Part of Gorsebrook Road will be resurfaced between Glentworth Gardens and Carter Road during the City of Wolverhampton Council works.
It starts on Thursday (30 January) and runs until Friday 7 February, weather permitting.
The road will be closed to traffic between 9.30am and 3pm each day, not including weekends.
A diversion route will be in place along Craddock Street, Hunter Street, Newhampton Road East, Waterloo Road, Ring Road St Peters, Stafford Street and Stafford Road.
National Express West Midlands Wolverhampton number 62 bus service will divert via Dunstall Lane, Dunstall Road, Five Ways Island and Waterloo Road before joining its normal line of route during the works. Visit National Express West Midlands for updates.
The scheme also includes upgrading equipment at the zebra crossing – which has already been completed – and remarking the mini-island to improve safety for pedestrians and other road users.
It follows a raft of resurfacing and surface dressing works already carried out by the council over the past 12 months to prevent potholes and other defects.
Councillor Qaiser Azeem, Cabinet Member for Transport and Green City at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “We know improving our roads is key to ensuring our communities and businesses are well connected, which in turn supports economic growth and jobs.
“Through a data-led approach that makes the best use of technology, alongside inspections, we are able to make informed decisions about where our investment is best directed to help deliver an efficient safe and smooth flowing highway network for all modes of transport.”
Latest reports from Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from UN teams on the ground indicate a fast-deteriorating situation on Tuesday amid an ongoing assault by M23 rebels on the provincial capital.
Dead bodies lie in the streets, hospitals are overwhelmed and there has been an uptick in reports of sexual violence, rape and looting.
“Roads are blocked, ports are closed and those crossing Lake Kivu risk their lives in makeshift boats,” said Shelley Thakral, spokesperson for the UN World Food Programme (WFP) – one of many UN agencies on the ground striving to provide assistance and protection wherever possible. “I spoke just moments ago to an activist In Goma and he told me, ‘We’re here, we’re hiding. We don’t know who will come to help us.’”
The UN aid coordination office, OCHA, echoed the humanitarian community’s deep concerns about the spiralling violence across the resource-rich region that has uprooted some 300,000 people from camps around Goma in a matter of days.
Aid targeted
“Our colleagues in the DRC report heavy, small arms fire and mortar fire across the city and the presence of many dead bodies in the streets,” said OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke. “We have reports of rapes committed by fighters, looting of property, including of a humanitarian warehouse and humanitarian and health facilities being hit.”
The emergency has left hospitals in Goma reportedly overwhelmed by the influx of wounded people, electricity and water supplies “compromised” and internet services cut off on Monday. “Goma is still offline this morning,” Mr. Laerke told journalists in Geneva.
The development came amid urgent calls from the international community including the Security Council in New York, where ambassadors on Tuesday demanded an immediate halt to the M23 rebel offensive and called for the group to withdraw from territories it has seized.
The ambassadors reiterated their support for the UN peacekeeping force in the DR Congo, MONUSCO, and paid tribute to blue helmets who have lost their lives from South Africa, Malawi and Uruguay in recent days.
The Council also condemned the presence of “external forces” in eastern DRC – amid reports Rwandan troops are heavily involved in the offensive – and called for all parties to adhere to the ceasefire and return to diplomatic talks.
Years of crisis
Before the latest escalation in violence in eastern DRC’s Kivus, some 5.1 million people had already been displaced by years of insecurity in the mineral-rich region and forced to live in overcrowded camps with little food and no security.
UN agencies and partners continue to monitor the highly unstable situation which has forced WFP to temporarily pause food assistance activities in around Goma. “The airport and major access roads within the region have been cut off…Depending on the duration of violence, the supply of food into the city could be severely hampered,” said WFP’s Ms. Thakral.
“This is a huge test for Congolese trapped by fighting in Goma and surrounding areas…the next 24 hours will be critical as people start to run low on supplies and will need to see what they can find to survive.”
Disease fears
The highly mobile nature of the emergency has prompted additional fears that existing diseases may spread quickly among uprooted populations, although preventive measures were taken before the latest escalation, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said.
For the moment the immediate concern is to help victims of the violence.
“There are currently hundreds of people in hospital, most admitted with gunshot and shrapnel wounds, with secondary infections becoming a health risk,” said Dr Adelheid Marschang, Emergency Response Coordinator for the DRC.
She noted that before Goma airport closed on Saturday, WHO had sent critical medical supplies for trauma and emergency care, infection prevention, cholera and more.
The UN agency’s response to the crisis has also included providing tents for hospitals to cope with the increasing number of injured. It has medical hubs in North and South Kivu, in the cities of Goma and Bukavu to support health care needs in eastern DRC.
Last year the provinces of North and South Kivu reported high numbers of cholera, measles and malaria cases and deaths, Dr. Marschang said, warning of a “heightened risk for spillover of cholera” into neighbouring countries and provinces.
The area was also the epicentre of an outbreak of a new strain of mpox, declared a public health emergency of international concern in August 2024. Dr. Marschang warned that the new wave of displacement will make it increasingly hard to track and treat the disease.
Amid the lethal violence, hospitals and health workers themselves are in danger, the WHO official said, with “reports of health workers being shot at and patients including babies being caught in crossfire”.
“Attacks on healthcare violate the rules of war. Healthcare must be protected at all times,” she insisted.
Sexual violence alert
WHO and other UN agencies and partners said that they are especially worried about the increasing risk to women and girlsfrom violence, including rape.
“Pregnant women are at risk, with very high maternal death rates, even before the violence escalated,” WHO said.
“Sadly, hospitals and health workers are in danger. We are hearing reports of health workers being shot at, and patients, including babies, being caught in the crossfire. WHO reminds everyone that attacks on healthcare violate the rules of war. Health care must be protected at all times.”
Echoing those concerns, WFP’s Ms. Thakral reported that mobile teams and mobile clinics are at work amid reports that women had been raped multiple times while searching for firewood or after leaving the perimeter of their camp.
Other reports indicated “an increase in rape along the pathways that some of the conflict partners are now taking into South Kivu,” she said, underscoring the agency’s efforts “to have some solutions to follow the populations as they move”.
Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Wendy W. Berger today sentenced James Darrell Hickox (38, Callahan) to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for multiple federal offenses including conspiring to distribute narcotics, conspiring to defraud the United States, and tax evasion. The court also ordered Hickox to forfeit or abandon the money, firearms, and ammunition involved in these offenses. Hickox pleaded guilty on May 15, 2024.
According to court documents, while employed as a deputy with the Nassau County Sheriff’s and designated Task Force Officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Hickox and a co-conspirator engaged in extensive corrupt activity from 2017 – 2023. These acts included the theft of money and illegal drugs that were seized as evidence during criminal investigations; providing illegal drugs (including fentanyl and cocaine) to others to distribute on his behalf; and hiding from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) more than $420,000 in cash he had received because of his criminal activities. Hickox and his co-conspirator stole more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana from evidence and provided the drugs to others to sell on their behalf. They had covered up the theft by submitting falsified paperwork showing that the marijuana had been destroyed. Similarly, they stole a kilogram of cocaine from evidence and then gave it to a drug dealer to sell for them.
When Hickox’s residence was searched pursuant to a federal search warrant on March 10, 2023, agents found approximately 263 grams of a powder containing fentanyl, as well as cocaine. Hickox intended to distribute these substances. Agents also found a rifle that Hickox had illegally modified to function as a machinegun, as well as four additional firearms that had been seized during law enforcement investigations and should have been in evidence or lawfully destroyed. Hickox had drilled out and obliterated the serial number of one of these firearms. The agents also located more than $195,000 in cash proceeds from Hickox’s illicit activities. A search of Hickox’s workspace at the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office revealed another 260 pills containing methamphetamine.
“Law enforcement officers who operate as though they are above the law betray the badge and the citizens they swore to protect,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Kristin Rehler. “This case exemplifies the FBI’s commitment to holding public servants accountable if they violate the very laws they promised to uphold.”
“He betrayed the oath he took to become a police officer and lost his career. He also let down his co-workers and our community,” said Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper. “Its law enforcement officers who do stupid things like this that erodes the confidence and trust in our profession by our citizens. His poor judgement and criminal behavior should not reflect negatively on all the good men and women at NCSO who go out every day and do it the right way to keep our citizens safe.”
“As a sworn law enforcement officer, Hickox took an oath to uphold the law,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Tampa Field Office. “Instead, he turned his back on that oath and profited from the very crimes he was tasked with investigating. We commend our fellow law enforcement partners for their great work coming together to put a stop to this illegal betrayal of public trust. We will continue to investigate allegations of public corruption and follow the money to prosecute any individuals that abuse their position of trust for personal gain.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton. The United States Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation, and United States Customs and Border Protection wish to thank the Florida Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office for their cooperation during this investigation.
Salford City Council has today (28 January) approved a report to explore the opportunity and benefits for the establishment of a Mayoral Development Zone (MDZ), which could pave the way for significant investment and growth in a key part of the city.
The decision was made at Cabinet with Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett and senior elected members signing off on the proposed plans.
Councillors supported the plans for an MDZ within the wider Western Gateway area of the city. The Western Gateway refers to the west part of the city, the area surrounding the Liverpool Rd and M62 corridors and along the route of the Manchester Ship Canal.
The ambitious plans are part of a cross-borough approach with Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Trafford Council and could see thousands of job opportunities created alongside the huge economic boost that could be realised from regeneration through the MDZ.
Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor, said: “Realising the full potential of the Western Gateway and Port Salford and driving significant growth and economic benefit has long been a key aspiration for the city council.
Across Salford and Trafford there is the potential to generate thousands of new jobs, capitalising on planned employment space, new homes, as well as leisure and retail.
Good growth is one of the cornerstones of our priorities, outlined in our corporate plan This is our Salford, and these plans represent our commitment to delivering on our ambitions to create a fairer, greener, healthier and more inclusive city.
This much needed redevelopment and subsequent growth will not happen overnight, but this step is an important and exciting one as it moves our aspirations for this area of the city closer to becoming a reality.
Now this proposal has been approved, myself, along with senior elected members and officers will now begin to develop the MDZ further and explore all the possibilities associated with this approach.”
An MDZ refers to a defined area where a mayor can seek to channel significant investment and development activity with the goal of regenerating and revitalising that specific area.
The MDZ will provide clear governance, resources and a dedicated work programme to secure investment to unlock key development sites in the Western Gateway.
The Western Gateway is one of six growth locations in Greater Manchester identified to generate significant inclusive growth and economic benefits. In order to unlock potential growth, the site is reliant on significant highway and rail infrastructure investment.
Port Salford has been a long-term component of the city’s planned future regeneration and growth for the city council, and this move brings this vision a step closer to fruition.
Port Salford Phase 1 already has consent for the construction of a multi-modal freight interchange comprising 155,000 sqm (1,600,000 sqft) of warehousing with the potential to be the only inland tri-modal port in the UK.
In 2012, Government funding was secured to part finance and deliver Part WGIS which allowed development of up to 55,000 sqm at Port Salford.
Initial development in 2017, saw the completion of 55,000sqm of warehouse space occupied by Great Bear.
By also including Port Salford Phase 2 (adopted under Places for Everyone) and development land at the City of Salford Community Stadium, these sites collectively provide an opportunity to deliver 511,000sqm of new employment floorspace, 5,790 new jobs and circa £6.4m in business rates.
Approval to explore the MDZ is a key decision and is subject to 5-day call in period. The approval of these plans follows on from the decision made by Trafford Council’s executive on Monday 27 January to approve the plans. The approval decision will then be presented to GMCA’s executive on Friday 31 January for decision.
Boston, MA, Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Finnovate Acquisition Corp. (“Finnovate”) (OTC: “FNVUF”, “FNVTF”, “FNVWF”) announced today that its upcoming extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (the “Special Meeting”) to approve its proposed initial business combination has been postponed to 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time on Thursday, February 27, 2025. At the meeting, shareholders of Finnovate will be asked to vote on proposals to approve, among other things, its proposed initial business combination (the “Business Combination”) with Scage International Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Scage International” or the “Company”), Scage Future, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Pubco”), Hero 1, a Cayman Islands exempted company and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of PubCo (“Merger Sub I”), and Hero 2, a Cayman Islands exempted company and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of PubCo (“Merger Sub II”) pursuant to a Business Combination Agreement (as amended, the “Business Combination Agreement”). There is no change to the location, the record date, the purpose or any of the proposals to be acted upon at the Special Meeting.
The Special Meeting is being postponed to allow for additional time for Scage International to obtain requisite listing approvals from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”), which is a condition for consummating the Business Combination. Therefore, Finnovate has decided to postpone the Special Meeting to allow more time for the closing conditions under the Business Combination Agreement to be met.
As a result of this change, the Special Meeting will now be held at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on Thursday, February 27, 2025, via a live webcast at https://www.cstproxy.com/finnovateacquisition/2025. Also as a result of this change, the deadline for holders of Finnovate’s Class A ordinary shares issued in its initial public offering to submit their shares for redemption in connection with the Business Combination, is being extended to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.
Finnovate plans to continue to solicit proxies from shareholders during the period prior to the Special Meeting. Only the holders of Finnovate’s ordinary shares as of the close of business on January 6, 2025, the record date for the Special Meeting, are entitled to vote at the Special Meeting.
About Finnovate Acquisition Corp.
Finnovate Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with the purpose of acquiring one and more businesses and assets, via a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, and reorganization.
Forward-Looking Statements
The information in this Press Release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “expect,” “continue,” “should,” “would,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “future,” “outlook” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and forecasts of financial and performance metrics and projections of market opportunity and market share; references with respect to the anticipated benefits of the proposed transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination”) and the projected future financial performance of Finnovate and the Company’s operating companies following the proposed Business Combination; changes in the market for the Company’s products and services and expansion plans and opportunities; the Company’s ability to successfully execute its expansion plans and business initiatives; ability for the Company to raise funds to support its business; the sources and uses of cash of the proposed Business Combination; the anticipated capitalization and enterprise value of the combined company following the consummation of the proposed Business Combination; the projected technological developments of the Company and its competitors; ability of the Company to control costs associated with operations; the ability to manufacture efficiently at scale; anticipated investments in research and development and the effect of these investments and timing related to commercial product launches; and expectations related to the terms, approvals and timing of the proposed Business Combination. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of the Company’s and Finnovate’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of the Company and Finnovate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement; the risk that the Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the transactions described herein; the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination; the ability to obtain or maintain the listing of the Pubco’s securities on The Nasdaq Stock Market, following the Business Combination, including having the requisite number of shareholders; costs related to the Business Combination; changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; risks relating to the uncertainty of certain projected financial information with respect to the Company; the Company’s ability to successfully and timely develop, manufacture, sell and expand its technology and products, including implement its growth strategy; the Company’s ability to adequately manage any supply chain risks, including the purchase of a sufficient supply of critical components incorporated into its product offerings; risks relating to the Company’s operations and business, including information technology and cybersecurity risks, failure to adequately forecast supply and demand, loss of key customers and deterioration in relationships between the Company and its employees; the Company’s ability to successfully collaborate with business partners; demand for the Company’s current and future offerings; risks that orders that have been placed for the Company’s products are cancelled or modified; risks related to increased competition; risks relating to potential disruption in the transportation and shipping infrastructure, including trade policies and export controls; risks that the Company is unable to secure or protect its intellectual property; risks of product liability or regulatory lawsuits relating to the Company products and services; risks that the post-combination company experiences difficulties managing its growth and expanding operations; the uncertain effects of certain geopolitical developments; the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the proposed Business Combination, including the risk that any required shareholder or regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed Business Combination; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company, Finnovate, Pubco or others following announcement of the proposed Business Combination and transactions contemplated thereby; the ability of the Company to execute its business model, including market acceptance of its planned products and services and achieving sufficient production volumes at acceptable quality levels and prices; technological improvements by the Company’s peers and competitors; and those risk factors discussed in documents of Pubco and Finnovate filed, or to be filed, with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither Finnovate nor the Company presently know or that Finnovate and the Company currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Finnovate’s, Pubco’s and the Company’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. Finnovate, Pubco and the Company anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause Finnovate’s, Pubco’s and the Company’s assessments to change. However, while Finnovate, Pubco and the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Finnovate, Pubco and the Company specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. Readers are referred to the most recent reports filed with the SEC by Finnovate. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Additional Information
Pubco has filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form F-4, which has been declared effective by SEC (the “Registration Statement”), which includes a definitive proxy statement of Finnovate and a prospectus in connection with the proposed Business Combination involving Finnovate, Pubco, Hero 1, Hero 2 and the Company pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement. The definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents has been mailed to shareholders of Finnovate as of the record date of January 6, 2025. SHAREHOLDERS OF FINNOVATE AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES ARE URGED TO READ, THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT, AND AMENDMENTS THERETO IN CONNECTION WITH FINNOVATE’S SOLICITATION OF PROXIES FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF ITS SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD TO APPROVE THE BUSINESS COMBINATION BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT FINNOVATE, THE COMPANY, PUBCO AND THE BUSINESS COMBINATION.
Participants in The Solicitation
Pubco, Finnovate, the Company, and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Finnovate in connection with the Business Combination. Information regarding the officers and directors of Finnovate is set forth in the Registration Statement. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants are also included in the Registration Statement and other relevant documents to be filed or has been filed with the SEC.
No Offer Or Solicitation
This Press Release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT
Finnovate Acquisition Corp. Calvin Kung 265 Franklin Street Suite 1702 Boston, MA 02110 +1 (424) 253-0908
Renewable Power: TotalEnergies Will Supply 1.5 TWh to STMicroelectronics in France over 15 Years
1stPPA in France for STMicroelectronics, aiming at 100% renewable sourcing by 2027
Power comes from 2 recent wind and solar farms of 75 MW operated by TotalEnergies
Paris, Geneva – January 28, 2025 – TotalEnergies and STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, have signed a physical1 Power Purchase Agreement to supply renewable electricity to STMicroelectronics sites in France. This 15-year contract, started in January 2025, represents an overall volume of 1.5 TWh.
TotalEnergies will provide STMicroelectronics with the renewable power (including the guarantee of origin) produced by two recent wind and solar farms of 75 MW operated by TotalEnergies. This power comes with structuration services to transform intermittent production in a constant volume (“baseload”) of green electricity. It’s the first time in France that such a 15-year contract is provided. The positive impact of the wind and solar projects on the environment and on the communities was a key success factor in the signing of the deal.
“We are delighted to sign this agreement with STMicroelectronics, which demonstrates our ability to provide long-term and innovative clean firm power solutions tailored to our customers’ needs,” said Sophie Chevalier, Senior Vice President Flexible Power & Integration at TotalEnergies.“TotalEnergies aims to be a preferred partner to support tech industry players towards their decarbonization efforts, and this agreement showcases our commitment and capabilities.”
“This first PPA in France marks yet another important step towards ST’s goal of becoming carbon neutral in its operations (Scope 1 and 2 emissions, and partially scope 3) by 2027, including the sourcing of 100% renewable energy by 2027,” said Geoff West, EVP and Chief Procurement Officer at STMicroelectronics.“PPAs will play a major role in our transition, and we have already signed several to support ST’s operations in Italy and Malaysia. Starting in 2025, this PPA with TotalEnergies will provide a significant level of renewable energy for ST’s operations in France, which includes R&D, design, sales and marketing and large-volume chip manufacturing.”
About STMicroelectronics At ST, we are over 50,000 creators and makers of semiconductor technologies mastering the semiconductor supply chain with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. An integrated device manufacturer, we work with more than 200,000 customers and thousands of partners to design and build products, solutions, and ecosystems that address their challenges and opportunities, and the need to support a more sustainable world. Our technologies enable smarter mobility, more efficient power and energy management, and the wide-scale deployment of the Internet of Things and connectivity. We are committed to achieving our goal to become carbon neutral on scope 1 and 2 and partially scope 3 by 2027. Further information can be found at www.st.com.
TotalEnergies and electricity As part of its ambition to get to net zero by 2050, TotalEnergies is building a world class cost-competitive portfolio combining renewables (solar, onshore and offshore wind) and flexible assets (CCGT, storage) to deliver clean firm power to its customers. By mid-2024, TotalEnergies’ gross renewable electricity generation installed capacity reached 24 GW. TotalEnergies will continue to expand this business to reach 35 GW in 2025 and more than 100 TWh of net electricity production by 2030.
About TotalEnergies TotalEnergies is a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to provide as many people as possible with energy that is more reliable, more affordable and more sustainable. Active in about 120 countries, TotalEnergies places sustainability at the heart of its strategy, its projects and its operations.
1 In the case of a “physical” Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), the renewable electricity and the associated guarantees of origin are delivered to the customer, as opposed to the “virtual” PPA, where only the guarantees of origin are delivered to the customer, and the electricity produced is sold to the grid.
PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Exterro Inc. is launching INFORM, a global webinar series designed as a premier resource for digital forensics practitioners. This virtual event will feature independent industry luminaries and experts sharing actionable insights and fostering a community of excellence.
“INFORM is an opportunity for digital forensics experts and practitioners across the globe to connect, learn, and grow,” says Harsh Behl, VP of Product for Digital Forensics at Exterro. “Participants will join an exclusive global community, gaining new ideas, sharing insights, and forging connections with peers and experts.”
Actionable Insights and Strategies for Attendees
Attendees will gain exclusive insights and strategies through deep dives with leaders who understand their biggest challenges. Each session provides real-world solutions and skills applicable immediately. From notable Organizations to leading industry voices, these trailblazers and innovators will showcase the latest in forensic investigation techniques and offer predictions that will shape the year ahead.
“The series will explore challenges and best practices of conducting investigations that investigators face in their jurisdictions, strategies for navigating diverse laws, legal frameworks, and fostering cooperation,” says Justin Tolman, the forensic evangelist and subject matter expert at Exterro. “Attendees will receive valuable insights from experts on overcoming challenges like cross-border hurdles to ensure compliance while driving effective investigative outcomes. By spanning regional perspectives, we’re offering attendees a holistic view of digital forensics that reflects the complex, global nature of today’s investigations.”
At this full-day event will, the experts will delve deeper into:
Strategies for tackling complex investigations, leveraging innovative tools and strategic collaboration to solve high-value crimes, and insights into dismantling intricate, cross-border criminal networks.
Approaches to help forensic teams focus on critical evidence, minimize review time, reduce costs, and implement best practices for refining forensic workflows to deliver results faster in complex investigations.
Advanced digital forensics techniques to identify, analyze, and mitigate insider threats and data exfiltration, including methods to uncover subtle indicators of compromise, trace unauthorized data movement, and implement robust prevention strategies.
Addressing unique cloud challenges, including multi-tenant architectures, data sovereignty, and dynamic environments, while ensuring compliance and minimizing downtime.
How police forces are reshaping their digital forensic processes through innovative cloud-based solutions, modernizing and streamlining investigations, and enhancing collaboration, scalability, and case resolution efficiency.
Challenges and considerations that digital forensic practitioners must address.
Various AI methods, such as image forensics, facial detection and recognition, and deep metadata analysis used for deepfake detection, the challenges posed by the rapid evolution of deepfake technology, and the importance of a multi-modal framework in safeguarding digital media integrity.
The interplay between eDiscovery and forensics in internal investigations, providing insights and tips for success and efficiency, including guidance on the admissibility of evidence and strategies for enhancing personal value.
INFORM will feature some of the brightest minds in digital forensics, including:
Farand C. Wasiak: Senior Special Agent at the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), with extensive experience in cybercrime and child protection investigations.
Prof. Triveni Singh: Cybercrime expert and Superintendent of Police (SP) for Cyber Crime in Uttar Pradesh, India, presenting a comprehensive guide to incident response in cloud environments.
Rob Fried: SVP and Global Head of Forensics at Sandline Global, renowned for leadership in data collection, expert testimony, and investigative training.
David Williams: Director of Global Public Safety & Justice at Microsoft, exploring the critical fight against deepfake technologies and the need for multi-modal detection methods.
John Price KPM: Detective Sergeant with West Midlands Police, offering insights into revolutionizing case management with cloud-based forensics and digital scene triage.
Why INFORM Matters Now
The surge in cybercrime, increasing complexity of legal compliance, and rapid growth of data sources have reshaped the digital forensics landscape. As investigations grow more intricate, the need for global collaboration and knowledge-sharing has become paramount. INFORM seeks to break down silos and create a platform where forensic professionals, regardless of geography, can access the expertise they need to stay ahead of emerging threats.
True to Exterro’s mission of accessibility and community-building, INFORM is a free-to-attend event. Participants can tailor their experience by selecting sessions that align with their interests or commit to the full day to experience the complete global narrative of digital forensics innovation.
To register and view the full schedule of speakers and sessions, visithere.
About Exterro:
Exterro empowers organizations and law enforcement agencies to achieve better legal,regulatory, andinvestigatory outcomes, while saving money and minimizing the impact of data risk. Its data risk management software is the only comprehensive platform that leverages data discovery, automation, and workflow optimization, and one of the first to utilize responsible AI to give users insight into and control over the complex interconnections of privacy, legal operations, digital investigations, cybersecurity response, compliance, and data governance. Thousands of corporations, law firms, managed services providers, and government and law enforcement agencies trust Exterro to manage their risks and drive successful outcomes at a lower cost. For more information, visit www.exterro.com.
BILLERICA, Mass., Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — E Ink (8069.TW) the originator, pioneer, and global commercial leader in ePaper technology, announced its collaboration with Cream Guitars that features the world’s first color-changing guitars. Cream Guitars integrated E Ink Prism 3 ePaper into the Voltage DaVinci design and showcased the latest models at NAMM 2025.
True tastemakers, Cream Guitars is challenging legacy manufacturers by adopting cutting-edge technology that not only inspires artists and onlookers but also pushes the boundaries of personalization and customization. The E Ink wrapped guitars feature seven colors and enables players to express themselves in unique ways.
“We had the idea to break all the rules of the traditional guitar,” said Luis Ortiz, CEO, Cream Guitars. “We’ve redesigned every part of an electric guitar to broaden and enhance the playing experience. Through our innovative collaboration with E Ink, we are providing artists a level of creativity that extends well beyond anything available in today’s market.”
E Ink Prism 3 bridges the gap between traditional static materials and digital technology with dynamically changing materials. The Prism 3 technology is known for its low power consumption, durability, and color-changing capabilities, and is disrupting industries, including automobile, fashion, architecture, and now, music.
“Cream Guitars is at the forefront of instrument design, and this collaboration marks a significant milestone in their commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible,” said Pete Valianatos, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, E Ink. “We are proud to work with them to create an instrument that not only sounds great but makes a visual statement as powerful as their music.”
Beyond the color-changing capabilities, E Ink’s technology is ultra-low power and is an energy-efficient alternative to other display technologies available. E Ink’s ePaper technology has been designated as a contributor to environmental progress by offering efficient and low-carbon displays. E Ink’s commitment to sustainability goes beyond the technology with nearly 60% of its global operations powered by renewable energy and aims to reach 65% renewable energy usage by next year. E Ink is so efficient, the company was included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World and Emerging Markets Indices for the third consecutive year.
Similarly, Cream Guitars also has a strong commitment to the environment. The company strives to ensure that the woods used in production are 100% renewable and focuses on minimizing waste at every step of the manufacturing process. This ensures that their guitars make a minimal environmental impact, while maintaining their high-quality standards.
About E Ink E Ink Holdings Inc. (8069.TWO), based on technology from MIT’s Media Lab, provides an ideal display medium for applications spanning eReaders and eNotes, retail, home, hospital, transportation, logistics, and more, enabling customers to put displays in locations previously impossible. E Ink’s electrophoretic display products make it the worldwide leader for ePaper. Its low power displays enable customers to reach their sustainability goals, and E Ink has pledged using 100% renewable energy in 2030 and reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2040. E Ink has been recognized for their efforts by receiving, validation from Science-Based Targets (SBTi) and is listed in both the DJSI World and DJSI Emerging Indexes. Listed in Taiwan’s Taipei Exchange (TPEx) and the Luxembourg market, E Ink Holdings is now the world’s largest supplier of ePaper displays. For more information please visit www.eink.com. E Ink. We Make Surfaces Smart and Green.
The unmatched speed and accuracy of authID’s Proof and Verified identity authentication solutions now provide enterprises with care-free compliance thateliminates the issues and risks associated with biometric data storage.
DENVER, Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — authID® (Nasdaq: AUID) (“authID”), a leading provider of biometric identity verification and authentication solutions, today announced the release of PrivacyKey™, a first-of-its-kind solution for protecting user biometric data while also avoiding all the compliance issues and risks related to biometric information storage. With the addition of PrivacyKey, authID serves as the ideal partner for organizations that previously delayed or avoided implementation of biometric solutions due to concerns over liability or potential user apprehension regarding privacy. This technology also prevents duplicate registrations without storing actual images of users’ faces.
authID’s Proof™ solution for onboarding users captures images of physical identification documents and faces, validates both for liveness and authenticity, then matches up the facial images for positive identification, all with market-leading speed and accuracy. Historically, authID has retained an encrypted hash of the calculus of each face for subsequent authentication through its Verified™ solution. With PrivacyKey, available with authID’s Proof and Verified platform Version 4.0, authID stores no biometric data whatsoever, thereby ensuring user privacy and regulatory compliance while providing authID customers absolute confidence in the security measures they implement to authenticate and verify identities.
PrivacyKey also features critical key-management capabilities that ensure the highest level of user protection and privacy. Enterprises using the platform can rotate and revoke keys with ease, ensuring the keys are accessible only to those who are authorized to access them. This offers authID customers a level of security no other biometric authentication solution can offer.
“We’ve never stored any biometric data that could be reverse-engineered into a face. Today we’re innovating even further to satisfy even the most stringent compliance concerns,” explained Rhon Daguro, CEO of authID. “By leveraging technology that retains no biometric artifact whatsoever, authID provides secure verification that enterprises can trust, all at 700ms processing speeds and with one-in-one billion false-match accuracy. Companies that use authID will have cutting-edge security and data privacy compliance because PrivacyKey™ eliminates biometric data storage.”
While biometric authentication usage is on the rise, fears of any collected biometric data being vulnerable to theft or misuse persist as the primary barrier to adoption. This leads to consumers and even employees opting out of participating in biometric systems, regardless of guarantees that their data is safe from breaches or resale. An increasing number of states and countries are also enacting laws limiting or even banning biometric data retention, meaning companies incur additional legal burdens. With the addition of PrivacyKey™, authID provides assurance to users as well as their organizations, and broadens the market for its best-in-class biometric platform.
“Identity verification products based on personally-identifiable information are always vulnerable to data breaches, but authID’s platform subtracts that risk, allowing businesses to leverage biometric signals that can’t be breached and can’t be phished,” said Erick Soto, authID Chief Product Officer. “At time of identity proofing and onboarding, we utilize the facial biometric to create a public and private key pair. We immediately destroy the private key, and store only the public key. Each time that an onboarded user authenticates with their face, we recreate the private key, which is then matched to the public key with an encrypted message for verification. And during a search, even the keys are only matched within their organization’s ecosystem, not the universe.”
“With PrivacyKey™, users don’t have to worry about their facial biometrics being at risk in our cloud, and our customers avoid compliance risks, since there’s nothing to steal,” added Daguro. “We provide the ultimate in data privacy protection.”
For more information and a video demonstration of PrivacyKey, click here. For additional information, visit https://authid.ai/
About authID authID® (Nasdaq: AUID) ensures enterprises “Know Who’s Behind the Device™” for every customer or employee login and transaction through its easy-to-integrate, patented, biometric identity platform. authID quickly and accurately verifies a user’s identity and eliminates any assumption of ‘who’ is behind a device to prevent cybercriminals from compromising account openings or taking over accounts. Combining secure digital onboarding, biometric authentication, and account recovery with a fast, accurate, user-friendly experience, authID delivers biometric identity processing in 700ms. Binding a biometric root of trust for each user to their account, authID stops fraud at onboarding, detects and stops deepfakes, eliminates password risks and costs, and provides the fastest, frictionless, and the more accurate user identity experience demanded by today’s digital ecosystem. Contact us to discover how authID can help your organization secure your workforce or consumer applications against identity fraud, cyberattacks and account takeover.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Locus Technologies, the sustainability and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) compliance software leader, proudly announces its strategic partnership with Sophare AI to tackle one of the most complex aspects of ESG: social and pay equity. This collaboration will empower organizations worldwide to address pressing regulatory and ethical challenges through innovative technology and unparalleled domain expertise–without jumping between multiple ESG apps and platforms, which adds time and expense to the disclosure process.
As part of this partnership, Sophare will extend Locus’s ESG software platform with new capabilities designed to address three critical areas:
European Union Pay Transparency Directive Compliance: Sophare’s AI-powered tools help organizations navigate and comply with the EU’s directive, which mandates companies with 100+ employees to disclose gender pay gaps and provide transparent pay structures by 2026.
Global Gender Pay Gap Reporting: With reporting requirements spreading across the EU, UK, Australia, and beyond, Sophare centralizes reporting of multi-jurisdictional compliance and uses AI and automation to streamline reporting.
Alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Sophare AI empowers companies to align with SDG 5 by shining a light on data related to gender equality in leadership and employee compensation.
“This partnership aligns with Locus’s track record of working with professionals who bring deep domain expertise,” said Dr. Zvonimir Dadić, head of the CSRD Practice Group for Locus Technologies Europe. “Sophare’s founding team combines technical chops with a thoughtful approach to legal compliance, and we are pleased to be able to offer our clients this streamlined path to compliance.”
Sophare AI CEO, Siena Duplan, brings a decade of experience developing pay equity algorithms as a data scientist for Salesforce, one of the world’s leading Fortune 500 companies. Sophare’s co-founder and CTO has led a distinguished career in the UK Civil Service and brings extensive engineering experience developing services in hand with legal, compliance, and policy teams. Together, Sophare AI and Locus Technologies will pursue their shared commitment to sustainability and equity, driven by data science.
“Compliance in HR is often seen as a box-ticking exercise, but it’s actually a gateway to bringing organizations into the era of AI,” said Duplan. “HR compliance in particular is a prime opportunity to tap into AI and automation for both significant productivity gains and to deliver a transparent workplace where employees can thrive. Our next-gen data solutions put social and pay equity on par with financial and environmental health.”
This partnership underscores Locus’s commitment to creating an integrated, end-to-end ESG software solution that stays ahead of a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape and helps organizations surmount the biggest obstacles to compliance. Together, Locus and Sophare are transforming the “S” in ESG into a driver for meaningful, measurable impact. To learn more about Locus’s CSRD and ESG software, including the new Sophare AI functionality, please contact us.
About Locus Technologies Locus Technologies, the global environmental, social, governance (ESG), sustainability, and EHS compliance software leader, empowers companies of every size and industry to be credible with ESG reporting. From 1997, Locus pioneered enterprise software-as-a-service (SaaS) for EHS compliance, water management, and ESG credible reporting. Locus apps and software solutions improve business performance by strengthening risk management and EHS for organizations across industries and government agencies. Organizations ranging from medium-sized businesses to Fortune 500 enterprises, such as Sempra, Corteva, Chevron, DuPont, Chemours, San Jose Water Company, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Port of Seattle, and Los Alamos National Laboratory, have selected Locus. Locus is headquartered in Mountain View, California. For further information regarding Locus and its commitment to excellence in SaaS solutions, please visit https://www.locustec.com or email info@locustec.com.
About Sophare AI Sophare AI uses advanced data analytics and machine learning to help organizations achieve lasting pay equity and comply with global pay transparency regulations. Sophare takes a thoughtful approach to legal compliance and business practices, relying on deep expertise in employment laws and regulations across different countries. The company carefully analyzes these requirements to develop the best data models and strategies to help customers meet compliance standards. Deciding how to adapt its services and operations to meet legal requirements is a core part of how Sophare operates. Sophare currently supports global gender pay gap reporting and other cross-border HR compliance requirements. Sophare AI is also seeking partners to co-develop an AI-driven workforce scenario planning tool. Sophare AI is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Please visit sophare.ai or email team@sophare.ai for more information.
Media Contact: Brenda Mahedy Locus Technologies media@locustechnologies.net
1GLOBAL taps Nokia voice and packet core solutions to enhance network operations in existing markets, expand new ones
Deal swaps out competitors and includes Nokia Evolved Packet Core (EPC), Nokia IMS Voice Core, and Nokia NetGuard security solutions.
EPC will be deployed in eight countries, including Australia, the UK, and the US, while Nokia IMS Voice Core will be rolled out in three markets, including the Netherlands.
XX January 2025
Espoo, Finland – 1GLOBAL, a leading communications services provider and MVNO active in nine major markets across the globe, has selected Nokia core and security solutions to help the operator enhance and optimize network operations in existing markets like the UK and US, while rolling out services in new territories such as Brazil, South America’s largest telecoms market.
Hakan Koç, co-Founder & CEO of 1GLOBAL, said: “Our mission at 1Global is to offer device and communications solutions that connect people, networks, and devices instantly and at scale anywhere around the world. We are pleased to partner with Nokia to further strengthen 1GLOBAL’s network operations. This will enable us to roll out new services that elevate our network quality and the overall customer experience more quickly, securely, and flexibly. Technological excellence and delivering value to our customers are at the heart of everything we do at 1Global. Nokia shares this vision, which makes them a great partner for us as we execute the next phase of 1Global’s ambitious growth strategy.”
1GLOBAL will use several Nokia products to enhance its networks, including Nokia Evolved Packet Core, Nokia IMS Voice Core, and Nokia NetGuard security solutions. 1GLOBAL will employ Nokia Evolved Packet Coreto more effectively manage data traffic running through its networks, including internet access and data calls. It will be deployed in several markets, including Australia, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US.
Nokia IMS Voice Core, a fully cloud-native architecture with flexible scaling, will improve 1GLOBAL’s time to market and provisioning of new voice, video, and messaging services. Nokia IMS Voice Core will help 1GLOBAL optimize its network management through automation while providing the company with the flexibility to choose the infrastructure of its choice, a key pillar of Nokia’s multi-cloud strategy.
1GLOBAL will also utilize NetGuard Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) to protect against rising cyber threats. NetGuard EDR is a telco-specific threat detection product that provides real-time, automated monitoring of network infrastructure for rapid detection and mitigation of security incidents.
Erez Sverdlov, Vice President, Cloud and Network Services Market Leader for Europe at Nokia, said: “We are thrilled to take this important step of providing 1GLOBAL with several Nokia solutions that will upgrade its core network infrastructure and applications to be fully cloud-native, and deliver a more advanced, secure, and reliable network experience for its subscribers.”
About Nokia At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.
As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.
With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale.
Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.
About 1 Global
1GLOBAL empowers its partners and clients with transformative technologies, strategic communications solutions and future-proof connectivity. By pioneering global connectivity solutions, 1GLOBAL leads the new generation of digital transformation with a suite of products designed to revolutionize communication and compliance across borders. Every offering reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence for Enterprise Clients, IoT Customers, Mobile Operators, Financial Institutions and many more global businesses.
New York, N.Y., Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or “the Company”), a leading advanced nuclear energy and technology company focused on developing clean energy solutions, today highlighted additional important patents recently acquired from Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. (USNC), which augment protections for NANO Nuclear’s modular microreactor technologies under development.
Patent No. US 11,264,141 B2, titled “Composite Moderator for Nuclear Reactor Systems,” relates to the design and construction of composite moderators with a view towards improving safety and waste management by addressing graphite oxidation found in conventional, individual moderator systems. Additionally, the patented advanced design reduces waste and structural deterioration, enabling the moderator to serve throughout the fuel’s lifecycle without requiring replacement in the reactor core. This intellectual property is expected to enhance the protections for NANO Nuclear’s own proprietary advanced portable ZEUS and ODIN microreactors, as well the KRONOS MMR™ and LOKI MMR™ reactors, all of which are currently in development.
The U.S. patent is accompanied by related patents issued in Canada, the Russian Federation, Japan, The People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea and by the European Patent Office. An application with the World Intellectual Property Organization is currently in progress. Today’s announcement follows last week’s announcement of NANO Nuclear’s acquisition of patents from USNC supporting modular transportable reactors with variable operations and multiple core configurations and applications, including the generation of electric power and process heat.
Figure 1 – NANO Nuclear expands intellectual property portfolio to protect proprietary advanced portable ZEUS and ODIN microreactors, as well the KRONOS MMR™ and LOKI MMR™ reactors, all of which are currently in development.
“As our technical teams continue their deeper exploration of the various nuclear technology patents we acquired from USNC, the benefits that these pivotal patents will provide to our development plans becomes more apparent,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer and Head of Reactor Development of NANO Nuclear Energy. “Regarding the composite moderator patent highlighted today, this innovative design is expected to reduce the maintenance requirements of our modular, portable nuclear reactors while improving overall performance. We believe it will also play a key role in eliminating excess waste byproducts, enabling NANO Nuclear to build cleaner, more robust and cost-effective energy systems.”
“The addition of this world-class intellectual property to our portfolio is key in the development and eventual deployment of our innovative, portable and secure nuclear energy systems,” said Jay Yu, Founder and Chairman of NANO Nuclear Energy. “Improving the functionality of these critical parts enables us to cut down the waste produced during operation and create a safer and more efficient product. These important patents not only create the potential to improve performance but also underscores our commitment to sustainability and thoughtful design.”
About NANO Nuclear Energy, Inc.
NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) is an advanced technology-driven nuclear energy company seeking to become a commercially focused, diversified, and vertically integrated company across five business lines: (i) cutting edge portable and other microreactor technologies, (ii) nuclear fuel fabrication, (iii) nuclear fuel transportation, (iv) nuclear applications for space and (v) nuclear industry consulting services. NANO Nuclear believes it is the first portable nuclear microreactor company to be listed publicly in the U.S.
Led by a world-class nuclear engineering team, NANO Nuclear’s reactor products in development include “ZEUS”, a solid core battery reactor, and “ODIN”, a low-pressure coolant reactor, each representing advanced developments in clean energy solutions that are portable, on-demand capable, advanced nuclear microreactors. NANO Nuclear is also developing patented stationary KRONOS MMR™ Energy System and space focused, portable LOKI MMR™.
Advanced Fuel Transportation Inc. (AFT), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is led by former executives from the largest transportation company in the world aiming to build a North American transportation company that will provide commercial quantities of HALEU fuel to small modular reactors, microreactor companies, national laboratories, military, and DOE programs. Through NANO Nuclear, AFT is the exclusive licensee of a patented high-capacity HALEU fuel transportation basket developed by three major U.S. national nuclear laboratories and funded by the Department of Energy. Assuming development and commercialization, AFT is expected to form part of the only vertically integrated nuclear fuel business of its kind in North America.
HALEU Energy Fuel Inc. (HEF), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is focusing on the future development of a domestic source for a High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel fabrication pipeline for NANO Nuclear’s own microreactors as well as the broader advanced nuclear reactor industry.
NANO Nuclear Space Inc. (NNS), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is exploring the potential commercial applications of NANO Nuclear’s developing micronuclear reactor technology in space. NNS is focusing on applications such as the LOKI MMR™ system and other power systems for extraterrestrial projects and human sustaining environments, and potentially propulsion technology for long haul space missions. NNS’ initial focus will be on cis-lunar applications, referring to uses in the space region extending from Earth to the area surrounding the Moon’s surface.
This news release and statements of NANO Nuclear’s management in connection with this news release contain or may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “potential”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. In this press release, forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated benefits of the recently acquired intellectual property described herein. These and other forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For NANO Nuclear, particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following: (i) risks related to our U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) or related state or non-U.S. nuclear fuel licensing submissions, (ii) risks related the development of new or advanced technology and the acquisition of complimentary technology or businesses, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, regulatory delays, integration issues and the development of competitive technology, (iii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations, (iv) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to technologically develop and commercially deploy a competitive advanced nuclear reactor or other technology in the timelines we anticipate, if ever, (v) risks related to the impact of U.S. and non-U.S. government regulation, policies and licensing requirements, including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, including those associated with the recently enacted ADVANCE Act, and (vi) similar risks and uncertainties associated with the operating an early stage business a highly regulated and rapidly evolving industry. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement, and NANO Nuclear therefore encourages investors to review other factors that may affect future results in its filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov and at https://ir.nanonuclearenergy.com/financial-information/sec-filings. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.
Tailored for Strategic Scalability and Cost Efficiency for Production of Sellable Byproducts for Local and Regional Markets
WOODS CROSS, Utah, Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sky Quarry Inc. (NASDAQ: SKYQ) (“Sky Quarry” or the “Company”), an integrated energy solutions company committed to revolutionizing the waste asphalt shingle recycling industry, has unveiled plans for a national rollout of modular facilities designed to expand the reach and scalability of the Company’s proprietary technology and platform, demonstrating its commitment to innovation, operational efficiency, and long-term growth.
With downstream operations established at its Nevada refinery and midstream operations at its extraction facility in Utah expected to be fully operational in 2025, the Company is finalizing its plan to expand its upstream capabilities through the deployment of its Asphalt Shingle Recycling (ASR) units. Engineered for scalability and cost efficiency, these units will collect and process waste asphalt shingles, while producing sellable byproducts, such as sand and granules, for local and regional markets, expanding the Company’s market reach.
The placement of the ASR units will be chosen based on three critical logistical criteria:
Proximity to densely populated areas to minimize transportation costs, thereby reducing the environmental impact,
Placement in regions with high tipping fees to maximize economic returns, and
Accessibility to rail lines to streamline raw and processed material transport.
The plan features two modular designs: Resource Processing Units and Resource Extraction Units. The Resource Processing Units will process waste shingle material by reducing its size, extracting sand and granules, and compressing the remaining limestone powder and bitumen into briquettes for shipment to Utah for final extraction. This process decreases the asphalt waste material’s volume by 40%, lowering transportation costs. These units are 80% complete and will target the West Coast and Southwest, with costs estimated to be between $500,000 and $1.5 million per unit, depending on capacity.
The Resource Extraction units will have oil extraction capabilities for local use by refineries or asphalt plants, ideal for areas where shipping shingles to Utah is not feasible. Currently in the design phase, these units are being developed to target the East Coast, Florida, Texas, and the Midwest. Each extraction facility, costing an estimated $12 million to build, is expected to recover its initial capital cost within 24 to 36 months after it is fully operational through revenues and profits generated from tipping fees and the sale of recovered materials at each facility.
In response to tightening landfill disposal mandates and increasing state requirements for construction and demolition waste diversion, Sky Quarry believes that its modular units position the Company as one of the few viable solutions for managing this material. This could potentially allow for higher waste management fees, and the Company believes that evolving regulations will further support this growth. To meet the disposal mandates and increased diversion demand, a limited number of exclusive modular partnership opportunities will be made available for qualified candidates on a first-come basis. Please direct inquiries to: tomzickell@ras-tech.com
“We believe Sky Quarry’s modular ASR facilities will offer significant economic, environmental, and community benefits,” said David Sealock, CEO and Chairman of Sky Quarry. “By enabling partnerships with local businesses and asphalt shingle manufacturers, these facilities will create a closed-loop system that promotes sustainability, reduces waste, and minimizes reliance on virgin materials and transportation costs. Additionally, the sale of recovered materials such as sand, granules, and bitumen have the potential to stimulate regional economic growth while creating meaningful job opportunities.”
About Sky Quarry Inc.
Sky Quarry Inc. (NASDAQ: SKYQ) and its subsidiaries are, collectively, an oil production, refining, and a development-stage environmental remediation company formed to deploy technologies to facilitate the recycling of waste asphalt shingles and remediation of oil-saturated sands and soils. Our waste-to-energy mission is to repurpose and upcycle millions of tons of asphalt shingle waste, diverting them from landfills. By doing so, we can contribute to improved waste management, promote resource efficiency, conserve natural resources, and reduce environmental impact. For more information, please visit skyquarry.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may include “forward-looking statements.” All statements pertaining to our future financial and/or operating results, future events, or future developments may constitute forward-looking statements. The statements may be identified by words such as “expect,” “look forward to,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” “will,” “project,” or words of similar meaning. Such statements are based on the current expectations and certain assumptions of our management, of which many are beyond our control. These are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and factors, including but not limited to those described in our disclosures. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying expectations not occur or assumptions prove incorrect, actual results, performance, or our achievements may (negatively or positively) vary materially from those described explicitly or implicitly in the relevant forward-looking statement. We neither intend, nor assume any obligation, to update or revise these forward-looking statements in light of developments which differ from those anticipated. You are urged to carefully review and consider any cautionary statements and the Company’s other disclosures, including the statements made under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the Company’s Form 1-A offering statement filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the document in which they are contained.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, January 28, 2025/APO Group/ —
As Africa’s mining industry faces increasing pressure to decarbonize, companies are turning to renewable energy solutions to meet environmental targets while ensuring reliable and affordable energy supplies. This shift is driven by the need to reduce operational costs, achieve sustainability goals and comply with evolving global regulations. From solar and wind to hydropower, renewables are becoming integral to mining operations across the continent. Initiatives across Angola, Zambia, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are setting a precedent for how renewables can transform the mining sector and contribute to Africa’s broader energy transition.
Trafigura’s 2,000 MW Green Energy Initiative
Global commodities trader Trafigura, engineering firm ProMarks and the Angolan government agreed to develop a 2,000 MW high-voltage electricity interconnector in July 2024. The project will transport renewable energy, primarily from hydropower projects in northern Angola, to meet growing demand from mining companies in Zambia and the DRC. The project will also supply the Southern Africa Power Pool regional grid.
First Quantum’s 430 MW Renewables Project in Zambia
Canadian mining firm First Quantum Minerals is investing $500 million in a 430 MW renewable energy project to power its Kansanshi and Sentinel mines in Zambia. Developed in partnership with Total Eren and Chariot, the project includes a 230 MW solar PV plant and a 200 MW wind farm. The facilities, set for completion in 2026 and 2027, respectively, aim to reduce First Quantum’s carbon footprint by 30% by 2025.
Tronox Holdings’ 400 MW Portfolio in South Africa
Mining and chemicals firm Tronox Holdings has signed agreements with clean energy firms NOA Group and Sola Group to secure over 400 MW of renewable energy for its mining and smelting operations in South Africa. Once commissioned from 2027, the projects will provide 70% of Tronox Holdings’ energy needs, reducing the firm’s carbon footprint by 25% compared to 2019 levels. The combined capacity includes a 200 MW solar power plant from Sola Group and additional capacity from NOA Group, delivering 497 GWh of electricity annually.
CMOC’s 200 MW Project in the DRC
Chinese mining firm CMOC closed a deal with green energy firm Lualaba Power in July 2024 to accelerate development of the 200 MW Nzilo II hydropower and floating solar project in the DRC. The project will provide CMOC with base load and peak power, supporting the firm’s target to produce 800,000 to 1 million tons of copper annually by 2028.
Northam’s 180 MW Solar Farm in South Africa
In August 2024, mining firm Northam Platinum Group Metals signed a power purchase agreement for a 180 MW solar farm to power its Zondereinde mine in South Africa. The solar plant will generate 220 GWh annually, meeting 15% of the mine’s energy needs while reducing carbon emissions.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Hainan enhances ferry services for Spring Festival travel rush
Updated: January 28, 2025 21:28Xinhua
A drone photo taken on Jan. 27, 2025 shows a ferry departing Xinhai Port, Haikou City of south China’s Hainan Province. To brace for the Spring Festival travel rush and better manage the influx of tourists and vehicles in Hainan, authorities have enhanced ferry services across the Qiongzhou Strait and upgraded piers to ensure safe ocean transport. Ferries specifically designated for transporting new energy vehicles (NEVs) have also been put into operation. At least 20 voyages of this ferries have been scheduled daily, which can guarantee 3,500 NEVs in or out of the island, during this travel rush. [Photo/Xinhua]A staff member guides a new energy vehicle to drive into a ferry at Xinhai Port, Haikou City of south China’s Hainan Province, Jan. 27, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]A drone photo taken on Jan. 26, 2025 shows a ferry carrying new energy vehicles preparing to cross the sea at Xiuying Port, Haikou City of south China’s Hainan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]Staff members check before the departure of a ferry carrying new energy vehicles at Xiuying Port, Haikou City of south China’s Hainan Province, Jan. 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]A drone photo taken on Jan. 26, 2025 shows a ferry carrying new energy vehicles departing Xiuying Port, Haikou City of south China’s Hainan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]New energy vehicles are seen on a ferry at Xinhai Port, Haikou City of south China’s Hainan Province, Jan. 27, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]New energy vehicles are driven into a ferry at Xiuying Port, Haikou City of south China’s Hainan Province, Jan. 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]Staff members check before the departure of a ferry carrying new energy vehicles at Xiuying Port, Haikou City of south China’s Hainan Province, Jan. 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]A drone photo taken on Jan. 27, 2025 shows new energy vehicles queuing up to board a ferry at Xinhai Port, Haikou City of south China’s Hainan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]New energy vehicles are driven into a ferry at Xiuying Port, Haikou City of south China’s Hainan Province, Jan. 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]A drone photo taken on Jan. 26, 2025 shows a ferry carrying new energy vehicles departing Xiuying Port, Haikou City of south China’s Hainan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Iringa, Tanzania, presented by Bishop Tarcisius Ngalalekumtwa.The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Romanus Elamu Mihali, of the clergy of Mafinga, until now episcopal vicar for the clergy of the diocese of Mafinga and parish priest of Ujewa, as bishop of Iringa, Tanzania.Msgr. Romanus Elamu Mihali was born on 10 June 1969 in Itulituli, Mufindi, and studied philosophy and theology at Peramiho Major Seminary in Songea.He was ordained a priest on 13 July 2000 for the clergy of Iringa.After ordination, he first served as deputy parish priest of Saint Paul the Apostle in Ilula, Iringa (2000-2003) and teacher and formator at Saint Kizito Minor Seminary in Mafinga (2003-2005). He carried out his studies for a degree in zoological sciences, a degree in natural sciences, and a bachelor’s degree in education at the University of Kerala, India (2005-2011), and went on to hold the roles of deputy parish priest of Virgin Mary of Fatima in Usomaki, Iringa (2012-2015) and parish priest of Virgin Mary of the Assumption in Ujewa, Iringa (2015-2024).After the erection of the diocese of Mafinga in 2024, he was incardinated in the new diocese.Since 2024 he has served as parish priest of Virgin Mary of the Assumption in Ujewa, Mafinga, episcopal vicar for the clergy, and secretary for health of the diocese of Mafinga. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 28/1/2025)
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Mites who hitchhike on the beaks of hummingbirds use a surprising method to help them on their journey: electricity.
These hummingbird flower mites feed on nectar and live within specific flowers for their species. When it is time to seek out a new flower, they hitch a ride via hummingbirds, but for years researchers have not been sure exactly how these tiny, crawling arachnids quickly disembark at the right flower. Researchers, including Carlos Garcia-Robledo, associate professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, are closer to answering these questions, and they published their results in PNAS.
Garcia-Robledo studies aspects of the evolutionary and life histories of organisms and how they respond to climate change, including this puzzling behavior.
Illustration showing how electric charges help mites move between flowers via hummingbirds. The pluses and minuses show the nature of the electric charges. (Illustration courtesy of Marley Peifer)
“When hummingbirds visit multiple flowers, you usually see the mites going down their beaks only when they touch the first flower,” says Garcia-Robledo. “I thought that was interesting and wondered why the mites were not going to the second or third flower.”
For years, researchers have proposed that the mites use a smell signal, but after some experimentation to test this theory, Garcia-Robledo was not convinced.
“I knew that it was not maybe the smell that played a major role in this because if you bring the mites to a laboratory, they don’t care much about smells of flowers and so on. I knew it had to be something else.”
Then, after reading a story about research into how ticks are pulled onto clothing by static electricity, and a chance lunch meeting while working at the La Selva Research Station in Costa Rica, everything came together.
“I was reminded of the weird observation about the mites, and I thought maybe something electrostatic was happening there,” he says. “These mites are so tiny that they live at another level of perception, so of course, even little electric fields are important for them. This could help explain the mystery of how they can be fast enough to hitchhike on this family of birds.”
Just by chance, Garcia-Robledo was having lunch with friends and co-authors Konstantine Manser and Diego Dierick. Manser was at the time a Ph.D. student at the University of Bristol in the laboratory that produced the tick static research. Diego Dierick is a scientist at the Organization for Tropical Studies, and an electronics whiz collaborating in many projects at La Selva Research Station. Garcia-Robledo proposed they test his theory on the hitchhiking hummingbird flower mites.
“Diego and Kosta said that it was super easy and that we should try. We built the devices the next day and brought the first mite from a flower to test it. We turned on the device, and instantaneously, they started to respond. That’s how we figured out that they were using static electricity,” says Garcia-Robledo.
With that immediate success, the researchers were inspired to experiment further with a power source that only generated static electricity and test whether the mites were attracted to statics or the frequency that it was transmitting. They discovered that when the field was only static electricity, the mites did not respond, yet they did when the field was modulated.
“The mites respond to the bouncing of a signal that is associated with the size, geometry, and vibration of the hummingbirds, which reach frequencies between 20 and 160 Hz,” Garcia-Robledo says.
As the hummingbirds beat their wings, they generate a charge, and their bodies become supercharged. So, just like how you may get a small static shock after walking across a room and touching a door handle, the first flower seems to be the one where mites have the electric potential to embark or disembark quickly.
In another experiment, Garcia-Robledo tested how the mites recognize very small positive electrical charges. He experimented with a very simple and effective device composed of a glass tube, and wire where the wire would be touched by either an aluminum or copper plate to generate a charge. The glass tube held the mite, and when the device was charged, the mites responded by running toward the positive pole at both higher and lower electrical fields, but only when it was transmitting a frequency of 120 Hz.
“You just charge the little arena, and then instantaneously, the mite is attracted only if you have this little bounce of the signal, and they go to the positive charge even if you have these super tiny charges. The little bounce the second that you touch, it is enough for them to know where to go, and they just go,” says Garcia-Robledo.
Each of the 19 mite species at La Selva is attracted to specific set of flowers, and they somehow know when they have arrived at the right flower and that it’s time to jump on or hop off their hummingbird shuttle.
“We think that there may be some specificity in the electric signals or different charges for flowers,” says Garcia-Robledo. “That’s one possibility. We found that there is a structure in the front legs that they used to perceive these electric charges and frequencies. The next step is that we have many of these mites, and they have different structures, and different species of mites have different structures in their legs. Potentially, they can detect different frequencies.”
Besides signaling when to get off, these electric charges help the mites quickly board their speedy chaperones. Just like the study looking at how ticks hitch a statically charged ride onto clothing, the mites are pulled up from the flower to the hummingbird beaks via the bird’s positive charge.
“When the mites are attracted by that electric field, we found they are one of the fastest terrestrial organisms for a few milliseconds,” Garcia-Robledo says. “This is the most surprising thing because the mites were not just responding to electrostatics, they are responding to an actual signal generated by an organism. That was super surprising. This may be the first kind of like case where these organisms are using, at the same time, electricity to locate organisms that they are using for transportation, but also for transportation itself.”
Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation, Dimensions of Biodiversity – 1737778 and Organismal Responses to Climate change – 2222328.
On Jan. 14, UConn civil engineering Professor Arash E. Zaghi was among nearly 400 individuals honored by President Biden with thePresidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). This is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers who are in the early phases of their careers.Jill Wegrzyn, an associate professor in the UConn Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, also received this award.
Established by President Clinton in 1996, PECASE recognizes scientists and engineers who show exceptional potential for leadership early in their research careers. The award recognizes innovative and far-reaching developments in science and technology.
Zaghi, who joined the UConn faculty in 2011, is a professor in the College of Engineering. At the beginning of his career, his research focused primarily on bridge design and resilience against earthquakes and other disasters.
But after his diagnosis with dyslexia and ADHD at age 32, he knew he wanted to get involved with supporting neurodiverse learners. Building on his own experience, Zaghi quickly identified a major problem with mainstream narratives of neurodiversity.
“My diagnosis opened my eyes to the unique strengths often overlooked in individuals like myself,” Zaghi says. “As I delved into the literature, I discovered mixed perspectives. Some studies suggest that people with ADHD tend to be more creative and willing to take risks. These are precisely the skills we need to address the complex, large-scale challenges of our time. This realization sparked my commitment to redefining neurodiversity as a strength and to creating environments where diverse ways of thinking are celebrated and harnessed for innovation.”
Now, Zaghi’s work specifically centers on countering the “deficit” model of neurodiversity, which focuses on the challenges neurodiverse students face in traditional learning environments and promoting the “strengths-based” model. Instead of regarding neurodiversity as a problem to be solved, this model encourages the view of neurodiversity as a unique strength. For example, research (including Zaghi’s own) has suggested that neurodiverse students tend to excel in areas such as creativity, pattern-recognition, and problem-solving. Many also demonstrate higher than average academic ability.
My diagnosis opened my eyes to the unique strengths often overlooked in individuals like myself.
These are all the qualities, Zaghi thinks, that the fields of engineering – and science more broadly – should be embracing and actively recruiting.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) agrees. In 2017, Zaghi was awarded the prestigious NSF CAREER Award for his project “Promoting Engineering Innovation through Increased Neurodiversity by Encouraging the Participation of Students with ADHD.” In 2021, he followed it with an NSF Mid-Career Advancement award for a project usingartificial intelligence to develop personalized assistive toolsto enhance the participation of neurodiverse students in STEM education.
Zaghi’s latest honor, the PECASE, is another national recognition of the powerful potential of his work. It is the crowning jewel of a research career studded with similar accolades, most relating to promoting neurodiverse learning through a strengths-based approach.
“We are very proud of Prof. Arash Zaghi for winning this presidential award and for his pioneering research in supporting neurodiverse students to improve their learning outcome and future careers,” says JC Zhao, Dean of the UConn College of Engineering. “Arash’s research and outreach will shift the paradigm and also bring visibility to a generally misunderstood group of students who can be as successful as Arash himself.”
Throughout this career, Zaghi has been able to steadily expand the breadth of his work in supporting neurodiverse education. His earliest projects in this realm had a very specific focus – for example, supporting students with ADHD in engineering.
Over time, and thanks to collaborations with other researchers at UConn and elsewhere, Zaghi’s focus was able to grow beyond engineering to include STEM as a whole. It has also grown to include other types of neurodiversity, like dyslexia and autism, and address different age groups, from K-12 learners to graduate students.
With UConn neuroscientist Fumiko Hoeft, Zaghi is co-PI on theTRANSdisciplinary Convergence in Educational Neuroscience Doctoral (TRANSCEND) training program,an interdisciplinary training program devoted to rethinking educational neuroscience. He is also the co-PI on theUConn INCLUDE project,which supports neurodiversity in the College of Engineering.
The recognition for his work as a champion of neurodiversity is gratifying, Zaghi says, but he can remember a time just ten years ago when the idea of a strengths-based approach was considered “so radical.”
When he submitted his first proposal to the NSF, Zaghi recalls, he was told, “This is so far out of the mainstream that I have no idea how the panel is going to react.”
“We were extremely fortunate that the NSF invested in us,” he says. “I think that’s a great story of how bold research pays off. The NSF is there to support high-risk, high-payoff research, and they supported that ‘crazy idea.’ Now, here we are – with the amount of visibility, I think we have substantially contributed to changing the narrative from a deficit perspective to a strengths-based one.”
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
In 2025, the International Christmas Educational Readings will be held in Moscow from January 26 to 30.
Your Holiness!
Dear friends!
Welcome to the XXXIII International Christmas Educational Readings.
The forum is taking place in the year of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. And it is symbolic that its central theme is dedicated to this significant date.
All these decades we have kept the memory of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War. Of those who bravely fought at the front, worked in the rear, defeated fascism. The feat of our people today is the main moral guideline, helps to resist any external threats, defend national interests.
Recently, there have been increasing calls to revise the results of World War II and to belittle the significance of the Great Victory. It is necessary to stop any attempts to distort the truth about those events. Do everything so that young people study the history of the Fatherland, know at what price the liberation of the Motherland was won in 1941-1945. Pay special attention to the spiritual, moral and patriotic education of the younger generation. At present, this work is being carried out with the active participation of the Russian Orthodox Church, religious organizations of other traditional faiths, and the public.
I am confident that the recommendations and proposals prepared during your meeting will be put into practice and will serve to improve teaching activities.
I wish the participants and guests of the XXXIII International Christmas Educational Readings fruitful work, interesting discussions and all the best.
M. Mishustin
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
A man has been charged and will appear in court following a fatal collision in Northolt.
Kamil Rouibah – 25 (14.02.99) of Squirrel Rise, Marlow Bottom will appear in custody at Uxbridge Magistrate Court on 28 January charged with causing death by dangerous driving; causing serious injury by dangerous driving and failing to stop for police.
A second man, aged 25, who was arrested following the collision has been released with no further action.
This follows an incident at around 04:40hrs on Monday, 27 January when a BMW car came to the notice of a patrolling police car due to the alleged speed at which it was traveling.
A short time later the BMW was involved in a collision with another vehicle, a Ford Focus, being driven by a member of the public in Ruislip Road.
London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade were called and attended.
Sadly the driver of the Ford Focus, a man aged 47, died at the scene. His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
Two occupants of the BMW were taken to hospital for treatment before being discharged. They were arrested and dealt with as above.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
CHP receives three severe cases of influenza A infection in one day CHP receives three severe cases of influenza A infection in one day *******************************************************************
Following a severe case of influenza A infection in a 10-month-old baby girl who had not received seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) yesterday (January 27), the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (January 28) received two more cases of severe paediatric influenza A infection in children who have not yet received the SIV. Another severe paediatric case of co-infection with influenza A and group A streptococcus was also reported. The first case involved a six-year-old boy with good past health, who developed fever on January 26. He attended the Union Hospital yesterday and was later transferred to Prince of Wales Hospital, where he remains in the paediatric intensive care unit. His nasopharyngeal swab specimen tested positive for influenza A (H1) virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with shock. So far, his household contacts show no upper respiratory symptom and there has been no recent influenza outbreak at his school. The second case involved a twelve-year-old boy with underlying illness who developed fever and cough yesterday. He was admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital today, where he remains in the paediatric intensive care unit. His nasopharyngeal swab specimen tested positive for influenza A (H3) virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with severe pneumonia and shock. He lives in a school dormitory and seven other students from the same school have recently developed upper respiratory symptoms. The CHP had conducted inspection at the school and provided health advice. “The above-mentioned two boys had no travel history during the incubation period. An initial investigation revealed that they did not receive 2024/25 SIV. The CHP reiterated its call to the parents to bring their children to receive SIV as soon as possible,” a spokesman for the CHP said. Furthermore, an eight-year-old boy with good past health developed fever since January 23, and cough and shortness of breath since yesterday. He was admitted to the Princess Margaret Hospital on the same day, where he remains in the paediatric intensive care unit. His nasopharyngeal swab specimen tested positive for influenza A (H1) virus and his blood sample tested positive for group A streptococcus. The clinical diagnosis was co-infection with influenza A and group A streptococcus complicated with sepsis. “Since the start of this influenza season in early January, the CHP has recorded eight cases (including three above-mentioned children) of severe influenza virus infection in children. Six of them were unvaccinated. Influenza vaccination has been scientifically proven to be one of the most effective ways to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications, while significantly reducing the risk of hospitalisation and death from seasonal influenza. All persons aged 6 months and above (except those with known contraindications) who have not yet received SIV should act immediately, particularly the elderly and children who have a higher risk of becoming infected with influenza and developing complications,” he added. Group A streptococcal infection is caused by bacteria, namely Streptococcus pyogenes, that can be found in the throat and on the skin. It can be transmitted by droplets and contact. The bacteria can cause mild diseases, including pharyngitis, impetigo and scarlet fever to invasive group A streptococcal infections (iGAS) such as necrotising fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Anyone can get iGAS disease, but the elderly and young children, persons with chronic illnesses (e.g. diabetes) or immunocompromised persons may be at higher risk. People with breaks in the skin or with recent viral infections (e.g. chickenpox, influenza, etc.) are also at higher risk of developing iGAS disease. On the other hand, the disease can be effectively treated with antibiotics and prompt treatment helps alleviate symptoms faster and prevent complications. The spokesman reminded the public that Hong Kong has entered the influenza season. As the seasonal influenza activity is expected to increase further while the activity of other respiratory infectious diseases may also increase. To protect their health and that of their family members, the public should not only receive SIV, but also maintain good personal and environmental hygiene, and take the following measures to prevent contacting influenza, Group A streptococcal infection and other respiratory illnesses:
Wear surgical masks to prevent transmission of respiratory viruses from ill persons. It is essential for persons who are symptomatic (even if having mild symptoms) to wear a surgical mask; High-risk persons (e.g. persons with underlying medical conditions or persons who are immunocompromised) should wear surgical masks when visiting public places. The general public should also wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including performing hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask; Avoid touching one’s eyes, mouth and nose; Practise hand hygiene frequently, wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated; When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub; Cover the mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly into a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards; Practise good wound care to reduce the chance of getting infected; Maintain good indoor ventilation; Avoid sharing personal items; When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, consider to refrain from going to work or school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly; and Maintain a balanced diet, perform physical activity regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.
???For the latest information, members of the public can visit the CHP’s group A streptococcal infection and seasonal influenza webpages.
Reaffirms Commitment to Acquiring Beacon for $124.25 per Share in Cash
All-Cash Offer Provides Significant and Immediate Value to Beacon Shareholders
GREENWICH, Conn., Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — QXO, Inc. (NYSE: QXO) today commented on Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: BECN) adoption of a shareholder rights plan, which takes immediate effect and is aimed at blocking QXO’s all-cash tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Beacon for $124.25 per share.
“We launched our all-cash tender offer to ensure that Beacon’s shareholders can take advantage of our compelling offer and get paid quickly. We have committed financing, have no due diligence condition and anticipate a smooth regulatory approval process to close,” said Brad Jacobs, chairman and chief executive officer of QXO. “The only thing stopping shareholders from acting to get cash expeditiously is the decision by Beacon’s Board to adopt a poison pill. We are prepared to take all necessary steps to complete this transaction promptly and deliver significant and immediate value to Beacon shareholders.”
QXO’s $124.25 per share offer represents a 37% premium to Beacon’s 90-day unaffected volume-weighted average price of $91.02 per share as of November 15, 2024, and a 26% premium to the $98.75 price before its proposal became public.
QXO’s tender offer will be outstanding until 12:00 midnight, New York City time, at the end of February 24, 2025, and it is prepared to complete the acquisition shortly after the tender expires, in approximately one month. The transaction is not subject to any financing conditions or due diligence conditions, and QXO expects that the waiting periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and the Canadian Competition Act will have expired or been waived by the time the tender offer expires.
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is acting as financial advisor to QXO, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is acting as legal counsel.
About QXO
QXO provides technology solutions, primarily to clients in the manufacturing, distribution and service sectors. The company provides consulting and professional services, including specialized programming, training and technical support, and develops proprietary software. As a value-added reseller of business application software, QXO offers solutions for accounting, financial reporting, enterprise resource planning, warehouse management systems, customer relationship management, business intelligence and other applications. QXO plans to become a tech-forward leader in the $800 billion building products distribution industry. The company is targeting tens of billions of dollars of annual revenue in the next decade through accretive acquisitions and organic growth. Visit QXO.com for more information.
Forward-Looking Statements
The communication contains forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about beliefs, expectations, targets, goals, regulatory approval timing and nominating directors are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on plans, estimates, expectations and/or goals at the time the statements are made, and readers should not place undue reliance on them. In some cases, readers can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “opportunity,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “target,” “goal,” or “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terms. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any such forward-looking statements. Such factors include but are not limited to: the ultimate outcome of any possible transaction between QXO and Beacon including the possibility that the parties will not agree to pursue a business combination transaction or that the terms of any definitive agreement will be materially different from those proposed; uncertainties as to whether Beacon will cooperate with QXO regarding the proposed transaction; the ultimate result should QXO’s commence a proxy contest for election of directors to Beacon’s board of directors; QXO’s ability to consummate the proposed transaction with Beacon; the conditions to the completion of the proposed transaction, including the receipt of any required shareholder approvals and any required regulatory approvals; QXO’s ability to finance the proposed transaction; QXO’s indebtedness, including the substantial indebtedness QXO expects to incur in connection with the proposed transaction with Beacon and the need to generate sufficient cash flows to service and repay such debt; that operating costs, customer loss and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers or suppliers) may be greater than expected following the proposed transaction or the public announcement of the proposed transaction; the retention of certain key employees may be difficult; and general economic conditions that are less favorable than expected. QXO cautions that forward-looking statements should not be relied on as predictions of future events, and these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. Forward-looking statements herein speak only as of the date each statement is made. QXO does not assume any obligation to update any of these statements in light of new information or future events, except to the extent required by applicable law.
Important Additional Information and Where to Find It
This communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation, an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell Beacon securities. QXO and Queen MergerCo, Inc. (the “Purchaser”) filed a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO with the SEC on [DATE], 2025, and Beacon will file a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with respect to the tender offer with the SEC. Investors and security holders are urged to read the Tender Offer Statement (including the Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and certain other tender offer documents, as each may be amended or supplemented from time to time) and the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement, when available, carefully since they contain important information that investors and security holders should consider before making any decision regarding tendering their common stock, including the terms and conditions of the tender offer. The Tender Offer Statement, Offer to Purchase, Solicitation/Recommendation Statement and related materials are filed with the SEC, and investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of these materials and other documents filed by QXO and Beacon with the SEC at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, the Tender Offer Statement and other documents that QXO and the Purchaser file with the SEC will be made available to all investors and security holders of Beacon free of charge from the information agent for the tender offer. The information agent for the tender offer is Innisfree M&A Incorporated, 501 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10022, Toll-free telephone: +1 (888) 750-5834.
QXO and the other participants intend to file a preliminary proxy statement and accompanying WHITE universal proxy card with the SEC to be used to solicit proxies for, among other matters, the election of its slate of director nominees at the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders of Beacon. QXO strongly advises all stockholders of Beacon to read the preliminary proxy statement, any amendments or supplements to such proxy statement, and other proxy materials filed by QXO with the SEC as they become available because they will contain important information. Such proxy materials will be available at no charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and at QXO’s website at investors.qxo.com. In addition, the participants in this proxy solicitation will provide copies of the proxy statement, and other relevant documents, without charge, when available, upon request. Requests for copies should be directed to the participants’ proxy solicitor.
Certain Information Concerning the Participants
The participants in the proxy solicitation are anticipated to be QXO, Brad Jacobs, Ihsan Essaid, Matt Fassler, Mark Manduca and the individuals nominated by QXO (the “QXO Nominees”). QXO expects to determine and announce the QXO Nominees prior to the nomination deadline for the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders of Beacon. As of the issuance of this communication, other than QXO, which beneficially owns 100 shares of Beacon common stock, none of the participants that have been identified beneficially own any shares of Beacon common stock.
After lengthy, torrid and emotional debate a critical decision for the future of Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau is being made in March. One party will celebrate; the other will slink back to the drawing board. But will it really settle the great Auckland stadium debate?
SPECIAL REPORT:By Chris Schulz
It resembles a building from Blade Runner. It looks like somewhere the Avengers might assemble. It is, believes Paul Nisbet, the future.
“It’s innovative, it’s groundbreaking, it’s something different,” says the driving force behind Te Tōangaroa, a new stadium mooted for downtown Auckland.
He has spent 13 years dreaming up this moon shot, and it shows. “We have an opportunity here to deliver something special for the country.”
Located behind Spark Arena, Te Tōangaroa — also called “Quay Park” — is Nisbet’s big gamble, the stadium he believes Tāmaki Makaurau needs to sustain the city’s live sport and entertainment demands for the next 100 years.
His is a concept as grand as it gets, a U-shaped dream with winged rooftops that will sweep around fans sitting in the stands, each getting unimpeded views out over the Waitematā Harbour and Rangitoto Island.
Located behind Spark Arena, Te Tōangaroa is also called “Quay Park”. Image: Te Tōangaroa
Nisbet calls his vision a “gateway for the world,” a structure so grand he believes it would attract the biggest sports teams, stars and sponsors to Aotearoa while offering visitors a must-see tourist destination. Nestled alongside residential areas, commercial zones and an All Blacks-themed hotel, designs show a retractable roof protecting 55,000 punters from the elements and a sky turret towering over neighbouring buildings.
He’s gone all in on this. Nisbet’s quit his job, assembled a consortium of experts — called Cenfield MXD — and attracted financial backers to turn his vision into a reality. It is, Nisbet believes, the culmination of his 30-year career working in major stadiums, including 11 years as director of Auckland Stadiums.
“I’ve had the chance to travel extensively,” he says. “I’ve been to over 50 stadiums around the world.”
Tāmaki Makaurau, he says, needs Te Tōangaroa — urgently. If approved, it will be built over an ageing commercial space and an unused railway yard sitting behind Spark Arena, what Nisbet calls “a dirty old brownfields location that’s sapping the economic viability out of the city”.
He calls it a “regeneration” project. “You couldn’t mistake you’re in Auckland, or New Zealand, when you see images of it,” he says.
The All Blacks are on board, says Nisbet, and they want Te Tōangaroa built by 2029 in time for a Lions tour. (The All Blacks didn’t respond to a request for comment, but former players John Kirwan and Sean Fitzpatrick have backed the team moving to Te Tōangaroa.)
Concert promoters are on board too, says Nisbet. He believes Te Tōangaroa would end the Taylor Swift debacle that’s seen her and many major acts skip us in favour of touring Australian stadiums.
“It will be one of those special places that international acts just have to play,” he says.
The problem? Nisbet’s made a gamble that may not pay off. In March, a decision is due to be made about the city’s stadium future. Building Te Tōangaroa, with an estimated construction time of six years and a budget of $1 billion, is just one option.
The other, Eden Park, has 125 years of history, a long-standing All Blacks record and a huge number of supporters behind it — as well as a CEO willing to do anything to win.
The stadium standing in Te Tōangaroa’s way Stand in Eden Park’s foyer for a few minutes and history will smack you in the face. It’s there in the photos framed on the wall from a 1937 All Blacks test match. It’s sitting in Anton Oliver’s rugby boots from 2001, presumably fumigated and placed inside a glass case.
More recent history is on display too, with floor-to-ceiling photographs showing off concerts headlined by by Ed Sheeran and Six60, a pivot only possible since 2021.
Soon, the man in charge of all of this arrives. “Very few people have seen this space,” says Nick Sautner, the Eden Park CEO who shakes my hand, pulls me down a hallway and invites me into a secret room in the bowels of Eden Park. With gleaming wood panels, leather couches and top-shelf liquor, Sautner’s proud of his hidden bar.
“It’s invite-only . . . a VIP experience,” says Sautner, whose Australian accent remains easily identifiable despite seven years at the helm of Eden Park.
The future of Eden Park if a refurb is granted. Image: YouTube
This bar, he says, is just one of the many innovations Eden Park has undertaken in recent years. Built in 1900, the Mt Eden stadium remains the home of the All Blacks — but Eden Park is no longer considered a specialty sports venue.
Up to 70 percent of the stadium’s revenue now comes from non-sporting activities, Sautner confirms. You can golf, abseil onto the rooftops and stay the night in dedicated glamping venues. It’s also become promoters’ choice for major concerts, with Coldplay and Luke Combs recently hosting multiple shows there. “We will consider any innovation you can imagine,” Sautner tells me. “We’re a blank canvas.”
Throughout our interview, Sautner refers to Eden Park as the “national stadium”. He’s upbeat and on form, rattling off statistics and renovations from memory. His social media feeds — especially LinkedIn — are full of posts promoting the stadium’s achievements. He’ll pick up the phone to anyone who will talk to him.
“Whatsapp is the best way of contacting me,” he says. Residents have his number and can call directly with complaints. After our interview, Sautner passes me his business card then follows it up with an email making sure I have everything I need. “My phone’s always on,” he assures me.
He may not admit it, but Sautner’s doing all of this in an attempt to get ahead of what’s shaping up as the biggest crisis of Eden Park’s 125 years. If Te Tōangaroa is chosen in March, Eden Park — as well as Albany’s North Harbour Stadium and Onehunga’s Go Media Stadium – will all take a back seat.
If Eden Park loses the All Blacks and their 31-year unbeaten record, then there’s no other word for it: the threat is existential.
Called Eden Park 2.1, Sautner is promoting a three-stage renovation plan. Image: YouTube
Ask Sautner if he’s losing sleep over his stadium’s future and he shakes his head. To him, Te Tōangaroa’s numbers don’t stack up. “If someone can make the business model work for an alternative stadium in Auckland, I’m all for activating the waterfront,” he says.
Then he poses a series of questions: “How many events a year would a downtown stadium hold? Forty-five?” he asks. “So 320 other days a year, what’s going to be in that stadium?”
He is, of course, biased. But Sautner believes upgrading Eden Park is the right move. Called Eden Park 2.1, Sautner is promoting a three-stage renovation plan that includes building a $100 million retractable rooftop. A new North Stand would lift Eden Park’s capacity to 70,000, and improved function facilities and a pedestrian bridge would turn the venue into “a fortress . . . capable of hosting every event”.
He’s veering into corporate speak, but Sautner sees the vision clearly. With his annual concert consent recently raised from six to 12 shows, he already thinks he’s got it in the bag, “Eden Park has the land, it has the consent, it has the community, it has the infrastructure,” he says. “I’m very confident Eden Park is going to be here for another 100 years.”
Instead of a drink, Sautner offers RNZ a personal stadium tour that takes us through the exact same doors that open when the All Blacks emerge onto the hallowed turf. There, blinking in the sunlight, Sautner sweeps his arms around the stadium and grins. “I get up every day and I think of my family,” he says. “Then I think, ‘How can I make Eden Park better?”
The stadium debate: ‘It began when the dinosaurs died out’ It is, says Shane Henderson, an argument for the ages. It never seems to quit. How long have Aucklanders been feuding about stadiums? “It began when the dinosaurs died out,” jokes Henderson.
For the past year, he’s been chairing a working group that will make the decision on Auckland’s stadium future. That group whittled four options down to the current two, eliminating a sunken waterfront stadium, and another based in Silo Park.
He’s doing this because Wayne Brown asked him to. “The mayor said, ‘We need to say to the public, ‘This is our preferred option for a stadium for the city.’” It’s taken over Henderson’s life. Every summer barbecue has turned into a forum for people to share their views.
“People say, “Why don’t you do this?’” he says. Henderson won’t be drawn on which way he’s leaning ahead of March’s decision, but he’s well aware of the stakes. “We’re talking about the future of our city for generations to come,” he says. “It’s natural feelings are going to run high.”
That’s true. As I researched this story, the main parties engaged in a back-and-forth discussion that became increasingly heated. Jim Doyle, from Te Tōangaroa’s Cenfield MXD team, described Eden Park’s situation as desperate.
“Eden Park can’t fund itself . . . it’s got no money, it’s costing ratepayers,” he said. Doyle alleged the stadium “wouldn’t be fit for purpose”. “You’re going to have to spend probably close to $1 billion to upgrade it.” Asked what should happen to Eden Park should the decision go Te Tōangaroa’s way, Doyle shrugged his shoulders. “Turn it into a retirement village.”
Eden Park’s Sautner immediately struck back. Yes, he admits Eden Park owes $40 million to Auckland Council, calling that debt a “legacy left over from the Rugby World Cup 2011”. But he denied most of the consortium’s claims.
“Eden Park does not receive any funding or subsidies from Auckland ratepayers,” Sautner said in a written statement. He confirmed renovations had already begun. “Over the past three years, the Trust has invested more than $30 million to enhance infrastructure and upgrade facilities . . . creating flexible spaces to meet evolving market demands.”
Sautner said Doyle’s statement was evidence of his team’s inexperience. “We are extremely disappointed that comments of this nature have been made,” he said. “They are factually incorrect and highlight Quay Park consortium’s lack of understanding of stadium economics.”
Do we even need to do this? As the stadium debate turns into a showdown, major stars continue to skip Aotearoa in favour of huge Australian shows, with Katy Perry, Kylie Minogue and Oasis all giving us a miss this year. New Zealand music fans are reluctantly spending large sums on flights and accommodation if they want to see them. Until Metallica arrives in November, there are no stadium shows booked; just three of Eden Park’s 12 allotted concert slots are taken this year.
Yet, Auckland City councillors will soon study feasibility reports being submitted by both stadium options.
On March 24, Henderson, the working group chair, says councillors will come together to “thrash it out” and vote for their preferred option. There will only be one winner, and The New Zealand Herald reports either building Te Tōangaroa or Eden Park 2.1 is likely to cost more than $1 billion. Either we’re spending that on a brand new waterfront stadium, or we’re upgrading an old one.
“Is that the best use of that money?” asks David Benge. The managing director for events company TEG Live doesn’t believe Tāmaki Makaurau needs another stadium because it’s barely using those it already has. He has questions.
“I understand the excitement around a shiny new toy, but to what end?” he asks. “Can Auckland sustain a show at Go Media Stadium, a show at Western Springs, a show at Eden Park, and a show at this new stadium on the same night — or even in the same week?”
Benge doesn’t believe Te Tōangaroa would entice more artists to play here either. “I’m yet to meet an artist who’s going to be swayed by how iconic a venue is,” he says. Bigger problems include the size of our population and the strength of our dollar.
No matter the venue, “you’re still incurring the same expenses to produce the show,” he says. Instead, he suggests Pōneke as the next city needing a new venue. “If you could wave a magic wand and invest in a 10,000-12,000-capacity indoor arena in Wellington, that would be fantastic,” he says.
Would a new stadium really lure big artists to NZ? Image: Te Tōangaroa
Live Nation, the touring juggernaut that hosts most of the country’s stadium shows, didn’t respond to a request for comment. Other promoters canvassed by RNZ offered mixed views. Some wanted a new stadium, while others wanted a refurbished one. Every single one of them said that any new stadium needed to be built with concerts — not sport — in mind.
“We’re fitting a square peg in a round hole,” one said about the production costs involved in trucking temporary stages into Eden Park or Go Media Stadium. “Turf replacement can add hundreds of thousands — if not $1 million — to your bottom line,” said another.
Some wanted something else entirely. Veteran promoter Campbell Smith pointed out Auckland Council is seeking input for a potential redevelopment of Western Springs. One mooted option is turning it into a home ground for the rapidly rising football club Auckland FC. Smith doesn’t agree with that. “I think it’s a really attractive option for music and festivals,” he says. “It’s got a large footprint, it’s easily accessible, it’s close to the city … It would be a travesty if it was developed entirely for sport.”
One thing is for certain: a decision on this lengthy, torrid and emotional topic is being made in March. One party will celebrate; the other will slink back to the drawing board. Will it finally end the great Auckland stadium debate? That’s a question that seems easier to answer than any of the others.
Chris Schulz is a freelance entertainment journalist and author of the industry newsletter, Boiler Room. This article was first published by RNZ and is republished with the author’s permission.Asia Pacific Report has a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Source: The White House
PRIORITIZING SERVICEMEMBER INTEGRITY, LETHALITY, AND HEALTH: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order directing the Department of Defense to update its guidance regarding trans-identifying medical standards for military service and to rescind guidance inconsistent with military readiness.
The Executive Order will require the Secretary of Defense to do the following:
Update all Department of Defense medical standards to ensure they prioritize readiness and lethality.
Take action to end the use of invented and identification-based pronouns in the Department of Defense.
The Executive Order also prohibits males from using or sharing sleeping, changing, or bathing in facilities designated for females.
The provisions in the Executive Order also apply to the Coast Guard.
The Executive Order revokes Biden Administration Executive Order 14004 and all policies, directives, and guidance pursuant to that order.
Executive Order 14004 called for accommodating “gender identity” in the military—to the detriment of military readiness and unit cohesion.
RESTORING SANITY IN OUR MILITARY: During the Biden Administration, the Department of Defense allowed gender insanity to pervade our military organizations, family, and culture. This included not only permitting the military to increase the number of individuals not physically or mentally prepared to serve, but also ordering the Department of Defense to pay for servicemembers’ transition surgeries, as well as those of their dependent children—at a cost of millions of dollars to the American taxpayer.
The United States imposes rigorous standards on all military servicemembers to ensure they are prepared to take on the challenges required of them.
Fitness, health, welfare, and readiness standards must ensure that our military members are able to deploy, fight, and win.
On the battlefield there can be no accommodation for anything less than resilience, strength, and the ability to withstand extraordinary physical demands.
Individuals who are unable to meet these requirements are unable to serve in the military. This has been the case for decades.
Unit cohesion requires high levels of integrity and stability among servicemembers.
It can take a minimum of 12 months for an individual to complete treatments after transition surgery, which often involves the use of heavy narcotics.
During this period, they are not physically capable of meeting military readiness requirements and require ongoing medical care. This is not conducive for deployment or other readiness requirements.
A LETHAL FIGHTING FORCE: President Trump’s priority to have a ready, able, and lethal military will remain a core tenant of his second term.
During his first term in 2018, President Trump’s Department of Defense took action to ensure trans-identifying servicemembers did not serve in capacities that undermined unit cohesion and lethality.
If there is one thing that Gaofei Zhang learned from a night-time equestrian class at UConn on a bitter cold evening is that a warm, comfortable pair of boots is one of life’s necessities.
“After that night, I tried a lot of brands of boots,’’ says Zhang, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Allied Health Sciences in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural History (CAHNR). “They either weren’t warm or weren’t waterproof, or they were slippery or stiff or hard to clean. I didn’t understand why you’d call them ‘snow boots’ if they aren’t good in the snow!’’
Zhang has a home in Mongolia where the temperature drops as low as minus-30 degrees. The locals create warm and comfortable work boots, but they aren’t stylish. Zhang thought she could adopt their footwear expertise and merge it with something fashionable, including multi-colored fur and beads.
“As an international student, I didn’t know anything about how to start a company and I was not brave enough to create it on my own,’’ she says. Last year she brought her idea to Innovation Quest (iQ), a UConn entrepreneurship program and competition that helps students develop their ideas into thriving startups. IQ provides workshops, mentoring, and startup funding for the most promising ideas.
Today, Zhang’s unique, handcrafted boots, marketed under the name MOGSki, are ready to go to market, and the 15 styles of boots and apres-ski accessories are drawing interest from many boutiques. Elegant and chic, they are made of sheep, mink, or cow hide and lined with shearling for added warmth.
Innovation Quest Workshops Begin on Feb. 4; Students Vie for $30,000 in Funding
Zhang is one of more than 2,500 UConn students who have participated in iQ since its inception 14 years ago. The program is open to UConn graduate and undergraduate students from any field of study.
IQ is run by Kevin Gardiner ’06 MBA, an adjunct professor in business and engineering. He has held management positions at both startups and long-established companies, including Macy’s, Oracle, and Welcome Commerce.
“We’re definitely looking for someone who has grit, someone who isn’t going to give up,’’ he says. “As an entrepreneur, you get far more ‘no’s’ than ‘yeses,’ and that’s something that you have to accept. I also look for someone with a passion for the problem they are tackling. When the iQ judges see that, they know they’ve got an entrepreneur whom they can bet on.”
This year’s event will begin with a kickoff workshop at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb, 4, followed by workshops on Feb. 12, Feb. 26, and March 5. All the workshops are virtual for the convenience of students. Participants may sign up at innovationquest.uconn.edu.
IQ had a 22% increase in participation last year, over 2023, and that’s a trend that Gardiner hopes to see continue.
Previous participants have created everything from stuffed animals to clothing to personal care items to businesses engaged in environmental cleanup. Gardiner says that in recent years, students seem particularly interested in health tech, mobile apps, and AI-related companies, but all good idea are welcome.
Last year’s first-place award went to Ph.D. candidate John Toribio, whose company Zemi Labs is creating wearable garments that provide biomechanical data, including heart and muscle performance.
“UConn continues to provide more and more opportunities for student entrepreneurs, and we continue to evolve this program,’’ Gardiner says. “We welcome students who just want to dip a toe in the water, as well as those who are fully committed to creating a business.’’
The iQ program has more than 50 expert mentors and more than half of them have been associated with the program since the beginning. Every year, iQ adds new advisers, all passionate about working with students.
“I want all students to feel welcome,’’ Gardiner says. “We have four virtual workshops to help students understand entrepreneurship. Are you ready to launch a business? If not, what do you need to get ready? We want anyone, even those with a more remote interest, to attend and learn.’’
After the workshops are completed, students can submit a formal application to enter the competition and compete for a share of $30,000 in funding. Final presentations are April 14 in Storrs and the top three startup companies will be announced. Many of the previous participants have gone on to start their companies or to pursue an entrepreneurial career.
Zhang Developed Business Expertise, Confidence
For Zhang, the last year has been enormously gratifying, both personally and professionally.
“IQ has been an incredible journey for me. It’s not only helped sharpen my presentation skills but also expanded my knowledge across so many areas—product positioning, sales, marketing, tax, finance, IP, law, storytelling, and more,’’ she says.
“The competition broadened my perspectives, strengthened my courage and determination, and provided invaluable mentorship and networking opportunities,’’ she says. “It’s truly been one of the most impactful milestones in my entrepreneurial journey, directly pushing forward the progress of my startup.’’
She says she would tell anyone considering entrepreneurship to give it a try.
“I would tell other entrepreneurs to be fearless in exploring new ideas and to use your own experiences to solve problems,’’ she says. “Be adaptable, build a network, find mentors, be persistent, and be open to both failures and successes.’’
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fengate Private Equity, a division of Fengate Asset Management (“Fengate”), is pleased to announce a new platform investment through its partnership with eMAX Health (“eMAX” or “the Company”). Fengate is managing this investment on behalf of the LiUNA Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada (LPFCEC).
The existing management team, led by Founder and President, Julian Casciano, will continue to lead eMAX and remain significant investors in the Company alongside Fengate. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in 2004 by Julian Casciano, eMAX has grown into a recognized leader in the fields of real-world evidence development research, market access, and patient services. The Company features an experienced team of research scientists, healthcare experts, and key opinion leaders, supported by advanced data management and technology-enabled solutions. The Company’s proprietary platforms— MAVA, EMRClaims+, and HealthPACER— are at the forefront of tech-enabled pharmaceutical commercialization.
“We are delighted to support Julian, a dynamic founder with an ambitious vision for eMAX, and help fuel the Company’s continued growth,” said Maxim Tcherner, Principal at Fengate Private Equity. “eMAX has rapidly scaled, establishing a leading position in a fragmented industry, all while staying true to its client-centric culture. The investment is strongly aligned with our strategy of partnering with exceptional management teams and providing differentiated services in high-growth sectors. eMAX will be a valuable addition to Fengate’s healthcare portfolio.”
“eMAX is excited to partner with Fengate as the Company enters its next phase of growth. We will be able to accelerate new product development across high-demand tech-enabled services, enhance our portfolio of innovative capabilities, and significantly expand customer account management,” said Julian Casciano, Founder and President of eMAX Health. “With our aligned values and ambition, I believe the Fengate partnership will help our customers improve the lives of patients around the world.”
North Point Mergers and Acquisitions served as financial advisors and Coviello Weber & Dahill LLP served as legal advisors to eMAX. Torys LLP served as legal advisor to Fengate.
eMAX Health, founded in 2004 and headquartered in Delray Beach, Florida, is a leader in market access innovation, real-world evidence development research, and digitally connected patient access and outcomes monitoring solutions. eMAX Health serves as a partner of choice to the largest global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Learn more at www.emaxhealth.net/.
About Fengate Asset Management
Fengate is a leading alternative investment manager, with more than $10 billion of capital commitments under management, focused on private equity, infrastructure, and real estate strategies. With offices and team members across Canada and the United States, Fengate leverages 50 years of entrepreneurial experience to deliver excellent investment results on behalf of its clients. Fengate Private Equity, a division of Fengate Asset Management, is a differentiated investment platform supporting the growth ambitions of entrepreneurs through transformative capital. Learn more at www.fengate.com.
About the LiUNA Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada Established in 1972, the LiUNA Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada (LPFCEC) is one of the fastest growing multi-employer pension funds across Canada, voted top 10 pension funds by Benefits Canada. With a diverse investment portfolio and over $12 billion in assets, LPFCEC has yielded positive returns for the plan, great work opportunities for LiUNA members, and has created many needed institutions across North America through a broad range of investments. Learn more at www.lpfcec.org.
WILMINGTON, Del., Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bannix Acquisition Corp. (“Bannix”) (NASDAQ: BNIX), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, and VisionWave Technologies, Inc. (“VisionWave”), a company specializes in the development, testing, and commercialization of advanced technologies for defense, surveillance, and homeland security applications., today announced that VisionWave Holdings, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Bannix (“VisionWave Holdings”), filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) of a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”).
The Registration Statement contains a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus in connection with the proposed business combination between VisionWave and Bannix. While the Registration Statement has not yet become effective and the information contained therein is subject to change, it provides important information about VisionWave, VisionWave Holdings, Bannix, and the proposed business combination.
CEO and Chairman of Bannix Douglas Davis, commented, “We are thrilled to reach this milestone with VisionWave as we continue the partnership. The potential of in the defense sector is immense, and this partnership positions the combined company for success. We are confident VisionWave is poised to be a leading player and are eager to continue on the path ahead.”
Transaction Overview
Under the terms of the merger agreement entered into by Bannix and VisionWave, among others, with respect to the proposed business combination, Bannix and VisionWave will merge with subsidiaries of VisionWave Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bannix that was formed for the proposed transaction (the “Merger”), with Bannix and VisionWave becoming direct wholly owned subsidiaries of VisionWave Holdings. At the effective time of the Merger, stockholders of Bannix and VisionWave immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger will receive shares of VisionWave Holdings common stock.
About Bannix Acquisition Corp.
Bannix Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company, also commonly referred to as a Special Purpose Acquisition Company, or SPAC, formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities.
About VisionWave Technologies Inc.
VisionWave Technologies Inc. is at the forefront of revolutionizing defense capabilities by integrating advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous solutions across air, ground, and sea domains. Its state-of-the-art innovations— ranging from high-resolution radars and advanced vision systems to radio frequency (RF) sensing technologies are seeking to redefine operational efficiency and precision for military and homeland security applications worldwide. From tactical ground vehicles to precision weapon control systems, VisionWave leads the development of reliable, high-performance technologies that transform defense strategies and deliver superior results, even in the most challenging environments. With headquarters in the U.S. and strategic partnerships in Canada and the United Arab Emigrants, VisionWave is uniquely positioned to serve global markets, offering cutting-edge defense solutions that address the evolving needs of security forces across the world.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) that are based on beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to Bannix and VisionWave, including statements regarding VisionWave’s business plans and growth strategies, market opportunities, and financial prospects. In some cases, you can identify forward looking statements by the following words: “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing,” “target,” “seek” or the negative or plural of these words, or other similar expressions that are predictions or indicate future events or prospects, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this document, including but not limited to:
(i) the risk that the previously disclosed proposed business combination (the “proposed transaction”) may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of Bannix’s securities; (ii) the risk that the proposed transaction may not be completed by Bannix’s business combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain an extension of the business combination deadline if sought by Bannix; (iii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the proposed transaction, including the approval of the proposed transaction by Bannix’s stockholders and the receipt of certain governmental and regulatory approvals; (iv) the failure to obtain adequate financing to support the future working capital needs of VisionWave and the combined company; (v) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Bannix or VisionWave related to the merger agreement and the proposed transaction; (vi) changes to the proposed structure of the proposed transaction that may be required or appropriate as a result of applicable laws or regulations or as a condition to obtaining regulatory approval of the proposed transaction; (vii) the ability to maintain the listing of Bannix’s securities on Nasdaq; (viii) the price of Bannix’s securities, including volatility resulting from changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which VisionWave operates, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting VisionWave’s business and changes in the combined capital structure; and (viii) other risks and uncertainties set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Bannix’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K that are available on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) at www.sec.gov and other documents filed, or to be filed with the SEC by Bannix and that may be found in the Registration Statement. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. There may be additional risks that neither Bannix nor VisionWave presently know or that Bannix or VisionWave currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that will be described in the definitive proxy statement to be filed by VisionWave Holdigns with the SEC, including those under “Risk Factors” therein, and other documents filed by Bannix and VisionWave Holdings from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward looking statements, and Bannix, VisionWave and VisionWave Holdings assume no obligation and, except as required by law, do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Neither Bannix, VisionWave Holdings nor VisionWave gives any assurance that either Bannix or VisionWave will achieve its expectations.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed transaction, VisionWave Holdings filed with the SEC the Registration Statement on Form S-4, and after the Registration Statement is declared effective, VisionWave Holdings will mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed transaction to its stockholders. This press release does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed transaction and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the proposed transaction. VisionWave Holdings and Bannix may file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC, and Bannix’s stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read, when available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and the amendments thereto, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and the other documents filed in connection with the proposed transaction, as these materials will contain important information about VisionWave, VisionWave Holdings, Bannix and the proposed transaction. When available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials for the proposed transaction will be mailed to stockholders of Bannix as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed transaction and the other matters to be voted upon at a meeting of Bannix’s stockholders to be held to approve the proposed transaction and such other matters. Such stockholders will also be able to obtain copies of the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC, without charge, once available, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to Bannix Acquisition Corp., 300 Delaware Avenue, Suite 210#301, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 or via email at doug.davis@bannixacquisition.com.
Participants in Solicitation
Bannix, VisionWave Holdings and VisionWave, and their respective directors, executive officers, other members of management, and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Bannix’s stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of Bannix’s stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction, including the names of such persons and a description of their respective interests, is set forth in Bannix’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Additional information regarding the interests of those persons and other persons who may be deemed participants in the proposed transaction may be obtained by reading the Registration Statement regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available. Stockholders will be able to obtain copies of the documents described in this paragraph that are filed with the SEC, once available, without charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to Bannix Acquisition Corp., 300 Delaware Avenue, Suite 210#301, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 or via email at doug.davis@bannixacquisition.com.
No Offer or Solicitation
This press release is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed transaction and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of Bannix, VisionWave Holdings or VisionWave, nor shall there be any sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act.
Contacts
Bannix Acquisition Corp. Douglas Davis, CEO (302) 305-479
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, GoodTime released its fourth annual Hiring Insights Report, a comprehensive analysis based on an independent study of over 500 U.S. talent acquisition (TA) leaders, revealing the most pressing challenges and emerging trends shaping the hiring landscape in 2025.
The report uncovers a challenging talent market where TA teams met just 47.9% of their hiring goals in 2024 on average, marking the lowest success rate recorded in the past four years. Persistent bottlenecks, increasing time-to-hire, and rising candidate expectations have strained hiring efficiency across industries.
At the same time, the report reveals key opportunities for 2025, including greater use of AI and automation, streamlined hiring tools, and a renewed focus on candidate experience — strategies that top-performing teams are already embracing to stay competitive.
Key findings from the 2025 Hiring Insights Report:
Time-to-hire challenges: 60% of organizations reported longer time-to-hire in 2024, with interview cancellations and scheduling delays identified as the top bottlenecks.
Surging AI adoption: 99% of talent acquisition teams now use AI and automation to streamline hiring processes, with 93% planning additional technology investments in 2025.
Candidate experience focus: Top-performing teams were 55% more likely to focus on candidate experience improvements.
Sector-specific insights: Healthcare was the only sector to show year-over-year improvement in hiring goal attainment (56%), while retail, manufacturing, financial services, and technology all lagged further behind.
Talent leaders eye bold moves in 2025
“The data makes it clear — talent teams can’t afford to stay stuck in the hiring struggles of 2024,” said Ahryun Moon, CEO and Co-Founder of GoodTime. “The path forward demands bold investments in automation and AI to eliminate bottlenecks and meet hiring goals faster. But efficiency alone isn’t enough. The teams that will win in 2025 are those that balance speed with exceptional, human-centric hiring experiences.”
The 2025 Hiring Insights Report shows that talent acquisition leaders are taking decisive action to improve hiring efficiency and outcomes in the year ahead, and focusing on five key areas to overcome hiring challenges:
Driving operational efficiency with AI and automation
AI and automation are now essential tools for modern talent acquisition. 99% of teams reported the use of these technologies and nearly all leaders are planning additional investments in 2025. Streamlined and automated workflows reduce administrative burdens, allowing recruiters to focus on strategic hiring efforts and improving overall operational efficiency.
Eliminating bottlenecks in the hiring process
Time-to-hire remains a critical challenge, with 60% of organizations reporting delays, largely due to interview cancellations and scheduling issues. Addressing these bottlenecks requires proactive strategies such as AI-powered analytics for identifying recurring issues, intelligent interviewer selection tools, and automated reminders and rescheduling workflows. These efforts help reduce scheduling conflicts and improve hiring speed.
Enhancing the candidate experience to stay competitive
Top-performing TA teams set themselves apart by prioritizing the candidate experience. Personalized experiences, such as branded candidate portals with real-time updates and anonymous feedback collection, keep candidates informed and engaged throughout the hiring process. Additionally, AI-driven insights help interviewers come better prepared for conversations, ensuring a smoother and more effective interview that creates a more engaging candidate experience.
Leveraging data-driven insights for better decision-making
Data and analytics have transformed hiring strategies, and nearly half of teams reported using AI-powered insights for better decision-making. Leading organizations are using these tools to detect inefficiencies, benchmark performance against industry standards, and implement real-time analytics for continuous process improvement, to make more informed decisions faster.
Committing to continuous process improvement
TA leaders emphasize the need for continuous refinement of hiring processes to stay competitive. This includes regular process audits using hiring data and feedback, ongoing interviewer training, and aligning hiring strategies with broader business goals. A culture of continuous improvement ensures hiring teams remain agile and capable of adapting to evolving market conditions.
How challenges differed across sectors
The 2025 Hiring Insights Report revealed that hiring challenges varied significantly across sectors. For example, healthcare was the only sector to report year-over-year improvements in hiring goal attainment, reaching 56%. Conversely, the retail and manufacturing sectors faced some of the highest struggles, with hiring goal attainment dipping to 36% — its lowest in three years.
The financial services and technology sectors cited interview scheduling delays and capacity issues as primary barriers to success. Companies in these sectors have increasingly adopted automated interview scheduling tools and leverage AI to manage interviewer capacity more effectively. Meanwhile, the retail sector reported a surge in candidate drop-offs due to prolonged hiring timelines, highlighting the critical need for faster, more efficient hiring processes.
The 2025 Hiring Insights Report offers further analysis and detailed recommendations for talent leaders seeking to improve hiring outcomes. The full report is available atgoodtime.io.
About GoodTime
GoodTime elevates the entire hiring experience with human-centric AI, all while automating 90% of interview management tasks. Trusted by global talent teams at companies like Hubspot, Spotify, Priceline, and Lyft, our platform not only automates interview scheduling but also keeps candidates and interviewers deeply engaged throughout the hiring journey. Gain access to powerful insights and AI-driven recommendations to streamline processes and ensure every interviewer is always well-prepared. The result? Exceptional hiring experiences that consistently land you top talent.
Learn more at goodtime.io.
Media Contact
For more information or to arrange an interview with Ahryun Moon, please contact: Jake Link press@goodtime.io
Campaigns and social media often encourage people to make eco-friendly choices like using less plastic or driving less. While these actions are important, focusing so much on what people do can distract from the much larger role that businesses and governments play in causing and solving environmental problems.
For example, some campaigns promote a “net zero hero” narrative that implies that people should take the lead in fighting climate change by changing their behaviour, recycling more, taking fewer flights or eating less meat.
While personal actions can help, there’s a danger this way of thinking can put too much responsibility on consumers. These individual actions are not enough to solve the problem.
By focusing so much on personal responsibility, we risk ignoring the systemic changes needed to address the climate crisis. These include switching to renewable energy on a large scale, enforcing strict industrial regulations and redesigning cities to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Without these bigger steps, taken by governments and large organisations, we can’t make real progress in tackling climate change.
Energy companies and trade groups have been particularly good at shifting blame to consumers. They promote products and habits that claim to lower personal carbon footprints while lobbying against strong environmental laws that would require real emission cuts from industries.
Indeed, the carbon footprint calculator itself was developed in 2004 by a public relations firm working for BP. The tool encouraged individuals to calculate their personal impact on the environment, focusing on activities like driving, energy use, and diet.
According to reports on the campaign’s origins, this approach was part of a deliberate strategy to shift public attention away from the significant environmental harm caused by corporations, particularly the fossil fuel industry.
Despite this narrative, many corporations have failed to address their own emissions. A recent study found that only 60% of companies met their 2020 emissions targets, and 31% failed to report any outcomes.
This lack of accountability highlights how many major companies neglect their responsibilities, raising serious concerns about their commitment to 2030 climate goals.
These tactics maintain the status quo and creates a cycle of guilt and failure for consumers. Many people feel overwhelmed, leading to demotivation and even climate anxiety.
In my research into climate communication, I see how stories of guilt resonate with communities already facing misplaced blame. For example, in workshops with groups affected by austerity, people often felt guilty for not helping others more.
Over time, they realised this was due to failures in governance, not personal shortcomings. They saw a similar pattern in the climate crisis, learning to separate personal guilt from the larger roles of corporations and governments.
As a climate researcher and communicator, my job is to help move the conversation from personal guilt to shared responsibility and accountability. This shift empowers people as citizens, not just consumers, to demand action from leaders and industries.
Understanding that while personal responsibility is meaningful, the real power to create change lies with corporations and governments is vital. We need systemic change, not consumer guilt.
To tackle the climate crisis, we must make personal choices that reflect care for the environment. But we must also work together to demand that companies and governments adopt sustainable practices, for example through voting for leaders who prioritise environmental reform. The path to a sustainable future is collective action – not carrying the weight of guilt alone.
Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
Sam Illingworth does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By David Scott, Head of Division, School of Business and Creative Industries, University of the West of Scotland
Scottish musician Patrick Doyle is an acclaimed composer of over 60 feature film scores with many attendant accolades, honours and awards. I first met him in 2001 while making a now long-vanished series on movie music called Silverscreen Beats for BBC Radio.
I visited him at his office on the Shepperton lot in Surrey. There, I watched, enchanted, as he flitted between desk and piano bringing his creativity to life with his incredible musicality and riotous humour illustrating scores like Carlito’s Way (1993), Sense and Sensibility (1995) and Gosford Park (2001).
So years later, when the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) presented Doyle with an honorary doctorate, I wasted no time in asking him to visit and talk to our students. The film of that event is finally available online and is a treat for all fans of film music.
I could pick 20 favourite Patrick Doyle soundtracks for this “best of” list. In the end, I selected these four and asked him to pick a fifth.
1. Henry V (1989)
Back in 2001, Doyle told me he loves to get the opportunity to compose a song for a movie soundtrack. Henry V, his first full-length feature score, includes one of the greatest examples, Non-Nobis Domine, sung after the key battle scene of Kenneth Branagh’s 1989 film.
It builds from a plain opening verse, sung in the film by young Doyle himself who remembers, with a humorous twinkle, trying to sing it slightly “off key” to enhance its authenticity.
Non-Nobis Domine in Henry V.
From that simple introduction, the composer gradually adds choral, orchestral and complex harmonic elements, skilfully balancing the elation and darkness of triumph. And for all its harmonic counterpoint and rich orchestration, he never lets you forget that lonely central melody, doubling it down the octave on bowed double basses as it reaches the climax.
The soundtrack recording, conducted by Simon Rattle with the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, is a thing of wonder. But to truly understand the perfect marriage of story and music – even if orchestras and choirs did not typically boom across 15th-century battlefields – experience Non-Nobis Domine in the original movie.
2. Brave (2012)
The Scottish tradition is never far from Patrick’s music. Indeed, O! For a Muse of Fire, the opening theme from Henry V, uses a recognisably Scottish sound, two notes played quickly across a five note interval, as a key motif, expanding this in a melodic phrase that recalls the cries of seagulls.
In Disney Pixar’s Brave (2012), Doyle brings an authentic voice to the imaginary Scotland of its central character, the indefatigable Merida. Her defiant exuberance is mirrored in the rhythm of pieces like The Games and Remember to Smile where the composer uses a traditional hand-held drum (the bodhran), bagpipes and fiddles, with the harmony instruments often playing in tight unison to rousing effect.
Remember to Smile from the Brave score.
If a key role of the movie soundtrack is to extend narrative or visual language, the effect wrought here is almost physical – to the extent that my own embarrassed grandchildren have had to restrain me from dancing on the couch during screenings of Brave.
Elsewhere though, the slow mystery of a beautifully animated landscape is matched by atmospheric, languid passages that call on deep reserves of the tradition and its melancholy.
3. Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Patrick’s Catholic upbringing is another constant presence in his music. He was greatly influenced by the beautiful Irish melodic hymns which were imported to the west of Scotland. His soundtrack for Ang Lee’s Sense and Sensibility was nominated for a raft of music awards including the Baftas, the Oscars and Golden Globes.
It has marvellous passages of yearning and almost devotional melody and harmony, but I include it selfishly for the hymnal Weep No More You Sad Fountains alone. It’s one of my very favourite melodies, and one I was privileged to hear him play at close quarters at UWS.
The Dreame from Sense and Sensibility.
This majestic piece can be heard on the original soundtrack, sung by English soprano Jane Eaglen, on Patrick’s 2015 album of solo piano pieces and, of course, during my interview with him. Perhaps less well known from the same film is The Dreame, another devotional piece, again sung by Eaglen and set to a Ben Johnson poem. Complex in conception and virtuosic in execution, the piece is nevertheless understated, underplayed, and more devastating for it.
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4. Carlito’s Way (1993)
Doyle’s hilarious and hugely affectionate account of working with one of cinema’s greats, the director Brian DePalma, is a highlight of the conversation I had with him at UWS. His insights range from the creation of the music, the larger-than-life DePalma himself and descriptions of giant cranes chucking down fake rain onto a Biblical-scale location shoot in New York.
The music created for Carlito’s Way, DePalma’s crime classic starring Al Pacino, is dramatic and rangy, with passages of glacial orchestrated strings – the title theme is a highlight – sitting alongside solo piano, small jazz ensemble and interesting sonic juxtapositions.
The Elevator from Carlitto’s Way.
One piece, The Elevator, combines marimba, piano and plucked strings in unison against guiro and woodblocks. It establishes a theme that builds intensely, adding different instrumental colour towards the famous climax in Grand Central Station in New York. It is recognisably “movie music”, but tells its own melodic story.
5. Doyle’s choice – Indochine (1993)
When I asked Patrick to choose an “undiscovered gem for a new generation”, he quickly picked Indochine, the 1993 drama starring Catherine Deneuve. The movie won the Oscar for best foreign film in that year and the music is classic Doyle, melodic, rich in harmony and grand enough in orchestral scale to match the sumptuous visual language of the film.
Premier Rendez-Vous from Indochine.
That devotional, romantic sound is in full flow too. Pieces like Premier Rendez-Vous and Journey’s End are almost heady in conception and execution. Among the most distinctive themes in this hugely expansive work are also among the most distinctive pieces in Doyle’s own canon: two sure-footed tango and rumba pieces and the title theme itself with its unusual and atmospheric combination of ethereal wordless vocal, eastern bass drum, gong and finger bells. Essential.
David Scott 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.
