility shouldn’t surprise us. After all, all reef fishes begin their lives as plankton feeders, floating in the open ocean before settling on the reef. The ability for fishes to feed on plankton is likely innate.
Our findings challenge the longstanding assumption that planktivorous reef fishes are distinct in form and are converging towards an optimum body type.
Instead, plankton-feeding is a highly accessible and flexible feeding strategy on coral reefs – available to fishes of many shapes, sizes, evolutionary histories, and even different feeding groups.
This has important implications for how we think about reef fish ecology and evolution. It shows that broad feeding categories like “planktivore” can mask the diversity of other behavioural and ecological traits.
Rather than converging on a single solution, reef fishes highlight something different: that there is more than one way to be a planktivore.
Isabelle Ng receives funding from the James Cook University Postgraduate Research Scholarship.
Alexandre Siqueira receives funding from Edith Cowan University as a Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellow.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Spring farming in full swing across China
Updated: April 11, 2025 09:34Xinhua
An aerial drone photo taken on April 9, 2025 shows farmers mulching at a field in Zunhua City, north China’s Hebei Province. [Photo/Xinhua]Farmers irrigate crops at a field in Tancheng County, Linyi City, east China’s Shandong Province, April 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]Farmers pick tea leaves at a tea garden in Xuan’en County, central China’s Hubei Province, April 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on April 7, 2025 shows farmers picking tea leaves at a tea garden in Anji County, east China’s Zhejiang Province. [Photo/Xinhua]A man drives an agricultural machine to plant rice at a field in Yueqing, east China’s Zhejiang Province, April 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on April 7, 2025 shows farmers picking tea leaves at a tea garden in Anji County, east China’s Zhejiang Province. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on April 9, 2025 shows a sprinkler irrigating crops at a field in Dongying, east China’s Shandong Province. [Photo/Xinhua]Farmers pick tea leaves at a tea garden in Wuxi, east China’s Jiangsu Province, April 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]People drive spraying machines at a field in Shuangliu District, Chengdu City, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, April 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
This notice affects importers of live plants (nursery stock), customs brokers and departmental staff.
What has changed?
The department has identified a scientific publication by Ahmad et al. (2024) reporting that the plant pathogenic bacteria, Xylella fastidiosa (Xylella), was detected overseas in commercial, field grown Cannabis crops.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry…
Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
Murray: “Whatever Trump tweets today, he can reverse tomorrow. Whatever deal he may strike one minute, he may rip up the next… We, here in Congress—we are the off ramp, IF Republicans decide to be… I will not let Republicans off the hook for this.”
Even with his “pause,” Trump’s new tariff rates are the largest tax increase since 1968—and will cost American families more than $4,000 per year
ICYMI: Senator Murray, Commerce Director Nguyễn, WA Businesses and Agriculture Respond to Trump Tariffs Raising Costs on Americans, Tanking Economy
***WATCH HERE***
Washington, D.C. — Today,U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, took to the Senate floor to lay out how Trump’s chaotic trade war—which is sending the markets whipsawing back and forth every time he posts—is seriously threatening our economy, American businesses, families’ retirement savings, and so much else. Senator Murray hammered Republicans in Congress for their outright refusal to end President Trump’s trade war—which Congress has the power to do—and their willingness to hand over Congress’ Constitutionally-granted power to impose tariffs.
Murray also made clear that, while Trump may be retreating from some of his most extreme tariffs for now, his trade war is far from over—Trump is still taxing goods from every country, across the board, at 10 percent at least, and he is escalating his trade war with China, with 145 percent tariffs—which will mean higher prices and serious pain for families and small business across the country. Murray has been vocal about the need to out-compete China but warned that waging an all-out trade war with China on a whim will mean serious economic pain for consumers and small businesses across the country. China is the world’s second largest economy and Washington state exported over $12 billion in goods to China last year—making China Washington state’s top export partner—and imported $11.2 billion in goods from China, the second-most in imports to Washington state from any country aside from Canada. The economic fallout from Trump’s trade war will be felt especially in Washington state, one of the most trade-dependent states in the entire country.
Even with his “pause,” Trump’s new tariff rates are still the largest tax increase since 1968—and will cost American families more than $4,000 per year.
“When it comes to new tax breaks for billionaires Republicans they are going to work around the clock, stay through the night. But when it comes to stopping Trump’s trade war for good, when it comes to stopping a tax increase aimed squarely at working families, when it comes to stopping the complete uncertainty that is chipping away at confidence in our economy—most Republicans can’t be bothered,” Senator Murray said on the Senate floor today. “Never mind, that Trump is now pushing us into a recession and sending the markets whipsawing back and forth every time he tweets.”
“Trump may be retreating from some of his most outlandish tariffs, but make no mistake: his trade war is far from over,” Senator Murray continued. “The threat of even larger taxes—that American families simply cannot afford—is still like a time bomb, set to blow up our economy in 90 days. And if Congress does not defuse that economic bomb there is a real threat that it will blow up balance sheets for small businesses and farms, college savings accounts for our students, and your retirement savings—along with a lot more. […] Trump has no exit strategy. That much is already painfully clear. It was clear when he announced tariffs that were calculated using ridiculous math, it was clear when he repeatedly doubled down on these threats against our allies, and it was clearer than ever when he backtracked on the most absurd tax hikes. This does not have the hallmarks of a grand strategy—and it’s all the more reason Congress, us, needs to step in and put this mess to an end.”
Earlier this week, Senator Murray brought together leaders across Washington state who highlighted how Trump’s ongoing trade war is already a devastating hit to Washington state’s economy, businesses, and our agriculture sector. Trump’s price hikes on working families are coming at the very same time that Republicans are forcing massive new tax cuts for billionaires through Congress via the reconciliation process, which only requires a simple majority to pass.
40 percent of jobs in Washington state are tied to international commerce. Washington state is the top U.S. producer of apples, blueberries, hops, pears, spearmint oil, and sweet cherries—all of which risk losing vital export markets due to retaliatory tariffs from key trading partners including Canada. Additionally, more than 12,000 small and medium-sized companies in Washington state export goods and will be unlikely to be able to absorb the impact of retaliatory tariffs. Trump’s tariffs during his first term were extremely costly for Washington state—for example, India imposed a 20 percent retaliatory tariff on U.S. apples, causing Washington apple shipments to India to fall by 99 percent and growers to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in exports.
Senator Murray’s full remarks, as delivered on the Senate floor, are below and video is HERE:
“Thank you, Mr. President.
“When it comes to new tax breaks for billionaires Republicans they are going to work around the clock, stay through the night. But when it comes to stopping Trump’s trade war for good, when it comes to stopping a tax increase aimed squarely at working families, when it comes to stopping the complete uncertainty that is chipping away at confidence in our economy—most Republicans can’t be bothered.
“Never mind, that Trump is now pushing us into a recession and sending the markets whipsawing back and forth every time he tweets. Trump may be retreating from some of his most outlandish tariffs, but make no mistake, his trade war is far from over.
“First of all, he is still taxing goods from every country—across the board—at 10 percent at least. That means higher prices, and serious pain, for families and small businesses across our country. Not to mention, he is only escalating his boneheaded trade war with China with 145 percent tariffs!
“There is no question we are in fierce competition with China. I chaired a committee hearing focused on this. We need to be competing to win—but that is not what Trump is doing.
“Do my Republican colleagues understand it is not setting America up for success to launch an all-out trade war with the second largest economy in the world, on a whim?
“And while people might be temporarily relieved by a so-called pause on the even higher tariffs, the fact of the matter is that Trump is only delaying them.
“The threat of even larger taxes—that American families simply cannot afford—is still like a time bomb, set to blow up our economy in 90 days. And if Congress does not defuse that economic bomb there is a real threat that it will blow up balance sheets for small businesses and farms, college savings accounts for our students, and your retirement savings—along with a lot more.
“And—I have to emphasize—the uncertainty, the constant by-the-hour reversal of federal policy, that alone is already causing massive harm. How on earth are you supposed to build your business—if your costs skyrocket on a tweet? How are you supposed to plan for retirement—when the President is sending your 401k on a rollercoaster ride every time he is in a bad mood?
“How are we ever going to rebuild trust, trust, with our trading partners across the world when the message the United States is sending right now is that our trade relationships are built on sand and there is no logic to the tariffs the United States will impose.
“How are they supposed to feel good about negotiating with a country—where one man can totally burn down the economy and Congress will not lift a finger to stop him.
“Instead of building stronger trade agreements—Trump is pushing our partners away and pushing them towards striking deals with China and our other adversaries. And mark my words, this chaotic chapter is not over—as much as Republicans want to pretend otherwise.
“I have been hearing from small businesses who are in an absolute panic because of Trump’s tariff threats. Car dealerships are seeing sales plummet because Trump is sending prices higher, restaurants are trying to stock up on any goods they can because their ingredients are about to get more expensive, our growers are bracing for rising operating costs and retaliatory tariffs—and that is going to drive up prices at the grocery store.
“10 percent across-the-board tariffs are still bad enough to ruin families’ finances.
“And while Republicans are showing with their own actions that they couldn’t care more about shoveling trillions—yes, that is T—trillions—at billionaires, Trump has said, in his own words—that he, ‘couldn’t care less’ about the pain his tariffs are already causing for Americans. I’m not kidding—he actually said that about automobile tariffs.
“This is what happens when you only have billionaires in charge. Because, of course, Trump doesn’t care if car prices go up by a couple thousand dollars.
“Of course, Elon Musk doesn’t care if your groceries are getting more expensive, at the same time Republicans are cutting nutrition programs by the way.
“Of course, the richest people in the world don’t care if your nest egg is crushed, if your small business shutters, if your house gets foreclosed on, or your kid can’t go to college. Billionaires are going to be fine—after all, they are still getting a tax cut!
“But I wasn’t sent here to fight for the billionaires—actually none of us were. We are here to fight for families back home and they are already starting to get crushed by Trump’s tariffs.
“And they are bracing for impact if Trump doubles down in 90 days.
“Or who knows, maybe Trump changes his mind again tomorrow! It’s anyone’s guess at this point—which is by the way the problem here!
“And another thing—if this is about American manufacturing, tell us why are plants and new investments being cancelled? Why has Trump been freezing and outright cancelling grants we passed to support chips manufacturing, or clean energy, and more—killing American jobs.
“And let’s keep in mind, these tariffs affect building and construction too. Trump is actually making it more expensive to build factories in America. And don’t forget—President Trump is still promising more tariffs.
“He said this week, this week, he wants to put tariffs on medicine. Well, I got to tell you, one thing I have never heard—not in a single meeting, not once in my entire career as a Senator—is someone saying ‘Gee I really wish my prescriptions were more expensive.’
“Drug costs are out of control. Families are already skipping meals… or rationing doses. There are real stakes here—there is real damage already happening in this country because of Trump’s new taxes and his ongoing chaos. We here cannot ignore this harm, especially when the threat is still there.
“When you are putting out a fire, you don’t say ‘oh great, it’s smaller—job done!’ You keep going until the fire is put out.
“This fire, this fire is still raging. If we don’t act, folks back home are the ones who are going to get burned, and before too long—in 90 days—we could see even worse price increases come roaring back. Because let’s be real, Trump has no exit strategy. That much is already painfully clear.
“It was clear when he announced tariffs that were calculated using ridiculous math, it was clear when he repeatedly doubled down on these threats against our allies, and it was clearer than ever when he backtracked on the most absurd tax hikes.
“This does not have the hallmarks of a grand strategy—and it’s all the more reason Congress, us, needs to step in and put this mess to an end. Trump’s trade war is all pain and no plan.
“We could be passing legislation right here to reject this chaos. Here’s what everyone—my colleagues, my constituents, the markets around the world—all need to understand. This chaos will not be over for good unless we, here in congress, vote to end it. Because whatever Trump tweets today, he can reverse tomorrow. Whatever deal he may strike one minute, he may rip up the next. We know this about him. He proves it at every opportunity.
“We—here in Congress—we are the off ramp if Republicans decide to be. We are the check on Presidential power. We are the kill switch for Trump’s trade war. And by the way, we are about to be out of town for two weeks.
“I cannot understand why any Republican would want to leave this business unfinished, want to leave this economic time bomb ticking, want to hand over our constitutionally granted power to impose tariffs.
“But I can tell you, for the next two weeks, I am going to be going across my home state of Washington raising this alarm. I am going to be meeting with families, small businesses, people who are paying the cost of Trump’s new tax increase and who are going to see their world turned upside down if we do not take action to stop this from getting worse.
“And when we are back here in two weeks—you can bet your bottom dollar I will lift those stories up as high as I can, I will call for action as loud as I can, and I am going tokeep a bright and burning spotlight on all of the chaos Trump has caused, and I will keep the pressure on all of our colleagues—I will not let Republicans off the hook for this. We can put an end to this.
“The costs are just going to keep adding up. The carnage is just going to keep piling higher. How long do you want to wait?
“My vote—not one more second.”
Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
Washington state is set to lose nearly $25 million this year to help schools and food banks feed hungry kids and families with fresh local food because of Trump and Elon’s senseless cuts at USDA
ICYMI: Senator Murray, Colleagues Condemn Trump Canceling USDA Local Food Purchasing Programs
***WATCH HERE***
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a virtual press conference to call out the Trump administration’s recent, sudden, and senseless cuts to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs that help local food banks, school districts, and child care centers purchase locally-grown produce, meat, seafood, and other food from farmers in Washington state.
Last month, the Trump administration inexplicably ripped away more than $660 million in funding for the Local Food for Schools Program (LFS)—which schools and child care facilities in Washington state use to purchase berries, meat, seafood, and more from local farmers and producers—as well as $500 million from the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA) and $500 million from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which helps food banks buy nutritious food from local farms for the communities they serve.
Washington state is set to lose nearly $25 million in federal funding it was set to receive from these programs this year alone—a $3.6 million cut to LFS, $11.8 million cut to LFPA, and a $10.5 million cut to TEFAP—and the Trump administration’s cuts have left schools and food banks scrambling to fill the gap.
“Right now, some of the richest and most powerful men in the world, are stealing food from our kids. Apparently, there is plenty of room in the budget for tax breaks that fork over billions of dollars to people who already have billions of dollars. But keeping kids fed—that’s a bridge too far for Trump. Keeping food banks stocked—that is just too expensive. Investing in our farmers, and our families—well that is just not as important as padding Elon’s pockets,” said Senator Murray on the press call today. “These programs support American farmers—by buying their products, like cherries, raspberries, blueberries, and other produce Washington state is known for, or nutritious salmon from local fishermen, and meat from local farms…And it is not just farmers getting hit—we’re talking about food banks that serve seniors, parents, and people struggling to make ends meet. Schools who rely on these programs to help feed their students, so all our kids are able to focus on their classes—not on a grumbling stomach…And we know at least 23 of our school districts in Washington state have already withdrawn from the program next school year because they just don’t have room in their budgets to make up for the shortfall caused by Trump and Elon.”
“Food insecurity in WA has increased annually since 2021, from one in seven households to one in four households. A recent longitudinal study conducted by UW and WSU between 2021-2024 reported that over 50 percent of households have some level of food insecurity, and it raises to over 70 percent for households with children. Food insecurity is on a steady and aggressive incline; it is moving up into the middle class. More working families are food insecure than I’ve seen in the past decade. The emergency food system for Eastern Washington needs more food. Any reduction in food sourcing compounds the growing problem of food insecurity,” said Cal Coblentz, Chief Executive Officer at Partners Inland Northwest in Spokane, the largest food pantry in Spokane County. Partners is the lead agency for Spokane County’s emergency food pantry network and also manages several food programs for Spokane County for the Washington State Department of Agriculture. “These federal funds provide food banks with purchasing power to buy locally produced food for our food bank customers. It’s powerful because we can build relationships with local farms and ranchers. One of the best ways to improve your health is buying food that’s produced close to where you live. This fiscal year, Partners will have used $350,000 of Local Food Purchase Assistance Program funding to buy 60,000 pounds of beef, which we distribute throughout the county. That’s about 120 cows. The LFPA program closes out this June and has been cancelled going forward; that’s at least 30,000 pounds of beef that we won’t be able to purchase and distribute. Additionally, $406,000 in current orders for Spokane County through The Emergency Food Assistance Program have been canceled. Long-term, if TEFAP were reduced or eliminated, we could see at least a 5 percent reduction in food across our panty system.”
“As a farm business, we were really excited by the idea that we had an expanding local market, and in our industry, new markets are far and few between for sure. Costs are rising, costs of production are rising. We heard about this funding cut right as we had already purchased all of our seeds, we’d made our plans for the upcoming season… So, this was a big blow to us, and [LFPA] was actually a program that was working and that we saw growth in since COVID and over the last four years—there’s been a lot of efficient streamlining that’s happened across all agencies to make this program and these relationships viable and productive. And it benefited us financially,” said Haley Olson-Wailand, Co-owner of Dharma Ridge Farm on the Olympic Peninsula in Quilcene, which grows between 80-100 acres of WSDA-certified organic vegetables. Sales to Food Banks utilizing Local Food Purchasing Agreement (LFPA) funds made up just under 20 percent of Dharma Ridge Farm’s gross sales in 2024. “Access to fresh food is the missing link for a lot of people, and they need consistent access to that fresh food, and we were providing that. And it was not only providing that access to our community members who needed the food, but it was also providing a direct new market for us as farmers—and it’s devastating to lose that.”
“As of now, our TEFAP commodities are at risk of being cut by one-third due to TEFAP funding being under review. This funding allows the state to purchase dry, frozen, and fresh commodities for us to distribute in our community. On average we receive 50,000 pounds of TEFAP product each month. If TEFAP is cut, we will lose 16,000 pounds of food for the 48,000 clients our partner organizations feed each month,” said Madeline McGonagle, Food Access Manager, Skagit Food Distribution Center in Sedro-Woolley, which is the lead agency in Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties for Food Assistance Programs through the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA). “For the past couple of years, we have also had funding through the LFPA that has allowed us to purchase fresh food products from local producers and food businesses. Our current LFPA contract that began in July of 2023 and concludes in June of this year totaled $133,071. All of those funds have gone to food purchases from 33 producers and food businesses in our area through Skagit, San Juan, Whatcom, and Snohomish counties. To date, we have purchased 44,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, frozen meat, and eggs to distribute to our 14 partner organizations. In the beginning of the year we were under the impression there would be another round of these funds starting in July of 2025. However, we were recently notified by the WSDA that this program had been terminated by the USDA. While we still have funds to carry our purchasing through June, we will have no purchasing dollars come July. This will directly impact the food pantries who have been consistently receiving fresh products from us for the past two years. With the abundance of local purchasing funding, we had last year we decided to contract with local growers to specifically grow products for us to buy throughout the growing season. This was an opportunity for growers in their first or second seasons to have reliable sales throughout the season. It also ensured we had a reliable supply of products for the food pantries. With the termination of the LFPA contract we will not be able to do that again this year. Skagit has a strong and diverse agricultural community and the LFPA has lifted that community while also lifting members of the community who are experiencing food insecurity. The loss of this program will certainly have profound negative impacts in our community.”
According to Leanne Eko, Chief Nutrition Officer of Child Nutrition Services the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Washington state received $3.6 million in funding for the LFS program during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years, which supported the purchase of domestic, locally grown foods from local producers, small businesses, and farmers and producers for distribution to schools. OSPI leveraged its existing USDA Food Distribution System and LFS funding to support Washington school districts’ engagement in Farm to School programs by facilitating local food procurement, reducing transportation costs, and simplifying ordering logistics.
Through the LFS program:
Nearly 600,000 pounds of local, unprocessed or minimally processed foods were made available to Washington children;
Between LFS funds and school district purchases, over $3,000,000 was spent on local producers and vendors;
Over 850,000 students had access to local foods in their school meal programs;
and 23 unique unprocessed or minimally processed foods were purchased from local producers.
USDA announced the continuation of the LFS program and a new Local Foods for Child Care (LFCC) program in December of 2024. Washington was to receive $8,840,854 in LFS funds and $2,687,472 in LFCC funds. On March 7,2025 OSPI received a Termination Notice for the Local Food for Schools and Local Food for Child Care program project agreement. The termination noticed cited that the agreement “no longer effectuates agency priorities.” While LFS foods will continue to be available for the 2025-26 school year, interested school districts will now have to cover the full cost of products, including shipping and warehousing, due to the Trump administration’s cancellation of federal funding.
Senator Murray’s full remarks, as delivered on today’s press call are below and video is HERE:
“Thank you to all for participating. Right now, some of the richest and most powerful men in the world, are stealing food from our kids.
“Apparently, there is plenty of room in the budget for tax breaks that fork over billions of dollars to people who already have billions of dollars.
“But keeping kids fed—that’s a bridge too far for Trump. Keeping food banks stocked—that is just too expensive. Investing in our farmers, and our families—well that is just not as important as padding Elon’s pockets.
“‘Won’t someone think of the poor billionaires!’ That’s what Trump and Musk seem to be saying at least.
“Because in the last month they have canceled over 1.6 billion dollars for programs that feed hungry kids and help farmers.
“Including nearly 25 million dollars that was heading to Washington state this year alone.
“Last month the Trump administration made the sudden, senseless, and downright cruel decision to cut: $660 million from LFS, that’s the Local Food for Schools Program, which schools and child care facilities rely on to purchase food from nearby farms, they cut $500 million from LFPA, that’s the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program, which helps food banks buy nutritious local food for the communities they serve, and $500 million from TEFAP, that’s the Emergency Food Assistance Program, which helps get more food from farms to nearby food banks to people facing hunger.
“And on top of that, Trump’s USDA also canceled this year’s round of Farm to School grants, which helps schools develop and implement local food purchasing programs and school gardens.
“Look—these are federal dollars that I worked very hard to pass in a bipartisan way—so we can fight hunger, and keep our families fed.
“And these programs support American farmers—by buying their products, like cherries, raspberries, blueberries, and other produce Washington state is known for, or nutritious salmon from local fishermen, and meat from local farms.
“And I just want to talk for a minute about this. Because remember what else is happening right now: Trump is telling farmers they need to sell more of their products inside the U.S because of his boneheaded tariffs.
“Which, by the way, shows he doesn’t have a clue—because many of our top producers export up to 90 percent of their products.
“But then, at the very same time, Trump is eliminating farmers’ access to domestic markets by cutting important programs that help them sell locally! Make it make sense. It’s almost as if their plan is to hammer farmers as hard as they can!
“And it is not just farmers getting hit—we’re talking about food banks that serve seniors, parents, and people struggling to make ends meet. Schools who rely on these programs to help feed their students, so all our kids are able to focus on their classes—not on a grumbling stomach.
“In Washington alone, the Local Food for Schools program helped feed 850,000 students!
“Now, school districts are having to make the painful decision to either keep participating in the program, and pay full price for the local food they are supposed to be getting steep discounts on, or not participate at all.
“And we know at least 23 of our school districts in Washington state have already withdrawn from the program next school year because they just don’t have room in their budgets to make up for the shortfall caused by Trump and Elon.
“And the way Trump and Musk are cutting these programs—with maximum chaos—isn’t saving money, it is not, so much as it it’s threatening to waste food that was already ordered and leave families hungry.
“Truck deliveries were cancelled without warning or reason—and without any real plan to keep that food from rotting away. I mean, if you want to talk about waste—that is a real waste, caused by Trump and Musk, and the cost for their incompetence is being paid by the kids who Trump is leaving to go hungry.
“Our President should not be pro-hunger. Two billionaires should not be rewriting national hunger programs to, essentially, say to families “let them eat cake.”
“Instead, we should be making common sense investments in our famers, and in our families, and doing the basic, decent work of making sure kids and families do not go hungry.
“This is government 101, literally bread and butter stuff.
“Well, as Elon and Trump continue to do everything they can to break our government, I am not going to let this funding fall through the cracks.
“Lifting up our voices, speaking up about what is at stake—that still matters. That can still make a difference. And that is why we are here today, to talk about what these programs actually mean for people and for our communities, to put these cuts in the spotlight, and to show just how devastating they are going to be for families in Washington state.
“And I’m really pleased to be joined by some people who really have a deep understanding of this.
“So, now I’ll turn it over to Cal, he’s with Partners Inland Northwest.”
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Republicans work to pass their tax breaks for big corporations and Wall Street investors, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and her colleagues introduced two bills to cut taxes for Wisconsinites. First, Senator Baldwin introduced the American Family Act, which would give middle-class families up to a $6,360 tax cut by making the enhanced child tax credit permanent. Senator Baldwin also introduced the Tax Cuts for American Workers Act, which would give working Americans without children up to a $1,500 tax cut by bolstering the Earned Income Tax Credit.
“President Trump came into office promising to bring down costs for Wisconsin families on Day One. Instead, he’s launched a trade war, raised prices on families, and created economic uncertainty for Wisconsin businesses and farmers,” said Senator Baldwin. “I’m proud to push for these tax cuts that will give Wisconsin workers and families some well-deserved breathing room. While my Republican colleagues decide how much to cut from programs like Medicaid to pay for Wall Street tax breaks, I’m focused on bringing down costs for hardworking Wisconsinites.”
Today, Senator Baldwin announced she sponsored the following bills to deliver tax relief for working Wisconsinites:
American Family Act
The 2021 expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) in the American Rescue Plan Act led to a historic reduction in poverty in the United States, particularly for children. Research showed that child poverty fell immediately and substantially to 5.2%, its lowest level on record. Despite this, Congress allowed the expanded CTC to expire. The poverty rate for children more than doubled to 12.4 percent in 2022.
The American Family Act would expand the Child Tax Credit (CTC) by:
Increasing Relief: Increases the value of the CTC from the current level of $2,000 per child to $6,360 for newborns, $4,320 for children ages one through six, and $3,600 for children age six through 17;
Providing Fix for Low-Income Children: Ends the longstanding, discriminatory policy that reduces the value of the Child Tax Credit for low-income families, ensuring that the families of 17 million low-income children left out of the CTC under current law will receive the same credit as families in the middle class. As of 2023, about 238,000 Wisconsin children, or 20.4 percent of residents 17 and below, are ineligible for full CTC due to family incomes being too low;
Paying Tax Credit Monthly: Provides for monthly delivery of the credit so families have access to the credit as bills arrive; and
Ensuring Credit Keeps Up with Inflation: Indexes the CTC for inflation to preserve the value of the credit moving forward.
Tax Cuts for American Workers Act
The existing Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – the Worker Tax Cut – has been delivering tax relief for millions of workers for decades. An estimated 236,000 workers without children in Wisconsin would benefit from the proposed EITC expansions in 2024. In 2023, over 305,000 Wisconsin workers filed EITC claims, averaging $2,497 per claim.
The Tax Cuts for American Workers Act would expand EITC by:
Increasing Support: Triples the maximum EITC benefit for workers without children from roughly $540 to $1,500.
Including More Working Americans: Raises the income limit from $16,000 to $21,000 for single filers and $22,000 to $27,000 for married filers. The legislation would also extend the credit to both younger and older workers who are currently ineligible for the credit because of their age, including workers from 19 to 24 and 65 and older.
Supporting Americans in Foster Care: Makes the credit more accessible for adults aging out of the foster youth system.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne
A national YouGov poll, conducted April 4–10 from a sample of 1,505, gave Labor a 52.5–47.5 lead, a 1.5-point gain for Labor since the March 28 to April 3 YouGov poll. This is Labor’s best result in YouGov for 18 months, and slightly better for Labor than the 2022 election result (52.1–47.9 to Labor).
Primary votes were 33.5% Coalition (down 1.5), 32% Labor (up two), 13% Greens (steady), 8.5% One Nation (up 1.5), 1% Trumpet of Patriots (down one), 9% independents (down one) and 3% others (steady). By 2022 election preference flows, Labor would lead by over 53.5–46.5.
Anthony Albanese’s net approval improved four points to -2, with 47% dissatisfied and 45% satisfied. In the last two weeks, Albanese has gained seven points on net approval. Peter Dutton’s net approval was steady at -15. Albanese led Dutton as better PM by 48–37 (45–38 previously).
The only other national poll since last Sunday’s article was a Morgan poll that also had Labor extending its lead. The poll graph below shows Labor has kept improving in the polls since early March. With three weeks to go until the May 3 election, Labor is the likely winner.
The YouGov poll was taken during the period after Donald Trump announced his “Liberation Day” tariffs on April 2, leading to a week of chaos on the stock markets. While US markets had their biggest one-day gain since 2008 on Wednesday after Trump suspended some of his tariffs for 90 days, they slumped again Thursday owing to the very high tariffs on China.
I believe the more Trump is in the news for doing things that potentially damage the US and world economies, the more Labor will be assisted in the polls by not being the more pro-Trump major party.
Candidate nominations for the federal election will be declared today after they closed Thursday. If candidates now embarrass their party, they can’t be replaced but only disendorsed; their names will still appear on the ballot paper.
Morgan poll: Labor increases solid lead
A national Morgan poll, conducted March 31 to April 4 from a sample of 1,481, gave Labor a 53.5–46.5 lead by headline respondent preferences, a 0.5-point gain for Labor since the March 24–30 Morgan poll.
Primary votes were 33% Coalition (down two), 32.5% Labor (up 0.5), 13.5% Greens (up 0.5), 6% One Nation (up 0.5), 1.5% Trumpet of Patriots (new for this pollster), 9% independents (down 1.5) and 4.5% others. By 2022 election flows, Labor led by 54.5–45.5, a one-point gain for Labor.
By 52–33, voters said the country was going in the wrong direction (51.5–32 previously). Morgan’s consumer confidence index increased 1.5 points to 86.8; this poll was taken before the stock market falls.
Politicians’ net favourable ratings and seat polls
I previously covered a national Redbridge poll for the News Corp tabloids that gave Labor a 52–48 lead. This poll asked about net favourable ratings for various politicians. Jacqui Lambie was at net -1 favourable, Albanese at -4, Dutton at -15, Greens leader Adam Bandt at -17, Pauline Hanson at -23 and Clive Palmer at -49.
The Poll Bludger reported on Thursday a seat poll of McMahon by right-wing pollster Compass had Labor incumbent Chris Bowen on just 19% of the primary vote (48.0% in 2022). Bowen trailed the Liberals on 20% and right-wing independent Matt Camenzuli on 41%. The Poll Bludger was very sceptical of this poll.
A uComms seat poll of Teal-held Wentworth for Climate 200 had teal Allegra Spender leading the Liberals by 58–42 (55.9–44.1 at the 2022 election adjusted for a redistribution). Neither of the polls above gave fieldwork dates, with both having a sample over 1,000. Seat polls are unreliable.
Canadian and South Korean elections
The Canadian election is on April 28, and it’s increasingly likely the governing centre-left Liberals will win a seat majority after they were 24 points behind the Conservatives in early January. There hasn’t been much movement from the Trump tariff chaos in the last week, but Trump’s US ratings are down.
On April 4, South Korea’s Constitutional Court upheld the right-wing president’s impeachment by parliament in December after he declared martial law. A new presidential election was required and will be held on June 3. The centre-left Democrats are very likely to win, and they already have a big parliamentary majority. I covered these elections for The Poll Bludger on Thursday.
Victorian state Redbridge poll: Coalition narrowly ahead
A Victorian state Redbridge poll, reported in The Herald Sun, was conducted March 24 to April 2 from a sample of 2,013. It gave the Coalition a 51–49 lead, unchanged since November. Primary votes were 41% Coalition (down two), 29% Labor (down one), 13% Greens (down one) and 17% for all Others (up four). This poll is not as bad for Labor as other recent Victorian polls.
Liberal leader Brad Battin was at +2 net favourable while Labor Premier Jacinta Allan was at a dismal -35. By 52–27, voters did not think the Labor government had the right priorities. By 46–29, voters supported the Suburban Rail Loop. Over 50% thought the government’s changes to machete and bail laws too lenient.
Adrian Beaumont 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 – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California
Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 22, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, a bill that ensures only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections by requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration.
“The right to vote was always intended to be reserved for United States citizens. Allowing non-citizens that right would undermine the very principles upon which our nation was founded and diminish the value of votes cast by actual American citizens,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “For years, blue states have exploited weak laws, creating loopholes that put our elections at risk. The SAVE Act is a commonsense solution that closes these gaps and ensures that only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections, restoring trust and integrity to the process. I am pleased to see the House take this important step towards protecting the sanctity of our elections and the will of the American people.”
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act reinforces election security by:
Requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, whether at the DMV, a government office, or by mail.
Ensuring voter rolls are accurate by mandating that states remove non-citizens from their databases.
Holding election officials accountable by allowing private citizens to sue if officials register voters without proper proof of citizenship.
Providing states access to federal databases at no cost to verify citizenship status.
Creating a process for legitimate voters who lack standard documentation, ensuring no eligible citizen is wrongly turned away.
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California
Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) released the following statement after the House passed the Senate Amendment to the budget resolution. Passage of this amendment is a critical step in the reconciliation process and moves us one step closer to a balanced budget.
“Runaway spending has driven inflation and pushed costs higher across the board. This budget resolution takes an important step toward reversing that damage, bringing down energy costs, stopping a devastating tax increase, and putting us back on the path to a balanced budget without cuts to Medicare or Social Security,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “Hardworking Americans deserve policies that lower prices and strengthen our economy, not more reckless government spending. I look forward to the next steps in this process to build on this progress and deliver real relief.”
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tom Tiffany (WI-07)
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) introduced a joint resolution calling for the United States to formally withdraw from the World Trade Organization (WTO), a deeply flawed globalist institution that has repeatedly failed to uphold fair trade and undermined American economic interests.
“The WTO has repeatedly overlooked China’s unfair trade practices and human rights abuses, undermined American farmers and manufacturers, and eroded our national sovereignty,”said Congressman Tiffany. “American trade policies should be made by American officials who are elected by American voters and accountable to American workers, not dictated by unelected international bureaucrats in Geneva. It’s time to pursue a better approach to trade – one that puts American industry, jobs, and economic independence first.”
“It has been two decades since Congress last voted on whether to continue our membership in this deeply flawed organization,”Congressman Tiffany added.“The American people deserve to know if their elected officials stand with them, or with China’s allies in the WTO.”
Background:
Under current law, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is required to submit an annual report to Congress by March 1st assessing the impact of U.S. participation in the WTO, including an analysis of the organization’s performance and value to American interests.
Following the release of that report, Congress is authorized to consider a joint resolution to withdraw the United States from the WTO. This opportunity occurs every five years, during a 90-day window, and can be initiated by any member of Congress. Congress previously debated similar resolutions in 2000 and 2005, in recognition of growing concerns about the WTO’s inability to enforce fair trade rules. No resolutions were introduced in 2010 and 2015. In 2020, withdrawal resolutions were introduced by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), but neither were considered.
Since joining the WTO in 2001 after being granted Permanent Most Favored Nation trade status by the United States, Communist China has engaged in intellectual property theft and flooded global markets with heavily subsidized exports – all while the WTO looked the other way and allowed China to maintain trade barriers.
Just last month, the United States took the step of suspending payments to the WTO. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett underscored the economic consequences of WTO membership, stating, that since China entered the WTO, “Real incomes declined by about $1,200 cumulatively.”
The full text of Rep. Tiffany’s resolution can be found here.
Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Veterans First Act of 2025, which will redirect wasteful taxpayer funding previously allocated for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to instead pay for outstanding repairs in state veterans’ homes. This legislation follows the Trump administration’s actions to largely shut down USAID after it was revealed that the agency was using taxpayer funds to pay for woke, leftist priorities. As Alabama’s representative on the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Sen. Tuberville is always looking for ways to improve the lives for our veteran heroes.
“Let’s be honest, USAID was largely being used as a Democrat slush fund under Joe Biden,” said Sen. Tuberville. “We don’t need to waste BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars on research in Wuhan or transgender operas in Colombia when our own veterans are living in horrible conditions. There are more than 160 state veteran homes across the country that provide long-term care to eligible military veterans. The VA currently offers construction grants that cover up to 65% of renovation costs, but funding constraints can cause years of delays for homes that are waiting to receive federal funds to match the funds approved at the state level. This critical legislation would provide sufficient federal funding to cover all outstanding Priority 1 VA State Home Construction projects that already have the state-matching funds. Our veteran heroes were willing to lay down their lives for our freedom. The least we can do is make sure they have a decent place to call home.
“Our bill takes 2 billion dollars that was going to be thrown into the USAID money pit and distributed to radical progressive causes across the globe, and instead puts it toward desperately needed housing and hospitals for the men and women who defend America. We should put our veterans before any foreign interests or organizations,” said Sen. Lee.
“Under the Biden-Harris Administration, taxpayer dollars were wastefully sent overseas to fund DEI initiatives while the pressing needs of veterans here at home were ignored,” said Rep. Taylor. “Under President Trump, Republicans are getting our Nation’s priorities straight and our Heroes are at the top of the list. I am proud to lead this bill to ensure State Veterans Homes across our country are equipped with the funding to meet our veterans’ needs.”
Specifically, the Veterans First Act of 2025 would:
Redirect $2 billion of USAID funds toward State Veteran Home repairs and renovations,
Provide sufficient funding to cover all outstanding Priority 1 VA State Home construction grants,
These are ready-to-go projects that already possess state-matching funds and are only awaiting federal matching funds to being work.
Put America’s veterans first and reorient our nation’s spending priorities.
Representative Dave Taylor (R-OH-02) led the effort in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Read full text of the legislation here.
BACKGROUND:
Sen. Tuberville represents Alabama’s more than 400,000 veterans on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and has worked to make quality improvements for veterans. He has introduced several pieces of legislation that have been signed into law, including the Supporting Families of the Fallen Act, Restoring Benefits to Defrauded Veterans Act, and legislation to streamline Post-9/11 benefits for service members and their dependents.
Already this year, Sen. Tuberville introduced several pieces of legislation aimed at helping veterans, including the Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025, Ensuring Continuity in Veterans Health Act, HBOT Access Act, andVeteran Fraud Reimbursement Act.
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.
