UK-funded supplies are already reaching areas devastated by the quake, helping over 15,000 people so far
Lifesaving support for those directly affected by the severe earthquake in Myanmar will now go even further, with the UK now providing up to £25 million for vital humanitarian assistance.
The increase is the result of an additional £10million of UK funding directed towards the humanitarian response.
It comes as UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West, this afternoon (4 April) visited the offices of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) in London, to hear about the realities of delivering aid to the most vulnerable across Myanmar.
The UK has already pledged to aid match every pound donated by the British public to the DEC appeal, up to £5million.
UK funds, delivered through partners on the ground, are already helping to provide immediate support to the most vulnerable areas and people, including first aid, emergency and trauma care and primary healthcare, food, water, shelter and hygiene kits. The additional £10 million directed to the response will provide a further boost to these efforts, saving lives and supporting livelihoods across Myanmar. No UK support goes to the Myanmar regime.
Catherine West, Minister for the Indo-Pacific, said:
Even before this earthquake struck, Myanmar was already facing one of the world’s biggest humanitarian crises after four years of conflict.
It is right that we step up to help. The rapid UK response means lifesaving supplies are already reaching those worst-affected by the quake – and new funding will enable partners on the ground to reach even more people in need.
We thank the British public who continue to generously support the Myanmar people through the DEC appeal.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) works with a network of specialist partner organisations to deliver targeted support on the ground. This means UK support is able to reach those most in need, despite the challenges of operating in Myanmar.
The UK government has a strong track record of providing humanitarian assistance in Myanmar, with total UK support since the 2021 military coup standing at over £170 million. Our modern approach to aid not only supports some of the world’s most vulnerable people but also helps address global challenges from health to migration, ultimately contributing to the UK’s security and prosperity.
In addition to humanitarian assistance, the FCDO continues to provide consular assistance to British nationals in both Myanmar and Thailand, which was also affected by last week’s earthquake.
Notes to editors
Funding the UK has committed to the Myanmar earthquake response includes:
An initial package of up to £10m to support the emergency response;
£5m to match donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee public appeal for Myanmar, launched Thursday 3 April;
A further £10m funding directed for humanitarian assistance, announced today.
UK humanitarian support for Myanmar’s citizens will not support Myanmar’s military regime.
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Jérôme Bonnafont (France):
The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to those affected by the earthquake that struck central Myanmar on 28 March, and also impacted neighbouring countries especially Thailand, resulting in significant loss of life, injuries and widespread destruction. They stressed their solidarity with the peoples of Myanmar, Thailand and other affected families and communities.
The members of the Security Council recognized the need to strengthen rescue, relief and recovery efforts and to scale up immediate and rapid humanitarian assistance in response to the requests to help the people of Myanmar, supported by the international community. The members of the Security Council took note of the statements by ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] Foreign Ministers of 29 and 30 March. They reaffirmed the importance of a safe and conducive environment to ensure the timely and effective delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to all those in need, without disruption or discrimination. To that end, the members of the Security Council welcomed the ceasefire announcements to create a safe and conducive environment.
The members of the Security Council expressed their gratitude and support for the work of ASEAN, the region, the United Nations and the wider international community, including the swift provision of urgent life-saving assistance, rescue and disaster relief.
At UConn Health, community isn’t just a word, it’s the foundation of everything we do. Whether it’s the connections between our patients and providers, the collaboration among our teams, or our commitment to serving those beyond our walls, community defines who we are. This month, we’re highlighting the ways in which our staff and departments comes together to support, uplift, and strengthen one another. From innovative partnerships to everyday moments of kindness, we celebrate the power of community in shaping a healthier future for all.
Janel Simpson:, UConn Health Chief Administrative Officer, Jini Korcz, Adriana Lopez de Victoria, Farmington Links Board Member
On Saturday, March 15, UConn Health and UConn faculty, staff, students and researchers, came together with community partners at the Black Family Wellness Expo, a vibrant annual event dedicated to promoting health and wellness in the Greater Hartford community hosted by the Artists Collective in Hartford. The expo, organized by the Farmington Valley and Greater Hartford Chapters of The Links Incorporated was co-sponsored by UConn Health’s Health Disparities Institute (HDI), the UConn School of Social Work, the Department of Public Health Sciences, and UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP),
Now in its second year of participation, HDI played a central role in the expo, not only through sponsorship but also in deepening institutional partnerships and collaboration with UConn Health and UConn that included the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI), the Center on Aging, the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, Public Health Sciences, Area Education Centers (AHEC), and InCHIP, among others.
“Instead of having UConn and UConn Health departments scattered throughout the expo, we intentionally grouped UConn Health and UConn tables, allowing the community to see the multiple ways in which we engage and serve Connecticut residents, beyond health care delivery and education,” said Dr. Linda Sprague Martinez, HDI director and professor in the department of medicine.
HDI also created an interactive engagement opportunity for attendees. This year at the expo, HDI engaged attendees by asking what makes for a great health care experience, and we heard overwhelmingly about the importance of the interpersonal aspects of care and engagement. Providers who take the time to really listen, are empathetic, and show compassion were common responses,” said Dr. Sprague Martinez. “Events like this are important opportunities for UConn Health to connect with community residents and our patients in a meaningful way.”
“Events like the Black Family Wellness Expo create a space not only for direct engagement with community members but also for fostering connections with organizations that share HDI’s commitment to health equity and exploring ways to deepen collaboration through collective efforts that drive lasting impact,” said Trisha Pitter from the Health Disparities Institute who initiated the partnership with the Farmington Valley Links, Inc. to promote this year’s event as well as the 2025’s expo.
JDH Diversity Council’s Role and Impact
Community Wishing Tree
As part of its mission to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), the JDH Diversity Council played a key role in engaging attendees through interactive initiatives. Their presence included two tables: one focused on Human Resources, providing information about UConn Health career opportunities and workplace culture, and another featuring the “Community Wishing Tree,” an idea proposed by Elizabeth Haskell, sepsis nurse, were invited to share personal barriers to health care and their wishes for improvements in their community. The activity proved to be a meaningful way to amplify community voices and gather valuable insights that will be reviewed at an upcoming Diversity Council meeting.
“For me, joining the Diversity Council was about helping to create a more inclusive and equitable health care environment, not just for patients, but for our faculty and staff as well,” said Cassandra Keola, administrative program coordinator. “It’s inspiring to see our work extend beyond the walls of our hospital and into the communities we serve.”
“As a newer member of the Diversity Council, I was drawn to the opportunity to collaborate with a team dedicated to fostering growth in diversity, equity, and inclusion, both at an organizational level and as individuals. With 17 years of experience as a nurse, I have had the privilege of caring for patients from diverse backgrounds, which has reinforced the vital role that cultural awareness and inclusivity play in delivering equitable and effective health care. Being part of this council allows me to contribute to meaningful change and advocate for a more inclusive environment for both patients and staff,” said Eliza Rivera, population health manager.
Collaboration Across UConn and UConn Health Departments
Dr. Linda Barry, associate director of Health Disparities Institute, led the Alzheimer’s discussion and CT AHEC brought a team of Urban Health/AHEC Scholars and preceptors to provide health promotion education as well as screenings (oral health, blood pressure, blood glucose). The CT AHEC team worked closely with partners from Charter Oak Community Health Center for community member handoffs for vaccinations, mental health, muscular skeletal and A1C screenings. In total more than 35 community members were seen by this interprofessional team.
James “JJ” Odom, University Director of Buildings and Grounds at UConn Health, far left plays the drums during a musical performance
Leslie Bell, administrative director in nursing administration and diversity council member, shared her experience: “The room was filled with people providing essential services and education. I had the opportunity to attend a UConn Health panel discussion on Alzheimer’s, which was both informative and impactful. There was such a strong presence of organizations committed to health and wellness; it was truly inspiring.”
The event also facilitated networking opportunities among health care professionals. Bell was able to help connect a physician from Saint Francis Hospital with UConn Health’s ALS program to ensure continuity of care for a patient facing insurance challenges. This kind of real-time problem-solving exemplifies the council’s broader mission to bridge gaps in health care access and equity.
Looking Ahead
HDI’s ongoing partnership with the Farmington Valley Links will continue to shape future wellness initiatives, including the 2025 expo. HDI is co-sponsoring an upcoming Women’s Health event with the Farmington Valley Links, the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity, Aurora Foundation for Women and Girls, and InCHIP focused on intergenerational dialogues on menopause. Community events like the Black Family Wellness Expo create spaces for HDI to engage with residents, learn about priorities, and to build collaborations across UConn and with communities to promote health.
In addition to participating in the Black Family Wellness Expo, the Diversity Council continues to lead and support various initiatives, such as ODI’s monthly “coffee break” discussions, cultural awareness events, and employee appreciation activities. Their ongoing efforts reinforce UConn Health’s dedication to an inclusive workplace and community engagement.
Reflecting on the event’s success, Diversity Council members expressed enthusiasm for future collaborations and deeper community connections. “The sheer volume of interest in wellness and information was encouraging,” said one attendee. “Seeing so many people engaged and eager to learn reaffirms why events like this matter,” said Keola.
By fostering dialogue, sharing resources, and strengthening partnerships, the Diversity Council continues to make a meaningful impact—both within UConn Health and throughout the communities it serves.
The Black Family Wellness Expo was a powerful example of UConn and UConn Health’s institutional commitment to community engagement, health equity, and partnership. Through shared leadership, HDI and its collaborators are ensuring that UConn’s presence in the community is both impactful and enduring.
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson
WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) sent letters to Moderna, Inc., Pfizer Inc., BioNTech US Inc., and Johnson & Johnson seeking records and communications about the development and safety of the COVID-19 vaccines.
In the letters, Chairman Johnson cited the many billions of taxpayer dollars these companies received to manufacture and deliver COVID-19 vaccines. These federally-funded vaccines have since been associated with reports of myocarditis, pericarditis, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Chairman Johnson also referenced past attempts by the Department of Health and Human Services to conceal records related to the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, warning vaccine manufacturers, “Any attempt to obstruct or delay responses to this request will result in compulsory process.”
The chairman’s requests included internal and external communications related to reports of adverse events, clinical trials, and testing of the vaccines against variants of SARS-CoV-2. These requests encompass communications between vaccine manufacturers, the federal government, and social media platforms.
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
April 04, 2025
Senate to vote on Republican tax plan paving way for $7 trillion in tax handouts for billionaires and billionaire corporations
“…Are we going to hand our country over to co-presidents Donald Trump and Elon Musk and a handful of other billionaires and make everyone else pay for it?…That is the fight in front of us, and that’s the fight I’m fighting every single day for families in Massachusetts and all across this country.”
Video of Speech (YouTube)
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) delivered a speech on the Senate Floor, slamming President Trump and Elon Musk’s chaotic cuts to programs and charting the path forward to fight back on behalf of Massachusetts. Senator Warren announced she is filing amendments to the Republican budget bill to protect federal funding for Massachusetts medical research institutions and health care providers; undo cuts to the National Institutes of Health; and protect education funding in Massachusetts, including for Head Start.
Transcript: Floor Speech on Fighting Back for Massachusetts Against Trump and Musk Chaos U.S. Senate Floor April 4, 2025
As Delivered
Senator Elizabeth Warren: Now, Republicans in Congress are putting forward a proposal to deliver these tax cuts for the wealthy and well-connected, and they’re asking us to vote on it tonight.
This bill — and Trump and Musk’s cruel agenda — isn’t good for Massachusetts and isn’t good for our country. I’m hearing from families at home in Massachusetts who are feeling the pain right now.
Start with medical research. Medical research powers the economy in Massachusetts and is the reason we’ve had incredible breakthroughs like vaccines and cancer drugs that save lives. So, how did Donald Trump and Elon Musk thank the doctors and researchers who are doing this work? By canceling tens of millions of dollars in federal funds that support medical research at Massachusetts hospitals, universities, and health care providers on everything from clinical trials to pandemic readiness. And they did it just weeks after Trump tried to cut the funding that keeps the lights on at our community health centers.
So, to anyone who believes in science and believes in investing in cures for horrible diseases, now is the time to fight back. That’s why I’m filing amendments to the Republican bill to keep up federal support for Massachusetts’ medical research institutions and health care providers — including our community health centers. And it’s why I’m filing another amendment to fight back against Trump and Musk’s National Institute of Health funding cuts — because we are a country that believes that we should invest in finding a cure for Alzheimer’s, for diabetes, for cancer, and other diseases.
And on education. Education levels the playing field. It gives every kid a fighting chance in this country. Doesn’t matter to Trump and Musk. This week, they slashed millions in funding for K-12 education in the Commonwealth. Shut down a regional office in Boston that helps administer Head Start. Canceled millions of dollars in funding that was helping to pay for kids’ school lunches. To them, that was the cherry on top of Trump’s executive order to, quote, “abolish” the entire Department of Education, throwing schools across the country into crisis.
So, to students, parents, and teachers, now is the time to fight back. We are fighting for an America where it’s not just the kids of billionaires who get a good education but every kid in every community all across our Commonwealth. It’s why I’ve got an amendment to the Republican bill to protect education funding in Massachusetts and protect services like Head Start that lift up our kids and make sure we’re not leaving families hanging out to dry.
And I’m fighting for our workers. Last week, Donald Trump signed an illegal executive order attacking federal unions and stripping workers of their rights. It’s the definition of union-busting — and it is an attack on the workers who make sure our food is safe to eat, who make sure it’s safe for us to fly in airplanes, who make sure that we take care of our veterans, who try to help us and protect us from viruses and disease, and so much more.
So, to workers in Massachusetts and across America, now is the time to fight back. We need to amend this Republican tax cut bill to affirm federal workers’ right to unionize and collectively bargain because the labor movement is bigger than Donald Trump and his unelected billionaire co-president. And we believe that every worker deserves the freedom to join a union and negotiate for a fair contract.
Donald Trump and Elon Musk are sawing through the programs that help working families breathe a little easier every day. And they’re doing it so that their billionaire buddies and giant corporations get trillions of dollars in tax giveaways, paid for on the backs of everybody else.
So here’s the big question: are we going to hand our country over to co-presidents Donald Trump and Elon Musk and a handful of other billionaires and make everyone else pay for it? Or are we going to be a country that says, “No, we want to make these investments so that everyone in this country gets an opportunity.” Everybody’s at least got a chance to build something for themselves. That is the fight in front of us, and that’s the fight I’m fighting every single day for families in Massachusetts and all across this country.
An interactive heritage trail which highlights Stoke-on-Trent’s rich history is being officially launched this weekend – during a huge celebration of the city’s Centenary.
The Living Heritage City Project was first unveiled in 2023 as a two-year pilot scheme, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
Since then, the trail – which showcases seven culturally-significant locations between Stoke and Hanley – has been developed along the new route, with a brand-new map and digital app.
The app includes interactive videos and audio which navigates users through the heritage locations along the trail and shares stories from the local community. The app will be available alongside a newly-illustrated map which has been designed by local artist Kidda Kinsey.
Stoke-on-Trent’s Lord Mayor and heritage champion, Councillor Lyn Sharpe, said: “I am so proud to be able to launch the Living Heritage City Pilot Trail during our Centenary year – 2025 is a year to celebrate our wonderful city and everything that makes it what it is, and that includes our rich history.
“We’d like to thank all of our residents and partners who have walked the heritage trail and helped us to develop it over the last two years – we’ve had some great feedback. I would encourage anyone who hasn’t experienced it yet to try and find some time to do it. You won’t regret it.”
Starting at Spode Works, the route – which takes just over one hour to complete on foot – takes in important aspects of Stoke-on-Trent’s heritage such as Stoke Minster, Winton Square, Beresford Street, Hanley Park and St Marks Church in Shelton before ending at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery.
Thanks to funding secured from Arts Council England, local cultural and heritage organisations have developed other additional trails along the route, allowing people to fully explore stories and extra content which have been created to complement the pilot trail.
Anna Francis, of The Friends of Spode Rose Garden, said: “We have loved leading a series of walks from the garden up to the Potteries Museum. We are so pleased to be able to unearth such rich stories of our city and the connections between ceramics and gardens through the new app. We are sure people will love exploring the city with this great new resource.”
Lois Bateman, hub manager at National Literacy Trust Stoke-on-Trent, said: “It’s been a privilege to be part of the Living Heritage project with our new Story Quest in Hanley. Our bespoke story trails, set in familiar places within the community, make reading a story out loud a fun, playful, and interactive experience.”
Councillor Sharpe will officially launch the trail on Saturday, 5 April during a celebration event which will see the Fenton mace, which has been designed by students from Staffordshire University, unveiled for the first time.
During the event, the mace will be paraded from Fenton Town Hall to Stoke Town Hall, before partners and contributors are invited to join Councillor Sharpe on a ceremonial walk of a short section of the heritage trail.
The app is available from the App Store and Google Play Store.
Laira Green Primary School’s plans to create a school-based nursery within their school have received a huge boost thanks to new Government funding.
The school set out its plans in November last year and carried out a consultation. It has now been awarded capital funding from the Department for Education to develop its new nursery, Laira Green Preschool, which will provide teacher-led, play-based care.
In December, the school agreed with the local authority that it would lower its age range to start from two-years-old, so the nursery will support two-, three- and four-year-olds.
The funding will be used to reconfigure areas of the school building to offer a purpose-built environment for younger children to enjoy.
An old conservatory on the school site will be demolished and replaced with a huge canopy to provide indoor-outdoor play spaces, whatever the weather.
Claire Jones, Headteacher at Laira Green Primary School, said: “We are thrilled to receive this grant for our school-based nursery at Laira Green Primary School. This funding will be instrumental in enhancing our early years provision and ensuring that our youngest learners have access to the best possible start in their educational journey.
“The grant will allow us to create a nurturing and stimulating environment that supports the development and growth of all our pupils and is a pivotal step in realising our vision for early childhood education, providing enriched learning experiences and high-quality resources that will benefit both our children and dedicated staff.
“I’m also delighted to say that all families that have already applied for a space will receive the hours they’ve requested and be able to benefit from their full entitlement of funded hours. We do still have some spaces available and welcome any further applications.”
Laira Green Primary School is a local authority-maintained school and the funding application was supported by Plymouth City Council.
Councillor Sally Cresswell, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships, said: “School-based nurseries give children access to high-quality early years education and learning, giving them the best possible start in life where they’re supported to achieve and thrive. This helps to develop their school readiness, while also ensuring that parents can take full advantage of their free childcare hours which is vital for families.
“We’re really pleased that Laira Green was successful in its funding application, which will help the school to create a fantastic environment for the new preschool.”
As well as funded sessions enabling parents to take advantage of their free childcare hours, Laira Green Preschool will also offer an additional breakfast club, lunchtime session and afterschool club so parents can benefit from childcare between 7.30am and 6pm if required.
Laira Green Primary School is one of three Plymouth schools to benefit from the school-based nursery funding, with Boringdon Primary School and Plympton St Mary C of E Infant School also successful in their applications.
LOUISVILLE – Today, Governor Polis visited Louisville Elementary School to highlight its nation-leading woodworking curriculum designed for young students. This nation-leading initiative helps teach young students hands-on skills.
“Colorado is leading the way in finding innovative ways to expand hands-on learning opportunities. This nation-leading initiative at Louisville Elementary engaged 391 students in over 5,500 hours of woodworking experience to help students learn new skills. Through my NGA Initiative ‘Let’s Get Ready!’ and at schools across the state, we are finding new ways to ensure students have the opportunity to learn the skills to thrive in the classroom and beyond,” said Governor Polis.
Governor Polis’s NGA Chairman’s initiative “Let’s Get Ready!” focuses on ensuring that each Governor’s and state’s investment in education provides students with the skills and knowledge to succeed in the classroom and thrive in the workforce. Colorado is leading the nation in expanding opportunities to learning opportunities and career preparedness through apprenticeships and access to on-the-job learning opportunities, as well as saving families money on education through free preschool and kindergarten.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., April 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via IBN – Roth Capital Partners (“ROTH”), www.roth.com, is pleased to announce the strategic appointment of Alex Nowak, CFA, as Managing Director, Healthcare Investment Banking, and Shelby Nowak, Vice President, Healthcare Investment Banking. Both will focus on the medical devices, diagnostics, and life science tools industry. This dynamic addition reinforces ROTH’s commitment to delivering world-class investment banking services in the healthcare sector by coupling industry experience with capital market expertise.
Alex Nowak, CFA brings over a decade of proficiency in healthcare capital markets, specializing in Medtech, Diagnostics, and Life Science Tools. His role at ROTH will build upon his proven ability to identify growth opportunities, foster strong investor-client relationships, and drive strategic company building. Previously, Alex was a Partner & Director of Healthcare Research at Craig-Hallum Capital Group, where he played a key role in growing the healthcare brand and identifying high-growth opportunities within the sector.
Shelby Nowak joins ROTH with a diverse background in the medical device industry, where she managed FDA-regulated products from concept through commercialization. Her experience with companies such as Shockwave Medical, Medtronic, Reprise Biomedical, Vascular Solutions, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch positions her as a valuable asset to ROTH’s clients. Shelby will provide a unique industry-first perspective by actively engaging companies on strategy, company building, and client partnership.
“Alex’s deep industry knowledge and strategic vision make him an excellent fit for ROTH. Additionally, Shelby’s comprehensive industry insight will be instrumental in enhancing our investment banking capabilities. We are confident that his leadership will enhance our healthcare practice, and her approach to client engagement and helping companies build their businesses aligns with our objectives, and we are excited to have both on board,” said Aaron Gurewitz, President and Head of Investment Banking at ROTH.
Together, Alex and Shelby Nowak are poised to bolster ROTH’s healthcare investment banking division, ensuring continued success in helping clients navigate and excel in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape.
About ROTH
ROTH is a relationship-driven investment bank focused on serving growth companies and their investors. Our full-service platform provides capital raising, high-impact equity research, macroeconomics, sales and trading, technical insights, derivatives strategies, M&A advisory, and corporate access. Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, ROTH is a privately held, employee-owned organization and maintains offices throughout the U.S. For more information, please visit www.roth.com.
Settlement-delivery of the 17,488,744 New Shares and the 17,488,744 Warrants and listing on Euronext Growth
Vitry-le-François, France – April 4, 2025, 6:00 pm (CET)
On 4 April 2025, CIC Market Solutions, in its capacity as custodian, drew up a certificate in accordance with article L. 225-146 of the French Commercial Code, certifying that all the sums relating to the issue of 17,488,744 ABSA (New Shares with share subscription Warrant) had been paid up in full.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer therefore duly noted the final completion of the issue in the amount of €6,995,497.60, including a par value of €1,748,874.40 and a share premium of €5,246,623.20, bringing the Company’s share capital to €6,218,220.10 divided into 62,182,201 ordinary shares with a par value of €0.10 each.
Settlement and delivery of the 17,488,744 New Shares and the 17,488,744 Warrants took place on 4 April 2025. The New Shares (ISIN: FR0014007ND6 – Mnemonic: ALHAF) and the Warrants (ISIN FR001400Y4X9) will be listed for trading on Euronext Growth in Paris from 4 April 2025. The Warrants will be exercisable from 4 April 2026 to 4 October 2026.
About Haffner Energy
Haffner Energy is a French company providing solutions for the production of competitive clean fuels. With 32 years of experience converting biomass into renewable energies, it has developed innovative proprietary biomass thermolysis and gasification technologies to produce renewable gas, hydrogen and methanol, as well as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The company also contributes to regenerating the planet, through the co-production of biogenic CO2 and biocarbon (or char/biochar). Haffner Energy is listed on Euronext Growth. (ISIN code: FR0014007ND6 – Ticker: ALHAF).
Diana Gibson, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, has issued the following statement on the release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey for March 2025:
“All over the world, people are looking for new trading partners as the tariff threat now impacts countries around the globe. We are working to diversify our trade to support our businesses and protect and create more jobs.
“Today’s Labour Force Survey data shows in March, while the national trend is down, B.C. held steady with a small increase of 5,700 jobs compared to last month, with the highest increase in full-time employment among provinces at 10,000. So far this year, B.C. has gained 35,400 full-time jobs, the highest increase among provinces.
“Compared to March of last year, B.C.’s private-sector employment is up by 32,700, the third-highest increase in private-sector employment across the country. And we have work to do to continue to support the private sector that is facing real impacts from Trump’s tariffs. Since July 2017, B.C. has gained 172,800 private-sector jobs.
“Our unemployment rate is 6.1%, one of the lowest in the country and below the national average of 6.7%. B.C. also continues to lead the country with an average hourly wage of $37.64, the highest among provinces.
“This month, women’s employment increased by 16,800, with full-time jobs up by 14,100 and part time up by 2,700. So far this year, B.C. has had the highest increase in women’s full-time employment among provinces, up by 32,500.
“The data this morning shows that in March, B.C. had employment increases in health care and social assistance (+6,600) and professional, scientific and technical services (+2,400). Construction has gained 14,500 jobs and manufacturing is up 8,600 jobs compared to this time last year.
“As British Columbians braced themselves for another week of uncertainty from the United States, our government continues to stand strong for people, take action and defend our jobs. This week, 22 B.C. companies and universities promoted the province’s unique technology products and services in Germany at Hannover Messe 2025, the world’s largest trade show for industrial and energy technologies.
“As we expand our trade diversification globally, we’re proud to showcase B.C.’s solutions to the challenges of advancing AI, improving energy efficiency and lessening the impacts of climate change worldwide. This is the largest number of B.C. companies that have chosen to travel to this event. Advancing our trade and investment opportunities on this global stage will open new markets for B.C.’s economy to grow and prosper, and create new jobs for people in British Columbia.
“B.C. is protecting services and defending people’s jobs and the economy. Growing a stronger and more diverse economy will help protect people in B.C. from instability outside our borders, with investments that will bring good-paying jobs to the province as part of robust and sustainable industries.”
Learn More:
To learn more about B.C.’s Response to Tariffs, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/tariffs
To learn more about B.C.’s trade presence at Hannover Messe, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025JEDI0014-000275
Today, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), alongside Creative Saskatchewan and Wavelength Entertainment, are celebrating the third season of the docuseries Guardians of the North, which was filmed in the province.
The docuseries follows wildland firefighters in Saskatchewan’s Indigenous and northern communities while they protect the people, property and resources of the north.
The season three premiere will air on April 8, 2025, at 10 p.m. CST on Citytv Saskatchewan.
The third season consists of six episodes that follows personnel from the SPSA as they respond to wildfires, carry out life-threatening rescues and investigate several suspicious fires possibly caused by arson.
“We are deeply grateful for all the northern responders who provide search and rescue, firefighting and emergency response services,” Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod said. “This compelling docuseries highlights the dedication of these first responders and the collaborative effort between communities, agencies and resources to protect the people of Saskatchewan.”
“The 2024 wildfire season presented significant challenges across North America, with Saskatchewan experiencing above-average fire activity,” Wavelength Entertainment Producer Chris Triffo said. “It has been humbling and inspiring to document the unwavering talent and dedication of those individuals who work to keep us and our communities safe. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Citytv Saskatchewan, Creative Saskatchewan, and the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency for their invaluable partnerships in bringing these compelling stories to light.”
Guardians of the North receives funding from Creative Saskatchewan’s Feature Film and TV Production grant. The third season’s $286,666 investment is estimated to result in $952,449 of positive economic impacts for the province.
“Film is such a powerful export for our province,” Creative Saskatchewan CEO Erin Dean said. “Its unique ability to enhance our global presence also serves as a significant revenue-generator, driving economic growth and creating job opportunities within our community.”
The SPSA is a Treasury Board Crown that provides public safety services including fire safety training, investigation, emergency planning, response, recovery and emergency communications. The Agency operates Sask911, SaskAlert, the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program and the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre.
Creative Saskatchewan is the economic development agency for Saskatchewan’s creative industries and the official film commission for the province. The agency’s investments propel creative entrepreneurs as they create, perform, innovate and export in their pursuit of commercial success.
Wavelength Entertainment is a full-service production/distribution company with offices located throughout Canada. Wavelength is dedicated to the creation of smart, imaginative and entertaining content for global audiences, on all media platforms. The Emmy award winning team has worked together for over 20 years on programming that has been seen in 150 countries, 30 languages and hundreds of channels/platforms including Disney +, National Geographic, Netflix, Amazon, Discovery +, CBC, Rogers, History, Smithsonian, ID, HBO, TLC and A&E.
For more information, please visit: https://www.wavelength-entertainment.com/guardians-of-the-north.
Headline: Citizens for Responsible Zoning to be Featured on N.C. Highway Historical Marker
Citizens for Responsible Zoning to be Featured on N.C. Highway Historical Marker jejohnson6
A group from Edgecombe County that stood up for the environment soon will be recognized with a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker.
The marker commemorating the group, Citizens for Responsible Zoning, will be dedicated during a ceremony on Saturday, April 12 at 11 a.m., at the East Carolina Agriculture & Education Center (1175 Kingsboro Rd., Rocky Mount). The marker will be installed at the intersection of Kingsboro and Antioch roads.
In 1995, Kingsboro, a predominately African American community in Edgecombe County, was considered by Iowa Beef Processors (IBP) for the construction of an industrial-sized hog slaughterhouse. While the slaughterhouse would have brought about 2,000 jobs to the area, some members of the community recognized the potential hazards of the project — increased traffic from 24-hour continuous operation, strain on the Tar River from six-million gallons of daily use by the plant and worker safety concerns.
Led by local attorney Marvin Horton and Kingsboro resident Gleno Horne, who helped organize the Citizens for Responsible Zoning, they appealed to the community to protest IBP and the Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners. In March 1996, the Kingsboro Property Owners Association sued Edgecombe County for the re-zoning for the nuisance the IBP slaughterhouse would pose to Kingsboro residents. On April 9, 1996, the Edgecombe commissioners voted down the IBP request. This victory led to a different company developing the tract with a similar economic impact. QVC built a distribution center and solar farm on the site.
For more information about the historical markers, please visit (https://www.dncr.nc.gov/blog/2024/08/09/citizens-responsible-zoning-e-132), or call (919) 814-6625.
The Highway Historical Marker Program is a collaboration between the N.C. departments of Natural and Cultural Resources and Transportation.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
Headline: 17th Annual Race for the Planet Slated for Earth Day Weekend
17th Annual Race for the Planet Slated for Earth Day Weekend jejohnson6
KURE BEACH
It’s a sprint to the finish line—the registration finish line—for the 2025 Race for the Planet at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher (NCAFF) slated for Sunday, April 27 at 8 a.m. A favorite for competitive racers and leisure walkers, the 5K and 1-mile fun run wind along the Atlantic Ocean and through the picturesque maritime forest that is home to the Aquarium. All funds support NCAFF green initiatives through the North Carolina Aquarium Society.
Registration is open at 2025 Race for the Planet for the greenest race in the Cape Fear. Space is limited for this popular event that features a route through historic Fort Fisher with beautiful vistas of the ocean and marshes—all reminders of the important work of the Aquarium to protect the environment.
Racers should keep “green think” top of mind as they make their way to the Aquarium for Race for the Planet. The Aquarium makes it easy to be green at the Race by hosting a family and eco-friendly event.
Water refill stations onsite for reusable water bottles so that racers can avoid any single-use plastic water bottles.
Racers should carpool with family and friends to the Aquarium.
All visitors can support a greener environment by bringing household hazardous waste and electronics to drop off at the NCAFF Sustainability Drive.
Racers should apply or pack environmentally friendly bug repellant.
The Aquarium will be open to the public following the Race. Online tickets are required to visit the Aquarium. Reservations are available at NCAFF Tickets. For racers who plan to visit the local beaches as well, the Aquarium team shares some important ways to protect sea turtles during nesting season which begins in May. Here are some good tips for protecting sea turtles.
About the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is just south of Kure Beach, a short drive from Wilmington on U.S. 421 and less than a mile from the Fort Fisher ferry terminal. The Aquarium is one of three Aquariums and a pier that make up the North Carolina Aquariums, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The mission of the Aquariums is to inspire appreciation and conservation of our aquatic environments. The Aquarium features a 235-000-gallon sand tiger shark habitat, an albino alligator, a bald eagle, a loggerhead sea turtle habitat and two families of mischievous Asian small-clawed otters. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission: $12.95 ages 13-61; $10.95 children ages 3-12; $11.95 seniors (62 and older) and military with valid identification; NC EBT card holders*: $3. Free admission for children 2 and younger and N.C. Aquarium Society members and N.C. Zoo members. *EBT rate is applicable to a maximum of four tickets.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
Headline: Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site to Offer Two Living History Days in April
Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site to Offer Two Living History Days in April jejohnson6
Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site will host two living history programs on Saturdays during April. Both programs will run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
On April 12, the site will present “The Women of Brunswick,” which will showcase the women who lived and worked in the colonial port. Throughout the day, visitors are invited to interact with interpreters who will demonstrate various tasks typical of the time, including woodworking, processing indigo and fabric dyeing, apothecary, and more. A colonial dance lesson will be offered from 2-2:30 p.m.
On April 26, at “Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea: Sailors and Tar Workers in the 18th Century,” visitors will get an up-close look at the early naval stores industry along the Lower Cape Fear. Naval stores are goods used in building and maintaining ships, specifically turpentine, tar, and pitch. The industry helped propel Brunswick into a major colonial port. Historic interpreters will depict trades relevant to maritime history and sailing.
These free events are part of America 250 NC, the state’s official commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The commemoration’s goal is to empower North Carolinians to engage with 250 years of our rich, diverse history.
Parking is available at the state historic site, located at 8884 St. Philip’s Rd. SE in Winnabow.
About Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site is a major pre-Revolutionary port on North Carolina’s Cape Fear River, Brunswick was abandoned and burned during the American Revolution and never fully recovered. During the Civil War, Fort Anderson was constructed atop the old village site, and served as part of the Cape Fear River defenses below Wilmington before the fall of the Confederacy. Colonial foundations dot the present-day tour trail, which crosses the earthworks of the Confederate fort. The site is located at 8884 St. Philip’s Rd SE, Winnabow, NC 28479. For more information, visit https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/brunswick-town-and-fort-anderson/plan-your-visit or call (910) 371-6613.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
Headline: Museum of the Albemarle to Host The Ongoing Fight for Freedom: Stories of NC Black Veterans
Museum of the Albemarle to Host The Ongoing Fight for Freedom: Stories of NC Black Veterans jejohnson6
ELIZABETH CITY
The Museum of the Albemarle will host The Ongoing Fight for Freedom: Stories of NC Black Veterans on Thursday, May 1 at 6 p.m. in the Gaither Auditorium.
The Ongoing Fight for Freedom: Stories of NC Black Veterans is a one-man presentation and performance elevating Black freedom fighters and veterans with North Carolina connections – known and unknown, on and off the traditional battlefield – who have engaged in over 400 years of a struggle for freedom, liberty, and equality. Their sacrifices, resistance, and resilience have contributed to American democracy, even as they were denied the full rights of citizens. Through listening to their stories in this production, we can gain a deeper understanding of our nation’s founding ideals, and harness the hope to continue the work, together, of making those ideals a reality for all.
A brief Q&A with the artist will follow the performance.
You may secure your ticket at ongoingfightforfreedom.eventbrite.com Please note that securing your ticket through Eventbrite does not reserve a specific seat in the 196-person auditorium. Seating preference will be first-come, first-serve. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. For questions, contact educationoutreach@dncr.nc.gov.
For more information about the performance, visit dncr.nc.gov/ncblackveterans.
This show was collaboratively written and is performed by Dr. Sonny Kelly, founder of Legacy Heirs Productions. The play’s development was commissioned and funded by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources’ America 250 NC initiative and produced by the Learning Happens Here initiative of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, in collaboration with Carolina K-12.
About the Museum of the Albemarle
The Museum of the Albemarle is located at 501 S. Water Street, Elizabeth City, NC. (252) 335-1453.www.museumofthealbemarle.com. Find us on Facebook! Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed Sundays and State Holidays. Serving Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties, the museum is the northeast regional history museum of the North Carolina Division of State History Museums within the N.C.
Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the state agency with the mission to enrich lives and communities and the vision to harness the state’s cultural resources to build North Carolina’s social, cultural, and economic future. Information is available 24/7 atwww.dncr.nc.gov.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the North Carolina Symphony, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visitwww.dncr.nc.gov.
Headline: Museum of the Albemarle to Participate in ‘Two Lights for Tomorrow’ America 250 NC Event
Museum of the Albemarle to Participate in ‘Two Lights for Tomorrow’ America 250 NC Event jejohnson6
ELIZBETH CITY
The initiative is part of the upcoming America 250 semiquincentennial observance in 2026. In North Carolina, the event is led by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources’ America 250 NC initiative.
“Two Lights for Tomorrow” will take place on the night of April 18, recognizing the 250th anniversary of the ride of Paul Revere. To commemorate this event, two lights will shine from the fourth floor of Museum of the Albemarle in our community throughout the night of April 18.
On the night of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere and William Dawes rode out from Boston to alert their fellow patriots of the movement of the British regulars. A prearranged signal—two lanterns in the tower of Christ Church—warned that the British troops were traveling via the Charles River. Other riders joined Revere and Dawes, creating a network across the Massachusetts countryside. These midnight rides preceded the battles at Lexington and Concord, the start of the American Revolution.
Two hundred and fifty years later, “Two Lights for Tomorrow” commemorates Revere’s famous ride and uses the imagery of two shining lights to honor the beginning of the American Revolution. Overnight on Friday, April 18, two lights will shine forth from statehouses across the nation, including North Carolina’s State Capitol in Raleigh.
About America 250 NC
America 250 NC is North Carolina’s commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary and is led by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. For more information about America 250 NC, visit america250.nc.gov.
About the Museum of the Albemarle
The Museum of the Albemarle is located at 501 S. Water Street, Elizabeth City, NC. (252) 335-1453.www.museumofthealbemarle.com. Find us on Facebook! Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed Sundays and State Holidays. Serving Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties, the museum is the northeast regional history museum of the North Carolina Division of State History Museums within the N.C.
Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the state agency with the mission to enrich lives and communities and the vision to harness the state’s cultural resources to build North Carolina’s social, cultural, and economic future. Information is available 24/7 atwww.dncr.nc.gov.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the North Carolina Symphony, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visitwww.dncr.nc.gov.
A drug trafficking case involving three people from Casper and their source of supply from Thornton, Colorado, was recently closed after all the parties involved were sentenced.
William J. Varney, 57 of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 235 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Varney pleaded guilty on Dec. 23, 2024. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on March 14 in Cheyenne.
Jolyn K. Furley, 50, of Thornton, Colorado, was sentenced to 168 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Furley pleaded guilty on Dec. 23, 2024. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on March 28 in Cheyenne.
Julia Carlene Deshaw, 56, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, aiding and abetting. Deshaw pleaded guilty on Dec. 23, 2024. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on March 14 in Cheyenne.
Gerald Dehnert, 65, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 97 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, aiding and abetting. Dehnert pleaded guilty on Jan. 8, and U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on April 1 in Cheyenne.
According to court documents, in August and September of 2023, Special Agents of the Central Enforcement Team of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation received information that Julia Deshaw and William Varney were suspected of distributing large amounts of methamphetamine within the Natrona County area. Through the investigation, they learned that Deshaw, Varney, and Dehnert took turns driving to Colorado up to two times a week, bringing back approximately one to five pounds of methamphetamine each time for redistribution. Through surveillance and other investigative tactics, agents determined their supplier was Jolyn Furley.
The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, the Wyoming Highway Patrol, and the Mills Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case.
Bowling Green, KY – An illegal alien man was sentenced yesterday to 2 years and 6 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported or removed.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, and Sam Olson, Field Office Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Chicago, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement made the announcement.
According to court documents, David Lopez-Guillen, 48, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, for illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported or removed. On April 14, 2022, in Russell County, Kentucky, Lopez-Guillen was an alien found in the United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported, and removed from the United States three previous times, on or about January 19, 2001, April 25, 2005, and August 31, 2020. This is Lopez-Guillen’s second conviction in the Western District of Kentucky for illegal reentry.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by HSI Bowling Green and ICE ERO.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, prosecuted the case.
This case was sentenced under Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Good morning and thank you to the conference organizers for having me here today.1 It’s great to see such a diverse audience of fintech innovators, bankers, fellow regulators, and students. We all play a part in fostering responsible innovation. Responsible innovation requires a few things—having the optimism and curiosity to understand the potential benefits, the rigor and realism to identify the attendant risks, and the collective intent to find solutions to advance a safe and fair financial system. Today, I’d like to speak about responsible innovation in the context of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) in banking and how bank–fintech partnerships may accelerate the integration of the technology and banking. Earlier this year, I laid out two scenarios for Gen AI adoption—an incremental scenario where the technology primarily augments what humans do today, and a transformative scenario where we extend human capabilities with far-reaching consequences.2 Of course, these are hypotheticals, and elements of both scenarios will likely come to pass. But in either scenario, we should anticipate widespread productivity gains, particularly for banking.3 Today, banks appear to be moving cautiously with their Gen AI use, which reflects the current state of the technology, as well as banks’ internal organizational structure and the highly regulated environment in which they operate. At the same time, Gen-AI offers enormous potential to significantly alter the business of banking, provided that the risks are managed appropriately. Given rapid advances in Gen AI every quarter, in the not-too-distant future, we may approach a point at which Gen AI becomes an imperative—a competitive necessity—in banking. To prepare for that point, it is useful for regulators and banks to think about the channels through which this competitive necessity may arise. Today, I want to focus on one of those channels, and that’s the bank–fintech relationship. Fintechs are well positioned to integrate Gen AI into their products and services, and banks have valuable data on customer behavior on which the Gen AI models can be optimized. Given these synergies, competition and cooperation between banks and fintechs will likely spur innovation and accelerate the integration of Gen AI into banking. Gen AI may have benefits for consumers and businesses through better, cheaper, and faster financial services; however, to harness the upsides of Gen AI, banks, fintechs, and regulators all have a role to play in helping to ensure that the risks are managed. Gen AI and BankingLet me begin with why Gen AI has such potential for the banking industry. The business of banking is data-driven—data underpin the decisions to set yields on deposits, underwrite and price credit products, and manage the attendant risks. While traditional forms of artificial intelligence have become essential in areas like fraud detection, Gen AI offers new possibilities for data analysis, taking into account a broader and more diverse set of data. Gen AI has benefits for document analysis, which could be applied to improve credit underwriting. Beyond data processing and analytics, Gen AI-powered chatbots are already helping assist in customer service. While we still breathe a sigh of relief when we connect to a real customer service representative, this paradigm may change—Gen AI has the potential to enable such high-quality and efficient customer engagement and correct answers that customers may come to prefer Gen AI agents to people. Gen AI chatbots can break down complex tasks into component parts, split up tasks between several AI agents, and help customers make informed decisions. They can also replicate the human touch—adapting to the level of sophistication of their customers, anticipating the customer’s needs, and being empathetic to the customer’s experience—perhaps better than some humans.4 And moving to trading and capital markets, Gen AI-based analytic tools can build on existing algorithmic trading capabilities by harnessing an enormous knowledge base in both the public and private domains. These enhancements have the potential to enable decisions that are faster and more informed—although with some attendant risks as I’ve discussed previously.5 Why Not Yet?Given the potential for Gen AI to enhance banking, why do we not see widespread integration of Gen AI enhanced products and services in banking to date? There are several factors contributing to our current state. Let me highlight some key reasons. Of course, one reason is that banks are being appropriately cautious in the highly regulated environment in which they operate. Beyond that, for some of these applications, the technology is not fully mature. For instance, Gen AI systems may still hallucinate, generating plausible sounding but inaccurate information. Relatedly, because Gen AI usually involves stochastic processes, answers can differ in response to the same query asked at different times or to similar queries. This is tough to square with the requirements of banking, where decisions must be well-controlled, numerically and legally precise, explainable, and replicable. Information security is another key concern. To the extent that a Gen AI-powered agent is accessing sensitive customer data and authorizing transactions, it becomes an attractive target for malicious actors.6 Further, as Gen AI models process vast amounts of data, there’s a risk that proprietary or customer information could be inadvertently included in the model’s outputs or responses, leading to legal violations and privacy breaches. Moreover, business processes at banks have not evolved to optimize Gen AI usage. Gen AI requires data and infrastructure to be effective. Many banks have existing tech debt, and their data storage is siloed and not optimized for firmwide analysis. Furthermore, there may be organizational practices that may make it hard to evolve existing processes to ones optimized by AI. The technological and organizational limitations are real. Nevertheless, I think it may be only a matter of time before the technology advances so that these are engineering, product design, and risk management challenges—rather than insurmountable problems. And with regard to the business process issues, I think fintechs have a real role to play in helping to accelerate responsible innovation by banks in this space. Features of Fintechs and BanksAs Gen AI technology continues to develop, there’s a good chance that fintechs will help drive widespread Gen AI adoption in financial services. There are a few reasons why this may be the case. First, fintechs are generally young companies with a clean tech stack and don’t have to integrate new technology into old infrastructure. This allows them to make the most of their data and continuously integrate the latest AI capabilities. Second, these firms have financial and time constraints. Early funding rounds provide limited time and resources to demonstrate outcomes and drive fintechs to find effective, quick solutions, which often involve creative uses of cutting-edge technology. Third, because fintechs usually start as a simple business idea and focus on moving one product to production, they can optimize their tech stack for a single outcome instead of balancing the interests of competing business lines. These attributes of fintechs can make them symbiotic with banks. Banks have deep customer data, and data are a key input to effective application of machine learning models, including large language models. Banks are also able to look across a range of business lines and use Gen AI to customize integrated sales strategies, and they have the scale to adopt global Gen AI solutions for compliance and risk management. And banks have existing customer relationships and mature control frameworks that form the basis of their credibility and trust. Another way to consider the relationship of fintechs and banks is as a race between speed and scale. Fintechs have the ability to operate at speed but start with no scale. Banks, on the other hand, move more slowly but have scale in terms of investment, consumer reach, and risk management. This creates the dynamic where fintechs must attempt to scale their market share quickly enough to overcome the scale and incumbent advantage of the banks.7 Bank–Fintech Relationship as an Accelerant for AI AdoptionAnd this leads me to my next point—I believe that the bank–fintech relationship has the potential to accelerate adoption of Gen AI in financial services. This may come in the form of direct competition, with fintechs taking market share from banks for certain products, or banks crowding out fintechs by introducing better technology into their existing or new product lines. Such competition usually benefits consumers by providing more choice and better and cheaper products, provided that the risks are appropriately managed. It may also create competitive pressure and consumer demand that pushes banks to adopt Gen AI products and solutions more quickly. Alternatively, fintechs and banks may enter into a symbiotic relationship, forming collaborative partnerships where fintechs and banks merge their strengths. Examples of these partnerships may include banks purchasing or investing capital in fintechs with Gen AI products, or banks and fintechs entering into traditional vendor–client relationships. Responsibility for AI Risk ManagementThere’s one common theme in these scenarios: technology advances outside of the bank perimeter and rapidly enters the regulated sector. To get prepared for this moment, bank risk managers and regulators should become familiar with Gen AI trends and monitor developments outside the bank perimeter so that they are not caught off guard as this technology quickly enters the banking system. We have a shared role in creating the incentive structure to appropriately manage risks. To the extent banks are using Gen AI or offering Gen AI products and services, they have the responsibility to manage their risk, and should use their relationships to incentivize good risk management practices for fintechs.8 This means choosing fintech partners that provide transparency and clarity regarding the development of AI tools and have demonstrated appropriate control in deployment. There’s necessary tension here, as banks must understand the tools offered by their fintech partners for their own risk management, while fintechs may not want to share details they hold close—their secret sauce. With respect to Gen AI, it is important for fintechs and banks to tackle questions like who owns the customer data, and potential conflicts that may arise if a bank’s customer data are fed back into a fintech’s Gen AI model. Fintechs also have an important role to play in laying the groundwork for good risk management of Gen AI.9 As I’ve mentioned before, data quality and model training are critical to safe, sound, and fair use of these tools.10 Fintech developers should, for example, prioritize identifying biases in training data sets and monitoring outputs in order to prevent those biases from amplifying inequalities or mispricing risks. Moreover, fintechs should be aware of how banks manage risk, so that the fintech can adapt Gen AI solutions to be compatible with sound risk management approaches. And what should regulators do? As I’ve mentioned, regulators need to stay educated and informed on the technology, so that they understand the business case for deploying the technology and the attendant risks. They should review and update existing standards on model risk management, as appropriate, and engage in public–private forums where there are opportunities to work together. And they need to explore how and when to deploy the technology themselves, to remain in touch in the changing world and make reasoned judgments about how to supervise the use of Gen AI in the banking sector. These changes will require broad-based curiosity from regulators, fintechs, and banks—combined with education and investment—to create a culture of awareness on the opportunity and risks of the technology. Equally as important is leadership, to establish appropriate governance over AI and provide appropriate direction on priorities. ConclusionIn closing, successful integration of Gen AI into banking will require both creativity in adoption as well as getting the guardrails right. That’s not a zero-sum game. It’s an opportunity for all stakeholders—banks, fintechs, regulators, and consumers—to help to set the foundation for the benefits of the technology to be achieved and the risks to be effectively managed. In this way, we can help to be part of the sound and resilient financial system for all. Thank you.
1. The views expressed here are my own and are not necessarily those of my colleagues on the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Open Market Committee. Return to text 2. Michael S. Barr, “Artificial Intelligence: Hypothetical Scenarios for the Future,” speech at the Council on Foreign Relations, New York, February 18, 2025. Return to text 3. See the SAS web page, Cashing In: Study Shows Banks Investing Big in GenAI, and It’s Paying Off, https://www.sas.com/en_us/news/press-releases/2024/october/generativeai-banking.html. Return to text 4. J.W. Ayers, A. Poliak, M. Dredze, et al., “Comparing Physician and Artificial Intelligence Chatbot Responses to Patient Questions Posted to a Public Social Media Forum,” JAMA Internal Medicine, April 28, 2023;183(6):589–96, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2804309. Return to text 5. Michael S. Barr, “Artificial Intelligence: Hypothetical Scenarios for the Future,” speech at the Council on Foreign Relations, New York, February 18, 2025. Return to text 6. For instance, see NIST blog, “Technical Blog: Strengthening AI Agent Hijacking Evaluations,” January 17, 2025. Return to text 7. And many fintechs have success, achieving significant scale in a relatively short period. Return to text 8. See Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, SR letter 23-4, “Interagency Guidance on Third-Party Relationships: Risk Management” (June 7, 2023). Return to text 9. See Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, SR letter 11-77, “Guidance on Model Risk Management.” Return to text 10. Michael S. Barr, “Artificial Intelligence: Hypothetical Scenarios for the Future,” speech. Return to text
Defendant was on federal supervised release when he attempted to enter casino with a firearm
BOSTON – A previously convicted felon was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for possessing a firearm and ammunition.
Tarik Muhammad, 30, of Boston, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 51 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In October 2024, Muhammad pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
On the evening of Feb. 4, 2023, Muhammad was denied entry to the Encore Casino in Everett when security detected that he was carrying a firearm. Casino security alerted law enforcement, but Muhammad left before they arrived. Security cameras at the casino show Muhammad leaving in a blue Toyota Rav 4. The following day, a notice was dispatched to law enforcement about the incident and with photos of Muhammad, the vehicle and license plate.
On Feb. 6, 2023, Muhammad was spotted driving the Rav 4 in Roxbury. When law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop, Muhammad fled, leading to a high-speed chase that ended when Muhammad crashed into a parked vehicle. Muhammad tried to flee on foot but was apprehended. A loaded semi-automatic pistol was found in Muhammad’s waistband.
Muhammad is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to several felony convictions including a June 2022 conviction in U.S. District Court in Boston of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. Muhammad was on federal supervised release at the time of the offenses.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Tolkoff of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/PSN.
Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) today introduced a Senate resolution honoring the life and legacy of Houston native and professional boxer George Foreman, who passed away on March 21, 2025. Text is below, and you can view the full resolution here.
“Whereas George Foreman was born on January 10, 1949, in Marshall, Texas;
Whereas George Foreman was raised in Houston, Texas;
Whereas George Foreman earned his general education degree and gained vocational skills through the Lyndon B. Johnson Job Corps;
Whereas George Foreman began his boxing career in 1966 after meeting Doc Broaddus, a boxing instructor, who worked for Job Corps;
Whereas George Foreman won his first amateur fight on January 26, 1967, in the Parks Diamond Bell Tournament;
Whereas George Foreman won the National Boxing Championship heavyweight title in Toledo, Ohio, in 1968;
Whereas George Foreman won a gold medal in the boxing and heavyweight division during the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games;
Whereas George Foreman began his professional boxing career in 1969;
Whereas George Foreman won 37 consecutive fights, of which 35 were by knockout;
Whereas, on January 22, 1973, George Foreman won the World Heavyweight Championship title by defeating Joe Frazier;
Whereas George Foreman maintained the title of World Heavyweight Champion until October 30, 1974, in a fierce matchup, known as the “Rumble in the Jungle”, with Muhammad Ali;
Whereas George Foreman stepped back from his boxing career to become an ordained minister in 1978 and served the congregation at Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, which he founded in 1980, in Houston, Texas;
Whereas, in 1984, George Foreman opened the George Foreman Youth and Community Center in Houston, Texas, to provide opportunities to youth across Harris County;
Whereas George Foreman announced his return to boxing in 1987 and won his first fight back against Steve Zouski;
Whereas George Foreman earned the title of World Heavyweight Champion again on November 5, 1994, against Michael Moorer, breaking multiple records, including the oldest fighter to win a world heavyweight championship after the most time between world heavyweight championships and with the largest age gap between competitors in a heavyweight boxing championship fight;
Whereas George Foreman fought for the final time in 1997 against Shannon Briggs;
Whereas George Foreman had a final career record of 76 to 5;
Whereas George Foreman became a successful businessman, most notably with the George Foreman Lean Mean Grilling Machine, of which more than 100,000,000 units have been sold globally;
Whereas George Foreman was recognized by the American Legion in 2013 with the James V. Day “Good Guy” Award for his patriotism and service to his community;
Whereas George Foreman remained a beloved public figure and boxing legend until his death;
Whereas George Foreman died in Houston, Texas, on March 21, 2025;
Whereas George Foreman was preceded in death by his daughter, Freeda; and
Whereas George Foreman is survived by his wife of 40 years, Mary Joan, and 11 of his children and their families: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That—
(1) the Senate—
(A) honors the life and legacy of George Foreman for—
(i) his accomplishments as a boxing legend;
(ii) the example he provides to future generations of community leaders; and
(iii) his dedication to Houston and his support of vulnerable youth in the community;
(B) respectfully requests the Secretary of the Senate—
(i) communicate this resolution to the House of Representatives; and
(ii) transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of George Foreman; and
(2) when the Senate adjourns today, it stands adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of George Foreman.”
Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) today introduced the Driving Forward Act, which would continue to exempt new school bus drivers from the “Under-the-Hood” Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) testing requirement to help alleviate the nationwide shortage of drivers:
“Young Americans are our nation’s most valuable resource, and it is essential that they have safe and reliable transportation to their schools,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation would help ensure there are school bus drivers available in every neighborhood across the country by removing an antiquated and unnecessary obstacle to their certification.”
“Children in Wisconsin and across the country should be able to take the bus and get to school safely and on time,” said Sen. Baldwin. “Unfortunately, many communities are struggling to find school bus drivers, and that’s why I am working with my Republican and Democratic colleagues to cut red tape, get good drivers behind the wheel, and ensure kids can get to school safely.”
“The school bus driver shortage poses a threat to student safety and access to reliable transportation for students across Tennessee,” said Sen. Blackburn. “The Driving Forward Act is a commonsense piece of legislation that would get more qualified individuals into the driver’s seat by extending the current under-the-hood test exemption.”
“Kids in Arizona deserve to get to school safe and on time,” said Sen. Kelly. “This bipartisan bill cuts red tape to help more people become school bus drivers, directly addressing driver shortages and making the drive to school a better one.”
Companion legislation is being led in the House of Representatives by Congressman John Carter (TX-31).
Background:
A significant barrier to entry for new bus drivers is the “Under-the-Hood” testing requirement necessary to obtain a CDL. Federal regulations require CDL holders to be able to lift the hood of a school bus and identify engine parts and functions—a requirement that is mainly for the long-haul trucking industry and adds on average an additional three to four days of training time. Texas has used this exemption over 600 times since 2024. Because school bus drivers must remain on the bus with students at all times, an exemption from this testing requirement will not have any effect on the safety level of school bus operations. Should a school bus break down, trained mechanics would complete roadside diagnostics and repairs of mechanical issues.
The exemption does not change the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)’s vehicle maintenance requirements, including that every motor carrier must systematically inspect, repair, and maintain all vehicles and that unsafe operations of a motor vehicle are forbidden. Any state or local school bus inspection maintenance standards would continue to apply under this exemption. The FMCSA has confirmed that this exemption does not have an adverse impact on safety.
This legislation is endorsed by the National School Transportation Association, School Superintendent Association, National Rural Education Association, National Association for Pupil Transportation, School Business Officials, and Association of Educational Service Agencies.
Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), along with Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Todd Young (R-IN), introduced the Securing Smart Investments in Our Ports Act, which would help ensure that Texas Gulf Coast ports receive a fair share of federal funding available for port infrastructure upgrades and repairs.
“Texas’ seaports facilitate hundreds of billions of dollars in international trade that benefits state economies across the country, but the current division of funding for critical infrastructure projects doesn’t reflect this reality,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This bill would direct the Maritime Administration to even the playing field between ports on the East and West Coasts and those on the Gulf and Great Lakes, ensuring a fairer funding allocation for investments in Texas and elsewhere.”
Background:
The Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) is a competitive federal grant program administered by the Maritime Administration that provides funding to improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of our nation’s ports – including investments to reconstruct docks, improve access to key transportation routes, expand storage capacity, and more. From 2019 to 2024, Great Lakes ports received as little as two percent of all available PIDP awards, with Gulf Coast ports receiving as little as six percent of that same funding. Meanwhile, ports along the East and West Coasts of the United States were awarded almost 70 percent of the available funding.
The Securing Smart Investments in Our Ports Act would help address this imbalance by directing the Maritime Administration to consider fair regional distribution of PIDP funds when awarding grants. To read more about the PIDP, click here.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2
Press release
Sharing information and experiences at the Maritime Accessibility Conference
Disability organisations and maritime transport operators from across the country have come together for the Maritime Accessibility Conference 2025.
Organised by the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), the day of talks, presentations and networking today (25 March) was an opportunity to encourage communication and objectives between the two sectors and Government.
This is the second time the conference has run, with representatives from DfT, MCA, Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC), Wetwheels Foundation, and Unseen Aware being just some of the guests and speakers involved, alongside vessel and port operators, authorities and charities.
The event at the Museum of Liverpool opened with a talk from DPTAC chairman Professor Matthew Campbell-Hill. DPTAC provides advice to DfT on the transport needs of disabled people to assist in the development of policy and other proposals.
The use of REAL during staff training – Respect, Empathise, Ask, Listen – was just one of the discussion points during the afternoon; the programme developed by DfT with the engagement of transport sector professionals and those with lived experience of disability.
As well as talks and activities, the floor was open to organisation representatives and individuals to come forward with thoughts on accessibility schemes, experiences and future objectives.
Ahead of the conference MCA Passenger Rights Enforcement Lead Danny Light said:
The DfT/MCA Accessibility Conference is an opportunity to provide guidance and understanding of accessibility rights and regulations already in action, while highlighting where improvements can be made within the industry.
The event is an opportunity for both information and experience sharing, helping us to continue our mission of making transport accessible for all.
Maritime Minister Mike Kane said:
Everyone has the right to travel with dignity and today’s summit brings together experts and those with lived experiences to make meaningful improvements for maritime travel.
As part of our Plan for Change to break down barriers, we are determined to ensure that maritime remains an accessible, safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Press enquiries (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm) 0203 817 2222
Outside these hours or on bank holidays and weekends, for media enquiries ONLY, please send an email outlining your query and putting #Urgent in the subject title.
Today, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) announced the Commission’s decision to issue a power reactor construction licence to Ontario Power Generation Inc. (OPG) to construct 1 General Electric Hitachi BWRX-300 reactor at its Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP) site in Clarington, Ontario. The power reactor construction licence is valid until March 31, 2035. The licence includes 4 facility-specific licence conditions that, along with the standard licence conditions, will enable effective regulatory oversight of the licensed activities.
The Commission concluded that OPG is qualified to construct the reactor and will do so in a way that protects the health and safety of people and the environment. In making its decision, the Commission carefully considered all submissions and perspectives received during a 2-part public hearing held virtually on October 2, 2024, and in person in Ajax, Ontario on January 8 to 10, 13 and 14, 2025.
The Commission further concluded that it had fulfilled its constitutional responsibility to consult and, where appropriate, accommodate Indigenous rights in respect of its decision on this matter. As a lifecycle regulator, the CNSC focuses on continuous engagement and consultation with Indigenous Nations and groups before, during and after Commission proceedings in respect of licensed activities.
The record of decision, which contains the Commission’s rationale for its decision, is available upon request from the Commission Registry by contacting interventions@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca. Once available in both official languages, the record of decision will be published on the CNSC website.
Additional information about the decision may be found in the backgrounder document. The submissions considered by the Commission during the hearing are available on the CNSC website.
Related links
Contact
Media Relations Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Tel: 613-996-6860
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect health, safety, security and the environment; to implement Canada’s international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy; and to disseminate objective scientific, technical and regulatory information to the public.
The Commission is a quasi-judicial administrative tribunal set up at arm’s length from government, independent from any political, government or private sector influence. It makes decisions with respect to regulating nuclear safety, including licensing decisions, and is also independent of CNSC staff.
1.1 The licensee: Ontario Power Generation
Ontario Power Generation Inc. (OPG) is an Ontario government business enterprise that operates the Darlington Nuclear site. The site includes the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, the Darlington Waste Management Facility, the Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP) site, support facilities and offices.
The site is located in the Municipality of Clarington, Ontario, within the traditional lands and waters of the Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg, the Gunshot Treaty (1877–88), the Williams Treaties (1923), and the Williams Treaties First Nations Settlement Agreement (2018).
1.2 The Darlington New Nuclear Project
The DNNP, a proposed project from OPG, represents the site preparation, construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of up to 4 new nuclear reactors at the existing Darlington Nuclear site. The DNNP site is located on the eastern third of the Darlington Nuclear site. The goal of this project is to generate up to 4,800 megawatts of electricity for the Ontario grid. The DNNP would be a Class IA nuclear facility, per section 1 of the Class I Nuclear Facilities Regulations. OPG currently holds a CNSC power reactor site preparation licence for the DNNP.
The DNNP was subject to an environmental assessment (EA) conducted by a joint review panel (JRP) under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The EA was completed in 2012, and the Government of Canada determined that the DNNP was not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.
In December 2021, OPG announced that it had selected the General Electric Hitachi BWRX-300 reactor for deployment at the DNNP site. In October 2022, OPG applied to the CNSC for a licence to construct 1 BWRX-300 reactor for this project. In April 2024, the Commission determined that the EA for the DNNP remained applicable to the selected reactor technology.
1.3 Matters for decision
The Commission considered a licensing decision under paragraphs 24(4)(a) and (b) of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA) whether to authorize OPG to construct, and if so, with what terms and conditions.
This decision engaged the CNSC, as an agent of the Crown contemplating decisions with the potential to impact asserted or established Aboriginal rights, to discharge the duty to consult and, where appropriate, to accommodate Aboriginal rights under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. Prior to making its decision, the Commission had to determine if this duty had been met.
1.4 Duty to consult
As described in detail in its decision, the Commission was satisfied that the honour of the Crown had been upheld and that the legal obligation to consult and, where appropriate, accommodate Indigenous interests had been satisfied relative to the Commission’s licensing decision. The Commission’s decision directs OPG and CNSC staff to implement accommodation measures to further enable the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge and practices into both the conduct of licensed activities and CNSC oversight.
1.5 Licence to construct
The Commission decided to issue nuclear power reactor construction licence PRCL 32.00/2035 to OPG for the construction of 1 BWRX-300 reactor at the DNNP site. In making its decision, the Commission concluded that OPG is qualified to carry out the activities authorized under the licence to construct; that OPG has adequate programs in place to ensure that the health and safety of workers, the public and the environment will be protected under the licence to construct; and that OPG will make adequate provision for the maintenance of national security and to implement international obligations to which Canada has agreed.
The licence is valid until March 31, 2035, and includes 4 site-specific licence conditions that require OPG to:
implement the mitigation measures proposed and commitments made during the Darlington JRP process, including the applicable recommendations of the Darlington JRP Report, in accordance with the Government of Canada response
implement and maintain an environmental assessment follow-up program
obtain the approval of the Commission, or consent of a person authorized by the Commission, prior to the removal of established regulatory hold points
conduct Indigenous engagement activities, specific to the DNNP, throughout the licence period
As part of its decision, the Commission also accepted OPG’s proposed financial guarantee in the form of a letter of credit in the amount of $167,180,000.
The decision by the Commission does not authorize the operation of a BWRX-300 reactor at the DNNP site. Authorization to operate the reactor would be subject to a future Commission licensing hearing and decision, should OPG come forward with a licence application to do so.
1.6 Regulatory hold points
Under the licence, OPG is required to provide additional information to the CNSC prior to undertaking specific construction activities. Commitments that are essential to verify compliance with regulatory requirements related to the safety analysis and design of structures, systems, and components that are important to safety are tied to 3 regulatory hold points (RHP):
RHP-1: Installation of the Reactor Building Foundation
RHP-2: Installation of the Reactor Pressure Vessel
RHP-3: Fuel-Out Commissioning
As part of its decision, the Commission authorized the CNSC Executive Vice-President and Chief Regulatory Operations Officer, Regulatory Operations Branch to administer licence condition 15.3 with respect to the removal of regulatory hold points.
1.7 Building trust and advancing reconciliation
As Canada’s nuclear regulator, the CNSC is committed to building trust and advancing reconciliation.
As a lifecycle regulator, the CNSC focuses on continuous engagement and consultation with Indigenous Nations and communities before, during and after Commission proceedings for CNSC activities. This includes, for example, sharing project information, encouraging participation in public proceedings, and providing participant funding.
Going forward, the CNSC will continue its work to develop and nurture long-term relationships with the Indigenous Nations and communities that have been, and will continue to be, involved in the regulatory process for the DNNP.
Additional information on the CNSC’s consultations in the context of the DNNP can be found in CNSC staff’s review of the proposed DNNP.
Timeline
In September 2006, OPG applied for a licence to prepare a site for the DNNP.
In May 2007, the CNSC began the EA for the DNNP.
In March 2008, the federal Minister of the Environment referred the EA to a JRP.
On August 25, 2011, the JRP submitted its EA report to the Minister of the Environment, concluding that, “the Project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects, provided the mitigation measures proposed and commitments made by OPG during the review, and the Panel’s recommendations are implemented.”
On May 2, 2012, the Government of Canada responded to the EA report, accepting or “accepting the intent” of all of the JRP’s recommendations.
On August 17, 2012, the JRP, as a panel of the Commission, issued OPG a 10-year site preparation licence for the DNNP.
On October 12, 2021, the Commission renewed OPG’s licence to prepare site
In December 2021, OPG announced its selection of the General Electric Hitachi BWRX-300 small modular reactor technology for deployment at the DNNP site
In October 2022, OPG applied for a licence to construct 1 BWRX-300 reactor
On April 19, 2024, the Commission determined that the BWRX-300 reactor is not fundamentally different from the technologies assessed in the EA and that a new EA was not required
On June 27, 2024, the Commission announced that it would hold a 2-part public hearing to consider and decide on OPG’s application for a licence to construct 1 BWRX-300 reactor at its DNNP site
On October 2, 2024 and January 8 to 10, 13 and 14, 2025, the Commission held a 2-part public hearing on OPG’s licence to construct application
Related links
Contact
Media Relations Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Tel: 613-996-6860
Statistics Canada’s latest labour force numbers show continued growth in Saskatchewan with 19,800 jobs added year-over-year in March, leading the nation with a 3.4 per cent job growth rate. Saskatchewan also had the lowest unemployment rate among provinces at 4.9 per cent, well below the national average of 6.7 per cent.
“Saskatchewan continues to have one of the strongest labour markets in Canada,” Deputy Premier and Minister of Immigration and Career Training Jim Reiter said. “Our government has made Saskatchewan the first carbon tax free province in Canada which will ensure that we remain the most attractive jurisdiction in the nation for businesses looking to create jobs and opportunities for our residents.”
Year-over-year, full-time employment increased by 5,400 an increase of 1.1 per cent. There are more women working in Saskatchewan than ever before with female employment reaching an all-time high of 287,000. Female employment is up 11,300 which is an increase of 4.1 per cent and male employment is up 8,400 an increase of 2.7 per cent.
Saskatchewan’s two biggest cities also saw year-over-year growth. Compared to March 2024, Saskatoon’s employment was up 4,800, an increase of 2.5 per cent, and Regina’s employment was up 3,500, an increase of 2.5 per cent.
Major year-over-year gains were reported for construction up 8,700, an increase of 24.2 per cent. Health care and social assistance is up 8,100 an increase of 8.8 per cent and educational services is up 4,900 an increase of 8.7 per cent.
The province continues to see economic growth in other areas. In January 2025, Saskatchewan ranked first year-over-year amongst provinces for growth in new motor vehicle sales (17.3 per cent) and second for growth in retail sales (11.5 per cent). Year to date Saskatchewan also had the second highest growth rate amongst provinces for urban housing starts (51.5 per cent).
This economic growth is backed by the Government of Saskatchewan’s recently released Building the Workforce for a Growing Economy: The Saskatchewan Labour Market Strategy, a roadmap to build the workforce needed to support Saskatchewan’s strong and growing economy, and Securing the Next Decade of Growth: Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy, a plan to increase investment in the province and to furth advancing Saskatchewan’s Growth plan goal of $16 billion in private capital investment annually.
Premier Tim Houston will leave for Copenhagen, Denmark, Saturday, April 5, on a provincial trade mission.
During the five-day mission, the Premier will meet with new and existing partners to strengthen relationships. Meetings will touch on a wide range of sectors and opportunities in healthcare, energy and seafood.
“Nova Scotia has so much to offer our trade partners, and we can learn from them, too, as we look to innovate and become more self-reliant,” said Premier Houston. “We value our partnership with Denmark, and I look forward to promoting Nova Scotia at this critical time in our Province’s growth.”
As part of the mission, the Premier will meet with healthcare leaders and attend WindEurope’s annual event which takes place in Copenhagen April 8-10. Energy Minister Trevor Boudreau will also attend the WindEurope event, which is taking place at a time when Europe is looking to transform its energy system. Denmark is aiming to reach complete fossil-fuel-free electricity by 2035 with an interest and expertise in hydrogen and wind energy.
Nova Scotia is currently focused on making the province more self-reliant by investing in critical minerals, wind resources and the seafood sector. The Province is also developing a comprehensive trade action plan to facilitate internal trade, enhance productivity and drive critical sectors with input from businesses and industry.
Quick Facts:
in 2024, Nova Scotia’s exports to Denmark reached $29.4 million; Nova Scotia’s imports from Denmark were valued at $24.4 million
Denmark is a member of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which eliminates tariffs on 98 per cent of Canadian exports to trade partners in the European Union, making trade more predictable, transparent and accessible for Nova Scotia businesses
mission delegates are Premier Houston; Minister Boudreau; Chief of Staff and General Counsel Nicole LaFosse Parker; Executive Deputy Minister Tracey Taweel; and Mike McMurray, Executive Director, International Relations, Department of Intergovernmental Affairs
Additional Resources:
Premier Houston’s April 2 statement on U.S. tariffs: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/04/02/statement-us-tariffs-announcement
MEMPHIS, TN – Assistant United States Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr. was appointed as the Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee by the United States Attorney General on March 28, 2025.
Mr. Murphy began his career as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Memphis office in 1989. He was appointed as the Acting U.S. Attorney by the District Court and served in that position from 2021-2023. He was named as First Assistant U.S. Attorney in 2018 and served in that role until his appointment as Acting U.S. Attorney. In 2011, Mr. Murphy served as Criminal Chief, where he supervised Assistant U.S. Attorneys who investigated and prosecuted criminal cases. He also served three years as Deputy Chief of the office’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force. Prior to becoming Deputy Chief, Mr. Murphy served as a line Assistant U.S. Attorney in both the criminal division and drug task force unit.
During his career with the Department of Justice, Mr. Murphy has tried more than 125 felony cases to verdict in the U.S. District Court. These cases included prosecutions of health care professionals for illegally distributing controlled substances; mail and wire fraud cases; and theft cases involving pension funds and interstate shipments. Mr. Murphy has also represented the government in more than 200 cases litigated before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and argued numerous appeals before the court.
Mr. Murphy is married and has two adult children. He is a native Memphian, a graduate of Lambuth College and the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis and is very active in community and legal affairs.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebookoron Xat @WDTNNews for office news and updates.