NASA’s Europa Clipper mission is on its way to explore a moon of Jupiter that researchers believe may be one of the best places in the Solar System to search for life beyond Earth. While the spacecraft makes its more-than-five year journey to Europa, scientists, students, teachers, and the public can tour and explore the landforms of Europa with newly-released enhancements to NASA’s Europa Trek web portal.
One of the largest of Jupiter’s nearly 100 recognized moons, Europa is covered with a global ice cap. But beneath that crust of ice, researchers have found an ocean of liquid water, estimated to have about twice the volume of all of Earth’s oceans combined. This vast amount of liquid water is of particular interest to astrobiologists, scientists studying the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the Universe. Though Europa’s ocean remains hidden beneath its global crust of ice, we can get important clues about its nature by studying the remarkable landforms of Europa’s icy surface.
To accompany the launch of Europa Clipper, NASA’s Solar System Treks Project released exciting new enhancements to its online Europa Trek portal on September 30, 2024. The new additions to Europa Trek allow users to interactively fly over and explore high-resolution imagery of Europa’s surface from the Voyager, Galileo, and Juno missions. Users can also take a new guided tour of Europa’s amazing landforms, with commentary developed by a collaboration between NASA’s Astrobiology Science Communication Guild and NASA’s Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute. The tour and its commentary introduce virtual explorers to the geology and possible biological significance of the diverse features of Europa’s surface.
“This is really fun. It’s cool how you can zoom into the high resolution data. I’ll spread the word about using this!” – Bob Pappalardo, Europa Clipper Project Scientist
The new tour and capabilities of Europa Trek were featured at the Europa Clipper public launch program at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center on October 6,2024, in advance of the October 14 launch of the mission. As part of the public program conducted by NASA’s Planetary Mission Program Office, the Europa Trek exhibit allowed hundreds of visitors to try their hands at flying over Europa and visualizing its exotic terrain.
NASA’s Solar System Treks is an infrastructure project within NASA’s Science Activation Team. Their online portals are used for mission planning, planetary science research, and Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics (STEM) education. NASA’s Astrobiology Science Communication Guild is an international, community-based network of astrobiologists who engage in science communication with diverse audiences and learners. Watch for future collaborations between Solar System Treks and the Astrobiology Science Communication Guild at more locations across the Solar System!
Learn more about how Science Activation connects NASA science experts, real content, and experiences with community leaders to do science in ways that activate minds and promote deeper understanding of our world and beyond: https://science.nasa.gov/learn
WALNUT CREEK, Calif., Oct. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PCBB and Finzly, two leading innovators in the financial payments industry, have formed a strategic partnership to deliver enhanced international payment services to Finzly’s customers. PCBB is the first bankers’ bank to provide services to Finzly BankOS, a 24/7 real-time platform designed to help financial institutions accelerate their payment transformation.
Integrating with PCBB’s payment services means access to straight-through processing of foreign wire transfers, Swift GPI tracking, and enhanced transparency into payment statuses. As a result, Finzly customers can process international wires faster, more easily, and with greater efficiency for a seamless cross-border payment experience.
“We’re excited to enable integration of our services with Finzly BankOS. This collaboration not only enhances the payment capabilities of our partners, but also reinforces our position as a leading solutions provider in the financial services industry,” said Sheila Noll, Chief Operating Officer at PCBB. “We are continuously building strategic relationships that are focused ondelivering seamless solutions to help financial institutions stay ahead in an evolving market.”
Finzly equips financial institutions with speed and agility to transform their payment operations through its award-winning Finzly BankOS platform. Booshan Rengachari, founder and CEO of Finzly stated, “This partnership with PCBB perfectly aligns with our mission to empower customers to innovate and compete through customer-centric solutions. By broadening our partner ecosystem, we’re providing our customers with greater flexibility and control over their international payments, particularly in areas like pricing and liquidity management.”
This new partnership underscores PCBB’s commitment to expanding the reach of its solutions with strategic API enablement. While this integration focuses on foreign wires, it taps into just one of the many APIs PCBB offers its customers, including domestic wires and international cash letter clearing. This latest integration aligns with PCBB’s goal of meeting customers where they are, offering flexibility and accessibility, while enhancing the overall experience for their end users. It’s another key step in advancing PCBB’s vision to deliver scalable and integrated financial solutions, including through innovative technology partnerships.
About Finzly Finzly helps banks and credit unions thrive in a real-time, connected world with its BankOS platform. Financial institutions can quickly launch instant payments on FedNow and RTP, modernize ACH and wire transfers, and orchestrate payments through a unified API and ISO 20022-native payment hub. Finzly, recognized with multiple awards, also offers advanced FX solutions to help banks attract corporate and enterprise treasury customers. For more information, visit www.finzly.com.
About PCBB PCBB believes in the power of local financial institutions to be the catalyst of small business growth and to enable communities to thrive. Our team is committed to providing not only the tools and knowledge our customers need to serve their clients, but also the partnership and trust they deserve. Our robust suite of competitive services includes cash management and international services, lending solutions, and profitability and risk management advisory services. These solutions help community financial institutions maximize revenue, increase efficiency, and manage risk. For more information, visit www.pcbb.com.
Media Contact: Nancy Ozawa PCBB nozawa@pcbb.com (888) 399-1930 x177
Source: The White House
Las Vegas, Nevada
Good morning.
It was an ordinary Saturday in an extraordinary life.
I was in my office in the East Wing doing what community college teachers do on weekends—especially on a weekend so late in the semester: I was grading papers.
It was late April last year. Earlier that morning, I’d read in The New York Times that the U.S. loses $1.8 billion in working time every year to the menopause symptoms that upend women’s lives.
It struck me—I’d experienced those kinds of symptoms too, so had many of my friends, but, I thought, that’s the way life is, isn’t it?
And then, that afternoon, Maria Shriver, the former First Lady of California, came in for a meeting. She wanted to talk about women’s health research.
It’s a problem that’s so simple—yet often ignored: women’s health is understudied and research is underfunded. As a result, too many of our medications, treatments, health products, and medical school textbooks are based on men.
That’s why, if you ask any woman in America about her health care, she probably has a story to tell.
You know her.
She’s the woman who gets debilitating migraines, but can’t find treatment options that work for her. She’s the woman whose heart attack isn’t detected because her symptoms don’t look like a man’s, even as heart disease is the leading cause of death among women. She’s the woman going through menopause, who visits her doctor and leaves with more questions than answers, even though half the country will go through menopause at some point in their lives.
It seems like women’s bodies are considered miracles when we’re in our child-bearing years, and mysteries as we age.
I knew this had to change.
My husband, President Joe Biden, has a deep understanding of how government works and how to get things done quickly. So when I told Joe about this research gap, he got to work.
Last November, we launched the first-ever White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research.
From an ordinary Saturday conversation, the Biden Administration has done something extraordinary and fast. All in less than a year, we used the convening power of the White House to bring together government agencies, researchers, medical experts, innovators, and investors.
Joe signed the most comprehensive Executive Order ever, to expand and improve research and innovation in women’s health.
The NIH is investing millions of dollars in new, interdisciplinary women’s health research, like how menopause affects our hearts, brains, and bones.
The Department of Defense is committing half a billion dollars each year to women’s health research. And what helps women service members helps all women.
And just today, ARPA-H, the agency that Joe created to invest in the most cutting-edge health breakthroughs, announced $110 million for women’s health researchers and startups to bring new treatments and cures to market.
This is government at its best.
ARPA-H received an unprecedented 1,700 submissions for this funding sprint, which shows the energy and exploration that’s possible in this field. From there, ARPA-H chose to fund 23 recipients with the best “sparks”—meaning the most promising ideas so that researchers can take their work to the next level, and the best “launchpads”—those are the teams that are ready to bring new treatments and health products to market within the next two years.
Let me give you a couple of examples.
One in 10 women suffers from a painful, debilitating condition called endometriosis. It can take as long as a decade for women to get a diagnosis. One of today’s recipients from Washington University is developing a blood test—the first of its kind—to reduce the time it takes to diagnose the disease from years to days. So, women can get the treatments they need more quickly.
We also know that women are more likely to get migraines, but we don’t know why. At UNC-Chapel Hill, a study is being funded to see how migraines are connected to the lymphatic system to help solve that mystery. And the team is working toward personalized treatments for migraines.
ARPA-H is de-risking investments in these big ideas, so that answers can get to the women who need them now.
The potential in this space is too great to ignore. In 2021, the Boston Consulting Group estimated that the size of the women’s health market would grow from $9 billion to $29 billion in just eight years, because of the growing momentum from funders and founders to address the unmet health needs of women. I know you see these opportunities in your day-to-day work.
Here’s what I also want you to know. The women of America are waiting on you.
Any time I get together with my sisters and friends, we have conversations about our health. We ask each other: should I be taking hormone therapy for symptoms related to menopause? How is it possible that my heart attack was almost missed?
It’s time for investors, researchers, and business leaders to have those conversations too, not as an afterthought but as a first thought. Those kinds of questions belong in your research proposals, in your laboratories, in your pitch decks.
There is incredible momentum behind women’s health right now.
What are you going to do to make sure this energy is unstoppable?
So that we leave doctors’ offices with more answers than questions. And take this moment of opportunity to create something extraordinary.
You can count me in. And I hope women can count on you.
To continue this discussion, it’s my pleasure to introduce Dr. Carolyn Mazure, the chair of the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research. Dr. Renee Wegrzyn, who leads ARPA-H. Maria Shriver, a tireless advocate for advancing women’s health. And Lucy Pérez, a senior partner with McKinsey & Company.
Please help me welcome them to the stage.
Source: The White House
This summer, I led an effort to bring the G7 together to commit $50 billion in Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration loans to Ukraine backed by the profits of immobilized Russian sovereign assets. After Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, the G7 took bold action to immobilize Russia’s sovereign assets in our jurisdictions, and committed that these assets will remain immobilized until Russia ends its aggression and pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine—paving the way for Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration loans.
As part of the G7 package, the United States is announcing today that we will provide $20 billion in loans to Ukraine that will be paid back by the interest earned from immobilized Russian sovereign assets. In other words, Ukraine can receive the assistance it needs now, without burdening taxpayers. These loans will support the people of Ukraine as they defend and rebuild their country. And our efforts make it clear: tyrants will be responsible for the damages they cause.
Make no mistake: Russia will not prevail in this conflict. The people of Ukraine will prevail. This is another reminder to Vladimir Putin that the world has rallied behind Ukraine—and the United States and our G7 partners will continue to stand with them every step of the way.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Defence Secretary John Healey delivered opening remarks alongside German defence minister, Boris Pistorius, after signing the Trinity House Agreement
Location:
Trinity House, London
Delivered on:
(Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)
This is a significant day for UK relations and for both our countries. Less than 100 days since I first visited Berlin in July to kick off these negotiations together, we have today signed a landmark defence agreement here at Trinity House in London. First, I want to thank our negotiating teams, they worked at pace, and they have helped us secure a deal which forges closer cooperation between our militaries and our industries, which contains immediate actions and longer term ambitions. Today’s agreement strengthens our security, it will grow our economies.
And you know, when I was Shadow Defence Secretary before the general election, I had conversations with allies and partners and academics that said Britain needed to play a bigger part in NATO. They said European allies needed to take on more responsibility for European security and this, this is the driving force behind our NATO, first UK Defence strategy, behind our reset of UK relations with Europe. We share the same threats, war in Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East, growing Russian aggression. We share the same values, democracy, individual freedom, rule of law.
And in a more dangerous world, allies are our strategic strength, and we must do more together. But I believe then, as I know Boris, you did too, that the UK-Germany defence relationship was underdeveloped. The UK and Germany are currently Europe’s top two defence spenders. We’re currently Europe’s top two supporters of Ukraine in military and economic aid. Yes, there’s 40 years of great cooperation on fast jets between UK and Germany. Yes, both countries have deployed and operated together in Kosovo, in Afghanistan, and to counter IS. But the collaboration has been ad hoc. It has not been systematic, and there is no fully-fledged defence cooperation agreement. And as I started work on this area, with some of you in this room, and I thank you for your contributions. As I started work sometime last year, there were only 28 German military personnel training in the UK. There were only six Brits doing the same in Germany, we only had one bilateral German-UK defence industrial programme. So there was huge potential, which we both wanted to seize. The potential and imperative to respond to increasing threats to strengthen our collective security through NATO, which is the cornerstone for the defence of both our nations.
So today, we have signed this landmark Trinity House Agreement. It secures defence cooperation across all domains, land, sea, air, cyber, space. It will be put on a legal footing in the wider treaty between the UK and Germany. The agreement confirms new lighthouse defence projects between our militaries, and where better to announce these than Trinity house, which is home of England’s official Lighthouse Authority and has been so since 1794. In fact, actually, it goes back longer than that, to Henry the Eighth, when he took the first steps to maritime regulation from this building in 1514. And Admiral Ian Lower, thank you for your hospitality, thank you for hosting us, and thank you to your teams for helping us organise this event.
But in this new agreement, our new cooperation is focused on the now, with our army’s training, exercising, innovating more together on NATO’s eastern flank, on German P8 planes operating out of Lossiemouth to help protect the North Atlantic and on new support for Ukraine through the capability coalitions, and also enabling German seeking helicopters to be equipped with modern missile systems. So cooperation focused on the now, and also cooperation focused on the weapons of the future: developing a new deep strike system together; pursuing new drones that could operate alongside our tanks; our planes and our warships; kick starting work together to protect vital undersea cables in the North Sea; advancing innovation between our armies to shape the future of NATO warfare; driven by AI and emerging technologies. And as well as this, this agreement paves the way for closer industrial cooperation.
So today, Rheinmetall have announced plans to build a new gun barrel factory in Britain, supporting 400 jobs, bringing nearly half a billion pounds of benefit to the UK economy, and reestablishing a critical defence industry for the first time in 10 years, gun barrels built in Britain with British steel for our British armed forces and for our allies. And from artillery to AI, from the weapons of now to the weapons of the future, Helsing have also confirmed today a new investment of 350 million pounds into the UK for the development of AI systems. So this shows today’s agreement gives renewed confidence to investors in the UK defence industrial base. Finally, just to give this a bigger context, our new government was elected in July to deliver change. Before with the election, we promised a new defence agreement with Germany in six months, we’ve signed this landmark agreement in less than four months. This is what turning talk into action looks like. This is what resetting relations with Europe looks like. This is what growing our economy looks like, and this is what a NATO first defence strategy looks like. And today’s agreement also sends a signal to our adversaries. We will deter and we will defend against any aggression together.
Boris, I look forward to working closely with you in putting this agreement into action. Today really is only the start of new, deeper relations between our two nations. And yes, politicians may come and go, but the Trinity house agreement will live on, and it will keep our countries and Europe safely in the years to come. Thank you.
Headline: Franklin County Mobile Disaster Recovery Center to Relocate
Franklin County Mobile Disaster Recovery Center to Relocate
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.– The Mobile Disaster Recovery Center at the Alligator Point Fire Department in Franklin County will close at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23. The center will reopen in a new location and an announcement will be made.Survivors do not need to visit a center to apply for assistance. Homeowners and renters are encouraged to apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by using the FEMA App. You may also apply by phone at 800-621-3362. If you choose to apply by phone, please understand wait times may be longer because of increased volume for multiple recent disasters. Lines are open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance go to FEMA Accessible: Applying for Individual Assistance – YouTube.For the latest information about Hurricane Milton recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4834. For Hurricane Helene, visit fema.gov/disaster/4828. For Hurricane Debby, visit fema.gov/disaster/4806. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema. kirsten.chambers Wed, 10/23/2024 – 16:19
When data is widely accessible and available to anyone, anywhere, it can transform communities—especially when that data concerns something as vital as energy.
2.6 PB
OF DATA
27,057,932
TOTAL DOWNLOADS
2,142
TOTAL DATASETS
227
DATA PROVIDERS
The Open Energy Data Initiative (OEDI) database makes vast amounts of openly accessible energy data available to anyone. Image from OEDI
The Open Energy Data Initiative (OEDI)—currently funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) and developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)—makes energy data widely available to anyone by providing access to big data via “data lakes,” large collections of open-access energy data that are at anyone’s fingertips in the cloud.
In the past, “big data”—data too large or too complex (or both) to be easily consumed by conventional means—could only be used by people with access to high-performance computing systems or supercomputers. OEDI makes vast amounts of energy data available for schools, companies just getting started, and data enthusiasts of all stripes. Each dataset includes access instructions and examples of how to work with the data.
Accessible from OpenEI, OEDI is a centralized location that can house data generated across the 17 national laboratories and all their partner organizations for research and development funded through DOE, with additional contributions from other federal agencies and private companies. Currently, over 200 providers from government labs, private industries, and universities contribute to OEDI. And that data is available to anyone with a laptop and an internet connection to access and use in the cloud.
OEDI’s data repository runs the gamut, spanning high-resolution data for atmospheric conditions used every day by U.S. weather forecasters; real-world building data in hourly increments that shows buildings’ energy consumption to serve as examples for engineers and architects; high-resolution data that shows how much wind or solar energy a given location can produce, not only for the United States but also many regions around the globe; databases about drilling and laser drilling; raw materials and supply chain analysis; and beyond, in over 2,000 datasets.
“Limited access to big data historically excluded startups, small organizations, and minority-serving institutions from research collaborations and community initiatives,” SETO Director Becca Jones-Albertus said. “OEDI gives universal access to big data, fostering inclusive partnerships that enable better decision-making throughout the clean energy transition.”
NREL researchers Ryan King (left) and Grant Buster (right) discuss datasets using Super-Resolution for Renewable Energy Resource Data with Climate Change Impacts (Sup3rCC), a collection of data that includes 4-km hourly wind, solar, temperature, humidity, and pressure fields for the United States under climate change scenarios. Sup3rCC data is intended to help researchers study the impact of climate change on energy systems with high levels of wind and solar capacity and is available on OEDI. Photo by Joe DelNero, NREL
Open, Accessible, and Standardized
Traditional data repositories are not typically optimized for discovering or sharing data. Huge amounts of data further complicate data sharing by making the cost of storage and the time needed to transfer the data prohibitive, limiting access and reducing the potential for collaboration and innovation. Stored on the cloud, OEDI solves these issues by providing a centralized location for large energy datasets.
Making energy data free and widely accessible allows communities to work with researchers and the energy industry to find solutions that meet the communities’ needs, fostering innovation that benefits everyone.
A sample of OEDI’s 2,142 datasets, which are publicly accessible using Amazon Web Service’s cloud storage. Anyone with a laptop and an internet connection can now access and use this data without having to download and store it. Screen capture from the OEDI Data Lakes page
OEDI further supports accessibility by making data easier to use. Simple access is one thing, but if datasets are messy and difficult to work with, mere access means very little.
Converting raw data into standardized formats can be difficult and time-consuming. By cleaning and curating datasets, OEDI programmers aim to reduce the burden on individual data owners and project teams for data standardization, freeing up time and resources and improving the quality and consistency of standardized data.
OEDI data pipelines automatically detect certain raw data formats and standardize them, displaying the standardized data right alongside the raw data for scientific posterity. OEDI data standards adhere to the precedents from the U.S. General Services Administration’s Open Data and FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) data principles.
“With DOE support, NREL built OEDI from the ground up to share data,” said Jon Weers, who leads OEDI for NREL. “Anyone can access the data through OEDI directly or through a network of data sharing partners like Data.gov, Google Datasets, and dozens of other sites.”
Introducing Ask OEDI: Your New Research Assistant for Data Questions
Accessibility—making data available to the widest possible audience and reducing the learning curve for working with that data—is an essential function of OEDI. In support of FAIR data principles, NREL developed an artificial intelligence research assistant, AskOEDI, to help users find answers about datasets that go beyond simple searches.
AskOEDI provides answers to research questions about datasets with vetted information. Screen capture from OEDI
AskOEDI is an integrated large language model with the metadata and supporting documents for OEDI datasets and can provide answers to users’ questions using natural language processing and generative machine learning. Users can get answers to questions about specific datasets, including inquiries about the equipment, assumptions, and methodologies used in the origination of a dataset along with more abstract questions, such as the applicability of data to specific research fields. It only pulls answers from information vetted by OEDI and always cites sources, making it an ideal research assistant for OEDI data. AskOEDI increases the utility and discoverability of energy data by providing users with the means to quickly understand the nuances of a dataset without having to search through numerous associated publications.
“Many of the questions that used to be an email to the data owner can now be answered instantly,” Weers said. “As long as they’ve been discussed in a linked publication or supporting document, AskOEDI can quickly find the answers to deeper questions on data such as ‘How was this data collected?’ or ‘What assumptions went into the calculation used for this data column?’ We’re excited to see where this technology goes as we work in this emerging field of artificial intelligence.”
Using Big Data for Big Impacts
OEDI is already impacting communities. The OEDI team supported communities in Puerto Rico in their transition to renewable energy in response to hurricanes Maria and Fiona. Working with DOE, the U.S. Census’ The Opportunity Project (TOP), local governments, and local teams, OEDI researchers facilitated the development of five different innovative solutions to help Puerto Rico increase its resilience and transition to 100% renewable energy.
These solutions were developed by small teams of local collaborators focusing on community-driven solutions by applying and analyzing big data freely accessible through OEDI, which was recognized by Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi during the TOP Summit.
Small teams of local collaborators used OEDI to develop community-driven, innovative solutions to help Puerto Rico to increase its energy resilience and transition to renewable energy. Photo by Joe DelNero, NREL
“Open access to data supports local communities,” Weers said. “In the wake of recent hurricanes, communities on the ground in Puerto Rico were able to use OEDI data to help them devise plans to rebuild and reinforce their energy infrastructure their way.”
With OEDI, researchers from national laboratories to high school labs, from the United States and across the world, have greater access to valuable data to answer key energy questions. Over five years, OEDI has increased access to public data by 7,296%, to over 2.28 petabytes of data in 2024. Its data lakes now boast massive amounts of valuable data from solar, wind, geothermal, buildings, and marine energy programs to help anyone seeking to understand and contribute to innovative energy solutions.
Access theOpen Energy Data Initiativeon OpenEI.
Contact Jon Weers, NREL lead technologist and data systems architect.
After recent coverage of UConn’s ongoing process to review academic programs with low completion and/or enrollment, we have heard from many of you with questions and concerns. We write today to respond to those questions and clarify the potential impact on CAHNR programs.
First and foremost, we want to reassure students that the College’s existing academic programs will continue without disruption. CAHNR’s unique experiential learning opportunities in animal science, plant science, human health, resource economics, and the environment provide our alumni with specialized skills and are central to UConn’s land grant mission.
As an institution that seeks to make data-driven decisions to align our programs with student and community needs, we regularly analyze and evolve academic offerings. This may mean adding new majors, renaming existing majors, consolidating programs, etc.
In press coverage, incorrect statements were made about some CAHNR programs flagged as having low completion/enrollment. For example, it was stated that Animal Science was below the threshold for review. The Department of Animal Science graduated 400 students in the 5-year review window and is thus not below the threshold. Similarly, Horticulture, Turfgrass, and Soil Science were highlighted as “no enrollment,” which is true because they are no longer active majors. However, they are still offered as concentrations within the active Sustainable Plant & Soil Systems/Plant Science major.
To reiterate information provided by University leadership earlier this week, UConn is not directing that any programs under review be closed or that any majors be ended.
This remains true for CAHNR programs. The College is taking advantage of this opportunity to thoughtfully consider strategies to adapt, evolve, and update our programs, if needed, to ensure student success, robust professional opportunities, and responsible use of resources.
Please do not hesitate to connect with your department or CAHNR’s Office of Academic Programs if you have additional questions or concerns.
We thank you for your continued support of UConn and CAHNR.
Governor Announces Additional $17 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding to Upgrade and Expand Child Care Facilities
Murphy Administration Will Invest More Than $140 Million Upgrading Child Care Infrastructure Statewide – Representing One of the Largest Investments of Any State in the Country
WEST ORANGE – Governor Phil Murphy today highlighted that his Administration has invested more than $1 billion in expanding access to high-quality, affordable child care across New Jersey. The Governor also announced an additional $17 million in funding for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Child Care Facilities Improvement Program. With these new resources, New Jersey is dedicating more than $140 million to improve child care infrastructure, representing one of the largest investments of any state in the country. The announcement was made at a child care center in West Orange that is expanding access to services thanks to funding from the NJEDA.
Building on the Murphy Administration’s comprehensive strategy to support the state’s vital child care sector, the NJEDA’s Child Care Facilities Improvement Program provides grants to eligible child care providers for improvements that contribute to high quality early childhood learning environments. Through the program, which awards grants of up to $200,000, the NJEDA has approved $85 million in grants to over 400 child care centers that collectively enroll over 34,000 children and employ over 8,500 staff. With the inclusion of new funding announced today, the NJEDA now anticipates another 200 centers will receive awards, bringing the total to more than 600 child care centers across all 21 New Jersey counties. Nearly a third of all awards are to centers located in Opportunity Zones.
“Affordable, exceptional child care is a vital part of a stronger and fairer New Jersey economy, and the increased funding announced today will strengthen our state’s economic security and provide equitable opportunities to working parents,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Increased access to high-quality child care allows more parents to return to the workforce, bolstering New Jersey’s economic growth and competitiveness. Thank you to the Biden-Harris Administration, who have provided record-high federal funding to expand access to child care, health care, and other critical resources for families in the Garden State.”
“Access to high-quality child care is a critical piece of our Nurture NJ initiative, and the NJEDA’s Child Care Facilities Improvement Program supports the equitable expansion of early childhood environments that will have lifelong impacts on future generations,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “Improvements to facilities in our crucially important child care sector move us closer to our goal of becoming the best state in the nation to raise a family and unlock economic opportunities for working parents.”
With the additional $17 million in Federal American Rescue Plan State Fiscal Recovery Fund funding announced today, the NJEDA anticipates being able to approve all eligible child care centers that applied to Phase One of the program, which is no longer accepting new applications. A significant focus of the program is expanding or unlocking capacity within child care centers, especially for infants and toddlers. All construction work is delivered by New Jersey Department of Labor Registered Public Works Contractors and subject to prevailing wage and affirmative action monitoring.
The Child Care Facilities Improvement Program is already making an impact on child care centers across the state. The center visited today, The Kids Palace II in West Orange, was approved for a grant award of $189,300 to install sprinkler and alarm systems, allowing it to expand its state licensure to be able to accept infants. In addition, the Kids Palace II has received the NJEDA’s Phase 4 Small Business Emergency grant, the NJEDA’s Henri/Ida Business Assistance grant, and New Jersey Department of Human Services’ Retention and Stabilization grants.
“Reliable and high-quality child care services are critical to the growth and success of New Jersey’s economy; however, too often financially stretched child care providers forgo making necessary investments in facility upgrades,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “The Child Care Facilities Improvement Program is an essential part of Governor Murphy’s goal to support working families and to build a more inclusive economy.”
“Governor Murphy’s historic investment in childcare is smart economic policy. By making high-quality childcare more accessible, we empower more parents, particularly moms, to fully engage in the workforce, advance their careers, and pursue further education. At the same time, we provide our youngest children with essential early learning experiences that set them up for school and academic success. This all leads to a stronger, more resilient economy where every family has the opportunity to thrive,” said Congresswoman LaMonica McIver.
“Governor Murphy’s visit highlights the significance of the support we have received through this grant, which has been so important in helping us create a dedicated infant-toddler space in our center. We are deeply grateful for this opportunity to expand our services and positively impact more families in our community,” said Jorroys Reyes-Moton, Director and Owner of the Kids Palace II.
“This investment continues the Murphy Administration’s commitment to support quality child care providers that are vital to New Jersey’s working families and the state economy. Today’s announcement complements $3.6 million in Fiscal Year 2025 child care provider wage increases and Human Services’ Child Care Assistance Program subsidies for tens of thousands of New Jersey families,” said Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman. “With a focus on improving learning environments, these NJEDA grants will empower child care providers to make necessary enhancements to their facilities, expand access to high-quality child care services, and strengthen our early childhood education system.”
“A thriving, modern and robust child care industry is a key component in supporting working families in New Jersey,” said Department of Children and Families Commissioner Christine Norbut Beyer. “It gives young learners a foundation for academic success later in life, and gives parents options for world class child care and the peace of mind in knowing their child is being cared for in an updated and safe center. I applaud the Governor and my colleagues in NJ government for their ongoing investment in the stability and success of families throughout New Jersey — particularly those with young children.”
“We thank the State of New Jersey for its substantial investment in child care facilities, recognizing that these environments are more than buildings—they are the ‘third teacher,’ fostering curiosity, social connection, and lifelong learning,” said Mary E. Coogan, President & CEO, Advocates for Children of New Jersey. “As we continue to shape spaces that empower children, educators, and families, we look forward to future investments in the child care workforce—another critical component of the child care infrastructure that is essential to the health of our economy and the well-being of our communities.”
“SPAN appreciates the opportunity to celebrate New Jersey’s investments for and progress towards ensuring access to high-quality child care for families, allowing our children to thrive in enriching early learning environments,” said Peg Kinsell, Policy Director, SPAN Parent Advocacy Network.
“NJPTA salutes Governor Murphy for his commitment to improve New Jersey’s child care sector. Our organization, the nation’s oldest child advocacy association, prioritizes quality child care which leads to an optimal educational experience. It is essential to provide affordable childcare services in all of our communities. This effort underscores Governor Murphy’s dedication to ensuring the educational success of our NJ children, and we’re thrilled that the grant will have a progressive impact in the child care sector,” said Sharon Roseboro, President, NJPTA.
“New Jersey applauds Gov. Murphy’s administration for its investment in early childhood education. The $140 million will reap a 400 percent return, or $560 million, according to the Advocates for Children of New Jersey’s research. AFTNJ members know that such a substantial financial investment in preschool has long-lasting effects on academic achievement for the students enrolled in quality programs,” said AFT New Jersey President Jennifer S. Higgins.
Trip Aims to Promote New Jersey’s Technology and Life Sciences Sectors and Economic Interests Abroad
TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy will lead a delegation of industry and government leaders on a five-day, two-city economic mission trip to the United Kingdom in November. Organized by Choose New Jersey, the delegation will visit London and Cambridge. The mission will focus on strengthening New Jersey’s ties with the United Kingdom while cultivating partnerships and international investment opportunities in sectors such as life sciences and technology.
“We are excited to lead this economic mission to the United Kingdom to bolster New Jersey’s relationships with our friends and partners across the pond,” said Governor Murphy. “I look forward to meeting with United Kingdom officials and industry leaders to address our mutual goals. As we build up New Jersey’s innovation economy, international investments are key to attracting more jobs and opportunity for the people of the Garden State.”
“The United Kingdom is one of New Jersey’s top markets for business attraction and economic cooperation, offering unparalleled opportunities to strengthen our partnership. This is an exciting opportunity to showcase our state’s leadership in technology, life sciences, renewable energy, and innovation,” said Wesley Mathews, President and CEO of Choose New Jersey. “By strengthening our international ties and fostering new partnerships, we aim to drive investment and increased trade that will benefit our state and the global economy.”
The economic mission will include meetings with elected government officials and regional leaders, as well as various engagements with prominent companies, trade associations, leading academic institutions, and major investors. There will also be opportunities to network with industry leaders across key sectors, including technology, life sciences, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and fintech. Veterans Day will be observed by members of the delegation on November 11 before their return to New Jersey.
Governor Murphy will lead the delegation, which will include First Lady Tammy Murphy, Choose New Jersey President & CEO Wesley Mathews, and New Jersey Economic Development Authority Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. The delegation will depart New Jersey on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 and return on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.
Due to limited space, media interested in accompanying the Governor to the United Kingdom should contact Ingrid Austin at iaustin@choosenj.com as soon as possible.
A recent RCMP traffic enforcement operation in Southeastern New Brunswick has resulted in 75 vehicles being towed, and 236 tickets being issued.
Between October 17 and 19, 2024, members of the New Brunswick RCMP’s Tactical Traffic Enforcement Unit (TTEU) and Motor Vehicle Inspectors from the Highway Safety Enforcement Branch of the Department of Justice and Public Safety, worked together to conduct a traffic enforcement operation in the Greater Moncton area, Sussex, Petitcodiac, and Salisbury.
The operation focused on unsafe vehicles and modified vehicles, as well as distracted driving, speeding, and proper use of seatbelts. During the operation, 125 vehicles were escorted to a specific site to be assessed, 66 were towed at the owner’s expense, and 48 were deemed unsafe.
Several inspection stations will be investigated for not following the motor vehicle inspection procedures as per the New Brunswick – Motor vehicle Act.
A total of 236 traffic violations were issued under the New Brunswick Motor Vehicle Act, including 81 for speeding, 18 unsafe vehicles, 31 tickets for not wearing a seatbelt and 28 tickets for using a hand-held electronic device while driving.
Additionally, three individuals were issued a court date for driving while suspended, two other individuals were issued short-term roadside suspensions, and five individuals were arrested for warrants of arrest and committal. Three vehicles were also intercepted for speeding in excess of 50 km/hr of the posted speed limit were towed and impounded for seven days. A number of warnings were also issued.
The New Brunswick RCMP’s TTEU conducts regular, targeted traffic enforcement on roadways throughout the province with the goals of improving road safety, educating motorists about traffic laws and to reduce serious injury and fatal collisions.
“It is important to recognize that each individual has a role to play in ensuring the safety of our roads and communities,” says Sgt. Ghislain David with the Tactical Traffic Enforcement Unit. “Our primary objective is to safeguard the public by reducing the number of unsafe vehicles on our roadways.”
The public can assist in keeping dangerous drivers off the road by reporting them to police. If you see a dangerous or a suspected impaired driver, call 911. Your description of the driver, vehicle, licence plate number and direction of travel can assist police in making New Brunswick roads safer.
SAN FRANCISCO – Sailors assigned to amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7) received a Flag Letter of Commendation (FLOC) for helping future Sailors enlist in the Navy as part of the ‘Every Sailor a Recruiter’ (ESAR) program, Oct. 11, 2024.
LIVONIA, Mich. and LOS ANGELES, Oct. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Artivo Surfaces, the Transom Capital-backed parent company of Virginia Tile, Galleher, and Trinity Hardwood, is acquiring Tom Duffy Company, a strategic move that significantly strengthens Artivo’s position as a market leader in the tile and flooring industry. With its extensive portfolio of installation materials, hardwood, luxury vinyl tile (LVT), and tile solutions, Tom Duffy brings valuable expertise and a diverse product offering to Artivo’s growing family of products and capabilities.
“For over 70 years, Tom Duffy has earned its place as a trusted partner in the flooring industry,” said Sunil Palakodati, CEO of Artivo Surfaces. “This acquisition expands Artivo’s platform and strengthens our core capabilities. By bringing together Tom Duffy’s exceptional team, strong industry relationships, and loyal customer base, we’re enhancing our ability to serve residential and commercial markets across the country with a broader range of flooring solutions.”
Anne Funsten, President, and CEO of Tom Duffy Company expressed her enthusiasm about joining Artivo Surfaces: “We are thrilled to become part of Artivo Surfaces. This partnership not only enables us to scale our business but also preserves the legacy we have built in an ever-changing market. Artivo’s forward-thinking vision and robust resources create the perfect foundation for our continued growth while allowing us to strengthen the trusted relationships we have nurtured over the decades.”
“This acquisition marks an exciting milestone as Artivo continues to expand its reach and capabilities,” said Steve Kim, Principal at Transom Capital Group. “Tom Duffy has been well known in the West Coast for decades, and their inclusion in the Artivo family strengthens its ability to provide customers with even more comprehensive and innovative solutions. Tom Duffy is Transom Capital’s third acquisition in less than twelve months in this vertical, and we are proud to support Sunil and his leadership team in building a premier surfaces platform.”
Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisor to Transom Capital and PNC Bank, N.A. and Blue Torch Capital provided debt financing for the transaction. Wood Warren served as the exclusive financial advisor and Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP served as legal advisor to Tom Duffy.
About Artivo Surfaces Artivo Surfaces is a multi-regional flooring company and parent company to the Virginia Tile, Galleher LLC, Trinity Hardwood Flooring and Tom Duffy brands. The company’s network covers 48 locations in over 18 states, and they provide a comprehensive range of flooring solutions from coast to coast. Its extensive portfolio features a diverse selection of ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, hardwood, luxury vinyl, and all necessary installation materials. Combining a century of expertise with innovative design and premium products, serving both residential and commercial markets. Artivo’s scale enables it to deliver industry-leading products and solutions while preserving the personalized, high-touch service its customers depend on.
About Transom Capital Group Transom Capital Group is an operations-focused private equity firm focused on investing in the middle market. The firm strives to create long-term value by partnering with established businesses and helping them navigate transformative growth. Transom’s functional pattern recognition, access to capital, and ARMORSM Value Creation Process, combined with management’s industry expertise, drive improved operational efficiency, top-line growth, cultural transformation, and distinctive outcomes. Transom is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.
Media Contact Sam Butler for Transom Capital sam@35thAvenuePartners.com
Zürich, Switzerland, Oct. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Domains Cost Club is the first registrar in the world to offer the mirroring of traditional .ws domains on Web3. This is made possible through technologies provided by Freename and WebUnited, enabling the creation of an on-chain twin of the traditional domain. The .ws is the first Country Code TLD (ccTLD) to be mirrored on-chain, marking a major innovation in the domain industry.
Web3 Utilities for Mirrored .ws Domains
On Domains Cost Club, .ws domains can be mirrored on-chain when users choose to purchase the Web3 version of the traditional domain. Once the on-chain version of the .ws domain is created, users can manage Web3 utilities, including wallet address resolution. This allows .ws domains to be used in Web3 for activities such as sending and receiving cryptocurrency payments or building decentralized websites in addition to traditional ones. The domain now serves as an aggregator of the user’s digital identity, seamlessly bridging both Web2 and Web3.
How Registrars Can Mirror Traditional Domains
Today, any registrar can mirror domain names on the blockchain and offer the Web3 version to their customers. This is made possible through the plug-and-play mirroring APIs from Freename and WebUnited. .ws is the first extension to be mirrored on-chain by a registrar, but many more extensions will follow soon, allowing more users to leverage their favorite domain names in Web3. Registrars interested in this service can contact partners@freename.io to start their journey toward domain innovation today.
Lars Jensen, CEO of ShortDot and Co-CEO of WebUnited, highlighted the innovation: “WebUnited’s domain mirroring seamlessly connects Web2 and Web3, allowing users to keep their existing domains while accessing the blockchain—offering a glimpse into the future of online presence.”
Davide Vicini, CEO of Freename and Co-CEO of WebUnited, added: “This is just the beginning. Our partnership with Domain Cost Club and .ws signals the domain industry’s shift towards a more decentralized, innovative future. We’re proud to lead this transformation.”
About Freename: Freename is the leading multichain Web3 Namespace where users can register and mint their own Web3 domains on their preferred chain.
About .WS
As Samoa’s digital identifier, .WS is more than a domain; it’s a commitment to innovation and reliability. .WS is managed by Global Domains International and dedicated to advancing domain services, ensuring they meet the needs of today’s internet users.
About WebUnited
WebUnited is at the forefront of integrating blockchain technology with domain services, intending to provide a new internet experience. The objective is to transform digital domains into more than just web addresses by making them secure, efficient, and flexible tools for the digital age.
MONTRÉAL, Oct. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Canadian Net Real Estate Investment Trust (“Canadian Net” or the “Trust”) (TSX-V: NET.UN) is pleased to announce the acquisition of a grocery store property operated under the Sobeys banner in Truro, Nova Scotia. The total consideration paid was $9,000,000 (excluding transaction costs) and was settled in cash.
“We are excited to announce the acquisition of a single-tenant grocery store, a strategic fit within our business model focused on high-quality, triple net and management-free assets,” said Kevin Henley, President and CEO. “This acquisition comes shortly after our announcement of recent dispositions, highlighting our ability to act swiftly in a dynamic market environment. We are seeing more opportunities emerge within our highly fragmented niche, alongside the advantages of lower interest rates. As a result, we remain focused on executing our disciplined growth strategy.”
About Canadian Net – Canadian Net Real Estate Investment Trust is an open-ended trust that acquires and owns high-quality triple net and management-free commercial real estate properties.
Forward-Looking Statements – This press release contains forward-looking statements and information as defined by applicable securities laws. Canadian Net warns the reader that actual events may differ materially from current expectations due to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated in such statements. Among these include the risks related to economic conditions, the risks associated with the local real estate market, the dependence to the financial condition of tenants, the uncertainties related to real estate activities, the changes in interest rates, the availability of financing in the form of debt or equity, the effects related to the adoption of new standards, as well as other risks and factors described from time to time in the documents filed by Canadian Net with securities regulators, including the management report. Canadian Net does not intend or undertake to update or modify its forward-looking statements even if future events occur or for any other reason, unless required by law or any regulatory authority.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the Policy of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts any responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For further information please contact Kevin Henley at (450) 536-5328.
In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC), on 10/23/2024, 15:36 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 98.21) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 1070.3 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 12.5%) of the RU000A102FQ5 security (Sber Sb20R) were changed.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
The male was placed under arrest for public intoxication and secured in a police vehicle. The officers attempted to place the female in custody and a struggle occurred during which she was brought to the ground, suffering an injury that required hospitalization and surgery. One officer was also injured during the struggle and required treatment in hospital. The officer was released later the same day. ASIRT’s investigation will examine the use of force by the officers.
As of September 2024, the EPS began providing body-worn cameras to officers in a phased rollout of the devices. The two officers involved in this incident were not yet equipped with body-worn cameras.
The amount of information ASIRT releases in the first stages of an investigation varies depending on the available evidence. In some situations, ASIRT can provide significant early details due to the presence of body-worn camera video footage or other objective evidence. Other times, this may not be possible.
If ASIRT is aware of outstanding witnesses then an early release of details may also risk compromising the independent memory of these witnesses. ASIRT may withhold some details when their release would threaten the integrity of the investigation, including in some situations where objective evidence is available.
ASIRT’s mandate is to effectively, independently and objectively investigate incidents involving Alberta’s police that have resulted in serious injury or death to any person, as well as serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct.
This release is distributed by the Government of Alberta on behalf of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team.
Manitoba Government Opening its Second Extended Hours Primary Care Clinic
Concordia Hospital’s New Extended Hours Primary Care Clinic Will Bring Care Closer to Home: Premier
The Manitoba government is opening its second Extended Hours Primary Care Clinic on Oct. 23, which will be open on evenings, weekends and holidays so patients can access care when and where they need it, Premier Wab Kinew and Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced today.
“We are bringing health care closer to home for northeast Winnipeggers.” said Kinew. “We were elected on the promise to provide convenient and accessible health care to families across Manitoba and these clinics are doing just that. If your kid scrapes their knee, your parents need a checkup or you need to renew your prescription, you can head down to Concordia’s new clinic.”
Located in Room 127A at Concordia Hospital, the Extended Hours Primary Care Clinic offers family doctors and nurses who can treat patients for common ailments and support the ongoing management of chronic conditions.
“Life can’t always adapt to a nine to five schedule and folks can’t always plan for their health-care needs,” Asagwara. “Hard-working Manitobans need convenient options for accessing local care. We had an incredible response to the first Extended Hours Primary Care Clinic at the Grace Hospital. More than 560 patients have been seen since the clinic opened just over a month ago. I’m so glad to be opening another Extended Hours Primary Care Clinic that will reach even more Manitobans.”
“As a long-time resident of the area, it’s great news to hear we’re getting more local health care in northeast Winnipeg,” said Mave Dickson, northeast Winnipeg resident. “Our community will really benefit from accessible and convenient care closer to home.”
Extended Hours Primary Care Clinics are an excellent way to supplement the care patients receive from their regular providers, offering options when their primary physician is unavailable, noted the premier.
The clinic at Concordia Hospital is the second extended-hours clinic to open in Winnipeg. It will be open after hours from 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on weekdays and 1:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on weekends, and offer special hours during the holidays. Patients can register for same-day appointments online at https://myrightcare.ca and some walk-in spots will be available every day.
For more information on where to seek care for common illnesses, injuries and mental health concerns, visit the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s Find Your Right Care page at https://myrightcare.ca.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (3rd District of Ohio)
WASHINGTON, DC–Today, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-OH), the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee announced plans this week to introduce alegislative packageaimed at strengthening and reforming the International Financial Institutions. With the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group underway, this bill will help initiate reforms related to transparency, accountability, and institutional management. Specifically, this bill seeks to hold accountable the persons involved in the child sexual abuse scandal at the Bridge Academies project in Kenya, eliminate onerous loan conditions on developing or distressed countries, improve the debt forgiveness efforts of the IFIs, reduce reliance on Russian agriculture, combat corruption, and more.
“Countries around the world continue to face significant social and economic challenges, from corruption and human rights abuses to debt sustainability crises and the disastrous effects of climate change,”said Congresswoman Beatty. “International Financial Institutions (IFIs) have done substantial work to promote financial stability, poverty reduction, and economic development, but they can do more to address systemic inequities and facilitate debt relief for distressed countries. I am proud to join Ranking Member Waters in introducing this package of meaningful reforms to increase transparency and accountability at the IFIs, strengthen support for low-income countries, and establish robust human rights protections.”
“Over the years, our International Financial Institutions (IFI) have played a crucial role in establishing international order and addressing some of the most pressing economic challenges across the globe,”said Congresswoman Waters. “Despite this success, there have been troubling instances of child abuse, corruption, discrimination, and mismanagement that has hindered IFIs from reaching their full potential. I am eager to advance this bill to the President’s desk and look forward to working across the aisle on ways to strengthen the IMF, World Bank and other Development Banks so that they can create a more equitable and prosperous global economy.”
Key provisions in the legislative package include:
Treasury Report on Accountability of the World Bank in Child Sexual Abuse– This provision would mandate that Treasury report to Congress on a quarterly basis on actions completed by the World Bank to compensate survivors of child sexual abuse, including with financial compensation and other relief, and to hold accountable those involved in the Bridge Academies project. The quarterly report to Congress must also include details of reforms adopted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to prevent such failures in the future, as well as any steps taken by the IFC to impede Treasury from sharing any information around this report or the Bridge Academies case with Congress.
Anti-corruption measures in lending agreements– This provision states that the US press for the incorporation of anti-corruption measures in lending agreements at the IMF to build sustainable economies. Such measures must include ensuring that governments receiving loans make specific, measurable, and time-bound commitments as part of the loan agreements, with consequences for noncompliance.
Protections for human rights, including LGBTQ+ persons– This provision would mandate that Treasury oppose the World Bank providing financial assistance to countries that engage in the human rights abuses as reported in the State Department’s Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, including those of people who identify as LGBTQ+.
Loan Conditions– This provision states that the U.S. encourage the reduction or elimination of loan conditions that: limit spending on key social needs such as health, education, or climate action; weaken environmental, labor, public health regulations; or increase taxes or reduce subsidies in such a way that falls regressively on recipient country populations.
Reporting on Human Rights Abuses in For-Profit Healthcare– This provision mandates that Treasury report to Congress on a biannual basis on any known accusations made by community groups, CSOs, media, or other credible actors, of human rights abuses at MDB-funded, for-profit hospitals, included those funded by the IFC, and on actions completed by the MDB private sector arms to investigate and address or respond to these accusations. This provision also mandates that the U.S. advocate for the MDBs to examine their investments in healthcare to determine contribution to universal health coverage, the strengthening of national health systems, and the reduction of health inequities.
Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST) Financing– This provision would amend the most recent appropriations law so that U.S. money could be used to finance loans to the RST in addition to the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust. This is important because the Republicans cut the RST out from potentially receiving loans.
Quota Increase– This provision would authorize an equiproportional increase in quota at the IMF consistent with the increase Treasury negotiated with the IMF Member countries. If Congress passes this provision the US would retain its veto power and percent of shareholding at the IMF and China’s share would not increase (even though it probably should based on its growth). At the IMF, Member countries’ maximum financial commitments to the Fund are called “quota.” Quota is broadly matched to a Member country’s relative position in the world’s economy, and voting shares at the IMF are in line with how much quota a country pays. This was in President Biden’s most recent budget request.
Read the full billhere. Read the Section by Sectionhere.
For media inquiries, please contact Cassandra.Johnson@mail.house.gov.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chip Roy (R-TX)
WASHINGTON, DC— On Wednesday, on Mornings with Maria, Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) demanded accountability from the Biden-Harris administration on the violent Tren de Aragua gang members being released into the country.
Some key quotes from Representative Roy are below, and footage of the remarks can be found at the linkhere.
●“What Senator Cruz and I are really trying to do, is set the stage for what we need when we get control again of the Department of Homeland Security… We’ve got to go through and have a total clearing out. The American people deserve to know what this administration has done to the American people”
● “[Tren de Aragua] is all over the country, not just Aurora Colorado, but right here in Texas, where we’re getting hammered for this. So, Ted and I just want to know what the hell is going on? Ted and I just want to know how many of these freaking gangs are running all over the country? How many Americans have suffered and what are we going to do about it”
● “Our Democratic colleagues and Kamala Harris and the president, President Biden, are liars. They are lying to the American people this nonsense that, oh, the numbers are going down in the border crossings. Well, that completely Ignores the fact that they are purposely flying and moving people into our country, directly, releasing them into our country.”
● “My great great grandfather was a Texas Ranger. The people who settled Texas came in here and fought to try to give us a state that is free and secure and prosperous, and now this administration is endangering us and giving it away. We’ve got to stand up and fight them, and then we’ve got to support President Trump and secure the support.”
● “You’ve got radical progressive Democrats who want to destroy our country and are doing it in real time.”
NASA is making event plans for the 2025 calendar year, and we want to pencil you in! We are looking for the Midwest’s biggest and best community events with the broadest audiences to share NASA’s content and raise awareness of the agency’s most exciting aeronautics and space missions. NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland is leading the agency’s efforts to inspire the Midwest through engagement.
Interested organizations can submit an event proposal to Glenn now through Nov. 18, 2024. Those selected will receive notification via email by Dec. 31, 2024. Through this collaboration, selected organizations will gain access to NASA exhibits and artifacts, hands-on demonstrations, STEM and internship opportunities for students and educators, NASA’s innovative technology, and experts that align to the topics and themes of their events.
NASA is seeking:
Organizations with direct community connections and an established event that reaches diverse audiences. Events scheduled to occur between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2025. Events that are mutually beneficial – where a NASA presence will enhance the event experience and raise awareness of NASA’s contributions to the advancement of aeronautics and space exploration.
Selected organizations must agree to the following:
Attend virtual planning meetings through an online business communication platform. Work with NASA Glenn’s Office of Communications when coordinating marketing, media communications, and logistics as described in the event proposal. Adhere to NASA Media Usage Guidelines for NASA media and logos. Provide final attendance data within two weeks of the conclusion of the event including the following:
Number of attendees Estimated percentage of attendees from underrepresented audiences
All proposals are to be submitted through the online proposal form. Proposals must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Nov. 18, 2024. Only proposals submitted online will be accepted. Proposal Review Process Proposals will be evaluated and scored, and selections will be made using the following criteria:
Estimated audience size. Percentage of audience from underserved and/or underrepresented communities as defined below.
For purposes of this solicitation, underserved and/or underrepresented communities include Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. (Source: NASA’s Mission Equity).
Alignment of the program’s goals and objectives to those of this opportunity. Plans to maximize audience participation through marketing and media communications. Evidence of historical attendance at this or similar events hosted by the proposing organization.
Proposing organizations will be notified of their selection status by Dec. 31, 2024.
If you have questions about this opportunity or the online proposal form, contact NASA Glenn’s Office of Communications: GRC-Public-Engagement@mail.nasa.gov.
Solicitation posted: Oct. 23, 2024Proposal form URL: https://osirris.grc.nasa.gov/request/request.cfmProposal submission deadline: Nov. 18, 2024Notification of event selection: Dec. 13, 2024
NASA’s Glenn Research Center designs, develops, and tests innovative technology to revolutionize air travel, advance space exploration, and improve life on Earth. As one of 10 NASA centers, and the only one in the Midwest, Glenn is a vital contributor to the region’s economy and culture. Many NASA missions have Glenn contributions, and every U.S. aircraft has NASA Glenn technology on board, making flight cleaner, safer, and quieter.
A press conference on ensuring market supply and promoting consumption during the Spring Festival is held by the State Council Information Office in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Pan Xu)
China has become the world’s largest online retail market for 12 consecutive years, with online retail sales reaching 15.5 trillion yuan (about 2.16 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2024, the Ministry of Commerce said Friday.
China’s wholesale and retail industries have made steady progress driven by various policies, providing strong support for expanding domestic demand and forging a new development paradigm, Vice Commerce Minister Sheng Qiuping told a press conference.
Sheng said that the added value of the wholesale and retail industries reached 13.8 trillion yuan in 2024, accounting for 10.2 percent of the GDP and playing a vital role in smoothing circulation, creating jobs and reducing logistics costs.
The ministry will work with relevant departments to further enrich supporting policies, implement detailed measures and accelerate the promotion of high-quality development of wholesale and retail industries, so as to further smooth the circulation of the national economy, Sheng added.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Ancient capital Xi’an ready for Spring Festival
Updated: January 25, 2025 11:44Xinhua
An aerial drone photo shows people visiting the Datang Everbright City scenic area in Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, Jan. 22, 2025. As the Spring Festival approaches, Xi’an, one of the ancient capitals in Chinese history, is brimming with bright lights and splendid festive atmosphere. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo shows tourists enjoying the view of lanterns at the Tang Paradise in Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, Jan. 22, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo shows a giant lantern decoration at the Tang Paradise in Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, Jan. 22, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo shows a view of lanterns at the Tang Paradise in Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, Jan. 22, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo shows the night view of the Datang Everbright City scenic area, in Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, Jan. 22, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]A drone photo shows visitors watching a performance at the Datang Everbright City scenic area in Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, Jan. 22, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Remarks by S for S at media session Remarks by S for S at media session ***********************************
Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-Leung, at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (January 25):Reporter: Could you please recap in English the rescue work that you have mentioned on the radio, that the 29 (year-old) teenager has been rescued, and when will he be back in Hong Kong? Secondly, can you also recap in English, the rapid test kit for the space oil? You mentioned there are two scenarios when checking, that the police officers may have to be attentive of. Can you say in English how do they have to be aware of during checking? Secretary for Security: First of all, regarding the 29 years old Hong Kong victim, who was earlier being lured to a Southeast Asian country to work illegally, and had been rescued to Thailand. Actually, he had been moved to Bangkok yesterday, and our task force member was able to see him and talk with him. With the assistance from Thai authorities and the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, and also with the help of the Thai Consulate in Hong Kong, we are able to arrange him to be back to Hong Kong on coming Monday. We are delighted that he can see his family members before the Chinese New Year and have a family reunion. Regarding the rapid test kits on space oil drug, since the promulgation last Saturday, we have two positive cases. In the course of doing the test, our officers are being trained to handle different situations. If someone is really innocent, our officers have to tactfully handle how to make a request. We understand that, if someone is really in possession of space oil drug, and they have certain reactions, our officers are being trained to handle different scenarios. Thank you.Reporter: Will the Government also work with the Myanmar and Cambodian governments? And what kind of challenges are there?Secretary for Security: In fact, I have been seeing the Myanmar Consulate and also the Cambodian Consulate in Hong Kong to discuss on how to have the safe return of our Hong Kong people. All of us, including the two Consulates-General that I mentioned, and also the Thai authorities, are all committed to paying our utmost efforts to have the safe return of our Hong Kong residents.(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks)
Ends/Saturday, January 25, 2025Issued at HKT 12:16
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
“When it comes to keeping Wisconsin families and servicemembers safe, Pete Hegseth is simply not up to the job”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released the following statement after voting ‘no’ to confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of the Department of Defense:
“I’ve said from day one that I would give all of President Trump’s nominees a fair shake and carefully consider if they will help or hurt Wisconsinites – and this was especially true for who leads our military. Running the Department of Defense and keeping our troops and the country safe is one of the most important jobs in the country. That leader must have the experience and character to do it, or we all pay the price. Given Pete Hegseth’s history of running even a small organization into the ground, credible allegations of sexual assault, and degrading statements about women in service, he has proven that he is just not fit to lead the three million men and women in service and protect our country. When it comes to keeping Wisconsin families and servicemembers safe, Pete Hegseth is simply not up to the job.”
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) issued the following statement after President Trump toured the devastation of the fires in Southern California:
“We’re grateful to President Trump for coming to California amidst the ongoing response to these historic fires. It’s difficult to comprehend the scale of the devastation — entire neighborhoods gone — until you see it firsthand. While his continued comments threatening conditions on federal aid and to eliminate FEMA are deeply concerning, we remain hopeful this visit moves the President and Congress closer to focus on relief over partisanship.
“Let us be clear — leveraging disaster aid as a bargaining chip runs in stark contrast to how both Democrats and Republicans have responded to natural disasters for decades. Natural disasters don’t discriminate between blue states or red states. And Americans should be able to count on our support to recover and rebuild in the wake of these tragedies, no matter what state they call home. We will continue to work with our colleagues to ensure that’s the case in California.”
Both personally and on behalf of the Government, the President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, extends deep condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the Turkish authorities for the despicable attack on the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries, which has resulted in numerous casualties.
Firmly condemning all forms of terrorism, President Meloni expresses her deepest condolences to the families of the victims and those who were injured. Her thoughts go out to them.
he Secretary-General strongly condemns the terrorist attack on Turkish Aerospace Industries’ facilities in Ankara. He expresses his deepest condolences to the victims and their families and wishes a speedy and full recovery to those injured. The United Nations stands in solidarity with the people and Government of the Republic of Türkiye.
Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
LOUISVILLE, KY – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement today regarding the passing of Kentucky State Senator Johnnie Turner:
“Elaine and I were saddened to hear of the passing of our friend, Senator Johnnie Turner. Throughout his service to Kentucky and the nation – in the U.S. Army, the State House, and the State Senate, representing Eastern Kentucky’s communities – Johnnie lived his life for others. In recent years, I remember crossing paths with Johnnie to survey the damage left by the devastating floods that hit Eastern Kentucky. Johnnie was on the scene, ankle-deep in mud, his equipment from home in tow, ready to help folks in Letcher County. That’s just who he was: a good man who loved the mountains and its people. We send our condolences to the entire Turner family, Johnnie’s colleagues in the Senate, and all those touched by his service.”
This week, from October 23 to 25, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, will attend the Fall Meetings of G7 and G20 Finance Ministers and the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in Washington D.C.
October 23, 2024 – Ottawa, Canada – Department of Finance Canada
This week, from October 23 to 25, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, will attend the Fall Meetings of G7 and G20 Finance Ministers and the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in Washington D.C.
At these meetings, the Deputy Prime Minister will advance work with Canada’s allies to strengthen supply chains with trusted trading partners to create jobs and economic growth that is shared by all Canadians.
While in Washington, the Deputy Prime Minister will discuss with allies further efforts to support Ukraine through to victory and into reconstruction. Canada was an early champion of G7 efforts to make full use of frozen Russian sovereign assets, and provided a CA$5 billion (US$3.7 billion) contribution to the G7’s CA$68 billion (US$50 billion) Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration Loans for Ukraine.
The Deputy Prime Minister will further Canada’s work to build resilient economies and reduce economic inequalities—as demonstrated by the government’s historic investments in early learning and child care, national dental care coverage, and free contraception and diabetes medication. The Deputy Prime Minister will also advance Canada’s work on international tax cooperation.
An itinerary of events will be released in advance of the meetings.
Quotes
“Canada is leading the G7 in cutting interest rates four times this year and reducing inflation to target for all of this year. The wages of Canadian workers have outpaced inflation for 20 months. And, the IMF expects Canada’s economic growth to be the best in the G7 next year. Together, Canada and our allies are working to ensure recent economic gains are not unwound, but rather built upon, so we can create more good-paying jobs, help people get ahead, and build a fairer future for every generation.”
– The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Quick facts
Canada is leading the G7 in:
Cutting interest rates; the first to cut rates twice, the first to cut rates a third time, and now the first to cut rates a fourth time;
Economic growth expectations, with the IMF predicting that Canada’s GDP will be the fastest growing in 2025;
Maintaining the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio—by a significant margin—in the G7; and,
Securing AAA credit ratings from at least two of the world’s three major credit rating agencies, along with only Germany.
Inflation has been within the target range of 1 per cent to 3 per cent for all of 2024, with inflation in Canada falling to 1.6 per cent in September—a 43 month low.
Wages in Canada have outpaced inflation for 20 months in a row, which means Canadian workers today on average have larger pay cheques, even accounting for inflation, than they did before the pandemic.
The Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank, which generally take place in October, have customarily been held in Washington for two consecutive years and in another member country in the third year.
Contacts
Media may contact:
Katherine Cuplinskas Deputy Director of Communications Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Katherine.Cuplinskas@fin.gc.ca
Media Relations Department of Finance Canada mediare@fin.gc.ca 613-369-4000