Hunger in South Sudan’s northeast has reached a critical tipping point, with nearly 7.7 million people facing severe food insecurity as conflict escalates, the UN’s emergency food relief agency warned on Wednesday.
The situation is especially dire for returnees fleeing violence in Sudan, who now account for nearly half of those experiencing catastrophic hunger levels.
The influx of over 1.1 million displaced people into already fragile communities has overwhelmed resources and relief efforts, according to the UN World Food Programme (WFP).
With the pre-harvest lean season underway, conditions are expected to deteriorate further. WFP is calling on donors to step up support to avert a deepening humanitarian catastrophe.
Years of volatility
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, but the world’s youngest nation has been plagued by conflict and instability ever since.
A civil war erupted in 2013 between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those aligned with his former deputy, Riek Machar. The war – marked by ethnic violence, mass atrocities and widespread humanitarian crisis – lasted until a fragile peace deal was signed in 2018.
There are fears of a relapse into the civil war following skyrocketing tensions between the South Sudanese leaders, including the reported house arrest of Mr. Machar at the end of last month.
Conflict and disease
The crisis extends beyond hunger with a cholera outbreak now underway in volatile Upper Nile state. In response, WFP has airlifted 35 metric tons of aid to affected areas, with additional stock awaiting transport once security conditions allow.
The agency also aims to deliver food assistance to more than 450,000 people in the region, focusing on those facing emergency (IPC4) and catastrophic levels (ICP5) of hunger, tracked by the UN-supported food security classification system known as the IPC.
However, active conflict is hampering aid efforts and food distributions have been paused in six counties due to active fighting and insecurity.
“[We and our] partners have the food ready to deliver and distribute once conditions allow,” it said.
Women at the crossroads
As conflict spreads and hunger deepens, women and girls are bearing the brunt of the crisis. Many have been forced to flee insecurity multiple times.
Recurrent, relentless climate shocks are also taking a particularly heavy toll, leaving them at risk of being coerced into sex work, trafficked or sexually assaulted as they venture far and often alone in search of food, water and work.
To respond to growing needs, UN agencies – such as reproductive health agency, UNFPA – are operating safe spaces to provide not only shelter but also counselling, skills training and vital information on gender-based violence prevention.
Funding cuts have meant at least two safe spaces are set to close by May, leaving thousands of women and girls without access to support.
“In the face of this crisis, every dollar matters, every intervention counts, and every life saved is a step toward peace,” said UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem.
UNFPA urgently needs $8.8 million to sustain lifesaving services but has received just a fraction of that amount.
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2
Media Advisory Wednesday, April 9, 2025
NIH-funded project helps unraveling the brain’s wiring, giving clues to how we see the world.
What In a massive scientific effort funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), hundreds of researchers have helped to map the connections between hundreds of thousands of neurons in the mouse brain and then overlayed their firing patterns in response to visual stimuli. This breakthrough is a critical piece of foundational science to build toward understanding how our brains process visual information to reconstruct the images we see every day. Information processing in the human brain occurs via electrical firing of 86 billion neurons that make trillions of connections with each other. The secrets of how our brain enable us to think, feel, and act lie hidden in the complexity of its wiring diagram and the barrage of electrical signals that move across it in millisecond time frames. While the current findings focus on a tiny fraction of the brain, they reveal the complex connections between the cells and show how those connections are wired to produce functional responses. This information, which was previously beyond our reach, could help us understand how the brain functions normally and offer a guide to what goes wrong as the result of various disorders or injuries. To carry out the study, researchers presented video clips to mice genetically engineered for their neurons to emit light when they fire. The neuron firing patterns in areas on the brain surface that are associated with vision were optically recorded across a cubic millimeter – about the size of a grain of sand. Within this deceptively small amount of tissue lies remarkable complexity: four kilometers of axons, the processes that nerve cells use to communicate with each other, intertwined to make more than 524 million connections called synapses across more than 200,000 cells. To map these connections teams worked 12-hour shifts for 12 straight days to carefully cut and image ultra-thin slices of the brain tissue using electron microscopes (EM). Reconstruction was the most challenging next step, as it required accurate stitching together almost 28,000 EM images to align the connections that cross the volume of brain tissue. This was followed by months of tracing the connections using deep learning algorithms followed by manual, and automated proofreading. Deep learning predictive models that explain visual information processing in the cortex were constructed and validated. In total, the sheer amount of data collected to create this tiny map comes out to 1.6 petabytes, roughly the equivalent of 22 years of continuous HD video. These results come at a time when maps of neurons and their connections are increasingly revealing the mysteries of the brain. In 2023, research funded by the National Institutes of Health Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies® Initiative, or The NIH BRAIN Initiative®, produced the first complete cell atlas of the mouse brain, including the types and locations surveyed from more than 32 million cells. Last year, the NIH BRAIN Initiative “Flywire” project led to the complete mapping of the common fruit fly brain, demonstrating the unique value of mapping the whole brain in its entirety. Funding for this project was provided through the Machine Intelligence from Cortical Networks (MICrONS) Program of the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity and the NIH BRAIN Initiative. The findings, published in a package of 10 papers published in the Nature family of journals, represent more than seven years of work performed by more than 150 scientists around the world. The mouse connectome data detailed in this press release can be visualized online using the MICrONS Explorer resource. Who John Ngai, Ph.D., director of The NIH BRAIN Initiative, is available for comment. Article The MICrONS Consortium et al. papers can be found here. The NIH BRAIN Initiative, a multidisciplinary collaboration across 10 NIH Institutes and Centers, is uniquely positioned for cross-cutting discoveries in neuroscience to revolutionize our understanding of the human brain. By accelerating the development and application of innovative neurotechnologies, The BRAIN Initiative® is enabling researchers to understand the brain at unprecedented levels of detail in both health and disease, improving how we treat, prevent, and cure brain disorders. The BRAIN Initiative involves a multidisciplinary network of federal and non-federal partners whose missions and current research portfolios complement the goals of the NIH BRAIN Initiative. About the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS): NINDS is the nation’s leading funder of research on the brain and nervous system. The mission of NINDS is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease. About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov. NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health® ###
1 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) fires live rounds during an air-to-ground rehearsal exercise in Ben Ghilouf, Tunisia May 09, 2024. African Lion 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premiere joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Lukas Sparks) (Photo Credit: Spc. Lukas Sparks) VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –Paratroopers with 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 9th Psychological Operations Battalion, Utah National Guard, and 2e Brigade d’infanterie Parachutiste (2e BIP), Moroccan Royal Armed Forces, greet each other in the drop zone near Ben Guerir, Morocco, after a successful combined airborne operation during African Lion 2024 (AL24). AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. (Image by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Free) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Free) VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –A remotely controlled Micro Tactical Ground Robot goes down a staircase in a tunnel operation during the culminating exercise at African Lion 2024 (AL24) near Tifnit, Morocco, May 27-28, 2024. The training featured subterranean warfare, psychological operations, building clearing, combined assaults, fast-rope insertion, rappelling, and hostage rescue during AL24, the U.S. Africa Command’s premier combined, joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jake Seawolf) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Jake SeaWolf) VIEW ORIGINAL4 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Capt. Spencer Cline, a family medicine physician with the State Headquarters Medical Readiness Detachment (MRD), Utah National Guard, inspects the ear of a Moroccan patient during the humanitarian civic assistance mission as part of exercise African Lion 2024 (AL24) in Tata, Morocco, May 23, 2024. The Utah National Guard has been partners with Morocco through the Department of Defense State Partnership Program since 2003 and led the effort to partner with the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces for a humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) operation during African Lion 2024 (AL24). The HCA event enables U.S. military personnel to work with their Moroccan counterparts to provide medical services to civilian populations who may lack access to medical care, while improving the operational readiness of participating service members. AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Trevor Rapp) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Trevor Rapp) VIEW ORIGINAL5 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Spc. Frances Burnett, a unit supply specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New York Army National Guard, holds the battalion’s colors before a formation of all its Soldiers during exercise African Lion in Tantan, Morocco, May 30, 2024. African Lion 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia, with over 9,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. (U.S. Army photo by Avery Schneider) (Photo Credit: Avery Schneider) VIEW ORIGINAL6 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Soldiers and Marines pose for a group photo with Ghana Armed Forces soldiers after completing a civil military operations course during African Lion 2024 (AL24) in Tamale, Ghana, May 21, 2024. AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier and largest annual combined, joint exercise. This year’s exercise is scheduled from April 29 to May 31 and is hosted across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia, with more than 8,100 participants from over 27 countries, including contingents from NATO. African Lion 24 aims to enhance readiness between the U.S. and partner nation forces. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Cade Castillo) (Photo Credit: Spc. Cade Castillo) VIEW ORIGINAL7 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Justin Feese, maintenance advisor, and Staff Sgt. Devin Sasser, network communications systems specialist, both assigned to Maneuver Combat Advisor Team 2310, 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade (2nd SFAB), assemble a microwave satellite terminal to increase tactical communication to support exercise African Lion 2024 (AL24) in Dodji, Senegal, May 27, 2024. The 2nd SFAB provides critical advising in support of a joint team to build and test strategic readiness and ultimately deploy, fight and win in complex, multi-domain environments. Currently, Maneuver Combat Advisor Team 2310 is in Senegal as part of a 9-month employment rotation to advise the Armed Forces of Senegal [Forces armées du Sénégal] throughout the country and plays and integral role during AL24. AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas J. De La Pena) (Photo Credit: Nicholas J. De La Pena) VIEW ORIGINAL8 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –An Armed Forces of Senegal [Forces armées du Sénégal] soldier fires a M249 Squad Automatic Weapon while Maryland National Guardsman Sgt. Mathew Angell, a team leader with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment, serves as a range safety officer during a live-fire weapons familiarization led by U.S. Army Soldiers and members of the Royal Netherlands Army as part of exercise African Lion 2024 (AL24) in Dodji, Senegal, May 23, 2024. The weapons range provided an opportunity to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative readiness training in an austere environment. AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas J. De La Pena) (Photo Credit: Nicholas J. De La Pena) VIEW ORIGINAL
VICENZA, Italy – African Lion 25, U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual exercise, officially kicks off April 14, 2025, in Tunisia, with activities in Ghana, Senegal, and Morocco beginning in May. With more than 10,000 troops from over 40 nations—including seven NATO allies—this year’s iteration will be the largest in the exercise’s history.
Led by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), AL25 enhances interoperability, strengthens readiness, and builds strategic partnerships through realistic, multi-domain training. Exercises span land, air, maritime, space, and cyber domains, supporting the shared goal of increased security and stability on the continent.
“African Lion 25 is AFRICOM’s largest multinational, combined joint exercise in Africa. It demonstrates the capabilities of the total force by building strategic readiness and interoperability with our African partners and allies to deploy, fight, and win in a complex multi-domain environment,” said Maj. Gen. Andrew C. Gainey, commanding general, SETAF-AF.
Core events include field training exercises, airborne and amphibious operations, special operations forces, HIMARS rapid insertion (HIRAIN), humanitarian civic assistance, and medical readiness engagements. New capabilities being tested include integrated cyber defense training and next-generation systems such as the Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW).
Participating countries include Benin, Brazil, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, France, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, The Gambia, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and United States. Observers include Algeria, Belgium, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, India, Qatar, Republic of Congo, and Turkey, reflecting broad interest in regional military cooperation.
African Lion began in 2004 and has evolved into the U.S. military’s most significant exercise on the continent. This year’s events reinforce the U.S. commitment to enduring partnerships and demonstrate our ability to respond to crises and deter threats by promoting peace through strength.
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African Lion 25 is U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual exercise, led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that strengthens the U.S. military’s ability to respond rapidly, operate forward, and train alongside allies and partners. Designed to address shared security challenges, African Lion 25 enhances readiness, reinforces strategic reach, and fosters innovative solutions.
“NBDC provides businesses with the resources and guidance they need to grow, at no cost,” said Gov. Pillen. “Today’s award winners show the spirit of entrepreneurship is alive and well across Nebraska. The businesses being recognized create jobs, solve problems and show that Nebraska is the place to bring innovative ideas to life, in part because of the level of support available in this state through organizations like NBDC.”
With nine offices across the state and headquartered at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), NBDC offers no-cost consulting services that span from start-up to succession. NBDC is also the home of the SourceLink Nebraska program, which plays a key role in the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by connecting businesses with the resources they need to succeed.
UNO Chancellor Dr. Joanne Li noted that her own parents were entrepreneurs, and she saw firsthand the hard work and dedication it took to grow an enterprise from the ground up.
“NBDC is very important to the state of Nebraska. It’s one goal is to promote growth and development for our businesses – and you are the lifeline, the bloodline, for economic development,” Li told the award recipients. “I thank the Governor for having today’s ceremony to celebrate your hard work, because you set the example for us to continue to be entrepreneurs for the state of Nebraska.”
K.C. Belitz, Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) Director, emphasized the importance of growing talent right in Nebraska. “We have to home grow our own,” he said. “That’s going to be an important strategy for building the Nebraska economy. It’s great to be celebrating today’s business owners who are showing that Nebraska is the best place to be an entrepreneur.”
Dan Curran, NBDC’s executive director, announced the awards and highlighted the wide range of services NBDC offers.
“This year’s NBDC award recipients embody the innovation and determination that fuel Nebraska’s economy,” said Curran. “Entrepreneurship is about tackling challenges head-on, and the dedication of these individuals and businesses helps make Nebraska an exceptional place to live and work. We are honored to celebrate their achievements today.”
Nebraska Business Development Center – 2024 Business Award Winners
Champion of Small Business – Elevator (Omaha)
Entrepreneurs Shannon and Emiliano Lerda created Elevator, a co-warehousing and community space in downtown Omaha, to support more than 150 small business owners. Recognizing their commitment to fostering Nebraska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, NBDC has named Elevator the 2024 Champion of Small Business.
The Lerdas launched Elevator after struggling to find flexible warehouse space for their e-commerce business. With guidance from NBDC, they developed a business plan and financial strategy, transforming a four-story building into a thriving hub for startups. Their innovative approach has attracted funding for expansion into Des Moines and Kansas City, ensuring more entrepreneurs have the resources to succeed.
Government Contractor of the Year – Daycos (Norfolk)
Daycos, a transportation revenue solutions company, has been recognized as the 2024 Government Contractor of the Year for securing a Tier 1 subcontractor role in a Department of Defense (DoD) contract. CEO Brandon Day credits the company’s growth to its commitment to workforce retention, government contracting, and community involvement.
Daycos, which has worked with NBDC since 2009, processes more than 400,000 invoices annually and earned a B Corp Certification for its high standards in performance and transparency. The company’s success underscores the impact of Nebraska businesses in the federal contracting space.
Innovation Business of the Year – Set Your Sites (Lincoln)
Lincoln-based Set Your Sites has been honored as the 2024 Innovation Business of the Year for revolutionizing campground management. Stacy and Dustin Dam created Set Your Sites to provide real-time availability checks, mobile payments, and Wi-Fi services for campers, solving a long-standing issue in the industry.
Inspired by a frustrating campground reservation experience, the Dams developed a technology-driven solution. With guidance from NBDC, they transformed their idea into a business that improves efficiency for campgrounds and enhances experiences for campers nationwide.
SourceLink Nebraska Resource Partner of the Year – Entrepreneur’s Education Collaborative (Statewide)
The Entrepreneur’s Education Collaborative (EEC), led by Blake Martin, has been named the 2024 SourceLink Nebraska Resource Partner of the Year for an unwavering commitment to supporting and connecting Nebraska’s entrepreneurial community.
A founding member and leader of the Entrepreneur’s Education Collaborative (EEC), Martin has played a pivotal role in developing free learning opportunities to help entrepreneurs succeed. Martin says the organization sponsors six or seven educational events a year, with more if a topic warrants attention. His efforts have enhanced access to entrepreneurial education, streamlined resources, and expanded outreach beyond metropolitan areas to a statewide audience. Under his leadership, EEC has continued to grow since its founding in 2016.
About the Nebraska Business Development Center
The Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) provides confidential, no-cost business consulting services to any Nebraskan wanting to start, grow, or transition a business. NBDC is a University of Nebraska at Omaha center with nine locations, partnering with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Wayne State College, and Chadron State College to deliver its services statewide.
In 2024, NBDC served over 2,000 clients, leading to a $716.5 million impact to the Nebraska economy through job start or creation, business investments, government contracts, and SBIR awards.
KC Belitz, Chancellor Li, Shannon and Emiliano Lerda, Gov. Pillen
overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that the “Meals with Meaning: Veteran Feeding Veteran” program, launched in response to food insecurity heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic, has reached a major milestone, successfully distributing two million meals to New York’s Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families. The innovative program, led by HelloFresh, is a collaboration with the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services, Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, New York City Department of Veterans’ Services and Pratt Industries.
“New York State is grounded in a history of service — one that extends beyond the debt of gratitude we profess to our men and women in uniform and into the actions we take to support them and their loved ones,” Governor Hochul said. “The Meals with Meaning program is living proof of our commitment to those who have served our country, delivering more than two million meals for those in need.”
This partnership of government, nonprofits and private industry has created a seamless program that benefits our Veterans and Military Families to ensure those who are food insecure will have healthy meals to share. Governor Hochul also announced that HelloFresh has generously committed to funding the program again throughout 2025, ensuring continued support for those who have served.
Earlier today, veteran volunteers packed 8,000 Meals with Meaning meal kits at The Campaign Against Hunger’s (TCAH) Brooklyn headquarters for Veterans, Service Members and Military Families who are facing food insecurity. Each kit contains proteins, fresh produce and ingredients supplied by HelloFresh to make eight nutritious meals at home. With the support of DVS, the kits are distributed directly to veterans and their families.
First established in 2020, the Meals with Meaning initiative addresses food insecurity affecting Veterans and Military Families at twice the rate of the public. The program provided a vital lifeline to vulnerable Veterans who struggled with food access during the pandemic. And the program is still continuing to provide that needed help to ensure our Veterans do not go hungry. The HelloFresh-led program serves Veterans and Military Families ranging from 20 to 90 years old. This public-private partnership remains a critical resource for New York’s Veteran community, ensuring access to nutritious meals while honoring their service and sacrifice.
New York State Department of Veterans’ Services Commissioner Viviana DeCohen said, “Two million meals provided means two million lives touched and transformed through this wonderful initiative. The incredible success of the Meals with Meaning program is a testament to the power of community and partnership, providing life-changing resources to those who have served selflessly, ensuring that they feel seen, supported, and valued. Together with HelloFresh and all program partners, we are making a tangible difference in combating food insecurity and honoring the dedication of our Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families. I commend and thank Governor Hochul, our good friends at HelloFresh, and all program partners and volunteers for their continued strong support of this program and for making a positive difference in the lives of countless New York Veterans.”
HelloFresh Senior Vice President of Procurement Jacob Krempel said, “We are honored to support veterans and military families—those who have selflessly served our country — but we know that there is still more to do in combating food insecurity and ensuring fresh food is accessible to everyone. A special thank you to our partners with New York State, NYC Division of Veterans’ Services, The Campaign Against Hunger, and Black Veterans in continuing to help make a meaningful impact in the community through our Meals with Meaning program.”
New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said, “Governor Hochul has made addressing food insecurity a priority for her administration, and this innovative partnership has exceeded expectations by providing more than two million meals to veterans, service members, and their families. Thank you to all our public, private, and nonprofit partners for their collaboration. We look forward to the continued success of this program and working together to provide healthy meals to support those who have served our country.”
State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton said, “Reaching the incredible milestone of two million meals served is a testament to the unwavering dedication of all the partners who have prioritized the needs of our veterans. These men and women have put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms and have faced the always difficult transition back to civilian life. Programs like Meals with Meaning: Veteran Feeding Veteran show that here in New York, we will support our veterans the way they have always supported us. Making sure that no veteran goes hungry is a responsibility we all share, and I’m proud that our state is stepping up in such a meaningful way.”
State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud said, “I commend Governor Kathy Hochul and HelloFresh for their steadfast commitment to this crucial initiative. This remarkable achievement highlights the power of collaboration between government, nonprofits, and the private sector. This collaboration has established a seamless program that directly addresses the food insecurity faced by many of our heroes. This partnership serves as a powerful reminder that when we support those who have served, we strengthen the very fabric of our community.”
Assemblymember Steve Stern said, “As the Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee of the New York State Assembly, I am honored to work with and for the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our great nation. The ‘Meals with Meaning-Veteran Feeding Veteran’ program, an innovative public-private collaboration with state Department of Veterans Services, state and city agencies, and HelloFresh has marked a significant milestone, successfully distributing two million meals to New York State Veterans, service members and military families. No one who has worn the uniform should face food insecurity. We owe our veterans, service members and their families more than just thanks and platitudes. We owe them meaningful support. I commend Governor Hochul, HelloFresh, and all who have worked so hard to ensure the success of this important program.”
Assemblymember Nikki Lucas said, “Honoring our Veterans is one of the most humbling acts that we can return to those who have fought and protected our country. I applaud this public, private and community effort that recognizes that none of us should ever be hungry. May we continue to uplift their legacy and advocate for services that maintain the dignity they have brought to us all.”
Pratt Industries Executive Chairman Anthony Pratt said, “Pratt Industries is proud to support the HelloFresh Meals with Meaning program which helps so many veterans in our communities. It’s an honor to help those who’ve done so much for all of us.”
The Campaign Against Hunger Founder and CEO Dr. Melony Samuels said, “Reaching the two million meal milestone is a phenomenal achievement—and a shining example of what’s possible when compassion meets collaboration. At The Campaign Against Hunger, we are thrilled to be a part of this dynamic partnership with New York State, NYC Department of Veterans Services, Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, HelloFresh, and our community of veteran partners. Together, we’re not just feeding families — we’re honoring the service and sacrifice of our veterans by ensuring they have access to the fresh, healthy food they deserve. This is what meaningful impact looks like, and we’re just getting started!”
About the Department of Veterans’ Services The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services, proudly serves New York’s Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families, connecting them with benefits, services, and support. All who served should contact the Department at 888-838-7697 or its website to meet in-person or virtually with an accredited Veterans Benefits Advisor to receive the benefits they have earned. Follow DVS on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
About HelloFresh HelloFresh is the world’s leading meal-kit company, providing customers with fresh, high-quality ingredients to cook delicious meals at home. By delivering pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes directly to customers’ doors, HelloFresh helps busy individuals and families enjoy home-cooked meals without the hassle of meal planning and grocery shopping. HelloFresh has been voted the Most Trusted Meal Kit Delivery Service in America since 2021 by Newsweek. For more information, visit www.hellofresh.com or follow HelloFresh on Facebook, X, Instagram or TikTok.
On Friday night, April 11, the Rhode Island Department Transportation (RIDOT) will shift all travel lanes to the right for road work where I-95 North and Route 4 North merge in Warwick. The change is necessary as work begins on a project to widen the highway corridor to provide more space for merging traffic, which will help decrease congestion during the morning and evening rush hours.
All travel lanes will remain open during peak travel times, but they will be narrowed and drivers should reduce their speed in the work zone. Lane closures are likely during late evening and overnight hours (9 p.m. to 5 a.m.).
The lane shift will be in place until early summer followed by a second phase with lanes shifted to the left. RIDOT expects the work to finish in the fall.
This safety improvement is part of a $12.4 million project that also included the installation of guardrail in several locations along six miles of I-95 North and South between Exit 18 (Route 3) and Exit 24 (Route 2). The guardrail work is complete.
All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings, and weather.
These safety improvements are made possible by RhodeWorks. RIDOT is committed to bringing Rhode Island’s infrastructure into a state of good repair while respecting the environment and striving to improve it. Learn more at www.ridot.net/RhodeWorks.
Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)
Secretary of State Marco A. Rubio meets with Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov at the Department of State, on April 9, 2025.
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Three defendants transferred from the DRC to the U.S. and one other arrested in Utah after Armed Coup Attack to overthrow the DRC government
Note: View the criminal complaint.
A criminal complaint was unsealed today in the District of Utah charging Marcel Malanga, 22, Tyler Thompson, 22, Benjamin Zalman-Polun, 37, and Joseph Peter Moesser, 67, all U.S. citizens, with conspiring to provide material support and resources, conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy to bomb places of government facilities, and conspiracy to kill or kidnap persons in a foreign country, among other offenses.
Malanga, Thompson, and Polun are expected to make their initial appearances at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York. Moesser is expected to make his initial appearance on April 10 at the federal courthouse in Salt Lake City. After their initial appearances in New York, it is expected that Malanga, Thompson, and Polun will appear in Salt Lake City, Utah, for further legal proceedings.
As alleged in the complaint, the defendants conspired to unlawfully carry out a coup d’état in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The coconspirators conducted an armed military operation (Armed Coup Attack) specifically targeting DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Deputy Prime Minister for the Economy Vital Kamerhe (Kamerhe), attacking both the Palais de la Nation (the official residence and principal workplace of the president) and Kamerhe’s private residence in Kinshasa, DRC. Men wearing camouflage fatigues and armed with weapons attacked and entered the Palais de la Nation. Armed men also attacked Kamerhe’s residence, which was riddled with bullet holes after the attack. At least six people died during the attack, including two police officers protecting Kamerhe’s residence, and at least one innocent civilian. The goal of these rebel forces was to overthrow the DRC government, establish a new government known as the New Zaire, and install Christian Malanga, now deceased, as the president of the New Zaire.
Christian Malanga acted as a leader and organizer of these rebel forces. It was the goal of these rebel forces to topple the DRC government and to murder President Félix Tshisekedi, Kamerhe, and others, with the goal of installing Christian as the new president of the DRC. Marcel Malanga also held himself out as a leader of the rebel forces and identified himself as the “Chief of Staff of the Zaire army.” Polun was Christian Malanga’s chief of staff. Moesser was the explosives maker, explosives technician, and explosives supplier. Thompson was a soldier and drone specialist/operator.
Also as alleged in the complaint, Christian Malanga, Marcel Malanga, Thompson, Polun, and Moesser conspired to provide material support and resources including services, training, expert advice or assistance, communication equipment, weapons, explosives, and personnel to the rebel army which was formed to overthrow the DRC government. Further, the defendants conspired to acquire and use weapons of mass destruction during the Armed Coup Attack. The coconspirators planned to use bombs that could be deployed to their targets by drone(s). Targets included people, private residences, and public buildings. They also intended to attach a flamethrower device to a drone and use it as an incendiary device to light people on fire.
The defendants planned, scouted out targets, and identified victims for the Armed Coup Attack, with the purpose and intent to murder other persons, including high-level DRC government officials. They recruited others to join in the Armed Coup Attack as personnel for the rebel army and, in some cases, recruited personnel in exchange for money. The defendants also acquired and attempted to acquire explosive and incendiary devices with the purpose and intent to use such devices to target individuals, private property, and DRC government buildings. Coconspirators communicated with and procured destructive devices, to include carrier devices such as drones, explosives, incendiary devices, and delivery mechanisms, from businesses, private parties, and at least one individual associated with a foreign military to effectuate the Armed Coup Attack.
Additionally, they procured from businesses and private parties, military equipment to include firearms, ammunition, uniforms, communication equipment, and communication jamming equipment. The coconspirators planned to transport weapons, explosives, and resources from the United States to the DRC to effectuate the Armed Coup Attack, and they then transported weapons and resources to the DRC. Further, the defendants engaged in firearms and weapons training in the United States and in Africa to provide services and support during the conspiracy and Armed Coup Attack.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison for each count of conspiring to provide material support and resources; and up to life in prison for each count of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy to bomb places of government facilities, and conspiracy to kill or kidnap persons in a foreign country. Additionally, if convicted, Malanga and Thompson each face a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison for each count of taking a firearm out of the United States to engage in a felony. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Sue J. Bai, head of the U.S. Department of Justice National Security Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah, and Special Agent in Charge Mehtab Syed of the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, with assistance by the FBI New York Field Office and the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Nairobi, Kenya, which oversees the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bryan R. Whittaker, Chief, National Security and Cybercrimes Section, and Jonathan Stowers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah, and Trial Attorney Tanya Senanayake of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs has also provided substantial assistance to the prosecution team.
A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
A criminal complaint was unsealed today in the District of Utah charging Marcel Malanga, 22, Tyler Thompson, 22, Benjamin Zalman-Polun, 37, and Joseph Peter Moesser, 67, all U.S. citizens, with conspiring to provide material support and resources, conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy to bomb places of government facilities, and conspiracy to kill or kidnap persons in a foreign country, among other offenses.
Malanga, Thompson, and Polun are expected to make their initial appearances at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York. Moesser is expected to make his initial appearance on April 10 at the federal courthouse in Salt Lake City. After their initial appearances in New York, it is expected that Malanga, Thompson, and Polun will appear in Salt Lake City, Utah, for further legal proceedings.
As alleged in the complaint, the defendants conspired to unlawfully carry out a coup d’état in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The coconspirators conducted an armed military operation (Armed Coup Attack) specifically targeting DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Deputy Prime Minister for the Economy Vital Kamerhe (Kamerhe), attacking both the Palais de la Nation (the official residence and principal workplace of the president) and Kamerhe’s private residence in Kinshasa, DRC. Men wearing camouflage fatigues and armed with weapons attacked and entered the Palais de la Nation. Armed men also attacked Kamerhe’s residence, which was riddled with bullet holes after the attack. At least six people died during the attack, including two police officers protecting Kamerhe’s residence, and at least one innocent civilian. The goal of these rebel forces was to overthrow the DRC government, establish a new government known as the New Zaire, and install Christian Malanga, now deceased, as the president of the New Zaire.
Christian Malanga acted as a leader and organizer of these rebel forces. It was the goal of these rebel forces to topple the DRC government and to murder President Félix Tshisekedi, Kamerhe, and others, with the goal of installing Christian as the new president of the DRC. Marcel Malanga also held himself out as a leader of the rebel forces and identified himself as the “Chief of Staff of the Zaire army.” Polun was Christian Malanga’s chief of staff. Moesser was the explosives maker, explosives technician, and explosives supplier. Thompson was a soldier and drone specialist/operator.
Also as alleged in the complaint, Christian Malanga, Marcel Malanga, Thompson, Polun, and Moesser conspired to provide material support and resources including services, training, expert advice or assistance, communication equipment, weapons, explosives, and personnel to the rebel army which was formed to overthrow the DRC government. Further, the defendants conspired to acquire and use weapons of mass destruction during the Armed Coup Attack. The coconspirators planned to use bombs that could be deployed to their targets by drone(s). Targets included people, private residences, and public buildings. They also intended to attach a flamethrower device to a drone and use it as an incendiary device to light people on fire.
The defendants planned, scouted out targets, and identified victims for the Armed Coup Attack, with the purpose and intent to murder other persons, including high-level DRC government officials. They recruited others to join in the Armed Coup Attack as personnel for the rebel army and, in some cases, recruited personnel in exchange for money. The defendants also acquired and attempted to acquire explosive and incendiary devices with the purpose and intent to use such devices to target individuals, private property, and DRC government buildings. Coconspirators communicated with and procured destructive devices, to include carrier devices such as drones, explosives, incendiary devices, and delivery mechanisms, from businesses, private parties, and at least one individual associated with a foreign military to effectuate the Armed Coup Attack.
Additionally, they procured from businesses and private parties, military equipment to include firearms, ammunition, uniforms, communication equipment, and communication jamming equipment. The coconspirators planned to transport weapons, explosives, and resources from the United States to the DRC to effectuate the Armed Coup Attack, and they then transported weapons and resources to the DRC. Further, the defendants engaged in firearms and weapons training in the United States and in Africa to provide services and support during the conspiracy and Armed Coup Attack.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison for each count of conspiring to provide material support and resources; and up to life in prison for each count of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy to bomb places of government facilities, and conspiracy to kill or kidnap persons in a foreign country. Additionally, if convicted, Malanga and Thompson each face a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison for each count of taking a firearm out of the United States to engage in a felony. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Sue J. Bai, head of the U.S. Department of Justice National Security Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah, and Special Agent in Charge Mehtab Syed of the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, with assistance by the FBI New York Field Office and the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Nairobi, Kenya, which oversees the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bryan R. Whittaker, Chief, National Security and Cybercrimes Section, and Jonathan Stowers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah, and Trial Attorney Tanya Senanayake of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs has also provided substantial assistance to the prosecution team.
A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
BOSTON – An Allston man has been indicted for trafficking methamphetamine and 1,4-Butanediol (BDO), an analogue of Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) – more commonly known as the “date rape drug” – out of his Allston home.
Peter Schiepers, 32, is charged with one count of distribution and possession with the intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine; two counts of distribution and possession with the intent to distribute Butanediol (an analogue of GHB); and two counts of distribution and possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Schiepers was arraigned yesterday.
According to the charging documents, in November 2024, law enforcement received information that Schiepers was supplying methamphetamine in and around the Boston area. Between November 2024 and February 2025, a cooperating source conducted multiple controlled purchases allegedly from Schiepers.
Specifically, in January 2025, it is alleged that Schiepers conducted a transaction for one ounce of methamphetamine. In February 2025 he allegedly sold four ounces of methamphetamine and a liter of BDO. Schiepers allegedly told an undercover officer that he received the BDO in Chinese shampoo bottles and that he also used an application that allowed him to anonymously send some shipments to hotels and convenience stores nearby.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine provides for a minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine provides for a minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Stephen D. Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney John O. Wray of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
BOSTON – A Worcester man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Worcester for his involvement in a cocaine distribution conspiracy.
Luis Torres, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to eight years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. The Court also entered a judgement of forfeiture of $26,480 in cash. In June 2024, Torres pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and one count of use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug felony. Torres was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2022.
Torres conspired with others to coordinate delivery of a package from Puerto Rico known by him to contain 4 – 6 kilograms of cocaine and to take possession of the cocaine with the intent to distribute it. In June 2022, law enforcement intercepted the package and executed a controlled delivery during which another individual accepted the package while Torres sat in a nearby car. Torres was arrested at the scene and $26,480 in cash was recovered.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin Brown of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Rafael Sanchez-De La Rosa, 51, a Mexican citizen, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for Illegal Reentry by Removed Alien. The sentence was announced by Michelle Spaven, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“Enforcing immigration laws is a priority of the Department of Justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Spaven. “This sentence reflects the seriousness of committing crimes while being in our country illegally. The Northern District of Florida and our law enforcement partners are committed to keeping our communities safe.”
“This case highlights the serious public safety risks posed by individuals who repeatedly violate our laws, both criminal and immigration,” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Office (ICE-ERO) Miami Acting Field Office Director Juan Agudelo. “Despite being removed from the United States on multiple occasions, Mr. Sanchez-De La Rosa unlawfully re-entered the country and continued to endanger lives through repeated DUI offenses. ICE remains committed to working with local law enforcement partners to identify and remove those who present a threat to our communities.”
On May 5, 2024, at around 1:30 a.m., Sanchez-De La Rosa was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department (PPD) and charged with his third driving under the influence (DUI) within ten years, amongst other offenses. Sanchez-De La Rosa had been speeding nearly twenty miles over the speed limit. PPD located two open containers in the center console of his vehicle, and Sanchez-De La Rosa admitted to consuming at least eight beers. Federal officers with ICE subsequently determined Sanchez-De La Rosa was present in the United States illegally. Sanchez-De La Rosa had been previously removed from the United States to Mexico in 2017 and again in 2018. Sanchez-De La Rosa has now been convicted of DUI in Escambia County three times, in 2014, 2015, and 2024, two of which cases were felony convictions. During his first DUI offense, Sanchez-De La Rosa seriously injured his passenger, requiring hospitalization.
Sanchez-De La Rosa has an ICE detainer lodged against him and will begin deportation proceedings after he serves his federal prison term. Sanchez-De La Rosa’s imprisonment will be followed by three years of supervised release, meaning if he returns to the United States during such timeframe, he will potentially face an additional period of incarceration related to violating his supervision.
This conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) Pensacola. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Callahan prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Milli Raizada, Senior Clinical lecturer in Primary care academia, Lancaster University
Some social media users claims anti-allergy medications have helped their PMDD symptoms.antoniodiaz/ Shutterstock
A number of videos have surfaced recently on social media with women claiming that common medications used to treat allergies and heartburn have helped them manage symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). But is there any science behind this claim?
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a long-term condition which causes severe psychological distress in the week or two before a woman’s period begins. PMDD symptoms can be varied and vast – with physical symptoms ranging from difficulty sleeping, migraines, bloating and breast tenderness. Psychological symptoms include rage, anger, anxiety, low mood and feeling overwhelmed.
All of these symptoms can have a severe impact on a woman’s social, home and work life. Women with PMDD are seven times more likely to attempt suicide due to the mood symptoms they suffer with making them more vulnerable.
It’s not fully known what causes PMDD. It’s thought to be due to many factors.
One theory is that the condition occurs due to variations in genes that activate hormones and their receptors. Other theories suggest the brain’s emotional circuits (limbic system), which are densely populated with hormone receptors, react differently in those with PMDD.
For example, a widespread theory posits that when oestrogen fluctuates up and down in the two weeks before a woman’s period, this has a negative impact on serotonin (the so-called happy hormone). If this is true, it would explain why selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants can be effective for some women as these drugs aim to increase serotonin levels.
Another theory relates to faults in the progesterone pathway and its breakdown product called allopregnenalone (a steroid). Allopregnenalone normally stimulates a calming chemical called GABA in the brain, which acts as a natural anti-anxiety substance.
Some women online are now claiming that high histamine levels may also be the cause of PMDD symptoms – and that taking over-the-counter drugs which block the effects of histamines has helped to alleviate their symptoms.
Histamine is a chemical the body naturally produces which plays a role in allergies, digestion, inflammation, brain function and hormone balance.
There is currently no evidence that antihistamines can help with PMDD symptoms. MDV Edwards/ Shutterstock
There is currently no published research which has investigated the link between PMDD symptoms and histamine levels. However, we do know from other areas of research that histamine activity varies throughout the menstrual cycle.
One study found that in the two weeks before a period, immune cells called mast cells, which release histamine, are more likely to be activated due to oestrogen levels being high. It’s suggested that these changing oestrogen levels – which cause high histamine – may explain why PMDD symptoms occur. If this theory is true, it would also explain why antihistamines would help with PMDD symptoms, as these drugs block the release of histamines.
There are many potential reasons why oestrogen levels may be particularly high in some women – particularly those with PMDD. This so-called oestrogen dominance may be due to many factors, such as excess toxin exposure in the environment from plastics and issues with people unable to detoxify oestrogen from the body efficiently due to poor liver and gut health. All this can potentially add to the oestrogen bucket, which has a knock-on effect on histamine levels, which can further stimulate oestrogen – leading to a vicious cycle.
But the histamine intolerance and oestrogen dominance theories are both still controversial and not fully recognised in the mainstream medical community. There are no scientific, clinical studies that exist on the topic of PMDD, oestrogen dominance and histamine as yet to show whether they are linked to PMDD or not – or whether antihistamines are effective for PMDD.
Yet, many people with PMDD are turning to antihistamines, as well as famotidine – a histamine receptor antagonist which blocks histamine production in the stomach – to reduce PMDD symptoms. Many of these women are reporting they’re seeing improvement, so there may well be some validity behind these claims. However, there is no research to back the use of these drugs just yet.
Lifestyle changes – such as eating fewer inflammatory, processed foods, exercising and talking therapies (such as cognitive therapy) – have all shown small but positive benefits in people with PMDD.
Prescription drugs such as antidepressants (SSRIs) and contraceptive pills containing a synthetic progestin called drospirenone are also shown to be effective for people with PMDD. These options may be better for women in the meantime until more research in this area has been done.
Disclosure: Dr Milli Raizada, a GP, is the medical director, founder and works in of Dr Milli health clinics. She is a Senior Clinical Lecturer at Lancaster University. She is affiliated as a trustee and ambassador of the first and only UK PMDD charity: The PMDD project. She is a GMC associate where she gets paid as her role as chief invigilator, PLAB Part 2 examiner and Part 1 station management group member. She also delivers paid corporate talks on primary care topics and is an paid expert content creator for Clinical Knowledge skills.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ross Bennett-Cook, PhD Candidate in the Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University
American-British actor, Sam Nivola, in the season three finale of The White Lotus.Fabio Lovino / HBO
HBO’s hit television series, The White Lotus, is as renowned for its stunning hotels and filming locations as it is for its mixture of unsettling, hilarious and sultry storylines.
Set in fictional five-star “White Lotus” resorts, fans quickly learned the true locations of the luxury hotels. Each season has been set in a different destination – Hawaii, Sicily and, most recently, Thailand – and every resort has seen a surge in interest since featuring on the show. This has been labelled the “White Lotus effect”.
Four Seasons Hotels, the actual brand behind the resorts, said the original White Lotus in Hawaii saw a 386% increase in availability checks after appearing on the show. And Hotels.com reported a 40% spike in booking interest for the filming location in Koh Samui, Thailand, following the release of the season three trailer.
Four Seasons says the show’s popularity among gen Z and millennials is introducing a new market to their hotels. According to the company’s internal research, 71% of millennials who watch the show and are aware of Four Seasons have expressed a strong likelihood of visiting the featured properties.
Younger age groups are key targets for Four Seasons, which is keen to attract the next generation of luxury travellers. But do luxury resorts really represent the travel habits of young people?
According to a 2023 survey by consultancy firm Deloitte, young people have been hit particularly hard by the rising cost of living. Many are losing hope of owning a home and even starting a family. It has been widely reported that younger generations are worse off than their parents.
With property ownership out of reach, many young people seem more willing to splurge on travel than save for an uncertain future. According to a 2017 poll by Realty Mogul, a real estate crowdfunding platform, almost half of young people aged 18 to 34 would prioritise travelling over buying a home. This compared to just 26% of those aged 45 and over.
But gen Z generally aren’t as interested in five-star resorts as they are in five-star experiences. Many travellers from this age group opt to spend big on once-in-a-lifetime activities rather than splash out on luxury accommodation. According to a 2022 YouGov poll, over one-third of young people say they’d pick a standard three-star or below hotel, making this the most popular accommodation option.
However, the European Travel Commission has found that this generation embraces mixing budget and luxury options when they can. For example, they may use budget airlines to reach their destination so they can spend a little more elsewhere. According to the same YouGov poll, luxury hotels and resorts still rank among gen Z’s top three travel accommodations.
Four Seasons properties have provided the setting for the first three seasons of The White Lotus. Todamo / Shutterstock
For many gen Z travellers, the journey is also just as important as the destination – and the impact they leave behind matters, too. Research by Booking.com reveals that over half (52%) of gen Z travellers say the environmental impact of tourism on a destination influences their travel choices. Even more (63%) would consider avoiding a destination altogether if they knew it was threatened by overtourism.
Many of these values may not align with the opulence typically associated with luxury travel. On the Hawaiian island of Maui, the setting for season one of The White Lotus, local opposition towards tourism erupted after deadly wildfires swept across the island in 2023 – the most deadly wildfire event in recent US history.
While locals faced heavy restrictions due to water scarcity, the island’s hotels and resorts were allowed to maintain vast golf courses, lush gardens and pools and welcomed up to 8,000 tourists a day.
Thousands signed petitions to delay the return of mass tourism to the islands. And community groups held what was called a 24 hour “fish-in” protest to prevent tourists from using the popular Kāʻanapali Beach, a long stretch of pristine coastline where several high-end resorts are located.
Protesters said their aim was to bring attention to the displacement of locals made homeless due to the wildfires and unable to find permanent housing due to short-term holiday rentals taking priority.
Leaders have long worried the islands are losing their culture as the cost of housing fuels an exodus of native Hawaiian residents. The 2022 census revealed that more native Hawaiians live outside of Hawaii than within.
Luxury travel reimagined
Gen Z may well be the next generation of luxury travellers. In 2017, millennials and gen Z consumers were responsible for 32% of sales in the global personal luxury goods market. This figure was forecast to increase to 45% by 2025.
But luxury travel must change to cater to the tastes and interests of younger generations. These people largely crave unique, shareable and story-worthy travel – not just comfort, but connection. For this new generation of luxury travellers, a remote glamping trip under the stars, or an off-grid adventure with experienced locals, may be more attractive than the traditional luxury resort.
Some brands are already making changes. In 2024, the Hyatt Hotels group introduced its “Be More Here” brand initiative, a collection of bespoke guest activities with a focus on wellness and experience.
And the latest addition to the Maldives’ luxury resort portfolio, Six Senses, has an ethos centred on sustainability. Its resorts have an onsite environmental learning space, and offer immersive marine conservation experiences and sustainability tours to guests.
As young people navigate a complex future, their travel choices reflect a deeper desire: not just to see the world, but to engage with it responsibly and thoughtfully, and gain something meaningful from it.
Ross Bennett-Cook does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Cédric M. John, Professor and Head of Data Science for the Environment and Sustainability, Queen Mary University of London
Nearly three fourths of Earth is covered by oceans, making the planet look like a pale blue dot from space. But Japanese researchers have made a compelling case that Earth’s oceans were once green, in a study published in Nature.
The reason Earth’s oceans may have looked different in the ancient past is to do with their chemistry and the evolution of photosynthesis. As a geology undergraduate student, I was taught about the importance of a type of rock deposit known as the banded iron formation in recording the planet’s history.
Banded iron formations were deposited in the Archean and Paleoproterozoic eons, roughly between 3.8 and 1.8 billion years ago. Life back then was confined to one cell organisms in the oceans. The continents were a barren landscape of grey, brown and black rocks and sediments.
Rain falling on continental rocks dissolved iron which was then carried to the oceans by rivers. Other sources of iron were volcanoes on the ocean floor. This iron will become important later.
Cross section of banded iron formation in Karijini National park, in the Hamersley Range, Western Australia. Hans Wismeijer/Shutterstock
The Archaean eon was a time when Earth’s atmosphere and ocean were devoid of gaseous oxygen, but also when the first organisms to generate energy from sunlight evolved. These organisms used anaerobic photosynthesis, meaning they can do photosynthesis in the absence of oxygen.
It triggered important changes as a byproduct of anaerobic photosynthesis is oxygen gas. Oxygen gas bound to iron in seawater. Oxygen only existed as a gas in the atmosphere once the seawater iron could neutralise no more oxygen.
Eventually, early photosynthesis led to the “great oxidation event”, a major ecological turning point that made complex life on Earth possible. It marked the transition from a largely oxygen free Earth to one with large amounts of oxygen in the ocean and atmosphere.
The “bands” of different colours in banded iron formations record this shift with an alternation between deposits of iron deposited in the absence of oxygen and red oxidised iron.
The case for green oceans
The recent paper’s case for green oceans in the Archaean eon starts with an observation: waters around the Japanese volcanic island of Iwo Jima have a greenish hue linked to a form of oxidised iron – Fe(III). Blue-green algae thrive in the green waters surrounding the island.
Despite their name, blue-green algae are primitive bacteria and not true algae. In the Archaean eon, the ancestors of modern blue-green algae evolved alongside other bacteria that use ferrous iron instead of water as the source of electrons for photosynthesis. This points to high levels of iron in the ocean.
Photosynthetic organisms use pigments (mostly chlorophyll) in their cells to transform CO₂ into sugars using the energy of the sun. Chlorophyll gives plants their green colour. Blue-green algae are peculiar because they carry the common chlorophyll pigment, but also a second pigment called phycoerythrobilin (PEB).
In their paper, the researchers found that genetically engineered modern blue-green algae with PEB grow better in green waters. Although chlorophyll is great for photosynthesis in the spectra of light visible to us, PEB seems to be superior in green-light conditions.
Before the rise of photosynthesis and oxygen, Earth’s oceans contained dissolved reduced iron (iron deposited in the absence of oxygen). Oxygen released by the rise of photosynthesis in the Archean eon then led to oxidised iron in seawater. The paper’s computer simulations also found oxygen released by early photosynthesis led to a high enough concentration of oxidised iron particles to turn the surface water green.
Once all iron in the ocean was oxidised, free oxygen (0₂) existed in Earth’s oceans and atmosphere. So a major implication of the study is that pale-green dot worlds viewed from space are good candidates planets to harbour early photosynthetic life.
The changes in ocean chemistry were gradual. The Archaean period lasted 1.5 billion years. This is more than half of Earth’s history. By comparison, the entire history of the rise and evolution of complex life represents about an eighth of Earth’s history.
Almost certainly, the colour of the oceans changed gradually during this period and potentially oscillated. This could explain why blue-green algae evolved both forms of photosynthetic pigments. Chlorophyll is best for white light which is the type of sunlight we have today. Taking advantage of green and white light would have been an evolutionary advantage.
Could oceans change colour again?
The lesson from the recent Japanese paper is that the colour of our oceans are linked to water chemistry and the influence of life. We can imagine different ocean colours without borrowing too much from science fiction.
Purple oceans would be possible on Earth if the levels of sulphur were high. This could be linked to intense volcanic activity and low oxygen content in the atmosphere, which would lead to the dominance of purple sulphur bacteria.
Red oceans are also theoretically possible under intense tropical climates when red oxidised iron forms from the decay of rocks on the land and is carried to the oceans by rivers or winds. Or if a type of algae linked to “red tides” came to dominate the surface oceans.
These red algae are common in areas with intense concentration of fertiliser such as nitrogen. In the modern oceans, this tends to happen in coastline close to sewers.
As our sun ages, it will first become brighter leading to increased surface evaporation and intense UV light. This may favour purple sulphur bacteria living in deep waters without oxygen.
It will lead to more purple, brown, or green hues in coastal or stratified areas, with less deep blue colour in water as phytoplankton decline. Eventually, oceans will evaporate completely as the sun expands to encompass the orbit of Earth.
At geological timescales nothing is permanent and changes in the colour of our oceans are therefore inevitable.
Waves crash across Ithaca’s rocky shore. “The city of Troy has fallen,” we are told, as the shuttle on Penelope’s loom flickers across the screen. “On the island of Ithaca, Queen Penelope still longs for the return of her husband Odysseus.” The camera then cuts to the wreckage of a ship and the body of a man washed up on the beach – naked, dishevelled, scarred.
This is the beginning of the new Odyssey-inspired film starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, The Return.
The Odyssey, the ancient Greek epic poem ascribed to the poet Homer, charts the return home of its eponymous hero, Odysseus. For half the epic poem, we follow the hero as he struggles, sometimes against fantastical monsters and goddesses, sometimes against himself and his crew, to return.
But Ralph Fiennes’s Odysseus is not stranded on his travels. He has already returned home. Home to Ithaca but not quite home to Penelope.
It has often been said that the Odyssey shows a marked interest in its women – Penelope, perhaps, above all. Odysseus makes it clear that returning home is about much more than the literal voyage to Ithaca. What he wants, he says (in Emily Wilson’s translation) is a reinstatement to “the joys of home”, and to partnership with “my wife”.
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Retelling the Odyssey’s women
Many retellings, particularly those in recent years, have been interested in giving the women of the Odyssey more agency and voice. The Return is no exception: it is made quite clear that Penelope and her recognition of Odysseus are central to his reintegration into Ithaca.
The film is centred on her refusal to choose one of her suitors, and Odysseus’s fear – in the face of her anger at being forced to wait for him for 20 years – that she might not want him back. After battles with female monsters and rest-stops with enchanting goddesses, Penelope is the final and greatest woman he must face and win back.
Putting Penelope at the centre of the tale follows a line of recent reinterpretations of Odysseus’s return that have taken Penelope’s point of view more explicitly – most notably, Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad (2005).
Here Penelope’s version of the story is used not only to emphasise the costs (and compromises) borne by the archetypal patient wife in her husband’s absence, but also to shed light on the sheer violence and bloodshed of Odysseus’s return. In particular, it highlights the victimisation of the 12 enslaved women raped by Penelope’s suitors, who are later hanged for their actions by Odysseus’s son.
Wilson made similar strides in her 2018 translation of the Odyssey – the first into English by a woman. In it, she stripped away the judgments imposed on Odysseus’s enslaved women by earlier male translators that suggested they deserved what they got.
We see some similar, if less pointed, changes in The Return. Penelope is quick to condemn the violence of war (“Why do men go to war?” she demands), and then the bloodshed Odysseus brings into her home.
Binoche plays Penelope with a brittle resilience that is both moving and powerful. Though quiet, she refuses to move her ground, and the words she speaks are always charged with meaning. Yet it is worth noting that the film – despite Atwood and Wilson’s interventions in reminding readers of their existence and changing how they are perceived – does not include the execution of the enslaved women.
Real Greek women
In my new book, Mythica: A New History of Homer’s World, through the Women Written Out Of It, I also explore what the Odyssey (and Homer’s other epic, the Iliad) might look like from the women’s point of view – using the latest archaeological evidence and newest scientific analysis of ancient DNA. I use these findings as a window into the worlds of the real women who might have inspired the myths and legends of the Odyssey.
Take, for instance, discoveries of spinning and weaving equipment that belonged to queens who once ruled in the historical kingdoms like Mycenae, Pylos and even Troy. The Homeric epics, the Iliad and Odyssey, are full of scenes of women weaving in the Greek palaces of legend.
Perhaps most famous is Penelope’s weaving: the famous ruse in which she wove and unwove her weaving and so delayed the suitors’ demand that she choose one of them for marriage.
Penelope is said in the Odyssey to have been weaving for three years before her trick was revealed. It’s been suggested that she was making what’s known as a “story cloth” – a tapestry detailing narratives.
Such “story cloths” have been found in the Greek world, dating back to the 4th century BC, from the shores of the Black Sea. The idea of Penelope weaving her own story in thread is a particularly rich one – making her a poet of her own story to rival the poet of the Odyssey (though her tapestry, of course, unravels to make space for Odysseus).
The red, yellow and purple dyes women used to dye the threads they spun and wove with have also been recovered from minuscule traces on prehistoric pots.
In Pasolini’s The Return, we see Penelope weaving with blood-red thread. This is probably meant to represent the ancient colour porphyreos, or reddish-purple, that was so expensive it came to be called “royal purple”. It’s a word (and shade) that’s also used for blood in the Homeric epics – so anticipating the bloodshed of Odysseus’s return.
To me, starting from the history that surrounds legend and myth is a radical way into the stories of women like Penelope. It allows us to understand them from the experiences and activities of actual, historical women of the Greek past.
The Odyssey has been retold and will continue to be retold countless times. I found The Return to be a moving, tightly theatrical version of the closing scenes of the Odyssey. It puts Penelope at the heart of the drama. The foregrounding of her role is a particular highlight and Binoche plays her spectacularly well.
We have director Christopher Nolan’s take on the Odyssey to look forward to next in July 2026. It remains to be seen how Penelope, and the enslaved women, will be treated there.
However, with every new retelling comes the opportunity to draw attention to the central roles of female figures in this ancient epic.
Emily Hauser does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
It’s good to see that men in positions of power and influence are concerned about the impact that masculinity influencers, the manosphere and the misogyny they can inspire is having on boys and young men.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate have spoken about the need for positive role models. Southgate has highlighted the ills of social media, gaming and pornography. Starmer has backed the showing of Netflix series Adolescence, which explores the impact of the manosphere on teenagers, in schools.
Starmer and Southgate mean well and their words have amplified the issue. But their approach may not reach the boys and young men they would hope to inspire.
Southgate’s recent Richard Dimbleby lecture followed a well-trodden path of demonising certain spaces – such as social media – and in doing so offered a somewhat limited understanding of how and why they are so prevalent in young people’s lives.
Men like Starmer and Southgate are defined by their progressive outlook. But in the manosphere, “niceness” can be viewed with suspicion and disdain. It can come with the assumption that “white knights,” men who display a caring kind of masculinity, are driven by an aim, conscious or unconscious, of being sexually rewarded by women for their efforts. Messages from proponents of this caring masculinity may be dismissed out of hand by the young men they are most trying to reach.
The influencers that so many boys are drawn to project an entirely different kind of masculinity to that of Starmer and Southgate. They are characterised by a focus on fitness and physical strength, financial success and heterosexuality. This is known as hypermasculinity.
Boys and young men may feel more comfortable, less judged and more valued if they can see themselves in the people who support them. Youth workers, for example, can offer an important and effective counterpoint to online misogyny.
My research with young fathers reveals that a “safe environment free of judgment” is key to exploring ideas of care and equality with young men. I learned that hypermasculinity does not have to necessitate dominance over others – women, LGBTQ+ people, people of colour. Nor does this way of being a man need to be predicated on emotional repression, misogyny, racism or homophobia.
Hypermasculine spaces can offer comfort for those who fail to see themselves in more “feminised” spaces elsewhere.
Fitness and gym culture
Influencers know that fitness is appealing to many young men. They make explicit links between physical strength, fitness and sexual prowess.
According to incel (involuntary celibate) culture, athleticism and physicality help determine a man’s “sexual market value”, and those who lack these hypermasculine characteristics are denied sexual access and social status. But young men do not need to buy wholly into this mindset to value gym culture and see physical strength as desirable.
Former kickboxer Andrew Tate offers the appeal of the hypermasculine triumvirate of fitness, fame and fighting. Listening to young men tells us that they can be drawn to the hypermasculine “success” of Andrew Tate for reasons such as his devotion to physical fitness, not because of his misogyny.
This tells us we should be spending time better understanding hypermasculinity, not further marginalising it. I believe hypermasculinity can make space for positive social change, but there needs to be an authentic connection for young men.
Paddy “the Baddy” Pimblett would be a good place to start in understanding how hypermasculinity can be a positive force. Pimblett is a professional mixed martial artist who has over 3 million followers on Instagram.
His public profile proves that hypermasculinity can carry more than just violence: he is using his platform for social good through charity work and mental health campaigning.
Tech and financial independence
Hypermasculine social media influencers also attract followers through their pursuit of financial independence. The allure of an aspirational lifestyle is not surprising in an era of financial uncertainty, especially when influencers purport that their successes are replicable. Andrew Tate’s “education system” The Real World, for instance, offers to teach paid subscribers the pathway to financial success when they sign up.
At the same time, “tech bros” have become a defining financial success story. They are aspirational figures for some young men – simultaneously representing elite financial power and a self-sufficient, anti-establishment swagger. I am not suprised by their popularity, as in my work with young men in the north east of England, anti-elite narratives were often repeated.
Again, though, there are positive examples to be found in this hypermasculine space. Gary Stevenson, whose YouTube channel has over a million subscribers, represents this. On one level, he is a hypermasculine trader who claims he won his job through a card game and whose high-risk gambling brought great rewards. Yet he now calls himself a “people’s economist” and uses his significant media profile to highlight structural disadvantage instead of aspirational lifestyles.
Making space for hypermasculinity does not mean it should replace other forms, such as caring masculinities. But we need to engage with the hypermasculine and listen to those who value it to better understand it. We should not assume the hypermasculine is always problematic. In acknowledging, and avoiding demonising this kind of masculinity, we can ensure greater representation for young men and boys, while continuing to challenge sexism, misogyny and other social ills.
Michael Joseph Richardson has received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council Impact Accelerator Account (ESRC IAA), Arts Council England and the National Lottery Climate Action Fund.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Government backs mayor to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport
The South Yorkshire Mayor has announced a £30m devolved funding investment into reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport, in a major economic boost for the region.
Government backs South Yorkshire Mayor’s decision to invest £30m devolved funding in critical infrastructure to support the creation of a sustainable aviation hub, propelling regional prosperity and driving private investment into Yorkshire.
New working group met today to focus on airport re-opening – which could support 5,000 jobs and boost the economy by £5 billion by 2050, according to local estimates
Announcement comes as regions across the country agree shared priorities to turbocharge economic growth and employment, as part of the Plan for Change.
Millions of pounds of investment has been announced today by the South Yorkshire Mayor (Wednesday 9 April) to support the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA), with plans forecasted to support 5,000 jobs, boost the economy by £5bn and provide wider benefits of £2bn by 2050.
The Airport has sat idle for years despite the potential to drive growth across the north. Today’s decision by the South Yorkshire mayor, backed by this government, would see the creation of a sustainable aviation hub in South Yorkshire to turbocharge economic growth in the region.
In a major boost for regional growth and example of devolution in action, today’s announcement will enable the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) to use their devolved funding to invest in the creation of a sustainable aviation hub.
The government has confirmed it has established a working group with Doncaster Council and SYMCA to support local efforts to reopen the airport and explore how the project could unlock wider benefits in the region. The first meeting, bringing together South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, Aviation Minister Mike Kane, Doncaster Council and the government, has taken place today (Wednesday, 9 April).
Today’s boost for South Yorkshire comes as the Deputy Prime Minister agrees new shared priorities with mayors across the country focused on the opportunities and challenges to unlocking regional growth – a major step forward in the government’s pledge for each regional mayor to have their own Local Growth Plan.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said:
If we are to really grow our economy and put money into the pockets of working people, regional growth needs to be hardwired into the decisions that we make.
That’s why we have wasted no time in kick starting Local Growth Plans, owned by local leaders, and why, through our bold devolution plans, we can back our mayors and get opportunities for jobs and growth off the ground – just as they will with this thriving regional airport.
Previous governments stood by as Doncaster Sheffield Airport was closed by its owner despite the overwhelming support for it to stay open. It now sits idle despite the potential to drive jobs and growth across the north. I am delighted to work with City of Doncaster Council and the Mayor of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard to support their efforts to recreate South Yorkshire Airport City as a thriving regional airport.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:
This Government will stop at nothing to fuel economic growth and deliver prosperity for people up and down the country, as part of our Plan for Change.
I’m thrilled to see devolved funding for South Yorkshire being used to revitalise the airport project, and boost the region as a whole, and I look forward to the first flights taking to the sky.
Mayor for South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard said:
This significant funding package, alongside the cross-departmental government working group we have now set up, is a vital signal of our shared commitment to our airport, to growth, to creating good jobs in our communities, and to the future of Doncaster and South Yorkshire.
Since day one, we have been fighting for our airport, so we can create good jobs in the industries of the future and play our part in developing the sustainable aviation technologies of tomorrow. To now have the support of a government who don’t just understand that opportunity but truly want to help us realise it, couldn’t be more important.
The new growth priorities agreed today will support mayors by tapping into government levers that can help their ambitions for their communities. Local plans will now help turbocharge regional economies, with shared priorities including:
Improving transport connectivity to create a green, integrated transport network in the North East
Increasing the skills base and reducing economic inactivity in West Yorkshire
Boosting the availability and affordability of homes in Liverpool
These plans will ensure a more strategic approach to regional growth over the long-term and align government policy better to grow and create a more future-facing economy with benefits that are felt across the country.
The shared priorities confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister today are the first stage of developing these major plans, with more work underway to shape them further. Mayors will now begin to finalise their own Local Growth Plans for publication later this year.
Further information
The Mayor’s investment will be supported through South Yorkshire’s devolved funding, including SYMCAs Investment Fund and the new, flexible, long-term Integrated Settlement which will be implemented in SYMCA from 2026/27.
The new working group will meet monthly and will ensure that the path to local prosperity is being driven forward by those who know the region best.
Flood maps help keep people safe and play a critical role in informing local emergency response plans and guiding future Indigenous community and municipal development decisions. In the past five years, flood mapping has launched in 100 municipalities and Indigenous communities.
Now, seven new flood map studies are underway for the communities of: Carbon, Chateh, Crowsnest Pass, Lethbridge Rycroft, Thorsby and Two Hills. Work will begin immediately, with results expected before the end of next year.
In addition, Alberta is soliciting feedback on four flood map studies nearing completion, including: Hinton, Vegreville, Stettler, Red Deer County and Markerville. Mapping from these studies covers about 250 kilometres of rivers and creeks through seven municipalities. Albertans can provide feedback at floods.alberta.ca until May 12.
All rivers, streams and lakes in Alberta have the potential to flood. Knowing where the water will flow during a flood is critical to understanding where it’s safe to farm, safe to build, and how to best prepare for emergency situations.
“Our government is committed to creating more than 3,000 kilometres of new and updated flood mapping by 2028. So far, we’ve completed 1,600 kilometres. This commitment has resulted in more flood maps being finalized in the past five years than in the previous thirty-five years combined. Alberta’s proactive work will help protect communities, families and businesses in the decades to come.”
“The Rural Municipalities of Alberta appreciates the Government of Alberta working to create new flood mapping in recent years. Floodwaters do not recognize jurisdictional boundaries, and rural municipalities must plan carefully how to use their limited resources to best protect their residents, businesses and the environment. Having access to the data provided by these flood maps will enable rural municipalities to plan appropriately and mitigate the impacts of flooding for years to come.”
“Alberta Municipalities congratulates the provincial government for accelerating its flood mapping for communities of all sizes throughout Alberta. Our members count on accurate, up-to-date flood maps to guide their communities’ development and assist with their emergency management planning.”
Quick facts
Since 2020, the Alberta government has released new or updated flood mapping spanning more than 1,600 kilometres.
Flood mapping is a highly technical and collaborative process that requires significant investment.
All finalized and draft flood maps can be found at floods.alberta.ca.
Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre (Sask DLC) and Saskatchewan Polytechnic (Sask Polytech) are providing high school students with the opportunity to get practical, hands-on learning in the autobody field.
Through a one-day learning camp at the Sask Polytech Regina Campus, students taking online autobody courses have the opportunity to learn from Sask Polytech instructors and hear from industry experts.
“Sask DLC is committed to offering high-quality learning opportunities for high school students exploring potential career paths,” Minister Responsible for Sask DLC Everett Hindley said. “The automotive industry remains a key driver in our province, and through our partnerships, we are pleased to see students that are interested in this field gain valuable hands-on experience that will help them succeed as they move from high school into their future careers.”
The Sask DLC and Sask Polytech learning camp provides students from across the province with opportunities to learn about potential career paths and make informed choices for their future beyond high school. The camps allow students to either confirm their current career aspirations or discover new ones.
“We are always excited to host learning camps with Sask DLC to support students aspiring to build careers in the automotive industry,” Sask Polytech President and CEO Dr. Larry Rosia said. “High school students gain valuable insights and benefits from exploring trades and participating in these interactive camps on campus. This is a great opportunity to learn more about options in the automotive industry and at Sask Polytech.”
Student interest in Sask DLC’s Autobody courses continues to increase. In the 2024-25 school year, there are more than 205 student registrations for high school Autobody courses, including 62 with work placements.
Last year, 21 students registered in Autobody 10 or 20 level courses with work placement hours, while an additional 56 students took the introductory theory-only course.
Sask DLC offers four Autobody courses for students across the province, including a 10-level introductory course where students can choose to do full-online theory or participate in 75 hours of online theory with a 25-hour work placement. At the 20-level, courses combine 50 hours of online theory and 50 hours of in-person work placement at a local business. Students participating in the optional learning camp at Sask Polytech will earn six credit hours toward their work placement requirement.
Student work placements are made possible thanks to a partnership between Sask DLC and the Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repairers (SAAR). This partnership provides students with work placement opportunities near their home community and supports the recruitment of qualified employees to serve the industry in the future.
“Our association is pleased to introduce students to opportunities in industry,” SAAR Executive Director Tom Bissonnette said. “Work placements in industry provide students with fundamental and practical skills to go alongside their Sask DLC course learning.”
These courses complement several other Sask DLC courses with work placements or hands-on learning opportunities available to students including:
Agriculture Equipment Technician
Construction & Carpentry
Electrical
Energy and Mines – Oil & Gas
Mechanical and Automotive
Parts Technician
Power Engineering
Precision Agriculture
Tourism
Welding
Registration for Sask DLC’s Autobody courses for 2025-26 school year is now open. The courses are available to full-time Sask DLC students or high school students attending local schools throughout the province to supplement their in-person learning. High school students can contact their local school administrator or guidance counsellor for help registering.
You can learn more about all online courses with work placements available through Sask DLC at saskDLC.ca.
London, UK / Princeton, NJ, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Orbital Materials, a company that uses its proprietary AI platform to develop new advanced materials and technologies, and Civo, the company reimagining cloud computing, have announced a strategic partnership to pilot Orbital’s carbon removal technology at its data center and support the development of new data center decarbonization and efficiency solutions.
This pilot comes in the wake of global AI policy announcements, including the AI Opportunities Action Plan recently announced by the UK government.
Data centers are currently responsible for approximately 1% of overall greenhouse gas emissions. The data center boom is projected to produce approximately 2.5 billion tons of Co2-equivalent emissions globally through the end of 2030, according to research by Morgan Stanley.
As part of the partnership, Civo will deploy Orbital’s carbon removal technology for data centers and support its efforts to develop new materials and technologies to improve the sustainability and efficiency of data centers. Orbital will have access to Civo’s data centers, to pilot and test these solutions.
“We are excited to partner with Civo to deploy our carbon removal technology for data centers which will help the data center industry transition to a more sustainable future. Our partnership with Civo will accelerate the development of our data center decarbonization and efficiency technologies,” said Jonathan Godwin, CEO and Co-Founder of Orbital.
Orbital has already achieved a 10x improvement in the performance of its carbon capture material through the use of its AI platform – an order of magnitude faster than traditional development and breaking new ground in carbon removal efficacy. Orbital plans to deploy and test its carbon removable technology at Civo’s UK-based data center by the end of 2025. As part of the partnership, Civo will provide Orbital with a high performance compute cluster with H200 NVIDIA GPUs to support its AI model training.
“We are thrilled to partner with Orbital Materials, a true innovator in the field of sustainable materials and technologies. Together, we can make a significant impact on reducing carbon emissions and driving a more sustainable future for our planet. With the growing investment in UK data centers and the UK government’s AI action plan, we must implement solutions now to reduce the environmental impact of the UK’s expanding data center capacity,” said Mark Boost, CEO of Civo.
Better advanced materials, such as semiconductors, batteries, and catalysts, are the building blocks of the next generation of transformational technologies. However, the development of advanced materials and technologies has historically taken years, even decades, of slow trial and error in the lab. Orbital leverages its proprietary AI technologies at its advanced materials R&D facility in Princeton, NJ to design, develop and deploy new advanced materials and technologies faster and more accurately than is possible with human input alone.
About Orbital: Launched at the end of 2022, Orbital Materials (Orbital) leverages AI to accelerate and redefine the discovery, testing, and deployment of advanced materials and technologies. Traditional methods of discovering these technologies have long relied on time-consuming trial and error processes in the lab, often resulting in years of experimentation before success is achieved. By leveraging its proprietary AI technologies at its advanced materials R&D facility in Princeton, Orbital designs, synthesizes and deploys end-to-end technologies quicker than possible with human input alone.
Learn more:
About Civo: Civo is the cloud provider built for the cloud-native era, delivering fast, reliable, and scalable infrastructure with simplicity at its core. Offering both public and private cloud solutions, Civo ensures organizations have full control over their data while maintaining flexibility and compliance. Designed to challenge traditional cloud models, Civo prioritizes fairness, data sovereignty, and transparent pricing, enabling businesses to scale without hidden costs. Trusted by DevOps teams and enterprises worldwide, Civo provides lightning-fast Kubernetes, high-performance AI/ML GPUs, and cutting-edge managed machine learning solutions. With a commitment to sustainability and innovation, Civo empowers businesses to navigate the complexities of modern cloud computing with confidence.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pascual Berrone, Head of Strategic Management Department and Chair of Sustainability and Business Strategy, IESE Business School (Universidad de Navarra)
London, New York and Paris have been named the world’s most dynamic and liveable cities. This is according to a new ranking of global cities that highlights Europe’s ability to balance sustainability and growth in its urban centres.
The IESE Cities in Motion index looks at 183 cities in 92 countries, and ranks them in nine key areas: human capital, social cohesion, economy, governance, environment, mobility and transportation, urban planning, international profile and technology. It’s different from other indices in that it takes into account so many metrics – more than 100 – on everything from ease of starting a business to number of museums and art galleries, internet speed and commute times.
The idea is to systematically gauge what makes a city the sort of place where people want to live and work. This is important not just for the quality of life of habitual residents, but also because location is vital for attracting global talent, especially among younger generations.
What makes the winners?
The top 10 cities in the 2025 edition were London, New York, Paris, Tokyo, Berlin, Washington DC, Copenhagen, Oslo, Singapore and San Francisco.
The top three all do particularly well in human capital, which includes features like educational and cultural institutions. They also score highly on international profile, which looks at indicators of global interest, such as the number of airport passengers and hotels.
Beyond those two areas, London cements its status as a global hub of high-level innovation and development, also standing out for governance and urban planning. The UK capital is somewhat weaker in social cohesion, where it came 20th, though not nearly as bad as second-place New York, which ranked 127th out of 183 cities in this category – among the lowest of developed countries. New York does, however, stand out for its economic performance, and does very well in mobility and transportation.
Paris, meanwhile, performs well across many metrics, including urban planning as well as international profile and human capital.
What Europe gets right
We’ve been calculating the index for a decade now, and European cities consistently perform well. This year, five of the top 10 cities – London, Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen and Oslo – are European.
We adjust the index on a regular basis in order to make sure that we’re measuring what’s relevant. For example, this year we introduced new metrics on women’s leadership, renewable energy sources and green spaces, as well as on availability of coworking spaces.
There’s no single reason behind Europe’s success, but there are patterns. Its large global metropolises, such as London and Paris, offer advanced technology, international communities and diversified economies in services, technology and finance. They have generally stable political systems and reasonable urban planning, along with advanced public and private transport options. However, while highly diverse, they also suffer from income inequalities.
In addition to these mega cities, Europe is home to a large number of sustainable and culturally vibrant cities of many sizes. All the Spanish cities included in the index (10 in total, including Madrid and Barcelona) are part of this cluster.
These are mature economies that prioritise sustainability over rapid growth, seeking to balance liveability and stability. They also have steady political systems, a commitment to green policies and urban planning strategies that give weight to sustainable infrastructure that enhances liveability.
They do well in social cohesion, with high levels of integration and relatively low levels of inequality. In terms of technology, they are steady adopters but they are not, for the most part, trailblazing innovators.
It’s also interesting to note the performance of North American cities, which show that economic might and technological prowess don’t always translate into more liveable metropolises. US cities dominate the economic dimension – eight of the top 10 in economic performance are American – but there’s not a single American city in the top 10 for social cohesion or environment. They do well in our ranking – New York, Washington, San Francisco, Chicago and Boston are all in the top 20 – as would be expected of high-income cities, but their performance in different areas varies widely.
Meanwhile, developing countries continue to struggle to break into the top ranks. In Latin America, the highest-ranked city is Santiago (89th), followed by Buenos Aires (117th) and Mexico City (118th). In Africa, Cape Town (156th) is the top-ranked city. At the very bottom of the ranking are Lagos, Lahore and Karachi.
Recommendations for cities
In this tenth edition, we are starting to see greater homogeneity of cities, suggesting that urban planners are learning how to confront similar social, economic and geopolitical challenges. Here are some of our recommendations for how they can improve further:
Adaptive and participatory planning: Cities should adopt an approach to planning that is both inclusive and adaptive. This means actively engaging residents, businesses and organisations in identifying priorities, and establishing mechanisms to respond to unexpected developments.
Sustainability as a core principle: A commitment to environmental sustainability and innovation in urban planning is key. Cities should pursue policies that reduce carbon emissions, such as adopting renewable energy. Their strategies must also factor in environmental impact and preparedness for extreme climate events, such as wildfires or floods.
Economic and social resilience: To address economic inequalities and a lack of social cohesion, cities should implement policies that foster economic equity, such as incentives for small businesses and job training programs that improve access to employment. They should also develop community support networks that strengthen social ties and promote the integration of vulnerable groups.
Inclusive technology: To close the digital divide, cities should develop a robust technological infrastructure that ensures connectivity across all urban areas and provides digital skills training for residents. Open data platforms that enhance transparency and encourage citizen participation can play a key role in this.
International cooperation: Cities should actively participate in international networks to foster mutual learning and best practices, and to collaborate on joint projects.
Continuous measurement: Metrics are essential, both to track progress and to benchmark against other cities with similar characteristics. While cities should develop their own performance dashboards with relevant indicators, our index can serve as an initial framework for identifying key dimensions and the most important indicators.
Las personas firmantes no son asalariadas, ni consultoras, ni poseen acciones, ni reciben financiación de ninguna compañía u organización que pueda obtener beneficio de este artículo, y han declarado carecer de vínculos relevantes más allá del cargo académico citado anteriormente.
Source: The White House
When career politicians sold American workers out to foreign countries, not only were entire communities destroyed — Americans’ lives were also shattered by higher rates of alcohol abuse, drug overdose, and suicide.
Studies have repeatedly shown the human impact of bad trade policies:
A 2020 study in American Economic Review: Insights found that “areas more exposed to a plausibly exogenous change in international trade policy exhibit relative increases in fatal drug overdoses, specifically among whites,” concluding that there is “a relationship between a plausibly exogenous change in US trade policy and drug overdose fatalities among working-age whites, helping to explain the alarming rise in ‘deaths of despair’ among this group since 2000.”
A 2019 study in SSM-Population Health found that from 1999 to 2015, “job loss due to international trade is positively associated with opioid overdose mortality at the county-level.”
“In general, the loss of 1,000 trade-related jobs was associated with a 2.7 percent increase in opioid-related deaths.”
“When fentanyl was present, the same number of job losses was associated with a 11.3 percent increase in such deaths.”
A 2018 article in the Journal of International Economics found that “data from the U.S. Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program reveal that, across locations, one extra TAA trade-displaced worker is associated with the overall employment falling by about two workers amidst muted geographic mobility.”
A 2020 article in SSM-Population Health noted “several recent studies have suggested a link between economic deterioration in labor markets and increased opioid deaths. Monnat (2018), found a cross-sectional association between manufacturing dependence and average drug-related mortality rates across U.S. counties. In a separate analysis, Monnat (2019) found that drug mortality rates for non-Hispanic whites are larger in counties designated as service sector-dependent in comparison to counties designated as non-specialized.”
Monnat (2018): “Counties reliant on heavy manual labor industries, like mining and manufacturing, that have suffered substantial employment downturns and wage stagnation in recent decades, may have higher drug-related mortality rates.”
Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with the Honorable Stephen Vaden, President Trump’s nominee to be Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, and Tyler Clarkson the nominee for General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Agriculture at a U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (Ag) hearing. During the hearing, Senator Tuberville asked both nominees about what they will do to promote domestic trade and enforce already-existing SNAP work requirements, if they are confirmed.
Excerpts from Senator Tuberville’s remarks can be found below, and his full remarks can be found on YouTube or Rumble.
TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Senator Justice. Awesome. I just had my first picture taken with Babydog, so I’m excited. That made my day. So, I’m glad you brought him up here today.”
JUSTICE: “It’s a girl.”
TUBERVILLE: “Oh, it’s a girl.”
JUSTICE: “A big girl.”
TUBERVILLE: “A big girl, yeah. Thank you, guys, for being here. And, like Senator Justice says, my phone—I’ve had to put in a new phone line for the farmers. They’re getting killed. It’s almost over. I mean, you know, they can’t even see the light at the end of the tunnel. And we need a Farm Bill, we need to help them, we need to understand the situation we’re in. Thank God for the tariffs, [and] for President Trump. He’s trying to right the ship. We’ll see what happens, but we’ve got to help our farmers.”
ON REDUCING TRADE BARRIERS FOR DOMESTIC FARMERS:
TUBERVILLE: “Mr. Vaden, domestic peanut growers in my state and across the country have been at a competitive disadvantage in the marketplace due to non-tariff trade barriers on peanuts from aflatoxin and in the European Union. Would you commit to ensuring USDA and the U.S. Trade Representative—USTR—would work together on President Trump’s agenda to reduce trade barriers and prioritize market access for our farmers?”
VADEN: “Absolutely, Senator. I know you just joined us, but earlier in response to a question from one of your colleagues, I noted that when it comes to American agriculture, oftentimes, the barriers that are actually keeping us out of the market aren’t formal tariffs, they’re not taxes, they’re, as you have noted with regard to your peanut farmers in Alabama—they are phony phytosanitary concerns. And those concerns cannot be allowed.”
[…]
VADEN: “Whether it be human health or animal and plant health. And they use it as a barrier to keep our products out. Our products grown by American farmers are grown with the best technology, with the best scientific advancement and there should be no concern from any international purchaser that if they’re buying American they’re getting anything other than the best. And I will have no problems, sir, voicing this to the President’s trade team.”
ON ENFORCING SNAP WORK REQUIREMENTS:
TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. This is for both of you. The Biden administration made individuals reliant on the SNAP program and the federal government to provide for them. SNAP should be a hand up, not a handout. And we need to get Americans back to work. I think we all agree with that. A big part of this is due to the Biden administration’s 21%increase in SNAP benefits through a Thrifty Food Plan update, amounting to over $250 billion in spending without congressional authority. Do either of you have ideas on how to enforce existing work requirements for SNAP recipients?”
VADEN: “Well, Senator, I think your question points out something very important. The work requirement that is contained within SNAP is not voluntary. It is a statutory mandate passed by this Congress. And failing to enforce the work requirement isn’t a policy choice. It’s a choice not to enforce the plain text of a law that Congress has passed. So, I appreciate you pointing out that the purpose of SNAP should be gauged on, not how many people are on it at any given period of time. But rather, as you have pointed out, how successful the program is at giving people a helping hand when they need it, and then working to transition them to self-sufficiency and entering the workforce so that they can become self-sustaining members of society. And that’s really how we ought to be judging the success of SNAP, how successful it is and helping people make that transition, and the work requirement is an important part of that.”
TUBERVILLE: “Thank you.”
CLARKSON: “Thank you for the question, Senator. I think the judge laid it out perfectly. PRWORA [Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act] made very clear that there are work requirements associated with SNAP. I’d also note on my wife’s behalf, who was an Auburn graduate, ‘War Eagle.’ So I’d be remiss if I didn’t share that today.”
TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. Thank you. And we all wanna take care of people that need—that are needy. We really wanna take care of everybody, but the problem is we’re like a business. And we’ve run this thing too far. They’re not gonna be any money for anybody. We’re gonna be dead broke. And we’re headed in that direction. So, we need to be a precursor for what’s going on in this country and watch what’s happening and understand that we need to help people, but we can’t help everybody just because they don’t wanna do anything. And so, at the end of the day, we have got to understand the significance of our debt and the direction that all these entitlements give out to. Again, we are a generous country. We always have been. So, I know you guys will do a great job. We’re looking forward to voting for you. And so now I’ll turn it over to my colleague here.”
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)
Washington, DC – Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Richard E. Neal, Ranking Member of the Ways & Means Committee, and Rick Larsen, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, today introduced a privileged resolution to terminate President Trump’s abuse of “emergency” authorities to impose sweeping tariffs on U.S. imports.
The Resolution would end Trump’s declared national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), an authority he is using to levy a blanket 10% tariff on all imports, along with additional massive tariffs on dozens of key U.S. trading partners. Under the National Emergencies Act, a privileged resolution to terminate the emergency must be acted upon within 15 calendar days, otherwise, it must be brought for a vote to the House floor.
The resolution is cosponsored by 23 additional Representatives. A PDF of the measure can be foundhere.
“By implementing these tariffs, Trump has now imposed the largest and most regressive tax in modern history, sent the stock market into its worst plunge since COVID, and is risking a global recession. These tariffs are nothing more than a sales tax on American families, driving up prices on everything from groceries to cars. The average American household will pay $5,000 more per year for everyday necessities, while Trump and Republicans push tax cuts for their MAGA billionaire donors.
“Today we’ve introduced a resolution that will force a vote on the floor of the House to terminate the authorities Trump has abused to unilaterally implement these tariffs. There is no national emergency justification to the President’s trade war. We are not at war with the EU or with allies in the Americas and Africa, with Southeast Asia, with Japan or with Israel, which is facing higher tariffs than adversaries like Iran. This is economic sabotage dressed up as policy.
“Republicans can’t keep ducking the vote on these taxes. It is time they take a vote and show their constituents whether or not they support the ‘economic pain’ President Trump is inflicting on American families,” said the Ranking Members.
Additional cosponsors include: Suzan K. DelBene (WA01), Joaquin Castro (TX20), Greg Stanton (AZ04), William R. Keating (MA09), Gerald E. Connolly (VA11), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA08), Mikie Sherrill (NJ11), Sean Casten (IL06), Jimmy Panetta (CA19), Sam T. Liccardo (CA16), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL20), Jim Costa (CA21), George Latimer (NY16), Dina Titus (NV01), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA37), Sarah McBride (DE-at Large), Julie Johnson (TX32), Pramila Jayapal (WA07), Bradley Scott Schneider (IL10), Johnny Olszewski Jr. (MD02), Gabe Amo (RI01), Kweisi Mfume (MD07), Ami Bera (CA06)
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)
Washington, DC – Today Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV), a member of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, introduced legislation with Representatives Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Judy Chu (CA-28) to increase access to family planning and reproductive health care services by funding the Title X Family Planning Program. The Expanding Access to Family Planning Act would bolster funding for Title X, the only federal program dedicated to providing family planning services for low-income individuals. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
As of 2020, nearly fifty percent of family planning users in Nevada were uninsured, with roughly the same percentage at or below the Federal Poverty Level.The program has been flat funded for the last eleven years, leading to substantial program cuts at the state level.From 2019 to 2022, Nevada’s five Title X grantees lost a quarter of their funding collectively. The program still lacks sufficient funding to meet the growing nationwide need for family planning care, especially as the Trump Administration freezes millions of dollars of Title X funding, worsening barriers for family planning users.
“The Trump Administration is denying women across Nevada and the U.S. the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies and their families’ futures,” said Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01). “By fully funding family planning services, we can protect women’s rights to access lifesaving preventive care, birth control, and other reproductive health services at a time when these freedoms are under constant attack.”
“In Kansas and across the country, people are being turned away from the only places they can afford to get basic, lifesaving reproductive care — all because the Trump Administration is playing politics with their health,” said Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03). “This bill protects trusted providers and ensures access to cancer screenings, birth control, and STI testing, no matter your income, where you live, or how you vote.”
“While the Trump-Musk administration freezes Title X funding around the country, threatening family planning and health screenings for hundreds of thousands of women, Democrats are fighting back with the bicameral introduction of the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act,” said Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28). “Trump and Congressional Republicans may not care about providing American women the freedom to plan their futures, but we do. And we are backing it up with this legislation to guarantee stable funding for Title X, improve health clinics’ infrastructure, and protect their access to comprehensive, affordable reproductive health care.”
The Expanding Access to Family Planning Act would:
Provide $512 million in mandatory funding for Title X services annually for 10 years;
Deliver $50 million in mandatory funding for clinic construction, renovation, and related infrastructure enhancements annually for 10 years;
Reinstate regulations prohibiting discrimination of providers who deliver Title X services, and
Require that pregnancy counseling be nondirective and include information about prenatal care and delivery, infant care, foster care, adoption, and pregnancy termination, unless a patient is uninterested in receiving information about an option.
This legislation has been endorsed by the Guttmacher Institute, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, National Women’s Law Center, National Council of Jewish Women, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Power to Decide, Reproductive Freedom for All, and Upstream USA.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)
Washington, DC – Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Richard E. Neal, Ranking Member of the Ways & Means Committee, and Rick Larsen, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, today introduced a privileged resolution to terminate President Trump’s abuse of “emergency” authorities to impose sweeping tariffs on U.S. imports.
The Resolution would end Trump’s declared national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), an authority he is using to levy a blanket 10% tariff on all imports, along with additional massive tariffs on dozens of key U.S. trading partners. Under the National Emergencies Act, a privileged resolution to terminate the emergency must be acted upon within 15 calendar days, otherwise, it must be brought for a vote to the House floor.
The resolution is cosponsored by 23 additional Representatives. A PDF of the measure can be found here.
“By implementing these tariffs, Trump has now imposed the largest and most regressive tax in modern history, sent the stock market into its worst plunge since COVID, and is risking a global recession. These tariffs are nothing more than a sales tax on American families, driving up prices on everything from groceries to cars. The average American household will pay $5,000 more per year for everyday necessities, while Trump and Republicans push tax cuts for their MAGA billionaire donors.
“Today we’ve introduced a resolution that will force a vote on the floor of the House to terminate the authorities Trump has abused to unilaterally implement these tariffs. There is no national emergency justification to the President’s trade war. We are not at war with the EU or with allies in the Americas and Africa, with Southeast Asia, with Japan or with Israel, which is facing higher tariffs than adversaries like Iran. This is economic sabotage dressed up as policy.
“Republicans can’t keep ducking the vote on these taxes. It is time they take a vote and show their constituents whether or not they support the ‘economic pain’ President Trump is inflicting on American families,” said the Ranking Members.
Additional cosponsors include: Suzan K. DelBene (WA01), Joaquin Castro (TX20), Greg Stanton (AZ04), William R. Keating (MA09), Gerald E. Connolly (VA11), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA08), Mikie Sherrill (NJ11), Sean Casten (IL06), Jimmy Panetta (CA19), Sam T. Liccardo (CA16), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL20), Jim Costa (CA21), George Latimer (NY16), Dina Titus (NV01), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA37), Sarah McBride (DE-at Large), Julie Johnson (TX32), Pramila Jayapal (WA07), Bradley Scott Schneider (IL10), Johnny Olszewski Jr. (MD02), Gabe Amo (RI01), Kweisi Mfume (MD07), Ami Bera (CA06)
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)
Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Sarah McBride (D-Del.) led more than 80 of their House colleagues in calling on the Trump-Vance Administration to reverse its abrupt and harmful decision to eliminate federal funding for Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers in ten states—including Maine.
In a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Acting Under Secretary Craig Burkhardt, Pingree and her colleagues pressed the administration to restore MEP funding that Congress already authorized and appropriated. These centers provide small and mid-sized manufacturers with the tools they need to modernize, grow, and compete in a global economy—supporting good-paying jobs and local economies across the country.
“Given the Trump Administration’s goals to revive and advance American manufacturing, we believe funding MEP centers remains essential. If we want to build at home, we must equip American manufacturers of all sizes with the tools, funding, and technology to compete and thrive,” Pingree and her colleagues wrote.
“Simply put, to manufacture at home we must support American manufacturers. Denying American workers and small businesses from the resources they need to develop their talents, modernize their operations, and grow their business is counterproductive,” the lawmakers continued.“At a time when we must harness the power of technology to be effective and competitive producers, we must continue to fund MEPs and provide American businesses with the tools they need. We call on the Administration to reverse course, renew funding for the ten MEP centers that lapsed April 1st, and continue to support the MEP program to advance American manufacturing.”
The full text of the letter is available here and copied below.
The Maine MEP has a direct and powerful impact on Maine’s economy. In 2024 alone, Maine MEP supported $60.5 million in new investments, generated $95.5 million in new and retained sales, and helped create and retain more than 1,100 manufacturing jobs. Eliminating federal funding and access to the national MEP network threatens Maine MEP’s ability to continue delivering these critical services.
Congress recently appropriated $175 million for the MEP program through the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025, maintaining the levels enacted in FY2024. Despite this, on April 1st, the Department of Commerce informed MEP centers in Delaware and nine other states that it would not renew their funding—circumventing both the intent of Congress and the statutory guardrails on transferring or impounding funds.
Since 1988, MEP centers have worked with over 150,000 manufacturers and helped create and retain more than 1.6 million jobs. Every federal dollar invested in the program generates more than $27 in new client investment and nearly $25 in new sales growth for small manufacturers.
The letter also asks the administration to clarify whether it plans to shutter the entire MEP program and demands transparency around the decision-making process, including whether any impact assessments or stakeholder consultations were conducted.
+++
Dear Secretary Lutnick and Acting Under Secretary Burkhardt,
We are writing to express support for continued funding of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program. Recently, MEP centers in Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Wyoming, were notified by the U.S. Department of Commerce that it would not renew their funding — despite Congress authorizing and appropriating funding for this purpose.Given the Trump Administration’s goals to revive and advance American manufacturing, we believe funding MEP centers remains essential. If we want to build at home, we must equip American manufacturers of all sizes with the tools, funding, and technology to compete and thrive.
The Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership was established by Congress in 1988 in response to a growing concern over the loss of manufacturing jobs and a decline in industrial productivity. A public-private partnership, MEPs continue to evolve and to provide U.S. manufacturers with timely and dynamic support. Today there are 51 centers across the United States. This robust network provides small and medium-sized manufacturers with the tools, training, and expertise they need to improve their processes, increase their manufacturing capacity, and bolster their workforce development, cybersecurity, technology adoption, and supply chain management activities.
Since 1988, MEPs have worked with more than 154,000 manufacturers and helped create and retain more than 1.6 million jobs. The network has over 1,440 trusted advisors and experts across 460 MEP Center service locations nationwide. MEPs have also helped create $148.7 billion in sales and $31.6 billion in cost savings. Furthermore, the return on investment for American taxpayers is indisputable – for every federal dollar invested in FY 2023, MEP generated more than $27 in new client investment and nearly $25 in new sales growth for small and medium-sized manufacturers.
The Administration has talked about bringing manufacturing and supply chains back to the United States. To reach this goal, it is crucial that decision-makers have access to accurate information about supply chain dynamics across the country. Through the Supply Chain Optimization Intelligence Network, authorized by the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, the MEP program has collected insightful data and nurtured relationships to help the Commerce Department make strategic decisions affecting the supply chain. The MEP program also uses this information to help small and medium-sized companies respond to supply chain shocks from regional and global events, like severe weather events or fluctuations in trade.
Finally, the Administration cited a refocus on “agency science and technology priorities” as the reason for the funding cuts. It is crucial that MEPs remain funded to ensure this very priority is met. Through MEP, small and medium-sized manufacturers have access to the MEP-Assisted Technology and Technical resource (MATTR) Program. This program provides small and medium-sized manufacturers with access to “laboratory’s core scientific and engineering capabilities, in advanced manufacturing technology, collaborative robotics, additive manufacturing, materials design and characterization, nanotechnology, information and communications technology, quantum information, biosciences, industrial standards, cybersecurity, and other fields.” This effort is proven to move the results of science and technology out of the lab and into use to the benefit of the U.S. economy.
Simply put, to manufacture at home we must support American manufacturers. Denying American workers and small businesses from the resources they need to develop their talents, modernize their operations, and grow their business is counterproductive. At a time when we must harness the power of technology to be effective and competitive producers, we must continue to fund MEPs and provide American businesses with the tools they need. We call on the Administration to reverse course, renew funding for the ten MEP centers that lapsed April 1st, and continue to support the MEP program to advance American manufacturing.
As the Administration continues to evaluate funding for MEPs across the country, we ask that you provide the following information:
Has the Administration assessed how closing the MEP centers will affect small and medium-sized manufacturers across the 10 states, including those in rural communities? If so, please provide the analysis.
Is the Administration planning to shutter the entire MEP program? If so, has the Administration assessed how ending the MEP program will affect small and medium-sized manufacturers across the country, including those in rural communities? If so, please provide the analysis.
In making this decision, has the Administration consulted with the MEP centers, the MEP advisory committee, businesses who use these centers, or other relevant stakeholders? If so, please elaborate.
We request your prompt and detailed response to the questions outlined above no later than April 11, 2025.
RICHLAND, Wash. – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Murphy and acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that on April 2, a federal grand jury for the Eastern District of Washington returned an indictment charging Jonathan Michael Atkinson, age 34, with 11 criminal counts including Sex Trafficking Children, Production and Attempted Production of Child Pornography, Online Enticement of a Minor, and Forced Labor, following an ICE HSI, law enforcement partner investigation.
The criminal charges against Atkinson carry a maximum sentence of up to a lifetime in prison.
“Human trafficking is a heinous crime that preys on the most vulnerable members of our communities and the most effective way we can dismantle these criminal networks is through strong partnerships,” said Matthew Murphy, acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Seattle. “HSI is proud to work alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to protect victims, bring traffickers to justice, and put an end to this exploitation.”
Atkinson was arrested on April 8 by the Southeast Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, consisting of HSI, Richland Police Department, Kennewick Police Department, and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. Additional assistance was provided by Pasco Police Department, ATF and DEA. Atkinson will be arraigned in federal court on April 10.
“The U.S. Attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Washington will continue to aggressively prosecute all versions of human trafficking,” stated Acting United States Attorney Richard Barker. “We will continue to work closely with our federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners to seek justice for the most vulnerable among us.”
If members of the public have any information regarding this case, please contact the Pasco Police Department.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Southeast Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laurel J. Holland and Stephanie A. Van Marter.
Early intervention is critical. If you suspect a child may be a victim of online CSEA, call the Know2Protect Tipline at 1-833-591-KNOW (5669) or visit the NCMEC CyberTiplineTM. If you believe a child has been abducted or is in immediate danger, contact local law enforcement and the NCMEC Tipline at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Know2Protect (K2P) is a national public awareness campaign from the Department of Homeland Security. K2P’s aim is to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults, and policymakers to prevent, combat, and report online child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information, please visit our YouTube playlists at Know2Protect Campaign PSA Playlist and Know2Protect Digital Safety Series Playlist on the DHS main channel. Additional resources are available at know2protect.gov and @Know2Protect on Instagram, Facebook and X).
Source: Government of Ireland – Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation
9th April 2025
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke, and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, today announced funding of €17 million for two additional projects under Call 7 of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF).
The announcement took place in the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT), Co. Dublin. NIBRT is a partner in the “Can-Vas” project which has been awarded €10.7m
This first of its kind in-human study treats infants with a type of brain damage, as well as expanding the pipeline of cell and gene therapies for rare and seriously debilitating diseases. NIBRT are working with three other partners on this project – Deantusaiocht Slainte HiTech Teoranta, University College Cork, INFANT Research Centre and the lead partner, HAON Life Sciences.
An additional project – LOTUS – has been awarded €6.4m which will develop a complete smart system to facilitate at-home anti-cancer treatment (SACT) with monitoring, enabling cancer patients to self-administer treatment in their own home. Representatives of the consortium comprised of Luminate Medical – the lead partner, Gentian Health, University of Galway and Trinity College Dublin were also in attendance at today’s event.
Announcing today’s projects, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke said:
“I am delighted to announce awards of over €17 million to two exciting and hugely innovative projects under Call 7 of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund. These two projects demonstrate the importance of the fund in leveraging emerging technologies for the well-being of our citizens. The technology in these projects will provide life-changing solutions for patients undergoing cancer treatment and for new and expectant parents where the safety and well-being of their unborn child is paramount. By funding these projects, the Government is maintaining its commitment to investing in cutting-edge technologies, with consequent benefits for the health care sector and other national research priority areas.
Since the Fund launch in 2018, my Department has awarded over €393 million in funding to 107 collaborative DTIF projects. Importantly, the fund is giving enterprises and research institutions opportunities to engage and connect with some of the brightest minds in Ireland, to conceive ideas, build relationships and foster knowledge-sharing for the benefit of all.”
James Lawless, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science added:
“It is great to see projects with a strong potential to deliver impactful health care solutions becoming recipients of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund. We are now financing 404 project partners from our enterprise and research sectors which are bringing forward novel and innovative ideas that will not only benefit our health services but focus on tackling wider sectoral and economic challenges associated with demands emerging around developments with Artificial Intelligence, sustainability and digitalisation. What makes this Fund unique is its ability to foster collaborative research that builds strong relationships that will benefit our citizens, our economy and generating high quality jobs for our graduates.”
The projects announced today bring the total number awarded to 107. This is no small feat. It underscores the critical role of disruptive technologies, on a national scale, and recognises the Government’s continued commitment to advancing and supporting the development of these transformative and lifechanging technologies.”
Kevin Sherry, interim CEO, Enterprise Ireland said:
“Enterprise Ireland is proud to support the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, which continues to drive impactful collaborations between Ireland’s leading enterprises and research institutions. These newly funded projects exemplify the power of innovation in addressing critical healthcare challenges, from advancing cancer treatment solutions to pioneering life-saving therapies for newborns. By investing in cutting-edge technologies, we are strengthening Ireland’s position as a global leader in innovation, fostering high-value job creation, and delivering real-world benefits for patients and society. We look forward to seeing these transformative projects progress and make a lasting impact.”
DTIF Call 7 remains open for project applications which can be submitted at any time up to the closing date of 30 April 2025.
Note to Editors
The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) is a €500 million fund established under the National Development Plan (NDP) in 2018. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment manages the DTIF with administrative support from Enterprise Ireland.
The purpose of the Fund is to drive collaboration between Ireland’s world-class research base and industry as well as facilitating enterprises to compete directly for funding in support of the development and adoption of these technologies. The aim is to support investment in the development and deployment of disruptive technologies and applications on a commercial basis.
DTIF Call 7 applications are assessed by panels of international experts against four criteria – quality of the disruptive technology, excellence of overall approach, economic impact and sustainability, and strength of the collaboration.
Since the Fund was launched in 2018, a total of 107 projects have been awarded funding of over €393m. The 404 project partners involved are operating in every region across the country, with 60% of those partners located outside of Dublin.
Prospective applicants can obtain detailed information on the Fund and on the application process through enterprise.gov.ie/DTIF.
Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) Call 7 Award Details
