Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Port Arthur woman has been sentenced to federal prison for possessing fentanyl for distribution in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.
Kailynn Ina Hardy, 25, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on May 13, 2025.
According to information presented in court, in August 2023, law enforcement began investigating Hardy for suspicion of drug trafficking in Jefferson County. During the investigation, officers were able to obtain fentanyl-laced pills which Hardy had distributed. Hardy admitted to being involved in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving at least 400 grams of fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Beaumont Police Department; Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office; Port Neches Police Department; FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Port Arthur Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan C. Lee and Matt Quinn.
A Melvindale man – and former member of the Michigan Army National Guard – was arrested today after he attempted to carry out a plan to conduct a mass-shooting at a U.S. military base in Warren, Michigan, on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a foreign terrorist organization.
Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, 19, is charged in a criminal complaint with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and distributing information related to a destructive device.
“This defendant is charged with planning a deadly attack on a U.S. military base here at home for ISIS,” said Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Thanks to the tireless efforts of law enforcement, we foiled the attack before lives were lost. We will not hesitate to bring the full force of the Department to find and prosecute those who seek to harm our men and women in the military and to protect all Americans.”
“ISIS is a brutal terrorist organization which seeks to kill Americans. Helping ISIS or any other terrorist organization prepare or carry out acts of violence is not only a reprehensible crime – it is a threat to our entire nation and way of life,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan. “Our office will not tolerate such crimes or threats, and we will use the full weight of the law against anyone who engages in terrorism.”
“The defendant allegedly tried to carry out an attack on a military facility in support of ISIS, which was disrupted thanks to the good work of the FBI and our partners,” said Assistant Director Donald M. Holstead of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “The FBI is steadfast in our commitment to detect and stop terrorist plans aimed at the American homeland or at U.S. interests overseas.”
“The arrest of this former soldier is a sobering reminder of the importance of our counterintelligence efforts to identify and disrupt those who would seek to harm our nation,” said Brig. Gen. Rhett R. Cox, the commanding general of Army Counterintelligence Command. “I commend the tireless work of our special agents and FBI partners who worked together to investigate and apprehend this individual. We will continue to collaborate with our partners to prevent similar incidents in the future. We urge all soldiers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to their chain of command, as the safety and security of our Army and our nation depends on our collective efforts to prevent insider threats.”
According to the complaint, Said informed two undercover law enforcement officers of a plan he had devised and formulated to conduct a mass-shooting at the U.S. Army’s Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM) facility at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Michigan. In April 2025, the two undercover officers indicated they intended to carry out Said’s plan at the direction of ISIS. In response, Said provided material assistance to the attack plan, including providing armor-piercing ammunition and magazines for the attack, flying his drone over TACOM to conduct operational reconnaissance, training the undercover employees on firearms and the construction of Molotov cocktails for use during the attack, and planning numerous details of the attack including how to enter TACOM and which building to target.
On May 13 – the scheduled day of the attack – Said was arrested after he traveled to an area near TACOM and launched his drone in support of the attack plan. He will make his initial court appearance today in the Eastern District of Michigan. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will be asking the court to hold Said in pretrial detention because of his danger to the community and the risk that he will flee.
Based on the charges in the complaint, Said faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count if convicted.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Salzenstein for the Eastern District of Michigan and Trial Attorneys John Cella and Charles Kovats of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
TORONTO, May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, the leading non-custodial Web3 wallet, will take the spotlight as a Platinum Sponsor at the Blockchain Futurist Conference, North America’s flagship crypto and blockchain event, taking place on 13 May 2025. With a full lineup of programming and community activations, Bitget Wallet’s presence signals continued investment in ecosystem development, real-world utility, and inclusive Web3 innovation.
The event marks Bitget Wallet’s latest move in strengthening its North American footprint, bringing its growing product suite and ecosystem to one of the most influential stages in the industry. At 11:00 AM, Bitget COO Vugar Usi Zade took the stage for a featured session titled “Striking the Balance: UX vs Security in Crypto Exchanges”, where he will address one of the most critical challenges in crypto platform design.
“Our goal is to make Web3 accessible and practical for everyday users,” said Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet. “Being part of this year’s conference is not just about visibility, but about connecting with builders and users shaping the future of crypto. Whether it’s through on-chain tools, ecosystem support, or real-world use cases. Bitget Wallet is committed to delivering real utility across the crypto experience.” The appearance follows the launch of “Shop with Crypto,” a new in-app marketplace that enables users to spend cryptocurrencies directly on goods and services within the wallet, including gaming, travel, gift cards and more.
As part of its broader commitment to community-led change, Bitget Wallet’s global initiative Blockchain4Her also sponsored the ETHWomen Happy Hour, happening from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the ETHWomen Stage & Gallery Room during the conference. Designed to foster authentic conversations and connections, the event offers a welcoming space for women in Web3 to network, share experiences, and build meaningful relationships. Attendees will receive limited-edition Blockchain4Her pins as part of a special charity activation — with Bitget Wallet donating $10 to a local women’s charity for every pin worn.
Later that evening, Bitget Wallet hosted Bitget Mixer Night at the iconic Old Toronto Stock Exchange, one of the most anticipated side events of the crypto week. Set in a venue where traditional finance meets decentralized innovation, the exclusive mixer will bring together top minds in crypto for an evening of cocktails, canapés, and conversation. Guests will get a closer look at the latest developments from Bitget Wallet while enjoying a high-energy environment designed for discovery and networking.
From the main stage to intimate side events, Bitget Wallet’s participation reflects a growing focus on community impact, utility-driven innovation, and inclusive growth across the Web3 ecosystem.
About Bitget Wallet
Bitget Wallet is a non-custodial crypto wallet designed to make crypto simple, seamless and secure for everyone. With over 60 million users, it brings together a full suite of crypto services, including swaps, market insights, staking, rewards, a DApp browser, and crypto payment solutions. Supporting 130+ blockchains, 20,000+ DApps, and a million tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges. Backed by a $300+ million user protection fund, it ensures the highest level of security for users’ assets.
Shenzhen, May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MicroAlgo Inc. Announces Research on Quantum Information Recursive Optimization (QIRO) Algorithm, for Combinatorial Optimization Problems to Expand and Solve New Ideas
Shenzhen, May. 14, 2025––MicroAlgo Inc. (the “Company” or “MicroAlgo”) (NASDAQ: MLGO), today announced the research of the Quantum Information Recursive Optimization (QIRO) algorithm, which aims to provide a new approach to combinatorial optimization problems by leveraging the power of quantum computing. The Quantum Information Recursive Optimization (QIRO) algorithm is an optimization algorithm based on quantum computers, designed to tackle complex combinatorial optimization problems. This algorithm combines the concepts of quantum computing and recursive algorithms, utilizing the parallel computing capabilities of quantum computers along with the properties of quantum state superposition and interference to rapidly find optimal or near-optimal solutions within the search space. Recursive algorithms solve problems by repeatedly breaking them down into similar subproblems, while quantum computing exploits the characteristics of qubits and quantum states to achieve exponential acceleration. The QIRO algorithm integrates these two approaches by recursively invoking the quantum optimization process, progressively reducing the problem size until the optimal solution is found. Problem Modeling: the first step involves modeling the combinatorial optimization problem by clearly defining the objective function, constraints, and candidate elements. This step forms the foundation of the algorithm and is a prerequisite for the subsequent stages. Quantum State Initialization: in a quantum computer, quantum states are initialized through quantum gate operations. Due to the superposition property of quantum states, the quantum computer can process multiple computational paths simultaneously, thereby enabling parallel computation. Recursive Invocation of the Quantum Optimization Process: the core of the QIRO algorithm lies in its recursive invocation of the quantum optimization process. In each recursion, the quantum state is evolved using quantum gate operations, leveraging quantum interference to search for the optimal solution within the search space. Depending on the problem’s size and complexity, the depth and number of recursive calls are set to ensure that the algorithm can find an optimal solution within a reasonable time frame. Measurement and Result Extraction: when the recursion reaches its boundary conditions, quantum measurement is performed to extract the optimal or near-optimal solution. The measurement collapses the quantum state into a definite state, from which the solution to the problem can be obtained. Result Verification and Optimization: the extracted solution is then verified and further optimized. By comparing the objective function values of different solutions, the optimal one is identified. Additionally, according to the actual needs of the problem, the solution can be further adjusted and refined to meet the problem’s specific constraints and objective function. The Quantum Information Recursive Optimization (QIRO) algorithm developed by MicroAlgo demonstrates significant technical advantages in solving combinatorial optimization problems. By fully leveraging the parallelism and interference principles of quantum computing, this algorithm achieves exponential improvements in computational efficiency, enabling it to handle large-scale and highly complex optimization problems in a short time. Compared to traditional algorithms, the QIRO algorithm possesses stronger global search capabilities, effectively avoiding local optima and instead identifying global or near-global optimal solutions. Moreover, the QIRO algorithm is highly flexible in design and can be tailored and optimized to meet the specific requirements of different problems, ensuring its effectiveness and accuracy across various application scenarios. At the same time, the algorithm exhibits a degree of robustness, allowing it to mitigate the impact of noise and errors on computational outcomes, thereby enhancing reliability and stability. These technical strengths position the QIRO algorithm as a powerful tool with broad application prospects and significant development potential in areas such as logistics and distribution, financial investment, artificial intelligence, and scientific research. In terms of practical applications, the QIRO algorithm has already shown wide-ranging potential. It holds great significance for real-world scenarios requiring combinatorial optimization, such as resource allocation and network planning. For instance, in the field of logistics and transportation, tasks like planning optimal delivery routes and allocating cargo resources often involve complex combinatorial optimization. The QIRO algorithm can assist enterprises in identifying more efficient and cost-effective solutions. Additionally, in graph theory-related problems—such as finding large independent sets—the deployment of the QIRO algorithm on neutral atom quantum processors can enable efficient search operations. This supports efforts to study graph structures and analyze network characteristics, further proving the algorithm’s practical value across different quantum computing platforms and its capacity to advance research in related academic fields. Looking ahead, MicroAlgo’s Quantum Information Recursive Optimization (QIRO) algorithm holds immense growth potential. As quantum technology continues to progress, the quality and accessibility of quantum resources will steadily improve, providing greater support for the QIRO algorithm to tackle even more complex and large-scale combinatorial optimization problems. Furthermore, the QIRO algorithm may serve as a model for the development of additional hybrid quantum-classical algorithms, expanding the scope of quantum computing applications across various industries. This could offer new hope for solving more challenging real-world optimization problems, making QIRO a vital technological force in future scientific and technological development and a key driver of progress across multiple domains.
About MicroAlgo Inc.
MicroAlgo Inc. (the “MicroAlgo”), a Cayman Islands exempted company, is dedicated to the development and application of bespoke central processing algorithms. MicroAlgo provides comprehensive solutions to customers by integrating central processing algorithms with software or hardware, or both, thereby helping them to increase the number of customers, improve end-user satisfaction, achieve direct cost savings, reduce power consumption, and achieve technical goals. The range of MicroAlgo’s services includes algorithm optimization, accelerating computing power without the need for hardware upgrades, lightweight data processing, and data intelligence services. MicroAlgo’s ability to efficiently deliver software and hardware optimization to customers through bespoke central processing algorithms serves as a driving force for MicroAlgo’s long-term development.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of MicroAlgo, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of MicroAlgo’s periodic reports on Forms 10-K and 8-K filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, MicroAlgo’s expectations with respect to future performance and anticipated financial impacts of the business transaction.
MicroAlgo undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as may be required by law.
DALLAS, May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Payday Ventures, a leading provider of financial solutions in the United States, is proud to introduce new and improved Debt Relief Programs for 2025 through its trusted brand, Viva Debt Help. As more Americans struggle with rising debt, limited savings, and high-interest payments, Viva Debt Help aims to simplify access to effective debt relief solutions. Whether you’re exploring debt consolidation options, need fast debt help, or want to learn if National Debt Relief is legit, this platform connects you with some of the best debt relief companies in the USA.
A debt relief program helps reduce or eliminate unsecured debts like credit cards, personal loans, or medical bills. It may include debt consolidation, lower payments, or negotiating with creditors. These programs offer fast debt help if you’re struggling with high-interest debt and want to regain control in 2025.
In 2025, many Americans are under serious financial stress from inflation, job loss, or sudden expenses. As the US national debt rises, so does personal and consumer debt. If you’re missing payments or your minimum payments aren’t helping, it’s time to explore trusted debt relief programs to get the debt help you need.
Viva Debt Help – One of the Best Debt Relief Program in 2025
Looking for fast, reliable debt help in the USA? Viva Debt Help is one of the best debt relief options working to match individuals with trusted debt specialists. Here’s why they stand out:
Yes, it’s a real company. But it’s always wise to compare your options. Platforms like Viva Debt Help connect you with trusted advisors who review your debt and recommend the best debt relief program based on your needs.
What Is Covered With a Debt Relief Program?
Most debt relief programs cover unsecured debts these are debts not tied to any assets. Common examples include:
Credit card debt
Personal loans
Medical bills
Payday loans
Utility bills
Store cards
Some programs may also help with debt consolidation options or negotiating lower payments.
Disclaimer: This announcement contains general information about Payday Ventures and its debt support services through Viva Debt Help. It is not intended to be financial advice. Services are available to U.S. residents only.
End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF’s Executive Board for discussion and decision.
IMF staff and the Bangladesh authorities have reached staff-level agreement on the policies needed to complete the combined third and fourth reviews of the authorities’ reform program supported by the IMF’s Extended Credit Facility, Extended Fund Facility, and Resilience and Sustainability Facility. The staff-level agreement is subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board, contingent on the completion of prior actions.
The Bangladeshi economy remains under pressure from ongoing challenges and rising external financing requirements. As announced in December 2024, the authorities have requested an augmentation of IMF support of about US$760 million to help preserve macroeconomic stability and enhance the country’s resilience to external shocks.
The authorities reiterated their commitment to the objectives of the reform program including fiscal reforms to address the emerging external financing gap, calibrating monetary policy to bring down inflation, and fully implementing exchange rate reforms to enhance flexibility. They have also pledged to foster a sound and competitive financial sector and are advancing their climate agenda to support sustainable, inclusive, and green growth.
Washington, D.C.: Following constructive discussions with Bangladesh authorities in Dhaka, continued engagement during the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C., and subsequent virtual follow-up discussions,Mr. Papageorgiou, the IMF Mission Chief for Bangladesh, issued the following statement:
“IMF staff and the Bangladesh authorities have reached a staff-level agreement on the policies needed to complete the combined third and fourth reviews under theExtended Credit Facility (ECF), Extended Fund Facility (EFF), and Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). The staff-level agreement is subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board and is contingent on the completion of prior actions related to tax revenue mobilization and full implementation of exchange rate reforms.
“Amid significant macroeconomic challenges, the authorities requested an augmentation of SDR 567.2 million (approximately US$762 million) in IMF financial support to Bangladesh under the ECF and EFF arrangements. This increase would bring the total financial assistance under the ECF and EFF arrangements to SDR 3,035.65 million (about US$4.1 billion), alongside concurrent RSF arrangements of SDR 1 billion (about US$1.3 billion). Upon completion of the combined third and fourth reviews, SDR 983.8 million (about US$1.3 billion) will be made available, comprising SDR 650.5 million (about US$874 million) under the ECF and EFF and SDR 333.3 million (about US$448 million) under the RSF.
“Impacted by disruptions from the popular uprising, real GDP growth slowed to 3.3 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) in the first half of FY25; however, it is projected to rebound in the second half reaching 3.8 percent for the full fiscal year. Inflation, which has approached double digits, has begun to decline and is projected to be around 8 ½ percent (y-o-y) by end of FY25. Nonetheless, domestic factors such as stress in the banking sector and elevated global uncertainty tilt risks to the downside.
“To address the emerging external financing gap and support a continued decline in inflation, near-term policy tightening is essential. Fiscal consolidation should focus on the prompt implementation of additional revenue measures—such as streamlining of tax exemptions—while containing non-essential expenditures. Alongside monetary tightening, enhanced exchange rate flexibility and reinforced foreign exchange reserve buffers will bolster the economy’s resilience to external shocks. In this regard, steadfast implementation of the new exchange rate regime will remain critical.
“Bangladesh’s low tax-to-GDP ratio underscores the urgent need for tax reforms to build a fairer, more transparent, and simpler system while sustainably boosting revenues. Key priorities include streamlining exemptions, enhancing compliance, and delineating tax policy from administration. In parallel, a comprehensive approach is required to rein in subsidy expenditures in the electricity sector. Increased revenues will also provide more fiscal resources to support the most vulnerable.
“A carefully designed strategy for dealing with weak banks is essential to ensuring stability. Swift action is needed to operationalize new legal frameworks that facilitate orderly bank restructuring while safeguarding small depositors. Robust asset quality reviews for all large and systemic banks, bank restructuring aimed at forward-looking viability, strengthened risk-based supervision, and enhanced governance and transparency will be key to rebuilding trust and supporting the sector’s soundness. At the same time, institutional reforms to bolster the independence and governance of Bangladesh Bank will be essential for ensuring long-term macroeconomic and financial stability and for the effective implementation of broader financial sector reforms.
“Strengthening governance and promoting greater transparency are essential to improving the business environment, attracting foreign direct investment, and broadening the export base beyond the ready-made garment sector.
“Enhancing resilience to climate change is crucial for mitigating macroeconomic and fiscal risks. Investing in institutional capacity and improving the efficiency of public spending will support progress toward climate objectives. The government should prioritize climate-responsive fiscal reforms and channel investments into sustainable, climate-resilient infrastructure. In addition, effective management of climate-related risks will help safeguard financial sector stability.
“The team thanks the authorities for the productive discussions and excellent collaboration.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)
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Washington, D.C. – Today, during the Energy and Commerce Committee’s consideration of the Republican tax plan, which will kick 13.7 million people off their healthcare, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) called out provisions that will make it easier to build polluting coal power plants and cut back on investments in clean energy technologies.
Watch Rep. Peters’ opening statement against the Republican tax plan here.
Speaking on the Republican plan, Rep. Peters said, “Last Congress, my Republican colleagues were insistent that we should have an all-of-the-above energy strategy, one that leveraged our natural resources, unleashed American innovation, and cut through bureaucratic red tape. Which is why I am confused that we are considering a reconciliation bill that picks winners and losers, and elevates expensive, outdated, and inefficient sources like coal over cheap American-made energy like solar, wind, and storage.”
He continued, “Why does this bill provide government-backed insurance to coal plants, as the President of the United States single-handedly kills hundreds if not thousands of clean energy jobs across the country by illegally targeting projects and weaponizing the permitting process?”
And he concluded, “We need to face reality; we can’t build anything in America anymore. North America has built about 7 gigawatts of interregional transmission since 2014, with less than half of that in the U.S. In that same time frame, South America has built 22 gigawatts, Europe has built 44 gigawatts, and China has built 260. There is a growing bipartisan coalition for permitting reform. Whether it’s forest management, electric transmission, or building housing, I have reached across the aisle and found success in moving solutions forward. Many of us have voiced our desire to work in a bipartisan way to make America more energy dominant. Now is the time to put our money where our mouth is, and focus on durable, common-sense, and all-of-the-above policies that provide certainty for industry and consumers.”
CA-50 Medicaid Facts:
156,100 people in the district rely on Medicaid for health coverage—that’s 20 percent of all district residents.
34,700 children in the district are covered by Medicaid.
17,700 seniors in the district are covered by Medicaid.
64,900 adults in the district have Medicaid coverage through Medicaid expansion—that includes pregnant women who are able to access prenatal care sooner because of Medicaid expansion, parents, caretakers, veterans, people with substance use disorder and mental health treatment needs, and people with chronic conditions and disabilities.
At least five hospitals in the district had negative operating margins in 2022. These hospitals would be especially hard-hit by cuts to Medicaid. For example:
Scripps Mercy Hospital had a negative 25.3 percent operating margin—and nearly 22 percent of its revenue came from Medicaid.
Sharp Coronado Hospital had a negative 3.5 percent operating margin—and over 36 percent of its revenue came from Medicaid.
University of California San Diego Medical Center had a negative 2.4 percent operating margin—and nearly 19 percent of its revenue came from Medicaid.
There are 54 health center delivery sites in the district that serve 529,944 patients.
Those health centers and patients rely on Medicaid—statewide, 69 percent of health center patients rely on Medicaid for coverage.
Health centers will not be able to stay open and provide the same care that they do today, with more uninsured and underinsured patients. They are already operating on thin margins—in 2023, nationally, nearly half of health centers had negative operating margins.
Medicaid cuts put health centers at risk, including:
Family Health Centers of San Diego
Neighborhood Healthcare
North County Health Project
San Diego American Indian Health Centers
St. Vincent De Paul Village
Read Rep. Peters full remarks below:
Last Congress, my Republican colleagues were insistent that we should have an all-of-the-above energy strategy, one that leveraged our natural resources, unleashed American innovation, and cut through bureaucratic red tape.
Which is why I am confused that we are considering a reconciliation bill that picks winners and losers, and elevates expensive, outdated, and inefficient sources like coal over cheap American-made energy like solar, wind, and storage.
Why does this bill expedite permitting for natural gas pipelines – an undeniably important component of our energy system – while completely ignoring transmission lines, without which we would not be able to meet a single kilowatt of energy demand?
Why does this bill provide government-backed insurance to coal plants, as the President of the United States single-handedly kills hundreds, if not thousands, of clean energy jobs across the country by illegally targeting projects and weaponizing the permitting process?
This entire Congress, my Republican colleagues have focused almost exclusively on our need to build baseload power to meet energy demand from data centers, manufacturing, and AI.
However, when they have an opportunity to ensure this baseload power can move from where it’s generated to where it will be used, my Republican colleagues have not only chosen to completely ignore the problem, but are rescinding funds to make it easier to build out the energy infrastructure we need to reduce costs and keep the lights on.
We need to face reality; we can’t build anything in America anymore. North America has built about 7 gigawatts of interregional transmission since 2014, with less than half of that in the U.S. In that same time frame, South America has built 22 gigawatts, Europe has built 44 gigawatts, and China has built 260.
There is a growing bipartisan coalition for permitting reform. Whether it’s forest management, electric transmission, or building housing, I have reached across the aisle and found success in moving solutions forward.
Many of us have voiced our desire to work in a bipartisan way to make America more energy dominant. Now is the time to put our money where our mouth is, and focus on durable, common-sense, and all-of-the-above policies that provide certainty for industry and consumers.
This bill, however, doesn’t come anywhere close to meeting the moment. It isn’t real permitting reform, it doesn’t make us energy dominant, and it only makes things more uncertain for industry, for Americans, and for our future.
Instead of making it easier to build everything, once again we are cutting off our feet in the race to energy resilience. This is the definition of picking winners and losers. And this not the way we will achieve a resilient, energy-abundant future.
A new study found that people living in Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands reported worse overall physical health than those living in the states.
This research, led by Anna-Michelle McSorley, assistant professor of allied health sciences at UConn Waterbury, was recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
McSorley and her co-author were able to conduct this study because, unlike many federal data collection systems, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) includes data from three U.S. territories – Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.
“That is something that is pretty unique,” McSorley says. “That was the motivation for this paper. I found a data system in which [these populations are] represented, and I have the opportunity to tell a story about some key health-related quality of life indicators for those particular regions of the United States.”
In a previous paper, McSorley and co-authors found that territories are often not included in federal data systems for several reasons. In some instances, a state or territory must apply to the federal government for funding to conduct the work at the local level. The work must align with the methodological standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, territories are not always eligible for these grants, and even when they are, it is not always clear if they can apply.
McSorley identified significant disparities in the percentage of people living in the territories who reported having fair/poor general health compared to the states. In the states, this percentage is 16.1%, compared to 17.7% in Guam, 18.6% in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 27.8% in Puerto Rico.
“From the data that I saw, it was pretty remarkable to note that Puerto Rico had the most disparities when compared to the 50 states,” McSorley says.
In the case of mental health, however, both the territories and the states had similar levels of people reporting poor outcomes.
In Puerto Rico this was 12.8%, 12.4% in Guam, 11.7% in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 14.9% in the states.
“There actually wasn’t this stark disparity,” McSorley says. “There were quite poor mental health outcomes when looking at all three territories as compared to the United States, which was also pretty alarming, and it indicates that there’s a need to really increase attention to mental health at a population level for the United States overall.”
Given these findings, McSorley says she plans to expand upon the work she has been a part of surrounding the 988 mental health crisis hotline in the states to the territories.
“Finding that the pattern of poor mental health is high for each of the jurisdictions that I looked at, it provides further evidence for the need to dig into that area.”
McSorley has been working on issues of data equity as they relate to U.S. territories for years. Her work, including this paper, aims to increase the inclusion of the territories in federal data collection systems.
“This is a baseline-level attempt to insert these data into the literature because they’re often missing,” McSorley says. “If the data are not there, we don’t have the ability to tell the story about what the population health characteristics look like at baseline.”
McSorley, a member of the Data Capacity Subgroup for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, will disseminate these findings to territorial health officials and intends to continue contributing to reports that promote territorial data equity. She says that this kind of work is even more important now as federal databases are being taken down under the current administration. BRFSS has not been removed at this point to the best of her knowledge.
“It’s really important to be able to add this to the literature at this time to describe some of the findings that are present within systems that traditionally have been publicly available, and we’re not certain for how much longer they might be,” McSorley says.
This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision areas focused on Enhancing Health and Promoting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice.This research was conducted at UConn Waterbury, where there is a growing emphasis on health research.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Speech
Foreign Secretary speech in Lviv on the Special Tribunal
David Lammy outlines UK support for the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine during a visit to Lviv, Ukraine.
It is a fitting time and place for this discussion.
It is remarkable that eighty years ago, Allied governments were dealing with detained Nazis, and thinking about accountability for the atrocities.
Some considered simple revenge. But others favoured a different approach.
Holding those criminals accountable under international law.
Drawing in part on work by two great sons of this great city, Rafael Lemkin Sir Hersch Lauterpacht.
The resulting Nuremberg trials were a milestone in building a global order rooted in the rule of law and human rights.
Today, the pursuit of such a global order again seems a tall order.
Russia is waging a war of aggression, with mounting evidence that Russian soldiers are committing atrocities we would have hoped to consign to history – attacks which rain down on civilians, the deportation of children, torture and sexual abuse of civilians and prisoners of war.
Russian leaders show not the slightest concern for the lives of individuals or the laws of war.
But we need to remember figures like Lemkin were not naïve idealists. Indeed, Sir Hersch wrote about anchoring his philosophy of international law in the ‘realities of international life’.
Precisely our task today.
We have it in our hands to hold those responsible for the invasion of Ukraine to account. The UK is proud to have supported the idea of a Special Tribunal since the outset.
A Tribunal is an essential part of the armoury of justice, alongside the efforts of Ukrainian authorities to bring prosecutions inside Ukraine, and the work of the ICC.
As the country where Sir Hersch made his home, we are proud to support the Lviv Joint Statement and endorse the legal foundations for this Tribunal.
It will take time for a Tribunal to become operational. We support using the framework of the Council of Europe. But also believe we must expand the Core Group to more partners from beyond Europe.
The whole world is outraged at Russian crimes. The whole world should now come together to hold Russia to account. We must rally all countries in support of justice.
Our friends in Ukraine are staying true to the legacy of VE Day.
Home » Latest News » Change needed at sheltered plus schemes say councillors
Change is desperately needed at Canterbury City Council’s Sheltered Plus housing schemes to save it and its tenants money and boost the quality of people’s homes.
That the is the conclusion of councillors from all political parties who took part in the Older Persons’ Accommodation Working Group after carefully examining the evidence.
Its report will be discussed by the Overview Committee at its meeting on 22 May.
The working group’s report says: “Sheltered Plus was put in place in 2018 with a large financial subsidy from the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and a guarantee that it would remain unaltered for two years.
“The council has honoured that commitment and more. Six years have passed and the environment in which the council’s housing operates has changed dramatically and the status quo is not financially sustainable.”
The HRA is the dedicated account the council uses to pay for council housing and which tenants pay their rent into.
The report goes on: “The buildings are ageing and require significant capital investment for repairs, maintenance and modernisation.
“Many are dated with limited space [for tenants], no Wi-Fi or electric vehicle charging points.
“Society has changed dramatically since the schemes were designed and they no longer meet the needs or aspirations of many of today’s over-60s, which is reflected in limited demand.
“However, housing need in general is increasing and the council must make the best use of its scarce supply of affordable homes for the benefit of local households of all ages that desperately need a home.
“This review has conducted extensive research and the findings are clear.
“The full cost of the Sheltered Plus service is unaffordable to many because key elements of the service, such as night reassurance cover and the laundry service do not qualify for Housing Benefit, as they are personal care and not related to the provision of accommodation.
“The unfunded costs have been met by the HRA, which is not what it is intended for and, with the other financial pressures on the HRA, the situation is unsustainable.
“If the council is to survive as a social landlord, this hole in the finances must be addressed and services must adapt to changes in society to ensure they remain relevant for current and future generations.”
The working group recommendations include:
standardising the service in sheltered housing and Sheltered Plus to provide a consistent service across the whole sheltered housing portfolio including removing the laundry service and stopping the provision of night reassurance cover
reducing the number of Independent Living Managers
improving the support provided by the Lifeline service
expanding provision, including telecare and telehealth
installing modern CCTV equipment, monitored by the council’s Central Control room
In its report, the working group recognises the current Sheltered Plus arrangements give tenants and their families peace of mind and make them feel secure.
It wants to listen closely to their views and concerns so we can take these fully into account before a decision is taken.
The same applies to those council staff members that would be affected.
The working group is recommending a comprehensive 12-week consultation.
This will include personal one-to-one meetings with tenants and their families as well as gathering the views of the Resident Engagement Panel and Independent Living Forum which represent tenants and meetings with key stakeholders.
The working group says each tenant would need a personalised support plan if the transition were to go ahead so residents are able to be carefully helped into the new arrangements.
The current Sheltered Plus service is unique and not found anywhere else in Kent.
It is provided at 127 properties across four schemes:
Lang Court in Whitstable
Cranmer House in Canterbury
Collard House in Canterbury
Whitgift Court in Canterbury
The service was designed through consultation with tenants and their families after Kent County Council withdrew its Supporting People Grant in March 2018.
They voted to keep and pay for services beyond standard sheltered housing including:
an on-site, non-residential Independent Living Manager during weekday office hours
a supported laundry service during weekdays because the kitchens of individual flats are too small to install a domestic washing machine, and tenants sometimes find the controls of the commercial-style machines in the communal laundry too heavy to operate
on-call night reassurance service, seven nights a week, in case of emergency
signposting to taking up activities, training, work or engaging with the community
advice about accessing health care and social care.
At Whitgift Court and Lang Court there is a dedicated member of staff, whereas Collard House and Cranmer House share a member of staff and pay commensurately less.
The night reassurance service does not provide a hands-on response in an emergency but contacts the relevant service or family member.
The full cost of the Sheltered Plus service is too expensive for most tenants and a commitment was given by the council to subsidise the service for two years before it was reviewed, with the deficit underwritten by the HRA.
Both sheltered housing and Sheltered Plus are supported by the council’s Lifeline service which enables tenants to raise an alarm in an emergency.
The Overview Committee will meet at the Guildhall, St Peter’s Place, at 7pm on Thursday 22 May.
Coventry couples planning or thinking about marriage, can have the chance of winning a wedding package with Go CV, to take place on Valentine’s Day.
The fantastic prize, worth over £5,000, includes a marriage ceremony hosted in the Black Prince Room at Cheylesmore Manor House (Coventry Register Office), a wedding reception venue at Drapers’ Hall including buffet, dining set-up and service staff, plus overnight accommodation in a Junior Suite at the Telegraph Hotel with breakfast.
The lucky winners will also have flower bouquets provided by Isabel’s Flower Studio, photographs by UR Rosa Photography, precious moments you could share on social media by Electric Joy Moments Content Creator and Brody Swain as Wedding Toastmaster at the ceremony and reception.
To have the chance of winning this amazing prize, complete the form on the Go CV website and tell us in no more than 300 words why you deserve to win. Entrants for this wonderful prize need to be a Coventry resident and also hold a fully validated Go CV card.
Councillor Kamran Caan, Cabinet Member, Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, said:
“Being a Go CV cardholder brings many benefits to our city residents so if you are already a member, check out to see how you can enter. If you’re not already a member, then I’d encourage you to sign up and get the chance to enter the competition.”
“I’m sure there are Coventry couples out there who would love the opportunity to win this prize, especially as for many people, the costs involved in having a wedding or ceremony are a challenge.
“It’s really important that we continue to promote through Go CV the amazing cultural venues and attractions we have in the city. Through the funding we’ve attracted, this is a really exciting and creative way to raise the profile of the city’s cultural assets and, of course, provide a brilliant opportunity for a Coventry couple.
“Good luck to all entrants and I look forward to hearing more about the lucky couple.”
Full details on what the package includes, how to apply, terms and conditions and lots more information with details about the partners’ offers included in the prize, are available at go-cv.co.uk/winawedding .
Deadline for entries are 23.59, on Sunday 15 June 2025. Winners will be notified by the end of June and must consent to publicity of their special day.
Today, on his last day of work, RCMP NL congratulates Superintendent (Supt.) David Cook on his well-deserved retirement! With more than 43 years of service, Supt. Cook is one of the longest-serving RCMP officers to retire in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Supt. Cook has had an amazing career with the RCMP and spent much of his service in various policing roles in Alberta. Born and raised in Ottawa, he began his career in 1982 as a Constable in Westlock, Alberta. After serving in a number of locations across the province, he left Alberta as a Staff Sergeant in 2011. He then transferred to Ottawa where he was in charge of the Emergency Management Unit.
In 2014, he was commissioned to the rank of Inspector and served in Regina Saskatchewan. He was responsible for the National Law Enforcement Training Program at Depot, the RCMP’s Training Academy.
In 2017, Supt. Cook was promoted to his current rank. He was transferred to Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador and since then, he has worked as the District Policing Officer for Western Newfoundland and Labrador.
Over the course of 43 years, Supt. Cook has likely seen and heard it all, and we are sure his experiences would make for some interesting stories. He says he’ll remember his time with the RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador fondly.
“What I enjoyed most are the people and how friendly and welcoming I’ve found Newfoundland and Labrador. My wife Beth and I have been fortunate to make great friendships here and plan to stay where we are,” says Supt. Cook. “At work, I’m proud of all our employees and know the commitment and dedication that they bring to serving our communities. I’ll miss seeing that in action but know that it will continue every day.”
RCMP NL wishes Supt. Cook a retirement full of health and happiness. Thank you for your service, Sir!
Economic growth continues to be strong in the WAEMU. Inflation has fallen back to its target range, and recent improvements in regional external imbalances are supporting a strong recovery in reserves.
The Council of Ministers has agreed to submit for approval by Heads of State a proposal by the WAEMU Commission for a revised Convergence Pact maintaining the previous fiscal deficit and public debt ceilings of 3 and 70 percent of GDP, respectively.
Rapid adoption of this pact would signal a stronger commitment to debt sustainability and help guide sound fiscal policies. The WAEMU’s institutions should also continue to promote regional integration.
Washington, DC:The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the annual discussions on common policies of member countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU)[1]. The authorities have consented to the publication of the Staff Report prepared for this consultation.[2]
Economic growth continues to be strong in the WAEMU, with heterogeneity across countries, while inflation has fallen. Economic growth rose above 6 percent in 2024, near the average of the past decade, although gaps in per capita income among member countries have continued to widen due to significant variations in economic growth. After rising above target for much 2024, inflation has also fallen back within its target range since November 2024, due to easing regional food price inflation and an appropriately tight monetary policy. The banking system remains resilient, although it maintains large exposures to regional sovereigns.
Recent progress in reducing the WAEMU’s external imbalances, albeit with notable divergence among members, is supporting a strong recovery in reserves. After widening in 2021-2023, the WAEMU’s current account deficit narrowed significantly in 2024. The Central Bank of West African States’ (BCEAO) response to external reserves pressures has also been broadly appropriate, by tightening monetary policy via raising rates and containing the quantities of liquidity injected into the regional banking system. Reserves rebounded in late 2024 and early 2025, and are back above minimum adequate levels due mainly to windfall revenues from the annual cocoa harvest, high commodity prices, several IMF disbursements, and exports of new hydrocarbon resources in Niger and Senegal. The WAEMU’s external position is assessed to have been moderately weaker than fundamentals and desirable policy settings in 2024.
Public debt ratios have increased significantly and heterogeneously in recent years due to large fiscal deficits and stock-flow adjustments. Ongoing progress in union-wide fiscal consolidation is welcome, although it is proceeding at a slower pace than anticipated mainly because of large data revisions in Senegal. Public debt continued to increase in 2024 beyond the level projected during the previous discussions on common policies, with considerable variation across the WAEMU (and particularly high debt in Senegal). Higher debt issuances are leading to heavier reliance on financing on the regional market, which has limited absorptive capacity and relatively high costs, and could pose a risk to external reserves.
Executive Directors agreed with the thrust of the staff appraisal. They welcomed that the WAEMU is benefitting from strong growth, inflation within the target range, and progress in reducing fiscal and external imbalances, while also noting the significant divergence within the region. Highlighting that the region remains vulnerable to a wide range of shocks, Directors stressed the importance of prudent policies to ensure macroeconomic and financial stability and structural reforms to foster inclusive growth. They looked forward to the Fund’s continued support through tailored policy advice and financial and capacity development assistance.
Directors stressed the importance of a commitment to debt sustainability, grounded in progress towards fiscal consolidation, measures to contain debt‑creating stock‑flow adjustments, and close monitoring of regional financing capacity. In that context, they commended the proposed reintroduction of the WAEMU Convergence Pact with the previous fiscal deficit and debt ceilings and called for its rapid adoption with a well‑designed escape clause, a correction mechanism, and credible enforcement. Fiscal adjustment should be driven by revenue mobilization to protect priority spending. Directors also stressed the importance of transparent and accurate reporting of fiscal data and enhanced debt transparency.
Directors welcomed BCEAO’s tight monetary stance which helped bring inflation back to the target range and support reserves. Directors agreed that monetary policy should continue to be closely calibrated to external buffers and inflation developments, and that a cautious stance remains appropriate until there is a sustained recovery in reserve adequacy.
Directors welcomed the resilience of the financial system but noted that the sovereign‑bank nexus continues to pose risks to financial stability. They encouraged the introduction of macroprudential regulatory measures to help restrain sovereign exposures, and capital surcharges to manage concentration risk. Directors stressed the importance of closely monitoring bank soundness indicators, addressing the remaining FSAP recommendations to strengthen financial stability and deepening, and taking the necessary additional steps to facilitate the removal of WAEMU members currently on the FATF grey list.
Directors agreed that prosperity in the WAEMU will depend on progress on political cohesion, economic integration, and strengthening the regional institutional framework and infrastructure. A planned stabilization fund to support members impacted by idiosyncratic shocks could demonstrate regional solidarity, but contingent liability risks through leveraging should be avoided. Directors welcomed progress on the new fast payment system, which would promote efficiency, inclusion, and regional integration. Policies to diversify the economy and strengthen resilience would also be important.
The views expressed by Executive Directors today will form part of the Article IV consultations with individual member‑countries that take place until the next Board discussion of WAEMU common policies. It is expected that the next regional discussions with the WAEMU authorities will be held on the standard 12‑month cycle.
Table 1. WAEMU: Selected Economic and Social Indicators, 2021–29
Social Indicators
GDP
Poverty (2021, latest available)
Nominal GDP (2024, millions of US Dollars)
219,784
Headcount ratio at $1.90 a day (2011 PPP, percent of population)
23.1
GDP per capita (2024, US Dollars)
1,447
Undernourishment (percent of population)
12.5
Population characteristics
Inequality (2021, latest available)
Total (2023, millions)
145.3
Income share held by highest 10 percent of population
28.4
Urban population (2023, percent of total)
40.6
Income share held by lowest 20 percent of population
7.7
Life expectancy at birth (2022, years)
61.1
Gini index
35.4
Economic Indicators
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
Act.
SM/24/90. 1
Est.
Projected
(Annual Percentage Change)
National income and prices
GDP at constant prices 2
6.2
5.9
5.3
6.8
6.3
6.4
5.8
5.9
6.0
5.9
GDP per capita at constant prices
3.2
2.9
2.4
3.8
3.3
3.4
2.8
2.9
3.0
2.9
Consumer prices (average)
3.6
7.6
3.7
3.2
3.5
2.9
2.3
2.0
2.0
2.0
Terms of trade
-6.3
-12.3
7.9
4.2
12.4
9.3
3.6
-1.3
-1.0
-0.7
Nominal effective exchange rate
1.2
-2.3
6.3
3.5
…
…
…
…
…
…
Real effective exchange rate
1.5
-3.6
3.9
3.0
…
…
…
…
…
…
(Percent of GDP)
National accounts
Gross national savings
20.4
18.8
18.8
22.4
20.8
21.7
23.1
23.2
23.4
23.8
Gross domestic investment
26.5
28.8
28.7
27.5
26.9
26.2
26.3
26.7
27.3
27.7
Of which: public investment
6.8
7.8
7.7
8.8
6.8
6.7
7.2
7.5
7.8
8.2
(Annual changes in percent of beginning-of-period broad money)
Money and credit
Net foreign assets
1.7
-7.9
-7.2
0.5
6.1
2.7
2.1
3.2
3.2
2.2
Net domestic assets
16.9
20.7
10.0
12.6
3.4
9.9
10.3
9.9
9.7
10.2
Broad money
18.0
11.4
3.5
12.4
8.9
11.4
12.4
12.8
12.6
12.1
Credit to the economy
8.1
9.0
6.8
6.7
2.7
7.2
7.0
6.6
6.5
6.3
(Percent of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)
Government financial operations
Government total revenue, excl. grants
16.1
15.8
16.5
17.3
16.6
17.3
17.7
18.2
18.5
18.8
Government expenditure
23.9
24.7
23.8
22.6
22.4
22.0
21.8
21.9
22.2
22.5
Overall fiscal balance, excl. grants
-7.8
-9.0
-7.3
-5.3
-5.8
-4.6
-4.1
-3.7
-3.7
-3.7
Overall fiscal balance, incl. grants
-6.3
-7.8
-6.3
-4.2
-5.2
-3.8
-3.3
-3.0
-3.0
-3.0
External sector
Exports of goods and services 3
20.0
19.6
17.7
21.4
18.8
21.3
21.8
21.4
20.9
20.7
Imports of goods and services 3
25.9
29.7
27.5
26.5
24.6
24.4
23.8
23.4
23.3
23.2
Current account, excl. grants
-6.6
-10.7
-10.2
-5.4
-6.5
-4.9
-3.5
-3.7
-4.1
-4.1
Current account, incl. grants
-5.9
-9.8
-9.5
-4.8
-6.1
-4.5
-3.3
-3.5
-3.9
-3.8
External public debt
36.3
37.0
38.9
36.1
39.9
37.8
36.6
35.5
33.8
32.6
Total public debt
58.5
61.5
64.0
59.6
65.0
63.4
61.9
60.4
58.8
57.5
Broad money
40.7
40.8
39.1
40.6
38.8
39.4
41.0
42.8
44.6
46.3
Memorandum items:
Nominal GDP (billions of CFA francs)
100,963
112,343
121,414
131,429
133,227
145,965
157,833
170,313
183,993
198,973
Nominal GDP per capita (US dollars)
1,308
1,259
1,356
1,436
1,446
1,508
1,588
1,663
1,744
1,831
CFA franc per US dollars, average
554.2
622.4
606.5
606.2
…
…
…
…
…
…
Gross international reserves
In months of next year’s imports (of goods and services)
5.0
4.1
3.5
3.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
5.1
5.2
In percent of current GDP
13.9
10.1
7.8
8.2
10.1
10.0
10.1
10.3
10.6
10.7
In percent of the BCEAO’s sight liabilities
79.7
63.8
56.9
58.1
66.9
67.1
66.5
66.0
66.2
66.0
In millions of US dollars
24,172
18,398
15,764
17,872
21,593
24,165
26,254
28,967
32,156
35,185
Sources: IMF, African Department database; World Economic Outlook; World Bank World Development Indicators; IMF staff
estimates and projections.
All projections presented were prepared in April 2025.
1 Shows data from the IMF Country Report 24/90 issued on March 1, 2024.
2 The acceleration in GDP growth in 2024 is due to the start of production of large hydrocarbon projects in Niger and Senegal.
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Powerline Safety Week is here, and Alectra Utilities is urging the public to be extra cautious around powerlines, whether working on job sites or tackling spring projects at home.
According to the Electrical Safety Authority, more than 40 per cent of Ontarians mistakenly believe that direct contact is required to get a shock or burn from a powerline. However, electricity can arc from the line to any object that comes within three metres, such as a ladder, branch or tool, and cause serious injury or death.
“Powerline Safety Week is an important time to remind everyone about the serious and frequently misunderstood risks that powerlines present,” said Patience Cathcart, Director of Data Science and Public Safety Officer, Electrical Safety Authority. “Public safety is one of our highest priorities. By working together to raise awareness, we can help reduce the risk of accidents and protect lives.”
“Ensuring the safety of Alectra employees, customers and the public remains our top priority,” said Chris Hudson, Senior Vice President, Network Operations at Alectra Utilities. “Together, we can ensure an electrically safe and secure community for all.”
Every year, injuries and even fatalities occur when people inadvertently come into contact with overhead, often during routine activities like landscaping, digging, or operating equipment under overhead powerlines.
Here are six essential safety tips to always follow:
Look up and look out: Always maintain awareness of overhead powerlines when engaging in outdoor activities. Identify all powerlines, including those obscured by foliage, near residential and work areas.
Stay back 3 meters from overhead powerlines: You do not have to touch a powerline to get a deadly shock. Electricity can jump or “arc” to you or your tools if you get too close. Always keep a 3-metre gap between you, your tools and powerlines.
Stay 10 metres from a downed powerline: There is no way of knowing if a powerline is live just by looking at it. Wires do not have to spark to indicate they are live. Always assume a downed powerline is energized and dangerous. Call 9-1-1 and the local utility immediately and ensure everyone stays at least 10 metres back—about the length of a school bus—from fallen powerlines.
Call before you dig: Prioritize safety by contacting Ontario One Call at 1-800-400-2255 before initiating any excavation or construction project, ensuring the detection of underground utilities, including powerlines. The locate will only identify utility owned underground line. Customer owned underground lines will require a private locate.
Be mindful of equipment: Avoid flying kites, drones, or other objects near powerlines, as even non-metallic items can conduct electricity, posing severe risks.
Talk to your kids about powerline safety: Help children find safe places to play, away from utility poles and powerlines. Remind children never to climb trees near powerlines, since leaves and branches can hide the wires.
Serving more than one million homes and businesses in Ontario’s Greater Golden Horseshoe area, Alectra Utilities is now the largest municipally-owned electric utility in Canada, based on the total number of customers served. We contribute to the economic growth and vibrancy of the 17 communities we serve by investing in essential energy infrastructure, delivering a safe and reliable supply of electricity, and providing innovative energy solutions. Our mission is to be an energy ally, helping our customers and the communities we serve to discover the possibilities of tomorrow’s energy future.
NEW YORK, NY, May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hola Prime, a leading global proprietary trading firm, is proud to announce Basketball Champion, Karl Anthony Towns as its first-ever brand ambassador. This partnership marks a significant moment in Hola Prime’s journey, highlighting its commitment to reshaping modern prop trading around what truly matters – speed, performance, discipline, and fairness.
The announcement coincides with the launch of Hola Prime’s new brand campaign, ‘Speed is Success’, produced by one of the top agencies. The campaign draws a compelling parallel between elite sports and trading – in both, speed is not just an advantage, but the edge. The cinematic film captures how success depends on reacting swiftly, thinking clearly under pressure, and executing with discipline, whether on the court or in the market.
“At Hola Prime, we have always believed that trading, at its core, is a performance profession,” said Somesh Kapuria, Founder and CEO of Hola Prime. “It’s not about luck or shortcuts. It’s about building skill, managing risk, staying calm under pressure, and performing when it matters most. Karl-Anthony Towns personifies these values. His career reflects what we encourage in our traders – consistency, resilience, and the courage to keep improving every day. And Hola Prime compliments their skills with a fair and transparent trading environment, and super fast payouts.” Explaining his decision to collaborate with Hola Prime, Karl-Anthony Towns said, “What drew me to Hola Prime is how they’re flipping the script – not just in finance, but in how people see trading,” said Karl-Anthony Towns. “As a pro athlete, I know what it means to bet on yourself, and that’s exactly what Hola Prime is about, so I’m happy to be their first ambassador and to help bring that mindset to the next generation.”
Hola Prime’s decision to collaborate with an elite athlete reflects its belief that trading, like sports, rewards those who move fast, think fast, and execute fast. It’s a natural extension of its trader-centric approach – creating a platform where individuals thrive through speed, strategy, and discipline.
With innovations like transparent pricing, under-one-hour payouts, one-on-one mentorship, and clear trading rules, Hola Prime is redefining trading speed from execution to earnings. The ‘Speed is Success’ campaign champions a new era of fair, fast, and performance-driven trading – empowering individuals to thrive through agility, skill, and accountability.
The partnership with Towns positions Hola Prime as a standout in a saturated market – more than just a platform, it is a movement. With the star power of a professional basketball giant and the soul of a fintech disruptor, Hola Prime is redefining what trading looks like in 2025 and beyond.
Hola Prime is a global proprietary trading firm with offices in the UK, Hong Kong, Cyprus, Dubai, and India. It supports a diverse community of traders across 175+ countries, offering access to over 150 financial instruments across multiple trading platforms. The firm is known for its structured approach to risk management, transparency, and trader-centric operations. Learn more at holaprime.com.
This recognition marks a significant milestone for AIMS and underscores the success of its strategic investment in global sports sponsorships. The judging panel unanimously praised AIMS, stating:
“AIMS has established a strong presence in global football sponsorship. Having previously been the regional partner of Borussia Dortmund, AIMS made the leap to the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur FC and has conducted a powerful marketing campaign to cement its sponsorship presence at a global level.”
The award celebrates the impact of AIMS’ football partnerships — from its earlier success with German football giant Borussia Dortmund (BVB) to its current dynamic collaboration with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, a Premier League powerhouse.
Competing against some of the most recognized names in the financial services industry and AIMS emerged as the top choice. This achievement highlights the company’s innovative approach to sponsorship and its growing influence in both the financial and sporting worlds.
“This award is more than a recognition of our efforts — it’s a reflection of the belief and trust our clients, partners, and supporters have in AIMS. We share this win with all of them,” said Aaron Chang, CEO for AIMS Group. “It motivates us to continue pushing boundaries and building meaningful global connections through the power of sport.”
As AIMS continues its mission to make financial education and trading opportunities accessible to all, this award serves as further validation of its commitment to excellence, innovation, and community impact.
About AIMS
AIMS is a globally trusted financial brokerage offering trading services and infrastructure for both institutional and retail clients in over 17 countries. Known for its high-performance platform, low spreads, and client-first approach, AIMS continues to be a key force in shaping the global trading industry.
NEW YORK, May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Recently, the Ethereum Foundation announced its Q1 2025 research grant recipients, and CertiK—the world’s largest Web3 security firm—was awarded two research grants stemming from the zkEVM formal verification competition. This achievement marks not only a milestone in Ethereum’s scalability strategy, but also highlights CertiK’s global leadership in the formal verification of zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) systems.
The key to CertiK’s success lies in its “Advanced Formal Verification” technology, which offers four major breakthroughs over traditional approaches: it targets actual code rather than abstract models; it verifies specific code properties instead of generic traits; it tackles complex verification tasks through an automated framework, overcoming human limitations; and it is suitable for large-scale production environments, rather than being confined to academic research. Notably, formal verification has been central to CertiK’s mission since its inception, leveraging academic research to deliver high-reliability security services for Web3 projects.
These strengths make CertiK especially adept at handling complex ZKP systems. For instance, last year, CertiK completed the first full formal verification of the zkWasm circuit—a breakthrough that proved that comprehensive formal verification of complex zero-knowledge circuits is achievable. CertiK’s formal verification technology has already been widely adopted in leading Web3 projects and infrastructure, including TON mainnet smart contracts; Cosmos SDK; and Ant Group’s HyperEnclave TEE, Asterinas OS, and SGX TRTS SDK, demonstrating its broad applicability and high reliability.
zkEVM (Zero-Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine) is an innovation in blockchain technology that enhances Ethereum’s scalability using zero-knowledge proofs. It enables transaction computation to be offloaded from the blockchain while still providing succinct proofs to verify transaction validity—lowering costs and increasing throughput. However, the complexity of zkEVM introduces security risks, making formal verification essential for ensuring its correctness and safety. Formal verification uses mathematical methods to prove a system’s behavior under all possible conditions, ensuring there are no bugs or unexpected behaviors.
As blockchain technology rapidly evolves—especially with the growing adoption of zero-knowledge systems—formal verification is becoming a critical tool for ensuring system security and reliability. CertiK’s work strengthens Ethereum’s scalability and security while setting a benchmark for formal verification across the blockchain ecosystem.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Consensus, May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Transactix Financial Inc. today introduced a secure, unified payments platform that frees Canadians from the exorbitant fees and inefficiencies that impact the country’s financial well-being.
Its Open Value Network™ (“OVN”) is engineered to facilitate the immediate and seamless transfer and conversion of digital value – whether in tokens, points, credits, stablecoins, cryptocurrencies, or fiat currency – at a fraction of the cost Canadians have had to pay.
“Moving value should be as cheap and effortless as sending a text message,” said Abou Daya, CEO of Calgary-based Transactix. “But Canadians continue to bear costs for transferring funds that are more comparable to snail mail or shipping a parcel than sending an email. This is an outdated paradigm that OVN will disrupt.”
Similarity in the price of financial transfers and physical mail delivery in Canada stems from legacy infrastructure, regulatory overhead, and the dominance of a few large financial institutions. These factors have kept costs high, even as digital technology has made near-instant, low-cost communication commonplace. In contrast, the OVN leverages modern, patented technology to eliminate these inefficiencies, making value transfer as inexpensive and immediate as digital messaging.
A Platform for Growth, Security, and Innovation
“The launch of the Open Value Network is a testament to Canadian innovation and leadership in blockchain technology,” said Koleya Karringten, Executive Director of the Canada Blockchain Consortium. “By enabling secure, immediate, and low-cost value transfers across a wide range of digital assets, OVN has the potential to empower consumers, drive fintech growth, and strengthen Canada’s economic sovereignty in the rapidly evolving global digital economy.”
Transactix’s OVN is more than a payment network. It is a secure, developer-friendly ecosystem that:
Enables fintechs to build on a cohesive, blockchain native infrastructure, complementing existing legacy payment rails.
Empowers consumers and businesses with new, globally competitive services.
Advocates for regulatory modernization to foster innovation, reduce costs, and protect Canadian interests amid rising tariffs and global competition.
Illustrates to policymakers and regulators on how novel technologies can lower costs and strengthen Canada’s economic resilience.
National Security and Economic Sovereignty
The stability of Canada’s economy and the integrity of its currency are inseparable from national security. The rapid proliferation of stablecoins and cryptocurrencies, many issued by foreign entities, presents both opportunities and challenges for Canadian sovereignty and economic governance. As the world accelerates toward digital currencies, the United States is positioning itself as a global leader. Canada must keep pace with a robust digital currency strategy to safeguard its interests and ensure that Canadian businesses and consumers have access to homegrown digital assets.
About Transactix
Transactix is enabling individuals and companies to exchange money, cryptocurrencies, loyalty rewards, credits, and more — instantly, securely, for less than the price of a text message — with its revolutionary Open Value Network™ and Stablecoin-as-a-Service offerings. It is establishing a new benchmark for speed, affordability, accessibility with compliance in the digital economy powered by a proven infrastructure already processing over $100 billion (US) in transactions. www.transactix.ca
For more information about the OVN launch and Ali Abou Daya’s presentation “Moving Value Cheaper Than Text”, visit the Consensus 2025 Toronto agenda.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Consensus, May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Transactix Financial Inc. today launched a new type of digital currency, linked to the value of the Canadian dollar, that gives businesses, consumers, and financial partners a secure, efficient, and programmable way to make and accept payments and settlements. Called CADX™, this financial innovation is engineered to bring the speed and versatility of blockchain technology to payments.
CADX is a Canadian dollar-backed stablecoin – a type of cryptocurrency that mitigates volatility by having a reserve of a sovereign currency, in this case the Canadian dollar, to support the value of the cryptocurrency. CADX is fully backed by $50 million in Canadian assets. It will be delivered to the market using Transactix’s advanced Stablecoin-as-a-Service platform, an innovative infrastructure that has already supported more than $100 billion (US) in global digital transactions.
“CADX is more than a digital asset—it’s a catalyst for financial innovation in Canada,” said Transactix CEO Ali Abou Daya. “By combining robust asset backing, regulatory compliance and advanced technology, we are empowering Canadians and our partners to participate in the digital economy with extraordinary confidence.”
Others in the Canadian digital payments system are lauding CADX.
“The launch of CADX is a meaningful step toward a more competitive digital payments ecosystem in Canada,” said Alex Vronces, Executive Director of Fintechs Canada. “Stablecoins offer a credible alternative to legacy systems. When they’re built to be secure, low-cost, and compliant, they can expand choice and shift power toward users—something our financial system sorely needs.”
Calgary-based Transactix made the announcement at Consensus 2025, one of the cryptocurrency world’s most prestigious international events. Speakers at the event include Eric Trump, Kevin O’leary, and Robert Hines, the Executive Director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets at the White House.
A New Opportunity for Canadian Finance
CADX offers a transformative opportunity for Transactix and its ecosystem
For Customers: CADX provides faster, lower-cost transactions and the ability to use Canadian dollar stablecoins in a growing range of applications, from payroll to cross-border remittances and decentralized finance.
For Partners: Financial institutions, fintechs, businesses, and payment service providers can leverage the Stablecoin-as-a-Service platform to integrate CADX into their offerings, unlocking new revenue streams and innovative financial products.
For Transactix: The launch positions Transactix at the forefront of Canadian digital finance, enabling the company to shape the future of programmable money and digital payments infrastructure.
Transactix Stablecoin-as-a-Service: Patent-Backed Freedom to Operate
Transactix’s Stablecoin-as-a-Service is underpinned by an unparalleled and formidable Canadian patent portfolio. This intellectual property foundation provides partners who wish to launch their own stablecoin the critical freedom to operate as part of the Transactix service model. By leveraging this robust patent coverage, partners can confidently innovate and deploy new stablecoins within a secure, compliant, and future-ready ecosystem.
Canada’s Stablecoin Market: Poised for Growth
Canada stands at a crossroads in stablecoin adoption. While the country has been a global innovator in blockchain technology, regulatory uncertainty has slowed the rollout of CAD-backed stablecoins. Recent regulatory changes have clarified requirements for stablecoin issuers, with fiat-backed stablecoins now being subject to securities regulatory oversight. Despite these challenges, the demand for stablecoins in Canada is rising, driven by the need for faster, more efficient payment solutions and the desire for a payment mechanism that can compete globally.
About Transactix
Transactix is enabling individuals and companies to exchange money, cryptocurrencies, loyalty rewards, credits, and more—instantly, securely, and at a lower cost, often less than the cost of sending a text message. Its revolutionary Open Value Network™ and Stablecoin-as-a-Service are establishing a new benchmark for speed, affordability, and accessibility with compliance in the digital economy powered by a proven infrastructure already processing over $100 billion (US) in transactions. www.transactix.ca.
Attention Media and Analyst
Transactix will be holding a media scrum and reception at Consensus 2025 to discuss the CADX launch at 3:30 pm EDT today in Room MR 704. All media, analysts, and social media influencers are invited to attend.
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Headline: NEW REPORT: Clean Energy Contracts with Fortune 500 Companies Surge in 2024
In 2024 alone, the clean energy industry invested nearly $80 billion to deploy nearly 49 GW of new clean energy projects and build 45 manufacturing facilities
New data shows industry supports 1.4 million American jobs—460,000 directly and nearly a million more in supply chains and supporting industries
Clean energy power purchase agreements (PPAs) reached record levels in 2024, showing increasing demand for clean energy resources from economic sectors
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 14, 2025 – The American Clean Power Association (ACP) today released its Clean Power Annual Market Report | 2024. The data from ACP shows an industry critical to the viability of the American economy, supporting 1.4 million American jobs and investing nearly $80 billion last year.
The top purchasers of clean energy include Fortune 100 and 500 companies, largely comprised of utilities and major tech companies. In 2024, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Google collectively contracted 11.3 GW of clean power—nearly matching the total clean power capacity installed across Florida, the fifth largest clean power state in the U.S., and showcasing the criticality of clean energy to power the growing data center market.
“Clean energy is fueling America’s economy and creating opportunities for American workers and communities all across the country,” said ACP CEO Jason Grumet. “Solar, wind, and battery storage are leading an all of the above energy future powered by affordable, reliable, and secure American resources.”
Key 2024 Highlights
Rapidly Scaling and Deploying:
The clean energy industry invested nearly $80 billion to deploy nearly 49 GW of new clean power infrastructure.
45 new manufacturing projects came online, representing more than $9 billion dollars of investment in domestic manufacturing.
For the first time, wind and utility-scale solar generation exceeded coal output, accounting for nearly 16% of U.S. electricity generation, marking a significant shift in the energy mix.
Total generation in the interconnection queue at the end of 2023 was 2,367 GW, with over 95% represented by wind, solar, and storage.
Meeting the Moment of Rising Demand:
Building new clean power will be essential to meeting additional demand in the near- and medium-term, as clean energy resources are significantly quicker to deploy than traditional sources.
The U.S. will need more than 900 GW of renewables and batteries and 60-100 GW of new gas capacity by 2040 to maintain grid reliability.
Powering the U.S. Economy:
The clean energy industry supports 1.4 million Americans with jobs—460,000 directly and nearly a million more in supply chains and communities.
Clean power companies have invested more than $600 billion over the past two decades, transforming America’s energy infrastructure and boosting local economies in all 50 states.
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) announcements surged 56%, reflecting strong demand and market confidence.
Discover more about American clean power’s historic year in the data-driven webpage. A public version of the 160-page full report is available, with the full report and underlying datasets available exclusively to ACP members.
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The Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) today published a joint research study that explored if and how central banks could continue to implement monetary policy operations in hypothetical tokenised wholesale financial markets.
Project Pine, from the New York Innovation Center at the New York Fed and the Swiss Centre of the BIS Innovation Hub found that central banks could customise and deploy policy implementation tools using programmable smart contracts in a potential future state where commercial banks and other private sector financial institutions have widely adopted tokenisation for wholesale payments and securities settlement.
The project generated the prototype of a generic monetary policy implementation tokenised toolkit for potential further research and development by central banks across jurisdictions and currencies. The prototype was designed to be technically modifiable for different central banks’ monetary policy frameworks and calibrated to conduct standard or emergency market operations.
The toolkit prototype was created in consultation with central banks’ financial markets advisors from multiple jurisdictions, who helped outline the project scope and specific design requirements. It is not particular to any currency or jurisdiction. It can fulfil a common set of central bank implementation requirements, including paying interest on reserves, open market operations, and collateral management.
The toolkit was tested against ten hypothetical scenarios simulating normal market dynamics and stress events. Each scenario was designed using historical data inputs on past market events, such as interest rate tightening and easing cycles, quantitative easing and tightening cycles, and periods of strained market liquidity or broader market disruptions.
The prototype successfully responded and instantaneously carried out the intended operation under the varying market conditions, consistent with the central bank’s desired liquidity environment. Project Pine’s findings highlighted areas for further research and analysis related to interoperability and data standardisation. Project Pine aims to contribute to a broad and transparent public dialogue regarding potential applications of new technologies in the financial sector.
BIS Innovation Hub projects are experimental in nature and aim to explore and deliver public goods to the global central banking community. Project Pine was limited to research and experimentation and should not be interpreted to reflect any policies, directives, or views of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or the Federal Reserve System.
About the New York Innovation Center
The New York Innovation Center (NYIC) at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York bridges the worlds of finance, technology, and innovation. Established in 2021 in partnership with the Bank for International Settlements Innovation Hub, the NYIC generates insights into high-value central bank-related opportunities through research, analysis, and technical experimentation to drive advancements in central banking and enhance the functioning of the global financial system.
About the BIS Innovation Hub
The BIS Innovation Hub aims to foster international collaboration on innovative financial technology within the central banking community. It identifies and develops in-depth insights into critical trends in technology affecting central banking, develops public goods for improving the functioning of the global financial system, and serves as a focal point for a network of central bank innovation experts.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California
May 08, 2025
Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, Ranking Member Jared Huffman led House Natural Resources Committee Democrats to reject House Republicans’ scorched-earth plan in the Committee’s portion of the Republican reconciliation package. Their bill will sell off our lands, waters, and wildlife to fund tax cuts for billionaires and promote their extreme partisan agenda. While House Republicans remained silent at the markup, Huffman, alongside his Democratic colleagues, presented a unified front to protect our communities, the American taxpayer, and our most cherished places.
Ranking Member Huffman addresses Republicans’ betrayal to our environment and the American people
Republicans had the opportunity to support common sense safeguards and improve the legislation, but they instead rejected multiple Democratic amendments, including:
Ranking Member Huffman’s amendments (#20 and #35) protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Boundary Waters.
Ranking Member Huffman’s amendment (#247) striking the section creating a “pay-to-play” process for NEPA.
Ranking Member Huffman’s amendment (#36) striking out all provisions parallel to Project 2025
Ranking Member Huffman’s amendment (#105) redirecting funds to support international conservation
Ranking Member Huffman’s amendment (#39) preventing offshore oil and gas leasing in the Gulf of Mexico
Ranking Member Huffman’s amendment (#102) prohibiting funds from being used to procure seafood originating or processed in countries identified for failure to address illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing, bycatch of marine wildlife, or shark management.
Ranking Member Huffman’s amendment (#197) requiring tribal consultation before approving Ambler Road.
Ranking Member Huffman’s amendment (#106) blocking the bill from go into effect until the Office of Inspector General submits a report on Elon Musk’s conflict of interest.
A full list of amendments offered by Committee Democrats and blocked by Republicans can be found here
Ranking Member Huffman spent the entire reconciliation markup holding Republicans accountable for their anti-environment agenda, proposing alternative legislative action to improve our public lands, and leading debate to address the issues impacting the American people on the ground. The Republicans, on the other hand, stayed quiet during the reconciliation markup – silently promoting extensions of Project 2025 while doing nothing to help the communities that will be impacted by these reckless policies.
House Republicans are squandering Americans’ money, health, and safety to pad polluters’ pockets. Specifically, this bill:
Instantly boosts big oil and gas company profits by letting them drill and frack at bargain-basement prices while robbing taxpayers blind.
Puts polluters before people by letting the wealthy companies pay for legal immunity for inadequate environmental reviews and slapping Americans with exorbitant fees to protest oil and gas pollution.
Slashes funding for critical and popular public services like NOAA’s coastal restoration and resilience efforts and the National Parks workforce, making it harder forAmericans to protect their communities from natural hazards and visit our nation’s most scenic and inspiring places.
Locks up 4 million acres for unprofitable coal mining – more land than the entire state of Connecticut – taking our energy policy back to the 19th century.
Mandates dirty mining and drilling deals that will create toxic disasters in our nation’s most pristine lands and waters, permanently polluting places like the Boundary Waters and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Crushes clean energy development by jacking up fees for wind and solar while slashing fees for oil and coal.
Wipes out protections for endangered species, including dooming the planet’s most endangered whale to extinction by waiving all sensible safeguards for offshore oil and gas operations.
Sells off public lands to pay for handouts to big oil and tax cuts for billionaires – a surprise, late-night amendment paves the way for a fire sale of public lands.
Australia’s productivity performance has stagnated for years, and Treasurer Jim Chalmers has declared addressing this is a second term priority.
“Productivity” is now an added part of the remit of Assistant Minister Andrew Leigh, along with his responsibility for competition, charities and Treasury matters.
It’s an area to which Leigh brings some expertise. He is a former professor of economics at the Australian National University and has a PhD in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School.
He joins us to discuss productivity and more.
On the concept of productivity, Leigh outlines some common misconceptions.
A lot of people think of productivity as being working longer or working harder, rather than working smarter.
Really, productivity should be how much you can produce per hour, not how much you can produce per year, because I don’t think any of us feel productive if we’re forced to work at night and the weekend when we don’t want to. Improving the way in which we use technology can be important to that.
On why it has taken government so long to boost productivity, Leigh says:
The measures tend to be lagging. And it’s about changing the structure of businesses, and sometimes that takes a while to take effect. So, for example in the computer revolution, you don’t immediately see that showing up in the productivity statistics. Same story for electrification a couple of generations earlier.
These so-called general purpose technologies take a while before work is revamped around them. So too we can have problems that take a while to embed themselves, and then it can take a while to get out.
On emerging artificial intelligence technology, Leigh, while aware of the concerns, says there’s great potential:
I think we’re all concerned about the implications for privacy. I think there are reasons to be concerned about the potential anti-competitive aspects if the AI engines consolidate over coming years. But it’s also very clear that this is a technology with great potential to take away drudge parts of our jobs and allow people to focus on the most stimulating types.
There are invariably job impacts of any technology that comes along, and artificial intelligence is no different from that. We don’t tend to be very good as economists at forecasting precisely where the jobs of the future will come and where they’ll go, but we do know that it’ll have an impact, and this is potentially as big a general purpose technology as any of the others that we’ve seen in the past.
As a member of parliament from the Australian Capital Territory, Leigh remains keen that both territories get more representation in the Senate.
I think the ACT [and] the Northern Territory send representatives of strong calibre to the federal parliament. And having more representation for the territories would be a great thing.
To have more ACT senators, I think, would be a terrific thing. We saw in the last election a pretty ferocious attack from the conservatives on Canberra, and so having more voices in the federal parliament standing up for the ACT would be great.
Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe where he emphasized that Democrats will continue pushing back against the reckless Republican scheme to rip healthcare and nutritional assistance away from the American people.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: This morning, the House Energy and Commerce Committee continues its marathon session on proposed Medicaid cuts that will be included in the Republican Party’s sweeping domestic policy bill. Let’s bring in House Minority Leader, Democratic Congressman Hakeem Jeffries of New York. It’s good to have you on sir. Tell us about those cuts. How will Americans be feeling them?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, good morning. House Democrats are working hard through the night, both on the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Ways and Means Committee, to push back against this GOP Tax Scam, where they are trying to enact the largest Medicaid cut in American history north of $700 billion. And independent observers have confirmed that if the Republicans are successful in passing this GOP Tax Scam, then approximately 14 million people will actually lose their health coverage. Hospitals will close. Nursing homes will shut down. This really is a matter of life and death, and it’s all being done to try to enact massive tax cuts for MAGA billionaire donors like Elon Musk. It’s shameful.
WILLIE GEIST: Leader Jeffries, I’m also looking deep into this bill at proposed cuts to SNAP. That’s food assistance for people across the country—red states, blue states, white, Black, Latino, you name it. $300 billion cuts proposed. What would be the impact of that?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Republicans are literally ripping food out of the mouths of children and seniors and veterans. About 20% of households that have veterans living in them right now rely upon SNAP. And in addition to trying to jam this massive cut to healthcare down the throats of the American people, this would be the largest cut to nutritional assistance in the history of the United States of America. And so Republicans are really pushing an extreme agenda at this point in time, directed by Donald Trump. And unfortunately, what we’ve seen is that Republicans in the Congress continue to simply be a rubber stamp as opposed to standing up for the best interests of their constituents.
KATTY KAY: Leader Jeffries, there’s so much going on around the country and so much news coming out of this administration that perhaps this bill is not getting the attention you may feel it deserves. I know there were protesters and some people arrested up on Capitol Hill this week. How can you make Democrats and Republicans who could lose in red states and rural areas as well from this bill—how can you make them more aware and get their voices heard so that changes could be made to the bill?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, these cuts are deeply unpopular across the country, and we’re seeing that in district after district after district. One of the reasons why Republican House leaders have told their members to stop holding town hall meetings is because the American people in blue states, in swing states, in red states have been showing up protesting these proposed cuts to their healthcare, these proposed cuts in nutritional assistance, the efforts to hurt veterans. And so, we just have to keep the pressure on. We’re in a more-is-more environment. We’re doing town hall meetings in our districts and town hall meetings in Republican districts, rallies and speeches and demonstrations and sit-ins. We’ll continue to elevate for the American people the stakes of this battle. And all we need is to find four Republicans who are willing to do the right thing and we could stop this extreme budget from being enacted.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Let me circle back to an issue that we were talking about a month ago. And I’m just curious what Congress is doing, what Congress can do, what Democrats can do about USAID. We have a situation where you have the richest billionaire in the world slashing funding that’s going to ultimately take food out of the mouths of the poorest children on the planet. Now, USAID obviously was a congressionally-mandated agency. You all authorized the spending. You appropriated the spending. And I’m just curious, when does Congress circle back? Because I know there are a lot of Republicans on the Hill that don’t want PEPFAR cut, this Bush program that was inspired by his faith, his evangelical faith, saved over 25 million lives in Africa. We can talk about Catholic charities, Baptist charities. A lot of cuts, both secular and religious charities, helping the poorest across the world. What can Congress do to make sure that funding starts back up?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, Joe, as you know, the Constitution gives Congress generally, and the House specifically, the power of the purse. And as the appropriations process begins at the conclusion of this Republican budget reconciliation effort, we’re going to have to strongly push our Republican colleagues to join us to make sure that congressionally-mandated funding, including as it relates to USAID, which helps the best interests of the United States of America. It’s the right thing to do. It’s a moral outrage that these funds have been cut, but it’s also a strategic outrage because what the Trump administration and Elon Musk are doing are undermining the soft power of the United States of America. And if we don’t step in to battle these humanitarian situations that are happening across the world, China will step in and that’s bad for the national security of the United States of America.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: House Minority Leader, Democratic Congressman Hakeem Jeffries of New York, thank you very much for coming on the show this morning. We appreciate it.
The US-Israel proposition to control the distribution of supplies in Gaza, Palestine, under the guise of humanitarian aid raises grave humanitarian, ethical, security and legal concerns, says Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Making aid conditional on forced displacement and vetting of the population is another tool in the ongoing campaign of ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian population. MSF firmly rejects and condemns any plan that further reduces availability of aid and subjugates it to Israeli military occupation objectives.
We are witnessing, in real time, the creation of conditions for the eradication of Palestinian lives in Gaza, says MSF.
The obstruction of humanitarian aid is a direct violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2720, which calls for the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians. Claims that aid is being diverted by Hamas remain unverified and in no way justify such measures. As the occupying power, Israel must facilitate impartial humanitarian assistance for the population in need.
UN, EU member states, and all those with influence over Israel must urgently use their political and economic leverage to stop the instrumentalisation of aid. Humanitarian supplies, food, fuel and medicines must be allowed to reach the population of Gaza now.
Since Israel’s resumption of attacks and its total blockade of aid on 2 March, Gaza has become a hell on earth for Palestinians. The survival of Palestinians lies at the mercy of Israeli authorities, who are denying the entire population access to food, water, medical care and shelter. Israel continues to pursue its campaign of ethnic cleansing by deliberately destroying the conditions necessary for life.
Organisations including World Central Kitchen and the World Food Programme (WFP) have announced that they have no more food stocks available in Gaza: most community kitchens and bakeries have closed. MSF medical teams in Gaza City have seen a 32 per cent increase in the number of patients presenting with malnutrition over the past two weeks.
Dwindling fuel stocks are limiting the ability to desalinate and distribute water. Those health facilities that still function – already critically inadequate in number and capacity for the population – are still being attacked and are suffering from rapidly diminishing stocks of medications and other essential supplies. MSF teams in Gaza have received no supplies for 11 weeks and face critical shortages of essential medical items such as sterile compresses and sterile gloves.
Israel’s evacuation orders and established no-go military zones now cover 70 per cent of Gaza. The population has been forcibly transferred from one place to another, while not a single area of Gaza has been spared from attacks. The desperateness of the situation is such that MSF teams have treated and discharged patients only to see them return with new injuries.
Israel’s plan to instrumentalise aid is a cynical response to the very humanitarian crisis they created. If they wished, Israel and its allies could lift the blockade today and let humanitarian aid reach all those in Gaza whose survival depends on it.
Since the beginning of the century, the number of satellites orbiting Earth has increased more than 800%, from less than 1,000 to more than 9,000. This profusion has had a number of strange and disturbing repercussions. One of them is that companies are selling data from satellite images of parking lots to financial analysts. Analysts then use this information to help gauge a store’s foot traffic, compare a retailer to competitors and estimate its revenue.
This is just one example of the new information, or “alternative data”, that is now available to analysts to help them make their predictions about future stock performance. In the past, analysts would make predictions based on firms’ public financial statements.
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According to our research, the plethora of new sources of data has improved short-term predictions but worsened long-term analysis, which could have profound consequences.
Tweets, twits and credit card data
In a paper on alternative data’s effect on financial forecasting, we counted more than 500 companies that sold alternative data in 2017, a number that ballooned from less than 50 in 1996. Today, the alternative data broker Datarade lists more than 3,000 alternative datasets for sale.
In addition to satellite images, sources of new information include Google, credit card statistics and social media such as X or Stocktwits, a popular X-like platform where investors share ideas about the market. For instance, Stocktwits users share charts showing the evolution of the price of a given stock (e.g. Apple stock) and explanations of why the evolution predicts a price increase or decrease. Users also mention the launch of a new product by a firm and whether it makes them bullish or bearish about the firm’s stock.
Using data from the Institutional Brokers’ Estimate System (I/B/E/S) and regression analyses, we measured the quality of 65 million equity analysts’ forecasts from 1983 to 2017 by comparing analysts’ predictions with the actual earnings per share of companies’ stock.
We found, as others had, that the availability of more data explains why stock analysts have become progressively better at making short-term projections. We went further, however, by asking how this alternative data affected long-term projections. And we found that over the same period that saw a rise in accuracy of short-term projections, there was a drop in validity of long-term forecasts.
More data, but limited attention
Because of its nature, alternative data – information about firms in the moment – is useful mostly for short-term forecasts. Longer-term analysis – from one to five years into the future – is a much more important judgment.
Previous papers have proved the common-sense proposition that analysts have a limited amount of attention. If analysts have a large portfolio of firms to cover, for example, their scattered concentration begins to yield diminishing returns.
We wanted to know whether the increased accuracy of short-term forecasts and declining accuracy of long-term predictions – which we had observed in our analysis of the I/B/E/S data – was due to a concomitant proliferation of alternative sources for financial information.
To investigate this proposition, we analyzed all discussions of stocks on Stocktwits that took place between 2009 and 2017. As might be expected, certain stocks like Apple, Google or Walmart generated much more discussion than those of small companies that aren’t even listed on the Nasdaq.
We conjectured that analysts who followed stocks that were heavily discussed on the platform – and so, who were exposed to a lot of alternative data – would experience a larger decline in the quality of their long-term forecasts than analysts who followed stocks that were little discussed. And after controlling for factors such as firms’ size, years in business and sales growth, that’s exactly what we found.
We inferred that because analysts had easy access to information for short-term analysis, they directed their energy there, which meant they had less attention for long-term forecasting.
The broader consequences of poor long-term forecasting
The consequences of this inundation of alternative data may be profound. When assessing a stock’s value, investors must take into account both short- and long-term forecasts. If the quality of long-term forecasts deteriorates, there is a good chance that stock prices will not accurately reflect a firm’s value.
Moreover, a firm would like to see the value of its decisions reflected in the price of its stock. But if a firm’s long-term decisions are incorrectly taken into account by analysts, it might be less willing to make investments that will only pay off years away.
In the mining industry, for instance, it takes time to build a new mine. It’s going to take maybe nine, 10 years for an investment to start producing cash flows. Companies might be less willing to make such investments if, say, their stocks may be undervalued because market participants have less accurate forecasts of these investments’ impacts on firms’ cash flows – the subject of another paper we are working on.
The example of investment in carbon reduction is even more alarming. That kind of investment also tends to pay off in the long run, when global warming will be an even bigger issue. Firms may have less incentive to make the investment if the worth of that investment is not quickly reflected in their valuation.
Practical applications
The results of our research suggest that it might be wise for financial firms to separate teams that research short-term results and those that make long-term forecasts. This would alleviate the problem of one person or team being flooded with data relevant to short-term forecasting and then also expected to research long-term results. Our findings are also noteworthy for investors looking for bargains: though there are downsides to poor long-term forecasting, it could present an opportunity for those able to identify undervalued firms.
Thierry Foucault a reçu des financements du European Research Council (ERC).
The third reading stage will take place after a debate on Friday May 16 and would test MPs’ commitment to a change they initially supported at second reading in November 2024. In this first vote, the bill passed with 331 votes to 276 (with 35 abstentions), but in subsequent stages, the process has been more controversial. Emotions are running high and pressure groups have been vocal on both sides.
As with many issues of morality, this is a free vote – MPs are not told what to do by their party. And after the second reading in November, MPs could, and did, give a range of reasons for how they voted, including their own experiences of loved ones’ final days, discussions with constituents, the experiences of other countries with assisted suicide – and also their religious views.
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In that first vote, there were clear patterns in voting relating to religious affiliation. MPs with no religion were much more likely to support assisted dying.
In this group, 76% voted for, while just 18% voted against. Christian MPs overall were more likely to oppose the bill, with 57% voting against with the most pronounced opposition coming from Catholics, who were 74% opposed.
Muslim MPs were even more likely to vote against, with 84% of them on the no side. Jewish and Sikh MPs were both roughly twice as likely to support the bill as to oppose it, whereas Hindu MPs were more likely to oppose than support by the same margin. The one Buddhist MP – Suella Braverman – voted against.
Beyond their own demographic, political or religious position, the views of their constituents are also expected to influence how MPs vote. To explore this, I conducted a regression analysis (a statistical method to find a relationship between factors) that included a range of constituency variables, such as the proportion of white residents and the percentage of each religious group (along with those identifying as non-religious).
I also considered the percentage of constituents with no formal qualifications, graduates, and those reporting some form of disability. In the full model, which incorporated all these variables, none of the religious variables were found to be statistically significant, suggesting that localised religious lobbying did not have a measurable effect on MPs’ voting behaviour.
However, an interesting finding is that MPs with a higher proportion of disabled people in their constituency were more likely to vote for assisted dying. It is not clear if this relationship is causal, suggesting they had been lobbied by their constituents to support the bill, or a correlation between disabled people being more likely to live in Labour constituencies.
How MPs voted on assisted dying, November 2024
Characteristic
Overall
Yes
No
Abstain
Total
642
331 (52%)
276 (43%)
35 (5%)
Female
261
143 (55%)
107 (41%)
11 (4.2%)
Ethnic MP
90
30 (33%)
57 (63%)
3 (3.3%)
LGBT
71
49 (69%)
18 (25%)
4 (5.6%)
Elected As
Labour
411
236 (57%)
155 (38%)
20 (4.9%)
Conservative
121
23 (19%)
93 (77%)
5 (4.1%)
Liberal Democrat
72
61 (85%)
11 (15%)
0 (0%)
Scottish National Party
9
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
9 (100%)
Independent
6
0 (0%)
6 (100%)
0 (0%)
Democratic Unionist Party
5
0 (0%)
5 (100%)
0 (0%)
Reform UK
5
3 (60%)
2 (40%)
0 (0%)
Green Party
4
4 (100%)
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
Plaid Cymru
4
3 (75%)
1 (25%)
0 (0%)
Social Democratic & Labour Party
2
1 (50%)
0 (0%)
1 (50%)
Alliance
1
0 (0%)
1 (100%)
0 (0%)
Traditional Unionist Voice
1
0 (0%)
1 (100%)
0 (0%)
Ulster Unionist Party
1
0 (0%)
1 (100%)
0 (0%)
MP Religion
None
234
179 (76%)
43 (18%)
12 (5.1%)
Christian (all)
351
132 (38%)
199 (57%)
20 (5.7%)
Catholic
35
7 (20%)
26 (74%)
2 (5.7%)
Muslim
25
2 (8.0%)
21 (84%)
2 (8.0%)
Jewish
13
8 (62%)
4 (31%)
1 (7.7%)
Sikh
12
8 (67%)
4 (33%)
0 (0%)
Hindu
6
2 (33%)
4 (67%)
0 (0%)
Buddhist
1
0 (0%)
1 (100%)
0 (0%)
Note: the vote tallies differ from that given by the parliament website because I have included tellers for both sides, and correctly assigned MPs who voted in both lobbies as abstentions.
In the first vote, female MPs were slightly more likely to vote for assisted dying than against it. LGBT MPs leaned heavily towards support (with 69% voting in favour of the law change). And minority ethnic MPs leaned heavily in the opposite directions – with 63% voting against.
Perhaps predictably, given the prime minister’s open support for assisted dying, Labour MPs supported the bill, with 57% voting in favour and 38% against.
The Liberal Democrats were overwhelmingly supportive – 85% backed it – whereas 77% of Conservative MPs voted against. All Northern Irish unionist parties – as well as the independent unionist MP – voted against the bill, with no abstentions.
Reform UK MPs were split, with two against and three in favour (albeit one of the three, the now-suspended Rupert Lowe, only after a survey of his own constituents).
But there is an interesting story unfolding on the left of politics. The 2024 general election saw challenges to Labour from both the Green Party and so-called Gaza independents. In this free vote, we see the contrasting social views between these two groups play out.
All Green MPs supported assisted dying, while all Gaza independents – and Jeremy Corbyn – opposed it. This divide echoes Maria Sobolewska and Robert Ford’s framework in Brexitland, which distinguishes between “conviction identity liberals” and “ethnic minority ‘necessity liberals’”.
The latter group aligns with conviction liberals on issues of discrimination due to self-interest, but often diverges on broader socially liberal issues such as assisted dying. Issues like assisted dying lay bare the tensions within this coalition.
Identifying religion in parliament
Religion is a personal matter so there is no official database that records the religious affiliation of MPs. It is therefore often impossible to test how religious views interact with voting behaviour. To address this gap, I built a dataset using a three-step methodology to determine MPs’ religious affiliation.
Among MPs (excluding the Speaker and Sinn Fein MPs, who don’t take their seats), 54.7% (351) are Christian, including 5.5% (35) who are Catholic; 36.4% (234) have no religion; 3.9% (25) are Muslim; 2% (13) are Jewish; 1.9% (12) are Sikh; 0.9% (6) are Hindu; and 0.2% (1) is Buddhist.
To work this out, I look first to see if an MP is a member of a religiously based group, such as Christians in Parliament. They are classified as belonging to that religion. Second, if an MP has publicly stated their religious beliefs – say, in a speech or interview – they are also classified accordingly.
These first two steps, however, cover only a fraction of MPs. Fortunately, all MPs are required to take an oath of allegiance to the Crown when sworn in. This oath can be made on a religious text or as a non-religious affirmation, and crucially MPs can choose which text to swear on, making this decision a meaningful and publicly visible indication of belief.
That brings us to step three: the religious text (or lack thereof) used in the swearing-in ceremony is taken as an additional source of evidence for classification.
These three sources are used in order of priority. For example, Tim Farron is a member of Christians in Parliament and has spoken openly about his faith, yet he chose to affirm without using a religious text. Even so, he is classified as Christian based on the first two criteria.
What has been particularly interesting in this case has been the different voting patterns between Christian groups. I was able to set these groups apart because when MPs swear in, Catholics usually request specific versions of the Bible – such as the New Jerusalem Bible – whereas others might simply ask for “the Bible” and are given the King James Version.
Treating Catholics as a distinct category allows for greater nuance in the analysis of the religious composition of parliament. A full breakdown of the religion of MPs, and the data used for this project, can be found here.
We’ll soon be able to see how these markers interact with voting in the third reading.
David Jeffery 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.
A new study has highlighted the complex emotions and ethical dilemmas of learning your future risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Among 274 healthy research participants from the US aged 65 and over, 40% declined to receive their personal risk estimates – despite having initially expressed an interest in doing so.
These risk estimates were based on demographic data, brain imaging and blood biomarkers, offering an 82 to 84% accuracy in predicting the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease within five years. By comparison, age alone can predict this risk with 79% accuracy.
So the value of these tests is modest in people without any cognitive symptoms, and there are potential risks to disclosing them. People told they are at increased risk of dementia describe how this can feel like an illness in itself – or being in limbo between health and disease – and cause distress.
Participants who did not want to be tested cited the uncertainty of the result, the burden of knowing, and their negative experiences of witnessing Alzheimer’s disease in others. Those with a family history of Alzheimer’s were less likely to want to know their results – perhaps because of greater exposure to these negative experiences.
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Black participants were less likely to want to know, too, which the researchers suggest could relate to greater experiences of stress, stigma and discrimination, making the prospect of a positive test result feel more threatening.
Perhaps the question here is not why more people didn’t want to know the result, but whether researchers should routinely offer them at all, given the lack of certainty of the results and the potential for distress.
Another issue is their limited usefulness for people without symptoms. Addressing lifestyle risk factors, such as eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, can reduce cognitive decline, a message the public is increasingly aware of. But knowing your risk doesn’t change the advice.
In contrast to areas like breast cancer, where people at high risk of the disease can be offered preventative measures, such as drugs, surgery or enhanced screening, there are no comparable interventions to reduce dementia risk in people without symptoms.
The authors of the new study explain that researchers used to be cautious about not sharing test results with participants in Alzheimer’s studies. But now there’s a growing expectation that people will be given their results. A proposed “bill of rights” for dementia research participants includes the right to get their results and have them clearly explained.
It’s hard to explain how uncertain these results can be. People often worry about getting dementia in general, not just Alzheimer’s, which makes up about two-thirds of all cases. Some people who are told they have a low risk of Alzheimer’s may still develop another form of dementia, such as vascular dementia.
The wider science that produced these future risk estimates has enabled the development of new diagnostic technologies unimaginable ten years ago. Similar blood tests can detect Alzheimer’s disease pathology in people with cognitive symptoms with over 90% accuracy, potentially enabling more accurate and timely dementia diagnoses.
Blood tests
Two major UK research programmes are piloting these blood tests in the NHS to support the more accurate diagnoses of some forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Improved and earlier detection is needed: a third of people with dementia in England and Northern Ireland are never diagnosed.
The benefits of the first drugs to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease are modest. In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence hasn’t yet been convinced that these drugs are worth the cost for the NHS.
Some might question a focus on identifying future risks for dementia before we have good treatments. But developing better treatments depends on the new scientific discoveries that are helping us detect Alzheimer’s earlier. Finding a treatment for an illness requires a detailed understanding of how that illness develops.
We are closer to delivering accurate detection of Alzheimer’s disease than curative treatment. This presents a dilemma of how much to know about personal risk. Rights-based approaches situate this dilemma with the participant, to decide whether to know rather than researchers to decide whether to tell.
For researchers, disclosing results compassionately and clearly is difficult and for some, the knowledge will cause distress, however well it is conveyed. The option to receive results should come with warnings.
Claudia Cooper receives funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Dementia and Neurodegeneration Policy Research Unit (NIHR206110) and is supported by an NIHR Senior Investigator award (NIHR205009). The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the NIHR, the NHS or the Department of Health and Social Care. She received funding from ESRC/NIHR for the APPLE-Tree secondary dementia prevention programme from 2019-24 (ES/S010408/1). She works as a Professor of Psychological Medicine at Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Olumayokun Ogunde, PhD Candidate in English, City St George’s, University of London
In Bitter Honey, novelist Lola Akinmade Åkerström explores the emotional undercurrents of motherhood and daughterhood. The novel reflects on how the past bears down on the present. How mothers carry their histories into their daughters’ lives – often uninvited, sometimes unrecognised.
One particular line is emblematic of this exploration: “‘When I was your age, I moved to Sweden without my mother. With nobody.’ Tina has heard this story a million times.” It captures both the weariness of inherited trauma and the fragility of the desire for understanding that threads through the novel.
Bitter Honey begins with the promise of protagonist Tina’s rising stardom. Alone in a dressing room, navigating fame and the sudden reappearance of her absentee father, Tina’s story has all the markings of a Bildungsroman (a coming-of-age novel shaped by psychological and moral growth). But the novel’s emotional nucleus is not fame, nor even fatherhood – it’s Tina’s mother, Nancy. Or at least, it wants to be.
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Nancy’s story is one of deep and curdled regret. Akinmade crafts a portrait of a woman who once stood at the cusp of a glamorous new world, having fallen in love with Malik, an ambassador’s son who offers her access to elite circles, state dinners and the Swedish prime minister. But it is Lars, her white Swedish professor, who slowly unpicks the seams of her life.
The novel promises a sense of romantic tension, inviting the reader to feel torn between Malik’s genuine warmth and Lars’s sophistication. But no such ambivalence materialises.
Lars is not charming. He is jealous, controlling and ultimately predatory. Akinmade’s portrayal of Lars makes it clear: he is not a romantic dilemma, he is a colonising force. Nancy’s life with him is one of slow suffocation, and her daughter Tina is born of that rupture.
Throughout the novel, there are subtle allusions and at times more overt depictions of Tina’s struggle with her mixed heritage. However, these moments feel overwritten, particularly in lines such as Tina’s desire to “fully wear her mixed skin”.
While the phrasing may aim for poetic resonance, for me, it comes across as reductive. The metaphor inadvertently simplifies a complex and embodied experience, raising uneasy questions. Can identity be worn? Is it something that can be adorned, removed or chosen at will?
Akinmade appears to be engaging with the constructedness of race and the illusion of agency within African diasporic identity. But Tina’s exploration of these themes lacks depth. There remains a striking incongruity between how she understands herself and how the world perceives her.
At times her lack of critical self-awareness is jarring. Particularly when set against the more richly developed and emotionally layered portrayal of Nancy.
Love and regret
Where Akinmade excels is in her rendering of Nancy. Her character is more vividly drawn, more emotionally accessible than Tina’s. We see her consumed by grief and fear, mothering from a place of survival rather than nurture.
“She would have resisted him. Even if it meant Tobias and Tina vanishing into thin air, never existing.” This is the agonising truth of Nancy’s lifetime: that her children are reminders of her own loss of agency. Her love is knotted with regret.
There’s an urgent question running through Bitter Honey. What does it mean to parent when your life has been violently derailed by structures beyond your control?
This legacy of cultural dislocation is a theme Akinmade touches on but stops short of fully exploring. Nancy, as an immigrant mother, carries a kind of preemptive grief. Her decisions are shaped not just by personal trauma but by a constant anticipation of harm. The immigrant mother often exists in survival mode, where care is expressed not through softness, but vigilance.
“You figured I have no agency without him?” A line Tina delivers in a moment of confrontation typifies the novel’s uneven dialogue. Akinmade at times stumbles into phrasing that feels stilted or overwrought, reducing what could be moments of real emotional depth into awkward exchanges. Yet her broader ambition, to map generational wounds and diasporic complexity, is clear.
The novel’s scope is wide. We move between Sweden and the United States, from the 70s to 2006, witnessing how each locale produces different shades of diasporic identity.
Akinmade is particularly attuned to how Gambian communities shift across contexts – Gambians in Sweden are not like those in London or in New York. This specificity highlights that place informs not only experience but the perception of self.
Ultimately, Bitter Honey is at its most compelling when it slows down, when it allows Nancy’s grief to speak plainly. One of the novel’s most poignant lines arrives when Nancy warns Tina before she signs with an American label that brands her the “Swedish siren”.
“The world gives you your heart’s desires, then violently rips it away from your hands when you’re most vulnerable. Please stay vigilant.” Here, Akinmade captures the cruel irony of diasporic ambition, the way success can echo colonial exploitation, offering visibility at the cost of safety.
Through Tina, the reader is kept at a remove from the raw reality of Nancy. The moments where we begin to glimpse the true texture of her life, her regret, her protectiveness, her survival, are all too fleeting.
What would their lives look like without this fear? This is the novel’s quiet, unanswered question. Are these maternal guardrails protection or shackles? Bitter Honey doesn’t offer a resolution. But in asking, it reveals the aching legacy that mothers like Nancy pass down: not just trauma, but the impossible task of surviving without softness.
Olumayokun Ogunde 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.