But so far, zoos are not among the many issues the Trump administration has focused on.
That might no longer be the case.
Trump issued an executive order on March 27, 2025, to restore “truth and sanity” at federal history sites.
“Over the past decade, Americans have witnessed a concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation’s history,” Trump wrote in the executive order, “replacing facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth.” As a corrective, he instructed Vice President JD Vance to ferret out “improper ideology” at the Smithsonian Institution, a group of museums and research centers created and funded by the federal government.
The executive order also applied to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., which has been part of the Smithsonian since 1890.
NBC “Late Night” host Seth Meyers joked about the executive order on his show on April 2, characterizing it as evidence of an authoritarian personality.
“Seriously, what the hell is ‘improper’ ideology at the zoo? Trump is starting to get into weird dictator s—,” Meyers said.
Meyers’ astonishment should come as no surprise. Zoos go to great lengths to portray themselves as scientifically objective and politically neutral.
Yet as a scholar of wars’ effects on American culture and society, I know that zoos have always been ideological, sending subtle – and not so subtle – messages about topics that have little to do with animals.
Historically, zoos have been used to justify colonial exploitation. They have lent weight to eugenicist ideas about racial hierarchy. And they have served as backdrops for all kinds of political theater.
During the 1920s and 1930s, for example, Italian strongman Benito Mussolini liked to climb inside the lion cage at the Rome Zoo to demonstrate the courage and vitality he associated with fascist politics.
Benito Mussolini, the longtime fascist dictator of Italy, visits a zoo in Rome in 1924.
World war zoos
Zoo ownership and funding models depend on the individual zoo, but many zoos receive at least some government funding to operate.
At the start of World War II, most governments required zoos to embrace an ideology of sacrifice – a willingness to set the needs of the state above their own.
For zoos in North America and the British Empire, this meant slashing workers’ pay, rationing food supplies and offering uniformed soldiers special access to zoo facilities.
It also meant destroying animals considered a threat to public safety, especially in the event of a bombing or assault that could set them free. In 1939, the London Zoo killed more than 200 animals, starting with the black widow spiders and venomous snakes. Other zoos did the same, slaughtering their animal collections as a precaution against possible escape.
Joan the hippo at the London Zoo gets a drink of water in June 1939. Fox Photos/Getty Images
Authoritarian governments during World War II exercised almost total control over their nations’ zoos.
Under Adolf Hitler, German zoos enforced “Aryan-only” visitation policies, festooned their grounds with swastikas, hosted galas for Nazi dignitaries and exhibited animals looted from zoos in occupied nations.
In Japan, the governor of Tokyo ordered the Ueno Zoo to carry out a series of “propaganda killings” aimed at strengthening public commitment to the wartime struggle. Starting in August 1943, zoo staff shot, electrocuted, stabbed and strangled more than 20 animals, including a polar bear, an American bison, a python and a leopard cub.
Tokyo’s zoo also starved to death three elephants named Jon, Tonki and Hanako. Weeks after the zoo held an official funeral for its animals, two of the three elephants that were not actually dead continued to suffer, their cages covered in bunting so the public would not see the ghastly evidence.
Even as the fighting raged, the Soviet government directed its zoos to develop practical measures to help the war effort. At the Moscow Zoo, staff taught people how to breed mice and rabbits for medical applications, such as vaccine testing.
All the while, Soviet zoo employees had to demonstrate ideological vigilance in the workplace. Any slipup could mean official sanction, loss of position or worse.
Cold War zoos
During the Cold War, governments around the world continued to view zoos through an ideological lens.
This was especially true in Berlin, where the city’s two zoos – one in the capitalist West, the other in the communist East – became symbols of competing ideological worldviews.
No zoo animals were more ideologically fraught in the Cold War than giant pandas, endemic to the forested mountains of central China.
In the 1950s and 1960s, American zoos were denied permission by the U.S. government to import pandas from China. The State Department considered them “enemy goods.”
First lady Pat Nixon welcomes pandas to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., in 1972.
That changed in 1972, when President Richard Nixon, during a thawing of the Cold War, famously returned from China with Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, the first giant pandas who were gifted to and exhibited in the U.S. in decades.
The National Zoo unveiled China’s latest “soft power ambassadors” in January 2025. Three-year-old pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao are set to remain in D.C. for 10 years – long enough to win the hearts and minds of millions of zoo visitors.
John M. Kinder does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
WISeKey Confirms June Launch of Next-Generation WISeSat Satellite with SpaceX Featuring Encrypted Communications and SEALCOIN Integration
Geneva, Switzerland, May 1, 2025 –WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”) (SIX: WIHN, NASDAQ: WKEY), a leading global cybersecurity, blockchain, and IoT company, today announces the upcoming launch of its next-generation WISeSat.Space satellite aboard a SpaceX mission in June 2025. This milestone marks a major technological step forward for WISeSat.Space’s secure space communications infrastructure and the deployment of Transactional IoT (t-IoT) solutions directly from orbit.
The upcoming satellite launch introduces two significant innovations: first, the capability to establish secure, encrypted communications with WISePhone mobile devices, and second, the integration of SEALCOIN, a decentralized agent embedded in the satellite enabling machine-to-machine (M2M) transactions from space. These features significantly enhance the utility of WISeSat.Space’s constellation, as it evolves toward a fully decentralized, secure IoT and communications network supporting autonomous digital ecosystems.
This development supports WISeSat.Space’s ongoing mission to deliver secure, scalable IoT connectivity from space and strengthens European independence in satellite communications. By anchoring its infrastructure in Europe, WISeSat.Space ensures data sovereignty and helps reduce reliance on non-European providers for strategic technologies, in line with EU objectives for technological resilience and autonomy.
The new generation of WISeSat.Space satellites are compact picosatellites that leverage SEALSQ Corp. (“SEALSQ”) (NASDAQ: LAES) semiconductors and WISeKey’s advanced cryptographic keys, including quantum-resistant algorithms. These satellites are optimized for secure, low-power, and long-range data collection in off-grid and remote locations. Their applications span environmental monitoring, disaster management, industrial automation, and smart agriculture. The technology ensures encrypted end-to-end data transmission, enabling safe and reliable operations in critical sectors.
The launch will also include a Proof of Concept (PoC) demonstrating SEALCOIN’s potential to facilitate secure, decentralized satellite-initiated transactions with IoT devices without human intervention. Built on Hedera’s Decentralized Ledger Technology (DLT), SEALCOIN offers transparent, tamper-proof, and autonomous transaction capability,paving the way for a scalable transactional IoT infrastructure. This breakthrough sets the stage for next-generation M2M applications in smart cities, logistics, environmental sensing, and beyond.
WISeSat a secure nanosatellite platform developed by WISeKey, through its space division, WISeSat.Space, is designed to provide resilient, encrypted, and globally accessible connectivity for IoT ecosystems. Its primary function is to enable secure, satellite-based communication for IoT devices deployed in remote, hard-to-reach, or infrastructure-poor areas where traditional terrestrial networks (such as fiber, 4G/5G, or Wi-Fi) are unavailable, unreliable, or too costly to implement.
A key use case is in precision agriculture, where WISeSat can connect sensors measuring soil moisture, temperature, crop health, and irrigation needs, helping farmers optimize yields, reduce water waste, and increase sustainability,even in rural or developing regions. This satellite connectivity ensures constant data flow regardless of geography or local telecom limitations.
Another important application is in environmental monitoring and climate science. Sensors deployed in remote forests, oceans, glaciers, or protected natural areas can transmit real-time data on air quality, deforestation, wildlife movement, or water levels. This helps governments, researchers, and NGOs make faster decisions on conservation, disaster prevention, or policy implementation.
In industries such as oil and gas, mining, and maritime logistics, WISESat provides critical connectivity to monitor and control assets located in offshore rigs, remote mines, or cargo ships. This includes real-time tracking of machinery health, fuel consumption, emissions, and security status. Similarly, in global supply chains, the platform enables secure monitoring of the condition and location of containers and high-value goods as they traverse continents, oceans, and customs zones, greatly reducing theft, spoilage, and logistical inefficiencies.
Healthcare is another frontier where WISESat is impactful. In remote or underserved areas, health monitoring devices and mobile clinics can use the satellite network to transmit patient data securely to centralized hospitals or doctors, enabling telemedicine and diagnostics even during emergencies or pandemics. It is especially critical for applications like vaccine refrigeration monitoring, ensuring proper storage temperatures in regions lacking stable electricity or cellular coverage.
WISeSat also enhances disaster response capabilities. During earthquakes, hurricanes, blackouts or wildfires, terrestrial infrastructure is often destroyed or disrupted. WISeSat ensures that emergency response units and sensor networks continue to transmit data on ground conditions, population movement, and structural damage, enabling faster, data-driven response coordination.
From a cybersecurity standpoint, WISESat integrates WISeKey’s advanced cryptographic technologies, including post-quantum encryption developed through its SEALSQ subsidiary. This makes it suitable for high-security applications such as defense, critical infrastructure monitoring, smart cities, and government communication, where data integrity and identity verification are essential. It also supports remote identity management, enabling secure authentication of both devices and users over satellite links.
WISeSat serves as a critical enabler of secure digital transformation in sectors where uninterrupted, trustworthy, and decentralized connectivity is mission-critical. It bridges the digital divide and protects data integrity from the sky, ushering in a new era of trusted space-based communications.
In parallel, the satellite’s upgraded semiconductor components, developed by SEALSQ, will enhance processing and communications capabilities, enabling faster and more responsive data transmission. These improvements are essential for real-time monitoring and automation in industries affected by climate change and other dynamic conditions.
With this launch, WISeKey reaffirms its commitment to advancing secure, decentralized digital infrastructure from space while supporting Europe’s leadership in satellite innovation. The June mission represents a major leap forward in enabling trusted connectivity, secure IoT transactions, and autonomous systems that extend far beyond Earth’s surface.
About WISeKey
WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”, SIX: WIHN; Nasdaq: WKEY) is a global leader in cybersecurity, digital identity, and IoT solutions platform. It operates as a Swiss-based holding company through several operational subsidiaries, each dedicated to specific aspects of its technology portfolio. The subsidiaries include (i) SEALSQ Corp (Nasdaq: LAES), which focuses on semiconductors, PKI, and post-quantum technology products, (ii) WISeKey SA which specializes in RoT and PKI solutions for secure authentication and identification in IoT, Blockchain, and AI, (iii) WISeSat AG which focuses on space technology for secure satellite communication, specifically for IoT applications, (iv) WISe.ART Corp which focuses on trusted blockchain NFTs and operates the WISe.ART marketplace for secure NFT transactions, and (v) SEALCOIN AG which focuses on decentralized physical internet with DePIN technology and house the development of the SEALCOIN platform.
Each subsidiary contributes to WISeKey’s mission of securing the internet while focusing on their respective areas of research and expertise. Their technologies seamlessly integrate into the comprehensive WISeKey platform. WISeKey secures digital identity ecosystems for individuals and objects using Blockchain, AI, and IoT technologies. With over 1.6 billion microchips deployed across various IoT sectors, WISeKey plays a vital role in securing the Internet of Everything. The company’s semiconductors generate valuable Big Data that, when analyzed with AI, enable predictive equipment failure prevention. Trusted by the OISTE/WISeKey cryptographic Root of Trust, WISeKey provides secure authentication and identification for IoT, Blockchain, and AI applications. The WISeKey Root of Trust ensures the integrity of online transactions between objects and people. For more information on WISeKey’s strategic direction and its subsidiary companies, please visit www.wisekey.com.
Disclaimer This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of WISeKey International Holding Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. WISeKey International Holding Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”), the FinSa’s predecessor legislation or advertising within the meaning of the FinSA. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey.
Press and InvestorContacts
WISeKey International Holding Ltd Company Contact: Carlos Moreira Chairman & CEO Tel: +41 22 594 3000 info@wisekey.com
WISeKey Investor Relations (US) The Equity Group Inc. Lena Cati Tel: +1 212 836-9611 lcati@equityny.com
Question for written answer E-001594/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Tomislav Sokol (PPE)
Immunosenescence, the age-related decline in immune function, increases the vulnerability of older adults to infectious diseases, such as influenza or COVID-19, as well as non-communicable diseases, including cancer. With one third of EU citizens projected to be over 65 by 2100, addressing this challenge becomes even more urgent as immunosenescence reduces both the immune response to infection and the protection provided by influenza vaccination. Despite this, national vaccination strategies often do not fully account for these age-related changes, limiting their impact. With Europe’s ageing demographic, ensuring that vaccination strategies are optimised for older adults is critical for public health and economic sustainability.
In this context:
1.What actions will the Commission undertake to encourage the Member States to adapt their national vaccination programmes to better account for immunosenescence, ensuring older adults receive the most effective and appropriate vaccines available?
2.How does the Commission plan to work with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to develop more specific guidance on age-related vaccine recommendations, ensuring that national immunisation strategies reflect the latest scientific evidence on vaccine effectiveness in older populations?
European Commission Press release Brussels, 29 Apr 2025 The European Union is strengthening its preparedness for a potential flu pandemic. A new joint procurement contract, signed by the European Commission, through the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, offers 17 countries the possibility to purchase up to 27,403,200 pandemic influenza vaccine doses.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurates WAVES 2025 WAVES highlights India’s creative strengths on a global platform: PM
World Audio Visual And Entertainment Summit, WAVES, is not just an acronym, It is a wave of culture, creativity and universal connectivity: PM
India, with a billion-plus population, is also a land of a billion-plus stories: PM
This is the right time to Create In India, Create For The World: PM
Today when the world is looking for new ways of storytelling, India has a treasure of its stories dating back thousands of years, this treasure is timeless, thought-provoking and truly global: PM
This is the time of dawn of Orange Economy in India, Content, Creativity and Culture – these are the three pillars of Orange Economy: PM
Screen size may be getting smaller, but the scope is becoming infinite, Screen is getting micro but the message is becoming mega: PM
Today, India is emerging as a global hub for film production, digital content, gaming, fashion, music and live concerts: PM
To the creators of the world — dream big and tell your story, To investors — invest not just in platforms, but in people, To Indian youth — tell your one billion untold stories to the world: PM
Posted On: 01 MAY 2025 1:42PM by PIB Delhi
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the WAVES 2025, India’s first-of-its-kind World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit at the Jio World Centre, Mumbai today. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, he greeted everyone on the occasion of Maharashtra day and Gujarat Statehood day being celebrated today. Acknowledging the presence of all international dignitaries, ambassadors, and leaders from the creative industry, the Prime Minister highlighted the significance of the gathering, emphasizing that over 100 countries’ artists, innovators, investors, and policymakers have come together to lay the foundation for a global ecosystem of talent and creativity. “WAVES is not merely an acronym but a wave representing culture, creativity, and universal connectivity”, he remarked, further underlining that the summit showcases the expansive world of films, music, gaming, animation, and storytelling, offering a global platform for artists and creators to connect and collaborate. The Prime Minister congratulated all participants on this historic occasion and extended his warm welcome to the distinguished guests from India and abroad.
Reflecting on India’s rich cinematic history at the WAVES Summit, Shri Modi noted that on May 3, 1913, India’s first feature film, Raja Harishchandra, was released, directed by the pioneering filmmaker Dadasaheb Phalke. He recalled that Phalke’s birth anniversary was celebrated just a day earlier. He underscored the impact of Indian cinema over the past century, stating that it has successfully taken India’s cultural essence to every corner of the world. He highlighted the popularity of Raj Kapoor in Russia, the global recognition of Satyajit Ray at Cannes, and the Oscar-winning success of RRR, emphasizing how Indian filmmakers continue to shape global narratives. He also acknowledged the cinematic poetry of Guru Dutt, the social reflections of Ritwik Ghatak, the musical genius of A.R. Rahman, and the epic storytelling of S.S. Rajamouli, stating that each of these artists has brought Indian culture to life for millions worldwide. Shri Modi also remarked that Indian cinema legends were honored through commemorative postage stamps, paying tribute to their contributions to the industry.
Emphasising the importance of India’s creative capability and global collaboration, the Prime Minister remarked that over the years, he has engaged with professionals from gaming, music, filmmaking, and acting, discussing ideas and insights that deepened his understanding of the creative industries. He highlighted a unique initiative undertaken during Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary, where singers from 150 countries came together to perform ‘Vaishnav Jan To’, a hymn written by Narsinh Mehta nearly 500-600 years ago. He stated that this global artistic effort created a significant impact, bringing the world together in harmony. He further noted that several individuals present at the summit had contributed to the Gandhi One Fifty initiative by creating short video messages, advancing Gandhi’s philosophies. He remarked that the collective strength of India’s creative world, combined with international collaboration, has already demonstrated its potential, and that vision has now materialized as WAVES.
Shri Modi praised the resounding success of the first edition of the WAVES Summit, stating that from its very first moment, the event has captured global attention and is “roaring with purpose.” He acknowledged the dedication and efforts of the summit’s Advisory Board, emphasizing their role in making WAVES a landmark event in the creative industry. He highlighted the large-scale Creators Challenge and Creatosphere initiative, which saw participation from approximately 100,000 creative professionals across 60 countries. He remarked that out of 32 challenges, 800 finalists have been selected, recognizing their talent and congratulating them on their achievement. He encouraged the finalists, stating that they now have the opportunity to make their mark on the global creative stage.
The Prime Minister expressed enthusiasm for the creative developments showcased at the Bharat Pavilion during the WAVES Summit. He remarked that significant innovation has been achieved, and he looked forward to witnessing these creations firsthand. The Prime Minister highlighted the WAVES Bazaar initiative, noting its potential to encourage new creators and connect them with emerging markets. He praised the concept of linking buyers and sellers in the art industry, stating that such initiatives strengthen the creative economy and provide fresh opportunities for artists.
Reflecting on the deep-rooted connection between creativity and human experience, stating that a child’s journey begins with the lullaby of a mother, their first introduction to sound and music, Shri Modi remarked that just as a mother weaves dreams for her child, creative professionals shape the dreams of an era. He underscored that the essence of WAVES lies in bringing together such visionary individuals who inspire and influence generations through their art.
Reaffirming his belief in collective efforts, stating that the dedication of artists, creators, and industry leaders will elevate WAVES to new heights in the coming years, Shri Modi urged his industry counterparts to continue the same level of support and handholding that made the first edition of the summit a success. He remarked that many exciting waves are yet to come and announced that WAVES Awards will be launched in the future, establishing themselves as the most prestigious honors in the world of art and creativity. He emphasized the need for sustained commitment, stating that the goal is to win the hearts of people across the world and inspire generations through creativity.
Highlighting India’s rapid economic progress, stating that the nation is on its way to becoming the world’s third-largest economy, the Prime Minister remarked that India holds the number one position in global fintech adoption, is the second-largest mobile manufacturer, and has the third-largest startup ecosystem worldwide. He emphasized that India’s journey toward becoming a developed nation has only begun and has much more to offer. “India is not only home to a billion-plus population but also a billion-plus stories”, he added. Referencing the country’s rich artistic history, he recalled that two thousand years ago, Bharata Muni’s Natya Shastra emphasized the power of art in shaping emotions and human experiences. He noted that centuries ago, Kalidasa’s Abhijnana-Shakuntalam introduced a new direction in classical drama. Prime Minister underscored the deep cultural roots of India, stating that every street has a story, every mountain carries a song, and every river hums a tune. He remarked that India’s six lakh villages each have their own folk traditions and unique storytelling styles, with communities preserving their histories through folklore. He highlighted the spiritual significance of Indian music, noting that whether it is bhajans, ghazals, classical compositions, or contemporary tunes, every melody carries a story, and every rhythm holds a soul.
Shri Modi underscored India’s deep-rooted artistic and spiritual heritage at the WAVES Summit, highlighting the concept of Naad Brahma, the divine sound. He remarked that Indian mythology has always expressed divinity through music and dance, citing Lord Shiva’s Damru as the first cosmic sound, Goddess Saraswati’s Veena as the rhythm of wisdom, Lord Krishna’s Flute as an eternal message of love, and Lord Vishnu’s Shankha as a call for positive energy. He emphasized that the mesmerizing cultural presentation at the summit also reflected this rich heritage. Declaring that “this is the right time,” Shri Modi reiterated India’s vision of Create in India, Create for the World, asserting that the country’s storytelling tradition offers an invaluable treasure spanning thousands of years. He highlighted that India’s stories are Timeless, Thought-Provoking, and Truly Global, encompassing not just cultural themes but also science, sports, courage, and bravery. He remarked that India’s storytelling landscape blends science with fiction, and heroism with innovation, forming a vast and diverse creative ecosystem. He called upon the WAVES platform to take on the responsibility of sharing India’s extraordinary stories with the world, bringing them to future generations through new and engaging formats.
Drawing parallels between the People’s Padma awards and the vision behind the WAVES Summit, stating that both initiatives aim to recognize and uplift talent from every corner of India, the Prime Minister remarked that while Padma Awards started a few years after independence, they truly transformed when India embraced the People’s Padma, recognizing individuals serving the nation from remote areas. This shift, he emphasized, turned the awards from a ceremony into a national celebration. Similarly, the Prime Minister stated that WAVES will serve as a global platform for India’s immense creative talent across films, music, animation, and gaming, ensuring that artists from every part of the country find recognition on an international stage.
Underscoring India’s tradition of embracing diverse ideas and cultures, referencing a Sanskrit phrase, Shri Modi emphasized that India’s civilizational openness has welcomed communities like Parsis and Jews, who have thrived in the country and become an integral part of its cultural fabric. He acknowledged the presence of ministers and representatives from various countries, noting that every nation has its own successes and contributions. He remarked that India’s strength lies in respecting and celebrating global artistic achievements, reinforcing the country’s commitment to creative collaboration. He emphasized that by creating content that reflects the accomplishments of different cultures and nations, WAVES can strengthen the vision of global connectivity and artistic exchange.
The Prime Minister extended an invitation to the global creative community, assuring them that engaging with India’s stories would reveal narratives deeply resonant with their own cultures. He emphasized that India’s rich storytelling tradition carries themes and emotions that transcend borders, creating a natural and meaningful connection. He remarked that international artists and creators who explore India’s stories will experience an organic bond with the nation’s heritage. He stated that this cultural synergy will make India’s vision of Create in India even more compelling and accessible to the world.
“This is the time of dawn of Orange Economy in India, Content, Creativity and Culture – the three pillars of Orange Economy”, exclaimed Shri Modi, remarking that Indian films have now reached audiences in over 100 countries, with global viewers increasingly seeking to understand Indian cinema beyond surface-level appreciation. He highlighted the growing trend of international audiences watching Indian content with subtitles, signaling deeper engagement with India’s stories. Shri Modi also noted that India’s OTT industry has witnessed tenfold growth in recent years, stating that while screen sizes may be shrinking, the scope of content is infinite, with micro screens delivering mega messages. He observed that Indian cuisine is becoming a global favorite and expressed confidence that Indian music will soon gain similar worldwide recognition.
Emphasizing the immense potential of India’s creative economy, stating that in the coming years, its contribution to the country’s GDP is set to increase significantly, the Prime Minister remarked, “India is emerging as a global hub for film production, digital content, gaming, fashion, and music”. He noted the promising growth opportunities in the live concert industry and the vast potential in the global animation market, which currently stands at over $430 billion and is projected to double in the next decade. The Prime Minister highlighted that this presents a significant opportunity for India’s animation and graphics industry, urging stakeholders to leverage this expansion for greater international reach.
Calling upon India’s young creators to drive the nation’s Orange Economy forward, acknowledging that their passion and hard work are shaping a new wave of creativity, Shri Modi emphasized that whether they are musicians from Guwahati, podcasters from Kochi, game designers in Bengaluru, or filmmakers in Punjab, their contributions are fueling India’s growing creative sector. He assured that the government stands firmly behind creative professionals, supporting them through initiatives like Skill India, Startup Support, policies for the AVGC Industry, and global platforms like WAVES. He remarked that every effort is being made to build an environment where innovation and imagination are valued, fostering new dreams and empowering individuals to bring those dreams to life. Shri Modi highlighted that WAVES will serve as a major platform where Creativity meets Coding, Software blends with Storytelling, and Art merges with Augmented Reality. He urged young creators to make the most of this opportunity, dream big, and dedicate their efforts to realizing their visions.
The Prime Minister expressed his unwavering confidence in India’s content creators, highlighting that their free-flowing creativity is redefining the global creative landscape. He emphasized that the youthful spirit of India’s creators knows no barriers, boundaries, or hesitation, allowing innovation to thrive. He remarked that through his personal interactions with young creators, gamers, and digital artists, he has witnessed firsthand the energy and talent emerging from India’s creative ecosystem. He acknowledged that India’s massive young population is driving new creative dimensions, from reels, podcasts, and games to animation, stand-up, and AR-VR formats. The Prime Minister asserted that WAVES is a platform designed specifically for this generation—one that enables young minds to reimagine and redefine the creative revolution with their energy and efficiency.
Underscoring the importance of Creative Responsibility in a technology-driven 21st century, Shri Modi emphasised that as technology increasingly influences human lives, extra efforts are needed to preserve emotional sensitivity and cultural richness. He remarked that the creative world holds the power to foster human compassion and deepen societal consciousness. He asserted that the goal is not to create robots but to nurture individuals with heightened sensitivity, emotional depth, and intellectual richness—qualities that cannot stem from information overload or technological speed alone. Shri Modi stressed on the importance of art, music, dance, and storytelling, noting that these forms have kept human sensibilities alive for thousands of years. He urged creatives to reinforce these traditions and build a more compassionate future. He also highlighted the need to protect young generations from divisive and harmful ideologies, stating that WAVES can serve as a vital platform to uphold cultural integrity and instill positive values. He warned that neglecting this responsibility could have grave consequences for future generations.
Emphasising the transformative impact of technology on the creative world, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of global coordination to harness its full potential. He remarked that WAVES will serve as a bridge connecting Indian creators with global storytellers, animators with global visionaries, and transform gamers to global champions. He invited international investors and creators to embrace India as their content playground and explore the country’s vast creative ecosystem. Addressing global creators, the Prime Minister urged them to dream big and tell their story. He encouraged investors to invest not just in platforms, but in people, and called on Indian youth to share their one billion untold stories with the world. He concluded by extending his best wishes to all participants of the inaugural WAVES Summit.
The Governor of Maharashtra Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Union Ministers, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Dr. L. Murugan were present among other dignitaries at the event.
Background
WAVES 2025 is a four-day summit with tagline “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries” is poised to position India as a global hub for media, entertainment, and digital innovation by bringing together creators, startups, industry leaders, and policymakers from across the world.
In line with Prime Minister’s vision of leveraging creativity, technology, and talent to shape a brighter future, WAVES will integrate films, OTT, gaming, comics, digital media, AI, AVGC-XR, broadcasting, and emerging tech, making it a comprehensive showcase of India’s media and entertainment prowess. WAVES aims to unlock a $50 billion market by 2029, expanding India’s footprint in the global entertainment economy.
At WAVES 2025, India is also hosting the Global Media Dialogue (GMD) for the first time, with ministerial participation from 25 countries, marking a milestone in the country’s engagement with the global media and entertainment landscape. The Summit will also feature the WAVES Bazaar, a global e-marketplace with over 6,100 buyers, 5,200 sellers, and 2,100 projects. It aims to connect buyers and sellers locally and globally, ensuring wide-reaching networking and business opportunities.
Prime Minister visited the Creatosphere and interacted with creators, selected from the 32 Create in India Challenges launched nearly a year ago, which garnered over one lakh registrations. He will also visit the Bharat Pavilion.
WAVES 2025 will witness participation from over 90 countries, with more than 10,000 delegates, 1,000 creators, 300+ companies, and 350+ startups. The summit will feature 42 plenary sessions, 39 breakout sessions, and 32 masterclasses spanning diverse sectors including broadcasting, infotainment, AVGC-XR, films, and digital media.
Today, India is emerging as a global hub for film production, digital content, gaming, fashion, music and live concerts. pic.twitter.com/ubo3q8tx7S
The Trump administration’s cuts to funding for American universities and research have left many scientists reeling and very worried. At the National Institutes of Health, which has an annual budget of US$47 billion to support medical research both in the U.S. and around the world, nearly 800 grants have been terminated. The administration is considering cutting the overall budget of the NIH by 40%.
In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we speak to three scientists, two in the U.S. and one in South Africa, about what it’s like to be a scientist whose funding has been cut by the Trump administration.
Sunghee Lee was in a meeting when she received an email to say that her $5 million, five-year grant from the NIH had been terminated. It was March 21, and Lee, a research professor at the University of Michigan, was stunned.
“ It was very short and opaque, which is very different than how NIH usually operates”, she said. Lee’s project, which started in 2024, looked at different risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease across racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. The termination email cited diversity, equity and inclusion studies, an early target of the Trump administration’s cuts to federal research funding, which it said no longer “effectuates agency priorities.”
Lee was confused. “ Our study looks at everybody,” she said. “So if looking at everybody is a DEI study, just about any data collection in this country should be classified as DEI studies and terminated.”
An arduous application process
A few weeks earlier, Brady West, a colleague of Lee’s at the University of Michigan, had received similar news. West’s access to a federal research data center, a secure room to access restricted personal data, was withdrawn. He was told that one of his NIH-funded projects, which looked at measuring health disparities between people of different sexual identities, was no longer in compliance with recent executive orders. “Fortunately for me,” he said, “I was nearing the end of this project.”
West explains that it can take up to two years for researchers to win a grant from a federal funding agency like the NIH. That money then supports a whole team of people, including researchers and administrators. All grant applications are reviewed by a panel of experts from the field who judge whether it’s novel, important research.
”A big misconception is that an administration chooses to fund these grants based on what they believe are important topics to research,“ West said. “That’s not the case.”
HIV vaccine research
The vast majority of NIH funding goes to institutions and researchers in the U.S., but a recent analysis by the journal Nature found 811 grants to international teams in more than 60 countries worth more than $340 million.
Glenda Gray is a professor at the infectious disease and oncology research institute at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and chief scientific officer at South Africa’s Medical Research Council. She’s at the forefront of research efforts to find a vaccine for HIV, work supported largely by grants from the NIH and aid from the United States Agency for International Development.
In January, a $46 million project funded by USAID on experimental HIV vaccines that Gray ran was terminated after the Trump administration dismantled the aid agency. Then in mid-April, she saw that funding for a clinical trial unit in Soweto involved in trials for HIV vaccines had been marked as “pending.” On top of that, four global research networks on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment strategies that the Soweto unit was affiliated with were told by NIH that they could no longer spend any money in South Africa.
Gray says the level of funding, which was won in a competitive, global process, is “irreplacable” and will have drastic impact on HIV research.
“ Basically you lose the knowledge or the value of understanding HIV prevention, HIV vaccines or therapeutics. We have the infrastructure, we have the burden of disease, and we have the ability to answer these questions,” Gray said. “And so it’s going to take much longer to answer these questions than if you had South Africa there. Basically, we slow down HIV vaccine research … you slow down the process of knowledge generation.”
Listen to Sunghee Lee, Brady West and Glenda Gray talk about their experiences and what it means for their research on The Conversation Weekly podcast. It also includes an introduction with Alla Katsnelson, associate health editor at The Conversation in the U.S.
This episode of The Conversation Weekly was written and produced by Gemma Ware and Katie Flood. Mixing and sound design by Eloise Stevens and theme music by Neeta Sarl.
Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here.
Brady Thomas West has received funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Science Foundation. Sunghee Lee has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Justice. Glenda Gray has received funding from USAID co-operative agreement for HIV vaccine research and US-NIH funding for HIV vaccines.
CALGARY, Alberta, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Prospera Energy Inc. (TSX.V: PEI, OTC: GXRFF) (“Prospera”, “PEI” or the “Corporation”)
In Q4 2024, Prospera Energy underwent a strategic transformation under new leadership, shifting its focus toward reactivating existing wells within its core Saskatchewan heavy oil assets. This realignment is designed to improve production reliability and predictability, ultimately strengthening cash flow and overall financial stability. As part of this strategic shift, interim CEO Shubham Garg was appointed Chairman of the Board, and Darren Jackson assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer. As these changes take effect, PEI expects to benefit from increased access to financing, more efficient capital deployment, and enhanced financial performance in 2025. Prospera will host a live webinar conference call on May 1, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. MST to discuss 2024 results and the Company’s ongoing strategy: Click here to register.
PEI has submitted its year-end financial information for 2024, which will be showcased on April 29th, 2025, within the Company’s issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.Sedarplus.ca.
Operational highlights for 2024 are as follows:
Realized $18.1 million in sales revenue in 2024, compared to $13.1 million in 2023.
Realized average gross sales of 652 boe/d in 2024, an increase of 29% from 2023 levels of 505 boe/d.
Realized average sales prices of $75.95/boe in 2024, compared to $71.48/boe in 2023.
Realized a positive operating netback of $6,013,280 in 2024, compared to $3,356,773 in 2023.
Realized positive funds flow provided by operations of $2,623,166 in 2024, compared to $190,823 in 2023.
Completed two working interest acquisitions in core Saskatchewan assets, resulting in a 17% increase in the average working interest in the region. As of December 31, 2024, PEI’s average working interest across all properties is 97% on a production weighted basis.
PEI’s 2024 third party reserves report highlights include the following:
NPV before tax for PDP reserves increased 3% from $27.1MM to $28.0MM at a 10% discount rate.
NPV before tax for PDNP reserves doubled from $8.5MM to $18.9MM at a 10% discount rate.
NPV before tax for 1P reserves increased 24% from $89.9MM to $111.4MM at a 10% discount rate.
NPV before tax for 2P reserves increased 20% from $133.3MM to $159.3MM at a 10% discount rate.
Gross 2P reserves increased by 26% from 5,403 to 6,793 Mboe (98% liquids).
In 2024 PEI raised $16.5m in financing:
$12.2 million through the issuance of senior debt.
$3.4 million through the issuance of a GORR.
$0.9 million through the issuance of promissory notes with warrants.
Increased Property and Equipment balance to $47.8 million from $39.3 million on December 31, 2023.
Operating netback
2024
2023
Total petroleum and natural gas sales
18,126,190
13,183,464
Royalties
(1,483,792)
(1,365,520)
Operating costs
(10,629,118)
(8,461,171)
Operating netback
6,013,280
3,356,773
Operating netback ($/BOE)
2024
2023
Sales
75.95
71.48
Royalties
(6.22)
(7.40)
Operating costs
(44.54)
(45.88)
Operating netback
25.19
18.20
Assets ($)
2024
2023
Current assets
Cash
364,083
118,933
Trade and other receivables
1,874,548
3,244,596
Prepaid expenses and deposits
393,207
548,443
Inventory
564,802
521,426
Total current assets
3,196,640
4,433,398
Non-current assets
Trade and other receivables
1,676,252
4,387,826
Deposits
1,283,422
1,015,400
Property and equipment
47,776,659
39,331,690
Total assets
53,932,973
49,168,314
About Prospera
Prospera Energy Inc. is a publicly traded Canadian energy company specializing in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Prospera is dedicated to optimizing recovery from legacy fields using environmentally safe and efficient reservoir development methods and production practices. The company’s core properties are strategically located in Saskatchewan and Alberta, including Cuthbert, Luseland, Hearts Hill, and Brooks. Prospera Energy Inc. is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol PEI and the U.S. OTC Market under GXRFF.
Prospera reports gross production at the first point of sale, excluding gas used in operations and volumes from partners in arrears, even if cash proceeds are received. Gross production represents Prospera’s working interest before royalties, while net production reflects its working interest after royalty deductions. These definitions align with ASC 51-324 to ensure consistency and transparency in reporting.
It is important to note that BOEs (barrels of oil equivalent) may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. The BOE conversion ratio of 6 Mcf:1 bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Corporation and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as “will,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “expects” and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Corporation, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
Although Prospera believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because Prospera can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general (e.g., operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses, and health, safety and environmental risks), commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations and uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures.
The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Prospera. As a result, Prospera cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize, and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward- looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and Prospera does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by Canadian securities law.
Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
When it comes to our health, we’re constantly being warned about being taken in by misinformation. Yet for most of us what we believe ultimately comes down to who we trust, including which “experts” we trust.
The problem is that not everyone who presents themselves as an expert is actually an expert. And an expert in one area isn’t necessarily an expert in everything.
The reality is that we often rely on superficial cues to decide who to trust. We’re often swayed by how confidently someone speaks, their perceived authority, or how compelling their story sounds. For some, it’s simply the loudest voice that carries the most weight.
Even if we feel we have some understanding of science, few of us have the time or the capacity to verify every claim made by every so-called “expert”.
So how can we distinguish credible experts from those that are not? Here are four things I look out for.
1. Dodgy experts don’t acknowledge uncertainty
One thing that separates trustworthy experts from dodgy ones, is their humility. They have a healthy respect of the limitations of science, the gaps in the evidence, and even the limitations of their own expertise.
In contrast, one of the most common characteristics of the dodgy expert is they are misleadingly certain. They often present issues in overly simplistic, black-and-white terms, and they draw conclusions with misplaced confidence.
This, of course, is part of their appeal. A neat clear-cut message that downplays uncertainty, complexity and nuance can be persuasive – and often even more persuasive than a messy but accurate message.
One of the clearest examples of unfounded certainty was the confident claim by some “experts” early in the pandemic that COVID was no worse than the flu, a conclusion which ignored uncertainties in the emerging data.
2. The dodgy experts doesn’t strive to be objective
Credible experts follow a well-established and disciplined approach when communicating science. They present their understanding clearly, support it with evidence, and endeavour to remove emotion and bias from their thinking.
A core principle of scientific thinking is striving for objectivity – and language reflects this. Experts generally aim to provide high-quality information to assist the public to make informed decisions for themselves, rather than manipulating them to reach specific conclusions.
Dodgy experts often rely on overly emotional language, inject political agendas, or resort to personal attacks against critics in order to elicit strong emotions. This is a powerful tool for manipulating opinions when the evidence is lacking.
One of the most harmful examples of this is the use of emotional testimonials by dodgy experts who claim people have “beaten cancer naturally”, offering false hope and often leading patients to abandon proven treatments.
3. Dodgy experts cherry-pick evidence
Despite what those seeking to mislead you would have you believe, scientists only reach consensus when a large body of high-quality evidence points in the same direction.
So one of the most crucial skills experts possess is the ability to critically evaluate evidence. That means understanding its strengths and weaknesses, assessing its reliability, and synthesising what the full evidence base indicates. This task requires a deep understanding of their area of expertise.
Dodgy experts don’t do this. They tend to dismiss inconvenient evidence that contradicts their narrative and readily embrace flawed, or even discredited, studies. In short: they often cherry-pick evidence to suit their position.
Unfortunately, this tactic can be hard to spot if you don’t have an understanding of the full evidence base, which is something dodgy experts exploit.
Scientists only reach consensus when a large body of evidence points in the same direction. Matej Kastelic/Shutterstock
A red flag that you are being misled by a dodgy expert is when there is a clear over-reliance on a single study, despite its low quality.
Perhaps the most well-known example of cherry-picking is the way dodgy experts rely on a single, discredited study to push the false claim that the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine causes autism, while ignoring the vast body of high-quality evidence that clearly shows no such link.
4. Dodgy experts don’t change their mind when the evidence changes
Dodgy experts are often rigidly attached to their beliefs, even when new evidence emerges.
In contrast, genuine experts welcome new evidence and are willing to change their views accordingly. This openness is often unfairly portrayed as weakness, but it reflects an expert’s desire to understand the world accurately.
A striking example of this is the shift in our understanding of stomach ulcers. For years, ulcers were blamed on stress and spicy food, but that changed when Australian gastroenterologist and researcher Barry Marshall, in a bold move, swallowed Helicobacter pylori to demonstrate its potential role.
His self-experiment (which is generally not recommended!) was the first step in a broader body of research that ultimately proved bacteria, not lifestyle, was the primary cause of ulcers. This ultimately led to Marshall and his colleague pathologist and researcher Robin Warren being awarded a Nobel Prize.
As this example highlights, when presented with the evidence, clinicians and scientists acknowledged they’d got the underlying cause of stomach ulcers wrong. Clinical practice subsequently improved, with doctors prescribing antibiotics to kill the ulcer-causing bacteria.
This is how science informs practice so we can continually improve health outcomes.
In a nutshell
True expertise is marked by intellectual humility, a commitment to high-quality evidence, a willingness to engage with nuance and uncertainty, flexibility, and a capacity to respectfully navigate differing opinions.
In contrast, dodgy experts claim to have all the answers, dismiss uncertainty, cherry-pick studies, personally attack those who disagree with them, and rely more on emotion and ideology than evidence.
Hassan Vally 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.
In a commanding primetime interview on ABC, President Donald J. Trump delivered a powerful recap of his first 100 days in office — showcasing his transformative achievements and confronting the mainstream media’s distortions head-on. From securing the border to slashing billions in waste, President Trump laid out why the nation is rallying behind the America First agenda.
Here’s what you missed:
President Trumphighlightedthe single biggest accomplishment of his first 100 days: “The border is the most significant because our country was really going bad … You had murderers coming in, you had everybody coming in … Now, it’s totally closed down … Nobody thought that could happen, and it happened quickly.”
President Trumproastedthe media for covering up Biden’s decline: “We had a President that couldn’t walk up a flight of stairs, couldn’t walk down a flight of stairs, couldn’t walk across the stage without falling. We had a President that was grossly incompetent. You knew it, I knew it, and everybody knew it, but you guys didn’t want to write it because you’re fake news — and, by the way, ABC is one of the worst.”
President Trumpdistilledhis first 100 days to a single statement: “I’m doing one thing: I’m Making America Great Again … Our country suffered greatly — and now, our country is coming back like nobody can believe.”
President Trumpnotedprices are already moderating in his first 100 days: “Our country had inflation that was worse than they’ve ever had it before … Why don’t you mention that? … Now, grocery prices are coming down, the energy prices are coming down…”
President Trumpfact checkedthe interviewer on deported criminal illegal immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia: “This is an MS-13 gang member … Beat the hell out of his wife … This is not an ‘innocent, wonderful gentleman from Maryland … He came into our country ILLEGALLY!”
President Trumpoutlinedthe stakes of his trade policy: “This is what I campaigned on. I said that we’ve been abused by other countries at levels that nobody’s ever seen before … I could’ve left it that way — and at some point, there would’ve been an implosion … but I said, ‘No. We have to fix it.’”
President Trumpdiscussedhis success in securing the homeland: “We’re doing something that has to be done … They’ve allowed 21 million people to pour into our country. Many of these people are criminals … We’re getting them out, and I was elected to get them out.”
President Trumpdescribedmeeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at the Vatican: “The moment was a moment of solace in a sense because tremendous numbers of people are dying … and I feel very badly about it. That’s a war that would’ve never happened if I were president.”
President TrumppraisedDOGE: “We saved $150 billion — BILLION. That’s a lot of money … There are things that I’m considering right now putting back, but overall, we saved hundreds of billions of dollars … We also found tremendous waste, fraud, and abuse.”
President Trumpaddressedthe measles vaccine: “I recommend it. Do I mandate it? No.”
Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s opening remarks***
Washington, D.C. – Today—at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on biomedical research—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, underscored in her opening remarks how important biomedical research is for patients and families across the country and how President Trump’s unprecedented attacks on our nation’s premier biomedical research enterprise threatens to unravel decades of progress.
Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:
“I let me start by congratulating you, Senator Collins, as first hearing as Chair.
“We’ve managed to do a lot of bipartisan work over the past few years, and I hope we can continue to build off of that record together.
“And I really appreciate this important hearing on biomedical research—it is an issue with long-standing bipartisan support. We’ve worked together many times over the years—along with our colleagues—to invest in advancing medical breakthroughs.
“And those investments have paid off in so many ways, not just billions in economic activity, hundreds of thousands of jobs, and a medical research enterprise that is the envy of the world. They have also paid off with genuine miracles, cures that were once impossible, treatments that were once unthinkable. These are investments that give patients hope for the future, that give them back a life derailed by a disease, that give people precious more time with loved ones.
“Which is why I am so deeply alarmed that President Trump has taken a wrecking ball to our biomedical research enterprise. He and Elon Musk have been tossing tomorrow’s groundbreaking cures into a shredder. From day one, DOGE has been cutting critical research without rhyme, reason, or any regard for who gets hurt.
“Trump has already axed 800 grants—over a billion dollars in research—for HIV prevention, breast cancer, pregnancy, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and more. They have also blocked $2 billion in grant funding from going out to universities and research institutions across our country. And they slapped a $1 limit on NIH researchers’ payment cards—meaning that our labs can’t get gloves, pipettes, and vials—these are the basics they need to keep research going.
“If Trump and Musk have their way, they aren’t just going to grind medical research to a halt, they are going to send it careening backwards. Because Trump apparently wants to slash $21 billion dollars from NIH next year. That would be a 44 percent cut—the biggest cut in NIH history. He also wants to defy a bipartisan law this Committee worked to pass, so he can massively cut funding for basic costs that keeps our labs running.
“If Trump succeeds here, a lot of world class research institutions—like the Fred Hutch Cancer Center and the University of Washington in my state—will face massive shortfalls.
“The fact that Trump and Musk are pushing such a painful policy really underscores how they don’t know—or don’t care—whether their polices actually hurt people.
“And if you needed any more evidence that there’s no real strategy here, just consider the Women’s Health Initiative, it was coordinated by the Fred Hutch Cancer Center in my home state of Washington. It has led to major advancements in our understanding of women’s health issues, especially in older women. It has paved the way for a generation of researchers focused on women’s health, that is something we never had before.
“And yet, Trump was going to axe it, presumably because he thinks it’s woke to care about women’s health. Then, hardly 24 hours later he claims to have reversed course following a loud public outcry. Yet, the Fred Hutch Cancer Center has yet to hear from NIH directly on if that funding will actually be restored.
“Trump’s three-sixty really goes to show you, these cuts and firings are not about some big strategy, just chaos and extortion.
“We have even seen Trump freeze billions of research dollars for purely political reasons, putting his own petty grievances ahead of curing cancer and saving lives. None of us should stand for that—not for a minute.
“And just as slashing NIH isn’t about a strategy for our country, it’s not about efficiency either. NIH has an incredibly high return on investment. While medical research accounts for less than 1 percent of the federal budget, NIH has contributed to over 99 percent of drugs approved by FDA in recent years.
“And while we’re talking about government efficiency, let’s not forget the FDA, which families trust to keep them safe. Because the NIH breakthrough won’t do much good if FDA does not have the staff and resources they need to approve new drugs. But Trump cannot gut FDA, push out four thousand workers, and expect to maintain that gold standard that keeps food and drugs safe and gives our nation a competitive edge.
“And NIH cuts are not just cutting off promising future research, but undermining studies we are right in the middle of right now. One NIH lab that analyzes blood samples for more than 200 trials, studying cancer treatments, organ transplants and more—lost half its staff during Trump and Elon’s lay-offs.
“Right now, in this country patients in clinical trials are praying for a breakthrough, they are seeing their best hope cut off by the richest people in the world.
“And worse than undermining any one study, Trump and Musk are also cutting the beating heart out of our medical research enterprise—by pushing talented researchers out the door. Trump has pushed out nearly 5,000 people at NIH and counting.
“China is already trying to seize the moment and recruit some of the brightest talent—and the same for Europe!
“Instead of supporting new talent, Trump is slashing grants for our early career scientists. I heard about this firsthand a few weeks ago, I was out in my state speaking with researchers and students at WSU in Vancouver. Bright young people, who want to do medical research here, are suddenly worried. Why start that PhD if their funding is going to get yanked away? Why study new vaccines if RFK Jr. is going to meddle in their work? Why come to the U.S. for promising research if Trump might just try to deport them for jaywalking?
“Make no mistake—the United States is the world leader in medical research. But creating that was not an accident and maintaining it is not inevitable. It is a choice we make through our investments, one that has paid off on a scale that cannot be measured.
“How do you measure the miracle of eliminating a disease? Of funding a cure? Of developing a new vaccine? How do you measure giving someone the chance to become a parent, or to see their grandkids? You can’t.
“Which leads me to the question I hope we focus on today. Why on earth would we let Trump slash that all to ribbons? Why on earth would we give up on Alzheimer’s research? Or heart disease? Or cancer?
“I will tell you, I am not giving up on patients. I am not giving up on cures. And I suspect many others here feel the same. So, I hope this discussion helps us focus on that common ground. And that working together we can push back on these devastating cuts and push forward the research that is so important to folks back home.”
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Anna Blakney, Assistant Professor, Michael Smith Laboratories and School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia
As the world marks World Immunization Week, attention turns once again to the lifesaving power of vaccines.
Amid headlines about rising cases of measles, falling vaccination rates and growing vaccine hesitancy, a quieter revolution is underway — one that could fundamentally reshape how we respond to global health threats, including pandemics and cancer.
This revolution is being powered by RNA technology — and Canada is uniquely positioned to lead it.
A made-in-Canada breakthrough
While the swift development of COVID-19 vaccines appeared to be a sudden scientific triumph, it was built on six decades of foundational work. Much of that work happened in Canada. Messenger RNA (mRNA) are large, negatively charged molecules that are easily degraded and repelled by our cells.
To coax our cells to internalize them, scientists developed a way to encapsulate them in “fat bubbles” or lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), which were invented by Pieter Cullis and collaborators. Cullis, a co-author of this article, is a professor in biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of British Columbia.
That’s just the beginning. Research teams across the country are now building on this homegrown innovation to expand the potential of RNA vaccines beyond infectious diseases.
The next generation: Less means more
At the University of British Columbia, the Blakney Lab is focused on developing vaccines and therapies using self-amplifying RNA (saRNA), a technology that offers several advantages over conventional mRNA. Because saRNA replicates itself once inside a patient’s cells, much smaller doses are needed to produce a robust immune response.
Now, this replication process may sound like something out of a science fiction film, but similar to mRNA vaccines, this technology has been developed over decades and has been thoroughly clinically validated. The saRNA technology reduces manufacturing costs and makes vaccine production more scalable during global emergencies. Notably, the lower dose can also minimize side effects, potentially reducing the risk of getting a sore arm or having to miss a day of work after vaccination.
Expanding Canada’s domestic RNA vaccine capacity is more than just a scientific priority; it’s a public health imperative and economic opportunity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, global supply chain breakdowns exposed the risks of relying on international sources for essential vaccine ingredients and production. Investing in local infrastructure allows for faster and more flexible responses to future outbreaks.
But it’s not just about pandemic readiness. One of the most exciting frontiers for RNA technology is the development of personalized cancer vaccines. These vaccines train the immune system to recognize and attack mutations specific to an individual’s tumour.
In early clinical trials, mRNA-based cancer vaccines — such as those developed by Moderna and BioNTech — have shown promising results, dramatically reducing recurrence rates in melanoma and pancreatic cancer patients.
The COVID-19 pandemic showed us how rapidly science can enable positive public health outcomes — and how easily inequities can widen if infrastructure and access aren’t prioritized.
Despite being home to world-class researchers, Canada lacked the manufacturing capacity to produce its own mRNA vaccines. That gap is now being addressed through substantial recent investments from the government of Canada, but sustaining momentum will require long-term commitment from policymakers and funders.
Equity must also remain at the forefront. Communities in rural, remote and Indigenous regions often face barriers to accessing vaccines — not because of hesitancy, but due to logistical challenges and under-resourced health systems. The Public Health Agency of Canada has emphasized the importance of building trust and tailoring solutions in partnership with these communities.
Vaccine confidence remains another challenge. Post-pandemic surveys reveal that misinformation continues to shape public perceptions, even about long-established vaccines like MMR. Addressing this requires proactive science communication, sustained public education and rebuilding trusted relationships between communities and health systems.
Looking ahead
World Immunization Week offered a chance to celebrate how far we’ve come — but also to ask what comes next. With decades of research leadership, a strong innovation ecosystem and new investments in RNA infrastructure, Canada has the tools to lead the next chapter of mRNA technology development.
Whether it’s fighting the next virus or personalizing cancer therapies for individual patients, RNA technologies hold transformative promise. Seizing this opportunity will require sustained support, policy alignment and a focus on equitable access.
By investing in RNA innovation today, Canada can deliver not just vaccines, but a healthier, more resilient future for all.
Immunity and Society is a new series from The Conversation Canada that presents new vaccine discoveries and immune-based innovations that are changing how we understand and protect human health. Through a partnership with the Bridge Research Consortium, these articles — written by academics in Canada at the forefront of immunology and biomanufacturing — explore the latest developments and their social impacts.
Anna Blakney sits on the scientific advisory board and/or consults for Genvax Technologies, Replicate Biosciences and Pasture Biosciences. She receives funding from CIHR, CBRF, NSERC and CFI.
Pieter Cullis a co-founder and have shares in Acuitas Therapeutics, the company that provided the LNP enabling the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. He receives funding from CIHR.
Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Port-au-Prince, 30 April 2025 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is urgently scaling up its humanitarian response in the border towns of Belladère and Ouanaminthe amid a sharp rise in deportations by land, with about 20,000 vulnerable Haitians returned in April — the highest monthly figure recorded this year.
“The situation in Haiti is becoming increasingly dire. Each day, deportations and gang violence worsen an already fragile situation,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. “Support from donors and the international community has helped strengthen the humanitarian lifeline, but far more is needed, as the number of vulnerable people continues to grow.”
Especially alarming is marked increase in the number of highly vulnerable people – including women, children, and newborns – being forcibly returned. At the Belladère and Ouanaminthe border crossings, IOM, in collaboration with the National Office for Migration (ONM) and other state agencies, has been helping an average of 15 pregnant women and 15 lactating mothers per day just since 22 April. In total, 3,500 deportees have received help since 22 April.
These deportations coincide with a separate humanitarian emergency in the Centre department. Gang violence that erupted in late March in Mirebalais and Saut d’Eau has displaced more than 51,000 people, according to the latest IOM displacement tracking data. Most have sought refuge with host families, while more than 12,500 are sheltering in 95 newly established spontaneous displacement sites, with limited access to basic services. In Belladère alone, over 4,000 displaced people found refuge.
Gang control over Mirebalais has effectively severed Belladère from the rest of the country, blocking safe access for humanitarian staff, medical supplies, and aid. This isolation is compounding already dire conditions for deportees and displaced populations alike, who remain unable to reach their hometowns. Basic items, including food, water, and medical supplies, are running low.
“This is a compounded crisis spreading beyond the capital, with cross-border expulsions and internal displacement converging in places like Belladère,” said Grégoire Goodstein, IOM Chief of Mission in Haiti. “Delivering assistance is becoming increasingly difficult as humanitarian actors find themselves trapped alongside the very people they are trying to help.”
IOM, in coordination with the General Directorate for Civil Protection (DGPC) is responding with expanded life-saving support. This includes the provision of safe drinking water, and hygiene kits tailored to women’s and children’s needs. First aid, medical referrals, and psychosocial support are being made available for the most vulnerable. Temporary shelter arrangements have also been established, such as hotel accommodation for lactating mothers. Furthermore, IOM is closely coordinating with ONM and the Ministry of Public Health to ensure newborns and mothers receive immediate health support and vaccination.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Hannah Bunting, Senior Lecturer in Quantitative British Politics and Co-director of The Elections Centre, University of Exeter
English local elections on May 1 mark the first time widespread voting has happened in the UK since last year’s general election. They are therefore the first big test for the Labour government – but also for Reform’s Nigel Farage. Farage has led his party into elections before but not since becoming an MP.
Reform achieved 14.3% of the vote in July 2024 and opinion polls put them at around 25% now. Farage has declared his party is therefore the “opposition to the Labour government”.
These elections in 23 English local authorities are about selecting the representatives that will serve communities, both in day-to-day essential operations, and during council reorganisations amid plans for decentralisation of British democracy. Yet attention is also being paid to the challenge Reform have set themselves – can they continue the transition from anti-establishment outsiders to a winning party engine?
There are 1,641 local councillor vacancies up for election this week, in 1,401 wards. Reform are contesting more seats than any other party. In fact, there’s only a handful without their candidate on the ballot, amounting to 99.3% coverage. This is a major step forward for the party. Ukip contested 80% of this set of seats near the height of its popularity 12 years ago.
The Conservatives are contesting 97.2%, Labour 94%, the Liberal Democrats 85.1% and the Greens 72.2%. There are candidates from others and independents, including local parties, also standing in every local authority.
This year’s elections see the Conservative heartlands up for grabs. Known as the shire counties, some of these local authorities, such as Devon and Leicestershire, have been solidly Conservative for over 20 years. So if Reform see themselves as replacing the Tories, then these are the contests Farage’s party should be winning.
Notably, these seats also have the lowest female representation, which has partly been driven by the Conservative dominance. Analysis of this year’s candidates shows that Reform is fielding the fewest women, meaning this gender disparity could be about to get worse.
The gender distribution of candidates per party, with women represented in the lighter shades and men in the darker. H Bunting, CC BY-ND
Recent successes
There have been 241 vacancies in council byelections across Britain since the general election. Reform has won 15 of them. Where it fielded candidates, they’ve generally received significant vote shares, taking seats from both the Conservatives and Labour and gaining momentum. In the six-month period between October and March, Reform contested 64 of 78 council byelections (82%) and either won or came second in half of them.
This shows that Reform can be successful – and usually on the low turnouts generally seen in byelections. With turnout being less than a third at the last two local election cycles, followed by the second lowest ever general election turnout, it’s these dedicated voters who will be affecting change this week.
The seats up for election now were last contested in 2021 – when a “vaccine bounce” for Boris Johnson delivered the Conservatives their best local results since 2008. Now they are bracing for a bad night. If Reform and the Liberal Democrats wipe out the Tories in different areas but to the same degree, there may be no Conservative heartlands left in the country.
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Labour, meanwhile, did so badly in 2021 that it could even make gains due to the areas up for election. In council byelections, Reform has taken seats from Labour in some of the areas that are up now (Lancashire and Kent) but overall these locals are in Tory heartlands. Labour is defending 287 of the seats up this time – and at least 25 are vulnerable.
How will Reform fare?
However, local elections are often fought on local issues, which puts Reform in a difficult spot. On one hand, they could position the new faces they are putting forward for councils as members of the community.
On the other, the party is often seen as a national entity whose main messages are on immigration and the economy, which councils don’t control. And while Farage has set his sights on damaging the two main parties in a continuation of anti-establishment sentiment, he is now trying to do so as a semi-establishment figure.
In similar local elections in 2013, Ukip received more than a fifth of votes but only ended up with a tenth of the seats. Therein lies the biggest hurdle for new entrants to the British voting system.
Farage’s parties have often polled well but failed to gain the concentrated pockets of support needed to win representatives. This was most recently in evidence at the general election, where Reform received a higher vote share than the Liberal Democrats but only came away with five seats, compared to Ed Davey’s 72.
This is a particularly difficult set of elections to call for a number of reasons. Boundary changes in more than 42% of seats are confusing the picture, for one thing, and the fact that such a small number of areas are voting makes projections more difficult. Reform is also so new to these races that there aren’t past comparisons to draw on.
But as an indicator, there are around 200 seats with no boundary changes that are particularly vulnerable to a challenger win. Of these, 60% are defended by the Conservatives, and it’s feasible that Reform could take a chunk of them. More than 900 seats are considered a Tory defence (when boundary changes are taken into consideration), but at least 400 of them are relatively safe.
Some local authorities sit in areas that returned a Reform MP in July, such as Boston and Skegness in Lincolnshire, and many of them house constituencies that saw Reform come in second place. However, there are also areas like Cornwall where the Liberal Democrats are a strong challenger.
What it may come down to is the strength of the party engine. Reform has found the candidates, but the test is whether its campaign has built on a growing base of support. If Reform wins are in the hundreds, they’ll be able to claim they’re on track.
But Reform candidates then have to start the hard work of being councillors. They’ll need to adapt their “Britain is broken” slogan to start evidencing that they’re fixing it. That takes more than words.
Hannah Bunting receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
April 30, 2025
“[I]nstead of following through on his promise [to lower costs], Trump and his administration have paved the way for the president, his top officials, and his billionaire buddies to personally feed at the trough of government corruption.”
“That’s 100 corrupt acts in 100 days. Americans deserve accountability. We need to fight back—all of us.”
Video of Speech (YouTube)
Washington, D.C. – On the 100th day of this Trump administration, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) read 100 reports of corruption from President Trump’s term so far into the Congressional record.
Senator Warren pointed to all the ways President Trump, his family, and associates like Elon Musk have used the presidency to enrich themselves, give favors to donors, and made it more difficult to hold him accountable for corruption.
Transcript: “One Hundred Days, One Hundred Acts of Corruption”U.S. Senate FloorApril 29, 2025
As Prepared for Delivery
Senator Elizabeth Warren: So here we are: one hundred days; one hundred acts of corruption.
Today, I’m reading into the congressional record 100 reports of corruption from Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office. When he ran for office, Trump promised repeatedly that he would lower costs “on day 1.” But instead of following through on his promise, Trump and his administration have paved the way for the president, his top officials, and his billionaire buddies to personally feed at the trough of government corruption.
So, count with me: In just one hundred days, Donald Trump, his family, and his Administration have:
Turned the White House into a Tesla dealership.
Fired independent commissioners at the FTC.
Punished former officials who opposed his 2020 election lies.
Paid for the White House Easter Egg roll by soliciting corporate sponsors who have business pending with the government.
Helped Trump’s son set up a club — pay $500,000 for access to Trump’s cabinet.
Declared that there would be NO tariff exceptions. Then permitted Apple’s CEO “behind the scenes” access — and poof, iPhone tariffs were cut.
Created an opening for insider trading by reportedly giving Wall Street exclusive information about trade talks.
Hosted million-dollar dinners between Big Pharma CEOs and their regulator RFK Jr.
Launched crypto memecoin right before inauguration to make millions of dollars, then increased the value of those coins by signing executive orders making crypto a priority.
Launched a meme coin for Melania, too.
Promised his “rich-as-hell” donors a giant tax handout, and is working to deliver.
Weakened rules insulating government workers from politics.
Limited corporate foreign bribery investigations.
Halted enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act.
Offered a private dinner with Trump himself—and a special tour of the White House—for the top 220 holders of his memecoin, permitting Trump and his family to profit both from the run up in the value of the coin AND the increase in trading on the Trump platform.
Accepted $40 million for First Lady Melania’s documentary from Jeff Bezos – way above the market rate.
Pointed to Bezos’s multi-million-dollar documentary payment as a model, when Warner Bros. asked Trump’s team how to improve its own relationship with the White House.
Struck a deal with Amazon to stream Trump’s old show The Apprentice, which will mean more money for Trump as Amazon seeks tax breaks and other federal benefits.
Coercing law firms to offer almost $1 billion in free legal work in an arrangement that experts say could run afoul of anti-bribery laws.
Started undermining Medicare’s ability to negotiate drug prices after Big Pharma companies gave millions to Trump’s inauguration.
Filed a meritless lawsuit against 60 Minutes and launched a baseless FCC investigation.
Tried to get the AP to bend the knee and kicked them out of the White House briefing room when they refused.
Hired Defense Secretary Hegseth’s younger brother to serve in a key role.
Hired a longtime former partner of Don Jr. to serve as Ambassador to Greece.
Nominated Jared Kushner’s father to serve as Ambassador to France.
Selected Tiffany Trump’s father-in-law to serve as an adviser.
Appointed an oil and gas executive to lead the Department of Energy.
Selected a Chief of Staff who was a big-time lobbyist for clients like tobacco and mining companies.
Named officials who had recently lobbied for oil and chemical giants to help write E-P-A rules.
Appointed Mehmet Oz, who has close ties to Medicare Advantage insurers, to lead CMS to set payment rates and otherwise help out Medicare Advantage insurers.
Appointed John Phelan, a major donor with no military or government experience, to lead the Navy and hand out Navy construction contracts.
Appointed Pam Bondi, a former lobbyist for a federal detention contractor, to lead the DOJ.
Announced the DOJ would stop prioritizing enforcement of restrictions on foreign lobbyists, under the leadership of Bondi, who herself is a former foreign lobbyist for Qatar.
Appointed Howard Lutnick, who has billions invested in companies accused of illegally facilitating crypto money laundering, to lead the Commerce Department.
Appointed Marty Makary, the former executive of a company selling weight-loss drugs, to lead the FDA, which would regulate his company.
Appointed Sean Duffy, who lobbied for the airline industry, to Transportation Secretary.
Tapped Pete Hegseth, whose wife owns stock in large defense contractors, to lead the Defense Department.
Tapped Doug Burgum — who made money from leasing land to Big Oil — to lead the Interior Department.
Nominated a Big Oil lobbyist to run the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
Nominated as IRS head Billy Long, an aggressive salesman for a fraud-riddled tax credit, who received donations after being nominated to clear old campaign debts.
Tapped Paul Atkins, a former crypto lobbyist, to lead the SEC.
Appointed a former tax lobbyist, to lead tax policy.
Appointed RFK Jr., who planned to get paid for anti-vax lawsuits while heading up HHS.
Appointed a top Pentagon official who led a firm investing in defense contractors and has directed D-O-D to outsource as much as it can.
Appointed someone who lobbied to privatize Medicare to lead OMB’s healthcare budget.
Installed Steve Davis to effectively lead DOGE while also leading a Musk company.
Installed another DOGE leader to control Treasury’s payment system while still holding down his day job as a software CEO.
Handed power over crypto policy to a White House crypto czar who leads a venture capital firm that heavily invests in crypto.
Selected a border czar who led a firm that got tens of millions of dollars of federal contracts for homeland security companies.
Appointed Treasury Secretary Bessent who is gutting the IRS so that it can’t audit rich tax cheats — he’s a tax-dodging mega-millionaire.
Pardoned Rod Blagojevich, former Illinois governor convicted for corruption, after his vocal support for Trump.
Pardoned January 6 insurrectionists who tried to overturn an election he lost.
Pardoned a Trump loyalist found guilty of wire fraud.
Pardoned the son of a longtime Republican donor.
Pardoned a corporation that had been fined $100 million for money laundering.
Launched his own stablecoin while preparing to sign legislation that will help the stablecoin and let him oversee it.
Sold merch with presidential branding.
Disbanded DOJ’s crypto unit after business talks between Binance and a Trump-backed crypto company ramped up.
Halted SEC enforcement actions against crypto companies that enriched Trump.
Met with crypto executives who are asking Treasury to back off of oversight of their companies — all while exploring a deal to list a Trump-linked crypto company’s new stablecoin.
Maintained financial ties between Trump officials and Trump’s media company. That includes: FBI Director Kash Patel who was gifted a huge award of Trump media company stock.
Nominated Attorney General Bondi who owned $2 million in DJT shares.
Paid the Education Secretary almost $1 million in Trump Media company shares.
Intelligence Board nominees who have millions in Trump Media company shares.
Selected a Special Envoy to the Middle East who wants to develop real estate in Gaza while running his own real estate firm.
Appointed an FBI Director who consulted for the Qatari government.
Picked that FBI Director even though he also received millions from a Cayman Island holding company with ties to China.
Decided to cancel the Direct File program, which will help the bottom line of Intuit, which gave $1 million to Trump’s inauguration.
Took its largest inauguration donation from a poultry company under DOJ scrutiny. After the donation, the SEC approved its parent company for the New York Stock Exchange.
Dropped a probe into sexual misconduct allegations against Trump’s Education Secretary’s husband.
Hosted dozens of foreign, federal, and state officials at Mar-a-Lago, helping enrich Trump.
Hosted a GOP retreat at another one of Trump’s resorts.
Circumvented the normal contracting process to pick a company with close ties to Trump’s former campaign manager.
Awarded a $30 million ICE contract to Trump insider Peter Thiel.
Continued developing new Trump properties overseas, including in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Hatched a plan for the State Department to pay Tesla $400 million dollars.
Accepted a $4 million inauguration donation from a GOP megadonor and nominated him as UK ambassador the same day.
And Donald Trump took actions that could advance the personal interests of his co-president Elon Musk:
Fired EEOC leaders investigating and suing Tesla.
Illegally fired the NLRB Chair, which filed a complaint against SpaceX.
Gutted CFPB staff and fired the Director after they investigated complaints against Musk’s companies.
Gutted the Department of Labor office investigating Tesla and Space X.
Fired the USAID Inspector General, who launched a probe into satellite terminals made by Musk’s Starlink.
Targeted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration staff who were reportedly, quote, a “thorn in Tesla’s side.”
Said Musk would self-police his conflicts of interest. Yeah right…
Pressured the Administrator of the FAA, which fined Musk’s SpaceX, to resign .
Permitted Musk to keep his financial disclosure hidden. I’ve got a new bill to fix that!
Allowed Musk’s Starlink to start working with the FAA after Musk criticized the FAA’s air traffic telecom system.
Made Musk’s SpaceX the frontrunner for a new lucrative Golden Dome contract.
Stood by Musk when his X executives told an advertising firm to increase ad revenue — threatening that Musk could interfere with a pending merger.
Permitted Musk to join Trump’s interview with the Air Force secretary nominee while SpaceX held billions of dollars in contracts with the Air Force.
Permitted the National Transportation Safety Board to share news related to the airplane crashes in Washington and Philadelphia only on Musk-owned X.
Permitted the Social Security Administration to only share important public communication on X.
Dropped DOJ’s anti-discrimination complaint against Musk’s SpaceX.
Fired FDA staffers reviewing Elon Musk’s Neuralink clinical trial applications.
And for our closing six moves that make every bit of this corruption even harder to root out, Trump got rid of cops on the beat:
Fired 18 Inspectors General who make sure the federal agencies follow the law.
Fired the head of the Office of Special Counsel who protects whistleblowers and makes sure that civil service laws are fired.
Fired the head of the Office of Government Ethics who watches to see that the President and his Administration follow the laws on conflicts of interest, bribery and other ethics issues.
Fired DOJ prosecutors who worked on January 6th investigations.
Sidelined DOJ’s office that reviews the legality of executive orders.
Gutted DOJ’s office that prosecutes misconduct by public officials.
That’s 100 corrupt acts in 100 days. Americans deserve accountability. We need to fight back—all of us.
NEW YORK, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fitch Ratings (Fitch) yesterday announced that it has revised the outlook of Marex Group plc’s Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to positive from stable, and has affirmed its Long-Term IDR at ‘BBB-’.
The revision of the outlook reflects Marex’s strong and growing earnings across variable market conditions, expansion and diversification of the franchise both organically and through bolt-on acquisitions, well-managed liquidity and adequate buffer over regulatory capital requirements.
Ian Lowitt, CEO of Marex, commented: “Fitch’s upgrade to our outlook to positive from stable reflects the strength and scalability of our diversified global platform as well as our 10-year track record of sequential growth through a range of market environments. At the core of our strategy is Marex’s risk control framework, which keeps pace with our expanding business. We view our investment grade rating as a differentiator, and this is a further validation of our strategy.”
About Marex: Marex Group plc (NASDAQ: MRX) is a diversified global financial services platform providing essential liquidity, market access and infrastructure services to clients across energy, commodities and financial markets. The Group provides comprehensive breadth and depth of coverage across four services: Clearing, Agency and Execution, Market Making and Hedging and Investment Solutions. It has a leading franchise in many major metals, energy and agricultural products, with access to 60 exchanges. The Group provides access to the world’s major commodity markets, covering a broad range of clients that include some of the largest commodity producers, consumers and traders, banks, hedge funds and asset managers. With more than 40 offices worldwide, the Group has over 2,400 employees across Europe, Asia and the Americas. For more information visit www.marex.com.
Source: People’s Republic of China Ministry of Health
BEIJING — China’s State Council Information Office on Wednesday released a white paper titled “Covid-19 Prevention, Control and Origins Tracing: China’s Actions and Stance.”
The National Health Commission has responded to questions raised by the press regarding the white paper.
Q1: What’s the background of issuing the white paper, Covid-19 Prevention, Control and Origins-Tracing: China’s Actions and Stance, and what information does it contain?
A: Since the outbreak of Covid-19, China has been open and transparent in sharing information, and generous and selfless in providing aid. Its efforts in response and commitment to transparency have been highly acclaimed by the international community. However, the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri accused China of “hoarding medical supplies” and ruled that China must pay Missouri 24.49 billion USD in compensation for COVID-related losses; and recently, an article published on the official website of the White House blamed the origin of the virus on China, where some US politicians made spurious allegations, accusing China of concealing pandemic information from the world and hoarding medical supplies.
In such context, China released this white paper to present a systematic overview of China’s key achievement in tracing the origins of Covid-19, to attest to its contribution to international cooperation in the response to the global pandemic, and to advance scientific endeavors and foster global collaboration as a responsible major country in this critical domain. Despite being the world’s largest economy and most developed country, the US failed to make contributions commensurate with its capabilities; even worse, it blamed its own problems on others and sabotaged collaborative global efforts to address the crisis. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns such practice.
The white paper contains a preface, the main body, and a conclusion, in total 14,000 Chinese characters. The main body has three chapters: “Contributing Chinese Wisdom to the Study of the Origins of SARS-CoV-2”, “China’s Contribution to the Global Fight against Covid-19”, and “The Mismanaged Response of the US to the Covid-19 Pandemic”.
Q2: How is the origins study of SARS-CoV-2 going in China? Where should the next step be taken?
A: Since the outbreak of Covid-19, China has consistently dedicated substantial resources to collaborative research into the origins of the virus participated by Chinese and international scientists. Upholding its commitment to international responsibilities and scientific soundness with openness and transparency, the country spearheaded research initiatives in critical fields such as clinical epidemiology, molecular epidemiology, environmental epidemiology, and the identification of intermediate animal hosts. China closely cooperated with the World Health Organization (WHO) on the study of the virus origins with a strong sense of global responsibility and transparency, and in 2020 and 2021 invited WHO expert teams to China to carry out joint investigations. On March 30, 2021, the WHO organized a member state information session and press conference to present the findings about the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and published the “WHO-convened Global Study of Origins of SARS-CoV-2: China Part-Joint WHO-China Study” on its official website. To date, no findings have contradicted the conclusions of the “Joint WHO-China Study”.
The next phase of the origins study should be conducted mainly in the US. A large number of studies have pinned the origin of the virus outside of China. A US CDC study reveals that out of 7,389 serological survey samples collected from nine states from December 13, 2019 to January 17, 2020, 106 were Covid-19 antibody positive. This suggests that the virus existed in the US before the first official case was identified. Similarly, the NIH “All of Us” Research Program tested 24,079 blood samples collected from participants across 50 states from January 2 to March 18, 2020, identifying nine containing Covid-19 antibodies. The earliest two were collected on January 7 and 8, respectively. These findings show that the virus was circulating in the US at a low level as early as December 2019, well before the first official cases were recorded. An expert associated with The Lancet suggested that SARS-CoV-2 might not have come from nature; instead, it probably came from an incident at a US bio-technology lab. Between 2006 and 2013, the US reported at least 1,500 serious laboratory incidents involving coronaviruses and other highly dangerous pathogens linked to diseases such as SARS, MERS, Ebola, anthrax, smallpox, and avian influenza.
These questionable events all suggest that Covid-19 may have emerged earlier than the US official timeline, and earlier than the outbreak in China. A thorough and in-depth investigation into the origins of the virus should be conducted in the US The US must not continue to turn a deaf ear to this call; rather, it should respond to the reasonable concern of the international community, share the data of earlier suspected cases with the WHO, and give a responsible answer to the world.
Q3: How does China comment on the performance of the US in its response to Covid-19?
A: The delayed and ineffective response to Covid-19 in the US made it the worst performing country in handling of the pandemic.
In January 2020, the federal government of the US, choosing to downplay the severity of the transmission, labelled the novel coronavirus pneumonia as a case of “bad flu” which would “disappear” automatically one day, touted hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin as “wonder drugs” without solid scientific evidence, and even advocated the use of detergents to control infections and transmissions, becoming a laughing stock in the scientific community. The US government also deprived its citizens of the right to be informed of updated pandemic information. From March 3, 2020, the US CDC stopped releasing key data on Covid-19, including tallying the people tested for the virus, on the grounds that its information might not be “accurate”. Over the next three years or so, people in the US could only find information about the pandemic from estimated data collected and reported by non-governmental institutions such as the Johns Hopkins University. By mid-April 2020, the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the US had exceeded 660,000. However, with an eye on the upcoming presidential elections, the Administration announced that the pandemic had “passed the peak,” and rushed to roll out plans to reopen the economy. Insisting that citizens should be “free to choose,” the government of Florida demanded schools across the state to reopen, leading to widespread infection among teachers and students.
Covid-19 overwhelmed the costly and profit-driven US medical system, and vulnerable groups such as the impoverished, ethnic minorities, and senior citizens were the first to be abandoned in treatment. According to a report from the Associated Press in June 2020, of every 10 deaths in the US, eight were people over 65 years old. With a strained medical system, infected people could not receive timely care and death toll surged. The American people’s rights to life and health were in no way being guaranteed on an equal basis.
Data from the US National Center for Health Statistics shows that the life expectancy in the country fell from 78.8 years in 2019 to 77 in 2020, and further declined to 76.1 in 2021, a decrease of 2.7 years from 2019. For comparison, life expectancy in China rose from 77.3 years in 2019, to 77.93 in 2020, 78.2 in 2021, 78.3 in 2022, and 78.6 in 2023, signaling a steady improvement in population health.
US CDC data released in May 2023 revealed that deaths due to Covid-19 in the US totaled 1.13 million, accounting for 16.4 percent of concurrent global deaths reported by the WHO. These figures were out of alignment with the overall population size, economic strength, and level of medical technology of the US, and were indicative of its ineffective and unscientific response policies.
The US not only botched its own response to Covid-19, but also obstructed and sabotaged international cooperation in various ways. The deliberate concealment of information by the US government misled other countries and the WHO in the research and analysis of Covid-19 trends. The US government publicly announced that it would take an America First approach in vaccine supply and vaccination, keeping hoarding excess vaccines and agitating vaccine nationalism on the one hand, and waging a smear campaign to discredit China’s vaccines on the other. A US think tank criticized the US for its reluctance to provide foreign aid, saying this practice would expose the country as a “selfish isolationist when its help was most desperately needed.”
Q4: The Missouri and other US state governments have initiated groundless lawsuits against China, holding China accountable for the pandemic. What is China’s comment on this?
A: The groundless lawsuit of Missouri is a politically motivated farce orchestrated by state governments out of political self-interest that has ignored basic facts and violated fundamental legal norms. It is an affront to the sovereignty and dignity of all nations and to the international rule of law. China rejects such proceedings and will never accept a judgement delivered in absentia.
The allegations in the judgement that China concealed pandemic information from the world and that China hoarded medical supplies are groundless. In the early stage of the outbreak, China provided clear information to the international community, adopting an open and transparent approach in releasing relevant information to the world. By May 31, 2020, the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism and the Information Office of the State Council had held 161 press conferences, during which over 490 officials from more than 50 government departments answered over 1,400 questions from Chinese and foreign media.
China tried every possible means to provide materials and assistance. From January 2020 to May 2022, China offered over 4.6 billion protective suits, 18 billion test kits, and 430 billion masks to 15 international organizations and 153 countries, including the US.
In 2020, China sent 38 medical expert teams to 34 countries assisting in local pandemic control efforts, sharing China’s experience and practice in preventing and controlling the epidemic, and medical treatment plans.
China made a significant contribution to the global fight against the pandemic, for which China deserves recognition and fair treatment, rather than blames and damage claims. In contrast, the incompetent responses of the Missouri state government led to a mortality rate ranking among the highest in the US Now the state government is trying to shift the blame for its failures, which is both irresponsible and unethical, a selfish and evading presence. China will never accede to demands for compensation claimed on baseless allegations, and will take resolute countermeasures in defense of its legitimate rights.
Q5: How China played its roles as WHO member in global health governance?
A: Since the outbreak of Covid-19, China lost no time in sharing information on the epidemic updates and genome sequencing to the international community including the WHO. China invited multiple WHO international expert missions to conduct joint research on its territory. China provided tremendous supplies and aid to the international community to the best of its ability and shared the experience of pandemic prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment. Constantly sticking to the shared idea of a community with a shared future for mankind, China has made significant contributions to the global fight against pandemic by carrying out international cooperations.
In early 2020, the WHO dispatched warnings to the international community including the US, reminding of “a possible pandemic on a larger scale”. On April 10, the US government, which up till then had dismissed the WHO admonitions as sensational, began to accuse the media, WHO officials and Democratic congressmen of incompetence in fighting against the pandemic. On April 14, the US government announced for the first time that it would suspend funding to the WHO on the ground that the organization had not performed its fundamental duties.
On January 20, 2025, the current US government again announced its withdrawal from the WHO on the excuses that it had failed in responding to the pandemic and yielded to China’s influence. Far from reflecting on its own incompetence during the pandemic, the US government has gone too far in shifting the blame, which will further harm its competence in responding to new emergencies to the public health.
China supports the United Nations and the WHO in playing and enhancing their mandatory roles and the capacity building of global health governance. China has been, and will be, active in participating in the WHO’s efforts in preventing and responding to emergencies in public health, in implementing and amending the “International Health Regulations,” and in reviewing a “pandemic treaty.” China will be active in participating in the IPPPR of the WHO and its SAGO mission by contributing advice and opinions. China has contributed and will continue to contribute Chinese perspectives, solutions and strengths to building an efficient and sustainable global public health system for the benefit of all humanity and fortifying defenses for the lives and health of all.
Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome banquet for former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Landsbergis
Date：2025-01-14 Data Source：Department of European Affairs
January 14, 2025 No. 012
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung on January 14 hosted a welcome luncheon for former Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis and his wife. During the event, the two sides exchanged views on how democracies can counter authoritarian nations, furthering bilateral collaboration on drone development, and exploring other areas of cooperation.
Minister Lin thanked Mr. Landsbergis for his staunch support of Taiwan and for his proactive efforts to bolster bilateral relations between Taiwan and Lithuania during his tenure as foreign minister, adding that this was an excellent model of democratic solidarity. He stated that he had led 20 drone-related Taiwanese companies to the Drone Industry Business Forum in Lithuania last November, demonstrating Taiwan’s determination to build democratic supply chains together with Lithuania and substantively implementing integrated diplomacy.
Minister Lin also noted that authoritarian expansionism posed a significant challenge to the democratic community. Pointing to the recent incidents of underwater cable sabotage in the Baltic Sea and the waters around Taiwan, he underscored the urgent need for democracies to collaborate and adopt joint strategic responses and prevention measures.
Mr. Landsbergis said that Taiwan and Lithuania had done their utmost to protect freedom and democracy since transitioning away from authoritarian rule in the 1980s. Observing that the two nations had long faced geopolitical security threats from authoritarian countries, he stressed that it was important for democratic partners to work in concert and that the peoples of Taiwan and Lithuania had forged a friendship based on mutual understanding and appreciation. With the two countries having achieved considerable success in various joint projects, he expressed the hope that bilateral cooperation would continue to deepen.
During his tenure as foreign minister, Mr. Landsbergis arranged for Lithuania to donate COVID-19 vaccines to Taiwan, making it the first European country to do so. He further showed a firm commitment to safeguarding the values of democracy and freedom and backed the establishment of a Taiwanese representative office in Lithuania including the name Taiwan. A staunch friend of Taiwan, he spared no effort to strengthen relations between the two countries. During his visit, Mr. Landsbergis will deliver a speech at an event organized by the Prospect Foundation and will engage with Taiwanese students at National Taiwan University. (E)
The Health Bureau’s Primary Healthcare Commission announced the suspected hacking of the outsourced network system of the Kwai Tsing District Health Centre (Kwai Tsing DHC) on April 27, resulting in a possible leakage of members’ data.
Such data include members’ names, membership numbers, dates of birth, residential districts, and the first four digits of the Hong Kong Identity Card of some members who have enrolled in a vaccination programme. The operator is currently assessing the possible number of members affected and the data involved.
The commission stressed that it is highly concerned about the incident, and has instructed the Kwai Tsing Safe Community & Healthy City Association, the operator of the Kwai Tsing DHC, to seriously follow up and submit a report within three working days.
According to the operator, the system involved is managed independently by its outsourced service provider, and is mainly used to assist with administrative work such as service booking or members sign-in at the Kwai Tsing DHC.
The Primary Healthcare Commission noted that in addition to reporting the incident to Police as well as the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, the operator has also notified the Digital Policy Office.
As required by the commission, the operator has immediately suspended the operation of the Kwai Tsing DHC’s network system and all external connections to its computer servers to prevent further intrusion attempts by hackers. An independent cybersecurity expert has also been hired to conduct an investigation and review.
Due to the system suspension, the appointments on blood taking and seasonal influenza vaccination of relevant Kwai Tsing DHC members will be rescheduled. The operator has started to notify those members via phone calls and text messages, and will also inform all its members of the hacking incident.
Furthermore, for the sake of prudence, as the Kwai Tsing DHC is a registered healthcare provider on eHealth, the operator’s eHealth registration has been suspended in order to protect the data privacy and system security of eHealth. During the suspension period, the Kwai Tsing DHC is unable to gain access to any electronic health record in eHealth.
The Kwai Tsing DHC’s connection with eHealth will only resume once security risks are fully eliminated.
Right‑wing ministers are waging a campaign to erase Māori health equity by tearing out its very foundations. ACT’s Todd Stephenson dismisses Treaty‑based nursing standards as “off‑track distractions” and insists nurses only need “skill and a kind heart,” despite clear evidence that cultural competence saves lives.
Health Minister Simeon Brown’s funding cuts, hiring freeze and “rightsizing” of hospitals have gutted kaiāwhina and other vital support roles that communities rely on. It’s indefensible to scrap proven Whānau Ora initiatives, like the Winter Preparedness vaccination programme while underperforming mainstream services such as Plunket continue.
Rather than bolster Whānau Ora’s decade‑proven model, that serviced at least 4 million whānau, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka defended re-tendering that puts hundreds of community jobs, and hard work they did on the chopping block.
“By pretending colonisation never happened and framing equity as separatism, this government is abandoning its Treaty obligations and sacrificing our whānau and the future of Māori,” said Te Pāti Māori Co‑leader and Health spokesperson Debbie Ngarewa‑Packer, “we will not stand by as essential safeguards are stripped away.”
The Government must stop weaponising culture-war rhetoric against Māori and stop hiding behind the fact, they have no solutions to offer to the ongoing causes of inequity in Aotearoa.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Since the beginning of 2025, residents of the country have built and registered 170.4 thousand individual residential buildings. This was reported by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.
At the April 15 meeting of the State Council Presidium on the development of infrastructure for life, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that individual housing construction is the most important area in demand among citizens. The head of state also emphasized that it is necessary to expand this segment of housing, pay special attention to the provision of land plots, their provision with infrastructure and the creation of reliable mechanisms so that people can invest their funds in individual construction.
“A number of measures have been taken to develop housing construction, including the individual housing construction sector. In recent years, interest in individual housing construction has grown significantly. Since the beginning of 2025, citizens have built and registered 170.4 thousand private houses with a total area of 24.7 million square meters in the Rosreestr, which is almost 17% more than in the same period of 2024,” said Marat Khusnullin.
Today, individual housing construction accounts for more than half of the housing commissioning in the country. In 2024, 62.3 million square meters of private housing were commissioned in Russia, which became a record figure in the entire history of Russia.
“The leader in this segment is the Central Federal District. Since the beginning of 2025, 36.6 thousand individual houses with a total area of 7.2 million square meters have been built here, or 29% of the total individual housing construction fund built since the beginning of 2025. Including in the Moscow Region, more than 14 thousand individual housing construction objects have been built and registered with the cadastral register, which is 38.2% of the total number in the Central Federal District,” commented Oleg Skufinsky, head of Rosreestr.
Almost as in the Central Federal District, private construction is popular in the Volga region, where from January to March of this year, almost 31.7 thousand individual houses with a total area of 4.2 million square meters were built. The Republic of Tatarstan is the leader here with 10.5 thousand houses. At the same time, according to the results of 2024, the Republic of Bashkortostan became the leader in the number of private houses commissioned in the Volga Federal District (19.8 thousand houses).
The Southern Federal District rounds out the top three, where 23.2 thousand individual housing construction objects with an area of 3.2 million square meters have been built since the beginning of 2025. This is 20% more than the figure for the same period in 2024. The best indicators in the district are in Krasnodar Krai – 10.8 thousand private houses.
The main building material in the period under review was wood. According to the Unified State Register of Real Estate, 55.5 thousand individual housing construction objects with an area of 7 million square meters were built from it, which is 22% more than at the beginning of 2024. Slightly less often, citizens built houses from brick – 31.4 thousand houses with an area of 5 million square meters. The least amount of panel houses were erected – only 1.7 thousand buildings on 214 thousand square meters.
As for the number of storeys, in most cases Russians built single-storey houses, 100 thousand of which were registered – this is 16% more than at the beginning of 2024. Two-storey buildings were erected in 65.1 thousand, three-storey buildings – 4.8 thousand.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Since President Donald J. Trump took office 100 days ago, it has been a nonstop deluge of hoaxes and lies from Democrats and their allies in the Fake News suffering from terminal cases of Trump Derangement Syndrome.
In no particular order, here are some of the most egregious hoaxes peddled by the usual suspects so far in President Trump’s second term:
HOAX: Fake News CNN attempted to “fact check” President Trump’s claim that the Biden Administration spent millions on “making mice transgender.”
HOAX: The Fake News claimed the Department of Defense removed Gen. Colin Powell’s name from a list of notable Americans buried at Arlington Cemetery.
FACT: No service members’ names were removed from that section — and Gen. Powell’s name remains among those listed.
HOAX: Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) claimed “no president” presided over more plane crashes during their first month in office as President Trump.
FACT: “There were 55 aviation accidents in the U.S. between Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 21, 2021, and Feb. 17, 2021, compared to 35 during the same period for Trump,” Fox News reported.
FACT: It was actually the U.S. Secret Service investigating a threat unrelated to immigration.
HOAX: Far-left influencers and other leftist hacks falsely claimed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Elon Musk were out to “cut Social Security.”
FACT: They were referencing an interview in which Musk was clearly referring to the tremendous amount of waste, fraud, and abuse within entitlement programs.
HOAX: The media smeared DOGE as “young, inexperienced engineers” engineering a “government takeover.”
FACT: In reality, DOGE is led by seasoned industry professionals, including successful CEOs who paused their lives to aid in the effort of streamlining government and holding the bureaucracy accountable.
HOAX: NBC’s Peter Alexander peddled the lie that “constituents in some traditionally red districts” were unhappy with President Trump’s effort to cut waste, fraud, and abuse in government.
FACT: The same “protests” cited by the Fake News were funded and organized by far-left special interest groups.
HOAX: NPR claimed NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore — who were stuck on the International Space Station for more than nine months following problems with their spacecraft — were “not stranded.”
FACT: NPR itself had described the astronauts as stranded in prior reporting, and only seemed to take issue with the description once President Trump and Elon Musk made it a priority to bring them home.
HOAX: A foreign Fake News outlet reported that President Trump “shut down” the British prime minister during a news conference.
FACT: In reality, President Trump was simply moving on from a reporter who was trying to goad the two leaders into division.
HOAX: NPR falsely claimed the White House was actively searching for a new secretary of defense.
HOAX: The Fake News attempted to paint illegal immigrant gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia as an innocent “Maryland father” who was unjustly deported by the Trump Administration — and actively censored the truth about him.
FACT: Abrego Garcia is a citizen of El Salvador and was deported to his home country amid overwhelming evidence of his gang affiliation.
HOAX: Deranged “filmmaker” Michael Moore questioned whether deported illegal immigrants would go on to cure cancer or stop “that asteroid (sic) that’s gonna hit us.”
FACT: Moore’s statement was a strong early contender for the dumbest, most ridiculous statement of the year considering those deported illegal immigrants were violent criminals.
HOAX: The Fake News portrayed Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Hamas radical who led violent protests at Columbia, as an innocent graduate student with an absolute right to remain in the U.S.
FACT: An immigration judge ruled Khalil — who is not a U.S. citizen — can be deported.
HOAX: The Financial Timesreported that Senior White House Counselor Peter Navarro wanted to remove Canada from the “Five Eyes” intelligence sharing network.
FACT: Mr. Navarro immediately shut down this fake story.
HOAX: A foreign Fake News reporter claimed President Trump referred to European nations as “parasites.”
FACT: President Trump immediately pushed back on this ridiculous claim — as did the Italian prime minister.
HOAX: Fake News CNN’s Brianna Keilar implied the Trump Administration was somehow wrong for stopping illegal immigrants from stealing taxpayer dollars in the form of welfare benefits.
FACT: Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller summarily embarrassed her with the facts: “The federal government will find EVERY illegal alien who is stealing American taxpayer dollars — and that’s what Americans expect to happen. I don’t even fathom the premise of your question.”
HOAX: A favorite refrain of the Fake News is that Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., is “anti-vaccine.”
FACT: Kennedy debunked the lie in his confirmation hearings: “This has been repeatedly debunked … Bringing this up right now is dishonest.”
HOAX: WIRED falsely claimed the Social Security Administration is “shifting its public communication exclusively to X” under President Trump.
HOAX: Reuters falsely reported that the Trump Administration “stalled a United Nations program in Mexico aimed at stopping imported fentanyl chemicals from reaching the country’s drug cartels.”
FACT: The Department of State is actually trying to expand the initiative.
FACT: The Fake News frequently pushed the lie that as part of the Trump administration, Secretary Kennedy would implement a national abortion ban and “restrict or even ban medication abortion without a single act of Congress.”
FACT: Secretary Kennedy consistently pledged to implement President Trump’s policies — which include leaving abortion to the states, ending barbaric late-term abortions, protecting conscientious objections, and ending federal funding for abortions.
HOAX: Fake News savant Tara Palmeri falsely reported that President Trump’s proposal for Gaza was conceived by Jared Kushner.
FACT: This lie was immediately and summarily debunked by the Trump Administration: “The worst reporter in America makes up fake news for clout because she has no real sources. Sit down, dummy.”
HOAX: Sen. Chris Murphy, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and media outlets claimed President Trump’s directive to pause radical, wasteful government spending meant an end to Medicaid, food assistance, and other individual assistance programs.
FACT: Individual assistance programs — Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, etc. — were explicitly excluded, as was made clear by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and the Office of Management and Budget. Only unnecessary spending — DEI, Green New Scam, NGOs that undermine the national interest — were included in the directive.
HOAX: A “physicians advocacy group” was widely cited as opposing President Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
FACT: The “advocacy group” was really an astroturfed partisan organization funded by prominent left-wing donors — and accepted fake signatures.
HOAX: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and other Democrats pushed the lie that DOGE posted “classified information” on their website.
FACT: That alleged “classified information” was really just an employment headcount — which has been publicly available for years.
HOAX: Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) claimed Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem called all Venezuelan immigrants “dirtbags.”
FACT: Secretary Noem actually called illegal immigrant members of the vicious Tren de Aragua gang “dirtbags,” which is true.
HOAX:The New York Timeswrote that Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., wanted to “ban fluoride in drinking water” and “reverse … one of the most important public health practices in the country’s history.”
FACT: New York Times made no mention of their own reporting that fluoride may be “linked to lower IQ scores in children.”
HOAX: Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) repeatedly lied about President Trump “going after” Social Security.
FACT: President Trump has repeatedly pledged to protect Social Security and make it more robust for American citizens.
HOAX: Sen. Mark Kelley (D-AZ) attempted to scare veterans by shamelessly claiming their care was in jeopardy due to “layoffs” at VA hospitals.
FACT: The lie was debunked by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins: “What changes are you talking about? We’ve not had those layoffs… I put $360 million back into community care… It’s concerning to me that a veteran would actually tell stories to veterans that are not true.”
HOAX: Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) exploited the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport plane crash tragedy by claiming President Trump “froze the hiring” of air traffic controllers.
FACT: Air traffic controllers were exempt from the federal hiring freeze.
HOAX: Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) implied that “cutting” members of an aviation advisory committee was somehow a cause of the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport plane crash tragedy.
FACT: The advisory group hadn’t met since 2023 and was comprised of business and union leaders who gave “advice” to the TSA and had nothing to do with actual air travel.
HOAX: A far-left writer claimed Elon Musk and DOGE staffers “illegally installed a commercial server to control federal HR databases that contain sensitive personal information, including SSNs, home addresses, and medical histories.”
FACT: A top official confirmed “there’s nothing illegal and no server, just more made up tall tales from uninformed career bureaucrats.”
HOAX:The Washington Postalleged the Trump Administration was setting “quotas” for immigration authorities — and gave the administration just four minutes to comment before publishing.
FACT: The illegal immigrant was a confirmed member of the vicious Tren de Aragua gang. An immigration judge ordered his removal, and he was deported along with other threats to national security.
HOAX:The Wall Street Journalalleged that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff was receiving sensitive information on a personal phone while in Moscow and that Russian Intelligence must’ve had access to the information.
FACT: This was a total fabrication. Special Envoy Witkoff did not even have a personal phone with him in Russia. He had only a government phone; a secure line of communication.
HOAX:The Wall Street Journalclaimed the Trump Administration “sought to portray” deported criminal illegal immigrant gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia as “violent.”
FACT: Abrego Garcia’s own wife filed an order of protection against him and testified that he brutally beat her.
HOAX: An AP reporter claimed that FAA staff who worked on “radar, landing and navigational aid maintenance, among others” were “harassed on Facebook” by DOGE.
FACT: That was a total lie. DOGE doesn’t have a Facebook page and no professionals who perform critical safety functions were fired.
HOAX: The Daily Beast claimed Vice President JD Vance “broke one of the most notorious Vatican rules during his Easter weekend visit” by being photographed in the Sistine Chapel.
FACT: Buried all the way down in the 14th paragraph, The Daily Beast admitted the vice president was given special permission by the Vatican to have photographs taken inside the Sistine Chapel.
HOAX: Left-wing social media accounts promoted fake, AI-generated audio of Vice President Vance “disparaging Elon Musk in private.”
HOAX:The New York Timesreported that funding for the Women’s Health Initiative was being slashed by the Department of Health and Human Services.
FACT: Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., himself declared this Fake News and recognized the project is “mission critical.”
HOAX: Fox News’s Jennifer Griffin gave legitimacy to a hoax from delusional Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth requested nearly $140,000 in “upgrades” to his government residence.
FACT: This lie was debunked by Secretary Hegseth — and it was so outrageous, even the AP was forced to admit it was completely fake.
HOAX: Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) and many others claimed the Supreme Court ordered the return of illegal immigrant gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States.
FACT: Even CNN admitted that’s not what happened: “They did not order the administration to return him to the United States … they could’ve said ‘we order him returned,’ but they didn’t do that.”
HOAX: Joe Biden accused the Trump Administration of “taking aim at Social Security.”
FACT: As usual, he was lying — President Trump has repeatedly pledged to protect Social Security.
HOAX: Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) claimed the arrest of a Milwaukee judge who helped an illegal immigrant evade arrest was “unprecedented.”
HOAX: Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) called the arrest of a Milwaukee judge who helped an illegal immigrant evade arrest a “gravely serious and drastic move.”
FACT: The judge violated the law by obstructing an ICE arrest of an illegal immigrant.
HOAX: Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) claimed the arrest of the Milwaukee judge who obstructed an apprehension of a criminal illegal immigrant “threatens the rule of law.”
FACT: It literally does the opposite because no one is above the law.
HOAX: Politico claimed the Trump Administration “wipe[d] out firefighter health and safety programs.”
FACT: The programs remain a top priority for the administration — and will remain intact.
HOAX: Sen. Elizabeth Warren claimed that President Trump’s policies make it so “no one wants to make investments in the United States.”
FACT: President Trump has secured more than $5 trillion in investments since taking office, which is expected to create more than 451,000 new jobs — and the list is only expected to grow.
HOAX: NBC’s Kristen Welker peddled a Fake News hoax that the Trump Administration was deporting children.
FACT: Secretary of State Marco Rubio shut down her desperate attempt at a hoax by highlighting how the mother, who was in the country illegally, made that choice all on her own.
HOAX:The New York Timesimplied President Trump was alone in wearing a blue suit to the funeral of Pope Francis.
FACT: Photos show dozens of world leaders and other attendees — many situated near President Trump — alsowearingblue clothing.
HOAX: Teachers’ union boss Randi Weingarten accused President Trump of taking teachers’ salaries and giving them to “billionaires” by cutting the Department of Education.
FACT: President Trump has repeatedly called teachers “the most important people in this country” who should be paid more, not less. The federal government does not pay the salaries of teachers; state and local governments do.
HOAX: The Fake News and their predictable allies ran with a story that claimed an American citizen was detained by authorities after he informed them he was, in fact, a citizen.
FACT: That’s not what happened. The individual “approached Border Patrol in Tucson and stated he had entered the U.S. illegally through Nogales. He said he wanted to turn himself in and completed a sworn statement identifying as a Mexican citizen who had entered unlawfully … A few days later, his family presented documents showing U.S. citizenship. The charges were dismissed, and he was released to his family.”
HOAX: PBS News claimed “DOGE operatives attempted to gain access to secure spaces,” implying they attempted to access classified information without approval.
HOAX: The AP falsely claimed Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said President Trump is “very good friends” with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
FACT: The AP was humiliatingly forced to retract its story, admitting they were wrong. Stephanie Ruhle also had to issue a correction. DNI Gabbard was referencing President Trump’s relationship with Indian PM Narendra Modi.
FACT: Wrong. As Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “When you apply to enter the United States and you get a visa, you are a guest… If you tell us when you apply for a visa ‘I’m coming to the U.S. to participate in pro-Hamas events,’ that runs counter to the foreign policy interest of the United States… If you had told us you were going to do that, we never would have given you the visa.”
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
In order to involve new real estate objects into circulation and increase the level of investment activity in the reunited regions, work on a complete inventory is ongoing. Thanks to it, 251,750 objects have been identified, information about which has been entered into the Unified State Register of Real Estate, Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin reported.
“A comprehensive inventory in new regions is being conducted in two directions – studying archival documents confirming property rights to real estate objects or describing objects, and inspecting the territories. Thus, since the beginning of the project, work has been completed in 4,230 cadastral blocks. Also, based on archival documents, information on 1.4 million objects has been entered into the Unified State Register of Real Estate. In general, this colossal work allows us to create an accurate real estate register not only for the inclusion of new objects in circulation, but also so that citizens can quickly and without delays formalize their property rights and protect their property rights. Inventory is also necessary for further mass cadastral valuation of objects,” said Marat Khusnullin.
As part of the inventory, the characteristics of objects, information about which is entered into the Unified State Register of Real Estate, are also clarified, and the title holders, unused lands, and ownerless buildings, structures, and premises are identified.
“This work is carried out by the Roscadastre PPC under the coordination of Rosreestr. In particular, 13,662 unused land plots and territories with a total area of 112 thousand hectares have already been identified. In total, by the end of 2026, it is planned to conduct an inventory of more than 28 thousand cadastral quarters available for survey,” added Rosreestr head Oleg Skufinsky.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission) under the Health Bureau announced yesterday (April 29) that the PHC Commission received notification from the Kwai Tsing Safe Community and Healthy City Association (KTSCHCA), the operator of the Kwai Tsing District Health Centre (Kwai Tsing DHC), on April 28 on suspected hacking of its outsourced service provider’s network system, resulting in possible leakage of members’ data. The PHC Commission is highly concerned about the incident, and has instructed the KTSCHCA to seriously follow up and to submit a report within three working days.
According to the notification from the KTSCHCA, the system involved is managed independently by its outsourced service provider, and is mainly used to assist with administrative work such as service booking or members sign-in at the Kwai Tsing DHC. The outsourced network system was hacked last Sunday (April 27), resulting in possible leakage of members’ data, including names, membership numbers, dates of birth, residential districts (not full addresses) and the first four digits of the Hong Kong Identity Card of some members who have enrolled in a vaccination programme. The KTSCHCA is currently assessing the possible number of members of the Kwai Tsing DHC affected and the data involved.
The PHC Commission noted that the KTSCHCA has reported the incident to the Police and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, and has also informed the Digital Policy Office of the incident. As required by the PHC Commission, the KTSCHCA has immediately suspended the operation of the Kwai Tsing DHC’s network system and all external connections to its computer servers to prevent further intrusion attempts by hackers. The KTSCHCA has also commissioned an independent cybersecurity expert to conduct an investigation and review. In view of the system suspension of the DHC, the appointments on blood taking and seasonal influenza vaccination of relevant DHC members will be rescheduled starting from yesterday. The operator of the Kwai Tsing DHC has started to notify the relevant members via phone calls and text messages, and will also inform all its members of the hacking incident. Members of the public may contact the DHC at 1878 222 for enquiries.
The system involved does not have any direct connection with the systems of DHCs/DHC Expresses in other 17 districts in Hong Kong. The operators of other DHCs/DHC Expresses have not outsourced or used the system involved. The PHC Commission has urged the operators of other DHCs/DHC Expresses to review their network systems, including the systems of their outsourced service providers, the computer security risk, and whether any suspicious activities have occurred. The PHC Commission has not received any report of similar incidents.
Besides, the Kwai Tsing DHC is a registered healthcare provider on eHealth. Currently, it connects to eHealth through the designated clinical management system (CMS) specified by the PHC Commission to assist members in registering with eHealth, managing members’ participation in government-subsidised healthcare programmes and facilitating service referrals, etc. The system involved is independent of both the designated CMS and eHealth, with no direct system interfaces. Investigations also revealed that there was no intrusion into eHealth by hackers or any leakage of personal data from eHealth. However, for prudence’s sake, upon receiving notification of the incident, the Commissioner for the Electronic Health Record (eHRC) has suspended the eHealth registration of the operator concerned, in order to protect data privacy and system security of eHealth. During the suspension period, the Kwai Tsing DHC is unable to access to any electronic health record in eHealth. The eHRC will only resume the connection of Kwai Tsing DHC with eHealth, after conducting a careful assessment of the detailed report submitted by the Kwai Tsing DHC and confirming that the security risks of the system are fully eliminated.
The Government emphasised that it has always attached great importance to cybersecurity. The PHC Commission is conducting a comprehensive review of the incident, including whether the cybersecurity measures of the KTSCHCA are in compliance with the requirements stipulated in the DHC operation contract, and will further strengthen the protection measures to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.
Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
Heinrich: “Donald Trump and Elon Musk are tanking our economy, pushing us into a recession, and throwing working families under the bus”
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement slamming Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office:
“In his first 100 days, Donald Trump has raised the cost of YOUR health care, groceries, and utilities; slapped a $4,000 tax on YOUR family with his chaotic tariffs; attacked Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare; delayed veteran benefits; undermined our children’s public education; schemed to sell off YOUR public lands; fired wildland firefighters who protect our communities from dangerous wildfires; and unlawfully blocked hundreds of millions of dollars I helped pass into law for working families. Trump is doing all of this to bankroll massive tax handouts for himself, Elon Musk, and billionaire donors.
“Instead of putting New Mexico families first, Donald Trump and Elon Musk are tanking our economy, pushing us into a recession, and throwing working families under the bus. As New Mexico’s senior senator, I will fight like hell to hold Trump accountable and uplift the voices of New Mexicans harmed by Trump’s chaos. I’ll always put New Mexico families first — that’s who I’m fighting for.”
Heinrich has amplified New Mexicans concerned about President Trump’s harmful actions and unqualified nominees.
In January, Heinrich delivered the longest speech of his career, where he slammed President Trump’s unlawful unilateral blockade of all federal grant funding. In his remarks, Heinrich uplifted stories from New Mexicans on how Trump’s federal funding freeze endangered New Mexicans and threatened communities across the state. Find the video of Heinrich sharing letters from New Mexicans on the Senate floor here.
In February, Heinrich delivered remarks on the Senate floor amplifying the voices of New Mexicans opposing the nomination of Russell Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Mr. Vought is the lead architect of Project 2025, the policy blueprint for Donald Trump’s harmful agenda to throw the government into chaos and harm working families.
Heinrich also uplifted the voices of New Mexicans opposing the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to be the U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services (HHS). In his remarks, Heinrich condemned Mr. Kennedy’s long track record of spreading fear, peddling misinformation, and promoting conspiracy theories. Heinrich recounted how Mr. Kennedy’s 2019 trip to the Pacific island of Samoaintensified vaccine skepticism and contributed to a deadly measles outbreak that killed 83 people, mostly children under five.
Additionally, Heinrich raised New Mexicans’ concerns over Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination for the Director of National Intelligence. In his remarks on the Senate floor, Heinrich emphasized the risk Gabbard’s nomination poses to our national security and discussed Ms. Gabbard’s lack of qualifications and judgment, particularly relating to her 2017 trip to Bashar al-Assad’s Syria. Heinrich zeroed in on Ms. Gabbard’s false denial during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee about meeting with Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, Syria’s most senior Sunni Muslim cleric during the Assad regime who made threats to conduct suicide bomb attacks in the United States.
Heinrich has led Senate Democrats in sounding the alarm on Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s destructive actions, which are weakening our economy and threatening the livelihoods of New Mexicans.
In an interview with Jim Sciutto on CNN’s The Situation Room, Heinrich vocalized the concerns of his constituents, who continue to write-in and call his office opposing Trump’s harmful actions, which are impacting New Mexico families and their financial security.Watch the full video of that interview here.
Since Trump took office in 2025, Heinrich:
Introduced a resolution condemning Trump’s pardons of people found guilty of assaulting police officers on January 6.
Led Senate Democrats in sounding the alarm on Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s destructive actions that are wreaking havoc on Americans, weakening our economy, and threatening the livelihoods of New Mexicans.
overnor Kathy Hochul today outlined the turmoil created under President Trump’s first 100 days in office, warning that his administration’s retaliatory policies, deep federal cuts and unilateral tariffs are poised to negatively impact New York’s economy, the environment and hard working families. Last week, New York State joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of President Trump’s global tariffs. According to independent estimates, Trump’s tariffs will cost the State’s economy more than $7 billion, result in more than 280,000 jobs lost and hit New York families with an average cost increase of $6,400. New York has also led the fight to protect federal funding from cuts and disruptions that are impacting more than $1.3 billion in federal funding for New York and has successfully challenged in court the Trump Administration’s global funding freeze, as well as cuts to the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other critical federal agencies.
“The first 100 days of the Trump Administration have been rife with chaos and uncertainty, from on-again, off-again tariffs to cuts to vital programs, New Yorkers are paying the price,” Governor Hochul said. “President Trump promised relief from inflation and his policies are making life harder, chaotic and more expensive for working class New Yorkers while slashing the very services they rely on.”
Implications for New Yorkers during President Trump’s First 100 Days Include:
More than $1.3 billion in cuts to funding for State programs so far with more expected, in addition to the funding cuts to local governments, universities and other organizations delivering critical services to New Yorkers
Massive fluctuation in the stock market from ever changing tariff policies has shrunk 401(k)s and 529 college savings plans, and is expected to increase cost of living for New Yorkers by thousands of dollars
Manufacturers and small businesses are reeling from severe cost hikes on some products due to tariffs, leading them to leave shipments in customs or cancel orders
Canadian and European travel to New York has dropped and hotel stays and trips in regions such as the North Country and Western New York have been cancelled
The pause of construction of Empire Wind, which will have a profound impact on jobs and energy production
Cutting millions in funding that allows school districts and food banks to buy produce from local farmers who rely on their purchases
Three Social Security Administration offices closed in New York
Eliminated every person in the office that manages a program helping over 1 million New Yorkers pay their heating and cooling bills
Cuts to the NIH paused the critical research of a New York Scientist on Alzheimer’s treatments
Cut over $300 million in infrastructure funding for New York communities, threatening our public safety
Cutting the majority of federal AmeriCorps funding in New York, which supports approximately 1,500 AmeriCorps members working for non-profits and in low-income communities across the State
PUBLIC SAFETY AND IMMIGRATION
The Trump administration has revoked more than $325 million in vital resiliency funding from the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program and put $56 million more at risk, which will impact several critical infrastructure and community resilience projects in New York State.
Additionally, DOGE is planning to cut up to 84 percent of staff from their Office of Community Planning and Development, which helps pay to rebuild homes and other recovery efforts after the country’s worst disasters such as Superstorm Sandy and Tropical Storms Lee and Irene.
The Albany National Weather Service (NWS) Office was forced to suspend weather balloon launches due to staff shortages and budget constraints. This has impacted the ability of the NWS to provide twice-daily balloon launches, impacting the accuracy of weather forecasts.
After Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained a Sackets Harbor mom and her children, Governor Hochul took action, engaging with the White House, Border Czar Tom Homan and local officials in an effort to bring the family back home. After 11 days in detention, the family was returned to Sackets Harbor.
ECONOMY AND TOURISM
The stock market has been unstable due to President Trump’s on-again, off-again tariff policy. This has caused retirees’ 401(k)s and students’ 529 savings plans to shrink. Additionally, consumer confidence plunged, to 50.8 percent in April from 71.7 percent in January. The dollar has weakened, falling to a three month low in April.
The Governor has heard from small and mid-sized businesses across the State who are worried about rising costs and their future. A recent survey from the National Small Business Association found that the majority of small businesses are concerned about tariffs and one in three are very concerned. Examples include North Country manufacturer Alcoa, which took an estimated $20 million hit on imports from Canada, and North Country Golf Club which is facing declines in businesses due to the decline in tourism from Canada. In the Southern Tier, the Cortland Standard, which was in business for more than a century, has closed its doors, citing the expected 25 percent tariffs on paper as part of the decision.
The Trump administration is cancelling the successful Manufacturers Extension Partnership (MEP) in several states. In New York, NY MEP centers generated $1.25 billion in economic impact, supported the creation or retention of nearly 6,300 jobs and served over 700 companies during the 2023 calendar year. This decision has raised widespread concern across the entire national network of MEP Centers, prompting fears about whether these initial cancellations are the first step in a broader effort to dismantle the program and eliminate federal funding for all 51 centers.
Due to the tariff trade war with Canada, New York’s number one trade partner, and the rhetoric that Canada could be the “51st state,” impacts are widespread. Visitors from Canada are avoiding the U.S. and New York State. Overall, total bridge crossings between Eastern Ontario and New York State for March are down 23,000 compared to 2024, and at the lowest level since 2022. Additionally, Niagara River bridges traffic for February is down 14 percent and Thousand Islands Bridge crossings are down 19 percent.
A survey of local businesses in the North Country found that 66 percent have already experienced a slight to significant decrease in Canadian bookings for 2025, and that 26 percent have already adjusted staffing levels in response to the decline.
TRANSPORTATION
President Trump’s Department of Transportation vowed to kill congestion pricing from day one of his administration, despite clear evidence that the program is working. The MTA reported that in March, traffic is down 13 percent, travel times have improved in key corridors within the Central Business District and it has increased revenue for the MTA that will result in improvements in the system.
IMPACTS ON HARD WORKING FAMILIES
President Trump has reduced the federal workforce by more than 120,000 people nationwide according to data compiled from CNN. In New York more than 1,200 federal workers have been forced to file for unemployment.
The Trump administration has pledged to cancel the successful and free Direct File tax filing program. This program has already begun to make an impact in its first full year, with many New Yorkers saving nearly $300 per household in tax prep fees that could instead go toward groceries, gas, child care or rent.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture slashed hundreds of millions of dollars in funding that helped schools buy food from local farms. The program sought to bring local produce to schools and child care facilities, giving schools the opportunities to purchase fresh foods and use smaller producers rather than rely on large corporations.
The Trump Administration announced that half of all food shipments through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) would be canceled, resulting in a $500 million reduction in funding for food banks across the country. New York State could see a loss of around 16 million pounds of USDA foods in 2025 due to the TEFAP funding cuts, according to Feeding New York State.
SSA field offices are closing, wait times for deserving seniors are increasing and sensitive and private personal data is in danger of being insecure.
ENERGY
The Trump Administration stopped construction on Empire Wind, putting thousands of construction jobs at risk and threatening to dismantle a project that when complete, will generate enough electricity to power about 500,000 homes in New York State.
Funding has been suspended for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Funds. The NEVI program — passed as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — provides funding directly to states for installing public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, which, if implemented, will lower fuel costs for families, reduce U.S. dependence on fossil fuels and create construction jobs nationwide.
President Trump has also threatened to roll back the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and repeal its tax credits. NYSERDA estimates a full repeal of the clean energy incentives could result in more than $20 billion in increased project costs and could cause significant project attrition.
HOUSING
At the direction of President Trump and DOGE, HUD staff has been decimated, imperiling the core functions of the agency that serve our communities, manage federally funded housing programs and assist housing development at a time of national crisis for housing. Funding has also been cut for organizations that fight housing discrimination across the country, while rolling back federal protections to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing.
HUD has further announced it was ending four years early the Emergency Housing Voucher Program, a successful federal program to combat homelessness for more than 9,500 households across the State. The federal administration imperiling this funding will force these families, at last stably housed, back onto the street.
The $1 billion Green and Resilient Retrofit Program that helps preserve affordable housing is being paused, threatening projects that keep tens of thousands of units livable for low-income Americans.
HEALTH CARE
The actions of the current administration threaten the health and safety of New Yorkers. New York State remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of all New Yorkers and promoting health equity.
President Trump has endorsed the House’s budget resolution which includes over $1 trillion in cuts to critical safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP. Nearly 7 million qualifying New Yorkers are covered under Medicaid, including 2.5 million children, and 636,000 New Yorkers with disabilities. 2.9 million New Yorkers rely on SNAP for healthy food, including over 800,000 children.
The Trump administration’s National Institute of Health (NIH) has cut grant funding to SUNY used to conduct research to cure diseases, keep our nation safe and grow our economy. The NIH’s sudden budget cuts will cost SUNY research an estimated $79 million on current grants, including more than $21 million over just the next five months that will immediately imperil the work of SUNY’s dedicated researchers by decimating the equipment, staff and services they rely on.
The Trump Administration picked a top health official who has questioned the safety of vaccines and the use of fluoride in drinking water and claimed that autism was preventable. These views go against proven science and could lead to more diseases by making people doubt public health advice.
The Administration has taken back important public health funding. This includes money for tracking disease, supporting vaccinations and helping vulnerable communities hit hardest by the pandemic. Without this funding, local health services must cut staff and scale back programs, especially in areas that need the most help.
Hundreds of federal health workers have lost jobs, making it harder for both the federal government and states like New York to respond to health threats and deliver services like maternal care and disease control.
New executive orders have removed federal support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs, harming efforts to ensure fair health care for women, LGBTQ+ people and communities of color. These actions affirm that the needs of these communities no longer matter to the federal government.
In addition, with massive arbitrary cuts to federal agencies, the future of federal programs to help combat substance use disorder, heating and cooling assistance for low-income New Yorkers, and early childhood investment programs like Head Start remain in jeopardy.
New York State remains committed to ensuring all New Yorkers have access to affordable, quality health care. Accordingly, the State rejects thinly veiled attacks on anyone who may not comport with the Trump Administration’s limited views of who is a person.
EDUCATION
President Trump vowed to eliminate the Department of Education, a crucial part of the federal government that supports kids, teachers and administrators right here in New York State. New York receives $5.5 billion annually from the Department of Education. Approximately $3.2 billion is routed through the State Budget and $2.3 billion is sent directly to local entities, primarily colleges and universities. This crucial funding supports Pell Grants for college students, money for kids with disabilities, programs that are supporting kids’ mental health, crucial research at our public higher education institutions and much more
ENVIRONMENT & AGRICULTURE
The Trump administration has taken aim through Executive Order at dismantling New York State’s strong environmental protections.
Additionally, funding for the Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program has been slashed. While the Biden administration had indicated that $24 million would be available under the LFPA program (New York Food for New York Families), the Trump administration (USDA) has reversed and this next round of funding will no longer be available.
More recently, New York State’s $60 million award for the New York Connects: Climate Smart Farms and Forests Program, which funds climate smart agriculture and forestry practices, was cancelled by USDA.
USDA staff that assist farmers with implementing conservation programs, loans and other resources for their farms, have been laid off.
Over 80 percent of agrochemical imports and 70 percent of farm machinery imports come from countries facing tariffs of 10 percent or more. Tariffs may slow down or halt on-farm expansion and modernization due to projected increases in equipment costs, with much of the stainless steel coming from abroad.
Trade issues are having a compounding effect for dairy farmers — input costs are going up and the milk price relies on export markets. Tariffs and threats of trade disputes result in lost markets and lower milk prices. For example, the budget for a building project went from $85,000 to $106,000, due to tariffs on steel and aluminum, one farm had a $2,200 fee added to their bill for grain because it came from a Canadian feed mill and another farm is anticipating their bottom line to be 7-10 percent lower this year due to lower milk prices and tariffs on inputs, including feed, energy and building supplies.
The ability of West Coast apple producers to export their product will play a key role in the price and demand for New York apples. If West Coast producers are not able to expand overseas markets, they will continue to flood East Coast markets and displace New York State fresh apples where they can undercut prices.
Tariffs placed on equipment, largely coming from Canada, would increase producers’ costs of maple syrup production significantly and negatively impact profitability in the maple industry.
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (D-OR) announced that her bipartisan bill with Representative Rich McCormick (R-GA) passed out of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. Introduced earlier this week, theNucleic Acid Screening for Biosecurity Actwould develop technical standards and best practices for nucleic acid screening.
“From treating and diagnosing diseases to developing new vaccines, nucleic acids are used for a variety of important purposes,” said Rep. Salinas. “My legislation would help standardize screening processes and protocols for universities, companies, and researchers who work with nucleic acids. I’m proud to see this bill pass out of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee with strong bipartisan support, and I’ll continue advocating for commonsense solutions that will ensure America remains a global leader in scientific research and innovation.”
Biotechnology companies routinely produce custom-ordered nucleic acids for university, industry, nonprofit, and government researchers. Although industry has worked to develop international standards related to screening molecules of concern, U.S.-led efforts are still required to further increase adoption of sufficiently rigorous protocols.
TheNucleic Acid Screening for Biosecurity Actauthorizes the Director of the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) to carry out programs to support the development of technical standards and best practices related to nucleic acid screening. It would codify nucleic acid screening activities outlined in former President Biden’s Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence.
The bill now awaits a vote by the full House of Representatives.
Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
WASHINGTON – U.S.Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Sen. Todd Young (R-IN), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, wrote to leadership at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) expressing the need for the agencies to exercise all available authorities to protect the sensitive genomic information of Americans, including in the bankruptcy proceedings of 23andMe, a personal genomics and biotechnology company that holds the DNA and sensitive information of millions of individuals.
The senators highlighted the attempts by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and other foreign adversaries to collect this type of genomicdata from Americans and the various ways in which the PRC has used sensitive biometric data for surveillance efforts.
“As the Chinese government has realized, genomic data is incredibly valuable. Biological data is critical to biomedical discovery, particularly when, as here, it contains substantial amounts of personal genomic data. It can be used to create, design, and optimize everything from biopharmaceuticals and medical devices to optimizing AI models for medical applications,” the senators wrote. “The PRC also has demonstrated a sustained effort to leverage genomic and other biometric data for extensive surveillance; accessing this data – either directly or indirectly – could further enable PRC transnational surveillance, including posing counter-intelligence threats to the United States. In addition, genomic data can be used to create dual-use technologies that, on the one hand, could help create vaccines for diseases, but on the other hand, can be weaponized by our adversaries to for malign intent.”
Whileapplauding the recent actions by the Justice Departmentin current proceedings, the senators underscored the need to take more steps to ensure that bad actors are prevented from acquiring, legally or illegally, Americans’ genomic information.
The senators continued, “In addition to the Department’s recent filing, and any anticipated CFIUS review, the Department, in conjunction with the Commission and other U.S. agencies as appropriate, must closely monitor the sale or transfer of, or access to, 23andMe’s genomic databank, regardless of whether that activity is in the ordinary course of business, for compliance with all applicable statutes related to national security and consumer protection.”
This is the latest effort by Sen. Warner to safeguard Americans’ data and sensitive information from adversaries. As Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Sen. Warner has worked to ensure the U.S. is prepared to counter threats posed by foreign adversaries including the PRC across various sectors. Sen. Warnerspearheaded the pushto force CCP-based Bytedance to divest from TikTok in order to allow the app to continue operations in the United States. Last year, Sen. Warner introduced the Countering CCP Drones and Supporting Drones for Law Enforcement Act,legislation to cut off dangerous CCP drone companies from the U.S. telecommunication infrastructure. Sen. Warner also introduced bipartisan and bicameral legislation toimprove information sharingbetween private companies and the Intelligence Community in order to mitigate the threat that foreign adversaries including the CCP pose to United States companies in foreign jurisdictions on projects relating to energy generation and storage, including in the critical minerals industry, and earlier this year, Sen. Warnerintroduced legislationaimed at shoring up America’s response to financial threats stemming from the PRC.
A copy of letter is available here and text is below.
Dear Attorney General Bondi and Chairman Ferguson:
We write to urge the Department of Justice (“Department”) and the Federal Trade Commission (“Commission”) to exercise the full scope of their legal and statutory authorities in 23andMe Holding Co. (“23andMe”)’s bankruptcy proceeding. We commend the Department on its April 22, 2025 filing in the 23andMe bankruptcy proceeding, recognizing that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) should review this transaction in light of the substantial national security concerns involved. However, additional action from agencies are necessary in order to prevent adversaries, including the People’s Republic of China (PRC), from acquiring millions of Americans’ genomic data.
Chinese authorities have already collected genomic data on millions of their own citizens, and continue to actively target foreign companies, including in the U.S., for acquisition or investment, as well for theft, in order to obtain foreign individuals’ genomic data, creating serious implications for national security, public health, economic security, and Americans’ privacy. As the Chinese government has realized, genomic data is incredibly valuable. Biological data is critical to biomedical discovery, particularly when, as here, it contains substantial amounts of personal genomic data. It can be used to create, design, and optimize everything from biopharmaceuticals and medical devices to optimizing AI models for medical applications. The PRC also has demonstrated a sustained effort to leverage genomic and other biometric data for extensive surveillance; accessing this data – either directly or indirectly – could further enable PRC transnational surveillance, including posing counter-intelligence threats to the United States. In addition, genomic data can be used to create dual-use technologies that, on the one hand, could help create vaccines for diseases, but on the other hand, can be weaponized by our adversaries to for malign intent.
In order to prevent China from weaponizing this data, or outcompeting the U.S. economically, the U.S. must urgently prioritize the protection of biological and genomic data, particularly of Americans, starting with that held by 23andMe.
As the Department notes in its recent filing, its Data Security Program must be better utilized to ensure the protection, and prevent the acquisition, of Americans’ sensitive genomic data. In addition to the Department’s recent filing, and any anticipated CFIUS review, the Department, in conjunction with the Commission and other U.S. agencies as appropriate, must closely monitor the sale or transfer of, or access to, 23andMe’s genomic databank, regardless of whether that activity is in the ordinary course of business, for compliance with all applicable statutes related to national security and consumer protection. Chairman Ferguson’s letter to the Office of the U.S. Trustee lays out a clear rationale for robust oversight by the Justice Department over the legal obligations and protections that 23andMe owes its customers (“users”). 23andMe’s users also should have the ability to remove their genetic data from acquisition by a foreign government or entities under the control or influence of a foreign government, including data associated with other personally-identifiable information and any other data generated by 23andMe that uses genetic data in the aggregate.
23andMe’s users provided their sensitive, personal genetic data to a privately-owned U.S. company, potentially without fully understanding the implications of this data falling into the hands of adversaries, including cybercriminals and foreign nation-states. Further, the genetic information held in 23andMe’s databank has implications for relatives of 23andMe users who share common genetic markers, creating additional privacy concerns for such individuals who had no opportunity to consent to how 23andMe’s data could be used in ways that affect them.
Outside of this proceeding, we urge the Department, the Commission, and other relevant federal entities to closely monitor future transactions, and use all levers as appropriate, where foreign entities, particularly those under the control or influence of foreign nations of concern, are attempting to purchase – through bankruptcy proceedings or otherwise-Americans’ sensitive biologic and genomic data. To this end, we encourage the DOJ to evaluate any appropriate updates to its recently-released Final Rule,6 implementing Executive Order 14117 on “Preventing Access to Americans’ Bulk Sensitive Personal Data and United States Government-Related Data by Countries of Concern”, to address any novel risks posed by potential acquisition (and resale) of 23andMe data by covered vendors.
In addition, the Department and the Commission must work with lead agencies to support the cybersecurity of genomic data. In March 2022, 23andMe suffered a security breach that compromised the genetic information of millions of users, underscoring concerns around genomic data privacy and misuse.
In short, it is paramount to our national and economic security that there is a whole-of government approach to protecting Americans’ sensitive genomic data, including by preventing malign entities from gaining access to such data through commercial acquisition, cyberattacks, or other illicit means. We remain committed to working with the Department, the Commission, and the Administration broadly on this issue.
The Department of Health has urged parents and caregivers to ensure their children are up-to-date with vaccinations, as South Africa joins the rest of the continent in commemorating African Vaccination Week.
African Vaccination Week, observed from 23 to 30 April, aims to promote the life-saving benefits of immunisation.
This initiative seeks to protect people of all ages from vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, polio and diphtheria, among others.
According to the department, vaccination remains the most cost-effective public health intervention to save lives and the first line of defence against many diseases.
African Vaccination Week is celebrated alongside other World Health Organisation (WHO) regions during World Immunisation Week (WIW).
Its goal is to enhance advocacy for improved access to vaccination throughout the life course.
According to WHO, immunisation prevents between 3.5 and 5 million deaths every year from diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, also known as whooping cough, influenza and measles.
“Globally in 2023, 14.5 million children were missing out on any vaccination, so-called zero-dose children. It is for this reason that the department is working with provinces and other stakeholders to address immunisation gaps and improve vaccination coverage in the country,” WHO said in a statement.
The Health Department announced that it will leverage the 2025 campaign to enhance vaccination and surveillance efforts aimed at addressing immunity gaps in districts with low vaccination rates.
These areas have been identified as having a significant number of under-vaccinated and unvaccinated children, often referred to as zero-dose children.
According to the department, this initiative is part of the broader goal of preventing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
“Although 80% of children in South Africa have received all their vaccinations by the age of one year, this means that one in five children has missed one or more doses and is therefore not fully protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.”
The department said all vaccines contained in the National Immunisation Schedule are provided free of charge at all primary healthcare facilities across the country.
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to check their child’s Road to Health booklet and take their child to a health facility for vaccination if the child is due for or has missed any doses.
African Vaccination Week 2025 is commemorated under the theme: “Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible”.
This theme aims to highlight the profound impact of vaccines on human health and their potential to achieve global health security.
The department is expected to host a webinar on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, as part of African Vaccination Week activities to strengthen awareness of the importance of life course vaccines and provide a continuous update on the new developments around vaccines in South Africa. – SAnews.gov.za
HELENA, Mont., April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. (NASDAQ: EBMT), (the “Company,” “Eagle”), the holding company of Opportunity Bank of Montana (the “Bank”), today reported net income of $3.2 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $3.4 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, in the preceding quarter, and $1.9 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2024.
Eagle’s board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.1425 per share on April 24, 2025. The dividend will be payable June 6, 2025, to shareholders of record May 16, 2025. The current dividend represents an annualized yield of 3.43% based on recent market prices.
“We produced solid first quarter 2025 operating results, reflecting quarterly deposit growth, a reduction in operating expenses and net interest margin expansion,” said Laura F. Clark, President and CEO. “We are making progress in building our community bank franchise across the state of Montana, highlighted by a steady core deposit base and a well-balanced loan portfolio. We are one of only three publicly traded financial institutions based in Montana, and while market volatility and interest rate cycles continue to impact the overall economy, we remain well positioned in our markets to continue to grow.”
First Quarter 2025 Highlights (at or for the three-month period ended March 31, 2025, except where noted):
Net income was $3.2 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $3.4 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, in the preceding quarter, and increased 70.7% compared to $1.9 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, in the first quarter a year ago.
Net interest margin (“NIM”) was 3.74% in the first quarter of 2025, a 15-basis point increase compared to 3.59% in the preceding quarter and a 41-basis point increase compared to the first quarter a year ago.
Net interest income, before the provision for credit losses, increased 0.7% to $16.9 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $16.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, and increased 11.1% compared to $15.2 million in the first quarter of 2024.
Revenues (net interest income before the provision for credit losses, plus noninterest income) decreased 2.1% to $20.9 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $21.4 million in the preceding quarter and increased 9.1% compared to $19.2 million in the first quarter a year ago.
Total loans increased 1.7% to $1.52 billion, at March 31, 2025, compared to $1.50 billion a year earlier, and remained unchanged compared to $1.52 billion at December 31, 2024.
Total deposits increased $54.4 million or 3.3% to $1.69 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to a year earlier, and increased $8.7 million or 0.5%, compared to December 31, 2024.
The allowance for credit losses represented 1.10% of portfolio loans and 313.1% of nonperforming loans at March 31, 2025, compared to 1.10% of total portfolio loans and 227.6% of nonperforming loans at March 31, 2024.
The Company paid a quarterly cash dividend in the first quarter of $0.1425 per share on March 7, 2025, to shareholders of record February 14, 2025.
The Company’s available borrowing capacity was approximately $437.4 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $404.0 million at December 31, 2024.
March 31, 2025
December 31, 2024
(Dollars in thousands)
Borrowings Outstanding
Remaining Borrowing Capacity
Borrowings Outstanding
Remaining Borrowing Capacity
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
$
124,952
$
310,857
$
140,930
$
276,664
Federal Reserve Bank discount window
–
26,509
–
27,349
Correspondent bank lines of credit
–
100,000
–
100,000
Total
$
124,952
$
437,366
$
140,930
$
404,013
Balance Sheet Results
Total assets were $2.09 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to $2.08 billion a year ago, and $2.10 billion three months earlier. The investment securities portfolio totaled $291.7 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $311.2 million a year ago, and $292.6 million at December 31, 2024.
Eagle originated $43.2 million in new residential mortgages during the quarter and sold $42.8 million in residential mortgages, with an average gross margin on sale of mortgage loans of approximately 3.15%. This production compares to residential mortgage originations of $68.1 million in the preceding quarter with sales of $64.0 million and an average gross margin on sale of mortgage loans of approximately 3.18%. Mortgage volumes remain low as rates have continued to be elevated relative to rates on existing mortgages.
Total loans increased $26.1 million, or 1.7%, compared to a year ago, and increased $2.9 million, or 0.2%, from three months earlier. Commercial real estate loans increased 5.3% to $666.3 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $632.5 million a year earlier. Commercial real estate loans were comprised of 71.9% non-owner occupied and 28.1% owner occupied at March 31, 2025. Agricultural and farmland loans increased 10.7% to $284.6 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $257.0 million a year earlier. Residential mortgage loans decreased 4.9% to $149.7 million, compared to $157.4 million a year earlier. Commercial loans increased 1.5% to $139.7 million, compared to $137.6 million a year ago. Commercial construction and development loans decreased 25.5% to $110.1 million, compared to $147.7 million a year ago. Home equity loans increased 11.3% to $100.7 million, residential construction loans increased 1.1% to $45.5 million, and consumer loans decreased 9.1% to $27.0 million, compared to a year ago.
“Our deposit mix has shifted over the last several quarters towards higher yielding deposits due to the higher interest rate environment, a trend that has affected most community banks. However, we have started to experience an ease in deposit pricing following the Fed rate cuts in the second half of 2024, and we anticipate this will continue as CDs continue to reprice,” said Miranda Spaulding, CFO.
Total deposits increased to $1.69 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to $1.64 billion at March 31, 2024, and $1.68 billion at December 31, 2024. Noninterest-bearing checking accounts represented 24.3%, interest-bearing checking accounts represented 12.5%, savings accounts represented 12.6%, money market accounts comprised 23.5% and time certificates of deposit made up 27.1% of the total deposit portfolio at March 31, 2025. Time certificates on deposits include $6.2 million in brokered certificates at March 31, 2025, compared to $50.0 million at March 31, 2024 and no brokered certificates at December 31, 2024. The average cost of total deposits was 1.67% in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 1.71% in the preceding quarter and 1.62% in the first quarter of 2024. The estimated amount of uninsured deposits was approximately $309.0 million, or 18% of total deposits, at March 31, 2025, compared to $323.0 million, or 19% of total deposits, at December 31, 2024.
FHLB advances and other borrowings decreased to $125.0 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $177.5 million at March 31, 2024, and $140.9 million at December 31, 2024. The average cost of FHLB advances and other borrowings was 4.75% in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 5.02% in the preceding quarter and 5.53% in the first quarter of 2024. Shareholders’ equity was $177.6 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $168.9 million a year earlier and $174.8 million three months earlier. Book value per share increased to $22.26 at March 31, 2025, compared to $21.07 a year earlier and $21.77 three months earlier. Tangible book value per share, a non-GAAP financial measure calculated by dividing shareholders’ equity, less goodwill and core deposit intangible, by common shares outstanding, increased to $17.38 at March 31, 2025, compared to $16.05 a year earlier and $16.88 three months earlier.
Operating Results
“As anticipated, the higher yields on interest earning assets combined with a lower cost of funds contributed to our 15-basis point NIM expansion during the quarter, compared to the preceding quarter,” said Spaulding. “We anticipate continued improvement in our cost of funds based on current Fed rates.”
Eagle’s NIM was 3.74% in the first quarter of 2025, a 15-basis point increase compared to 3.59% in the preceding quarter and a 41-basis point improvement compared to the first quarter a year ago. The interest accretion on acquired loans totaled $172,000 and resulted in a four basis-point increase in the NIM during the first quarter of 2025, compared to $161,000 and a four basis-point increase in the NIM during the preceding quarter. Average yields on interest earning assets for the first quarter of 2025 increased to 5.76%, compared to 5.70% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 5.47% in the first quarter a year ago. Funding costs for the first quarter of 2025 were 2.54%, compared to 2.69% in the fourth quarter of 2024 and 2.67% in the first quarter of 2024.
Net interest income, before the provision for credit losses, increased 0.7% to $16.9 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $16.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, and increased 11.1% compared to $15.2 million in the first quarter of 2024.
Total noninterest income decreased 12.2% to $4.0 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $4.6 million in the preceding quarter, and unchanged compared to $4.0 million in the first quarter a year ago. Net mortgage banking income, the largest component of noninterest income, totaled $2.1 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $2.8 million in the preceding quarter and $2.2 million in the first quarter a year ago. This decrease compared to the preceding quarter was largely driven by a decline in net gain on sale of mortgage loans, which was impacted by lower mortgage loan volumes.
Eagle’s first quarter noninterest expense was $17.0 million, a decrease of 3.9% compared to $17.7 million in the preceding quarter and unchanged compared to $17.0 million in the first quarter a year ago. Contract changes led to lower data processing expense, which contributed to the quarter-over-quarter decrease.
For the first quarter of 2025, the Company recorded income tax expense of $631,000. This compared to income tax expense of $269,000 in the preceding quarter and $370,000 in the first quarter of 2024. The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2025 was 16.3%, which was unchanged compared to 16.3% for the first quarter of 2024. The preceding quarter’s effective tax rate was 7.3%. The effective tax rate has been impacted by an increase in the proportion of tax-exempt income compared to pretax earnings, as well as tax credits from investments in low-income housing tax credit projects.
Credit Quality
During the first quarter of 2025, Eagle recorded a $42,000 provision for credit losses. This compared to a $36,000 recapture in the provision for credit losses in the preceding quarter and a $135,000 recapture in the provision for credit losses in the first quarter a year ago. The allowance for credit losses represented 313.1% of nonperforming loans at March 31, 2025, compared to 437.7% three months earlier and 227.6% a year earlier. Nonperforming loans were $5.3 million at March 31, 2025, $3.9 million at December 31, 2024, and $7.2 million a year earlier. Net loan charge-offs totaled $2,000 in the first quarter of 2025, compared to net loan charge-offs of $44,000 in the preceding quarter and net loan recoveries of $65,000 in the first quarter a year ago. The allowance for credit losses was $16.7 million, or 1.10% of total loans, at March 31, 2025, compared to $16.9 million, or 1.11% of total loans, at December 31, 2024, and $16.4 million, or 1.10% of total loans, a year ago.
Capital Management
The ratio of tangible common shareholders’ equity (shareholders’ equity, less goodwill and core deposit intangible) to tangible assets (total assets, less goodwill and core deposit intangible) was 6.77% at March 31, 2025, up from 6.32% a year ago and 6.57% three months earlier. This ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure. For the most comparable GAAP financial measure, see “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below. As of March 31, 2025, the Bank’s regulatory capital was in excess of all applicable regulatory requirements and is deemed well capitalized. The Bank’s Tier 1 capital to adjusted total average assets was 10.29% as of March 31, 2025.
Stock Repurchase Authority
Eagle announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to 400,000 shares of its common stock beginning May 1, 2025, representing approximately 5.0% of outstanding shares. Under the plan, shares may be purchased by the Company on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The extent to which the Company repurchases its shares and the timing of such repurchase will depend upon market conditions and other corporate considerations. The plan is expected to be in place for approximately 12 months, but may be suspended, terminated or modified by the Company’s Board of Directors at any time. The plan does not obligate the Company to purchase any particular number of shares.
About the Company
Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Helena, Montana, and is the holding company of Opportunity Bank of Montana, a community bank established in 1922 that serves consumers and small businesses in Montana through 30 banking offices. Additional information is available on the Bank’s website at www.opportunitybank.com. The shares of Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. are traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “EBMT.”
Forward Looking Statements
This release may contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and may be identified by the use of such words as “believe,” “will” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “planned,” “estimated,” and “potential.” These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements of our goals, intentions, expectations and anticipations; statements regarding our business plans, prospects, mergers, growth and operating strategies; statements regarding the asset quality of our loan and investment portfolios; and estimates of our risks and future costs and benefits. These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change. These factors include, but are not limited to, changes in laws or government regulations or policies affecting financial institutions, including changes in regulatory fees and capital requirements; general economic conditions and political events, either nationally or in our market areas, that are worse than expected; the emergence or continuation of widespread health emergencies or pandemics, including but not limited to vaccine efficacy and immunization rates, new variants, steps taken by governmental and other authorities to contain, mitigate and combat the pandemic, adverse effects on our employees, customers and third-party service providers, the increase in cyberattacks in the current work-from-home environment; the impact of volatility in the U.S. banking industry, including the associated impact of any regulatory changes or other mitigation efforts taken by governmental agencies in response thereto; the impact of any new regulatory, policy or enforcement developments resulting from the change in U.S. presidential administration, including the implantation of tariffs and other protectionist trade policies; the possibility that future credit losses may be higher than currently expected due to changes in economic assumptions, customer behavior, adverse developments with respect to U.S. economic conditions and other uncertainties, including the impact of supply chain disruptions, inflationary pressures and labor shortages on economic conditions and our business; an inability to access capital markets or maintain deposits or borrowing costs; competition among banks, financial holding companies and other traditional and non-traditional financial service providers; loan demand or residential and commercial real estate values in Montana; the concentration of our business in Montana; our ability to continue to increase and manage our commercial real estate, commercial business and agricultural loans; the costs and effects of legal, compliance and regulatory actions, changes and developments, including the initiation and resolution of legal proceedings (including any securities, bank operations, consumer or employee litigation); inflation and changes in the interest rate environment that reduce our margins or reduce the fair value of financial instruments; adverse changes in the securities markets that lead to impairment in the value of our investment securities and goodwill; other economic, governmental, competitive, regulatory and technological factors that may affect our operations; our ability to implement new technologies and maintain secure and reliable technology systems including those that involve the Bank’s third-party vendors and service providers; cyber incidents, or theft or loss of Company or customer data or money; the effects of any U.S. federal government shutdown, or closures or significant staff reductions in agencies regulating our business; our ability to navigate differing social, environmental, and sustainability concerns among governmental administrations, our stakeholders and other activists that may arise from our business activities; the effect of our recent or future acquisitions, including the failure to achieve expected revenue growth and/or expense savings, the failure to effectively integrate their operations, the outcome of any legal proceedings and the diversion of management time on issues related to the integration.
Because of these and other uncertainties, our actual future results may be materially different from the results indicated by these forward-looking statements. All information set forth in this press release is current as of the date of this release and the company undertakes no duty or obligation to update this information.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles utilized in the United States, or GAAP, in this release, including the Financial Ratios and Other Data contains non-GAAP financial measures. Non-GAAP financial measures include: 1) core efficiency ratio, 2) tangible book value per share and 3) tangible common equity to tangible assets. The Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures to provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company’s operational performance, performance trends and financial condition, and to enhance investors’ overall understanding of such financial performance. In particular, the use of tangible book value per share and tangible common equity to tangible assets is prevalent among banking regulators, investors and analysts.
The numerator for the core efficiency ratio is calculated by subtracting acquisition costs and intangible asset amortization from noninterest expense. Tangible assets and tangible common shareholders’ equity are calculated by excluding intangible assets from assets and shareholders’ equity, respectively. For these financial measures, our intangible assets consist of goodwill and core deposit intangible. Tangible book value per share is calculated by dividing tangible common shareholders’ equity by the number of common shares outstanding. We believe that this measure is consistent with the capital treatment by our bank regulatory agencies, which exclude intangible assets from the calculation of risk-based capital ratios and present this measure to facilitate the comparison of the quality and composition of our capital over time and in comparison, to our competitors.
Non-GAAP financial measures have inherent limitations, are not required to be uniformly applied, and are not audited. Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies’ non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names. Further, the non-GAAP financial measure of tangible book value per share should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for book value per share or total shareholders’ equity determined in accordance with GAAP, and may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure reported by other companies. Eagle strongly encourages investors to review its consolidated financial statements in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. Reconciliation of the GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures are presented below.
Balance Sheet
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
March 31,
December 31,
March 31,
2025
2024
2024
Assets:
Cash and due from banks
$
21,360
$
29,824
$
19,479
Interest bearing deposits in banks
1,445
1,735
1,438
Total cash and cash equivalents
22,805
31,559
20,917
Securities available-for-sale, at fair value
291,661
292,590
311,227
Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) stock
7,101
7,778
8,449
Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) stock
4,131
4,131
4,131
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, at fair value
6,223
13,368
9,612
Loans:
Real estate loans:
Residential 1-4 family
149,699
153,721
157,414
Residential 1-4 family construction
45,508
45,701
45,026
Commercial real estate
666,265
645,962
632,452
Commercial construction and development
110,107
124,211
147,740
Farmland
153,456
146,610
140,246
Other loans:
Home equity
100,665
97,543
90,418
Consumer
26,978
28,513
29,677
Commercial
139,668
144,039
137,640
Agricultural
131,162
134,346
116,775
Total loans
1,523,508
1,520,646
1,497,388
Allowance for credit losses
(16,720
)
(16,850
)
(16,410
)
Net loans
1,506,788
1,503,796
1,480,978
Accrued interest and dividends receivable
13,271
12,890
12,038
Mortgage servicing rights, net
15,282
15,376
15,738
Assets held-for-sale, at cost
960
960
–
Premises and equipment, net
101,759
101,540
97,643
Cash surrender value of life insurance, net
53,573
53,232
48,218
Goodwill
34,740
34,740
34,740
Core deposit intangible, net
4,181
4,499
5,514
Other assets
25,941
26,631
26,869
Total assets
$
2,088,416
$
2,103,090
$
2,076,074
Liabilities:
Deposit accounts:
Noninterest bearing
$
411,272
$
419,211
$
408,781
Interest bearing
1,278,694
1,262,017
1,226,818
Total deposits
1,689,966
1,681,228
1,635,599
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
36,739
47,018
34,950
FHLB advances and other borrowings
124,952
140,930
177,540
Other long-term debt, net
59,186
59,149
59,037
Total liabilities
1,910,843
1,928,325
1,907,126
Shareholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock (par value $0.01 per share; 1,000,000 shares
authorized; no shares issued or outstanding)
–
–
–
Common stock (par value $0.01; 20,000,000 shares authorized;
8,507,429 shares issued; 7,977,177, 8,027,177 and 8,016,784
shares outstanding at March 31, 2025, December 31, 2024, and
March 31, 2024, respectively
85
85
85
Additional paid-in capital
108,451
108,334
108,893
Unallocated common stock held by Employee Stock Ownership Plan
(3,867
)
(4,011
)
(4,440
)
Treasury stock, at cost (530,252, 480,252 and 490,645 shares at
March 31, 2025, December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2024, respectively)
(11,517
)
(10,761
)
(11,124
)
Retained earnings
103,366
101,264
96,797
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax
(18,945
)
(20,146
)
(21,263
)
Total shareholders’ equity
177,573
174,765
168,948
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$
2,088,416
$
2,103,090
$
2,076,074
Income Statement
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
December 31,
March 31,
2025
2024
2024
Interest and dividend income:
Interest and fees on loans
$
23,320
$
23,756
$
21,942
Securities available-for-sale
2,451
2,475
2,724
FRB and FHLB dividends
260
308
247
Other interest income
38
148
29
Total interest and dividend income
26,069
26,687
24,942
Interest expense:
Interest expense on deposits
6,871
7,216
6,548
FHLB advances and other borrowings
1,626
2,005
2,497
Other long-term debt
670
676
683
Total interest expense
9,167
9,897
9,728
Net interest income
16,902
16,790
15,214
Provision (recapture) for credit losses
42
(36
)
(135
)
Net interest income after provision for credit losses
16,860
16,826
15,349
Noninterest income:
Service charges on deposit accounts
389
387
400
Mortgage banking, net
2,125
2,818
2,177
Interchange and ATM fees
593
675
563
Appreciation in cash surrender value of life insurance
350
408
288
Net loss on sale of available-for-sale securities
–
(141
)
–
Other noninterest income
559
425
524
Total noninterest income
4,016
4,572
3,952
Noninterest expense:
Salaries and employee benefits
9,664
9,830
9,718
Occupancy and equipment expense
2,302
2,194
2,099
Data processing
1,330
1,715
1,525
Software subscriptions
658
576
528
Advertising
232
466
253
Amortization
320
337
369
Loan costs
372
372
398
FDIC insurance premiums
231
287
299
Professional and examination fees
520
596
484
Other noninterest expense
1,377
1,323
1,360
Total noninterest expense
17,006
17,696
17,033
Income before provision for income taxes
3,870
3,702
2,268
Provision for income taxes
631
269
370
Net income
$
3,239
$
3,433
$
1,898
Basic earnings per common share
$
0.41
$
0.44
$
0.24
Diluted earnings per common share
$
0.41
$
0.44
$
0.24
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
7,812,248
7,862,279
7,824,928
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
7,823,636
7,868,507
7,835,304
ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended or Years Ended
March 31,
December 31,
March 31
2025
2024
2024
Mortgage Banking Activity (For the quarter):
Net gain on sale of mortgage loans
$
1,349
$
2,036
$
1,414
Net change in fair value of loans held-for-sale and derivatives
(115
)
(3
)
(173
)
Mortgage servicing income, net
891
785
936
Mortgage banking, net
$
2,125
$
2,818
$
2,177
Performance Ratios (For the quarter):
Return on average assets
0.62
%
0.65
%
0.37
%
Return on average equity
7.66
%
8.12
%
4.67
%
Yield on average interest earning assets
5.76
%
5.70
%
5.47
%
Cost of funds
2.54
%
2.69
%
2.67
%
Net interest margin
3.74
%
3.59
%
3.33
%
Core efficiency ratio*
79.77
%
81.26
%
86.95
%
Asset Quality Ratios and Data:
As of or for the Three Months Ended
March 31,
December 31,
March 31,
2025
2024
2024
Nonaccrual loans
$
2,701
$
3,227
$
5,231
Loans 90 days past due and still accruing
2,638
623
1,979
Total nonperforming loans
5,339
3,850
7,210
Other real estate owned and other repossessed assets
46
45
–
Total nonperforming assets
$
5,385
$
3,895
$
7,210
Nonperforming loans / portfolio loans
0.35
%
0.25
%
0.48
%
Nonperforming assets / assets
0.26
%
0.19
%
0.35
%
Allowance for credit losses / portfolio loans
1.10
%
1.11
%
1.10
%
Allowance for credit losses/ nonperforming loans
313.17
%
437.66
%
227.60
%
Gross loan charge-offs for the quarter
$
6
$
51
$
1
Gross loan recoveries for the quarter
$
4
$
7
$
66
Net loan charge-offs (recoveries) for the quarter
$
2
$
44
$
(65
)
March 31,
December 31,
March 31,
2025
2024
2024
Capital Data (At quarter end):
Common shareholders’ equity (book value) per share
$
22.26
$
21.77
$
21.07
Tangible book value per share**
$
17.38
$
16.88
$
16.05
Shares outstanding
7,977,177
8,027,177
8,016,784
Tangible common equity to tangible assets***
6.77
%
6.57
%
6.32
%
Other Information:
Average investment securities for the quarter
$
293,273
$
300,088
$
314,129
Average investment securities year-to-date
$
293,273
$
306,538
$
314,129
Average loans for the quarter ****
$
1,526,774
$
1,533,686
$
1,499,293
Average loans year-to-date ****
$
1,526,774
$
1,523,384
$
1,499,293
Average earning assets for the quarter
$
1,835,210
$
1,858,078
$
1,830,316
Average earning assets year-to-date
$
1,835,210
$
1,850,120
$
1,830,316
Average total assets for the quarter
$
2,079,142
$
2,107,357
$
2,066,579
Average total assets year-to-date
$
2,079,142
$
2,092,051
$
2,066,579
Average deposits for the quarter
$
1,671,349
$
1,671,653
$
1,625,770
Average deposits year-to-date
$
1,671,349
$
1,636,390
$
1,625,770
Average equity for the quarter
$
169,088
$
169,054
$
162,637
Average equity year-to-date
$
169,088
$
164,591
$
162,637
* The core efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP ratio that is calculated by dividing non-interest expense, exclusive of acquisition
costs and intangible asset amortization, by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income.
** The tangible book value per share is a non-GAAP ratio that is calculated by dividing shareholders’ equity,
less goodwill and core deposit intangible, by common shares outstanding.
*** The tangible common equity to tangible assets is a non-GAAP ratio that is calculated by dividing shareholders’
equity, less goodwill and core deposit intangible, by total assets, less goodwill and core deposit intangible.
**** Includes loans held for sale
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Core Efficiency Ratio
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
December 31,
March 31,
2025
2024
2024
Calculation of Efficiency Ratio:
Noninterest expense – efficiency ratio numerator
$
17,006
$
17,696
$
17,033
Net interest income
16,902
16,790
15,214
Noninterest income
4,016
4,572
3,952
Efficiency ratio denominator
20,918
21,362
19,166
Efficiency ratio (GAAP)
81.30
%
82.84
%
88.87
%
Calculation of Core Efficiency Ratio:
Noninterest expense
$
17,006
$
17,696
$
17,033
Intangible asset amortization
(320
)
(337
)
(369
)
Core efficiency ratio numerator
16,686
17,359
16,664
Net interest income
16,902
16,790
15,214
Noninterest income
4,016
4,572
3,952
Core efficiency ratio denominator
20,918
21,362
19,166
Core efficiency ratio (non-GAAP)
79.77
%
81.26
%
86.95
%
Tangible Book Value and Tangible Assets
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
March 31,
December 31,
March 31,
2025
2024
2024
Tangible Book Value:
Shareholders’ equity
$
177,573
$
174,765
$
168,948
Goodwill and core deposit intangible, net
(38,921
)
(39,239
)
$
(40,254
)
Tangible common shareholders’ equity (non-GAAP)
$
138,652
$
135,526
$
128,694
Common shares outstanding at end of period
7,977,177
8,027,177
8,016,784
Common shareholders’ equity (book value) per share (GAAP)
$
22.26
$
21.77
$
21.07
Tangible common shareholders’ equity (tangible book value)
per share (non-GAAP)
$
17.38
$
16.88
$
16.05
Tangible Assets:
Total assets
$
2,088,416
$
2,103,090
$
2,076,074
Goodwill and core deposit intangible, net
(38,921
)
(39,239
)
(40,254
)
Tangible assets (non-GAAP)
$
2,049,495
$
2,063,851
$
2,035,820
Tangible common shareholders’ equity to tangible assets
(non-GAAP)
6.77
%
6.57
%
6.32
%
Contacts:
Laura F. Clark, President and CEO (406) 457-4007 Miranda J. Spaulding, SVP and CFO (406) 441-5010
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
The 5th All-Russian Interuniversity Forum “The Art of Management: Science, Practice, Project Technologies” has concluded at the State University of Management.
This forum has become an important platform for exchanging experiences in organizing project-based learning in higher education institutions, discussing current issues in project management and introducing innovative approaches in the educational and scientific fields.
The event took place thanks to a fruitful partnership with two authoritative organizations: the project-methodical association “Association of project-oriented organizations of science and higher education” and the professional community “Association of project management “SOVNET”, which unites leading specialists in the field of project management.
The Forum program included three large-scale events that brought together participants of different categories: from first-year students to teaching staff, representatives of administrative and managerial personnel of universities and experts from organizations of the real sector of the economy.
More details about the first day of the Forum are provided in a separate article.
On the second day, the Final of the Student Project Competition took place, which this year for the first time went beyond the SUM and attracted more than 50 external projects from various Russian universities, including: Kazan National Research Technical University named after A.N. Tupolev, Siberian Federal University, Southern Federal University, St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Tyumen State University, Russian University of Transport, MSTU “STANKIN”, Moscow Automobile and Road State Technical University, etc.
Student project teams presented their developments to the expert jury in four nominations: “Business projects (startups)”, “Social projects”, “Consulting projects” and “Research projects”. Thanks to the support of our partners – IPI Lab LLC, Roskachestvo, Bank FINAM JSC, Exity Group, Algorithmika LLC, BPM Soft, Alfa-Bank, Smartika LLC and independent consultants – the participants received valuable recommendations and opportunities for further development of their projects.
A particularly active and interesting event within the framework of the V All-Russian Interuniversity Forum “The Art of Management: Science, Practice, Project Technologies” was the Interuniversity Hackathon “Urban Development Technologies”, which took place at the State University of Management throughout all three days of the Forum.
This year, the Hackathon was held for the fourth time and united 80 participants from GUU, RUT (MIIT), RGUTIS, RTU MIREA, RUDN, SFedU, SPbGASU in various fields of study in 9 teams as participants and team facilitators.
More details about its discovery were given here, and the results were summed up in this article.
The V All-Russian Interuniversity Forum “The Art of Management: Science, Practice, Project Technologies” ended with a ceremonial summing up of the results and awarding of the winners of the GUU Student Project Competition and the interuniversity hackathon “Urban Development Technologies”. Student projects and case solutions were awarded both the highest awards (1-3 places) and individual nominations from our colleagues and partners, as well as audience sympathy prizes.
The State University of Management expresses its sincere gratitude to everyone for their active participation, professionalism and desire for development. We hope that the results of our joint work will find their application in practice, and new acquaintances and ideas will become the basis for further achievements and further development of project-based learning in Russian universities.
Winners of the Student Projects Competition of the State University of Management
Nomination “Business projects (startups)”
1st place – project “Flight controller”, authors of the project – Korolev Semyon Yuryevich and Feoktistov Sergey Vyacheslavovich, MSTU “STANKIN”, curator – Kovalev Ilya Aleksandrovich;
2nd place — project “Development of a wearable device for visualizing data from CNC systems in augmented reality mode”, Author of the project — Sergey Igorevich Karasev, MSTU “STANKIN”, curator — Ilya Aleksandrovich Kovalev;
3rd place – project “RUmaTe”, team of the Russian University of Transport (MIIT) consisting of Mikhailova Elizaveta Alekseevna, Kharin Alexander Nikolaevich, Ushkalo Eduard Stanislavovich, Smaglyuk Kira Sergeevna, Baulina Karina Aleksandrovna, Anikeev Mikhail Andreevich. Curator – Chigarev Valentin Nikolaevich.
Nomination “Social Projects”
1st place — the project “Modern Pensioner”, the project team consisting of Fyodor Romanovich Nazarov, Anastasia Ivanovna Rudchenko, Vlada Vladimirovna Sudakova, Ksenia Dmitrievna Sysoeva, Shonia Sofiko Paataevna. State University of Management, curator — Elena Vadimovna Dianina;
2nd place – project “Promotion of a public digital platform”
3rd place — project “SMM promotion of the social project “Sobriety”, project team consisting of: Akinshina Anna Andreevna, Skripko Artem Vyacheslavovich, Eminova Anna Dmitrievna. Southern Federal University. Curator — Lankina Maria Yuryevna.
Nomination “Consulting projects”
1st place — project “Visualization of agricultural statistics data in the context of municipalities of the Moscow region”, project team consisting of Fedotov Sergey Andreevich, Khomutovskaya Kristina Dmitrievna, Chorbadzhyan Venera Agvanovna. State University of Management, curator — Dolgikh Ekaterina Alekseevna;
2nd place – project “HR in the heart”, project team – Druzhinina Polina Yurievna, Makarkin Matvey Maksimovich, Nguyen Ngoc Ha Phuong, Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, Nikitina Ksenia Dmitrievna, Fastovskaya Milana Sukhrobovna. State University of Management, Curator – Lobacheva Anastasia Sergeevna;
3rd place — project “Development of an application for maintaining results of online meetings”, project team: Belova Diana Dmitrievna, Mizgireva Kristina Yaroslavovna, Redikultsev Gleb Sergeevich. State University of Management. Curator — Terekhova Anna Evgenievna.
Nomination “Research Projects”
1st place – project “Software product for assessing the condition of power transmission line insulators”, author of the project – Radmir Rafilevich Mugletdinov, Kazan State Power Engineering University, curator – Aidar Khaidarovich Sabitov;
2nd place — project “Development of a methodology for valuation zoning taking into account regional characteristics of the territory for the purposes of state cadastral valuation”, author of the project — Alina Pavlovna Illarionova. St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Curator — Yana Aleksandrovna Volkova;
3rd place — project “Russian and foreign experience of legal protection of traditional spiritual and moral values”, author of the project – Karina Igorevna Meshcheryakova. State University of Management. Curator – Svetlana Evgenievna Titor.
Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/29/2025
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