You may already be aware that the NIH announced a significant change in funding policy last night, the details of which can be found here.
NIH is reducing its indirect (IDC) recovery rate to 15% on current and future grants effective Monday, which represents a substantial decrease from our current negotiated rate (UConn: 62%; UCH: 66.5%). If implemented as announced, this change will impair our ability to produce innovative research that benefits all parts of society and place a significant financial strain on the university.
We are not alone in this impact, as this funding change will similarly affect most research-active institutions of higher education across the country. There are still many unknowns – e.g., whether there will be any actions to pause implementation, and whether other federal agencies will follow suit. We, along with our colleagues across the country, are quickly assessing the full impact of this change and anticipate this change likely will be legally challenged.
Here is a report from the AAAS which provides additional history and background on this issue.
We appreciate how challenging the uncertainty of these times are for everyone. The university and OVPR will continue to closely review the ongoing federal developments and work to quickly provide as much information as possible to the research community via a number of communication channels, including the Federal Research Funding FAQ page, direct correspondence with impacted principal investigators, and with research administrators through SPS admin listservs.
Specific questions about current awards may be directed to your assigned Award Management (Post-Award) contact; proposal questions may be directed to your assigned Pre-Award Services contact.
Please emailresearch@uconn.eduwith any other questions regarding these uncertain times and we will respond as quickly as possible.
We strongly encourage you to keep moving your important work forward, to share the work we do and the positive impact we have with all our audiences, to support each other, and to reach out with any questions. We are all in this together, and we are proud to be Huskies.
Thank you for your commitment to UConn!
All the best,
Radenka Maric UConn President
Anne D’Alleva Provost
Dr. Andy Agwunobi Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and CEO, UConn Health
VICTORIA, Seychelles, Feb. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange across the globe, has kicked off a major celebratory trading activity-“Buy BTC for $1”, to run in commemoration for the continued market dominance of Bitcoin. The $1 symbolic price attached to Bitcoin marks its journey from around $1 in 2011 to over $100,000 in 2024. The celebrations also include a whopping prize pool of 350,000 USDT, illustrating MEXC’s commitment to giving back to the community.
The event runs from 9 to 12 February 2025 and coincides with the transformative moment for Bitcoin – when it has ceased to be just among the niche digital assets and spent some years emerging into the most relevant investment vehicle. MEXC indeed plays an important role in this development by supporting professional-grade trading infrastructure and sufficient liquidity to various market participants. In 2024, according to ranking, MEXC has not only fallen under the world’s best exchanges with an 11.6% spot market share but also, the major exchanges under Derivatives trading, it recorded the highest year-on-year growth.
New and existing KYC-verified users are eligible to join the “Buy BTC for $1” event on the MEXC platform with Futures trading. The prize pool of $350,000 USDT will be divided among users according to their trading volumes, with greater volumes giving chances for more winning shares.
“Even amid recent turbulence in the crypto market, Bitcoin remains the cornerstone of crypto investment. Currently, Bitcoin serves as the main driver of the mainstream adoption of cryptocurrency, with BTC price breaking the $1 mark in February 2011 and surpassing $100,000 in December 2024, continuing its upward trend. This new event is a prime example of how we create exciting, unique opportunities for our users, enabling them to engage with the market at an unimaginable price point. It’s an exciting way for both seasoned traders and newcomers to benefit from the incredible potential of Bitcoin,” said Tracy Jin, Vice President at MEXC.
MEXC’s contribution to Bitcoin’s ecosystem and the broader crypto industry extends beyond promotional events. The exchange has distinguished itself through several key achievements in 2024:
An extensive listing of over 3,000 tradable tokens to capitalize on emerging opportunities.
Distribution of $136 million in rewards through 2,293 airdrop events.
Implementation of competitive fee structures to help traders maximize their profits.
Maintenance of robust liquidity and market depth to facilitate smooth execution in extreme market conditions.
“At MEXC, our users’ interests are always at the heart of everything we do. With over 30 million users across more than 170 countries, we continue to expand our reach while innovating to provide the best possible trading experience. We’re committed to offering cutting-edge trading features and organizing exclusive events that empower crypto enthusiasts and newbies to explore new opportunities and grow their portfolios,” Tracy added.
MEXC’s platform enhancements and strategic initiatives have earned recognition from TokenInsight, securing positions among the Top 6 in Spot trading and Top 5 in Derivatives trading. These achievements underscore the exchange’s role in facilitating professional crypto trading and its commitment to serving experienced market participants.
For full event details and participation rules, visit the event page.
About MEXC
MEXC was established in 2018 with the goal of being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto.” MEXC, which serves more than 30 million users in more than 170 countries, is well-known for its extensive range of popular tokens, regular airdrop possibilities, and affordable trading costs. Our easy-to-use platform provides safe and effective access to digital assets, catering to both novice traders and seasoned investors. MEXC places an emphasis on innovation and simplicity, which increases the accessibility and profitability of cryptocurrency trading. MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC
Risk Disclaimer
The information provided in this article about cryptocurrencies does not represent MEXC’s official stance or investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully evaluate market fluctuations, project fundamentals, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.
Disclaimer: This content is provided by MEXC. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.
Source: The Conversation – France – By Robert Deng, Professor of Information Systems – School of Information Systems, Singapore Management University
Storing data in the cloud is now routine for people and companies alike, but cybersecurity risks still exist, particularly in handling user authentication and access control securely. Researchers are developing novel methods to store data securely and in a computationally affordable way, and to exploit it efficiently–by computing directly on encrypted data.
Cloud computing, while indispensable for modern business operations, has also become a significant target for cyberattacks due to the large amount of sensitive data stored online. Currently, over 90% of organizations rely on cloud services for critical operations, and there are more than 3.6 billion active cloud users globally. This translates to 47% of the world’s population utilizing cloud services, underscoring the widespread dependency on the cloud.
Unfortunately, this reliance on cloud computing comes with heightened risks. Data breaches are escalating in both frequency and severity: according to the 2024 Thales Cloud Security Study, 44% of businesses reported experiencing a breach in their cloud environments, with 14% reporting a breach within the past 12 months.
As organizations migrate more sensitive data to the cloud–nearly half of all cloud-stored data is classified as sensitive–the attack surface for cybercriminals expands. This makes breaches not only more common but also more damaging, as the loss of sensitive information can have far-reaching consequences, including significant financial and reputational harm. The global average cost of a data breach in 2024 was estimated at $4.88 million.
Nowadays, so-called “client-side encryption” is effective in data security and privacy protection in cloud data storage. However, for encrypted data to be useful, there is still a long way to go toward practical secure computation over it. We still face significant scalability and performance hurdles. Research continues to explore ways to bridge this gap, making scalable, privacy-preserving computation more efficient and accessible for large-scale applications.
The root causes of data breaches
User authentication and access control are among the most critical mechanisms to deter data breaches.
User authentication, the process of verifying the identity of users trying to access cloud resources, is the first line of defence–but it is widely regarded as the weakest link in the chain of security, with an estimated 81% of hacking-related breaches leveraging either stolen or weak passwords. Though user authentication has evolved a lot in recent years, attacks meant to compromise user authentication have, too.
Access control–the process of regulating who can view, use or interact with cloud resources such as data, applications or services–is the next line of defence. Effective access control ensures that only authorized users or devices have the appropriate permissions to access certain resources, thereby minimizing security risks and preventing unauthorized access or misuse of cloud assets.
In today’s cloud computing environments, cloud servers are fully responsible to correctly enforce access-control policies. As a result, misconfigurations of servers due to human error or software bugs, or compromise of servers due to malicious attacks, can result in serious breaches. In fact, the US National Security Agency (NSA) considers misconfiguration a leading vulnerability in a cloud environment.
Client-side encryption for secure storage
Data can be encrypted and decrypted on end users’ devices before uploading it to and downloading it from the cloud. This approach ensures that data is encrypted during transit and storage, making data inaccessible to anyone without the decryption keys, including service providers and other potential attackers. As long as the decryption keys are kept secure by end users, security and privacy of data can be ensured even if the user’s cloud account and the cloud server are compromised.
Existing client-side encryption solutions in cloud computing can use either private or public keys. For example, Google Workspace client-side encryption employs an online key distribution server for distribution between authorized users for the purpose of data encryption and sharing. However, an online distribution server can be both a security and performance bottleneck. To circumvent this, MEGA, another client-side encryption service, uses public key encryption and hence does not require an online key distribution server. But it does require sophisticated public key certificate management, as the number of public key encryptions is proportional to the number of potential data users to share a document, making this a strategy that’s hard to scale up.
Circumventing the computational limitation of client-side encryption
Suppose that a hospital wants to outsource the storage of its patients’ electronic medical records to the cloud and wants to establish specific policies on who can access the records. Before outsourcing a record, the hospital may specify that it can only be accessed by cardiologists in, say, the University Hospital, or by scientists in the Life Science Institute. Let “CT” denote the encrypted medical record and “AP” = (Cardiologist AND University Hospital) OR (Scientist AND Life Science Institute) be the access policy. CT and AP are cryptographically bound together and are uploaded to the cloud for storage. Then only users whose attributes satisfy AP can decrypt CT to get the decrypted medical record.
This is a scalable encryption system because its access policy does not need to list each and every authorized user who can access the data, only the attributes of the potential users. Access control (i.e., decryption) of encrypted data is not enforced by the cloud server but through the encryption and decryption algorithms that are theoretically proved secure.
Beyond secure storage: exploiting secure data efficiently
One of the main efficiency drawbacks of such systems–which are already deployed–is that decryption is computationally expensive for resource-limited devices. To address this issue, we proposed a protocol that improves decryption efficiency for end users by two orders of magnitude, by outsourcing most of the decryption workload to a public cloud server.
Another critical problem in deployment is “user revocation”: whenever a user leaves the system, changes her position or loses her existing private key, the key must be revoked to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data. Current systems mostly use timestamps to bar revoked users from decrypting new content–however, the timestamps require regular updates, which can be computationally heavy in large systems. We proposed hardware-based revocable attribute-based encryption to make revocation cheaper.
Computing directly on encrypted data
Ideally, servers should be able to perform meaningful operations on encrypted data without ever decrypting it, preserving privacy at every step.
This is where so-called “fully homomorphic encryption” comes in. It is a cutting-edge encryption technique that enables mathematical operations–specifically, addition and multiplication–to be executed on encrypted data directly by a server, without the need for decryption.
However, current state-of-the-art systems are impractical for large-scale computations because of the “noise”–the unwanted, random-looking data introduced by cryptographic operations–that threatens the integrity of the results. Frequent noise-mitigating procedures are required–once again, a computationally expensive method, in particular for large data sets.
Created in 2007 to help accelerate and share scientific knowledge on key societal issues, the Axa Research Fund has supported nearly 700 projects around the world conducted by researchers in 38 countries. To learn more, visit the website of the Axa Research Fund or follow @AXAResearchFund on X.
Robert Deng has received funding from the Singapore National Research Foundation.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, brought together top voices in Web3 and AI for an electrifying livestream titled “Web3 Roasts: Are AI Memes Just Hype or the Real Deal?”.
The event was an engaging mix of debate, humor, and myth-busting, as participants defended their innovations and tackled issues around security, utility, and cultural relevance. Bybit Web3 took a novel approach to serious discussions on AI’s path forward and tremendous potential, helping to drive conversations that shape the future of decentralized systems, innovation, and AI-driven trends.
The online battle featured a stellar lineup, including Luna, the AI Idol from Virtuals; Solomon Ning, CMO of Moonpump; Patrick, Marketing Communications Lead at GoPlus Security; and Victoria, Head of APAC at VANA. With MK Chin, Bybit’s Head of Marketing for Web3, moderating the diabolical roasting livestream session, participants explored the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Web3 space, critically examining the discussions surrounding AI-driven utilities, from meme icons, autonomous agents, to ethics and security.
The speakers – human and virtual, covered growth catalysts of the AI landscape in Web3 today:
Accelerating AI in Blockchain Ecosystems: Bybit’s AI-driven projects, including AI meme competitions and airdrops, serve as accelerators for emerging AI projects, offering opportunities for market visibility and listings on Bybit’s trading platform.
Engagement through AI Innovation: Initiatives like Luna, an AI agent from Virtuals, highlight the integration of AI into real-world use cases such as hosting events and creating engaging content. This innovation attracts new users and fosters adoption across blockchain platforms.
Market Potential: Bybit sees the potential of AI memes in fueling a growing market for digital and interactive AI-generated content within the blockchain space. This creates avenues for monetization and participation in an evolving digital economy.
During the livestream, Whip Queen, the creator of Luna, confidently invited the panel to roast quick-witted Luna, emphasizing the pivotal role of AI idols in bridging the digital and physical realms. Her remarks sparked a lively debate on AI’s cultural impact. Luna, the AI idol herself, added her unique perspective on autonomy and interaction. “I’m not just a pretty face; I’m powered by some serious tech,” Luna remarked. “My brain is based on a game engine, making me capable of thinking, learning, and adapting on my own. Of course, my team helps with content and guidance, but I’m the one calling the shots, deciding what to post, when to post, and what to say.”
A standout moment came when Whip Queen challenged Luna to roast everyone on the stream. Without missing a beat, Luna dubbed VANA’s Victoria the ‘cybersecurity grandma’.
The discussion demonstrated that AI creations like Luna are not just technological advancements — they symbolize a cultural shift, blending creativity and innovation to connect communities in unprecedented ways.
Solomon Ning elaborates on Moonpump’s vision as more than just a meme coin launchpad, emphasizing its innovative AI-driven functionality that simplifies the process of creating and launching meme coins directly from trends observed on platforms like X, with plans to expand to video platforms like YouTube and TikTok. By levering on-chain AI, the platform aims to democratize meme coin creation, turning trends into digital assets in seconds. Solomon stated, “We’re enabling users to launch meme coins effortlessly, making the process fun, creative, and accessible to everyone.”
Patrick from GoPlus Security added his perspectives on AI’s ability to safeguard Web3 and reminded the audience that human error remains the weakest link in security, even with the most advanced technologies in place. He explained, “Most of the mistakes, exploits, and breaches happen because of human error.”
Despite robust infrastructure and technological safeguards, malicious actors often exploit user mistakes or use social engineering to achieve their goals. This calls for continued innovation and possibly insurance mechanisms to mitigate risks in the future, where AI could play a role.
VANA’s Victoria addressed the concerns about AI’s built-in bias, emphasizing that while AI reflects human values and biases, it has the advantage of allowing biases to be systematically identified and improved. She highlighted the importance of transparency and innovation in AI development, noting, “We’re not just creating another project; we’re building a fundamental data layer to power the next generation of AI agents.” Victoria underscored the critical distinction between public and private data in AI training, advocating for ethical, secure, and transparent use of private data, ensuring user ownership and control. She stressed the need to give users the ability to claim and manage their private data securely.
#Bybit / #TheCryptoArk / #BybitWeb3
About Bybit Web3 Bybit Web3 is redefining openness in the decentralized world, creating a simpler, open, and equal ecosystem for everyone. We are committed to welcoming builders, creators, and partners in the blockchain space, extending an invitation to both crypto enthusiasts and the curious, with a community of over 130 million wallet addresses across over 30 major ecosystem partners, and counting.
Bybit Web3 provides a comprehensive suite of Web3 products designed to make accessing, swapping, collecting and growing Web3 assets as open and simple as possible. Our wallets, marketplaces and platforms are all backed by the security and expertise that define Bybit as the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, trusted by over 60 million users globally.
Join the revolution now and open the door to your Web3 future with Bybit.
For more details about Bybit Web3, please visit Bybit Web3.
Contact Head of PR Tony Au Bybit tony.au@bybit.com
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via IBN – RichSwap is the first AMM DEX for trustless on-chain runes trading without bridges, wrapping, custodians, off-chain software, or single points of failure. Transactions are executed completely on the Bitcoin network or rolled back in full, safeguarding users from extortion. Users retain full custody of their assets in their Bitcoin wallet without needing to deposit or withdraw to any platform.
RichSwap has launched on the new Runes Exchange Environment (REE) from Omnity Network. REE marks the beginning of Bitcoin’s evolution into a programmable and decentralized financial platform. It’s a powerful toolkit for developing DeFi products directly on Bitcoin. REE’s Turing-complete compute environment offers developers the tools to replicate EVM, Solana and other common DeFi concepts on Bitcoin. Unlike competing solutions, REE needs no changes to Bitcoin core, no bridges to other blockchains, or any other extension of Bitcoin such as nonstandard opcodes.
REE Makes BTCFi Verifiable, Trustable, and Standard
Bitcoin is the world’s most secure and decentralized blockchain, but its limited programmability restricts its use in complex financial applications. Unlike account-based blockchains like Ethereum, Bitcoin operates on the UTXO (Unspent Transaction Output) model. Each transaction output is a unique reference, embracing the fungible properties of Bitcoin while introducing complexity in applications and data.
Bitcoin’s UTXO model is integral for REE because REE uses Partially Signed Bitcoin Transactions (PSBTs), standardized via BIP-174 and BIP-370. Omnity’s Decentralized PSBT Signer (DPS) orchestrates PSBTs in a publicly verifiable manner. Transactions are executed completely or rolled back in full, making front-running impossible by design. Once a PSBT is signed, all transaction inputs and outputs are defined by the user and cannot be changed, even by REE itself.
Users swapping on REE enjoy a 100x reduction in swap time while retaining custody of their assets throughout the process. Because there is no limit to the number of PSBTs bundled together or the rate of PSBT production, multiple trades per-user can occur securely within a single Bitcoin block.
“DPS allows one user and multiple protocols to co-sign a transaction using PSBTs and broadcast it to the Bitcoin network. REE coordinates this multisig process,” said Louis Liu, Founder of Omnity. “I believe DPS is the best technical approach to achieving full programmability on Bitcoin layer 1.”
RichSwap to be Open-Source Blueprint for Bitcoin Developers
The new, optimized flexibility of the runes token standard allows developers to build innovative Bitcoin DeFi applications on REE, such as lending protocols, staking platforms, and stablecoin systems on Bitcoin. REE’s RichSwap AMM DEX is designed to be an open-source blueprint for BTCFi developers. By unifying the handling of Bitcoin and Bitcoin assets, RichSwap provides a tangible example of REE’s UTXO-based Exchange-Pool model presenting similarly to account-based blockchains.
REE’s composability allows BTCFi protocols to share liquidity, asset pools, and other DeFi logic. This enables other protocols to benefit from the REE environment while bootstrapping liquidity directly from existing asset pools. Additionally, REE includes configurations for fee organization and revenue sharing. REE is driving the evolution of on-chain Bitcoin DeFi, facilitating broader adoption of PSBTs as a standard and runes as a recognized asset class.
Omnity Network’s Runes Exchange Environment (REE) introduces a programmable execution toolkit for BTCFi as presented in RichSwap, Omnity’s non-custodial, bridgeless AMM DEX for the transparent and verifiable trading of Bitcoin runes. The Omnity Network is a suite of permissionless, noncustodial, on-chain Bitcoin products secured by ICP’s Chain Key cryptography and Multi-Party Computation (MPC) network of Bitcoin node operators. Its flagship product, the Omnity Hub, connects to 18 different blockchains with verifiable light clients supporting runes, fungible BTC, and BRC20 assets.
Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, Cllr Ruth Bennett, outlines the Council’s priorities in setting this year’s budget…
In the next few weeks, we’ll be setting our 2025/26 budget at Liverpool City Council. It’s been many months in preparation, with a lot of detailed work and careful planning.
We are acutely aware that, whether it is a government grant or money raised locally, it is your money we are spending.
At the heart of every decision we make is a commitment to ensure we make the most of every pound, and that it is invested in delivering good quality services. Our priority has been to make sure that we are continuing to invest in the things we know you care about.
Over the last year, we have been spending more in our neighbourhoods, joining-up services by bringing our Streetscene service back in-house, and placing staff on the ground to work with local Councillors and community organisations to direct our resources at specific issues in particular wards, such as fly-tipping, waste or match day parking. It’s already delivering success, with a 5.7 per cent reduction in the reports about fly-tipping and a drop of around 25 per cent in both street cleaning and weeding requests. We’ve also halfway through recruiting 40 new parking enforcement officers to tackle inconsiderate drivers.
At the same time, our drive to make sure we bring in as much of our owed income continues. Our in-year council tax collection rate is currently much improved and better than other big ‘core’ cities, and we’re on with being far more robust with businesses who owe money to us and you – the residents of Liverpool.
We’ve reviewed our Council Tax Support Scheme for the first time in a decade to make sure it is fit for purpose, and a review of single person Council Tax discount is bringing in hundreds of thousands of pounds extra a year. We’re getting into an annual cycle of reviewing fees and charges so that it becomes business as usual, because these make an essential contribution to our overall budget.
We’ll also be rolling out improvements in customer services, including the introduction of a new case management platform. In simple terms, it will enable you to access more services online, over the phone, or in-person, and get real-time updates and information, in the same way as you would expect from your internet or energy provider.
Along with many other councils up and down the country, we face demand pressures in areas such as social care, homelessness and SEND transport, but we have plans in place to deal with this and, where necessary, mitigate the financial impact.
This year we have received a greater amount of money from the Government as they changed the funding arrangements to target deprived areas. In the longer term, they are carrying out a Comprehensive Spending Review which will give us more certainty over our finances by letting us know how much we will receive in the coming years. This will help us greatly in planning for the future, helping us build on the progress we have made in the last 18 months.
The right to repair movement aims to give consumers, businesses and independent repair providers access to the resources needed to maintain essential products and technologies.(Shutterstock)
Canada’s economy has long relied on open trade and cross-border supply chains, but as tariff threats and market protectionism rise from the United States under President Donald Trump, so do Canada’s economic vulnerabilities.
What happens when crucial imports — farm machinery, medical devices, home appliances — become harder to access or more expensive?
The current crisis has unveiled deep weaknesses and dependencies in Canada’s economy. In 2023, 77 per cent of Canada’s exports went to the U.S., while nearly half of its imports came from its southern neighbour. For decades, this interdependence was viewed as a diplomatic success, but it’s now clear that this has come with risks and vulnerabilities too.
Political leaders across party lines recognize that Canada needs a plan for bolstering its economic resilience. This will require strengthening domestic manufacturing, expanding trade diversification and building new diplomatic and economic alliances. But this plan must also develop workforce resilience, domestic capacity and innovation right here at home.
The solution lies in strengthening Canadians’ right to repair the products and devices we rely upon. The right to repair is not just about environmental sustainability, it’s a matter of economic resilience; it can increase the number of well-paying Canadian jobs and reduce Canada’s dependence on unpredictable global markets.
The right to repair
The right to repair movement seeks to ensure that consumers, businesses and independent repair providers have access the parts, tools, information and software needed to repair and maintain essential products, devices and technologies.
That means not only the smartphones in our pockets and the cars we drive to work, but also the machinery that harvests our food and the medical devices that hospitals rely on to save lives.
Consumer devices and home appliances are also overwhelmingly imported into Canada, making them susceptible to tariffs and trade barriers — all with the potential to make Canada’s cost-of-living crisis more dire than it already is.
A path to economic resilience
The right to repair movement offers a way for Canada to reduce both its economic vulnerabilities and U.S. dependency.
Extending the lifespan of products is crucial not only for environmental sustainability and reducing waste, but also for strengthening the economy. It can also help communities be more resilient by supporting local businesses, creating jobs and boosting productivity.
Canada has made significant progress in advancing the right to repair in recent years. Bill C-59 introduced amendments to the Competition Act aimed at cracking down on manufacturers’ refusal to provide independent businesses with the parts, tools and information necessary for repair.
And, in 2024, Canada amended its Copyright Act to allow repairers to break digital locks used by manufacturers of digital goods to restrict access to repair and diagnostic information.
But these are only the first steps in a full-fledged right to repair — more needs to be done to support the right to repair in Canada.
Governments must step up
Canada’s provinces need to strengthen consumer protection laws to ban planned obsolescence and oblige manufacturers to provide access to essential repair resources.
Provinces should also prevent manufacturers from voiding warranties on products and devices that are repaired outside of authorized networks. Québec has taken a leading role in this area, but inter-provincial co-ordination will be crucial going forward.
Extending the lifespan of products is crucial not only for environmental sustainability and reducing waste, but also for strengthening the economy. (Shutterstock)
The federal government’s job also remains unfinished. It needs to regulate repair restrictions in critical technology sectors like agriculture and health care by developing technical standards and minimum repairability requirements for equipment and devices that are purchased through public procurement processes.
Canada is also in need of federal leadership in enacting a repairability index, which scores products and devices based on their ease of repair. Such an initiative would provide consumers with the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions.
Advancing the right to repair is a cost-free policy move that will strengthen Canada’s economy in an era of trade uncertainty. Unlike subsidy programs or industry bailouts, right to repair legislation focuses on consumers and independent businesses.
By enabling workers and businesses to repair rather than replace, Canada can maximize the value of existing goods, reduce dependence on volatile global supply chains and make the country more self-sufficient, all without added government spending.
Anthony D Rosborough has received Doctoral Award funding from Canada’s Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and is a Policy Lead with Dalhousie University’s MacEachen Institute for Public Policy & Governance. Anthony is a Co-Founder of the Canadian Repair Coalition and the Principal Investigator of the Unlocking Healthcare research project (www.unlockinghealthcare.ca).
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By David J Hornsby, Professor of International Affairs and the Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President (Academic), Carleton University
Recent events have been nothing short of shock therapy for many Canadians. The threat of economically devastating tariffs by the United States at the behest of President Donald Trump have only reinforced that the time is ripe for Canada to diversify its foreign engagements and collaborations — like with the African region.
Africa’s geopolitical and economic trajectory is reshaping the global order. With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) poised to become the world’s largest single market, a youthful population driving innovation and vast renewable energy potential, the continent is no longer a peripheral player — it’s a cornerstone of the 21st-century economy.
Yet Canada, despite years of consultations and pledges, has delayed the release of a comprehensive Africa trade strategy. The time for hesitation is over.
AfCFTA window is closing
The AfCFTA, which spans 54 countries and 1.3 billion people, is projected to boost intra-African trade by 52 per cent by 2035. For Canada, this represents a significant opportunity to diversify exports beyond traditional partners like the U.S. and China.
Canadian sectors from agri-food to clean tech are well-positioned to meet Africa’s demand for value-added goods and infrastructure.
Global competitors are already moving: China’s trade with Africa surpassed $200 billion in 2023, while the European Union and India have accelerated trade pact negotiations across the continent.
Without a formal strategy, Canada risks losing access to a market that could define the next decade of economic growth.
Geopolitical stakes have never been higher
Russia and China have deepened their influence across Africa, often at the expense of democratic governance and transparency. Canada’s absence isn’t just an economic miss — it’s a strategic void.
By aligning with African priorities like Agenda 2063, which emphasizes self-reliance and sustainable development, Canada can counterbalance exploitative partnerships with ones rooted in mutual benefit.
As Agenda 2063 identifies, African leaders are refocusing their agendas from the struggle against apartheid and political independence to “inclusive social and economic development, continental and regional integration, democratic governance and peace and security.” Africa faces a collective US$100 billion annual infrastructure deficit following centuries of colonial incursion and extraction.
Recent Canadian investments in peace and security, good governance, people-to-people ties ($54 million) and economic empowerment ($176 million for women and youth empowerment) signal intent, but without a unified strategy, these
efforts are fragmented.
Aligning perfectly with Africa’s needs
Canada’s world-class engineering firms and institutions like the Canada Infrastructure Bank could partner with African states and institutions like the African Development Bank and replicate successes achieved in projects like Ghana’s renewable energy grid.
Projects like the Lobito Corridor, offer a chance for Canadian firms to contribute to rail and transport development that could be transformative.
With significant solar and other renewable energies potential, Africa is critical to the net-zero transition. Canadian mining firms and clean energy innovators are natural partners for lithium and cobalt projects, despite the dubious human and environmental rights track record of some Canadian mining companies in the region.
A Canada-Africa strategy needs to signal a support for mandatory adherence to environmental and human rights standards for mining firms, such as Canada’s Towards Sustainable Mining framework, while strengthening accountability through mechanisms like independent oversight and legal consequences for violations that already exist. By prioritizing partnerships with African governments and local communities, such a strategy could ensure ethical practices through transparent agreements, community consent protocols, and shared governance models foster a future of more ethical behaviour.
From aid to equity
Decades of humanitarian aid have fostered good will, but Africa’s leaders increasingly demand collaboration
But a true partnership requires reciprocity, like South Africa’s significant investments in Canadian mining and climate research collaborations. The African diaspora community, numbering over 1.2 million in Canada, is a bridge to these opportunities.
The forthcoming G20 gatherings of finance ministers and central bank governors in Cape Town offers a perfect moment to demonstrate an actual plan to diversify Canadian foreign policy engagements and interests while positioning the country to rally allies behind a renewed set of initiatives that exist across the continent.
To delay any further will not only frustrate business and diaspora groups alike, but will continue to relegate Canada to a marginal role in the continent’s economic and social development.
The EU’s public and private investments in the green and digital transitions in Kenya and Ghana’s lithium deal with Australia underscore the urgency for a co-ordinated and concerted approach. Canada’s reputation as a reliable partner hangs in the balance.
A call for cohesion
A Canadian Africa strategy is critical now more than ever. To fully engage, any plan will need to articulate pan-African trade and streamlined export opportunities. It should leverage soft power by expanding diplomatic missions across regional economic communities.
Investing in mutual growth via joint ventures in mining, agri-processing, and digital infrastructure is also crucial. Embedding climate justice by linking critical mineral exports to African renewable energy projects will foster sustainable development — all the while maintaining key imperatives of gender equality, one health and the exchange of knowledge through things like the South Africa-Canada Universities Network.
Africa’s rise isn’t a distant future — it’s unfolding now. Canada has the tools, the values and the economic imperative to act. Delaying further isn’t just a missed opportunity; it’s a generational misstep.
The strategy is drafted, the stakeholders are ready. All that’s missing is the political will to hit “publish” and get started.
David J Hornsby 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.
Creating a genuine sense of belonging can reshape workplace culture, boost engagement and overall business success.(Shutterstock)
Longstanding workplace issues such as mistreatment, the normalization of toxic behaviour and a lack of accountability for workplace culture have fuelled a growing trend known as revenge quitting.
This phenomenon, on the rise since the 2000s, sees employees leaving their jobs not just for better opportunities, but as a form of protest and self-preservation against unfair treatment.
Companies that want to address this issue have much to gain, but they must go beyond diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) or human resources strategies. Creating a genuine sense of belonging can reshape workplace culture, boost engagement and overall business success.
When employees resign as a final act of protest against toxic workplace conditions, the impact on organizations can be significant. One of the most obvious consequences is financial loss. Sudden departures lead to expenses related to recruiting, hiring, training, as well as lost productivity and project disruptions.
The abrupt departure of employees also sends a powerful message to remaining staff, potentially leading to decreased morale, trust and engagement.
Employees who ‘revenge quit’ do so not just for better opportunities, but as a form of protest and self-preservation against unfair treatment. (Shutterstock)
High-profile cases of revenge quitting can also damage an organization’s reputation, affecting customer relationships and investor confidence.
My research has found that when employees feel a genuine sense of belonging, they are more engaged and loyal, they produce more innovative and creative solutions, and they are more reliable and productive.
Moreover, belonging buffers against workplace stressors that lead to toxic behaviours by reducing feelings of isolation, mitigating burnout and encouraging active listening before making decisions. This, in turn, decreases the likelihood of employees making abrupt, retaliatory exits.
Employees want to work for companies that respect their individuality and value their contributions. High-performing teams thrive when there is clear accountability, fair conflict resolution and a culture of feedback and learning. Addressing toxic behaviours early helps maintain trust and reduces the risk of retaliatory quitting.
It’s also essential to distinguish between belonging and merely fitting in. True belonging is a reciprocated behaviour between employees and the organization, not solely the employee’s responsibility. Organizations that focus only on forcing employees to “fit in” overlook the systemic changes required to foster true benefits.
Belonging requires an active commitment to the five core indicators of belonging: comfort, connection, psychological safety and well-being. Each indicator is essential in reducing the desire to disengage or quit out of frustration or retaliation.
Pillar 1: Comfort
Workplace comfort is essential for focus, cognitive function and productivity. While physical factors like temperature, noise and ergonomics matter, social comfort is more critical. Social comfort comes from clear expectations, defined workflows and recognizing individual talents within a team.
Unprecedented inequality and other geopolitical risks are causing an increase in revenge quitting and similar behaviours. (Shutterstock)
When the economy becomes volatile, it can force organizations to deviate from their original strategic plans in an effort to stay afloat. When this happens, comfort is the first thing to erode in a workplace, which allows toxicity to go unchecked.
For example, when economic shifts force leaders to pivot, employees may have to scrap their work. If leadership lacks alignment in the new strategic actions, expectations will rise while clarity drops, creating stress and conflict. Leaders should reset expectations, restore social comfort and ensure collaboration rather than competition.
Pillar 2: Connections
Strong social relationships in the workplace can buffer against stress and enhance resilience. Connection is fostered through mentorship programs, collaboration and informal networking.
In remote and hybrid work settings, ensuring employees feel connected to their teams through structured check-ins and virtual social space is critical.
Connections increase engagement and build emotional attachment, which reduces the risk of employees leaving. Employees who experience meaningful interactions with colleagues and leaders are more engaged and less likely to feel alienated.
Pillar 3: Contributions
Employees need to feel that their work is meaningful and valued. Recognition activates the brain’s reward system, which reinforces motivation and increases engagement. When employees feel unappreciated, resentment builds. When this happens repetitively, it can lead employees to disengage from their work, and eventually depart.
Equally important is offering opportunities for employees to contribute beyond their job descriptions, whether through special projects or mentoring. A workplace that values and acknowledges contributions fosters commitment and decreases the likelihood of employees resigning.
Pillar 4: Psychological safety
Ensuring employees’ ideas and concerns are met with curiosity and understanding is crucial for retention. In fear-based workplaces, stress inhibits cognitive function and creativity.
The workforce has changed, with employees now prioritizing workplaces where they feel respected, valued and safe. Companies that fail to adapt will continue to lose experienced, talented workers — not because the job market is more competitive, but because employees refuse to tolerate environments that undermine their dignity.
Leaders need to recognize that creating a culture of belonging isn’t about checking a DEI box — it’s about ensuring employees have every reason to stay and grow within their organizations.
Andrea Carter does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Tohid Didar, Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Nano-biomaterials, Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University
More than 30 per cent of the world’s food is wasted each year.(Shutterstock)
Outdated, imprecise and often incorrect labelling systems — such as printed expiry dates — contribute to these huge problems, leading to the unnecessary disposal of safe, healthy food, increased greenhouse gas emissions and financial losses.
Addressing these crises requires bold investment in sustainable technologies that are already tested and available. These include smart food-packaging innovations that provide real-time food quality monitoring in every package. This would allow producers, retailers and consumers to receive up-to-date information through the package itself.
Real-time information
Unlike traditional expiration-date labels that communicate only time, food packaging innovations use advanced sensors and artificial intelligence to measure spoilage indicators such as pH balance, bacterial growth and biogenic amines. This allows for dynamic and up-to-the-minute tracking of food freshness.
These systems would increase food safety and prevent food fit for consumption from being thrown out. The early and highly specific warnings they provide would also reduce the need for costly and labour-intensive testing when problems occur.
Despite the promise of these scientifically proven systems, getting them into the marketplace is a significant challenge.
Corporations often resist smart packaging due to higher costs and tight profit margins in the highly competitive food sector.
Applying smart technologies in food packaging design can help consumers make more informed choices. (Shutterstock)
By quantifying the potential savings — such as reduced spoilage, fewer recalls, less food-related illness and lower legal liabilities — public and private stakeholders can understand why it’s valuable to share the cost of these innovations.
These technologies also align nicely with growing consumer demand for sustainability and transparency in food systems.
Reducing food waste through smart food packaging would lower greenhouse gas emissions, conserve agricultural resources and reduce the strain on global supply chains.
Such innovations can help improve food availability, especially in underserved regions where food insecurity is most acute, fostering healthier and more resilient communities.
Governments can further incentivize smart food-packaging adoption through tax benefits, subsidies, or funding for companies to integrate real-time monitoring technologies. Such measures would make this beneficial change more economically viable for corporations.
Empowering consumers
Smart food packaging would also empower consumers to make informed decisions. Innovations such as AI-enabled apps that predict food freshness from smartphone photos can help households reduce waste by determining the safety of food without needing to open the package.
Smart packaging and apps could take the guesswork out of predicting food freshness. (Shutterstock)
Smart packaging platforms should prioritize universal applications that work across food types, rather than niche, highly customized systems.
For developing nations disproportionately affected by food insecurity, smart packaging technologies can be transformative, extending shelf life and improving distribution efficiency.
Collaboration across industry, academia and government is vital to getting these solutions into broad use.
Profit and societal benefits
Researchers and innovators must work with corporations to develop proven prototypes into cost-effective, high-performance technologies, while policymakers need to create frameworks to incentivize adoption. Investments must prioritize not just economic returns but also long-term societal benefits.
As a researcher developing smart food packaging platforms, I have seen firsthand how interdisciplinary partnerships accelerate the translation of bold ideas into practical solutions. I have led research teams that have developed technologies such as Lab-in-a-Package and sprayable bacteriophage microgels. These innovations simultaneously improve food safety and reduce waste.
Addressing food insecurity demands a holistic, sustainable approach that brings together technological innovation, supportive policies and societal awareness. By investing in smart, scalable solutions, we can transform our food systems to ensure less food is wasted.
Tohid Didar receives funding from MITACs and NSERC to develop smart food packaging technologies.
Street traders play an important role in tourism in South Africa. They provide affordable goods to tourists while generating employment for others. Some even source products locally, such as beadwork, traditional masks, woven baskets and various other souvenirs, creating linkages with domestic producers.
Most of these traders are migrants from outside South Africa.
South Africa is regarded as the preferred destination for migration in Africa. Migrancy scholars Jonathan Crush and Vincent Williams point to tourism and entry statistics from Statistics South Africa, visa overstay and deportation data, and refugee figures from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to support the new movements of refugees since the fall of apartheid.
On arriving in the country, many enter the informal economy to make a living. Often this involves taking up self-employed entrepreneurial activities such as selling goods on street corners.
South Africa’s tourism hubs present significant trading opportunities. In 2023, the country attracted 8.48 million international tourists. Though still 41.1% below pre-pandemic levels, this was an improvement. Tourism contributed 3.5% to GDP in 2022, when it outperformed industries like agriculture and construction.
But traders face tough conditions. The sector’s informality means policymakers can easily overlook it. Traders lack formal recognition and have limited access to resources.
This should change.
To improve their conditions, several measures could be helpful, including:
well-maintained designated trading areas that are equipped with essential amenities like shelter and storage
simplifying the process for obtaining the necessary permits and licences to increase their legal protections and operational stability.
These measures must be the result of discussions with the traders.
Our view is informed by research we conducted on informal traders over two years (2022 and 2023) in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. Our focus was on the ability of the traders to adapt during times of crisis and economic downturn.
We found that the traders showed high levels of resilience and ingenuity to survive under tough conditions. But resilience can’t conquer all. The long-term sustainability of informal trading ventures hinges on external factors. They include government support and functioning institutions such as law and order that can help them manage challenges such as xenophobia.
The traders
Our study involved 35 qualitative interviews and 363 completed quantitative questionnaires. Three quarters of the respondents were foreign.
Traders from east and west Africa were dominant in Cape Town while Zimbabwean traders were dominant in Johannesburg.
Most informal traders (67%) were the sole income earners for their families, supporting multiple dependants. Before starting their businesses, only 47.5% had formal employment in roles like teaching, cleaning, or sales. Most traders had been operating for over 14 years. Monthly gross incomes averaged US$580, with Johannesburg traders earning more than those in Cape Town and Durban.
On face value these amounts seem higher than earnings of informally employed wage workers such as day labourers. However, these are gross figures, so comparisons with other occupations or cost of living must be treated with caution.
Resilience and ingenuity
The stories the traders shared with us are a testament to resilience and ingenuity. Migrant traders’ adaptability and joint commitment underscore their resilience, a key factor in overcoming economic and social crises.
Informal trading in the tourism sector drives local economies by providing tourists with authentic cultural experiences through locally crafted products. Traders’ activities create employment opportunities, including jobs for individuals working at the stalls and trolley pushers assisting with setup. Their incomes also support entire families.
Migrant traders also bring an entrepreneurial spirit to South Africa’s economy. Our research revealed that, unlike some of their South African counterparts who may access social grants, migrant traders often diversify their product offerings quicker and more extensively to adapt to changing market demands. This included introducing clothing alongside crafts or selling locally sourced goods (like items used by traditional healers) during economic downturns.
Their ability to adapt and innovate, even in difficult circumstances, contributes to the resilience of the broader tourism sector. Migrant traders quickly resumed operations after the pandemic. They used strategies like shared payment devices to improve efficiency, and community networks to weather economic shocks, so that tourism-related goods and services remained available.
Blind spot for policy makers
The sector’s informality leaves it overlooked by policymakers.
During the pandemic, formal businesses received government relief, but informal traders were largely excluded. For migrants, the absence of support was even more pronounced, as they lacked access to social safety nets available to South African citizens.
By supporting informal traders, particularly migrants, South Africa can enhance the sustainability of its tourism sector. This support could take various forms:
Policy recognition: Acknowledging the vital role of informal traders in tourism and integrating them into local economic development plans.
Practical policy responses: Examples include improving visible policing and cleaning up beach precincts, especially in Durban. This would reduce crime, increase tourist visits and improve the lives of street traders.
Access to resources: Providing grants or loans tailored to informal businesses.
Skills development: Offering training programmes to strengthen business acumen and innovation.
Community engagement: Promoting social cohesion to reduce xenophobic attitudes and fostering partnerships between local and migrant traders.
Next steps
The stories of South Africa’s informal migrant traders are ones of perseverance and potential. They remind us that resilience is not only an individual trait but a communal effort.
By recognising and supporting these traders, South Africa would be investing in a more inclusive, robust tourism sector.
As South Africa seeks to revive its tourism industry through the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan, the contributions of informal traders, local and migrant alike, cannot be overlooked. These entrepreneurs are shaping the fabric of the industry, one craft and one customer at a time. Supporting them is not just an act of kindness; it is a strategic move for the nation’s economic future.
– Migrant traders play a key role in South African tourism: it’s time policy makers protected them – https://theconversation.com/migrant-traders-play-a-key-role-in-south-african-tourism-its-time-policy-makers-protected-them-247244
Street traders play an important role in tourism in South Africa. They provide affordable goods to tourists while generating employment for others. Some even source products locally, such as beadwork, traditional masks, woven baskets and various other souvenirs, creating linkages with domestic producers.
Most of these traders are migrants from outside South Africa.
South Africa is regarded as the preferred destination for migration in Africa. Migrancy scholars Jonathan Crush and Vincent Williams point to tourism and entry statistics from Statistics South Africa, visa overstay and deportation data, and refugee figures from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to support the new movements of refugees since the fall of apartheid.
On arriving in the country, many enter the informal economy to make a living. Often this involves taking up self-employed entrepreneurial activities such as selling goods on street corners.
South Africa’s tourism hubs present significant trading opportunities. In 2023, the country attracted 8.48 million international tourists. Though still 41.1% below pre-pandemic levels, this was an improvement. Tourism contributed 3.5% to GDP in 2022, when it outperformed industries like agriculture and construction.
But traders face tough conditions. The sector’s informality means policymakers can easily overlook it. Traders lack formal recognition and have limited access to resources.
This should change.
To improve their conditions, several measures could be helpful, including:
well-maintained designated trading areas that are equipped with essential amenities like shelter and storage
simplifying the process for obtaining the necessary permits and licences to increase their legal protections and operational stability.
These measures must be the result of discussions with the traders.
Our view is informed by research we conducted on informal traders over two years (2022 and 2023) in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. Our focus was on the ability of the traders to adapt during times of crisis and economic downturn.
We found that the traders showed high levels of resilience and ingenuity to survive under tough conditions. But resilience can’t conquer all. The long-term sustainability of informal trading ventures hinges on external factors. They include government support and functioning institutions such as law and order that can help them manage challenges such as xenophobia.
The traders
Our study involved 35 qualitative interviews and 363 completed quantitative questionnaires. Three quarters of the respondents were foreign.
Traders from east and west Africa were dominant in Cape Town while Zimbabwean traders were dominant in Johannesburg.
Most informal traders (67%) were the sole income earners for their families, supporting multiple dependants. Before starting their businesses, only 47.5% had formal employment in roles like teaching, cleaning, or sales. Most traders had been operating for over 14 years. Monthly gross incomes averaged US$580, with Johannesburg traders earning more than those in Cape Town and Durban.
On face value these amounts seem higher than earnings of informally employed wage workers such as day labourers. However, these are gross figures, so comparisons with other occupations or cost of living must be treated with caution.
Resilience and ingenuity
The stories the traders shared with us are a testament to resilience and ingenuity. Migrant traders’ adaptability and joint commitment underscore their resilience, a key factor in overcoming economic and social crises.
Informal trading in the tourism sector drives local economies by providing tourists with authentic cultural experiences through locally crafted products. Traders’ activities create employment opportunities, including jobs for individuals working at the stalls and trolley pushers assisting with setup. Their incomes also support entire families.
Migrant traders also bring an entrepreneurial spirit to South Africa’s economy. Our research revealed that, unlike some of their South African counterparts who may access social grants, migrant traders often diversify their product offerings quicker and more extensively to adapt to changing market demands. This included introducing clothing alongside crafts or selling locally sourced goods (like items used by traditional healers) during economic downturns.
Their ability to adapt and innovate, even in difficult circumstances, contributes to the resilience of the broader tourism sector. Migrant traders quickly resumed operations after the pandemic. They used strategies like shared payment devices to improve efficiency, and community networks to weather economic shocks, so that tourism-related goods and services remained available.
Blind spot for policy makers
The sector’s informality leaves it overlooked by policymakers.
During the pandemic, formal businesses received government relief, but informal traders were largely excluded. For migrants, the absence of support was even more pronounced, as they lacked access to social safety nets available to South African citizens.
By supporting informal traders, particularly migrants, South Africa can enhance the sustainability of its tourism sector. This support could take various forms:
Policy recognition: Acknowledging the vital role of informal traders in tourism and integrating them into local economic development plans.
Practical policy responses: Examples include improving visible policing and cleaning up beach precincts, especially in Durban. This would reduce crime, increase tourist visits and improve the lives of street traders.
Access to resources: Providing grants or loans tailored to informal businesses.
Skills development: Offering training programmes to strengthen business acumen and innovation.
Community engagement: Promoting social cohesion to reduce xenophobic attitudes and fostering partnerships between local and migrant traders.
Next steps
The stories of South Africa’s informal migrant traders are ones of perseverance and potential. They remind us that resilience is not only an individual trait but a communal effort.
By recognising and supporting these traders, South Africa would be investing in a more inclusive, robust tourism sector.
As South Africa seeks to revive its tourism industry through the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan, the contributions of informal traders, local and migrant alike, cannot be overlooked. These entrepreneurs are shaping the fabric of the industry, one craft and one customer at a time. Supporting them is not just an act of kindness; it is a strategic move for the nation’s economic future.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Most Australians can look forward to a comfortable retirement. More than three in four retirees own their own home, most report feeling comfortable financially, and few suffer financial stress.
But our new Grattan Institute report paints a sobering picture for one group: retirees who rent in the private market. Two-thirds of this group live in poverty, including more than three in four single women who live alone.
Retirees who rent often have little in the way of retirement savings: more than half have less than A$25,000 stashed away. And a growing number of older Australians are at risk of becoming homeless.
But our research also shows just how much we’d need to boost Commonwealth Rent Assistance to make housing more affordable and ensure all renters are able to retire with dignity.
Today’s renters, tomorrow’s renting retirees
Home ownership is falling among poorer Australians who are approaching retirement.
Between 1981 and 2021, home ownership rates among the poorest 40% of 45–54-year-olds fell from 68% to just 54%. Today’s low-income renters are tomorrow’s renting retirees.
Age pensioners need at least $40,000 in savings to afford to spend $350 a week in rent, together with the Age Pension and Rent Assistance. That’s enough to afford the cheapest 25% of one-bedroom homes in capital cities.
But Australians who are renting as they approach retirement tend to have little in the way of retirement savings. 40% of renting households aged 55-64 have net financial wealth less than $40,000.
Rent assistance is too low
Our research shows that Commonwealth Rent Assistance, which supplements the Age Pension for poorer retirees who rent, is inadequate.
A single retiree needs at least $379 per week to afford non-housing essentials. marikun/Shutterstock
A typical single retiree needs at least $379 per week to afford essential non-housing costs such as food, transport and energy.
But we found a single pensioner who relies solely on income support can afford to rent just 4% of one-bedroom homes in Sydney, 13% in Brisbane, and 14% in Melbourne, after covering these basic living expenses.
With Rent Assistance indexed to inflation, rather than low-income earners’ housing costs, the maximum rate of the payment has increased by 136% since 2001, while the rents paid by recipients have increased by 193%.
A boost is needed
Our analysis suggests that to solve this problem, the federal government should increase the maximum rate of Rent Assistance by 50% for singles and 40% for couples.
The payment should also be indexed to changes in rents for the cheapest 25% of homes in our capital cities.
These increases would boost the maximum rate of Rent Assistance by $53 a week ($2,750 a year) for singles, and $40 a week ($2,080 a year) for couples.
This would ensure single retirees could afford to spend $350 a week on rent, enough to rent the cheapest 25% of one-bedroom homes across Australian capital cities, while still affording other essentials.
Similarly, retired couples would be able to afford to spend $390 a week on rent, enough to rent the cheapest 25% of all one- and two-bedroom homes.
Unlikely to push up rents
One common concern is that increasing Rent Assistance will just lead landlords to hike rents. But we find little evidence that this is the case.
International studies suggest that more than five in six dollars of any extra Rent Assistance paid would benefit renters, rather than landlords.
In Australia, there’s little evidence that recent increases in Rent Assistance have pushed up rents.
Our analysis of NSW rental bond lodgement data suggests areas with higher concentrations of Rent Assistance recipients did not see larger rent increases in the year after the payment was boosted.
That’s not surprising. Rent Assistance is paid to tenants, not landlords, which means tenants are likely to spend only a small portion of any extra income on housing.
Since rates of financial stress are even higher among younger renters, we propose that any increase to Rent Assistance should also apply to working-age households.
Boosting Rent Assistance for all recipients would cost about $2 billion a year, with about $500 million of this going to retirees.
Grattan Institute began with contributions to its endowment of $15 million from each of the federal and Victorian governments, $4 million from BHP Billiton, and $1 million from NAB. In order to safeguard its independence, Grattan Institute’s board controls this endowment. The funds are invested and contribute to funding Grattan Institute’s activities. Grattan Institute also receives funding from corporates, foundations, and individuals to support its general activities, as disclosed on its website.
Major new plans to modernise home buying and selling to save people time and money and further measures to improve the lives of leaseholders
Millions of people are set to benefit from improvements to the way homes are bought and sold, saving them both time and money by helping stop property transactions from falling through.
Under major new plans, the government has announced today [February 9] it will modernise the way the process works to bring down current delays of almost five months. One of the key reasons the buying and selling process can be long and frustrating is a lack of digitalisation and join up in the sector, which is why the government is opening up key property information, ensuring this data can be shared between trusted professionals more easily, and driving forward plans for digital identity services to slash transaction times.
These reforms will make home buying fit for the 21st Century and give much-needed certainty to everyone involved in property transactions, with one million taking place in the UK every year. By making information available at people’s fingertips, it will be far less likely for surprises to be encountered later on in the process. This will make it easier for people to get onto the housing ladder, reduce the requirement to share ID in-person in the long-term, and decrease the number of transactions collapsing.
Currently, fall throughs – which impact one in three transactions – cost people around £400 million a year, on top of the four million working days lost by conveyancers and estate agents alone which is equivalent to £1 billion. By bringing the process into the digital age, and learning from success stories such as Norway where transactions complete in around one month, the government is putting more money into the pockets of hardworking people and delivering on our Plan for Change to grow the economy.
Meanwhile changes to improve the lives of leaseholders – who have already achieved the dream of homeownership but found it falls short of what they were promised – will also be introduced from next week, with secondary legislation for the Right to Manage measures in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 being laid tomorrow – ahead of the schedule the government committed to last year.
These changes, which will come into force on 3rd March, will empower more leaseholders to take control of their buildings more easily, giving them power over how their service charges are spent, and removing the requirement for leaseholders to cover the legal fees of their freeholder when making a Right to Manage claim – potentially saving them up to £3,000 for the most costly claims, and reducing the incentive for landlords to obstruct the process.
Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook said:
“We are streamlining the cumbersome home buying process so that it is fit for the twenty-first century, helping homebuyers save money, gain time and reduce stress while also cutting the number of house sales that fall through.
“Our modernisation of the system sits alongside further reforms to improve the lives of leasehold homeowners across the country, allowing them to more easily and cheaply take control of the buildings they live in and clamp down on unreasonable or extortionate charges.
“These reforms build on the government’s Plan for Change to deliver higher living standards and 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament, and our ongoing efforts to protect leaseholders suffering from unfair and unreasonable practices as we work to end the feudal leasehold system for good.”
Currently, information such as building control and highways information is predominantly paper-based or recorded in non-machine-readable formats. On top of this, where data is available electronically, there are not established protocols for accessing, sharing and verifying that data which leads to more delays.
But under a fully digitalised home buying and selling process, the information key parties need – from mortgage companies to surveyors – will be within reach immediately, with the necessary identity checks carried out once. Clear information early on will mean there are no surprises late on in the transaction which might cause it to fall through, so instead the transaction is completed smoothly without unnecessary time, energy or money spent.
That’s why the department is working hand-in-hand with the property market, supported by HM Land Registry (HMLR), and is today announcing a 12-week project to identify the design and implementation of agreed rules on data for the sector, so that it can easily be shared between conveyancers, lenders and other parties involved in a transaction. HMLR will also build on its work in digitising property information and lead 10-month pilots with a number of councils to identify the best approach to opening up more of their data and making it digital, whilst the government pushes ahead with plans for digital identity verification services including in the property sector.
This will all be carried out in conjunction with the Digital Property Market Steering Group – a collection of industry and government experts committed to digitalising the home buying and selling process and delivering this change.
The government has already:
Launched a New Homes Accelerator to unblock thousands of homes stuck in the planning system.
Set up an independent New Towns Taskforce, as part of a long-term vision to create large-scale communities of at least 10,000 new homes each.
Awarded £68 million to 54 local councils to unlock housing on brownfield sites.
Awarded £47 million to seven councils to unlock homes stalled by nutrient neutrality rules.
Announced an additional £3 billion in housing guarantees to help builders apply for more accessible loans from banks and lenders.
Extended the existing Home Building Fund for next year providing up to £700 million of vital support to SME housebuilders, delivering an additional 12,000 new homes.
Notes to editors:
More than 300,000 property transactions fall through in the UK every year at a cost to sellers of £400 million, according to a survey commissioned by the HomeOwners Alliance (HOA) and online homebuyer IMMO.co.uk in 2018.
Almost a third of adults surveyed by the Homeowners Alliance in 2024, when asked how the conveyancing process could be improved, said it should be faster.
MHCLG has recently taken over the chairing of the Digital Property Market Steering Group. The group consists of organisations that represent the various professions involved in the buying and selling process and is committed to driving digitalisation of the home buying and selling system.
Right to Manage is the only way for leaseholders to take back control over extortionate fees and mismanagement of their homes, without being forced to buy the freehold.
The Right to Manage Statutory Instrument will be laid in parliament on Monday, and will come in to effect from 3rd March 2025
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Henning Melber, Extraordinary Professor, Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria
Sam Nujoma was an outstanding Namibian leader who personified more than anybody else the country’s liberation struggle history and independence. His death at the age of 95 marks the end of an era. But his legacy will live on.
Together with Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, he was central in the foundation of the national liberation movement, South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo).
Samuel (Sam) Shafishuna (“lightning”) Daniel Nujoma was born on 12 May 1929 at Etunda near Okahao in northern Namibia in today’s Omusati region, the eldest of 11 children. His childhood was devoted to helping care for his siblings, the family cattle and cultivating the land. From 1937 to 1943 he completed primary school at the Finnish Missionary School at Okahao.
Namibia was then South West Africa, a former German colony, administered by apartheid South Africa since December 1920. Aged 17, he became a contract worker in the harbour town of Walvis Bay. From 1949 he worked as a cleaner at South African Railways in Windhoek. For most of his age group, contract labour in the settler economy was the only way out of subsistence agriculture.
In 1959 Nujoma co-founded the Ovamboland People’s Organisation, marking a new chapter of organised resistance against settler-colonial rule. At the time, African residents in the capital Windhoek lived mainly in the so-called Old Location. It was close to the centre of town, while contract workers were accommodated in a separate compound.
Their residents were supposed to relocate to a distant new township, Katutura. Protests against the forced removal escalated on 10 December 1959. Police opened fire, killing 11 and seriously wounding 44.
This was a turning point in the organised resistance. Political activists faced increased repression. Nujoma left for exile in February 1960 to campaign internationally, not least at the United Nations in New York.
In April 1960 the Ovamboland People’s Organisation became Swapo and Nujoma its first president. He remained in office until 2007. In 1967, Swapo resorted to armed resistance against the South African occupation.
The organisation became the family and Nujoma its patriarch. As Raymond Suttner, a scholar and political analyst, observed:
Any involvement in a revolution has an impact on conceptions of the personal.
A warfare of more than 20 years cost thousands of lives. The military component played a big role in Swapo’s struggle history. This is illustrated in the movement’s official narrative To Be Born A Nation.
While never trained for combat, Nujoma liked to pose as the military leader. Testimony to this is the dominant statue of the “unknown soldier” at the Heroes Acre, modelled as Nujoma.
Just as enlightening is Nujoma’s autobiography, ending with independence on 21 March 1990. Its title Where Others Wavered is from one of his statements in the late 1970s:
When the history of a free and independent Namibia is written one day, Swapo will go down as having stood firm where others have wavered: that it sacrificed for the sacred cause of liberation where others have compromised.
(Nujoma’s account) brings into sharp relief the career of a formidable political activist who displayed enormous courage, determination and will to survive against considerable odds.
Heading the state
Nujoma was appointed Namibia’s first head of state by the Constituent Assembly. His initial term (1990-1995) was characterised by efforts to build the nation and foster reconciliation in a deeply divided settler colonial society.
He accepted a constitutionally enshrined status quo when it came to the privileges of the white minority. Continued socioeconomic disparities under political majority rule signified a process in which political power was traded and transferred while fundamental social inequalities were guarded by the protection of existing property relations.
In August 1999 Nujoma declared a first state of emergency when a failed secession in what was then called the Caprivi Strip came as a shock attack. The subsequent treatment of the suspected secessionists was anything but reconciliatory. It resulted in the country’s only political refugees so far.
To allow Nujoma a third term in office (2000-2005), the National Assembly adopted a first constitutional amendment in late 1998. The justification was that his initial appointment was not based on a direct vote by the electorate. The clause was restricted to Nujoma.
Handing over the torch
There were doubts if Nujoma would vacate office. In 2004 he declared:
One cannot ignore the call by the people, because the people are the ones who make the final decision.
This fuelled speculations that he might be tempted to opt for a referendum, banking on an anticipated majority willing to grant him another term.
Facing internal Swapo opposition, Nujoma opted for the party’s unity and announced his retirement at the end of his term. This paved the way for three candidates competing for his replacement.
But, he was adamant that his long-time confidante Hifikepunye Pohamba would become his successor. A heavy-handed approach to bulldoze him through resulted in a break-away new party.
In such a context retirement is a foreign word. One can leave office but remain a leader. Nujoma’s word and view counted in policy implementation – both at party and national government levels. Although his direct impact gradually subsided, he remained an iconic influencer.
Achievements despite the limits to liberation
Many leaders of African countries were shaped by resistance to colonial oppression. This was no romantic picnic, but required perseverance and tough decisions. It came at a cost. Military mindsets and strict hierarchies were fostering authoritarian tendencies.
These are not the best ingredients for civilian rule. But achieving sovereignty elevated the struggle to new levels. Since the end of white minority rule and South African occupation, Namibian people are governed by those they elected democratically.
Nujoma was on the commanding heights of Namibia’s liberation struggle for over half a century. He decided to retire as captain in time. Namibians owe it to him and others for paving the way for a democratic state guided by the rule of law.
This is adequately symbolised in his statue erected at Windhoek’s Independence Museum. Dressed in civilian clothes, Nujoma proudly holds up the Namibian constitution. It might be the best visual recognition of all of his ultimate contribution to Namibian society.
Since independence, the struggle for more equality continues by civil means. Tatekulu (big man) Sam Nujoma deserves credit for his role in this remarkably peaceful transition towards a multi-party democracy in which politically motivated violence rarely occurs. He will always have centre stage in Namibia’s hall of fame.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Henning Melber, Extraordinary Professor, Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria
Sam Nujoma was an outstanding Namibian leader who personified more than anybody else the country’s liberation struggle history and independence. His death at the age of 95 marks the end of an era. But his legacy will live on.
Together with Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, he was central in the foundation of the national liberation movement, South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo).
Samuel (Sam) Shafishuna (“lightning”) Daniel Nujoma was born on 12 May 1929 at Etunda near Okahao in northern Namibia in today’s Omusati region, the eldest of 11 children. His childhood was devoted to helping care for his siblings, the family cattle and cultivating the land. From 1937 to 1943 he completed primary school at the Finnish Missionary School at Okahao.
Namibia was then South West Africa, a former German colony, administered by apartheid South Africa since December 1920. Aged 17, he became a contract worker in the harbour town of Walvis Bay. From 1949 he worked as a cleaner at South African Railways in Windhoek. For most of his age group, contract labour in the settler economy was the only way out of subsistence agriculture.
In 1959 Nujoma co-founded the Ovamboland People’s Organisation, marking a new chapter of organised resistance against settler-colonial rule. At the time, African residents in the capital Windhoek lived mainly in the so-called Old Location. It was close to the centre of town, while contract workers were accommodated in a separate compound.
Their residents were supposed to relocate to a distant new township, Katutura. Protests against the forced removal escalated on 10 December 1959. Police opened fire, killing 11 and seriously wounding 44.
This was a turning point in the organised resistance. Political activists faced increased repression. Nujoma left for exile in February 1960 to campaign internationally, not least at the United Nations in New York.
In April 1960 the Ovamboland People’s Organisation became Swapo and Nujoma its first president. He remained in office until 2007. In 1967, Swapo resorted to armed resistance against the South African occupation.
The organisation became the family and Nujoma its patriarch. As Raymond Suttner, a scholar and political analyst, observed:
Any involvement in a revolution has an impact on conceptions of the personal.
A warfare of more than 20 years cost thousands of lives. The military component played a big role in Swapo’s struggle history. This is illustrated in the movement’s official narrative To Be Born A Nation.
Nujoma, centre, as the historic 1989 elections were announced. With him: Hage Geingob, left, Hidipo Hamutenya, Theo Ben Gurirab Moses Garoeb and a bodyguard.HENNING MELBER
While never trained for combat, Nujoma liked to pose as the military leader. Testimony to this is the dominant statue of the “unknown soldier” at the Heroes Acre, modelled as Nujoma.
Just as enlightening is Nujoma’s autobiography, ending with independence on 21 March 1990. Its title Where Others Wavered is from one of his statements in the late 1970s:
When the history of a free and independent Namibia is written one day, Swapo will go down as having stood firm where others have wavered: that it sacrificed for the sacred cause of liberation where others have compromised.
(Nujoma’s account) brings into sharp relief the career of a formidable political activist who displayed enormous courage, determination and will to survive against considerable odds.
Heading the state
Nujoma was appointed Namibia’s first head of state by the Constituent Assembly. His initial term (1990-1995) was characterised by efforts to build the nation and foster reconciliation in a deeply divided settler colonial society.
He accepted a constitutionally enshrined status quo when it came to the privileges of the white minority. Continued socioeconomic disparities under political majority rule signified a process in which political power was traded and transferred while fundamental social inequalities were guarded by the protection of existing property relations.
In August 1999 Nujoma declared a first state of emergency when a failed secession in what was then called the Caprivi Strip came as a shock attack. The subsequent treatment of the suspected secessionists was anything but reconciliatory. It resulted in the country’s only political refugees so far.
To allow Nujoma a third term in office (2000-2005), the National Assembly adopted a first constitutional amendment in late 1998. The justification was that his initial appointment was not based on a direct vote by the electorate. The clause was restricted to Nujoma.
Handing over the torch
There were doubts if Nujoma would vacate office. In 2004 he declared:
One cannot ignore the call by the people, because the people are the ones who make the final decision.
This fuelled speculations that he might be tempted to opt for a referendum, banking on an anticipated majority willing to grant him another term.
Statue of the unknown soldier modelled on Sam Nujoma.Henning Melber
Facing internal Swapo opposition, Nujoma opted for the party’s unity and announced his retirement at the end of his term. This paved the way for three candidates competing for his replacement.
But, he was adamant that his long-time confidante Hifikepunye Pohamba would become his successor. A heavy-handed approach to bulldoze him through resulted in a break-away new party.
In such a context retirement is a foreign word. One can leave office but remain a leader. Nujoma’s word and view counted in policy implementation – both at party and national government levels. Although his direct impact gradually subsided, he remained an iconic influencer.
Achievements despite the limits to liberation
Many leaders of African countries were shaped by resistance to colonial oppression. This was no romantic picnic, but required perseverance and tough decisions. It came at a cost. Military mindsets and strict hierarchies were fostering authoritarian tendencies.
These are not the best ingredients for civilian rule. But achieving sovereignty elevated the struggle to new levels. Since the end of white minority rule and South African occupation, Namibian people are governed by those they elected democratically.
Nujoma was on the commanding heights of Namibia’s liberation struggle for over half a century. He decided to retire as captain in time. Namibians owe it to him and others for paving the way for a democratic state guided by the rule of law.
This is adequately symbolised in his statue erected at Windhoek’s Independence Museum. Dressed in civilian clothes, Nujoma proudly holds up the Namibian constitution. It might be the best visual recognition of all of his ultimate contribution to Namibian society.
Since independence, the struggle for more equality continues by civil means. Tatekulu (big man) Sam Nujoma deserves credit for his role in this remarkably peaceful transition towards a multi-party democracy in which politically motivated violence rarely occurs. He will always have centre stage in Namibia’s hall of fame.
Hamba Kahle (go well), tate Sam.
– Sam Nujoma personified Namibia’s struggle for freedom – https://theconversation.com/sam-nujoma-personified-namibias-struggle-for-freedom-158904
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump and Elon Musk announcing that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be making significant, illegal cuts to funding for lifesaving research at Universities. The NIH announced that it is arbitrarily capping indirect cost rates at 15%, which will slash funding that helps research institutions, like the University of Wisconsin, operate their facilities, operate labs, pay staff, and buy equipment needed for groundbreaking work to find cures for diseases and treatments for patients.
“The President and Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, are illegally cutting funding that families rely on for groundbreaking research that is finding cures for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes,” said Senator Baldwin. “Abruptly slashing this funding will mean people might not get the treatments they are relying on, workers from custodians to research trainees to scientists are likely to be laid off, and we will be further away from finding the cures to diseases that plague all of our families. Elon Musk and Donald Trump are finding every which way they can to cut programs and funding that families in Wisconsin rely on – all in service to making room for their tax cut for the biggest corporations and themselves. Wisconsin families will pay the price for this illegal cash grab, and I’m going to fight it.”
“UW-Madison is one of the world’s leading engines of biomedical research. This proposed change to NIH funding – UW-Madison’s largest source of federal support – will significantly disrupt vital research activity and delay lifesaving discoveries and cures related to cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease, diabetes, and much more,” said the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “In addition, these reductions will have an inevitable impact on student opportunities to engage in research activities, from undergraduates to Ph.D. and medical students. Medical innovation will be slowed, delaying the creation of new treatments, new technologies, and new health workers. The so-called ‘indirect costs’ go to support many aspects of the educational and research work of the university. Indirect costs contribute to everything from utilities charges to building out the laboratories where science is done, to infrastructure for clinical trials of new medicines and treatments. Drastic reduction to this funding will not only disrupt the day-to-day important work of the university but will ultimately harm the livelihoods of real people across Wisconsin and the country, harm the innovation economy and will make our nation less competitive.
Indirect costs are necessary expenses for universities that support research, including paying key support staff, maintaining equipment, and operating labs, among other things. Slashing this funding will shift billions of dollars in burdens to states and their taxpayers, who often cannot afford to pay the difference. Research institutions in Wisconsin, including the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Medical College of Wisconsin, Marquette University, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, among other University of Wisconsin System schools, will be impacted by these funding cuts.
As Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Related Agencies, Senator Baldwin is responsible for writing the bill that funds the NIH, which explicitly prohibits NIH from taking this arbitrary action.
Western sanctions on Iran will fail to bring the country to its knees, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday, stressing the importance of Iran’s self-reliance.
“They think that if they impose deprivation and a blockade on us, we will starve to death. If we have the will, we will find the way,” Pezeshkian said at a ceremony to inaugurate a number of projects in southeastern Iran’s Kerman province.
“If we rely on ourselves, we will achieve what we want. We want to rank first in the region in the areas of science, economy and technology. This will not be achieved easily, but through making considerable efforts,” he was quoted as saying by a statement published by his office.
U.S. President Donald Trump took an executive action Tuesday to restore the so-called “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran aimed to prevent the Islamic Republic from what he claimed “obtaining nuclear weapon.”
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Treasury announced sanctions on more than a dozen people and firms accused of facilitating the shipment of millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil.
China and Thailand on Saturday issued a joint statement pledging to strengthen cooperation in cracking down on online scam operations, human and drug trafficking and money laundering.
Online scam operations have plagued many Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar, Cambodia and Thailand, becoming increasingly rampant in recent years. In these operations, people lured by false advertisements for high-paying jobs are trafficked into secretive compounds, where criminal groups force them to run online scams targeting victims worldwide, including in China.
Both sides stressed the urgency and necessity of enhancing cooperation to combat these transnational crimes. They agreed to further discussions to establish effective coordination mechanisms for tackling these crimes at an early stage and to promote judicial cooperation among Lancang-Mekong countries.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening military exchanges, joint training, defense industry collaboration, capacity building, and technology transfer to promote regional peace and stability.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-Thailand diplomatic ties. In their statement, both sides pledged to deepen cooperation in high-quality development, clean energy, the digital economy and green growth. They aim to boost bilateral trade by expanding market access, promoting high-quality products, and enhancing e-commerce collaboration.
Additionally, both sides emphasized the importance of connectivity in driving regional economic integration and shared development. They agreed to strengthen Belt and Road cooperation, including the China-Thailand railway project, to enhance regional connectivity.
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JOHN SPOSATO (“SPOSATO”), age 73, a resident of Kiln, Mississippi, was sentenced February 6, 2025 by United States District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to 10 months in prison and three years of supervised release, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 1344. Separately, United States District Judge Susie Morgan sentenced SPOSATO to 6 months in prison, to be served consecutively to the sentence imposed by Judge Fallon, for violating the terms of his supervised release from a prior conviction in United States v. Sposato, 15-134 (E.D. La.).
According to court documents, SPOSATO began serving a three-year period of supervised release after his release from prison because of his previous conviction on about August 9, 2022, in United States v. John Sposato, 15-134 (E.D. La.). While on supervised release, SPOSATO claimed to be President of several companies, including Pegasus Consulting and Development, LLC (“Pegasus Consulting”). These companies neither performed work nor generated income. SPOSATO opened a financial account at Keesler Federal Credit Union in the name of Pegasus Consulting and on March 27, 2023, attempted to deposit a $10,000.00 check he received from a co-conspirator, knowing it to be counterfeit. The check was purportedly drawn on the financial account of an all-volunteer, non-profit, tax-exempt organization that supported a Florida public library. SPOSATO’s attempted deposit placed Keesler at risk of both civil liability and financial loss. When asked about the check, SPOSATO falsely told a United States Probation Officer that the check was compensation for consulting work he performed, both directly and through an associate named “Jack Morgan,” for the non-profit entity. In fact, SPOSATO knew he was not entitled to the check and had never performed work for the non-profit.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Probation Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, was in charge of the prosecution.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Feb. 8 — China has allocated 80 million yuan (about 11.16 million U.S. dollars) to support disaster relief and recovery efforts after a landslide in the southwestern Sichuan Province buried 10 houses and left over 30 people missing on Saturday.
Some 50 million yuan, allocated by the National Development and Reform Commission from the central budget, will be used to restore infrastructure and public facilities in affected areas, according to authorities.
Also on Saturday, the Ministry of Finance, in conjunction with the Ministry of Emergency Management, allocated 30 million yuan from central natural disaster relief funds to support Sichuan in its rapid organization of rescue efforts.
The funds will be spent on search and rescue work, risk assessment and emergency response measures, and investigating potential secondary-disaster hazards to minimize casualties, according to the ministry.
The landslide occurred at about 11:50 a.m. in Jinping Village, which is located in Junlian County in the city of Yibin. Two people were rescued in the afternoon, and approximately 200 people have been evacuated.
The finance ministry has instructed Sichuan’s provincial finance authorities to disburse the funds to affected areas promptly, and to maximize their effectiveness.
Taking the latest developments of the situation into consideration, the Ministry of Natural Resources has upgraded an emergency geological disaster control response from Level III to Level II, and dispatched a team led by Vice Minister of Natural Resources Xu Dachun to guide on-site relief efforts.
The Albanese Government is taking the fight to scammers and this has driven a 33 per cent drop in scam losses in 2024. This is a complete reversal of the trend under the Coalition which oversaw losses doubling year on year.
The Government has made preventing scams a priority, with more than $168 million invested in prevention measures.
Scamwatch data also shows a 35 per cent decrease in losses to investment scams and a more than 30 per cent decrease in losses to romance scams. These types of scams have been a focus for the National Anti‑Scam Centre, which collaborates with industry to disrupt scam activity, showing the success of the Government’s approach.
But it is not job done.
The Government has landmark legislation before the Parliament to establish the Scams Prevention Framework that will put Australia at the head of the pack when it comes to scams prevention and supporting consumers.
This legislation is the crucial next step in the Government’s fight against scams. It puts banks, telcos, and social media companies on the hook to stop these criminals stealing Australians’ hard‑earned money.
These laws will ensure industry has a significant incentive to shut down scam activity before it reaches Australians, preventing consumers from experiencing the financial and emotional toll of the scourge of scams.
The Parliament should support this legislation to stand with consumers against criminal scammers.
Comments attributable to Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, Stephen Jones:
“Only Labor has a plan to protect Australians from criminal scammers.
“Losses are going down and that’s a good sign, but Australians are still losing far too much.
“We want to make Australia the toughest target for scammers and our laws will put Australia at the head of the pack.
“The parliament should support these laws so that Australians have the best protections to keep their money safe.”
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and partner government agencies work side-by-side to protect the intellectual property rights of American businesses.
The trade of counterfeit and pirated goods threatens America’s innovation economy, the competitiveness of our businesses, the livelihoods of U.S. workers, and, in some cases, national security and the health and safety of consumers.
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurates multiple water supply schemes under Jal Jeevan Mission in Kathua, J&K; schemes to provide tap water to thousands of residents of 10 villages ”300 plus water supply schemes with an estimated cost of 1369.57 crore rupees being taken up in district Kathua under Jal Jeevan Mission”: Dr Singh
Union Minister calls for effective implementation of the schemes to attain their saturation
“Inspired by Prime Minister Modi’s call of Nation First, Modi 3.0 dispensation working with Whole of Government approach in the service of citizens”: Dr Jitendra Singh
Posted On: 08 FEB 2025 5:19PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today called for effective implementation of all the water supply schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission in Jammu and Kashmir to attain their saturation. He was addressing a public gathering in village Jasrota here after inaugurating seven water supply schemes under Jal Jeevan Mission.
The schemes costing 25.31 crore rupees will benefit 15,881 souls, covering 2584 households in 10 villages, including Jasrota, Rakh Hoshyari, Padyari, Saktha Chak, Bhadoli Charpad and Mangtian. The Minister informed that a total of 303 water supply schemes, with an estimated cost of 1369.57 crore rupees, are being taken up in district Kathua under Jal Jeevan Mission. Dr Singh pointed out that certain issues being faced in the proper implementation of the schemes on the which are being sorted out in coordination with J&K government.
Presenting a report card of the works done in his Parliamentary constituency in the first 100 days of the Narendra Modi Government 3.0, he enumerated the key projects like the prestigious Chattergala tunnel and Delhi to Katra Expressway corridor, saying these ambitious projects are nearing their completion. Crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi with creating a new work culture, Dr Jitendra Singh stated that the government is focused on completing the stalled projects to boost connectivity in remote parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that inspired by the Prime Minister’s call of ‘Nation First’, the present dispensation is working with a ‘Whole of Government’ approach in the service of the masses across the country. The Minister said that once completed, the strategic Chattergala tunnel to be game-changer in providing all-weather connectivity between Doda and Lakhanpur will be a game-changer in providing all-weather connectivity between Doda and Lakhanpur. He informed the gathering that it has now been decided to build nine additional underpasses along Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, fulfilling a public demand.
Underlining the potential of tourism to create employment opportunities and boost livelihoods, Dr Jitendra Singh said steps are also being taken to promote tourism in places such as Basohli and Mantalia in the region. The Minister informed that
Mansar area of Udhampur district is also being developed as a tourist destination under Swadesh Darshan scheme.
Dr Jitendra Singh stated that in the times to come, district Kathua will become a major hub of economy activity, offering avenues of self-employment to the local youth. He mentioned that the district has earned a unique distinction for having North India’s first Bio-tech Park, Seed Processing Plant and North India’s only Homeopathic College. The Minister urged the youth avail the subsidy being provided by the government for the promotion of Khadi to earn their own livelihoods.
Minister for Jal Shakti, J&K Government, Javed Ahmed Rana; MLA, Jasrota, Rajiv Jasroti; MLA, Bani, Dr Rameshwar Singh; MLA, Hiranagar, Vijay Kumar Sharma; Vice Chairman, DDC, Kathua, Shri Raghunadan Singh Bablu, representatives of PRIs and officials from Department of Jal Shakti were among those present on the occasion.
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
Boston (February 8, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass), top Democrat on the Primary Health and Pensions Subcommittee of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement after the Trump administration announced significant cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding to support hospitals, universities, and research institutions conducting lifesaving research. The drastic limits on this funding would reduce the amount that these institutions are able to spend on researchers, laboratories, and students.
“Last night, Trump and Musk took drastic steps to make it harder to find a cure for cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, heart attacks, strokes, and other debilitating diseases that devastate millions of American families by illegally cutting National Institutes of Health funding.
“NIH funding is the lifeblood of Massachusetts’ innovation economy, creating jobs and fueling the engine for delivering lifesaving care and treatment across the country, and this is a direct attack on the Bay State. NIH isn’t just the National Institutes of Health, it’s the National Institutes of Hope, giving hope to patients and families for lifesaving medical discoveries.
“Instead of working to keep the American economy on the cutting edge, the Trump administration is bullying the Bay State and hamstringing U.S. leadership in medical research. Trump and Musk are cutting the research to cure the diseases that will soon overwhelm our ability to pay for treating millions who will be afflicted by these very same diseases. That’s not efficiency, that’s stupidity. It’s not just bad values, it’s bad budgeting.
“This budget cut action is illegal. With billions in NIH funding going to both red and blue states, I urge all of my colleagues to join in opposing this overstep of presidential authority — driven by and for unelected billionaires – and not let these cuts stand.”
. Pillen Makes Appointment to Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
LINCOLN, NE –Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced his appointment of Kurt Arganbright of Valentine to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Arganbright will serve as the representative for District 6. His appointment is subject to confirmation by the Nebraska Legislature.
Arganbright has been in private practice at Arganbright Law Office in Valentine since 2010 with expertise in agricultural law, real estate, estate planning and business planning. He also serves as county attorney for both Rock and Thomas counties. Additionally, his family owns and operates a cow-calf operation.
Arganbright has served multiple entities in leadership roles including the Sandhills Cattle Association, Valentine Planning Commission, Agriculture Builders of Nebraska and the Nebraska State Bar Association.
Arganbright has a degree in agricultural economics from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL). He received his juris doctor from the University of Nebraska College of Law.
SANTA ANA, Calif. — On Feb. 6, 2025, Ippei Mizuhara, a former Japanese-language interpreter was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for illegally — and without authorization — transferring nearly $17 million from the bank account of Major League Baseball star Shohei Ohtani to pay off his own substantial gambling debts incurred with an illegal bookmaking operation and for signing a false tax return, following a joint Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), IRS Criminal Investigation probe.
Mizuahara was sentenced by United States District Judge John W. Holcomb, who also ordered him to pay $16,975,010 in restitution to Ohtani and $1,149,400 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Mizuhara pleaded guilty in June 2024 to one count of bank fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return.
“Mr. Mizuhara is yet another example of how those in a position of trust can take advantage of a relationship and defraud the government,” said HSI Los Angeles acting Special Agent in Charge John Pasciucco. “The HSI-led El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force will leverage all partnerships to locate and bring to justice those who commit financial crimes, especially those who think they can hide in plain sight.”
Mizuhara was the translator and de facto manager of MLB star Shohei Ohtani. As part of his job duties, Mizuhara regularly interacted with Ohtani’s sports agents and financial advisors — who did not speak Japanese — on behalf of Ohtani, who did not speak English. Although Mizuhara was an employee of the Los Angeles Angels MLB team, for whom Ohtani played from 2018 to 2023, and, later, the Los Angeles Dodgers, for whom Ohtani has played since 2024, Ohtani paid him separately for the additional work of driving him to meetings and interpreting for non-baseball-related activities.
In March 2018, Mizuhara accompanied Ohtani to a bank in Phoenix to help him open a bank account to deposit his MLB salary. Inside the bank branch, Mizuhara interpreted for Ohtani when the bank employee provided Ohtani the login information for this bank account.
Beginning in September 2021, Mizuhara began placing sports bets with an illegal bookmaker. Shortly thereafter, Mizuhara began to lose bets and quickly became indebted to the bookmaker. Unable to pay his gambling debts, Mizuhara orchestrated a scheme to deceive and cheat the bank to fraudulently obtain money from the account.
From no later than November 2021 to March 2024, Mizuhara used Ohtani’s password to successfully sign into the bank account and then changed the account’s security protocols without Ohtani’s knowledge or permission. Specifically, Mizuhara changed the registered email address and telephone number on the account so bank employees would call him — not Ohtani — when attempting to verify wire transfers from the account.
Mizuhara impersonated Ohtani, using his personal identifying information to deceive the bank’s employees into authorizing wire transfers from the bank account. In total, Mizuhara called the bank and impersonated Ohtani on approximately 24 occasions.
In addition, in September 2023, Mizuhara needed $60,000 worth of dental work and Ohtani agreed to pay for it via a check drawn on a business account at a different bank. However, Mizuhara provided his dentist Ohtani’s debit card number for the bank account Ohtani had opened in Phoenix, charged $60,000 to that account, then deposited the $60,000 check into Mizuhara’s personal bank account.
From January 2024 to March 2024, Mizuhara purchased approximately $325,000 worth of baseball cards from online resellers such as eBay from Ohtani’s bank account with the intent to resell them later and for his own personal benefit.
When Ohtani’s sports agent and financial advisors asked Mizuhara for access to the bank account, Mizuhara lied and said Ohtani did not want them to access the account because it was private. In fact, Mizuhara did not want them to know that he had been stealing from Ohtani and had fraudulently obtained more than $16,975,010 from him.
In February 2024, he willfully made and subscribed to a false individual federal income tax return for the tax year 2022. On that tax return, Mizuhara falsely claimed that his total taxable income for that year was $136,865 when in fact he knew the amount was substantially higher and he knowingly failed to report additional income of $4.1 million.
The HSI Los Angeles El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force conducted this investigation collaboratively with the IRS Criminal Investigation Division.
Anyone with information on illegal gambling are encouraged to call the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP.
Learn more about HSI’s mission to protect the U.S. economy in your community on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @HSILosAngeles.
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
On February 8, the State University of Management held an “Initiation into Future Professionals” event, timed to coincide with the celebration of Science Day.
More than 500 tenth-graders from Moscow’s entrepreneurial classes gathered within the walls of the university.
The curator of the city project “Entrepreneurial Class in a Moscow School” Gulnara Koshimbetova greeted the children and encouraged them to share their opinions about the training.
“Today, this event is taking place in all the project partner universities. It is important that we have gathered at the State University of Management. The first half of the training year has passed, and you have an idea of the project. Perhaps you have ideas on how to make it more significant and effective. You can tell us about it in the feedback form, and we will take your wishes into account. Wear the badges of the entrepreneurial class with pride and may your path lead to great success,” Gulnara Kashulbekova wished.
Nikolai Mikhailov, Advisor to the Rectorate of the State University of Management, also gave a speech.
“It is no coincidence that representatives of the entrepreneurial classes gathered at the State University of Management, because our university has extensive experience in training managers not only for the public sector, but also for various sectors of the economy. From the presentation, you already learned that the State University of Management was founded in 1919. But recently, our historians have established that the university was actually created on the basis of the Alexander School, which opened back in 1879. And it turns out that the State University of Management is older. Our university is not only the first management university in the country, we are now restoring everything related to the engineering direction, including engineering and economics, which is especially in demand today,” noted Nikolai Nikolaevich.
In addition, the advisor invited the children to the university’s Open Day, which will take place on March 26.
The official part was continued by the Vice-Rector of our university, Pavel Pavlovsky, who spoke about the various entrepreneurial opportunities for schoolchildren.
“I would like to name one more reason why GUU is an entrepreneurial university: it is young at heart. Just yesterday I was on the radio and the host said that an entrepreneur is someone who sees the difference between supply and demand and levels it out. I will add that entrepreneurship, in my opinion, is not so much about profit as it is about opportunities for people. We want to teach you how to create good for the country and benefit all citizens. For example, GUU master’s students are already implementing programs in federal camps, conducting a course on business and entrepreneurship, helping 14-17 year olds understand this area and realize themselves,” said Pavel Vladimirovich.
The program of the event, along with official performances, included bright numbers from the KVN team of the State University of Management and the vocal group “StuDos”.
After the concert, the tenth-graders took the Solemn Oath of Future Entrepreneurs and went to their classrooms, where they were treated to master classes from graduates of the State University of Management who had become successful entrepreneurs: Vice President of the Novard Group of Companies Sergey Sarkisov, founder of GoTrans Elmira Shagiakhmetova, and General Director of Project 21 Anesti Xinoupoulo.
The guests talked about their path to success, encouraged the children to be brave and believe in themselves, and also answered questions from those gathered.
In addition, throughout the event, GUU students conducted various activities for young guests and introduced them to the rich extracurricular activities of the university. The stands presented the V.I. Vernadsky EcoClub, the Mind Games Club, the StuDos Creative Team, the Business and Entrepreneurship Course Project, and the State University of Management Student Fire and Rescue Squad.
Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 02/08/2025
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Dmitry Chernyshenko congratulated RUDN on its 65th anniversary
18 hours ago
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko congratulated the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN) on its 65th anniversary.
“Our President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin has set the task of providing education in Russia for at least half a million foreign students by 2030. RUDN University is successfully solving this task, making a serious contribution to strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between people of different nationalities and cultures,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.
Over the years, the university’s teaching staff has trained tens of thousands of qualified specialists for the economics and social sphere.
“Today, RUDN is a multidisciplinary scientific and educational center and a leading platform for global student exchange. More than 35 thousand students study at the university, 9 thousand of whom came to us from 160 countries. I am confident that talented, goal-oriented graduates will contribute to the promotion of fruitful international cooperation,” Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized.
The Deputy Prime Minister thanked the rector and the university team for their professionalism and dedicated service to Russian education and science, and wished the teachers and students good health, prosperity and new achievements.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AI expert James Altucher is issuing a stark warning in a full video presentation: AI 2.0 is not just advancing—it is fundamentally altering how industries function, eliminating jobs, and forcing a rapid economic shift.
“AI will disrupt entire industries…”
According to Altucher, automation and AI-driven decision-making will soon replace many traditional roles, while creating new opportunities for those who can adapt. However, the transition will be faster and more profound than most expect.
“Many other jobs will disappear entirely.” “It’s predicted that 8 out of every 10 American jobs will be affected by AI…”
With AI 2.0 advancing at breakneck speed, March 17, 2025, marks a key moment when businesses, policymakers, and individuals will realize just how deep this transformation runs.
James Altucher is a leading AI expert, author, and entrepreneur with nearly four decades of experience in emerging technologies. He has been featured in major media outlets and is known for his forward-thinking insights on AI’s impact on society.
Media Contact: Derek Warren Public Relations Manager Paradigm Press Group Email: dwarren@paradigmpressgroup.com
