Source: United States Coast Guard
06/13/2025 02:25 PM EDT
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Source: United States Attorneys General 1
A federal grand jury in Ohio has returned a three-count indictment unsealed today charging Rwandan national Vincent Nzigiyimfura, also known as Vincent Mfura, 65, of Dayton, Ohio with lying on his U.S. immigration and naturalization applications. Specifically, the indictment alleges that he concealed his role as a perpetrator of the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, among other misrepresentations. Nzigiyimfura was arrested Wednesday in Dayton and made his initial appearance yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.
According to the indictment, Nzigiyimfura participated in the genocide that took place between April and July 1994, when members of Rwanda’s majority Hutu population killed hundreds of thousands of the country’s minority Tutsi ethnic group in an attempt to eradicate the ethnic group. An estimated 500,000 to 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed during the three-month genocide. Nzigiyimfura, a Rwandan businessman and butcher, was allegedly a leader and organizer of the genocide against Tutsis in the area in and around Gihisi and Nyanza. Nzigiyimfura allegedly provided weapons, transportation, and material inducements to other Hutus and directed them to search for and apprehend people to be killed based on their status as Tutsis. He allegedly set up roadblocks to detain and kill Tutsis, using his personal vehicle to transport materials to build the roadblocks. According to the indictment, Nzigiyimfura devised a scheme to trick Tutsis in hiding to believe that the killings had stopped only to have them rounded up and murdered.
“As alleged, Vincent Nzigiyimfura directed and encouraged murders during the genocide in Rwanda and then lied to U.S. authorities to start a new life in this country,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The United States is not a safe haven for human rights violators. Those, like the defendant, who commit immigration fraud to hide their violent pasts will be charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Mr. Galeotti thanked the prosecutors from the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP), agents from HSI Cincinnati and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio for their work in bringing this important prosecution.
“The indictment alleges this defendant facilitated the killings of Tutsis during the Rwandan genocide and then lied about it on immigration applications in the United States,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris for the Southern District of Ohio. “This egregious conduct will not be tolerated.”
“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) is committed to pursuing justice for victims of genocide by ensuring that those who committed atrocities in foreign lands cannot hide in Ohio or any other community in the United States,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey of ICE HSI Detroit. “No one wants a war criminal as their neighbor and these allegations paint a grim picture of the horror Nzigiyimfura inflicted on the Tutsi people. His indictment and arrest is a step toward justice for those victims. ”
When the genocide ended in 1994, as alleged, Nzigiyimfura fled Rwanda and later lived in Malawi. While living in Malawi in 2008 to 2009, Nzigiyimfura allegedly submitted materially misleading applications for an immigrant visa and alien registration, including by falsely representing that he was not an alien who had engaged in genocide. In the presence of a U. S. Consular Officer, Nzigiyimfura affirmed he understood that any willfully false or misleading statement or willful concealment of material facts could subject him to criminal prosecution. Additionally, according to the indictment, Nzigiyimfura submitted an affidavit in which he misleadingly claimed he “left Rwanda in 1994 due to the Genocide,” when in fact, he fled the country because of his participation in the persecution and massacre of Tutsis. His alleged misrepresentations and omissions yielded an immigrant visa to enter the United States in 2009.
Five years later, Nzigiyimfura submitted an application to naturalize as a U. S. citizen. Here, too, according to the indictment, he knowingly made false statements and omitted material facts, including claiming he had never persecuted any person, never committed a crime or offense, and never lied to any U. S. Government official to gain entry to the United States. In a November 2014 interview with a U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer, Nzigiyimfura verbally reaffirmed these false statements, as well as others, according to the indictment. His application for naturalization has not been granted. Nzigiyimfura has lived in the United States since 2009.
In 2018, according to the indictment, Nzigiyimfura submitted an application and supporting documentation for a replacement Permanent Resident Card (green card) that was due to expire in 2019 and obtained a new fraudulently procured green card with an expiration date in 2029. On July 27, 2021, Nzigiyimfura allegedly used his fraudulently procured replacement green card in connection with an application for an Ohio driver’s license.
Nzigiyimfura is charged with one count of visa fraud and two counts of attempted naturalization fraud. If convicted, he faces a statutory maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U. S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HSI Cincinnati is investigating the case, with assistance from the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC). Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate, and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers.
Trial Attorney Brian Morgan of the Criminal Division’s HRSP and Assistant U. S. Attorney Rob Painter of the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Analyst Dr. Christopher Hayden and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.
Members of the public who have information about former human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U. S. law enforcement through the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also email HRV. ICE@ice. dhs. gov or complete its online tip form at www. ice. gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips. asp.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
East Hants District RCMP is investigating an incident of possible negligence after a man was reported missing.
On June 11, at approximately 10:40 p.m., East Hants District RCMP responded to a report of a missing 81-year-old man. Officers learned the man was last seen at 3:30 p.m. when he was picked up outside a residence by a public transit service.
The man was located just before 11 p.m. in a public transit service vehicle. The man was the only occupant of the vehicle at the time and was found in medical distress; he was transported to hospital by EHS.
The investigation into the incident is being led by East Hants District RCMP with assistance from Colchester County District RCMP General Investigative Section and the RCMP’s Interview Assistance Team. Investigators have spoken with a number of individuals, seized items and collected significant information in support of the ongoing investigation.
As the investigation is ongoing, no further information can be released at this time.
File # 2025-814847
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Yarmouth Town RCMP Detachment is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 17-year-old Breanna Amanda Lynn Lynds (Joudrie), who was last seen on June 10 at 2:30 p.m in the town of Yarmouth.
Lynds (Joudrie) is described as 5-foot-4 and 121 pounds. She has brown hair and blue eyes.
When someone goes missing, it has deep and far-reaching impacts for the person and those who know them. We ask that people spread the word through social media respectfully.
Note: A photo of Breanna Lynds (Joudrie) is attached.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Breanna Lynds (Joudrie) is asked to contact the Yarmouth Town Detachment RCMP at 902-742-8777. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
June 13, 2025
Data shows Oregon hospitals in Silverton, Seaside, Madras, and Hermiston among more than 300 rural hospitals nationwide at disproportionate risk of closure, conversion, or service reductions
Washington (June 12, 2025) – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley (both D-Ore.) today joined with U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y) to release new data concluding that health care cuts in the Republican budget bill could place more than 300 rural hospitals across the U.S. at disproportionate risk of closure, conversion, or service reductions.
The data from the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill follows House Republicans’ passage of a budget bill that would impose the largest cuts to health care in U.S. history, slashing funding for Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act by more than $1 trillion and triggering more than $500 billion in Medicare cuts. The analysis released today is based on financial indicators including: share of Medicaid patients served, previous years of negative total margins, and data modeling on future financial distress.
“Hospitals are often the backbone of rural communities in Oregon and across the nation. They are often the largest employer in a rural community, and more often than not, many of the families they serve count on Medicaid for health care,” said Wyden, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee. “The Republican bill would hit rural Oregon like a wrecking ball, and among the first to suffer would be the rural hospitals and those they serve and employ who are already walking on an economic tightrope.”
“As I hold town hall meetings in each of Oregon’s 36 counties, I frequently hear about struggles folks have in accessing health care in their communities. This isn’t a red state or blue state issue. Medicaid helps every state – especially rural communities,” said Merkley, Ranking Member of the Budget Committee. “More than 300 rural hospitals will be at risk of shutting down – in Oregon and across the country – if Republicans betray middle class families and make these drastic cuts to Medicaid, all so that billionaires can pay less in taxes. This is the Republican plan: families lose, and billionaires win.”
The lawmakers also sent the data in a letter to President Trump, Leader John Thune, and Speaker Mike Johnson, writing, “Addressing the crisis in rural health care access is a national, bipartisan priority, and it should be bipartisan to not worsen that crisis. However, if your party passes these health care cuts into law, Americans in rural communities across the country risk losing health care services and jobs supported by their local hospitals. We urge you to read the attached report and reconsider your position. It is not too late to stop these cuts. Billionaire tax breaks are not worth the cost to American lives and livelihoods.”
The response from the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research states, “Substantial cuts to Medicaid or Medicare payments could increase the number of unprofitable rural hospitals and elevate their risk of financial distress. In response, hospitals may be forced to reduce service lines, convert to a different type of health care facility, or close altogether.”
The data shows 338 rural hospitals at particular risk of closure, conversion, or service reduction from substantial health care cuts because the hospitals either take a high relative share of Medicaid patients, or have experienced three consecutive years of negative total margins, or both. This includes four hospitals in Oregon: Silverton Hospital, Providence Seaside Hospital, St. Charles Madras, and Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston.
In the face of these Republican cuts, a majority of adults living in rural areas are concerned that health care cuts will “negatively impact hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care providers in [their] community,” the senators wrote in their letter to Trump, noting that rural hospitals are struggling. In 2023, there were 50 fewer rural hospitals than in 2017, and a lack of health care access in rural America is contributing to worse health outcomes. Faced with additional cuts to their revenue, many rural hospitals may be forced to stop providing certain services, including obstetric, mental health, and emergency room care, convert to clinics or standalone emergency centers, or close altogether. Rural hospitals are often the largest employers in rural communities, and when a rural hospital closes or scales back its services, communities are not only forced to grapple with losing access to health care, but also with job loss and the resulting financial insecurity.
The lawmakers sent a letter to the Sheps Center director on June 4, 2025, requesting the Center’s expert analysis of how this bill will impact rural hospitals and the communities they serve, particularly inquiring about which rural hospitals in the country treat the highest share of Medicaid recipients; how many rural hospitals are currently in financial distress or at risk of closure; and if the health care cuts in the House-passed budget reconciliation bill were to become law, would the rural hospitals with the highest share of Medicaid recipients or that are currently in financial distress face risk of closure or have to reduce services.
The senators’ letter and data are here. The Sheps Center response is here.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
June 13, 2025
Oregon senator: “Donald Trump proves yet again his irrational preference for litigation and mindless destruction of actual achievements like this settlement agreement”
Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today issued the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s decision this week to pull out of the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement.
“Donald Trump proves yet again his irrational preference for litigation and mindless destruction of actual achievements like this settlement agreement,” said Wyden a senior member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “His approach will make life more difficult for businesses and families by upending meaningful progress to meet regional energy production, water resources, and transportation needs while recovering a river and its salmon key to our part of the country. The states of Oregon and Washington as well as Tribes worked too hard and long to reach this agreement to have it upended so casually from 3,000 miles away.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Delia Ramirez – Illinois (3rd District)
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) released the following statement on Homeland Security Committee Republicans targeting and intimidating more than 200 civil society organizations, including religious groups, charities, and community-based groups, lawfully providing support to their communities, including immigrants and asylum-seekers.
“It is deeply unacceptable that my Republican colleagues on the Committee for Homeland Security Oversight Subcommittee launched a probe targeting 212 organizations across the country who assist immigrants and meet their basic needs.
I have said it before: terror is the point. Cruelty is the point. Fear is the point. The abuses of military power by the Department of Homeland Security and the Administration, the attacks on sitting Members of Congress and Senators performing their oversight duties, the 48 hour deployment notices for ICE Special Response Teams to our cities and now threatening letters to civil society – each action is intended to lay siege to the people and organizations in our communities that will defend our rights. Their goal is to suppress dissent against their illegal, unconstitutional actions.
Let them be reminded since they seem to be confused about what is legal and what is not: crossing a border to the United States to request the opportunity to apply for asylum is LEGAL. Adjusting your status, if you have a pathway to do so, is LEGAL. Supporting immigrants to apply for asylum, TPS, Parole, and other forms of relief is LEGAL. Supporting people to become citizens is LEGAL. Helping refugees integrate into our communities is LEGAL. And, even if they don’t like it, making sure our neighbors know their constitutional rights is LEGAL.
The actions of Republicans on CHS unlawfully target organizations standing against their authoritarian power grab. An attack on civil society is an attack on us all. We must dissent.”
Source: European Parliament
Priority question for written answer P-002314/2025
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 144
Maria Zacharia (NI)
On 9 June 2025, the Israeli Government carried out a military operation against the Freedom Flotilla vessel Madleen, which was carrying humanitarian aid to the blockaded Gaza Strip and starving civilians, victims of the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people. The operation took place in international waters with drones, chemical deployment and the violent arrest, kidnapping and taking hostage of 12 civilians, including MEP Rima Hassan and well-known peace activists.
Israel has unilaterally imposed a naval blockade on Gaza since 2007. The UN Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry (2011) has ruled that the blockade constitutes collective punishment against the civilian population and violates the Geneva Conventions. The Israeli action in international waters constitutes an international crime, a violation of the Convention on the Law of the Sea, international law, the principle of freedom of navigation, international humanitarian law and international criminal law, while the Israeli Prime Minister is wanted for international crimes.
In view of the above:
Submitted: 10.6.2025
Source: US Whitehouse
Here are just a few of those triumphs making front pages this week:
In Detroit, Michigan, The Detroit News celebrated the landmark announcement by General Motors that it will invest $4 billion in American manufacturing as it shifts more vehicle production from Mexico to the U.S. — including in Michigan. GM joins a host of other automakers in expanding their U.S.-based production as President Trump aggressively pursues his America First trade policies.
In Phoenix Arizona, the Arizona Republic heralded a historic milestone: “The border is secure” for the first time in decades. Thanks to President Trump’s unwavering dedication to national security, illegal border crossings have plummeted to near-zero levels as the Trump Administration removes scores of dangerous criminal illegal immigrants from our streets — finally restoring public safety.
In Hamilton, Ohio, the Hamilton Journal-News in highlighted gas prices at their lowest June levels since 2021 — with similar stories playing out across the country as President Trump unleashes American energy production. After Americans saw the cheapest Memorial Day weekend gas prices in years, the nationwide average for regular gas remains $0.33/gallon below where it was one year ago.
In Lebanon, Pennsylvania, the Lebanon Daily News touted Amazon’s $20 billion investment to expand its cloud computing infrastructure in the state — creating at least 1,250 new high-skilled jobs. It’s another result of President Trump’s relentless push to establish the U.S. as the global leader in artificial intelligence and technological innovation.
In Boise, Idaho, the Idaho Statesman covered Micron Technology’s $200 billion investment in its U.S.-based manufacturing and production of advanced memory chips — which includes $30 billion for the construction of a second chip fabrication facility in the state as it onshores production of its advanced DRAM technology from Taiwan for the first time.
Source: NASA
Attendees line up to enter the theater for a screening of the new NASA+ documentary “Cosmic Dawn: The Untold Story of the James Webb Space Telescope,” Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at the Greenbelt Cinema in Greenbelt, Maryland. Following the screening, Jacob Pinter, host of NASA’s Curious Universe podcast, led a discussion with Sophia Roberts, a NASA video producer who documented the Webb project, and Paul Geithner, former deputy project manager for Webb.
Featuring never-before-seen footage, Cosmic Dawn offers an unprecedented glimpse into the assembly, testing, and launch of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
Watch the documentary.
Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky
Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency
Headline: FEMA Calls May Come from Unfamiliar Numbers
FEMA Calls May Come from Unfamiliar Numbers
LITTLE ROCK, Ark
– After Arkansans apply for disaster assistance, FEMA may call to schedule an inspection of the damaged home or for more information to process the application
These calls may come from unfamiliar area codes or phone numbers
It is important to answer the call
A FEMA inspection may be required to determine whether a home is safe, functional and accessible
If an inspection cannot be scheduled, that may cause a delay in FEMA’s review of a homeowner’s or renter’s application
There is no charge for an inspection
The inspector will have FEMA photo ID and your application number
FEMA representatives never ask for money
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be a FEMA representative, but you aren’t sure, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to verify the caller’s identity
Residents who suffered losses after the March 14-15 and April 2-22 severe storms can apply for FEMA assistance for losses not covered by insurance
Survivors affected by both disasters are encouraged to file a separate FEMA application for each disaster
Survivors in Greene, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Randolph, Sharp and Stone counties may apply if they had damage in March
Additionally, those affected by the April storms in Clark, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Desha, Fulton, Hot Spring, Jackson, Miller, Ouachita, Pulaski, Randolph, St
Francis, Saline, Sharp and White counties may also apply
The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance for the March storms is Monday, July 14
The last day to apply for the April storms is Tuesday, July 22
There are several ways to apply
Go to DisasterAssistance
gov, use the FEMA App for mobile devices or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362
Lines are open from 6 a
m
to 10 p
m
CDT seven days a week and specialists speak many languages
In-person survivor assistance is also available at several sites across the impacted area
To find hours and locations, visit fema
gov/disaster/4865 or fema
gov/disaster/4873, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the link under “In-person Survivor Assistance
”To view an accessible video on how to apply, visit Three Ways to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube
For the latest information about Arkansas’ recovery, visit fema
gov/disaster/4865 or fema
gov/disaster/4873
Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x
com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook
com/FEMARegion6/
thomas
wise
Fri, 06/13/2025 – 14:00
Source: NASA
This serene spiral galaxy hides a cataclysmic past. The galaxy IC 758, shown in this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image, is situated 60 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major.
Hubble captured this image in 2023. IC 758 appears peaceful, with its soft blue spiral arms curving gently around its hazy barred center. However, in 1999, astronomers spotted a powerful explosion in this galaxy. The supernova SN 1999bg marked the dramatic end of a star far more massive than the Sun.
Researchers do not know exactly how massive this star was before it exploded, but will use these Hubble observations to measure the masses of stars in SN 1999bg’s neighborhood. These measurements will help them estimate the mass of the star that went supernova. The Hubble data may also reveal whether SN 1999bg’s progenitor star had a companion, which would provide additional clues about the star’s life and death.
A supernova represents more than just the demise of a single star — it’s also a powerful force that can shape its neighborhood. When a massive star collapses, triggering a supernova, its outer layers rebound off its shrunken core. The explosion stirs the interstellar soup of gas and dust out of which new stars form. This interstellar shakeup can scatter and heat nearby gas clouds, preventing new stars from forming, or it can compress them, creating a burst of new star formation. The cast-off layers enrich the interstellar medium, from which new stars form, with heavy elements manufactured in the core of the supernova.
Text Credit: ESA/Hubble
Media Contact:
Claire Andreoli (claire.andreoli@nasa.gov)NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency
Headline: SBA Loans Are a Meaningful Option for Texas Storm Survivors
SBA Loans Are a Meaningful Option for Texas Storm Survivors
AUSTIN – Low-interest disaster loans from the U
S
Small Business Administration are available to Texas residents, businesses of all sizes and nonprofit organizations that are recovering from the severe storms and flooding that occurred March 26-28, 2025
Residents and businesses in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties may now apply if they had damage in the March storms
FEMA partners with other agencies to help meet the needs of disaster survivors
Disaster loans are the largest source of federal recovery funds for storm survivors
They help private property owners pay for disaster losses not covered by insurance, local or state programs
SBA loans also cover deductibles and increased cost of compliance after a disaster
Survivors should not wait for an insurance settlement before submitting an SBA loan application
Interest rates on disaster loans can be as low as 2
75% for homeowners and renters, 3
62% for private nonprofit organizations and 4% for businesses, with terms up to 30 years for physical damage to real estate, inventory, supplies, machinery and equipment
Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition
Survivors are not required to begin repaying the loan and the interest does not begin to accumulate for 12 months from the date the first disaster loan disbursement is awarded
Homeowners may be eligible for a disaster loan of up to $500,000 for primary residence repairs or rebuilding
SBA may also be able to help homeowners and renters with up to $100,000 to replace important personal property, including automobiles damaged or destroyed in the storms
Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged property, destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets
Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes
Businesses of any size and private nonprofit organizations may apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) in the counties of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy and the contiguous counties of Brooks, Jim Hogg, Kenedy and Zapata
Businesses can apply for up to $2 million to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster
Economic Injury Disaster Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact
Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the applicant suffered any property damage
In partnership with FEMA and the state, SBA representatives are available to provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants at sites throughout the affected areas
SBA’s Business Recovery Centers are open at the following locations:CAMERON COUNTYBusiness Recovery CenterHarlingen Chamber of Commerce311 E
Tyler Ave
Harlingen, TX 78559Mondays – Thursdays, 8 a
m
– 5 p
m
Friday, 8 a
m
– 4 p
m
HIDALGO COUNTYBusiness Recovery CenterValley Metro Transit Center510 S
Pleasantview Dr
BoardroomWeslaco, TX 78596Monday – Friday 8 a
m
to 5 p
m
To apply online or to download an application, go to SBA
gov/disaster
You may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email DisasterCustomerService@sba
gov
The deadline to apply for an SBA physical disaster loan for the March storms is July 22, 2025
The last day for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private nonprofit organizations to apply for an SBA economic injury loan for the March storms is Feb
23, 2026
For the latest information about Texas’ recovery, visit fema
gov/disaster/4871 Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x
com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook
com/FEMARegion6/
toan
nguyen
Fri, 06/13/2025 – 12:08
Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency
Headline: Disaster Recovery Centers in Clark, Lincoln, Mercer, Owen Counties To Close Permanently; Some Centers Close on Sundays
Disaster Recovery Centers in Clark, Lincoln, Mercer, Owen Counties To Close Permanently; Some Centers Close on Sundays
FRANKFORT, Ky
–Disaster Recovery Centers in Clark, Lincoln, Mercer and Owen counties are scheduled to close permanently June 14 at 7 p
m
, but help is still available as survivors can go to any open center to get in-personal assistance, and there are other ways to apply
The centers closing permanently are located at: Clark County: Clark County Emergency Operations Center, 200 Maryland Ave
, Winchester, KY 40391 Lincoln County: Lincoln County Fire Department Training Center, 309 KY Hwy 590, Stanford, KY 40484 Mercer County: Mercer County Health Department, 900 N
College St
, Harrodsburg, KY 40330 Owen County: Three Rivers District Health Department, 60 Old Monterey Road, Owenton, KY 40359 From June12-14, working hours for these centers are 9 a
m
to 7 p
m
Eastern Time
Also, 35 centers in Kentucky counties designated for FEMA assistance as the result of the April severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides will be closed on Sundays
Centers in Laurel, Pulaski and Trigg counties remain open on Sundays
You can visit any Disaster Recovery Center to get in-person assistance
No appointment is needed
To find all other center locations, including those in other states, go to fema
gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362
Check this DR-4864 DRC locator for specific hours of operation
Disaster Recovery Centers are one-stop shops where you can get information and advice on available assistance from commonwealth, federal and community organizations
You can get help to apply for FEMA assistance, learn the status of your FEMA application, understand the letters you get from FEMA and get referrals to agencies that may offer other assistance
FEMA is encouraging Kentuckians affected by the April storms to apply for federal disaster assistance as soon as possible
The deadline to apply is July 25
You don’t have to visit a center to apply for FEMA assistance
There are other ways to apply: online at DisasterAssistance
gov, use the FEMA App for mobile devices or call 800-621-3362
If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service
When you apply, you will need to provide:A current phone number where you can be contacted
Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying
Your Social Security Number
A general list of damage and losses
Banking information if you choose direct deposit
If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name
For more information about Kentucky flooding recovery, visit www
fema
gov/disaster/4860 and www
fema
gov/disaster/4864
Follow the FEMA Region 4 X account at x
com/femaregion4
martyce
allenjr
Fri, 06/13/2025 – 12:04
Source: Washington State News
SEATTLE – Attorney General Nick Brown today filed a complaint in Snohomish County Superior Court against California-based property management company FPI Management and the owners of five apartment complexes in Western Washington, alleging that they engaged in unfair and deceptive practices impacting hundreds of vulnerable senior tenants at the properties.
FPI and the property owners market their apartment complexes as “low-income” units to tenants who are 55 and older.
Over a period of several years, FPI and the property owners failed to disclose to their low-income senior tenants how their rent would be calculated and increased in the future, and misrepresented the quality of their apartment units, the availability and quality of building amenities like pools or fitness areas, and safety at the properties. These are all violations of the Consumer Protection Act.
“Housing is particularly important for older Washingtonians, and it’s hard for them to move once they’ve signed a lease,” Brown said. “It’s egregious to convince vulnerable populations they’re getting quality living when in reality they are stuck with properties in disrepair that also end up costing more than they expected over time.”
The property owners participate in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC), through which they receive valuable tax credits in exchange for setting aside a certain number of apartment units in their buildings for tenants below a certain income threshold. The maximum rental rates under this program are set annually by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, based on the rise or fall of the area median income (AMI) in the county where the property is located. This is unlike other forms of housing assistance, in which the amount of rent a tenant will pay is based on their own income, and not the income of other people in the area.
FPI and the property owners do not explain or adequately disclose to prospective tenants that their monthly rent will be calculated based on AMI, which is often significantly more than the fixed Social Security or pension incomes many senior LIHTC tenants must live on. As a result, these tenants often end up paying an unsustainable portion of their fixed income as rent, leaving little for other expenses like food, transportation, or medical expenses.
This failure to disclose key details about rent calculations and increases surprised and harmed seniors, who are less likely to move units once they’re in, even if costs become unmanageable, due to the cost and physical demands of moving.
The defendants in this case also misrepresent the quality of their buildings, marketing them as “luxury” and “resort style,” when in reality many tenants move in only to find their units dirty with broken appliances, leaks, mold, worn carpets, torn flooring, and more issues. Despite the promise of quality amenities like pools, fitness centers, and computer rooms, tenants found such amenities either did not exist, were inoperable, or were permanently closed and shut down.
The apartment complexes were also not safe and secure as defendants represented. Many have no one monitoring who is entering, which has led to trespassing and other crimes on site. Their parking lots also experience frequent prowling, theft and vandalism.
The complaint seeks an injunction preventing the defendants from continuing to engage in the unlawful conduct alleged, restitution to impacted tenants, an enhanced civil penalty of $12,500 for each Consumer Protection Act violation due to the vulnerable nature of the seniors who were targeted and impacted, and an award to the state for the costs of pursuing litigation.
Attorney General’s Office staff handling the case include Assistant Attorneys General Anthony Thach and Emily Nelson, Senior Investigator Jennifer Treppa, and Paralegal Logan Young.
A copy of the complaint is available here.
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Source: US State of Colorado
DENVER – Governor Polis led a coalition of organizations committed to food access and security to urge Congress not to cut Coloradans off from critical SNAP support. The coalition urging Congress not to cut food access includes farming, local government, state agencies, and hunger groups: Hunger Free Colorado, Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Colorado Human Services Directors Association, Colorado Counties, Inc., Feeding Colorado, Nourish Colorado, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, The Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger, Mile High United Way, the Colorado School Nutrition Association, UFCW Local 7, Community Foodshare, Food Bank of the Rockies, Food Bank for Larimer County, Weld Food Bank, Care & Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado, the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the Colorado Department of Human Services.
“SNAP is a longstanding lifeline providing basic food assistance for the most vulnerable Americans and supporting our agricultural producers, and the proposals included in H.R. 1 would both erode the fundamental infrastructure of our food safety net and transfer an unanticipated and severe financial burden to states at a time of extreme budgetary constraints,” Governor Polis and the groups wrote.
Monthly, approximately 617,000 Coloradans receive at least $120 million in SNAP benefits–enough to provide about 48 meals per person per month. In 2024, almost one million individual Coloradans received SNAP, half of whom were children, ten percent of whom were older Americans, and 15 percent of whom were Americans with disabilities.
SNAP injects over $486 million into the economy in wages for over ten thousand Colorado jobs, including farmers, grocers, manufacturers, delivery drivers, and other positions throughout the food supply chain. Over 21,000 Colorado grocery stores use SNAP, and almost $70 million is in turn generated in state tax revenue from enhanced local economic activity.
“These initiatives ensure our children have appropriate nutrition to support healthy growth and development, and also support the physical and mental health of our most vulnerable adults. States like Colorado are focused on improving public safety and investments in SNAP also yield public safety dividends, including decreases in theft, rates of relationship violence, and rates of recidivism,” the letter states.
“The severe impact of Congressional proposals to fundamentally alter cost-sharing cannot be overstated. The new match requirement and changes contained in H.R. 1 would cost Colorado hundreds of millions of dollars in state funds annually – up to $360 million in the House-passed version and up to $200 million in the currently proposed Senate version – a cost that represents both an abrupt reversal of the federal-state compact and an unmitigated financial burden that would likely require cuts to SNAP, extreme reductions to other critical state-funded initiatives, or likely both,” the group continued.
“As Governor Polis noted, these proposed SNAP cuts would be nothing short of devastating for communities across Colorado, especially in rural areas,” shared Joël McClurg, executive director of systems for the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger. “Shifting benefit costs and further increasing administrative shares would saddle our state with new obligations that rural and poorer counties simply cannot meet. Already operating on shoestring budgets, many of our counties would be forced to choose between absorbing new crushing costs or slashing critical services — and either path disproportionately punishes the very people who need support the most.”
“Not only is SNAP a valuable program for our communities, both rural and urban, it also provides a vital market for many of our farmers and ranchers,” said Chad Franke, President of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union. “The family farmers and ranchers we represent know the value of providing local food to local communities. That’s why we are urging Congress to protect the local foods components of SNAP, such as Double Up Food Bucks,” Franke continued.
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US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Ted Budd (R-NC) have reintroduced the bipartisan Rolling Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Drug (RAPID) Reserve Act to help increase supply chain resiliency for critical generic drugs and their key ingredients by bolstering supply reserves and domestic production capacity through federal contracts. The RAPID Reserve Act would help reduce drug shortages, enhance preparedness, and mitigate national security threats from U.S. overreliance on China for critical medications and their key ingredients.
Drug shortages are lasting longer and continue to impact patients, hospitals, and health care providers, increasing the risk of medication errors, rationing, and delays in patient care. In a 2023 report, Peters found that at least 15 critical medications remained in shortage for over a decade. Many of the life-saving generic drug products that regularly experience shortages are complex to manufacture and cost pennies on the dollar. The legislation builds on recommendations from Peters’ prior investigative reports in 2019 and?2023,?which found that generic drug manufacturers’ ability to surge production and store supplies are often limited because they regularly operate at or near full capacity.?
“Every American should be able to get the medicine they need when they need it. Increasing domestic and reliable manufacturing capacity for our critical, lifesaving medications is essential to addressing drug shortages that can compromise patient care,” said Senator Peters. “This bipartisan bill will help ensure Americans receive the essential medications they need while strengthening our ability to respond to future public health crises.”
“The United States faces a national security threat from its overreliance on Communist China for vital drugs and pharmaceutical ingredients,” said Senator Blackburn. “We must boost domestic manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients and help sustain sufficient reserves of medications. The RAPID Reserve Act would ensure Americans will always have access to the medication they need.”
“While we’ve taken a lot of steps to increase domestic manufacturing of critical medicines and key ingredients, we still have more to do,” said Senator Kaine. “This bipartisan legislation would reduce our reliance on foreign countries, encourage drug manufacturers to increase domestic production, and help prevent drug shortages.”
“For far too long, America has faced a drug shortage that not only threatens patients’ health but poses a national security risk by forcing us to rely on Communist China’s supply chains for essential medications,” said Senator Budd. “I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the bipartisan RAPID Reserve Act to bring drug manufacturing back to the U.S., prioritize sufficient medication reserves, and support increased production in emergencies to reliably meet patient demand.”
The RAPID Reserve Act would direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award contracts to quality manufacturers of critical generic drug products who are based in the United States or in a country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in order to maintain reserves of critical medications and their key ingredients while building the capacity to surge production when needed. Through these contracts, which would prioritize domestic manufacturers, the RAPID Reserve Act would help strengthen vulnerable supply chains by ensuring that when there is a disruption in supply, manufacturers can draw on reserves and surge production to meet demand.
Senators Peters, Blackburn, Budd, and Kaine have also sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting the agency examine underutilized domestic manufacturing capacity and federal efforts to invest in advanced manufacturing capabilities.
The RAPID Reserve Act is supported by the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA), and Phlow. Below are quotes in support of the senators’ legislation:
“Getting the right treatment at the right time is an essential part of achieving the best possible outcome for anyone with a cancer diagnosis” said Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Board Chair Eric P. Winer, MD, FASCO. “ASCO supports the RAPID Reserve Act, because it would take steps to ensure that critical cancer drug treatments are available when our patients need them.”
“ASHP strongly supports the RAPID Reserve Act. By establishing reserves of both active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished products, the legislation creates greater resiliency in the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain and reduces the harmful impacts of shortages on patient care,” said Tom Kraus, Vice President of ASHP Government Relations.??
“?HDA is pleased to support the RAPID Reserve Act. This bill is an important step forward in supply chain resilience. By creating solutions that build more capacity and redundancy in the system, the nation will be more prepared for disasters and disease outbreaks in the future.” – Nicolette Louissaint, PhD, Chief Policy Officer, Healthcare Distribution Alliance
“Americans must have reliable access to critical essential medicines and the ingredients to make them, produced right here on U.S. soil. This access is not merely a convenience; it’s a national imperative to safeguard public health in the face of future public health emergencies, trade disruptions, conflicts with adversarial nations, or natural disasters. This bill represents a vital and long-overdue first step toward building a resilient, secure domestic pharmaceutical industrial base, one that will finally put an end to the persistent shortages of essential medicines that have long jeopardized the healthcare of every American,” said Dr. Eric Edwards, CEO and Founder of Phlow Corp.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement today regarding Israeli strikes in Iran last night:
“Iran’s war against Israel and the United States is decades old. Directly and by proxy, it has plotted and conducted attacks against U.S. servicemembers, diplomats, former officials, and even dissidents inside the American homeland. It has done the same against its Arab neighbors, peaceful nations around the world, and — with particular savagery — the Jewish people for daring to preserve and protect a Jewish state.
“When Tehran prescribes ‘death to Israel, death to America’, our closest ally in the Middle East takes this murderous, nuclear-obsessed regime at its word. America must do the same.
“Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s dramatic operations in Lebanon, Syria, and now Iran have given the entire region an opportunity to rid itself of Tehran’s terrorist spiderweb. I hope and pray that Israel’s bold and brave direct strikes against the Iranian death machine and nuclear program will hasten this future for a region of tremendous importance to the United States.
“In Israel’s fierce self-defense, America must recognize a broader, global lesson about the value of allies and partners. From Europe to the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific, we and our friends are stronger when we stand together.
“There must be no daylight between the United States and allies and partners defending their sovereignty, democracy, and way of life against theocratic or authoritarian aggression. America must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel. And Iran’s remaining leaders must recognize that the time has come to abandon their decades-long obsession with terror and nuclear war.”
Source: Scotland – Highland Council
On Tuesday 17 June, the Highland Child Protection Committee will be hosting their annual conference at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness. The event will bring together over 150 practitioners from across Highland to consider emerging issues in child protection.
The day will pay a particular focus to the online safety of children and young people and prevention of child sexual abuse online.
The keynote speech will be delivered by Chris Hughes, Hotline Director from the Internet Watch Foundation, an international organisation who aim to eliminate child sexual abuse images from the internet. Chris said: “I am delighted to be visiting the Highlands and meeting with everyone. Online child sexual abuse and exploitation knows no boundaries and can have significant impact on children, young people and their families. It is vital that services know how to recognise and respond to any emerging risks effectively.”
The event will also consider other emerging issues and approaches to child protection including child exploitation, neglect, misogyny, child sexual abuse, early protective messaging and ICON, a programme to support parents/carers and prevent head trauma in babies.
Mhairi Grant, Independent Chair of the Child Protection Committee said: “We are pleased to be hosting such an important event to update practitioners about the work being undertaken by partners and provide opportunities for networking and relationship building. It is crucial that priorities for protecting children in Highland are shared by all agencies and services.”
Chair of the Highland Council’s Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee and a member of the CPC, Councillor David Fraser added: “ We all can play a part to keep children safe. The discussions regarding on-line safety, especially the key insights from Chris of young people’s experiences, will help us all in supporting our vulnerable young people and their journey into adulthood. I wish everyone taking part a very successful conference.”
Local services will be showcasing a range of poster presentations highlighting good practice across Highland.
Source: Scotland – Highland Council
The National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton is celebrating its 25th anniversary and on Thursday (19 June) past and present students will come together at Eden Court Theatre in a showcase of the very best from the Scottish traditional scene.
Known as Sgoil Chiùil na Gàidhealtachd, the Centre has been a cornerstone in nurturing some of the country’s most talented young musicians while preserving Scotland’s rich musical heritage. This celebratory performance highlights the Centre’s legacy as the only one of its kind in Scotland.
Highland Council vice convener Cllr Biz Campbell said: “Congratulations to Sgoil Chiùil na Gàidhealtachd, the national centre of excellence in traditional music based at Plockton High School.
“The school has done such marvellous work to support traditional music and culture in our region and what better place to have this precious asset than at Plockton High, in the heart of the Highlands.
“Some of our very best musicians have come through the school and it is fantastic to see them teaming up with the next generation to celebrate the 25th anniversary. Here’s to many more.”
The concert will feature a stellar line-up of alumni who have gone on to forge highly successful careers. Returning to perform alongside current students are:
These musicians will be joining the current intake of talented young musicians back in Plockton for rehearsals prior to the event, where the future generation will learn from the alumni.
The concert will also mark the official launch of the Centre’s 24th album, Mic’d Up, featuring performances by the current students. Recorded last year, the album is a collection of traditional and contemporary material that showcases the skill, creativity, and collaboration at the heart of the Centre’s work.
Mike Vass, Centre Manager, said: “It’s a real honour to celebrate 25 years of the Centre with so many of our talented alumni and current students.
“This event is not just a celebration of our past, but a testament to the strength and future of traditional music in Scotland.
“The fact that so many former students have gone on to successful careers – and are now returning to perform – is incredibly moving and a powerful reminder of what this Centre is all about.”
The Centre opened in May 2000 with just nine students, including Breabach’s Ewan Robertson, who returns as both tutor and performer, offering intensive training led by some of Scotland’s foremost traditional musicians.
Today, the Centre continues to offer exceptional musical education, with tuition from a team of renowned tutors such as fiddler Gordon Gunn; Gaelic singers Deirdre Graham and Rachel Walker; singer-songwriter Siobhan Miller; multi-instrumentalist Hamish Napier; fiddle player/guitarist Innes Watson; harpist Ingrid Henderson; pianist Mhairi Hall; and composer/producer Mike Vass, who also serves as Centre Manager.
The 25th anniversary celebration takes place at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, on 19th June.
Tickets are available now online via the Eden Court website.
For more information about the Centre, visit www.plocktonmusicschool.com.
About The National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music
Issued by Katie Mackenzie PR and by Highland Council
Source: Scotland – Highland Council
Road users are advised that temporary traffic restrictions will come into operation on Saturday 21 June 2025 between 06:00 and 19:00 for the Highland Cross 2025 event.
The C1112 Glen Affric Road will be temporarily closed to vehicles from 11:00 to 17:00, from its junction with the C1110 Cannich Fasnakyle – Kerrow Wood Road to the north side of the bridge over the Abhainn Gleann nam Fiadh.
The following roads will also be temporarily closed from 12:45 to 18:00:
Beauly Square will also be closed from 06:00 to 19:00.
The closures affect vehicle access only. Pedestrian access and access for emergency vehicles will not be affected.
13 Jun 2025
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Update by Australia, the UK and the USA (AUKUS) to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors on Australia’s naval nuclear propulsion programme
Thank you, Chair.
I have the honour of speaking on behalf of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States to provide an update to the Board of Governors on Australia’s naval nuclear propulsion (NNP) program.
Chair,
Bilateral consultations between Australia and the Agency on the safeguards and verification approach for Australia’s program, including an arrangement under Article 14 of Australia’s Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA), are ongoing.
As the Director General stated in his report to this Board last November, these consultations are guided by the relevant provisions of the Agency’s Statute, and Australia’s CSA and Additional Protocol (AP). The topics under discussion include the structure and content of Australia’s Article 14 arrangement; provisions for advance notification, reporting and verification prior to the entry of nuclear material into the arrangement; and the circumstances under which the arrangement will apply.
Technical discussions also continue on ways to facilitate possible verification and monitoring activities, and on the structure of material balance areas, facilities and sites at relevant locations in Australia, within the framework of Australia’s CSA and AP.
Chair,
We reaffirm the fundamental commitment that ensures our approach sets the highest non-proliferation standard. Australia’s program will be subject to a robust package of safeguards and verification measures, enabling the Agency to continue to fulfil its technical objectives for Australia at all stages. Throughout the lifecycle of Australia’s conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines the Agency will continue to verify that there has been no diversion of nuclear material, no misuse of facilities, and no undeclared nuclear material or activities in Australia.
As the Director General has stated, Australia’s Article 14 arrangement, once finalised, will be referred to this Board for appropriate action – which we fully support. When the Article 14 arrangement comes before the Board of Governors, in the fullness of time, we expect it to be judged on its non-proliferation merits, on the basis of the Director General’s technical assessment.
Chair,
We remain committed to updating the Board on relevant developments concerning our three countries’ cooperation on NNP, as we have done since September 2021.
Australia is continuing to build our capacity to operate and maintain our future conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines through support and training from the US and UK. To this end, consistent with the phased approach we announced in March 2023, Australia is receiving regular port visits from American nuclear-powered submarines at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia – which will continue and be supplemented in future by UK visiting submarines. There is a long history of US and UK submarines visiting Australia, and port visits by many nations are carried out regularly around the world. Our cooperation is proceeding in full compliance with AUKUS partners’ respective international obligations, including Australia’s obligations under its CSA and AP, and under the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty.
As the Director General confirmed in his report last November, the Agency continues to undertake independent verification activities in relation to Australia’s program; and Australia continues to provide the Agency all information required under its CSA and AP.
Chair,
We support the Director General’s ongoing commitment to report to the Board on NNP programs, as he judges appropriate. He did this last November, and he has also done so at this Board in the Safeguards Implementation Report for 2024. We continue to welcome technically focused discussions at the Board, under agenda items proposed by the Director General and guided by his reporting.
AUKUS partners remain committed to transparency and setting the highest non-proliferation standard for Australia’s NNP program. We welcome opportunities to present information and address genuine questions regarding Australia’s NNP program. Since 2023 we have co-hosted a side event on our non-proliferation approach at each NPT PrepCom meeting – most recently on 1 May in New York. We will continue to provide updates to the Board and in other fora, as appropriate.
Thank you, Chair.
Source: Government of Canada News (2)
Canada’s participation as Country of the Year is a testament to the strength of its AI ecosystem
June 13, 2025 – Paris, France
Today, the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, concluded a successful visit to Paris, France, where he met with key industry and political leaders to advance Canada’s growth agenda.
Minister Solomon led the Canadian delegation for the opening of the 9th edition of VivaTech. He welcomed President Emmanuel Macron to the Canada Pavilion on the first day of the conference and showcased some of Canada’s leading innovators to the French delegation. At President Macron’s invitation, Minister Solomon later participated in a working dinner with French business leaders at the Élysée Palace.
Minister Solomon participated in Montréal-based company Hypertec’s announcement of a $5 billion initiative to build one of Europe’s largest sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure networks, with over 2 gigawatts of data centre capacity and nearly 100,000 NVIDIA graphics processing units planned in France, Italy, Portugal and the U.K. This initiative demonstrates Canadian leadership on the world stage and will translate to a $250 million investment by the company in Quebec to build next-generation server facilities and create over 100 specialized jobs in AI-related fields.
Over the course of his visit, Minister Solomon held bilateral discussions with Clara Chappaz, Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies from France; Lex Delles, Minister of the Economy, SME, Energy and Tourism from Luxembourg; and His Excellency Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of the Economy from the United Arab Emirates. Their discussions reflected Canada’s commitment to develop collaborative research and development initiatives, to facilitate and accelerate the commercialization of Canadian products and services, and to build additional compute infrastructure in Canada.
In focused discussions with political and business leaders, including with Jay Puri, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Field Operations at NVIDIA, Minister Solomon advanced key Canadian AI and digital priorities, including scaling our companies and ecosystems, unlocking productivity through technology adoption, fueling trust in a digital economy, and pursuing Canadian digital sovereign capabilities.
As the Country of the Year, Canada greatly expanded its footprint at VivaTech with a Canada Pavilion of 500 square metres and a business delegation of over 230 Canadian companies. This showcase highlighted the innovation of Canadian companies and the maturity of Canada’s AI ecosystem and reinforced its reputation as a world leader in AI. The 2025 Canadian presence and business delegation was spearheaded by Scale AI, one of Canada’s global innovation clusters.
The Canada Pavilion offered a nexus for Canadian companies to feature their technology and success and to pursue the trade diversification Canada needs for its products and companies. The world was introduced to Canadian innovators like Airudi, CGI, Cohere, Farpoint Technologies, IVADO Labs, Mappedin, Pontosense, Trusting Pixels, Videns and Vooban.
As AI continues to shape our world in new and unexpected ways, the Government of Canada seeks to harness AI’s opportunities, mitigate its risks and foster trust. With strategic government investments and support for responsible AI adoption, Canada will grow its AI ecosystem and enhance productivity across the country.
Source: US State Government of Utah
Note: View complaint here.
The Justice Department filed a complaint today to permanently bar tax preparer Tanja D. Hollis, of Griffin, Georgia, and her business, Tanja Tax Preparations LLC, from preparing federal tax returns for others.
The complaint, filed in a federal court in Newnan, Georgia, alleges that Hollis prepared and filed false federal tax returns through Tanja Tax Preparations that understated her customers’ tax liabilities by reporting false or exaggerated business expenses and claiming tax credits for false education expenses.
According to the complaint, despite knowing them to be false, Hollis prepared returns claiming business expenses for customers who did not own or operate a business and education expenses for customers who were not enrolled as students. The IRS interviewed Tanja Tax Preparations customers who said they did not give Hollis any reason to believe that the items reported on their returns were legitimate.
The complaint alleges that, by repeatedly understating her customers’ tax liabilities, Hollis caused the United States to lose substantial tax revenue.
In addition to a permanent injunction, the complaint asks the court to order Hollis to turn over the ill-gotten tax preparation fees she earned while preparing and filing fraudulent tax returns.
Return preparer fraud is one of the IRS’ Dirty Dozen Tax Scams, and taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax preparer, launched a free directory of federal tax preparers, and offers information on how to avoid “ghost” tax preparers whose refusal to sign a return should be a red flag to taxpayers. The IRS also has a checklist of things to remember when filing income tax returns. In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found here. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
Source: US State Government of Utah
A federal grand jury in Ohio has returned a three-count indictment unsealed today charging Rwandan national Vincent Nzigiyimfura, also known as Vincent Mfura, 65, of Dayton, Ohio with lying on his U.S. immigration and naturalization applications. Specifically, the indictment alleges that he concealed his role as a perpetrator of the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, among other misrepresentations. Nzigiyimfura was arrested Wednesday in Dayton and made his initial appearance yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.
According to the indictment, Nzigiyimfura participated in the genocide that took place between April and July 1994, when members of Rwanda’s majority Hutu population killed hundreds of thousands of the country’s minority Tutsi ethnic group in an attempt to eradicate the ethnic group. An estimated 500,000 to 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed during the three-month genocide. Nzigiyimfura, a Rwandan businessman and butcher, was allegedly a leader and organizer of the genocide against Tutsis in the area in and around Gihisi and Nyanza. Nzigiyimfura allegedly provided weapons, transportation, and material inducements to other Hutus and directed them to search for and apprehend people to be killed based on their status as Tutsis. He allegedly set up roadblocks to detain and kill Tutsis, using his personal vehicle to transport materials to build the roadblocks. According to the indictment, Nzigiyimfura devised a scheme to trick Tutsis in hiding to believe that the killings had stopped only to have them rounded up and murdered.
“As alleged, Vincent Nzigiyimfura directed and encouraged murders during the genocide in Rwanda and then lied to U.S. authorities to start a new life in this country,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The United States is not a safe haven for human rights violators. Those, like the defendant, who commit immigration fraud to hide their violent pasts will be charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Mr. Galeotti thanked the prosecutors from the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP), agents from HSI Cincinnati and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio for their work in bringing this important prosecution.
“The indictment alleges this defendant facilitated the killings of Tutsis during the Rwandan genocide and then lied about it on immigration applications in the United States,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris for the Southern District of Ohio. “This egregious conduct will not be tolerated.”
“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) is committed to pursuing justice for victims of genocide by ensuring that those who committed atrocities in foreign lands cannot hide in Ohio or any other community in the United States,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey of ICE HSI Detroit. “No one wants a war criminal as their neighbor and these allegations paint a grim picture of the horror Nzigiyimfura inflicted on the Tutsi people. His indictment and arrest is a step toward justice for those victims. ”
When the genocide ended in 1994, as alleged, Nzigiyimfura fled Rwanda and later lived in Malawi. While living in Malawi in 2008 to 2009, Nzigiyimfura allegedly submitted materially misleading applications for an immigrant visa and alien registration, including by falsely representing that he was not an alien who had engaged in genocide. In the presence of a U. S. Consular Officer, Nzigiyimfura affirmed he understood that any willfully false or misleading statement or willful concealment of material facts could subject him to criminal prosecution. Additionally, according to the indictment, Nzigiyimfura submitted an affidavit in which he misleadingly claimed he “left Rwanda in 1994 due to the Genocide,” when in fact, he fled the country because of his participation in the persecution and massacre of Tutsis. His alleged misrepresentations and omissions yielded an immigrant visa to enter the United States in 2009.
Five years later, Nzigiyimfura submitted an application to naturalize as a U. S. citizen. Here, too, according to the indictment, he knowingly made false statements and omitted material facts, including claiming he had never persecuted any person, never committed a crime or offense, and never lied to any U. S. Government official to gain entry to the United States. In a November 2014 interview with a U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer, Nzigiyimfura verbally reaffirmed these false statements, as well as others, according to the indictment. His application for naturalization has not been granted. Nzigiyimfura has lived in the United States since 2009.
In 2018, according to the indictment, Nzigiyimfura submitted an application and supporting documentation for a replacement Permanent Resident Card (green card) that was due to expire in 2019 and obtained a new fraudulently procured green card with an expiration date in 2029. On July 27, 2021, Nzigiyimfura allegedly used his fraudulently procured replacement green card in connection with an application for an Ohio driver’s license.
Nzigiyimfura is charged with one count of visa fraud and two counts of attempted naturalization fraud. If convicted, he faces a statutory maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U. S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HSI Cincinnati is investigating the case, with assistance from the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC). Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate, and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers.
Trial Attorney Brian Morgan of the Criminal Division’s HRSP and Assistant U. S. Attorney Rob Painter of the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Analyst Dr. Christopher Hayden and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.
Members of the public who have information about former human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U. S. law enforcement through the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also email HRV. ICE@ice. dhs. gov or complete its online tip form at www. ice. gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips. asp.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: US State of Idaho
Home Newsroom Labrador Letter: Strengthening Our Fight Against Child Exploitation in North Idaho
Dear Friends,
This week I traveled to North Idaho to strengthen our partnerships with local law enforcement in the fight against child exploitation. The trip included meetings with police chiefs, time with our Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigators, and important discussions about how we can better protect children across Idaho.
I attended the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association Conference, where I had the opportunity to thank police chiefs from across our state for their dedication to protecting Idaho communities. I wanted them to know that my office is here as a resource, ready to assist with investigations and prosecutions, especially when it comes to ICAC cases. Our ICAC investigators do incredibly demanding work to protect vulnerable children from online predators, and they can’t do it alone.
The reality is that building strong partnerships with police departments across Idaho is essential to keeping kids safe. At the conference, I spent time at our ICAC booth speaking directly with chiefs about collaboration opportunities and the resources available to their departments. These conversations matter because protecting children requires all of us working together.
I also joined our ICAC investigators and team members in Post Falls for their biannual Mental Health and Resiliency training. This training is conducted by Dr. Alex Crampton and Dr. Ross Ginkel, the contracted psychologists for our ICAC team. These investigators are heroes who work tirelessly to protect children in Idaho. Every day, they confront horrific images and disturbing cases as they conduct search warrants and arrest online predators.
What many people don’t realize is the emotional toll this work takes on the men and women who do it. My office ensures these investigators have mental health resources available whenever they need them, and it was an honor for me to join them for part of this critical training. We hold these full-team mental health trainings in different locations across Idaho to accommodate investigators statewide and bring the entire team together.
I then met with Captains Mark Brantl and Jason Mealer at the Post Falls Police Department to discuss ongoing collaboration between local law enforcement and our ICAC Task Force. Our ICAC Unit works with the Idaho ICAC Task Force, a coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, to investigate and prosecute individuals who use the internet to criminally exploit children.
These partnerships aren’t just professional relationships, they’re critical lifelines in our mission to protect children in our state. When local departments have the support they need and our investigators have the mental health resources to sustain this difficult work, children in Idaho are safer.
As both a parent and your Attorney General, I know there’s no more important work than protecting children from those who would harm them. This trip reminded me that we have dedicated professionals throughout Idaho who share that commitment, and together, we’re making a difference.
Best regards,
Source: US State of New York Federal Reserve
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Source: European Parliament
The International Labour Organization (ILO) introduced the World Day Against Child Labour in 2002. The day is observed annually on 12 June. The 2025 World Day focused on the release of the latest estimates and trends on global commitments to eliminate child labour, with a key message: ‘Progress is clear, but there’s more to do: let’s speed up efforts!’ This is a further update of a 2023 ‘At a glance’ note originally drafted by Ingeborg Odink.
Source: European Parliament
In the week of 16 June, Members’ work will be centred on Parliament’s plenary sitting, and Committees will meet only in exceptional cases.
During this week, the Committee on Budgets will vote on a proposal to amend the ERDF, Cohesion Fund and Just Transition Fund in the context of the mid-term review. Members from the BUDG and ECON Committees will hold the 19th Recovery and Resilience Dialogue, focusing on Member States’ progress towards achieving transparency requirements, payment requests and ongoing implementation challenges.
Additionally, Commissioner Kubilius will present the Defence “omnibus” to SEDE Members, proposing changes to boost and strengthen European Defence. ITRE Members will meet with Commissioner Jørgensen, who will present a key proposal from the RePowerEU roadmap to end EU dependency on Russian energy. Follow the links below to discover this week’s highlights.
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002269/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Nikolas Farantouris (The Left)
In February 2024, the Commission announced a 90 % reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels as the recommended target for 2040 to ensure that the EU reaches climate neutrality by 2050[1]. This recommended target was based on a detailed Commission impact assessment[2] and a proposal from the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change, which proposed that the target should be 90-95 %[3]. However, the legislative proposal to include the target in the European Climate Law[4] has been significantly delayed and is now expected on 2 July 2025. At the same time, it seems that the Commission will propose flexibilities that undermine climate efforts and the achievement of EU climate neutrality[5] (notably the possibility to use international carbon credits instead of implementing domestic action[6]), which is strongly criticised by the Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change[7].
In view of this, can the Commission say:
Submitted: 5.6.2025