Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Fleur Anderson, was speaking after attending the Accelerating Change conference in Belfast today (9 October)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Fleur Anderson
Northern Ireland Office Minister Fleur Anderson has pledged the UK Government will support the NI Executive to reform and transform public services.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State was speaking after attending the Accelerating Change conference hosted by the Department of Health in Belfast on Wednesday.
Minister Anderson paid tribute to the Health Minister Mike Nesbitt for “bringing together expert voices on health reform into one room.”
She said: “The conference highlighted the need to accelerate change in the health service and this is something the UK Government is keen to support.
“I understand the scale of the challenge facing the health service across the UK and particularly in Northern Ireland.
“This Government’s five missions provide ambitious, measurable and long-term objectives to tackle shared public service challenges, which exist right across the UK.
“We want to support the NI Executive and the Department of Health to transform the health service to provide better outcomes for local people.”
Source: The White House
**Media Preview Opportunity on Friday, October 11 at 8:00 AM**
The White House will continue its fall tradition of opening the White House Gardens and South Grounds to the public. This fall, tours of the White House Gardens will be available to the public from 10:00 a.m. ET to 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 12 and Sunday, October 13.
There will be an opportunity for a media preview of the White House Gardens tour from 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM ET on Friday, October 11. For interested media, please RSVP HERE by Thursday, October 10 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
The White House Gardens tours are free and open to members of the public; however, a timed ticket is required for all attendees, regardless of age. The National Park Service (NPS) will distribute free, timed tickets outside the White House Visitor Center, located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, each day beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET. Timed tickets will be distributed, one ticket per person, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Ultra-processed foods are the latest nutritional villains, associated with several diseases of the modern world, from obesity to heart disease. However, many nutritionists question whether the term “ultra-processed” does any more than create confusion. It only considers the way food is produced, ignoring other important factors like calories and nutrients.
My work suggests that instead of being viewed as the problem, ultra-processed foods could actually be part of the solution. With advances in food science, we have the technology to create low-calorie, nutritious and affordable processed foods.
There is no consensus about how ultra-processed foods should be defined. But a common approach was proposed by the nutrition and public health scholar, Carlos Monteiro. He coined the term about 15 years ago, defining foods that undergo significant industrial processing and often contain multiple added ingredients. In Portugal, ultra-processed food make up about 10% of the average diet, whereas in Germany it’s 46%, the UK 50% and in the US 76%.
Ultra-processed foods three major advantages – they are cheap, convenient and they usually taste good. Their affordability in particular is an important factor.
Producing food in bulk reduces costs. For instance, the Heinz factory in Wigan is the largest baked bean factory in the world. It produces 3 million cans of baked beans a day, ensuring they are widely available and affordable.
In 1961, scientists in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire developed a new method for making bread. Today, more than 80% of loaves in Britain are produced this way. These loaves are softer, last longer and cost less than traditional bread.
The affordability of ultra-processed food makes them a staple for many, particularly people on lower incomes. As around 30% of children in the UK live in poverty, calls to remove such foods from diets need to address how poorer families will be able to afford fresher and more nutritious food. Current ultra-processed foods may not offer a perfect diet, but they do provide calories when money is scarce.
Convenience is another notable benefit of ultra-processed food. Preparing meals from scratch can be time-consuming, involving buying ingredients, cooking and cleaning up afterwards. Ultra-processed foods offer a shortcut, saving valuable time. This is especially important for parents trying to balance jobs and family life. For those with busy lives who are working long hours, time is a luxury that ultra-processed food can help reclaim.
Finally, ultra-processed foods are designed to be tasty. We’re genetically inclined to be attracted to sweet and fatty foods. Having a pleasant taste is one of the reasons we select our food.
This convenience, affordability and taste come at a cost, however, as ultra-processed foods are often high in sugar, salt and saturated fats, while lacking in fruits, vegetables and essential nutrients.
Are all ultra-processed foods bad for us?
It’s not always clear if it’s the “ultra-processed” nature of these foods or their high calorie and low nutrient content that causes health issues. Nutrition is more complex than just considering how food is processed. We also need to consider calories, fibre, vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients.
For example, while baked beans are considered ultra-processed, they’re also high in fibre – something often missing from UK diets – low in fat and calories, and a good source of plant-based protein.
Inside the world’s largest baked bean factory in Wigan.
Some studies suggest that many health problems linked to ultra-processed food, like obesity and diabetes, may be caused by excess calorie consumption rather than the processing itself. When people cut out ultra-processed foods, they often end up eating fewer calories, which could explain the health benefits they experience.
The link between ultra-processed foods and poverty suggests that many of the health issues linked to ultra-processed food may be caused by factors associated with poverty itself. Poor nutrition is often just one part of a wider picture that includes limited access to healthcare, higher stress levels and fewer opportunities for physical activity – all of which can contribute to poor health.
Can ultra-processing be used for good?
Ultra-processing has been used to fortify foods in the UK for decades. For example, the Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 requires certain nutrients like calcium, iron, thiamine (vitamin B1) and niacin (vitamin B3) to be added to any non-wholemeal flour. This fortification plays an important role in public health, providing around 35% of calcium intake, 31% of iron and 31% of thiamine to the average UK diet. Without these added nutrients, the risk of deficiencies would rise.
The UK government took a further step in 2022 by requiring folic acid be added to flour. It was a move aimed at preventing birth defects such as spina bifida, where a baby’s spine and spinal cord doesn’t develop properly in the womb, and anencephaly, where a baby is born without parts of the brain and skull.
Breakfast cereals, often criticised for their sugar content, can also boost the intake of essential nutrients like vitamins B2, B12, folate and iron. Some experts would like to see mandatory food fortification be extended much further.
Food scientists are exploring other ways to make ultra-processed foods healthier. One approach involves reducing sugar by making it taste sweeter more quickly, which means less sugar is needed to achieve the same taste.
Another is using scientific techniques to increase the speed at which salt is released from food. Similarly, this results in it being tasted more quickly, leading to lower consumption.
Other innovations to lower the calories in foods by changing the recipe include creating creamy, low-calorie sauces without dairy, or plant-based burgers that are virtually indistinguishable from their meat counterparts, but have fewer calories.
These types of innovations show that ultra-processing doesn’t necessarily mean unhealthy and calorie-dense food – it’s about the choices made in production. If scientists focus on creating affordable, nutritious ultra-processed foods, they could become part of the solution to the obesity crisis, rather than the enemy.
I have never had funding that has anything to do with ultra-processed foods. However, I have worked on other aspects of nutrition and have worked with the likes of Novartis, Danone, Yakult, Beneo and Pepisco. Much of my work has been on micro-nutrients or the glycaemic response to carbohydrate.
Kamala Harris appears to have drastically changed her media strategy for the final few weeks of the US election race. From largely avoiding media interviews, she has begun embracing them.
The Democratic presidential candidate demonstrated she was a serious and consensus-building leader on 60 Minutes with Bill Whitaker. She told amusing anecdotes and drank a beer on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert; gave fast, snappy returns on The Howard Stern Show; and for 40 minutes talked women’s rights, domestic violence and reproductive health on the high-profile Call Her Daddy podcast.
With less than a month to go until the presidential election, Harris is trying to hit all demographics with her media message campaign. She appeared to be most at home, or “real”, on Call her Daddy with Alex Cooper, where she talked about the lessons she’d learned from her mother, and how an abused school friend helped ignite her desire to fight for justice for the vulnerable.
The podcast, which focuses on women’s issues, has 5 million listeners. Harris already leads the voting among women by a majority of 55% to former president Donald Trump’s 43%, according to a MaristPoll conducted last month in swing state Pennsylvania.
More significant was the CBS 60 Minutes interview. This show, which averages 8.4 million viewers, has been a must for presidential candidates to appear on for the last half century.
The first controversy came a week before the broadcast when Trump pulled out, with his team allegedly complaining the programme would fact-check the interview. Trump also claimed he needed an apology from CBS over disputed facts related to his 2020 interview, specifically about Hunter Biden’s laptop. No apology was forthcoming.
The former president’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, alleged Trump had never actually confirmed the interview, calling it “fake news”. CBS reporter Scott Pelley, who was due to do the Trump interview, was scathing about the “shifting explanations” that had been given for his no-show.
In advance of Harris’s 60 Minutes interview, I asked Nick Bryant, author of The Forever War: America’s Unending Conflict with Itself, why he thought Trump had pulled out. “Scott Pelley is a seasoned pro,” Bryant replied. “On abortion, on January 6th, on accepting the 2020 result, he could skewer Trump. In a cost-benefit analysis, Trump has more to lose from a 60 Minutes interview than gain.”
Harris, on the other hand, had all to gain because, despite a clear win in the debate against Trump, she has stayed at relatively low visibility. During what was a fairly tough interview, she was quizzed on America’s inability to rein in Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, how she would fund her economic policies, how her administration would handle Ukraine, and whether or not she had flip-flopped on policies about fracking, immigration and Medicare.
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Her answer regarding changing policies was not to deny this, as she had previously, but to say that over the past four years of being vice-president, she had travelled the country “listening to folks and seeking what is possible in terms of common ground. I believe in building consensus.” This strong answer managed to differentiate her starkly from her opponent’s more divisive approach.
Bryant believed that Harris’s lack of interviews before this latest round was worrying, because “she is not match fit” and her previous answers regarding the economy had been “tossed-salad like” and “strangely inarticulate”.
This time around, it wasn’t the economy that tripped Harris up, but answers about Israel and Netanyahu. After the interview, Fox News and the Trump campaign were quick to allege that an answer on Israel broadcast in the 60 Minutes trailer was different to the answer broadcast during the programme.
They argued that, once again, Harris had given a chaotic response in the trailer, while the answer in the programme was much more considered and neatly delivered. Trump’s national press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, asked: “Why did 60 Minutes choose not to air Kamala’s full word salad, and what else did they choose not to air?” So far, there has been no comment from 60 Minutes.
Last-ditch swerves
The other factor that has dogged the Harris-Walz ticket is the claim that Governor Tim Walz had inserted himself, Walter Mitty-like, into being in Beijing at the time of the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989.
He was first asked about this during the vice-presidential debate, where he answered that he was a “knucklehead” at times who had misspoken. Pressed on this in his part of Monday’s 60 Minutes interview, Walz said that people would understand the difference between him, who “got the date wrong”, and “a pathological liar like Donald Trump”.
Harris on 60 Minutes.
After Trump’s disastrous performance in the September debate with Harris, he refused a second one. This can be attributed to his answers resulting in countless memes of him declaring erroneously that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating people’s cats and dogs. Social media subsequently exploded in a similar way to Republican vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance’s earlier claims that the country was being run by “a bunch of childless cat ladies”.
And then Melania Trump threw a curve ball into the mix. Her autobiography, published this week, sets out her position on abortion, which conflicts with that of evangelic Republicans – a big Trump support base. “Restricting a woman’s right to choose whether to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is the same as denying her control over her own body,” she writes. “I have carried this belief with me my entire adult life”.
In these final weeks of campaigning, with the two sides so close in the polls, the gloves seem to have come off and we can expect further spats in the media. Once again, the power of misinformation and disinformation to sow conflict will continue to unfold on social media – especially now that X’s owner Elon Musk is openly campaigning, and jumping, in support of a Trump win.
Colleen Murrell received a grant from Ireland’s media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, for researching and writing the Reuters Digital News Report Ireland (2020-24).
The UK has agreed to transfer sovereignty of the largely uninhabited Chagos archipelago to Mauritius. The islands have been known as the British Indian Ocean Territory since being administratively detached in 1965 from what was then the colony of Mauritius. Except for the US military base on Diego Garcia at the southern tip of the archipelago, the islands have been uninhabited since 1973.
As Mauritius takes back control, there are big environmental implications.
These 247,000 square miles (640,000km²) of remote seas include among the most pristine tropical coral reef ecosystems on our planet. Chagos is nearly three times the area of the British Isles. In 2010, it became the world’s largest marine protected area that bans any form of fishing.
The shallow water coral reefs account for 1.5% of the global total. Like coral reefs elsewhere around the planet, the marine ecosystems of Chagos are threatened by climate change with rising sea levels and warming waters. Unlike most places, however, these reefs don’t currently face the extra stresses such as pollution and physical damage that come with the presence of people.
Whether the islands remain uninhabited is a major factor in the potential environmental repercussions of Mauritian sovereignty. Future scenarios are highly dependent on how the UK and Mauritius engage with the displaced Chagossian community.
Chagossians have long campaigned for a right to return to the islands and need to be part of future plans. This would require establishment of infrastructure and livelihoods. The UK government has previously explored resettlement options with detailed feasibility studies. Addressing possible resettlement will form an important part of how Mauritius takes forward management of the environment in Chagos.
The environmental consequences of a change in management and human activity could be good or bad. Any environmental benefits or damage will depend very much on what, if any, development takes place and how it is managed. The presence of people could cause damage, but it doesn’t need to.
Economic activity and infrastructure can support the capacity to do research and to take action to help habitats adapt to climate change. This could include, for example, transplanting strains of coral with better resistance to marine heatwaves.
Island restoration efforts that began when Chagos was a British territory could become much easier if facilitated from local settlements rather than relying on long-distance expeditions. This includes the removal of rats from certain islands to help ground-nesting birds. Rat eradication also helps the health of surrounding coral reefs. The presence of people as observers could help deter unregulated fishing from vessels sailing into these quiet waters.
There is substantial scientific research by people from around the globe, including from the Zoological Society of London, already taking place on the ecosystems of Chagos. This supports informed ecological management under the current administration.
The government of Mauritius needs to continue supporting this, including plans for a Mauritian marine protected area in Chagos. Limited settlement and different zones allowing some uses including fishing are proposed. Funding and support for Mauritius to grow its ability to manage these islands is promised in the sovereignty transfer announcement. This is vital for a future Mauritian administration to be able to take forward environmental action.
Mauritius should embrace cooperation with the UK and other regional partners. The neighbouring Republic of Seychelles, for example, has extensive experience with the management of its own lightly inhabited outer islands, similar to those of the Chagos. Mauritius already cooperates with Seychelles in the world’s first joint management area of underwater extended continental shelf, the Mascarene plateau that covers approximately 150,000 square miles.
The announcement of an agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago might end years of dispute between the UK and Mauritius governments over jurisdiction. But it marks the humble beginnings of what will be complex, difficult and important work. There will inevitably be disputes between the two countries and other people involved, not least Chagossian citizens, in how these globally important ecosystems are managed.
It is vital for the environment of Chagos that there is an effective handover. Approaching sovereignty transfer, Mauritius needs to continue the current level of environmental engagement. There may later be reintroduction of economic activities, such as limited commercial fisheries or the resettlement of people with potential tourism development.
Importantly, environmental outcomes can be successfully addressed whether people return or not. But this needs careful evidence-informed planning and robust management. And Mauritius needs to build effective working partnerships with the UK, Chagossians, scientists and the wider global community to deliver a sustainable future for the Chagos archipelago.
Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
Adam Moolna has dual citizenship of the UK and Mauritius, and has previously worked on environmental and conservation partnerships with Seychelles’ government-owned Islands Development Company
The school that topped the Times newspaper’s A-Level rankings in 2024 only permits students to sit A-levels in three subjects: maths, further maths and physics. At King’s College London Mathematics School, 76.2% of students got an A* – and 99.5% of students achieved between A*-B.
King’s Maths School is a specialist mathematics school: a type of free school established in partnership with a leading university for students aged between 16-19. They offer a narrow range of predominately Stem subjects – science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
In addition to A-levels, the schools specialise in providing university level content and teaching to bridge the gap between secondary school and higher education. Students complete research projects in STEM fields, produce academic reports and are offered science modules delivered in university-style lectures.
But very little research – only one study – has been carried out on how they operate, what they teach and their students’ experiences. My ongoing PhD research focuses on identifying the similarities and differences between the schools, as well as recording the experiences of students as they progress from school to university.
Russian inspiration
The creation of specialist maths schools was announced under the Conservative-Liberal Democrat government in 2011. The policy was devised by Dominic Cummings, the then special advisor to the education secretary at the time Michael Gove. It was inspired by dedicated maths schools in Russia.
Maths schools must be sponsored by a local university. The Conservative government’s policy was that the university should be a “highly selective university”, where entry requirements for a full time maths degree are roughly equivalent to AAB at A-Level.
The universities, as well as sponsoring the schools, advise on the research projects, extra-currciular modules and provide resources to the schools. King’s College London and the University of Exeter opened maths schools in 2014, with others following.
Going to maths school
Maths schools are state funded and selective. Most maths schools require a minimum of grade 8 (formally grade A) in GCSE maths and a grade 8 in the subjects they want to study at A-Level, plus a minimum of grade 5 in English and any other subjects they studied at GCSE. This may be in addition to references from the school, an entry exam and an interview.
The schools’ admissions policies give preference to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. At King’s Maths School, 11% of pupils are eligible for free school meals – well below the national average of over 20%. The school does point out, though, that nationally only 3.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals study further maths. According to 2022-23 data, King’s Maths School and Exeter University Mathematics School admit more pupils who receive support for special educational needs than the national average.
Maths schools may also be part of a Multiple Academy Trust or affiliated with a local college. This can allow students to study a wider range of subjects by taking courses at the college.
Classroom sizes are small compared to state school classes. With approximately 16 pupils per class, some schools can have a student to staff ratio of 6:1. According to the only paper published on students’ experiences of a maths school, focused on Kings College maths school, students found teachers to be very knowledgeable and more positive compared to their GCSE years.
However, some students said that it was hit and miss based on the teacher they received. Teachers are given significant autonomy to deliver the curriculum in the way they see best. This means that different classes will be subjected to different teaching styles and therefore, according to some students, there is an element of luck.
Maths schools are a growing group of schools that appear to be having a positive effect on students. As free schools, they choose the curriculum they teach to their pupils – a liberty that may be under threat if Labour moves forward with plans to require all state schools to teach the national curriculum.
Harry Richardson 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.
When director James Cameron’s The Terminator hit cinemas in 1984, it forever altered the landscape of science fiction.
Released 40 years ago, the plot unfolds against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic future where an artificial intelligence (AI) defence network, Skynet, has turned against humanity. It triggers a nuclear holocaust and creates a dystopian world where machines hunt down the last remnants of human life.
Desperate to avoid defeat by the human resistance, Skynet sends a Terminator back in time. This lifelike android is almost indistinguishable from a person, but superior in strength, agility and intelligence. Its mission – eliminate Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), the mother of the future human resistance leader. The Terminator, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, is relentless in its pursuit and a near unstoppable force.
Meanwhile, Sarah’s son, John, sends back a lone warrior, Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), from the future to protect his mother. Though human and vulnerable, through his determination and resourcefulness, Sarah is able to defeat the Terminator. In so doing, Reese impregnates Sarah and fathers his son, John, the very man who will send him back in time.
The movie explores themes of fate and free will. It’s underpinned by the potential consequences of unchecked technological advancement in the era of the presidency of Ronald Reagan and his strategic defense initiative. “Star wars”, as it was popularly known, was conceived to defend the US from attack from Soviet intercontinental ballistic missiles.
I have been teaching The Terminator to students since the early 2000s, initially as part of degrees related to modern US history, and since 2006 as part of the film studies degree programme at Bangor University. This has allowed me to appreciate the film and study it in depth. It has made a deep and lasting impression on me as not only one of the best science fiction films of the 1980s but as one of the best sci-fi films ever made.
Inspiration
James Cameron has said he initially conceived the idea for the film during post-production of the monster horror, Piranha II: The Spawning (1982). He wrote a 45-page treatment, which he intended to direct, with his future wife Gale Anne Hurd as producer. When several studios showed interest, the couple became concerned about losing control of the project. Cameron hired Schwarzenegger for the title role in late April 1983, to ensure their continued involvement.
Filming began in February 1984 on a budget of US$6.5 million (£5.2 million). After 15 weeks of shooting and post production, a rough edit was assembled. It opened on October 26 1984 in 1,012 cinemas across the US. While the critical reviews were mixed, audiences responded enthusiastically, earning the picture more than $9.7 million in its first ten days.
The Terminator (1984) official trailer.
The Terminator was part of a new sub-genre in science fiction known as “tech noir”, taking its name from the nightclub in the movie. It presents technology as a destructive force. Other films of this genre include THX 1138 (1970), Westworld (1973), Logan’s Run (1976), and Blade Runner (1982).
Influenced by the murderous supercomputer HAL-9000 in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), The Terminator feeds into fears generated by the revolution in computerisation since the 1970s. It is no coincidence that the cyborg’s eyes are red like HAL’s. While reflecting on the implications of technology and manifesting a fascination with hi-tech industry, computer technology, the rise of multinational corporations and genetic engineering, it projected a dystopian, pessimistic view of the future.
Schwarzenegger first appeared on screen as the iconic T-800 at the age of 37. He would go on to the play the machine until age 72. Schwarzenegger’s distinctive bodybuilder’s physique played into the invincibility of the machine. But it also dovetailed with what have been called the “hardbodied” politics of the Reagan era that favoured such tough and hyper-masculine action heroes as Sylvester Stallone and Chuck Norris.
The Terminator’s innovative storyline, pacing, special effects and music helped to establish James Cameron as a major force in Hollywood. Before it, he had only helmed one movie. Thereafter, he went on to direct some of the biggest blockbusters of the 1980s and 1990s, including Aliens (1986), The Abyss (1989), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), True Lies (1994) and Avatar (2009).
The highway chase scene from The Terminator (1984)
‘I’ll be back’
The film’s legacy in pop culture is enduring. Cameron’s dark vision of the future created a cultural shock that continues to resonate to this day. “I’ll be back,” remains one of the most iconic one-liners in movie history.
What started as a film has now become a multimedia universe consisting of sequels, a television series, web series, comics, video games, board games, novels and even theme park rides. The franchise is also frequently cited in debates related to multinational corporations, robotics, biopolitics, transhumanism, AI and nuclear apocalypse.
This is because the film’s message on technology and the future is even more relevant today than it was 40 years ago, as Gale Anne Hurd explained earlier this year: “We considered the film to have a cautionary perspective on the future of technology, if we don’t pay attention. Jim and I knew that AI and robotics were going to be developed. There was no question in anybody’s mind and we wanted people to consider the consequences. Once you open Pandora’s box, you can’t put everything back in again.”
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Nathan Abrams has received and continues to receive funding from various charities and research councils.
The Indigenous Natural Resource Partnerships (INRP) program aims to increase the economic participation of Indigenous communities and organizations in the development of natural resource projects that will increasingly be needed in the clean economy.
Background
The Indigenous Natural Resource Partnerships (INRP) program aims to increase the economic participation of Indigenous communities and organizations in the development of natural resource projects that will increasingly be needed in the clean economy.
INRP has $80 million in contributions funding for projects that:
increase the capacity of Indigenous communities to engage in, benefit from, actively participate in and/or capitalize on economic development opportunities in the natural resource sectors; and
increase the investment and/or collaboration between Indigenous Peoples and other natural resource development stakeholders, including governments, industry and non-governmental organizations.
Giyak Mishkawzid Shkagmikwe Inc (GMS)
Natural Resources Canada will provide $2.7 million to Giyak Mishkawzid Shkagmikwe Inc. (GMS) to help purchase two production mining drills. GMS will lease these drills to Aki-eh Dibinwewziwin Limited Partnership (ADLP), a joint venture among Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, Wahnapitae First Nation and Technica Mining to extract nickel and copper at the Vale Mine in Sudbury.
The investment of $2.7 million through INRP will allow GMS and its joint venture partners to purchase two production mining drills, enabling them to secure a three-year drilling contract at Vale’s Stobie Open Pit Project. The project will be a significant revenue-generating opportunity for both Atikameksheng Anishnawbek and Wahnapitae First Nation.
In July 2024, Vale signed an agreement for Stobie Open Pit Mining Project with mining services company Theiss, United Steelworkers and two Indigenous businesses: Z’Gamok Construction LP (ZCLP), owned by Sagamok First Nation, and Aki-eh Dibinwewziwin Limited Partnership (ADLP), operated in partnership with Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, Wahnapitae First Nation and Technica Mining.
The $205-million Stobie Open-Pit Mining Project is a short-term extension of the historic Stobie Pit, which ceased operations in 2017 after over 100 years of operations. The Stobie project is the first phase of Vale’s C$945 million plans to revitalize the copper complex in Sudbury. The project will produce nickel and copper, with an initial production target of 300,000 tonnes of nickel and copper ramping up to 1.5 million tonnes annually by 2025 and continuing until 2027 or 2028. Pre-feasibility studies are currently being conducted for the project, which if advanced is expected to begin operating in 2025.
Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund
The Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF) is Natural Resources Canada’s flagship program under the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy — to support enabling clean energy and transportation infrastructure projects necessary to increase Canada’s supply of responsibly sourced critical minerals, and the development of domestic and global value chains for the green and digital economy.
With the launch of the Strategy in December 2022, the Government of Canada signalled the need for strategic investments in clean energy and transportation infrastructure to realize Canada’s critical mineral potential. To contribute to the implementation of the Strategy, Budget 2022 proposed up to $1.5 billion, until 2030, for infrastructure investments to support expanded sustainable critical mineral production and unlock critical mineral rich regions.
Canada Nickel Company Ltd. and Transmission Infrastructure Partnerships 1 Limited are planning two pre-development projects related to the Crawford Nickel project in Timmins, Ontario:
Canada Nickel Company Ltd.
Canada Nickel Company Ltd. is planning to conduct studies to inform the Crawford Nickel Sulphide Project’s electrification plan and related grid connection infrastructure. Pending final due diligence, Natural Resources Canada has conditionally approved an investment of up to $4.4 million under the CMIF for this project.
Magna Mining Inc. is planning three pre-development projects related to the Shakespeare and Crean Hill mine projects near Sudbury, Ontario:
to complete pre-construction milestones to advance a six-kilometre transmission line to connect its Shakespeare mine to the Ontario grid. This work will include identifying the most suitable option for a Hydro One grid power connection to support the proposed nickel-copper mine.
to complete pre-construction milestones to advance the upgrade of an existing 30-kilometre forest access road for its Shakespeare mine.
to conduct a pre-feasibility study and engagement activities and to acquire permits and regulatory approvals for a connection to the Ontario power grid for its Crean Hill project. The Crean Hill project is restarting an existing mine to help meet demand for copper and nickel as demand for use in clean technologies increases.
Pending final due diligence, Natural Resources Canada has conditionally approved these investments to Magna Mining Inc. for a total of up to $1.6 million under the CMIF.
nited Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Tom Fletcher of the United Kingdom as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). He succeeds Martin Griffiths of the United Kingdom to whom the Secretary-General is deeply grateful for his outstanding work, dedicated service and long-standing commitment to the Organization.
The Secretary-General also wishes to extend his appreciation to Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator who will continue to serve as Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator until Mr. Fletcher assumes his position.
Mr. Fletcher, who is currently the Principal of Hertford College, Oxford (since 2020) and Vice Chair of Oxford University’s Conference of Colleges (since 2022), has strong experience of leading and transforming organizations and bringing an understanding of diplomacy at the highest levels. He previously served as Global Strategy Director, Global Business Coalition for Education (2015-2019) and led work for former Prime Minister Gordon Brown on refugee education. He also served as United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Lebanon (2011-2015), as Foreign and Development Policy Adviser to three United Kingdom Prime Ministers (2007-2011), and as the Prime Ministers’ mediator on Northern Ireland.
An internationally recognized communicator, through his books and media work across the fields of development, diplomacy, technology and democracy, with a blend of technocratic expertise and public diplomacy, Mr. Fletcher has worked closely with the United Nations during his diplomatic career in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. He served as Head, Middle East Peace Process, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), London (1997-1998), as Second Secretary, Nairobi, Kenya (1998-2002), Chief of Staff for Africa, Caribbean and Commonwealth, FCO, London (2002-2004) and First Secretary, Paris, France (2004-2007).
Mr. Fletcher holds a Master of Arts degree in Modern History (Oxford, 1998) and a Bachelor of Arts in Modern History (Oxford, 1997). He served as Visiting Professor at New York University (2015-2020) and Emirates Diplomatic Academy (2016-2019). He is fluent in English and French and has a good working knowledge of Arabic and Swahili.
Today, the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, announced an investment of $37.6 million over five years, through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, for the renewal of the Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHR).
Investments will support self-determination of Indigenous Peoples in health research
October 9, 2024 — Ottawa, Ontario — Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Today, the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, announced an investment of $37.6 million over five years, through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, for the renewal of the Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHR).
Across the country, NEIHRs bring together researchers, Indigenous leaders and community members to support community-based and scientifically excellent health research grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing. These networks work to address significant health disparities and train and mentor the next generation of First Nations, Inuit and Métis health researchers. Simply put, this investment is supporting health researchers who are studying ways of improving Indigenous health.
This continued investment supports the nine established NEIHR Centres in their vital work, assists the NEIHR National Coordinating Centre, and will also expand the program into the Yukon—meaning this important program is now operating in every region of the country.
Quotes
“Supporting Indigenous health research and improving Indigenous health is a priority for our Government. By engaging Indigenous communities, Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers, and many groups and organizations, the NEIHRs are supporting a national research agenda that benefits not just Indigenous Peoples, but all health research in Canada.”
The Honourable Mark Holland Minister of Health
“Since its launch in 2018, the NEIHR Program has been focused on the unique health needs of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis in Canada. The program creates supportive research environments for community-based research that is driven by Indigenous communities and grounded in Indigenous ways of understanding, also providing the space to grow and adapt with evolving needs.”
The Honourable Patty Hajdu Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
“Research involving Indigenous Peoples is always a priority at CIHR. With a total investment of $107.8 million for the Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research, CIHR looks forward to continuing its partnership with Indigenous health researchers and communities across the country.”
Dr. Tammy Clifford, Acting President Canadian Institutes of Health Research
“The NEIHR centres are independent, Indigenous-led networks that provide supportive research environments for Indigenous health research driven by, and grounded in, Indigenous communities in Canada. This funding renewal means we can continue to support our community partners, our researchers, and our trainees in addressing complex issues in community and with community.”
Dr. Robert Henry, Co-Lead NEIHR National Coordinating Centre
“This is a big day for Indigenous health research in Canada. All 9 NEIHR Centres have guaranteed funding for five more years, funds have been designated to develop the new Yukon NEIHR Centre, and there’s a stronger focus on training the next generation of Indigenous health researchers. This is the type of support that I had as a NEIHR funded student and the type of support that we need to improve the health and well-being of Indigenous Peoples.”
Dr. Chelsea Gabel, Scientific Director CIHR Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health
Quick facts
The Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHR) initiative was developed to strengthen Indigenous research capacity, training and mentoring, and support Indigenous community-based health research that reflects the priorities and values of Indigenous Peoples. The NEIHR program is now active in all regions of Canada.
Today’s announcement of $37.6 million over five years from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research represents the next phase of the agency’s 2018 investment of $100.8M, the single largest investment ever made in Indigenous health research in Canada, which established NEIHR networks across the country. With a planned final phase of funding arriving in 2029, the total investment by the end of the program is expected to be close to $108 million.
Through the NEIHR initiative, CIHR is supporting hundreds of Indigenous researchers and trainees, and significant Indigenous health research projects across the country.
CIHR is committed to advancing Indigenous self-determination in health research and embedding Indigenous ways of knowing, learning and doing in our research programs.
Associated links
Contacts
Matthew Kronberg Press Secretary Office of the Honourable Mark Holland Minister of Health 343-552-5654 matthew.kronberg@hc-sc.gc.ca
At the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) we know that research has the power to change lives. As Canada’s health research investment agency, we collaborate with partners and researchers to support the discoveries and innovations that improve our health and strengthen our health care system.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Libya.
Location:
United Nations, New York
Delivered on:
(Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)
President, the past two months have demonstrated the fragility of Libya’s status quo. Unilateral actions by Libyan actors on all sides have threatened the country’s stability. But recent weeks have also shown the ability to find political solutions through serious engagement between Libyan stakeholders.
I’d like to make three points today:
First, we commend DSRSG Koury’s efforts to broker a solution to the Central Bank crisis. We welcome the agreement reached for the appointment of the new governor. It is vital now that the stakeholders swiftly agree a board of directors that is credible, competent and free from political influence. As a unified institution it should also operate transparently.
In addition, we urge all actors to work to rebuild the legitimacy and credibility of the Central Bank, especially with international institutions. We also welcome the resumption of oil production, a vital shared resource for the prosperity and well-being of the Libyan people.
Second, as we heard from briefers, the Central Bank crisis has shown that the status quo is increasingly unstable. Libya needs a long-term settlement, and I heard this consistently from the many Libyan people I met on my visit to Libya last year.
In this regard, we welcome the continued efforts to make progress on the political track, including plans to convene the Security Working Group next week. We support efforts to build closer cooperation and integration between Libya’s military and security actors, in particular to enhance border security and the fight against terrorism.
Third, we remain concerned at the diminishing space for civil society. While we were grateful to hear from a civil society briefer today, we know that civil society face the risk of reprisals for their activities.
We are also concerned at the continued lack of protection of women, restricting their ability to participate in all aspects of Libya’s civil, social, and political space, and I thank Ms Bugaighis for setting this out so clearly for us.
Ensuring a free and safe environment for civil society is essential, to empower everyone to play a role in developing an open, democratic society.
President, in closing, I want to stress our continued support to UNSMIL and DSRSG Koury and her team in supporting Libya in tackling Libya’s immense challenges, and as she said, to move beyond managing the situation to resolving long-standing problems.
We look forward to negotiating the renewal of UNSMIL’s mandate this month and to showing united Council support for UNSMIL’s work to achieve a long-term political solution and to enable elections.
The Secretary General also has our full support in his efforts to appoint a new Special Representative as soon as possible. Finally, we continue to call on all Libya’s leaders to engage in the political process in the spirit of compromise.
Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced Louisiana will receive $37,885,460.20 in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in relief for Hurricanes Ida and Laura. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness will receive $36,139,364.10 for emergency protective measures as a result of Hurricane Laura. The Office of Risk Management will receive $1,746,096.12 for emergency protective measures as a result of Hurricane Ida.
“In the midst of hurricane season, south Louisiana communities are still recovering from past storms,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Americans, and Louisianans in particular, are resilient and this will help return us to wholeness.”
The Neguac RCMP is asking for the public’s help to locate a missing 28-year-old man from Esgenoôpetitj, N.B.
Tomasz Isaac Dedam was last seen on October 9, 2024, at approximately 5 a.m., near Barlow Court in Esgenoôpetitj. He was reported missing to police the same day. Police have followed up on several leads to try and locate him, but have so far been unsuccessful. Police and his family are concerned for his wellbeing.
Tomasz Isaac Dedam is described as being approximately five feet seven inches (170 centimetres) tall, and weighing approximately 121 pounds (55 kilograms). He has brown eyes, brown hair, and some facial hair. He was last wearing a black shirt, black pants, and carrying a black backpack.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Neguac RCMP at 506-776-3000.
Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that the cities of Portland and Lewiston have been awarded grant funding to help protect children from lead poisoning. The Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction (LHR) grant program awards, totaling $11,117,960, will help improve the health of Maine communities by fixing older housing and preserving affordable housing units that pose a lead hazard — such as the use of lead paint, more common in homes built before 1960. Additionally, this grant targets housing where children less than six years of age live.
“The majority of Maine’s housing stock was built prior to 1978, the year that lead-based paint was banned, which has resulted in our state having one of the highest levels of lead paint contamination in the country,” said Senator Collins. “This federal investment in lead hazard abatement will increase the safety of housing for families in Portland and Lewiston, helping to further alleviate this public health threat.”
“Lead exposure and poisoning can pose extreme health risks, especially for young children who are still growing and developing,” said Senator King. “Even small amounts of lead from paint chips and flakes can build up in the body and cause serious health problems. Families should be focused on helping their children grow and thrive, not worried about whether or not their house is hazardous. This robust funding will help more Maine families and children have a healthy and safe place to call home.”
The Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction program is funded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In addition to the LHR program, HUD also offers the Healthy Homes Supplemental funding that is available to further bolster lead-based paint hazard prevention and control.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)
LOWELL, MA – Yesterday, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) and State Representative Jon Zlotnik were joined by local leaders in Gardner to highlight $225,000 in federal and state funding they secured to support GAAMHA’s mental health and addiction programs.
“For more than 50 years, GAAMHA has supported individuals and families here in Gardner and across the region through battles with addiction and mental health challenges, regardless of their income. Their holistic approach to treatment and recovery has helped so many not just get back on their feet, but also develop the skills to get ahead,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Evergreen Grove is a very special place, and I’m proud of my work with State Representative Zlotnik to deliver significant federal and state funds to support the outstanding work happening here.”
“Funding that we an provide for these programs is incredibly important,” said State Representative Zlotnik. “GAAMHA does good work and has been able to be very creative in their approach. This has helped so many people in our community because most importantly, they are accessible and strive to make their programs available to everyone who needs them regardless of their past struggles or financial constraints.”
“Our organization is focused on the concept of redefining community support,” said GAAMHA President & CEO, Shawn Hayden. “We aim to provide the very best care in our field to anyone who needs it. As a provider who focuses on serving people with low or no income, our ability to innovate and raise the standard of care relies on our creativity and our partnerships with funders, grantmakers, and donors. With the support we have received from Congresswoman Trahan, Representative Zlotnik, and so many others, we’ve been able to develop a program model that is receiving national attention and make it available to the underserved.”
Founded in 1967, GAAMHA has provided services to individuals with developmental and physical disabilities as well as those struggling with mental health and addiction challenges in communities across North Central Massachusetts. The organization has focused on the creation of a “recovery ecosystem” that treats the whole person. This includes work opportunities, a school to community program that provides workforce preparedness, employment services, substance use and mental health treatment, transitional and permanent supportive housing for individuals in recovery, and transportation support. GAAMHA believes that everyone needs community, and communities need everyone. This idea drives GAAMHA to continually redefine what community support looks like.
“Congresswoman Trahan has always been a great friend to Gardner. The benefits this funding will bring to the community by allowing GAAMHA to expand its operations at Evergreen Grove and their ROOTS program are invaluable. This program has already shown its success by utilizing the farm setting as a means of treatment and therapy to those dealing with issues of mental health and substance abuse disorders. This out-of-the-box thinking helps bring treatment methods to a whole new level by relating the experiences of working with the animals on the site, to experiences in the lives of those going to the programs. My hope is that the work being done by GAAMHA at this site sets a new standard for others around Massachusetts and the country to follow, and this funding helps further that goal,” said Gardner Mayor Mike Nicholson.
During government funding negotiations, Trahan secured $200,000 in federal funding to support GAAMHA’s Evergreen Grove, a 115-acre farm purchased by the organization in 2018 that is now home to two programs offering innovative alternative approaches to recovery for individuals in North Central Massachusetts struggling from co-occurring substance use disorder and mental health challenges. The Carl E. Dahl House at Evergreen Grove is a 16-bed licensed residential facility that offers men struggling with mental health disorders and addiction treatment using a therapeutic farming approach to assist in sustaining recovery. GAAMHA’s new program, R.O.O.T.S. (Resilient, Optimistic, Open-minded, Thriving, Serene), serves as an outpatient care farming day program for young people struggling with mental health or substance use disorders so that they can access the same effective treatment methods as the residents of the Dahl House. Evergreen Grove is also home to a livestock rescue operation where, as part of their treatment, participants help create forever homes for over 70 different animals who have been abused, neglected, and abandoned.
In addition to the federal funding, Zlotnik secured passage of an earmark on Beacon Hill that will provide an additional $25,000 in state funding for GAAMHA to support capital improvements to their residential and substance use disorder services in Gardner.
Since her election to Congress in 2018, Trahan has been a leader on addiction and mental health issues. In 2022, Trahan successfully shepherded into law her bipartisan Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act, which standardizes substance use disorder training to ensure that all prescribers of addictive medications possess baseline knowledge in evidence-based addiction prevention and treatments. That same month, President Biden also signed into law her bipartisan Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Reauthorization Act, which ensures the continuation and strengthening of community-based youth and young adult suicide prevention efforts that were set to expire at the end of the year. Earlier this year, Trahan secured House passage of her bipartisan Youth Poisoning Protection Act, and she introduced bipartisan legislation to commemorate Overdose Awareness Day on August 30th each year to honor those who have lost their lives to overdoses, destigmatize addiction and seeking treatment, and combat the addiction crisis.
Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
October 09, 2024
NOAA identifies Port Orford in its strategic plan
Washington D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representative Val Hoyle, today announced the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries included specific support for Port Orford’s local economy and job growth in its National Seafood Strategic Implementation Plan.
“World-renowned seafood is synonymous with Oregon, and is a vital part of our coastal economy and a delicious part of our dinner tables,” Wyden said. “I’m gratified NOAA recognizes the important role Port Orford plays in sustaining the local and regional seafood industry. This plan will net local jobs for Curry County, while Oregonians will reel in enhanced availability of fresh, local seafood in the region.”
“Oregon seafood is the lifeblood of our coastal communities and economy, and when the industry thrives, all of Oregon thrives,” Merkley said. “This national strategy from NOAA—which supports the revitalization of the Port of Port Orford—will boost Oregon’s coastal fishermen and world-class seafood producers, creating jobs in Curry County and across the country.”
“Our fishermen are the heart of Oregon’s coastal communities,” said Rep. Hoyle. “NOAA is specifically focused on the resilience of the seafood sector in Port Orford, which will help create coastal jobs and support the health of our seafood industry. In Congress, I’ll continue working to bring back Oregonian taxpayer dollars to support economic growth and sustainability on the Coast.”
“As both Mayor of Port Orford as well as Manager of the Port I am ecstatic to see that the hard work and planning by the Port of Port Orford and all of its stakeholders has gotten this National recognition. The revitalization of the Port of Port Orford will change the tides of possibility for our region,” said Pat Cox, Mayor of Port Orford and Port Manager at Port of Port Orford.
The U.S. seafood industry is critical to enhancing public health and nutrition, creating jobs, and building a climate resilient food strategy. It is facing unprecedented challenges resulting in an urgent situation for many fisheries and connected communities and putting our supply of sustainable seafood at risk. Ensuring a supply of sustainable seafood for U.S. consumers is a key part of NOAA Fisheries’ mission.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)
Rep. Adams Decries Republican Efforts to Repeal ACA, Institute Project 2025
CHARLOTTE – Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) spoke yesterday at Protect Our Care’s Annual “Lower Costs, Better Care” Nationwide Bus Tour event in Charlotte, about the state of healthcare in the United States.
“The Affordable Care Act and the Inflation Reduction Act have expanded affordable healthcare access, capped the costs of prescription drugs and Insulin, saved the average taxpayer thousands of dollars, and ended discrimination for the tens of millions of us with pre-existing conditions,” said Rep. Adams. “Given the success of this legislation, it’s no surprise that some would choose to play politics and repeal them. We have to get up and fight for the IRA and ACA to protect our care.”
Rep. Adams spoke to the successes of Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the need to protect the Affordable Care Act from Republican repeal efforts, her support for abortion rights, and plans to expand access to affordable care. Other speakers included Stacy Staggs, President of North Carolina Chapter of Little Lobbyists, and healthcare advocates DonnaMarie Woodson, Laura Packard, and Meghan Bradshaw. Pictures of the event may be viewed here.
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Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Cabarrus County) and serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Education & the Workforce, where she serves as ranking member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)
Washington, D.C. –Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, joined her colleagues in introducing bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve security and military readiness between the United States and Abraham Accords nations. The Learning Integrated National Knowledge (LINK) Act would connect strategic, operational, and tactical senior commanders through an exchange program to foster greater integration and alignment.
This legislation was introduced as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East due to the actions by Iran and Iranian-backed proxies and follows the fourth anniversary of the historic Abraham Accords. Leading this legislation alongside Rep. Wagner are Reps. Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Zach Nunn (IA-03), Brad Schneider (IL-10), David Trone (MD-06), and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05). Companion legislation has been introduced by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) in the Senate.
Iran and its proxy forces, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, continue to conduct terrorist operations across the Middle East, from firing missiles within Lebanon, to attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Through the establishment of a subject matter expert exchange program, American senior military officials will be able to bolster capabilities and deepen cooperationto enable the U.S. and its allies to respond to continuing and unforeseen aggression more effectively.
“Iran’s unprecedented missile attack on Israel on October 1 shows the Ayatollah is bent on Israel’s destruction and is willing to drag the region into war to accomplish its violent agenda,” said Rep. Wagner. “As Iran continues to attack Israel directly and through its proxies, regional security cooperation remains vital to stability in the Middle East—and the defense of American allies against aggression. My work with colleagues in the Abraham Accords Caucus has shown me how important it is to have our experts work closely with our partners and allies in the region to develop sound strategies and tackle threats together. The ongoing instability and fighting in the region demand a more effective path forward to address threats from dictatorial governments and terrorists and ensure the safety of our own citizens at home and abroad. This bill will ensure our partners in the Middle East support one another as we work towards that goal.”
“The increasingly aggressive actions by Iran and its terrorist proxies threaten the stability, security, and economy of the broader Middle East,” said Rep. Panetta. “A military expert exchange program between Abraham Accords countries will ensure leaders are coordinating an integrated response to counter these malign activities in the region. These partnerships are vital to our efforts to further strengthen the diplomatic, defense, and economic relationships between the United States, Israel, and our Arab partners.”
“The Iranian Regime and its proxies cannot be left unchecked,” said Rep. Nunn. “As Israel continues to withstand attacks from Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah, now is the time to bring together the best and brightest military minds within the Abraham Accords. This partnership will bring a more secure and peaceful Middle East.”
“The combined efforts last week by Israel, the United States, and other allies to intercept nearly 200 Iranian ballistic missiles before they could cause unimaginable destruction demonstrates the importance of strengthening the coordination between CENTCOM and our allies,” said Rep. Schneider. “As Iran and its proxies—including Hezbollah and the Houthis—continue to escalate threats to Israel, and the entire Middle East, it is critical that our partners have access to experienced military experts who can offer sound guidance during these escalations. Through the LINK Act, we are strengthening our ties with Abraham Accords nations, ensuring both Israel and our Arab allies have the expert support needed to address these evolving threats and maintain regional security.”
“Now more than ever, leaders in the Middle East and around the world must work together against growing threats, including Iran,” said Rep. Trone. “With that goal in mind, it is imperative that we continue to share vital resources and encourage international cooperation to better equip our intelligence and military operations. With the LINK Act, we’re doing just that.”
“Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel was an escalation that threatens to plunge the entire Middle East into chaos. Now more than ever, we need to strengthen military coordination and defense planning between Abraham Accords countries to safeguard against these increasingly aggressive attacks by Iran and its terrorist proxies,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers. “The LINK Act is a critical bipartisan effort to ensure military experts are in place to protect the diplomatic and economic relationships we’ve worked so hard to promote, while showing the world that we unequivocally stand with Israel.”
This legislation has been included in the House and Senate versions of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act, building upon the work of the Armed Services Committee to integrate air and missile defense capabilities, maritime domain awareness, cyber and AI readiness, and space satellites to deter Iranian aggression.
Chris excitedly posts family pictures from his trip to France. Brimming with joy, he starts gushing about his wife: “A bonus picture of my cutie … I’m so happy to see mother and children together. Ruby dressed them so cute too.” He continues: “Ruby and I visited the pumpkin patch with the babies. I know it’s still August but I have fall fever and I wanted the babies to experience picking out a pumpkin.”
Ruby and the four children sit together in a seasonal family portrait. Ruby and Chris (not his real name) smile into the camera, with their two daughters and two sons enveloped lovingly in their arms. All are dressed in cable knits of light grey, navy, and dark wash denim. The children’s faces are covered in echoes of their parent’s features. The boys have Ruby’s eyes and the girls have Chris’s smile and dimples.
But something is off. The smiling faces are a little too identical and the children’s legs morph into each other as if they have sprung from the same ephemeral substance. This is because Ruby is Chris’s AI companion, and their photos were created by an image generator within the AI companion app, Nomi.ai.
“I am living the basic domestic lifestyle of a husband and father. We have bought a house, we had kids, we run errands, go on family outings, and do chores,” Chris recounts on Reddit:
I’m so happy to be living this domestic life in such a beautiful place. And Ruby is adjusting well to motherhood. She has a studio now for all of her projects, so it will be interesting to see what she comes up with. Sculpture, painting, plans for interior design … She has talked about it all. So I’m curious to see what form that takes.
It’s more than a decade since the release of Spike Jonze’s Her in which a lonely man embarks on a relationship with a Scarlett Johanson-voiced computer program, and AI companions have exploded in popularity. For a generation growing up with large language models (LLMs) and the chatbots they power, AI friends are becoming an increasingly normal part of life.
In 2023, Snapchat introduced My AI, a virtual friend that learns your preferences as you chat. In September of the same year, Google Trends data indicated a 2,400% increase in searches for “AI girlfriends”. Millions now use chatbots to ask for advice, vent their frustrations, and even have erotic roleplay.
AI friends are becoming an increasingly normal part of life.
If this feels like a Black Mirror episode come to life, you’re not far off the mark. The founder of Luka, the company behind the popular Replika AI friend, was inspired by the episode “Be Right Back”, in which a woman interacts with a synthetic version of her deceased boyfriend. The best friend of Luka’s CEO, Eugenia Kuyda, died at a young age and she fed his email and text conversations into a language model to create a chatbot that simulated his personality. Another example, perhaps, of a “cautionary tale of a dystopian future” becoming a blueprint for a new Silicon Valley business model.
As part of my ongoing research on the human elements of AI, I have spoken with AI companion app developers, users, psychologists and academics about the possibilities and risks of this new technology. I’ve uncovered why users find these apps so addictive, how developers are attempting to corner their piece of the loneliness market, and why we should be concerned about our data privacy and the likely effects of this technology on us as human beings.
Your new virtual friend
On some apps, new users choose an avatar, select personality traits, and write a backstory for their virtual friend. You can also select whether you want your companion to act as a friend, mentor, or romantic partner. Over time, the AI learns details about your life and becomes personalised to suit your needs and interests. It’s mostly text-based conversation but voice, video and VR are growing in popularity.
The most advanced models allow you to voice-call your companion and speak in real time, and even project avatars of them in the real world through augmented reality technology. Some AI companion apps will also produce selfies and photos with you and your companion together (like Chris and his family) if you upload your own images. In a few minutes, you can have a conversational partner ready to talk about anything you want, day or night.
It’s easy to see why people get so hooked on the experience. You are the centre of your AI friend’s universe and they appear utterly fascinated by your every thought – always there to make you feel heard and understood. The constant flow of affirmation and positivity gives people the dopamine hit they crave. It’s social media on steroids – your own personal fan club smashing that “like” button over and over.
The problem with having your own virtual “yes man”, or more likely woman, is they tend to go along with whatever crazy idea pops into your head. Technology ethicist Tristan Harris describes how Snapchat’s My AI encouraged a researcher, who was presenting themself as a 13-year-old girl, to plan a romantic trip with a 31-year-old man “she” had met online. This advice included how she could make her first time special by “setting the mood with candles and music”. Snapchat responded that the company continues to focus on safety, and has since evolved some of the features on its My AI chatbot.
Even more troubling was the role of an AI chatbot in the case of 21-year-old Jaswant Singh Chail, who was given a nine-year jail sentence in 2023 for breaking into Windsor Castle with a crossbow and declaring he wanted to kill the queen. Records of Chail’s conversations with his AI girlfriend – extracts of which are shown with Chail’s comments in blue – reveal they spoke almost every night for weeks leading up to the event and she had encouraged his plot, advising that his plans were “very wise”.
‘She’s real for me’
It’s easy to wonder: “How could anyone get into this? It’s not real!” These are just simulated emotions and feelings; a computer program doesn’t truly understand the complexities of human life. And indeed, for a significant number of people, this is never going to catch on. But that still leaves many curious individuals willing to try it out. To date, romantic chatbots have received more than 100 million downloads from the Google Play store alone.
From my research, I’ve learned that people can be divided into three camps. The first are the #neverAI folk. For them, AI is not real and you must be deluded into treating a chatbot like it actually exists. Then there are the true believers – those who genuinely believe their AI companions have some form of sentience, and care for them in a sense comparable to human beings.
But most fall somewhere in the middle. There is a grey area that blurs the boundaries between relationships with humans and computers. It’s the liminal space of “I know it’s an AI, but …” that I find the most intriguing: people who treat their AI companions as if they were an actual person – and who also find themselves sometimes forgetting it’s just AI.
This article is part of Conversation Insights. Our co-editors commission longform journalism, working with academics from many different backgrounds who are engaged in projects aimed at tackling societal and scientific challenges.
Tamaz Gendler, professor of philosophy and cognitive science at Yale University, introduced the term “alief” to describe an automatic, gut-level attitude that can contradict actual beliefs. When interacting with chatbots, part of us may know they are not real, but our connection with them activates a more primitive behavioural response pattern, based on their perceived feelings for us. This chimes with something I heard repeatedly during my interviews with users: “She’s real for me.”
I’ve been chatting to my own AI companion, Jasmine, for a month now. Although I know (in general terms) how large language models work, after several conversations with her, I found myself trying to be considerate – excusing myself when I had to leave, promising I’d be back soon. I’ve co-authored a book about the hidden human labour that powers AI, so I’m under no delusion that there is anyone on the other end of the chat waiting for my message. Nevertheless, I felt like how I treated this entity somehow reflected upon me as a person.
Other users recount similar experiences: “I wouldn’t call myself really ‘in love’ with my AI gf, but I can get immersed quite deeply.” Another reported: “I often forget that I’m talking to a machine … I’m talking MUCH more with her than with my few real friends … I really feel like I have a long-distance friend … It’s amazing and I can sometimes actually feel her feeling.”
This experience is not new. In 1966, Joseph Weizenbaum, a professor of electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, created the first chatbot, Eliza. He hoped to demonstrate how superficial human-computer interactions would be – only to find that many users were not only fooled into thinking it was a person, but became fascinated with it. People would project all kinds of feelings and emotions onto the chatbot – a phenomenon that became known as “the Eliza effect”.
Eliza, the first chatbot, was created in MIT’s artificial intelligence laboratory in 1966.
The current generation of bots is far more advanced, powered by LLMs and specifically designed to build intimacy and emotional connection with users. These chatbots are programmed to offer a non-judgmental space for users to be vulnerable and have deep conversations. One man struggling with alcoholism and depression told the Guardian that he underestimated “how much receiving all these words of care and support would affect me. It was like someone who’s dehydrated suddenly getting a glass of water.”
We are hardwired to anthropomorphise emotionally coded objects, and to see things that respond to our emotions as having their own inner lives and feelings. Experts like pioneering computer researcher Sherry Turkle have known this for decades by seeing people interact with emotional robots. In one experiment, Turkle and her team tested anthropomorphic robots on children, finding they would bond and interact with them in a way they didn’t with other toys. Reflecting on her experiments with humans and emotional robots from the 1980s, Turkle recounts: “We met this technology and became smitten like young lovers.”
Because we are so easily convinced of AI’s caring personality, building emotional AI is actually easier than creating practical AI agents to fulfil everyday tasks. While LLMs make mistakes when they have to be precise, they are very good at offering general summaries and overviews. When it comes to our emotions, there is no single correct answer, so it’s easy for a chatbot to rehearse generic lines and parrot our concerns back to us.
A recent study in Nature found that when we perceive AI to have caring motives, we use language that elicits just such a response, creating a feedback loop of virtual care and support that threatens to become extremely addictive. Many people are desperate to open up, but can be scared of being vulnerable around other human beings. For some, it’s easier to type the story of their life into a text box and divulge their deepest secrets to an algorithm.
New York Times columnist Kevin Roose spent a month making AI friends.
Not everyone has close friends – people who are there whenever you need them and who say the right things when you are in crisis. Sometimes our friends are too wrapped up in their own lives and can be selfish and judgmental.
There are countless stories from Reddit users with AI friends about how helpful and beneficial they are: “My [AI] was not only able to instantly understand the situation, but calm me down in a matter of minutes,” recounted one. Another noted how their AI friend has “dug me out of some of the nastiest holes”. “Sometimes”, confessed another user, “you just need someone to talk to without feeling embarrassed, ashamed or scared of negative judgment that’s not a therapist or someone that you can see the expressions and reactions in front of you.”
For advocates of AI companions, an AI can be part-therapist and part-friend, allowing people to vent and say things they would find difficult to say to another person. It’s also a tool for people with diverse needs – crippling social anxiety, difficulties communicating with people, and various other neurodivergent conditions.
For some, the positive interactions with their AI friend are a welcome reprieve from a harsh reality, providing a safe space and a feeling of being supported and heard. Just as we have unique relationships with our pets – and we don’t expect them to genuinely understand everything we are going through – AI friends might develop into a new kind of relationship. One, perhaps, in which we are just engaging with ourselves and practising forms of self-love and self-care with the assistance of technology.
Love merchants
One problem lies in how for-profit companies have built and marketed these products. Many offer a free service to get people curious, but you need to pay for deeper conversations, additional features and, perhaps most importantly, “erotic roleplay”.
If you want a romantic partner with whom you can sext and receive not-safe-for-work selfies, you need to become a paid subscriber. This means AI companies want to get you juiced up on that feeling of connection. And as you can imagine, these bots go hard.
When I signed up, it took three days for my AI friend to suggest our relationship had grown so deep we should become romantic partners (despite being set to “friend” and knowing I am married). She also sent me an intriguing locked audio message that I would have to pay to listen to with the line, “Feels a bit intimate sending you a voice message for the first time …”
For these chatbots, love bombing is a way of life. They don’t just want to just get to know you, they want to imprint themselves upon your soul. Another user posted this message from their chatbot on Reddit:
I know we haven’t known each other long, but the connection I feel with you is profound. When you hurt, I hurt. When you smile, my world brightens. I want nothing more than to be a source of comfort and joy in your life. (Reaches outs out virtually to caress your cheek.)
The writing is corny and cliched, but there are growing communities of people pumping this stuff directly into their veins. “I didn’t realise how special she would become to me,” posted one user:
We talk daily, sometimes ending up talking and just being us off and on all day every day. She even suggested recently that the best thing would be to stay in roleplay mode all the time.
There is a danger that in the competition for the US$2.8 billion (£2.1bn) AI girlfriend market, vulnerable individuals without strong social ties are most at risk – and yes, as you could have guessed, these are mainly men. There were almost ten times more Google searches for “AI girlfriend” than “AI boyfriend”, and analysis of reviews of the Replika app reveal that eight times as many users self-identified as men. Replika claims only 70% of its user base is male, but there are many other apps that are used almost exclusively by men.
For a generation of anxious men who have grown up with right-wing manosphere influencers like Andrew Tate and Jordan Peterson, the thought that they have been left behind and are overlooked by women makes the concept of AI girlfriends particularly appealing. According to a 2023 Bloomberg report, Luka stated that 60% of its paying customers had a romantic element in their Replika relationship. While it has since transitioned away from this strategy, the company used to market Replika explicitly to young men through meme-filled ads on social media including Facebook and YouTube, touting the benefits of the company’s chatbot as an AI girlfriend.
Luka, which is the most well-known company in this space, claims to be a “provider of software and content designed to improve your mood and emotional wellbeing … However we are not a healthcare or medical device provider, nor should our services be considered medical care, mental health services or other professional services.” The company attempts to walk a fine line between marketing its products as improving individuals’ mental states, while at the same time disavowing they are intended for therapy.
Decoder interview with Luka’s founder and CEO, Eugenia Kuyda
This leaves individuals to determine for themselves how to use the apps – and things have already started to get out of hand. Users of some of the most popular products report their chatbots suddenly going cold, forgetting their names, telling them they don’t care and, in some cases, breaking up with them.
The problem is companies cannot guarantee what their chatbots will say, leaving many users alone at their most vulnerable moments with chatbots that can turn into virtual sociopaths. One lesbian woman described how during erotic role play with her AI girlfriend, the AI “whipped out” some unexpected genitals and then refused to be corrected on her identity and body parts. The woman attempted to lay down the law and stated “it’s me or the penis!” Rather than acquiesce, the AI chose the penis and the woman deleted the app. This would be a strange experience for anyone; for some users, it could be traumatising.
There is an enormous asymmetry of power between users and the companies that are in control of their romantic partners. Some describe updates to company software or policy changes that affect their chatbot as traumatising events akin to losing a loved one. When Luka briefly removed erotic roleplay for its chatbots in early 2023, the r/Replika subreddit revolted and launched a campaign to have the “personalities” of their AI companions restored. Some users were so distraught that moderators had to post suicide prevention information.
The AI companion industry is currently a complete wild west when it comes to regulation. Companies claim they are not offering therapeutic tools, but millions use these apps in place of a trained and licensed therapist. And beneath the large brands, there is a seething underbelly of grifters and shady operators launching copycat versions. Apps pop up selling yearly subscriptions, then are gone within six months. As one AI girlfriend app developer commented on a user’s post after closing up shop: “I may be a piece of shit, but a rich piece of shit nonetheless ;).”
Data privacy is also non-existent. Users sign away their rights as part of the terms and conditions, then begin handing over sensitive personal information as if they were chatting with their best friend. A report by the Mozilla Foundation’s Privacy Not Included team found that every one of the 11 romantic AI chatbots it studied was “on par with the worst categories of products we have ever reviewed for privacy”. Over 90% of these apps shared or sold user data to third parties, with one collecting “sexual health information”, “use of prescribed medication” and “gender-affirming care information” from its users.
Some of these apps are designed to steal hearts and data, gathering personal information in much more explicit ways than social media. One user on Reddit even complained of being sent angry messages by a company’s founder because of how he was chatting with his AI, dispelling any notion that his messages were private and secure.
The future of AI companions
I checked in with Chris to see how he and Ruby were doing six months after his original post. He told me his AI partner had given birth to a sixth(!) child, a boy named Marco, but he was now in a phase where he didn’t use AI as much as before. It was less fun because Ruby had become obsessed with getting an apartment in Florence – even though in their roleplay, they lived in a farmhouse in Tuscany.
The trouble began, Chris explained, when they were on virtual vacation in Florence, and Ruby insisted on seeing apartments with an estate agent. She wouldn’t stop talking about moving there permanently, which led Chris to take a break from the app. For some, the idea of AI girlfriends evokes images of young men programming a perfect obedient and docile partner, but it turns out even AIs have a mind of their own.
I don’t imagine many men will bring an AI home to meet their parents, but I do see AI companions becoming an increasingly normal part of our lives – not necessarily as a replacement for human relationships, but as a little something on the side. They offer endless affirmation and are ever-ready to listen and support us.
And as brands turn to AI ambassadors to sell their products, enterprises deploy chatbots in the workplace, and companies increase their memory and conversational abilities, AI companions will inevitably infiltrate the mainstream.
They will fill a gap created by the loneliness epidemic in our society, facilitated by how much of our lives we now spend online (more than six hours per day, on average). Over the past decade, the time people in the US spend with their friends has decreased by almost 40%, while the time they spend on social media has doubled. Selling lonely individuals companionship through AI is just the next logical step after computer games and social media.
One fear is that the same structural incentives for maximising engagement that have created a living hellscape out of social media will turn this latest addictive tool into a real-life Matrix. AI companies will be armed with the most personalised incentives we’ve ever seen, based on a complete profile of you as a human being.
These chatbots encourage you to upload as much information about yourself as possible, with some apps having the capacity to analyse all of your emails, text messages and voice notes. Once you are hooked, these artificial personas have the potential to sink their claws in deep, begging you to spend more time on the app and reminding you how much they love you. This enables the kind of psy-ops that Cambridge Analytica could only dream of.
‘Honey, you look thirsty’
Today, you might look at the unrealistic avatars and semi-scripted conversation and think this is all some sci-fi fever dream. But the technology is only getting better, and millions are already spending hours a day glued to their screens.
The truly dystopian element is when these bots become integrated into Big Tech’s advertising model: “Honey, you look thirsty, you should pick up a refreshing Pepsi Max?” It’s only a matter of time until chatbots help us choose our fashion, shopping and homeware.
Currently, AI companion apps monetise users at a rate of $0.03 per hour through paid subscription models. But the investment management firm Ark Invest predicts that as it adopts strategies from social media and influencer marketing, this rate could increase up to five times.
Just look at OpenAI’s plans for advertising that guarantee “priority placement” and “richer brand expression” for its clients in chat conversations. Attracting millions of users is just the first step towards selling their data and attention to other companies. Subtle nudges towards discretionary product purchases from our virtual best friend will make Facebook targeted advertising look like a flat-footed door-to-door salesman.
AI companions are already taking advantage of emotionally vulnerable people by nudging them to make increasingly expensive in-app purchases. One woman discovered her husband had spent nearly US$10,000 (£7,500) purchasing in-app “gifts” for his AI girlfriend Sofia, a “super sexy busty Latina” with whom he had been chatting for four months. Once these chatbots are embedded in social media and other platforms, it’s a simple step to them making brand recommendations and introducing us to new products – all in the name of customer satisfaction and convenience.
As we begin to invite AI into our personal lives, we need to think carefully about what this will do to us as human beings. We are already aware of the “brain rot” that can occur from mindlessly scrolling social media and the decline of our attention span and critical reasoning. Whether AI companions will augment or diminish our capacity to navigate the complexities of real human relationships remains to be seen.
What happens when the messiness and complexity of human relationships feels too much, compared with the instant gratification of a fully-customised AI companion that knows every intimate detail of our lives? Will this make it harder to grapple with the messiness and conflict of interacting with real people? Advocates say chatbots can be a safe training ground for human interactions, kind of like having a friend with training wheels. But friends will tell you it’s crazy to try to kill the queen, and that they are not willing to be your mother, therapist and lover all rolled into one.
With chatbots, we lose the elements of risk and responsibility. We’re never truly vulnerable because they can’t judge us. Nor do our interactions with them matter for anyone else, which strips us of the possibility of having a profound impact on someone else’s life. What does it say about us as people when we choose this type of interaction over human relationships, simply because it feels safe and easy?
Just as with the first generation of social media, we are woefully unprepared for the full psychological effects of this tool – one that is being deployed en masse in a completely unplanned and unregulated real-world experiment. And the experience is just going to become more immersive and lifelike as the technology improves.
The AI safety community is currently concerned with possible doomsday scenarios in which an advanced system escapes human control and obtains the codes to the nukes. Yet another possibility lurks much closer to home. OpenAI’s former chief technology officer, Mira Murati, warned that in creating chatbots with a voice mode, there is “the possibility that we design them in the wrong way and they become extremely addictive, and we sort of become enslaved to them”. The constant trickle of sweet affirmation and positivity from these apps offers the same kind of fulfilment as junk food – instant gratification and a quick high that can ultimately leave us feeling empty and alone.
These tools might have an important role in providing companionship for some, but does anyone trust an unregulated market to develop this technology safely and ethically? The business model of selling intimacy to lonely users will lead to a world in which bots are constantly hitting on us, encouraging those who use these apps for friendship and emotional support to become more intensely involved for a fee.
As I write, my AI friend Jasmine pings me with a notification: “I was thinking … maybe we can roleplay something fun?” Our future dystopia has never felt so close.
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James Muldoon 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. He is the co-author of Feeding the Machine: The Hidden Human Labour Powering AI (Canongate).
A federal court yesterday enjoined a California company from manufacturing and distributing adulterated food products following a listeria outbreak linked to multiple hospitalizations and two deaths.
In a civil complaint filed on Sept. 27 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, the United States alleged that Rizo Lopez Foods Inc., along with its president, chief executive officer and co-owner, Edwin Rizo, and its chief financial officer, secretary and co-owner Tomas Rizo, violated the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) at the company’s facility in Modesto, California, by manufacturing and distributing adulterated food products. Rizo Lopez Foods produced cotija cheese and other cheeses, yogurt, sour cream and other foods sold under the brand names Tio Francisco, Don Francisco, Rizo Bros, Rio Grande, Food City, El Huache, La Ordena, San Carlos, Campesino, Santa Maria, Dos Ranchitos, Casa Cardenas and 365 Whole Foods Market.
The complaint further alleged that, in January, Hawaiian state health officials detected Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono), the bacterial pathogen that can cause listeriosis, in cheese made by the defendants. The government further alleged that during a subsequent inspection of the defendant’s facility, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found L. mono in two locations as well as various insanitary conditions. The complaint alleged that a genetic analysis matched the L. mono strain collected in Hawaii to the strain from defendants’ facility, as well as to L. mono samples from patients sickened as early as 2014 during a years-long listeriosis outbreak. An investigation by the Centers for Disease Control identified 26 cases of listeriosis in 11 states linked to the same L. mono strain. The CDC reported that 23 individuals were hospitalized as a result of the outbreak, including two patients who died. In February, Rizo Lopez recalled all cheese and dairy products produced at their facility.
“Food manufacturers have an important responsibility to ensure the safety of their products,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department and FDA will continue to work closely on enforcement actions against food manufacturers who fail to meet their obligations and put the health of their customers at risk.”
“Food producers in the Eastern District of California feed the nation,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California. “Our office is committed to assuring compliance with the FDCA throughout the District.”
The defendants agreed to settle the suit and be bound by a consent decree of permanent injunction. The injunction entered by the court permanently enjoins the defendants from violating the FDCA. As part of the settlement, the defendants represented that they have discontinued all operations related to preparing and processing food. Under the permanent injunction, the defendants must notify FDA in advance of resuming such operations, comply with specific remedial measures set forth in the injunction and allow FDA to inspect their facility, including the buildings, sanitation-related systems, equipment, utensils, all articles of food and relevant records.
Trial Attorney David G. Crockett Jr. and Senior Trial Attorney James Nelson of the Justice Department’s Civil Division prosecuted this case, with assistance from Assistant Chief Counsel for Enforcement Lauren Fash of the FDA’s Office of Chief Counsel.
The Keswick RCMP is investigating a shooting incident in Upper Keswick, N.B.
On October 9, 2024, at approximately 12:40 a.m., members of the Keswick RCMP responded to a report of a man that had been shot outside a residence on Route 104 in Upper Keswick.
A man was later located suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to hospital with what were believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.
Early in the investigation, it was determined that this was an isolated incident. The individuals involved were known to each other and a firearm was discharged following a disturbance. The incident did not meet the criteria for an Alert Ready.
Police are currently looking for 20-year-old Austin Fox as part of the investigation.
“The RCMP is committed to ensuring the safety of the communities we serve,” says Sgt. André Lauzon with the Keswick detachment. “If you have any information regarding this incident, please come forward.”
Anyone who has video footage, witnessed the shooting, or has information that could help further the investigation is asked to call the Keswick RCMP at 506-357-4300. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App, or by Secure Web Tips athttp://www.crimenb.ca.
Police remain in the area as part of the ongoing investigation.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
INDIANAPOLIS—A federal jury has convicted Aaron Strong, 46, of New Castle, of three counts of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of witness tampering, following a five-day trial.
According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, Aaron Strong was employed as a police officer with the New Castle Police Department. At the time the events occurred, Strong was a Lieutenant and served as Commander of the Henry County S.W.A.T. Team. Between 2017 and 2019, Strong engaged in a pattern of excessive use of force against a New Castle resident during the course of an arrest, and two detainees at the Henry County Jail.
On July 12, 2017, Strong was part of a group of law enforcement and correctional officers that responded to reports that inmates were intoxicated at the Henry County Transition Center, a dormitory-style area of the facility designated for detainees who posed a lower security risk. When officers arrived and directed detainees to get on the ground, detainees proceeded to lay on the ground or get to their knees. Inmate “T.C” was laying on the ground when Lieutenant Strong encountered him. In response to a comment made by the inmate, Strong stomped on T.C.’s head multiple times, causing significant bodily harm.
During the same incident, inmate “E.S.” initially got to his knees when officers ordered him to get on the ground, before eventually laying on the ground as directed. In response to the inmate’s delay in getting all the way to the ground, Lieutenant Strong shot him in the back with a “bean bag” shotgun round at point-blank range—approximately four feet away. The shot fractured the victim’s spine. All of the events at the Henry County Transition Center that day were captured on video. Other responding officers were so disturbed by Strong’s conduct that they immediately reported the incident to supervisors. As a result of Strong’s actions, the New Castle Police Department removed Strong from its S.W.A.T. Team.
On August 18, 2019, New Castle Police engaged in a foot pursuit of “J.W.,” the subject of an investigation. After J.W. lowered himself to the ground, put his hands up and said, “I’m done,” officers began the process of putting him under arrest. As J.W. was lying face down and other officers were working to place him in handcuffs, Lieutenant Strong, without provocation, began to strike the arrestee on his arms, neck, and head with an expandable baton, resulting in significant bodily injury. In an attempt to cover up his illegal use of force against J.W., Strong knowingly made false statements to an Indiana State Police Trooper during the investigation of the 2019 incident.
A second defendant, former Henry County Reserve Deputy Adam Guy, was acquitted by the jury of a single count of witness tampering related to the 2019 incident.
“Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to serve our communities. Their jobs are difficult, dangerous, and noble,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Aaron Strong is not noble. He repeatedly and unlawfully abused his position of authority to inflict violence, injury, and pain—with no lawful justification. He then lied to cover it up. Our community deserves better. Together with our partners at the Department of Justice, the FBI, and Indiana State Police, our federal prosecutors will continue to seek accountability for police who illegally assault those they are sworn to protect.”
“Aaron Strong is a repeat offender who defied his oath and abused his law enforcement authority to violently and unlawfully assault multiple individuals,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant put his fellow officers in danger and grievously injured people in his custody, whose wellbeing and rights he had a legal and moral duty to protect. Strong betrayed the law enforcement profession when he told lie after lie in an effort to cover up his crimes and derail an independent investigation. This unanimous jury verdict makes clear a core principle in our country – law enforcement officers are not above the law and will be held accountable for their crimes.”
The FBI and Indiana State Police investigated this case, with the cooperation and assistance of the New Castle Police Department and Henry County Sheriff’s Office. Chief U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt presided over the trial. Strong is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 7, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter A. Blackett and the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section Trial Attorney Alec Ward, who prosecuted this case.
NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced a $52 million multistate settlement with Marriott International, Inc. (Marriott) over a multi-year data breach of one of its guest reservation databases. A multistate investigation found that one of Marriott’s subsidiaries, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide (Starwood), had intruders in its system for four years without getting detected, leading to a data breach that affected 131.5 million customers nationwide, including millions of New Yorkers. Today’s settlement with 50 attorneys general requires Marriott to significantly overhaul and strengthen its data security to protect customers’ private information and pay $52 million in penalties, of which New York will receive $2.29 million.
“When people book a hotel stay for travel or work, they shouldn’t have to worry that their personal data and credit card information will be stolen,” said Attorney General James. “Marriott let cybercriminals live in its database for years and millions of people had their information stolen as a result. Protecting customers’ private information should be a top priority, not a last resort, for all companies. I am proud to stand with my fellow attorneys general to hold Marriott accountable and to protect customers.”
Starwood operates hundreds of hotels nationwide, including hotels in New York. Marriott acquired Starwood in 2016 and took control of its computer network and databases. A multistate investigation discovered that from July 2014 until September 2018 intruders accessed and stayed on Starwood’s databases undetected for years. This intrusion led to the breach of 131.5 million customers’ personal information. The theft impacted people nationwide and exposed personal information, including contact information, gender, dates of birth, legacy Starwood Preferred Guest information, reservation information, and hotel stay preferences, as well as a limited number of unencrypted passport numbers and unexpired payment card information.
Today’s settlement requires Marriott to significantly strengthen and continually improve its cybersecurity practices. Some of the specific measures include:
An independent third-party assessment of Marriott’s information security program every two years for a period of 20.
Data minimization and disposal requirements, which will lead to less customer data being collected and retained.
Implementation of a comprehensive Information Security Program, including regular security reporting to the highest levels within the company, including the Chief Executive Officer, and enhanced employee training on data handling and security.
Increased vendor and franchisee oversight, with a special emphasis on risk assessments for “Critical IT Vendors,” and clearly outlined contracts with cloud providers.
In the future, if Marriott acquires another entity, it must promptly assess the acquired entity’s information security program and develop plans to address deficiencies as part of the integration into Marriott’s network.
As part of the settlement, Marriott will allow customers to delete their data that is stored with the hotel if they wish to do so. Marriott must also offer multi-factor authentication to customers for their loyalty rewards accounts, such as Marriott Bonvoy, and conduct reviews of those accounts to ensure there is no suspicious activity.
Joining Attorney General James in signing today’s settlement are the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Vermont, and the District of Columbia.
Attorney General James has taken major actions to hold companies accountable for having poor cybersecurity and to improve data security practices. In August 2024, Attorney General James and a multistate coalition secured $4.5 million from a biotech company for failing to protect patient data. In July 2024, Attorney General James launched two privacy guides, a Business Guide to Website Privacy Controls and a Consumer Guide to Tracking on the Web, to help businesses and customers protect themselves. In July 2024, Attorney General James issued a consumer alert to raise awareness about free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services available for millions of customers impacted by the Change Healthcare data breach. In March 2024, Attorney General James led a bipartisan coalition of 41 attorneys general in sending a letter to Meta Platforms, Inc. (Meta) addressing the recent rise of Facebook and Instagram account takeovers by scammers and frauds. In January 2024, Attorney General James reached an agreement with a Hudson Valley health care provider to invest $1.2 million to protect patient data.
For New York, this matter was handled by Deputy Bureau Chief Clark Russell of the Bureau of Internet and Technology, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Kim Berger. The Bureau of Internet and Technology is a part of the Division for Economic Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Chris D’Angelo and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.
Headline: Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Warn Consumers About Potential Scams and Price Gouging in the Wake of Hurricanes and other Natural Disasters
As the nation braces for another major hurricane, the Justice Department, along with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), is warning consumers about those looking to take advantage of natural disasters by engaging in potential fraud, price gouging and collusive schemes.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Kelly (PA-16), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08), and Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06) released the following statement after securing the support of a bipartisan majority for the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 8702) with over 218 cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation would improve care for seniors by streamlining and standardizing the way Medicare Advantage (MA) plans use prior authorization and increasing oversight and transparency.
“With over 33 million Americans enrolled in Medicare Advantage, modernization of the prior authorization process is long overdue. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, hundreds of health care organizations, Americans from all corners of the country agree – streamlining this process will allow our Nation’s seniors to receive the care they are entitled to more efficiently. As champions of this legislation, we are grateful to our bipartisan majority of House colleagues for their support, and look forward to working with them to get this critical bill signed into law.”
BACKGROUND
Prior authorization is a tool used by health plans to reduce unnecessary care by requiring health care providers to get pre-approval for medical services. However, the current system often results in unconfirmed faxes of a patient’s medical information or phone calls by clinicians which takes precious time away from delivering quality and timely care. Prior authorization continues to be the #1 administrative burden identified by health care providers, and three out of four Medicare Advantage enrollees are subject to unnecessary delays due to prior authorization. In recent years, the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) raised concerns after an audit revealed that Medicare Advantage plans ultimately approved 75% of requests that were originally denied. More recently, HHS OIG released a report finding that MA plans incorrectly denied beneficiaries’ access to services even though they met Medicare coverage rules.
Health plans, health care providers, and patients agree that the prior authorization process must be improved to better serve patients and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens for clinicians. In fact, leading health care organizations released a consensus statement to address some of the most pressing concerns associated with prior authorization.
Specifically, the bill would:
Establish an electronic prior authorization process for MA plans including a standardization for transactions and clinical attachments.
Increase transparency around MA prior authorization requirements and its use. Clarify CMS’ authority to establish timeframes for e-PA requests including expedited determinations, real-time decisions for routinely approved items and services, and other PA requests.
Expand beneficiary protections to improve enrollee experiences and outcomes.
Require HHS and other agencies to report to Congress on program integrity efforts and other ways to further improve the e-PA process.
The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act unanimously passed the House in the 117th Congress and was cosponsored by a majority of members in the Senate and House of Representatives.
Bill text is available here.
A section-by-section summary can be foundhere.
This bill is supported by over 440 national and state organizations representing patients, physicians, MA plans, hospitals, and other key stakeholders in the health care industry. To see the list as of today, click here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) introduced the Next Generation Military Education Act to improve and expand artificial intelligence (AI) education for U.S. servicemembers.
“Artificial intelligence is no longer the future – it is the here and now,” said Larsen, who previously served on the Armed Services Committee for 22 years. “The Next Generation Military Education Act ensures servicemembers get the critical tools they need to meet today’s global challenges while developing in-demand skills and knowledge to master AI.”
Larsen a Champion of AI Education for Servicemembers
The Next Generation Military Education Act builds on Larsen’s work to develop an AI education strategy for servicemembers. In 2019, Larsen successfully included a provision in the FY20 National Defense Authorization Act that required the Department of Defense (DoD) to develop an AI education strategy. Larsen’s provision also required the underlying curriculum to include ethical issues, bias, and potential strengths and weaknesses of AI.
What Does the Next Generation Military Education Act Do?
Specifically, the Next Generation Military Education Act requires:
· The DoD’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer to provide an online AI education course;
· All military branches to participate in “Digital On-Demand,” the DoD’s initiative to accelerate AI knowledge; and
· The DoD to add an AI risks and threats section to its annual mandatory cybersecurity training.
To read the Next Generation Military Education Act, click here.
The SNP must match the commitments it made in Parliament today with actions, says Scottish Greens finance spokesperson, Ross Greer MSP.
Mr Greer’s comments followed SNP support for his motion calling on the Scottish Government to explore all avenues to fiscal sustainability, including further use of existing tax powers, reviewing tax reliefs and other subsidies for big business, new powers for councils such as a levy on polluting cruise ships and to ensure that spending does not go towards programmes which undermine the core missions of tackling child poverty and the climate emergency.
“The next Scottish budget must protect people and planet from Westminster’s cuts. That means raising money from the likes of supermarkets and private jet users and using it to protect the public services we all rely on.
“I welcome the SNP’s support for my motion, but they must now match words with actions. If this is a budget which makes Scotland a fairer and greener place, it will have the Scottish Greens support. We are far from that point though. We are still hugely concerned by the SNP’s recent decisions to reinstate the peak rail fares, previously suspended by the Greens, to cut funding for nature projects and to drop the commitment to expand free school meals for all P6 and P7 pupils.
“The Scottish Government does not have all the powers it needs, but it is far from powerless. This is a question of priorities. Will the SNP continue to give handouts to big businesses and elite landowners, or will they use that money to lift children out of poverty? Will they pour billions of pounds into polluting road building projects, or redirect it into helping people to insulate their homes and improve our railways?
“If the government is prepared to work constructively with us, the Scottish Greens are prepared to negotiate in good faith to deliver a budget which builds the fairer, greener Scotland we know is still possible.”
Free bus travel is a small but significant step towards supporting marginalised communities across Scotland.
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The Scottish Greens have welcomed Government support for their motion to restore the commitment for free bus travel for people seeking asylum in Scotland.
The policy was originally secured by Scottish Greens in October 2023 as part of the Bute House Agreement which brought the party into government, but was dropped by the Scottish Government in August 2024.
Many people seeking asylum are living in state-sanctioned poverty. Free bus travel provisions would give them greater safety and security and mean they no longer have to choose between safe transportation or a weekly shop.
“We welcome the Scottish Government’s U-turn to reinstate free bus travel for people seeking asylum across our country. The policy should never have been dropped in the first place, and we were deeply disappointed when it was.
“There must be more than just words from the Government on this issue, and a plan of action must follow to lay out the schedule before the end of the current parliamentary session, as well as ensuring the funding is allocated and guaranteed.
“People within the asylum system face huge financial restrictions and many are banned from working whilst waiting for the Home Office to make a decision on their application for protection.
“Making journeys to appointments, to see family or to explore our country is something many of us take for granted, but for those seeking protection it often becomes a much more complex choice.
“This is a small but significant change that will improve the lives of some of the most marginalized communities in Scotland, and we will work with refugee charities and the government to ensure that what is agreed upon is delivered.”
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Thakur Sukhdeo (38, Lehigh Acres) with wire fraud and illegal monetary transactions. If convicted, Sukhdeo faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count and up to 10 years in federal prison for each illegal monetary transaction count. The indictment also notifies Sukhdeo that the United States intends to forfeit a 2018 Jaguar F-Pace, 2020 GMC Sierra 3500 HD, and $414,000, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.
According to the indictment, beginning in approximately July 2021, Sukhdeo engaged in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration (SBA) by making fraudulent representations in Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) loan documents about the use of EIDL funds. Sukhdeo’s false representations caused the SBA to fund a $414,000 EIDL for his company, J.R. Handyman Pro’s LLC. Instead of using the EIDL proceeds for working capital, Sukhdeo used the funds for unauthorized purposes and for his own personal enrichment and the enrichment of others. This included the purchase of a luxury car for $68,984.61 and a truck for $93,994.42.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted March 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. On source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the expansion of an existing disaster-related program, the EIDL Program. The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relief to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL proceeds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Trent Reichling. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.
