The week after the Budget is announced, City of York Council and partners are holding a fortnight of events and activities to help residents with their own finances.
Talk Money Fortnight starts today and runs from 4-15 November. Drop-in events and advice sessions will be held for any residents facing financial struggles. All are welcome to get impartial, free and discreet information and support to maximise their household income, spend less and get good advice.
Residents are urged to use an online, confidential and impartial benefits calculator so they can claim what they’re eligible for and don’t miss out on the millions of pounds in unclaimed benefits nationally.
Those of State Pension age can check if they’re eligible for and claim Pension Credit which unlocks other benefits – even if they own their home and have savings, and any residents struggling to pay Council Tax can get advice on claiming Council Tax Support. For those worried about rising fuel bills, there’s information on grants for energy saving measures, and how to stay online by accessing lower broadband and phone tariffs.
Eligible families can get help with childcare and claim free school meals which bring further help with uniforms and extra money to support the child’s schooling.
Pauline Stuchfield, Director of Housing and Communities at City of York Council, said:
It’s never too late to see if there are ways to boost your income and claim all you’re entitled to: we’re here to help you do that during Talk Money fortnight and year-round.”
Talk Money Week is a national initiative that promotes discussions about money matters, such as budgeting, saving, debt management, and financial planning.
The University of Connecticut has been named as a Fulbright HSI (Hispanic-Serving Institution) Leader for 2024. Each year, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) recognizes select HSIs for their strong engagement of with the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program.
Fulbright HSI Leaders demonstrate noteworthy support for Fulbright exchange participants and encourage administrators, faculty, and students at HSIs to engage with Fulbright on campus. The Fulbright HSI Leaders Initiative also highlights the strength of HSIs as destinations for international students and scholars
This marks the first time that UConn has earned this distinction and is just one of 51 institutions nationally to be recognized in 2024.
The Fulbright HSI Leaders were announced during the International Plenary Session of the annual conference of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).
“Fulbrighters from HSIs contribute to the Program’s goal of reflecting the full diversity, perspectives, and talents of the American people,” says Scott Weinhold, Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
“This recognition affirms our commitment to supporting current students and recent graduates from all backgrounds, majors, and campuses as they pursue a Fulbright award,” says Michael Cunnigham, the Assistant Director of the Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships.
UConn’s current representatives in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program include Lizzy Irizarry ’23 (CLAS), ’24 MPA. Irizarry earned her undergraduate degree in Latino studies with a minor in Africana studies before attaining her master’s in public administration. She is currently in the southern part of Italy for her Fulbright experience.
Since its founding in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds and in all fields with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex address global challenges. Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the program.
The Fulbright Program implements a wide range of initiatives to ensure that its participants reflect all aspects of the diversity of U.S. society and societies abroad. In addition to HACU, the Fulbright Program also cultivates relationships with external stakeholders, including the White House Initiative on HBCUs, Diversity Abroad, UNCF, the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange, the American Association of Community Colleges, and Mobility International, among many others.
Talented students at schools and colleges in Manchester are being connected to future employers helping to cultivate new opportunities as they look to enter the workforce.
The BREE (Building Relationships with Employers and Educators) project has been launched by Manchester City Council to bring together employers, educators and students to help them succeed in their future career path.
The first opening event was held in the city on Wednesday, 30 October, where representatives from businesses, schools and colleges were present to celebrate the initiative alongside the Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig, as well as partner organisations and stakeholders.
As the Council works towards Manchester becoming accredited as a Child Friendly City, it is important the city develops these relationships to give young people the best possible start in life, helping to develop skills and talent that will help them succeed in the years to come.
Businesses across Manchester are being called to join the project and lend their expertise and voice to growing this community, and establish strong bonds between the education sector and further work and training. It is a simple process, completed via a form on the Council’s website.
Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure said: “We know how important it is to provide young people the options and pathways to a future career. Whether it is sparking interest in a trade or sector, to showing what extra training is on offer for them we want to ensure there are no doors left unopened for school and university leavers.
“Work and Skills is a hugely important part of the work the Council does, working in tandem with our wider economic strategy, we want to see more people getting into well-paying jobs, helping to grow our city and economy in an inclusive and progressive way.”
The 92nd INTERPOL General Assembly takes place from 4-7 November in Glasgow, Scotland
GLASGOW, Scotland: Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, opened the INTERPOL General Assembly, stressing the need for international police cooperation to combat pervasive organized crime. The General Assembly is INTERPOL’s supreme governing body, made up of representatives from its 196 member countries. With around 1,000 attendees, it is the largest global gathering of senior law enforcement officials, who collectively decide how INTERPOL operates. This year, the General Assembly will elect the new Secretary General, after Valdecy Urquiza of Brazil was put forward as the chosen candidate of INTERPOL’s Executive Committee.
The Secretary General is INTERPOL’s chief full-time official and directs the 1,200 staff who work in the organization’s 15 duty stations around the world. The General Assembly will also elect nine new members to INTERPOL’s 13-member Executive Committee, which oversees the implementation of General Assembly decisions.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “This is the General Assembly of the world’s security experts. It’s your cooperation across borders that saves lives, time and again. It’s your collective efforts that bring organized criminals to justice, wherever they try to hide.” In his opening remarks, INTERPOL President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi said: “From the rise of organized crime, drug trafficking and terrorism to climate change and migration challenges, our ability to adapt and innovate is crucial. This year’s General Assembly presents an opportunity for member countries to engage in fruitful conversations, share intelligence, and enhance collaborative strategies.” The Assembly will also consider a number of motions guiding the organization’s activities on terrorism, lawful access to digital evidence and child abuse, among other subjects.
In his statement to delegates, INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said: “INTERPOL was created to serve police by allowing the exchange of information across borders. This mission still drives our work today. We have made INTERPOL’s systems more connected, our products better and our response more coordinated than ever before.” UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also addressed delegates, saying: “International security and domestic security are two sides of the same coin. That is why INTERPOL remains integral to public safety.” The first day of the General Assembly saw the announcement of the INTERPOL Law Enforcement Academy, an educational centre hosting a range of professional development programmes and events.
Housed within INTERPOL’s Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore, the Academy will notably offer an Executive Leadership Programme for senior police leaders from around the world. INTERPOL member countries will be invited to nominate candidates for the programme’s first cohort. “Some lessons can only be learned when fellow officers come together face to face. We must equip the next generation of police leaders with the right skills as they face a world that continues to evolve,” Secretary General Stock said.
For news and developments from INTERPOL’s 92nd General Assembly, visit INTERPOL’s website or follow us on social media.
SINGAPORE, Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Primech Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: PMEC) (“Primech” or the “Company”) and its subsidiary, Primech AI, are pleased to announce new strategic partnerships with Unity Group Holdings International Limited (1539.HK) (“Unity Group”), a renowned provider of energy solutions listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. These partnerships, formalized through separate Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), aim to harness Unity Group’s energy expertise and Primech AI’s robotic innovations to drive sustainability and technological advancements in their respective fields.
Unity Group (https://www.unitygroup.eco) operates in over 20 countries, offering innovative energy solutions that significantly reduce carbon footprints and operational costs for numerous global clients. This collaboration aligns with Primech’s commitment to environmental stewardship and marks a significant step in integrating sustainable practices and advanced technologies across its operations.
Details of the Partnerships:
Primech Holdings Ltd. will collaborate with Unity Group to explore and implement cutting-edge energy solutions in Singapore, focusing on enhancing energy efficiency within its extensive facilities management operations.
Primech AI and Unity Group will cooperate on the business development and trial deployment of the Hytron restroom cleaning robot into major properties in Dubai. This initiative aims to revolutionize facility maintenance with cutting-edge robotic technology, improving efficiency and reducing the environmental footprint of cleaning operations.
They will expand Unity Group’s technological footprint in Singapore and beyond, setting new standards for international collaboration in energy and robotic solutions.
Mr. Kin Wai Ho, CEO of Primech Holdings Limited, commented, “We are proud to partner with Unity Group to pioneer the integration of sustainable energy solutions and advanced robotics in our operations. These initiatives are pivotal as we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in our industry, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of both environmental responsibility and technological innovation.”
Mr. Mansfield Wong, Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of Unity Group, stated, “Our collaboration with Primech Holdings and Primech AI represents a significant opportunity to leverage our expertise in energy solutions alongside Primech’s innovations in robotic technologies. We are excited about the potential of our joint efforts to set benchmarks in sustainability and operational efficiency globally.”
About Unity Group Holdings International Limited Founded in 2008, Unity Group became the first energy service company to be listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. At the core of its operations is the Energy Management Contract (EMC) business model, which implements customized solutions designed to achieve optimal energy efficiency and maximize returns for clients. Unity Group employs industry-leading, effective, and practical research methodologies. These methodologies span innovative green technologies, data analysis, and machine learning. The outcomes of its research and development efforts manifest in its uniquely versatile, appropriate, and actionable green technology solutions. Currently, Unity Group operates in Mainland China, Malaysia, and the Middle East.
About Primech Holdings Limited Headquartered in Singapore, Primech Holdings Limited is a leading provider of comprehensive technology-driven facilities services, predominantly serving both public and private sectors throughout Singapore, with expanding operations in Malaysia. With a legacy of excellence and innovation in the facility services industry, Primech’s operating subsidiary, Primech A & P offers an extensive range of services tailored to meet the complex demands of its diverse clientele. Services include advanced general facility maintenance services, specialized cleaning solutions such as marble polishing and facade cleaning, meticulous stewarding services, and targeted cleaning services for offices and homes. Additionally, CSG Industries Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Primech Holdings, manufactures and supplies various high-quality cleaning products under its brand, extending its reach and capabilities within the industry. Known for its commitment to sustainability and cutting-edge technology, Primech integrates eco-friendly practices and smart technology solutions to enhance operational efficiency and client satisfaction. This strategic approach positions Primech Holdings as a leader in the industry and a proactive contributor to advancing industry standards and practices in Singapore and beyond. For more information, visit www.primechholdings.com.
About Primech AI Primech AI is a leading robotics company dedicated to pushing the boundaries of innovation in technology. With a team of passionate individuals and a commitment to collaboration, Primech AI is poised to revolutionize the robotics industry with groundbreaking solutions that make a meaningful impact on society. For more information, visit www.primech.ai.
Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, for example, statements about completing the acquisition, anticipated revenues, growth, and expansion. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are also based on assumptions regarding the Company’s present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “likely to” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure that such expectations will be correct. The Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.
RONKONKOMA, N.Y., Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pineapple Energy Inc. (Nasdaq: PEGY) (“Pineapple” or the “Company”), a leading provider of sustainable solar energy and backup power to households, businesses, municipalities, and for servicing existing systems, today announced that Scott Maskin, Interim CEO, will host a virtual Fireside Chat on November 14th, 2024 at 10:00 AM ET. The event will be moderated by Julien Dumoulin-Smith, Managing Director, Power, Utilities, & Clean Energy Equity Research group at Jefferies.
Mr. Maskin will discuss recent developments, provide an overview of Pineapple’s business and industry, outline strategies to enhance shareholder value, and answer questions from current and prospective shareholders.
The fireside chat will be available for viewing at Pineapple’s website, www.pineappleenergy.com.
Questions may be submitted in advance to ir@pineappleenergy.com with the subject line “Fireside Chat Questions.” The deadline for submitting questions is November 13that 5:00 PM ET.
Julien Dumoulin-Smith is a perennially #1 double ranked Institutional Investor (II) magazine analyst in both Utilities & Alternative/Clean Energy and was recently inducted into the II Hall of Fame for his cumulative accomplishments.
About Pineapple Energy Pineapple is focused on growing leading local and regional solar, storage, and energy services companies nationwide. Our vision is to power the energy transition through grass-roots growth of solar electricity paired with battery storage. Our portfolio of brands (SUNation, Hawaii Energy Connection, E-Gear) provide homeowners and businesses of all sizes with an end-to-end product offering spanning solar, battery storage, and grid services.
Forward Looking Statements This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the Company’s current expectations or beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances, including the Company’s expectations regarding its ability to effect the reverse stock split and regain compliance with Nasdaq’s continued listing standards. While the Company believes its plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, these plans, intentions, or expectations may not be achieved. For information about the factors that could cause such differences, please refer to the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, the statements made under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in subsequent filings. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.
Safe Harbor Statement Our prospects here at Pineapple Energy Inc. are subject to uncertainties and risks. This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbor provided by the foregoing Sections. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations or forecasts of future events, can be affected by inaccurate assumptions, and are subject to various business risks and known and unknown uncertainties, a number of which are beyond the control of management. Therefore, actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this presentation. The Company cannot predict or determine after the fact what factors would cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements or other statements. The reader should consider statements that include the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “estimates”, “plans”, “projects”, “should”, or other expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends, to be uncertain and forward-looking. We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional information respecting factors that could materially affect the Company and its operations are contained in the Company’s filings with the SEC which can be found on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Contacts:
Scott Maskin Interim Chief Executive Officer +1 (631) 823-7131 scott.maskin@pineappleenergy.com
NEW YORK, Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Insider, a leading AI-native omnichannel experience and customer engagement platform, today announced a $500 million Series E funding round led by General Atlantic, a leading global growth investor.
Insider plans to further develop its next-generation marketing software offering and invest heavily in research and development, focusing on expanding and evolving its AI solutions. The company also intends to scale its talent base and geographic footprint, leveraging General Atlantic’s global platform. With an established market position in 28 countries across five continents, including North America, EMEA, APAC, and Latin America, Insider plans to increase its regional investments on the back of strong demand in the U.S. market, where it has achieved significant growth. Additionally, the company will use the funds to explore strategic M&A opportunities.
As a leading enterprise marketing software provider, Insider enables marketers and customer experience teams to create highly personalized omnichannel experiences and manage customer engagement from a single platform. With an integrated CDP that vertically integrates data and marketing application layers to fuel marketing automation and personalizedcustomer journey orchestration across 12+ natively-supported channels – including WhatsApp, SMS, Email, Web, App, Site Search, and more – Insider helps marketers to efficiently collect, analyze, and predictively use first-party data in real-time. As a result, brands can accelerate growth, realize higher marketing efficiency, and create more valuable customer relationships.
Hande Cilingir, Co-Founder and CEO at Insider, said, “Our mission is to empower marketing and CX teams to deliver a holistic omnichannel experience and deepen customer engagement. Unlike traditional technology companies that focus on a single area or product, our approach has always been to build multiple best-in-breed and industry-leading products, bringing them together in one complete platform that outperforms single-point solutions. As a pioneer of predictive models in customer experience, this funding positions us to further build upon that foundation to disrupt the MarTech industry. We believe that our differentiators, especially AI-enabled tools, will set Insider apart as the preferred choice for marketing and customer experience teams, and we look forward to leveraging General Atlantic’s deep experience backing growth companies to drive the marketing technology shift.”
“Many brands are eager to move away from traditional marketing clouds that limit their growth. We are on a mission to help as many users as possible transition from legacy marketing clouds toInsider. We have developed a white-glove migration blueprint designed to make the transition seamless. In the last year, 150 brands have successfully made theswitch to Insiderusing our automatic migrator and pre-built integrations, and achieved up to 5X faster time to value compared to their previous vendor,” said Serhat Soyuerel, Co-Founder and CRO at Insider.
Insider launched patent-pending Sirius AI™, a comprehensive solution for end-to-end omnichannel experience creation. The technology combines the transformative power of generative, conversational, and predictive AI.
“This funding will help accelerate our ambitious product roadmap and grow our 350+ in-house engineering team. Over the next two years, we plan to focus on realizing our vision to build an end-to-end AI-native omnichannel experience and customer engagement platform that compounds promotional, transactional, and support capabilities into a seamless solution powered by an extensive set of channels. Harnessing Generative AI to make user interactions more conversational at every level, we plan to further invest in Sirius AI™ Co-Pilot, which guides teams at every stage of customer journey creation,” said Muharrem Derinkok, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Insider.
Sascha Guenther, Managing Director and Head of DACH at General Atlantic, commented, “The MarTech industry is benefitting from a secular shift levered to ongoing tailwinds, including the proliferation of data traffic and channels, the growing importance of first-party data, and evolving customer expectations regarding personalized experiences across channels. Insider has successfully positioned itself as a leading and dynamic innovator in the B2B SaaS space and delivers tangible ROI to its customers. We believe the company is well placed to capture a greater share of the $15+ billion total addressable market, as businesses race to upgrade their marketing strategies around the world in need of higher marketing efficiency and effectiveness.”
Alex Crisses, Managing Director, Enterprise Technology, and Global Head of New Investment Sourcing at General Atlantic, continued, “Insider has disrupted traditional marketing cloud operators in the enterprise space by offering a differentiated and well-integrated suite of next-gen products. Insider’s success lies in consistently delivering unmatched value to their customers. Few platforms are capable of achieving this, setting Insider apart. We believe Hande and her team are talented product visionaries and entrepreneurs, and we’re excited to help them scale further.”
As part of the transaction, Sascha Guenther, Alex Crisses, and Christopher Apfel, Vice President at General Atlantic, will join the Insider Board of Directors.
Insider is a leading AI-native Omnichannel Experience and Customer Engagement Platform – enabling marketing and customer experience teams to deliver a unique experience per person, from a single platform. Insider’s integrated CDP vertically integrates data and marketing application layers to fuel marketing automation and personalizedcustomer journey orchestration across 12+ natively-supported channels, like WhatsApp, SMS, Email, Web, App, Site Search, and more. Insider helps marketers to efficiently collect, analyze, and predictively use first-party data in real-time. As a result, brands accelerate growth, realize higher productivity, maximize marketing ROI, increase customer lifetime value, and create more valuable customer relationships.
Insider powers omnichannel experiences and customer engagement for 1,500+ global customers across retail, automotive, travel, and telecommunications, including Nike, Samsung, L’Oreal, Unilever, Allianz, Walt Disney, ING Group, Toyota, Singapore Airlines, and GAP.
Today, Insider has more than 1,100 team members representing 51 nationalities across 28 countries worldwide. The company is woman-founded, with 70% of top executive roles, including the CEO, CMO, CHRO, and CFO, being held by women. With initiatives such as 100 cities, 100 projects, Young Engineers Club, shecodes, and sheleads, Insider is committed to scaling its impact across its communities. For more information about Insider, please visit: https://useinsider.com.
About General Atlantic
General Atlantic is a leading global growth investor with more than four decades of experience providing capital and strategic support for over 520 growth companies throughout its history. Established in 1980, General Atlantic continues to be a dedicated partner to visionary founders and investors seeking to build dynamic businesses and create long-term value. Guided by the conviction that entrepreneurs can be incredible agents of transformational change, the firm combines a collaborative global approach, sector-specific expertise, a long-term investment horizon, and a deep understanding of growth drivers to partner with and scale innovative businesses around the world. The firm leverages its patient capital, operational expertise, and global platform to support a diversified investment platform spanning Growth Equity, Credit, Climate, and Sustainable Infrastructure strategies. General Atlantic manages approximately $97 billion in assets under management, inclusive of all strategies, as of October 1, 2024 (based on valuations as of June 30, 2024), with more than 900 professionals in 20 countries across five regions. For more information on General Atlantic, please visit: www.generalatlantic.com.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF’s Executive Board for discussion and decision.
IMF staff and the Gambian authorities have reached a staff-level agreement on economic policies to conclude the second review of the program under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement.
Economic recovery is strengthening while inflation has decelerated significantly.
The Gambia’s reform agenda is advancing despite challenges to fiscal policy.
Washington, DC: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by Ms. Eva Jenkner, held discussions in Washington DC with the Gambian authorities. The discussions followed those in Banjul from September 30 to October 11, 2024 (see PR 24/367). A staff-level agreement was reached on the second review of the program supported under the 36-month Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement approved in January 2024 for total access of SDR 74.64 million (about US$99.4 million). Subject to approval by the IMF’s Executive Board, the completion of the review would enable a disbursement of SDR 8.29 million (about US$11.04 million), bringing the total disbursement under the arrangement to about US$33.1 million. The Board date is tentatively scheduled for December 20, 2024.
At the conclusion of the discussions, Ms. Jenkner issued the following statement:
“The authorities remain committed to their reform agenda and program objectives.
“Economic activity is strengthening. Economic growth remains estimated at 5.8 percent for 2024, supported by agriculture, services, telecom, and construction sectors. Inflation reached 10 percent at end-September 2024, from a peak of 18.5 percent at end-September 2023, remaining above the central bank’s medium-term objective of 5 percent.
“Continued policy discussions mainly focused on the fiscal trajectory for 2024 and 2025 with the aim of maintaining fiscal responsibility. This includes increasing the room for responding to large social and developmental needs, protecting the most vulnerable, addressing climate related risks and vulnerabilities, and ensuring gradual clearance of central government arrears and unsettled commitments.
“The ECF supported program is anchored on a medium-term fiscal framework aiming to reduce debt vulnerabilities and to maintain overall macrofinancial stability.
“The mission would like to thank its counterparts for candid and constructive discussions.”
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W. Va.– Approximately 77 members of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 598 (District 54) at Dow Chemical in South Charleston have voted to ratify an improved contract offer and end their strike at the employer.
On Oct. 21, IAM Local 598 members went on strike for fair wages and work-life balance. IAM International President Brian Bryant recently visited striking members, and members held a rally with the West Virginia AFL-CIO.
“Congratulations to the membership of IAM Local 598 for standing strong for the contract they deserve,” said IAM District 54 President and Directing Business Representative T. Dean Wright Jr. “Thanks to their solidarity, we have won a victory for our members, their families and the entire community. I would like to thank the District 54 staff, Local 598 officers, our members and their families, the South Charleston community, and International President Brian Bryant for all of their support.”
Highlights of the improved agreement include:
· General wage increase from 15.91% up to 20.28% over the life of the agreement.
· New employees will reach top rate in 36 months or sooner.
· The majority of the bargaining unit will exceed $40 per hour for their base salary, and has a defined path to making top rate or certification.
· 15% of total yearly salary contribution to 401(k) savings plan.
· Increases to safety, including Emergency Squad Pay (ESP) of $2,700 per year.
· Secured seniority language.
· Secured hours of work language, improving overtime practices and distribution for work-life balance.
· Increased shift premiums up to 200%.
· Gained paid family illness leave.
· Contributions to FSA dependent care reimbursement account.
· Contributions to childcare annually.
“Our Local 598 members have fought hard and won an exceptional contract that will benefit them for years to come,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “This contract delivers significant and lasting improvements to their wages, benefits, and quality of life and sets a new benchmark for our members in the Eastern Territory.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.
“The unwavering solidarity of IAM Local 598 members at Dow Chemical in South Charleston was crucial in securing this landmark victory,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “This contract is a testament to their collective power, delivering substantial gains in wages, benefits, and work-life balance. It was an honor to walk the picket line with them.”
Members of the public are being encouraged to have their say on plans to relocate community services in the East End of Dundee to a flagship Community Campus.
Construction of the East End Community Campus is well under way, bringing local school and community facilities together in a single state-of-the-art complex.
The plans include a proposal to relocate all services from four facilities: The Hub Library & Community Facilities; Whitfield Community Library; Douglas Community Centre & Library; and Douglas Sports Centre.
A public consultation on that proposal is now being run by the Council, in partnership with Leisure & Culture Dundee, over the next six weeks.
Full details of what’s planned, why the proposals are being put forward and how to take part can be found on the Council’s Consultation Hub, along with Frequently Asked Questions.
People can share their views either by filling out an online survey, completing a paper copy or taking part in face-to-face sessions.
The aims of the consultation include understanding the impacts that implementing the proposals would have on communities, and particularly any related to people with protected characteristics.
Feedback will help identify any additional steps that can be taken to mitigate these. This will inform any Integrated Impact Assessments which would be presented to elected members on Dundee City Council when they are asked to take any final decisions.
The consultation will also explore options for the future of the properties.
These could include:
Using the buildings for other purposes;
Transferring the buildings to community organisations;
Selling the buildings;
Closing the buildings.
A spokesperson for the Council said: “Before any final decisions are taken, it is essential that we understand what these plans would mean for users and the wider community.
“This is particularly the case for those who have characteristics protected by law.
“This is a legal requirement, so the survey asks specific questions to identify if people have protected characteristics. However, each of the questions is entirely optional.
“It is also important to stress that everyone is invited to have their say on the proposal, regardless of whether or not they consider themselves to have protected characteristics.
“We are committed to working with communities, understanding that the plans will have different implications depending on individuals’ circumstances.
“Whether you are a current user of the facilities, a member of the wider community, someone with an idea about the future of a building or anyone else with feedback, we want to hear from you.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3
POL/3 – Enhanced programme of development cooperation for the occupied Arab territories. Delivered at 352nd International Labour Organization Governing Body.
Location:
Geneva
Delivered on:
(Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)
Chair,
At this meeting last year I spoke of the suffering experienced by Palestinians and Israelis since the horrific events of 7 October. One year on, the situation in Gaza is intolerable. As we all know, over 40,000 people have now been killed and at least 100,000 injured. More than 100 people are still held. Over 85% of Gaza is subject to evacuation notices. More than 90% of the population has been displaced. The onset of winter will exacerbate already dire needs amongst the population. The fighting must end, the hostages must be freed, and the aid must flow safely and freely. And we must work with fresh vigour towards a two-state solution in which both Palestinians and Israelis can live in safety and security.
The ongoing conflict has had a profound impact on the Palestinian economy, not only in Gaza, but also in the West Bank. The private sector is key to economic growth and stability in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. So, we are concerned that ILO surveys report that private sector workers are bearing the brunt of the crisis with substantial job losses and reductions in full-time employment and wages. The report also details that almost 99 per cent of West Bank enterprises experience challenges that have impacted their operations, production capacity and sales and profits.
The UK has strengthened our support to the private sector in light of these challenges, including providing assistance to identify new markets for their goods and services, and supporting measures to reduce operating costs for Palestinian businesses. We urge Israel to remove restrictions on trade to sustain Palestinian jobs and support the recovery of the Palestinian private sector.
Israel’s revocation of 200,000 permits for Palestinian workers in Israel is seriously impacting the Palestinian economy, removing a key income source. While we recognise legitimate Israeli security concerns, we nonetheless urge the Israeli government to reinstate work permits at scale, as well as reducing barriers to Palestinian trade and supporting private sector recovery. This is in the interest of both parties.
The agricultural sector is of vital importance to the Palestinian labour market, particularly the olive harvest which provides an income for around 90,000 families. Israeli restrictions, in addition to record levels of settlement expansion and settler violence, are significantly undermining this sector. We call on Israel to ensure that all Palestinians in the West Bank can participate in the olive harvest and benefit from their olive trees. International law obliges Israel to protect Palestinians and not to obstruct their economic development.
Chair, we commend the actions of ILO staff in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the continued roll out and expansion of the emergency response programme, and the ILO’s close collaboration with other UN partners.
In conclusion, we can support the decision point with the amendments tabled by the Arab Group.
End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF’s Executive Board for discussion and decision.
IMF staff and the Gambian authorities have reached a staff-level agreement on economic policies to conclude the second review of the program under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement.
Economic recovery is strengthening while inflation has decelerated significantly.
The Gambia’s reform agenda is advancing despite challenges to fiscal policy.
Washington, DC: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by Ms. Eva Jenkner, held discussions in Washington DC with the Gambian authorities. The discussions followed those in Banjul from September 30 to October 11, 2024 (see PR 24/367). A staff-level agreement was reached on the second review of the program supported under the 36-month Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement approved in January 2024 for total access of SDR 74.64 million (about US$99.4 million). Subject to approval by the IMF’s Executive Board, the completion of the review would enable a disbursement of SDR 8.29 million (about US$11.04 million), bringing the total disbursement under the arrangement to about US$33.1 million. The Board date is tentatively scheduled for December 20, 2024.
At the conclusion of the discussions, Ms. Jenkner issued the following statement:
“The authorities remain committed to their reform agenda and program objectives.
“Economic activity is strengthening. Economic growth remains estimated at 5.8 percent for 2024, supported by agriculture, services, telecom, and construction sectors. Inflation reached 10 percent at end-September 2024, from a peak of 18.5 percent at end-September 2023, remaining above the central bank’s medium-term objective of 5 percent.
“Continued policy discussions mainly focused on the fiscal trajectory for 2024 and 2025 with the aim of maintaining fiscal responsibility. This includes increasing the room for responding to large social and developmental needs, protecting the most vulnerable, addressing climate related risks and vulnerabilities, and ensuring gradual clearance of central government arrears and unsettled commitments.
“The ECF supported program is anchored on a medium-term fiscal framework aiming to reduce debt vulnerabilities and to maintain overall macrofinancial stability.
“The mission would like to thank its counterparts for candid and constructive discussions.”
As always, the competition has a 1st place prize of £400, a 2nd place prize of £150, and three 3rd place prizes of £25, and there is an additional prize of £50 for the best poem by someone living in a WV postcode.
Applicants can send poems, on any subject, up until midnight on 31 December, 2024. Poet Holly Magill will judge the main competition, while the WV postcode prize will be chosen by Dave Pitt, Associate Artist at Wolverhampton’s Arena Theatre.
City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, Councillor Chris Burden, said: “The festival has been a huge success over the years, and it is growing more and more.
“Poetry speaks volumes, and we look forward to welcoming all entries into the competition – I wish everyone the best of luck.”
The fee for entering a poem to the competition is just £4, or you can send in 3 poems for £10. For more information, visit Wolverhampton Literature Festival.
The 2025 Literature Festival will take place over the weekend of 31 January to 2 February. Full details of the events will soon be available on the festival website. If you would like to subscribe to the festival newsletter and stay updated on all events, please register here.
Scores of esteemed industry leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, and public officials came together at UConn Storrs recently to share ideas on combining their organizations’ energy and expertise to grow a robust, sustainable Connecticut economy.
“UConn Forum: Economic Engine of a Thriving Connecticut” featured discussions on driving the state’s economy through several key growth areas including advanced manufacturing, sustainable energy, fintech, biotech, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and other realms.
Panelists and participants praised the Oct. 31 event as a unique opportunity to learn about innovations in various industry sectors and inspire ideas for collaboration, including by drawing on UConn expertise.
With an annual impact of $8.5 billion on the state’s economy, UConn takes its responsibilities seriously to help drive Connecticut forward, President Radenka Maric told the crowd in welcoming remarks.
That includes sharing its research expertise, helping foster startup businesses and technologies, ensuring its graduates are entrepreneurial and workforce ready, and doing all within its power to keep them in Connecticut to build their careers and lives.
A common theme throughout the day’s discussions was Connecticut’s innovative spirit and enviable strengths, including a well-educated workforce, diverse population, strong schools, family-friendly quality of life, and innovation-oriented business ecosystem.
Forum participants also agreed it’s a perfect time to accelerate the collaborations between industry and higher education – particularly as Connecticut is regaining population lost during the recession; has seen a noteworthy jump in business startups; and is developing new technologies in several fields.
“What we’re seeing is that the trends have reversed in a pretty meaningful way. People are betting on Connecticut with both their wallets and their feet,” said keynote speaker Daniel O’Keefe, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).
He said the state had the 19th best-performing economy nationwide in the last two years. That’s a major turnaround from the 2000s-era recession in which Connecticut became one of only three states – including Wyoming and Mississippi – whose economies contracted and became smaller on an inflation-adjusted basis.
As Connecticut’s manufacturing and national defense-related industries bounced back, so did the state – supplemented by growth in areas such as technology and software information, and other emerging industries such as those discussed at the UConn forum.
“This is a state where innovation happens literally every day. You don’t hear about it as much as you do in places like Silicon Valley because the innovation is taking place not only in our startups, but also in our incredibly large companies,” O’Keefe said.
Several new collaborations also have immense promise, such as the QuantumCT public-private partnership led by UConn and Yale.
UConn President Radenka Maric hands a proclamation from Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont to Lee Langston, professor emeritus of mechanical engineering at UConn, during the “UConn Forum: Economic Engine of a Thriving Connecticut” event in the Rowe Commons ballroom on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. (Sydney Herdle/UConn Photo)
That initiative aims to win federal funding to transform Connecticut into the nation’s leading accelerator of quantum technologies. The proposal recently advanced to the competition’s next stage, and marks the first time that UConn and Yale have partnered on an initiative of this scope.
That kind of collaborative thinking underscored most of the forum’s panels, in which the speakers discussed the importance of addressing society’s emerging needs for sustainable clean energy, effective and affordable pharma products, innovative use of AI, or other topics.
The forum’s guests also gained inspiration from the entrepreneurial history of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation as shared by its chairman, Rodney Butler ’99 (BUS).
Having endured generations of forced assimilation and poverty, its members survived economically by selling timber, maple syrup, and other goods until the tribe gained federal recognition in 1983, he said.
With the ability to diversify into more lucrative areas, the tribe opened a high-stakes bingo hall in 1986 and, in 1992, it opened Foxwoods Resort Casino – now the world’s largest such gaming and entertainment venue.
Today, the tribe’s annual economic impact in the state is about $1 billion, and it has expanded into the hospitality business, golf courses, real estate holdings, hotel and golf course development, a pharmaceutical network, sports betting, internet gaming, and other ventures.
It’s a far cry from the early days of selling handmade baskets, picking berries, and hunting snakes to survive economically. The Pequot tribe and UConn have also partnered on several projects, including the development of its hydroponic Meechooôk Farm; research into responsible gaming; and various academic and cultural endeavors.
“The reason we do all of it, and the reason we’re in this room, is to create a thriving and sustainable community,” Butler told the forum’s attendees. “Ours is at Mashantucket. In this room, it’s about Connecticut and dare I say, all of southern New England.”
Also as part of the forum, Maric presented a proclamation from Gov. Ned Lamont to UConn Professor Emeritus Lee Langston ’60 (ENG), one of UConn’s most accomplished engineering innovators.
His career included helping to develop the fuel cells that powered Apollo 11 to the moon. He also was part of a team that helped install the first solar panels at the White House during the Carter Administration, and pioneered gas turbine technologies now used worldwide, including at UConn’s Cogeneration (CoGen) Central Utility Plant.
Langston joined UConn in 1977 as a mechanical engineering professor after more than a decade at Pratt & Whitney. He also served a year as the interim dean of the School of Engineering (now a college), later retiring from UConn in 2003 but remaining active as a professor emeritus.
“His contributions to science and society are immeasurable,” Maric said in presenting the proclamation, adding that she first learned of his expertise in sustainable energy when she was studying for her Ph.D. in Japan.
Maric said the legacy of innovators such as Langston, along with the vision of people at the economic development forum and throughout the state, will be key to its future.
“We make the impossible possible in Connecticut. We are leaders and will continue to lead, and anyone who says we can’t do it in Connecticut will be proven wrong,” she said.
This election year, UConn’s College of Engineering (CoE) is helping to ensure trust in every vote cast.
Last month, Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas announced 2,700 paper-based voting tabulators, statewide, will be replaced with new, state-of-the-art machines. The state hasn’t upgraded most voting equipment in almost 18 years.
“This is a pivotal moment for Connecticut’s elections, and one that is a long time in the making,” Thomas said in a recent press release. “Through this milestone tabulator upgrade, we’re providing our election administrators with the modern tools they need to run efficient elections.”
Since choosing the safest, most reliable tabulators was a crucial step in the replacement process, Thomas turned to the CoE’s Voting Technology Research (VoTeR) Center for guidance. Since 2006, members of the VoTeR Center have strived to assess the security and dependability of electronic voting equipment and develop new techniques for auditing the results of elections.
Laurent Michel is technical director of the VoTeR Center and professor of computer science and engineering (UConn Photo).
“For this evaluation, the VoTeR Center devised and executed testing procedures meant to assess the resilience of potential tabulators and the eco-system in which they operate against adversarial attacks,” explains Laurent Michel, technical director of the VoTeR Center and professor of computer science and engineering. “White-hat ethical hacking of this type is meant to find weaknesses in the equipment, or the processes election officials rely on to program, execute, and tabulate results state-wide.”
Over several weeks, the VoTeR team worked to evaluate potential new tabulators on the basis of cybersecurity guarantees, support for best-practice election audits, and compliance with the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines set by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. All findings inform officials as to the ideal safe-used processes that should be adopted to conduct elections with secure tabulators, Michel says.
Ultimately, the VoTeR team shared their evaluations with Thomas and the selection committee, and the State began purchasing the equipment. Secretary Thomas plans to distribute the new machines to nine Connecticut towns prior to the November general election. Other towns will receive theirs in 2025.
“Such an evaluation touches on many technical issues ranging from compliance to the standards to resilience to attacks an adversary might be tempted to carry out against a voting system, such as tampering with the equipment to coerce it into reporting incorrect results,” Michel says.
Michel, a founding member of the VoTeR Center, also serves as director of UConn’s Synchrony Financial Center of Excellence in Cybersecurity and co-director of the Connecticut Cybersecurity Center. At VoTeR, he works alongside Center Director Alexander Russell, professor of computer science and mathematics, Benjamin Fuller, associate professor of computer science, and several research software engineers, faculty, graduate, and undergraduate assistants. All three faculty teach in the CoE’s School of Computing.
“While directly supporting the State, the Center also pursues research in election integrity and auditing, with active involvement of undergraduates and graduate students,” Russell says.
The VoTer Center was formed in response to the Help America Vote Act, signed into law in 2002, and initially helped the State select the very tabulators that are currently at end of life. Since then, the purview of the center has significantly expanded, now supporting the State’s annual hand-counted audit procedures, providing forensic audits of electronic tabulators, developing technological tools for ballot processing and verification of voter assignments, and playing a critical role in the State’s efforts to guarantee voting rights.
“Proper auditing not only increases the confidence of the voters that state elections are run, but it also helps uncover procedural failings of the election process, enabling voting districts to better serve their constituents,” Michel says. “Our goals are to ensure the integrity of the election outcomes conducted with electronic voting systems and to continuously assess their security and dependability.”
View other reports, publications, and methodologies the Center relies on here.
Since the mid-1990s, funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been allocated to the state of Connecticut and distributed among different agencies that work to provide programs focused on nutrition and physical activity education to people eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP-Ed). UConn is home to one such agency, UConn Husky Nutrition & Sport, which recently received another $4.9 million from the USDA for the next three years.
“I congratulate Dr. Ann Ferris, Dr. Jennifer McGarry, and the entire UConn Husky Nutrition & Sport team on their renewed USDA funding,” says Jason G. Irizarry, dean of the Neag School of Education which houses the interdisciplinary team. “This initiative is an incredible example of the Neag School’s community outreach, which has a direct impact on individuals across Connecticut every day. I am proud of the strong community partnerships Dr. Ferris and Dr. McGarry have already cultivated, grateful for their steadfast support of our Neag School students over the years, and excited to see how this new funding will further enhance their team’s important work.”
The USDA funding is just the latest in a string of recent accomplishments for UConn Husky Nutrition & Sport (UConn HNS):
Husky Nutrition and Husky Sport combined into one entity in 2021
The team celebrated more than 20 years of growth and the launch of a new website and branding in 2023
New postdoctoral research fellows have been welcomed each of the past three years
Just this past summer, UConn HNS hired new staff members and led successful nutrition and physical activity education efforts across Connecticut.
Ferris, professor emerita in the School of Medicine, was a founding member of the team that first brought SNAP-Ed funding to Connecticut, leading to decades of social marketing campaigns and strategic change efforts aimed at increasing awareness and access to relevant resources and opportunities to empower individual, family, and community health.
Ann Ferris (UConn Health photo)
“Starting with conversations at the national level of USDA and a stated desire for nutrition education programs particularly working with older populations in Connecticut, our immediate efforts focused on partnering alongside people and agencies already working within communities,” Ferris says. “Soon came the usual challenges, such as securing a one-to-one dollar match of state to federal funding or needing to align administrative requirements across so many different stakeholders. …I just remember thinking at the time that there were just so many dedicated people that were able to get everything launched between the community, University, state, and federal levels.”
Since that time, Ferris has served as a leader of a team of dedicated staff and UConn students, UConn courses, and many collaborative partnerships within Connecticut’s communities. Over the course of her career, she has been awarded more than $28 million in funding from the USDA; National Institutes of Health; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and private foundations, as well as a full career of scholarly articles, policy reports, and conference presentations.
“I truly learned from so many people at every turn,” she says. “The willingness of parents and families to collaborate with us to build programs and how they shared their time, expertise, and feedback … that part just overwhelms me. Partnerships drove all our endeavors. It is so gratifying to witness Dr. McGarry, and her team take these programs in new directions, and I am glad to still be able to play a very small role with SNAP-Ed.”
Jennifer McGarry (Neag School photo).
With more than 40 staff and student employees on the team this fall, UConn HNS continuously strives to strengthen the SNAP-Ed workforce in Connecticut. The team offers culturally and contextually relevant trainings; workshops that develop skills around teaching and learning across the lifespan; and professional development on best practices associated with nutrition, sport sampling, and physical activity education.
“The evolving UConn HNS organization can learn from what has worked as well as extend the impact of community-campus collaborations across the state moving forward,” says McGarry, executive director of UConn HNS and professor in the Neag School’s Department of Educational Leadership.
This past summer, UConn HNS led nutrition and physical activity education efforts with 18 partner sites in five towns. These partnerships allowed for nearly 1,100 participants, ages 4 to 18, to take part in 240 direct education sessions. Catalina Quesada, a registered dietitian and community education specialist working with adults and families throughout the academic year, serves as a UConn HNS staff leader during the summer. She, and other established staff members like her, also led the recruitment, hiring, training, and supervision of 10 UConn students that worked 30-35 hours a week for 10 consecutive weeks in the summer.
(UConn HNS photo)
“Summertime is always fun for us as staff and for the newly hired students who will be delivering our programs in the community,” Quesada says. “A lot of work goes into planning, training, and executing the summer program. It takes many hours of very intentional work tailored to the development of the students and to the correct program alignment for our partnering sites. Our students always learn a lot from the programs they facilitate but more importantly, they learn from our community partners and the participants who come to our programs.”
Many of the UConn students who were on staff over the summer have chosen to stay involved with UConn HNS into the academic year. In their different roles, students continue to support partnerships and programs, develop curriculum, facilitate evaluations, serve as van drivers, and provide peer mentoring to new students who have recently joined UConn HNS.
“It is very fulfilling to experience how much the students grow throughout the summer internship, stay involved, and become more confident facilitators as they continue to engage in critical reflection, improvement, and connectivity with people and communities in Connecticut,” Quesada says.
In addition to undergraduate students, UConn HNS has supported new postdoctoral positions in each of the past three years. The postdocs serve as course instructors, support evaluation and research efforts, and lead community-based partnerships and programs.
“Starting with Kolin Ebron ’14 MS, ’21 Ph.D., who has gone on to become the assistant director of university opportunity programs at Eastern Connecticut State University, and followed by Julián Alonso Restrepo, who is now an assistant professor of sport management at UMass Boston, our team continues to benefit from the addition of talented postdocs.” McGarry says.
Currently in their second year as a postdoctoral research associate, Roc Rochon serves as an important connector across organizational efforts.
Roc Rochon (Submitted photo)
“Being part of UConn HNS has created opportunities to work closely with faculty, staff, students, and community partners,” Rochon says. “Serving on multiple working groups has extended pathways for me to pursue scholarly activities, lead in the process to refine course curricula, develop new strategies, and teach in the classroom … all the while connecting directly with community partners to build relationships and be a support for our team’s efforts with everyday learning.”
Along with Rochon, Ferris, and other staff and students, Neag School assistant professor-in-residence Danielle DeRosa ’09 (CLAS), ’15 MS, ’23 Ed.D. leads the organization’s People Team. Throughout the year, the team develops and facilitates holistic and professional development sessions for the larger UConn HNS group.
“As an organization, we prioritize the development of our staff and students to ensure positive engagement and learning,” DeRosa says. “This investment allows us to be prepared and relevant practitioners, as well as collaborative and supportive partners. As part of our SNAP-Ed funding, we’ve continued to recruit, develop, and promote professionals working within communities and supporting healthy and active lifestyles. Our professional development allows us to grow in our own capacity to learn with and from each other, with the goal being able to contribute alongside community partners, families, and children toward improved health outcomes.”
As part of that ongoing team development, UConn HNS welcomed three full-time staff members over the past six months: Veronica Jacobs ’16 (CLAS); Sarah Larocque ’09 (CAHNR), ’12 MS; and Brandon Keaton. Jacobs was involved with the organization as a UConn undergraduate student, before going on to complete a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs, holding different professional roles at multiple institutions. Now back with UConn HNS, Jacobs serves as the lead staff member overseeing a longtime partnership with Fred D. Wish School in Hartford that includes supervising 10 funded graduate assistants, while also contributing her expertise and leadership skills as part of the People Team.
Veronica Jacobs (Submitted photo)
“Returning to UConn HNS has gifted me opportunities to build new connections and a deeper awareness of the assets and resources in Hartford, a city that has been home for the past five years,” Jacobs says. “I’m excited to leverage my experiences in student development and social justice education to co-create intentional, joyful, and community-centered programs at Wish School, and support the holistic and professional growth of UConn students.”
Larocque has joined the team as a registered dietitian, with professional experience in the health industry and counseling work alongside families and children. She will be a leader with the Husky Reads program, which includes over 15 partner sites and more than 600 pre-kindergarten student participants each year. Often an entry point into UConn HNS for new UConn students, Husky Reads also operates as a two-credit course that is cross-listed in the departments of Nutritional Sciences and Educational Leadership during the fall and spring semesters.
Sarah Larocque (Submitted photo)
“I am just thrilled to be back at UConn, a place that has meant so much to me personally and professionally,” Larocque says. “I am excited to contribute my expertise as a registered dietitian, combining my love of working with children and families while also teaching classes and supporting UConn students as developing professionals.”
Keaton is new to UConn, yet brings experience as a former athlete, coach, and educator. He will be working with a few different programs, as UConn HNS works to enhance curricula and partnerships focused on physically active games and play. PreK-12 school-based efforts will include recess, movement within classrooms, and physical activity as part of the everyday environment, as well as other family and community settings such as before and after school, on the weekends, and during the summertime.
Brandon Keaton (Submitted photo)
“My family and I recently relocated to Connecticut,” Keaton says. “I am looking forward to building relationships, growing partnerships, and serving the community. Focusing on physical fitness, movement, and health — all of that is just what I feel called to do.”
Moving forward, an expansion of partnerships is on the horizon for UConn HNS, with a mixture of educational programs focused on increasing healthy eating and physical activity. UConn HNS also continues to grow its consulting efforts, working with partners to provide professional development workshops, support evaluation processes, and co-design social marketing campaigns. With the recent staff additions, there is a high level of excitement about enhancing all aspects of the organization.
“The sustained efforts of Husky Nutrition, Husky Sport, and now Husky Nutrition & Sport are rare to see,” McGarry says. “We are often told by our partners that so many university-based programs come and go. We remain committed not only to continuing partnerships with individuals, organizations, and communities, but also to evolving our approaches to prioritize relationships, recognize the strengths of everyone involved, and celebrate culture as part of our collaborations.”
To learn more about UConn Husky Nutrition & Sport, visit huskynutritionsport.education.uconn.edu.
But I assume the awkwardness in conversations about work is related to stereotypes of hip-hop culture. Among many, one of those assumptions is that hip-hop is only made for and by young people.
It’s no surprise that ageism exists in and about hip-hop culture; in the U.S., ageism is everywhere. But I would argue that ageism in hip-hop is especially strong because the first generation of rappers is only now reaching their golden years.
In response to 9th Wonder, legendary hip-hop artist Q-Tip warned on the social platform X that hip-hop fans might be turned off by a category with “adult” in the name. He suggested “Traditional Hip-Hop” instead, arguing that the music should all appear in “one pot,” lest it turn off younger listeners.
Whether it’s called Adult Contemporary or Traditional Hip-Hop, several hip-hop legends have recently released new music that could fit into this category. In July 2024, the legendary lyricist Rakim, who’s 56 years old, released “G.O.D.’S NETWORK (REB7RTH),” his first album in 15 years. Two months later, 54-year-old MC Lyte released “1 of 1,” her ninth studio album, and 56-year-old LL Cool J released “The Force,” his 14th studio album and his first in 11 years.
Growing pains
Since hip-hop emerged as a cultural force more than 50 years ago, people still seem to pigeonhole rap as music made by and for young people.
And it’s true that in hip-hop’s early days, teenagers were at the forefront of the fledgling movement.
A 1973 back-to-school party organized by a 15-year-old girl from the Bronx named Cindy Campbell is often credited with birthing hip-hop. Grand Wizzard Theodore was just 12 years old when he invented record scratching in 1977. The hip-hop careers of artists like Roxanne Shanté, Run-DMC and Ice Cube all began when they were teens.
Being closely intertwined with the perception of youth culture isn’t necessarily a good thing. It can compel critics to treat the music and its practitioners less seriously.
Rappers, no matter their age, can be dismissed or treated as childish or immature.
Call it growing pains: Unlike, say, classical or country, 50 years is a blip in the history of music. And for much of that time, critics regarded hip-hop as a passing fad. Then it was seen as an emergent subculture.
Nowadays, equating hip-hop with youth culture confines it to an arena it has long outgrown.
Imposter syndrome grows
Nonetheless, as rappers age, some can seem uncomfortable about participating in a form that can be so easily dismissed.
In 2015, filmmaker Paul Iannacchino Jr. released a documentary, “Adult Rappers,” about working-class rap artists.
All the people interviewed for the film rap professionally but aren’t famous. They are mostly men. Most of them admit that they sidestep questions about what they do for a living. One unshakable takeaway is the embarrassment about their age.
Even famous rappers aren’t immune to this feeling. Before his move to instrumental flute music, André 3000, one of the greatest rappers of all time, lamented becoming the old rapper still making music beyond his prime.
“I remember, at like 25, saying, ‘I don’t want to be a 40-year-old rapper,’” he told The New York Times in 2014. “I’m 39 now, and I’m still standing by that. I’m such a fan that I don’t want to infiltrate it with old blood.”
André 3000 has been a gifted lyricist for decades, and remains so. If he feels this way, I can imagine that many other artists might feel that, at a certain age, they don’t belong to the culture anymore.
Despite the fact that audiences have aged alongside the artists, it can still feel like there’s pressure to stay tapped in to youth culture, lest they create music that, to quote André 3000 more recently, lacks “fresh ingredients.”
This might encourage some aging artists to attempt to maintain a youthful sheen that will resonate with young audiences. Think of it as a pop culture version of Oscar Wilde’s novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”
In the novel, a man sells his soul for youth. Rather than physically aging, a painting of him ages instead, taking on the physical signs of his transgressions and pleasures.
It’s still easy to think of hip-hop as confined to a frame that bears all the marks of youthful longings, rebellion and sins: juvenile vitality, sprightly beauty and vigorous hedonism.
The expectations lead audiences to assume all artists have similar youthful aims and concerns. They can also lead artists to perform like they’re young and write about the concerns they had as youngsters, despite their respective ages. The hip-hop artists who can’t or choose not to pretend to be “forever young” are expected to “evolve” into moguls, actors, podcasters or reality TV personalities.
Of course, those assumptions only end up limiting what artists of all ages can accomplish.
Rappers at whatever level of celebrity you observe, famous and not famous, continue to create while embracing the inevitability of age. Nas, whose debut album, “Illmatic,” was released in 1994, has had an outstanding run of albums in the 2020s.
Jay-Z’s “4:44” showcased the rapper’s changing sensibilities that have seemingly evolved as he has aged.
North Carolina duo Little Brother’s entire catalog displays awareness of the absurdity of avoiding adulthood – outstandingly so, I might add, on their 2019 album, “May the Lord Watch.”
Even emerging rappers like Conway the Machine and 7xvethegenius seem to be able to balance burgeoning careers without caving to youth-obsessed pretenses.
Creating new, cleverly named musical categories to sidestep biases against aging probably won’t solve the issue. In hip-hop, as in so many American industries, ageism isn’t going away.
But I’d rather have that conversation than pretend I’m something I’m not.
A.D. Carson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Partisan squabbling isn’t just annoying – it’s also bad for business.
That’s what my colleagues and I found in a recent study on how uncertainty in environmental policy affects business investment.
First, we analyzed more than 300 million newspaper articles, looking for keywords related to environmental policy uncertainty. We found that this uncertainty spikes around election seasons and has nearly doubled over the past decade.
Then we looked at business investment rates – a common way to gauge a company’s financial health – at companies in affected sectors, such as those in the agriculture, mining, energy and automotive industries. We found that environmental policy uncertainty lowered those companies’ business investment rates by 0.010%.
That might not sound like a lot, but as economists like me know, small sums add up over time.
For example, the rise in environmental policy uncertainty in the run-up to the 2008 presidential election was linked with a one-time drop of the investment rate of 25% for companies affected by environmental policy, we found. This effect was larger than the uncertainty associated with defense, health and finance policy.
But my team also found a silver lining. Policy uncertainty had much less of an effect on business investment when control of Congress was divided and policy changes required bipartisan support, we discovered.
When the same political party controlled both chambers of Congress, environmental policy uncertainty was associated with a 0.013% decrease in investment rates. But when Congress was split, this decrease shrank to a much smaller 0.002%.
Why it matters
Because policy uncertainty tends to spike around elections, our results suggest that the current political environment is creating headwinds for business investment.
Our study also suggests that policies designed to spur business investment may be less effective than previously thought, because of the uncertainty they introduce.
Take, for example, the Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2021, and the bipartisan infrastructure law of 2022. Both were crafted to encourage investment in clean-energy technologies.
But uncertainty over whether these packages would pass in the first place – and, if so, what these policies would include – may have deterred investment before they went into effect. And uncertainty about what aspects of the laws will continue after the election could also depress business investment.
A degree of uncertainty may be built into the democratic process. After all, the faster and more secretive a government is, the less accountable it is to the public. If you think of it that way, some uncertainty is an unavoidable cost of a healthy policymaking process.
Our study puts a price tag on these costs and reminds policymakers that political infighting is a drag on the economy. Our results do suggest one promising path forward: bipartisanship.
What’s next
Because there’s so much variety in environmental policies, our team is now doing research to see whether businesses respond differently to uncertainty in “carrot” policies – such as subsidies or tax breaks – versus “stick” policies, such as fines or other punishments.
Answering this question will help policymakers minimize the effects of uncertainty.
It’s also an open question whether newspaper articles convey information to business leaders or simply reflect the information they already have. If it’s the latter, media coverage may not be a great measure of the uncertainty businesses face.
To address this concern, we’re working to develop ways to measure uncertainty based on earnings call transcripts instead of newspaper articles. These could be a more direct way to gauge the uncertainties influencing business decisions.
The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.
Charles Sims does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Two-thirds of the world’s food comes today from just nine plants: sugar cane, maize (corn), rice, wheat, potatoes, soybeans, oil-palm fruit, sugar beet and cassava. In the past, farmers grew tens of thousands of crop varieties around the world. This biodiversity protected agriculture from crop losses caused by plant diseases and climate change.
Today, seed banks around the world are doing much of the work of saving crop varieties that could be essential resources under future growing conditions. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway supports them all. It is the world’s most famous backup site for seeds that are more precious than data.
Tens of thousands of new seeds from around the world arrived at the seed vault on Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, in mid-October 2024. This was one of the largest deposits in the vault’s 16-year history.
And on Oct. 31, crop scientists Cary Fowler and Geoffrey Hawtin, who played key roles in creating the Global Seed Vault, received the US$500,000 World Food Prize, which recognizes work that has helped increase the supply, quality or accessibility of food worldwide.
The Global Seed Vault has been politically controversial since it opened in 2008. It is the most visible site in a global agricultural research network associated with the United Nations and funders such as the World Bank.
These organizations supported the Green Revolution – a concerted effort to introduce high-yielding seeds to developing nations in the mid-20th century. This effort saved millions of people from starvation, but it shifted agriculture in a technology-intensive direction. The Global Seed Vault has become a lightning rod for critiques of that effort and its long-term impacts.
I have visited the vault and am completing a book about connections between scientific research on seeds and ideas about immortality over centuries. My research shows that the Global Seed Vault’s controversies are in part inspired by religious associations that predate it. But these cultural beliefs also remain essential for the vault’s support and influence and thus for its goal of protecting biodiversity.
The Global Seed Vault gives scientists the tools they may need to breed crops that can cope with a changing climate.
Backup for a global network
Several hundred million seeds from thousands of species of agricultural plants live inside the Global Seed Vault. They come from 80 nations and are tucked away in special metallic pouches that keep them dry.
The vault is designed to prolong their dormancy at zero degrees Fahrenheit (-18 degrees Celsius) in three ice-covered caverns inside a sandstone mountain. The air is so cold inside that when I entered the vault, my eyelashes and the inside of my nose froze.
The Global Seed Vault is owned by Norway and run by the Nordic Genetic Resources Centre. It was created under a U.N. treaty governing over 1,700 seed banks, where seeds are stored away from farms, to serve as what the U.N. calls “the ultimate insurance policy for the world’s food supply.”
This network enables nations, nongovernmental organizations, scientists and farmers to save and exchange seeds for research, breeding and replanting. The vault is the backup collection for all of these seed banks, storing their duplicate seeds at no charge to them.
The seed vault’s cultural meaning
The vault’s Arctic location and striking appearance contribute to both its public appeal and its controversies.
In fact, however, the archipelago of Svalbard has daily flights to other Norwegian cities. Its cosmopolitan capital, Longyearbyen, is home to 2,700 people from 50 countries, drawn by ecotourism and scientific research – hardly a well-hidden site for covert activities.
Because of its mission to preserve seeds through potential disasters, media regularly describe the Global Seed Vault as the “doomsday vault,” or a “modern Noah’s Ark.” Singled out based on its location, appearance and associations with Biblical myths such as the Flood, the Garden of Eden and the apocalypse, the vault has acquired a public meaning unlike that of any other seed bank.
The politics of seed conservation
One consequence is that the vault often serves as a lightning rod for critics who view seed conservation as the latest stage in a long history of Europeans removing natural resources from developing nations. But these critiques don’t really reflect how the Global Seed Vault works.
The vault and its sister seed banks don’t diminish cultivation of seeds grown by farmers in fields. The two methods complement one another, and seed depositors retain ownership of their seeds.
Another misleading criticism argues that storing seeds at Svalbard prevents these plants from adapting to climate change and could render them useless in a warmer future. But storing seeds in a dormant state actually mirrors plants’ own survival strategy.
Dormancy is the mysterious plant behavior that “protects against an unpredictable future,” according to biologist Anthony Trewavas. Plants are experts in coping with climate unpredictability by essentially hibernating.
Seed dormancy allows plants to hedge their bets on the future; the Global Seed Vault extends this state for decades or longer. While varieties in the field may become extinct, their banked seeds live to fight another day.
Storing more than seeds
In 2017, a delegation of Quechua farmers from the Peruvian Andes traveled to Svalbard to deposit seeds of their sacred potato varieties in the vault. In songs and prayers, they said goodbye to the seeds as their “loved ones” and “endangered children.” “We’re not just leaving genes, but also a family,” one farmer told Svalbard officials.
The farmers said the vault would protect what they called their “Indigenous biocultural heritage” – an interweaving of scientific and cultural value, and of plants and people, that for the farmers evoked the sacred.
People from around the world have sought to attach their art to the Global Seed Vault for a similar reason. In 2018, the Svalbard Seed Cultures Ark began depositing artworks that attach stories to seeds in a nearby mine.
Pope Francis sent an envoy with a handmade copy of a book reflecting on the pope’s message of hope to the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Japanese sculptor Mitsuaki Tanabe created a 9-meter-long steel grain of rice for the vault’s opening and was permitted to place a miniature version inside.
Seeds sleeping in Svalbard are far from their home soil, but each one is enveloped in an invisible web of the microbes and fungi that traveled with it. These microbiomes are still interacting with each seed in ways scientists are just beginning to understand.
I see the Global Seed Vault as a lively and fragile place, powered not by money or technology but by the strange power of seeds. The World Food Prize once again highlights their vital promise.
Adriana Craciun does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Because there are typically no symptoms until the first fracture occurs, osteoporosis is considered a silent disease. Some call it a silent killer.
Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by decreased bone density and strength, leading to fragile, brittle bones that increase the risk of fractures, especially in the spine, hips and wrists.
The reasons for the increase include lifestyle issues, particularly smoking, lack of physical activity and alcohol abuse. Our aging population, along with the insufficient attention paid to this disease, are also why osteoporosis is on the rise.
If you are older, it may be discouraging to read those statistics. But as orthopedic specialistswho have studied this disease, we know that osteoporosis is not inevitable. The key to having healthy bones for a lifetime is to take some simple preventive measures – and the earlier, the better.
Although the symptoms are not obvious early on, certain signs will indicate your bones are becoming weaker. The most serious complications of osteoporosis are fractures, which can lead to chronic pain, hospitalization, disability, depression, reduced quality of life and increased mortality. Worldwide, osteoporosis causes nearly 9 million fractures annually. That’s one osteoporotic fracture every three seconds.
Height loss, back pain
Minor bumps or falls may lead to fractures, especially in the hip, wrist or spine. These types of fractures are often the first sign of the disease.
If you notice that you’re getting shorter, the cause could be compression fractures in the spine; this too is a common symptom of osteoporosis.
Although it’s typical for most people to lose height as they age – about 1 to 1½ inches (2.5 to 3.8 centimeters) over a lifetime – those with osteoporosis who have multiple spinal fractures could lose 2 to 3 inches or more in a relatively rapid time frame.
Curved posture, or noticeable changes in posture, may lead to a hunched back, which could be a sign that your spine is weakening and losing density.
A healthy diet and exercise are two ways to build up bone density.
Calcium and vitamin D
Osteoporosis cannot be completely cured, but certain lifestyle and dietary factors can lower your risk.
Calcium and vitamin D are essential for bone health. Calcium helps maintain strong bones, while vitamin D assists in calcium absorption. Women over age 50 and men over 70 should consume at least 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily from food and, if necessary, supplements.
The easy way to get calcium is through dairy products. Milk, yogurt and cheese are among the richest sources. One cup of milk provides about 300 milligrams of calcium, one-fourth of the daily requirement. If you are vegan, calcium is in many plant-based foods, including soy, beans, peas, lentils, oranges, almonds and dark leafy greens.
Adults should aim for two to three servings of calcium-rich foods daily. Consuming them throughout the day with meals helps improve absorption.
Vitamin D is obtained mostly from supplements and sunlight, which is the easiest way to get the recommended dose. Your body will produce enough vitamin D if you expose your arms, legs and face to direct sunlight for 10 to 30 minutes between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., two to three times a week.
Although it’s best to wear short-sleeve shirts and shorts during this brief period, it’s okay to wear sunglasses and apply sunscreen to your face. Sunlight through a window won’t have the same effect – glass reduces absorption of the UV rays needed for vitamin D production. People with darker skin, or those living in less sunny regions, may need more sunlight to get the same effect.
If a doctor has given you a diagnosis of osteoporosis, it’s possible the calcium and vitamin D that you’re getting through food and sun exposure alone is not enough; you should ask your doctor if you need medication.
Chickpeas, sesame seeds and dark green vegetables, such as kale, arugula and broccoli, are good sources of calcium.
Aim for 30 minutes of weight-bearing exercise at least four days a week, combined with muscle-strengthening exercises at least twice a week.
Particularly for women, who lose bone density during and after menopause, regular exercise is critical. Working out prior to menopause will reduce the risk of osteoporosis in your later years.
Medical imaging such as a bone density scan and spinal X-rays can help confirm osteoporosis and detect compression fractures. These basic tests, combined with age and medical history, are enough to make a clear diagnosis.
Managing osteoporosis is a long-term process that requires ongoing commitment to lifestyle changes. Recognizing the early warning signs and making these proactive lifestyle changes is the first step to prevent the disease and keep your bones healthy.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
My three daughters and I arrived in Michigan from Pakistan in 2000.
Moving here was my choice, and I followed the legal process. Before the move, I had often been to the United States. I was familiar with the culture and spoke fluent English, so I thought I was prepared.
Resuming my career as a physician in the U.S. was arduous, but I finally passed all the qualifying exams and completed a psychiatry residency at Michigan State University in 2006. After finishing my studies, I stayed on as faculty.
Of course, there is nothing new or particularly unique about my family’s experience. Immigration, whether it is out of choice or forced by conflict, has always been part of the American experience. After all, the U.S. Constitution was signed by seven first-generation immigrants.
I teach cultural psychiatry to medical students and residents, specifically how to provide culturally appropriate care to Muslim patients. After more than 20 years in Michigan, I’m deeply rooted in the Muslim and immigrant community, and I’ve seen firsthand how anxious and uncertain my community is about the 2024 presidential election.
In the first half of 2024, the Michigan Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations documented 239 complaints of discrimination against Muslims, an 81% increase over the same period in 2023. In the report, CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid attributed the uptick to “policies of elected officials, rhetoric of candidates running for office, along with victim blaming by some political pundits.”
A key Arab American political action committee based in Michigan refused to endorse either candidate this cycle. Although the PAC typically backs Democrats, this year it said “neither candidate represents our hopes and dreams as Arab Americans.”
In late September, a national group of three dozen Muslim American scholars and imams signed an open letter calling on Muslims not to vote for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
“We want to be absolutely clear,” the letter reads, “don’t stay home and skip voting. This year, make a statement by voting third party for the presidential ticket.”
I know my vote is my voice, and I fully intend to participate in the electoral process. But I can’t trust any of the candidates to create a safe haven for my family – a place where my daughters and I can thrive and live our American dream.
Farha Abassi does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Why does Jupiter look like it has a surface – even though it doesn’t have one? – Sejal, age 7, Bangalore, India
The planet Jupiter has no solid ground – no surface, like the grass or dirt you tread here on Earth. There’s nothing to walk on, and no place to land a spaceship.
But how can that be? If Jupiter doesn’t have a surface, what does it have? How can it hold together?
Jupiter’s mass is two-and-a-half times that of all the other planets in the solar system combined.
First, some facts
Jupiter, the fifth planet from the Sun, is between Mars and Saturn. It’s the largest planet in the solar system, big enough for more than 1,000 Earths to fit inside, with room to spare.
While the four inner planets of the solar system – Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars – are all made of solid, rocky material, Jupiter is a gas giant with a composition similar to the Sun; it’s a roiling, stormy, wildly turbulent ball of gas. Some places on Jupiter have winds of more than 400 mph (about 640 kilometers per hour), about three times faster than a Category 5 hurricane on Earth.
Start from the top of Earth’s atmosphere, go down about 60 miles (roughly 100 kilometers), and the air pressure continuously increases. Ultimately you hit Earth’s surface, either land or water.
Compare that with Jupiter: Start near the top of its mostly hydrogen and helium atmosphere, and like on Earth, the pressure increases the deeper you go. But on Jupiter, the pressure is immense.
As the layers of gas above you push down more and more, it’s like being at the bottom of the ocean – but instead of water, you’re surrounded by gas. The pressure becomes so intense that the human body would implode; you would be squashed.
Go down 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers), and the hot, dense gas begins to behave strangely. Eventually, the gas turns into a form of liquid hydrogen, creating what can be thought of as the largest ocean in the solar system, albeit an ocean without water.
Go down another 20,000 miles (about 32,000 kilometers), and the hydrogen becomes more like flowing liquid metal, a material so exotic that only recently, and with great difficulty, have scientists reproduced it in the laboratory. The atoms in this liquid metallic hydrogen are squeezed so tightly that its electrons are free to roam.
Keep in mind that these layer transitions are gradual, not abrupt; the transition from normal hydrogen gas to liquid hydrogen and then to metallic hydrogen happens slowly and smoothly. At no point is there a sharp boundary, solid material or surface.
An illustration of Jupiter’s interior layers. One bar is approximately equal to the air pressure at sea level on Earth. NASA/JPL-Caltech
Scary to the core
Ultimately, you’d reach the core of Jupiter. This is the central region of Jupiter’s interior, and not to be confused with a surface.
Scientists are still debating the exact nature of the core’s material. The most favored model: It’s not solid, like rock, but more like a hot, dense and possibly metallic mixture of liquid and solid.
But pressure wouldn’t be your only problem. A spacecraft trying to reach Jupiter’s core would be melted by the extreme heat – 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit (20,000 degrees Celsius). That’s three times hotter than the surface of the Sun.
An image taken of Jupiter by Voyager 1. Note the Great Red Spot, a storm large enough to hold three Earths. NASA/JPL
Jupiter helps Earth
Jupiter is a weird and forbidding place. But if Jupiter weren’t around, it’s possible human beings might not exist.
That’s because Jupiter acts as a shield for the inner planets of the solar system, including Earth. With its massive gravitational pull, Jupiter has altered the orbit of asteroids and comets for billions of years.
Without Jupiter’s intervention, some of that space debris could have crashed into Earth; if one had been a cataclysmic collision, it could have caused an extinction-level event. Just look at what happened to the dinosaurs.
Maybe Jupiter gave an assist to our existence, but the planet itself is extraordinarily inhospitable to life – at least, life as we know it.
Could something be living in Europa’s water? Scientists won’t know for a while. Because of Jupiter’s distance from Earth, the probe won’t arrive until April 2030.
Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live.
And since curiosity has no age limit – adults, let us know what you’re wondering, too. We won’t be able to answer every question, but we will do our best.
Benjamin Roulston does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
WASHINGTON – The Department of the Navy plans to operate three Ticonderoga-class (CG 47) cruisers beyond their expected service life: USS Gettysburg (CG 64), USS Chosin (CG 65), and USS Cape St. George (CG 71). This decision adds 10 years of cumulative ship service life from fiscal year 2026 to 2029.
All three cruisers received extensive hull, mechanical and engineering, as well as combat system upgrades as part of an extended modernization program. USS Gettysburg (CG 64) and USS Chosin (CG 65) completed modernization in fiscal year 2023 and fiscal year 2024, respectively. USS Cape St. George (CG 71) is on schedule to complete modernization this fiscal year.
Like the recently announced service life extension of 12 destroyers, extending these three cruisers will bolster the Fleet as new ships are built.
“As a former cruiser Sailor, I know the incredible value these highly-capable warships bring to the Fleet and I am proud of their many decades of service,” said Secretary Del Toro. “After learning hard lessons from the cruiser modernization program, we are only extending ships that have completed modernization and have the material readiness needed to continue advancing our Navy’s mission.”
The decision follows a successful re-arm at sea demonstration aboard USS Chosin (CG 65) on Oct. 11, 2024. The Transferrable Reload At-sea Mechanism (TRAM) demonstration was the first time the Navy transferred missile canisters from a replenishment ship to a warship while at sea. This transformational logistics capability enables U.S. Navy ships to rearm without needing to pull into port.
The service life extensions align with Secretary Del Toro’s priority of Warfighting Excellence and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti’s Navigation Plan, which prioritizes putting more ready players on the field.
The Sullivans is scheduled for an independent deployment to U.S. 5th fleet area of operations where it will conduct maritime security missions to support stability and freedom of navigation in the region. The Sullivans’ crew is trained and ready to engage in a variety of activities, from escorting ships to participating in joint exercises with allied and partner navies in the Middle East.
This deployment, the ship’s fifth deployment in three years, reflects the Navy’s ongoing commitment to ensuring a strong U.S. presence in critical areas and further bolsters the U.S. deterrence posture in the region, providing increased options to the combatant commander.
Earlier this year, The Sullivans returned from the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. The ship provided Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) for Commander, U.S. European Command amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Sullivans, alongside USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119), additionally provided on-station relief for USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) and USS Mcfaul (DDG 74), allowing both ships to return home after multiple deployment extensions. The crew provided escort to the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and USS Bataan Amphibious Readiness Group, and acted as Surface Action Group Commander, along with other U.S. Destroyers, while Gerald R. Ford conducted a port visit to Souda Bay, Crete.
Vancouver, B.C. , Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trillion Energy International Inc. (“Trillion” or the “Company”) (CSE: TCF) (OTCQB: TRLEF) (Frankfurt: Z62) is pleased to provide an update on the velocity string installation program at the SASB gas field.
On October 27th the snubbing unit was positioned over the Akcakoca-3 well where 2 3/8” production tubing (“velocity string” or “VS”) was ran into the well through the existing 4 ½ tubing. The operation was completed on October 29th. The well continued to flow throughout the operation.
Following the VS installation, Akcakoca-3 production increased from approximately 2.0 MMcf/d (average production for the 27 days prior to installation) to 2.6 MMcf/d (average production first 4 days post VS). We continue to monitor production from the well at this time.
On October 30th, 2024 a 2 3/8th velocity string was ran into the West Akcakoca-1 well using the snubbing unit. The operation was completed by November 1st, where the velocity string reached a total measured depth (MD) of 3,496 meters. The West Akcakoca-1 well was not producing prior to the operation and gas production is expected to resume following nitrogen stimulation being applied.
Currently, VS is being run into the Guluc-2 well. The velocity strings are being installed with the objective of reducing water loading issues in the SASB gas wells.
About the Company
Trillion Energy International Inc is focused on oil and natural gas production for Europe and Türkiye with natural gas assets in Türkiye. The Company is 49% owner of the SASB natural gas field, a Black Sea natural gas development and a 19.6% (except three wells with 9.8%) interest in the Cendere oil field. More information may be found on www.sedar.com, and our website.
Contact
Arthur Halleran, Chief Executive Officer Brian Park, Vice President of Finance 1-778-819-1585 e-mail: info@trillionenergy.com; Website: www.trillionenergy.com
This news release may contain certain forward-looking information and statements, including without limitation, statements pertaining to the Company’s ability to obtain regulatory approval of the executive officer and director appointments. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and such information involves various risks and uncertainties. Trillion does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
These statements are no guarantee of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, delay, change of strategy, and assumptions that are difficult to predict and which may change over time. Accordingly, actual results and strategies could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. These factors include unforeseen securities regulatory challenges, COVID, oil and gas price fluctuations, operational and geological risks, changes in capital raising strategies, the ability of the Company to raise necessary funds for development; the outcome of commercial negotiations; changes in technical or operating conditions; the cost of extracting gas and oil may increase and be too costly so that it is uneconomic and not profitable to do so and other factors discussed from time to time in the Company’s filings on www.sedar.com, including the most recently filed Annual Report on Form 20-F and subsequent filings. For a full summary of our oil and gas reserves information for Turkey, please refer to our Forms F-1,2,3 51-101 filed on www.sedar.com, and or request a copy of our reserves report effective December 31, 2022 and updated January 31 2023.
SAN DIEGO, Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Point Predictive, the leader in AI solutions for fraud prevention, today announced a strategic partnership with OTTOMOTO® to integrate its advanced fraud detection and income & employment validation solutions into their comprehensive platform.
With auto lending fraud reaching nearly $8 billion last year, dealers and lenders face mounting challenges from synthetic identities and credit-washing schemes as well as income & employment misrepresentation. Lenders are increasingly finding and pushing back defaulted fraudulent loans to dealers. Dealers are struggling to absorb the pushbacks. Both dealers and lenders are looking for ways to stop fraud at dealerships before it even gets to the lenders.
The integration with Point Predictive’s IEValidate™, BorrowerCheck™ and DealerCheck™ solutions means that OTTOMOTO® dealers and lenders will have turnkey access to the most advanced identity, income, and employment validation services available. DealerCheck will also help lenders and dealership owners monitor loan application processes and ensure that fraud checks are in place and that risk remains low.
“Helping dealers and lenders address the nearly $8 billion in fraud hitting the auto industry is our priority,” said Tim Grace, CEO of Point Predictive. “By working with state-of-the-art platforms like OTTOMOTO®, we can provide turnkey access to thousands of dealerships and lenders to stop the majority of the loan pushbacks. With the integration, they can detect and prevent fraud they are missing today, reduce false positives from their current red flag tools, and validate income in real-time without using pay stubs or bank statements, enabling an easier process for dealers.”
The Best Platform Delivering a Better Way to Manage All Risk
Through the OTTOMOTO® platform, dealers and lenders will gain immediate access to Point Predictive’s solutions to stop more fraud and streamline their most critical and time-consuming verification processes.
OTTOMOTO® customers will have access to:
IEValidate – Validate Income and Employment Without the Hassle of Pay Stubs
With IEValidate, dealers and lenders can eliminate requests for pay stubs, which are difficult for an applicant to provide and are often forged. IEValidate is easier, faster, and more reliable, which means less work for everyone, including the applicant. In less than 1 second, a dealership can receive a full report on an applicant’s income and employment history. In addition, IEValidate confirms that the employer is not one of the 11,000 fake employers that we have identified as being used on fraudulent applications in the U.S. today.
BorrowerCheck – Stop Pushbacks and Eliminate Credit Bureau Interview Questions
No more unexpected pushbacks. BorrowerCheck eliminates dated red-flag checks which are often inaccurate and take too much time to review. New alerts provide clear direction on where the risk is, and how to resolve it quickly.
The solution also replaces antiquated Credit Bureau Interview Questions that can take 5 minutes or more to complete. Instead of those questions, BorrowerCheck provides SMS-based verification, which can be completed in less than 20 seconds. The solution works better and is faster than existing red flag tools used by dealers.
DealerCheck – Dashboards to Enable Better Partnership with Lenders
With DealerCheck, lenders and dealers get information that helps them track growing risks to avoid pushbacks and make smarter decisions about working together.
DealerCheck lets dealers and lenders:
See detailed reports about their dealers
Compare their dealer’s performance to other dealers
Spot trending of high-risk applications before they become big issues
Make smarter decisions, optimize stipulations and discounts, improve watchlist and working relationships with dealers
All Powered by Data
The new solutions available to OTTOMOTO®’s customers are driven by Point Predictive’s data which is unlike any data from a credit bureau. With over 269 million reported incomes and information on 22 million employers in the U.S., dealers get access to real history that enables automation to modernize a dealer’s operations and sell more cars faster.
“OTTOMOTO® is dedicated to streamlining the auto retail finance process,” said Paul Nicholas, CEO at OTTOMOTO®. “Integrating Point Predictive’s advanced solutions gives our dealers the tools to close deals faster while protecting their businesses from fraud.”
For more information on the Point Predictive and OTTOMOTO® partnership, please get in touch with Justin Davis at jdavis@pointpredictive.com.
About Point Predictive
Headquartered in San Diego, California, Point Predictive powers a new level of lending confidence and speed through artificial intelligence, powerful data insight from our proprietary data repository, and decades of risk management expertise. The company’s data and technology solutions quickly and accurately identify truthful and untruthful disclosures on loan applications. As a result, lenders can fund the majority of loans without requiring onerous documentation, such as pay stubs, utility bills, or bank statements, improving funding rates while reducing early payment default losses. Subsequently, borrowers get loans faster, and lenders realize an increased bottom line. For more information, please visit pointpredictive.com. Click here to partner with Point Predictive.
About OTTOMOTO®
OTTOMOTO® is a premier provider of lending technology for the auto, RV, Powersports, Marine, and aircraft industries. Focused on digital innovation, OTTOMOTO® is redefining traditional financing practices with a secure, transparent, and compliant process that benefits dealers, lenders, and consumers. With strategic partnerships and decades of industry expertise, OTTOMOTO® is committed to advancing the future of finance through cutting-edge technology solutions. Click here to partner with OTTOMOTO®.
Delivered by Hon David Seymour on 26 January 2025, hosted by the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand in Remuera.
Thank you Gillian, and the Board of the Holocaust Centre for inviting me to give this address. I am humbled to speak the day before the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
I have long feared that the horrors of World War Two would slip from living memory. As a nine year old, I had a teacher who talked often about her own schooling in fear of a Japanese invasion. It stuck with me that children had to practice evacuating and sit in trenches with cotton wool in their ears and corks between their teeth. That teacher retired at the end of that year, and I wondered how students in the next class would know about the war.
Of course, I couldn’t have known about the Holocaust Centre, it was founded fifteen years later. The Centre could be seen as a response to the task of keeping these memories real when only a precious few, whom I acknowledge today, can remind us of the horrors first hand.
It falls on each of us to make a conscious effort keep the lessons learned alive. One of the most helpful tools we have for doing that is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, signed at Paris in the aftermath of World War Two by our then Prime Minister Peter Fraser.
World War Two and the Holocaust gave people clarity of thought. In those painful times it didn’t take much effort to think clearly about what was right, what was wrong, and what must be avoided at all costs.
The preamble of the Declaration begins
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people …
The Declaration then lists Human Rights in a series of articles.
Article One says:
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article Two is more specific, saying:
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Reading these words, it is impossible to avoid the conclusion that the Holocaust weighed heavily on the minds of the drafters of and Parties to this declaration. It was far from the only evil of World War Two, but sadly its scale and inhumanity make it the singular act of evil not only in that War but all wars.
Just as the Holocaust brought great clarity of thought in its aftermath, disordered thinking brings great danger that something like it will be repeated.
The misuse of the word genocide, the casual blaming of victims after the October 7th attacks, and the excusal of the true perpetrator, Hamas, are all examples that no doubt weigh heavily on the minds of Auckland’s Jewish community.
These are also part of a wider intellectual trend.
Sir Karl Popper, a Jewish Philosopher who lost 16 members of his own family to the Holocaust and found refuge in New Zealand, was responsible for defining the scientific method.
Through the early and mid-twentieth centuries, Popper won the argument about how science proceeds. His approach, testing falsifiable hypotheses against empirically verifiable facts, is wonderfully equalitarian and democratic.
He showed, like Galileo before him, that no matter who you are, if your idea stacks up, plain for all to see, that you can make a breakthrough. It doesn’t just apply in science. As Popper himself said, all life is problem solving.
In contrast to that liberal vision, we hear that people can have knowledge according to their identity. People say ‘speaking as a…’. There are different kinds of knowledge that always turn on identity. These are dangerous thoughts. They deny the ability of any individual to see truth according to an agreed method. They take you down the path to where might is right.
I had an email from a much brighter and younger person than me over the summer, worried about the fate of liberalism. I said, perhaps we need a new book. His reply was brilliant. He said, perhaps, but first we should all reread Poppers Open Society and its Enemies. I’m taking his advice.
My challenge in a YouTube world is that we should all read more. As the Holocaust’s Horrors slip from living memory, my challenge is to read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and The Open Society, for lessons we must not forget.
Community group and charity, Friends of Spencer Park, is set to take over the lease for the sports pavilion in Spencer Park at the end of October.
This transition marks a significant milestone for the group, as they will now be responsible for the condition and future of this beloved community facility.
Owned by Coventry City Council, the agreement for lease and approvals started in the summer of 2022 for the Edwardian pavilion. Friends of Spencer Park has since fundraised and secured planning permission for renovations.
Renovations include addressing critical issues such as the removal of asbestos and implementing a range of structural improvements.
The bigger goal is to revitalise the pavilion and transform it into a vibrant café and community activity hub. Friends of Spencer Park will also work to enhance the overall environment and leisure facilities in Spencer Park, promoting their use while preserving the natural beauty of the area.
Coventry City Council will continue to manage the remainder of Spencer Park, ensuring that both the pavilion and the park flourish as vital community spaces. This includes the replanting of a Verdun Oak tree that was lost many years ago. The memorial stone for David Spencer has been relocated to a more central spot so the tree will not be overshadowed. The Oak has been grown from seed gathered from a Verdun Oak tree that stands in Lichfield.
Cllr Abdul Salam Khan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Events, Coventry City Council, stated: “This is a fantastic development for Spencer Park. The pavilion is set to receive a new lease of life, adding even more value to our already wonderful list of parks in Coventry.
“This has been a long time coming and the planned changes for the pavilion look fantastic. I hope to keep residents updated on the progress of the project.”
Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, Coventry City Council, added: “It’s great that the park pavilion will now be taken over by the Friends of Spencer Park. They are able to access a number of grants and this will help to secure the future of this listed structure.
“This isn’t the first time we are secured the future of a listed building by working in partnership and I’m pleased that the community is so organised and motivated. I look forward to seeing how they enhance this historical building.”
Ken Taylor, Chairman Of Trustees for the Friends of Spencer Park, said: “It’s an exciting time for the Friends of Spencer Park volunteer team and supporters. So much time has been put in by so many people helping to raise the money to refurbish our wonderful pavilion.
“The signing of the lease is a massive step forward which we have been working towards for the last few years. We thank the council for their support during this period and we look forward to being able to provide a new community space and cafe for all the residents of Earlsdon and the greater Coventry area.”
For more information about Friends of Spencer Park and their plans for the pavilion, head to their website or check out the planned works on the Coventry City Council planning portal.
Photo left to right:
Cllr Antony Tucker, Tim Brooke, Peter Elias, Helen Spence, Ken Taylor, Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Cllr Kindy Sandhu
TYLER, Texas, Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Southside Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBSI) (the “Company” or “Southside”), the parent company of Southside Bank, announced today that it is transferring the listing of its common stock to the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) from the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”). Southside’s common stock is expected to begin trading on the NYSE on November 15, 2024, under the existing ticker symbol of “SBSI”. Southside expects its common stock to continue to trade on Nasdaq until the close of the market on November 14, 2024.
“We are excited to announce the transfer of Southside’s stock listing to the NYSE,” said Lee R. Gibson, Chief Executive Officer of Southside Bancshares, Inc. “Our Texas-based franchise markets include some of the strongest and fastest growing markets in the country. We look forward to joining many of the world’s leading and most prestigious companies that trade on the NYSE and are excited to leverage the NYSE platform and trading model for the benefit of our shareholders.”
Since its initial public offering on Nasdaq in 1998, Southside Bancshares has seen continuous and significant growth – surpassing $1 billion in assets in the year 2000 and reaching nearly $8.5 billion in assets by the end of 2023. Beginning with a single branch in Tyler, Texas, the bank has grown to over 55 locations including 53 branches and two loan offices throughout East, North, Central, and Southeast Texas.
“We are thrilled to welcome Southside Bancshares, Inc. to the New York Stock Exchange,” said Chris Taylor, Global Head of Listings, NYSE. “With its deep roots in Texas and history of supporting local economies, Southside is a welcome addition to our NYSE community, which is home to numerous Texas-based companies and many of the world’s leading banks.”
ABOUT SOUTHSIDE BANCSHARES, INC.
Southside Bancshares, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Tyler, Texas, with approximately $8.36 billion in assets. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Southside Bank, Southside currently operates 53 branches, two loan production offices, and a network of 72 ATMs/ITMs throughout East Texas, Southeast Texas, Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin. Serving customers since 1960, Southside Bank is a community-focused financial institution that offers a full range of financial products and services to individuals and businesses. These products and services include consumer and commercial loans, mortgages, deposit accounts, safe deposit boxes, treasury management, wealth management, trust services, brokerage services, and an array of online and mobile services.For more information about Southside Bank, visithttps://www.southside.com/.
On behalf of Canada and the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Canadian delegation worked diligently—through negotiations, bilateral discussions, and side events—to bring countries together to advance the implementation of the 23 targets for 2030 laid out in the Kunming–Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework
November 4, 2024 – Cali, Colombia
Canada is known for its rich biodiversity and extraordinary natural beauty and takes pride in playing a leadership role in global nature recovery. At the conclusion of the 16th United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in Cali, Colombia, Canada continued to actively work with international partners toward halting and reversing the biodiversity crisis and advocating for ambitious action to protect nature.
On behalf of Canada and the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Canadian delegation worked diligently—through negotiations, bilateral discussions, and side events—to bring countries together to advance the implementation of the 23 targets for 2030 laid out in the Kunming–Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework. They also worked to identify ways to address the key drivers of biodiversity loss, such as pollution, climate change, and overexploitation of nature. Canada and its fellow Nature Champions pushed for the conservation of 30 percent of land and water by 2030 and reaffirmed the importance of respecting the rights and roles of Indigenous peoples.
After significant collaboration with National Indigenous Organizations and international Indigenous bodies, COP16 successfully established a permanent Indigenous subsidiary body, the first of its kind in any of the UN Rio conventions. Canada welcomes this historic step forward for giving a voice to Indigenous peoples in the UN process.
The COP also established a multilateral mechanism on digital sequence information aimed at enhancing access and benefit sharing for communities and traditional knowledge holders of biodiversity.
In addition to these two historic achievements, this COP adopted a program of work to integrate nature and climate change actions. After years of work, countries also endorsed work on ecologically significant marine areas.
Canada supports the need to mobilize international biodiversity funding. Despite efforts, countries were unable to reach an agreement on critical issues, such as resource mobilization. Canada remains determined to engage with countries and non-state actors at the next opportunity to address these gaps and remains committed to working with Parties to finalize an ambitious strategy.
In addition to driving ambition in international negotiations, at COP16 Canada:
Announced a total of $62 million for seven projects working to protect biodiversity around the world. The projects will support gender-inclusive initiatives and Indigenous-led projects for vulnerable communities to build a stronger, more sustainable future; fight climate change; protect nature; and support resilient local economies.
Brought the Nature Champions Network together, with increased membership, and encouraged rapid global biodiversity action through effective implementation of respective national biodiversity strategies.
Led two panels in partnership with the Indigenous Leadership Initiative to highlight the importance of collaboration with Indigenous peoples and the success of Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship in Canada. Indigenous Guardians initiatives are crucial to ensuring the sustainability of our planet for current and future generations, and innovative financing models, like the project finance for permanence, are empowering this vital work.
Joined the ‘Declaration of the World Coalition for Peace with Nature’, a call for action to enhance national and international efforts and commitments toward achieving a balanced and harmonious relationship with nature.
Joined the ‘Mainstreaming Champions Group’, an initiative launched at COP16 to accelerate progress on mainstreaming biodiversity across sectors to help achieve the Global Biodiversity Framework’s mission, goals and targets.
Backed by over $12 billion in investments since 2015, the Government of Canada has led the largest campaign in Canadian history to support nature and nature-based climate solutions, with the goal of protecting 30 percent of land and water by 2030 and conserving species at risk, in full partnership with provinces, territories, and Indigenous peoples.
COP16 was held in Cali, Colombia, from October 21 to November 1, 2024.
Both the 2030 Nature Strategy and the Nature Accountability Bill provide a roadmap for collaboration across all levels of government and with Indigenous peoples in the development and implementation of measures aimed at meeting Kunming–Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework and related Convention on Biological Diversity commitments.
The Nature Champions Network is a ministerial-level group launched by Canada that focuses on fostering international awareness and understanding of the global biodiversity framework.
At COP15, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $350 million in funding to support developing countries in advancing biodiversity efforts and to support the implementation of the Kunming–Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Indigenous-led conservation is proven to help land, water, and communities thrive, and it is central to Canada’s plan to protect 30 percent of our land and water by 2030.
In recent years, the Government of Canada has made historic investments in Indigenous-led conservation projects, including through initiatives like the Indigenous Guardians Program.
Project finance for permanence provides multi-partner investments and sustainable financing for large-scale conservation and sustainable development projects. These initiatives bring together Indigenous organizations, governments, and the philanthropic community to identify shared goals for protecting nature and ultimately halting biodiversity loss while advancing community well-being and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
The Great Bear Sea Project Finance for Permanence agreement was officially established in June 2024. Work is underway to finalize the remaining projects over the coming year.
Hermine Landry Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change 873-455-3714 Hermine.Landry@ec.gc.ca
Media Relations Environment and Climate Change Canada 819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free) media@ec.gc.ca
