Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Sharing Session on Good People · Good Deeds of Care Teams successfully held today (with photos/video) In the 2022 Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced the establishment of Care Teams in the 18 districts to consolidate community resources to support district work and strengthen community network. They form an integral part of the Government’s efforts to improve district governance. Since its full launch in the third quarter of 2023, Care Teams have been actively providing diverse services, including visiting elderly households and other households in need on a regular basis, as well as organising various district caring activities. In cases of incidents and emergencies, Care Teams also mobilise their members and volunteers quickly to attend to the needs of those affected and provide assistance as appropriate. In addition, Care Teams help the Government publicise policies, serving as an important bridge between the Government and the community.
The Sharing Session was attended by Care Teams members, volunteers and representatives of partnering organisations from different districts, who shared on the caring services provided in the community in various ways. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Ms Shirley Lam; the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung; and the Director of Home Affairs, Ms Priscilla To, officiated at the Sharing Session today.
Speaking at the Sharing Session, Mr Chan said that since its full launch, Care Teams had not only actively provided and organised caring services and activities and helped disseminate government information, but also assisted in providing relief during incidents and emergencies on many occasions, displaying their benevolence and righteousness. He emphasised that the selfless dedication of Care Teams had been witnessed by society and won wide acclaim from the public.
Mr Chan pointed out that, as announced in the 2024 Policy Address, the Government will regularise the establishment of Care Teams and increase their funding by 50 per cent in the next term of service to strengthen support for Care Teams. The Government hopes that Care Teams will continue to consolidate community resources to provide more in-depth and extensive caring services and enhance the people’s sense of achievement and satisfaction.
There are countless good deeds done by Caring Teams. During the Sharing Session, Care Teams members shared some of these stories. They include the fire incident at New Lucky House, where Care Teams quickly assisted in evacuating residents and continued to visit each household for several days to provide emotional support and emergency supplies. When the water supply in Tung Chung and the electricity supply in Wong Tai Sin were affected in extensive areas, Care Teams provided support to residents overnight. At the Sharing Session, we also had the youngest and oldest volunteers share their experiences. A Form Five student has begun the journey to serve the community because of his participation in Care Teams’ activities, displaying the new generation’s caring hearts for others. An 86-year-old volunteer at Wah Fu Estate has been visiting the elderly and participating in cultural activities for a long time, inspiring neighbours to join the ranks of volunteers. These examples fully reflect the people-oriented service spirit of Care Teams.
Speaking at the ceremony, Miss Mak said that the stories of Care Teams serving the public show that true care is often hidden in the details, and these details are the cornerstone of building a harmonious community. With the next funding agreement, Care Teams will be able to further promote their services and continue to work closely with partnering organisations to pool more community resources, upholding the spirit of “We Care We Serve” to benefit more people in need.
As of end-January 2025, Care Teams have visited a total of about 390 000 elderly households and other households in need and provided about 43 000 times of basic home or other support services, as well as organising about 23 000 district activities. Issued at HKT 19:50
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following are the opening remarks (English translation) by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, on planning and lands policy areas at the special meeting of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Finance Committee today (April 10):
Chairman,
In 2025-26, the total estimated expenditure of the Development Bureau’s Planning and Lands Branch and the departments under its purview (mainly including the Buildings Department, the Lands Department, and the Planning Department) is approximately $8.037 billion, a decrease of approximately $23 million over the revised estimate for the previous year, and the number of civil service posts will decrease by 168. We will continue to put resources to more effective use through measures such as reprioritisation of work, internal redeployment and streamlining of procedures, and will take forward the following priority tasks under the principle of enhancing quantity, speed, efficiency and quality.
Enhancing speed and efficiency in increasing land supply
On land supply, we will continuously create land to support the development of new industries, and improve citizens’ quality of life. When land creation is completed, we will roll out such land for various types of development in an orderly manner in light of the latest situation.
The Government will continue to accord high priority to devoting resources and spare no effort to take forward the Northern Metropolis (NM) development. It is estimated that 600 hectares of private land will be resumed in the next five years, and at least 570 hectares of land be formed. In the coming five years, it is estimated that a total of 60 000 public and private residential units will be completed and 1 million square metres of economic floor space be provided in the NM. Moreover, we will complete the rezoning procedures for a data park site in Sandy Ridge within this year to facilitate early disposal of the site in the market by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau. During the year, we will also finalise the land use proposals for Ngau Tam Mei, New Territories North New Town and Ma Tso Lung.
We will adopt more diversified development approaches. We are analysing the expressions of interest (EOIs) received for the three pilot areas of large-scale land disposal in the NM, and will commence the tendering work progressively from the second half of this year. We will invite land owners to submit applications for in-situ land exchanges in respect of the San Tin Technopole later this year. Moreover, we have invited tenders under the “two-envelope” approach for two sites in Yuen Long and Hung Shui Kiu for developing multi-storey buildings for modern industries. The Government has recently fine-tuned the tender conditions in response to constructive market feedback and extended the tender closing date to end-July accordingly.
To facilitate market participation and enhance investment incentives, we are exploring land administration work in several areas. Firstly, we will consider allowing land owners to voluntarily surrender land planned to be resumed by the Government in the NM to offset the premium payable for in-situ land exchange or large-scale land disposal in new development areas (NDAs). Secondly, wider application of the “pay for what you build” approach will be explored, including allowing developers to pay premium for lease modifications, which is not based on the maximum floor area but is determined according to the actual construction floor area. Thirdly, consideration will be given to tenancies with a long tenure, which will be longer than the current maximum fixed term of seven years for short-term tenancies.
We will also continue to explore a wide array of other measures to further streamline the approval process, in particular various administrative approval processes at construction stage, to reduce construction costs.
We announced the Government’s 2025-26 Land Sale List in end-February. Taking into account the eight residential sites available for sale and other sources, the potential private housing land supply in 2025-26 is estimated to have a capacity to produce about 13 700 flats, similar to the target for annual supply of the Long Term Housing Strategy. The Government has indicated that it will not roll out any commercial sites for sale in the current financial year, and will consider rezoning some of the commercial sites expected to be ready and available for sale in the next few years into residential use or allowing greater flexibility of land use.
In line with the “industry-led” planning approach, we invited the market to submit EOIs for three island and coastal tourism projects last week. This is the first time in recent years that the Government takes forward the creation of new land parcels for tourism and recreation purposes, and intends to make the best use of participation of enterprises and the market force for developments to be realised. As regards the marina development at the expansion area of Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter, we are inviting the market to submit EOIs. The exercise will conclude by the end of this month. In addition, we will announce in around mid-2025 the land use proposals for Lung Kwu Tan and Tuen Mun West, including the River Trade Terminal, which will provide sites for developing key industries including new energy, modern logistics, advanced construction and circular economy.
Work on enhancing quality
In respect of “enhancing quality”, urban renewal and building safety are among our key priorities. With the amended Land (Compulsory Sale for Redevelopment) Ordinance in force since December last year, the Support Service Centre for Minority Owners under Compulsory Sale commenced operation in August last year. We are working with the Urban Renewal Authority to conduct district planning studies on Tsuen Wan and Sham Shui Po, with renewal master plans to be released within this year. We are also exploring the use of land in NDAs to create more favourable conditions for future urban redevelopment projects by the public and private sectors, with a view to driving redevelopment. Preliminary proposals will be put forward within this year.
In respect of amending the Buildings Ordinance to strengthen building safety, tackle unauthorised building works and enhance safety of construction works, we are consolidating public views, and a bill is expected to be introduced in the first half of next year.
On leveraging harbourfront resources, we will set up refreshment stalls at harbourfront locations with higher visitor flow in Central, Wan Chai, North Point and Tsim Sha Tsui this year to enrich visitors’ experiences. We will consult stakeholders, including the Legislative Council Panel on Development, on the proposals for residential and commercial developments and a marina in the waterfront site in the vicinity of Hung Hom Station this month. Separately, we have just completed the scrutiny of the Protection of the Harbour (Amendment) Bill, and the second reading will resume next month. We will make good use of the streamlined mechanism to take forward works conducive to public enjoyment of the Victoria Harbourfront.
The above is a brief report. My colleagues and I will be happy to respond to any further questions that Members may wish to raise.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Lands Department (LandsD) announced today (April 10) that new standard rates will apply with retrospective effect from April 1, 2025, for charging land premiums for lease modifications (including land exchanges) with regard to the redevelopment of pre-1987 industrial buildings (IBs) on industrial lots into new developments for modern industrial uses.
The standard rates arrangement for charging land premium in the redevelopment of IBs was first launched in 2021 as an alternative to the conventional premium assessment mechanism. The arrangement aims to provide certainty regarding the premium chargeable for lease modifications and streamline development procedures to expedite the redevelopment of pre-1987 IBs, which were constructed under a set of lower fire service installation requirements before the Code of Practice for Minimum Fire Service Installations and Equipment was revised by the Fire Services Department in 1987.
Under the previous arrangement, differential standard rates were set for: (i) five broad regions in Hong Kong, and (ii) within each region, four uses, namely: “industrial/godown (except special industrial)” use and “special industrial” use before lease modification, as well as “commercial/modern industrial” use and “residential” use to be permitted under the modified lease, for the calculation of the premium chargeable.
The level of the standard rates applicable to the redevelopment of IBs is reviewed annually by the LandsD to ensure that the rates are in line with prevailing market conditions. In its Practice Note No. 5/2025 issued today, the LandsD promulgates the updated standard rates applicable to the redevelopment of IBs as of April 1, 2025. At the same time, the LandsD promulgates, for the first time, separate standard rates for “commercial” and “modern industrial” uses after lease modification. The separation of the standard rates for “modern industrial” use from “commercial” use is to better reflect the land value of redeveloped IBs intended for modern industrial use.
A spokesperson for the LandsD said, “Hong Kong is now on its strategic path of planning innovative and technological developments. In view of the increasing number of IB-related transactions in the market and to cope with the growing demand for modern industries under the era of new quality productive forces, it is now an opportune time to set two independent categories of standard rates for ‘commercial’ and ‘modern industrial’ for the redevelopment of IBs. The promulgation of a separate standard rate for ‘modern industrial’ use will provide enhanced certainty to applicants who wish to redevelop their IBs for such use, and is supported by industry and professional organisations.”
With the coming into effect of Practice Note No. 5/2025, differential standard rates will apply for five uses, namely: “industrial/godown (except special industrial)” and “special industrial” uses before lease modification, and “commercial”, “modern industrial” and “residential” uses after lease modification.
OAKLAND —California Attorney General Rob Bonta, as part of a coalition of 23 attorneys general, announced the filing of an amicus brief in Harris v. Bessent in support of Cathy Harris, who is challenging President Donald Trump over her unlawful removal from the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). The United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued an order in the case declaring that Chairperson Harris should remain a full member of the MSPB. The federal government appealed the Court’s decision, and the coalition of attorneys general today filed an amicus brief in full support of Chairperson Harris, who is opposing the federal government’s appeal of the district court’s order to reinstate the Chairperson to her position following her unlawful removal.
“With the President’s continuous attacks on workers’ rights, the Merit Systems Protection Board’s work to safeguard the rights of federal employees is now more critical than ever. Any attempt to undermine the Board’s statutory protections threatens the integrity of the federal workforce and the ability of career public servants to do their jobs, free from political interference,” said Attorney General Bonta. “That’s why I, alongside attorneys general across the nation, fully support Chairperson Harris’ challenge of her unlawful removal and urge the Court to reinstate her position.”
The MSPB is an independent quasi-judicial body that protects federal merit principles and ensures that they are applied uniformly and fairly. Its primary role is to adjudicate appeals from federal employees who believe they have been subjected to unjust personnel actions, such as wrongful termination, demotion, or whistleblower retaliation. The Board also ensures that employment decisions are based on merit, free from political influence or discrimination.
In the amicus brief, the attorneys general strongly support the Chairperson’s opposition to the federal government’s appeal and highlight that the President’s removal is unlawful under the terms of the Civil Service Reform Act. Members of the board are only subject to removal for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.” The attorneys general also underscore the importance of the MSPB, specifically in hearing the appeals of federal employees who may have been denied their employment rights in the federal civil service. Given the current challenges, the Board is particularly critical as thousands of federal employees are being fired under circumstances that may violate civil service protections. Yet without Chairperson Harris, the MSPB lacks a quorum and would effectively cease to operate.
Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaiʻi, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia in filing this amicus brief.
Question for written answer E-001381/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Jutta Paulus (Verts/ALE)
The turtle dove is protected in the EU under the Birds Directive and, according to the IUCN, is considered vulnerable. Following many years of population decline, the Commission enforced a hunting ban in several Member States in 2021. It has now decided to partially lift this ban in Western Europe and to allow a limited hunting quota of 132 000 individuals per year.
Current scientific data, however, show that the populations are still not at the 2000 levels and that climate change-related droughts are further reducing reproductive success.
1.What scientific basis has the Commission used to justify the re-authorisation of hunting despite the fact that populations have not yet recovered?
2.How will the Commission ensure that the permitted hunting quota does not further endanger the species?
3.In what way did the Commission take into account the negative effects of climate change, in particular droughts, on the breeding success of the turtle dove in its decision?
Priority question for written answer P-001393/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos (NI)
These days, residents from almost every corner of Greece are witnessing the same scene unfold time and time again, watching on as the odd burst of heavy rain leaves streets, homes and shops flooded and crops destroyed in the blink of an eye. The islands of the Cyclades, such as Paros and Mykonos, and Crete, particularly Chania, were particularly affected. There were also serious problems in mainland Greece, including in Mesolongi, Corinth and Ilia.
As is acknowledged in the directive on the management of flood risks (Directive 2007/60/EC) itself, Member States should base their assessments, maps and plans on appropriate best practice and best available technologies not entailing excessive costs in the field of flood risk management.
Can the Commission therefore answer the following:
1.What view does it take of the request for full direct compensation for those affected – waiving the unacceptable rules of the EU Solidarity Fund – and for the mobilisation of additional funds?
2.What view does it take of the fact that even the very limited funds available under the Cohesion Fund for the regions – which are also used for flood protection projects – are being handed over to the defence industry to meet the needs of the EU’s war economy, exposing the people of Europe to incalculable risks?
3.What view does it take of the fact that the cost-benefit criterion, as described also in Directive 2007/60/EC, means that basic infrastructure projects are either put on hold for years or not implemented at all, leaving people unprotected?
Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and his Senate colleagues introduced the Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion (GOSAFE) Act and the bipartisan Banning Unlawful Machinegun Parts (BUMP) Act, two pieces of legislation that will help protect communities from gun violence by limiting large capacity ammunition feeding devices and prohibiting the sale of bump stocks, devices that are used to turn semiautomatic weapons into machine guns by increasing their rate of fire.
“No Virginian should live in fear of a mass shooting,” said Kaine. “There is so much more Congress can and must do to reduce the risk of gun violence, and I’m glad to join my colleagues in introducing these bills to strengthen regulations on semiautomatic firearms and outlaw modification devices that can turn legal firearms into tools for mass shootings.”
The GOSAFE Act would regulate firearms based on their inherently dangerous and unusually lethal mechanisms, as opposed to focusing on a particular model of firearm or cosmetic features that can be easily modified. This would limit large capacity ammunition feeding devices and keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of individuals who should not have them.
The bipartisan BUMP Act would prohibit the sale of bump stocks and other devices or modifications that allow semiautomatic firearms to increase their rate of fire and effectively operate as fully automatic weapons.
Text of the GOSAFE Act is available here.
In addition to Kaine, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI).
Text of the BUMP Act is available here.
In addition to Kaine, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Susan Collins (R-ME), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Fetterman (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Angus King (I-ME), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Adam Schiff (D-CA).
Kaine has long supported legislation to prevent gun violence, including his Virginia Plan to Reduce Gun Violence Act, which would federally enact a series of commonsense gun violence prevention measures adopted by Virginia. This legislation would mandate reporting of lost and stolen firearms, prevent children from accessing firearms, and implement a one-handgun-a-month policy. In 2022, Kaine helped pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, landmark legislation passed in the wake of the horrific mass shootings in Uvalde, TX and Buffalo, NY to improve background checks, strengthen safeguards for victims of domestic violence, and create incentives for states to take the initiative to remove firearms from individuals who pose a high risk of harming themselves or others.
[. Central to these efforts is the province’s fire weather network, which plays a vital role in predicting fire conditions and detecting fires earlier.
That is why Alberta’s government is investing an additional $900,000 over three years, bringing the total to $1.9 million over three years for upgrades to the network and to add new stations to key locations. These improvements will ensure that Alberta Wildfire teams are equipped with the tools they need to respond to wildfire risks quickly and effectively.
“Our government is continuing to make strategic investments to enhance our wildfire-fighting capabilities. By better predicting how fire risks evolve throughout the season, we’re not only helping Alberta Wildfire teams respond more effectively – we’re also helping communities reduce their exposure to wildfires. This technology is vital to keeping our firefighters safe, and to helping protect lives and livelihoods across the province.”
Alberta’s fire weather network includes 150 strategically placed weather stations that collect information on environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, wind conditions and moisture levels. This real-time data helps Alberta Wildfire stay one step ahead of potential threats, guiding response teams and ensuring resources are deployed to where they’re needed most. New weather station locations will be determined in the near future, as Alberta Wildfire teams work to identify areas lacking weather monitoring coverage.
“FortisAlberta is privileged to be tasked with providing safe and reliable electricity to customers and communities living in some of the most environmentally diverse and beautiful parts of Alberta. Investing in wildfire mitigation technology is not only the right thing to do to protect our communities, but it also helps protect customer affordability. We are very pleased to see the expansion of Alberta’s fire weather network and look forward to working with Minister Loewen and his team to manage wildfire risks for the benefit of all Albertans.”
Improved monitoring is especially important during the spring thaw, when melting snow can lead to drier conditions and increase wildfire risk. New sensors will track snowfall accumulation throughout the winter, providing Alberta Wildfire with valuable insights into how dry conditions might be as the season begins. These upgrades will not only enhance fire danger monitoring but also support more efficient resource planning, ensuring firefighting efforts are deployed effectively from the outset of the wildfire season.
“Clearwater County is pleased by the province’s investment in Alberta’s fire weather network, which directly benefits our region. With 85 per cent of our county within the Forest Protection Area, real-time data is crucial for reducing wildfire risk. Our fire services team already collaborates closely with Alberta Wildfire, using its expertise to make informed decisions, such as pre-positioning resources for structure protection. The more data we receive, the better prepared we are to respond quickly and efficiently together, ensuring stronger protection for our residents and first responders, and the landscapes we call home.”
“This investment in Alberta’s fire weather network, and the inclusion of our region as a strategic location, will provide Alberta Wildfire teams with timely, accurate data to anticipate and respond to risks more effectively. For a community that understands the realities of wildfire, this kind of infrastructure is more than welcome – it’s essential. We’re grateful for this support and the continued efforts to protect our region and strengthen our resilience.”
Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.
Quick facts
Alberta’s legislated wildfire season runs from March 1 to October 31.
Budget 2025 also provides:
$160 million for the base wildfire budget, an increase of $5 million from 2024.
$15 million for the Community Fireguard Program administered by the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta.
$10.8 million in FireSmart programming, ensuring Albertans have access to education and resources that enhance wildfire prevention, preparedness and mitigation efforts.
Related information
·Alberta Wildfire
Map of weather stations
Images of weather stations
Related news
Alberta is ready for the 2025 Wildfire Season (March 4, 2025)
Start of 2025 wildfire season: Minister Todd Loewen (Feb. 28, 2025)
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)
? MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced the sentencing of a Montgomery, Alabama man for illegally possessing a firearm recovered at the scene of a shooting. On April 9, 2025, a judge ordered that 27-year-old Grenden James Jordan serve 174 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Following his 14-and-a-half-year prison sentence, Jordan will be on supervised release for three years. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records and evidence presented at his January 2025 trial, on March 16, 2024, an officer with the Montgomery Police Department responded to the scene of a shooting on Atlanta Highway near the Eastern Boulevard overpass after hearing gun shots. Upon arrival, the officer saw three men walking away from a blue Dodge Challenger that was stopped in one of the lanes of traffic. One of the men, later identified as Grenden James Jordan, was observed by the officer throwing a firearm towards the side of the road. This was also captured on the officer’s dash cam video. The three men fled the scene.
Witnesses stated that the three men were occupants of the Dodge Challenger and had exchanged gunfire with a red sedan, which left the scene when law enforcement arrived. Numerous bullet holes were found on the Dodge Challenger. There was a third vehicle on the scene that had been caught in the crossfire and had gunshot damage as well. This vehicle was occupied by innocent bystanders including a mother, father, and four-year-old child. The child sustained injuries from broken glass caused by the gunshots and was treated.
Officers recovered an AR-style pistol from the area where the firearm had been thrown by Jordan, along with a high-capacity drum magazine with ammunition. During the trial, the jury saw a photo taken prior to March 16, 2024, showing Jordan posing with an AR-style pistol matching the one found on the scene of the shooting. Law enforcement found two additional firearms when searching Jordan’s residence in April of 2024. Jordan has previous felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. The jury found Jordan guilty earlier this year for illegally possessing the firearm recovered on March 16, 2024.
“This significant sentence not only reflects the need to ensure justice is served, but it also reflects the gravity of the danger posed by Grenden Jordan’s reckless behavior,” said Acting United States Attorney Davidson. “Violent crime has an enormous impact on communities and those that work and live within them, including our children. This case is a stark reminder of the harm that can be inflicted when individuals use guns to settle disputes without regard for the wellbeing of others. Montgomery is a safer place with Grenden Jordan off the streets.”
“This type of disregard for human life will not be tolerated and most especially by a previously convicted felon,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Rachel Byrd. “FBI Mobile will continue to work alongside our state, local, and federal partners to bring justice to the victims of this senseless gun violence.”
This case was brought as a 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon W. Bates and Michelle R. Turner prosecuted.
Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors – IADC
Headline: DrillersPAC 2-Gun Match Open for Registration
IADC is hosting the inaugural DrillersPAC 2-Gun Match to generate awareness and raise funds for DrillersPAC, IADC’s political action committee. DrillersPAC helps maximize the impact of IADC’s advocacy efforts by raising money to support political candidates aligned with IADC and its Members’ policy goals.
This event will take place on Friday 2 May 2025 at Renaissance Shooting Club in Todd Mission, Texas.
This will be an individual based shooting competition requiring advanced physical capabilities and firearm management. Participants should be comfortable with pistols and rifles, shooting from various physical positions, drawing and holstering a loaded pistol, and carrying a rifle with a sling.
In addition to supporting DrillersPAC, a portion of funds raised will be donated to the Magnolia I.S.D. Navy JROTC program. The Navy JROTC program is dedicated to developing student character and helping mature them into responsible citizens committed to achievement. Donations will assist in funding their annual events and competitions including drill team, marksmanship, and orienteering.
GREAT FALLS – A convicted felon from Great Falls who possessed guns and drugs was sentenced today to 128 months in prison to be followed by5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Michael Shawn O’Neill, 59, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on September 4, 2023, Michael Shawn O’Neill, a convicted felon on state supervision, possessed thousands of fentanyl pills for redistribution, as well as four firearms and some methamphetamine and heroin. The guns and drugs were found during a probation search and the subsequent execution of a search warrant in Great Falls, Montana. On September 14, 2023, O’Neill told interviewing agents that there was no one above him in the Great Falls area. He drove to Spokane to get his supply and he believed he was one step away from the cartel through a third party. He distributed drugs to smaller users who purchased less than 100 pills at a time. He said he just spent $12,000 in Spokane on the drugs found on September 4, 2023,and told agents: “I was moving about 500-800 pills a day, plus an ounce of heroin, plus an ounce of meth – I wasn’t moving that much.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case and the investigation was conducted by the ATF, Russell Country Drug Task Force, and Montana Probation and Parole.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
As trade threats escalate, Alberta is taking decisive action to secure new global markets, driving diversification and growth to protect the province’s economic future. Alberta is broadening its trade horizons – to reduce risk and build a more resilient economy, ready to weather any storm.
Despite U.S. tariffs, Alberta’s economy is outperforming expectations, driven by its robust oil production, increased home construction and a diversified economic base.
Alberta’s economy is built to last, anchored by three powerful pillars – diversifying trade, breaking down barriers and attracting investment. Together, they are driving future success for an economy that leads and outperforms.
“During challenging economic times, Alberta is strengthening its economy by opening new global markets, eliminating trade barriers, and securing investments that generate jobs and ensure sustained growth.”
Unlocking Global Trade
As the U.S. continues to introduce new barriers to trade, Alberta is focused on expanding its economic pathways elsewhere, such as in Europe, Asia and the Americas.
In 2024, Alberta’s total trade with non-U.S. countries totalled almost $36 billion, an increase of 10 per cent over 2023. Alberta’s government will continue investing in this growth for the future. Between 2023 and 2024, Central Asia, South and East Asia, South America and Europe all increased the amount of goods they are buying from Alberta. This proves the world relies on Alberta’s high-quality goods and products. Alberta’s top-tier export performance fuels economic growth, creates high-paying jobs and enhances Canada’s global competitiveness, benefiting all Canadians.
“Expanding our markets is critical to the future of oil and gas in Alberta and we are actively working towards this. The Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission is exploring selling our oil and gas throughout Asia and Europe. Countries like Japan and Korea view our natural gas, hydrogen and ammonia as key to their future economies and transitioning from thermal coal.”
Alberta also doubled the 2025-26 budget for the Alberta Export Expansion Program, funding small- and medium-sized businesses and non-profits to promote their products globally. In 2024-25, the program helped more than 450 Alberta companies and organizations join 28 government-led trade missions to countries like Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Japan, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Philippines and Germany. In 2024-25, Alberta’s government facilitated more than 800 business-to-business meetings on trade missions that connected Alberta companies to global partners, to make substantial international deals.
Leading Interprovincial Trade
Alberta remains Canada’s leader in interprovincial trade and continues to lead the way by cutting red tape and reducing regulatory burdens, making it easier for businesses and workers to thrive across provincial borders. Since 2019, Alberta has eliminated almost 80 per cent of its party-specific exceptions under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, unlocking smoother interprovincial trade and securing better opportunities for Albertans.
Alberta is tearing down trade barriers to boost both the province’s and Canada’s economies. In February 2025, Alberta joined counterparts across the country in endorsing bold new commitments to further reduce regulatory barriers, implement mutual recognition for goods and services and create new economic opportunities for businesses and consumers. Alberta’s government is bulldozing internal trade barriers – turning roadblocks into smooth highways for Alberta industry.
Attracting Job-Creating Investments
When investors set their sights on Alberta, it is a win-win for companies, workers and Alberta’s economy. For example, thanks to the Investment and Growth Fund (IGF), Alberta’s government has secured more than $820 million in capital, created 1,250 jobs and leveraged $25 in private investment for every $1 spent. The IGF is attracting global giants like Lufthansa Technik from Germany, which is bringing 330 new jobs and $120 million in investment, along with NewCold from the Netherlands, which is adding 250 jobs and a $222 million boost to Alberta’s economy.
“NewCold’s multi-million investment is a direct result of Alberta’s targeted approach to attracting global businesses through tools like the Investment and Growth Fund. With this support, we’re building one of the most advanced cold storage facilities in North America – right here in Alberta.”
Through strategic investment, Alberta is securing its future by diversifying export markets and expanding global partnerships, because when opportunity knocks, Alberta always answers.
Alberta’s plan goes beyond braving changing trade-winds – it is about driving economic growth with a strategy built to endure any storm. By diversifying its international trade partners, tearing down barriers to internal trade and bringing in substantial investments, Alberta’s government is forging ahead on a path to an economically unstoppable future.
Quick facts
Alberta’s exports to international markets in 2024 saw a 4.3 per cent increase year-over-year, with a total value of $182 billion.
Despite representing less than 12 per cent of Canada’s population, Alberta ranks second in exports nationwide, accounting for more than 25 per cent of the country’s total exports.
In 2024, Alberta exports, imports, and total trade with non-U.S. countries totalled $20.7 billion, $15.1 billion, and $35.8 billion, respectively.
Between 2023 and 2024, Alberta’s exports to Central Asia increased by 42.8 per cent, Southeast Asia increased by 41.4 per cent, South Asia increased by 39.9 per cent, East Asia increased by 15.9 per cent to $11.2 billion, Europe increased to $2.2 billion and South America increased by 6.1 per cent to $1.4 billion.
Alberta’s government has doubled the Alberta Export Expansion funding from $1 million to $2 million to support more businesses in their efforts to expand into global markets.
Recently, the IGF provided $2 million to Crust Craft, a high-capacity bakery company, to support its $51-million expansion in Alberta.
In this case, Alberta was competing with a U.S. jurisdiction for Crust Craft’s expansion.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led his Democratic colleagues in the Oregon delegation—Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)—in calling for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to immediately restore Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grants. These federal grants are critical to ensuring that Oregon’s communities—especially in frontier, rural, and coastal regions of the state—can withstand the increasing threat of natural disasters. But, on April 4th, FEMA decided to cancel all current and future awards under the BRIC program.
“Terminating the BRIC program, including the terminations of projects that are already underway, is not only wasteful and makes us less safe, but will make our communities bear a higher cost for repairs and recovery when disaster inevitably strikes. The Department should immediately restore this program,” the Oregon lawmakers demanded.
The Oregon delegation made it clear to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FEMA Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton the Trump Administration’s shortsighted cancellation comes with a disastrous economic impact, as every $1 spent on preparedness and resilience saves communities $13 in damages, cleanup costs, and economic impacts. The lawmakers also noted the BRIC program itself was signed into law in 2018 by President Trump as part of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act. At the time, this legislation had wide bipartisan support to enhance the resiliency of communities against natural disasters, including floods, tornadoes, and other severe weather events that are increasing in both frequency and severity.
“The abrupt termination of this program is not only counterproductive to the goals of disaster risk reduction, but also undermines the commitment made by Congress to mitigate the devastating impacts of climate chaos,” the lawmakers continued.
Since the first round of BRIC funding went out the door in 2020, over $5 billion in grants have funded hundreds of important projects that have been instrumental in reducing disaster damage and protecting vulnerable communities across states, localities, and Tribes. BRIC is so popular that the need for these funds continually surpasses currently authorized levels. In fact, FEMA has rejected nearly 2,000 applicants seeking an additional $13 billion in grants.
In Oregon, these funds are having an immense impact, particularly in rural communities. Disrupting projects designed to reduce hazard risk now—especially many of the projects already in progress—could do lasting damage.
For example, Mapleton in Lane County, with a population of about 530 people, was preparing to buy a water storage tank using a BRIC grant to protect against flooding and improve drinking water supply for their city and the surrounding area. And in Clatsop County, Columbia Memorial Hospital had already begun work under a $20 million award for upgrades to existing facilities and a hospital expansion to construct the North Coasts’ only vertical evacuation shelter. This would ensure that patients can continue to get care and over 1,900 people can seek refuge in the event of a disaster.
The lawmakers asserted that the abrupt cancellation of BRIC funding seems to be part of a broader and troubling trend of decisions made by the Trump Administration to undermine FEMA’s effectiveness and shift disaster preparedness responsibilities solely to state and local governments, without the proper federal support needed to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated response.
“This action risks leaving already underserved communities without the necessary tools to mitigate the long-term impacts of climate change, particularly as the Trump administration appears to prioritize state-level efforts without sufficient federal backup,” the lawmakers said. “To cancel funding for projects mid-way will cause catastrophic setbacks for these communities, and place lives and property art unnecessary risk from increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters.”
The lawmakers are pushing the federal government to honor its commitments to our communities. Together, they are urging FEMA to restore the BRIC program and funding for projects that are already in progress or have been fully approved.
“Given the broad support BRIC has garnered from Congress and local stakeholders, and the growing risks posed by our changing climate and natural disasters, it is essential for FEMA to continue to support these efforts,” the lawmakers closed.
Recent military actions by Israel are undermining Syria’s political transition and the chances of a new security pact between the two countries, a senior UN official told the Security Council on Thursday.
“Syria’s opportunity to stabilise after 14 years of conflict must be supported and protected, for Syrians and for Israelis,” said Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.
“This is the only way regional peace and security can be realized.”
Transition under threat
Mr. Khiari and the head of UN Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, briefed ambassadors on recent Israeli violations of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement with Syria.
The accord ended the Yom Kippur war and established an area of separation in the rocky plateau region known as the Golan, along the border between the two countries.
It also authorised the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) to supervise the agreement, and peacekeepers to monitor the buffer zone.
Mr. Khiari said that hundreds of reported Israeli airstrikes have taken place across Syria since the fall of the Assad regime on 8 December 2024, namely in the southwest, the Syrian coast, northeastern Syria, Damascus, Hama, and Homs.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also publicly confirmed that it has built multiple positions in the elevated area of separation on the Golan, while Israeli officials have spoken of the country’s intentions to stay in Syria “for the foreseeable future,” he added.
“Such facts on the ground are not easily reversed. They do threaten Syria’s fragile political transition,” he warned.
Multiple airstrikes reported
Most recently, Syria informed the council of reports of multiple Israeli airstrikes on 3 April, including in Damascus, the Hama Military Airport, and the T4 military airport in Homs. Simultaneous attacks in Daraa reportedly resulted in nine civilian casualties.
The Syrian interim authorities condemned the attacks, calling them a blatant violation of international law and Syrian sovereignty and an attempt to destabilize the country.
“Let me also recall earlier indications by the Damascus authorities, as had been published in numerous media outlets, of not presenting threats to its neighbours and seeking peace on their borders,” said Mr. Khiari.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Defence Minister was quoted describing airstrikes as “a warning for the future”, and that Israel would “not allow Syria to become a threat” to its security interests.
Respect Syria’s sovereignty
In light of these developments, Mr. Khiari pointed to the council’s presidential statement dated 14 March which reaffirmed strong commitment to Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity.
It also called on all States to respect these principles and to refrain from any action or interference that may further destabilize the country.
“This council’s commitment to Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity grows in importance by the day,” he said.
He further recalled that UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen addressed Israeli military escalation in a statement on 3 April, saying such actions undermine efforts to build a new Syria.
“Syria is at a crossroads and deserves a chance to continue to work towards an inclusive political transition, where the Syrian people can overcome the conflict, revive their economy, realize their legitimate aspirations, and contribute to regional stability,” Mr. Khiari said.
“Furthermore, short-term and tactical security actions and gains should not derail prospects for peace agreement between the two neighbours and long-term stability at their internationally recognized border.”
Volatile security situation
Mr. Lacroix briefed the council on developments in the UNDOF area of operations, where the situation remains volatile and characterized by violations of the 1974 Agreement.
The IDF currently occupies 12 positions that they established on the Bravo side, located east of the area of separation. Ten are in the zone and the others are in the vicinity.
“They also continue to construct counter-mobility obstacles along the ceasefire line, and have flown, on several occasions, aircraft across the ceasefire line and helicopters into the area of separation,” he said.
The Israeli forces also continue to impose some restrictions of movement on UNDOF and the Observer Group Golan, comprised of military observers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO). Local residents have also had their movements curtailed, prompting protests.
Explosions and engagement
“In recent weeks, UNDOF personnel have noted multiple explosions on the Bravo side, which they deem to be significant kinetic activity linked to the efforts of the IDF to, and I quote, ‘demilitarize the south of Syria,’” said Mr. Lacroix
In the meantime, UNDOF continues to liaise with both parties and engage on specific issues impacting its operations as well as complaints conveyed by residents in the separation zone.
“In their engagement with the UNDOF leadership, senior IDF officials have restated that their presence in the area of separation was necessary to secure it from what they describe as ‘terrorist elements’ and informed that Israel had no territorial ambitions in Syria,” he said.
“They have reiterated Israel’s expectation of the demilitarization of the area southwest of Damascus,” he added.
He reported that on the Bravo side, UNDOF is reinforcing its coordination mechanism through new liaison arrangements with Syrian authorities, which includes enhancing information sharing and regular consultative meetings.
Uphold 1974 Agreement
“It remains critical that all parties uphold their obligations under the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, including by ending all unauthorized presence in the areas of separation and limitation, as well as refraining from any action that would undermine the ceasefire and stability on the Syrian Golan,” he said.
“There should be no military forces or activities in the area of separation, other than those of UNDOF. All actions that are inconsistent with the agreement are unacceptable.”
He said the Security Council’s continued support for the Force is “needed now more than ever in is difficult time.”
NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man was sentenced yesterday to three years and 10 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, William Gus Hart, 45, was convicted in 2016 for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Following his release from prison, Deputy U.S. Marshals attempted to arrest Hart on June 3, 2024, for violating the terms of his supervised release. As the Deputy Marshals approached Hart in the parking lot of a Chesapeake hotel, Hart fled and dropped a backpack and a motorcycle helmet. Hart ran to a grassy area where he laid down on the ground. A Deputy U.S. Marshal located a firearm in Hart’s backpack, which also contained eight grams of methamphetamine and approximately $2,000 in cash.
As a previously convicted felon, Hart cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Christopher Heck, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Shannon Saylor, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell prosecuted the case.
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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-114.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Florida 20th district))
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) and Wesley Bell (D-MO) introduced the Caribbean Anti-Smuggling of Trafficked Arms (CAST) Act , legislation that would help curb illicit arms trafficking from the United States to the Caribbean by requiring the Department of Defense (DOD) to report on expanding the mandate of Joint Interagency Taskforce South (JIATF-South) to include combatting illicit firearms trafficking.
“Weapons trafficking by way of the United States is a major contributor to crime in the Caribbean and Haiti’s growing gang crisis, driving the ongoing instability that plagues the country,” said Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL). “All potential options must be on the table to effectively curtail the flow of arms. Our nation’s national security depends on it.”
“As a former prosecutor, I’ve seen how illegal guns can devastate neighborhoods and fuel violence,” said Rep. Wesley Bell (D-MO). “Too many of those weapons are being trafficked out of the U.S. and into the hands of gangs in the Caribbean. This bill strengthens our ability to stop that flow at the source—so fewer families, whether in St. Louis or Port-au-Prince, have to live in fear.”
JIATF-South’s mandate is to conduct detection and monitoring (D&M) operations to curtail drug trafficking and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) in the Caribbean region. The CAST Act will require the Department of Defense to evaluate the potential expansion of JIATF-South’s mission to include combating the illegal trafficking of firearms from the United States to the Caribbean.
Illicit arms trafficking from the United States to the Caribbean is a regional and national security threat. While Caribbean countries do not manufacture firearms or ammunition, nor do they import either on a large scale, they account for half of the world’s top ten highest national murder rates.
Last Congress, Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick led the release of a new reportfrom the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) that examines the role of U.S. firearms in Caribbean arms trafficking. The report found that nearly three-quarters of firearms recovered from the Caribbean and traced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) could be sourced back to the United States, with many originating from U.S. retail sales.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Maha Rafi Atal, Adam Smith Senior Lecturer in Political Economy, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow
The US has decided – again – to upend the global trading system. With the latest raft of tariffs just beginning to kick in, and after a week in which markets worldwide fell precipitously, the Trump administration announced that it would be suspending high tariffs on nearly 60 countries for 90 days.
The announcement is only a partial reprieve. High tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, as well as on global imports of steel, aluminium and automotives, remain, as does a 10% baseline tariff on all imports. US tariffs remain the highest they have been since the Great Depression, at levels unprecedented since the modern trade system was created after the second world war.
Before the pause, the UK was already in line for the 10% rate – which some commentators described as a Brexit benefit when compared to the EU’s prospective 20%.
While markets soared on the news of the pause, the damage is was already done. The subsequent rally is recouping some, but not all, losses incurred due to the tariffs already.
Businesses that had preparedfor tariffs by bulk-buying imported components ahead of time will have made cuts elsewhere to pay for it. They will not easily be able to reverse course.
The implications for the UK of the latest developments are mixed. All the tariffs imposed on direct UK exports to the US (chiefly steel, automotives and aircrafts, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment) remain in place.
While the US represents the second-largest market for UK goods, the majority of UK exports are in services (like banking and insurance), which the tariffs do not target. If tariffs were to hit direct UK-US goods trade only, the UK would likely be able to weather the shock.
Unfortunately, that’s not how trade works in the 21st century. Instead, two-thirds of trade takes place in what are known as “global value chains”. These are complex networks through which companies move the component parts of products between their own facilities around the world and those of their subcontractors.
Many UK businesses supply components that are incorporated by companies overseas into finished goods ultimately destined for the US. When the US imposes tariffs on those goods, UK manufacturers suffer too – even if direct UK exports to the US remain unchanged.
Global value chains will also reorient in response to trade barriers, as already took place in Asia during Trump’s first term. If businesses reroute their supply chains to avoid the tariff markets, the UK (which is not imposing retaliatory tariffs) could become a “sacrifice zone” (a place where cheaply made, poor-quality or environmentally harmful items are dumped or disposed of, “sacrificing” the wellbeing of local people) for excess supply, undercutting domestic producers.
Yet choosing not to retaliate is key to the UK’s diplomatic strategy. It hopes to stay close to the US in the hope of preferential treatment.
The UK’s pursuit of a US trade deal has been politically sensitive since the previous Trump administration. JessicaGirvan/Shutterstock
So far, that strategy is yet to bear fruit. The UK hopes to avoid the tariffs through a US trade deal, an objective that the countries have pursued since the UK left the European Union.
The US has repeatedly sought access to the UK agrifood market, a demand that has always been refused due to political opposition to importing American beef and chicken.
The sticky Brexit issue
Brexit adds to this complexity, as the Windsor framework requires food products sold in Northern Ireland to conform to European Union standards. The more standards in the rest of the UK diverge from those of the EU (as they would have to do to secure a US trade deal), the more onerous the checks in the Irish Sea would become.
Keir Starmer’s government has also sought to renegotiate parts of the agreement with the EU, seeking tighter economic ties that will require closer regulatory alignment. Pursuing deregulation to meet US trade demands, however, makes that unlikely.
The tariffs compound this dilemma. If the higher rates return after 90 days, Northern Irish exports to the US will face a lower rate than those from the Republic of Ireland. But US imports to Northern Ireland will be hit with EU tariffs while imports to the rest of the UK will remain tariff-free.
That will create some opportunities. Businesses might choose to operate in Northern Ireland to access a lower tariff rate on their US exports while also producing goods for the EU market.
But it also creates risks. With three different tariff regimes in Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, goods flowing across both the Irish Sea and the Irish land border could require additional checks. This would risk the very thing the Windsor Framework was meant to avoid.
Given these risks, a 90-day reprieve is a window of opportunity. But with US government policy that can change on a dime (or a post), the UK risks being caught between the rival powers of the US and EU – and trampled in the crossfire.
Maha Rafi Atal is a volunteer organizer with the US Democratic Party.
You have to marvel at Donald Trump’s prescience. After his announcement of America’s new tariffs regime on April 2, “liberation day”, the stock markets plummeted, causing faint hearts around the world to quail. Nerves fluttered particularly hard when bond yields started to rise rapidly this week, suggesting a growing lack of confidence in US 30-year debt – traditionally the gold standard for security.
“I don’t want anything to go down,” Trump told a reporter at the weekend. “But sometimes, you have to take medicine to fix something.”
The US president remained bullish on Wednesday morning, taking to his TruthSocial social media platform at 9.37am EDT to proclaim his confidence in US stocks.
Sound advice, as it turned out (time shown is BST). TruthSocial
And so it proved. Hours later, Trump announced to his followers that he had decided to pause the tariff hikes on all but China while keeping the 10% baseline tariff on all imports. The markets bounced back with alacrity, closing up 9.5% by the end of trading. (Incidentally, Trump Media and Technology Group, the parent company of TruthSocial, closed up 22.67%.)
It just goes to show, faith may or may not be able to move mountains, but Donald Trump can certainly move markets.
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Now it’s all eyes on China to see how the world’s second-largest economy will react to a yet-higher tariff on its exports to the US of 145%.
Announcing to the world he was targeting China, the US president wrote that he was basing his decision on the “lack of respect that China has shown to the World’s Markets”, and that “hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the U.S.A., and other Countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable”.
But based on Beijing’s initial reaction, it’s unlikely that Xi Jinping will be joining all the other world leaders who Trump says queued up over the past couple of days to “kiss his ass”. The messages from China’s leadership are that two can play at that game, and that Trump’s gambit “will end in failure”.
China had imposed an immediate 84% tariff on all US exports, while reassuring the White House that the “the door to dialogue is open”.
China expert Tom Harper of the University of East London believes Xi is now a different, more confident Chinese president than the one who granted some small concessions to Trump when he first imposed tariffs on China in 2017. Harper sees the likelihood of a “tumultuous period ahead for relations between China and the US” – and warns that the Chinese people may be more resilient to the economic shock a trade war brings than the US public.
Looking back at what China considers a period of humiliation at the hands of western powers (notably Great Britain) in the 19th century, Harper says there’s a strong sense of “never again” in the Chinese psyche, which may well be triggered by this latest US aggression.
But why roll back on the tariffs on the rest of the world? Australian economists James Giesecke and Robert Waschik believe the answer is simple: the harm that would have been done to the US economy. Their modelling suggests that “the US would have faced steep and immediate losses in employment, investment, growth and, most importantly, real consumption, the best measure of household living standards”.
Giesecke and Waschik conclude the damage would have been serious and long term, increasing US unemployment by two-thirds and reducing US long-term GDP, resulting in a “permanent reduction in US global economic power”.
The aim of the Trump administration in introducing tariffs is to stimulate a return of manufacturing to the US – which is why they applied them to goods only while ignoring services. James Scott of King’s College London believes a lot of countries fetishise manufacturing as a sort of deeply ingrained throwback to when “pre-historic experiences of finding food, fuel and shelter dominated all other activities”.
But most western economies have developed beyond heavy goods manufacturing, for the simple reason that countries with larger and lower-paid workforces are able to produce and ship goods at a fraction of the cost. Tik-Tok user Ben Lau posted this disturbingly funny vision of the return of large-scale manufacturing to the US.
Scott believes it’s highly unlikely to come to this – and in any case, that it’s pointless to blame globalisation for the loss of US manufacturing jobs when rising productivity in other countries and automation have had much more impact.
The lesson from history, writes Scott, is that with the retreat of colonialism came the industrialisation of the countries that had been major markets for manufactured goods produced by the western powers. In short, he concludes: “President Trump is mistaken if he really believes that tariffs will bring a new golden age of manufacturing. The world has changed.”
Iran has had a rough 18 months or so. Its economy is on the floor thanks to western sanctions, the “real” currency rate (the rate you get on the street) is now close to 1 million rials to the US dollar, and large sections of the population are very unhappy with their leadership.
So, when Iran’s foreign minister arrives in Oman for talks with the US at the weekend, there’s plenty of incentive to strike some kind of deal – even without the US president’s warning that Iran will be in “great danger” if the negotiations fail to deliver an agreement for Tehran to scrap its nuclear programme.
Ali Bilgic, a Middle East specialist at Loughborough University, writes that while both sides have their reasons for wanting progress at the talks, things are likely to be hampered by a lack of trust on both sides. And it’s no coincidence that while Trump announced the talks after a meeting with Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Iranian deputy foreign minister travelled to Moscow this week, where he met his counterparts from China and Russia. With hardliners currently in the ascendancy in Tehran and the Trump-Netanyahu axis very much in evidence in Washington, a lot could go wrong.
America’s other allies, Nato, gathered in Brussels at the end of last week for a foreign ministers meeting ahead of June’s summit at The Hague. As Amelia Hadfield – a defence and security policy expert at the University of Surrey – reports, there’s a growing air of urgency among the allies that they need to find a way to avoid a unilateral withdrawal of the US from the alliance, and that they’ll need at least some answers before meeting at The Hague.
Hadfield walks us through the gradual but growing distance between Washington and the rest of the alliance, which has come to a head under Trump but has been some years in the making.
Since the incoming Trump administration announced it was freezing most USAID programmes as of January 20 for at least 90 days, vital lifelines keeping many thousands, if not millions, of desperate people in the poorest countries around the world have been cut off.
One such country is Sudan, where a bitter and bloody civil war has raged for two years, leading to the situation being described by the United Nations as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
Naomi Ruth Pendle, an expert in humanitarian development at the University of Bath, works closely with aid workers in South Kordofan, a region on the border with South Sudan which is collapsing under the weight of refugees from the civil war – and which faces a bitter famine unless the aid freeze is lifted immediately.
Her moving account of the plight of the Sudanese people is made more vivid by accounts provided by people working on the ground in South Kordofan, where the aid freeze couldn’t have come at a worse time. January, when the freeze was announced, is usually the best time to increase the flow of humanitarian aid in the region – as the supplies from last year’s harvest begin to dwindle, and just before the rains make roads impassable.
Pendle writes: “I’m now getting reports from South Kordofan of households not lighting a fire for up to four days at a time, which means the family is not eating. And, as ever, it is the children and the elderly who are particularly vulnerable.”
I spent a happy year living in Khartoum in the mid-1980s teaching English at the university there. During that time, I was able to travel widely around Sudan and developed an enduring affection for the people and respect for their resilience and ingenuity in the face of often terrible hardships.
So I found Justin Willis’s account of the decades of conflict that have riven Sudan particularly compelling. Willis, a professor of history at Durham University, looks back through the country’s history – from its foundation through conquest in the 19th century by the Egyptian branch of the Ottoman empire, via British control, to independence. And after independence, pretty much non-stop wars.
Willis believes that Sudan’s main problem is that its army commanders have always believed they are the natural rulers of the country. The current conflict is between two rival army commanders and their followers.
The official army, the Sudanese Armed Forces, recaptured Khartoum at the end of March. There have been reports of savage violence against civilians in the fortnight since. Meanwhile, the rival Rapid Support Forces continue to murder with seeming impunity in Darfur in western Sudan – where I once spent an unforgettable week trekking in the extinct volcano, Jebel Marra.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California
April 10, 2025
Washington, D.C. – Today, Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and Pablo José Hernández (D-PR) urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to accelerate solar installations under Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund’s (PR-ERF) programs, warning that continued delays could have severe consequences for vulnerable communities across the island.
“Every hurricane season we fail to act, we risk lives,” the lawmakers wrote. “The funding has been obligated, the technology exists, and the urgent need for these programs is clear. We call on the Department to move swiftly to fulfill the intent of Congress and protect the people of Puerto Rico.”
Congress established the PR-ERF with $1 billion through the FY2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, thanks to the leadership of the late Representative Raúl M. Grijalva. Lawmakers were explicit that the funding support rooftop solar and battery storage systems for last-mile communities and individuals with electricity-dependent disabilities and medical conditions.
“This request was made in response to both the proven reliability of rooftop solar and battery systems, which consistently preserved power during major storms, and to direct appeals from residents across Puerto Rico urging Congress to lower the cost barriers for acquiring these systems,” the Members wrote. “These stakeholders specifically emphasized the need for rooftop solar systems to mitigate the disproportionate health impacts and mortality for elderly residents and residents with disabilities, as was seen during Hurricane María in 2017 and Hurricane Fiona in 2022.”
In the letter, the lawmakers applauded the launch of the DOE’s Solar Access Program and call on the Department to accelerate installations without delay. They also urged immediate action on the Resilient Communities Program, which remains stalled, noting that the Department has not yet finalized agreements to release $365 million intended to enhance energy security in multi-family housing properties and community healthcare facilities.
“With hurricane season quickly approaching, any further delay risks severe consequences,” continued the lawmakers. “In Puerto Rico, where power outages are frequent and backup power is often out of reach for many, the failure to deploy decentralized energy systems puts lives at risk.”
The letter underscores that rooftop solar with battery storage is the most practical and proven way to improve energy security in Puerto Rico. Tens of thousands of systems already in use produce 1.1 gigawatts of power and help prevent up to 56 hours of outages each year by supplying electricity directly to homes. The PR-ERF will expand this network and strengthen the island’s ability to avoid blackouts during peak demand.
In the letter, the Members request a briefing from DOE on the PR-ERF’s progress, including a timeline for finalizing agreements and launching installations.
Gov. Kelly Armstrong today met with President Donald Trump at the White House, thanking him for the executive orders he signed Tuesday to lift burdensome Biden-era federal restrictions on coal-fired power plants and strengthen the reliability and security of the U.S. electric grid, and urging continued support for policies that support U.S. energy dominance and enhanced oil recovery.
“North Dakota stands ready to partner with the Trump administration to roll back regulations and reset the national narrative on dispatchable energy from coal and natural gas to ensure that all Americans have access to reliable, affordable electricity,” Armstrong said. “We appreciate President Trump’s executive orders supporting baseload electricity and a stronger, more stable electric grid to serve our citizens, grow our economy and make America energy dominant.”
Armstrong also met with members of the state’s congressional delegation before joining Trump and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum in congratulating and welcoming to the White House the North Dakota State University Bison football team, which won the national championship in January in the Football Championship Subdivision of NCAA Division I college football – the university’s 10th FCS national title in 14 seasons.
Local governments and First Nations throughout the province will receive funding to improve emergency support services (ESS) for people evacuated from their homes during emergencies in British Columbia.
“Emergency support services can be a lifeline for people who have to leave their homes during disasters,” said Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “By investing in training and equipment, we help to ensure people receive the support they need quickly and efficiently.”
The Province is providing more than $5 million through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF), through the ESS equipment and training stream, for 113 projects. The funding will help communities expand their capacity to provide emergency support services, through volunteer recruitment and retention efforts, volunteer training and the purchase of ESS equipment.
“The people who provide Emergency Support Services are often the first source of respite and help for those impacted most by emergencies,” said Trish Mandewo, president, Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM). “This funding will help make those services more robust and resilient so help is there when British Columbians need it. UBCM is pleased to administer this program in partnership with the Province.”
Local community projects include:
boosting training and response capacity in the Strathcona Regional District, through emergency exercises and ESS volunteer training;
enhancing Quatsino First Nation’s emergency-support capacity through volunteer training, digital registration tools, portable generators and comfort kits, as well as volunteer engagement activities to strengthen and sustain local response teams;
strengthening emergency response in Fort St. James and Nak’azdli Whut’en by developing a new ESS program for Nak’azdli and building capacity within Fort St. James’s existing program, with a focus on co-ordinated training and mutual support during emergencies;
enhancing Pouce Coupe’s emergency preparedness with a fully equipped, self-sufficient mobile ESS trailer to support more effective on-site emergency response with power, communication tools and essential supplies; and
improving group lodging supplies, office equipment and registration systems for Kwikwetlem First Nation to enhance emergency shelter capacity and support staff and volunteers in the southwestern B.C.
The CEPF is a suite of funding programs designed to help local governments and First Nations better prepare for disasters and reduce risks from natural hazards in a changing climate. These programs include public notification and evacuation-route planning, emergency operations centre equipment and training, volunteer and composite fire department equipment and training, and Indigenous cultural safety and humility training. Composite fire departments are those that have a mix of paid staff and volunteers.
Since its establishment in 2017, the Province has committed $369 million into CEPF. To date, approximately $315 million has been provided for approximately 2,400 projects across all CEPF streams. This fund is administered through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.
Quotes:
Danielle Veach, mayor, Village of Pouce Coupe –
“This funding for our mobile emergency response trailer will significantly enhance Pouce Coupe’s emergency preparedness and regional response capacity, and the fully equipped unit will strengthen on-site emergency services with power, communication tools and vital supplies. Beyond local needs, it will support regional emergency training and collaboration between local governments and Indigenous partners. This investment is a critical step toward a more connected, resilient and inclusive emergency response network across northeastern B.C.”
Chief Tom Nelson, Quatsino First Nation –
“This funding is helping Quatsino First Nation strengthen emergency preparedness and local response capacity. Investments in equipment such as digital registration tools, portable generators and comfort kits, along with volunteer training and mock disaster exercises, are helping us build a strong, community-led ESS program. These resources ensure we can respond quickly and confidently when emergencies arise, while also engaging and supporting our members to lead emergency response efforts on the ground.”
Chief Ron Giesbrecht, Kwikwetlem First Nation –
“This funding will significantly enhance our capacity for emergency response. The allocation of these resources will enable us to acquire essential group lodging supplies, office equipment, and registration systems. These enhancements will support timely and effective assistance during emergencies, ensuring first responders are well-prepared to meet community needs during an evacuation. This funding represents a vital step toward strengthening local resilience and improving the overall effectiveness of regional emergency response efforts.”
Ryan McVey, fire chief/protective services director, District of Fort St. James –
“This funding for equipment, training and recruitment will help the Nak’azdli Whut’en–Fort St. James joint ESS team strengthen the region’s ability to respond to emergencies. By investing in co-ordinated training and mutual support, this project continues to ensure our joint effort can assist not only those living in our community, but anyone in our northern region who needs essential services during an emergency.”
Mark Baker, chair,Strathcona Regional District Board –
“The support and compassionate care provided to displaced individuals depends greatly on the commitment of volunteers who selflessly dedicate their time to SRD’s emergency support services program. This funding will enhance both recognition and training for emergency support teams across eight communities, strengthening the heart of the region’s emergency response.”
Quick Facts:
Since 2017, the Province has provided more than $18 million to support approximately 598 projects through the ESS Equipment and Training stream.
This funding program covers 100% of eligible costs, as much as $40,000 per eligible applicant.
CEPF projects support the implementation of the Emergency and Disaster Management Act by enhancing community response and recovery efforts.
Learn More:
For a backgrounder with details about CEPF recipients under the ESS Training and Equipment stream, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/BKGRND_CEPF_Emergency_Support_Services_APRIL2025.pdf
For more information about Emergency Support Services, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-management/local-emergency-programs/ess
For more information about the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, visit: https://www.ubcm.ca/funding-programs/local-government-program-services/community-emergency-preparedness-fund
Defendant allegedly tossed an explosive into victims’ car then left a voicemail message using racial slurs
Seattle – A 54-year-old Everett, Washington man will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle today at 2:00, after being charged federally in connection with a pipe bomb explosion that destroyed a neighbor’s car, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Steven Goldstine was originally charged in Snohomish County for the suspected hate crime. He is now charged in federal court by criminal complaint with unlawful possession of a destructive device, unlawful possession of ammunition, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to records filed in the case, on December 31, 2024, Everett Police responded to reports of an explosion in a car parked at an apartment complex. The victims told police they suspected Goldstine due to prior conflicts they had had with him. The day after the explosion they received a voice message using racial slurs and referencing the explosion in the vehicle. Further analysis of the records led investigators to believe it was Goldstine.
Using video footage from the apartment complex and other cameras in the area investigators determined the bomber’s clothing and direction of travel. When they executed a search warrant at Goldstine’s home law enforcement found a jacket and shoes that appeared to match those seen in the video. Law enforcement also seized more than 700 rounds of ammunition. Goldstine is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to prior felony convictions for burglary, arson and possession of stolen property.
In reviewing Goldstine’s history, law enforcement determined that on September 17, 2020, law enforcement searched Goldstine’s residence following a report that while out in his car he had pointed a gun at protestors. The action was captured on video. In the search of Goldstine’s home in 2020, the firearm was seized by law enforcement. The federal complaint filed this week charges Goldstine with that illegal firearms possession.
Unlawful possession of a destructive device and unlawful possession of a firearm, as charged in this case, are both punishable by up to ten years in prison. Unlawful possession of ammunition is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The charges contained in the criminal complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Everett Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Manca.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Grace Meng (6th District of New York)
QUEENS, NY – Today, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) and other elected officials from Queens issued the following joint statement on the Trump Administration’s decision to revoke federal money to address flooding in Queens, in particular cuts to the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. The elected officials include Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, State Senators John Liu and Jessica Ramos; Assembly Members Catalina Cruz, Larinda Hooks, Jessica González-Rojas and Nily Rozic; and Council Members Francisco Moya and Sandra Ung.
“The Administration’s decision to slash more than $300 million in federal funding for infrastructure projects across New York State is unacceptable and it will have devastating impacts in Queens. This includes vital funding to combat flooding, such as cutting $46 million through the Kissena Corridor Cloudburst Hub and $47 million for the Corona East Cloudburst Hub. We all remember how Hurricane Ida wreaked havoc on our borough. Lives were lost, and homes and businesses sustained extensive damage. We fought hard for these needed funds and without the money, more lives and property will be put at risk. We should be better prepared against the threat of future flooding and mitigate the effects of severe storms and heavy rainfall which we continue to experience year after year. But slashing this funding will leave us less prepared and susceptible to more devastation. We urge the administration to immediately abandon this reckless decision.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Grace Meng (6th District of New York)
Congresswoman’s constituent, Luke Graziani, has been rehired after he was her guest at the President’s address to Congress last month to stand against mass terminations of federal employees; Graziani was among these tens of thousands of laid off workers
QUEENS, NY – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced today that Luke Graziani, the veteran from Woodside, Queens who was unjustly fired from his job at a New York City veterans hospital, has been reinstated to his position, and is back at work at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in the Bronx.
Graziani, 45, was rehired after Meng brought him as herguestto President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress last month (on March 4) to stand against the ongoing mass firings of federal employees and veterans.Hewas among these tens of thousands of federal workers that the new administration has unfairly terminated across numerous federal agencies over the past several weeks.
Graziani is a 20-year U.S. Army veteran who is a public affairs officer at the hospital. He was abruptly laid off in February and returned to work nearly two weeks ago. Meng had intervened with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs on his behalf urging the agency to reinstate him, and he was rehired after a federal judge last month ordered the Department, and other federal agencies, to reinstate probationary workers who were terminated.
Prior to working at the medical center, Graziani served two tours in Iraq and two tours in Afghanistan.
“I’m glad the Administration has been forced to walk back some of its indiscriminate firings, but people like Luke should have never been terminated,” said Congresswoman Meng. “I am pleased that his attending the President’s speech as my guest sent a powerful message that these mass layoffs of federal workers and veterans is unacceptable. We have not forgotten about the many employees who continue to be impacted, and I renew my call for them to be brought back to the federal workforce.”
“After the trauma of being terminated through a thoughtless and robotic email, returning to my role at the VA feels like justice has been restored,” said Graziani. “I’m thankful to Congresswoman Meng for giving me space to stand beside her in bringing national attention to these indiscriminate firings. While I’m back doing the work I love—supporting fellow veterans—I remain concerned for dedicated public servants still fighting to regain their positions and for the looming threat of future force reductions. This experience has, if nothing else, reinforced my belief in the importance of standing up for what’s right.”
Graziani is the father of four children and his Woodside home is located in Meng’s congressional district.
In Congress, Meng has worked to assist veterans by sponsoring and supporting legislation, securing funding and spearheading local initiatives.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02), Ranking Member Diana DeGette (CO-01), and five more members of the Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee marched to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today to demand a meeting with Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. After waiting in the lobby for almost half an hour, Secretary Kennedy nor his office responded to schedule a meeting to explain recent layoffs and restructuring of HHS.
“RFK Jr. is a coward. He followed orders from Elon Musk to fire 10,000 HHS employees, eliminated half of the HHS regional offices – including the one in Chicago that serves the Midwest – and now refuses to answer questions,” said Rep. Kelly. “Americans’ health should not be in the hands of RFK Jr., who refutes basic scientific truths. These DOGE-led layoffs are cruel, politically motivated, and will irreversibly damage public health.”
On March 27, Secretary Kennedy announced the termination of 10,000 employees, bringing the total number of layoffs to 20,000 at HHS. He has refused to brief the House health subcommittee and Senate committee.
Five out of 10 HHS regional offices in Boston, New York City, San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago were closed, notably affecting liberal regions of the country. These offices served a total of 22 states and 166 million Americans.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02), co-chair of the House Democratic Steering & Policy Committee, held a hearing on the Republicans’ damaging scheme to cut veterans’ benefits. Rep. Kelly heard directly from three veterans, including one who was recently fired by President Donald Trump from a senior post at Veterans Affairs (VA).
Rep. Kelly asked witness Sharda Fornnarrino, who is a nurse at the VA, what she would tell President Trump and Elon Musk regarding their service cuts.
“I would tell them, ‘We’re not going to give up on the VA,’” said Fornnarrino. “We’ll continue to organize and fight back against their attacks. Our nurses are really proud to work at the VA.”
Rep. Kelly adjourned the hearing with the following full transcript:
“Donald Trump’s extreme policies aren’t just tanking our economy and making life harder on the American people. Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and extremists appointed in their Administration are specifically targeting our nation’s veterans. They are denying veterans the care they deserve by defunding VA hospitals, closing offices, and taking a chainsaw to programs like Social Security. They are breaking the promise of the PACT Act. Freezing funding. Stopping hiring.
“They have fired thousands of veteran workers from important jobs in our government—jobs that make sure Americans get their benefits on time, that air travel remains safe, and so much more.
“With more than 16 million veterans in America, you would think—or at the very least hope—that Donald Trump and Elon Musk would have their best interests at heart.
“But they don’t. Instead of standing up for those 16 million veterans, Trump and Musk are standing up for the handful of billionaire donors that are bankrolling the Republican Party.
“And just as they do that, they are triggering a reckless economic disaster right before our eyes. Democrats stand with our veterans and the American people. We believe in protecting hard-earned benefits—not prioritizing a billionaire’s bottom line.
“We know that we owe a debt to each and every single man and woman that has served our nation in uniform. Donald Trump might not care about repaying those debts, but Democrats absolutely do care. That is our job. George, James, Sharda, Will—know this: We will not stop fighting for you.”
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Diego Ricardo Murillo-Almanza (25), a Mexican national, has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. Murillo-Almanza faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on February 24, 2025, a deputy from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office observed Murillo-Almanza’s vehicle committing multiple traffic violations, including swerving in and out of the lane of travel. Murillo-Almanza was in the driver’s seat and could not produce a valid driver license. When Murillo-Almanza exited the vehicle, he had flakes of what appeared to be marijuana on his person. Three other undocumented individuals were also in the vehicle. A deputy searched the vehicle and recovered a marijuana cigarette, a small container of marijuana, and a Taurus 9mm pistol loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition near the driver’s seat. Murillo-Almanza admitted to law enforcement that he was in the country illegally and that the pistol was his. He agreed to forfeit the pistol and associated ammunition seized from him on the date of incident.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lasry.
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).
Source: US International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
The Boilermakers union welcomed 145 new members in March after workers in the machine shop micro-unit at BWXT, Lynchburg, Virginia, voted in favor of unionizing. According to Northeast Area organizer John Bland, workers contacted Local 45 Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer Kevin Battle in late December seeking information and help organizing.
He said workers were fed up with working conditions and constantly changing rules. The Boilermakers and other unions had attempted at least three prior organizing efforts at BWXT since 2008, so some of the machinists had heard the message about how unionizing could provide a voice for them on the job. The time was right to organize.
“As soon as Kevin got the call, everyone got moving on it,” Bland said. M.O.R.E. Work Investment funds helped support the Boilermakers’ organizing efforts.
Workers inside the unit were especially key in communicating and ultimately making the campaign a success. Because BWXT is a secured nuclear operation, the massive facility is not accessible to visitors, such as union organizers. For security purposes, even inside the facility some units, areas and workers are off-limits to one another.
“The workers took charge early on,” agreed IR Tim Tolley, who was part of the IBB organizing team. “These guys were shot out of a cannon and came to us organized and ready to go forward. You could tell they were fed up. It was a perfect storm for organizing.”
He echoed that the biggest catalyst for the workers to unionize was the “constantly moving goal post” as the company continuously changes rules and conditions. While wages usually are an issue, at BWXT it was more about the way workers were being treated and disrespected at work.
“This time organizing worked because we had more people that were tired of being bullied. They wanted true change,” said Chris Davis, who’s been a BWXT machinist for 19 years. “I’m most looking forward to getting a contract and a set of rules.”
Tolley said the machinists are set to elect their bargaining committee in early April so they can get to work on their first contract.
“The things they’re asking for are attainable,” he said. “We told them we couldn’t promise anything but a seat at the table, and that’s exactly what they’re looking for. Now, they’re looking forward to negotiating their first contract.”
Unfortunately, a vote in March at Siemens Mobility in Sacramento, California, was a no-go to unionize—at least for now. For more than a year, Boilermakers had been working with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers as “Siemens Workers United” to organize more than 1,600 workers who manufacture light rail vehicles for a variety of transit agencies. Siemens is a global company headquartered in Germany. While the company is generally union-friendly in Germany, many of Siemens’ North American operations have resisted unionization.
Workers interested in unionizing in Sacramento rallied around issues such as inadequate health and welfare benefits, low pay, pay disparity, gender inequality, safety and poor working conditions, such as extreme heat.
Lawrence Garcia, a four-year employee who works in the coach weld shop, said the wages are too low, especially considering cost of living in the area.
“I know guys who work 12-hour days or 10-hour days just to keep buying rent. I even know guys who work two jobs, just to keep from going on the streets,” he said. “The pay is not worth it.” Until recently, welders at Siemens were paid less than the $20/hour McDonald’s worker wage dictated by California.
Alan Scovill, a weld inspector who’s worked for Siemens for a decade, told The Sacramento Bee that he hadn’t been to a doctor in three years. He pays $500 month from his paycheck for his family’s health insurance coverage, and he can’t afford the medical co-pays.
While reasons to unionize were plentiful, the campaign faced some unique challenges. In addition to the usual union-busting tactics from the company, organizers also had a daunting task to reach workers on a massive campus – 60 acres, 11 buildings and many different departments – plus, communicating to workers in six languages and with multiple cultural nuances.
Organizers from the Boilermakers and IBEW worked daily, building allies, dispelling myths, answering questions, knocking on doors and deploying myriad tactics to help workers understand what unions are and how unionizing gives workers a voice and a seat at table through collective bargaining.
The M.O.R.E. Work Investment Fund provided organizing support and communications resources, including billboards, signage, fliers, digital ads and social media presence, and materials were translated into multiple languages. The unions also gained support from global unions IG Metall and IndustriALL, the California Federation of Labor Unions, State Building and Construction Trades Council of California and prominent local and state congress members. At the end of the day, it wasn’t enough to overcome Siemens Sacramento’s anti-union tactics and secure the 50% “yes” vote. This time.
The unions must wait a full 12 months before petitioning for another union vote. That’s time to continue building positive momentum and for those who voted “no” this time to see if Siemens will live up to the promises they made in fighting against the unions.
“If Siemens chooses now to make positive changes for workers, it’s because of the courage of workers standing together,” said organizer Pablo Barrera.
“Although we didn’t win the vote, we are amazed by the courage of the hundreds of workers who stood together for a better future for their colleagues and their families,” said IVP-Western States J. Tom Baca. “This is not the end. It’s just the beginning, and the fight goes on.”
Read a December 2024 Boilermaker Reporter article about earlier Siemens organizing work
Fort Myers, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Andre Dominique Barnes (35, Lehigh Acres) today pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Barnes faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on September 20, 2024, Barnes was stopped in Lee County by the Florida Highway Patrol for speeding. Barnes was identified by his Oklahoma identification card and had a suspended driver license. During a search of his vehicle, troopers located a loaded pistol. Court records show that Barnes was previously convicted of multiple felony offenses in Oklahoma. DNA swabs taken from the pistol and from Barnes linked him to the firearm. As a previously convicted felon, Barnes is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.
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).
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 120 months of imprisonment on his convictions for shooting at a mail carrier and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Martinel Humphries, 30, on April 9, 2025.
According to information presented to the Court, Humphries fired four shots from a semi-automatic pistol at a mail carrier on January 5, 2023, for no apparent reason. The bullets missed the mail carrier, who fell to the ground upon seeing the defendant’s gun, but entered a nearby home, shattering the glass front door. Humphries fled and was apprehended soon after by law enforcement. Humphries has a lengthy criminal history, including two separate firearms convictions in 2015 relating to arrests in 2013 and 2015, and a 2021 conviction for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, for which he still was serving a term of federal supervised release at the time he shot at the mail carrier. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
“Federal employees must be able to work without fearing for their personal safety,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Rivetti. “This sentence reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s violent act, shooting at a mail carrier who was in the middle of his route. Our office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners at all levels to prioritize combating violent crimes such as committed by this defendant.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to its core mission of protecting postal employees,” said Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge of the Pittsburgh Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service. “Thankfully, the letter carrier escaped being physically hurt in this crime, and, with the assistance of our local law enforcement partners, Humphries was quickly apprehended to prevent further harm to the public. Postal Inspectors will always strive to keep our employees safe while delivering mail to our communities. And we take pride in working with our law enforcement partners to ensure justice is served to those like Humphries, who bring violence to our communities.”
Assistant United States Attorney William B. Guappone prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the United States Postal Inspection Service, City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Police Department, Ross Township Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Humphries.
