VILNIUS, Lithuania, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The WhiteBIT.au platform was launched in December 2024, but this launch was preceded by months of internal work and preparation. WhiteBIT has registered with AUSTRAC as a Digital Currency Exchange Provider and Independent Remitter Dealer. The company is just beginning to scale up its activities in Australia, planning to build on its already strong local team. As of now, spot trading is available; however, the product line will keep on growing. The company’s focus is to provide the highest quality products while staying within the regulatory approvals in each country.
WhiteBIT is the largest European centralized crypto exchange by traffic. It has 8 million registered users and offices in 7 countries and is part of the WhiteBIT Group, a leading ecosystem of blockchain and crypto solutions with more than 35 million users worldwide. This launch in Australia comes amidst the growing demand for cryptocurrencies among Australian investors, creating the perfect environment for the development of digital asset infrastructure in the region.
For Australian users, WhiteBIT offers fast and secure transactions and access to a range of new cryptocurrency trading tools, making it ideal for both beginners and experienced traders.
Australia’s Crypto Adoption Surges as Investment Interest Grows
According to Triple-A data, 9.6% of Australians already own digital assets, highlighting the high level of crypto adoption in the country. This creates an ideal environment for the continued growth of the crypto industry, particularly given the stable economy and increasing popularity of cryptocurrency investments among younger Australians.
Despite its complexity, Australia presents an attractive landscape for crypto businesses. The nation boasts a resilient economy that is steadily recovering from post-COVID challenges. With a consistently growing average salary, Australians have the financial means, an investment culture, and access to a wide range of financial instruments. Notably, derivatives and cryptocurrencies are among the preferred options for younger investors.
The country’s crypto market infrastructure is well-developed, with clear regulations and an established legal framework ensuring a structured environment for industry players. As a result, both local and global crypto companies are actively expanding their presence, competing to meet the needs of Australian investors.
Volodymyr Nosov, founder and president of WhiteBIT Group, comments, “Expanding into the Australian market presents a unique opportunity to engage with a highly crypto-savvy audience and a region that plays one of the crucial roles in the Asia-Pacific Region. Our goal is to contribute to the economic well-being and financial independence of both Australian and Asian communities while driving the adoption of blockchain technology on a global scale. This expansion marks a significant step in our mission to make crypto accessible to everyone.”
In the face of dwindling global funding, tariffs, and geopolitical tensions, African Development Bank Group President Akinwumi Adesina said on Friday that Africa must wean itself from aid dependency and urgently chart its future through self-reliance, strategic partnerships, and leveraging its vast natural resources.
He spoke on Friday in Abuja at the 14th Convocation Ceremony of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), where he delivered a thought-provoking lecture.
The address “Advancing Africa’s Positioning within Global Development and Geopolitical Dynamics” outlined a bold vision for Africa’s future in a rapidly changing global landscape.
“The recent dismantling of the official development aid agency in the US, and similar anti-aid measures in other parts of Europe, means that the old development models that Africa has always relied on will no longer work,” he told the audience.
“The era of aid or free money is gone. African countries must now learn to develop via investment discipline. Countries can no longer rely on aid for growth or count it as part of government revenue, as has been the case for decades. Benevolence is not an asset class,” the Bank Group president said.
At Nigeria’s largest open university, Adesina emphasized that Africa must overhaul its approach to achieving fast-paced growth and development. He said for the continent to spur growth it should rapidly ensure the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area: “Produce local, buy local, trade more locally,” he charged the continent.
Adesina highlighted several critical challenges facing the continent, including declining development aid, restrictive immigration policies, undervalued natural capital, and global tariff wars. However, he positioned these challenges as opportunities for Africa to redefine its global standing.
The African Development Bank is leading the development of a new framework to re-estimate Africa’s GDP based on the proper valuation of its vast natural capital. This will lower Africa’s debt to re-estimated GDP and expand its ability to borrow more resources to finance its development. The Bank believes properly valuing Africa’s green wealth will improve the risk profiles and credit ratings of countries across the continent.
He said of recent global tariff tensions: “47 out of 54 African countries have been placed under higher US tariffs. The immediate direct effects of the tariffs on African countries will be a significant reduction in exports and foreign exchange availability. This will send other shock waves through African economies.”
He continued: “Local currencies will weaken on the back of reduced foreign exchange earnings. Inflation will increase as costs of imported goods rise and currencies devalue against the US dollar. The cost of servicing debt as a share of government revenue will rise, as expected revenues decline.”
To build resilient economies, Adesina said: “Africa must chart its future, relying not on the benevolence of others but on its own determination for self-reliance, building reliable alliances, leveraging opportunities in the global dynamics, while putting Africa first. Only then will Africa be great again!”
AfDB president Akinwumi Adesina performs groundbreaking ceremony for the Regional Training and Research Institute for Distance and Open Learning building at the National Open University of Nigeria Abuja
Some key initiatives led by the African Development Bank under Adesina’s leadership include the establishment of the Africa Financing Stability Mechanism to help African countries refinance debt service payments; the development of Security-Indexed Investment Bonds to rebuild areas devastated by conflict; the creation of the African Credit Risk Agency to fairly assess Africa’s investment risks; the implementation of the $25 billion African Adaptation Acceleration Program to support the continent’s resilience to climate change; and the development of a framework to revalue Africa’s GDP based on its natural capital wealth.
The Bank Group president emphasized the importance of adding value and processing natural resources, explaining that this is the key to Africa’s future prosperity. He also cautioned that Africa must also carefully negotiate its engagement in the global geopolitical rush for critical minerals and rare earth elements.
“Africa can be competitive in these global value chains. It must move away from exporting raw minerals and move into processing and value addition to benefit from the high returns at the top of global value chains,” Adesina said who was accompanied by his wife Grace Yemisi Adesina.
He called for greater value addition to everything Africa produces, from oil to gas, minerals, metals, rare earths, and agricultural products.
The African Development Bank is working with the African Union and the Economic Commission for Africa to develop the African Green Minerals Strategy. The strategy will support countries in embracing strong corporate governance, transparency, environmental protection, and sound mineral stewardship, including social responsibility and protection of communities’ lands and rights.
“Africa must end the exports of its raw materials,” Adesina warned. “The export of raw materials is the door to poverty. The export of value-added products is the highway to wealth. And Africa is tired of being poor.”
The lecture also addressed the importance of investments in youth education and entrepreneurship. With Africa’s population projected to reach 2.4 billion by 2050 and 75% under 35, Adesina stressed the need for quality education and skills development aligned with the digital economy.
As he approaches the end of his second five-year term as president of the African Development Bank Group in September, Adesina reflected on his legacy of strengthening and transforming the institution. Under his leadership, the Bank’s general capital increased from $93 billion in 2014 to $318 billion today, while achieving recognition as the Most Transparent Financial Institution in the world for two consecutive years.
Adesina will be awarded an honorary doctorate from NOUN on Saturday. He is dedicating the honor to his late father, Roland F. Adesina, whom he credits with instilling in him the value of education.
The National Open University of Nigeria is considered Africa’s largest and the world’s second largest open learning university. Through distance learning and online education, NOUN offers over 2,000 courses to more than 600,000 students, providing accessible and quality education to all Nigerians.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Olufemi Peters, told the gathering that Adesina was carefully chosen to deliver this year’s convocation lecture “to enable Nigerians to benefit from his outstanding global experience”.
Adesina also performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the Regional Training and Research Institute for Distance and Open Learning building at the university. The institute is a flagship open and distance learning center in West Africa.
Nigeria’s Cross River State became the second to mark construction of a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone after the country’s Vice President Kashim Shettima and African Development Bank President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina broke ground at the project site on Thursday 10 April.
The SAPZ aims to tackle food insecurity, enhance local production, and position Nigeria as a food export leader by leveraging Cross River’s ports and research assets to boost global trade, reduce food imports, and drive prosperity through the agro-industrialization of crops like cocoa and cassava.
The groundbreaking in Cross River follows that of Kaduna which took place few days earlier. Six other states – Kano, Kwara, Imo, Ogun, Oyo, and the Federal Capital Territory – are included in Phase 1 of the $538 million SAPZ program, with plans to expand to the remaining 28 states this year pending the African Development Bank’s Executive Board approval for Phase 2 funding.
Shettima emphasized the project’s priority and need for national collaboration: “The SAPZ program has been recognized as a national priority for food security in Nigeria.” He noted, “There is no better time than now for the federal and state governments, development partners, the private sector, and our communities to work hand in hand to ensure the success of the SAPZ project.”
Adesina celebrated the milestone, saying, “Today is a big day for Nigeria,” and added, “The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones is bringing good news to Nigeria, State Governments and Local Governments. Good news to farmers, agribusinesses, and all rural areas of Nigeria. Good news of jobs, wealth, and prosperity with agriculture as a business.
“With the abundant arable land, cheap labor and vast agro-ecological areas, Nigeria should not be importing food,” said Adesina who was accompanied by his wife Grace Yemisi Adesina.
The Bank Group president highlighted Cross River’s export potential: “Bakasi deep seaport will turn the state into a logistics hub in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea, enabling trade with Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea Bissau.”
The 130-hectare Agro-Industrial Hub in Adiabo will leverage the Calabar Sea Port, Bakassi Deep Sea Port, a 23 kVA power plant in Tinapa, and a 630 kVA Calabar Power Plant. Its Agricultural Transformation Centre, supported by the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria and the University of Calabar, lies less than 45 minutes from Ikom, Etung, and Boki, boosting cocoa production for global markets.
Governor Bassey Otu outlined the state’s vision, saying, “For us in Cross River State, the establishment of clusters of smallholder farmers focused on staple and cash crops such as rice, cassava, millet, cocoa, and oil palm is a vital step toward agro-industrialization.”
“These initiatives are aimed at strengthening food security, diversifying our state’s economy toward export-oriented agriculture, and boosting our GDP,” added Governor Otu, saying the state should expect to see a big difference in two years.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, African Development Bank President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Governor Bassey Out, and other dignitaries unveil the plaque for the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone in Adiabo, Cross River State, on April 10, 2025, harnessing the state’s ports to boost global trade in cocoa and cassava.
The African Development Bank Group is investing $210 million, including $50 million from its Africa Growing Together Fund. The Islamic Development Bank is contributing $150 million, the International Fund for Agricultural Development is contributing $100 million, the Green Climate Fund is contributing $60 million, and the government is contributing $18 million.
Speaking during the occasion, the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s Country Director, Dede Ekoue, noted that the SAPZ will build on the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project which has empowered 26,000 youth and women agripreneurs in the Niger Delta, including 4,000 in Cross River, with plans to scale to 100,000 by 2028.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said, “The SAPZ program is a powerful catalyst for economic growth and import substitution. By investing in agro-processing development, we are investing in the future of our communities.”
The African Development Bank Group has committed $934 million to SAPZs in 11 African countries. The 2024 Africa Investment Forum, held in Morocco, recorded $2.2 billion in investor interest for 28 Nigerian states, which make up the second phase of the project.
Adesina explained that with the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones, Nigeria will reduce food imports, conserve foreign exchange, expand local production and processing of food and agricultural commodities, strengthen the Naira, and attract significant private investment into the development of agricultural value chains.
The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones will also revive and transform rural economies and create millions of jobs.
Adesina was accompanied by the African Development Bank Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development Dr Beth Dunford, the Director General for Nigeria Dr Abdul Kamara, Prof Oyebanji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, Senior Special Adviser on Industrialisation, Director Richard Ofori-Mante, Director of the Agricultural Finance and Rural Development Department, and Dr Yusuf Kabir, National Coordinator for SAPZ, Nigeria.
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
April 08, 2025
The Social Security Administration last week wrongly informed some recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the federal program that provides financial assistance to disabled Americans and low-income senior citizens, that they were no longer receiving benefits.
The agency’s website informed some SSI recipients they are “currently not receiving payments,” according to an April 7 letter from senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Ron Wyden of Oregon and Mark Kelly of Arizona to Social Security Administration Acting Commissioner Lee Dudek.
The payment history and all data about benefits for SSI recipients had also vanished, they wrote, adding that they received multiple reports from constituents about the error.
“In my 50 years of work on Social Security and SSI, I have never heard of this happening before,” said Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, an advocacy group for the program, of the SSI error.
Chris Hubbard, whose 37-year-old disabled adult son relies on the program to pay for his group home, told CBS MoneyWatch she became aware of the problem on March 31, when people in a Facebook group for mothers of autistic children flagged the problem.
Hubbard, who lives with her husband in Westborough, Massachusetts, said she checked her son’s account and was alarmed to find a similar message, leading her to stay up through the night to keep refreshing the page. She fell asleep at 5 a.m. without seeing a change, she said.
“I was continuing to be worried because the message was still on the site, saying this beneficiary doesn’t receive payments,” Hubbard said.
The next morning, however, the correct information was on her son’s page, and the money was deposited on April 1, as scheduled. But she and her husband say they received no outreach from Social Security about the problem, or an explanation of the error. They opted against calling the agency because of the long waits now often required to get someone on the phone.
The Hubbards said they’re worried the glitch could signal more problems with the service, pointing to the potential impact of cuts to SSA’s workforce.
“There’s great concern about this happening again, and why did it happen in the first place?” Tom Hubbard said.
The Social Security Administration told CBS MoneyWatch that the issue was limited to SSI recipients, adding, it “did not impact Social Security or Medicare only beneficiaries.” A spokesperson for the agency said, “This particular issue was resolved less than twenty-four hours later. All my Social Security user logins are again able to connect and view the proper benefit information.”
DOGE changes
The SSI error is concerning because it impacts “some of the most vulnerable in the nation — low-income seniors and children and adults with disabilities — and [they] face extraordinary hardship if their benefits are delayed or disrupted,” the senators wrote in their letter.
The SSI issue could be the result of changes happening at the Social Security Administration under Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, Altman said. Musk has claimed that the system is rife with fraud, and alleged the program is “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.”
In recent weeks, the Social Security website has suffered from a number of outages that lasted as long as a day, according to an April 7 Washington Post report. The Social Security Administration told CBS MoneyWatch that the “brief disruptions” lasted about 20 minutes each, on average.
“Before Trump, Musk and DOGE took over, there were no major crashes or glitches on SSA’s website to speak of,” noted Maria Freese, senior Social Security expert at the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, an advocacy group focused on retirement issues. “Certainly there were no messages going out telling people erroneously that their benefits were discontinued.”
The maximum monthly SSI payment is $967 for an individual in 2025, with the program aimed at helping people with disabilities and seniors with no or little income. Most SSI recipients have income below the poverty line, according to the Roosevelt Institute.
“SSI recipients experience economic precarity at high rates, and even brief disruptions to benefits could have devastating impacts for these beneficiaries,” the senators wrote in their April 7 letter. “These recent reports of disruption—or threats of disruption— of Social Security benefits is deeply troubling.”
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
April 10, 2025
President Trump’s promises that Social Security benefits will not be cut are providing little reassurance to Massachusetts residents, advocates and employees who are witnessing changes to the program firsthand.
The Trump administration has slashed the nearly 90-year-old agency’s workforce as part of an effort to downsize the federal government. Though no cuts have been made to individual benefits, service delays and staffing reductions are creating anxiety for people across the state.
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“They may not be cutting the dollar amount that an individual has earned and is slated to receive, but it’s still a cut if that individual can’t access those funds,” said Betsy Connell, executive director of the Massachusetts Councils on Aging. “If you cut staff, and you cut access to the administration of those services, you’re going to impede people from accessing those benefits.”
Nearly 1.5 million people in the state — about one in five residents — receive Social Security. The federal program provides retirement benefits and disability income to qualified people and often serves as their primary — or only — source of income, advocates say. Massachusetts is home to the highest percentage of older adults in the country living alone and in poverty, according to the Gerontology Institute at UMass Boston.
In recent weeks, phones have been ringing at local councils on aging, elected officials’ offices and Social Security field offices. Often it’s people expressing concern and confusion, advocates say, but there have also been complaints about delayed benefits, long wait times and unexplained errors.
Changes at the agency
The Social Security Administration has cut some 7,000 jobs, including about 3,000 employees who accepted a buyout offer or early retirement. More staff reductions are expected at the agency in the coming weeks.
Rich Couture, a spokesman for the union representing Social Security workers, said the exodus has damaged the agency, which was already at a 50-year staffing low. He said it has caused rising wait times on the national information hotline and longer approval periods for benefits.
In Massachusetts, many field offices in and around Boston were not meeting the agency’s goal of processing 83% of claims within two weeks of filing before the cuts.
Camillie Piñeiro, who works in the Springfield office, said the site is already understaffed by 13 employees, and five more plan to take the early retirement offer.
“People with the most experience have been incentivized to walk away,” Piñeiro said. “The more understaffed we are, the bigger the burden on those that stay.”
The smaller workforce could pose an even bigger problem starting April 14, when many people seeking benefits will need in-person appointments to verify their identities. The new policy was scaled back after advocates and lawmakers raised concerns about barriers to service. Still, Piñeiro said half the calls she answers on the general inquiry line are from people worried their benefits will be stopped if they can’t make it into the office.
Some Social Security beneficiaries don’t live near a field office or lack access to public transportation. In Massachusetts, the Greenfield field office closed over a decade ago, leaving a gap in Franklin County, a largely rural area where 18,925 residents receive Social Security, according to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s office.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., joined at right by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, criticizes efforts by President Trump, Elon Musk, and Republicans in Congress to compromise the Social Security program, in Washington, D.C. Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)
Concerns about in-person service have been exacerbated by the Trump administration’s plans to close federal buildings. No Massachusetts sites are on the list of Social Security offices closing this year. But the Thomas P. O’Neill Jr. Federal Building in Boston, which houses a Social Security office, was on a list of buildings to sell that the Trump administration posted and later took down in March. Union spokesman Couture worries the federal government will again target the O’Neill building for closure.
“All these federal buildings — well, that’s one avenue for closure,” Couture said. “So the entire system is under attack.”
Another change causing concern is a new overpayment policy, Piñeiro said. In the past, the agency deducted 10% of a recipient’s monthly benefit if they had received more than they were entitled to. This can result from a mistake on Social Security’s part or a failure to make updates that might impact a person’s benefits.
Now, the agency is withholding all funds until any overpayment is addressed.
“That brings people into the office in a state of desperation,” Piñeiro said. “Retirees cannot afford to lose for one month their benefit.”
Billionaire Elon Musk, who is helming DOGE, the White House’s cost-cutting unit, has repeatedly cited Social Security fraud as a significant problem. But Couture said the fraud rate is far less than 1% of payments a year.
“One of the ways to mitigate this is to provide the agency with resources,” Couture said. “Overpayments could be avoided with adequate staffing.”
Delays and confusion
Some Massachusetts residents have reported long wait times, payment delays and confusing messages in their online account portals.
Carolyn Villers, executive director of the Massachusetts Senior Action Council, said her organization joined a lawsuit filed last Wednesday alleging DOGE and the Social Security Administration’s actions violate laws protecting the benefit. Villers said her group has received concerning reports in recent weeks that include payment delays.
Two individuals who were set to receive benefits on March 26 didn’t receive their checks until April 1, leaving one woman unable to pay her rent on time, Villers said, calling it “alarming.”
“I have worked with Mass Senior Action 20 years this fall, and I have never heard of people getting delayed or late payments, certainly without explanation,” she said.
She said she has also heard reports of phone wait times exceeding three hours and limited availability for in-person appointments. One woman was told she would have to wait 40 days — more than a month — for an appointment at any of the six offices in her region, Villers said.
“Until recently, I had not heard of people who called and were told ‘no available appointments,’ ” Villers said. “We have seen and heard from our members and the larger community that there has been a noticeable shift in a lack of access.”
Error reports also appear to be on the rise, Villers said. Concerns have circulated on social media from people who found notices in their online accounts that said they are no longer receiving benefits.
Tom and Christine, a Westborough couple who asked WBUR to withhold their last name because they fear retribution for speaking out, received one such notice. They logged in March 31 to check the account of their son Ned, who has autism. He gets Social Security disability benefits that help pay for the group home where he receives 24/7 care.
The notice on his account caused them to panic, said Chistine. She said she worried that she might have to reapply for her son’s benefits. It turned out to be an error, and the payment arrived on time the following day.
The family also had to wait three weeks to schedule an appointment for Ned’s Medicare benefits. Christine said these experiences have shaken her confidence in the system.
“These are not people we need to stress more, and these are not families we need to stress more,” she said.
Taking action
Massachusetts’ two U.S. senators, both Democrats, say they’re fighting to preserve Social Security benefits.
Last week, Sen. Warren and three other Democratic senators launched a “Social Security War Room” to educate the public about cuts and encourage grassroots activism.
“It is about having a place to bring the stories, so we can have all of the American people privy to what we hear when we’re back home,” Warren told reporters.
Sen. Ed Markey said his office has contacted Social Security officials about complaints from his constituents.
“My office is contacted daily by senior citizens who are terrified that they will lose the earned benefits they rely on to eat and to keep a roof over their head,” he told reporters last month.
Musk and his DOGE team have yet to comment on the lawsuit the Massachusetts Senior Action Council and four other groups filed with seven beneficiaries.
“We keep hearing the administration and Trump say, ‘We’re not gonna cut Social Security.’ Well, they are,” Villers said. “These delays and disruptions that are creating barriers to people accessing their earned benefits are absolutely a cut.”
This story is part of a partnership between WBUR and the Boston University Department of Journalism.
58% of New Zealand workers say there is currently a correlation between in-office attendance and promotion opportunities in their organisation
54% of workers would spend more time in the office if frequent attendance was a requirement for a promotion
17% of employees would look for a new job if they had to attend the office more often in order to get a promotion
Auckland, 15 April 2025 – Employees who are reluctant to return to the office may be putting their next promotion at risk, as the majority of New Zealand workers agree that in-office attendance significantly increases their chances of advancement, new independent research by specialised recruiter Robert Half finds.
At a time when only 39% of workers say they have working from home/hybrid options, the research reveals Kiwi workers are aware that being present in the office is a significant benefit to their career.
When asked if there is currently a correlation between in-office attendance and promotion opportunities within your organisation, 58% of workers agreed. A quarter (25%) disagreed and 17% were unsure.
“The growing emphasis on in-office work by employers could create career progression hurdles for those seeking to remain remote,” says Megan Alexander, Managing Director at Robert Half. “The reality is, physical presence in the office enhances visibility, promotes collaboration, and aids in promoting culture, all of which are highly valued by employers.”
Employees put promotions ahead of remote work perks
The research reveals employees are prepared to increase their in-office attendance rather than risk being overlooked for a promotion. If their employer outlined it as a requirement or expectation for a higher role, more than half (54%) of employees say they would increase their time in the office.
However, remote working arrangements were cited as sacrosanct for many employees who would choose working from home over a promotion (17%) or would look for a new job that may not have the same in-office requirements (17%).
The remaining 12% of employees say they already attend the office full time.
While all generations acknowledge the potential promotional advantages of in-office work, our research found that the generations of Gen Z (56%) and Gen X (58%) are more willing to increase their office attendance to be favoured for a promotion.
“As working in the office has returned as the new norm for Kiwi workers, the significance of in-office attendance as a key factor in promotional decisions diminishes. This allows businesses to focus more intently on output and outcome-driven parameters, ensuring that promotions are primarily driven by tangible results rather than presence,” concludes Alexander.
About the research
The study is developed by Robert Half and was conducted online in November 2024 by an independent research company among 500 full-time office workers in finance, accounting, and IT and technology. Respondents are drawn from a sample of SMEs as well as large private, publicly-listed and public sector organisations across New Zealand. This survey is part of the international workplace survey, a questionnaire about job trends, talent management and trends in the workplace.
About Robert Half
Robert Half is the global, specialised talent solutions provider that helps employers find their next great hire and jobseekers uncover their next opportunity. Robert Half offers both contract and permanent placement services, and is the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting firm. Robert Half New Zealand has an office in Auckland. More information on roberthalf.com/nz
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones will take one of the largest delegations in recent years to the Chatham Islands tomorrow for his next regional summit. “It is important, given the relative isolation of the islands, to take the summit to the people who live there. The Chathams has an infrastructure deficit and I am going there in person to share with the locals the criteria of the Regional Infrastructure Fund and how they can apply for project funding,” Mr Jones says. “I expect a big turnout from the locals for this summit. Previously, the Crown funded projects through the Provincial Growth Fund. I’m keen to see how they have contributed to the local economy. Boosting resilience is critical. “ I am taking a large delegation including government ministers and MPs, experts in a range of fields, business leaders and officials. Energy, fishing, tourism and alternative land use are all areas which could benefit from the connections made at the summit tomorrow and I hope to hear some ambitious plans from the islanders.” Mr Jones will also be accompanied by the Rātana Band, a rare visit, and an acknowledgement of the historical ties between the Rātana Church and the Chathams. The Coalition Government’s drive for regional economic growth through the $1.2 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund is on track with more than $580 million in funding so far committed to key infrastructure projects. “To date, the Regional Infrastructure Fund has received more than 260 applications. Approved investments align with the Government’s focus areas of enabling growth and water storage, supporting energy generation and Māori economic development, and increasing resilience,” Mr Jones says. Mr Jones has so far held 11 summits around the country, with more than 1300 stakeholders attending. Summits will be held for Wairarapa and Kāpiti on 9 May, and Otago on 16 May. The Regional Infrastructure Fund is a capital fund with the primary purpose of accelerating infrastructure projects, particularly with a focus on water storage, energy, Māori economic development, growth, and resilience. Committed funding includes approved funding and funding ring-fenced for specific purposes but is yet to be approved for release.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
UK announces new humanitarian funding for Sudan
The UK has announced new support to Sudan ahead of the Sudan conference which will bring together international representatives.
The UK will commit further life-saving aid for over 650,000 people affected by the ongoing violence as Sudan faces the worst humanitarian crisis on record.
A one-day conference will unite foreign ministers and leading humanitarian leaders at a conference in London to mark the two-year anniversary of the brutal conflict in Sudan.
International representatives will discuss how to achieve a peaceful end to the conflict and address the issues preventing aid reaching those most in need.
Today [15th April] the UK will co-host a conference in London alongside the African Union, EU, France and Germany to mark the two-year anniversary of the conflict in Sudan with attendees including major donors and multilateral institutions.
Bringing together foreign ministers from across the globe, the Foreign Secretary will step up international efforts to protect civilians and work towards an end to the conflict.
During a one-day conference, he will announce new life-saving aid to support over 650,000 Sudanese people. Alongside international counterparts, he will also identify steps to improve humanitarian access and find a long-term political solution.
Sudan is facing the worst humanitarian crisis on record, with over 30 million people in desperate need of aid, over 12 million people are displaced, and famine is spreading throughout Sudan. Over 12 million women and girls are also at risk of gender-based violence.
The new £120 million funding announced today will deliver lifesaving food and nutrition supplies, including for vulnerable children and will provide emergency support to survivors of sexual violence.
The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy said:
Two years is far too long – the brutal war in Sudan has devastated the lives of millions – and yet much of the world continues to look away. We need to act now to stop the crisis from becoming an all-out catastrophe, ensuring aid gets to those who need it the most.
As I saw earlier this year on a visit to Chad’s border with Sudan, the warring parties have shown an appalling disregard for the civilian population of Sudan. This conference will bring together the international community to agree a pathway to end the suffering.
Instability must not spread – it drives migration from Sudan and the wider region, and a safe and stable Sudan is vital for our national security. The UK will not let Sudan be forgotten.
African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye said:
Achieving peace in Sudan depends on valuing every voice and everyone playing a role in building a prosperous Sudan. The African Union is committed to assisting all the people of Sudan build a brighter democratic future by working to silence the guns.
The ongoing conflict and instability risks spilling over into the wider region, driving Sudanese people away from their homes, with some taking dangerous onward journeys to the UK and Europe. Instability in Sudan also directly impacts the UK’s national security.
The UK wants to help tackle instability in Sudan and reduce the level of irregular migration from the region to Europe and the UK as part of its Plan for Change.
Countries and organisations attending the Sudan conference include the United Kingdom, the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), France, Germany, Canada, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Norway, Qatar, South Sudan, Switzerland, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, United States of America, alongside high-level Representatives of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the League of Arab States (LAS) and the United Nations (UN).
On 17 November, the Foreign Secretary announced a £113 million aid package, which will support over a million people affected by violence in Sudan.
The new £120 million funding announced today is for the 2025/2026 financial year and will deliver food including pulses, oils, salts and cereals.
The UK welcomes the 13 February decision to keep the critical Chad-Sudan Adré border crossing open for three more months. But the Sudanese Armed Forces must keep it open permanently, and without restrictions.
The parties to the conflict continue to obstruct the work of humanitarian agencies, through delaying visas for aid workers and limiting their movements throughout Sudan.
Funding announced today aims to reach over 600,000 people including:
670,000 people reached with food assistance for three months.
205,000 people reached through a cash-based response.
600,000 people reached through nutrition and water and sanitation.
This is a joint media release from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and Victoria Police.
Detectives from the VIPER Taskforce executed warrants at 12 tobacco stores across Melbourne last week as part of the ongoing investigation by Taskforce Lunar into organised crime syndicates linked to the illicit tobacco trade.
Members of the taskforce were joined at the warrants from 7–11 April by representatives from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), who also executed warrants at the stores.
Police attended 12 stores, which they will allege are linked to two of the organised crime syndicates involved, in Altona Meadows, Truganina, Craigieburn, Broadmeadows, Tullamarine, Mill Park, Bundoora, Weir Views, Watsonia, Altona North, Prahran and Hawthorn.
As a result, the following was seized:
14,593 e-cigarettes (vapes) with a street value of over $729,650 profit
over 305kg of loose-leaf tobacco worth $650,388 excise avoided
over $22,500 in cash, and
three conducted electricity devices and one baton.
Fourteen people were arrested and interviewed in relation to the offences of possess tobacco and possess proceeds of crime. They are expected to be charged on summons.
Detectives from the VIPER Taskforce ran the same operation from 21 November – 2 December, 2024, executing 16 search warrants across regional and metropolitan Melbourne, seizing the following:
over 745 kg of loose-leaf tobacco, worth $1,565,907 excise avoided
over 131,000 in cash, and
over 3,400 e-cigarettes (vapes) with a street value of over $170,000 profit.
Victoria Police continues to support local councils and the Victorian Department of Health who have responsibility for tobacco and vape enforcement and compliance.
Detectives continue to work alongside external agencies such as the ABF, AFP, TGA, ATO and interstate counterparts.
Investigators continue to appeal to anyone, especially store owners and staff, who have information about these incidents and who is responsible to come forward.
Anyone with information about these incidents or with further information about serious and organised crime linked to the illicit tobacco trade is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.auExternal Link.
Quotes attributable to Detective Acting Inspector Justin Shields, VIPER Taskforce:
“The warrants this week in support of the Taskforce Lunar investigation into the operation of these crime syndicates are a strong demonstration of state and Commonwealth agencies coming together to target the issue of illicit tobacco in every way possible.
“We have been clear that this is no longer about simply the investigation of the individual incidents – this is about doing absolutely everything we can to deter, disrupt and dismantle these syndicates and those at the helm of them.
“This includes the targeting of anyone across Victoria who is involved in the distribution and sale of illicit tobacco, at any level. Ultimately, this is contributing to enabling those organised crime syndicates to operate here in Victoria.
“While people’s lives remain at risk due to this heightened criminal activity, we will continue to target these organise crime syndicates and do everything we can to hold them accountable.”
Quotes attributable to Assistant Commissioner, Jade Hawkins, Australian Taxation Office:
“These arrests and the seizure of illicit tobacco products demonstrate the ATO’s ongoing commitment to supporting our partners in removing it from the community while creating a level playing field for legitimate businesses.
“We’ll continue to work with our partners to detect, disrupt and dismantle the organised crime syndicates who are using profits from selling illicit tobacco to fund other serious illegal activities. By doing this, it ensures there will be financial and criminal implications for those who are involved.”
Minor law change needed to take pressure off GPs and return people to work faster
Physiotherapy patients are waiting too long to be allowed to return to work, likely costing ACC millions of dollars in compensation payments it should not be paying because of delays in getting GPs to sign return to work certificates.
Physiotherapy New Zealand (PNZ) is calling on the Government to amend the law to allow physiotherapists the same power as GPs to certify that a patient who is under ACC care is ready to return to work.
“New Zealand physiotherapists have the skills and experience to ensure people can return to work safely and with GPs under more pressure than ever, now is the time to remove the bottleneck,” said PNZ President Kirsten Davie.
“Physiotherapists write the return to work plans now for their patients which GPs sign off on so it’s just common sense to give physiotherapists the same authority. They already do this for employers who need a return-to-work certificate for workers who are not on ACC compensation to ensure they are meeting health and safety requirements.
“These days getting a timely appointment with a GP is harder than ever, especially in remote parts of New Zealand. We have heard of cases where people without a GP have been forced to wait hours in A&E to get a return-to-work certificate.
“And even if a patient can get to a GP, they may be charged for the visit.
“None of this makes sense when a simple amendment to the Accident Compensation Corporation Act giving physiotherapists the power to sign return to work certificates would get people back to work quickly and safely.
Business supports change
“Businesses agree with us – they want their staff back to work as soon as possible, as long as they are fit and healthy, and likewise patients who are fit again, want their lives to return to normal as well.”
The construction industry is keen to see physiotherapists given the authority to return workers to building sites.
“It just makes good sense,” said Chris Alderson, chief executive of Construction Health and Safety New Zealand which works to raise the standard of health, safety and wellbeing in construction.
“Many of the injuries construction workers suffer are musculoskeletal related, which physios are well placed to remedy. GPs often refer a worker to a physio who understands the treatment a worker needs and exercises that will help get them back to work fit and well.
“We know many construction workers don’t have easy access to a GP, so may end up just not getting the treatment they need until the pain is too bad or end up at emergency departments for conditions that should have been dealt with earlier. Giving physios the ability to sign off the return to work will take pressure off primary health care and get workers back to sites far more quickly. It’s just not good for anyone’s mental health and well-being to sit at home when they are ready to go back to work.”
Cost of compensation
The cost of compensation that should not be paid out by ACC when people are ready to return to work runs to millions of dollars every year. A Physiotherapy New Zealand survey of members in August 2024 showed how big the problem is. 454 members identified at least 4,400 days of delay for their patients getting a return-to-work certificate in one month alone (equivalent to 628 weeks).
ACC stipulates the minimum rate of weekly compensation payable is $740.80, based on a 40-hour week (ACC weekly compensation information here). That amounts to $4,656,457, just under half a million in weekly compensation from our member survey in one month alone.
“Cost savings for ACC in returning people to work as soon as possible are likely to be significant. Right now, ACC is under pressure to reduce costs and be sustainable, so this change makes good financial sense too. ACC weekly compensation claim payments have risen 70% within the last five years, and are projected to rise further.
“We want to take pressure off GPs and continue working together with them to get Kiwis back to work safely and well.
“This is a no-brainer – good for people’s health, good for economic growth, good for government finances.”
Patient example – Robyn, nurse
Robyn (not her real name) is a nurse in Gisborne (not her real name). She fractured her foot slipping on stairs, which prevented her from returning to work at the local hospital. She rested and after six weeks the fracture clinic discharged her and referred her to physiotherapy for a supported return to work. Robyn was able to do some temporary office work at this time.
Her physiotherapist assessed her and developed a return to work plan. In order to begin this planned return to work, Robyn needed a signed certificate from a GP. Robyn couldn’t get to see her GP for three weeks as the clinic was only taking emergency cases given how busy it is.
Without the certificate Robyn was unable to begin the return to her usual clinical duties or continue with the office work. She needed to be either given full clearance for her usual work or be certified partially fit to return to office work and begin the plan with her physiotherapist.
Since Robyn’s current certificate had expired, ACC compensation stopped.
Robyn worried she would not have any income for these three weeks, being neither on ACC compensation nor back at work. This left her in limbo until her physiotherapist intervened, called the GP clinic, explained the urgent need, and the GP clinic issued the certificate including the plan the physiotherapist had provided.
“This was really frustrating – I was facing weeks without income sitting around at home because I couldn’t get to see a GP. It shouldn’t take a call from my physio to make this happen. And we have a real shortage of nurses here so having a nurse out of action for longer than necessary just puts more pressure on the hospital when it doesn’t need to be that way. Physios should be able to do the paperwork to get people back to work as soon as they are fit and well.”
Today Straterra has been renamed as New Zealand Minerals Council, says chief executive Josie Vidal.
“With the global interest in mined minerals, particularly critical minerals, we believe it is time to better align ourselves with a name that will mean something to both New Zealanders and those in the global supply chain,” Vidal says.
“The Government has this year launched a Minerals Strategy for New Zealand to 2040 and a Critical Minerals List and is actively promoting minerals on the world stage, recognising mining’s contribution to growing our economy.
“We are a trading nation and our mined minerals are a valuable export commodity even, or perhaps more particularly, in the current turbulent world of trade.
“Straterra has been a great name and identity for our organisation, dating back to 2008, but the world is changing fast and we need to be agile and ready to assist our members in that environment.
“We have a new logo and name but our purpose remains the same, to enable socially and environmentally responsible mining, providing minerals for a sustainable and resilient future, and enduring value for all New Zealanders.”
New Zealand Minerals Council is the industry association representing New Zealand’s minerals and mining sector.
Source: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union
AFL-CIO, AFGE, AFSCME, AFT, IAM, SEIU, and UFCW Are Plaintiffs in the Lawsuit to Restore the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
NEW YORK – The AFL-CIO and unions representing workers across private and public sector industries sued the Trump administration today over its dismantling of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), including firing mediators and staff, and closing field offices across the country.
FMCS is a small but important independent federal agency that is integral to the government’s labor relations infrastructure. Among the critical services FMCS provides, it helps resolve contract negotiations between workers and employers to protect both the economy and workers’ rights, generating over $500 million in national economic savings each year, even by conservative estimates. But DOGE cuts have decimated the agency: 93% of FMCS staff have been placed on leave, the mediation workforce has been taken down from the 80-100 needed for the agency’s work to just five, and all of the field offices have been closed.
The suit argues that the administration’s actions are illegal under the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution because they amount to an effective dismantling of FMCS that has prevented it from performing its statutory responsibilities required by Congress.
“FMCS is a little-known but critical government agency that works to bring labor and management together to solve problems between workers and employers—and it’s illegally under attack by Elon Musk and his DOGE,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “Without FMCS, there will be longer and drawn-out contract negotiations, as well as delays in implementing increased wages and improved benefits won through collective bargaining. The unnecessary cuts to FMCS make absolutely no economic sense and will cost taxpayers, consumers, businesses and workers. Congress created FMCS nearly 80 years ago, and only an act of Congress can shutter it. I’m proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our affiliated unions today in filing this lawsuit to challenge this illegal, cruel and wrong-headed action by DOGE.”
“We are filing this lawsuit because once again, the administration is unlawfully shutting down an agency simply because billionaires do not like it. Hobbling employers’ and workers’ ability to negotiate will only hurt our communities,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “FMCS helps to mediate thousands of collective bargaining agreements and other disputes, ensuring workers are paid fairly while commerce and services continue to flow. The agency’s meager $55 million budget – which accounts for less than 0.0014% of the overall federal budget – generates more than $500 million in annual savings for our economy. Shutting it down helps only billionaires like Elon Musk and his anti-union friends, who want to take away workers’ voice on the job.”
“This case is about more than a single agency — it’s about upholding workers’ fundamental bargaining rights and protecting a foundation stone of labor relations in America,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “FMCS was created by Congress as a neutral arbiter to promote labor peace and fair negotiations, a role it has proudly carried out for nearly 80 years. The president says he cares about working people, but that’s hard to believe when he attempts to abolish an agency that helps them negotiate fair contracts with their employers. FMCS was crucial to securing an agreement during the Oregon Nurses’ Association’s strike in February, and FMCS mediators were in the room for first contracts at charter schools across New Orleans, New York, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh—discussions that suddenly stalled in the face of the administration’s attacks. The AFT and our co-plaintiffs are suing to block the destruction of FMCS so it can continue to fulfil its Congressional mandate and ensure the administration follows, rather than ignores, federal law.”
“The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is a small but mighty agency that directly benefits the U.S. economy by helping to resolve costly and disruptive labor disputes in the public and private sectors. Trump and Elon Musk’s efforts to abolish FMCS have nothing to do with saving taxpayers money and everything to do with gutting workers’ union rights and protections. It’s shameful, it’s wasteful, and it must be stopped,” said American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National President Everett Kelley.
“The Trump administration has no legal right to eliminate FMCS through executive action, and no rational reason to eliminate an agency that helps working people,“ said United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew.
“The Trump administration’s reckless attempt to eliminate FMCS is yet another attack on working people and our rights to collectively bargain,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “FMCS is a small, but vitally important agency that serves as a much-needed independent arbiter during negotiations between workers and employers. For the IAM Union, FMCS has been vital in resolving contract disputes with national and international economic consequences, including a strike of 4,300 U.S. Navy shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works, and helping to avoid work stoppages on numerous occasions. We are proud to stand with our partners in the labor movement to fight back against this illegal attack on the rights of all working families.”
“We will not let this administration’s union-busting tactics take away our rights, and we will not take orders from an unelected billionaire. America’s public service workers serve our nation without regard to profits, politics, or glory. That’s why SEIU members are standing with our siblings at AFL-CIO, AFGE, AFSCME, AFT, IAM, UFCW and other unions to fight back against the President’s unlawful dismantling of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service,” said SEIU President April Verrett. “This isn’t just about protecting federal workers and their unions. It’s about protecting our communities. When you take away the voices of workers serving veterans, securing the border, and protecting public health, you silence the voices of all those who rely on their services, too.”
The legal challenge was brought by AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), International Associations of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), unions, as well as many locals and affiliates, which have worked with FMCS mediators in labor disputes with their members’ employers. Many are actively engaged in collective-bargaining negotiations with FMCS when the mediator was forced to abruptly leave or cancel the negotiations because they had been placed on leave. With only five mediators remaining at FMCS, these unions and their workers will be left in the lurch, working under expired contracts or no contracts, and strikes or lockouts are much more likely.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The complaint can be found online here.
Harvard University on Monday rejected the Trump administration’s demands to make sweeping changes to its governance, hiring and admissions practices, despite billions of dollars in federal funding being at risk if it fails to comply.
“We have informed the administration through our legal counsel that we will not accept their proposed agreement. The University will not negotiate over its independence or its constitutional rights,” Harvard University President Alan M. Garber wrote in a letter to members of the Harvard Community.
“The administration’s prescription goes beyond the power of the federal government,” Garber argued.
“Harvard is committed to fighting antisemitism and other forms of bigotry in its community,” two attorneys representing the university wrote in a letter Monday, while noting that “Harvard is not prepared to agree to demands that go beyond the lawful authority of this or any administration.”
Trump administration officials on Friday sent a letter to Harvard, demanding that the university make “meaningful governance reform and restructuring,” noting that “an investment is not an entitlement.”
“Harvard has in recent years failed to live up to both the intellectual and civil rights conditions that justify federal investment,” the letter read.
“We therefore present the below provisions as the basis for an agreement in principle that will maintain Harvard’s financial relationship with the federal government,” according to the administration’s letter.
The administration’s demands include: adopting and implementing merit-based hiring and admissions policies, and ceasing all preferences based on race, color, and national origin; reforming the recruitment, screening, and admissions of international students to prevent admitting students hostile to the American values and institutions, including students supportive of terrorism or antisemitism; reforming programs with “egregious records of antisemitism”; and shutting down all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
The Trump administration has threatened to cut federal funding to the country’s top universities, pressuring them to implement major changes.
It recently announced that it was reviewing 9 billion dollars in federal funding to Harvard and its affiliates.
Columbia University, which was at the heart of last year’s pro-Palestinian protests, became the first institution to face consequences, losing 400 million dollars in federal funding last month. University officials said they are currently in ongoing discussions with the administration to have the funding reinstated.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brenton Griffin, Casual Lecturer and Tutor in History, Indigenous Studies, and Politics, Flinders University
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced it will build 15 new temples in countries across the world, including one in Liverpool, New South Wales.
This follows a similar announcement last year of plans to build a second temple for Queensland, in South Brisbane.
The two new structures – together with existing temples in Sydney (1984), Adelaide (2000), Melbourne (2000), Perth (2001) and Brisbane (2003) – will bring the total number of Australian temples to seven.
In a nation with fewer than 160,000 practising Mormons, these new buildings seek to increase the legitimacy and visibility of the church.
The Melbourne temple was erected in 2000, as was the temple in Adelaide. Wikimedia
The significance of temples
There are currently at least 200 completed Mormon temples around the globe, with an additional 182 under construction or announced.
Temples have a different purpose and scope to Mormon chapels, which are far more common: Australia has about 190 Mormon chapels.
Chapels are used for weekly sacrament (or communion) and weekly sermons. They are open to visitors, and often hold cultural events, extra church activities and family history centres.
Temples, on the other hand, represent the blending of the divine and temporal. According to the Mormon worldview and doctrines, they are the world’s most sacred structures.
Each temple is emblazoned with the phrase “The House of the Lord, Holiness to the Lord”. This isn’t just symbolic. Mormons believe each temple is literally the house of God, in which his presence may be felt.
Given the gravity of this belief, these spaces are reserved for those who have been deemed worthy to enter by Mormon leaders.
Inside the House of the Lord
The church itself maintains that temples are “sacred, not secret”. It has long worked to dispel speculation over what happens within temple bounds.
One way it does this is through “open houses”, in which a newly-built temple may be toured by anyone for a brief period. Once the open house has ended and the temple has been “dedicated” by a church leader – a process that includes blessing the building and those who will use it – it becomes entirely closed to the public.
Within the temples, the most sacred rituals and knowledge of “the gospel” are imparted upon faithful members. Rituals can be performed for both living people and deceased ancestors. They must never be conducted – or even discussed – outside the sacred temple space.
One of these rituals is baptism and confirmation for the dead by proxy (baptisms for the living are conducted in chapels or other spaces). This provides the deceased individuals “ordinances” that are necessary for salvation, which they did not receive during life.
These baptisms have been controversial at times, with ordinances performed on individuals who were not direct ancestors of Latter-day Saints, including Holocaust victims and historical figures such as Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler. Even prominent Australians such as Ned Kelly, Malcolm Fraser, Neville Bonner and Truganini have allegedly appeared as “baptised” in Mormon records.
The rituals are accompanied by various stages of knowledge progression for attendees. As with the rituals, temple knowledge is not to be discussed outside.
Local opposition
The air of secrecy and exclusivity surrounding Mormon temples has resulted in a flood of negative attention from Australian media, other religious institutions and society at large. News reports from as far back as the early 20th century sought to expose “Mormon temple secrets”.
The first temple, built in Sydney in 1984, was widely protested by community groups and organisations. The building had to be modified by the church before it was eventually approved. A similar situation transpired in Brisbane in the early 2000s.
In other cities, such as Adelaide and Melbourne, temples were not directly protested, but were still critiqued for their lavishness, with the average Australian temple costing around A$8 million in the late 1990s/early 2000s.
Given the cost of living crisis, and contention over the place of religion in contemporary Australia, the two proposed temples will likely also face criticism.
Reputational management
The church’s reputation in Australia has become ever more complicated over the past 20 years, not least due to several controversies.
In 2022 and 2023, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald reported the church was allegedly abusing tax laws, to the amount of hundreds of millions of dollars. This was addressed, but not confirmed or denied, in the November 2022 Senate Estimates by Australian Tax Office Assistant Commissioner Jeremy Hirschhorn, after questioning by Greens Senator David Shoebridge. Accusations of tax evasion have also been made in New Zealand and the United States.
The new Australian temples will be completed under a pall of critiques and accusations around church finances and other controversies. And while they might be briefly open to the public, their doors will just as quickly shut – adding more fuel to the speculation.
Brenton Griffin was raised as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but is no longer a practising member of the church. His current research is focused on the religion’s place in Australian and New Zealand popular culture, politics, and society from the nineteenth century to present.
Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) recently introduced legislation to increase the percentage limitation on assets of real estate investment trusts (REIT) which may be held in taxable REIT subsidiaries.
“By increasing the percentage limitation on assets of real estate investment trusts that can be held in taxable REIT subsidiaries, we are providing businesses with greater flexibility to grow and invest,” said Senator Tillis. “This much-needed change will help REITs continue to invest in critical sectors like infrastructure, and ensure American businesses remain competitive in the global economy.”
“Real estate investments contribute millions to Georgia’s economy, and I’m proud to work alongside Senator Tillis to enable these businesses in critical sectors, like timber, to grow,” said Senator Warnock.
“S. 1334 to restore the taxable REIT subsidiary asset limit from 20 percent to 25 percent is a very important step to grow the domestic lumber manufacturing base,” said Kristen Sawin, Vice President Government and Corporate Affairs, Weyerhaeuser. “Increasing the taxable REIT subsidiary limit back to 25 percent would allow companies like Weyerhaeuser to increase investment in its wood products business in the United States. We appreciate the leadership of Senators Tillis and Warnock on this important piece of legislation.”
“PotlatchDeltic Corporation is delighted by Senator Warnock’s and Senator Tillis’s sponsorship of Senate Bill 1334,” said Wayne Wasechek, Chief Financial Officer, PotlatchDeltic Corporation. “This bill will provide meaningful headroom for Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT) to grow their taxable REIT subsidiaries (TRS) from a current maximum value of 20% of the REIT’s total asset value up to 25%. Timberland REITs like PotlatchDeltic can have vertically integrated manufacturing businesses such as sawmills which must reside in a TRS. Passage of this bill will provide a much-needed buffer, enabling REITs to continue investing in manufacturing activities in its TRS, exemplified by PotlatchDeltic’s recent $131 million modernization project at our Waldo, Arkansas sawmill. These investments in manufacturing activities and assets are critical for supporting rural jobs and communities and generating market demand and ensuring the sustainable management of our working forests. We are excited to see the bipartisan support for Senate Bill 1334 and appreciate the leadership of Senator Warnock and Senator Tillis in sponsoring this crucial legislation.”
“Nareit supports U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) in their bipartisan effort to introduce Senate legislation aimed at increasing the limit on the amount of assets a REIT can own through a fully taxable subsidiary. The current 20 percent cap has presented challenges for REITs seeking to invest additional capital in real estate and related assets, particularly in sectors like infrastructure. Raising the threshold to 25 percent would restore the limit to its previous level, enabling U.S.-based businesses to continue to grow and stay competitive in this transitioning and global economy. Nareit thanks the Senators for their leadership on this important issue,” said the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit).
Full text of the bill is available HERE.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)
April 14, 2025 | Press ReleasesVENICE — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today joined a U.S. Chamber Roundtable in North Venice, Florida, to discuss the importance of extending the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017.
Hosted at the Ajax Paving Industry complex in North Venice, the U.S. Chamber Roundtable focused on the benefits of the TCJA and the risks posed to small businesses and local industries in the Suncoast if Congress fails to renew the law.“There is a reason small business owners and entrepreneurs look to Southwest Florida to pursue the American dream. No community better represents and embraces the values of free enterprise than the Suncoast,” said Rep. Steube. “Since its passage in 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) has delivered unprecedented prosperity for employers and employees alike. From streamlining corporate taxation to providing a critical tax deduction for small business development, the TCJA has delivered on its promise. Failing to renew the law would be catastrophic for not only Southwest Florida but the entire nation. Extending the TCJA will ensure our businesses and local industries prosper and remain competitive in the global economy for years to come.”From the 20% deduction for qualified business income to the reduction in the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, the TCJA delivered a major boost to both employers and employees alike. In the first two years following the passage of the TCJA, median household income rose by nearly $7,000, the largest increase in income for working families since the late 1990s. Americans earning an adjusted gross income of $15,000 to $50,000 per year received tax relief of as much as 26% of their annual income. A recent study by the National Federation of Independent Business also estimated the TCJA’s 20% deduction for qualified business income will free up an additional $75 billion for small businesses and create one million new jobs per year over the next decade.After his remarks, Representative Steube was recognized by the National Asphalt and Paving Association. He concluded his visit with a tour of the Ajax Paving Industries’ facility followed by a meet-and-greet with employees.
Since the inauguration of President Trump, the Department of Justice is playing a critical role in Operation Take back America, a nationwide initiative to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Last week, the U.S. Attorneys for Arizona, Central California, Southern California, New Mexico, Southern Texas, and Western Texas charged more than 1,020 defendants with criminal violations of U.S. immigration laws.
The Southern District of Texas filed 229 cases in border security-related matters. As part of those cases, 80 face allegations of illegally reentering the country with the majority having felony convictions such as narcotics, firearms or sexual offenses, or prior immigration crimes. A total of 126 people face charges of illegally entering the country, 18 cases involve various instances of human smuggling with others relating to firearms, false statements and other immigration matters. One such case alleges Victor D. Perozo-Zarraga committed fraud and misuse of a visa after authorities found him in possession of fraudulent legal permanent resident and Social Security documents. He indicated he had legal status to be in the United States, which he does not, according to the complaint. Other relevant matters this week include a Mexican visa holder who attempted to bring child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and drugs across the border. Christian Christopher Rodriguez-Lopez was ordered to serve 151 months after attempting to enter the United States from Mexico. Upon inspection, law enforcement located approximately five kilograms of cocaine in his vehicle. Further investigation following his arrest resulted in the additional discovery of CSAM on his cell phone. His visa has since been revoked.
The Western District of Texas filed 295 immigration and immigration-related criminal cases. Among the new cases, Mexican national Jorge Alberto Garcia-Drue was encountered at the Frio County Jail in Pearsall after he was arrested for allegedly refusing to provide accurate identification. Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Enforcement Removal Operations agents determined that Garcia-Drue was an alien illegally present within the United States and that he had been previously removed from the country. A review of his criminal history revealed that he had also been convicted on Dec. 10, 2014 of harboring illegal aliens and aiding and abetting. For that conviction, Garcia-Drue was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison.
The District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 261 defendants. Specifically, the United States filed 103 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 140 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States also filed 14 cases against 18 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The Southern District of California filed 116 border-related cases, including charges of transportation of illegal aliens, bringing in aliens for financial gain, receipt of bribes by public officials, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The Central District of California filed charges against 21 defendants who allegedly were found in the U.S. following removal. Many of the defendants charged were previously convicted of felony offenses prior to their removal from the United States, including alien smuggling, burglary, grand theft, and assault with a deadly weapon.
The District of New Mexico brought the following criminal charges: 63 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326), four individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324), and 38 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325). Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions, with some of those convictions being for drug trafficking, alien smuggling, and grand theft.
We are grateful for the hard work of our border prosecutors in bringing these cases and helping to make our border safe again.
LOS ANGELES, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Preferred Bank(NASDAQ: PFBC), one of the larger independent commercial banks in California, today announced plans to release its financial results for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2025 before the open of market on Friday, April 25, 2025. That same day, management will host a conference call at 2:00 p.m. Eastern (11:00 a.m. Pacific). The call will be simultaneously broadcast over the Internet.
Interested participants and investors may access the conference call by dialing 844-826-3037 (domestic) or 412-317-5182 (international) and referencing “Preferred Bank.” There will also be a live webcast of the call available at the Investor Relations section of Preferred Bank’s website at www.preferredbank.com.
Preferred Bank’s Chairman and CEO Li Yu, President and Chief Operating Officer Wellington Chen, Chief Financial Officer Edward J. Czajka, Chief Credit Officer Nick Pi and Deputy Chief Operating Officer Johnny Hsu will discuss Preferred Bank’s financial results, business highlights and outlook. After the live webcast, a replay will be available at the Investor Relations section of Preferred Bank’s website. A replay of the call will also be available at 877-344-7529 (domestic) or 412-317-0088 (international) through May 2, 2025; the passcode is 8939265.
About Preferred Bank
Preferred Bank is one of the larger independent commercial banks headquartered in California. The Bank is chartered by the State of California, and its deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Bank conducts its banking business from its main office in Los Angeles, California, and through twelve full-service branch banking offices in the California cities of Alhambra, Century City, City of Industry, Torrance, Arcadia, Irvine (2 branches), Diamond Bar, Pico Rivera, Tarzana and San Francisco (2 branches), two branches in New York (Manhattan and Flushing) and one branch in the Houston suburb of Sugar Land, Texas. Additionally, the Bank operates a Loan Production Office in Sunnyvale, California. Preferred Bank offers a broad range of deposit and loan products and services to both commercial and consumer customers. The Bank provides personalized deposit services as well as real estate finance, commercial loans and trade finance to small and mid-sized businesses, entrepreneurs, real estate developers, professionals and high net worth individuals. Although originally founded as a Chinese-American Bank, Preferred Bank now derives most of its customers from the diversified mainstream market but does continue to benefit from the significant migration to California of ethnic Chinese from China and other areas of East Asia.
AT THE COMPANY: Edward J. Czajka Executive Vice President Chief Financial Officer (213) 891-1188
AT FINANCIAL PROFILES: Jeffrey Haas General Information (310) 622-8240 PFBC@finprofiles.com
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and 17 of her colleagues to press the Trump Administration for information on how their reckless tariff policy will impact farmers across the nation.
“We write with great concern about the impact of the Administration’s reckless tariff agenda on our nation’s farmers,” wrote the Senators to President Trump’s U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer. “Farmers not only have billions of dollars in commodities from last year waiting to be sold, but also have started spring planting and rely on stable markets for their planning.”
“As farm organizations and economists have been warning for months, key trading partners will continue to retaliate against U.S. agricultural products as a result of President Trump’s tariffs,” the Senators continued. “The direct economic impact and uncertainty on America’s farmers stands to change the future of agricultural trade relationships for generations.”
The full letter is available here and below.
Dear Ambassador Greer,
We write with great concern about the impact of the Administration’s reckless tariff agenda on our nation’s farmers. Farmers not only have billions of dollars in commodities from last year waiting to be sold, but also have started spring planting and rely on stable markets for their planning. These farmers have made planting decisions and purchased key inputs such as seeds and fertilizer, selected crop insurance coverage, and even began marketing their expected production. Long before the President’s across-the-board tariff announcement, millions of acres of fall-planted crops like winter wheat were already in the ground and farmers already have enough uncertainty without tariffs adding more volatility.
We continue to hear from farmers and businesses across the agricultural supply chain who are bearing the brunt of the negative impacts of the global tariffs announced by President Trump on April 2, 2025, and earlier tariffs on Canada and Mexico. These actions and the resulting retaliation have injected further uncertainty into the farm economy and continue to rattle commodity markets. Heading into this year, farmers were already facing tightened margins resulting from declining commodity prices and heightened input costs. Many farmers are in a much worse position than they were heading into the 2018-2019 trade war and so are less equipped to withstand the impacts of continued volatility.
As farm organizations and economists have been warning for months, key trading partners will continue to retaliate against U.S. agricultural products as a result of President Trump’s tariffs. For example, on April 3rd, China announced a 34 percent retaliatory tariff on all products from the U.S. A major export destination for U.S.-grown soybeans, futures prices dropped 34 cents on Friday, with an estimated loss in value of unsold 2024 soybeans of nearly $300 million. That Friday drop would also cost farmers nearly $1.4 billion on the 2025 crop. Cotton, another crop that is heavily reliant on exports followed a similar steep decline. Since then, volatility in the markets has continued as the Administration has continued to change the tariffs day-by-day and sometimes hour-by-hour. While the tariffs are currently 10 percent across-the-board for nearly all countries except China, this continued uncertainty is the last thing farmers need as they begin planting season.
Farmers are also continuing to experience the long-term implications of the 2018-2019 trade war when structural trade flows shifted to favor farmers in Brazil and Argentina. A prolonged trade war now with key trading partners will just further exacerbate those trade shifts. This market share that farmers are losing is the result of more than $15 billion in investments by both taxpayers and the farmers themselves through trade promotion programs over the last 50 years.
The direct economic impact and uncertainty on America’s farmers stands to change the future of agricultural trade relationships for generations. As such, we request responses to the following questions:
Did USTR perform any analysis on the impact of the across-the-board tariff policy on farmers prior to implementation? If so, please share that analysis with us.
What do you expect to be the short- and long-term impacts of tariffs on farmers?
There have been conflicting reports as to whether tariffs are being used as leverage in trade negotiations or as a long-term structural shift in trade policy.
Can you provide clarity on the goals of the administration’s trade policy?
If tariffs are being used as leverage in trade negotiations, what are your top agriculture priorities and markets? What countries are you prioritizing in negotiations, and what is the basis for determining those countries?
President Trump indicated that U.S. farmers need to get ready to supply the domestic market instead of the international markets.
Has USTR or have other agencies done analysis to show how production and consumption of crops would need to shift, or what domestic processing would be necessary to accomplish this goal? For example, there is very limited domestic cotton spinning, weaving or apparel manufacturing.
Significant parts of the agricultural trade imbalance are related to imports of specialty crops, many of which are either grown in tropical regions or imported during the off-season. U.S. farmers will not be able to produce these commodities in the same volume or season. Will consumers need to shift from fresh produce in the off season or be forced to pay a higher price due to the tariffs on these products?
Prior to the announcement of the across-the-board tariffs and per-country rates, the USDA announced plans for trade missions to several countries including some with tariffs as high as 46%.
Did USTR consult with USDA on the trade missions or setting tariffs based on targets for opening markets?
We have serious concerns about the haphazard approach taken by the Administration to tariffs that cause unnecessary uncertainty and harm for U.S. farmers and their markets. We look forward to a prompt response.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) delivered remarks at a press conference with U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Congressman Glenn Ivey (MD-04) outside of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland following a tour of the facility and a briefing from officials on its missions. Below is a full transcript of his opening remarks:
Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) speaking at a press conference outside of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
“Thank you very much, Senator. I had the great privilege of representing Goddard for 42 years, so I’ve been here a while, [and] I know the extraordinary work that goes on here. The extraordinary work that we cannot predict the specific advances that this will make in science and technology and the economic effect that it will have, but we do know from the many past years of NASA that they will occur, even though we may not know the specifics of it. I am pleased to join Glenn Ivey, who now represents this area, but he and I think of Prince George’s County as a unit, not as a single or two units, and we represent them together. And I’m so glad to be on Team Ivey, with respect to Goddard Space Flight Center.
“Let me say, I was a colleague of Bill Nelson. Some of you may remember Senator Nelson. Senator Nelson served in the United States House of Representatives, and I served with him. He then went to the United States Senate, and then he went to space. He was the ‘Senator in Space.’ He came back and he was one of the great proponents, not only of Goddard Space Flight Center, but all of the NASA components. And then, of course, he became the administrator of NASA in the last administration. He heard about this proposal, and here’s what he said: ‘They’re going to run NASA into a very deep ditch if they proceed with this kind of savagery.’ His words, not mine. He went on to say, ‘If you savaged NASA science, you have savaged our entire exploration program. And that will affect the human exploration program as well,’ which was essentially, Senator, what you said.
“We’ve seen, over the last three months, an effort to essentially disassemble American enterprise, American government, and American progress by a group that knew everything about how they were going to do it and do it quickly. But as in this instance, in almost every instance in which they’ve undertaken, they do not know the consequences, and the consequences will be dire, as Senator Nelson said, with respect to Goddard Space Flight Center.
“This center is the envy of one of our greatest competitors: China. This enterprise is going to be critical as we compete with China in science and in space and in technology. To disassemble this, to cut it in half, and Senator Van Hollen made the point that we were going to abandon the investment that’s already been made. Now, let me say what that investment is: $3 billion has gone into the Roman telescope and to look for habitable worlds, Senator. What they’re cutting is $600 million, which is the completion of this program, as Senator Van Hollen said, our budget. What a penny wise and pound foolish that decision would be.
“I am going to urge, Senator Van Hollen’s going to urge, and Glenn Ivey is certainly going to be leading the pack for the Congress not to do this. And I predict that Congress is not going to do this because it makes no economic sense, it makes no competitive sense, [and] it makes no national security sense for them to do this.
“The people who are doing this know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. We need to make sure that America continues to be a leader: a leader in space, a leader in culture, a leader in economics. This center is absolutely critical to be able to make the further investment to complete a project, which, as you said, is on budget, so far on time.
“So, I’m pleased to join my two colleagues, Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Ivey. And we are going to fight this with every fiber in our bodies, because America’s future success and national security depend upon it. Now let me yield to my dear colleague Glenn Ivey, who, while a new Member of Congress as a Member, worked for the Congress for many, many years. He has extraordinary experience in our state and around the country, and he was an extraordinary partner of mine as we represent, not only with Senator Van Hollen and Senator Alsobrooks, our districts, our state, and also the national interest. Congressman Ivey.”
PALO ALTO, Calif., April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) today announced the pricing of its underwritten public offering of $1 billion aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes, consisting of $500 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.400% notes due 2030 (the “2030 notes”) at a public offering price of 99.732% of the principal amount, and $500 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.100% notes due 2035 at a public offering price of 99.778% of the principal amount (the “2035 notes” and together with the 2030 notes, the “Notes”).
HP intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include, without limitation, repayment and refinancing of debt (including the repayment of HP’s 2.200% notes due June 2025 at maturity).
The issuance of the Notes is expected to close on April 25, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.
BNP Paribas Securities Corp., BofA Securities, Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering.
The Notes are being offered pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement (including a prospectus) on Form S-3 previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). A preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the offering has been filed with the SEC and is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement (including the preliminary prospectus supplement for the offering to which this communication relates) and other documents HP has filed with the SEC for more complete information about HP and the offering. You may obtain these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, these documents may be obtained from BNP Paribas Securities, Corp. by calling toll-free at (800)-854-5674; or from BofA Securities, Inc. by calling toll-free at (800) 294-1322; or from Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC by calling toll-free at (866) 471-2526.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the Notes in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the statements regarding the offering of the Notes and the use of proceeds therefrom. These forward-looking statements are based on HP’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on HP. While management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting HP will be those that we anticipate. Our forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control), including our ability to complete the offering of the Notes on favorable terms, if at all, and general market conditions that might affect the offering, and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations. For additional information regarding known material risks, uncertainties and other factors that can affect future results, please see our filings with the SEC, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2025, and other risks that are otherwise described or updated from time to time in HP’s other filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this document and HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.
HP’s Investor Relations website at investor.hp.com contains a significant amount of information about HP, including financial and other information for investors. HP encourages investors to visit its website from time to time, as information is updated, and new information is posted. The content of HP’s website is not incorporated by reference into this press release or in any other report or document HP files with the SEC, and any references to HP’s website are intended to be inactive textual references only.
About HP HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) is a global technology leader and creator of solutions that enable people to bring their ideas to life and connect to the things that matter most. Operating in more than 170 countries, HP delivers a wide range of innovative and sustainable devices, services and subscriptions for personal computing, printing, 3D printing, hybrid work, gaming, and more.
Editorial contacts
HP Inc. Media Relations MediaRelations@hp.com
HP Inc. Investor Relations InvestorRelations@hp.com
TORONTO, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Constellation Software Inc. (TSX:CSU) announced today it intends to release its first quarter results on May 12, 2025.
The Company’s quarterly results will be disseminated via press release and made available on the Company’s website (www.csisoftware.com) and the SEDAR website (www.sedarplus.ca), after markets close on Monday, May 12, 2025. As outlined in Constellation’s press release on February 23, 2018, Constellation has ceased holding conference calls to discuss the Company’s quarterly financial results. In lieu of the quarterly calls the Company has created a link on its website where shareholders can submit questions to management. Periodically the Company will publish responses to selected questions received. The Company believes this Q&A facility will eventually prove to be a more effective tool than the conference calls because it will be searchable and will provide an archive of all previous responses.
The Company’s goal in establishing this policy is to allow all investors ongoing access to information disclosed about Constellation’s strategy, operations, and ongoing business plans.
Headline: What North Carolinians Are Hearing: Governor Stein Hits the Ground Running in First 100 Days in Office, Works Toward Bipartisan Goals
What North Carolinians Are Hearing: Governor Stein Hits the Ground Running in First 100 Days in Office, Works Toward Bipartisan Goals lsaito
Raleigh, NC
Last week, Governor Josh Stein marked his 100th full day in office. In the lead-up to his 100th day, Governor Stein spoke to the press about his continued commitment to rebuilding western North Carolina. He also highlighted his ongoing efforts to work across the aisle on the issues that unify North Carolinians: safe communities, strong schools, and meaningful job opportunities for every person.
Read more about Governor Stein’s first 100 days below.
WRAL:‘Extending an olive branch’: Stein, GOP work together toward bipartisan goals
An early sign of Stein’s willingness to work together came as his State of the State speech approached in March…
“It’s going to be a long recovery with incredible devastation in Western North Carolina,” [Speaker Destin] Hall said. “But the folks from that part of the world, where I’m from, need to know that this body — and I believe this governor’s office also — is committed to doing everything we can to get those folks back in their home.”
Asheville Citizen Times:NC governor visits WNC, calls on state, federal governments to do more for Helene recovery
“Look, the people of Western North Carolina are there for each other. They’ve been there for each other from the very beginning. It’s time for their governments to do the same thing.”
Blue Ridge Public Radio:100 days in, Stein talks WNC recovery, wildfires and what’s next
“The number one priority has been trying to help Western North Carolina recover from the lingering and devastating effects of Hurricane Helene. The scale, the magnitude — I don’t have to convince your listeners because they all lived it — but for folks across the state, it’s hard for people to appreciate just how broad the swath of damage was.”
WNCN:Governor Josh Stein talks priorities, first few months in office
He says he’s hit the ground running…working on paying public school teachers more money, raising wages for law enforcement, and adding apprenticeships to the state. “Until we start making all of that progress, I’m never going to be satisfied, my team is never going to be satisfied, we are going to remain laser-focused,” the Governor said.
Carolina Public Press:Stein marks first 100 days with wins — so far. Tough tests are coming.
A point of pride for North Carolina in recent years has been its strong economy and business-friendly environment. Since taking office, Stein has announced the addition of more than 1,600 jobs — primarily in manufacturing — totaling more than $690 million invested into the state by private companies. He wants to continue that trend through a set of initiatives aimed at strengthening North Carolina’s workforce.
WWAY:Gov. Josh Stein reflects on his first 100 days in office
“Our starting teachers are the second lowest-paid in the southeast, that’s an embarrassment and unacceptable. North Carolina should have the highest starting teacher pay in the southeast.”
WCTI:Governor Stein pushes for funding new unit to tackle backlog in sexual assault cold cases
As he marks his 100th day in office on Friday, Stein is advocating for the establishment of a specialized cold case unit within the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) to assist local law enforcement in identifying and apprehending sexual offenders…. “These were cold cases that are now very warm,” Stein said. “Many times we actually have an identified suspect. I want as many dangerous people off the streets so they cannot hurt anyone else.”
The News & Observer:NC Republicans welcome Gov. Josh Stein’s approach so far, but his first test is coming soon
[Stein] said he wants to work together on economic development, education and housing, where he wants to increase the supply of homes.
Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today joined lawyers on the Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Subcommittee on the Constitution Ranking Member Peter Welch (D-Vt.), in sending a letter to the American Bar Association (ABA) commending lawyers and law firms that are resisting President Trump’s unconstitutional attacks on the legal profession.
“As fellow members of the legal community, we applaud lawyers who are resisting President Trump’s illegal and unconstitutional attacks on the legal profession,” the senators wrote. “These orders are unlawful—a tool of intimidation, and a weaponization of the federal government. The president’s actions existentially threaten essential rights guaranteed by our Constitution.”
“The Sixth Amendment right to counsel is undermined when a president signals that choosing to represent his political opponents carries the risk of retribution,” the senators added. “The First Amendment protection against viewpoint discrimination is imperiled when a president seeks to punish lawyers who advocate against his policies. By levying punishments outside the ordinary legal process, these orders violate constitutional due process.”
The senators concluded, “The American Bar Association has stalwartly supported lawyers that have resisted President Trump’s bullying. We join the ABA in commending these lawyers, who have taken financial and professional risks to fight for the rule of law and our constitutional rights. We urge others to join you.”
Between March 6th and March 27th, President Trump issued executive orders targeting four law firms against which he has personal grievances, such as representing his political opponents and associating with lawyers who have been critical of the president. The executive orders limit the targeted law firms’ access to federal buildings, suspend security clearances, and prevent federal agencies from engaging with firm lawyers.
Three law firms—Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, and Perkins Coie—have rightfully challenged the president’s executive orders in court, asserting that the orders are in violation of the Constitution and the principles that underlie it. In each of these cases, judges appointed by presidents from both political parties have properly issued temporary restraining orders against President Trump.
In addition to Senators Coons and Welch, the letter was signed by the following lawyers on the Senate Judiciary Committee: Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). Senator Coons is a graduate of Yale Law School.
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
More than 60 business and nonprofit leaders attended event
STOWE, VT – Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, hosted a conversation at The Alchemist in Stowe on the impact of President Trump’s trade war on Vermont’s outdoor and tourism economy. Senator Welch’s panel included representatives from The Alchemist, the Old Stagecoach Inn, Mad River Distillers, Burton, J Skis, Waterbury Sports & Power Play Sports, and Hen of the Wood.
“The point of these roundtables is to mobilize as much information as I can, so that when I’m talking about these tariffs with my colleagues, it’s very concrete: How does it affect Vermont farmers? How does it affect our craft brewers? How does it affect our manufacturers and our retail operations that are so essential?” said Senator Welch during the event. “And then, how does it affect our relationships with long-term allies who are on our side when it comes to the goal of creating good local jobs, respecting the environment, and doing things in a way that provides mutual benefit? So, I want to thank everybody for being here today—this is a deadly serious topic. The Trump Administration, in my view, has run amok on this, and my goal is to stop it.”
Panelists shared firsthand the impacts of President Trump’s trade war with Canada and global allies, and discussed how Trump’s rhetoric against Canada has negatively impacted business in Vermont. Frustrations were shared about the uncertainty of the tariffs, rising costs, shifting supply and manufacturing needs, and ways the Trump Administration’s policies are hurting the services and programs Vermonters rely on.
After the panel shared their experiences, the floor was opened to business and nonprofit leaders from across the Vermont, who discussed the long-term implications of tariffs when selling and marketing outside of the United States, the impact of Trump’s funding freezes, and how this will raise prices for working Vermonters.
View photos from the event below:
Senator Welch has been outspoken in opposing President Trump’s destructive trade war. Last month, Senator Welch convened Vermont and Canadian business leaders for a roundtable near the U.S.-Canada border to discuss President Trump’s Trade War and how the Trump Administration’s reckless tariffs are hurting workers, families, and farmers. In January and February, Senator Welch convened Vermont businesses for roundtables to hear from Vermont businesses and state and local leaders about how the President’s actions reigniting a trade war have impacted their lives and livelihoods.
Senator Welch joined bipartisan colleagues in releasing a resolution to repeal Donald Trump’s sweeping, global tariffs. Senator Welch has also supported legislation pushing back against Trump’s tariffs, including:
The Trade Review Act, bipartisan legislation to reaffirm Congress’ key role in setting and approving U.S. trade policy and reestablish limits on the President’s ability to impose unilateral tariffs without the approval of Congress.
The Tariff Transparency Act of 2025, legislation to require the United States International Trade Commission to conduct an investigation and submit a report on the impact on businesses in the United States of duties, and the threat of duties, on imports from Mexico and Canada.
A Joint Resolution of Disapproval terminating national emergency related to Canadian energy tariffs, passed by the Senate last week on a bipartisan basis.
TORONTO, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Carbon Streaming Corporation (Cboe CA: NETZ) (OTCQB: OFSTF) (FSE: M2Q) (“Carbon Streaming” or the “Company”) today announces that it has started a lawsuit in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice against several former executives, directors, consultants, and associated entities. As outlined in the lawsuit, Carbon Streaming is trying to hold the defendants to account for their breaches of fiduciary duty, fraudulent misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment that have caused financial harm to the Company.
The defendants named in the claim include Justin Cochrane, Conor Kearns, Anthony Milewski, Michael Beck, Maurice Swan, Andrew Scott Tester, Jeanne Usonis, The Oregon Group LLC, Regent Advisors LLC, Black Vulcan Resources LLC, Carbon Advisors LLC, and Angstrom Capital Limited.
Key Allegations:
Breach of Fiduciary Duty: The lawsuit alleges that the defendants who were serving as Carbon Streaming’s executives and directors did not act in the Company’s best interests, including approving and allowing payments for advisory and consulting fees to entities that provided little to no real services to the Company.
Fraudulent Misrepresentation: The lawsuit alleges that certain defendants made false representations and omissions that misled the Company, resulting in financial losses.
Unjust Enrichment: The lawsuit also seeks to recover funds that were improperly diverted to some of the defendants and their associated entities, who were unjustly enriched at the expense of Carbon Streaming.
Financial Impact:
Carbon Streaming seeks damages against the defendants, including:
A minimum of USD $30.1 Million against Justin Cochrane.
A minimum of USD $4.1 Million against Conor Kearns.
A minimum of USD $1.4 Million against Anthony Milewski and The Oregon Group LLC.
A minimum of USD $4.1 Million against Anthony Milewski and Black Vulcan Resources LLC.
A minimum of USD $850,000 against Michael Beck and Regent Advisors LLC.
A minimum of USD $400,000 against Michael Beck, Anthony Milewski, and Carbon Advisors LLC.
A minimum of USD $4.1 Million against each of Maurice Swan, Andrew Scott Tester and Jeanne Usonis.
A copy of the issued Statement of Claim can be found here.
About Carbon Streaming
Carbon Streaming’s focus is on projects that generate high-quality carbon credits and have a positive impact on the environment, local communities, and biodiversity, in addition to their carbon reduction or removal potential.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, “forward-looking information”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking information, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company holding the defendants to account.
When used in this news release, words such as “estimates”, “expects”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “will”, “believes”, “intends” “should”, “could”, “may” and other similar terminology are intended to identify such forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking information is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. They should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be an accurate indication of whether or not such results will be achieved. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: general economic, market and business conditions and global financial conditions, including fluctuations in interest rates, foreign exchange rates and stock market volatility; volatility in prices of carbon credits and demand for carbon credits; change in social or political views towards climate change, carbon credits and environmental, social and governance initiatives and subsequent changes in corporate or government policies or regulations and associated changes in demand for carbon credits; the Company’s expectations and plans with respect to current litigation, arbitration and regulatory proceedings; limited operating history for the Company’s current strategy; concentration risk; inaccurate estimates of project value, which may impact the ability of the Company to execute on its growth and diversification strategy; dependence upon key management; impact of corporate restructurings; the inability of the Company to optimize cash flows or sufficiently reduce operating expenses; reputational risk; risks arising from competition and future acquisition activities failure or timing delays for projects to be registered, validated and ultimately developed and for emission reductions or removals to be verified and carbon credits issued (and other risks associated with carbon credits standards and registries); foreign operations and political risks including actions by governmental authorities, including changes in or to government regulation, taxation and carbon pricing initiatives; uncertainties and ongoing market developments surrounding the validation and verification requirements of the voluntary and/or compliance markets; due diligence risks, including failure of third parties’ reviews, reports and projections to be accurate; dependence on project partners, operators and owners, including failure by such counterparties to make payments or perform their operational or other obligations to the Company in compliance with the terms of contractual arrangements between the Company and such counterparties; failure of projects to generate carbon credits, or natural disasters such as flood or fire which could have a material adverse effect on the ability of any project to generate carbon credits; volatility in the market price of the Company’s common shares or warrants; the effect that the issuance of additional securities by the Company could have on the market price of the Company’s common shares or warrants; global health crises, such as pandemics and epidemics; and the other risks disclosed under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the Company’s Annual Information Form dated as of March 31, 2025 filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date of this news release. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Ezell (Mississippi 4th District)
Representatives Mike Ezell (MS-04), Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02), Julia Letlow (LA-05), and Cleo Fields (LA-06) have introduced the bipartisan National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Authorization Extension Act which will extend the federal authorization for the NFIP. The bill would extend the program through December 31, 2026, significantly longer than the typical short-term extensions passed by Congress.
“For far too long, families, businesses, and entire communities along our coast have lived with the uncertainty caused by short-term extensions of the National Flood Insurance Program,” Ezell said. The NFIP Authorization Extension Act delivers the stability South Mississippians need as they continue to face the devastating effects of flooding and natural disasters. By extending the program through the end of 2026, we’re sending a clear message: we are committed to protecting our coastal communities, giving them the tools to recover and rebuild, and working in a bipartisan way to strengthen and modernize the program for the future.”
“I am proud to introduce this bill to provide the long-overdue stability our communities deserve,” Carter said. “For too long, homeowners, small businesses, and local economies have lived under the cloud of short-term NFIP extensions, often attached to contentious government funding bills. This clean, multi-year reauthorization brings much-needed certainty to policyholders and ensures uninterrupted access to flood insurance across the country. As flooding becomes more frequent and severe, we must protect families and businesses by keeping this program operating while we work to deliver lasting, comprehensive reforms to strengthen and modernize the program.”
“Given the frequent storms and flooding our state endures, I’m a strong advocate for renewing the National Flood Insurance Program and making sure it serves those who depend on it. For many Louisianans, flood insurance is not just a policy—it’s a lifeline. I’m committed to working with my colleagues to strengthen this vital program and ensure our communities get the support they need when disaster strikes,” Letlow said.
“Passing the NFIP Authorization Extension Act is essential to protecting hardworking people across Louisiana,” Fields said. Given our state’s history with extreme weather events, we must ensure that flood insurance remains accessible to all. My colleagues in both the House and Senate will continue to fight for those most affected by flooding throughout the state and across the country.”
The Senate companion NFIP Authorization Extension Act was introduced by Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and John Kennedy (R-LA) in March 2025. Congressmembers Marc Veasey (D-TX), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), and LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) are original cosponsors of the House legislation.
“Rather than experiencing a 33rd short-term extension, NFIP policyholders deserve certainty, and NFIP as a program requires stability. A two-year reauthorization will provide a runway for Congress and stakeholders to hold conversations and hearings around catastrophic insurance and towards highly-demanded comprehensive NFIP reform, like a means-tested benefit for affordability, a third-party review of the Risk Rating 2.0 methodology, and proper incentivization of flood risk mitigation,” GNO, Inc. President Michael Hecht said.
“Extending the National Flood Insurance Program would ensure continuous operations and greater stability for policyholders until a long-term reauthorization is enacted into law – a valuable source of certainty for counties and our residents,” National Association of Counties Executive Director Matthew Chase said. “Counties thank Representatives Carter, Fields, Letlow, and Ezell for their leadership, and we look forward to working with our bipartisan congressional partners to secure passage of this legislation.”
Background:
The NFIP is a federal program managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that provides flood insurance to homeowners and businesses, aiming to reduce the financial impact of flooding. The program is vital for coastal communities with extensive low-lying areas and frequent exposure to hurricanes and heavy rainfall. The NFIP helps protect residents from devastating financial losses due to flood damage, encourages responsible development in flood-prone areas, and supports rebuilding efforts after disasters—making it a critical safety net for Mississippi communities.
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
April 11, 2025
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) this week joined U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and 15 Senate colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation to help ease the financial cost of adoption and support prospective and adoptive families. The Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act restores the refundable portion of the Adoption Tax Credit. By allowing the tax credit to be refundable, families will be able to access the full amount as a refund, even if the credit exceeds a family’s tax burden. The existing Adoption Tax Credit allows adoptive families to deduct up to $16,810 in qualified expenses.
“We should be doing everything we can to make things more affordable for families,” Duckworth said. “Adoption can put a financial strain on families, but by making the Adoption Tax Credit fully refundable we’re helping ensure these families can keep more of their hard-earned money to pay for their loved ones’ needs. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation, and I’ll keep working to put money back in the pockets of Americans.”
Earlier this week, Duckworth also joined Senate Democrats in introducing the American Family Act and the Tax Cut for Workers Act to expand the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit, helping give Americans much-needed financial relief.
In addition to Duckworth, Cramer and Klobuchar, this bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Tim Scott (R-SC), Mark Warner (D-VA), James Lankford (R-OK), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angus King (I-ME), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Fetterman (D-PA) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ).
The legislation was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-IL-07), Blake Moore (R-UT-01), Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), Randy Feenstra (R-IA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37), Don Bacon (R-NE-02), Don Beyer (D-VA-08) and Robert Aderholt (R-AL-04).
This legislation is endorsed by the Adoption Tax Credit Working Group Executive Committee and 100 national, state and local groups. The bill text can be found on Senator Duckworth’s website.
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Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced four appointments to the State Board of Education. As his first appointments to the Board, these individuals reflect Governor Kehoe’s vision and commitment to supporting education.
Michael Matousek, of Kansas City, was appointed to the State Board of Education.
Mr. Matousek currently serves as the director of the Government Freight Conference at the American Trucking Association. He has previous experience as the state legislative affairs director for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and legislative director in the Office of Congressman Sam Graves. Mr. Matousek earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Florida.
Kenneth “Brooks” Miller Jr., of Sunrise Beach, was appointed to the State Board of Education.
Mr. Miller previously served as the president and CEO of Jordan Valley Community Health Center. In addition to his professional career, he has served as the vice president of the Springfield Board of Public Utilities and was most recently on the Truman State University Board of Governors. Mr. Miller earned his master’s degree in education administration and bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northeast Missouri State University.
Jon Otto, of Kansas City, was appointed to the State Board of Education.
Mr. Otto serves as corporate counsel for Evergy, Inc. focusing on corporate governance, SEC compliance, corporate finance, and real estate transactions. Prior to joining Evergy, he was an attorney at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, LLP and Polsinelli, PC law firms. Mr. Otto has served as a board member for Académie Lafayette charter school, University Health KC, Missouri Charter Public School Association, Child Protection Center, Minddrive, and the UMKC Law Alumni Association. Mr. Otto earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law and his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Clark Atlanta University.
Dr. Thomas Prater, of Springfield, was appointed to the State Board of Education.
Dr. Prater is a physician and partner at Mattax-Neu-Prater Eye Center in Springfield. From 2016 to 2020, he served as the Zone 2 Councilman on the Springfield City Council. He was also a member of the Springfield R-12 Board of Education from 1998 to 2014. Dr. Prater is an active member of the Missouri State Medical Society and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
RESTON, Va., April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NextNav (Nasdaq: NN), a leader in next generation positioning, navigation, timing (PNT) and 3D geolocation, today announced that it will release its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 before market open on Friday, May 9, 2025, and will host a conference call on the same day at 9:00 AM ET to discuss its results.
Registration for the conference call can be completed by visiting the following website prior to, or on the day of, the conference call: https://registrations.events/direct/Q4I6293672417. After registering, each participant will be provided with call details and a registrant ID. Reminders will also be sent to registered participants via email. Alternatively, the conference call will be available via a live webcast.
To access the live webcast or a replay, visit the Company’s investor relations website at https://ir.nextnav.com/.
A replay will be available through May 16, 2025. To receive replay details, please register through the link above. After registering for replay details, each participant will be provided with call details and access codes to listen to the call playback.
About NextNav
NextNav Inc. (Nasdaq: NN) is a leader in next-generation positioning, navigation and timing (PNT), enabling a whole new ecosystem of applications and services that rely upon 3D geolocation and PNT technology. Powered by low-band licensed spectrum, NextNav’s positioning and timing technologies deliver accurate, reliable, and resilient 3D PNT solutions for critical infrastructure, GPS resiliency and commercial use cases.
