A woman has been convicted of murder after her two young children were found dead in their east London home.
Kara Alexander, 47 (23.12.77), of Cornwallis Road, Dagenham was found guilty at Kingston Crown Court on Friday, 21 February.
She will be sentenced on Friday, 11 April.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Waller, who led the investigation, said: “Our thoughts are with the family, especially the boys’ father who found them dead when he went to collect them for the weekend after Kara Alexander had failed to return his messages.
“No parent should have to go through such a horrific experience, and then have to listen to the detailed evidence highlighting what led up to these events.
“I would also like to praise those who were first on scene – our colleagues and the paramedics – who also experienced this traumatic event first hand.
“This has been a difficult investigation for everyone involved. This guilty verdict cannot turn back the clock but it does provide the children’s family with some form of resolution.”
Emergency services were called at around 14:00hrs on 16 December 2022, after the bodies of two young children were found by their father in their shared bunkbed inside the house in Dagenham.
Alexander ran from the address following the discovery but was arrested nearby a short time later.
Two-year-old Elijah Thomas and five-year-old Marley Thomas were both pronounced dead at the scene.
Post-mortem examinations established that both boys’ cause of death was interference with the normal mechanics of breathing, through smothering and/or immersion in water.
An investigation was launched, led by detectives from the Specialist Crime Command.
A search of the house and garden found no evidence of forced entry. The curtains were closed and the house was in darkness.
Detectives reviewed footage from local CCTV cameras and doorbells which showed Alexander and the children running a number of errands in the days before 16 December 2022. The last time all three were captured together was on the afternoon of 15 December 2022.
Forensic analysis of Alexander’s phone, which had been found in a filled sink, showed that it had been in regular use up until 16 December but on the day the children were found, no calls were made or messages sent. This led detectives to believe that she had intentionally been avoiding people following their deaths.
Alexander was charged on 19 December 2022 with two counts of murder.
RESTON, Va., Feb. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SADA, An Insight company, a leading services and solutions Google Cloud consultancy driving transformative change for its customers, has received five Google Public Sector Partner Expertise Badges in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI and ML), Data Analytics, Maps & Geospatial, Security, and Work Transformation.
In 2024, SADA achieved significant milestones in these badge areas, demonstrating its commitment to driving impactful results for public sector organizations. These accomplishments include helping state governments centralize and modernize online services with cloud-native applications, enhancing digital infrastructure for executive offices, optimizing government technology ecosystems, and supporting cutting-edge research capabilities.
Notably, SADA helped the Chicopee Police Department (CPD) to modernize its operations and enhance public safety. By implementing Google Workspace, SADA helped CPD reduce paperwork, achieve 100% compliance with CJIS standards, streamline communication, and enable real-time alerts, ultimately freeing up officers to focus on core policing activities and better serve their community. This success story highlights SADA’s ability to use Google Cloud’s technology to help drive meaningful change in the public sector.
SADA is being recognized for its proven delivery capabilities within these five solution areas across Google Public Sector. These achievements underscore SADA’s commitment to helping public sector organizations modernize their operations, enhance citizen services, improve their security posture, and transform how they work. SADA’s expertise in these key areas translates to tangible benefits for organizations, including:
AI/ML:SADA can help agencies leverage AI/ML to improve decision-making, automate processes, and personalize citizen experiences. Examples include predictive analytics for resource allocation, AI-powered chatbots for citizen inquiries, and machine learning models for fraud detection.
Data Analytics: SADA empowers public sector organizations to unlock the power of their data with advanced analytics solutions. This includes data warehousing, business intelligence, and data visualization, enabling agencies to gain valuable insights, improve operational efficiency, and make data-driven decisions.
Maps & Geospatial: SADA’s geospatial expertise enables agencies to leverage location data for enhanced planning, improved emergency response, and better management of critical infrastructure. SADA serves organizations with Google Maps solutions. Its teams have foundational technical knowledge in Maps APIs, providing services to organizations needing support in analyzing spatial data and developing location-based services.
Security: SADA helps public sector organizations strengthen their security posture with comprehensive solutions that protect sensitive data, prevent cyberattacks, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. These solutions include security assessments, vulnerability management, and incident response planning.
Work Transformation: SADA enables public sector agencies to modernize their workplaces and improve employee productivity with Google Workspace solutions. This includes streamlining communication and collaboration and automating workflows.
“These Google Public Sector Partner Expertise badges validate our team’s dedication to providing cutting-edge solutions that address the unique challenges faced by public sector organizations and the meaningful outcomes we’re helping drive for those organizations who are committed to serving their constituents,” said Michelle Ambrose, SVP Strategic Partnerships and International GTM at SADA.
SADA will share how it has helped the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development spearhead a groundbreaking digital transformation to enhance services for employers and job seekers in an upcoming session at Google Cloud Next, which will take place April 9-11 in Las Vegas, NV. To learn more and register for the event, visit sada.com/next.
About SADA, An Insight company SADA, An Insight company, is a market leader in professional services and an award-winning solutions provider of Google Cloud. Since 2000, SADA has been committed to helping customers in healthcare, media, entertainment, retail, manufacturing, and the public sector solve their most complex challenges so they can focus on achieving their boldest ambitions. With offices in North America, India, and Armenia providing sales and customer support teams, SADA is positioned to meet customers where they are in their digital transformation journey. SADA is a 7x Google Cloud Partner of the Year award winner with 11 Google Cloud Specializations and was recognized as a Niche Player in the 2023 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Public Cloud IT Transformation Services. Learn more at www.sada.com.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Brittany Friedman, Assistant Professor of Sociology at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California
Black and Latino communities are disproportionately affected by mass surveillance, studies show.Vicente Méndez/Getty Images
Mass surveillance is the widespread monitoring of civilians. Governments typically target specific groups – such as religious minorities, certain races or ethnicities, or migrants – for surveillance and use the information gathered to “contain” these populations, for example by arresting and imprisoning people.
We are experts in social control, or how governments coerce compliance, and we specialize in surveillance. Based on our expertise and years of research, we expect Trump’s second White House term may usher in a wave of spying against people of color and immigrants.
Trump is already actively deploying a key tactic in expanding mass surveillance: causing moral panics. Moral panics are created when politicians exaggerate a public concern to manipulate real fears people may have.
Building on his rhetoric about crime and immigration, Trump frequently connects the two issues. He has said that migrants murder because they have “bad genes,” echoing beliefs expressed by white supremacists. During the 2016 campaign, Trump’s coinage “bad hombre” invoked stereotypes of dangerous migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border to steal jobs and sell drugs.
The president has similarly connected Black communities with crime. At an August 2024 rally in Atlanta, Georgia, Trump called the majority-Black city “a killing field.” The month prior, he said the same thing about Washington, D.C.
Another early form of moral panics escalating to spying and mass surveillance were southern slave patrols, which emerged in the early 1700s after pro-slavery politicians proclaimed that Black escapees would terrorize white communities. Slave patrols tracked down and captured not only Black escapees but also free Black people, whom they sold into bondage. They also imprisoned any person, enslaved or not, suspected of sheltering escapees.
Once a group of people becomes the subject of moral panics and targeted for government surveillance, our research shows, the effects are felt for generations.
These 21st-century numbers reflect decades of targeted surveillance.
In the 1950s, the FBI under Director J. Edgar Hoover created the counter-intelligence programs COINTELPRO, allegedly for investigating communists and radical political groups, and the Ghetto Informant Program. In practice, both programs broadly targeted people of color. From Martin Luther King Jr. to U.S. Rep. John Lewis, Black activists were identified as a threat, spied on, investigated and sometimes jailed.
President Lyndon Johnson’s “war on crime,” a sweeping set of federal changes that militarized local police in urban communities, continued this mass surveillance in the 1960s. Later came the “war on drugs,” which an aide to President Richard Nixon later said was designed explicitly to target Black people.
These early examples of mass surveillance lacked the technology that enables spying today, such as CCTV and hacked laptop cameras. Nonetheless, past U.S. administrations have been remarkably effective at achieving social control by creating moral panics then deploying mass surveillance to contain the “threat.” They enlisted droves of police officers, recruited informants to infiltrate groups and locked people away.
These textbook surveillance methods are still routinely used now.
Police fusion centers
For many Americans, the term “mass surveillance” evokes the Department of Homeland Security, which was founded after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This national agency, which forms part of a federal intelligence apparatus of more than 20 agencies focused on surveillance, has played a key role in mass surveillance since 2001, especially of Muslim Americans.
But it has local help in the form of police units known as fusion centers. These units feed identification information and physical evidence such as video footage to federal agencies such as the FBI and CIA, according to a 2023 whistleblower report from Rutgers Law School.
The New Jersey Regional Operations Intelligence Center, for example, is a police fusion center overseeing New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. It employs advanced military technology to gather massive amounts of personal data on people perceived as potential security threats. According to the Rutgers report, these “threats” are highly concentrated in Black, Latino and Arab communities, as well as areas with a high concentration of political organizing, such as Black Lives Matter groups and immigrant aid organizations.
The New Jersey police fusion approach leads to increased arrest rates, according to the report, but there’s no real evidence that it prevents crime or terrorism.
Guantanamo and black sites
Given Trump’s pledges to further militarize border enforcement and expand U.S. jails and prisons, we anticipate a rise in spending on fusion centers and other tools of mass surveillance under Trump. The moral panics he’s been stirring up since 2015 suggest that the targets of government surveillance will include immigrants and Black people.
Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event on April 2, 2024, in Grand Rapids, Mich. Spencer Platt/Getty Images
The Guardian reported in 2015 that Chicago police had been temporarily “disappearing” people at local and federal police “black sites” since at least 2009. At these clandestine jails, under the guise of national security, officers questioned detainees without attorneys and held them for up to 24 hours without any outside contact. Many of the victims were Black.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
For decades, many U.S. immigrants have received subpar health care, and asking about immigration status can make those disparities worse.Maskot via Getty Images
Since arriving in the United States four years ago, Alex has worked at a primary care office. He has witnessed firsthand how difficult it was for immigrants to access preventive care.
When he heard of the implementation of Florida’s Senate Bill 1718, Alex feared it would have dire consequences for the patients he served.
Alex is a pseudonym for one of our research subjects.
SB 1718, signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May 2023, imposed sweeping restrictions aimed at discouraging unauthorized immigration. Among its provisions, it requires hospitals that accept Medicaid funds to question patients about their immigration status and share data about how many immigrants they are serving within the state.
After the law passed, Alex told his patients that they could refuse to divulge their legal status when asked on hospital forms. But he says his reassurances didn’t work. He watched as many immigrant patients hesitated to access necessary medical care for themselves and their children – or even left the state.
Alex had legal documentation to be in the country, but as his immigrant community shrank, he wondered if he, too, should leave Florida.
“I was very sick recently and needed medical care, but I was scared,” one survey participant told us.
While hospitals cannot deny care based on a patient’s immigration status, our data shows that anticipating they would be asked deterred not only immigrants lacking permanent legal status but also those with legal status, including U.S. citizens, from seeking care.
We believe U.S. citizens are affected by spillover effects because they are members of mixed-status families.
Our survey took place during the intense 2024 presidential election season when anti-immigrant rhetoric was prevalent. The immigrants we surveyed also reported experiencing discrimination in their everyday lives, and these experiences were also associated with a reluctance to access health care.
Laws like SB 1718 amplify preexisting racial and structural inequities. Structural inequities are systemic barriers within institutions — such as health care and employment — that restrict access to essential resources based on one’s race, legal or economic status.
Supporters of immigrants’ rights protest against U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration policies on Feb. 7, 2025 in Homestead, Florida. Joe Raedle via Getty Images
Elizabeth Aranda is affiliated with American Sociological Association.
Deborah Omontese is affiliated with American Sociological Association
Elizabeth Vaquera is a member of the American Sociological Association and has previously received funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health,
Emely Matos Pichardo is affiliated with the Southern Sociological Society.
Liz Ventura 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.
The Conversation U.S. politics editor Jeff Inglis spoke to James Perry, a scholar of public affairs at Indiana University, Bloomington, to understand what the order is trying to achieve and how it would affect federal workers, the government and the American public. What follows is an edited transcript of the discussion.
Andrew Jackson, depicted here giving a speech, believed the president should be in control of most federal workers. PHOTOS.com / Getty Images Plus
What is the standard situation for government employees?
In the 1820s and 1830s, President Andrew Jackson popularized the idea that the president could, and should, hire supporters into government jobs. But by the early 1880s, there was concern on the parts of both Democrats and Republicans that the victor would control a lot of workers who would serve the president, not the American people whose tax dollars paid their salaries.
So the parties came together in 1883 to pass the Pendleton Act stipulating that government workers are hired based on their skills and abilities, not their political views. That law was updated in 1978 with the Civil Service Reform Act, which added more protections for workers against being fired for political reasons.
Those rules cover about 99% of staff in the federal civil service. Currently, there are just about 4,000 political appointees. I’ve seen various estimates that this new executive order would shift at least 50,000 positions from career positions to the political-appointments list.
This argument is not backed by strong evidence. The evidence supporters offer is that human resources directors, who are often appointees of the governor who changed the statute, claim no one has complained about the change in policy. But that doesn’t include people who are likely to have a different perspective.
It could be that nobody is talking about people being fired for political reasons in these states because they are afraid of getting fired themselves.
What does this executive order change, and why?
The rationale for the new policy is that the administration wants to get rid of federal workers whom leaders perceive as either intransigent or insubordinate – or who they fear might oppose Trump’s policy initiatives. This sets up a conflict between how government workers see their duties and how Trump appears to view them.
But taking action against only 50,000 of the 2 million-plus federal employees isn’t going to address such a wide problem.
There’s a stereotype that in government it can be hard to discipline or fire workers who are not competent at their jobs. The flip side of that stereotype is, however, false: Private businesses are not better at holding poor performers accountable. Survey evidence shows the private sector has just as much difficulty as the government with getting workers to perform effectively.
There’s room for legitimate disagreement about how far federal employees have to go to comply with presidential directives. The people who think loyalty is the key to merit still might not agree on whether that loyalty is owed to the person sitting in the Oval Office or to the Constitution.
Protests against the Trump administration have been widespread, including against its policies aimed at federal workers. AP Photo/Sejal Govindarao
In the first round of this effort under the first Trump administration, it seemed that most of the people affected would be at the top of the federal hierarchy, probably mostly based in Washington, D.C.
Most of the workers in the federal civil service, though, are not there. They work for the Social Security Administration, giving out checks in Bloomington, Indiana, or other departments and offices around the country. It would be very difficult to classify them as influencing political policy or advocating for policies.
But there are people who are not Senate-confirmed who do have an influence on policy. For instance, at the Department of Justice, assistant and deputy assistant secretaries have influence on civil rights policy or other policies that affect the president’s ability to pursue his agenda. The February 2025 resignation of Danielle Sassoon from her role as U.S. attorney in New York is an example of legitimate divergence between an appointee and the president’s policy direction.
Any workers who lost their protections would likely feel threatened with losing their job and their livelihood. They might, out of fear, be more responsive to the dictates of their superiors.
That might sound good – that if you do what your boss says, you’re doing a good job. But it’s different if your obligations are to the public interest and the Constitution.
The U.S. has attracted to government service workers who are good at their jobs and able to remain politically neutral at work. Saying that’s no longer important would change the relationship between government workers and their jobs. And it would hurt the nation as a whole if government cannot attract the best and the brightest, or if it sends the best and the brightest packing because they are not comfortable with their work situation, or if they stay but their performance declines.
James L. Perry 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.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Anthony Pereira, Director of the Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center, Florida International University
The former president looked disappointed on Jan. 18, 2025, after a judge denied his request to travel to the U.S. for Donald Trump’s inauguration.Evaristo Sa/AFP via Getty Images
Brazilian politics are getting more dramatic again.
The South American country’s attorney general filed five criminal charges against former President Jair Bolsonaro and 33 others in its Supreme Court on Feb. 18, 2025, detonating political shock waves. The charges include plotting a coup d’état to prevent Luíz Inácio Lula da Silva’s presidency. The other defendants include several former prominent officials, including a former spy chief, defense minister, national security adviser and Bolsonaro’s running mate.
Lula took office in Brazil for a third time in January 2023, after he defeated Bolsonaro in the 2022 presidential election. Bolsonaro, a right-wing politician allied with U.S. President Donald Trump, had served the previous four-year term. Bolsonaro and his codefendants are also charged with trying to poison Lula and assassinate his vice presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes; participating in an armed criminal organization; and seeking to violently overthrow the democratic rule of law. He denies doing anything wrong.
As a professor of Brazilian politics, I believe that Bolsonaro’s legal troubles threaten to definitively end his political career. There’s also a possibility that the 69-year-old former president will be sentenced to prison. But, at the same time, the charges could also galvanize Bolsonaro’s base – playing into a narrative that sees the right-wing leader as stymied, unfairly, by the government he used to run.
No sash passed
Bolsonaro’s behavior before, during and after his second presidential campaign was unusual for any president seeking another term. He claimed, when he was still in office, that Brazil’s electronic voting system was not secure and predicted that fraud might crop up in the 2022 elections.
Although he never produced any evidence to support this claim, he promoted it on social media, fostering skepticism about the election among some voters.
That meant Bolsonaro was not in Brazil when thousands of his supporters rampaged through and vandalized three government buildings in Brasília on Jan. 8, 2023. The incident was strikingly similar to Trump supporters’ assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
The new charges accuse Bolsonaro of taking part in a conspiracy to delegitimize the elections. The indictment also alleges that after the results were announced, Bolsonaro and the other defendants encouraged protests and urged the armed forces to intervene, declare a state of siege and prevent the peaceful transition of power from Bolsonaro to Lula.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro can still draw crowds of supporters, as happened on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on April 21, 2024. Buda Mendes/Getty Images
Possibility of prison
The evidence in this indictment is based, in part, on plea-bargained testimony by one of the alleged conspirators, the former presidential adviser and army Lt. Col. Mauro Cid.
President Lula, wearing a hat, walks alongside Brazil’s first lady, Rosangela Janja da Silva, in a pink suit, during a rally in Brasilia on Jan. 8, 2025 – two years after supporters of his predecessor staged a failed coup attempt. Claudio Reis/Getty Images
Narrow path
Bolsonaro and his supporters have long criticized Brazil’s Supreme Court, arguing that it has exceeded its constitutional powers and become a judicial “dictatorship.” They have also pushed for Congress to grant amnesty to everyone who took part in or helped carry out the Jan. 8 attacks, including Bolsonaro.
So, although the example of Donald Trump returning to the presidency and pardoning the participants in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol inspires Bolsonaro’s supporters, his path to achieving a similar result is narrower than was Trump’s.
Meanwhile, Trump’s media company, which owns Truth Social and Rumble, sued Moraes, the judge Bolsonaro is accused of plotting to kill, for ordering the suspension of social media accounts and thereby undermining the First Amendment rights of U.S. citizens. The case was filed in federal court in Tampa, Florida, on Feb. 19.
Any trial of Bolsonaro and the other alleged coup plotters could spark a political struggle.
Brazil’s right wing is currently divided between advocates of hard-line Bolsonarismo – a disruptive ideology that advocates social conservatism, a lightly regulated economy, militarism and a strong executive branch – and a more pragmatic conservatism that works within the conventional rules of politics and is mainly focused on patronage and the management of the spoils of office.
Should Bolsonaro and his fellow defendants be tried in the Supreme Court, those hard-liners could be mobilized and energized.
They would see the trial as the political establishment’s persecution of their political hero. And a struggle to find Bolsanaro’s successor, most likely between his son Eduardo and the former president’s wife, Michelle, would ensue.
The successor would claim the mantle of opposition to Lula, who is eligible to seek a fourth presidential term and claims to want to run for reelection in 2026 – when he would be about to celebrate his 81st birthday.
High stakes
There are, to be sure, some Brazilian politicians who are more moderate than Bolsonaro and would also like to run against Lula next time. They would bring much less baggage to that presidential race.
Their candidacies might offer a possible return to the relative political stability Brazil had experienced for almost two decades before 2013, when the main dividing line in Brazilian politics was between coalitions led by the center-right Social Democratic Party and the center-left Workers’ Party.
To be clear, it’s hard to overstate the potential consequences of the Supreme Court’s deliberation and judgment in this case.
The trial, should it occur, would be televised and also have a geopolitical dimension, because it would be closely watched by advocates of hard-right populism in other countries across the Americas and beyond. The stakes are high.
In the meantime, I have no doubt that Bolsonaro’s supporters will try to use his legal woes to rally his political movement. The judgment of Brazil’s Supreme Court, should it decide to hear this case, could therefore end Bolsonaro’s political career. However, no matter what happens, I believe that Bolsonarismo would still be alive and well as a political force in Brazil and a factor in the 2026 elections.
Anthony Pereira has received funding in the past from the British Academy and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) of the UK.
I am a senior fellow at Canning House, a think tank based in London. This is an unpaid position.
Placentia RCMP is looking to arrest 43-year-old Scott Deering who is actively evading police.
Deering is wanted for three counts of uttering threats and six counts of failure to comply with a release order.
A picture of Scott Deering is attached.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Scott Deering are asked to contact Placentia RCMP at 709-227-2000. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or us the P3Tips app.
Starting the week of Monday 24 February, several speed limit reductions will be implemented across the Island. This work has been part of the Island Speed Limit Review for St Mary and in partnership with the Roads Committees of St Mary, St Peter, and St Lawrence.
Reduced from 40mph to 30mph
La Grande Rue, La Rue Rondin and leads into Le Mont de Ste Marie, La Rue de la Frontière which leads into St Lawrence’s Les Chanolles des Six Rues.
Reduced from 40mph to 20mph
The estate known as St Mary’s Village which includes Le Clos de I’Arsenal.
Roads given Green Lane status
La Chève Rue
The northern end of La Grande Rue by The Priory
La Rue à Georges
La Rue Bechervaise
La Rue du Douet
La Rue ès Boeufs
La Rue ès Viberts (in both St Mary & St Peter)
La Rue du Couvent (in both St Mary & St Lawrence)
Le Jardin du Couvent
Le Clos des Buis
Le Mont Remon (St Peter)
La Verte Rue (St Lawrence).
These adjustments aim to improve safety and reflect the Island’s commitment to responsible traffic management.
Amnesty International will consider prisoner-of-conscience designations in the cases of three Indigenous land defenders in Canada whose convictions were upheld by a British Columbia court.
Sleydo’ (Molly Wickham), a Wing Chief (Cas Yikh house) of the Gidimt’en Clan of the Wet’suwet’en Nation, Shaylynn Sampson, a Gitxsan woman with Wet’suwet’en family connections, and Corey “Jayohcee” Jocko, a Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk), had asked the court to void their convictions on constitutional grounds. They argued that their arrests during – and detention after – a highly militarized November 2021 police raid on unceded Wet’suwet’en territory violated their rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
On Tuesday, a British Columbia judge ruled that the conduct, including anti-Indigenous racist statements, of some Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)/Community Industry Response Group (C-IRG) members during the raid did indeed violate the defenders’ Charter rights. The ruling validates both the experiences of these land defenders and the broader experience of colonial violence that Indigenous Peoples have faced for more than 100 years from the RCMP. However, the judge refused to stay all charges against the defenders and said he would instead consider reduced sentences.
Amnesty International is reviewing the implications of Tuesday’s decision. Should they receive a sentence that arbitrarily deprives them of their liberty, Amnesty will designate the affected land defenders as prisoners of conscience.
“We are heartened by Justice Tammen’s stern condemnation of the racist and violent treatment Sleydo’, Shaylynn Sampson and Corey ‘Jayohcee’ Jocko endured during their arrests. Unfortunately, the systematic racism that led to their arrests remains unaddressed”
-Ketty Nivyabandi, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada’s English-speaking section
“We are heartened by Justice Tammen’s stern condemnation of the racist and violent treatment Sleydo’, Shaylynn Sampson and Corey ‘Jayohcee’ Jocko endured during their arrests,” said Ketty Nivyabandi, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada’s English-speaking section. “Unfortunately, the systematic racism that led to their arrests remains unaddressed. B.C. and Canada must take immediate steps to stop the criminalization of Indigenous land defenders in the first place. No one should be intimidated, harassed, or arrested, let alone convicted in a criminal court case, for exercising their constitutionally protected rights and protecting the natural environment we all share.
France-Isabelle Langlois, general director of Amnistie internationale Canada francophone, declared: “Peaceful actions were taken by the Indigenous land defenders with the aim of protecting natural ecosystems that lessen the impacts of climate change. In this global context of the climate crisis, to punish them is preposterous, to say the least, no matter how small the sentence. These actions need to be widely applauded rather than scrutinized by the Court.
“The Court’s decision to uphold the convictions of the three land defenders is part of a broader context of shrinking civic space in Canada, where Indigenous land defenders, environmentalists, and human right defenders are frequently the victims of political or police repression,” she added. “It is disappointing that we must remind the country and its institutions of their obligations under international law since Canada prides itself on being a leader in human rights.”
“Peaceful actions were taken by the Indigenous land defenders with the aim of protecting natural ecosystems that lessen the impacts of climate change. In this global context of the climate crisis, to punish them is preposterous, to say the least, no matter how small the sentence. These actions need to be widely applauded rather than scrutinized by the Court”
-France-Isabelle Langlois, general director of Amnistie internationale Canada francophone
Amnesty International has vehemently condemned the criminalization of Wet’suwet’en and other land defenders opposed to the construction of Coastal GasLink (CGL) liquefied natural gas pipeline through the Nation’s unceded, ancestral territory. Construction on the 670-kilometre pipeline began without the free, prior and informed consent of the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs, on behalf of their clans. This violates Canadian and international human rights law and standards, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which was legislated into Canadian law on June 21, 2021.
Based in part on witness testimony of four large-scale RCMP raids on Wet’suwet’en territory, Amnesty’s 2023 report ‘Removed from our land for defending it’: Criminalization, Intimidation and Harassment of Wet’suwet’en Land Defenders found that Wet’suwet’en land defenders and their supporters were arbitrarily detained for peacefully defending their land against the construction of the CGL pipeline and exercising their Indigenous rights and their right to peaceful assembly.
In June and July 2022, the B.C. Prosecution Service (BCPS) charged 20 land defenders, including Sleydo’, Sampson and Jocko, with criminal contempt for disobeying an injunction order to stay away from pipeline construction sites, an order that unduly restricted the human rights of the land defenders and the Indigenous rights of the Wet’suwet’en Nation. Seven of the 20 land defenders pleaded guilty because of restrictive bail conditions, as well as the familial, psychological and financial impacts that the criminal proceedings imposed on them. Five other defenders had their charges dropped, and five more are awaiting trial.
“This whole process has been a violation of my rights and responsibilities as an Indigenous person and my responsibility to the health and wellness of future generations and the Yintah,” Sleydo’ said during a news conference after the decision was handed down on Tuesday afternoon. “The colonial courts are not where our ability to live out our laws and ways of life should be determined. And yet here we are, over three years later, in a showdown between Wet’suwet’en law and colonial law after years of police violence and repression by the C-IRG, with no accountability. I refuse to allow the colonial courts to dehumanize and criminalize me. I belong to my land, my ancestors, and my people.
“I am a mother, a daughter, a sister, an auntie, a good friend, and a leader. I am a singer, a hunter, a teacher, and a revolutionary. I am following the footsteps of my ancestors, and I carry their teachings with me in everything that I do.”
“This whole process has been a violation of my rights and responsibilities as an Indigenous person and my responsibility to the health and wellness of future generations and the Yintah. (…) I refuse to allow the colonial courts to dehumanize and criminalize me. I belong to my land, my ancestors, and my people”
-Sleydo’
If Amnesty International names Sleydo’, Sampson and Jocko prisoners of conscience, it will be the second time the organization has applied that designation to a person held by Canada. In July 2024, Amnesty declared another Wet’suwet’en land defender – Likhts’amisyu Clan Wing Chief Dsta’hyl – a prisoner of conscience after the British Columbia court sentenced him to 60 days of house arrest. Like Sleydo’, Sampson and Jocko, Chief Dsta’hyl was charged and later convicted for allegedly violating the terms of the B.C. court injunction banning land-defence actions near the CGL pipeline, including in areas of the Wet’suwet’en Nation’s territory.
“If the Canadian state decides to unjustly criminalize and confine Sleydo’, Shaylynn, and Corey, Amnesty International will not hesitate to designate them as prisoners of conscience,” said Ana Piquer, Americas director at Amnesty International. “Canada is on the sadly long list of countries in the Americas where land defenders remain at risk for their essential work.”
“If the Canadian state decides to unjustly criminalize and confine Sleydo’, Shaylynn, and Corey, Amnesty International will not hesitate to designate them as prisoners of conscience. Canada is on the sadly long list of countries in the Americas where land defenders remain at risk for their essential work”
-Ana Piquer, Americas director at Amnesty International
The criminalization of Wet’suwet’en land defenders has sparked an international outcry and calls for Canada to respect Indigenous rights. Last year, Sleydo’, Sampson and Jocko were a featured case in Write for Rights, Amnesty International’s annual global letter-writing campaign. Since the fall, thousands of people around the world have sent letters and signed petitions calling on Canada to drop the charges against the three defenders.
Detectives investigating the murder of 20-year-old Jason Romeo in Hackney have named and released images of three men they urgently need to speak to.
Jason was stabbed to death outside an address in Bodney Street, E5 on Tuesday, 18 February at 17:59hrs.
Following extensive enquiries, officers have named three men they need to trace in connection with his murder.
They are Raynolph Asante, aged 22, Rhamyah Bailey-Edwards, 21, and Travis Mitchell, also 21. They are known to frequent the areas of Hackney, Walthamstow and Deptford.
Detective Superintendent Kelly Allen, leading the investigation, said:
“Our team is working tirelessly to identity those responsible for Jason’s murder. We now need the public’s help to trace Asante, Bailey-Edwards and Mitchell. I would urge anybody with information about their whereabouts to contact us immediately by calling 999.
“Once again I would like to thank the local community in Hackney for their support. Officers have conducted increased weapons searches, reassurance patrols and will carry out house-to-house enquires this weekend. This can be intrusive and disruptive, however it’s essential, and your patience is appreciated.”
If anyone sees Asante, Bailey-Edwards or Mitchell please do not approach them. Instead, contact the police on 999 as soon as possible, quoting 5635/18Feb.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Correctional officers intercept smuggling of suspected dangerous drug into Tai Lam Centre for Women Correctional officers intercept smuggling of suspected dangerous drug into Tai Lam Centre for Women ******************************************************************************************
Correctional officers at Tai Lam Centre for Women today (February 21) intercepted a female remand person in custody smuggling a suspected dangerous drug into the centre by concealing it inside her body. The 25-year-old person in custody was remanded for the offence of trafficking in a dangerous drug on February 18. After undergoing X-ray body scanning, she was suspected to have swallowed the dangerous drug before admission. She was therefore separated and put under close monitoring. At 2.36pm today, she discharged one pack of the suspected dangerous drug, which weighed about 12 grams and was wrapped in a plastic sheet. The case has been reported to the Police for follow-up. A spokesman for the Correctional Services Department said, “The department takes every measure to stop the introduction of dangerous drugs or unauthorised articles into correctional institutions in order to maintain good order and discipline, and a drug-free environment for all persons in custody.”
India Assumes Chairmanship of Bay of Bengal Inter-Governmental Organisation at the 13th Governing Council Meeting in Malé, Maldives Pledges Stronger Regional Cooperation for Strengthening Blue Economy and Protection of Marine Ecosystems
Posted On: 21 FEB 2025 5:21PM by PIB Delhi
In a historic move, India assumedChairmanship of Bay of Bengal (BOB) Inter-Governmental Organisation from Bangladesh at the 13th Governing Council Meeting at Malé, Maldives today, in the presence of senior government representatives from Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bangladesh. The event was part of the high-level conference ‘Policy Guidance for Mainstreaming Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) in Small-Scale Fisheries’, hosted by the Ministry of Fisheries & Ocean Resources of the Maldives government, in collaboration with the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO), that has been successfully convened from February 20 to 22, 2025, in Lankanfinolhu, Maldives.
The Indian delegation, led by Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Government of India (GoI) assumed the Chair during the event. Secretary, Department of Fisheries highlighted that India is committed to upholding and building upon the achievements of the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) as the leadership transitions from Bangladesh to India. He assured that the Department of Fisheries (GoI) would diligently work towards elevating the success of BOBP- IGO to newer heights and will be forthcoming in providing definitive guidance for all future endeavours for the development of fisheries sector across all member countries.
Further, Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi underscored the importance of regional collaboration, and the crucial role India and other countries are playing in advancing the interests of the developing nations. Key areas of focus for increased regional co-operation include marine resource management, training & capacity building programs, research & policy advocacy, addressing Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, resolving regional issues etc. As India remains optimistic about receiving continued support and collaboration from Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and other relevant organizations, Secretary, Department of Fisheries (GoI) urged all member nations to enhance and foster mutual support through exchange of knowledge, technology, experiences, data and best practices. The collaborations are expected to strengthen region’s blue economy, harmonize economic development along with protection of marine ecosystem and help in poverty alleviation. During the meeting, Secretary, Department of Fisheries (GoI) highlighted India’s developmental policies aimed at improving the well-being of small-scale fisheries and the sustainability measures being implemented under its various schemes and programs.
With the successful culmination of this important event and India assuming Chair of the BoBP-IGO, it will be the endeavour of the Department of Fisheries, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying to not only lead the member nations in the most effective and efficient manner through collaborative efforts but also ensure that significant progress is made in the development of Small-scale fisheries (SSF) in the region. This achievement not only bestows international leadership and responsibilities on India, it is also expected to bring in multifaceted advancements for achieving the national goal of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.
India’s Thrust on Small Scale Fisheries & The Way Forward
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Education Bureau (EDB) today (February 21) called on the public to stay vigilant against an organisation calling itself “Kyiv State University of Economics and Business (Hong Kong Campus)”. Its website falsely claims to have the support from the “Hong Kong Education Bureau” and contains a hyperlink to the EDB website.
The EDB solemnly clarifies that it has no connection with the organisation in question. The EDB has reported the matter to the Police.
NHRC, India organised a meeting of the Core Group on Women on the theme ‘Empowering ASHAs: Securing the right to work with dignity’ NHRC, India Chairperson, Justice Shri V Ramasubramanian attributes a significant reduction in neonatal and infant mortality rates in the country to the services of ASHAs
Calls for collaborative efforts between the Centre and State Governments to address the issues concerning ASHA workers’ welfare
Member, Justice (Dr) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi says, ASHAs’ voluntary role as the first line of medical care in far-flung areas needs to be better recognized
Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal says, their issues related viz. workload and insufficient resources need to be addressed
Among various suggestions, replacing an incentive-based payment structure with a fixed salary plus performance-based benefits underscored
Providing ASHAs with health insurance, maternity benefits, and accident coverage also highlighted
Posted On: 21 FEB 2025 11:54AM by PIB Delhi
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India organised a core group meeting in hybrid mode on women on the theme ‘Empowering Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs): Securing the right to work with dignity’ at its premises in New Delhi. It was chaired by the NHRC, India Chairperson, Justice Shri V. Ramasubramanian in the presence of Member, Justice (Dr) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal, senior officers, experts, and ASHAs.
Addressing the participants, Chairperson, Justice Shri V. Ramasubramanian highlighted the remarkable contributions made by ASHAs over the past 20 years towards improvements in the healthcare sector in the country. He emphasised that the significant impact of ASHAs has led to notable progress in reducing neonatal and infant mortality rates. They showed that individuals without formal education can still be trained to become skilled workers. He also noted that while there are many educated people today, the number of skilled workers is decreasing. This gap is being addressed by the ASHA scheme. However, he pointed out that ASHAs’ have been stating that their remuneration is not in proportion to their contribution to society. The irony is that at times, those who contribute the most often receive the least; those who care for the marginalized end up being marginalized themselves.
Justice Ramasubramanian said that public health and fixing of minimum wages is a subject coming under the State. Population control and family planning fall under the Concurrent list. Hence, there should be a collaborative effort between the Centre and State Governments to address the issues concerning ASHAs’ welfare. He also called for a concrete policy and actionable measures for improving the working conditions and living standards of ASHAs.
NHRC, India Member, Justice (Dr) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi said that the ASHAs are the first responders to any distress related to pregnant women and children in the village areas before consultation with any doctors materializes. Therefore, their role as activists should be better recognized with adequate incentives, compensation, and security to ensure their right to life with dignity.
Before this, while setting the agenda of the meeting and providing background, the Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal highlighted the theme of the three technical sessions. These included: ‘The Evolving Nature of Challenges faced by ASHA’, ‘Role of the Government in Protecting and Promoting the Rights of ASHAs’, and ‘Way Forward: Ensuring the Right to Work with Dignity for ASHAs.’ He said that the Government has come up with various schemes for women’s empowerment and given the contribution of ASHAs in primary healthcare, their issues such as low honorarium, excessive workload, and insufficient resources also need to be addressed. He highlighted their role during COVID-19 as frontline workers have been exemplary, which has also been acknowledged by the WHO.
The speakers included Shri Saurabh Jain, Joint Secretary, MoHFW; Ms Pallavi Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development; Dr Shweta Khandelwal, Senior Advisor Jhpiego India; Ms Ruth Manorama, President, The National Alliance of Women (NAWO); Dr Sabiha Hussain, Professor and Director, Sarojini Naidu Center for Women’s Studies, Jamia Islamia University; Ms. Vaishali Barua, National Coordinator, UN Women India; Ms Dipa Sinha, Visiting Professor, Azim Premji University; Ms Surekha Secretary, ASHA Workers’ and Facilitators’ Federation of India (AWFFI); Ms Sunita, ASHA Worker, Haryana, NHRC, India DG (I), Shri R Prasad Meena, Registrar (Law), Joginder Singh, Director, Lt Col Virender Singh among others.
Some of the suggestions that emanated from the discussion included;
• Need to consider granting ASHAs formal worker status with fixed monthly emoluments, social security, pensions, paid leave, etc.; • Standardize honorarium/ wages across states, ensuring that honorariums align with minimum wage regulations; • Replace incentive-based payment structure with a fixed amount plus performance-based benefits; • Provide health insurance, maternity benefits, and accident coverage to ASHAs; • Ensure free personal protective equipment (PPE), transport allowances, and access to clean rest areas during field visits; • Enforce strict policies against harassment and violence, ensuring safe working conditions for ASHAs in all regions; • Utilize Rs 49,269 crore (As of 2022) of unspent funds from the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Act for childcare, elderly care, and ASHA welfare; • Allocate Rs 70,051 crore health sector grants towards strengthening early childhood care and healthcare workers’ training; • Establish state-funded creches at primary health centres and community centres to support ASHAs who are also primary caregivers at home; • Develop structured career pathways for ASHAs to transition into higher-paying healthcare roles, such as nursing, midwifery, and public health administration; • Provide regular skill enhancement training in disease surveillance, mental health counseling, and emergency medical response; • Introduce bridge courses in collaboration with medical colleges and universities to certify ASHAs for formal healthcare roles; • Incentivize private sector investments in childcare and elderly care infrastructure, with tax benefits for employers offering workplace childcare solutions; • Promote cooperative models, like the SEWA model, to ensure ASHAs have decision-making power over wages and working conditions; and • Foster public-private partnerships to expand affordable community-based care services, creating decent job opportunities for ASHAs.
The Commission will further deliberate on the suggestions, seek additional inputs and deliberate to take a view in the matter to ensure the welfare of ASHAs.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is the speech by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, at the Sports Law Conference luncheon organised by the Law Society of Hong Kong today (February 21):
President Roden Tong (President of the Law Society of Hong Kong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon. It is a great pleasure for me to speak at this lunch conference.
This morning, you heard from esteemed experts on the relationship between sports and law, highlighting how it supports the ever-expanding sports industry – locally, regionally and globally. As the sports market continues to grow, there is an increasing demand for dispute resolution services tailored to address a wide range of sports-related issues, including competition-related disputes, contractual disputes, and governance matters. In the next few minutes, I would like to share with you the Government’s latest initiatives aimed at fostering the growth of sports dispute resolution in Hong Kong.
Over the past two years, the Government, specifically the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, has been actively engaging with key stakeholders in order to better understand the needs of our sports sector.
In the Chief Executive’s Policy Address last year, the Government announced the initiative to explore establishing a sports dispute resolution mechanism and promote sports arbitration, leveraging the institutional advantages of Hong Kong in dispute resolution. Specifically, the Government supports the industry in launching a pilot scheme on sports dispute resolution in Hong Kong within 2025.
To this end, we have met with the two legal professional bodies in Hong Kong, the Law Society of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Bar Association, as well as the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC), to explore Hong Kong’s potential for establishing a sports dispute resolution mechanism. Through these dialogues, it has become clear that the industry seeks a neutral, fair, and efficient system for resolving sports disputes.
Furthermore, during a meeting of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services last May, the DoJ briefed Members on Hong Kong’s potential for the development of sports dispute resolution, and sought their views on its future direction. Members of the Legislative Council and the two legal professional bodies expressed unanimous support for advancing sports dispute resolution in Hong Kong and exploring the establishment of a dedicated dispute resolution mechanism.
To effectively implement the initiative, the DoJ has established the Advisory Committee on Sports Dispute Resolution, which I have the privilege to chair. The Advisory Committee comprises representatives from the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Law Society of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Bar Association. Their role is to advise the Government on the design, establishment and implementation of the pilot scheme. We held our first meeting last month to kick-start the preparatory work for the pilot scheme.
We are actively gathering input from stakeholders on the design and implementation mechanism of the pilot scheme. Just this week, we met with the SF&OC, and we will meet with LegCo Members next week. Preparatory work is in full swing, and our goal is to launch the pilot scheme in the second half of this year.
We will finalise the details of the pilot scheme and announce it after further deliberation with the Advisory Committee. Nonetheless, I would like to share a few preliminary thoughts with you today.
In the coming months, we will invite interested dispute resolution institution or institutions to submit proposals for the operation of the pilot scheme. We plan to appoint a suitable administering body to oversee the pilot scheme and provide institutional support for the conduct of arbitration and mediation under the pilot scheme, including compiling specific rules, recruiting and appointing mediators and arbitrators, devising fee structures, and administering the dispute resolution proceedings. In addition, to promote a wider use of lawtech and online dispute resolution, a technology provider will be engaged to provide the necessary technological infrastructure and support.
One of the primary objectives of the pilot scheme is to facilitate local athletes and sports associations in utilising alternative dispute resolution services. By doing so, we aim to promote a more accessible and efficient means of resolving disputes, ultimately supporting the development of the sports community.
The pilot scheme is set to run for an initial period of about three years, allowing us to test the market, gather insights, and evaluate the need for refinement, extension or regularisation. We invite all of you here with us today – many of whom are dispute resolution experts – to support and actively participate in this initiative.
Last but not least, I would like to extend my gratitude to the Law Society of Hong Kong for organising the Sports Law Conference 2025, which provides an excellent platform for these important discussions. I am also very pleased to see various organisations hosting events and training in sports dispute resolution. Industry participation, capacity building, promotion and public education are crucial as we strive to advance the sports industry and strengthen the sports dispute resolution framework.
May we all embrace today’s theme: “Be Just! Be a Good Sport!” And let’s take a step further: let us cultivate a culture of effective sports dispute resolution, and build a good sports community that promotes growth and excellence. Thank you.
(Friday, 7 February 2025 at 6.30 – 9.00pm,Taumeasina Island Resort)
Reverend Siaosi Salesulu
Lau Afioga, Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II and Masiofo
Members of the Council of Deputies
Ministers of Cabinet,
Chief Justice and Members of the Judiciary,
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Leader of the Opposition
Members of Parliament,
High Commissioner of New Zealand, Your Excellency, Si’alei Van Toor
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished Guests gathered here tonight,
Talofa lava and Good evening to you all.
It is a pleasure for me to join you all at the reception this evening to celebrate the 185th anniversary of the signing of New Zealand’s founding document, “Te Tiriti o Waitangi” the “Treaty of Waitangi”. On behalf of the Government and People of Samoa I convey through you, Excellency Si’alei Van Toor our warm congratulations and felicitations to the Government and the People of Aotearoa New Zealand on the celebration of your national day.
This evening, we join in the celebration of the commemoration of Waitangi Day around New Zealand and other parts of the world in remembrance of the signing of the treaty. The occasion is an important marker in your country’s history and I understand that numerous events are held around the world and nationally to reflect the significance of the Treaty to national unity and the richness of New Zealand’s history and culture. I am told that the Kapa Haka Performers from Tauranga, the “Te Paringa Tai” are here and will perform for us this evening. Earlier on in the day, Te Paringa Tai had treated the Samoan public to another spectacular performance of songs and dances at the Matagialalua Friendship Park showcasing a bit of Aotearoa’s rich heritage and culture.
This occasion is an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come in our partnerships towards the achievement of common goals, for people, peace and prosperity. Have they remained relevant and mutually beneficial?
Samoa and New Zealand continue to enjoy a warm and close friendship underpinned by the foundation of our shared history and a unique “Treaty of Friendship”. There have been exchanges of high-level visits of Heads of State and Government, ministers and parliamentarians reflecting the prominence both countries accord to strengthening people-to-people links. The exchange of high-level visits signifies the maturity of our relations and the mutual respect we hold in high regard for each other. It is not unusual for us to ask ourselves how far the uniqueness of our Treaty of Friendship can go; particularly as we crave for facilitative short-term travel to visit families or explore business opportunities.
Last October, we hosted leaders of the Commonwealth including New Zealand’s Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs. We take this opportunity to again express the sincere appreciation of the Government of Samoa and its people to the Government of New Zealand and its people and Samoa’s other key partners, for the generous support and assistance provided, ensuring that Samoa and the Pacific successfully hosted the first meeting of Commonwealth leaders in our Blue Pacific region. A mammoth undertaking it was, but made possible through the generosity and magnanimity of our development partners including New Zealand and the commitment and dedication of many people. What we did not have the resources for, was provided, the capacity gaps were filled even if temporarily and the readiness to support was assured. The high standard and quality of the services provided left a legacy of Samoa’s enhanced ranking and capability to deliver high-quality logistical support for future international meetings.
The close relations between our two countries is reaffirmed by the 2024 Statement of Partnership – O le Fogavaa e Tasi which identifies the priority areas of cooperation including partnerships, security, empowering communities, building climate resilience and inspiring growth which are in alignment with Samoa’s aspirations and priorities as outlined in the “Pathway for the Development of Samoa.” We also acknowledge with gratitude the confidence of the Government of New Zealand in the use of country systems reflected in the extension of budget support under the Joint Policy Action Matrix involving our other development partners as well.
Samoa appreciates the continued commitment of the Government of New Zealand to diligently carry out the Operation Resolution for the HMNZS Manawanui working in tandem with the Samoan authorities and other development partners for the removal of fuel and pollutants from the site. Like our Pacific neighbours, the coastal and marine environment are significant for the sustenance of our local communities and we will continue to work in partnership with the Government of New Zealand and our other development partners to ensure the success of this Operation.
Excellency,
We look forward to the continuation of the excellent bilateral relations and partnership between Samoa and New Zealand for the benefit of our two countries and our peoples.
To conclude, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I respectfully invite you all to join me in proposing a toast:
“To the unity and prosperity of the Government and the People of New Zealand. Happy Waitangi Day!”
SOIFUA
Photo by the Government of Samoa (Leaosa Faaifo Faaifo)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
BCP clearance services, transportation and other arrangements for 15th National Games athletics (marathon) test event BCP clearance services, transportation and other arrangements for 15th National Games athletics (marathon) test event ******************************************************************************************
The 2025 Shenzhen-Hong Kong marathon and the 15th National Games (NG) athletics (marathon) test event will be held on Sunday (February 23). The entire track is 42.195 kilometres long, of which the section in Hong Kong is 21.841km. Setting off from the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center, the races will enter Hong Kong via the Shenzhen Bay Port, run along the Shenzhen Bay Bridge and Kong Sham Western Highway Viaduct, then turn back to the Shenzhen Bay Port through the same route, and finally end at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center. The event comprises men’s and women’s races, with the women’s group to depart at 7am and the other to set off at 7.30am. The athletes will enter the Hong Kong section upon completion of approximately 2km of the race route. Both groups are expected to spend around two hours in the Hong Kong section. To facilitate the smooth running of the race, clearance services of the Shenzhen Bay Port (including all passenger and cargo clearance services) will be suspended during part of the morning on the event day, while temporary control measures will be implemented on the Shenzhen Bay Bridge and other related roads that day. Members of the public and travellers should pay attention to the following key points: Arrival and departure clearance services at the Shenzhen Bay Port will be suspended from 2am to 11am on the event day, and passengers and vehicles will be prohibited from entering the port. In the meantime, temporary control measures will be implemented on Shenzhen Bay Bridge, Kong Sham Western Highway and Ha Tsuen Interchange. During the temporary control period, Shenzhen Bay Bridge, Kong Sham Western Highway and Ha Tsuen Interchange will be closed to all vehicular traffic from eastbound and westbound of Yuen Long Highway and Ha Tsuen Road. Cross-boundary vehicles (including good vehicles, passenger vehicles and private cars) with valid closed road permits for the Shenzhen Bay Port may choose to use the Lok Ma Chau, Heung Yuen Wai and Man Kam To boundary control points (BCP) according to the operating hours of the relevant control points on the event day. The above special arrangement will cease upon the reopening of the Shenzhen Bay Port. Cross-boundary coach services running between Hong Kong and the Mainland via the Shenzhen Bay Port as well as local public transport services serving the Shenzhen Bay Port, including franchised buses, green minibuses (GMB), urban and New Territories taxis, will be suspended during the implementation of the temporary control at the Shenzhen Bay Port on the day of event. The bus companies and GMB operators will display notices at termini and en-route stops of the affected routes to inform affected passengers. Travellers should choose other control points to Shenzhen. During the suspension of the Shenzhen Bay Port departure service, the Transport Department (TD) expects that the roads leading to the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Station Public Transport Interchange, Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang, Man Kam To and Heung Yuen Wai BCPs, including San Tin Interchange, San Sham Road and Lok Ma Chau Road, will be busy with traffic. The full clearance services at the Shenzhen Bay Port are expected to resume at around 11am that day, by then traffic will be expected to be relatively busy. Therefore, the TD appeals to travellers and drivers who plan to use all BCPs concerned on that day to plan their trips in advance. Cross-boundary private cars and other drivers are also advised to avoid driving to the above districts during the relevant hours unless necessary. Depending on the prevailing traffic conditions in the different areas, the Police will deploy appropriate manpower and implement corresponding crowd management measures or special traffic arrangements at the affected control points and relevant road sections. For details of the special traffic and transport arrangements for the test event, please refer to the Transport Department Notice (www.td.gov.hk/en/traffic_notices/index_id_79334.html) and the Police’s press release on the special traffic arrangements for the test event (www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202502/13/P2025021300398.htm). The National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) (NGCO) has liaised with relevant government departments and organisations to disseminate information of the relevant BCP clearance services and transportation arrangements to be implemented for the event to the public, travellers and stakeholders through various channels. The TD will liaise with public transport operators to suitably adjust the services to cater for passenger demand, and issue transport departmental notice of the traffic and transport arrangements for the test event and appeal for cross-boundary and local travellers and members of the public via various channels to take heed of arrangements for various public transport travelling to and from the Shenzhen Bay Port and plan their journeys early, including the HKeMobility mobile application, variable messages signs at strategic roads and tunnels, public announcement at MTR stations, Agent T Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AgentT.hk) as well as the social media platform of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Marine Department has liaised with cross-boundary ferry operators, with a view to working out manpower and sailing schedule arrangements for ferry services to and from Shekou, Shenzhen, in advance. The Home Affairs Department has disseminated the relevant message through the district network (including District Councils, Area Committees and District Committees, Youth Committees, as well as District Services and Community Care Teams). On the day of the test event, the Care Teams will deploy staff to inspect the districts of Tuen Mun and Yuen Long, and provide appropriate assistance to members of the public in need (e.g. responding to enquiries). Hong Kong Customs has informed the transport trades of the traffic arrangements on that day and to use other land BCPs as far as possible for entry and exit. Customs has also posted notices at the clearance facilities of the Hong Kong Port and informed the public through its website (www.customs.gov.hk/en/home/index.html) and social media platform. The Immigration Department (ImmD) will update the situation of the control points in real time through its mobile application on the event day. Travellers are advised to check the waiting time situation of the Shenzhen Bay Control Point and other land BCPs through the ImmD’s mobile application before travelling to make better planning for their itinerary and minimise waiting time. The Police will also remind the public of the temporary traffic control arrangements through its social media platform (www.facebook.com/HongKongPoliceForce). The Tourism Commission (TC) has informed the hotel sector through their trade associations to remind their guests of the special transportation arrangements. The TC has also informed licensed travel agents through the Travel Industry Authority and the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong to avoid bringing tour groups across the Shenzhen Bay Bridge on the event day. The Hong Kong Tourism Board has also notified its trade partners and disseminated the relevant information on its website (www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/index.html) to facilitate visitors’ itinerary planning. Shenzhen will broadcast the event online, while Hong Kong has also arranged for live webcast by Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) (RTHK weblink: www.rthk.hk/nationalgames and RTHK YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/RTHK). A spokesperson for the NGCO said as the NG is the country’s highest-level event, this marathon test event has to meet stringent requirements in terms of the selection of race course and the organisational arrangements to ensure the safety of athletes. Relevant departments will work together to facilitate the special traffic and transportation arrangements to minimise the impact on the public and travellers who usually use the Shenzhen Bay Port. The spokesperson thanked members of the public and travellers for their understanding, as well as the contributions of various organisations and departments to implementing the relevant arrangements.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the Sports Law Conference today (February 21):
President Roden Tong (President of the Law Society of Hong Kong), Mrs Regina Ip (Convenor of the Non-official Members of the Executive Council and Member of Legislative Council), Vivian, gold medal winner of Paris 2024 Olympic Games (Ms Vivian Kong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is my great honour to address you at today’s Sports Law Conference. First of all, I would like to thank the Law Society of Hong Kong for organising the first mega conference on sports law in Hong Kong.
Today, we gather here to discuss and explore the enormous opportunities that the sports industry may present to both the legal profession and the business community in Hong Kong. I am glad that we have such a big and distinguished group of speakers from the business sector, legal practitioners, and sports professionals, both local and from abroad, to share with us their valuable insights on various aspects of sports.
Hong Kong has always been a city that is passionate about sports. Sports not only promote physical health and well-being but also foster social cohesion. The Government is committed to developing sports in the community, nurturing sports talent, hosting mega sports events, promoting professionalism and developing sports as an industry. Our commitment is evident in the increasing resources that we have devoted to this policy area. In 2024-25, we are spending about $7.9 billion, which is double of the annual spending of $3.9 billion 10 years ago.
Our efforts in sports development have borne fruit as we take pride in our athletes’ achievements on the global stage. Last summer, Hong Kong athletes achieved remarkable results by capturing two gold and two bronze medals in fencing and swimming at the Paris Olympic Games, attaining the best results in the history of Hong Kong, China thus far. Vivian Kong is here with us today and deserves a big round of applause from us. Our para-athletes also won three gold, four silver, and one bronze medal at the Paralympic Games, setting our best results since 2012.
Earlier this month, I attended with the Chief Executive of Hong Kong the Asian Winter Games at Harbin. I am still overwhelmed by the achievements of our Hong Kong, China team, which made a lot of breakthroughs. Participating in curling and alpine skiing at the Games for the first time, our men’s curling team historically made the fourth, and an alpine skier achieved a record 10th place out of a total of 58 participants. The men’s ice hockey team also reached the quarterfinals stage for the first time. Although our athletes could not make it to the podium just as yet, I am sure all of us in this room are proud of their success and in particular the sportsmanship, professionalism and sports ethics demonstrated.
As we celebrate our athletes’ achievements, it is important to recognise that their success represents more than just their talents. It reflects also the values that sports can bring to our community. These values go beyond medals, records and scores and can bring a positive impact to the society of Hong Kong. Now, let’s take a look at how sports can unlock important values for the Hong Kong community.
First of all, perseverance is the key in the sports world. Our athletes encounter challenges, including injuries, defeats, and intense competitions throughout their career. Only through years of perseverance could they finally reach the international sporting arena. Vivian will agree with me that many of our athletes had to cope with recurring injuries while they gave it their all in the Paris Olympic Games. Having gone through these hardships, our athletes deserve fully our cheers and appreciation. Their perseverance has become an inspiration to many, and the athletes are setting an important role model, encouraging our youths not to give up in the face of obstacles. This is the spirit that empowers us and makes our society more resilient.
Secondly, we promote friendship through sports. Sports serve as a powerful medium for building friendship that transcends cultural, ethnical and geographical barriers. It is through sports that people from around the world come together to promote mutual respect, inclusivity and friendship.
It is also through sports that we take pride in our country and foster a stronger sense of national identity and belonging. As our national athletes continue to excel on the international stage, more and more people in Hong Kong are rooting for them and sharing in their joy of achievements as they bring triumph to the entire nation. We were particularly excited about the Mainland Olympians’ visit to Hong Kong after the Paris Olympic Games, where we had the invaluable opportunity to appreciate their sporting skills up close. As the public celebrated our country’s achievements together, our national identity and sense of belonging to our country are fortified.
Another important value that we recognise is the commercial opportunities that the sports industry presents. Investments in sports infrastructure, sponsorships, and merchandising contribute to the job creation and business development of Hong Kong. As we promote sports events and activities, we can attract local and international brands, fostering partnerships that add impetus to our economy.
To encourage the commercialisation of sports events, the Government provides matching funds under the “M” Mark System to provide incentives for event organisers to seek sponsorship from commercial organisations. By making the best use of market resources, we believe that the quality of events can be further enhanced, which will help attract more commercial players to the sports ecosystem. This is also conducive to the sustainable development of the sports industry in the long run.
Sports broadcasting is another important aspect in commercialising the sports industry. Given the rise of digital media, the broadcasting right of sports events has become even more valuable. The broadcasting of sports events does not only generate revenue and sponsorships but also increases the visibility of our athletes and the sports themselves. The Government’s purchase of the broadcasting right of the Paris Olympic Games and Paralympic Games last year enabled members of the public to enjoy the games on television free of charge and to cheer for the athletes. This undoubtedly has helped generate greater interest in sports in the community.
Meanwhile, sports have played an increasingly important role in driving tourism in Hong Kong. Major sports events, such as the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens hosted every year, attract hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world, showcasing our city’s culture, hospitality, and vibrant spirit. By positioning Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events, we strive to bring in high-level, high-profile sports competitions and support the invitation of star athletes to Hong Kong, which in turn promotes tourism by attracting families, event personnel and officials, as well as spectators from outside Hong Kong to participate in major sports events.
I am sure that, like me, you are all looking forward to the formal opening of Kai Tak Sports Park, KTSP, on the 1st of March, that is, just a week away. And in fact, I just did two phone interviews about Kai Tak Sports Park this morning, on top of the one I gave yesterday. That is why I came a little bit late; I am very sorry about that. As Hong Kong’s largest sports infrastructure ever, KTSP will fully unleash the strengths and potential of Hong Kong in hosting high-profile mega sports events and entertainment programmes. Hong Kong sports teams will also have ample opportunities to compete at home turf. Additionally, KTSP will help develop peripheral products, including merchandise sales, venue management, refereeing, training, event co-ordination, etc. We will surely capitalise on the world-class facilities in KTSP in driving the sports development of Hong Kong.
We recognise the importance of fostering sports exchanges and collaborations with the Mainland. This year, in November, Hong Kong will cohost the 15th National Games, and the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games jointly with Guangdong Province and the Macao SAR (Special Administrative Region). Apart from attracting audiences from the Mainland and overseas to Hong Kong, the National Games series of events will allow Hong Kong citizens to participate in and support our team as home spectators. The preparation work of the Games is now in full swing. We will continue to leverage the opportunities to organise more sports exchanges with our Mainland counterparts.
Sports are certainly an exciting area in Hong Kong full of different potential. As the sports industry continues to grow, there is a need to develop a robust legal system that supports fair play and resolves conflicts effectively, thereby promoting professionalism and accountability within the sector. The Chief Executive announced in 2024 Policy Address that the Government would support the industry to launch a pilot scheme on sports dispute resolution in Hong Kong. The availability of a sports dispute resolution mechanism would help preserve the integrity of sports and maintain a sustainable sporting environment. It is also essential to the advancement of sports development in Hong Kong, where a delay in handling of conflict may have a drastic impact on an athlete’s career. My bureau fully supports this initiative, and we look forward to your support and contribution to the pilot scheme.
Ladies and gentlemen, sports have the potential to unlock a wide range of different values that enrich our community and contribute to the growth of Hong Kong. The potential for sports development is truly immense. My team will continue to work with the sports, legal and business sectors to ensure that the sports industry thrives. I am confident that through sports, we can build a stronger, healthier, and more united Hong Kong.
Before I close, I would once again like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Roden and the Law Society of Hong Kong for organising this conference, and all speakers for sharing your insights, which are essential for creating a brighter future for the sports industry.
I wish the conference a big success and your experience here truly rewarding. Thank you.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Fatal traffic accident in Ma On Shan Fatal traffic accident in Ma On Shan ************************************
Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident happened in Ma On Shan this morning (February 21) in which a man died. At 6.45am, a school bus driven by a 78-year-old man was travelling along Kam Ying Road towards Wu Kai Sha. When the school bus was approaching near 9 Kam Ying Road, it reportedly went out of control and rammed into the railings. Sustaining no superficial injury, the driver was rushed to Prince of Wales Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 7.31am. Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories South is under way. Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 1346.
Sacramento, California –Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:
Mayumi Kimura, of Temecula, has been appointed Deputy Secretary of Woman Veterans at the California Department of Veterans Affairs. Kimura has been the Founder and Director of Warriors Insight Therapy since 2022. She was a Readjustment Counselor at Lowell Vet Center from 2019 to 2022. Kimura was a Program Director at Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, Housing Unit for Military Veterans from 2018 to 2019. She was an Emergency Services Clinician at Riverside Community Care from 2017 to 2018. Kimura was a Social Services Clinician at Butler Psychiatric Hospital from 2016 to 2017. She was a Psychosocial Manager/Hospice Social Worker at Bayada Hospice from 2013 to 2017. Kimura served in multiple roles for the United States Navy from 2001 to 2010, including Active-Duty Operations Specialist, Petty Officer First Class, and Active Reserves. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $154,860. Kimura is a Democrat.
Justin Turner, of Sacramento, has been appointed Chief Counsel at the California Department of Conservation. He has been Assistant Chief Counsel at the Department of Conservation since 2015 and Attorney III from 2008 to 2015. Turner was a Contract Attorney at the California Department of Public Health from 2005 to 2008. He was a Contract Attorney at Update Legal in 2004. Turner earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco, and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Spanish from the University of Oregon. This position does not require Senate confirmation and compensation is $208,440. Turner is a Democrat.
Anthony “Tony” Marino, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Director of Energy at the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety. Marino has been the Deputy Director of the Underground Infrastructure Directorate at the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety since 2022. Marino was the Executive Officer of the Underground Safety Board at the Department of Foresty and Fire Protection from 2017 to 2021. He served as Consultant on the Subcommittee on Gas, Electric, and Transportation Safety in the Office of Senator Jerry Hill from 2012 to 2017. Marino held multiple positions in the Office of Assemblymember Jerry Hill from 2010 to 2012, including Legislative Aide and Science Fellow. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemistry from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in English and Chemistry from Davidson College. This position does not require Senate confirmation and compensation is $175,512. Marino is registered without party preference.
Travis Nichols, of Sacramento, has been appointed Cyber Incident Response Manager at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Nichols has been an Operations Officer/Defensive Cyberspace Weapons Officer with the United States Marine Corps Reserve since 2010. He was a Consultant at Level9 Group in 2023. Nichols was a Cyber Security Operations Architect at Smith & Nephew from 2022 to 2023. He was an Information System Security Officer/Engineer at Defense Microelectronics Activity from 2021 to 2022. Nichols was a Systems Administrator – Server/Network Team Lead at Blackwatch International from 2019 to 2021. He was a Systems Administrator – Tier III – Team Lead at Cincinnati Bell Technical Solutions from 2018 to 2019. Nichols was a Service Support Engineer at Pathforward IT from 2016 to 2018. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $137,616. Nichols is a Democrat.
Lynda Hopkins, of Sebastopol, has been appointed to the California Air Resources Board. Hopkins has been the Fifth District Supervisor on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors since 2016. She was a Co-Owner at Foggy River Farm from 2008 to 2020. Hopkins was a Reporter at the Sonoma West Times & News from 2009 to 2013. She was the Executive Director at Sonoma County Farm Trails from 2008 to 2010. Hopkins was a Head Teaching Assistant at the Stanford University Earth Systems Program from 2005 to 2007. She is a member of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Hopkins earned a Master of Science degree in Earth Systems, a Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Systems, and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Creative Writing and Poetry from Stanford University. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Hopkins is a Democrat.
Dawn Ortiz-Legg, of San Luis Obispo, has been appointed to the California Air Resources Board. Ortiz-Legg has been the Third District Supervisor on the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors since 2020. She was a Right of Way Agent at Pacific Gas and Electric Company from 2018 to 2020. Ortiz-Legg was a Project Manager & Public Affairs Liaison at First Solar from 2010 to 2018. She was North American Sales and Marketing Manager at PTEC Corporation from 1999 to 2010. Ortiz-Legg is a member of the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District. She earned her Master of Public Policy degree in Climate Change and Technology Policy from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Organizational Communication from Pepperdine University. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Ortiz-Legg is a Democrat.
Tina Thomas, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Wildlife Conservation Board. Thomas has been Of Counsel at Downey Brand LLP since 2023. She was Founding Partner at Thomas Law Group Sacramento from 2012 to 2023. Thomas has held multiple positions at Remy, Thomas, Moose, and Manley, LLP from 1982 to 2011, including Counsel and Managing Partner. She was an Associate Attorney at Remy and Associates from 1979 to 1982. Thomas is a Board Member at the Steinberg Institute, Sacramento Federal Judiciary Library, and Meristem, and Member Emeritus at the Sacramento Food Bank. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego, and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Sociology and Political Science from Stephens College. This position does not require Senate Confirmation, and there is no compensation. Thomas is a Democrat.
Frances “Fran” Pavley, of Agoura Hills, has been reappointed to the Wildlife Conservation Board, where she has served since 2018. Pavley has been the Environmental Policy Director at the University of Southern California Schwarzenegger Institute since 2018. She served as a Senator in the California State Senate from 2008 to 2016. Pavley served as an Assemblymember in the California State Assembly from 2000 to 2006. She served as Mayor/City Councilmember for the City of Agoura Hills from 1982 to 1998. Pavley earned her Master of the Arts degree in Environmental Planning from California State University, Northridge, and her Bachelor of the Arts degree in Social Science from California State University, Fresno. This position does not require Senate Confirmation, and there is no compensation. Pavley is a Democrat.
Travis Clausen, of Garden Grove, has been appointed to the Underground Safe Excavation Board. Clausen has been Regional Construction Manager – Aviation and Defense at Sully-Miller Contracting Company since 2025, where he was Senior Operations Manager from 2015 to 2025. Clausen was a Project Manager at OHL USA from 2014 to 2015 and at Sully Miller Contracting Company from 2006 to 2014. Clausen served in the United States Army from 1995 to 1998. He earned a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Business Administration – Finance from California State University, Fullerton. This position does not require Senate Confirmation and there is no compensation. Clausen is a Republican.
Press Releases, Recent News
Recent news
Feb 19, 2025
News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Andrew “Andy” Nakahata, of San Francisco, has been appointed Chief Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer at the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank….
Feb 19, 2025
News What you need to know: A court has denied the city of Norwalk’s request to dismiss the state’s lawsuit against the city for its unlawful ban on homeless shelters. NORWALK — Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement in response to a court decision…
Feb 19, 2025
News What you need to know: Steve Jobs, a visionary of global scale, has been nominated to represent California on the American Innovation Coin. The coin, which will be minted by the U.S. Mint, highlights U.S. innovations and innovators, including California’s legacy…
In September 2024, a Court of Justice (ECJ) judgment, rendered in appeal, concluded a 10-year State aid procedure on Ireland’s past tax rulings relating to Apple. The ECJ judgment did not go as anticipated. In addition, the over €13 billion in aid to be recovered from Apple eclipsed the grounds for the decision, which derive from the specific historical structure of the business and national provisions.
On 18 February, LIBE held a debate aimed to address the ongoing delays in the launch of the Entry/Exit System (EES), a critical element of the EU’s border strategy and interoperability framework.
LIBE Members exchanged with Dariusz Nowak-Nova, Polish Presidency of the EU Council, Olivier Onidi, European Commission, and Marili Männik, EU Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice.
Stakeholders discussed the reasons behind the repeated delays and the steps being taken by the Council, the Commission, and eu-LISA to prevent further setbacks. The Commission also outlined its recent legislative proposal for a phased roll-out of the system, as the original plan for a full deployment across all Member States is no longer feasible.
Members expressed concerns that these delays reflect a weakness in Schengen, highlighting the impact on other key systems such as the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). There were also concerns about the potential influence of Russian interference in the development of EES.
These proceedings cover the Policy Hub on Better Law-Making in the European Union held on December 4, 2024. During the hub European academics indicated that European legislation is no longer fit for purpose and urgently needs modernisation. The experts recommended simplification of the structure and the drafting style of European legislation, citizen-centred approach to EU legislation, along with improving evidence base and digitisation. These proceedings are prepared by Policy Department for Justice, Civil Liberties and Institutional Affairs for the JURI Committee.
Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE
Headline: OSCE Mission to BiH Conducts First Anti-Trafficking Simulation-Based Training in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tokom obuke za aktere uključene u borbu protiv trgovine ljudima, učesnici su imali priliku da rade na identifikaciji i istrazi predmeta trgovine ljudima. (OSCE) Photo details
Sarajevo, 21 February 2025 – From 17 to 21 February 2025, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission) organized an advanced training for anti-trafficking practitioners, engaging them in real-time simulated scenarios to identify and investigate human trafficking cases and assist trafficked persons using a victim-centered and human rights-based approach.
Participants from law enforcement, the judiciary, labor inspection, social services, and non-governmental organizations collaborated in multidisciplinary teams to investigate simulated cases of labor and sexual exploitation, as well as forced criminality. The exercises were designed using expert-developed scenarios that reflect national human trafficking and migration trends in BiH, building on previous OSCE simulation-based training models.
“The OSCE Mission to BiH is committed to strengthening the country’s institutional response to human trafficking by fostering cooperation among key stakeholders. This hands-on training has equipped professionals with practical tools to combat this crime more effectively,” said Ambassador Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH. “By emphasizing a victim-centered and human rights-based approach, we are not only enhancing investigative techniques but also ensuring that survivors receive the protection and support they deserve.”
Ahmed Mešić, Prosecutor at the BiH Prosecutor’s Office said: “Through a realistic scenario and a multidisciplinary approach, participants had the opportunity to enhance their skills and exchange experiences, directly contributing to a more effective fight against this serious crime. The lessons learned and the collaborative work on collecting and securing evidence—primarily with a focus on human trafficking victims—will be crucial in the future work of professionals handling such cases. I would therefore like to thank the OSCE Mission to BiH for successfully organizing this important training and congratulate them on a job well done.”
Senior Assistant at the Faculty of Law Banja Luka Olivera Ševo Grebenar emphasized the value of practical learning and said: “This simulation exercise demonstrated that a hands-on learning model yields the most concrete results. From the preparation phase to implementation, the exercise fostered discussion and the search for optimal solutions in combating and preventing human trafficking crimes. Additionally, by emphasizing victim-centered approaches and inter-institutional co-operation, participants developed a heightened sensitivity to these issues and increased their awareness of how to apply these principles in their daily work on human trafficking cases.”
This training is part of the OSCE Mission’s broader efforts to support BiH authorities in combating human trafficking and providing adequate assistance to victims. It was implemented under the project “Simulation-Based Training Exercise for Local Anti-Trafficking Structures in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” funded by the U.S. Delegation to the OSCE. This initiative marks the first anti-trafficking simulation-based training exercise in Bosnia and Herzegovina, reinforcing the Mission’s commitment to strengthening national anti-trafficking mechanisms and multi-agency co-operation.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, February 21, 2025/APO Group/ —
The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has taken a significant step forward in its fight against corruption and financial crime by signing a Letter of Intent with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) today. The Bank Group is the first multilateral development bank to establish such a collaboration with Interpol.
The Letter of Intent was signed on Wednesday by African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza, who visited the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan.
The partnership will enhance collaboration between the Bank’s Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption (https://apo-opa.co/3QrB4ku) and Interpol’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre. It will focus on sharing expertise, enhancing investigative capabilities, and developing preventive measures against emerging financial crime threats, including cybercrime, anti-corruption measures, and counter-terrorism financing.
This initiative comes as Africa faces significant challenges of illicit financial flows, estimated at nearly $90 billion annually—a loss of resources that could otherwise be invested in critical development needs including water, sanitation, health, food, and energy infrastructure.
As an institution that deploys approximately $10 billion annually in development financing, with the majority going to government projects, the African Development Bank Group brings crucial insight into regional financial flows and development challenges, Adesina said.
“This partnership demonstrates our commitment to protecting development resources and ensuring they reach their intended beneficiaries,” said Adesina. “As the world’s most transparent financial institution for two consecutive editions (https://apo-opa.co/41o3TVt) [according to Publish What You Fund’s assessment of sovereign portfolios], we maintain zero tolerance for corruption and terrorism financing. By joining forces with Interpol, we are strengthening our capacity to help African countries build robust systems against money laundering and financial crime.”
Rapid advancements in digital technology have also led to an increase in internet-enabled financial crimes. According to Interpol’s 2024 Global Financial Fraud Assessment, business email compromise, romance baiting, phishing, and other online frauds pose growing threats to Africa’s digitalized economy.
Secretary General Urquiza, who was elected to his position in November 2024, said, “Corruption and financial crime are among the biggest obstacles to economic and social development in Africa and around the world. The evolving nature of financial crime, particularly in the digital environment, requires strong partnerships between law enforcement and financial institutions. Interpol’s closer relationship with the African Development Bank Group will help law enforcement agencies and financial institutions across Africa tackle increasingly sophisticated financial crime threats.”
Adesina said the Bank will continue to tackle these challenges by:
Building capacity and supporting African countries in strengthening transparent and accountable governance and strong institutions capable of driving inclusive and sustainable growth and resilient economies.
Strengthening Know Your Customer and Due Diligence systems to prevent and to fight fraud and corruption.
Ensure that the Bank’s resources are used for their intended purposes in a transparent and accountable manner, a practice that has led to the Bank being recognized for two consecutive editions as the most transparent multilateral development bank in the world by Publish What You Fund.
The high-level Interpol delegation that accompanied Secretary General Urquiza included Mr. Silvino Schlickmann, Director of Governance and Ms. Paule Ouedraogo, Head of Interpol’s Regional Bureau.
The African Development Bank Group was represented by members of President Adesina’s senior management team including the director of the Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption, Ms. Paula da Costa.
The Economy, Culture and Skills Committee will publish its report – London’s Night-Time Economy. The report follows an in-depth investigation by the Committee, which saw industry experts, professionals and local authorities provide evidence on London’s night-time economy, what work is currently being done, and any barriers preventing further growth in the sector.
Health Committee – Liverpool St Station 10:30am – 12:00pm
Members of the Health Committee will visit Liverpool Street Station, where they will observe a pop-up London lifesaver defibrillator training.
The meeting will include representatives from the London Ambulance Service, Transport for London and people whose lives have been saved by defibrillators.
MEDIA ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THIS FILMING/PHOTO OPPORTUNITY BY PRIOR ARRANGEMENT
All Assembly meeting– The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan will present his Final Draft Consolidated Budget for 2025-26 to the London Assembly for a final vote on the financial plans.
After questioning the Mayor, the London Assembly will consider his Final Draft Consolidated Budget and decide whether to approve it, with or without amendment. The guests are:
Police and Crime Committee– The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am
The Police and Crime Committee will begin an investigation into VAWG, focussing on the impact on young people. The Committee will question guests on the experiences of young people, and how the Mayor can ensure that prevention-based education programmes and initiatives are reaching boys and young men in London. The guests are:
Panel 1 (10:00am – 11:15am)
Janaya Walker, Head of Public Affairs, End Violence Against Women
Guest TBC, Southall Black Sisters
Panel 2 (11:20am – approx. 12:30pm)
Kate Lexén, Director of Services, Tender
Ellie Softley, Head of Education, Everyone’s Invited
Professor Jessica Ringrose, Faculty of Education and Society, University College London
Housing Committee – Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 2pm
The Housing Committee will ask what extent service charges make ‘affordable’ home ownership tenures funded by the Mayor unaffordable, what more the Mayor can do to help leaseholders, and the extent to which freeholders and managing agents are working to improve transparency in service charges in London. The guests are:
Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development
Kate Webb, Head of Housing Strategy, Greater London Authority
Charmaine McQueen-Prince, Chair of the Residential Freehold Association’s Leasehold Reform Subcommittee
Fiona Fletcher-Smith, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), L&Q and Chair, G15
Transport Committee – Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way,10am
The Transport Committee will ask the Deputy Mayor for Transport and the Transport for London (TfL) Commissioner about progress towards meeting the Mayor’s Transport Strategy ambitions, the Vision Zero target for no deaths or serious injuries on London’s transport network, bus services, and more. The guests are:
The Education Bureau today called on the public to be vigilant against an organisation calling itself “Kyiv State University of Economics and Business (Hong Kong Campus)”.
A website in the organisation’s name claims to have the support of the “Hong Kong Education Bureau” and contains a hyperlink to the Education Bureau’s website.
The bureau clarified that it has no connection with such an organisation, and has reported the matter to the Police Force.
Financial fraud and corruption cost Africa more than USD 90 billion per year.
ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire: INTERPOL and the African Development Bank Group have signed a letter of intent to pursue greater cooperation to combat corruption, financial crime, cyber-enabled fraud and money laundering.
The letter was signed by African Development Bank President Dr Akinwumi Adesina INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza during his visit to the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan as part of his first official mission to Côte d’Ivoire.
Significant step forward
The first multilateral development bank to establish such a collaboration with INTERPOL, the Bank described the signing as a “significant step forward in its fight against corruption and financial crime”.
The agreement aims to enhance collaboration between the Bank’s Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption (PIAC) and INTERPOL’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC).
It will focus on sharing expertise, enhancing investigative capabilities, and developing preventive measures against emerging financial crime threats.
The agreement comes as Africa faces significant challenges of illicit financial flows, estimated at nearly USD 90 billion annually – a loss of resources that could otherwise be invested in critical development needs including water, sanitation, health, food, and energy infrastructure.
According to INTERPOL’s 2024 Global Financial Fraud Assessment, business email compromise, romance baiting, phishing and other online frauds are a growing concern in Africa due to rapid advancements in digital technology.
INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said:
“Corruption and financial crime are among the biggest obstacles to economic and social development in Africa and around the world. INTERPOL’s closer relationship with the AfDB will help law enforcement agencies and financial institutions across Africa tackle increasingly sophisticated financial crime threats.”
AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina said:
“This partnership demonstrates our commitment to protecting development resources and ensuring they reach their intended beneficiaries. As the world’s most transparent financial institution for two consecutive years, according to Publish What You Fund, we maintain zero tolerance for corruption and terrorism financing. By joining forces with INTERPOL, we are strengthening our capacity to help African countries build robust systems against money laundering and financial crime.”
The Bank Group deploys approximately USD 10 billion annually in development financing, with the majority going to government projects.
I would like to extend my gratitude to ENVA, Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, SEPA, and Amey for engaging in open and honest conversations about the issues caused by the disposal of lithium batteries from common household items.
The meeting was a productive step forward in addressing the concerns raised by our community following the fire at ENVA’s Perth site. We received firm assurances about the significant investment ENVA has been making at Friarton to enhance safety and improve operational efficiency following the 14th January incident. It is clear that ENVA, who took over the site following the previous fire in 2023, recognises the importance of the proximity of both the Friarton Bridge and neighbouring properties, and they are focused on minimising any impact on them, which is a crucial aspect of our ongoing efforts to ensure the wellbeing of our residents and avoiding disruption to travellers both on M90 Friarton Bridge and locally within Perth itself.
It was also pleasing to hear from SEPA and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service about the work they have undertaken on site and with ENVA, and be assured that these key agencies have confidence in the way the site is being operated.
It is clear that ENVA have already learned much from what happened in January and has made additional enhancements to what they had already put in place since acquiring the site. This commitment to learning and willingness to allocate financial resources to the safety improvements is welcome.
The safe disposal of lithium batteries is a growing problem for all of us. There is much the Council and others can learn from how ENVA is now managing this issue at their Perth site, including embracing new technology to identify and reduce risks. I look forward to discussing this more at a site visit in the near future.
Thank you once again to all the stakeholders for their commitment to resolving these issues and working collaboratively towards a safer and more sustainable future.
