LONDON, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fivecast today launched its cutting-edge, AI-driven digital intelligence platform into the financial crime compliance market, enabling financial institutions to radically streamline financial crime investigations, anti-money laundering (AML), know your customer (KYC), and enhanced due diligence (EDD) through online data analytics.
Fivecast empowers financial investigation teams to swiftly and efficiently assess customer risk across masses of online information. The Fivecast platform delivers relevant and actionable information from a vast range of online data sources, enabling broad digital footprint discovery combined with in-depth, AI-driven multi-media data analysis. Current sources and methods used for financial intelligence investigations are missing critical, risk-based information about customers, leading financial institutions to grossly underestimate their risk exposure.
The need for accurate, timely, and global data has never been greater. The global regulatory landscape is rapidly changing, demanding new data sources to meet evolving due diligence requirements for AML compliance. This is highlighted in guidance and consent orders from Government agencies and financial regulatory bodies across Europe, the US, and Australia. In 2024, global penalties related to financial crime imposed by U.S. regulators alone surpassed $4.3 billion.
Duane Rivett, Fivecast Co-founder and VP of Strategic Growth, said: “The vastly superior speed and accuracy of our digital intelligence platform streamlines slow, labor-intensive processes in a highly sensitive area for financial institutions. Just as national security agencies use our solutions to analyze extremist or terrorist networks online, banks are doing the same with a slightly different focus on EDD, AML, and KYC.”
Fivecast solutions empower financial investigation units to efficiently and accurately assess a customer’s risk profile to rapidly identify predicate crimes and customer risk exposure and adopt a genuine risk-based approach to compliance while minimizing compliance costs.
About Fivecast: Fivecast is a world-leading provider of digital intelligence solutions that enable financial institutions to efficiently and accurately assess a customer’s risk profile, uncovering actionable insights critical to reducing business risk while driving down the cost of compliance. Fivecast was born out of a unique collaboration between government agencies and world-leading research institutions to tackle big data challenges like those facing financial institutions today. www.fivecast.com
Media Contact: Monica Brink – Sr Director, Marketing Monica.brink@fivecast.com
The Labor government used this week’s budget to announce it plans to ban non-compete agreements for employees on less than A$175,000 per year, a move that will affect about 3 million Australian workers.
Describing them as “unfair”, a media release by federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers said non‑compete clauses “are holding back Australian workers from switching to better, higher‑paying jobs”. Banning non-compete clauses could lift the wages of affected workers by up to 4%, the government has said.
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry quickly called the measure “heavy-handed”, arguing that very few employees, according to businesses, turn down employment due to non-compete clauses.
However, research I did with colleagues from Melbourne and Monash universities showed very few employees signing a new job contract ever think about the end of the relationship and what might happen after.
Workers often accept non-compete clauses with little understanding or regard for their practical implications.
What the law currently says
The current law says contractual clauses that stop departing workers from taking a new job in their preferred line of work, often for long periods of time, are – in principle – unenforceable.
That is, however, unless a court says a particular non-compete clause is “reasonably required” to protect a “legitimate interest”.
Therein lies the problem: it is hard to predict when, where or under what circumstances a court will find a particular clause is “reasonably required”.
Our research concluded this uncertainty favoured employers with greater nous and resources.
These employers have the advantage over employees, who are rarely willing or able to go to court arguing their non-compete clause is invalid.
This has a chilling effect on the mobility of employees. In other words, these clauses make it harder for workers to change jobs.
That’s detrimental to labour market competition and can hold back knowledge-sharing and economic growth.
Global efforts to ban non-compete clauses
In California, non-compete clauses have long been banned. Many economists have identified this as among the key reasons for the success of the Californian knowledge economy. This example also featured in a submission I made (with researcher Caitlyn Douglas) to a 2024 Treasury review into non-compete clauses in Australia.
US research from 2021 also found non-compete clauses can hinder labour mobility. They can impede fundamental freedoms such as freedom of employment and freedom of general competition.
In 2024, under President Biden, the US Federal Trade Commission banned non-competes clauses across the US.
However, the ban has been blocked due to legal challenges in the US Federal Court. It’s also been reported the Trump administration may kill off these reforms altogether.
The UK government proposed in 2023 limiting non-competes to a maximum of three months.
Holding employees back
Unlike in some countries, Australian law does not require employers to compensate their ex-employee for loss of income during their non-compete period.
This means that if workers comply and do not work in the field they’re most skilled for, they will take a serious financial hit for months or more.
This is another detrimental effect of non-compete clauses. They really hurt if the worker in question is lower paid and has very specific skills (such as hairdressers or dental assistants).
In that respect, Labor’s mooted ban on such clauses for employees on less than $175,000 is well conceived.
Courts will usually only enforce a non-compete clause if its terms are reasonable to protect a legitimate interest, such as trade secrets an employee has learned during their employment.
However, it’s mostly higher-ranked employees that have access to really significant trade secrets, such as technical information, confidential business plans or pricing structures.
Higher paid employees are also more often the “public face of the business”. A court might decide it’s fair to say such workers can’t leave and the next day turn up as the main face of a competing business.
And the new government proposal won’t leave employers without any recourse against employees who take their genuine trade secrets and pass them on to their new employers. They will still be able to sue for breach of confidence.
Non-competes really hurt if the worker in question is lower paid and has very specific skills (such as hairdressers or dental assistants). Dorde Krstic/Shutterstock
Challenges for reform
The proposed reforms are well supported by authoritative legal and economic research.
The federal government will have to consider carefully how to make sure the prohibition cannot be easily circumvented.
And they’ll have to ensure these reforms don’t make it more likely judges will find restraints valid for those on more than A$175,000. Labour and knowledge mobility remain crucially important for them too.
Another key challenge will be ensuring a ban doesn’t encourage practices or clauses restricting competition to emerge or become too prevalent.
That could include “garden leave” clauses. These give a departing employee a long notice period, during which they are paid but do not work and are isolated from their employment (and instead “doing the gardening” at home).
The risk is that if employers can no longer include non-compete clauses in contracts, they might use long garden leave provisions more often.
Although it is good that “garden leave” employees get paid during that period (unlike during a non-compete term), they are still isolated from their work, stagnating in their skills and unable to move to new employment.
William van Caenegem received funding from the Australian Research Council a decade ago for some of the research referred to in this article.
German technology company Heraeus Group on Tuesday officially launched its new quartz manufacturing plant in Shenyang, the capital of northeast China’s Liaoning Province, in its latest move to deepen Sino-German manufacturing cooperation.
With a total investment of nearly 600 million yuan (about 83.6 million U.S. dollars), the plant is Heraeus’ largest semiconductor project in China. It will focus on the development and production of high-purity and ultra-high-purity synthetic quartz products for the semiconductor industry.
The new factory’s operations are a strong demonstration of Heraeus’ “In China, for China” strategy, said Frank Stietz, COO and member of the board of managing directors of Heraeus Group.
With intelligent and environmentally friendly facilities and techniques, the new plant will optimize its logistics, workforce and information flows to enhance production efficiency.
The plant will also explore new products and techniques in a bid to meet the latest demands of China’s semiconductor clients, the company said.
Ai Zhouping, president of Heraeus Greater China, said the company will build the new factory into an advanced manufacturing and innovation base to help drive the development of the semiconductor sector and improve the semiconductor industrial chain in China’s northeastern region.
Heraeus Group, a global Fortune 500 company, operates in various sectors, including environmental protection, electronics, health care and industrial applications.
Chinese companies and researchers filed a new record of 20,081 patent applications in 2024 at the European Patent Office (EPO), the office’s Patent Index 2024 revealed Tuesday.
This figure accounts for 10.1 percent of all applications received by the office, securing China’s position as the fourth-largest filer globally.
While the growth rate of Chinese patent applications registered 0.5 percent in 2024 compared to 2023, the overall number has more than doubled since 2018 and quadrupled since 2014, the EPO noted in its press release.
In the company ranking, Huawei led the way with 4,322 applications, achieving second place overall at the EPO. In addition to Huawei, five other Chinese companies were among the top 50 filers, “showcasing China’s robust innovation capabilities and active participation in European patent applications,” it said.
The top three technical fields for Chinese patent filings in 2024 were digital communication, electrical machinery and apparatus, and computer technology — mirroring global trends.
The fastest-growing sector among Chinese applicants was electrical machinery, apparatus, and energy, which saw a 32.2 percent increase compared to 2023.
“This was thanks to a surge from China in patent applications for battery-related technologies, up 79 percent from the previous year, with four Chinese companies now among the top 15 applicants in battery technologies,” EPO said.
Overall, the EPO received 199,264 patent applications from around the world in 2024, with electrical machinery, apparatus, and energy recording the highest growth globally.
“Despite political and economic uncertainties, companies and inventors from around the world filed a high number of patents last year, underlining their technological prowess and their continued investment in R&D,” said EPO President Antonio Campinos.
NEW YORK, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global Policy Advisors LLC, recognized for devising the first governance and policy roadmap for a U.S. sovereign wealth fund, has released a new report titled Capital, Strategy, and Governance: Market Implications of a DFC-Managed SWF. The analysis explores the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) as a potential institutional home for a prospective U.S. sovereign wealth vehicle.
The report outlines how a DFC-based sovereign wealth fund could be structured to balance fiduciary objectives with national strategic priorities, while drawing on DFC’s existing investment infrastructure, global networks, and interagency governance model. With ex officio board members including the Secretaries of State, Treasury, and Commerce, the DFC offers a unique governance environment where investment strategy can be evaluated from diverse national interest perspectives, the report says.
GPA’s president Salar Ghahramani, who has advised clients across finance, policy, and law on sovereign wealth fund developments, stated: “Institutional design will shape the direction, legitimacy, and market impact of any future U.S. sovereign wealth fund. This report underscores the practical and strategic advantages of anchoring the fund within the DFC.”
GPA’s latest SWF 2050™ report further examines how such a fund could engage with private equity and external asset managers while preserving transparency and avoiding conflicts of interest. The report offers detailed considerations on portfolio allocation strategies, public-private investment models, and the legislative implications of housing the fund within a federal agency.
As highlighted in recent interviews with Barron’s and Bloomberg, Salar Ghahramani emphasized the importance of transparent governance and multi-perspective oversight in building long-term trust among both market participants and the American public.
Global Policy Advisors® LLC is a boutique sovereign wealth fund advisory to corporations, boards of directors, and institutional investors—including hedge funds, private equity firms, pension funds, and SWFs. GPA’s expertise is delivering actionable insights, strategy sessions, and executive briefings on the governance, operations, and investment strategies of sovereign wealth funds.
DORTMUND, GERMANY, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HIKMICRO, a pioneering optics manufacturer, is set to unveil two groundbreaking thermal monoculars at JAGD & HUND Dortmund 2025, reinforcing its commitment to innovation in hunting technology. The FALCON 2.0 and CONDOR LRF 2.0 will be showcased at Germany’s Messe Dortmund from January 28 to February 2, 2025, embodying the company’s “Mastery Made Easy” philosophy.
These new devices represent a significant leap forward in thermal hunting technology, focusing on one-handed operation and superior image quality. The FALCON 2.0 and CONDOR LRF 2.0 feature a highly sensitive 15mK thermal detector, capturing minute temperature differences and providing rich image details on a 0.49″ display.
Both models offer precise laser rangefinding capabilities up to 1000 meters and incorporate HIKMICRO’s Shutterless Image System (HSIS) for continuous, uninterrupted viewing.
Mr. Wang, HIKMICRO’s R&D expert, stated, “We have made comprehensive improvements to the FALCON and CONDOR models with ‘Mastery Performance’ and ‘One-handed, easy operation’ functions. We made these advancements while maintaining high image quality to provide the most comfortable observation, with usability enhancements delivering a simplified and intuitive operating experience.”
The thermal monoculars boast an optimized 21700 battery, providing over six hours of operation time, and are compatible with external power banks. Both models feature a rear focus wheel and inline button arrangement for intuitive one-handed use, catering to hunters of all ages and handedness preferences.
HIKMICRO equips the CONDOR LRF 2.0 series with an integral laser rangefinder and sculpts it to cradle the hand. Meanwhile, the FALCON 2.0 maintains a traditional cylindrical shape, and the FQ50L 2.0 model features an in-lens LRF module design. These ergonomic designs guarantee comfortable operation and reduced fatigue during extended use.
Its commitment to user-centered innovation is evident in the development process of these thermal monoculars. The company conducted extensive market research and rigorous testing, including sending prototypes to professional hunters for real-life scenario evaluations. This meticulous method certifies that the final products meet the highest performance and usability standards.
The new thermal monoculars also offer enhanced connectivity through the HIKMICRO Sight App, allowing users to live-view, browse and save captured images and videos, share with friends, upgrade products, and track after-sales information. This feature enhances the overall hunting experience and fosters a sense of community among users.
Stefan Li, the company’s overseas director, emphasized the company’s vision: “We aim to keep blazing the trail by creating more precise, faster, and easier ways to help hunters master the mystery of the night. Our new FALCON 2.0 and CONDOR LRF 2.0 are testament to this commitment, providing hunters with the tools they need to enhance their skills and enjoy their passion to the fullest.“
As HIKMICRO prepares to showcase these innovative devices at JAGD & HUND Dortmund 2025, the company continues to push the boundaries of thermal hunting technology while respecting traditional hunting values and expert craftsmanship.
About HIKMICRO
HIKMICRO is a world-leading optics brand committed to “Continually Make Crafted Confidence” for hunters. The company focuses on user-centered innovation, pushing the boundaries of technological performance while respecting traditional hunting values and expert craftsmanship. With a dedication to providing mastery solutions, HIKMICRO aims to make hunting easier and more rewarding for enthusiasts around the globe.
Commentators have branded last night’s federal budget as an attempt to win over typical Australian voters concerned about the cost of living, ahead of what is expected to be a tightly fought federal election.
The budget’s big-ticket items included tax cuts and energy bill relief, plus measures to make childcare and healthcare cheaper.
There was little in the budget dedicated to stemming Australia’s environmental crises. Given this, one might assume the average voter cares little for action on conservation and curbing climate change. But is this true?
Polling suggests the clear answer is “no”. Voters consistently say they want more government action on both conservation and climate change. As the federal election looms, Labor is running out of time to show it cares about Australia’s precious natural environment.
What environmental spending was in the budget?
The main spending on the environment in last night’s budget had been announced in the weeks before. It includes:
These measures are welcome. However, the overall environment spending is inadequate, given the scale of the challenges Australia faces.
Australia’s protected areas, such as national parks, have suffered decades of poor funding, and the federal budget has not rectified this. It means these sensitive natural places will remain vulnerable to harms such as invasive species and bushfires.
More broadly, Australia is failing to stem the drivers of biodiversity loss, such as land clearing and climate change. This means more native species become threatened with extinction each year.
Experts say conserving Australia’s threatened species would cost an extra $2 billion a year. Clearly, the federal budget spending of an extra $50 million a year falls well short of this.
Contrary to what the federal budget priorities might suggest, Australians are concerned about these issues.
What does the average voter think about the environment?
Results from reputable polling provide insight into what the average voters want when it comes to environmental policy and spending.
When it comes to conservation, the evidence is clear. Polling by YouGov in October last year (commissioned by two environment groups) estimated that 70% of Australians think the Labor government should do more to “protect and restore nature”. The vast majority of voters (86%) supported stronger national nature laws.
Essential Research polling in October 2023 found 53% of voters think the government is not doing enough to preserve endangered species. About the same proportion said more government action was needed to preserve native forests, and oceans and rivers.
On climate change, the average voter appears to have views significantly out of step with both major parties. The Australia Institute’s Climate of the Nation report last year found 50% of voters believed the government was not doing enough to prepare for and adapt to climate impacts.
The report also found 50% of voters supported a moratorium on new coal mines in Australia, 69% support charging companies a levy for each tonne of carbon pollution they emit, and 69% are concerned about climate change.
Also in 2024, a Lowy Institute poll found 57% of Australians supported the statement that “global warming is a serious and pressing problem, and that we should take steps now to mitigate it even if it involves significant costs”.
There’s a caveat here. As the cost-of-living crisis has worsened, the issue has edged out all others in terms of voter concerns at the upcoming election.
For example, in January this year, Roy Morgan polling found 57% of voters considered cost of living one of their top-three issues of concern. Only 23% considered global warming a top-three issue.
However, global warming was still more of a concern for voters than managing the economy (22%), keeping interest rates down (19%) and reducing taxes (15%). It was tied with reducing crime (23%).
It’s also important to note that climate change and cost-of-living pressures are not separate issues. Research suggests that as climate change worsens, it will cause inflation to worsen.
Labor’s unmet election promises
The singular focus on the cost of living in last night’s federal budget means environmental spending has been neglected.
The government could have used this budget to repair its environmental credentials going into the next election – but it didn’t. The many voters concerned about the environment might well wonder if Labor considers the environment a policy priority at all.
The upcoming election result may show whether minor parties and independents better reflect the Australian electorate’s views on this important issue.
Timothy Neal 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
As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.
Released 25/03/2025
The ACT Government welcomes the wide range of initiatives in the 2025-26 Commonwealth Budget that will benefit Canberrans and our city.
Continued cost of living relief for all Canberrans
The ACT Government welcomes new relief for Canberrans who need it most, with tax cuts across the board including a further exemption for low-income earners with increases to the Medicare levy low-income thresholds.
We also know that Canberra households have faced significantly rising costs over the past two years, which thankfully have started to moderate. The $150 Energy Bill Relief for every household in the ACT will provide much needed relief for nearly two hundred thousand Canberra households as well as small businesses.
Across the five jurisdictions in the National Electricity Market, the ACT is expected to have the lowest standing offers in 2025-26 – the future is renewable.
Additionally, the Commonwealth Government’s largest investment in Medicare since its inception will help take some of the pressure off our hospital system and continue to ensure Canberrans get the care they need when they need it.
Canberrans deserve to be able to access bulk-billed GPs and appropriately funding primary care is critical to address the complexities of demand in our health system.
Funding for an additional urgent care clinic in Woden is delivered through the budget, as is a boost to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme that will benefit all Canberrans.
Canberrans are more likely than any other Australians to have a tertiary qualification and so will disproportionately benefit from further reductions in HECS-HELP debts; we want more Canberrans to attain tertiary qualifications for the jobs of the future and for more Australians to choose our great universities as their preferred place of study.
Housing
The ACT Government remains committed to delivering on the targets set out in the National Housing Accord and we are working to deliver above our per capita share of the national target of 1.2 million homes. We know that increasing housing supply will improve housing affordability, access and choice for Canberrans.
The ACT Government welcomes the increased income and property price caps under the Government’s Help to Buy scheme which will support more Canberrans to enter the housing market with lower deposits and smaller mortgages. Purchase of homes of up to $1 million in Canberra will now be supported under the scheme, up from $750,000.
The ACT’s apprentices in residential construction will benefit from $10,000 in cost of living completion payments, which will support the construction industry to build more homes.
National Capital Investment Framework
The ACT Government welcomes this additional investment into major transport infrastructure across our city.
We will continue to work in partnership with the Commonwealth Government to deliver projects that create local jobs and strengthen our economy.
This pipeline of investment supports our broader strategic objectives for transport planning including unlocking land for more housing, new public transport routes and improving connections with our surrounding region.
The Budget commits another $53.5 million as part of the 2025-26 to support the next stage of growth and ensure projects across the territory can actually be delivered. This includes:
$30 million to complete the Monaro Highway Upgrade
$20 million to complete for the Monaro Highway Upgrade Stage 2 Upgrades
$3.5 million to complete the duplication of Gundaroo Drive
The Budget also provides a $30 million boost over five years for the ACT under the Roads to Recovery program, which will go directly to maintaining the ACT’s existing road network. This includes $8.6 million for resurfacing the Kings Highway near Kowen.
Under the previous Commonwealth Government, Commonwealth infrastructure investment for Canberra lagged behind the rest of the country.
Public Service
A strong Australian Public Service is crucial to Canberra’s economy and local businesses. The ACT Government welcomes the continued strong support for the Public Service by the Commonwealth Government which has supported continued low unemployment and strong wage growth across the broader economy.
Over this term of government, the Commonwealth Government has supported this growth in the APS across every part of our city. The ACT Government welcomes the continued investment in the National Security Office Precinct which started construction earlier this year.
An alternative approach of severe and prolonged cuts to the Australian Public Service would be an attack on Canberra’s economy and local businesses.
National Broadband Network
The ACT will be the largest proportionate beneficiary from a $3 billion investment the National Broadband Network. This investment will see 100,000 more Canberrans connected with faster and more reliable internet by upgrading remaining fibre-to-the node (FTTN) network.
Former investment manager sentenced for creating false documents for investors following ASIC investigation and CDPP prosecution Ben.PetersJones
On 20 December 2024, Brett Trevillian was convicted and sentenced in the NSW District Court to three years’ imprisonment, to be served by way of an intensive correction order, following a plea of guilty to two charges of making a false document to obtain a financial advantage, contrary to s 253(b)(ii) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).
The Offending
Mr Trevillian was an investment manager and the sole secretary and director of a company called Metal Alpha Pty Ltd (Metal Alpha).
Mr Trevillian, through Metal Alpha, was contracted as the investment manager for a company called AlphaThorn Pty Ltd. AlphaThorn was controlled by Gabriel Yakob and offered investment products to private clients/investors (‘high net-worth individuals‘). Two such products AlphaThorn offered were the ‘Secured Service’ and the ‘Enhanced Service’. Both these products were based on Mr Trevillian’s purported trading strategy, which he called ‘The Gold Method’.
In March 2019, Yakob and AlphaThorn instructed Mr Trevillian to retain an accountancy firm to verify the returns on investments that Mr Trevillian purportedly had been traded in the past using The Gold Method. The report was, ultimately, to be used as a form of advertisement for AlphaThorn, to show prospective investors the high return on investments that had been achieved in the past and induce future investment. Mr Trevillian knew the purpose of the reports was to provide the report to prospective future investors.
Mr Trevillian never went to an accountancy firm to obtain such a report. Instead, during the period 22 April 2019 to 2 October 2019, Mr Trevillian created four forged documents, each called a ‘Portfolio Performance Verification – Report of factual findings’ (PVR). He then provided the PVRs to AlphaThorn and claimed he received them from the accountancy practice, Bell Partners Advisors Auditors Pty Ltd (Bell Partners).
The forged PVRs falsely verified or claimed a history of successful investment returns and falsely claimed that trading had been conducted through a particular broking firm and that the reports had been produced by an external firm of accountants who had verified actual trading – including forging the signature of an accountant.
On 14 July 2020, Bell Partners learnt of the forgery and subsequently reported the matter to ASIC.
Following an ASIC investigation and referral to the CDPP, Mr Trevillian was charged with four offences contrary to section s 253(b)(ii) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), to which he entered early pleas of guilty at committal to two rolled up offences. The maximum penalty for each offence was imprisonment for 10 years.
Sentence
The sentence hearing was heard before Judge Neilson in the Downing Centre District Court on 23‑25 September 2024, with judgment handed down on 8 November and 20 December 2024.
His Honour sentenced the offender to three years’ imprisonment to be served by way of an intensive correction order (ICO).
His Honour noted the offender’s good character, found him to have good prospects of rehabilitation and noted the onerousness of a custodial sentence. His Honour also applied a 25% discount for the early guilty pleas.
Relevant links
ASIC Media Release (11 November 2024) – Former investment manager Brett Trevillian sentenced to 3 years imprisonment for forging reports for investors
Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced the Cultural Trade Promotion Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation to strengthen America’s creative industries and expand cultural exports. By bolstering the creative economy, this legislation will help U.S. businesses—including Native-owned, small, and rural enterprises—reach new global markets, create jobs, and strengthen America’s influence abroad amidst increasing competition from China.
“America’s creative industries are a powerful force, driving jobs at home and shaping perceptions of our country abroad. Recently, China has doubled down on promoting its cultural exports, and we’ve been falling behind,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. “This bipartisan bill will help us level the playing field by expanding export opportunities for American businesses everywhere from Maui to Memphis so that our creative economy remains the global leader.”
“We cannot allow China to continue to outpace the United States in overall cultural exports, and Tennessee is home to countless creative entrepreneurs who need support to export their products and grow their businesses,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Cultural Trade Promotion Act would improve access to international shipping services for these small businesses to strengthen our economy and promote high-quality American goods.”
Over the past decade, China has aggressively expanded its cultural trade through coordinated government investments and programs. In 2014, China surpassed the United States in overall cultural exports, and it continues to leverage cultural promotion as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. Meanwhile, America’s cultural trade surplus has declined, dropping from $31.5 billion in 2019 to $17.8 billion in 2021 before rebounding slightly to $21 billion in 2022, according to the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Cultural Trade Promotion Act would direct the Foreign Commercial Service to promote U.S. creative economy goods abroad and require the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee to include the creative economy in its annual governmentwide strategic plan. The bill would also improve access to international shipping services for small businesses by facilitating collaboration between the International Trade Administration and the U.S. Postal Service. Additionally, it would promote products from American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian-owned businesses and include a representative of the creative industries on the Department of Commerce’s Travel and Tourism Advisory Board.
Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti
7 minutes ago
When Mai Nguyễn first arrived in New Zealand in April 2023, she could only dream of one day standing on stage delivering the valedictory speech at her own graduation.
Yesterday, (March 25), she did just that — speaking as Valedictorian and graduating with a Master of Digital Business at one of two EIT Auckland ceremonies at the Aotea Centre.
“I’m so proud of it, super proud,” Mai says. “When I first started studying, I helped out at graduation ceremonies. I watched the valedictorians speak and I dreamed of being one of them. And now, it’s come true.”
EIT Auckland Valedictorian Mai Nguyễn has graduated with a Master of Digital Business.
Originally from Vietnam, Mai holds a Bachelor in Hospitality Management and had a successful career in marketing at a cybersecurity company before moving abroad with her husband Tran Khanh Hiep and their then two-and-a-half-year-old son Tran Khanh An. Despite the challenges of starting over in a new country, Mai embraced every opportunity with determination and heart.
She completed her Master of Digital Business at EIT Auckland and quickly became a valued part of the student community, serving as a student representative and mentor.
That sense of support is something she felt from the moment she enrolled. “The EIT philosophy of providing the support to succeed is true. From day one, I felt it. Even when I lost my first assignment due to a technical issue, and the librarian from Napier helped me late at night. That meant so much.”
She describes the Auckland campus as small but warm — a place where “everyone knows your name” and where international students are truly looked after.
“I always felt like I belonged. There’s something special about how EIT supports students. They see more than just your grades; they see your heart and your effort.”
EIT Auckland Valedictorian Mai Nguyễn pictured with her husband Tran Khanh Hiep and their then two-and-a-half-year-old son Tran Khanh An on their way to New Zealand.
Now working as a business development manager for an immigration company, Mai helps other migrants find their path in Aotearoa. She hopes to become a licensed immigration advisor and continue supporting Vietnamese students who want to study in New Zealand — including, she hopes, at EIT.
“I still tell EIT staff, if you ever need my help, I’ll be there,” she says. “I believe in what EIT offers — not just education, but care.”
“I wasn’t always this helpful or reflective,” she adds. “Back in Vietnam, I was career focused. But studying here helped me grow. I realised that success isn’t just about what you achieve — it’s about the impact you have on others.”
To new international students, Mai offers heartfelt advice.
“Change is not scary, it’s part of growth. You might suffer and struggle, but everything will be fine in the end. Do good, and good will always come back to you.”
EIT Auckland Campus Director Cherrie Freeman says this achievement is a testament to Mai’s dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence throughout her studies.
“The team at EIT is incredibly proud of all that Mai has accomplished. We are also deeply grateful for the unwavering support she has shown to the student community. Time and time again, Mai stepped up to help—whether by helping, providing guidance, or simply being there when needed. Her willingness to lend a hand, often on short notice, and her consistent presence on campus, sometimes on a daily basis, have made a significant impact.
“Mai has truly earned this distinction, and EIT wishes her all the best in her future endeavours. She will always have a special place in the EIT family.”
Zhang Zhijia, a 38-year-old volunteer at Chifeng Museum in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, leaves home at 8:30 a.m. to share stories about the Hongshan culture with museum visitors.
Almost at the same time, Li Jiawei, a 24-year-old graduate student who studies cultural relics at Chifeng University in the city of Chifeng, walks from his dormitory to the library to research materials for future archaeological projects.
And 45-year-old Guo Lei, who is in charge of Songshanzhai, a cultural and creative company under the Chifeng culture and tourism group, has already engaged in discussions with his colleagues on the designs of refrigerator magnets inspired by the Hongshan culture.
Despite being from different age groups and living different lives, they all share a commitment to the preservation and utilization of the Hongshan culture, which was an important archaeological culture during the Neolithic Age.
The culture spans three regions: the west of Liaoning Province, the north of Hebei Province and the east of Inner Mongolia. Chifeng in Inner Mongolia has over 700 known Hongshan culture relics sites.
“My hometown, Chifeng, is both the birthplace of the Hongshan culture and the place where it was named,” Zhang said.
The city’s northeastern suburbs are marked by a red mountain, Wulanhad, which means “red mountain” in Mongolian. It is from this mountain that the city and culture took their names.
Since childhood, Zhang has been fascinated by jade artifacts from the Hongshan culture, such as jade dragons and jade silkworms.
“Some of the jade artifacts show slight markings made by cowhide ropes during their polishing process, which makes me imagine scenes of the Hongshan ancestors crafting these objects. It feels like touching history,” he said.
Motivated by this sentiment, he signed up to volunteer at Chifeng Museum, and he hopes that more young people can gain knowledge and joy through learning about history.
“Volunteers are both narrators and learners,” he said. “Recently, many visitors have been asking about the newly excavated jade dragons from last year. The Hongshan artifacts are ‘updating,’ and our knowledge must also be continuously updated.”
In 2024, three jade dragons from the Hongshan culture were unearthed — the largest number of such artifacts found in recent years. Among them was the largest jade dragon ever discovered.
The object, measuring 15.8 centimeters in length, 9.5 centimeters in width and 3 centimeters in thickness, was excavated from a stone tomb in Yuanbaoshan in Chifeng’s Aohan Banner. It provides valuable new insights into the study of this ancient civilization.
The piece has become a highlight of exhibitions and academic lectures, and it has also inspired designs in cultural and creative industries.
Guo has been involved in the development of cultural and creative products inspired by the Hongshan culture for four years. Together with his colleagues, he has launched several products based on Hongshan artifacts, and is planning to release new refrigerator magnets inspired by the culture.
“We design cultural and creative products that not only have high aesthetic value but also boast fine details and rich heritage, and we hope they can serve as a window through which visitors can understand the Hongshan culture,” Guo said.
Li shares a similar hope, and looks forward to uncovering more secrets of the Hongshan culture through archaeological work.
“Archaeology is a way to engage in dialogue with the ancestors, as each jade artifact and pottery shard may contain their stories,” Li said, adding that in the future, he wants to share more stories of the Hongshan culture with others.
Today, the legacy of the Hongshan culture continues in modern life. In Chifeng, visitors can participate in themed research activities, watch performances, and even enjoy Hongshan culture-inspired feasts at local restaurants.
“We dig into historical research and inherit fine traditional Chinese culture, enabling cultural empowerment for industrial development,” said Zhang Guohua, Chifeng’s vice mayor.
U.S. stocks ended higher on Tuesday, extending gains from the previous session as optimism over a potential narrowing of U.S. tariffs continued to support investor sentiment.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average inched up 4.18 points or 0.01 percent to 42,587.5, while the S&P 500 rose 9.08 points or 0.16 percent to 5,776.65. The Nasdaq Composite gained 83.26 points or 0.46 percent to 18,271.85, marking its third consecutive day of gains.
Among the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors, seven closed higher, with communication services up 1.43 percent and consumer discretionary rising 0.98 percent leading the advances. Utilities fell 1.61 percent and healthcare declined 1.29 percent, making them the biggest laggards.
Investors largely brushed off March’s weak consumer confidence report, which showed a sharp decline in U.S. consumers’ short-term outlook on income, business conditions, and employment. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index dropped to 92.9, missing expectations of 93.5. The measure of future expectations fell to 65.2, the lowest in 12 years, signaling potential recession risks.
Tuesday’s action follows the prior session’s sharp gains for all three major averages after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would give “a lot of countries breaks” when it comes to reciprocal tariffs expected on April 2.
“Sentiment continues to wane among investors, consumers and businesses as economic concerns and economic policy uncertainty takes its toll,” said Bret Kenwell, U.S. investment analyst at eToro. “Until there’s more certainty on the tariff and macro front, sentiment and confidence remain vulnerable.”
David Rubenstein, co-founder and co-chairman of the Carlyle Group, said tariffs could slow down the economy, but it wouldn’t trigger recession. “Tariffs have done a pretty good job of getting people’s attention around the world, getting people’s attention in the business community as a negotiating technique,” he said Tuesday. “Whether you implement them across the board, all kinds of tariffs everywhere … that might be more complicated to do and might have some inflationary impact.”
In the bond market, the 10-year Treasury yield slipped to 4.315 percent as of 4:18 p.m. EDT, down from 4.33 percent at Monday’s close and an intraday peak of 4.37 percent, its highest in over a month.
Mega-cap tech stocks extended Monday’s gains, with Tesla climbing another 3.45 percent despite continued weakness in European sales. Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta Platforms also advanced, while chipmakers Nvidia and Broadcom saw slight declines.
Looking ahead, investors are awaiting earnings reports from Lululemon, GameStop, and Dollar Tree later this week.
Hisense South Africa and China National Building Material Group (CNBM) on Tuesday signed a strategic cooperation agreement to provide smart energy solutions in South Africa.
The deal was inked in Johannesburg, where the Solar and Storage Live Africa 2025, one of Africa’s largest renewable energy exhibitions, is currently taking place.
After the signing ceremony, Jiang Fei, general manager of CNBM Overseas Cooperation, told Xinhua the new partnership will help South Africans access energy-efficient products.
“We are looking at providing new renewable solutions to help address the electricity shortages in South Africa. We see a great potential market for many of our smart solutions,” said Jiang.
She said Hisense South Africa and CNBM will provide smart meters, charging stations, energy storage solutions and other smart solutions for South Africa’s transition to clean energy.
Starting on Tuesday, the Solar and Storage Live Africa 2025 will run until Thursday, with many Chinese companies, including Huawei, showcasing their products and solutions.
Russia and the United States have agreed to ensure the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, provided that sanctions were eased on Russia’s agricultural and food trade, the Kremlin said Tuesday.
The Kremlin said the agreement includes ensuring the safety of navigation in the Black Sea, the non-use of force, and preventing commercial ships from being used for military purposes, with inspections in place to enforce this.
It also added that the United States will help in restoring Russia’s access to global markets for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lowering shipping insurance costs, and improving access to ports and international payment systems.
The agreement will enter into force after a series of sanctions and restrictions related to its agricultural and food trade were lifted, the Kremlin noted.
The move would include lifting Western sanctions on the Russian Agricultural Bank, which services agricultural businesses, and reconnecting the bank to the SWIFT international messaging system.
Russia has also listed in the conditions the removal of restrictions on its food and fertilizer producers and exporters, on the servicing of related Russian-flagged vessels in ports, and on the related agricultural machinery supplies to Russia.
The Kremlin statement came after Russian and U.S. representatives wrapped up their Monday’s talks in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, where both sides sought arrangements for the safety of navigation in the Black Sea.
Russia and Ukraine signed separately with Türkiye and the United Nations the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul in July 2022, which secured the export of Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products from Black Sea ports.
As a parallel agreement, Russia and the UN signed a memorandum of understanding on the facilitation of Russian food and fertilizer exports.
On July 17, 2023, Russia suspended its participation in the Black Sea deal, citing unfulfilled commitments to the Russian part.
Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry
New figures show that headline and underlying inflation fell last month.
This is more positive and promising news that shows we’re making progress together in the fight against inflation.
Monthly inflation fell to 2.4 per cent in the year to February 2025.
Annual trimmed mean inflation fell to 2.7 per cent.
Today’s headline result was below the median market expectation.
Inflation was high and rising when we came to government and now it’s much lower and falling.
Headline inflation has been at or below the midpoint of the Reserve Bank’s target band for six consecutive months.
Underlying inflation has been below three per cent for three consecutive months.
This is even more proof that inflation continues to moderate in our economy.
The Budget we handed down this week continues the fight against inflation and shows that Treasury now expects inflation to return sustainably to the target band six months sooner – in the middle of this year, rather than at the end.
Today’s result is a reminder of our substantial and sustained progress in the fight against inflation.
Under Labor, inflation is down, wages are up, unemployment is low, interest rates have started to come down and we’ve topped up our tax relief to give every taxpayer two new tax cuts from next year.
We know that these monthly numbers are volatile and can bounce around but the direction of travel on inflation is clear.
On the official quarterly measure, inflation under Labor is almost a third of the 6.1 per cent we inherited. Australia’s inflation is now lower than most major advanced economies.
While most other advanced economies have paid for progress on inflation with much higher unemployment, growth going backwards, or a recession, we’ve managed to preserve the progress we’ve made in our labour market while inflation has come down.
Electricity prices fell 13.2 cent in the year to February but would have fallen only 1.2 per cent without the energy rebates for every household we are rolling out with the states.
Rents rose 5.5 per cent in the year but would have increased 6.8 per cent without the recent increase to Commonwealth Rent Assistance.
Even with this substantial progress, we know people are still under pressure and that’s why our cost‑of‑living help is so important.
We’re delivering two new tax cuts that will put an average of about $50 a week back in taxpayers’ pockets when combined with our tax cuts from 2024.
Our Budget is all about helping with the cost of living and finishing the fight against inflation, strengthening Medicare and building Australia’s future.
From 1 April 2025, avian influenza and Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection will become notifiable conditions in Victoria.
Avian influenza in a person will become an urgent notifiable condition. Medical practitioners and pathology services must notify cases immediately (as soon as practicable, and in any case, within 24 hours) upon diagnosis to the Department of Health. Pathology services must also provide written notification within 5 working days.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection will become a routine notifiable condition for pathology services only. Pathology services must provide written notification of Vibrio parahaemolyticus detection or isolation in a clinical specimen to the Department of Health within 5 working days.
Avian influenza is a highly contagious viral infection of birds that can rarely affect people. Those who have had close or prolonged contact with infected birds or other animals or their contaminated environments are at highest risk of infection.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection most commonly presents as acute gastroenteritis associated with consumption of raw and undercooked seafood.
What is the issue?
The Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 requires that prescribed conditions and micro-organisms are notified to the Department of Health. This law exists to monitor, prevent and control the occurrence of infectious diseases and other specified conditions to protect the Victorian community from further illness.
From 1 April 2025, avian influenza will become an urgent notifiable condition and Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection will become a routine notifiable condition for both medical practitioners and pathology services in Victoria.
Making these conditions notifiable enables public health response actions to be initiated more promptly and facilitates the collection of more comprehensive and accurate surveillance data.
Avian influenza, commonly referred to as ‘bird flu’, is a contagious infection of birds, caused by multiple avian influenza viruses. Wild birds are considered the natural host for these viruses. Sometimes these viruses spill over from wild birds into domestic bird populations causing disease. Several outbreaks have previously occurred in Australia among commercial flocks of birds. In May 2024, Australia reported its first human case of avian influenza H5N1 in a returned overseas traveller.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a bacterium found in marine waters that most commonly causes acute gastroenteritis with watery diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever and headache. Illness is primarily associated with consumption of raw or undercooked seafood, particularly oysters and other shellfish. In Australia, several multi-jurisdictional outbreaks linked to locally grown oysters have occurred over the past ten years, with significant human health, economic and international trade impact. Less commonly Vibrio parahaemolyticus can also cause wound infection when sea water contaminates an open wound.
Who is at risk?
Most people are not at risk of avian influenza, as the viruses do not spread easily from birds to people. People who have close or prolonged unprotected contact with infected birds or animals or their contaminated environments are at highest risk of infection.
Although limited human-to-human transmission of avian influenza viruses may have occurred in some instances, sustained human-to-human transmission has not been identified to date.
People cannot be infected with avian influenza through eating fully cooked poultry or eggs, even in areas with an outbreak.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection can infect individuals of any age. Risks factors for developing severe disease include underlying chronic illness, being immunocompromised, consumption of antibiotics and medications that reduce stomach acid levels.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus does not usually spread from person to person, however, person-to-person transmission is possible if there is poor personal hygiene.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of avian influenza is confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for avian influenza viruses, on nasopharyngeal and throat swabs. As sample collection may induce coughing, where avian influenza is suspected swabs should be collected in a negative pressure room if available and using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
Not everyone with symptoms of influenza needs to be tested for or notified as having suspected avian influenza.
A suspected case of avian influenza requires both clinical evidence and epidemiological evidence. Epidemiological evidence may include:
close contact with a probable or confirmed human avian influenza case
exposure to birds, bird carcasses, or to environments contaminated by bird faeces, in an area with suspected or confirmed avian influenza infections in birds or other animals
consumption of raw or undercooked poultry products from an area with suspected or confirmed avian influenza infections in birds
close contact with a confirmed avian influenza infected animal other than birds (for example, cat or pig)
handling samples suspected of containing avian influenza virus in a laboratory or other setting.
Diagnosis of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection relies on laboratory detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus by nucleic acid testing or isolation of the bacterium from an appropriate clinical specimen. For more information refer to the Communicable Diseases Network Australia Surveillance CaseDefinition.
Confirmed cases of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection are designated based only on definitive laboratory evidence and are therefore required to be notified by pathology services.
Recommendations
For medical practitioners
From 1 April 2025, medical practitioners must notify all patients with suspected or confirmed avian influenza to the Department of Health immediately (as soon as practicable and within 24 hours) upon diagnosis by telephone on 1300 651 160 (24/7). Notifying medical practitioners will be connected to the appropriate Local Public Health Unit.
Seek laboratory confirmation urgently for all suspected cases of avian influenza. All suspected cases should be discussed with the relevant Local Public Health Unit who can provide advice on testing and coordinate with the laboratory.
All samples should be sent for urgent testing at the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL). Record relevant clinical details, suspected diagnosis and risk factors on the request form.
Consider the need for contact management of patients with avian influenza. This may include post-exposure prophylaxis in eligible high-risk contacts. For further advice, refer to an infectious disease specialist or contact your Local Public Health Unit (after hours contact via 1300 651 160).
From 1 April 2025, pathology services must notify any isolation or detection of avian influenza (subtype of Influenza A) to the Department of Health immediately (as soon as practicable and within 24 hours) upon diagnosis by telephone on 1300 651 160 (24/7). Notifying pathology services will be connected to the appropriate Local Public Health Unit. Pathology services must also follow up with written notifications within 5 working days.
From 1 April 2025, pathology services must provide written notification of any isolation or detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus within five working days to the Department of Health by electronic laboratory report (ELR) or by faxing the laboratory report to 1300 651 170.
More information
For more information, please contact the Department of Health on 1300 651 160 (24/7).
For decades, researchers examined work and home life as separate domains. If they were taken together it was usually to study so-called work-life balance.
But these days, the reality is more complex. Our work and home lives are more seamlessly integrated than ever, largely because of communications technology and the work-from-home trend.
This can mean we deal with a work matter and a bit of domestic or family business virtually simultaneously, shifting attention and focus from one to the other within seconds.
We’ve dubbed this phenomenon “zigzag working” to describe how employees blend work and family roles within times and spaces that might once have been separate.
During and in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, this became more common as many working parents had to perform their paid work at home. But as workers increasingly return to the office, has zigzag working become the new normal?
In our research, we studied zigzag working beyond COVID to test support for it, and to understand its effects on conflict and happiness. Our study used a survey with two samples: 318 employees and 373 managers.
Zigzag working in action
Zigzag working provides a unique way to examine the blending of work and life. Frequent interspersing of family and work happens regularly. But what does it look like?
Consider Raj, a senior banking professional and solo parent of a 14-year-old. Here’s how a couple of hours of interspersing work and family while in the office unfold:
11:02 am. While listening to the CEO’s update, Raj messages his son, encouraging him to play basketball in the school break instead of gaming. His son responds with “whatever”.
11:09 am. Raj replies: “Yes, whatever – go have a run.”
11:48 am. He dashes out to buy lunch, remembering school camp fees are due by 5 pm.
11:54 am. Heading back to his office, he takes a call from a colleague.
12:02 pm. Back at his desk, Raj checks his diary while on the call, realising it’s his mother’s birthday.
12:11 pm. Raj orders flowers for her, remembering he often said “whatever” as a teenager. He starts a message to his son but is interrupted when pulled into an urgent meeting.
12:27 pm. As the meeting unfolds, Raj realises it has minimal impact on his division. Multitasking, he messages his son, replies to an email and mentally reviews his to-do list, including the camp fees.
12.43 pm. Working on a product proposal, he notices no replies from his son or the florist, but his mother has messaged telling him not to bring anything for dinner since he’s so busy.
Technology has allowed employees to blend work and family roles simultaneously. GaudiLab/Shutterstock
Zigzag working results
After speaking with employees and managers, we were able to identify several key points.
• Zigzag working, characterised by frequent small transitions between work and family responsibilities, occurs throughout the workday.
• Both men and women regularly zigzag between work and family responsibilities during the day. Gender differences were tested for, finding no significant variation in zigzagging behaviour. This contrasts with prior research that often finds gender differences in work-family conflict.
• Managers zigzag more than employees.
• Zigzag working is more prevalent for those working from home. This aligns with the idea that remote work environments make it easier for employees to switch rapidly between work and personal responsibilities.
• Even those not working from home still reported moderate levels of zigzag working, suggesting this phenomenon is not limited to remote work.
• Zigzag working was linked to both work-family conflict and happiness, underscoring its unique impact. While managing multiple responsibilities can be challenging, it can also be rewarding – especially when individuals feel a sense of control over their time and tasks.
The key takeaway? Zigzagging exists, and it is practised across genders, levels of seniority and locations. While it makes workers busier, our research found it also makes them happier.
Employers should embrace zigzag working
Recognising zigzagging as a normal work dynamic can foster a more supportive workplace, enhancing employee wellbeing, focus and overall performance. Employers can promote discussions about zigzagging to challenge rigid work-life boundaries.
Encouraging men to share their zigzagging experiences broadens the conversation beyond the assumption that openly juggling work and family is primarily a women’s issue. Normalising work-family intersections can make them feel more manageable and even gratifying.
Zigzagging is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Employers should recognise that zigzagging can vary by job role, time constraints and caregiving responsibilities, differing across professions and individuals.
Technology can further support zigzag working, enabling staff to efficiently manage both work and family responsibilities.
Zigzagging provides a fresh perspective on the blend of work and family, revealing the interplay between work and family can be simultaneously both beneficial and detrimental. Zigzaggers may be busy, but they are also happy – working as masters of their own universes.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
TPG Telecom Limited has paid $75,120 in penalties after the ACCC issued it with four infringement notices for alleged contraventions of the Telecommunications Act by failing to comply with its joint functional separation undertaking.
TPG’s undertaking includes obligations designed to ensure separation of wholesale and retail functions as required by the carrier separation rules in the Telecommunications Act.
The ACCC alleges that, from 31 August 2023 to 22 May 2024, TPG failed to have measures in place to prevent staff of its wholesale and retail businesses from accessing the other’s premises unless accompanied to the extent practicable while on the premises, as required in the undertaking.
It is alleged that on four occasions a senior TPG wholesale staff member worked unaccompanied in offices where TPG retail staff were located without any physical or other security barriers separating the respective staff.
The staff separation obligations are intended to prevent staff from the two businesses sharing sensitive information that could favour TPG’s own retail operations over third-party retailers on its Vision Network.
Although there was no evidence that sensitive information was shared, the alleged conduct had the potential to affect competition in relation to the supply of retail broadband services to a significant number of consumers.
“This is our first enforcement action for an alleged contravention of the carrier separation rules as we continue to focus on promoting competition in essential services, such as telecommunications,” ACCC Commissioner Liza Carver said.
“Carriers must comply with the carrier separation rules which are designed to promote retail competition and choice for consumers on alternative fixed-line broadband networks.”
“The new telecommunications infringement notice powers allow us to respond quickly to instances of non-compliance. However, where warranted, we will not hesitate to pursue matters in the Federal Court and seek significant penalties, of up to $10 million per contravention,” Ms Carver said.
Background
On 7 April 2022, the ACCC accepted a joint functional separation undertaking given by TPG on behalf of the TPG Retailers and TPG Wholesalers under Part 8 of the Telecommunications Act.
The undertaking was given under the carrier separation rules in the Telecommunications Act, which require superfast network operators to operate on a wholesale-only basis, unless they seek an exemption from the ACCC. This means that a company that controls a superfast broadband network cannot supply retail services over it unless there is a class exemption or a functional separation undertaking in place.
On 4 September 2024, the ACCC issued the ACCC Telecommunications (Infringement Notices) Guidelines 2024 informing telecommunications operators of the ACCC’s approach to exercising its infringement notice powers for failure to comply with the carrier separation rules under Part 8 of the Telecommunications Act.
The ACCC has also published industry guidance on the carrier separation rules that provides an overview of the obligations which apply to network operators and intermediaries supplying retail services, including apartment building owners, property managers and retirement village operators.
The payment of a penalty specified in an infringement notice is not an admission of a contravention of the Telecommunications Act 1997.
The ACCC Chair, as an authorised infringement notice officer, can give an infringement notice when they have reasonable grounds to believe a person or business has contravened certain civil provisions of the Telecommunications Act 1997.
German automaker BMW on Tuesday announced the launch of its 360-degree full-chain artificial intelligence (AI) strategy in China, aimed at accelerating the integration of AI across its operations in the country.
The newly unveiled AI strategy has three main pillars of focus: enhancing user experience, empowering business processes to improve efficiency, and fostering win-win supply chain cooperation, according to the German auto behemoth.
“BMW views AI as a key driver in creating more human-centered, smarter and safer mobility solutions. The Group remains committed to innovation and responsibility, advocating for the responsible use of AI,” said BMW CEO Oliver Zipse, who recently visited China and addressed the China Development Forum 2025.
The German company said AI-powered large language models (LLMs) and intelligent systems will be integrated into its first China-made, next-generation model, set to launch in 2026, which will enhance the natural and seamless interaction between cars and drivers. Earlier this month, BMW revealed that the next-generation model, Neue Klasse, will feature a smart interconnection solution from Huawei.
With research and development (R&D) centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang and Nanjing, BMW has established its largest R&D network outside of Germany in China.
“As a central focus of our AI strategy, BMW will continue to innovate based on the next-generation technology cluster, consistently enhancing and enriching the all-scenario intelligent experience for Chinese users,” said Sean Green, president and CEO of BMW Group Region China.
In 2012, BMW became the first automotive client of Chinese battery giant CATL. Moving forward, the German carmaker has announced plans to collaborate with more top Chinese tech companies in cutting-edge areas such as AI LLMs and intelligent voice interaction, jointly developing solutions that best meet the needs of Chinese users.
Since 2010, BMW’s total investment in its Shenyang production base has totaled 116 billion yuan (about 16.16 billion U.S. dollars), making the city home to BMW’s largest production facility worldwide.
German technology company Heraeus Group on Tuesday officially launched its new quartz manufacturing plant in Shenyang, the capital of northeast China’s Liaoning Province, in its latest move to deepen Sino-German manufacturing cooperation.
With a total investment of nearly 600 million yuan (about 83.6 million U.S. dollars), the plant is Heraeus’ largest semiconductor project in China. It will focus on the development and production of high-purity and ultra-high-purity synthetic quartz products for the semiconductor industry.
The new factory’s operations are a strong demonstration of Heraeus’ “In China, for China” strategy, said Frank Stietz, COO and member of the board of managing directors of Heraeus Group.
With intelligent and environmentally friendly facilities and techniques, the new plant will optimize its logistics, workforce and information flows to enhance production efficiency.
The plant will also explore new products and techniques in a bid to meet the latest demands of China’s semiconductor clients, the company said.
Ai Zhouping, president of Heraeus Greater China, said the company will build the new factory into an advanced manufacturing and innovation base to help drive the development of the semiconductor sector and improve the semiconductor industrial chain in China’s northeastern region.
Heraeus Group, a global Fortune 500 company, operates in various sectors, including environmental protection, electronics, health care and industrial applications.
European unity is vital to tackling economic challenges ranging from new U.S. tariffs and rising public debt to the expanding influence of big tech firms, Italian political figures and analysts have said at a conference in Rome.
The conference, titled “Governing Europe and Italy in the Age of Donald Trump,” was hosted by LUISS University on Monday evening and featured prominent speakers, including former Italian Prime Ministers Mario Monti and Giuliano Amato, Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, European Commission Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, and LUISS professors.
“What we are seeing today is not the only time Europe has faced big challenges,” said Monti, who served as Italy’s prime minister between 2011 and 2013 during the global sovereign debt crisis. “But we must act together to confront the current challenges.”
Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25-percent tariff on aluminum, steel, and related imports, with another round set to take effect on April 2, though details remain unclear. In response, the European Union initially planned retaliatory tariffs for April 1 but postponed them by at least two weeks following a European Council meeting to allow more time for negotiations.
On the sidelines of the conference, economics professor Pietro Reichlin told Xinhua that the Trump administration’s unpredictable tariff policies complicate the EU’s response strategies.
Reichlin stressed the importance of understanding U.S. trade goals to reach an agreement, pointing to the EU’s surplus in goods and the U.S. strengths in services and energy as potential negotiation points.
Italy’s Finance Minister Giorgetti warned that mounting debt and the growing influence of big tech firms – particularly U.S. giants such as Google and leading players in artificial intelligence, are increasingly limiting the policymakers’ options.
According to Eurostat, the EU’s average debt stood at 81.6 percent of GDP at the end of the third quarter of 2024 while the eurozone recorded an average ratio of 88.1 percent. Italy’s debt-to-GDP ratio reached 136.3 percent, second only to Greece.
Speakers stressed the need for greater cohesion within Europe to address external trade pressures, the Ukraine conflict, and internal disputes within the bloc. Amato emphasized that cooperation, not conflict, drives prosperity.
Reichlin also stressed the importance of adapting to evolving trade dynamics with China. “Adjusting trade relations is crucial, as both sides stand to benefit from deeper engagement,” he said.
Today in a hearing of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) exposed how Big Tech uses its market power to squelch competition, suppress conservative voices, and even sway voters and control elections, such as when they buried the infamous Hunter Biden laptop story just days before the 2020 presidential election.
“It was their decision. They own it. And truthfully Facebook and others had a pattern of censoring long before this,” Hawley said, referring to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s claim that the company was pressured into censorship by the Biden Administration. “They have been avid participants in this censorship campaign.”
[embedded content]
“Companies like Facebook, Meta have enormous structural power that Mark Zuckerberg has spent [. . .] billions of dollars amassing. He has worked to destroy competitors who might break that power up or challenge that power in any way. He has used that power to stifle competition. He’s using it to stifle views he doesn’t like,” Senator Hawley continued. “This is a textbook example of what happens when a monopoly that has a political agenda [. . .] uses that monopoly in order to try to control other competitors and also to try to control the information that flows to the American people.”
Senator Hawley concluded that until these companies are stripped of their power, nothing will change.
Senator Hawley has been vocal about holding Big Tech accountable. Earlier this month, he held a hearing to highlight Big Tech’s role in facilitating child exploitation on their platforms. He has also advocated for those victimized by Big Tech and harmful AI, including having their voice and images used without their consent.
Watch the full exchange here.
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
March 25, 2025
Following Musk’s cuts to the social security workforce, seniors face longer wait times, planned office closures, and more benefit interruptions.
Video of Exchange (YouTube)
Washington, D.C. – At a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) got Mr. Frank Bisignano, President Trump’s nominee for Social Security Commissioner, to commit to meeting the staffing needs necessary to protect social security benefits amidst the Trump administration’s efforts to gut the Social Security Administration (SSA).
In the last month, SSA announced plans to cut over 7,000 employees and close regional offices across the country. Weeks later, it implemented a policy forcing seniors to verify their identity online or in-person, creating accessibility concerns. And last week, Acting Commissioner Dudek publicly threatened to shut down the agency after a judge blocked DOGE’s efforts to access seniors’ sensitive information. All of these actions raise serious concerns about the potential interruption of benefits.
Public reports indicate that SSA may reduce its workforce by 50 percent and is considering ending the leases of 45 field offices—effectively shutting them down. When questioned if he would reverse these layoffs if confirmed, Mr. Bisignano committed to “hav[ing] the right staffing to get the job done.” Senator Warren responded, “I’m going to hold you to that.”
Senator Warren sent two letters to Mr. Bisignano ahead of his confirmation hearing, one with concerns over how staff layoffs and office closures are impacting seniors’ benefits and another pressing him on if DOGE’s cuts are a “prelude to privatization” of SSA.
Transcript: Hearings to examine the nomination of Frank Bisignano, of New Jersey, to be Commissioner of Social Security Administration for the term expiring January 19, 2031.
Senate Finance Committee
March 25, 2025
Senator Elizabeth Warren: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 90 years ago, Congress passed the Social Security Act, and the deal was simple: you work hard, you pay into Social Security across all your earnings years, and then when you retire, you can count on having those social security benefits that you paid for.
And now co-presidents Trump and Musk want to renege on that deal, so DOGE has taken a sledgehammer to the Social Security Administration, firing staff, closing field offices, and pulling the plug on phone services.
Last week, the acting commissioner of Social Security, who is openly working with Elon Musk, actually threatened to shut down the entire agency. Now this isn’t about efficiency. Elon said the quiet part, about his plans, right out loud. Musk said we should, quote, “eliminate Social Security.” The richest man in the world said that Social Security for 73 million Americans should be destroyed.
Mr. Bisignano, you have been nominated to be in charge of Social Security, and seniors need to have a right to know if you’re going to protect their benefits.
So, let’s start simple. Say a 66-year-old man qualifies for Social Security. Mr. Bisignano, could the Social Security Administration, or Elon Musk, or Donald Trump decide to cut his benefits by $5,000 for no reason, without a new law passed by Congress?
Mr. Frank Bisignano, nominee for Social Security Commissioner: Is that a question?
Senator Warren: Yeah, that’s a question.
Mr. Bisignano: I don’t see that happening.
Senator Warren: I didn’t ask if you see it happening. Could they, by law, cut those benefits without coming to Congress?
Mr. Bisignano: No.
Senator Warren: No? All right, so let’s dig deeper. Suppose the same 65-year-old calls the helpline to apply for Social Security, but he’s told about the new DOGE rule, so he has to go online or in person. He can’t drive. He has trouble with the website, so he waits until his niece can get a day off to take him to the local Social Security office, but DOGE closed that office, so they have to drive two hours to get to the next closest office. When they get there, there are only two people who are staffing a fifty-person line, so he doesn’t even make it to the front of the line before the office closes and he has to come back.
Now let’s assume it takes our fellow three months to straighten this out, and he misses a total of $5,000 in benefits checks, which, by law, he will never get back. So, Mr. Bisignano, is that a benefit cut?
Mr. Bisignano: Well, first of all, Senator—
Senator Warren: Is that a benefit cut? I’m sorry, my time is limited here. That’s an easy question. Yes or no, is it a benefit cut?
Mr. Bisignano: I have no intent to have anything like that happen under my watch, ma’am.
Senator Warren: I understand that. Is it a benefit cut?
Mr. Bisignano: I’m not sure what to call it. It sounds like a horrible situation.
Senator Warren: Is the person getting the $5,000 they were legally entitled to?
Mr. Bisignano: That was your scenario.
Senator Warren: So, are they getting $5,000 they were legally entitled to?
Mr. Bisignano: I don’t know. I mean—You just told me—
Senator Warren: You don’t know?
Mr. Bisignano: Yeah, I mean—
Senator Warren: Look, let’s be clear: that you keep $5,000 from them, by announcing a policy, it’s illegal, but there are backdoor ways to accomplish the same thing. DOGE is considering slashing up to 50% of the Social Security Administration’s workforce. That means longer lines, more errors, and for everyone who gives up or who dies before they get their benefits sorted out, those delays and errors also turn into benefit cuts.
Elon Musk is the richest man in the world, so he doesn’t need social security. He’d be glad to get rid of it, but only Congress can cut Social Security benefits, and Elon is trying a backdoor way.
So, Mr. Bisignano, if you are confirmed in this job, will you commit to reversing these cuts so that seniors get the money that the law says they are entitled to?
Mr. Bisignano: What I will commit to is that I will run the agency, and I will be in charge of the agency, and I will look at every item you want me to look at.
Senator Warren: That’s not what I’m asking you. I’m asking—you just answered the previous questions by saying you would follow the law. The law is to deliver the benefits that people are legally entitled to. If you don’t have the staff, if you don’t answer the phones, if you don’t fix the mistakes, people don’t get what they’re legally entitled to. So, I want to know, are you willing to commit, right now, that you will put enough people back to work so they can do the job of delivering the benefits that Americans earned? Yes or no?
Mr. Bisignano: I will commit to have the right staffing to get the job done.
Senator Warren: To get the job done? Meaning delivering the benefits people are entitled to?
Mr. Bisignano: Yes.
Senator Warren: I’m going to hold you to that.
Mr. Bisignano: I appreciate that.
This week’s budget will come as a relief to Australia’s neighbours in the Indo-Pacific that rely on development assistance. The Albanese government did not follow the lead of US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in cutting its foreign aid.
The Trump administration froze foreign assistance and dismantled the US Agency for International Development (USAID) when it came into office. Meanwhile, the UK announced 40% aid cuts of its own.
It is to Australia’s credit this has not happened here. Australia’s development budget remains intact this year and in forward estimates.
Sensible policymakers seem to recognise that Australia’s strategic circumstances are different. As a nation surrounded by low- and middle-income countries, Australia cannot vacate the field on development issues without enormous reputational, diplomatic and strategic damage.
The details of the development budget show Australia has been listening to its partners to identify critical gaps and reprioritise funds.
In the Pacific, funding has risen to a historic high, with no country receiving less aid. There have been changes in focus to respond to the US funding cuts, including programs on HIV/AIDS in Papua New Guinea and Fiji and gender-based violence in the Pacific.
This fits with Australia’s desire to be a partner of choice – and to prevent an increased Chinese presence in the region.
In Southeast Asia, Australia has increased its aid to all countries and has shifted funding, particularly in health where the US was a major donor.
Funds have also been reallocated to support civil society organisations working in vital areas like media freedom and human rights, which would have been a casualty in the US cuts.
There was also a shift in humanitarian funding to Myanmar and Bangladesh, where the US aid withdrawal has left Rohingya refugees in a desperate state.
Importantly, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is helping local organisations survive US cuts by allowing temporary flexibility in the use of grant funding to help them continue to deliver essential services.
Beyond these reprioritisations, the other heartening thing about the budget is its normality.
It maintains funding for assistive technology for people with disabilities and an Inclusion and Equality Fund to support LGBTQIA+ civil society organisations and human rights defenders. There are programs on maternal health, including reproductive rights.
The future is still precarious
However, it would be wrong to think this budget will fill the gaps left by the US withdrawal.
The ANU Development Policy Centre estimates that traditional OECD donors will cut at least 25% of their aid by 2027. It said, “when that much of a thing goes missing, it’s clearly at risk of collapse”.
Some development organisations will close their doors, potentially including household names that Australians have donated to for years. This is a time of huge transformation for the sector.
Another future problem will be maintaining multilateral institutions that rely on US funding – including the World Health Organization, World Food Programme, World Bank and Asian Development Bank. This will require a concerted effort with other countries.
So, while the Australian budget shows a government deploying current funding as intelligently as possible, there will eventually be limits to this approach.
In the “new world of uncertainty” described in the treasurer’s budget speech, it simply won’t be possible to meet Australia’s strategic aims and keep development spending at its current rate. It is still far away from 1% of the federal budget.
At some point, Australia must rethink the trajectory of its international commitments.
Analysis by the Development Intelligence Lab, a think tank working on development cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, has shown that over the last 25 years, the international parts of the federal budget – defence, intelligence, diplomacy and development – have held steady at around 10%.
Those in the foreign aid sector can celebrate Australia has not pulled back on its commitments like the US and UK. At the same time, we should expect the next government will inevitably be called on to do more.
Melissa Conley Tyler is Executive Director at the Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue (AP4D), an initiative funded by the foreign affairs and defence portfolios and hosted by the Australian Council for International Development..
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Toby Murray, Professor of Cybersecurity, School of Computing and Information Systems, The University of Melbourne
Yesterday, The Atlantic magazine revealed an extraordinary national security blunder in the United States. Top US government officials had discussed plans for a bombing campaign in Yemen against Houthi rebels in a Signal group chat which inadvertently included The Atlantic’s editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg.
This is hardly the first time senior US government officials have used non-approved systems to handle classified information. In 2009, the then US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton fatefully decided to accept the risk of storing her emails on a server in her basement because she preferred the convenience of accessing them using her personal BlackBerry.
Much has been written about the unprecedentednature of this latest incident. Reporting has suggested the US officials involved may have also violated federal laws that require any communication, including text messages, about official acts to be properly preserved.
But what can we learn from it to help us better understand how to design secure systems?
A classic case of ‘shadow IT’
Signal is regarded by many cybersecurity experts as one of the world’s most secure messaging apps. It has become an established part of many workplaces, including government.
Even so, it should never be used to store and send classified information. Governments, including in the US, define strict rules for how national security classified information needs to be handled and secured. These rules prohibit the use of non-approved systems, including commercial messaging apps such as Signal plus cloud services such as Dropbox or OneDrive, for sending and storing classified data.
The sharing of military plans on Signal is a classic case of what IT professionals call “shadow IT”.
It refers to the all-too-common practice of employees setting up parallel IT infrastructure for business purposes without the approval of central IT administrators.
This incident highlights the potential for shadow IT to create security risks.
Government agencies and large organisations employ teams of cybersecurity professionals whose job it is to manage and secure the organisation’s IT infrastructure from cyber threats. At a minimum, these teams need to track what systems are being used to store sensitive information. Defending against sophisticated threats requires constant monitoring of IT systems.
In this sense, shadow IT creates security blind spots: systems that adversaries can breach while going undetected, not least because the IT security team doesn’t even know these systems exist.
It’s possible that part of the motivation for the US officials in question using shadow IT systems in this instance might have been avoiding the scrutiny and record-keeping requirements of the official channels. For example, some of the messages in the Signal group chat were set to disappear after one week, and some after four.
However, we have known for at least a decade that employees also build shadow IT systems not because they are trying to weaken their organisation’s cybersecurity. Instead, a common motivation is that by using shadow IT systems many employees can get their work done faster than when using official, approved systems.
Usability is key
The latest incident highlights an important but often overlooked lesson in cybersecurity: whether a security system is easy to use has an outsized impact on the degree to which it helps improve security.
To borrow from US Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, we might say that a system designer who prioritises security at the expense of usability will produce a system that is neither usable nor secure.
The belief that to make a system more secure requires making it harder to use is as widespread as it is wrong. The best systems are the ones that are both highly secure and highly usable.
The reason is simple: a system that is secure yet difficult to use securely will invariably be used insecurely, if at all. Anyone whose inbox auto-complete has caused them to send an email to the wrong person will understand this risk. It likely also explains how The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief might have been mistakenly added by US officials to the Signal group chat.
While we cannot know for certain, reporting suggests Signal displayed the name of Jeffrey Goldberg to the chat group only as “JG”. Signal doesn’t make it easy to confirm the identity of someone in a group chat, except by their phone number or contact name.
In this sense, Signal gives relatively few clues about the identities of people in chats. This makes it relatively easy to inadvertently add the wrong “JG” from one’s contact list to a group chat.
Signal is one of the most secure messaging apps, but should never be used to store and send classified information. Ink Drop/Shutterstock
A highly secure – and highly usable – system
Fortunately, we can have our cake and eat it too. My own research shows how.
In collaboration with Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group, I helped develop what’s known as the Cross Domain Desktop Compositor. This device allows secure access to classified information while being easier to use than traditional solutions.
It is easier to use because it allows users to connect to the internet. At the same time, it keeps sensitive data physically separate – and therefore secure – but allows it to be displayed alongside internet applications such as web browsers.
One key to making this work was employing mathematical reasoning to prove the device’s software provided rock-solid security guarantees. This allowed us to marry the flexibility of software with the strong hardware-enforced security, without introducing additional vulnerability.
Where to from here?
Avoiding security incidents such as this one requires people following the rules to keep everyone secure. This is especially true when handling classified information, even if doing so requires more work than setting up shadow IT workarounds.
In the meantime, we can avoid the need for people to work around the rules by focusing more research on how to make systems both secure and usable.
Toby Murray receives funding from the Department of Defence. He is Director of the Defence Science Institute, which is funded by the Victorian, Tasmanian and Commonwealth Governments. He previously worked for the Department of Defence.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Coghlan, Senior Lecturer in Digital Ethics, Centre for AI and Digital Ethics, School of Computing and Information Systems, The University of Melbourne
Every day, users ask search engines millions of questions. The information we receive can shape our opinions and behaviour.
We are often not aware of their influence, but internet search tools sort and rank web content when responding to our queries. This can certainly help us learn more things. But search tools can also return low-quality information and even misinformation.
AI-enhanced search is marketed as convenient. But, together with other changes in the nature of search over the last decades, it raises the question: what is a good search engine?
Our new paper, published in AI and Ethics, explores this. To make the possibilities clearer, we imagine four search tool models: Customer Servant, Librarian, Journalist and Teacher. These models reflect design elements in search tools and are loosely based on matching human roles.
The four models of search tools
Customer Servant
Workers in customer service give people the things they request. If someone asks for a “burger and fries”, they don’t query whether the request is good for the person, or whether they might really be after something else.
The search model we call Customer Servant is somewhat like the first computer-aided information retrieval systems introduced in the 1950s. These returned sets of unranked documents matching a Boolean query – using simple logical rules to define relationships between keywords (e.g. “cats NOT dogs”).
Librarian
As the name suggests, this model somewhat resembles human librarians. Librarian also provides content that people request, but it doesn’t always take queries at face value.
Instead, it aims for “relevance” by inferring user intentions from contextual information such as location, time or the history of user interactions. Classic web search engines of the late 1990s and early 2000s that rank results and provide a list of resources – think early Google – sit in this category.
Journalists go beyond librarians. While often responding to what people want to know, journalists carefully curate that information, at times weeding out falsehoods and canvassing various public viewpoints.
Journalists aim to make people better informed. The Journalist search model does something similar. It may customise the presentation of results by providing additional information, or by diversifying search results to give a more balanced list of viewpoints or perspectives.
Teacher
Human teachers, like journalists, aim at giving accurate information. However, they may exercise even more control: teachers may strenuously debunk erroneous information, while pointing learners to the very best expert sources, including lesser-known ones. They may even refuse to expand on claims they deem false or superficial.
LLM-based conversational search systems such as Copilot or Gemini may play a roughly similar role. By providing a synthesised response to a prompt, they exercise more control over presented information than classic web search engines.
They may also try to explicitly discredit problematic views on topics such as health, politics, the environment or history. They might reply with “I can’t promote misinformation” or “This topic requires nuance”. Some LLMs convey a strong “opinion” on what is genuine knowledge and what is unedifying.
No search model is best
We argue each search tool model has strengths and drawbacks.
The Customer Servant is highly explainable: every result can be directly tied to keywords in your query. But this precision also limits the system, as it can’t grasp broader or deeper information needs beyond the exact terms used.
The Librarian model uses additional signals like data about clicks to return content more aligned with what users are really looking for. The catch is these systems may introduce bias. Even with the best intentions, choices about relevance and data sources can reflect underlying value judgements.
The Journalist model shifts the focus toward helping users understand topics, from science to world events, more fully. It aims to present factual information and various perspectives in balanced ways.
This approach is especially useful in moments of crisis – like a global pandemic – where countering misinformation is critical. But there’s a trade-off: tweaking search results for social good raises concerns about user autonomy. It may feel paternalistic, and could open the door to broader content interventions.
The Teacher model is even more interventionist. It guides users towards what it “judges” to be good information, while criticising or discouraging access to content it deems harmful or false. This can promote learning and critical thinking.
But filtering or downranking content can also limit choice, and raises red flags if the “teacher” – whether algorithm or AI – is biased or simply wrong. Current language models often have built-in “guardrails” to align with human values, but these are imperfect. LLMs can also hallucinate plausible-sounding nonsense, or avoid offering perspectives we might actually want to hear.
Staying vigilant is key
We might prefer different models for different purposes. For example, since teacher-like LLMs synthesise and analyse vast amounts of web material, we may sometimes want their more opinionated perspective on a topic, such as on good books, world events or nutrition.
Yet sometimes we may wish to explore specific and verifiable sources about a topic for ourselves. We may also prefer search tools to downrank some content – conspiracy theories, for example.
LLMs make mistakes and can mislead with confidence. As these models become more central to search, we need to stay aware of their drawbacks, and demand transparency and accountability from tech companies on how information is delivered.
Striking the right balance with search engine design and selection is no easy task. Too much control risks eroding individual choice and autonomy, while too little could leave harms unchecked.
Our four ethical models offer a starting point for robust discussion. Further interdisciplinary research is crucial to define when and how search engines can be used ethically and responsibly.
Damiano Spina has received funding from the Australian Research Council and is an Associate Investigator of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S).
Falk Scholer has received funding from the Australian Research Council and is an Associate Investigator of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S).
Hui Chia and Simon Coghlan do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Students learn Chinese language at the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
Cambodian civil servant Long Meikim was all ears and took good notes when a Chinese teacher taught Chinese on Monday at the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia.
The 24-year-old employee at a state ministry in Phnom Penh said she was eager to master Chinese proficiency, as it would be helpful in her job and make it easy for her to communicate with Chinese people.
Meikim is among hundreds of Cambodian students taking Chinese classes at the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia. After learning Chinese for four months, she can now communicate in simple situations and understand some basic vocabulary and grammar.
“The Chinese language has helped me a lot in my current job. Moreover, nowadays, many Chinese people have come to Cambodia,” she told Xinhua.
Meikim said she really likes the Chinese language and culture, saying that learning Chinese would give her the possibility to gain insights into ancient and diverse cultures.
“For China, I have never been there, but I’m impressed with its modern cities with skyscrapers and beautiful scenery,” she said. “The field that impressed me the most is technology. Technology in China is advanced.”
Sharing her view on the current Cambodia-China ties, Meikim said cooperation in various sectors and cultural exchange has made the two countries’ relations get closer, as their “ironclad” friendship has been further strengthened.
“I’m pleased to see excellent relations between Cambodia and China,” she said. “I hope China will increase its investment in Cambodia in order to help further boost Cambodia’s economic growth, and Chinese education will be further expanded.”
Meikim said she has dreamed of studying in China since she was in high school, and she hopes that her dream will come true one day.
Rorn Chanara, a 20-year-old learner of Chinese literature at the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the influx of Chinese investors, businesspeople, and tourists had motivated him to study Chinese.
“I think the Chinese language is good and will be useful for me in the future, helping me communicate well with Chinese people and get a proper job with a high income,” he told Xinhua.
As there are many reputable Chinese enterprises operating in the Southeast Asian country, Chanara hopes that he will become an interpreter for those companies in the future when he masters Chinese proficiency.
“The Confucius Institute has greatly contributed to promoting good relations between Cambodian and Chinese people and providing Chinese education to students, allowing them to learn both Chinese literature and culture,” he said.
Chanara praises China for its advanced technology, high development and good education system, saying he is also keen to study in China if possible.
Niu Li, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said jointly founded by Jiujiang University in East China’s Jiangxi Province and the Royal Academy of Cambodia on Dec. 22, 2009, the institute has gradually developed into one of the largest and most influential Chinese education and cultural exchange institutions in Cambodia.
“As the first Confucius Institute in Cambodia, the institute has always committed to promoting Chinese teaching, spreading Chinese culture and promoting cultural exchanges between China and Cambodia,” he told Xinhua.
In the process of development in more than 10 years, it has continuously improved its teaching network, Niu said, adding that it has now covered several provinces and cities in Cambodia, with Confucius classrooms, Chinese language centers and university Chinese departments in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville among others.
“Our goal is to provide high-quality Chinese education to government officials, military personnel and learners from all walks of life,” he said. “The total number of registered students exceeds 130,000, and the number of people studying Chinese at the institute each year exceeds 8,000.”
VILNIUS, Lithuania, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BTCC, one of the world’s longest-serving cryptocurrency exchanges, is thrilled to announce a significant revamp of its VIP program, specifically designed to cater to high-volume traders among its 6.8 million users globally. This initiative highlights BTCC’s continued commitment to delivering an exceptional trading experience through increased efficiency, exclusive rewards, and personalized support.
Founded in 2011, BTCC has been a trusted name in crypto, offering reliable and user-friendly trading services across the globe. The newly enhanced VIP program ushers in a new era of perks, prestige, and personalization for elite traders seeking more than just competitive fees.
The revamped VIP program introduces several exciting features:
Competitive Trading Fees: VIP futures trading fees have been reduced to an industry-leading rate of as low as 0.007%.
Enhanced Liquidity: SVIP users can now withdraw up to 2,500,000 USDT daily, catering to the demands of high-volume traders.
Generous Upgrade Rewards: Each upgrade in VIP levels unlocks rewards worth up to 2,500 USDT, including trading vouchers and exclusive merchandise.
24/7 Personalized Support: VIPs enjoy round-the-clock access to dedicated account managers for tailored trading assistance.
Community Prestige: Users receive a custom VIP badge that reflects their status within the BTCC community.
Luxury Experiences: SVIP users will be randomly selected to win premium vacation packages to destinations like the Maldives and Bali.
VIP Status Protection: SVIP users benefit from a grace period that prevents immediate downgrades, even during periods of reduced trading activity.
“We’re incredibly excited to launch this revamped VIP program, which truly puts our users at the heart of everything we do,” expressed Alex, Head of Operations at BTCC. “This revamped program is all about empowering high-volume traders. With tailored services, competitive fees, and exclusive rewards, we are dedicated to providing the tools and support that our most active users need to thrive in the fast-paced crypto market.”
About BTCC
Founded in 2011, BTCC is a leading global cryptocurrency exchange with the vision to make crypto trading reliable and accessible to everyone. With a strong presence in over 100 countries and regions and a user base of over 6.8 million, BTCC continues to deliver innovation, security, and unmatched user experience in the cryptocurrency world.
