VICTORIA, Seychelles, April 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, unveils Bitget Onchain — a groundbreaking innovation that bridges the best of CEX and DEX. By combining the speed, security, and simplicity of centralized platforms with direct access to emerging on-chain assets, Bitget Onchain redefines how users discover and trade the next wave of crypto opportunities.
Bitget Onchain provides on-chain asset transactions directly on the Bitget App, for users utilizing a spot account with USDT or USDC. This integration will offer exchange-level trading experience without inherent complexity, simplifying the process of on-chain transactions for even new traders. The product will initially support Solana, BNB Smart Chain (BSC), and Base, featuring an initial batch of tokens including RFC, KTA, and 30 more.
With security as the focus, Bitget Onchain incorporates centralized exchange-level protection to ensure a secure trading environment, even on-the-chain. Offering a broad selection of on-chain assets with real-time availability, Bitget Onchain provides access to early-stage tokens and emerging market opportunities. Continuous updates ensure users can navigate evolving trends efficiently, catering to both new and experienced traders.
Leveraging AI, Bitget Onchain will introduce AI-driven smart screening to enhance investment precision by leveraging advanced algorithms to conduct real-time filtering of on-chain assets. This capability minimizes exposure to uninformed investments, enabling users to make strategic and data-driven decisions.
“On-chain trading has long been riddled by complex set-ups, requiring users to navigate unfriendly interfaces and expose themselves to risks. Bitget Onchain was created to lower the barrier to entry, by providing a seamless and secure trading experience,” said Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget. “Bitget Onchain will bridge the gap between centralized and decentralized trading, making web3 more accessible to all,” she added.
Bitget has consistently integrated AI into its ecosystem, enhancing trading precision, security, and user experience. Key AI-driven features include smart trading bots for automated strategies, AI-powered risk management tools, predictive analytics for market trends, and AI-enhanced copy trading to optimize investment decisions. With the launch of Bitget Onchain, AI-driven smart screening further refines asset selection, minimizing risk and improving trading efficiency.
Bitget Onchain represents Bitget’s pursuit of innovative and smart solutions within the crypto exchange industry, integrating user experience with advanced security and market insights. By combining accessibility with highly advanced tools, Bitget Onchain aims to be the go-to platform for on-chain asset trading, bringing users even closer to Web3.
To utilize Bitget On-chain’s features, please visit here.
About Bitget
Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 100 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.
Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com
Risk Warning:Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.
The province’s third mobile wellness bus will open its doors April 9 in Saskatoon, offering residents a new way to access primary health care services.
Saskatoon is the most recent community to benefit from a mobile Community Wellness Bus. The launch is part of the Government of Saskatchewan’s $2.4 million investment for the purchase and retrofitting of three wellness buses, located in Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert.
“It is wonderful to see the progress being made with primary care in our province,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. “Wellness buses provide another avenue for residents to receive the care they need closer to home.”
Community Wellness Buses will provide basic primary care and mental health and addictions services. Services will vary based on population and the needs of the community; not all locations will have the same services, as supports will be customized based on patient needs.
“It’s encouraging to see the positive impact of community health initiatives in our province,” Mental Health and Addictions Minister Lori Carr said. “Mobile clinics are making health care more accessible to vulnerable individuals by bringing essential services directly to residents and contributing to better health care outcomes.”
The Saskatoon bus will be located primarily at 2023 Morse Road (near the old Farmer’s Market) from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday. Clients are encouraged to call 306-380-1000 for up-to-date location and schedule information.
A wellness bus was announced in Prince Albert on March 21 and residents can call 306-940-9943 for location and hours of operation.
The Regina wellness bus has been operational since February 12 and is currently operating Monday to Friday 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the rear parking lot of the Lawson Aquatic Centre located at 1717 Elphinstone Street.
Services offered by wellness buses may include:
basic health assessments (physicals);
health education;
chronic disease monitoring;
·vaccinations;
take home naloxone (THN) kits and training;
sexually transmitted and blood borne infection (STBBI) point of care testing;
·opioid agonist therapy/withdrawal management;
reproductive health services/supplies;
mental health and addiction assessments and counselling/referrals;
wound care, stitches, routine health care;
referral to housing, social services;
referral to addictions and mental health treatment and services;
connection to culturally relevant Indigenous services (traditional medicine, connection to spiritual services and Elders); and
·other primary health care services.
“Through the Community Wellness Buses, we are fostering respect and compassion by meeting individuals where they are,” Saskatchewan Health Authority Physician Executive for Integrated Saskatoon Health Dr. Mark Fenton said. “By eliminating barriers to care, we ensure that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has access to compassionate, culturally responsive, and stigma-free support.”
Health care staff on the bus will include a nurse practitioner, a licensed practical nurse, and assessor coordinators who offer referrals to community supports.
Summary The Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force (TF) has detected an information operation targeting the 45th General Election by Chinese social media platform WeChat’s most popular news account Youli-Youmian (有理儿有面), an anonymous blog that does not disclose its provenance.[i] Intelligence reporting links the Youli-Youmian account to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Chinese Communist Party’s Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission (CPLAC).
The SITE TF assesses that this information operation was intended to influence Canadian-Chinese communities in Canada (i.e. speakers of a Chinese language, such as Mandarin, Cantonese, or Hakka) and looked to mould perceptions about the Prime Minister, Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) Leader and LPC candidate for Nepean, Mark Carney.
The Youli-Youmian account was also responsible for targeting members of Parliament Michael Chong (in June 2023) and Chrystia Freeland (in January 2025).
Content The information operation targeting Mr. Carney is deliberately amplifying narratives in a coordinated and inauthentic way on WeChat, to Chinese audiences, including communities living in Canada. The SITE TF observed large spikes of what is believed to be coordinated inauthentic behaviour on March 10 and 25, 2025.
Specifically, various contrasting narratives were spread on WeChat about Mr. Carney – first amplifying the candidate’s stance with the United States[ii], then targeting his experience and credentials.[iii]
Tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) In February 2023, the China Digital Times reported that social media posts from the Youli-Youmian account are frequently assigned to employees at Chinese state-owned enterprises to amplify to wider audiences as part of their work duties.[iv] The SITE TF assesses that similar coordinated inauthentic activity was likely at play in the targeting of Mr. Carney on March 10 and 25.
The campaign received high levels of user engagement and views, with amplified articles about Mr. Carney receiving between 85,000 and 130,000 interactions, and an estimate of 1 to 3 million views. This level of engagement on WeChat is high when compared with popular state media outlets like the People’s Daily that average only 30,000 interactions per post.
The articles posted on the Youli-Youmian account on March 25 were amplified in a coordinated and inauthentic way by a group of 30 smaller WeChat accounts that boosted the discoverability of the posts. This amplification occurred over the course of four days, keeping narratives about Mr. Carney in algorithmic feeds, albeit at much lower engagement and views.
Background WeChat developer Tencent reports that the platform has over 1.3 billion monthly active users but has not disclosed how many of those users live overseas.[v] Marketing firms in Canada put the number of Canadian WeChat users at over 1 million.[vi] Despite this popularity, WeChat has remained not well understood by information integrity researchers. The PRC is likely aware of this oversight and may carry out these information operations on WeChat to avoid scrutiny.
Malign behaviour from the Youli-Youmian account was first identified by Rapid Response Mechanism Canada (RRM Canada) at Global Affairs Canada during federal by-elections taking place in June 2023.[vii] During that period, analysts noted that the popular WeChat account had targeted Mr. Michael Chong, CPC MP for the Wellington-Halton Hills riding at the time, with false narratives.
The Youli-Youmian entity was also responsible for targeting former LPC leadership candidate Chrystia Freeland in late January 2025.[viii]
Implications
The SITE TF assesses that the objective of the information operation is to influence Chinese communities in Canada in the context of the 45th General Election. The information being spread is inauthentic and coordinated, with the goal to manipulate.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The centre will be staffed by a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals, including nurses and allied health workers.
The ACT Government is investing in more health and community services in Gungahlin.
This includes building a new health centre for the growing region and taking the next steps on delivering a new ACTAS Ambulance and Fire station and indoor sports facility.
A new health centre in Casey
The 2024–25 ACT Budget will include funding for the design and construction of a new health centre in North Gungahlin.
The North Gungahlin Health Centre will be built on Kingsland Parade in Casey, conveniently close to the shopping centre and other facilities.
The centre will provide more free health services closer to where people need them, with easier access to preventative health services and treatment for chronic disease.
The centre will be staffed by a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals, including nurses and allied health workers.
This will continue to expand as the ACT Government recruits to grow Canberra’s frontline public health workforce.
The new centre will complement the territory’s existing network of nurse-led Walk-in Centres, community health centres and the hospital system.
More community facilities
The ACT Government is currently working through additional community uses for the remaining blocks on the 2.4-hectare site.
This includes an indoor sports facility to provide local residents, sporting groups and organisations with access to better amenities and state-of-the-art facilities.
It also includes a new ACTAS Ambulance and Fire Station, which will enhance response times to emergency incidents as the Gungahlin community grows.
Both these will be captured as part of the Estate Development Plan and the Subdivision Design Application to be completed through 2024–25.
The Government has already committed to a study on traffic and transport improvements surrounding the Casey Group Centre.
This work will also be considered in development processes as the ACT Government works with the community to design a precinct that suits the local community’s needs.
Share your thoughts
The community can now have their say on the design and future services of the North Gungahlin Health Centre.
Visit the YourSay Conversations website for survey details and dates for information sessions and pop-up stalls across Gungahlin.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Ngamawari will be a large-scale, culturally significant space for Canberrans and visitors.
Work has started on Ngamawari, the new public park celebrating Ngunnawal culture and history on the Acton Waterfront.
An interim park will open in 2025 while the permanent 30,000 square metre park is built.
The interim park will be a place for people to relax, exercise and enjoy events and activities by lake.
It will feature:
grassed areas, garden beds and retaining walls
temporary lighting and shade structures
hardstand spaces to support events and food and coffee options
infrastructure like stormwater and more infill
secure access for heavy vehicles, maintenance and emergency vehicles.
The interim park will lay the foundations for the permanent park. Once completed, it will be a large-scale and culturally significant space for Canberrans and visitors.
Ngamawari is designed in partnership with local Ngunnawal community members and creatives.
Ngunnawal culture and history features throughout the park. This includes native plantings and artworks.
The parks name, Ngamawari (pronounced nar-mar-wa-ree) means ‘cave place’ in Ngunnawal language. It was gifted by Ngunnawal community representatives in November 2023. The name recognises the cultural importance of the limestone caves that were flooded during the creation of Lake Burley Griffin. The caves played provided shelter and art along the Molonglo River.
Ngamawari is the latest works in the Acton Waterfront project. It follows:
the construction of neighbouring Henry Rolland park in 2018
the lake reclamation, 700-metre boardwalk and public beach in 2022.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The pop-up cycle lane is the first stage of the Kingston Cycleway project.
A new “pop-up” cycle lane is now open in Kingston. It connects Kings Avenue Bridge and the Bowen Park carpark along Bowen Drive.
This cycle lane is addressing overcrowding along this popular route by providing a new separated lane for cyclists.
The cycle lane is signposted for cyclists and mobility devices (such as scooters) only, while the off-road shared path is for pedestrians only.
The cycle lane is in the outside lane of Bowen Drive. It separates cyclists and traffic by a temporary raised concrete kerbing secured to the ground.
The kerbing is made using quick build infrastructure. This is at a lower cost and made of temporary materials, including recycled rubber. However, it achieves the same outcome as more permanent infrastructure.
This is a trial of this kind of infrastructure in Canberra.
The pop-up cycle lane is the first stage of a two-stage Kingston Cycleway. The project will improve cyclist safety and encourage the update of active travel in south Canberra.
Stage two is new and upgraded cycling infrastructure between Bowen Park and Cunningham Street. Design is now underway and construction will follow.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Over the next few years, the water plants will grow to create a beautiful landscape.
Sections of Tuggeranong Creek in Calwell have been re-naturalised with native plants and grasses replacing concrete. The project will help improve habitat and the quality of water flowing into Lake Tuggeranong.
Concrete sections of the creek have been replaced with naturalised creek beds featuring pools and riffles. Thousands of water plants have been planted at the site.
The new water plants will:
trap sediments
absorb nutrients and pollution
reduce the risk of blue-green algal blooms.
The plants will also provide important habitat for native wildlife such as water bugs, yabbies and water birds. The plants will grow over the next few years to create a beautiful landscape.
The creek channel has been widened to slow the water down. This will allow it to filter into the soil and support the surrounding landscape while still protecting the surrounding suburbs from flooding.
Two viewing platforms will provide a space for the community to enjoy the area.
This project is one of several that are trialling improvements in stormwater quality and waterway healthy. These include:
new wetland designs including floating wetlands
reconnecting street drains and pipes to green space
stormwater recycling to irrigate sports fields
raingardens that treat runoff before it enters big drains.
The Healthy Waterways program is helping to deliver on the goals of the ACT Water Strategy 2014-44. The government is currently seeking feedback from the community on changes to the strategy which aim to find new and adaptable ways to care for our waterways in the ACT.
More information about the Healthy Waterways Program is available on the ACT Environment website.
Have your say on the changes to the ACT Water Strategy 2014-44 on the YourSay website.
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Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) released the below statement following the passage of the Senate’s budget resolution:
“The passage of the Senate’s budget resolution marks a critical step forward in delivering on the promises we’ve made to the American people. This budget paves the way to advance President Trump’s priorities—securing our borders, strengthening our military, cutting taxes for hardworking families, and unleashing American energy. I was proud to vote in favor of this resolution that puts us on a path to greater economic growth, national security, and opportunity for West Virginians and all Americans. I was also proud to vote against uniformed and unserious messaging amendments by Democrats, which continued to show they care more about political points than what is important to Americans,” Senator Capito said.
The Senate’s budget resolution:
Makes important adjustments to allow President Trump’s tax cuts to be made permanent.
Creates savings floor to maximize Republicans’ ability to cut wasteful spending while complying with Senate rules to allow the legislation to pass with a simple majority vote.
Prevents Democrats from using the debt limit to extract liberal priorities as a condition to raising before the 2026 midterm elections.
Adds reconciliation instructions for Senate Committees and preserves the House Committees’ instructions
More children in B.C. will be riding with confidence as the Province helps to expand the Everyone Rides Grades 4-5 program, giving more students hands-on cycling skills while promoting road safety and active transportation.
“Ensuring the safety of our children while promoting active transportation is a priority for our government,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Transportation and Transit. “By expanding this program, we are giving more kids the skills they need to feel excited and confident about riding their bikes, while encouraging healthier and more sustainable commuting choices for families.”
In the 2024-25 school year, the government is investing an additional $821,500 into the program, bringing the total investment to more than $2 million since its inception. As part of the expansion, two new communities, Kamloops and Southeast Kootenays, will be added in spring 2025. This will allow more students to benefit from hands-on cycling education. The program is already delivered in Metro Vancouver, Capital Regional District, Fraser Valley, Kelowna region, Cariboo region and the West Kootenays.
The Everyone Rides Grade 4-5 program was created by HUB Cycling, a non-profit organization with a history of breaking down barriers to cycling. With support from the Province, the program encourages healthy habits, environmental consideration and safety through cycling education.
Since its launch in 2019, the Everyone Rides Grades 4-5 program has introduced road safety, cycling skill development and active transportation infrastructure to more than 40,000 children in B.C. Now in its sixth year, the program continues to equip young riders with the knowledge and confidence they need to bike safely, and will support an estimated 9,000 children in spring 2025.
“HUB Cycling is committed to connecting communities through education,” said Lorraine Smith, manager of Everyone Rides Grade 4-5. “We believe cycling creates happier, healthier communities. Providing students with the opportunity to learn about active transportation and bike safety can play a big role in raising a generation of sustainable-transportation users.”
The Everyone Rides Grades 4-5 program aligns with the government’s commitment to improving road safety and fostering sustainable transportation options for future generations. By encouraging cycling at an early age, the program helps establish lifelong habits that contribute to safer, healthier communities.
Learn More:
For more information about Everyone Rides Grades 4-5 program, visit: https://bikehub.ca/bike-to-school
The 2025-26 Budget delivers affordability for the people of Saskatchewan. In this year’s budget, record investments are being made in health care, education and community safety, in addition to delivering more affordability measures than ever before.
“This budget follows through on our promise to ensure Saskatchewan remains the most affordable place in Canada to live, work, raise a family and start a business,” Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance Jim Reiter said.
The taxation changes introduced in the 2025-26 Budget, including the initiatives in The Saskatchewan Affordability Act, provide over $250 million in tax savings this year. This is in addition to the more than $2 billion in affordability measures in each and every budget.
Included in these changes are the largest personal income tax reduction in the province since 2008 by raising the basic personal exemption, spousal and equivalent-to-spouse exemption and dependent child exemption by $500 a year for the next four years – over and above the impact of indexation. Upon full implementation, an additional 54,000 residents will no longer be paying provincial income tax.
“This year’s budget reduces income taxes for every resident, family and small business in the province,” Reiter said. “It also helps make life more affordable for seniors, families with children, persons with disabilities, caregivers, new graduates, first-time homebuyers, people renovating their homes and more.”
Families benefit from the Fertility Treatment Tax Credit, helping individuals or couples cover costs associated with fertility treatments. Doubling the Active Families Benefit tax credit and raising the qualifying income threshold to $120,000 will make accessing children’s sports, arts, cultural and recreational activities more affordable.
Seniors receive an increase in the senior supplement amount by $500 annually for the next four years, starting in 2025 – over and above the impact of indexation. An increase to the Personal Care Home Benefit will help more than 2,000 low-income seniors with the cost of living in a licensed personal care home.
The Graduate Retention Program has also increased, with a maximum benefit of $24,000 for students who live and work in Saskatchewan after graduating from a post-secondary institution. The Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship provides up to $3,000 for Grade 12 students who will be attending post-secondary institutions in the province.
Making housing more affordable is also a priority. As a result, all education property tax mill rates have been reduced to absorb the increase in property assessment values and ensure this assessment year is revenue neutral for the province. This change will save property owners in the province more than $100 million annually. Reinstating the Home Renovation Tax Credit saves residents up to $420 and seniors $525 annually in provincial income tax. The First-Time Homebuyers’ Tax Credit maximum benefit increased to $1,575, making homeownership more attainable for first-time homebuyers, and the PST Rebate on New Home Construction was made permanent.
The 2025-26 Budget also delivers for individuals receiving income assistance, with a two per cent increase for nearly 20,000 Saskatchewan Income Support clients and more than 18,000 Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability clients. Beginning July 1, 2025, the Saskatchewan Low-Income Tax Credit will increase by five per cent annually for the next four years – over and above the impact of indexation – benefiting more than 300,000 individuals and families in the province.
Affordability measures are also increasing for persons with disabilities and caregivers. The Disability Tax Credit and the Disability Tax Credit supplement for children under 18 both increase by 25 per cent, in addition to indexation. The Caregiver Tax Credit also increases by 25 per cent, in addition to indexation, which provides financial support for families who care for adult children or parents with physical or mental impairments.
In addition to measures that help make life more affordable, the 2025-26 Budget includes measures that support our growing province. The Small Business Tax Rate permanently remains at one per cent, which benefits more than 35,000 small businesses and saves them over $50 million annually in corporate income taxes. The Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Tax Credit provides a non-refundable tax credit for individuals or corporations that invest in the equity of eligible Saskatchewan small and medium enterprise, while the Saskatchewan Class 1 Truck Driver Training Rebate Program supports individuals seeking their commercial driving licence.
To learn more about the Government of Saskatchewan’s affordability measures and other 2025-26 Budget initiatives, visit: budget.saskatchewan.ca.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Design concept: Architectus
The ACT Government will work with Telstra on a plan to redevelop and reopen Telstra Tower.
This will help reinstate it as an iconic Canberra visitor destination.
Features will likely include a café, retail space and observation deck.
It is too early to say if the tower’s renowned revolving restaurant will return.
Over the past two years, Telstra has carried out planning and engaged with the community about re-developing the building.
Telstra Tower has been part of the Canberra skyline for over 40 years.
The company recently approached the ACT Government to consider operating it as a visitor attraction.
“For many years it was a popular tourist attraction, and we believe this site can offer that again for Canberrans and visitors to our country’s capital,” Telstra CEO Vicki Brady said.
“Black Mountain also has ongoing cultural significance to the Ngunnawal people, and any new development of the Telstra Tower should also reflect and incorporate this as a key element.
“As a national telecommunications and infrastructure provider, Telstra does not have the expertise to develop or manage a tourist attraction, so we need a partner with the skills and local knowledge to help make that happen,” she said.
“That’s why we are pleased to be entering into a partnership with the ACT Government to leverage their local expertise in running world-class tourism venues, and hope this enables the Tower to once again be open to the public.”
The Government has signed a Letter of Intent with Telstra.
They will work together on commercial and financial arrangements before final decisions are made on the partnership.
Both will continue to engage with the Ngunnawal community and other families and stakeholders with an interest in the Tower, looking to incorporate local culture and stories.
Telstra has already begun working with national design firm Architectus to look at what a modern Telstra Tower may look like as a public venue.
“Our proposed design will respectfully acknowledge the significant stories of place and history bringing new life to this Canberra icon,” Architectus Principal, Sophie Cleland, said.
Design concepts: Architectus
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Clement Chauvin, Head Chef and sole owner of Les Bistronomes. Photo credit Canberra Times and Gary Ramage.
Clement Chauvin, Head Chef and sole owner of Les Bistronomes, has taken out the Waste Minimisation Award at the 2024 Climate Choices Business Awards.
He has been acknowledged for his creative and community-minded sustainability initiatives.
The Awards recognise climate leaders in the business arena across eight categories.
Les Bistronomes was celebrated for making sustainable choices for everything from sourcing ingredients to disposing waste.
“It was wonderful to receive the award,” said Clement.
“As a chef, I’m aware that my produce comes from mother earth and the land we live on. It makes sense to be considerate of the earth that gives us the food that nurtures and feeds us all,” he said.
Some of the ideas Les Bistronomes was recognised for as part of the award came about during COVID.
“It was a difficult time, but it really created community around our restaurant, and led to some great ideas for sustainability and waste minimisation,” Clement said.
The idea to create a ‘green card’ came about from a woman who donated 80 kilograms of Jerusalem artichokes to Clement. She had an excess and didn’t know what to do with them.
“I wanted to repay her in some way, and that’s when the idea came,” he said.
“Local home growers in Canberra can bring in their raspberries, flowers, lemons, rhubarb or homegrown veggies in exchange for a 10 per cent discount at the restaurant.”
This initiative reduces food waste and grows community connection, as well as limiting food miles.
Les Bistronomes also gives growers food scraps for their compost.
This is a way of sequestering carbon and returning nutrients to the soil. Their approach is not only great for the business, but also gives back to the local community.
Clement has now established strong relationships with a number of locals who love growing fruits and vegetables and who regularly supply food for the restaurant.
“I now work with two local ladies, and we plan out crops so that the restaurant has a steady and seasonal supply of produce,” he said.
The Sustainable Business Program
Clement said the future for Les Bistronomes is to go all-electric and move to solar if he can.
The program has technical experts who can provide all ACT businesses with free advice on ways to improve their energy efficiency; including transitioning off gas with rebates of up to $10,000, installing solar panels and battery storage.
“The Sustainable Business Program helped me look at what options were available to improve sustainability, but from an infrastructure point of view,” Clement said.
“We’re looking to switch from gas to electric induction cooking and we’re investigating how we can use solar to offset electricity costs.”
This aims to ensure Canberrans living with non-visible disabilities are better supported when visiting service centres.
Not all disabilities, conditions or chronic illnesses can be seen. The Hidden Disability Sunflower initiative encourages inclusivity, acceptance and understanding.
Hidden disabilities may be:
neurological
cognitive and neurodevelopmental
physical
visual
auditory.
This also includes respiratory conditions, rare diseases and chronic conditions like diabetes or chronic pain.
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower initiative
The global Hidden Disabilities Sunflower initiative gives people a tool to share that they have a hidden disability – if they wish to do so.
They can opt to wear a sunflower lanyard or pin. This visual cue shows they might need extra help, understanding or time, without them having to ask.
All Access Canberra Service Centre staff have received Hidden Disabilities Sunflower training.
They also have their own sunflower supporter pins.
This shows customers with hidden disabilities that they have the awareness and training to support them when carrying out government transactions.
“By joining the Sunflower Initiative it’s another way for Access Canberra to show that ‘we see you, we value you and we want to service you in way that best works for you,’” Service Centre Operations Manager Paige Ryan said.
Staff now have a greater understanding of the types of disabilities and/or conditions people experience and how common these are in our community.
“This training also helps encourage our staff to continue to challenge our way of thinking when it comes to how we offer our help, support and guidance to those we service,” Paige said.
More support for Canberrans with neurodiversity
There will be a quiet hour each Wednesday at Access Canberra Service Centres.*
From 10am to 11am, service centre staff will help to facilitate a calmer, less stimulating space for customers to complete their transactions.
Where possible, service centres will have music turned down and mobile phones on silent.
“The aim is to create a less stimulating environment for one hour each week, which will help provide a more inclusive offering to our community,” Paige said.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that 30-40 per cent of the Australian population is neurodiverse.
*The Dickson service centre, which is appointment-only, will not offer the weekly quiet hour.
Source: United States Small Business Administration
WASHINGTON – In response to an Administrative disaster declaration issued April 2, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans for Illinois businesses, nonprofits and residents affected by the South Terrace Apartment fire occurring on Feb. 22.
The disaster declaration covers Cook County, which is eligible for both Physical damage loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the SBA. EIDLs are also available to eligible small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in the adjacent counties of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will in Illinois, as well as Lake County in Indiana.
Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.
Businesses and homeowners may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes.
EIDLs are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.625% for PNPs, and 2.750% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Beginning Monday, April 7, 2025, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in Cook County to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their application. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov.
The DLOC hours of operation are listed below:
Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) Cook County
Justice Village Hall
7800 S Archer Road
Justice, Illinois 60458
Opening: Monday, April 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hours: Monday – Friday – 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Permanently Closing: Saturday, April 19, 2 p.m.
“SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) have consistently proven their value to business owners and homeowners following a disaster,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “Homeowners and Business owners can visit the DLOC to meet face-to-face with specialists who will guide them through the disaster loan application process and connect them with resources to support their recovery.”
Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.
To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is June 2, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is January 2, 2026.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
CIUDAD JUÁREZ, Mexico , April 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Miguel Zaragoza Fuentes, founder and president of Grupo Zeta, has played a significant role in developing the energy sector in Mexico and Latin America.
With a long-term business perspective, he has supported strategic projects to improve the distribution of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) while contributing to regional economic activity and environmental initiatives.
Energy infrastructure with global reach
One of the key milestones in Zaragoza Fuentes’ career has been developing and operating LPG storage and distribution facilities across several countries. Notably, the plant in Escombreras, Spain, stands out as a project approved by environmental authorities, meeting high standards of safety, operational efficiency, and environmental compliance.
At the same time, Grupo Zeta has expanded its operational network in Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, and El Salvador, contributing to the region’s energy infrastructure. These efforts have improved access to reliable energy while supporting job creation and local economic growth.
Sustainability and innovation as strategic axes
Miguel Zaragoza Fuentes’s management model is based on constant modernization and environmental commitment. The company has incorporated technologies that optimize its operations, such as low-emission transport vehicles and storage systems that minimize gas leaks, aligning itself with international best practices in energy sustainability.
Zeta Gas has also promoted high-impact environmental programs, such as the “Zeta Gas, the Ecological Flame” project, launched in Guatemala in 2014. This initiative seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions using LPG as a clean energy alternative.
Social responsibility and community engagement
As part of its broader approach, the company has supported reforestation campaigns in local communities. These initiatives aim to restore deforested areas and promote environmental awareness with residents’ active participation.
“Every project we undertake reflects a clear business philosophy: responsible growth, purposeful technology, and energy serving the collective well-being,” said Miguel Zaragoza Fuentes.
The projects developed under his leadership have delivered tangible results in the energy sector and have been recognized for their innovative approaches and social contributions. Zeta Gas has received awards for adopting clean technologies and is committed to operational efficiency and environmental stewardship.
Contact:
Miguel Zaragoza Fuentes info@miguelzaragozafuentes.com
Q1 2025 Interim Report and Investor Conference Call Announcement
Welltec® will disclose its Q1 2025 Interim Report and will discuss the results during an investor conference call to be held Tuesday, May 20th, 2025, at 5 pm CEST.
The conference call will be available only to current and prospective bond holders, broker dealers, and securities analysts, and can be accessed by dialling in a few minutes before the start and informing the operator that you would like to participate in Welltec’s investor conference call.
Relevant dial-in details and conference ID can be obtained by contacting Kris Petrov krpetrov@welltec.com and registering for the call. Registration will not be possible once the investor conference has started.
For further information, please contact: Kris Petrov, Finance Director Cell: +45 48 14 35 14 E-mail: krpetrov@welltec.com
Company Profile: Welltec® is a global technology company that develops and provides efficient, hi-tech solutions for the energy industry. The company was founded in 1994 and grew rapidly by supplying innovative robotic technology to oil and gas operators. In 2010, Welltec introduced a new business segment focused on the development of Completion products. Commercialization of these products began in 2014, and the company is now a global leader in the field of metal expandable packer technology. Welltec’s cutting-edge products and services are designed to optimize the performance and integrity of a well, in any environment. Through advanced engineering and lightweight design, Welltec’s solutions have helped clients increase operational efficiency and reduce carbon footprints in a safe and sustainable way for more than 30 years. Today, Welltec continues to evolve and invest in its technology portfolio with products and services adapted to take on the challenges of New Energy and Climate Technology, including Geothermal and Carbon Capture & Storage projects.
A late-night call, a system failure, and a virus that brings everything to a halt. This is the reality of cybersecurity threats in hospitals. With healthcare systems increasingly reliant on technology, cyberattacks can disrupt critical operations, endangering patients and costing millions. In 2023 alone, 309 cybersecurity incidents were reported, with over half involving ransomware.
To counter this growing risk, the EU has launched an action plan focused on prevention, detection, rapid response, and deterrence. A new European Cybersecurity Support Center, led by ENISA, will provide hospitals with the tools they need to stay protected.
Watch on the Audiovisual Portal of the European Commission: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-270137
Follow us on:
-X: https://twitter.com/EU_Commission
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-Medium: https://medium.com/@EuropeanCommission
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Two studies published in JAMA Neurology look at diabetes drugs and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Comments on both studies:
Prof Atticus Hainsworth, Professor of Cerebrovascular Disease, St George’s, University of London, said:
“These two studies have looked at drug prescribing databases, to assess whether diabetic medications impact on risk of Alzheimer’s, vascular and other dementia types. The findings are intriguing, even though they are somewhat contradictory. But nothing can substitute for a prospective, hypothesis-testing experiment, which in this context means a prospective clinical trial.”
Prof Mark Evans, University Professor of Diabetic Medicine & Honorary Consultant Physician, Institute of Metabolic Science & Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, said:
Background:
“It is increasingly apparent that there is an association between diabetes and increased risk of dementia. Although it is not clear how this association is mediated (and whether this is to do with elevated blood glucose from diabetes or a broader effect of diabetes for example on the circulation or inflammation pathways), the obvious pragmatic question arising is whether or not treating diabetes with glucose lowering therapies can reduce risk of dementia and importantly whether certain types of glucose lowering therapy are particularly effective.
“Newer glucose lowering treatments used in (type 2) diabetes seem to carry additional health benefits beyond just glucose lowering. For example, treatments that act via signalling at the GLP-1 receptor or by blocking SGLT glucose transporter channels have been shown to carry broader protective effects for the heart and kidneys.
“Some data already exist to suggest that these agents may also have brain-protective effects against the development of dementia. The evidence to date has largely fallen into two different types. Firstly, examining clinical trials of glucose lowering therapies where usually dementia is not the primary focus but in the clinical trials, investigators will document all health changes including a new diagnosis or change in dementia or cognition. Secondly, examining large real-world datasets for the association between diabetes, different types of therapy and a clinical record of dementia.
These two papers:
“These two papers cover each of these areas respectively. Seminer2et al have performed an analysis of clinical trials broadly similar to ones previously reported. They found that glucose-lowering therapies in general were not significantly associated with a reduction in dementia, although when comparing different types of therapy, GLP-1R targeted drugs but not those acting on SGLT channels were associated with a reduction in dementia. There are cautions arising from these data and the authors have acknowledge these appropriately. Overall, the absolute rates of dementia reported in the studies contributing to their analysis were relatively low which thus reduces the ability for this type of analysis to identify differences. There may be a number of reasons for this, for example the clinical trials were not designed to look in detail for possible changes in dementia.
“The other paper from Tang1 et al was a real-world analysis. Consistent with previous data, this did seem to show less dementia in those using either GLP-1R agonists or SGLT2 inhibitors. The authors were aware of the limitations of observational data. In other words, it may be that the type of person receiving these agents was different from the type of person prescribed other glucose lowering therapies. As an example, one obvious potential confounder from their paper was that the groups receiving GLP 1 agonist or SGLT inhibitor therapy were younger than the comparison groups.
General Reflection:
“Overall these papers whet the appetite for two large clinical trials (EVOKE and EVOKE+) that will complete towards the end of this year. These were specifically designed to look at whether semaglutide, a GLP 1 receptor agonist, can reduce progression of Alzheimer’s dementia and may give us a more definitive answer, at least for GLP 1 receptor agonist treatment.”
Prof David Strain, Associate Professor in Cardiometabolic Health, and a clinical geriatrician, University of Exeter, said:
“Living with diabetes is associated with twice the rate of decline towards both vascular and Alzheimer’s Type dementia. Although long-term high blood sugar is recognised to be warm contributor to this, there are many others including genetics, the body’s ability to produce insulin, episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) and inflammation. For years, the best way of preventing this was to attempt to keep the sugar in the “goldilocks zone“ that is not too high but not too low.
“GLP-1 receptor antagonists (such as semaglutide and dulaglutide) and SGLT-2 inhibitors (such as dapagliflozin and empagliflozin) have been demonstrated to control the sugar, and also reduce the inflammation (a key driver of Alzheimer’s disease) and reduce vascular risk (a key driver of vascular dementia) more than would be expected by the sugar control alone. It is therefore no surprise that these data show a lower risk of dementia in people who receive them as part of her routine care.
“We must be cautious how we interpret these data though. Firstly, there were very small numbers of events in the randomised control trials and these were not fully validated so there is a possibility that there were many other cases of dementia missed, indeed that patients reported as having Alzheimer’s type dementia may have had other problems. In the database study, we can never be certain of other unmeasured factors that influenced the doctor to prescribe one medication over another. These may also have had an impact on whether a person would progress to dementia or not.
“It is also important to say this is talking about the risk of dementia in people with diabetes. We have recently seen benefit of the GLP-1 RAs for cardiovascular health in people who do not have diabetes, likewise the SGLT 2 inhibitors are regularly used in other conditions. Today’s studies will need to be replicated prospectively, in people with and without diabetes such as the work we are performing at the University of Exeter, to determine if we can help reduce the progression towards dementia in many more people in the country.”
Prof Naveed Sattar, Professor of Cardiometabolic Medicine/Honorary Consultant, University of Glasgow, said:
“These two papers on potential for GLP-1RA medicines to lower dementia risk are somewhat encouraging but they are FAR from definitive, given the design of one is observational and the numbers of people with dementia in the trial meta-analyses were incredibly small, leading to limited power. Hence, we need to await the results of ongoing randomised trials in this area before drawing sensible conclusions. There is optimism GLP-1RAs (and related medicines) may lower future dementia risk, however, given they favourably impact multiple diseases (cardiovascular, hypertension, kidney and diabetes) known to increase dementia risk, it might be that it is having a lower risk of stroke /heart disease and diabetes that actually then is linked to a lower risk of dementia. Hopefully, far more robust trial evidence – needed before any clinical implications are drawn – should be forthcoming in the near future.”
Dr Ivan Koychev, Clinical Reader in Neuropsychiatry and Consultant Neuropsychiatrist, Imperial College London and Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“Both papers are of good quality. Tang et al is a large epidemiological study; the limitation comes from the fact that such designs limit the ability to draw conclusions about causality. Seminer et al look at clinical trial data where dementia and cognitive effects were not the primary targets of the studies. Therefore, it is possible that some of these effects were missed or over-reported due to the opportunistic nature of the data collection.
“The two studies add to a growing and remarkably consistent body of evidence that GLP1 receptor agonists associate with a reduction in dementia incidence. The Seminer et al paper is significant as it shows that GLP-1 RAs outperform SGLT-2 inhibitors in clinical trial settings. This suggests that the dementia protection effects are not due to glucose control mechanisms. Instead, inflammation and cerebrovascular effects are likely involved. Overall, these data support the urgent exploration of GLP1 RAs as a preventative treatment in people at risk for dementia.”
Prof Tara Spires-Jones, Director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Group Leader in the UK Dementia Research Institute, and President of the British Neuroscience Association said:
“The study by Tang1 and colleagues examined data from over 90,000 people with diabetes to determine whether treatment with two different glucose lowering drugs were associated with risk of developing dementia. Both glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RAs) and
sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2is) drugs were associated with reduced risk of developing dementia over 8 years from starting treatment compared to people taking other glucose lowering treatments. There was no difference in risk between people taking the GLP-1Ras and SGLT2is. This is a strong study that adds to the growing data suggesting that diabetes increases risk for developing dementia.
“The paper from Seminer2 and colleagues examined data from 26 clinical trials to determine whether glucose lowering treatments were associated with developing dementia. They observed that GLP-1Ras but not but not SGLT2is were associated with a reduction in dementia in these trials.
“Together, these data are encouraging for the potential of using GLP-1Ras to lower dementia risk in people with diabetes, but even within these 2 strong studies, there are slightly conflicting results over SGLT2is highlighting the need for further research. It is important to note that these drugs do have side effects and that they are not guaranteed to prevent dementia. The studies had important limitations including a relatively short follow up time. Future work will be important to understand how risk factors like diabetes and obesity increase risk of dementia to develop effective treatments and prevention strategies.”
Dr Emma Anderson, Principal Research Fellow and Associate Professor of Epidemiology in the Division of Psychiatry, UCL, said:
“Regarding the systematic review of glucose lowering therapies2, my comments are as follows:
“These results should be interpreted with caution for several reasons. Firstly, although an effect of GLP-1RAs was identified for all cause dementia, the heterogeneity in the studies included in this analysis was high (meaning that the studies included are not necessarily comparable, undermining the validity of the combined results). There was tentative evidence that this heterogeneity could have been explained, at least in part, by the proportion of women included in these studies.
“Secondly, there was no evidence of an effect of GLP-1RAs with either Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia; the two most common causes of dementia. Thus, overall, there is still a question around whether GLP-1RAs would actually reduce dementia risk.
“For the emulated target trial1, my comment is:
“This study should be interpreted with caution, as emulated target trials are as susceptible to confounding by indication bias as traditional observational epidemiology studies. This means that there is a possibility that the results they have observed are actually due to the underlying reason people are prescribed these glucose-lowering medications in the first place, rather than the medication itself. More robust study designs, which overcome this very important limitation, are needed before such conclusions can be made.”
Prof Masud Husain, Professor of Neurology & Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Oxford, said:
“For me, these new retrospective analyses suggest that GLP-1 receptor agonists, particularly semaglutide, might reduce the risk of developing dementia in people with type 2 diabetes. But we need data from prospective trials to provide stronger evidence.
“The wider question of whether such drugs might also be protective against dementia in people who don’t have diabetes is a really intriguing one, and the focus of several ongoing clinical trials.”
Prof Kevin McConway, Emeritus Professor of Applied Statistics, Open University, said:
“I’ll restrict myself to pointing out a few things about these two studies, which may well all be obvious. I’m writing as a statistician and did not spot any important statistical flaws – but I can’t comment on non-statistical aspects.
“Both studies are only in people who already had type 2 diabetes. I believe there’s been wider interest in whether GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs (GLP-1RAs), such as semaglutide (e.g. Ozempic or Wegovy) might reduce dementia risk, in people who are taking them for other reasons than having diabetes. These studies can’t directly tell us anything about that – though the wider context discussed in the linked editorial by Dr Diana Thiara does make some points about the wider context. That editorial is definitely worth reading to make sense of all this, in my view.
“At first sight it might look like a sort of contradiction that one1 of the studies (Tang et al.) found evidence of a decreased risk of certain dementias in people with type 2 diabetes taking either GLP-1RAs or drugs of another class (SGLT2is) used to lower glucose in people with type 2 diabetes, compared to people with type 2 diabetes taking other glucose-lowering drugs, while the other2 study (Seminer et al.) found no evidence that passed the usual statistical criteria that people with type 2 diabetes taking any of GLP-1RAs, SGLT2is, or another drug called pioglitazone did reduce all-cause dementia. It looks as if one is saying that, in people with type 2 diabetes, taking GLP-1RAs and SGLT2is is associated with reduced dementia risk, and the other is saying that it isn’t associated with reduced dementia risk. But there’s no contradiction, for the following reasons:
The Tang study1 has quite a complicated type of study design (target trial emulation), but that’s still a type of observational study and so cannot completely rule out the possibility that the differences it found in dementia risk are actually caused by something other than the drugs being taken. The Seminer study2 is a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials so doesn’t carry the same bias issues about cause and effect.
The comparator (control) treatments were different in the two studies. In the Tang study1, patients taking either GLP-1RAs or SGLT2is were compared with patients taking a different glucose-reducing drug. In the Seminer study2, patients taking the drugs were compared, in each of the RCTs they considered, with patients taking a placebo (that is, something with no active ingredients that otherwise is just like that drug under trial), so not a drug at all.
The two studies were considering different outcome measures. The Tang study1 considered only Alzheimer’s dementia and related dementias. The Seminer study2 included, as its primary outcome, dementia (of any type) or cognitive impairment.
“Therefore the two studies differ in terms of the treatments involved (taking the comparator, control, treatment into account), the type of study design, and the risk of bias. So direct comparison of their findings doesn’t make as much sense as you might think at first. Again, the Thiara editorial makes this all clearer, I think.
“Despite the overall finding of the Seminer2 meta-analysis that the three drug classes that it considered weren’t associated with a reduction in overall risk of dementia or cognitive impairment, on average, compared to controls taking a placebo, they found that GLP-1RAs (considered on their own, leaving out the other drug classes) were associated with a reduction in dementia risk.
“Tang found overall no difference between the risk of Alzheimer disease and related dementias between type 2 diabetes patients taking GLP-1RAs or SGLT2is, but it did find a lower risk in patients taking semaglutide compared to patients taking SGLT2is.
“Though both studies involved large numbers of patients overall, the number of patients who actually had a dementia diagnosis was pretty low, particularly for newer drugs, and the follow-up time was short, given how long it can take for dementias to develop. This is quite a big limitation.”
Dr Richard Oakley, Director of Research and Innovation, Alzheimer’s Society, said:
“Last year, the Lancet Commission in Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care – funded by Alzheimer’s Society – highlighted diabetes as one of 14 risk factors for dementia.
“Drugs that lower blood glucose are often used as part of diabetes treatment, and research has shown they might also be effective in reducing dementia risk.
“Whilst both of these studies found a link between GLP-1RAs and reduced dementia risk, only one found SGLT2is, another class of diabetes drug, were also associated with a reduced risk. More research is needed to properly understand how diabetes treatments may lower the risk of dementia, by tracking people for longer, especially as they get older.
“Alzheimer’s Society is interested to hear results from ongoing clinical trials of the GLP-1RA drug semaglutide for people with early Alzheimer’s disease, to learn whether these drugs can slow the course of the disease.”
Comments on just the Tang et al study:
Dr Leah Mursaleen, Head of Clinical Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“This study1 used health records from nearly 400,000 people who had type 2 diabetes who were taking drugs called SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1RAs to control their condition. These drugs are usually taken to lower blood sugar levels in diabetes. The researchers compared these drugs with other standard medications used to manage diabetes to evaluate the risk of developing dementia.
“People who were taking the SGLT-2 inhibitors or GLP-1RA medications appeared to have a decreased risk of developing dementia compared with those taking other diabetes medicines.
“The results from this study support the growing evidence that GLP-1RA and SGLT-2 inhibitors medicines may be linked with a lower risk of developing dementia. We don’t know yet why these medicines may be protective, and will need more research to understand how they are affecting the brain.
“Clinical trials are already looking at the use of these types of drugs, including the EVOKE study, which is testing semaglutide (Ozempic) as a potential treatment for people with early Alzheimer’s.
“While the findings of this study are interesting, it’s important to consider whether any other factors might be influencing the results such as the severity of type 2 diabetes, health, income, and education.”
1: ‘GLP-1RA and SGLT2i Medications for Type 2 Diabetes and Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias’ byHuilin Tanget al.was published in JAMA Neurology at 16:00 UK time on Monday 7 April 2025.
DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2025.0353
2: ‘Cardioprotective Glucose-Lowering Agents and Dementia Risk A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis’ byAllie Semineret al.was published in JAMA Neurology at 16:00 UK time on Monday 7 April 2025.
DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2025.0360
Declared interests
Prof Atticus Hainsworth: “I lead the Vascular Experimental Medicine team within DementiasPlatformUK:
Prof Mark Evans: “I have received personal fees from Medtronic, Ypsomed, Dexcom, Abbott, Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Zucara, Pila Pharma and research support from NovoNordisk, this includes a current PhD student who is funded by Novo Nordisk to examine the mechanisms underpinning the relationship between diabetes/ metabolic disease and dementia but does not include examining the effects of therapies. Abbott, Eli Lilly, Sanofi. The University of Cambridge has received salary support for MLE from the National Health Service in the East of England through the Clinical Academic Reserve.”
Prof David Strain: “I have received speaker fees from AstraZeneca (dapagliflozin) and Novo Nordisk (semaglutide). I lead the UK Stakeholders consensus document for the management of diabetes in older adults which the current UK guidelines are based.”
Prof Naveed Sattar “Has consulted for several companies that make diabetes medicines but also contributed to several lifestyle trials.
“For Novo Nordisk: have consulted for company in advisory boards but not on any of their weight loss drug trial committees; am on steering committee for ZEUS trial but this is not a weight loss trial product but anti-inflammatory. Do not have any shares either for any product in health etc.
“N.S. declares consulting fees and/or speaker honoraria from Abbott Laboratories, Afimmune, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Hanmi Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, and Sanofi; and grant support paid to his university from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, and Roche Diagnostics.”
Dr Ivan Koychev: “IK has received speaker fees as well as an investigator initiated grant to explore the effects of semaglutide in people at risk for dementia from Novo Nordisk.”
Prof Tara Spires-Jones: “I have no conflicts with this study but have received payments for consulting, scientific talks, or collaborative research over the past 10 years from AbbVie, Sanofi, Merck, Scottish Brain Sciences, Jay Therapeutics, Cognition Therapeutics, Ono, and Eisai. I am also Charity trustee for the British Neuroscience Association and the Guarantors of Brain and serve as scientific advisor to several charities and non-profit institutions.”
Dr Emma Anderson: “I have no conflicts of interest.”
Prof Masud Husain: “I don’t have any conflicts of interest.”
Prof Kevin McConway: “Previously a Trustee of the SMC and a member of its Advisory Committee.”
Dr Richard Oakley: “No conflicts of interest to declare from Richard or the Society.”
Dr Leah Mursaleen: “Leah has no conflicts of interest to declare.”
The Safer Routes to School scheme near Manor Primary School includes school zone road markings, new signs, speed cushions, dropped kerbs at crossings and waiting/loading restrictions in Ettingshall Road and Foster Avenue.
A review of the location showed 2 collisions involving pedestrians at school drop off and pick up times in the last 3 years.
Councillor Qaiser Azeem, Cabinet Member for Transport and Green City at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “These measures are in response to calls for action at this location and follow consultation held on the proposals.
“It will improve safety by slowing traffic and ensuring roads near the school are kept free from vehicles parking dangerously.
“Creating a safer environment will encourage more families to walk to school improving healthy lifestyles, cutting carbon emissions and benefitting air quality.”
Work is due to begin on Wednesday 9 April and last about a week. Works prior to the school holidays will be carried out between 9.30am and 2.30pm.
Temporary 3 way traffic signals will be in place on Ettingshall Road on Friday 11 April and 14 April at the Foster Avenue and Nally Drive junctions.
Ettingshall Road will be closed on 15 April between the junctions of Nally Drive and Foster Avenue from 8am to 4.30pm with diversions in place and access to frontages maintained.
Ettingshall Road will also be closed on 16 and 17 April between the same junctions from 8am to 4.30pm with diversions in place and access to frontages maintained.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Gabe Vasquez joined Labor Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Mark Pocan (WI-02), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Steven Horsford, (NV-04) and Debbie Dingell (MI-06) to lead every single House Democrat in calling on President Trump to rescind his executive order stripping collective bargaining rights from over 1 million federal employees.The lawmakers highlighted the illegality of the order and called on the President to restore the collective bargaining rights that federal employees are statutorily entitled to.
“Collective bargaining is the strongest tool that workers have available to create a fair workplace,” wrote the lawmakers. “This action strips away those hard-earned rights – which have been upheld by presidents from both parties for decades – from federal workers who keep our country running, including nurses who care for veterans, inspectors who keep our food safe to eat, teachers who educate our children, and so many more.”
“Furthermore, this EO not only undermines the principles of fair labor practices but also threatens the efficiency and effectiveness of the federal government, jeopardizing the delivery of critical services to the American people,” continued the lawmakers. “The freedom to join a union and collectively bargain is central to achieving the American dream for millions of American workers. This action is the single most anti-worker and anti-union presidential action since Ronald Reagan fired striking air traffic controllers in 1981, and it must be reversed immediately.”
“We urge you to immediately rescind this harmful, unlawful EO and to reaffirm the rights of federal workers to unionize and collectively bargain. The American people deserve a federal workforce that is protected, respected, and empowered to carry out its duties effectively,” concluded the lawmakers.
While Congress granted the President narrow authorities to exclude some agencies from collective bargaining, those exclusions can only be made if that agency has a primary function in intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work, and only if the statute cannot be applied “in a manner consistent with national security requirements and considerations.” However, this Administration has made clear that the EO’s exclusions are not based on national security concerns, but instead as retaliation for labor unions defending their members’ rights and making it easier to fire federal employees.
A full copy of the letter can be foundhere. The letter was signed by every single House Democrat.
Source: Republic of France in English The Republic of France has issued the following statement:
On this World Health Day, France reiterates its support for a coordinated approach at the international level aimed at guaranteeing solid healthcare systems and universal access to care while resolutely combating inequality This is a prerequisite for collective health security.
During this difficult international period, France reaffirms its full support for the World Health Organization (WHO) and the central role it plays in the global health architecture. It embodies international cooperation, scientific rigor and scrupulous standard-setting.
France also reiterates its support for all international organizations that deal with global health. It is one of the main funders of such efforts and remains committed to the swift adoption of a pandemic agreement.
In order to ensure global health security, France works in particular to advance the fight against epidemics; the promotion of maternal and child health; the One Health approach, which underscores the close ties between human health, animal health and ecosystems; universal health coverage; and the strengthening of healthcare systems. In this regard, the WHO Academy in Lyon, which opened its doors in December 2024, aims to become a global center of excellence for the training of healthcare workers.
France reaffirms its commitment to global health and its conviction that health is a fundamental right for every human being. Since 2000, we have helped provide antiretroviral treatments to 25 million people with HIV/AIDS, treat more than 7 million tuberculosis patients, and distribute nearly 230 million mosquito nets. We have also participated in the vaccination of more than a billion children since 2000 and, through the Muskoka Fund, we funded care for more than 22 million women and children in 2023 to reduce maternal and child mortality.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer gave remarks at Jaguar Land Rover manufacturing site in the West Midlands.
Thank you Rachel and thank you Adrian.
And can I just say a big thank you to the entire workforce here. Some of you are here with us this afternoon. I just want to say thank you for showing us what you do. We have been able to see some of the skill and experience that you put into this incredible product, years and years in the making and the technology.
But thank you also for making us proud to be British, because as each car rolls off here, that is rolling off your production line. That is your commitment, your toil, your work, your professionalism. But it is then a product which you should be rightly proud of, and we are really proud of as a country.
I know how much you put into that, and I want you to know just how much we appreciate what you do.
Thank you for everyone for joining us this afternoon.
Jaguar Land Rover, our leading exporter of goods, employing thousands of people across the West Midlands and beyond.
That proud symbol of British engineering brilliance. And brilliance is the right word. It is our industrial heritage, but also in my strongly held view, it is our industrial future, not just our heritage.
My message to you is simple: these are challenging times, but we have chosen to come here because we are going to back you to the hilt.
I think it’s really significant that after the announcement on Wednesday, we had Adrian with us in Downing Street at 7 o’clock the next morning, and here we are on Monday, so read into that a statement of intent because it is a statement of intent about how important this is for you, for us and for the country.
As Rachel has said, there is no doubt about the challenge, but this is a moment for cool heads.
No one wins from a trade war.
But it is also a moment for urgency.
Because we have to rise, together as nation to the great challenge of our age, and it is the great challenge to renew Britain so that we are secure in this era of global instability.
Nobody is pretending that tariffs are good news. You know that better than anyone.
25% tariffs on automative exports. 10% on other goods.
That is a huge challenge to our future. The global economic consequences could be profound. But this moment has also made something very clear.
That this is not a passing phase. And just as we’ve seen with our national security and defence, particularly in relation to the war in Ukraine, now with our commerce and trade,
This is a changing and completely new world.
An era where old assumptions, long taken for granted, simply no longer apply.
Before the election – I called it an age of insecurity. And that is the right phrase. Insecurity. Because that’s how this is felt in the lives of working people. Insecurity and worry for builders, for carers, for nursers, for factory workers like people here in Coventry, working harder and harder for the pound in their pocket, yet watching this rising tide of insecurity threaten to sweep away the things we cherish in our communities.
Trust me – I know people will be feeling that right now.
But to those people, I say, we have your back.
This government will not just sit back and hope.
That is how politics has failed you in recent years.
Attempting to manage crises without fundamental change just leads to managed decline.
So no – we’re going to seize the possibilities.
Fight for the future. On defence spending, on AI, on clean British energy and on manufacturing, including car building.
Make those forces work for Britain. Rewire our economy and our state so that once again they serve the interests of working people.
This is why we are rewiring the state completely.
Ripping up the regulation that stops it being a force for good.
Building new homes, new towns, new infrastructure.
Accelerating the investment that will finally unlock the potential of every community.
And let me be really clear as well. Our future is in our hands.
And so of course – we will keep calm and fight for the best deal with the US and we have been discussing that intensely in the last few days.
But we’re also going to work with our key partners to reduce barriers to trade across the globe.
Accelerate trade deals with the rest of the world and champion the cause of free and open trade – right across the globe. And just like car building, that has always been our heritage – and we won’t turn our backs on it now.
And look, when it comes to the US, I will only strike a deal if it is in the national interest. If it is the right thing to do for our security. If it protects the pound in the pocket that working people, across our country, work so hard to earn for their family.
That is my priority. That is always my priority. Strength abroad – security and renewal at home.
And on that journey of renewal we take another step today with our car industry.
You know, there are people in this country who love to talk down our manufacturing. They say – we don’t make anything important anymore. ‘That’s not Britain’. Well – I would invite anyone who thinks like that to come here and see what you do in this factory.
Anyone who is talking down manufacturing. Come here to Jaguar Land Rover and see what you are doing and they wouldn’t say that again.
Because just as I’ve said, when we were going around earlier, what I saw made me proud.
And I hope that if I feel proud of what you are doing, you are entitled to feel proud of what you are doing.
This is British brilliance in the flesh.
You’re making cars here – but you’re also representing our country with each car as it departs. That’s the pride that always goes with making things.
And I’ve said it many times before, but I will say it again: my dad worked in a factory. He was an engineer. He made things with his hands. And he taught me as I was growing up, you should value the things that we make.
And that’s what brilliant about manufacturing. And manufacturing shapes the identity of a place. This place, and of a community and a country. And that’s how it gets in your blood.
Which is why electric vehicles are so important. Yes – of course it’s about the climate and you won’t hear me undermining the urgency of that cause.
But it’s also about taking the pride, the heritage, the identity of places like this and securing it for the future.
That’s what the previous government never understood. The link between manufacturing and who we are as a country.
But those days are over. They are finished. This is a government of industrial renewal.
Because my choice, in this volatile world is to back British brilliance.
I believe that British car companies should be at the forefront of the electric revolution. This is a race we belong in.
And so I think EV targets are a good thing.
They are good for the climate. Good for business certainty and investment. Good for British manufacturing.
But I accept – those targets have to work for British manufacturers.
And I don’t want British firms, like this one put in a position where you have to pay a hefty fine or buy credits from foreign EV companies.
So today – we’re going to introduce much more flexibility into EV mandates.
We’re going to help car companies based in Britain reach the targets in a way that supports growth.
We’re going to cut any fines – which I do not want or expect to see – by 20% and any money that is raised – would be invested directly back into support for the British car industry.
We’re also going to take action on hybrids because these cars make a massive difference to reducing emissions.
I mean, if you drive a Toyota Prius around town. Or, perhaps if you work here, a Range Rover you probably spend a lot of the time in electric mode. So I think for these vehicles a 2030 ban is too soon. So we’ll push that back to 2035 – for all hybrids. That’s a new step we are taking and a new announcement today.
And because we’re not ideological about how we cut carbon emissions, we’ll also make sure that cleaner, efficient, petrol cars sold before 2030 count towards your EV mandate. That will be good for British car manufacturers like this one.
As Rachel has said, we are also putting £2.3 billion pounds into the British car industry, giving people tax breaks worth hundreds of millions of pounds a year to help them switch to electric.
Improving charging infrastructure. That is a massive factor when people are thinking about switching and our approach means we are seeing a new public charging point popping up every half an hour.
Because this is the moment when we back British business and charge up the electric revolution.
British electric cars running off clean British power, made by British workers.
British cars for British workers!
And as you know by the way switching to electric can also save you up to £1100 a year so if we get this right it can help the cost of living as well.
But look – it’s not just our car industry we need to back.
In the coming days and weeks, we are going to use industrial policy to shelter British business from the storm.
Take our life sciences sector, another shining example of British brilliance. An absolutely pivotal part of our export economy. We’re going to back them, as well.
We’re going to rip up the red tape. Cut the stifling bureaucracy that slows down clinical trials. Now Britain used to be better at this but we’ve taken our foot off the pedal.
The latest data says it takes over 250 days to set up a clinical trial. I’m going to slash that to 150.
And on top of that, I can also announce – a new investment up to £600 million in a new Health Data Research Service. A welcome partnership with the Wellcome Trust strengthening the genome cluster in Cambridge.
Making sure that patient data in our NHS is unlocked for the public good. An opportunity for growth – but more importantly to save lives with cutting edge medicine and Britain is so good at this.
We saw that in the pandemic. And we now need to pick up the pace again. This country has never waited around for history to shape us. We have shaped history – and we will do so again now.
Take our future into our hands. Do everything necessary to defend our national interest.
Strengthen our alliances, increase our defence power, support our businesses, jobs and workers.
Rebuild, in defiance of a volatile world, our industrial strength.
That is the purpose of this Government. Security and renewal. The world may be changing but we are driving forward securing our future with a clear Plan for Change.
Grand Falls-Windsor RCMP is investigating an incident of shots fired on April 4, 2025, in Grand Falls-Windsor.
On Friday, police received a report about multiple shots fired at a residence on Suvla Road, shot from Monchy Road. The suspect, a male wearing a mask over his face, fled the area on foot and is believed to have been picked up in a vehicle nearby. A public alert notification, as well as communication on RCMP NL’s social media platforms, was sent to residents in the area asking them to shelter in place.
After determining that the incident was targeted, residents were informed that the shelter in place had been lifted.
The investigation, which is being led by RCMP NL’s West District General Investigation Section (GIS), is continuing.
RCMP West District GIS is asking the public to check for surveillance footage, including dash cam footage, in the area of Suvla Road and Monchy Road on Friday, April 4, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Anyone having information about this crime or the identity of the suspects is asked to contact Grand Falls-Windsor RCMP at709-489-2121or, to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visitwww.nlcrimestoppers.comor use the P3Tips app.
Headline: Introducing the Llama 4 herd in Azure AI Foundry and Azure Databricks
We are excited to share the first models in the Llama 4 herd are available today in Azure AI Foundry and Azure Databricks, which enables people to build more personalized multimodal experiences. These models from Meta are designed to seamlessly integrate text and vision tokens into a unified model backbone. This innovative approach allows developers to leverage Llama 4 models in applications that demand vast amounts of unlabeled text, image, and video data, setting a new precedent in AI development.
We are excited to share the first models in the Llama 4 herd are available today in Azure AI Foundry and Azure Databricks, which enables people to build more personalized multimodal experiences. These models from Meta are designed to seamlessly integrate text and vision tokens into a unified model backbone. This innovative approach allows developers to leverage Llama 4 models in applications that demand vast amounts of unlabeled text, image, and video data, setting a new precedent in AI development.
Create with Azure AI Foundry
Today, we are bringing Meta’s Llama 4 Scout and Maverick models into Azure AI Foundry as managed compute offerings:
Llama 4 Scout Models
Llama-4-Scout-17B-16E
Llama-4-Scout-17B-16E-Instruct
Llama 4 Maverick Models
Llama 4-Maverick-17B-128E-Instruct-FP8
Azure AI Foundry is designed for multi-agent use cases, enabling seamless collaboration between different AI agents. This opens up new frontiers in AI applications, from complex problem-solving to dynamic task management. Imagine a team of AI agents working together to analyze vast datasets, generate creative content, and provide real-time insights across multiple domains. The possibilities are endless.
To accommodate a range of use cases and developer needs, Llama 4 models come in both smaller and larger options. These models integrate mitigations at every layer of development, from pre-training to post-training. Tunable system-level mitigations shield developers from adversarial users, empowering them to create helpful, safe, and adaptable experiences for their Llama-supported applications.
Llama 4 Scout models: Power and precision
We’re sharing the first models in the Llama 4 herd, which will enable people to build more personalized multimodal experiences. According to Meta, Llama 4 Scout is one of the best multimodal models in its class and is more powerful than Meta’s Llama 3 models, while fitting in a single H100 GPU. And Llama4 Scout increases the supported context length from 128K in Llama 3 to an industry-leading 10 million tokens. This opens up a world of possibilities, including multi-document summarization, parsing extensive user activity for personalized tasks, and reasoning over vast codebases.
Targeted use cases include summarization, personalization, and reasoning. Thanks to its long context and efficient size, Llama 4 Scout shines in tasks that require condensing or analyzing extensive information. It can generate summaries or reports from extremely lengthy inputs, personalize its responses using detailed user-specific data (without forgetting earlier details), and perform complex reasoning across large knowledge sets.
For example, Scout could analyze all documents in an enterprise SharePoint library to answer a specific query or read a multi-thousand-page technical manual to provide troubleshooting advice. It’s designed to be a diligent “scout” that traverses vast information and returns the highlights or answers you need.
Llama 4 Maverick models: Innovation at scale
As a general-purpose LLM, Llama 4 Maverick contains 17 billion active parameters, 128 experts, and 400 billion total parameters, offering high quality at a lower price compared to Llama 3.3 70B. Maverick excels in image and text understanding with support for 12 languages, enabling the creation of sophisticated AI applications that bridge language barriers. Maverick is ideal for precise image understanding and creative writing, making it well-suited for general assistant and chat use cases. For developers, it offers state-of-the-art intelligence with high speed, optimized for best response quality and tone.
Targeted use cases include optimized chat scenarios that require high-quality responses. Meta fine-tuned Llama 4 Maverick to be an excellent conversational agent. It is the flagship chat model of the Meta Llama 4 family—think of it as the multilingual, multimodal counterpart to a ChatGPT-like assistant.
It’s particularly well-suited for interactive applications:
Customer support bots that need to understand images users upload.
AI creative partners that can discuss and generate content in various languages.
Internal enterprise assistants that can help employees by answering questions and handling rich media input.
With Maverick, enterprises can build high-quality AI assistants that converse naturally (and politely) with a global user base and leverage visual context when needed.
Architectural innovations in Llama 4: Multimodal early-fusion and MoE
According to Meta, two key innovations set Llama 4 apart: native multimodal support with early fusion and a sparse Mixture of Experts (MoE) design for efficiency and scale.
Early-fusion multimodal transformer: Llama 4 uses an early fusion approach, treating text, images, and video frames as a single sequence of tokens from the start. This enables the model to understand and generate various media together. It excels at tasks involving multiple modalities, such as analyzing documents with diagrams or answering questions about a video’s transcript and visuals. For enterprises, this allows AI assistants to process full reports (text + graphics + video snippets) and provide integrated summaries or answers.
Cutting-edge Mixture of Experts (MoE) architecture: To achieve good performance without incurring prohibitive computing expenses, Llama 4 utilizes a sparse Mixture of Experts (MoE) architecture. Essentially, this means that the model comprises numerous expert sub-models, referred to as “experts,” with only a small subset active for any given input token. This design not only enhances training efficiency but also improves inference scalability. Consequently, the model can handle more queries simultaneously by distributing the computational load across various experts, enabling deployment in production environments without necessitating large single-instance GPUs. The MoE architecture allows Llama 4 to expand its capacity without escalating costs, offering a significant advantage for enterprise implementations.
Commitment to safety and best practices
Meta built Llama 4 with the best practices outlined in their Developer Use Guide: AI Protections. This includes integrating mitigations at each layer of model development from pre-training to post-training and tunable system-level mitigations that shield developers from adversarial attacks. And, by making these models available in Azure AI Foundry, they come with proven safety and security guardrails developers come to expect from Azure.
We empower developers to create helpful, safe, and adaptable experiences for their Llama-supported applications. Explore the Llama 4 models now in the Azure AI Foundry Model Catalog and in Azure Databricks and start building with the latest in multimodal, MoE-powered AI—backed by Meta’s research and Azure’s platform strength.
The availability of Meta Llama 4 on Azure AI Foundry and through Azure Databricks offers customers unparalleled flexibility in choosing the platform that best suits their needs. This seamless integration allows users to harness advanced AI capabilities, enhancing their applications with powerful, secure, and adaptable solutions. We are excited to see what you build next.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Budget funding will be allocated to recruit more than 137 new full-time equivalent nurses and midwives
The ACT Government is continuing to invest in the nursing and midwifery workforce to support staff safety and wellbeing and improve patient care.
More than $86 million will be allocated in the 2024–25 ACT Budget to recruit more than 137 new full-time equivalent nurses and midwives.
Nurse-to-patient ratios
The ACT Government is committed to ensuring safe nurse and midwife to patient ratios – something the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation has advocated for on behalf of its ACT members.
These are being implemented in a phased approach, with this investment supporting the Government’s commitment to implementing phase two of Mandated Minimum Nurse/Midwife-to-patient ratios.
Nurse and midwife to patient ratios are mandated minimum staffing levels.
These are necessary to support safe nursing and midwifery care and improve working conditions for nurses and midwives.
The implementation of phase two will see both minimum staffing levels on each ward and additional team leaders or support nurses and midwives.
This will ensure there are even more nurses and midwives across frontline hospital services and an appropriate skill mix on each shift to provide the best possible care for patients, including women and babies in maternity services.
In 2022, the ACT Government delivered the first phase of nurse-to-patient ratios across general medical and general surgical medical wards and acute aged care and mental health. This occurred through an investment of $50 million through the 2021–22 Budget.
Phase two ratios will be implemented across Canberra’s public hospitals and Clare Holland House, including:
maternity services
neonatal intensive care unit and special care nurseries
critical care, including intensive care units and emergency departments
perioperative areas
subacute mental health units
cancer services
rehabilitation units
palliative care services.
By including ratios across maternity services, including postnatal wards, the ACT will be the second jurisdiction in Australia to implement ratios that count the baby in the ratio as part of minimum staffing levels.
Further support for nurses and midwives
This investment follows the more than $21 million allocated in the mid-year Budget Review to support other elements of the proposed ACT Public Sector Nursing and Midwifery Enterprise Agreement, which is currently being considered by public health system nurses and midwives.
This includes a $2000 education and development boost, an annual $750 professional development allowance, an increase in pay, and a comprehensive review of rostering in nursing and midwifery to improve work patterns and health and wellbeing.
This will help to ensure Canberra has a health workforce that is highly skilled and supported, to continue to deliver great care to the community.
The ACT Government will continue to invest in the nursing and midwifery workforce to ensure staff are supported to deliver the best care to the Canberra community.
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SAN ANTONIO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas is commemorating National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) April 6–12, by recognizing recent criminal cases involving victims.
This year’s NCVRW theme—Connecting Healing—recognizes that shared humanity drives vital connections to services, rights, and healing. KINSHIP is where victim advocacy begins. The annual observance challenges us to build a world where every connection built through KINSHIP — between survivors, advocates, and communities — holds the potential to heal. It asks us to ensure that resources are available to all survivors and that we show up for one another with empathy and intention.
With a dedicated team of prosecutors and victim assistance professionals who work together to ensure victims of crime receive the services and support they need, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and is home to an estimated population of 7.6 million people.
“Federal crimes against victims will not be tolerated in this district—regardless of whether they are violent crimes, drug crimes, or white collar,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “It is a priority of our prosecutors, our victim assistance specialists, and the entire Department of Justice, that we advocate in the best interests of victims and that crime victims have access to proper effective resources.”
Recently prosecuted cases include the 40-year federal prison sentence of Saint Jovite Youngblood in Austin for four counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Youngblood committed wire fraud against his victims by claiming Mexican drug cartel members were planning to commit violence against them. Youngblood falsely claimed to have been part of the U.S. Army’s Delta Force special operations unit and offered protection to his victims from the cartels in exchange for money. Youngblood also represented that funds obtained from his victim “investors” would be paid back with a significant return on the money. Instead, Youngblood used most of the money on junkets to Las Vegas to gamble in casinos. Over the course of his scheme, Youngblood defrauded 32 victims for more than $12 million, which he was ordered to pay in restitution.
In Waco, a former U.S. sailor was sentenced to life in federal prison after a jury found him guilty of coercion and enticement of a minor. Bailey Warren Lowe used a Snapchat account to request sexually explicit images from a 13-year-old girl on multiple occasions. If she acted slowly or the photos did not meet his expectations, Lowe would become angry and threaten to expose her. On one occasion, in early 2022, Lowe drove to the minor’s residence, where they engaged in sexual activity in his vehicle. Lowe did not use a condom and, when the minor repeated that she was 13 years old, he demanded she not tell anyone about them because he was 22 and could get in trouble. An FBI investigation revealed multiple chat conversations and instances of sexual exploitation between Lowe and additional victims between the ages of 10 and 15 years old.
In July 2024, an Odessa man was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for carjacking and discharging a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. Isaac Ramirez Carrasco carjacked a couple on Jan. 30 by pointing a shotgun at the driver and ordering both occupants out of their vehicle. The victim did not initially comply, and Carrasco fired the shotgun at least one time in the air before returning his aim to the victim. The couple ultimately exited the truck and Carrasco drove away in it. Odessa Police were able to track the truck to a nearby residence, where they also located Carrasco and the shotgun.
In November, Alex Georges Tannous, of Ain-Akrine, Lebanon, was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 240 months in prison for wire fraud. Tannous told his victims he was a prince from Dubai who was charged with bringing U.S.-based businesses to market in Dubai. He claimed millions were available, but that an initial payment from the victim was required to initiate the flow of funds. Once the funds were secured, he used the money to support his lavish lifestyle and the lifestyles of multiple family members. In total, Tannous stole more than $2 million from his victims. In addition to his 20-year federal prison sentence, he was ordered to pay $2.2 million in restitution.
And most recently, David Manuel Garcia was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison on March 20 for engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place. Garcia had traveled from the U.S. to Mexico between July 2003 and August 2008 and engaged in forced sexual acts with a minor victim under the age of 18, which resulted in the birth of two children. Records indicate that the victim was 13 years old at the time of the first birth, and 15 years old when she gave birth to the second child.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas will commemorate NCVRW 2025 throughout the week in various ways. Most publicly, employees will be encouraged to wear this year’s theme colors of “midnight,” “mauve,” and “melon,” or colors closely similar, on Thursday, April 10. Community members across the district and beyond are invited to join the U.S. Attorney’s Office in this endeavor, using the hashtag #NCVRW2025 and tagging @USAO_WDTX on X (formerly known as Twitter), as a symbol of solidarity.
On April 9, the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) will host the 2025 NCVRW Candlelight Vigil at 3:30pm (EST) to pay tribute to victims of crime and the many dedicated professionals and volunteers who advocate on their behalf. We hope you’ll save-the-date and join via the livestream at www.ovc.ojp.gov/live or www.justice.gov/live.
NCVRW began in 1981 to honor victims and survivors of crime, raise awareness of victims’ rights and services and recognize the dedication of those who work with crime victims.
For more ideas on supporting crime victims, visit OVC’s website at www.ovc.gov.
BILLERICA,Mass., April 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — E Ink (8069.TW) the originator, pioneer, and global commercial leader in electronic paper (ePaper) technology, today announced its latest technological breakthrough with E Ink Marquee™. E Ink successfully developed a 4-particle color system that allows for vibrant color with an extended temperature range for outdoor and digital out of home (DOOH) signage.
E Ink Marquee stands out for its exceptional energy efficiency and broad temperature range, making it ideal for outdoor deployments. Unlike conventional LCD and LED displays, Marquee’s thermal performance reduces the need for complex cooling systems, offering a cost-effective outdoor signage solution. Moreover, Marquee’s ability to seamlessly switch pages expands its versatility across various applications, from interactive street furniture displays to dynamic advertising platforms, enabling seamless integration with brand activations and programmatic campaigns.
“The future of E Ink is becoming more colorful with our E Ink Marquee innovation,” said Johnson Lee, CEO, E Ink. “E Ink Marquee will be a cornerstone of our organization and define the future of display technology across industries.”
Preliminary performance metrics for E Ink Marquee’s full-color application features an operating temperature range between -20 and 65 °C., with ongoing development of the newest displays focused on reaching sizes as large as 75” diagonal and update times between 5-7 seconds.
“Building upon our pioneering ePaper foundation established in 1997, E Ink Marquee represents an exciting evolution.” said Edzer Huitema, US CTO, E Ink. “We expect E Ink Marquee to redefine the digital display industry and challenge people’s perception of E Ink and what is possible.”
While E Ink Marquee’s roadmap is still being defined, Touch Taiwan 2025 serves as an important opportunity to showcase the recent breakthrough and provide a glimpse into the future of digital displays. If visitors would like to experience the latest E Ink technology demonstrations, they can visit booth #L717 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center from April 16-18. E Ink Marquee will also be shown at Display Week in San Jose, CA from May 13-15.
E Ink’s ePaper technology is energy-efficient and non-emissive, reducing power consumption and carbon emissions compared to paper and LCDs. Solar-powered ePaper signage can run entirely on renewable energy, ideal for net-zero initiatives. Through its PESG framework, E Ink delivers low-carbon solutions that accelerate this transition. According to FTSE Russell, 99.9% of the company’s product sales revenue is green, and Moody’s has verified E Ink’s green loans as compliant with Green Loan Principles, awarding a positive sustainability score. These achievements highlight E Ink’s strong environmental performance and alignment with international standards.
About E Ink
E Ink Holdings Inc. (8069.TWO), based on technology from MIT’s Media Lab, provides an ideal display medium for applications spanning eReaders and eNotes, retail, home, hospital, transportation, logistics, and more, enabling customers to put displays in locations previously impossible. E Ink’s electrophoretic display products make it the worldwide leader for ePaper. Its low power displays enable customers to reach their sustainability goals, and E Ink has pledged using 100% renewable energy in 2030 and reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2040. E Ink has been recognized for their efforts by receiving, validation from Science-Based Targets (SBTi) and is listed in both the DJSI World and DJSI Emerging Indexes. Listed in Taiwan’s Taipei Exchange (TPEx) and the Luxembourg market, E Ink Holdings is now the world’s largest supplier of ePaper displays. For more information please visit www.eink.com. E Ink. We Make Surfaces Smart and Green.
Contact: V2 Communications for E Ink eink@v2comms.com
New initiative unveiled at CPD58 on World Health Day aims to reverse preventable deaths and invest in frontline care
New York, 7 April 2025 – On World Health Day, and at the opening of the 58th Session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD58), UNFPA, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, and global partners launched the Midwifery Accelerator — a coordinated effort to reduce preventable maternal deaths by expanding access to quality care provided by midwives.
The launch comes as new UN data confirms that 260,000 women died from pregnancy or childbirth in 2023 — one every two minutes. While this represents a 40% drop since 2000, progress has slowed and remains highly unequal, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
“We can and must end preventable maternal deaths,” said Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA. “We have the knowledge and tools to ensure safe births. We now need to step up what works: skilled midwives, quality care, and strong political commitment. This new initiative is about delivering on all three with the urgency they deserve.”
Co-led by UNFPA, WHO, UNICEF, International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and Jhpiego, and developed with governments, civil society and technical partners, the Midwifery Accelerator provides a clear roadmap for action. It aims to train more midwives, deploy them where they’re most needed, and ensure they are well-equipped, supported and integrated into national health systems. In short, it puts midwives at the center of building stronger, more equitable and resilient health systems to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes for women and their newborns.
UNFPA has long been a global leader in this space, championing midwife-led care as a cornerstone of maternal health. Since 2008, UNFPA has supported over 120 countries to strengthen their midwifery workforce, from education and midwifery schools to workforce development and deployment. Over 600,000 midwives have been trained with UNFPA’s support, helping bring life-saving care closer to women and communities.
Progress is being seen across the world. Tanzania has reduced maternal deaths by 52%, and Sierra Leone by 79% — clear proof that investments and political will can save lives. In both these countries, midwives play a key role in improving maternal and newborn health outcomes. But these gains are fragile. With massive global funding cuts threatening essential services, countries risk losing hard-won progress.
Despite the growing need, midwives remain underfunded, under-paid, undervalued and not adequately deployed. Yet universal access to midwives could prevent over 60% of maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths — and every dollar invested in midwifery has the potential of yielding up to a 16-fold return in health and economic benefits, as a study from Morocco shows.
“This plan puts midwives at the heart of the solution,” said Julia Bunting, Director of Programmes at UNFPA. “Now is the time for governments and donors to step up. Without investing in midwives, we cannot end preventable maternal deaths.”
About the Midwifery Accelerator Launched by UNFPA, WHO, UNICEF, ICM, and Jhpiego, the global Midwifery Accelerator is a shared framework to support countries in integrating midwifery models of care into national health systems. The initiative was informed by country consultations in six high-burden countries (Bangladesh, Cote D’Ivoire, Nepal, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Zambia) and reflects key priority areas that need to be addressed through accelerated actions to improve global availability of and access to quality midwifery care.
About UNFPA UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, works in over 150 countries and territories to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
Berkeley, April 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — When SigIQ.ai’s AI tutor took India’s notoriously difficult UPSC civil service exam last June, it didn’t just pass – it achieved the highest score in the exam’s history, beating 1.3 million human candidates in under 7 minutes. Today, the Berkeley-based startup emerges from 18 months of stealth with $9.5 million funding to transform education through personalized AI tutoring that delivers elite-level instruction at the cost of computation, not hundreds of dollars per hour.
The seed round was co-led by House Fund and GSV Ventures, with participation from Duolingo, General Catalyst India (Venture Highway), Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia India), Calibrate Ventures and angel investors, such as Andy Konwinski (Co-founder, Perplexity), Christian Storm (Co-founder & CTO, Turnitin), Prof. Trevor Darrell (Berkeley AI Research, UC Berkeley), Prof. Jitendra Malik (Berkeley AI Research, UC Berkeley), Prof. Srini Devadas (MIT), Prof. Sharad Malik (Princeton) and others. This investment will accelerate hiring top talent, enhancing AI models, and scaling platforms to educational systems worldwide.
SigIQ.ai founders: Professor Kurt Keutzer and Dr. Karttikeya Mangalam.
SigIQ.ai’s technology directly addresses “Bloom’s Two-Sigma Problem” – the research finding that students receiving one-on-one tutoring perform two standard deviations better than those in traditional classrooms. This educational disparity has persisted for decades, with personalized tutoring remaining a luxury reserved for the privileged few. The company’s revolutionary approach shifts the cost of personalization from human labor to AI computation, making world-class instruction accessible at unprecedented scale.
“We’re at a pivotal moment in education where modern GenAI can provide a personal 1:1 tutor to every student and reduce the cost of one-on-one learning from hundreds of dollars an hour to the cost of computation,” said Dr. Karttikeya Mangalam, CEO and co-founder of SigIQ.ai, a UC Berkeley AI PhD mentored by computer vision pioneer Prof. Jitendra Malik. “We’ve started by first creating a tutor that itself can ace the very exam students are preparing for. This is a necessary step to ensure accuracy and quality in teaching delivered. And will set a new benchmark in personalized education, making the highest-quality education accessible to everyone, regardless of geography or socioeconomic status, at a fraction of the traditional cost.”
The company was founded in July 2023 by Dr. Karttikeya Mangalam and Professor Kurt Keutzer, a distinguished Professor in the Berkeley AI Research (BAIR) Lab who has published six books, over 250 refereed papers, and helped launch twelve startups. SigIQ.ai’s origin reflects its mission. Growing up in Muzaffarpur, Bihar – a region where educational opportunities are limited – Mangalam experienced firsthand the stark divide between small-town India and elite Western academic institutions. After completing his education at IIT Kanpur and then at UC Berkeley, he founded SigIQ.ai to democratize access to world-class education globally.
SigIQ.ai latest product is EverTutor.ai, designed for GRE preparation in the US market, has already gained more than 10,000 users in just 3 of launch.
In just 18 months, SigIQ.ai has launched two products with remarkable traction. PadhAI, focused on UPSC exam preparation in India, has attracted over 200,000 learners in just six months. On June 16, 2024, moments after the actual 2-hour UPSC Prelims exam had finished, PadhAI’s AI tutor solved the entire paper in a live demonstration in under 7 minutes at The Leela in Delhi. It achieved a score of 175/200 – not just the highest score in 2024, but the highest score ever achieved in UPSC prelims history, far exceeding the typical qualifying score of 100/200. This historic achievement was covered by over 70 news outlets across India, including The Hindu and The Times of India.
The company’s newer offering, EverTutor.ai, designed for GRE preparation in the US market, has already gained more than 10,000 users since launching three months ago.
Inside SigIQ.ai’s EverTutor product designed to support GRE preparation.
“SigIQ.ai isn’t just a regular EdTech startup — they’ve built an AI system that publicly demonstrated its ability to outperform both humans and leading commercial AI models on one of the world’s most challenging exams. This redefines what’s possible in personalized education,” said Jeremy Fiance, Managing Director of The House Fund.
What differentiates SigIQ.ai from other educational AI tools is its approach to personalization. Unlike basic conversational AI that offers scripted or limited interactivity, SigIQ’s systems are highly interactive, responsive to follow-up questions, and capable of personalized instruction and feedback – not just chat. As a result, this technology replicates the behavior of a real tutor. Students using the platform report a 30-40% increase in effective study hours while improving performance by 18% in the first month, with over 75% feeling more confident tackling difficult topics within just three weeks.
Looking ahead, SigIQ.ai plans to expand its reach with EverTutor, supporting more GRE takers in the upcoming spring and fall. The company will be present at ASU+GSV to demonstrate the newest developments in both platforms. Beyond standardized tests, SigIQ.ai envisions a future where their technology transforms education broadly, creating a new era where high-quality learning isn’t limited by geography, language, or economic status. Ultimately, the team is set on proving that elite education doesn’t have to be scarce – it can and must be universal.
About SigIQ.ai Founded in 2023 by Dr. Karttikeya Mangalam, SigIQ.ai builds AI-powered learning tools that deliver personalized education at scale. With offices in Berkeley and Gurgaon, the company’s flagship products PadhAI and EverTutor.ai serve hundreds of thousands of students globally. Recognized across India for its feat of achieving the top score on the UPSC 2024 live, SigIQ.ai is poised to transform the future of education.
DENVER, April 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pax8, the leading cloud commerce marketplace, today announced the appointment of Craig Foster as its new Chief Financial Officer. In this role, Foster will set the financial course for Pax8 and oversee all aspects of the company’s financial strategy to ensure it continues driving sustainable growth and innovation. His leadership will be instrumental in guiding financial governance, optimizing growth opportunities and scaling the financial operations. Foster will report to Scott Chasin, Chief Executive Officer at Pax8.
“With Craig’s extensive financial leadership in the tech industry and investment banking experience, he is the perfect fit for this role,” said Chasin. “We are thrilled to have Craig join Pax8 as part of the global leadership team. As Pax8 continues our rapid growth trajectory, we expect him to make a lasting impact on our future success.”
Foster has 25 years of management experience in finance, operations and capital markets, having served as CFO of several public and private technology companies, including Ubiquiti, Bright Machines and Financial Engines. Before joining Pax8, he was the CFO of PicsArt, a consumer software company. Prior to his executive roles, Foster worked in the enterprise software investment banking groups of Credit Suisse, UBS and RBC Capital Markets. Mr. Foster holds an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of Business and a BA in Economics from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).
“I am thrilled to join Pax8 at such an exciting time for the company and the industry,” said Foster. “My entire career has been spent working with software technology companies, sales channels and complex marketplaces, so I feel extremely fortunate to be joining an organization that unifies all of these into a single operating model.”
To learn more about Pax8, please visit www.pax8.com.
About Pax8 Pax8 is the technology marketplace of the future, linking partners, vendors, and small to midsized businesses (SMBs) through AI-powered insights and comprehensive product support. With a global partner ecosystem of nearly 40,000 managed service providers, Pax8 empowers SMBs worldwide by providing software and services that unlock their growth potential and enhance their security. Committed to innovating cloud commerce at scale, Pax8 drives customer acquisition and solution consumption across its entire ecosystem.