State Highway 6 Rocks Road is expected to remain closed to traffic for at least the next two days.
Rob Service, System Manager Nelson/Tasman, says further inspections of the site were completed this morning.
“Geotechnical investigations confirm that heavy rain has created another unstable wedge of soil, with vegetation and rocks hanging above the highway. Pieces of debris are continuing to fall intermittently.”
“Our contractors have begun sluicing to remove the debris, which is being collected and removed at the base of the slip,” Mr. Service says.
Because of the ongoing risk to the public, Mr. Service says State Highway 6 must remain closed between Bisley Avenue and Richardson Street.
“We ask that everyone—drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians—obey the road closure while work to fix the slip continues. At this stage, we do not expect to have SH6 Rocks Road open before Thursday.”
Drivers and residents can expect ongoing travel delays and congestion while the closure remains in place – particularly during peak commuting times. People are encouraged to factor this into their travel plans.
Sunday 13 July 5:56pm
Work continues in Nelson and Tasman to restore the region’s critical state highway links.
Nelson’s link to Murchison and the West Coast was restored this afternoon with the reopening of State Highway 6 between Belgrove and Kohatu.
Work to reopen State Highway 6 at Rocks Road continues.
SH6 Rocks Road
Mark Owen, Regional Manager Lower North Island/Top of the South, says the situation with Rocks Road is serious.
“We have had crews up assessing the site, removing the material, and monitoring earth movement over the weekend.”
“This has shown that, for safety reasons, State Highway 6 Rocks Road must remain closed,” Mr Owen says.
Slip site, SH6 Rocks Road
Mr Owen says NZTA/Waka Kotahi will continue to work with Civil Defence and the Nelson City Council on the matter
“We will work together to develop a solution, and we will do this as quickly as possible.”
“However, it does mean the road closure must remain in place until further notice. There is a clear and present risk to public safety, which must be carefully managed,” Mr Owen says.
The closure will have a significant impact on traffic flows in and out of the city and Mr Owen warns drivers must be ready for it.
“Thousands of vehicles use this route daily, shifting them on to the detour route on Waimea Road will create congestion and delays – especially during morning and afternoon rush hours. We also ask that drivers use Waimea Road as the detour and avoid using smaller residential streets.”
“People need to be ready for this and plan their travel accordingly. If you can use public transport to get to work or delay your trip in and out of the city, please do so. This will help reduce pressure on the network,” Mr Owen says.
He also asks that the public respect the closure points in place.
“They are there to keep the public safe. Falling material has a very real potential to badly hurt or even kill you. Please stay clear while we work to reopen the road.”
Mr Owen says steps are in place ensure access to local businesses is available.
“They need to keep operating, which is why we have soft closure is in place at the intersection of Russell Street. People can get to these businesses and shops – we just ask no-one travel between Bisley Avenue and Richardson Street.”
SH6 Belgrove to Kohatu
Mr Owen says contractors made fantastic progress to reopen this section of State Highway 6, earlier today.
“It wasn’t just heavy rain that hammered the region over Friday and into Saturday, wind was a major problem too.”
“Hundreds of trees were brought down along this section of State Highway 6, and it has been an immense job to get them cleared, as well as tackle slips, rockfalls, and washouts. It also means the transport link between Nelson and the West Coast is restored,” Mr Owen says.
Treefalls, SH6 Belgrove – Kohatu
He says the other good news is that the stop bank built at Kohatu after the Motueka River breached its banks two weeks ago has held up well.
“This area was particularly hard hit just two weeks ago and it’s great to see the protection put in place worked.”
Stopbank by SH6, Kohatu
General advice
All other state highways are open, but it is not business as usual on the roads or for driving.
In Marlborough, State Highway 63, Korere-Tophouse Road to Waihopai Valley Road remains restricted to residents and essential travel only.
State Highway 60 Tākaka Hill, while open to light and heavy vehicles, has suffered slip and washout damage and extra care and time is needed when travelling this route. It is vulnerable to further disruptions and possible closure.
Across the network, because of weather damage, drivers must drive to the conditions and take extreme care when travelling. There remains an ongoing risk of slips, rock and tree falls, and the potential for further road closures. These may happen at short notice.
Road users can expect to encounter multiple road work and repair sites across the region and must allow extra time for their journeys.
Please follow all traffic management and temporary speed limits in place. They are there to keep the public and work crews safe.
UniSA researcher Dr Binoy Sarkar and a student spreading basalt onto crops.
Cheap volcanic rock that languishes in open cut mines and quarries could transform Australia’s farming sector as a natural fertiliser, boosting crop yields and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
It turns out that crushed basalt – a common rock used to make roads, houses, schools and hospitals – may address two very critical issues of our time: climate change and acidic soils.
“Australian farmers spend nearly $1.2 billion a year to tackle soil acidification, using expensive liming materials that in themselves contribute to greenhouse gas emissions,” Dr Sarkar says.
“Large volumes of adequately fine rock particles – a byproduct of the mining and construction industry – can be bought for as little as $30 per ton and applied to soils using existing farm equipment, with negligible expense.
“Basalt does not completely replace chemical fertilisers, but it can cut fertiliser amounts needed to grow crops, saving farmers a lot of money and substantially improving their profit margins.”
A truck spreading basalt – crushed rock from quarries – onto crops.
Farming with basalt solves two critical challenges facing Australian agriculture: improving infertile soils and simultaneously removing greenhouse gas emissions from farming practices that include nitrogen fertilisers, deforestation and land clearing.
“As a country, we have committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Almost 18% of our emissions are produced by the agricultural sector, primarily from crop production and emissions from livestock,” Dr Sarkar says.
“Lime is commonly used for correcting soil acidity, but it is expensive and contributes heavily to on-farm carbon dioxide emissions. Basalt naturally reduces acidity, captures carbon, and it also releases nutrients such as phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and silicon into the soil.”
Dr Sarkar says the research will not only benefit Australia’s agricultural sector, but also the mining sector, where basalt is a byproduct that has to be dug and moved aside before reaching valuable minerals located at depth.
This byproduct is already crushed to make road building and construction materials, but finer fractions are stockpiled, often taking up large amounts of space with negligible commercial use.
Society at large is also a winner, thanks to basalt scrubbing gigatons of carbon dioxide from the air.
Dr Sarkar’s collaborative team is the first in Australia to receive significant R&D federal funding ($5 million) to trial the low-cost carbon cutting technology nationally.
“I hope we can see a lot more trials in the next few years, to build confidence and propel a large-scale adoption of this rock weathering technology.
“It will also provide opportunities for farmers and quarry owners to sell carbon credits and earn additional profits. Our farmers will be able to take advantage of this huge market when we have a strong monitoring, reporting and verification program for the technology.”
Pekatahi Bridge on State Highway 2 (SH2) near Tāneatua in the Eastern Bay of Plenty will be getting the facelift it very much needs, with funding now confirmed for a total deck replacement says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).
“A new deck for this one lane bridge will improve safety by reducing the risk of damage to vehicles and cut the need for frequent closures for ongoing repairs, supporting more reliable journey times for locals and freight to Tairāwhiti, the Bay of Plenty and Port of Tauranga,” says Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations, Roger Brady.
“We have listened to the freight industry and community concerns about the condition of the Pekatahi Bridge and re-prioritised to secure funding for deck construction.”
The design for the new bridge deck is well underway and expected to be completed in the coming months.
All going to plan, construction is expected to start early 2026.
“Once the deck replacement and structural maintenance is completed, it will significantly extend the life of the bridge by another 20 years,” Mr Brady says.
The cost of the deck replacement and additional work, which will include painting, concrete repairs and scour protection to the substructure, is expected to be around $14 million. The timeline for construction will be confirmed in coming weeks.
“This is the most practical solution to address the current issues quickly while funding is constrained. A new and more durable deck will improve safety and quality and extend the bridge’s lifespan without overloading the structure,” Mr Brady says.
The proposed new deck will be made of plywood panels, bolted in place, limiting movement and subsequent breakage of the new surface. The deck replacement work will require full closure of Pekatahi Bridge for a significant period of time.
Quarterly bridge maintenance will continue until construction begins.
One year ago today, at 6:11 pm—eight minutes after taking the stage on the grounds of Butler Farms to address thousands of Americans gathered at a campaign rally—rifle fire broke out, and an assassin’s bullet came within a quarter inch of ending my life and silencing our movement to restore American greatness. Yet, by the hand of providence and the grace of Almighty God, my life was spared. As we commemorate one year since the harrowing events of July 13, 2024, we reaffirm that the American spirit has and will always triumph over forces of evil and destruction.
Those who carry scars from that July evening defended our Republic during one of our Nation’s darkest hours—running to the injured amid chaos and uncertainty to provide comfort and lifesaving care. Doctors and first responders rushed to help the wounded, rallygoers guided their fellow citizens to safety, and patriots raised their fists in the air in an outpouring of support and national pride. These men and women arrived at the rally grounds as ordinary Americans, but left as heroes. They represent the very best of our Nation, and we are forever indebted for their kindness and compassion.
However, one name stands above all for selfless service and ultimate sacrifice on that fateful day. The world will never forget the tragic loss of Corey Comperatore, a firefighter, veteran, and devoted husband and father. When gunfire erupted, Corey did not hesitate to protect his wife and two daughters. He died a hero, and we are eternally grateful for his inspiring love, valor, and faithfulness.
It remains my firm conviction that God alone saved me that day for a righteous purpose: to restore our beloved Republic to greatness and to rescue our Nation from those who seek its ruin. One year after the attempt on my life in Butler, our country is in the midst of a new Golden Age. History will remember the would-be assassin for his cowardice and failure, but the magnificent legacy of the heroes of July 13, 2024, will forever be etched upon the heart of our Nation. Today, we pay tribute to their spirit of love, unity, and resilience—and we proclaim with one voice the epic battle cry that has reverberated all across the world: “Fight, fight, fight!”
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
WATCH: Padilla Slams Homan on California ICE Raids, Pushes for New Bill Demanding Immigration Agents Display ID on “State of the Union”
WATCH: Padilla reinforces his VISIBLE Act would make both Americans and law enforcement officials safer
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, joined CNN’s “State of the Union” this morning to criticize the Trump Administration’s cruel immigration raids in California and across the nation, and pushed for new legislation to require immigration enforcement officers to display clearly visible identification during public-facing enforcement actions.
As Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), enact President Trump’s cruel mass deportation agenda, Padilla’s VISIBLE Act would strengthen oversight, transparency, and accountability for the Administration’s indiscriminate and alarming immigration enforcement tactics that have terrorized communities across California and the nation.
He discussed the recent ruling by a federal judge ordering the Trump Administration to stop carrying out indiscriminate immigration enforcement in Southern California, emphasizing that there is “a mountain of evidence” that agents are illegally arresting people solely based on their race, accents, or occupation. Padilla criticized Trump’s Border Czar, Tom Homan, for dismissing the federal judge’s order and maintaining the Administration’s un-American racial profiling policy.
Padilla also slammed Trump’s plan to enact a 35 percent tariff on Canada and a 30 percent tariff on Mexico, starting on August 1, emphasizing that these tariffs will amount to a tax on the American people by raising prices.
Key Excerpts
On a federal judge’s order to stop the Trump Administration’s indiscriminate, racially biased immigration sweeps:
“Wouldn’t be the first time the Trump Administration tries to just dismiss a court order, and so it’s our job to ensure that we uphold the law, uphold the Constitution. I mean, Homan has said it very clearly in other interviews: they’re not even asking for significant findings to detain people. They’re going based on appearance. His words, not mine, based on occupation, his words, not mine, based on accents, physical appearance. Dana, what if I was outside of Home Depot, because I like to do some work around the house, not dressed in a suit, would I be a target of ICE enforcement under Tom Homan? Probably.”
“It’s just wrong. It’s not just due process rights that have become the concern, but racial profiling. When federal agents involved in immigration enforcement are using racial profiling, they’re not enforcing the law. They are breaking it.”
“He claims to be prioritizing those violent, dangerous criminals. We’ve been hearing this ad nauseam from the Trump Administration going back to the campaign trail. The numbers suggest otherwise: the vast majority of people that have been detained, and even those deported, have no serious criminal conviction history. If it was only going after dangerous criminals, there would be no debate, no discussion. I agree with that. But the fact of the matter is, the vast majority of those being detained are the same people who were deemed essential workers at the end of the first Trump Administration at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s a cruel, cruel irony.”
On the VISIBLE Act and federal immigration agents lacking identification:
“I do have concern when there are no requirements for ICE agents or other federal agents involved with the immigration enforcement actions to even identify themselves. I mean, if you’re a member of a working-class immigrant community, and you see unmarked cars roll into your community, people getting out of those cars with no identifiers that they are law enforcement, and literally not just detaining, in your mind, maybe kidnapping.”
“So that’s why Senator Booker and I have this bill to require that identification for ICE agents or anybody involved with immigration enforcement. It’s for the safety of the officers and agents, as well as safety for the community and to protect against people exploiting the circumstances, impersonating ICE agents, and getting involved with burglary, theft, kidnapping, sexual assault, and worse.”
On Ventura County immigration raid leading to the death of a migrant farm worker:
“Again, if all they’re doing is going after serious violent criminals, that would be one thing, but because of these artificial quotas established by, whether it’s Donald Trump or Stephen Miller or somebody in the Administration, it’s causing ICE to get more aggressive, more cruel, more extreme, and these are the results. It’s people dying because of fear and terror caused by this Administration. It’s not just undocumented immigrants. There’s lawful immigrants that are being rounded up. There’s United States citizens that are being detained. There are military veterans that are being detained.”
On Trump’s tariffs on Mexico and Canada:
“Both Canada and Mexico aren’t just the largest trading partners for the state of California, they’re among the largest trading partners for the United States of America. And so let’s remember what happens when tariffs take effect. First of all, costs will increase, and the people who pay that price increase are United States consumers. It’s U.S. companies importing products from those countries that will pass along the cost to the American consumer. So in effect, it’s a tax increase on the American people brought to you by Donald Trump.”
Video of Senator Padilla’s full interview is available here.
Earlier this week, Senators Padilla and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) released a video on Instagram calling out Trump’s lies and explaining the facts about how their legislation, the VISIBLE Act, would make Americans and law enforcement officials safer. Padilla also led 13 Democratic Senators in a letter criticizing ICE for engaging in counterproductive, theatrical enforcement activities — including raids on courthouses and restaurants — and requesting information from the agency on its mask and uniform policies.
World Food Programme (WFP) deputy chief Carl Skau said, “one in three people in Gaza goes for days without eating.” He once again called for a ceasefire and the access for humanitarian aid, the Programme has “enough food on the borders to be delivered to the entire population for some two months,” he said.
The Deputy Executive Director briefed reporters today (11 Jul) in New York on his recent visit to Gaza.
“Starvation is spreading,” Skau said, referring to the recent IPC report a few weeks ago pointing to the entire population being acutely food insecure and 500,000 people in starvation, he added, “it’s much worse now. Malnutrition is surging.”
The senior WFP official also highlighted the displacement in the Strip. He said, “I’ve met families who have moved maybe two or three times. Now it’s a situation where I meet families who have moved two or three times in the past ten days. They have moved 20 or 30 times, and obviously every time they are able to bring less and the margins to survive become slimmer
Skau also said that the Programme’s ability to response and assist as humanitarians “have never been more constrained.”
“The first issue is obviously the amount that we are able to bring in. It’s just a fraction of what’s needed,” he explained, adding that the price of a kilo of wheat flour was over $25 during his visit last week.
Skau described the operating environment for his team as “impossible.”
He said, “Some 85 percent now of the territory, there are active military operations. Our teams get stuck in waiting for clearances and at checkpoints, often spending between 15 to 20 hours straight in the armored vehicles trying to escort our convoys.”
“There’s not enough fuel. There are not enough spare parts to our vehicles. Most of the windows in our armored vehicles have been damaged, and we don’t have basic communication. Radio, antennas from our cars have been ripped off. And so, if you are more than 20 metres away from each other, we don’t have proper communication. And that, it is really an issue when you are in this kind of environment, he added.
The Deputy Executive Director also informed the reporters that WFP has been “actively engaging with Israeli authorities over the past few weeks.”
He noted that there were some agreements in terms of improving the conditions, but the implementation of the agreements is not yet enough.
Skau reiterated that WFP has enough food on the borders to deliver to the entire population for some two months, “but obviously we need that ceasefire and we need conditions within that ceasefire.”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Working Group on Patriotic Education (WGPE) under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee organised a two-day exchange tour to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) on July 12 and 13. Led by the Convenor of the WGPE, Dr Starry Lee, together with members of the Media Publicity Sub-group, Mr Lee Luen-fai and Dr James Li; the Director of Information Services, Mrs Apollonia Liu; and 20 representatives from different media organisations, the delegation visited various enterprises and places in Shenzhen and Dongguan to learn more about the latest developments of the GBA in areas such as innovation and technology and industrialisation, as well as culture and history.
The delegation visited the headquarters of DeepRoute.ai in Shenzhen yesterday (July 12) to experience the application of autonomous vehicle technologies. After that, it visited the China State Construction Hailong Technology Company Limited Science and Technology Research Institute to learn about the operation of the Modular Integrated Construction manufacturing bases, which has been applied to the Light Public Housing development at Kai Tak, Hong Kong. The delegation later paid a visit to BYD Company Limited’s headquarters in Shenzhen.
Today (July 13), the delegation visited Huawei’s research institute in Songshan Lake, Dongguan, followed by a visit to the Dongjiang-Shenzhen Water Supply Project Memorial Park and its exhibition hall to gain insights into the project’s history and its importance for fresh water supply in Hong Kong. In the afternoon, the delegation explored the Nantou Ancient City Museum and was briefed on the important position of Nantou Ancient City in the Lingnan coastal region, reflecting on the close ties and deep friendship between Hong Kong and Shenzhen as well as the same roots they share. The delegation then visited SmartMore Corporation Limited, which was founded by a Hong Kong entrepreneur, and learned about the company’s developments in artificial intelligence.
Dr Lee said, “Since its establishment, the WGPE has been dedicated to preserving and promoting patriotism on different fronts. The delegation gained significant rewards through the exchange. By visiting different renowned enterprises and sites in Shenzhen and Dongguan, we observed the rapid development of our country in various areas, fostered a strong sense of national pride, and recognised the close ties between the GBA and Hong Kong, enabling the media to continue to deliver in-depth and accurate information to Hong Kong citizens. In the future, I hope that the WGPE and the media will maintain close collaboration to keep abreast of the latest developments of our country and tell good stories of Mainland China and Hong Kong.”
The latest episode is the arrest of four CAF members and ex-members. Three of them have been charged with taking concrete steps to facilitate terrorist activity and possessing prohibited firearms. A fourth man was charged with possession and storage of prohibited firearms and devices.
The crew had allegedly been under surveillance by the federal government’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team since 2021, most likely when equipment, weapons and ammunition began to go missing from military installations. The weapons were finally seized in January 2024, some in the personal vehicle of one of the suspects, but the group remained free for another 18 months.
As is usual with these types of efforts, a certain degree of amateurism was present at multiple stages of the alleged scheme, which may have developed on the fly. The idea that a micro-militia might successfully seize and hold territory in Canada is far-fetched at best.
Recruitment efforts for the suspected mission, complete with propaganda and self-aggrandizing pictures of military training, took place on, you guessed it: Instagram. (We won’t publish the name of the account.)
It might be pointed out that any large organization like the CAF inevitably represents a microcosm of society, meaning that it can’t be expected to be free of various forms of undesirable behaviour, including political extremism. But this “rotten apple” theory of far-right extremism in the CAF falls somewhat short of explaining the situation.
Not just a ‘few rotten apples’
First, the rotten apples seem too numerous. Just days before the recent arrests, the CAF announced on July 3 it was investigating the participation of other soldiers in a private Facebook page named the “Blue Hackle Mafia.” The page disseminated openly racist, homophobic, misogynist and antisemitic content.
These events point to a phenomenon difficult to measure within western countries, even though it’s very real. The penetration of ideas associated with the far right within the military and law enforcement agencies is currently happening. Whether more or less structured, the emergence of underground small groups are more or less ready to “take action.”
Similar conclusions were reached in the 1997 report on the behaviour of Canadian soldiers in Somalia, which had explicitly recommended that “the Canadian Forces establish regular liaison with anti-racist groups to obtain assistance in the conduct of appropriate cultural sensitivity training and to assist supervisors and commanders in identifying signs of racism and involvement with hate groups.” In other words, neither the concern nor the awareness is news.
Affinity between far right and military
At the root of the problem is a peculiar affinity between most forms of far-right ideologies and military or paramilitary/policing organizations.
It’s absurd to simply paint such organizations as inherently far right in their nature, of course. But strict authority structures and notions of defence, fellowship, honour — as well as the projection of power through physical strength and training and the accompanying symbolism of weapons, fatigues, uniforms and campaign-like deployments — are all very appealing to far-right extremists.
This nexus has been amply documented and leads to multiple practical implications: extremist groups trying to recruit active or retired soldiers; soldiers joining existing groups or setting up their own; veterans joining existing groups or creating their own, like the founders of Québec’s La Meute; professionally trained lone wolves, like Correy Hurren, who attempted to “arrest” Prime minister Justin Trudeau at Rideau Hall in 2020)
Members of extremist groups also routinely try to join the military to benefit from training, which elevates their standing within the group.
Military, former and active, and law enforcement members are to be found in multiple “militia” groups like the Three Percenters, the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers, Diagolon and the Boogaloo movement, for instance. Some are overtly anti-government and/or anti-system, like the Veterans 4 Freedom or The Base.
Far-right demons
It may sound strange to think of military personnel or veterans getting involved or creating an anti-government movement when they’ve served under the flag sometimes for decades. The apparent paradox quickly disappears once we understand the manifold individual motivations that underpin their actions.
They range from the feeling of having served a timourous government that failed to make proper use of the Armed Forces at its disposal. The absence of deployments to theatres of conflict also generates frustration among some in search of military adventure.
A lot of young men are quickly bored with exercises that never satisfy their expeditionary spirit. The role of camaraderie, of group dynamics based on mutual aid, honour and the presence of danger, as well as mental health issues, must not be overlooked. Not to mention the idea, strong in some units, of defending a singular idea of a “fatherland” endangered by government contempt and inaction.
What is striking in the light of the recent charges in Québec is not so much the racist and anti-semitic ideological ideas allegedly held by the accused group members. It’s the primacy given to a patriarchal ideology that explicitly targets women and gender. Fascination with Russia and the war in Ukraine waged by Vladimir Putin is also palpable.
Stéphane Leman-Langlois receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Samuel Tanner receives funding from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Aurélie Campana does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has made establishing east-west energy corridors a priority for Canada. He suggested that such corridors would include new oil and natural gas pipelines, designed to reduce dependence on the United States.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson has gone even further in pushing for subsidization of carbon capture and storage projects that would effectively underwrite the long-term continuation of the fossil fuel industry at taxpayer expense.
While there might be short-term political reasons for backing fossil fuels, such an approach goes against Canada’s long-term interests. Prioritizing fossil fuels undermines the country’s commitments to reduce emissions and takes away the investment needed for it to realize its potential to become a green energy superpower.
Creating energy corridors is in the national interest, and would allow Canada to take full advantage of its abundant and diverse energy and mineral resources. The government also needs to be involved, as the corridors are interprovincial and will require substantial investment. However, the government has limited resources and so Canada must think strategically about its priorities for such corridors.
Canadian taxpayers should not be subsidizing an already lucrative oil and gas industry. Instead, the federal government should prioritize funding clean energy supply solutions.
Oil and gas subsidies
Canadian governments have long faced opposition to building new pipelines. The provinces of Québec and British Columbia and many First Nations have strongly opposed new pipeline proposals. More recently, there is some signs of softening under the duress of U.S. tariffs.
Even if such shifts are lasting, it’s for the private sector to step up and invest into these projects. Previous federal investments, such as the Trans Mountain pipeline (TMX), were reflections of the private market’s unwillingness to invest in pipelines because they are bad investments. The 2024 Parliamentary Budget Office report estimated that selling the TMX would result in a loss.
There are reasons to question the soundness of fossil fuels on a purely financial basis. A 2022 Parliamentary budget office report found that climate change reduced GDP by 0.8 per cent in 2021, or around $20 billion. This number is expected to rise to 5.8 per cent per year by 2100 (or $145 billion in 2021 dollars).
By contrast, from 2017 to 2021, federal, provincial and territorial governments received an average of $12 billion annually in revenues from the the oil and gas industry.
The gap between the costs and benefits is only going to increase over time. The costs cut across all aspects of life, including food security, health care, global instability and threats to coastal cities due to sea level rise.
Furthermore, a recent study indicates a likely glut in global natural gas markets, and the future prospects for oil are equally questionable. For example, one of Canada’s target markets, Japan, has been reselling its liquefied natural gas imports to other countries, suggesting the glut of oil and gas is likely to continue as cheaper producers, including those in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, who are cheaper and closer to consumers, flood the market.
There are important opportunity costs of investing money in fossil fuels that could otherwise be invested in the clean energy economy. When new technologies arise, there is a limited window of opportunity for global competitors to enter into an emerging industry.
In light of the shift to electric vehicles, heat pumps and artificial intelligence, it’s clear that energy demand is bound to increase significantly in Canada in the coming years. Canada can become a global competitor, but only if it enters the race now, while the window is open.
While battery prices are declining, they remain an expensive solution. An easier solution is at hand: Canada’s hydroelectric resources. Québec, B.C. and Manitoba have abundant hydro resources that can reduce energy costs throughout the rest of the country.
Alberta and Saskatchewan have potential for significant geothermal power generation. Ontario and the Atlantic provinces could contribute wind and solar. Trading electricity through an integrated national grid increases the investment capital and reduces the need for batteries while diversifying the energy mix.
But we need an east-west electricity market to make this happen.
An east-west grid would reduce the need for every province to run its own power generation system. Creating a pooled market would allow provinces to trade electricity, giving consumers more choice and investors a larger market and potential return on their investment.
More valuable still is the fact that electricity capacity has to be built for the few peak hours and seasons. But most of the time demand is well below full capacity, such as the middle of the night or early summer, when neither heat nor air conditioning is needed in many areas. As peak times and seasons vary across the country, Canada can reduce overall costs by trading the electricity in the lowest cost producing province at a given time to where it’s needed in the other.
By locating some of the new clean energy in First Nations, Canada can also move reconciliation forward. There is potential for a win-win situation whereby Canada increases renewable energy generation while creating new jobs and income for First Nations wherever feasible.
The first step is for regulatory reform across the provinces to support a Canada-wide electricity market, and to provide the funding for the massive infrastructure investment required to connect provincial grids. This would be a federal investment with incredible long-term payoffs for employment, taxpayers and future generations.
Following this plan could truly make Canada an energy superpower on the right side of the energy transition, create thousands of jobs and give the country a global competitive edge — all while helping to save the planet in the process.
This article was co-authored by energy consultant Sheldon Fernandes.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Sweden made the most of Germany defender Carlotta Wamser’s expulsion to sweep to a 4-1 win and secure top spot in their Group C clash on Saturday, with their opponents also going through to the quarter-finals as runners-up.
The Swedes finished top of the group with a perfect nine points from three games and will take on the runners-up in Group D, which features France, England, Netherlands and Wales.
The Germans will face the winners of Group D.
Friday’s encounter was the first time the Germans conceded four goals at a Women’s Euros and the Swedes were good value for their win, punishing virtually every mistake the Germans made.
Germany got off to a flying start, slicing Sweden open through the middle as Wamser slid the ball into the path of Jule Brand, who managed to slip it past Jennifer Falk despite the Swedish keeper getting a touch.
The Swedes struck back within five minutes, striker Stina Blackstenius expertly timing her run behind the defence and latching on to Kosovare Asllani’s ball before flashing a shot past Ann-Katrin Berger to level.
Though the Germans looked dangerous every time they crossed the halfway line, it was the Swedes who took the lead through Smilla Holmberg in the 25th minute, the fullback marauding into the box before losing control and then steering an attempted clearance into the net from a tight angle.
RED CARD
Germany’s challenge fell apart in the 32nd minute when Wamser was shown a straight red card for a deliberate handball to block a goal, and Fridolina Rolfo scored from the spot to make it 3-1 in her 100th international.
“The red card was decisive,” Germany coach Christian Wueck said. “We couldn’t fight back into the game with one less player on the pitch.”
Though the Germans made the odd dangerous foray in the second half, the Swedes exploited their numerical advantage and substitute Lina Hurtig put the game beyond reach with a close-range finish in the 80th minute.
“It’s very important to build on a good feeling and gain confidence, now we can look forward,” goalscorer Blackstenius said.
The Germans were disappointed with how the game turned out after such a good start.
“We started the game very well. We were fully in it and the better team,” Klara Buhl said.
“We then give the game away in 10 minutes, that’s incredibly bitter. We have to put that behind us as quickly as possible.”
The Swedes play their quarter-final in Zurich next Thursday, while the Germans will have two extra days of rest before playing their game in Basel on Saturday.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Backing British Industry: Government launches £2.5bn DRIVE35 programme to power UK auto investment and jobs
UK auto firms will benefit from a £2.5 billion commitment over the next decade that will support thousands of jobs and help ensure the UK remains at the forefront of zero-emission vehicle development.
UK auto sector boosted by £2.5 billion under DRIVE35, as government launches new and improved funding competitions, supporting projects which help the transition to zero-emission vehicle manufacturing.
Package forms part of the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy, which takes bold ambition to significantly increase business investment in the advanced manufacturing sector by 2035.
Government also announces over £300 million of investment for specific auto projects, supporting the UK’s thousands of high-value manufacturing jobs and delivering on the Plan for Change.
UK auto firms will benefit from a £2.5 billion commitment over the next decade that will support thousands of jobs and help ensure the UK remains at the forefront of zero-emission vehicle development.
Government is today announcing the launch of DRIVE35, comprising new and improved funding competitions that will support UK businesses. The programme will fund a wide spectrum of projects which help the transition to zero-emission vehicle manufacturing – targeting established high-volume manufacturing and multi-billion-pound gigafactories, all the way to start-ups, prototypes and cutting-edge automotive innovation.
The new programme was announced in the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, part of the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy. It will commit £2 billion in funding to 2030 alongside an additional £500m for research and development to 2035, signalling a ten-year commitment to UK automotive innovation.
The cash will provide certainty to the sector, give innovators the confidence to invest in the UK and will support the latest in research and development, unlocking capital investment in zero emission vehicles, batteries and their supply chains.
The automotive sector contributed £21.4 billion in GVA to the economy in 2024 and currently employs 132,000 people across all parts of the UK – including many highly-skilled, highly-paid roles, and apprenticeships. The transition to zero emissions is the biggest opportunity of the 21st century to attract investment, harness British innovation, and deliver growth for generations to come.
The UK was also the largest EV market in Europe in 2024 and the third in the world with over 382,000 EVs sold – up a fifth on the previous year. There are now more than 82,000 public chargepoints in the UK – with one added every half an hour – ensuring that motorists are always a short drive from a socket.
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:
We’re helping British carmakers get to the front of the pack by working hand in hand with investors to build a globally competitive electric vehicle supply chain in the UK as we deliver our Plan for Change.
We’re taking action to back the industry for the future with the biggest set of announcements for the sector in the last decade. This includes securing a landmark trade deal with the US to bring down tariffs for British car manufacturers, measures in our modern Industrial Strategy to lower electricity prices and updating the ZEV mandate, supporting UK manufacturers to safeguard jobs, and secure the future of the sector.
Economic growth is our number one priority, and by funding our world leading auto sector we are creating the right conditions for increased investment, bringing growth, jobs, and opportunities to every part of the UK.
The funding announced today forms part of government’s bold ambition to significantly increase business investment in the advanced manufacturing sector by 2035, giving British firms an edge in the frontier industries of the future and driving growth across the UK.
DRIVE35 will build on previous successes with the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) and the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) R&D competitions, which between them leveraged over £6 billion of investment from the private sector, creating thousands of jobs across the UK economy.
The Department for Business and Trade today also announces over £300 million for specific UK automotive manufacturing firms and projects. This includes over £100 million of capital investment for UK automotive manufacturing via the ATF, approximately £140 million in combined Government and industry R&D investment, and £18 million from the new £150m Connected & Automated Mobility (CAM) Pathfinder programme.
With Government support, Bolton is set to benefit from over £100 million in investment from Astemo Ltd., which will be vital to the production of electric vehicle (EV) components in the UK. This investment will produce new generations of electric inverters, supporting over 220 direct high-value jobs in the region and hundreds more in the wider UK supply chain.
The West Midlands will also welcome a recent £15 million investment from Dana to produce parts that are crucial for EV manufacturing. Dana’s investment will ensure skilled jobs in the region, supporting over 100 direct jobs over the long term.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive said:
The creation of this dedicated automotive programme is further evidence of the sector’s importance to economic growth. Delivered as part of the Industrial Strategy, DRIVE35 has the potential to unlock investment and innovation in the UK, supporting jobs and creating wealth across the country. The importance of a long term, cross-government strategy with specific measures for automotive cannot be understated given the challenges facing the sector amid geopolitical uncertainty and fierce global competition. DRIVE35, and the wider measures identified in the Industrial Strategy, must now be implemented at pace to ensure the UK is amongst the leaders in next generation automotive technologies.
Ian Constance, CEO, Advanced Propulsion Centre UK and Zenzic said:
This new investment underlines the commitment from Government to secure advanced manufacturing in the UK. I am pleased that the APC, Zenzic, and its delivery partners are here to facilitate a new wave of funding in the automotive industry, supporting innovation, driving scale-up, and enabling transformation.
Today, we have announced projects receiving four types of grants that boost the UK’s leadership in automotive manufacturing. They will enable the rapid development of demonstrators featuring cutting-edge technology, accelerate ambitious SMEs, and support vital collaborative R&D innovation. This will encourage further investment in the UK’s growing zero-emission supply chain, safeguarding skilled jobs, building on the country’s reputation as a world-leader for technology.
Thanks to the wide range of eligible technologies under the new competitions, DRIVE35 funding will benefit UK auto businesses of all sizes and maturities, from small-scale innovators to large-scale established global companies. Through targeted investment for successful project applicants, the programme will create tens of thousands of new jobs, stimulate billions in economic growth and investment, and cut millions of tonnes CO2 emissions.
The programme will provide a more impactful offering for investors across three streamlined pillars: Transformation, Scale Up and Innovation. Tomorrow the government will open the following competitions across the DRIVE35 programme:
Automotive Transformation Fund: A new and improved capital funding offer under DRIVE35’s keystone Transformation pillar, supporting large-scale capital investments in the UK, and now with a widened technology scope.
Scale Up Feasibility Studies: R&D funding to support businesses with strategic thinking on opportunities to scale, creating a pipeline of exciting decision-ready auto projects for UK investment.
Innovation competitions: Through DRIVE35’s Collaborate and Demonstrate streams, we will build on over a decade of success to support both early-stage and late-stage R&D projects involving innovative technologies and processes.
DRIVE35 will continue the successes of the UK’s world-leading achievements in R&D. As an example, this government has recently committed a combined £70 million of R&D grant funding for over 50 innovative automotive projects. The programme will be delivered by DBT in partnership with APC UK and Innovate UK.
Combined with industry funding, this totals £140 million in new investment for UK R&D. These projects will support technologies including batteries, energy storage, lightweighting and power electronics. Successful applicants include Mercedes and JLR.
Notes to editors:
The winners of the R&D competitions are as follows:
Mobilise: An SME accelerator programme for zero-emission vehicle-related technology, as well as innovations in connected and automated mobility (CAM), and automotive software.
Allye Energy – London
Antobot – South East, Chelmsford
Cellmine – Scotland, Livingstone
Drisq – West Midlands, Malvern
Electrify Everything Now – West Midlands, Worcester
Evie Autonomous – West Midlands, Stoke-On-Trent
High Temperature Material Systems (HTMS) – South West, Bristol
Infiniti Recycling – South East, Cambridge
Kuasasemi – Wales, Cardiff
Lightning Tree Advanced Materials – London
Minimalx – London
Muon Tech – West Midlands, Leamington Spa
Otaski Energy Solutions – North East, Gateshead
Saif Autonomy – South East, Cambridgeshire
Senergy Innovations – Northern Ireland, Carryduff
Super6 – London
Talos Consulting Services – South East, Banbury
Collaborate: Grants fund projects where companies, and academic institutions, form a consortium to take a product or process to commercial readiness. Please note, these are the lead partners only – there are several partners in each consortium.
Ionic Technologies International – Northern Ireland, Belfast
Mint Biomining – West Midlands, Coventry
Mercedes Amg High Performance Powertrains – East Midlands, Northamptonshire
Jaguar Land Rover – West Midlands, Coventry
Phinia Delphi UK – South West, Gloucestershire
Demonstrate: Grants are for companies that are earlier in their product or process development or need a short, sharp sprint to get where they want to be. Please note that these are the lead partners.
Cummins UK – Yorkshire And The Humber, Huddersfield
Oxlid – East Midlands, Nottingham
Thermulon – London
Expert Tooling & Automation – West Midlands, Coventry
Cool Van Ltd – North West – Barnoldswick
Jaguar Land Rover – West Midlands, Warwick
Batri – Wales, Bridgend
Magnetic Systems Technology – Yorkshire and the Humber, Rotherham
Leyland Trucks – North East, Leyland
Project Four Design – West Midlands, Warwick
Fluorok – South East, Oxford
Hydrostar UK – South West, Exeter
Lorillion – West Midlands, Coventry
Talos Consulting Services – South East, Banbury
Ford Motor Company – South East, Essex
Advanced Electric Machines – North East, Washington
Maeving – West Midlands, Coventry
Fering Technologies – London
Green Lithium Refining – North East, Teesside
Mercedes Amg High Performance Powertrains – East Midlands, Northamptonshire
Watt Electric Vehicle Company – South West, Worcester
Electrified Automation – South West, Bridgwater
Ulemco – North West, Liverpool
Clean Air Power Gt – East Midlands, Melton Mowbray
Donut Lab Development UK – South West, Chippenham
Electric Aviation Group – South West, Bristol
Project Four Design – West Midlands, Warwick
Altilium Metals – South West, Plymouth
Inetic – Southampton
Morris Commercial – West Midlands, Evesham
Ilika Technologies – South East, Hampshire
Mcmurtry Automotive – South West, Wotton-Under-Edge
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
CHANGCHUN, July 13 (Xinhua) — The 22nd Changchun International Automobile Exhibition opened Saturday in Changchun, northeast China’s Jilin Province, with 118 domestic and foreign automobile manufacturers participating to showcase their latest achievements in automobile technology and future mobility solutions.
According to the organizers, this year the exhibition area of the event is 170 thousand square meters and includes four main exhibition pavilions, three thematic zones, two interactive zones and an open-air exhibition area.
The “Future Mobility” zone presents innovative transport solutions such as a flying car, two hydrogen-powered bicycles without spokes and unmanned aerial vehicles.
During the 10-day event, automakers are offering trade-in discounts, cash discounts and other promotions in addition to government consumer vouchers, as well as other related measures to further unlock consumer potential.
The exhibition will also feature a series of events, such as a road show of relevant organizations from Belt and Road Initiative countries and a forum on the development of intelligent new energy vehicles.
Known as the “cradle of China’s automobile industry,” Changchun witnessed the establishment of the country’s first automobile manufacturing plant in 1953. It is home to the headquarters of Chinese automaker giant FAW Group. -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday spoke to reporters about the South China Sea issue in response to questions while attending annual ASEAN Plus foreign ministers’ meetings in Kuala Lumpur.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that the South China Sea issue is discussed every year at the meetings, and this year was no exception. “What struck me most this time is the clear temperature difference between regional countries and a few countries from outside the region.”
At the China-ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting, the discussion on the South China Sea was held in a more calm and confident manner, becasse compared with other seas in the world, the South China Sea is clearly stable. There are no problems with freedom of navigation and overflight, Wang said
Some countries outside the region continue to make irresponsible remarks about the South China Sea. Although their tone has notably softened this year, they have not stopped, he said, adding tt seems they fear the South China Sea will not be chaotic. Regional countries are now well aware of these “old tricks.”
Wang said he proposed that a new narrative should be built for the South China Sea. We should not always associate the South China Sea with friction, conflict, or confrontation, but with peace, stability, and cooperation. This should become the mainstream narrative in the future, stated the Chinese foreign minister.
China and ASEAN countries are working toward this direction, he said, adding there is still one country that seems out of sync with the others, but I believe it will come to eventually understand. Acting as a pawn for others will only lead to being sacrificed.
Wang said that China and ASEAN countries have agreed to upgrade the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) by formulating a Code of Conduct (COC) that is effective, substantive, and consistent with international law.
All sides also agreed to strive to conclude the COC as scheduled next year, he said. In the next stage, consultations will become more frequent, and the process will speed up. We have the confidence, capability, and wisdom to maintain stability in the South China Sea, remove external interference, and jointly build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation.
Wang emphasized that during the meetings, he also elaborated on China’s position regarding the so-called South China Sea arbitration case. This arbitration case has serious flaws in terms of fact-finding and application of law. It carried out actions that violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea under the name of the convention itself, and its damage to regional peace and stability as well as the maritime order has become increasingly evident.
Wang stated that we must ask: if compulsory arbitration can be abused, is there still value in diplomatic efforts? Should bilateral consultations be abandoned? Do commitments under the DOC still count? If territorial sovereignty and maritime demarcation issues are submitted for arbitration, should the exclusive declarations under the convention still be respected? Does an agreement between China and the Philippines to resolve disputes through dialogue still hold? And if all islands and reefs in the South China Sea are denied maritime entitlements, should the world’s maritime map be redrawn?
In fact, this so-called arbitration case is a political manipulation and should be thrown into the trash heap of history, Wang said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
A Hongqi Tiangong 05 electric car is displayed at the 22nd Changchun International Auto Expo in Changchun, northeast China’s Jilin Province, July 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
The 22nd Changchun International Auto Expo opened Saturday in Changchun, capital of northeast China’s Jilin Province, bringing together 118 auto companies around the world to showcase the latest advancements in automotive technology and future mobility solutions.
This year’s expo spans 170,000 square meters, featuring four main exhibition halls, three featured zones, two interactive experience areas and an outdoor exhibition area, according to the organizers.
The future mobility section showcases innovative transportation solutions, such as a flying car, two spokeless hydrogen-powered bicycles, and drone-based application scenarios.
During the 10-day event, automakers are offering trade-in discounts, cash rebates, and other promotions, in addition to government consumption vouchers, to stimulate consumer demand.
The expo will also host a series of activities, such as a Belt and Road automotive road show and a forum on new energy intelligent vehicle development.
Known as the “cradle of China’s automotive industry,” Changchun witnessed the establishment of the country’s first automobile workshop back in 1953. It is home to China’s automaker giant, FAW Group.
Police are investigating after a 13 year old boy was injured in a motorbike crash on an East Coast fire trail yesterday. Police were notified by Ambulance Tasmania about 11.30am in relation to a boy being injured in a motorbike crash and needing to be airlifted to Hobart. The boy is believed to have been riding on fire trails with family members when he came off the bike. After the crash, the boy was able to ride back to the Chain of Lagoons, and from there was airlifted to Hobart with serious but non life threatening injuries. Members of the public are reminded that fire trails and forest roads are public streets and drivers must be licensed and using registered vehicles. The road rules apply on these roads as they do on any other. Anyone with information about the incident should contact St Helens Police on 131444.
New Caledonia’s pro-and-anti-independence parties have committed to an “historic” deal over the future political status of the French Pacific territory, which is set to become — for the first time — a “state” within the French realm.
The 13-page agreement yesterday, officially entitled “Agreement Project of the Future of New Caledonia”, is the result of a solid 10 days of difficult negotiations between both pro and anti-independence parties.
They have stayed under closed doors at a hotel in the small city of Bougival, in the outskirts of Paris.
French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls (centre) shows signatures on the last page of New Caledonia’s new agreement. Image: RNZ Pacific/FB
The talks were convened by French President Emmanuel Macron after an earlier series of talks held between February and May 2025 failed to yield an agreement.
After opening the talks on July 2, Macron handed over them to his Minister for Overseas, Manuel Valls, to oversee. Valls managed to bring together all parties around the same table earlier this year.
In his opening speech earlier this month, Macron insisted on the need to restore New Caledonia’s economy, which was brought to its knees following destructive and deadly riots that erupted in May 2024.
He said France was ready to study any solution, including an “associated state” for New Caledonia.
During the following days, all political players exchanged views under the seal of strict confidentiality.
While the pro-independence movement, and its Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), remained adamant they would settle for no less than “full sovereignty”, the pro-France parties were mostly arguing that three referendums — held between 2018 and 2021 — had already concluded that most New Caledonians wanted New Caledonia to remain part of France.
Those results, they said, dictated that the democratic result of the three consultations be respected.
Group photo of participants at the end of negotiations. Image: Philippe Gomes
With this confrontational context, which resulted in an increasingly radicalised background in New Caledonia, that eventually led to the 2024 riots, the Bougival summit was dubbed the “last chance summit”.
In the early hours of Saturday, just before 7 am (Paris time, 5 pm NZ time), after a sleepless night, the secrecy surrounding the Bougival talks finally ended with an announcement from Valls.
He wrote in a release that all partners taking part in the talks had signed and “committed to present and defend the agreement’s text on New Caledonia’s future.”
Valls said this was a “major commitment resulting from a long work of negotiations during which New Caledonia’s partners made the choice of courage and responsibility”.
The released document, signed by almost 20 politicians, details what the deal would imply for New Caledonia’s future.
In its preamble, the fresh deal underlines that New Caledonia was “once again betting on trust, dialogue and peace”, through “a new political organisation, a more widely shared sovereignty and an economic and social refoundation” for a “reinvented common destiny.”
New Caledonia’s population will be called to approve the agreement in February 2026.
If approved, the text would be the centrepiece of a “special organic law” voted by the local Congress.
It would later have to be endorsed by the French Parliament and enshrined in an article of the French Constitution.
What does the agreement contain? One of the most notable developments in terms of future status for New Caledonia is the notion of a “State of New Caledonia”, under a regime that would maintain it as part of France, but with a dual citizenship — France/New Caledonia.
Another formulation used for the change of status is the often-used “sui generis”, which in legal Latin, describes a unique evolution, comparable to no other.
This would be formalised through a fundamental law to be endorsed by New Caledonia’s Congress by a required majority of three-fifths.
The number of MPs in the Congress would be 56.
The text also envisages a gradual transfer of key powers currently held by France (such as international relations), but would not include portfolios such as defence, currency or justice.
In diplomacy, New Caledonia would be empowered to conduct its own affairs, but “in respect of France’s international commitments and vital interests”.
On defence matters, even though this would remain under France’s powers, it is envisaged that New Caledonia would be “strongly” associated, consulted and kept informed, regarding strategy, goals and actions led by France in the Pacific region.
On police and public order matters, New Caledonia would be entitled to create its own provincial and traditional security forces, in addition to national French law enforcement agencies.
New Caledonia’s sensitive electoral roll The sensitive issue of New Caledonia’s electoral roll and conditions of eligibility to vote at local elections (including for the three Provincial Assemblies) is also mentioned in the agreement.
It was this very issue that was perceived as the main trigger for the May 2024 riots, the pro-independence movement feared at the time that changing the conditions to vote would gradually place the indigenous Kanak community in a position of minority.
It is now agreed that the electoral roll would be partly opened to those people of New Caledonia who were born after 1998.
The roll was frozen in 2007 and restricted to people born before 1998, which is the date the previous major autonomy agreement of Nouméa was signed.
Under the new proposed conditions to access New Caledonia’s “citizenship”, those entitled would include people who already can vote at local elections, but also their children or any person who has resided in New Caledonia for an uninterrupted ten years or who has been married or lived in a civil de facto partnership with a qualified citizen for at least five years.
Provincial elections once again postponed One of the first deadlines on the electoral calendar, the provincial elections, was to take place no later than 30 November 2025.
It will be moved once again — for the third time — to May-June 2026.
A significant part of the political deal is also dedicated to New Caledonia’s economic “refoundation”, with a high priority for the young generations, who have felt left out of the system and disenfranchised for too long.
One of the main goals was to bring New Caledonia’s public debts to a level of sustainability.
In 2024, following the riots, France granted, in the form of loans, over 1 billion euros (NZ $1.9 billion) for New Caledonia’s key institutions to remain afloat.
But some components of the political chessboard criticised the measure, saying this was placing the French territory in a state of excessive and long-term debt.
Group photo of participants at the end of negotiations with the signed agreement. Image: Philippe_Gomes/RNZ Pacific
Strategic nickel A major topic, on the macro-economic side, concerns New Caledonia’s nickel mining industry, after years of decline that has left it (even before 2024) in a state of near-collapse.
Nickel is regarded as the backbone of New Caledonia’s economy.
A nickel “strategic plan” would aim at re-starting New Caledonia nickel’s processing plants, especially in the Northern province, but at the same time facilitating the export of raw nickel.
There was also a will to ensure that all mining sites (many of which have been blocked and its installations damaged since the May 2024 riots) became accessible again.
Meanwhile, France would push the European Union to include New Caledonia’s nickel in its list of strategic resources.
New Caledonia’s nickel industry’s woes are also caused by its lack of competitiveness on the world market — especially compared to Indonesia’s recent rise in prominence in nickel production — because of the high cost of energy.
Swift reactions, mostly positive
New Caledonian politicians Sonia Backès (left to right), Nicolas Metzdorf, Gil Brial and Victor Tutugoro. Image: Nicolas Metzdorf/RNZ Pacific
The announcement yesterday was followed by quick reactions from all sides of New Caledonia’s political spectrum and also from mainland France’s political leaders.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou expressed “pride” to see an agreement “on par with history”, emerge.
“Bravo also to the work and patience of Manuel Valls” and “the decisive implication of Emmanuel Macron,” he wrote on X-Twitter.
From the ranks of New Caledonia’s political players, pro-France Nicolas Metzdorf said he perceived as one of the deal’s main benefits the fact that “we will at last be able to project ourselves in the future, in economic, social and societal reconstruction without any deadline.”
Metzdorf admitted that reaching an agreement required concessions and compromise from both sides.
“But the fact that we are no longer faced with referendums and to reinforce the powers of our provinces, this was our mandate”, he told public broadcaster NC La 1ère.
“We’ve had to accept this change from New Caledonia citizenship to New Caledonian nationality, which remains to be defined by New Caledonia’s Congress. We have also created a completely new status as part of the French Republic, a sui generis State”, he noted.
He said the innovative status kept New Caledonia within France, without going as far as an “associated state” mooted earlier.
“At least, what we have arrived at is that New Caledonians remain French”, pro-France Le Rassemblement-LR prominent leader Virginie Ruffenach commented.
“And those who want to contribute to New Caledonia’s development will be able to do so through a minimum stay of residence, the right to vote and to become citizens and later New Caledonia nationals”
“I’m aware that some could be wary of the concessions we made, but let’s face it: New Caledonia nationality does not make New Caledonia an independent State . . . It does not take away anything from us, neither of us belonging to the French Republic nor our French nationality,” Southern Province pro-France President Sonia Backès wrote on social media.
In a joint release, the two main pro-France parties, Les Loyalistes and Rassemblement-LR, said the deal was no less than “historic” and “perennial” for New Caledonia as a whole, to “offer New Caledonia a future of peace, stability and prosperity” while at the same time considering France’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
From the pro-independence side, one of the negotiators, Victor Tutugoro of UNI-UPM (Progressist Union in Melanesia) said what mattered was that “all of us have placed our bets on intelligence, beyond our respective beliefs, our positions, our postures”.
“We put all of these aside for the good of the country.”
“Of course, by definition, a compromise cannot satisfy anyone 100 percent. But it’s a balanced compromise for everyone,” he said.
“And it allows us to look ahead, to build New Caledonia together, a citizenship and this common destiny everyone’s been talking about for many years.”
Before politicians fly back to New Caledonia to present the deal to their respective bases, President Macron received all delegation members last evening to congratulate them on their achievements.
During the Presidential meeting at the Elysée Palace, FLNKS chief negotiator Emmanuel Tjibaou (whose father Jean-Marie Tjibaou also struck a historic agreement and shook hands with pro-France leader Jacques Lafleur, in 1988), stressed the agreement was one step along the path and it allows to envisage new perspectives for the Kanak people.
A sign of the changing times, but in a striking parallel — 37 years after his father’s historic handshake with Lafleur, Emmanuel Tjibaou (whose father was shot dead in 1989 by a radical pro-independence partisan who felt the independence cause had been betrayed — did not shake hands, but instead fist pumped with pro-France’s Metzdorf.
In a brief message on social networks, the French Head of State hailed the conclusive talks, which he labelled “A State of New Caledonia within the (French) Republic,” a win for a “bet on trust.”
“Now is the time for respect, for stability and for the sum of good wills to build a shared future.”
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Signatures on the last page of New Caledonia’s new agreement. Image: Philippe Dunoyer/RNZ Pacific
New £63 million boost for Britain’s electric vehicle revolution
Funding will help to build a fairer, cleaner future where every family can benefit from cheaper, greener transport.
major boost to charging investment to break down barriers to electric vehicle ownership and boost charging infrastructure across the UK, cutting costs for families, businesses and the public sector
£63 million package to support at-home charging for households without driveways, transition NHS fleets to save millions for the health service in England, create thousands of chargepoints at business depots across the UK
builds on £400 million invested in charging infrastructure and recent Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate updates to kickstart economic growth, create thousands of green jobs, and put more money in people’s pockets as part of the Plan for Change
Drivers across England are set to benefit as the government today (13 July 2025) announces a £63 million investment package to supercharge Britain’s electric vehicle infrastructure, driving down charging costs and putting money back in the pockets of working people as part of the Plan for Change.
A pioneering £25 million scheme for local authorities will expand access to cheaper at-home charging. This will provide access to cheaper household rates, allowing consumers to save up to £1,500 a year compared to running a petrol or diesel car, transforming how thousands of households without driveways power up their electric cars.
The innovative cross-pavement technology will allow cables to run safely beneath pavements, connecting homes directly to parked vehicles, enabling more families to tap into cheaper domestic electricity rates for as little as 2 pence per mile even if they don’t have a driveway.
The fund is the latest move to bolster the UK’s growing charging network which has reached a record 82,000 public chargepoints, with a further 100,000 expected to be installed as a result of the government’s Local EV Infrastructure Fund and £6 billion of private investment committed to 2030.
To ensure the savings the EV transition can bring are felt in the public sector too, the NHS in England is also receiving a major sustainability upgrade with an £8 million fund to power the electrification of ambulances and medical fleets across over 200 NHS sites, saving millions in costs which can be invested into patient care.
Standing firmly on the side of British drivers, this latest investment is part of our major plan to support motorists, including a record £1.6 billion invested to tackle potholes and bring down and frozen fuel duty at 5p until Spring 2026, saving the average motorist £50 to £60 over the year.
This investment underpins the government’s Plan for Change mission to kickstart economic growth and make life easier for working people, ensuring the transition to net zero delivers for working families whilst creating good jobs and driving economic growth across all regions of the UK.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:
We are making it easier and cheaper to own an electric vehicle. We know access to charging is a barrier for people thinking of making the switch, so we are tackling that head on so that everyone – whether or not they have a driveway – can access the benefits of going electric.
Our investment is about more than just charging points – it’s about charging up Britain’s economy. I’m proud that through this boost, we are helping deliver cheaper bills for families, massive savings for the NHS to reinvest in patient care, and thousands of new green jobs.
This is what our Plan for Change mission to kickstart Britain’s economy looks like in practice. We’re not just boosting charging infrastructure, we’re building a fairer, cleaner future where every family can benefit from cheaper, greener transport, whilst creating thousands of good jobs across the country.
In a pioneering move to help EV drivers plug into the rapidly expanding charging network, government is also modernising EV charging signage on major roads. EV charging hubs have more than doubled since the beginning of 2023 and immediate changes will allow larger EV charging hubs to be signposted from major A-roads for the first time. Government is committed to boosting charging for long journeys, with £400 million announced in the Spending Review to support charging infrastructure, including on the strategic road network.
Alongside the boosts for electric car drivers, the government is also launching a major new grant scheme to help businesses install charging points at depots nationwide, supporting the nation’s heavy goods vehicles, vans and coach drivers in the transition to zero emissions.
The action follows recent updates to the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate to make it easier for the sector to switch to electric as part of government’s ongoing work to back British manufacturing. With over 1.2 million people employed in the freight and logistics sector in the UK alone, today’s announcement is the latest move to keep industry at the forefront of international competition in the face of global economic headwinds.
Over 1,200 new charging sockets will deliver a more efficient, modern health system whilst generating millions in cost savings over the next two decades for the taxpayer on maintenance and fuel costs – valuable savings that can be prioritised for patient care and help rebuild the NHS.
Owning and buying an EV is becoming increasingly cheaper, with 2 in 5 of used electric cars sold at under £20,000 and 34 brand new electric cars are available from under £30,000.
The UK was also the largest EV market in Europe in 2024 and the third in the world with over 382,000 EVs sold – up a fifth on the previous year. There are now more than 82,000 public chargepoints in the UK – with one added every 30 minutes – ensuring that motorists are always a short drive from a socket.
Health Minister Karin Smyth said:
This is a win-win: cheaper travel for the NHS and cleaner air for our communities.
As part of our Plan for Change, we’re investing in green energy to build an NHS fit for the future — cutting pollution and saving millions in fuel costs.
Edmund King, AA president, said:
There are more public chargers than people realise, but they are often hidden in plain sight. Increasing signs for the public network is vital to help the EV transition as it will create confidence for drivers both now and in the future.
It is great to see more support for those without off-street parking so that they can also benefit from the EV revolution.
Delvin Lane, CEO, InstaVolt said:
We are pleased that the government has taken the crucial step of delivering official EV charging signage on the strategic road network – a move we believe will improve consumer confidence and bolster EV adoption. This marks a major milestone for the EV industry and drivers across the UK.
At InstaVolt, we have been relentless in our campaigning and have built a strong, collaborative relationship with the government to push this initiative forward. Our opinion research suggests that the rollout of clear, official signage will make a significant difference—helping EV drivers easily locate public charging points while on the move, and reassuring those considering making the switch to electric vehicles.
For years, we have emphasized that the UK’s public EV infrastructure, so critical to mass adoption, is already largely in place, and now this signage will finally showcase it to drivers in a visible, accessible way.”
As the UK’s largest ultra-rapid public charging network with over 2,000 chargers nationwide, InstaVolt is proud to be at the forefront of this transformation and excited to see how these signs will accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles.
Ian Johnston, CEO, Osprey:
Signage impacts all the UK’s drivers because consumers need to see it to believe it. Osprey have tirelessly highlighted the benefit that clear EV road signage would bring to drivers looking to make the switch and to the charging businesses installing the critical infrastructure underpinning transport decarbonisation.
This is a welcome first step and we look forward to continuing to work closely with ministers and officials to achieve clear signage for the hundreds of high-quality EV charging hubs being opened across the nation.
NHS Chief Sustainability Officer Chris Gormley said:
The NHS has already implemented hundreds of projects that reduce emissions and drive significant cost savings, all while improving patient care.
This new £8 million investment, across 62 NHS Trusts and around 224 sites, supports the renewed commitment in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan to deliver a more sustainable NHS while also helping hospitals to save millions on fuel and maintenance costs and reducing air pollution. These savings can be reinvested directly into frontline care, ensuring the NHS continues to deliver for our patients and communities.
Vicky Read, CEO of ChargeUK said:
With 82,000 public charge points already installed across the UK, this positive action on strategic road signage will help more drivers see the extensive charging network that’s rapidly being built across the country. This has been a priority for our industry and will boost consumer confidence in making the switch to electric vehicles.
Our members are investing £6 billion to ensure the deployment of charging infrastructure stays ahead of demand. Today’s announcement shows government recognising the vital role charging plays in the transition, and we look forward to working together to maintain the UK’s position as Europe’s leading EV market.
A teenage boy has been arrested following a brief pursuit with a stolen car in the western suburbs overnight.
Just before 9pm Saturday 12 July, Western District patrols spotted a Ford sedan driving on Athol Street at Athol Park. Checks on the registration revealed it had been stolen from a home at Elizabeth Downs earlier that morning.
Police tried to stop the car however the driver refused and the Ford was pursued along Glenroy Street and Park Avenue. The sedan turned onto Alicia Street where the driver jumped out of the moving car and fled on foot.
Police gave chase and quickly arrested the teen nearby.
The car rolled into a small tree, causing minor damage to the front of the car and number plate.
The 15-year-old boy was charged with illegal use of a motor vehicle, driving unlicensed and dangerous driving to escape police pursuit. He has not applied for bail and will appear in the Adelaide Youth Court tomorrow, Monday 14 July.
The Ford was towed from the scene for forensic examination and will be returned to the owner.
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
July 11, 2025
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—secured several important provisions to support servicemembers and boost American competitiveness and national security in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that SASC approved this week and the full Senate will now consider. Among the provisions that the Senator secured in the Committee-passed legislation, Duckworth successfully led a provision to expand IVF access for uniformed servicemembers and ensure military families have the same level of coverage that Members of Congress and other federal employees already have. As President Donald Trump continues to misuse our military to intimidate American citizens across our nation, Duckworth also successfully secured provisions that would safeguard Americans’ civil rights when servicemembers assist law enforcement on U.S. soil.
“The brave men and women in uniform who serve our nation at home and abroad deserve to know that our country fully supports them as they and their families sacrifice to defend our country and our Constitution,”?said Duckworth.?“While I don’t support every provision included in this bill, I’m proud that it includes several of my provisions to support our servicemembers and their families, boost American manufacturing, improve Americans’ faith in their military as well as rein in the Trump Administration. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to continue improving this NDAA and ensure Congress passes a strong final bill that lets our troops know we have their backs.”
NDAAs set our nation’s defense policy and laws, authorize funding for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and ensure that our servicemembers have the tools they need to defend our nation. Additionally, this year’s committee-passed legislation authorizes funding to support a 3.8 percent pay raise for military members.
Key Duckworth-led provisions secured in this year’s Committee-passed NDAA would:
Expand access to IVF for military families by requiring TRICARE to cover fertility treatment services, including IVF, to ensure servicemembers and their families have the same level of coverage that Members of Congress already receive. This is the second time Senator Duckworth secured this provision in the committee-passed version of an NDAA bill.
Regarding this provision, Duckworth said: “Even before I was wounded, I had made the difficult decision to delay building a family because I knew getting pregnant would impact my ability to be an Army aviator—and to advance in the career I loved. Because of the miracle of IVF—and my access to reproductive healthcare through the VA—I’m now a mom to two beautiful girls. The reality is that the men and women of the uniformed services face unique challenges when trying to start or build a family, and studies show that servicemembers and Veterans have higher rates of infertility compared to the general population. After successfully securing this provision in last year’s Committee-passed bill, I’m so proud my colleagues helped me build on this progress by including it in this year’s bill as well. It’s past time our nation provides our military families with the same access to IVF that all Members of Congress already have and ensure our heroes can start the families they’ve dreamed of.”
Strengthen public trust of the military and enhance civil rights by requiring that servicemembers identify themselves as part of the military when assisting federal law enforcement in the United States. As the Trump Administration continues to send federal agents and our nation’s military into our communities to intimidate their fellow Americans, this provision ensures that servicemembers identify themselves properly—to avoid public misunderstanding about who is providing logistical support versus conducting arrests or law enforcement duties.
Regarding this provision, Duckworth said: “In my own experience serving in the National Guard, I saw firsthand the difference drawing a bright line between the roles of our military and law enforcement can make in terms of maintaining public trust in our military. I’m proud my colleagues agreed that this is a necessary requirement to provide accountability to the public during tense moments when troops might be interacting with citizens, from protests to natural disasters to humanitarian crises, and I hope the rest of my colleagues in the Senate do too.”
Ensure all servicemembers know their legal obligations during deployments both at home and abroad by mandating legal training to all servicemembers, including a refresher within 90 days of any mobilization or deployment, on their responsibilities under the law of armed conflict, rules of engagement, defense support for civil authorities and standing rules for the use of force within the United States. In light of the Trump Administration’s increasing use of troops to support law enforcement within the United States, this provision will ensure troops know how to responsibly operate within the bounds of domestic laws and protect American civil rights.
Establish a senior leader of DoD Programs for military to civilian transition efforts by directing DoD to appoint a senior official to oversee policy and programs related to the transition of servicemembers to civilian life or to the reserves. This would elevate and strengthen DoD’s attention on services to assist troops as they leave service and enter civilian life, providing a streamlined conduit for coordination with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Explore international co-production of auxiliary vessels by requiring DoD to identify opportunities to enter joint ventures between U.S. military, U.S. companies and foreign partners to co-produce auxiliary vessels and small boats. Senator Duckworth’s effort aims to increase our nation’s sealift capacity and shipbuilding workforce through leveraging the strengths of our allies and partners in constructing smaller vessels as well as building our ability to surge production of these vessels closer to the point of need in the event of conflict.
Enhance Congressional oversight of the military justice system by requiring the President and DoD to notify Congress of any removal of Judge Advocates General, to ensure that military commanders have the legal advice they need to make their difficult decisions. In addition to notice, the President and DoD must provide a justification for the involuntary removal of any of the top Judge Advocates General (JAG) at least five days before the JAG is removed. This follows Secretary Hegseth’s unceremonious firing of JAGs, which are our military’s legal experts on everything from administrative and domestic protections to international law.
Protect servicemembers from dangerous PFAS in their protective garments by requiring the DoD’s to articulate its plan for acquiring chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threat protective garments free from toxic PFAS chemicals as soon as possible.
Enable the nonpartisan, Duckworth-created Afghanistan War Commission to finish its final report by authorizing DoD to provide non-reimbursable support services—like staff, facilities and funding—and authorizing the Commission to enter into contracts to obtain essential goods and servicesauthor, including the ability to publish its final report through a private publisher. These provisions align its authorities with similar commissions, including the 9/11 National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.
Expand the successful Southeast Asia Cyber Pilot Program to allow U.S. forces to work with the Pacific Island nations to improve their cyber capabilities and reduce vulnerabilities, building resilience against threats in DoD’s priority region.
Expand exchange opportunities for allies and partners by authorizing DoD to offer exchange opportunities at universities with ROTC programs for servicemembers from partner nations, creating a cost-effective way to train future leaders of key partner militaries.
Ensure fairness in Special and Incentive Pay for Reservists by directing DoD to deliver a special and incentive pay assessment framework – which was required in the FY24 NDAA — by June 1, 2026, and also requiring DoD to make a specific determination about the percentage of aviation incentive pay that goes to maintaining skill proficiency. This provision is essential to ensuring Reservists are paid fairly when they are required to maintain skills and certifications that are expensive to maintain.
Direct a GAO Report on Aviation Safety to review DoD policies and procedures for data gathering, risk assessment and risk mitigation of U.S. military flights, especially as in U.S. domestic civilian airspace. This provision follows investigations into the tragic crash at Reagan National Airport and close calls with military flights throughout civilian airspace.
Bolster our nation’s aviation supply chain by encouraging the use of domestically manufactured helicopters in Initial Entry Rotary Wing pilot training by the Army.
Improve servicemember mental health services and confidentiality by emphasizing support for consistent compliance with suicide prevention policy and confidential access to mental health care without retaliation for all servicemembers and across all branches. The Senator helped secure this provision alongside U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ).
Expand robotic enhancements for armaments manufacturing by authorizing an additional $5 million for the Secretary of the Army to expand prototyping and production capacity by integrating robotics, automation and digital manufacturing into the munitions industrial base.
Use advanced manufacturing to improve the rapid repair of equipment in forward-based locations by authorizing digital manufacturing as part of the prototyping program for contested logistics and removing the sunset for the program. This provision would allow DoD to develop best practices regarding forward-based commercial, advanced digital manufacturing facilities for rapid, distributed parts production closer to the point of use.
Elevate research on total force optimization by expressing support for investments in biomechanical, physiological, and psychological research to mitigate injury risks and improve physical resilience in combat operations.
Improve equipment connectivity for military airfields by encouraging the Air Force to integrate connectivity solutions for flightline support equipment, such as generators, light carts, and support vehicles, that are critical for ensuring our military aircraft can safely take off and land. This will improve equipment readiness to ensure our Airmen are prepared for expeditionary flightline operations in contested environments.
Advance U.S. bio-industrial manufacturing innovation by supporting the innovative work being done at advanced facilities like the University of Illinois’s Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing Hub (iFAB) by requiring more information on how DoD is investing in this technology critical for national security.
Illuminate gaps in the military footwear industrial base by requesting DoD provide data and analysis on the necessary war reserves for footwear and textiles, and the accompanying surge needs in the event of crisis or conflict. This report language is a modified version of the Senator’s Better Outfitting Our Troops (BOOTS) Act, which recognizes that our defense industrial base for combat boots needs investment in order for it to support our troops and help ensure they have the sturdiest and most protective boots in a possible war.
Strengthen domestic suppliers of critical uniform components by prohibiting the DoD from sourcing clothing, fabrics or components from countries of concern—such as China, Iran, North Korea and Russia—when using domestic sourcing waivers under the Berry Amendment, to prevent further weakening of the U.S. clothing and textile industrial base.?
Allow the Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) to explore investments in nuclear energy and Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturing by authorizing inclusion of nuclear energy as a covered technology under Section 149 of Title 10 and directing OSC to explore the value of investments in PCBs. This change would enable DoD to explore new investments with these key industries critical for our national security.
Accelerate commercially-useful Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computers (FTQC) by recognizing the importance of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) program, which aims to build a commercially useful FTQC by 2033, and encouraging the Department to concurrently prepare algorithms to operate those machines, while the hardware is being built. This provision recognizes the importance of the development of the first FTQC, which is being built at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park in Chicago, Illinois.
Improve cross-state medical license reciprocity for Title 32 National Guard medical providers by requiring DoD to analyze any barriers to ensuring medical license reciprocity for Guardsmen to train under Title 32 status. This follows reports from National Guardsmen medical providers that they struggle to get the permissions necessary to conduct essential training across state lines, especially in specialized hospitals for trauma care – vital kinds of training for combat care.
Protect Rock Island Arsenal by restricting the Secretary of the Army from using any funds authorized for restructuring Army commands until the Army provides more information about their proposed plan to integrate Joint Munitions Command and Army Sustainment Command, ensuring operations at Rock Island Arsenal are not unnecessarily affected.
Improve Arsenal Workload Sustainment by establishing a 5-year pilot program requiring DoD to give preference to public-private partnerships in arsenals, especially those non-public partners that ensure equitable workshare to DoD employees to protect critical skills. This provision is a modified version of the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act that Duckworth introduced alongside U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) as well as U.S. Representative Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) to help ensure Army arsenals and factories remain active and viable while preserving the skilled workforce, equipment and production capacity critical to our nation’s defense industrial base.
Improve the governance of the organic industrial base by directing the Army to analyze the effectiveness of their current governance and resourcing model for the Army’s arsenals, depots as well as ammunition plants and identify opportunities for changes to ensure the enterprise and its workforce can support the military’s munitions and sustainment requirements now and in the future. The Senator helped secure this provision alongside Senator Tom Cotton (R-AK).
Improve predictive manufacturing analytics at Army Arsenals by urging the continued implementation of industrial control networks across our Army’s arsenals to enable the collection, aggregation and analysis of data associated with the manufacture and repair of equipment and supplies.
Ensure Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC)’scontinued success by securing a one-year extension of the Joint Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, which supports the operations of the North Chicago-based Lovell FHCC. This provision, led with Senator Durbin, will help safeguard continued access to vital services for military families and Veterans in the area.
Improve the “Warm Hand-off Process” for Servicemembers by changing the current “opt-in” option on the DD-2648 form for sending servicemembers’ information to state veterans’ agencies to an “opt-out” option, aiming to streamline information flow to state services and improve the “warm hand-off” process for servicemembers when they separate or retire from the military service. The Senator helped secure this provision alongside U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND).
Support the construction of a Child Development Center at Rock Island Arsenal by authorizing $50 million in Major Construction funds for a new addition to the Child Development Center at Rock Island Arsenal and to consolidate the existing facilities into a single building and make upgrades to meet DoD guidelines and safety requirements. This project will provide a necessary service to the Arsenal and surrounding community.
Support the design of a new Aircraft Maintenance Hangar at Scott Air Force Base by authorizing $6 million in Planning and Design funds for the construction of a new aircraft maintenance hangar to support the training and operational mission of the 126th Aerial Refueling Wing at Scott Air Force Base. The current hangar was constructed in 1956, remains in disrepair and no longer meets Department of Defense standards or mission requirements, making a new hangar critical to the Wing’s mission.
Support the design renovation to General Jones Readiness Center by authorizing $5 million in Planning and Design funds for major alternations to the General Richard L. Jones National Guard Readiness Center in Chicago. This facility was built in 1931 and remains one of the largest readiness centers in the country. Renovating it to meet mission requirements is a top priority for the Illinois National Guard.
Improving the Tactical Vehicle Fleet by authorizing an additional $168 million to speed up replacement of Marine Corps HMMWVs with modernized vehicles to improve readiness for global missions.
In addition to these provisions, Duckworth also successfully worked to protect Universities across the country from having their DoD funding for critical technological research cut unnecessarily.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed about a purported drone attack on the city hall in Enerhodar, where most staff of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) live, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
During a visit to Enerhodar today, the IAEA team members based at the ZNPP were taken to the city hall and could see some damage at the top of the building, which they were told was caused by a drone strike at around 1am on Friday morning. There were no reports of casualties. Enerhodar is located about 5 km from the ZNPP.
If confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of drone incidents near the ZNPP and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, further endangering nuclear safety during the conflict.
“As drone attacks have become increasingly common during the war, so have the risks they pose to the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. I’m deeply concerned about the increased frequency of such incidents. In the case of Enerhodar, they also add to the psychological stress for plant staff, which can also impact nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.
Less than two weeks ago, the IAEA team at the ZNPP was informed of a drone attack that reportedly damaged several vehicles near the site’s cooling pond.
In February, a drone severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine, built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor unit 4 destroyed in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards.
Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed about a purported drone attack on the city hall in Enerhodar, where most staff of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) live, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
During a visit to Enerhodar today, the IAEA team members based at the ZNPP were taken to the city hall and could see some damage at the top of the building, which they were told was caused by a drone strike at around 1am on Friday morning. There were no reports of casualties. Enerhodar is located about 5 km from the ZNPP.
If confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of drone incidents near the ZNPP and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, further endangering nuclear safety during the conflict.
“As drone attacks have become increasingly common during the war, so have the risks they pose to the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. I’m deeply concerned about the increased frequency of such incidents. In the case of Enerhodar, they also add to the psychological stress for plant staff, which can also impact nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.
Less than two weeks ago, the IAEA team at the ZNPP was informed of a drone attack that reportedly damaged several vehicles near the site’s cooling pond.
In February, a drone severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine, built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor unit 4 destroyed in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards.
Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed about a purported drone attack on the city hall in Enerhodar, where most staff of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) live, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
During a visit to Enerhodar today, the IAEA team members based at the ZNPP were taken to the city hall and could see some damage at the top of the building, which they were told was caused by a drone strike at around 1am on Friday morning. There were no reports of casualties. Enerhodar is located about 5 km from the ZNPP.
If confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of drone incidents near the ZNPP and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, further endangering nuclear safety during the conflict.
“As drone attacks have become increasingly common during the war, so have the risks they pose to the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. I’m deeply concerned about the increased frequency of such incidents. In the case of Enerhodar, they also add to the psychological stress for plant staff, which can also impact nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.
Less than two weeks ago, the IAEA team at the ZNPP was informed of a drone attack that reportedly damaged several vehicles near the site’s cooling pond.
In February, a drone severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine, built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor unit 4 destroyed in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards.
Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed about a purported drone attack on the city hall in Enerhodar, where most staff of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) live, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
During a visit to Enerhodar today, the IAEA team members based at the ZNPP were taken to the city hall and could see some damage at the top of the building, which they were told was caused by a drone strike at around 1am on Friday morning. There were no reports of casualties. Enerhodar is located about 5 km from the ZNPP.
If confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of drone incidents near the ZNPP and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, further endangering nuclear safety during the conflict.
“As drone attacks have become increasingly common during the war, so have the risks they pose to the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. I’m deeply concerned about the increased frequency of such incidents. In the case of Enerhodar, they also add to the psychological stress for plant staff, which can also impact nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.
Less than two weeks ago, the IAEA team at the ZNPP was informed of a drone attack that reportedly damaged several vehicles near the site’s cooling pond.
In February, a drone severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine, built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor unit 4 destroyed in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards.
Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed about a purported drone attack on the city hall in Enerhodar, where most staff of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) live, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
During a visit to Enerhodar today, the IAEA team members based at the ZNPP were taken to the city hall and could see some damage at the top of the building, which they were told was caused by a drone strike at around 1am on Friday morning. There were no reports of casualties. Enerhodar is located about 5 km from the ZNPP.
If confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of drone incidents near the ZNPP and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, further endangering nuclear safety during the conflict.
“As drone attacks have become increasingly common during the war, so have the risks they pose to the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. I’m deeply concerned about the increased frequency of such incidents. In the case of Enerhodar, they also add to the psychological stress for plant staff, which can also impact nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.
Less than two weeks ago, the IAEA team at the ZNPP was informed of a drone attack that reportedly damaged several vehicles near the site’s cooling pond.
In February, a drone severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine, built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor unit 4 destroyed in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards.
Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed about a purported drone attack on the city hall in Enerhodar, where most staff of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) live, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
During a visit to Enerhodar today, the IAEA team members based at the ZNPP were taken to the city hall and could see some damage at the top of the building, which they were told was caused by a drone strike at around 1am on Friday morning. There were no reports of casualties. Enerhodar is located about 5 km from the ZNPP.
If confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of drone incidents near the ZNPP and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, further endangering nuclear safety during the conflict.
“As drone attacks have become increasingly common during the war, so have the risks they pose to the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. I’m deeply concerned about the increased frequency of such incidents. In the case of Enerhodar, they also add to the psychological stress for plant staff, which can also impact nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.
Less than two weeks ago, the IAEA team at the ZNPP was informed of a drone attack that reportedly damaged several vehicles near the site’s cooling pond.
In February, a drone severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine, built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor unit 4 destroyed in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards.
Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed about a purported drone attack on the city hall in Enerhodar, where most staff of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) live, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
During a visit to Enerhodar today, the IAEA team members based at the ZNPP were taken to the city hall and could see some damage at the top of the building, which they were told was caused by a drone strike at around 1am on Friday morning. There were no reports of casualties. Enerhodar is located about 5 km from the ZNPP.
If confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of drone incidents near the ZNPP and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, further endangering nuclear safety during the conflict.
“As drone attacks have become increasingly common during the war, so have the risks they pose to the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. I’m deeply concerned about the increased frequency of such incidents. In the case of Enerhodar, they also add to the psychological stress for plant staff, which can also impact nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.
Less than two weeks ago, the IAEA team at the ZNPP was informed of a drone attack that reportedly damaged several vehicles near the site’s cooling pond.
In February, a drone severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine, built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor unit 4 destroyed in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards.
Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed about a purported drone attack on the city hall in Enerhodar, where most staff of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) live, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
During a visit to Enerhodar today, the IAEA team members based at the ZNPP were taken to the city hall and could see some damage at the top of the building, which they were told was caused by a drone strike at around 1am on Friday morning. There were no reports of casualties. Enerhodar is located about 5 km from the ZNPP.
If confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of drone incidents near the ZNPP and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, further endangering nuclear safety during the conflict.
“As drone attacks have become increasingly common during the war, so have the risks they pose to the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. I’m deeply concerned about the increased frequency of such incidents. In the case of Enerhodar, they also add to the psychological stress for plant staff, which can also impact nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.
Less than two weeks ago, the IAEA team at the ZNPP was informed of a drone attack that reportedly damaged several vehicles near the site’s cooling pond.
In February, a drone severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine, built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor unit 4 destroyed in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards.
Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites.