Council staff told members the U.S. DOT interim final rule forced re-evaluation of all DBE firms, pausing some procurements; the Metropolitan Council and its Minnesota Unified Certification Program partners have processed hundreds of re-evaluations and set a July 8 goal to clear the priority window and resume DBE program activity.

The DMV subcommittee reported HB 9 11 as substituted (5–3), extending validity of certain driver‑privilege cards and temporary IDs to match standard licenses; sponsor and advocates said it reduces burdens and saves the DMV nearly $700,000 annually, while some members raised concerns about citizenship pathways.

Representative Jacques' HB 1307 — revised by a strike‑all — was reported favorably after lengthy testimony and debate. The bill restricts certain state licenses, benefits and financial protections for unauthorized aliens, mandates English‑only prelicensing/testing for CDLs, and authorizes administrative penalties for employers. Opponents urged the committee to consider language‑access and humanitarian concerns.

City Council seeks feedback on limiting alcohol consumption to city-sponsored events only.

The UN told the Security Council that growing restrictions on Afghan women and girls are harming the economy and that the humanitarian response needs $1.71 billion to reach 17.5 million people but had received only 15% of that sum.

Committee consults on library services for the blind and disabled before making changes

Lawmakers heard more than a dozen pro and con witnesses on SHB 11-28, which would create a childcare workforce standards board to make recommendations on staffing, wages and retention; supporters cited workforce burnout and understaffing, while providers warned of unfunded mandates and duplication.

Commission to analyze diversity and participation in internet gaming by minority businesses

San Francisco targets 50% local workforce participation despite low current placement rates.

Cell phone ownership surged 50% from 2011 to 2021, transforming internet access for young adults.

Oregon Court establishes guidelines for granting motions to seal conviction records.

Oregon's SB 98 becomes effective immediately to protect public peace and health.

Legislators discuss SB 243 aiming to simplify childcare access for working families in New Hampshire.

SB 243 F N streamlines childcare scholarship applications and improves provider funding stability.

By Devayani Sathyan and Veronica Dudei Maia Khongwir BENGALURU (Reuters) -Indian women’s participation in the workforce will take at least two decades to catch up with G20 peers, according to a Reuters poll of economists and policy experts, many of whom said they believed poorly-paid self-employment is inflating an already-low rate. Overall job creation is falling short of the needs of India’s mostly young, rapidly-growing working-age population. Women, who make up half of that pool, are largely absent from the workforce and most women with jobs are not formally employed on payrolls. The official female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) rose to 31.7% from 27.8% in the latest 2023-24 Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), but is well short of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2047 development goal to raise it to 70%, putting it more in line with advanced economies. India is at the bottom of the G20 table, behind Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and lower than even neighbouring Bangladesh and Bhutan, according to World Bank data. The G20 average is around 50%. A majority, 80%, of top independent economists and policy experts surveyed over the past month, 32 of 40, said it would take at least 20 to 30 years for India to reach a rate comparable to other G20 economies, including 18 who said it would take more than three decades. The remaining eight said it would take 10-20 years. "The kind of work women are involved in is not really what we call good jobs or good quality work. It’s really just bottom of the ladder, survivalist kind. It’s good they’re participating but it’s not the kind of transformational participation you might imagine," said Ashwini Deshpande, a professor and head of the department of economics at Ashoka University. "The job crisis is much more acute than in countries with similar levels of GDP...And when jobs are scarce, men get the first priority everywhere," added Deshpande. Only 15.9% of working women are in regular wage or salaried jobs, the kind that come with contracts, steady pay or benefits. While officials have noted the recent rise in female labour force participation as a sign of progress, the latest PLFS survey showed 73.5% of rural working women and over 40% with jobs in urban areas are self-employed. Asked what they make of the official data over 70% of economists surveyed, 32 of 43, said it masked the real picture. "Ideally...you should see household earnings also go up when women are participating and that has not happened, which is a very big marker that this is potentially not the best kind of employment. It’s potentially distress-driven," said Rosa Abraham, assistant professor at Azim Premji University. Asked if the recent rise in FLFPR signals real progress, she said: "That level of shift is still nowhere near what you would expect at this level of economic development that we are in and there’s still a long way to go." Over 70% of experts said the Indian government’s overall unemployment data was inaccurate and masked the severity of joblessness and underemployment. Even when jobs are available, safety concerns and unpaid care work prevent many women from applying. They spend nearly five hours daily on household duties, over three times as much as men, according to the 2025 Time Use Survey. "For women the productive and reproductive age coincide. Hence childcare and lack of suitable facilities serve as a constraint," said Sangeeta Shroff, former professor at the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics. "To address such issues, it will require aggressive policy intervention which will require considerable time and resources." Asked what the government should prioritise, respondents highlighted expanding childcare, safer workplaces and stronger anti-discrimination measures. Bina Agarwal, professor of development economics and environment at the University of Manchester, said young women need safe hostels in cities and small towns, safe transport to work and enforcement of workplace sexual harassment laws. "These are among many ideas feminist economists in India have been advocating for years. Is anyone listening?" she asked. With valuations skyrocketing in 2024, many investors are uneasy putting more money into stocks. Unsure where to invest next? Get access to our proven portfolios and discover high-potential opportunities. In 2024 alone, ProPicks AI identified 2 stocks that surged over 150%, 4 additional stocks that leaped over 30%, and 3 more that climbed over 25%. That's an impressive track record. With portfolios tailored for Dow stocks, S&P stocks, Tech stocks, and Mid Cap stocks, you can explore various wealth-building strategies.

Maryland budget bill secures $30.8M for refugee and energy support in fiscal 2025.

The Bank of Namibia (BoN) today unveiled a major national Financial Inclusion Awareness Campaign, signalling a renewed push to ensure all citizens can meaningfully participate in the formal financial system. Deputy Governor Ebson Uanguta launched the flagship initiative, declaring that equitable access to financial services is not a luxury but

The Oshana Regional Council says financial, structural and systemic challenges are keeping the region’s youth from economic participation and employment, leading it to announce a N$118.1 million allocation to youth-centred initiatives. This comes after a recent report by the National Council flagged limited access to funding and business opportunities as the stumbling blocks for struggling youth empowerment projects in Namibia. The report was tabled by the chairperson of the standing committee on education, science, information and comunication technology and youth development, Olivia Hanghuwo, following visits to youth projects in the Erongo, Kunene, Omusati, Oshana, Ohangwena and Otjozondjupa regions in September 2024. Oshana Regional Town Council chief regional officer Teopolina Hamutumua says most of the challenges are financial, structural and systemic in nature. “Addressing them requires multi-sectoral coordination, decentralised resources, youth inclusion of planning and stronger links between education, innovation and local economic development,” Hamutumua yesterday said. YOUTH FOCUS She said the town council will be running a series of targeted interventions aimed at uplifting the region’s youth through inclusive local economic development (LED), enterprise support and employment creation. These interventions, outlined in the council’s Local Economic Development Strategy (2025–2030) and Internal Procurement Policy, aim to unlock the full potential of Namibia’s youth; a demographic that constitutes over 35% of the region’s population. Oshana’s unemployment rate for youth (between 15 and 24 years old) stands at 66.2% for males and 62.9% for females. The council has committed N$118.1 million to these interventions as part of its annual procurement plan, of which 15% is reserved for micro, small and medium enterprises owned by youth. The allocation, Hamutumua said, is intended to stimulate youth entrepreneurship and enable their full participation in public procurement and service delivery. To ensure youth are adequately prepared to seize these opportunities, the council will provide capacity-building programmes and technical training on the public bidding process, including proposal writing, compliance with procurement standards and cost estimation. Through mentorship and training sessions, young entrepreneurs will be equipped to compete fairly and successfully for government contracts. MEETING LOCAL NEEDS The council has further submitted a request for procurement exemptions to allow youth-led businesses and cooperatives to supply bricks and construct rural toilets as part of sanitation initiatives valued at N$1.4 million. This intervention will not only provide essential services to communities but also serve as a platform for skills transfer and job creation among local youth, Hamutumua said. In addition, the town council is actively integrating interns and casual youth labourers into its ongoing Food Security Programme, particularly in land preparation, horticulture and livestock production. “These engagements are aimed at reducing the high youth unemployment rate, currently at 49.4%, by providing practical experience and entry points into the labour market,” the chief regional officer said. To further institutionalise support for youth enterprise, the council has committed to establishing business incubation centres across the region. These centres will offer technical training in fields such as welding, culinary arts, tailoring and carpentry, equipping young people with marketable skills that align with both regional priorities and local demand. Each constituency has been tasked to register youth cooperatives and informal businesses for mentorship, incubation and potential inclusion in regional development projects. Hamutumua urged the youth to take full advantage of these initiatives by registering with their constituency offices, applying for training and participating in procurement opportunities. PAST HURDLES The region’s youth entrepreneurial endeavours have faced challenges, including the Oshakati East Best Youth Trading brick manufacturing business, which was initiated in 2018 but only commenced operations in September 2023. According to the standing committee’s report, the business received machinery valued at N$260 000 including concrete mixers, spades, wheelbarrows and a delivery truck, with N$60 000 allocated to operational capital. “The business currently produces approximately 2 500 bricks weekly and 500 per day. It has three permanent employees, who are bricklayers. The business faces significant transport challenges due to a truck breakdown, forcing the beneficiary to rent a truck for business operations, particularly the transportation of water and sand,” the report stated. The youth projects visited by the standing committee are funded through the 121 Constituency Youth Enterprise initiative and the Namibia Youth Credit Scheme. The primary goal of the initiative is to create sustainable, youth-led enterprises that can contribute to economic growth and job creation, particularly in rural areas. About 60 out of the 121 business plans were ready for financing, with the remaining plans expected to be completed. The Development Bank of Namibia allocated N$1 million for the training phase and an additional N$8 million in soft loans to fund 28 youth entrepreneurs across the 14 regions. The programme aims to create at least 1 210 permanent jobs, with the potential to generate further employment opportunities as the enterprises grow. Hanghuwo said there is a need for stronger monitoring and evaluation to ensure programmes effectively address youth needs and adapt to changing economic conditions. The post Oshana Regional Council unveils plan to uplift youth amid high unemployment appeared first on The Namibian.

Lawmakers heard testimony that HB296 would double the Working Families Tax Credit, potentially boosting average family benefits from about $850 to as much as $1,900; after questions about administration and eligibility the committee voted to table the bill for now.

Legislation prohibits discrimination based on diverse identities in public service offerings

PUTRAJAYA — The continuation of the MySTEP programme into 2026 has been regarded as a thoughtful decision by the MADANI Government to ensure vulnerable and targeted groups continue receiving employment access and economic participation opportunities. According to MyAgeing UPM’s Dr Wan Arnidawati Wan Abdullah, MySTEP plays a vital role in giving PwD exposure to structured […]

HB11 aims to expedite the sealing process for criminal conviction records in Alabama.