California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
U.S. Justice Department Orders Intensified Probe Into Antifa and Domestic Extremist Groups 
U.S. Expected to Expand Travel Ban to More Than 30 Countries 
Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
Australia and Japan Strengthen Defence Cooperation Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
UN Chief Says Gaza Operation “Fundamentally Wrong” as Concerns Over War Crimes Grow 
This week, the Biden administration announced that it would be providing $400 million for expanding internet access to rural areas in the country. This provision is part of President Joe Biden’s effort to expand internet access all over the country.
Speaking with reporters Thursday, infrastructure coordinator Mitch Landrieu said the $401 million provided would help people in rural areas get access to high-speed internet. The $401 million in loans and grants is coming from the ReConnect Program dispersed by the Agriculture Department.
“With this money, we are one step closer to President Biden’s ambitious goal of affordable and reliable internet for all,” said Landrieu.
The money will be used to support internet access expansion in 11 states: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas, according to the USDA.
Vice President Kamala Harris will also be travelling to New York to unveil the formation of the Economic Opportunity Coalition, made up of 23 companies and foundations. The coalition aims to invest billions into low-income communities.
The White House said the coalition will “address economic disparities and accelerate economic opportunity in communities of color and other underserved communities.”
Among the founding members of the coalition are Ariel Investments, Bank of America, BNY Mellon, Capital One, Citi, Discover, Ford Foundation, Goldman Sachs, Google, Key Bank, Kresge Foundation, Mastercard, McDonald’s, McKinsey & Company, Micron, Momentous Capital, Moody’s, Netflix, Paypal, PNC, The Rockefeller Foundation, TIAA, and Upstart.
Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are set to reach a budget reconciliation deal on legislation that has provisions for the climate. The legislation, brokered by Senators Chuck Schumer and Joe Manchin, was praised by clean energy advocates even as the legislation was a watered-down version of the previous legislation.
In a summary released by Schumer’s office, the bill would cut carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2030, as well as a “methane emissions reduction program” to cut leaks of potential greenhouse gas methane from the drilling of natural gas.
Manchin said the legislation would invest in hydrogen, nuclear power, renewables, fossil fuels, and energy storage. More than $60 billion would be invested into environmental justice programs to fight pollution and address public health issues in disadvantaged communities.
$20 billion would be invested into “climate-smart” agriculture practices and $10 billion for tax credits in building clean energy manufacturing plants for EVs, wind turbines, and solar panels.
