The government has today (Wednesday 15 July) secured the long-term future of Dartmoor’s iconic pony populations through a package of new protections and financial support. These heritage rare breeds and semi-wild hill ponies are a much-cherished part of Dartmoor’s landscape and cultural heritage. They also play an important role in conserving protected environmental sites on the moor – and the government is committed to ensuring their numbers do not fall below current levels. From today, Dartmoor ponies will be removed from stocking rate calculations in new Environmental Management agreements, so that farmers do not face a choice between keeping ponies and maintaining sheep or cattle. This implements recommendation 27 of the 2023 Fursdon Review, an independent review of protected site management on Dartmoor. Pony numbers will also be monitored across the moor to ensure they remain stable. A new dedicated pony supplement will be introduced into farming schemes to remove any financial incentive to reduce pony populations. In addition, the government has […]

Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) acted swiftly on his directive to crack down on birth tourism. “I am pleased that HHSC took decisive action based on my directive last week,” said Governor Abbott. “Regardless of what the Supreme Court of the United States may have said, U.S. citizenship […]

Today, following Iran’s attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned seven individuals and entities involved in an international network supporting weapons procurement efforts on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).  The actors designated today exemplify Iran’s use of foreign […]

New York Packaging II LLC doing business as Redi-Bag USA, a New York-based supplier of custom bags, liners, and packaging, along with the company’s CEO, Jeffrey Rabiea, have agreed to pay a total of $7.3 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by misrepresenting on customs entry forms the country of origin of […]

As part of the United States government’s ongoing humanitarian assistance leadership, the Department of State entered a new two-year partnership with Operation End Starvation to provide life-saving nutrition assistance to populations in need. Through the Department’s Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response, the United States intends to provide $100 million over the next two years to Operation […]

On July 16, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host governments for the Ministerial on the Resurgence of Political Terrorism.  The event will focus on this renewed threat to our societies and encourage stronger joint action to reinforce frontline defenses and close the gaps the terrorist actors continue to exploit. Far-left political terrorism is resurgent, […]