Deer Lake RCMP is investigating a break, enter and theft that occurred on May 27, 2025, at Humber River Golf Club in Deer Lake.
Sometime over night, between the evening of May 26 and the morning of May 27, suspect(s) entered the business and stole a quantity of cash.
Deer Lake RCMP asks the public to report any suspicious activity that may have been observed in the area of Airport Road between the evening of May 26 and the morning of May 27.
The investigation is continuing.
If you have information about this crime or the identity of the individual(s) responsible, please call Deer Lake RCMP at 709-635-2173. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visitwww.nlcrimestoppers.comor use the P3Tips app.
The off-site power situation at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) remains extremely fragile, with Europe’s largest such site currently relying on just one single power line for essential nuclear safety and security functions compared with ten before the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today.
The ZNPP’s last 330 kilovolt (kV) back-up line remains disconnected three weeks after the plant lost access to it on 7 May and it is unclear when it will be restored. As a result, the six-reactor plant depends entirely on its sole functioning 750 kV line to receive the external electricity it needs to operate the plants’ nuclear safety systems, and to cool its nuclear fuel.
Since the conflict began in early 2022, the ZNPP has eight times lost access to all off-site power, but it was usually restored within a day.
“Even though the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant has not been operating for some three years now, its reactor cores and spent nuclear fuel still require continuous cooling, for which electricity is needed to run the water pumps. For this reason, the highly vulnerable power situation remains deeply concerning and we are following it very closely,” said Director General Grossi, who will visit Kyiv and Russia next week as part of his regular contacts with both sides to ensure nuclear safety and security during the conflict.
The IAEA team based at the ZNPP has continued to monitor and assess other aspects of nuclear safety and security during the past week, conducting a walkdown to measure and confirm stable levels of cooling water in the site’s 12 sprinkler ponds and visiting its two fresh fuel storage facilities, where no nuclear safety or security issues were observed.
The IAEA team reported hearing military activities on most days over the past week, at different distances away from the ZNPP.
At Ukraine’s three operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – three of their total of nine reactors are in planned outage for refueling and maintenance.
The IAEA teams at these sites also continued to hear indications of military activities nearby. At the South Ukraine NPP, the IAEA staff members saw a drone being shot at by anti-aircraft fire in the evening of 23 May. The plant reported that 10 drones were observed 2.5 km south of the site on the same evening. At the Chornobyl site, two drones were reported flying five km from the site, also on 23 May. The IAEA team at the Khmelnytskyy NPP was required to shelter onsite on Monday this week.
Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA Director General, with mayors attending the International Conference on Stakeholder Engagement for Nuclear Power Programmes 2025 held at the Agency headquarters in Vienna, Austria. (Photo D.Calma/IAEA)
The IAEA hosted the world’s first major gathering of communities with nuclear facilities, with scores of mayors and other local representatives from around the globe, including indigenous peoples, sharing their experiences and insights.
“As some have said, and I think rightly so, all politics are local, and everything is local,” IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi addressed the participants of the first International Conference on Stakeholder Engagement for Nuclear Power Programmes.
“Nuclear energy is a job creating activity. It is an activity that brings highly skilled workers. It is an activity that creates and nurtures professions with its incredible diversity.
“Nuclear, from the perspective of a community, a human community, is a lifetime engagement. It is a longstanding commitment and engagement that lasts for generations and shapes the lives of all those who are living there,” he added.
Hosting a nuclear facility, whether a nuclear power plant, uranium mine or related site, is a major endeavour involving significant local community participation. Project success requires transparent communication, a two-way dialogue centring local perspectives to address concerns, maximize benefits and enable long-term sustainability. Participants agree that for enduring results and host community satisfaction, meaningful conversations that consider the full spectrum of opinions should begin at an early stage and be held on a regular basis.
Throughout the event, host community leaders from across the globe highlighted the benefits of hosting a nuclear facility while also addressing challenges. They pointed to incentives such as job creation, funding for infrastructure and support for regional development as reasons why hosting nuclear facilities has been a boon for their communities. A joint statement, thus far endorsed by 69 nuclear community leaders from 26 countries, was released during the event and remains open for additional endorsements. It emphasizes the essential role played by host communities in enabling the sustainable development and operation of nuclear technologies. The statement also underscores a commitment to “working with our citizens, policymakers, national governments and industry leaders to responsibly shape together a sustainable and inclusive future, acknowledging the vital role that nuclear energy plays in powering our lives, communities and countries.”
The weeklong stakeholder engagement conference, a first-of-kind event in IAEA history which concludes on 30 May, features panel sessions, flash talks and side events on numerous topics relevant to stakeholder engagement and communication for nuclear power programmes. The plenary session livestream can be viewed here. Livestreams of all conference sessions are available on the IAEA Conferences and Meetings mobile application.
“This week’s historic gathering of nuclear host communities is just the beginning of what I am sure it will be a very successful future for this new dimension of the nuclear family, which is the family of the communities – mayors, cities, towns – all over the world that are hosting nuclear facilities,” said Mr Grossi.
An intense argument is raging over whether what has been happening in Gaza since October 2023 is an act of genocide. It is the subject of a case being heard in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in which South Africa has accused Israel of committing acts of genocide. The case began in December 2023 but the ICJ has yet to reach a judgment.
The reason the issue is so controversial is that the word “genocide” holds so much power. To be accused of it is to be accused of what is considered in international law to be the “crime of crimes”. International law holds that not only should states not commit genocide, they must also prevent and punish it in their own criminal law. Some commentators would even argue that the use of armed force to stop genocide is acceptable.
Yet the legal definition of genocide is much narrower than is generally understood. That’s why so few events have ever been labelled as genocide as a matter of law. Looking at some of them might help to shed some light on the Gaza controversy.
Genocide is about attempting to destroy a group of people. The concept was first defined in 1944 by the Polish-Jewish lawyer Raphael Lemkin, in response to his horror at the mass killing of ethnic Armenians by the Ottoman Empire amid the first world war as well as – of course – at the atrocities of the Nazis before and during the second world war.
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It was such a novel concept that it was not prosecuted in the post-war trials of the surviving leading Nazis in Nuremberg. Instead, for their role in the Holocaust, the defendants were charged with “crimes against humanity”. And to this day, in the Rome statute of the International Criminal Court, there is a close relationship between the crime of genocide and crimes against humanity. The Rome statute uses the definition of genocide agreed in the 1948 genocide convention, which was negotiated after the considerable efforts of Lemkin to bring attention to his new concept.
Despite the crime of genocide being established in 1948, the first international conviction for genocide was not until 1998. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda found Jean-Paul Akayesu, a local politician, guilty of genocide as part of the extreme violence by ethnic Hutu against (mostly) minority ethnic Tutsis in 1994. Over the course of around 100 days around 800,000 people were killed.
The mass killing was instigated at the highest levels of the Rwandan government after Tutsis were accused of killing the president of Rwanda, Juvénal Habyarimana, by shooting down a plane that was carrying him and the president of Burundi, Cyprien Ntaryamira. Both men were Hutus.
The response to this was clearly a genocide, but surely there must have been other post-war genocides before this, you might think?
Limitations of genocide
Under the leadership of Joseph Stalin, millions of people died or were killed in famines, executions and prison camps across the Soviet Union. Yet, these deaths do not fall within the 1948 definition of genocide because they were generally not aimed at groups defined by nationality, ethnicity, race, or religion. Only those four groups are protected in the genocide convention.
The same goes for murders committed by the Khmer Rouge – the radical communist regime of Pol Pot that ruled what is now Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. The regime was responsible for the deaths of between 1.5 and 3 million people. But the hybrid criminal tribunal set up in 1997 to judge these events has only been able to find that the killing of minority Vietnamese and Cham victims counted as genocide. The majority of those that the Khmer Rouge targeted for killing were fellow Cambodians selected for being “intellectuals” or were otherwise thought to oppose the regime.
The choice of protected groups in the genocide convention was the result of political horse-trading between different factions, as the cold war was gaining in intensity. There was a tension between protecting enough groups, and agreeing a treaty that enough states would actually sign.
The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the ICJ have held that Bosnian Serbs committed genocide against Bosnian Muslims in the town of Srebrenica in what is now Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995. The Bosnian Serb army killed around 8,000 men and boys, and secretly buried them. They detained, treated badly and then expelled the remaining women.
The atrocity at Srebrenica in Bosnia-Herzegovina, where more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys were murdered, has been ruled as an act of genocide. Skrewt25 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-NC-SA
The ICTY has held, beyond reasonable doubt, that across Bosnia and Herzegovina there was a “strategic plan” to “link Serb-populated areas […] together, to gain control over these areas and to create a separate Bosnian Serb state, from which most non-Serbs would be permanently removed”. It also found that this plan “could only be implemented by the use of force and fear”. Yet, apart from at Srebrenica, genocide has not been proved in the former Yugoslavia.
The issue here was not identifying a protected group, but a lack of evidence that the mass killings of non-Serbs were carried out as an end in themselves and not “just” to make them flee (something which is often called “ethnic cleansing”). This is because for a killing to be genocidal, it has not only to be carried out intentionally, but also to show the “special” intent to physically or biologically destroy a protected group.
The problem is that – in the absence of an admission or a bundle of incriminating documents – then such special intent can only be inferred from the facts if it is the only reasonable inference that could be made.
Why Gaza is controversial
Should the definition of genocide be expanded to cover a greater range of protected groups, either by amending the genocide convention or by creative judicial interpretation? Should it be easier to infer the existence of genocidal intent from a pattern of facts? Both are important questions.
Yet, until they are answered in the affirmative, it will remain difficult in law to apply the label of genocide even to the most egregious of mass killings. The labels of “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity” are more easily applied, but the “crime of crimes” remains elusive.
James Sweeney does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
ACCRA, Ghana, May 29, 2025/APO Group/ —
Asanko Gold Mine, operated by Canadian firm Galiano Gold, has joined the upcoming Mining in Motion Summit 2025 as a Bronze sponsor. The Summit is Ghana’s premier event for the mining sector, taking place on June 2 – 4, 2025 in Accra.
As one of Ghana’s key mining operations, Asanko Gold Mine plays a vital role in advancing local content development, environmental sustainability and increased gold production. Asanko Gold Mine’s participation at the event underscores the company’s long-term commitment to driving economic growth and job creation through a robust and responsible mining agenda.
Asanko Gold Mine will participate in high-level panel discussions, exclusive networking, and project showcases highlighting its investment strategy and impact on Ghana’s mining sector, economy, and local communities.
The mine discovered a high-grade gold zone at the Abore Main pit, following a drilling campaign completed in May 2025 aimed at extending the life of its underground operations. In addition, the company continues to drill at its other open-pit sites; Nkran, Esaase, and Miradani North to further enhance production capacity.
On the local content front, Asanko Gold Mine contributes to employment creation, female empowerment and community development. With a workforce of over 2,200 – 99% of whom are Ghanaian – the company champions local capacity building. Through its Asanko Women in Mining initiative, the firm empowers women by providing training and promoting their inclusion across all levels of the mining sector, fostering a more diverse and equitable industry.
Asanko Gold Mine has also prioritized environmental stewardship. In 2023, the firm signed a clean power purchase agreement with the Volta River Authority to source 15MW of electricity for its operations from solar. The deal supports emissions reductions and aligns with sustainability goals within Ghana’s Asante Kingdom.
Organized by the Ashanti Green Initiative – led by Oheneba Kwaku Duah, Prince of Ghana’s Ashanti Kingdom – in collaboration with Ghana’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, World Bank, and the World Gold Council, with the support of Ghana’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the summit offers unparalleled opportunities to connect with industry leaders.
Stay informed about the latest advancements, network with industry leaders, and engage in critical discussions on key issues impacting small-scale miners and medium- to large-scale mining in Ghana. Secure your spot at the Mining in Motion 2025 Summit by visiting www.MiningInMotionSummit.com. For sponsorship opportunities or delegate participation, contact Sales@ashantigreeninitiative.org.
May 29, 2025 Gatineau, Québec Accessibility Standards Canada
Accessibility Standards Canada is pleased to announce today the publication of the CAN/ASC-2.8:2025 – Accessible-Ready Housing standard. This new equity-based standard intends to help ensure homes are designed for adaptability, and ready to be accessible.
The standard provides practical accessible-ready design requirements – making it easier to meet people’s needs and reduce barriers over time. It covers everything from entrances, kitchens, bathrooms, and stairs, to parking, and emergency features. It helps to prevent barriers before they exist by building flexible features into the design of homes. For instance:
reinforced walls for future lifts or grab bars
clear doorways and paths of travel for mobility devices
reachable or easily modified operating controls, like thermostats
Accessible-ready housing allows people to adapt their homes to changing needs – whether it’s aging in place or accommodating a disability. Designing with accessibility from the start leads to smarter, more cost-effective housing and solutions.
CAN/ASC 2.8, Accessible-Ready Housing has been approved as a National Standard of Canada by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). This recognition means that the standard meets SCC’s rigorous standards development requirements. This includes a full public review and alignment with international best practices.
The standard was developed by an Accessibility Standards Canada technical committee. The committee is made up primarily of people with disabilities and members of equity-deserving groups. This reflects the organization’s equity-based approach and its commitment to developing accessibility standards that create meaningful, lasting change for Canadians.
First released in December of 2024, this revised edition includes important updates. These revisions will help create a work environment that is equitable, accessible, and inclusive for all workers, including persons with disabilities.
The revised standard introduces new requirements for removing and preventing employment-related accessibility barriers. This includes how organizations can improve accessibility in the workplace. It also clarifies existing requirements to help organizations better support workers with disabilities.
The revisions to the standard include:
a section on culture, engagement, and education, which gives requirements to foster inclusive, respectful and positive workplace cultures and environments
three informative annexes that give background to the standard, context on lived experience with disability, and practical guidance for integration into existing policies
The standard helps organizations identify, remove, and prevent barriers at every stage of employment. It gives them the tools to create equitable and inclusive workplaces that include the skills and talents of employees with disabilities.
This revised edition was shaped through collaboration with people with disabilities and lived experience, technical experts, accessibility experts and other partners. It reflects Accessibility Standards Canada’s equity-based approach and commitment to developing world-class, accessibility standards.
Researchers Race Against the Clock to Discover Preventive Measures for Liver Abscesses in Cattle
By: Maribel Alonso Email: Maribel.Alonso@usda.gov
Researchers at the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are looking to help the U.S. food industry save millions annually by reducing liver abscess formations in cattle.
The prevalence of liver abscess formations in cattle continues to raise concerns among dairy and beef producers. This problem also remains a challenge for researchers, as the primary factors driving formations are not yet fully understood.
Reducing liver abscess formation is even more critical in calves born from dairy cows mated with beef sires (“dairy-beef crossbred cattle”). These crossbred calves are becoming a greater percentage of the total beef population in the beef industry and are also shown to be more susceptible to this problem [close to 50% vs 20% for traditionally raised beef cattle].
Cattle with liver abscesses don’t show clinical signs and are generally identified too late –at harvest. The economic losses associated with this condition in cattle is in the millions.
Rand Broadway, a research microbiologist with the USDA ARS’ Livestock Issues Research Unit (LIRU) and researchers at Texas Tech University, Kansas State University, and West Texas A&M University, has studied the relationship between liver abscess formation in dairy-beef crossbred cattle for the past 5years in relation to diet type, ruminal acidosis (caused by high grain diet), and the bacteria community in the digestive system.
The researchers have made significant progress in isolating the primary drivers contributing to this problem through a series of breakthroughs, with their latest study disproving the long-held belief that acidosis and high energy diet intake are the sole cause for the development of liver abscesses.
“We confirmed that acidosis and aggressive grain feeding is not the only driver of liver abscess development, and our research indicates that pathogen presence alone is sufficient to cause an abscess,” said Broadway. “Therefore, if we can reduce the pathogen load and block its pathway to the liver, we can control the problem.”
Scientists are focusing next on identifying which bacterial pathogens are causing liver abscess formation, and where these bacteria can be found. Species of Fusobacterium and Salmonella bacteria were detected in the abscesses studied in the laboratory at LIRU. Since these bacteria can be found in the cattle environments, they can reach the animal’s liver if they gain access to the circulatory system through lacerations in any part of the animal’s digestive system.
Animals are particularly more vulnerable under some types of stress. This could be due to weather [heat/cold] stress, gastrointestinal disruptions, illnesses, or the presence of other pathogens that cause inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Management during weaning and relocation, most calves are shipped to new locations after weaning, may also trigger these conditions.
This study reveals that the nutritional management alone plays a less critical role in liver abscesses formations than previously believed. This insight helps producers make more informed decisions about diet management practices focusing on efficiency. Additionally, it allows researchers to redirect their efforts toward understanding the pathogens involved and the pathway(s) they use to enter the animal’s body [and get to the liver]. This shift in focus has become increasingly important for researchers and time is of the essence for producers, as every minute incurs costs.
TheAgricultural Research Serviceis the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in U.S. agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
More than 100 semi-trailers were needed to deliver the crane pieces, and it took almost three weeks to build.
In brief:
A giant crane is helping to build the new Molonglo River Bridge.
The crane will reach heights of up to 143-metres, it is one of the tallest cranes to ever come to Canberra.
This article provides more information on the crane.
A giant crane has arrived in Canberra to work on the Molonglo River Bridge project.
The crane is one of the tallest to ever come to Canberra.
A crane enthusiasts dream
Standing at up to143 metres tall, the crane is taller than Parliament House, which is 107 metres high.
More than 100 semi-trailers were needed to deliver the crane pieces, and it took almost three weeks to build.
The crane is: -capable of lifting steel beams up to 80 metres long – nearly the length of four basketball courts -has a capacity of 1,600 tonnes, or the weight of 260 elephants.
To aid in the construction of the new bridge, Coppins Crossing Road is now closed for up to three weeks.
This will allow the crane to lift the steel girders into place.
To safely view the crane in action, park at the Namarag Reserve carpark off Thancoupie Crescent. Please do not go beyond barriers or stop on Coppins Crossing Road.
The Molonglo River Bridge Project
When completed, the 200-metre-long Molonglo River Bridge will be the longest weathering steel bridge in Australia and the tallest road bridge in Canberra.
It will support the growing region and better connect suburbs in the Molonglo Valley to Belconnen and the rest of Canberra.
Construction began in January 2024. Initial works included the realignment of the northern approach road to Coppins Crossing. The new temporary road opened in May 2024.
The bridge’s foundation and substructure are now complete. The superstructure of the bridge is being constructed.
The Australian and ACT governments jointly fund the project under the Commonwealth’s Investment Road and Rail Program.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
ACT Honour Walk recipients are acknowledged with a plaque.
In brief:
Nominations close soon for the 2025 ACT Honour Walk induction.
The Honour Walk celebrates individuals and groups that have helped shape Canberra.
This story includes information on previous recipients.
Nominations close soon for the 2025 ACT Honour Walk induction.
The Honour Walk celebrates people and groups that have helped shape our city.
Recipients are acknowledged for their contribution with a permanent plaque, displayed on the ACT Honour Walk.
You can find the Honour Walk on Ainslie Place in the city, between London Circuit and the Canberra Times Fountain.
ACT Honour Walk recipients
The Honour Walk was commissioned in 2005. Since then, more than 80 recipients have been inducted.
Sue Salthouse OAM (1949-2020) was inducted to the ACT Honour Walk in 2023.
Sue was committed to social justice all her life. She became a wheelchair user in 1995 after a horse-riding accident and, having experienced the systemic inequality facing people with disabilities, was determined to bring about positive change.
She devoted the last 25 years of her life to breaking down barriers for people with disability, as well as for women and those experiencing domestic violence. Sue was committed to creating a more inclusive community.
Other recipients include:
Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahoney Griffin
Canberra Philharmonic Society
Agnes Shea OAM
Terry Snow AM
the Brumbies.
Who you can nominate
You can nominate any group or person who has:
helped shape the city of Canberra
made a lasting contribution to the community.
Nominees do not have to live in the ACT. The honour may be awarded posthumously.
Previous recipients have been recognised for their contributions to:
There is a major educational development for health care providers. On May 28, a first stem cell medicine continuing education course launched internationally in six languages to educate the world. The course is open access to all and free of charge.
Clinicians, nurses, and medical students can access the free, online course on stem cell-medicine developed by the Education Committee of the International Society of Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) with international stem cell experts and accredited and produced by Harvard Medical School.
Stem Cell Medicine: From Scientific ResearchtoPatient Care is an essential educational resource for clinicians, scientists, healthcare providers, those in the nursing fields, medical students, and even the general public, seeking the most trusted and reliable stem cell information.
The course is critical to educate providers on the rapidly evolving stem cell medicine but in turn also to protect patients from the potential physical and financial harms associated with the growing popularity of unproven ‘stem cell tourism’ clinics.
UConn’s Dr. Jaime Imitola.
“As a practicing physician, I often hear questions from my patients that reference false claims made by clinics marketing unproven stem cell ‘therapies’ here and abroad,” said course-co-leader Dr. Jaime Imitola of UConn School of Medicine and vice-chair of the ISSCR Education Committee. “Our goal is to provide physicians worldwide with trusted and reliable information on stem cells and their applications in a CE format by authoritative sources. This will help clinicians and students guide their patients more effectively and ensure patients are making informed decisions about their health.”
Imitola adds, “This is the first time that stem cell medicine is clearly defined and that we have a course on it. This is an important paradigm shift in medical education, including for clinical practitioners. This course is an introduction to the stem cell field and its potential use in clinical care as we prepare for the future of health care which will soon fully integrate stem cells into patient care given the numerous late phase clinical trials by respected institutions around the world. Stem cell medicine is here to stay and soon stem cell therapy will be established so we need to educate all providers on this promising frontier of medicine,” says Imitola of UConn.
“Dr. Imitola’s work as vice-chair of the ISSCR Education Committee exemplifies the power of collaborative leadership and how it has led to new and exceptional educational opportunities with lasting impact on our field,” said ISSCR President Valentina Greco, professor of Genetics and Cell Biology at Yale University. “Dr. Imitola, in partnership with Dr. Piddini, who chairs the committee, ISSCR team member Dr. Prutton and the whole Education Committee, have worked tirelessly to make the continuing education course on Stem Cell Medicine a reality. Their work is rooted in their collective deep belief of the critical role that education plays in the stem cell field, and the need to present current information in ways that bridge experts across different specialties for the benefit of patients.”
Dangers of Stem Cell Tourism Imitola, professor of Neurology and vice-chair of research in the Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Translational Neuroimmunology at UConn School of Medicine trained at Harvard Medical School as a stem cell-scientist and has devoted his career to the clinical translation of stem cell research to MS care and education. He established pioneering work on migration of neural stem cells to inflammation and currently studies the impact of the inflammatory environment in neurodegeneration and repair both in the laboratory dish and clinic in MS patients using advanced 3D stem cell cultures or organoids. The scientific knowledge gained can be applied to variety of neurological diseases like brain tumors and was published in PNAS. He has also significantly researched stem cell tourism and its negative impact, since MS patient are often the target of the unproven therapy from ‘stem cell clinics’.”
According to Imitola, around the world during the last 15 years there has been an explosion in stem cell clinics. He has also researched in-depth stem cell clinics exploiting patients in search of hope and cures – and calls it a “state of emergency.”
“The translation of stem cells to patients is very complex and needs real, rigorous scientific research to move to the bedside,” says Imitola. “Stem cell tourism clinics are increasing under the disguise of ‘stem cell’ care – but they are not using stem cells. Plus, whatever cells or unproven therapies they are offering patients for high cost are not being rigorously studied,” stresses Imitola.
“Stem cell clinics are taking ill patients desperately searching for hope for a ride. We need providers, residents and medical students to help their patients avoid exploitation from stem cell tourism clinics. This is an urgent matter; we need to educate providers so they can have evidence-based medical conversations with their patients and be protective of patients,” he says.
As chief of the Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology and director of the Comprehensive MS Center at UConn Health and a neurologist he is motivated to work in this area because he has seen first-hand the negative experience of patients pursuing stem cell tourism clinics. “In our MS Center we have seen the devastating consequences of MS patients receiving unproven therapy, by patients travelling abroad with a great financial impact to them that are desperate for a cure with no benefit, and this is especially hard in our patients with limited resources and medical educational background that we serve,” says Imitola. This was one of his motivations to work in this global ISSCR initiative since 2022.
In 2015 his team published a peer-reviewed perspective in JAMA Neurology raising awareness of the growing issue to begin to educate physicians in his field of neurology and how to help combat it, and a decade later legitimate stem cell products are under investigations and still not formally available to use in the neurology clinic yet, but there are hundreds of stem cell clinics offering unproven cell products. In 2019, he established the MS Program at UConn Health and in 2020, he launched a North America survey after several patients had complications of injections in the spine in stem cell tourism clinics. The survey found patients in the U.S. reported complications from their stem cell clinic “treatments” abroad and in the U.S. Also, most physicians surveyed said they didn’t understand the topic of stem cells and saw a course on stem cells as a necessary tool. The findings were published in Annals of Neurology and this educational project is part of UConn’s mission to educate, research, and provide care and solutions to real-world problems in our community, says Imitola.
“These survey results were a clear alarm that we needed to improve physician education and training in stem cell medicine and teaming with my colleagues at ISSCR and dozens of experts around the world that shared the same concern, we saw that as a tremendous unmet need at the bedside,” shared Imitola. “Now, we have more advanced clinical trials that will place pressure on clinicians to be trained and increase their fund of knowledge to provide information and develop communication skills to talk about stem cell medicine to patients.”
Fast forward to 2025, the comprehensive ISSCR Continuing Education course offers seven modules on the fundamentals of stem cell biology, methodologies and considerations for cell therapy product design and clinical trials, and the rise of unproven stem cell clinics and stem cell tourism. It aims to equip medical students, nurses, and practicing clinicians with tools and strategies for effective patient communication, ensuring that information shared is accurate and impactful.
Development of the course and its materials took Imitola and members of the education committee and collaborating international stem cell scientists from across all five continents two years to create. It will be followed by disease-specific stem cell medicine courses later in 2025.
Also, all courses also offer AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) contact hours, allowing physicians and nurses to use the earned credits to fulfill their continuing education requirements.
International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), with nearly 5,000 members from more than 80 countries, is the preeminent global, cross-disciplinary, science-based organization dedicated to stem cell research and its translation to the clinic. The ISSCR mission is to promote excellence in stem cell science and applications to human health. Patients and others can learn more from ISSCR at AboutStemCells.org.
Dr. Bina Katechia receives an award at the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s Annual Meeting.
Dr. Bina Katechia, assistant professor of pediatric dentistry, recently received the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s (AAPD) Dr. Lewis Kay Excellence in Education Award.
This award, given during the AAPD’s annual meeting, honors a recipient who demonstrates outstanding leadership, is committed to educating pediatric dental residents to provide children with comprehensive quality oral health care, and brings recognition to their program through their contributions to society and the profession of dentistry.
“Your leadership in the dental profession, your commitment to education pediatric dental residents, your contributions to society, and to the profession of dentistry are examples every educator should emulate,” said Dr. Scott Smith, president of the AAPD in the award announcement.
India has demonstrated a good performance in venture capital (VC) funding activity in early 2025, recording a significant increase in both deal volume and value. The total number of VC deals announced in India surged by approximately 19% during January-April 2025 compared to the same period in the previous year, while the total funding value of these deals experienced a year-on-year (YoY) growth of around 20%, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The growth is particularly noteworthy, given the challenges faced by other major markets. Interestingly, this positive trajectory stands in contrast to the trends observed in several key markets where either the total VC funding deal volume or the deal value has seen a decline, while some markets even experienced a decline in both.”
For instance, the US and the UK registered growth in VC funding value but a fall in deal volume during January-April 2025 compared to January-April 2024. Meanwhile, China experienced a decline in both VC deal volume and value during the same period.
It is also noteworthy that India continues to be a key global market for VC funding activity and remained among the top five countries in terms of both deal volume and value during the first four months of 2025.
An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database revealed that India accounted for more than 8% of the total number of VC deals announced globally during January-April 2025, while its share of the corresponding funding value was more than 3%.
Bose concludes: “The increase in VC deal volume and value is a testament to the confidence investors have in the Indian market. As startups continue to innovate and scale, we can expect this trend to gain momentum, further enhancing India’s position as a global VC hub.”
Note: Historic data may change in case some deals get added to previous months because of a delay in disclosure of information in the public domain
The Malaysian payment card market (including at POS and ATM cash withdrawals) is expected to grow by 4.0% to reach MYR814.1 billion ($177.9 billion) in 2025e, driven by a clear shift from cash to digital payments. Contactless cards and wider card acceptance are playing a key role, with card payments at POS now set to overtake ATM cash withdrawals for the first time, reveals GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
GlobalData’s Payment Card Analytics reveals that payment cards value in Malaysia registered a healthy compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.0% between 2020 and 2024 to reach MYR783 billion ($171.1 billion) in 2024. On the other hand, card usage for ATM cash withdrawals is reducing with total ATM withdrawals registering low CAGR of 1.1% during the same period.
Shivani Gupta, Lead Banking and Payments Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Although cash remains prevalent in Malaysia, it is gradually losing ground to electronic payments. There has been significant progress in the adoption of card-based payments, which recorded a CAGR of 20.4% between 2020 and 2024 in terms of transaction volume. This growth is primarily supported by the government’s financial inclusion initiatives, such as capping interchange fees, issuing licenses for digital-only banks, and developing payment infrastructure in the country.”
While cash has traditionally been the preferred payment method in Malaysia, its share is steadily declining as digital payments gain traction, with payment cards and digital wallets emerging as the main beneficiaries. The share of ATM cash withdrawals now represents 49.8% in 2025, much lower compared to 63.3% in 2021.
Card payments at POS terminals, on the other hand, are steadily increasing, with its share is estimated to reach 50.2% in 2025. This growth can be attributed to the rising consumer awareness, growing POS terminalization, and the introduction of contactless debit cards by banks. The capping of interchange fees for domestic and international debit cards at 0.10% and 0.27%, respectively, and at 0.6% for credit cards, also contributed to this as this encouraged more merchants to accept card payments.
The growing popularity of contactless payment has also driven the overall card usage at POS, gradually displacing cash for day-to-day transactions. Backed by most banks and financial institutions in the country, contactless payments have become increasingly prevalent and are also widely accepted by most retailers.
According to GlobalData’s 2024 Financial Services Consumer Survey*, over 63% of the respondents in Malaysia indicated having access to a contactless card and used it for payments.
The increasing use of contactless payments for public transport payments is also contributing to the growth of card payments. For example, in March 2024, the highway operator PLUS Malaysia introduced contactless credit and debit card payment capabilities at the toll plaza on the Penang Bridge. Commuters can simply tap their cards on the MyDebit-Visa-Mastercard device to complete toll payments, with the toll fee deducted directly from their card balance. These advancements indicate a growing trend towards the normalization of cashless and contactless payment methods in Malaysia.
Despite the increasing popularity of electronic payments, cash remains widely used in Malaysia due to consumer cultural preferences and the perceived convenience and security it offers. Consequently, Malaysia’s transition to a less-cash society is expected to be a gradual process.
Gupta concludes: “Looking ahead, Malaysia’s payment card landscape is poised for steady growth over the next five years, driven by the increasing adoption of payment cards amid a boarder digital transformation. Government initiatives, rising consumer preference for digital payments, and developing card acceptance infrastructure are expected to further drive/support this growth. Subsequently, the payment cards value is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% between 2025 and 2029 to reach MYR969.9 billion ($211.9 billion) in 2029.”
*GlobalData’s 2024 Financial Services Consumer Survey was carried out in Q2 2024. Approximately 67,292 respondents aged 18+ were surveyed across 41 countries.
Deforestation is no longer just a reputational concern, it is now a material risk with regulatory teeth. With the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) taking effect in December 2025, companies across sectors must prove their supply chains are deforestation-free or face severe penalties. The shift demands urgent action on traceability, supplier engagement, and sustainability strategy to preserve access to critical markets, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
The upcoming EUDR is a commodity-based regulation requires companies importing deforestation-intensive commodities (cattle, palm oil, soy, coffee, cocoa, rubber, or wood) to the EU to provide evidence that these products’ supply chains are deforestation-free. Companies that fail to comply could face a fine of up to 4% of their EU revenue or a temporary suspension from the EU market.
GlobalData’s latest Strategic Intelligence report, “Deforestation Risk,” includes analysis of the economic and environmental impacts of deforestation, an overview of the global regulatory landscape, and deforestation risk profiles for 12 industries
Aoife McGurk, Strategic Intelligence Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “For many years now, certain companies have faced operational regulatory risk if their operations directly contribute to deforestation. The introduction of the EUDR from December 2025 means far more companies will need to mitigate the supply chain regulatory risk they face.”
To help companies analyze this expanded regulatory risk, alongside the physical, reputational, and financing risk that deforestation generates, GlobalData has developed a brand new Deforestation Risk Framework.
When analyzed through this framework, the agriculture sector faces the highest level of risk across the board. The sector’s intensive use of commodities targeted by the EUDR exposes it to elevated regulatory risk, and its reliance on ecosystem services, like pollinators and the water cycle, means it faces significant physical risk.
The second most exposed sector is consumer. While it directly contributes to very little deforestation, the consumer sector’s supply chains involve vast amounts of high-risk commodities—palm oil, in particular.
Companies in every sector face an underlying low level of financing risk. As financial institutions realize the risk to which deforestation and the ensuing loss of natural capital expose them, they will restrict their provision of financial services to companies that do not contribute to forest loss. Barclays has already launched a policy to this effect.
McGurk continues: “Every company needs a strategy to mitigate deforestation risk in its many forms. GlobalData has five key recommendations companies should follow when implementing such a strategy.”
Companies should set a robust no-deforestation target to signal to consumers and regulators that they are serious about their forestry efforts. They should engage with suppliers throughout the value chain to strengthen accountability and explicitly integrate deforestation risk into their business strategies. Companies should try to substitute any high-risk commodities they use wherever possible.
Using natural or synthetic alternatives, changing suppliers, and economizing on the volume of each commodity can help reduce deforestation risk. Finally, investing in supply chain traceability and anti-deforestation technology will help with EUDR compliance.
McGurk concludes: “One of the biggest challenges for EUDR compliance is ensuring that supply chains are fully transparent. Artificial intelligence (AI) can support anti-deforestation efforts by monitoring forests and using predictive analytics to predict where deforestation will occur, allowing stakeholders to prevent it. Internet of Things (IoT) technology helps monitor deforestation by combining many inputs from different sensors to detect changes in forests, analyze this data, and communicate potential deforestation to the relevant authorities. Dedicated supply chain traceability platforms combine these technologies to help companies mitigate their deforestation risk.”
The power sector is experiencing a notable growth in renewable energy sources, propelled by an array of factors such as technological progress, policy incentives, and a heightened awareness of the imperative for sustainable energy solutions. Consequently, renewable resources, particularly solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy, are gaining a larger share in the energy portfolio. Driven primarily by declining costs and strong policy support, particularly for solar PV and wind energy, the global renewable power installed capacity is estimated to surge from 3.42TW in 2024 to 11.2TW by 2035, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
GlobalData’s latest report, “Renewable Energy: Strategic Intelligence”, reveals that the global renewables market expanded from a cumulative installed capacity of 0.93TW in 2015 to 3.42TW by the end of 2024, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16%. The total cumulative installed capacity is projected to record a CAGR of 11% during the period 2024-35.
Solar PV and wind power were significant contributors to the renewable energy sector, accounting for 56% and 33% of the total installed capacity in 2024, respectively. The Asia Pacific (APAC) region has emerged as the largest market for solar PV and wind installed capacity, boasting 1.18TW and 0.67TW in 2024, respectively.
Rehaan Shiledar, Power Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “As the costs of solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind technologies continue to decline, these renewable energy sources are increasingly appealing to investors. Also, energy transition strategies, coupled with a rising demand for electricity—partly fueled by the emergence of hydrogen energy and the advent of artificial intelligence—will propel the market growth for renewable energy sources.”
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the renewable energy sector by enhancing generation optimization, advancing grid management, and increasing efficiency across multiple systems. AI algorithms possess the capability to forecast renewable energy production, oversee grid operations in real-time, and refine energy storage strategies. These advancements contribute to heightened reliability and efficiency, thereby rendering renewable energy more effective and economical.
Leading offshore wind developers such as TotalEnergies, Corio Generation, EnBW, RWE, and Statkraft are leveraging digital platforms to enhance the efficiency of wind farm project development. Similarly, solar power developers such as NextEra Energy, EDF and ENGIE are employing machine learning models to enhance the efficiency of solar PV facilities.
Shiledar continues: “The renewable energy sector stands on the cusp of substantial growth, with the solar PV and wind power industries at the forefront. Moreover, the worldwide pledge to curtail carbon emissions has cultivated a regulatory landscape conducive to investments in these sustainable energy alternatives.”
Solar PV systems are poised to spearhead new investments, outpacing both onshore and offshore wind sectors. In 2024, solar PV garnered $329.1 billion in investments. In contrast, onshore wind investments stood at $151.2 billion, while offshore wind investments reached $69.6 billion by the end of 2024. Looking ahead, the onshore wind sector is forecasted to grow to $186.9 billion and the offshore wind sector to $150.4 billion by 2030. These figures correspond to a CAGR of 4% for onshore wind and an impressive 14% for offshore wind, signaling robust growth trajectories for these renewable energy sources.”
Shiledar concludes: “Solar and wind power stand at the vanguard of the renewable segment, rapidly becoming cost-competitive with traditional fossil fuels. They are anticipated to dominate electricity generation in the near future. While the global community is committing to the expansion of renewable energy sources, the US appears to be slowing the pace of renewables growth in favor of prioritizing fossil fuels.
“Tariffs and offshore wind lease restrictions policy by the Trump administration are significantly impacting the renewable energy industry. Nonetheless, the global commitment to reduce carbon emissions, technological advancements, and demand for cleaner energy solutions will accelerate the adoption of renewable energy across the globe.”
GARYSBURG, NC —Congressman Don Davis (NC-01)received a tour of the Lowe’s Distribution Center in Garysburg, NC to gain insights into its operations, workforce, and role in supporting the regional economy.
“With a dedicated workforce of 500 employees, Lowe’s is a pillar of northeastern North Carolina, and we are thankful for their contributions to our community,” said Congressman Don Davis.“Businesses like Lowe’s Distribution Center #1420 play a vital role in creating a brighter future for eastern North Carolina.”
Lowe’s has been recognized as a 2025 Military Friendly Employer, emphasizing its commitment to supporting veterans and military families. Through its partnership with the Department of Defense’s SkillBridge program, Lowe’s offers a 12-week fellowship providing transitioning servicemembers with hands-on training, mentorship, and career opportunities in various roles, including store management and supply chain operations.
Lowe’s plays a critical role in disaster preparedness and response, especially in storm-prone regions like eastern North Carolina. Through its Emergency Command Center, the company pre-positions essential supplies, supports rapid store recovery, and partners with organizations like the American Red Cross to aid local communities.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) — Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang on Thursday called on the U.S. side to stop “adding fuel to the fire” over the Taiwan issue, stressing that such behavior would only lead to counterproductive results.
Zhang Xiaogang made the statement in response to reports of unfounded accusations by the US military command against China’s actions related to Taiwan.
Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The resolution of the Taiwan issue is a matter for the Chinese themselves, which does not allow outside interference, Zhang Xiaogang reiterated at a press conference.
“There is no more destabilizing factor for the situation on the other side of the Taiwan Strait than the provocations of separatists advocating ‘Taiwan independence’ and the subversive activities of foreign forces,” Zhang Xiaogang said.
He told reporters that the Chinese side’s actions to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity are legal, necessary and justified.
Responding to reports that the US side is increasing its military presence in response to the so-called “Chinese threat”, Zhang Xiaogang noted that mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation are the right way to improve relations between the two countries.
“The US side should stop imagining a ‘powerful enemy’, whether intentionally or unintentionally,” Zhang Xiaogang said. “Such an approach is irrational and extremely dangerous.”
The Chinese armed forces will make every effort to enhance their combat readiness and firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, the spokesperson added. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) — More than 1,000 students from China and Russia took part in the Spartakiad that opened Thursday in Heilongjiang Province (Northeast China), the Yangguang news portal of China Media Corporation reported.
The opening ceremony of the 2nd Spartakiad of universities of Heilongjiang Province of China and the Russian Far East was held on Thursday at the Heihe Institute in the city of Heihe in this province. The event was attended by more than a thousand students from 18 higher education institutions from both countries, including Blagoveshchensk State Pedagogical University, Amur State University /ASU/, Far Eastern State Agrarian University, Pacific National University, Primorsky State University named after Sholem Aleichem, as well as 13 Chinese universities.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Spartakiad, Rector of Heihe Institute Yang Jingmin called on the Spartakiad participants from the two countries to strengthen mutual understanding in competitions and develop friendship in cooperation.
Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education at ASU Elena Tokar highly praised the results of cooperation in the field of sports and physical education between Russian and Chinese universities and noted the particularly great importance of sports for strengthening friendship between young people. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) — Cherries from Uzbekistan have been delivered to east China’s Zhejiang Province for the first time, Hangzhou Daily reported.
An Uzbekistan Airways plane carrying 1.6 tons of cherries flew from Tashkent to Hangzhou, the capital of the province, early in the morning of May 26. The Central Asian fruit will be delivered to Hangzhou, Shanghai and other cities in the Yangtze River Delta.
Airport staff have opened a “green corridor” for fruits from Central Asia to ensure uninterrupted supplies to the market.
According to statistics, 16.6 tons of fruits were imported through Hangzhou Airport checkpoint from January to April, up 20 percent year-on-year. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) — Chairman of the Central Military Commission Xi Jinping signed an order promulgating regulations governing awards for military scientific research.
The new document, which will come into force on July 1, aims to implement the strategy of strengthening the armed forces with the help of science and technology and regulates the process of awarding prizes for military scientific research.
The regulations establish a structured award system that meets the significant strategic needs of the state and the armed forces. The system’s features include contribution to combat capability as the only main criterion, regulation of the nomination and consideration procedures for candidates, and increased oversight of discipline and confidentiality.
The adopted provisions are expected to enhance innovative military research, accelerate technological breakthroughs in the defense field, and provide high-quality scientific support for building a strong military in the new era. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) — A delegation from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) National Defense University will attend the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue Conference in Singapore, the Chinese Defense Ministry said Thursday.
As the official representative of the Chinese Ministry of Defense Zhang Xiaogang noted at a press conference, the delegation will also visit Singapore’s military and civilian institutions.
Asked about the Chinese delegation’s bilateral meeting schedule and possible meetings with their American counterparts during the upcoming conference, Zhang Xiaogang said details would be disclosed in due course.
He stressed that China pays special attention to relations between the armed forces of China and the United States and remains open to bilateral communication at all levels.
“We hope that the U.S. side will actually respect China’s core interests and major concerns, and move toward China, promoting the healthy and stable development of relations between the two countries’ militaries,” Zhang Xiaogang told reporters.
The 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue Conference will run from May 30 to June 1. –0–
Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, along with the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, made the following statement:
“The Government of Canada welcomes recent announcements from leading telecommunications companies such as Bell and Telus about their plans to build the critical infrastructure to power Canada’s AI advantage. These forward-looking private sector investments will help create high-quality jobs in Canada, open up new opportunities for workers at home and strengthen Canada’s position as an AI leader. It also supports the responsible development and adoption of AI technologies that can improve prosperity for workers and businesses across Canada.
“Notwithstanding unjustified tariffs imposed by the United States, these announcements show industry is strongly aligned with Canada’s plans to build the strongest economy in the G7, and the desire to see AI get to scale, unlock productivity gains, and fuel trust, security and sovereignty at this time of crisis.
“These investments are also a testament to Canada’s commitment to ensuring all Canadians have access to best-in-class technologies. The Government of Canada will continue to champion investments that expand access to reliable, affordable telecommunications and support the growth of Canadian businesses in every corner of the country. Canada is open for business.”
May 29, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada
The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence; the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety; and the Honourable Jill McKnight, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, today issued the following statement:
“Canada honours the more than 125,000 Canadians who have served in UN peace operations over the past 80 years, including the 124 who gave their lives in service. These brave Canadians are among the more than 4,430 UN peacekeepers worldwide who have lost their lives in the service of peace.
“Earlier this month, Canada pledged over $40 million to modernize peacekeeping. This includes support for training, airlift operations and efforts to protect peacekeepers and civilians from misinformation, hate speech and targeted violence.
“This year, as we mark 25 years of the UN Women, Peace and Security agenda, Canada is also investing in ways to increase the meaningful participation of uniformed women in global peace efforts.
“In a more dangerous and divided world, peacekeeping matters. Canada will continue to step up, working with allies to build peace, strengthen security and protect human rights.”
Source: United States Small Business Administration
Click Here to View the Original U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Press Release
Fourteen defendants – including San Fernando Valley and Glendale residents – were arrested on two federal criminal complaints alleging they fraudulently obtained more than $25 million in taxpayer-funded COVID-19 relief funds and federally-guaranteed small business loans.
The 18 total defendants named in the complaints – four defendants are believed to be in Armenia – are charged with conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims; false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims; wire fraud and attempted wire fraud; bank fraud and attempted bank fraud; money laundering conspiracy; laundering of monetary instruments; engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity; and/or structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements.
The defendants arrested today include:
Vahe Margaryan, a.k.a. “William McGrayan,” 42, of Tujunga, who allegedly orchestrated a scheme to defraud numerous banks and the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Preferred Lender Program, a program designed to help small businesses that otherwise might not obtain financing. McGrayan allegedly directed owners of sham corporations to open bank accounts, make false statements, and concoct documents, including phony resumes and financial statements, to support loan applications to buy other sham corporations. McGrayan allegedly paid for phony tax returns that falsely reported millions in revenue and tens of thousands in tax due and owing. McGrayan, whose alleged criminal activity lasted from 2018 until January 2025, then directed the laundering of millions in fraud proceeds through various bank accounts.
Sarkis Gareginovich Sarkisyan, 37, a.k.a. “Samuel Shaw,” of Glendale, who allegedly, among other offenses, submitted a false application and bogus documents to obtain a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which provided low-interest, forgivable loans to help small businesses retain their workforce and cover expenses. Sarkisyan allegedly applied in April 2021 on behalf of a fake business that received more than $700,000 in PPP funds.
Mery Babayan, 32, a.k.a. “Mery Diamondz,” of Van Nuys, together with co-defendants Margaryan and Hovannes Hovannisyan, 48, a.k.a. “John Harvard,” of Panorama City, in May 2021 allegedly defrauded a bank by representing the nonexistent sale of a sham business to another sham company to obtain an approximately $3 million federally guaranteed loan through the SBA’s Preferred Lending Program.
Felix Parker, 77, of North Hollywood, who in January 2023 allegedly made false statements and submitted fraudulent documents, including fake tax returns that falsely reported that his shell company, Canmar Promo, earned millions of dollars annually and owed tens of thousands in federal income taxes. Parker allegedly obtained more than $2 million in government-guaranteed funds earmarked to help small businesses.
Axsel Markaryan, 47, a.k.a. “Axel Mark,” of Pacoima, who in June 2023 allegedly fraudulently obtained more than $5 million in SBA loans via the submission of false statements and the submission of fake documents, including bogus tax returns. After the loans were obtained, Markaryan and his co-schemers in November 2023 laundered the money, including sending at least $100,000 to a co-schemer in Armenia.
As a result of today’s takedown, law enforcement seized approximately $20,000 in cash, two money-counting machines, paper cash bands or currency straps in denominations of $2,000 and $10,000, multiple cell phones, multiple laptops, two loaded semi-automatic 9mm handguns, and boxes of 9mm ammunition.
“Today’s enforcement action is intended to send a message to all criminals who take advantage of government programs designed to help those who need them most,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “If you took COVID-19 or SBA money you weren’t entitled to, your door could be the next one we visit. Together with our law enforcement partners, my office will aggressively prosecute individuals who cheat the system meant to protect and support law-abiding citizens.”
“Scheming to fraudulently obtain federal funds that were meant to provide assistance to the nation’s small businesses is unacceptable,” said the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG) Western Region Acting Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Huang. “OIG will continue to ardently investigate fraudulently obtained SBA program funds, including COVID-19 pandemic-related loans, to protect taxpayers from fraud, waste, and abuse. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and pursuit of justice.”
“This transnational criminal network sought to defraud the government of millions of dollars and almost succeeded,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles Acting Special Agent in Charge John Pasciucco. “Through the diligent work of the El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force and our federal partners, HSI is continuing to identify these criminal groups looking to profit from the pandemic and will use all available resources to criminally prosecute or remove them from the country.”
“Today, 14 individuals were arrested in connection with a fraudulent loan scheme in which they allegedly obtained in excess of $25 million through the SBA Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs, and other federal funding programs,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, Los Angeles Field Office. “These programs were established to assist individuals and businesses in need of financial assistance and instead were pilfered by the named defendants. IRS-CI is dedicated to identifying and dismantling criminal organizations that prey on assistance programs set up for the benefit of our law-abiding citizens.”
A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, each defendant would face a statutory maximum sentence of decades in federal prison.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolster efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
On September 15, 2022, the Attorney General selected the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Central and Eastern Districts of California to jointly head one of the three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. The Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors, as well as those who committed instances of pandemic relief fraud. The Strike Force uses prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. Additional information regarding the Strike Force may be found at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-covid-19-fraud-strike-force-teams.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
SBA-OIG, IRS Criminal Investigation, and HSI are investigating these matters.
The cases announced today were investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, a multi-agency task force that includes federal and state investigators who are focused on financial crimes in Southern California.
Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Aveis and Gregg Marmaro of the Major Frauds Section and Maxwell Coll of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section are prosecuting these cases.
Source: United States Small Business Administration
Click Here to View the Original U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Press Release
On May 14, 2025, U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz entered a final judgment forfeiting to the United States approximately $7 million in fraud and money laundering proceeds, as well as a real property purchased with laundered fraud proceeds that has an estimated market value of nearly $2 million, United States Attorney Alina Habba announced.
On May 6, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture complaint against approximately $7 million in seized and frozen U.S. currency, as well as a real property in Cresskill, New Jersey, that was purchased with nearly $1 million in laundered fraud proceeds, alleging that the assets were the proceeds of fraud and money laundering offenses. As alleged in the complaint, between April 2020 and August 2020, Jae H. Choi (“Choi”) fraudulently obtained Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans totaling approximately $8,971,457, and then laundered those fraud proceeds through various financial accounts held in the names of Choi’s nominees, including Choi’s relative and various corporate entities that Choi controlled. According to the civil forfeiture complaint, Choi then spent the laundered fraud proceeds on personal expenses and purchased the Cresskill real property.
United States Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Internal Revenue Service –Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General’s Boston New York Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amy Connelly, postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, and special agents of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General’s Eastern Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Braithwaite, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter A. Laserna of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering, and Recovery Unit of the Criminal Division in Newark.
The Trump Administration will be relentless in its efforts to end Harvard’s abuse of the American taxpayer and national security interests
The United States Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem continued to hold Harvard University accountable for failing to comply with Student Exchange Visa Program (SEVP) regulations, for encouraging and allowing antisemitic and anti-American violence to rage on its campus, and for coordinating with Chinese Communist Party officials on training that undermined American national security.
Following a letter from Harvard officials indicating an “intent” to now comply with SEVP, Secretary Noem held firm and reminded the once respected institution, which has disgraced American values, it still has a long way to comply with requirements of the program and be trusted with U.S. taxpayer dollars
“Harvard’s refusal to comply with SEVP oversight was the latest evidence that it disdains the American people and takes for granted U.S. taxpayer benefits,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “Following our letter to Harvard, the school attempted to claim it now wishes to comply with SEVP standards. We continue to reject Harvard’s repeated pattern of endangering its students and spreading American hate—it must change its ways in order to participate in American programs.”
The Department will continue to engage in good faith with Harvard and looks forward to the University’s full compliance with its requests.
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Michael B. Benitez, 34, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of attempt to wreck, derail, set fire to, or disable railroad on-track equipment, was sentenced to serve 27 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Benitez was also ordered to pay $1,382 in restitution to Norfolk Southern Railway.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who handled the case, stated that in the early morning hours of June 14, 2023, Benitez placed several tires on the railroad tracks behind his residence at the time on Railroad Avenue in Farnham, poured gasoline on the tires, and started the tires on fire. The tire fire destroyed equipment owned by Norfolk Southern that’s used to identify railroad equipment while enroute. Norfolk Southern was required to hold trains while the tire fire was extinguished, and rail equipment was repaired.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Town of Brandt Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Slawek, and Norfolk Southern Police Department.
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