The Honourable Chris Tibbs, Minister of Environment, Conservation, and Climate Change, on behalf of the Honourable Andrea Barbour, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation, will deliver remarks as PictureNL celebrates $1 billion of film industry production spending in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The event is taking place tonight (Wednesday, December 17) at the JAG Sound House, 115 George Street W, St. John’s, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
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2025 12 17
4:30 pm
Elaine Williams named to Eventex Powerlist of the
50 Most Influential Venue Professionals for 2025
The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC) has been selected as a 2025 Readers’ Choice Award winner by ConventionSouth, marking the fifth consecutive year the venue has received the publication’s highest distinction. More than 7,000 meeting professionals and industry supporters participated in this year’s nomination and voting process, making it one of the magazine’s most competitive award cycles to date.
The honor is recognized alongside another major achievement for the Convention Center. Elaine Williams, CMP, CEM-AP, Chief Commercial Officer, has been named to the 2025 Eventex Powerlist of the 50 Most Influential Venue Professionals. Eventex received more than 2,000 nominations from more than 70 countries this year. Only 100 global leaders make the main list, with select individuals highlighted across specialty categories, including venue operations and commercial leadership.
“These recognitions reflect the work our entire team puts forward each day,” said Jim Cook, President and CEO of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. “Earning the Readers’ Choice Award for a fifth year in a row shows the confidence meeting professionals place in our venue and in New Orleans as a host city. Elaine’s achievement on the Eventex Powerlist exemplifies the strength of our leadership and the continued progress we are making in service, operations and events strategy.”
ConventionSouth, based in Gulf Shores, Alabama, is a national multimedia resource for planning events in the South and is distributed to more than 18,000 meeting professionals across the country. NOENMCC will be featured in the magazine’s December 2025 Awards Issue.
Since opening in 1985, the NOENMCC has generated more than $93.2 billion in total economic impact and more than $5.7 billion in tax revenue for Louisiana. The Convention Center continues to advance long-term modernization efforts, including the development of the Omni New Orleans, a new 1,000-room headquarters hotel that will strengthen the city’s appeal as a premier meetings destination. The project will enhance connectivity to the Convention Center, expand lodging capacity for large-scale events and support continued growth in New Orleans’ tourism and hospitality economy.
NOENMCC has also advanced its sustainability leadership. The Convention Center earned LEED Gold certification in 2022 and received a subsequent LEED Gold certification in 2025 under updated Operations and Maintenance standards, placing it among the largest convention center projects in the country to earn the recognition.
About the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC)
New Orleans is Built to Host! With 1.1 million square feet of prime exhibit space on one level, all under one roof, NOENMCC is tied for the sixth-largest convention center in the United States. NOENMCC is a 2025 Exhibitor Magazine Centers of Excellence recipient and is consistently named a regional top workplace by The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. A recent LEED Gold certification makes NOENMCC the largest LEED-certified project in Louisiana and the largest convention center project in the U.S. certified under LEED v4.1 Operations and Maintenance, as well as the first convention center in the world to be awarded initial certification under LEED Gold v4.1 O+M. A leading contributor to the city’s robust tourism economy, NOENMCC event activity has produced $93.2 billion in economic impact since its 1985 opening.
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To request language or accessibility for HDOH programs or public meetings, please contact the HDOH Non-Discrimination Coordinator, at (808) 586-4400 or email: [email protected]. Please allow sufficient time for HDOH to meet accommodation requests.
如欲針對在 HDOH 計劃或公開會議中提出語言或無障礙便利方面的要求，請聯絡 HDOH 非歧視協調員，致電 (808) 586-4400 或發送電子郵件至： [email protected]。請為 HDOH 留出足夠的時間來滿足您的便利要求。
Ren eom kopwe tungor fosun fonu ika atotongeni ren HDOH programs kena ika mwichen aramas meinisin kena, kose mochen kori ewe HDOH Non-Discrimination Coordinator, non (808)586-4400 ika email: [email protected]. Kose mochen mut ngenitamenon fansoun ren an HDOH epwe tori anenian tungor kena.
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Aron mohangyo og pinulongan o access para sa mga programa sa HDOH o publikong mga miting, palihog kontaka ang HDOH Non-Discrimination Coordinator, sa (808) 586-4400 o pag-email sa: [email protected]. Palihog paghatag og igong panahon aron maatiman sa HDOH ang hangyo para sa akomodasyon.
Strategy includes 40 recommendations that will continue the United States’ position as an aviation powerhouse for the next 100 years
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today unveiled the nation’s first ever Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) National Strategy setting an ambitious roadmap to accelerate American aviation innovation and transform our skies for the better.
The Strategy and accompanying action plan outline 40 recommendations to safely and efficiently support AAM operations. The Strategy will also help advance President Trump’s “America First” agenda—unleashing America’s economic strength and ensuring the U.S., and not our adversaries, remain a global leader in next-generation aviation.
“Since the Wright brothers first took flight in 1903, America has been at the forefront of aviation innovation. Today, we have a bold strategy to unlock the future of our skies and unleash this next chapter of aviation safely and efficiently,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Advanced air mobility vehicles will benefit the American people – transforming how the flying public travels, how first responders jump into action and communities access healthcare, how businesses deliver goods, and how we defend our nation. I look forward to working together to make this dream a reality.”
What is AAM?
AAM is a rapidly-emerging aerospace sector focused on safely and efficiently integrating highly automated aircraft into U.S. airspace. AAM is not a single technology but rather a range of innovations—particularly new aircraft types that typically operate below 5,000 feet—to transport people and packages more efficiently than ever before. Beyond aircraft, AAM requires a modern support system, including a skilled workforce, upgraded infrastructure, and clear regulatory frameworks.
Together, AAM has the potential to reshape how Americans live, work, and connect by enhancing rural and urban transportation, strengthening cargo operations, and advancing both medical and military transportation. By integrating automation, AAM should improve safety and efficiency and inspire the next generation of aviators.
Overview:
The Strategy is organized around six key pillars (Airspace, Infrastructure, Security, Community Planning and Engagement, Workforce, and Automation) essential to building a strong AAM system. The Strategy sets forth 40 recommendations designed to establish a resilient foundation for national policy.
The Plan is designed to implement the Strategy recommendations to support the safe, secure, and coordinated introduction of AAM. The Plan gives high-level implementation action items across four distinct strategic action phases, referred to as LIFT. These phases will advance research, stakeholder engagement, policy development, and technical deployment.
Today’s U.S. aviation industry and its workforce, from large manufacturing and commercial operations to robust general aviation, support $1.8 trillion in total economic activity and contribute 4 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product. The future of aviation will include AAM that can provide new levels of mobility, connectivity, and convenience for the transportation of people and cargo.
In June, President Trump issued the Executive Order “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” to enhance United States productivity, create high-skilled jobs, and reshape the future of aviation.
In 2022, Congress passed the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act, recognizing the need for a whole-of-government approach to advance the Advanced Air Mobility ecosystem in the United States. This Act directed the Department to establish an Interagency Working Group to coordinate federal efforts related to AAM adoption and deployment and to develop both an AAM National Strategy and a Comprehensive Plan.
Support for the AAM Strategy:
“Today’s national strategy from the Department of Transportation marks a bold leap toward the future of aviation. From electric aircraft to AI-powered air traffic systems, this strategy reflects America’s commitment to lead in next-gen aerospace innovation,” said Federal Communications Commissioner Chairman Brendan Carr. “I applaud Secretary Duffy and DOT for assembling an all-star team and am pleased that our talented FCC staff were able to contribute to this historic document. The FCC looks forward to continued collaboration with DOT to make this important vision a reality.”
“Airports are grateful for the leadership of Secretary Duffy, along with the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration, in launching the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) National Strategy and Comprehensive Plan,” said Kevin M. Burke, President & CEO of Airports Council International–North America. “Whether carrying passengers or cargo, eVTOLs and other highly automated aircraft will reshape how people and goods move around America. Airports are eager to engage with the Administration to identify the infrastructure needed to ensure safe and efficient AAM operations, as well as the funding mechanisms to support them. We look forward to playing a central role in advancing the nation’s AAM strategy.”
“Today is a landmark moment for advanced air mobility. At Electra, we applaud the Administration’s visionary leadership in navigating the most significant shift in aviation in a generation,” said Marc Allen, CEO of Electra.aero, Inc. “Our nine-passenger EL9 Ultra Short aircraft, whose certification is proceeding under the Department of Transportation’s long-established Part 23 process, takes off and lands in just 150 feet. It opens the door to a new era of Direct Aviation, where people can fly from where they are to where they want to go. We’re excited to work alongside the Department and the Administration to strengthen America’s leadership in this critical industry.”
“The future of aviation must be built in America. We welcome Secretary Duffy and the Department of Transportation’s leadership in advancing air taxis and are committed to bringing them into safe, real-world operation here in the U.S.,” said Adam Goldstein, Founder & CEO of Archer.
“Global leadership in advanced air mobility will be held by those who build, certify, and deploy first,” said Kyle Clark, Founder & CEO of BETA Technologies. “This National strategy, which lays out a bold, long-term vision for the future of this industry, puts the U.S. on that path, and BETA’s products are positioned to help deliver it. This creates a clear pathway for us to continue producing American-made, next generation technology to support both the needs of civilian communities and the mobility needs of our troops.”
“Advanced Air Mobility is the key to unlocking U.S. aviation leadership, addressing transportation and cargo gaps and supporting national security. The 2025 National AAM Strategy creates the roadmap for how the U.S. wins the autonomy race,” said Robert Rose, CEO & Co-Founder of Reliable Robotics. “FAA-certified aircraft autonomy will prevent the most common causes of aviation accidents, connect small towns and rural communities and provide transformational contested logistics capabilities to our warfighters. Reliable Robotics applauds President Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy for his tireless work to advance United States leadership in AAM.”
“On behalf of NBAA and the association’s Advanced Air Mobility Roundtable, I want to thank Congress for directing this plan, and the DOT for delivering a national strategy, coordinated across 25 federal agencies, that blazes a path forward for the safe integration of AAM into the national airspace system,” said Matt Byrd, Vice Chair of NBAA’s Board of Directors and President & CEO of Hillwood Aviation.
“AUVSI commends Secretary Duffy for his leadership in keeping the United States at the forefront of aviation advancement and safety,” said Michael Robbins, President & CEO of AUVSI. “AUVSI looks forward to partnering with DOT, FAA, Congress, state and local governments, and industry to translate this strategy into action, accelerate innovation, and ensure the benefits of advanced air mobility and automation are realized for communities across the nation, and furthering U.S. leadership in advanced aviation.”
“Today is a significant day for the Advanced Air Mobility sector. GAMA applauds all the hard and collaborative work from the AAM Interagency Working Group, led by DOT, to create and put forth this national strategy,” said James Viola, President & CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). “This strategy will ensure that the U.S. will be a global leader in AAM through the sector’s integration into the national airspace system with a focus on adapting and improving infrastructure; strengthening the aviation workforce; adapting and improving infrastructure; expanding security, safety and automation; and furthering community planning and engagement. The growth of the AAM sector will facilitate additional transportation options, create jobs, stimulate economic activity and competitiveness, and foster further advancement in aerospace technology.”
“States are excited for the advent of Advanced Air Mobility operations and are working to position themselves to assist the FAA in integrating them into the system. We know that together with the federal government we have already invested in building thousands of airports across the nation in and around communities that are are well positioned to launch this exciting new technology,” said Greg Pecoraro, President & CEO of National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO). “States will be essential for AAM operations through many functions that draw on local and regional expertise, and we look forward to partnering with USDOT and the FAA in this effort.”
“AUVSI commends Secretary Duffy for his leadership in keeping the United States at the forefront of aviation advancement and safety,” said Michael Robbins, President & CEO of AUVSI. “AUVSI looks forward to partnering with DOT, FAA, Congress, state and local governments, and industry to translate this strategy into action, accelerate innovation, and ensure the benefits of advanced air mobility and automation are realized for communities across the nation, and furthering U.S. leadership in advanced aviation.”
“The promise of advanced air mobility will be a game-changer in communities all across the country,” said Todd Hauptli, CEO & President of AAAE. “Secretary Duffy today unveiled an ambitious vision for its future and we are ready to get to work with our partners in government and industry to work through implementation issues and accelerate its widespread adoption.”
“Vertical Aviation International appreciates this Administration’s leadership in advancing American ingenuity, and we strongly support the National Strategy for Advanced Air Mobility, which provides a clear, coordinated vision for integrating new vertical aviation capabilities safely and responsibly,” said François Lassale, President & CEO of Vertical Aviation International.
“The Advanced Air Mobility National Strategy represents an important milestone in aligning innovation with practical implementation,” said Curt Castagna, President & CEO of NATA. “AAM has the potential to serve as a catalyst for new aviation services and connections, extending aviation’s reach to more communities. We thank Secretary Duffy for his leadership and vision in advancing a coordinated national framework and for recognizing the importance of industry collaboration as these technologies move toward deployment. Realizing that potential will require thoughtful coordination across government and industry, with careful attention to infrastructure, energy, communications, and integration into existing airspace. Forward-looking regulatory and operational frameworks, supported by specialized expertise and operational experience, will be essential to balancing innovation with safety, scalability, and long-term success.”
“The release of this National Strategy is a historic and pivotal moment for the entire AAM industry and for the future of U.S. aerospace leadership. For Wisk, the Strategy recognizes that autonomy is the key to unlocking the full potential of AAM,” said Sebastien Vigneron, CEO of Wisk. “Autonomy can enhance safety, facilitate scaling to meet public demand, and help reduce operational costs. This federal recognition aligns with our mission, and we’re eager to prove out our technologies.”
The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure wishes to advise that all Provincial Government offices at 50 Elizabeth Avenue will re-open for staff tomorrow (Thursday, December 18).
Fines Administration will remain closed to in-person visitors for the remainder of this week. Online payment services are available, and an update will be provided next week on when in-person access will resume.
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3:45 pm
ABU DHABI (December 17, 2025) – ADQ, an active sovereign investor focused on critical infrastructure and global supply chains and the Gates Foundation today announced a landmark partnership to accelerate the responsible and high-impact adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and education technology (EdTech) to improve learning outcomes for children across sub-Saharan Africa. The announcement was made on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Finance Week, during a visit by Bill Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation, to the UAE.
As education systems evolve, digital learning platforms, data technologies, and AI-enabled solutions are increasingly regarded as part of a nation’s essential infrastructure. Much like transport, energy, and logistics networks enable economic activity, these tools help build the human capital and technological readiness required for long-term competitiveness. By supporting this emerging dimension of educational infrastructure, ADQ is complementing its investments in physical and digital assets with capabilities that will help shape and sustain future economies.
By 2050, Africa will be home to one in every three of the world’s young people. Yet today, nine in ten children in the region are unable to read or do basic math by age 10. This partnership will direct resources toward solutions that reflect local needs, empower teachers, and support students, helping education systems build the capacity required for sustained and scalable progress. Strengthening early-grade literacy and numeracy is essential to improving learning outcomes throughout a child’s education and to supporting more growth across the region.
The four-year partnership will deploy a combined USD 40 million, with ADQ contributing up to USD 20 million, to tackle persistent education challenges across Sub-Saharan Africa by expanding the ethical use of AI through two flagship programs.
AI-for-Education, a global initiative launched in 2022, develops practical models of AI-enabled learning and provides expert guidance to governments in the Global South. The EdTech and AI Fund, a new multi-investor vehicle set to launch next year, will scale proven EdTech and AI solutions across sub-Saharan Africa. Jointly anchored by ADQ and the Gates Foundation, it will be the first fund dedicated to national-level expansion of interventions shown to improve foundational learning. Generative AI provides unique opportunities to enhance proven approaches such as structured pedagogy, but evidence on what works is scarce. The sector also faces underfunding and low reach. More than 93 percent of EdTech products in low and middle-income countries are not tested for proof-of-learning impact, only two percent of global EdTech venture capital is attracted by sub-Saharan Africa, and just four percent of children in the region consistently use EdTech.
Earlier this year, the Gates Foundation announced a USD 240 million expansion of its Global Education Program, a four-year effort to help 15 million children in sub-Saharan Africa and India learn more effectively by delivering cost-efficient and evidence-based solutions in partnership with governments. Building on this momentum, the UAE is applying its strengths in innovation and technical deployment to accelerate the integration and scaling of AI in education, contributing to the collective effort.
“As part of the UAE’s commitment to advancing AI and technology-enabled solutions, this partnership underscores ADQ’s dedication to delivering meaningful impact for current and future generations across global markets,” said His Excellency Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of ADQ. “As a responsible investor, we have focused on enabling the infrastructure that supports socio-economic development and creating pathways for inclusive growth. While that has traditionally meant physical assets, the systems that support learning, data, and intelligent technologies are becoming equally important to national development. By combining our investment capabilities with the expertise of leading institutions, we aim to strengthen education systems, widen access to opportunity, and equip millions of young people across the African continent with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world.”
“AI has enormous potential to transform learning and expand opportunity. This partnership brings together the expertise needed to apply these tools responsibly and scale approaches already showing results,” said Bill Gates. “The UAE has shown leadership in using innovation to expand opportunity, and together we’ll build on that momentum to help children develop the foundational skills that shape their futures.”
With increasing momentum for education reform across Africa, reflected in commitments made at the 2025 African Union Summit to end learning poverty by 2035, the opportunity for meaningful progress has never been greater. Advances in technology, expanding local expertise, and increasing collaboration are creating a stronger foundation for change. By supporting efforts to apply AI and EdTech in ways that meet the needs of teachers and students, this partnership aims to help accelerate learning gains and contribute to a more prosperous and inclusive future for the continent’s young people.
Established in 2018, ADQ is an active sovereign investor with a focus on critical infrastructure and global supply chains. As a strategic partner to the Government of Abu Dhabi, ADQ invests in the growth of business platforms anchored in the Emirate that deliver value to local communities and long-term financial returns to its shareholders. ADQ’s total assets amounted to USD 263 billion as of June 30, 2025. Its rapidly expanding portfolio encompasses companies across numerous core sectors of the economy, including energy and utilities, transport and logistics, food and agriculture, healthcare and life sciences, financial services, infrastructure and critical minerals, and sustainable manufacturing.
For more information, visit adq.ae or write to [email protected].
You can also follow ADQ on Instagram, LinkedIn and X.
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, we work with partners to create impactful solutions so that people can take charge of their futures and achieve their full potential. In the United States, we aim to ensure that everyone—especially those with the fewest resources—has access to the opportunities needed to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of Bill Gates and our governing board.
Media contact: [email protected]
Canada experienced one of its largest drops in population in the most recent quarter, the result of a crackdown on international students. The drop marks dramatic turnaround for a country that has long pegged its economic growth to immigration.
New estimates released on Wednesday by Statistics Canada showed that Canada’s population fell by 0.2% in the third quarter to stand at 41.6 million, down from 41.65 million on 1 July.
It was the only other quarterly decline on record came in 2020, and was attributed to Covid-19 border restrictions.
The recent decline, however, is driven largely by a drop in the number of international students studying in Canada after Ottawa pledged to tamp down on the number of study permits issued.
Canada’s Liberal party, which oversaw record-levels of immigration under the tenure of former prime minister Justin Trudeau, has shifted course quickly after mounting pushback over what many saw as unsustainable migration.
In the third quarter of 2023, Canada’s quarterly population growth was the highest ever since 1957, with 420,000 people added to the country over that three-month span.
Non-permanent residents make up roughly 6.8% of the total population, down from 7.3% last quarter. The current prime minister Mark Carney has pledged to reduce the number of non-permanent residents in Canada to 5 per cent of the total population by the end of 2027.
Part of that plan involves cutting the number of international student permits in half, from a target of 305,900 new arrivals for 2025 to 155,000 in 2026, and 150,000 in each of 2027 and 2028. At the same time, the federal government plans to gently increase the number of permanent residents admitted into Canada compared with its previously announced immigration plan. It anticipates admitting 395,000 new permanent residents in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027.
The finance minister, François-Philippe Champagne, recently told reporters Canada had “exceeded our capacity to welcome” and provide services to immigrants in recent years.
Robert Kavcic, an economist at Bank of Montreal wrote in a note Wednesday that a “major population adjustment is well under way and it remains one of the biggest economic stories” in Canada.
“In order to hit the non-permanent resident target share, we’ll need to see population growth run barely above zero through 2028, before settling back into a longer-term run rate of just under 1%.”
“We’ve argued all along that the explosion in population growth – to nearly 1.3 million people within a year at one point – was playing a major role in many economic issues Canadian policymakers have been struggling to deal with,” he wrote adding he’s seen a “significant weakening” of the rental market, less pressure on services inflation and growth in real gross domestic product per capita are among the potential impacts he sees as a result of the decline.
The new figures show that every province and territory reported population decreases, apart from Alberta and Nunavut, both of which had increases of 0.2%.
Alexandria, VA (December 17, 2025) ― The National Credit Union Administration today released its third quarter state-level credit union data report for 2025. Report findings indicate that for federally insured credit unions, assets increased by 2.6 percent at the median over the year ending in the third quarter of 2025. At the same time, loans outstanding grew by 0.3 percent at the median, according to the latest Quarterly U.S. Map Review.
Nationally, the median ratio of total loans outstanding to total shares and deposits — the loan-to-share ratio — was 70 percent at the end of the third quarter of 2025.
Credit union membership continued to grow in the aggregate over the year ending in the third quarter of 2025. At the median, membership declined by 0.5 percent. Credit unions with falling membership tend to be small; over half had less than $50 million in assets in the third quarter of 2025.
Countrywide, 88 percent of federally insured credit unions had positive year-to-date net income in the third quarter of 2025, compared with 85 percent in the third quarter of 2024.
The NCUA’s Quarterly U.S. Map Review tracks performance indicators for federally insured credit unions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and includes information on two important state-level economic indicators: the unemployment rate and home prices.
Farnham, Quebec, December 17, 2025 —Farnham residents will benefit from a new, modern, and accessible community centre where they can receive essential services and fully participate in the social life of their region, thanks to an investment of more than $2.3 million from the federal government.
This was announced by Louis Villeneuve, Member of Parliament for Brome—Missisquoi, and Ugo Tanguay, Chairman of the Board for the Centre d’action bénévole de Farnham.
Today’s funding will enable the renovation of the Centre d’Arts de Farnham, transforming it into a modern and accessible community centre where the Centre d’action bénévole de Farnham will hold its activities. More specifically, the project involves renovating this underutilized and energy-inefficient building, while respecting an ecological vision that prioritizes the revitalization of existing infrastructure over urban sprawl, in order to turn it into a meeting place and service centre for all citizens. These renovations will optimize the building’s energy efficiency and modernize it to better serve the needs of the local residents.
This building has long been an important cultural space for Farnham, but its current condition limited its use. Its transformation will now give it a second life as a versatile, sustainable, and accessible environment, promoting social, community, and intergenerational activities in a central and unifying location.
