Source: US GOIAM Union
IAM Healthcare PCAs and PCTs came together for an informational picket at OSU Wexner Medical Center on March 19th. The Hospital’s own records show that there is a nearly 50% turnover rate of these workers each year recently. Workers say staffing levels are cut and pay is low, and they want the public to know it does effect patient care.
#SafeStaffingNow is the slogan these workers chanted to bring attention to their fight.
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Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
NOGALES — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed Juan Jasso-Botello, a 44-year-old Mexican fugitive wanted in Mexico for family violence, March 25.
ICE transported Jasso-Botello from the Florence Detention Center to the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, where he was transferred to the custody of Mexican authorities.
“The removal of Juan Jasso demonstrates the collaborative, whole of government approach that ICE supports in protecting the citizens of the U.S.,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Phoenix Field Office Director John Cantu. “Our dedicated officers and partners in law enforcement have worked tirelessly to ensure that such individuals are brought to justice and then removed from the United States.”
Jasso-Botello illegally entered the United States Nov. 1, 2024, near Newfield and was arrested on Nov. 2, 2024.
Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives, transnational gang members or other criminal aliens who are in the U.S. illegally are urged to contact ICE by calling the ICE Tip Line at 1 (866) 347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form.
For more news and information on how ICE carries out its immigration enforcement mission in Arizona, follow us on X, @ERO__Phoenix.
Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
HUNSTVILLE, Ala. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement along with law enforcement partners from the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration engaged in an enhanced, targeted enforcement operation that focused on criminal illegal aliens. The team of officers and agents apprehended 13 illegal aliens in the Huntsville area March 25. Additionally, eight of the offenders had been previously removed from the United States and have federal convictions for illegal reentry after removal. The cases were prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama.
Charges from those arrested include:
ICE is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that protects the U.S. homeland through the arrest and removal of those individuals who compromise the safety of our communities and the integrity of our immigration laws.
Entering the United States without authorization is a violation of federal law, and those who do so may be subject to administrative arrest, and in some cases, criminal prosecution.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X: @EROAtlanta.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Craig Gwynne, Senior Lecturer in Podiatry, Cardiff Metropolitan University
Your feet work hard every day supporting your body, absorbing impact and adapting to different surfaces. But they often get ignored until something goes wrong.
Imagine your shoes alerting you to foot injuries before you feel any pain, or your socks warning you about the risk of an ulcer before symptoms even appear. This is the promise of new wearable foot technology.
About one in five adults in middle and old age experiences foot pain, ranging from minor aches to problems that limit daily activities. Some foot conditions, particularly linked to diabetes, can be life-threatening.
Diabetic foot ulcers have a five-year death rate of around 40%. This means that patients with foot ulcers caused by diabetes have a 40% chance of dying within five years of symptoms appearing, which is higher than many cancers. If untreated, ulcers can lead to severe infections and even necessitate amputation.
New wearable devices, such as smart insoles and socks, can prevent these serious complications through early detection. They work by constantly tracking your foot pressure, walking patterns and even skin temperature.
The collected information is analysed using advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence, providing timely warnings about potential foot problems. Machine learning, for instance, has successfully predicted diabetic foot ulcers from this wearable data, helping healthcare providers intervene before complications occur.
Smart insoles contain tiny sensors that measure how pressure spreads across your feet when you walk or run. They can detect abnormal walking patterns with over 90% precision, spotting issues before they cause pain or injury.
These devices have proven especially useful for older adults and people with neurological conditions like stroke, multiple sclerosis, or movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.
Smart socks use sensors to constantly measure foot temperature and pressure, detecting early signs of inflammation. They’re particularly beneficial for people with diabetes, as research shows these socks can predict and help prevent foot ulcers.
Smart compression socks, which also monitor blood oxygen levels, can identify important changes during daily activities. This further reduces the risk of severe complications such as poor circulation, tissue damage and infection.
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Continuously tracking a person’s foot health in these ways allows potential issues to be identified before they escalate, shifting foot care from reactive treatment to proactive management. So, wearable foot technology offers advantages for groups like athletes and people with chronic conditions.
Athletes, especially those involved in high-impact sports like running, often put immense stress on their feet, increasing injury risk. Smart insoles provide immediate feedback, allowing athletes to adjust their running technique. Studies have shown that athletes using these insoles improved their running form and experienced fewer injuries.
People with chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, also stand to benefit greatly from wearable technologies. Continuous monitoring with smart devices significantly lowers the risk of severe complications.
For example, one study found that high-risk patients with diabetes who used smart socks with continuous temperature monitoring had much better outcomes. They experienced a 71% lower rate of foot ulcers and a 52% lower rate of amputations. This improvement was linked to earlier detection and intervention.
Privacy remains a significant issue with these devices, as they constantly collect sensitive health data. Ensuring data is secure is therefore crucial. Accuracy is also important, as devices must reliably avoid false alarms or missed warnings. And although prices have decreased, wearable technology may still be expensive for many people, limiting its widespread use.
The future of wearable foot technology is promising, however. Devices are becoming smaller, more affordable and easier to use. Innovations like 3D printing now enable customised smart insoles that perfectly match a person’s foot shape, boosting comfort and accuracy.
Upcoming developments also include flexible sensors that can connect to smartphones and healthcare systems. These allow for remote monitoring and personalised care. For example, researchers have recently developed smart pyjamas with built-in fabric sensors. These sensors track breathing patterns and detect sleep disorders. The data is then sent directly to a phone app for analysis.
Read more:
High heels, flat arches, clubfoot and corns – our feet are amazing but they can be treated terribly
Like these innovations, smart insoles and socks are moving toward more flexible, user-friendly designs that can integrate into everyday life. The goal across all this different technology is the same – to make health monitoring more accessible, comfortable and proactive without the need for bulky equipment or clinic visits.
Wearable tech is a significant step forward for foot health. It offers early warnings and personalised insights beyond traditional methods. From preventing severe complications like diabetic ulcers to enhancing athletic performance, these devices could soon become standard parts of everyday healthcare.
Craig Gwynne does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Shoes that can warn you of injuries? How wearable technology is transforming foot care – https://theconversation.com/shoes-that-can-warn-you-of-injuries-how-wearable-technology-is-transforming-foot-care-252463
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Matthew Duncombe, Associate Professor in Philosophy, University of Nottingham
The End tells the story of a wealthy family who survived the collapse of the climate and civilisation in a bunker inside an abandoned mine. Before the collapse they were rich, and they continue to enjoy every luxury.
Mother (Tilda Swinton) hangs Renoirs in their private gallery. Mary (Danielle Ryan) cooks delicious cakes. Doctor (Lennie James) provides medication, with casual cruelty. Butler (Tim McInnerny) decorates their library. And Father (Michael Shannon) tells Son tales from his life as an oil executive.
Son (George MacKay), who was born in the bunker, spends his time making models of American history, including the Moon landings and the transcontinental railroad. The family live in an unreal world of fictions, from the paintings they hang, to the models they make, their artificial lights and their fake house within the bunker.
They tell themselves, and each other, that they are good people, that their life is worth living and they did what they had to to survive. The fact that this film is a musical only makes it feel more unreal.
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One day, Girl (Moses Ingram) stumbles into the bunker. Starving, weak and haunted by guilt, she tells the family of the terrible things she did get to safety. She challenges their response that “you had no choice”.
As she grows closer to Son, she points out uncomfortable truths, like the fact that thousands of immigrant workers died while building the transcontinental railroad. At first, Son repeats what his parents have told him. But he soon comes to cruelly and openly mock the stories his family have concocted, seeing how self-serving they are.
As the film unfolds, we learn the guilt, lies and self-deceptions that allowed each person to survive, and the stories they cling to.
The End has more than one meaning. On the surface, the title refers to the end of civilisation. But “the end” can also mean the purpose of something, like the meaning of life. As one of the songs on the film asks, how can we make a “life worth living”?
Some viewers have compared the film to Plato’s Cave. The allegory is described in The Republic, the ancient Greek philosopher’s exploration of justice, politics and the ideal society.
The allegory describes a group of prisoners who are chained in a cave. On the wall, various shadow-images are projected: animals, people, objects. Because they don’t know any better, the prisoners take these shadows to be reality, and spend their time predicting which shadows will come next.
One day, a prisoner escapes and makes their way to the surface. There they see the real things which correspond to the shadows. They even see the dazzling sun in real life. Upon returning to the cave, the prisoner tries to free the other prisoners from their delusions. But they refuse to be shaken from them, and kill him.
Many interpret this escaped prisoner as Plato’s mentor, Socrates, the philosopher who was executed after he challenged Athenian citizens on questions of the ethical life.
One message from the cave analogy is that living in ignorance, even wilful ignorance is not living a good life. The prisoners in the cave are not living a good life but they aren’t unhappy. In fact, they’re so comfortable with their illusions that they’d rather kill the escaped prisoner than listen to him. But their lives are still empty, because they are built on lies.
The End is not Plato’s Cave: The Movie, but the similarities with the allegory are clear. It too focuses on a group of people who live in an underground, unreal world, where their activities are meaningless because they are disconnected from reality, and who actively deceive themselves and others. Someone with knowledge of the outside world enters the community and confronts them with the truth – that their lives are built on falsehoods.
Just like the prisoners in Plato’s Cave allegory, the lives of the family before the Girl arrives are fine. But the Girl forces them to see things differently. When she finds the wine bitter, Father admits that that the wine is bitter. Her guilt forces them to face their own. Her integrity, and refusal to deceive herself about the choices she made, forces them to confront their self-deceptions. The love that blooms between Girl and the Son forces Mother, Father and Butler to recognise their own isolation.
In a way Girl is like Socrates, forcing people to examine their lives. But unlike Socrates, she allows herself to be vulnerable. She causes the change in the others not through Socratic questioning of their beliefs, but simply by expressing her own feelings, and what she knows to be true.
Unlike Socrates, Girl does not declare that the unexamined life is not worth living. But she does cause the family to examine their lives, albeit briefly and incompletely.
When we sit in a cinema, we are a bit like Plato’s prisoners, watching images projected onto a wall. Mostly, movies let us escape reality. But The End doesn’t. It forces us to face real truths – the need for honesty and self-examination in the face of the immanent collapse of our climate. We have a choice – how to respond.
Matthew Duncombe receives funding from the British Academy, Loeb Classical Library Foundation and the Spanish Ministry of Education.
– ref. The End: philosopher explains new climate-collapse musical using the allegory of Plato’s Cave – https://theconversation.com/the-end-philosopher-explains-new-climate-collapse-musical-using-the-allegory-of-platos-cave-252315
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Becky Alexis-Martin, Peace Studies and International Development, University of Bradford
Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently boarded one of the UK’s four nuclear-armed submarines for a photo call as part of his attempts to demonstrate the UK’s defence capabilities as tensions with Russia continue.
However, Starmer faces a problem. The submarine, and the rest of the UK’s nuclear fleet, is heavily reliant on the US as an operating partner. And at a time when the US becomes an increasingly unreliable partner under the leadership of an entirely transactional president, this is not ideal. The US can, if it chooses, effectively switch off the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
British and US nuclear history is irrevocably interwoven. The US and UK cooperated on the Manhattan project, under the 1943 Quebec agreements and the 1944 Hyde Park aide memoire. This work generated the world’s first nuclear weapons, which were deployed on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
It also led to the first rupture. In 1946, the US classified UK citizens as “foreign” and prevented them from engaging in secret nuclear work. Collaboration with the UK immediately ceased.
The UK decided to develop its own arsenal of nuclear weapons. The successful detonation of the “Grapple Y” hydrogen bomb in April 1958 cemented its position as a thermonuclear power.
In the meantime, however, Russia’s launch of the Sputnik satellite in 1957 had demonstrated the lethal reach of Soviet nuclear technology. This brought the US and UK back together as nuclear partners.
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Talks on how to counter the Russian threat became the foundation of an atomic partnership that endures to the present day. This mutual defence agreement, signed in 1958, has provided the UK with affordable access to the latest nuclear technology and a reliable western ally. The treaty has been amended and adapted over time to reflect changes in the US-UK working relationship and the two are now so entangled that it is very hard to leave the co-dependent relationship.
Both sides have benefited from security and protection, especially during the cold war. However, Trump’s new “special relationship” with Russia’s Vladimir Putin has reconfigured the global order of geopolitics.
Serious concerns are now being raised about the UK’s nuclear capacity, given the unpredictability and potential unreliability of the new US administration. Trump could ignore or threaten to terminate the agreement in a show of power or contempt.
The UK’s Trident nuclear deterrence programme consists of four Vanguard nuclear-powered and armed submarines. The UK has some autonomy, as it is operationally independent and controls the decision to launch.
However, it remains dependent on the US because the nuclear technologies at the heart of the Trident system are US designed and leased by Lockheed Martin – and there is no suitable alternative. The Trident system therefore relies on the US for support and maintenance.
The UK is currently in the process of upgrading the current system. But its options seem limited. If the US were to renege on its commitments, the UK would either have to produce its own weapons domestically, collaborate with France or Europe or disarm. Each scenario creates new issues for the UK. Manufacturing nuclear weapons from scratch in the UK, for example, would be a costly and protracted activity.
Technical collaboration with France seems the most plausible back-up option at the moment. The two countries already have a nuclear collaboration treaty in place. France has taken a similar submarine-based approach to deterrence as the UK and French president Emmanuel Macron has suggested its deterrent could be used to protect other European countries. Another alternative would be to spread the cost across Europe and create a European deterrence – but both strategies just re-embed the UK’s current nuclear reliance.
While these weapons may deter a hostile nuclear strike, they have failed to prevent broader acts of aggression. Nuclear weapons have not been used in warfare for 80 years. Perhaps it is time to completely and permanently unshackle the UK from nuclear deterrence, and consider alternative forms of defence.
The UK’s nuclear arsenal is expensive to maintain. The cost of replacing Trident is £205 billion. In 2023, the Ministry of Defence reported that the anticipated costs for supporting the nuclear deterrent would exceed its budget by £7.9 billion over the next ten years. This funding could be channelled into more pressing security threats, such as cybersecurity, terrorism or climate change.
Nuclear weapons will become strategically redundant if the UK cannot act independently. As Nato and the US dominate the global nuclear stage, the UK’s capacity to respond has become contested. The time has come to decide whether the US is really our friend – or a new foe.
Becky Alexis-Martin does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. The US has the power to switch off the UK’s nuclear subs – a big problem as Donald Trump becomes an unreliable partner – https://theconversation.com/the-us-has-the-power-to-switch-off-the-uks-nuclear-subs-a-big-problem-as-donald-trump-becomes-an-unreliable-partner-252674
Source: US State of Connecticut
For those of us old enough to remember, the 2003 blackout in New York City and parts of the Northeast served as a grim reminder of the tenuous nature of the electrical grid we all take for granted. Electrical generation and distribution systems are complex and, in many cases, overtaxed and quite old. But technology has significantly improved since that fateful day, and if today’s grid operators had access to some of the tools now in place or currently being developed, they might have been able to mitigate or avoid that memorable and traumatic power interruption.
Looking back, explains Junbo Zhao, Castleman Term professor in Engineering Innovation, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), part of the problem was that the control systems that existed in 2003 didn’t offer any functional way to give operators the needed visibility to adjust to generations and demands in real time. They lacked the tools they needed to reroute or divert power from other sources and, in hindsight, to have seen the problems as they were developing.
“Traditionally, power grid operators use a method called static state estimation (SSE) to monitor systems and ensure reliable data for decision-making,” Zhao explains. “However, this method struggles under extreme conditions, which contributed to the 2003 blackout, causing billions of dollars in losses.”
With the rapid growth of renewable energy sources like solar and wind, he adds, as well as increased battery storage, the power grid is becoming more dynamic. Traditional SSE is no longer enough to keep up with these fast-changing conditions.
To help address these challenges, Zhao, from the UConn College of Engineering (CoE), has received a five-year National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program grant. The CAREER Program is a foundation-wide activity that offers the NSF’s most prestigious awards in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.
According to Zhao, beyond technical advancements, this project also will foster collaboration between industry and academia, update courses, and provide hands-on training in renewable energy, data analytics, and power engineering. Special efforts will be made to engage K-12 students, helping to build the next generation of energy experts.
“We’re looking at ways to expand now to ensure that our energy systems are more resilient and expandable in the future,” Zhao explains. “We are exploring dynamic abilities and creating tools that can be utilized to guide effective decision-making and prevent catastrophic blackouts, rather than simply respond to them.”
Researchers help ensure stability going forward
This grant project aims to improve grid operators’ ability to monitor and control the power system in real time, ensuring stability as more renewable energy sources are added. The project will introduce new ways to use measurements for tracking system conditions, diagnosing and fixing model issues, and improving measurement setups to enhance grid reliability and security.
“Dr. Zhao’s NSF CAREER award is a testament to the ECE department’s dedication to integrating research and educational excellence,” says John Chandy, professor and ECE department head. “The award will support his research efforts in power grid reliability and resilience as well as an integrated education program focused on undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, the program will extend his outreach efforts to the community as well as to industry and national lab partners. I am confident that this new CAREER project will drive innovations that further enhance the university mission and strengthen the ECE department’s power and energy program.”
Zhao earned his Ph.D. from Virginia Tech in 2018. He also serves as director, DOE Northeast University Cybersecurity Center for Advanced and Resilient Energy Delivery, and is a research scientist for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
According to Emmanouil Anagnostou, executive director of CoE’s institute of environment and energy, the Eversource Energy Center, Zhao’s CAREER research will further enhance the center’s role in enhancing grid reliability and resilience, particularly as the integration of renewable energy continues to expand.
“Dr. Zhao’s CAREER project will significantly benefit both the utility industry and the research community by advancing integrated research and education on the scientific and engineering principles necessary for modeling, monitoring, and digitizing future power systems,” says Anagnostou. “With the growing adoption of renewable energy, this work is essential for ensuring a secure and reliable power supply.”
Source: US State of New York
overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the availability of capital grants to expand services for organizations that serve veterans, service members and military families. At least $1.35 million is available through the third round of the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program distributed by the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York to support efforts to expand and enhance quality services available to the state’s veterans, service members and military families. $3.65 million in grants to 57 qualifying veterans’ organizations statewide was previously provided through the first two rounds of this program. These investments build on the Governor’s support for veterans, service members and their families, and her FY26 Executive Budget includes proposals to enhance veteran suicide prevention programs and expand support for gold star families.
“I am deeply grateful to New York’s courageous servicemen and women whose selfless sacrifice protects our country and all that we cherish,” Governor Hochul said. “We owe them the same measure of devotion as they have shown to us and this funding will help them access quality services for them and their families.”
The Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Grant Program provides support for the indispensable organizations and institutions dedicated to serving New York’s honored Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families. The program plays a critical role in ensuring these vital entities have the resources necessary to sustain their impactful work in a secure and effective manner.
Through strategic funding, the VNCP empowers these organizations to modernize their facilities, broaden their services, and significantly enhance the lives of those who have selflessly dedicated themselves to protecting our nation.
New York State Department of Veterans’ Services Commissioner Viviana DeCohen said, “Governor Hochul is a true friend to New York’s Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families. The Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program reflects her deep commitment to strengthening the support systems that help our heroes. Thanks to the Governor’s leadership, we are not just enhancing services, we are building a brighter future that honors the service and sacrifices of our Veterans and ensures they receive the care and recognition they so deeply deserve.”
DASNY President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said, “DASNY is proud to partner with the Department of Veterans’ Services to administer the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program, providing essential infrastructure support to organizations serving those who have served our nation. We thank Governor Hochul for her leadership in establishing this program that enables these vital nonprofits to modernize their facilities and enhance their service capabilities. These targeted investments in capital improvements will have lasting impacts across New York, creating more resilient and effective support systems for our veterans, service members, and military families.”
To qualify for this funding, at least 75 percent of the organization’s current members must be veterans or service members of the United States Military, with military family members comprising the majority of all remaining members. The organization must verify to the State that their principal purpose is to provide services and resources to veterans, service members and military families. The RGA is posted on the DVS and DASNY websites. A webinar outlining the process for applicants will be posted April 9 and applicants may also submit questions through April 11, with answers posted no later than April 18. All applicants must be prequalified in the Statewide Financial System (SFS) at the time of application. View a webinar explaining the prequalification process.
Funding through the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program is provided for architecture, design, engineering, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or expansion of an eligible facility; and purchase of eligible furnishings or equipment.
About the Department of Veterans’ Services
The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services, proudly serves New York’s veterans, service members and military families, connecting them with benefits, services, and support. All who served should contact the Department at 888-838-7697 or its website to meet in-person or virtually with an accredited Veterans Benefits Advisor to receive the benefits they have earned. Follow DVS on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
About DASNY
Founded in 1944, DASNY is New York State’s capital project development authority. It finances and constructs sustainable and resilient science, health, and education institutions that help New York thrive. It is one of the largest issuers of tax-exempt bonds in the nation with an outstanding bond portfolio of approximately $55.8 billion as of March 31, 2024. DASNY is also a prolific public builder with a construction pipeline of approximately 1,000 projects valued at more than $12 billion as of March 31, 2024. To learn more about DASNY, visit www.dasny.org.
Source: US State of New York
overnor Kathy Hochul today highlighted the launch of Phase 4 of New York State’s Municipal Infrastructure Program (MIP) Request for Applications, making nearly $50 million available to support broadband infrastructure projects across the state. MIP connects unserved and underserved communities to high-speed internet through open-access and publicly controlled broadband infrastructure. To date, ConnectALL has awarded over $240 million, enabling the construction of almost 2,400 miles of fiber and connecting nearly 100,000 locations statewide. The new Phase 4 Application expands the program to nearly $300 million, drawing on funds from the US Department of Treasury Capital Projects Fund.
“Reliable, affordable high-speed internet is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity for New Yorkers to fully participate in our modern economy and society,” Governor Hochul said. “Through the ConnectALL initiative, we are making historic investments to ensure every New Yorker has access to the digital tools they need to succeed. Phase 4 of the Municipal Infrastructure Program builds on our ongoing efforts to address broadband gaps in areas that have been overlooked and underserved by traditional internet service providers.”
Empire State Development President, CEO, and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “The Municipal Infrastructure Program represents a transformative approach to broadband deployment that puts communities in the driver’s seat. By supporting public ownership of broadband infrastructure and open-access networks, we’re creating sustainable solutions that increase competition, lower costs, and ensure better service for New Yorkers.”
Senator Charles Schumer said, “Broadband is a necessity not a luxury, a utility as vital as electricity for success in our modern economy to ensure people have access to healthcare, jobs, business development and education. I’m proud to deliver nearly $50 million in federal funding directly from the American Rescue Plan I led to passage that municipalities across New York can apply for to help underserved rural communities install the broadband infrastructure needed to close the digital divide and connect more homes and businesses to high-speed internet. I thank Governor Hochul for putting these federal dollars to work bringing affordable, high-speed internet to families across New York.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “Broadband infrastructure is a necessity of the American economy, driving digital literacy, expanding educational and professional opportunities, and fueling economic growth. The ConnectALL initiative is a transformative investment in this critical public infrastructure, equipping New York State with the resources needed to expand affordable broadband access to underserved communities and unlock new digital opportunities for its residents. I am proud to see federal funding being used for this project and fully support the implementation of Phase 4.”
State Senator Kristen Gonzalez said, “The Municipal Infrastructure Program provides broadband access for so many of our communities that are underserved, isolated, and that need these connections. I want to thank the governor for being committed to expanding high-speed internet access and investing in our public infrastructure.”
Assemblymember Steve Otis said, “This nearly $50 million investment in municipal broadband infrastructure projects is great news for building on ConnectALL’s success in addressing gap areas in our broadband system. Governor Hochul has made New York a leader in addressing broadband gaps and addressing inequities that deprive areas of the high-speed technology access that every New Yorker deserves. The new funding will enable us to meet the needs of businesses, families, and all those needing connection to the digital world most take for granted.”
New York State Association of Counties President Benjamin Boykin II said, “This program has been an important tool for counties working to bridge the digital divide and ensure that all New Yorkers — regardless of where they live — have access to reliable, high-speed internet. This latest phase of funding is another important step toward closing connectivity gaps and will enable counties to continue investing in the critical broadband infrastructure that supports economic growth, education, and public safety. We commend Governor Hochul for her continued leadership in expanding broadband access across New York State.”
New York State Conference of Mayors Executive Director Barbara J. Van Epps said, “The expansion of the ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Program is a tremendous opportunity for cities and villages across New York to invest in broadband infrastructure that directly serves their communities. Reliable, high-speed internet is essential for economic growth, housing opportunities, workforce development, and access to government services. By supporting publicly controlled broadband projects, this funding empowers local governments to bridge the digital divide, particularly in unserved and underserved communities. We encourage our members to take advantage of this critical resource and apply for Phase 4 funding.”
New York Association of Towns Executive Director Christopher A. Koetzle said, “NYAOT applauds the continued investment in broadband infrastructure through the ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Program. Expanding this vital program to nearly $300 million underscores the state’s commitment to closing the digital divide in New York’s unserved and underserved communities. Reliable, high-speed internet is essential for economic development, education, and public services — and empowering towns to make these connections ensures lasting benefits for all New Yorkers.”
Phase 4 of the Municipal Infrastructure Program will build on the Governor’s State of the State commitment to establish the Excelsior Broadband Network to build and connect a network of public broadband assets across the state. The first component of the Excelsior Broadband Network will be a new fiber line that runs the full length of the New York Thruway, which will improve high speed internet and reliable cell phone service across the state. The MIP grants will continue to prioritize unserved and underserved areas and increase opportunities for service providers to reach all corners of the state.
Applications open today, March 27, with a deadline of April 25. Interested parties must submit applications through the New York State Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) Portal here. Detailed information on eligibility and program requirements is available here.
Governor Hochul’s ConnectALL Initiative
Governor Hochul has made expanding broadband access a cornerstone of her administration’s efforts to create a more equitable New York. Through the ConnectALL initiative, New York State is investing $1 billion to transform the state’s digital infrastructure, enhance competition among providers, and ensure that every New Yorker has access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet.
To date, ConnectALL has overseen the successful launch and implementation of several programs to advance broadband access, including:
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Thanks to information received from the public, two individuals, 42-year-old Nachelle Nuna and 35-year-old Brent Diamond, were arrested on March 21, 2025, for possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine at a traffic stop by RCMP Labrador District General Investigation Section (GIS).
Last Friday evening, with the support of Sheshatshiu RCMP, a traffic stop was conducted by Labrador District GIS in Sheshatshiu. Nuna and Diamond were arrested. Inside the vehicle, officers located and seized a quantity of suspected crack cocaine, cash, and other items consistent with possession for the purpose of trafficking.
The pair were released from custody and are set to appear in court at a later date, each to face charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and possession of cocaine.
The investigation is continuing.
RCMP Labrador District GIS is dedicated to the enforcement of drug related crimes throughout the Labrador region of the province.
If you are a resident of the Labrador region of the province and suspect drug trafficking in your community, Labrador District GIS wants to talk to you. You can remain anonymous by calling the Happy Valley-Goose Bay detachment directly at 709-896-3383 and requesting to speak to a police officer with Labrador District GIS.
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
On March 16, 2025, at 2:25 p.m., Manning RCMP responded to a report that a deceased individual, later identified as Nathan Loonskin, a 38-year-old Paddle Prairie, Alta. resident, was located within a vehicle on Range Road 224, in Carcajou, Alta. The Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit was deployed and has taken carriage of the investigation.
The deceased has been taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Edmonton and the death has been deemed as a homicide. Although early in the investigation, RCMP believes this was an isolated incident and that there is no ongoing risk to the public.
Alberta RMCP Major Crimes is requesting assistance from the public. Anyone with dash cam footage, or reports of suspicious persons or activity, in the area of Highway 35, between Manning and Paddle Prairie, between March 15, 2025 around 8:00 p.m. and Mar. 16, 2025 around 2:00 p.m., is asked to please come forth. Furthermore, anyone who has knowledge of the whereabouts of Nathan Loonskin leading up to March 16, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. is asked to please do the same.
Anyone with information can contact the Manning RCMP at 780-836-3007 or your local police. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www. P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store. To report crime online, or for access to RCMP news and information, download the Alberta RCMP app through Apple or Google Play.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A Chinese national was indicted by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City for a firearm crime after she allegedly possessed an undeclared pistol in her checked luggage and ammunition in her carry-on bag at the Provo Airport.
Xuemei Zhao, 53, of People’s Republic of China, was initially charged by complaint on March 20, 2025.
According to court documents, on March 20, 2025, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) discovered a black Rossi Braztech Int’l .357 revolver pistol in Zhao’s checked luggage, which was destined for Dallas – Ft. Worth via American Airlines flight 6189. Prior to delivering the suitcase to American Airlines, Zhao did not disclose the presence of the handgun to TSA or American Airlines. In addition to the firearm, Zhao had 9 rounds of .357 ammunition in her carry-on luggage. Zhao was taken into custody and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was contacted and confirmed Zhao arrived on a tourist visa, and had a currently pending asylum application, and was not a lawful permanent resident of the United States (she did not have a “green card”).
Zhao is charged with possession of a firearm by a restricted person (alien). Her initial appearance on the indictment is March 28, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, Provo Resident Agency. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Assistant United States Attorney Michael Kennedy of the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
MONROE, La., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The world is gradually going fully digital with the advent of many of the latest technologies. We have embraced the convenience it brings with each tap, swipe, and contactless payment, even though it brings with it a new set of vulnerabilities. The proliferation of digital technologies raises the possibility of illegal access to private data, and resultant theft of personal information. This is where RFID-blocking technology comes into play, and SafeCard is one gadget that has generated a lot of attention.
SafeCard Reviews
SafeCard is designed to serve as a portable protector for your personal and financial data. According to the manufacturer claims and many consumer reports, It successfully prevents unwanted scanning by erecting an imperceptible barrier around your credit cards, passports, and other RFID-enabled devices using an innovative RFID and NFC blocking technology. To put it another way, SafeCard quietly protects your sensitive information in the background so you may profit from online transactions without worrying about cybercrime all the time.
The SafeCard has been trending online and on different blogs because of the many claims and features users stand to gain from getting it. Also, users have asked many questions with the aim of confirming the authenticity and manufacturer’s claims. Is the SafeCard Worth My Dime? SafeCard Consumer Reports? Benefits of SafeCard? How Is the SafeCard better than an RFID Blocking Wallet? You will get to learn the answers to these and even more by the end of this review.
We will holistically be looking at SafeCards performance, features, consumer reports, usefulness, and design. We are aware that making an informed choice requires a clear, factual analysis of the device’s functionality in real-world situations and we will be giving you just that. We will also discuss actual user experiences of the SafeCard from people in the USA, and Canada. Let’s get started!
What Is SafeCard?
(SafeCard Reviews USA, Canada, Australia)
SafeCard is a thin and lightweight innovative card designed to keep you safe from unwanted access to your digital information. SafeCard provides a crucial line of security for your credit cards, passports, and other RFID-enabled devices in this age of contactless payments and growing cyberthreats. It prevents possible scanners from intercepting your data by establishing an imperceptible electromagnetic barrier using innovative RFID and NFC blocking technologies. Even in crowded public areas, this protective field guarantees that your personal identification and financial information stay private.
SafeCard has an incredibly tiny design, unlike traditional RFID-blocking devices that come in the form of large wallets or separate sleeves. It blends in perfectly with any wallet, pocketbook, or cardholder thanks to its slightly thicker than one millimeter thickness, which keeps the design simple and elegant without adding extra bulk. SafeCard is a great option for anyone looking for both style and security because of its small size.
The SafeCard functions passively so it doesn’t need batteries, recharging, or complicated setup. It automatically starts protecting your data by thwarting unauthorized scanning efforts as soon as it is put next to your cards. Whether you’re traveling, commuting, or just running your daily affairs, its sturdy, water-resistant materials guarantee that it can endure normal wear and tear. Essentially, SafeCard offers 24/7 security against digital theft by fusing an innovative technology with a user-friendly design.
Does The SafeCard Really Work?
By employing RFID and NFC blocking technology, SafeCard creates an imperceptible electromagnetic barrier that protects your private information from unwanted scanning attempts. SafeCard actively blocks radio frequency signals that hackers could otherwise intercept when it is in your wallet with your credit cards, passports, and other RFID-enabled devices.
Your financial and personal information is always safe because of this passive interference, which operates constantly without the need for batteries or any setup. SafeCard eliminates the risk of digital theft by creating a protective barrier around your cards that stops skimming devices from accessing or sending your data. Because of its incredibly thin and light form, it fits neatly into any wallet or pocketbook and offers strong yet covert security wherever you go.
SafeCard essentially provides a hassle-free, automated solution to protect your digital data around-the-clock. It is indispensable for anyone interested in digital security.
DON’T MISS OUT: SafeCard is Available At A Special Price – Click Here To Order From The Official Website
What Are the Special Features Of SafeCard?
(SafeCard Reviews United States)
The SafeCard has become a must-have device, especially for frequent travelers. Let’s quickly look at the features of the SafeCard RFID/NFC blocking card.
Are SafeCards Safe?
SafeCards are designed to protect against illegal digital scanning and RFID skimming. SafeCard creates a barrier that keeps your RFID cards and documents protected when you slide them into your wallet.
SafeCards provide complete protection for all RFID-enabled objects, including credit cards, passports, and even key cards, so it’s not just about stopping one kind of card. The verified efficiency reduces the possibility of illegal data collection in congested public areas such as busy transit stations, shopping malls, and airports.
Once positioned next to your cards, they constantly protect your information around-the-clock because they don’t need batteries or active setup. Thanks to this hands-off design, you won’t have to bother about upkeep, which guarantees that your data is safe every day.
The increasing quantity of glowing client testimonials also supports its safety. SafeCards are praised by users for providing peace of mind by lowering the danger of fraud and identity theft. Cybersecurity experts agree that SafeCards are a helpful personal security tool. The SafeCards is 100% safe and will not disappoint when you need them the most!
How Do You Use SafeCard?
SafeCard doesn’t require any technical setup and is incredibly user-friendly. Unlike other security devices, SafeCard runs passively, so you don’t need to charge it, turn it on, or do any other maintenance. Use SafeCard effectively by doing the following:
Is SafeCard Shield Legit?
SafeCard Shield, a small and powerful RFID-blocking card made to protect your private data, is one product that has drawn a lot of interest. But is the SafeCard Shield genuine? The answer is definitely yes!
SafeCard Shield’s innovative RFID and NFC blocking technology keeps data thieves at bay by erecting an imperceptible barrier around your RFID-enabled cards. Even with sophisticated scanning tools, SafeCard Shield ensures hackers cannot access your information, including your credit card, passport, or work ID. SafeCard Shield provides universal protection and is remarkably thin and light, unlike conventional RFID-blocking wallets that are large and costly.
SafeCard Shield’s passive, battery-free operation is one of the things that makes it stand out as a genuine security tool. SafeCard Shield operates automatically around the clock, unlike other RFID blockers that need to be charged or powered by external sources. It offers immediate, continuous security without requiring setup, activation, or upkeep; just put it in your wallet next to your RFID-enabled cards.
Thousands of excellent reviews from happy clients around the world are another indication of SafeCard Shield’s genuineness. Many users have reported feeling more at ease while traveling, shopping, or commuting in crowded areas. Additionally, tech reviewers and security experts have acknowledged SafeCard Shield as a straightforward and effective method of preventing unwanted RFID reading.
Additionally, SafeCard Shield is composed of premium, long-lasting materials that guarantee protection for an extended period. Even after regular usage, its scratch-proof and water-resistant design ensures dependability. You can rely on SafeCard Shield to safeguard your private information for many years. SafeCard Shield is entirely legit!
CLICK HERE NOW TO GET SAFECARD DIRECTLY FROM THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE AT A MASSIVE DISCOUNT
Best Places To Use SafeCard (SafeCard Review)
SafeCard is a flexible addition to your daily security routine because it is made to offer strong protection wherever you go. Your credit cards, passports, and other RFID-enabled devices will always be protected thanks to its sophisticated passive RFID and NFC blocking technology.
Airports are one of the best places for frequent travelers to take advantage of SafeCard. SafeCard provides a covert layer of security in crowded terminals where digital skimming is common. As you move through congested security lines, lounges, and boarding gates, it guards against illegal scanning.
Another situation where SafeCard excels is on public transit. Because of the close quarters and quick person turnover, buses, trains, and subways are frequently hotspots for digital pickpocketing. A proactive step that protects your personal information while you commute every day is keeping your SafeCard in your wallet.
SafeCard is also used in restaurants and retail establishments. The possibility of illegal data collection rises as more companies use contactless payment methods. SafeCard helps guarantee that your digital payment information remains safe as you take advantage of the convenience of tap-to-pay transactions, whether you’re at a busy restaurant, a small boutique, or a retail mall.
The device is equally useful in professional environments such as co-working spaces and offices. Credit, debit, and access cards are among the several cards that business workers frequently carry. By using SafeCard in these settings, possible data breaches that can happen in open-plan workplaces or while traveling for work are avoided. It adds an additional degree of protection without disrupting your productivity.
Furthermore, SafeCard can be used most effectively at educational institutions and public gatherings like conferences, concerts, and festivals. SafeCard makes sure that your financial and personal information is safe from any cyber threats in these busy places where there are many distractions and personal security can occasionally take a backseat. The SafeCard blends in well with your lifestyle wherever you are because of its thin, light design.
Pros of SafeCard (SafeCard Reviews)
Below are a few benefits of having the SafeCard with you all the time:
Cons (SafeCard Reviews)
Below are a few drawbacks of the SafeCard:
SafeCard Reviews Consumer Reports USA, Canada, Australia, UK
Below are reviews from verified users of the SafeCard:
How Much Does A SafeCard Cost?
Right now, the SafeCard is currently being offered at a discounted price, especially if you purchase straight from the manufacturer. The SafeCard at its current price is unquestionably a fantastic deal for a product with such high-end features. The following costs are associated with obtaining your own SafeCard:
Where Can I Order SafeCard in the USA, Canada, and Australia?
To ensure that you receive the genuine product with full warranty coverage, it is recommended that you purchase SafeCard directly from the manufacturer’s official website.
Buying from the official website not only guarantees authenticity but also gives you access to any special offers, discounts, or package discounts that might not be available from third-party sellers. Additionally, the official website ensures that your private card information is secure. On the manufacturer’s website, you can easily place your order with hassle-free shipping guaranteed.
CLICK HERE NOW TO BUY SAFECARD DIRECTLY FROM THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE AT A MASSIVE DISCOUNT
SafeCard Reviews: Frequently Asked Questions
We will be providing answers to some frequently asked questions on the SafeCard RFID blocking device. Please go through it as you will gain extra information about the use and functioning of the device:
Do Safe Shield Cards Really Work?
SafeCard has been shown to be successful in preventing unwanted RFID scanning, according to several user reports and independent evaluations. It greatly lowers the risk of data skimming, a typical tactic used by fraudsters, by erecting an imperceptible barrier around your RFID-enabled cards. SafeCard’s innovative design and technologies provide a strong line of defense that improves your overall digital security.
What is the difference between SafeCard and conventional RFID-blocking wallets?
Conventional RFID-blocking wallets are designed to use integrated panels or several large sleeves, which can be inconvenient and add extra weight. Conversely, SafeCard provides an even higher degree of security but is made to be thin and undetectable. Multiple cards are protected simultaneously by its single-card design, which eliminates the need for separate compartments.
Is it simple to use SafeCard?
Definitely, SafeCard’s ease of use is one of its main benefits. No buttons need to be pressed, no complex setup, and no technical knowledge is required. SafeCard starts working as soon as you put it in your wallet with your RFID-enabled cards. It is the perfect answer for people from all walks of life because of its passive functioning, which guarantees users can enjoy continuous protection without worrying about configuration or recharging.
Can other RFID-enabled devices be used with SafeCard?
SafeCard is designed to provide all-around safety for many RFID-enabled devices all at once. SafeCard’s innovative technology builds a complete barrier that prevents unwanted scanning attempts on a variety of devices, including credit cards, debit cards, passports, access cards, and even identification badges. It is a practical option for anyone wishing to secure several RFID devices without having to deal with buying separate protective gear or tools.
Who needs the SafeCard?
Anyone who wants to improve their digital security and uses RFID-enabled devices should consider getting the SafeCard. This includes professionals with hectic schedules, frequent travelers, students, and even casual users who are worried about RFID skimming threats. It is a useful addition for people who appreciate convenience and security because of its simplicity of use, small size, and dependable protection. SafeCard can be easily incorporated into your lifestyle, regardless of whether you’re a tech expert or someone searching for a simple security solution.
What are the opinions of actual users regarding SafeCard?
The majority of actual user reviews have been favorable, with numerous clients complimenting SafeCard on its efficiency, ease of use, and stylish appearance. When traveling or shopping in congested areas, users report feeling more at ease. For those who are worried about the security issues associated with RFID, the high customer satisfaction percentage indicates that it is a smart investment.
Conclusion on SafeCard RFID Blocking Card Reviews
Modern RFID and NFC blocking technology employed by SafeCard prevents unwanted scanning and safeguards private data on credit cards, passports, and other RFID-enabled devices. It’s incredibly thin profile guarantees protection without the hassle of bulk or complicated setups, while also preserving the elegant appearance of contemporary wallets.
During our review, we found that SafeCard’s smooth, passive protection sets it apart from other conventional RFID-blocking devices. The SafeCard starts protecting your digital data as soon as it is in your wallet and doesn’t require any further upkeep or power sources. Customers have praised the device’s longevity, highlighting its scratch- and water-resistant design as two significant daily-use benefits.
SafeCard provides a practical and dependable defense against typical travel risks including digital theft and unauthorised data skimming. Its strong performance and simple design make it a desirable option for frequent travelers, busy professionals, and anybody else worried about the security of their personal information.
Many USA consumer reports support the manufacturer’s claims with many real users stating that it exceeded their expectations. The SafeCard is a wise and proactive way to stay safe in these dangerous times of sophisticated data theft. Why travel scared when you can do your trips confidently with SafeCard? You can stay safe all through your trips by getting your own SafeCard!
DON’T MISS OUT: SafeCard is Available At A Special Price – Click Here To Order From The Official Website
Contact: SafeCard
Email: support@safecardshield.com
Disclaimer:
This article is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute professional, legal, or cybersecurity advice. While SafeCard may help reduce the risk of RFID-based digital theft, no security product can guarantee 100% protection in all scenarios. Individual results may vary based on usage and other factors. Always exercise general caution and follow best practices when safeguarding your financial and personal data. The publisher and all parties involved in the creation and distribution of this content are not liable for any misuse, loss, or damages arising from the use or reliance on the information provided herein. Always consult the official product website or customer support for the most accurate and updated details.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
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Source: Microsoft
Headline: AI at Work: New skills are going to require a new division of labor
In my last column, I discussed the new reality that AI can think and reason at a remarkably high level. Someday we’ll look back and see this as an inflection point in the evolution of technology—a change that will profoundly impact how we think about, organize, and deploy cognitive labor.
When I think about AI’s current abilities, I consider these five key cognitive tasks: perceiving, understanding, reasoning, executing, and creating. Looking at how each is handled in your organization today can help identify opportunities for AI to lighten the load.
Perceiving: Perception is about seeing and making sense of the world around you—and AI can perceive in both the physical and digital worlds.
Self-driving cars are a great example of AI adeptly navigating the physical world. With the ability to accurately identify its surroundings (roads, cars, bikes, pedestrians, signs, traffic lights), AI can make sense of when to stop, go, and change direction.
In the digital world, perception comes into play with computer-using agents, which can perceive and interact with computer interfaces just as humans do. CUAs process raw pixel data to build awareness of what’s happening on the screen and can then interact with that screen—controlling a virtual mouse and keyboard to click, scroll, and type. I expect that businesses will deploy them in fields from sales (assisting in lead generation by automatically filling out forms) to customer service (navigating software applications to find and share information).
Understanding: Understanding goes beyond perception; it’s about seeing patterns and interpreting context. AI’s capacity for understanding means it can interpret, analyze, and generate vast amounts of text data for tasks like translating documents, summarizing reports, and evaluating customer feedback to spot emerging trends. In healthcare, it can lend doctors a hand by interpreting medical images and suggesting possible diagnoses. In finance, it can sift through P&L statements and market data to identify signals that may indicate opportunities or risk.
Case in point: Vodafone deployed an agent that taps into the company’s vast internal knowledge bases to quickly surface product specs, answer legal questions, and more. The telecommunications company’s sales teams use it regularly to respond to RFPs, giving them more time to spend on a task that plays to human cognitive strengths: talking with customers to understand their needs.
Reasoning: I’ve said it before: the ability of AI to reason is one of the biggest technological breakthroughs of our lifetime. Reasoning models solve challenging problems by breaking down a task into parts, analyzing the breadth of the problem and coming up with a plan. Along the way, AI makes lots of smaller decisions, including changing its strategy and reversing course where needed.
Think of a crossword puzzle. You fill in a few words and then find that some of your first answers conflict with the new clues. So you reassess, erase, and try new answers. Reasoning models can now adeptly navigate this iterative process of planning and adapting—and that has big implications for business.
Imagine using that capacity for the multistep research needed to create a competitive analysis, or to produce complex data visualizations that only a data scientist once could. Reasoning AI can perform math at the level of the most skilled humans and has immense potential for scientific discovery. Any knowledge-driven part of a business stands to gain from reasoning AI.
Executing: The fact that AI can execute a task or respond to a prompt on its own is nothing new—it’s the very core of how a prompt-and-response model works. “In-model execution” describes AI’s ability to perform tasks using its internal capabilities. This type of execution is self-contained, meaning the model has everything it needs, including access to necessary data, to complete a task.
But what makes execution so interesting—and something I think will be one of the biggest areas of AI advancement in 2025—is that we’re seeing a second form of AI execution emerge: tool identification and usage. Just like you know to grab a ruler when you need to measure something, AI recognizes when it needs to use external tools to complete a task that goes beyond its inherent capabilities.
Take math, for example. On their own, LLMs are notoriously bad at math. But by enhancing their execution capabilities they’re able to call on outside tools or knowledge sources (like Python capabilities in Microsoft Excel) that enable them to execute complex math formulas. This is unlocking incredible potential for AI to autonomously handle business tasks—from creating images to writing code and visualizing data—that require skills and capabilities beyond their in-model functionality.
Creating: Of all the cognitive tasks, creativity is perhaps the most closely tied to what makes us human. AI is rapidly proving that it can be a powerful creative partner. It excels, for example, at brainstorming: It can tirelessly generate hundreds of product names or taglines (some better than others) for a human team to react to. In business, it can produce everything from concept designs to presentation decks to marketing videos.
In most cases, what AI produces is a starting point; humans elevate it, bringing in their emotional intelligence, nuance, and lived experience. These capabilities are transforming industries in ways that many people, including artists and creators, are understandably still coming to terms with.
Nonetheless, good ideas are good ideas, whatever the source. Not seeking AI’s input and inspiration is now like working with one hand tied behind your back.
What’s next
We’re entering a period of true thought partnership between humans and AI—and still trying to understand where the new division of labor lies. I don’t have all the answers yet, but I do have a few imperatives: As agents begin to handle many cognitive tasks traditionally performed by knowledge workers, organizations will need a new approach to managing them. And as agents and humans collaborate, organizations will need new ways to measure the contributions and performance of each.
Meeting this moment will require a new mindset that goes beyond thinking of AI as a one-to-one human substitute. Early attempts at flying machines were designed to flap their wings, and the first cars were “horseless carriages.” Real innovation comes when we move past imitation.
Despite the incredible advances in AI in just the past six months, many leaders still view it mainly as a means of faster execution. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Now is the time to advance AI’s cognitive partnership with humans—and come to terms with its full potential to reinvent how we work.
For more insights on AI and the future of work, subscribe to this newsletter.
Source: Microsoft
Headline: Transforming the future of learning and work with AI skilling
Discover how Microsoft and Pearson are equipping learners with AI skills for the future.
Over the past few years, companies around the world have seen a paradigm shift in how individuals consume content and attain new skills—changes that will only continue to accelerate and evolve in the AI era. A global IDC survey1 found that a lack of skilled workers is the biggest challenge for enterprises implementing AI technology within their organizations. This shift highlights the need for continuous adaptation to emerging technologies and collaborative efforts to bridge the AI skills gap.
The 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Report from Microsoft and LinkedIn also found that 66% of leaders say they wouldn’t hire someone without AI skills. As we celebrate National AI Literacy Day in the US on March 28 this year, it’s clear that no one company will likely be able to meet the opportunities of tomorrow. We believe it’ll take innovative partnerships to meaningfully impact the lives of people around the world with AI literacy and skills development.
Microsoft and Pearson, the world’s lifelong learning company, announced a strategic collaboration to help address one of the top challenges facing organizations globally: skilling for the era of AI. The partnership will focus on providing employers, workers, and learners with AI-powered products and services to help prepare the current and future workforce across industries for the evolving landscape of work in an AI-powered economy. By combining Pearson’s expertise in learning and assessment with Microsoft’s cloud and AI technologies, this partnership will play a foundational role in helping organizations realize the full value of AI through reskilling.
Microsoft and Pearson are addressing the challenges and opportunities around reskilling at the ASU-GSV Summit in San Diego, US, April 6-9, 2025. The summit is dedicated to the scaled innovations in the delivery of education and workforce skills that are critical to creating a world in which all people have equal access to the future.
At ASU-GSV, Microsoft Corporate Vice President of Worldwide Learning, Jeana Jorgensen, will join Pearson President of Workforce Skills, Vishaal Gupta, for a discussion on transforming skills development and talent planning for the AI era. They’ll talk about how rapid intervention is needed or we risk the AI skills gap becoming a skills chasm, threatening the ability of individuals and organizations to thrive in an AI-powered future.
I’ll be also joining Vishaal and Jeana for a discussion at ASU-GSV on skilling for the AI era. We’ll dive deeper into how the Microsoft and Pearson collaboration will transform and scale AI skilling and help organizations equip learners and workers with the critical skills they need to succeed in a technology-driven world.
Given the urgent need to rethink learning and reskill workers, Microsoft and Pearson will collaborate in several ways, including:
The partnership extends the efforts of both Microsoft and Pearson to provide AI skilling to people across the globe. In 2024, Microsoft and its partners trained and certified over 23 million people in digital skills. Pearson launched its Generative AI Foundations certification to equip professionals and students with the essential skills needed to work with generative AI technologies. Additionally, organizations around the world use Pearson VUE, along with Pearson’s AI-powered Faethm capability, and Credly badging to diagnose, assess, and certify skills.
Curious about additional ways to develop AI literacy and build AI skills? Get started today and join the Microsoft AI Skills Fest. Registration is open now to engage in deep dives, experiential content, hackathons, and practical sessions that will enhance your AI skills over 50 days of discovery and learning, starting April 8, 2025.
There’s a significant opportunity to work together to build AI skills and empower the future workforce. Whether you, your team, or your students are just getting started or looking to refine your capabilities, discover resources to support your journey.
1 IDC InfoBrief: sponsored by Microsoft, 2024 Business Opportunity of AI, IDC# US52699124, November 2024
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Tom Cotton (R-AR), and a group of Republican colleagues introduced the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2025 to prevent inmates from using contraband cellphone use in prison facilities by allowing state and federal prisons to use cellphone jamming systems.
“Cellphone use behind bars allows criminals to commit more crimes,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This is a simple way to cut them off and keep our communities safe.”
“For far too long, contraband cellphones have been a major security threat in our prisons, allowing criminals to coordinate crimes from behind bars. This legislation is a common-sense step to cut off their ability to threaten witnesses, organize drug trafficking, and endanger law-abiding citizens from within prison walls,” said Senator Cotton.
Cassidy and Cotton were joined by U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Cyndi Hyde-Smith (R-MS), James Lankford (R-OK), and James Risch (R-ID) also joined the legislation. U.S. Representative David Kustoff (R-TN-08) is leading companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Criminals are using contraband cellphones to commit crimes while in prison. The extent of coordinated criminal activity carried out by inmates is a serious threat to public safety,” said Representative Kustoff. “As a former United States Attorney, I have seen first-hand the dangerous effects of contraband cellphone use to both law enforcement officers and our communities. It should be impossible for prisoners to organize gang activity, traffic drugs, and coordinate any other wrongdoing from behind bars. The Cellphone Jamming Reform Act is commonsense legislation that will crack down on cellphones in prisons and protect inmates, guards, and the public at large.”
Background
The use of contraband cellphones is widespread in both federal and state prison facilities. Inmates have used contraband cellphones to conduct illegal activities, including ordering hits on individuals outside of the prison walls, running illegal drug operations, conducting illegal business deals, facilitating sex trafficking, and organizing escapes that endanger correctional employees, other inmates, and members of the public.
Last year, two 13-year-old boys were killed at a birthday party in Atlanta after inmates in a Georgia prison used contraband cellphones to order their murder. In December 2024, two California inmates were convicted of murder, racketeering, and other RICO-related crimes for running a heroin and meth trafficking operation from their prison cells. In 2018, a gang fight over territory using cellphones to trade contraband sparked a brawl inside the Lee Correctional Institution in South Carolina and left seven inmates dead and 20 injured.
Bureau of Prisons Correctional officer Lt. Osvaldo Albarati was murdered in 2013 for interrupting an illicit contraband cellphone business. His assassination was initiated by an inmate using a contraband cellphone to contact the gunman as outlined in the indictment.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) reintroduced the Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act to ensure individuals with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or kidney failure, continue to have access to private health care.
“ESRD patients need dialysis treatments to survive,” said Dr. Cassidy. “We must ensure their access to treatment is continued and their choice of care is protected.”
“Three years ago, the Supreme Court made the decision to allow private health care companies to kick patients suffering from kidney failure off their plan, forcing many people into financial hardship,” said Senator Booker. “No one should lose their insurance, especially when they need it most. The Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act is critical legislation that will ensure ESRD patients’ right to choose their care is protected.”
“The last thing patients should be worried about when dealing with kidney failure is being kicked off their insurance while undergoing treatment,” said Senator Heinrich. “I’m proud to support the Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act to help ensure that every New Mexican can access life-saving care when they need it most.”
“Dialysis is a vital treatment for over a thousand North Dakotans living with kidney failure,” said Senator Cramer. “Our legislation protects access to private health insurance for dialysis patients and supports the stability of the Medicare Trust Fund into the future.”
The Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act is endorsed by Akebia Therapeutics, American Kidney Fund, American Nephrology Nurses Association, American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, Ardelyx, AstraZeneca, Atlantic Dialysis Management Services, Baxter, Centers for Dialysis Care, CorMedix, CSL Vifor, DaVita, Dialysis Care Center, Dialysis Patient Citizens, Fresenius Medical Care, Greenfield Health Systems, The Kidney Care Council, NATCO, Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission, Renal Healthcare Association, Renal Physicians Association, Renal Support Network, Rogosin Institute, U.S. Renal Care, Unicycive Therapeutics, and Diality.
Source: Samsung
Samsung’s recently launched A Better Life lifestyle campaign that aims to elevate your daily life and home experiences through AI-enabled innovative technology, encompassing home appliances, entertainment devices and health-focused wearables, all designed to integrate seamlessly into your daily routines – made possible with SmartThings.
So, whether it’s through cutting-edge smart home devices, Samsung’s technology helps individuals to stay ahead, boost productivity and live their best lives effortlessly. Some of Samsung’s products that are able to empower users to live smarter and more convenient lives include the M8 Smart Monitor, Neo QLED, Music Frame, Bespoke Washer Dryer, Bespoke Fridge, WindFree , Odyssey Gaming Monitor and Galaxy Tab. The company’s ground-breaking innovations help to unlock the genius within individuals by offering seamless experiences, enhanced productivity and effortless integration into daily lives.
Samsung is now integrating AI into its SmartThings platform and various devices to create a more intelligent and personalised user experience. Some examples of Samsung’s AI-powered devices include:
Neo QLED 8K – Samsung Smart TVs come with a Built-in SmartThings Hub that lets you take charge of your home and life. Connect your smart devices, optimise energy efficiency, enhance your daily routine and more, all from your Samsung Smart TV.
Bespoke AI Laundry Combo – is able to determine optimal wash and dry cycles based on load, fabric as well as soil level.
Samsung Vision AI – can transform screens into smart companions that enhance entertainment, simplify interactions and integrate into connected lifestyles.
Seamless Ecosystem: Bringing Interconnectedness & Ease of Use Between Various Devices
Samsung’s “seamless ecosystem” is essentially interconnectedness and ease of use between its various devices, enabling users to seamlessly switch tasks, share content and control devices across platforms with features like Multi Control and app continuity. App Continuity allows you to seamlessly control all of your connected Galaxy devices, such as your mobile phone, tablet and Galaxy Buds.
These interconnected devices are designed to work together, allowing users to seamlessly switch between their phone, tablet, monitors as well as other smart devices including Smart TVs and home appliances. This process allows Samsung’s products to be integrated into a cohesive ecosystem which leads to greater convenience, where devices work together to simplify tasks.
Samsung is invested in smart innovation, particularly through AI and its SmartThings platform which aims to create a seamless, personalised and connected smart home ecosystem across various devices and appliances. A Samsung connected home, powered by SmartThings, offers convenience, security and energy efficiency, allowing you to control your home’s appliances, lighting and security systems remotely, with features like voice control and personalised routines. This AI-driven feature has the ability to control and monitor devices from anywhere.
Samsung’s SmartThings platform serves as the central hub for connecting and controlling a wide range of smart devices, including home appliances, TVs, wearables and more. With this incredible app, you can now control and manage your smart home devices, including Samsung appliances, from your phone or tablet. Also, with SmartThings Energy, users can effortlessly monitor and manage their connected devices and appliances in one place, gaining deeper insights into their overall energy consumption, helping them lower their energy bill.
Elevate your Productivity with Samsung Connected Devices
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Series is designed to help you achieve higher business productivity. This series includes the addition of Galaxy AI,[1] which brings productivity, communication and creative capabilities based on artificial intelligence.
And, paired with the optional keyboard cases, the tablets transform into laptops, with Samsung DeX providing a PC-like experience to access your mobile apps. You can also connect the Galaxy Tab S10 devices to a monitor or TV and run DeX on that larger screen while continuing to use your tablet at the same time. The Galaxy Tab S10 line-up packs plenty of other features that can help you turbocharge your work.
In addition, with M8 Smart Monitor – everything you need is right on your screen. This Smart Monitor allows you to watch, work and chat – all without connecting a separate PC. Your favourite content, productivity and video call apps are built-in for a simpler and more stylish desk setup that’s a joy to use every time. You can now experience PC-less productivity with Smart Monitor which allows you to also browse the web, edit documents and work on projects. With the new Workmode feature, you can also remotely access another PC, use Microsoft 365 programs and even connect to Samsung mobile devices with Samsung DeX for seamless working.
Quality & Design: Samsung’s Home Products Designed to be Functional & Stylish.
Samsung home appliances are known for their sleek, minimalist “Flat Design” aesthetic, offering a range of innovative and elegant appliances that embody modern kitchen design trends. “Flat Design” Philosophy is Samsung’s approach to home appliance design which emphasises a minimalist aesthetic, creating a seamless and uncluttered look.
Some examples of Samsung’ sleek features can be found in its Refrigerators. The two doors of some refrigerators appear as if they were crafted from a single sheet of metal, with minimal dispensers integrated into the doors.
Samsung’s Bespoke range also focuses on customisation of colours and configurations to suit individual style and space needs. These sleek designs and, high-performing products also blend aesthetics with high-tech features. Samsung’s Neo QLED TVs, for example are designed to be sleek and modern, complementing any home environment. Also, these TVs are designed to be energy efficient, contributing to a more sustainable lifestyle. The innovation Neo QLED technology combined with Samsung’s AI processors contribute to a “better life” in terms of entertainment and beyond.
The company has also put great emphasis on functionality, quality and reliability. While prioritising aesthetics, Samsung also ensures that its appliances are highly functional and reliable and these include a wide range of home appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, cooking appliances and dishwashers. Samsung appliances are known for their quality and reliability. The effortless pairing of The Frame and Music Frame elevates the home and achieve a sense of elegance.
Samsung’s Music Frame is a unique device where style meets sound. Extending The Frame’s design concept, the new speaker also adopts a frame-like design with an exclusive pure-white Frame Bezel. The panel allows for the insertion of photos or favourite artworks, serving both as a unique desktop display and as a wall decoration for the living room, catering to various home styles. Wave goodbye to messy wires and replace it with the semi-transparent optical cable that can seamlessly integrate into the home, eliminating unwanted clutter.
Samsung’s “Future Focus” emphasises AI, sustainability and creates a better future
The company is always pushing the envelope in innovation, constantly creating new ways to make life smarter and more efficient. Samsung’s “Future Focus” emphasises AI, sustainability and creating a better future through innovative technologies and products, with a vision to inspire the world and contribute to social prosperity.
Samsung therefore sees AI as the next major technological paradigm shift, aiming to make everyday life more convenient, enjoyable and sustainable. The company is busy developing AI-powered solutions across various domains, including information systems, multimedia creation and everyday tasks. Some of the examples include AI assistant which manages tasks and provides information through natural conversations. This AI assistant is called Bixby, a virtual assistant that can follow voice commands, manage settings control the camera and access Samsung-specific features. It’s available on a wide range of Samsung devices, including phones, tablets and foldables.
Over the last few years, Samsung has re-affirmed its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, focusing on energy and resource-efficient products and technologies. In its efforts, the company aims to create a culture of everyday sustainability, engaging the younger generation of employees through initiatives like the Samsung Future Generation Lab.
Specific sustainability goals include transitioning to 100% renewable energy, incorporating recycled materials and eliminating plastics in packaging. In addition, the DX Division (Device eXperience) aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 and the entire company by 2050.
[1] Terms & Conditions Apply. Galaxy AI features by Samsung will be provided for free until the end of 2025 on supported Samsung Galaxy devices.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Duncan Garrow, Professor of Archaeology, University of Reading
The Melsonby hoard is a remarkable collection of more than 800 iron-age metal artefacts, which was found in a field near Melsonby, North Yorkshire, in December 2021.
Its discovery represents a triumph of cross-sector collaboration in British archaeology. This extraordinary find excavated from Yorkshire soil is not just a collection of ancient objects, but signals a need for a significant revision of how we understand iron-age Britain.
The presence of materials imported from the Mediterranean, and a type of continental European wagon new to Britain, challenges the idea that iron-age Britons were isolated. Instead, it tell us that “wealthy” iron-age people in northern England had contacts extending out across Europe.
This 2022 excavation, supported by a £120,000 grant from Historic England and expertise from the British Museum, revealed more than 800 items dating to the first century BC – around the time of the Roman conquest under Emperor Claudius. The objects are almost certainly associated with the Brigantes tribe who dominated northern England during this period.
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The scale of this discovery sets it apart from typical iron-age finds. The hoard includes partial remains of at least seven four-wheeled wagons and/or two-wheeled chariots, harnesses for at least 14 horses, 28 iron tyres (many deliberately bent), three ceremonial spears and two ornate cauldrons.
In iron-age Britain, communities regularly placed metalwork in rivers and bogs to mark significant life events, including death. The Thames has yielded deliberately deposited human skulls alongside weapons and metal objects. The Melsonby hoard can be seen as a land-based equivalent of these water deposits.
One of the most significant aspects of this discovery is the first evidence of four-wheeled wagons used by iron-age British tribes, possibly imitating vehicles seen in continental Europe. This finding suggests that northern Britain was far from isolated, instead participating in widespread networks spanning Europe to the Mediterranean.
The craftsmanship displayed in the hoard as whole is exceptional. Some horse harnesses feature Mediterranean coral and coloured glass, showcasing the distinctive curving patterns typical of Celtic Art. One cauldron, likely used for mixing wine, combines Mediterranean and iron age artistic styles – concrete evidence of cultural exchange between Britain and continental Europe.
Particularly intriguing is evidence that many items were deliberately burned or broken before burial. This practice of ritually “killing” valuable objects has deep roots in British prehistory, stretching back to the bronze age. By destroying such items, iron age elites may have been demonstrating their wealth and status through conspicuous consumption.
However, the burning might also relate to funerary practices in some way. Though no human remains were found, the objects could have been burned on a funeral pyre in a cremation ritual. This places the Melsonby hoard in an interesting position between traditional archaeological categories. It is part “hoard” (a deliberate deposit of objects) and part “grave goods” (items placed with the dead).
This dual nature isn’t without precedent. Chariot burials are well-documented in iron-age Yorkshire, while collections of horse equipment appear in other discovered hoards. The Melsonby find might represent a combination of these traditions.
However, we wouldn’t know about any of this if it hadn’t been for the decision of metal detectorist Peter Heads to resist unearthing the hoard himself.
On making the discovery in December 2021, Heads immediately contacted archaeologists at Durham University, setting in motion a textbook example of proper archaeological practice. This allowed crucial contextual information that would have been lost forever had the site been disturbed without professional supervision.
The hoard’s objects were carefully identified using scanning technology at the University of Southampton, allowing archaeologists to excavate without causing damage. This meticulous approach will enable years of productive research into these artefacts.
Valued at £254,000, the Melsonby hoard is now the subject of a fundraising campaign by the Yorkshire Museum. A selection of objects is already on display, giving the public access to these remarkable artefacts.
As research continues on this extraordinary find, it stands as a powerful example of how proper archaeological practice – from responsible metal detecting to collaborative, well-funded excavation – can transform our understanding of Britain’s past.
The Melsonby hoard offers a unique window into iron-age life in Britain, challenging long-held historical assumptions about regional development and cultural sophistication.
Duncan Garrow does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Melsonby hoard: iron-age Yorkshire discovery reveals ancient Britons’ connections with Europe – https://theconversation.com/melsonby-hoard-iron-age-yorkshire-discovery-reveals-ancient-britons-connections-with-europe-253274
Source: The Conversation – UK – By David Pearson, Professor of Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience, Anglia Ruskin University
In a recent interview, the 91-year-old Trinidadian artist John Lyons described painting as “an adventure in creative uncertainty. It is a way of existing in a world we still know very little about.”
A similar perspective forms the central theme of entrepreneur Margaret Hefferman’s latest book, Embracing Uncertainty. This is a spiritual successor to her previous book, Uncharted, which portrayed uncertainty as an inevitable aspect of modern life that should be embraced rather than controlled.
This time Hefferman focuses on the creative industries, proposing that artists, musicians and writers constantly live with uncertainty and can still thrive in this increasingly unpredictable world.
The book’s five core chapters are interspersed with evocative vignettes describing episodes of creative uncertainty. These include the establishment of Bristol’s Paraorchestra, a collective of disabled and non-disabled musicians led by conductor Charles Hazlewood, and director Gabriella A. Moses’s work on the film Boca Chica.
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Hefferman argues that such seemingly disparate episodes can be linked by a shared artistic drive that approaches uncertainty with a combination of pragmatism and optimism. She concludes that applying a mindset of curiosity and flexibility is essential not just for promoting artistic endeavour, but to flourish in general.
The book is at its most successful when advocating for the importance of viewing the arts as an essential foundation for a prosperous and healthy society – not as a frivolous and dispensable luxury. The closing chapters focusing on arts education and the role of art in politics are particularly compelling.
Hefferman notes that arts education worldwide has suffered substantial cutbacks and marginalisation. In the UK, funding for arts, design and media courses has been decimated despite the sector contributing an estimated £126 billion to the country’s economy. In the US, arts and cultural funding is increasingly portrayed as a partisan political issue instead of a common good.
The political belief that the sciences should be prioritised over arts education ignores the substantial evidence that they’re mutually beneficial. My career in science owes much to my involvement as a teenager in Leicestershire Youth Theatre. Led by the pioneering educator Robert Staunton, this experience taught me a creative and reflexive way of viewing human behaviour that has informed my research ever since.
I was struck while reading the numerous accounts of creativity in this book how many would be unlikely to reach fruition today. Hefferman produced programmes for the BBC for 13 years and in one chapter, discusses the complex development of the classic 1990s TV serial Our Friends in the North. Such a uniquely British drama would struggle to secure funding in the current television landscape, dominated by international streaming services.
Hefferman is less convincing, though, when trying to explain how creative individuals can thrive.
In the opening chapter, she discusses the early 20th-century psychological movement of Behaviourism – which claimed that all human behaviour could be explained by mechanisms of conditioned learning. But otherwise, there is no consideration of research focused specifically on understanding human creativity.
Rather, the overarching theme of “embracing uncertainty” is applied very broadly and conflates certain concepts. For instance, it combines divergent thinking (the ability to create multiple possible solutions to a problem) with resilience and creative flow (a highly motivating mental state associated with effortless concentration). In my view, these ideas are better considered separately.
Many of the stories of creative problem-solving discussed in the book brought to my mind the pioneering work of creativity researcher Frank X. Barron in the 1960s. Barron described highly creative individuals as “more primitive and more cultured, more destructive and more constructive, occasionally crazier and yet adamantly saner than the average person”.
Hefferman is an engaging storyteller and there is a great deal to enjoy in her accounts of how – frequently against all odds – artists succeed in producing work that reflects and changes wider society.
This book is published at a time when the creative industries are facing unprecedented challenges worldwide. Writers, musicians and artists will certainly not thrive if the uncertainty they are forced to embrace is a lack of financial support – or the cannibalisation of their work by AI.
Albert Einstein noted that “the greatest scientists are artists as well”. As our world faces a perfect storm of environmental, societal and economic challenges, the need to support innovation and champion persistence has seldom felt greater. The hopeful and inspiring stories portrayed in Embracing Uncertainty point the way to a more optimistic future.
David Pearson receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.
– ref. Embracing Uncertainty: what we can all learn from how artists thrive in an unpredictable world – https://theconversation.com/embracing-uncertainty-what-we-can-all-learn-from-how-artists-thrive-in-an-unpredictable-world-252993
Source: The Conversation – UK – By David Blunkett, Chair in Politics in Practice, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Sheffield
Much has been said about UK chancellor Rachel Reeves’ self-imposed fiscal rules, and her repeated assertion – which she included in the spring statement – that they are “non-negotiable”. Of course, this is true if you’re not prepared to listen to alternatives, but in the real world there is no set economic template with which people cannot argue.
Put simply, the chancellor’s rules demand that day-to-day expenditure should be covered by government income at the end of the five-year economic cycle. This is what has led to the current need to cut spending – including to health and disability benefits – so drastically. The length of this cycle is determined by the government as part of their “rule”.
All of this is predicated on the government’s belief that economic policy will be undermined if the international financial markets (including the bond markets on which governments depend for borrowing) react badly. Which, it is commonly asserted, would significantly push up the cost of borrowing. Other factors, such as US president Donald Trump’s extraordinary threats to trade, and the borrowing requirements of other countries, will also have an immediate impact.
Underpinning all of this is the split between capital investment – spending on things like roads and hospitals – and day-to-day revenue to keep services operating.
Therefore, the chancellor imposes rules to avoid the financial markets hitting the UK in the way they did when former prime minister Liz Truss and her chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng introduced a “mini budget”. The unfunded tax cuts it contained led to the markets losing confidence in the UK’s financial stability.
This is the spectre at the feast. Everything being done by the present government is with the backcloth of what happened in 2022. We are, in effect, binding ourselves to a moment in time.
Many economists disagree with the rigidity (or what is known as “Treasury orthodoxy”) about how the economy works. Leading international economist Mariana Mazzucato, along with a group of other renowned academics, published a letter in the Financial Times spelling out their concerns about the imposition of the “rules”.
In practice, while public spending over the next two years will not be hit drastically (other than the welfare budget), the following three years will see a massive tightening of what is available for most public services. This includes local government and the criminal justice system – which have seen eye-watering cuts in previous years.
The average 1.2% increase in departmental budgets projected over the three years from 2027 is far less than this for many government departments and for local government. This is because spending in areas such as health and for schools (but not education more broadly) are predicted to rise much more substantially.
This is why people are starting to use the word “austerity” – they are seeing a reflection of the years between 2010-2017, when many felt that public services were decimated.
During that austerity period, the body known as the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) was brought in by the then-chancellor George Osborne. Now being carried through even more rigidly by Reeves, this is intended to be an independent group which “scores” the government’s likely success against its predictions. I use the word “likely”, because just three members are charged with the analysis, by the Treasury, of how successful the policy is likely to be.
The OBR has come to have massive influence over what the government believes it can undertake, confining the options even beyond the self-imposed rules.
Just before her spring statement, the chancellor altered the amount that would have to be saved from changes in the welfare system. This was in order to take account of the analysis by these three individuals who believed that the reforms as proposed would not achieve the savings required.
So, we go round in a circle – with one set of economists double-checking the calculations and projected analysis of another set of economists. But they have such enormous influence that they can change government policy.
You might believe that the OBR (being full of experts) is pretty much infallible. You would be wrong. Since its inception, it has often been wide of the mark. Even when only marginally, this has had an impact on both policy and perceptions, including by those financial markets that have such a stranglehold on nation states.
In 2012, the OBR projected that over the five years ahead, growth would average 2.8%. In fact, it was 1.7%. In 2020, their prediction was that gross domestic product (GDP) would fall by 11.3% when in fact the drop was 9.8%. Most recently, in 2023, it projected a fall in GDP of 0.3% – which sadly turned out to be 0.8%.
I use these stats merely to illustrate that forecasts and scorecards as to whether the government has got its sums wrong are highly subjective. For politicians to place their economic and political policies in the hands of a group of disparate individuals with their own political and economic outlook and personal experiences is, in my view, bizarre.
This is why some of us who know about the difficulties of government from having been there, and who are not in any way dismissive of the huge power of the international markets, are challenging this economic orthodoxy.
We are simply asking whether rigid economic respectability is truly more important than long-term investment and sustaining essential public services.
David Blunkett is a Fellow of the Association of Social Sciences and a Labour Peer in the House of Lords.
– ref. David Blunkett: the world has changed since Liz Truss’s mini budget, so what is Labour still so scared of? – https://theconversation.com/david-blunkett-the-world-has-changed-since-liz-trusss-mini-budget-so-what-is-labour-still-so-scared-of-253270
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Paul Yachnin, Tomlinson Professor of Shakespeare Studies, McGill University
From greed for resources and money to technology run amok and a politics of domination, hatred and fear of others, our world sometimes seems to be on a course of assured destruction.
How can our society not only avert disaster, but move toward a better path forward, driven not only by money-making (the accumulation of wealth, power and status), but also by meaning-making (the search for deeper purpose for ourselves in community with others and with the natural world)?
As scholars who have respectively studied Shakespeare and health and economics — along with a team of thinkers in economics, health policy, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and a number of theatre and literary artists and humanities scholars — we’re building a project called Reimagining Shakespeare, Remaking Modern World Systems.
Shakespeare and the arts can help researchers see the way toward new ways of thinking through our period of massive disruption, especially since the world in Shakespeare’s time, like our world now, was riven by social, political, ecological and epidemic crises.
Read more:
After the plague, Shakespeare imagined a world saved from poison, slander and the evil eye
Why Shakespeare? In some ways, Shakespeare was the Jeff Bezos of his time.
Unlike the billionaire entrepreneur Bezos, who founded Amazon and is now its executive chair, Shakespeare didn’t sell everything under the sun. However, like Bezos, who innovated new ways of packaging stories for people via books and movies, for example, Shakespeare repackaged existing stories and authored plays as a leader of the creation of a new money-making industry.
Shakespeare’s new industry was different from TV streaming in important ways. Theatre, which fosters real-time, embodied and collective experiences, never operates on a one-way supplier-to-buyer axis.
Shakespeare’s theatre made money — he became a wealthy man — but his theatre always also made meaning in collaboration with its audiences, educating playgoers and stimulating conversations about about state politics, money and power and about the care of other people and of the natural world.
Shakespeare was a social entrepreneur whose work strengthened the convergence of money-making and meaning-making. Shakespeare showed all kinds of people how they might play creatively with the systems that ruled their world.
Shakespeare didn’t dismantle the systems, but what the characters in the plays say and do opens up fissures in those systems that invite characters like Rosalind in As You Like It or Imogen in Cymbeline to wriggle through, toward the possible restoration of freedom that allows them to do things differently.
The divine right of kings was the foundation of the political system in Shakespeare’s time.
In Richard II, John of Gaunt says to the Duchess of Gloucester that there is nothing he can do to avenge the murder of her husband (King Richard’s uncle) because while the king orchestrated the murder, he is above the law.
Shakespeare’s play, which dramatizes the history of the deposition and assassination of King Richard, does not dismantle the system of monarchy as it stood in Shakespeare’s time — the divine right of kings remains in place. But it dramatizes how the characters are able to do what they need to do for the good of the state by finding their way through the cracks in the political system.
Theatrical art like Shakespeare’s also leads us away from the fatuous life goal of the endless accumulation of wealth.
In King Lear, Shakespeare shows us how money-making can become divorced utterly from meaning-making and how money and meaning have to be brought back into convergence. At the start, Lear is wedded to wealth, power and prestige.
Even his daughters are required to declare publicly their worshipful love and loyalty to him. By virtue of his uncrowning, the suffering that follows for him, and his recognition of his own mortality, he learns to see other people as people, including his truly loving daughter Cordelia. He also learns how his meaningfulness as a man can come back to him only once he embraces the equitable distribution of resources among all the people of Britain.
Not that Shakespeare is the only one offering insights into how to address the multiple crises that the world is facing. Many others have brought forward new ideas about how to “green” the world of finance or how to restore human values to a sense of value calculated exclusively in monetary terms.
But something more is needed now to move us toward a healthier and more just future, and the makers of art are the ones who can provide it.
Consider one moment from Shakespeare’s play, Timon of Athens. The once fabulously wealthy Timon has squandered money on scores of men whom he thought were friends. Here the character Flavius distributes the money he has saved from his employment as Timon’s steward to the other household servants, all of them now unemployed.
He insists that they take their share, and he reflects on the poisonous power of money when it is not used to support meaningful community:
Good fellows all,
The latest of my wealth I’ll share amongst you.
Let each take some;
Nay, put out all your hands—not one word more:
(The servants embrace, and part several ways)
O, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us!
Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt,
Since riches point to misery and contempt?
Who would be so mock’d with glory? or to live
But in a dream of friendship?
In Timon, Shakespeare shows us that money must not be stripped of a search for a meaningful life in community with others. Money without meaning conjures a mere dream of friendship, a fantasy world that must finally give way to a reality of misery and contempt.
If that is what we want, bring on the dollars — so much money, we won’t know where to spend it all — and away with art!
By bringing Shakespeare into conversations about finance, health, climate and AI, our research collaboration aims to help change the prevailing rationale of western modernity that positions money-making as the core driver of individual and collective progress.
Paul Yachnin receives funding from Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada.
Laurette Dube does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. How Shakespeare can help us put meaning back in money – https://theconversation.com/how-shakespeare-can-help-us-put-meaning-back-in-money-250903
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Kelley Lee, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Global Health Governance; Scientific Director, Pacific Institute on Pathogens, Pandemics and Society, Simon Fraser University
As the United States moves to end longstanding commitments to global health co-operation — punctuated by its withdrawal from World Health Organization (WHO) — a new report by the joint Expert Panel of the Royal Society of Canada and Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, which we co-chaired, offers guidance on how Canada can strategically position itself in this fast-changing context.
Traditionally, Canada has taken pride in being a good global health citizen through distinct contributions as a middle power. Active participation in multilateral institutions such as the WHO, close co-operation with like-minded states and research partnerships led by low- and middle-income countries have defined Canada’s global health brand.
Since the early 2000s, Canada has also initiated and funded major initiatives on reproductive, maternal and child health, nutrition and the control of infectious diseases. The International Development Research Centre and Grand Challenges Canada, alongside researchers and civil society organizations, have generated further tangible benefits for the health and well-being of populations worldwide, while also elevating Canada’s standing on the world stage.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic has since triggered seismic changes in the global health landscape. The pandemic itself stress-tested Canada’s global health role, earning the country mixed reviews.
While the federal government provided billions of dollars to collectively fight SARS-CoV-2, through initiatives such as the COVAX Facility and ACT-Accelerator (Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator), these important contributions were overshadowed by Canada’s failure to champion global vaccine equity. Rather than bringing countries together, the pandemic prompted many to prioritize national interests.
Since the end of the emergency phase, governments have struggled to agree to a pandemic treaty and there has been a shift in attention to other pressing needs. Calls to decolonize global health have instead been met with a decline in financial commitments by the U.S. and other donor countries.
This concerning shift in the global health landscape signals an important need for Canada to reflect on its role in global health. Key findings of our panel’s report directly challenge the outdated notion that global health is simply about development assistance.
Instead, we identify where domestic and global health needs intersect in an interconnected world of shared risks and opportunities. We conclude that domestic health and well-being cannot be advanced without a robust commitment to global health co-operation. The key is to urgently identify these win-wins as points of navigation in an era of what’s known as polycrisis.
To renew Canada’s global health role, the panel identifies four priority issue areas that bring together domestic and global health needs:
Champion an accelerated and equity-focused universal health coverage strategy with particular emphasis on primary care and the rights of women and girls;
Advance a One Health security approach to pandemic readiness that emphasizes the interconnectedness of all life, need for primary prevention and central importance of sustainability and equity; spans upstream risks as well as downstream preparedness and response measures; and builds core capacities such as a standing emergency workforce;
Renew Canadian leadership in health promotion and protection by advancing a well-being economy focused on serving people and the planet, rather than the generation of wealth as an end goal; and prevents the harms and promotes the benefits from for-profit businesses, their activities and the economic systems that sustain them, known as the commercial determinants of health;
Initiate a Canadian Emergency Workforce for Health Innovation Program to urgently tackle the domestic and global health workforce crisis including a commitment to zero poaching of international health-care workers by 2035.
The panel recommends that three strategic actions are needed to take forward these priority issue areas:
A Canadian Global Health Strategy that sets out a renewed rationale for global health engagement, key priorities for federal, provincial/territorial and local levels of government, targeted investments and clear metrics to monitor progress;
A coherent and targeted plan to bolster public and private investments in science and innovation for critical priorities such as the health workforce, One Health Security, along with research capacity in Indigenous communities and the developing world; and
A commitment to ensuring Canadian capacity to engage in global health decision-making, diplomacy and partnerships through the appointment of a Global Health Ambassador; establishment of a Canadian Global Health Hub (CG2H) that brings together available expertise, talent and resources; and a training program for our next-generation of leaders.
The growing threat from highly pathogenic avian influenza and the health impacts of climate change are looming examples of how a retreat from global health co-operation at this time would directly weaken Canada’s capacity to protect health and well-being at home.
From the World Health Organization’s tracking of the ever-changing influenza virus to the rapid development and deployment of medical countermeasures and the joint tackling of the causes of global warming, a retreat behind national borders makes little sense. Building on a storied history of engagement that supersedes partisan politics, there is no time to lose for Canada to strategically renew its role in global health.
Kelley Lee receives funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, New Frontiers in Research Fund, Canadian Biomedical Research Fund, Canada Foundation for Innovation, and British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
Tim Evans is a Board member of the not-for-profit group CanWaCH.
– ref. Why it’s a critical time for Canada to renew its commitment to global health co-operation – https://theconversation.com/why-its-a-critical-time-for-canada-to-renew-its-commitment-to-global-health-co-operation-251894
Adults looking to upgrade their academic skills to access high-priority post-secondary career programs will continue to benefit from tuition-free Adult Basic Education (ABE) and English Language Learning (ELL) pathway programs across B.C.
The Province is investing nearly $4 million to support delivery of 23 pathways at 11 public post-secondary institutions and Native Education College (NEC) between April 1, 2025, and Aug. 31, 2026. The pathway programs are offered in addition to existing ABE and ELL programming available throughout the province, which became tuition-free in 2017.
The ABE and ELL pathway programs were launched in 2022 and provide opportunities for domestic students to upgrade English, math, and science skills to meet prerequisites for entry into high-priority post-secondary career programs, in areas such as health care, early childhood education, skilled trades and technology.
The programs help students transition into post-secondary education and skills training and set them up for success by helping them integrate into post-secondary life, tailoring programs to students’ target careers or disciplines, and offering career guidance and additional academic support.
The 11 public post-secondary institutions and NEC each offer unique approaches that reflect their region, student population and programming. For example, institutions may customize their pathways to meet the needs of Indigenous students, students living in rural areas, or newcomer students.
Learn More:
To learn more about ABE and ELL programs, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/adult-education/adult-upgrading
To read B.C.’s 2024 Labour Market Outlook, visit: https://www.workbc.ca/sites/default/files/2025-02/BC%20LMO%20Report%202024.pdf
Two backgrounders follow.
Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh
A vibrant job fair held at Millennium Court, Portadown, on Wednesday 28th March attracted a strong turnout of job seekers and local employers, reinforcing the commitment of Armagh City, Banbridge, and Craigavon Borough Council to employment growth and workforce development across the area.
Organised by the Council’s Labour Market Partnership (LMP) in collaboration with the local Jobs and Benefits Office, the event featured leading businesses from various sectors, including retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology.
Funded by the Department for Communities, Labour Market Partnerships create targeted employment action plans for council areas, allowing for collaboration at local and regional level to support people towards and into work.
Job vacancies were available from major employers such as as Eventsec, Almac, Ulster Carpets, Shelbourne Motors, Avondale Foods, Translink, and many more. Attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with potential employers, learn about job openings, training opportunities, and support schemes designed to enhance their employability.
Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Kyle Savage, attended the event and commented:
“These job fairs are a crucial initiative to connect local people with employment opportunities, ensuring that businesses can access the talent they need to grow while supporting our residents in finding meaningful work. The turnout today highlights the demand for job opportunities and the enthusiasm of employers to invest in our local workforce.”
Labour Market Partnership job fairs take place throughout the ABC borough during the year, providing attendees with a list of available vacancies, information on training and self-employment opportunities, careers guidance, and practical advice to enhance their job prospects.
For more information about the work of the Labour Market Partnership, visit www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/lmp
Source: United Nations MIL OSI b
Following is the text of UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ video message to the Nutrition for Growth Summit, in Paris today:
In 2015, world leaders made a pledge to humanity: To eradicate hunger by 2030.
Sadly, with less than five years to go, we are far off track.
Today, 1 in 11 people suffers from hunger. In Africa, it is one in five.
Among children, malnutrition is a tragedy — and a moral failure. Meanwhile, millions of people struggle with obesity due to a processed diet — high in sugar and saturated fats, but low in essential nutrients.
This dual threat strains our healthcare systems, widens inequalities and hinders sustainable development.
Combating hunger demands a global effort at every level — and unprecedented political and financial engagement to sustainably transform our food systems.
The Global Alliance against Hunger aims to mobilize funds and concrete solutions to support countries in this transformation.
In July, the second United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake in Addis Ababa must result in tangible commitments — notably financial ones.
Only a third of low- and middle-income countries have adequate funding for nutrition.
Too often, vulnerable countries are left on their own — facing economic crises, protracted conflicts and climate disasters.
The Pact for the Future calls for reforming the international financial architecture. It includes a commitment to advance an SDG Stimulus. To increase the lending capacity of multilateral development banks; to alleviate the burden of countries drowning in debt; and to mobilize more international and domestic resources, public and private, for vital investments — particularly in food security.
Excellencies, a world without hunger is not a utopia. It is a choice.
We have the necessary resources, knowledge and tools. And your Summit represents a key opportunity to drive concrete action for a healthy nutrition for all. So let us work together to keep our promise and make malnutrition a thing of the past.
Thank you.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Harry Chavis, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, and Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Region of the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a nine-count indictment charging PAUL R. STEED, 58, of Stamford, with fraud and tax offenses stemming from his alleged commission of multiple frauds against his former employer Mars, Inc.
The indictment was returned yesterday, and Steed was arrested this morning. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport, pleaded not guilty, and is currently detained.
The indictment alleges that, between approximately 2011 and 2023, Steed was employed by Mars Wrigley, a subsidiary of Mars. Inc. (“Mars”), working remotely from his home in Stamford. Steed served as Global Price Risk Manager for Mars Wrigley’s Global Cocoa Enterprise. As part of his employment, Steed was responsible for managing Mars Wrigley’s participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) Sugar-Containing Products Re-Export Program. In approximately 2016, Steed created a company, MCNA LLC, to mimic an actual Mars entity, Mars Chocolate North America. He then diverted millions of dollars in Mars assets to a bank account he set up in MCNA’s name by directing sugar refineries purchasing Mars’s re-export credits, obtained through the USDA program, to pay MCNA LLC as if it were a legitimate Mars entity.
The indictment also alleges that Mars had an ownership interest in Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (“ICE”), a financial services company that operated financial exchanges and clearing houses, and received quarterly dividends in connection with that ownership. In 2017, Steed directed Computershare Limited (“Computershare”), a company that ICE utilized for stock-related services, to pay MCNA LLC for Mars’s dividends from its ownership shares in ICE. As a result, more than $700,000 in dividend payments were diverted to the MCNA LLC account. In 2023, after Steed had used a fraudulent letter purportedly from the Mars Treasurer authorizing him to trade ICE shares, Steed directed Computershare to sell Mars’s ICE shares entirely. Computershare issued a check in the amount of more than $11.3 million, which Steed deposited into the MCNA LLC account.
The indictment further alleges that, from 2013 through 2020, Steed used a company he owned called Ibera LLC to invoice Mars for services Mars did not receive. Mars paid Ibera LLC approximately $580,000 through this scheme.
The indictment charges Steed with seven counts of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment on each count. Steed is also charged with two counts of tax evasion, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years on each count, for failing to report and pay taxes on his stolen income, as alleged.
According to statements made in court, Steed is alleged to have stolen more than $28 million from Mars and through his schemes. More than $18 million was seized today for forfeiture, and the government is seeking to forfeit a Greenwich home that Steed is alleged to have purchased with nearly $2.3 million in stolen funds. It is alleged that another $2 million was sent by Steed to Argentina, where he is a dual citizen, has family ties, and owns a ranch.
Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Novick.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
WASHINGTON – William Brock, 33, and Anthony Antwon McNair, Jr., 36, both of Washington, D.C., were sentenced today to 657 months (54.75 years) months and 378 months (31.5 years) in prison respectively for their roles in a series of armed robberies of Brink’s armored cars in Washington, D.C., that resulted in the loss of more than $1.2 million.
The sentences were announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Brock and McNair were found guilty by a federal jury on September 9, 2024, of conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery, interference with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act Robbery), bank robbery, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The jury also found co-defendant Erin Sheffey guilty the same day of conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery. Sheffey was sentenced January 15, 2025, to 18 years in prison.
In addition to the prison terms, U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth ordered Brock and McNair to each serve three years of supervised release and pay $1.2 million in restitution.
The three Brink’s truck robberies occurred on October 6, 2021, December 8, 2021, and March 2, 2022. In those robberies, the defendants used firearms to assault the drivers of Brink’s armored cars and steal money. In total, the defendants stole over $1.2 million.
According to court documents and the evidence at trial, the three defendants were members of the Choppa City street crew. Brock, McNair, and Sheffey conspired together and with others to plan and carry out the robberies, brandishing firearms on busy District streets while doing so.
Each robbery occurred on a Wednesday at about 9 a.m., and two occurred on busy city throughfares, causing a significant risk to the public. Testimony in the case revealed that the conspirators used assault rifles to carry out their robberies.
Brock planned the robberies for months, learning the routes and arrival times of the Brink’s drivers, to ensure the robbery team was in place. As the Brink’s driver exited his armored car vehicle to deliver money to a business, the robbers ambushed him. In two cases, the defendants assaulted one of the Brink’s drivers, even after he had complied to their demands and had turned over his courier bag.
Members of the crew used social media to show off large sums of money they stole during the robberies and photographed themselves making high-end luxury purchases. For example, within two days of the robberies, Brock purchased vehicles in cash totaling over $36,000.
Leading up to trial, all three men attempted to intimidate witnesses in the case. These attempts, among other things, were cited as bases for their decades-long sentences.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Violent Crimes Task Force and the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Tepfer and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Schneider. Valuable assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Josh Gold, Meredith Mayer-Dempsey, and Thomas Strong.
An AR-15 used by the defendants during the armed robberies
Brock (right) and McNair (left) robbing a Brinks armored car employee with a firearm on December 8, 2021. Brock and McNair assaulted the driver by beating him with their pistols even after he turned over the delivery bag.
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Source: Office of United States Attorneys
RALEIGH, N.C. – Richard Wargo, a former Sergeant at Pender Correctional Institution, pled guilty today to committing perjury before a federal grand jury in a civil rights investigation. Wargo, 37, faces up to 60 months in prison when sentenced later this year.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began an investigation in 2022 into Pender Correctional Institution (PCI), in Burgaw, after receiving multiple allegations of officers using excessive force against inmates in the prior year. During one incident, which occurred on November 17, 2021, PCI officers removed an inmate from a dorm room due to apparent intoxication and took him to a separate shipping and receiving building with no surveillance cameras. The inmate was handcuffed and struck with a baton multiple times, resulting in lacerations on his legs and scarring.
Wargo was working the night shift when the November 17, 2021, incident occurred and was tasked with preparing the incident report regarding the use of force. In his report, Wargo omitted that he was present during or involved in the use of force. It was the prison’s policy that no one involved in the incident should prepare the incident report.
The FBI interviewed Wargo in August 2023. When asked about the November 17, 2021, incident, Wargo described being the investigating officer but said he otherwise was in no way involved and was not even present for the use of force. He appeared before a federal grand jury on August 22, 2023, and while under oath, gave the same account. However, grand jury testimony from other officers and witnesses established that Wargo was present in the shipping and receiving building during the assault. Two officers testified that Wargo participated in the assault, striking the inmate with a baton, while another officer testified that he saw Wargo standing over the inmate.
Wargo agreed to a second, audio recorded interview on February 26, 2024. He again denied being present for or participating in the November 17, 2021, use of force incident. But when confronted with evidence to the contrary, Wargo admitted that he had entered the shipping and receiving building during an ongoing use of force incident. He further admitted that he had drawn his baton and witnessed other officers strike the inmate with batons.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle accepted the plea. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh is prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:24-cr-0043-BO.
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Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Orlando, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the return of an indictment charging Kacey Caudill (28, Melbourne) with one count of enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, one count of production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), three counts of receipt of CSAM, and one count of possession of CSAM involving a minor under 12 years of age.
If convicted on the enticement count, Caudill faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. For the production of CSAM count, he faces a minimum sentence of 15 years, up to 30 years. Each receipt count carries a minimum sentence of 5 years, up to 20 years, and for the possession of CSAM count, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, Caudill committed these offenses between August 2 and October 9, 2024.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.