Source:
We’ve reviewed our advice for the Marshall Islands and continue to advise exercise normal safety precautions. Travelling by boat, especially on open waters between atolls, can be hazardous. Vessels and their operators often do not meet Australian safety standards. Take appropriate precautions before travelling by boat (see ‘Travel’).
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Three arrests were made after a trio attempted to break into a St Heliers convenience store this morning.
Auckland City East Area Prevention Manager Inspector Rachel Dolheguy says a burglary was reported at 1am at the St Heliers Bay Road store.
“Three offenders were reported to be trying to break into the store and had kicked the door in,” she says.
“Units deployed into the St Heliers Village in response.”
The trio were located by the Police Air Support Unit walking on Tamaki Drive.
A 15-year-old male and two girls, aged 12 and 13, were taken into custody, Inspector Dolheguy says.
“Staff have since confirmed that the three young people had managed to steal anything, however the front door was damaged.
“The pair will be dealt with through Youth Aid around intentional damage.”
ENDS.
Jarred Williamson/NZ Police
Source:
Statements of distribution (SODs) must be lodged for all partnerships. Accurate and timely completion of these enables us to data match and assess if partners have returned their partnership income correctly. Incomplete or incorrect statements may result in partners being unnecessarily subjected to compliance activities.
Our recent analysis and compliance activities have identified basic errors tax practitioners make with SODs. To avoid these mistakes, make sure you’ve gathered the necessary lodgment information before preparing SODs, and complete all required information for each partner in the SOD labels, including:
SOD data helps us cross-check and assure that partners are correctly reporting their income in their income tax returns. This is even more important with our increased focus on compliance with Practical Compliance Guideline PCG 2021/4 Allocation of Professional firm profits – ATO compliance approach. It also helps us target our compliance actions more accurately.
We strongly recommend digital lodgment of SODs. For partnerships of up to 160 partners, you can already lodge digitally through your lodgment software (Practitioner lodgment service and Standard Business Reporting-enabled software). From 1 July, you’ll be able to digitally lodge 2024–25 and future returns for all partnerships, including those with more than 160 partners. We’ll provide more information on this change closer to that date.
Source:
We understand taxpayers across New South Wales and Queensland communities have been impacted by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. We encourage you to continue to lodge your clients’ obligations if you can, however for those clients that have been directly affected in Local Government Areas (LGAs) declared eligible for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRPExternal Link), we will provide additional time where you or your client are unable to lodge for the following obligations:
These measures are in addition to our normal range of support options available should you, your clients or your practice need additional help.
If we have made a provision for your client to lodge late without penalty, there will be an indicator on their account. This can be identified by running an On-Demand Outstanding Lodgment Report for either Income Tax or Activity Statements in Online services for agents, or through your practice management software.
Details for running On-Demand reports in Online services for agents and practitioner lodgment service (PLS) – enabled software are available on our website.
Source: New Zealand Government
Minister for Social Development and Employment Louise Upston says there will be targeted help if people need to relocate for a job.
The Relocate for Work Support payment will be available from 31 March for people on a benefit who can’t find a job where they currently live and need support to move to another location where they have found a job.
“We want to remove barriers for job seekers who have a suitable job offer and need to move to take it up. The need to move shouldn’t be a reason not to take a job,” Louise Upston says.
“Relocate for Work means we may be able to help with the travel costs for a private vehicle, airfare, bus, or ferry tickets to relocate. There’s also support to shift possessions.
“We want to help New Zealanders when they need it. Getting people back into the workforce, earning money and having their own independence is something I’m committed to.
“We know there are job opportunities out there and this is another practical way we can support New Zealanders off welfare and into work,” Louise Upston says.
Relocate for Work replaces the $5k to Work grant, initially introduced as ‘$3k to Christchurch’ which helped New Zealanders relocate and support the rebuild after the Christchurch earthquakes.
Source: Auckland Council
Daylight saving ends on 6 April and it’s natural to feel a shift this time of year. But shorter days don’t mean shorter experiences. There’s plenty to do to make the most of Auckland, even when there are fewer hours of sunshine. Take the opportunity to embrace this season of change with new ideas to boost your mood, from maximising vitamin D to rediscovering the warmth of a brisk walk.
For those who work or study indoors, the end of daylight saving time can often mean that, in the height of winter, your days start and end in darkness. Reduced daylight hours can limit your ability to produce vitamin D, which is not only linked to bone health and muscle function, but has been shown to affect the synthesis of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that’s key for mood regulation and happiness.
One way to squeeze more vitamin D into your day is by spending your lunch break outdoors. It’s hip to be square when it comes to lunchtime eating options for workers in the central city. Auckland’s well-known public squares include Aotea Square, Te Komititanga at the bottom of Queen Street, and Britomart’s Takutai Square where you can enjoy your lunch while relaxing on beanbags. If you feel the need to be close to the water, Queens Wharf is also an ideal spot to enjoy your lunchtime with some seaside views.
The beanbags get put out at Takutai Square in Britomart on sunny days – a great spot to have a relaxing lunch.
If you prefer the park life, then Myers Park is an urban oasis, packed with park benches poised for sandwich or sushi eating. Alternatively, you can eat your lunch while admiring the fountain and heritage trees at Albert Park. In Freyburg Place, the table and chairs outside the Ellen Melville Centre offer a great spot to chat with a coworker, while the tiered seating opposite is a sunny spot not far from many great High Street eateries (in case you left your lunch at home).
While long summer evenings can get busy, autumn and winter are a chance to reclaim some ‘me time’ by taking a night class. If you’re keen to develop your artistic side, try the Contemporary Painting Class at Te Tuhi in Pakuranga, or get your hands dirty at the Fundamentals of Clay class at Corban Estate Arts Centre or Evening Clay Making at Mairangi Arts Centre.
If you’d like to combine your art with exercise, try the yoga and art immersion class at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Or maybe you’d prefer to spend your evenings learning a language – why not drop in to Kōrero Mai! at Mt Roskill Library and improve your conversational te reo Māori?
The quieter months in autumn and winter are great times to visit spots that are very popular over summer such as Karekare in Waitākere Ranges Regional Park. Karekare Falls is only a five-minute walk from the carpark, and is great if combined with a beach walk along the rugged coastline where The Piano was filmed.
A family-friendly winter walk opinion is Te Ara Tahuna / Ōrewa Estuary Path on the Hibiscus Coast. This 80-minute scenic loop path is scooter, bike, pram and skateboard friendly (the track even goes past a skateboard park). If you’re bored over the weekend why not tread the boards – boardwalks that is. There are many to try, including the recently upgraded Shepherds Park in Beach Haven, Bucklands Beach Path where you can enjoy Rangitoto views, Mangawhau / Mt Eden overlooking the city – there’s even a boardwalk at Auckland Zoo if you’d prefer to go ape!
The boardwalk at Shepherds Park is ideal for a weekend walk.
When you put your clocks back on 6 April, take the opportunity to have a fitness reset. Even when the weather is wet, there are heaps of ways to stay active at Auckland Council Pool and Leisure centres. Reach your daily step count on the treadmill or improve bone density with weight-bearing exercises in one of the Council’s gym facilities. For extra motivation, try a group fitness class – such as cardio and core – or if you want to dance with somebody, try a dance-based class like Zumba and Barre. For a wheelie good time, try a stationary bike class. If team sports are more your jam, then prove your net worth with sports such as basketball, pickleball or badminton.
The fitness centre at Albany Stadium Pool features cardio equipment such as treadmills and rowing machines, as well as free weights and other exercise machines.
After all that exercise, you deserve a rest. The cooler months are the perfect time to make a dent in your reading list. Keen to get your hands on that book everyone is talking about?
Visit your local Auckland Council library and explore the Bestie collection, which features new and bestselling books available with no holds or renewals, meaning you can pick up a copy and read it right away.
Set up a cosy reading cocoon at home with a thrifted mug and warm blanket from your local Community Recycling Centre (CRC), or bring a mat and a warm coat to a park and read outdoors – perhaps enjoying the autumn leaves as you leaf through a book? Great parks to enjoy autumn colour include the Pukekawa / Auckland Domain, Albert Park and Victoria Park.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Larceny. The sentencing took place on March 24, 2025.
Zyin Wright, age 22, was sentenced to time served from his arrest on March 27, 2024, through March 24, 2025, equal to approximately one year in custody, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Wright was further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,124.47.
Wright was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2024. He pleaded guilty on December 16, 2024.
The conviction stems from conduct that occurred in March of 2024. On the evening of March 26, 2024, Wright stole a motor vehicle from a residence in Rapid City. He then drove the vehicle to Mission, South Dakota, in the Rosebud Indian Reservation. The vehicle was reported stolen on the morning of March 27, 2024, and it was located in Mission a short time later with the assistance of vehicle-tracking software. Wright was arrested in Mission later that day.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) released the following statements after their U.S. Research Protection Act, which would shield American research from malign foreign influence by updating language in the CHIPS and Science Act to include additional restrictions against programs sponsored by countries of concern, passed the U.S. House of Representatives:
“In a world where competition turns into hostility all too often, we must do everything in our power to safeguard American ingenuity against bad actor nations,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation will place even more restrictions on academic programs involving countries of concern to ensure American scientific research is protected.”
“The bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act included important provisions to bolster our research security, and we must continue to build upon this progress,” said Sen. Padilla. “This legislation will provide much-needed clarity for federal agencies and academic institutions to better safeguard national security while preserving research collaboration and international partnerships crucial to the strength of America’s innovation economy. I am glad to see the House pass our bipartisan bill, and I look forward to working with Senator Cornyn and my colleagues to secure its swift passage in the Senate.”
U.S. Representatives Mike Kennedy (UT-03) and Haley Stevens (MI-11) led the legislation in the House.
Background:
Malign Foreign Talent Programs are sponsored by countries of concern like Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea to obtain American scientific research and technology by incentivizing or coercing American researchers to act on their behalf. The CHIPS and Science Act included provisions to prohibit the U.S. government and academic institutions from partnering with such programs.
However, the law’s current definition of a Malign Foreign Talent Program only includes programs that “directly provide” incentives and benefits to researchers to participate, leaving out other methods to provide indirect benefits to researchers to induce their cooperation. This legislation would broaden the definition to include “indirect benefits,” ensuring foreign adversarial nations cannot exploit this loophole to evade U.S. research restrictions.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
WASHINGTON—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, today at a hearing received a commitment from Kevin Cabrera, nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to Panama, to use all tools at his disposal to ensure Panama cooperates with the United States on reducing the flow of illicit drug trafficking into America.
“Transnational criminal organizations, from countries like Colombia and Mexico, have long used Panama to smuggle illicit drugs, and they’ve done it to the tune of billions of dollars,” Hagerty said. “Last year alone, the State Department estimates that up to 40 percent of cocaine that was produced in Colombia had transited through the exclusive economic zones of Panama.”
“Mr. Cabrera, do you commit to use all of the tools at your disposal to ensure that the Panamanian government continues to collaborate with the United States [in taking] strong actions against these criminal organizations and stopping the flow of illicit drugs into America?” Hagerty asked.
“[Panama is] a great ally in this and…[I look] forward to continuing that and using all the tools that are at our disposal to continue to [make] sure that we stop as many metric tons of drugs coming through that border through the Darién Gap,” said Cabrera. “It goes hand-in-hand with migration.”
*Click the photo above or here to watch*
Migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia has welcomed measures announced by the federal government in its 2025 budget which provide cost of living relief, support for diverse communities while promoting social cohesion and maintaining Australia’s commitment to resettling refugees.
CEO of migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia also welcomed budget measures that supported access to healthcare, especially for women, as well as cost of living relief for vulnerable families and communities.
“We welcome the measures in the budget that support migrants and refugees and their communities, who are among the most vulnerable to cost of living pressures and barriers to accessing healthcare,” Ms Scarth said.
“The government’s investment in extending bulk billing and keeping medicines affordable will be welcomed by the communities we work with and support.
“The modest tax cuts delivering $268 a year to families and the extension of power bill relief, saving households $150 a year, will also have a positive impact,” she said.
Ms Scarth said the health measures in the budget would be felt in diverse communities.
“We know that people from diverse communities can struggle to access healthcare, so the $8.5 billion boost to Medicare aimed at extending bulk-billing target of nine out of ten GP visits by 2030 is welcome,” Ms Scarth said.
“Also welcome is the $650 million in the budget for urgent care clinics and the $573 million for women’s health. The measure to limit the costs of prescriptions on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to no more than $25 will help many families.
“The women’s health measures are particularly important because they focus on areas such as contraception, endometriosis and menopause care,” she said.
AMES Australia also welcomed the $178.4 million investment in the budget over five years to strengthen social cohesion, including $10 million for independent multicultural media and $44.8 million in grants for community projects.
The budget also commits $21.4 million to strengthen support for victim-survivors of sexual violence, which builds on existing programs aimed at improving access to critical legal and non-legal support for victim-survivors.
And it allocates funds to maintain Australia’s world-leading refugee programs.
“The budget maintains Australia’s commitment to settle 20,000 refugees each year at a time when many countries are closing their borders to those fleeing war or persecution, and while an increasing number of global conflicts are driving record human displacement,” Ms Scarth said.
“Overall, the budget is inclusive. It recognises that when people feel they are valued members of society, there is a dividend in stronger social cohesion and a stronger society,” she said.
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine – Moscow
Researchers from Saudi Arabia and the Philippines have expressed interest in a revolutionary method developed by the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine. The innovative tool, a survey designed to assess radiologists’ attitudes toward artificial intelligence (AI) in medical imaging, is intended to advance global research into the integration of AI in healthcare.
The survey assesses responses across four key areas: personal experience with AI, trust level, expectations for future collaboration, and implementation prospects. Taking into account the opinions of healthcare professionals, this study aims to streamline the implementation of AI services in healthcare, increasing efficiency and convenience. A scientific article about the new method was published in the international scientific journal Healthcare.
Yuri Vasiliev, General Director of the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine, Chief Consultant on Radiology at the Moscow Department of Health, emphasized the importance of this initiative:
“Artificial intelligence has already become an integral part of everyday medical practice in Moscow. Our goal is to make its use as convenient as possible for doctors and at the same time as useful as possible for patients. The questionnaire allows us to take into account the opinion of radiologists during the development process. We are also pleased with the international interest: colleagues from Saudi Arabia and the Philippines want to implement this tool. Moscow remains open to scientific cooperation with other countries.”
Developing a reliable survey instrument required painstaking scientific work. The Moscow team made sure that the questions were clear, unambiguous, and allowed for reliable results regardless of external factors such as respondents’ mood or time of participation in the survey. The questionnaire was thoroughly tested with the participation of more than 430 radiologists, including retesting in focus groups to confirm its reliability.
Anton Vladzimirsky, Deputy Director for Research at the Center, noted its practical application:
“The survey results allow organizers to determine the prevailing attitudes towards AI in radiology and develop targeted interventions. For example, it is possible to develop customized educational programs for radiologists or take measures to reduce concerns about the implementation of AI. This tool is universal – it can be applied at the hospital, regional or even national level.”
During this time, as part of an experimental initiative dedicated to innovative computer vision technologies for analyzing medical images, neural networks analyzed more than 14 million medical images, successfully identifying signs of pathologies in 39 different areas. The initiative is supported by the Government of Moscow and the Moscow Department of Health and is being implemented at the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine. Based on the results of the experiment, 22 national standards for the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare were developed, approved and officially put into effect.
Source: Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine – Moscow
Researchers from Saudi Arabia and the Philippines have expressed interest in a groundbreaking method developed by the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine. This innovative tool, a survey designed to assess radiologists’ attitudes toward artificial intelligence (AI) in medical imaging, is poised to facilitate global studies on the integration of AI in healthcare.
The survey evaluates responses across four key aspects: personal experience with AI, level of trust, expectations for future collaboration, and perspectives on implementation prospects. By considering the insights of medical professionals, this research aims to streamline the adoption of AI services in healthcare, enhancing both efficiency and user comfort. A scientific article about the new method was published in the international scientific journal Healthcare.
Yuri Vasiliev, CEO of the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine and Chief Consultant for Radiology at the Moscow Healthcare Department, emphasized the importance of this initiative:
“Artificial intelligence is already an integral part of daily medical practice in Moscow. Our goal is to make its use as seamless as possible for doctors while maximizing benefits for patients. The questionnaire allows us to incorporate radiologists’ feedback into our development process. We are also excited to see international interest, with colleagues from Saudi Arabia and the Philippines eager to adopt this tool. Moscow remains open to scientific collaboration with other nations.”
Developing a reliable survey instrument required meticulous scientific effort. The Moscow team ensured that questions were clear, unambiguous, and capable of yielding valid results regardless of external factors like respondents’ mood or timing of participation. The questionnaire underwent rigorous validation processes involving over 430 radiologists, including repeated testing with focus groups to confirm its reliability.
Anton Vladzimirsky, Deputy Director for Research at the Center, highlighted its practical applications:
“The survey results enable organizers to identify prevailing attitudes toward AI in radiology and design targeted interventions. For instance, personalized educational programs can be developed for radiologists, or measures can be implemented to alleviate concerns about AI adoption. The tool is versatile—it can be applied at hospital, regional, or even national levels.”
Moscow has been at the forefront of AI integration in medicine for five years. During this period, under the auspices of an experimental initiative focusing on innovative computer vision technologies for medical image analysis, neural networks have analyzed over 14 million medical images, successfully identifying signs of pathologies across 39 different domains. This initiative is supported by the Moscow City Government and the Moscow Healthcare Department, executed at the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine. As a result of the experiment’s findings, 22 national standards regarding the application of artificial intelligence in healthcare have been developed, approved, and formally enacted.
Source: United Nations 2-b
By Vibhu Mishra
The year 2024 marked the deadliest on record for migrants in Asia, with at least 2,514 lives lost along the region’s perilous migration routes, according to new data from the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM).
This represents a staggering 59 per cent increase from the 1,584 deaths recorded in 2023, highlighting the worsening dangers faced by people on the move.
“No one should lose their life in pursuit of safety or a better future,” said Iori Kato, IOM Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.
“Every life lost on migration routes in Asia, or anywhere else, is a stark reminder of the urgent need for safe and regular migration pathways – these are preventable tragedies.”
Source: IOM
Migrant deaths in Asia since 2014; data for 2025 as of 15 March.
The spike in migrant deaths was primarily linked to two of the region’s most vulnerable populations: the minority Muslim Rohingya fleeing Myanmar and Afghans escaping conflict and instability.
“The increase in deaths across Asia of people fleeing conflict and persecution in the region is of grave concern,” Mr. Kato said.
In 2024, at least 1,517 Afghan migrants lost their lives while in transit – up 39 per cent from 2023.
Deaths among Rohingya migrants more than doubled, reaching 889 compared to 436 the previous year.
On 5 August 2024 alone, over 150 people were reportedly killed by artillery fire while attempting to cross the Naf River from Myanmar to Bangladesh.
IOM also highlighted that the risks facing migrants extended beyond conflict-related violence. Many are vulnerable to perilous conditions en route, including overcrowded and unsafe boats, abuse by smugglers and extreme weather conditions.
Lack of identification of migrants was also a major concern, with over 1,000 of those who died in 2024 unidentified. Among the documented deaths, 1,086 were men, 205 were women, and 217 children.
“A lack of official reporting of data on missing migrants means we know our data do not fully capture the true number of lives lost during migration in Asia,” Mr. Kato said.
“And even within the records we have, so few identifying details are known, meaning there are immeasurable effects on families searching for lost relatives,” he added.
UNICEF/Patrick Brown
A man helps a woman to the shore as a boat arrives with Rohingya refugees in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. (file)
Migration in Asia is complex, driven by economic inequality, conflict and environmental factors, worsened by climate change. However, limited legal pathways have forced many to rely on irregular and highly dangerous routes.
One of the deadliest corridors remains the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, where stateless Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants embark on treacherous sea journeys in search of refuge. Many pay smugglers for passage, only to find themselves trapped on overcrowded boats with insufficient food and water, facing violence from crew members and the risk of being turned away at their destination.
Meanwhile, overland migration routes across South and Southeast Asia – such as those from Nepal to India, or from Afghanistan and Pakistan through Iran and Turkey – also pose serious risks. Migrants frequently endure extreme environmental conditions, exploitation by traffickers, and border violence.
Sea crossings to Australia, once a significant migration route, have sharply declined in recent years due to strict border controls, according to IOM.
While official data on boat interceptions remains scarce, the closure of this route has left many stranded in transit countries with little access to healthcare, education or legal protection, increasing their vulnerability to exploitation.
Source: United Nations 4
Note: Full coverage of today’s meeting of the General Assembly will be available Wednesday, 26 March.
The General Assembly today adopted resolutions on a range of topics, from the role of diamonds in fuelling conflict to a high-level conference on Rohingyas in Myanmar, while also holding a special event to pay tribute to the 15 million men, women and children from Africa who were trafficked into slavery.
Conflict Diamonds
The resolution on “The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict: breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict as a contribution to prevention and settlement of conflicts” (document A/79/L.63) was adopted without a vote, following the United States’ unsuccessful bid to remove four paragraphs that refer to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.
An overwhelming majority — 144 Member States — voted in favour of retaining those paragraphs, defeating two negative votes cast by the United States and Argentina. Six delegations — Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, Libya, Maldives, Panama and Paraguay — abstained on the vote.
By its terms, the Assembly reaffirmed the importance of the tripartite nature of the Kimberley Process and stressed that the widest possible participation in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is essential.
The Kimberley Process, an international certification scheme for rough diamonds, is open to all countries, and began when southern African diamond-producing States met in Kimberley, South Africa, in May 2000, to discuss ways to tackle the financing of violence by armed movements through the illicit diamond trade.
Introducing the text, the representative of the United Arab Emirates said the current resolution reflects a “shared commitment to fostering a sustainable and responsible diamond industry that benefits millions around the world”. The representative of the European Union, speaking in its capacity as observer, voiced support for reforming the Kimberley Process. Unfortunately, due to lack of consensus, “the definition of conflict diamonds remains very narrow”, she said, stressing the need to ensure the Process remains relevant and credible in a changing world. The Russian Federation’s delegation, however, rejecting the pressure from Western countries to unilaterally filter the diamonds that are entering the main market, said this attempt by consumer countries to deliberately thwart tried and tested multilateral mechanisms is reckless and incompetent.
…
Source: US Department of Labor
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an incremental award of $2.5 million to Hawaii to continue employment and training services, and support disaster-relief jobs for people in communities harmed by severe wildfires that swept across the island of Maui on Aug. 8, 2023.
In the late summer of 2023, the department’s Employment and Training Administration responded by announcing the award of Disaster Recovery Grant funding of up to $21 million, with an initial award of $10.5 million, to assist with cleanup and recovery activities. With this incremental funding, the total awarded for the project is $13 million.
This Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant allows the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to provide people with temporary jobs focused on cleaning up debris and repairing damage caused by the fires, as well as providing employment and training services to wildfire survivors.
Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, National Dislocated Worker Grants provide a state or local board with funding for direct services and assistance in areas experiencing a major economic dislocation event that leads to workforce needs exceeding available resources.
Source: US State of California Department of Justice
Leads multistate coalition in filing an amicus brief in Haitian-Americans United v. Trump
OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today, leading a multistate coalition, filed an amicus brief in Haitian-Americans United v. Trump in support of a challenge to the early termination of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Haitians and Venezuelans. TPS is a critical humanitarian program that allows immigrants of designated countries to remain in the United States due to ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or extraordinary and temporary conditions in their home countries. Since taking office, the Trump Administration has taken the unprecedented and unlawful action of attempting to cancel TPS for more than 800,000 immigrants fleeing dangerous conditions in their home countries.
“The Trump Administration seeks to strip more than 50% of all TPS holders of legal protections that allow them to live lawfully in this country. In doing so, it threatens to force these individuals to choose between living in the shadows here in America or returning to dangerous conditions in their home countries,” said Attorney General Bonta. “TPS holders are neighbors and co-workers, teachers and students, entrepreneurs and job-creators. They are integral parts of their communities and important contributors to our economy. I urge the court to prevent the Trump Administration’s heartless and unlawful attempt to revoke their legal immigration status.”
In the amicus brief, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition urge the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts to prevent the Trump Administration’s order from going into effect, arguing that the termination of Haitian and Venezuelan TPS is unlawful and will:
Attorney General Bonta is committed to upholding the rights and protections of all of California’s residents, including the nearly 11 million immigrants who call California home. He has defended pathways for legal immigration for those fleeing dangerous conditions in their home counties, supported a challenge to the early termination of the TPS designation for Venezuela, and secured a preliminary injunction in his lawsuit challenging the President’s unlawful executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship.
Attorney General Bonta, with Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell and New York Attorney General Letitia James, leads the attorneys general of Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin in filing the brief.
A copy of the brief can be found here.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Timothy Lennard Gebhart, a Woodbury man, has pleaded guilty to the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material and for coercing minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
According to court documents, on multiple occasions between approximately July 10, 2021, and March 11, 2022, Timothy Lennard Gebhart, 38, coerced a 16-year-old child, Minor A, and a 14-year-old, Minor B, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing pornographic videos. After obtaining the images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, Gebhart distributed the videos via computer and cellular phone. Gebhart then used the pornographic videos to extort money and other items of value from Minor A, threatening to damage the victim’s reputation by sending nude photos and videos to their family and friends.
Gebhart pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today before Judge Jerry W. Blackwell to two counts of child pornography production, one count of child pornography distribution, and one count of interstate communication with the intent to extort. A sentencing hearing will take place at a later date. Gebhart faces a mandatory minimum 15-year sentence.
“Sextortion—threatening to share explicit images of a victim unless they comply with a predator’s demands—is abhorrent,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “All too often, our children become victims of these monstrous schemes. My office will continue to prosecute these cases to the fullest extent of the law.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Woodbury Police Department, Greene County (Indiana) Sheriff’s Department, the Indiana State Police, and the FBI, with assistance from the Owatonna Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Classen is prosecuting the case.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
TORONTO, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Element Fleet Management Corp. (TSX:EFN) (“Element” or the “Company”), the largest publicly traded, pure-play automotive fleet manager in the world, today announced that Paolo Ferrari and Tracey McVicar have been nominated to stand for election to the Company’s Board of Directors at its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on May 2, 2025. They are being nominated to replace Andrew Clarke and Arielle-Meloul Wechsler who have decided not to stand for re-election.
Mr. Ferrari is a seasoned global executive, most recently holding the roles of Chief Executive Officer of Bridgestone Americas, Chief Executive Officer of Bridgestone West, and Joint Global Chief Operations Officer of Bridgestone Corporation. He is also the former Chief Executive Officer of Pirelli North America and Latin America, and held prior executive roles in telecommunications, technology, and investment banking.
Ms. McVicar is a Partner at CAI Capital Partners, a private equity firm she joined in 2003. She previously held senior positions in investment banking at Raymond James Ltd. and RBC Capital Markets. Ms. McVicar is also a past director of Teck Resources Ltd. where she served as Chair of the Audit Committee and a past director of BC Hydro Corporation where she chaired the Audit and Finance Committee.
“We are pleased to nominate Paolo Ferrari and Tracey McVicar to our Board,” said Element Board Chair Kathleen Taylor. “Paolo and Tracey bring integral skills, perspectives, and experience, and we are confident they will be tremendous assets to the Company. We would also like to thank our outgoing Board members, Andrew Clarke and Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, for their valuable support and contributions to Element.”
Further details about Element’s nominated directors can be found in our management information circular, which is available at http://www.sedarplus.ca.
Delivering Value Through Our Global Growth Strategy
Continuing to demonstrate how Element is driving growth and delivering value to our clients, shareholders, and team members, the Company also announced the release of its inaugural annual report. The report provides stakeholders with a clear and comprehensive overview of the Company’s strategy, vision, operations, and financial performance for 2024. It also highlights key trends shaping the fleet and mobility industry, and how the strategic investments Element made in 2024 will drive the Company’s continued industry leadership across fleet and mobility, setting a strong foundation for future success. More details are available in Element’s 2024 Annual Report.
About Element Fleet Management
Element Fleet Management (TSX: EFN) is the largest publicly traded pure-play automotive fleet manager in the world. As a Purpose-driven company, we provide a full range of sustainable and intelligent mobility solutions to optimize and enhance fleet performance for our clients across North America, Australia and New Zealand. Our services address every aspect of our clients’ fleet requirements, from vehicle acquisition, maintenance, route optimization, risk management, and remarketing, to advising on decarbonization efforts, integration of electric vehicles and managing the complexity of gradual fleet electrification. Clients benefit from Element’s expertise as one of the largest fleet solutions providers in its markets, offering economies of scale and insight used to reduce operating costs and enhance efficiency and performance. At Element, we maximize our clients’ fleet so they can focus on growing their business.
This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding Element and its business. Such statements are based on the current expectations and views of future events of Element’s management. In some cases the forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “potential”, “estimate”, “believe” or the negative of these terms, or other similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements, including, among others, statements regarding Element’s expectations for financial performance. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Element’s actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. Such risks and uncertainties include those regarding the fleet management and finance industries, economic factors and many other factors beyond the control of Element. A discussion of the material risks and assumptions associated with this outlook can be found in Element’s annual MD&A, and Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024, each of which has been filed on SEDAR and can be accessed at www.sedarplus.ca. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Element undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
SYDNEY, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Duck Creek Technologies, the global provider defining the future of property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance, has announced a new SaaS core insurance delivery technology partnership with South Australia’s largest personal lines insurer, RAA.
Duck Creek’s solutions, including Policy, Rating, Billing, Claims and Clarity (data and insights), served via their OnDemand cloud-delivery platform, will replace RAA’s incumbent on-premises legacy technology for their personal motor and home insurance products.
Duck Creek’s platform, featuring open and flexible architecture, line-of-business kits, local layers, and simple integrations will help RAA improve speed to market for new products, and provide an increasingly modern and seamless digital user experience for their 825,000+ members.
James Galdes, Chief Technology Officer at RAA said, “We’re excited to welcome Duck Creek as our core insurance technology partner for our personal and motor insurance products. As South Australia’s largest personal lines insurer, our members’ needs and expectations are continually evolving, and we require a more flexible, nimble and sustainable insurance delivery platform. We’ve found this with Duck Creek Technologies. Their future-proof SaaS core insurance delivery technology will help us unlock efficiencies and uplift our staff and members’ experiences now, and into the future.”
In addition to allowing RAA to deliver its members more innovative products, and more value, RAA will also receive significant operational benefits and increased efficiencies from the new solutions.
“Duck Creek’s cloud-native SaaS will help reduce our data center footprint whilst improving scalability and availability. It will simplify regulatory compliance thanks to the platform’s security that’s been built for the Australian context. The fortnightly silent updates through active delivery will eliminate disruptive upgrades and costly downtime. This means we can focus more on delivering coverage, confidence, value and greater member experiences, and focus less on technology,” according to Mr. Galdes.
Christian Erickson, Managing Director APAC, Duck Creek Technologies said the new partnership represents a significant milestone for Duck Creek Technologies.
“As a member-based organisation, RAA required more than just protection for policyholders. They pride themselves on delivering value to members. RAA has a big vision and high expectations and will be pushing the boundaries of innovation and possibilities. We’re looking forward to the challenge of supporting and enabling this,” said Erickson.
RAA’s decision came following a thorough evaluation process. “We leveraged our strategic partners in Gartner and Deloitte to lead a comprehensive market evaluation process. Duck Creek’s evergreen architecture, strong partnership ethos, local product support, and pre-built marketplace connectors were recognised as distinct advantages,” according to Mr. Galdes.
This announcement follows recent news of a new strategic partnership between RAA and Allianz Australia. Under the 20-year partnership, RAA will be responsible for the marketing and distribution of insurance products, while Allianz will be responsible for product, pricing, claims and underwriting.
About Duck Creek Technologies
Duck Creek Technologies is the global intelligent solutions provider defining the future of the property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance industry. We are the platform upon which modern insurance systems are built, enabling the industry to capitalize on the power of the cloud to run agile, intelligent, and evergreen operations. Authenticity, purpose, and transparency are core to Duck Creek, and we believe insurance should be there for individuals and businesses when, where, and how they need it most. Our market-leading solutions are available on a standalone basis or as a full suite, and all are available via Duck Creek OnDemand. Visit www.duckcreek.com to learn more. Follow Duck Creek on our social channels for the latest information – LinkedIn and X.
Media Contacts:
Chris Hamilton
chris.hamilton@duckcreek.com
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) introduced the Cultural Trade Promotion Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation to strengthen America’s creative industries and expand cultural exports. By bolstering the creative economy, this legislation will help U.S. businesses—including Native-owned, small, and rural enterprises—reach new global markets, create jobs, and strengthen America’s influence abroad amidst increasing competition from China.
“We cannot allow China to continue to outpace the United States in overall cultural exports, and Tennessee is home to countless creative entrepreneurs who need support to export their products and grow their businesses,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Cultural Trade Promotion Act would improve access to international shipping services for these small businesses to strengthen our economy and promote high-quality American goods.”
“America’s creative industries are a powerful force, driving jobs at home and shaping perceptions of our country abroad. Recently, China has doubled down on promoting its cultural exports, and we’ve been falling behind,” said Senator Schatz. “This bipartisan bill will help us level the playing field by expanding export opportunities for American businesses everywhere from Maui to Memphis so that our creative economy remains the global leader.”
Over the past decade, China has aggressively expanded its cultural trade through coordinated government investments and programs. In 2014, China surpassed the United States in overall cultural exports, and it continues to leverage cultural promotion as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. Meanwhile, America’s cultural trade surplus has declined, dropping from $31.5 billion in 2019 to $17.8 billion in 2021 before rebounding slightly to $21 billion in 2022, according to the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Cultural Trade Promotion Act would direct the Foreign Commercial Service to promote U.S. creative economy goods abroad and require the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee to include the creative economy in its annual governmentwide strategic plan. The bill would also improve access to international shipping services for small businesses by facilitating collaboration between the International Trade Administration and the U.S. Postal Service. Additionally, it would promote products from American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian-owned businesses and include a representative of the creative industries on the Department of Commerce’s Travel and Tourism Advisory Board.
Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Colin Flint, Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Utah State University
Away from the grueling land battles and devastating airstrikes, the Ukraine war has from its outset had a naval element. Soon after the February 2022 invasion, Russia imposed a de facto naval blockade on Ukraine, only to see its fleet stunningly defeated during a contest for control of the Black Sea.
But that war on the waves looks like it could be ending.
Under the terms of a deal announced on March 25, 2025, by the U.S. and agreed upon in Saudi Arabia, both sides of the conflict committed to ensuring “safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea,” according to a White House statement.
The naval aspect of the Ukraine war has gotten less attention than events on land and in the skies. But it is, I believe, a vital aspect with potentially far-reaching consequences.
Not only have Russia’s Black Sea losses constrained Moscow’s ability to project power across the globe through naval means, it has also resulted in Russia’s growing cooperation with China, where Moscow is emerging as a junior party to Beijing on the high seas.
The tradition of geopolitical theory has tended to paint an oversimplification of global politics. Theories harkening back to the late 19th century categorized countries as either land powers or maritime powers.
Thinkers such as the British geopolitician Sir Halford Mackinder or the U.S. theorist Alfred Thayer Mahan characterized maritime powers as countries that possessed traits of democratic liberalism and free trade. In contrast, land powers were often portrayed as despotic and militaristic.
While such generalizations have historically been used to demonize enemies, there is still a contrived tendency to divide the world into land and sea powers. An accompanying view that naval and army warfare is somewhat separate has continued.
And this division gives us a false impression of Russia’s progress in the war with Ukraine. While Moscow has certainly seen some successes on land and in the air, that should not draw attention away from Russia’s stunning defeat in the Black Sea that has seen Russia have to retreat from the Ukrainian shoreline and keep its ships far away from the battlefront.
As I describe in my recent book, “Near and Far Waters: The Geopolitics of Seapower,” maritime countries have two concerns: They must attempt to control the parts of the sea relatively close to their coastlines, or their “near waters”; meanwhile, those with the ability and desire to do so try to project power and influence into “far waters” across oceans, which are the near waters of other countries.
The Black Sea is a tightly enclosed and relatively small sea comprising the near waters of the countries that surround it: Turkey to the south, Bulgaria and Romania to the west, Georgia to the east, and Ukraine and Russia to the north.
Control of the Black Sea’s near waters has been contested throughout the centuries and has played a role in the current Russian-Ukraine war.
Russia’s seizure of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 allowed it to control the naval port of Sevastopol. What were near waters of Ukraine became de facto near waters for Russia.
Controlling these near waters allowed Russia to disrupt Ukraine’s trade, especially the export of grain to African far waters.
But Russia’s actions were thwarted through the collaboration of Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey to allow passage of cargo ships through their near waters, then through the Bosporus into the Mediterranean Sea.
Ukraine’s use of these other countries’ near waters allowed it to export between 5.2 million and 5.8 million tons of grain per month in the first quarter of 2024. To be sure, this was a decline from Ukraine’s exports of about 6.5 million tons per month prior to the war, which then dropped to just 2 million tons in the summer of 2023 because of Russian attacks and threats. Prior to the announcement of the ceasefire, the Foreign Agricultural Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture had forecasted a decline in Ukrainian grain exports for 2025.
But efforts to constrain Russia’s control of Ukraine’s near waters in the Black Sea, and Russia’s unwillingness to face the consequences of attacking ships in NATO countries’ near waters, meant Ukraine was still able to access far waters for economic gain and keep the Ukrainian economy afloat.
Alongside being thwarted in its ability to disrupt Ukrainian exports, Russia has also come under direct naval attack from Ukraine. Since February 2022, using unmanned attack drones, Ukraine has successfully sunk or damaged Russian ships and whittled away at Russia’s Black sea fleet, sinking about 15 of its prewar fleet of about 36 warships and damaging many others.
Russia has been forced to limit its use of Sevastopol and station its ships in the eastern part of the Black Sea. It cannot effectively function in the near waters it gained through the seizure of Crimea.
Russia’s naval setbacks against Ukraine are only the latest in its historical difficulties in projecting sea power and its resulting tendency to mainly focus on the defense of near waters.
In 1905, Russia was shocked by a dramatic naval loss to Japan. Yet even in cases where it was not outright defeated, Russian sea power has been continually constrained historically. In World War I, Russia cooperated with the British Royal Navy to limit German merchant activity in the Baltic Sea and Turkish trade and military reach in the Black Sea.
In World War II, Russia relied on material support from the Allies and was largely blockaded within its Baltic Sea and Black Sea ports. Many ships were brought close to home or stripped of their guns as artillery or offshore support for the territorial struggle with Germany.
During the Cold War, meanwhile, though the Soviet Union built fast-moving missile boats and some aircraft carriers, its reach into far waters relied on submarines. The main purpose of the Soviet Mediterranean fleet was to prevent NATO penetration into the Black Sea.
And now, Russia has lost control of the Black Sea. It cannot operate in these once secure near waters. These losses reduce its ability to project naval power from the Black Sea and into the Mediterranean Sea.
Faced with a glaring loss in its backyard and put in a weak position in its near waters, Russia as a result can project power to far waters only through cooperation with a China that is itself investing heavily in a far-water naval capacity.
Joint naval exercises in the South China Sea in July 2024 are evidence of this cooperation. Wang Guangzheng of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy’s Southern Theater said of the drill that “the China-Russia joint patrol has promoted the deepening and practical cooperation between the two in multiple directions and fields.” And looking forward, he claimed the exercise “effectively enhanced the ability to the two sides to jointly respond to maritime security threats.”
This cooperation makes sense in purely military terms for Russia, a mutually beneficial project of sea power projection. But it is largely to China’s benefit.
Russia can help China’s defense of its northern near waters and secure access to far waters through the Arctic Ocean – an increasingly important arena as global climate change reduces the hindrance posed by sea ice. But Russia remains very much the junior partner.
Moscow’s strategic interests will be supported only if they match Chinese interests. More to the point, sea power is about power projection for economic gain. China will likely use Russia to help protect its ongoing economic reach into African, Pacific, European and South American far waters. But it is unlikely to jeopardize these interests for Russian goals.
To be sure, Russia has far-water economic interests, especially in the Sahel and sub-Saharan Africa. And securing Russian interests in Africa complements China’s growing naval presence in the Indian Ocean to secure its own, and greater, global economic interests. But cooperation will still be at China’s behest.
For much of the Ukraine war, Russia has been bottled up in its Black Sea near waters, with the only avenue for projecting its naval power coming through access to Africa and Indian Ocean far waters – and only then as a junior partner with China, which dictates the terms and conditions.
A maritime deal with Ukraine now, even if it holds, will not compensate for Russia’s ongoing inability to project power across the oceans on its own.
Editor’s note: This is an updated version of an article originally published by The Conversation U.S. on Oct. 3, 2024.
Colin Flint does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Maritime truce would end a sorry war on the waves for Russia that set back its naval power ambitions – https://theconversation.com/maritime-truce-would-end-a-sorry-war-on-the-waves-for-russia-that-set-back-its-naval-power-ambitions-253089
Source: United States Department of Justice 2
Evolutions Flooring Inc. (Evolutions), a South San Francisco, California-based importer of multilayered wood flooring, and its owners, Mengya Lin and Jin Qian, have agreed to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly and improperly evading customs duties on imports of multilayered wood flooring from the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The settlement is based on Evolutions’ and its owners’ ability to pay.
“Import duties provide an important source of government revenue and level the playing field for U.S. manufacturers against their global competitors,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov M. Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department will pursue those who seek an unfair advantage in U.S. markets, including by evading the duties owed on goods imported into this country from China.”
To enter goods into the United States, an importer must declare, among other things, the country of origin of the goods, the value of the goods, whether the goods are subject to duties, and the amount of duties owed. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) collects applicable duties, including antidumping and countervailing duties assessed by the Department of Commerce and Section 301 duties imposed by the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Antidumping duties protect against foreign companies “dumping” products on U.S. markets at prices below cost, while countervailing duties offset foreign government subsidies. Section 301 duties similarly protect U.S. industry by imposing trade sanctions on foreign countries that violate U.S. trade agreements or engage in other unreasonable acts that burden U.S. commerce. During the relevant time period, PRC-manufactured multilayered wood flooring products were subject to antidumping, countervailing, and Section 301 duties.
The settlement resolves allegations that Evolutions, at the direction of Lin and Qian, knowingly and improperly evaded customs duties, including antidumping, countervailing, and Section 301 duties, on multilayered wood flooring manufactured in the PRC that Evolutions imported between Sept. 1, 2019 and July 31, 2022. Among other things, the United States alleged that Evolutions caused false information to be submitted to CBP regarding the identity of the manufacturers and country of origin of the imported multilayered wood flooring.
“The outcome of this case demonstrates that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California and its CBP partners will continue to safeguard the nation’s economic well-being,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph McNally for the Central District of California. “Fraud in international commerce deprives the United States of vital revenue and creates an unfair advantage over businesses that operate legitimately. The settlement sends a message that we will not stand aside when companies try to cheat the system.”
“The team at CBP was instrumental in providing expertise and logistical support to this investigation,” said Director of Field Operations Cheryl M. Davies of the CBP Los Angeles Field Office. “Through its efforts, which included a site visit to factories in Thailand, review of identified shipments by CBP experts on multilayered wood flooring, an analysis of import records and data by Office of Trade Regulatory Audit, and involvement in interviews with witnesses, CBP contributed to a successful outcome in this matter.”
The settlement with Evolutions and its owners resolves a lawsuit filed by Urban Global LLC under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The civil lawsuit was filed in the Central District of California and is captioned United States ex rel. Urban Global LLC v. Struxtur Inc. et al., No. CV20-7217 (C.D. Cal.). As part of today’s resolution, relator Urban Global LLC will receive approximately $1,215,000 of the settlement proceeds.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, with assistance from CBP’s Office of Chief Counsel, West Region and Trade Regulatory Audit and the Center of Excellence and Expertise for Industrial and Manufacturing Materials within CBP’s Office of Trade.
Senior Trial Counsel Christelle Klovers of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Desmond Jui for the Central District of California handled the case.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
Source: United States Department of Defense (video statements)
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Delivers Remarks at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center For Security Studies at Marine Corp Base Hawaii, March 25, 2025
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Your military is an all-volunteer force that serves to protect our security and way of life, but Service members are more than a fighting force. They are leaders, humanitarians and your fellow Americans. Get to know more about the men and women who serve, who they are, what they do, and why they do it.
For more on the Department of Defense, visit: http://www.defense.gov
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Keep up with the Department of Defense on social media!
Like the DoD on Facebook: http://facebook.com/DeptofDefense
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Source: The White House
Section 1. Purpose and Policy. Despite pioneering self-government, the United States now fails to enforce basic and necessary election protections employed by modern, developed nations, as well as those still developing. India and Brazil, for example, are tying voter identification to a biometric database, while the United States largely relies on self-attestation for citizenship. In tabulating votes, Germany and Canada require use of paper ballots, counted in public by local officials, which substantially reduces the number of disputes as compared to the American patchwork of voting methods that can lead to basic chain-of-custody problems. Further, while countries like Denmark and Sweden sensibly limit mail-in voting to those unable to vote in person and do not count late-arriving votes regardless of the date of postmark, many American elections now feature mass voting by mail, with many officials accepting ballots without postmarks or those received well after Election Day.
Free, fair, and honest elections unmarred by fraud, errors, or suspicion are fundamental to maintaining our constitutional Republic. The right of American citizens to have their votes properly counted and tabulated, without illegal dilution, is vital to determining the rightful winner of an election.
Under the Constitution, State governments must safeguard American elections in compliance with Federal laws that protect Americans’ voting rights and guard against dilution by illegal voting, discrimination, fraud, and other forms of malfeasance and error. Yet the United States has not adequately enforced Federal election requirements that, for example, prohibit States from counting ballots received after Election Day or prohibit non-citizens from registering to vote.
Federal law establishes a uniform Election Day across the Nation for Federal elections, 2 U.S.C. 7 and 3 U.S.C. 1. It is the policy of my Administration to enforce those statutes and require that votes be cast and received by the election date established in law. As the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently held in Republican National Committee v. Wetzel (2024), those statutes set “the day by which ballots must be both cast by voters and received by state officials.” Yet numerous States fail to comply with those laws by counting ballots received after Election Day. This is like allowing persons who arrive 3 days after Election Day, perhaps after a winner has been declared, to vote in person at a former voting precinct, which would be absurd.
Several Federal laws, including 18 U.S.C. 1015 and 611, prohibit foreign nationals from registering to vote or voting in Federal elections. Yet States fail adequately to vet voters’ citizenship, and, in recent years, the Department of Justice has failed to prioritize and devote sufficient resources for enforcement of these provisions. Even worse, the prior administration actively prevented States from removing aliens from their voter lists.
Additionally, Federal laws, such as the National Voter Registration Act (Public Law 103-31) and the Help America Vote Act (Public Law 107-252), require States to maintain an accurate and current Statewide list of every legally registered voter in the State. And the Department of Homeland Security is required to share database information with States upon request so they can fulfill this duty. See 8 U.S.C. 1373(c). Maintaining accurate voter registration lists is a fundamental requirement in protecting voters from having their ballots voided or diluted by fraudulent votes.
Federal law, 52 U.S.C. 30121, prohibits foreign nationals from participating in Federal, State, or local elections by making any contributions or expenditures. But foreign nationals and non-governmental organizations have taken advantage of loopholes in the law’s interpretation, spending millions of dollars through conduit contributions and ballot-initiative-related expenditures. This type of foreign interference in our election process undermines the franchise and the right of American citizens to govern their Republic.
Above all, elections must be honest and worthy of the public trust. That requires voting methods that produce a voter-verifiable paper record allowing voters to efficiently check their votes to protect against fraud or mistake. Election-integrity standards must be modified accordingly.
It is the policy of my Administration to enforce Federal law and to protect the integrity of our election process.
Sec. 2. Enforcing the Citizenship Requirement for Federal Elections. To enforce the Federal prohibition on foreign nationals voting in Federal elections:
(a)(i) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Election Assistance Commission shall take appropriate action to require, in its national mail voter registration form issued under 52 U.S.C. 20508:
(A) documentary proof of United States citizenship, consistent with 52 U.S.C. 20508(b)(3); and
(B) a State or local official to record on the form the type of document that the applicant presented as documentary proof of United States citizenship, including the date of the document’s issuance, the date of the document’s expiration (if any), the office that issued the document, and any unique identification number associated with the document as required by the criteria in 52 U.S.C. 21083(a)(5)(A), while taking appropriate measures to ensure information security.
(ii) For purposes of subsection (a) of this section, “documentary proof of United States citizenship” shall include a copy of:
(A) a United States passport;
(B) an identification document compliant with the requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-13, Div. B) that indicates the applicant is a citizen of the United States;
(C) an official military identification card that indicates the applicant is a citizen of the United States; or
(D) a valid Federal or State government-issued photo identification if such identification indicates that the applicant is a United States citizen or if such identification is otherwise accompanied by proof of United States citizenship.
(b) To identify unqualified voters registered in the States:
(i) the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, consistent with applicable law, ensure that State and local officials have, without the requirement of the payment of a fee, access to appropriate systems for verifying the citizenship or immigration status of individuals registering to vote or who are already registered;
(ii) the Secretary of State shall take all lawful and appropriate action to make available information from relevant databases to State and local election officials engaged in verifying the citizenship of individuals registering to vote or who are already registered; and
(iii) the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the DOGE Administrator, shall review each State’s publicly available voter registration list and available records concerning voter list maintenance activities as required by 52 U.S.C. 20507, alongside Federal immigration databases and State records requested, including through subpoena where necessary and authorized by law, for consistency with Federal requirements.
(c) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, consistent with applicable law, provide to the Attorney General complete information on all foreign nationals who have indicated on any immigration form that they have registered or voted in a Federal, State, or local election, and shall also take all appropriate action to submit to relevant State or local election officials such information.
(d) The head of each Federal voter registration executive department or agency (agency) under the National Voter Registration Act, 52 U.S.C. 20506(a), shall assess citizenship prior to providing a Federal voter registration form to enrollees of public assistance programs.
(e) The Attorney General shall prioritize enforcement of 18 U.S.C. 611 and 1015(f) and similar laws that restrict non-citizens from registering to vote or voting, including through use of:
(i) databases or information maintained by the Department of Homeland Security;
(ii) State-issued identification records and driver license databases; and
(iii) similar records relating to citizenship.
(f) The Attorney General shall, consistent with applicable laws, coordinate with State attorneys general to assist with State-level review and prosecution of aliens unlawfully registered to vote or casting votes.
Sec. 3. Providing Other Assistance to States Verifying Eligibility. To assist States in determining whether individuals are eligible to register and vote:
(a) The Commissioner of Social Security shall take all appropriate action to make available the Social Security Number Verification Service, the Death Master File, and any other Federal databases containing relevant information to all State and local election officials engaged in verifying the eligibility of individuals registering to vote or who are already registered. In determining and taking such action, the Commissioner of Social Security shall ensure compliance with applicable privacy and data security laws and regulations.
(b) The Attorney General shall ensure compliance with the requirements of 52 U.S.C. 20507(g).
(c) The Attorney General shall take appropriate action with respect to States that fail to comply with the list maintenance requirements of the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act contained in 52 U.S.C. 20507 and 52 U.S.C. 21083.
(d) The Secretary of Defense shall update the Federal Post Card Application, pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 52 U.S.C. 20301, to require:
(i) documentary proof of United States citizenship, as defined by section 2(a)(ii) of this order; and
(ii) proof of eligibility to vote in elections in the State in which the voter is attempting to vote.
Sec. 4. Improving the Election Assistance Commission.
(a) The Election Assistance Commission shall, pursuant to 52 U.S.C. 21003(b)(3)and 21142(c) and consistent with applicable law, take all appropriate action to cease providing Federal funds to States that do not comply with the Federal laws set forth in 52 U.S.C. 21145, including the requirement in 52 U.S.C. 20505(a)(1) that States accept and use the national mail voter registration form issued pursuant to 52 U.S.C. 20508(a)(1), including any requirement for documentary proof of United States citizenship adopted pursuant to section 2(a)(ii) of this order.
(b)(i) The Election Assistance Commission shall initiate appropriate action to amend the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 and issue other appropriate guidance establishing standards for voting systems to protect election integrity. The amended guidelines and other guidance shall provide that voting systems should not use a ballot in which a vote is contained within a barcode or quick-response code in the vote counting process except where necessary to accommodate individuals with disabilities and should provide a voter-verifiable paper record to prevent fraud or mistake.
(ii) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Election Assistance Commission shall take appropriate action to review and, if appropriate, re-certify voting systems under the new standards established under subsection (b)(i) of this section, and to rescind all previous certifications of voting equipment based on prior standards.
(c) Following an audit of Help America Vote Act fund expenditures conducted pursuant to 52 U.S.C. 21142, the Election Assistance Commission shall report any discrepancies or issues with an audited State’s certifications of compliance with Federal law to the Department of Justice for appropriate enforcement action.
(d) The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, consistent with applicable law, shall in considering the provision of funding for State or local election offices or administrators through the Homeland Security Grant Programs, 6 U.S.C. 603 et seq., heavily prioritize compliance with the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 developed by the Election Assistance Commission and completion of testing through the Voting System Test Labs accreditation process.
Sec. 5. Prosecuting Election Crimes. To protect the franchise of American citizens and their right to participate in fair and honest elections:
(a) The Attorney General shall take all appropriate action to enter into information-sharing agreements, to the maximum extent possible, with the chief State election official or multi-member agency of each State. These agreements shall aim to provide the Department of Justice with detailed information on all suspected violations of State and Federal election laws discovered by State officials, including information on individuals who:
(i) registered or voted despite being ineligible or who registered multiple times;
(ii) committed election fraud;
(iii) provided false information on voter registration or other election forms;
(iv) intimidated or threatened voters or election officials; or
(v) otherwise engaged in unlawful conduct to interfere in the election process.
(b) To the extent that any States are unwilling to enter into such an information sharing agreement or refuse to cooperate in investigations and prosecutions of election crimes, the Attorney General shall:
(i) prioritize enforcement of Federal election integrity laws in such States to ensure election integrity given the State’s demonstrated unwillingness to enter into an information-sharing agreement or to cooperate in investigations and prosecutions; and
(ii) review for potential withholding of grants and other funds that the Department awards and distributes, in the Department’s discretion, to State and local governments for law enforcement and other purposes, as consistent with applicable law.
(c) The Attorney General shall take all appropriate action to align the Department of Justice’s litigation positions with the purpose and policy of this order.
Sec. 6. Improving Security of Voting Systems. To improve the security of all voting equipment and systems used to cast ballots, tabulate votes, and report results:
(a) The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take all appropriate actions to the extent permitted by 42 U.S.C. 5195c and all other applicable law, so long as the Department of Homeland Security maintains the designation of election infrastructure as critical infrastructure, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 5195c(e), to prevent all non-citizens from being involved in the administration of any Federal election, including by accessing election equipment, ballots, or any other relevant materials used in the conduct of any Federal election.
(b) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall, in coordination with the Election Assistance Commission and to the maximum extent possible, review and report on the security of all electronic systems used in the voter registration and voting process. The Secretary of Homeland Security, as the head of the designated Sector Risk Management Agency under 6 U.S.C. 652a, in coordination with the Election Assistance Commission, shall assess the security of all such systems to the extent they are connected to, or integrated into, the Internet and report on the risk of such systems being compromised through malicious software and unauthorized intrusions into the system.
Sec. 7. Compliance with Federal Law Setting the National Election Day. To achieve full compliance with the Federal laws that set the uniform day for appointing Presidential electors and electing members of Congress:
(a) The Attorney General shall take all necessary action to enforce 2 U.S.C. 7 and 3 U.S.C. 1 against States that violate these provisions by including absentee or mail-in ballots received after Election Day in the final tabulation of votes for the appointment of Presidential electors and the election of members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives.
(b) Consistent with 52 U.S.C. 21001(b) and other applicable law, the Election Assistance Commission shall condition any available funding to a State on that State’s compliance with the requirement in 52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(6) that each State adopt uniform and nondiscriminatory standards within that State that define what constitutes a vote and what will be counted as a vote, including that, as prescribed in 2 U.S.C. 7 and 3 U.S.C. 1, there be a uniform and nondiscriminatory ballot receipt deadline of Election Day for all methods of voting, excluding ballots cast in accordance with 52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq., after which no additional votes may be cast.
Sec. 8. Preventing Foreign Interference and Unlawful Use of Federal Funds. The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall prioritize enforcement of 52 U.S.C. 30121 and other appropriate laws to prevent foreign nationals from contributing or donating in United States elections. The Attorney General shall likewise prioritize enforcement of 31 U.S.C. 1352, which prohibits lobbying by organizations or entities that have received any Federal funds.
Sec. 9. Federal Actions to Address Executive Order 14019. The heads of all agencies, and the Election Assistance Commission, shall cease all agency actions implementing Executive Order 14019 of March 7, 2021 (Promoting Access to Voting), which was revoked by Executive Order 14148 of on January 20, 2025 (Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions), and, within 90 days of the date of this order, submit to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, a report describing compliance with this order.
Sec. 10. Severability. If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any agency, person, or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its provisions to any other agencies, persons, or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
Sec. 11. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 25, 2025.
Source: The White House
SAFEGUARDING THE VOTE: President Trump recognizes that free, fair, and honest elections—unmarred by fraud, errors, or suspicion—are essential to our Constitutional Republic.
MAKING ELECTIONS SECURE AGAIN: Voters deserve elections they can trust, and that confidence is being restored thanks to President Trump.
Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Media Contact 202-321-9747
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia will hold a public hearing titled, “Censorship-Industrial Complex: The Need for First Amendment Safeguards at the State Department” on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
Date: Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. ET
Location: Rayburn 2172
Subject: Censorship-Industrial Complex: The Need for First Amendment Safeguards at the State Department
Witnesses:
Mr. Matt Taibbi
Twitter Files Journalist
Author, Founder
Racket News
Mr. Benjamin Weingarten
Investigative Journalist & Columnist
***Check here for updates. The hearing will be webcast live here and open to the public and press. Members of the media who would like to attend in-person should RSVP with Joe Clark at joseph.clark@mail.house.gov by 5 p.m. Monday, March 31, 2025. ***
Source: US State of North Dakota
Evolutions Flooring Inc. (Evolutions), a South San Francisco, California-based importer of multilayered wood flooring, and its owners, Mengya Lin and Jin Qian, have agreed to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly and improperly evading customs duties on imports of multilayered wood flooring from the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The settlement is based on Evolutions’ and its owners’ ability to pay.
“Import duties provide an important source of government revenue and level the playing field for U.S. manufacturers against their global competitors,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov M. Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department will pursue those who seek an unfair advantage in U.S. markets, including by evading the duties owed on goods imported into this country from China.”
To enter goods into the United States, an importer must declare, among other things, the country of origin of the goods, the value of the goods, whether the goods are subject to duties, and the amount of duties owed. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) collects applicable duties, including antidumping and countervailing duties assessed by the Department of Commerce and Section 301 duties imposed by the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Antidumping duties protect against foreign companies “dumping” products on U.S. markets at prices below cost, while countervailing duties offset foreign government subsidies. Section 301 duties similarly protect U.S. industry by imposing trade sanctions on foreign countries that violate U.S. trade agreements or engage in other unreasonable acts that burden U.S. commerce. During the relevant time period, PRC-manufactured multilayered wood flooring products were subject to antidumping, countervailing, and Section 301 duties.
The settlement resolves allegations that Evolutions, at the direction of Lin and Qian, knowingly and improperly evaded customs duties, including antidumping, countervailing, and Section 301 duties, on multilayered wood flooring manufactured in the PRC that Evolutions imported between Sept. 1, 2019 and July 31, 2022. Among other things, the United States alleged that Evolutions caused false information to be submitted to CBP regarding the identity of the manufacturers and country of origin of the imported multilayered wood flooring.
“The outcome of this case demonstrates that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California and its CBP partners will continue to safeguard the nation’s economic well-being,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph McNally for the Central District of California. “Fraud in international commerce deprives the United States of vital revenue and creates an unfair advantage over businesses that operate legitimately. The settlement sends a message that we will not stand aside when companies try to cheat the system.”
“The team at CBP was instrumental in providing expertise and logistical support to this investigation,” said Director of Field Operations Cheryl M. Davies of the CBP Los Angeles Field Office. “Through its efforts, which included a site visit to factories in Thailand, review of identified shipments by CBP experts on multilayered wood flooring, an analysis of import records and data by Office of Trade Regulatory Audit, and involvement in interviews with witnesses, CBP contributed to a successful outcome in this matter.”
The settlement with Evolutions and its owners resolves a lawsuit filed by Urban Global LLC under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The civil lawsuit was filed in the Central District of California and is captioned United States ex rel. Urban Global LLC v. Struxtur Inc. et al., No. CV20-7217 (C.D. Cal.). As part of today’s resolution, relator Urban Global LLC will receive approximately $1,215,000 of the settlement proceeds.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, with assistance from CBP’s Office of Chief Counsel, West Region and Trade Regulatory Audit and the Center of Excellence and Expertise for Industrial and Manufacturing Materials within CBP’s Office of Trade.
Senior Trial Counsel Christelle Klovers of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Desmond Jui for the Central District of California handled the case.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.