A federal grand jury in Miami late this afternoon returned an indictment charging Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of Hawaii, with attempting to kill former President Donald J. Trump at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15.
“Violence targeting public officials endangers everything our country stands for, and the Department of Justice will use every available tool to hold Ryan Routh accountable for the attempted assassination of former President Trump charged in the indictment,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will not tolerate violence that strikes at the heart of our democracy, and we will find and hold accountable those who perpetrate it. This must stop.”
“This alleged attempted assassination of the former President at his golf course was a direct attack on our democracy. Political violence has no place in this country — not then, not now, not ever,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “The charges today reflect the Department’s continued resolve to deploy every available resource to ensure public officials remain safe and to hold accountable those who target public officials to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Routh is charged with attempted assassination of a presidential candidate, which strikes at the very heart of our democratic system,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI is continuing our investigation into this alleged plot and will use the full weight and resources of the FBI to uncover and provide as much information as possible about what led to the events in West Palm Beach. In our country, we have to hold accountable people who resort to violence.”
According to allegations in a complaint affidavit and a factual proffer filed with the court, former President Trump was golfing at Trump International on Sept. 15, and a Secret Service agent conducting a perimeter security sweep saw the partially obscured face of a man — later identified as Routh — in the brush along the fence line near the sixth hole. The agent observed the barrel of a rifle aimed directly at him. As the agent began backing away, he saw the rifle barrel move, and the agent fired at Routh.
A witness saw Routh running across the road from the golf course and getting into a black Nissan Xterra. Based on information provided by the witness, Routh was later apprehended heading northbound on I-95 by officers from the Martin County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
Court documents allege that in the area where Routh had been hiding in the tree line, FBI agents located an SKS semiautomatic rifle with a scope attached and an extended magazine. The serial number on the rifle was obliterated and unreadable. Hanging from the fence was a backpack and a reusable shopping bag that each contained a plate capable of stopping small arms fire.
According to the allegations filed with the court, FBI agents found documents that contained a handwritten list of dates in August, September, and October and venues where the former President had appeared or was expected to be present. Cell records for two of the cell phones found in the Nissan Xterra showed that on multiple days and times from Aug. 18 to Sept. 15, Routh’s cell phone accessed cell towers located near Trump International and the former President’s residence at Mar-a-Lago.
According to the factual proffer filed with the court, a civilian witness contacted law enforcement stating that Routh had dropped off a box at his residence several months ago. Included in the box was a handwritten letter from Routh addressed “Dear World,” which stated, among other things, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you.”
Routh was charged with attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, assaulting a federal officer (a Secret Service Agent), felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. At a detention hearing on Sept. 23, Routh was ordered to remain in federal custody pending trial. If convicted, Routh faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
According to court records, Routh was convicted of felonies in North Carolina in December 2002 and March 2010.
The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Secret Service.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
To avoid being caught, murderers often attempt to hide bodies using various methods. This can include shallow or deep burials, submersion in water, encasing in concrete or even disposing of remains in rubbish bins and suitcases.
Finding the body is a key part of any murder investigation, as it helps to identify, prosecute and charge the killer. Unfortunately, the task can be immensely difficult.
To help tackle the problem of locating hidden graves, we have trialled two innovative techniques for searching underground: ground-penetrating radar and electrical resistivity tomography, or ERT. Our results are now published in the journal Remote Sensing.
Borrowing tools from geology
The tools we used are known as geophysical methods because they measure the physical properties of materials in the soil under the surface.
The use of geophysical techniques for peering under Earth’s surface is not new – engineers, geologists and archaeologists have used the tools we tested for decades.
But geophysical techniques are not typically used for forensic investigations because directly finding a body with these methods is very difficult.
However, both of the tools we tested can help to locate a grave indirectly – by looking at the differences between the disturbed soil of the grave and the undisturbed soil around it. When the techniques encounter disturbed soil and/or the presence of body fluids, the resulting data will show as an anomaly – something different to the areas surrounding it.
To figure out whether the identified anomaly is a grave, researchers can then consider the size, shape and depth of the anomaly to make sure it correlates with a human body.
Tori Berezowski using a ground penetrating radar to survey the ‘hidden’ graves. Author provided
Pigs at the ‘body farm’
At the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research (AFTER), Australia’s only “body farm” – a facility that uses donated bodies for forensic research – we buried five pigs in various configurations to mimic clandestine graves.
This included two single graves (a “shallow” grave of just half a metre, and a “deep” grave of almost two metres) and a mass grave with three pigs at one metre deep. We used pigs as they are a good body analogue in terms of size and mass to humans.
We surveyed the graves with ground-penetrating radar and ERT before and directly after burial, and then one, eight, 14, and 20 months later.
In forensic research, pig cadavers are a suitable proxy for human bodies, as they have a similar size and mass. Author provided
Our findings revealed that geophysical imaging of hidden graves can work, but with varying results. This depended on the size, depth and age of the burial, and the amount of rainfall before the survey.
The grave containing the three pig cadavers was the easiest to observe due to its larger size and volume. This indicates geophysical techniques may be particularly useful in humanitarian investigations that involve searching for mass graves.
A shallow single grave was the next most observable. This is also an encouraging finding because most graves of hidden victims are only around half a metre deep. For both techniques, the two-metre-deep single grave was the most difficult to image.
Although both tools could detect some graves on some occasions, neither located all of the graves during the entire length of our survey. This was likely due to a combination of factors, including the soil type at the site and unprecedented weather conditions during the research period – La Niña flooded the research site multiple times.
To do this, we compared the ground-penetrating radar and the ERT responses of the pig burials to those of human burials (all part of existing research projects at AFTER). We found no obvious differences between the two.
This is a very important result, because it means we can further test these tools in Australia and worldwide without being constrained by highly limited access to human donors.
Similar studies have been done in the United Kingdom, the United States and South America. However, ours is the first systematic, multi-technique, geophysical survey of covert graves in an Australian environment. The only other similar Australian study was in 2004, however, it only used ground-penetrating radar and didn’t check back on the graves at multiple time points.
Our results clearly demonstrate that geophysical methods can be effective for locating unmarked graves under some circumstances, but don’t always work. To try and work out why, we will continue our research using the latest geophysical instruments and monitoring the moisture conditions inside the graves.
Ultimately, we believe using these tools can increase the chances of locating missing and murdered victims. Then, we can finally provide answers to their families and loved ones, and increase the chances of prosecuting their killers.
The team would like to thank Justin Ellis, Gabriel C Rau, Dilan Seckiner, and Isabella Crebert for their contributions to this research. Additionally, we would like to thank AFTER for the space to conduct the research and to Soren Blau and Jon Sterenberg for allowing us to scan your graves.
Victoria Berezowski receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. This work was also funded by a Vice Chancellor Higher Degree by Research PhD Training Scholarship from the University of Newcastle.
Ian Moffat receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and Flinders University.
Xanthe Mallett has received funding from the Australian Research Council.
Source: The White House
Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists for the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation and ordered federal aid to supplement the Tribal Nation’s efforts in the areas affected by wildfires from June 22 to July 8, 2024.
The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals for the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Federal funding also is available to the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the wildfires.
Lastly, Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.
Ms. Tonia Pence of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.
Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the Tribal Nation and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California
(Washington, DC)—Rep. LaMalfa released the following statement announcing that a total of $4,106,321 has been awarded to our district for critical disaster recovery and preparedness projects. These grants will support various initiatives aimed at enhancing resilience, improving emergency management, and ensuring effective fire prevention and protection.
“I am pleased that these important projects received these awards. Strengthening our ability to respond to and recover from disasters is an issue greatly needed by our constituents here in the 1st district. By improving emergency planning, fire prevention, and connectivity, we will be better able to handle the next disaster that occurs. For instance, our overgrown forests or the inadequate infrastructure in our flood zones, with future concerns being the newly created zones on the Klamath River via dam destruction.”
Below is a breakdown of the awarded grants:
Butte County Foothill Rebuild Barrier Removal Project: $1,014,383
Butte County Emergency Operations Planning Project: $490,000
Funding will be used to update the Emergency Operations Plan and essential annexes, enhancing disaster preparedness and response. This project will benefit all county residents by improving our local emergency management strategies.
Butte County Fire Prevention and Protection Community Education Expansion Project: $1,000,000
This grant will expand education on fire prevention through an extensive outreach campaign, increasing awareness and proactive measures. It will also improve availability for fire inspections in isolated areas, helping to reduce fire risks.
Butte County Broadband Mitigation Through Connectivity Project: $451,938
This project will develop a Connectivity Action Plan to improve communication in remote rugged areas. This plan will guide future investments in broadband infrastructure, enhancing disaster response and connectivity for rural constituencies.
City of Redding Risk Assessment and Strategic Planning Project: $150,000
City of Redding Storm Drain Master Plan Update: $1,000,000
This grant will be used to update the city’s storm drain plan to address current conditions and risks. This will enhance flood management and protect residential, commercial, and public facilities from flood hazards.
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-CA08) reintroduced the “Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act” (H.R.9602) with Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA02), Ann M. Kuster (D-NH02), Jim Costa (D-CA21), and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR01).
“As Deputy Secretary of the Interior to President Clinton, I know that our national conservation goals cannot be achieved through public land ownership alone. The federal and state governments can and must do a better job of working with private landowners who want to choose conservation, as my family did for our cattle ranch in 1998. My bill would unlock billions in federal funding to help states conserve working forestlands to support jobs and sustainable forest management that reduces wildfire risk,” said Congressman Garamendi.
“Forests provide crucial habitat for wildlife, protect clean watersheds, and absorb climate-warming carbon from the atmosphere. They are also an important part of Northwest Oregon’s rural economy. The Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act will result in the conservation of more private forestlands, creating a better future for generations to come,” said Congresswoman Bonamici.
“The Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act is vital for mitigating the impacts of climate change and preserving our forests. This legislation will enable us to better engage private landowners and reduce wildfire risks, supporting both our rural economy and sustainable forest management,” saidCongressman Costa.
The “Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act” (H.R.9602) would allow States to choose to designate accredited, nonprofit land trusts to hold conservation easements purchased with federal grant funds under the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program. Current law requires that only the federal or state governments hold conservation easements purchased under the Forest Legacy Program.
Allowing States participating in the federal Forest Legacy Program the flexibility to partner with accredited, nonprofit land trusts will help to conserve more land permanently by working with private landowners who want to choose conservation but do not want to sell the federal or state governments an easement on their property. Conserving working forestlands also supports the rural economy, and sustainable forest management practices that reduce wildfire risk will support local jobs.
Garamendi’s bill also supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s “America the Beautiful” National Conservation Goal to protect and conserve at least 30 percent of the lands and waters in the United States by 2030 and Governor Newsom’s similar conservation goal for the State of California.
To date, the “Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act” (H.R.9602) is supported by:
National Endorsements: Partnership of Rangeland Trusts, American Farmland Trust, Pacific Crest Trail Association
California Endorsements: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire),California Rangeland Trust, Pacific Forest Trust, Sierra Cascade Land Trust Council, Bear Yuba Land Trust, Feather River Land Trust, American River Conservancy, Placer Land Trust, Lassen Land and Trails Trust, Sierra Foothill Conservancy, Eastern Sierra Land Trust, Sequoia Riverlands Trust, Truckee Donner Land Trust, Sierra County Land Trust, Shasta Land Trust, Hardy Conservation
New England Endorsements: New England Forestry Foundation, Monadnock Conservancy, Society for the Protection of NH Forests, Squam Lakes Conservation Organization, Kestrel Land Trust, Forest Society of Maine, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Northeast Wilderness Trust
Oregon Endorsements: Northwest Rangeland Trust; Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts (COLT); Greenbelt Land Trust; McKenzie Land Trust; North Coast Land Conservancy; Oregon Agricultural Trust
Past Cosponsors:
114th Congress:Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY)
Now-SenatorBen Ray Lujan (D-NM)
113th Congress:Reps. John Garamendi (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Ann M. Kuster (D-NH), Jared Huffman (D-CA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Steve Womack (R-AR), Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA)
Now-Senators Cynthia M. Lummis (R-WY), Todd Young (R-IN)
Garamendi previously served on the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Natural Resources (2011-2012) and the Committee on Agricultural (2012-2014), which oversee both the U.S. Forest Service and the National Forest System. Garamendi served as the first Deputy Secretary of the Interior from 1995 to 1998 during the Clinton Administration.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California
WASHINGTON – Representatives Jim Costa (CA-21), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Ann M. Kuster (NH-02), and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) introduced H.R.9602 – Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act, which would authorize states to allow certain entities to acquire, hold, and manage conservation easements under the forest legacy program.
“The Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act is vital for mitigating the impacts of climate change and preserving our forests. This legislation will enable us to better engage private landowners and reduce wildfire risks, supporting both our rural economy and sustainable forest management,” said Congressman Costa.
“As Deputy Secretary of the Interior to President Clinton, I know that our national conservation goals cannot be achieved through public land ownership alone. The federal and state governments can and must do a better job of working with private landowners who want to choose conservation, as my family did for our cattle ranch in 1998. My bill would unlock billions in federal funding to help states conserve working forestlands to support jobs and sustainable forest management that reduces wildfire risk,” said Congressman Garamendi.
“Forests provide crucial habitat for wildlife, protect clean watersheds, and absorb climate-warming carbon from the atmosphere. They are also an important part of Northwest Oregon’s rural economy. The Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act will result in the conservation of more private forestlands, creating a better future for generations to come,” said Congresswoman Bonamici.
BACKGROUND The Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act would allow States to choose to designate accredited, nonprofit land trusts to hold conservation easements purchased with federal grant funds under the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program. Current law requires that only the federal or state governments hold conservation easements purchased under the Forest Legacy Program.
Allowing States participating in the federal Forest Legacy Program the flexibility to partner with accredited, nonprofit land trusts will help to conserve more land permanently by working with private landowners who want to choose conservation but do not want to sell the federal or state governments an easement on their property. Conserving working forestlands also supports the rural economy, and sustainable forest management practices that reduce wildfire risk will support local jobs.
This legislation supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s “America the Beautiful” National Conservation Goal to protect and conserve at least 30 percent of the lands and waters in the United States by 2030 and Governor Newsom’s similar conservation goal for the State of California.
This legislation is endorsed by the Partnership of Rangeland Trusts, American Farmland Trust, Pacific Crest Trail Association, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), California Rangeland Trust, Pacific Forest Trust, Sierra Cascade Land Trust Council, Bear Yuba Land Trust, Feather River Land Trust, American River Conservancy, Placer Land Trust, Lassen Land and Trails Trust, Sierra Foothill Conservancy, Eastern Sierra Land Trust, Sequoia Riverlands Trust, Truckee Donner Land Trust, Sierra County Land Trust, Shasta Land Trust, Hardy Conservation.
Work on the once-in-a-generation New Dubbo Bridge continues to progress with one third of the concrete deck, which will eventually support traffic crossing, now in place.
The Australian and NSW governments are investing $263.2 million to deliver this region-shaping piece of infrastructure on the Newell Highway in Dubbo.
The Australian Government has committed $210.6 million towards the project, with the NSW Government committing the remaining $52.6 million.
The decking along the 660-metre bridge structure is being built in sections, with each section involving the pouring of about 105 cubic metres of concrete to provide a deck slab of up to 25 centimetres in depth.
The deck pours will be carried out progressively while the rest of the bridge takes shape, with the final deck pour expected in mid-2025.
Once the concrete deck is completed, the final step in building the bridge surface will be to add an eight-centimetre thick layer of asphalt.
Pile driving was recently completed along the entire length of the new structure which crosses the Macquarie River and a section of the floodplain east of the river.
Construction is also underway for the network of roads that will link the bridge to the Dubbo road network, including road widening work at the intersections of Whylandra and Thompson streets and River and Bourke streets.
The New Dubbo Bridge project is due to be completed in late 2026, weather permitting.
Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:
“It is exciting to see the new bridge rapidly taking shape and I’m proud to see the Australian and NSW governments’ investments delivering for regional communities.
“New infrastructure like this is critical for the growth of regional communities and it will set Dubbo and western NSW up for the future.”
Quotes attributable to NSW Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison:
“This bridge will provide vital flood resilience and unlock more housing in Dubbo – providing essential infrastructure for an estimated 5,500 homes.
“The Minns Labor Government is proud to be partnering with the Albanese Labor Government to deliver this project, supporting nearly 1,500 direct and indirect jobs in western NSW.
“On my recent visit to see the bridge I saw how transformative this bridge will be to Dubbo and I thank the workers who have given so much to this project and I thank the people of Dubbo for their patience.”
Quotes attributable to Senator for NSW Deborah O’Neill:
“Once completed, the New Dubbo Bridge will transform the way western NSW residents, tourists and freight operators travel through Dubbo.
“The Bridge will reduce travel times in the city centre and improve access across the Macquarie River, particularly during flood events.”
Quotes attributable to Labor’s spokesperson for the state seat of Dubbo Stephen Lawrence MLC:
“The Minns and Albanese governments are delivering transformative regional road infrastructure for Dubbo.
“It’s been wonderful to see the progress of the new Dubbo Bridge construction.
“I’m pleased to see more than half of all people working on this project are from my local area, including many local apprentices and aspiring tradies through innovative employment programs.
“Many Dubbo businesses are benefiting from the economic activity being generated.”
China on Tuesday pledged to intensify efforts to ensure workplace safety and enhance fire prevention and suppression in forests and grasslands during the autumn and winter seasons. A video conference focusing on the efforts was held in Beijing on Tuesday. The conference called for a strong problem-oriented approach and robust measures to effectively manage safety production and forest fire prevention, with a firm commitment to preventing major accidents and fires. It emphasized the need to advance a three-year campaign aimed at addressing fundamental issues in workplace safety, with a focus on further strengthening the supervision of hazardous materials, construction operations and thermal insulation materials. Authorities were urged to enhance the capacity for fire safety oversight at the grassroots level and to rigorously investigate and rectify major safety hazards. The meeting also stressed the importance of proactive prevention, calling for the implementation of responsibilities and measures for forest fire prevention at the grassroots level to minimize fire risks as much as possible, and ensuring the safety of both the public and firefighting personnel. Zhang Guoqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Wang Xiaohong, a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and state councilor, presided over the conference.
China on Tuesday made public a guideline on arable land protection, aiming to implement the strictest possible protection system and introducing robust measures with real enforcement “teeth” to combat the erosion of arable land. The guideline, issued by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, stated that the national arable land area should not fall below 124.33 million hectares, with the area of permanent basic farmland set at no less than 103 million hectares. To achieve these goals, China will implement the most stringent possible arable land protection policies, introducing robust measures to combat the conversion of arable land to non-agricultural uses and to prevent permanent basic farmland from being utilized for non-grain production. Local Party committees and governments will be required to treat the protection of arable land and permanent basic farmland as a critical political task. They must ensure that the established protection threshold is never breached, and that strict accountability measures are in place for violations, including a “one-vote veto” punishment for officials who breach protection guidelines severely. To boost land quality, the document emphasizes the gradual upgrade of permanent basic farmland to high-standard farmland that is suitable for cultivation, resilient to drought and flooding, and capable of ensuring high and stable yields. A national plan will be developed for this transformation, with priority given to areas in northeast China’s black soil region, plains and regions with irrigation capabilities. The government will implement black soil protection initiatives, adjusting protective measures to encompass all necessary areas in a timely manner. Law enforcement combating activities that harm the fertile soil will be intensified. Legislation governing the protection of arable land quality will be accelerated, with annual surveys of soil quality changes and comprehensive evaluations conducted every five years, along with a national soil census to be conducted at an appropriate time. Efforts will also be made to develop high-efficiency protected agriculture using non-arable land resources. This will involve exploring the sustainable development of modern protected agriculture in arid and desert regions where water resources allow. These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to ensure national grain security and strengthen the agricultural sector. China continues to prioritize food security, as it feeds over 1.4 billion people with just 9 percent of the world’s arable land. An array of measures has been implemented to improve grain output over recent years, including the construction of more high-standard farmland and the promotion of agricultural technologies. The country has developed about 66.7 million hectares of high-standard farmland as of the end of 2023, with 13 key grain-producing provincial-level regions accounting for around 70 percent of that total. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China has the sound fundamentals to reap a bumper autumn grain harvest following the summer harvest this year, despite severe disasters triggered by extreme weather in parts of the country.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Sept. 24 — China on Tuesday pledged to intensify efforts to ensure workplace safety and enhance fire prevention and suppression in forests and grasslands during the autumn and winter seasons.
A video conference focusing on the efforts was held in Beijing on Tuesday. The conference called for a strong problem-oriented approach and robust measures to effectively manage safety production and forest fire prevention, with a firm commitment to preventing major accidents and fires.
It emphasized the need to advance a three-year campaign aimed at addressing fundamental issues in workplace safety, with a focus on further strengthening the supervision of hazardous materials, construction operations and thermal insulation materials.
Authorities were urged to enhance the capacity for fire safety oversight at the grassroots level and to rigorously investigate and rectify major safety hazards.
The meeting also stressed the importance of proactive prevention, calling for the implementation of responsibilities and measures for forest fire prevention at the grassroots level to minimize fire risks as much as possible, and ensuring the safety of both the public and firefighting personnel.
Zhang Guoqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Wang Xiaohong, a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and state councilor, presided over the conference.
WATCH: Padilla warns immunity decision contradicts fundamental democratic principles and basic accountabilityWASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC), joined a hearing titled “‘When the President Does It, that Means It’s Not Illegal’: The Supreme Court’s Unprecedented Immunity Decision,” to question witnesses on the Supreme Court’s dangerous ruling in Trump v. United States that now grants former presidents — including Donald Trump — criminal immunity for a wide range of activities taken while in office.
Padilla sharply rebuked the decision, underscoring the Supreme Court’s upending of centuries of history and tradition that presidents can be held accountable for crimes committed while in office. He criticized the Court for inventing a new form of presidential criminal immunity and for declining to designate a single action that Donald Trump took in the lead-up to the January 6th riot at the Capitol as “unofficial.”
Padilla asked Professor Mary B. McCord, Executive Director of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University Law School, about dangerous potential scenarios that could exploit this immunity ruling, including a president ordering the Department of Justice to stop investigating their family for criminal conduct or directing the military to attack a political rival.
Key Excerpts:
PADILLA: Let’s be clear, the court’s decision to effectively let Trump off the hook has already caused devastating harm for our country, especially to voters and election workers. Trump has essentially been given a pass for weaponizing the Department of Justice to bully states into drumming up false election fraud charges for his attempts to pressure Vice President Pence into helping him steal the election and for inciting a violent mob to storm the Capitol on January 6.
[…]
PADILLA: I want to ask a few simple yes or no questions about hypothetical, but not farfetched scenarios. If a future President were to order the Department of Justice to cease investigating their spouse, their child, or themselves for alleged criminal conduct, would that be an official act?
PROFESSOR MCCORD: It would appear that under the court’s ruling, yes, that would be immune. Actually, even more than official act as core constitutional powers.
PADILLA: Because the president directs the executive branch. Scenario number two: if a future President were to direct the Armed Services to attack the home of a political rival, would that be an official act?
MCCORD: I think that is one of the questions the court leaves open for us, if…
PADILLA: The fact that it’s not a clear ‘no’ is the problem because the President is the Commander in Chief. Look, Mr. Chair, I can go on and on with example after example that should alarm us and the American people. But I will conclude by just acknowledging this: It’s particularly auspicious that this committee is meeting today to examine this wildly consequential and wildly unprecedented decision, 235 years to the day since the Supreme Court was established by an act of Congress. So in closing, I’ll just echo Justice Sotomayor’s powerful words. Every president in our history has governed with the understanding shared by the American people that they could be held accountable for crimes committed while in office. And with that no longer the case, I share her fear for our democracy, and I stand firmly with the spirit of her dissent.
Video footage of Senator Padilla’s full remarks is available here.
The Supreme Court issued a misguided 6-3 decision in July that “the nature of Presidential power entitles a former President to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority. And he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts. There is no immunity for unofficial acts.”
The ramifications of the Supreme Court’s decision have already harmed voters and election workers. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s election integrity unit recently led targeted raids of several Latino voting rights organizers, officials, and candidates on the basis of unfounded allegations of widespread voter fraud. In Florida, law enforcement has targeted individuals who signed a petition for a constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights. Across the country, there has been a surge in abusive public records requests aimed at election offices.
In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s unprecedented decision, Senator Padilla criticized the ruling and traveled with President Biden to Austin, Texas as the President announced three proposed reforms to restore trust in, and accountability for, our judiciary, including a constitutional amendment making clear that no President is above the law or immune from criminal prosecution. Padilla also joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and 32 of his Democratic Senate colleagues in introducing the No Kings Act, which would reaffirm that Presidents and Vice Presidents do not have immunity for actions that violate federal criminal law and clarify that Congress, not the Supreme Court, determines to whom federal criminal laws may be applied.
Released by: Minister for Regional Transport and Roads
Work on the once-in-a-generation New Dubbo Bridge continues to progress with one third of the concrete deck, which will eventually support traffic crossing, now in place.
The Australian and NSW governments are investing $263.2 million to deliver this region-shaping piece of infrastructure on the Newell Highway in Dubbo.
The Australian Government has committed $210.6 million towards the project, with the NSW Government committing the remaining $52.6 million.
The decking along the 660-metre bridge structure is being built in sections, with each section involving the pouring of about 105 cubic metres of concrete to provide a deck slab of up to 25 centimetres in depth.
The deck pours will be carried out progressively while the rest of the bridge takes shape, with the final deck pour expected in mid-2025.
Once the concrete deck is completed, the final step in building the bridge surface will be to add an eight-centimetre thick layer of asphalt.
Pile driving was recently completed along the entire length of the new structure which crosses the Macquarie River and a section of the floodplain east of the river.
Construction is also underway for the network of roads that will link the bridge to the Dubbo road network, including road widening work at the intersections of Whylandra and Thompson streets and River and Bourke streets.
The New Dubbo Bridge project is due to be completed in late 2026, weather permitting.
Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:
“It is exciting to see the new bridge rapidly taking shape and I’m proud to see the Australian and NSW governments’ investments delivering for regional communities.
“New infrastructure like this is critical for the growth of regional communities and it will set Dubbo and western NSW up for the future.”
Quotes attributable to NSW Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison:
“This bridge will provide vital flood resilience and unlock more housing in Dubbo – providing essential infrastructure for an estimated 5,500 homes.
“The Minns Labor Government is proud to be partnering with the Albanese Labor Government to deliver this project, supporting nearly 1,500 direct and indirect jobs in western NSW.
“On my recent visit to see the bridge I saw how transformative this bridge will be to Dubbo and I thank the workers who have given so much to this project and I thank the people of Dubbo for their patience.”
Quotes attributable to Senator for NSW Deborah O’Neill:
“Once completed, the New Dubbo Bridge will transform the way western NSW residents, tourists and freight operators travel through Dubbo.
“The Bridge will reduce travel times in the city centre and improve access across the Macquarie River, particularly during flood events.”
Quotes attributable to NSW Labor’s spokesperson for Dubbo Stephen Lawrence MLC:
“The Minns and Albanese governments are delivering transformative regional road infrastructure for Dubbo. It’s been wonderful to see the progress of the new Dubbo Bridge construction.
“I’m pleased to see more than half of all people working on this project are from my local area, including many local apprentices and aspiring tradies through innovative employment programs. Many Dubbo businesses are benefiting from the economic activity being generated.”
MANILA, PHILIPPINES (25 September 2024) — Moderating inflation, monetary easing, and sustained public spending particularly on major infrastructure projects, will support Philippine economic growth this year and the next, according to a report released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) today.
In its Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2024 report, ADB maintained its growth forecast for the Philippine economy at 6.0% for 2024 and 6.2% in 2025. The expansion in gross domestic product (GDP) will be driven by broad-based domestic demand, supported by lower inflation and interest rates, the report said.
ADB lowered its inflation forecast to 3.6% in 2024 from its April estimate of 3.8%, reflecting the sustained deceleration in food prices partly due to lower tariffs on rice imports. Inflation is expected to ease further to 3.2% in 2025 compared to the previous estimate of 3.4%.
“Most of the ingredients for the Philippines’ sustained economic growth are in place—rising government revenues are boosting public expenditures on infrastructure and social services, increasing employment is driving consumption, and reforms to open the economy to more investments are underway. With inflation slowing, the country is in a strong position to lead growth in Southeast Asia,” said ADB Philippines Country Director Pavit Ramachandran.
However, risks remain from potential severe weather events which could drive inflation higher. External factors such as a sharper slowdown in major advanced economies and the People’s Republic of China, financial volatility due to US monetary policy decisions, geopolitical tensions, and rising global commodity prices also pose threats to growth, the report said.
The Philippine government expects public infrastructure spending to range between 5.0%–6.0% of GDP annually from 2024 to 2028, after hitting 5.8% of GDP in 2023. The government’s “Build Better More” infrastructure program includes 66 ongoing projects and another 31 approved for implementation as of August 2024.
The infrastructure program aims to enhance physical connectivity through railways, bridges, and airports, or strengthen water management through irrigation, water supply, and flood control. Climate change mitigation and adaptation, digital connectivity, energy, and agriculture projects, are also prioritized under this program.
ADB is financing key infrastructure projects, such as the Malolos Clark Railway Project and the South Commuter Railway Project which will link Metro Manila to northern and southern provinces in the Luzon region. It is also supporting the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Project, and the Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation Project which aims to enhance flood and climate change resilience in three major river basins in the country.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.
Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio
Rubio, Colleagues to Biden-Harris Officials: Individuals Tied to Cuban Regime Are Not Welcome
Sep 24, 2024 | Press Releases
Under U.S. law, any individual who has been, or is affiliated with a Communist Party is deemed inadmissible for entry into our nation. However, under the Biden-Harris Administration’s mass immigration program, it’s been reported that individuals tied to the…
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Rubio Applauds House Passage of USCIRF
Sep 24, 2024 | Press Releases
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, is a bipartisan commission that monitors and reports on international religious freedom. The commission’s authorization is currently…
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Rubio, Scott Support Florida Request for Pre-landfall Emergency Declaration
Sep 23, 2024 | Press Releases
Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, soon to be Hurricane Helene, is expected to make landfall in Florida as a major hurricane later this week. The storm will bring strong winds, heavy rain, severe storm surge, flooding, and hazardous seas to Florida’s impacted areas….
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ICYMI: Rubio, Clement Present Plan to Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses
Sep 23, 2024 | Press Releases
Congress Can Protect Jews on College Campuses U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Paul Clement September 23, 2024 Wall Street Journal The ancient poison of antisemitism has infected American higher education…. Campus antisemitism isn’t restricted to…widely publicized…
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ICYMI: Rubio Joins Face the Nation
Sep 22, 2024 | Press Releases
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined Face the Nation to discuss foreign election interference, threats to President Donald Trump’s life, the impact of illegal mass migration on communities across America, and more. See below for highlights and watch the full…
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Rubio, Colleagues to Garland: Tren De Aragua Continues to Terrorize Our Nation
Sep 20, 2024 | Press Releases
Tren de Aragua, a criminal Venezuelan transnational organization known for committing major international crimes such as human trafficking, drug-trafficking, arms trafficking, and money laundering, continues to terrorize communities across our nation. Following calls…
Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio
Photo courtesy of the National Religious Broadcasters association.
On September 19, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) spoke to the National Religious Broadcasters association on the importance of faith-based messaging.
“The most important thing the government can do is protect the institutions that are the fiber of the nation: the family, the community, and the faith…. Your mission is to bring Christians news and information in a manner that’s consistent with their values and hopefully inspires them to live up to those values…. Our job is to ensure that your right in this country to do that remains unencumbered..” – Senator Rubio
See a lightly edited transcript below.
You’re going to hear a lot from people about politics and issues today, and I’m more than happy to talk about that. Who am I to warn you against being hyper-political? It’s what I do for a living. And when I was a state legislator, we used to beg people to be interested in politics. But now, it’s the only thing people want to talk about. There’s no space in our life into which politics hasn’t intruded.
The laws we pass are important. People have legitimate concerns about where the country is headed. There are laws that are making it harder for people of faith to participate in the public square. But I try to remind people around me and in my life, many of whom have become consumed by politics, of a couple things. The first thing I try to remind them of is that we cannot make politics and government our god.
Sometimes I hear people of the Christian faith say, “My God, things are so terrible!” But of all the faiths on this planet, the one that knows how the movie ends is ours. And it ends in tribulation. It ends in difficulties. That’s what was promised. Of course, in every generation, Christians are like: “I know it’s all going to happen, and I can’t wait for Jesus to come back, but not now! Not while I’m here! I just want to skip to the end!” But we have to hold true to what is ultimate.
Governments rise and fall. Nations come and go. But for 2,000 years, the one constant in the lives of people of the Christian faith has been our belief that we’re going to live in a new heaven and a new earth, and that it’s going to be as it was originally intended to be before man’s fall. That doesn’t mean we don’t pay attention to the issues of our time. It doesn’t ask us to be hermits. It doesn’t ask us to isolate ourselves. It certainly calls for us to actively live out our faith. But I also don’t think we can let that lead us into anxiety.
In that, I’m reminded of the early Church. The reason why early Christianity spread is not because they conquered with an army. It isn’t because they had more money or more power. In fact, they had none. It’s because the Romans kept doing horrible things to these people, and yet they would go to their deaths singing songs, full of joy, and being kind to their oppressors. Eventually, a bunch of pagans said, “I want the joy those people have.”
They said: “We’ve tried everything. We’ve worshiped all these gods. We’ve forgotten all the gods we worshiped. We’ve sacrificed. We’ve done this, we’ve done that. I want the happiness that these Christians have. What is this secret that they have that the rest of us can’t seem to achieve, despite everything we’ve tried?” It was the power of that example, more than anything else, that allowed the Spirit to work in the world.
The second thing I try to remind people of is that America is not a government. Oftentimes, when people discuss the state of America, they’re actually discussing the state of our politics or the sake of our government. And what we forget is that America is not a government. America is a nation. And what is a nation? At its most basic level, a nation is made up of this: families living in communities.
The most important house in this country is not the White House. It is your house. It’s the first school. It’s the first government. And it’s where we acquire values. Do you realize that everything that tastes good and feels good is bad for you? Why don’t leafy greens taste like ice cream? Why is the stuff that’s good for you, you have to put stuff on it to make it palatable? I think the same is true when it comes to human nature.
Despite all the advancements and our fancy technology, human nature is the same today as it was 5,000 years ago, which is why when we read the Old Testament, those stories seem like they could’ve been written yesterday. We may dress differently, we may use different devices, we may advance scientifically, we may travel to the stars, but human nature is unchanged. That is why history repeats itself. And human nature needs to be controlled. Left to our own nature, left to do whatever we want, we would not live in a good world.
Where do you learn what is good and what is bad, what is right and what is wrong, both collectively and individually? Something has to inform you that murder is evil, because murder is legal in the animal kingdom. It happens there all the time. But humanity has decided that murder is wrong, enslaving someone is wrong, physically abusing someone is wrong, denying the right to speak freely is wrong, denying the right to worship freely is wrong. Where do these ideas come from? They don’t come from human advancements, because human nature hasn’t changed. They come from a system of values.
In this, particularly because I am a Christian, I believe our faith system is an extraordinary asset to the country. You don’t have to convert. You have the right to believe anything you want. But from a practical point of view, why would we ever want to constrain or oppress a system of belief that says: “Treat others the way you want to be treated. Love your enemy. Forgive them. Take care of the widow and the hungry.”
The concept of the widow today is lost on people. If you were a widow 2,000 years ago, you were in big trouble. There was no welfare system. There were no food stamps. There were none of these programs out there. You were on your own, by yourself, with no one to help you, unless you had children to take care of you.
To me, Christianity is a system that teaches you not just to help the widow, but to have compassion for the less fortunate, to serve those in need selflessly, not selfishly. Why do we not want that to infuse our culture and society? Even if, ultimately, you don’t believe in the inspirations for those things, why would you not want something like that to be protected and vibrant under our laws? I think any country would be stronger with that.
And it explains a lot of our history. To this day, Americans feed more people, clothe more people, house more people all over the world than almost all the other countries of the world combined. If there’s a landslide somewhere today, if there’s a flood, an earthquake, or a volcanic eruption, I guarantee you that some faith-based organization in America will be one of the first to respond. And then you add to that foreign aid. (Although that has become controversial lately, and we have to address our own needs as well.)
Why is that? Because there are other wealthy countries that have no tradition of giving whatsoever. To me, the answer is our faith system. When you have instilled in the values of your country to help the less fortunate, it doesn’t mean to help the less fortunate only in your county, your city, your state, or your country. It means we see someone suffering somewhere, and we feel compelled to do something about it. And I’m not talking about just rich people. I’m talking about people that give $50 a month.
Where does that come from? That comes from a system of values grounded in a faith system. It is a national imperative for our country. Not to mention the importance of family and the importance of parenting. Children are not a burden. We should never be a nation that feels that a human life is a burden instead of a blessing. When people talk about things that way, we have to think about what a reflection it is on our society and culture.
What I’m saying is, we can pass a lot of laws, and we can elect great people, but many of the problems we are confronting as a nation go well beyond the government. Government can tell you what’s legal. It cannot tell you what’s right or wrong. Government can punish and reward. It cannot teach people to do good instead of bad, or to care for one another, or to live in community. That’s why I believe the most important thing that the government can do is to rebuild our families so they can live in dignity.
There are things the government can do to help. I think it’s hard to have strong families and strong communities without dignified work. There are great things that the free enterprise system has created, more things than all the other economic systems man has tried. But we have to prioritize dignified work. Man was meant to work. Work is actually a form of worship. In fact, it’s one of the first commandments that mankind received. No matter what the job is, whether you’re a senator or anything else, your work is a way of worshiping your Creator.
But the most important thing the government can do is protect the institutions that are the fiber of the nation: the family, the community, and the faith, which instill values that make us stronger as a result. In many ways, that is the mission that you’re called to. Your mission is to bring Christians news and information in a manner that’s consistent with their values and hopefully inspires them to live up to those values. From a government perspective, our job is to ensure that your right in this country to do that remains unencumbered.
Our own founding documents say our rights come not from the government, but from our Creator. Our country was founded on the belief that our rights are not what I decide they are because the people of Florida elected me, but what God has given us. My job is to protect those rights, not to decide what they are, or to decide which ones apply and which ones do not.
The role of religious broadcasting has a very important mission. It has a spiritual component to it, but it actually has a very strong civil component to it. I think it calls people to live out their faith. At a time when so much of the news and information that people are consuming is actually speaking to the worst of humanity, bringing out the worst in them, the ability to bring out the best in them is really a critical national treasure, one that we have to protect.
I don’t know how to operationalize this in terms of the laws. Oftentimes, good outcomes depend on the law we don’t pass, or something we keep from happening, which would impinge on your ability to fulfill what I think is a critical mission for our country. That mission is to ensure that we have strong families, strong communities, and children raised with the values that allow them to be productive, but also to be good citizens, and to always work for the common good.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-02)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Mark Amodei (NV-02) issued the following statement following the House passage of S.612, the Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act (LTRA), the Senate companion bill of his bill H.R. 1274, which reauthorizes program funding through September 30, 2034. The bill will now move to the President’s desk.
“It is our responsibility to keep the environment around beautiful Lake Tahoe in quality shape for future generations to enjoy,”said Rep. Mark Amodei.“The reauthorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act will continue to provide the resources and oversight to do just that. I was proud to lead the effort in the House and am grateful to Senator Cortez Masto for her bicameral partnership in securing this sufficient funding which properly lays out program strategies to restore healthy water conditions, reduce wildfire threats and extract invasive species threatening the Lake Tahoe Basin and its surrounding community.”
“The Lake Tahoe Region is grateful to Congress for their leadership in passing this critical piece of legislation to continue the collaborative work to protect and restore Lake Tahoe,”said Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Executive Director Julie Regan.“Extending the federal investment in the EIP will leverage millions of dollars in state and local funding to implement the top priority projects for the lake and our communities.”
Background:
In 2023, Rep. Mark Amodei reintroduced the LTRA Reauthorization, originally introduced in 2021, along with the support of cosponsors Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01), Rep. Susie Lee (NV-03), Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04), and Rep. John Garamendi (CA-08).
This bipartisan legislation extends $415 million in funding through September 30, 2034. By building on previous success, this reauthorization provides sufficient funding to environmental projects that restore healthy water levels, mitigate the risk of wildfires, control invasive species, and maintain quality environmental standards in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Due to the significance of the situation, companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA).
With the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act set to expire on September 30, 2024, the House diligently worked to pass the Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act in this Congress which reauthorizes the $415 million in funding through September 2034.
Read my press release on the reintroduction of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act here.
Elements of the 15th Marine Expeditionary concluded more than a month of training in South Korea Aug. 6 to Sept. 7, including participation in Exercise Ssang Yong 24, which featured the first amphibious assault using Amphibious Combat Vehicles during their inaugural deployment.
The Marines and Sailors of the 15th MEU arrived in South Korea aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) during the first week of August. Partnered with the ROK Marine Corps 7th Brigade, the combined force of Marines conducted two weeks of live-fire training ranges and unit-level training at ROKMC bases near Pohang.
Battalion Landing Team 1/5, the ground combat element of the 15th MEU, employed ACVs at ROKMC training areas surrounding Pohang, South Korea, exercising the vehicles’ off-road mobility and automated crew-served weapons. Alpha Company, BLT 1/5’s designated mechanized company, and its ACV Platoon also provided ROK Marines opportunities to tour and familiarize themselves with the U.S. Marine Corps’ newest ship-to-shore connector Aug. 20 and 22.
Units from across the 15th MEU also conducted partnered non-live fire events, including: tactical planning, mountain warfare training, fast rope inserts from an MV-22B Osprey, unmanned aerial and waterborne systems familiarization, small boat operations and reconnaissance, operations in urban terrain, communications integration, chemical attack response, and other training. This training strengthened and improved the interoperability between ROK and U.S forces in defense of the Korean Peninsula.
The culminating event in South Korea for 15th MEU and its ACVs was the amphibious assault Sept. 2 as part of Ssang Yong. Alpha Company Marines and Sailors, under the cover of the combined force’s air and surface fire support, landed at Hwajin-ri Beach near Pohang alongside nearly 40 Korean amphibious assault vehicles. Using their ACVs’ stabilized weapon systems, the company identified and reduced simulated enemy positions as they approached the shoreline, then dismounted to secure the beach prior to continuing the attack inland.
This marked the first time Marine Corps ACVs with embarked infantry demonstrated their beach assault capabilities with a host nation’s forces during a major exercise.
“Seventy-four years after our landing at Inchon, I can’t think of a better place and partner with whom to showcase the Marine Corps’ latest, most lethal amphibious assault capability,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Nicholas Freeman, commanding officer of BLT 1/5. “Any amphibious assault is a complex operation, and that’s especially true with a combined force featuring new equipment. Today, we benefitted from decades of steadfast commitment between our countries, years of development and testing by our service, many months of hard work by this first-of-its-kind mechanized company, and several weeks of excellent training and integration with our allies. It’s gratifying and inspiring to be here to see the impressive result of all these efforts.”
The Marine Corps expects this first deployment of ACVs to continue to provide insights for platform embarkation and maintenance requirements, logistics, and integration with our allies and partners. These insights are vital for the service to ensure we continue to provide our Marines with the most operationally ready and capable platforms.
“As the U.S. Marine Corps’ new generation of amphibious assault vehicle, it was special and meaningful to have ACVs deployed to the Korea Theater of Operations for the first time. Especially, during the decisive action, the most complex and sophisticated phase of the amphibious operation, the ACVs not only revealed its strength and capabilities but also the firm commitment to ROK-U.S. Alliance,” said ROKMC Lt. Col. Chol-Uk Kang, lead SY24 exercise planner, 1st ROK Marine Division. “Going forward, I sincerely hope that the ROK and the U.S. can further develop on combined amphibious operational method and concept with its new capability.”
After the completion of Ssang Yong, the 15th MEU’s forces reembarked Boxer and Harpers Ferry at ROK Naval Base Busan, South Korea, to resume their deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of operations.
The ACV Platoon, Alpha Company, and other elements of the 15th MEU began their deployment in late March 2024, departing San Diego aboard Harpers Ferry.
Since then, ACVs were first employed overseas May 4 during Exercise Balikatan 24 at Oyster Bay in the Philippines. During the exercise, the ACV Platoon launched from Harpers Ferry, made movement in the water toward an objective, and attacked targets from offshore using the vehicles’ stabilized heavy machine guns before reembarking.
The ACV Platoon’s first time ashore in a foreign country was June 24 after a ship-to-shore movement from Harpers Ferry to White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan. During that event, the mechanized company rehearsed troop egress procedures and shared best practices with leaders from III Marine Expeditionary Force, which received its first ACVs in July.
Elements of the 15th MEU are under the command and control of Commander, Task Force 76, which the U.S. 7th Fleet employs to cooperate with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific.
As the U.S. 7th Fleet’s primary Navy advisor on amphibious matters in the 7th Fleet area of operations, CTF 76 is responsible for conducting expeditionary warfare operations to support a full range of theater contingencies, ranging from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations to full combat operations.
Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
“The issues plaguing American producers are directly linked to the harmful policies.”
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke on the Senate floor about the how the Biden administration’s inflationary policies are hurting American farmers. He stressed the importance of passing a Farm Bill that puts American farmers first.
Read Senator Tuberville’s remarks below or on YouTube or Rumble.
“Mr. President, I rise today to talk about the dire state of our American farm economy and our farmers. American farmers and producers are the backbone of our nation’s agriculture economy and food security.
Despite their critical role in our lives to feed, clothe, and fuel not only the United States, but the entire world, our farmers are struggling to survive—and that’s an understatement. The current state of the agriculture economy is bleak and on the verge of collapse. We have problems all over the world. We have problems in our country. There’s nothing more important. Nothing more important that we should be addressing than our food supply here in this country.
Costs for farmers are rising. Commodity prices are falling. Our farmers cannot break even—much less, make a profit. According to the USDA, net farm income this year is projected to decline 4.4% from 2023 […]. That is a disaster. This follows a shocking—listen to this—a shocking 19.5% decline in 2022.
Not one business in this country can survive with this kind of decline. And our farmers and our farms are no different. This means producer’s income has plummeted 23% in just two years. 23%. These figures represent over $40 billion in lost revenue for America’s hardworking producers. This is the largest two-year decline ever in our farm income, ever in the history of this country.
Right now, our row croppers, especially, are facing considerable financial hardship. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, row croppers had a $27.7 billion decline in cash receipts since last year. In Alabama, my state, our producers are yielding bumper crops of cotton, peanuts, corn, soybeans, and yet they can’t profit due to [the] rising cost of production. Our catfish producers are in the same boat. Rising input costs and falling fish prices are threatening to put them out of business. A multitude of factors that producers have no control over are impacting their bottom lines.
And I wanna talk about one of them. This miraculous, this ‘world saving’ Inflation Reduction Act that we passed a few years ago, was supposed to ‘save our economy.’ It was supposed to save a lot of workers. You know what it’s done to our farmers? It’s almost put us out of business. The Inflation Reduction Act started a tax credit for imports and exports.
Unfortunately, all the tax credits are going to people, and countries, and farmers from overseas—Brazil and China. [The tax credit] is supposed to go to our farmers, [but] no it’s not gonna do that. For some reason, this Administration [has] given all the tax credits to the farmers from other countries, and our farmers are struggling.
The Biden administration has control, has total control, over our farm economy, but you hadn’t heard a peep out of them, not one peep about our farmers. And this is a disastrous year coming up. And right now, we are harvesting our crops and they’re bumper crops. The issues plaguing American producers are directly linked to the harmful policies, as I just said, from the Biden-Harris administration.
This includes the lack of domestic energy production, skyrocketing inflation, which comes from the Inflation Reduction Act, and endless environmental hurdles. Let me say something about conservation and all the things that happen in our environment. There’s nobody, and I mean nobody on the face of the earth, that takes care and is more conscious of environmental problems than our farmers, because they make a living off our land. But we’re putting so many regulations on them. We’re closing our farms down and running them overseas, and we’re gonna have a national security threat because all of our food is gonna come from foreign countries.
Farmers are experiencing rising high costs of labor [and an] increase [in the] price of feeds, fertilizer, and pesticides. And I’m not going to sugarcoat it. America’s agriculture producers are facing a very tough road ahead. And it’s something nobody, the media, this building, […] The House of Representatives—nobody’s even talking about. Folks, if we can’t eat. If we don’t have food to eat, we’re done.
Many farmers fear that their farm loans this year will not be renewed. They have to have farm loans to put a crop in the ground. They fear cash flow is drying up and interest rates continuing to rise create an uncertain future for farming operations. Although Congress only has a few legislative days left to act, we must stop adding fuel to the Biden-Harris administration’s fire. We’ve got to quit adding fuel. We’ve got to help the farmers.
We need to pass a Farm Bill that helps our farmers. Democrats are [in] control of that. […] A farm bill is for five years. […] Five years ago, the Farm Bill was $870 billion for [a] five-year period. It runs in a five-year period. So, this past year, we’re supposed to be working on a Farm Bill. I’m on the Ag Committee. We go by the control of the Democratic Party. Our Democratic Chairwoman has decided we won’t do a Farm Bill this year.
We’re just throwing farmers underneath the bus. They need help. You would think by looking at everything going on, that my colleagues on the Left would rather our food come from other countries, take over our farmland, control it, and do something else with it.
Producers need a strong safety net—we’ve got to have a safety net for our farmers. Considering no farmer’s risks are the same, we cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach. Remember, we have a Farm Bill that covers livestock, hogs, row croppers, forest, fish. There’s a lot of things involved.
Farmers across the country have fluctuating levels of risk impacted by land and equipment costs, access to irrigation, and variable input requirements. Southern row croppers rely heavily, heavily upon Title I Commodity Programs in the Farm Bill, particularly the Price Loss [Coverage] program and the Agricultural Risk [Coverage] program. Yet Midwest producers heavily utilize crop insurance.
Where there may be an overlap across regions among these programs, we must fix the entire farm safety net, not just parts of it. Take the reference prices and commodity programs, for example. Reference prices are how much prices are in their commodity sells for. Our farmers […] are today operating on 2012 reference prices, 2012. Fourteen years later, the costs of production are 22-31% higher today than they were at that time a decade ago—making current reference prices completely inadequate for our farmers.
We don’t have time to waste. Our farmers are facing an uphill battle to remain in business. […] The American people going to the grocery store are gonna find out pretty quick what it is to be hungry if we don’t wake up and smell the roses.
Even if a Farm Bill is passed today, producers wouldn’t receive any commodity program support from this Farm Bill until 2026. Game, set, match before 2026 for our farmers in this country.
That’s help our farmers need now to survive, not two years late. Senate Republicans stand ready to act on a solid bipartisan bill the House Agriculture Committee passed earlier this year. Yet, Senate Democrats and the Biden administration refused, they refused, to come to the table to find practical, bipartisan solutions to the many problems our farmers are facing today.
‘Let’s don’t worry about our farmers. Let’s worry about Ukraine. Let’s worry about people overseas. Eight hundred bases we have around the world. Let’s don’t worry about eating. We can without eating.’ That’s what this Administration’s saying.
This forces us to look to supplemental appropriation packages to help our producers, if we’re not gonna do a Farm Bill, to renew their farm loans and plan for next year’s crops. If they don’t get help this year, we’re gonna have huge problems. They won’t be pocketing this money. If we come up with some money to help the farmers get along, they’ll just be planting another crop.
Without immediate action to assist producers, our nation’s agriculture industry may never, ever, make it back from the damage that we’re doing to them today. America has lost—listen to this—America has lost 150,000 farms and 25,000 farmers in our country over the last few years. What? 150,000 farms closed up. Why? They can’t make a profit. You’ve owned a farm for 100 years, you and your family. But you get to the point where you say, ‘you know, I’m not passing something down to our kids that really wanna farm, we’re not gonna put them in harm’s way. We’re gonna sell. We’re gonna get out of the business. And we’re gonna let somebody else worry about it. Let’s let the Federal Government worry about it.’ […]
We can’t afford any more losses to our farms. Our farmers are hurting. They’re hurting real bad. But have you heard anybody talk about it, no.
You’re gonna hear a lot of people complaining about it and there’s gonna be an uproar in the next few years when prices double and triple as what they are today because we’re not gonna have any food. And it’s gonna come from Brazil, it’s gonna come from China, it’s gonna come from Vietnam.
We are doing severe damage to the farmers across this country and nobody cares. I’ll continue to be the voice of our Southern agriculture producers in the Senate and ensure that we have a seat at the table on this Farm Bill upcoming. But as I just said a while ago, [even] if we do a Farm Bill today, we’re gonna lose at least half of our farmers in this country this year, this year if they don’t get some help.
Mr. President, I yield the floor.”
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.
People fleeing from Lebanon are seen at the Jdeidat Yabous border crossing in the countryside of Damascus, Syria, on Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Lebanese ministers announced on Tuesday measures to shelter 27,000 displaced persons from southern Lebanon and suspension of educational activities until the end of the week due to ongoing Israeli raids.
The 27,000 displaced were seeking refuge in 252 shelters, according to Lebanese Environment Minister Nasser Yassin.
Yassin said in a press conference for the Ministerial Emergency Committee that “the national operations room and the Higher Relief Commission have been activated to secure the basic needs of the displaced.”
For his part, Minister of Education and Higher Education Abbas Halabi suspended educational activities in the country until the end of this week while demanding that public schools be opened to receive the displaced.
He said that in current circumstances, the closure of educational and vocational institutions in the governorates of the south, Nabatieh, Bekaa, Baalbek-Hermel, and the southern suburbs will be extended until the end of this week. The suspension of classes in schools and universities in the governorates of Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and North will also be extended, the minister added.
Worries about food security and fuel shortages have prompted local citizens to stockpile food and fuel products, alarming officials about a potential rapid depletion of the country’s reserve stock.
In this regard, Minister of Economy and Trade Amin Salam called on the public to rationalize the storage of food and vital commodities.
“Let the goods be stored for a week or two or even a month and not more, to ensure that the rest of the citizens obtain their need for basic commodities under the current circumstances,” Salam said.
He noted that the current wheat stock in the local market is adequate for at least two months and assured the public that supplies are being consistently secured.
Fuel stations also witnessed a great demand in light of the escalation of Israeli raids, prompting Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayyad to reassure citizens that “the necessary reserves of petroleum derivatives are available in the medium term.”
Hezbollah and the Israeli army have been exchanging fire across the Lebanon-Israel border since Oct. 8, 2023.
On Monday, Israel began its most extensive bombardment of Lebanon since 2006, resulting in more than 550 deaths, including civilians, and over 1,800 injuries across the country. The casualty tolls and the intensity of the attacks have caused panic among Lebanese people.
Photo taken on Sept. 24, 2024 shows a house damaged in a rocket attack from Lebanon, in Rosh Pinna, northern Israel. [Photo/JINI via Xinhua]
Israel’s army said on Tuesday night that Hezbollah had fired around 300 rockets and other projectiles into Israel amid the second day of Israel’s heaviest attacks on Lebanon since 2006.
An explosive drone fell in Atlit, a coastal town south of Haifa, northern Israel, marking the first time Hezbollah’s rocket fire has reached this region, said the Israel Defense Forces, adding that two additional drones were launched toward the area but were intercepted. The drones caused no casualties, according to Israel’s rescue services.
Most of the rockets were intercepted by Israel’s aerial defense systems, the army said.
Hezbollah confirmed the attack in a statement, saying its fighters launched “an aerial operation with a squadron of assault drones against the headquarters of Israel’s special naval task unit Shayetet 13 in the Atlit base, targeting the positions of its officers and soldiers and striking the targets precisely.”
In other cases, rockets or parts of interceptor missiles that fell to the ground sparked fires in the Mount Meron area of Upper Galilee. In Rosh Pina, a town in Upper Galilee, a residential home was hit and extensively damaged.
Hospitals in the affected areas reported treating about 23 people, but later statements from Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency health service indicated that those treated were suffering from panic, not physical injuries.
At nightfall, Israel launched a new wave of attacks in Lebanon. The Air Force “conducted a number of extensive strikes on dozens of terrorist targets belonging to Hezbollah in the Beqaa region and several other areas in southern Lebanon,” the military said.
During the day, Israeli warplanes continued the massive strikes, which, according to the military, dismantled “dozens” of infrastructures where weapons were stored and numerous launchers aimed at Israeli territory were located.
Also on Tuesday night, unnamed Lebanese military sources told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes carried out ten raids on towns in the Tyre area deep in southern Lebanon and raided Hezbollah sites in the Jezzine area, also in the south of Lebanon.
Amid the sharp escalation, the Israeli military conducted Tuesday an exercise simulating fighting inside Lebanon, according to the Israeli Defense Ministry. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant remarked that “the series of blows on Hezbollah’s command chain, operatives, and weapons were tough.” According to Gallant, Israel has destroyed “tens of thousands” of rockets, missiles, and launchers since Monday.
Answering questions in a press briefing on Monday night, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari neither confirmed nor denied whether Israel plans a ground operation in Lebanon.
Israel began its most extensive bombardment of Lebanon since 2006 on Monday, resulting in more than 550 deaths, including civilians, and over 1,800 injuries across the country. The flare-up has raised concerns about the potential for a full-scale conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with fears that other nations could also become involved.
Photo taken on Sept. 16, 2024 shows a flooded area in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. [Photo/Str/Xinhua]
Severe floods in Myanmar have caused significant devastation with a death toll of 419 as of Tuesday morning, according to the State Administration Council.
Over 140,000 people were affected by the floods, which have devastated over 750,000 acres of paddy fields and killed over 100,000 animals.
Additionally, the floods have destroyed 253 religious buildings, 926 roads and bridges, lamp posts and communication towers.
In response, Myanmar authorities have allocated 30 billion kyats (about 14.2 million U.S. dollars) for rescue operations and rehabilitation efforts.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (at the podium and on the screens) delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
The General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) began on Tuesday amid growing calls for more international cooperation to address challenges such as climate change, poverty and inequality, while tackling the fallout from ongoing conflicts and global health crises.
The session saw world leaders heading to New York to deliver their statements as they took part in high-level discussions on the existential threat of sea-level rise, accelerating progress in combating the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, and driving forward the United Nation’s long-term goal of achieving global nuclear disarmament with a plenary meeting marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
President of the 79th session of the UNGA, Philemon Yang, told the opening ceremony that “the General Debate remains one of the world’s most inclusive, representative and authoritative platforms for global reflection and collective action. This year, the urgency of our task cannot be overstated.”
He noted that countries are falling behind in the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With just five years to go, less than 18 percent have been met. Meanwhile, the climate crisis is “no longer a distant threat” but “here now, ravaging ecosystems and dismantling the livelihoods of entire communities.”
Yang also addressed the various conflicts raging from the Middle East to Ukraine, and from Haiti to South Sudan. “I call for an immediate ceasefire in all these conflict settings,” he said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the General Debate of the 79th session of the General Assembly, saying that the current state of the world is unsustainable, but working together can find solutions.
“That requires us to make sure the mechanisms of international problem-solving actually solve problems,” he said. “It is time for a just peace based on the UN Charter, international law and UN resolutions.”
The agenda
The 79th session of the UNGA opened on Sept. 10, and the first day of the high-level General Debate falls on Tuesday. The 79th session marks a crucial milestone in the global effort to accelerate progress towards the 17 SDGs, according to a UN press release.
While the overall state of SDGs globally remains of grave concern, the SDG Moment event on Tuesday demonstrates that dramatic progress is still possible between now and 2030. It will do so by highlighting inspiring examples of progress across the world and the role of just and inclusive transitions in accelerating SDG progress.
World leaders gathered to engage in the annual high-level general debate under the theme “Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations.” Heads of state and government and ministers will explore solutions to intertwined global challenges to advance peace, security, and sustainable development.
On Wednesday, the High-Level Meeting on Sea-Level Rise will convene global leaders, experts and stakeholders to address the urgent and escalating threat of rising sea levels. This meeting will focus on building common understanding, mobilizing political leadership and promoting multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder collaboration and international cooperation towards the objective of “addressing the threats posed by sea-level rise.”
Participants will work towards developing comprehensive solutions and actionable commitments to combat sea-level rise, ensuring a resilient and sustainable future including for small island developing states and low-lying coastal areas, according to the United Nations.
On Thursday, the High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) presents an opportunity for countries and stakeholders to renew efforts and accelerate progress in combating the growing threat of AMR. This meeting will serve as the foundation for executing policies and ensuring accountability for strengthening health systems against AMR.
“Building on the momentum of previous declarations and commitments, participants will focus on enhancing international cooperation, promoting the responsible use of antimicrobials, and advancing the development of new treatments to safeguard global health,” said the United Nations.
Also on Thursday, a high-level meeting will be held for International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
On Monday, the United Nations just concluded the highly anticipated two-day Summit of the Future, which underscored the urgent need for enhanced international cooperation to address pressing challenges such as climate change, poverty and inequality, while tackling the impacts of ongoing conflicts and global health crises.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Langworthy announced that New York State’s Major Disaster Declaration was approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the extreme weather during August 8-10 in Allegany, Steuben, Broome, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Ontario, St. Lawrence, and Yates Counties.
“Seeing the damage up close in some of the hardest hit areas, it became clear how essential federal assistance was for these communities to recover, and I was proud to be a vocal advocate for the Southern Tier throughout this process,” said Congressman Langworthy. “With homes, businesses, and key infrastructure severely impacted, this Major Disaster Declaration will allow people to rebuild their lives. Now that this assistance is in place, we can focus on helping our neighbors get back on their feet after such a devastating storm.”
Immediately following the flooding, Congressman Langworthy toured the Steuben County areas that were hardest hit, including Canisteo, Jasper-Troupsburg High School, Greenwood, Woodhull, and the Jasper sewage plant.
Congressman Langworthy also penned a letter to President Joe Biden urging the swift approval of New York State’s Major Disaster Declaration request following the catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Debby in August 2024. Congressman Langworthy’s letter comes after New York State completed damage assessments and submitted its request.
In his letter, Congressman Langworthy highlighted the severe damage to major roadways, including state Route 417 and county Route 36, that have left residents cut off and businesses unable to operate. The Congressman also emphasized the need for additional Individual Assistance to ensure that residents can rebuild their homes.
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that President Biden has approved her request for a Major Disaster Declaration to provide federal assistance to communities impacted by Tropical Storm Debby on August 8-10. This declaration allows for federal financial assistance to support public infrastructure reconstruction efforts in Allegany, Broome, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Ontario, Steuben, St. Lawrence and Yates counties.
“The effects of Tropical Storm Debby caused extreme damage across parts of New York last month, and I’m thankful President Biden has approved my request for a Major Disaster Declaration,” Governor Hochul said. “My administration will continue to work with FEMA to ensure those affected receive the critical funding they need to begin the recovery and rebuilding process.”
A Major Disaster Declaration secures financial assistance from the federal government, primarily through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program, and provides funding to local governments and eligible non-profits for debris removal, protective measures, and repairs to buildings and infrastructure, including roads, bridges, water and wastewater treatment facilities, critical infrastructure sites, schools, parks and other facilities.
As part of the declaration, New York was also granted access to FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs. Following a Presidential disaster declaration, FEMA provides funding for states to administer grant programs supporting local hazard mitigation planning and long-term hazard mitigation measures to reduce the loss of life and to improve property damaged by natural disasters. Local governments and certain non-profits that perform government-like functions are eligible to apply for these grants. All counties in the State will have the ability to apply for this funding. More information will become available in the coming months.
In advance of the storm, Governor Hochul directed State agencies to ready emergency response assets and stay in real-time communication with local governments to monitor weather impacts and respond to requests for assistance. After the storms, Governor Kathy Hochul announced grants of up to $50,000 to be available to eligible homeowners in Allegany, Delaware, Franklin, Steuben and St. Lawrence Counties to address health and safety-related repairs not covered by insurance or other disaster relief programs.
Representative Nick Langworthy said, “Seeing the damage up close in some of the hardest hit areas, it became clear how essential federal assistance was for these communities to recover, and I was proud to be a vocal advocate for the Southern Tier throughout this process. With homes, businesses, and key infrastructure severely impacted, this Major Disaster Declaration will allow people to rebuild their lives. Now that this assistance is in place, we can focus on helping our neighbors get back on their feet after such a devastating storm.”
Elements of the 15th Marine Expeditionary concluded more than a month of training in South Korea Aug. 6 to Sept. 7, including participation in Exercise Ssang Yong 24, which featured the first amphibious assault using Amphibious Combat Vehicles during their inaugural deployment.
The Marines and Sailors of the 15th MEU arrived in South Korea aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) during the first week of August. Partnered with the ROK Marine Corps 7th Brigade, the combined force of Marines conducted two weeks of live-fire training ranges and unit-level training at ROKMC bases near Pohang.
Battalion Landing Team 1/5, the ground combat element of the 15th MEU, employed ACVs at ROKMC training areas surrounding Pohang, South Korea, exercising the vehicles’ off-road mobility and automated crew-served weapons. Alpha Company, BLT 1/5’s designated mechanized company, and its ACV Platoon also provided ROK Marines opportunities to tour and familiarize themselves with the U.S. Marine Corps’ newest ship-to-shore connector Aug. 20 and 22.
Units from across the 15th MEU also conducted partnered non-live fire events, including: tactical planning, mountain warfare training, fast rope inserts from an MV-22B Osprey, unmanned aerial and waterborne systems familiarization, small boat operations and reconnaissance, operations in urban terrain, communications integration, chemical attack response, and other training. This training strengthened and improved the interoperability between ROK and U.S forces in defense of the Korean Peninsula.
The culminating event in South Korea for 15th MEU and its ACVs was the amphibious assault Sept. 2 as part of Ssang Yong. Alpha Company Marines and Sailors, under the cover of the combined force’s air and surface fire support, landed at Hwajin-ri Beach near Pohang alongside nearly 40 Korean amphibious assault vehicles. Using their ACVs’ stabilized weapon systems, the company identified and reduced simulated enemy positions as they approached the shoreline, then dismounted to secure the beach prior to continuing the attack inland.
This marked the first time Marine Corps ACVs with embarked infantry demonstrated their beach assault capabilities with a host nation’s forces during a major exercise.
“Seventy-four years after our landing at Inchon, I can’t think of a better place and partner with whom to showcase the Marine Corps’ latest, most lethal amphibious assault capability,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Nicholas Freeman, commanding officer of BLT 1/5. “Any amphibious assault is a complex operation, and that’s especially true with a combined force featuring new equipment. Today, we benefitted from decades of steadfast commitment between our countries, years of development and testing by our service, many months of hard work by this first-of-its-kind mechanized company, and several weeks of excellent training and integration with our allies. It’s gratifying and inspiring to be here to see the impressive result of all these efforts.”
The Marine Corps expects this first deployment of ACVs to continue to provide insights for platform embarkation and maintenance requirements, logistics, and integration with our allies and partners. These insights are vital for the service to ensure we continue to provide our Marines with the most operationally ready and capable platforms.
“As the U.S. Marine Corps’ new generation of amphibious assault vehicle, it was special and meaningful to have ACVs deployed to the Korea Theater of Operations for the first time. Especially, during the decisive action, the most complex and sophisticated phase of the amphibious operation, the ACVs not only revealed its strength and capabilities but also the firm commitment to ROK-U.S. Alliance,” said ROKMC Lt. Col. Chol-Uk Kang, lead SY24 exercise planner, 1st ROK Marine Division. “Going forward, I sincerely hope that the ROK and the U.S. can further develop on combined amphibious operational method and concept with its new capability.”
After the completion of Ssang Yong, the 15th MEU’s forces reembarked Boxer and Harpers Ferry at ROK Naval Base Busan, South Korea, to resume their deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of operations.
The ACV Platoon, Alpha Company, and other elements of the 15th MEU began their deployment in late March 2024, departing San Diego aboard Harpers Ferry.
Since then, ACVs were first employed overseas May 4 during Exercise Balikatan 24 at Oyster Bay in the Philippines. During the exercise, the ACV Platoon launched from Harpers Ferry, made movement in the water toward an objective, and attacked targets from offshore using the vehicles’ stabilized heavy machine guns before reembarking.
The ACV Platoon’s first time ashore in a foreign country was June 24 after a ship-to-shore movement from Harpers Ferry to White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan. During that event, the mechanized company rehearsed troop egress procedures and shared best practices with leaders from III Marine Expeditionary Force, which received its first ACVs in July.
Elements of the 15th MEU are under the command and control of Commander, Task Force 76, which the U.S. 7th Fleet employs to cooperate with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific.
As the U.S. 7th Fleet’s primary Navy advisor on amphibious matters in the 7th Fleet area of operations, CTF 76 is responsible for conducting expeditionary warfare operations to support a full range of theater contingencies, ranging from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations to full combat operations.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Five property owners fined over $63,000 in total for failing to comply with fire safety directions Five property owners fined over $63,000 in total for failing to comply with fire safety directions ******************************************************************************************
Five property owners were convicted and fined over $63,000 in total at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on September 10 for failing to comply with fire safety directions issued under the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance (FS(B)O) (Cap. 572). The Buildings Department (BD) issued fire safety directions under section 5(2)(a)(ii) of the FS(B)O to five owners of the respective three domestic flats in a 44-year-old composite building on Yan Hing Street, Tai Po, requiring them to comply with the fire safety construction requirements by providing fire-rated doors and modifying metal gates at the unit entrances, which open directly to a staircase. Failing to comply with the statutory directions, the five owners were prosecuted by the BD and were convicted by the court. Two co-owners were each fined about $11,060, another two co-owners were each fined about $12,560, and a single owner was fined about $16,580. “According to the FS(B)O, failing to comply with a statutory direction issued under the ordinance without reasonable excuse is a serious offence. The BD may instigate prosecution proceedings against the owner”, a spokesman for the BD said today (September 25). Pursuant to section 5(8) of the FS(B)O, any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a statutory direction, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 4 ($25,000 at present) and to a further fine of $2,500 for each day of non-compliance. Upon conviction, an application may also be made to the court for a Fire Safety Compliance Order against the owner under section 6(1) of the FS(B)O directing the owner to comply with the requirements of the direction.
Ends/Wednesday, September 25, 2024Issued at HKT 11:00
This week the New South Wales government announced it would introduce legislation that ensures renters are offered convenient, fee-free options to pay their rent.
The announcement is just one of many state and territory reforms that aim to address issues arising from the use of rental technology platforms.
In recent years these platforms and the landlords who use them have come under fire for intruding on renters’ privacy and charging additional fees. While practices such as “rent bidding” have already been outlawed around Australia, governments are now starting to turn their attention to other harmful practices facilitated by new technologies.
Action on these issues is long overdue, and there’s much more that needs to be done to ensure rental technology platforms actually benefit consumers.
An expanding industry
A wide range of digital technology platforms are used to facilitate the use, trading, operation and management of real estate assets. A well-known example is AirBnb, a technology platform that facilitates short-term rentals by connecting hosts with guests.
The property technology industry in Australia is rapidly expanding. In 2023, there were more than 478 products, start-ups and established companies ranging from marketing tools to data analytics platforms. This was up from 188 in 2019.
A portion of these companies make services typically designed to be used by renters, real estate agents or landlords.
A major selling point of rental technology platforms is that they promise to streamline a range of processes. To renters, these technologies are billed as quick, easy and effective ways to submit property applications, request maintenance or pay rent.
People who struggle to access or use technologies may also find these platforms difficult to use. This makes it harder for them to access an essential service.
Some 41% of renters report feeling pressured to use a third-party rental technology platform to apply for a property. And 29% say they have opted not to apply for particular rentals because they do not trust rental technology platforms. This suggests that the use of these technologies may sometimes deter, rather than attract, applicants.
Additional fees
Over 30% of Australians rent their homes, a figure that continues to grow as people find themselves priced out of home ownership. Rising rents and the overall increase in the cost of living have put many renters under substantial financial pressure.
With this in mind, it’s concerning that some renters have found themselves with little choice but to use rental technology platforms that charge fees to process rental payments.
For example, renters using a popular platform called Alio are typically charged between 0.25% to 1.50% to make automated rental payments, depending on the method of payment they use. A rough estimate shows that a household paying the median weekly rent (A$627 per week) on a fortnightly basis might see themselves paying between $81.51 and $489.06 in additional fees each year.
As required by law, Alio does offer a fee-free option to pay rent. But this option is highly inconvenient: it requires renters to enter their bank details anew every month.
The fee-free options offered by some other rental technology platforms are equally inconvenient. They include paying rent in cash at the local post office.
For renters who have been asked to use a rental payment platform, this may mean spending additional time and effort every time they pay their rent to avoid paying additional fees.
The NSW government already requires lessors to offer fee-free ways to pay rent (similar protections are legislated in other states and territories). However, the key element of this week’s announcement is a commitment to making sure these fee-free methods are actually convenient. This should hopefully close the legislative loophole that is enabling these rental technologies to unfairly profit at renters’ expense.
While the draft legislation is yet to be seen, these reforms might see renters reverting to tried and tested payment methods such as bank transfers and bypassing rental technology payment platforms altogether.
Effective enforcement
Introducing laws that ensure renters have access to convenient, fee-free ways to make rental payments is a no-brainer. The next step is ensuring these laws are enforced effectively.
To achieve this, the regulator must be well resourced to carry out compliance and enforcement activities that ensure lessors and rental technology businesses comply with these protections.
Beyond these reforms, there is more work to be done to ensure renters are effectively protected from a range of harms that are created or exacerbated by rental technology platforms.
The key challenge for governments and regulators is to keep up with technological developments so they can identify and address issues as they arise.
Linda Przhedetsky is a Board Member at the NSW Tenants’ Union, and is a member of the NSW Fair Trading’s Industry Reference Group on Protecting Renter Information. She receives funding from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute.
Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
The reauthorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act heads to President Biden’s desk for signature before the act was set to expire on October 1, 2024
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto’s (D-Nev.) bill to extend the authorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act for 10 years passed the U.S. House of Representatives today. Cortez Masto’s legislation is cosponsored by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) in the Senate. The Senate passed this bill in July, and it now goes to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
“I was thrilled to pass the reauthorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act through the Senate this summer, and today’s vote means this critical legislation is officially on its way to becoming law,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’m proud of our bipartisan work to deliver funding for vital programs that keep the lake clean, support local jobs, and support our tourism economy. It is an honor to help lead Team Tahoe and fight for the resources the basin needs to thrive.”
“Lake Tahoe is a treasure, and we must do everything we can to protect it for future generations,” said Senator Padilla. “As the threats from climate change continue to escalate, I’m thrilled to see the House join the Senate to provide critical funding to preserve Lake Tahoe and protect it against pollution, invasive species, and wildfires.”
“For the last two decades, lawmakers from both parties have come together and worked in a bipartisan way to protect Lake Tahoe and the surrounding communities,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to continue this legacy by working with Republicans and Democrats in Congress to pass the Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act and reauthorize this much-needed funding to help preserve one of Nevada’s most unique natural wonders for generations to come.”
“By reauthorizing the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act, we protect the iconic landscapes that make California beautiful and support local jobs that rely on a healthy Lake Tahoe,” said Senator Butler. “Although we have made significant progress in keeping Tahoe blue, we must remain steadfast to protect it from climate change, wildfires, and pollution.”
“The Lake Tahoe Region is grateful to Congress for their leadership in passing this critical piece of legislation to continue the collaborative work to protect and restore Lake Tahoe,” said Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Executive Director Julie Regan. “Extending the federal investment in the EIP will leverage millions of dollars in state and local funding to implement the top priority projects for the lake and our communities.”
The Lake Tahoe Restoration Act is bicameral, and is cosponsored in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Mark Amodei (R-Nev.-02), John Garamendi (D-Calif.-03), Dina Titus (D-Nev.- 01), Susie Lee (D-Nev.-03), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.-04), John Duarte (R-Calif.-13) and Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.-06). It will allow critical funding to support environmental protection and habitat restoration programs across the basin for the next ten years. This law has delivered millions in federal dollars to Lake Tahoe since the original law passed in 2000.
Senator Cortez Masto has been a champion for Lake Tahoe, leading efforts in the Senate to conserve the region and protect the Lake. She recently secured $24 million to extend the popular East Shore Trail around Lake Tahoe, and almost $8 million to help the Tahoe Transportation District purchase new electric hybrid busses and improve transit safety. She secured nearly $17 million in funding for the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, in addition to critical resources to address microplastic pollution in the Lake and to improve transportation options to and from Reno. She has led calls for a comprehensive, collaborative, and science-based approach to protect Lake Tahoe from the threat of climate change. Cortez Masto helped pass the Great American Outdoors Act, which was signed into law to repair and maintain public lands nationwide.
Climate change poses a growing threat to people and their livelihoods in Asia and the Pacific. Record heat waves, catastrophic floods, prolonged droughts, and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. Yet critical data gaps hinder our understanding of climate impacts, particularly on vulnerable populations in developing Asia. Drawing on insights from Key Indicators 2024: Data for Climate Action, panelists highlight the importance of granular data in capturing the nuanced effects of climate change on different regions and communities. Additionally, the discussion will explore policies and strategies aimed at enhancing data systems to foster inclusive and sustainable development.
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Climate change poses a growing threat to people and their livelihoods in Asia and the Pacific. Record heat waves, catastrophic floods, prolonged droughts, and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. Yet critical data gaps hinder our understanding of climate impacts, particularly on vulnerable populations in developing Asia. Drawing on insights from Key Indicators 2024: Data for Climate Action, panelists highlight the importance of granular data in capturing the nuanced effects of climate change on different regions and communities. Additionally, the discussion will explore policies and strategies aimed at enhancing data systems to foster inclusive and sustainable development.
Tāmaki Makaurau is on track to meet its targets to reduce water consumption and the water supply target for recycled water capacity. That’s according to the annual progress report for the Auckland Water Strategy.
The Auckland Water Strategy (2022 – 2050) is Auckland Council’s 30-year approach to water, guided by the vision te mauri o te wai – that the life-sustaining capacity of Auckland’s water is protected and enhanced.
The Policy and Planning Committee heard a progress report in its recent meeting. Chair of the committee, Councillor Richard Hills, welcomed this report and acknowledged our complex relationship with water.
“We’ve seen the extremes of our relationship with water in recent years, from severe flooding to drought and water restrictions. The Auckland Water Strategy provides us with a guiding vision while ensuring that strategic direction is being progressed through efforts across the organisation to enhance our resilience to water-related natural hazards, improve our partnership with mana whenua, and improve our planning framework,” says Cr Hills.
“There have been some notable milestones achieved in the last year, especially around enhancing our resilience to water-related natural hazards and updating our planning framework. Through the Storm Response Fund and Making Space for Water programme, there’s been some great mahi to empower communities to prepare for a changing water future and enhance the uptake of resilient infrastructure.
“There’s more work to be done and it’s great to have a guiding vision as we continue to protect and enhance our relationship with, and management of, water in Tāmaki Makaurau.”
Highlights from the report
Highlights from the report included that Tāmaki Makaurau is still on track to achieve the strategy’s water consumption targets to reduce consumption below 253 litres per person per day by June 2025. This is despite a slight increase in per capita consumption in the 2023/2024 financial year.
Additionally, Tāmaki Makaurau has already exceeded its supply target of having at least 20M litres per day of recycled water capacity (that can be used in a productive way) by 2030. This is due to re-using purified wastewater in Watercare’s wastewater treatment plants as well as some major construction projects.
The report also noted that, of the 34 actions outlined by the strategy indicatively scoped for delivery by the end of June 2025, 15 are on track or complete, 16 are at risk of not being delivered within the envisioned timeframe, and three are behind schedule at the time of reporting.
“Strategic direction is being progressed through efforts across the organisation to enhance our resilience to water-related natural hazards, improve our partnership with mana whenua, and improve our planning framework,” says Dave Allen, Auckland Council’s Manager Natural Environment Strategy.
“However, resource constraints mean that delivering all 34 actions identified for delivery by 30 June 2025 will be a challenge. To support implementation, we’ve prioritised actions in the strategy to better support resource allocation over the next year and will be working closely with the leadership and staff in key departments across the organisation to enhance commitment to achieving delivery of the strategy’s actions.”
About the Water Strategy
The Auckland Water Strategy ensures that the protection and enhancement of water is a priority in our decision making. The strategy helps us ensure that all our future decision making, and investments will contribute to improving the health of our waters.
The Water Strategy framework centres around eight strategic shifts:
