Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Inaugurates 2-Day NSS National Convention, Calls for a Modern Era of ‘Seva’ Union Minister Dr. Mandaviya Highlights MY Bharat’s Role in Transforming Youth Volunteerism
Youth Must Lead Environmental Activism and Heritage Preservation: Dr. Mandaviya
Posted On: 25 APR 2025 8:40PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, inaugurated the National Service Scheme (NSS) – National Convention at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi today, marking the return of the prestigious gathering after a break of 15 years. The two-day convention will witness participation from more than 200 NSS officers from across the country.
Addressing the NSS Convention, Dr. Mandaviya highlighted the need to redefine ‘Seva’ in the context of current global challenges. Drawing on his experience as a former NSS volunteer, he emphasized the importance of engaging youth in environmental activism, cultural preservation, and experiential learning.
“In the digital era, the meaning of ‘Seva’ must transform. Our youth must be at the forefront of environmental activism, heritage preservation etc. Experiential learning should go hand in hand with Seva must be the new norm,” he said.
He emphasized the transformative role of Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), launched in 2023 under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, describing it as a unifying platform to channel the energy and potential of youth towards nation-building. Dr. Mandaviya urged all stakeholders to work collectively to inspire, empower, and equip young individuals to become informed and active contributors to the vision of a Viksit Bharat.
Earlier in the day, Dr. Mandaviya chaired the meeting of the National NSS Advisory Council, laying emphasis on modernizing youth volunteerism and aligning NSS with emerging national priorities. The Advisory Council comprises eminent personalities such as Dr. Himanshu Rai, Mr. Ronnie Screwvala, Mr. Malhar Kalambe, Ms. Usha Sharma and Smt. Geetanjali Kirloskar, along with senior officials from NCC, UGC, AICTE, CBSE, and academic bodies.
Key resolutions were passed during the meeting include the formation of expert sub-committees for revamping NSS Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), introducing research-driven initiatives, updating award mechanisms, and enhancing training frameworks. The strategic convergence of NSS and NCC under the Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) platform was also discussed to create a unified, holistic model for youth engagement.
The strategic integration of NSS and NCC within the Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) platform was actively explored to foster greater synergy and establish a unified, comprehensive approach to youth engagement. In line with the objectives of the National Education Policy, discussions also focused on linking NSS volunteer activities with enhanced employability, the provision of academic credits, and recognition through nationally accredited skill certifications. Furthermore, the deliberations emphasized the promotion of public-private collaborations, innovation-driven initiatives, and research-oriented volunteerism—marking a pivotal step forward in transforming the NSS into a dynamic vehicle for youth empowerment and nation-building.
The convention was enriched through breakout sessions, zone-wise presentations of best practices, and interactive group discussions, all of which contributed to the development of key proposals that will inform the MY Bharat National Action Framework.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to revitalizing the NSS as a dynamic platform that fosters patriotism, civic responsibility, and progressive values—empowering the youth of India to take the lead in building a brighter, more inclusive future for the nation.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
A spokesman for the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) said that the Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel (Working Group) led by the EEB has given agreement-in-principle to eight more applications of trial projects on hydrogen fuel technology at its meeting today (April 25).
The relevant projects involve:
(a) an application jointly submitted by International New Energy Industry Alliance Limited, Wing Tat Cargo & Trading (HK) Limited, H2 Powertrains Limited and Ontime International Logistics (HK) Co Limited, to try out 10 hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) goods vehicles for cross-boundary transport; To date, the Working Group has given agreement-in-principle in stages to a total of 26 applications of hydrogen energy trial projects. Among them, the three HFC street washing vehicles from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department have passed the examination with the Certificate of Roadworthiness issued, and Sinopec (Hong Kong) Limited has completed all commissioning and testing for the public hydrogen filling station at Au Tau, Yuen Long. The operational trials are expected to be launched in the first half of this year.
The Working Group will continue to make reference to the operational data and experience collected from all local trials, in order to provide advice for the continuous enhancement of the safety and technical guidelines on the local application of hydrogen energy.
The spokesman said, “The Government announced the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong (the Strategy) in June last year, establishing an action timeline across five key areas: regulatory framework, standards formulation, supporting infrastructure, regional co-operation, and capacity building. At the meeting, the EEB and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) briefed the Working Group on the latest implementation progress of the Strategy, including introducing the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2025 to the Legislative Council to incorporate safety regulations for hydrogen fuel, taking forward the consultancy study on establishing a green and low-carbon hydrogen certification standard, setting up safety training courses for hydrogen technology professionals, stepping up publicity and education work and promote local, regional, and international collaboration on hydrogen energy development, including organising science popularisation activities and seminars (such as the International Hydrogen Development Symposium 2025 held this year). The Working Group will continue to regularly review the progress of the Strategy and provide recommendations to facilitate the implementation of its various measures.”
The spokesman supplemented, “To promote the green transformation of transport, the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address announced the earmarking of funding under the New Energy Transport Fund to launch a new Subsidy Scheme for Trials of HFC Heavy Vehicles. The EEB has announced the acceptance of applications in December last year.”
The spokesman further supplemented, “The Government is also committed to promoting hydrogen development through regional collaboration. The working plan of the Pearl River Delta Air Quality Management and Monitoring Special Panel under the Hong Kong-Guangdong Joint Working Group on Environmental Protection and Combating Climate Change covers demonstration projects of cross-boundary delivery vehicles transiting into HFC vehicles. Moreover, the liaisons between the EMSD and the State Administration for Market Regulation as well as the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China on the technical level, and the EEB’s exchanges with the Mainland authorities regarding exchanges involving hydrogen development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, have all been making good progress.”
The Working Group is formed by the EEB, the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Development Bureau, the Security Bureau, the Environmental Protection Department, the EMSD, the Fire Services Department, the Transport Department, the Marine Department, the Planning Department, the Lands Department, the Buildings Department, the Architectural Services Department and the Labour Department.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (April 25) chaired a meeting of the interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements to holistically co-ordinate and steer the preparatory work of various government departments for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland. The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan; the Under Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk, and representatives from other relevant government departments also attended.
Mr Chan said, “We estimate a notable increase in visitor arrivals during the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will make good preparations for receiving visitors, as well as maintaining close liaison with relevant organisations and the travel trade to prepare well for crowd management, information dissemination and arrangements of public transportation and boundary control points (BCPs), with a view to responding promptly to various kinds of emergencies and ensure the smooth operation of various aspects in receiving visitors and offering a high-quality experience to them.”
Estimated visitor flow and preparatory work
According to the Immigration Department (ImmD)’s estimate, around 5.71 million passengers (including Hong Kong residents and visitors) will pass through Hong Kong’s sea, land and air control points during this year’s Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland (i.e. from May 1 to 5), among which 4.90 million passengers will pass through land control points.
The ImmD estimates that the peak period of outbound passengers using land BCPs is expected to be May 3 (Saturday) with around 590 000 passengers; whilst the peak period of inbound passengers using land BCPs is expected to be May 5 (Monday) with around 580 000 passengers. Passengers are advised to plan in advance, avoid making their journeys during busy periods and keep track of radio and TV broadcasts on traffic conditions at various control points. The busy times at BCPs are available on the ImmD website at www.immd.gov.hk. Furthermore, residents and passengers may also check the estimated waiting times at each land BCP at any time or place via the Immigration mobile app. They can then plan their trips effectively and save time queuing at control points.
In terms of Mainland inbound visitors, it is estimated that around 840 000 passengers will visit Hong Kong via various sea, land and air control points during the five-day Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland. Compared with last year’s Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland and this year’s Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland, the daily average visitor arrivals are expected to increase by 10 per cent and 13 per cent respectively. Major tourist spots have formulated special arrangements to handle the estimated increase of people flows. The Hong Kong community is expected to become more vibrant and highly patronised during the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland, bringing opportunities to various sectors.
The Travel Industry Authority (TIA) has also reminded travel agents receiving Mainland inbound tour groups to adopt appropriate diversion measures to enable proper management of visitor flows and tour buses, with a view to offering a pleasant travel experience to visitors. In addition, District Offices will closely monitor the flow of visitors within their respective districts and notify relevant departments having regard to the actual circumstances with a view to strengthening management of the relevant spots.
Co-ordinate control points, traffic and public transport facilities
Relevant departments have minimised leave for frontline officers to enable flexible deployment of manpower and operation of additional counters and channels, with a view to diverting passenger and vehicular flows. The Inter-departmental Joint Command Centre set up by the Police, the ImmD, the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED), and other relevant departments will be activated from May 1 (Thursday) to May 5 (Monday) to monitor the real-time situations at various control points. The Joint Command Centre will maintain close liaison with the Mainland port authorities through the established port hotlines and real-time notification mechanisms, and take timely contingency actions as necessary to flexibly deploy manpower at BCPs to ensure smooth operation of the land control points.
For transport arrangements, the Transport Department (TD) has co-ordinated with relevant operators to enhance transportation services connecting various BCPs, including increasing the frequency of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus (Gold Bus) to less than one minute during peak hours, and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) to about two minutes at its highest frequency, as well as increasing the quota of cross-boundary coaches to strengthen services; and formulating a contingency plan by providing a dedicated passage for public transport vehicles at the Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port and the Shenzhen Bay Port when necessary to ensure smooth public transport services. In addition, Zhuhai’s traffic management department will also arrange a dedicated lane at the HZMB for the use of the Gold Bus, cross-boundary coaches and large vehicles when necessary. Regarding local public transport services, the TD has approached various public transport operators proactively to enhance their capacity, and reserve sufficient vehicles and manpower to meet the travel needs of visitors. The MTR Corporation Limited will enhance the train services of the East Rail Line between Admiralty and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau at different times from May 1 to May 5 to provide convenience for the travelling public and visitors. During these periods, the train frequencies to and from Lok Ma Chau will increase to approximately every 7.5 to 10 minutes, while services to Lo Wu will be enhanced to approximately every five minutes. The Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the TD will continue to operate 24 hours a day to closely monitor the traffic conditions and public transport services in all districts, BCPs, and major stations across Hong Kong, and take prompt measures to address service demands and disseminate the latest traffic updates through various channels.
Protection of visitors
The TIA will conduct inspections in districts where relatively more registered shops for inbound tour groups are located during the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland, and offer assistance to visitors and tourist guides to protect inbound tour group visitors’ rights. Additionally, the Police will continue to step up enforcement actions against any illegal acts of taxi drivers including overcharging and refusing hires. The C&ED will also step up inspections of shops serving visitors to combat unfair trade practices.
Weather forecast
It is expected that the weather will be hot from May 1 to May 4 with sunny periods apart from isolated showers. The weather may become more unstable, with more showers towards the latter part of the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland. The chances of being affected by tropical cyclones are relatively low. The above forecast is a preliminary assessment, and the Hong Kong Observatory will update the forecast depending on the latest change in weather.
Information dissemination
To assist visitors in planning their itineraries, the Government will strengthen information dissemination including the latest inbound visitor arrivals, the situation at various BCPs, transport arrangements, latest weather forecasts, etc to enable residents and visitors to plan their itineraries according to the latest situation.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board has also launched a dedicated webpage (www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/plan/traveller-info/goldenweek-special-info.html ) to consolidate useful information during the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland. The webpage includes information about the opening hours of major sightseeing attractions, public transportation, boundary-crossing services, and other events during the period, including the drone show at the Wan Chai Temporary Promenade to enable residents and visitors to plan their itineraries more conveniently.
However, when asked in the same survey what proportion of others in their country would be willing to do the same, the average estimate was only 43%. This underestimation of others’ concern is known as pluralistic ignorance.
This fuels a vicious cycle: silence begets silence. People hesitate to advocate for policies like cycle lanes or meat taxes, fearing social isolation, while politicians avoid championing measures seen as “career-limiting”. The result is a democracy trapped by unspoken consensus.
Research on UK MPs reveals how this plays out. Even climate-conscious politicians frame low-carbon lifestyles such as avoiding flying or eating meat as extreme, wary of hypocrisy accusations if their personal choices fall short. This “greenhushing” isn’t just political caution – it’s a failure to recognise that most people are primed to follow bold examples.
When leaders visibly adopt low-carbon behaviour, they can help address pluralistic ignorance. For instance, MPs who cycle or opt for the train instead of taking short-haul flights don’t just reduce emissions; they signal that such choices are normal, desirable, and shared.
The invisible transition
While individual actions matter, systemic change requires policies to steer collective transformation. Consider the UK’s early phase-out of inefficient lightbulbs: a 1.26 million tonne annual CO₂ reduction achieved not through personal sacrifice, but by banning the sale of halogen bulbs that emitted more heat than light.
Progress on lightbulbs, renewable electricity or more efficient fridges are all part of an “invisible transition” towards a lower-carbon society – a series of changes already woven into our economy that often go unnoticed by the public. Reframing these achievements as collective victories – your home insulation, our renewable grid – can build momentum for tougher measures.
For decades, fridges got bigger yet became more efficient and used less electricity. Prostock-studio / shutterstock
Building on progress
Public willingness to make sacrifices for climate action is closely tied to perceptions of fairness and necessity. Crucially, people want to see that their own efforts are being matched by others, especially those with larger carbon footprints. This is why leaders and other high-profile people should visibly lead by example, demonstrating commitment and helping to establish new social norms.
Research shows that public support for subsidies for heat pumps, solar panels, electric vehicles and other low-carbon technologies often depends on whether these subsidies are perceived as fair and inclusive.
Most agree that subsidies must help ensure that all households, especially those with lower incomes, can be involved. This makes it especially important for wealthy and high profile people to lead by example.
Coalitions of the visible: uniting everyday leaders
Leaders who take low-carbon actions are seen as more credible, not less. The most effective leadership frames climate action as pragmatic and rooted in everyday life, rather than as a test of virtue.
Research by the NGO Climate Outreach demonstrates that shared, relatable stories – such as parents campaigning for solar panels at their children’s schools – can shift social norms and build momentum for collective action. These “narrative workshops” have shown that people respond most strongly when climate solutions are presented through the lens of their own values and aspirations, rather than as abstract technical fixes.
The Green Salon Collective’s Mirror Talkers initiative is another creative example: by placing climate conversation prompts on salon mirrors, hairdressers are empowered to spark everyday discussions with clients. This kind of grassroots engagement helps normalise climate conversations in places you wouldn’t expect.
Overcoming pluralistic ignorance requires leaders to articulate a new story – one that acknowledges the “invisible transition” already underway while inviting everyone to help finish the job.
This means equipping leaders at every level with the tools and confidence to adopt and advocate for low-carbon choices. It also means normalising the reality that climate leadership is not about perfection, but about consistency and transparency.
Figures like Clover Hogan, founder of Force of Nature, and Christiana Figueres, former UN climate chief, openly share their own “climate confessions” – acknowledging the challenges, contradictions and imperfect choices that come with striving for a low-carbon life. By embracing and communicating their imperfections, they demonstrate that visible, relatable climate leadership is about honesty and persistence, helping to shift expectations and inspire others to take action in their own lives.
Authentic climate leadership can transform public understanding of climate solutions. By illuminating the transition already in progress – and their own part in it – leaders can transform pluralistic ignorance into pluralistic action.
The task is not to convince people to care about climate change, but to show them that they already do, and to make visible the collective progress that is often hidden in plain sight.
Sam Hampton receives funding from the Economics and Social Research Council. He is affiliated with the University of Oxford and University of Bath.
Tina Fawcett currently receives funding from UKRI.
Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper
Republicans’ national budget will gut SNAP benefits, increase prices for Coloradans, increase the deficit, and give tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper and his Democratic Senate colleagues recently sounded the alarm about the Republican Budget proposal to slash nutrition programs working Americans rely on to pay for a $4 trillion tax cut for the ultra-wealthy.
“Congress should not give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans by taking away food assistance from millions of Americans,” the senators wrote.
“At a time when people across the country are struggling with the high cost of groceries, a cut of this magnitude could result in an immediate increase in food costs, dropping the annual, per person SNAP benefit by over $500 per year per person,” they continued.
One in ten Coloradans rely on SNAP benefits to afford their groceries. The majority of SNAP recipients in Colorado are families with children.
Earlier this year, Republicans, who control both the Senate and House, passed budget bills that open the door for substantial cuts to programs that help Americans afford groceries. Specifically, the House budget bill requires at least $230 billion in cuts to the committee that oversees the budget for SNAP. The Senate bill sets a floor of $1 billion in cuts.
Hickenlooper recently voted against the Republican budget proposal after Republicans voted down critical Democratic-led amendments to protect working Americans including lowering the cost of living and preventing cuts to Medicaid, Social Security, and veterans’ benefits.
The senators also outlined how potential cuts to SNAP would harm the economy stating: “Taking away SNAP would also hurt the farmers who grow our food, the manufacturers that package it, truckers who distribute it, and small businesses in our communities that sell it.”
Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:
The Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans are planning to give another round of tax handouts to the ultra-wealthy and corporations paid for by gutting the food assistance that helps American families pay for groceries at a time when they are struggling to afford food, health care, housing, and other household basic needs. If enacted, cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will have severe consequences for millions of veterans, seniors, children, and hard-working farmers.
We write to make our position on this legislation perfectly clear: Congress should not give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans by taking away food assistance from millions of Americans.
Earlier this year, both the House and the Senate passed budget bills that pave the way for deep cuts to SNAP. The House budget bill would require at least $230 billion in cuts. The Senate bill sets a floor of $1 billion in cuts with nothing to prevent it from going as high as the House bill. This would be a more than 20 percent cut to a program that helps millions of struggling families afford groceries.
SNAP supports 42 million Americans, including nearly 8 million seniors, 16 million children, 4 million people with disabilities, and 1.2 million veterans, in putting food on their tables each month. Cuts of this magnitude—or anything close to it—would be devastating to American families in every state. SNAP benefits currently average only $6.20 per person per day. At a time when people across the country are struggling with the high cost of groceries, a cut of this magnitude could result in an immediate increase in food costs, dropping the annual, per person SNAP benefit by over $500 per year per person.
Congressional Republicans might claim that their plan is to merely require states to pay for a portion of food benefits for the first time.2 In truth, such an unprecedented cost shift could force states to cut benefits, severely restrict program eligibility, or both. If combined with a similar Medicaid cost shift, these unfunded mandates could decimate state budgets and cut healthcare and food assistance for millions of Americans.
Taking away SNAP would also hurt the farmers who grow our food, the manufacturers that package it, truckers who distribute it, and small businesses in our communities that sell it. Each SNAP dollar stimulates the economy: every $1.00 in food assistance provided by the program in a weak economy generates an additional $1.50 in economic activity.3 Because adequate nutrition is so important for children’s health and development, the long-term return on investment is even greater: every $1.00 invested in SNAP for children returns $62 in value.4 In 2020 alone, SNAP supported 200,000 grocery industry jobs and created nearly 45,000 new jobs in supporting industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, and municipal services.
Republicans are writing the most consequential tax and budget legislation in decades entirely behind closed doors. That’s because Trump and Congressional Republicans must hide the ugly truth—their legislation feeds corporate and wealthy individuals’ greed by taking food assistance away for tens of millions of Americans. You, your family, and your neighbors deserve far better. Democrats are fighting to protect American’s ability to feed their families from Republican cuts. Join us and keep up the fight.
Source: United States Small Business Administration
WASHINGTON –The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans for Indiana small businesses, private nonprofits, and residents affected by the severe storms and tornadoes occurring March 15. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. Mike Braun on April 10.
The disaster declaration covers the primary counties of Harrison and Orange, which are eligible for both physical damage loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs). The declaration covers the adjacent counties of Crawford, Dubois, Floyd, Lawrence, Martin and Washington in Indiana, and as well as Hardin, Jefferson, Meade in Kentucky.
Small businesses and private nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.
Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, upgrading to wind rated garage doors, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.
“One distinct advantage of SBA’s disaster loan program is the opportunity to fund upgrades reducing the risk of future storm damage,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “I encourage businesses and homeowners to work with contractors and mitigation professionals to improve their storm readiness while taking advantage of SBA’s mitigation loans.”
SBA’s EIDL program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.
EIDLs are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.625% for PNPs, and 2.75% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Beginning Monday, April 28, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in Harrison and Orange counties to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their application. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov.
The DLOC hours of operation are listed below:
Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC)
Harrison County
Harrison Government Center
245 Atwood St.
Corydon, IN 47112
Opening: Monday – April 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Permanently Closing: Saturday, May 10, 2 p.m.
Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC)
Orange County
Orleans Town Hall
161 E Price Ave.
Orleans, IN 47452
Opening: Monday – April 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Permanently Closing: Saturday, May 10, 2 p.m.
Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.
To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical damage is June 23, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is January 22, 2026.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Source: United States Small Business Administration
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans for Indiana small businesses, private nonprofits, and residents affected by the severe storms and tornadoes occurring March 19. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. Mike Braun on April 10.
The disaster declaration covers the primary counties of Bartholomew and Lake, which are eligible for both physical damage loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs). The declaration covers the adjacent counties of Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jasper, Jennings, Johnson, Newton, Porter, and Shelby in Indiana as well as Cook, Kankakee, and Will in Illinois.
Small businesses and private nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.
Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, upgrading to wind rated garage doors, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.
“One distinct advantage of SBA’s disaster loan program is the opportunity to fund upgrades reducing the risk of future storm damage,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “I encourage businesses and homeowners to work with contractors and mitigation professionals to improve their storm readiness while taking advantage of SBA’s mitigation loans.”
SBA’s EIDL program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.
EIDLs are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.625% for PNPs, and 2.75% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Beginning Monday, April 28, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in Bartholomew and Lake counties to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their application. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov.
The DLOC hours of operation are listed below:
Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC)
Bartholomew County
United Way Bartholomew County
1531 13th St.
Columbus, IN 47201
Opening: Monday – April 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Permanently Closing: Saturday, May 10, 2 p.m.
Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC)
Lake County
Monroe Center
4101 Washington St.
Gary, IN 46408
Opening: Monday – April 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Permanently Closing: Saturday, May 10, 2 p.m.
Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.
To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is June 23, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is January 22, 2026.
###
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas woman was indicted by a federal grand jury for interstate transportation of solen goods. Amanda Rutherford, 45, was indicted on one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods for traveling across the state line to sell stolen coins. Rutherford traveled to Missouri to sell over $100,000 in gold and silver coins that belonged to an elderly couple who resided in Kansas. The Dickinson County, Kansas Sheriff’s Office received a report in 2022 that several items, including firearms and collector coins, were stolen from the farm of an elderly couple. Rutherford lived on their property and claimed to be a caregiver for the couple. In early 2024, the Sheriff’s Office received a tip that Rutherford had sold gold coins to a jewelry store in Clay County, Missouri and had received several checks totaling $100,000. The Sheriff’s Office was able to confirm this information and served a search warrant on her vehicle soon after she cashed those checks at the bank. In conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Sheriff’s Office found newly purchased merchandise, the remainder of the bundled currency, and other coins belonging to the victims in the vehicle. The victims identified the remainder of the coins as part of those that were stolen from their farm in 2022. Under federal law, it is illegal to transport stolen goods across state lines. If convicted, Rutherford faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Hanson. It was investigated by the Dickinson County, Kansas Sheriff’s Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The scheduled talks follow the two previous rounds of indirect negotiations that have taken place under the new Trump administration. Those discussions were deemed to have yielded enough progress to merit sending nuclear experts from both sides to begin outlining the specifics of a potential framework for a deal.
The development is particularly notable given that Trump, in 2018, unilaterally walked the U.S. away from a multilateral agreement with Iran. That deal, negotiated during the Obama presidency, put restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear program in return for sanctions relief. Trump{,} instead turned to a policy that involved tightening the financial screws on Iran through enhanced sanctions while issuing implicit military threats.
But that approach failed to disrupt Iran’s nuclear program.
Now, rather than revive the maximum pressure policy of his first term, Trump – ever keen to be seen as a dealmaker – has given his team the green light for the renewed diplomacy and even reportedly rebuffed, for now, Israel’s desire to launch military strikes against Tehran.
Jaw-jaw over war-war
The turn to diplomacy returns Iran-US relations to where they began during the Obama administration, with attempts to encourage Iran to curb or eliminate its ability to enrich uranium.
As a long-time expert on U.S. foreign policy and nuclear nonproliferation, I believe Trump has a unique opportunity to not only reinstate a similar nuclear agreement to the one he rejected, but also forge a more encompassing deal – and foster better relations with the Islamic Republic in the process.
There are real signs that a potential deal could be in the offing, and it is certainly true that Trump likes the optics of dealmaking.
But an agreement is by no means certain. Any progress toward a deal will be challenged by a number of factors, not least internal divisions and opposition within the Trump administration and skepticism among some in the Islamic Republic, along with uncertainty over a succession plan for the aging Ayatollah Khamenei.
Conservative hawks are still abundant in both countries and could yet derail any easing of diplomatic tensions.
Many Iranians would say relations have been strained since 1953, when the U.S. and the United Kingdom orchestrated the overthrow of Mohammad Mossadegh, the democratically elected prime minister of Iran.
Washington and Tehran have not had formal diplomatic relations since 1979, and the two countries have been locked in a decadeslong battle for influence in the Middle East. Today, tensions remain high over Iranian support for a so-called axis of resistance against the West and in particular U.S. interests in the Middle East. That axis includes Hamas in Palestine, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.
For its part, Tehran has long bristled at American hegemony in the region, including its resolute support for Israel and its history of military action. In recent years that U.S. action has included the direct assaults on Iranian assets and personnel. In particular, Tehran is still angry about the 2020 assassination of Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Standing atop these various disputes, Iran’s nuclear ambitions have proved a constant source of contention for the United States and Israel, the latter being the only nuclear power in the region.
The prospect of warmer relations between the two sides first emerged during the Obama administration – though Iran sounded out the Bush administration in 2003 only to be rebuffed.
U.S. diplomats began making contact with Iranian counterparts in 2009 when Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns met with an Iranian negotiator in Geneva. The so-called P5+1 began direct negotiations with Iran in 2013. This paved the way for the eventual Iran nuclear deal, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2015. In that agreement – concluded by the U.S., Iran, China, Russia and a slew of European nations – Iran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear program, including limits on the level to which it could enrich uranium, which was capped well short of what would be necessary for a nuclear weapon. In return, multilateral and bilateral U.S. sanctions would be removed.
Many observers saw it as a win-win, with the restraints on a burgeoning nuclear power coupled with hopes that greater economic engagement with the international community that might temper some of Iran’s more provocative foreign policy behavior.
Yet Israel and Saudi Arabia worried the deal did not entirely eliminate Iran’s ability to enrich uranium, and right-wing critics in the U.S. complained it did not address Iran’s ballistic missile programs or support for militant groups in the region.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, draws a red line on a graphic of a bomb while discussing Iran at the United Nations on Sept. 27, 2012. Mario Tama/Getty Images
When Trump first took office in 2016, he and his foreign policy team pledged to reverse Obama’s course and close the door on any diplomatic opening. Making good on his pledge, Trump unilaterally withdrew U.S. support for the JCPOA despite Iran’s continued compliance with the terms of the agreement and reinstated sanctions.
Donald the dealmaker?
So what has changed? Well, several things.
While Trump’s withdrawal from the JCPOA was welcomed by Republicans, it did nothing to stop Iran from enhancing its ability to enrich uranium.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, eager to transform its image and diversify economically, now supports a deal it opposed during the Obama administration.
In this second term, Trump’s anti-Iran impulses are still there. But despite his rhetoric of a military option should a deal not be struck, Trump has on numerous occasions stated his opposition to U.S. involvement in another war in the Middle East.
In addition, Iran has suffered a number of blows in recent years that has left it more isolated in the region. Iranian-aligned Hamas and Hezbollah have been seriously weakened as a result of military action by Israel. Meanwhile, strikes within Iran by Israel have shown the potential reach of Israeli missiles – and the apparent willingness of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to use them. Further, the removal of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria has deprived Iran of another regional ally.
Tehran is also contending with a more fragile domestic economy than it had during negotiations for JCPOA.
With Iran weakened regionally and Trump’s main global focus being China, a diplomatic avenue with Iran seems entirely in line with Trump’s view of himself as a dealmaker.
A deal is not a given
With two rounds of meetings completed and the move now to more technical aspects of a possible agreement negotiated by experts, there appears to be a credible window of opportunity for diplomacy.
This could mean a new agreement that retains the core aspects of the deal Trump previously abandoned. I’m not convinced a new deal will look any different from the previous in terms of the enrichment aspect.
There are still a number of potential roadblocks standing in the way of any potential deal, however.
As was the case with Trump’s meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his first term, the president seems to be less interested in details than spectacle. While it was quite amazing for an American leader to meet with his North Korean counterpart, ultimately, no policy meaningfully changed because of it.
As has become a common theme in Trump administration foreign policy – even with its own allies on issues like trade – it’s unclear what a Trump administration policy on Iran actually is, and whether a political commitment exists to carry through any ultimate deal.
Top Trump foreign policy negotiator Steve Witkoff, who has no national security experience, has exemplified this tension. Tasked with leading negotiations with Iran, Witkoff has already having been forced to walk back his contention that the U.S. was only seeking to cap the level of uranium enrichment rather than eliminate the entirety of the program.
For its part, Iran has proved that it is serious about diplomacy, previously having accepted Barack Obama’s “extended hand.”
But Tehran is unlikely to capitulate on core interests or allow itself to be humiliated by the terms of any agreement.
Ultimately, the main question to watch is whether a deal with Iran is to be concluded by pragmatists – and then to what extent, narrow or expansive – or derailed by hawks within the administration.
Jeffrey Fields receives funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
A private hire driver who pleaded guilty yesterday (Thursday 24 April 2025) to picking up passengers on the street, has been ordered to pay a total £3,326 by York Magistrates.
Zaid Saleem, of Girlington Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, aged 58, holds a private hire driver licence with Wolverhampton and Leeds Council, and drives for an operator called ‘Drive Private Hire’. He, like all private hire drivers, can only pick up fares pre-booked through the operator.
In May 2024, Mr Saleem accepted a passenger who was not pre-booked which was outside the terms of his insurance and in breach of the terms of his private hire licence. This puts passengers and other road users at risk as when a private hire driver takes passengers on journeys that are not pre-booked they are not insured. Furthermore, drivers who flout the law have a competitive advantage over those who comply. This is something the council receives complaints about.
On 25 May 2024, City of York Council Licensing Officers took part in one of a number of enforcement operations which take place regularly. This one was to detect private hire drivers who unlawfully take un-booked passengers, and it took place at York Racecourse and in the city centre.
That day, officers approached Mr Saleem in his private hire vehicle on Clock Tower Way near York Racecourse. They agreed that he would drive them to York railway station for a fare of £10 which breached his licence.
On 24 April 2025 at York Magistrates Court, Mr Saleem pleaded guilty to the offence of unlawfully plying for hire. The magistrate sentenced him to pay a fine of £90, a surcharge of £36 and costs of £3,200.
Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment at City of York Council, said:
If an unlicensed driver picks up a customer without a prior and formal booking they are not insured for the journey and are acting illegally.
“It is also important that those drivers who pay for the entitlement and license to pick up fares are protected from being undercut by those who do not.
“We will continue to investigate legitimate complaints and take appropriate legal action. Please report any taxi offences via licensing @york.gov.uk.”
Leeds and Wolverhampton Councils have been informed of the outcome to the case, so that they can review Mr Saleem’s taxi driver license status as a ‘fit and proper’ person.
Following a public consultation, the Council’s taxi licensing policy was updated in November 2024 and can be read here.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
WASHINGTON – David Zanders, 23, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 180 months in federal prison in connection with a May 1, 2022, kidnapping and a subsequent carjacking the same day.
The sentencing was announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Zanders pleaded guilty on November 1, 2024, to one count of kidnapping and one count of carjacking in the U.S. District Court. In addition to the 180-month prison term, the Honorable Royce C. Lamberth ordered Zanders to serve five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of May 1, 2022, Zanders and a friend kidnapped two males outside of a nightclub located on the 600 block of Florida Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. Zanders and the friend pretended to be working for Uber and the two male victims got into Zander’s vehicle. Shortly thereafter, Zanders pulled over on a neighborhood street in the District, pointed a firearm at the two victims, and robbed them of their phones and money. Zanders then drove them to various ATMs in an attempt to withdraw money using ttheir credit cards.
One of the victims escaped at a gas station in Washington D.C. as Zanders and the other suspect went looking for a cash machine. After the first victim escaped, Zander drove the remaining victim to a supermarket in Maryland. Zanders and the friend withdrew money from an ATM at the supermarket using the remaining victim’s ATM card. They then drove to another location in Maryland and released the victim.
That same evening, Zanders gathered with several associates on the 900 block of Longfellow Street, NW. Zanders had arranged a meeting to sell a vehicle to another party, but in fact planned to steal the would-be buyer’s own car. When two new victims arrived in a green Dodge Charger, Zanders pulled out a gun, threatened to shoot, and demanded phones, money and keys. One of Zanders’ associates drove away with the 2019 green Dodge Charger. Zanders and the remaining associates then fled in their own vehicles.
Zanders was arrested on November 18, 2022, and has been detained since.
This case was investigated by the MPD’s Carjacking Task Force and the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Violent Crimes Task Force. Valuable assistance was provided by the Prince George’s County Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shehzad Akhtar and Cameron Tepfer and by former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Renaud. The case initially was investigated and indicted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Strong.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
WASHINGTON – Rubin Raphael Bordeaux, 36, of the District, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 192 months in prison for his role a string of armed carjackings that targeted delivery workers in November 2023. At the height of the criminal spree, Bordeaux’s escalating violence culminated in a shooting, an eight-mile chase in an Amazon van, a vehicle collision, and a foot chase.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean T. Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division.
Bordeaux pleaded guilty on September 12, 2024, to carjacking and to possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. In addition to the 192-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb ordered Bordeaux to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Bordeaux and his co-defendants specifically targeted delivery drivers in a spree of armed carjackings and robberies over four days across the District of Columbia and Maryland.
On November 9, 2023, around 1:30 p.m., a UPS driver was in the back of her work truck in Upper Marlboro, Maryland sorting packages. As she was working, Bordeaux and a co-conspirator were lying in wait, planning to rob her at gunpoint. As the UPS driver continued her job, the co-conspirator saw his opportunity and, with a silver firearm in hand, jumped into the back of the UPS truck. The co-conspirator told the UPS driver to “calm down. I just need your wallet and keys.” He took the UPS driver’s keys and ordered her to show him how to operate the UPS truck. In fear for her life, the UPS driver complied. The co-conspirator then threw the UPS driver’s phone in her direction and took off driving the truck. Bordeaux was not far behind. He followed the UPS truck in a tan pickup truck. Eventually Bordeaux and his co-conspirator stopped to offload packages from the UPS truck and abandoned the vehicle in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
Just one hour later, Bordeaux and a co-conspirator struck again in Oxon Hill, Maryland. This time, they targeted a FedEx driver who was finishing a break. Bordeaux and the co-conspirator used their pickup truck to box-in the FedEx driver. Bordeaux jumped out of the pickup, quickly approached the FedEx driver, displayed a revolver, and demanded the keys. The FedEx driver gave up the company truck, and Bordeaux, followed by his co-conspirator in the tan pickup truck, drove off. Law enforcement recovered the FedEx truck in Washington, D.C., after it had been stripped of multiple packages.
Four days later, on November 13, 2023, Bordeaux and a co-conspirator targeted another work vehicle. On that day, around 5:24 a.m., an Amtrak driver was seated in the rear passenger seat of a conspicuously marked Amtrak truck. The Amtrak driver and his two coworkers, who were also in the vehicle, were planning to start their workday with breakfast from a restaurant. While waiting inside the running vehicle, the Amtrak driver noticed that a man with a mask had walked up to the truck. Believing this person was a coworker, the Amtrak driver got out of the truck. The masked individual was not his coworker.
Bordeaux ordered the Amtrak driver to “give me the truck.” When the Amtrak driver was slow to react, Bordeaux brandished a black gun and demanded again, “give me the truck.” The Amtrak driver surrendered the vehicle. Bordeaux got into the driver seat and drove away. As he did so, he was followed by a gray sedan.
Bordeaux later abandoned the truck in Washington, D.C. after causing $27,883 in damage to the vehicle during the short time he had it in his possession.
The next day, on November 14, 2023, Bordeaux and his co-conspirators targeted a shopper and her young child in a department store parking lot in Forestville, Maryland. An individual approached the woman at her car, demanded the keys to her vehicle and then forcefully removed the keys from her hands. The individual fled with the car toward Washington, D.C.
Later that day, Bordeaux and three other individuals left the shopper’s vehicle parked in an area of Southeast D.C. As the four walked away, they came upon an Amazon delivery driver, who became Bordeaux’s next target. The Amazon driver was walking to his work van when Bordeaux approached him in the road. A second person from Bordeaux’s group simultaneously walked towards the Amazon driver, who began to run. Bordeaux fired a shot in the Amazon driver’s direction while the other individual also fired at the Amazon driver. Bordeaux’s bullet barely missed the driver, who then stopped and surrendered. Bordeaux went through the Amazon driver’s pockets, demanded “give me them f—- keys” and threatened the driver with “do you want to die?” Bordeaux located the keys and fled in the van while his accomplice ran off in the opposite direction.
Behind the wheel of the Amazon van, Bordeaux led the police on an eight-mile-long chase crossing from the District of Columbia into Maryland. While trying to make his getaway, Bordeaux struck numerous vehicles, among them a police car. Once he realized he could not shake the police, Bordeaux stopped the vehicle on a sidewalk in Capitol Heights, Maryland. He attempted to run from law enforcement on foot but was quickly stopped. The keys to the shopper’s carjacked Honda were recovered from Bordeaux’s pocket.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office Violent Crimes Task Force, the Prince George’s County Police Department, and the MPD. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Mayer-Dempsey, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Reeder-Ricchetti, and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Omeed Ali Assefi and Jacqueline Yarbro.
Thousands of runners are set to take part in the third Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon in partnership with Clarion, which is being held on Sunday, May 11.
Organised by the not-for-profit sporting events company Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All with support from Leeds City Council, the marathon will raise funds for a whole host of good causes while giving people an opportunity to celebrate the life and achievements of the late rugby league legend Rob Burrow.
Large crowds are expected to line the 26.2-mile route to cheer on the runners as they make their way through some of the city’s most scenic communities and picturesque areas of countryside.
As is standard practice for an event on this scale, a wide-ranging programme of temporary road closures and other traffic measures will be in place to help ensure the day goes safely and smoothly.
E-mails and letters giving details of the restrictions have already been sent directly to people living or working along the route.
And, with the event just over a fortnight away, the wider Leeds public are now being asked to take the time to familiarise themselves with how the traffic and travel plans could affect any journeys they might be looking to make on the day.
The marathon will start and end at AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium, with runners following a circular route that initially winds around Woodhouse Moor before striking out for Adel, Lawnswood, Bramhope, Pool in Wharfedale and Otley. The Leeds Half Marathon, which is also on May 11, will use much of the same route. The two events have together attracted more than 12,000 entrants.
Part of St Michael’s Lane in Headingley will close to vehicles from 4am on the 11th before sections of Cardigan Road and Kirkstall Lane/North Lane follow suit at 6am. Closures of selected roads will kick in between 6am and 8am in other parts of Headingley and Far Headingley.
Further closures will then come into force from 8.30am in the Adel, Lawnswood and Bramhope areas, and from 9am around Pool in Wharfedale and Otley.
The marathon will get under way at 9am, with competitors in the half marathon setting off from Headingley at 10am.
Affected roads along the route will be reopened on a rolling basis through the day as soon as it is safe to do so.
Further road closure information – including a list of vehicle crossing points and leaflets giving access details for individual areas – can be found here.
People travelling to Headingley – either to take part or support the runners – are being encouraged to use park and ride services that will be operating from Elland Road and Stourton. Shuttle buses will also be operating between the city centre and Headingley. There will be no dedicated event parking in Headingley itself.
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said:
“The Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon is a wonderful occasion that has to date raised more than £9m for charity while shining a really positive light on our city.
“We have been working hard alongside our partners at Run For All to ensure that this year’s event is another huge success, with traffic planning forming an important element of those preparations.
“We’re encouraging everyone to find the time between now and May 11 to see how they might be affected by the temporary road closures that are needed for the safe and smooth delivery of the marathon.
“We will be doing everything we can to minimise the impact of these measures, and thank residents in advance for their patience and understanding.
“Having taken part in the first two marathons, I’m looking forward to running again next month and enjoying the fantastic sense of camaraderie and excitement that the event brings.”
The marathon’s partner charities and good causes are the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association, Leeds Hospitals Charity, 4Ed, Alzheimer’s Society, Candlelighters, Happy Days Children’s Charity, Jane Tomlinson Appeal, Leeds North & West Foodbank, Leeds Rhinos Foundation, Macmillan Cancer Support, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, Stand Against MND and St Gemma’s Hospice.
After being diagnosed with MND in 2019, Leeds Rhinos great Rob worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the condition and deliver improved care for those affected by it.
This year’s marathon will be the first since his death and as a result the atmosphere out on the course is expected to be even more emotional than usual.
The day will feature a new addition for 2025 in the shape of the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon Relay, which will see teams of seven tackling different legs of the full route.
And, in another first, Run For All have teamed up with Leeds Beckett University to organise the inaugural MND Mile. Taking place at Leeds Beckett’s Headingley campus on Saturday, May 10, the event’s mile-long course has been designed to cater for participants of all ages and abilities.
Tristan Batley-Kyle, operations director at Run For All, said:
“Here at Run For All, we’re once again honoured to be organising the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon in partnership with Clarion, which not only showcases the strength and spirit of the running community but also raises crucial awareness and funds in the fight against MND.
“The addition of the MND Mile and Relay provides a fantastic opportunity for everyone to be part of such an inspirational weekend and we encourage as many as possible to come along and get involved.
“As with other events of this scale, significant road closures will be in place to ensure the safety of all involved and we’re working in partnership with Leeds City Council, emergency services and multi-agency planning groups to make sure the event is operated safely and securely.
“We would like to thank all residents in advance for their understanding and we apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused. Please be assured that all closures will be lifted as soon as possible.”
Note to editors:
Run For All is a not-for-profit company that forms part of the lasting legacy of the late amateur athlete and fundraiser Jane Tomlinson CBE. Jane, from Leeds, made headlines around the world by taking part in a series of incredible endurance events despite being diagnosed with an incurable cancer.
On March 13, 2025, Lac La Biche RCMP received a complaint of a break and enter in progress at an Alberta Parks Shop yard in Lac La Biche County. The three suspects stole fuel before they fled in a truck. The truck was located in the ditch a few kilometres away with the suspects fleeing into the woods.
St. Paul RCMP Police Dog Services (PDS), along with Eastern Alberta District Rural Crime Reduction Unit (CRU), Athabasca Traffic Services and Lac La Biche RCMP, set up containment to track the suspects. Nearing the end of the track, Lac La Biche RCMP received a call of a second break and enter involving the theft of firearms. All resources, including a remotely piloted aircraft system (drone), relocated to that area. RCMP issued a shelter in place to ensure the safety of all residents in the area. After a rigorous track, St Paul RCMP PDS located and arrested a male without incident.
During the arrest of the male suspect, Lac La Biche RCMP was dispatched to a complaint of a suspicious female on the rail road tracks near the previous search area. The female was located, and further investigation lead to her arrest for the initial break and enter.
A 30-year-old individual, a resident of Edmonton, has been charged with the following:
• Break and Enter with intent to steal a firearm
• Break and Enter with Intent (x2)
• Theft of a Motor Vehicle (x2)
• Possess firearm while prohibited (x5)
• Theft under $5000.00
• Possession of property obtained by Crime over $5000.
A 31-year-old individual, a resident of Kikino Metis Settlement, has been charged with the following:
• Theft under $5000.00
• Possession of property obtained by Crime over $5000.0
• Break and Enter with Intent
After judicial interim release hearings, both individuals were remanded in custody to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Lac La Biche on March 17, 2025. On March 17, 2025, the 31-year-old individual was remanded in custody to appear again on March 31, and the 30-year-old individual was released on a Release Order with several conditions. She will also appear on March 31, 2025.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
SAN FRANCISCO – Darneko Yates, 30, of Richmond, Calif., was sentenced today to 46 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony. U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín handed down the sentence.
Yates was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), following a one-day bench trial on Jan. 17, 2025. The evidence at trial established that on Aug. 27, 2023, police officers stopped Yates for a vehicle infraction. Yates’s young nephew and niece were in the backseat of his car. Police officers discovered that Yates possessed a loaded automatic handgun, which was concealed in the front of his six-year-old nephew’s pants. At the time, Yates was on parole following three felony convictions for carjacking, solicitation to commit murder, and possessing a loaded firearm.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Martinez-Olguín ordered Yates to serve three years of supervised release.
Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.
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 of Justice 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.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leif Dautch and Richard Ewenstein are prosecuting this case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, and the San Pablo Police Department.
Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Before the start of the new season, the LADA Sport ROSNEFT racing team held a presentation of the updated line-up of pilots.
In the 2025 season, Russia’s most titled racing team will take part in two classes of circuit racing and karting. Ivan Chubarov and Vladimir Sheshenin will drive cars in the most powerful class, SMP TCR Russia. Leonid Panfilov and Andrey Petukhov will pilot cars in the Super Production class.
The updated SMP TCR Russia team will be headed by Maxim Ostudin, who has been responsible for the results of the Super Production class pilots for the past 8 seasons. The work of Production itself will be supervised by the current holder of the Russian Circuit Racing Cup, 16-time Russian Champion Kirill Ladygin.
In 2025, the main LADA Sport ROSNEFT Academy will continue to operate – a karting team, five pilots of which will compete for the prizes of the Championship and the National Championship. The LADA Sport ROSNEFT Junior karting team is the current national champion and has held this title for the third year in a row.
Rosneft has been the general sponsor of LADA Sport ROSNEFT since 2015. During this time, the team has achieved impressive results, winning 45 championship titles, including victory in the Silk Way Rally, as well as in all classes of circuit racing, classic rally and karting. Thanks to this cooperation, the market received a number of innovative products: high-octane gasoline Pulsar-100 and sports racing oil Rosneft Magnum Racing. Since 2021, the LADA Sport ROSNEFT team has been using this engine oil, which provides increased engine protection in extreme competition conditions. Technologies tested on race tracks are available to motorists. Pulsar fuel and Magnum Racing oil can be purchased at Rosneft filling stations
Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft April 25, 2025
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
The Environment & Ecology Bureau (EEB) said the Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel, led by the bureau, has given agreement-in-principle to eight more applications of trial projects on hydrogen fuel technology at its meeting today.
The first project entails an application jointly submitted by International New Energy Industry Alliance, Wing Tat Cargo & Trading (HK), H2 Powertrains and Ontime International Logistics (HK) Co, involving 10 hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) goods vehicles for cross-boundary transport.
The second one is an application submitted by Wilson Logistics to try out two HFC goods vehicles for cross-boundary transport.
The third project concerns an application submitted by Kam Wai Tourist Bus (HK) Company to try out two HFC coaches for local passenger services.
The fourth one pertains to an application submitted by China Travel Tours Transportation Services HK, Allenbus Automotive Technology Co and REFIRE Hong Kong to test out two HFC coaches for cross-boundary passenger services.
The fifth application was submitted by Affluent Coach Services Company to test out two HFC coaches for local passenger services.
The sixth one concerns an application jointly submitted by the Hong Kong & China Gas Company (HKCGC) and CIMC Enric Hong Kong, involving the provision of electricity with hydrogen power generation equipment for charging electric vehicles at a North Point commercial building.
The seventh is an application jointly submitted by the HKCGC and the Housing Society on extracting hydrogen from the existing towngas network at a Shau Kei Wan construction site to generate electricity for charging electric vehicles and providing electricity for the site office.
The final application was jointly submitted by the HKCGC and the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation to extract hydrogen from the existing towngas network at the Science Park to generate electricity for charging electric vehicles.
The bureau pointed out that to date, the working group has given agreement-in-principle in stages to a total of 26 applications of hydrogen energy trial projects.
Among them, the three HFC street washing vehicles from the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department have passed the examination with the Certificate of Roadworthiness issued.
Furthermore, Sinopec (Hong Kong) has completed all commissioning and testing for the public hydrogen filling station at Au Tau, Yuen Long, and expects to launch the operational trials in the first half of this year.
At today’s meeting, the EEB and the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department briefed the working group on the latest implementation progress of the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong, which includes the Government introducing the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2025 to the Legislative Council to cover safety regulations on hydrogen fuel, and organising the International Hydrogen Development Symposium 2025.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Nevada, Iowa man made his initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa today.
According to allegations in the criminal complaint, between January and April 2025, Tanner Dean Bandy, 28, engaged in a pattern of threatening conduct against a former romantic partner through text messages and voicemails. Two days prior to his arrest, on April 17, 2025, Bandy left a voicemail message discussing his intention to conduct a mass shooting at an Iowa State University commencement ceremony. On April 17, 2025, law enforcement searched Bandy’s residence and vehicle and located two firearms and ammunition. Bandy will remain detained in federal custody pending further proceedings.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigations, Iowa State University Police Department, and Story County Sheriff’s Office are investigating this case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In March 2025, Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, continued to lead the way in securing Europe’s borders, with a strong focus on leadership development and maritime security. From groundbreaking training for future commanders to strengthening partnerships in Lampedusa, the month showcased Frontex’s growing role in building a capable, agile, and responsive European border force.
Leadership at Sea: Standing Corps Commanders Take the Helm
March marked a historic milestone with the successful completion of the first operational training at sea for Standing Corps Commanders. Aboard an Italian Coast Guard vessel, eight future leaders of the European Border and Coast Guard Standing Corps underwent rigorous five-day experiential training designed to prepare them for command roles in the field.
The programme combined hands-on maritime operations with leadership development, covering:
• Navigation and surveillance techniques
• Search and rescue (SAR) and MEDEVAC drills
• Fisheries control and anti-pollution protocols
• Law enforcement integration and irregular migration response
• Physical endurance training and a field visit to Lampedusa, a key frontline migration hotspot
Participants emerged as a cohesive leadership unit, ready to spearhead operations along EU external borders. As one officer stated: “We created our way of thinking, understanding, behaving, and leading. We became a unit of shared values and attitudes.” This initiative signals a new chapter in Frontex’s field leadership, ensuring that missions are not only well-coordinated but also led with resilience and purpose.
Strengthening Partnerships: Frontex and Denmark Meet in Lampedusa
In a demonstration of international collaboration, Frontex welcomed Denmark’s Minister for Immigration and Integration, Kaare Dybvad Bek, at the hotspot of Lampedusa. Joined by the Danish Ambassador to Italy and key officials, the visit offered insights into Frontex’s frontline operations and migration management strategies, reinforcing a shared commitment to strengthening Europe’s border security.
Canine Units Combat Smuggling in Moldova
On March 25–27, Frontex and EUBAM experts conducted joint training with Moldova’s Border Police along the Brinza sector in Cahul Province. Focused on smuggling detection, 15 officers from canine units received in-depth training in:
• Searching vehicles and cargo (buses, trucks, and minivans)
• Using service dogs in operational settings
• Operating portable X-ray and inspection tools
This initiative enhances Moldova’s alignment with EU standards and strengthens border defences against cross-border crime.
Looking Ahead: A Stronger, Smarter Border Force
March 2025 stands out as a month of strategic development and operational impact. The Standing Corps Commanders’ leadership training marks a shift towards more resilient and capable mission leadership, while the results from the action in Moldova highlight Frontex’s operational excellence in maritime surveillance and crisis response. As Europe’s external border challenges grow more complex, Frontex continues to evolve—strengthening cooperation, advancing technology, and investing in people to secure the EU’s borders now and for the future.
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
On April 23, representatives of the State University of Management took part in an open dialogue on the topic of “Systemic communications: features of promoting innovative, knowledge-intensive and socially significant projects”, which was held at the head office of AFK Sistema
The meeting with the executive vice president for public relations of AFK Sistema Sergey Kopytov brought together representatives of Lomonosov Moscow State University, RUDN University, HSE, RANEPA, Moscow Polytechnic University, State University of Management, Moscow State Institute of Culture, as well as the First Student Agency, a youth media outlet.
The following took part from the State University of Management: Head of the Department for Coordination of Scientific Research Maxim Pletnev, Director of the Business Incubator Dmitry Rogov, Junior Researcher of the Department for Coordination of Scientific Research Anna Sotnikova and Analyst of the Center for Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Anna Grishkina.
During the meeting, the Head of the Corporate Communications Department of AFK Sistema shared practical cases. In particular, he spoke about covering the corporation’s contribution to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and the formation of a high-tech pharmaceutical holding, information support for the IPO of forestry and microelectronic assets, as well as about the promotion of AFK Sistema Group projects that shape the technological future of the country in such areas as: hydrogen and satellite technologies, computer vision and microchip production, the creation of electric river vessels and charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.
The event was a continuation of the educational project implemented by the Sistema Charitable Foundation together with industrial partners from among the country’s leading high-tech companies as part of the Decade of Science and Technology in Russia. The project, which started in March 2025 at the R site
Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/25/2025
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Sarnia, Ontario – The Canadian Coast Guard advises residents of Whitefish River, Ontario that the CCGS Samuel Risley will carry out icebreaking operations in the area on or around April 26, 2025. The purpose of this operation is to break up the ice to allow commercial vessels safe access to the Lafarge Whitefish River Terminal on La Cloche Peninsula, Ontario.
It is recommended that all traffic on the ice, including pedestrians, fishers, snowmobilers, and all-terrain vehicle operators, leave the ice during icebreaking operations. The ice may move, creating a real danger for anyone on it. Additionally, plan activities carefully and use extreme caution after operations are complete as the ice will remain unstable even once the icebreaker has left the area.
Icebreaking on the Great Lakes and connecting waterways is delivered through close co-operation between the Canadian and United States Coast Guards. By working together, the two Coast Guards ensure scheduled vessel traffic can move through the shipping channels and in and out of community harbours. Vessels will be assigned as needed to provide this service.
The date and assets are subject to change with no notice, as activities could begin before or after that period, depending on operational requirements or weather conditions.
Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today chaired a meeting of the interdepartmental working group to co-ordinate the preparatory work for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the Mainland’s Labour Day Golden Week.
The Immigration Department estimates that around 5.71 million passengers, including Hong Kong residents and visitors, will pass through Hong Kong’s sea, land and air control points from May 1 to 5, among which 4.9 million are expected to pass through land control points.
The peak period of outbound and inbound passengers using land boundary control points (BCPs) will be May 3 and 5, with around 590,000 and 580,000 passengers expected respectively.
Passengers are advised to plan in advance, avoid making journeys during busy periods and keep track of radio and TV broadcasts on traffic conditions at various control points. The busy times at BCPs are available on the department’s website.
Furthermore, residents and passengers may also check the estimated waiting times at each land BCP via the Immigration mobile app.
In terms of Mainland inbound visitors, around 840,000 passengers are expected to visit Hong Kong via sea, land and air control points during the five-day Labour Day Golden Week. Compared with last year’s Labour Day Golden Week and this year’s Chinese New Year Golden Week, the daily average visitor arrivals will increase by 10% and 13%.
Special arrangements have been formulated at major tourist spots to cope with the increase of people flow.
The Transport Department will enhance transportation services connecting various BCPs, including increasing the frequency of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge shuttle bus (Gold Bus) and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus), and issue additional cross-boundary coach quotas to enhance services.
Regarding local transport services, the department has approached public transport operators to enhance their capacity, and reserve vehicles and manpower to meet the travel needs of visitors.
Among them, the MTR will enhance train services of the East Rail Line between Admiralty and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau at different times from May 1 to 5 for the convenience of residents and visitors.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Board has launched a dedicated webpage to provide useful information including the operating arrangements of major tourist attractions in Hong Kong.
Noting that a notable increase in visitor arrivals is estimated during the Labour Day Golden Week, Mr Chan said the Government will make good preparations for receiving visitors to ensure the smooth operation of various aspects in receiving them and offering a high-quality experience.
Live Demos of Diamond Ultra and Tactical Edge AI Solutions at Hall 2, Stand C12
Rehovot, Israel, April 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Maris-Tech Ltd. (Nasdaq: MTEK, MTEKW) (“Maris-Tech” or the “Company”), a global leader in video and artificial intelligence (“AI”)- based edge computing technology, today announced that it will be participating in the upcoming DEFEA 2025 exhibition, taking place on May 6–8, 2025, at the Metropolitan Expo in Athens, Greece. Maris-Tech will present its latest AI-based edge computing video intelligence solutions at Hall 2, Stand C12, including live demonstrations of its new situational awareness platform, Diamond Ultra.
Diamond Ultra provides 360° 3D situational awareness and advanced airborne threat protection, integrating up to 11 HD and SD camera inputs. Powered by dual AI acceleration, Diamond Ultra enables real-time monitoring across all cameras simultaneously, delivering instant alerts on potential threats. Designed for mission-critical environments, Diamond Ultra enhances threat detection and response for urban and open terrain combat, supporting armored fighting vehicles (“AFVs”), observation posts, and various defense and surveillance applications.
Visitors will see this high-performance platform in action and explore additional solutions like Opal, Coral, and Jupiter Drones. Built to perform in high-risk environments, Maris-Tech’s solutions combine ultra-low latency streaming, AI-powered threat classification, and ruggedized form factors optimized for defense and homeland security (“HLS”) applications.
“We invite defense professionals to experience our 360° 3D situational awareness platform – Diamond Ultra – first hand, as well as explore our full suite of solutions at our booth,” said Israel Bar, Chief Executive Officer of Maris-Tech. “Our products are designed to deliver mission-critical insights where every second counts, ensuring defense teams are equipped with precise, actionable intelligence.”
Attendees can book a face-to-face meeting with the Maris-Tech’s team in advance by emailing sales@maris-tech.com.
About Maris-Tech Ltd.
Maris-Tech is a global leader in video and AI-based edge computing technology, pioneering intelligent video transmission solutions that conquer complex encoding-decoding challenges. Our miniature, lightweight, and low-power products deliver high-performance capabilities, including raw data processing, seamless transfer, advanced image processing, and AI-driven analytics. Founded by Israeli technology sector veterans, Maris-Tech serves leading manufacturers worldwide in defense, aerospace, Intelligence gathering, HLS, and communication industries. We’re pushing the boundaries of video transmission and edge computing, driving innovation in mission-critical applications across commercial and defense sectors.
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believe,” “expect”,” “may”, “should,” “could,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “estimate,” “anticipate” or other comparable terms. For example, the Company is using forward-looking statements when it is discussing the Company’s presentation and demonstration of its new AI-based platform, Diamond Ultra, and additional solutions like Opal, Coral, and Jupiter Drones at the DEFEA 2025 and future benefits of the Company’s products including mission-critical insights ensuring defense teams are equipped with precise, actionable intelligence. The Company’s actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: its ability to successfully market its products and services, including in the United States; the acceptance of its products and services by customers; its continued ability to pay operating costs and ability to meet demand for its products and services; the amount and nature of competition from other security and telecom products and services; the effects of changes in the cybersecurity and telecom markets; its ability to successfully develop new products and services; its success establishing and maintaining collaborative, strategic alliance agreements, licensing and supplier arrangements; its ability to comply with applicable regulations; and the other risks and uncertainties described in the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2025, and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
Lithium-ion batteries are quietly powering large parts of the world, including electric vehicles and smartphones. They have revolutionized how people store and use energy. But as these batteries become more central to daily life, they bring more attention to the challenges of managing them and the energy they store safely, efficiently and intelligently.
I’m a mechanical engineer who studies these nearly ubiquitous batteries. They have been around for decades, yet researchers like me are still trying to fully understand how these batteries behave – especially when they are working hard.
Batteries may seem simple, but they are as complicated as the real-world uses people devise for them.
The big picture
At their core, lithium-ion batteries rely on the movement of charged particles, called ions, of the element lithium between two electric poles, or electrodes. The lithium ions move from the positive electrode to the negative one through a conductive substance called an electrolyte, which can be a solid or a liquid.
The basics of how a lithium-ion battery works.
How much energy these batteries store and how well they work depends on a tangle of factors, including the temperature, physical structure of the battery and how the materials age over time.
Around the world, researchers are trying to answer questions about each of these factors individually and in concert with each other. Some research focuses on improving lifespan and calculating how batteries degrade over time. Other projects are tackling safety under extreme conditions, such as fast-charging use in extreme climates – either hot or cold. Many are exploring entirely new materials that could make batteries cheaper, longer-lasting or safer. And a significant group – including me – are working with computer simulations to improve real-time battery monitoring.
Real‑time monitoring in your electric vehicle’s battery system functions like a health check: It tracks voltage, current and temperature to estimate how much energy remains so you won’t be stranded with a dead battery.
But it’s difficult to precisely measure how well each of the energy cells within the battery is performing as they age or as the weather changes from cold in winter to hotter in summer. So the battery management system uses a computer simulation to estimate those factors. When combined with real-time monitoring, the system can prevent overusing the battery, balance charging speed with long-term health, avoid power failures and keep performance high. But there are a lot of variables.
The traffic analogy
One of the best ways to understand this challenge is to think about city traffic.
Let’s say you want to drive across town and need to determine whether your car has enough charge to travel the best route. If your navigation simulator accounted for every stoplight, every construction zone and every vehicle on the road, it would give you a very accurate answer. But it might take an hour to run, by which time the circumstances would have changed and the answer would likely be wrong. That’s not helpful if you’re trying to make a decision right now.
A simpler model might assume that every road is clear and every car is moving at the speed limit. That simulation delivers a result instantly – but its results are very inaccurate when traffic is heavy or a road is closed. It doesn’t capture the reality of rush hour.
While you’re driving, the battery management system would do a similar set of calculations to see how much charge is available for the rest of the trip. It would look at the battery’s temperature, how old it is and how much energy the car is asking for, like when going up a steep hill or accelerating quickly to keep up with other cars. But like the navigation simulations, it has to strike a balance between being extremely accurate and giving you useful information before your battery runs out in the middle of your trip.
The most accurate models, which simulate every chemical reaction inside the battery, are too slow for real-time use. The faster models simplify things so much that they miss key behaviors – especially under stress, such as fast charging or sudden bursts of energy use.
Managing the flow of electrons to and from a battery is as complicated as managing the flow of traffic on local streets. AP Photo/Julio Cortez
How researchers are bridging the gap
This trade-off between speed and accuracy is at the heart of battery modeling research today. Scientists and engineers are exploring many ways to solve it.
Some are rewriting modeling software to make the physics calculations more efficient, reducing complexity without losing the key details. Others, like me, are turning to machine learning – training computers to recognize patterns in data and make fast, accurate predictions without having to solve every underlying equation.
In my recent work, I used a high-accuracy battery simulator – one of the ones that’s really accurate but very slow – to generate a massive amount of data about how a battery functions when charging and discharging. I used that data to train a machine learning algorithm called XGBoost, which is particularly good at finding patterns in data.
Then I used software to pair the XGBoost system with a simple, fast-running battery model that captures the basic physics but can miss finer details. The simpler model puts out an initial set of results, and the XGBoost element fine-tunes those to make corrections on the fly, especially when the battery is under strain.
The result is a hybrid model that is able to respond both quickly and accurately to changes in driving conditions. A driver who floors the accelerator with just the simple model wouldn’t get enough energy; a more detailed model would give the right amount of energy only after it finished all its calculations. My hybrid model delivers a rapid boost of energy without delays.
Battery storage pods like these in Arizona can store electricity between when it is generated and when it is needed. AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
What’s next
Battery research is moving quickly, and the field is already seeing signs of change. Models are becoming more reliable across a wider range of conditions. Engineers are using real-time monitoring to extend battery life, prevent overheating and improve energy efficiency. Machine learning lets researchers train battery management systems to optimize performance for specific applications, such as high power demands in electric vehicles, daily cycles of home electricity use, short power bursts for drones, or long-duration requirements for building-scale battery systems.
Some teams are taking hybrid models and compiling their software into lightweight code that runs on microcontrollers inside battery hardware. In practice, that means each battery pack carries its own brain on-board, calculating state-of-charge, estimating aging and tracking thermal or mechanical stress in near-real time. By embedding the model in the device’s electronics, the pack can autonomously adjust its charging and discharging strategy on the fly, making every battery smarter, safer and more efficient.
The statutory inspection of the company was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2023. Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the company advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said directions.
After considering the company’s reply to the notice, additional submissions made by it and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the following charges against the company were sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty.
The company did not disclose the processing fees and other charges in certain loan application forms;
The company did not furnish copies of loan agreements and did not convey details of the loans in the sanction letters to certain borrowers;
The company did not give a final chance to certain borrowers to repay the loans, before the sale / auction of vehicles; and
The company allotted multiple customer identification codes to certain customers, instead of a Unique Customer Identification Code (UCIC) for each individual customer.
This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the company with its customers. Further, imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the company.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
CHONGQING, April 25 — A shipment of fresh lemons departing from Tongnan District of southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, can now arrive in Vietnam in just two days, covering a journey of some 1,300 km.
The first delivery of 28 tonnes of chilled fresh lemons from Tongnan to Vietnam was made recently on a cross-border highway truck via the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.
“This route slashes transit time from six days to two days, ensuring Vietnamese consumers enjoy fresher produce,” said Hu Zaiyang, manager of a local fruit dealer.
This vibrant trade scene underscores the deepening economic ties between China’s western regions and Vietnam. From electronic components to fruits and flowers and from smart home appliances to daily necessities, trade volume between the two sides has surged, buoyed by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Vietnam has remained the largest ASEAN trade partner among China’s western provincial-level regions. Chongqing’s 2024 trade with Vietnam hit 39.77 billion yuan (about 5.5 billion U.S. dollars), accounting for a third of its total trade volume with ASEAN.
Youyiguan Port in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, a gateway to Vietnam, is piloting a brand new customs supervision model, using intelligent means to improve efficiency and capacity of customs clearance.
In the future, the port will operate customs clearance around the clock and goods can be delivered from Nanning, the regional capital of Guangxi, to Vietnam’s Bac Giang within 24 hours, said Shi Lei, deputy director of Youyiguan Customs.
Beyond trade, investment cooperation has continued to bring benefits to the people of both sides. In Bac Ninh and Bac Giang, Vietnam, modern industrial parks invested and constructed by Chinese new energy and electronics manufacturing firms are driving local employment and growth.
Chongqing’s 2024 investments in Vietnam jumped 33.4 percent to 33.16 million U.S. dollars in sectors like general equipment and automotive manufacturing. As of the end of 2024, Chongqing had 24 investment projects in Vietnam, with cumulative factual investments totaling 213.4 million U.S. dollars.
In Vietnam’s Ha Tinh province, CISDI Group Co., Ltd., based in Chongqing, set up its branch as early as 2013. The company has taken charge of multiple key metallurgical projects in the country. Among them, the blast furnace of Formosa Ha Tinh Steel, which CISDI planned, designed and took part in constructing and operating, has now become one of the most competitive integrated steel complexes in Southeast Asia, generating over 10,000 job opportunities for local people.
This elevated Ha Tinh from a traditional agricultural province to an industrial powerhouse in central Vietnam.
Since 2007, Sichuan-based Tongwei Co., Ltd. has established and acquired five standardized feed production companies in Vietnam, with total investments exceeding 500 million yuan. The first feed mill it invested in, Tongwei Vietnam Feed Co., Ltd., has become one of the top-selling single feed factories in Vietnam by sales volume.
“The BRI fosters mutual growth,” said Xiao Shengyong, Tongwei’s chief tax officer, highlighting technology transfers and aquaculture partnerships.
The two countries recently signed 45 cooperation documents, covering connectivity, artificial intelligence, customs inspection and quarantine, and agricultural trade, among others.
With the gradual implementation of the cooperation documents, Vietnam-China relations will enter a more mature and stable development stage, which will be not only reflected in policy communication and high-level interaction, but also in people’s daily life, said Vo Dai Luoc, former director of Vietnam’s Institute of World Economics and Politics.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, April 25 — China will step up efforts to align the development of transport infrastructure with renewable energy systems, aiming to make pure electric vehicles (EVs) the “mainstream of new car sales” by 2035, according to a circular released on Friday.
The country also plans to realize large-scale application of new energy heavy-duty trucks and establish a green fuel supply system for the transport sector by 2035, according to the circular jointly issued by the Ministry of Transport and nine other departments.
The circular underscored efforts to advance the development and utilization of clean energy along and around transport infrastructure, including railways, roads and ports.
To advance the green transition of the transport sector, the country will further promote the use of new energy vehicles, green and low-carbon vessels, new energy aircraft, as well as the green and low-carbon development of postal and express delivery services.
The circular pledged to beef up financial support by leveraging funds including special local government bonds, green loans, green bonds, and re-lending funds for technology innovation and upgrading.
GREENWICH, Conn., April 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oxford Square Capital Corp. (NasdaqGS: OXSQ) (NasdaqGS: OXSQZ) (NasdaqGS: OXSQG) (the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) announced today its financial results and related information for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.
On April 22, 2025, our Board of Directors declared the following distributions on our common stock:
Month Ending
Record Date
Payment Date
Amount Per Share
July 31, 2025
July 17, 2025
July 31, 2025
$0.035
August 31, 2025
August 15, 2025
August 29, 2025
$0.035
September 30, 2025
September 16, 2025
September 30, 2025
$0.035
Net asset value (“NAV”) per share as of March 31, 2025 stood at $2.09, compared with a NAV per share on December 31, 2024 of $2.30.
Net investment income (“NII”) was approximately $6.1 million, or $0.09 per share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared with approximately $6.0 million, or $0.09 per share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.
Total investment income for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 amounted to approximately $10.2 million, which was approximately the same as the quarter ended December 31, 2024.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2025 we recorded investment income from our portfolio as follows:
$5.5 million from our debt investments;
$4.0 million from our CLO equity investments; and
$0.7 million from other income.
Our total expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 were approximately $4.1 million, compared with total expenses of approximately $4.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.
As of March 31, 2025, the following metrics applied (note that none of these metrics represented a total return to shareholders):
The weighted average yield of our debt investments was 14.3% at current cost, compared with 15.8% as of December 31, 2024;
The weighted average effective yield of our CLO equity investments at current cost was 9.0%, compared with 8.8% as of December 31, 2024; and
The weighted average cash distribution yield of our cash income producing CLO equity investments at current cost was 16.0%, compared with 16.2% as of December 31, 2024.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2025, we recorded a net decrease in net assets resulting from operations of approximately $8.1 million, consisting of:
NII of approximately $6.1 million;
Net realized losses of approximately $12.2 million; and
Net unrealized depreciation of approximately $2.1 million.
During the first quarter of 2025, our investment activity consisted of purchases of approximately $16.0 million, sales of approximately $10.7 million and repayments of approximately $8.7 million.
Our weighted average credit rating was 2.2 based on total fair value and 2.3 based on total principal amount as of March 31, 2025, compared with a weighted average credit rating of 2.3 based on total fair value and 2.4 based on total principal amount as of December 31, 2024.
As of March 31, 2025, our preferred equity investments in one of our portfolio companies were on non-accrual status, which had an aggregate fair value of approximately $3.9 million.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2025, we issued a total of approximately 1.3 million shares of common stock pursuant to an “at-the-market” offering. After deducting the sales agent’s commissions and offering expenses, this resulted in net proceeds of approximately $3.5 million. As of March 31, 2025, we had approximately 71.2 million shares of common stock outstanding.
We will hold a conference call to discuss first quarter results today, Friday, April 25th, 2025 at 9:00 AM ET. The toll-free dial-in number is 1-800-549-8228 and the conference identification number is 26294. There will be a recording available for 30 days. If you are interested in hearing the recording, please dial 1-888-660-6264. The replay pass-code number is 26294#.
A presentation containing further detail regarding our quarterly results of operations has been posted under the Investor Relations section of our website at www.oxfordsquarecapital.com.
OXFORD SQUARE CAPITAL CORP.
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
March 31, 2025
December 31, 2024
(unaudited)
ASSETS
Non-affiliated/non-control investments (cost: $342,775,122 and $358,356,496, respectively)
$
239,291,367
$
256,238,759
Affiliated investments (cost: $16,814,586 and $16,836,822, respectively)
3,890,986
4,614,100
Cash and cash equivalents
37,252,672
34,926,468
Interest and distributions receivable
2,426,368
2,724,049
Securities sold not settled
1,589,875
—
Other assets
1,039,370
1,227,598
Total assets
$
285,490,638
$
299,730,974
LIABILITIES
Notes payable – 6.25% Unsecured Notes, net of deferred issuance costs of $252,321 and $309,812, respectively
$
44,538,429
$
44,480,938
Notes payable – 5.50% Unsecured Notes, net of deferred issuance costs of $1,286,553 and $1,381,619 respectively
79,213,447
79,118,381
Securities purchased not settled
9,516,875
12,027,463
Base Fee and Net Investment Income Incentive Fee payable to affiliate
1,058,784
1,215,964
Accrued interest payable
1,204,487
1,204,487
Accrued expenses
1,076,306
1,018,261
Total liabilities
136,608,328
139,065,494
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
NET ASSETS
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 71,187,166 and 69,758,938 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
711,872
697,590
Capital in excess of par value
491,617,243
487,943,476
Total distributable earnings/(accumulated losses)
(343,446,805
)
(327,975,586
)
Total net assets
148,882,310
160,665,480
Total liabilities and net assets
$
285,490,638
$
299,730,974
Net asset value per common share
$
2.09
$
2.30
OXFORD SQUARE CAPITAL CORP.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2025
Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
INVESTMENT INCOME
From non-affiliated/non-control investments:
Interest income – debt investments
$
5,534,755
$
6,421,047
Income from securitization vehicles and investments
3,956,053
3,932,374
Other income
670,242
324,003
Total investment income from non-affiliated/non-control investments
10,161,050
10,677,424
Total investment income
10,161,050
10,677,424
EXPENSES
Interest expense
1,959,287
1,960,982
Base Fee
1,058,785
987,816
Professional fees
323,452
311,747
Compensation expense
239,577
206,898
General and administrative
355,259
346,625
Excise tax
120,816
325,800
Total expenses before incentive fees
4,057,176
4,139,868
Net Investment Income Incentive Fees
—
—
Total incentive fees
—
—
Total expenses
4,057,176
4,139,868
Net investment income
6,103,874
6,537,556
NET UNREALIZED (DEPRECIATION)/APPRECIATION AND REALIZED LOSSES ON INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS
Net change in unrealized (depreciation)/appreciation on investments:
Non-Affiliate/non-control investments
(1,366,018
)
145,111
Affiliated investments
(700,878
)
(356,117
)
Total net change in unrealized depreciation on investments
(2,066,896
)
(211,006
)
Net realized losses:
Non-affiliated/non-control investments
(12,158,495
)
(8,094,940
)
Total net realized losses
(12,158,495
)
(8,094,940
)
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations
$
(8,121,517
)
$
(1,768,390
)
Net increase in net assets resulting from net investment income per common share (Basic and Diluted):
$
0.09
$
0.11
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations per common share (Basic and Diluted):
$
(0.12
)
$
(0.03
)
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding (Basic and Diluted):
69,984,752
59,639,285
Distributions per share
$
0.105
$
0.105
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2025
Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
Per Share Data
Net asset value at beginning of period
$
2.30
$
2.55
Net investment income(1)
0.09
0.11
Net realized and unrealized losses(2)
(0.20
)
(0.13
)
Net decrease in net asset value from operations
(0.11
)
(0.02
)
Distributions per share from net investment income
(0.11
)
(0.11
)
Tax return of capital distributions(3)
—
—
Total distributions
(0.11
)
(0.11
)
Effect of shares issued/repurchased, gross
0.01
—
Net asset value at end of period
$
2.09
$
2.42
Per share market value at beginning of period
$
2.44
$
2.86
Per share market value at end of period
$
2.61
$
3.17
Total return based on Market Value(4)
11.39
%
14.63
%
Total return based on Net Asset Value(5)
(4.57
)%
(0.98
)%
Shares outstanding at end of period
71,187,166
59,672,337
Ratios/Supplemental Data(8)
Net assets at end of period (000’s)
$
148,882
$
144,340
Average net assets (000’s)
$
153,493
$
148,260
Ratio of expenses to average net assets(6)
10.57
%
11.17
%
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets(6)
15.91
%
17.64
%
Portfolio turnover rate(7)
6.26
%
3.09
%
____________
(1)
Represents per share net investment income for the period, based upon weighted average shares outstanding.
(2)
Net realized and unrealized losses include rounding adjustments to reconcile change in net asset value per share.
(3)
Management monitors available taxable earnings, including net investment income and realized capital gains, to determine if a tax return of capital may occur for the year. To the extent the Company’s taxable earnings fall below the total amount of the Company’s distributions for that fiscal year, a portion of those distributions may be deemed a tax return of capital to the Company’s stockholders. The ultimate tax character of the Company’s earnings cannot be determined until tax returns are prepared after the end of the fiscal year. The amounts and sources of distributions reported are only estimates (based on an average of the reported tax character historically) and are not being provided for U.S. tax reporting purposes.
(4)
Total return based on market value equals the increase or decrease of ending market value over beginning market value, plus distributions, divided by the beginning market value, assuming distribution reinvestment prices obtained under the Company’s distribution reinvestment plan. Total return is not annualized.
(5)
Total return based on net asset value equals the increase or decrease of ending net asset value over beginning net asset value, plus distributions, divided by the beginning net asset value. Total return is not annualized.
(6)
Annualized and includes excise tax.
(7)
Portfolio turnover rate is calculated using the lesser of the year-to-date investment sales and debt repayments or year-to-date investment purchases over the average of the total investments at fair value.
(8)
The following table provides supplemental performance ratios (annualized) measured for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024:
Three Months Ended March 31, 2025
Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
Operating expenses before incentive fees
10.57
%
11.17
%
Net investment income incentive fees
—
%
—
%
Ratio of expenses, excluding interest expense to average net assets
5.47
%
5.88
%
About Oxford Square Capital Corp.
Oxford Square Capital Corp. is a publicly-traded business development company principally investing in syndicated bank loans and, to a lesser extent, debt and equity tranches of collateralized loan obligation (“CLO”) vehicles. CLO investments may also include warehouse facilities, which are financing structures intended to aggregate loans that may be used to form the basis of a CLO vehicle.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates” and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Certain factors could cause actual results and conditions to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. These factors are identified from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect subsequent events, except as may be required by law.
NEW YORK, April 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — StepStone Group Inc. (Nasdaq: STEP), a global private markets investment firm focused on providing customized investment solutions and advisory and data services, today announced that it has raised $705 million for StepStone Tactical Growth Fund IV (“STGF IV” or the “Fund”), the firm’s fourth fund focused on opportunities within the growth equity market. The Fund had strong participation from a range of investor types including sovereign wealth funds, public pensions, superannuation funds, funds-of-funds, family offices, and private wealth platforms.
Through STGF IV, StepStone partners with leading growth equity sponsors in the technology and healthcare sectors. The Fund pursues founder-led businesses outside the traditional venture capital ecosystem that exhibit rapid topline growth, strong margins, capital efficiency, and minimal leverage. StepStone believes these businesses have the potential to provide complementary exposure to both buyout and venture investments while generating liquidity that is not dependent on an open IPO market or large-scale strategic M&A.
STGF IV is managed by StepStone’s Venture Capital and Growth Equity Team, which is among the most active investors in the space globally, deploying an average of $5.5 billion each year over the last three years across direct investments, secondaries, and primary fund investments. This scale, coupled with a team of more than 80 dedicated investment professionals, enables StepStone to partner closely with trusted GP relationships to identify and invest in companies in creative and flexible ways such as direct co-investments, single or multi-asset continuation vehicles, and secondary transactions.
“The successful closing of STGF IV reflects the investor community’s conviction in the growth equity market opportunity, along with StepStone’s leading role as a creative and trusted partner to elite growth equity sponsors,” said Brian Borton, Partner. “We would like to thank both our investors and GPs for their continued confidence in StepStone as a solutions provider in the growth equity sector.”
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP advised on the formation of the Fund.
About StepStone
StepStone Group Inc. (Nasdaq: STEP) is a global private markets investment firm focused on providing customized investment solutions and advisory and data services to its clients. As of December 31, 2024, StepStone was responsible for approximately $698 billion of total capital, including $179 billion of assets under management. StepStone’s clients include some of the world’s largest public and private defined benefit and defined contribution pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and insurance companies, as well as prominent endowments, foundations, family offices and private wealth clients, which include high-net-worth and mass affluent individuals. StepStone partners with its clients to develop and build private markets portfolios designed to meet their specific objectives across the private equity, infrastructure, private debt and real estate asset classes.
Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
The United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, is visiting Viet Nam from to 24 April 2025 to support global and national authorities’ road safety initiatives, three years after his last visit in the country. The Special Envoy will meet members of the Government in Hanoi as well as representatives of the private and public sectors two months after the Declaration of Marrakesh where Member states further engaged to accelerate the efforts for achieving the new Decade of Action for Road Safety with the goal of halving the number of the victims on the road by 2030.
On 27-30 April, Mr. Jean Todt will speak at the 45th General Assembly of the International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF), to be held in Hue. This event will bring together 450 mayors, officials, and representatives of Francophone cities. This forum will highlight the vital importance of cooperation between cities to cultivate dialogue and international solidarity, and to jointly address major global challenges at local level, including safe and sustainable mobility for all.
The silent pandemic on the road
The Special Envoy Jean Todt qualified road crashes as “The Silent Pandemic on the Road”. Indeed, every year, the staggering toll of road-related fatalities globally claims the lives of 1.19 million people, leaving 50 million others with severe injuries. Furthermore, road crashes are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5–29 years. Road crashes are disproportionately high in Western Pacific region, with a traffic fatality rate of 15.4 deaths per 100,000 population, compared to 6.5 deaths per 100,000 in Europe or representing three time the rate in Australia (WHO 2021).
With 18 deaths/100,000 people (WHO 2021), Viet Nam faces a tragedy on the road. Motorbikes are the most type of transport vehicles, with over 50 million motorbikes, with a danger level 4 times higher than cars, 10 times than buses, and 13 times more than urban trams (ESCAP 2020). According to the Statistic of National Traffic Safety Committee (2024), 59.84% of the road traffic crashes are related to motorcycles and motorbikes.
Towards enhanced road safety in Viet Nam
The good news is that solutions exist. The use of proper helmets responding to UN regulations is for example a game changer in protecting the motorbike users.
” When we know that quality helmets can help to reduce the risk of fatal injury by 28-64%; head injury 58-60% and brain injury 47-74% (WHO, 2023), it is urgent to act to stop the carnage on the road”, highlights the Special Envoy.
The use of safe vehicles, better road infrastructure and design to protect cyclists and pedestrians, efficient post-crash services and law enforcement also demonstrate conclusive results in reducing drastically the fatality rate.
The pace of infrastructure development and the limit of public transport capacity unmatched the rapid rise in the number of vehicles causes serious traffic congestion, especially in big cities. Finding solutions to increase the awareness of using public transport systems instead of individual vehicles would contribute to safer and cleaner mobility for all. Education and raising awareness campaigns are also key.
