President Droupadi Murmu will undertake a three-day official visit to Uttarakhand from June 19 to 21, during which she will inaugurate a series of development and public engagement initiatives at Rashtrapati Niketan in Dehradun. The President will also participate in various cultural and educational programmes.
On June 19, President Murmu will inaugurate an amphitheatre at Rashtrapati Niketan and lay foundation stones for staff quarters, stables, and barracks.
The following day, the President will formally open Rashtrapati Niketan for public visits and inaugurate visitor amenities including a Facilitation Centre, Cafeteria, and Souvenir Shop. She will also inaugurate Rashtrapati Tapovan and lay the foundation for Rashtrapati Udyan. Both Rashtrapati Niketan and Rashtrapati Tapovan will open to the public from June 24.
President Murmu is also scheduled to visit the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities in Dehradun on June 20, where she will attend an exhibition, visit a model school science lab, and interact with students. Later in the evening, the President will release a commemorative postage stamp marking 125 years of Raj Bhavan, Nainital.
On June 21, President Murmu will participate in a mass yoga demonstration at the State Police Line Maidan, Dehradun, as part of International Yoga Day celebrations.
The South Australian parliament today passed a new law to conserve, restore and enhance biodiversity.
It brings together native vegetation management, protection for native species and habitat, and conservation on private land. When introducing the bill to the Parliament, Deputy Premier Susan Close said:
Just as South Australia has led the way on climate action, committing to net zero emissions by 2050, we must now take the same ambitious approach to biodiversity. (This) crucial piece of legislation … will modernise and strengthen protections for South Australia’s biodiversity to benefit us and our future generations.
SA is not the first state to revise its nature laws. But this is the first environment law in years to be drafted from scratch in Australia. Rather than waiting for federal reform, SA has leapfrogged the protracted process. This new legislation achieves some things no Australian law has done before.
National environment law reform has stalled
This all comes at a time when the federal law reform is up in the air.
The Albanese government failed to pass new national environment laws during its first term.
Environment protection even went backwards just before the election. The rushed amendments limited powers to reconsider certain environment approvals when an activity is harming the environment.
In the meantime, state and territory governments are forging ahead.
Time for states and territories to lead?
The last state to write a new nature law was New South Wales, in 2016. But a scathing 2023 review of the law recommended a major overhaul.
The NSW government committed to most of the recommendations, announcing big plans for nature law reforms in July last year. These plans include strengthening land-clearing codes, improving species protections and monitoring, and preparing a new “nature positive” strategy.
So far, the NSW government has only managed to pass legislation to fix problems with biodiversity offsets. Offset schemes allow developers to compensate for their destruction of vital habitat with gains elsewhere.
In Victoria, the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 was amended in 2019. These reforms inserted new principles around how the Act should be implemented, and a new approach to crucial habitat. The reforms also emphasised the need to improve species’ survival and adaptation to climate and environmental change.
The Nature Conservation Act and strategy in the ACT are also due for review. Early consultation concluded in July 2024. A revised Act is likely to be released later this year.
Does Australia really need two layers of environment laws?
The short answer is yes, Australia needs both state and federal environment laws. But the interactions between the two could be managed better.
The Australian Constitution doesn’t give the federal government explicit authority to make laws about the environment. That’s left to the states and territories, which means they make most laws about threatened species, waterways, native vegetation and protected areas.
The federal government has an overarching responsibility to protect environments that are important to all of us, in national laws. We call these “matters of national environmental significance”.
Some matters are significant because they involve Australia’s promises to the rest of the world. Australia has international obligations to protect world heritage areas and internationally significant wetlands, for example.
Other matters cross state borders. The orange-bellied parrot, for instance, migrates across three states to find food and nesting sites.
Individual states and territories do not have sufficient resources or the national perspective needed to protect these species and places.
Why do the South Australian reforms matter?
SA’s new Biodiversity Act does some things no Australian law has done before.
For example, it looks beyond species and ecosystems, offering protection to so-called “ecological entities”. Regulations will be needed to define what an ecological entity is. But the concept may protect refuges where species shelter from extreme events. It might also offer a new way to protect important landscape features such as coastal dunes.
Another new concept is “culturally significant biodiversity entities”. The Act defines a culturally significant biodiversity entity as:
a native species or ecological community
with cultural value to some or all Aboriginal people
which is critical to Aboriginal peoples’ relationships with and adaptation to Country.
The Act also sets up a new Aboriginal Biodiversity Committee. That committee will co-develop policies with the minister. One of these policies will explain how culturally significant biodiversity entities will be identified and managed.
Other policies will be developed in collaboration with the Aboriginal Biodiversity Committee. These include policies to guide cultural burning of native plants, or to consider and apply Aboriginal knowledge. At long last, Aboriginal people will have a “seat at the table”.
SA becomes the third state (after NSW and Victoria) to mention climate change in its nature law. This is an important reform. Laws are needed to help nature survive more frequent and severe droughts, floods and fires.
Environmental scientist and polar explorer Tim Jarvis on biodiversity (Department for Environment and Water)
All hands on deck
Australian environments are extraordinary, diverse and ancient. But Australia has long been an extinction hotspot. The continent’s ecosystems remain under serious pressure.
Our environment laws must be clear and avoid complex clashes or gaps between national and state responsibilities. But SA, NSW, Victoria and soon the ACT show law reform can also be more ambitious. Nature laws can truly help the environment to flourish even as the climate changes.
Phillipa C. McCormack receives funding from the Australian Research Council, Natural Hazards Research Australia, the National Environmental Science Program, Green Adelaide and the ACT Government. She is a member of the National Environmental Law Association and affiliated with the Wildlife Crime Research Hub and the Centre for Marine Socioecology.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Police have arrested two female youths in relation to an aggravated robbery in Darwin City yesterday evening.
Around 6:30pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received a report that a 25-year-old woman had been robbed along Garramilla Boulevard.
It is alleged that three female youths approached the woman, with one attempting to steal her bag. When the victim resisted, one of the offenders allegedly produced a pair of scissors and threatened to stab her. The victim then surrendered her bag, and the group fled the scene on foot.
There were no reported injuries during the incident.
Police conducted patrols of the area and subsequently arrested two 13-year-old females. One of the alleged offenders was found in possession of items belonging to the victim at the time of arrest.
One offender remains outstanding.
The two 13-year-old youths remain in police custody with charges expected to follow.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444 and quote reference number P25163904. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au.
Israel’s major military operation against Iran has targeted its nuclear program, including its facilities and scientists, as well as its military leadership.
In response, the United Nations Security Council has quickly convened an emergency sitting. There, the Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon defended Israel’s actions as a “preventative strike” carried out with “precision, purpose, and the most advanced intelligence”. It aimed, he said, to:
dismantle Iran’s nuclear programme, eliminate the architects of its terror and aggression and neutralise the regime’s ability to follow through on its repeated public promise to destroy the state of Israel.
So, what does international law say about self-defence? And were Israel’s actions illegal under international law?
All members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.
There are only two exceptions:
when the UN Security Council authorises force, and
when a state acts in self-defence.
This “inherent right of individual or collective self-defence”, as article 51 of the UN charter puts it, persists until the Security Council acts to restore international peace and security.
So what’s ‘self-defence’ actually mean?
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has consistently interpreted self-defence narrowly.
In manycases, it has rejected arguments from states such as the United States, Uganda and Israel that have sought to promote a more expansive interpretation of self-defence.
The 9/11 attacks marked a turning point. The UN Security Council affirmed in resolutions 1368 and 1373 that the right to self-defence extends to defending against attacks by non-state actors, such as terrorist groups. The US, invoking this right, launched its military action in Afghanistan.
The classic understanding of self-defence – that it’s justified when a state responds reactively to an actual, armed attack – was regarded as being too restrictive in the age of missiles, cyberattacks and terrorism.
This helped give rise to the idea of using force before an imminent attack, in anticipatory self-defence.
The threshold for anticipatory self-defence is widely seen by scholars as high. It requires what’s known as “imminence”. In other words, this is the “last possible window of opportunity” to act to stop an unavoidable attack.
As set out by then-UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 2005:
as long as the threatened attack is imminent, no other means would deflect it and the action is proportionate, this would meet the accepted interpretation of self defence under article 51.
As international law expert Donald Rothwell points out, the legitimacy of anticipatory self-defence hinges on factual scrutiny and strict criteria, balancing urgency, legality and accountability.
This argued new threats – such as terrorism and weapons of mass destruction – justified using force to forestall attacks before they occurred.
Critics, including Annan, warned that if the notion of preventive self-defence was widely accepted, it would undermine the prohibition on the use of force. It would basically allow states to act unilaterally on speculative intelligence.
if there are good arguments for preventive military action, with good evidence to support them, they should be put to the Security Council, which can authorise such action if it chooses to.
If it does not so choose, there will be, by definition, time to pursue other strategies, including persuasion, negotiation, deterrence and containment – and to visit again the military option.
This is exactly what Israel has failed to do before attacking Iran.
Lessons from history
Israel’s stated goal was to damage Iran’s nuclear program and prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon that could be used against it.
This is explicitly about preventing an alleged, threatened, future attack by Iran with a nuclear weapon that, according to all publicly available information, Iran does not currently possess.
This is not the first time Israel has advanced a broad interpretation of self-defence.
As international law stands, unless an armed attack is imminent and unavoidable, such strikes are likely to be considered unlawful uses of force.
While there is still time and opportunity to use non-forcible means to prevent the threatened attack, there’s no necessity to act now in self defence.
Diplomatic engagement, sanction, and international monitoring of Iran’s nuclear program – such as through the International Atomic Energy Agency – remain the lawful means of addressing the emerging threat posed by Tehran.
Preserving the rule of law
The right to self-defence is not a blank cheque.
Anticipatory self-defence remains legally unsettled and highly contested.
So were Israel’s attacks on Iran a legitimate use of “self-defence”? I would argue no.
I concur with international law expert Marko Milanovic that Israel’s claim to be acting in preventive self-defence must be rejected on the facts available to us.
In a volatile world, preserving these legal limits is essential to avoiding unchecked aggression and preserving the rule of law.
Shannon Bosch 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.
Waikato Police have arrested and charged a 22-year-old following a serious, violent incident in Tahuna.
At around 7.20pm, Police were alerted to a group of people fighting on Tahuna-Ohinewai Road after a person who confronted three men in a vehicle doing burnouts was assaulted and other members of the public attempted to intervene.
After noticing the incident unfolding, an occupant of a nearby property has attempted to intervene. However, they were also assaulted by the alleged offenders.
Six people received injuries in total in relation to the incident. Two people received serious injuries, and one other received minor injuries, they were transported to hospital. Three others received minor injuries.
The offenders have then taken two vehicles from the Tahuna-Ohinewai address and moved them onto the street.
Upon Police arrival, the offenders have fled the scene, two fled on foot, while another left in a vehicle taken from the address.
A short time later, one of the offenders was located nearby and was taken into custody by Police.
An investigation into the serious assault and aggravated robbery has commenced, with Police working to establish what exactly has occurred.
Police are following multiple lines of enquiry to identify and locate the remaining two offenders and encourage them to do the right thing and hand themselves in.
As our enquiries are ongoing, members of the community may see an increased Police presence in the area.
While Police would like to thank those who tried to intervene and assist other members of the public, Police urge the public not to take matters into their own hands or confront individuals themselves as situations can escalate quickly.
Instead, stay in a safe location, gather as much information as you safely can, and contact Police on 111.
A 22-year-old man is due to appear in Hamilton District Court today, charged with aggravated robbery and injures with intent to injure.
If you have any information that may assist in Police’s investigation, please contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” or by calling 105.
Please use the reference number 250619/2309.
You can also provide information through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Police have charged a second person after alleged interference in the murder investigation of 15-year-old Kaea Karauria.
A 21-year-old Napier woman was taken into custody earlier today, after Police learned while conducting follow-up enquiries, that she had provided instructions to another person to destroy evidence.
The alleged incident occurred on 11 May, the day of the fight in which Kaea was killed.
The woman has been charged with wilfully attempting to pervert the course of justice, and will appear in the Napier District Court on 26 June.
Police will continue to act without hesitation when a witness is threatened, or attempts are made to sabotage an investigation. Any witness tampering will be treated very seriously.
We would still like to hear from anyone who has information about the incident. Our team continues to work hard on this investigation, as Kaea and his family deserve justice.
Information can be reported via our 105 service, either over the phone or online, referencing file number 250511/1317.
We have also set up a phoneline for those wanting to share information about the incident and people can leave a message on 0800 852 525.
Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa is congratulating Mercury Energy’s terminating its contract with Israel’s Ormat Technologies to design the Ngatamariki geothermal power station near Taupo.
PSNA Co-Chair Maher Nazzal says it appears Mercury has acknowledged the legal jeopardy of Israeli companies operating throughout the world.
“The International Court of Justice last year declared Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is illegal and called on everyone to stop giving ‘aid or assistance’ to Israel which will help it to maintain its illegal occupation.”
“Mercury’s decision is in line the ICJ findings and we welcome it as a victory for the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions campaign to isolate Israel.”
“No New Zealand companies should have any dealings with Israel, either directly or indirectly.”
“Israel is a rogue genocide and apartheid state – a threat and an embarrassment to all of humanity,” Nazal says.“But the Ormat contract with Mercury is not the only one. We are now renewing our calls on Contact Energy to do the same and cut its links with Ormat Technologies.”
“If Contact doesn’t follow Mercury, then I’m sure many electricity consumers will take the Israeli connection in mind and so switch from Contact to Mercury.”
Maher Nazzal
Co-Chair PSNA
Here is a copy of the letter we sent to Contact Energy in November last year:
15 November 2024
Mike Fuge
Chief Executive Officer
Contact Energy
c/o Louise Wright
Head of Communications and Reputation
Kia ora Mr Fuge,
Contact Energy partnering with the racist apartheid state of Israel
We noted your media release of 13 November 2024 (“Contact invests to redevelop Wairakei”) which confirms Contact is investing to begin replacing the Wairakei geothermal power station.
What your release doesn’t mention is that you are intending to partner with an Israeli company, Ormat Technologies, through an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract to build the new plant. Ormat has confirmed this in their own announcement dated a day earlier.
It is not tenable for Contact Energy to sign off on this agreement and we are requesting the company withdraw from doing so immediately. Signing this proposed agreement would be a kick in the teeth for Palestinians suffering from industrial-scale slaughter at the hands of the apartheid state of Israel in which Ormat Technologies is embedded.
Ormat Technologies has its main production facilities based in Yavne, Israel. Yavne is a city build over the Palestinian town of Yibna from which Palestinians were ethnically cleansed in 1948 and to which they have sought their right of return since 1948, only to be denied by racist Israeli policies.
That Contact would even consider signing an agreement with an Israeli company in light of Palestinian calls for BDS (Boycott Divestment and Sanctions) against Israel and particularly after 13 months of genocide where most of the 43,000 confirmed victims have been women and children – is an outrage which makes a mockery of your carefully-crafted corporate story which claims to be based on “tikanga” and principles of respect for people and the planet.
We urge you to do the right thing today and dismantle your links with Ormat and any associated Israeli companies. Palestinians and Palestinian New Zealanders have the right to demand no less from you.
Waikato Police uncovered methamphetamine, cannabis, a firearm, ammunition and a homemade taser during search warrants in Waihi yesterday.
Police, including the Armed Offenders Squad and drug detector dogs, executed the two search warrants in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Drugs, drug paraphernalia, firearms and ammunition, stolen property and a homemade taser were found. A firearm was also found in a concealed cavity in a wall.
“We see the harm that drug dealing causes to our communities daily,” says Inspector Mike Henwood.
“These warrants represent local police’s ongoing commitment to tackling drug offending in our rural towns and the associated crime that follows.
“Drug dealing takes a huge toll on our local communities and leads to other offending like thefts and burglaries from innocent residents and hard-working businesses.”
“I am really proud of the work the teams did investigating this offending – being able to hold these offenders to account shows our commitment to stamping out drugs in our community.
“Recovering the drugs and dangerous weapons that were present, alongside evidence of dealing, is a great result.”
A 33-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman are due to appear Hamilton District Court on drug dealing and weapons charges today.
If you have concerns about illegal drug use in your community, please call 111 if there is an immediate public safety risk or contact us via 105 online or by phone to make a report.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)
Chicago Members of Congress Denied Entry to ICE Processing Center in Broadview, IL
CHICAGO — Today, Members of Congress Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), and Jonathan Jackson (IL-01) joined immigration lawyers and advocates to conduct a visit to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Processing Center in Broadview, Illinois. The Members were unlawfully denied entry, even after identifying themselves with their official Congressional voting cards.
The visit was prompted by reports that the center is unlawfully being used against city and state ordinances as a detention center, where migrants are being denied access to their attorneys and held in inhumane and unsanitary conditions, sleeping on the floor, and without complete meals. Under appropriation laws, Members of Congress have the authority to enter any facility operated by or for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) used to detain or otherwise house people without advance notice.
“Today, I visited the Broadview Processing Center in our district to stand with my colleagues and families navigating the uncertainty of Homeland Security processes. Providing direct services—legal counsel, translation help, connection to community support—is not just a gesture, it’s a responsibility,” said Congressman Davis. “Our constituents deserve dignity and clarity, especially when they’re at their most vulnerable. I’ll continue to advocate for transparency and fair treatment, and fight to ensure federal agencies in our district operate with accountability and humanity.”
“We came to this center today and respectfully asked to be allowed to conduct an oversight visit, but were denied entry. Last week about 200 people received texts and emails ordering them to report to this processing center and then were detained,” said Congressman García. “Some families were told to come to the processing center on a day when families should have been celebrating Father’s Day. But with the cruelty that has characterized this administration, their children found themselves not knowing where their dads were or when they would see them again. These are not criminals. These are hard working people who are contributing to our country.”
“Under Kristi Noem’s leadership, ICE has spent billions of dollars to terrorize our communities and violate our rights. We have heard of inhumane conditions in which our neighbors are unlawfully held in these detention centers, without access to their medication, legal counsel, or basic necessities. The abuses must stop,” said Congresswoman Ramirez, who serves on the Homeland Security Committee. “We came to the ICE Processing Center at Broadview to observe the conditions here and fulfill our oversight authority, granted under appropriation laws. But this Administration continues to break the law and bypass Congressional authority because they do not want us to see the cruelty behind these doors. They do not want us to shine a light on the ways they are abusing the power of DHS to violate our rights, undermine due process, and tear our communities apart. For my constituents, our neighbors, and our country, I will continue to call for Noem’s resignation and do everything in my power to hold her accountable.”
“Our visit to Broadview today was absolutely essential, a vital step in our unyielding fight for transparency and accountability in our immigration system. As elected officials, it is our sacred duty to witness these facilities firsthand, to look into the eyes of those being processed, and to ensure that operations align with every fiber of our American values and uphold the inherent dignity of every single human being,” said Congressman Jackson. “What I faced yesterday in the South Loop as well -being actively barred from performing congressional oversight- is an outrage. It doesn’t just underscore the urgent need for open access; it demands immediate answers from ICE regarding their deplorable practices and the well-being of those trapped in their custody.
“The Broadview processing center has been a central site in the Chicago area that ICE has used to entrap and disappear immigrants, trampling on due process and other constitutional protections. NIJC demands that ICE end this inhumane practice of using check-ins to tear apart our families and communities,” said Cecilia Mendoza, Associate Director of Government Relations for NIJC.
“After being denied access to the ICE processing center in Broadview today, we are forced to ask: what is ICE trying to hide?” said Lawrence Benito, Executive Director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. “It’s clear that ICE is trying to hide inhumane conditions inside their facilities as they terrorize our communities in broad daylight. We thank Congress members Davis, Garcia, Ramirez, and Jackson for standing up for immigrant communities today by calling for accountability and transparency from ICE. We further ask them to continue fighting in DC to stop deportations, and stop Trump’s efforts to cut healthcare to fund even more aggressive ICE enforcement.”
BACKGROUND:
Under the Trump administration, multiple media outlets and human rights organizations have reported inhumane conditions at ICE facilities. Reports include the unlawful detention of citizens, permanent residents, and undocumented immigrants in facilities without access to basic necessities, medical assistance, due process, and legal counsel. At the moment, ICE seeks to expand detention space in the U.S. and abroad. Given the lack of legal protections, immigrants are being wrongfully deported to offshore prisons, including in El Salvador, Guantanamo, and Djibouti.
To meet the detention and deportation quotas set by the Trump Administration, it is estimated that the cost of ICE’s operation has exceeded by $1 billion the budget approved for the fiscal year 2025. DHS recently shifted approximately $500 million within its accounts to continue immigration operations and is requesting that Congress allocate at least $2 billion more by the end of September. It is expected that the agency will run out of money by next month, putting DHS at risk of violating federal spending laws.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The 2025-26 ACT Budget is investing in a safer community.
The ACT Government is providing more support for community safety through the 2025-26 ACT Budget.
The investment will support ACT Policing’s workforce and infrastructure.
This will ensure police can continue responding to the needs of a growing city and keep the community safe.
The Budget includes funding for the recently agreed Australian Federal Police Enterprise Agreement.
This investment will support salary increases, leave entitlements and allowances for ACT Policing staff, in addition to enabling services.
The Budget provides support for:
detailed design of critical infrastructure upgrades at Winchester and City Police Stations, including mechanical, electrical, fire and hydraulic systems
detailed planning and analysis of future police accommodation in the Woden Patrol Zone and a Molonglo Police Station.
The Government will also implement the Sexual Assault Advocate Pilot Program. This was a key recommendation of the Sexual Assault (Police) Review.
The program includes:
establishing a fourth Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Team within ACT Policing to manage high investigative caseloads
dedicated sexual assault advocates to support victim-survivors during police engagement
a new Witness Assistant Scheme officer in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
These reforms will improve support and outcomes for victim-survivors of sexual violence in Canberra.
Strengthening access to justice for vulnerable Canberrans
The ACT Government is investing in practical, targeted justice initiatives.
These will ensure vulnerable Canberrans can continue to access the legal services they need, when they need them.
The 2025–26 ACT Budget is supporting key legal assistance services, justice reform initiatives, and the growing need for responsive support for victims of crime, people on low income, women, First Nations peoples and culturally diverse communities.
These initiatives will strengthen frontline legal services and improve outcomes for people facing disadvantage, hardship or discrimination.
Key measures in the 2025–26 ACT Budget include:
appointment of a 10th Magistrate to the ACT Magistrates Court, to improve processing times and address growing demand in civil and criminal matters
additional funding for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions’ Witness Assistance Scheme and to meet the increased demands of an expanded judiciary
funding for legal assistance providers, including the Women’s Legal Centre, Canberra Community Law, the Aboriginal Legal Service, and CARE Financial Counselling
investment in the ACT Human Rights Commission, to continue the Intermediary Program, which provides targeted services for vulnerable complainants, witnesses and accused persons in the criminal justice system.
support for Legal Aid ACT’s services across a number of programs
additional funding for the Victims Services Scheme and Financial Assistance Scheme administered by Victims Services ACT
implementation of a sexual assault advocate pilot program to support victims’ access to specialist services, and conducting of investigations in a more victim-centric and trauma-informed way
support for the ACT Government Solicitor’s Office to meet increased demand for legal advice under the Human Rights Act 2004. A new regulatory prosecution function will also strengthen enforcement and compliance across government
funding to enhance the Coroner’s Court with increased resourcing to manage caseloads. It will also support efficient and sensitive handling of matters that often involve vulnerable individuals and families.
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NEW ORLEANS, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until August 12, 2025 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Tempus AI, Inc. (NasdaqGS: TEM), if they purchased the Company’s shares between August 6, 2024 and May 27, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Get Help
Tempus investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nasdaq-tem/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.
About the Lawsuit
Tempus and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.
On May 28, 2025, Spruce Point Capital Management, LLC reported numerous issues with the Company’s management, operations and financial reporting, including that: (i) Tempus CEO Eric Lefkofsky and his associates have a history cashing out of companies before public shareholders incur losses or lackluster returns; (ii) Tempus’ actual AI capabilities are overstated; (iii) board members and other executives have been associated with troubled companies with restated financial results; (iv) signs of aggressive accounting and financial reporting are present; (v) there are issues with the AstraZeneca and Pathos AI deal that merit scrutiny; and (vi) the Company’s recent financial guidance revision reveals weakness in core operations.
On this news, the price of Tempus’ shares fell $12.67 per share, or 19.23%, from a closing price of $65.87 per share on May 27, 2025, to a closing price of $53.20 per share on May 28, 2025.
The case is Shouse v. Tempus AI. Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-06534.
About ClaimsFiler
ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.
Last week, the peak body for equestrian sport in Australia suspended a prominent member after footage allegedly depicted Australian Olympic dressage rider Heath Ryan whipping a horse more than 40 times.
He explained the horse, Nico, had belonged to a friend who had been hospitalised for serious injuries inflicted by the animal.
Ryan wrote Nico had “always been a problem child” and was about to be sent to slaughter.
However, Ryan, an experienced trainer and instructor, intervened to “salvage” the horse.
Footage appears to show Heath Ryan whipping a horse repeately. DressageHub, CC BY
But horses, just like humans, feel pain, which is why more needs to be done to minimise the use of whips on horses.
What happened next?
The footage depicts Ryan mounted on Nico, forcefully whipping him.
Both the whoosh of the whip travelling at speed and the sound of it contacting Nico’s flesh are audible.
Nico kicks out several times in response, yet the whipping continues.
Nico seems “shut down” – a term used to describe a horse when they appear to have no understanding of what they need to do to make an adverse experience stop.
Whipping causes horses pain. The skin in the gluteal area of the horse, which Ryan repeatedly struck with the whip, is sensitive to pain just like the skin of humans.
This is not the first time whipping has been in the spotlight. In July 2024, footage emerged of three-time Olympic dressage gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin repeatedly whipping a horse on the hind legs.
This led to the International Equestrian Federation fining her CHF 10,000 (A$18,867) and imposing a 12-month suspension.
More recently in Australia, in May 2025, the RSPCA prosecuted a case against trainer Liandra Gray, who was recorded striking a horse with a padded racing whip more than 40 times. A Tasmanian court found Gray had caused unreasonable and unjustifiable pain and the whip use constituted cruelty.
Despite stating he “hated” whipping Nico, Ryan argued he was acting in the horse’s interests.
After an undisclosed period, Nico was re-homed, and according to Ryan “is now thriving in a loving and competitive home with an exciting future”.
Does the end justify the means?
Ryan’s justification of his treatment of Nico is based on the positive consequences for the horse (avoiding slaughter) and the current owners (Nico can continue to be ridden).
This justification is a type of consequentialism, where an outcome is judged to be good or not based on the consequences it brings about. This raises an important question: what counts as a “good” outcome and by whose standard are we judging?
Ryan’s justification points to a culture where horses’ needs and interests are not respected and where they are valued solely for their utility to humans.
But we know horses are sensitive, sentient beings, capable of suffering.
The relationship between a rider and horse is often described as a partnership. In reality, horses have little choice.
The equipment and cues riders rely on to control horses work because they are aversive and even painful. Because horses are motivated to escape from painful stimuli, they rapidly learn to perform in the desired way.
Because of this reliance on aversive stimuli to control horses, it is essential riders remove it as soon as the horse performs the desired behaviour (for example, releasing tension on the reins).
Why was Nico a ‘problem child’ in the first place?
During riding, a horse knows it has responded correctly if the rider removes the aversive stimulus that was used to cue the horse.
If the rider removes the stimulus at the wrong time or not at all, the horse may become confused, stressed and express unwanted behaviours.
If this is repeated, the unwanted responses can quickly become a habit and the horse may be labelled a problem.
Based on the footage, it seems that instead of learning to move forward to escape pressure from the rider’s heels or whip, Nico appears to have developed a habit of stalling (slowing or coming to a stop instead of moving forward).
The combination of personality, stress, fear and rider inconsistencies can quickly lead to the development of unwanted behaviours.
It is likely Nico’s behaviour reflects these factors.
It’s time for a change
This incident likely taught Nico to fear humans and to expect that being ridden will involve inescapable pain unless he does exactly what his rider wants.
This is because there is ample scientific evidence showing the modification of unwanted behaviour in ridden horses can be achieved without resorting to violence to force them into submission.
While Ryan has justified his intervention as the only possible solution to Nico’s unwanted behaviour, the scientific evidence shows it is neither necessary nor ethical to violently whip a horse to teach it a lesson.
Anne Quain has consulted for animal welfare organisations including the RSPCA. She is a member of the Australian Veterinary Association, the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, and the European College of Animal Welfare and Behaviour Medicine in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law. She has been a recipient of an Australian Companion Animal Health Foundation Grant. She has undertaken two residencies at The Ethics Centre.
Cathrynne Henshall receives funding from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Welfare Research Funding
Mr. Wang Ruihe, deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress
Ms. Zheng Bei, vice chairwoman of the National Development and Reform Commission
Mr. Wang Zhenjiang, vice minister of justice
Ms. Cong Lin, vice minister of the National Financial Regulatory Administration
Mr. Fang Guanghua, vice chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce
Chairperson:
Ms. Xing Huina, deputy director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO
Date:
May 8, 2025
Xing Huina:
Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). The 15th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) voted to pass the Private Sector Promotion Law of the People’s Republic of China on April 30, which will come into effect on May 20, 2025. To help everyone better understand the law, today we have invited Mr. Wang Ruihe, deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee; Ms. Zheng Bei, vice chairwoman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC); Mr. Wang Zhenjiang, vice minister of justice; Ms. Cong Lin, vice minister of the National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA); and Mr. Fang Guanghua, vice chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), to brief you on the Private Sector Promotion Law and answer your questions.
Now, I’ll give the floor to Mr. Wang for his introduction.
Wang Zhenjiang:
Good morning, everyone. I am very pleased to attend this morning’s press conference together with colleagues from the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, the NDRC, the NFRA and the ACFIC. Thank you all for your concern and support for the legislative work associated with the Private Sector Promotion Law. Next, I will introduce the research, drafting and formulation of the law.
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council attach great importance to the development of the private economy. Since the reform and opening up in 1978, China’s private economy has developed rapidly under the guidance of the Party’s lines, principles and policies. Especially since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has taken a series of major measures to promote the development of the private economy. The private economy has continued to play an increasingly important role in China’s national economy and social development. At the same time, due to a combination of multiple internal and external factors, such as changes in the external environment and inadequate policy implementation, the private economy faces some difficulties and challenges in areas including fair participation in market competition, equal access to production factors, obtaining investment, financing and services, and the protection of legitimate rights and interests. There is an urgent need to codify the guiding principles and effective practices of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on the private economy, in order to consolidate the achievements of reforms. It is also necessary to promptly improve relevant institutional measures to address prominent issues in practice, respond to public concerns, boost confidence and unleash the internal dynamism of private enterprises. These efforts will foster a legal environment and social atmosphere conducive to the development of all forms of ownership, including the private economy, enable us to stay focused on managing our own affairs well, and further consolidate the momentum of economic recovery and long-term growth. We will counter the uncertainties of a rapidly changing external environment with a firm commitment to high-quality development. Formulating the Private Sector Promotion Law is a major decision and deployment made by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. The need to formulate this law was clearly stated at the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. The 2024 Central Economic Work Conference explicitly called for the introduction of this law.
In accordance with the work plan, the Ministry of Justice and the NDRC requested the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee to take the lead in forming a drafting task force composed of 17 relevant departments from central and state organs. The task force thoroughly studied and comprehended the guiding principles of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions and the key points of his speech delivered at the symposium on private enterprises on Feb. 17 this year. The task force, in line with the guidelines and policies of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, widely solicited public opinions, conducted in-depth research and analysis, and drafted the law. After the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, the task force revised the draft in alignment with the session’s guiding principles, solicited public opinions again, and further refined it based on public feedback. After being discussed and approved at a State Council executive meeting, the draft was submitted to the NPC Standing Committee for deliberation in December 2024. The NPC Standing Committee reviewed the draft three times — in December 2024, February 2025 and April 2025 — and released it again for public comment during the period. On April 30, 2025, the 15th session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee voted to pass the Private Sector Promotion Law of the People’s Republic of China, which will officially come into effect on May 20.
The law consists of nine chapters and 78 articles, establishing and improving relevant systems and mechanisms around fair competition, investment and financing promotion, scientific and technological innovation, regulatory guidance, service support and the protection of rights and interests. It translates the CPC Central Committee’s commitment to equal treatment and protection of the private economy into concrete legal provisions, in a bid to continuously improve a stable, fair, transparent and predictable environment for its development. As the first foundational law dedicated to the development of the private economy, the law marks a major step in implementing the decisions of the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the important remarks made by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the symposium on private enterprises. It is a vivid embodiment of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and Xi Jinping Thought on Economy, a landmark event in building China’s socialist market economy, and a milestone in the development of its private sector. The law marks several breakthroughs. It is the first to enshrine into legal doctrine the principle of “unswervingly consolidating and developing the public sector and unswervingly encouraging, supporting and guiding the development of the non-public sector.” It is the first to clearly define the legal status of the private economy, and the first to explicitly state that “promoting the private sector’s sustained, healthy and high-quality development is a long-term major national policy.” This fully demonstrates the firm commitment of the CPC Central Committee in supporting the growth of the private sector and sends a clear message that developing the private economy remains a consistent and enduring policy of both the Party and the state. This will further unleash the internal drive and creative vitality of the private economy, boost confidence among private business operators, and inspire their entrepreneurial spirit and determination, fostering a strong sense of commitment to the nation and strengthening their resolve to be builders of socialism with Chinese characteristics and contributors to Chinese modernization.
Laws alone cannot implement themselves. We hope all regions and government departments will take the adoption of the Private Sector Promotion Law as an opportunity to rigorously implement its provisions, ensuring thorough and accurate publicity and interpretation of the law and full compliance with its requirements, and promote the promulgation and implementation of supporting regulations as soon as possible. Efforts should be made to coordinate and refine the supportive and guarantee measures, and improve the institutional system for the development of the private sector. We need to further improve the law-based business environment, and effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of private economic organizations and their operators in accordance with the law. We will step up efforts to foster a positive social atmosphere that supports the development of private businesses, and promote their sustained, healthy and high-quality development.
That is all for my introduction. Now, my colleagues and I are ready to answer your questions. Thank you.
Xing Huina:
The floor is now open for questions. Please raise your hand and state the news outlet you represent before asking your questions.
Christchurch Police are releasing the above CCTV images in a further appeal for information on the whereabouts of 79-year-old Elisabeth Nicholls.
These CCTV images of Lis were taken during her last confirmed sighting at the Chateau on the Park in Riccarton, at around 7.54pm on Wednesday 4 June.
Since Elisabeth was reported missing, searchers and Police have gone door to door, reviewed CCTV footage, searched the Avon River, and made further extensive enquiries, but we have not been able to find Lis.
Today, Police deployed a drone in the Riccarton and Hagley Park areas between 8am and midday. We are now in the process of examining these images and reviewing what was captured.
Police are urging residents in the nearby area who have not yet done so to please check their backyards, sheds and sleepouts, and anywhere where a person could seek shelter on your property.
We, alongside Lis’ family, are seriously concerned for her wellbeing and are appealing to anyone with information to please contact us.
For anyone with CCTV, dashcam, or video footage in the Riccarton and Hagley Park areas between 6.40pm on Wednesday 4 June to 8am on Thursday 5 June, please review the footage you have and contact Police if you believe you see Lis.
When Lis went missing in the Riccarton area, she was physically strong, and may have walked some distance.
If you see Lis, please ring Police on 111 immediately. If you have information regarding her whereabouts, please contact us online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” or by calling 105.
Deloraine Police seize illegal firearms, drugs during targeted searches
Thursday, 19 June 2025 – 12:31 pm.
Two people have been separately charged after police seized multiple firearms and illicit substances during two unrelated searches in the Meander Valley area this week.
Deloraine Police conducted the first targeted search at a Weegeena residence on Tuesday 17 June.
During the search, police located and seized a .22 calibre rifle, a 22 Magnum rifle, an air rifle, and a Glock pistol as well as ammunition and quantities of illicit substances.
A 52-year-old Weegeena man has been charged with multiple drug and firearms offences, and will appear in court at a later date.
In a second, unrelated search at a Deloraine address on Wednesday 18 June, police located a hydroponic cannabis growing room and seized a large quantity of cannabis.
A 56 year old Deloraine man has been charged with multiple drug-related offences and will appear in court at a later date.
Inspector Craig Fox said police continued to target illegal drug and firearm activity throughout Tasmania.
“We know the impact drugs and firearms have on the community, and these searches are evidence of our continued commitment to community safety and holding offenders to account,” he said.
Anyone with information about illegal firearms or illicit substances is urged to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au.
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 19, 2025.
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Iran’s long history of revolution, defiance and outside interference – and why its future is so uncertain Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Saikal, Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies, Australian National University; and Vice Chancellor’s Strategic Fellow, Victoria University Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has gone beyond his initial aim of destroying Iran’s ability to produce nuclear weapons. He has called on the Iranian people
95 lawyers demand stronger NZ stand over Israel amid Middle East tensions Asia Pacific Report Ninety-five New Zealand lawyers — including nine king’s counsel — have signed a letter demanding Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and two other ministers urge the government to take a stronger stand against Israel’s “catastrophic” actions in Gaza. The letter has been sent amid rising tensions in the region,
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ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 19, 2025.
Australian citizens in Iran and Israel are desperate to leave. Is the government required to help? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane McAdam, Scientia Professor and ARC Laureate Fellow, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney As thousands of Australian citizens and permanent residents stuck in Iran and Israel continue to register for repatriation flights, the government is scrambling to find safe ways to evacuate them. With
Popular period-tracking apps can hold years of personal data – new NZ research finds mixed awareness of risk Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Friedlander, PhD Candidate in Sociology, University of Waikato Shutterstock/Krotnakro Period-tracking apps are popular digital tools for a range of menstrual, reproductive and general health purposes. But the way these apps collect and use data involves risk. Many apps encourage users to log information well beyond their
Migrating bogong moths use the stars and Earth’s magnetic field to find ancestral summer caves each year Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eric Warrant, Professor of Zoology at the University of Lund, Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University, and Adjunct Professor, University of South Australia Vik Dunis/iNaturalist, CC BY-NC It’s a warm January summer afternoon, and as I traverse the flower-strewn western slopes of Australia’s highest mountain, Mount
Jaws at 50: how a single movie changed our perception of white sharks forever Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Long, Strategic Professor in Palaeontology, Flinders University Shane Myers Photography/Shutterstock It’s been 50 years since Steven Spielberg’s movie Jaws first cast a terrifying shadow across our screens. At a low point during production, Spielberg worried he’d only ever be known for “a big fish story”. The
Robot eyes are power hungry. What if we gave them tools inspired by the human brain? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam D Hines, Research Fellow, Centre for Robotics, Queensland University of Technology A hexapod robot navigating outdoors. Adam Hines Robots are increasingly becoming a part of our lives – from warehouse automation to robotic vacuum cleaners. And just like humans, robots need to know where they are
Winter viruses can trigger a heart attack or stroke, our study shows. It’s another good reason to get a flu or COVID shot Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tu Nguyen, PhD Candidate, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Irina Shatilova/Shutterstock Winter is here, along with cold days and the inevitable seasonal surge in respiratory viruses. But it’s not only the sniffles we need to worry about. Heart attacks and strokes also
School playgrounds are one of the main locations for bullying. How can they be set up to stop it? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Dean (Academic), Faculty of Arts and Education, Charles Sturt University Dan Kenyon/ Getty Images Children spend thousands of hours in playgrounds at school. A lot of this time does not have the same levels of teacher preparation and supervision as classrooms do. Research shows
Would you cheat on your tax? It’s a risky move, the tax office knows a lot about you Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert B Whait, Senior Lecturer in Taxation Law, University of South Australia Soon, more than 15 million Australians should be lodging a tax return with the Australian Taxation Office in the hope of receiving at least a small refund. About 60% of taxpayers use an accountant to
Companies are betting on AI to help lift productivity. Workers need to be part of the process Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Llewellyn Spink, AI Corporate Governance Lead, Human Technology Institute, University of Technology Sydney The Conversation, CC BY-NC Australia’s productivity is flatlining, posting the worst vitals we’ve seen in 60 years. Politicians and chief executives are prescribing artificial intelligence (AI) like it’s the new penicillin – a wonder
Is Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend album cover satire or self-degradation? A psychology expert explores our reactions Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katrina Muller-Townsend, Lecturer in Psychology, Edith Cowan University Island Records Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend album cover has fans divided. Carpenter poses on all fours, her glossy blond hair grasped by a male figure cropped from the frame. Her wide-eyed expression intensifies an ambiguous performance of subservience,
Kicked out for coming out: more than half of LGBTIQ+ flatmates face discrimination for their identity Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brodie Fraser, Senior Research Fellow, He Kāinga Oranga Housing and Health Research Programme, University of Otago Sangar Akreyi/Getty Images People who belong to the LGBTIQ+ community say flatting is fraught with difficulties that go well beyond learning new routines and sharing space with strangers. Our new research
Tracing the Drax family’s millions – a story of British landed gentry, slavery and sugar plantations Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Lashmar, Reader in Journalism, City St George’s, University of London ‘Planting the sugar-cane’: vast fortunes were made from the trades in both sugar and human slaves in the Americas. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library Rich
Nineteen Eighty-Four might have been inspired by George Orwell’s fear of drowning Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nathan Waddell, Associate Professor in Twentieth-Century Literature, University of Birmingham George Orwell had a traumatic relationship with the sea. In August 1947, while he was writing Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) on the island of Jura in the Scottish Hebrides, he went on a fishing trip with his young
What happens when aid is cut to a large refugee camp? Kenyan study paints a bleak picture Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olivier Sterck, Associate professor, University of Oxford Humanitarian needs are rising around the world. At the same time, major donors such as the US and the UK are pulling back support, placing increasing strain on already overstretched aid systems. Global humanitarian needs have quadrupled since 2015, driven
Grok’s ‘white genocide’ responses show how generative AI can be weaponized Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Foulds, Associate Professor of Information Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Someone altered the AI chatbot Grok to make it insert text about a debunked conspiracy theory in unrelated responses. Cheng Xin/Getty Images The AI chatbot Grok spent one day in May 2025 spreading debunked conspiracy
Politics with Michelle Grattan: an ‘impatient’ Jim Chalmers on taking political risks in Labor’s second term Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images While the world’s media is largely focused on conflict in the Middle East, the focus for many Australians remains at home, with the government preparing the long task ahead of trying to lift Australia’s productivity. Last week,
View from The Hill: Jim Chalmers wants to get on with economic reform and tax is in his sights Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Jim Chalmers speaking to the National Press Club June 18, 2025. Screenshot from the ABC Broadcast, CC BY-NC Jim Chalmers cast his Wednesday National Press Club speech as a second instalment in a two-part presentation that was kicked off by
Iran’s long history of revolution, defiance and outside interference – and why its future is so uncertain Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Saikal, Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies, Australian National University; and Vice Chancellor’s Strategic Fellow, Victoria University Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has gone beyond his initial aim of destroying Iran’s ability to produce nuclear weapons. He has called on the Iranian people
95 lawyers demand stronger NZ stand over Israel amid Middle East tensions Asia Pacific Report Ninety-five New Zealand lawyers — including nine king’s counsel — have signed a letter demanding Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and two other ministers urge the government to take a stronger stand against Israel’s “catastrophic” actions in Gaza. The letter has been sent amid rising tensions in the region,
Gay and bisexual men will soon be able to donate blood and plasma Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yasmin Mowat, Clinical Project Manager, Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney AnnaStills/Getty Images Many gay and bisexual men have been excluded from donating blood and plasma (the liquid portion of blood) for decades because of rules developed during the HIV crisis in the 1980s. The Australian Red Cross’ blood
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
Padilla Slams Energy Secretary for Budget Cuts Gutting American Renewable Energy, Technological Innovation, and Industry
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing to question Secretary of Energy Chris Wright on President Trump’s America-last budget bill that would decimate the renewable energy economy, hamper American innovation and competitiveness with China, and hinder critical industrial development. Padilla called out Wright’s blatant hypocrisy for directly contradicting the three priorities he outlined during his confirmation hearing:
1. To “unleash American energy at home and abroad to restore energy dominance;”
2. To “lead the world in innovation and technology breakthroughs;” and
3. To “build things in America again and remove barriers to progress.”
Despite his stated support for American energy dominance, Wright’s budget request proposes a 74 percent reduction in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy budget and zeroing out the Wind and Solar Energy Technologies Offices. It also defunds the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, which was authorized in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Padilla emphasized that solar energy was the fastest growing energy source in the world last year, and criticized the Trump Administration for undermining American energy leadership by trying to eliminate the Solar Energy Technologies Offices.
Padilla blasted Wright for backtracking on his goal to restore American global leadership in technological and science innovation, highlighting the 14 percent cut to the Office of Science and a 57 percent cut to ARPA-E in the Trump Administration’s budget request. He pressed Secretary Wright on his previously stated support for the United States’ national labs — including premier research institutions in California — which Wright has called “crown jewels.” Padilla pushed Wright to preserve federal funding for these labs to protect America’s global competitiveness and national security.
PADILLA: There seems to be a disconnect between what you say are priorities and your budget requests. It’s already been raised that these reductions would also lead to staff reductions in national labs, which we’ve recognized, you’re on the record, these are premier research institutions. When you came to California, you reaffirmed your commitment to the national labs, and you said that they were important to maintain and secure our “competitive advantage and security.” So unless I got that wrong, how do you expect the United States to lead the world when your budget proposal seeks to decimate our research and development capabilities?
WRIGHT: It does hurt me to cut expending in science.
PADILLA: Then don’t do it.
WRIGHT: I share that passion with you.
PADILLA: Then don’t do it.
WRIGHT: I share that passion with you.
PADILLA: Then don’t even propose it.
The Department of Energy’s recent cancellation of 24 projects totaling $3.7 billion in investments under the Industrial Demonstrations Program undercut Wright’s commitment to restoring American industrial development. Padilla emphasized that these funds are meant to promote groundbreaking innovation in heavy industries like cement, glass, chemicals, and iron, among others, including three large California industrial projects that support thousands of jobs.
PADILLA: It’s not just because billions of the public and private dollars are in California and the thousands of jobs related, but how does canceling industrial grants that lead to more industrial jobs further the goal of building things in America again?
WRIGHT: Because an evaluation showed that the projects at the end were not viable. If we built, there’s no point in building a bridge to nowhere. If you make a factory, make a product 25 percent more expensive, but customers won’t pay 25 percent, where’s the win?
PADILLA: Well, the projects that are being cut are more than just viable. I would argue they are critical, and we’ll be following up with you.
Video of Senator Padilla’s questioning of Secretary Wright is available here.
Earlier this year, Senator Padilla questioned Secretary Wright in a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee nomination hearing amid the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. Padilla called out Wright for his 2023 LinkedIn post denying the link between climate change and the rise in more frequent and severe fires.
More information on the hearing is available here.
Police are reminding road users that there will be zero tolerance for unsafe driving this Matariki Weekend.
“There was an unacceptable number of road deaths over King’s Birthday weekend, and we don’t want a repeat of that this weekend. If you are driving in a way that puts your own, or someone else’s, safety at risk, expect there to be consequences,” says Director Road Policing, Superintendent Steve Greally.
“We have zero tolerance for selfish drivers gambling with other people’s lives.”
Emergency services see first-hand the devastation that dangerous road behaviours cause, and the harm doesn’t end at the scene.
“One of the hardest parts of our job is knocking on a door in the middle of the night to tell a family that their loved one isn’t coming home,” Superintendent Greally says.
“Matariki is a time for families to come together and be with each other – please don’t do anything which would prevent that from happening.”
Police will be out on the country’s roads in increased numbers this weekend, with the clear intention to stop and prevent unsafe driving behaviour, day and night.
Our officers and road safety partners are undertaking a large amount of work to ensure the safety of everyone on our roads.
Many of us make long journeys over long weekends. We know that tired drivers make mistakes, so take regular breaks and split the driving with someone if you can.
Having your seatbelt on, driving to the conditions and not being distracted while driving can be the difference in walking away from a crash or being seriously injured or worse.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane McAdam, Scientia Professor and ARC Laureate Fellow, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney
As thousands of Australian citizens and permanent residents stuck in Iran and Israel continue to register for repatriation flights, the government is scrambling to find safe ways to evacuate them.
With the airspace over both countries closed, the government is considering other ways to bring them home.
The current plan is to charter buses from private companies to take people from Israel into neighbouring Jordan. As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stressed: “We want to make sure people are looked after, but they need to be looked after safely as well”.
This is not the first time Australia has faced challenges in evacuating nationals stranded abroad. When conflict, disasters or other emergencies occur overseas, the government regularly works to bring Australians home.
In the early days of the COVID pandemic, for instance, the government arranged repatriation flights and established quarantine facilities to assist Australians who were stuck outside the country. Australia has repeatedly assisted its citizens caught in conflict zones to get back home, including from Afghanistan in 2021 and Lebanon in 2024.
And when an earthquake devasted Vanuatu last December, Australia moved swiftly to get Australians out.
Is Australia legally required to repatriate people?
While there is a longstanding and widespread practice of governments repatriating their nationals in emergencies, countries generally do not have a legal responsibility to do so.
Instead, governments’ decisions are discretionary and made on a case-by-case basis. They are often influenced by diplomatic, logistical and security considerations.
Governments have a right – but not a duty – to provide consular assistance to their nationals abroad. This includes issuing travel documents, liaising with local authorities and, in exceptional cases, facilitating evacuations.
The Consular Services Charter outlines what Australians abroad can expect from their government. It makes clear that while the government will do what it can, there are limits. Assistance is not guaranteed, especially in areas where Australia has no diplomatic presence or where security conditions make intervention too dangerous.
Repatriation efforts are guided by the Australian Government Plan for the Reception of Australian Citizens and Approved Foreign Nationals Evacuated from Overseas (AUSRECEPLAN). This arrangement that sets out a process for “the safe repatriation of Australians, their immediate dependants, permanent residents and approved foreign nationals (evacuees) following an Australian government-led evacuation in response to an overseas disaster or adverse security situation”. It outlines how federal, state and territory agencies coordinate to receive and support evacuees once they arrive in Australia, ensuring that returns are not only swift, but also safe and orderly.
Challenges and constraints
Repatriation during a crisis is a complex undertaking. Quite aside from the emergency conditions, which may close off usual travel options or routes, the Australian government cannot force another country to allow an evacuation. It also cannot guarantee safe passage, especially in conflicts.
Identifying and communicating with citizens overseas can also be tricky, often requiring people to have self-registered with consular authorities to receive updates. In addition, consular services may be strained when embassies and consular offices have closed, as is the case in Israel and Iran.
For these reasons, countries sometimes band together to assist each other. For instance, Australia and Canada have agreed that where one has a consular presence but the other does not, they will help to repatriate the other’s citizens.
Similarly, the United States helped evacuate Australians and other allies’ nationals from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in 2021. Countries in the European Union can activate a special regional mechanism to facilitate the repatriation of their citizens caught up in emergencies abroad.
In exceptional circumstances, countries have sometimes extracted their stranded nationals through military operations, known as “non-combatant evacuation operations” (NEOs). This involves the military temporarily occupying a location on foreign soil to evacuate people. Some recent examples include the large-scale evacuations of foreign nationals from Afghanistan in 2021, Sudan during the civil war that began in 2023 and Lebanon during the 2024 Israeli–Hezbollah conflict.
NEOs generally require the consent of the country from where the evacuation takes place, but their precise legal basis remains ambiguous under international law.
In all cases, the evacuation of nationals is operationally complex – as exemplified by the current situation in Iran and Israel. Countries with limited resources may struggle to repatriate their nationals at all. This can mean some foreign nationals are “rescued”, while others are left behind.
And, of course, local populations generally aren’t eligible for evacuation at all. This can leave people in extremely dangerous circumstances.
That is why we have proposed the creation of an Australian framework for humanitarian emergencies that, among other things, would facilitate the safe and swift departure of certain non-citizens at particular risk. This would underscore that Australia’s approach to evacuations is, at its heart, about protecting people during crises.
Jane McAdam receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and is the Director of the ARC Evacuations Research Hub at the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney.
Regina Jefferies and Thomas Mulder 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.
Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
WASHINGTON – Major law enforcement organizations representing over 310,000 officers nationwide say the One Big Beautiful Bill will supercharge their efforts to safeguard national security and public safety.
The Senate Judiciary Committee’s provisions, released last week by Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), will provide historic investments to strengthen America’s border security and expand resources for law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe.
Here’s what they’re saying:
National Association of Police Organizations “It is state and local law enforcement officers who, during the course of daily patrols and duties, will encounter non-citizen offenders and immigration violators who pose a threat to national security or public safety. The Senate Judiciary Committee title of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on immigration and law enforcement grants state and local law enforcement the necessary resources and latitude to work with their federal partners and pursue investigations relating to violent crimes, human smuggling, and gang and drug activity. These partnerships and investigations are essential to keeping our nation’s communities safe by getting dangerous criminal aliens off our streets.”
The Major County Sheriffs of America “The Major County Sheriffs of America appreciates the Senate budget reconciliation package’s inclusion of $10 billion in state and local assistance. The package strengthens vital partnerships through Operation Stonegarden and enhances our ability to locate and apprehend criminal aliens, investigate trafficking and gang activity and support court operations and detention facilities. Importantly, it continues investment in COPS and Byrne JAG programs, essential for hiring and equipping officers while enhancing local law enforcement capacity. These provisions demonstrate strong federal commitment to supporting sheriffs and the communities we serve.”
Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association “Senator Grassley continues to demonstrate strong leadership and unwavering support for our federal law enforcement professionals. At a time when our nation faces serious challenges – from border security to the fentanyl crisis – his commitment to public safety and to those who serve on the front lines is deeply appreciated. We stand with Senator Grassley and all leaders who prioritize the recruitment and retention of top talent in law enforcement, and we urge Congress to take further action to support these dedicated individuals.”
National Council of Prison Locals 33 “On behalf of the 30,000 federal correctional employees represented by the Council of Prison Locals 33, I am writing to express our strong support for the provisions contained in the Senate Reconciliation Bill… We applaud the work of Senator Grassley and his staff for seeing the importance of these provisions and much needed increase to funding for staffing and infrastructure, and are hopeful others will follow his lead.”
Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) are introducing a resolution recognizing June as National Elder Abuse Awareness Month and standing in support of seniors who’ve been victim to fraud schemes. The resolution applauds the Elder Justice Coalition’s work to increase public awareness of elder abuse and calls on those working with older adults to learn the signs of abuse and promote long-term prevention efforts.
On Tuesday, Grassley will chair a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee to examine how scammers target senior citizens, continuing his efforts to protect seniors from financial predators and help older Americans live with security and dignity.
“Elder abuse isn’t limited by geography or income. It occurs in nursing homes and private residences—the very places meant to offer them care and protection. With a fast-growing senior population in our country, the urgency to act has never been greater. This month…we recommit to raising awareness of elder abuse and implementing protections for those in our society who protected us first,” Grassley said.
“Too many of our nation’s seniors are victims of physical abuse, emotional exploitation, and financial scams. Senior citizens deserve peace of mind, support, and care—not the anxiety and fear that comes with the threat of elder abuse. This resolution reaffirms our commitment to our senior citizens and advocating for their safety, rights, and wellbeing,” Blumenthal said.
“Elder abuse prevention is enhanced greatly when public awareness is raised. The Grassley-Blumenthal resolution is a powerful example of raising national public awareness about elder abuse. Its joint designation of June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and June as Elder Abuse Awareness Month allows vital attention to be focused on the issue while also empowering those in adult protective services and our long-term care ombudsman to continue their important work. The Elder Justice Coalition salutes Senators Grassley and Blumenthal for their steadfast advocacy of elder justice in America,” Elder Justice Coalition National Coordinator Bob Blancato said.
Text of the resolution can be found HERE.
Background:
Elder abuse remains a challenging problem and comes in many different forms, including physical, sexual or psychological abuse, financial exploitation, neglect and social media abuse. Last year, an estimated one in six older Americans experienced some form of abuse in a community setting.
According to reports, only one in 24 cases of elder abuse are reported, and only one in 44 cases of elder financial exploitation are reported. Most reported cases of abuse, neglect and exploitation take place within private homes.
Grassley today spoke on the Senate floor ahead of introducing the resolution. His remarks follow:
[embedded content]
Today I want to recognize June as National Elder Abuse Awareness Month, and I’m introducing a resolution with Senator Blumenthal for this purpose. This is a time to shed light on a crisis that too often remains in the shadows.
Last year, an estimated one in six older Americans experienced some form of abuse in a community setting — whether physical, emotional, financial or neglect.
For every elder abuse case that’s reported, as many as 24 go unreported. These aren’t just numbers. They’re our parents, our grandparents, our neighbors and our veterans.
Elder abuse isn’t limited by geography or income. It occurs in nursing homes and private residences—the very places meant to offer them care and protection.
With a fast-growing senior population in our country, the urgency to act has never been greater.
This month, we recommit to building a society that views aging not as a burden, but as a source of wisdom, experience, and continued contribution.
We recommit to raising awareness of elder abuse and implementing protections for those in our society who protected us first.
I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring older Americans this month.
In the Senate Judiciary Committee, I’m working to support and protect our seniors. Tomorrow I’m holding a hearing to examine how scammers are targeting older Americans. This continues my efforts to ensure that seniors are protected from financial predators and can live with the security and dignity they deserve.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced that she secured over $7.6 million for Reno-Tahoe International Airport to allow the airport to accommodate more overnight aircraft operations and improve overall airfield efficiency. The funding comes from the Airport Infrastructure Grant program, established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that Senator Rosen helped write and pass. This funding will help add 8,850 square yards of ramp at the airport.
“Reno-Tahoe International Airport is vital to Northern Nevada’s economy — bringing visitors from around the world who contribute to our economy,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to have secured this funding to support the airport’s expansion and ensure it has the infrastructure it needs to meet growing demand. I’ll continue working to deliver the federal resources to boost Nevada’s tourism economy.”
Senator Rosen continues delivering federal resources to support Nevada’s airport infrastructure. Last year, she announced nearly $28 million for airport safety and runway upgrades at Harry Reid International Airport. In February 2024, Rosen secured $7 million for terminal expansion at Reno–Tahoe International Airport through the Airport Terminal Program —which she personally helped create in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. And in November 2023, Senator Rosen secured $60.9 million for Nevada airports, directing more than $6.9 million to Reno–Tahoe International Airport and over $46 million to Harry Reid International Airport.
Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is granting Louisiana a total of $5,764,492.00 in funding from his Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to improve airport infrastructure in Farmerville, Ruston, Oak Grove, Many, Lake Charles, and Abbeville.
“Airports are the first impression communities make on people visiting our state,” said Dr. Cassidy. “These upgrades help local airports grow, create jobs, and improve regional development.”
Grant Awarded
Recipient
Project Description
$454,821.00
Union Parish Police Jury (Farmerville)
This grant will provide federal funding to construct an 8,400 square foot sponsor-owned hangar for aircraft storage to help the airport be self-sustaining by generating revenue.
$839,000.00
City of Ruston
This grant will provide federal funding to construct a 1,050 square foot sponsor-owned hangar for aircraft storage to help the airport be self-sustaining by generating revenue.
$585,000.00
West Carroll Kelly Airport Authority (Oak Grove)
This grant will provide federal funding to construct a 10,000 square foot sponsor-owned box hangar complex for aircraft storage to help the airport be self-sustaining by generating revenue.
$493,000.00
Town of Many
This grant will provide federal funding to construct a 170-foot hangar taxilane and a 5,000 square foot sponsor-owned box hangar complex to improve airfield access and support airport self-sufficiency.
$2,700,044.00
Airport Authority District No. 1 (Lake Charles)
This grant will provide federal funding to construct a new terminal parking lot and reconstruct 2,600 feet of access roads to better serve airport passengers and general aviation users.
$576,954.00
Chennault International Airport Authority (Lake Charles)
This grant will provide federal funding to rehabilitate 5,420 square yards of the existing South Apron pavement to maintain structural integrity and minimize foreign object debris.
$116,673.00
City of Abbeville
This grant will provide federal funding to construct a 700-foot T-Hangar taxilane to bring the airport into conformity with current standards.
