Today, Governor Joe Lombardo and the Bureau of Land Management, Nevada officially signed a Data Sharing Agreement to consolidate and improve the sharing of information about federal land that is available for disposal in Nevada.
“I’m pleased to announce the State’s joint agreement with the Bureau of Land Management, Nevada today,” said Governor Joe Lombardo. “This agreement will improve our ability to share critical data about public lands in Nevada and help inform future housing and economic development in our communities. I’m grateful to BLM Nevada for their partnership, and I look forward to making progress on this key issue together.”
“We look forward to working with the State of Nevada to provide accurate data as efficiently as possible to help Nevadans find public land potentially available for disposal,” said BLM Nevada Acting State Director Kim Prill.
The Data Sharing Agreement has four key objectives, which include: ● To provide a vehicle for the sharing of information pertaining to public lands within the State of Nevada that are potentially available for disposal in Nevada between BLM Nevada, the Nevada Office of the Governor, and Nevada Division of Minerals. ● To cooperate in the sharing of information to realize maximum operating efficiency and cost savings for public benefit. ● To avoid duplication of effort in the collection of information. ● To improve the accuracy and maintenance of the potentially available disposable lands information.
What you need to know: California is filing a lawsuit today against the Trump administration for dismantling AmeriCorps, which puts service and volunteer programs across the country and in California at risk.
SACRAMENTO — Today, Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that California, along with other states, is suing the Trump administration over recent DOGE efforts to dismantle AmeriCorps – the federal agency vital to supporting volunteer and service efforts in California and across the country.
As the federal government cuts AmeriCorps programs, the state is recruiting for the California Service Corps program — already the largest service corps in the nation, surpassing the size of the Peace Corps.
Service sits at the very core of who we are as Americans. California is suing the Trump administration to defend thousands of hardworking service members and the communities they serve.
These actions by President Trump and Elon Musk not only threaten our funding – they vandalize our values. We’re going to fight to stop them.
Governor Gavin Newsom
In the complaint today, the Attorney General Bonta and a multistate coalition argue that by abruptly canceling critical grants and gutting AmeriCorps’ workforce, the Trump Administration is effectively shuttering the national volunteer agency and ending states’ abilities to support AmeriCorps programs within their borders.
“AmeriCorps volunteers bring out the best in America and in our communities. By abruptly canceling critical grants and gutting AmeriCorps’ workforce and volunteers, DOGE is dismantling AmeriCorps without any concern for the thousands of people who are ready and eager to serve their country — or for those whose communities are stronger because of this public service,” said Attorney General Bonta. “In California, AmeriCorps volunteers build affordable housing, clean up our environment, and address food insecurity in communities across our state. California has repeatedly taken action to hold the Trump Administration and DOGE accountable to the law — and we stand prepared to do it again to protect AmeriCorps and the vital services it provides.”
In 2024, at least 6,150 California members served at more than 1,200 locations, including schools, food banks, homeless shelters, health clinics, youth centers, veterans’ facilities, and other nonprofit and faith-based organizations. When the devastating fires struck Los Angeles earlier this year, AmeriCorps members were on the ground, distributing supplies and supporting families. The agency’s shutdown ends these efforts.
“DOGE isn’t just cutting jobs — they’re attacking the very people who keep California strong,” said GO-Serve Director Josh Fryday. “They’re coming after the service members who responded to the LA fires, the tutors helping our kids and the young leaders caring for our seniors. It’s outrageous, it’s illegal and we won’t back down. In California, we’re not just defending service — we’re strengthening it. California is doubling down, and we trust the courts will strike this down and uphold the values we fight for every day.”
California Service Corps is the largest service force in the nation, consisting of four paid service programs:
Combined, it is a force larger than the Peace Corps and is mobilized at a time when California is addressing post-pandemic academic recovery, rebuilding from the LA fires and planning for the future of the state’s workforce.
In the 2023-24 service year, AmeriCorps members in California:
Provided 4,397,674 hours of service
Tutored/mentored 73,833 students
Supported 17,000 foster youth with education and employment
Planted 39,288 trees
Members helped 26,000 households impacted by the LA fires and packed 21,000 food boxes.
Press Releases, Recent News
Recent news
Apr 28, 2025
News SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom today issued the following statement congratulating newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney:“Jennifer and I warmly congratulate Prime Minister Mark Carney on his party’s election victory in Canada. California looks…
Apr 28, 2025
News Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring April 28, 2025 as “Workers’ Memorial Day.”The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below: PROCLAMATIONOn Workers’ Memorial Day, we acknowledge, remember, and honor…
Apr 25, 2025
News What you need to know: DOGE is ramping up its work to dismantle AmeriCorps. California will sue to stop it. SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued the following statement after California received notice from the federal government of termination of its…
Question for written answer E-001560/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Cristina Guarda (Verts/ALE)
The many EU citizens who use mopeds and motorcycles for the purposes of mobility and recreation are particularly vulnerable because of the inherent risks of using these powered two-wheeled motor vehicles (PTWs).
The share of PTW rider fatalities keeps increasing, the 3 361 motorcyclists and 539 moped users who died on EU roads in 2023 accounting for 19 % of all EU road traffic deaths that year[1].
Given that:
Inflatable airbags could, according to recent studies, improve motorcyclist safety by reducing serious spinal injuries by 60 %[2] and affording better lower-body protection[3].
The Commission was stressing the need for specific airbag rules to address safety issues for motorcyclists as far back as 2010[4].
Parliament highlighted the urgency of further safety measures for PTWs in its resolution of 6 October 2021[5].
We therefore ask the Commission:
What is it doing to improve road safety for motorcyclists? Is it considering making airbags compulsory for PTWs?
[2] Giustini, M., Cedri,S., Tallon, M., Roazzi, P., Formisano, R., Pitidis, A., ‘Use of back protector device on motorcycles and mopeds in Italy’, International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 43, Issue 6, December 2014, pp. 1921–1928, https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyu209.
[3] Pallacci, T., Baldanzini, N., Barbani, D., Pierini, M., ‘Preliminary effectiveness assessment of an airbag-based device for riders’ leg protection in side impacts’, Procedia Structural Integrity, Vol. 24, 2019, pp. 240–250, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prostr.2020.02.021.
[4] European Commission, ‘Towards a European road safety area 2011-2020’, COM(2010) 389 final.
[5] European Parliament resolution of 6 October 2021 on the EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030 – Recommendations on next steps towards ‘Vision Zero’ (2021/2014(INI))
Question for written answer E-001627/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Rosa Serrano Sierra (S&D)
In recent years, especially after the pandemic, many Spanish cities boosted sustainable mobility measures which received part-funding from EU funds. However, this trend has stopped – and even been reversed – in several places currently administered by Spain’s Popular Party, in many cases in coalition with Vox, which have begun to remove cycle lanes, reopen pedestrian streets to vehicles and prioritise motorised traffic.
These decisions constitute backsliding on sustainable mobility and place an additional obstacle in the way of the future Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) to be adopted in urban centres such as these by 2027 in conformity with Regulation 2024/1679.
Given this situation, can Commission answer the following questions:
1.Is sustainable urban mobility still a priority for the Commission?
2.Does the Commission not consider that promoting active mobility through concrete measures to improve walking and cycling can have positive repercussions on the accessibility of functional urban areas in the EU?
3.Does the Commission not believe that local-level decisions to dismantle cycling infrastructure, remove pedestrian areas and give preference to vehicle use clash with the SUMP objectives of switching towards more sustainable forms of mobility and reducing air and noise pollution?
Question for written answer E-001604/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Kostas Papadakis (NI), Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos (NI)
With the constant ferry ticket price hikes brought on by shipowners, travel to the islands has become a luxury and a premium commodity. The costs of using new fuels in the context of the EU’s Fit for 55 regulation are passed on by shipowners to passengers. Promising to keep prices down, the Greek Government is slashing port fees by 50 % as of 1 May 2025, constituting yet another gift for shipping groups.
In light of the above, can the Commission answer the following:
1.What view does it take of the fact that, as a result of the ‘green’ strategy and the promotion of the Fit for 55 regulation, the already incredibly expensive fares for passengers, vehicles and goods are constantly subjected to further increases – such as those applicable from 1 May 2025 – while shipowners increase their profits?
2.What view does it take of the fact that the strategy to liberalise maritime transport, as reflected in Commission communication COM(2014)232, leads to higher profits for shipowners through ‘guaranteed profits’ and numerous tax exemptions, while working people and passengers are exposed to the risks of travelling on very old boats and, especially in winter, islands are left without maritime transport for days on end?
3.What view does it take of the calls to immediately reduce the prices of tickets and fares for passengers, vehicles and goods by 50 %, without granting new subsidies and privileges to shipowners, and to guarantee free travel for the unemployed, students, those in the military and people with special needs or chronic conditions, as well as reduced rates for pensioners, large families and substitute teachers, doing away with the unacceptable system whereby schoolchildren above the age of 10 normally have to buy a ticket?
The Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), Government of India, ensures food security for over 80 crore beneficiaries through scientific warehousing and smart storage solutions for food grains.
DFPD is now envisaging the Depot Darpan portal and mobile application with the objective to ensure that the Food Storage depots meet the highest quality and performance standards. It enables Depot managers to evaluate infrastructure, operational and financial performance on a near real-time basis
Depot Managers upload geo-tagged inputs of the infrastructure available in their depot, generating automated ratings and action points for timely improvements. The system ensures 100% validationby the supervisory officers and random third-party audits.
The warehouses are assessed based on two main categories:
Infrastructural aspects which include safety standards, storage conditions, environmental, technology adoption and statutory parameters.
Operational efficiency aspects which include stock turnover, losses, space utilization, manpower expenses, and profitability.
Each category is evaluated independently, and the warehouse receives a Star rating based on the composite scoring from both parameters.
Depot Darpan is uniquely integrated withsmart warehousing technologies, creating a seamless digital monitoring ecosystem that includes: CCTV Surveillance and IoT sensors, monitoring key parameters such as CO₂ & Phosphine levels, fire hazards, humidity, unauthorized entry and temperature in real time thereby, ensuring security and efficiency in food grain storage.
The IoT-Enabled Monitoring includes:
Ambient sensor – Temperature and relative humidity to monitor grain moisture and temperature
Carbon dioxide (CO2) – To monitor and indicate potential grain infestation
Phosphine gas sensor – Ensures occupational safety for workers through early warning to prevent exposure to toxic gas levels Detects fumigation leakages, increasing effectiveness of treatment
Gate Shutter sensor – Detection of unauthorized door access. – Alerts for unauthorized door openings outside designated hours. Monitors door status during fumigation processes. Ensures proper ventilation by tracking door openings as required.
Fire/smoke sensor- Provides early warning to prevent fire-related damage and ensure safety.
In addition, AI based technology for bag counting, ANPR (Automatic Number plate Recognition) for vehicle identification and tracking, and Face Recognition technology (FRS) for access control and security are also deployed in warehouses on pilot basis.
A total of around 2278 warehouses including those owned by FCI & CWC and that hired from State agencies/ private will be onboarded in this digital initiative.
Depot Darpan mobile appallows supervisory officials to track warehouse performance anytime, anywhere, supporting better decision making. Automated reports are used in regular reviews, leading to continuous and seamless improvements in infrastructure and efficiency.
Depot Darpan, a mirror of warehousing excellence, ensures improved warehousing and greater operational efficiency in the public distribution system and reinforces the commitment to the nation’s food security with every grain scientifically stored.
Depot Darpan portal and mobile application shall be formally inaugurated by Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and New and Renewable Energy on 20th May, 2025.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 39-year-old male in relation to a domestic violence and assault police incident that occurred overnight in Darwin City.
Around 7:25pm, police received a report of a domestic violence incident at a residence on Tomaris Court. It is alleged that a 39-year-old male was assaulting his female partner with a metal bar.
Police attended the scene where the alleged offender was identified, and subsequently apprehended. During the arrest, the man became violent and attempted to flee, biting one of the officers on the arm and drawing blood. OC spray was then deployed on the offender.
During the apprehension, the victim and other onlookers also became aggressive toward police, with some bystanders allegedly punching an officer in the back of the head.
While being placed into the police vehicle, the man allegedly kicked out at both officers multiple times.
Both assaulted officers were assessed at the scene. The officer who was bitten was transported to Royal Darwin Hospital for treatment and blood testing.
The 39-year-old male remains in custody and currently assisting police with their enquiries.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, support services are available, including 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) and Lifeline 13 11 14.
Acting Commander of Police David Moore said, “To think, these officers attended to assist, only to be violently attacked, is deeply concerning.
“Our police do not deserve to be assaulted while protecting and serving the community.
“Biting another person is not only disgusting, but the flow on effects emotionally and potentially to the health of our members is abhorrent.
“This behaviour is despicable, and it will not be tolerated.”
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
Armored vehicles attached to an air-defense unit with a brigade under the Chinese PLA 73rd Group Army are loaded onto the rail flat cars during a rail-load training exercise aiming to enhance the troops’ long-distance transportation capability on April 23, 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Liu Zhiyong)
Flight Centre, one of the world’s largest travel agencies, has warned it could lose more than A$100 million in earnings this year, citing weakening demand for travel to the United States.
In a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) this week, the company pointed to “volatile trading conditions” linked to changes in US entry policies.
This is the first major indication from an Australian company that travel to the US is becoming a serious concern. It follows growing consumer fears linked to US immigration checks, reports of tourists being detained, and rising costs.
Australian visitor numbers to the US fell by 7% in March compared with the same time last year – the sharpest fall since the COVID pandemic.
Australians are not the only ones staying away. New US data for March show sharp drops in visitors from key markets: Germany (down 28%), Spain (25%), the United Kingdom (18%) and South Korea (15%), to name a few. In total, inbound tourism fell 11.6%.
Even Canadian travellers, traditionally the US’s most reliable market, dropped by more than 900,000 or 17% in March, as growing numbers of Canadians opt to boycott US holidays.
What was once a reliable flow of high-spending international travellers is becoming a much quieter stream.
America’s welcome mat is wearing thin
The US, long marketed as the land of opportunity and adventure, is increasingly perceived as unwelcoming. Tighter border scrutiny, aggressive immigration enforcement, and a sharp shift in political tone have made travellers wary.
The international arrivals terminal at Atlanta airport: Tourists are rethinking their US travel plans. Shutterstock
While the Flight Centre statement used careful language, its chief executive Graham Turner was clear, saying:
People from Europe, the United Kingdom and Australia really don’t want to go to the States, given what’s happening there. We’re hearing more and more people don’t want to go through passport control.
Governments have started to respond. Several countries, including New Zealand, Germany, France, Denmark and Finland, have updated their official travel advice for the US, urging citizens to exercise caution when visiting. The message filtering through international media is clear: the US is not as easy, safe or welcoming as it once seemed.
But while diplomatic warnings grow louder, the economic costs of America’s hardening stance are only beginning to register.
Tourism: America’s forgotten export
While President Donald Trump has slapped tariffs on goods imports from most countries, he has ignored the contribution of services trade to the economy. The US actually runs a surplus in services such as education and tourism. Trump has dismissed the decline in visitors as “not a big deal”.
The trade wars have focused on goods – cars, steel, farm products – but the service sector, which makes up a larger share of the economy, bears the hidden costs.
Tourism is the US’ biggest service export, contributing more than US$2.3 trillion to the economy and one in ten jobs. That’s a bigger contribution than manufacturing jobs, which account for about 8% of total US employment.
As a driver of economic prosperity, tourism isn’t simply about leisure; it sustains local businesses, rural economies and millions of livelihoods.
A double blow to the tourism experience
While the decline in arrivals has been widely reported, the experience for those who still choose to visit is also likely to change.
Tourism relies on global supply chains, from food to hotel amenities to rental car fleets. Trade war tariffs have raised input costs across the board. Hotels, restaurants, airlines and attractions are passing those higher costs onto customers.
Tourism is not just a big part of the economy; it’s also a soft power, shaping how the world perceives a nation through its culture, values and hospitality.
Every visitor who feels unwelcome, scrutinised or disappointed is not just a lost sale, but a lost connection.
Research group Tourism Economics forecasts the US could lose up to US$10 billion in international travel spending in 2025 if current trends continue.
And while manufacturing job announcements grab headlines, the slow erosion of America’s tourism brand may leave a longer, deeper scar on its culture, its communities and its place in the world.
The Flight Centre downgrade is not an isolated warning. It is a symptom of a broader shift, one that risks turning visitors away for good.
And for thousands of US businesses, workers and communities – and now Australian ones too – the losses may not be so easily shrugged off.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Coalition’s policy costings have been released, just two days ahead of the federal election.
The costings show the Coalition would run up a larger budget deficit than Labor in the first two years of government, but make a greater contribution to budget repair in years three and four.
This arises because two big-spending Coalition policies – the fuel excise reduction and cost of living tax offset – are short term. Their impact on the deficit disappears after year two.
Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said the deficit would narrow by A$14 billion by the end of the fourth year.
There are other spending initiatives – notably a significant increase in defence rising to $5.7 billion by the last year of the estimates, 2028-29. This will bring defence spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP).
The vexed question of nuclear costings
On the vexed question of nuclear power, the statement promises to fund the program primarily through equity investments in exchange for an ownership stake.
These do not appear in the budget, on the premise that they fund commercial activities. This funding is estimated to total $118.2 billion by 2050 – well short of the $600 billion Labor has estimated the proposal will cost. There is no independent Parliamentary Budget Office costing of the number – it is based on Coalition modelling.
Smaller sums are proposed for “community engagement” on nuclear technology ($87 million over four years) and a nuclear coordinating authority and training facility ($65 million). Both look to be in the right ballpark; they are however tiny compared with the costs of building nuclear reactors.
Items to reduce the budget deficit include income tax increases by abolishing Labor’s top-up tax cut and public service reductions. In 2028-29 the tax increase raises $7.4 billion and public service cuts save $6.7 billion.
A range of savings measures
There are numerous other savings, including:
taxation of vaping products
reduction in a variety of environmental programs
reversing tax incentives for electric vehicles
cuts to the Housing Australia Future Fund
reduced spending on overseas aid
restoring the activity test for childcare
changing eligibility for several government welfare payment programs.
It is a long and detailed list.
Most of the savings appear achievable, with the notable exception of cuts to the public service. It will be close to impossible to achieve a saving of 41,000 public servants in Canberra alone without forced redundancies.
At the press conference announcing the costings, Opposition spokesperson Jane Hume said however the figure was 110,000.
It is not clear where that number comes from. If the Coalition is using a different set of public service numbers to those published by the Australian Public Service Commission, it should identify where the extra come from. Off a larger base the savings would be difficult, but not completely infeasible.
As with the Labor proposal to cut consultants, it still leaves the question of what will happen to the work those public servants were doing. Without changes to programs or activities, the Coalition will need to spend budget funds to get the work done.
Too late for the early voters
The costing release comes after more than 4.8 million Australians have already cast their vote. This is less than ideal for helping inform voters’ choices.
There is precedent for releasing costings late. The Albanese opposition similarly released costings on the Thursday before polling day in 2022.
This week, the Labor government released its costings on Monday.
It is not clear what drives the practice of late release. One possibility is small target strategy: the less detail there is to criticise the more comfortable an opposition feels.
There is so much detail in this Coalition announcement, and so many interest groups potentially offended, that the caution about its release may be justified.
Savings previously announced by the Coalition include scrapping production tax credits for critical minerals and hydrogen and removing fringe benefit tax breaks for electric vehicles.
The Coalition also plans to scrap some of the government’s off-budget funds and measures, including the Rewiring the Nation fund for electricity transmission and the Housing Australia Future Fund.
Stephen Bartos was Parliamentary Budget Officer for the past three New South Wales state elections.
Consumers price index: March 2025 quarter missing vehicle relicensing fee increase – We have identified that vehicle relicensing fee increases were not captured in the consumers price index (CPI) March 2025 quarter, released on 17 April 2025.
The CPI March 2025 headline figure will not be updated. CPI data published on 17 April remains the official measure of inflation. We will capture the impact of the vehicle relicensing fee increase and incorporate this in the CPI June 2025 quarter release.
Background
On 1 January 2025, vehicle relicensing fees increased by $25. While these prices were collected by Stats NZ, the increases were not included in our CPI calculations.
We have investigated the impact of this. Had the increase been captured, the CPI all groups inflation would have increased by an additional 0.1 percentage points, as shown in the table below.
Official CPI measure March 2025 quarter
CPI if the vehicle relicensing fee increase were included
CPI all groups – annual percentage change
2.5 percent
2.6 percent
CPI all groups – quarterly percentage change
0.9 percent
1.0 percent
Next steps
We will capture the impact of the vehicle relicensing fee increase and incorporate this in the CPI June 2025 quarter release. This is our standard approach for data updates to the CPI. We have confirmed with key customers that this is their preferred approach. CPI is widely used for contract indexation which is why it is not changed after publication.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Consumers price index: March 2025 quarter missing vehicle relicensing fee increase – We have identified that vehicle relicensing fee increases were not captured in the consumers price index (CPI) March 2025 quarter, released on 17 April 2025.
The CPI March 2025 headline figure will not be updated. CPI data published on 17 April remains the official measure of inflation. We will capture the impact of the vehicle relicensing fee increase and incorporate this in the CPI June 2025 quarter release.
Background
On 1 January 2025, vehicle relicensing fees increased by $25. While these prices were collected by Stats NZ, the increases were not included in our CPI calculations.
We have investigated the impact of this. Had the increase been captured, the CPI all groups inflation would have increased by an additional 0.1 percentage points, as shown in the table below.
Official CPI measure March 2025 quarter
CPI if the vehicle relicensing fee increase were included
CPI all groups – annual percentage change
2.5 percent
2.6 percent
CPI all groups – quarterly percentage change
0.9 percent
1.0 percent
Next steps
We will capture the impact of the vehicle relicensing fee increase and incorporate this in the CPI June 2025 quarter release. This is our standard approach for data updates to the CPI. We have confirmed with key customers that this is their preferred approach. CPI is widely used for contract indexation which is why it is not changed after publication.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
The United States and China remain in a standoff in their tariff war. Neither side appears willing to budge.
After US President Donald Trump imposed massive 145% tariffs on Chinese imports in early April, China retaliated with its own tariffs of 125% on US goods.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this week it’s up to China to de-escalate tensions. China’s Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, said the two sides are not talking.
The prospect of economic decoupling between the world’s two largest economies is no longer speculative. It is becoming a hard reality. While many observersdebate who might “win” the trade war, the more likely outcome is that everyone loses.
A convenient target
Trump’s protectionist agenda has spared few. Allies and adversaries alike have been targeted by sweeping US tariffs. However, China has served as the main target, absorbing the political backlash of broader frustrations over trade deficits and economic displacement in the US.
The economic costs to China are undeniable. The loss of reliable access to the US market, coupled with mounting uncertainty in the global trading system, has dealt a blow to China’s export-driven sectors.
China’s comparative advantage lies in its vast manufacturing base and tightly integrated supply chains. This is especially true in high-tech and green industries such as electric vehicles, batteries and solar energy. These sectors are deeply dependent on open markets and predictable demand.
New trade restrictions in Europe, Canada and the US on Chinese electric vehicles, in particular, have already caused demand to drop significantly.
China’s GDP growth was higher than expected in the first quarter of the year at 5.4%, but analysts expect the effect of the tariffs to soon bite. A key measure of factory activity this week showed a contraction in manufacturing.
China’s economic growth has also been weighed down by structural headwinds, including industrial overcapacity (when a country’s production of goods exceeds demand), an ageing population, rising youth unemployment and persistent regional disparities. The property sector — once a pillar of the country’s economic rise — has become a source of financial stress. Local government debt is mounting and a pension crisis is looming.
Negotiations with the US might be desirable to end the tariff war. However, unilateral concessions on Beijing’s part are neither viable nor politically palatable.
Regional coordination
Trump’s tariff wars have done more than strain bilateral relationships; they have shaken the foundations of the global trading system.
By sidelining the World Trade Organization and embracing a transactional approach to bilateral trade, the US has weakened multilateral norms and emboldened protectionist tendencies worldwide.
One unintended consequence of this instability has been the resurgence of regional arrangements. In Asia, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), backed by China and centred on the ASEAN bloc in Southeast Asia, has emerged as a credible alternative for economic cooperation.
Meanwhile, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) continues to expand, with the United Kingdom joining late last year.
Across Latin America, too, regional blocs are exploring new avenues for integration, hoping to buffer themselves against the shocks of resurgent protectionism.
But regionalism is no panacea. It cannot replicate the scale or efficiency of global trade, nor can it restore the predictability on which exporters depend.
Looming dangers
The greater danger is the world drifting into a Kindleberger Trap — a situation in which no power steps forward to provide the leadership necessary to sustain global public goods, or a stable trading system.
Economist Charles Kindleberger’s account of the Great Depression remains instructive: it was not the presence of conflict but the absence of leadership that brought about the global economy’s systemic collapse.
Without renewed global coordination, the economic fragmentation triggered by Trump’s tariff wars could give way to something far more dangerous than a recession – rising geopolitical and military tensions that no region can contain.
The political landscape is already fraught. The Chinese Communist Party, for instance, has long tethered its legitimacy to the promise of eventual unification with Taiwan. Yet the costs of using force remain prohibitively high.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s recent designation of China as a “foreign hostile force” have sharpened tensions. Beijing’s response has been calibrated – military exercises intended more as a warning than a prelude to conflict.
However, the intensifying trade war with the US may become the final straw that exhausts Beijing’s patience, leaving Taiwan as collateral damage in a US-China final showdown.
A role for collective leadership
China alone is neither able nor inclined to assume the mantle of global leadership. Its current focus is more on domestic priorities – sustaining economic growth and managing social stability – than on foreign policy.
Yet, Beijing can still play a constructive role in shaping the international environment through its cooperation with Europe, ASEAN and the Global South.
The objective is not to replace American hegemony, but to support a more multi-polar and collaborative system — one capable of sustaining global public goods in an era of uncertainty.
Paradoxically, a more coordinated effort by the rest of the world may ultimately help bring the US back into the fold. Washington may rediscover the strategic value of engagement — and return not as the sole leader, but as an indispensable partner.
In the short term, other states may seek to gain an advantage from the great power standoff. But they should remember that what begins as a clash between giants can quickly engulf bystanders.
In this volatile landscape, the path forward does not lie in exploiting disorder. Rather, nations must cautiously advance the shared interest in restoring a stable, rules-based global order.
Kai He receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Authorities dismantled a criminal gang of gold robbers active in Italy after they tracked the criminals in Romania. With the support of Eurojust, four suspects were arrested on 24 April, following an earlier action where 2 suspects were arrested. The robbers stole gold, silver and brass from jewellery companies across Tuscany. Their stolen goods are estimated to be worth approximately EUR 200 000.
Due to an increased number of attempted robberies targeting jewellery companies in the Arezzo area, Italian authorities started investigating the events to identify potential links between the crimes. The crime scenes and recovered clothing and tools were analysed, as well as video surveillance and telephone traffic. The authorities were able to quickly connect the attempted robberies to a group of Romanian criminals.
Only a few hours after the criminals tried to commit another robbery, authorities arrested two suspects and retrieved the stolen gold, silver and brass with an estimated value of EUR 200 000. Afterwards, authorities located the base of the robbers in Romania and tracked the vehicles they used to commit their crimes.
As the robbers were located in Romania, Italian authorities needed to work with their Romanian counterparts and plan their arrests. Through Eurojust, collaboration was smooth and efficient, ensuring that the suspects were identified, European Arrest Warrants were executed and restrictive measures were taken against the robbers.
On 24 April, Romanian and Italian authorities worked together to locate and arrest four suspects. Searches were also carried out where evidence was collected, which will further support the investigation. Authorities will continue to investigate the criminal group, looking for connections to other criminal activities.
The following authorities carried out the operations:
Italy: Public Prosecution Office Arezzo; State Police – Counter crime Squad of Arezzo; Caribinieri – Company of Arezzo
Romania: Prosecution Office of the Court of Appeal Galati; Prosecution Office of the Local Court of Galati; Prosecution Office of the Local Court of Targu Bujor; Directorate for Criminal Investigations of Romanian Police; Service for Criminal Investigations from Local Police Inspectorate; Service for Special Actions; Local Inspectorate for Gendarmerie
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
We don’t want to Boa-re you with the details, but we’re positive that covering a Danger Noodle won’t make it go away.
Did you know that how and what you pack m-Adders and can greatly impact your checkpoint experience? Additionally, if our officers determine a carry-on item is knotty by nature, you may incur a delay checking, mailing, or returning the item to your vehicle before proceeding. Why risssk having to surrender items at the checkpoint if you don’t have to?
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Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced legislation to increase veterans’ access to trucking apprenticeship programs with their U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits by allowing the VA to approve programs operated by interstate commercial trucking companies. The bill would streamline the approval process and cut unnecessary red tape that makes it difficult for veterans to partake in apprenticeships that operate across multiple states.
“Veterans deserve support,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Many struggle to find work when they come home. Having a commercial driver’s license opens a lot of doors for them.”
Cassidy was joined by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in introducing the legislation. It is supported by a number of Veterans Service Organizations and stakeholders, including the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the American Trucking Association (ATA).
“Trucking apprenticeships offer meaningful employment and a fulfilling career pathway, and we owe it to our nation’s veterans to provide support as they seek next steps in their transition to civilian life. With the Veterans Transition to Trucking Act, we eliminate bureaucratic red tape hindering veterans from accessing trucking apprenticeships and ensure that veterans are able to access these programs through their VA education benefits. This commonsense legislation allows veterans to more easily access necessary training for a rewarding career when they return home,” said Senator Blumenthal.
“A successful transition from military service to civilian life is not complete until a veteran can find meaningful employment, and the American trucking industry offers a significant number of well-paying jobs that can utilize veterans’ skills and experiences. Unfortunately, veterans can sometimes face bureaucratic hurdles when attempting to use their earned education benefits for trucking apprenticeship programs. DAV is proud to support the Veterans’ Transition to Trucking Act of 2025, as it would help streamline that process for our nation’s heroes, and we appreciate Sens. Blumenthal and Cassidy for introducing this important legislation,” said DAV National Legislative Director Joy Ilem.
“Members of our military put their lives on the line to defend our nation and our freedom. When they return home, it is our responsibility to help them achieve the American Dream they fought to protect,” said ATA Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs Henry Hanscom. “By slashing bureaucratic red tape for VA education benefits, the Veterans’ Transition to Trucking Act would expand career paths in trucking and make it easier for veterans to find good-paying jobs behind the wheel. ATA commends Senators Cassidy and Blumenthal for their leadership on this bipartisan bill, and we look forward to working with them to enact their commonsense reform into law.”
Background
Trucking companies currently operating in more than one state must get approval from each state to allow veterans to use their VA education benefits for apprenticeship programs with their company. In some cases, these companies have opted out of offering apprenticeships for veterans due to the burdensome red tape required to get more than 20 different approvals. This bill would allow interstate commercial carriers to get one approval for their apprenticeship programs from the VA, making it easier for veterans to access trucking apprenticeship programs.
The United States and China remain in a standoff in their tariff war. Neither side appears willing to budge.
After US President Donald Trump imposed massive 145% tariffs on Chinese imports in early April, China retaliated with its own tariffs of 125% on US goods.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this week it’s up to China to de-escalate tensions. China’s Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, said the two sides are not talking.
The prospect of economic decoupling between the world’s two largest economies is no longer speculative. It is becoming a hard reality. While many observersdebate who might “win” the trade war, the more likely outcome is that everyone loses.
A convenient target
Trump’s protectionist agenda has spared few. Allies and adversaries alike have been targeted by sweeping US tariffs. However, China has served as the main target, absorbing the political backlash of broader frustrations over trade deficits and economic displacement in the US.
The economic costs to China are undeniable. The loss of reliable access to the US market, coupled with mounting uncertainty in the global trading system, has dealt a blow to China’s export-driven sectors.
China’s comparative advantage lies in its vast manufacturing base and tightly integrated supply chains. This is especially true in high-tech and green industries such as electric vehicles, batteries and solar energy. These sectors are deeply dependent on open markets and predictable demand.
New trade restrictions in Europe, Canada and the US on Chinese electric vehicles, in particular, have already caused demand to drop significantly.
China’s GDP growth was higher than expected in the first quarter of the year at 5.4%, but analysts expect the effect of the tariffs to soon bite. A key measure of factory activity this week showed a contraction in manufacturing.
China’s economic growth has also been weighed down by structural headwinds, including industrial overcapacity (when a country’s production of goods exceeds demand), an ageing population, rising youth unemployment and persistent regional disparities. The property sector — once a pillar of the country’s economic rise — has become a source of financial stress. Local government debt is mounting and a pension crisis is looming.
Negotiations with the US might be desirable to end the tariff war. However, unilateral concessions on Beijing’s part are neither viable nor politically palatable.
Regional coordination
Trump’s tariff wars have done more than strain bilateral relationships; they have shaken the foundations of the global trading system.
By sidelining the World Trade Organization and embracing a transactional approach to bilateral trade, the US has weakened multilateral norms and emboldened protectionist tendencies worldwide.
One unintended consequence of this instability has been the resurgence of regional arrangements. In Asia, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), backed by China and centred on the ASEAN bloc in Southeast Asia, has emerged as a credible alternative for economic cooperation.
Meanwhile, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) continues to expand, with the United Kingdom joining late last year.
Across Latin America, too, regional blocs are exploring new avenues for integration, hoping to buffer themselves against the shocks of resurgent protectionism.
But regionalism is no panacea. It cannot replicate the scale or efficiency of global trade, nor can it restore the predictability on which exporters depend.
Looming dangers
The greater danger is the world drifting into a Kindleberger Trap — a situation in which no power steps forward to provide the leadership necessary to sustain global public goods, or a stable trading system.
Economist Charles Kindleberger’s account of the Great Depression remains instructive: it was not the presence of conflict but the absence of leadership that brought about the global economy’s systemic collapse.
Without renewed global coordination, the economic fragmentation triggered by Trump’s tariff wars could give way to something far more dangerous than a recession – rising geopolitical and military tensions that no region can contain.
The political landscape is already fraught. The Chinese Communist Party, for instance, has long tethered its legitimacy to the promise of eventual unification with Taiwan. Yet the costs of using force remain prohibitively high.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s recent designation of China as a “foreign hostile force” have sharpened tensions. Beijing’s response has been calibrated – military exercises intended more as a warning than a prelude to conflict.
However, the intensifying trade war with the US may become the final straw that exhausts Beijing’s patience, leaving Taiwan as collateral damage in a US-China final showdown.
A role for collective leadership
China alone is neither able nor inclined to assume the mantle of global leadership. Its current focus is more on domestic priorities – sustaining economic growth and managing social stability – than on foreign policy.
Yet, Beijing can still play a constructive role in shaping the international environment through its cooperation with Europe, ASEAN and the Global South.
The objective is not to replace American hegemony, but to support a more multi-polar and collaborative system — one capable of sustaining global public goods in an era of uncertainty.
Paradoxically, a more coordinated effort by the rest of the world may ultimately help bring the US back into the fold. Washington may rediscover the strategic value of engagement — and return not as the sole leader, but as an indispensable partner.
In the short term, other states may seek to gain an advantage from the great power standoff. But they should remember that what begins as a clash between giants can quickly engulf bystanders.
In this volatile landscape, the path forward does not lie in exploiting disorder. Rather, nations must cautiously advance the shared interest in restoring a stable, rules-based global order.
Kai He receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
A quad bike rollover which cost a Tararua farmhand his life could have been avoided if the farm manager had kept the bike in good working order, WorkSafe New Zealand says.
Worn brakes, uneven tyre pressure, and poor suspension were among the defects found on the bike that flipped at low speed and killed 31-year-old Ethen Payne at an Eketāhuna dairy farm in November 2022.
The bike was purchased second-hand and had no crush protection device installed. The farm manager and bike owner, Dane Hemphill, has now been sentenced for health and safety failures uncovered by a WorkSafe investigation. A victim impact statement read in court said Mr Payne’s mother has since died of a broken heart.
Uneven tyre pressure on the quad bike Ethen Payne was killed on.
“This tragedy should be the lightning rod the agriculture sector needs to up its game on quad bike safety,” says WorkSafe’s central regional manager, Nigel Formosa.
“First and foremost, WorkSafe strongly recommends installing a crush protection device on the back of a quad bike.”
Pre-start checks are important, primarily to check tyre pressure and brake function before setting off.
Regular servicing in line with the manufacturer’s recommendation is also a must. This may include oil changes and filter replacements. A checklist can be handy to document the frequency of servicing, what was looked at, and any fixes undertaken.
Any issues identified during pre-start checks or servicing should be addressed promptly to avoid further problems or potential hazards.
“We know life is busy for farmers, but there’s no excuse for letting your quad bike maintenance slide – especially when the consequences can be catastrophic. Ideally maintenance checks are done by a mechanic. If you are too busy to take your quad bikes in for a service, arrange for a mobile mechanic to come out to you. The cost is nothing compared to having a preventable death on your conscience,” says Nigel Formosa.
Agriculture was New Zealand’s deadliest industry in 2024, with 14 workers killed. Vehicles were the leading cause of death and injury on New Zealand farms, which is why WorkSafe’s new strategy targets about a quarter of our future inspectorate activity towards agriculture.
Businesses must manage their risks, and WorkSafe’s role is to influence businesses to meet their responsibilities and keep people healthy and safe. When they do not, we will take action.
Dane Hemphill was sentenced at Wellington District Court on 30 April 2025.
Reparations of $75,000 were ordered to be paid to the family.
Dane Hemphill was charged under sections 36(1)(a), 48(1) and 48(2)(b) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
Being a PCBU, having a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers who work for the PCBU, including Ethen Donald Payne, while the workers are at work in the business or undertaking, namely using a Honda TRX420FM2 quadbike at Spring Grove Dairies farm, did fail to comply with that duty and that failure exposed the workers to a risk of death or serious injury.
The maximum penalty is a fine not exceeding $300,000.
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Mountain Road / State Highway 3 south of Inglewood is expected to be closed for several hours following a crash.
It happened about 3:50am and involved three heavy vehicles.
While there are no serious injuries as a result, heavy tows will need to be brought in.
There is a diversion off the highway at Tarata Road from Inglewood, onto Kaimata Road South, Tariki Road South, Salisbury Road, to Beaconsfield Road, and back onto the highway.
Motorists are asked to have patience and delay travel if possible.
New Zealand’s road freight industry is painting a gloomy picture for business, with only a minority expecting their financial situation to improve over the coming year.
The results are contained in the 2025 National Road Freight Industry Survey, a major survey of 194 respondents across 128 road freight businesses, conducted in March this year by Research NZ on behalf of advocacy group Transporting New Zealand.
The survey was also promoted by the New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association and Groundspread NZ and represents the most extensive industry snapshot in over a decade.
Transporting New Zealand says the survey offers sobering insights into business conditions, the deteriorating road network, and challenges around driver safety and wellbeing.
Only 34 per cent of those surveyed expected their financial situation to improve over the next 12 months, and only one in four respondents reported having sustainable operating margins. Just under half (47 per cent) believed the government was on the right economic track, while 25 per cent disagreed and 27 per cent were unsure.
Transporting New Zealand says the findings echo the concerns it has heard from members and align with wider economic indicators.
“Company liquidations in the transport sector were up by 79 per cent last year, and the ANZ Truckometer Heavy Traffic Index for June 2024 recorded its biggest monthly drop on record, excluding Covid-19 lockdowns.” says Billy Clemens, Transporting New Zealand’s Head of Policy and Advocacy.
“The survey results, combined with the tough economic data, really highlight the need for infrastructure investment from the Government to support growth, as well as resource management reform that helps support new jobs and overseas investment”.
Health, safety, and wellbeing and workforce challenges were also priorities. A total of 78 per cent of respondents called for more purpose-designed rest stops for drivers, and 72 per cent said it was important for drivers to have a good work-life balance.
Finding new drivers was also a big issue. Almost one-half of industry respondents (47 per cent) indicated that “up to 25 per cent” or more would retire or leave the industry in the next five years. This highlighted the ageing workforce.
Concerns about the state of New Zealand’s roads were nearly universal. The vast majority (93 per cent) agreed that poor road maintenance is putting truck drivers and other road users at risk. A significant number (84 per cent), believed that regional roads and bridges are neglected, and that delays in replacing the Cook Strait ferries pose a major risk (79 per cent).
One bright spot in the survey for truck drivers was that while the those in the industry believe the public have a negative perception of professional drivers, that is not the case.
Nearly half of industry respondents (49 per cent) believed the public holds a negative view of professional drivers, while only 20 per cent believed the public viewed them positively.
However, a poll of 1000 New Zealanders conducted by Research NZ painted a more favourable picture, with 52 per cent saying they view professional road freight drivers positively; and only 7 per cent expressing a negative view.
“It’s encouraging to see such widespread public support for truck drivers, and Transporting New Zealand will be highlighting this in our advocacy – especially as we push for better public facilities for drivers and policies that support the long-term sustainability of freight businesses,” says Clemens.
Australian reality TV debuted in 2006 with Bondi Rescue. The show featured a winning formula of sun, surf, heroes and danger. It sparked many similar programs featuring police, helicopter crews and paramedics.
Paramedics (2018–), as the title suggests, follows Australian paramedics at work, and airs on Nine. Previous seasons focused on staff of Ambulance Victoria and SA Ambulance. The latest season, being filmed now in Perth, follows paramedics of St John Ambulance Western Australia.
Last week, the ABC reported WA Health has issued a directive that filming must end “at the time of entering a hospital ramp” and no filming is to happen at hospitals.
They also stipulate “vision that is used to negatively portray the WA Health system, including but not limited to perceived capacity constraints, is not permitted to be used”.
This move drew criticism from WA Shadow Health Minister, Libby Mettam, and WA president of the Australian Medical Association, Michael Page, who claimed it amounts to censorship of healthcare delivery issues, in particular issues of “ramping” – ambulances waiting outside emergency departments until space becomes available.
I created and directed the reality series Chopper Rescue (2009–11) for ABC, following real rescue helicopter crews saving lives in regional and remote north Queensland. Here’s what to consider when it comes to obtaining permissions to record factual television shows like these.
Sharing stories
These shows occupy a complex position between service provision and entertainment, creating inherent conflicts of interest.
I developed the concept for Chopper Rescue from dual perspectives: as a filmmaker and as an experienced PICU (paediatric intensive care unit) nurse who had participated in many retrievals.
I wanted to share stories of the incredible rescue crews: unassuming individuals undertaking extensive training, available 24/7. They might just happen to be the person sitting on the train opposite you travelling home after an all night saga.
I wanted audiences to appreciate how lucky we are to have such services.
From my first experience retrieving a child from a small regional clinic in the middle of the night, I was struck by the human drama and visual spectacle. Flying low at dawn over a sleeping city and safely delivering a sick child to expert care adhered to a perfect narrative structure.
The success of shows like Chopper Rescue and Paramedics depends on the willingness of professionals to share their knowledge, and of those being rescued agreeing to have their stories aired. The most successful shows are a partnership, where those in front of the camera are able to exercise some agency in how they are represented on screen.
By the time viewers see such content, multiple layers of permission have been negotiated.
Seeking consent
The most complex negotiation is the access agreements with organisations who have jurisdiction over the entities involved. For Paramedics, agreements would have been negotiated with St John’s Ambulance and WA Health.
Such agreements always include conditions to protect individuals and professional reputations.
Production companies must obtain signed consent from everyone identifiable onscreen. This is a complicated process when filming in emergency departments where multiple personnel might be attending to critically unwell patients.
Production release forms typically assign worldwide rights to use recordings, while indemnifying the company against claims. Individuals can request variations, such as viewing content before release, but this requires understanding this option exists. Ethical documentary practice would explore individuals’ options at the time of signing the release.
If someone doesn’t consent, their face is typically blurred. This highlights the tension between legal and ethical practice: blurring of identity meets legal requirements, but overlooks an individual’s choice not to participate.
Then there is the case of organisational access agreements. Post production facilities are intense spaces where editors, directors and producers make decisions about episodes, creating perfect cuts and dramatic effects. What’s often missing in the edit suite is professional knowledge to determine whether a scene, while being dramatically successful, might contain actions by a professional that could be viewed critically by peers.
There is little scope for the acknowledgement of human error once a show is aired, but human error occurs – particularly in high stakes situations.
Access agreements and filming protocols ensure edited content is reviewed by those familiar with the setting. In the case of the new season of Paramedics, this responsibility will fall to WA Health.
Is this censorship? Yes. Is it necessary? I would say yes, given these shows offer entertainment, not expository documentaries.
Our human vulnerability
There is another hidden risk for those being rescued: the presence of cameras capturing professionals at work.
Awareness that millions might be watching on can potentially distract paramedics, doctors and pilots – with potentially disastrous consequences.
And what about patients’ rights to receive assistance without the presence of microphones and cameras? Can we assume that patients are informed in advance that they may be filmed and have the option to decline? Clear protocols for filming are essential to ensure such patient rights are protected.
As a filmmaker, I recognise the appeal of these shows. Viewers access normally restricted spaces, witnessing emergency calls and human drama. Such moments can be potent, allowing reflection on our human vulnerability. The educational potential is also significant, sharing important information about health conditions and interventions.
It is unclear whether similar restrictions were requested in other states, but there is nothing unusual in WA Health seeking conditions to film in their facilities.
However, to specifically exclude ambulance ramping has potentially left them vulnerable to criticism, rather than requesting general content approval.
Jan Cattoni 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.
The KOF Economic Barometer falls strongly in April. After an increase in the previous month, it now drops below its medium-term average for the first time this year. The outlook for the Swiss Economy is considerably subdued.
In April, the KOF Economic Barometer decreases strongly by 6.1 points to a level of 97.1 (after revised 103.2 in the previous month). The negative developments are reflected in the majority of the indicator bundles included in the Economic Barometer. In particular, the indicator bundle for manufacturing experiences a strong setback. Similarly, the indicator bundles for other services and hospitality are under downward pressure. Solely the level of the indicator bundle for financial and insurance services remains nearly unaltered.
Within the producing industry (manufacturing and construction), the sub-indicators for different aspects of business activity all show negative developments, except for the sub-indicators for the stock of finished products, which show slight positive developments. Particularly negatively impacted are the sub-indicators for exports, production activity and the competitive situation.
Within manufacturing, the indicators for vehicle and also machinery and equipment manufacturers, for paper and printing producers as well as for the electrical industry are slowing down most noticeable. The indicators for the metal industry remain nearly unaltered.
Nyah Nyah West Fire Brigade has proudly marked 100 years of service over the weekend, celebrating the centenary with a community open day, luncheon and medal presentation.
More than 70 community members attended the anniversary event on Sunday, 27 April to thank volunteers for their dedication.
Nyah Nyah West Fire Brigade Captain Phillip Maher said he is very proud to have led the brigade through this significant milestone.
“The brigade has been such an important part of the town since 1925, and we hope to see it remain that way for the next 100,” Phillip said.
Before amalgamating as a single brigade in July 2012 when it was decided there would no longer be urban and rural fire brigades within the CFA, previously, the brigade was made up of the Nyah West Urban Fire Brigade and the Nyah Rural Fire Brigade.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Phillip has dedicated thirty years to the brigade and is now in his fifth year of captaincy. Over this time, Phillip has witnessed the restructure firsthand, alongside technological advancements and improvements that have shaped the brigade into what it is today.
“With both brigades working closely together previously out of the same building, it was a fairly smooth transition”, Phillip said.
“It’s incredible to see how far we have come from what was two small brigades into now one strong, united team.”
The brigade has seen significant fleet and uniform upgrades over the years.
“We are very privileged to have a modern firefighting fleet, with diesel-powered trucks and a four-wheel drive vehicle. They are a bit different from the trucks we used back in the day,” Phillip said.
“When I started, we would turn up in our workwear or whatever was on the truck. Now, we’ve got appropriate uniforms, structural gear and helmets.”
The brigade has responded to several significant fires over their 100 years of dedication.
“From the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires to the 2003 Victorian Alpine bushfires, 2019/2020 bushfires and more recently the Grampians and Little Desert fires, our crews have stepped in to help,” Phillip said. “We are really proud to still be here serving the community one hundred years later. It’s a credit to every member, past and present, who has worn the uniform and stood up for the community.”
As Nyah Nyah West Fire Brigade enters its second century, Phillip hopes to see recruitment numbers and local engagement continue to rise.
“Everybody is always welcome, and no contribution is too small.”
Today, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a five-count indictment against Ian William Moses, 35, of Mesa, Arizona for Maliciously Damaging Property and Vehicles in Interstate Commerce by Means of Fire.
The charging documents filed in the case allege that Moses was at the Tesla dealership in Mesa shortly before 2 a.m. on Monday, April 28, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, tan ballcap, grey pants, black boots, and a black mask. He also carried a red plastic gas can and a black backpack. While in the Tesla parking lot, Moses was captured on video as he placed fire starter logs next to the dealership building. Moses then poured gasoline onto the starter logs, the building, and three Tesla vehicles. At around 1:38 a.m., Moses ignited the starter logs, causing a fire that destroyed a silver Tesla Cybertruck. Video shows Moses leaving the dealership on a dark colored bicycle shortly thereafter.
Mesa police officers arrested Moses approximately a quarter mile from the Tesla dealership at around 3 a.m., still dressed in the same clothes as he was seen wearing at the scene. After his arrest, officers found a hand drawn map of the area in Moses’ pocket, which included a box with the letter “T” marking the dealership’s location.
“If you engage in domestic terrorism, this Department of Justice will find you, follow the facts, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “No negotiating.”
“ATF’s Special Agents and forensic investigators, working with the FBI and local partners, quickly recovered and analyzed critical evidence following this deliberate attack,” said ATF Acting Director Dan Driscoll. “This attack poses a serious threat to public safety and the ATF remains committed to aggressively pursuing anyone who endangers our communities through violence or destruction.”
“There is nothing American about burning down someone else’s business because you disagree with them politically,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona. “These ongoing attacks against Tesla are not protests, they are acts of violence that have no place in Arizona or anywhere else. If someone targets Tesla with violence, they will be found and confronted with the full force of the law.”
“I would like to recognize the dedicated work of the Mesa Police and Mesa Fire Departments on this case,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Brendan Iber. “Cooperation with our law enforcement partners acts as a multiplier in our efforts to remove violent criminals from the streets and make our communities safer. The professionalism and extensive investigative knowledge of the police and fire investigators within our arson taskforce cannot be overstated.”
“My office will be engaged in this investigation, and I’m pleased to be able to share our expertise,” said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. “We have a high level of success in prosecuting these types of crimes. My office stands ready to assist our federal law enforcement partners in the prosecution of this individual.”
“I would like to recognize the outstanding efforts of the Superstition District Patrol officers who played a crucial role in this investigation. Their swift action in identifying and monitoring the suspicious van parked near the dealership was critical to the success of this operation. I am truly grateful for their diligent police work,” said Mesa Police Chief Ken Cost. “Special thanks also go to the Mesa Police specialty units and the partnering agencies involved. Your collaboration was instrumental in bringing this suspect to justice and enhancing the safety of our community.”
Each count of conviction for Malicious Damage to Property in Interstate Commerce carries a minimum penalty of five years and up to a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
The investigation in this case is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, Mesa Police Department, and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond K. Woo, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that KYLIN SEXTON (“SEXTON”), age 25, a resident of Hammond, pleaded guilty on April 24, 2025 to possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, in violation of 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C) and 841(b)(1)(D). SEXTON faces up to twenty (20) years imprisonment, a fine of up to a $1,000,000.00, a period of supervised release of at least 3 years up to life, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
Chief U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown will sentence SEXTON on July 24, 2025.
On October 10, 2024, SEXTON pled guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
According to court records, on May 18, 2022, the Ponchatoula Police Department received a complaint that SEXTON a co-conspirator, was in possession of a firearm. Upon arrival at the scene, the officers observed the co-conspiratorand SEXTON seated inside of a vehicle. Officers approached the vehicle and ordered the co-conspiratorto show his hands. The co-conspirator ignored the officers’ commands and refused to place his hands behind his back when the officers attempted to remove him from the vehicle. After eventually removing the co-conspirator from the vehicle, officers observed a Glock Model 17, nine-millimeter handgun and extended magazine, loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition, tucked between the passenger seat and the center console. The firearm had a machine gun conversion device, a “Glock switch,” attached to it.
The officers also observed a green backpack on the floorboard of the driver’s side where SEXTON was seated. Upon opening the backpack, the officers located marijuana and cocaine hydrochloride.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Ponchatoula Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Violent Crime Unit.