Please join the OWM Laboratory Metrology Program in welcoming our special guest speaker, Leon Chao, NIST Scientific Engineer from the Fundamental Electrical Measurements Group within the Physical Measurement Laboratory.
Leon will share how this new groundbreaking technology can directly realize mass traceable to the revised SI through electrical measurements, putting the power of a primary mass standard directly into the hands of state and calibrations labs.
During this Info Hour, Leon will:
Describe the fundamentals of a Kibble Balance and how state-of-the-art advancements will enable technological commercialization and modernization at the regulatory level (e.g., state laboratory metrology programs) for attaining SI traceability through a constant of nature (Planck’s constant).
Explain why traceability in measurements is critically important, and what the future holds for the traceability of mass calibrations.
Discuss NIST’s efforts to miniaturize this technology for any lab’s implementation.
Share current and ongoing collaborations with commercial partners, the Department of Defense, the “NIST on a Chip” Program, and the timetables for deliverables.
We will have ample time for Q&A and discussion on how states and laboratories can consider if this new technology is right for them and how best to prepare for any practical changes in calibration services.
ADD TO YOUR CALENDAR * There is no registration or fee required to attend the event, and no certificates will be issued.
(If you have problems adding the calendar link to your Outlook calendar, open the attacheddocumentfor instructions on making Outlook your default calendar app.)
If you are a Weights and Measures Official, a Laboratory or Field Metrologist, or anyone involved in using mass standards or mass calibrations, this is for you!”
About our Guest Speaker
Leon Chao (B.S., M.S. Mech. Engr, University of Maryland) began his career as a precision design engineer for the NIST-4 Kibble Balance in 2012 aimed at measuring a value of the Planck constant to 8-digit accuracy. This machine ultimately contributed to the global effort in redefining the SI unit of mass, the kilogram, in terms of a fixed value of the Planck constant, sparking the complete revision of the SI. During these efforts, Leon spearheaded an outreach project to build and publish scientific data generated by a fun, LEGO-based tabletop Kibble balance with 1% accuracy, ultimately evolving into a full-blown endeavor to develop multiple generations of laboratory-grade tabletop balances with parts in 10^6 accuracy alongside collaborations with the US Army, NIST-On-A-Chip (NOAC) program, and commercial partners.
Michele Robinson Senior Director National Cybersecurity Centers Whatcom Community College
Credit: Donavon Johnson, Phd
Donavon Johnson, PhD Assistant Professor Florida International University
Credit: Barbara Peres-Furones
Barbara Peres-Furones Assistant Director, Marketing & Communications Florida International University
Credit: Daniel Eliot
Daniel Eliot Lead for Small Business Engagement NIST
Credit: Rodney Petersen
Rodney Petersen Director NICE (Moderator)
Additional speakers to be announced.
Synopsis:
The NICE Conference & Expo is an annual event that brings together professionals from education, government, industry, and non-profits to address the need for a skilled cybersecurity workforce. Hosted by Florida International University (FIU) in collaboration with NICE, a program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the conference serves as a platform to share best practices, research, and workforce development strategies for cybersecurity professionals. The 2025 NICE Conference & Expo, is scheduled for June 1-3, 2025, in Denver, Colorado. The conference will feature keynote speakers, presentations, workshops, and discussions focused on cybersecurity skills gaps, education strategies, and policy initiatives. During this webinar, you will receive insights regarding the learning experiences and program content that will be showcased as part of the NICE Conference. We hope to see you there!
At the invitation of the Government of Japan, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, will lead the ASEAN Secretariat’s delegation to participate in the World Expo 2025, in Osaka, Japan, on 12-14 April 2025. The visit of SG Dr. Kao will entail a series of engagements focusing on ASEAN’s participation at the World Expo 2025, visiting Pavilions of ASEAN Member States, as well as meetings with various stakeholders based in Osaka. SG Dr. Kao will officiate the ASEAN Pavilion and, among others, deliver remarks in support of Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship this year at the International Trade and Industry Week, organized by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia, at the Expo Hall.
Taking full advantage of his time in Osaka, SG Dr. Kao will also engage with the Osaka Prefecture Governor and the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry to further promote ASEAN’s potentials including in the areas of trade, investment, tourism and connectivity. Additionally, SG Dr. Kao will also be received by the ASEAN-Japan Centre during this visit, and will deliver a special lecture on the topic of ‘ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: Partnership for Peace, Prosperity and People’ at the Kansai University, in Osaka, to convey ASEAN’s narrative to the younger generation.
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Anal cancer doesn’t get a lot of attention. This may be because it’s relatively rare – anal cancer affects an estimated one to two Australians in every 100,000. As a comparison, melanomas affect around 70 in every 100,000 people.
But it’s also likely due to embarrassment. Anal cancer is an abnormal growth in the cells lining the anus, the last few centimetres of the bowel. Many people feel awkward talking about this part of their body.
So, when symptoms appear – such as bleeding or itchiness – they may delay speaking to a doctor. But it’s crucial to know what to look for, because if anal cancer is caught early the chances of treating it are much higher.
Up to nine in ten anal cancers are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection.
HPV is common – more than 80% of people who have ever been sexually active will be infected at some point with a strain (there are more than 150).
Most HPV strains won’t cause any problems. But some, particularly HPV16, are higher risk. Persistent infection can cause changes in the anal lining and this can progress to anal cancer. This can happen even if you don’t have anal sex.
Vaccination against HPV is a highly effective method to reduce the risk of cancers related to HPV infection such as anal and cervical cancer.
Since the national HPV vaccination program began in Australia in 2007, there has been a substantial drop in diseases linked to HPV (such as genital warts). While it’s too early to say, it is hoped that over time cancer rates will also fall due to vaccination.
Other factors that increase your risk for anal cancer include:
being older
a history of smoking
a weakened immune system (for example from medication or HIV)
sexual activity (having anal sex or multiple sexual partners)
Sometimes anal cancer doesn’t cause any symptoms. A doctor may instead detect the cancer visually during a colonoscopy or another examination.
Other times, symptoms may include bleeding from the bottom (you might see blood on the toilet paper), a new anal lump, or feeling non-specific discomfort or itchiness in your anus.
You may also have an unusual sensation that you can’t pass a stool as “fully” or easily as before.
If you have any of these symptoms – particularly if they are new or getting worse – it is important to speak with your doctor.
The symptoms of anal cancer can be very similar to common conditions such as haemorrhoids, so it’s best to get them checked by a doctor to get the diagnosis right.
It’s understandable you might be embarrassed. But for doctors, this is all part of routine practice.
Catching it early improves your chances
Survival rates are much better for anal cancer caught in the early stages.
Around 90% of people diagnosed with stage one anal cancer will live five years or more. That drops to 60% if the diagnosis is made when the cancer has developed to stage three.
The test may be as simple as a quick anal examination. Or it may require other investigations such as anoscopy (looking inside the bottom with a slim tube) or specialised ultrasounds or scans.
Most tests involve only a small amount of discomfort or none at all. They can rule out anything serious, giving you peace of mind.
If a cancer is detected, treatment usually involves radiotherapy, chemotherapy or surgery, or a combination.
The bottom line
If you need another reason to get symptoms checked out, here’s one: they could also indicate bowel cancer.
Bowel cancer (also known as colon or colorectal cancer) is the fourth most common cancer diagnosed in Australia, and the second most common cause of cancer death, with similar symptoms such as bleeding from the bottom.
So, it’s crucial to not to let awkwardness get in the way. Speak to your doctor if any symptoms concern you. Starting the conversation early could save your life.
Suzanne Mahady does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Stevens, Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University
As part of their federal election campaign, the Coalition announced plans to limit the number of international students able to commence study each year to 240,000, “focused on driving […] housing availability and affordability”.
The Coalition proposal falsely equates high immigration with housing shortages. Studies indicate limiting international students will have minimal impact on housing supply. Most international students stay in student housing or share house accommodation, not suitable or desirable for many Australians to live in.
History shows us Australia has previously gone through periods of high migration and economic uncertainty. But history also shows us, if we are willing to adapt and innovate, high immigration and housing affordability can co-exist.
Lessons from Australia’s gold rush
The discovery of gold in Victoria caused Melbourne’s population to explode.
In 1851, Melbourne’s population was 77,000. Within a decade, that figure had more than quadrupled to 540,000.
As a young colony, the Victorian government actively recruited British and Irish migrants, subsidising fully or partially the cost of the sea voyage to Australia.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing: competition across migrant groups developed, and new Chinese immigrants in particular were singled out. Europeans staged violent anti-Chinese riots, which included the murder of three Chinese migrants.
To accommodate new migrants, the Victorian colonial government expanded housing supply in two ways.
‘Canvas Town’ was built on the banks of the Yarra in South Melbourne, captured in this illustration from the 1850s. State Library Victoria
First, in 1852 Lieutenant-Governor Charles La Trobe permitted the establishment of Canvas Town, essentially a tent city on the southern bank of the Yarra River.
There were problems in Canvas Town: disease was common, sanitation nonexistent, and crime rife. But Canvas Town provided newcomers protection from the elements. Canvas Town was officially disbanded in 1854, although people continued to live in tents across Melbourne as they awaited the construction of more permanent housing.
Second, prefabricated iron houses were imported to Melbourne from Britain to overcome supply shortages. These British-built “kit homes” were dismantled, every component labelled and then shipped to Australia for assembly.
Rapidly-built homes appeared in Port Melbourne, North Melbourne, Fitzroy, Collingwood and Richmond. Three such examples still exist today in South Melbourne.
A portable town for Australia erected at Hemming’s Patent Portable House Manufactory, Bristol. National Library of Australia
Gold Rush Victoria reminds us of the importance of nimble government intervention in the housing market to offset housing pressures and mitigate anti-foreigner sentiments.
Responding to migrants after World War II
One hundred years later, Australia was again facing an immigration and population boom. Australia faced housing shortages in the post-World War II years, as the population grew from 7.6 million to 10.5 million people between 1947 and 1961.
In the era of post-war shortages and rationing, Australians worried about the impacts of the new arrivals on employment and social issues such as crime.
The arrival of displaced persons and assisted migrants from Europe strained existing housing stock. Some new and existing Australians resorted to squatting and other forms of temporary housing.
Commonwealth and state governments took leading roles in housing construction.
Houses were pre-fabricated in the United Kingdom, like in this photograph from 1947, before being shipped to Australia. State Library Victoria
Between 1947 and 1961, Australia’s housing stock increased by 50% compared with a 41% increase in population. Australian governments directly contributed to 24% of this increase in stock, or 221,700 homes.
As the minister for immigration, Harold Holt said in 1950, “migrant labour was helping to solve Australia’s housing problems, not aggravating it” by working in essential industries that produce housing materials.
Once again, prefabricated homes were part of the solution.
British migrant bricklayers work on building new State Housing Trust houses in Elizabeth, South Australia, in 1958. National Archives of Australia
But on-site construction also had a role to play and could capitalise on the skills of new migrants, particularly in the new migrant town of Elizabeth, South Australia.
Migrants also pooled their resources and constructed homes for their community.
In Wexcombe, Western Australia, 12 British families formed a building group. Within three years, they had built new homes for each family.
Eras of innovation
In the 1850s and 1950s, increased immigration triggered bigotry and xenophobia. However, governments at this time were focused on nation building.
Bill Wilson from Belfast making a footpath around his new home in Wexcombe, Western Australia, in 1960. National Archives of Australia
Even if this was largely focused on supporting new white migrants, many politicians resisted the temptation to fan social divisions for political gain.
Instead, during the Gold Rush and post-World War II eras, Australian governments assisted individuals to adapt and innovate to new circumstances and create novel forms of housing.
Australian history gives us episodes where we see our society under strain and yet capable of addressing social issues with innovation and adaptability, while welcoming migrants.
Rachel Stevens works for the Australian Catholic University, which will be impacted by the proposed reforms on international students discussed in this article.
Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers said in an interview with Bloomberg TV on Tuesday that the United States is likely heading into a recession, with the possibility of 2 million Americans losing their jobs, as a result of the ongoing tariff increases.
“It’s more likely than not that we’re going to have a recession – and in the context of a recession, we’ll see an extra 2 million people be unemployed,” Summers said on Bloomberg Television’s Wall Street Week.
“We’ll see losses in household income” of 5,000 dollars per family or more, said Summers, who is Harvard University professor and paid contributor to Bloomberg TV.
Summers argued that the tariff plans by the Trump administration exceed even those of 1930 that “made the depression great,” noting that it would be wise to be “backing off the policies that have been announced.”
Despite warnings from Summers and other economists, the White House indicated on Tuesday that the policies will go into effect as previously planned.
“The president was asked and answered this yesterday. He said he’s not considering an extension or delay. I spoke to him before this briefing. That was not his mindset. He expects that these tariffs are going to go into effect,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a press briefing.
On April 2, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order regarding the so-called “reciprocal tariffs,” announcing that the United States will impose a 10 percent “baseline tariff” on trade partners and higher tariffs on certain partners, with some facing tariffs exceeding 30 percent, and even 40 percent.
The 10 percent “baseline tariff” went into effect on April 5, and the higher tariffs on certain trading partners are set to go into effect on Wednesday, April 9.
Although Trump has repeatedly claimed that the tariff increases will help generate revenue for the U.S. government, reduce the trade deficit, and revitalize American manufacturing, economists and business leaders warn that these tariff measures will drive up prices, harm American consumers and businesses, disrupt global trade, and be detrimental to global economic growth.
Several U.S. trade partners have already announced countermeasures.
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 9, 2025.
Chinese-Australian voters were key to Labor’s win in 2022. Are some now swinging back to the Liberals? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wanning Sun, Professor of Media and Cultural Studies, University of Technology Sydney Chinese-Australian voters were pivotal to Labor’s win in the 2022 election, with the swing against the Liberals in several key marginal seats almost twice that of other seats. Many traditionally pro-business Liberal supporters switched sides
The ‘monogamy superiority myth’: new research suggests unconventional relationships are just as satisfying Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joel Anderson, Associate Professor in LGBTIQA+ Psychology, La Trobe University Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock From The Bachelor to Married at First Sight, reality TV sells us the idea that one perfect partner will complete us. The formula is familiar: find “the one,” lock it down and live happily ever after.
‘Germany is back’: 3 ways NZ can benefit from Europe’s renewed centre of power Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mathew Doidge, Senior Research Fellow, National Centre for Research on Europe, University of Canterbury Getty Images It’s unlikely many New Zealanders paid close attention to Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ statement late last year that “New Zealand and Germany are committed to enhancing their partnership”. Peters had been
Bringing manufacturing back from overseas isn’t an easy solution to Trump’s trade war Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Stone, Credit Union SA Chair of Economics, University of South Australia Shutterstock The past week has seen the United States single-handedly rewrite the underlying paradigm for global trade. And while it is fair to say that the methods are extreme, the underlying goal of the policy
How to build a cinematic universe: the secret to Marvel’s enormous success among a history of failures Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vincent Tran, Academic Tutor at Swinburne University of Technology, Swinburne University of Technology Since Iron Man hit the big screen in 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has made more than US$30 billion, from films to series, to merchandise and comics. As scholars and the press have
ChatGPT just passed the Turing test. But that doesn’t mean AI is now as smart as humans Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zena Assaad, Senior Lecturer, School of Engineering, Australian National University Hanna Barakat & Cambridge Diversity Fund/Better Images of AI, CC BY-SA There have been several headlines over the past week about an AI chatbot officially passing the Turing test. These news reports are based on a recent
A grab bag of campaign housing policies. But will they fix the affordability crisis beyond the election? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Cull, Associate professor, Western Sydney University Secure and affordable housing is a fundamental human right for all Australians. Therefore, it is unsurprising the election campaign is being played out against a backdrop of heightened voter anxiety about rental stress and housing affordability. A growing number of
These complementary therapies may soon be eligible for private health insurance rebates Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jon Wardle, Professor of Public Health, Southern Cross University Rui Dias/Pexels Private health insurers may soon be able to offer rebates for seven complementary therapies previously prohibited. This includes some movement therapies – Pilates, yoga, tai chi and Alexander technique, which teaches body awareness and posture –
Winston Peters at 80: the populist’s populist clocks up 50 years of political comebacks Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grant Duncan, Teaching Fellow in Politics and International Relations, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Winston Peters turns a venerable 80 on April 11, but he showed no sign of retiring as New Zealand’s archetypal populist during his recent state of the nation speech. He
Cities that want to attract business might want to focus less on financial incentives and more on making people feel safe Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kaitlyn DeGhetto, Associate Professor of Management, University of Dayton To attract business investment, American cities and states offer companies billions of dollars in incentives, such as tax credits. As the theory goes, when governments create a business-friendly environment, it encourages investment, leading to job creation and economic
Election Diary: The election’s first debate was disaster-free but passion-free too Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The election’s first debate, on Sky News on Tuesday night, was disappointingly dull. Viewers who’d been following the campaign would have learned little. There was minimal spontaneity. Among the 100 undecided voters in the room, 44 said Anthony Albanese won,
Reality check: coral restoration won’t save the world’s reefs Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology and Node Leader in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures, Flinders University A coral ‘rope’ nursery in the Maldives Luca Saponari/University of Milan, CC BY-ND Coral reefs are much more than
No major gaffes and no knockout punch: the first leaders’ debate was a pedestrian affair Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andy Marks, Vice-President, Public Affairs and Partnerships, Western Sydney University Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have faced off in the first leaders’ debate of the 2025 federal election. The debate, hosted by Sky News and The Daily Telegraph, was held at the Wenty
Politics aside, new research shows there are good financial reasons to back working from home Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dorina Pojani, Associate Professor in Urban Planning, The University of Queensland Fizkes/Shutterstock In the pre-industrial era, people often lived and worked in the same building. This removed the need to travel to work. The separation of home and work occurred much later, during the Industrial Revolution. Factories
Labor’s $1 billion for mental health is good news for young people in particular – but leaves some gaps Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sebastian Rosenberg, Associate Professor, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra, and Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney mooremedia/Shutterstock The Labor government has announced it would invest A$1 billion in mental health if re-elected to provide more Australians – particularly young people – with “free, public mental
We’re hardwired to laugh – this is why watching comedians try to be the ‘Last One Laughing’ is so funny Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fergus Edwards, Lecturer in English, University of Tasmania Amazon MGM Studios Last One Laughing is a battle royale for stand-ups. Ten comedians, one room, surrounded by cameras. Laugh once and they’re warned. Laugh again, and they’re out. Last comic left wins. It is an international TV phenomenon,
Here’s a simple, science-backed way to sharpen your thinking and improve your memory Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Singh, Research Fellow, Allied Health & Human Performance, University of South Australia Centre for Ageing Better/Unsplash Many of us turn to Sudoku, Wordle or brain-training apps to sharpen our minds. But research is increasingly showing one of the best ways to boost memory, focus and brain
The Trump administration has revoked visas for more than 300 international students across the United States, a move confirmed by universities and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as part of a nationwide effort targeting foreign students.
“Maybe more than 300 at this point. We do it every day. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas,” Rubio said during a press conference in Guyana on March 27.
Over the weekend, the visa revocations were reported by dozens of universities nationwide, including prestigious ones like Columbia, Cornell, Harvard and Stanford.
Many affected students had participated in pro-Palestinian campus protests. But university officials said that others with no connection to protests had also suffered visa revocations without explanation.
At Tufts University, Turkish doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk was arrested by masked immigration agents on March 25 while walking near her home. Video of the arrest showed plainclothes officers taking the 30-year-old into custody as she was heading to break her Ramadan fast with friends, according to her attorney.
The Department of Homeland Security claimed Ozturk “engaged in activities in support of Hamas,” though they provided no evidence for this allegation. Ozturk co-authored an opinion piece in the student newspaper criticizing Tufts’ response to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The Turkish embassy said it was working with U.S. authorities regarding Ozturk’s detention. “Every effort is being made to provide the necessary consular services and legal support to protect the rights of our citizen,” the embassy stated.
At Columbia University, graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, who has legal permanent residency, was detained by immigration authorities last month.
Khalil said in his Columbia Daily Spectator opinion piece that the school “laid the groundwork for my abduction” and urged the students not to “abdicate their responsibility to resist repression.”
“Since my abduction on March 8, the intimidation and kidnapping of international students who stand for Palestine has only accelerated,” Khalil wrote in Friday’s piece.
The actions extend beyond East Coast schools. The University of Colorado and Colorado State University reported a combined total of 10 students with revoked visas this weekend. Meanwhile, Minnesota State University identified five students whose visas were canceled for unclear reasons.
In California, the situation is equally concerning so far.
University of California, Los Angeles reported nine affected international students, while UC Berkeley confirmed six visa revocations — four for current students and two for recent graduates.
UC Davis officials stated seven students and five recent graduates had their visas terminated, and Stanford University confirmed six visa revocations.
“The federal government has not explained the reasons behind these terminations,” UC Davis said in a statement as reported by NBC News.
Universities are scrambling to support affected students.
“We are focused on supporting the success of all of our students, including international students. Each one of our students is seeking to advance their careers and the lives of their families, and we understand the anxieties that visa revocations cause to impacted students,” reported NBC News, citing University of Colorado.
The Council of University of California Faculty Associations issued a statement Sunday, urgently calling upon the University of California to address the revocation of visas and deportation of international students.
“It has been reported that in the past week alone, at least 44 students across the UC system have had their I-20 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System record terminated by the Department of Homeland Security, with at least one deportation occurring,” the statement noted.
Civil rights organizations have condemned the administration’s actions. The American Civil Liberties Union issued an open letter to universities warning: “The federal government cannot mandate student expulsions or threaten funding cuts to suppress constitutionally protected speech.”
College officials worry this crackdown will deter international students from studying in the United States in the future.
The situation is “a far different, unprecedented intrusion by the executive branch” involving “revoking student visas for different reasons than we have seen previously and at higher rates than we have ever seen,” said Violeta Chapin, a University of Colorado Boulder law professor and immigration expert.
There’s little point in buying an electric vehicle if you’re charging it with electricity generated by fossil fuels. In fact, when it comes to carbon dioxide emissions, your EV may be doing more harm than good.
The researchers analysed the environmental impacts of human activity and used a robust statistical approach to investigate what drives a nation’s carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.
Using data from 26 countries over 15 years, they found a surprising trend: higher EV uptake was linked to increased CO₂ emissions. The reason? In a number of countries, EVs are still being powered by electricity generated through burning fossil fuels like coal or oil.
Associate Professor Stephen Poletti and Simon Tao, a doctoral candidate at the Business School’s Energy Centre, didn’t observe a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions globally due to EV adoption.
“On the contrary, EV adoption is positively associated with CO₂ emissions,” says Tao. “This finding appears counterintuitive; it challenges the conventional belief that EVs contribute to decarbonisation.
“Our analysis highlights that the environmental benefits of EVs are contingent on the composition of a country’s electricity generation mix.”
Take EVs charged using electricity from coal-fired power plants, says Poletti.
“In that case, they may indirectly contribute to higher emissions than modern gasoline or diesel vehicles, especially considering the entire lifecycle from production to disposal.”
The study results suggest only when the global share of renewable electricity generation reaches approximately 48 percent will electric vehicle adoption contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions.
Renewable energy, mainly wind, solar and hydro, accounted for only a little more than 30 percent of the world’s electricity in 2023, so there’s a way to go, says Poletti.
“Electric vehicles are often seen as a silver bullet for climate change, but our results show that’s not the case if the electricity powering them isn’t clean.”
New Zealand, where over 80 percent of electricity generation is renewable, is well-placed to reap the benefits of EVs. Across the ditch, a Clean Energy Council report found that renewables overall accounted for nearly 40 percent of Australia’s total electricity supply in 2023.
“This research is a reminder that decarbonising transport can’t happen in isolation,” says Poletti.
“EVs are only as green as the grid they plug into, and government policies should aim to increase the adoption and integration of renewable energy like solar and hydro. This can be achieved by setting ambitious renewable energy targets and providing adequate subsidies such as tax credits to producers and consumers of renewable energy.”
Poletti says investments in smart grids and transmission networks can boost the efficiency and reliability of renewable energy supply.
“Policies should support community-based renewable energy projects, which can increase public acceptance of renewable energy installations.”
Further, the researchers say eliminating subsidies for fossil fuels and implementing carbon pricing mechanisms could also incentivise renewable energy development.
“Electric vehicle uptake can help countries meet climate-related targets, as long as the energy used to power them is clean,” says Tao.
In addition to EV uptake, the researchers examined the impacts of economic growth, green technology innovation, renewable energy consumption and population density on emissions.
They found that economic growth increases emissions, while innovation in environmentally friendly technology and population density, in the form of more compact cities, can help lower them. Renewable energy use had the most significant emissions-reducing effect.
A new meta-analysis challenges the long-held belief that monogamous relationships are more satisfying than non-monogamous ones.
The study used data from more than 24,000 people from around the world, including Australia. It reported no significant difference in relationship or sexual satisfaction between people in monogamous and consensually non-monogamous relationships.
This changes the way we can think about relationships.
For years, people have assumed monogamy (the exclusive romantic and sexual commitment to one person) is the gold standard.
But it turns out the secret to fulfilling relationships might not be about exclusivity at all. It seems to be more about honesty, communication and mutual agreement – regardless of how many people are involved.
A long-held assumption
The belief that monogamy leads to more satisfying relationships feels like common sense for most people.
It’s consistently reinforced by our experiences of the world, ranging from childhood fairytales to government policies – there’s no “polyamorous” box on your tax return, for example. Most movies end with one couple walking off into the sunset together to live happily ever after.
Popular culture hasn’t done much to challenge this assumption.
Non-monogamous relationships are rarely depicted on screen and when they are – like in Wanderlust or You Me & Her – they’re often shown as chaotic, emotionally fraught and destined to collapse.
These ideas create what we have called the “monogamy-superiority myth”: the assumption monogamous relationships are more satisfying, more loving and more stable than alternative forms of relationships.
So what is consensual non-monogamy?
Consensual non-monogamy comes in many forms but the key aspect is everyone involved agrees that having multiple romantic or sexual partners is okay.
The explicit awareness of all involved means these relationships are grounded in consent, communication and mutual respect.
They come in many forms, such as:
open relationships: where couples may have sex with others but maintain a strong emotional bond to each other
polyamory: where people may have multiple romantic or emotional partnerships at the same time
monogamish: where mostly monogamous couple allow some degree of sexual activity with others, usually with clear, consensual boundaries (such as when travelling)
swinging: where committed couples engage in sexual activities with other people, often in a social or party setting.
These relationships typically involve detailed conversations about values, needs and boundaries.
New research suggests non-traditional relationships can be just as satisfying as monogamous ones. NDAB Creativity/Shutterstock
What our study found
Our recent meta-analysis explored how people in monogamous and non-monogamous relationships compare on a range of relationship and sexual satisfaction dimensions. These included intimacy, passion, trust, sexual fulfilment and overall relationship happiness.
We concluded people in non-monogamous relationships are just as satisfied as those in monogamous ones.
The study also found this to be true for both heterosexual and LGBTQIA+ participants, challenging another stereotype: that non-monogamy is a “lifestyle choice” for queer people, rather than a legitimate relationship preference.
So if non-monogamous relationships aren’t less satisfying, why do people think they are?
Openness and stigmas
In many monogamous relationships, the most common cause of dissatisfaction or breakup is cheating: when exclusivity is assumed but not upheld, trust can be shattered.
Consensual non-monogamy relationships, by contrast, build openness into their structure. By agreeing on boundaries from the start, partners may avoid some of the betrayals that hurt monogamous relationships most.
People in these relationships often face stigma, discrimination and systemic barriers. They may be less likely to disclose their relationship status to doctors, therapists, or employers, fearing judgement or misunderstanding.
Their relationships are rarely recognised legally and social assumptions often paint them as unstable, overly sexual, or emotionally detached.
Yet many people in non-monogamous relationships are thriving despite the stigma – most likely because of the trust and communication these relationships require.
The secret to satisfaction
These findings are not suggesting everyone should be non-monogamous; monogamy works well for lots of people.
But this research shows us that relationship satisfaction doesn’t depend on exclusivity – it depends on whether partners feel seen, supported and aligned in their values.
Health-care providers, educators and policymakers should be aware that not all families or partnerships follow a traditional relationship structure – and that’s OK.
Recognising consensual non-manogamy relationships can help reduce stigma, improve access to support, and promote wellbeing for people in all types of partnerships.
Love and relationships simply aren’t a one-size-fits-all situation.
While reality TV may keep trying to churn out monogamous fairytales, real life is a lot more diverse and, as it turns out, just as fulfilling.
Joel Anderson receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Chinese-Australian voters were pivotal to Labor’s win in the 2022 election, with the swing against the Liberals in several key marginal seats almost twice that of other seats.
Many traditionally pro-business Liberal supporters switched sides in protest against the Coalition’s anti-China rhetoric under then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison. This exacerbated the widespread anti-Chinese racism many people felt in the wake of the COVID pandemic.
A new survey by Sydney Today, a digital Chinese-language media outlet, suggests Labor will most likely retain the support of many of these Chinese-Australian voters.
Nearly two-thirds (64%) of the 3,000 respondents in the ongoing survey have said they would vote for Labor in the upcoming federal election, while just 27% were backing the Liberals, 2% the Greens and 5% independents.
If these results mirror the views of the wider Chinese-Australian community, it bodes well for Labor’s prospects, at least in seats with a high concentration of Chinese-Australian voters.
However, Labor may not succeed in improving on its performance in the last election. One in five voters said they would vote differently this time compared to 2022, with 55% of this group indicating they would switch from Labor to the Coalition and just 18% going the other way.
When asked why they were changing their vote, 51% said economic management, while 26% said Australia–China relations.
Survey respondents were predominantly first-generation migrants from China. Nearly four in five were born outside Australia, but have lived here for more than ten years. Most (73%) were Australian citizens and eligible to vote.
What issues are most important
The 2021 census counted approximately 1.39 million Australian residents with Chinese heritage, around 536,000 of whom were born in mainland China. As this group continues to grow rapidly, first-generation Chinese-Australians are becoming a significant political force.
The survey results reveal a complex and shifting picture of party loyalties and preferences among these voters.
Participants were asked to identify one issue out of a list of 17 that concerns them most in this election. This list included things such as housing, income, taxes, welfare, health, education, immigration and the environment. The economy ranked first with 14% of respondents, followed closely by Australia–China relations (12%).
The fact that many Chinese-Australians see the Liberals as better economic managers may account for the shift back to the party among some swing voters.
Yet, most Chinese-Australians seem to agree Labor has handled Australia–China relations much better than the Liberals. This may be why the majority of respondents overall have preferred to stick with Labor.
About 70% of respondents said they would consider voting for a party that is friendly to Chinese-Australian communities, while 72% said they would consider voting for a party that adopts a moderate approach to China.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, long a hardline critic of the Chinese Communist Party, has attempted to soften his stance in the lead-up to this election. He said last year, for instance, he was “pro-China” and wanted to see the trade between the two countries double.
In recent days, however, he has attacked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for his “weak” response to the presence of a Chinese research vessel off the coast of Australia.
Some Chinese-Australian voters would prefer Australia to adopt a more independent foreign policy that is less reliant on the US for its national security. Research suggests Chinese-Australians tend to be more critical of the bipartisan AUKUS agreement with the United States and United Kingdom than the general public.
And I’ve observed anecdotal evidence in conversations with Chinese-Australian voters suggesting some are unhappy with both major parties’ positions on China and the US. This is convincing a small number of rusted-on Labor supporters to consider voting for the Greens, minor parties or independents.
Support for Chinese candidates not a guarantee
There is a widespread assumption that ethnic voters tend to vote for a candidate who shares their cultural or ethnic background. This seems to be the thinking behind both major parties’ choice of candidates to run in electorates with high concentrations of Chinese voters.
But the survey indicates this may not be a foolproof strategy. When asked whether they would support a candidate on the basis of their Chinese or Asian appearance, respondents were split down the middle. Only slightly more than half (52%) said they would.
Much can change between now and election day on May 3. Whether the Liberals can retain the small swing they seem to have gained among Chinese-Australians may depend on Dutton’s stance on China. They will no doubt be watching closely to see what he says.
Wanning Sun 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: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), John Fetterman (D-PA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pushing back on his decision to gut the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), firing nearly 900 employees. Recent reporting has indicated that these firings include all employees tasked with protecting the health and safety of coal miners.
“According to reports, HHS is laying off approximately 873 employees, or two-thirds, of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” the senators wrote. “According to a notification provided to AFGE Local 1969, whose federal employee members are being impacted, all employees working on mining safety and health in NIOSH’s Spokane, WA and Pittsburgh, PA, offices are being let go. , The NIOSH Pittsburgh Mining Research Division focuses on coal miner safety, and the Spokane Mining Research Division specializes in hard rock mining, and are the two main research hubs for NIOSH’s Mining Research Program. Additionally, reports indicate more than 185 NIOSH employees are being laid off from its Morgantown, WV, office, who also work to protect miner health, among other occupational safety and health activities.”
The senators also highlighted the immediate impacts of this move, explaining that mining communities are already being left without key health services.
They continued, “We also have heard from those who work directly with our miner constituents in these communities that the Enhanced Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program is also being decimated. This program provides direct screening services via a mobile medical unit to miners at no cost. NIOSH also supports clinic sites where screening is done, so miners can understand if they are developing black lung or another condition and be as healthy as possible for themselves and their families.”
In their letter, the senators demanded answers from Secretary Kennedy, questioning how these crucial services will continue with a significantly reduced workforce. The senators requested a written response to the following:
How many HHS employees who work in offices that work on mining health and safety have been fired, put on administrative leave, accepted the deferred resignation program offer, or accepted the VERA/VSIP offer since January 20, 2025? Provide a complete breakdown by agency and position. For each category of employee at each agency, provide information on GS level and veteran status, and clearly state the justification for termination. Include employees who have since been reinstated or placed on administrative leave, noting that change in status. Please provide the latest data available.
How many HHS employees remain who work on mining health and safety? Please provide a complete breakdown by agency and position.
How many additional employees who work in offices that work on mining health and safety do you intend to fire following the announcement made on March 27, 2025?
Provide all analyses conducted prior to the reorganization and firings of HHS employees who work in offices that focus on mining safety and health to determine the immediate and long-term impact these firings will have on programs and activities that those employees are tasked with administering. In particular, provide all analyses relating to 1) ensuring statutory obligations will be met, and 2) the Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program.
A copy of letter is available here and text is below.
Dear Secretary Kennedy:
We write today with alarming concern about reports that nearly the entire workforce that works to improve the health of miners was laid off and the office that oversees this work was eliminated. We urge you to reverse course immediately and ensure the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) continues its important work in our states to protect and serve our constituents.
According to reports, HHS is laying off approximately 873 employees, or two-thirds, of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to a notification provided to AFGE Local 1969, whose federal employee members are being impacted, all employees working on mining safety and health in NIOSH’s Spokane, WA and Pittsburgh, PA, offices are being let go. , The NIOSH Pittsburgh Mining Research Division focuses on coal miner safety, and the Spokane Mining Research Division specializes in hard rock mining, and are the two main research hubs for NIOSH’s Mining Research Program. Additionally, reports indicate more than 185 NIOSH employees are being laid off from its Morgantown, WV, office, who also work to protect miner health, among other occupational safety and health activities.
We also have heard from those who work directly with our miner constituents in these communities that the Enhanced Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program is also being decimated. This program provides direct screening services via a mobile medical unit to miners at no cost. NIOSH also supports clinic sites where screening is done, so miners can understand if they are developing black lung or another condition and be as healthy as possible for themselves and their families.
Never has there been a more critical time to do this work. A 2023 study conducted jointly by researchers at NIOSH and at the University of Illinois Chicago found that coal miners in central Appalachia—Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky—were eight times more likely to die from respiratory diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and black lung than American men who are not miners. Our constituents are getting more severe disease at younger ages in recent decades, and we might never had known that without the expertise of NIOSH’s work on coal miner health.
We require more than a fact sheet indicating these duties will be reorganized into an Administration for a Healthy America given the extensive cuts to personnel. In order for us to better understand how the same amount of work can be done with hundreds fewer individuals, please provide responses to the following questions by April 9, 2025:
How many HHS employees who work in offices that work on mining health and safety have been fired, put on administrative leave, accepted the deferred resignation program offer, or accepted the VERA/VSIP offer since January 20, 2025? Provide a complete breakdown by agency and position. For each category of employee at each agency, provide information on GS level and veteran status, and clearly state the justification for termination. Include employees who have since been reinstated or placed on administrative leave, noting that change in status. Please provide the latest data available.
How many HHS employees remain who work on mining health and safety? Please provide a complete breakdown by agency and position.
How many additional employees who work in offices that work on mining health and safety do you intend to fire following the announcement made on March 27, 2025?
Provide all analyses conducted prior to the reorganization and firings of HHS employees who work in offices that focus on mining safety and health to determine the immediate and long-term impact these firings will have on programs and activities that those employees are tasked with administering. In particular, provide all analyses relating to 1) ensuring statutory obligations will be met, and 2) the Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program.
Art Miller, an expert in mine air quality who has been working for NIOSH since 1996 and for its predecessor before this, was part of the Spokane-area firings. He noted that no one else does this kind of research and that “every worker in this country deserves to go home safe.” We agree, and urge you to reverse these cuts before it’s too late.
Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers said in an interview with Bloomberg TV on Tuesday that the United States is likely heading into a recession, with the possibility of 2 million Americans losing their jobs, as a result of the ongoing tariff increases.
“It’s more likely than not that we’re going to have a recession – and in the context of a recession, we’ll see an extra 2 million people be unemployed,” Summers said on Bloomberg Television’s Wall Street Week.
“We’ll see losses in household income” of 5,000 dollars per family or more, said Summers, who is Harvard University professor and paid contributor to Bloomberg TV.
Summers argued that the tariff plans by the Trump administration exceed even those of 1930 that “made the depression great,” noting that it would be wise to be “backing off the policies that have been announced.”
Despite warnings from Summers and other economists, the White House indicated on Tuesday that the policies will go into effect as previously planned.
“The president was asked and answered this yesterday. He said he’s not considering an extension or delay. I spoke to him before this briefing. That was not his mindset. He expects that these tariffs are going to go into effect,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a press briefing.
On April 2, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order regarding the so-called “reciprocal tariffs,” announcing that the United States will impose a 10 percent “baseline tariff” on trade partners and higher tariffs on certain partners, with some facing tariffs exceeding 30 percent, and even 40 percent.
The 10 percent “baseline tariff” went into effect on April 5, and the higher tariffs on certain trading partners are set to go into effect on Wednesday, April 9.
Although Trump has repeatedly claimed that the tariff increases will help generate revenue for the U.S. government, reduce the trade deficit, and revitalize American manufacturing, economists and business leaders warn that these tariff measures will drive up prices, harm American consumers and businesses, disrupt global trade, and be detrimental to global economic growth.
Several U.S. trade partners have already announced countermeasures.
A new report presented in New York on 8 April reveals that current United Nations projections on infant mortality rates are inaccurate.
The Fragile Futures report says crucial factors missing from current United Nations projections – the impacts of climate change and population on infant mortality – will cause infant mortality to rise and children’s overall health to decline this decade.
While current United Nations projections predict a continuing decline in infant mortality, new evidence in the Fragile Futures report shows that climate change and population dynamics in the most climate-vulnerable regions will increase infant mortality rates.
UK-based NGO Population Matters funded the independent Fragile Futures evidence review, conducted by the Future Child Health research team at The Kids Research Institute Australia, with help from The University of Western Australia and Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology Corey Bradshaw from Flinders University in South Australia.
Representatives from Population Matters and the Future Child Health research team attended the United Nations Commission on Population Development in New York, and presented the Fragile Futures research at a side event (“A Discussion on Child Health and Climate”) on 8 April.
Report co-author Professor Corey Bradshaw from Flinders University says that evidence revealed in the Fragile Futures report shows that infant mortality is rising.
“Although United Nations’ projections on infant mortality show a continuing decline to 2100, recent evidence suggests that infant mortality is increasing in several countries, including the United States, France, India, Madagascar, Cambodia, Nepal, and the Philippines.”
The report also presents evidence that climate change will increase pre-term births. “Rising temperatures are linked to a 60% increase in preterm births, a major contributor to higher rates of infant mortality and health complications later in life even in those children who survive,” says co-author Dr Melinda Judge from The Kids Research Institute Australia and The University of Western Australia.
“The risk of pre-term birth is already higher in low- and middle-income countries. Sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia accounted for 65% of all preterm births globally in 2020, and this will increase due to more frequent and persisting heatwaves.”
Children’s respiratory health is identified as being at increased risk. “Climate change and higher population density also causes more exposure to air pollution, increasing cases of asthma, eczema, and allergies in young children,” says co-author Professor Peter Le Souëf from The University of Western Australia and The Kids Research Institute Australia. “In Africa, air pollution was linked to 449,000 additional infant deaths in 2015.”
The report shows that preventable deaths of women and newborns are increasing. In 2020, 287,000 women died from preventable pregnancy-related complications, and 80% of newborn deaths were due to preventable and treatable conditions. Investment in sexual and reproductive healthcare saves lives.
Cuts to international aid budgets are also having an effect on these figures. “The withdrawal of USAID support between 2025 and 2028 is projected to result in 1,200 additional preventable maternal deaths in Afghanistan alone,” says Professor Bradshaw.
“The total impacts of lost aid on women and children’s health remains unknown – but will be catastrophic without intervention.”
BRANZ Chair Nigel Smith announced today the appointment of Kevin Jenkins to the BRANZ Group Board of Directors.
“As a founding member of business advisory firm MartinJenkins, Kevin has more than 30 years’ experience of helping organisations across a wide range of industries to drive performance and tackle complex challenges.
“He joins BRANZ at a critical time. Earlier this year, we launched a new long-term strategy focusing on four main priorities: affordability, quality, resilience, and sustainability. Addressing skyrocketing building costs; combating inappropriate building practices; meeting carbon reduction targets and adapting to climate change are among the most pressing issues we face.
“Kevin, with his strategic and analytical background across various industries is well-equipped to help us address these complex and longstanding issues.
“He brings a real strength with his ability to understand the convergence of business, regulation and innovation and how to work across the system to solve problems and capitalise on opportunities,” says Nigel.
Commenting on his appointment, Kevin said, “I’m delighted to join BRANZ at such a pivotal moment. The challenges we face in the building sector are significant, but with a clear vision for the future and a commitment to innovation and collaboration, I believe we can make substantial progress towards our goals. I look forward to working with the team at BRANZ to drive meaningful change and create a positive impact for the future of New Zealand’s built environment.”
As a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors, Kevin has held numerous governance roles over his career and brings insights from across the wider economy.
His current directorships include positions at: Accessible Properties – New Zealand’s largest community housing provider of affordable homes and property management services for those with disabilities, older people, and those on low incomes; urban development firm Harrison Grierson; Real Estate Institute New Zealand – as Independent Chair; chair of the NZ Qualifications Authority; and WorkSafe New Zealand. He also chairs two risk and assurance committees.
Outside of his governance roles, Kevin is a prominent public commentator, producing content for: New Zealand Policy Quarterly (Victoria University of Wellington); Institute of Directors’ Boardroom magazine; the NZ Herald; and a range of other news and information publications.
“Kevin’s governance and executive management experience is extensive. We’re excited to have him on board at BRANZ as we work towards our aspiration of creating affordable, resilient, sustainable, and quality buildings for Aotearoa New Zealand,” says Nigel.
Kevin’s Board position replaces Dr Lisbeth Jacobs who will be stepping down from her BRANZ directorship in May 2025, to focus on other governance roles.
“We’re grateful to Lisbeth for the expertise and insights she’s delivered during her time on the BRANZ Board. Her contributions have been instrumental during a period of strategic change, and her experience in the scientific and building sectors has helped to shape our direction. Lisbeth’s contributions will continue to influence our work for years to come,” says Nigel.
About the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ):
BRANZ is a trusted, independent expert in building construction. We provide practical research, testing, quality assurance and expertise to support better buildings.
Our aspiration: Affordable, resilient, sustainable and quality buildings for Aotearoa New Zealand. Find out more: branz.co.nz
DENVER – Earlier today, Governor Polis signed HB25-1005 – Tax Incentive for Film Festivals – sponsored by Representatives Monica Duran and Brianna Titone, and Senators Judy Amabile and Mark Baisley. This legislation supports Colorado’s thriving film festivals, including the Sundance Film Festival which recently announced it would be moving to Boulder beginning in 2027.
“We are incredibly grateful to the State of Colorado for this support, not only for the Sundance Film Festival, but also for the many film festivals that have spent decades building and nurturing a rich cultural landscape in Colorado. This investment highlights the invaluable role the state plays in cultivating creative industries that both enrich our culture and drive the economy,” said Ebs Burnough, Sundance Institute Board Chair, and Amanda Kelso, Sundance Institute Acting CEO. “We are also deeply honored as a nonprofit to be welcomed into Colorado’s thriving film festival and arts ecosystem. We look forward to the future, inviting our audiences and artists to join us in Boulder in 2027, and are excited to contribute to the vibrant arts community here in Colorado.”
“ACT is celebrating ten years of elevating human rights stories and inspiring audiences,” said Act Human Rights Film Festival Managing Director Beth Seymour. “At ACT we celebrate how far we have come in advancing human rights in all corners of the globe, and we also share stories that help guide us to learn more about the work that remains.”
“We believe film festivals are a place for audiences to be entertained, to learn and to be inspired. Through our popular youth programs, senior programs, and our signature Call2Action program, BIFF has united the community and ignited positive change. This is part of the magnificent richness of film festivals, and what has made them into an unforgettable experience,” said Robin Beeck, Boulder International Film Festival Executive Director and Kathy Beeck, BIFF Director. “BIFF has attracted audiences and filmmakers from around the state and around the world, and brings in much needed dollars to local businesses at an otherwise down time of year. We’re excited about the tax incentive bill, and Sundance Film Festival’s potential cultural and economic impact for Boulder and the State of Colorado. The bill’s support for Colorado film festivals will strengthen our ability to be epicenters of community involvement, creativity, innovation and change.”
“Film festivals are an integral part of Colorado’s film industry and art scene. They offer vital community forums, uplift differing perspectives, and provide entertainment you can’t beat anywhere else! The Breckenridge Film Festival is thrilled to be a part of a state that uplifts these vital cultural celebrations and we look forward to watching the Colorado film industry flourish under these new tax incentives!” said Cait McCluskie, Head of Programming and Director of Operations, Breckendridge Film Festival.
“As one of the first 10 film festivals in the country, Denver Film Festival has been embraced and celebrated by film lovers across our state for nearly a half century,” said Denver Film CEO Kevin Smith. “As champions of independent film and the people that bring these films to life, film festivals serve as the culmination of that discovery delivering a chance for our audiences to break out and see, experience, learn and talk through something new, something challenging, bold, entertaining or thought provoking. We proudly provide that place of discovery, and we’re excited to see that spotlight shine a little brighter on our industry and the state of Colorado with the addition of the Sundance Film Festival and the thoughtful and strategic investment and support of the arts by our business and elected leaders. Working collaboratively, we will elevate our collective body of work and strengthen Colorado’s position on the global film stage.”
“So happy that the new Colorado Film Festival Tax Incentive is in place. Small festivals like Durango Independent Film Festival will benefit greatly from this bill, alongside larger entities like the Sundance Film Festival. There is a pool of $5 million (paid out over 10 years) that will help rural festivals like ours support both the economics of our community and the creativity of independent filmmakers. It’s exciting,” said Carol Fleisher, Executive Director, Durango Independent Film Festival.
“Film festivals are a wonderful opportunity to showcase local culture as well as bring in films and ideas from across the country and around the world. Being able to come together in a theater and experience movies together as a community is more important than ever. The Junktown Film Festival makes an impact on the community of Grand Junction. Students at Colorado Mesa University and CMU Tech are able to not only have their work show (and win awards) but also help as jury for the submitted films and in promoting the festival,” said Jeff Gustafson, The Junktown Film Festival Director.
“At Pueblo Film Fest, our mission is to ignite an international passion for storytelling through the art of cinema as we build the next generation of filmmakers. We celebrate the diverse voices of filmmakers from around the world, from budding talents to seasoned auteurs. Our festival serves as a vibrant platform, connecting artists with audiences and fostering a sense of community. Through thought-provoking narratives, captivating documentaries, and innovative experimental works, we aim to inspire, entertain, and provoke meaningful conversations. Pueblo Film Fest is committed to nurturing the cinematic arts, promoting cultural exchange, and shining a spotlight on how to have conversations across lines of difference. The festival makes a powerful economic impact and serves to provide both representation and inspiration to Southern Colorado and beyond!” said Andee Naglich, Executive Producer of the Pueblo Film Fest.
“Our 11-year old festival began to really flourish when we partnered with COFTM, and we have grown by leaps and bounds in the years since. We have been impressed by the ease of accessibility to opportunities and funding. Colorado is a great place to make a home for our festival, where people are truly engaged with our programming, and the beautiful land itself plays a featured role in our festival. RIFF is looking forward to new opportunities and growth in Colorado in the coming years,” said Arielle Bielak, Ridgway Independent Film Festival Director.
“The Tax Incentive for Film Festivals Bill will strengthen Colorado’s creative economy by supporting statewide nonprofit arts organizations, generating jobs, and attracting tourism. By investing in film festivals, this legislation will drive economic growth and establish Colorado as a leading destination for independent film and television. SeriesFest is proud to exist in a state that recognizes the power of community building through storytelling,” said SeriesFest Co-Founder & CEO, Randi Kleiner
“Colorado stands at a unique crossroads of culture and commerce, with two of the most influential film festivals in the world—Telluride and Sundance Film Festival—showcasing the brilliance of cinema. Together, we amplify Colorado’s role as a cultural leader, offering a comprehensive survey of the film industry today. For 52 years, Telluride has brought world-class cinema to the far western corner of the state, and now, with the opening of our new year-round home and state-of-the-art theater, we’re investing in the future of cinema—nurturing artistic innovation with filmmaker residencies, and the creation of a collaborative hub for the theatrical experience of film. This is an exciting moment for Colorado, as the magic of cinema set against Colorado’s exquisite natural beauty—seemingly crafted by cinematic masters—creates an experience that can’t be matched,” said Julie Huntsinger, Director of the Telluride Film Festival.
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Nader Ngoopos a/k/a Nike, 26, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine and 100 grams or more of heroin, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison pleaded guilty by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson, who handled the case, stated that between 2016, and late 2018, Ngoopos agreed with others to obtain cocaine and heroin in the Buffalo area and travel to Olean, NY, to distribute the cocaine and heroin. Ngoopos personally traveled to Olean on at least a weekly basis, selling cocaine and heroin out of various locations in Olean, including North 8th Street and South 11th Street. Co-conspirators also sold cocaine and heroin as part of the conspiracy on a weekly basis.
On October 15, 2018, Ngoopos participated in an armed robbery at St. Bonaventure University in Olean, with two others. The three gained entry to a dormitory at St. Bonaventure, and broke into a dorm room where Ngoopos, who possessed a firearm, believed he and his co-conspirators would find marijuana and money. Once they gained entry, Ngoopos and his co-conspirators pointed their firearms at the heads of the two occupants of the dorm room, threatened them, and then stole about an ounce of marijuana and approximately $300 – $400.
On September 2, 2021, law enforcement officers observed Ngoopos get into a vehicle in Buffalo. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but it sped away leading officers on a high-speed chase. Eventually, the car came to a stop on East Amherst Street. As the car came to a stop, Ngoopos got out of the car and ran away, dropping a pistol. In June 2020, Ngoopos was convicted in Cattaraugus County Court of a felony and legally prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Olean Police Department, under the direction of Chief Ron Richardson, the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Eric Butler, the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Alphonse Wright, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia.
It’s unlikely many New Zealanders paid close attention to Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ statement late last year that “New Zealand and Germany are committed to enhancing their partnership”.
Peters had been visiting Berlin two weeks after Donald Trump’s US election victory, but well before the real contours of the second Trump administration came into focus.
The foreign minister’s diplomatic tone may have suited the less heated atmosphere of the time, but 2025 is a very different place. With the pillars of the international system New Zealand depends on crumbling, strong ties with an active Germany at the heart of Europe begin to look more important.
Germans, too, are grappling with the same uncertainties – not least Friedrich Merz, the Christian Democratic Union party leader who is all but certain to be the new chancellor when coalition negotiations conclude.
Among the most pro-American of Europe’s leaders, Merz will enter the Chancellery at a time when US relations are fraught. Even before the February election results were finalised, he acknowledged this new reality, calling to “strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that […] we can really achieve independence from the USA”.
With Trump’s reversal of US support for Ukraine, his “might is right” foreign policy and hostile trade tariffs, Germany and the European Union have begun to reassess their place in the new world order. New Zealand will be watching closely.
Easing the ‘debt brake’
Former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine a Zeitenwende – a watershed moment from which “the world afterwards will no longer be the same as the world before”. Trump 2.0 has only reinforced this rupture.
Responding to events even before assuming office, Merz (supported by the Social Democratic Party and the Greens) reformed Germany’s “debt brake”, or Schuldenbremse.
Restricting government borrowing to 0.35% of GDP, the brake was introduced by former chancellor Angela Merkel in 2009 to limit indebtedness following the global financial crisis. It achieved its aim, but contributed significantly to the current parlous state of German infrastructure and defence.
The reform allows greater borrowing for defence and establishes a €500 billion infrastructure fund (with €100 billion for climate and economic transformation as the price for Green support).
With Emmanuel Macron’s French presidency ending in 2027, and France’s far-right gaining strength (Marine Le Pen’s recent embezzlement conviction notwithstanding), a strong Germany at the heart of Europe is essential to the maintenance of the EU and its approach to world affairs.
As an important – perhaps vital – partner for New Zealand and the Pacific, three key considerations stand out.
A leading middle power: Friedrich Merz addressing Christian Democratic Union supporters in Berlin on election night, February 23. Getty Images
Pacific re-engagement
Germany’s ties with Samoa and the Pacific may be a century old, but it has recently begun looking south again, including opening an embassy in Suva in August 2023.
Now, the Trump administration’s axing of USAID has put foreign aid in the region under a cloud. Pacific states are not eligible for German bilateral development support, but are covered by more general climate change and disaster preparedness programmes.
Since stepping up Pacific engagement in 2022, Germany has also joined the Partners in the Blue Pacific and been an advocate for Pacific projects within the EU’s Global Gateway Initiative (a framework for global infrastructure investment).
Importantly, Germany does not intend to establish significant independent Pacific aid projects. Rather, it sees itself as a “force multiplier”, partnering with other donors to support their efforts. New Zealand therefore has an opportunity to both strengthen relations with Germany and add impact to its own Pacific projects.
Climate resilience
Climate change is the single greatest security threat to Pacific island states, and yet another area the US is pulling back from. But while Germany has been a strong player on climate policy, Merz has been a critic of the Greens and environmental policy in general.
The balance of power in the new Bundestag may now force a change of mindset. Merz’s coalition will hold just 328 seats in the 630-seat chamber, meaning Green support cannot be discounted. A more serious commitment to climate policy will be the price.
There is a base to work from, too. Germany co-founded the UN Group of Friends on Climate and Security with Nauru in 2018, and has identified climate issues as a driving force behind its Pacific engagement. Again, this is an area where New Zealand’s interests can be served by closer engagement with Germany.
The rules-based order
Ultimately, the international trade system and multilateral frameworks for cooperation and conflict resolution are crucial pillars of the Germany-New Zealand relationship.
With the US no longer a reliable backstop, Germany and the EU are also the bulwark for a rules-based order grounded in international law. Merz’s debt brake reform, seen as strengthening Europe, was framed in these terms:
Our friends in the EU are looking to us just as much as our adversaries and the enemies of our democratic and rules-based order.
“Germany is back,” Merz said in March. We may well see New Zealand’s foreign minister back in Germany before long, too.
Mathew Doidge 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: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in BMJ Medicine looks at stress management and relaxation techniques to manage high blood pressure.
Mr Les Rose, Former Clinical Science Consultant and Trustee of HealthSense, said:
“Firstly, I’m not an expert in the methods used, but it seems that the authors have been quite rigorous, their main constraint being the poor quality of so many of the source studies. I think the press release makes this clear. It’s much less a recommendation to use relaxation techniques, much more a call for better quality research.
Does the press release accurately reflect the science?
“Yes the science is accurately reflected.
Is this good quality research? Are the conclusions backed up by solid data?
“The methodology of the meta-analysis looks sound, but it isn’t my specialism.
How does this work fit with the existing evidence?
“I can’t comment on the existing literature on the subject, as again it isn’t my specialism.
Have the authors accounted for confounders? Are there important limitations to be aware of?
“The authors do seem to have addressed possible confounders, and they have discussed limitations.
What are the implications in the real world? Is there any overspeculation?
“Because of the lack of long-term studies, the generalisation of these findings to clinical practice doesn’t seem feasible. While it’s well known that adherence to drug treatment for hypertension is generally poor, there is no reason to believe that adherence to relaxation techniques is going to be any better. My guess is that, without the prompt of having a pack of pills at hand, compliance is going to be even worse.
“The paper obviously involved a huge amount of work, but sadly the outcome is not particularly groundbreaking.”
Prof Edzard Ernst, Emeritus Professor of Complementary Medicine, University of Exeter, said:
“This is a rigorous and important review. Its findings are eminently plausible: just like stress would increase blood pressure, so does relaxation decrease it. The problem, as I see it, might be compliance. Stressed people tend to be chronically pressed for time, and relaxation techniques take considerably more time than simply swallowing an antihypertensive pill.”
‘Effectiveness of stress management and relaxation interventions for management of hypertension and prehypertension: systematic review and network meta-analysis’by Webster et al. was published in BMJ Medicine at23:30 UK Time Tuesday 8 April 2025.
DOI:10.1136/ bmjmed-2024-001098
Declared interests
Mr Les Rose “I have no conflicts of interest to declare. I am a retired clinical research scientist, a trustee of HealthSense, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology. and an honorary Fellow of the Institute of Clinical Research.”
For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.
The United Nations and the Swedish School of Textiles are pioneering a groundbreaking collaboration to redefine the future of sustainable fashion. The School, part of the University of Borås, has become the first higher education institution to design and develop a new collection of Tour Guide uniforms for the UN Headquarters in New York.
Approximately 20 design students are working together to create a collection that embodies sustainability, high fashion standards, and innovation. The new uniforms, set to debut on 22 April, will be showcased at a fashion show at UN Headquarters before being officially adopted by UN Tour Guides.
“As a key partner to the UN, Sweden is proud to contribute to the SDG agenda in this unique and tangible way. The uniforms are a fantastic showcase of Swedish innovation, sustainability, and our tradition of cutting-edge design. The Swedish School of Textiles and the students have excelled, and I am proud of their outstanding work,” said Benjamin Dousa, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, sharing his thoughts on the collaboration.
United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed highlighted the significance of the project: “The UN Tour Guides are the first faces millions of visitors see when they come to the United Nations, bringing to life our work for a better future for all. Their new sustainably made uniforms designed by young people are more than just fabric — they embody our commitment to sustainability and the power of youth to drive change.”
Beyond aesthetics, the new uniforms are designed to serve as a storytelling medium for sustainability. Each year, over 200,000 visitors will have the opportunity to learn from Tour Guides about the sustainable practices embedded in the collection, reinforcing how individual lifestyle choices can contribute to global sustainability goals.
In Sweden, the goal of responsible development is well established. A strong set of fashion brands and initiatives with a clear sustainability agenda positions Sweden at the forefront of this movement.
Mats Tinnsten, Vice Chancellor of the University of Borås, emphasized the role of the Swedish School of Textiles in the global fashion landscape: “This collection confirms that the Swedish School of Textiles is one of the best fashion schools in the world. I am incredibly proud of the students and the project team who have worked so hard. Through this project and our expertise, we can show the world that it is possible to create sustainable fashion. This collection is fully in line with the university’s values: togetherness, sustainability, and innovation.”
About the Project
This initiative was enabled by the UN Department of Global Communications and the UN Office for Partnerships, in collaboration with Sofia Hedström de Leo, an advisory board member of the UN’s Fashion and Lifestyle Network and former Head of Sustainability at the Swedish Consulate in New York. The project is supported by the Swedish Government and funded by the University of Borås and the Paul Frankenius Foundation for the Swedish University of Fashion & Textiles.
About the Swedish School of Textiles
The Swedish School of Textiles is one of the world’s top-ranked fashion schools and plays an important role in making Sweden a leader in sustainable fashion and a key player in shaping future textiles.
Media contacts
United Nations: Vincenzo Pugliese, Chief, Visitors Services, Outreach Division, Department of Global Communications, email pugliesev@un.org
United States Press: Sofia Hedstrom de Leo, Project Manager Marketing United States, tel. 917 392 7906, email info@sofiaheadstrong.com
Swedish School of Textiles: Anna Kjellson, tel. +46 734612001 email: anna.kjellsson@hb.se
The past week has seen the United States single-handedly rewrite the underlying paradigm for global trade. And while it is fair to say that the methods are extreme, the underlying goal of the policy is not unique to the US.
Indeed, the push to support, and expand, domestic manufacturing through policy intervention is experiencing a resurgence not seen since the 1970s.
Many people believe the COVID pandemic exposed weaknesses in global supply chains. In reality, the pandemic simply accelerated an existing trend of slowing of integration.
Growing concerns around trade wars and risks from climate shock existed prior to COVID with both policymakers and firms rethinking globalisation strategies.
Countries were also becoming concerned about the manufacturing dominance of China and the potential weaponisation of economic activity.
The risks of rising concentration
The expansion of international trade has led to massive efficiencies in production.
But it has also led to concentration of certain sectors in certain regions. Examples include software development in Silicon Valley, semiconductor manufacturing in Taiwan and critical minerals processing in China.
The Apple campus in Silicon Valley: no other country has been able to match the tech hub. Shutterstock
This geographic concentration started to raise concerns for many countries. Reasons include climate events disrupting supply chains, pandemics and increasingly, geopolitical concerns.
In response to the rise in economic concentration, countries as diverse as Japan, South Korea, the European Union, India, Brazil and the US introduced policy actions to promote or return certain critical sectors to domestic production.
Australia’s Future Made In Australia plan is a prime example of this.
Australia experienced this first-hand when China imposed significant tariffs on wine and barley in response to Australia’s call for a COVID inquiry.
China’s willingness to use its economic position was demonstrated on Friday when it announced not just retaliatory tariffs, but export restrictions on seven categories of rare earth minerals. These are critical to strategic US sectors affecting companies like Apple and defence contractor Lockheed Martin.
Government support on the rise
This shift to increased economic resilience through self-reliance has led to a big surge in government intervention through industrial policies.
The objective of industrial policy is to target certain sectors in order to change the structure of economic activity within a country. It uses government policy to promote investment in sectors deemed under-served by markets.
While all countries have used some level of industrial policy, historically it was mainly confined to developing economies. It has been used sparingly since the 1970s. Between 2009 and 2017, the total number of industrial policies used by countries was less than 200.
Between 2017 and 2023 the use of industrial policy increased nine-fold. In 2023, there were roughly 2,500 industrial policy interventions put in place with two-thirds introduced by advanced economies. Almost 48% were concentrated in three: China, the EU and the US.
Intervening in markets
Generally, industrial policy has been out of favour with mainstream economists. It is very hard to get right as it relies on an in-depth knowledge of industries as well as an ability to predict the future.
Providing funding for one sector means less funding available for others. This could undermine new technologies or other as-yet unseen opportunities. It involves shifting resources from existing, efficient uses to less efficient uses.
It rarely works. A prime example are the many countries that have spent billions of dollars trying to recreate a domestic Silicon Valley with no success.
However, Trump is trying to do just that, on an economy-wide scale, mainly through tariffs. The tariffs announced also imply the US will go it alone. The approach takes fragmentation to a new level, where bilateral negotiations are the name of the game.
Indeed, the Canadian Prime Minister’s first trip overseas was not, as tradition dictates, to the US, but to Europe and the UK, whom he dubbed “reliable” partners.
Becoming more isolated and pushing other countries to China may not be what the US intends, but it is happening.
Last week, Japan and South Korea announced a joint strategy with China to promote regional trade. The EU’s trade representative went to Beijing shortly after the tariff announcement where the two nations announced plans to “deepen trade and investment” ties.
The risks of highly integrated supply chains in the face of security concerns, or changes in a trading partner’s domestic policy, have become glaringly clear.
How countries choose to address these concerns, especially through the widespread use of industrial policy, will create further disruption to markets. While it is considered politically expedient for security concerns, this will raise prices and limit choice in domestic markets. As the old adage reminds us, there is no free lunch.
Susan Stone 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.
NEW YORK, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Royalty Pharma plc (Nasdaq: RPRX) today announced the appointment of Vlad Coric, M.D. to the company’s Board of Directors, effective immediately. Vlad Coric is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Biohaven, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of life-changing treatments in key therapeutic areas including neuroscience, immunology and oncology.
“I am excited to announce that we are strengthening our Board with the appointment of Vlad Coric,” said Pablo Legorreta, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Royalty Pharma. “Vlad’s entrepreneurial approach and outstanding leadership skills, honed over a distinguished career in biopharma, will serve as tremendous assets to Royalty Pharma. In addition, Vlad brings notable experience in the royalty funding space, having completed multiple transactions with us during his tenure at Biohaven. We look forward to leveraging his scientific expertise and insights to advance our position as the leading partner funding innovation in life sciences.”
Dr. Coric successfully led Biohaven through the FDA approval and launch of Nurtec ODT for the treatment of migraine. Under his leadership, the company also filed an NDA for its second drug candidate, zavegepant, as the first intranasal CGRP antagonist for ultra-rapid relief of migraine. During his tenure, Dr. Coric oversaw Biohaven’s impressive growth from its founding through its sale to Pfizer in May of 2022 for approximately $13 billion in total consideration.
Dr. Coric has more than 20 years of drug discovery and clinical development experience at Yale School of Medicine and Bristol-Myers Squibb prior to leading Biohaven. Within the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Coric has expertise working across therapeutic areas including neurology, psychiatry, immunology, virology, oncology and immuno-oncology. During his career, he has been involved in multiple drug development programs. Dr. Coric completed his postdoctoral internship, residency and fellowship at Yale School of Medicine, earned his medical degree from Wake Forest University School of Medicine and was an honors scholar in neurobiology and physiology at the University of Connecticut, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree.
About Royalty Pharma
Founded in 1996, Royalty Pharma is the largest buyer of biopharmaceutical royalties and a leading funder of innovation across the biopharmaceutical industry, collaborating with innovators from academic institutions, research hospitals and non-profits through small and mid-cap biotechnology companies to leading global pharmaceutical companies. Royalty Pharma has assembled a portfolio of royalties which entitles it to payments based directly on the top-line sales of many of the industry’s leading therapies. Royalty Pharma funds innovation in the biopharmaceutical industry both directly and indirectly – directly when it partners with companies to co-fund late-stage clinical trials and new product launches in exchange for future royalties, and indirectly when it acquires existing royalties from the original innovators. Royalty Pharma’s current portfolio includes royalties on more than 35 commercial products, including Vertex’s Trikafta, GSK’s Trelegy, Roche’s Evrysdi, Johnson & Johnson’s Tremfya, Biogen’s Tysabri and Spinraza, AbbVie and Johnson & Johnson’s Imbruvica, Astellas and Pfizer’s Xtandi, Novartis’ Promacta, Pfizer’s Nurtec ODT and Gilead’s Trodelvy, and 15 development-stage product candidates. For more information, visit www.royaltypharma.com.
Royalty Pharma Investor Relations and Communications
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vincent Tran, Academic Tutor at Swinburne University of Technology, Swinburne University of Technology
Since Iron Man hit the big screen in 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has made more than US$30 billion, from films to series, to merchandise and comics. As scholars and the press have noted, key to its success is the use of a highly gripping and elaborate “shared universe”.
You might be surprised to hear they’ve actually been around for a very long time – but most of them fail to really get off the ground.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s roaring success has set a high bar for other projects. IMDB
What is a shared universe?
The definition of a “shared universe” is a bit tricky to pin down, as it overlaps heavily with related concepts such as spin-offs, crossovers and franchises.
At its simplest, you can think of a shared universe as a narrative world made up of at least two texts (such as film, television, video games or books) that are distinct, but with overlapping narrative elements.
The texts may have different main characters, different stories, or even different settings – but there will be, at the minimum, some evidence they take place within the same broader world.
Early shared universes
Shared universes have been a staple in storytelling since the dawn of mass media – and not just in cinema.
One of the first shared universes was The Human Comedy (La Comédie humaine) series (1829–48) by French novelist and playwright Honoré de Balzac.
Honoré de Balzac’s (1799-1850) novel sequence La Comédie humaine presents a panorama of post-Napoleonic French life. Wiki
Set against the French Restoration, following the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte, Balzac’s sprawling world spans more than 90 novels and charts the complexity of post-revolution life.
Another early example from literature is L. Frank Baum’s Oz universe. After Baum grew tired of the Oz books, he wrote The Sea Faeries (1911) as the start of a new series. Its lack of critical reception forced him to return to Oz, but not before bringing some Sea Faerie characters along to the Oz universe with him.
The shared universe trend continued in the early 1900s with writers such as Isaac Asimov, Robert E. Howard and H.P. Lovecraft, and would become a mainstay in sci-fi and fantasy.
However, it was arguably television that made shared universes mainstream. This started as early as the 1960s with The Danny Thomas Show and its spin-off The Andy Griffith Show. Other notable examples include the Cheersspin-offs, the Law & Order franchise and the Vampire Diaries universe.
Television’s episodic form – perpetually stuck in the second act – lends itself to spin-offs. Why risk time and money on something new when a fan-favourite character can get their own show, with the prestablished audience (hopefully) migrating over?
Before Marvel came thundering along
One of the earliest cinematic universes was Universal’s original Monsters franchise, beginning in 1931 with the films Dracula and Frankenstein.
This universe was made up of horror characters including Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster and the Wolf Man. Crossover offerings included Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943) and House of Frankenstein (1944).
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man stars Lon Chaney Jr. as The Wolf Man and Bela Lugosi as Frankenstein’s monster. IMDB
But this attempt at a coherent world was haphazard. Continuity was often ignored or contradicted, with post-editing decisions cutting out crucial story connectivity.
For example, in The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942), Ygor’s brain transplant is what allows the monster to speak, yet this element is omitted from later films.
Difficult beginnings
Only a handful of cinematic universes have been truly successful. Following the MCU’s triumph, Warner Bros. attempted a King Arthur universe with King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017), but it flopped.
Sony then tried (and failed) to begin a franchise with Robin Hood (2018) that would spin off to his many merry men.
And it would be remiss to not mention Univeral’s attempt at recapturing its original Monster universe with Tom Cruise’s The Mummy (2017). This film was supposed to be the beginning of the so-called “Dark Universe” which – you guessed it – never happened.
The trifecta you need for success
One cultural character with great success in cinematic universes is Godzilla. The radioactive reptile has been a hit in two separate shared universes: first in Toho Studios’ Japanese live action films, and more recently in Legendary Pictures’ MonsterVerse.
The latter has grossed more than US$2 billion worldwide, and given us five major films including Godzilla (2014) and Kong: Skull Island (2017), as well as two spin-off shows that have begun production on their second seasons.
An experienced screenwriter explained what makes a successful franchise to media scholar Henry Jenkins:
When I first started, you would pitch a story because without a good story, you didn’t really have a film. Later, once sequels started to take off, you pitched a character because a good character could support multiple stories. And now, you pitch a world because a world can support multiple characters and multiple stories across multiple media.
It is the trifecta of story, characters and world that gives rise to a successful shared universe. And the MCU and MonsterVerse both provide captivating worlds in which more characters and stories can always be added.
Marvel films are by no means groundbreaking, as they follow the typical heroes journey of good versus evil. But they leverage comic book characters that had already captivated fans through a different medium.
Also, the MCU was meticulously planned from the beginning: one universe populated with several heroes was always the endgame. As a result, Marvel has managed to transform C- and D-list superheroes into household names.
Meanwhile, the MonsterVerse draws audiences in with the sheer spectacle of massive titans – who were also already well-known – engaging in action-packed battles.
In both cases, there are always more heroes to appear, and more titans to fight.
So, can we expect major studios to continue to try and capture lighting in a bottle, like Disney has with the MCU? Unequivocally, yes. But what might change is the approach.
Failed cinematic universe attempts from the past had many reasons for failing – whether it was media constraints, or trying to capitalise on the hype instead of actually delivering a compelling fictional world. Creators of the future have a higher bar to meet.
Vincent Tran 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.
A powerful storm system that stalled over states from Texas to Ohio for several days in early April 2025 wreaked havoc across the region, with deadly tornadoes, mudslides and flooding as rivers rose. More than a foot of rain fell in several areas.
As a climate scientist who studies the water cycle, I often get questions about how extreme storms like these form and what climate change has to do with it. There’s a recipe for extreme storms, with two key ingredients.
Recipe for a storm
The essential conditions for storms with heavy downpours to form are moisture and atmospheric instability.
First, in order for a storm to develop, the air needs to contain enough moisture. That moisture comes from water evaporating off oceans, lakes and land, and from trees and other plants.
The amount of moisture the air can hold depends on its temperature. The higher the temperature, the more moisture air can hold, and the greater potential for heavy downpours. This is because at higher temperatures water molecules have more kinetic energy and therefore are more likely to exist in the vapor phase. The maximum amount of moisture possible in the air increases at about 7% per degree Celsius.
Search and rescue firefighters check on residents in a neighborhood in Frankfort, Ky., on April 6. Floodwater filled streets downtown and in several neighborhoods in the state capital. AP Photo/Jon Cherry
Warm air also supplies storm systems with more energy. When that vapor starts to condense into water or ice as it cools, it releases large amount of energy, known as latent heat. This additional energy fuels the storm system, leading to stronger winds and greater atmospheric instability.
That leads us to the second necessary condition for a storm: atmospheric instability.
Atmospheric instability has two components: rising air and wind shear, which is created as wind speed changes with height. The rising air, or updraft, is essential because air cools as it moves up, and as a result, water vapor condenses to form precipitation.
As the air cools at high altitudes, it starts to sink, forming a downdraft of cool and dry air on the edge of a storm system.
When there is little wind shear, the downdraft can suppress the updraft, and the storm system quickly dissipates as it exhausts the local moisture in the air. However, strong wind shear can tilt the storm system, so that the downdraft occurs at a different location, and the updraft of warm moist air can continue, supplying the storm with moisture and energy. This often leads to strong storm systems that can spawn tornadoes.
Extreme downpours hit the Midwest
It is precisely a combination of these conditions that caused the prolonged, extensive precipitation that the Midwest and Southern states saw in early April.
The Midwest is prone to extreme storms, particularly during spring. Spring is a transition time when the cold and dry air mass from the Arctic, which dominates the region in winter, is gradually being pushed away by warm and moist air from the Gulf that dominates the region in summer.
This clash of air masses creates atmosphere instability at the boundary, where the warm and less dense air is pushed upward above the cold and denser air, creating precipitation.
A cold front forms when a cold air mass pushes away a warm air mass. A warm front forms when the warm air mass pushes to replace the cold air mass. A cold front usually moves faster than a warm front, but the speed is related to the temperature difference between the two air masses.
The warm conditions before the April storm system reduced the temperature difference between these cold and warm air masses, greatly reducing the speed of the frontal movement and allowing it to stall over states from Texas to Ohio.
The result was prolonged precipitation and repeated storms. The warm temperatures also led to high moisture content in the air masses, leading to more precipitation. In addition, strong wind shear led to a continuous supply of moisture into the storm systems, causing strong thunderstorms and dozens of tornadoes to form.
What global warming has to do with storms
As global temperatures rise, the warming air creates conditions that are more conducive to extreme precipitation.
The warmer air can mean more moisture, leading to wetter and stronger storms. And since most significant warming occurs near the surface, while the upper atmosphere is cooling, this can increase wind shear and the atmospheric instability that sets the stage for strong storms.
Polar regions are also warming two to three times as fast as the global average, reducing the temperature gradient between the poles and equator. That can weaken the global winds. Most of the weather systems in the continental U.S. are modulated by the polar jet stream, so a weaker jet stream can slow the movement of storms, creating conditions for prolonged precipitation events.
All of these create conditions that make extreme storms and flooding much more likely in the future.
Shuang-Ye Wu does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Private health insurers may soon be able to offer rebates for seven complementary therapies previously prohibited.
This includes some movement therapies – Pilates, yoga, tai chi and Alexander technique, which teaches body awareness and posture – as well as naturopathy, shiatsu (Japanese massage) and Western herbal medicine.
These are the recommendations from a government-commissioned review chaired by former Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd. I was part of a committee supporting the review.
The review assessed 16 natural therapies that are currently prohibited from private health insurance cover.
It recommended nine therapies stay on the prohibited list because the evidence doesn’t support their use:
aromatherapy (which uses essential oils for treatment)
Bowen therapy (where pressure is applied in small movements on parts of the body)
the Buteyko method (breath training)
Feldenkrais (movement therapy)
homeopathy (where practitioners give patients diluted substances)
iridology (studying patterns in the eye)
kinesiology (studying body movement)
reflexology (where pressure is applied to the feet)
Rolfing (hands-on manipulation of the body).
Therapies were recommended for re-inclusion where there was “moderate certainty evidence of their clinical effectiveness for at least one health outcome in one health condition”.
In other words, therapies recommended for inclusion “probably” or “are likely to” work for at least one condition, compared to not using any treatment.
But they weren’t included on the list for re-inclusion if they “might” work in some conditions.
You won’t be able to claim for aromatherapy on your private health insurance. Pexels/Mark Production
Why the reassessment?
The 16 therapies were originally prohibited from private health insurance coverage in 2019. This followed a 2015 government review which found the therapies didn’t have significant evidence showing they were clinically effective.
However, a number of commentators, including me, had identified a number of concerns that the methods used may not have accurately captured the relevant evidence. Much research on shiatsu, for example, is labelled as acupressure or massage. And there were many other inconsistencies across the reviews.
To ensure a robust and rigorous review, then-health minister Greg Hunt asked the National Health and Medical Research Council to convene a panel of research experts to help coordinate and compile review. An advisory panel was also set up, which included experts in natural therapies, consumer perspectives and research.
To improve transparency and inform future decisions, all parts of the review process are available online.
What happens next?
This doesn’t necessarily mean your private health insurer will start covering previously excluded natural therapies.
For one thing, the minister still needs to sign off on recommendations before they can be implemented in practice.
Lifting of the prohibition will only allow your insurer to cover the therapy, not require it. The decision on whether your insurer will start to cover naturopathy, Pilates, yoga or the other therapies on the list will be up to individual insurers.
When will the decision be reviewed?
It’s unclear how, or if, ongoing evaluations will consider whether natural therapies are included in private health insurance. This will depend on how the government implements these recommendations.
However, the panel chair recommended the review should form a foundation for better understanding the role of natural therapies.
There may be a future role for some therapies but only in specific circumstances.
The 2015 review, for example, spoke relatively positively about the potential for the Buteyko method in reducing reliance on medication use in asthmatics. But this alone did not meet the criteria for re-inclusion in either the previous or current review.
Improving research and practice
The review also identified several quality and reporting issues across natural therapies research that require further work to address.
Work will be needed to continue to improve practice in the therapies added to the eligibility list. Robert Kneschke/Shutterstock
Researchers conducting natural therapy trials aren’t always required to provide detailed descriptions of therapies. This can impact evaluation.
Making all the work and documents of the review publicly available (even the data considered out of scope) will help strengthen future research and practice. It can also help researchers and policymakers identify the role these therapies have outside private health insurance – or whether they should have any role at all.
Even for those therapies that may be reintroduced, work will be needed to continue to improve practice, educational accreditation, registration for some therapists, and better accountability of standards.
Jon Wardle was part of the both the National Health and Medical Research Council Natural Therapies Working Committee and the Department of Health Natural Therapies Review Expert Advisory Panel which suppported Professor Kidd in conducting the review. However, this article represents his personal academic opinion and does not represent the opinions of either of these organisations.
He is Foundation Director of the National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine and the Maurice Blackmore Chair of Naturopathic Medicine at Southern Cross University, which provides education to one of the therapies that was included in this review (naturopathy). He has received funding from multiple foundations and agencies to conduct research on several of the therapies included in this review.
Secure and affordable housing is a fundamental human right for all Australians.
Therefore, it is unsurprising the election campaign is being played out against a backdrop of heightened voter anxiety about rental stress and housing affordability. A growing number of people are unable to access housing that meets their needs.
And it’s not just low-income earners who are affected by housing pressures. It is also the millions of people who make up middle Australia; the very group that will help determine the election outcome.
The solution to Australia’s housing problem is complex. We need to start thinking differently about what reform might look like.
No cheap rents
For most Australians, housing is their biggest and most unavoidable bill.
The average national weekly rent for a unit is A$566 a week. It is even higher in capital cities. To afford this comfortably, renters need an annual income of $130,000.
But for someone on the median income of $72,592 (or $58,575 after tax) half their pay packet is being swallowed by their weekly rent.
This significantly exceeds the 30% benchmark that is a useful measure of housing affordability stress.
Million-dollar homes
The raw numbers are just as eye-watering for home ownership.
The mean price of a residential dwelling in Australia is around $977,000. For house hunters in New South Wales, the figure is even higher at $1.2 million.
Rapidly rising house prices over the past few years have contributed to larger home loans and more people with a mortgage.
Only 13% of homes sold in 2022–23 were affordable for a median income household, with housing prices increasing more rapidly than wages.
The cascading price pressures mean first home buyers are finding it harder to save for a deposit.
Policy options
There is an urgent need for housing reform to overcome the affordability and accessibility challenges. There is no shortage of options available to policymakers.
For starters, planning rules and zoning regulations could be eased to facilitate more construction. Vacant commercial properties and office spaces could be repurposed as housing.
Another option includes removing barriers to constructing prefabricated homes, which are more efficient and affordable to build.
Time to be bold
Housing reform often involves debate around negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions for property investors. There are mixed results regarding how they would impact housing affordability and accessibility. The unpopularity of such policies at the 2016 and 2019 elections have since hindered any changes.
But more radical reforms could be considered. They include applying negative gearing to first home buyers, who would benefit by claiming the mortgage interest on their property against their income. The United States allows home-owner couples to claim mortgage interest on the first US$750,000 (A$1.19 million) of their loan to help them secure a home.
The US policy highlights how high housing costs are not exclusive to Australia.
We could learn from other initiatives adopted overseas. For example, a bylaw passed in Montreal, Canada, requires new developments to include 20% social housing, 20% affordable housing and 20% family units.
Further, Vienna is known for its progressive social housing policies, which include rental caps and housing security. The housing is high quality and often includes access to communal pools, child care, libraries and other facilities.
Here in Australia, the major political parties are mindful that the high cost of housing is political kryptonite. They are fighting the May election armed with policies aimed at improving affordability and availability. But will these policies go far enough?
Labor plans to increase housing supply by 1.2 million homes over five years by changing zoning and planning rules. This includes 20,000 social housing homes and 10,000 affordable rentals for front-line workers such as police and nurses. It will also increase tax incentives for the build-to-rent program to increase rental supply.
These policies are likely to improve affordability and accessibility for lower income earners. However, there will be a wait while homes are constructed. It is also expensive at around $10 billion.
To increase supply, Labor will invest in prefabricated and modular homes, including a national certification system to streamline approvals.
Labor will also expand the Help-to-Buy scheme so more Australians can purchase their first home, although this may push-up prices through increased demand.
The Liberal Party’s policy centrepiece is $5 billion to fast track essential housing infrastructure such as water and sewage, to unlock up to 500,000 homes.
The Coalition is also vowing to free up more housing by reducing immigration by 25% and capping the number of international students.
For first home buyers, the Liberals want to allow early access to superannuation of up to $50,000, but studies suggest this could backfire by increasing house prices and hurting retirement savings.
Dream turns to a nightmare
Voters may find merit in one or more of the proposed policies, but bipartisanship will be essential if we are to solve the housing crisis, regardless of the election outcome.
And genuine reform involves more than sugar-hit policies that might find favour during election campaigns. It requires bold, decisive action with investment in areas that benefit those most in need.
Without genuine reform, even more Australians will struggle to put a roof over their heads. The ramifications will be devastating to Australia’s social and economic future.
The Australian dream of owning a home will be at risk of becoming an even bigger nightmare.
This is the third article in our special series, Australia’s Policy Challenges. You can read the other articles here and here
Michelle Cull is a member of CPA Australia, the Financial Advice Association Australia and President Elect of the Academy of Financial Services in the United States. Michelle is an academic member of UniSuper’s Consultative Committee. Michelle Cull co-founded the Western Sydney University Tax Clinic which has received funding from the Australian Taxation Office as part of the National Tax Clinic Program. Michelle has previously volunteered as Chair of the Macarthur Advisory Council for the Salvation Army Australia.
These news reports are based on a recent preprint study by two researchers at the University of California San Diego in which four large language models (LLMs) were put through the Turing test. One model – OpenAI’s GPT-4.5 – was deemed indistinguishable from a human more than 70% of the time.
The Turing test has been popularised as the ultimate indicator of machine intelligence. However, there is disagreement about the validity of this test. In fact, it has a contentious history which calls into question how effective it really is at measuring machine intelligence.
So what does this mean for the significance of this new study?
What did the study find?
The preprint study by cognitive scientists Cameron Jones and Benjamin Bergen was published in March, but has not yet been peer-reviewed. It tested 4 LLMs: ELIZA, GPT-4o, LLaMa-3.1-405B, and GPT-4.5.
The tests consisted of participants completing eight rounds of conversations in which they acted as an interrogator exchanging text messages with two witnesses simultaneously. One witness was a human and the other an LLM. Some 284 participants were randomly assigned to be either the interrogator or the witness.
Participants were required to interact with both witnesses simultaneously across a split screen for five minutes, with the test interface mimicking that of a conventional messaging interface. Following this interaction, they decided which witness was a human, and which was an AI chatbot.
Participants judged GPT-4.5 to be the human 73% of the time, and LLaMa-3.1-405B to be the human 56% of the time. The other two models (ELIZA and GPT-4o) only fooled participants 23% and 21% of the time respectively.
Participants in the study judged OpenAI’s GPT-4.5 to be human 73% of the time. Ascannio/Shutterstock
What exactly is the Turing Test?
The first iteration of the Turing test was presented by English mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing in a 1948 paper titled “Intelligent Machinery”. It was originally proposed as an experiment involving three people playing chess with a theoretical machine referred to as a paper machine, two being players and one being an operator.
In the 1950 publication “Computing Machinery and Intelligence”, Turing reintroduced the experiment as the “imitation game” and claimed it was a means of determining a machine’s ability to exhibit intelligent behaviour equivalent to a human. It involved three participants: Participant A was a woman, participant B a man and participant C either gender.
Through a series of questions, participant C is required to determine whether “X is A and Y is B” or “X is B and Y is A”, with X and Y representing the two genders.
A proposition is then raised: “What will happen when a machine takes the part of A in this game? Will the interrogator decide wrongly as often when the game is played like this as he does when the game is played between a man and a woman?”
These questions were intended to replace the ambiguous question, “Can machines think?”. Turing claimed this question was ambiguous because it required an understanding of the terms “machine” and “think”, of which “normal” uses of the words would render a response to the question inadequate.
Over the years, this experiment was popularised as the Turing test. While the subject matter varied, the test remained a deliberation on whether “X is A and Y is B” or “X is B and Y is A”.
Why is it contentious?
While popularised as a means of testing machine intelligence, the Turing test is not unanimously accepted as an accurate means to do so. In fact, the test is frequently challenged.
Behaviour vs thinking. Some researchers argue the ability to “pass” the test is a matter of behaviour, not intelligence. Therefore it would not be contradictory to say a machine can pass the imitation game, but cannot think.
Brains are not machines. Turing makes assertions the brain is a machine, claiming it can be explained in purely mechanical terms. Many academics refute this claim and question the validity of the test on this basis.
Internal operations. As computers are not humans, their process for reaching a conclusion may not be comparable to a person’s, making the test inadequate because a direct comparison cannot work.
Scope of the test. Some researchers believe only testing one behaviour is not enough to determine intelligence.
Even though GPT-4.5 may have passed the Turing test, this doesn’t mean it’s as intelligent as humans. fizkes/Shutterstock
So is an LLM as smart as a human?
While the preprint article claims GPT-4.5 passed the Turing test, it also states:
the Turing test is a measure of substitutability: whether a system can stand-in for a real person without […] noticing the difference.
This implies the researchers do not support the idea of the Turing test being a legitimate indication of human intelligence. Rather, it is an indication of the imitation of human intelligence – an ode to the origins of the test.
It is also worth noting that the conditions of the study were not without issue. For example, a five minute testing window is relatively short.
In addition, each of the LLMs was prompted to adopt a particular persona, but it’s unclear what the details and impact of the “personas” were on the test.
For now it is safe to say GPT-4.5 is not as intelligent as humans – although it may do a reasonable job of convincing some people otherwise.
Zena Assaad 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.
Ever Mlilo, the new Permanent Representative of Zimbabwe to the United Nations Office at Geneva, today presented her credentials to Tatiana Valovaya, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva.
Prior to her appointment to Geneva, Ms. Mlilo served as Director for Legal Services at the Zimbabwe Republic Police from 2015 to 2018. She held multiple positions at the Zimbabwe Republic Police Training Depot, including as Commandant from 2014 to 2015, and Assistant Commissioner, Training from 2012 to 2014. Ms. Mlilo also previously worked as a part time lecturer in law at the Police Staff College from 2011 to 2018; Legal Officer at the Police General Headquarters from 2010 to 2014; and Investigating Officer at Mkoba Police Station, Gweru, Zimbabwe from 1999 to 2005.
She currently lectures part time in mining law at the Pan African Minerals University of Science and Technology and at the University of Zimbabwe.
Ms. Mlilo holds a Master of Laws in International Criminal Justice from the Open University of Tanzania (2015); a Bachelor of Laws from Midland State University in Gweru, Zimbabwe (2010); and a Diploma of National Security from Galilee International Management Institute, Israel (2016). She is in the final year of studying for her Doctor of Laws in International and Diplomatic Studies at the European Graduate School of Government Studies in Slovenia.
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Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.
Brian Neil Joseph Glover, the new Permanent Representative of Mauritius to the United Nations Office at Geneva, today presented his credentials to Tatiana Valovaya, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva.
Prior to his appointment to Geneva, Mr. Glover had been working as a Barrister at the Glover Chambers from 2021 to 2025. He was a freelance consultant and trainer on equal opportunities, anti-discrimination, human rights, right to privacy, civil rights and data protection from 2016 to 2021. From March 2012 to April 2016, he served as Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission of Mauritius. He worked as a Barrister in Mauritius from 1992 to 2012.
Mr. Glover has a bachelor’s degree in laws from the University of Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom. He was called to the Degree of the Utter Bar of England and Wales at Middle Temple Inns of Court, London, United Kingdom in 1992 and was called to the Mauritian Bar in 1992. He was born on 22 July 1969 in Mauritius and is married with one child.
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Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.
Tšiu Khathibe, the new Permanent Representative of Lesotho to the United Nations Office at Geneva, today presented his credentials to Tatiana Valovaya, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva.
Mr. Khathibe will also be serving as Ambassador of Lesotho to Switzerland.
Prior to his appointment to Geneva, Mr. Khathibe had been serving as Chief Executive at the National Reforms Transitional Office, National Reforms Authority, Ministry of Justice and Law of Lesotho since September 2022, where he was Deputy Chief Executive since October 2020. He represented Lesotho at the Lesotho Highlands Water Commission from November 2005 to October 2017 in various capacities, and at the Lesotho Highlands Water Project before that from November 2003 to October 2005.
Mr. Khathibe has been an independent non-executive director (part-time) at the Nedbank Lesotho Limited from August 2018 to date. He was also a member of the Lesotho Defence Force from 1983 to 1991.
Mr. Khathibe has a Bachelor of Commerce, Commercial Law and Economics from Rhodes University in South Africa (1998). He also has a higher diploma in criminal justice and forensic investigations (2005) and a post graduate diploma in drafting and interpretation of contracts from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa (2009), and is an accredited mediator after attending the London School of Meditation, London, United Kingdom (2015).
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Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.
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