During the visit, Cheever, the U.S. Navy’s “Air Boss,” engaged leadership and Sailors at Kadena Air Base, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Fleet Activities Yokosuka and Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. He also visited the forward-deployed Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and multiple forward-deployed squadrons, emphasizing the integral role of Naval Aviation in the Indo-Pacific.
“Our forward-deployed aviation forces are the tip of the spear, and their ability to operate at the highest levels helps maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” said Cheever. “It is critical that we provide them with the training, resources and support they need to maintain readiness and execute the mission.”
Throughout the visit, the Air Boss and Force Master Chief met with command leadership to discuss key priorities, including sustaining warfighting excellence, improving the quality of life for Sailors and their families overseas and fostering a culture of trust and respect. They also took time to recognize outstanding Sailors for their hard work and contributions.
“People are our most valuable asset,” said Kuers. “We must ensure every Sailor – whether on the flight line, in maintenance shops, onboard the ship or supporting operations – has what they need to succeed and thrive.”
Air Boss also had the opportunity to see the U.S. Navy’s latest aviation capabilities in action, including the F-35C Lightning II, the CMV-22B Osprey and the MQ-4C Triton. These platforms enhance the U.S. Navy’s ability to strengthen deterrence to advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
During engagements with squadron personnel, Air Boss flew with Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 195, reinforcing his commitment to safe, effective operations and firsthand understanding of the challenges they face.
“Our aviators and maintainers work around the clock to ensure our air wing is combat-ready, strong and lethal,” said Capt. Brian Kesselring, commander of CVW-5. “Having the Air Boss fly with our squadrons and engage with our teams underscores the importance of our mission and the trust he has in our warfighters.”
While in Guam, Air Boss visited Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25, the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed MH-60S expeditionary squadron, which plays a critical role in search and rescue, logistics and fleet support operations across the Indo-Pacific.
The visit marked the first time Cheever visited Japan and Guam as Air Boss, and reinforced morale, strengthened trust and underscored Naval Aviation as indispensable to operations around the world.
Attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Kepal Richards, officer in charge of New Zealand Police Online Child Exploitation Across New Zealand Team (OCEANZ):
NZ Police have been involved in a global operation targeting AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Operation Cumberland is the first operation of its kind, targeting a “professional” producer of fully AI-generated CSAM, based in Denmark, and the individuals across the world who paid for his content. Led by Danish law enforcement and supported by Europol, 25 arrests were made simultaneously across 21 countries on 26 February.
The Online Child Exploitation Across New Zealand Team (OCEANZ) are conducting enquiries into potential offending in New Zealand. At this time no arrests have been made in New Zealand.
A significant amount of work has been undertaken internationally to track and identify individuals distributing the abuse material, which showed disturbing portrayals of computer-generated children of various ages.
While there were no real-life child victims in this case, AI-generated abuse material is a growing issue for Police around the world and there is a growing focus on those responsible for its creation.
Even when imagery doesn’t depict “real” victims, the material adds to an ecosystem that incites and glorifies the sexual abuse and harm of children. AI-generated child abuse material can be so realistic that resources are diverted from identifying real-life child victims, placing those children at ongoing risk of harm.
New Zealand Police continue to work closely with our international partners to combat the exploitation of children.
In New Zealand, creating, possessing, or distributing material that tends to promote or support the sexual exploitation of children is punishable under the Films, Videos, Publications and Classifications Act and those found doing so can expect to be identified and held to account.
TULSA, Okla. – A transient man was found guilty in October 2024 of First Degree Murder in Indian Country, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Brandishing and Discharging a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country.
Today, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Cameron Lynn, 34, to life imprisonment for first-degree murder, plus 120 months for discharging a weapon during a crime of violence. Lynn’s remaining counts of assault were sentenced concurrently as 120 months for each count.
“Cameron Lynn maliciously took the life of Alcides Monroig and assaulted another,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “This life sentence, plus an additional ten years, will ensure Lynn is no longer a danger to anyone in the Northern District. This sentence would not be possible without the hard work of the detectives, agents, and prosecutors.”
According to evidence presented at trial, on February 24, 2024, Tulsa Police officers were dispatched around midnight to a call where someone was shot. The caller was in a heavily wooded area near railroad tracks, flagged down officers and led them to the encampment. Officers found two victims in their tents that were shot. Medical personnel arrived on the scene and rendered aid to both victims. One victim was shot in the abdomen and transported to a local hospital. The other victim, Alcides Monroig, died at the scene.
The caller and surviving victim told officers that they were asleep when Lynn approached their encampment. They explained that Lynn started going through their belongings, stating he was trying to find his stuff. They told officers they shined a flashlight, trying to see Lynn, and asked him to leave. Lynn refused and shot several times at both tents before fleeing.
Several witnesses testified that they saw Lynn heading towards the encampment. After they heard several shots fired, Lynn ran toward the witnesses, telling them that they needed to leave the area and that he shot in self-defense.
Lynn is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Tulsa Police Department and FBI investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Elmore and Stephen Flynn prosecuted.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), John Boozman (R-AR), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) introduced the Prioritizing Offensive Agricultural Disputes and Enforcement Act to protect the Louisiana rice industry against dumping of cheap produce into U.S. markets from India and China.
“Louisianans want to eat rice grown in their backyard, not from the other side of the world,” said Dr. Cassidy. “The rice industry is critical to Louisiana’s economy. We must level the playing field for our rice farmers.”
“As a strong advocate for our agriculture industry and the ability of American producers to compete fairly on the global stage, I will remain steadfast in fighting those nations that undermine our farmers. When countries blatantly violate their WTO commitments, they must be held accountable. Giving the USDA a bigger role in trade disputes is a crucial step to safeguard a key sector of Mississippi’s and our nation’s economy. I am proud to once again support it,” said Senator Hyde-Smith.
“American rice and wheat farmers continue to be targeted by India’s egregious over-subsidization, and there are countless other examples. This legislation will give us the tools needed to address unfair practices and market manipulation by our trading partners to level the playing field and maintain a competitive advantage in the global marketplace,” said Senator Boozman.
“In Iowa, trade directly impacts the everyday lives of our hardworking farmers and is critical to the success of our entire state. Breaking down the bureaucratic barriers between the USDA and USTR will help ensure Iowa farmers are on a level playing field when engaging with global markets,” said Senator Ernst.
“America’s ag industry can out-compete anyone in the world—as long as the rules are fair. But right now, our farmers, ranchers, and fishermen are suffering because of foreign countries violating their trade obligations. We must level the playing field to bolster our domestic ag industry. I’m proud to join Senator Cassidy’s efforts to eliminate barriers to our agriculture exports and will keep working to remove red tape for those in our ag industry,” said Senator Tuberville.
The Prioritizing Offensive Agricultural Disputes and Enforcement Act establishes a joint task force on agricultural trade enforcement led by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). The task force will more proactively monitor upcoming Indian and Chinese industrial subsidies, rather than waiting to react after subsidies are in place. The bill will also require the task force to report recommendations to Congress to deal with unfair subsidies they identify.
Background
Earlier this month, Cassidy asked U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer if he would commit to putting tariffs on shrimp coming from other countries that use illegal antibiotics and forced labor during Greer’s confirmation hearing. Greer replied that USTR would consider tariffs if an investigation found that unfair trade practices were not remedied.
Last year, Cassidy worked to secure $27,152,411.00 for Louisiana fisheries, shrimpers, and fishing communities affected by natural disasters between 2017 and 2022.
In April 2024, Cassidy advocated for Louisiana shrimpers and rice producers at a U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearing with former U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. He pressed her on progress USTR is making to prevent shrimp dumping from Asia. Cassidy also highlighted a whistleblower report on the safety of shrimp imported from India.
In 2023, Cassidy also introduced the India Shrimp Tariff Act to raise U.S. tariffs to be equivalent to subsidies received by the Indian shrimp farming industry. India is the world’s top shrimp exporter, accounting for roughly 40 percent of U.S. shrimp imports, largely due to massive state subsidies.
Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz
WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs, sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding decisions this week to fire or place on leave virtually all USAID staff, and to terminate more than 90 percent of USAID awards and more than 60 percent of State Department awards. The Senators also requested that Secretary Rubio appear for hearings on Congress on these actions and their implications for U.S. national security.
“We are writing with grave concern regarding your decisions this week to fire or place on leave virtually all USAID staff, and to terminate more than 90 percent of USAID awards and more than 60 percent of State Department awards, including hundreds of millions of dollars for programs you exempted as critical to our interest or lifesaving,” wrote the senators. “These actions are in contravention of the law, costly, inefficient, and will harm U.S. national security.”
“The lack of compliance with the law, and the lack of communication and transparency, is unprecedented and not representative of the collaboration you professed, and we expected, when we confirmed you as Secretary of State,” continued the senators.
“As a former member of both Committees, you are keenly aware that Congress’ Constitutional oversight and appropriations mandates require regular engagement with Executive Branch Departments and Agencies about activities and expenditures,” concluded the senators. “We ask that you provide responses to our time-sensitive correspondence and set expectations with State Department and USAID staff about timely and regular engagement with Congress in response to the inquiries from our committees. Lastly, we request that you appear for hearings before our Committees on these actions and their implications for U.S. national security.”
Keir Starmer was only the second European leader to visit Donald Trump’s second White House. The first, France’s Emmanuel Macron, had barely taken off when Starmer touched down, but had already raised the bar by behaving regally in front of the world’s media alongside his fellow president in the Oval Office.
In manner, Macron manifested his eight years in office (four of which were already spent with Trump in the White House). Starmer has had a mere eight months. But it was a challenge, judged in its own immediate terms, that the prime minister met.
Raising the curtain, in a highly untypical coup de théâtre, Starmer flourished – as few can – a letter from the King to give to the president, and then effectively forced Trump to read it on camera and agree to the invitation enclosed within.
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Starmer of course knew he was nudging an open door: much came down to assiduous preparation. The British Embassy, under a finally confirmed ambassador Peter Mandelson, worked overtime to choreograph and lubricate.
Starmer had been wise in contradicting Trump only indirectly. Nothing could be gained – as president Zelenskyy already demonstrated – from doing so publicly. So early an offer of a state visit to the UK ran the risk of appearing desperate, but was mitigated by its also being “unprecedented” as the second to be offered to Trump. A word recently worn smooth by over-use, there was nevertheless another precedent set in the suggestion of a pre-state visit visit between Trump and the king. With this president, more than any other, royal diplomacy is a critical national asset.
Starmer’s announcement of an increase in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 worked similarly well. That funds are to be diverted from foreign aid for that purpose the Labour leadership deemed as being politically cost-free – or at least good value – politically. It was, indeed, almost Trumpian. The relevant minister disagreed.
It is hard to recall greater shifts in a country’s foreign policy in so short a space of time. Insofar as one can discern Trump’s purposefulness, it is to create pandemonium, which has the secondary effect of galvanising actors to act – not least for fear of further pandemonium.
Thus last week the US voting with Russia, Iran and North Korea, and not with Britain, at the UN. The Trump administration’s designation of choice is now “the Russia-Ukraine conflict”, as if it were merely a border dispute.
Therefore, ahead of Starmer’s arrival in Washington, he was faced with the US apparently aligning itself with a country his describes as “the most acute threat” to the UK. “Jaw-dropping” was the adjective of choice for more than a few informed observers who had thought themselves prepared for whatever may transpire.
The actors Trump primarily wishes to galvanise are European leaders, recalcitrants he thinks should do more to keep their own peace. For Macron to have been told that Putin would accept Nato forces policing the peace was scene-changing, but the only witness to the veracity of that news was Trump, who exhales untruths as easily as he breathes. The Russians soon denied it.
Macron’s offer of France’s (non-Nato) airborne nuclear force complemented Starmer’s commitment to British boots on the ground and helped him elicit Trump’s commitment to mutual defence.
But Trump guaranteeing the peace that Starmer and Macron are willing to police was the cherry conspicuously missing from the cake. The suggestion was subject to a classic Trump equivocation (we’ll always support the Brits, but they won’t need our support).
For the British government, July’s election already resembles a hospital pass. The effect of 20% tariffs on GDP growth could be catastrophic. Trump’s talk of tariff-free trade deals was more than expected, but one such was offered last time without much being doing about, before it was cancelled by President Biden. This time, Trump has said his vice president is drawing up a plan, even that being absent before.
And in a categorical demonstration of the benefits of lobbying there was effective presidential approval of the Chagos islands deal, simultaneously shooting one of Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch’s few foxes stone dead.
Warm words
Thus has passed the most potentially difficult meeting of a prime minister and a president since Suez. Nothing else comes close. Cliche – eggshells, tightropes – proliferated in previews.
When Starmer was last at the White House, in September, he had asked Biden for a meeting about Ukraine and received it. However unsatisfactory the outcome, public face was maintained. Trump has the ability – and the form – to have humiliated in a way which would permanently have scarred Starmer. That he did the opposite ought not to distract from the vulnerability of the supplicant.
Instead there were encomia from Trump as to the two countries – “special relationship”, “unique friendship”, “fantastic country”, “I’ve always cared” – and of Starmer – “a special man”, “a very special person”. And in describing Starmer’s accent as “beautiful”, the president revealed the hitherto unknown allure of the adenoidal.
Power plays sit ill with Starmer, but he nonetheless ventured two corrections from his armchiar, one to a statement made by the president and another to one made by the vice-president. The subsequent praise for Starmer’s negotiating tenacity from Trump, that much-vaunted artist of the deal, was as priceless – and unfamiliar – as the following morning’s front pages.
However successful this visit, however, nothing can be assumed, still less guaranteed. That the British government would so extensively war-game a meeting with its closest ally tells its own tale, or, rather a tale perhaps yet to be told. At this moment, for the next four years the relationship at least feels more secure than it did a few days before the trip. By such diurnal turns are the affairs of allies now measured.
Martin Farr does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Andre Spicer, Professor of Organisational Behaviour, Bayes Business School, City St George’s, University of London
When Oscar-winning screenwriter William Goldman was asked whether it was possible to predict a hit film, he responded with three words that have become a Hollywood maxim: “Nobody knows anything.” He went on to explain that “not one person in the entire motion picture field knows for a certainty what’s going to work”.
Although Goldman’s famous phrase might resonate through the film business, it doesn’t stop people cooking up theories around which films might succeed at the annual Academy of Motion Picture Awards. Over the years, a range of theories have appeared, including: Oscar winners are not always the best films; there is an Oscar-worthy format that winners follow; and that winning an Oscar is actually a long-term curse.
Although there is a great deal of speculation about such theories, it’s less clear what the evidence actually says about them. To find out, I took a look at the rapidly growing field of “Oscarology” – the scientific study of the Academy Awards.
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One common theory is that it is entirely predictable who the Oscars will go to. Interestingly, this seems to have some truth to it. One statistical analysis found that by tracking a range of factors, it was possible to predict the winner of the Academy Awards in the four major categories with an overall accuracy of 69%.
Nickel Boys, one of the best picture nominees.
Factors which go into making these predictions include whether the nominee won a Golden Globe or Directors Guild award, and their previous nominations for an Oscar. Past success is a strong indicator of future success, with one important exception: having previously won an Academy Award means a nominee for best actor or best actress is much less likely to win again.
A second theory is that winning an Oscar is a golden ticket to big financial rewards. This is indeed correct. A study found there is a substantial boost in US box office earnings following a win in the the best supporting actor/actress, best actor/actress and best picture categories.
Best picture nominee Conclave stars Ralph Fiennes, also nominated for best actor.
Further research has found that Oscar nominations really make a positive impact on box office receipts – while actually winning the award gives a more modest boost. Interestingly, winning an award does not always translate to success in other parts the world. One study found that Oscar winners that were comedies performed better in Asian markets, but dramas performed worse.
The next theory is the idea that Oscar winners follow a particular format. Researchers have indeed found there is an Oscar-worthy format which some filmmakers follow. The “Oscar bait” format uses genres like war movies, historical epics and biographies, as well as plot elements such as war crimes, disabilities, political intrigue and show business.
Mikey Madison, star of best picture nominee Anora, is also up for best actress.
However, making a film using this Oscar-worthy format is not a guarantee of success. Films employing this concept which were nominated for an award received significantly greater financial returns. However, those using the Oscar-bait format which missed out on a nomination typically made large losses.
Then comes the theory that winning an Oscar is more about the quality of networks rather than the quality of the film. Again, there is some truth to this. Researchers have found that one way to improve the chances of winning an Oscar is to be part of film industry networks and work alongside people who have already won awards.
As well as a best picture nomination, Wicked’s Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are also nominated.
There are some indicators that Oscars do not necessarily go to the best-quality movies. One analysis which compared Oscar winners to lists of 100 best movies of all time found that only 26% of films which appeared on all three main lists of best movies were also Oscar winners.
This research also notes that some movies which are staples of lists of classic movies (such as Singing in the Rain) were not even nominated for the best picture Oscar. What this suggests is that winning an Oscar does not always mean a film will be seen as a classic – and vice versa.
Best picture nominee I’m Still Here sees Brazilian Fernanda Torres nominated for best actress.
The final theory is that there is an “Oscar curse” – that winning an Oscar leads to personal and professional tragedy. This theory is largely incorrect. Researchers have found that Oscar winners live about one year longer than their less successful peers. Others have found that winning an Academy Award leads to greater professional success, with Oscar winners and nominees appearing in more films than their non-winning peers.
However, one area of truth in the idea of an Oscar curse is for men in their personal lives. Nominees and winners of the best actor award had a higher divorce rate than their peers.
Theories around the Oscars may prove to be not entirely correct – but they do provide a useful approximation of which films will triumph. Past performance, social networks and formula-following all seem to be good indicators of who will succeed. Perhaps Goldman’s advice that “no one knows anything” is not entirely true.
Andre Spicer does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Headline: 6 ways to inspire future leaders during Women’s History Month
Celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day 2025 with engaging experiences from Minecraft Education, Learning Accelerators, and more.
Each year on March 8, communities around the world come together to celebrate International Women’s Day, recognizing the remarkable contributions of women who have shaped history and championed equality. In the US, this celebration coincides with Women’s History Month, an opportunity to learn about the lives of leaders like Ellen Ochoa and Malala Yousafzai, whose relatable stories inspire students to create positive changes in their own lives and beyond.
To help you bring these stories to life in your classroom to celebrate Women’s History Month 2025, check out our list of tools and resources that will help make learning more meaningful and engaging. Students can explore the triumphs of strong, female leaders in Minecraft Education, learn valuable information literacy and presentation skills with Learning Accelerators, and discover contributions of local women through lessons you create with Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat. These tools help inspire curiosity, support critical thinking, and connect students to the powerful stories of women who have shaped our world.
1. Experience the courage of Hispanic women in LatinExplorers 2
Introduce your students to a remarkable group of Hispanic women who have shaped their communities and the world. With Minecraft Education’s LatinExplorers 2, created in partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, students will discover how Gloria Estefan, Ellen Ochoa, and Monica Ramirez made an impact through music, science, and advocacy. Along the way, they’ll develop leadership skills, build empathy, and learn how to tackle challenges—just like these fearless women.
Discover LatinExplorers 2
Classroom connection: Before getting started, explore supporting files on the LatinExplorers 2 webpage. You’ll find an educator guide to help facilitate the experience in your classroom, along with a toolkit for using LatinExplorers 2 at a family event.
2. Walk in the shoes of Noble laureates
Conflict resolution is a critical leadership skill, and Minecraft Education’s Peace Builders lesson helps students develop their capacity to deal with problems through real-world examples. In this immersive experience, created in partnership with the Nobel Peace Center, students meet four Nobel Peace Prize laureates who addressed global conflicts in unique ways—including Jody Williams who worked tirelessly to ban landmines in post-war Cambodia. Through Williams’ story and other peace builders, students will explore strategies to prevent and resolve conflict, strengthening their ability to lead with empathy and action.
Explore Peace Builders
Classroom connection: Check out the supporting files and use the Jody Williams Class PowerPoint to introduce important concepts and guide your students in creating their own campaign to address issues that matter to them.
3. Introduce strong female role models with Lessons in Good Trouble
Inspire your students to become catalysts for positive change in their community by learning from civil rights leaders like Rosa Parks, Malala Yousafzai, and Emmeline Pankhurst in Minecraft Education’s Lessons in Good Trouble. In this experience, your students will work alongside outspoken activists to understand historic periods when women were denied educational opportunities and voting rights. The courageous women in Lessons in Good Trouble demonstrate how peaceful activism can challenge injustices and create a more equitable society for everyone.
Discover Lessons in Good Trouble
Classroom connection: Enhance your students’ learning by making Rosa Parks, Malala Yousafzai, or Emmeline Pankhurst the focus of a research project. Use a Learning Accelerator such as Search Progress or Search Coach to help take their learning to the next level.
4. Research influential women with Search Progress and Search Coach
Extend learning beyond Women’s History Month while helping your students build essential digital literacy skills with Search Progress and Search Coach, two Learning Accelerators. An assignment in Search Progress empowers students to find, evaluate, and use credible online sources to develop critical information literacy skills along the way. And, both tools make it easy to track student learning in real-time.
Explore Learning Accelerators
For example, you might create a Search Progress assignment that asks students to research Emmeline Pankhurst’s contributions to the women’s suffrage movement. Using Search Coach, your students receive real-time feedback on their queries, helping them to refine their research strategies while building background knowledge on this influential leader.
To get started with Search Progress and Search Coach, explore these resources:
5. Practice presenting with Speaker Progress and Speaker Coach
Click to enlarge
Help students share their Women’s History Month learning by creating a PowerPoint and practicing their presentation skills with Speaker Progress and Speaker Coach, two Learning Accelerators. Use Speaker Progress to create presentation assignments and track your students’ growth at the individual, class, grade, and school levels. Then have your students use Speaker Coach to complete the assignment, while receiving real-time, AI-powered feedback on pacing, pitch, clarity and more.
To integrate Minecraft Education learning with presentation assignments, have students create a PowerPoint on ways to increase diversity just as Ellen Ochoa modeled in LatinExplorers 2. They can practice their delivery in a private space with Speaker Coach, helping to boost their confidence as they strengthen their communication skills.
Get the most out of Speaker Progress and Speaker Coach with these resources:
6. Expand on Women’s History Month with Copilot Chat
Copilot Chat can help you create classroom materials, activities, and lessons tailored to Women’s History Month topics or even more of your students’ interests. Use generative AI to streamline lesson planning by copying and pasting one of these ready-to-use prompts into Copilot Chat:
Generate a list of five women from [geographic area or country] who have made significant contributions in the past [two decades]. Include a paragraph on their achievements, challenges, and leadership. Include an engaging activity for students in [grade level] that requires them to explore information in an interactive way.
Write an oral reading passage about Jody Williams, detailing her Nobel-prize winning accomplishments. The passage should be at a [700L] Lexile level and under [number] words. Provide three comprehension questions for a [grade level] student.
Try Copilot Chat
Make sure to check out “Meet your AI assistant for education” to discover more ways Copilot Chat can help you personalize learning, support brainstorming, provide feedback, and more.
From Minecraft Education experiences with women leaders to Learning Accelerators that help students practice their skills, find an activity that will make Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day 2025 memorable and inspiring for your students. Start inspiring the next generation of leaders in your classroom today!
Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
Murray: “The Trump administration has chosen to spit in the face of the law and Congress—expressing total disdain for a court order mandating that they release the foreign aid funding they had illegally withheld.”
Murray: “If Ebola, Marburg, or any other infectious disease makes it to our shores, it will be thanks to Elon and Trump—two billionaires without a clue who are positively smug about their own ignorance.”
***VIDEO HERE***
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, took to the Senate floor to speak out about the Trump administration’s decision on Wednesday to illegally terminate 90% of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and 60% of State Department programs.
Senator Murray has been sounding the alarms about the Trump administration flagrantly violating the law to block enacted funding across government, dismantle long-established agencies like USAID, and recklessly fire federal workers en masse. Earlier this week, she blasted the Trump for permanently eliminating 1,600 USAID employees positions in violation of the law.
Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:
“M. President, I come to the floor today to make a simple point: the law cannot be in the eye of the beholder.
“The law is the law—but yet again, we are seeing the Trump administration break the law.
“Many of us have been closely following the Trump administration’s illegal freeze of congressionally appropriated funding, including of foreign aid—not just from the State Department, but also from USAID, the African Development Foundation, Inter-American Foundation, and other independent agencies.
“Each of these agencies’ existence as an independent entity has long been enshrined in statute, and reaffirmed by bipartisan majorities in both chambers year-after-year in annual appropriations.
“Our appropriations law also explicitly requires the administration to notify and consult with Congress before undertaking any efforts to reorganize, realign, or downsize foreign affairs agencies—as the sweeping reductions in force issued last week and many other brazen actions we’ve seen clearly seek to do.
“The Administration’s actions—including firing the USAID Inspector General and the State IG—will make waste and fraud more likely and will prevent even foreign assistance programs allegedly supported by the administration from being effectively implemented and will also effectively block hundreds of millions of dollars for other programs enacted into law by bipartisan majorities.
“Needless to say, the Trump administration has not consulted or notified Congress about these changes—that is in violation of the law.
“But this week they took a further step. The Trump administration has chosen to spit in the face of the law and Congress—expressing total disdain for a court order mandating that they release the foreign aid funding they had illegally withheld.
“When finally told they must comply, Secretary Rubio personally approved the termination of 90% of USAID programs, and 60% of State Department programs—virtually overnight.
“They terminated more than $58 billion in multi-year programs, and have told us they have no intention of utilizing those funds.
“The termination of those awards is absolutely not what Congress intended. Congress appropriated the funding, on a bipartisan basis, with the express intent to see those dollars spent.
“This is not trivial stuff. We are talking about resources that often mean the difference between life and death. Resources that are imperative, not just because they are lifesaving but because they are an investment in our own national security—and U.S. businesses.
“Let’s take Ebola for example: USAID helps other countries around the world respond to and contain Ebola outbreaks. That’s pretty darn important because there is no known cure for Ebola.
“Thanks to the good work of USAID—along with our international partners, often supported by USAID awards—we have never had an Ebola outbreak here at home.
“Yesterday, at President Trump’s cabinet meeting, Elon Musk even admitted that, ‘yes we want to fight Ebola’—of course, then he said, they accidentally cut USAID’s Ebola prevention efforts, but that it had been ‘restored’ with no ‘interruption.’
“Yet we know for a fact that is a lie. U.S.-based companies implementing these programs received termination notices yesterday.
“Any basic accounting of USAID’s capacity to stop outbreaks abroad shows quite plainly that any disease prevention efforts supported by the U.S. at this point are merely symbolic.
“You cannot break the foundation of public health systems overseas and expect that it won’t have a damaging impact here at home. This makes America less safe.
“If Ebola, Marburg, or any other infectious disease makes it to our shores, it will be thanks to Elon and Trump—two billionaires without a clue who are positively smug about their own ignorance.
“But it’s not just our infectious disease response that has now been gutted. Everything from resources to help prevent kids from getting malaria to aid for refugees in war torn places like Syria where it is directly in our national security interest to foster stability.
“And it’s not just resources for far-away places—this will hit home in blue and red states. U.S. universities in my home state, in Indiana, in Florida, in Texas, and other states have had their partnerships terminated.
“American students from across our country that are now participating in exchange programs overseas are impacted by this.
“To put it into perspective for my colleagues: 5,800 of 6,300 USAID grants and contracts are being terminated—that’s nine out of ten—and that’s not to mention 4,100 of 6,800 State Department grants and contracts.
“And the only detail we have is from NGOs, faith-based organizations, and U.S. contractors sending these termination notices to our committee.
“We do not have one shred of detail from the State Department. Not one shred. The scale is staggering—and it shows you that this administration’s scheme is to bulldoze right through restraining orders and court orders so that by the time the law catches up to them, the damage will have been done.
“Compliance is easy at that point. What’s left to fix once you’ve burned everything to the ground?
“This administration knows full well they are breaking the law. They are showing us all in plain view that their goal is to do irreparable damage—as much as possible, as fast as possible.
“Well, I am sounding the alarm because this illegal power grab is in direct violation of congressional intent and appropriations law.
“The Supreme Court should act with haste to bring this administration to account and ensure that money Congress appropriated gets to where it was intended.
“Whether it’s President Trump, or Elon Musk, or the Secretary of State calling the shots, Congress has no visibility into DOGE’s actions, frustrating our ability to write funding bills when government funding runs out in weeks.
“By ignoring the law and congressional intent, the administration has created chaos, they have eroded trust in the United States, and made way for Russia and China to take advantage of this leadership vacuum.
“No one should fall for this thin veneer about ‘efficiency’ while the Administration racks up legal fees, overdue payments to contractors, pays people not to work, and forces a global recall of staff.
“We have a process to avoid this kind of chaos. The President submits his or her budget request to Congress. Congress holds hearings publicly, and writes and passes bills that become law.
“We have explicit notification and consultation requirements for foreign assistance funding for a reason.
“M. President—do I need to march down to the National Archives? Do I need to make sure we still have a Constitution?
“Do I need to check whether the laws we passed are still there? Or did they start running them through a shredder? Because as blatant and persistent as it has been, no one—no one—should expect this kind of lawlessness to fade away.
“I cast my votes and speak on this floor as a voice for the people of the state I represent, Washington state. I was not elected to let the President or some unaccountable billionaire decide how their tax dollars get spent.
“Every Senator here should speak loudly with one unified voice: Congress holds the power of the purse, and no President can unilaterally abolish an entire agency or ignore our appropriations laws.”
The Government today announced its 2025-26 Land Sale List which includes eight residential sites, involving about 4,450 flats to be put up for sale.
Unveiling the list this afternoon, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn said taking into account the estimated land supply from government land sale, MTR Corporation and Urban Renewal Authority projects as well as private development/redevelopment projects, the private housing land supply in 2025-26 can produce about 13,700 flats.
Pursuant to the “Long Term Housing Strategy Annual Progress Report 2024” released in October 2024, the target for private housing land supply in 2025-26 is 13,200 flats, similar to the potential supply of this financial year.
No commercial site has been included on the list, considering the high vacancy rate of offices in recent years and the relatively ample supply in the next few years.
As for industrial sites, the Government has identified three pilot areas to adopt the large-scale land disposal approach, located in Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen, Fanling North and the San Tin Technopole.
Each of these pilot areas covers land for residential, industry and public facilities. The expressions of interest exercise will last until end-March, with a target to commence the tendering work progressively from the second half of 2025 to 2026.
For the first quarter of 2025-26, ie April to June this year, a site in Tuen Mun will be put up for tender, capable of producing about 525 flats.
Ms Linn said that the site is located in a mature residential neighbourhood near a light rail station and should be attractive to the market.
She reiterated that the Government will prudently roll out land in a paced and pragmatic manner for development and maintain a continuous and sustained land supply, noting that placing available sites on the list does not mean all sites are to be rolled out.
The Government will refer to the market situation and other supply sources so as to announce the Land Sale Programme on a quarterly basis. Depending on the market situation, it may also put up additional sites to respond to market changes, Ms Linn added.
ANTANANARIVO – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Malagasy Red Cross have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen their capacity to plan for, prepare and respond to cyclones and floods in Madagascar.
Madagascar’s geographical location in the southwest Indian Ocean makes it one of the countries in the world, most vulnerable to extreme weather events. To address these challenges, it is crucial to put in place anticipatory measures and rapid response strategies to mitigate the impact of tropical storms and cyclones.
WFP’s partnership with the Madagascar Red Cross ensures an integrated package of activities to anticipate, prepare for and respond to violent and destructive storms:
Anticipatory actions: distribution of food before the cyclone makes landfall
Pre-positioning of food stocks in cyclone/flood-prone areas for rapid response
Emergency response within 72 hours of a cyclone: distribution of hot meals or high-energy biscuits
Three-month post-cyclone assistance to address immediate and critical needs
“The choice of the Malagasy Red Cross as a strategic partner is justified by its network of volunteers working close to the communities in regions prone to natural hazards, enabling the organisation to play a key role in the rapid delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected populations,” said WFP Representative and acting Country Director in Madagascar Mamadou Mbaye. “The partnership complements WFP’s technical and operational expertise in food security, logistics and humanitarian assistance.”
This integrated approach to emergency anticipation, preparedness and response covers six cyclone and flood prone regions of Madagascar: Sava, Diana, Sofia, Ambatosoa, Analanjirofo and Atsinanana.
# # #
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
Follow us on:
Twitter @wfp_media; @PAM_Madagascar
Facebook: Programme Alimentaire Mondial Madagascar
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger has sentenced Avery Fuller (30, Washington D.C.) to 19 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robberies in New Jersey and Florida and brandishing a firearm during the robberies. Fuller pleaded guilty on October 29, 2024.
According to court documents, Fuller and his co-conspirators planned and executed a series of jewelry store robberies in New Jersey, Florida, and the District of Columbia. Based in the Washington, D.C. area, the group targeted predominantly South Asian jewelry stores along the east coast. Wearing disguises and armed with firearms, they used hammers to smash jewelry display cases and steal valuable items. These stores were specifically chosen because they sold high-purity gold, which yielded higher proceeds when sold for cash.
On June 10, 2022, Fuller, along with Trevor Wright, William Hunter, Franklin Hunter, Davon Johnson, and at least four other co-conspirators, committed an armed robbery of Virani Jewelers, located at 1394 Oaktree Road in Iselin, New Jersey. The group left Washington, D.C., at approximately 12:09 p.m., and traveled together in three separate vehicles. At approximately 7:45 p.m., Fuller and his co-conspirators arrived at Virani, exited their vehicles, and ran into the store wearing masks.
Once inside the store, Fuller and his co-conspirators pointed firearms at store employees. Two of the co-conspirators immediately forced at least two employees to the ground at gunpoint. Hunter and another co-conspirator used hammers to smash the display cases throughout the store and one of the store’s cameras. One co-conspirator pointed his firearm at the back of an employee’s head, pushed her to the back of the store, and commanded her to open the vault. Other co-conspirators shoveled gold jewelry into bags before exiting the store and entering the vehicles; all three vehicles fled from the scene together. After the robbery, Fuller and his-conspirators immediately traveled back to Washington, D.C. with approximately $1.2 million in gold jewelry, which they ultimately melted down into bars of gold and split among the group by grams of gold.
Approximately six months later, in early December 2022, Fuller and his co-conspirators—Trevor Wright, Jameise Christian, Antonio Tate, Delontae Martin, and Jaylaun Brown—planned another robbery, this time at a jewelry store in Jacksonville. To prepare, Fuller and Wright coordinated everyone’s travel from Washington, D.C., to Miami, where they rented a black vehicle and a white vehicle. On December 6, 2022, the group drove these vehicles to Jacksonville. Upon arrival at the jewelry store, four co-conspirators exited the black vehicle, entered the store wearing disguises, and brandished firearms. One co-conspirator ordered store employees to kneel behind the counter with their heads down while the group used a hammer to smash glass display cases. Meanwhile, Wright and Fuller remained in the white vehicle to monitor the store’s entrance.
After approximately three minutes, one of the conspirators exited the store and drove the black vehicle directly in front of the store, honking the horn to signal the others to exit. Before leaving, one co-conspirator approached the store employees kneeling in the corner, pointed his firearm, and stole the store owner’s wallet. The group then loaded the stolen jewelry into the trunk of the black vehicle and fled the scene, with the white vehicle traveling in the same direction. The group stole approximately $880,000 in jewelry from the jewelry store.
Through the collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia, this complex investigation resulted in the identification of six individuals, who were eventually traced back to Miami. The suspects were observed at a Miami condominium, where they were seen exiting their vehicles unmasked and carrying the stolen jewelry.
To date, all individuals involved in the Jacksonville and New Jersey robberies have been arrested with pending federal cases in Jacksonville and Washington, D.C. In Jacksonville, Delontae Martin, Antonio Tate, and Jameise Christian pleaded guilty to brandishing a firearm in furtherance of the Jacksonville robbery. Martin was sentenced to 9 years’ imprisonment, Tate was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, and Christian was sentenced to 12 years and 10 months in federal prison. Trevor Wright and Jaylaun Brown are in custody and awaiting trial in Washington, D.C. for robbery and firearm offenses.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the Miami Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kirwinn Mike.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, earlier this afternoon joined the Chair of the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meeting 2025 and Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz in a press conference of the 31st AEM Retreat. During the press conference, Minister Tengku Zafrul and SG Dr. Kao shared the key outcomes of the discussion during the retreat.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN joins Chair of the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting 2025 in a Press Conference of the 31st AEM Retreat appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
SINGAPORE, Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With Bitcoin’s price fluctuating below $100,000, many analysts predict a prolonged period of high volatility in the crypto market. Holding spot positions may struggle to generate short-term profits in such conditions. As a result, 100x leverage futures trading has become the preferred tool for seasoned investors looking to maximize potential gains in this volatile market. BexBack Exchange is ramping up its efforts to offer traders unmatched promotional packages.The platform now offers a 100% deposit bonus, a $50 welcome bonus for new users, and up to 100x leverage on cryptocurrency trading, providing excellent opportunities for investors.
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Disclaimer: This content is provided by BexBack.The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.
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ALPHARETTA, Ga., Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Aptean, a global provider of mission-critical enterprise software solutions, announced the signing of a definitive agreement to purchase Germanedge, a provider of industry-leading industrial software for discrete and process manufacturers from funds managed by Alpina Management GmbH (Alpina, Alpina Partners) and private shareholders. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals. Germanedge’s product portfolio includes Advanced Planning & Scheduling, Intelligent Production Management (MES), Statistical Quality Management, and Connected Worker (Shopfloor Management) solutions. These manufacturing focused solutions are accessible through Germanedge’s Edge.One platform, a no-code SaaS platform that is highly configurable to optimize the digital factory operations of its customers. The addition of Germanedge will greatly expand Aptean’s manufacturing and supply chain management capabilities, enabling Aptean to better serve the needs of its global ERP customer base while also providing existing Germanedge customers with access to its broad portfolio of manufacturing focused solutions.
Headquartered in Munich, Germany, Germanedge delivers all of the components needed to power the next generation of Digital Factory operations. Germanedge’s innovative cloud-based platform, Edge.One was designed to meet the unique and growing needs of its enterprise and mid-market customers, providing real-time visibility and IoT capabilities. The firm currently employs 200+ full-time employees that serve 300+ customers across 20 countries.
“Aptean is very excited to announce the acquisition of Germanedge, a pioneer in next generation manufacturing capabilities” said TVN Reddy, CEO at Aptean. “Through the addition of Germanedge, Aptean further establishes itself as a leader in industrial software solutions designed specifically for complex discrete and process manufacturing needs.”
“The merger of Germanedge and Aptean presents a fantastic opportunity for us to expand our businesses globally and continue serving our customers’ digital factory operations, while also granting them access to Aptean’s extensive suite of complementary ERP and SCM solutions. By leveraging Germanedge as a platform, we ensure that the current strategy proceeds at an accelerated pace,” said Christian von Stengel, CEO of Germanedge. “We are closely aligned with Aptean regarding our long-term vision of developing software for Industry 4.0, enabling our customers to manufacture their products more efficiently, flexibly, and sustainably.”
“Germanedge is a perfect example for a highly innovative software company providing mission-critical applications to its blue-chip customer base. With its Edge.One platform Germanedge is able to offer digital factory solutions from the cloud. Alpina is extremely proud to have supported the management team on its growth path” said Florian Strehle, a Partner at Alpina.
About Germanedge Germanedge provides a comprehensive portfolio of software solutions supporting the next generation of Digital Factory, including machine and process data acquisition, tracking and tracing, APS, CAQ, SCM, digital asset management, digital shift books and checklists as well as digital shop floor management. Germanedge is headquartered in Munich, Germany and has offices across Europe and the United States. www.germanedge.com
About Aptean Aptean is one of the world’s leading providers of purpose-built, industry-specific software that helps manufacturers and distributors effectively run and grow their businesses. With both cloud and on-premise deployment options, Aptean’s products, services and unmatched expertise help businesses of all sizes to be Ready for What’s Next, Now®. Aptean is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. To learn more about Aptean and the markets we serve, visit www.aptean.com.
Aptean and Ready for What’s Next, Now are Registered Trademarks of Aptean, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.
About Alpina Partners Alpina Partners is an owner-managed investment firm based in Munich, Germany that invests in small and medium sized technology businesses with strong technical USPs. www.alpinapartners.com
Healthy coastal ecosystems play crucial roles in the U.S. economy, from supporting multibillion-dollar fisheries and tourism industries to protecting coastlines from storms.
They’re also difficult to manage, requiring specialized knowledge and technology.
That’s why the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – the federal agency best known for collecting and analyzing the data that make weather forecasts and warnings possible – leads most of the government’s work on ocean and coastal health, as well as research into the growing risks posed by climate change.
The government estimates that NOAA’s projects and services support more than one-third of the nation’s gross domestic product. Yet, this is one of the agencies that the Trump administration has targeted, with discussions of trying to privatize NOAA’s forecasting operations and disband its crucial climate change research.
As a marine environmental historian who studies relationships among scientists, fishermen and environmentalists, I have seen how NOAA’s work affects American livelihoods, coastal health and the U.S. economy.
Here are a few examples from just NOAA’s coastal work, and what it means to fishing industries and coastal states.
Preventing fisheries from collapsing
One of the oldest divisions within NOAA is the National Marine Fisheries Service, known as NOAA Fisheries. It dates to 1871, when Congress created the U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries. At that time, the first generation of conservationists started to worry that America’s natural resources were finite.
By conducting surveys and interviewing fishermen and seafood dealers, the fish commissioners discovered that freshwater and saltwater fisheries across the country were declining.
Looking back on 150 years of NOAA’s fisheries history.
Oil spills and raw sewage were polluting waterways. Fishermen were using high-tech gear, such as pound nets, to catch more and more of the most valuable fish. In some areas, overfishing was putting the future of the fisheries in jeopardy.
One solution was to promote aquaculture, also known as fish or shellfish farming. Scientists and entrepreneurs reared baby fish in hatcheries and transferred them to rivers, lakes or bays. The Fish Commission even used refrigerated railroad cars to ship fish eggs across the country.
Men carry pails of fish specimens to a U.S. Fish Commission ‘fish car’ – a train car designed specifically for transporting fish or fish eggs to stock U.S. rivers, lakes and coastal waters – in this historical photo. Smithsonian Institution Archives
Corals build up reefs over centuries, creating “cities of the sea.” When they’re healthy, they provide nurseries that protect valuable fish species, like snapper, from predators. Reefs also attract tourism and protect coastlines by breaking up waves that cause storm-driven flooding and erosion.
The corals of Hawaii, Florida, Puerto Rico and other tropical areas provide over $3 billion a year in benefits – from sustaining marine ecosystems to recreation, including sport fishing.
A third important aspect of NOAA’s coastal work involves controlling invasive species in America’s waters, including those that have menaced the Great Lakes.
Zebra and quagga mussels, spiny water flea and dozens of other Eurasian organisms colonized the Great Lakes starting in the late 1900s after arriving in ballast water from transoceanic ships. These invaders have disrupted the Great Lakes food web and clogged cities’ water intake systems, causing at least $138 million in damage per year.
Zebra mussels found attached to this boat at an inspection station in Oregon show how easily invasive species can be moved. The boat had come from Texas and was on its way to Canada. Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA
In the Northwest Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, invasive lionfish, native to Asia and Australia, have spread, preying on native fish essential to coral reefs. Lionfish have become one of the world’s most damaging marine fish invasions.
When Republican President Richard Nixon proposed consolidating several different agencies into NOAA in 1970, he told Congress that doing so would promote “better protection of life and property from natural hazards,” “better understanding of the total environment” and “exploration and development leading to the intelligent use of our marine resources.”
The Trump administration is instead discussing tearing down NOAA. The administration has been erasing mentions of climate change from government research, websites and policies – despite the rising risks to communities across the nation. The next federal budget is likely to slash NOAA’s funding.
Commercial meteorologists argue that much of NOAA’s weather data and forecasting, also crucial to coastal areas, couldn’t be duplicated by the private sector.
As NOAA marks its 55th year, I believe it’s in the nation’s and the U.S. economy’s best interest to strengthen rather than dismantle this vital agency.
Christine Keiner conducted research at the NOAA Library for her books “The Oyster Question” and “Deep Cut.”
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Daniel Pastula, Professor of Neurology, Medicine (Infectious Diseases), and Epidemiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
In an interview with The Conversation U.S. associate health editor Alla Katsnelson, neurologist and medical epidemiologist Daniel Pastula explains why measles is so dangerous and how people and communities can protect themselves from the virus.
What is measles, and where does it come from?
Measles is an ancient disease caused by a virus that probably evolved in cattle and jumped into humans around 500 B.C. One of the first written accounts of it comes from a Persian physician named Rhazes in the ninth century C.E., and measles epidemics were described in medieval Europe and western Asia regularly beginning around 1100-1200. The virus got brought over to the Americas in the 1500s, and it wiped out large populations of native people as Europeans colonized the continent.
By the 1950s in the United States, there were 500,000 reported cases of measles each year – though the true number was probably closer to 4 million . It was so contagious, every kid was thought to have gotten measles by age 15. At that time, measles caused close to 50,000 hospitalizations annually and about 500 deaths, usually in children. It also caused over 1,000 cases of severe brain inflammation every year.
Since then, there have been occasional minor flare-ups, usually brought in by international travelers, but by and large, measles outbreaks have been rare. No one had died of it in the United States in nearly a decade.
Today, measles infections in the U.S. are almost completely preventable with vaccination.
About 10 to 14 days after infection, people suffering from measles experience a very high fever, cold-like symptoms including a runny nose and sneezing, and eye inflammation called conjunctivitis.
Next, they may develop white spots called Koplik spots inside their mouth and a diffuse, spotty, red rash that starts at the head and neck, then descends across the entire body. This rash is where the disease gets its name – the word “measles” is thought to come from a medieval Dutch word for “little blemishes.”
Symptoms of measles infection take about three weeks to resolve. People are contagious from about four days before symptoms emerge to four days after the rash starts.
What are the possible severe outcomes of measles?
Epidemiologists estimate that 1 in 5 people who are infected with measles get sick enough to be hospitalized. About 1 in 10 develop ear infections, some of which may result in permanent deafness.
About 1 in 20 people develop severe measles pneumonia, which causes trouble breathing. Reports from west Texas this month suggest that many infected children there have measles pneumonia.
About 1 in 1,000 people develop severe brain swelling. Both measles pneumonia and brain swelling can be fatal. About 3 in 1,000 people die after contracting measles.
In about 1 in 10,000 who get sick with measles and recover from it, the virus lies dormant in the brain for about a decade. It then can reactivate, causing a severe, progressive dementia called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, which is fatal within one to three years. There is no treatment or cure for the disease. I have seen a couple of suspected cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, and none of these patients survived, despite our best efforts.
Given how contagious measles is and how severe the outcomes can be, physicians and public health experts are gravely concerned right now.
How does measles spread?
Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases on the planet. The virus is so infectious that if you are in a room with an infected person and you are not vaccinated and have never had measles before, you have a 90% chance of becoming infected.
The measles virus is transmitted by droplets released into the air by infected people when they cough, sneeze or simply breathe. Virus particles can survive suspended in the air or on indoor surfaces for up to two hours, so people can get infected by touching a surface carrying virus particles and then touching their face.
Who should get the measles vaccine, and how effective is it?
The vaccine for measles has historically been called the MMR vaccine because it has been bundled with vaccines for two other diseases – mumps and rubella. Most children in the U.S. receive it as a two-dose regimen, which is 97% effective against measles.
Children generally get the first dose of the vaccine at 12-15 months old and the second dose when they are 4-6 years old. Infants who haven’t reached their first birthday generally do not receive it since their immune system is not yet fully developed and they do not develop quite as robust of an immune response. In an emergency, though, babies as young as 6 to 9 months old can be vaccinated. If an infant’s mother previously received the MMR vaccine or had been infected herself as a child, her transferred antibodies probably offer some protection, but this wanes in the months after birth.
People born before 1957 are considered immune without getting the vaccine because measles was so widespread at that time that everyone was presumed to have been infected. However, certain people in this age group, such as some health care workers, may wish to discuss vaccination with their providers. And some people who had the original version of the vaccine in the 1960s may need to get revaccinated, as the original vaccine was not as effective as the later versions.
In recent years, vaccination rates for measles and other diseases have fallen.
Based on available evidence, the vaccine is effective for life, so people who received two doses are most likely protected.
A single dose of the vaccine is 93% effective. Most people vaccinated before 1989 got just one dose. That year, an outbreak in vaccinated children with one dose spurred public health officials to begin recommending two doses.
People with certain risk factors who received only one dose, and everyone who has never received a dose, should talk to their health care providers about getting vaccinated. Because the vaccine is a live but weakened version of the virus, those who are severely immunocompromised or are currently pregnant cannot get it.
People who are immunocompromised, which includes those who have chronic conditions such as autoimmune disorders, are undergoing certain cancer treatments or have received an organ transplant, are more susceptible to measles even if they have been vaccinated.
In the current measles epidemic in Texas, the vast majority of people falling ill are unvaccinated. Public health officials there are urging unvaccinated people in affected areas to get vaccinated.
What measures can protect communities from measles outbreaks?
Vaccination is the best way to protect individuals and communities from measles. It’s also the most effective way to curb an ongoing outbreak.
High rates of vaccination are important because of a phenomenon called herd immunity. When people who are vaccinated do not get infected, it essentially stops the spread of the virus, thereby protecting those who are most susceptible to getting sick. When herd immunity wanes, the risk of infection rises for everyone – and especially for the most vulnerable, such as young children and people who are immunocompromised.
Because measles is so contagious, estimates suggest that 95% of the population must be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. Once vaccine coverage falls below that percentage, outbreaks are possible.
Having robust public health systems also provides protection from outbreaks and limits their spread. Public health workers can detect cases before an outbreak occurs and take preventive steps. During a measles outbreak, they provide updates and information, administer vaccines, track cases and oversee quarantine for people who have been exposed and isolation for people who are contagious.
Daniel Pastula 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.
When wind or other disturbances detach winged maple seeds called samaras from their parent tree, they spin through the air – and can even spin when it’s raining. Impacts by high-speed raindrops only briefly interrupt the seed’s spinning because the seed can shed the drop rapidly and restart its spinning in less time than it takes to blink.
If you live somewhere with maple trees, you’ve probably seen their striking helicopter seeds – made up of a seed pod attached to a delicate wing. Maple samaras’ unique design and spinning movement can teach physicists like me about seed dispersal patterns and even engineering new types of flying vehicles.
The samaras’ spinning movement, called autorotation, keeps them in the air for longer so they travel farther.
The spinning flight of a maple samara.
In a February 2025 study, my colleagues and I filmed raindrops as they crashed into autorotating samaras. The samaras shed drops by shattering them, flinging the drops off, or rolling out of the way – like they’re turning away from a punch. If a drop falls in just the right place, the spinning seed can cut it in half.
The movement of a samara as it spins through the air. Our new study captured this pattern using a high-speed camera. Breanna Shaeffer and Andrew Dickerson, University of Tennessee-Knoxville
In order to keep flying, the samaras must shed the entire drop. Samaras shed drops fastest when the drops hit the heavier, round nutlet part of the seed, rather than the wing. Shedding is made easier by the samaras’ mildly water-repellent surface. We estimated that raindrop collisions reduce a samara’s time in flight and the distance it travels while spinning, but by less than 10%.
Why it matters
Maples are an important species to the Eastern United States. They provide syrup and timber, making them economically and commercially significant.
My team’s results provide context for other studies focused on how wind transports rotating and nonrotating seeds alike. Some seeds can even travel hundreds of miles.
From an engineering perspective, the insights gained from our study could inform the design of new types of aerial vehicles that use autorotation to ride the wind without a motor. Mimicking the shapes of these seeds could help such vehicles quickly recover from disruptions to flight.
Samaras are also visually intriguing. Discovering more about how small, beautiful parts of nature thrive could help scientists get people interested in the environment.
What still isn’t known
Maple samaras represent just one way that seeds use the wind to disperse farther. A dandelion’s parachute-like float relies on the seed’s light weight and high drag. A hop tree seed uses a single, wafer-shaped seed to flutter, while triplaris seeds have three wings that achieve a helicopter-like spin. Researchers still aren’t sure how raindrops can affect the flight of these seeds.
What’s next
Next, my colleagues and I hope to unravel the flight mechanics of the “rolling samaras” found on tulip poplar and ash trees. These seeds rotate like maple samaras, but the wing also rolls around the axis that runs across its wingspan as it does so.
Not only do we plan to compare their flight performance against the more recognizable maple samara, but we will also study how these seeds respond to perturbations such as wing damage and crosswinds.
How I do my work
I like to uncover the complexity in seemingly simple systems. So many of the brief, small and common interactions in our world are wonderfully beautiful. I seek to tell those stories through a camera lens and with mathematical flair.
Andrew Dickerson receives funding from the National Science Foundation.
Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)
Ohio State University Since World War II, the homicide rate in the U.S. has been three to ten times higher than in Canada, Western Europe, and Japan. This, however, has not always been the case. What caused the dramatic change? Dr. Roth discussed how and why rates of different kinds of homicide have varied across time and space over the past 450 years, including an examination of the murder of children by parents or caregivers, intimate partner violence, and homicides among unrelated adults.
(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)
This marks the third U.S. Navy ship to moor in Ishigaki, further strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance, which has served as the foundation for regional peace and security for nearly 75 years.
During a ceremony aboard the ship, San Diego’s commanding officer, Capt. Timothy Carter, expressed his gratitude to the people of Ishigaki for their warm welcome and extended thanks to several key organizations, including the Yaeyama Defense Association, Ishigaki Port Authority, and the Japan Coast Guard for their support and assistance in ensuring the ship’s safe arrival.
“It is truly an honor to be here today representing the United States Navy,” said Carter. “This visit stands as a testament to the deep, enduring friendship we share with Japan. Our presence in Ishigaki today underscores the strength and commitment of the U.S.-Japan alliance, a cornerstone of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”
San Diego operates in the Indo-Pacific region to enhance interoperability with partners. The ship serves as a ready-response force for any type of contingency, from operational to humanitarian assistance missions.
“Our military-to-military relationships have never been stronger,” he continued. “We look forward to engaging with the local community and deepening our understanding of each other’s cultures. Our partnership is not only important today, but will remain vital in the years to come.”
While in Ishigaki, the crew will have the opportunity to engage with local residents, learn about the island’s rich history, and enjoy its unique culture and cuisine. This visit represents another milestone in the strong and enduring ties between the U.S. and Japan.
San Diego, part of the America Amphibious Ready Group, is forward-deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
For more news from USS San Diego, visit https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/lpd22/ On Facebook, visit www.facebook.com/LPD22
SINGAPORE, Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitdeer Technologies Group (“Bitdeer” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: BTDR), a world-leading technology company for blockchain and high-performance computing, today announced that it has conducted share repurchase for a total amount of approximately US$9.0 million on February 27, 2025, fully utilizing its US$10,000,000 share repurchase program approved in September 2024. The board of directors of the Company has approved a new share repurchase program to repurchase up to additional US$20,000,000 worth of its Class A ordinary shares (“Shares”), effective from February 28, 2025 through February 28, 2026.
Under the new share repurchase program, Bitdeer may purchase its Shares through various means, including open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions, any combination thereof or other legally permissible means in accordance with applicable federal securities laws, including Rule 10b5-1 and Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), Regulation M under the Exchange Act, as well as certain at market issuance sales agreements. The number of Shares repurchased and the timing of repurchases will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, price, trading volume and general market conditions, along with Bitdeer’s working capital requirements, general business conditions, compliance with applicable federal securities laws (including Regulation M), compliance with the Company’s obligations under the at market issuance sales agreements referred to above and other factors. Bitdeer’s board of directors will review the share repurchase program periodically, and may modify, suspend or terminate the share repurchase program at any time. The Company plans to fund repurchases from its existing cash balance. By gradually executing the share repurchase program, Bitdeer seeks to minimize the impact on its share price and generate greater long-term returns for its shareholders.
About Bitdeer Technologies Group
Bitdeer is a world-leading technology company for blockchain and high-performance computing. Bitdeer is committed to providing comprehensive computing solutions for its customers. The Company handles complex processes involved in computing such as equipment procurement, transport logistics, datacenter design and construction, equipment management, and daily operations. The Company also offers advanced cloud capabilities to customers with high demand for artificial intelligence. Headquartered in Singapore, Bitdeer has deployed datacenters in the United States, Norway, and Bhutan. To learn more, visit https://ir.bitdeer.com/ or follow Bitdeer on X @ BitdeerOfficial and LinkedIn @ Bitdeer Group.
Investors and others should note that Bitdeer may announce material information using its website and/or on its accounts on social media platforms, including X, formerly known as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Therefore, Bitdeer encourages investors and others to review the information it posts on the social media and other communication channels listed on its website.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans, and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “anticipate,” “look forward to,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including factors discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Bitdeer’s annual report on Form 20-F, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in Bitdeer’s subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof. Bitdeer specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether due to new information, future events, or otherwise. Readers should not rely upon the information on this page as current or accurate after its publication date.
So, it’s happened. You’re on stage, Oscar statue in hand, facing Hollywood’s finest and millions of viewers. You could keep it simple – thank your agent, your co-stars, your dog. Or you could use this moment to say something that matters.
That’s exactly what Jane Fonda just did at the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards, urging the audience “to resist successfully what is coming at us” as Elon Musk’s Doge holds a chainsaw to the US federal government. From the cold war to civil rights to Trump 2.0, award ceremonies have always been stages for activism.
Some of these political speeches have been electrifying. Some have flopped. Some have been drowned out by the orchestra before they even got started. If you’re going to make a political speech at the Oscars, you’d better do it right.
Thankfully, Kenneth Burke — one of the 20th century’s most influential rhetorical scholars — offers a road map. His theories on identification, dramatism and symbolic action explain why some speeches resonate while others fall flat.
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1. Know your two (very different) audiences
Burke argued in the 1950s that rhetoric isn’t just about persuasion – it’s about identification. A speaker is most persuasive when they convince their audience that they share the same values and concerns. If people feel you’re “one of them”, they’re more likely to listen.
The Oscars create a unique rhetorical challenge. Inside LA’s Dolby Theatre, you might be surrounded by like-minded pampered progressives. But beyond that room, millions of viewers at home may be far less receptive.
Michael Moore’s infamous acceptance speech in 2003.
Director Michael Moore learned this the hard way in 2003 when, after winning best documentary for his film Bowling for Columbine, he stormed the stage and declared: “Shame on you, Mr Bush! Shame on you!” The result? A mix of cheers and boos. And days of being pilloried on cable news. Instead of drawing people in, Moore’s approach alienated half his audience.
Compare this with Meryl Streep’s speech at the 2017 Golden Globes when collecting her lifetime achievement award. She also criticised her president but framed it differently: “Disrespect invites disrespect. Violence incites violence. When the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose.”
She didn’t need to utter Donald Trump’s name. And because she framed her speech as a universal concern, rather than a partisan attack, it resonated beyond the room.
2. Put yourself in the story
Burke’s second idea is that all communication is “dramatic” – a performance shaped by setting, characters and conflict. In a political speech, the most compelling “character” is often you, the speaker.
Audiences don’t just respond to abstract arguments. They connect with people who embody the very struggle they’re speaking about.
Lily Gladstone accepting the Golden Globe for best actress in 2024.
Lily Gladstone’s 2024 Golden Globes speech worked this way. When she won best actress for Killers of the Flower Moon, she didn’t start with industry statistics or broad calls for change. Instead, she spoke in Blackfeet, honouring her Indigenous roots: “I just spoke a bit of Blackfeet language, a beautiful community – the nation that raised me.”
That one sentence transformed her win into a moment of cultural recognition, making her speech as much an act of representation as a speech about representation.
3. Frame your argument wisely
If you want your audience to engage, you must frame your message in a way that pulls them in. Whereas a speech that just states a problem can feel like noise, one that connects the issue to a larger story can be powerful.
This is where Burke’s idea of symbolic action comes in. He defined it as “the making or construction of social reality through symbols that foster identification”. Put another way: words don’t just describe reality, they shape it.
Oprah Winfrey’s speech from the 2018 Golden Globes.
Take Oprah Winfrey’s 2018 Golden Globes speech picking up the Cecil B. DeMille award. Instead of simply condemning sexism in Hollywood, she tied it to a broader historical movement, from civil rights to #MeToo: “For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dared to speak their truth to the power [of] those men. But their time is up. Their time is up!”
Winfrey wasn’t just talking about change – she was creating it in real time, rallying the room behind a clear, urgent message. That’s the difference between listing a problem and delivering a message that sticks.
4. Turn your speech into an act of protest
While framing helps persuade an audience, some moments go further, becoming acts of defiance themselves. This is when a speech moves beyond words into symbolic action.
Let’s take perhaps the most famous protest in Oscars history. In 1973, Marlon Brando refused to pick up his best actor statue – sending in his place Sacheen Littlefeather, who explained she was there as a protest for Hollywood’s treatment of Native American people.
Sacheen Littlefeather refuses to accept the best actor Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando.
“He very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award,” she told the audience. “And the reasons for this being are the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry … and on television in movie reruns, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee.”
In under a minute, she transformed what could have been a quiet refusal into a national reckoning. The audience’s reaction – some cheering, some booing – only made it clearer. This wasn’t just a speech, it was a moment.
A speech that merely describes a problem may be forgotten, but one that transforms the moment itself? That’s the stuff of history.
5. Expect a backlash, and decide if you care
No matter how well you craft your speech, someone is going to be angry. Burke’s final idea for helping us understand this is the “scapegoat mechanism”, by which one figure is cast as the discordant element that must be removed to restore unity.
If you make a political speech at the Oscars, it could be you. Vanessa Redgrave learned this in 1978: after winning best supporting actress for her role in Julia, she defended her pro-Palestine activism against attacks from the Jewish Defence League, who she called a “bunch of Zionist hoodlums”. The reaction was instant – cheers mixed with boos.
Vanessa Redgrave accepts the Oscar for supporting actress in 1978.
Later that night, screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky publicly rebuked her, saying: “A simple ‘thank you’ would have sufficed.” The backlash hurt Redgrave’s career, but she stood by her words.
If you’re going to say something political, be prepared to own it. And make sure you beat the orchestra.
Tom F. Wright does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today said it immediately adopted a multipronged approach to prevent the spread of the B virus or herpes simiae virus, after confirming the first human infection in Hong Kong on April 3 last year.
Apart from issuing a press release that day to announce details of the case, including the treatment of the patient in a critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit and reminding the public of the precautions to be taken against the virus, the CHP notified the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department to take appropriate measures as a matter of urgency.
As this is the first case of its kind in Hong Kong, the centre promptly stepped up local medical surveillance. On April 5 last year, it put the disease onto the list of “Other communicable diseases of topical public health concern” and issued letters to doctors and hospitals in Hong Kong, asking them to pay attention to the disease during medical consultations and report suspected cases to the CHP for follow-up.
The CHP also produced promotional leaflets and provided health information on its website and social media since April 5 last year. In addition, it reported the latest epidemiological investigation results of the case in the Communicable Disease Watch in June last year and yesterday, reminding the public and healthcare workers to exercise caution against the B virus.
The centre said that in the fight against communicable diseases, it adheres to the principles of real-time surveillance, rapid intervention and responsive risk communication.
Regarding this human B virus infection case, the CHP stressed there was no delay in its investigation, disease control and prevention, and publicity and education efforts.
The CHP also acknowledged comments that it could have issued a press release on the day of the patient’s death and said it will review the current practice and consider announcing crucial changes in the clinical conditions of special infectious disease cases as soon as practicable.
This is in addition to announcing the results of the relevant epidemiological investigations, prevention and control work, and public education.
So far, only one case of B virus human infection has been recorded in Hong Kong. As the virus is naturally carried in the saliva, urine and stool of macaques – wild animals commonly found in Hong Kong, people must remain vigilant and stay away from wild monkeys and avoid touching or feeding them.
The CHP advised anyone bitten or scratched by a monkey to rinse the wound with water as soon as possible and seek medical attention immediately.
BEIJING, Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — KE Holdings Inc. (“Beike” or the “Company”) (NYSE: BEKE and HKEX: 2423), a leading integrated online and offline platform for housing transactions and services, is pleased to announce today a significant upgrade in its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) rating by Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) from “BBB” to “A.” This achievement marks the second consecutive year of improvement for Beike, reflecting its steadfast commitment to excellence in ESG practices within the industry.
In MSCI’s latest evaluation, Beike earned an impressive overall score of 7.2 in the ESG social category, outperforming the global industry average of 4.3. This accomplishment is attributed to the Company’s continuous efforts in human capital development through tailored vocational training programs and structured career paths for service providers, together with its robust privacy and data security measures. Additionally, Beike made notable strides in exploring opportunities in incorporating green concepts across various business scenarios, such as establishing the “Lianjia Green Store Standard” to regulate eco-friendly renovations, material recycling, and smart energy control installations for the brokerage stores. These efforts contributed to a remarkable 1.8-point increase in the ESG environmental category from the previous year.
The MSCI ESG Rating, developed by a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community, MSCI, serves as a benchmark for institutional investors to measure a company’s resilience to financially material ESG risks and to deploy capital in ways that maximize investment return over their time horizon.
With its mission of “admirable service, joyful living,” Beike is dedicated to creating long-term, sustainable value by reshaping China’s residential services industry through its infrastructure transformation and technology-driven innovation. This commitment empowers service providers to enhance their professional growth and deliver exceptional living experiences for consumers.
About KE Holdings Inc.
KE Holdings Inc. is a leading integrated online and offline platform for housing transactions and services. The Company is a pioneer in building infrastructure and standards to reinvent how service providers and customers efficiently navigate and complete housing transactions and services in China, ranging from existing and new home sales, home rentals, to home renovation and furnishing, and other services. The Company owns and operates Lianjia, China’s leading real estate brokerage brand and an integral part of its Beike platform. With more than 23 years of operating experience through Lianjia since its inception in 2001, the Company believes the success and proven track record of Lianjia pave the way for it to build its infrastructure and standards and drive the rapid and sustainable growth of Beike.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and similar statements. Beike may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Stock Exchange”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about KE Holdings Inc.’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Beike’s goals and strategies; Beike’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; expected changes in the Company’s revenues, costs or expenditures; Beike’s ability to empower services and facilitate transactions on Beike platform; competition in the industry in which Beike operates; relevant government policies and regulations relating to the industry; Beike’s ability to protect the Company’s systems and infrastructures from cyber-attacks; Beike’s dependence on the integrity of brokerage brands, stores and agents on the Company’s platform; general economic and business conditions in China and globally; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in KE Holdings Inc.’s filings with the SEC and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and KE Holdings Inc. does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
RONKONKOMA, N.Y., Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SUNation Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNE), a leading provider of sustainable solar energy and backup power solutions for households, businesses, and municipalities, today announced the initial closing of its previously announced securities purchase agreement with certain institutional investors for the purchase and sale of 17,391,306 shares of the Company’s common stock (or common stock equivalents in lieu thereof), Series A warrants to purchase up to an aggregate 17,391,306 shares of the Company’s common stock and Series B warrants to purchase up to an aggregate 17,391,306 shares of the Company’s common stock at an effective purchase price of $1.15 per share (or common stock equivalents in lieu thereof) and associated warrants in a registered direct offering (the “offering”) priced at-the-market under Nasdaq rules.
The initial closing of the offering generated gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $15 million through the issuance of an aggregate of 13,043,480 shares of common stock (or common stock equivalents) consisting of (i) 1,965,000 shares of common stock (the “Shares”), and (ii) pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 11,078,480 shares of common stock (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”).
The second closing of the offering is expected to generate gross proceeds of up to $5 million consisting of (iii) 4,347,826 shares of Common Stock (or common stock equivalents), (iv) Series A warrants to purchase up to 17,391,306 shares of common stock, and (v) Series B warrants to purchase up to 17,391,306 shares of common stock. The second closing of the offering is expected to occur upon the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of approval by the Company’s stockholders in a specially called stockholder meeting to approve the issuance of the series A common stock warrants, series B common stock warrants and the shares of common stock underlying such warrants, in addition to other matters.
The gross proceeds from the offering, assuming the second closing is consummated, are expected to be approximately $20 million before deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to fund its operations, including for working capital, potential strategic transactions, payment of certain debt obligations and for other general corporate purposes.
Roth Capital Partners, LLC is acting as the exclusive placement agent for the registered direct offering.
The Series A warrants will have an exercise price of $1.725 per share subject to standard adjustments for dividends, splits and similar events; a one-time adjustment on the date of issuance (as described in the warrants), subject to a floor price described therein; and also subject to adjustment upon a Dilutive Issuance (as described in the warrants), subject to a floor price described therein. The Series A warrants will be issued at the second closing and will be exercisable immediately after issuance and have a term of exercise equal to 5 years from the date of issuance.
The Series B warrants will have an exercise price of $2.875 per share subject to standard adjustments for dividends, splits and similar events; a one-time adjustment on the date of issuance (as described in the warrants), subject to a floor price described therein; and also subject to adjustment upon a Dilutive Issuance (as described in the warrants), subject to a floor price described therein. The Series B warrants will be issued at the second closing and will be exercisable immediately after issuance and have a term of exercise equal to 5 years from the date of issuance. The Series B warrants may also be exercised on an alternative cashless basis pursuant to which the holder may exchange each warrant for 3 shares of common stock.
The securities in the offering described above are being offered by the Company pursuant to a “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-267066) previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and declared effective by the SEC on September 2, 2022. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, forming a part of the effective registration statement, relating to the offering that will be filed with the SEC. Electronic copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus may be obtained, when available, on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov or by contacting Roth Capital Partners, LLC at 888 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach CA 92660, by email at rothecm@roth.com.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.
About SUNation Energy, Inc.
SUNation Energy, Inc. is focused on growing leading local and regional solar, storage, and energy services companies nationwide. Our vision is to power the energy transition through grass-roots growth of solar electricity paired with battery storage. Our portfolio of brands (SUNation, Hawaii Energy Connection, E-Gear) provide homeowners and businesses of all sizes with an end-to-end product offering spanning solar, battery storage, and grid services. SUNation Energy, Inc.’s largest markets include New York, Florida, and Hawaii, and the company operates in three (3) states.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the Company’s current expectations or beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. While the Company believes its plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, these plans, intentions, or expectations may not be achieved. For information about the factors that could cause such differences, please refer to the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, the statements made under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in subsequent filings. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.
Safe Harbor Statement
Our prospects here at SUNation Energy Inc. are subject to uncertainties and risks. This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbor provided by the foregoing Sections. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations or forecasts of future events, can be affected by inaccurate assumptions, and are subject to various business risks and known and unknown uncertainties, a number of which are beyond the control of management. Therefore, actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this presentation. The Company cannot predict or determine after the fact what factors would cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements or other statements. The reader should consider statements that include the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “estimates”, “plans”, “projects”, “should”, or other expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends, to be uncertain and forward-looking. We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional information respecting factors that could materially affect the Company and its operations are contained in the Company’s filings with the SEC which can be found on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Contacts: Scott Maskin Chief Executive Officer +1 (631) 823-7131 smaskin@sunation.com
SUNation Energy Investor Relations +1 (212) 836-9600 IR@sunation.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind., Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hallador Energy Company (Nasdaq: HNRG) (“Hallador” or the “Company”), will host a conference call on Monday, March 17, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time to discuss its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024. The Company’s results will be reported in a press release prior to the call.
Hallador’s management will host the conference call, followed by a question-and-answer period. Interested parties may submit questions prior to the call by emailing the Company’s investor relations team, Elevate IR, at HNRG@elevate-ir.com.
Date: Monday, March 17, 2025 Time: 5:30 p.m. Eastern time Dial-in registration link:here Live webcast registration link:here
The conference call will also be broadcast live and available for replay in the investor relations section of the Company’s website at www.halladorenergy.com.
About Hallador Energy Company
Hallador Energy Company (Nasdaq: HNRG) is a vertically-integrated Independent Power Producer (IPP) based in Terre Haute, Indiana. The Company has two core businesses: Hallador Power Company, LLC, which produces electricity and capacity at its one-Gigawatt (GW) Merom Generating Station, and Sunrise Coal, LLC, which produces and supplies fuel to the Merom Generating Station and other companies. To learn more about Hallador, visit the Company’s website at www.halladorenergy.com.
The Albanese government will temporarily freeze the indexation on draught beer excise, in what it describes as a win for drinkers, brewers and businesses.
The freeze is for two years and starts from the next due indexation date in August. Indexation changes are made twice a year, with the most recent one in February.
The government says the cost to the budget would be $95 million over four years from 2025-26.
The Australian Hotels Association had previously called for a freeze on the excise for drinks sold in pubs, clubs, bars, and restaurants.
In a statement, the government said the move would “take pressure off the price of a beer poured in pubs, clubs and other venues, supporting businesses, regional tourism and customers”.
Last week it announced relief for Australian distillers, brewers and wine producers.
At present brewers and distillers get a full remission of any excise paid up to $350,000 each year. The government said it would increase the cap to $400,000 for all eligible alcohol manufacturers and also increase the Wine Equalisation Tax producer rebate cap to $400,000 from July 1 next year. That was estimated to decrease tax receipts by $70 million over five years from 2024-25.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the temporary excise indexation freeze as “a commonsense measure”.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said, “This is a modest change but will help take a little bit of pressure off beer drinkers, brewers and bars”.
The AHA recently labelled the excise a “hidden” tax, saying it put pressure on the cost of living. It said Australia’s beer tax was the third highest in the OECD.
The industry and Chalmers had a skirmish over the recent indexation increase. Chalmers said it would equal less than one cent a pint, and warned outlets not to “rip off” or mislead consumers.
Chalmers wrote to the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission asking it to monitor outlets in February to make sure they “do not take undue advantage” of the rise to “mislead” customers about the impact.
The federal government introduced the beer excise in 1988, with the tax linked to inflation. The AHA said in September that the recent jump in inflation meant the beer excise rose 8% over the previous six months.
Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
SYDNEY/MAJURO, MARSHALL ISLANDS, Saturday 1 March 2025 — 71 years since the most powerful nuclear weapons tests ever conducted were unleashed across the Marshall Islands by the United States, Greenpeace calls for the US government to comply with Marshallese demands for nuclear justice.
On 1 March 1954, the Castle Bravo nuclear bomb was detonated on Bikini Atoll — an explosion 1,000 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. 150 kilometers on Rongelap Atoll, radioactive fallout rained down with children mistaking it for snow.
Today, communities continue to endure the physical, economic, and cultural fallout of the nuclear tests — compensation from the US has fallen far short of expectations for the Marshallese people, who are yet to receive an apology, and the accelerating impacts of the climate crisis threatens further displacement of communities.
Shiva Gounden, Head of Pacific at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said: “The Marshall Islands bears the deepest scars of a dark legacy — nuclear contamination, forced displacement, and premeditated human experimentation at the hands of the U.S. government. To this day, its people continue to grapple with this injustice, all while standing on the frontlines of the climate crisis — facing yet another wave of displacement and devastation for a catastrophe they did not create
“But the Marshallese people and their government are not just survivors — they are warriors for justice, among the most powerful voices demanding bold action, accountability, and reparations on the global stage. Those who have inflicted unimaginable harm on the Marshallese must be held to account and made to pay for the devastation they caused. Greenpeace stands unwaveringly beside Marshallese communities in their fight for justice. Jimwe im Maron.”
Greenpeace flagship vessel the Rainbow Warrior III will arrive in the Marshall Islands in early March to reaffirm its solidarity with the Marshallese people. A scientific mission led by Greenpeace will undertake much-needed independent research across the country, to support the National Nuclear Commission and Marshallese government in their ongoing legal proceedings with the US and at the UN.
The trip also marks 40 years since Greenpeace’s iconic Rainbow Warrior I evacuated the people of Rongelap after toxic nuclear fallout rendered their ancestral lands uninhabitable. The ship was bombed months later in Auckland harbour.
Ariana Tibon Kilma, Chairperson at Marshall Islands National Nuclear Commission, said: “The immediate effects of the Bravo bomb on March 1 were harrowing. Hours after exposure, many people fell ill — skin peeling off, burning sensation in their eyes, their stomachs were churning in pain. Mothers watched as their children’s hair fell to the ground and blisters devoured their bodies overnight.”
“Without their consent, the United States government enrolled them as ‘test subjects’ in a top secret medical study on the effects of radiation on human beings — a study that continued for 40 years. Today on Remembrance Day the trauma of Bravo continues for the remaining survivors and their descendents — this is a legacy not only of suffering, loss, and frustration, but also of strength, unity, and unwavering commitment to justice, truth and accountability.”
Members of the Greenpeace Australia Pacific team will be on board the Rainbow Warrior, expected to arrive in Majuro, Marshall Islands on March 11.
—ENDS—
Archival footage and images from the evacuation that Greenpeace conducted in 1985 is available here
Archival footage and images from the US nuclear weapons testing collected here
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Kate O’Callaghan on +61 406 231 892 or [email protected]
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Feb. 28 — China is set to launch the Tianwen-2 mission this year, aiming to unravel the mysteries of a “living fossil” of the solar system and one “rebel” of the main asteroid belt.
The Tianwen-2 mission aims to achieve multiple goals in a single launch: it will collect samples from the near-Earth asteroid 2016HO3, as well as explore the main-belt comet 311P.
An astronomer with the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC) recently explained why these two targets are so intriguing and what cosmic secrets they might hold.
Discovered in 2016 by the Pan-STARRS telescope in Hawaii, asteroid 2016HO3, located millions to tens of millions of kilometers away from Earth, is the first quasi-satellite of Earth ever discovered. Though not a natural moon, this 40-100 meter-wide asteroid orbits the Sun with parameters almost identical to Earth’s, constantly “wandering” near our planet.
“A quasi-satellite is essentially a small celestial body that orbits the Sun, just like Earth. Its trajectory is quite similar to Earth’s. From our perspective on Earth, it appears to oscillate periodically around us. That’s why we call it a quasi-satellite,” explained Yan Wei, senior engineer at the NAOC.
Scientists believe such asteroids preserve critical information about the solar system’s infancy. “These ‘cosmic fossils’ could reveal details about early solar system composition and evolution,” Yan noted.
However, some researchers speculate the asteroid 2016HO3 might be debris from an ancient cosmic collision.
Upon arrival, the Tianwen-2 probe will photograph the asteroid’s surface, analyze its rotation patterns and composition. “Comparing its material composition with that of the moon and Earth will be the focus of our exploration,” Yan emphasized.
The mission also targets main-belt comet 311P, a celestial anomaly discovered in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter by American scientists in 2013. It had multiple dust tails and resembled a comet, which was highly unusual in the dry asteroid belt. Further observations confirmed that this object had the stable orbit of an asteroid but occasionally released dusts. It was thus classified as a main-belt comet and became the seventh such object ever confirmed and the most peculiar one to date.
“Main-belt comets are actually a unique type of asteroid, but exhibiting some cometary features. When they get closer to the Sun, they can release materials, including gases and particles,” Yan explained.
Traditionally, comets are believed to originate from the outer edges of the solar system with large amounts of ice. When they approach the Sun, the ice evaporates, forming a spectacular tail.
Located in the main asteroid belt, a region hosting over 90 percent of the solar system’s asteroids, 311P challenges astronomers’ conventional understanding, as the region is too close to the Sun for the celestial body to retain its volatile materials like water ice.
Tianwen-2 will visit this “rebel” of the asteroid belt to uncover its mysteries and advance human’s understanding of the solar system.
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has concluded visits to China, Mongolia and the Republic of Korea focused on deepening ties with North Asia.
“Our time spent this week in Beijing, Ulaanbaatar and Seoul has underlined the opportunities for New Zealand for enhanced engagement with North Asia,” Mr Peters says.
“North Asia is a dynamic region – and New Zealand is striving to do more with it.”
During his visit to Seoul, Mr Peters met Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul.
“It was timely to re-connect with Foreign Minister Cho, and continue our dialogue on the major strategic challenges facing the Indo-Pacific and the wider world,” Mr Peters says.
“Our countries have a strong, shared focus on promoting a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”
The New Zealand and Korean Foreign Ministers reaffirmed the strong bilateral relationship, including our close cooperation on security, trade, and enduring people-to-people links.
“We look forward to enhanced collaboration with Korea as we work towards finalising a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Korea is New Zealand’s 4th largest trading partner, and we are looking for ways to further enhance our trade and economic links.”
During his visit to Seoul, Mr Peters also had a meeting in his capacity as Minister for Rail.
“We took the opportunity while in Korea to meet with ship building company Hyundai Heavy Industries,” Mr Peters says.
“It was good to acknowledge our long relationship. We are in a global search for new ferries, exploring a range of options, and will have more to say on this after Cabinet meets at the end of March.”
South Korea is the final of five countries that Mr Peters has visited on this trip, following the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China and Mongolia. He departs for New Zealand later today.
