Source: Channel Islands – Jersey
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Source: City of Oxford
We are pleased to announce that the bearing replacement works for the Gasworks Pipe Bridge have been successfully completed.
The bridge has been de-jacked, reconnected to the abutments, and is now open for public use. The contractor will return to the site in early January to carry out final works, including restoring the towpaths to a good condition and demobilising the site compound area.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation throughout this project.
Source: City of Liverpool
Plans to redevelop one of Britain’s most deprived areas and to build more than 10,000 new homes have been set out by Liverpool City Council.
A visionary submission for New Town status has been sent to the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government for New Town status to expand the regeneration of the northern fringe of the City through to Bootle town centre.
The new development – to be known as Liverpool North – would span 5km between Bootle and Liverpool and include Everton, Anfield and Kirkdale.
The bold proposal would see the transformation of a number of brownfield sites, which would also lay the foundations for economic growth and sustainability, encompassing Everton FC’s new £500m stadium at Bramley Moore Dock and the £20m Bootle New Strand development project.
Liverpool City Council has worked in collaboration with Sefton Council, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Homes England, and key landowners in the area to set out a 10-year vision for the area.
The partnership could see the ambitious proposals revitalise communities blighted by high deprivation, unlocking economic potential for decades to come. The plan will focus on building on unused land, repurposing old buildings while maintaining and supporting communities that already call the area home.
New Town status is a designation given to certain areas in the UK that are undergoing significant redevelopment. These areas are often characterised by a mix of old and new housing, commercial spaces and infrastructure. The goal of New Town status is to revitalise these areas and to make them more attractive places to live, work and play.
Liverpool North is strategically located with existing transport links and presents a key opportunity for large-scale urban expansion and regeneration.
Liverpool City Council is planning to accelerate housing development in the Liverpool North area through several key projects. These include:
• Goodison Legacy: working with Everton Football Club and Everton in the Community, the Council is developing plans for the area around Goodison Park, including a new strategic walking and cycling route that will unlock key housing sites (“The Toffee Trail”).
• County Road: proposals for County Road are also being developed, with a focus on linking Goodison to the new Bramley Moore Stadium.
• Anfield: The Council is working with housing associations, commercial partners and Liverpool Football Club to bring forward housing and mixed-use development in the Anfield area, including a “Red Walk” connection.
• Greatie Market: a £5 million investment in Great Homer Market is expected to stimulate increased housing development around the market.
These projects are all linked to other major developments in the area, such as Liverpool Waters, Bramley Moore Dock, Ten Streets Creative District and Pumpfields.
The Council has developed these transformational plans with the support of Everton Football Club, Everton in the Community and Liverpool Football Club, in addition to key landowners and place shapers in the area – including Torus, Riverside Group, and One Vision.
The Liverpool North corridor represents a unique opportunity to marry urban development in Liverpool with regeneration plans in Bootle, creating a strategic city fringe location. This area currently faces significant challenges, including high deprivation, economic inactivity, and poor housing quality.
The vision is to create a sustainable and attractive new community. This will be achieved through the building of high-quality housing with a significant proportion of affordable homes, investing in existing homes to improve quality and significantly improving transport infrastructure.
Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “These ambitious plans mark the beginning of an era of change and transformation for the whole Liverpool City Region. If given the go-ahead by the UK Government, Liverpool North will be a dramatic new landmark between the city centre and Bootle and provide a catalytic boost to the area.
“The revitalisation of communities across a huge area, from Bootle through Kirkdale, to Anfield and Everton, will give the whole region a massive economic boost, provide thousands of affordable homes and create new districts providing employment, leisure and educational opportunities.
“I can’t wait to see how this plan develops in the coming months and the difference it will make to our great City.”
Councillor Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “We welcome the Government’s commitment to regeneration and this would super-charge our plans to transform Bootle and south Sefton for the benefit of residents and businesses.
“We’ve already seen the impact that our work has had so far with the creation of the Salt and Tar entertainment venue along with plans to improve the Strand Shopping Centre so it becomes a modern town centre but this would take things on to another level.
“We all know too well the challenges we have with some of the housing quality in the borough so this would also see huge improvements in the housing stock while improving our links into the city centre and beyond.
“By working across the city region area there are so many opportunities for us to benefit from the significant investment on our doorstep through projects such as Everton’s new stadium and I’m excited to see how this develops.”
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Our plans for North Liverpool and South Sefton is a perfect example of how the Liverpool City Region’s bold, joined-up thinking can help deliver on the government’s national missions, including the drive to build 1.5 million new homes. We’re not just about hitting targets for the sake of it; but transforming areas that have been left behind for far too long and showing the power of regeneration to improve lives.
“Our vision aligns perfectly with what the country needs right now—thousands of high-quality, affordable homes that lay the foundations for strong, thriving communities. Working hand in hand with local councils, housing associations, and national partners, we’re proving that the Liverpool City Region is ready to lead the way again.
“This will be about much more than bricks and mortar; it’s about giving people pride in their place, creating opportunities, and showing how ambition and collaboration can deliver real change. Together, we’re not just building houses—we’re building hope, ambition, and a brighter future for our region.”
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Health Bureau today said the Government provides comprehensive and dedicated support for health and medical research projects, research infrastructure and research capacity building in Hong Kong through setting up the Health & Medical Research Fund (HMRF).
Making the statement in regard to some recent media reports on the Government’s funding support for infectious diseases-related research, the bureau emphasised that the Government has all along been highly supportive of the local health and medical sector to conduct health and medical research, including those related to infectious diseases.
The bureau noted that funding commitment to the HMRF, established in 2011, has been increased repeatedly and the approved amount has increased to $4.22 billion to support Government-commissioned programmes and investigator-initiated projects. Among them, those related to infectious diseases research amount to $1.2 billion.
Such projects involved six commissioned programmes on infectious diseases with approved funding of $792 million, covering COVID-19, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), influenza, avian flu, swine flu and other respiratory infectious diseases, human papilloma virus and anti-microbial resistance research.
The above-mentioned commissioned programmes include a total of $556 million since April 2020 to support 105 individual COVID-19 related research studies from bench to bedside and at the community level through application of new technologies.
These studies provide new evidence to support the Government to promptly tackle the COVID-19 epidemic by formulating health policies, identifying the transmission chains, implementing control measures, improving clinical management as well as developing and promoting the vaccination programme.
One of the research projects successfully developed the sewage testing approach for quantitative detection of SARS-CoV-2, providing an important indicator for the Government to keep track of virus activity in the community during the COVID-19 epidemic.
For investigator-initiated projects, infectious disease has always been one of the thematic priorities. As of end September 2024, a total of about 400 research studies have been funded amounting to $424 million.
Such studies covered the prevention, detection, diagnosis and management of various infectious diseases, such as the hepatitis virus, tuberculosis, AIDS, and those related to preparedness and response to a pandemic and epidemic.
The Government encourages researchers to continue to leverage the HMRF to amplify the value of their research projects into full play and usher in considerable and sustainable positive impacts on health policy making and implementation with their research outcomes and to unleash new quality productive forces.
On combating infectious diseases, the Government will continue to support the health and medical sector in conducting related research in order to enhance the capacity in surveillance, early detection, prevention and control.
Source: US Department of Veterans Affairs
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WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it is beginning early-stage planning to deploy the Federal Electronic Health Record (EHR) system to four Michigan facilities — Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Detroit, and Saginaw — in mid-2026.
This decision comes after VA made critical improvements to the EHR system during a pause in deployments announced in April 2023, which has helped the system better serve Veterans and clinicians — and resulted in improved Veteran trust at all sites that use the EHR. These improvement efforts will continue unabated while VA begins early-stage deployment efforts in Michigan.
“We paused deployments of the EHR for more than a year and a half to listen to Veterans and clinicians, understand the issues, and make improvements to the system,” said VA Deputy Secretary Tanya Bradsher. “As a result of those efforts, Veteran trust and system performance have improved across the board. Now, we’re ready to begin planning for new deployments in 2026 — while continuing to improve at all existing sites.”
“VA is ready to begin planning for the next Federal EHR deployments in 2026, while at the same time remaining committed to the continuous improvement efforts that have been our focus for the past 18 months,” said Acting Program Executive Director of the EHRM Integration Office Dr. Neil Evans,. “We’re going to keep listening to and learning from Veterans and VA staff every step of the way.”
During the Reset period, VA paused future deployment activities to focus entirely on improving the Federal EHR at sites where it is currently in use. Throughout this process, VA has listened to Veterans and VA staff, taken steps to understand the issues, updated contracts to better hold Oracle Health accountable, made hundreds of improvements to the system, and instituted a simpler and more effective process to address concerns when they arise. As a result of these efforts, the EHR has improved significantly for Veterans and clinicians, including:
VA will kick off pre-deployment activities in the coming weeks. Given the time it will take to prepare to activate the Federal EHR, these facilities are expected to go live with the system in mid-2026.
For more information about VA’s overall EHR modernization effort, visit https://www.ehrm.va.gov/.
Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.
Contact us online through Ask VA
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VA released the National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report — the most comprehensive national report on Veteran suicide, analyzing Veteran suicide from 2001-2022.
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Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Defendant Rostislav Panev in Custody Pending Extradition from Israel to the United States
NEWARK, N.J. – A superseding criminal complaint filed in the District of New Jersey was unsealed today charging a dual Russian and Israeli national for being a developer of the LockBit ransomware group, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
In August, Rostislav Panev, 51, a dual Russian and Israeli national, was arrested in Israel pursuant to a U.S. provisional arrest request with a view towards extradition to the United States. Panev is currently in custody in Israel pending extradition on the charges lodged in the superseding complaint.
“As alleged by the complaint, Rostislav Panev for years built and maintained the digital weapons that enabled his LockBit coconspirators to wreak havoc and cause billions of dollars in damage around the world. But just like the six other LockBit members previously identified and charged by this office and our FBI and Criminal Division partners, Panev could not remain anonymous and avoid justice indefinitely. He must now answer for his crimes. Today’s announcement represents another blow struck by the United States and our international partners against the LockBit organization, and our efforts will continue relentlessly until the group is fully dismantled and its members brought to justice.”
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger
“The Justice Department’s work going after the world’s most dangerous ransomware schemes includes not only dismantling networks, but also finding and bringing to justice the individuals responsible for building and running them,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Three of the individuals who we allege are responsible for LockBit’s cyberattacks against thousands of victims are now in custody, and we will continue to work alongside our partners to hold accountable all those who lead and enable ransomware attacks.”
“The arrest of Mr. Panev reflects the Department’s commitment to using all its tools to combat the ransomware threat,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “We started this year with a coordinated international disruption of LockBit — the most damaging ransomware group in the world. Fast forward to today and three LockBit actors are in custody thanks to the diligence of our investigators and our strong partnerships around the world. This case is a model for ransomware investigations in the years to come.”
“The arrest of alleged developer Rostislav Panev is part of the FBI’s ongoing efforts to disrupt and dismantle the LockBit ransomware group, one of the most prolific ransomware variants across the globe,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The LockBit group has targeted both public and private sector victims around the world, including schools, hospitals, and critical infrastructure, as well as small businesses and multi-national corporations. No matter how hidden or advanced the threat, the FBI remains committed to working with our interagency partners to safeguard the cyber ecosystem and hold accountable those who are responsible for these criminal activities.”
“The criminal complaint alleges that Rotislav Panev developed malware and maintained the infrastructure for LockBit, which was once the world’s most destructive ransomware group and attacked thousands of victims, causing billions of dollars in damage,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Along with our domestic and international law enforcement partner actions to dismantle LockBit’s infrastructure, the Criminal Division has disrupted LockBit’s operations by charging seven of its key members (including affiliates, developers, and its administrator) and arresting three of these defendants — including Panev. We are especially grateful for our partnerships with authorities in Europol, the United Kingdom, France, and Israel, which show that, when likeminded countries work together, cybercriminals will find it harder to escape justice.”
“For five years, Panev helped to grow LockBit into a ransomware machine of deception and extortion,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado of the FBI Newark Field Office. “His reach was far and wide but FBI Newark and our international law enforcement partners were able to disrupt his reign. Panev’s arrest marks a victory against these conspirators, and is a step towards upholding justice and neutralizing these criminals.”
According to the superseding complaint, documents filed in this and related cases, and statements made in court, Panev acted as a developer of the LockBit ransomware group from its inception in or around 2019 through at least February 2024. During that time, Panev and his LockBit coconspirators grew LockBit into what was, at times, the most active and destructive ransomware group in the world. The LockBit group attacked more than 2,500 victims in at least 120 countries around the world, including 1,800 in the United States. Their victims ranged from individuals and small businesses to multinational corporations, including hospitals, schools, nonprofit organizations, critical infrastructure, and government and law-enforcement agencies. LockBit’s members extracted at least $500 million in ransom payments from their victims and caused billions of dollars in other losses, including lost revenue and costs from incident response and recovery.
LockBit’s members comprised “developers,” like Panev, who designed the LockBit malware code and maintained the infrastructure on which LockBit operated. LockBit’s other members, called “affiliates,” carried out LockBit attacks and extorted ransom payments from LockBit victims. LockBit’s developers and affiliates would then split ransom payments extorted from victims.
As alleged in the superseding complaint, at the time of Panev’s arrest in Israel in August, law enforcement discovered on Panev’s computer administrator credentials for an online repository that was hosted on the dark web and stored source code for multiple versions of the LockBit builder, which allowed LockBit’s affiliates to generate custom builds of the LockBit ransomware malware for particular victims. On that repository, law enforcement also discovered source code for LockBit’s StealBit tool, which helped LockBit affiliates exfiltrate data stolen through LockBit attacks. Law enforcement also discovered access credentials for the LockBit control panel, an online dashboard maintained by LockBit developers for LockBit’s affiliates and hosted by those developers on the dark web.
The superseding complaint also alleges that Panev exchanged direct messages through a cybercriminal forum with LockBit’s primary administrator, who, in an indictment unsealed in the District of New Jersey in May, the United States alleged to be Dimitry Yuryevich Khoroshev (Дмитрий Юрьевич Хорошев), also known as LockBitSupp, LockBit, and putinkrab. In those messages, Panev and the LockBit primary administrator discussed work that needed to be done on the LockBit builder and control panel.
Court documents further indicate that, between June 2022 and February 2024, the primary LockBit administrator made a series of transfers of cryptocurrency, laundered through one or more illicit cryptocurrency mixing services, of approximately $10,000 per month to a cryptocurrency wallet owned by Panev. Those transfers amounted to over $230,000 during that period.
In interviews with Israeli authorities following his arrest in August, Panev admitted to having performed coding, development, and consulting work for the LockBit group and to having received regular payments in cryptocurrency for that work, consistent with the transfers identified by U.S. authorities. Among the work that Panev admitted to having completed for the LockBit group was the development of code to disable antivirus software; to deploy malware to multiple computers connected to a victim network; and to print the LockBit ransom note to all printers connected to a victim network. Panev also admitted to having written and maintained LockBit malware code and to having provided technical guidance to the LockBit group.
The LockBit Investigation
The superseding complaint against, and apprehension of, Panev follows a disruption of LockBit ransomware in February by the U.K. National Crime Agency (NCA)’s Cyber Division, which worked in cooperation with the Justice Department, FBI, and other international law enforcement partners. As previously announced by the Department, authorities disrupted LockBit by seizing numerous public-facing websites used by LockBit to connect to the organization’s infrastructure and by seizing control of servers used by LockBit administrators, thereby disrupting the ability of LockBit actors to attack and encrypt networks and extort victims by threatening to publish stolen data. That disruption succeeded in greatly diminishing LockBit’s reputation and its ability to attack further victims, as alleged by documents filed in this case.
The superseding complaint against Panev also follows charges brought in the District of New Jersey against other LockBit members, including its alleged primary creator, developer, and administrator, Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev. An indictment against Khoroshev unsealed in May alleges that Khoroshev began developing LockBit as early as September 2019, continued acting as the group’s administrator through 2024, a role in which Khoroshev recruited new affiliate members, spoke for the group publicly under the alias “LockBitSupp,” and developed and maintained the infrastructure used by affiliates to deploy LockBit attacks. Khoroshev is currently the subject of a reward of up to $10 million through the U.S. Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) Rewards Program, with information accepted through the FBI tip website at www.tips.fbi.gov/.
A total of seven LockBit members have now been charged in the District of New Jersey. Beyond Panev and Khoroshev, other previously charged LockBit defendants include:
The U.S. Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) Rewards Program is offering rewards of:
Information is accepted through the FBI tip website at tips.fbi.gov.
Khoroshev, Matveev, Sungatov, and Kondratyev have also been designated for sanctions by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control for their roles in launching cyberattacks.
Victim Assistance
LockBit victims are encouraged to contact the FBI and submit information at www.ic3.gov. As announced by the Department in February, law enforcement, through its disruption efforts, has developed decryption capabilities that may enable hundreds of victims around the world to restore systems encrypted using the LockBit ransomware variant. Submitting information at the IC3 site will enable law enforcement to determine whether affected systems can be successfully decrypted.
LockBit victims are also encouraged to visit www.justice.gov/usao-nj/lockbit for case updates and information regarding their rights under U.S. law, including the right to submit victim impact statements and request restitution, in the criminal litigation against Panev, Astamirov, and Vasiliev.
The FBI Newark Field Office, under the supervision of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado, is investigating the LockBit ransomware variant. Israel’s Office of the State Attorney, Department of International Affairs, and Israel National Police; France’s Gendarmerie Nationale Cyberspace Command, Paris Prosecution Office — Cyber Division, and judicial authorities at the Tribunal Judiciare of Paris; Europol; Eurojust; the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency; Germany’s Landeskriminalamt Schleswig-Holstein, Bundeskriminalamt, and the Central Cybercrime Department North Rhine-Westphalia; Switzerland’s Federal Office of Justice, Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Canton of Zurich, and Zurich Cantonal Police; Spain’s Policia Nacional and Guardia Civil; Japan’s National Police Agency; Australian Federal Police; Sweden’s Polismyndighetens; Canada’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police; Politie Dienst Regionale Recherche Oost-Brabant of the Netherlands; and Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation have provided significant assistance and coordination in these matters and in the LockBit investigation generally.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew M. Trombly, David E. Malagold, and Vinay Limbachia for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorneys Debra Ireland and Jorge Gonzalez of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) are prosecuting the charges against Panev and the other previously charged LockBit defendants in the District of New Jersey.
The Justice Department’s Cybercrime Liaison Prosecutor to Eurojust, Office of International Affairs, and National Security Division also provided significant assistance.
Additional details on protecting networks against LockBit ransomware are available at StopRansomware.gov. These include Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Advisories AA23-325A, AA23-165A, and AA23-075A.
The charges and allegations contained in the superseding complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defense counsel: Frank Arleo, Esq.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
HARRISBURG, PA —The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Dr. Donald J. Dinello, D.M.D., with practice locations in Harrisburg and Hershey, has agreed to pay the United States $120,000 in civil penalties for allegedly failing to comply with recordkeeping and other requirements of the Controlled Substances Act.
The Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. sections 801 et seq. (CSA), was passed to combat illegal distribution and abuse of controlled substances, including prescription medications. The CSA’s recordkeeping and prescribing requirements are to prevent the diversion of controlled substances for illegal purposes. The CSA is enforced by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Diversion Control Division, whose mission is to prevent, detect, and investigate the diversion of controlled pharmaceuticals and listed chemicals from legitimate sources while ensuring adequate and uninterrupted supply for legitimate medical, commercial, and scientific needs. Under the CSA, entities registered with the DEA who purchase, distribute, dispense, transfer, or sell controlled substances must comply with prescription, inventory, and other documentation requirements. Regulations promulgated under the CSA require that each DEA registrant, including registered practitioners, maintain complete and accurate records of each substance manufactured, received, sold, delivered, dispensed, or otherwise disposed of by the registrant. These requirements play a vital role in ensuring the appropriate handling, accounting, and distribution of controlled substances. Violations of the record-keeping and prescription requirements subject DEA registrants to civil monetary penalties.
According to the allegations, between January of 2023 and August of 2024, Dr. Dinello failed to use the required DEA form 222 for each distribution of a Schedule II Controlled Substance, failed to maintain complete and accurate records of controlled substances dispensed by him at both his registered locations, failed to maintain biennial inventory at both his registered locations, and in one instance, failed to issue a prescription for a Schedule IV controlled substance in the usual course of his professional practice. Dr. Dinello acknowledges he is required to operate in accordance with the statutory and regulatory provisions of the CSA and its implementing regulations.
“Practitioners who register with DEA in order to prescribe and dispense medications that fall under the Controlled Substances Act have an obligation to prescribe appropriately and keep careful records and inventories,” said U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam. “Not fulfilling those obligations makes it difficult or even impossible to be sure those potentially dangerous medications are being dispensed and handled appropriately and are not being diverted. The pursuit of this matter illustrates the continued dedication of our office to protecting the public in MDPA.”
“The goal of DEA’s closed system of distribution is to ensure accountability for controlled substances and physicians who fail to maintain proper records of controlled substances create conditions ripe for diversion” said Thomas Hodnett, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Philadelphia Field Division. “The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates its emphasis on combating diversion of controlled substances. The record keeping and other regulations applicable to DEA registrants, including physicians, are the tools by which the DEA deters drug diversion.”
The Settlement Agreement is neither an admission of liability by Dr. Dinello nor a concession by the United States that its claims are not well founded.
The case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration’s Diversion Control Division. The investigation was handled by Assistant United States Attorney, Tamara J. Haken and the Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE) Unit within the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
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Source: Office of United States Attorneys
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Christopher R. Kavanaugh announced today that he will step down as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, resigning from the Department of Justice, effective Friday, December 20, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. after serving more than three years in office.
“Four years ago, Chris Kavanaugh was one of the first people I brought in to join the Office of the Deputy Attorney General because of his experience within the Department and his leadership on national security issues,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Throughout his distinguished career – at Main Justice, as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia and the Western District of Virginia, and as United States Attorney – Chris has served the Department and his fellow Virginians with integrity and tenacity. I am grateful for his service.”
Mr. Kavanaugh was sworn in by Deputy Attorney General Monaco on October 7, 2021, after having been unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate. Mr. Kavanaugh was later appointed to be a member of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, a group that advises the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General on emerging policy issues facing the Department and the United States Attorney community. Mr. Kavanaugh also chaired the AGAC’s National Security Subcommittee, which supported the Department’s enhanced focus on investigations and prosecutions of malign foreign influence and nation state threats.
“Chris Kavanaugh has been an incredible partner for ATF and a national leader in the fight against violent crime. He has worked side-by-side with law enforcement to bring impactful cases, prosecute dangerous criminals, and lead in the innovative use of Crime Gun Intelligence to make Virginia, and this Nation, safer,” said Steven M. Dettelbach, Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
During his tenure, Mr. Kavanaugh led the U.S. Attorney’s Office through a transitional period, expanding its footprint, hiring a record number of federal prosecutors and staff, and spearheading ground-breaking criminal and affirmative civil enforcements.
“Every day, the public servants of United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia work to make the District – and our Nation – a safer and better place for us all,” United States Attorney Kavanaugh said today. “It has been the honor of my life to lead this team of selfless individuals who are so dedicated to fairness, the rule of law, and doing what is right. I know that WDVA will continue to make an outsized impact as citizens of the Justice Department, and I look forward to its future.
I thank President Biden for nominating me, Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine for their recommendation, and Attorney General Garland and Deputy Attorney General Monaco for leading the Department and supporting the United States Attorney community during my tenure. It has been an honor to serve the American people.”
Under Mr. Kavanaugh’s leadership, the Western District of Virginia has achieved notable successes in numerous complex criminal and civil cases. For example:
United States v. McKinsey & Company
For the first time ever, a management consulting firm was held criminally responsible for advice resulting in the commission of a crime by a client, Purdue Pharma, the makers of OxyContin. McKinsey & Company agreed to pay $650 million to resolve criminal and civil investigations into the firm’s consulting work, including a 2013 engagement with Purdue Pharma which McKinsey advised on steps to ‘turbocharge’ sales of OxyContin. A former senior partner at McKinsey & Company also agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of obstruction of justice for deleting Purdue related documents in an attempt to obstruct future investigations.
United States v. Envigo
In 2024, the Western District of Virginia obtained criminal convictions of Envigo, a biotechnology company dedicated to breeding animals for medical research with locations throughout North America. WDVA’s investigation revealed that Envigo was mistreating animals in violation of the Animal Welfare Act and polluting waterways in violation of the Clean Water Act. After a federal search warrant was executed, the Justice Department secured the surrender of over 4,000 beagles from an Envigo facility in Cumberland, Virginia. Envigo pled guilty to violating the Animal Welfare Act and the Clean Water Act, agreeing to pay more than $35 million in criminal penalties and fines – a record for any prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act.
The Killing of Big Stone Gap Police Officer Michael Chandler
Tragedy struck the small town of Big Stone Gap, Virginia in the early morning hours of November 13, 2021, when Big Stone Gap Police Officer Michael Chandler was murdered while responding to a disturbance call. The United States Attorney’s Office for WDVA brought federal charges against not only the person who shot and killed Chandler, Michael Donivan White, but also 18 other defendants who were a part of a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy. Over the last few years, every single defendant has been convicted. White is scheduled to be sentenced in February 2025 and faces between 40- and 100-years’ incarceration.
The Bribery Trial of Sheriff Scott Jenkins
This week, a federal jury in the Charlottesville Division of WDVA returned guilty verdicts on all counts against former Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins. Jenkins had accepted numerous cash bribes and bribes in the form of campaign contributions from at least eight different people – one of whom he believed to be a felon – in exchange for appointing them as Auxiliary Deputy Sheriffs. A jury found Jenkins guilty of bribery, honest services fraud, and conspiracy after a trial and he will be sentenced in March 2025.
District Transformation
In addition to the case work victories, under Mr. Kavanaugh’s leadership, the U.S Attorney’s Office itself has transformed. Offices in Abingdon and Charlottesville have expanded, and the Office was awarded a nearly 20% increase in Assistant United States Attorneys, expanding the level of federal prosecutors to their highest levels in history. In a challenging budget climate, Mr. Kavanaugh has also made strides to modernize the Office’s capabilities to process voluminous amounts of documents for its more sophisticated prosecutions.
“On behalf of FBI Richmond, I sincerely thank Chris Kavanaugh for his service as U.S. Attorney. His unwavering commitment to justice and his exceptional partnership have been instrumental in advancing our shared mission of keeping Virginia safe. Chris’ leadership and collaboration have made a profound impact, and we deeply appreciate his dedication to ensuring the rule of law prevails,” said Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Richmond Division.
“U.S. Attorney Kavanaugh’s leadership and vision have been instrumental in our initiatives to safeguard the health and safety of the citizens of Western Virginia. His determination in developing effective judicial strategies have contributed to the dismantling of many drug-trafficking networks and significantly mitigating this threat to our communities. We extend our best wishes to him in his future endeavors,” said Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division.
Prior to his time as United States Attorney, Mr. Kavanaugh was an Assistant United States Attorney for 14 years, having served in United States Attorney’s Offices for both the Western District of Virginia and the District of Columbia. During his career, Mr. Kavanaugh directed numerous multi-agency investigations and prosecutions, with a focus on national security, white-collar crime, civil rights, and violent crimes involving racketeering and homicides. In WDVA, he served as the District’s chief national security prosecutor and Senior Litigation Counsel. Among other matters, he led the Department’s investigations and prosecutions into the Unite the Right riots of August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Just prior to his confirmation, Mr. Kavanaugh was Senior Counsel to Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Xiomara Christian, age 37, of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, was sentenced yesterday to 33 months of incarceration following her guilty plea to conspiracy to commit money laundering.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement.
As part of her guilty plea on October 10, 2024, Christian admitted that from May 2017 to November 2018, she and a co-conspirator laundered drug proceeds from Europe and Australia through bank accounts in the Northern District of New York, intending to conceal the true source of the proceeds, and to make it appear as though the money was legally obtained through legitimate business transactions.
On October 4, 2018, Christian delivered €101,950 ($114,816.09) in drug proceeds to an undercover agent with the National Police of The Netherlands in The Netherlands. On October 5, 2018, an undercover agent with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission picked up $85,000 AUD ($57,843 USD) in drug proceeds from another co-conspirator in Melbourne, Australia. Christian then had the money wired through a bank account in Latham, New York, and sent to bank accounts in Panama.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn also ordered the entry of a money judgment against Christian in the amount of $172,659. Christian faces removal from the United States following service of her term of imprisonment.
The DEA investigated this case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Collyer prosecuted the case.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced today to 11 years and 7 months in federal prison for distributing and possessing child pornography.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, and Special Agent in Charge Robert Holman of the United States Secret Service made the announcement.
“I commend the Secret Service and the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office for their continuing work and partnership in combatting child exploitation throughout the Commonwealth,” said U.S. Attorney Bennett. Federal and state cooperation is crucial to the successful prosecution of those who harm our most vulnerable citizens.”
“Kentucky’s kids will be safer with this predator behind bars,” said Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman. “I’m grateful for the zealous collaboration with our partners at the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to demonstrate once again the serious consequences for the exploitation of our children.”
Douglas Huelsman, 45, was sentenced to 11 years and 7 months in federal prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release, for one count of distribution and one count of possession of child pornography. According to court documents, Huelsman used an online messaging application to distribute and receive images and videos of child sexual abuse material.
Huelsman was also ordered to pay $36,000 in restitution to multiple victims in the case.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations and the United States Secret Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Zimdahl prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
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Source: United States Marine Corps
WASHINGTON, D.C. —
The Marine Corps announces the passing of the 21st Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Thomas R. Morgan on December 6, 2024.
General Morgan passed away peacefully in Fairfax Station, Virginia, after a distinguished career in the Marine Corps and a life dedicated to service.
“General Morgan was a steadfast leader and a true embodiment of the Marine Corps ethos,” said Gen. Eric Smith, the 39th Commandant of the Marine Corps. “His legacy will live on through his impact on our Corps. We offer our condolences to his loved ones and will be forever appreciative of his service to our nation.”
General Morgan was born on January 6, 1930, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Colgate University in 1952, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps and embarked on a distinguished military career that spanned over 36 years. General Morgan served in various key leadership positions, culminating in his role as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from June 1986 until his retirement on July 1, 1988.
Throughout his career, General Morgan made lasting contributions to the Marine Corps, including his leadership in multiple overseas assignments, his influence on aviation operations, and his strategic foresight in military planning. His service took him to locations around the world, including the Western Pacific, Vietnam, Europe, and Korea, and he was integral in shaping Marine Corps operations and doctrine.
Upon retirement, General Morgan remained deeply involved with the military community and his family, with a strong commitment to supporting veterans and military organizations. His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star Medal, among others.
His full biography is located here: Gen. Thomas R. Morgan. His full obituary can be found at Dignity Memorial.
Media seeking additional information should contact the U.S. Marine Corps Communication Directorate at OnTheRecord@usmc.mil.
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Source: United States Attorneys General 6
Defendant Allegedly Orchestrated the Nov. 7, 2022, Murder of Stephen Troell, a U.S. Citizen Living in Iraq, in Retaliation for the January 2020 Death of Qasem Soleimani
Note: View the unsealed complaint here.
A complaint was unsealed today charging Mohammad Reza Nouri, 36, of Iran, also known as Muhammad Rida Husayn, Ali Asghar Nuri, and Abu Abbas, an Iranian national and officer in the IRGC, in connection with Nouri’s alleged role in orchestrating the Nov. 7, 2022, murder of American Stephen Troell in Baghdad, Iraq. Nouri was arrested in Iraq in March 2023.
“The Department of Justice will not tolerate terrorists and authoritarian regimes targeting and murdering Americans anywhere in the world,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We allege that Mohammad Reza Nouri, an officer in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, orchestrated the murder of Stephen Troell, an American citizen living in Iraq, carrying out the Iranian Regime’s efforts to take vengeance for the death of Qasim Soleimani. Stephen should still be alive today, and the Justice Department will work relentlessly to ensure accountability for his murder.”
“The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps remains determined to target U.S. citizens, and orchestrated a cold-blooded plot to brutally murder Stephen Troell, a Tennessee native working at an English language institute in Iraq,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “According to the allegations, Mohammad Reza Nouri, an IRGC captain, played a key role in planning the attack in which Troell was ambushed as he drove home from work with his wife. Today’s announcement makes clear that the FBI and our partners will not tolerate the IRGC’s ruthless attacks on Americans, here in the United States or overseas, and will hold accountable any who seek to harm our citizens.”
“As alleged, Mohammad Reza Nouri, a Captain in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, orchestrated the murder of American Steven Troell in Iraq,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Kim for the Southern District of New York. “Nouri is alleged to have gathered intelligence on Troell’s daily routine and whereabouts, procured weapons and vehicles, and provided safe harbor to the operatives who carried out the sinister plot to brutally attack Troell in front of his wife. As alleged, the Iranian regime is actively targeting U.S. citizens, such as Troell, living in countries around the world for kidnapping and execution both to repress and silence dissidents critical of the regime and to take vengeance for the death of Qasem Soleimani. This office will not stand by when an American is attacked and murdered in cold blood, and we will continue working with our law enforcement partners to bring Nouri to justice.”
“As alleged in the complaint, Nouri facilitated Troell’s murder. He gathered information and coordinated with a co-conspirator to procure supplies that operatives relied on during their attack on Troell,” said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring IRGC operatives, including Nouri’s co-conspirator, to justice for harming Americans.”
According to court documents, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran) is actively targeting nationals of the United States and its allies living in countries around the world for kidnapping and/or execution both to repress and silence dissidents critical of the Iranian regime and to take vengeance for the January 2020 death of then-Commander of the IRGC-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), Qasem Soleimani, who was killed by a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad. The IRGC is an Iranian military and counterintelligence agency under the authority of Iran’s Supreme Leader, comprised of components including an external operations force, the IRGC-QF, and has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. Secretary of State since April 15, 2019. The IRGC has publicly stated its desire to avenge the death of Soleimani, and, among its activities, the IRGC plots and conducts attack operations outside Iran targeting U.S. citizens residing in the United States and abroad. In November 2022, the Iranian regime struck in Iraq: a group of operatives working on behalf of the IRGC brutally murdered Stephen Troell, a 45-year-old American living in Baghdad, where he worked at an English language institute, as Troell was driving home with his wife after work.
Nouri is an IRGC Captain who works for the IRGC in Iraq and is involved in the IRGC’s external attack plotting against U.S. citizens and others. Nouri played a key role in the IRGC’s targeting and ultimate murder of Troell, whom Nouri appears to have believed was working as an American or Israeli intelligence officer. Nouri, on behalf of the IRGC, collected critical, highly personal information about Troell to facilitate stalking, attacking, and ultimately killing Troell. Nouri, with the assistance of co-conspirators, developed a source with access to details of Troell’s life and daily routine. With this information, Nouri created intelligence documents for his IRGC associates and a group of operatives recruited to execute the attack, which included Troell’s date of birth, coordinates of his residence, occupation, work schedule, telephone number, wife’s name, and children’s names, among other information. In the weeks leading up to the murder, Nouri coordinated with one of his co-conspirators (CC-1) in the plot targeting Troell to procure some of the means for attacking Troell, including firearms as well as a vehicle for use in the lethal attack on Troell. On the evening of Nov. 7, 2022, the group of recruited operatives carried out the attack. Troell was driving home from work with his wife when heavily armed gunmen in two cars forced the Troells to stop shortly before they reached their residence, blocked any possible escape route, approached Troell on the driver’s side, and, using an assault weapon, shot and killed Troell as his wife witnessed the attack in the passenger seat.
On the day of the murder, Nouri coordinated with CC-1 shortly before and immediately after the attack. Nouri and CC-1 spoke repeatedly in the hours leading up to the attack. Less than a half hour after the attack, Nouri sent CC-1 encrypted messages inquiring about the wellbeing of the operatives tasked with carrying out the hit on Troell, asking, “The guys are fine?” and “They are doing well?” to which CC-1 responded, “One is injured.” As the night went on, CC-1 continued to update Nouri, noting that “two so far” of the operatives on the hit squad — whom Nouri referred to as “our guys” — had gathered safely since the murder, that “the rest are on the way,” and that the injury sustained by one of their confederates was “slight.” In the course of these encrypted messages, Nouri and CC-1 celebrated the events of the day and their success. That night, after the murder, Nouri left Iraq for Iran. Shortly before departing Baghdad, Nouri visited a religious site associated with mourning for Soleimani’s death.
Following the murder, approximately nine of the operatives on the hit squad also left Iraq and entered Iran, where they joined Nouri. In Iran, Nouri arranged housing for the operatives, providing them safe harbor in the aftermath of the murder. Nouri and another IRGC official addressed the operatives during their stay in Iran, offered their blessings to the hit squad, and told them that Troell was purportedly a spy on behalf of America and Israel, that Troell threatened Islam by attracting Iraqi youths to the Jewish religion and spreading it in Iraq, and that Troell therefore deserved to be murdered.
In March 2023, Iraqi authorities arrested Nouri, and he was subsequently convicted by an Iraqi court for his role in Troell’s murder. Nouri remains in custody in Iraq.
Nouri has been charged with conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization resulting in death, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison; providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization resulting in death, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison; conspiring to provide material support for acts of terrorism resulting in death, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison; providing material support for acts of terrorism resulting in death, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison; conspiring to take hostages, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison; conspiring to murder U.S. nationals outside the United States, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison; murdering a U.S. national outside the United States, and faces a maximum penalty of death or life in prison; and causing death through the use of a firearm, and faces a maximum penalty of death or life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Washington Field Office’s Counterterrorism Division is investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs; Justice Department’s Attaché in Iraq; FBI Legal Attaché office in Iraq; Iraqi authorities; and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia provided valuable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob H. Gutwillig, Matthew J.C. Hellman, and Kyle A. Wirshba for the Southern District of New York and Trial Attorneys Joshua Champagne and Timothy J. Reardon III of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Vancouver, Canada, Dec. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Paytora, an all-in-one digital banking platform that aims to revolutionize how users manage their funds, has introduced more flexible financial tools. The ambitious project partnered with leading financial providers to enable seamless conversion of crypto to fiat currencies (EUR or USD), giving users immediate access to funds with integrated card services.
Crypto-to-fiat transactions have a reduced adoption rate for generally the same reasons, regardless of service providers. They require users to have separate crypto wallets and often take precious time to process. Paytora seeks to solve these issues by allowing users to make instant conversions from USDT to EUR or USD without the need for another crypto wallet. It also lets them utilize the funds immediately for withdrawals and international transfers.
Each Paytora user receives a personal European IBAN account under their name. The account comes with full banking functionality similar to traditional bank accounts but with enhanced financial management options. Users can instantly access funds via virtual or physical MasterCard-branded cards and use them globally.
The Paytora app supports fast and easy international transfers with zero fees and real-time rates for any currency. Users can choose to link bank accounts, debit/credit cards, or digital accounts to send money to anyone, even if the receiving party doesn’t have the app. Peer-to-peer money transfers between Paytora users are instant. Additional options for quick P2P transfers include splitting bills and sending gifts.
Users can also opt for a physical LifeUp card, which they can use anywhere and anytime for instant transactions with minimal fees. For example, transactions of up to 25 EUR incur zero fees, while exchange fees reach only 2%. Users can also connect these cards to Apple Pay, Google Pay, or MasterCard for seamless transactions and SEPA or SWIFT transfers. The cards feature high-security encryption and contactless technology that keep the users’ assets safe regardless of where they use them.
Paytora delivers a unique outlook on financial management, hassle-free onboarding, and a user-friendly experience. Obtaining a Paytora account takes less than a minute, allowing users to gain swift access to the platform and deposit funds immediately. The app requires passing a one-time KYC process that ensures compliance and unmatched security. Additionally, Paytora uses advanced encryption and abides by strict regulatory standards, including AML (Anti-Money Laundering), to guarantee optimal protection for the user’s funds and data.
The Paytora app has a user-centric design, displaying a friendly layout and quick navigation features. The platform caters to all individuals looking for seamless USDT and fiat transactions, regardless of technical expertise. To this end, deposits are readily available via bank transfers, PayPal, credit/debit cards, and cryptocurrency transfers. Lastly, Paytora provides excellent customer support, which is available 24/7. The platform also employs a consumer education policy, ensuring users understand the products, services, and associated risks. This approach aligns with the project’s mission to promote financial literacy, transparency, and trust.
About Paytora
Paytora proposes a simpler, more accessible financial oversight. Users only require a personal European IBAN and a digital wallet. The platform provides a user-friendly, easy-to-navigate dashboard for quick deposits, withdrawals, and efficient financial management. Furthermore, Paytora integrates virtual and physical MasterCard-branded cards for instant global transactions and crypto-to-fiat conversions.
Paytora is available in the Apple Store and on Google Play.
You can visit Paytora at its official website or follow the platform on its dedicated social media channels: X (Twitter) |LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook
Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Rachel Blaser, Professor of Neuroscience, Cognition and Behavior, University of San Diego
We named him Squirt – not because he was the smallest of the 16 cuttlefish in the pool, but because anyone with the audacity to scoop him into a separate tank to study him was likely to get soaked. Squirt had notoriously accurate aim.
As a comparative psychologist, I’m used to assaults from my experimental subjects. I’ve been stung by bees, pinched by crayfish and battered by indignant pigeons. But, somehow, with Squirt it felt different. As he eyed us with his W-shaped pupils, he seemed clearly to be plotting against us.
Of course, I’m being anthropomorphic. Science does not yet have the tools to confirm whether cuttlefish have emotional states, or whether they are capable of conscious experience, much less sinister plots. But there’s undeniably something special about cephalopods – the class of ocean-dwelling invertebrates that includes cuttlefish, squid and octopus.
As researchers learn more about cehpalopods’ cognitive skills, there are calls to treat them in ways better aligned with their level of intelligence. California and Washington state both approved bans on octopus farming in 2024. Hawaii is considering similar action, and a ban on farming octopus or importing farmed octopus meat has been introduced in Congress. A planned octopus farm in Spain’s Canary Islands is attracting opposition from scientists and animal welfare advocates.
Critics offer many arguments against raising octopuses for food, including possible releases of waste, antibiotics or pathogens from aquaculture facilities. But as a psychologist, I see intelligence as the most intriguing part of the equation. Just how smart are cephalopods, really? After all, it’s legal to farm chickens and cows. Is an octopus smarter than, say, a turkey?
Cephalopods are a broad class of mollusks that includes the coleoids – cuttlefish, octopus and squid – as well as the chambered nautilus. Coleoids range in size from adult squid only a few millimeters long (Idiosepius) to the largest living invertebrates, the giant squid (Architeuthis) and colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis) which can grow to over 40 feet in length and weigh over 1,000 pounds.
Some of these species live alone in the nearly featureless darkness of the deep ocean; others live socially on active, sunny coral reefs. Many are skilled hunters, but some feed passively on floating debris. Because of this enormous diversity, the size and complexity of cephalopod brains and behaviors also varies tremendously.
Almost everything that’s known about cephalopod cognition comes from intensive study of just a few species. When considering the welfare of a designated species of captive octopus, it’s important to be careful about using data collected from a distant evolutionary relative.
Intelligence is fiendishly hard to define and measure, even in humans. The challenge grows exponentially in studying animals with sensory, motivational and problem-solving skills that differ profoundly from ours.
Historically, researchers have tended to focus on whether animals think like humans, ignoring the abilities that animals may have that humans lack. To avoid this problem, scientists have tried to find more objective measures of cognitive abilities.
One option is a relative measure of brain to body size. The best-studied species of octopus, Octopus vulgaris, has about 500 million neurons; that’s relatively large for its small body size and similar to a starling, rabbit or turkey.
More accurate measures may include the size, neuron count or surface area of specific brain structures thought to be important for learning. While this is useful in mammals, the nervous system of an octopus is built completely differently.
Over half of the neurons in Octopus vulgaris, about 300 million, are not in the brain at all, but distributed in “mini-brains,” or ganglia, in the arms. Within the central brain, most of the remaining neurons are dedicated to visual processing, leaving less than a quarter of its neurons for other processes such as learning and memory.
In other species of octopus, the general structure is similar, but complexity varies. Wrinkles and folds in the brain increase its surface area and may enhance neural connections and communication. Some species of octopus, notably those living in reef habitats, have more wrinkled brains than those living in the deep sea, suggesting that these species may possess a higher degree of intelligence.
Because brain structure is not a foolproof measure of intelligence, behavioral tests may provide better evidence. One of the highly complex behaviors that many cephalopods show is visual camouflage. They can open and close tiny sacs just below their skin that contain colored pigments and reflectors, revealing specific colors. Octopus vulgaris has up to 150,000 chromatophores, or pigment sacs, in a single square inch of skin.
Like many cephalopods, the common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) is thought to be colorblind. But it can use its excellent vision to produce a dizzying array of patterns across its body as camouflage. The Australian giant cuttlefish, Sepia apama, uses its chromatophores to communicate, creating patterns that attract mates and warn off aggressors. This ability can also come in handy for hunting; many cephalopods are ambush predators that blend into the background or even lure their prey.
The hallmark of intelligent behavior, however, is learning and memory – and there is plenty of evidence that some octopuses and cuttlefish learn in a way that is comparable to learning in vertebrates. The common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis), as well as the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) and the day octopus (Octopus cyanea), can all form simple associations, such as learning which image on a screen predicts that food will appear.
Some cephalopods may be capable of more complicated forms of learning, such as reversal learning – learning to flexibly adjust behavior when different stimuli signal reward. They may also be able to inhibit impulsive responses. In a 2021 study that gave common cuttlefish a choice between a less desirable but immediate snack of crab and a preferred treat of live shrimp after a delay, many of the cuttlefish chose to wait for the shrimp.
Considering what’s known about their brain structures, sensory systems and learning capacity, it appears that cephalopods as a group may be similar in intelligence to vertebrates as a group. Since many societies have animal welfare standards for mice, rats, chickens and other vertebrates, logic would suggest that there’s an equal case for regulations enforcing humane treatment of cephalopods.
Such rules generally specify that when a species is held in captivity, its housing conditions should support the animal’s welfare and natural behavior. This view has led some U.S. states to outlaw confined cages for egg-laying hens and crates too narrow for pregnant sows to turn around.
Animal welfare regulations say little about invertebrates, but guidelines for the care and use of captive cephalopods have started to appear over the past decade. In 2010, the European Union required considering ethical issues when using cephalopods for research. And in 2015, AAALAC International, an international accreditation organization for ethical animal research, and the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations promoted guidelines for the care and use of cephalopods in research. The U.S. National Institutes of Health is currently considering similar guidelines.
The “alien” minds of octopuses and their relatives are fascinating, not the least because they provide a mirror through which we can reflect on more familiar forms of intelligence. Deciding which species deserve moral consideration requires selecting criteria, such as neuron count or learning capacity, to inform those choices.
Once these criteria are set, it may be well to also consider how they apply to the rodents, birds and fish that occupy more familiar roles in our lives.
Rachel Blaser 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.
– ref. Octopuses and their relatives are a new animal welfare frontier − here’s what scientists know about consciousness in these unique creatures – https://theconversation.com/octopuses-and-their-relatives-are-a-new-animal-welfare-frontier-heres-what-scientists-know-about-consciousness-in-these-unique-creatures-241978
Source: US Army (video statements)
📹 : Sgt. Carlos Parra, 123rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
U.S. Army Soldiers of the 996 Medical Company Area Support (MCAS) participate in Exercise Global Medic, a massive multi-national, multi-service, joint training exercise, June 5-13, 2024 at Fort Hunter Liggett, CA.
Executed by the Medical Readiness Training Command, Exercise Global Medic is part of the Army Reserve Medical Command’s larger mission to provide trained, equipped, and combat-ready units and medical personnel to support the total force on the battlefields of today and tomorrow.
Source: Universities – Science Po in English
Come meet our teams and students at our campuses.
Meet faculty members, students and representatives and learn more about our 30 Master’s programmes.
Source: Government of Canada regional news
Released on December 20, 2024
Today, the Governments of Saskatchewan and Canada have announced that regulated child care facilities across the province will now receive up to $3,200 per month for every child eligible under the Enhanced Accessibility (EA) Grant, an increase of $1,200.
The EA Grant assists regulated child care facilities in covering the additional costs associated with offering services to children who have intensive needs across various areas of development.
“We are listening to the sector and hearing their challenges on being able to offer specialized care,” Education Minister Everett Hindley said. “This increase in funding will allow Saskatchewan child care facilities to continue providing safe, inclusive child care for families of children with special needs.”
The grant is provided directly to a regulated child care facility and can be used to assist with the cost of additional staffing required to care for children with exceptionally high needs.
The number of children supported with the EA Grants can vary over time as more children enter regulated child care and require additional supports.
“This additional funding is a huge step to support our inclusive environments for children of all abilities,” Natural Wonders Early Learning Centre Executive Director Sheila Paradis said. “The increased demand for early learning services in our community has also increased the demand for inclusive services. This is a much-needed change and this increase will help us hire suitably educated inclusion supports who help children overcome challenges, improve their quality of life, impact educational outcomes and significantly influence life long success.”
The ministry is committed to supporting child care facilities in building their capacity to meet the needs of children with intensive needs. Supports include access to a tuition-free Autism Certificate of Achievement, tuition-free inclusion micro-credentials, the Building Inclusive Practices initiative and numerous online resources and learning modules in the ministry’s Early Learning Portal to support inclusive practices.
“A high-quality, affordable, and flexible child care system must also be inclusive, so every child in Saskatchewan, and across the country, can thrive,” Federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Jenna Sudds said. “We are making it easier for families to access services that meet the diverse needs of every child.”
A one-time Accessibility Rating Grant is now available to child care centres to help identify barriers and create accessible spaces for all children using the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) assessment. The RHFAC is a national rating system that measures and certifies the level of meaningful access to buildings. The $12,500 grant will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis to child care centres with an accessible entryway and experience supporting children with intensive needs.
The Accessibility Rating Grant is a commitment made under Saskatchewan’s Action Plan for the Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Infrastructure Fund, which provides $19.1 million to Saskatchewan from 2023 to 2026, to help build more inclusive and accessible child care spaces across the province.
Funding for both the EA Grant and the Accessibility Rating Grant is available under the Canada-Saskatchewan Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. The agreement, which was signed in August 2021, supports an early learning and child care system in Saskatchewan based on principles of affordability, accessibility, quality and inclusion.
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For more information, contact:
Source: United States Department of Defense
Pentagon Spokesman Eric Pahon provided the following readout:
Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks spoke today via video call with deployed service members from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and U.S. Navy to wish them happy holidays.
During the conversations, Deputy Secretary Hicks thanked the service members and their families for their unwavering dedication and sacrifice in defense of the nation.
She commended their commitment and hard work toward ensuring the safety and security of the United States, as well as their continued commitment to supporting America’s allies and partners around the globe.
Deputy Secretary Hicks spoke with service members from the following units:
Deputy Secretary Hicks also commended the professionalism and integrity with which U.S. service members worldwide carry out their duties, and the vital contributions of military families in support of our all-volunteer force.
Source: Securities and Exchange Commission
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against two private companies and one registered investment adviser for failing to timely file Forms D for several unregistered securities offerings in violation of Rule 503 of Regulation D. The parties charged are:
All offers and sales of securities must either be registered under the Securities Act or fall within an exemption from registration. Regulation D contains certain offering exemptions and a safe harbor from the Securities Act’s registration requirements. To protect investors and safeguard markets, an issuer offering or selling securities in reliance on one of those exemptions or the safe harbor is required to file a Form D within 15 days after the first sale of securities in the offering.
An issuer’s failure to follow the requirements to file a Form D (or amend its existing Form D filing) impedes the Commission’s ability to fully assess the scope of the Regulation D market, which is key to the Commission’s understanding of whether Regulation D is appropriately balancing the need for investor protection on one hand and the furtherance of capital formation on the other, particularly as it relates to small businesses. It also harms the Commission’s ability to monitor and enforce compliance with the requirements of Regulation D and the ability of state securities regulators and self-regulatory organizations to monitor and enforce other securities laws and rules. In addition, it hampers the ability of investors and other market participants to understand whether companies are complying with federal securities laws in their offerings, to research and analyze the Regulation D market, and to report on capital-raising in industries that use Regulation D.
“Form D filings are crucial sources of information on private capital formation, and compliance with the requirement to make such filings in a timely manner is vital to the Commission’s efforts to promote investor protection while also facilitating capital formation, especially with respect to small businesses,” said Sanjay Wadhwa, Acting Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. “Today’s orders find that the charged entities deprived the Commission and the marketplace of timely information concerning nearly $300 million of unregistered securities offerings.”
Without admitting or denying the findings, Re-Envision Wealth, Pipe Technologies, and Underdog Sports Holdings agreed to cease and desist from violating the charged provisions and to pay the respective civil penalties of $60,000; $195,000; and $175,000.
The SEC’s investigation was conducted by Alicia Guo, Karen M. Lee, and Adam S. Grace of the Enforcement Division’s New York Regional Office and Claire M. Tafelski and Lee A. Greenwood of the Enforcement Division’s Asset Management Unit, with assistance from Beth Groves and Howard Kaplan in the Enforcement Division’s Office of Investigative & Market Analytics, Rachita Gullapalli and Daniel Bresler in the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis and Gerard Sansobrino, Barry Simmons, Christopher Ruvolo, and David S. Eidelman of the Division of Examinations. The investigation was supervised by Sheldon L. Pollock of the New York Regional Office.
Source: US Congressional Budget Office
Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems that can perform tasks that have traditionally required human intelligence, such as learning and performing other activities that require cognitive ability. A general attribute of AI is its ability to identify patterns and relationships and to respond to queries that arise in complex scenarios for which the precise computational algorithm that is needed cannot be specified in advance.
Because AI has the potential to change how businesses and the federal government provide goods and services, it could affect economic growth, employment and wages, and the distribution of income in the economy. Such changes could in turn affect the federal budget. The direction of those effects—whether they increased or decreased federal revenues or spending—along with their size and timing, are uncertain. Some budgetary effects could occur relatively quickly, whereas others might take longer. In this report, the Congressional Budget Office provides an overview of the channels through which the adoption of AI could affect the U.S. economy and the federal budget.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Singapore, Dec. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Recently, BitMart released the BMX 2024 Annual Report.
1. 2024 Crypto Market Review
At the beginning of the year, capitalizing on the momentum generated by the previous year’s bull market, BTC achieved a peak price of $73,881 in March. Nevertheless, despite the occurrence of its halving event in April, the market did not transition into a sustained upward trajectory. Instead, it underwent a significant decline in June, resulting in an extended period of adjustment. The primary catalysts in the first half of the year included the approval of an ETF for both Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as the halving event. While the introduction of the ETF attracted institutional investment and enhanced the recognition of cryptocurrency assets within traditional financial markets, the halving event, despite lacking immediate positive impacts, is anticipated to substantially increase the value of Bitcoin over the long term. The market correction observed in June was precipitated by numerous factors, including Japan’s interest rate hikes, developments surrounding the Mt. Gox compensation case, and the German government’s liquidation of crypto assets, which collectively heightened selling pressure and instigated market panic.
In the latter half of the year, the cryptocurrency market experienced a resurgence of momentum. Expectations regarding interest rate cuts revitalized the market, while the election victory of Donald Trump contributed to a robust recovery, resulting in BTC prices exceeding the $100,000 threshold and reaching a new all-time high of $104,088. Consequently, the total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies and trading volumes witnessed significant increases. In this context, altcoins displayed strong performance, with substantial gains observed in SOL, ETH, XRP, and ADA across various sectors. Trump’s proposed policies — characterized by the easing of regulations, the establishment of national reserves, and the support of mining enterprises — emerged as central themes for market recalibration. This highlights the positive influence of clear regulatory frameworks in enhancing User confidence and fostering growth within the industry.
In contrast to previous years, the participation of institutional users has begun to significantly reshape market dynamics. Bitcoin’s dominance has continued to strengthen, while Ethereum has encountered challenges to its previously monopolistic position due to competition from emerging blockchain technologies and its constrained value capture capabilities. Concurrently, the decline in the popularity of altcoins has facilitated the emergence of the MEME sector as a new focal point within the market. These developments indicate a discernible trend toward diversification within the cryptocurrency industry.
2. BMX Market Performance
Figure 1: Annual Changes in Exchange Platform Tokens’ Prices and Market Capitalizations
(Data Source：CMC、CG)
According to data from CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko, the prices and market capitalizations of platform tokens from major exchanges have exhibited an upward trajectory over the past year, although notable variations in performance have been observed. BMX experienced a price escalation of 57.9% accompanied by a market capitalization increase of 56.8%, culminating in a total market capitalization of $262 million, indicative of consistent growth. Generally, lower-market-cap tokens have experienced substantial benefits due to their smaller baselines, resulting in rapid growth. In contrast, higher-market-cap tokens have demonstrated stable growth, reflecting resilience albeit with comparatively slower rates of increase.
It is worth noting that Trump’s presidency may lead to clearer crypto market regulations, potentially reshaping the global cryptocurrency landscape. This development could significantly impact the future of the crypto industry. The resignation of SEC Chairman Gary Gensler further signals a turning point for crypto enterprises previously targeted by SEC lawsuits. Centralized exchanges, long under SEC scrutiny, are likely to benefit substantially from this leadership change, potentially achieving significant progress in regulatory compliance.
Figure 2: Comparison of Exchange Spot Average Daily Trading Volume and Circulating Market Capitalization Over the Past Year
(Data Source：CMC、CG)
According to data from CoinGecko, the circulating market capitalization of BMX currently amounts to $262 million, a figure that is significantly lower than that of other exchange platform tokens. However, BitMart has demonstrated an average daily spot trading volume of $803 million over the past year. A comparison of BMX’s market capitalization with BitMart’s daily trading volume reveals that the exchange’s trading activity exceeds the valuation of its platform token. Furthermore, both the market capitalization and price of BMX have experienced considerable growth over the last year. This trend indicates that, despite its relatively modest market capitalization, BMX is undergoing heightened market activity and demand, as the broader market gradually starts to acknowledge its potential value.
3. BMX Burn Progress
Figure 3: BMX Burn Progress Table
In accordance with the repurchase mechanism detailed in the BMX whitepaper, BitMart executed the repurchase of approximately 5,672,978 BMX tokens in the year 2024, amounting to a total value of approximately $2,034,343. This series of repurchase initiatives underscores BitMart’s ongoing commitment and confidence in its platform token, BMX. By allocating a portion of its revenue generated from transaction fees towards these repurchases, BitMart has effectively decreased the circulating supply of BMX in the market, thereby contributing to its stability and scarcity.
4. New Features and Activities for BMX in 2024
Figure 4: New BMX Features in 2024
In 2024, BMX introduced a series of new features that substantially enhanced its value and liquidity. The implementation of a staking feature enables users to obtain stable annual returns without facing any entry barriers, thereby attracting a larger number of long-term participants. Additionally, the small asset conversion feature addresses the issue of “dust” balances in user accounts, improving the utility of minor assets while expanding the practical use cases for BMX. Users can also benefit from transaction fee discounts and engage in various platform activities. Furthermore, the establishment of a P2P trading market has rendered BMX trading more adaptable, allowing users to conduct transactions using diverse payment methods, which, in turn, increases the liquidity and market demand for BMX. The listing of BMX on KuCoin signifies an important step in its expansion within the global market, drawing greater interest from users. Additionally, the introduction of the BMX Flash Sale feature has further elevated the exclusive benefits available to holders.
The introduction of the stake-to-list feature has empowered BMX holders to make independent decisions regarding the listing of projects on BitMart, while also benefiting from shared transaction fees and additional advantages. This initiative fosters a sense of collective ownership, enhances decision-making authority, and provides users with control, growth opportunities, and shared responsibilities within the BitMart community.
The recent enhancements to the BMX platform have significantly broadened its range of applications, offering users an increased array of opportunities for investment returns and active participation. With functionalities including staking, conversion, peer-to-peer trading, IEO, and stake-to-list mechanisms, the diverse features of BMX have substantially elevated its market appeal and liquidity. These improvements have not only enriched the user experience but have also contributed to the platform’s growth and adoption within the cryptocurrency market.
Figure 5: New BMX Activities in 2024
In 2024, BMX implemented several strategic initiatives that significantly enhanced its market appeal and user engagement. These initiatives encompassed trading competitions, external collaborations, and community-building programs. The trading competitions incentivized a substantial influx of participants, thereby increasing the liquidity of BMX. External collaborations not only served to promote BMX but also elevated the visibility of related projects. The community-building program recognized and rewarded active members, while also providing essential traffic support. Collectively, these initiatives not only broadened the applications of BMX but also improved its liquidity and market influence. Through this program, BMX fostered user retention, attracted a greater number of dedicated users and community contributors, and bolstered its market activity and long-term growth potential.
5. BMX Value Benefits
– Higher Account Levels and Trading Fee Discounts: BMX holders are eligible for higher account levels and better trading fee rates. The more BMX a user holds, the greater the discount they receive.
– Higher Copy Trading Profit Share: BMX holders qualify for a higher percentage of copy trading profit sharing.
– Participation in Launchpad: BMX holders can participate in BitMart’s exclusive Launchpad and receive free airdrops of newly listed tokens.
– VIP Membership Upgrade Criteria: BitMart offers a lifetime VIP membership plan, and holding BMX is one of the criteria for upgrading.
– Stake-to-List: Users can stake BMX to support their favorite projects and earn rewards.
– Participation in BitMart Products: Users can stake BMX to participate in various products offered by BitMart and earn higher interest rates.
– Ecosystem Payment Token: BMX can be used as a payment token for projects within the BitMart ecosystem.
– Holding Trading Rebate: Invite friends to hold and trade BMX to earn rebates.
Risk Warning:
Use of BitMart services is entirely at your own risk. All crypto investments, including earnings, are highly speculative in nature and involve substantial risk of loss. Past, hypothetical, or simulated performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
The value of digital currencies can go up or down and there can be a substantial risk in buying, selling, holding, or trading digital currencies. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding digital currencies is suitable for you based on your personal investment objectives, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance. Investing involves risks, and the content should be approached with caution. BitMart does not provide any investment, legal or tax advice.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Niclas Ekström will join Serstech as Chief Commercial Officer on March 24, 2025.
Niclas has more than 25 years of experience in international sales and commercial leadership roles as Marketing Director, Product Director, Head of Sales and Managing Director. He has a MSc degree in business administration and economics and will be a member of the senior management team of Serstech.
“I’m excited to welcome Niclas to Serstech and our management team. With his solid background and experience, Niclas will bring invaluable expertise to Serstech”, says Stefan Sandor, Serstech CEO.
For further information, please contact:
Stefan Sandor,
CEO, Serstech AB Phone: +46 739 606 067
Email: ss@serstech.com
or
Thomas Pileby,
Chairman of the Board, Serstech AB Phone: +46 702 072 643
Email: tp@serstech.com
or visit: www.serstech.com
Certified advisor to Serstech is Svensk Kapitalmarknadsgranskning AB (SKMG).
About Serstech
Serstech delivers solutions for chemical identification and has customers around the world, mainly in the safety and security industry. Typical customers are customs, police authorities, security organizations and first responders. The solutions and technology are however not limited to security applications and potentially any industry using chemicals of some kind could be addressed by Serstech’s solution. Serstech’s head office is in Sweden and all production is done in Sweden.
Serstech is traded at Nasdaq First North Growth Market and more information about the company can be found at www.serstech.com
Source: Asia Development Bank
TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN (20 December 2024) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Hamkorbank has signed a 625 billion Uzbek sum (equivalent to about $50 million) loan to enhance access to financing to rural micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Uzbekistan.
A majority of the loan will be allocated to support financial inclusion for MSMEs outside the capital of Tashkent. At least 20% of the loan will be directed towards women-owned or led MSMEs, and at least 10% will be earmarked for green technology investments. The country’s nearly half a million MSMEs are a key pillar of the economy, contributing over 50% of GDP and employing most of the working population. Even so they struggle to access bank loans, especially those run by women who often lack basic finance and management skills.
“ADB is committed to Uzbekistan’s inclusive economic development. This partnership with Hamkorbank will provide much-needed support for rural MSMEs, empowering entrepreneurs, creating jobs, and contributing to the country’s overall economic resilience,” said ADB Director General for Private Sector Operations Suzanne Gaboury. “By focusing on MSMEs and green technology investments, ADB’s support for Hamkorbank will stimulate local economies, fostering long-term, inclusive growth that benefits a wide cross-section of society including women-led businesses.”
“This partnership underscores Hamkorbank’s commitment to supporting the Uzbekistan’s economic reforms and development strategies. ADBs financial support, especially given the market scarcity of medium-term local currency financing, will help meet the evolving needs of MSMEs, contributing to a more dynamic and resilient Uzbekistan,” said a Hamkorbank’s CEO Bakhtiyorjon Juraev.
Established in 1991, Hamkorbank is Uzbekistan’s third-largest private bank, with a strong rural footprint, servicing its clients through a network of 50 branches, 150 service outlets, and multi-sales channels.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.
Source: Samsung
Thursday, December 20, 2024: This Christmas, Samsung welcomes a range of new content to bolster its free, festive line-up on Samsung TV Plus, as families settle in for the holiday streaming season.
With over 200 live TV channels and thousands of movies and shows on demand, all for free, Samsung TV Plus offers a diverse range of premium programming to suit every taste this holiday season. No subscriptions, no downloads—just pure festive fun available across Samsung Smart TVs[1].
Samsung is bringing the heat this Christmas with a wide range of content to suit every home’s festive viewing wishes. From viral YouTube interview show, Hot Ones, iconic Christmas classics on Festive Hub, the latest in trending K-content, festive foodie content from Jamie Oliver, and live sporting coverage on FIFA+ and the Tennis Channel, there really is something for everyone.
Beyond the hundreds of free live TV channels spanning multiple genres like news, entertainment, sports, Samsung is also delivering top gaming action with the Samsung Gaming Hub – your gateway to over 3,000 cloud-enabled games, right from your TV[2].
With leading services like XBOX Game Pass[3], NVIDIA GeForce NOW, and Amazon Luna integrated seamlessly, players can jump into their favourite titles instantly. Whether you’re battling through epic adventures, solving puzzles, or enjoying family-friendly classics, the Samsung Gaming Hub makes gaming more accessible and immersive than ever. It’s, perfect for holiday gatherings or solo play.
Gus Grimaldi, Head of Samsung TV Plus EMEA, said: “At Samsung, we’re creating an all-in-one entertainment hub that offers something for everyone. From festive favourites and globally loved shows on Samsung TV Plus to immersive gaming experiences on the Samsung Gaming Hub, we’re providing families with choice and convenience this Christmas. Our goal is to make it easier than ever for people to come together, enjoy incredible content, and create lasting memories this holiday season.”
Jordan Byers, Brand Marketing Lead at Samsung Electronics UK&I comments: “Our Christmas offering is just one of the many ways we’re committed to delivering more than just a TV. With advanced AI optimisation that provides the perfect picture and sound, to an ever-growing rooster of content to watch and play, we’re offering our customers more ways to enjoy and experience our products than ever before.”
Samsung TV Plus Top Christmas Selects
Festive Hub: the home of heart-warming holiday films
Festive Hub delivers the essential Christmas experience for a range of audiences. With a line-up of many cheerful films such as snowy romances from Hallmark media and Lifetime entertainment, to great comedies, and animated specials. There are seasonal offerings for the whole family, perfect for cosy evenings by the fire.
Hot Ones: the YouTube series heating up the holidays
Dive into the globally beloved Hot Ones, where celebrities answer questions while enduring increasingly spicy wings. It’s the ultimate mix of laughs, spice, and surprising revelations to keep you entertained this Christmas, with its latest guests including Paul Mescal, Idris Elba, and Millie Bobbie Brown.
The latest in K-Content: your gateway to global stories
For fans of Korean dramas, movies, and variety shows, Samsung TV Plus brings the freshest K-content to your screen. Celebrate the holidays with gripping stories, high-quality productions, and globally trending series.
Jamie Oliver cooking shows: festive inspiration for your Christmas feast
Jamie Oliver’s beloved cooking shows are here to make your Christmas delicious. From traditional roasts to creative twists on festive favourites, Jamie brings expert guidance and accessible recipes for all.
[1] Samsung Gaming Hub comes already available on Samsung Smart TV models from 2022, 2023 and 2024.
[2] Internet connection, additional gaming service subscription and compatible controller required. Gaming Hub not available in Republic of Ireland.
[3] Requires Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Internet connection and compatible controller required.
Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –
Juba – As South Sudan receives a massive influx of tens of thousands of people fleeing the intensified war in Sudan, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is scaling up its response to the humanitarian crisis in Renk and surrounding informal settlements along the border. Over the last weeks the number of recently displaced people has surpassed 80,000, including hundreds of people with war wounds. MSF is calling for immediate, coordinated humanitarian and medical support for displaced people to address critical gaps and prevent further suffering.
Over 5,000 people have crossed into South Sudan each day since the beginning of December, as the fighting escalates near the border in Sudan’s White Nile, Blue Nile, and Sennar states. The influx of people into Renk town and surrounding areas has overwhelmed an area that is already scarce of resources, leaving displaced people in crisis.
“We have added 14 tents around the hospital to make space for the war-wounded patients that are arriving at Renk County hospital,” says Emanuele Montobbio, MSF emergency coordinator in Renk. “There is no place for other tents in the surroundings, while patients and their families keep coming to the hospital.”
“We are working alongside the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to treat war-wounded patients and manage the growing influx of critical cases and the mass casualty response in pre- and post-operative care wards, but the situation is completely overwhelming and it’s not enough,” he says. “Just a few dozen people have been treated with surgical interventions and tetanus vaccinations in recent weeks, while over 100 wounded patients, many with serious injuries, still await surgery.”
Outside the transit centres within Renk and in informal settlements, thousands are forced to live under trees or in makeshift shelters, with limited access to food, clean water, healthcare or any other basic services. The poor water and sanitation conditions are heightening the risk of disease outbreaks at a time when Renk is already experiencing a cholera outbreak.
“Immediate action must be taken,” says Roselyn Morales, MSF deputy medical coordinator in South Sudan, following the team’s assessment on the ground. “Thousands of people are living in dire conditions under the open sky in informal settlements, facing critical shortages of food, clean water, shelter and healthcare.”
“We urgently call on both South Sudanese authorities and international organisations to rapidly scale up their response in Renk and beyond, ensuring that the essential and lifesaving needs of the affected population are addressed without delay,” she says.
The two transit centres in Renk, which are designed to accommodate a maximum of 8,000 people, are now sheltering over 17,000. While most returnees and refugees initially entered South Sudan through the official Joda border crossing, an increasing number are now crossing through informal routes to the east of Renk. More than 82,000 new arrivals have been recorded in areas including Joda, Duku Duku, Jerbana, Shemmedi, Gosfami, and Atam.
“Our village was in flames,” says Alhida Hammed, who is displaced from Sudan’s Blue Nile state and is currently under treatment for a gunshot wound at Renk County hospital. “The houses were blazing, and everyone was running in different directions. We have been displaced and now live under a tree. I have no desire to return home. Home is no longer a home—it is filled with bad memories.”
“I used to only hear about air raids, but recently, it became a reality,” says Bashir Ismail, who is from Mosmon in Sudan’s Blue Nile state. “I was at the market buying some items when the bombing started. Something hit me in the chest—it was the most painful experience of my life. I was so disoriented that it felt like I had lost my memory. The next thing I knew, I was in Renk County hospital.”
MSF is deploying mobile clinics to provide general healthcare in informal settlements in Gosfami, Atam, Jerbana and Joda, where displaced people are concentrated. On 17 December alone, MSF teams conducted over 250 medical consultations in Gosfami and referred severely ill people to Renk County hospital.
We are also launching activities in response to the urgent need for water and sanitation in Atam and Jerbana. Additionally, relief items have been delivered to these areas for distribution to 2,500 displaced families. However, despite these efforts, the response remains insufficient due to the absence of other humanitarian organisations in these informal settlements, which has left a significant gap in support for displaced people.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Paul Whiteley, Professor, Department of Government, University of Essex
Trust in Britain’s institutions is in bad shape, according to recent data from the European Social Survey.
Trust is important because a good deal of governing involves trying to persuade people to do things or convince them that things will get better in the future. This is increasingly difficult to do if trust is in decline. Trust in political institutions is particularly important when governments have to make unpopular decisions, such as raising taxes.
Data covering a 20-year period shows a marked decline in trust in parliaments, political parties and politicians. The following question is asked in the European Social Surveys over time:
Please tell me on a score of 0-10 how much you personally trust each of the following institutions. 0 means you do not trust an institution at all, and 10 means you have complete trust in it.
The decline in trust began around the time of the 2016 survey, when the lowest level of trust in politicians and political parties was recorded in 20 years of doing the survey. Parliament has done a bit better, but decline in trust for it is still quite marked. It is no coincidence that this decline started in 2016 – the year of Brexit.
Average trust scores for British institutions, 2002-2022
But the European Social Survey carries another important measure of trust – our trust in fellow citizens. A question in the surveys asks how trusting respondents felt about other people on an 11-point scale, with a high score indicating that people are trusting.
Average trust scores in other people in Britain, 2002-2022
After a shaky start at the beginning of the millennium, trust in other people increased significantly in Britain in 2006, to over 5.35 on the 11-point scale. It then dropped in 2008, the year of the financial crisis. The recovery from this decline was in place by 2010. It is noticeable that the trust scores fell again in 2018, when the political consequences of Brexit were making themselves felt. Trust revived again in 2020 during the pandemic.
So, our trust in each other is in healthier shape than our trust in institutions. This is important because trust in others is a key measure of social capital – the willingness of people to work together to solve social and economic problems in society. The importance of social capital in creating prosperity in the US was highlighted by the American political scientist Bob Putnam in his best-selling book, Bowling Alone.
There is now a large literature on social capital and trust, some of it focusing specifically on Britain. The findings are that trust promotes prosperity for a number of reasons. If people trust each other, they are more likely to volunteer. This free labour helps to provide a social safety net, which increases prosperity for all – even if it is not fully recognised in the national income statistics.
High-trust countries like Denmark and Sweden also have low levels of corruption – and corruption is a blocker to growth. In a high-trust environment, the costs of doing business are lower because there is less need for elaborate contracts, expensive lawyers and lots of litigation to make other people behave properly. This is, in part, why high-trust countries are richer than low-trust countries.
It’s well established that economic growth is driven by investment in innovation, skills and transport, extra manufacturing capacity and greater workplace productivity. However, it is also the case that social capital helps to create economic growth. In researching this across a variety of countries, I found that trust was very important in stimulating economic growth alongside these other factors.
Government has limited direct influence on social capital, but it can encourage it by investing in voluntary organisations and increasing transparency in its dealings with the public.
Britain has suffered from a lack of investment in capital spending and infrastructure, and has neglected investment in education over the past 15 years. Social capital seems to be in much better shape, and faced with the significant challenge of restoring growth, the UK government needs to pull every lever at its disposal. It can repair trust in politics with its own actions, and this is likely to help with sustaining social capital, which is part of the solution to restoring economic growth.
Paul Whiteley has received funding from the British Academy and the ESRC.
– ref. Could trusting each other more unlock economic growth? – https://theconversation.com/could-trusting-each-other-more-unlock-economic-growth-246302
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today (20 December 2024) granted a conditional marketing authorisation for the medicine givinostat (Duvyzat) to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
Givinostat is a nonsteroidal drug indicated for the treatment of patients aged 6 years of age and older with all genetic variants of DMD.
DMD is a muscle wasting condition that causes progressive muscle weakness. It usually only affects boys and those assigned male at birth.
It’s caused by alterations in a protein called dystrophin. This causes muscle fibres to break down. They’re replaced by fibrous or fatty tissues that cause the muscle to gradually weaken.
Around 100 boys are born with DMD each year, and there are about 2,500 people living with the condition in the UK at any one time.
Julian Beach, MHRA Interim Executive Director, Healthcare Quality and Access, said:
Keeping patients safe and enabling their access to high quality, safe and effective medical products are key priorities for us.
We’re assured that the appropriate regulatory standards for the approval of this medicine have been met.
As with all products, we will keep its safety under close review.
Givinostat comes as an oral suspension to be taken twice daily.
It is a drug from a family of molecules called HDAC inhibitors (histone deacetylase) which reduce inflammation and fibrosis in muscle tissues. HDAC inhibitors also promote muscle regeneration and slow down the progression of DMD.
This approval is supported by evidence from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 18-month study involving 179 ambulatory patients with DMD who were given a placebo or givinostat for 18 months. Further data is required for the efficacy in non-ambulatory patients and will be subject to review following completion of additional clinical trials, as detailed in the condition associated with approval.
The study found that participants treated with givinostat over an 18-month period took significantly less time to climb four stairs compared to those given placebo.
A secondary efficacy endpoint was the change from baseline to month 18 in physical function as assessed by the North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA) — a scale commonly used to rate the motor function in boys with DMD who are capable of walking. Compared to placebo, patients treated with givinostat saw less worsening in their NSAA score after 18 months.
The most common side effects of the medicine (which may affect more than 1 in 10 people) include abdominal pain, decrease in blood platelet count (which can increase risk of bleeding), diarrhea, elevated levels of triglycerides (a type of blood fats), fever, nausea and vomiting. The prescribing information for givinostat advises healthcare providers to assess patients’ platelet counts and triglyceride levels prior to initiating treatment. During treatment, regular monitoring of platelet counts and triglycerides is recommended to determine whether dosage adjustments are necessary. Additionally, givinostat may lead to QTc prolongation, a condition where the heart takes longer than normal to recharge between beats, which can elevate the risk of irregular heart rhythms. Patients with certain heart conditions or those taking other medications that prolong QTc intervals should avoid using givinostat.
As with any medicine, the MHRA will keep the safety and effectiveness of givinostat under close review. Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from this medicine are encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the Yellow Card scheme, either through the website (https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/) or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card.
ENDS
Notes to editors
The new conditional marketing authorisation was granted on 20 December 2024 to Italfarmaco S.p.A. More information can be found in the Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information leaflets which will be published on the MHRA Products website within 7 days of approval.
Giovinostat has been conditionally approved through the International Recognition Procedure (IRP). A conditional marketing authorisation is an early temporary license in which we may accept less completed clinical studies than would be necessary to issue a full marketing authorisation, provided the manufacturer clearly indicates when complete clinical data will be available. However, CMA post-approval conditions are determined on a case-by-case basis, and don’t have to be limited to providing further clinical data. A CMA lasts for one year and can be renewed annually.
For more information about Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/muscular-dystrophy/
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.
The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.
For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.
Published 20 December 2024
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Explanation of vote delivered by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, following the vote on renewing MONUSCO’s mandate.
The United Kingdom welcomes the adoption of this resolution renewing MONUSCO’s mandate. And we thank France and Sierra Leone for their leadership of the negotiations.
I would like to make two points.
First, The UK is disappointed by the postponement of the Luanda Process Heads of State Summit scheduled for 15 December.
We remain greatly appreciative of Angola’s mediation efforts and urge all parties to engage with the Luanda Process in good faith and deliver on their commitments.
Second, we are concerned by the surge in violence since the 15 December.
In this context, the UK is concerned by the presence of Rwanda Defence Forces in DRC, as reported by the Group of Experts.
We call on all parties to the conflict to refrain from obstructing MONUSCO operations.
Published 20 December 2024
Source: United Nations 4
Hunger, dire living conditions made worse by heavy winter rains and ongoing hostilities continue to endanger people’s lives in Gaza, which has become “a graveyard”, UN humanitarians warned on Friday.
“The world is not seeing what’s going on with these people, it’s impossible for families to shelter in these conditions,” said Louise Wateridge, from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
Speaking from Nuseirat in central Gaza after heavy winter rains overnight and into Friday morning, the UNRWA Senior Emergency Officer insisted that “an entire society here is now a graveyard…Over two million people are trapped. They cannot escape. And people continue to have basic needs deprived and it just feels like every path here that you could possibly take is leading to death.”
Echoing that warning, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) highlighted widespread and dangerous malnutrition levels in the enclave, where more than 96 per cent of women and children in Gaza “cannot meet their basic nutritional needs,” said Rosalia Bollen, Children’s Fund (UNICEF) communication specialist.
Speaking from Amman, Ms. Bollen noted that the most northerly part of Gaza has been under a near total siege for 75 days. This has largely prevented humanitarian assistance from reaching youngsters in need there “for more than 10 weeks”, she said.
“The suffering is not just physical, it is also psychological…Children are cold, they’re wet, they’re barefoot; I see many children who still wear summer clothes and with cooking gas gone, there’s also lots of children I see scavenging through piles of garbage looking for plastic they can burn.”
With more heavy rain expected on Friday evening, UNRWA’s Ms. Wateridge emphasized the critical need to get aid into the enclave to support Gazans who have been uprooted multiple times by Israeli bombardment and who have little to protect themselves from the elements.
“It’s impossible for families to shelter in these conditions,” Ms. Wateridge insisted. “Most people are living under fabric, they don’t even have waterproof structures and 69 per cent of the buildings here have been damaged or destroyed. There’s absolutely nowhere for people to shelter from these elements.”
Multiple and continuing aid obstacles imposed by the Israeli authorities have meant that humanitarians have had to prioritize food over shelter, leaving Gazans desperate and at risk from food stampedes.
“The certainty of winter has been the only thing that the United Nations has been able to plan for,” Ms. Wateridge maintained. “And yet we have still not yet been facilitated to bring in enough shelter supplies for people, because we have had to prioritize food. Women have been crushed to death waiting for a piece of bread.”
On Thursday, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, reported that the Israeli authorities had “denied another UN request to reach besieged areas of North Gaza governorate with food and water. As a result, Palestinians in Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya and parts of Jabalya remain cut off from the essential assistance they need to survive.”
Source: US Government research organizations
An NSF-funded research team solves a centuries-long dilemma in the world of polymers
Scientists have developed something long thought impossible: a polymer that’s both stiff and stretchable, without one quality compromising the other. Materials research has shown that the stiffer a polymer, the less flexible it will be — but no longer.
The findings are published in the journal Science Advances and supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation. The University of Virginia research team behind these findings shows that strength and “stretchability” don’t necessarily have to be opposites when it comes to polymers.
Liheng Cai, assistant professor of materials research and principal investigator of an NSF Faculty Early Career Development award, says, “We are addressing a fundamental challenge that has been thought to be impossible to solve since the invention of vulcanized rubber in 1839.” The research was led by doctoral student Baiqiang Huang.
Says Huang, “This limitation has held back the development of materials that need to be both stretchable and stiff, forcing engineers to choose one property at the expense of the other.”
He adds, “Imagine, for example, a heart implant that bends and flexes with each heartbeat but still lasts for years.”
Cai and team discovered that polymer qualities of stiffness and flexibility have the same molecular basis. What they have in common: They’re both based on cross-linked polymer strands.
The more cross-links are added the stiffer the material becomes. But it also grows more fragile, and less supple or “stretchable,” the more cross-links are added in the process. That is only when they are added in a linear fashion.
Instead of linear cross-links, Cai and colleagues tried for a “bottlebrush” structure. This nonlinear network of material is made up of “core” cross-link strands branching out into polymer “side chains.”
On a molecular level, these allow the material to have a foldable or accordion-like structure when it moves — imbuing the polymer with qualities of firmness and flexibility simultaneously and independently of each other.
Andrew Lovinger, program director in the NSF Division of Materials Research, says, “This very clever polymer architecture by Professor Cai opens the door to materials with unprecedented combinations of properties and exemplifies the very rich design potential offered by polymers.”
Materials with this capability show promise for medical, health care and robotics innovations, such as implants, prosthetics, electromechanical devices and more.
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