Deportations, tariffs, court clashes, record shutdown mark a historic year in Washington, D.C.
By Jennifer Shutt WASHINGTON — This year produced a seemingly endless array of history-making events and nearly constant change to immigration policy, tariffs, the Education Department and federal health care programs. President Donald Trump came back into office emboldened by a decisive 2024 election victory and empowered by Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress.
Trump admin revamps visa process in 2025, shaking up immigration system
By Bethany Blankley The Trump administration this year began revamping immigration processes administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), including what it says is the rooting out of waste, fraud and abuse in a range of programs and strengthening the citizenship process. The goal is to “restore integrity” to the immigration system, ensuring “only
NZ report card 2025: how the country fared in 28 key global and domestic rankings
By Alexander Gillespie Standardised testing and regular progress assessment became key features of the education system this year, so why not apply those same principles to New Zealand as a whole? There’s an important difference here, of course. This exercise is about prompting discussion and debate, and should be read with a degree of caution.
Mercy Ships Celebrates a Year of Growth, Partnership, and Transformative Surgical Care
LINDALE, Texas, December 26, 2025/ — Mercy Ships (https://MercyShips.org/) concludes a momentous year across its two hospital ships, the Africa Mercy® and the Global Mercy™. Operating simultaneously in two countries for its second consecutive year, the organization expanded the medical impact of its programs, strengthened strategic partnerships, and deepened its commitment to building sustainable surgical capacity across the
U.S. Coast Guard broke records across the board in 2025
By Bethany Blankley In 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard broke records across the board as the Trump administration poured an historic amount of funding into revitalizing the 235-year-old maritime force. Under the Biden administration, USCG crew interdicted a record number of foreign nationals attempting to illegally enter the U.S. by sea, repatriating thousands to Haiti
