Latest news with #SB17
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Samsung Bioepis partners with Nipro for Japan market entry
Samsung Bioepis, the biosimilar unit of Samsung Group, announced Monday that it has signed a commercialization agreement with Japan-based pharmaceutical and medical device company Nipro to enter the Japanese market. The deal covers the licensing, development and commercialization of multiple biosimilars, including SB17, a biosimilar referencing Stelara (ustekinumab), used to treat autoimmune conditions. This marks the company's first partnership with a Japanese pharmaceutical company. Under the agreement, Samsung Bioepis will oversee development, manufacturing and supply, while Nipro will manage sales and distribution in Japan. 'The partnership is a major milestone for our entry into Japan,' said Samsung Bioepis CEO Kim Kyung-ah. 'We aim to enhance patient access to high-quality biopharmaceuticals through close collaboration with local partners.' SB17 is a biosimilar to Janssen's Stelara, which treats inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Samsung Bioepis launched its proprietary Stelara biosimilar, Pyzchiva, in the US earlier this year, followed by an increased market competition after Stelara's US patent expiry in 2023. After receiving approval in Europe last year, Pyzchiva went on to secure a 43 percent market share, emerging as a leading product in the region's biosimilar market. Founded in 2012, Samsung Bioepis has gained approval for 11 blockbuster biosimilar products and posted 1.54 trillion won ($1.13 billion) in revenue in 2024. Meanwhile, Samsung Bioepis is scheduled to separate from its parent company, Samsung Biologics, in October to operate as a new holding company, a strategic move aimed at easing client concerns over potential conflicts of interest between Samsung Biologics' contract development and manufacturing business and Samsung Bioepis' biosimilar unit.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas bill banning residents of China, Iran, North Korea, Russia from owning property isn't law — yet
Texas state Senate Bill 17, which the House passed on May 9, 2025, aims to restrict citizens of certain nations — China, Russia, Iran and North Korea — from owning property in the United States. While the bill's language doesn't explicitly forbid all citizens of those foreign countries from owning property, it does ban foreign citizens "acting as an agent or on behalf of a designated country" from owning property. It doesn't specify what "acting as an agent or on behalf of a designated country" means but gives the state attorney general the responsibility to enforce the law. The law, which would take effect on Sept. 1, 2025, includes exceptions for individuals with U.S. citizenship and for lawful permanent residents. Existing landowners affected by the bill would be able to keep their property but would not be able to purchase or lease additional land. A controversial amendment passed by the House would allow the governor to add or remove nations or "transnational criminal organizations" to/from the list of banned entities. Therefore, exactly who would be affected by the law depends on how the attorney general decides to interpret it — in its most broad interpretation, the bill could act as a total ban for foreign landowners without U.S. citizenship or lawful residency from the designated countries. In May 2025, viral posts appeared on social media claiming Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced he would sign a bill blocking citizens of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from owning land in the state. The claim was based on Senate Bill 17 (SB17), a state bill aiming to heavily restrict, if not outright ban, certain foreign entities from owning property in the state. Abbott did announce on his social media accounts that he planned to sign it into law. How strict the proposed restriction on foreign citizens of those countries will depend on how it's interpreted. The bill contained exceptions for individuals with U.S. citizenship (dual citizens) or lawful permanent residency status, meaning that under its broadest interpretation, the bill as written could be used to ban most, but not all, citizens of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from buying land in the state if it went into effect. Additionally, since laws cannot retroactively penalize individuals, landowners from the aforementioned countries would be able to keep their existing landholdings but would not be allowed to buy more. In July 2024, Snopes published an article fact-checking a claim that Chinese investors were buying farmland near United States military bases, including in Texas. (We found the claim was quite misleading.) Part of that story involved a Chinese billionaire, Sun Guangxin, attempting to build a wind farm on over 100,000 acres of land in Val Verde County, Texas. The wind farm never happened, in part because of Texas lawmakers. In response to Sun's planned wind farm, the Texas legislature passed the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act (LSIPA), which banned businesses owned or controlled by individuals from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from operating "critical infrastructure," including the electric grid. SB17, which passed the Texas House on May 9, could be viewed as an extension of that agenda. As originally written (amendments will be discussed below), SB17 aimed to restrict land purchases by different individuals and groups associated with "designated countries," which the bill defined as follows: "Designated country" means a country identified by the United States Director of National Intelligence as a country that poses a risk to the national security of the United States in at least one of the three most recent Annual Threat Assessments of the U.S. Intelligence Community issued pursuant to Section 108B, National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. Section 3043b). That list currently consists of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, the four countries named in the claim we're fact-checking. Under a proposed change, the following individuals or organizations would be banned from outright owning land in the state: (The original wording featured an exception that would allow the organizations to lease land for "less than 100 years.") (1) a governmental entity of a designated country;(2) a company, nongovernmental organization, or other entity that is: (A) headquartered in a designated country; (B) directly or indirectly held or controlled by the government of a designated country; or (C) owned by or the majority of stock or other ownership interest of which is held or controlled by individuals described by Subdivision (4); (3) a company or other entity that is owned by or the majority of stock or other ownership interest of which is held or controlled by a company or entity described by Subdivision (2); or(4) an individual who: (A) is a citizen of a designated country and: (i) is domiciled outside of the United States; or (ii) unlawfully entered the United States at a location other than a lawful port of entry; or (B) is: (i) a citizen of a country other than the United States; and (ii) acting as an agent or on behalf of a designated country. That last clause — "acting as an agent or on behalf of a designated country" — is where the complication lies, since the bill doesn't define what activities fall under that classification. It gives the state attorney general the power to enforce the law, meaning whatever that person says, goes. As long as the individual in question is either a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States (meaning holds a green card), that person would not be at risk, as the bill does contain an exception specifically for those individuals. But for anyone else hoping to buy property in the state, if the AG decides that just being a citizen of a foreign nation makes you an "agent" of that foreign nation, that's an issue — the interpretation may be dubious, but you'd have to prove that in court. That was not the final version of the bill, however, as legislators added and approved several amendments that changed things about it, including who the law would apply to. Two separate amendments heavily tightened the 100-year limit on property leases, first to two years, then to one year. Another amendment added members "of the ruling political party or any subdivision of the ruling political party in a designated country" to the list of people banned from owning land. A fourth made it such that a citizen of a designated country who lived outside the United States had to be "lawfully present and residing in the United States at the time the individual purchases, acquires, or holds the interest," in order to buy property. Finally, and perhaps most controversially, an amendment passed that would allow the Texas governor to add or remove "a country or a transnational criminal organization" to/from the banned list after consulting with Texas' public safety director and the Homeland Security Council. The bill, which would go into effect on Sept. 1, 2025, isn't law just yet (as of the time of this writing) — it, and all of its amendments, have to pass through the state Senate before landing on Abbott's desk to sign. The state Senate, like the state House, is controlled by Republicans. In May, Abbott announced on his X account that he would "soon sign the toughest ban in the U.S." on land ownership by "people from hostile foreign nations." Izzo, Jack. "Chinese Investors Are Buying Farmland Around US Military Bases?" Snopes, 23 July 2024, Kamal, By Sameea. "Texas House Advances Bill That Would Prohibit Land Sales to People and Entities from Certain Countries." The Texas Tribune, 9 May 2025, "Texas and Federal Government Seek to Protect U.S. Infrastructure From Disruption by Foreign Adversaries." Jackson Walker, Accessed 14 May 2025. Yu, Issac. "Texas House Passes Bill Banning Chinese Citizens from Buying State Land." Houston Chronicle, 9 May 2025,
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DEI in public education: Texas House committee considers ban in K-12 schools
A Texas House panel debated a bill Tuesday proposing to ban diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in hiring and training within public schools, similar to legislation the Legislature passed in 2023 for higher education. Senate Bill 12, dubbed a "parental rights bill," also seeks to tighten parental notification requirements regarding issues like changes to a child's mental or physical health, criminal offenses, uncertified teacher assignments, or sex education. The effort to limit DEI in public schools mirrors a similar push in 2023 to ban DEI in public universities and colleges in Texas. That 2023 law, SB 17, reshaped equity-based student support practices in higher education, led to university staff layoffs and dismantled offices meant to help minority students. The Trump administration is also seeking to strip DEI from the federal government, including in education. During the House Committee on Public Educating hearing on the bill, Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, said that SB 12, passed by the Senate in March, aims to provide parents greater oversight of their children's education. Leach is sponsoring the bill by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, in the House. 'I am concerned when it comes to our history and being inclusive in that history,' said Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin. When Hinojosa asked if a school lesson about Harvey Milk — the first openly gay man elected to public office in California — would violate the bill, Leach told her no. Hinojosa also noted that when lawmakers talk about banning DEI, they need to be clear about exactly what that means for teachers. 'They need to have a specific understanding of what is prohibited in their jobs,' Hinojosa said. Rep. John Bryant, a Dallas Democrat, pushed back on the fact that the bill would prohibit districts from specifically seeking minority teachers for schools that serve primarily minority students. 'Don't you agree that some considerations should be given to trying to have a faculty in school that looks a little bit like the student population there?' Bryant asked. Leach instead maintained that schools should be conducting their hiring practices based on merit and qualifications alone. 'This is about performance and achievement and instruction, and very strongly stands against and prohibits discriminatory practices,' Leach said. The House version of SB 12 cut out a limit on district-sponsored student clubs that are 'based on sexual orientation or gender identity,' Leach said Tuesday. While education advocates said this was a good move, they still fear the bill might limit minority and LGBTQ+ students' access to information and resources about their communities. Ash Hall, policy and advocacy strategist on LGBTQIA+ rights at ACLU of Texas, said the bill would mandate that educators disclose personal information about a student's identity, even without the student's consent. Hall said SB 12 could also lead to classroom censorship. 'This bill creates red tape and compliance burdens that distract schools from teaching and learning,' Hall said during a news conference Tuesday. 'It is not about improving education. It is about controlling it.' During the news conference, Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, called the bill a further attack on minority and LGBTQ+ students and said Texas should be celebrating diversity. 'If passed, this bill would undermine educators by giving parents complete control over their students' education and strip students of their personal autonomy and privacy, force school staff to out their students to their parents, limit educators' ability to tailor their lessons due to vague language, (and) effectively ban district staff and contractors from carrying out DEI duties,' Reynolds said. The committee left the bill pending Tuesday. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas House panel weighs DEI ban in public schools
New Straits Times
12-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Texas push to ban non-citizens from buying land prompts racism worries
AUSTIN: A renewed push in Texas to ban Chinese and other non-citizens from purchasing property is almost across the finish line, prompting protests by opponents who claim the measure will stoke discrimination against minorities. The legislation previously failed in 2023, but has gained new steam in the Republican-led state since President Donald Trump's return to office on a stark anti-immigration and anti-China agenda. The Texas bill, SB 17, bans most non-citizens from countries deemed by the United States to be national security threats from purchasing any property. That list currently includes China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, but a recent amendment allows Governor Greg Abbott – a close Trump ally – the freedom to add other countries. A sponsor of the bill, State Representative Cole Hefner, claimed the push "is about securing Texas land and natural resources... (from) adversarial nations and oppressive regimes that wish to do us harm." Hundreds of protesters on Saturday took to the streets in the capital Austin, carrying posters reading "stop the hate" and "housing is a human right." "If you make a law targeting certain people just because of their origin, their country where they come from, that's racist. This is a racist bill," said Alice Yi, co-founder of Asian Texans for Justice. "This is our country too," the 68-year-old added. According to US Census data, Asians represented roughly six percent of the Texas population in 2023 – 1.7 million people out of 31.3 million – but were the fastest growing group in the state. "Not everybody is a spy, not everybody here is associated with... the home country," said Eileen Huang, 42, with the Texas Multicultural Advocacy Coalition. "A lot of people, they flee from the home country. Why? Because they don't agree" with the country's leadership, she added. The top Democrat in the Texas House, Representative Gene Wu, argued that exemptions for lawful permanent residents did not go far enough. "They've accepted green card holders and citizens, but the problem is you cannot become a green card holder or a citizen if you do not have a way to show that you can live here permanently," he told AFP. Wu, who was born in China, said "people don't know the difference between Asian people, they just see an Asian face." "What this will mean is across the board discrimination against all Asians." SB 17 passed the House on Friday with several amendments, and must now be passed again in the Senate. With mounting political and economic tensions between Washington and Beijing in recent years, similar bans targeting Chinese land ownership have popped up in multiple other states. Texas itself passed a law in 2021 to bans companies from several nations, including China, from connecting to the power grid. The legislation was passed to block Chinese mogul Sun Guangxin from building a large wind farm in the state.
Straits Times
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Texas push to ban non-citizens from buying land prompts racism worries
People protest against a Bill that aims to ban citizens and entities of certain countries, like China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, from buying properties in Texas. PHOTO: AFP AUSTIN - A renewed push in Texas to ban Chinese and other non-citizens from purchasing property is almost across the finish line, prompting protests by opponents who claim the measure will stoke discrimination against minorities. The legislation previously failed in 2023, but has gained new steam in the Republican-led state since US President Donald Trump's return to office on a stark anti-immigration and anti-China agenda. The Texas Bill, SB 17, bans most non-citizens from countries deemed by the United States to be national security threats from purchasing any property. That list currently includes China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, but a recent amendment allows Governor Greg Abbott – a close Mr Trump ally – the freedom to add other countries. A sponsor of the Bill, State Representative Cole Hefner, claimed the push 'is about securing Texas land and natural resources... (from) adversarial nations and oppressive regimes that wish to do us harm.' Hundreds of protesters on May 10 took to the streets in the capital Austin, carrying posters reading 'stop the hate' and 'housing is a human right.' 'If you make a law targeting certain people just because of their origin, their country where they come from, that's racist. This is a racist Bill,' said Ms Alice Yi, co-founder of Asian Texans for Justice. 'This is our country too,' the 68-year-old added. According to US Census data, Asians represented roughly six per cent of the Texas population in 2023 – 1.7 million people out of 31.3 million – but were the fastest growing group in the state. 'Not everybody is a spy, not everybody here is associated with... the home country,' said Ms Eileen Huang, 42, with the Texas Multicultural Advocacy Coalition. 'A lot of people, they flee from the home country. Why? Because they don't agree' with the country's leadership, she added. The top Democrat in the Texas House, Representative Gene Wu, argued that exemptions for lawful permanent residents did not go far enough. 'They've accepted green card holders and citizens, but the problem is you cannot become a green card holder or a citizen if you do not have a way to show that you can live here permanently,' he told AFP. Mr Wu, who was born in China, said 'people don't know the difference between Asian people, they just see an Asian face.' 'What this will mean is across the board discrimination against all Asians.' SB 17 passed the House on May 9 with several amendments, and must now be passed again in the Senate. With mounting political and economic tensions between Washington and Beijing in recent years, similar bans targeting Chinese land ownership have popped up in multiple other states. Texas itself passed a law in 2021 to bans companies from several nations, including China, from connecting to the power grid. The legislation was passed to block Chinese mogul Sun Guangxin from building a large wind farm in the state. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
