Droughts often unfold slowly, but with far-reaching impacts on agriculture, water supplies, and economic stability.
Like floods, droughts are also widespread and affect countries in every region of the world. In the decade to 2017, drought affected at least 1.5 billion people and cost USD 125 billion globally. The number of recorded droughts has increased by 29 per cent over the past 20 years. Since 2000, most drought-related deaths have occurred in Africa. Droughts often have a range of indirect impacts such as increased water scarcity, with significant direct and indirect impacts on human and planetary wellbeing.
These impacts are especially acute for marginalized groups, including children. As of 2025, over 920 million children (over one-third of the global child population) were highly exposed to water scarcity, which in turn impacts on their nutritional access. Africa and Asia demonstrate the most severe extremes. Children who lack adequate nutrition are more susceptible to severe diseases, impairing physical and cognitive development and are more susceptible to conditions such as stunting and wasting.
A drought is a period of abnormally dry weather characterized by a prolonged deficiency of precipitation below a certain threshold over a large area and a period longer than a month (WMO, 2020).
Impact of water scarcity on child nutrition
Source: UNICEF 2021
Water scarcity in many parts of the world is also associated with a decrease in women’s well-being. For instance, daily average water collection time for women in households without on-site water access at the local level across Africa can exceed 60 minutes in parts of Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda. These countries also report very low rates of access to safe drinking water services, with just 10-20% of the total population covered. Rising temperatures are expected to further exacerbate this global burden of water collection. However, the impacts of water scarcity can be significantly reduced by disaster risk reduction action, investments that also deliver a range of additional benefits.
Agriculture is the most vulnerable economic sector to adverse climate impacts. Some 82% of all damage and loss caused by drought was borne by agriculture in low- and lower-middle-income countries between 2008 and 2018. Meteorological drought does not always lead to agricultural drought, which depends on factors like the timing and amount of rainfall during the crop season, and how well the soil retains water. Drought causes short- and medium-term water shortages to livestock and crops (including fodder), potentially lowering yields and ultimately threatening food security. In the case of prolonged or recurring droughts, longer-term impacts can transpire, such as land subsidence and seawater intrusion along river systems with reduced water flow.
Based on historical data, recent estimates suggest that their impacts cost approximately USD 307 billion annually. These losses however, as estimated by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), are not confined solely to direct damage in affected sectors but also encompass indirect, long-term costs that ripple through the economy, such as loss of livelihoods and land degradation.
Remarkably, despite their significant and growing impacts, and studies that have provided estimates for specific sectors, but a robust, cross-sectoral AAL estimate for drought and extreme heat is still missing. For instance, recent research by UNCDD on droughts highlights how they weaken agricultural production, reduce water availability and compromise the resilience of natural ecosystems, thereby affecting the livelihood of more than 1.8 billion people annually. Initial work has been done by CDRI to estimate the AAL of drought on the hydro-power sector, suggesting that roughly 12.9% of average hydropower production (the equivalent of 135.3 TWh/h of electricity) was impacted. Being able to have similar estimates for other drought sensitive sectors would help countries to design better risk reduction policies and investments.
Future Drought risk
Drought risk continues to intensify in many parts of the world, driven by climate change, water scarcity, poor resource management and unsustainable land use. According to forecasts, by 2050 droughts may affect over three-quarters of the world’s population. Human activity is also contributing to the increasing frequency of drought and has knock-on direct impacts on food security and human wellbeing. Assessing the current economic impact of drought, let alone its potential effects in future, is not easy given that so many of its impacts are indirect, and even the start and end dates of drought events are not always clear. However, at present drought-induced losses are estimated to cost approximately USD 307 billion each year, representing 15% of disaster-related economic losses globally, and are responsible for 85.8% of livestock deaths.
Nevertheless, there is promising work underway to improve risk analysis, using advanced modelling and the deployment of machine learning. The 2024 Drought Resilience +10 Conference (DR+10) affirmed joint efforts to strengthen drought resilience through integrated drought management and other proven approaches. However, more is needed to strengthen international collaboration around the drivers of globally networked risks – for instance, the trade and food security impacts from droughts in different parts of the world) – across regions, nations, sectors and communities.
For the big five major hazard groups (earthquakes, floods, storms, drought and heat) the recorded direct economic costs came to over USD 195.7 billion in 2023, constituting 0.015% of global GDP that year.
1 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard, discuss procedures with the crew of a Moroccan CH-47 Chinook, Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, ahead of a multinational sling load exercise at Cap Draa, Tantan, Morocco, May 17, 2025, during African Lion 2025 (AL25). This exercise required this multinational team to stage an ammunition package on the landing zone for retrieval by Moroccan air assets, demonstrating how munitions can be transported. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations – preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard, sling load a reduced range practice rocket to a Moroccan CH-47 Chinook during a multinational sling load operation at African Lion 2025 (AL25), May 17, 2025, in TanTan, Morocco. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations – preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard, sling load a reduced range practice rocket to a Moroccan CH-47 Chinook during a multinational sling load operation at African Lion 2025 (AL25), May 17, 2025, in Tan Tan, Morocco. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations – preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) VIEW ORIGINAL4 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –A member of a CH-47 Chinook crew with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces guides a reduced range practice rocket during a multinational sling load exercise alongside U.S. Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard at Cap Draa, Tantan, Morocco, May 17, 2025, during African Lion 2025 (AL25). AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations – preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) VIEW ORIGINAL5 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –A member of a CH-47 Chinook crew with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces guides a reduced range practice rocket, during a multinational sling load exercise alongside U.S. Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard at Cap Draa, Tantan, Morocco, May 17, 2025, during African Lion 2025 (AL25). AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations – preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) VIEW ORIGINAL6 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –The crew of a CH-47 Chinook with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces inspect a reduced range practice rocket, ahead of a multinational sling load exercise with U.S. Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard, at African Lion 2025 (AL25), May 17, 2025, in TanTan, Morocco. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations – preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) VIEW ORIGINAL7 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army National Guard Sgt. Kyle Almonte, a motor transport operator with the 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard walks through the rotor wash of a Moroccan CH-47 Chinook as it lands at Cap Draa, ahead of sling load operations at Cap Draa, Tantan, Morocco, May 17, 2025, during African Lion 2025 (AL25). AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations – preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) VIEW ORIGINAL8 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –The crew chief of a CH-47 Chinook with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces observes the landing zone during a multinational sling load exercise conducted alongside U.S. Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard at Cap Draa, Tantan, Morocco, May 17, 2025, during African Lion 2025 (AL25). AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations – preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) VIEW ORIGINAL
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TAN TAN, Morocco – Soldiers assigned to the 744th Forward Support Company (744TH FSC), 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard partnered with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR), for a sling load exercise, May 17, 2025, at Tan Tan, Morocco, during African Lion 25.
The Royal Kingdom of Morocco was recently approved to purchase High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and related equipment, and the exercise demonstrated air transportation of munitions for the system. U.S. Army Sgt. Jeff Splain, a motor transport operator with the 744th FSC led his soldiers through the training event where the FAR, using their CH-47 Chinook, flew into the training area, retrieved a reduced range practice rocket pod, departed, and then returned the pod to the landing zone.
A Moroccan pilot with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces explains the process for using the static discharge wand to U.S. Army Sgt. Dylan Dibernardo, a wheeled vehicle mechanic assigned to 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard, to ensure the aircraft is properly grounded for safe sling load operations at African Lion 2025 (AL25), May 17, 2025, in TanTan, Morocco. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations – preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) VIEW ORIGINAL
“My team spent five days rehearsing concepts of this operation,” Splain said. “We brainstormed with the pilot and his crew what the best way to hook up the pod was, keeping safety in mind.”
A Royal Moroccan Armed Forces CH-47 Chinook pilot discusses safety with U.S. Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard, ahead of a multinational sling load exercise at Cap Draa, Tantan, Morocco, May 17, 2025, during African Lion 2025 (AL25). AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations – preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) VIEW ORIGINAL
Military operations require a combined force, which demands rigorous training as teams integrate with allies and partners. This ensures combat experience and readiness to dominate and win on contemporary battlefields.
U.S. Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard, inspect a reduced range practice rocket, alongside a CH-47 Chinook crew with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, ahead of a multinational sling load exercise at Cap Draa, Tantan, Morocco, May 17, 2025, during African Lion 2025 (AL25). The exercise demonstrated the capability of aircraft to retrieve and deliver munitions. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations – preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) VIEW ORIGINAL
The multinational team worked together to determine the best way to complete the sling load by inspecting the pod, sling legs and apex, as well as the individual hookup equipment which includes the static discharge wand; keeping safety at the forefront of the mission.
Members of a CH-47 Chinook crew with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces outfit a U.S. Soldier assigned to 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard, during a multinational sling load exercise at African Lion 2025 (AL25), May 17, 2025, in TanTan, Morocco. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations – preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Sgt. Kyle Alomonte, a motor transport operator with the 744th FSC played a key role in ensuring safety.
U.S. Army Sgt. Kyle Almonte, a motor transport operator assigned to 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard, guides a Royal Moroccan Armed Forces CH-47 out of the landing zone during a multinational sling load exercise at African Lion 2025 (AL25), May 17, 2025, in TanTan, Morocco. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations – preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester)U.S. Army Sgt. Kyle Almonte, a motor transport operator assigned to 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard, adjusts the sling legs on a reduced range practice rocket alongside a Royal Moroccan Armed Forces CH-47 Chinook crew member during a multinational sling load operation at African Lion 2025 (AL25), May 17, 2025, in TanTan, Morocco. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations – preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester)VIEW ORIGINAL
After the best course of action was determined, the teams took their respective places on the landing zone, completing two successful hookups.
“This sling load exercise was a great success. It was a culminating event following months of training on both sides,” said Splain. “I’m very proud of my team and what they’ve done, and the knowledge they’ve shared with our Moroccan partners. There’s been no other training I’ve done so far that’s comparable to this.”
About African Lion
AL25 is set to be the largest annual military exercise in Africa, bringing together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, and about 10,000 troops. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), on behalf of U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM), the exercise will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. AL25 is designed to restore the warrior ethos, sharpen lethality, and strengthen military readiness alongside our African partners and allies This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win.
1 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Spc. Austin Crider, a paratrooper assigned to 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade, left, has his T-11 parachute inspected by 1st Lt. Corbin Hoppe, a jumpmaster assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, in preparation for an airborne operation during exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25), Ben Ghilouf Training Area, April 29, 2025. AL25 is set to be the largest annual military exercise in Africa, bringing together over 40 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Mariah Y. Gonzalez) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Mariah Gonzalez) VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –A U.S. Soldier assigned to the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Utah National Guard, leads Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, Ghana Armed Forces, and Hungarian Defence Forces Special Operations soldiers during a field training exercise at African Lion 2025 (AL25), Tifnit, Morocco, May 18, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (Photo altered for security purposes) (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. Daniel Alejandro Luna) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Daniel Luna) VIEW ORIGINAL
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U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF)
AGADIR, Morocco–The 21st edition of African Lion concluded this week with over 10,000 multinational troops from more than 50 nations executing synchronized operations across four countries, marking the largest and most dynamic iteration in the exercise’s over-25-year history.
This year’s exercise featured first-time integration of defensive cyber operations and expanded chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear (CBRN) scenarios, along with rigorous multinational academic instruction. African Lion 25 validated the United States’ commitment to building enduring partnerships, enhancing joint and combined force readiness and strengthening regional security. The exercise included HIMARS fire missions, airborne operations, amphibious landings, maritime interdiction, and planning exercises with partners from Africa, Europe, and the U.S.
Setting the Theater, Building Trust
“African Lion 25 was a clear demonstration that a combined approach of joint and multinational capabilities enhanced the readiness and lethality of our warfighters,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Andrew C. Gainey, commanding general, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF).
“The integration of cutting-edge technologies alongside our partners and allies reinforced our commitment to remain ready to address the most complex strategic challenges.”
Medical Reach with Tactical Impact
Medical professionals treated more than 10,000 patients across Morocco, Ghana and Senegal as part of AL25’s humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) programs.
“This has been one of the most diverse and capable teams we’ve brought to African Lion,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Micah Smith, commander of 151st Medical Group, Utah Air National Guard and HCA commander. “With members from 37 different units and expertise spanning cardiology, dermatology, pulmonology and more, we’ve been able to provide care many here wouldn’t otherwise receive.”
“Working alongside about 180 Moroccan partners, we’ve operated 17 clinics and treated roughly 1,000 patients a day,” added Smith. “The Moroccan people have been incredibly gracious; it’s been an honor to be here with them.”
Logistics at Scale
Logistics efforts moved several thousand short tons of cargo across borders, validating the U.S. military’s ability to set the theater, sustain distributed operations, and integrate movement control teams across multiple entry points.
“The African Lion Exercise gives us the opportunity to put into practice the planning we have completed to set the theater for sustainment operations.” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Tim Dowd, lead AL25 sustainment planner for the 79th Theater Sustainment Command.
“The complexity of moving several thousand short tons of cargo to four different countries spanning the distance of the continental United States, demonstrates that we can build, sustain, and adapt our logistical networks in support of any mission, anywhere in Africa.”
Regional Training, Local Impact
In Morocco, U.S. and partner forces conducted the largest array of academic instruction, including joint planning, cyber defense, and public affairs courses. CBRN response and HIMARS missions were integrated alongside a multinational planning exercise and humanitarian civic assistance missions in rural communities.
U.S. Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire National Guard, fire the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) at Cap Draa during African Lion 25 (AL25) in TanTan, Morocco, May 23, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (Photo by Libby Weiler, AFRICOM Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Libby Weiler) VIEW ORIGINAL
“African Lion enhances the United States’ interoperability with Morocco and other key partners to strengthen our collective ability to address regional security threats,” said Aimee Cutrona, Chargée d’Affaires for the U.S. Embassy in Rabat.
“As a major non-NATO ally and historic security partner, Morocco plays a pivotal role in promoting regional stability and security.”
“Guided by President Trump and King Mohamed VI, our bilateral cooperation benefits both Americans and Moroccans, making us safer and stronger,” added Cutrona.
Innovation and Burden-Sharing in Tunisia
In Tunisia, several notable firsts marked AL25’s evolution: for the first time, cyber offense training expanded beyond the usual defensive focus, enabling red-team experimentation. The 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment employed the Avenger Weapon System, demonstrating mobile short-range air defense with Stinger missiles.
U.S. Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, operate the Avenger Air Defense System, showcasing the FIM-92 Stinger missile, as part of exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25), at Ben Ghilouf Training Area, Tunisia, April 25, 2025. AL25 is set to be the largest annual military exercise in Africa, bringing together over 40 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jose Lora) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jose Lora) VIEW ORIGINAL
Additionally, the 173rd Airborne Brigade received host-nation approval to deploy drone systems during maneuvers—another milestone in multilateral technological integration.
U.S. Army paratroopers with 4th Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, conduct live-fire drills alongside Tunisian troops with a M119 howitzer as part of exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25), at Ben Ghilouf Training Area, Tunisia, April 26, 2025.
AL25 is set to be the largest annual military exercise in Africa, bringing together over 40 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win.
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jose Lora) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jose Lora)
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“Through African Lion, Tunisia aspires to enhance joint coordination among partner countries, exchanging knowledge to achieve desired goals,” said Tunisian Senior Col. Majid Mguidich, the host nation AL25 exercise director.
“This training enables the Tunisian Armed Forces to increase its influence as a training and educational hub at the regional and international levels.”
Partnering for Readiness in Ghana
In Ghana, U.S. and partner forces conducted a multinational medical readiness exercise (MEDREX), a medical civic action program (MEDCAP) and a planning exercise (PLANEX). These engagements strengthened regional health resilience and interoperability among African and U.S. planners.
“Exercises like African Lion are a cornerstone of our bilateral military relationship,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mary Stuever, director of trauma for Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and the officer in charge of the Ghana MEDREX.
“Ghana continues to be one of our most capable and trusted partners in West Africa.”
Fighting Fit in Senegal’s Extreme Conditions
In Senegal, U.S. Soldiers trained in extreme heat exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit, conducting HIMARS fire coordination, airborne operations, and civil-military engagements.
These conditions showcased the Army’s readiness to operate in austere and climate-challenged environments while validating rapid deployment and sustainment capacity.
U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to Dog Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade provide instruction on the M240B machine gun to soldiers from the Senegalese Armed Forces during live-fire training at Centre d’Entraînement Tactique 2 (CET2) in Dodji, Senegal, May 8, 2025. The training session focused on weapons handling and fire control, reinforcing tactical proficiency and multinational cooperation during African Lion 2025 (AL25). AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Army photo by CJay Spence) (Photo Credit: Sgt. C jay spence) VIEW ORIGINAL
“Our primary objectives here in Senegal for African Lion are threefold,” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Daniel Cederman, SETAF-AF deputy commanding general for the Army Reserve. “First, to achieve lethality and readiness for all participating forces—including the United States, Senegal, the Netherlands, Mauritania and Côte d’Ivoire. Second, we’re focused on building true interoperability, so if a crisis occurs on the continent, we can fight together side by side with a shared understanding of command and control, tactics and systems.”
“Finally, we aim to exchange best practices and culture, because every force brings something unique to the fight,” Cederman said. “Together, these efforts help us achieve peace through strength and address regional security challenges as a unified team.”
A Message of Deterrence and Enduring Presence
As AL25 concludes, the scale and complexity of this year’s exercise reflect more than tactical success, they demonstrate enduring strategic value. From live-fire exercises and cyber innovation to humanitarian outreach and multinational planning, the exercise reinforced trust with key partners and proved the U.S. military’s ability to project power, set the theater, and operate decisively alongside allies across the African continent.
U.S. Marines and Soldiers from the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces pose for a group photo while F16 fighter jets pass overhead at Cap Draa during African Lion 25 (AL25) in TanTan, Morocco, May 23, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (Photo by Libby Weiler, AFRICOM Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Libby Weiler) VIEW ORIGINAL
“I want to thank Morocco for hosting African Lion and helping strengthen our collective security and readiness through rigorous, multinational training,” said U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command. Exercises like African Lion showcase the value of our relationships with African partners, demonstrating our readiness to confront common threats and promote peace through demonstrated military.”
About African Lion
AL25 is set to be the largest annual military exercise in Africa, bringing together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, and about 10,000 troops. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), on behalf of U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM), the exercise will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. AL25 is designed to restore the warrior ethos, sharpen lethality, and strengthen military readiness alongside our African partners and allies This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win.
For all photos, videos and article throughout the exercise, visit the African Lion feature page on DVIDS.
About SETAF-AF
U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.
Peter CabauyCity Labs, Inc. The NIAC Phase I study confirmed the feasibility of nuclear-micropowered probes (NMPs) using tritium betavoltaic power technology for autonomous exploration of the Moon’s permanently shadowed regions (PSRs). This work advanced the technology’s readiness level (TRL) from TRL 1 to TRL 2, validating theoretical models and feasibility assessments. Phase II will refine the technology, address challenges, and elevate the TRL to 3, with a roadmap for further maturation toward TRL 4 and beyond, supporting NASA’s mission for lunar and planetary exploration. A key innovation is tritium betavoltaic power sources, providing long-duration energy in extreme environments. The proposed 5cm x 5cm gram-scale device supports lunar spectroscopy and other applications. In-situ analyses at the Moon’s south pole are challenging due to cold, limited solar power, and prolonged darkness. Tritium betavoltaics harvest energy from radioactive decay, enabling autonomous sensing in environments unsuitable for conventional photovoltaics and chemical-based batteries. The proposal focuses on designing an ultrathin light weight tritium betavoltaic into an NMP for integrating various scientific instruments. Tritium-powered NMPs support diverse applications, from planetary science to scouting missions for human exploration. This approach enables large-scale deployment for high-resolution remote sensing. For instance, a distributed NMP array could map lunar water resources, aiding Artemis missions. Beyond the Moon, tritium-powered platforms enable a class of missions to Mars, Europa, Enceladus, and asteroids, where alternative power sources are impractical. Phase II objectives focus on improving energy conversion efficiency and resilience of tritium betavoltaic power sources, targeting 1-10 μW continuous electrical power with higher thermal output. The project will optimize NMP integration with sensor platforms, enhancing power management, data transmission, and environmental survivability in PSR conditions. Environmental testing will assess survivability under lunar landing conditions, including decelerations of 27,000-270,000g and interactions with lunar regolith. The goal is to advance TRL from 2 to 3 by demonstrating proof-of-concept prototypes and preparing for TRL 4. Pathways for NASA mission integration will be explored, assessing scalability, applicability, and cost-effectiveness compared to alternative technologies. A key discovery in Phase I was the thermal-survivability benefit of the betavoltaic’s tritium metal hydride, which generates enough heat to keep electronic components operational. This dual functionality–as both a power source and thermal stabilizer–allows NMP components to function within temperature specifications, a breakthrough for autonomous sensing in extreme environments. Beyond lunar applications, this technology could revolutionize planetary science, deep-space exploration, and terrestrial use cases. It could aid Mars missions, where dust storms and long nights challenge solar power, and Europa landers, which need persistent low-power operation. Earth-based applications such as biomedical implants and environmental monitoring could benefit from the proposed advancements in betavoltaic energy storage and micro-scale sensors. The Phase II study supports NASA’s Artemis objectives by enabling sustainable lunar exploration through enhanced resource characterization and autonomous monitoring. Tritium-powered sensing has strategic value for PSR scouting, planetary-surface mapping, and deep-space monitoring. By positioning tritium betavoltaic NMPs as a power solution for extreme environments, this study lays the foundation for transitioning the technology from concept to implementation, advancing space exploration and scientific discovery. 2025 Selections
FEMA Inspecting Homes Affected by March and April Storms
LITTLE ROCK – After Arkansas residents apply for FEMA assistance, a home inspection may be necessary to verify damage from the March 14-15 or April 2-22 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding.Homeowners and renters in Greene, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Randolph, Sharp and Stone counties can apply for FEMA assistance for losses not covered by insurance for the March storms.Homeowners and renters in Clark, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Desha, Fulton, Hot Spring, Jackson, Miller, Ouachita, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Sharp, St. Francis and White counties can apply for the April storms.Within 10 days after applying, a FEMA inspector may contact applicants to schedule an appointment. The call or text to schedule an inspection will probably come from an out-of-state phone number.Information gathered during the inspection is one of several criteria used by FEMA to determine if applicants are approved for federal assistance. If survivors have already made repairs or replaced damaged items, although not required, it may be helpful to have pictures of the damage and receipts for repair or replacement. Applicants should also have their insurance policy available.The housing inspector will consider:The structural soundness of the home, both inside and outside.Whether the electrical, gas, heat, plumbing and sewer/septic systems are all in working order.Whether the home is safe to live in and can be entered and exited safely.All FEMA representatives carry photo identification. Inspectors will never ask for or accept money. Their service is free. A home inspection may take up to 45 minutes to complete. After the inspection, applicants should allow seven to 10 days for processing. For questions about the status of an application, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.For more information, visit fema.gov/disaster/4865 or fema.gov/disaster/4873. Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x.com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook.com/FEMARegion6/. joy.li Tue, 05/27/2025 – 13:52
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery Thank you to Brookings for inviting me to give my farewell remarks as I depart from the Commission and retire from 23 years of federal service. For the last time, I will give the disclaimer that my views are my own as a Commissioner and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission or my fellow Commissioners. I have been reflecting on my public service under four Presidents and today I am feeling nostalgic. I have had such a good run. I want to express my gratitude to so many. First and foremost, I’m grateful to my wife and children. I am grateful to President Biden and President Obama for believing and trusting in me with three Presidential nominations. I’m grateful to those Senators in both parties who have actively supported me and unanimously confirmed me twice. I am grateful to the leaders with which I have had the privilege to serve, including my fellow Commissioners. I am also grateful to all my staff, the hundreds of people who have worked for me and put their trust in my leadership. Never could I have planned or envisioned such a meaningful and fulfilling career. All I knew was that I was following my passion to make a difference in our financial system. I have always wanted our financial system to serve everyone, not just powerful interests. And along the way, I learned from each of the leaders I worked for—my SEC enforcement leaders, SEC Chairs Chris Cox and Mary Schapiro, and at Treasury, Neil Barofsky, the first Special Inspector General for TARP (or SIGTARP) before me. Never could I have imagined that my work would get the notice of President Obama who appointed me as the SIGTARP in 2012. I can share that it was entirely daunting to be a 41-year-old career staffer sitting on the same Senate Banking confirmation panel with Jay Powell. Of course, that meant that I did not get many questions. But don’t worry. Senate Banking would make up for that this past summer when I got two plus hours of questions in my confirmation hearing for FDIC Chair. At SIGTARP, I was forged by fire, as were all of us who worked to strengthen the financial system in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Former FDIC Chair Sheila Bair supported me for FDIC Chair this summer drawing on the work that we did during the financial crisis. Last year, I was at Treasury and ran into former Secretary Paulson who remembered me and said, “Those were the days. Look at what we did for the economy.” SIGTARP is also where I honed my leadership of white-collar law enforcement. We worked closely with DOJ to bring justice and accountability to just about every major Wall Street financial institution and 465 criminal defendants. This includes 76 bankers who courts sentenced to prison for crisis-related crimes. I continue to feel tremendous affection and gratitude to all those who served at SIGTARP as I learned invaluable lessons about how to lead an organization. SIGTARP is where I found my voice and the courage to speak truth to power. It was a necessity when testifying before Congress and meeting with Treasury Secretaries, the Federal Reserve Chair, the FDIC Chair, and Attorneys General. As SIGTARP was winding down, I was fortunate to be contacted by several Senators and President Biden’s White House about a possible next appointment. Various financial regulators were discussed. I raised the possibility of the CFTC. First, I had always enjoyed being a market regulator. Second, I was interested in climate-related financial issues, and the Chairman had sponsored a climate report and was speaking a lot on climate issues. Third, the CFTC was the only regulator of cryptocurrency trading, and I had been teaching cryptocurrency regulation at two law schools. As a Commissioner, I was pleased to prioritize all three of these areas, broadening crypto out to technology, as I sponsored the Technology Advisory Committee. The accomplishment that I am most proud about in my tenure is that derivatives markets worked well, that they remained resilient, vibrant, and had integrity. Since my testimony at my CFTC confirmation hearing in 2022, I have always said that ensuring that markets worked well would be my highest priority. This was so critical because the markets the CFTC regulates tie directly to the economy. That tie is something that I have had the privilege to see firsthand. What incredible experiences I have had to get out of Washington and go on agriculture tours and energy tours, to meet with people who are feeding and fueling our world. To truly understand the way markets work, you have to engage with those who rely on the markets and who need them the most. I’m also proud of the Technology Advisory Committee for its work on future of finance issues. I’m grateful to the Committee members who we picked because they are well regarded experts in cryptocurrency, stablecoins, blockchain, AI, cyber, and Fintech, and who come from all different viewpoints. We held public forums, and the Committee issued two landmark reports, the first on Decentralized Finance, and the second on Responsible AI in Financial Markets. As I contemplate the future of financial services regulation, my thoughts keep returning to an area that I speak a lot about—promoting market resilience. Resilience is defined as the ability to bounce back quickly from setbacks. U.S. markets and global markets have and will continue to experience periods of volatility and stress. I arrived at the Commission in early 2022, in a time of geopolitical uncertainty. The economy was recovering from the pandemic, suffering supply chain disruption, and oil and gas markets were at record-high levels of volatility and prices after the start of Russia’s war with Ukraine. Fortunately, what I found was that the post-crisis reforms through the Dodd Frank Act, other regulations, and regulatory supervision, have built up resilience. As a result, our markets have withstood significant stress and volatility, including last month. Our economy has been better for it. As the current Administration pursues a deregulatory agenda in the name of growth, care should be taken not to remove the load-bearing resilience built into markets—resilience that has resulted in financial stability and protected our economy. Regulators should not have to sacrifice growth for financial stability. These are not mutually exclusive goals. Regulators should promote both. Growth is important for markets. Growth requires a regulatory environment where markets are financially stable and resilient during times of volatility, uncertainty, and stress. I am concerned about big swings between more regulation and deregulation with each change of party in the White House. This leads to uncertainty in markets. It would be better for our markets and financial system if regulators could follow a steady, consistent path. That would create the foundation for a resilient, stable, and vibrant financial system and economy. It’s a really tough challenge—one that requires independent regulators engaging with each other on a bipartisan basis and engaging with many stakeholders who use and need U.S. markets. I plan to continue to share my voice, and I will always be rooting for the CFTC. After all, you can take the girl out of public service. But you can’t take public service out of the girl.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)
May 27, 2025
San Juan Capistrano, CA – Today, Representative Mike Levin (CA-49) wrote to the California Energy Commission (CEC) in opposition to the location of the Compass Energy Storage Project, the 13-acre battery energy storage system proposed in the City of San Juan Capistrano and adjacent to the City of Laguna Niguel.
Rep. Levin expressed concern that a potential disaster at the proposed location could have serious impacts on nearby residents, Trabuco Creek, and Interstate 5. Such a disaster could require mobilization of federal first responder assets on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton or those managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
The full text of the letter can be found here and below:
Dear Chair Hochschild,
I write to express my opposition to the location of the Compass Energy Storage Project, the 13-acre battery energy storage system proposed in the City of San Juan Capistrano and adjacent to the City of Laguna Niguel. I understand that the project is under review by the California Energy Commission (CEC), which is the lead agency preparing associated environmental documents.
I strongly support the development of clean energy infrastructure to facilitate our nation’s transition away from fossil fuels and their associated impacts, chiefly climate change. Further, I recognize the important role battery storage plays in helping to smooth the so-called “duck curve,” ensuring we have emission-free electricity available at the times of greatest demand.
However, I have also been a longtime proponent of smart planning and siting of these projects. For the last four Congresses, I have sponsored the Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act, which would require “smart from the start” planning of clean energy projects on public land. This process would ensure that the projects are sited in a way that reduces any negative impacts, including to the environment.
I do not believe that the application to build the Compass Energy Storage Project on its currently proposed site meets these same “smart from the start” principles I have long advocated for at the federal level. The project would be situated near sensitive areas – relatively close to homes and adjacent to Trabuco Creek – and alongside critical infrastructure – primarily, Interstate 5. Should there be any kind of disaster at the project, nearby residents may be severely impacted, as could the water quality of the creek. Any extended shutdown of I-5 would hurt the commerce of our region.
In the event of a fire, there would likely be a federal role in the response, whether from assets on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton or those managed by the U.S. Forest Service. It is my mission to ensure that these federal disaster response authorities always have the resources they need to be effective.
I urge the CEC to reject the currently proposed location of the Compass Energy Storage Project. Should you have any questions about my position, please reach out to my office.
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s removed a 29-year-old illegal Brazilian fugitive wanted by authorities to serve more than five years in prison for an armed robbery conviction in his native country. Officers with ICE Boston removed Juliano Araujo Dos Santos Silva from the United States to Brazil March 27 and turned him over to Brazilian authorities.
“Rhode Island is not a safe haven for the world’s criminal element,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “Mr. Araujo was convicted of armed robbery in his native country and attempted to subvert justice by hiding out in New England. Now he is in the hands of Brazilian authorities. ICE Boston will not tolerate alien criminals threatening the law-abiding residents of our communities. We will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing criminal alien offenders from our neighborhoods.”
A Brazilian criminal court convicted Araujo of armed robbery with a firearm Oct. 2, 2017, and sentenced him to five years and four months in prison.
U.S. Border Patrol arrested Araujo July 3, 2019, after he illegally entered the United States near near El Paso, Texas. USBP issued Araujo a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge.
On Sept. 12, 2024, Brazilian authorities issued a warrant for Araujo’s arrest or failure to serve a sentence after conviction.
Officers with ICE Boston located and arrested Araujo in Woonsocket Jan. 13, 2025.
On Feb. 18, a DOJ immigration judge ordered Araujo removed from the United States to Brazil. Officers with ICE Boston effectuated the removal March 27 and turned Araujo over to Brazilian authorities.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our New England communities on X at @EROBoston.
Yarmouth Rural RCMP Detachment is seeking information in relation to shots fired in Hebron.
On May 27 at approximately 2:40 a.m., Yarmouth Rural RCMP Detachment received a report of shots fired at a residence on Greenville Rd. The incident resulted in damage to the home.
There were no reports of injuries.
As part of the ongoing investigation, officers would like to hear from anyone with surveillance video or doorbell cameras showing Hwy. 1 (south from Greenville Rd.) and Main St. in Yarmouth between 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. on May 27. The investigation is being led by Yarmouth Rural RCMP Detachment with support from the RCMP Forensic Identification Section and RCMP Police Dog Services.
Anyone with information about this incident or video surveillance is asked to contact police at 902-742-9106. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.
Source: US Congressman Ryan Zinke (Western Montana)
Zinke prioritizes infrastructure, law enforcement, and rural development across 13 Counties
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke announced that he requested federal funding for 15 projects in Western Montana to improve infrastructure, economic development, and law enforcement capabilities. The requests were submitted to the House Appropriations Committee of which he is a member. The projects would benefit communities in the following counties: Beaverhead, Flathead, Gallatin, Granite, Lake (2), Lincoln (2), Missoula (2), Mineral (2), Powell, Ravalli (3), and Sanders (3). The projects are posted on Congressman Zinke’s website for public inspection here and listed below.
“Rural America’s infrastructure needs have been ignored for too long, as a member of the Appropriations Committee I can ensure our tax dollars are spent on projects that directly support our communities,” said Zinke. “With the help of county commissioners, mayors, and sheriffs, we’ve identified and nominated strong, shovel-ready projects that reflect real community needs and deliver the highest return to Montana taxpayers. These investments will support our law enforcement, expand access to clean water, repair failing infrastructure, and spur economic growth across Western Montana. This is about building a stronger Montana by making sure our families have access to housing, clean water, and safe streets for generations to come.”
The submissions were made through the U.S. House of Representatives Community Project Funding program, which allows Congress to direct appropriations from specific grant accounts to eligible projects. All projects must meet the published grant requirements and pass a series of legislative hurdles. Every project must be approved by the House Appropriations Committee, the full House of Representatives and be included in the joint funding package approved by the House and Senate and signed by the President. In Fiscal Year 2024, Zinke successfully secured $35 million in funding for Western Montana.
Proposed projects include:
*Projects listed by county in alphabetical order
Beaverhead, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral and Sanders Counties, $2,889,500 – Five-County Law Enforcement Resilience Project
Provides a funding level of $2,889,500 for Mineral County, located at P.O. Box 99, 310 River Street, Superior, MT 58972. To reduce cost to the taxpayer and promote equipment continuity in the event of a multi-county response to an incident, Mineral, Lake, Beaverhead, Lincoln, and Sanders counties have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to purchase much needed vehicles and equipment in bulk for bolstered law enforcement and public safety. The 2021-2025 crisis at the southwest border turned every state into a border state -including Montana. Five rural counties with a combined population of less than 80,000 are experiencing the lingering effects of the border crisis with criminal aliens still at large. These five counties have formed a joint purchasing agreement to purchase desperately needed equipment and vehicles in bulk to save tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars per county. The funding will purchase patrol vehicles, body scanners, radios and telecom equipment, rifles, vests, and fund safety upgrades.
Flathead County, $1,936,170 – North Fork Road Guardrails
The significance of the North Fork Road cannot be overstated. It provides crucial access for residents, U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations along the Canadian border, year-round recreational activities, and timber industry operations. It also serves as the route for approximately 150,000 annual visitors to Glacier National Park that access the park through the Camas and Polebridge entrances. The North Fork Road plays a pivotal role in the economic and recreational vitality of the region. Despite its significance, the North Fork Road poses safety concerns. Composed of a mostly gravel surface and winding in nature, it has numerous roadside hazards, including sections of roadway with steep side slopes descending to the river below. The existing guardrail along this section of road have surpassed their service life and due to their poor condition, have reduced ability to function as intended. The project will add or replace guardrail to improve safety along 3.71 miles of roadway.
Gallatin County, $906,660 – Sheriff’s Office Rapid DNA Capabilities and Patrol Vehicles
Provides a funding level of $906,660 for Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, located at 615 South 16th Street, Bozeman, MT 59715. The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Department and Belgrade Police Department have formed an MOU to combine their purchasing power and coordinate complementary technology. This funding request will fund the purchase of all necessary equipment, software, warranties, consumables, and technical DNA support for the county sheriff’s office and all other municipal law enforcement agencies. This comprehensive Rapid DNA program will be open to all law enforcement agencies within the county, and hopefully beyond. The state crime lab is facing an overwhelming number of DNA evidence items awaiting processing. To manage this caseload, they have created strict guidelines prioritizing certain crimes and limiting the number of DNA samples that can be processed. To help ease the burden on the state crime lab and enable them to focus on more complex and high-priority cases, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office will be able to process DNA samples that can lead to immediate investigative leads. Additionally, the Belgrade Police Department will acquire fully outfitted patrol sport utility cruisers to enhance the safety of the citizens of Belgrade. Belgrade is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Western Montana and budgets are stretched thin across city government to support that growth.
Granite County, $5,000,000 – Clean Water Infrastructure Project “Phase 1”
Provide a funding level of $5,000,000 for the town of Phillipsburg, Montana, located at 104 South Sansome St. Philipsburg, MT 59858, to construct a new water transmission line. The town of Phillipsburg derives over 82% of its municipal water supply from the Fred Burr Reservoir, a high mountain lake located approximately 7 miles from the town. The dependability of the Fred Burr supply hinges on the reliability of the 7-mile-long transmission main that connects the lake to the town. The transmission line recently experienced a catastrophic failure. The pipeline traverses through rugged, forested, mountainous terrain at high elevations. Replacement of this transmission line is critical for the community to ensure clean and plentiful drinking water.
Lake County, $730,000 – Ronan Volunteer Fire Department Replacement of 30 Year Old Type 1 Fire Truck
Support $730,000 for the purchase of a Type 1 Structure Engine to replace the current vehicle which is over 30 years old. The purchase would replace aging equipment and improve emergency response capacity. This funding will directly strengthen emergency response capacity in Montana’s First Congressional District, where many rural and tribal communities face long response times and limited firefighting resources. By equipping the Ronan Fire Department with a modern, NFPA-compliant Type 1 engine, we not only enhance local fire protection but also regional mutual aid support across Lake County and surrounding areas. This project promotes public safety, supports rural infrastructure, and aligns with congressional priorities to invest in underserved communities. Additionally, it strengthens partnerships between local, tribal, and federal entities in protecting critical infrastructure and natural resources.
Lincoln County, $820,319 – Rural Airport Reconstruction and Emergency Services Expansion
The Troy Airport runway is in poor condition at-best, requiring extensive runway restoration and repair. This rural airport is vital to search and rescue, wildland firefighting efforts and medical flights within Northwest Montana. With the wildland fire trend in NW Montana, the need for a central location for deploying firefighting aircrafts and for a well-maintained runway is essential and cannot be overstated. The Troy Airport is situated close to many forested regions that are susceptible to wildland fire allowing for quick response time to extinguish fires before they spread further. A poorly maintained runway can have significant negative effects on airport operations and safety including the delay of firefighting efforts. Additionally, the 797 residents of Troy rely on the airport for air ambulance service as the closest trauma center is located more than 2 hours away in Kalispell.
Missoula County, $1,400,000 – Lolo Wastewater Treatment Plant
The community of Lolo is deficient in the water supply requirements for having the largest well out of service and meeting the max day water demand for the system. The community currently operates a public water supply system through an RSID and requires an upgrade to Well No. 1 and Well No. 2, to increase the water supply for the community. The water rights exist, and the wells can easily be upgraded to increase their capacity. The project was bid last year, and the community didn’t have enough money to award the bid. The benefit is that the project is shovel-ready and already approved by DEQ to move forward as soon as funds are available for the community to use. The community is concerned about having enough water for the citizens, but particularly concerned during the summer months when the fire season is imminent. The lack of redundancy for the water system is a great concern for the community and upgrading these two wells would provide that necessary capacity and surety.
Missoula County, $21,134,250 – Seeley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant
The largest employer in Seeley Lake and one of the largest in Missoula County announced it was closing after 75 years in business citing it was “crippled” by labor shortages driven by a lack of affordable housing, inflation, and lumber prices. The mill employed roughly 250 employees. The town of Seeley Lake is very rural and unable to build additional housing because it does not have a municipal water system to support additional housing and the existing septic system is at capacity and contaminating the groundwater. Building a water system will allow developers to invest in affordable workforce housing to support reopening the mill and growing jobs and economic activity in the region.
Mineral County, $1,000,000 – Alberton Water Tower
Currently, the storage volume for Alberton is inadequate. The proposed Water Storage Improvements Projects will add 200,000 gallons of drinking water storage in order to provide adequate water volume to satisfy maximum day demands and also to deliver sufficient fire flow/volume. The Town is implementing a major improvements project to its distribution system in ’24-’25 and the storage tank project is the next highest priority project according to the Town’s 2020 Preliminary Engineering Report.
Powell County, $1,009,934 – Equipment for Volunteer Fire Departments
Provides a funding level of $1,009,934 to Powell County, Montana located at 409 Missouri Ave, Suite 203, Deer Lodge, MT 59722. Powell County is larger than the entire state of Delaware, and large sections of the County are very remote. First responders are responsible for responding to more than 800 miles of county road, 90 miles of state highway, and 36 miles of Interstate. Volunteer departments respond to hundreds of interstate accidents every year in addition to countless search and rescue operations on millions of acres of rugged wilderness. This request would fund the acquisition of equipment for EMS, fire department and search and rescue operations. This will help both Granite and Powell Counties, as both Gold Creek and Drummond’s Valley Fire work together per a mutual aid agreement, which further extends the impact of this request.
Ravalli County, $1,143,000 – Bridge Replacement, Groff Lane
Ravalli County is one of the fastest growing counties in Montana. Groff Lane provides access to larger agricultural tracts in Ravalli County and a future potential public access. The narrow bridges need to be replaced to allow for safer passage and also to ensure that irrigation water delivery can continue to some larger agricultural water users in the Bitterroot Valley.
Ravalli County, $5,500,000 – Old Corvallis Road Repair
The funding would be used for repair of the Old Corvallis Road in the critical north-south transportation corridor of the greater Hamilton area. The Project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because Old Corvallis Road serves as a crucial transportation artery in the greater Hamilton area, connecting the Corvallis community with essential services and employment opportunities in the City of Hamilton, notably a large pharmaceutical facility as well as a soon-to-be residential development that will consist of 140 units. The road suffers from poor pavement conditions and lacks dedicated non-motorized facilities, making walking hazardous. Traffic counts from 2023 reveal an average daily traffic of 2,705 vehicles with an anticipated increase of nearly 50% once the residential development is completed. Addressing these infrastructure challenges is crucial to ensuring safe and efficient travel along Old Corvallis Road.
Ravalli County, $10,000,000 – Wastewater Treatment Plant
Ravalli county is currently one of the most rapidly developing counties in Montana and one of the greatest in need of affordable housing. One of the greatest barriers to that is the lack of water and sewage treatment capacity. Ravalli county until recently has been forced to send its raw sewage by truck to Missoula county for disposal and treatment. Recently this arrangement was terminated due to Missoula counties own issues with sewage treatment capacity. Currently all sewage pumped from septic tanks in Ravalli county is being deposed of on National Forest lands. This is a concern both environmentally and economically due to the capacity barriers this creates. Septic seepage levels are reaching a dangerous level and because of this the county is limited in new septic permits it can issue to build new homes and dwellings. This new facility if funded would protect drinking water, ease capacity restrictions inhibiting development, and protect environmental quality by keeping septic seepage and human waste out of critical groundwater siphons and the Bitterroot river.
Sanders County, $10,000,000 – Noxon Bridge Replacement Project Phase 1
This funding would replace a failing 102-year-old bridge that is on an important emergency service, school bus, and commodity transportation route. The 102-year-old structure is now facing serious structural concerns, leading to its indefinite closure. This is the only bridge which links Highway 200 to the town of Noxon, and has developed cracks in its foundation and holes in the roadbed have opened, prompting urgent safety evaluations. The Sanders County Commissioners commissioned a study to assess the bridge’s condition, with findings recommending full replacement rather than rehabilitation. The closure has already disrupted daily life, affecting food deliveries, emergency services, and local businesses. School busses fully loaded are unable to traverse the bridge. Due to budget constraints of a small taxbase, the county is unable to fund the project alone. With its historical significance and essential role in local infrastructure, restoring the Noxon Bridge remains a top priority for both county and state officials. Securing the necessary funding remains a challenge, leaving the community in limbo as they await further action.
Sanders County, $1,150,000 – Repaving Marten Creek Road
This project aims to rehabilitate and upgrade a surface transportation asset that if left unimproved threatens the mobility of people, delivery of services to residents, economic growth from tourism and vital national forest access. This project will improve the lifespan of Marten Creek Road, reduce future maintenance costs and allow more time, money and resources to be spent on other roads in the county. Sanders County proposes to hire a contractor to overlay 4.5 miles of Marten Creek Road with 2.5″ thick asphalt 22′ wide. Estimated cost of the project is $1,150,000.
Baltimore, MD – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF) and the Prince George’s County Police Department May 12 arrested a gang member wanted for multiple violent felonies.
Jose Guardado-Orellana, 33, was charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of an individual who was found deceased on the side of a road in Riverdale, Maryland, in October 2024.
Guardado-Orellana was also charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault, use of a firearm during a violent crime, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and multiple weapons violations.
Guardado-Orellana, a member of the 18th Street Revolutionary Gang, also has existing warrants in El Salvador charging him in a separate homicide and association to a terrorist organization.
CARFTF investigators developed information May 12 that Guardado-Orellana was in a residence on Liberty Road in Windsor Mill. On the same day, Guardado-Orellana was taken into custody without incident and turned over to Prince George’s County Police Department.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has also placed an immigration detainer for Guardado-Orellana.
Since 2004, the USMS Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force has focused resources and efforts on the enhancement of public safety and the reduction of violence within the Capital Region, through the identification, investigation, and apprehension of fugitives wanted for egregious crimes against the community, while ensuring the equal application of Justice, Integrity, and Service for all.
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Karen K. Christensen-Dalsgaard, Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, MacEwan University
The recent threats of tariffs and deteriorating relations with the United States have led to increasing interest from Canadian governments and the public in boosting the country’s self-reliance.
The federal government’s plan for building a stronger agrifood sector is mainly based on financial safeguards and loan options for impacted farmers and supply-chain management of existing products. The broad topic of agricultural innovation is barely mentioned at all.
At a time of changing geopolitical and physical environments, we must ensure the long-term resilience of Canada’s farms. An important step towards achieving this complex and multifaceted goal would be to diversify the country’s crop production.
Low Canadian crop diversity
Anyone browsing their supermarket’s produce section will quickly discover just how few of the products are grown in Canada. This is ironic; as most gardeners know, many imported fruits and vegetables can grow extremely well in Canada.
This has not traditionally caused concern since the agri-food sector has a net trade surplus. But among Canadian crops, just two — canola and wheat — dominate total earnings.
Canada’s need for imports leaves it vulnerable, but so does its need for exports.
In 2019, for instance, after the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, China imposed harsh trade restrictions on Canadian canola. That year, canola exports to China fell by 70 per cent.
Instead of just bailing out farmers impacted by current events, governments should help those who are interested to diversify and grow crops that can be sold domestically.
Benefits of diversifying our agriculture
Even before the current tariffs, there were good reasons for diversifying Canadian agriculture and growing food locally.
In a meta-analysis of 5,156 experiments from across the globe, researchers in France and the Netherlands showed that crop diversification typically enhanced net productivity, soil function and ecosystem services. It had the greatest effect on water quality and organism-induced damage; weed reduction, pest reduction, disease control and associated crop damages showed 33-60 per cent average improvements.
The benefits in terms of soil health and productivity may be compounded by intercropping plant species with fungi. Preliminary results from my current research project suggest that edible saprotrophic fungi could be used as a tool for maintaining soil health while minimizing the use of environmentally problematic soil amendments.
Diversification studies include a range of different land management techniques, some of which involve elaborate intercropping approaches that might be difficult to implement on an industrial scale. However, even relatively simple crop rotation approaches have a positive impact on soil carbon, nutrient levels, microbial activity, biodiversity and net productivity, potentially leading to increased profitability.
The impacts of climate change
Longstanding arguments for crop diversification have been compounded by climate-change-induced food insecurity. Increases in the frequency and severity of wildfires and droughts suggest that rely on regions like California for food imports might be poor long-term planning.
Similarly, parts of Canada face an increased risk of weather-induced crop failure. Crop species may no longer be a good match for the current climatic conditions where they’re grown. Canola and wheat, for instance, are vulnerable to drought and heat stress during the flowering period.
Crop diversification has long been used to minimize the impacts of climate insecurities in developing countries with less access to artificial irrigation and soil amendments. Switching to crops that can handle extreme weather events, like some beans, legumes and grains, could similarly increase Canada’s climate resilience. Additionally, using crop rotation strategies based on a greater diversity of crops grown may help maintain higher yields during adverse weather.
How the government can help farmers
Canada is a world leader in agricultural research. Globally, the country ranks fifth with respect to articles published, but is further behind when it comes to implementation on farms.
Despite the high benefit-to-cost ratios of applications of agricultural research, only six per cent of Canadian farmers are willing to adopt new approaches before they have been tested at scale. Meanwhile, almost 30 per cent are reluctant to change approaches at all.
This is hardly surprising. Change is always associated with risks. For instance, while the majority of studies show a net benefit of diversification strategies, there are huge, context-dependent variations in the outcomes. Climate, soil, crop species and microbial communities all matter in ways that can be difficult to predict.
Most farmers do not have the resources to retool their farms for new crops and assume the risks. Many face financial struggles and rising debt. This is due in part to higher production costs and lower commodity prices caused by large corporations controlling both the sales of farm supplies and the purchase of agricultural products.
Skilled labour shortages and issues retaining younger workers may also undermine the willingness and ability to diversify with new crops. Qualified migrant workers with agricultural backgrounds could help, but restrictive immigration policies make finding workers challenging.
Reactive government assistance that just keeps farmers above water will not address the challenges of a changing global trade environment and climate. To sustain momentum, the government needs to proactively fund targeted, large-scale feasibility studies and provide training, recruitment and transition funding for those interested in novel crop systems.
Agriculture is part of the foundation for our society. We have become accustomed to having access to plenty of fresh food, but this is not the global or historical norm.
Canada’s food supply is maintained by farmers both at home and abroad who, for generations, have worked long days at low wages to feed us. If they do not receive the support required to adapt to our changing world, we might all discover how valuable food really is.
Karen K. Christensen-Dalsgaard does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
TRENTON, N.J. – An El Salvador national was arrested and charged with possessing firearms as an illegal alien, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Jose Manuel Menjivar Viera, a/k/a Jose Manuel Mejiva, 35, a citizen and national of El Salvador and most recently of Long Branch, New Jersey, was charged by complaint with one count of being an illegal alien in possession of firearms. Viera made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Brendan Day in Trenton federal court and was detained.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On December 11, 2024, at approximately 3:00 a.m., law enforcement officers in Long Branch responded to multiple calls for service regarding gunshots fired in a suburban neighborhood. Shortly after officers arrived, they observed an individual, later identified as Jose Manuel Menjivar Viera, riding a bicycle and carrying a large black bag. Officers followed Viera before he dismounted from the bike and fled into the exterior property of a nearby residence. Officers searched the area where Viera fled and eventually recovered his bicycle and the bag he was carrying. The bag contained two firearms, a semiautomatic rifle and a loaded handgun, firearm magazines, ammunition, and a machete. A short time later, officers discovered Viera hiding in the truck-bed of a pickup truck parked in the driveway next to the residence. Viera was subsequently identified by agents with the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as being an El Salvador national and citizen and without any legal status to be in the United States.
The alien in possession of a firearm charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited deportation officers of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations Newark, under the direction of Field Office Director John Tsoukaris, with the investigation leading to the charges. She also thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly in Newark, the Long Branch Police Department, under the direction of Officer-in-Charge Jorge Silverio, and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago, for their assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel: Benjamin West, Federal Public Defenders
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Keynon Frazier, a/k/a “Green Eyez,” 29, of Shreveport, has been sentenced by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to 78 months followed by 3 years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $25,000 fine.
Frazier a/k/a “Green Eyez” was found guilty by a jury on January 15, 2025, for Felon in Possession of Firearm. On April 15, 2024, officers with the Shreveport Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle being driven by Frazier in the downtown Shreveport area, which ended with his vehicle crashing into a telephone pole and another vehicle. Officers approached the crashed vehicle and found Frazier, who was the sole occupant and driver of the vehicle. Also, inside the vehicle on the front passenger floorboard, officers found two firearms, a Glock 17 firearm, and a Glock 45 firearm, along with an expended shell casing stuck within the chamber of the Glock 45. In addition, there was a bullet-size hole found in the front driver’s side windshield of the vehicle.
Officers determined that Frazier had prior felony convictions for aggravated battery and second degree robbery, and he was arrested at the scene and taken into custody. As a convicted felon, Frazier was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Shreveport Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Aaron Crawford and Cheyenne Wilson.
Flood maps play a critical role in helping Alberta’s communities prepare for flooding and respond more effectively when it happens by guiding land-use planning, supporting emergency preparedness, and protecting people, property and infrastructure.
Alberta’s government has released new Bow and Elbow River flood maps showing that Calgary’s flood risk along the Elbow River has been drastically reduced thanks to the recently completed Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir and other projects. More projects are already underway to keep strengthening flood protections in the city.
The Calgary flood map shows the substantial reduction of the flood hazard area due to the new flood mitigation provided by the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir (SR1).
“We committed to protect Calgary and other communities from floods and we are seeing the results. These new flood maps are good news for families and businesses, but we are also going to keep investing in reservoirs, berms, updated flood maps and the critical infrastructure needed to keep people and their property safe.”
“The new Bow and Elbow River flood maps are very important for Calgary. Since 2013, understanding of our rivers has grown and a range of resilience measures have been put in place, which substantially lowers risk in many of our communities. It’s critical, while facing housing and affordability concerns, that the best, up-to-date flood hazard information is available, so we can keep building an informed, flood-resilient Calgary. We gratefully acknowledge the expertise and collaboration of the province in the updated river modelling and mapping.”
Knowing where the water will flow during a flood is critical to understanding where it is safe to farm, safe to build, and how to best prepare for emergency situations. These maps will help the City of Calgary design and build for the future.
While flood risks will vary at any given location, the newly released maps show significant decreases in major flood risks in many areas of Calgary. That is because, in the future, if water in the Elbow River rises to dangerous levels, the flow will be diverted into the Springbank Off-stream Reservoir and further reduced by the Glenmore Dam. This not only reduces the risk of flooding along the Elbow River in Calgary and other downstream communities, it also helps prevent future disasters like the devastating 2013 flood.
Alberta’s government has finalized more flood maps in the past five years than in the previous thirty-five years combined, with many more studies now underway. The relocated Ghost Dam project continues to advance on the Bow River, and the province has launched the five-year $125-million Drought and Flood Protection Program to help protect families, businesses and communities across the province.
Quick facts
Alberta has also finalized new flood mapping for Fort McMurray and multiple communities along the Highwood, Red Deer and Sheep Rivers.
All finalized and draft flood maps can be found on the Government of Alberta floods website (see link below).
Flood studies provide flood maps that are used to support emergency response, help build up long-term flood resiliency and show Albertans what flood protections are in place today.
Since 2020, the Alberta government has released new or updated flood mapping spanning more than 1,600 kilometres and has committed to creating more than 3,000 kilometres of new and updated flood mapping by 2028.
Related information
Flood Awareness Maps
Flood Hazard Identification Program
Flood Mapping Basics
Canada Flood Map Inventory
Related news
Alberta finalizing flood maps at lightning speed (April 9, 2025)
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Begum Zorlu, ESRC Research Fellow in the Department of International Politics, City St George’s, University of London
Venezuela’s ruling party romped to victory in regional and legislative elections on May 25, winning over 82% of votes cast for the national assembly. The government-controlled national electoral council said candidates for the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) won the race for governor in 23 out of the country’s 24 states.
One thing that stood out in that 2024 election was the ability of the opposition to mount a credible challenge. Their unified backing of Edmundo González as the presidential candidate, and the systematic gathering of evidence of electoral fraud from polling stations, reflected organisational strength and a coherent strategy.
However, that unity has since eroded. Protests against the 2024 result were met with a harsh government crackdown which included killings and mass detentions. Subsequently, Venezuela’s opposition became deeply divided over whether to participate in the most recent elections.
Veteran opposition leader María Corina Machado, who was barred from running for the presidency and has been in hiding since July, called on her supporters to boycott them. She said that participating would only serve to legitimise Maduro’s electoral fraud.
In contrast, a faction led by two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles viewed participation as an opportunity to reclaim political space. Capriles framed electoral participation as a form of protest, arguing that abstention only serves to strengthen Maduro.
Capriles claimed that victory in the 2015 parliamentary elections, which saw opposition parties win two-thirds of the seats in the national assembly, had been made possible by unity – whereas the decision by most of the opposition not to participate in the 2018 presidential election had effectively handed Maduro power.
Venezuela’s opposition parties have boycotted elections on several occasions over the past 25 years, as the government has tightened its authoritarian grip. But the decision has often had damaging consequences.
The most consequential boycott was in 2005, when a broad coalition of opposition parties withdrew from elections to the national assembly, citing concerns about voting irregularities and media bias. The move backfired.
The government, then led by Maduro’s PSUV predecessor Hugo Chávez, did not face international backlash. It won every seat and gained a supermajority that enabled constitutional changes, including expanded executive powers. The opposition lost its institutional foothold to challenge legislation.
The boycott also deepened internal rifts within Venezuela’s opposition. It entrenched the divide between moderates who favoured political engagement and hardliners who were sceptical of participation. These divisions have persisted to this day.
Opposition movements elsewhere have boycotted elections too, and the consequences have been similar. In 2014, the main opposition party in Bangladesh abstained from general elections in an attempt to delegitimise the ruling Awami League’s hold on power and prompt an international response.
In fact, this handed the Awami League near-total control of parliament. With no sustained international pressure, it contributed to the country’s authoritarian consolidation.
Such cases demonstrate that electoral boycotts pose a dilemma for opposition movements. By refusing to participate, they may unintentionally strengthen authoritarian rule by ceding space to incumbents and weakening their own unity.
Research shows that an electoral boycott is likely to be most effective when three conditions align: the ruling regime is vulnerable, the opposition is united, and the international context is favourable. These conditions have consistently been absent in Venezuela.
Its slide towards authoritarianism has been underpinned by the stability of the Maduro regime since 2013. His government has been able to rely on sustained military support and has used repression strategically to tighten its grip on power.
A lack of unity within the opposition has also worked to the regime’s advantage. In their work on Venezuela’s authoritarian trajectory, researchers Maryhen Jiménez and Antulio Rosales demonstrate that partial electoral boycotts have repeatedly failed to produce meaningful change. This is, in their view, due to the absence of a coordinated opposition strategy.
An uncoordinated strategy also risks fostering a sense of “defeatism” among regime critics. This can hamper people’s willingness to take collective action in the future.
Participation in authoritarian elections, even though they are not fair, can still expose underlying vulnerabilities within a ruling regime. Opposition mobilisation ahead of Venezuela’s 2024 election placed the Maduro government under significant pressure. It responded with electoral manipulation.
Evidence of voter fraud provoked international condemnation, including from Brazil and Colombia. These two countries had previously been more cautious in their criticism of the Maduro government.
This further isolated Maduro on the international stage. But condemnation was not accompanied by a sustained or coordinated international strategy to support mediation or political transition in Venezuela.
The road ahead
Whether the opposition can regain coherence and unity remains to be seen. But even if it can, authoritarianism in Venezuela appears firmly entrenched.
The national electoral council’s refusal to release vote tallies following the 2024 election, alongside an intensified crackdown on dissent, reflects a deepening consolidation of power. It is also evidence of Maduro’s declining concern with maintaining even a facade of democratic legitimacy.
In the absence of internal cohesion within Venezuela’s opposition, this authoritarian consolidation is likely to deepen. This will leave even fewer institutional footholds from which the opposition can mount a credible democratic challenge.
Begum Zorlu receives funding for her ESRC-funded South and East Network for Social Sciences Fellowship.
Jefferson City — Today, during a press conference at the Missouri State Capitol, Governor Mike Kehoe announced that he has issued an official call for a special session aimed at providing resources to families affected by recent severe storm systems, driving economic development through a tax incentive program, and making critical budget appropriations that will impact Missourians across the state.
The General Assembly will convene for the First Extraordinary Session of the First Regular Session in Jefferson City on Monday, June 2, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. to begin considering Governor Kehoe’s priorities.
“We are proud of all that the General Assembly accomplished during the regular legislative session, but there is still work left to be done,” said Governor Kehoe. “We call on legislators to use this special session as a rare opportunity to support our vulnerable neighbors in their time of need, drive economic development, and make transformative investments in our state. This work is too important to leave unfinished.”
Several severe storm systems have impacted the State of Missouri over the recent months, resulting in loss of life as well as significant damage to homes, businesses, and public infrastructure. Governor Kehoe’s call for a special session includes legislation to assist Missouri families impacted by recent severe storm systems in areas included in a request for presidential disaster declaration filed by the Governor. The call includes:
Legislation establishing an income tax deduction for insurance policy deductibles incurred by homeowners and renters due to damages caused by severe weather.
Deductions shall not exceed $5000 per household per disaster in any calendar year.
Legislation enhancing the utility of the Missouri Housing Trust Fund, administered by the Missouri Housing Development Commission, by expanding eligibility and removing administrative burdens and costs to expedite aid for Missouri families with Disaster Housing Response Grants.
Appropriating $25 million to the Missouri Housing Trust Fund for for general administration of affordable housing activities and to expand income eligibility for emergency aid.
To help retain major sports teams in Missouri, Governor Kehoe is calling on the General Assembly to enact legislation establishing economic development tools for athletic and entertainment facility projects of professional sports franchises through the Show Me Sports Investment Act. The Kansas City Chiefs and Royals are Missouri’s teams that drive billions of dollars in economic activity through tourism, job creation, and small businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and retail. The impact of retaining these teams includes:
The Kansas City Chiefs contribute $575 million annually in economic value and over 4,500 jobs in Jackson County alone, bringing the State of Missouri nearly $30 million in annual tax revenue.
A new Royals ballpark district is expected to support 8,400 jobs and generate $1.2 billion in economic output annually.
Governor Kehoe’s call also includes:
Enacting legislation to extend the sunset date on tax credits for amateur sporting events.
Appropriating $25 million for the University of Missouri for the planning, design, and construction of the Radioisotope Science Center at the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR).
Appropriating funding from funds other than the General Revenue Fund for purposes provided for in the Senate Substitute for Senate Committee Substitute for House Committee Substitute for House Bill 19 in the 2025 regular legislative session.
The special session proclamation will be uploaded to the Governor’s website once it is available.
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Stephen K. Gainous (38, Jacksonville) to 30 months in federal prison for making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer during the attempted purchase of a firearm. Gainous pled guilty on February 14, 2025.
According to court documents, Gainous completed an ATF Form 4473 during the attempted purchase of a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer. Gainous indicated on the required paperwork that he was not a felon. This was a false statement, in that Gainous was previously convicted of seven felonies, including battery on a child, making a false statement during the acquisition of a firearm, possession of cocaine, criminal use of personal identification, and fraudulent use of a credit card.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brenna Falzetta.
This is another case uncovered through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). All NICS denials are reported to federal law enforcement and are reviewed daily for potential criminal prosecution. Federal law makes it a felony offense to make a false statement to a firearms dealer when trying to buy a gun.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Israeli forces continue to systematically use last-minute displacement orders as a violent tool, turning the Gaza Strip into hell on earth for Palestinians, said Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) today. Along with the continued incessant bombing and a near-total blockade of aid, the constant state of alert people are living in and the unpredictability of displacement orders are having devastating consequences on people’s mental health.
“Israeli forces are destroying all means of life for Palestinians in Gaza through psychological and physical warfare,” said Claire Manera, MSF emergency coordinator. “Forced displacements are part of Israeli forces and authorities’ campaign of ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. They have nowhere else to go.”
I don’t know how to answer when colleagues ask me where they can go with their children in the middle of the night. We are running out of options to stay alive.
Omar Alsaqqa, MSF logistics manager
“Our colleagues are desperate,” said Omar Alsaqqa, MSF logistics manager. “There are no tents left and no space for people to set up. I don’t know how to answer when colleagues ask me where they can go with their children in the middle of the night. We are running out of options to stay alive.”
Since the start of the war, Palestinians have been forced to evacuate repeatedly, many fleeing for their lives multiple times, as experienced by a number of MSF staff. With 31 displacement orders issued since Israel broke the ceasefire on March 18, the relentless forced displacements have trapped Palestinians in an endless cycle of suffering. On May 19, a single large-scale displacement order in Khan Younis covered 22 percent of the Strip, affecting more than 70 MSF staff members, while another order on May 26 covered 40 percent of central and south Gaza.
This time I don’t want to pack. No bags, no papers, nothing … Maybe my mindset is wrong, but I just cannot mentally process the idea of leaving home again.
Sabreen Al-Massani, MSF psychotherapist
These displacement orders and established no-go military zones now cover around 80 percent of Gaza, and not a single area of the Strip has been spared from attacks. About 600,000 people have been displaced again since March 18, according to the Site Management Cluster, a coalition of NGOs and the UN that monitors and supports displaced people in Gaza. Many have evacuated areas only to be bombed again in their new “safe refuge.” For example, on May 26, MSF teams treated 17 patients following an attack very close to to its Khan Younis health care center in central Gaza—an area to which people are supposed to move.
“I woke up my children and told them we were just going out for a little bit,” said Asmaa Abu Asaker, MSF liaison officer, after a displacement order was issued in her neighborhood. “They started crying. They grabbed their bags. I was terrified but tried to act calm, even though my heart was pounding with fear.”
Unpredictable and last-minute orders create an impossible situation
The displacement orders are unpredictable and come with ridiculously short deadlines, putting people in an impossible situation. People receive leaflets, social media posts, or phone calls about an imminent attack, leaving them limited time to collect their belongings and seek shelter. The very act of forcing people to repeatedly flee—often in the middle of the night without having anywhere to go—is taking both an immense physical and psychological toll.
“This time I don’t want to pack,” said Sabreen Al-Massani, an MSF psychotherapist who has been displaced multiple times. “No bags, no papers, nothing. I don’t know why—maybe my mindset is wrong, but I just cannot mentally process the idea of leaving home again.”
While displacement orders are forcing Palestinians to ever-shrinking areas, Israeli forces also regularly carry out attacks without issuing displacement orders. On April 9, more than 20 people were killed in a strike that targeted a residential block of seven buildings in Gaza City. Among those killed were the families of two MSF staff members who were at work when the strike occurred and later learned their loved ones had been buried under the rubble.
“We are in a constant state of alert; we can receive a notification to flee at any time,” Al-Massani said, describing how the displacement orders are severely affecting Palestinian’s mental health and state of anxiety. “We cannot sleep at night thinking we might be the next.”
MSF calls on Israeli forces to immediately halt the forced displacement of people and its ongoing campaign of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza. Israel’s allies must also halt their support and complicity.
The EU has allocated €280 million to help with flood recovery in 4 Central European countries, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Moldova, following severe floods there in autumn 2024. The funds will finance all aspects of disaster recovery including temporary accommodation for affected populations.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
St. Petersburg, May 27 (Xinhua) — Russia’s Baltic Fleet on Tuesday began scheduled exercises to maintain combat readiness and practice defensive actions of the navy in the Baltic Sea, the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
The exercise involves about 3,000 servicemen, more than 20 warships, boats and support vessels, including a frigate, corvettes, small missile ships and boats, small anti-submarine ships, minesweepers and support vessels. Also involved are about 25 aircraft and helicopters, up to 70 units of military and special equipment.
The exercises include anti-submarine missions and protection against unmanned boats, as well as practical artillery fire at sea and air targets. –0–
A public inquest into the death of Ryan Booker will be held Monday, June 23 to 26, 2025, at the Royal Hotel, 4025 Albert Street, in Regina.
The first day of the inquest is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. Subsequent start times will be determined by the presiding coroner.
Booker, 26, was observed to be in possession of a firearm at a parking lot in Moose Jaw on July 17, 2022. Following a highway pursuit, Mr. Booker was shot in an altercation with police outside of the city and passed away at the scene. Section 19 of The Coroners Act, 1999 states that the Chief Coroner may direct that an inquest be held into the death of any person.
The Saskatchewan Coroners Service is responsible for the investigation of all sudden, unexpected deaths. The purpose of an inquest is to establish who died, when and where that person died and the medical cause and manner of death. The coroner’s jury may make recommendations to prevent similar deaths.
Coroner Aaron Fox will preside at the inquest.
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For more information, contact:
Kerri Ward-Davis Justice Regina Phone: 306-787-8621 Email: jumedia@gov.sk.ca
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Trang Johnny Nha Phan (25, Minnesota) with attempted arson of federal property, possessing a Molotov cocktail as a convicted felon, and using a Molotov cocktail in furtherance of a crime of violence. If convicted on all counts, Phan faces a minimum penalty of 35 years, up to 65, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Phan that the United States intends to forfeit assets that are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.
According to the indictment, on February 14, 2025, Phan attempted to set fire using a Molotov cocktail to a M-60 A-3 tank owned by the U.S. Army. At the time, Phan had been convicted for threats of violence and possessing three grams or more of heroin.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Sarasota Police Department, and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam W. McCall.
Researchers from the Dept of Planetary Sciences visit the site of their Schumann Resonance detector in rural Aberdeenshire
Thunder and lightning strikes that create electromagnetic waves dubbed ‘Earth’s heartbeat’ are being monitored by a sensor inside a box in a rural Aberdeenshire field.
The University of Aberdeen device is only one of two in the UK that measure Schumann Resonance – extremely low frequency waves that can be used to study our weather and – some believe – possibly predict earthquakes and may even be linked to our health, sleep and emotions.
Flashes of lightning strike the Earth around 50 times every second sending out tiny waves of energy that bounce back and forth between the ground and the sky in the space known as Earth’s ionosphere – this is called Schumann’s Resonance.
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These electromagnetic waves make a steady hum as they circle around the Earth at very low frequencies that humans cannot hear. Some refer to this natural rhythmic pattern of electromagnetic waves as Earth’s heartbeat.
Studying Schumann Resonance helps scientists to monitor climate change and weather patterns on Earth and also what impact solar storms have on the planet.
Research has also been carried out into examining whether Schumann Resonance fluctuates in relation to major seismic events such as earthquakes.
There are even hypotheses that suggest Schumann Resonance could affect human brain activity and potentially impact mood and sleep patterns. This theory, some say, is supported by the fact that the primary frequency of Schumann resonance, which is in the order of 7.83Hz, with its harmonics extending to higher frequences, overlaps with the human brain’s alpha wave range of 8-13Hz.
Something we are really interested to study is weather events and also because we have the only other one of these instruments in the UK in Eskdalemuir in the Scottish borders, so we want to see how the data from each detector correlates.” Dr Thasshwin Mathanlal
The University of Aberdeen team have placed a Schumann Resonance detector in a field in Aberdeenshire near Stonehaven in order to study the frequency.
The electromagnetic frequency detector has to be far away from the interference you would get in built up areas such as electricity cables, phone and broadband signals, as these can interfere with their readings.
The detector is tuned to pick up waves in the range of 0-30Hz and while not particularly elaborate to the eye, housed as it is in a plastic box, they actually consist of miles of cable would inside which are required to detect such low frequencies.
Whenever there is a small electromagnetic field, such as a lightning strike, it induces a very small amount of voltage into the wires. A very high-resolution detector records these electromagnetic frequencies onto an onboard computer and the Aberdeen team retrieve the data periodically.
Dr Thasshwin Mathanlal, from the University of Aberdeen’s Planetary Sciences department said: “Something we are really interested to study is weather events and also because we have the only other one of these instruments in the UK in Eskdalemuir in the Scottish borders, so we want to see how the data from each detector correlates.
“In addition to Schumann Resonance, we are interested in studying something called Alfvén waves which happen whenever there is a solar storm. Solar storms happen when there is a burst of energy and particles from the sun that reach Earth. Since in Aberdeenshire we are at a higher latitude, it is also interesting to study these waves too.”
Interested in space research or planetary sciences? Study with us at the University of Aberdeen.
RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment is investigating a hit and run that occurred in Fall River.
On May 23, at approximately 10 p.m., RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment, fire services, and EHS, responded to a report of a collision near the 1400 block of Fall River Rd. RCMP officers learned that a Dodge Ram was travelling on the roadway when it collided with a dirt bike travelling in the same direction.
Two of the three youth dirt bike riders suffered serious injuries and were transported to hospital by EHS. The third rider was uninjured.
RCMP officers located a Dodge Ram, believed to be the vehicle involved in the collision, at a nearby gas station. The male driver displayed signs of impairment and provided a roadside breath sample into an approved screening device. The results indicated that he was not impaired by alcohol.
Officers then demanded that the 45-year-old man from Fletchers Lake perform a standard field sobriety test. When he refused, the man was arrested for Refusal to Comply with a Demand. He resisted and assaulted an officer during the arrest.
During a search of the man, baggies containing a white substance were located and seized.
The man was later released. He will appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court at a later date to face charges of Refusal to Comply with a Demand, Assaulting a Peace Officer, and Resisting Arrest.
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury found Noel Hall of St. Paul guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
According to evidence presented at trial, Noel Debra Hall, 47, drunkenly brandished a firearm inside a St. Paul apartment at approximately 5:30 a.m. on July 7, 2024. The St. Paul Police Department responded to the apartment complex and engaged in a multi-hour standoff with Hall, who was barricaded inside. Hall surrendered to police after the St. Paul SWAT team deployed a drone inside the apartment. Law enforcement ultimately discovered a semiautomatic pistol and a loaded magazine concealed in a box spring within the apartment.
According to court documents, Hall is a former federal defendant convicted in 2019 of possession with the intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. He was on supervised release for that conviction when he committed this offense of unlawfully possessing a firearm.
“As a convicted felon, Noel Hall was prohibited from possessing a firearm, and his conduct underlying his conviction in this case shows precisely why that was—he was a clear and present danger to the public. St. Paul is a safer place as a result of the jury’s verdict,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the St. Paul Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Raphael B. Coburn tried the case.
ALBUQUERQUE – A Navajo Nation woman has been indicted in federal court after allegedly shooting a man with a handgun during an incident that left the victim with serious injuries.
According to court documents, on November 17, 2024, Beverleta Tayah, 53, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted John Doe with a handgun and that assault resulted in serious bodily injury to Doe.
Tayah stands charged with three felony crimes—assault resulting in serious bodily injury, assault with a dangerous weapon, and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and discharging said firearm. She will remain in custody pending a detention hearing, which will occur next week. If convicted of the current charges, Tayah faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
A Chinese proverb says that the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, and the second best time is today. But it’s not easy to ensure the trees of today actually become the healthy, functioning forests of tomorrow.
This is a key issue in the UK, which recently announced it will plant 20 million trees to create a new “national forest” in the west of England. Given the UK is one of the least forested countries in Europe, and one of the most nature-depleted in the world, more trees are definitely needed.
But I know from years of trying to research and restore native forest on Dartmoor in the south west of England, that creating healthy forests requires attention to detail. Unless we are careful, these new woodlands might damage rather than improve the environment: 20 million non-native conifers (or any single tree species), densely planted row on row is not a recipe for a healthy or resilient forest.
So what could a successful forest expansion look like – and how could the UK get there?
Forests for the future
When planting a sapling, we are starting a journey not reaching a destination.
The aim isn’t to just grow dense forests everywhere, but to create a diverse “treescape” that includes woodland, pasture, orchards and hedgerows. Including glades and clearings allow plants and animals from the surrounding landscape to move in, helping to create a richer, more complex forest over time.
A wild pony hangs out in a glade in the New Forest in southern England. Helen Hotson / shutterstock
In this ideal future, Britain’s bigger, more diverse, and better joined-up forests would have a higher chance of coping with the hotter summers, wetter winters and other climate changes including extreme weather. That’s because these larger more connected forests limit whats is known as the “edge effect” where the benefits of the forest’s microclimate is reduced. Having more different tree species – mostly native but not always – would help these woodlands cope with, and adapt to, the projected increase in pests, disease and other environmental stresses.
These larger more biodiverse woodlands would also store more carbon in trees, soils and decaying wood. Research I published with colleagues showed new native forests can alleviate flood risk rather quickly too. Over time, many could also provide timber for low-carbon construction, and charcoal-like “biochar”.
Where to grow a forest – and how
Creating woodland for biodiversity and these wider benefits requires planning and management. This can be done by studying the land beforehand – looking at habitats, soils and the animals that graze there, but importantly considering the wider landscape. Digital tools can model a combination of land features, climate and other data to help planners decide where trees should be targeted for the biggest wins, especially as the climate changes.
The idea is to support, not replace, Britain’s many existing ancient trees. Some new forests would help buffer woodlands from damage at their edges, while others help connect isolated forest fragments and lone trees.
For example, in Britain’s wet valleys where temperate rainforests could grow, saplings planted in the 2020s might provide new homes for rare lichens and mosses. This will help shield highly vulnerable sites such as Wistmans Wood on Dartmoor from changes in climate.
Restoring these rainforests will usually require active control of grazing animals. One promising solution is to plant small, carefully chosen patches of diverse tree species and protect them at first from the sheep, cattle, ponies and deer that eat young trees. Over time, through a process known as “applied nucleation”, these patches could help trees naturally spread, creating a mix of woodland and pasture.
On Britain’s moorlands, hungry animals eat saplings before they can turn into fully-grown (and less tasty) trees. Digital Wildlife Scotland / shutterstock
It’s true that sapling-munching deer have surged to unsustainable levels, and many uplands areas in particular are overgrazed by sheep. However, when moderated and managed carefully, these animals are essential ingredients for dynamic forests. Grazing, browsing and rootling (pigs and wild boar) animals create glades and clearings, and support natural processes. Trees and forests in return provide animals with forage, shade, shelter and more.
We should embrace the potential for mutual benefit between animals and forests. By integrating more trees and forests into agricultural areas we may even make both our forests more dynamic and our agricultural areas more resilient.
Local leadership and community roots
The public generally considers tree planting a positive thing, but local people often feel left out of the process and its benefits. Getting them onboard and involved is critical. That’s particularly the case in Britain’s northern and western uplands, where few trees are left and many people feel threatened by national woodland policies that might affect how they use the land.
Larger forests near towns and cities would offer more space for recreation and education, taking pressure off smaller and more fragile woodlands. In the urban areas themselves, we could grow more micro “Miyawacki” forests. These are tennis court-sized areas of diverse and densely packed native trees, which allow children to connect with nature every day in their school grounds (the UK already has more than 280 such forests).
Tree planting is only a start
This is a rather optimistic vision for the future, of course. To get there, we’ll have to learn from experience. That means tracking what works and involving local people in citizen science. These projects not only help gather valuable data, they also give volunteers a meaningful experience and support their appreciation of the natural world.
There are plenty of recommended guidelines for forest restoration, but turning young trees into healthy resilient woodlands isn’t about following a strict rulebook. Instead, success will come from using a range of strategies – working with local communities, supporting natural processes and adapting over time based on what is shown to work.
Thomas Murphy does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –
Created in Nizhny Novgorod campus of HSEInternational Laboratory of Dynamic Systems and Applications conducts deep theoretical research and applied studies, including the study of ocean waves, solar corona reconnections, volcanic phenomena and ship stability. Its scientists, who have won more than 20 significant scientific grants over the past 5 years, actively collaborate with Russian and foreign colleagues from China, Spain, the USA, Great Britain, Brazil and other countries. The Vyshka.Glavnoe news service spoke with its head, Professor Olga Pochinka, about the work of the laboratory.
— When was the laboratory created?
— Let’s start with 2014, when colleagues from the Mathematics Department of the Moscow HSE suggested creating a department on the Nizhny Novgorod campus, and we were fired up by the idea. Together with five colleagues, we moved from the Nizhny Novgorod State University to the HSE in Nizhny Novgorod, and in 2015 we opened the first intake of undergraduate students for the Mathematics educational program, a total of eight people.
Then the recruitment began to expand, and I began inviting people from UNN. We worked as research fellows at the Laboratory of Theory and Practice of Decision Support and simultaneously taught students.
In 2017, we separated into the Laboratory of Topological Methods of Dynamics, and in 2019, we won a mega-grant from the Government, and this was the only mega-grant in fundamental mathematics won in the Nizhny Novgorod region in the entire history of projects. Our leading scientist Dmitry Turaev is also a former Nizhny Novgorod resident, now a professor at the British Imperial College, a renowned specialist in the field of dynamic systems.
The laboratory began to grow rapidly, and in parallel with the increase in scientific work, we also expanded our educational areas: we created a postgraduate program, a master’s program, and this year we are opening a new bachelor’s program in applied mathematics.
— Tell us about the priority areas of the laboratory’s work.
— Initially, our laboratory was created primarily as a center for fundamental scientific research. Mathematics is a self-sufficient science, and there are always people who are interested in learning its own laws. An equally important activity is to explain how these laws work in practice. Recently, the laboratory team has noticeably expanded with researchers actively engaged in applied developments.
— What applied areas would you highlight?
— We have problems that come from physics. For example, we studied the effects of reconnection in the solar corona. From the point of view of deep mathematical theory, we explained the mechanism of solar flares. If we imagine the surface of the Sun as a two-dimensional sphere, then the magnetic charges on the surface create domes that change their location depending on the configuration of the charges. When the domes collide, so-called separators appear, visually manifesting themselves in the occurrence of a solar flare. The mechanisms of dome reconnection were explained using the bifurcation of the birth of a heteroclinic curve, widely known in the theory of dynamic systems.
We also managed to explain the pattern recognition algorithm by the existence of an energy function in a dynamic system. In general, tasks related to the construction of such functions are very important. All dynamic systems are largely dissipative, that is, they lose energy over time. We managed to establish the relationship between the energy function and the dynamics of the system. That is, a scientist, even without knowing the system, can measure the indicators of its energy function and say a lot about the dynamics of the system.
These are just the applications I have worked with personally. But there are many employees in the lab developing other applied areas.
Efim Pelinovsky and his student Ekaterina Didenkulova conducted a theoretical analysis of internal waves that arise in the ocean during an explosive eruption of an underwater volcano. They calculated the characteristics of the wave field for different ratios between the radius of the explosion source and the depth of the basin. And they showed that the field of internal waves has the form of frequency-modulated groups, of which the head group has the maximum amplitude. The wave of maximum height in this train arrives significantly later than the weak head wave, which makes it possible to prepare for the approach of dangerous waves.
Ioann Melnikov studies the dynamics of waves in both linear and nonlinear weakly dispersive models. In his work with shallow water equations, there is an interesting question about finding non-reflective bottom profiles, due to which a wave can propagate freely over large distances (with conservation of energy), which is important for applications. Together with Efim Pelinovsky, he obtained a countable family of limited bottom profiles and a continuous family in the form of underwater slides. Research into weakly nonlinear and weakly dispersive models (described by Korteweg-de Vries type equations) is also aimed at finding and studying waves that propagate with a constant speed and unchanged shape (in particular, soliton solutions). In this way, a classification of soliton solution shapes was obtained in the generalized Korteweg-de Vries equation, and now the question arises of how this classification can change with a different account of nonlinearity and dispersion.
Fedor Peplin studies computational fluid dynamics, motion dynamics and stability of high-speed vessels. New criteria for the stability of hovercraft have been obtained. A model of the dynamics of an hovercraft with flexible skegs has been constructed, allowing for the design of amphibious vehicles for use in hard-to-reach regions. Issues related to the damping of various types of high-speed vessels have been studied. Work is currently underway to obtain new, more precise criteria for the stability of promising amphibious vehicles, taking into account the design features and operating conditions of the vehicles. Methods for modeling the dynamics of flexible pneumatic structures in a fluid flow are also being developed.
— There are several scientific groups within the laboratory, conducting research in different directions. How did you manage to unite them?
— The forming direction is dynamic systems, but almost all phenomena in the world fall under the definition of “dynamic systems”. Thus, Natalia Stankevich uses them for research in biology and medicine, and Alexey Kazakov is engaged in numerical calculation for specific systems of differential equations describing such phenomena as turbulence, Celtic stone, Chaplygin’s top, etc.
Under the umbrella of dynamic systems in the laboratory, specialists in such fundamental mathematical areas as algebra, geometry, topology, function theory, etc., which are not directly related to dynamic systems, also feel great. There is a very strong group of physicists involved in fluid mechanics. Often, such scientific symbiosis brings unexpected results at the junction of research areas.
— How do you attract such diverse specialists?
— As a rule, a young or established scientist appears in the laboratory as a participant in some won grant or project. The laboratory management does everything possible to create comfortable conditions for the employees, welcoming any creative initiative. People appreciate this and in most cases remain in the team after the end of the project, some even move to Nizhny Novgorod for permanent residence.
Another source of promising researchers is educational activity. Since the laboratory serves several educational programs, the range of which is expanding every year, the number of professors and teachers naturally increases. Due to the presence of a scientific department, teachers have a smaller workload than in their previous places of work. The newly arrived employees are happy to devote their free time to scientific research.
The main source of influx of personnel, of course, are students of our program “Fundamental and Applied Mathematics”.
We try not only to attract students to scientific research, but also to track their emerging interest in a timely manner. We offer to work as an intern, some come in the first year of the bachelor’s degree. We involve them in active scientific life, grants, schools, conferences. The overwhelming majority stay in the laboratory, and this is a huge driving force
We have now reached a staff of 60 employees, almost like a small research institute.
— How important do you consider mentoring and personal example to be in science?
— Extremely important. Specifically for our team, we managed to ensure the continuity of generations. In our laboratory, we have employees who are over 75–80 years old, very experienced scientists, some of whom studied with Academician Alexander Andronov, his closest associates and students. There are not so many middle-aged scientists (like me), but we managed to show young people scientists with a high academic culture, such as my scientific supervisor Vyacheslav Grines and his colleagues from the school of nonlinear oscillations.
Let me remind you that the scientific school of nonlinear oscillations was created in Gorky (now Nizhny Novgorod) by young scientists who moved to the then closed city, headed by the future academician Alexander Andronov. A physicist by profession, he sought to describe mathematical models of physical processes and phenomena, to translate them into mathematical language. He created the radiophysics department at Gorky University, then the Institute of Applied Mathematics and Cybernetics was organized, and a scientific school was formed, known in the world as the school of dynamic systems.
— How do you manage to find resources for research?
— We constantly apply for grants and development programs — for established researchers, young people, external and internal to HSE. Over the past 5 years, we have won 21 grants — that’s a lot for a relatively small team. Thanks to young and experienced colleagues who go through the very labor-intensive application process. In general, the main rule of an ambitious team is to never stop at what has been achieved. Even if it seems that today you already have everything you wanted, you must constantly set new goals for yourself.
— How was the international academic cooperation project formed and how does it work?
— The project with Shanghai Tongji University is a joint Russian-Chinese grant, it began in 2024 and is designed for three years. The project mainly involves fundamental research in the qualitative theory of dynamic systems. We met the Chinese co-director of the project, Bin Yu, back in 2010 in France, where we worked together with world-class dynamist Christian Bonatti. To date, we have already written several joint articles.
International scientific cooperation, exchange of ideas is always great. Our young employees went to China, and everyone really liked the atmosphere at the partner university. It is a great joy to have the opportunity to discuss your scientific ideas with interested people.
— Do the laboratory and its staff work outside the university, implementing the educational function of HSE?
— The annual international conference “Topological Methods in Dynamics” has been gathering like-minded scientists from all over the world within the walls of the Nizhny Novgorod HSE for 9 years now.
This year we are holding another scientific conference dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Nizhny Novgorod Mathematical Society, of which I am currently the president.
For 6 years now, every March we have been holding a school for students called “Mathematical Spring”, inviting different lecturers and speakers, and judging by the students’ feedback, this is a very interesting format for them.
For the second year in a row, we are organizing a student school at the Sirius Mathematical Center together with colleagues from Moscow State University and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.
A good initiative was the holding of the All-Russian review of students’ diploma works, which will be held for the fifth time this year.
In June-July we hold a thematic shift for schoolchildren called “Intellectual”. The children are immersed in mathematics, including applied mathematics, computer science, and artificial intelligence. It has been held for the tenth time, in recent years – in the “Salut” camp in the Nizhny Novgorod region.
Throughout the school year, we have a “Mathematical Academy”, where schoolchildren gain their first experience working with scientific research. Our scientists generously share interesting tasks with young talents, and under their guidance, students annually become winners of the “Scientific Society of Students” research paper competition.
I would like to emphasize once again that all this would be impossible without our youth with their energy and enthusiasm. It is great that we have them and that there are more and more of them.
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LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man made his initial court appearance Tuesday before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Albregts for allegedly committing multiple violent armed carjackings.
According to allegations contained in the indictment, on March 24, 2025, Aerion Warmsley brandished a Taurus 9mm firearm and stole a Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 from a victim by force, violence, and intimidation. The victim suffered a fractured nose. Then, on March 27, 2025, Warmsley brandished the 9mm firearm and stole a Mercedes-Benz GL450 from a victim by force, violence, and intimidation. While fleeing from law enforcement, he struck two pedestrians with the vehicle resulting in serious bodily injury to the victims. One victim suffered a brain bleed and multiple fractures, and the second victim suffered multiple fractures. On the same day, Warmsley brandished the 9mm firearm and stole a Kia Sorrento from a victim by force, violence, and intimidation.
Warmsley is charged with two counts of carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury, three counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of carjacking. A jury trial has been scheduled for July 14, 2025, before United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro.
If convicted, Warmsley faces the maximum statutory penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI Las Vegas Division made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, North Las Vegas Police Department, Henderson Police Department, and the Clark County School District Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Edward Penetar is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
