Applications under the fifth round of the National Industry PhD Program have opened for PhD candidates and businesses interested in turning their big ideas into new products and services, with scholarships set to build on $13.3 million of funding on 70 projects underway since the Program started.
Assistant Minister for Education, Anthony Chisholm, said the program was part of a $296 million initiative creating powerful opportunities for developing a new workforce skilled in turning our world-class research into commercial outcomes.
“Empowering our aspiring researchers through this program will make it easier for industry to tap into an inspiring talent pool of PhD candidates or for industry employees to undertake a PhD, helping to turn those ideas into Australian inventions that contribute to a stronger and more productive economy,” Assistant Minister Chisholm said.
“It’s been really encouraging to see how the previous four rounds of this program have supported innovators from academia and industry with a passion for big ideas, and who are contributing to the success of Australia.
“Projects recently kick-started include improving the safety of self-driving vehicles through better driver interaction, improving the lives of people with dementia, and supporting the medical profession to predict a patient’s response to therapy.”
Four PhD students at Griffith University have been some of the latest researchers to commence their study thanks to the support offered through the National Industry PhD Program.
Their work with cutting edge renewable energy start-up RedX aims to create world-leading expertise in energy storage and grid stability, with these four PhD students also being brought on board by RedX to integrate research findings into the start-up’s operations.
“We are thrilled to embark on this promising collaboration with RedX. When academia and industry join forces, the pace of innovation accelerates, and this project is a testament to that potential,” Professor Alan Liew, Head of School, the School of Information and Communication Technology at Griffith University said.
“The Industry PhD Program supports our employees to pursue a PhD with guidance from a world-leading university, allowing them to explore innovative ideas and create something beneficial for society,” RedX CEO Jonathan Chen said.
PhD Student and Director of Software Engineering at RedX Chois Cai said: “The support and structure provided by the National Industry PhD Program has been instrumental in driving this research forward.”
Applications for Round 5 close on 14 March 2025. Further information about the program and application process can be found here.
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALGELLY DIAZ, 42, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his participation in a firearm trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2023, members of the FBI Waterbury Safe Streets Task Force conducted three controlled purchases of a total of nine firearms from Diaz’s associate in Waterbury. A joint investigation revealed that Diaz’s associate was acquiring numerous firearms, most of which were purchased by straw purchasers from licensed gun dealers in Kansas and then shipped through the U.S. Mail to a stash location that Diaz maintained in Hartford. Diaz’s associate then obtained the firearms, which included assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, from Diaz and sold them to others throughout Connecticut. Diaz is a previously convicted felon who cannot not lawfully purchase or possess firearms.
The investigation further revealed that, between August 2020 and May 2023, one of Diaz’s co-conspirators purchased at least 73 firearms from a licensed gun dealer in Deerfield, Kansas.
Diaz and multiple co-conspirators were arrested on May 19, 2023. On that date, investigators executed search warrants at locations in Connecticut, Kansas, and California. A search of Diaz’s residence revealed approximately 90 rounds of ammunition. In addition, a court-authorized search of a package that was shipped to Diaz and seized from the mail stream revealed an additional three firearms.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Waterbury Police Department, the Connecticut State Police, and the Chino (Calif.) Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha M. Freismuth through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution of this case.
BANGOR, Maine: A Waterville man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for conspiring to steal firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer and for stealing those firearms.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Damiean Marcial-Alexander, 22, to three years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $17,253.37 in restitution. Marcial-Alexander pleaded guilty on May 30, 2024.
According to court records, in April 2022, Marcial-Alexanderand Ryan Ansart broke into a Waterville firearms dealer and stole multiple firearms, including a Glock, Model 17 Gen5 9mm pistol and a Smith & Wesson .38 special revolver. According to an ATF Theft/Loss Report submitted by the store owner, 15 firearms in all were reported stolen, six revolvers and nine semi-automatic pistols. Evidence collected included Instagram and text messages planning the theft, including a map to the location from Marcial-Alexander’s apartment, as well as photos of the two men holding some of the stolen firearms.
Ryan Ansart (22, West Springfield, Mass.) pleaded guilty on August 22, 2024, to his role in the conspiracy and theft and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 11.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Waterville Police Department.
LITTLE ROCK—Timothy Lee Highfield will spend 30 years in federal prison for production of child sexual abuse material. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by Chief United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker.
On June 8, 2022, Highfield, 46, of Morrilton, Arkansas, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of production of child pornography. On January 9, 2024, Highfield pleaded guilty to the count in the Indictment. Chief Judge Baker sentenced Highfield to 360 months in federal prison a lifetime of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On approximately December 17, 2021, a citizen brought a phone containing child sexual abuse material to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). An investigation revealed the phone previously belonged to Highfield. During a search of the phone by FBI, a video made by Highfield was located on the phone. The video depicted a minor, believed to be less than seven years of age, performing oral sex on Highfield. The phone also contained multiple videos and images of child sexual abuse material and adults performing sexual acts with minors.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Bryant.
# # #
Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
NASHVILLE – Donald Lee Collins, 41, of Clarksville, Tennessee, was sentenced yesterday to 87 months in federal prison after having pled guilty to two counts of sexual abuse of a minor and one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to an individual under the age of sixteen, announced Robert E. McGuire, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. In addition to his sentence of incarceration, Collins is required to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, in late December 2019, Collins and the minor victim, who was the daughter of a friend, connected over Facebook Messenger and began exchanging sexually explicit messages and images. On the night of December 31, 2019, the minor victim spent the night at Collins’ house with his teenage daughter. The next morning, Collins sexually abused the minor victim at his home. Then, as he drove the minor victim to her father’s house on Fort Campbell, Collins again sexually abused the minor victim both before driving through the gate at Fort Campbell and after they entered the Army base. Collins continued to engage in sexually explicit communication with the minor victim over Facebook Messenger after January 1, 2020.
As a result of this conduct, Collins was other than honorably discharged by the Army.
After serving his sentence, Collins will be on supervised release for 10 years.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office, Clarksville Resident Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica R. Morrison prosecuted the case.
Jacksonville, Florida – Chief United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Stephen Michael Lippincott (70, Kissimmee) to 25 years in federal prison for production of child sexual abuse material. Lippincott was also ordered to serve a 15-year term of supervised release and register as a sex offender.
According to court records, on January 18, 2024, Lippincott was embarking on a four-day cruise to the Bahamas when his cellular phone was searched by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Jax Port Cruise Terminal. The search was precipitated by a tip CBP received about a possible warrant for indecent exposure Lippincott had out of New Jersey. The search led to the discovery that Lippincott was communicating with multiple female children ranging from ages 8 to 14 on a variety of social media platforms. Lippincott also had sent at least six female children money to watch him engage in sexual acts which he then recorded on his cell phone.
“Violating the innocence of a child is a detestable act and a betrayal of the trust that fortifies the safety of our communities,” said Tim Hemker, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville assistant Special Agent in Charge. “Alongside our partners at the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Jacksonville, HSI will not rest until every predator who seeks to sexually exploit children is brought to justice.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office, and the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force. This case was being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
TOLEDO, Ohio – After a six-day trial, a federal jury convicted two men of participating in a vast money laundering conspiracy that robbed victims from across four states of their life savings. Pranay Kumar Mamidi, 27, and Kishan Vinayak Patel, 26, both nationals of the Republic of India, were found guilty of participating in a money laundering conspiracy, concealing the source of the money, and using the illegally gained money to further promote a criminal enterprise.
According to court documents, from about May to November 2023, Mamidi and Patel, along with other co-conspirators, engaged in a multi-layered scheme to launder proceeds derived from a fraud known as a phantom hacker scam. In this type of scam, a scammer, acting as a customer service representative for a store or bank, contacts a target victim and falsely informs them that their bank account has been hacked or compromised. Next, the victim is directed to a fake federal law enforcement agent for supposed assistance. The fake federal agent then proceeds to obtain the victim’s savings by deception, typically threatening imminent seizure or arrest.
In one common example, elderly victims are contacted by someone pretending to be an Amazon, Inc. employee, who informs the victim of suspicious activity on their accounts. Next, the victim is contacted by another person who claims to be from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and informs the victim that their identity was stolen. The victim is then contacted by another individual who claims to be a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agent. The fake DEA special agent claims that the account in question is being investigated for facilitating fraud and has resulted in supposed arrest warrants for the victim. Fearing legal actions, the victim follows the scammer’s instructions to pull their savings from their bank account and convert funds into cash or gold bars. The victim is further instructed to give another supposed law enforcement official cash and/or gold bars at a designated drop-off point such as a gas station or fast food restaurant. After the drop, the victim is then sent a receipt which appears to be from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and completes the illusion of a legitimate transaction.
According to court documents, the defendants in this case served as money launderers for other co-conspirators throughout the world who participated in phantom hacker schemes based out of India. The U.S. based money laundering infrastructure allowed funds illegally taken from victims to be distributed throughout the world. Investigators estimate that the total amount of money laundered is in the tens of millions of dollars.
Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. Mamidi and Patel each face a maximum of 20 years in prison for each count of conviction.
Six other defendants also named in the second superseding indictment filed in August 2024 were also charged. The following have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing: Dileep Kumar Sakineni, age 26; Balaji Rakesh Mulpuri, age 26; Avi Jitendrakumar Patel, age 22; Sai Hruthik Thodeti, age 25; and Srinivas Ravi Valluru, age 31, all nationals of the Republic of India; and Hiren Jagdishbhai Patel, age 33, of Columbus, Ohio.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI-Cleveland Field Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Melching and Dexter Phillips for the Northern District of Ohio.
The investigation and prosecution of this case is in response to the Elder Justice Initiative Program originating from the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017 (EAPPA). The mission of the EAPPA and Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department of Justice’s enforcement efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect, financial fraud, and scams that target the nation’s elderly population.
If you suspect fraudulent conduct involving an older adult, please contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov to report it.
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KENDALL CAMBY, also known as “KB,” 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 84 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 22, 2023, Hartford Police received information that Camby was in possession of a firearm while distributing drugs in the area of 1631 Main Street. After officers observed Camby engaging in suspected hand-to-hand drug transactions and then entering the passenger seat of a car, they stopped the car and found him in possession of a .45 caliber Glock 30 handgun with a magazine loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition, and fitted with a Glock switch auto sear device, which converted the gun to an automatic weapon. Camby also possessed approximately 650 wax paper sleeves containing fentanyl and approximately 50 bags of crack cocaine.
Camby’s criminal history includes state convictions for felony firearm, drug, robbery, and burglary offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
On July 10, 2024, Camby pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Hartford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ruff.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.
NEW YORK, Feb. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Veea, Inc. (NASDAQ: VEEA), a pioneering technology company specializing in edge computing and AI with smart connectivity solutions, today announced that it will ring the Opening Bell at the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square, New York City on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.
Allen Salmasi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, will be joined by members of Veea’s board of directors, management team, SPAC sponsor Plum Acquisition Corp. I, and advisors.
“We are honored to commemorate Veea’s public listing on Nasdaq’s global stage,” said Mr. Salmasi. “This event is a testament to the dedication of our team in developing and delivering innovative solutions that reshape how data is processed, secured, and leveraged for a smarter, more connected future.”
Founded in 2014, Veea develops fully integrated, scalable, and turnkey wireless communication solutions that make living and working at edge – where people, places, and things connect to the network – simpler and more secure.
About Veea Veea Inc. (NASDAQ: VEEA) was formed in 2014 and is headquartered in New York City with a rich history of major innovations in the development of advanced networking, wireless and computing technologies. Veea makes living and working at the edge simpler and more secure. Veea has unified multi-tenant computing, multiaccess multiprotocol communications, edge storage and cybersecurity solutions through fully integrated cloud- and edge-managed products. Veea’s fully integrated turnkey solution offers end-to-end cloud management of devices, applications and services with Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), optionally with a highly simplified plug and play 5G-based Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) offering. Veea Edge Platform™ enables direct connections from the wide area optical fiber, cellular and satellite networks to devices on the local area networks created by a VeeaHub® mesh cluster over network-managed Wi-Fi and IoT devices – a unique patented capability called Multiprotocol Private Network Slicing (MPNS) for ISPs to offer subscription-based services for one or a group of endpoints. Veea Developer Portal and development tools provide for rapid development of edge applications including federated learning with pre-trained models for inferencing to cost-effectively enable Edge AI for most enterprise use cases.
Veea was recognized in 2023 by Gartner as a Leading Smart Edge Platform for the innovativeness and capabilities of our Veea Edge Platform™ and a Cool Vendor in Edge Computing in 2021. Veea was named in Market Reports World’s research report published in October 2023 as one of the top 10 Edge AI solution providers alongside IBM, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services among others. For more information about Veea and its product offerings, visit veea.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions.
Examples of forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s upcoming technology deployments, partnerships, and anticipated commencement dates. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of Veea’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied upon by any investors as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. If any of these risks materialize or the parties’ assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release. There may be additional risks that Veea presently knows or currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Veea assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Defendant previously investigated in the Army and prosecuted in State Court for sexual assault crimes
Tacoma – A former U.S. Army soldier was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 87 months in prison for abusive sexual contact with a child, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Cameron James Taylor, 49, of Seattle, pleaded guilty in May 2024 and has been in custody since his guilty plea. At today’s sentencing hearing Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo noted the conduct in this case may cause the victim lifetime torment. The victim “is a strong individual” and “shows courage to move on” Chief Judge Estudillo said.
According to records filed in the case, Taylor left the Army in 2016 with an “Other than Honorable” discharge after he was investigated for sexual assault of an unconscious female in Germany, and for assaulting soldiers who went to arrest him. Taylor resigned in lieu of Court Martial.
Once back in the U.S., Taylor was convicted of the 2019 sexual assault of a 5-year-old neighbor child. Taylor forced the child to massage him and reach into his pants. In 2022, Taylor was sentenced in King County Superior Court to 18 months in prison.
During the investigation related to the neighbor child, other children who had been in Taylor’s care were interviewed. Taylor had coached a child, who was now a teen about hiding his sexual assaults. Ultimately, the child disclosed to a relative that in 2012, while stationed on JBLM, Taylor locked the then 5- or 6-year-old in a closet and sexually assaulted the child.
On the eve of trial, Taylor pleaded guilty.
In asking for the 8-year sentence prosecutors wrote to the court, “Taylor’s crimes reveal a man who lacks empathy and who prioritized his own pleasure over others’ pain. Taylor is also no stranger to the justice system; this is his third criminal sex offense. The government hopes that a 96-month sentence, coupled with lifetime supervised release, will prevent Taylor from reoffending again.”
Taylor is required to register as a sex offender following his prison term. Chief Judge Estudillo ordered that he be on supervised release for ten years following prison.
The case was investigated by U.S. Army Criminal Investigations (CID), the King County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Hillary K. Stuart and Erika J. Evans.
Infrastructure upgrades near completion in advance of expected miner deliveries
205 MW Vega project advancing on track for Q2 2025 energization
MIAMI, Feb. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hut 8 Corp. (Nasdaq | TSX: HUT) (“Hut 8” or the “Company”), a leading, vertically integrated operator of large-scale energy infrastructure and one of North America’s largest Bitcoin miners, today released its operations update for January 2025.
“With infrastructure upgrades for our initial fleet upgrade near completion, we believe we are well-positioned to energize new miners upon expected delivery in the coming weeks,” said Asher Genoot, CEO of Hut 8. “While these upgrades resulted in downtime during the month, we remain focused on optimizing returns from our existing fleet, leveraging Reactor to dynamically curtail operations, particularly at our Alpha site, where power prices were elevated.”
“We continue to execute on key growth initiatives across our digital infrastructure layer. Data center construction at Vega is progressing rapidly, keeping us on schedule for energization in Q2 2025 as we prepare for the launch of our ~15 EH/s colocation agreement with BITMAIN. As we focus on AI data center development, we also advanced and expanded our development pipeline.”
Highlights
Infrastructure upgrades near completion in advance of expected miner deliveries for initial fleet upgrade
Data center construction at Vega progressing rapidly, on track for Q2 energization (image to left)
Advanced AI data center development opportunities across development pipeline
Operating Metrics
Average during the period unless otherwise noted1
January 2025
December 2024
Total energy capacity under management (mining)2,3,4
665 MW
665 MW
Total deployed miners under management5
115.3K
121.4K
Total hashrate under management6
12.7 EH/s
13.2 EH/s
Self-Mining7
Deployed miners8,9
47.1K
53.2K
Deployed hashrate10
5.0 EH/s
5.5 EH/s
Bitcoin produced3,11
65 BTC
89 BTC
Bitcoin held in reserve3,12
10,208 BTC
10,171 BTC
Managed Services13
Energy capacity under management3
280 MW
280 MW
Deployed miners under management9
85.7K
85.5K
Hashrate under management
9.4 EH/s
9.4 EH/s
Hosting
Deployed miners under management9,14
68.1K
68.2K
Hashrate under management15
7.7 EH/s
7.7 EH/s
Energy Infrastructure Platform3
Current/Contracted Revenue Stream(s)16
Site
Location
Owner17
Power Capacity
Self- Mining
Managed Services
Hosting
HPC
Power Sales
Vega18
Texas Panhandle
Hut 8
205 MW
Yes19
Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat, AB
Hut 8
67 MW
Yes
Salt Creek
Orla, TX
Hut 8
63 MW
Yes
Alpha
Niagara Falls, NY
Hut 8
50 MW
Yes
Drumheller20
Drumheller, AB
Hut 8
42 MW
Kelowna
Kelowna, BC
Hut 8
1.1 MW
Yes
Mississauga
Mississauga, ON
Hut 8
0.9 MW
Yes
Vaughan
Vaughan, ON
Hut 8
0.6 MW
Yes
Vancouver II
Vancouver, BC
Hut 8
0.5 MW
Yes
Vancouver I
Vancouver, BC
Hut 8
0.3 MW
Yes
King Mountain21
McCamey, TX
Hut 8 (JV)
280 MW
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Iroquois Falls22
Iroquois Falls, ON
Hut 8 (JV)
120 MW
Yes
Kingston22
Kingston, ON
Hut 8 (JV)
110 MW
Yes
North Bay22
North Bay, ON
Hut 8 (JV)
40 MW
Yes
Kapuskasing22
Kapuskasing, ON
Hut 8 (JV)
40 MW
Yes
Total
1,020 MW
Upcoming Conferences & Events
February 24–25, 2025: Capacity Media Metro Connect USA, Fort Lauderdale
February 24–28, 2025: Bitcoin Investor Week, New York
February 25–27, 2025: Infocast ERCOT Market Summit, Austin
March 3–6, 2025: Morgan Stanley Energy & Power Conference, New York
Notes:
(1)
All figures exclude Hut 8’s managed services agreement with Ionic Digital Inc. (“Ionic”), which was terminated effective December 10, 2024.
(2)
Energy capacity under management (mining) includes (i) 180 MW of self-mining sites comprised of Alpha, Medicine Hat, and Salt Creek, (ii) 205 MW of hosting capacity at Vega, which is currently under construction, and (iii) 280 MW of capacity under management at King Mountain.
(3)
As of the end of the period.
(4)
Includes 205 MW of capacity at Vega as the site is expected to host miners for BITMAIN.
(5)
Includes all miners that are racked with power and networking, rounded to the nearest 100, in Self-Mining, Managed Services, and Hosting infrastructure with power and networking, including all miners at the King Mountain site.
(6)
Includes all Self-Mining, Managed Services, and Hosting hashrate, including 100% of the hashrate at the King Mountain site.
(7)
Self-Mining operations for Hut 8 include 100% of operations at the King Mountain site.
(8)
Deployed miners are defined as those physically racked with power and networking, rounded to the nearest 100; deployed self-mining miners net of the 50% share of the King Mountain JV held by Hut 8’s joint venture partner was 38.4K during January 2025 and 44.5K during December 2024.
(9)
Miners are rounded to the nearest 100.
(10)
Indicates the target hashrate of all deployed miners; deployed self-mining hashrate net of the 50% share of the King Mountain JV held by Hut 8’s joint venture partner was 4.7 EH/s during both January 2025 and December 2024.
(11)
Bitcoin produced net of the 50% share of the King Mountain JV held by Hut 8’s joint venture partner was 51 BTC during January 2025 and 74 BTC during December.
(12)
Includes 968 Bitcoin pledged and transferred to a third-party wallet to finance Hut’s previously announced fleet upgrade.
(13)
Managed Services includes 280 MW of capacity under management at King Mountain.
(14)
34.1K deployed miners under management net of the 50% share of the King Mountain JV held by Hut 8’s joint venture partner during January 2025 and December 2024.
(15)
3.8 EH/s under management net of Hut 8’s joint venture partner’s 50% share of the King Mountain JV during both January 2025 and December 2024.
(16)
Reflects revenue sources to Hut 8, its subsidiaries, and/or joint ventures in which they participate.
(17)
Owned denotes ownership of power infrastructure at owned or leased data center locations, except for HPC sites where owned denotes ownership of mechanical and electrical infrastructure at leased data center locations.
(18)
Site is currently under development.
(19)
Anticipated to begin generating revenue by Q2 2025.
(20)
Site currently shut down; Hut 8 maintaining lease with option value of re-energizing site.
(21)
Owned by a JV between Hut 8 and a Fortune 200 renewable energy producer in which Hut 8 has an approximately 50% membership interest.
(22)
Owned by a JV between Hut 8 and Macquarie in which Hut 8 has an approximately 80% membership interest.
About Hut 8
Hut 8 Corp. is an energy infrastructure operator and Bitcoin miner with self-mining, hosting, managed services, and traditional data center operations across North America. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Hut 8 Corp. has a portfolio comprising fifteen sites: five Bitcoin mining, hosting, and Managed Services sites in Alberta, New York, and Texas, five high performance computing data centers in British Columbia and Ontario, four power generation assets in Ontario, and one non-operational site in Alberta. For more information, visit www.hut8.com and follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @Hut8Corp.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward–Looking Information
This press release includes “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and United States securities laws, respectively (collectively, “forward-looking information”). All information, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Hut 8 expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including such things as future business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, expansion and growth of the business, operations, plans and other such matters is forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words “may”, “would”, “could”, “should”, “will”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “allow”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “predict”, “can”, “might”, “potential”, “predict”, “is designed to”, “likely” or similar expressions. Specifically, such forward-looking information included in this press release includes statements relating to the completion of the Company’s infrastructure upgrades, the timing of the delivery and energization of Company’s initial fleet upgrade, the Company’s execution on key growth initiatives, the timing for the buildout and energization of the Company’s Vega site, and the Company’s continuing progress and expansion of its development pipeline.
Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts, but instead represent management’s expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events based on certain material factors and assumptions at the time the statement was made. While considered reasonable by Hut 8 as of the date of this press release, such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to, security and cybersecurity threats and hacks; malicious actors or botnet obtaining control of processing power on the Bitcoin network; further development and acceptance of the Bitcoin network; changes to Bitcoin mining difficulty; loss or destruction of private keys; increases in fees for recording transactions in the Blockchain; erroneous transactions; reliance on a limited number of key employees; reliance on third party mining pool service providers; regulatory changes; classification and tax changes; momentum pricing risk; fraud and failure related to digital asset exchanges; difficulty in obtaining banking services and financing; difficulty in obtaining insurance, permits and licenses; internet and power disruptions; geopolitical events; uncertainty in the development of cryptographic and algorithmic protocols; uncertainty about the acceptance or widespread use of digital assets; failure to anticipate technology innovations; the COVID19 pandemic, climate change; currency risk; lending risk and recovery of potential losses; litigation risk; business integration risk; changes in market demand; changes in network and infrastructure; system interruption; changes in leasing arrangements; failure to achieve intended benefits of power purchase agreements; potential for interrupted delivery, or suspension of the delivery, of energy to mining sites and other risks related to the digital asset mining and data center business. For a complete list of the factors that could affect Hut 8, please see the “Risk Factors” section of Hut 8’s Transition Report on Form 10-K, available under the Company’s EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov, and Hut 8’s other continuous disclosure documents which are available under the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca and EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov.
Hut 8 Corp. Investor Relations Sue Ennis ir@hut8.com
Minh Quang Pham Traveled to Yemen and Received Military Training from AQAP to Commit a Suicide Attack at Heathrow International Airport
Danielle R. Sassoon, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Devin DeBacker, the Head of the National Security Division of the United States Department of Justice, announced today that MINH QUANG PHAM, a/k/a “Amin,” 41, was sentenced to 44 years in prison for terrorism charges based on Pham’s support of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (“AQAP”), a designated foreign terrorist organization, including attempting to commit a suicide bombing at Heathrow International Airport (“Heathrow Airport”). On May 11, 2023, PHAM pled guilty to providing and attempting to provide material support to AQAP and participating in a conspiracy to do the same; conspiring to receive military-type training from AQAP; and providing and attempting to provide material support for acts of terrorism. Today’s sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman.
U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon said: “Minh Quang Pham’s actions were not just an affront to the safety of this country, but to the principles of peace and security that we hold dear. Today’s sentencing underscores our collective resolve to stop terrorism before it occurs, and place would-be terrorists in prison.”
Head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division Devin DeBacker said: “The defendant was sentenced for an attempt to commit an act of terrorism and plotting a suicide bombing on behalf of AQAP. The Justice Department will not rest in seeking justice for acts of terrorism and will continue to thwart any attempt to jeopardize global security.”
According to the indictments, extradition materials, court filings and statements made at related court proceedings, including today’s sentencing:
In December 2010, PHAM informed others that he planned to travel to Ireland while residing in London. From Ireland, he traveled to Yemen, the principal base of operations for AQAP. PHAM traveled to Yemen in order to join AQAP, to wage jihad on behalf of AQAP and to martyr himself for AQAP’s cause. After arriving in Yemen, he swore an oath of loyalty to AQAP in the presence of an AQAP commander.
While in Yemen in 2010 and 2011, PHAM provided assistance to and received training from Anwar al-Aulaqi, a U.S.-born senior leader of AQAP. Al-Aulaqi advised PHAM to return to the United Kingdom for the purpose of finding and making contact with individuals who, like PHAM, wanted to travel to Yemen to join AQAP. Al-Aulaqi also provided PHAM with money, as well as a telephone number and e-mail address that PHAM was to use to contact al-Aulaqi upon his return to the U.K. In addition, PHAM exchanged his laptop computer with al-Aulaqi, who provided him with a new “clean” laptop to take with him when he returned to the U.K. so that the authorities would not find anything if they searched his computer.
In or about June 2011, prior to his departure from Yemen, PHAM approached al-Aulaqi about conducting a suicide attack whereby he would “sacrifice” himself on behalf of AQAP. Al-Aulaqi personally taught PHAM how to create a lethal explosive device using household chemicals and directed PHAM to detonate such an explosive device at the arrivals area of Heathrow following PHAM’s return to the U.K. in 2011. Al-Aulaqi instructed PHAM to carry an explosive in a concealed backpack and target the area where flights arrived from the U.S. or Israel. During this time, PHAM made videos depicting his preparation to carry out that attack. In one video, PHAM is shown wiring an electrical device for the use of making an explosive device; in another, he sketches an explosive device to be contained in a backpack; and in a third, PHAM wears a backpack with wiring for explosives on it, which he turns on in the video.
Also during this time, in or about June or July 2011—shortly before PHAM returned from Yemen to the U.K.—PHAM recorded a video in which he attempted to recruit and encourage individuals in the West to engage in violent jihad abroad or in their home countries; in this video, he also expresses a desire to martyr himself. At the outset of this video, consisting of an approximately 13 minute-long monologue, PHAM states that, “America itself is not fighting a war with a group or an organization, they are fighting with the army of Allah, the believers.” He continues, in part, “We have that opportunity, that ability to be in their midst, in their land . . . and I advise the brothers inshallah to, whatever you can, to gather and prepare and strike the enemy in their own land . . . The saying, a thousand cuts, you hit them with as much as you can until inshallah the enemy will bleed to death.” During his time in Yemen, PHAM also assisted with the preparation and dissemination of AQAP’s propaganda magazine, Inspire. PHAM, who has college degrees in both graphic design and animation, worked directly with now-deceased U.S. citizen Samir Khan, who was a prominent member of AQAP responsible for editing and publishing Inspire.
PHAM also received a six-page document entitled “Your Instructions” from al-Aulaqi in Yemen, which provided detailed instructions on how PHAM was to commit his suicide attack at Heathrow. The document from al-Aulaqi instructed PHAM, “[d]o not do anything for the first three months” and “[y]ou should target Christmas/ New Year season[.]” The instructions from al-Aulaqi provided explicit direction about the importance of using shrapnel to kill as many people as possible, including that “[t]he proper use of shrapnel is as important as the main charge itself. The detonation wave from a main charge of AP by itself is most likely not going to cause the death of anyone except those who are in its immediate vicinity. It is the shrapnel that would do the job. You may imagine this IED as a shotgun that is firing in all directions.” The document therefore instructed PHAM to take “special care” with the “proper arrangement and choice of shrapnel,” and to “poison” it to inflict maximum death.
On July 27, 2011, PHAM returned to the U.K. Upon his arrival at Heathrow, U.K. authorities detained PHAM, searched him, and recovered various materials from him, including a live round of 7.62mm caliber armor-piercing ammunition, which is consistent with ammunition that is used in a Kalashnikov assault rifle, a type of weapon for which PHAM received training from AQAP in Yemen. U.K. authorities released PHAM and cautioned him for his possession of the live round of ammunition, before, in December 2011, arresting him pursuant to their authorities under U.K. immigration law. In searches of PHAM’s residence, other locations, and vehicles, U.K. authorities recovered several pieces of electronic media. Among other things, a forensic analysis of PHAM’s electronic media showed that he was accessing speeches and writings of al-Aulaqi as late as December 2011—months after PHAM’s return to the U.K.
On May 24, 2012, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Pham with terrorism offenses and U.S. authorities sought Pham’s extradition from the United Kingdom. He was provisionally arrested with a view towards extradition on June 29, 2012, and he was extradited to the United States on February 26, 2015. On January 8, 2016, Pham pled guilty to terrorism offenses related to certain of the same underlying conduct. On May 27, 2016, Pham was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan principally to a term of 40 years in prison. On September 12, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed Pham’s conviction and sentence. Thereafter, Pham made a motion that, based on intervening Supreme Court decisions, resulted in the vacatur of one of the counts of his conviction. Ultimately, the Government, with Pham’s consent, moved to vacate Pham’s earlier convictions. On April 8, 2021, a grand jury returned a superseding indictment, reinstating certain charges and filing other new charges against Pham, and which formed the basis for Pham’s May 11, 2023 guilty plea and conviction.
* * *
In addition to the prison term, PHAM, 41, was also sentenced to life term of supervised release and a $400 special assessment.
Ms. Sassoon praised the extraordinary investigative work of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. She also expressed her gratitude to the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force for the critical role it played in the investigation and prosecution. Ms. Sassoon also thanked the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and Office of International Affairs for their significant assistance, as well as the Metropolitan Police Service/SO 15 Counter Terrorism Command at New Scotland Yard, the Crown Prosecution Service, and the Home Office for their cooperation in the investigation, extradition and prosecution.
This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob H. Gutwillig is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney John Cella of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
HOUSTON, Feb. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: PARR) (“Par Pacific”) today announced that it will release its fourth quarter 2024 results after the New York Stock Exchange closes on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. This release will be followed by a conference call for investors on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time (10:00 a.m. Eastern). The full text of the release will be available on Par Pacific’s website at http://www.parpacific.com.
Par Pacific Fourth Quarter 2024 Earnings Conference Call Wednesday, February 26, 2025 9:00 a.m. Central time (10:00 a.m. Eastern) Dial-in number: 1-833-974-2377 (toll-free) or 1-412-317-5782 (toll)
Individuals who would like to participate should dial the applicable dial-in number at least 10 minutes before the scheduled conference call time.
To access the live audio webcast and related presentation materials, please visit the Investors section of Par Pacific’s website at http://www.parpacific.com.
A replay will be available shortly after the call and can be accessed by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (toll-free) or 1-412-317-0088 (toll). The passcode for the replay is 2219355. The replay will be available until March 12, 2025.
About Par Pacific
Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: PARR), headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a growing energy company providing both renewable and conventional fuels to the western United States. Par Pacific owns and operates 219,000 bpd of combined refining capacity across four locations in Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest and the Rockies, and an extensive energy infrastructure network, including 13 million barrels of storage, and marine, rail, rack, and pipeline assets. In addition, Par Pacific operates the Hele retail brand in Hawaii and the “nomnom” convenience store chain in the Pacific Northwest. Par Pacific also owns 46% of Laramie Energy, LLC, a natural gas production company with operations and assets concentrated in Western Colorado. More information is available at www.parpacific.com.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diversified Royalty Corp. (TSX: DIV and DIV.DB.A) (the “Corporation” or “DIV”) is pleased to announce that its board of directors has approved a cash dividend of $0.02083 per common share for the period of February 1, 2025 to February 28, 2025, which is equal to $0.25 per common share on an annualized basis. The dividend will be paid on February 28, 2025 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 14, 2025.
About Diversified Royalty Corp.
DIV is a multi-royalty corporation, engaged in the business of acquiring top-line royalties from well-managed multi-location businesses and franchisors in North America. DIV’s objective is to acquire predictable, growing royalty streams from a diverse group of multi-location businesses and franchisors.
DIV currently owns the Mr. Lube + Tires, AIR MILES®, Sutton, Mr. Mikes, Nurse Next Door, Oxford Learning Centres, Stratus Building Solutions and BarBurrito trademarks. Mr. Lube + Tires is the leading quick lube service business in Canada, with locations across Canada. AIR MILES® is Canada’s largest coalition loyalty program. Sutton is among the leading residential real estate brokerage franchisor businesses in Canada. Mr. Mikes operates casual steakhouse restaurants primarily in western Canadian communities. Nurse Next Door is a home care provider with locations across Canada and the United States as well as in Australia. Oxford Learning Centres is one of Canada’s leading franchisee supplemental education services. Stratus Building Solutions is a leading commercial cleaning service franchise company providing comprehensive janitorial, building cleaning, and office cleaning services primarily in the United States. BarBurrito is the largest quick service Mexican restaurant food chain in Canada.
DIV’s objective is to increase cash flow per share by making accretive royalty purchases and through the growth of purchased royalties. DIV intends to continue to pay a predictable and stable monthly dividend to shareholders and increase the dividend over time, in each case as cash flow per share allows.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. The use of any of the words “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “will”, ”project”, “should”, “believe”, “confident”, “plan” and “intends” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information, although not all forward-looking information contains these identifying words. Specifically, forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements made in relation to: the amount and timing of the February 2025 dividend to be paid to DIV’s shareholders; DIV’s objective to continue to pay predictable and stable monthly dividends to shareholders; and DIV’s corporate objectives. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events, performance, or achievements of DIV to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such forward-looking information. DIV believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this news release are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. In particular there can be no assurance that: DIV will be able to make monthly dividend payments to the holders of its common shares; or DIV will achieve any of its corporate objectives. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned that forward-looking information included in this news release are not guarantees of future performance, and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. More information about the risks and uncertainties affecting DIV’s business and the businesses of its royalty partners can be found in the “Risk Factors” section of its Annual Information Form dated March 21, 2024 and in its most recent Management’s Discussion and Analysis, copies of each of which are available under DIV’s profile on SEDAR+ atwww.sedarplus.com.
In formulating the forward-looking information contained herein, management has assumed that, among other things, DIV will generate sufficient cash flows from its royalties to service its debt and pay dividends to shareholders; the business and economic conditions affecting DIV and its royalty partners will continue substantially in the ordinary course, including without limitation with respect to general industry conditions, general levels of economic activity and regulations. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect.
All of the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, DIV. The forward-looking information included in this news release is presented as of the date of this news release and DIV assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable law.
THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR THE ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
Additional Information
Additional information relating to the Corporation and other public filings, is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.
Contact: Sean Morrison, President and Chief Executive Officer Diversified Royalty Corp. (236) 521-8470
WASHINGTON – The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) issued the following statement on bicameral Congressional Review Act legislation introduced by Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) and Congressman August Pfluger (R-TX-11) to block implementation of the Biden Administration’s methane tax.
IPAA President & CEO Jeff Eshelman: “The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) appreciates and supports Senator Hoeven’s and Congressman Pfluger’s leadership to overturn the EPA’s Waste Emissions Charge (Methane Tax) regulations. The Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution introduced today will allow Congress to nullify the regulations the Biden Administration established to implement the misguided methane tax. The Biden Administration and Democrats in Congress passed the methane tax to single out and punish the oil and natural gas industry despite its already burdensome EPA regulatory framework. The tax was passed without appropriate understanding of its impact or industry safeguards. IPAA has always opposed the methane tax and believe it is simply a tax designed to hamper American oil and gas production. We encourage Congress to work with the Trump Administration to eliminate this unnecessary tax on American oil and natural gas producers as soon as possible.”
IPAA also supports legislation led by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Congressman Pfluger to repeal the Methane Tax.
Lake Alice Hospital, one of many institutions investigated by the abuse-in-state-care inquiry.Wikimedia Commons, CC BY
A new study using a large collection of demographic data has revealed the lasting and damaging consequences for children placed in state care between 1950 and 1999 – including huge disparities in life expectancy compared with the general population.
The study utilised the Stats NZ Integrated Data Infrastructure – a large collection of linked data sets about people and households from across many government agencies, Stats NZ surveys, and non-government organisations.
From a substantial sample of approximately 20,000 children placed in care between 1950–1999, the study also found about 11% of this group had subsequently died, on average much younger than the rest of the population.
The causes of death were also generally more violent, though self-harm, motor vehicle accidents and assaults, at rates greater than the general population.
These findings support the conclusions of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State Care, which exposed significant harms experienced by Māori tamariki (children) and whānau (families), revealing systemic failures and breaches of te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi.
Inside the demographic data
The Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI) allows researchers to conduct cross-sector research, to track a broad range of outcomes, compare them with the general population, and potentially explore links across generations.
We examined a range of social and health outcomes for a group of children in state care between 1950–1999. Information about these children was collected from handwritten records of state care institutions.
These lists were matched by officials in the Ministry of Health and the Department of Corrections. All identifiable information (names, birth dates, addresses, etc.) were removed or encrypted and made available to our research team from Stats NZ.
We linked this initial group to the IDI and retrieved records of available socio-demographic, health and life-event data. We were left with a list of just over 20,000 children, a substantial sample of the many hundreds of thousands of children placed in care during this time.
Life expectancy and cause of death
Basic demographic information reflects what is already widely known about children placed in state care: they are overwhelmingly male and Māori.
The birth years of the children are also significant. We see an increase in placement into state care of children who were born between 1960 and 1989. The Royal Commission’s final report records that the disproportional representation of Māori children in state care begins at this point, as shown in the graph below.
The government approach of the times, as espoused in the 1961 Hunn report into the Department of Māori Affairs, was to assimilate Māori into the European way of life. The effects of state action to deal with Māori perceived to have fallen short of these expectations can clearly be seen in these data.
By 2018, the sample group of children in our study were in their late 40s. Using mortality data, we know that approximately 11% of this group have died. Astonishingly, they have an average age at death of 46 years, compared to an average age of 70 for people in the general population born at the same time.
This corresponds to an average 24 years of life lost for those in state care. We can extrapolate this further when we examine the primary causes of death in this group and compare them with the general population.
Cancer, heart disease and strokes are the primary causes in the general population. These causes tend to increase with age; you are more likely to be affected the longer you live. As those in state care are less likely to reach old age, they have lower rates of death from these conditions.
Rather, we see they are subject to much more violent deaths through self-harm, motor vehicle accidents and assaults, at rates many times greater than the population at large.
Historical context and modern policy
As the Royal Commission of Inquiry documented so thoroughly, tamariki Māori were placed in environments where tikanga Māori was disregarded, their whakapapa and whenua were disconnected, and their identity as Māori denied.
Many faced neglect, abuse, and the loss of connection to mātauranga and wairua, leaving trauma that continues to affect whānau today.
The royal commission’s report coincided with the National-led government’s reintroduction of military-style youth training academies for young offenders, colloquially known as “boot camps”.
In mid-2024, Prime Minister Christopher Luxton dismissed concerns from the chief commissioner for children about the policy:
I don’t care what you say about whether it does or doesn’t work. We can have that intellectual conversation all day long, but we are […] going to try something different because we cannot carry on getting the results that we’ve been getting.
Based on our research findings – together with the royal commission’s report and significant international and local evidence about the real risks of such policies – we would argue the current approach in New Zealand needs to be revisited.
More broadly, extensive international scholarship demonstrates Indigenous people are particularly and uniquely affected by longstanding trauma through colonisation. Specific acts of oppression that remain unaddressed often result in the inter-generational transfer of trauma and trauma responses.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, as with many other colonised Indigenous territories, the forced removal of Māori children from their families to be placed in a range of state and church institutions was a key plank of colonial policy and practice.
We must accept that poor outcomes across a range of areas in health, welfare, education and justice exist within a historical and contemporary context. Those impacts are linked across generations and affect whānau to this day.
A paper based on these findings will be submitted for publication shortly. Research is continuing to expand the analyses explored here and to link outcomes across affected generations.
We would like to acknowledge Tui Barrett, Professor Tim McCreanor and Professor Helen Moewaka Barnes for their input and guidance.
If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP)
Belinda Borell receives funding from Nga Pae o Te Maramatanga, Centre for Research Excellence at the University of Auckland, and the Health Research Council of New Zealand.
Jose S. Romeo receives funding from Nga Pae o Te Maramatanga, Centre for Research Excellence at the University of Auckland and the Health Research Council of New Zealand.
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that the Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, Terry Duguid, will also serve as Ministerial Lead for Jasper.
In this role, Minister Duguid will continue the federal government’s work to support people and businesses in Jasper following last summer’s unprecedented wildfires that devastated the town. He will co-ordinate federal support with provincial, municipal, and Indigenous partners to accelerate the recovery process, report on its progress, and ensure environmental protection measures remain world-class. He will be supported in this role by a working group of Cabinet ministers – each with their own mandate in helping Jasper recover.
Jasper is a home to Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial and a place of natural beauty that has long attracted visitors from all over the world. As the people of Jasper continue to rebuild their community, the Government of Canada is committed to ensuring this national treasure builds back stronger than ever before.
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“Our government will always be there for the people of Jasper. With Minister Duguid as Ministerial Lead for Jasper, we’re making sure Jasper recovers, rebuilds, and continues to prosper, so its breathtaking beauty can be experienced for generations to come.”
Quick Facts
The position of Ministerial Lead for Jasper was established in October 2024 to ensure the long-term recovery of Jasper.
Last week, the Government of Canada announced an additional $12.6 million in matching funds to the Canadian Red Cross’ 2024 Alberta Wildfires Appeal. These funds have contributed to a total of $40.4 million in support of people impacted by the wildfires in Jasper.
As the Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū-Tararua Highway project nears completion, sections of State Highway 3 through Woodville will be closed for up to 5 weeks to allow for the completion of the new roundabout.
SH3 at the Vogel Street / Woodlands Road bend will be closed 24/7 for 5 weeks from Monday 24 February.
The work is expected to be completed by Sunday 30 March and the road reopened.
Access to Woodville township and its businesses will remain open during the closure period. Residents in the construction area will continue to have access to and from their properties.
Two detours will be in place – through Pinfold and Oxford Roads for light vehicles and through Pahiatua Track via Tay and Station streets in Woodville for heavy vehicles.
The detours are expected to add less than 5 minutes to the journey times for light vehicles and up to 20 minutes for heavy vehicles.
During the closure period, construction teams will connect the new roundabout to the existing roads, working onsite between the hours of 5am and 8pm.
In addition to the roundabout work, we are planning to undertake some maintenance and resurfacing works on SH3 Napier Road near Ashhurst and SH3 Vogel St in Woodville. This will be undertaken during the same period to minimise overall disruption.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi acknowledges this closure will cause frustration for some road users.
“Once this work is finished, there’ll be a safe, reliable connection between Woodville and the new highway. It will also mark a major milestone as the whole project draws closer to completion,” says Project spokesperson Grant Kauri.
“Thanks to all road users for their patience while these essential works are completed.”
For more information about the Te Ahu a Turanga project, please head to :
Golden Bay residents can expect to see contractors on site on State Highway 60 at Birds Hill next week with resilience work to start on the Birds Hill landslide.
The slip reactivated in 2017 and has continued to gradually move, creating a large hump in what was the left-hand lane of the highway. While the highway is open to two lanes at the slip site, it has been under a long-term 50 km/h temporary speed limit.
SH60 Birds Hill slip site.
Rob Service, System Manager Nelson/Tasman, says work will begin next week (10 February) to repair the site and improve its stability.
“Any future landslide movement poses a real risk to State Highway 60 in an area where there are no alternative detour routes. Maintaining and preserving access to Collingwood and western areas of Golden Bay is critical.”
“To reduce the risk, contractors will carry out substantial drainage work at the slip site above the highway. This includes building horizontally drilled drains into the slip, constructing cut off drains above the hump, and redesigning and resurfacing the road to allow the current 50 km/h speed limit to be removed,” Mr Service says.
However, he warns the work will not remove the current hump at the slip site.
“The hump is at the toe of the slip and geotechnical assessments show it provides stabilisation, reducing ground movement. To remove it would likely increase slope instability and increase the risk of more movement, particularly after wet weather.”
“In this case it is better to work with nature and leave it in place. Site studies have shown the slip’s stability is sensitive to groundwater. So, improving the drainage and removing water from the slope is the best and most cost-effective option,” Mr Service says.
He says the work will affect traffic travelling between Tākaka and Collingwood.
“For a project of this scale, it is unavoidable. The project site will be under stop/go during the day. Drivers will still be able to get through but can expect short delays. Outside of work hours, the highway will be open to two lanes.”
“Weather permitting, we expect the project to be finished by late April. So, please bear with us while our contractors work hard to get this job finished,” Mr Service says.
Works schedule
Monday, 10 February to Thursday, 24 April (Weather dependent). Monday to Saturday, 7 am – 7 pm
Stop go traffic management and 30/km/h temporary speed limit
Road open to two lanes and 50 km/h temporary speed limit outside work hours
No work will be done during the Easter Holidays
More Information
This project is funded out of the Crown Resilience Programme – a $419 million investment package of resilience improvement activities that will reduce the impact of severe weather events on our national roading networks. More information can be found on our website:
February 4, 2025Jacksonville, FL, United StatesNational Security, Enforcement and Removal
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Jacksonville has led to the unsealing of an indictment in the Middle District of Florida charging an illegal alien with illegal reentry after previous deportation.
Alex Rafael Gonzalez-Morales, 35, of Honduras, faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison if convicted. His trial is set for March 3, 2025.
Gonzalez-Morales was previously convicted of unlawful reentry of a removed alien and was subsequently removed from the United States in November 2019, according to the indictment. Following his removal, Gonzalez-Morales did not receive the consent of the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States. Gonzalez-Morales was found to be voluntarily in the United States on Jan. 14, 2025.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Lasry.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today announced the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida issued an order of default judgment against Brazilian nationals Emerson Pires and Flavio Goncalves, as well as Florida resident Joshua Nicholas, for fraud in connection with the EmpiresX commodity pool scheme and other violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations. The order requires Pires and Goncalves to pay, jointly and severally, more than $32 million in disgorgement and more than $96 million in civil monetary penalties. Nicholas is required to pay $289,000 in disgorgement and $867,000 in civil monetary penalties. The order also permanently enjoins the three individual defendants from engaging in conduct that violates the CEA, as charged, and permanently bans them from registering with the CFTC and from trading in any CFTC-regulated markets. The order resolves a CFTC complaint filed on June 30, 2022. [See CFTC Press Release No. 8551-22.] The court previously ordered commodity pool operator Empires Consulting Corp. to pay $64 million in monetary sanctions for the fraud scheme. [See CFTC Press Release No. 8879-24.] Case Background The order finds that beginning in approximately September 2020, the defendants fraudulently solicited individuals to trade commodity futures and options and other products through commodity interest pools under the name EmpiresX through the EmpiresX website and in online videos posted on social media platforms. During the relevant period, Pires and Goncalves, along with Empires Consulting, the Florida corporation that operated the EmpiresX commodity pools, accepted and pooled at least $41.6 million from over 12,500 individuals. The order finds Pires and Goncalves collectively retained over $32 million in ill-gotten gains. According to the order, Pires, Goncalves, and Nicholas knowingly made false claims regarding the use of pool participant funds, the size of the pools, and participant returns. The order further finds Nicholas showed pool participants an account page he identified as EmpiresX’s profitable account with a large, well-known electronic trading platform, when in fact EmpiresX had no account with that platform, and defendants created a fake website that mimicked the platform’s website to mislead participants into thinking that EmpiresX was actually trading their funds. By November 2021, the defendants stopped honoring participant withdrawal requests. The order finds Pires, Goncalves, and Nicholas acted as associated persons of a commodity pool operator, Empires Consulting Corporation, without registering as required, and committed fraud in connection with EmpiresX. It further finds Pires and Goncalves commingled pool funds in violation of the CEA. Parallel Criminal/Civil Enforcement Actions On Sept. 8, 2022, the Department of Justice announced Nicholas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud in connection with his role in the EmpiresX scheme. [See DOJ press release here.] On June 21, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission obtained default judgment against Pires and Goncalves for their role in the EmpiresX scheme. SEC v. Empires Consulting Corp., No. 22-21995-Civ, ECF No. 48 (S.D. Fla. June 21, 2023). The CFTC thanks the SEC and National Futures Association for their assistance in this matter. The Division of Enforcement staff responsible for this matter are Heather N. Dasso, Ben Sedrish, Elizabeth N. Pendleton, Scott R. Williams, and Robert T. Howell.
* * * * * * * Fraud Advisory The CFTC has issued several customer protection fraud advisories and articles, including the Commodity Pool Fraud Advisory, which provides information about a type of fraud involving individuals and firms — often unregistered — offering investments in commodity pools and how customers can detect, avoid, and report these scams. The CFTC also strongly urges the public to verify a company’s registration with the CFTC at NFA BASIC before committing funds. If unregistered, a customer should be wary of providing funds to that company. Suspicious activities or information, such as possible violations of commodity trading laws, should be reported to the Division of Enforcement via a toll-free hotline 866-FON-CFTC (866-366-2382), file a tip or complaint online, or contact the CFTC Whistleblower Office at whistleblower.gov. Whistleblowers may be eligible to receive between 10 and 30 percent of the monetary sanctions collected paid from the CFTC Customer Protection Fund financed through monetary sanctions paid to the CFTC by violators of the Commodity Exchange Act.
ASL Version – Governor Shapiro Unveils 2025-26 Budget Proposal to Cut Costs, Drive Economic Growth, Strengthen Public Safety, Fund Our Kids’ Education, and Continue to Get Stuff Done for Pennsylvanians
Governor Josh Shapiro presented his 2025-26 budget proposal to the General Assembly and the people of Pennsylvania – a commonsense plan that builds on two years of progress, continues to solve problems, and paves the way for a stronger, more competitive Pennsylvania. The Governor’s budget proposal places a special emphasis on workforce development; reduces health care, housing, and energy costs; invests in economic development; and continues bipartisan efforts to support Pennsylvania students – all while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
This budget will build on the foundation the Shapiro Administration has constructed over the past two years and move Pennsylvania forward as Governor Shapiro continues working across the aisle to get stuff done and ensure people across the Commonwealth have the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed.
“Pennsylvania is on the rise, and this budget is a clear roadmap for tackling our challenges and building on the bipartisan foundation we’ve created over the last two years,” said Governor Shapiro. “My budget proposal is focused on solving problems for Pennsylvanians, expanding our workforce, cutting costs, investing in public safety and economic development – and so much more – to keep creating more opportunity for all Pennsylvanians. This budget strikes a balance by making historic investments while maintaining fiscal responsibility, continuing to cut taxes, and ensuring our Commonwealth’s surplus remains strong while we keep moving Pennsylvania forward. By working together with Democrats and Republicans in the General Assembly, we will continue to tackle the challenges we face and drive growth for a stronger, more prosperous Pennsylvania.”
Source: Australian Government – Minister of Foreign Affairs
Today marks one year since Australian citizen, Dr Yang Jun, received a suspended death sentence in Beijing.
The past year, and the five years of detention before his sentencing, have been a difficult and dark time for Dr Yang. Throughout, he has demonstrated his inner strength and remarkable resilience.
Today, my thoughts are with Dr Yang, his family and his many loved ones.
The Australian Government has made clear to China that we remain appalled by Dr Yang’s suspended death sentence. We hold serious concerns about Dr Yang’s health and conditions. We continue to press to ensure his needs are met and he receives appropriate medical care.
Dr Yang is entitled to basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment, in accordance with international norms and China’s legal obligations.
In his communication with the Government, Dr Yang has made clear he knows he has the support of his country. We want to see him reunited with his family. The Government will continue to advocate for Dr Yang at every opportunity.
On February 1, 2024 RCMP received a report of a missing 27-year-old male, Isiah Hanson.
Isaiah was last seen at on January 31, 2025 at approximately 4 a.m. traveling on foot on Highway 965 near Jans Bay.
Since he was reported missing, Beauval RCMP have been checking places Isiah Hanson is known to visit and following up on information received. They are now asking members of the public to report information on Isiah’s whereabouts.
Isiah is described as:
Height: 5’5″
Weight: 115 lbs
Eye colour: brown
Hair colour and style: short black
Last seen wearing: green winter coat, black Carhartt toque, “Hustle Game” sweatpants and greyish-brown Vans runners
Other descriptors: several forearm tattoos and large tattoo on left upper arm and shoulder
Isiah may have been picked up in a white pickup truck headed toward the Dillon area, but his current whereabouts are unknown.
If you have seen Isiah Hanson or know where he is, contact Beauval RCMP at 310-RCMP. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.
Tip to NCMEC leads to discovery of images/videos of young sexual abuse victims on Devin Madigan’s phone
BANGOR, Maine: A Caribou man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor to possession of child pornography.
According to court records, in April 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip from Kik, a messaging and chat app, that a user had uploaded videos containing child sexual abuse material. The videos captured the sexual abuse of victims as young as 1-3 years old. The account was later traced to Devin Madigan, 29. A forensic investigation of Madigan’s phone revealed images and videos of child sexual abuse material.
Madigan faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 to be followed by five years to life of supervised release. Madigan could also be ordered to pay restitution to the victims. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case with assistance from the Grafton County (NH) Sheriff’s Department and the Brewer Police Department.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt, or production of child sexual abuse material: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as “child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
James Elliott of Springfield was previously convicted in Kansas of aggravated assault, indecent conduct with a child
BANGOR, Maine: A Springfield man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor today to unlawfully possessing a firearm.
According to court records, in February 2024, a deputy from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report that a home inspector from an insurance company had been threatened with a firearm by James Elliott, 66. During a search of Elliott’s home in March 2024, deputies found six firearms, including a loaded .44 magnum lever action rifle. Elliott is precluded from possessing firearms due to two prior felony convictions in the state of Kansas.
Elliott faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 to be followed by up to three years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, the Maine Warden Service, and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency also assisted with the investigation.
CHANDLER, Ariz., Feb. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Microchip Technology Incorporated, a leading provider of smart, connected and secure embedded control solutions, today announced that Victor Peng, former President of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD), will join the Board of Directors of Microchip effective February10, 2024.
Regarding Mr. Peng’s appointment to the board, Microchip’s President and CEO, Steve Sanghi, said, “Victor most recently served as the President of AMD, a publicly held company that designs and manufactures hardware for high-performance computing. Prior to that, he served Xilinx for 14 years, most recently holding roles of president, CEO, board member. With over 40 years of industry experience, Victor has held leadership roles of increasing responsibility at Xilinx where he worked from 2008 until 2022, and at AMD from 2022 until his retirement in 2024. He brings years of industry experience in technology, strategy, and operations to Microchip. This knowledge of technology and of the semiconductor industry will be invaluable to our Board. Victor has also served on the board of KLA Corporation (a provider of process control and yield management systems for semiconductor manufacturing) since February 2019. We welcome Victor to our board and look forward to benefitting from his experience.”
Mr. Peng commented, “I am honored to be appointed to the Microchip board. I believe that my industry experience and leadership skills can have a positive impact on the company’s strategic direction and plans. I look forward to working with the Microchip board to achieve the company’s goals”.
About Microchip:
Microchip Technology Incorporated is a leading provider of smart, connected and secure embedded control solutions. Its easy-to-use development tools and comprehensive product portfolio enable customers to create optimal designs, which reduce risk while lowering total system cost and time to market. The company’s solutions serve approximately 112,000 customers across the industrial, automotive, consumer, aerospace and defense, communications and computing markets. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip website at www.microchip.com.
The Microchip logo and name are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated.
INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT: Sajid Daudi – Head of investor Relations….. (480) 792-7385
Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) and 36 of his colleagues have contacted Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressing their deep concern regarding the growing chaos at the U.S. Department of State and the Trump Administration’s attempt to abolish the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In a letter to Secretary Rubio, the Senators highlighted that USAID is a critical pillar of U.S. national security strategy, providing lifesaving aid and development support around the world to help ensure stability. By law, USAID is an independent agency and cannot be dismantled without approval from Congress.
Yesterday, personnel at USAID were not permitted to enter the agency’s headquarters, and Elon Musk announced that President Donald Trump agreed to close the agency and move it under the State Department — despite no legal authority to do so. The Trump Administration has also furloughed thousands of senior career civil servants, including two top security officials who denied Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency access to classified documents and systems.
“…We are deeply concerned by reports of not only growing chaos and dysfunction at the Department of State, but the Administration’s brazen and illegal attempts to destroy the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Mass personnel furloughs of dubious legality and abrupt, blanket stop-work orders without regard to relevant appropriations laws are causing immediate harm to U.S. national security, placing U.S. citizens at risk, disrupting life-saving work and breaking the U.S. government’s contractual obligations to private sector partners,” wrote the senators.
The senators continued, “The Administration’s failure to consult with Congress prior to taking these steps violates the law and impedes Congress’s constitutional duty to conduct oversight of funding, personnel and the nation’s foreign policy. The Administration’s failure to expend funds appropriated on a bipartisan basis by Congress would violate the Impoundment Control Act.”
“Foreign assistance is critical to supporting U.S. strategic interests around the world. Foreign assistance protects U.S. national security, advances U.S. values, and ensures the U.S. is the partner of choice for everything from defense procurement to cutting edge scientific research. China, Russia and Iran are already moving rapidly to exploit the vacuum and instability left by the U.S.’s sudden global retreat,” wrote the senators.
They continued, “Every Administration has the right to review and adjust ongoing assistance programming. However, attempting to arbitrarily turn off core functions of a critical U.S. national security agency, without Congressional consideration or any metric-based review and absent legal authority to do so, is unprecedented and deeply disturbing.”
The letter is signed by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).
The full text of the letter is available here and below.
+++
Dear Secretary Rubio:
The effective administration of U.S. foreign assistance is critical to advancing core U.S. national security priorities, including countering the influence of China, Russia and Iran. As you acknowledged at your confirmation hearing, pushing back on China in particular is a top bipartisan priority.
As such, we are deeply concerned by reports of not only growing chaos and dysfunction at the Department of State, but the Administration’s brazen and illegal attempts to destroy the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Mass personnel furloughs of dubious legality and abrupt, blanket stop-work orders without regard to relevant appropriations laws are causing immediate harm to U.S. national security, placing U.S. citizens at risk, disrupting life-saving work and breaking the U.S. government’s contractual obligations to private sector partners.
The Administration’s failure to consult with Congress prior to taking these steps violates the law and impedes Congress’s constitutional duty to conduct oversight of funding, personnel and the nation’s foreign policy. The Administration’s failure to expend funds appropriated on a bipartisan basis by Congress would violate the Impoundment Control Act.
Foreign assistance is critical to supporting U.S. strategic interests around the world. Foreign assistance protects U.S. national security, advances U.S. values, and ensures the U.S. is the partner of choice for everything from defense procurement to cutting edge scientific research. China, Russia and Iran are already moving rapidly to exploit the vacuum and instability left by the U.S.’s sudden global retreat.
Every Administration has the right to review and adjust ongoing assistance programming. However, attempting to arbitrarily turn off core functions of a critical U.S. national security agency, without Congressional consideration or any metric-based review and absent legal authority to do so, is unprecedented and deeply disturbing.
We request immediate clarification on the following:
Status of USAID:
Confirmation of your understanding that any effort to abolish USAID or merge USAID into the Department of State absent Congressional consultation and approval is illegal.
Confirmation of your understanding that adversaries such as China, Russia and Iran are quickly moving into the vacuum left by suspended USAID programs.
The Department of State’s assessment of Mr. Elon Musk’s financial ties to China and the impact of these ties to the decision-making process of Mr. Musk and his employees.
Confirmation that neither you nor any member of your leadership team are taking direction from Mr. Musk with regards to the work of the Department of State or USAID, personnel or financial decisions for either agency, or any other matters relevant to U.S. national security.
Confirmation of the names and employment status of individuals directed by Mr. Musk to engage with USAID staff, the qualifications of these individuals, and the level of their security clearances – if any.
Personnel:
Confirmation of your understanding that any unauthorized access by or disclosure of classified information to individuals without appropriate security clearance could be considered a criminal offense.
The legal authority and rationale under which, on January 28, more than 50 senior career civil and foreign service USAID officials were placed on administrative leave. This move was not only unprecedented, but also inconsistent with the Office of Personnel Management’s own guidelines for the use of administrative leave.
The legal authority under which, on January 28, approximately 390 USAID Institutional Support Contractors (ISCs) were given stop-work orders, and clarification of which Administration official directed the implementation of this termination.
Whether any Department of State career civil and foreign service or contractors have been placed on administrative leave or removed from their roles as a result of or relating to the assistance freeze or any directives from the Office of Foreign Assistance.
Clarification of which Administration official directed the implementation of this mass furlough.
Clarification of whether these individuals were directed to be terminated without cause.
Confirmation that personnel will not face retaliation or retribution for performing their duties under the previous Administration’s policy direction.
Under what authorities and by which official’s directive career civil service, foreign service, and Personal Services Contractors (PSC), and those under other hiring authorities have been removed from their roles or limited in their ability to execute their work.
Confirmation that further career civil service, foreign service and USAID contractors will not be removed from their roles without cause or receive stop work orders.
Whether, upon full resumption of legally mandated foreign assistance activities, the Administration intends to re-hire contractors who have been removed from their roles.
Any additional guidance provided to State and USAID staff regarding the foreign assistance freeze, including confirmation of whether direct hires, contractors, or implementing organizations have been directed not to speak publicly about the foreign assistance freeze.
Public identification of the individual currently serving as the Director or Acting Director of the State Department’s Office of Foreign Assistance and as Acting Deputy Administrator of USAID, and the dates upon which this individual was appointed to each position.
Confirmation of your understanding that the State Department’s Director of Foreign Assistance has no authority to issue personnel directives for USAID.
Resumption of Foreign Assistance:
The specific process and anticipated timeframe for activities to receive exemptions or waivers, as referenced in your January 28, 2025 directive to State and USAID staff.
The mechanisms and metrics established for this waiver process.
The timeline for full resumption of legally mandated foreign assistance activities.
Clarification of what risk assessment or analysis of potential risk to U.S. national security interests were conducted prior to the decision to freeze foreign assistance activities.
Confirmation of the Department of State’s obligation to comply with U.S. contract law and your responsibility as Secretary of State ensure the Department honors its commitments to contracting partners.
We welcome your urgent attention to these questions. We and our staff stand ready to work with you to ensure U.S. foreign assistance funding continues to be deployed effectively to protect American citizens, at home and abroad.
Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
(Concord, NH) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) joined Granite State health care leaders to discuss the importance of preventing health care costs from skyrocketing, including by passing her bicameral legislation, the Health Care Affordability Act, to make permanent the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits (PTCs) for Marketplace coverage. If these credits are not extended, in New Hampshire alone, 10,000 Granite Staters would be priced out of their health insurance. The enhanced PTCs have led to record enrollment in ACA coverage, including more than 68,000 in New Hampshire, and a record low uninsured rate nationwide. In addition to Shaheen, participants included New Futures President, Michele Merrit, Lamprey Health Care CEO, Greg White and National Alliance on Mental Illness New Hampshire Executive Director, Susan Stearns. You can find photos from the event here.
“For too many Americans, exorbitant costs are the biggest obstacle to purchasing health insurance leading to rationing medications and delaying appointments. Without an extension of the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits, that will only get worse,” said Senator Shaheen. “My bill to extend these lifesaving tax credits was the first I introduced this Congress because we need to act now to protect access to health care and prevent costs from rising at the end of this year.”
The Health Care Affordability Act would make permanent the ACA PTCs for Marketplace coverage as passed in the American Rescue Plan Act and extended through the Inflation Reduction Act. Those enhanced tax credits increase the value of the tax credits available to people with income between 100 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), while expanding eligibility for premium tax credits to include individuals with income above 400 percent of FPL.
At the end of last year, Shaheen, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), U.S. Representatives Richard E. Neal (D-MA-01) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), as well as U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. House of Representatives Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, secured new data from the U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) detailing the impact on Americans’ health insurance should the ACA enhanced PTCs expire at the end of 2025. Shaheen’s legislation is cosponsored by 41 Senators.
