Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
A telecom fraud suspect is escorted by Chinese police officers at the Kunming Changshui International Airport in Kunming, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, Jan. 30, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
China’s public security organs have helped facilitate the nation’s high-quality development by resolutely safeguarding public safety during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), a senior Chinese public security official said on Wednesday.
“China is widely recognized as one of the safest countries in the world,” Qi Yanjun, vice minister of public security, said at a press conference on public security during the 2021-2025 period.
“China has maintained one of the lowest incidence rates of fatal criminal cases, the lowest rate of criminal offenses, and the fewest cases involving firearms and explosives in the world,” Qi noted.
World’s safest country
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, public security authorities have focused on safeguarding the safety and well-being of the public, continuously intensifying efforts to combat criminal offenses, leading to a steady decline in the overall number of criminal cases nationwide, senior police officer Jiang Guoli said at the press conference.
China has consistently ranked among the countries with the lowest homicide rates globally, with a rate of 0.44 per 100,000 people in 2024, said Jiang, who is the political commissar of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) criminal investigation bureau.
China has maintained a hard stance on gang-related crime. Chinese police have dismantled over 590 mafia-style organizations and over 8,900 other criminal gangs to date during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, according to Jiang.
More than 105,000 gang-related criminal cases have been solved nationwide since 2021, he said, stressing that law enforcement agencies have maintained a zero-tolerance policy on organized crime — particularly for complex, high-profile cases.
He noted that law enforcement authorities have also focused on the root causes of organized crime, utilizing long-term crime prevention and social governance mechanisms.
“By disrupting the cycle in which disorder fosters crime and crime evolves into organized gangs, authorities aim to eliminate the conditions that allow such groups to thrive,” Jiang said.
In the field of transportation, the number of major traffic accidents resulting in three or more deaths during the 14th Five-Year Plan period declined significantly — 34 percent — compared to the 2016-2020 period, Qi said.
He highlighted that public security organs across the country have since 2021 intensified their identification and rectification of safety loopholes in sectors such as road traffic, railways and civil aviation, aiming to protect the people’s safety and property to the greatest possible extent.
Telecom fraud crackdowns
China launched harsh crackdowns on telecom and online fraud during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, effectively protecting the people’s lawful interests.
Chinese police resolved 1.739 million such cases and arrested 366,000 related individuals, including 3,442 major financiers and core members of criminal groups, Jiang said.
Police and relevant government departments intercepted 12.41 billion scam calls and 10.93 billion fraudulent text messages over the past five years, he noted.
He said that during the same period, Chinese police deepened law enforcement cooperation with their international counterparts, dispatching work groups to countries such as Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia to boost joint operations targeting telecom fraud.
“These efforts led to the dismantling of over 2,000 overseas fraud centers and the capture of more than 80,000 individuals,” he added.
Enhancing autonomous driving regulation
Responding to a question on autonomous driving, Wang Qiang, director of the MPS traffic management bureau, said that China will tighten its regulation and management of intelligent driving, as the intelligent driving systems currently installed in vehicles have not yet achieved true autonomous driving.
“The driver remains the ultimate party responsible for operating the vehicle,” Wang said.
He stressed that if a driver takes their hands off the wheel or their eyes off the road while the vehicle is in motion, they pose a serious risk to traffic safety and their actions could result in civil liability, administrative penalties and criminal prosecution.
To strengthen the regulation and management of intelligent driving, police will support the refining of laws and regulations to clarify manual control in vehicle autonomy from Level 0, which indicates no driving automation, to Level 2, which indicates partial driving automation, Wang said.
China will also encourage vehicle manufacturers to continuously improve the reliability of assisted driving systems, and to establish relevant safety technology standards, he added.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Palestinians wait to receive food in the Al-Rimal neighborhood of central Gaza City, on July 20, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
Access to supplies for distribution to hungry Gazans and security risks for aid workers are putting relief operations under severe strain, UN humanitarians said on Wednesday.
Relief workers face significant security risks. Supply crossings remain unreliable and critical supplies are routinely delayed or blocked. The amount of aid that has been entering Gaza is a trickle compared to the immense needs, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
“Israel must enable safe and unimpeded aid delivery, allow the entry of critical equipment and fuel, open all crossings, and restore movement along key supply routes,” OCHA said. “Humanitarian staff must be able to operate safely, people must be allowed to move freely, and supplies, including from the private sector, must reach all parts of Gaza.”
The office said if the conditions are met, the United Nations will urgently prioritize providing food, water, shelter, medical care and protection to the civilians of Gaza who have faced unimaginable hardships for far too long. The world body stands ready to seize the opportunity of a ceasefire to significantly scale up humanitarian operations across Gaza, as it did during previous pauses in hostilities, the office said.
OCHA warned that the hunger crisis in Gaza has never been so dire, with aid organizations reporting that as mass starvation spreads across the strip, aid workers and those they serve are wasting away.
The office said its partners report aid workers are fainting from hunger and exhaustion. Despite catastrophic conditions, aid workers continue to deliver life-saving assistance, wherever and whenever possible.
However, the office said that to sustain operations, including nutrition programs, the Israeli authorities must facilitate the delivery of much more aid into and across all areas of the Gaza Strip without delay.
The humanitarians said that hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed and cannot cope with the influx of patients, including those injured by hostilities, due to a lack of supplies and fuel.
OCHA said that local health authorities reported that in the past few days, several of their health facilities were shut down due to lack of fuel. More hospitals, including Al Shifa, are at risk of shutting down within the next few days.
Humanitarian partners reported that people with disabilities have no food, no assistive devices and no health care. Measures must be taken to protect civilians, including the tens of thousands of people who are older or are living with disabilities.
UN humanitarians said the Israeli authorities are the sole decision-makers on who, how and what enters the strip, adding that logistical challenges are immense.
To collect supplies that have reached any of the fenced-off and heavily guarded Israeli crossings around Gaza, drivers need multiple access approvals, and a pause in bombing for the iron gates to open, said OCHA.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher told the Security Council last week that movement requires navigating an obstacle course of coordination with Israeli forces, through active hostilities, traveling on damaged roads, and often being forced to wait at holding points or pass through areas controlled by criminal gangs.
“All too often, civilians approaching UN trucks are shot at,” OCHA said. “Collecting supplies safely requires reliable assurances that troops would not engage or be present along convoy routes.”
Israeli UN ambassador Danny Danon, speaking at the Security Council, announced restrictive measures against OCHA staff.
Israel will no longer grant automatic visas to OCHA’s international staff. Visas will now be limited to one-month terms, said Danon.
Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said that any punitive measures will only add to the obstacles preventing humanitarians from reaching people facing hunger, displacement and deprivation.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
This photo taken on July 23, 2025 shows products of Chinese auto brands during the exclusive media day of GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) 2025 at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition in Tangerang, Banten Province, Indonesia. [Photo/Xinhua]
Chinese automakers on Wednesday unveiled new electric vehicle (EV) models in Indonesia, as demand for EVs continued to grow across the Southeast Asian country.
At the GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS), held in Tangerang, Banten province, Chinese automaker BYD launched its Atto 1 model, known as Seagull or Dolphin Mini in China.
People visit the booth of Chinese auto brand BYD during the exclusive media day of GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) 2025 at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition in Tangerang, Banten Province, Indonesia, July 23, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
“This is the first Atto 1 in Southeast Asia. We’re offering it in two variants: Dynamic and Premium,” said BYD Indonesia Operations Director Nathan Sun during the launch.
Meanwhile, Wuling introduced a new multi-purpose vehicle designed for both family and business use, called the Cortez Darion.
People visit the booth of Chinese auto brand Wuling during the exclusive media day of GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) 2025 at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition in Tangerang, Banten Province, Indonesia, July 23, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
The Cortez Darion will be available in two versions: a plug-in hybrid and a full battery electric vehicle.
The 2025 GIIAS officially opened on Wednesday, with public days scheduled from July 24 to Aug. 3.
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
BEIJING, July 22 — On Monday, the theme day event on unmanned and counter-unmanned land combat systems in the military trade market held by the China North Industries Group (Norinco Group) kicked off in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The latest equipment such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), loitering munitions, and counter-UAVs were all showcased.
The theme day event was divided into dynamic performance and static display. The dynamic part displayed aerial “offensive and defensive” operations such as reconnaissance, informed planning, penetration and attack, etc.The exhibition area displayed unmanned and counter-unmanned equipment including UAVs, airborne munitions, loitering munitions. In addition, the wheeled gunnery with an unmanned turret that can automatically load and fire, the tank with an onboard UAV system and a radio jamming system, were also showcased.
HOUSTON – The final man in a large-scale conspiracy to commit wire fraud in relation to the sale of hundreds of thousands of fraudulent Texas paper license plates has been ordered to prison, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Emmanuel Padilla Reyes, 35, pleaded guilty May 13.
U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks has now ordered Reyes to serve 60 months in federal prison and to pay $22 million in restitution to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard testimony from the family of a victim killed by a truck bearing a fraudulent paper license plate that one of Reyes’ dealerships had issued. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that there were many more victims just like this one whose lives Reyes harmed and changed, and that this was not a victimless crime.
“The defendant’s criminal scheme was not only illegal in itself, but also facilitated scores of other crimes, such as armed robberies and drive-by shootings,” said Ganjei. “Texas motorists deserve to know vehicles on the roadways alongside them and their families are genuinely licensed, rather than the instruments of crime.”
“This case led not only to arrests and prison sentences for those behind a national multimillion-dollar scheme, but it also led to changes in the way temporary tags are issued in Texas. Changes that just went into effect July 1,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI Houston Field Office. “That’s impactful, and I’m so proud of our law enforcement partners and the FBI Houston case team who made it all happen.”
Reyes and co-conspirators sold over 550,000 tags using the internet and messaging apps, without selling any vehicles. He used aliases, including a stolen identity, to obtain car dealer licenses for the scheme. The fake tags allowed buyers to evade registration, insurance and law enforcement detection, enabling crimes such as robberies and drive-by shootings.
In Texas, used car dealers must obtain an independent General Distinguishing Number to access the state’s eTag portal and issue temporary buyer tags. At the time of the indictment, the system lacked data entry restrictions. Reyes used fake identities and documents to obtain licenses for two fictitious dealerships, “King’s Ranch Autoland” and “Texas Motor Company,” then advertised Texas buyer tags for sale on Facebook and Instagram.
Reyes will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Co-defendants Leidy Areli Hernandez Lopez, 45, Octavian Ocasio, 53, and Daniel Christine-Tani, 36, were also charged and convicted in the scheme and were sentenced to prison. Lopez, also in the United States illegally, failed to report to prison. A federal grand jury returned an indictment Feb. 20 charging her with failure to surrender. Lopez is considered a fugitive, and a warrant remains outstanding for her arrest. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 713-693-5000.
The FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from Travis County Constable Office – Precinct 3, Houston Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and New York Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Belinda Beek and Adam Goldman are prosecuting the case.
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
July 23, 2025
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D–IL) and U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07) led their fellow Senate and House Democratic colleagues in reintroducing legislation to protect Americans’ right to access reproductive health care, regardless of income, insurance or zip code. The Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Healthcare (EACH) Act would end the discriminatory Hyde Amendment and help lift unjust abortion coverage restrictions for those who depend on Medicaid and other government-sponsored plans—reaffirming the right to access reproductive health care after Donald Trump signed his Big, Beautiful Betrayal into law that will rip health care away from over 15 million Americans.
“Ever since Trump’s far-right Supreme Court majority struck down Roe, Republicans have made it their mission to strip away a woman’s right to reproductive health care—a right they have no place to stand in the way of,” said Senator Duckworth. “As Republicans’ Big, Beautiful Betrayal kicks millions off their health care, we must act to help strengthen access to abortion coverage for low-income Americans, servicemembers and millions more—no matter their zip code. I’m proud to reintroduce this legislation alongside my colleagues so we can do just that.”
“Abortion care is health care, and health care is a human right. With Trump and Republicans advancing a cruel, coordinated assault on our bodily autonomy—gutting Medicaid, defunding Planned Parenthood, and decimating access to care—we must use every tool available to protect and expand reproductive healthcare,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “The EACH Act would help us do just that. By repealing the racist and discriminatory Hyde Amendment, which has denied necessary care for vulnerable communities for nearly half a century, our bill would help ensure everyone in America can get the reproductive healthcare they need, regardless of income, insurance, or zip code. I’m grateful to Senator Duckworth and our colleagues for their partnership on this critical priority.”
Along with Duckworth, the legislation is cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-DE), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tina Smith (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Fetterman (D-PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM).
Along with Pressley, the legislation is cosponsored in the House by more than 150 U.S. Representatives.
Copy of the bill text is available on Senator Duckworth’s website.
Throughout her time in the Senate, Duckworth has made protecting reproductive freedom a top priority in the face of Republicans’ anti-choice crusade. Two weeks ago, Duckworth successfully included her provision to expand access to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) for military families in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed through the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.
Duckworth has also long pushed to pass her Right to IVF Act—which Senate Republicans blocked not once, but twice last year. This legislation would both establish a right to IVF and other assisted reproductive technology (ART), expand access for hopeful parents, Veterans and federal employees, as well as lower the costs of IVF for middle-class families across the country. Last September’s vote marked the fourth time Senate Republicans blocked Duckworth-led legislation that would protect access to IVF nationwide.
Duckworth was the first Senator to give birth while serving in office and had both of her children with the help of IVF. In 2018, she advocated for the Senate to change its rules so she could bring her infant onto the Senate floor.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)
Today, Rep. Jack Bergman joined Governor Gretchen Whitmer announcing that President Donald Trump has approved Michigan’s request for a disaster declaration to help communities impacted by the historic ice storm in Northern Michigan earlier this year. The devastating storm knocked out power and communications and left hundreds of miles of roads blocked by fallen trees and debris.
“President Trump’s approval of a Major Disaster Declaration for the counties impacted by March’s devastating ice storm is welcome news,”said U.S. Representative Jack Bergman. “I’m grateful to his Administration for working to get this done. This long-awaited decision unlocks critical resources to help our communities recover and rebuild as quickly as possible. It’s been a true team effort – from local agencies to state and federal partners. Northern Michigan is no stranger to tough times – but it’s in moments like these, when our communities rally and move forward together, that the true spirit of Northern Michigan shines brightest.”
“Yesterday, I spoke to President Trump who confirmed that communities in Northern Michigan impacted by the historic ice storm damage earlier thisnyear will start to receive federal disaster funding,”said Governor Whitmer.“With this initial support, we can help communities recover costs associated with cleanup efforts. I want to thank the president and our congressional delegation for supporting our request, and I look forward to collaborating further on much-needed additional resources. Michiganders across the state stepped up to help our neighbors, and while other parts of our request remain under review, we will continue advocating together to help Northern Michigan recover and rebuild.”
“Many Northern Michigan individuals, families, and small businesses are still recovering from the historic ice storms that hit our state earlier this year,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “This federal emergency declaration will help local leaders, communities, and Northern Michigan families get back on their feet and move forward with their lives. While this storm was devastating, Michiganders are strong, and we will Stand Tall together.”
“I’m pleased that funding is coming to Northern Michigan to bolster the ongoing recovery efforts following the ice storm this March,”said U.S. Senator Gary Peters. “The State of Michigan and local emergency managers continue to work hard because this job is not finished, and I’ll keep fighting to help our communities get the resources they need to bounce back stronger.”
“The Michigan State Police has supported response efforts from the moment this storm began, coordinating statewide resources through the State Emergency Operations Center to assist local communities impacted by the storm,” said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP.“This federal declaration is a crucial next step. It allows us to continue supporting our partners through long-term recovery.”
Federal Disaster Declaration
The declaration opens the path to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance in Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Kalkaska, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego, and Presque Isle Counties and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. The administration continues to review the request for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance under Schedule F.
Advocating for Northern Michigan
On June 25th, Rep. Jack Bergman led a letter with the entire Michigan Congressional Delegation, urging President Donald J. Trump in the strongest possible terms,to approve Governor Whitmer’s May 16 request for a Major Disaster Declaration.
On May 30th, Rep. Jack Bergman joined Michigan USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Director Joel Johnson to announce that assistance through the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) is on the way for Northern Michigan. Both programs are designed to help landowners recover from severe storm damage and restore their operations.
On May 19th, Rep. Jack Bergman expressed his full support for Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration in response to the ice storm that struck Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula in March.
On April 5th, Rep. Bergman visited the affected counties and met with local emergency leaders, linemen, and first responders to discuss the needs across the region.
State Actions
On March 31, Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency to respond to the storm’s impact. The declaration initially covered 10 counties and was expanded to include 12 counties: Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego, and Presque Isle counties. Governor Whitmer also deployed the Michigan National Guard to provide more personnel and specialized equipment to help with ice storm recovery efforts in northern Michigan. Lastly, the Governor Whitmer declared an energy emergency in the Upper Peninsula to help expedite delivery of fuel and other critical supplies to impacted areas.
On May 16, Governor Whitmer submitted a formal request for a major disaster declaration to help Northern Michigan recover and rebuild from the historic ice storms that hit the region hard in late March. The governor also traveled to the White House to meet with President Trump, advocating for federal assistance for Northern Michigan. The governor previously asked for an Emergency Declaration, which would authorize up to $5 million in immediate public assistance to support emergency efforts, including debris management needs.
She will continue working with the administration to pursue further relief from FEMA, and her request for individual assistance (IA) remains under review by the federal administration. IA can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. She will also seek resources for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
Resources
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service.
On June 11, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) separately granted an administrative disaster declaration for Cheboygan County and the contiguous counties of Charlevoix, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Otsego, and Presque Isle. SBA established two Disaster Loan Outreach Centers for one-on-one assistance, open now through July 26 at 2:00pm:
229 Court St.
Cheboygan, MI 49721
8288 S. Pleasantview Rd.
Harbor Springs, MI 49740
Loan applications are also available online or by mail. For additional information on low-interest SBA loans or the application process, visit the MySBA Loan Portal or call 1-800-659-2955. The physical loan application deadline is Aug. 8. Small businesses and non-profits have until March 9, 2026, to apply for EIDLs (working capital loans). So far SBA has disbursed $572,322 in loans for this disaster.
Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
WASHINGTON, DC – During a hearing in the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) advocated for Michigan’s truck drivers, which make up roughly 1 in 15 jobs throughout the state, according to the Michigan Trucking Association. As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, Peters delivered opening remarks where he underscored his commitment to ensuring Michigan truck drivers receive the wages and benefits they deserve.
“Our nation’s truck drivers are the backbone of our economy. These frontline workers spend long hours, often away from their families and at all times of day and night, transporting goods across the country to America’s communities… It’s not an exaggeration to say that the trucking industry touches every American’s daily life,” said Senator Peters, Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety. “That’s especially true for Americans who have made trucking their career. There are nearly 250,000 trucking jobs in Michigan alone, making up 1 in 15 jobs throughout my state. From long and short-haul drivers, to mechanics, dispatchers, and logistics coordinators, these jobs provide key economic opportunities for Michiganders, and I am committed to making sure that these jobs live up to their promise for Michiganders by providing fair wages, health care, and retirement benefits. That’s why I am proud to have one of the foremost leaders of that fight here to testify today, Teamsters President Sean O’Brien.”
During the hearing, Peters also advocated for policies to improve roadway safety to protect both truckers and the drivers they share the road with.
“Mr. O’Brien and the members of this panel know very well that the single most important factor in the success of our truck drivers and this industry, as well as road users across this country, is safety,” Peters continued. “I believe this committee must prioritize safety in the next surface transportation reauthorization bill for both truckers and those they share the road with, from the deployment of advanced safety technology and driver assistance systems, to investing in safer streets and stronger bridges, to tackling truck parking issues and defending drivers’ access to rest and bathrooms, to addressing freight fraud and theft.”
Peters also highlighted the current challenges that truck drivers and businesses face as the industry navigates the Trump Administration’s tariff policies.
“I want to acknowledge that today’s trucking industry, as well as all freight and multimodal industries, is facing an incredibly challenging economic environment with this Administration’s chaotic approach to tariffs. This doesn’t just impact truckers and consumers, changing rules, rising prices, and economic uncertainty impacts the manufacturers that build the trucks that move our goods and keep drivers safe,” said Peters. “In Michigan, the commercial vehicle manufacturing supply chain relies on cross border trade with Canada, and with a global supply chain. Many of these businesses have been forced to consider laying off workers or pausing investments due to a lack of certainty created by constantly shifting tariff policies.”
“We can and should pursue policies to create commercial trucking manufacturing jobs here at home, but this continued chaos will only serve to harm U.S. manufacturers, consumers, and our intermodal freight system,” Peters continued.
To watch video of Senator Peters’ opening remarks and question at the hearing, click here.
Peters has consistently advocated for investments and legislation to support truckers and the trucking industry. In the bipartisan infrastructure law, Peters secured more than $4.6 billion to improve roads, bridges, and highways throughout Michigan, including over $1.8 million for the improvement of the Blue Water Bridge to reduce freight delays and ensure the efficient movement of goods across the bridge via truck. In 2024, Peters’ bipartisan Strengthening the Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS) Act was signed into law to protect funding for the Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS), a crucial, nationwide computer system that ensures commercial drivers have only one license and one complete driver record.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Working meeting of Vitaly Savelyev with the head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov
July 23, 2025
Working meeting of Vitaly Savelyev with the head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov
July 23, 2025
Rustam Minnikhanov awarded Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev with the Order of Friendship (Duslyk)
July 23, 2025
Rustam Minnikhanov awarded Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev with the Order of Friendship (Duslyk)
July 23, 2025
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Working meeting of Vitaly Savelyev with the head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov
For many years of fruitful cooperation and significant contribution to strengthening the socio-economic potential of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov awarded Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev with the Order of Friendship (“Duslyk”).
The Deputy Prime Minister noted the significant dynamics of the main economic indicators of the Republic of Tatarstan in 2024, as well as the systematic development of the transport complex of the subject.
The total number of passengers served at all airports of the republic in 2024 amounted to more than 6 million people (Kazan International Airport – 5.3 million, other airports – 0.7 million).
In 2024, 8.7 million passengers were transported by rail. The volume of transported cargo in 2024 remained generally at the 2023 level and amounted to 16.4 million tons.
As part of the program for the development of unmanned cargo transport, 18 unmanned KamAZ trucks are being used on the M-11 and Central Ring Road highways.
In turn, in the territory of Innopolis, as part of the development of unmanned transport technologies, an experimental legal regime is in effect for Yandex unmanned taxis.
“First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to the President of Russia and the Federal Government for their systematic support of our initiatives. Tatarstan is a region with unique tourism and transport-logistics potential, and its development requires comprehensive infrastructure development. We pay special attention to air traffic: the modernization of the Kazan airport, including the construction of a new terminal, will not only increase capacity, but will also give impetus to the economy and tourism development. Water transport is no less important. The length of Tatarstan’s inland waterways exceeds 1,000 km. The main rivers – the Volga, Kama and Vyatka – have the status of water bodies of federal significance. We are implementing projects to update the fleet, including the construction of modern high-speed passenger hydrofoils “Meteor-2020″. This will create a modern, efficient transport system that meets the challenges of the time,” said Rustam Minnikhanov.
“The Republic of Tatarstan has traditionally been one of the leaders in the development of transport infrastructure in the country. The regional leadership and personally Rustam Minnikhanov are consistently working in this direction. According to the results of 2024, growth is observed in all main areas: air transportation, rail transportation, and water transportation. Today, we visited the Kazan Aviation Plant named after Gorbunov, a strategic enterprise for the aviation industry, which produces and maintains the Tu-214 airliner. A number of airlines are interested in purchasing this aircraft. It is important to note that Tatarstan enterprises are participating in the implementation of transport megaprojects. For the construction of the Moscow-St. Petersburg high-speed highway, Natsproektstroy will purchase more than 400 units of special equipment from KAMAZ,” said Vitaly Savelyev.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Corbies Creek, Canterbury, showing the exclusion barrier (left) and a DOC team removing weeds to improve longjaw habitat. Photo: Sjaan Bowie/DOC.
About this time last year, a group of DOC rangers and scientists set out from Twizel for a regular check of a population of threatened fish in nearby Corbies Creek. It was a beautiful day. Soon after getting their gear in the water, they realised something was very wrong. Where were all the fish? Only a year ago they’d found more than 100 in a 25m stretch, but there were hardly any there now.
Corbies Creek, along with just a few other small streams in Canterbury, is a refuge for native lowland longjaw galaxias. If we lost them from here, they’d be gone from everywhere. Sleek, pencil-thin and exquisitely camouflaged, their pale-yellow skin is dusted with brown and silver flecks. Adults rarely grow longer than 80 mm.
Lowland longjaw galaxias. Photo: P Ravenscroft/DOC.
Longjaws are one of New Zealand’s river-resident galaxiid species that live their entire lives in a single waterway. All river-resident galaxiids are vulnerable to being eaten or displaced by larger fish. Some, including longjaws, can’t share habitat with any bigger fish. To safeguard this population, an exclusion barrier has been built to stop predatory trout and kōaro from swimming up into their habitat.
So how had two brown trout – the cause of the drastic decline at Corbies Creek – got up there? Sjaan Bowie, DOC senior freshwater technical advisor, thinks the trout were carried across a paddock from a nearby waterway, in a particularly high flood event a few months earlier.
Rest assured the trout were quicky removed and the longjaws are bouncing back.
“We’re pleased to report that monitoring in March this year found numbers had risen from just 12 to more than 50 fish, and no more trout have been seen upstream of the barrier.”
Limited tools available – innovations welcome
Sjaan says this near-miss extinction of longjaws in Corbies Creek shows that more management tools will be needed to protect our freshwater fish in the future.
“What we’re doing generally works fine for small streams under current climatic conditions. But with increasing temperatures, we’re seeing trout head further inland looking for cooler water. More severe weather is also causing bigger floods and longer droughts. This combination increases the risk of trout making it past barriers or accidentally getting into threatened fish habitat, as we saw in Corbies Creek.”
Flooding can overtop fish barriers and put native species at risk. Photo: Dean Nelson/DOC.
She highlights the need for better technology – both for remote monitoring of populations and to protect larger areas.
“We’re looking at remote water level monitoring, so we’d get a warning ‘ping’ and could go and check if a barrier had been breached or there was an overland flow. There’s also a need to protect more and larger areas to prevent individual populations becoming genetically isolated.
“A fish exclusion barrier that works in larger rivers or low gradient streams without backing up the flow and creating a pool, would also make a big difference to the ongoing survival of these species. If anyone has bright ideas about how to build something like that, we’d really love to hear from you.”
Sjaan says the same issues are faced in fish conservation around the world, so any solutions we created here could be used internationally.
Regardless, future work to secure our river-resident galaxiids is likely to include building exclusion barriers in new streams and moving current barriers downstream. Other tools like captive breeding and translocations into protected areas are also likely to be necessary.
An exclusion barrier in Omarama Spring protects an important population of non-migratory galaxiids. Photo: Sjaan Bowie/DOC.
Let them through – migratory fish need to move
Managing the other group of New Zealand’s native fish couldn’t be more different. It’s vital for these species to be able to move up and down waterways and get to and from the sea to complete their lifecycles. In this group of migratory species are eels, bullies and the fish we collectively known as whitebait – the juveniles of īnanga, kōaro and banded, giant and shortjaw kōkopu.
The strongest swimmers of the group move the furthest inland. Kōaro stand out as best in class as they can climb near-vertical walls. Īnanga are the most challenged by inclines, jumps, rapids and fast flows, and tend to stay in flatter areas near the coast.
Human-built structures in waterways can present swimming challenges. Conservation work for migratory species therefore includes identifying, fixing or removing barriers like poorly designed or unmaintained culverts, fords, dams and weirs.
As part of her role, Sjaan advocates for better fish passage. She’s helped develop and update fish passage guidelines and resources, given dozens of seminars about best practice, offered advice and support to others, and coordinated the New Zealand Fish Passage Advisory Group.
“We can make a real difference for migratory fish by removing barriers. Yes, we can plant trees and improve habitat but if we can take out something that’s stopping migration, the benefit is immediate. It means the fish aren’t slowed down or stopped in their migration and allows them to get to natural habitat upstream to grow and mature.”
Researching ways to fix impassable culverts
Sjaan Bowie setting up a net to capture and count fish that made it up a ramp and through the culvert. Photo: Nixie Boddy/DOC.
Culverts are a big issue. There are hundreds of thousands of them around the country and some hinder or block fish passage by creating overhangs or impassably fast flows.
Sjaan and her colleagues have been testing different retrofitted baffles and ramps to see how well they help fish move up and through culverts.
“We couldn’t find a lab that was big enough, so we chose some barriers in waterways on the South Island’s West Coast. It has high rainfall, lots of culverts and an abundance of fish.
“It looks like these fixes can be used to improve passage for some species under certain conditions, but not for all species. They may be best considered as a temporary solution. Final results will indicate when they improved passage, and allow us to offer better guidance on installation, monitoring and maintenance of these fixes.”
Brittany Earl, freshwater ranger (left) and Nixie Boddy measuring post-trial fish before releasing them back into Hodson Stream. Photo: Sjaan Bowie/DOC.
Sjaan says if there’s a structure that’s restricting fish passage, the best option is always to remove it. “If that’s not possible we need to consider replacing or fixing it permanently.”
Spectacular success at Te Pouaruhe wetland, Wairarapa
Our work with the Wairarapa Moana Wetlands project restored fish passage to Te Pouaruhe wetland in early 2022 – using a large digger.
The area was drained for agriculture in the 1940s and separated from Lake Ōnoke by a stopbank and two culverts. One of the culverts had a flap gate that severely limited fish access to the wetland from the lake and the sea. The digger removed the culverts and made two breaks in the stopbank that now provide free passage up and downstream.
Before and after fish surveys in 2019 and 2023 found huge differences in the number and range of species present. Īnanga and common bullies were found at every sampling site in 2023 and in large numbers at most sites. At one site, the number of īnanga rose from 339 to 1563 after fish passage was restored.
Challenges to fix ford in lower Waipoua River, Northland
This ford across the Waipoua River was built to provide access for mana whenua (local residents) and commercial forestry vehicles.
It’s a significant barrier to fish passage because of a drop off downstream and culverts inside the ford that accelerate the flow. Installing four fish ramps has helped, but a permanent solution is still needed.
“Having a barrier 5 km from the sea restricts or prevents fish access to around 100 km of beautiful stream habitat in kauri forest”, says Sjaan. “Improving fish passage there would make a big difference for many species, including threatened shortjaw kōkopu.”
Fixing the ford is a priority for Te iwi o Te Roroa and DOC and options, including a fish bypass or replacement bridge, are being looked at.
This ford across Waipoua River hinders fish passage for several species despite the installation of floating fish ramps. Photo Sarah Wilcox/DOC.
Progress to celebrate and some lessons learned
Reflecting on progress in the last 10 years, Sjaan is pleased to have national guidelines, improved policy and new tools in place.
“The Fish Passage Assessment Tool is one way that anyone can record instream structures and assess the risk they pose to fish passage. The tool has contributed to a database of more than 150,000 structures nationwide that are being prioritised and ticked off.
“It’s been exciting to see councils such as Northland, Taranaki and West Coast, as well as other organisations, taking action to remove barriers and put in some good fixes to open up habitat for fish.”
Wairau Stream after work by New Plymouth District Council to remove a culvert that was hindering fish passage. Photo: New Plymouth District Council.
Sjaan says instream structures always have at least a dual purpose – to transport water and allow fish to move – and both are important to consider.
“One stand-out lesson for me though is the benefit of oversizing and embedding culverts. They will be long-lasting, stand up to floods, and provide good fish passage.”
Bad light forced an early end to Day One of the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series at Old Trafford, with India reaching 264/4 in 83 overs, largely due to B Sai Sudharsan’s impressive 61 – his first Test fifty.
Brought back into the playing XI in place of Karun Nair, Sudharsan had a nervy start and was even dropped on 20. But the left-handed batter recovered well, striking seven boundaries in his 151-ball knock on a hard pitch under overcast skies.
Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a gritty 58 while sharing a 94-run opening stand with KL Rahul, who made 46. However, India’s biggest concern will be Rishabh Pant’s foot injury, which forced him to retire hurt on 37. After taking a nasty blow and developing significant swelling, Pant was sent for scans, and the extent of his participation could influence the outcome of the match.
In the morning, Ben Stokes won the toss for the fourth time and opted to bowl first. Initially, Jaiswal rode his luck as Chris Woakes repeatedly beat his outside edge. However, the veteran all-rounder couldn’t find the breakthrough in his marathon eight-over spell, with Jaiswal taking three boundaries off him, while Rahul hit two.
When Brydon Carse came on, Rahul cut him twice for fours, and Jaiswal pierced the gap between third slip and gully. Rahul, who surpassed 400 runs in the series, faced more deliveries from Archer than Jaiswal, who had twice fallen to the pacer at Lord’s.
After cutting Stokes for four, Jaiswal got a lucky edge off Archer for another boundary before upper-cutting the England captain for six. He and Rahul ensured India went to lunch without losing a wicket.
The second session began with Jaiswal slashing and punching Carse for a pair of boundaries, before Woakes was finally rewarded for his persistence. On the last ball of the 30th over, a back-of-a-length delivery nipped away and took a thick outside edge from Rahul’s attempted punch, and Zak Crawley held on at third slip. Rahul departed for 46, ending the 94-run opening stand.
Jaiswal went on to record his 12th Test fifty but fell soon after the drinks break. Liam Dawson, making his Test comeback after eight years, claimed his first wicket on just his seventh delivery. Jaiswal, attempting a forward defence, edged to Harry Brook at first slip and was dismissed for 58.
Dawson, playing in place of the injured Shoaib Bashir, managed to tie Sudharsan down. Sudharsan could have fallen on 20 if Jamie Smith hadn’t missed a leg-side chance off Stokes.
However, Stokes struck in his next over when Shubman Gill left an in-ducker that rapped him on the pads. After being adjudged out by on-field umpire Rod Tucker, Gill reviewed, but replays showed the ball clipping the top of off-stump. He walked off for 12, giving England a boost after a wicketless first session.
In the final session, Sudharsan hooked Archer through fine leg for four, then pulled another for a boundary. Pant stunned the crowd with a front-foot sweep off Archer for four, followed by an audacious reverse ramp. He also launched Carse for a six over long-on, as he and Sudharsan brought up a counter-attacking 50-run stand and helped India cross 200.
However, disaster struck in the 68th over when Pant attempted a reverse sweep off Woakes but under-edged the ball onto his right foot. Though England reviewed for lbw and lost it, Pant was clearly in pain. The swelling on his foot ballooned to the size of a table tennis ball, and he was eventually taken off the field in a buggy, retiring hurt on 37 after a 72-run stand with Sudharsan.
Sudharsan went on to bring up his maiden Test fifty in 174 balls with a crisp drive through cover off Joe Root. But Stokes’ short-ball tactic worked once again, as Sudharsan, cramped for room, top-edged a pull to long leg – the third time he’s been dismissed by Stokes in this series.
With bad light forcing England to bowl spin from both ends, Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur, both unbeaten on 19, added three boundaries between them before play was called off, concluding a see-saw day of Test cricket.
Brief scores:
India 264/4 in 83 overs (B Sai Sudharsan 61, Yashasvi Jaiswal 58; Ben Stokes 2-47, Chris Woakes 1-43) vs England
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)
Today, Congresswomen Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Yvette Clarke (NY-09) introduced the Smart Cities and Communities Act, legislation that would expand smart city technologies and improve federal coordination of these programs.
Smart technologies help improve community safety, mobility, and resilience against natural disasters, while also expanding communication and public services in large cities and small towns alike. These innovations help cities cut costs, alleviate traffic congestion, reduce air pollution, and lower energy use, all while generating economic growth and expanding opportunities for communities of all sizes.
With an estimated $1.4 trillion expected to be invested globally in smart technology over the next five years, U.S. cities must catch up. Research shows that every dollar spent on government technology can save nearly $4. Despite these clear benefits, the U.S. is currently lagging in smart city development.
This technology is already making an impact in cities across the nation, including Washington. In Redmond, it is being deployed to improve traffic flow and management. This system helps detect pedestrians in crosswalks, adjusts light timings for safer crossing, and modifies traffic signals based on real-time volumes to reduce congestion and make our intersections safer and less stressful for roadway users. In Bellevue, the city has a Smart Mobility Plan to help the city plan for shared-use mobility, autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, and data management.
The Smart Cities and Communities Act would:
Enhance federal coordination of smart city programs, including improved reporting and demonstration of the value and utility of smart city systems.
Provide assistance and resources to local governments interested in implementing smart city technologies, making them more accessible in suburban and rural areas.
Develop a skilled domestic workforce to support smart cities.
Improve the quality and performance of smart city technologies while assessing and enhancing cybersecurity and privacy protections.
Foster international collaboration and trade in smart city technologies.
“Investing in smart city technology will propel our nation into a bright future, powered by more livable communities,” said DelBene. “The Smart Cities and Communities Act allows local governments to equip themselves with the cutting-edge tools to increase connectivity and develop green infrastructure. This important development will strengthen the middle class by generating good jobs and cutting pollution, ensuring the United States maintains its position as a global leader in innovation.”
“Ensuring our communities are equipped with the smart city technologies they need to be cleaner, safer, and more resilient to the changing climate must be among Congress’ highest priorities,” said Clarke. “In the face of the worsening climate crisis, we have a responsibility to provide every American with equitable access to the innovations that will protect them from whatever an uncertain future might bring. I am proud to stand alongside my colleague, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, to introduce this forward-looking legislation that will position the United States as a leader in the global movement towards climate resilience and facilitate the critical upgrades our communities are depending on Congress to deliver.”
“BSA commends Representatives DelBene and Clarke for reintroducing the Smart Cities and Communities Act, which recognizes the potential of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to transform local communities. By encouraging adoption of and investments in AI-driven solutions, and supporting robust AI training and data utilization, this legislation will help communities realize smart city benefits that are efficient, cost-effective, and enhance public services,” said Craig Albright, SVP of US Government Relations, Business Software Alliance.
The full text of the legislation can be found here.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Prime Minister secures thousands of British jobs and £6 billion in investment and export wins as historic trade deal with India signed
Today, the Prime Minister will welcome nearly £6 billion in new investment and export wins.
Thousands of jobs created for Brits through new Indian investment and export wins worth almost £6 billion
New figures show that £4.8bn trade deal will unlock economic growth for each region and nation of the UK – delivering on the government’s Plan for Change
UK and India also agree to ramp up joint efforts against organised crime and illegal migration with new framework to tackle trafficking, document fraud and remove barriers to return
Today, the Prime Minister will welcome nearly £6 billion in new investment and export wins, which will create over 2,200 British jobs across the country as Indian firms expand their operations in the UK and British companies secure new business opportunities in India. These deals will drive jobs in high-growth sectors like aerospace, technology and advanced manufacturing – supporting engineers, technicians and supply chain workers, in every corner of the UK.
It comes as the Prime Minister is set to meet the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, today for the signing of the landmark UK-India trade deal. From Coventry to Carlisle, new analysis shows communities across every region of the UK will benefit from its £4.8 billion increase to UK GDP each year.
Thanks to the deal, British workers will enjoy a collective uplift in wages of £2.2 billion each year and could also see cheaper prices and more choice on clothes, shoes, and food products.
The UK already imports £11 billion in goods from India, but liberalised tariffs on Indian goods will make it easier and cheaper to buy their best products. For businesses, this could mean potential savings when importing components and materials used in areas such as advanced manufacturing or luxury and consumer goods.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
Our landmark trade deal with India is a major win for Britain. It will create thousands of British jobs across the UK, unlock new opportunities for businesses and drive growth in every corner of the country, delivering on our Plan for Change.
We’re putting more money in the pockets of hardworking Brits and helping families with the cost of living, and we’re determined to go further and faster to grow the economy and raise living standards across the UK.
India’s average tariff on UK products will drop from 15% to 3% which means British companies selling products to India from soft drinks and cosmetics to cars and medical devices will find it easier to sell to the Indian market.
Whisky producers will benefit from tariffs slashed in half, reduced immediately from 150% to 75% and then dropped even further to 40% over the next ten years – giving the UK an advantage over international competitors in reaching the Indian market.
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:
The billions brought to our economy from the trade deal signed today will reach all regions and nations of the UK so working people in every community can feel the benefits.
The almost £6 billion in new investment and export wins announced today will deliver thousands of jobs and shows the strength of our partnership with India as we ensure the UK is the best place in the world to invest and do business.
This government is proving time and again that we can deliver on our mission to grow the economy, put more money in pockets and boost living standards under our Plan for Change.
The two Prime Ministers have also signed a renewed Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership, which will see closer collaboration on defence, education, climate, technology and innovation. This comes exactly one year since the countries signed the landmark UK-India Technology Security Initiative, which sees joint work on telecoms security and unlocking investment across emerging technologies – telecoms, critical minerals, AI, quantum, health/bio tech, advanced materials and semiconductors.
The UK and India have also agreed to strengthen cooperation in tackling corruption, serious fraud, organised crime, and irregular migration through enhanced intelligence sharing and operational collaboration. This includes committing to finalising a groundbreaking new criminal records sharing agreement, facilitating the exchange of criminal records to support criminal proceedings, maintain accurate watchlists and enable the enforcement of travel bans. These measures represent a significant step forward in joint efforts to combat organised immigration crime.
Aligned with the UK’s recent Industrial and Trade Strategies, the deal will support the sectors which drive the most growth for the economy. The UK’s large and varied manufacturing sectors will benefit from tariffs cut on aerospace (as high as 11% reduced to 0%), automotives (up to 110% down to 10% under a quota) and electrical machinery (from up to 22% down to either 0% of a 50% reduction).
A reduction in tariffs, combined with a reduction in regulatory barriers to trade between the UK and India are estimated to:
Increase UK exports to India by nearly 60% in the long run – this is equivalent to an additional £15.7 billion of UK exports to India when applied to projections of future trade in 2040.
Increase bilateral trade by nearly 39% in the long run, equivalent to £25.5 billion a year, when compared to 2040 projected levels of trade in the absence of an agreement
The clean energy industry will have brand new, unprecedented access to India’s vast procurement market as the country makes the switch to renewable energy and continues to see growing energy demand.
For financial and professional business services, locked in access will offer certainty to expand in India’s growing market and measures such as binding India’s foreign investment cap for the insurance sector, ensuring UK financial services companies are treated on an equal footing with domestic suppliers.
Meanwhile, 26 British companies have secured new business in India. Airbus & Rolls-Royce will soon begin delivering Airbus aircraft – with over half powered by Rolls-Royce engines – to major Indian airlines as part of around £5 billion worth of contracts recently agreed. These orders will help sustain hundreds of jobs across their respective sites in Filton, Broughton and Derby.
18 firms have confirmed new investment including Zerowatt Energy, AI powered energy intelligence platform is setting up its Global HQ in Leicester. The firm will invest £10m and create 50 new jobs across Leicester, Manchester, Edinburgh and London over the next three years.
Other UK and Indian businesses who have confirmed almost £6 billion in new investments and export deals today creating over 2,200 jobs across the UK includes:
Carbon Clean, a UK-based leader in carbon capture, with projected UK export contributions of £83 million over the next five years, has invested £7.6 million in a Global Innovation Centre in Mumbai. This ODI and export wins will unlock 250 jobs across London, Glasgow and Huddersfield as well as 100 jobs in Mumbai.
AI and data services company, DCube AI, is investing £5 million in the UK, unlocking 50 jobs across Manchester and London in the next three years to strength its technology offering to UK customers.
Occuity, an innovative UK AI healthcare company has partnered with Remidio Innovative Solutions Pvt. Ltd., a leading Indian manufacturer and distributor of ophthalmic medical devices to bring Occuity’ s cutting-edge ophthalmic screening technologies to India, improving access to innovative and non-invasive eye screening and leading to an export value of £74.3 million over 5 years.
Johnson Matthey, a UK-based leader in chemicals and sustainable technologies, has secured recent contracts of over £20 million for process licensing, engineering, and catalysts supply in India. The company will also invest £4 million in a new plant at Taloja (Maharashtra) and in doubling its capacity at an existing site in Panki, Uttar Pradesh, with contracts are helping to create up to 20,000 jobs in India during the construction phase of these projects.
Marcus Evans Group, a global business intelligence and summits business company established its new Global Technology office in Mumbai to serve its 59 offices worldwide and has confirmed a combined Export (£42mn) and ODI (£27mn) win of £69 million over the next five years from India.
LTIMindtree , a global technology consulting and digital solutions company plans to further expand its London operations by adding over 300 highly skilled jobs, investing £1m. This includes a state-of-the-art AI innovation studio and showcase lab.
Aurionpro, a global enterprise technology leader in Banking, Payments, Insurance, Data Centers, and Public Sector technology is investing over £20M to launch its UK HQ, creating 150+ high-value jobs in multiple locations across UK over 3 years. It will also open AI-powered R&D labs in collaboration with top UK universities to develop next-gen transport technology and lead the global Safe Superintelligence (SSI) movement, ensuring AI is built safely and ethically.
Tufan Erginbiligic, Rolls-Royce CEO, said:
India is an important market for our business, with over 90 years of partnership with Indian industry and the Indian Government. We welcome the provisions in this Free Trade Agreement, including those that bring closer alignment with international standards for trade in civil aerospace. These agreements will benefit Rolls-Royce and our customers, paving the way for future aerospace growth in India.
This agreement marks a great moment for both Scotch and Scotland, and we’ll be raising a glass of Johnnie Walker to all those who have worked so hard to get it secured.
William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said:
The signing of this agreement is a clear signal of the UK’s continuing commitment to free and fair trade. It will open a new era for our businesses and boost investment between two of the world’s largest economies.
Currently around 16,000 UK companies are trading goods with Indian companies, and there is high interest in our Chamber Network to grow that. This deal will create new opportunities in the transport, travel, creative and business support sectors alongside traditional strengths in finance and professional services.
Jean-Etienne Gourgues, Chivas Brothers Chairman and CEO, said:
Signature of the UK-India FTA is a sign of hope in challenging times for the spirits industry. India is the world’s biggest whisky market by volume and greater access will be an eventual game changer for the export of our Scotch whisky brands, such as Chivas Regal and Ballantine’s.
The deal will support long term investment and jobs in our distilleries in Speyside and our bottling plant at Kilmalid and help deliver growth in both Scotland and India over the next decade. Let’s hope that both governments will move quickly to ratification so business can get to work implementing the deal!
Deadly sectarian violence has displaced more than 145,000 people in the southern city, some of whom have fled to neighbouring Dar’a and Rural Damascus governorates.
The convoy carried a range of critical support, including food, wheat flour, fuel, medicines and health supplies.
OCHA coordinated with the SARC to prepare the convoy, which included supplies from UN agencies.
Engagement and support
The Office continues to engage with authorities and partners to facilitate an inter-agency UN mission to Sweida as conditions allow.
The UN is also working with partners to deliver a range of assistance to people displaced to Dar’a and Rural Damascus, including food, water, and health and protection services.
Mobile medical teams have so far provided more than 3,500 consultations, including trauma care, maternal health and psychosocial support while nearly 38,000 people have received food aid.
Additionally, over 1,000 kits containing non-food items were distributed in Dar’a and Rural Damascus, helping more than 5,000 people.
OCHA said UN inter-agency missions to assess needs and provide assistance to both governorates are planned for the coming days.
The first convoy to Sweida arrived on Sunday. The 32 trucks brought food, water, medical supplies and fuel provided by the UN World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other partners.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union have been negotiating a collective employment agreement for career firefighters since 16 July 2024.
Deputy Chief Executive Service Delivery Operations/Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says Fire and Emergency has offered the Union a 5.1 percent pay increase over the next three years, as well as increases to some allowances.
“We consider the offer is fair, balances cost of living pressures being faced by individuals alongside fiscal pressures faced by Fire and Emergency and is consistent with the Government Workforce Policy Statement.”
Megan Stiffler says Fire and Emergency has invested significantly in its people and its resources for the safety of communities since it was established in 2017.
“The previous collective employment agreement settlement in 2022 provided a cumulative wage increase of up to 24 percent over a three-year period for our career firefighters.”
“Fire and Emergency has also been investing in replacing our fleet, with 317 trucks replaced since 2017 and another 70 on order. We are currently spending over $20 million per year on replacement trucks. There is also a significant programme of station upgrades underway, as well as investment in training,” she says.
“In 2023/24 most career firefighters earned over $100,000 per year, including overtime and allowances. The turnover rate for our career firefighters was just 3.6 percent last year, and the average length of service was 17 years. We work constantly with our people to ensure we are an employer of choice.”
“Our firefighters are highly trained and deeply committed to serving their communities and we are investing in our people and our resources, to support them. They do an incredible job keeping New Zealanders safe.”
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
BILLINGS – A Billings man who distributed drugs in the Billings area was sentenced today to 168 months in prison to be followed by 4 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Tirrell Lewis, 45, pleaded guilty in February 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on November 3, 2023, law enforcement officers received a call that there were two gunshots in the vicinity of a residential address and the caller saw a gray Mustang leave the area very quickly. Officers spoke to the Lewis’s girlfriend on scene, and she said the sounds were fireworks. She also said she and Lewis were in a relationship and he had not been present at her residence. She allowed officers to look in her backyard where they found two spent rifle casings.
The caller told police Lewis had been at the residence and he and his girlfriend were arguing before the two gunshots and then the caller saw Lewis leave in the gray Mustang.
Later that evening officers located the Mustang. They attempted to stop the vehicle, but it fled a short distance before stopping in front of Lewis’s girlfriend’s residence. Lewis got out of the car and fled on foot behind the residence. He circled the house and ran right into an officer who then arrested him. When Lewis was taken into custody, he was found to have $6,216.18 on his person.
On November 13, 2023, a search warrant was executed on the Mustang. Inside were 4 firearms, 91 rounds of assorted ammunition, 7 ounces of fentanyl, and 9 ounces of methamphetamine. The drugs were located in a backpack in the trunk. The fentanyl was in 3 bags inside. One contained 50 pills, one contained 1,003, and one contained 814. The methamphetamine was in two zip lock baggies next to a scale and 23 clean baggies. There was a paystub for Lewis and one of the handguns under the backpack.
Lewis is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a previous federal conviction.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Godfrey prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Billings Police Department, ATF, and DEA.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
HOT SPRINGS – A Pearcy man was sentenced yesterday to a total of 175 months in prison on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, one count of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, as well as violations of his term of supervised release from a previous conviction. The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Hot Springs. According to court documents, on July 22, 2024, a Trooper with the Arkansas State Police attempted to make a traffic stop on Michael Fryar in Garland County. After the Trooper initiated his lights, Fryar fled in his vehicle and a pursuit ensued. After a short pursuit Fryar abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot into a wooded area. The Trooper pursued on foot and had to deploy his taser to get Fryar apprehended. At the time of the offense, Fryar was in possession of a loaded firearm with a round in the chamber and a distribution amount of methamphetamine. Fryar has an extensive criminal history and was on federal supervised release at the time of the offense. The Arkansas State Police, 18th East Drug Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Harris prosecuted the case for the United States. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man pleaded guilty on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Portland to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, in January 2025, Lewiston police officers stopped a vehicle operated by Kulmiye Abukar Idris, 35, for traffic violations. Officers searched the vehicle and found a handgun. Idris was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for gross sexual assault.
Idris faces up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release for three years. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Lewiston Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the Androscoggin County District Attorney’s Office.
Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.
According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), more than 30 locations across seven districts of Kyiv were struck in what it described as “the deadliest attack” on the Ukrainian capital in nearly a year.
“Last night’s attack exemplifies the grave threat posed by the tactic of deploying missiles and large numbers of drones simultaneously into populated areas,” said Danielle Bell, Head of HRMMU.
Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, also strongly condemned the attacks, which extended to Odesa, Zaporizhzhia and other areas.
“The people of Ukraine should not have to take cover in shelters night after night,” he said. “Each day, the war takes a devastating toll on civilians.”
In the southern port city of Odesa, strikes reportedly injured several civilians and damaged a kindergarten and a centre for children with special needs – places where children should feel safe. In Zaporizhzhia, residential buildings were hit.
First responders and humanitarian agencies are already on the ground, providing emergency care and supplies while assessing further needs.
Human toll rising
The barrage included 440 long-range drones and 32 missiles launched by Russian forces, HRMMU noted in a news release citing information from Ukrainian authorities, of which 175 drones and 14 missiles targeted Kyiv.
It marked the fourth time this month that more than 400 munitions were fired in a single night – far surpassing the 544 total launched during the entire month of June 2024.
Even before this latest attack, the human toll of such tactics had been rising sharply. HRMMU had already verified at least 29 civilian deaths and 126 injuries from long-range weapons in June alone.
The overall civilian casualty count in the first five months of 2025 is nearly 50 per cent higher than in the same period last year.
Mr. Schmale reiterated that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international humanitarian law.
“Civilians, including children, must never be a target,” he said. “We must not normalize the war.”
Refugee crisis deepens
Meanwhile, the broader humanitarian crisis continues to deepen. The intense conflict, now in its third year since Russia’s full-scale invasion, has driven more than 6.3 million Ukrainians to seek refuge across Europe.
Most are women, children, and older persons, many of whom rely on temporary protection directives extended by host countries like the European Union (EU) and Moldova, according to a report released on Tuesday by Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Noting the volatile situation in Ukraine, the agency urged the respective governments to maintain legal status for refugees until conditions allow for safe, dignified, and sustainable returns.
The manufacturing of African print textiles has shifted to China in the 21st century. While they are widely consumed in African countries – and symbolic of the continent – the rise of “made in China” has undermined the African women traders who have long shaped the retail and distribution of this cloth.
For many decades Vlisco, the Dutch textile group which traces its origins to 1846 and whose products had been supplied to west Africa by European trading houses since the late 19th century, dominated manufacture of the cloth. But in the last 25 years dozens of factories in China have begun to supply African print textiles to west African markets. Qingdao Phoenix Hitarget Ltd, Sanhe Linqing Textile Group and Waxhaux Ltd are among the best known.
We conducted research to establish how the rise of Chinese-made cloth has affected the African print textiles trade. We focused on Togo. Though it’s a tiny country with a population of only 9.7 million, the capital city, Lomé, is the trading hub in west Africa for the textiles.
We conducted over 100 interviews with traders, street sellers, port agents or brokers, government officials and representatives of manufacturing companies to learn about how their activities have changed.
“Made in China” African print textiles are substantially cheaper and more accessible to a wider population than Vlisco fabric. Our market observations in Lomé’s famous Assigamé market found that Chinese African print textiles cost about 9,000 CFA (US$16) for six yards – one complete outfit. Wax Hollandais (50,000 CFA or US$87) cost over five times more.
Data is hard to come by, but our estimates suggest that 90% of imports of these textiles to Lomé port in 2019 came from China.
One Togolese trader summed up the attraction:
Who could resist a cloth that looked similar, but that cost much less than real Vlisco?
Our research shows how the rise of China manufactured cloth has undermined Vlisco’s once dominant market share as well as the monopoly on the trade of Dutch African print textiles that Togolese traders once enjoyed.
The traders, known as Nana-Benz because of the expensive cars they drove, once enjoyed an economic and political significance disproportionate to their small numbers. Their political influence was such that they were key backers of Togo’s first president, Sylvanus Olympio – himself a former director of the United Africa Company, which distributed Dutch cloth.
In turn, Olympio and long-term leader General Gnassingbé Eyadéma provided policy favours – such as low taxes – to support trading activity. In the 1970s, African print textile trade was considered as significant as the phosphate industry – the country’s primary export.
Nana-Benz have since been displaced – their numbers falling from 50 to about 20. Newer Togolese traders – known as Nanettes or “little Nanas” – have taken their place. While they have carved out a niche in mediating the textiles trade with China, they have lower economic and political stature. In turn, they too are increasingly threatened by Chinese competition, more recently within trading and distribution as well.
China displaces the Dutch
Dating back to the colonial period, African women traders have played essential roles in the wholesale and distribution of Dutch cloth in west African markets. As many countries in the region attained independence from the 1950s onwards, Grand Marché – or Assigamé – in Lomé became the hub for African print textile trade.
While neighbouring countries such as Ghana limited imports as part of efforts to promote domestic industrialisation, Togolese traders secured favourable conditions. These included low taxes and use of the port.
Togolese women traders knew the taste of predominantly female, west African customers better than their mostly male, Dutch designers. The Nana-Benz were brought into the African print textile production and design process, selecting patterns and giving names to designs they knew would sell.
They acquired such wealth from this trade that they earned the Nana-Benz nickname from the cars they purchased and which they used to collect and move merchandise.
Nana-Benz exclusivity of trading and retailing of African print textiles cloth in west African markets has been disrupted. As Vlisco has responded to falling revenues – over 30% in the first five years of the 21st century – due to its Chinese competition, Togolese traders’ role in the supply chain of Dutch cloth has been downgraded.
In response to the flood of Chinese imports, the Dutch manufacturer re-positioned itself as a luxury fashion brand and placed greater focus on the marketing and distribution of the textiles.
Vlisco has opened several boutique stores in west and central Africa, starting with Cotonou (2008), Lomé (2008) and Abidjan (2009). The surviving Nana-Benz – an estimated 20 of the original 50 – operate under contract as retailers rather than traders and must follow strict rules of sale and pricing.
While newer Togolese traders known as Nanettes are involved in the sourcing of textiles from China, they have lower economic and political stature. Up to 60 are involved in the trade.
Former street sellers of textiles and other petty commodities, Nanettes began travelling to China in the early to mid-2000s to source African print textiles. They are involved in commissioning and advising on the manufacturing of African print textiles in China and the distribution in Africa.
While many Nanettes order the common Chinese brands, some own and market their own. These include what are now well-known designs in Lomé and west Africa such as “Femme de Caractère”, “Binta”, “Prestige”, “Rebecca Wax”, “GMG” and “Homeland”.
Compared to their Nana-Benz predecessors, the Nanettes carve out their business from the smaller pie available from the sale of cheaper Chinese cloth. Though the volumes traded are large, the margins are smaller due to the much lower final retail price compared to Dutch cloth.
After procuring African print textiles from China, Nanettes sell wholesale to independent local traders or “sellers” as well as traders from neighbouring countries. These sellers in turn break down the bulk they have purchased and sell it in smaller quantities to independent street vendors.
All African print textiles from China arrive in west Africa as an incomplete product – as six-yard or 12-yard segments of cloth, not as finished garments. Local tailors and seamstresses then make clothes according to consumer taste. Some fashion designers have also opened shops where they sell prêt-à-porter (ready-to-wear) garments made from bolts of African print and tailored to local taste. Thus, even though the monopoly of the Nana-Benz has been eroded, value is still added and captured locally.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese actors have become more involved in trading activity – and not just manufacturing. The further evolution of Chinese presence risks an even greater marginalisation of locals, already excluded from manufacturing, from the trading and distribution end of the value chain. Maintaining their role – tailoring products to local culture and trends and linking the formal and informal economy – is vital not just for Togolese traders, but also the wider economy.
Rory Horner receives funding from the British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship. He is also a Research Associate at the Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies at the University of Johannesburg.
Fidele B. Ebia 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.
Under bright lights, the audience looks at a bare stage on two planes. Below, a small stage is white and empty, occupied only by a table and two chairs. Above, a huge, slanted mirror reflects a bird’s-eye view of the stage to the audience. Three middle-aged figures enter the stage without looking at each other. One lies down, staring into the mirror. One stands and one sits. For the next 70 minutes, they will never hold one another’s gaze.
This is the revival of Sarah Kane’s play 4.48 Psychosis. The production takes place 25 years after the original work, bringing the original cast and creative team back to the Royal Court where the play was first staged – now transferred to The Other Place, a small theatre run by the Royal Shakespeare Company.
It replicates the staging of the original with precision. The same faces are on the same set, making the same gestures. Even the projections of the street outside show cars from the 1990s. And yet, because this is theatre, there are inevitable differences.
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The play is a revival and a commemoration. Kane wrote 4.48 Psychosis in the year leading up to her death by suicide in 1999 and completed it during her final stay in a psychiatric hospital. It stages the experience of a suicidal and psychotic mind breaking down.
About a week after sending the play to her agent, Kane ended her own life. A year later, the original production was staged at the Royal Court, directed by her long-term collaborator James Macdonald and starring three young actors: Daniel Evans, Madeleine Potter and Jo McInnes. All three have returned for this revival.
4.48 Psychosis is a highly experimental play. It contains dialogue between doctor and patient, poetry, seemingly psychotic speech, lists and quotations from literature and medical documents. In her aims for the play, Kane was both very open and very specific. She described the play in an interview at Royal Holloway University as an attempt to stage the experience of a mind breaking down:
I’m writing a play called 4:48 Psychosis … It’s about a psychotic breakdown and what happens in a person’s mind when the barriers which distinguish between reality and different forms of imagination completely disappear … you no longer know where you stop and the world starts.
What’s more, through an experimental style, Kane hoped to make her audience experience some of the distress experienced by the mental collapse being staged. She described this as “making form and content one”.
How this strange work was to be staged was to be left up to future creatives. She didn’t specify how many actors should perform the work, or provide references to their age or gender. Kane believed that as a playwright, her job was to write the work, and then let directors figure it out.
The result was that the first performance split the experience of breakdown across three actors. At times, they take on more specific roles such as a patient, a doctor, and a lover or bystander. At others, they all seem to occupy a shared mental reverie.
Since the original production, 4.48 Psychosis has been staged in multiple ways around the world. French actor Isabelle Huppert performed the first French production largely as a monologue in 2005, with occasional lines delivered by Gérard Watkins as a psychiatrist. Recently in the UK it has been transformed into a successful opera in which a six-person ensemble and full orchestra performed the play’s “hive mind”, and has been performed in a plastic box in British Sign Language.
When it was first performed in 2000, a year after Kane’s death, the play left a profound impression on its audiences. It was arguably one of the most brutal, head-on representations of mental illness that had ever been seen in British theatre. Reviews from that first production discuss anxieties about whether the play should be viewed as a “suicide note” – a disturbingly “real” reference to Kane’s death.
Today, such anxieties may seem less relevant. After all, over two decades have passed since Kane’s death, and we are in a very different world when it comes to how we view disclosure of personal struggle. In a culture of mental health awareness campaigns and social media oversharing, the closeness of Kane’s suffering to her work seems less scandalous, and perhaps less unsettling.
At times, this revival feels a bit more like a repetition, or archival reconstruction than a fresh performance. There are moments that feel dated – for example, the use of pixelated projections.
The most compelling moments were where something original was introduced due to the more advanced ages of the actors. In my experience, the play is typically performed by a younger cast, as a rageful, energetic cry of despair. It hits differently with a cast in their fifties.
Madeleine Potter’s resigned, ironic complaints about being mistreated by “Dr This and Dr That” gave the impression of a woman with a lifetime’s experience of inadequate mental health services. And Jo McInnes’s desperate monologue about lost love could be referencing an estranged or dead child, as much as a lover.
These moments inserted something new into Kane’s iconic last work and underlined that mental suffering is far from being the privilege of the young. More of a slow burn than an explosive cry of anger, this return to 4.48 Psychosis explores mental torment that can persist over a lifetime, revealing it to be as relevant as ever.
4.48 Psychosis is at The Other Place until July 27.
Leah Sidi 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: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on another Government Accountability Office (GAO) decision announced this morning, which concludes that President Trump has illegally impounded funding provided by Congress for Head Start programs across America, in violation of the Impoundment Control Act (ICA):
“Today, a top government watchdog confirmed what we’ve known for months: President Trump has illegally held up vast sums of funding for Head Start programs across America—blocking funding that working families count on every day for pre-K and so many critical services Head Start offers.
“Because of Trump’s illegal impoundment of this funding that Congress provided, we have seen Head Start centers temporarily close, families scramble to make alternate plans, and needless stress and panic in communities nationwide—including in Washington state.
“Stealing money from preschool programs? No President in modern history has demonstrated such contempt for working and low-income American families as Donald Trump.
“Trump has signaled he would like to eliminate Head Start—but that’s not his choice to make. Congress delivered this funding for Head Start on a bipartisan basis, and instead of trying to destroy preschool programs and breaking our laws to hurt working families, President Trump needs to ensure every penny of these funds get out in a timely, consistent way moving forward—and he must also finally get out the rest of the investments he has been robbing the American people of.”
In its decision, GAO also highlighted the Trump administration’s complete unwillingness to provide any explanation or justification for their actions, which, in this case, impact hundreds of thousands of children and families in Head Start programs across the country. This is further evidence that claims by this administration of a commitment to radical transparency are a farce—as this administration continues to try to hide what it is doing, and how it is spending taxpayer dollars, from the American public.
In April, Senator Murray raised alarm bells about how President Trump was withholding nearly $1 billion in Head Start funding, and she led her colleagues in demanding that the funds get moving. A Head Start center in Lower Yakima Valley, Washington state, was forced to temporarily close because of the chaotic delays. Senator Murray has also consistently warned of how President Trump’s dismantling of the Office of Head Start is hurting families nationwide.
In its decision today, the GAO concluded that:
“As explained below, we conclude that HHS withheld these funds from expenditure in violation of the ICA. The Head Start Act requires the Secretary to prescribe procedures to assure that ‘financial assistance under this subchapter shall not be suspended, except in emergency situations, unless the recipient agency has been given reasonable notice and opportunity to show cause why such action should not be taken’. HHS’s actions here were inconsistent with this legal requirement. … As of 2024, there were approximately
1,600 grant recipients across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, five territories, and Palau. Grant recipients, known as Head Start agencies, can generally receive federal funds that cover up to 80 percent of the approved costs of an agency’s Head Start program. …. The Constitution grants the President no unilateral authority to withhold funds fromobligation. …. In addition, plaintiffs in numerous cases before federal district courts reported Head Start agencies’ inabilities to access Head Start grant funding. While we accept that the rate of an agency’s obligations or disbursements of a given appropriation may vary from year to year, we expect that an agency’s obligations and expenditures, at any time throughout the fiscal year, will reflect a ‘reasonable attempt by the agency to carry out the purposes of the appropriation.’ Moreover, we would not expect substantial variations in disbursement rates in this case, where disbursements are directed by the Head Start Act. …. If the Administration wishes to make changes to the appropriation provided for Head Start, it must propose legislation for consideration by Congress.”
Presidents do not wield the power to unilaterally withhold or block investments that have been enacted into law through what’s known as “impoundment.” This foundational principle has been affirmed time and again. The Impoundment Control Act (ICA) of 1974 makes this plain and establishes limited procedures the president can and must follow to propose delaying or rescinding enacted funding. The Impoundment Control Act also charges the GAO with the responsibility of investigating and reporting to Congress when the president illegally withholds funding.
The GAO has now acknowledged that it has opened 46 impoundment investigations and counting. Today’s announcement follows the GAO’s first decision in May in one of its ongoing investigations, which concluded Trump is illegally impounding funding for electric vehicle charging, and a subsequent investigation in June concluding Trump is illegally impounding funding for museums and libraries across America. The ICA authorizes the Comptroller General to file suit when the president illegally impounds funding.
Since his first hours in office, President Trump has illegally blocked funding owed to communities across the country through a variety of different means. Senate and House Appropriations Committee Democrats have been tracking Trump’s illegal funding freeze and found that, as of June 3, President Trump is blocking at least $425 billion in funding owed to the American people.
A HISTORIC TRADE AND INVESTMENT AGREEMENT WITH JAPAN: Yesterday, President Donald J. Trump announced a landmark economic agreement with Japan—one of America’s closest allies and most important trading partners.
This historic deal reflects the strength of the U.S.–Japan relationship and Japan’s recognition of the United States as the most attractive and secure destination for strategic investment in the world.
The agreement reaffirms the shared commitment of both nations to economic prosperity, industrial leadership, and long-term security. It delivers a powerful signal that the U.S.–Japan alliance is not only a cornerstone of peace in the Indo-Pacific, but also a driver of global growth and innovation.
With over $550 billion in a new Japanese/USA investment vehicle and enhanced access for American exports, this agreement marks a new chapter in bilateral cooperation—one that will unleash the full potential of the U.S. economy, strengthen vital supply chains, and support American workers, communities, and businesses for decades to come.
RESTORING AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL POWER: Japan will invest $550 billion directed by the United States to rebuild and expand core American industries.
This is the single largest foreign investment commitment ever secured by any country and will generate hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs, expand domestic manufacturing, and secure American prosperity for generations.
At President Trump’s direction, these funds will be targeted toward the revitalization of America’s strategic industrial base, including:
Energy infrastructure and production, including LNG, advanced fuels, and grid modernization;
Semiconductor manufacturing and research, rebuilding U.S. capacity from design to fabrication;
Critical minerals mining, processing, and refining, ensuring access to essential inputs;
Pharmaceutical and medical production, ending U.S. dependence on foreign-made medicines and supplies;
Commercial and defense shipbuilding, including new yards and modernization of existing facilities.
The United States will retain 90% of the profits from this investment—ensuring that American workers, taxpayers, and communities reap the overwhelming share of the benefit.
This capital surge, combined with the trillions already secured under President Trump’s leadership, will be a key component of a once-in-a-century industrial revival.
ENSURING BALANCED TRADE THROUGH A PREDICTABLE TARIFF FRAMEWORK: As part of this agreement, imports from Japan will be subject to a baseline 15% tariff rate.
In addition to raising billions in revenue, this new tariff framework, combined with expanded U.S. exports and investment-driven production, will help narrow the trade deficit with Japan and restore greater balance to the overall U.S. trade position.
This approach reflects the United States’ broader effort to establish a consistent, transparent, and enforceable trade environment—one in which American workers and producers are no longer disadvantaged by outdated or one-sided trade rules.
By aligning with this framework, Japan affirms the strength and mutual respect of the U.S.–Japan economic relationship and recognizes the importance of durable trade grounded in fairness.
SECURING INCREASED MARKET ACCESS FOR AMERICAN PRODUCERS: For decades, U.S. companies have faced barriers when seeking access to Japan’s market. This agreement delivers breakthrough openings across key sectors:
Agriculture and Food:
Japan will immediately increase imports of U.S. rice by 75%, with a major expansion of import quotas;
Japan will purchase $8 billion in U.S. goods, including corn, soybeans, fertilizer, bioethanol, and sustainable aviation fuel.
Energy:
Major expansion of U.S. energy exports to Japan;
The US and Japan are exploring a new offtake agreement for Alaskan liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Manufacturing and Aerospace:
Japan has committed to purchase U.S.-made commercial aircraft, including an agreement to buy 100 Boeing aircraft;
Additional billions of dollars annually of purchases of U.S. defense equipment, enhancing interoperability and alliance security in the Indo-Pacific.
Automobiles and Industrial Goods:
Longstanding restrictions on U.S. cars and trucks will be lifted, granting U.S. automakers access to the Japanese consumer market; U.S. Automotive standards will be approved in Japan for the first time ever.
Broader openings for a range of industrial and consumer goods, leveling the playing field for American producers.
A GENERATIONAL SHIFT IN U.S.-JAPAN ECONOMIC RELATIONS: This agreement is not merely a trade deal—it is a strategic realignment of the U.S.-Japan economic relationship delivering for the American people.
For the first time, the terms of engagement place American industry, innovation, and labor at the center.
By securing historic investment and breaking open long-closed markets, President Trump has once again delivered a deal that no one else could deliver—a deal that will help to rebuild the American economy, strengthen our industrial foundation, and safeguard our national strength for decades to come.
President Trump is proving that when the United States leads from strength, the world follows—and America wins.
SECURING LONG-TERM ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP: This agreement reflects the strong and enduring relationship between the United States and Japan, and it advances the mutual interests of both nations.
By aligning on economic and national security, energy reliability, and reciprocal trade, the agreement establishes a foundation for shared prosperity, industrial resilience, and technological leadership.
President Trump has once again delivered a transformative outcome for the American people—ensuring that our workers, producers, and innovators are rewarded, respected, and empowered in the global economy.
Commercial companies and government agencies are increasingly pursuing a more immersive and affordable alternative to conventional displays currently used in flight simulators. A NASA research project is working on ways to make this technology available for use faster. Mixed reality systems where users interact with physical simulators while wearing virtual reality headsets offer a promising path forward for pilot training. But currently, only limited standards exist for allowing their use, as regulators have little to no data on how these systems perform. To address this, NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley invited a dozen pilots to participate in a study to test how a mixed-reality flight simulation would perform in the world’s largest flight simulator. “For the first time, we’re collecting real data on how this type of mixed reality simulation performs in the highest-fidelity vertical motion simulator,” said Peter Zaal, a principal systems architect at Ames. “The more we understand about how these systems affect pilot performance, the closer we are to providing a safer, cost-effective training tool to the aviation community that could benefit everyone from commercial airlines to future air taxi operators.”
Mixed reality blends physical and digital worlds, allowing users to see physical items while viewing a desired simulated environment. Flight simulators employing this technology through headset or a similar setup could offer pilots training for operating next-generation aircraft at a reduced cost and within a smaller footprint compared to more traditional flight simulators. This is because pilots could rely more heavily on the visuals provided through the headset instead of large embedded visual displays in a physical motion simulator. During the testing – which ran May 23-30 – pilots donned a headset through which they could see the physical displays and control sticks inside the Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS) cab along with a virtual cockpit overlay of an electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle through the head-mounted display. When the pilots looked toward their windscreens, they saw a virtual view of San Francisco and the surrounding area. Pilots performed three typical flight maneuvers under four sets of motion conditions. Afterward, they were asked to provide feedback on their level of motion sickness while using the head-mounted display and how well the simulator replicated the same movements the aircraft would make during a real flight. An initial analysis of the study shows pilots reported lower ratings of motion sickness than NASA researchers expected. Many shared that the mixed-reality setup inside the VMS felt more realistic and fluid than previous simulator setups they had tested. As part of the test, Ames hosted members of the Federal Aviation Administration Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, which studies factors that influence human performance in aerospace. Pilots from the National Test Pilot School attended a portion of the testing and, independent from the study, evaluated the head-mounted display’s “usable cue environment,” or representation of the visual cues pilots rely on to control an aircraft.
NASA will make the test results available to the public and the aviation community early next year. This first-of-its-kind testing – funded by an Ames Innovation Fair Grant and managed by the center’s Aviation Systems Division – paves the way for potential use of this technology in the VMS for future aviation and space missions.
Headline: Renters, Students, Self-Employed Can Apply for FEMA Assistance
Renters, Students, Self-Employed Can Apply for FEMA Assistance
Tennessee renters, students and self-employed in Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Dyer, Hardeman, McNairy, Montgomery, Obion and Wilson counties may be eligible for money to help with personal losses from the April 2-24 severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding
The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is Aug
19
Money is available to help with rent or temporary housing costs like a hotel
Renters, students and self-employed may also be eligible for money for uninsured essential personal property losses and other disaster-related expenses including:Replacement or repair of necessary personal property, such as clothing, textbooks, school supplies, and furniture and appliances a renter owns
FEMA does not cover furniture or appliances provided by the landlord
Replacement or repair of tools and other job-related equipment required for self-employment
Replacement or repair of a primary vehicle
Disaster-related uninsured medical, dental, childcare, moving and storage expenses
How to Apply for FEMA AssistanceApply online at DisasterAssistance
gov, use the FEMA App for mobile devices or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362
In-person help is available at any Disaster Recovery Center for submitting applications, getting updates and asking questions
Find a center here: DRC Locator (fema
gov)
Video: What to Expect Before Applying for FEMA Assistance | ASL | SpanishVideo: Next Steps After Applying for FEMA Assistance | ASL | SpanishDisaster Recovery CentersHours: 9 a
m
to 6 p
m
Monday – Friday9 a
m
to 2 p
m
SaturdayClosed SundayLOCATIONS:Dyer County: Bogota Community Center, 78 Sandy Lane, Bogota, TN 38007Hardeman County: Safehaven Storm Shelter, 530 Madison Ave W
, Grand Junction, TN 38039McNairy County: Latta Theatre, 205 W
Court Ave
, Selmer, TN 38375Montgomery County: Montgomery County Library, 350 Pageant Lane, Clarksville, TN 37040Obion County: Obion County Library, 1221 E
What you need to know:The number of reported stolen vehicles in California has dropped by 13% – the first year-over-year decrease since before the pandemic.
Sacramento, California – California continues to lead the way out of the COVID-induced crime surge, as the number of vehicles stolen statewide has dropped by 13% from 2023 to 2024 – the first year-over-year decrease since 2019. Of those vehicles stolen, nearly 92% of cars, trucks and SUVs successfully recovered.
We continue to put the safety of California communities first. Through strategic funding and partnerships with local and state law enforcement partners, we are putting a brake on lawlessness and criminals disrupting our way of life.
Governor Gavin Newsom
Of the stolen vehicles in California, nearly 94% cars and 90% personal trucks and SUVs were recovered.
Significant regional investment by the state
Through expanded regional efforts with the California Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies, Governor Newsom sought to strengthen efforts to fight vehicle theft through crime suppression operations in key areas, including Oakland, Bakersfield and San Bernardino. These ongoing regional operations have shown positive results throughout the broader communities in Alameda, Kern and San Bernardino counties. Working closely with local law enforcement agencies, auto thieves, repeat offenders and organized crime groups have been disrupted, and their activities have been thwarted.
As a result of these public safety collaborations, each of these counties saw a significant drop in vehicle thefts in 2024:
Alameda:down 18% from 2023
Kern:down 28% from 2023
San Bernardino:down 11% from 2023
Other notable drops by county in stolen vehicles from 2023 includes:
Imperial: down 13%
Orange: down 16%
Riverside: down 24%
Sacramento: down 23%
San Diego: down 11%
San Francisco: down 17%
Santa Barbara: down 29%
Tulare: down 22%
Yolo: down 24%
“We are proud to see fewer vehicles being stolen across the state,”said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “The CHP and our law enforcement partners are working hard every day to stop these crimes, protect California’s communities and hold criminals responsible.”
Automobiles are a vital part of daily life for work, school and family. When a vehicle is stolen, it impacts more than just property—it can take away a person’s freedom and sense of security. View the 2024 report on stolen vehicles and their recoverieshere.
Stronger enforcement. Serious penalties. Real consequences.
California hasinvested $1.6 billionsince 2019 to fight crime, help local governments hire more police, and improve public safety. In 2023, as part of California’sPublic Safety Plan, the Governor announced thelargest-everinvestment to combat organized retail crime in state history, an annual310%increase in proactive operations targeting organized retail crime, andspecialoperationsacrossthe state to fight crime and improve public safety.
Last August, Governor Newsom signed into lawthe most significant bipartisan legislation to crack down on property crime in modern California history.Building on the state’s robust laws and record public safety funding, these bipartisan bills offer new tools to bolster ongoing efforts to hold criminals accountable for smash-and-grab robberies, property crime, retail theft, and auto burglaries. While California’scrime rate remains at near historic lows, these laws help California adapt to evolving criminal tactics to ensure perpetrators are effectively held accountable.
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Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, told ministers and ambassadors that ongoing talks must lead to a permanent end to hostilities, the release of all hostages, unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid, and for recovery and reconstruction to begin.
He painted a grim picture of conditions on the ground, citing expanded Israeli military operations, particularly in Deir Al-Balah, which have led to further mass displacement.
UN premises were also struck, hampering humanitarian operations and exacerbating the already dire situation.
ASG Khiari briefs the Security Council.
Humanitarian toll deepens
At least 1,891 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since 30 June, according to figures from Gazan health authorities, including 294 people reportedly killed while attempting to collect aid near militarised distribution points.
Evacuation orders continue to force repeated displacement, while food insecurity and malnutrition are worsening despite a limited uptick in the entry of humanitarian supplies.
On the Israeli side, 13 soldiers have been killed in the same period. Palestinian armed groups have continued sporadic rocket attacks into Israel. According to Israeli sources, 50 hostages – including 28 believed to be dead – are still being held by Hamas and other groups.
“The Secretary-General has repeatedly condemned the continued holding of hostages by Hamas and other armed groups,” Mr. Khiari stressed. “Hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally.”
Places of worship struck
The briefing also highlighted growing concerns about civilian casualties and attacks on protected sites.
Mr. Khiari condemned a 17 July strike on the Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City, which killed three and injured several others. The strike forced the evacuation of roughly 600 Palestinians, including children and persons with special needs, who had been sheltering there.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office expressed regret, describing the strike as the result of “stray ammunition,” and said an investigation was underway, Mr. Khiari reported.
A woman and child walk through the heavily bombed town of Khuza’a in the Gaza Strip.
Dire fuel shortages
Since 9 July, Israel has allowed limited fuel deliveries through the Kerem Shalom/Karim Abu Salem crossing, after 130 days of a full blockade.
However, the amount is “a fraction of what is required to run essential life-saving services in Gaza, where nearly every aspect of life depends on fuel,” Mr. Khiari warned.
Occupied West Bank
Turning to the occupied West Bank, Mr. Khiari reported high levels of violence, including deadly Israeli military operations, attacks by settlers on Palestinians and retaliatory attacks by Palestinians against Israelis.
He noted that the Palestinian Authority (PA) is facing a severe fiscal crisis, with $2.7 billion in withheld clearance revenues, crippling its ability to pay salaries and provide basic services.
“Unless urgently addressed, the deterioration of the PA’s fiscal and institutional situation could have catastrophic consequences, undermining the significant progress made over many years to build up Palestinian institutions,” he warned, urging immediate international support.
UN Photo/Loey Felipe
A wide view of the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
Tensions in the wider region
Mr. Khiari also highlighted continued tensions along the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel, as well as renewed violence in Syria’s Sweida region and Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory.
He urged both Israel and Syria to adhere to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and to avoid any actions that risk escalating the conflict.
Call for a political horizon
Mr. Khiari concluded by reiterating that only a revived political process towards the two-State solution can deliver a sustainable solution.
“Our goal is clear: realizing the vision of two States – Israel and a viable and sovereign Palestinian State of which Gaza is an integral part – living side by side in peace and security within secure and recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States,” he said.
A man who hurled concrete blocks at law enforcement officers conducting immigration enforcement was taken into custody at the U.S.-Mexican border this morning following his surrender negotiated by FBI agents, who had been seeking his whereabouts since he fled to Mexico in June.
Elpidio Reyna, 39, of Compton, was wanted for the alleged assault of a federal officer in the city of Paramount, California, on June 7, 2025. Reyna was charged in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on June 8. At approximately 3:30 p.m., Reyna allegedly threw projectiles (later determined to be concrete blocks) at law enforcement vehicles on Alondra Boulevard in Paramount, California, injuring a federal officer and damaging government vehicles.
The FBI issued video and photographs taken of the assailant on June 7, and Reyna was identified shortly thereafter. When agents attempted to arrest Reyna, he was not located and agents developed information confirming that he fled to Mexico. Subsequently, Reyna’s photograph and description was publicized in the United States and Mexico.
Based on the publicity, Reyna was arrested by authorities in the Mexican State of Sinaloa. Following negotiations, Reyna agreed to surrender to the FBI today.
Reyna was arrested at the San Ysidro port of entry by agents with the FBI, assisted by agents with U.S. Customs & Border Protection. FBI agents transported Reyna to Los Angeles, where he will have an initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate today.
If convicted, Reyna faces a statutory maximum penalty of eight years in federal prison.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, with the assistance of the FBI’s San Diego Field Office and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Thi Ho and Frances Lewis.
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today approved the predeployment of firefighting resources in Nevada, Sierra, and Plumas counties in response to critical fire weather conditions forecasted to impact Northern California starting Wednesday, July 23, through Friday, July 25, 2025.
“The state is again taking proactive measures to protect communities ahead of dangerous fire weather conditions. I ask the residents of Nevada, Plumas, and Sierra counties to pay attention to local authorities and be prepared to evacuate if told to go.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
A total of 14 fire engines, four water tenders, and two dispatchers are prepositioned in Nevada, Sierra and Plumas County. These efforts ensure that resources are ready to respond quickly, minimizing the potential impact of new fires. This proactive approach has proven to be a critical component of California’s wildfire response strategy, reducing response times and containing fires before they escalate into major incidents.
Today’s announcement follows the recent prepositioning of resources in Plumas and Sierra counties from July 20 to July 22.
Residents are urged to stay vigilant during this heightened fire weather period. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) reminds the public to:
For more information on fire safety and preparedness, visit News.CalOES.ca.gov and Ready.ca.gov.
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What you need to know: Through Governor Newsom’s support of local government efforts and state investments, California is reversing decades of inaction on homelessness. Last year’s 2024 point-in-time count showed California had outperformed the nation by slowing down the increase in homelessness and California is continuing to show signs of progress as preliminary data for 2025 points to a decrease in homelessness in local communities.
SACRAMENTO— Building on the administration’s efforts to reverse decades of inaction on housing and homelessness, Governor Newsom today announced continued signs of progress in California. In 2024,California outperformed the nation in slowing down the increase in homelessness. Last year, while the nation’s unsheltered homelessness increased by nearly 7%, California’s remained nearly flat, increasing by only 0.45%.With new preliminary 2025 point-in-time reporting from some of the state’s largest communities, California is seeing ongoing progress and reductions in homelessness in many communities.
“No one in our nation should be without a place to call home. I am proud of the work we are doing together to reverse this decades-old crisis. Together, we are turning the tide on homelessness, but we have more work to do. We have a moral obligation to assist every single Californian in need and that means ensuring that everyone has a roof over their head.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
Communities reporting reduced homelessness
Each year local governments conduct point-in-time counts in January with final numbers reported in December. While the preliminary data reported by communities has not yet been verified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, initial reporting by locals is encouraging.
Communities across California are beginning to see a substantial decrease in the unsheltered homelessness numbers, indicating a strong trend that people experiencing homelessness are accepting shelter, programs, services and housing, in part as a result of unprecedented state investments. California communities are making good progress in getting people off the streets and out of encampments and connecting them with the care they need.
For example, thecity of San Diego saw a 3.9% decreasein unsheltered homelessness and total homelessness down 13.5%. Thecounty of Riverside reported a 19% decreasein unsheltered homelessness.
In the Los Angeles region, unsheltered homelessness has dropped for two years in a row. Preliminary data for 2025 shows that Los Angeles county is expected to report that total homelessness went down by 4%, with unsheltered homelessness reducing by 9.5%. The city of Los Angeles reported that its total homelessness also decreased by 3.4% and unsheltered homelessness went down by 7.9%.
Continuums of care serving regional jurisdictions also reported promising news. In San Bernardino county, total homelessness dropped 10.2%, and San Diego county’s total homeless population dropped by 7%. The Bakersfield region also saw a decrease, reducing the number of people experiencing homelessness by 2.3%.
Reversing a decades-in-the-making crisis
The Newsom administration is making significant progress inreversing decades of inaction on homelessness. Between 2014 and 2019—before Governor Newsom took office—unsheltered homelessness in California rose by approximately 37,000 people. Since then, under this Administration, California has significantly slowed that growth, even as many other states have seen worsening trends.
In 2024, while homelessness increased nationally by over 18%, California limited its overall increase to just 3% — a lower rate than in 40 other states. The state also held the growth of unsheltered homelessness to just 0.45%, compared to a national increase of nearly 7%. States like Florida, Texas, New York, and Illinois saw larger increases both in percentage and absolute numbers. California also achieved the nation’s largest reduction in veteran homelessness and made meaningful progress in reducing youth homelessness.
New strategies that work
Since taking office in 2019, Governor Newsom has createdunprecedented policy and structural changesin state government to help California better address its housing and homelessness crises, including additional and unprecedentedsupport for local governments,stronger accountabilityandenforcement, transformationalchanges to mental health servicesand state government, andgroundbreaking reforms.
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