Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3
For Immediate Release: May 09, 2025
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced it granted three new color additive petitions that will expand the palette of available colors from natural sources for manufacturers to safely use in food. The FDA is in line with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s priority to phase out petroleum-based dyes in the nation’s food supply as part of the administration’s broader initiative to Make America Healthy Again. “Today we take a major step to Make America Healthy Again,” said HHS Secretary Kennedy. “For too long, our food system has relied on synthetic, petroleum-based dyes that offer no nutritional value and pose unnecessary health risks. We’re removing these dyes and approving safe, natural alternatives—to protect families and support healthier choices.” Since the HHS and FDA announcement last month during a press conference at HHS on petroleum-based food dyes, more U.S. food manufacturers have committed to removing them within the FDA’s set time frame of the end of next year. “On April 22, I said the FDA would soon approve several new color additives and would accelerate our review of others. I’m pleased to report that promises made, have been promises kept,” said FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “FDA staff have been moving quickly to expedite the publication of these decisions, underscoring our serious intent to transition away from petroleum-based dyes in the food supply and provide new colors from natural sources.” The color additive petitions approved today are for:
Galdieria extract blue, a blue color derived from the unicellular red algae Galdieria sulphuraria. The FDA has approved the color additive for use in nonalcoholic beverages and beverage bases, fruit drinks, fruit smoothies, fruit juices, vegetable juices, dairy-based smoothies, milk shakes and flavored milks, yogurt drinks, milk-based meal replacement and nutritional beverages, breakfast cereal coatings, hard candy, soft candy and chewing gum, flavored frostings, ice cream and frozen dairy desserts, frozen fruits, water ices and popsicles, gelatin desserts, puddings and custards, and whipped cream, yogurt, frozen or liquid creamers (including non-dairy alternatives), and whipped toppings (including non-dairy alternatives). The petition was submitted by the French company Fermentalg. Butterfly pea flower extract, a blue color that can be used to achieve a range of shades including bright blues, intense purple, and natural greens. Produced through the water extraction of the dried flower petals of the butterfly pea plant, this color additive is already approved for use in sport drinks, fruit drinks, fruit and vegetable juices, alcoholic beverages, dairy drinks, ready to drink teas, nutritional beverages, gums, candy, coated nuts, ice creams, and yogurt. Today’s approval of a petition by St. Louis-based Sensient Colors LLC expands the approved use for coloring ready-to-eat cereals, crackers, snack mixes, hard pretzels, plain potato chips (restructured or baked), plain corn chips, tortilla chips, and multigrain chips. Calcium phosphate, a white color approved for use in ready-to-eat chicken products, white candy melts, doughnut sugar, and sugar for coated candies. The petition was filed by Innophos Inc. of Cranbury, New Jersey.
Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Chapter VII, section 721), color additives are subject to FDA approval to determine whether they are safe before they may be used in food. The FDA determines whether an additive is safe to use by considering the projected human dietary exposure to the color additive, the additive’s toxicological data, and other relevant information, such as published literature. Once the FDA approves a color additive petition, any manufacturer can use the coloring for the approved uses. Related Information
Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
May 09, 2025
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced they are co-sponsoring legislation that would help more Americans have access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a crucial safety net that stands between thousands of Oregonians and hunger.
“Oregonians should not have to choose between putting food on the table and paying their bills,” Wyden said. “I am not going to stand by while Oregonians are forced to make that impossible choice because of the Trump Administration’s cruel and chaotic policies.”
“Too many families in Oregon are working hard but still coming up short at the end of the month,” Merkley said. “Instead of putting up barriers for people who are already struggling, we should be expanding access to programs like SNAP that keep families afloat. The Improving Access to Nutrition Act pushes back against MAGA Republicans’ cruel economic policies and makes sure Oregonians can count on the help they need to get through hard times.”
Under current law, able-bodied adults without dependents between 18 to 49 years old are prohibited from receiving more than three months of SNAP benefits during a three-year period if they do not report at least 30 hours of work per week. These punitive requirements disproportionately hurt women and people of color—roughly half of all low-income able-bodied adults without dependents—and are often counterproductive given SNAP’s proven effectiveness in improving economic stability, food security, and wellbeing for participants.
The Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2025 would repeal Republicans’ punitive three-month time limit on SNAP eligibility to allow able-bodied adults without dependents to receive benefits for longer than three months if they cannot find work. The bill would also repeal additional eligibility criteria that imposes the three-month rule on adults up to age 54 over a three-year period.
In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the Improving Access to Nutrition Act was cosponsored by Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and led by Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).
Full text of the bill is here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Eric Burlison (R-Missouri 7th District)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Eric Burlison (MO-07) joined fellow House Republicans in calling for the full repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) costly green energy subsidies. In a letter sent to Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, the lawmakers warned that keeping even a single subsidy undermines conservative energy principles and jeopardizes America’s return to energy dominance.
“Republicans were elected on a promise to dismantle Biden’s Green New Scam,” said Rep. Burlison. “These subsidies are distorting the energy market, driving up costs, and threatening our grid. We must follow through—no half-measures, repeal it all.”
The letter emphasizes that the IRA’s nearly $1 trillion in subsidies for solar, wind, EVs, hydrogen, and more are not only fiscally irresponsible but also weaken national security, destabilize the energy grid, and betray Republican commitments to free-market energy policy.
Read the full letter below.
Dear Chairman Smith: As fellow Members of the House Republican Conference, we write to underscore the urgent need to fully repeal the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and its green energy subsidies, which will cost taxpayers approximately $1 trillion over the next decade. We are deeply concerned that President Trump’s commitment to restoring American energy dominance and ending what he calls the “green new scam” is being undermined by parochial interests and short-sighted political calculations.
The IRA contains eight major energy subsidies, each of which burdens taxpayers, inflates energy costs, and threatens the reliability of our power grid. Each of these subsidies props up unreliable energy sources while displacing dependable, proven energy like coal and natural gas.
Republicans ran—and won—on a promise to completely dismantle the IRA and end the left’s green welfare agenda. The first chapter of our 2024 platform reaffirms our commitment to “terminating the Socialist Green New Deal.” Despite our previously unified stance, some Members of our conference now feel compelled to defend wind and biofuel credits, advocate for carbon capture and hydrogen subsidies, or protect solar and electric vehicle giveaways. Keeping even one of these subsidies opens the door to retaining all eight. How do we retain some of these credits and not operate in hypocrisy? The longstanding Republican position has been to allow the market to determine energy production. If every faction continues to defend their favored subsidies, we risk preserving the entire IRA because no clearly defined principle will dictate what is kept and what is culled.
Leaving IRA subsidies intact will actively undermine America’s return to energy dominance and national security. In 2024 alone, solar represented 61% of all new electricity generation in our nation, with more expected this year. By the end of this year, wind generation in the U.S. is expected to increase 11% from 2023 because of these subsidies.These numbers do not reflect a natural market shift. They are the result of government subsidies that distort the U.S. energy sector, displace reliable coal and natural gas and the domestic jobs they produce, and put the stability and independence of our electric grid in jeopardy.
To see the consequences of this path, we need only to look at Europe’s overreliance on renewables, which has left them vulnerable and reliant on Russian oil and gas. Meanwhile, China gladly sells us solar panels and electric vehicle components while expanding its own coal capacity to maintain grid stability and economic advantage. If we do not course correct, we will trade American energy dominance for dependence on hostile regimes.
Our path forward is clear. We must fully repeal the IRA’s green subsidies. Doing so will:
Save Taxpayers $1 trillion. Estimates project the Inflation Reduction Act will cost between $825 billion—according to the Congressional Budget Office as of January 2025— and over $1 trillion, per analysts at Goldman Sachs, over the next decade.4 Eliminating these subsidies will allow us to rein in the debt and reallocate funds to genuine national priorities.
Ease inflation and spur economic growth. IRA subsidies exacerbate inflation and push up interest rates, making it harder for Americans to buy homes and cars and start businesses. Repealing them will provide immediate financial relief and create a stronger economic environment.
Restore energy affordability and security. IRA subsidies force utilities to overbuild solar and wind capacity, weakening grid reliability and increasing energy costs. Ending these subsidies will restore affordability and stability to our energy supply.
This is our only opportunity for an IRA repeal. Without effectively fully repealing all IRA subsidies, as envisioned under the House reconciliation framework, we would jeopardize America’s return to energy dominance and passage of an extension of the expiring Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) provisions, as well as the President’s other tax priorities. Failure to act undermines the mandate given to us by the American people.
We urge our colleagues to stand firm in the upcoming reconciliation process. We must reject half-measures and deliver a full repeal of the IRA’s energy subsidies for the sake of American taxpayers and for the future of American energy.
Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) reintroduced the Improving Social Security’s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act to provide a single point of contact at the Social Security Administration (SSA) for Americans whose Social Security numbers have been stolen.
“Seniors are often a target for identity theft. If your grandparent fell victim, you’d want them to have a point of contact at SSA to help resolve the situation as quickly as possible,” said Dr. Cassidy.
“Millions of Americans suffer from identity theft each year, and Social Security numbers are a top target. Unfortunately, when a victim calls up the Social Security Administration, they can be jerked around from one contact to another, having to reexplain the situation each time. Our bill will help streamline the process by providing a victim of identity theft with a single point of contact at the agency, easing this frustrating and stressful process,” said Senator Grassley.
Cassidy and Grassley were joined by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Todd Young (R-IN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), James Lankford (R-OK), Angus King (I-ME), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in introducing the legislation.
The Improving Social Security’s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act has the endorsement of AARP, Social Security Works, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM), and the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jesús Chuy García (IL-04)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) issued the following statement on the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, the first Pope from the United States:
“I am rejoiced by the election of a fellow Chicagoan and honorary St. Rita High School Mustang as the new leader of the Catholic Church. As a Catholic and an immigrant, I am encouraged by the stances Cardinal Prevost has taken in defense of immigrants, and by his views on the poor and the environment. Latin America has the most Catholics in the world, and Pope Leo XIV’s knowledge of the region, the time he spent in Perú and his fluency in the Spanish language will be key qualities that will endear him to Latinos in the United States and Latin Americans alike.Congratulations, Pope Leo XIV!”
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
LITTLE ROCK—On May 7, 2025, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators. The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.
“The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”
“Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”
If you harm or exploit a child and we can find a way to federally prosecute you, we will,” said Jonathan D. Ross, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “Protecting children from predators is one of the most important responsibilities we have at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The partnership among federal, state, and local law enforcement is crucial to bringing justice to the victims of these crimes.”
“This operation is a testament to the efforts of the FBI and our dedicated law enforcement partners to protect children in our communities,” said FBI Little Rock Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Corder. “FBI Little Rock will continue to prioritize these investigations, seek justice for victims and hold predators accountable for their actions.”
As part of Operation Restore Justice, on May 6, 2025, the FBI in the Eastern District of Arkansas arrested a defendant that is alleged to have distributed large amounts of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in a chatroom dedicated to the sexual exploitation of children. The day he was arrested, the defendant possessed a cellular telephone that had multiple images of CSAM to include an image depicting a fully nude pre-pubescent female laying on her back. The image also depicted the pre-pubescent female’s hands and feet tied together with a white cord or rope and blindfolded.
Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.
In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, N.Y.
This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.
The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, 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 www.justice.gov/psc.
The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.
The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.
MUNICH, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Infineon Technologies AG (FSE: IFX / OTCQX: IFNNY), based in Munich and a global semiconductor leader in power systems and IoT, today announced that Daniel Gyoery, Senior Director Investor Relations will present at the dbVIC – Deutsche Bank American Depositary Receipt (ADR) Virtual Investor Conference on May 15, 2025. This virtual investor conference is aimed exclusively at introducing global companies with ADR programs to investors.
DATE: May 15th TIME: 9:00 EDT / 15:00 CET LINK:REGISTER HERE
This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.
It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.
Participation is free of charge.
Recent Company Highlights
Infineon is the #1 global leader in automotive semiconductors, power semiconductors, and microcontrollers
Microcontroller: Infineon’s microcontrollers serve as the brains of smarter, safer cars and secure IoT devices. Over the past decade, the company has consistently outgrown the market and achieved the global #1 position.
Powering AI – from grid to core: the exponential data growth driven by digitalization and AI is increasing the energy demand of data centers. Infineon offers solutions, extending from the grid to the core to maximize the efficiency, power density and reliability of AI infrastructure.
Shaping mobility & Humanoid robots: ever-smarter, more integrated cars and humanoid robots need fast, secure controllers as well as high-speed networking. Infineon’s microcontroller leadership and the acquisition of Marvell Technology’s automotive ethernet business combine two world-class solutions, forming a unique system solution meeting the needs of these emerging technologies.
Focus on high growth and margin retention combined with consistent shareholder returns. Fiscal year 2025 guidance already includes a haircut for potential tariff headwinds.
About Infineon Infineon Technologies AG is a global semiconductor leader in power systems and IoT. Infineon drives decarbonization and digitalization with its products and solutions. The Company had around 58,060 employees worldwide (end of September 2024) and generated revenue of about €15 billion in the 2024 fiscal year (ending 30 September). Infineon is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: IFX) and in the USA on the OTCQX International over-the-counter market (ticker symbol: IFNNY).
About Virtual Investor Conferences® Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.
Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.
CONTACTS:
Infineon Technologies AG Daniel Györy Senior Director Investor Relations Office: +49 89 234 35078 Daniel.Gyoery@infineon.com
Virtual Investor Conferences John M. Viglotti SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access OTC Markets Group (212) 220-2221 johnv@otcmarkets.com
Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)
WASHINGTON – Senator Amy Klobuchar released the following statement on the election of Pope Leo XIV:
“Pope Leo XIV is the first American Pope in the history of the Church — and he is from the Midwest. This is a deeply moving and meaningful moment for Catholics in Minnesota and around the world. Pope Leo’s first message today was wishing peace to all people, and I am hopeful he will continue to be a uniting force.”
Headline: Around the Air Force: Wedgetail Collaboration, Aerial Networking, Super Squadron Test
In this week’s look Around the Air Force, trilateral collaboration streamlines certification for the E-7A Wedgetail aircraft, aerial networking capability completes flight testing for improved C3BM, and Seventh Air Force extends its Super Squadron test to maximize combat effectiveness.
Headline: During Small Business Week, Governor Stein Visits Marshall, Calls for More Western NC Small Business Support
During Small Business Week, Governor Stein Visits Marshall, Calls for More Western NC Small Business Support lsaito
Raleigh, NC
Yesterday, during Small Business Week, Governor Stein and North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Lee Lilley visited downtown Marshall to highlight the importance of supporting small businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene. Governor Stein has proclaimed May 4 – May 10, 2025 as Small Business Week to celebrate the impact of entrepreneurs and small businesses on North Carolina’s economy.
“Small businesses are the beating heart of our economy, and I am proud to recognize them this week. In particular, western North Carolina is open for business, and it is more crucial than ever to support its economic recovery,” said Governor Josh Stein. “With the help of private partners, $55 million is now on the way to more than 2,100 small businesses. Unfortunately, it’s not nearly enough. I am calling on the General Assembly to dedicate more funding to support small businesses so they can keep providing jobs and bolstering local economies.”
“Small businesses are foundational in our communities, employing nearly 45 percent of the private-sector workforce across the state,” said Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “As we continue our recovery from devastating storms and federal impacts, our focus remains on creating an environment where entrepreneurs can thrive.”
Governor Stein remains committed to ensuring that businesses in western North Carolina have the resources and infrastructure they need to rebuild. Last week, Governor Stein announced that the Dogwood Health Trust, the Duke Endowment, and the State of North Carolina have distributed $55 million to more than 2,100 businesses in western North Carolina. In his second Helene budget request, Governor Stein will call on the General Assembly to invest more in small business grants so that western North Carolina businesses can keep their doors open to serve their communities.
Governor Stein and the North Carolina Department of Commerce also launched an additional $55 million state infrastructure program, which allows local governments to apply for up to $1 million to rebuild public infrastructure. Small businesses rely on this infrastructure, such as sidewalks and sewers, to do business. The Department of Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions has also made the $500,000 “Hurricane Helene Business Edge Fund” available to local workforce boards serving the counties that were most impacted by the storm, with a particular focus on minimizing layoffs from small businesses.
North Carolina’s small businesses account for more than 99 percent of the state’s businesses, employing 1.7 million people statewide. More than 9,600 North Carolina small firms exported merchandise, generating $8.2 billion of the state’s exports as of the latest report from 2022. North Carolina is proud to support small businesses through services such as NCWorks, community college small business centers, the N.C. Small Business and Technology Development Center, SCORE, the Veterans Business Outreach Center, the Rural Center, and a toll-free information and referral service known as the Small Business Advisors hotline.
Click here to read Governor Stein’s full proclamation.
Headline: NCDHHS Livestream Fireside Chat and Tele-Town Hall: NC Crisis Services — Support For All Ages
NCDHHS Livestream Fireside Chat and Tele-Town Hall: NC Crisis Services — Support For All Ages stonizzo
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Tuesday, May 13, from 6 to 7 p.m. to discuss how people can support their mental well-being, find resources and get help for themselves or someone else who is struggling with mental health or experiencing a crisis.
Event participants include:
Lisa DeCiantis, MA, LCMHC, Chief Clinical Officer for Mental Health Wellness, Treatment and Recovery, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services, NCDHHS
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and nearly 1 in 4 adults in North Carolina have reported symptoms of anxiety or depression. Mental health crisis services offer non-judgmental, confidential and compassionate care to connect North Carolinians with resources and support — available at little or no cost. People of all ages and stages of life can get help with social or family situations, depression, anxiety, thoughts of suicide, substance use or if they just need someone to talk to.
The fireside chat will stream live from the NCDHHS Facebook and YouTube accounts, where viewers can submit questions. The event also includes a tele-town hall, which invites people by phone to listen in and submit questions. People can dial into the event by calling 855-756-7520 Ext. 120795#. Fireside chat and tele-town hall panelists will discuss:
What crisis services are and how to access them
When to get support if you’re struggling, or a caregiver of someone who needs help
Where to find mental health information and resources for youth and adults in North Carolina
A Crisis Services page is available in English and Spanish on the NCDHHS website to explain and connect people to services. This page includes a searchable map to find community crisis centers and has a zip code search to find a mobile crisis team. If you or someone you love is feeling overwhelmed, NC crisis services are here to help:
Call, text or chat with 988 for immediate support, 24/7
Talk to someone with lived experience through the Peer Warmline: 855-PEERS-NC
Have help come to you — trained mobile crisis teams will meet you in a safe place at no cost
Visit a community crisis center for fast, in-person help from licensed clinicians
SINGAPORE, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With Bitcoin breaking past the $100,000 milestone and Ethereum surging over 20% in just 24 hours, many analysts agree that a new crypto bull market has officially begun. In this environment, smart investors are turning to high-leverage futures trading to amplify their gains with minimal capital. Recognizing this shift, BexBack is doubling down on its trader-first approach by offering powerful promotional incentives: a 100% deposit bonus, a $50 welcome bonus for new users, and up to 100x leverage on over 50 major cryptocurrencies. These tools are designed to help traders capture the full potential of the bull cycle with precision and flexibility.
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FIREWEED METALS CORP. (“Fireweed” or the “Company”) (TSXV: FWZ; OTCQX: FWEDF), is pleased to announce that, due to strong institutional investor demand, it has entered into an agreement with Ventum Financial Corp. as co-lead agent and bookrunner, alongside Haywood Securities Inc., as co-lead agent, on behalf of a syndicate of agents, to increase the Company’s previously announced brokered and non-brokered financing from $45 million to up to $60 million. See press release of the Company dated May 8, 2025.
Pursuant to the amended terms of the financing, the brokered private placement (“Brokered Offering”) will now consist of:
12,545,000 critical mineral charity flow-through common shares (“CM FT Shares”) of the Company at a price of $2.79 per CM FT Share for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $35,000,550.
4,281,000 non-critical mineral charity flow-through common shares (“NCM FT Shares”) of the Company at a price of $2.57 per NCM FT Share for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $11,002,170.
The Company has also decided to increase the size of the non-brokered private placement (“Non-Brokered Offering”) which will now consist of:
7,777,800 common shares of the Company (“Shares”) at a price of $1.80 per Share, for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $14,000,040.
In all other respects, the terms of the Brokered Offering and Non-Brokered Offering remain as previously disclosed in the original press release of the Company related to the financing dated May 8, 2025, a copy of which is available on the Company’s website at FireweedMetals.com and at www.sedarplus.com.
The securities being offered have not, nor will they be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons in the absence of U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities in the United States.
About Fireweed Metals Corp.
Fireweed is an exploration company focused on unlocking value in a new critical metals district located in Northern Canada. Fireweed is 100% owner of the Macpass District, a large and highly prospective 985 km2 land package. The Macpass District includes the Macpass zinc-lead-silver project and the Mactung tungsten project. A Lundin Group company, Fireweed is strongly positioned to create meaningful value.
Fireweed trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol “FWZ”, on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol “FWEDF”, and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “M0G”.
Additional information about Fireweed and its projects can be found on the Company’s website at FireweedMetals.com and at www.sedarplus.com
ON BEHALF OF FIREWEED METALS CORP.
“Ian Gibbs”
CEO
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Statements
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking” statements and information (“forward-looking statements”). All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included herein, including, without limitation, statements relating to the Brokered Offering and the Non-Brokered Offering, timing thereof, completion and use of proceeds thereof, statements relating to interpretation of drill results, targets for exploration, potential extensions of mineralized zones, geophysical anomalies, future work plans, and the potential of the Company’s projects, are forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “potential”, “possible”, and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results “will”, “may”, “could”, or “should” occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of Company management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Company management and reflect the beliefs, opinions, and projections on the date the statements are made. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties and accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include but are not limited to, exploration and development risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, expenditure and financing requirements, general economic conditions, changes in financial markets, the ability to properly and efficiently staff the Company’s operations, the sufficiency of working capital and funding for continued operations, title matters, First Nations relations, operating hazards, political and economic factors, competitive factors, metal prices, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulations and oversight, permitting, seasonality and weather, technological change, industry practices, uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and laboratory tests, and one-time events. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward‐looking statements or beliefs, opinions, projections or other factors, except as required by law.
Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) pressed National Basketball Association (NBA) executive, William Koenig, on the league’s shady ties to Communist China. Estimates show that the NBA’s media rights in China are worth hundreds of millions of dollars per year and that team owners have invested more than $10 billion in the country all while the Chinese Communist Party has violated human rights and censored speech. Koenig refused to disclose how much the NBA has profited off investments in China.
Click here to download video of Senator Blackburn’s remarks during the Senate Commerce Committee hearing.
On the NBA’s investments in China:
Blackburn: “Why don’t you tell me what the broadcast rights in China are worth and how much NBA owners have invested in China?”
Koenig: “The NBA does have a very long history of distributing our games and content in China for more than 30 years.”
Blackburn: “I’m not asking about the length of time you’ve been in China. I’m asking, ‘What are the media rights worth?’ You’re the president of global content and media distribution so what are those rights worth and how much have the NBA owners invested in China?’
Koenig: “The NBA does not comment publicly on the financial terms of our relationships in the U.S. or abroad.”
Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released a new episode of ‘Unmuted with Marsha’ highlighting the 30 projects with approximately 3,700 new jobs and $1.2 billion in economic investment Tennessee has landed since November 2024.
Senator Blackburn spoke with Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) Commissioner Stuart McWhorter about the exciting economic developments in the state, including the recruitment of new international direct flights, investment in rural Tennessee communities, and closing the digital divide by expanding access to broadband.
Click here to download this episode of ‘Unmuted with Marsha.’
“We’ve heard so much about President Trump’s first 100 days, and a lot of talk about the success that different states are having in attracting investment and attracting jobs and seeing that jobs growth take place. I was at the White House last week with the President as he was announcing some of these projects that have taken place,” said Senator Blackburn.
“It’s been a busy several months for sure, and the good news is the pipeline is continuing to be very robust. Since President Trump was elected, and certainly now that he’s in office, and really making a lot of things happen quickly, we’re seeing activity in our state pick up. A lot of companies globally are looking to reshore and establish a stronger presence – not only in the United States – but certainly in the State of Tennessee,” saidStuart McWhorter.
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VIDEO: Blackburn Celebrates Economic Investments in Tennessee Secured by President Trump
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jesús Chuy García (IL-04)
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) issued the following statement in response to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem’s presence in Springfield, IL:
“Secretary Noem came to Springfield trying to intimidate, divide, and scapegoat immigrants. But in Illinois, our laws reflect our values and ensure local resources are used to promote public safety and community trust. Trump and his allies are waging a war on immigrants. They’re weaponizing federal funding for vital programs to bully states and distract from their failures. But we’re not scared—we’re organized. We will continue fighting to empower our community, educate our neighbors, and stand together against hate.”
oday, Fox News Digital published an op-ed by Governor Kathy Hochul detailing her fight to give kids their childhoods back. From her work taking on addictive social media algorithms to this year’s landmark bell-to-bell cell phone ban, Governor Hochul is leading the nation in creating a safer digital environment to protect our children. Read the full op-ed online here or below:
Phones down. Heads up. Starting this fall, we’ll have no cellphones in a child’s hand. We’re taking back our classrooms and giving kids their childhoods back
I’ve been a mom longer than I’ve been a Governor, so I’m hardwired to protect kids — my own and yours.
That’s why, as New York’s first Mom Governor, I led the nation last year in taking on the addictive algorithms driving social media feeds. And now, we’re taking another bold step: becoming the largest state in the nation to restrict cellphones in K-12 schools throughout the entire school day.
I spent the past year traveling across New York, talking to everyone from moms and dads to teachers, students, principals — from North Country to Long Island, I heard the same thing: cellphones are hurting our kids.
One conversation I’ll never forget happened in a library, sitting in a circle with students. They opened up about all the pressure and stress they feel every day — how they look, whether their clothes are cool, if they’re being excluded from a party. They were carrying so much anxiety. How could they possibly focus in class with all that on their minds and constant notifications buzzing in their pockets?
I also heard from teachers who would tell me, “We can’t compete anymore. We just can’t compete with the screens. We’re losing the battle of connecting with our students.” They want to build relationships with their students. They want to teach. But their kids are glued to their phones, distracted, anxious, and disengaged.
And I heard from parents who would talk to me about how their kids are becoming more withdrawn and overwhelmed because of the constant bombardment of negativity from their smartphones.
The facts speak for themselves. Ninety-five percent of teenagers have smartphones. They receive 250 notifications a day on average. They can’t possibly focus on anything else because they’re so afraid of missing something. Even our kids know it is too much. One young woman told me, “you have to save us from ourselves.” I knew she really meant it. And I knew I had to act.
I understand the legitimate fear parents may feel, losing a direct line of contact to their children in the case of an emergency. But as I traveled across the state, I also heard from law enforcement who told me that in the horrible event of a mass casualty, the last thing you want is your child fumbling for their cellphone. That distraction can mean that they’re not safe, because they’ve lost their focus on the person in the front of the room who is trained to get them to safety.
So I knew we couldn’t do half measures. Our kids needed us to be bold. Our teachers needed us to be decisive. And our parents were asking us to act. So that’s exactly what we did. And I stood firm for this.
Starting this fall, we’ll have no cellphones in a child’s hand from the moment they arrive at school to the moment they leave. No more memes instead of math. No more scrolling through science. Instead, kids will be able to focus, engage, and just be kids again.
People ask me why this issue matters so much. It’s simple: I want laughter in the hallways again. I want to hear real voices in gym class. I want our kids to make eye contact and talk to each other face-to-face. I want teachers to feel free to teach again. And I want to create an environment where kids can actually learn and just be kids again.
Our kids’ mental health is on the line. And I’m not going to let social media and big tech companies dictate their well-being. That’s why last year, I told them enough is enough. You can’t keep bombarding our kids with your addictive, harmful algorithms. And now, we’re taking back our classrooms and giving kids their childhoods back.
No other state is doing what we’re doing here in New York. I’ll never back down when it comes to what’s best for our children, because your family is my fight. I said that on day one, and I mean it just as much today.
So I’m proud to say that the next generation of leaders is growing up right here in New York. A generation that will be more focused, more grounded, and more connected to the world around them.
This is the last generation of students in New York who will grow up with phones in the classroom. And that’s a good thing. Because from now on, our kids will be learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling. Other states should follow our lead.
Clarenville RCMP is investigating a break, enter, and theft that occurred on April 26, 2025, at the Canada Post office in Port Blandford.
The suspect(s) forced entry into the business during the overnight hours of April 25 to April 26, 2025. A number of packages were stolen from inside. A window was smashed, along with other forms of damage to the inside of the property.
The investigation is continuing.
Clarenville RCMP asks the public to check for any possible surveillance footage obtained in the area around the time of the crime and to report any suspicious activity.
Anyone having information about this crime or the person(s) responsible is asked to contact Clarenville RCMP at 709-466-3211. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
NEW YORK, United States of America, May 9, 2025/APO Group/ —
The red carpet just got a seismic glow-up! British-Ghanaian fashion legend Ozwald Boateng OBE storms the 2025 Met Gala, marking his 40th year as a global style icon with a breathtaking showcase of bespoke looks for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibition, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. With his signature blend of African authenticity, Savile Row craftsmanship, and fearless innovation, Boateng dresses a roster of cultural titans who light up the night with pure, unfiltered magic.
Picture this: Jaden Smith owning the carpet in a futuristic suit that screams tomorrow, with oversized shoulders and flowing wide-leg trousers that channel ancestral wisdom. Tems redefines elegance in a jaw-dropping ball gown suit, its tribal jacquard skirt billowing like a royal tapestry. And Ncuti Gatwa, serving Harlem Renaissance realness in a gold silk jacquard jacket that swings with soulful rhythm. This is Boateng’s world, and we’re all just living in it.
Road to the Met: A Love Letter to Legacy
Boateng’s Road to the Met is no mere moment- it’s a movement. For 40 years, this visionary has woven African heritage into the crisp lines of Savile Row, shattering conventions and redefining what tailoring can mean. As the first eponymous black designer on the iconic street and the first British menswear designer to strut at Paris Fashion Week in 1994, Boateng’s journey is a masterclass in staying true to your roots while rewriting the rules.
“This is my heart on the red carpet,” Boateng says, his eyes sparkling with purpose. “Every stitch carries a story of heritage, rebellion, and joy. This Gala isn’t just about fashion; it’s about who we are and who we’ll become.” Dive into Boateng’s world.
From his game-changing 2019 AI: Authentic Identity show at Harlem’s Apollo Theatre to his boundary-pushing designs for The Matrix and Black Panther, Boateng has always been ahead of the curve. Tonight, he channels the lion-hearted spirit of the Harlem Renaissance, the precision of bespoke craftsmanship, and the soul of African artistry into looks that don’t just turn heads – they start revolutions.
The Lineup: Icons in Ozwald’s Finest
Boateng’s Met Gala looks are a love affair between past and future, each outfit a story spun in silk, wool, and Kente. Here’s the dazzling lineup:
Ozwald Boateng: The maestro himself, resplendent in a tribal jacquard suit that radiates regal confidence.
Hanna Hultberg (Boateng): A goddess in a tailored gown, its vibrant hues dancing under the Gala lights.
Oscar & Emilia Boateng: The next gen, slaying in custom looks that echo their father’s bold legacy.
Hope Smith: Looking stunning in a striking royal gold-yellow silk jacquard suit, elevated by the house’s iconic Kente cloth.
Omar Sy: Quietly commanding in a deep green wool mohair double-breasted suit featuring the House’s Authenticity Adinkra symbol.
Burna Boy: Burna Boy commands in a royal red wool tuxedo paired with a dramatic oxblood eel skin cape.
Issa Rae: Issa Rae wears a long, black tailored 3 piece suit featuring the House’s Tribal pattern in a silk jacquard.
Jaden Smith: A fut.uristic warrior in a sharply contoured suit, oversized shoulders meeting ancient craft.
Ayra Starr: A tuxedo dress from the 2022 Black AI collection, with slits and blue lining that scream fierce elegance.
Tems: A revolutionary ball gown suit in blue-to-teal jacquard, its puff skirt a bold ode to feminine majesty.
Ncuti Gatwa: Wearing the House’s signature colour, purple, rendered in a richly textured silk jacquard Kente cloth.
Henry Golding: A wears a rich gold silk jacquard three-piece suit, woven with the House’s Adinkra symbol for Knowledge.
Colin Kaepernick: Colin in a royal red silk suit with a fiery orange overcoat.
The Exhibition: A Celebration of Black Style
The Costume Institute’s Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, curated by Monica L. Miller, is a seminal tribute to Black dandyism’s indelible mark on fashion. From 18th-century trailblazers to today’s visionaries, the exhibit showcases Boateng’s pivotal role with pieces from his 2019 Apollo Theatre show and iconic Savile Row designs in vibrant Vlisco fabrics. Opened by Coleman Domingo, his pink silk jacquard morning suit, his matt black beret, their nod to the struggle still endured and the power of a culture always rising… Step into the exhibit (https://apo-opa.co/4k9NSJh).
Creative Collaborators: Adding Sparkle and Vision
Boateng’s Met Gala triumph is amplified by electrifying partnerships:
Hirsh London Luxury Jewels: “Working with Ozwald has been a true creative adventure,” says Sophia Hirsh. “We instinctively understood each other’s passion for colour and design. These jewels are full of life and character- capturing both of our spirits in a strikingly original way.” The result? Statement jewelry that pops with Boateng’s vibrant aesthetic, adding fire to every look. Discover Hirsh London (https://apo-opa.co/3GNxcc7).
Odette Lunettes: Eline De Munck, founder of Odette Lunettes, beams about their first full collection with Boateng: “London Savile Row style meets Antwerp design.” Boateng grins, adding, “Tailoring, but for your face.” After featuring Odette eyewear in his New York and London shows, this collaboration births frames that fuse bold elegance with cutting-edge cool, perfectly framing the Gala’s stars. Explore Odette Lunettes (https://apo-opa.co/4jLW6HE).
Afreximbank: Highlighting the Bank’s Commitment to Africa’s creative economy, Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank said, “The doubling of the Bank’s credit commitment to the Global African Creative industry to $2 Billion marks a very important step towards empowering African creatives and building a globally competitive creative industry, with strong participation of Africans.” He pointed to the Bank’s support to renowned designer , Ozwald Boateng’s 40th design anniversary at the Met Gala as a powerful example of how Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) is helping global African talents to gain international recognition and inspire a new generation of designers across the continent.Discover Afreximbank (https://apo-opa.co/43l5Ann).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)
Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) questioned Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins during a House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies hearing.
WASHINGTON –Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) questioned Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins during a House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies hearing. Congressman Valadao asked Secretary Rollins about international trade, disaster aid, and agricultural labor.
Congressman Valadao also took the opportunity to highlight the General Services Administration’s attempted closure of USDA Farm Service Agency offices and asked about the status of regional conservation partnership programs.
“It was great speaking with USDA Secretary Rollins today about several key priorities for the Central Valley’s agricultural sector,”said Congressman Valadao.“I questioned her about supporting our producers through targeting unfair trading practices by foreign nations and ensuring disaster assistance is delivered fairly and without delay. I also highlighted the urgent need for immigration reform to support the Valley’s agricultural labor force, and raised concerns about the status of previously allocated funds for Regional Conservation Partnership Programs that help dairy farmers adopt sustainable practices without compromising productivity. Finally, I stressed the importance of bolstering USDA county Farm Service Agency offices, and reaffirmed my commitment to working with both USDA and GSA to keep this critical agency accessible to Bakersfield and the entire region. I appreciate Secretary Rollins’ time and look forward to working closely with her to deliver real solutions for these critical issues.”
Watch Congressman Valadao’s full line of questioning here.
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – “I am a son of Saint Augustine,” said Pope Leo XVI in his first address from the central Loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, to the people gathered in St. Peter’s Square following his election as the 267th Bishop of Rome. In other passages, he recalled that “together we seek how to be a missionary Church, always anxious to work fearlessly, proclaiming the Gospel and evangelizing as men and women faithful to Jesus Christ.” “We are disciples of Christ. Christ precedes us. The world needs His light,” said the new Pope.In the few personal references, the new successor of Peter, in his first brief public address, hinted at two essential characteristics that have marked his path: his belonging to the spiritual family of Saint Augustine, his belonging to the “Church in a state of mission,” which is also expressed in the greeting he delivered in Spanish to his “querida diocesis” of Chiclayo, “where a faithful people accompanied their bishop.” Two characteristics that have become interwoven in the life story of Pope Leo and that the entire Church of Rome can gradually recognize on the path begun with its new Bishop.A missionary son of Saint Augustine Robert Francis Prevost was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, USA, and entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine in the Province of Our Lady of Good Counsel in St. Louis at the age of 22. He made his solemn profession on August 29, 1981. He studied at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and graduated in Theology. At the age of 27, the Order sent him to Rome to study Canon Law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, of the Dominican Fathers. He was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982, in Rome by Belgian Archbishop Jean Jadot (1909-2009), then Vice President of the Secretariat for Non-Christians. He earned his Licentiate in 1984 and was then sent to the mission in Chulucanas, Piura, Peru.In 1987, he received his Doctorate with a thesis on the role of the local prior of the Augustinian Order. That same year, he was elected Director of Vocations and Missions for the Augustinian Province of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Olympia Fields, Illinois.In 1988, he was sent to the Trujillo Mission, where he was responsible for the joint formation project for Augustinian aspirants of the Vicariates of Chulucanas, Iquitos, and Apurmac. In his missionary work, he held various offices at the service of his Order and the local Church: Prior of the Community (1988-1992), Director of Formation (1988-1998), and Teacher of the Professed (1992-1998). In the Archdiocese of Trujillo, he also served as Judicial Vicar (1989-1998) and Professor of Canon Law, Patristics, and Morals at the Major Seminary of San Carlos and San Marcelo. In 1999, he was elected Provincial of the Province of Our Lady of Good Counsel (Chicago). After two and a half years, the Ordinary General Chapter elected him Prior General, a position the Order entrusted to him again in the 2007 Ordinary General Chapter. In October 2013, he returned to his Order’s province in Chicago to become Teacher of the Professed and Provincial Vicar. On November 3, 2014, Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru and elevated him to Titular Bishop of the Diocese of Sufar. He received episcopal ordination on December 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in the Cathedral of his diocese. On January 30, 2023, Pope Francis appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, assigning him the Title of the Suburbicarian Church of Albano. At the consistory of September 30, 2023, Pope Francis created him a Cardinal and conferred on him the titular church of Saint Monica, mother of Saint Augustine. (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 9/5/2025)
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We sat down with the new Secretary of the Army, Daniel Driscoll for an exclusive video to find about more about him as he leads the U.S. Army into a new era of transformation.
: AMVID
About the U.S. Army:
The Army Mission – our purpose – remains constant: To deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt & sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force.
Interested in joining the U.S. Army?
Visit: spr.ly/6001igl5L
Connect with the U.S. Army online:
Web: https://www.army.mil
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USarmy/
X: https://www.twitter.com/USArmy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usarmy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-army
#USArmy #Soldiers #Military #Army
UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, notes with deep regret that the United States of America has announced its intention to deny future funding to the organization by triggering the Kemp-Kasten Amendment. This decision is based on unfounded claims about UNFPA’s work in China that have long been disproved – including by the US Government itself. It comes in addition to termination notices UNFPA has already received for more than 40 existing humanitarian projects, amounting to some $335 million in funding.
Following the abrupt termination of development assistance grants, this move will add further strain to the already-stretched global public health system. It will cut essential support for millions of people living in humanitarian crises and for midwives preventing mothers from dying in childbirth — work that is a ‘best-buy’ in development, a cost-effective investment that generates positive returns over generations.
UNFPA’s decades-long partnership with the United States, a founding partner, has made the world safer, stronger and more prosperous. Together, we have strengthened health systems, saved millions of lives, and improved the economic prospects of families and communities worldwide. Over the past four years alone, with the US Government’s life-saving investments we prevented more than 17,000 maternal deaths, 9 million unintended pregnancies and nearly 3 million unsafe abortions by expanding access to voluntary family planning.
UNFPA remains keen to maintain an open dialogue with the US Government, including through the UNFPA Executive Board, of which the USA is a member.
We urge the United States to reconsider its stance and reclaim its position as a leader in global public health, saving millions of lives. Funding UNFPA – the only United Nations agency dedicated to reproductive health and rights – is the surest way of reducing the risk of coercive practices around the world.
UNFPA staff and partners are determined to support safety and dignity, progress and hope for every woman and girl. We will continue to work tirelessly under our mandate to deliver on our collective promise to women and girls around the world.
How important are plants really? More than you might think.
Healthy plants are fundamental for the existence and well-being of both humans and animals. They also stabilize the environment and maintain the balance of ecosystems, while fostering economic growth. On May 12, 2025, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) encourages Canadians to mark the International Day of Plant Health by learning more about the role and risks to plant health. This year’s theme, ‘The importance of plant health in One Health,’ highlights the connections between human, animal, and plant health and emphasizes how they are all part of a single, integrated system.
Plant pests pose significant risks to this balance. They attack Canada’s crops, forests, the environment and other natural resources. Invasive insects and plants, plant diseases, snails, and other organisms can disrupt ecosystems and damage critical economic activities such as food production, horticulture, and forestry. These pests often spread through cargo transport, human activities such as moving firewood, and extreme weather events that can carry them over great distances.
The CFIA works with industries, stakeholders, and governments to reduce threats by using risk assessments, surveys, and inspections to prevent invasive species from spreading across Canada.
Each of us has a role in protecting plant health. Here are some of the ways you can help prevent the spread of invasive species:
Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
The massive explosion and fires that rocked the Shahid Rajaei port near Bandar Abbas, Iran, on 26 April 2025 took the lives of at least 57 people and injured over 1,200, according to media reports. The port’s activities and surrounding community were severely impacted and the hazardous smoke could have severe health and environmental effects. The government has stated that negligence and non-compliance with safety measures regarding the storage and handling of hazardous chemicals were the causes.
To prevent and mitigate the effects of future incidents, Member States worldwide are invited to engage in UNECE’s current interagency work to support governments to strengthen safety and security measures across sectors for the management of hazardous chemicals.
Major port explosions in Lebanon (Beirut port in 2020) and China (Tianjin port in 2015), as well as blasts in Equatorial Guinea (Bata barracks in 2021) and USA (West Fertilizer Explosion in 2013), have had lasting impacts. These resulted from inadequate storage and handling of hazardous chemicals and in some cases prompted governments to strengthen their inspections of chemical facilities, review inventories, follow-up on non-compliance and suspected irregularities and raise public awareness. As governments review and improve safety measures, risks need to be carefully assessed against the background of the ongoing global energy transition, aiming to mitigate climate change, while also adapting to its increasing impacts. Certain hazardous substances and technologies affiliated with the energy transition have potential to cause accidents if not properly managed. In a changing climate, increasingly severe and frequent natural hazards can trigger accidents and exacerbate their effects.
ILO, IMO, UNDRR, UNEP, UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit, UNITAR, WHO, OECD, the European Commission and European Investment Bank also support risk management from different angles, with their respective legal and policy instruments and guidance.
UNECE has also initiated a partnership with these organizations to follow-up on the 2020 Beirut port explosion and implement a three-year global project, supported by the European Union and the European Investment Bank. The initiative aims to promote and improve knowledge of international instruments that apply along the lifecycle of chemicals for preventing and mitigating accidents, strengthen capacities for related policies and governance and increase knowledge of authorities on preparedness and response.
A new video that introduces the risks of managing hazardous chemicals and tools available to manage them; a forthcoming information repository and report with more information on international instruments and national good practices; and a global seminar on this topic within the framework of the 14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Industrial Accidents Convention at the end of 2026.
International cooperation and coordination, including across sectors, are key to enhancing knowledge and developing tools to avoid future incidents involving hazardous chemicals and to protect people, the environment and economies from them.
Source: US Congressman Gabe Amo (Rhode Island 1st District)
Washington, DC – Today, Members of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology sent a letter to Brian Stone, Acting Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF). In the letter, the Members detail the turmoil that has taken place at NSF since the Trump administration began, including the termination of awards that total over one billion dollars. The Members demand answers on how decisions are being made at NSF and call into question the legality of the actions the Trump administration has taken at the agency.
“Within 24 hours, from May 1 to May 2, 2025, NSF crossed the billion-dollar mark of terminated awards, froze all funding actions with no indication of duration, and announced the implementation of a 15% cap on indirect costs for new awards,” theMembers wrote in the letter. “Mere months ago, each of these individual decisions would have been an unprecedented shock. Today, President Trump has made this chaos and destruction commonplace. However, we refuse to accept this as our new reality, and we demand answers on how these decisions are being made at NSF.”
The Members continued, “The accusation that these terminated awards lack merit is a lie, as most, if not all these awards, carry a statement from the agency declaring that ‘This award reflects NSF’s statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation’s intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.’ The cancelation of these awards suggests instead that NSF is willing to apply political censorship of awards under direction from President Trump and the DOGE teenagers, which is a clear violation of the statutory mission of the agency. Taking inspiration from Senator Ted Cruz’s approach to merit-review is nothing to crow about.”
As the Members closed the letter, they wrote, “So, who is in charge here? How far does DOGE’s influence reach? How much is OMB dictating based on hard-right political ideology and not scientific or research expertise? The Science Committee has repeatedly requested transparency and accountability from NSF. This has rarely been provided. Yet again, we seek answers about actions NSF has taken that potentially break the law and certainly break the trust of the research community. Yet again, we implore NSF to stand up for its mission as it is under siege by anti-science politicians and uninformed DOGE hackers.”
The letter can be found here.
The letter was signed by Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC), Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Rep. Gabe Amo (D-RI), Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Rep. Luz Rivas (D-CA), Rep. Sarah McBride (DE At Large), Rep. George Whitesides (D-CA), Rep. Laura Friedman (D-CA), and Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-MD).
Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to help the United States outcompete foreign adversaries like China that are significantly investing in research and development (R&D). The American Innovation and Jobs Act would help American small businesses expand and strengthen research and development (R&D) by extending and making permanent vital tax credits –allowing full expensing of R&D—previously included in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Companies and startups investing in R&D have long been able to either claim a tax credit or deduct their investments, which helps them to invest in developing new, innovative products. The legislation would also permanently restore full expensing of R&D costs while allowing businesses to retroactively take advantage of the deduction for the tax years during which full expensing had expired.
“’Made in America’ products are essential to demonstrating American superiority on the world stage – from maintaining access to critical supply chains to preserving control of sensitive intellectual property,” Senator King said. “The bipartisan American Innovation and Jobs Act will allow American small businesses to innovate and grow their footprints with the certainty of expanded, permanent tax credits that make this critical research more economically desirable. I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for recognizing the importance of strengthening American industry to build jobs here at home, address national security challenges, and compete on the global stage.”
More specifically, the American Innovation and Jobs Act would:
Restore incentives for long-term R&D investment by ensuring that companies can continue to fully deduct R&D expenses each year by repealing the change made by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to section 174 of the tax code.
Expand support for innovative startups by:
Immediately doubling the cap on the refundable R&D tax credit from $250,000 to $500,000, and ultimately raising it to $750,000 over ten years.
Expanding access to the R&D tax credit for startups by lowering certain threshold needed to qualify.
Expand the number of startups eligible to use the refundable R&D credit by:
Increasing the eligibility threshold from $5 million to $15 million in gross receipts.
Increasing the period during which startups can claim the credit from 5 years to 8 years after beginning to generate at least $25,000 in revenue.
In addition to King, cosponsors of the legislation include Senators Todd Young (R-IN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), James Lankford (R-OK), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mark Warner (D-VA), John Barrasso (R-WY), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Gary Peters (D-MI), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Patty Murray (D-WA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Katie Britt (R-AL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Ted Budd (R-NC), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Jon Husted (R-OH), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM.).
The legislation is endorsed by the R&D Coalition, which includes companies of all sizes and many trade associations including Business Roundtable, National Association of Manufacturers, Information Technology Industry Council, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee, Senator King is committed to advancing American competitiveness in 21st century technologies and reducing America’s reliance on fossil fuels while improving national security and strengthening cyberdefenses. Senator King is the co-chair of the Senate Semiconductor Caucus, and has been one of the Senate’s leading advocates for improving battery technology and recycling as a way to strengthen national security and create good-paying American jobs. He was also a cosponsor of the Critical Minerals Security Act to direct the U.S. Department of the Interior to evaluate the global supply and ownership of critical minerals, establish a process to assist U.S. companies seeking to divest critical minerals operations in foreign countries, and develop a method for sharing intellectual property for clean mining and processing technologies with U.S. allies and partners.
Full text of the legislation can be found here.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium” or the “Company”) (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE American:SLI), a leading near-commercial lithium company, today announced its financial and operating results for the three month fiscal period ended March 31, 2025.
“2025 will be a pivotal year for us, marked by several key milestones that will shape the future of Standard Lithium, our joint venture, and impact the industry as a whole,” said David Park, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Standard Lithium. “We started with a strong first quarter by finalizing our $225 million grant from the US Department of Energy, advancing our subsurface understanding through extensive reservoir testing, completing the derisking of our DLE technology with a final pilot field test at South West Arkansas, and continuing to expand our leasehold footprint in East Texas. Together with our South West Arkansas project’s recent designation as a priority transparency critical mineral project by the Trump administration and the approval of our first brine production unit, these achievements reinforce our conviction that our projects in the Smackover will deliver significant value to our shareholders, the communities that we work in, and will help secure critical mineral production in the United States. While much remains to be done ahead of a final investment decision at SWA, as well as further advancing East Texas, we are energized by the momentum we have built and we are focused on our next project development milestones.”
Highlights Subsequent to the Three Month Fiscal Period Ended March 31, 2025
All amounts are in US dollars unless otherwise indicated.
Smackover Lithium’s South West Arkansas Project receives special designation.Smackover Lithium announced that its South West Arkansas (“SWA”) Project had been selected as one of the first critical mineral production projects to be advanced under Executive Order 14241 – Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production, announced by the U.S. Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council at the recommendation of the National Energy Dominance Council.
Approval of brine production unit for Phase I of the SWA Project. On April 24, Smackover Lithium announced the brine production unit, formally named the Reynolds Unit, for Phase I of it’s SWA Project was unanimously approved by the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission with no objections or opposition in a hearing that was open to all stakeholders from the community. Approval of the unit was a necessary statutory requirement as Smackover Lithium seeks to establish a royalty rate for the unit by the end of the second quarter.
Submission of royalty application to the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission for the SWA Project. On May 6, Smackover Lithium announced that SWA Lithium LLC had submitted a royalty application to the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission to establish a lithium royalty for the Reynolds Unit for Phase I of its SWA Project.
Highlights From Three Month Fiscal Period Ended March 31, 2025
Finalized $225 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) for the South West Arkansas Project. The grant will support construction of Phase 1 of the SWA Project. The SWA Project is expected to be one of the world’s first commercial-scale Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) facilities.
Undertook extensive field and reservoir testing program at the SWA Project. Completed drilling of new well and multiple well re-entries into the Smackover Formation to conduct detailed reservoir testing and brine sampling work to further support front end engineering design and definitive feasibility studies.
Completed final test of field-pilot plant at the SWA Project. In partnership with Koch Technology Solutions, successfully operated a field-pilot plant at the SWA Project as the final DLE derisking step prior to commercialization. Lithium recovery far exceeded design criteria, with over 99% recovery from brine sourced from the project’s International Paper Company well.
Launch of Smackover Lithium. On January 29, 2025, at a community townhall in Stamps, AR, the Company and Equinor announced Smackover Lithium as the new name for their joint venture developing DLE projects in Southwest Arkansas and East Texas.
Continued strategic additions to board of directors. The Company announced on March 19, 2025 the appointment of Karen G. Narwold, as an independent member of its board of directors.
Provided corporate update demonstrating continuous advancement and derisking of corporate objectives.Announcement made on March 26, 2025 provided highlights on certain developmental project milestones for the Smackover Lithium joint venture as well as updates on the Company’s progress at its demonstration plant and on the Lanxess Projects.
Cash and working capital of $31.6 million and $31.3 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2025.
The Company has no term or revolving debt obligations as of March 31, 2025.
Consolidated Financial Statements
This news release should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and MD&A for the three month fiscal period ended March 31, 2025, which are available on the Company’s issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
Three-Month Fiscal Period Ended March 31, 2025 Call and Webcast
The Company will hold a conference call and webcast to discuss its three-month fiscal period ended March 31, 2025 on Friday, May 16th at 3:30 p.m. ET. Access to the call is available via webcast or direct dial.
Conference Call and Webcast Details Standard Lithium Fiscal Q1 2025 Earnings Call and Webcast May 16, 2025 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Participant Information: Conference ID: 6017900
USA / International Toll +1 (646) 307-1963 USA – Toll-Free (800) 715-9871 Canada – Toronto (647) 932-3411 Canada – Toll-Free (800) 715-9871
Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes projects characterized by the highest quality resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully integrated DLE and purification process. The Company’s flagship projects are located in the Smackover Formation, a world-class lithium brine asset, focused in Arkansas and Texas. In partnership with global energy leader Equinor, Standard Lithium is advancing the South West Arkansas project, a greenfield project located in southern Arkansas, and actively exploring promising lithium brine prospects in East Texas. Standard Lithium also holds an interest in certain mineral leases in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California.
Standard Lithium trades on both the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the symbol “SLI”. Please visit the Company’s website at www.standardlithium.com.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “target, “plan”, “forecast”, “may”, “schedule” and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to intended development timelines, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.
Harvard President Alan Garber says this would be “highly illegal.” Several U.S. senators, all Democrats, have urged the IRS inspector general to see whether the IRS has begun auditing Harvard or any nonprofits in response to his administration’s requests or whether Trump has violated any laws with his pressure campaign.
The Conversation U.S. asked Philip Hackney, a nonprofit law professor who previously worked in the office of the chief counsel of the IRS, and Brian Mittendorf, an expert on nonprofit accounting, to explain what it would take for the federal government to revoke a university’s tax-exempt status.
Can Trump order the IRS to strip Harvard of its tax-exempt status?
No.
First, the IRS rarely revokes an organization’s charitable tax-exempt status for failure to operate for a charitable purpose.
Before the IRS can do that, tax law requires that it first audit that charity. And it’s illegal for U.S. presidents or other officials to force the IRS to conduct an audit or stop one that’s already begun. Even doing either of those things indirectly is a crime. The punishment can include fines and imprisonment.
Worried that future presidents or officials might abuse the IRS, a Republican-led Congress later passed Section 7217 of the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998.
That provision prohibits presidents and vice presidents, as well as other officials and their staff, from instructing, “directly or indirectly, any officer or employee of the Internal Revenue Service to conduct or terminate an audit or other investigation of any particular taxpayer with respect to the tax liability of such taxpayer.”
President Richard M. Nixon holds a tax bill he signed into law in 1970, four years before he resigned. Part of his legacy is that it’s now more clearly illegal for presidents to use the IRS as a political weapon. Bettmann/Getty Images
What does it take for a nonprofit’s tax-exempt status to be revoked?
This can’t happen on a whim. The IRS first has to audit the nonprofit. If it obtains evidence of wrongdoing – and a court upholds that finding – the IRS can proceed.
The government has to find that the nonprofit’s operations have a “substantial nonexempt purpose.” That’s because these tax exemptions are provided only to organizations that are organized and operated primarily for charitable purposes, such as education, religion or scientific research.
Any audit of Harvard would involve a large team of IRS agents familiar with higher education, which would work on this probe for months. The process could take years.
If, after completing that audit, that team were to determine that Harvard violated the rules, the IRS would have to send Harvard a proposed revocation letter. Harvard then would have 30 days to file an appeal with the IRS. Were the IRS to propose such a revocation, we would be shocked if Harvard didn’t take that step.
If the IRS Office of Appeals were to uphold the revocation, the IRS would send a revocation letter to Harvard. But Harvard would have the right to challenge that official revocation in court under Section 7428 of the tax code.
How often does this happen?
Very rarely. Almost never for private schools. The only legal precedent the Trump administration could perhaps invoke is Bob Jones University v. United States.
That policy put the small Christian university on the spot because it barred the admission of Black students until 1971. At that point, it began to accept Black students but only if they were married to another Black person. The school justified this restriction by voicing its belief that the Bible forbids interracial marriage and dating. In 1970, the IRS had notified the university that it intended to cancel Bob Jones’ tax-exempt status.
The IRS issued a final revocation in 1976 after determining that Bob Jones University continued to discriminate with the ban on interracial dating and marriage. And in 1983, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the IRS’ action in an 8-1 decision.
The court’s majority wrote that an institution should be denied charitable status “only where there can be no doubt that the activity involved is contrary to a fundamental public policy.”
Harvard President Alan Garber responds to Trump’s threats in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.
What’s the Trump administration’s rationale?
Many signs indicate the Trump administration would try to use the fundamental policy limitation to revoke Harvard’s status. We’re unaware, though, of what alleged violation of a “fundamental public policy” the IRS might invoke if it were to carry through on Trump’s threat to strip Harvard of its charitable status. The Trump administration has signaled that it might rest its case on Harvard’s diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Harvard subsequently enrolled fewer new Black students, indicating that it had changed its admissions policies. Regardless, there are many precedents finding elements of diversity, equity and inclusion to be activities that do further a charitable purpose.
We believe the Trump administration would be unlikely to prevail in the courts with an anti-DEI argument should it try to use one to justify stripping Harvard of its tax-exempt status.
What happens if a big nonprofit loses its charity status?
Because many state and municipal tax breaks are tied to federal tax status, losing tax-exempt status can also lead to local tax penalties. One compelling local tax break afforded to many charities is an exemption from property tax. Universities with large amounts of buildings and land – as Harvard has – would especially feel the pain.
Without charity status, organizations that rely on grants from local, state and federal government sources, as well as private sources such as other charities, will find many of those sources of funding largely cut off. This is because many grant providers require all recipients to have tax-exempt status.
The Internal Revenue Manual, which guides IRS agents in carrying out their work, indicates a number of other problems that would arise after revocation. For instance, an agent is required to consider the impact on the organization’s deferred compensation plans and tax-exempt bonds.
Does the government appear to have a strong case against Harvard?
There’s been little concrete information about the basis for Harvard losing its status. Most of what we know comes from social media posts and media interviews.
The Trump administration has attacked Harvard for its efforts to increase its diversity and its response to antisemitism on its campus. In response to concerns about these issues, Harvard has retooled its DEI office and begun to roll out reforms to combat both antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias.
But it is hard to argue that these issues would be central to Harvard and its educational mission, let alone warrant it losing its tax-exempt status.
What’s the impact then?
Given the steep climb it would be to prove that the organization has strayed from its educational mission, and not just taken some actions the White House dislikes, we find it hard to imagine a viable path toward the IRS revoking Harvard’s charitable status.
That doesn’t mean there will not be any consequences from the administration’s campaign against Harvard.
The daily onslaught of public attacks coupled with the ongoing legal battles are a drain on Harvard officials’ time and energy.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
As the Class of 2025 graduates into an uncertain and fast-changing working world, they face a crucial question: What does it mean to be successful?
Is it better to take a job that pays more, or one that’s more prestigious? Should you prioritize advancement, relationship building, community impact or even the opportunity to live somewhere new? Sorting through these questions can feel overwhelming.
I am a business school professor who spends a lot of time mentoring students and alumni in Generation Z – those born between 1997 and 2012. As part of this effort, I’ve surveyed about 300 former undergraduate students and spoken at length with about 50 of them.
Through these conversations, I’ve watched them wrestle with the classic conflicts of young adulthood – such as having to balance external rewards like money against internal motivations like wanting to be of service.
I recently revisited their stories and reflections, and I compiled the most enduring insights to offer to the next generation of graduates.
Here’s their collective advice to the Class of 2025:
1. Define what matters most to you
Success starts with self-reflection. It means setting aside society’s noise and defining your own values.
When people are driven by internal rewards like curiosity, purpose or pleasure in an activity itself – rather than outside benefits such as money – psychologists say they have “intrinsic motivation.”
Research shows that people driven by intrinsic motivation tend to display higher levels of performance, persistence and satisfaction. Harvard Business School professor Teresa Amabile’s componential theory further suggests that creativity flourishes when people’s skills align with their strongest intrinsic interests.
The alternative is to “get caught up in society’s expectations of success,” as one consulting alum put it. She described struggling to choose between a job offer at a Fortune 500 company or one at a lesser-known independent firm. In the end, she chose to go with the smaller business. It was, she stressed, “the right choice for me.” This is crucial advice: Make yourself proud, not others.
One related principle I share with students is the “Tell your story” rule. If a job doesn’t allow you to tell your story – in other words, if it doesn’t mirror your vision, values, talents and goals – keep looking for a new role.
2. Strive for balance, not burnout
A fulfilling life includes time for relationships, health and rest. While many young professionals feel endless pressure to hustle, the most fulfilled alumni I spoke with learned to take steps to protect their personal well-being.
For example, a banking alum told me that business once dominated his thoughts “24/7.” He continued, “I’m happier now that I make more time for a social life and paying attention to all my relationships – professional, personal, community, and let’s not forget myself.”
And remember that balance and motivations can change throughout your life. As one alum explained: “Your goals change and therefore your definition of success changes. I think some of the most successful people are always adapting what success means to them – chasing success even if they are already successful.”
3. Be kind, serve others and maximize your ‘happy circle’
“Some people believe to have a positive change in the world you must be a CEO or have a ton of money,” another alum told me. “But spreading happiness or joy can happen at any moment, has no cost, and the results are priceless.”
Many alumni told me that success isn’t just a matter of personal achievement – it’s about giving back to society. That could be through acts of kindness, creativity, innovation, or other ways of improving people’s lives. A retail alum shared advice from her father: “When your circle is happy, you are going to be happy,” she said. “It’s sort of an upward spiral.”
Your “happy circle” doesn’t need to consist of people you know. An alum who went into the pharmaceutical industry said his work’s true reward was measured in “tens of thousands if not millions of people” in better health thanks to his efforts.
In fact, your happy circle doesn’t even need to be exclusively human. An alum who works in ranching said he valued the well-being of animals – and their riders – more than money or praise.
4. Be a good long-term steward of your values
Success isn’t just about today – it’s what you stand for.
Several alumni spoke passionately about stewardship: the act of preserving and passing on values, relationships and traditions. This mindset extended beyond family to employees, customers and communities. As one alum who majored in economics put it, success is “leaving a mark on the world and creating a legacy that extends beyond one’s quest for monetary gain.”
One alum defined success as creating happiness and stability not just for herself, but for her loved ones. Another, who works in hospitality, said he had a duty to further his employees’ ambitions and help them grow and develop – creating a legacy that will outlast any title or paycheck.
In an analysis by the organizational consulting firm Korn Ferry, Gen Z employees were found to be more prone to burnout when their employers lacked clear values. These findings reinforce what my students already know: Alignment between your values and your work is key to success.
Final words for the Class of 2025
To the latest crop of grads, I offer this advice: Wherever life takes you next — a family business or corporate office, Wall Street or Silicon Valley, or somewhere you can’t even imagine now — remember that your career will be long and full of ups and downs.
You’ll make tough choices. You’ll face pressures. But if you stay grounded, invest in your well-being, celebrate your happy circle and honor your values, you’ll look back one day and see not just a job well done, but a life well lived.
Bon voyage!
Patrick Abouchalache does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
