Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
February 06, 2025
WASHINGTON—U.S. SenatorsChris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Richard Blumenthal(D-Conn.), joined 37 of their Senate colleagues in reintroducing the Right to Contraception Act, legislation that would create a statutory right to obtain and use contraceptives. The bill would also help ensure health care providers have a right to provide contraceptives and share information about this essential care. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas).
In July 2022, the Right to Contraception Act passed the House with a vote of 220-195. That same month, Republicans blocked an attempt in the U.S. Senate to pass the bill by unanimous consent. They did the same in June 2023. In June 2024, Republicans blocked Senate Democrats’ attempt to pass the bill on the floor.
U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) also cosponsored the legislation.
The Right to Contraception Act is endorsed by Power to Decide, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, National Women’s Law Center, Guttmacher Institute, Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America), Population Connection Action Fund, Americans for Contraception, Advocates for Youth, National Partnership for Women & Families, American Public Health Association, American Humanist Association, National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health , Center for Biological Diversity, Ibis Reproductive Health, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Upstream USA, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, National Health Law Program, SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, Reproductive Health Access Project, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Upstream USA, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, Center for American Progress, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, All* Above All, and Center for Reproductive Rights.
Full text of the legislation is available HERE.
Last year, Murphy released statements after Senate Republicans blocked the Reproductive Freedom for Women Act, theRight to Contraception Act and the Right to IVF Act.
In March, Murphy co-sponsored legislation to protect IVF access and other assisted reproductive technology, but passage was blocked by Senate Republicans. That month, Murphy also submitted an amicus brief calling on the Supreme Court to affirm the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) requires hospitals to provide emergency stabilizing care, including abortion care.
Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis
Washington, D.C.— Today, Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT) introduced a Congressional Review Act resolution to block the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) Criminal Prohibitions Rule. The rule grants Forest Service law enforcement authority to enforce state laws on National Forest lands. Additionally, the rule incorporates state traffic laws into the federal code. It went into effect on December 26, 2024.
“The Forest Service’s so-called criminal prohibition rule usurps local law enforcement and creates jurisdictional ambiguity,” said Senator Lummis. “This is mission creep, not good governance, and I have grave constitutional concerns about this rule. I am proud to join my colleagues in filing this resolution to return power to state and local law enforcement agencies.”
“Congress created the Forest Service to manage production and watersheds — not to enforce state and local laws,” said Rep. Maloy. “The criminal prohibition rule is yet another example of agency overreach as it encroaches on the law enforcement authority of our Sheriffs and creates jurisdictional challenges. It must be stopped.”
The Western States Sheriffs’ Association, representing over 1,200 Sheriffs and 18 states west of the Mississippi, condemned this USFS rule in a letter last December saying it is “wrought with legal and constitutional hurdles.” You can read that letter here.
Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement today regarding the confirmation of Russell Vought as Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB):
“America faces growing budgetary challenges as well as growing foreign threats that undermine our economic prosperity and national security. In its work to preserve America’s economic and geopolitical primacy, the Administration must simultaneously put its fiscal house in order and make the serious investments required to restore peace through strength. Mr. Vought is experienced and demonstrably qualified to lead the Office of Management and Budget, and I look forward to working with him and President Trump to address these looming challenges. Congress has inherent Constitutional authority to appropriate funds and an obligation to provide for the common defense. I hope and expect Mr. Vought will coordinate closely with Congress in this vital work.”
Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia
WATCH: Senator Reverend Warnock Highlights Trump Administration Nominee’s Threat to Georgian’s Pocketbooks in Hour-Long Floor Speech
Senator Reverend Warnock delivered a nearly hour-long Senate floor speech opposing Russell Vought’s nomination to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
The speech follows the recent federal funding freeze, orchestrated by Vought and the OMB, which has impacted federal funding and programs for everything from seniors to law enforcement to child care to veterans
Senator Reverend Warnock also used the speech to highlight personal stories from Georgians who have been impacted by the Trump Administration’s continued efforts to gut the federal government
Senator Reverend Warnock: “My state has been plagued by chaos, by confusion that has harmed Georgia families and Georgia workers and organizations serving their communities. We are witnessing, right now, a careless and heartless assault on federal investments and a freeze of government funding that has already been appropriated by Congress”
Watch Senator Reverend Warnock’s speech HERE
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) delivered a nearly hour-long speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate highlighting his opposition to Russell Vought’s nomination to be head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
“I rise today in strong opposition to the nomination of Russell Vought to be the head of the Office of Management and Budget. His leadership will only continue the disruption that is hurting Georgians in every corner of my state, even as I speak,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.
During his floor speech, which was the longest of his tenure in the Senate, Senator Warnock addressed the continued efforts by the Trump Administration to gut the federal government from within. He also addressed the impacts of the Trump Administration’s federal funding freeze which has affected federal programs across Georgia and threatened services that support our veterans, law enforcement, seniors, schools, and our health system. The careless freeze is the brainchild of Russell Vought, the nominee to be the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
“If you want to get a sense of who President Trump is looking out for, look at who he’s surrounding himself with. On that stage when he was inaugurated, you saw them, some of the richest people in the world. They were the ones who had proximity. Well, proximity matters. You can tell a whole lot about the character of a person’s public service based on the people who can get close to them. The folks who get to speak into their ear. If you want to know who Donald Trump is working for, look at who he’s surrounding himself with. The likes of Elon Musk, the billionaire, the richest man in the world who is now telling the rest of us that we need to tighten our belts. How quaint,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.
“Look, I will work with anyone who is able to have a serious bipartisan conversation about how to best utilize government resources and taxpayer dollars. Working across the aisle to get good things done for Georgia has been a cornerstone of my service in the Senate over the past four years. I’m listed as one of the most bipartisan senators in the Senate. I have worked with Republicans many, many times. But right now, the playbook is obvious. Cut programs that you rely on and give the richest of the rich the money. Robin Hood in reverse. Steal from the poor, give to the rich,” Senator Reverend Warnock added.
Watch Senator Warnock’s full speech HERE.
Below are key excerpts from Senator Warnock’s speech:
“Mr. President,
“I rise today in strong opposition to the nomination of Russell Vought to be the head of the Office of Management and Budget. His leadership will only continue the disruption that is hurting Georgians in every corner of my state, even as I speak.
“Over the past two and a half weeks, my state has been plagued by chaos, by confusion that has harmed Georgia families and Georgia workers and organizations serving their communities. We are witnessing right now a careless and heartless assault on federal investments and a freeze of government funding that has already been appropriated by Congress. To help Georgia seniors, veterans, students, and so many more.”
“I dare say that the people of Georgia who elected me, and the people of Georgia who elected Donald Trump, did not vote for this. But just as we warned, his dangerous plans are playing out in real-time. This is exactly what they said they were going to do. Some didn’t believe them. Even after they attempted to gaslight the American people into thinking otherwise, here we are in no time flat.”
[…]
“This stunt that was pulled a few days ago is a disaster for communities who want well-funded law enforcement, thriving businesses, safe roads and bridges, and as they attack federal workers, attack the government, they’re trying to convince you that the government is some third entity outside of us — some third entity outside of us? No, this is by the people, for the people, of the people.
“This is the highest of our aspirations, what we’re trying to achieve together. As we witness this assault, it is hitting Democrats and Republicans. Blue states and red states. As the people’s voices are being squeezed out of their democracy.
“Just last week, without even being confirmed, Vought orchestrated the effort to freeze federal spending, as if this money is his money rather than our money, the people’s money, throwing programs from infrastructure upgrades, to Medicaid, to free school lunches, to support for homeless veterans into chaos. How dare you take funds that are needed by the veterans of Georgia and all across this state? Those who fight for us should not have to fight with us to get what they deserve.”
[…]
“My constituents were deeply shaken by last week’s federal funding freeze. I received thousands of calls and e-mails from folks afraid of the freeze’s unknown harm to their community. So, let’s peel back the curtain even more on what happened over the last few days. The Trump Administration froze trillions of dollars of government spending to enact massive and disruptive funding cuts. These cuts are being orchestrated in part by Russell Vought and in partnership with the world’s richest man, Elon Musk — Elon Musk, the co-president.
“This unelected, unvetted bureaucrat who by my best guess appears to think that the livelihood of Georgians and Americans is some kind of start-up he can tear apart. So, if you want to get a sense of who President Trump is looking out for, look at who he’s surrounding himself with. On that stage when he was inaugurated, you saw them, some of the richest people in the world. They were the ones who had proximity. Well, proximity matters. You can tell a whole lot about the character of a person’s public service based on the people who can get close to them. The folks who get to speak into their ear.
“If you want to know who Donald Trump is working for, look at who he’s surrounding himself with. The likes of Elon Musk, the billionaire, the richest man in the world who is now telling the rest of us that we need to tighten our belts. How quaint.
“President Trump isn’t serving you, he’s serving them. He’s serving those in our country who are well off and who don’t play by the rules and putting at risk basic programs that help folks send their kids to school, keep food affordable, and lower their energy bills.”
[…]
“So when Elon Musk and his billionaire buddies go looking for spending cuts and they’re focused on cutting government waste, they start by targeting the working class. He said he couldn’t cut taxes for billionaires because they are the job creators. What about the folks who work on the job day to day? What about the folks who clean hospitals? Who mop floors? Who pick up our garbage? Why is it that those at the top deserve so much more than those working at the bottom? Those in the middle? Hardworking Americans who play by the rules?”
[…]
“Look, I will work with anyone who is able to have a serious bipartisan conversation about how to best utilize government resources and taxpayer dollars. Working across the aisle to get good things done for Georgia has been a cornerstone of my service in the Senate over the past four years. I’m listed as one of the most bipartisan senators in the Senate. I have worked with Republicans many, many times. But right now, the playbook is obvious. Cut programs that you rely on and give the richest of the rich the money. Robin Hood in reverse. Steal from the poor, give to the rich.”
[…]
“This is not how the most powerful government in the world ought to serve its people. The reality is, this new level of Washington’s dysfunction has real-world consequences that extend beyond Washington politicians. Georgia’s economy does not stop just because Washington is exercising a kind of chaos.”
“While we’re trying to get our act together up here, guess what? Farmers still need crop insurance, childcare workers in community health centers still need to make payroll, our roads and our bridges, and pipes still need repairs. When federal investments are put in limbo, the stability of our states and local communities are also put in jeopardy. And let me be clear, the trump administration has demonstrated that it will try this again and again and again, and when they do, the business community will suffer and Georgians will be out of their jobs, unless we stand up and say no.
“If this federal funding freeze continues, as Russell Vought hopes, the impact will be felt hardest by those who can least afford it. It’s easy in all the blusters of the beltway who is actually bearing the brunt of Donald Trump’s actions. Delays and freezing are not just inconvenient, they create instability, and they cost the jobs of our friends, our families, and our neighbors.
“So, it’s up to us in this moment to stand up. I am listening to the people who sent me to represent them. I’m thinking about those who do the work every single day. It is our job to respond to the call and the urgency of this moment. History will not treat us kindly if we are silent at a time like this.”
Midway through last year, the CFA West Region Community Safety Team was approached by the Friends of Cornish Hill in Daylesford, to look at the growth of gorse and other woody weeds in the reserve.
CFA Vegetation Management Officer Kay Richardson attended with Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) and local CFA Captain Glenn Webster. Since that first meeting, collaborative efforts between FFMVic, the CFA Community Safety Team, and the Friends of Cornish Hill (FOCH) resulted in notable improvements in vegetation management and track maintenance.
It has also offered significant opportunities to include the surrounding community in fire risk awareness discussions and shared responsibility.
The FOCH ran a ‘Backing onto bush’ session in late November 2024 which was attended by 36 community members plus agency staff including Hepburn Shire, FFMVic, CFA and Landcare.
The day aimed to engage the community and highlight the fire risks they faced and what they could do to manage those risks as individuals and as a community. By the end of the session, the group was galvanised to assist the agencies to manage the fuel load on Cornish Hill as one way of preparing for fire.
FFMVic has completed grooming and grading the tracks on Cornish Hill. This work has not only improved accessibility but has also enhanced safety for maintenance teams and the local community.
Cath Matthews, Regional Vegetation Management Coordinator, expressed her gratitude to Midlands FFMVic for their work.
“A big thanks to Midlands FFMVic for undertaking the mulching of the gorse-infested tracks through Cornish Hill. This will now greatly facilitate access for brigades, enabling quicker suppression if a fire starts in the reserve,” Cath said.
Efforts to address invasive gorse, blackberry, and broom are ongoing, with the following key activities underway:
CFA is preparing to treat a block of woody weeds near the north-east corner of the hill.
The FOCH has engaged the ‘Gorsinator’ to remove old, hard-to-access gorse from the north-west corner.
The progress achieved has been well-received by the community and stakeholders. At the FOCH Annual General Meeting, members expressed their encouragement with the rapid pace of work. Cath Matthews also highlighted the broader impact of these efforts.
“This work has strengthened relationships between the many stakeholders involved, and hopefully we can build on this to ensure continued reduction of fire risk within this reserve and with the community.”
The FOCH is now preparing funding applications to sustain the work that has been achieved.
You might have heard that eating too many eggs will cause high cholesterol levels, leading to poor health.
Researchers have examined the science behind this myth again, and again, and again – largely debunking the claim.
A new study suggests that, among older adults, eating eggs supports heart health and even reduces the risk of premature death.
Let’s unpack the details.
What was the study?
Researchers examined data from a large, ongoing study that is following older adults and tracking their health (the ASPREE study).
In their analysis of more than 8,000 people, they examined the foods people usually eat and then looked at how many participants died over a six-year period and from what causes, using medical records and official reports.
Researchers collected information on their diet through a food questionnaire, which included a question about how frequently participants ate eggs in the past year:
never/infrequently (rarely or never, 1–2 times per month)
weekly (1–6 times per week)
daily (daily or several times per day).
Overall, people who consumed eggs 1–6 times per week had the lowest risk of death during the study period (29% lower for heart disease deaths and 17% lower for overall deaths) compared to those who rarely or never ate eggs.
Eating eggs daily did not increase the risk of death either.
How reputable is the study?
The research was published in a peer-reviewed journal, meaning this work has been examined by other researchers and is considered reputable and defensible.
In the analysis, factors such as socioeconomic, demographic, health-related and clinical factors, and overall dietary quality were “adjusted” for, as these factors can play a role in disease and the risk of early death.
Researchers received funding from a variety of national funding grants in the United States and Australia, with no links to commercial sources.
What are the limitations of this study?
Due to the type of study, it only explored egg consumption patterns, which participants self-reported. The researchers didn’t collect data about the type of egg (for example, chicken or quail), how it was prepared, or how many eggs are consumed when eaten.
This analysis specifically looked for an association or link between egg consumption and death. Additional analyses are needed to understand how egg consumption may affect other aspects of health and wellbeing.
Lastly, the population sample of older adults were relatively healthy, limiting how much findings can be applied to older adults with special needs or medical conditions.
ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) is an ongoing, large, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving more 19,000 participants in Australia and the US. This means some people in the trial were given an intervention and others weren’t but neither the participants nor the researchers knew who received the “placebo”, or dummy treatment.
ASPREE started in 2010 to investigate whether low-dose aspirin (100 micrograms daily) could help prolong older adults’ health and lifespan, specifically by preventing heart disease and stroke. The first findings were published in 2018.
One of the fundamental conclusions of the ASPREE trial was there was no benefit from taking aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease (heart disease or stroke).
ASPREE is still ongoing as a longitudinal study, which means it provides information on other aspects of healthy living and long-term outcomes in older adults – in this case, the link between egg intake and the chance of death.
Why the focus on eggs?
Eggs are a good source of protein, and contain B vitamins, folate, unsaturated fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K), choline, and minerals.
The fuss over eggs comes down to their cholesterol content and how it relates to heart disease risk. A large egg yolk contains approximately 275 mg of cholesterol — near the recommended daily limit of cholesterol intake.
In the past, medical professionals warned that eating cholesterol-rich foods such as eggs could raise blood cholesterol and increase heart disease risk.
But newer research shows the body doesn’t absorb dietary cholesterol well, so dietary cholesterol doesn’t have a major effect on blood cholesterol levels.
Rather, foods such as saturated and trans fats play a major role in cholesterol levels.
The body doesn’t absorb the cholesterol from eggs very well. Nichiiro/Unsplash
Given these changing recommendations over time, and the nuances of nutrition science, it’s understandable that research on eggs continues.
What does this mean for me?
Whether you prefer boiled, scrambled, poached, baked or fried, eggs provide a satisfying source of protein and other key nutrients.
While the science is still out, there’s no reason to limit egg intake unless specifically advised by a recognised health professional such as an accredited practising dietitian. As always, moderation is key.
Lauren Ball receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council, Queensland Health and Mater Misericordia. She is a Director of Dietitians Australia, a Director of Food Standards Australia and New Zealand, a Director of the Darling Downs and West Moreton Primary Health Network and an Associate Member of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.
Karly Bartim is a member of Dietitians Australia and the Australian Association of Gerontology and is an Accredited Practising Dietitian.
Attributable to Detective Sergeant Vincent Smylie:
A man is before the courts following a vehicle stop which led to the discovery of two firearms and shotgun ammunition.
Around 4pm on Tuesday 4 February, Police conducted a vehicle stop in Cannons Creek, after seeing a person of interest in the passenger seat of a vehicle.
The 34-year-old man was arrested in relation to a warrant to arrest.
The day after, Wednesday 5 February, Police conducted a search warrant at his house nearby, leading to the discovery of two firearms, shotgun ammunition, and gang insignia that had allegedly been displayed in an earlier incident in January.
He is due to reappear in Porirua District Court on Friday 21 February, facing charges of prohibited display of gang insignia in a public place, burglary, male assaults female, intentional damage, speaks threateningly, and unlawful possession of ammunition. Further charges relating to the two firearms are being considered.
Police are glad to have been able to pull two more unlawfully possessed firearms off the street, as they have the ability to cause serious harm in our community.
“We will continue to target offenders who show little regard for the community, including violent offenders, and those who unlawfully possess firearms,” Detective Sergeant Smylie said.
Road users travelling through the Rangitikei district are advised to expect some minor delays on State Highway 1 in the coming weeks due to planned maintenance and resilience works.
The Manawatū-Whanganui 2024/25 renewals season is nearing completion, with less than 2 months left.
Some crucial work on SH1 is still to be completed, with crews scheduled to be at different sites over the coming weeks.
The timing and location of these scheduled works has been specifically chosen to minimise disruption for travellers.
Utiku: From Monday 10 February, tree felling works will be taking place off the state highway near Utiku. Work to remove the trees will take place over 4 days, with crews working from 7am til 7pm. Temporary traffic management will be in place, with an occasional stop/stop (stopping traffic flow completely) while trees are removed alongside the highway. Motorists can expect delays of up to 10 minutes.
Taihape: Preseal repair works are taking place between Manu Road and Rauma Road, just south of Taihape, from Monday 10 February to Friday 14 February. Crews will be working from 8am til 5pm. Stop/go temporary traffic management and a reduced speed limit of 30km/h will be in place, with delays of up to 15 minutes expected. Following these works, crews will return to complete resealing works before the end of this renewals season. This will be communicated closer to the time.
Once these works are complete, further road maintenance is planned later in the month for SH1 near Mangaweka and Bulls.
North of Bulls: From Monday 17 February – Friday 28 February, planned road maintenance work will take place on SH1 near the intersection with Wellington Road. Crews will be working from 6am til 6pm each day. Stop/go temporary traffic management and a reduced speed limit will be in place, with delays of 5 minutes expected.
Bulls: From Wednesday 19 February, crews plan to complete a 3-week road rebuild on the passing lane north of Watson St, Bulls. This road renewal work will take place each day, with crews working from 6am til 6pm each day. The first week of work involves contraflow (allowing both directions of travel) and the remaining 2 weeks of work involves stop/go temporary traffic management, with delays of 5 minutes expected.
Mangaweka: Road rebuild works are planned for the passing lane near Mangaweka, from Thursday 20 February to Thursday 20 March. These renewal works will be completed under contraflow so minimal disruption is expected for road users.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi acknowledges State Highway 1 has seen a lot of construction activity over the past few months during the renewals season and we really appreciate people’s patience during this work to increase the resilience of the network.
The upcoming works are weather dependent and may be postponed or rescheduled at short notice. Changes in programming will be communicated on our online channels such as NZTA’s Journey Planner.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi advises of the following closures for motorway improvements. Work delayed by bad weather will be completed at the next available date, prior to Friday, 14 February 2025.
Please note this traffic bulletin is updated every Friday.
Unless otherwise stated, closures start at 9pm and finish at 5am. Traffic management may be in place before the advertised closure times for the mainline.
NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)
Onewa Road northbound off-ramp, 9-13 February
Stafford Road northbound off-ramp, 9-13 February
Curran Street northbound on-ramp, 9-13 February
CENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (CMJ)
SH1 southbound to SH16 eastbound (Port) link, 12 February (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
SH1 southbound to SH16 westbound link, 13 February (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
Northbound lanes between Symonds Street off-ramp and Fanshawe Street on-ramp, 10-11 February (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
Wellington Street northbound on-ramp, 10-11 February
SH1 northbound to SH16 westbound link, 10-11 February (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
Westbound lanes between Stanely Street off-ramp and Newtown Road on-ramp, 10-11 February (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
SH16 (Port) westbound to SH1 northbound link, 10-11 February (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
SH16 (Port) westbound to SH1 southbound link, 10-11 February (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
Wellesley Street East (SH1) westbound on-ramp, 10-11 February
SH16 eastbound to SH1 northbound link, 10-11 February (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
Westbound lanes between Stanley Street off-ramp and Great North Road on-ramp, 13 February (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
SH16 (Port) westbound to SH1 northbound link, 13 February (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
SH16 (Port) westbound to SH1 southbound link, 13 February (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
Wellesley Street East (SH1) westbound on-ramp, 13 February
Hobson Street westbound on-ramp, 13 February
Newton Road westbound on-ramp, 13 February
St Lukes Road westbound on-ramp, 13 February
SH16 westbound to SH20 southbound link, 13 February (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
SH1 northbound to SH16 westbound link, 13 February (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
Eastbound lanes between Wellesley Street East (SH1) off-ramp and Alten Road on-ramp, 12 February (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
Eastbound lanes between Wellesley Street East (SH16) off-ramp and Alten Road on-ramp, 12 February (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
Grafton Road eastbound on-ramp, 12 February
Westbound lanes between Stanley Street off-ramp and Grafton Road on-ramp, 11-13 February
Westbound lanes between Quay Street/Tamaki Drive and Parnell Rise, approx. 9:00pm 7 February to 5:00am 10 February (24/7)
Westbound lanes between Quay Street/Tamaki Drive and Parnell Rise, approx. 9:00pm 14 February to 5:00am 17 February (24/7)
SOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)
Southbound lanes between Papakura off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 9 February
Papakura (Loop) southbound on-ramp, 9 February
Papakura (Diamond) southbound on-ramp, 9 February
Southbound lanes between Papakura off-ramp and Ramarama on-ramp, 10-13 February
Papakura (Loop) southbound on-ramp, 10-13 February
Papakura (Diamond) southbound on-ramp, 10-13 February
Drury/SH22 southbound on-ramp, 10-13 February
Northbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Papakura on-ramp, 9-13 February
Drury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 9-13 February
Bombay southbound off-ramp, 9-13 February
Bombay northbound on-ramp, 9-13 February
Bombay northbound off-ramp, 9-13 February
Southbound lanes between Hampton Downs off-ramp and Hampton Downs on-ramp, 9-13 February
Northbound lanes between Hampton Downs off-ramp and Hampton Downs on-ramp, 9-13 February
Dragway Road northbound off-ramp, 9-13 February
Hampton Downs northbound on-ramp, 9-13 February
NORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16)
SH16 eastbound link to SH20 southbound (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 10-11 February
Great North Road eastbound off ramp (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 10-11 February
Westbound link to SH20 southbound (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 10-11 February
Eastbound lanes between Great North Road off-ramp and Alten Road, 12 February (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
Great North Road eastbound on-ramp, 12 February
St Lukes Road eastbound on-ramp, 12 February
SH16 eastbound to SH1 northbound link, 12 February (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
SH16 eastbound to SH16 (Port) link, 12 February (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
SH16 eastbound to SH1 southbound link, 12 February (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
UPPER HARBOUR MOTORWAY (SH18)
None planned
SOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20)
Southbound lanes between Maioro Street off-ramp and Hillsborough Road on-ramp, 10-11 February (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
Maioro Street southbound on-ramp, 10-11 February
Dominion Road southbound on-ramp, 10-11 February
Northbound lanes between Maioro Street off-ramp and Great North Road on-ramp (Waterview northbound tunnel closed), 12-13 February
SH20 Northbound to SH16 Eastbound Link, 12-13 February
SH20 Northbound to SH16 Westbound Link, 12-13 February
Maioro Street northbound on-ramp, 12-13 February
Southbound lanes between Massey Road off-ramp and Puhinui Road on-ramp, 9 February (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
Massey Road southbound on-ramp, 9 February
GEORGE BOLT MEMORIAL DRIVE (SH20A)
None planned
PUHINUI ROAD (SH20B)
None planned
STATE HIGHWAY 22 (SH22)
None planned
STATE HIGHWAY 2 (SH2)
None planned
Please follow the signposted detours. NZ Transport Agency thanks you for your co-operation during these essential improvements and maintenance.
Headline: Panasonic in Numbers: 100% Marine Biodegradable Molding Material
Growing concern over environmental impact, including marine plastic pollution, depletion of petroleum resources, and global warming, has led to a global effort to reduce the use of traditional plastic resins.Today, 80% of all plastic waste is discarded and expectations are that by 2050, the amount of plastic in our oceans will outweigh the fish*.Following years of R&D, Panasonic HD has developed a 100% marine biodegradable molding material based on plant-derived resins that is comparable in strength to polypropylene.Certified as a “Marine Biodegradable & Biobased Plastics” by the Japan Bioplastics Association, Panasonic HD plans to commercialize this material by 2027, leveraging its unique properties for household appliance casings, automotive parts, consumer goods, and beverage and food containers, among other applications.
* http://www.jbpaweb.net/gp/index.html
A new case of measles has been reported in Victoria, with the total number of cases linked to travel in Vietnam since December 2024 now standing at eight. Growing outbreaks continue to be reported internationally including in Vietnam and Thailand.
Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can spread from person-to-person and potentially lead to serious health complications.
This most recent case was infectious on VietJet Air flight VJC81/ VJ81 from Ho Chi Minh City to Melbourne, while at Melbourne Airport, and at Sunshine Hospital and The Royal Children’s Hospital.
Anyone who develops symptoms of measles should seek medical care. Wear a mask and call ahead to make sure you can be isolated from others.
People who have attended the listed exposure sites during the specified dates and times should monitor for symptoms of measles and follow the instructions below.
Healthcare professionals should be alert for measles in patients with fever and rash, particularly those who have recently returned from overseas or attended a listed exposure site during the specified period.
Suspected cases should be tested, advised to isolate, and notified to the Department of Health immediately by calling 1300 651 160.
All Victorians are eligible to receive the free measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine if born during or after 1966 and do not have documentation of having received two doses of measles-containing vaccine. Clinicians should vaccinate all individuals who are unsure of their vaccination history, regardless of Medicare status.
There is no need to check measles serology prior to vaccination.
Anyone planning overseas travel should make sure they have received appropriate travel vaccinations, including the MMR vaccine. This is especially important for anyone planning on travelling to South-East Asia, including Vietnam.
What is the issue?
A new case of measles has been identified in Victoria, after travel overseas to South-East Asia where there is an ongoing and large international outbreak. There have now been 17 cases of measles identified in Victoria in the last 12 months.
Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can lead to uncommon but serious complications, such as pneumonia and brain inflammation (encephalitis).
There is currently a large measles outbreak in Vietnam. Vietnam’s Ministry of Health reported over 38,364 suspected measles cases for 2024, including 13 deaths. At the present time, any overseas travel could lead to exposure to measles, with outbreaks also reported in areas outside of Southeast Asia including India, Africa, Europe and the UK, the Middle East, and the USA.
Active public exposures sites in Victoria for recent cases are listed in the table below.
Date
Time
Location
Monitor for onset of symptoms up to
Sunday 26 January 2025
Arrival 12:45am
VietJet Air flight VJC81/ VJ81
Departure: Ho Chi Minh City
Arrival: Melbourne
Thursday 13 February 2025
Sunday 26 January 2025
12:45am to 3:30am
Melbourne Airport, VIC 3005
Thursday 13 February 2025
Tuesday 28 January
08:15am to 10:50pm
Sunshine Hospital Paediatric Emergency Department
176 Furlong Rd, St Albans VIC 3021
Saturday 15 February 2025
Friday 31 January
9:00am to 1:50pm
Sunshine Hospital Paediatric Emergency Department
176 Furlong Rd, St Albans VIC 3021
Tuesday 18 February 2025
Monday 3 February 2025
5:55pm to 11:30pm
The Royal Children’s Hospital Emergency Department
50 Flemington Rd, Parkville VIC 3052
Friday 21 February 2025
Monday 3 February 2025
11:10pm to 00:00am (midnight)
The Royal Children’s Hospital
Sugar Glider Ward
50 Flemington Rd, Parkville VIC 3052
Friday 21 February 2025
Tuesday 4 February
00:01am to 1:30pm
The Royal Children’s Hospital
Sugar Glider Ward
50 Flemington Rd, Parkville VIC 3052
Saturday 22 February 2025
Wednesday 5 February
9:55am to 11:15am
The Royal Children’s Hospital Emergency Department
50 Flemington Rd, Parkville VIC 3052
Sunday 23 February 2025
Anyone who has attended a listed exposure site during the specified times above should monitor for symptoms and seek medical care if symptoms develop for up to 18 days after the exposure. Anyone who presents with signs and symptoms compatible with measles should be tested and notified to the Department of Health immediately. There should be an especially high level of suspicion if they have travelled overseas or visited any the sites listed above and are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated for measles.
Who is at risk?
Anyone born during or since 1966 who does not have documented evidence of having received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or does not have documented evidence of immunity, is at risk of measles.
Unvaccinated infants are at particularly high risk of contracting measles.
Young infants, pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system are at increased risk of serious complications from measles.
Symptoms and transmission
Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, sore or red eyes (conjunctivitis), runny nose, and feeling generally unwell, followed by a red maculopapular rash. The rash usually starts on the face before spreading down the body. Symptoms can develop between 7 to 18 days after exposure.
Initial symptoms of measles may be similar to those of COVID-19 and influenza. If a symptomatic person tests negative for COVID-19 and/or influenza but develops a rash, they should be advised to continue isolating and be tested for measles.
People with measles are potentially infectious from 24 hours prior to the onset of initial symptoms until 4 days after the rash appears. Measles is highly infectious and can spread through airborne droplets or contact with nose or throat secretions, as well as contaminated surfaces and objects. The measles virus can stay in the environment for up to 2 hours.
Figures: Examples of a typical measles rash.
Recommendations
For the general public
Anyone who has attended a listed exposure site during the specified date and time should monitor for symptoms and seek medical care if symptoms develop for up to 18 days after the exposure.
Symptoms of measles can initially resemble a cold or flu and include fever, cough, sore or red eyes (conjunctivitis), runny nose, and feeling generally unwell, followed by a red rash. The rash usually starts on the face before spreading down the body.
Anyone who develops symptoms of measles should seek medical care. Call the health service beforehand to advise that you may have been exposed to measles and wear a mask.
The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine provides safe and effective protection against measles. The MMR vaccine is available for free:
on the National Immunisation Program, routinely given at 12 months and 18 months of age.
for anyone born during or after 1966 who have not already received two doses of measles-containing vaccine, are unsure of their vaccination status, or do not have evidence of immunity to measles.
for young infants aged 6 to 12 months prior to overseas travel to countries where measles is endemic or where outbreaks of measles are occurring. If an infant receives an early dose of MMR vaccine prior to travel, they should still receive routine doses at 12 months and 18 months of age as per the National Immunisation Program schedule.
For further information, speak to your immunisation provider.
Anyone planning overseas travel should make sure they have received appropriate travel vaccinations.
For health professionals
Anyone who is not fully vaccinated for measles may be eligible to receive the MMR vaccine if they present within 72 hours (3 days) of exposure. Anyone who is immunocompromised or pregnant and not fully vaccinated for measles may be eligible to receive normal human immunoglobulin (NHIG) if they present up to 144 hours (6 days) after close exposure to a measles case.
Clinicians are advised to be alert for measles in patients presenting with compatible illness, particularly those with overseas travel or who attended a listed exposure site during the specified dates and times or who are not fully vaccinated against measles.
Anyone who presents with signs and symptoms compatible with measles should be tested and notified to the Department of Health immediately. There should be an especially high level of suspicion if they have travelled overseas or visited any sites listed above and are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated for measles.
Suspected cases should be tested, isolated, and notified to the Department of Health immediately by calling 1300 651 160 and connecting to the relevant Local Public Health Unit.
Discuss the need for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing using nose and throat swabs with the Local Public Health Unit (PCR testing for measles does not attract a Medicare rebate).
Take blood samples for measles serology in all suspected cases.
Minimise the risk of measles transmission within your practice/department:
avoid keeping patients with fever and rash in shared waiting areas (send to a separate room).
if measles is suspected, give the patient a single use, fitted mask and isolate under airborne precautions until a measles diagnosis can be excluded.
leave all rooms that were used to assess the suspected case vacant for at least 30 minutes after the consultation.
Offer MMR vaccine to people born during or after 1966 who do not have documented evidence of receiving two doses of a measles-containing vaccine or documented evidence of immunity. Serology is not required before vaccinating. People who are not Medicare eligible can also receive the free MMR vaccine. Refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook –Measles for further guidance on immunisation.
Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this morning visited the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Indonesia to sign the condolence book, following the passing of H.E. Prof. Dr. Horst Köhler, former President of the Federal Republic of Germany, on 1 February 2025.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN signs a book of condolence at the German Embassy in Jakarta appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, today made this statement after voting to confirm Russ Vought as the next Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Vought was confirmed by a vote of 53-47.
“I look forward to working with OMB Director Russ Vought and congratulate him on being confirmed by the Senate.
“Russ is highly qualified, and served in the same capacity in the first Trump Administration. I believe he is the right man at the right time to get our fiscal house in order.”
The British central bank announced on Thursday that it would cut the interest rate from 4.75 percent to 4.5 percent, citing concerns about stagnant growth.
The decision was made by the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England (BoE), which voted 7-2 to cut rates. Two committee members called for a bigger rate cut of half a percentage point.
December’s inflation rate dropped from 2.6 percent to 2.5 percent, with core inflation falling from 3.5 percent to 3.2 percent, while services inflation experienced an even bigger drop from 5 percent to 4.4 percent, providing a base for a potential interest rate cut.
The BoE said that the economy’s potential growth rate had dropped from 1.5 percent to 0.75 percent year-on-year. The bank also indicated that while it expects last October’s Budget to boost economic growth by 0.75 percent, thanks largely to greater public investment, the National Insurance rise will weigh down on activity, particularly by reducing employment.
The positive buying sentiment in the new-home market across major Chinese cities has greatly boosted confidence and expectations for a strong sales season in March and April, said industry experts on Thursday after digesting the home transaction data of the Spring Festival holiday.
The Chinese New Year holiday started on Jan 28 and wrapped up on Tuesday. According to official data, the 28 major Chinese cities monitored by the China Index Academy reported an 8 percent growth in daily new-home transaction space year-on-year.
More specifically, Guangzhou, Guangdong province witnessed a 47 percent year-on-year surge in new home trades during the Spring Festival holiday, with Beijing recording a moderate growth of 5 percent. Strong growth was also seen in second-tier cities including Nanjing, Jiangsu province; Nanchang, Jiangxi province; and Wuhan, Hubei province.
“It is expected that transaction volume of both new and pre-owned homes in these cities would welcome an evident rebound after the holiday,” said Li Yifeng, deputy director of research at the China Index Academy.
“The overall housing market saw stable performance during this year’s Chinese New Year, despite the fact that the holiday is a conventional low season for home transactions. As a result, a significant rebound is highly expected after the holiday,” Li said.
The positive feedback in the market — coupled with factors like warm weather, year-end bonuses, stable work and life, and promotions launched by developers — is likely to persuade more potential homebuyers to make purchases, Beijing Business Today reported.
“The increase in the number of visits is encouraging, which indicates the previous policies are taking effect and homebuying demand is still strong,” said Cao Xiaoning, a real estate agent for a residential project in Beijing’s Shijingshan district developed by China Overseas Land and Investment Ltd, a unit of Beijing-based China State Construction Engineering Corp.
Yan Yuejin, deputy head of the Shanghai-based E-House China R&D Institute, said the improved performance over the holiday shows the real estate market adjustment has bottomed out and is headed for a course of stabilization.
“Currently, the property market is fully adjusting itself, and we expect homebuyers to become more optimistic regarding the sector’s outlook, and an early spring warming may be around the corner,” Yan said.
Both new and pre-owned homes reported positive growth before the Chinese New Year holiday in January. In the 30 cities China Index Academy surveyed, new home traded space grew 4 percent year-on-year between Jan 1 and Jan 27, and the 20 key cities’ existing home trade volume surged 19 percent from a year ago during the same period.
“With people returning to work after the holiday, their homebuying plans are also getting back on the right track. Therefore, a home transaction rebound is due in the near term,” Li said.
Li added that considering the low base of the first quarter in 2024, new home traded volume is likely to be stable in the first quarter, and home prices in the secondary market will hopefully become stabilized.
“But the market is still in need of policy support for its sustained stabilization,” said Li.
Tourists from France enjoy a soup dumpling at Yuyuan Garden Mall in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 21, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
Foreign visitors in China experienced a smoother, more convenient travel environment during this year’s Spring Festival, thanks to improvements to the country’s mobile payment systems.
The latest data from the People’s Bank of China shows that the volume of transactions made by international tourists during the Chinese New Year holiday, which ran from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4 this year, surged significantly from last year. The total number of cross-border transactions processed by China UnionPay and NetsUnion Clearing Corporation increased 124.54 percent, and the total transaction value grew 90.49 percent.
This jump in payment activity reflects not only the growing appeal of China as a travel destination but also the seamless integration of mobile payment systems for foreign visitors.
In cities like Shanghai, foreign tourists can now use international credit cards or mobile payment apps such as Alipay for shopping, dining and sightseeing, which allowed tourists to enjoy the cultural experiences on offer fully during the Chinese New Year.
German tourist Carla Uhrmacher, who visited the famous Yuyuan Garden in the eastern Chinese metropolis of Shanghai, was impressed by the ease with which she could use her mobile payment app to buy traditional Chinese crafts and souvenirs. “Whether using Visa or Mastercard, or mobile payment systems, it’s all very seamless,” she noted, highlighting how accessible these payment methods are for international visitors.
This Spring Festival saw an increase in payment transactions and a significant rise in the number of foreign visitors to China. Inbound arrivals during this year’s Spring Festival hit a record high, with a 150 percent year-on-year leap reported, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, told a press conference on Wednesday, citing data from third-party platforms.
While popular destinations such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou continued to attract large numbers of foreign travelers during the holiday, cities like Suzhou, Xi’an, Chengdu and Xiamen emerged as new favorites for international tourists using mobile payment services, Alipay data shows.
This surge in international visitors can be largely attributed to China’s ongoing efforts to enhance its payment services for foreigners. The country has made it easier for international travelers to use their foreign credit cards by allowing them to link these cards directly to popular Chinese mobile payment platforms like Alipay and WeChat Pay.
An increasing number of international e-wallets are now also supported for use in China. Alipay, for example, now allows users to link 13 different overseas e-wallets from countries like the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore.
Though cashless payment services have improved significantly, foreign tourists can also take advantage of a network of nearly 70,000 bank branches, 320,000 ATMs, and currency exchange facilities across the country.
This year’s Spring Festival also saw a notable increase in foreigner spending, particularly in cities like Beijing, where tourists from various countries flocked to shopping areas such as Qianmen Street to purchase souvenirs, local teas and trendy clothing.
This spending boom is backed by figures, with the number of transactions made by foreign visitors on WeChat increasing 134 percent compared to last year’s Spring Festival, and with the total spent via Alipay rising 150 percent during the first five days of the holiday. These figures reflect not only the convenience of mobile payments but also the growing enthusiasm of foreign tourists to purchase Chinese goods and immerse themselves in local culture.
An increasingly open China is becoming an even more attractive destination for international tourists as Chinese New Year is celebrated globally, and as payment services continue to improve, analysts in China have noted. And these improved payment experiences will make China travel even smoother and more enjoyable for international visitors.
This aerial photo taken on April 4, 2023 shows the Haikou International Duty-Free Shopping Complex in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
During the Spring Festival holiday spanning from Jan 28 through Tuesday, Haikou Customs recorded transactions totaling 2.09 billion yuan ($287 million) in duty-free shopping, with 240,500 travelers departing from Hainan province engaging in duty-free purchases, averaging 8,706 yuan per person, surpassing last year’s figure of 8,358 yuan.
Noteworthy was the achievement of 1.44 billion yuan in duty-free sales in Sanya. From Saturday to Tuesday, duty-free sales in the city exceeded 200 million yuan for four consecutive days. As of Wednesday, duty-free sales in Sanya had risen by 18.1 percent year-on-year, with shopping and foot traffic increasing by 21.9 percent and 13.8 percent, respectively, setting a new high.
“There are many more brands than the last time I visited, and the products are very comprehensive. I also used government consumption vouchers,” said a tourist surnamed Zhang from Beijing, at Sanya International Duty Free City on Tuesday, as she took advantage of her vacation to buy the coat and skincare products she had been eyeing.
Throughout this year’s Spring Festival holiday, the diverse tourism resources across Hainan attracted visitors from outside the island, propelling duty-free consumption.
Sanya International Duty Free City organized a range of events that capitalized on this momentum by blending intangible cultural heritage with duty-free offerings. “We established five major intangible cultural heritage experiential zones featuring calligraphy, sugar painting, lacquer fans, rubbings and paper-cutting, which were warmly received by tourists, especially families,” said Fu Bing, the mall’s event planner.
Collaborating with over 900 brands and offering 45 major duty-free product categories, Sanya International Duty Free City introduced promotions like gifts with purchases, multiple membership reward points and exclusive Chinese New Year Zodiac products for the Year of the Snake, complemented by government consumption vouchers and subsidies for digital product purchases.
To attract consumers, Sanya and Haikou distributed over 67 million yuan in offshore duty-free shopping vouchers, which can be stacked with in-store discounts.
At Global Premium Duty Free Plaza in Haikou, products are available starting from a minimum of 70 percent off. Liu Jia, assistant to general manager of the plaza, said that foot traffic increased by around 55 percent compared to the eight days prior to the Spring Festival holiday, leading to a significant boost in sales performance and marking a prosperous start of the year in terms of sales.
A salesperson from a fragrance and cosmetics brand at Haikou International Duty-Free City said that all items are discounted to a minimum of 20 percent off for every three items purchased. A tourist surnamed Chen from Guangdong province bought a bottle of concentrated repair essence, saying, “The original price was 3,920 yuan. After the discount, it was only 2,548 yuan. Such a good deal.”
At the Haikou Xinhai Ro-Ro Passenger Terminal hub, adjacent to Haikou International Duty Free City, a steady stream of tourists queue at the port channel’s off-island duty-free pickup point.
“We have dispatched personnel to duty-free shopping malls to promote and educate on offshore duty-free policies and shopping procedures, fully supporting duty-free sales,” said Wang Yang, head of the duty-free product supervision department at Haikou Port Customs.
Huang Jing, deputy head of the duty-free supervision department at Sanya Customs, said, “To address difficulties faced by travelers due to changes in off-island information for pickup and verification, we have developed a passenger rebooking information comparison system and an off-island duty-free verification application mini-program, enabling passengers to self-enter rebooking information, providing convenience to many travelers.”
Guo Jianmeng, director of the port supervision division of Haikou Customs, emphasized the commitment to exploring innovative pathways for intelligent supervision of offshore duty-free in Hainan Free Trade Port, aiming to boost the consumer market’s vitality and contribute to the development of offshore duty-free industries, aligning with Hainan’s vision of becoming an international tourism consumption center.
People try out Huawei smartphones in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, Sept. 10, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
China’s electronic information manufacturing sector registered robust growth in 2024, with the added value of major enterprises in the sector increasing 11.8 percent from the previous year, official data showed on Thursday.
The combined operating revenues of the sector’s major firms rose 7.3 percent year on year to 16.19 trillion yuan (about 2.26 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2024, according to data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
During the period, the combined profits of these companies increased 3.4 percent year on year to 640.8 billion yuan, the data showed.
Among major products, a total of 1.67 billion mobile phones were produced in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 7.8 percent. About 1.25 billion smartphones were manufactured, growing 8.2 percent from the previous year.
Major companies in the sector are those with a main annual business revenue of at least 20 million yuan.
This photo shows the smart vehicle exhibition area at the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 28, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
The third China International Supply Chain Expo will be held in Beijing from July 16 to 20 this year, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) said on Thursday.
With a total exhibition area of 120,000 square meters, the expo features six major exhibition areas — namely advanced manufacturing, clean energy, smart vehicles, digital technology, healthy living and green agriculture.
To date, nearly 200 companies have signed up to participate, the CCPIT revealed.
As the world’s first national-level exhibition focusing on supply chains, the expo is an internationally shared public product. First held in 2023, the expo has contributed to building more secure, stable, open and inclusive global industrial and supply chains, according to the CCPIT.
Amazon.com, Inc. on Thursday announced its financial results for the fourth quarter ending Dec. 31, 2024, with net sales of 187.8 billion U.S. dollars, up 10 percent year on year.
The company’s net income increased to 20.0 billion dollars in the fourth quarter, or 1.86 dollars per diluted share, compared with 10.6 billion dollars, or 1.00 dollars per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Its net income increased to 59.2 billion dollars in the full year of 2024, or 5.53 dollars per diluted share, compared with 30.4 billion dollars, or 2.90 dollars per diluted share, in 2023.
Amazon’s net sales increased 11 percent to 638.0 billion dollars in 2024, compared with 574.8 billion dollars in 2023.
The company’s operating cash flow increased 36 percent to 115.9 billion dollars for the trailing 12 months, compared with 84.9 billion dollars for the trailing 12 months ending Dec. 31, 2023.
Its free cash flow increased to 38.2 billion dollars for the trailing 12 months, compared with 36.8 billion dollars for the trailing 12 months ending Dec. 31, 2023.
“The holiday shopping season was the most successful yet for Amazon,” said Andy Jassy, president and CEO of Amazon.
The introduction of new Trainium2 artificial intelligence chip, the foundation models in Amazon Nova, and the next edition of Amazon SageMaker are among the most remarkable innovation delivered across Amazon’s businesses, he said, adding that these are substantial enablers in the emerging technology environment.
U.S. forces will participate in Exercise Pacific Steller 2025, a multi-large deck event (MLDE) hosted by the French Navy in the Philippine Sea beginning Feb. 8. The exercise will involve ships from the U.S. Navy’s Vinson Carrier Strike Group (VINCSG), the French Carrier Strike Group, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
This MLDE is designed to advance coordination and cooperation between French, Japanese and U.S. maritime forces while simultaneously demonstrating capabilities in multi-domain operations, promoting a shared dedication to regional stability, and highlighting the U.S. Navy’s enduring power projection capability.
“Pacific Steller 2025 allows us to practice seamless integration with our French and Japanese allies in a multi-domain environment,” said Rear Adm. Michael Wosje, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1. “Coordinated operations between USS Carl Vinson, FS Charles De Gaulle, and JS Kaga strengthen our alliances and deter our adversaries. Together, we seek to maintain an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, free of all forms of coercion, and we’re excited to work alongside our allies and partners who share that vision.”
The U.S.-France alliance is built on a legacy of shared interests, values, and a commitment to freedom and human rights.
“It is a great opportunity for the French Carrier Strike Group to cooperate with our partners in the Indo-Pacific during the whole deployment. While France is a resident nation of the Indo-Pacific, it has not deployed its CSG to this part of the world for a long time,” said Rear Adm. Jacques Mallard, commander, French CSG. “Since January 14, the aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, based in Toulon more than 6000 miles from here, is sailing in a different area. There is no doubt that PACIFIC STELLER will ramp up to a new level of interoperability for our three navies and represents a challenge that we are more than eager to take up alongside Japanese and US partners.”
The most recent MLDE in the Indo-Pacific occurred in August 2024 between the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and the Italian Navy aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550). The event marked the first MLDE conducted between the U.S. and Italian navies in the Indo-Pacific region.
“Our routine integration aims to showcase our partnership and demonstrate our ability to work together with our French and Japanese allies,” said Capt. Matthew Thomas, commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). “Pacific Steller 2025 is one of many exercises with the goal to enhance the maritime security of the Indo-Pacific region. As the flagship of CSG-1, Carl Vinson stands ready and looks forward to participating alongside Charles De Gaulle and Kaga.”
MLDEs are conducted in a manner that is consistent with international law and with due regard to the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other states.
Participating large-deck ships include the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), the French carrier FS Charles De Gaulle, and Japan’s Izumo-class multi-functional destroyer JS Kaga (DDH-184).
CSG-1 consists of Carl Vinson, embarked staffs of CSG-1 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) one, Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW) 2, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59), and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110).
CVW-2 is composed of nine squadrons flying the F-35C Lightning II, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growler, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, CMV-22 Osprey and MH-60R/S Seahawks.
French Carrier Strike Group consists of Charles De Gaulle, its embarked French Strike Force staff and carrier air wing, an air-defense destroyer, multi-mission frigates, a supply ship, an attack submarine, and a detachment of Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft.
The French carrier air wing flies the Rafale Marine (F4) fighter aircraft, E-2C Hawkeye, and Dauphin, Caiman Marine, and Panther helicopters.
The French Carrier Strike Group is currently engaged in Mission CLEMENCEAU 25, sailing alongside its allies and strategic partners to promote a free, open and stable Indo-Pacific space for the benefit of French populations, interests, and those of their regional partners, within the framework of international law.
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
For more news from CSG-1 and Carl Vinson visit: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/CSG1, https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/CVN70
In January 2025, the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research joined forces with the 65th Medical Brigade at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, to conduct a train-the-trainer course on Behavioral Health Guidelines for mEdic Assessment and Response. Designed to equip medics and unit helpers—many without prior behavioral health training—with essential skills for assessing and addressing mental health issues, the course marks a significant step toward bolstering mental health support within military units.
Led by Dr. Katie Nugent, a behavioral health epidemiologist at WRAIR’s Military Psychiatry branch, the three-and-a-half-day program was supported by an expert team that included Dr. Josh Wilk, Ms. Kristina Clarke-Walper, Maj. Jose Nunuz, Capt. George Mesias, and Ms. Mary Sampson. The training provided a comprehensive, hands-on experience that prepared participants not only to implement BH GEAR within their own units but also to train others, thereby creating a multiplier effect.
“We know that behavioral health problems are commonly experienced, but in garrison and far-forward environments, there just aren’t enough trained providers to meet the need” said Dr. Nugent on BH GEAR’s origin. “Medics are ideally suited to fill this need because they are already monitoring their unit’s health.”
Recent data underscores that medics often feel less confident when discussing mental health compared to physical health. To address this, BH GEAR was developed to enhance medics’ knowledge and confidence in identifying and managing mental health concerns, ensuring they have the practical tools needed to support their units effectively.
This course was the fifth iteration of the BH GEAR train-the-trainer program, following successful sessions at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Fort Drum, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, and Fort Bliss. The training format is dynamic and interactive: after observing a sample session on the first day, participants were divided into groups to practice segments of the training, receive targeted feedback, and refine their delivery techniques. The curriculum also covered common challenges in facilitation and provided extensive training materials to ensure that every participant could confidently conduct BH GEAR sessions independently.
Dr. Nugent emphasized the importance of this hands-on approach: “you can’t just show them the training and be done with it. Our method of breaking into groups, practicing, and receiving feedback ensures that each trainee is fully prepared to lead BH GEAR training within their own unit.”
The successful delivery of the training at Camp Humphreys represents a significant milestone toward more widespread implementation of BH GEAR. “Our team is excited to meet the increasing demand for mental health support,” Dr. Nugent said. “We are actively working to integrate BH GEAR into the initial, annual, and pre-deployment training curricula for Army, Navy, and Air Force medics. This integration is essential for ensuring that medics are equipped to safeguard not only the physical but also the mental well-being of their units.”
Department of Defense Spokesman John Ullyot provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh held an introductory call today to reaffirm their shared commitment to the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership. The leaders agreed to pursue an ambitious agenda to accelerate our operational cooperation and defense industrial and technology collaboration to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific. The Secretary noted he looks forward to holding the next 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue and concluding the next ten-year U.S.-India Defense Framework this year.
Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
WASHINGTON, DC – This week, after President Trump called for the U.S. to “take over” and “own” Gaza, forcibly resettling its population in the process, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, rejected the proposal, stating:
“I am appalled by President Trump’s declaration that the United States should occupy and rebuild Gaza, potentially with American military forces. His callous proposal is outrageous and contrary to the long-term interests of the U.S., Gaza, Israel, and our partners in the region. Trump’s bluster undermines decades of bipartisan support for a two-state solution, gives ammunition to our adversaries, and sows distrust among our allies.
“Involving the U.S. in the forced resettlement of Palestinians would be immoral and illegal. Further, if he were to put U.S. troops on the ground in Gaza it would be a disastrous national security mistake.
“I urge Israeli and Palestinian leaders to move beyond the current ceasefire toward a long-term plan for governance and a framework for a two-state solution. President Trump should control his impulse to inject chaos into this delicate situation.”
Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
WASHINGTON, DC – New evidence indicates Elon Musk’s lieutenants from the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (“DOGE”) were in fact more involved with attempting to access and suspend payments through the U.S. Treasury Department’s highly sensitive payment processing system.
The New York Times reported on recently uncovered e mails from senior Treasury officials, noting: “emails reviewed by The New York Times show that the Treasury’s chief of staff originally pushed for Tom Krause, a software executive affiliated with Mr. Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency, to receive access to the closely held payment system so that the Treasury could freeze U.S. Agency for International Development payments.
“In a Jan. 24 email to a small group of Treasury officials, the chief of staff, Dan Katz, wrote that Mr. Krause and his team needed access to the system so they could pause U.S.A.I.D. payments and comply with Mr. Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order to halt foreign aid.”
Senator Reed and other lawmakers have been seeking answers about how, why, and whether Mr. Musk’s DOGE operatives gained access to highly sensitive personal data and payment information for millions of Americans and businesses.
After sending a letter to new Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on February 3 and receiving evasive answers and suspect assurances from Treasury on February 4, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Subcommittee, which oversees funding for Treasury, fired off a follow up letter seeking more specific answers to determine exactly who from DOGE has been given access to what Treasury payment and information technology (IT) and what kind of vetting process those people have undergone.
Reed is particularly alarmed that Treasury officials equivocated in their response that members of DOGE “currently . . . will have read-only access to the coded data” of Treasury’s payment systems. Reed wants to know if anyone from DOGE previously had more access.
Senator Reed is also seeking to determine what level of access has been granted to Tom Krause, who is currently a big tech CEO and now serves as Elon Musk’s DOGE commander inside the Treasury Department. Does he have access beyond read-only? While Mr. Krause was apparently granted some type of security clearance, Reed wants to know whether he received any actual vetting and whether other members of DOGE have a similar clearance?
Senator Reed is also seeking to determine exactly what permissions DOGE employees have to review Americans’ most sensitive data, such as tax information. While DOGE employees have access that is “similar” to the permissions provided to others with a need to review this data, such as auditors, that necessarily means that there are “differences,” too, which could have grave consequences for the privacy of all Americans.
Finally, Senator Reed is seeking information about DOGE attempts to block authorized spending to institutions that are politically disfavored by Trump and Elon Musk. While Treasury asserts that no payments were “delayed or re-routed,” new reporting indicates that Treasury did, in fact, attempt to block payments.
Full text of the letter follows:
February 5, 2025
The Honorable Scott Bessent, Secretary
U.S. Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20220
Dear Secretary Bessent:
Thank you for the prompt response from your staff to my letter, dated February 3, 2025, regarding access to U.S. Treasury Department payment systems by surrogates of Elon Musk. Regrettably, the letter did not address many of the specific questions I asked, and in fact, it raised additional issues that the Department should address.
Therefore, I respectfully request answers to several follow-up questions by February 10, 2025:
1. The response letter states that “currently, Treasury staff members working with Tom Krause, a Treasury employee, will have read-only access to the coded data of the Fiscal Service’s payment systems.”
a. What access does Mr. Krause himself have to these systems?
b. Did the access that you initially granted to Mr. Krause or these staff members include permissions beyond “read-only” or access to data with identifiable fields?
c. Are you evaluating whether to provide Mr. Krause and these staff members with additional permissions beyond “read-only” and access to coded data?
d. How many Treasury staff members are working with Mr. Krause on this matter?
2. The response letter states that “the review at the Fiscal Service has not caused payments for obligations such as Social Security and Medicare to be delayed or re-routed.”
a. Did Tom Krause, or any Treasury staff members working with him, ever attempt to delay or re-route any payments or inquire with career Treasury staff about how to do so?
b. Can you commit that Treasury will not delay or re-route any statutorily directed payments?
3. The response letter states that “Mr. Krause is subject to the same security obligations and ethical requirements [as other government employees], including a Top Secret security clearance.”
a. Was his clearance granted through the customary practices used for veteran, career Treasury staff members?
b. Is his clearance at the level that is customary for the Fiscal Assistant Secretary, which I understand to be TS/SCI with a counterintelligence-scope polygraph?
4. For the Treasury staff members working with Mr. Krause who currently have “read-only” access:
a. Do they all have security clearances and if so, were these clearances granted through the customary practices used for veteran, career Treasury staff members?
b. Are any of them foreign nationals?
c. Are any of them designed as a “special government employee” and if so, how many have this designation?
5. Have Mr. Krause and the Treasury staff members working with him submitted financial disclosure forms to the Office of Government Ethics?
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your prompt reply.
Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
Heinrich uplifts New Mexicans’ concerns, sheds light on local impact of Vought’s dangerous plans
VIDEO
WASHINGTON – This evening, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor amplifying the voices of New Mexicans opposing the nomination of Russell Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Mr. Vought is the lead architect of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, the policy blueprint for Donald Trump’s harmful agenda to throw the government into chaos and harm working families.
“Today, I say to the thousands of New Mexicans who have asked me to oppose Mr. Vought’s nomination: I agree with you,” said Heinrich. “Mr. Vought is not fit to lead the OMB. We should reject this dangerously unfit nominee before he dismantles the services New Mexicans rely on. We should reject him before he unilaterally overrides the laws that Americans’ elected representatives have passed. We cannot standby and allow Mr. Vought, Elon Musk, or this President to disregard the safety and security of the American people. The law is on our side.”
VIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) delivers remarks on the Senator floor opposing the nomination of Project 2025 architect Russell Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), February 6, 2025.
During his speech, Heinrich amplified the concerns of New Mexicans who have written or called into his office expressing concern over Trump’s harmful actions. Heinrich additionally recited alarming statements recently made by Vought that emphasize his dangerous plans, “In a private speech last year at his far-right Center for Renewing America think tank, Mr. Vought stated that he would like to put career civil servants ‘in trauma.’ Mr. Vought said, ‘We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected. When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work because they are increasingly viewed as the villains.”’
Heinrich also emphasized the unlawfulness of Vought’s intentions and the Trump administration’s actions by citing rulings handed down from two federal courts that issued temporary restraining orders on Trump’s directives.
Heinrich concluded by encouraging New Mexicans—and all Americans—to use their voices to call on Republicans in charge of the Senate, House, and White House to put an end to this chaos, “To all Americans wondering what can be done right now: keep using your voices. Call your Members of Congress. Call your Senators. Call the White House. Call the Treasury Department. Comment on your Republican Representatives’ social media channels. Write op-eds in your local newspaper. Make sure Republicans know that ‘We the People’ are paying attention. That we will hold them accountable for following the law and upholding our Constitution. And make sure to let your lawmakers know when you support the work they’re doing, so that they continue to do it. And let federal civil servants know that you support them, and that you want them to keep doing their jobs and doing them well.”
Heinrich is leading Senate Democrats in sounding the alarm on Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s destructive actions that are wreaking havoc on Americans, weakening our economy, and threatening the livelihoods of New Mexicans.
Last week on the Senate floor, Heinrich delivered the longest speech of his career, where he slammed President Trump’s unlawful unilateral blockade of all federal grant funding. In his remarks, Heinrich uplifted stories from New Mexicans on how Trump’s federal funding freeze endangered New Mexicans and threatened communities across the state. Find the video of Heinrich sharing letters from New Mexicans on the Senate floor here.
Since Trump took office in 2025, Heinrich has:
Introduced a resolution condemning Trump’s pardons of people found guilty of assaulting police officers on January 6.
Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) today encouraged President Trump to stand up for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) whistleblowers who exposed the Biden IRS and Justice Department’s efforts to obstruct the federal criminal investigation into Hunter Biden’s tax offenses. The Office of Special Counsel recently confirmed IRS Supervisory Special Agent Gary Shapley and IRS Special Agent Joseph Ziegler were illegally issued a gag order and retaliated against as a result of their efforts to sound the alarm on those responsible for slow-walking the Hunter Biden investigation.
“We’ve been informed that the senior IRS management who refused to do their job, rolled over for political corruption at DOJ, and targeted the whistleblowers are still in charge,” the senators wrote. “We’ve been informed that these officials have not stopped the retaliation against Shapley and Ziegler, and the bureaucratic processes that are supposed to protect them are too slow and ineffective.”
“You must hold IRS leadership and the retaliators’ feet to the fire,” the senators continued. “You must ensure that these brave whistleblowers no longer face retaliation, which would serve as a great step in restoring the public’s trust in the fair and equal treatment of taxpayers that was so damaged by the blatant corruption and special treatment that provided protection and benefits to the Biden family.”
“These brave public servants are ready to help reform and modernize the IRS. Your actions to protect them, to support them, and to hold the retaliators accountable will send a message to the entrenched bureaucratic interests that bravery, courage, expertise and integrity will be rewarded and bad conduct will be punished,” the senators concluded.
February 06, 2025
VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION
The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, DC
Dear Mr. President:
We’ve recently learned that the Office of Special Counsel has confirmed that IRS Supervisory Special Agent (“SSA”) Gary Shapley and IRS Special Agent (“SA”) Joseph Ziegler were illegally issued gag orders and retaliated against by the IRS under the Biden administration.
These IRS whistleblowers made lawful protected disclosures about the IRS and the Justice Department playing politics by improperly pulling punches in the Hunter Biden tax case. Their whistleblowing exposed to the public that Attorney General Merrick Garland and his Justice Department misled Congress and the public about the role that Biden administration attorneys played in blocking charges against President Biden’s son.
After blowing the whistle, and at the Justice Department’s direction, the IRS removed the whistleblowers and their entire team from the Biden investigation they had worked diligently for years. It’s been 20 months since the whistleblowers sought relief through the normal administrative and legal processes. While there is now an official finding that the IRS could not support its removal of the whistleblowers, the whistleblowers still face other types of ongoing retaliation every day.
This is unacceptable, and you have the power to put a stop to it today.
We’ve been informed that the senior IRS management who refused to do their job, rolled over for political corruption at DOJ, and targeted the whistleblowers are still in charge. We’ve been informed that these officials have not stopped the retaliation against Shapley and Ziegler and the bureaucratic processes that are supposed to protect them are too slow and ineffective.
You must hold IRS leadership and the retaliators’ feet to the fire. You must ensure that these brave whistleblowers no longer face retaliation which would serve as a great step in restoring the public’s trust in the fair and equal treatment of taxpayers that was so damaged by the blatant corruption and special treatment that provided protection and benefits to the Biden family.
These brave public servants are ready to help reform and modernize the IRS. Your actions to protect them, to support them, and to hold the retaliators accountable will send a message to the entrenched bureaucratic interests that bravery, courage, expertise and integrity will be rewarded and bad conduct will be punished.
Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
This Morning The Medicaid Portal And All U.S. Department Of Health & Human Services Websites Were Inoperable, Affecting Payments For Approximately 7 Million New Yorkers & Blocking New Yorkers From Receiving Reimbursements For Health Care Expenses
Today’s Shutdown Marks Second Time In Two Weeks NY Has Been Locked Out Of Payments With No Explanation; Following Trump’s Illegal Federal Funding Freeze, Schumer Says Enough Is Enough And NY-ers Deserve Answers On What Is Happening With Their Healthcare Coverage
Schumer: Continued Medicaid Portal Shutdowns – And Fed Funding Freeze – Create Panic, Confusion & Unnecessary Frustration
After access to NY’s Medicaid portal was rendered inoperable once again this morning for the second time following Trump’s funding freeze fiasco, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today demanded answers from the Trump administration’s U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to explain why the federal platform responsible for disbursing Medicaid funds for NY and other state’s was shutdown. Despite OMB saying Medicaid would not be impacted by the freeze, every state across the country reported the payment system shutting down, temporarily jeopardizing payments needed for our doctors, rural clinics, community health centers, and hospitals and creating major concerns for the millions of New Yorkers who rely on this system.
Schumer said the unexplained shutdowns of the Medicaid portal demands a full investigation and immediate answers to ensure health care services can have the confidence they need to continue vital healthcare services.
“Following Trump’s funding freeze chaos, out of the blue and seemingly due to callousness and incompetence, the Medicaid Portal was inexplicably offline yet again today for the second time. Nearly 7 million New Yorkers were once again potentially left high and dry on healthcare. The repeated nationwide shutdown of the Medicaid payment system caused panic, confusion, and unnecessary frustration, especially following last week’s unexplained shutdown,” said Senator Schumer. “The federal government legally owes federal funding for New York State’s Medicaid program to provide reimbursement for health care costs for millions of fellow New Yorkers. Without it doctors and hospitals in New York can’t provide the care they need. The White House refused to clarify how their illegal federal funding freeze would impact Medicaid recipients and the shutdown of the portal both last week and today only intensifies people’s deep worry. I’m demanding HHS work with Congress to swiftly and transparently determine what caused the portal shutdown and how the administration can ensure a disruption like this doesn’t happen again. New Yorkers deserve nothing less.”
Schumer said the Medicaid portal shutdown is part of larger confusion surrounding President Trump’s executive order freezing all federal funding. Though the White House said the Medicaid program would “continue without pause,” Medicaid portals across the country temporarily stopped working. Though the portal was later restored, it again became inoperable for a few hours this morning. Schumer explained that continued shutdowns put reimbursement payments for millions of New Yorkers at risk and demanded answers to ensure a shutdown will not happen again.
Medicaid enrollment by region can be found below:
Region
Medicaid Enrollment
NYC
4,036,284
Long Island
679,724
Capital Region
214,632
Western New York
371,481
Rochester-Finger Lakes
304,234
Central New York
201,047
Southern Tier
181,450
Hudson Valley
678,375
North Country
106,160
Mohawk Valley
178,001
Schumer and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Wyden letter to Acting Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Dorothy Fink sent prior to this morning’s shutdown can be found below:
Dear Acting Secretary Dorothy Fink:
We are writing to gain insight into the unlawful shutdown of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Payment Management Services (PMS) portal. As you know, the PMS portal, in addition to being the platform for hundreds of other transactions between states and HHS, serves as an interface between state Medicaid agencies and the federal government for drawing down federal funds to cover care provided to Medicaid beneficiaries in each state. As the health insurance program serving 80 million Americans, Medicaid is a key lifeline for communities across this country. The unexplained shutdown of the Medicaid portal raised questions about the continuity of care for beneficiaries and the financial stability of the providers and health centers that provide essential health care services.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo (M-25-13) released on January 27 instructed federal agencies to temporarily pause grant, loan, and other financial assistance programs in response to President Trump’s Executive Orders directed at freezing federal funding. Alongside the memo, OMB circulated a spreadsheet of around 2,600 federal programs, including the “Medical Assistance Program” (i.e., Medicaid), and requested federal agencies submit information on whether they complied with the executive orders. During a White House briefing on the OMB memo, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, refused to clarify whether Medicaid was specifically implicated by the funding freeze, instead stating that she will “check back on that.” Following confusion and uncertainty about which programs were affected by the freeze, OMB released clarifications to the initial memo on January 28, stating “mandatory programs like Medicaid and SNAP will continue without pause.”
Despite this, all 56 state and territorial Medicaid programs were locked out of the PMS portal for hours, unable to access funding. Shortly after the OMB memo was circulated, the PMS portal had a red banner warning of “PAYMENT DELAYS.” It stated that “due to the Executive Orders regarding potentially unallowable grant payments,” PMS was taking additional steps to process payments that “will result in delays and/or rejections of payment.” Upon restoration of the PMS portal, some states are reporting slow and inefficient portal service, creating difficulties for providers across the country. Additionally, a red banner remains on the PMS portal, warning of truncated hours of operation – 5:00am – 4:00pm ET – “until a further notice.”
The lack of clarity on the cause of the portal shutdown creates concern that state partners cannot rely on the PMS portal. We request that HHS work to determine and disclose the cause of the portal shutdown and make necessary improvements to prevent future disruptions in the distribution of Medicaid funding.
Specifically, we request that you please provide answers to the following questions:
Since Medicaid is exempt from the Executive Order on freezing federal funding according to a clarifying OMB memo, why were state Medicaid offices locked out of the HHS PMS portal for hours after posting of the initial OMB memo on the funding freeze?
Since Medicaid is exempt from the funding freeze, what is the reason for the PMS portal’s truncated hours of operation? When will the PMS portal return to normal operating hours to ensure continuity of care for Medicaid beneficiaries?
What is HHS doing to restore normal operating speed and functioning to the PMS portal to support the reimbursement process?
The unexplained freeze to the PMS portal has worried state Medicaid programs that there will be delays and rejections in reimbursement claims. What is HHS doing to assure state Medicaid programs that, due to Medicaid’s exemption from the funding freeze, there will not be increases in delays or rejections of claims?
How is HHS working to analyze the amount of time that each state Medicaid program was locked out of the PMS portal?
How is HHS working to quickly process reimbursement claims that required prioritization during the period that state Medicaid programs were locked out of the PMS portal?
How will HHS better interpret and coordinate implementation of Executive Orders to prevent another unnecessary freeze to the PMS portal?
The White House has responded that the portal shutdown was due to an “outage.” If this is the case, what is HHS doing to support technical operations to prevent future shutdowns and slowdowns of the portal? What was the cause of the technical outage?
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We request a response in 30 days, by March 3, 2025.
OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a coalition of 14 attorneys general in releasing the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of the Treasury granting Elon Musk and his so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) staffers access to sensitive payment systems containing Americans’ personally identifiable information:
“In the past week, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has given Elon Musk access to Americans’ personal private information, state bank account data, and other information that is some of our country’s most sensitive data.
“As the richest man in the world, Elon Musk is not used to being told ‘no,’ but in our country, no one is above the law. The President does not have the power to give away our private information to anyone he chooses, and he cannot cut federal payments approved by Congress.
“This level of access for unauthorized individuals is unlawful, unprecedented, and unacceptable. DOGE has no authority to access this information, which they explicitly sought in order to block critical payments that millions of Americans rely on – payments that support health care, childcare, and other essential programs.
“In defense of our Constitution, our right to privacy, and the essential funding that individuals and communities nationwide are counting on, we will be filing a lawsuit to stop this injustice.”
Joining Attorney General Bonta in releasing this statement are the attorneys general of New York, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Rhode Island, and Vermont.