Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Note: The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports. SEL5
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Tornado Watch Number 175 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 250 PM MDT Sat Apr 26 2025
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Tornado Watch for portions of Eastern New Mexico West Texas
* Effective this Saturday afternoon and evening from 250 PM until 900 PM MDT.
* Primary threats include… A couple tornadoes possible Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 3 inches in diameter likely Isolated damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible
SUMMARY…Isolated to widely scattered severe thunderstorms are forecast to develop this afternoon into the evening. Supercells capable of large to very large hail and possibly a couple of tornadoes will be the primary hazards.
The tornado watch area is approximately along and 60 statute miles east and west of a line from 50 miles northwest of Tucumcari NM to 45 miles south southwest of Hobbs NM. For a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU5).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings.
&&
AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to 3 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 450. Mean storm motion vector 27020.
…Smith
Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas. SAW5 WW 175 TORNADO NM TX 262050Z – 270300Z AXIS..60 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE.. 50NW TCC/TUCUMCARI NM/ – 45SSW HOB/HOBBS NM/ ..AVIATION COORDS.. 50NM E/W /43NW TCC – 19NW INK/ HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..3 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..60 KNOTS. MAX TOPS TO 450. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 27020.
LAT…LON 35680316 32070249 32070454 35680530
THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS FOR WOU5.
Watch 175 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.
Note: Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes
Probability of 2 or more tornadoes
Mod (30%)
Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes
Low (20%)
Wind
Probability of 10 or more severe wind events
Mod (30%)
Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots
Low (20%)
Hail
Probability of 10 or more severe hail events
Mod (60%)
Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches
Mod (60%)
Combined Severe Hail/Wind
Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events
High (80%)
For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.
SYDNEY, Australia, April 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — XenDex team has announced that its token presale has been filled by more than 20%, just barely 24 hours after the opening presale event. The crypto community is buzzing, and XenDex is at the center of it all. In just the first 24 hours of its presale launch, over 20% of the $XDX token allocation has already been sold, setting the stage for what many now predict could be a complete sellout within 10 days.
Investors, whales, and XRP enthusiasts alike are rushing to secure their allocation in what is quickly becoming the most talked-about DeFi project on the XRP Ledger. XenDex isn’t just another DEX, it’s the first to bring AI-powered copy trading, non-custodial lending and borrowing, and cross-chain interoperability to XRPL, wrapped in a user-friendly platform built for both DeFi veterans and Web2 newcomers.
With the first 20% already snapped up, and interest only accelerating, analysts are warning that remaining tokens may not last beyond the next few days.
Why XRP Community Are Rushing to XenDex
XenDex is offering unique real utility on XRPL like;
Non-Custodial Lending & Borrowing — Borrow and lend your XRP native tokens and XDX tokens to earn rewards
AI-Powered Copy Trading — Automate and mirror pro trading strategies
Cross-Chain Trading — Swap and trade your XRP tokens on other blockchain network like Solana, BNB, etc.
Thousands have already joined XenDex’s active community channels on Telegram and X (Twitter). As more investors rush in daily, the pressure on the remaining $XDX supply continues to build.
Crypto specialists are clear: if the current momentum holds, $XDX could be fully sold out within days. Early buyers not only lock in the best price but also position themselves for future rewards, staking opportunities, governance rights, and platform incentives.
Don’t watch from the sidelines — be part of the future of DeFi on the XRP Ledger.
Disclaimer: This is a paid post provided by XenDex.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.We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article.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.It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose.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.In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.
Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will launch another push on health on Sunday, announcing a re-elected Labor government would set up a free around-the-clock 1800MEDICARE advice line and afterhours GP telehealth service.
The service would be launched from January 1 and cost A$204.5 million over the forward estimates.
Albanese will tell a Melbourne rally that people would be able to call at any time to get advice from a nurse. If the problem couldn’t wait for their regular GP, they would be connected to a free GP telehealth consultation.
“Life isn’t 9 to 5. Neither is health care,” Albanese will say in his speech, an extract of which was released ahead of delivery.
People with a sick child late at night or an unwell elderly parent would know there was trained expert advice at the end of the phone.
“This will take pressure off people – and off public hospitals.
“And in conjunction with our plan to open 50 more Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, it will ensure that free urgent care is within a 20 minute drive away for four out of every five Australians and just a phone call away for every Australian.”
The present telehealth service is patchy depending on which part of Australia people live and doesn’t provide a weekend GP service.
With a number of Victorian seats in strong contention, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton also has a rally in Melbourne on Sunday. Federal Labor’s vote in Victoria has been volatile, first collapsing under the unpopularity of the state Allan government but recently reviving.
A small group of men from a boat that arrived illegally in remote northern Australia has been apprehended by Border Force. The men were first discovered by a commercial helicopter pilot.
They had written “SOS” in the sand and put up a flag. It is not known where they came from, or their circumstances.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement on Saturday, “We do not confirm , or comment on, operational matters.
“There has never been a successful people smuggling venture under our government, and that remains true.
“When someone arrives without visa they are detained and then deported.”
In 2022 the Liberals tried to exploit a boat interception on election day, by publicising it and sending text messages to voters.
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.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Every ACT Policing vehicle can enforce the road rules anywhere, anytime.
In Brief:
There will be more drivers on the road during the summer.
Road safety is a priority for the whole community.
This story outlines how to be safe on the road as well as penalties for driving offences.
As the festive season kicks off and you are planning holidays, road trips and celebrations it’s crucial to remember that road safety should always be a top priority.
Whether you’re travelling interstate or staying in Canberra keeping safety in mind can ensure a smooth enjoyable journey for everyone on the road.
Impaired driving
With more people celebrating during the summer months, driving under the influence of alcohol and/or illegal drugs is dangerous.
ACT Policing will have the power to immediately remove people who choose to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol by imposing immediate licence suspensions.
First time low-range drink drivers will receive an immediate fine. They will also receive a six-month loss of licence under the new infringement scheme.
In addition, a new combined drink and drug driving offence, for which penalties will be significantly higher than for separate drink and drug driving offences, will commence.
From 1 January 2025, roadside drug testing for cocaine will be in operation in addition to the current roadside drug testing for methamphetamine, MDMA or ecstasy, and cannabis that contains delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Every ACT Policing vehicle can enforce the road rules anywhere, anytime. So if you drink or take illegal drugs and drive, you can stop it…or cop it.
Plan your trip and take breaks
It’s important to plan your trip and take regular breaks. Plan to stop, rest, and stretch your legs to stay alert.
We know there will be more motorists on the road in summer, particularly on the Kings Highway. This is because Canberrans commute to holiday destinations on the south coast. No one wants to cause a serious crash or fatality that keeps families apart for the holidays so please:
put the phone away
slow down and drive to the conditions
be patient during expected periods of congestion
leave a safe distance with the vehicle in front
rest when tired.
Keep distractions at bay
Research shows that driver distraction increases the risk of an accident. Taking your eyes off the road for more than two seconds doubles the risk of a crash, with mobile phones often being the source of that distraction.
Leave your phone alone while driving. Mobile device detection cameras are in operation in the ACT and fines apply.
This Monday marks 80 years since Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was killed in an Italian village towards the end of the Second World War in 1945. The following day, his body was publicly desecrated in Milan.
Given the scale of Adolf Hitler’s atrocities, our image of fascism today has largely been shaped by Nazism. Yet, Mussolini preceded Hitler. Il Duce, as Mussolini was known, was Hitler’s inspiration.
Today, as commentators, bloggers and scholars are debating whether the governments of US President Donald Trump, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin are “fascist”, we can learn from Il Duce’s career about how democracies fail and dictators consolidate autocratic rule.
The early years
The term “fascist” itself originated around the time of Mussolini’s founding in 1914 of the Fasci d’Azione Rivoluzionaria, a militaristic group promoting Italy’s entry into the First World War.
Mussolini had been raised in a leftist family. Before WWI, he edited and wrote for socialist newspapers. Yet, from early on, the young rebel was also attracted to radically anti-democratic thinkers like Friedrich Nietzsche, George Sorel, and Wilfred Pareto.
When WWI broke out, Mussolini broke from the socialists, who opposed Italy’s involvement in the conflict. Like Hitler, he fought in the war. Mussolini considered his front-line experience as formative for his future ideas around fascism. His war experience led him to imagine making Italy great again – an imperial power worthy of the heritage of ancient Rome.
In March 1919, Mussolini formed the Fasci Italiani di Combattimento in Milan. This group brought together a motley collection of war veterans, primarily interested in fighting the socialists and communists. They were organised in squadristi (squads), which would become known for their black shirts and violence – they forced many of their targets to drink castor oil.
The political success of Mussolini’s fascist ideals, however, was neither instant nor inevitable. In the 1919 Italian elections, Mussolini received so few votes, communists held a mock funeral march outside his house to celebrate his political death.
The rise to power and the march on Rome
Fascism became a part of national political life in 1920-21, following waves of industrial and agricultural strikes and worker occupations of land and factories.
As a result, rural and industrial elites turned to the fascist squadristi to break strikes and combat workers’ organisations. Fascist squads also overturned the results of democratic elections in Bologna and Cremona, preventing left-wing candidates from assuming office.
The following October, fascists occupied the towns of Bolzano and Trento. The liberals, socialists and Italian monarchy were indecisive in the face of these provocations, allowing Mussolini to seize the moment. Mustering the fascist squads, he ordered the famous “march on Rome” in late October 2022 to demand he be appointed prime minister.
All the evidence suggests if the government had intervened, the march on Rome would have disbanded. It was a bold piece of political theatre. Nevertheless, fearing civil war — and the communists more than the black shirts — King Victor Emmanuel III caved in without a shot being fired.
Mussolini was made leader of a new government on October 31, 1922.
The consolidation of dictatorship
Like Hitler in 1933, Mussolini’s rule started as the head of a coalition government including non-fascist parties. Yet, with the repressive powers of the state now at his disposal, Mussolini exploited the division among his rivals and gradually consolidated power.
In 1923, the communist party was targeted with mass arrests and the fascist squads were brought under official state control as a paramilitary force. Mussolini began to use state powers to surveil all non-fascist political parties.
In the 1924 general election, with fascist militia menacingly manning the polls, Il Duce won 65% of the vote.
Then, in June, socialist leader Giacomo Matteotti was kidnapped and murdered by black shirts. When investigations pointed to Mussolini’s responsibility, he at first denied any knowledge of the killing. Months later, however, Mussolini proudly admitted responsibility for the deed, celebrating the fascists’ brutality. He faced no legal or political consequences.
The last nail in the coffin of Italy’s enfeebled democracy came in late 1926. Following an assassination attempt in which Mussolini’s nose was grazed (he wore a bandage for a time afterwards), Mussolini definitively banned all political opposition.
The “lesser evil”
Following his death in April 1945, Mussolini’s dictatorship was often portrayed as “dictatorship-lite”, a “lesser evil” compared to Nazism or Stalinist Russia. This narrative, bolstered by German crimes against Italians in the last months of the war, has understandably been embraced by many Italians.
Mussolini also pursued an imperialist dream by invading Ethiopia. Defying international conventions, Il Duce’s troops used chemical weapons and summary executions to quell acts of resistance. Over 700,000 Ethiopians are estimated by scholars to have been killed by the invaders, with around 35,000 forced into internment camps.
Italian Ca-111 bombers over Ethiopia in the 1930s. Getty Images/Wikimedia Commons
Mussolini’s fascists ran over 30 concentration camps from 1926–45, almost all of them offshore. Some 50–70,000 Libyans alone died in camps set up under Italy’s brutal colonial regime from 1929–34. Many more died through executions, starvation and ethnic cleansing.
Slovenian prisoner of the Italian Rab concentration camp. Archives, Museum of Modern History, Ljubljana/Wikimedia Commons
From late 1943, Italian fascists also participated in the rounding up of over 7,000 Italian Jews to transfer to Auschwitz. Almost all of them were murdered.
Following the war, even with Il Duce dead, few perpetrators faced justice for these atrocities.
Lessons for democracies after 80 years
The infamy of the crimes associated with the word “fascism” has meant that few people today claim the label – even those attracted to the same kinds of authoritarian, ethnonationalist politics.
Mussolini, even more than Hitler, can seem a bombastic fool, with his uniform, theatrical gestures, stylised hyper-masculinity and patented steely jaw.
Yet, one of the lessons of Mussolini’s career is that such political adventurists are only as strong as the democratic opposition allows. To fail to take them seriously is to enable their success.
Mussolini pushed his luck time and again between 1920 and 1926. As the wonderful recent teleseries of his ascent, Mussolini, Figlio del Seculo shows, time and again, the opposition failed to concertedly oppose the fascists’ attacks on democratic norms and institutions. Then it was too late.
Democracies mostly fall over time, by a thousand cuts and shifts of the goalposts of what is considered “normal”. Fascism, moreover, depends in no small measure on shameless political deception, including the readiness to conceal its own most radical intentions.
Fascist “strongmen” like Mussolini accumulate power thanks to people’s inabilities to believe that the barbarisation of political life – including open violence against opponents – could happen in their societies.
And there is a final, unsettling lesson of Mussolini’s career. Il Duce was a skilled propagandist who portrayed himself as leading a popular revolt to restore respectable values. He was able to win widespread popular support, including among the elites, even as he destroyed Italian democracy.
Yet, if the monarchy, military, other political parties and the church had attempted a principled, united opposition to fascism early enough, most of Mussolini’s crimes would likely have been avoided.
Matthew Sharpe has in the past (2013-17) received funding from the ARC to study religion and politics in the contemporary world.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke (9th District of New York)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 26, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT:
e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov
c: 202.913.0126
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement on the passing of Alexis Herman, the first African American to serve as U.S. Secretary of Labor:
“I am truly saddened to learn of the passing of my friend and Soror, Secretary Alexis Herman. Alexis was a faithful public servant, who devoted her entire being to the preservation and economic development of the Black community.
“Herman defied all odds, growing up in the segregated Jim Crow South to parents who were civil rights activists and educators, who helped lay the foundation for Alexis to become a change agent of social justice and a vocal opponent of inequality. She fought to desegregate schools in Mobile, Alabama, and worked with the Southern Regional Council to assist Black women to obtain managerial or technical jobs, and she would later become the youngest director of the U.S. Labor Department’s Women’s Bureau under the Carter administration. Before the term DEI, Herman would use her position to encourage large corporations, such as Coca Cola and Toyota, to diversify their workforce by hiring Black women.
“Alexis went on to become the first Black Secretary of Labor under the Clinton administration. During her time as Secretary, she was praised for handling the USPS labor strike, addressing child exploitation and labor laws, and increasing the minimum wage.
“Herman’s contributions to politics and the advancement of women are legendary. Her work alongside presidential candidates, her leadership under various administrations, and her tenacity to break gender and race barriers within the workplace have cemented Alexis Herman’s name in American History.
“My heartfelt prayers and condolences are with her family and friends, as well as the countless others she inspired over her lifetime of service and advocacy.”
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” – Matthew 25:23
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Lyons Oval playground is one of Canberra’s most recently upgraded playgrounds.
In brief:
Canberra has more playgrounds than any other state or local council in Australia.
This story includes a list of playgrounds that have been upgraded or built in 2024.
In Canberra, most homes are within 400 metres of a local playground. If you have kids, it’s likely you’re well acquainted with every playground near your home.
As Canberra’s population grows, there are more playgrounds all over town. Existing playgrounds are also updated to ensure they remain great places for local kids to play.
Read on to find out more about some of the playgrounds that were built or updated in 2024.
The upgraded Wakool Circuit playground now features:
a climbing tower
an area for toddlers
a frog sculpture
a nature play area with timber and stilt steppers
logs and carved boulders
seating, picnic table and shelter.
The swing frame has been retained but now has a toddler seat and a band seat. The existing rocker and combination unit have also been retained. The combination unit now has a new kaleidoscope panel.
This upgraded playground has had significant upgrades, including:
stone and timber steppers
an accessible spinner
a nest swing
a brown snake sculpture.
There is also climbing equipment for older children including climbing polls, a pommel walk and a vortex. You’ll also find picnic tables, shelter and seating.
This playground opened in 2022 and has quickly become a favourite among Canberra families. Upgrades including public toilets are planned for January 2025.
HONOLULU — Military and civilian leaders from across the Indo-Pacific region came together on April 25 to observe the Anzac Day commemorations in Hawaii to recognize the service and sacrifice of New Zealand and Australian service members in military operations.
Issued for ANGLE VALE near Ward Belt in the Northern Mount Lofty Ranges.
Warning level Advice – Avoid Smoke
Action Smoke from ANGLE VALE structure fire is in the Angle Vale and Ward Belt area.
Smoke can affect your health. You should stay informed and be aware of the health impacts of smoke on yourself and others.
Symptoms of exposure includes shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing, burning eyes, running nose, chest tightness, chest pain and dizziness or light-headedness.
If you or anyone in your care are having difficulty breathing, seek medical attention from your local GP. If your symptoms become severe, call 000.
More information will be provided by the CFS when it is available.
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 26, 2025.
80 years after Benito Mussolini’s death, what can democracies today learn from his fascist rise? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Sharpe, Associate Professor in Philosophy, Australian Catholic University Hitler and Mussolini in Munich, Germany, June 18, 1940. Everett Collection/Shutterstock This Monday marks 80 years since Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was killed in an Italian village towards the end of the Second World War in 1945. The
Samoan nun tells of ‘like a blur’ awesome meeting with Pope Francis By Susana Suisuiki, RNZ Pacific presenter The doors of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican have now been closed and the coffin sealed, ahead of preparations for tonight’s funeral of Pope Francis. The Vatican says a quarter of a million people have paid respects to Pope Francis in the last three days. Sister Susana Vaifale
Israel’s endgame for tormented Gaza is political and physical erasure COMMENTARY: By Nour Odeh There was faint hope that efforts to achieve a ceasefire deal in Gaza would succeed. That hope is now all but gone, offering 2.1 million tormented and starved Palestinians dismal prospects for the days and weeks ahead. Last Saturday, the Israeli Prime Minister once again affirmed he had no intention to
Trump signs ‘deeply dangerous’ order to fast-track deep sea mining An ocean conservation non-profit has condemned the United States President’s latest executive order aimed at boosting the deep sea mining industry. President Donald Trump issued the “Unleashing America’s offshore critical minerals and resources” order on Thursday, directing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to allow deep sea mining. The order states: “It is the
Election Diary: Dutton tops list of most distrusted, amid deepening voter cynicism about political leaders Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In this election, voters are more distrustful than ever of politicians, and the political heroes of 2022 have fallen from grace, swept from favour by independent players. A Roy Morgan survey has found, for the first time, that Australians are
Pacific editor welcomes US court ruling in favour of Radio Free Asia By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor The former head of BenarNews’ Pacific bureau says a United States court ruling this week ordering the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) to release congressionally approved funding to Radio Free Asia and its subsidiaries “makes us very happy”. However, Stefan Armbruster, who has played a key role in
This Monday marks 80 years since Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was killed in an Italian village towards the end of the Second World War in 1945. The following day, his body was publicly desecrated in Milan.
Given the scale of Adolf Hitler’s atrocities, our image of fascism today has largely been shaped by Nazism. Yet, Mussolini preceded Hitler. Il Duce, as Mussolini was known, was Hitler’s inspiration.
Today, as commentators, bloggers and scholars are debating whether the governments of US President Donald Trump, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin are “fascist”, we can learn from Il Duce’s career about how democracies fail and dictators consolidate autocratic rule.
The early years
The term “fascist” itself originated around the time of Mussolini’s founding in 1914 of the Fasci d’Azione Rivoluzionaria, a militaristic group promoting Italy’s entry into the First World War.
Mussolini had been raised in a leftist family. Before WWI, he edited and wrote for socialist newspapers. Yet, from early on, the young rebel was also attracted to radically anti-democratic thinkers like Friedrich Nietzsche, George Sorel, and Wilfred Pareto.
When WWI broke out, Mussolini broke from the socialists, who opposed Italy’s involvement in the conflict. Like Hitler, he fought in the war. Mussolini considered his front-line experience as formative for his future ideas around fascism. His war experience led him to imagine making Italy great again – an imperial power worthy of the heritage of ancient Rome.
In March 1919, Mussolini formed the Fasci Italiani di Combattimento in Milan. This group brought together a motley collection of war veterans, primarily interested in fighting the socialists and communists. They were organised in squadristi (squads), which would become known for their black shirts and violence – they forced many of their targets to drink castor oil.
The political success of Mussolini’s fascist ideals, however, was neither instant nor inevitable. In the 1919 Italian elections, Mussolini received so few votes, communists held a mock funeral march outside his house to celebrate his political death.
The rise to power and the march on Rome
Fascism became a part of national political life in 1920-21, following waves of industrial and agricultural strikes and worker occupations of land and factories.
As a result, rural and industrial elites turned to the fascist squadristi to break strikes and combat workers’ organisations. Fascist squads also overturned the results of democratic elections in Bologna and Cremona, preventing left-wing candidates from assuming office.
The following October, fascists occupied the towns of Bolzano and Trento. The liberals, socialists and Italian monarchy were indecisive in the face of these provocations, allowing Mussolini to seize the moment. Mustering the fascist squads, he ordered the famous “march on Rome” in late October 2022 to demand he be appointed prime minister.
All the evidence suggests if the government had intervened, the march on Rome would have disbanded. It was a bold piece of political theatre. Nevertheless, fearing civil war — and the communists more than the black shirts — King Victor Emmanuel III caved in without a shot being fired.
Mussolini was made leader of a new government on October 31, 1922.
The consolidation of dictatorship
Like Hitler in 1933, Mussolini’s rule started as the head of a coalition government including non-fascist parties. Yet, with the repressive powers of the state now at his disposal, Mussolini exploited the division among his rivals and gradually consolidated power.
In 1923, the communist party was targeted with mass arrests and the fascist squads were brought under official state control as a paramilitary force. Mussolini began to use state powers to surveil all non-fascist political parties.
In the 1924 general election, with fascist militia menacingly manning the polls, Il Duce won 65% of the vote.
Then, in June, socialist leader Giacomo Matteotti was kidnapped and murdered by black shirts. When investigations pointed to Mussolini’s responsibility, he at first denied any knowledge of the killing. Months later, however, Mussolini proudly admitted responsibility for the deed, celebrating the fascists’ brutality. He faced no legal or political consequences.
The last nail in the coffin of Italy’s enfeebled democracy came in late 1926. Following an assassination attempt in which Mussolini’s nose was grazed (he wore a bandage for a time afterwards), Mussolini definitively banned all political opposition.
The “lesser evil”
Following his death in April 1945, Mussolini’s dictatorship was often portrayed as “dictatorship-lite”, a “lesser evil” compared to Nazism or Stalinist Russia. This narrative, bolstered by German crimes against Italians in the last months of the war, has understandably been embraced by many Italians.
Mussolini also pursued an imperialist dream by invading Ethiopia. Defying international conventions, Il Duce’s troops used chemical weapons and summary executions to quell acts of resistance. Over 700,000 Ethiopians are estimated by scholars to have been killed by the invaders, with around 35,000 forced into internment camps.
Italian Ca-111 bombers over Ethiopia in the 1930s. Getty Images/Wikimedia Commons
Mussolini’s fascists ran over 30 concentration camps from 1926–45, almost all of them offshore. Some 50–70,000 Libyans alone died in camps set up under Italy’s brutal colonial regime from 1929–34. Many more died through executions, starvation and ethnic cleansing.
Slovenian prisoner of the Italian Rab concentration camp. Archives, Museum of Modern History, Ljubljana/Wikimedia Commons
From late 1943, Italian fascists also participated in the rounding up of over 7,000 Italian Jews to transfer to Auschwitz. Almost all of them were murdered.
Following the war, even with Il Duce dead, few perpetrators faced justice for these atrocities.
Lessons for democracies after 80 years
The infamy of the crimes associated with the word “fascism” has meant that few people today claim the label – even those attracted to the same kinds of authoritarian, ethnonationalist politics.
Mussolini, even more than Hitler, can seem a bombastic fool, with his uniform, theatrical gestures, stylised hyper-masculinity and patented steely jaw.
Yet, one of the lessons of Mussolini’s career is that such political adventurists are only as strong as the democratic opposition allows. To fail to take them seriously is to enable their success.
Mussolini pushed his luck time and again between 1920 and 1926. As the wonderful recent teleseries of his ascent, Mussolini, Figlio del Seculo shows, time and again, the opposition failed to concertedly oppose the fascists’ attacks on democratic norms and institutions. Then it was too late.
Democracies mostly fall over time, by a thousand cuts and shifts of the goalposts of what is considered “normal”. Fascism, moreover, depends in no small measure on shameless political deception, including the readiness to conceal its own most radical intentions.
Fascist “strongmen” like Mussolini accumulate power thanks to people’s inabilities to believe that the barbarisation of political life – including open violence against opponents – could happen in their societies.
And there is a final, unsettling lesson of Mussolini’s career. Il Duce was a skilled propagandist who portrayed himself as leading a popular revolt to restore respectable values. He was able to win widespread popular support, including among the elites, even as he destroyed Italian democracy.
Yet, if the monarchy, military, other political parties and the church had attempted a principled, united opposition to fascism early enough, most of Mussolini’s crimes would likely have been avoided.
Matthew Sharpe has in the past (2013-17) received funding from the ARC to study religion and politics in the contemporary world.
Washington/Sydney, Saturday 26 April 2025 — Greenpeace Australia Pacific has slammed Donald Trump’s support of deep sea mining as a ‘gross betrayal of the Pacific’ after the Trump administration signed an executive order advancing U.S. ambitions to launch deep sea mining in U.S. and international waters.
This rogue action is highly politically controversial for appearing to bypass the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the regulatory body set up by the United Nations to protect the deep sea as the common heritage of humankind and decide whether deep sea mining can start in the international seabed.
The Metals Company (TMC) – a deep sea mining company – recently declared its intention to work with the Trump Administration outside of the UN-established regulatory framework, to try to start mining in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the Pacific – a region that sits outside jurisdiction. The Executive Order instructs the Secretary of Commerce to expedite the process for reviewing and issuing exploration and commercial recovery permits under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA), breaking the longstanding tradition of the US being a good-faith actor on UNCLOS (The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea).
The order outlines that the Trump administration seeks to identify minerals for defence, infrastructure and energy purposes, and makes no mention of addressing the climate crisis.
Shiva Gounden, Head of Pacific at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said:“By authorising deep sea mining outside of international law, the Trump Administration is dressing up a disaster in a suit and tie, signing policies in boardrooms that will drown Pacific nations in financial, economic, cultural and environmental disaster. It’s neocolonialism with a letterhead.
“The Metals Company steam-rolled its way over multilateralism at the ISA and straight through the doors of Donald Trump, without a look back at the Pacific nations it is betraying. Pushing ahead with deep sea mining is a slap in the face to multilateralism, an insult to the UN’s regulatory body, and a gross betrayal of the Pacific.”
If approved, the plans could allow TMC to start mining in the CCZ – a region known for an abundance of polymetallic nodules – and threaten to derail years of negotiations between TMC and its sponsoring states including Nauru, Tonga and Kiribati.
“This move risks leaving Nauru, Kiribati and Tonga high and dry; TMC promised the people of Nauru jobs and prosperity from this agreement, saying that mining their waters would help fix the climate crisis. But it has taken the first chance it got to turn its back on Nauru and it will do the same to any other Pacific country. TMC is a money-hungry machine, using and abusing its Pacific partners without a care for the people, their cultural connection to the ocean, jobs, prosperity or the climate crisis,” Gounden said.
“Deep sea mining is piracy in policy – allowing governments to raid resources and leave wreckage behind. The Trump administration is looking for minerals to build weapons for America – not help the Pacific. This should be a warning to all Pacific leaders: the deep sea mining industry is not our friend, it is an industry of lies and betrayal. Pacific leaders must now unite to protect our Pacific Ocean and call for a moratorium on deep sea mining.”
According to The Metals Company, it will apply for permits “in the second quarter of 2025”, with reports stating intent to commence mining operations as soon as 2027. Gerard Barron, the Australian CEO of The Metals Company, has gone on the record with his company’s willingness and desire to bypass internationally agreed regulations, stating in reference to the ongoing negotiations at the ISA “by all means, go ahead and sign your treaty…we’ll be out there”.
Currently, 32 countries have backed a moratorium or precautionary pause on deep sea mining, including Tuvalu, Palau, Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Vanuatu and Samoa. Australia has not.
—ENDS—
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Kimberley Bernard on +61 407 581 404 or [email protected]
Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) released the following statements after introducing the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act to restore the refundable portion of the Adoption Tax Credit, which allows adoptive families to deduct up to $16,810 in qualified expenses By allowing the tax credit to be refundable, families will be able to access the full amount as a refund, even if the credit exceeds a family’s tax burden. The credit was previously refundable in 2010 and 2011.
“Offering permanent homes to adoptive children strengthens families and is a blessing,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act would reduce the financial burden of adoption and make adoption more accessible.”
Adoption is a true joy for families, but it is not without significant financial cost,” said Senator Cramer. “Our bill will make the credit refundable to help all adoptive families access the full amount of the adoption tax credit, regardless of their tax burden. Support for adoptive families is essential to ensure more children find the stable, loving home they deserve.”
“Minnesotans have a long and proud tradition of adoption to welcome children into safe and loving homes,” said Senator Klobuchar. “Our bipartisan legislation will allow more families to access the full adoption tax credit, helping ensure a smooth and successful transition for children and families. As co-chair of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, I’ll keep working to improve the adoption process and help every child find the permanent home they deserve.”
“For families across the country, adoption is a blessing that provides children with a loving, stable home,” said Senator Luján. “Families should not face steep financial costs for opening their arms and offering a permanent home to adoptive children. That is why I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act to lower the financial cost of adoption and help more children find loving homes.”
CO-SPONSORS
Senate co-sponsors include U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Angus King (I-Maine), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.).
The legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.), Blake Moore (R-Utah), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), Don Bacon (R-Nev.), Don Beyer (D-Va.), and Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.).
This legislation is endorsed by the Adoption Tax Credit Working Group Executive Committee and 100 national, state, and local groups.
Click here for bill text.
HOUSTON – A total of 237 more cases have been filed in immigration and border security-related matters from April 18-24, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
As part of those cases, 124 face allegations of illegally reentering the country with the majority having felony convictions such as narcotics, firearms or sexual offenses, prior immigration crimes and more. A total of 106 people face charges of illegally entering the country, five cases involve various instances of human smuggling with the remainder relating to assault of an officer or other immigration-related crimes.
As part of the cases filed this week, Carlos Verduco-Muniz faces charges of assault of a federal officer. He allegedly punched a Texas Military Department Specialist on the left side of his face during a pursuit to apprehend him near Rio Grande City. The charges allege he is a citizen and national of Mexico who was illegally present in the United States at the time of the assault.
Some of those charged with felony reentry include three men found near Roma. Jose Roberto Cuadro-Parada had just been removed in March and allegedly illegally returned. Yobani Garcia-Garcia and Benito Barrera-Martinez are both Mexican nationals who had previously been removed Jan. 10, 2025, and Sept. 18, 2024, respectively, according to the complaints filed in their cases. The charges allege Garcia-Garcia has a conviction for a previous illegal reentry, while Barrera-Martinez had been ordered to serve 60 months for intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana prior to his removal.
Another charged this week is Perla Elizabeth Arguelles-Trejo, a Mexican female found in the United States near Edinburg. She had previously been removed in September 2020 following her sentence for intoxication manslaughter with vehicle, according to allegations.
In addition to the new cases filed, a 27-year-old Mexican national unlawfully residing in Laredo was sentenced for assaulting and inflicting bodily harm on a Border Patrol (BP) agent. Guillermo Osto-Navarrete had picked up several illegal aliens after they exited the Rio Grande River. He then led authorities on a vehicle pursuit and broadsided a law enforcement vehicle, causing it to spin 180 degrees. A BP agent rushed to assist Osto-Navarrete and check for injuries. However, Osto-Navarrete struck the agent’s face and head several times in rapid succession while the agent was standing and after falling to the ground. The agent sustained a black eye, bruising to his head and face, scratches to his chin, lacerations on his hands–including a deep cut to one finger–and a scraped knee. Osto-Navarrete was ordered to serve 24 months in federal prison and is expected to face removal proceedings following his sentence.
Also announced this week was the sentencing of a 21-year-old Honduran man illegally residing in Houston for a robbery of a Family Dollar store. Carlos Gonzalez-Vargas had brandished a firearm and demanded cash from the register. When the employee did not act fast enough, Gonzalez-Vargas shot her in the leg. He will now serve 150 months for discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. At the hearing, the court heard he was affiliated with a gang, posted Instagram selfies with the firearm and fired the weapon at a 13-year-old child one month after the robbery. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the mandatory minimum sentence did not adequately address the seriousness of his conduct.
In Houston, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict against a Guatemalan national for illegally reentering the country without authorization. The jury deliberated for less than one hour before finding Leonardo Fernando Batz guilty as charged following a three-day trial. Testimony revealed Batz had been previously removed in 2007 and in 2020. Prior to his 2020 removal, he had illegally entered the United States by raft on the Rio Grande River.
The second ringleader in an international fraud scheme victimizing the elderly was also ordered to serve 46 months in prison this week. Hardik Jayantilal Patel, 37, illegally resided in Lexington, Kentucky, and was also ordered to pay a combined $3,203,478 in restitution to 85 identified victims. From March through November 2019, Patel led a team of domestic money mules aka “runners.” They laundered money tied to telemarketing fraud schemes originating from call centers in India.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – Homeland Security Investigations, ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations, BP, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX). Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The SDTX remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
DS630: European Union — Definitive Countervailing Duties on New Battery Electric Vehicles from China
China submitted its second request for the establishment of a dispute panel with respect to the definitive countervailing duties imposed by the European Union on new battery electric vehicles from China. The request also concerns the underlying investigation that led to the imposition of the duties. The EU had said it was not ready to accept China’s first request for the panel at a DSB meeting on 24 March .
China said it considers the EU measures inconsistent with various WTO provisions. It added that it was open to constructive discussions and remains committed to resolving the dispute within WTO rules.
The EU said it strongly maintains that its measures are entirely justified. The EU said it is confident it will succeed in this dispute
The DSB agreed to the establishment of the panel.
Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Norway, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States reserved their third-party rights to participate in the proceedings.
DS597: United States — Origin Marking Requirement (Hong Kong, China)
The United States again raised the matter of the panel ruling in DS597, which was circulated on 21 December 2022 and which the US appealed on 26 January 2023. The US said it was raising the matter again as a result of further developments in Hong Kong, China regarding free speech and human rights. The US referred to its previous statements regarding its position on essential security and its reasons for placing this item on the DSB agenda.
Hong Kong, China said it was disappointed that the United States continues to raise the matter at DSB meetings. It said the panel ruling in DS597 provided an impartial assessment and the interpretation of WTO agreements cannot be unilaterally rewritten by WTO members.
China reiterated its concern over the item being placed again on the DSB agenda. It said the security exception under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 is not entirely self-judging, as found by the panel in DS597 and six previous panels.
DS588: India — Tariff Treatment on Certain Goods in the Information and Communications Technology Sector
India and Chinese Taipei said they sought to continue engagement with each other for a resolution of this dispute. They again requested additional time for the DSB to consider for adoption the panel report circulated on 17 April 2023 in the case initiated by Chinese Taipei regarding India’s tariffs on certain high-tech goods.
The parties asked that the DSB further delay consideration of the panel report until 24 October 2025. The DSB had agreed to six previous requests from India and Chinese Taipei to delay consideration of the reports.
The DSB agreed to the latest requests from Chinese Taipei and India.
Appellate Body appointments
Colombia, speaking on behalf of 130 members, introduced for the 86th time the group’s proposal to start the selection processes for filling vacancies on the Appellate Body. The extensive number of members submitting the proposal reflects a common interest in the functioning of the Appellate Body and, more generally, in the functioning of the WTO’s dispute settlement system, Colombia said.
The United States said it does not support the proposed decision and noted its longstanding concerns with WTO dispute settlement that have persisted across US administrations. The US said the panel report in DS597 provided examples of its concerns regarding WTO dispute settlement overreach. The US reiterated that fundamental reform of WTO dispute settlement is needed and that it will reflect on the extent to which it is possible to achieve such a reformed WTO dispute settlement system.
More than 20 members took the floor to comment, one speaking on behalf of a group of members. Several members urged others to consider joining the Multi-party interim appeal arrangement (MPIA), a contingent measure to safeguard the right to appeal in the absence of a functioning Appellate Body.
Colombia, on behalf of the 130 members, said it regretted that for the 86th occasion members have not been able to launch the selection processes. Ongoing conversations about reform of the dispute settlement system should not prevent the Appellate Body from continuing to operate fully, and members shall comply with their obligation under the Dispute Settlement Understanding to fill the vacancies as they arise, Colombia said for the group.
Surveillance of implementation
The United States presented status reports with regard to DS184, “US — Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Products from Japan”, DS160, “United States — Section 110(5) of US Copyright Act”, DS464, “United States — Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Measures on Large Residential Washers from Korea”, and DS471, “United States — Certain Methodologies and their Application to Anti-Dumping Proceedings Involving China.”
The European Union presented a status report with regard to DS291, “EC — Measures Affecting the Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products.”
Indonesia presented its status reports in DS477 and DS478, “Indonesia — Importation of Horticultural Products, Animals and Animal Products.”
Next meeting
The next regular DSB meeting will take place on 23 May 2025.
NEWARK, Ohio, April 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Park National Corporation (Park) (NYSE American: PRK) today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2025. Park’s board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.07 per common share, payable on June 10, 2025, to common shareholders of record as of May 16, 2025.
“Our first quarter performance reflects our commitment to providing consistent financial support and a measure of predictability in dynamic market conditions,” said Park Chairman and CEO David Trautman. “In a world buffeted by extremes, our greatest opportunity to serve more is through continuing to build authentic relationships and showing up as a steady, reliable partner.”
Park’s net income for the first quarter of 2025 was $42.2 million, a 19.8 percent increase from $35.2 million for the first quarter of 2024. First quarter 2025 net income per diluted common share was $2.60, compared to $2.17 for the first quarter of 2024. Park’s total loans increased 0.9 percent (3.5 percent annualized) during the first quarter of 2025. Park’s reported period end deposits increased 0.7 percent (2.9 percent annualized) during the first quarter of 2025, with an increase of 2.3 percent (9.5 percent annualized), including deposits that Park moved off balance sheet as of March 31, 2025. The combination of solid loan growth and steady deposits continue to contribute to Park’s success in 2025.
“Our bankers’ ability to serve others well is reflected in our first quarter results,” said Park President Matthew Miller. “We’re deeply grateful for the trust our communities, customers and neighbors place in us every day. We look forward to growing these and new relationships, consistently delivering on our promises and expanding our impact.”
Headquartered in Newark, Ohio, Park National Corporation has $9.9 billion in total assets (as of March 31, 2025). Park’s banking operations are conducted through its subsidiary, The Park National Bank. Other Park subsidiaries are Scope Leasing, Inc. (d.b.a. Scope Aircraft Finance), Guardian Financial Services Company (d.b.a. Guardian Finance Company), Park Investments, Inc. and SE Property Holdings, LLC.
Complete financial tables are listed below.
Category: Earnings
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
Park cautions that any forward-looking statements contained in this news release or made by management of Park are provided to assist in the understanding of anticipated future financial performance. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those described in Park’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as updated by our filings with the SEC. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements.
Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ include, without limitation: (1) the ability to execute our business plan successfully and manage strategic initiatives; (2) the impact of current and future economic and financial market conditions, including unemployment rates, inflation, interest rates, supply-demand imbalances, and geopolitical matters; (3) factors impacting the performance of our loan portfolio, including real estate values, financial health of borrowers, and loan concentrations; (4) the effects of monetary and fiscal policies, including interest rates, money supply, and inflation; (5) changes in federal, state, or local tax laws; (6) the impact of changes in governmental policy and regulatory requirements on our operations; (7) changes in consumer spending, borrowing, and saving habits; (8) changes in the performance and creditworthiness of customers, suppliers, and counterparties; (9) increased credit risk and higher credit losses due to loan concentrations; (10) volatility in mortgage banking income due to interest rates and demand; (11) adequacy of our internal controls and risk management programs; (12) competitive pressures among financial services organizations; (13) uncertainty regarding changes in banking regulations and other regulatory requirements; (14) our ability to meet heightened supervisory requirements and expectations; (15) the impact of changes in accounting policies and practices on our financial condition; (16) the reliability and accuracy of assumptions and estimates used in applying critical accounting estimates; (17) the potential for higher future credit losses due to changes in economic assumptions; (18) the ability to anticipate and respond to technological changes and our reliance on third-party vendors; (19) operational issues related to and capital spending necessitated by the implementation of information technology systems on which we are highly dependent; (20) the ability to secure confidential information and deliver products and services through computer systems and telecommunications networks; (21) the impact of security breaches or failures in operational systems; (22) the impact of geopolitical instability and trade policies on our operations including the imposition of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs; (23) the impact of changes in credit ratings of government debt and financial stability of sovereign governments; (24) the effect of stock market price fluctuations on our asset and wealth management businesses; (25) litigation and regulatory compliance exposure; (26) availability of earnings and excess capital for dividend declarations; (27) the impact of fraud, scams, and schemes on our business; (28) the impact of natural disasters, pandemics, and other emergencies on our operations; (29) potential deterioration of the economy due to financial, political, or other shocks; (30) impact of healthcare laws and potential changes on our costs and operations; (31) the ability to grow deposits and maintain adequate deposit levels, including by mitigating the effect of unexpected deposit outflows on our financial condition; and (32) other risk factors related to the banking industry.
Park does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to publicly release the results of any revisions that may be made to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the events or circumstances after the date on which the forward-looking statement was made, or reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except to the extent required by law.
PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
Financial Highlights
As of or for the three months ended March 31, 2025, December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2024
2025
2024
2024
Percent change vs.
(in thousands, except common share and per common share data and ratios)
1st QTR
4th QTR
1st QTR
4Q ’24
1Q ’24
INCOME STATEMENT:
Net interest income
$
104,377
$
103,445
$
95,623
0.9
%
9.2
%
Provision for credit losses
756
3,935
2,180
(80.8
)
%
(65.3
)
%
Other income
25,746
31,064
26,200
(17.1
)
%
(1.7
)
%
Other expense
78,164
83,241
77,228
(6.1
)
%
1.2
%
Income before income taxes
$
51,203
$
47,333
$
42,415
8.2
%
20.7
%
Income taxes
9,046
8,703
7,211
3.9
%
25.4
%
Net income
$
42,157
$
38,630
$
35,204
9.1
%
19.8
%
MARKET DATA:
Earnings per common share – basic (a)
$
2.61
$
2.39
$
2.18
9.2
%
19.7
%
Earnings per common share – diluted (a)
2.60
2.37
2.17
9.7
%
19.8
%
Quarterly cash dividend declared per common share
1.07
1.06
1.06
0.9
%
0.9
%
Special cash dividend declared per common share
—
0.50
—
N.M.
N.M.
Book value per common share at period end
79.00
76.98
71.95
2.6
%
9.8
%
Market price per common share at period end
151.40
171.43
135.85
(11.7
)
%
11.4
%
Market capitalization at period end
2,451,370
2,770,134
2,199,556
(11.5
)
%
11.4
%
Weighted average common shares – basic (b)
16,159,342
16,156,827
16,116,842
—
%
0.3
%
Weighted average common shares – diluted (b)
16,238,701
16,283,701
16,191,065
(0.3
)
%
0.3
%
Common shares outstanding at period end
16,191,347
16,158,982
16,149,523
0.2
%
0.3
%
PERFORMANCE RATIOS: (annualized)
Return on average assets (a)(b)
1.70
%
1.54
%
1.44
%
10.4
%
18.1
%
Return on average shareholders’ equity (a)(b)
13.46
%
12.32
%
12.23
%
9.3
%
10.1
%
Yield on loans
6.26
%
6.21
%
5.99
%
0.8
%
4.5
%
Yield on investment securities
3.25
%
3.46
%
3.90
%
(6.1
)
%
(16.7
)
%
Yield on money market instruments
4.46
%
4.75
%
5.48
%
(6.1
)
%
(18.6
)
%
Yield on interest earning assets
5.85
%
5.82
%
5.66
%
0.5
%
3.4
%
Cost of interest bearing deposits
1.76
%
1.90
%
1.94
%
(7.4
)
%
(9.3
)
%
Cost of borrowings
3.94
%
3.86
%
4.25
%
2.1
%
(7.3
)
%
Cost of paying interest bearing liabilities
1.86
%
1.99
%
2.08
%
(6.5
)
%
(10.6
)
%
Net interest margin (g)
4.62
%
4.51
%
4.28
%
2.4
%
7.9
%
Efficiency ratio (g)
59.79
%
61.60
%
63.07
%
(2.9
)
%
(5.2
)
%
OTHER DATA (NON-GAAP) AND BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION:
Tangible book value per common share (d)
$
68.94
$
66.89
$
61.80
3.1
%
11.6
%
Average interest earning assets
9,210,385
9,176,540
9,048,204
0.4
%
1.8
%
Pre-tax, pre-provision net income (j)
51,959
51,268
44,595
1.3
%
16.5
%
Note: Explanations for footnotes (a) – (k) are included at the end of the financial tables in the “Financial Reconciliations” section.
PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
Financial Highlights (continued)
As of or for the three months ended March 31, 2025, December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2024
Percent change vs.
(in thousands, except ratios)
March 31, 2025
December 31, 2024
March 31, 2024
4Q ’24
1Q ’24
BALANCE SHEET:
Investment securities
$
1,042,163
$
1,100,861
$
1,339,747
(5.3
)
%
(22.2
)
%
Loans
7,883,735
7,817,128
7,525,005
0.9
%
4.8
%
Allowance for credit losses
88,130
87,966
85,084
0.2
%
3.6
%
Goodwill and other intangible assets
162,758
163,032
163,927
(0.2
)
%
(0.7
)
%
Other real estate owned (OREO)
119
938
1,674
(87.3
)
%
(92.9
)
%
Total assets
9,886,612
9,805,350
9,881,077
0.8
%
0.1
%
Total deposits
8,201,695
8,143,526
8,306,032
0.7
%
(1.3
)
%
Borrowings
270,757
280,083
295,130
(3.3
)
%
(8.3
)
%
Total shareholders’ equity
1,279,042
1,243,848
1,161,979
2.8
%
10.1
%
Tangible equity (d)
1,116,284
1,080,816
998,052
3.3
%
11.8
%
Total nonperforming loans
63,148
69,932
71,759
(9.7
)
%
(12.0
)
%
Total nonperforming assets
63,267
70,870
73,433
(10.7
)
%
(13.8
)
%
ASSET QUALITY RATIOS:
Loans as a % of period end total assets
79.74
%
79.72
%
76.16
%
—
%
4.7
%
Total nonperforming loans as a % of period end loans
0.80
%
0.89
%
0.95
%
(10.1
)
%
(15.8
)
%
Total nonperforming assets as a % of period end loans + OREO + other nonperforming assets
0.80
%
0.91
%
0.98
%
(12.1
)
%
(18.4
)
%
Allowance for credit losses as a % of period end loans
1.12
%
1.13
%
1.13
%
(0.9
)
%
(0.9
)
%
Net loan charge-offs
$
592
$
3,206
$
841
(81.5
)
%
(29.6
)
%
Annualized net loan charge-offs as a % of average loans (b)
0.03
%
0.16
%
0.05
%
(81.3
)
%
(40.0
)
%
CAPITAL & LIQUIDITY:
Total shareholders’ equity / Period end total assets
12.94
%
12.69
%
11.76
%
2.0
%
10.0
%
Tangible equity (d) / Tangible assets (f)
11.48
%
11.21
%
10.27
%
2.4
%
11.8
%
Average shareholders’ equity / Average assets (b)
12.64
%
12.47
%
11.74
%
1.4
%
7.7
%
Average shareholders’ equity / Average loans (b)
16.22
%
16.08
%
15.48
%
0.9
%
4.8
%
Average loans / Average deposits (b)
93.56
%
93.00
%
91.11
%
0.6
%
2.7
%
Note: Explanations for footnotes (a) – (k) are included at the end of the financial tables in the “Financial Reconciliations” section.
PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Income
Three Months Ended
March 31
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
2025
2024
Interest income:
Interest and fees on loans
$
120,648
$
111,211
Interest on debt securities:
Taxable
7,130
11,899
Tax-exempt
1,269
1,410
Other interest income
3,153
2,120
Total interest income
132,200
126,640
Interest expense:
Interest on deposits:
Demand and savings deposits
18,436
19,855
Time deposits
6,770
7,338
Interest on borrowings
2,617
3,824
Total interest expense
27,823
31,017
Net interest income
104,377
95,623
Provision for credit losses
756
2,180
Net interest income after provision for credit losses
103,621
93,443
Other income
25,746
26,200
Other expense
78,164
77,228
Income before income taxes
51,203
42,415
Income taxes
9,046
7,211
Net income
$
42,157
$
35,204
Per common share:
Net income – basic
$
2.61
$
2.18
Net income – diluted
$
2.60
$
2.17
Weighted average common shares – basic
16,159,342
16,116,842
Weighted average common shares – diluted
16,238,701
16,191,065
Cash dividends declared:
Quarterly dividend
$
1.07
$
1.06
PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share data)
March 31, 2025
December 31, 2024
Assets
Cash and due from banks
$
154,536
$
122,363
Money market instruments
83,078
38,203
Investment securities
1,042,163
1,100,861
Loans
7,883,735
7,817,128
Allowance for credit losses
(88,130
)
(87,966
)
Loans, net
7,795,605
7,729,162
Bank premises and equipment, net
66,327
69,522
Goodwill and other intangible assets
162,758
163,032
Other real estate owned
119
938
Other assets
582,026
581,269
Total assets
$
9,886,612
$
9,805,350
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Deposits:
Noninterest bearing
$
2,637,577
$
2,612,708
Interest bearing
5,564,118
5,530,818
Total deposits
8,201,695
8,143,526
Borrowings
270,757
280,083
Other liabilities
135,118
137,893
Total liabilities
$
8,607,570
$
8,561,502
Shareholders’ Equity:
Preferred shares (200,000 shares authorized; no shares outstanding at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024)
$
—
$
—
Common shares (No par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; 17,623,104 shares issued at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024)
459,529
463,706
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes
(34,659
)
(46,175
)
Retained earnings
1,002,110
977,599
Treasury shares (1,431,757 shares at March 31, 2025 and 1,464,122 shares at December 31, 2024)
(147,938
)
(151,282
)
Total shareholders’ equity
$
1,279,042
$
1,243,848
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$
9,886,612
$
9,805,350
PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
Consolidated Average Balance Sheets
Three Months Ended
March 31
(in thousands)
2025
2024
Assets
Cash and due from banks
$
127,229
$
143,714
Money market instruments
287,016
155,511
Investment securities
1,069,620
1,368,527
Loans
7,833,234
7,482,650
Allowance for credit losses
(88,825
)
(84,067
)
Loans, net
7,744,409
7,398,583
Bank premises and equipment, net
68,992
74,919
Goodwill and other intangible assets
162,938
164,137
Other real estate owned
918
1,088
Other assets
584,485
556,899
Total assets
$
10,045,607
$
9,863,378
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Deposits:
Noninterest bearing
$
2,578,838
$
2,569,030
Interest bearing
5,793,915
5,644,088
Total deposits
8,372,753
8,213,118
Borrowings
269,254
361,703
Other liabilities
133,341
130,373
Total liabilities
$
8,775,348
$
8,705,194
Shareholders’ Equity:
Preferred shares
$
—
$
—
Common shares
464,046
463,518
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes
(39,942
)
(67,343
)
Retained earnings
997,399
917,645
Treasury shares
(151,244
)
(155,636
)
Total shareholders’ equity
$
1,270,259
$
1,158,184
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$
10,045,607
$
9,863,378
PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Income – Linked Quarters
2025
2024
2024
2024
2024
(in thousands, except per share data)
1st QTR
4th QTR
3rd QTR
2nd QTR
1st QTR
Interest income:
Interest and fees on loans
$
120,648
$
120,870
$
120,203
$
115,318
$
111,211
Interest on debt securities:
Taxable
7,130
8,641
10,228
10,950
11,899
Tax-exempt
1,269
1,351
1,381
1,382
1,410
Other interest income
3,153
2,751
1,996
1,254
2,120
Total interest income
132,200
133,613
133,808
128,904
126,640
Interest expense:
Interest on deposits:
Demand and savings deposits
18,436
19,802
22,762
20,370
19,855
Time deposits
6,770
7,658
7,073
7,525
7,338
Interest on borrowings
2,617
2,708
2,859
3,172
3,824
Total interest expense
27,823
30,168
32,694
31,067
31,017
Net interest income
104,377
103,445
101,114
97,837
95,623
Provision for credit losses
756
3,935
5,315
3,113
2,180
Net interest income after provision for credit losses
103,621
99,510
95,799
94,724
93,443
Other income
25,746
31,064
36,530
28,794
26,200
Other expense
78,164
83,241
85,681
75,189
77,228
Income before income taxes
51,203
47,333
46,648
48,329
42,415
Income taxes
9,046
8,703
8,431
8,960
7,211
Net income
$
42,157
$
38,630
$
38,217
$
39,369
$
35,204
Per common share:
Net income – basic
$
2.61
$
2.39
$
2.37
$
2.44
$
2.18
Net income – diluted
$
2.60
$
2.37
$
2.35
$
2.42
$
2.17
PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
Detail of other income and other expense – Linked Quarters
2025
2024
2024
2024
2024
(in thousands)
1st QTR
4th QTR
3rd QTR
2nd QTR
1st QTR
Other income:
Income from fiduciary activities
$
10,994
$
11,122
$
10,615
$
10,728
$
10,024
Service charges on deposit accounts
2,407
2,319
2,362
2,214
2,106
Other service income
2,936
3,277
3,036
2,906
2,524
Debit card fee income
6,089
6,511
6,539
6,580
6,243
Bank owned life insurance income
1,512
1,519
2,057
1,565
2,629
ATM fees
335
415
471
458
496
Pension settlement gain
—
365
5,783
—
—
(Loss) gain on the sale of OREO, net
(229
)
(74
)
2
(7
)
121
Loss on sale of debt securities, net
—
(128
)
—
—
(398
)
(Loss) gain on equity securities, net
(862
)
1,852
1,557
358
(687
)
Other components of net periodic benefit income
2,344
2,651
2,204
2,204
2,204
Miscellaneous
220
1,235
1,904
1,788
938
Total other income
$
25,746
$
31,064
$
36,530
$
28,794
$
26,200
Other expense:
Salaries
$
36,216
$
37,254
$
38,370
$
35,954
$
35,733
Employee benefits
10,516
10,129
10,162
9,873
11,560
Occupancy expense
3,519
2,929
3,731
2,975
3,181
Furniture and equipment expense
2,301
2,375
2,571
2,454
2,583
Data processing fees
10,529
10,450
11,764
9,542
8,808
Professional fees and services
7,307
10,465
7,842
6,022
6,817
Marketing
1,528
1,949
1,464
1,164
1,741
Insurance
1,686
1,600
1,640
1,777
1,718
Communication
1,202
1,104
955
1,002
1,036
State tax expense
1,186
1,145
1,116
1,129
1,110
Amortization of intangible assets
274
288
287
320
320
Foundation contributions
—
—
2,000
—
—
Miscellaneous
1,900
3,553
3,779
2,977
2,621
Total other expense
$
78,164
$
83,241
$
85,681
$
75,189
$
77,228
PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
Asset Quality Information
Year ended December 31,
(in thousands, except ratios)
March 31, 2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
Allowance for credit losses:
Allowance for credit losses, beginning of period
$
87,966
$
83,745
$
85,379
$
83,197
$
85,675
$
56,679
Cumulative change in accounting principle; adoption of ASU 2022-02 in 2023 and ASU 2016-13 in 2021
—
383
—
6,090
—
Charge-offs
3,605
18,334
10,863
9,133
5,093
10,304
Recoveries
3,013
8,012
5,942
6,758
8,441
27,246
Net charge-offs (recoveries)
592
10,322
4,921
2,375
(3,348
)
(16,942
)
Provision for (recovery of) credit losses
756
14,543
2,904
4,557
(11,916
)
12,054
Allowance for credit losses, end of period
$
88,130
$
87,966
$
83,745
$
85,379
$
83,197
$
85,675
General reserve trends:
Allowance for credit losses, end of period
$
88,130
$
87,966
$
83,745
$
85,379
$
83,197
$
85,675
Allowance on accruing purchased credit deteriorated (“PCD”) loans (purchased credit impaired (“PCI”) loans for years 2020 and prior)
—
—
—
—
—
167
Allowance on purchased loans excluded from collectively evaluated loans (for years 2020 and prior)
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
678
Specific reserves on individually evaluated loans – accrual
—
—
—
—
42
44
Specific reserves on individually evaluated loans – nonaccrual
1,044
1,299
4,983
3,566
1,574
5,390
General reserves on collectively evaluated loans
$
87,086
$
86,667
$
78,762
$
81,813
$
81,581
$
79,396
Total loans
$
7,883,735
$
7,817,128
$
7,476,221
$
7,141,891
$
6,871,122
$
7,177,785
Accruing PCD loans (PCI loans for years 2020 and prior)
2,139
2,174
2,835
4,653
7,149
11,153
Purchased loans excluded from collectively evaluated loans (for years 2020 and prior)
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
360,056
Individually evaluated loans – accrual (k)
13,935
15,290
—
11,477
17,517
8,756
Individually evaluated loans – nonaccrual
47,718
53,149
45,215
66,864
56,985
99,651
Collectively evaluated loans
$
7,819,943
$
7,746,515
$
7,428,171
$
7,058,897
$
6,789,471
$
6,698,169
Asset Quality Ratios:
Net charge-offs (recoveries) as a % of average loans
0.03
%
0.14
%
0.07
%
0.03
%
(0.05)
%
(0.24)
%
Allowance for credit losses as a % of period end loans
1.12
%
1.13
%
1.12
%
1.20
%
1.21
%
1.19
%
General reserve as a % of collectively evaluated loans
1.11
%
1.12
%
1.06
%
1.16
%
1.20
%
1.19
%
Nonperforming assets:
Nonaccrual loans
$
61,929
$
68,178
$
60,259
$
79,696
$
72,722
$
117,368
Accruing troubled debt restructurings (for years 2022 and prior) (k)
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
20,134
28,323
20,788
Loans past due 90 days or more
1,219
1,754
859
1,281
1,607
1,458
Total nonperforming loans
$
63,148
$
69,932
$
61,118
$
101,111
$
102,652
$
139,614
Other real estate owned
119
938
983
1,354
775
1,431
Other nonperforming assets
—
—
—
—
2,750
3,164
Total nonperforming assets
$
63,267
$
70,870
$
62,101
$
102,465
$
106,177
$
144,209
Percentage of nonaccrual loans to period end loans
0.79
%
0.87
%
0.81
%
1.12
%
1.06
%
1.64
%
Percentage of nonperforming loans to period end loans
0.80
%
0.89
%
0.82
%
1.42
%
1.49
%
1.95
%
Percentage of nonperforming assets to period end loans
0.80
%
0.91
%
0.83
%
1.43
%
1.55
%
2.01
%
Percentage of nonperforming assets to period end total assets
0.64
%
0.72
%
0.63
%
1.04
%
1.11
%
1.55
%
Note: Explanations for footnotes (a) – (k) are included at the end of the financial tables in the “Financial Reconciliations” section.
PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
Asset Quality Information (continued)
Year ended December 31,
(in thousands, except ratios)
March 31, 2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
New nonaccrual loan information:
Nonaccrual loans, beginning of period
$
68,178
$
60,259
$
79,696
$
72,722
$
117,368
$
90,080
New nonaccrual loans
14,767
65,535
48,280
64,918
38,478
103,386
Resolved nonaccrual loans
21,016
57,616
67,717
57,944
83,124
76,098
Nonaccrual loans, end of period
$
61,929
$
68,178
$
60,259
$
79,696
$
72,722
$
117,368
Individually evaluated nonaccrual commercial loan portfolio information (period end):
Unpaid principal balance
$
51,134
$
58,158
$
47,564
$
68,639
$
57,609
$
100,306
Prior charge-offs
3,416
5,009
2,349
1,775
624
655
Remaining principal balance
47,718
53,149
45,215
66,864
56,985
99,651
Specific reserves
1,044
1,299
4,983
3,566
1,574
5,390
Book value, after specific reserves
$
46,674
$
51,850
$
40,232
$
63,298
$
55,411
$
94,261
Note: Explanations for footnotes (a) – (k) are included at the end of the financial tables in the “Financial Reconciliations” section.
PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
Financial Reconciliations
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS
THREE MONTHS ENDED
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
March 31, 2025
December 31, 2024
March 31, 2024
Net interest income
$
104,377
$
103,445
$
95,623
less purchase accounting accretion related to NewDominion and Carolina Alliance acquisitions
175
250
352
less interest income on former Vision Bank relationships
1,019
38
2
Net interest income – adjusted
$
103,183
$
103,157
$
95,269
Provision for credit losses
$
756
$
3,935
$
2,180
less recoveries on former Vision Bank relationships
(1,097
)
—
(953
)
Provision for credit losses – adjusted
$
1,853
$
3,935
$
3,133
Other income
$
25,746
$
31,064
$
26,200
less loss on sale of debt securities, net
—
(128
)
(398
)
less pension settlement gain
—
365
—
less impact of strategic initiatives
(914
)
117
(155
)
less Vision related (loss) gain on the sale of OREO, net
(229
)
—
121
less other service income related to former Vision Bank relationships
3
299
7
Other income – adjusted
$
26,886
$
30,411
$
26,625
Other expense
$
78,164
$
83,241
$
77,228
less core deposit intangible amortization related to NewDominion and Carolina Alliance acquisitions
274
288
320
less building demolition costs
—
44
65
less direct expenses related to collection of payments on former Vision Bank loan relationships
276
215
—
Other expense – adjusted
$
77,614
$
82,694
$
76,843
Tax effect of adjustments to net income identified above (i)
$
(126
)
$
(83
)
$
(104
)
Net income – reported
$
42,157
$
38,630
$
35,204
Net income – adjusted (h)
$
41,682
$
38,319
$
34,811
Diluted earnings per common share
$
2.60
$
2.37
$
2.17
Diluted earnings per common share, adjusted (h)
$
2.57
$
2.35
$
2.15
Annualized return on average assets (a)(b)
1.70
%
1.54
%
1.44
%
Annualized return on average assets, adjusted (a)(b)(h)
1.68
%
1.52
%
1.42
%
Annualized return on average tangible assets (a)(b)(e)
1.73
%
1.56
%
1.46
%
Annualized return on average tangible assets, adjusted (a)(b)(e)(h)
1.71
%
1.55
%
1.44
%
Annualized return on average shareholders’ equity (a)(b)
13.46
%
12.32
%
12.23
%
Annualized return on average shareholders’ equity, adjusted (a)(b)(h)
13.31
%
12.22
%
12.09
%
Annualized return on average tangible equity (a)(b)(c)
15.44
%
14.17
%
14.24
%
Annualized return on average tangible equity, adjusted (a)(b)(c)(h)
15.27
%
14.06
%
14.08
%
Efficiency ratio (g)
59.79
%
61.60
%
63.07
%
Efficiency ratio, adjusted (g)(h)
59.39
%
61.63
%
62.72
%
Annualized net interest margin (g)
4.62
%
4.51
%
4.28
%
Annualized net interest margin, adjusted (g)(h)
4.57
%
4.50
%
4.26
%
Note: Explanations for footnotes (a) – (k) are included at the end of the financial tables in the “Financial Reconciliations” section.
PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
Financial Reconciliations (continued)
(a) Reported measure uses net income
(b) Averages are for the three months ended March 31, 2025, December 31, 2024, and March 31, 2024, as appropriate
(c) Net income for each period divided by average tangible equity during the period. Average tangible equity equals average shareholders’ equity during the applicable period less average goodwill and other intangible assets during the applicable period.
RECONCILIATION OF AVERAGE SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY TO AVERAGE TANGIBLE EQUITY:
THREE MONTHS ENDED
March 31, 2025
December 31, 2024
March 31, 2024
AVERAGE SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
$
1,270,259
$
1,247,680
$
1,158,184
Less: Average goodwill and other intangible assets
162,938
163,221
164,137
AVERAGE TANGIBLE EQUITY
$
1,107,321
$
1,084,459
$
994,047
(d) Tangible equity divided by common shares outstanding at period end. Tangible equity equals total shareholders’ equity less goodwill and other intangible assets, in each case at the end of the period.
RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY TO TANGIBLE EQUITY:
March 31, 2025
December 31, 2024
March 31, 2024
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
$
1,279,042
$
1,243,848
$
1,161,979
Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets
162,758
163,032
163,927
TANGIBLE EQUITY
$
1,116,284
$
1,080,816
$
998,052
(e) Net income for each period divided by average tangible assets during the period. Average tangible assets equal average assets less average goodwill and other intangible assets, in each case during the applicable period.
RECONCILIATION OF AVERAGE ASSETS TO AVERAGE TANGIBLE ASSETS
THREE MONTHS ENDED
March 31, 2025
December 31, 2024
March 31, 2024
AVERAGE ASSETS
$
10,045,607
$
10,008,328
$
9,863,378
Less: Average goodwill and other intangible assets
162,938
163,221
164,137
AVERAGE TANGIBLE ASSETS
$
9,882,669
$
9,845,107
$
9,699,241
(f) Tangible equity divided by tangible assets. Tangible assets equal total assets less goodwill and other intangible assets, in each case at the end of the period.
RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL ASSETS TO TANGIBLE ASSETS:
March 31, 2025
December 31, 2024
March 31, 2024
TOTAL ASSETS
$
9,886,612
$
9,805,350
$
9,881,077
Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets
162,758
163,032
163,927
TANGIBLE ASSETS
$
9,723,854
$
9,642,318
$
9,717,150
(g) Efficiency ratio is calculated by dividing total other expense by the sum of fully taxable equivalent net interest income and other income. Fully taxable equivalent net interest income reconciliation is shown assuming a 21% corporate federal income tax rate. Additionally, net interest margin is calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis by dividing fully taxable equivalent net interest income by average interest earning assets, in each case during the applicable period.
RECONCILIATION OF FULLY TAXABLE EQUIVALENT NET INTEREST INCOME TO NET INTEREST INCOME
THREE MONTHS ENDED
March 31, 2025
December 31, 2024
March 31, 2024
Interest income
$
132,200
$
133,613
$
126,640
Fully taxable equivalent adjustment
607
617
616
Fully taxable equivalent interest income
$
132,807
$
134,230
$
127,256
Interest expense
27,823
30,168
31,017
Fully taxable equivalent net interest income
$
104,984
$
104,062
$
96,239
(h) Adjustments to net income for each period presented are detailed in the non-GAAP reconciliations of net interest income, provision for credit losses, other income, other expense and tax effect of adjustments to net income.
(i) The tax effect of adjustments to net income was calculated assuming a 21% corporate federal income tax rate.
(j) Pre-tax, pre-provision (“PTPP”) net income is calculated as net income, plus income taxes, plus the provision for credit losses, in each case during the applicable period. PTPP net income is a common industry metric utilized in capital analysis and review. PTPP is used to assess the operating performance of Park while excluding the impact of the provision for credit losses.
RECONCILIATION OF PRE-TAX, PRE-PROVISION NET INCOME
THREE MONTHS ENDED
March 31, 2025
December 31, 2024
March 31, 2024
Net income
$
42,157
$
38,630
$
35,204
Plus: Income taxes
9,046
8,703
7,211
Plus: Provision for credit losses
756
3,935
2,180
Pre-tax, pre-provision net income
$
51,959
$
51,268
$
44,595
(k) Effective January 1, 2023, Park adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2022-02. Among other things, this ASU eliminated the concept of troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”). As a result of the adoption of this ASU and elimination of the concept of TDRs, total nonperforming loans (“NPLs”) and total nonperforming assets (“NPAs”) each decreased by $20.1 million effective January 1, 2023. Additionally, as a result of the adoption of this ASU, accruing individually evaluated loans decreased by $11.5 million effective January 1, 2023.
SYDNEY, April 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — XenDex the first cross-chain decentralized exchange on the XRP Ledger, offering AI-assisted copy trading, non-custodial lending and borrowing, and seamless interoperability across blockchain networks is currently registering a huge token sale on the XRP ledger.
Within just six hours of presale launch, the XenDex presale has filled over 10% of its soft cap, signaling early momentum and notable participation from high-net-worth crypto investors. Whale activity continues to push the presale toward its next milestone as XRP holders position themselves for what many now see as the DeFi breakout project of the Ripple ecosystem.
The native utility token, $XDX, is rapidly gaining traction as one of the most in-demand assets on XRPL. With the presale soft cap nearly reached and capital flowing in from both whales and retail investors, $XDX is establishing itself as a top-tier DeFi token poised for aggressive growth.
This wave of investor confidence is fueled by XenDex’s unique value proposition, combining cutting-edge AI tools with traditional DeFi functionality, all built natively on one of the fastest, most scalable blockchain networks in the world.
What is the buzz around XenDex?
Unlike other DEXs on XRPL, XenDex delivers a full suite of next-gen features:
AI-powered copy trading and project vetting tools
Non-custodial lending and borrowing protocols
Cross-chain trading capabilities
DAO governance, staking, and access to exclusive token listing
XenDex is building a trusted DEX, giving $XDX holders priority access to the next waves of XRPL innovation.
With strong early traction, the XenDex presale is progressing quickly. Early adopters stand to benefit from staking rewards, voting rights, and priority access to future project launches. As the XRP ETF launch approaches and $XDX demand accelerates, entry points will only get tighter.
How to Join the $XDX Presale
Purchase XRP via trusted exchanges (Binance, Coinbase, etc.)
Disclaimer: This is a paid post provided by XenDex.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.We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article.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.It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose.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.In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.
Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.
World Malaria Day – 2025 Towards a Malaria-Free India
Posted On: 25 APR 2025 5:29PM by PIB Delhi
“Malaria has been a big challenge confronting humanity for four thousand years. Even at the time of Independence, it was one of our biggest health challenges. Today, I can say with satisfaction that the countrymen have collectively, strongly fought this challenge.”
Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi
Summary
World Malaria Day is observed globally every year on 25th April.
With an 80.5% decline in Malaria cases, between 2025-2023, India exited WHO’s High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) group in 2024, marking a global milestone.
Malaria deaths declined by 78.38% between 2015 and 2023.
122 districts reported zero malaria cases in 2023, showing strong localized impact.
Intensified Malaria Elimination Project (IMEP) -3targets159 high-burden districts to accelerate malaria elimination in vulnerable areas.
The nationwide “Test, Treat, Track” strategy ensures early detection and timely treatment.
India aims to achieve zero indigenous malaria cases by 2027 and full elimination by 2030.
World Malaria Dayis observed globally on 25th April each year, following its institution by the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) member states during the 2007 World Health Assembly. The theme for 2025, “Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite,” calls for renewed global commitment to end malaria through innovation, collaboration, and sustained action.
Once among the world’s highest malaria-burdened countries, India has demonstrated remarkable progress through sustained political will, grassroots participation, and targeted interventions. A defining milestone came in 2024, when India exited the WHO’s High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) group—
signalling a paradigm shift in the country’s malaria trajectory. Backed by the National Framework for Malaria Elimination (2016–2030) and the National Strategic Plan (2023–2027), India has aligned its strategy with global standards while tailoring solutions to local needs.
With an80.5% reduction in malaria cases and 78.3% reduction in deaths between 2015 and 2023, and over122 districts reporting zero caseslast year, the country is advancing with renewed momentum towards achieving zero indigenous cases by 2027 and setting a global benchmark in public health elimination efforts. India reaffirms its steadfast commitment to eliminating malaria by2030.
Overview of Malaria
What is Malaria? How does it occur?
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites and spread to humans through the bites ofinfected femaleAnopheles mosquitoes. It is common in tropical regions, but is preventable and treatable. Malaria does not spread from person to person, though it can also be transmitted through infected blood or contaminated needles. If left untreated, especially in cases of Plasmodium falciparum infection, it can lead to severe illness or even death within 24 hours.
What are its symptoms?
The most common early symptoms of malaria include fever, headache, and chills, usually appearing 10–15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Symptoms may be mild, especially in people who’ve had malaria before, making early testing essential for timely treatment. Severe symptoms can include extreme fatigue, confusion, repeated seizures, breathing difficulties, dark or bloody urine, jaundice, and abnormal bleeding. Some types of malaria can cause severe illness and death.
How can it be prevented?
Malaria can be prevented by avoiding mosquito bites and, in some cases, by taking preventive medicines. If you’re travelling to areas where malaria is common, consult a doctor about taking preventive drugs (chemoprophylaxis) in advance. To lower the risk of mosquito bites, use mosquito nets while sleeping, especially in areas where malaria is present. Apply mosquito repellents that contain DEET, IR3535, or Icaridin after dusk. You can also use coils, vaporizers, and window screens to keep mosquitoes away. Wearing long-sleeved clothing in the evenings helps protect exposed skin.
How can it be treated?
Early diagnosis and treatment are key to curing malaria and stopping its spread.Anyone with symptoms should get tested using microscopy or a rapid diagnostic test. Malaria is a serious illness that always requires treatment with medicine. The type of medicine used depends on the type of malaria parasite, the person’s age, weight, whether they are pregnant, and if the parasite is resistant to certain drugs. The most effective treatment for Plasmodium falciparum is Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACTs). Chloroquine is used to treat Plasmodium vivax in areas where it is still effective. Primaquine is added to prevent relapses in P. vivax and P. ovale cases. Most treatments are given in pill form, but people with severe malaria may need to be treated with injectable medicines at a hospital or health centre.
Global Burden of Malaria
According to the World Malaria Report, the estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 5 lakhs 97 thousand in 2023, compared to 6 lakhs in 2022.
In 2023, the 11 HBHI countries were responsible for 66% of global malaria cases and 68% of deaths.
India’s Commitment and National Goals
India remains steadfast in its commitment to eliminate malaria by 2030, with the intermediate target of zero indigenous cases by 2027. The strategic roadmap for this mission is guided by:
The National Framework for Malaria Elimination in India (2016–2030) outlines the vision, goals, and targets for phased malaria elimination.
The recently launched National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (2023–2027) builds upon earlier frameworks and aligns with the WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030.
Key Interventions and Strategic Approach by the Government for Malaria Control
To translate its malaria elimination vision into actionable outcomes, India has adopted a comprehensive, evidence-driven strategy. This approach integrates disease management, vector control, and community-driven interventions to ensure lasting impact and inclusive health coverage.
Strategies for elimination of Malaria:
Malaria surveillanceas a core intervention for malaria elimination.
Ensuring universal access to malaria diagnosis and treatment by enhancing and optimizing case management -“testing, treating and tracking”.
Ensuring universal accessto malaria prevention by enhancing and optimizing vector control
Accelerating efforts towards elimination and attainment of malaria –free status.
Promoting research and supporting the generation of strategic informationfor malaria elimination and prevention of re-establishment of malaria transmission.
Other Supportive Interventions
Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) for community mobilization. This includes mass media campaigns, community engagement, and leveraging local influencers.
Inter-sectoral convergence involving various ministries and stakeholders to address the socio-economic and environmental determinants of malaria.
Capacity building: Over 850 health professionals trained in 2024 and conducting studies on insecticide resistance and therapeutic efficacy.
The National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) 2016–2030 categorizes regions by malaria prevalence, with Category 3 – Intensified Control Phase targeting high-burden areas. This phase focuses on aggressive disease control, district-level planning, and specific strategies for P. vivax, supported by robust systems and resources to move towards elimination.
Intensified Malaria Elimination Project-3 (IMEP-3) targets 159 high-burden districts across 12 states, focusing on malaria-prone and vulnerable populations to accelerate elimination efforts.
Funding supports key interventions such as LLIN distribution, entomological surveillance, and data-driven monitoring systems to ensure sustained impact.
Integration of malaria services under Ayushman Bharat and delivery through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and Community Health Officers.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modihad lauded the community-led malaria control as a key driver in the 117th edition of the Mann Ki Baat programme on 29th December, 2024. These examples highlight the power of grassroots action in achieving a malaria-free India.
Conclusion
On World Malaria Day, India stands at a defining moment in its public health journey, transforming from a high-burden nation to a global exemplar in malaria control. This progress has been made possible through science-led strategies, resilient health systems, and the power of people’s participation. As the nation advances towards eliminating indigenous malaria by 2027 and achieving full eradication by 2030, the call to action is clear: we must reinvest in innovation, reimagine community partnerships, and reignite collective resolve. Under the banner of “Malaria Ends With Us” every effort counts—because a malaria-free India is not just a goal, but a shared responsibility.
Drivers are advised of an overnight closure on Highway 1 over the northbound Colquitz River Bridge from 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2025, until 9 a.m. on Sunday, April 27, 2025.
During the closure, northbound traffic leaving Victoria will be redirected to the adjacent southbound bridge. There will be one-way traffic in each direction on the southbound bridge while the northbound bridge is closed.
The closure is necessary for driver and worker safety while work advances to build the bus-on-shoulder lane on the bridge structure.
A reduced speed limit of 50 km/h will be in place and traffic-management personnel will be on site to guide drivers through the detour. Drivers are reminded to follow all signage and exercise caution in construction zones.
For up-to-date information about road conditions or any changes to the construction schedule, visit: https://www.drivebc.ca/
The proactive strategy addresses the risks of Ash Dieback disease on ash trees, located on Council-managed land and private land near public roads.
Ash Dieback is a destructive fungal disease that affects Ash trees and has been slowly spreading throughout the UK. The disease eventually causes brittleness of the wood, loss of tree limbs, and possibly killing the tree in severe cases. While there is no way to prevent the spread of the disease, actions taken to mitigate the spread now will help preserve ash trees in the future.
The council has a legal responsibility to take reasonable steps to prevent or minimise the risk of personal injury or damage to properties arising from trees on their ground.
Currently, the council manages approximately 30,000 trees on their land, where 1,900 are ash. In addition, around 7,500 roadside trees may be affected, and appropriate action will be required to maintain road safety.
The strategy, based on current industry best practice, outlines several key actions to manage ash dieback. It emphasises the importance of identifying and monitoring healthy or resistant ash trees to assess their level of resistance and preserve them where possible.
Additionally, it highlights the need to identify suitable areas for natural regeneration or replanting alternative native species that are part of the local ecosystem. Replanting of new trees will align with the forthcoming tree planting strategy.
Councillor Richard Watters, Convenor of the Climate Change and Sustainability Committee, said: “I welcome this forward-thinking strategy as it addresses the significant risks to our beautiful trees and protects our area’s reputation as Big Tree Country.
“Trees are not only vital for maintaining our natural heritage but also play a crucial role in flood prevention, enhancing biodiversity, and providing numerous environmental benefits.
“This strategy is a proactive step towards safeguarding our precious woodlands for future generations.”
With an allocation of £187,000, the Nature Restoration Fund aims to support projects in enhancing biodiversity across Perth and Kinross and address the critical drivers of biodiversity loss, including habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, and invasive non-native species.
Eligible projects must meet the fund’s purpose and themes, with a minimum funding request of £1,000. Projects contributing to the development or protection of nature networks will be prioritised.
Councillor Richard Watters, Convenor of Climate Change and Sustainability Committee said: “It’s been truly inspiring to witness the diverse range of projects that have flourished thanks to the Nature Restoration Fund. From enhancing water quality and freshwater habitats at Lunan Burn to planting and nurturing native wildlife flowers, creating thriving habitats for local wildlife in Errol, the impact has been remarkable.
“With around £175,000 invested in nature restoration projects last year, I’m eagerly anticipating the innovative ideas and proposals from community groups on how they can contribute to e tackling biodiversity loss in their local areas.”
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Alexander Lowie, Postdoctoral associate in Classical and Civic Education, University of Florida
Florida has attracted new residents since the pandemic, as well as a growth in conservative politics. iStock / Getty Images Plus
Florida has undergone a dramatic political transformation over the past decade from a swing state to Republican stronghold.
Florida’s recent congressional special election on April 1, 2025, showcased the state’s increasingly conservative identity, when Republicans won both congressional seats.
Still, Democrats felt hopeful about these results, since the two Democratic contenders lost by slimmer margins in the 1st and 6th districts than in other recent elections.
As a political anthropologist who has conducted fieldwork in central Florida, I’ve spent over five years tracking the growth of conservative political groups like the Proud Boys and Moms for Liberty, whose leaderships are based in Florida.
I’ve seen firsthand how conservative activist networks and the growth of culture war politics, among other factors, have reshaped Florida’s political identity.
Florida’s Republican state Sen. Randy Fine holds a victory party on April 1, 2025, in Ormond Beach, Fla. Joe Raedle/Getty Images
The state that stopped swinging
Although political strategists have historically considered Florida a swing state in presidential elections, it has consistently voted Republican since 1948.
It has only voted for Democratic presidential candidates five times since 1964, for Lyndon B. Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and twice for Barack Obama. President Donald Trump has won Florida three times in a row, most recently winning the 2024 election in all but six of Florida’s 67 counties.
The main battleground since 2000 has been the I-4 Corridor, which connects Tampa, Orlando and Daytona. In 2000, President George W. Bush won the corridor by 4,400 votes. Since Bush only won Florida by 537 votes, and thus the presidency, the area became a top priority for both political parties.
Some Democrats have said Florida’s political evolution happened gradually and then all at once.
In 2012, there were almost 1.5 million more registered Democratic voters than Republicans in Florida. In 2020, Democrats’ advantage dropped to about 97,000. And by September 2024, there were almost 1 million more registered Republicans than Democrats.
This assumption has hurt the Democratic cause because, for example, some Hispanic voters in Florida, like many Cuban Americans, have long favored Republican. In fact, Trump performed so well with Hispanics in Florida in 2024 that it was the only state in which he received more of the Hispanic vote than Kamala Harris.
In 2018, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis received Trump’s endorsement and went from being relatively unknown in the gubernatorial primaries to the Republican nominee. He ultimately assumed office in 2019.
Since then, DeSantis has successfully passed a slew of laws and policies reflecting the conservative values of what he saw as the new Floridian electorate.
With DeSantis’ approval, Florida’s state Legislature also blocked diversity, equity and inclusion programs in state colleges in 2023 and banned lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity for public grade school students that same year.
Some conservative political pundits and DeSantis supporters say that the governor’s COVID-19 policies are among the factors that have attracted newcomers to the state.
Almost 300,000 people moved from out of state to Florida between April 2020 and April 2021, equal to roughly 903 people relocating to the state each day.
The governor ordered Floridians to stay at home during April 2020, but many of his restrictions were lifted at the end of the month.
During my fieldwork in Florida from 2022 through 2024, I met multiple people who moved to rural parts of the state because they did not want their lives to be severely restricted during the pandemic.
One man in his early 50s stated, “During COVID my wife and I realized how screwed we were if things got really bad. We hated the lockdowns and got scared about not having enough food. If things got really bad, we didn’t want to trust other people, we wanted to be self-sufficient. So, we decided to get a place in the middle of the woods, on our own property, that we could go to if everything went to hell.”
This couple settled on moving from out of state to a rural area of Florida, where they thought they had the best chance of avoiding future lockdown restrictions.
As Florida lawmakers have continued to push conservative policies since the pandemic, Florida-based activist groups like Moms for Liberty have mobilized to support and expand them.
Moms for Liberty is headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, and is focused on reshaping public school curriculum to exclude what its members see as “woke” themes, like sexual orientation.
Florida has increasingly become a stronghold for other kinds of political activists, some of whom were instrumental in the Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021. Florida was home to 11.5% of the 716 people who were initially charged with participating in the Capitol riots.
The most notable of these Jan. 6 arrests is Enrique Tarrio, a Miami native who has served as the symbolic leader of the Proud Boys, an alt-right “Western chauvinist” group.
Alt-right activists are a minority of Florida’s conservative population. In my fieldwork, I have spoken to many Florida conservatives who did not identify with the Proud Boys or other alt-right groups – but were still sympathetic to many of their populist and conservative causes.
No longer in play?
Florida is now a major Republican stronghold with Floridians becoming increasingly prominent in national politics. Trump’s Cabinet has 23 people – 16 of them are connected to Florida.
These include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who served as a senator in Florida, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, who served as Florida’s state attorney general.
Though some Democrats may feel optimistic about the special election results, they have lost the Sunshine State, at least for now.
Alexander Lowie 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.
Healthcare professionals will start seeing patients at the Sydney River Health Centre next week as construction nears completion on the new home for several different clinics and services currently spread across Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
The Eastern Zone Hip and Knee Clinic, Cape Breton Heart Lung Wellness Centre and the Sydney Diabetes Centre will open in the new location on Monday, April 28.
“We’re changing healthcare across Nova Scotia by connecting health services and programs under one roof to deliver community-based comprehensive care,” said Addictions and Mental Health Minister Brian Comer, MLA for Cape Breton East, on behalf of Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson. “When all services are available and fully operational, the new health centre will have a capacity of more than 30,000 patient visits each year.”
Other services at the centre – Sydney and Area Community Rehabilitation Services and Coastal Family Health – will open by the end of June.
Family physicians with Coastal Family Health have accepted patients from retiring physician practices and will continue to accept new patients from the Need a Family Practice Registry when they have capacity.
The new health centre, at 1173 Kings Rd. in Sydney River, will include 31 exam rooms, a gymnasium, warm-up and cool-down rooms, education rooms and administrative offices.
Quotes: “The Sydney River Health Centre is designed to ensure patients receive the right care, at the right time, under one roof, and it is good to see that we are one step closer to that goal. In addition, having a new, modern facility is another tool we can use to attract new physicians to the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.” — Brett MacDougall, Vice-President Operations, Eastern Zone, Nova Scotia Health
Quick Facts:
Coastal Family Health is staffed by six doctors, three licensed practical nurses, a dietitian, social worker and physiotherapist; it is an example of a health home, where patients receive comprehensive care from a team of healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurse practitioners, dietitians, social workers and others
Sydney Diabetes Centre provides a variety of diabetes programs and services for patients
Eastern Zone Hip and Knee Clinic includes an orthopedic assessment clinic and rehabilitation programs to prepare patients for surgery
Sydney and Area Community Rehabilitation Services includes physiotherapy and occupational therapy
Cape Breton Heart Lung Wellness Centre includes cardiac and pulmonary rehab programs
Additional Resources: News release – New Collaborative Care Clinic Coming to Sydney River: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2024/08/21/new-collaborative-care-clinic-coming-sydney-river
Other than cropping, Province of Nova Scotia photos are not to be altered in any way
ACHESON, Alberta, April 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — North American Construction Group Ltd. (“NACG”) (TSX: NOA / NYSE: NOA) announced today that it has entered into an underwriting agreement to sell, pursuant to a private placement offering (the “Offering”), $225 million aggregate principal amount of 7.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due May 1, 2030 (the “Notes”). The Notes will be issued at a price of $1,000 per $1,000 of Notes. The Notes will accrue interest at the rate of 7.75% per annum, payable in cash in equal payments semi-annually in arrears each November 1 and May 1, commencing on November 1, 2025. The Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture to be entered into between NACG and Computershare Trust Company of Canada, as trustee.
NACG intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to repay indebtedness under its existing Credit Agreement, and for general corporate purposes.
The Notes are being conditionally offered for sale in Canada on a private placement basis pursuant to certain prospectus exemptions. The Notes have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act“), or any state securities laws, and are being offered and sold in the United States only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws and outside the United States in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act.
The Offering is being led by National Bank Financial Inc., including its U.S. affiliates, ATB Securities Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., TD Securities Inc., BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., CIBC World Markets Inc., Canaccord Genuity Corp., Raymond James Ltd., and Ventum Financial Corp.
Subject to customary closing conditions, the closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about May 1, 2025.
This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes, nor shall there be any offer or sale of the Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
About the Company
North American Construction Group Ltd. is a premier provider of heavy civil construction and mining services in Australia, Canada, and the U.S. For over 70 years, NACG has provided services to the mining, resource and infrastructure construction markets.
Forward-Looking Information
The information provided in this release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “should” or similar expressions and include guidance with respect to the Offering, including, but not limited to, the expected closing of the Offering and the use of proceeds of the Offering. The material factors or assumptions used to develop the above forward-looking statements, and the risks and uncertainties to which such forward-looking statements are subject, include, but are not limited to, the closing of the Offering, the anticipated closing date of the Offering and the expected use of proceeds of the Offering, interest rates and market conditions, heavy equipment demand, and credit risks and existing indebtedness. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements because of any number of factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond NACG’s control. Although NACG believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and NACG cautions you to not place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements. NACG undertakes no obligation, other than those required by applicable law, to update or revise such forward-looking statements. For more complete information about NACG, please read our disclosure documents filed with the SEC and the CSA. These free documents can be obtained by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov or on the CSA website at www.sedarplus.ca and on our company website at www.nacg.ca.
For more information, contact:
Jason Veenstra, CPA, CA Chief Financial Officer North American Construction Group Ltd. (780) 960.7171 ir@nacg.ca www.nacg.ca
GREENWICH, Conn., April 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oxford Square Capital Corp. (NasdaqGS: OXSQ) (NasdaqGS: OXSQZ) (NasdaqGS: OXSQG) (the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) announced today its financial results and related information for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.
On April 22, 2025, our Board of Directors declared the following distributions on our common stock:
Month Ending
Record Date
Payment Date
Amount Per Share
July 31, 2025
July 17, 2025
July 31, 2025
$0.035
August 31, 2025
August 15, 2025
August 29, 2025
$0.035
September 30, 2025
September 16, 2025
September 30, 2025
$0.035
Net asset value (“NAV”) per share as of March 31, 2025 stood at $2.09, compared with a NAV per share on December 31, 2024 of $2.30.
Net investment income (“NII”) was approximately $6.1 million, or $0.09 per share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared with approximately $6.0 million, or $0.09 per share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.
Total investment income for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 amounted to approximately $10.2 million, which was approximately the same as the quarter ended December 31, 2024.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2025 we recorded investment income from our portfolio as follows:
$5.5 million from our debt investments;
$4.0 million from our CLO equity investments; and
$0.7 million from other income.
Our total expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 were approximately $4.1 million, compared with total expenses of approximately $4.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.
As of March 31, 2025, the following metrics applied (note that none of these metrics represented a total return to shareholders):
The weighted average yield of our debt investments was 14.3% at current cost, compared with 15.8% as of December 31, 2024;
The weighted average effective yield of our CLO equity investments at current cost was 9.0%, compared with 8.8% as of December 31, 2024; and
The weighted average cash distribution yield of our cash income producing CLO equity investments at current cost was 16.0%, compared with 16.2% as of December 31, 2024.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2025, we recorded a net decrease in net assets resulting from operations of approximately $8.1 million, consisting of:
NII of approximately $6.1 million;
Net realized losses of approximately $12.2 million; and
Net unrealized depreciation of approximately $2.1 million.
During the first quarter of 2025, our investment activity consisted of purchases of approximately $16.0 million, sales of approximately $10.7 million and repayments of approximately $8.7 million.
Our weighted average credit rating was 2.2 based on total fair value and 2.3 based on total principal amount as of March 31, 2025, compared with a weighted average credit rating of 2.3 based on total fair value and 2.4 based on total principal amount as of December 31, 2024.
As of March 31, 2025, our preferred equity investments in one of our portfolio companies were on non-accrual status, which had an aggregate fair value of approximately $3.9 million.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2025, we issued a total of approximately 1.3 million shares of common stock pursuant to an “at-the-market” offering. After deducting the sales agent’s commissions and offering expenses, this resulted in net proceeds of approximately $3.5 million. As of March 31, 2025, we had approximately 71.2 million shares of common stock outstanding.
We will hold a conference call to discuss first quarter results today, Friday, April 25th, 2025 at 9:00 AM ET. The toll-free dial-in number is 1-800-549-8228 and the conference identification number is 26294. There will be a recording available for 30 days. If you are interested in hearing the recording, please dial 1-888-660-6264. The replay pass-code number is 26294#.
A presentation containing further detail regarding our quarterly results of operations has been posted under the Investor Relations section of our website at www.oxfordsquarecapital.com.
OXFORD SQUARE CAPITAL CORP.
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
March 31, 2025
December 31, 2024
(unaudited)
ASSETS
Non-affiliated/non-control investments (cost: $342,775,122 and $358,356,496, respectively)
$
239,291,367
$
256,238,759
Affiliated investments (cost: $16,814,586 and $16,836,822, respectively)
3,890,986
4,614,100
Cash and cash equivalents
37,252,672
34,926,468
Interest and distributions receivable
2,426,368
2,724,049
Securities sold not settled
1,589,875
—
Other assets
1,039,370
1,227,598
Total assets
$
285,490,638
$
299,730,974
LIABILITIES
Notes payable – 6.25% Unsecured Notes, net of deferred issuance costs of $252,321 and $309,812, respectively
$
44,538,429
$
44,480,938
Notes payable – 5.50% Unsecured Notes, net of deferred issuance costs of $1,286,553 and $1,381,619 respectively
79,213,447
79,118,381
Securities purchased not settled
9,516,875
12,027,463
Base Fee and Net Investment Income Incentive Fee payable to affiliate
1,058,784
1,215,964
Accrued interest payable
1,204,487
1,204,487
Accrued expenses
1,076,306
1,018,261
Total liabilities
136,608,328
139,065,494
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
NET ASSETS
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 71,187,166 and 69,758,938 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
711,872
697,590
Capital in excess of par value
491,617,243
487,943,476
Total distributable earnings/(accumulated losses)
(343,446,805
)
(327,975,586
)
Total net assets
148,882,310
160,665,480
Total liabilities and net assets
$
285,490,638
$
299,730,974
Net asset value per common share
$
2.09
$
2.30
OXFORD SQUARE CAPITAL CORP.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2025
Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
INVESTMENT INCOME
From non-affiliated/non-control investments:
Interest income – debt investments
$
5,534,755
$
6,421,047
Income from securitization vehicles and investments
3,956,053
3,932,374
Other income
670,242
324,003
Total investment income from non-affiliated/non-control investments
10,161,050
10,677,424
Total investment income
10,161,050
10,677,424
EXPENSES
Interest expense
1,959,287
1,960,982
Base Fee
1,058,785
987,816
Professional fees
323,452
311,747
Compensation expense
239,577
206,898
General and administrative
355,259
346,625
Excise tax
120,816
325,800
Total expenses before incentive fees
4,057,176
4,139,868
Net Investment Income Incentive Fees
—
—
Total incentive fees
—
—
Total expenses
4,057,176
4,139,868
Net investment income
6,103,874
6,537,556
NET UNREALIZED (DEPRECIATION)/APPRECIATION AND REALIZED LOSSES ON INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS
Net change in unrealized (depreciation)/appreciation on investments:
Non-Affiliate/non-control investments
(1,366,018
)
145,111
Affiliated investments
(700,878
)
(356,117
)
Total net change in unrealized depreciation on investments
(2,066,896
)
(211,006
)
Net realized losses:
Non-affiliated/non-control investments
(12,158,495
)
(8,094,940
)
Total net realized losses
(12,158,495
)
(8,094,940
)
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations
$
(8,121,517
)
$
(1,768,390
)
Net increase in net assets resulting from net investment income per common share (Basic and Diluted):
$
0.09
$
0.11
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations per common share (Basic and Diluted):
$
(0.12
)
$
(0.03
)
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding (Basic and Diluted):
69,984,752
59,639,285
Distributions per share
$
0.105
$
0.105
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2025
Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
Per Share Data
Net asset value at beginning of period
$
2.30
$
2.55
Net investment income(1)
0.09
0.11
Net realized and unrealized losses(2)
(0.20
)
(0.13
)
Net decrease in net asset value from operations
(0.11
)
(0.02
)
Distributions per share from net investment income
(0.11
)
(0.11
)
Tax return of capital distributions(3)
—
—
Total distributions
(0.11
)
(0.11
)
Effect of shares issued/repurchased, gross
0.01
—
Net asset value at end of period
$
2.09
$
2.42
Per share market value at beginning of period
$
2.44
$
2.86
Per share market value at end of period
$
2.61
$
3.17
Total return based on Market Value(4)
11.39
%
14.63
%
Total return based on Net Asset Value(5)
(4.57
)%
(0.98
)%
Shares outstanding at end of period
71,187,166
59,672,337
Ratios/Supplemental Data(8)
Net assets at end of period (000’s)
$
148,882
$
144,340
Average net assets (000’s)
$
153,493
$
148,260
Ratio of expenses to average net assets(6)
10.57
%
11.17
%
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets(6)
15.91
%
17.64
%
Portfolio turnover rate(7)
6.26
%
3.09
%
____________
(1)
Represents per share net investment income for the period, based upon weighted average shares outstanding.
(2)
Net realized and unrealized losses include rounding adjustments to reconcile change in net asset value per share.
(3)
Management monitors available taxable earnings, including net investment income and realized capital gains, to determine if a tax return of capital may occur for the year. To the extent the Company’s taxable earnings fall below the total amount of the Company’s distributions for that fiscal year, a portion of those distributions may be deemed a tax return of capital to the Company’s stockholders. The ultimate tax character of the Company’s earnings cannot be determined until tax returns are prepared after the end of the fiscal year. The amounts and sources of distributions reported are only estimates (based on an average of the reported tax character historically) and are not being provided for U.S. tax reporting purposes.
(4)
Total return based on market value equals the increase or decrease of ending market value over beginning market value, plus distributions, divided by the beginning market value, assuming distribution reinvestment prices obtained under the Company’s distribution reinvestment plan. Total return is not annualized.
(5)
Total return based on net asset value equals the increase or decrease of ending net asset value over beginning net asset value, plus distributions, divided by the beginning net asset value. Total return is not annualized.
(6)
Annualized and includes excise tax.
(7)
Portfolio turnover rate is calculated using the lesser of the year-to-date investment sales and debt repayments or year-to-date investment purchases over the average of the total investments at fair value.
(8)
The following table provides supplemental performance ratios (annualized) measured for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024:
Three Months Ended March 31, 2025
Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
Operating expenses before incentive fees
10.57
%
11.17
%
Net investment income incentive fees
—
%
—
%
Ratio of expenses, excluding interest expense to average net assets
5.47
%
5.88
%
About Oxford Square Capital Corp.
Oxford Square Capital Corp. is a publicly-traded business development company principally investing in syndicated bank loans and, to a lesser extent, debt and equity tranches of collateralized loan obligation (“CLO”) vehicles. CLO investments may also include warehouse facilities, which are financing structures intended to aggregate loans that may be used to form the basis of a CLO vehicle.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates” and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Certain factors could cause actual results and conditions to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. These factors are identified from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect subsequent events, except as may be required by law.
For centuries, labyrinths have served as symbols of personal journeys, struggles, and triumphs. In addition to being the setting for classic myths, labyrinths are also a place where, with each thoughtful step, one can wander and process topics weighing heavily on the mind.
UConn Department of SociologyProfessor-in-ResidencePhoebe Godfrey,Department of Geography, Sustainability, Community and Urban StudiesProfessorCarol Atkinson-Palombo, and students recently installed a temporary labyrinth on campus to raise awareness for the possibility of a permanent remembrance labyrinth on the Storrs campus. The temporary chalk labyrinth can be found in between the Austin Building and Beach Hall until the next rain.
Godfrey is inspired to advocate for a future labyrinth as a place on campus where people can gather, and temporary labyrinths are a great way to share the idea and purpose of the project. “My classes are all linked to helping students connect more deeply with their bodies, and the Earth as part of their and planetary well-being, and labyrinths are a great way to do this,” says Godfrey. “Many other schools have built them for similar reasons, including a small one at Eastern Connecticut State University.”
After the success of thebuddy bench project, Godfrey connected with UConn’s Director of Site Planning & University Landscape ArchitectSean Vasingtonwith the idea.
Alanna Torres-Laboy ’23 (CLAS), ’25 MA, a graduate assistant in UConn’s Dean of Students Office, walks on the temporary labyrinth set up on the Founders Green on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (Sydney Herdle/UConn Photo)
“For decades prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and since, health care providers have emphasized the importance of natural and built environments and their influence on our overall health and wellbeing, recommending nature-based programs as one way to help alleviate stress,” Vasington says. “There is also a strong connection between the quality of the conditions and features of a campus landscape and the mental health of students, including their ability to perform to their full potential academically. UConn is fortunate to have beautiful, open grounds and forests with ample walking paths and communal sitting areas; however it can also benefit from more quiet, reflective spaces within the campus core that connect us to nature. The proposed garden and labyrinth will do just that.”
Godfrey also attended a conference and met with educators at the University of Massachusetts who are working toward buildinga permanent installation on their campus. The UMass project has been underway for almost 10 years, and was bolstered by a study that suggested that labyrinth walking can lower blood pressure and pulse rate and increase overall satisfaction.
As with the current labyrinth installation, in Spring 2024 a temporary labyrinth was constructed between the Austin Building and Beach Hall for Earth Day. The installation included a journal for participants to share their thoughts or reflections, and the response was greater than anticipated.
Godfrey says around 25 people who visited the labyrinth last year wrote in the journal about their positive experiences interacting with the labyrinth.
“The diverse and yet collectively positive impact of labyrinths on university students has been documented,” says Godfrey. “Positive impacts include mental health and well-being, connecting walkers to a sense of place, sacredness and an ancient practice, and offering opportunities for lessons in contemplation and self-care. These claims were and continue to be supported by our student testimonies.”
Ella Barnett ‘24 (CLAS) helped with the construction of the labyrinth last spring and came back this year as an alum to help and document this year’s labyrinth through photography.
“It has been beautiful to watch the labyrinth come to life for the second year in a row. I am grateful that it is able to create a space where individuals have an excuse to connect on the simplest terms, being a human with thought on Earth,” says Barnett.
Eduen Smith ’25 (CLAS) also helped construct this spring’s labyrinth.
“This pop-up labyrinth is linked to a pop-up class from last fall based on the book ‘All We Can Save.’ The signs you see at the labyrinth were made by the students in class. They showcase some excerpts from various pieces in the book,” says Smith. “For me, this labyrinth is an example of how our students should be supported. A labyrinth is a simple creation that can impact folx’s mental health in profoundly positive ways. It’d also be a great permanent addition to our campus and even help beautify it!”
Though the spring installation was created with spray paint, other types of temporary labyrinths can be projected by light, constructed with yarn, or made of canvas or any other material — the creative possibilities are endless.
The potential project was granted space behind Arjona and engineered a few years ago, but to make it happen, Godfrey says, new momentum must be generated by recognizing the value of such ancient practice for our students now and into the future.
“The next challenge is to raise funding to complete the design and installation. Based on the success of the previous temporary installation, we hope this Spring installation will continue to build awareness and support for our permanent version,” says Godfrey.
When the weather is nice, people gather around Mirror Lake or Swan Lake, and landmarks like the formerbeloved Swing Treeand the buddy benches serve as areas where people can sit and enjoy the scenery. The labyrinth project’s collaborators hope the plan goes forward so the labyrinth can be another place on campus where students can hang out and enjoy the outdoors. In the meantime, to alleviate the end-of-semester stress, spend some time decompressing while you explore the latest temporary labyrinth installation.
The importance of decompressing and living in the moment is illustrated by a quote from a student who left a reflection of their time in the labyrinth in the journal:
“My intention entering the labyrinth was to let go of this sense of hopelessness that has taken over me recently. As I took a stone, I prepared my body to take a breath and begin the walk. As I walked through the labyrinth, I imagined each hopeless thought as a stone that was weighing me down that dropped from my shoulders with every step I took. Finally, as I reached the center of the labyrinth, I placed the stone in the middle, symbolizing my own ‘pilgrimage for hope’. I felt connected to the Earth.”
In this age of artificial intelligence, data tampering and genetic manipulation, it seems that the nature of fraud and deception in competitive sport is becoming increasingly sophisticated. So, it seems almost surprising to see cheating in sport take a relatively old-fashioned form of late: tampering with equipment.
Yet that’s precisely what unfolded last month in ski jumping, a winter sport whereby athletes soar down a ramp, take flight and aim to maximise both distance and technique. Over the last few months, several ski jumpers and their management have been suspended from the sport due to the intentional illegal tampering and modification of the suits they wear.
The case first came to light during the 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships held in Trondheim in March. Two Norwegian athletes, Marius Lindvik and Johann Andre Forfang, were subsequently disqualified from the men’s large hill event due to allegations of illegal ski jump suit manipulation with the intention of improving their performance.
Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.
A subsequent investigation revealed that their ski suits had been illegally altered. In response, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) provisionally suspended the two athletes, along with three Norwegian national team officials – including the head coach and their equipment manager. Both athletes ultimately admitted the illegal alterations.
The scandal then intensified as FIS expanded its investigation which then subsequently led to the suspension of three other Norwegian ski jumpers. Several members of the team were all found to have been involved in the decision to modify the suits for the championships.
This wasn’t the sport’s first brush with controversy surrounding its suits. At the 2022 Winter Olympics, several jumpers there were disqualified for wearing suits that were deemed too large, again raising concerns about fairness.
What did the cheating intend to achieve?
A successful ski jump can be divided into several phases: in-run, take-off, early flight, stable flight, landing preparation, and landing. The suit contributes to enhancing the performance in all of these phases by directly affecting the aerodynamics and flight characteristics of the athlete. As a result, the size and shape of the suit is heavily regulated.
In the case of this scandal, the Norwegian Ski Federation general manager told a news conference that a reinforced thread or an extra seam had been put in the jumpsuits of the first two athletes that were suspended.
This additional material was inserted into the crotch area of the suits, increasing the surface area and stiffness, potentially providing extra lift during a jump’s flight phases. This extra lift would essentially translate into an increase in flight time and therefore a potential increase in the jumping distance. These modifications were not detectable through standard visual inspection and were only discovered upon detailed examination of the suits by then tearing them open.
Of course, cheating in sport is not a new phenomenon. However, in some cases, such controversies are not cheating per se, but merely new technologies emerging that challenge our perceptions of a sport and its values.
Some examples of this were the use of full-body swimsuits at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, or the potential use of prosthetic legs in track athletics at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
However, sometimes cheating can occur whereby sports equipment is intentionally modified physically to provide a competitive advantage. A recent example of this is the Australian cricket ball tampering scandal in 2018 where balls were intentionally scuffed by players to change their behaviour when bowled.
Improving a piece of sports equipment to increase its performance is the field of mechanical ergogenics, or, when illicitly performed, colloquially known as “technodoping”.
Some consider that the physical capabilities of athletes in some sports have now plateaued to the extent that any future improvements in performance will need to rely predominantly on technological innovation. So perhaps it can be understood why the suits were targeted in this particular sport.
In April 2025, the FIS decided to lift the provisional suspensions of the five Norwegian athletes under investigation for suspected involvement in suit tampering because it is the competitive off-season.
However, the ban for the officials involved remains in place. In the wake of the scandal, FIS has now implemented stricter regulations to prevent future instances of equipment manipulation. These key measures included limiting athletes to a single, pre-approved suit for the year’s competitions, and the FIS storing and inspecting all suits.
These reforms aim to uphold the integrity of ski jumping and will hopefully restore confidence in the sport itself. The 2025 scandal stands as a clear reminder that in the pursuit of victory, sports must remain vigilant – because when innovation outpaces fair play, integrity is the first casualty.
Bryce Dyer 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.
Gladstone Pottery Museum is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its official opening.
The former Victorian pottery factory in Longton – which attracts thousands of visitors every year – was officially opened on 24 April 1975 by Prince Richard, The Duke of Gloucester.
And it will be a double celebration as the city celebrates its Centenary with a year-long programme of events. Visitors to the historic museum can now view the bird baths created by potters in episode seven of Channel 4’s The Great Pottery Throw Down. The six items on display reflect the area’s rich industrial heritage, vibrant green spaces and historic waterways.
Gladstone’s golden anniversary was marked by an event on Thursday, 24 April.
The Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Councillor Lyn Sharpe, and Kelvin the Kiln, the city’s Centenary mascot, met the staff and volunteers who give a warm welcome to visitors.
A pottery factory first opened on the site in 1787, but the bottle kilns were fired for the last time in 1960 and the site put up for sale. The former factory was eventually opened as a museum, with the city council taking ownership in 1989.
Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Councillor Lyn Sharpe, said: “We built this city on the hugely successful and traditional ceramics industry. It’s what gained us city status in the first place so I’m incredibly proud to be able to celebrate 50 years of honouring that heritage at Gladstone.
“The fabulous staff and volunteers really bring the story of the city I love to life. They’ve done an amazing job over the last 50 years of showcasing the skills and creativity that means our local industry is known throughout the world.
“This ‘living museum’ has something for everyone and that’s why it was declared VisitEngland’s Small Visitor Attraction of the Year 2020.”
One volunteer, Paul Niblett, has worked tirelessly at Gladstone since 1971 – even meeting his wife, Kathy, in a bottle kiln at the museum.
Paul said: “When we’re open, I like the opportunity of saying hello to our visitors, particularly to express thanks for coming. I recently chatted to folks from Crewe, Huddersfield and Preston. A couple of weeks ago, my chats included people from Australia and America.
“There is no doubt that the Museum is a magnet for people wanting to learn more about our internationally renowned ceramics industry, whether they be schoolchildren, college students, heritage enthusiasts or addicts of well-known TV programmes. Everyone is welcome.
“It’s 60 years ago that the germ of an idea of a working pottery museum was muted.
“Progressively, the idea took shape, steered by a small group of largely local visionaries, many from the pottery industry, such that Gladstone opened for a preview season in August 1974. This helped to assess visitors’ experiences and to gain all-important income prior to the official opening in 1975. Volunteers were working alongside consultants and contractors throughout these early years and have helped to shape the internationally-appreciated museum that we see today.
“Sadly, I’ve lost a number of stalwart comrades over the years, but I always remember them, especially when we’re greasing a throwing wheel, emptying a slip ark or splicing a drive rope. They have all contributed to the extraordinary success of Gladstone Pottery Museum.”
Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
The United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, is visiting Viet Nam from to 24 April 2025 to support global and national authorities’ road safety initiatives, three years after his last visit in the country. The Special Envoy will meet members of the Government in Hanoi as well as representatives of the private and public sectors two months after the Declaration of Marrakesh where Member states further engaged to accelerate the efforts for achieving the new Decade of Action for Road Safety with the goal of halving the number of the victims on the road by 2030.
On 27-30 April, Mr. Jean Todt will speak at the 45th General Assembly of the International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF), to be held in Hue. This event will bring together 450 mayors, officials, and representatives of Francophone cities. This forum will highlight the vital importance of cooperation between cities to cultivate dialogue and international solidarity, and to jointly address major global challenges at local level, including safe and sustainable mobility for all.
The silent pandemic on the road
The Special Envoy Jean Todt qualified road crashes as “The Silent Pandemic on the Road”. Indeed, every year, the staggering toll of road-related fatalities globally claims the lives of 1.19 million people, leaving 50 million others with severe injuries. Furthermore, road crashes are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5–29 years. Road crashes are disproportionately high in Western Pacific region, with a traffic fatality rate of 15.4 deaths per 100,000 population, compared to 6.5 deaths per 100,000 in Europe or representing three time the rate in Australia (WHO 2021).
With 18 deaths/100,000 people (WHO 2021), Viet Nam faces a tragedy on the road. Motorbikes are the most type of transport vehicles, with over 50 million motorbikes, with a danger level 4 times higher than cars, 10 times than buses, and 13 times more than urban trams (ESCAP 2020). According to the Statistic of National Traffic Safety Committee (2024), 59.84% of the road traffic crashes are related to motorcycles and motorbikes.
Towards enhanced road safety in Viet Nam
The good news is that solutions exist. The use of proper helmets responding to UN regulations is for example a game changer in protecting the motorbike users.
” When we know that quality helmets can help to reduce the risk of fatal injury by 28-64%; head injury 58-60% and brain injury 47-74% (WHO, 2023), it is urgent to act to stop the carnage on the road”, highlights the Special Envoy.
The use of safe vehicles, better road infrastructure and design to protect cyclists and pedestrians, efficient post-crash services and law enforcement also demonstrate conclusive results in reducing drastically the fatality rate.
The pace of infrastructure development and the limit of public transport capacity unmatched the rapid rise in the number of vehicles causes serious traffic congestion, especially in big cities. Finding solutions to increase the awareness of using public transport systems instead of individual vehicles would contribute to safer and cleaner mobility for all. Education and raising awareness campaigns are also key.
Headline: W&T Offshore Announces Timing of First Quarter 2025 Earnings Release and Conference Call
HOUSTON, April 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — W&T Offshore, Inc. (NYSE: WTI) (the “Company”) today announced the timing of its first quarter 2025 earnings release and conference call.
The Company said it will issue its first quarter 2025 earnings release on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, after the close of trading on the NYSE and host a conference call to discuss financial and operational results on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Central Time (12:00 p.m. Eastern Time.)
Interested parties may participate by dialing (844) 739-3797. International parties may dial (412) 317-5713. Participants should request to be joined to the “W&T Offshore, Inc. Conference Call.” This call will also be webcast and available on W&T Offshore’s website at www.wtoffshore.com under “Investors.” An audio replay will be available on the Company’s website following the call.
About W&T Offshore
W&T Offshore, Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas producer with operations offshore in the Gulf of America and has grown through acquisitions, exploration and development. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had working interests in 52 fields in federal and state waters (which include 45 fields in federal waters and seven in state waters). The Company has under lease approximately 646,200 gross acres (502,300 net acres) spanning across the outer continental shelf off the coasts of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama, with approximately 493,000 gross acres on the conventional shelf, approximately 147,700 gross acres in the deepwater and 5,500 gross acres in Alabama state waters. A majority of the Company’s daily production is derived from wells it operates. For more information on W&T, please visit the Company’s website at www.wtoffshore.com.
