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Weekly Wrap-Up: U.S. DHS Funding, Protests in Prague, China and the Mineral Supply Chain
- Mar 29
- 2 min read
Written by Rūta Zdancevičiūtė
Edited by Annika Lilja
Top story from the USA: Funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
House Republicans rejected a bipartisan Senate bill regarding DHS funding because it didn’t include appropriations for ICE and part of Customs and Border Protection. This is a part of the fight between Congressional Republicans and Democrats, who are refusing to fund ICE until accountability reforms are made. While Senate Republicans worked with Senate Democrats on this bill, House Republicans instead voted to extend the standoff, passing their own funding bill that the Senate cannot vote on until after their recess ends in two weeks. In response, President Donald Trump has ordered funds to be provided directly to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which is an attempt to temporarily keep TSA staff paid and reduce the staggering airport inefficiency and chaos occuring across the country.
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Top story from Europe: Protests in Czechia
Recently, a large-scale protest happened in Prague, with thousands of people rallying against the current government’s lack of responsibility and transparency. Specifically, concerns arose over government action regarding public media, civil society organizations, and foreign policy. This protest is one of many in Europe happening this year and last, where citizens are voicing their concerns about the civic vitality of their countries and the need for reforms.
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Top story from Asia: China is Becoming a Key Player in the Mineral Supply Chain
China is expanding its influence in the DRC’s (Democratic Republic of Congo) mining sector through new agreements and investments, which is a strategic development for China’s industries. Since Africa’s natural resources are a vital element for most countries' green energy transition, whoever has that access makes everyone else dependent on them for minerals like cobalt and copper, which are essential for renewable tech development.
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