TORONTO, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Clairvest Group Inc. (TSX: CVG) (“CVG”) today announced that it, together with Clairvest Equity Partners VII (“CEP VII”, collectively “Clairvest”), has made a minority equity investment in NCS Engineers (“NCS” or the “Company”) to support the Company’s growth, employee development and customer delivery. The transaction is part of Clairvest’s multi-year focus on the environmental consulting & engineering domain and represents our first partnership in this sector.
Founded in 1998 by CEO Ramesh (“Ram”) Narasimham, NCS provides turn-key water and wastewater engineering solutions across the U.S., with a focus on Arizona, Nevada, California, Texas, Maryland, and Virginia. The Company provides mission-critical engineering services for water infrastructure projects including water and wastewater treatment plants, pump stations, and water storage.
“U.S. water and wastewater systems face critical issues, which in turn are creating opportunities for engineering firms to offer solutions which tackle challenges ranging from aging infrastructure, water scarcity, climate resiliency, and emerging contaminants. We are excited to partner with Ram and the management team at NCS Engineers as we support their vision of leveraging their strong reputation with clients to grow across the U.S.,” said Michael Castellarin, Managing Director of Clairvest.
“Partnering with Clairvest positions us to create new and exciting opportunities for our employees and will allow us to better serve our clients. This new partnership will advance our growth ambitions and fuel investment in innovation and acquisitions. With a shared vision, Clairvest’s expertise in helping its management partners scale their business makes them the ideal partner as we take our company to the next level,” said Ram Narasimham, Founder and CEO of NCS.
The NCS Engineers investment is Clairvest’s 68th platform investment and the second investment of CEP VII, a US$1.2 billion investment pool, US$300M of which is from CVG.
About Clairvest Clairvest’s mission is to partner with entrepreneurs to help them build strategically significant businesses. Founded in 1987 by a group of successful Canadian entrepreneurs, Clairvest is a top performing private equity management firm with CAD $4.6 billion of capital under management. Clairvest invests its own capital and that of third parties through the Clairvest Equity Partners limited partnerships in owner-led businesses. Under the current management team, Clairvest has initiated investments in 68 different platform companies and generated top quartile performance over an extended period.
Contact Information Stephanie Lo Director of Investor Relations and Marketing Clairvest Group Inc. Tel: (416) 925-9270 stephaniel@clairvest.com
TORONTO, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mattr Corp. (“Mattr” or the “Company”) (TSX: MATR) announced today in connection with the filing of its Management Proxy Circular (the “Circular”), that it will be hosting its Annual Meeting (“Meeting”) on May 15, 2025 at 2:00pm EDT. The Company will be conducting an administrative-only Meeting, held in a hybrid meeting format which can be accessed via live webcast at: https://meetings.lumiconnect.com/400-728-282-283 or in person in the Rouge Room at the Marriott Markham, 170 Enterprise Blvd., Markham, Ontario. Registered shareholders will have the opportunity to attend, ask questions and vote at the Meeting in real time through the live webcast or in person. Shareholders are encouraged to vote prior to the meeting using one of the methods described in the Circular, the form of proxy or other materials provided by an intermediary. Registered shareholders may also submit questions in advance of the meeting to meghan.maceachern@mattr.com.
Non-registered holders who have not duly appointed themselves as proxy may attend as guests but will not be able to vote. If you are a non-registered holder and wish to attend and participate in the Meeting either in person or via webcast, you should carefully follow the instructions set out on your voting information form and in the Circular relating to the Meeting, in order to appoint and register yourself as proxy, otherwise you will be required to login to the webcast as a guest.
Mattr has elected to use the “notice-and-access” provisions under NI 54-101 for the Meeting in respect of the mailing of the Meeting materials to registered and beneficial shareholders other than those who have explicitly rejected delivery by electronic means. The notice-and-access provisions are a set of rules developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that reduce the volume of materials required to be physically mailed to shareholders by allowing a reporting issuer to post its proxy-related Meeting materials online.
Additional information on the Meeting, including with respect to the business to be covered, can be found in the Circular and the other Meeting materials as filed on www.SEDARplus.com and on the Company’s website at Proxy Materials & Annual Financials | Mattr. For a more detailed business update, the Company encourages shareholders to listen to the Q1 2025 earnings call webcast which will take place earlier in the day, at 9:00am EDT, and can be accessed via the Company’s website.
About Mattr
Mattr is a growth-oriented, global materials technology company broadly serving critical infrastructure markets, including transportation, communication, water management, energy and electrification. Its two business segments, Composite Technologies and Connection Technologies, enable responsible renewal and enhancement of critical infrastructure.
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) joined U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) in reintroducing the Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act. The bill would empower rank-and-file employees whose companies are facing bankruptcy, allowing them to retain more of their wages, benefits, and retirement savings when their employer files for bankruptcy. The Senators previously introduced the legislation in 2024.
Currently, the law fails to adequately look out for employees during bankruptcy proceedings. Instead, it prioritizes creditors. The Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act would put workers first, granting employee claims higher priority and placing restrictions on golden parachutes for executives.
“Employees shouldn’t be the ones left holding the bag when companies go under. Rather than giving precedence to the desires of predatory creditors, we should prioritize workers and protect the compensation they’ve earned through years of hard work,” said Senator Hawley. “Our bill would safeguard workers’ claims to wages, benefits, and retirement funds throughout bankruptcy proceedings.”
“When their company files for bankruptcy, employees should not have to worry that they will lose their hard-earned wages, benefits, and retirement savings,” said Senator Durbin. “The Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act would ensure that all employees, not just C-suite executives, receive the benefits they were promised.”
Senator Hawley has been a staunch supporter of workers’ rights. He was a leading voice in confirming pro-worker Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Last month, he sponsored the Faster Labor Contracts Act, which would speed up first contracts for new unions. In addition, he has stood with and and voted to support rail workers as they sought a fair deal with sick leave, fought to keep jobs here in the U.S., and advocated for United States Postal Service workers.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)
Anti-Racism in Public Health Act Would Require Federal Government to Actively Develop Anti-Racist Health Policy
Bill Text (PDF)
WASHINGTON – Today, with Trump and Republicans continuing their coordinated attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and RFK, Jr. dismantling the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including closing the Office of Minority Health, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) are re-introducing the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act of 2025, legislation that would declare racism a public health crisis and require the federal government to actively develop anti-racist health policy. The bill would help expand research and investment into the public health impacts of structural racism through two bold new programs within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“While Trump and Republicans embolden white supremacy and carry out their coordinated assault on Black, brown, and other marginalized communities, we must continue pushing back and advancing an affirmative, anti-racist agenda that addresses racism as the public health crisis that it is,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. “By expanding research into the public health impacts of structural racism and requiring the federal government to develop anti-racist health policy, our bill is the type of responsive legislation the moment demands. I’m grateful to Senator Warren for her ongoing partnership as we continue working to dismantle centuries of racism in our public health system.”
“For centuries, racism has denied Black and Brown mothers life-saving care during pregnancies and led to higher rates of chronic illness like diabetes and asthma,” said Senator Warren. “We’re renewing the fight to tackle racial disparities head-on and give everyone a chance at a healthy life.”
In addition to researching of the impacts of structural racism on public health, the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act would:
Create a “National Center for Anti-Racism” at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to declare racism as the public health crisis that it is and further develop the research base and knowledge of the science and practice of anti-racism. The Center would be responsible for:
Conducting research, collecting data, awarding grants, and providing leadership and coordination on the science and practice of anti-racism in the provision of health care, the public health impacts of systemic racism, and the effectiveness of interventions to address these impacts;
Creating at least three regional centers of excellence in anti-racism;
Educating the public on the public health impacts of structural racism and anti-racist public health interventions;
Consulting with other Centers at the CDC to ensure that scientific and programmatic activities initiated by the agency consider structural racism in their designs, conceptualizations, and executions; and
Create a Law Enforcement Violence Prevention Program within the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the CDC. Physical and psychological violence perpetuated by law enforcement results in deaths, injuries, trauma, and stress, and disproportionately affects marginalized populations. This bill would take a public health approach to combating police brutality by creating a dedicated law enforcement violence prevention program at the CDC.
In October 2022, as a result of the lawmakers’ introduction of the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act, HHS awarded $493,000 to the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) to support their efforts to address homelessness and substance use disorder policies that create or perpetuate health disparities and contribute to structural racism.
Joining Pressley and Warren in introducing the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act are Representatives Joyce Beatty, Shontel Brown, André Carson, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Dwight Evans, Hank Johnson, Jennifer McClellan, Jerry Nadler, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Mark Pocan, Delia C. Ramirez, Jan Schakowsky, Terri Sewell, Adam Smith, Melanie Stansbury, Mark Takano, Bennie G. Thompson, Ritchie Torres, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Bonnie Watson Coleman.
The legislation is endorsed by the following organizations: Columbia NOW, SC; Power to Decide; Public Citizen; National Council of Jewish Women; YW Boston; Physicians for a National Health Program; Center for Policing Equity; Justice in Aging; Feminist Women’s Health Center; Guttmacher Institute; Center for Reproductive Rights; Diversity Uplifts, Inc.; Every Mother Counts; Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals; and Boston Medical Center.
A copy of the bill text can be found here.
In November 2022, Rep. Pressley, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission Dr. Bisola Ojikutu held a roundtable discussion with public health advocates to highlight the nearly $493,000 in new federal funding to help Boston address the public health impacts of structural racism.
In October 2022, Rep. Pressley, Senator Warren, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee applauded the new funding for BPHC, which was awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) alongside nine other grants to community organizations across the country. In total, HHS awarded over $4.8 million to support local efforts to address policies that may create or perpetuate health disparities and contribute to structural racism.
Headline: Care within sight: How technology is making healthcare more accessible
(left) Illustration of an optics diagram published in 1894. (center) Dr. Sunil Gupta holds a mobile retinal scan device powered by IRIS software, standing next to a projection showing the results of a recent exam. (right) Ophthalmic vision test showing letters and numbers at varying sizes to determine a patient’s strength of vision.
In 2020, IRIS was selected as a recipient of the Microsoft AI for Health Initiative grant. This collaboration provides IRIS with access to advanced AI tools and Azure computing resources, further enhancing their diagnostic solutions. Deep learning has presented significant opportunities for the automated detection of retinal diseases, including DR. This approach allows for rapid and accurate detection of potential diseases, often within seconds, and facilitating immediate follow-up and treatment decisions. Research suggests that retinal screening using digital photography and telemedicine can lead to early detection, potentially preventing over 90% of DR cases.
The IRIS software allows healthcare providers at various levels of training to conduct retinal scans and return a diagnosis quickly. After capturing the images, they are securely uploaded to the IRIS platform, enhanced for clarity, and reviewed remotely by a licensed eyecare professional at the IRIS Reading Center. Diagnosis results, including images and reports, are then added to the patient’s health record, enabling referrals to specialists if needed.
Advancements in telemedicine now enable remote consultations, offering care without the need to visit an eye doctor in person. This is notable given that there are approximately 200,000 ophthalmologists worldwide, and roughly 20,000 currently practicing in the United States, with some states lacking any. IRIS software is part of that solution by creating a new model where skilled health workers can travel to a person’s home to capture the retinal scans and submit them for a timely diagnosis, reducing the strain on patients to make special trips to the closest doctor. Consequently, nearly 30 million individuals in the United States with diabetes may receive more timely diagnosis and treatment.
In West Virginia, a small community hospital achieved notable success by integrating IRIS technology. Within 13 months, they conducted over 1,500 exams, detecting diabetic retinopathy in 16.17% of patients and other eye conditions in 24.4%. This program improved patient outcomes and satisfaction by making screenings more accessible and convenient, significantly impacting patients.
Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
04.10.25
Cantwell Presses Energy Under Secretary Nominee on BPA Staff Cuts
Bonneville Power Administration owns and operates about 80% of PacNW power lines; workforce reductions by Trump admin have eliminated hundreds of employees, including many powerline workers; Cantwell: “Do you believe the BPA workforce should be exempt from the current hiring freeze and future force reductions?”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, questioned Preston Wells Griffith III – President Donald Trump’s pick to serve as Under Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE) – on the administration’s plans to cut additional staff at the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), even though BPA is funded by ratepayers not federal taxpayers.
“I’m a big supporter of BPA and what it delivers in cost-based power. I think we need to give BPA more support, not less. They have committed to $5 billion in grid upgrades using borrowing authority this Committee approved as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure [Law]. I want to submit […] an article for the record written by former two former BPA leaders, Randy Hardy and Steve Wright, and I want to quote. They say, ‘we can say with confidence the level of risk now with the existing workforce reductions is unacceptably high, and at some point further reductions would make outages practically inevitable.’
“So, that concerns me when two former BPA Administrators make those kind of statements. I appreciate that DOGE has already allowed the BPA to rehire some of those probationary employees, but I want to ask you, do you believe the BPA workforce should be exempt from the current hiring freeze and future force reductions?” Sen. Cantwell asked during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Griffith responded: “I obviously haven’t been confirmed, and don’t know — I’ve read similar reports, and I don’t think I saw that one that you submitted for the record, but should I be confirmed, I look forward to getting up to speed and prioritizing it. I worked in the last Trump Administration, the first one, and understand the important role that BPA and the Power Marketing Administrations, other PMAs, have in delivering affordable, reliable energy from our hydroelectric resources. And I’m committed to working with you and your office, this Committee, to do that should I be confirmed.”
Sen. Cantwell: “Do you commit to articulate BPA’s safety and reliability role when considering any RIF [Reduction in Force] proposals?”
Griffith: “Senator, again, I don’t know exactly what is happening in the Department or any discussions, but I will prioritize working with the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary, and the rest of the team on this issue, if confirmed to—”
Sen. Cantwell: “I’m just asking you whether you will raise safety and reliability roles. That’s a pretty easy –“
Griffith: “Oh, safety and reliability are obviously very important to the grid, BPA, and all of the utilities and PMAs, and I think we’ll continue to prioritize the reliability, the security, and the resilience of our grid, including at the PMAs.”
A video of her Q&A with Griffith can be watched HERE; audio is HERE; and a transcript is HERE.
Sen. Cantwell has slammed the Trump Administration’s mass firings and hiring freezes as overbroad, dangerous to the public, precarious for our lands, and at times illegal.
Last week, during another hearing of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Sen. Cantwell also pressed James Danly and Katharine MacGregor – President Trump’s nominees to serve as DOE Deputy Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior – on their commitments to not sell off public assets owned by Bonneville Power Administration after DOGE recently ordered the sale of the BPA Portland building. Video of that exchange is HERE.
In July 2021, Sen. Cantwell authored and fought for passage of a bipartisan amendment that eventually resulted in a $10 billion increase in BPA’s borrowing authority being included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The measure allowed BPA to continue to borrow at low-interest rates at no ultimate cost to the taxpayer, so that Bonneville could move forward with the vital projects announced today. Sen. Cantwell’s amendment also linked expanded borrowing authority to new financial oversight requirements and opportunities for increased stakeholder engagement.
Without Sen. Cantwell’s efforts, the borrowing authority would likely not have been established, industry insiders said at the time.
In July 2023, BPA announced it would move forward with more than $2 billion worth of electricity grid improvement projects that will significantly increase the capacity and reliability of the Pacific Northwest grid and its ability to integrate new energy sources. In October 2024, BPA announced an additional $3 billion in grid updates.
Bonneville’s generating and transmission portfolio consists primarily of emissions-free sources and is the backbone of an electricity system that is relied on by tens of millions of people throughout the Western United States. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the Pacific Northwest will need to add 56% more transmission capacity by 2040. The Northwest Power and Conservation Council calculates the region will need 3,500 megawatts of new renewable generation by 2027 and 14,000 additional megawatts by 2040. Sen. Cantwell has been a longtime champion of BPA and the cost-based power it helps provide the Pacific Northwest, and has successfully fended off multiple efforts to privatize BPA or increase regional electricity rates.
WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) introduced the Veterans First Act of 2025, which will redirect wasteful taxpayer funding previously allocated for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to instead pay for outstanding repairs in state veterans’ homes. This legislation follows the Trump administration’s actions to largely shut down USAID after it was revealed that the agency was using taxpayer funds to pay for radical leftist priorities. Rep. Dave Taylor (R-OH) leads the effort in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Our bill takes 2 billion dollars that was going to be thrown into the USAID money pit and distributed to radical progressive causes across the globe, and instead puts it toward desperately needed housing and hospitals for the men and women who defend America,” said Senator Lee. “We should put our veterans before any foreign interests or organizations.”
“Let’s be honest, USAID was largely being used as a Democrat slush fund under Joe Biden,” said Sen. Tuberville. “We don’t need to waste BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars on research in Wuhan or transgender operas in Colombia when our own veterans are living in horrible conditions. There are more than 160 state veteran homes across the country that provide long-term care to eligible military veterans. The VA currently offers construction grants that cover up to 65% of renovation costs, but funding constraints can cause years of delays for homes that are waiting to receive federal funds to match the funds approved at the state level. This critical legislation would provide sufficient federal funding to cover all outstanding Priority 1 VA State Home Construction projects that already have the state-matching funds. Our veteran heroes were willing to lay down their lives for our freedom. The least we can do is make sure they have a decent place to call home.
“Under the Biden-Harris Administration, taxpayer dollars were wastefully sent overseas to fund DEI initiatives while the pressing needs of veterans here at home were ignored,” said Rep. Taylor. “Under President Trump, Republicans are getting our Nation’s priorities straight and our Heroes are at the top of the list. I am proud to lead this bill to ensure State Veterans Homes across our country are equipped with the funding to meet our veterans’ needs.”
The Veterans First Act of 2025 would:
Redirect $2 billion of USAID funds toward State Veteran Home repairs and renovations,
Provide sufficient funding to cover all outstanding Priority 1 VA State Home construction grants,
These are ready-to-go projects that already possess state-matching funds and are only awaiting federal matching funds to being work.
Put America’s veterans first and reorient our nation’s spending priorities.
Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced the Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act (MEAA), bipartisan legislation to help reduce barriers to higher education and lower student debt by expanding the use of existing federal grants that support dual enrollment, concurrent enrollment and early college high school programs.
“Providing more pathways for students to pursue higher education or technical skills and experience is crucial to their success and benefits our economy,” said Boozman. “I’m proud to work in a bipartisan way to increase access to programs that prepare the next generation of Arkansans and other Americans to get an affordable head start that sets them up for career success and longevity.”
“To meet our current workforce needs, we must expand access to programs that help students begin training for a career they are interested in,” said Peters. “This bipartisan bill would give high school students the chance to start working towards a college degree and building their future without the financial burden of a student loan.”
Specifically, the MEAA Act would expand the allowable uses of funding from the Higher Education Act Title VII Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), allowing colleges and universities to strengthen early college access programs by broadening FIPSE funding to:
Implement dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college high school programming;
Provide educators, principals, counselors and other school leaders in these programs with professional development;
Assist students in the program by covering education-related costs such as tuition and fees, books and transportation; and
Support activities such as course design, course approval processes, community outreach, student counseling and support services.
The legislation is endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE).
“School leaders recognize that college accessibility does more than just create opportunities for students—it strengthens our entire education workforce,” said NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe. “This critical legislation tackles the financial obstacles confronting future teachers, making certification attainable during an era when higher education costs dramatically exceed educator compensation.”
“The Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act would expand opportunities for dual and concurrent enrollment and early college high schools—both key to the success and connections between our secondary education, postsecondary education and workforce systems,” said ACTE Director LeAnn Curry. “ACTE is proud to endorse the bill, and we are grateful to Senators Gary Peters and John Boozman for introducing the legislation. Their bipartisan commitment provides Congress with an opportunity to expand access to early postsecondary credit and increase opportunities for CTE students pursuing these pathways into successful careers.”
Background:
Dual enrollment programs enable students to be enrolled in and earn credit from both their high school and a college institution.
Concurrent enrollment allows students to take college-credit courses taught by qualified high school teachers approved by partner colleges.
Early college high schools, which are typically located on or near college campuses or embedded within high schools, allow students to work toward an associate’s degree while completing their high school diploma.
Hostilities across the Gaza Strip continue to take a devastating toll on the population, with daily reports of Israeli strikes killing and injuring many civilians, UN aid coordination office OCHA said on Thursday.
OCHAsaiddozens of people, including at least eight children, were killed in Gaza City on Wednesday after an Israeli strike hit a residential building. Many others are still missing under the rubble.
The agency stressed that civilians must be protected and should never be a target.
Medical evacuations and displacement orders
Israel’s total blockade on all commercial and lifesaving relief supplies remains in place, though the World Health Organization (WHO) pointed to some good news as 18 Gazans were medically evacuated for specialized treatment abroad.
The patients along with nearly 30 companions headed for Norway, Malta, Luxembourg and Romania via the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza on Wednesday.
WHO noted, however, that some 12,500 patients in the enclave still need to be evacuated.
Access to healthcare facilities has been impacted by displacement orders issued by the Israeli military and the safety of healthcare workers remains at risk.
At least two medical professionals were reported killed as they left their health facility in Gaza City on Monday, according to OCHA.
Today, 12 out of 17 hospitals in the Gaza Strip are partially functional and there is only one field hospital.
Blockade’s devastating impacts
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the dire health conditions in a media briefing on Thursday.
He said the blockade, which took effect on 2 March, has prevented the entry of all food and medicine. Additionally, 75 per cent of UN missions within Gaza over the past week were denied or impeded.
“This blockade is leaving families hungry, malnourished, without clean water, shelter, and adequate healthcare, and increasing the risk of disease and death,” he said, speaking from WHO Headquarters in Geneva.
He noted that during the recent “precious ceasefire” WHO was able to re-supply the Gaza health system as well as its warehouses. Stocks are now dangerously low and will run out within two to four weeks.
Healthcare under attack
Tedros said that “180,000 doses of routine childhood vaccines – enough to fully protect 60,000 children under the age of two – have not been allowed to enter, leaving newborns and young children at risk.”
Furthermore, it is estimated that since the ceasefire collapsed, almost 1,500 people have been killed, including 500 children, and almost 400,000 people have been displaced again.
“The health system is only functioning partially and is overwhelmed. Meanwhile, healthcare continues to be attacked,” Tedros said, recalling that more than 400 humanitarians have been killed since the Gaza conflict began in October 2023, following the deadly Hamas terror attacks in southern Israel.
Looting on the rise
As supplies inside the Gaza Strip near exhaustion and the situation becomes increasingly dire, there has been an increase in looting in recent days, OCHA said.
Several incidents were reported in Rafah, and Deir Al-Balah, and Al Zawaida earlier this week.
OCHA once again reiterated the urgency of re-opening crossings to allow the entry of critical supplies.
Children going hungry
Currently, more than 60,000 children are reportedly suffering from malnutrition at a time when community kitchens are rapidly running out of fuel and supplies.
Humanitarian partners are also warning of acute water shortages in shelters hosting displaced people.
“The loss of water – together with the lack of cleaning supplies and cohabitation with livestock – are having a dire public health impact. In March, more than one third of households in Gaza experienced lice infestations,” OCHA said.
This week, humanitarian partners also identified more than a dozen unaccompanied and separated children and are doing everything possible to reunite them with their families.
NEW YORK, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. (NYSE American: CLM) (CUSIP: 21924B302) (the “Fund”) announced today that, contingent upon final approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), it has set the close of business on April 21, 2025 as the record date (the “Record Date”) for determination of stockholders entitled to participate in the Fund’s 1-for-3 rights offering. The Fund is issuing to its stockholders non-transferable rights entitling the holders to subscribe for an aggregate of 84,252,329 shares of common stock. Each stockholder will receive one non-transferable right for each share of the Fund held as of the Record Date. Fractional shares will not be issued upon the exercise of the rights. Accordingly, the number of rights to be issued to a stockholder on the Record Date will be rounded up to the nearest whole number of rights evenly divisible by three. For every three rights a stockholder receives, he or she will be entitled (but not required) to purchase one new share of the Fund at a subscription price equal to the greater of (i) 112% of net asset value per share as calculated at the close of trading on the expiration date of the offering or (ii) 80% of the market price per share at such time. Fractional shares will not be issued. In addition to the shares offered in the primary subscription, the Fund may offer a 100% over-allotment to oversubscribing stockholders. Stockholders who fully subscribe in the primary offering will have the option to oversubscribe for additional shares, to the extent available.
The subscription period will commence shortly after the Record Date, and will expire at 5:00 p.m., EDT, on Friday, May 16, 2025, (the “Expiration Date”) unless extended. The actual subscription price per share will be determined on the Expiration Date.
Shares will be issued within the 15-day period immediately following the record date of the Fund’s May 2025 monthly distribution to stockholders. Stockholders exercising their rights to purchase shares pursuant to the offering will not be entitled to receive such distribution with respect to the shares issued pursuant to such exercise.
This press release is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. The offering is subject to an effective registration statement covering the rights and shares to be issued and to other customary regulatory filings and approvals. Any rights offering conducted by the Fund will be made only by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. is a closed-end, diversified management investment company and is registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. is traded on the NYSE American LLC under the trading symbol “CLM”. The Fund’s investment adviser is Cornerstone Advisors, LLC, which also serves as the investment adviser to another closed-end fund, Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. (NYSE American: CRF). For more information regarding Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. or Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. please visit www.cornerstonestrategicinvestmentfund.com, and www.cornerstonetotalreturnfund.com.
Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. An investment in the Fund is subject to certain risks, including market risk. In general, shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount from their net asset value and at the time of sale may be trading on the exchange at a price which is more or less than the original purchase price or the net asset value. An investor should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses. Please read the Fund’s disclosure documents before investing.
In addition to historical information, this release contains forward-looking statements, which may concern, among other things, domestic and foreign markets, industry and economic trends and developments and government regulation and their potential impact on the Fund’s investment portfolio. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the factors set forth in the Fund’s disclosure documents, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and actual trends, developments and regulations in the future, and their impact on the Fund could be materially different from those projected, anticipated or implied. The Fund has no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Egliston, Senior Lecturer in Digital Cultures, Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow, University of Sydney
Last week, Nintendo announced the June 5 release of its long anticipated Switch 2. But the biggest talking point wasn’t the console’s launch titles or features. At US$449 in the United States, and A$699 in Australia, many were struck by the steep cost.
However, this price doesn’t seem quite as high once you compare it to the broader history of hardware pricing. And it may still go up.
History of Nintendo pricing
The original NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) console cost US$179 when it was released in 1985. That’s US$525, or A$590, adjusted for 2025 inflation.
But other consoles have been even pricier. The PlayStation 3 launched in North America in 2006 at around US$499 (US$782 today). When it launched in Australia the next year, it retailed at A$999 (upwards of A$1500 today).
Nintendo’s main competitors are Sony (Xbox) and Microsoft (PlayStation). Both are subsidised by their broader media and technology businesses, which means they can afford to make higher-cost consoles, and even take losses on console sales.
The Xbox Series X and Playstation 5 both launched in Australia for A$749 in 2020. Shutterstock
Compared to Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft depend more heavily on licensing third-party content and offering subscription services, such as Xbox Game Pass, to drive recurring revenue.
Nintendo’s business model, by contrast, revolves around selling both its consoles and original “first-party” titles.
Nintendo also takes a different approach to console development, by prioritising lower-spec, lower-cost hardware aimed at a broader and often more casual audience. The company has typically made profits on both its hardware and software (particularly its first-party games).
Our research suggests many players appreciate this strategy. Rather than competing directly with Sony and Microsoft on technical performance, they felt Nintendo focused on delivering fun and accessible experiences through affordable technology.
Still, the current economic conditions make the Switch 2’s price hard to swallow. With the rising cost of living and stagnant wages, even historically “normal” prices can feel out of reach.
The tariff question
Why is Nintendo increasing the price of Switch 2 – especially given the enormous commercial success of the original 2017 Switch at its lower price point of US$299 and A$469?
The Switch 2 release was announced on the same day the Trump administration unveiled plans for sweeping new tariffs, including a proposed minimum 10% tariff on all imports (and higher on Vietnam, China and Cambodia, where Nintendo manufactures its consoles).
Doug Bowser, president at Nintendo of America, has claimed tariffs “weren’t factored into the pricing” of the Switch 2.
But it’s hard to imagine a scenario in which Nintendo simply absorbs those costs. The company has historically maintained positive margins on hardware. It is also famously conservative when it comes to its pricing strategy.
Not just tariffs — and not just Nintendo
The Switch 2’s price tag is a window into broader shifts in the business of games. Games are more popular than ever. And apart from a small dip in 2022, they’re making more money than ever.
But they’re also more expensive to make. Reports claim Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War had a combined development and marketing budget of around US$700 million.
Low interest rates, particularly during the pandemic, meant rising production costs could be offset by cheap money from big publishing, technology, and entertainment conglomerates investing in videogame companies.
Venture capital firms and tech giants alike piled in. The result was huge growth for the industry, as well as some blockbuster mergers.
But the era of near-zero interest rates is no more – and the flow of money that once covered soaring development costs is slowing down.
Gaming companies have responded with mass layoffs, further exacerbated by exuberance (largely from management) for artificial intelligence to increase efficiency. Beyond this, they are turning to more aggressive monetisation strategies.
Games such as Fortnite and Call of Duty don’t just make money from sales. They keep players inside their ecosystems, spending money over time.
Research has shown developers are increasingly designing games for ongoing user monestisation,
whether through micro-transactions, battle passes, extra downloadable content, subscriptions or in-game advertising.
Between tariffs, inflation and rising game development costs, the US$450 Switch 2 (and its US$80/A$110 games) may just be the beginning. In the short term, we’re likely to see higher prices for both consoles and games.
The effects of US tariffs on Switch 2 pricing in Australia remain unclear. However, the Australian dollar’s recent roller coaster ride, partly driven by uncertainty over US tariffs, could mean further price hikes to offset increased import costs.
We saw Sony adjust prices for the PS5 mid-generation in response to production costs. There’s no reason to assume the Switch 2 price will remain static.
In the longer term, we’re entering a market where the line between “freemium” and “premium” continues to blur. Premium games now often come with built-in expectations of ongoing monetisation, moving away from one-off sales.
Platform holders such as Nintendo remained notable exceptions, favouring upfront pricing and self-contained experiences. Although they, too, may gradually shift away from this.
Ben Egliston is a recipient of funding from the Australian Research Council (DE240101275, DP250100343). He has previously received funding from Meta and TikTok.
Taylor Hardwick is employed under funding by the Australian Research Council (FF220100076; DE240101275). She is a board member of both Freeplay, a Melbourne-based independent games festival, and the Digital Games Research Association of Australia.
Tianyi Zhangshao does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Peetz, Laurie Carmichael Distinguished Research Fellow at the Centre for Future Work, and Professor Emeritus, Griffith Business School, Griffith University
Can the government actually make a difference to the wages Australians earn?
A lot of attention always falls on the government’s submission to the Fair Work Commission’s annual wage review, which this year called for a real boost to award wages, above the rate of inflation.
The commission’s decision has a big impact on wages received by at least a quarter of employees, many among the lowest paid. While the government’s submission must make some difference to the outcome, it’s hard to quantify how much of a difference that is.
My new research for the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work focuses on another, possibly bigger impact the government can have on wages – certainly one that affects a wider range of workers. This is its effect on the bargaining power of all workers and employers.
We had a long period of poor wages growth, against a backdrop of low power for workers, driven both by markets and policy. More recently, though, the tide has started to turn.
In recent decades, trends in the economy and labour market almost all worked to reduce worker power. My research examined 16 economic or related factors that were considered to either influence or indicate power in the labour market.
Almost all have reduced workers’ power over the medium to long term. One had ambiguous effects. Only one had the opposite effect and helped boost worker power for a while.
Among the many factors reinforcing or reflecting less bargaining power for workers were:
long-term declines in union membership, collective bargaining coverage and industrial action
the expansion of the “gig economy”
the growth of casual employment, particularly between the 1980s and 2000s
a reduction in job switching among employees
growing use of outsourcing and contracting out, to do work formerly undertaken within large organisations
A decline in the gender pay gap suggested a gradual increase in female workers’ power, relative to equivalent male workers at least.
The only factor that could increase overall worker power was the decline in unemployment from 2010 to 2023 (setting aside the pandemic blip).
Policies limiting workers’ power
With the Coalition in government from 2014 to 2022, a lot of policy acted to reinforce the loss of worker power that had happened due to economic and labour market trends.
Of the seven major federal policy changes considered in this period, five acted to reduce workers’ power (including the establishment of new bodies regulating unions and the abolition of a transport safety regulator).
Only two increased it (including some tighter regulation of franchises).
A change of course
After Labor came to power in 2022, a series of (mostly legislative) changes were introduced. Out of 23 federal policies implemented by the government, 22 increased workers’ power.
These included policies to:
abolish new bodies regulating unions
limit the use of fixed-term contracts
expand workers’ rights to request flexibility
make it harder for firms to classify workers as contractors
create protections for “employee-like” workers
expand the scope for multi-employer bargaining.
Only one reduced worker power – clarifying certain exemptions for small business – and its impact was neither large nor controversial.
What’s been the outcome for wages?
So, what’s happened to Australian wages under these different policy environments?
Some policies, such as protections for “employee-like” workers, could not yet have a measurable impact. The most recent policy, banning non-compete clauses for middle and lower-income workers, was only announced in March.
Still, three major measures of wages growth, that performed poorly from 2014 to 2022, showed some upturn from the end of 2022.
Overall, wages growth mostly averaged a little over 2% per year through most of the period from 2014, falling then recovering in the pandemic.
It’s been 3%, 4%, or more since the end of 2022, against a backdrop of higher inflation.
Wage increases under new enterprise agreements gradually declined from around 3.5% a year in 2014 to about 2.5% in 2022. However, they have grown since then and peaked at 4.8% at the end of last year.
The data suggest wage gains associated with increased worker power are experienced by both union members and non-members – but that union members benefit the most.
Inflation not the cause
There’s an argument that Australia’s recent growth in wages is simply a response to a temporary surge in inflation.
But we can look at how big a share wages make up of Australia’s total national income. From 2014 to 2022, we see the wages share of national income falling, then rising sharply until today. If inflation was the only cause of the upturn, labour’s share would not have grown like this.
This increase occurred while inflation was falling — from over 7% at the end of 2022, to below 3% at the end of 2024. So, wages growth clearly hasn’t caused a rise in inflation.
The verdict: do governments really make a difference?
My research suggests the answer is yes, governments can influence wages. The direction of influence depends very much on who is in government, most importantly in the federal parliament.
One of the biggest ways governments have affected wages over the past decade has been by taking power away from workers — and then by giving some of it back.
Returning some of that power to workers has correlated with the fastest growth in wages for a decade, and a growing share of national income going to wages, despite falling inflation.
As a university employee, David Peetz undertook research over many years with occasional financial support from governments from both sides of politics, employers and unions. He has been and is involved in several Australian Research Council-funded and approved projects, which included contributions from those bodies, and undertaken several private commissioned projects, including one in which he gave expert evidence commissioned by both sides in a State Wage Case.
In 1938, zoologist Ellis Le Geyt Troughton mourned that Australia’s “gentle and specialized creatures” were “unable to cope with changed conditions and introduced enemies”.
The role of these “enemies” – namely, foxes and feral cats – in driving dozens of Australia’s animals towards extinction has solidified into a scientific consensus. This is a simple and plausible story: wily new predators arrive, decimating unwary native mammals.
In response, conservationists and governments have declared war on foxes and cats with large-scale trapping, shooting and poisoning campaigns.
But did foxes and cats definitely cause the extinction of animals such as the desert bandicoot, lesser bilby and the central hare-wallaby? Our new research shows the evidence base is nowhere near as strong as you might assume.
Feral cats are now found across almost all of Australia. But cats took decades to cover the continent. Mike Letnic/iNaturalist, CC BY-NC
What did we do?
We catalogued mammal species experts believe have either declined or gone extinct due to predation by foxes (57 species) and cats (80 species) and searched for primary sources linking foxes and cats to their decline. To assess the evidence, we then asked three simple questions.
1. Did extinctions follow the arrival of new predators?
A common claim is that extinctions followed fox and cat arrival and spread.
But is it definitely true? To find out, we compiled the last recorded sightings of extinct mammals and compared them to maps estimating the arrival of foxes and cats in the area. We included local extinctions (extinct in an area) and full extinctions, where the species is no more.
We found extinction records for 164 local populations of 52 species. Nearly a third (31%) of these records did not confirm the timeline that extinctions followed predator arrival. We found that 44% of the extinctions blamed on foxes and 20% on cats could have happened before predator arrival.
Records can be inaccurate. But our findings mean we can’t authoritatively state that foxes and cats were at the scene of these crimes. For instance, banded hare-wallabies now live only on two islands in Western Australia. They were last recorded on the mainland 4–30 years before foxes are known to have arrived.
Then there are examples of coexistence. The eastern barred bandicoot lived alongside cats on the mainland for more than 150 years before becoming extinct on the mainland, and the two species continue to live together in Tasmania.
2. Is there evidence linking foxes and cats to extinctions?
Our study found experts attribute predation pressure from foxes and cats as a reason why 57% of Australia’s threatened mammals are at risk of extinction.
For this claim to be based on evidence, we would expect to find ecological studies finding these links in most cases.
We found 331 studies and categorised each according to whether they contained predator and prey population data and if they found a link between introduced predators and a decline in the prey species.
For 76% of threatened species attributed to foxes and 80% for cats, we found no studies supporting this with population data.
Experts aren’t claiming foxes and cats are the main threat in all these cases. But when we analysed the data only for the species experts consider at high risk from foxes and cats, we found similar results.
For example, foxes and cats are ranked a “high” threat to mountain pygmy possums. We found anecdotes that foxes and cats sometimes eat these possums, but no studies showing they cause population decline.
Similarly, foxes are widely linked to the decline of black-footed rock-wallabies. But this claim came from poison-baiting studies which did not report data showing what happened to the fox population. This is important, because killing foxes does not necessarily reduce fox populations.
In 50% of studies reporting population data, there was no negative association with these predators. This further weakens the claim that foxes and cats directly drive extinctions.
For example, cats are considered a “high” threat to long-nosed potoroos. But population studies on these potoroos don’t support this. In fact, these small, seemingly vulnerable animals are able to live alongside feral cats.
By contrast, we did find one species – the brush-tailed rabbit rat – which had compelling evidence across all studies linking cats to its decline.
Long-nosed potoroos would be an appealing meal for foxes and cats. But these small marsupials have found ways to evade predators. Zoos Victoria, CC BY-NC
3. Do more introduced predators mean fewer threatened mammals?
If introduced predators cause extinctions, we would expect to find that higher predator numbers is associated with lower prey numbers (and vice versa). While correlations such as these don’t prove causation, they can give an indication.
We conducted a meta-analysis and found a negative correlation with foxes. The more foxes, the fewer threatened mammals.
This is the strongest evidence we found for introduced predators putting pressure on these species. But there are limitations – these findings would be typical for native predators and prey as well.
We found no evidence for a correlation with cats.
More lines of evidence
These aren’t the only lines of evidence. Making the strongest case for fox and cat pressure are studies finding extinct species often fall within a critical weight range – 35 grams to 5.5 kilos – which are good-sized prey for foxes and cats.
But these studies don’t explain why Australian animals would be uniquely vulnerable. For millennia, Australia’s mammals have lived alongside predators such as dingoes, Tasmanian devils, quolls and wedge-tailed eagles.
Conservationists have long believed Australia’s endemic mammals are naive or poorly adapted to survive alongside ambush hunters such as foxes and cats. But there’s no current evidence for this.
Our research has shown Australian rodents respond to foxes in the same way as do North American and Middle Eastern rodents, who evolved alongside foxes.
One line of argument goes further to suggest that foxes, cats and dingoes have “rewired” Australian ecosystems following the loss of the thylacine, Tasmanian devil (once common on the mainland) and the long-extinct marsupial lion.
What should we conclude?
We didn’t set out to prove or disprove the idea that foxes and cats drive extinctions. Instead, our study lays out the available primary evidence of historic records and studies to allow readers to draw their own conclusions.
Sweeping claims have been made about Australia’s introduced predators. But when we analyse the evidence base, we find it ambiguous, weak and – in most cases – lacking.
Foxes and cats have been largely convicted by expert opinion which, while useful, can be prone to bias and groupthink.
So what did cause Australia’s mammal extinctions? The honest answer is we don’t know. It could be foxes and cats – but it could also be something else.
Arian Wallach receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Erick Lundgren receives funding from the Centre for Open Science & Synthesis in Ecology and Evolution at the University of Alberta
Once floodwaters subside, talk of planned retreat inevitably rises.
Within Aotearoa New Zealand, several communities from north to south – including Kumeū, Kawatiri Westport and parts of Ōtepoti Dunedin – are considering future relocations while others are completing property buyouts and categorisations.
Planned retreats may reduce exposure to harm, but the social and cultural burdens of dislocation from land and home are complex. Planning, funding and physically relocating or removing homes, taonga or assets – and even entire towns – is challenging.
Internationally, research has focused on why, when and how planned retreats occur, as well as who pays. But we explore what happens to the places we retreat from.
Our latest research examines 161 international case studies of planned retreat. We analysed what happens beyond retreat, revealing how land use has changed following withdrawal of human activities.
We found a wide range of land use following retreat. In some cases, comprehensive planning for future uses of land was part of the retreat process. But in others we found a failure to consider these changing places.
Planned retreats have happened in response to various climate and hazard risks, including sea-level rise and coastal erosion, tsunami, cyclones, earthquakes, floods and landslides.
The case studies we investigated range from gradual transitions to sudden changes, such as from residential or business activities to conservation or vacant lands. In some cases, “sea change” is evident, where once dry land becomes foreshore and seabed.
Through our research, we identified global “retreat legacies”. These themes demonstrate how communities across the world have sought similar outcomes, highlighting primary land-use patterns following retreat.
The case studies show significant conversions of private to public land, with new nature and open-space reserves. Sites have been rehabilitated and floodplains and coastal ecosystems restored and reconnected.
Open spaces are used for various purposes, including as nature, community, stormwater or passive recreational reserves. Some of these new zones may restrict structures or certain activities, depending on the risk.
For example, due to debris flow hazard in Matatā in the Bay of Plenty, only transitory recreation or specific low-risk activities are allowed in the post-retreat environment because of the high risk to human life.
Planning and investment in new open-space zones range from basic rehabilitation (grassed sites) to established parks and reserves, such as the Grand Forks riverfront greenway which borders rivers in the twin US cities of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and East Grand Forks, Minnesota. This area now hosts various recreational courses and connected trails as well as major flood protection measures.
Project Twin Streams has transformed former residential sites to allow rivers to roam in the floodplain. Wikimedia Commons/Ingolfson, CC BY-SA
Nature-based adaptations are a key function in this retreat legacy. For example, Project Twin Streams, a large-scale environmental restoration project in Waitakere, West Auckland, has transformed former residential sites into drainage reserves to make room for rivers in the floodplain.
Importantly, not all retreats require significant land-use change. Continued farming, heritage preservation and cultural activities show that planned retreats are not always full and final withdrawals from a place.
Instead, they represent an adapted relationship. While sensitive activities are relocated, other practices may remain, such as residents’ continued access to the old village of Vunidogoloa in Fiji for fishing and farming.
Social and economic legacies
Urban development in a small number of retreated sites has involved comprehensive spatial reorganisation, with planning for new urban esplanades, improved infrastructure and cultural amenities.
One example is the comprehensive infrastructure masterplan for the Caño Martín Peña district in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which involves communities living along a tidal channel. The plan applied a community-first approach to retreat. It integrated infrastructure, housing, open space, flood mitigation and ecological planning.
Alternatively, the decision to remove stopbanks and return the landscape to a “waterscape” can become a tourism feature, such as in the marshlands of the Biesbosch National Park in the Netherlands. A museum is dedicated to the transformed environment.
Where there was no post-retreat planning or site rehabilitation, ghost towns such as Missouri’s Pattonsburg leave eerie reminders of the costs of living in danger zones.
Vacant and abandoned sites also raise environmental justice and ecological concerns about which retreat spaces are invested in and rehabilitated to avoid urban blight and environmental risks. Retreat sites may include landfills or contaminated land, requiring major site rehabilitation.
The 12 case studies from Aotearoa New Zealand demonstrate a range of new land uses. These include new open-space reserves, the restoration of floodplains and coastal environments, risk mitigation and re-development, and protection measures such as stopbanks.
Moving beyond retreat
Our research highlights how planned retreats can create a transition in landscapes, with potential for a new sense of place, meaning and strategic adaptation.
We found planned retreats have impacts beyond the retreat site, which reinforces the value of spatial planning.
The definition and practices of “planned or managed retreat” must include early planning to account of the values and uses the land once had. Any reconfigurations of land and seascapes must imagine a future well beyond people’s retreat.
Christina Hanna received funding from the national science challenge Resilience to Nature’s Challenges Kia manawaroa – Ngā Ākina o Te Ao Tūroa and from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Endeavour Fund.
Iain White received funding from the national science challenge Resilience to Nature’s Challenges Kia manawaroa – Ngā Ākina o Te Ao Tūroa, from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Endeavour Fund and from the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake. He is New Zealand’s national contact point for climate, energy and mobility for the European Union’s Horizon Europe research program.
Raven Cretney received funding from the national science challenge Resilience to Nature’s Challenges Kia manawaroa – Ngā Ākina o Te Ao Tūroa.
Pip Wallace does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Hospital-acquired infections are infections patients didn’t have when they were admitted to hospital. The most common include wound infections after surgery, urinary tract infections and pneumonia.
These can have a big impact for patients, often increasing their time in hospital, requiring additional treatment and causing discomfort. Unfortunately, some people who sustain an infection in hospital don’t recover. In Australia, there are an estimated 7,500 deaths associated with hospital-acquired infections annually.
It’s important to prevent such infections not only for the benefit of patients, but also because of their cost to the health system and to reduce antibiotic use.
Even though patients don’t usually come into contact with each other directly in hospitals, there are many ways bacteria can be transmitted between patients.
Our own and other research suggests medical equipment (such as blood pressure machines, dressing trolleys and drip stands) could be a common source of infection.
We conducted an experiment in a New South Wales hospital where we introduced a package of extra cleaning measures onto several wards.
The package consisted of designated cleaners specifically trained to clean and disinfect sensitive medical equipment. Normally, the cleaning of shared equipment is the responsibility of clinical staff.
These cleaners spent three hours a day disinfecting shared medical equipment on the ward. We also provided regular training and feedback to the cleaners.
The start date for the cleaning package on each ward was randomly selected. This is known as a “stepped wedge” trial (more on this later).
We monitored the thoroughness of cleaning before and after introducing the cleaning package by applying a florescent gel marker to shared equipment. The gel cannot be seen without a special light, but is easily removed if the surface is cleaned well.
We also monitored infections in patients on the wards before and after introducing the cleaning package. Over the course of the experiment, more than 5,000 patients passed through the wards we were studying.
Finally, we looked at the economic costs and benefits: how much the cleaning package costs, versus the health-care costs that may be saved thanks to any avoided infections.
Shared hospital equipment such as IV drip stands can harbour infections. Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock
What we found
Before the intervention, we found the thoroughness of cleaning shared equipment, assessed by the removal of the gel marker, was low. Once we introduced the cleaning package, cleaning thoroughness improved from 24% to 66%.
After the cleaning package was introduced, hospital-acquired infections dropped by about one-third, from 14.9% to 9.8% of patients. We saw a reduction in a range of different types of infections including bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections and surgical wound infections.
To put this another way, for every 1,000 patients admitted to wards with the cleaning package, we estimated there were 30 fewer infections compared to wards before the cleaning package was introduced. This not only benefits patients, but also hospitals and the community, by freeing up resources that can be used to treat other patients.
Treating infections in hospital is expensive. We estimate the cost of treating infections before the cleaning intervention was around A$2.1 million for a group of 1,000 patients, arising from 130 infections. These costs come from extra time in hospital and treatment costs associated with infections.
We estimated the 30 fewer infections per 1,000 patients reduced costs to $1.5 million, even when factoring in the cost of cleaners and cleaning products. Put differently, our intervention could save a hospital $642,000 for every 1,000 patients.
Some limitations of our research
Our experiment was limited to several wards at one Australian hospital. It’s possible the cleaning was particularly poor at this hospital, and the same intervention at other hospitals may not result in the same benefit.
For various reasons, even with trained designated cleaners we didn’t find every piece of equipment was cleaned all the time. This reflects common real-world issues in a busy ward. For example, some equipment was being used and not available for cleaning and cleaners were sometimes absent due to illness.
We don’t know whether even more cleaning might have resulted in an even greater reduction in infections, but there is often a law of diminishing returns when assessing infection control interventions.
A limitation of looking at infection rates before and after the introduction of an intervention is that other things may change at the same time, such as staffing levels, so not all the difference in infections may be due to the intervention.
But the stepped wedge model, where the cleaning package was introduced at different times on different wards, increases our confidence the reduction in infections was the result of the cleaning package.
Improving hospital cleaning is a no brainer
Shared medical equipment harbours pathogens, which can survive for long periods in health-care settings.
Like our study, other research has similarly suggested a clean hospital is a safe hospital. Importantly, cleaning needs to include thorough disinfection to reduce the risk of infection (not just removing visible dirt and stains).
Our work is also consistent with other research that shows improving cleaning in hospitals is cost-effective.
Cleaning services and products have often been subject to cuts when hospitals have needed to save money.
But prioritising effective cleaning of medical equipment appears to be a no brainer for health system administrators. We need to invest in better cleaning practices for both the health of patients and the financial bottom line.
Brett Mitchell receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Medical Research Future Fund. Brett is Editor-in-Chief of Infection, Disease and Health for which he is paid an honorarium by the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control. Brett has appointments at Avondale University, Monash University and the Hunter Medical Research Institute. GAMA Healthcare Australia provided cleaning wipes used in a study referenced in this article.
Allen Cheng receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Government. He is a member of the Infection Prevention and Control Advisory Committee advising the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Healthcare.
Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)
Spokesperson Tammy Bruce leads the Department Press Briefing, at the Department of State, on April 10, 2025.
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The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.
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Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
WASHINGTON, DC – The latest results for U.S. adults on the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) are sobering. Between 2017 and 2023 literacy and numeracy skills sank, with the percentage of adults at the lowest performance levels increasing from 19 to 28 percent in literacy and from 29 to 34 percent in numeracy. And, at current funding levels, adult education programs reach only an estimated 1.1 million people across the nation.
In an effort to connect more Americans to adult education opportunities and boost our economy, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Todd Young (R-IN) today reintroduced the Adult Education Workforce Opportunity and Reskilling for Knowledge and Success Act (the Adult Education WORKS Act), to reauthorize adult education programs and expand upon the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Congresswoman Lucy McBath (D-GA-6) is leading introduction of companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
A study commissioned by the Barbara Bush Foundation estimates that getting all American adults to the equivalent of a sixth-grade reading level would add $2.2 trillion to the country’s annual income. Without the opportunities provided by adult education programs — like numeracy, literacy, digital literacy, English language skills, soft skills, work readiness, high school equivalency, and other wraparound services — many adults will be left on the sidelines of an economy that needs more qualified workers in order to grow.
The Adult Education WORKS Act provides a roadmap for addressing this crisis by updating WIOA and by strengthening and expanding access to adult education services. Specifically, the legislation calls for nearly doubling the authorized funding for adult education by 2030 to $1.35 billion while making significant changes to the adult education system. Critical for achieving success in modern workplaces and for navigating everyday life, the bill calls for a new emphasis on digital and information literacy. Furthermore, the legislation will help to enhance the role of adult education providers by ensuring representation in the workforce planning process, with a focus on college and career navigators in public libraries and community-based organizations.
The Adult Education WORKS Act invests in the professionalization of the adult education field, strengthening state certification policies, encouraging full-time staffing models, and expanding professional development opportunities and career pathways for adult educators. Investments will enhance innovation and provide increased accountability through pilot projects that test new approaches to measuring program performance and outcomes for adult learners.
“Strengthening adult education programs is essential to growing our economy and ensuring business owners have enough qualified workers. Adult education is the ticket to a more prosperous and successful life,” said Senator Reed. “The Adult Education WORKS Act will help ensure that more Americans can access educational programs that will equip them with in-demand skills to take the opportunities that are available to them.”
“It’s critical that all Hoosiers have the tools necessary to succeed in the modern economy – and that starts with strengthening adult education,” said Senator Young. “Our bipartisan bill would bolster critical services for adult learners, while also making important updates that ensure participants are prepared for the 21st century workforce.”
“With so many adults at low literacy and numeracy rates, it is crucial that we provide them an option to gain the skills they need to succeed,” said Rep. McBath. “No adult or family should be left on the sidelines, and the expertise available through these programs often mean the difference between a job that supports a family and struggling to make ends meet. The Adult Education WORKS Act will ensure that essential skills will be taught to adult learners nationwide. I thank my colleagues for their support on this bipartisan bill.”
The Adult Education WORKS Act would amend Title I and reauthorize Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which was signed into law on July 22, 2014. WIOA was designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. Congress passed the Act with a wide bipartisan majority and it was the first legislative reform of the public workforce system since 1998.
The legislation is supported by the Coalition for Adult Basic Education (COABE), American Library Association (ALA), National Coalition for Literacy (NCL), National Skills Coalition, ProLiteracy, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), TESOL International Association, and the Urban Libraries Council.
“Through investment and innovation, adult education is the solution to bridging the widening skills gap and ensuring American employers can fill open roles with qualified individuals. The bipartisan Adult Education WORKS Act would strengthen adult education and help equip millions of American adults with the literacy, numeracy, and digital and information literacy skills needed to secure in-demand jobs that provide family-sustaining wages. COABE is grateful for Senator Reed and Senator Young’s engagement with the adult education field to develop this bill and applauds them and Representative McBath for sponsoring it in the Senate and House of Representatives. COABE is proud to give its full support to the bipartisan Adult Education WORKS Act.” said Sharon Bonney, CEO of COABE.
“Adult learners and programs would greatly benefit from the changes proposed to WIOA in the Adult Education WORKS Act. This bipartisan bill acknowledges the need for increased investment in adult education and includes key provisions to enhance professional development for educators, promote integrated education and training concurrently with other adult education activities and services, ensure adults learners gain critical digital and information literacy skills, and foster stronger coordination between workforce and adult education programs. By addressing these barriers within the WIOA system, the Adult Education WORKS Act ensures adults have access to the skills and guidance needed to move on to college or a career pathway.” said Shaketta Thomas, President of COABE.
“Every day, library patrons turn to their local library for employment services and to make themselves more competitive in today’s job market. Librarians provide resources to the unemployed and underemployed to help their career goals become a reality” said ALA President Cindy Hohl. “The bipartisan Adult Education Workforce Opportunity and Reskilling for Knowledge and Success Act (Adult Education WORKS Act) will address workforce challenges by updating the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to strengthen and expand access to adult education services. ALA strongly endorses the Adult Education WORKS Act.”
“Adult Education is an essential lifeline for adults in the U.S. who lack sufficient foundational skills and are struggling to find meaningful employment and live productive, happy lives. The Adult Education WORKS Act will improve the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) by: promoting better coordination between the adult education and workforce development systems, increasing access to enhanced adult education services, and getting more of our lowest-skilled adults into education and training pathways. Simply put, the Adult Education WORKS Act will provide the necessary skills, expand the employment opportunities and improve the lives of millions of adults in the U.S., which will result in a more skilled workforce, a stronger economy and healthier communities across America,” said Jeffrey A. Fantine, Ph.D., Executive Director of the National Coalition for Literacy.
“TESOL International Association, on behalf of its members who proudly serve the English Language Teaching (ELT) profession, supports Senators Reed and Young’s Adult Education WORKS Act, as it strengthens and expands access to adult education services through WIOA for all adult learners, more than half of whom are multilingual learners of English seeking to better themselves, their communities, and their nation,” said Jeff Hutcheson, Director of Advocacy and Public Policy for TESOL.
Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to crack down on flash mob robberies and intricate retail theft schemes. The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 would establish a coordinated multi-agency response and create new tools to tackle evolving trends in organized retail theft.
“Retail crime has cost Iowa billions, and it’s even worse across the nation. Organized theft rings deploy innovative tactics to pilfer goods, and it’s causing financial harm to businesses, putting employees and consumers at risk and funding transnational criminal organizations throughout the world. It’s time for the law to catch up and prevent criminals from exploiting the internet and online marketplaces. Our bill improves the federal response to organized retail crime and establishes new tools to recover stolen goods and illicit proceeds, and deter future attacks on American retailers,” Grassley said.
“Large criminal organizations are constantly evolving their tactics to steal goods from retailers and the supply chain in communities across the Silver State,” said Cortez Masto. “The rise in organized retail crime has left businesses scrambling, and it is time for Congress to pass this bipartisan legislation to help law enforcement agencies keep our communities safe.”
According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), more than 84 percent of retailers report that violence and aggression from criminal activities has become more of a concern since 2022, resulting in injuries and deaths among employees, customers, security officers and law enforcement personnel. NRF also estimates that larceny incidents increased by 93 percent in 2023 compared to 2019. In recent years, criminal organizations have increasingly turned to retail crime to generate illicit profits, using internet-based tools to organize flash mobs, sell stolen goods and move money.
The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act would establish an Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center within the Department of Homeland Security that combines expertise from state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as retail industry representatives. The bill would also create new tools to assist in federal investigation and prosecution of organized retail crime, and help recapture lost goods and proceeds.
Additional cosponsors include Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act is supported by the National Retail Federation (NRF), United Postal Service (UPS), Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), Association of American Railroads (AAR), Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), American Trucking Associations, Retail Industry Leaders Association, Reusable Packaging Association (RPA), the Home Depot, Iowa Soybean Association and National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC).
“NRF applauds Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., for their continued leadership to address one of retail’s biggest challenges, the rise of organized retail crime. ORC is a multibillion-dollar crisis impacting retailers, their associates and the customers they serve. ORC is occurring across the retail enterprise – supply chains, bricks-and-mortar stores, warehouses and online – with stolen product sold for a profit, oftentimes to fund other crimes. The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 will align efforts within a new Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center to ensure that resources and information-sharing will be available across local, state, federal and private-sector partners to bring cases and prosecutions against organized theft groups. This legislation is an important step to help prevent ORC from infiltrating local communities across the country,” said NRF Executive Vice President of Government Relations David French.
“UPS supports the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act as it provides the necessary resources and coordination to protect the movement of American goods throughout our country while safeguarding the integrity of our national supply chain from rail to road, to retail,” said President of UPS Global Public AffairsMichael Kiely.
“Organized cargo theft and fraud disrupt intermodal freight supply chains, risk the safety of our workforce, and harm the U.S. economy. The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) applauds Senator Grassley, Senator Cortez Masto, Congressman Joyce, and Congresswoman Lee for their leadership in championing critical legislation to address this urgent threat. The bipartisan Combating Organized Retail Crime Act will provide important resources to detect and fight organized crime throughout the supply chain, ensuring that our industry can continue delivering goods to American consumers safely and efficiently,” said Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) President & CEO Anne Reinke.
“Highly motivated and sophisticated criminal networks continue to wreak havoc on communities, retailers and employees across America. They are targeting retailers through brazen organized retail crime schemes, defrauding customers via gift card scams and attacking our supply chains by hijacking our rails and truck shipments. Dismantling these organized criminal rings requires cooperation and collaboration. RILA applauds Sens. Grassley and Cortez Masto for their leadership and commitment to enacting the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), which brings federal, state, and local law enforcement together to intercept and prosecute these criminal enterprises. RILA looks forward to working with them to get this critical piece of legislation signed into law,” said Retail Industry Leaders Association Senior Executive Vice President of Public Affairs Michael Hanson.
“Organized criminal operations continue to evolve and escalate their targeted attacks against our nation’s supply chain and retailers,” said Association of American Railroads President and CEO Ian Jefferies. “This alarming trend affects every industry — including the nation’s largest railroads, which experienced a 40% spike in cargo theft last year. Disrupting these organized crime networks requires a unified, federally led response. Chairman Grassley and Rep. Joyce’s bipartisan legislation provides the strategic framework necessary to disrupt these criminal networks and safeguard our supply chain.”
“The trucking industry takes great pride in delivering America’s freight safely and on time; however, the billions of tons of goods transported by trucks from coast to coast have increasingly become a prime target for organized crime rings, including transnational organizations, putting truck drivers at risk and raising costs for consumers,” said American Trucking Associations President & CEO Chris Spear. “ATA commends this bipartisan group of leaders for addressing this alarming trend and safeguarding our supply chain. By empowering federal agencies to improve cooperation across jurisdictions and ramp up enforcement actions, this bill would strike an effective blow against organized crime.”
“Across the United States, communities small and large are facing an unprecedented number of Organized Retail Crime (ORC) incidents. The Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act would provide the necessary resources to bring the people and organizations behind this nationwide problem to justice by establishing formal coordination between law enforcement and the private sector,” said ICSC President and CEO, Tom McGee. “We applaud Senators Grassley and Cortez Masto for reintroducing the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act. We believe the bill represents a huge step in the right direction towards addressing this growing issue.”
“We welcome the bipartisan action led by Senators Grassley and Cantwell and Representatives Bacon, Gottheimer, Hurd and Meeks to reassert Congressional authority over the tariff process. While we support the Administration’s efforts to grow our economy, we also believe that Congress has a critical role to play in setting trade policy and has clear Article 1 authority to set duties and taxes,” said National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) Vice President for Global Trade Policy Tiffany Smith.
Background:
Grassley and Cortez Masto introduced similar legislation in 2022 and 2023. On Fight Retail Crime Day in 2023, Grassley held a press conference alongside the National Retail Federation and congressional cosponsors to push for passage of the legislation.
At a roundtable in Iowa, Grassley met with a group of local, state and federal officials to explore the shadowy ties between a spike in organized retail crime and the illicit drug trade.
In December of 2021, Grassley called on the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security to prioritize a response to organized retail crimes.
Legislative text is available HERE. A summary of the bill is available HERE.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
At MIREA – Russian Technological University (RTU MIREA) in Moscow, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Chernyshenko familiarized himself with the key educational and scientific projects of the university and also assessed the work of the laboratories.
The event was also attended by Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Andrey Omelchuk and Rector of RTU MIREA Stanislav Kudzh.
“Today, when we are faced with the national goal outlined by President Vladimir Putin – technological leadership, the development of universities is becoming especially important. MIREA – Russian Technological University uses government support tools. The university participates in the Priority-2030 program of the national project “Youth and Children”, conducts research based on the Advanced Engineering School. Cooperation with industrial partners allows us to obtain specific developments, which we saw today in the university’s technological laboratories,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko.
In total, more than 30 thousand students study at RTU MIREA, including more than 1.8 thousand representatives from 80 countries.
The Deputy Prime Minister, together with the Deputy Head of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia and the Rector, assessed the modern digital prototyping laboratory and got acquainted with the educational and scientific testing complex “Import Substitution of Information Technologies”, created jointly with Rostelecom. Also, in the motion capture laboratory and the immersive technology laboratory, equipment was shown that allows recording the movements, movements and facial expressions of actors with high positioning accuracy, followed by the recreation of their actions in digital models of characters and animation objects.
In addition, the guests assessed the work of the Departmental Situation Center for Monitoring the Sphere of Education and Science of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia.
“RTU MIREA is an active participant in the national project “Youth and Children”. The University creates a comprehensive infrastructure for training highly qualified personnel. I would like to separately note the work of the Departmental Situation Center of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia for monitoring the sphere of education and science, operating on the basis of the University, which ensures the collection and verification of relevant data. Today, the results of its work help the Ministry and the heads of scientific and educational organizations to promptly respond to modern challenges and make effective management decisions,” said Deputy Head of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia Andrey Omelchuk.
Rector of RTU MIREA Stanislav Kudzh spoke in detail about the work of the Situation Center of the Ministry of Education and Science, where monitoring of the educational sphere is carried out in real time.
“We strive to make our university a driver of technological sovereignty: from digital prototyping laboratories and immersive technologies to large-scale projects such as the educational and scientific complex with Rostelecom and the Departmental Situation Center of the Ministry of Education and Science. These solutions are the basis for training personnel capable of responding to the challenges of the time. I am confident that the support of the Russian Government will allow us to further develop the innovative ecosystem, where education, science and the real sector of the economy are creating the future today,” said RTU MIREA Rector Stanislav Kudzh.
The visit ended with a discussion of the university’s development prospects and its role in implementing state programs for digitalization and training personnel for high-tech industries.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
On April 12, 2025, technical work will be carried out to replace routers in the network segment serving test sites. The work will begin at 9:00 and will be completed approximately at 14:00. During the work, connection to the test systems will be unavailable.
Please take this information into account when planning your tasks.
Contact information for media 7 (495) 363-3232Pr@moex.kom
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak met with Advisor to the President of Kazakhstan Magzum Mirzagaliyev and Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan Erlan Akkenzhenov. The meeting was also attended by Minister of Energy Sergey Tsivilev, representatives of the Ministries of Energy of Russia and Kazakhstan and the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Russian Federation.
“Relations with Astana are one of the priorities of Russia’s foreign policy. Despite the ongoing external pressure from the West, Kazakhstan confirms its status as our closest ally and strategic partner. The dynamically developing relations are based on the high intensity of the political dialogue between Moscow and Astana, primarily at the level of heads of state. Cooperation in the trade, economic and investment spheres is successfully developing, large-scale joint projects are developing in industrial cooperation, energy, transport infrastructure, agriculture and the digital economy,” said Alexander Novak. According to him, Russia is one of Kazakhstan’s leading trading partners.
The parties discussed cooperation within the OPEC line, interaction in the energy sector, including in the field of electric power, hydropower and renewable energy sources. With the participation of Russian specialists, three coal-fired thermal power plants will be built in Kazakhstan in the cities of Kokshetau, Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk, and two power units at Ekibastuz GRES-2 will be reconstructed.
The talks also focused on increasing transit supplies of Russian oil and gas through Kazakhstan and the possibility of providing the north and northeast of the country with Russian gas. The issues of Russian companies’ participation in oil projects in Kazakhstan were touched upon, as well as the possibility of cooperation in the peaceful nuclear energy sector and in the financial and banking sector.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Alberta’s government is working to ensure every resident has access to the primary care services they need. With a focus on regions with limited access to care, the new centres will serve as hubs for services in rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
The centres will increase access to primary care providers – such as physicians, nurse practitioners and pharmacists – while easing pressure on emergency departments and urgent care centres by providing convenient, day-to-day health care services under one roof.
“We are committed to making primary health care more accessible. Advancing plans for new primary care centres will make it easier for all people in Alberta, including Indigenous Peoples, to access day-to-day services in every corner of the province to improve health outcomes and patient experiences.”
This $20-million investment will determine the project scope, locations and costs needed to guide future capital decisions. Alberta’s government is taking an integrated approach to health system planning that responds to local needs and priorities.
“Planning is one of the most essential parts of the construction process. Our team at Alberta Infrastructure is proud to partner with Alberta Health to ensure communities get the specific health projects they need on time, on budget and close to home.”
Alberta’s government is committed to improving Indigenous health care and programs to support better health outcomes for First Nations, Métis and Inuit in Alberta. Several of the new primary care centres will support Indigenous communities by prioritizing the delivery of high-quality, timely and culturally appropriate care in collaboration with Indigenous partners. Budget 2025 is also investing $45 million for Indigenous health initiatives over three years to help address health inequities and promote health and wellness.
“Improving access to culturally appropriate health care for Indigenous communities across the province demonstrates our government-wide commitment to working alongside Indigenous Peoples and communities in support of meaningful reconciliation. My colleagues at Health are working closely with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples to identify and support Indigenous-led programs and services that make a meaningful difference in their communities. We know we have more work to do, and we aren’t slowing down.”
In 2024, the government introduced seven regional health corridors that reflect how Albertans access care and travel to receive services. These corridors, shaped by travel data and public engagement, are informing planning decisions and will help identify where the new primary care centres are most needed.
“This investment will support Primary Care Alberta’s ongoing work to build a stronger, more unified primary care system – one that puts patients first, supports our front-line teams and brings care to where people are. By expanding access to primary care in rural and remote communities, we will improve access to primary care services for Albertans previously underserved by the health care system.”
These investments lay the groundwork for a stronger, more accessible primary care system that meets the needs of all Albertans – today and for generations to come.
Quick facts
There are more than 12,000 registered physicians and more than 68,000 regulated nurses delivering health care services in Alberta.
Primary Care Alberta’s priorities are to:
Ensure every Albertan has access to high-quality primary care services across the province.
Incentivize care models that improve health outcomes and prioritize patient experience.
Support integrated teams of family physicians, nurse practitioners, midwives and pharmacists to provide the best care possible.
Related information
Budget 2025
Related news
New pay model, better access to family doctors (Dec. 19, 2024)
Nurse practitioners expand primary care access (Nov. 20, 2024)
Leading primary care into the future (Oct. 15, 2024)
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark Pocan (2nd District of Wisconsin)
WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced a resolution to recognize April 10 as National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. While HIV/AIDS affects people of all backgrounds, prevention is key for young people, who are the group of people living with HIV least likely to receive consistent medical treatment. Youth make up 19 percent of the 31,800 annual new HIV diagnoses in the US, and raising awareness is key to slowing down future infections.
“As chair of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, I’m honored to introduce this resolution,” said Congressman Pocan. “We’ve made great progress fighting this disease, but there is still more we can do. While the current administration buries its head in the sand, I have one message for our young people: take your health into your own hands. Get tested, know your status, and get treatment if necessary.”
“Nearly twenty percent of all new HIV diagnoses in the United States are among young people—with many more slipping through the cracks when it comes to reporting, diagnosis, and access to care,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Engaging with and educating young people about the risks of HIV/AIDS is critical to eradicating this epidemic once and for all. While the Trump Administration defunds and undermines federal efforts to achieve this goal, our resolution affirms the importance of investing in HIV/AIDS education, prevention, and lifesaving treatment in the United States and around the globe.”
In addition to recognizing this day, the resolution also calls for prioritizing youth leadership and development, increasing HIV/AIDS comprehensive and effective prevention education, providing youth-friendly and accessible healthcare services, and urging state and local governments to recognize and support this day.
In the United States, young people ages 13 to 24 account for 20 percent of all new HIV diagnoses. Nearly half of all young people living with HIV are unaware of their status, and only 6 percent of high school students are tested for HIV.
Text of the House Resolution can befound here.
Additional Co-sponsors include: Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD), U.S. Representatives Judy Chu (CA-28), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Danny Davis (IL-07), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Jerry Nadler (NY-10), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12)
Endorsing organizations include:AIDS Institute, AVAC, HIV Medicine Association, PrEP4All
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services
As Dr. Mehmet Oz completes his first week as the 17th Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), he is sharing his agenda and vision for the agency. A cardiothoracic surgeon and former host of an award-winning TV show, he now leads the largest agency under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), with a $1.7 trillion budget, tasked with delivering health outcomes for more than 160 million people.
ATLANTA (April 10, 2025) — On April 4, Sen. Kenya Wicks, (D–Fayette), presented a resolution recognizing and commending Grammy Award-winning artist, entrepreneur and Atlanta native Michael S. ‘Killer Mike’ Render for his music career, political advocacy and work supporting historically marginalized communities in Georgia.
In the resolution, Wicks highlighted Greenwood, a Black-owned digital banking platform co-founded by Render. The platform aims to address economic disparities and expand financial opportunities in underserved areas. She also commended Render’s long-standing advocacy for criminal justice and prison reform, voting rights, and police accountability.
“Killer Mike has profoundly impacted Atlanta not only through music but also through philanthropy and community service,” said Sen. Wicks. “His legacy in business, public service and the music industry is a prime example of the talent Atlanta has to offer. His work will leave a lasting impact on communities across our city and state. His passion for education, the arts and the city of Atlanta reflects the best of Georgia, and I was proud to recognize him on Atlanta Day.”
Sen. Wicks presented the resolution to Killer Mike during the “404 Day” or “Atlanta Day” celebration at the Georgia Capitol. The event honors the spirit and legacy of Georgia’s capital city by welcoming Atlanta natives and representatives from prominent local organizations.
The full resolution can be found here.
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Sen. Kenya Wicks represents the 34th Senate District, which includes portions of Clayton and Fayette Counties. She may be reached by email atKenya.Wicks@senate.ga.gov.
For all media inquiries, please reach out toSenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Paducah, KY – A federal criminal complaint and arrest warrant was issued this week charging two illegal aliens with possession of a firearm.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations, Nashville, and Chief Nathan Kent of the Mayfield Police Department made the announcement.
According to the complaint, Rodrigo Waldemar Caal-Caal, age 22, a citizen of Guatemala, and Rodolfo Ruiz-Hernandez, age 26, a citizen of Mexico,were charged with possessing a firearm on April 6, 2025, in Mayfield, Kentucky knowing they were aliens illegally and unlawfully in the United States. Caal-Caal and Ruiz-Hernandez admitted to possessing a firearm by removing it from the scene of a death investigation in Mayfield on April 6, 2025. The Mayfield Police Department continues to investigate the death. Both defendants are separately charged in state court with additional offenses.
This case is being investigated by the ATF Paducah Satellite Office, HSI Paducah Office, and the Mayfield Police Department.
Both defendants remain state custody and will make initial appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky at a later date. If convicted on the charges in the complaint, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth A. Hancock, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, is prosecuting the cases.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
NEW YORK, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. (NYSE American: CRF) (CUSIP: 21924U300) (the “Fund”) announced today that, contingent upon final approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), it has set the close of business on April 21, 2025 as the record date (the “Record Date”) for determination of stockholders entitled to participate in the Fund’s 1-for-3 rights offering. The Fund is issuing to its stockholders non-transferable rights entitling the holders to subscribe for an aggregate of 39,475,678 shares of common stock. Each stockholder will receive one non-transferable right for each share of the Fund held as of the Record Date. Fractional shares will not be issued upon the exercise of the rights. Accordingly, the number of rights to be issued to a stockholder on the Record Date will be rounded up to the nearest whole number of rights evenly divisible by three. For every three rights a stockholder receives, he or she will be entitled (but not required) to purchase one new share of the Fund at a subscription price equal to the greater of (i) 112% of net asset value per share as calculated at the close of trading on the expiration date of the offering or (ii) 80% of the market price per share at such time. Fractional shares will not be issued. In addition to the shares offered in the primary subscription, the Fund may offer a 100% over-allotment to oversubscribing stockholders. Stockholders who fully subscribe in the primary offering will have the option to oversubscribe for additional shares, to the extent available.
The subscription period will commence shortly after the Record Date, and will expire at 5:00 p.m., EDT, on Friday, May 16, 2025, (the “Expiration Date”) unless extended. The actual subscription price per share will be determined on the Expiration Date.
Shares will be issued within the 15-day period immediately following the record date of the Fund’s May 2025 monthly distribution to stockholders. Stockholders exercising their rights to purchase shares pursuant to the offering will not be entitled to receive such distribution with respect to the shares issued pursuant to such exercise.
This press release is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. The offering is subject to an effective registration statement covering the rights and shares to be issued and to other customary regulatory filings and approvals. Any rights offering conducted by the Fund will be made only by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. is a closed-end, diversified management investment company and is registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. is traded on the NYSE American LLC under the trading symbol “CRF”. The Fund’s investment adviser is Cornerstone Advisors, LLC, which also serves as the investment adviser to another closed-end fund, Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. (NYSE American: CLM). For more information regarding Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. or Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. please visit www.cornerstonestrategicinvestmentfund.com, and www.cornerstonetotalreturnfund.com.
Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. An investment in the Fund is subject to certain risks, including market risk. In general, shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount from their net asset value and at the time of sale may be trading on the exchange at a price which is more or less than the original purchase price or the net asset value. An investor should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses. Please read the Fund’s disclosure documents before investing.
In addition to historical information, this release contains forward-looking statements, which may concern, among other things, domestic and foreign markets, industry and economic trends and developments and government regulation and their potential impact on the Fund’s investment portfolio. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the factors set forth in the Fund’s disclosure documents, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and actual trends, developments and regulations in the future, and their impact on the Fund could be materially different from those projected, anticipated or implied. The Fund has no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements.
Securing the welfare of future generations seems like solid grounds for judging policies and politicians, especially during an election campaign. Political legacies are on the line because the stakes are so high.
There is a real possibility that today’s young people could become the first Australian generation to suffer lower living standards on some key measures than their parents. Unaffordable housing is the main flashpoint. But other challenges weigh heavily, including student debt, insecure work and climate change.
No political leader would want to preside over a society that leaves younger generations worse off than those that preceded them. Yet that possibility should be on voters’ minds as they prepare to pass judgement at the ballot box on May 3.
Young voters wield power
In recent elections, young people have been largely overlooked. Yet, for the first time I can remember, all the major political parties have explicitly recognised that many young people are doing it tough.
Political strategists would be mindful demographics are clearly shifting. This will be the first election where Gen Z and Millennials will outnumber Baby Boomers (and Gen X) at the ballot box.
The good and the bad
But intergenerational equality can be hard to pin down, as people disagree on what counts and how to count it. On many measures of living standards, young Australians are demonstrably better off than their parents.
Many of the nice things in life, such as international travel and electronic gadgets, are much cheaper. The future may be uncertain, but unless we decide to live more sustainably as a society, today’s young people are still on track to consume more over the course of their lifetime than previous generations.
However, the things that really matter, including housing and education, cost more than ever before. And that means crucial life transitions to secure and happy adult lives are taking longer and feel less certain.
Our policy settings might be making this worse. Many experts argue the tax system is stacked against the young because it favours people who have already built up wealth and assets.
Education is becoming more expensive, while converting educational credentials into employment outcomes is harder than it was. And getting together the deposit for a house is onerous, as costs increase faster than people can save.
Policy pitch
In this election, a swag of policy offerings to young voters has already been made.
Labor is promising to cut student HECS debts and make housing more affordable. The Coalition will allow young home buyers to dip into their superannuation to purchase their first property, while the Greens want to cap rent increases.
So, who is likely to win the young vote? In recent decades younger Australian voters have shifted towards the left. Unlike in some similar countries, this has also included young men, although at a slower pace than women.
However, young voters are a diverse lot. United States President Donald Trump’s success at harvesting a greater share of the American youth vote, in part through tapping into cost-of-living concerns, suggests younger voters should not be taken for granted in Australia.
What’s missing from the debate
The elephant in the room in any conversation about inequality between the generations is the growing role intergenerational financial supports play in shaping young people’s lives. These transfers help reproduce, and even sharpen, economic inequalities between young people.
As part of the Life Patterns Project, I have spent the past 20 years with colleagues tracking young people as they transition from secondary school to early adulthood.
One of our recent findings is that parents are increasingly supporting their young adult children through crucial life events. This includes helping with bills, rent, and often a deposit for a house.
And this has consequences for inequality over time. The ability to fall back on family resources is playing an even greater role in determining how easily a young person will navigate school and university, land a decent job and buy into the housing market.
This is in turn increases the pressure on parents to continue supporting their children well into their adult years. The financial squeeze is being felt particularly sharply by those who can’t really afford to help, at least without changing their own plans for the future, including their retirement.
No appetite for real reform
So these intergenerational challenges are not just affecting young people. They also have an impact on parents, some of whom are risking their own financial security to help their adult children. They also risk making Australia a less equal society.
Recently, Anglicare advocated an inheritance tax to reduce the role intergenerational transfers play in shaping unequal outcomes for future generations.
But the major political parties are in no hurry to embrace such a measure. Nor any other significant reforms to the tax treatment of housing to try and improve affordability.
Nevertheless, at this election, younger generations are on the agenda in a new way. Politicians will ignore them at their peril.
This is the fifth article in our special series, Australia’s Policy Challenges. You care read the other articles here
Dan Woodman receives funding from the Australian Research Council
But this apparent rebound obscures a more surprising political shift: the growing appeal of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) among immigrants and their children.
Yet recent polling tells a different story. An October 2024 survey found that 45 per cent of immigrants had changed their political allegiances since arriving in Canada, with many now leaning Conservative.
Meanwhile, another national survey from January 2025 found that a majority of East Asian (55 per cent) and South Asian (56 per cent) respondents expressed support for the Conservative Party, far outpacing support for the Liberals or the NDP.
Why, then, would racialized Canadians increasingly turn to the right?
In a study I recently published, I interviewed 50 Canadian-born children of South Asian, Chinese and white immigrants living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). I argue that this shift is not a contradiction but provides a window into how racialized groups navigate inequality, exclusion and the search for belonging.
While there are many reasons 2nd-generation racialized Canadians may support the Conservative Party, this study highlights one under-documented explanation. Voting for a right-wing party that represents the interests of white, wealthy citizens can be a way for second-generation South Asian and Chinese Canadians to seek acceptance when power is linked to whiteness..
In other words, many of these racialized Canadians don’t vote Conservative because they’re unaware of inequality. They vote Conservative because they’re trying to navigate it.
Growing up in precariously middle-class households, the young adults I interviewed watched their immigrant parents face deskilling and downward mobility despite arriving in Canada with professional credentials.
They saw their families pressured to “Canadianize” their names and accents, only to be sidelined by employers who still favoured whiteness.
In this context, support for the Conservatives reflects not ignorance of marginalization, but a way to move through it. Aligning with the right becomes a signal of belonging.
As one young South Asian Canadian man put it:
“You’ve arrived. You’re a Canadian. So, start voting like one.”
This desire to belong doesn’t emerge in a vacuum. It’s shaped by racial scripts that reward conformity and penalize dissent — most notably, the model minority stereotype.
The model minority stereotype casts Asian Canadians as hardworking and quietly successful. On the surface, it sounds like praise. But in practice, it hides inequality and demands silence in exchange for conditional belonging.
In some contexts, political restraint, like staying quiet or avoiding protest, can function as a survival strategy. But that’s not what I observed in this study.
The second-generation Canadians I interviewed were not politically quiet. They were vocal in their support for the Conservative Party. For them, voting Conservative was a way to assert they already belonged, not by asking for inclusion, but by showing they did not need to. Conservatism became a marker of success, self-reliance and alignment with those at the centre of Canadian life.
In Canada, ideas about who belongs are often shaped by race, class and respectability. Racialized people must not only prove they are hardworking and law-abiding, but also demonstrate that they’ve “fit in.” For some, voting Conservative becomes a way to show they’ve done just that — a way of saying: “I’m not like them. I’m one of you.”
But this strategy comes at a cost. In reinforcing the very structures that marginalize them, racialized voters may gain individual recognition while deepening collective exclusion. And in rejecting equity-based platforms, they may forgo the policies that could build a more just society.
This dynamic isn’t limited to the second generation. A recent CBC survey found that four in five newcomers believe Canada has accepted too many immigrants and international students without proper planning.
Some immigrants are increasingly expressing exclusionary views, often toward those who arrived more recently. This, too, is a form of aspirational politics. And it shows just how deeply race, precarity and belonging are entangled in Canada today.
None of this means that racialized Conservative voters are naïve. Their decisions often reflect a clear-eyed understanding of how power works.
But if we want a fairer political future, we must reckon with the ways race, class and nationalism shape belonging — not just at the ballot box, but in the stories we tell about who gets to be “Canadian.”
As sociologist Ruha Benjamin reminds us, inclusion shouldn’t be treated as an act of generosity. It’s not about “helping” the marginalized — it’s about understanding that we’re all connected. When fear shapes policy and public goods are stripped away, everyone suffers.
Emine Fidan Elcioglu does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that on April 10, 2025, Tracy Timothy Wright, 53 years old, of Orangeburg, S.C., pleaded guilty in Orangeburg County to one count of Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult {43-35-85(C)} and one count of Criminal Conspiracy {16-17-410}. The Honorable Charles McCutchen sentenced Wright to five years in prison, suspended to three years at the South Carolina Department of Corrections, followed by two years of probation on each count. The sentences are to run concurrently.
An investigation by the Attorney General’s Vulnerable Adult and Medicaid Provider Fraud (VAMPF) unit and the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety (ODPS) revealed that, between January 16, 2024 and February 5, 2024, Wright, while working as a caretaker at an unlicensed community residential care facility, confined residents in locked rooms within the care facility and prevented the residents from accessing basic necessities such as food, clothing, medicine, shelter, supervision, medical services, and any way to get out of the building. The residents were immediately taken into emergency protective custody by law enforcement. Additionally, ODPS firefighters identified that a malfunctioning natural gas heater in the facility was causing a buildup of gas fumes inside the residence, requiring the immediate venting of the residence by emergency personnel.
Charges remain pending against Wright’s co-conspirator and facility owner, Estelle A. Hutchinson, 52 years old, of Orangeburg, S.C. Pending charges against Hutchinson include five counts of Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult {43-35-0085 (C)}, four counts of Kidnapping {16-03-0910}, and one count of Criminal Conspiracy {16-17-410}. This case is also being prosecuted by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office.
Pursuant to federal regulations, the VAMPF has authority over Medicaid provider fraud and the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of individuals residing in assisted living facilities or nursing homes.
The South Carolina Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, dba VAMPF, receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $2,889,252 for federal fiscal year 2025. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $963,084 for FFY 2025, is funded by South Carolina.
Attorney General Wilson stressed that all defendants are innocent until proven guilty in court.
