A temporary scheme to support lower-income workers who have lived in Jersey less than five years has been launched.
The Registered Employee Support Payment Scheme (RESPS) has been established as part of the range of support measures to assist employers and employees during Jersey’s transition towards a living wage.
Approximately 900 people who are believed to be eligible have been contacted by CLS to let them know that the support is available and that they have until 22 November to apply for a one-off lump sum payment of £250.
In order to be eligible for this scheme an individual must:
be aged 18 or over
have been be resident in Jersey for less than 5 years
have Control of Housing and Work Law ‘Registered’ status
not live in a household that meets the residency condition for the Income Support scheme
have contribution earnings declared in every month for Quarter C of 2024 i.e. July, August and September
be resident in Jersey and have a Jersey or other accepted UK bank account in their own name.
The scheme acknowledges that, while low-income individuals who have lived in Jersey for more than five years are eligible for Income Support and the Community Cost Bonus to help with their living costs, this support is not available to those that have been in Jersey for less than five years.
Minister for Social Security, Deputy Lyndsay Feltham, said: “The transition towards a living wage is an important priority of this Government. By 2026 we aim to reach a minimum wage based on two-thirds of the median wage and we are providing some temporary support measures to these employees during that time.
“I also recognise the impact the current cost of living is having on lower-income workers not entitled to Income Support. These Islanders provide valuable services across a range of sectors and make a significant contribution to the Island.
“They will benefit significantly from increases in the minimum wage over the next two years and this scheme is designed to support lower wage earners through this transitionary period, and hopefully encourage them to stay in the Island, and continue to provide important services and skills.”
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Northern Territory Police have successfully apprehended two 17-year-old males who absconded from the Alice Springs Youth Detention Centre on 29 October 2024.
The escapees handed themselves in at the Alice Springs Police Station last night, bringing an end to the search.
Both individuals have been charged with Escape from lawful custody and Damage to property and will attend court today.
Police thank the community for their assistance during the search.
A federal grand jury in Minneapolis returned an 18-count indictment yesterday against 11 alleged members of the Lows — a violent Minneapolis street gang — for crimes including Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy involving murder, attempted murder, gun trafficking, and drug trafficking.
“According to the indictment, these defendants are leaders, organizers, and members of the Lows street gang, a violent gang that allegedly committed multiple murders and attempted murders and trafficked in guns and drugs, including fentanyl,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Violent gangs that engage in bloody street wars and peddle deadly drugs endanger our communities. The Criminal Division, along with our local, state, and federal partners, is committed to holding violent criminals accountable, including by bringing racketeering charges.”
“The Lows are an exceptionally violent criminal street gang that has terrorized north Minneapolis for nearly 20 years. Through threats and violence — shootings and murders — the Lows have long sought to establish dominion over large swaths of our city,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger for the District of Minnesota. “My office will continue to respond to gang violence by treating it as the organized criminal activity it is. This indictment is an important step in dismantling a violent street gang that has devastated families and communities in north Minneapolis.”
“More than 100 people lose their lives to gun violence every day in the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) St. Paul Field Division. “There will never be a time where this will be considered acceptable. Our ATF agents put forth solid investigative work in this case utilizing crime gun intelligence that without a doubt aided the case announced today. ATF is happy to work alongside each of our partners in this investigation, and we are grateful to the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Luger, and the entire team for taking up this challenging RICO case.”
“The charges in this indictment reflect our unwavering commitment to bringing violent criminals to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office. “For too long, the Lows have inflicted pain and spread fear in north Minneapolis. Together with our law enforcement partners, we are determined to remove this threat from our communities and help restore a sense of security to all who call this city home.”
“Today’s indictment provides a stark reminder that violence and drug trafficking go hand-in-hand,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven T. Bell of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division. “These were not victimless crimes. Communities were hurt. The DEA will continue its unwavering focus to remove threats of violence and hold accountable the individuals responsible for inflicting fear on the streets of Minneapolis.”
“The individuals named in this indictment allegedly engaged in homicide, and illegal drug and firearms trafficking, which created an atmosphere of terror and disrupted countless lives in this community,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ramsey E. Covington of the IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Chicago Field Office. “These charges represent a pivotal milestone in our commitment to restore safety and uphold justice in the communities we serve. Working with their federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, IRS-CI special agents will continue to follow every financial trail to dismantle the networks fueling these criminal enterprises. We stand united against the violence and fear that street gangs have inflicted upon our communities in Minneapolis and elsewhere.”
“The Lows, and criminal organizations like them, wreak havoc on our communities, threatening the safety of our communities on a daily basis through their many acts of violence, murder, and narcotics and firearms trafficking,” said Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul. “HSI St. Paul will continue to foster a strong collaboration with our law enforcement partners to bring an end to the chaos these criminal organizations inflict on our local communities.”
“This multi-count indictment against ranking members of the Lows gang is an excellent example of multiple law enforcement agencies combining their expertise and resources to conduct investigations with the common goal of taking down violent leaders perpetuating street violence involving guns and narcotics,” said Inspector in Charge Bryan Musgrove of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Denver Division. “These RICO charges aim to remove these allegedly violent offenders from our community. U.S. Postal Inspectors are committed to continuing our work to dismantle drug trafficking operations to keep USPS customers and employees safe from greedy drug traffickers who favor profit over human lives.”
As alleged in this indictment, the defendants were members of the Lows criminal street gang, which has been in existence in Minneapolis since approximately 2004. The Lows are primarily active in the northside of Minneapolis. They allegedly traffic in firearms and narcotics, including fentanyl, and use threats, intimidation, and violence to protect their territory, reputation, illicit proceeds, and power.
The indictment charges that the defendants engaged in a pattern of racketeering — that is, unlawful acts of violence, gun trafficking, and narcotics trafficking — for the benefit of the Lows enterprise. These acts include seven alleged murders or attempted murders involving a total of ten victims.
The 11 defendants, all from Minneapolis, have been indicted for the following crimes:
Ashimiyu Alowonle II, 38, also known as Cash, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Timothy Callender III, 26, also known as Lil’ Tim, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Glenn Carter III, 23, also known as G5 and Bossman Carter, is charged with RICO conspiracy; using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death; and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Carter is charged with committing a murder on May 14, 2022, as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.
Victor Collins, 22, also known as Vic, is charged with RICO conspiracy; using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death; conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; and possessing a firearm a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Collins is charged with committing a murder and an attempted murder on Feb. 27 as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.
Damari Douglas, 20, also known as Mari, is charged with RICO conspiracy, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a machine gun. Douglas is charged with committing a murder on Dec. 3, 2023, as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.
Deontae Jackson, 35, also known as Leef, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Shannon Jackson, 32, also known as Shakedown, is charged with RICO conspiracy; using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death; conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jackson is charged with committing a murder on April 27, 2023, as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.
Robert Knights Jr., 19, also known as CMB Rob and Lil’ Rob, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Albert Lucas V, 20, also known as Abk Sav, is charged with RICO conspiracy; using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death; and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Lucas is charged with committing multiple murders and an attempted murder on Feb. 27 and May 6, 2021, as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.
Kaprice Richards, 23, also known as Kap, is charged with RICO conspiracy and using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death. Richards is charged with committing an attempted murder on May 29, 2022, and a murder on April 27, 2023, as racketeering acts in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.
Cartrelle Smith, 27, also known as Poo Moe, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
If convicted, the defendants face a range of penalties, including up to life in prison for racketeering conspiracy involving acts of murder, using a firearm to commit murder, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after the consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
ATF, FBI, DEA, IRS-CI, HSI, USPIS, Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Minnesota Department of Corrections are investigating the case, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.
Trial Attorney Jared Engelking of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garrett S. Fields and David M. Classen for the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
TAIPEI, Taiwan and MILPITAS, Calif., Oct. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Silicon Motion Technology Corporation (NasdaqGS: SIMO) (“Silicon Motion” or the “Company”), a global leader in designing and marketing NAND flash controllers for solid state storage devices, today announced, following a search process, that Jason Tsai, currently the Interim Chief Financial Officer and VP of Investor Relations and Finance of the Company, has been appointed the Chief Financial Officer, effective October 28, 2024. Mr. Tsai has served as our Interim CFO since April 25, 2024.
Wallace Kou, Chief Executive Officer of Silicon Motion, said, “Jason has made innumerable contributions to the strong performance of our finance team and the financial results of the Company in his previous roles as Interim CFO and VP of Investor Relations and Finance. After a six-month search, our Board unanimously resolved that with his long history with the Company and his in-depth knowledge of our business, our customers and our industry, Jason is the ideal choice to help align our long-term strategy with our strong financial performance and operational excellence in the years ahead.”
“I am excited for this opportunity to help Silicon Motion through its next chapter,” said Jason Tsai. “I believe that the Company is poised for significant growth as it extends its market leading position in its current markets and capitalize on its new and growing opportunities in the enterprise storage market.”
Jason has over 25 years of finance leadership experience in the semiconductor, hardware and software (SaaS) sectors. Prior to rejoining Silicon Motion last year, he held finance leadership positions at Zendesk and Synaptics and brings an extensive background in financial planning, treasury, capital markets, investor relations and strategic planning.
ABOUT SILICON MOTION:
We are the global leader in supplying NAND flash controllers for solid state storage devices. We supply more SSD controllers than any other company in the world for servers, PCs and other client devices and are the leading merchant supplier of eMMC and UFS embedded storage controllers used in smartphones, IoT devices and other applications. We also supply customized high-performance hyperscale data center and specialized industrial and automotive SSD solutions. Our customers include most of the NAND flash vendors, storage device module makers and leading OEMs. For further information on Silicon Motion, visit us at www.siliconmotion.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Although such statements are based on our own information and information from other sources we believe to be reliable, you should not place undue reliance on them. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual market trends or our actual results of operations, financial condition or business prospects may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the unpredictable volume and timing of customer orders, which are not fixed by contract but vary on a purchase order basis; the loss of one or more key customers or the significant reduction, postponement, rescheduling or cancellation of orders from one or more customers; general economic conditions or conditions in the semiconductor or consumer electronics markets; the impact of inflation on our business and customer’s businesses and any effect this has on economic activity in the markets in which we operate; the functionalities and performance of our information technology (“IT”) systems, which are subject to cybersecurity threats and which support our critical operational activities, and any breaches of our IT systems or those of our customers, suppliers, partners and providers of third-party licensed technology; the effects on our business and our customer’s business taking into account the ongoing U.S.-China tariffs and trade disputes; the uncertainties associated with any future global or regional pandemic; the continuing tensions between Taiwan and China including enhanced military activities; decreases in the overall average selling prices of our products; changes in the relative sales mix of our products; changes in our cost of finished goods; supply chain disruptions that have affected us and our industry as well as other industries on a global basis; the payment, or non-payment, of cash dividends in the future at the discretion of our board of directors and any announced planned increases in such dividends; changes in our cost of finished goods; the availability, pricing, and timeliness of delivery of other components and raw materials used in the products we sell given the current raw material supply shortages being experienced in our industry; our customers’ sales outlook, purchasing patterns, and inventory adjustments based on consumer demands and general economic conditions; any potential impairment charges that may be incurred related to businesses previously acquired or divested in the future; our ability to successfully develop, introduce, and sell new or enhanced products in a timely manner; and the timing of new product announcements or introductions by us or by our competitors. For additional discussion of these risks and uncertainties and other factors, please see the documents we file from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2024. Other than as required under the securities laws, we do not intend, and do not undertake any obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this press release.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced a St. Louis County man who was caught arranging for his illegally-possessed guns to be sold to 63 months in prison.
The sentence for James C. Street, 47, will run consecutive to pending probation violation cases in St. Louis and Jefferson counties.
Street pleaded guilty in July to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted that while a convicted felon and barred from possessing firearms, he possessed three pistols and an AR-style rifle.
The investigation began after the St. Louis County Police Department learned that Street, who was in jail at the time, was discussing the sale of his firearms. Police then contacted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Street sold a .357 magnum revolver through an intermediary, which was later recovered by law enforcement. Investigators learned Street was planning more sales. A court-approved search of the intermediary’s home recovered the remaining guns, as well as ammunition and large capacity magazines.
At the time, Street was on probation for multiple felony domestic offenses.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Goeke prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
HAMMOND- Markith Williams, age 39, of West Lafayette, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after a jury found him guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm following a two-day jury trial, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Williams was sentenced to 27 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on January 13, 2022, a traffic stop of Williams’ vehicle in Jasper County, Indiana, led to the recovery of a loaded semi-automatic pistol. Williams’ criminal history revealed that he had 3 prior Illinois felony convictions which included being a felon in possession of a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and delivery of cocaine, any one of which prohibited him from possessing the firearm in this case.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Hammond Police Department, and the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Patrick D. Grindlay and Assistant United States Attorney Kristian R. Mukoski.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A federal grand jury in Minneapolis returned an 18-count indictment yesterday against 11 alleged members of the Lows — a violent Minneapolis street gang — for crimes including Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy involving murder, attempted murder, gun trafficking, and drug trafficking.
“According to the indictment, these defendants are leaders, organizers, and members of the Lows street gang, a violent gang that allegedly committed multiple murders and attempted murders and trafficked in guns and drugs, including fentanyl,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Violent gangs that engage in bloody street wars and peddle deadly drugs endanger our communities. The Criminal Division, along with our local, state, and federal partners, is committed to holding violent criminals accountable, including by bringing racketeering charges.”
“The Lows are an exceptionally violent criminal street gang that has terrorized north Minneapolis for nearly 20 years. Through threats and violence — shootings and murders — the Lows have long sought to establish dominion over large swaths of our city,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger for the District of Minnesota. “My office will continue to respond to gang violence by treating it as the organized criminal activity it is. This indictment is an important step in dismantling a violent street gang that has devastated families and communities in north Minneapolis.”
“More than 100 people lose their lives to gun violence every day in the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) St. Paul Field Division. “There will never be a time where this will be considered acceptable. Our ATF agents put forth solid investigative work in this case utilizing crime gun intelligence that without a doubt aided the case announced today. ATF is happy to work alongside each of our partners in this investigation, and we are grateful to the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Luger, and the entire team for taking up this challenging RICO case.”
“The charges in this indictment reflect our unwavering commitment to bringing violent criminals to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office. “For too long, the Lows have inflicted pain and spread fear in north Minneapolis. Together with our law enforcement partners, we are determined to remove this threat from our communities and help restore a sense of security to all who call this city home.”
“Today’s indictment provides a stark reminder that violence and drug trafficking go hand-in-hand,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven T. Bell of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division. “These were not victimless crimes. Communities were hurt. The DEA will continue its unwavering focus to remove threats of violence and hold accountable the individuals responsible for inflicting fear on the streets of Minneapolis.”
“The individuals named in this indictment allegedly engaged in homicide, and illegal drug and firearms trafficking, which created an atmosphere of terror and disrupted countless lives in this community,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ramsey E. Covington of the IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Chicago Field Office. “These charges represent a pivotal milestone in our commitment to restore safety and uphold justice in the communities we serve. Working with their federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, IRS-CI special agents will continue to follow every financial trail to dismantle the networks fueling these criminal enterprises. We stand united against the violence and fear that street gangs have inflicted upon our communities in Minneapolis and elsewhere.”
“The Lows, and criminal organizations like them, wreak havoc on our communities, threatening the safety of our communities on a daily basis through their many acts of violence, murder, and narcotics and firearms trafficking,” said Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul. “HSI St. Paul will continue to foster a strong collaboration with our law enforcement partners to bring an end to the chaos these criminal organizations inflict on our local communities.”
“This multi-count indictment against ranking members of the Lows gang is an excellent example of multiple law enforcement agencies combining their expertise and resources to conduct investigations with the common goal of taking down violent leaders perpetuating street violence involving guns and narcotics,” said Inspector in Charge Bryan Musgrove of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Denver Division. “These RICO charges aim to remove these allegedly violent offenders from our community. U.S. Postal Inspectors are committed to continuing our work to dismantle drug trafficking operations to keep USPS customers and employees safe from greedy drug traffickers who favor profit over human lives.”
As alleged in this indictment, the defendants were members of the Lows criminal street gang, which has been in existence in Minneapolis since approximately 2004. The Lows are primarily active in the northside of Minneapolis. They allegedly traffic in firearms and narcotics, including fentanyl, and use threats, intimidation, and violence to protect their territory, reputation, illicit proceeds, and power.
The indictment charges that the defendants engaged in a pattern of racketeering — that is, unlawful acts of violence, gun trafficking, and narcotics trafficking — for the benefit of the Lows enterprise. These acts include seven alleged murders or attempted murders involving a total of ten victims.
The 11 defendants, all from Minneapolis, have been indicted for the following crimes:
Ashimiyu Alowonle II, 38, also known as Cash, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Timothy Callender III, 26, also known as Lil’ Tim, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Glenn Carter III, 23, also known as G5 and Bossman Carter, is charged with RICO conspiracy; using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death; and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Carter is charged with committing a murder on May 14, 2022, as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.
Victor Collins, 22, also known as Vic, is charged with RICO conspiracy; using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death; conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; and possessing a firearm a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Collins is charged with committing a murder and an attempted murder on Feb. 27 as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.
Damari Douglas, 20, also known as Mari, is charged with RICO conspiracy, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a machine gun. Douglas is charged with committing a murder on Dec. 3, 2023, as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.
Deontae Jackson, 35, also known as Leef, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Shannon Jackson, 32, also known as Shakedown, is charged with RICO conspiracy; using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death; conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jackson is charged with committing a murder on April 27, 2023, as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.
Robert Knights Jr., 19, also known as CMB Rob and Lil’ Rob, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Albert Lucas V, 20, also known as Abk Sav, is charged with RICO conspiracy; using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death; and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Lucas is charged with committing multiple murders and an attempted murder on Feb. 27 and May 6, 2021, as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.
Kaprice Richards, 23, also known as Kap, is charged with RICO conspiracy and using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death. Richards is charged with committing an attempted murder on May 29, 2022, and a murder on April 27, 2023, as racketeering acts in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.
Cartrelle Smith, 27, also known as Poo Moe, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
If convicted, the defendants face a range of penalties, including up to life in prison for racketeering conspiracy involving acts of murder, using a firearm to commit murder, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after the consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
ATF, FBI, DEA, IRS-CI, HSI, USPIS, Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Minnesota Department of Corrections are investigating the case, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.
Trial Attorney Jared Engelking of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garrett S. Fields and David M. Classen for the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Working together to enhance community safety in Hobart
Thursday, 31 October 2024 – 9:57 am.
Tasmania Police and City of Hobart council staff have again collaborated to conduct a public safety operation in Hobart’s CBD. Inspector John Toohey said the effort conducted last night demonstrated an ongoing united approach to community safety and security, after a successful operation in July. “Last night our combined resources, including Hobart Police, Taskforce Saturate, and the Dog Handler Unit, worked alongside City of Hobart staff to monitor CCTV in real-time and provide an enhanced response capability,” he said. “As a result of the operation, five arrests were made, two summonses issued, one person was referred to the drug diversion process, two will be dealt with under the Youth Justice Act and three people were issued infringement notices.” “Offences included breaching a police family violence order, breach of a restraint order, stealing, breaching bail, possess a controlled drug or plant, possess thing used to administer a controlled drug, possess an open container of liquor, possess a dangerous article and possess ammunition when not the holder of a firearm licence.” “These collaborative efforts are crucial in ensuring Hobart continues to be a safe and enjoyable place for everyone.” “We encourage all community members to support this initiative by staying vigilant and reporting any incidents to police.” Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds highlighted the importance of the City’s collaboration with Tasmania Police in promoting community safety, following similar successful operations in Wellington Court and at Salamanca. “Our aim is to make Hobart’s CBD and surrounding areas safe, welcoming, and vibrant, supporting businesses and ensuring everyone enjoys the city,” Cr Reynolds said. “With our partnership with Tasmania Police, we’re building a strong community and instilling confidence. “This safety blitz is a proactive way to enhance Hobart’s atmosphere, and we’re committed to creating a harmonious public space.” “We encourage everyone to support this effort by staying aware, reporting incidents, and looking out for one another. “Together, we can keep Hobart safe and enjoyable for all.” Results: A 32-year-old man was arrested and charged with breaching a Police Family Violence Order and breach of bail, he was detained for court. A 15-year-old girl was arrested for breaching a restraint order and stealing, she has been released and summonsed. A 14-year-old girl was arrested and charged with stealing; she was bailed to appear. A 16-year-old girl was arrested and charged with stealing; she was bailed to appear. A 56-year-old man was taken into custody for public intoxication, he will be released when sober. A 24-year-old man will be summonsed for possess thing used for the administration of a controlled drug. A 20-year-old man will be summonsed for possess ammunition when not the holder of a firearm licence and possess a controlled weapon, namely pepper spray. A 37-year-old man has been referred to the drug diversion process after being found in possession of a controlled drug, namely LSD. A 35-year-old man was issued a liquor infringement notice for possessing an open container of liquor in a public place. A 23-year-old man was issued a liquor infringement notice for possessing an open container of liquor in a public place. A 17-year-old girl will be dealt with under the Youth Justices Act for possess thing used for the administration of a controlled drug. A 14-year-old girl will be dealt with under the Youth Justices Act after being found in possession of a controlled drug, namely cannabis. 17 formal directions to leave the CBD were also issued.
Source: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
The ACCC has commenced proceedings in the Federal Court alleging that Optus Mobile Pty Ltd (Optus) engaged in unconscionable conduct in contravention of the Australian Consumer Law when selling telecommunications goods and services to hundreds of consumers, that they often did not want or need, and in some cases then pursuing consumers for debts resulting from these sales.
Many of these consumers were experiencing vulnerability and/or disadvantage, such as living with a mental disability, diminished cognitive capacity or learning difficulties, being financially dependent or unemployed, or having limited financial and legal literacy.
Many of the impacted consumers were First Nations Australians from regional and remote areas or people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
“We allege Optus’ conduct disproportionately impacted consumers experiencing vulnerability and/or disadvantage, and that these practices were incentivised by the commission-based remuneration for sales staff. In some cases, we allege Optus took steps to protect its own financial interests by clawing back commissions to sales staff but failed to remediate affected consumers,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.
“This case concerns allegations of very serious conduct, as our case is that Optus sold goods to consumers experiencing vulnerability which they did not need, did not want and could not afford.”
“We also allege that Optus’ unconscionable conduct continued after management became aware of deficiencies in its systems that were being exploited by sales staff, and despite this, failed to implement fixes,” Ms Cass Gottlieb said.
Alleged conduct
The ACCC’s case against Optus involves allegations that Optus acted unconscionably in its dealings with about 429 consumers by engaging in inappropriate sales conduct and/or pursuing consumers for debts, including when it knew contracts were created fraudulently.
The conduct included Optus allegedly putting undue pressure on some of these consumers to purchase a large number of products, including expensive phones and accessories, and not undertaking coverage checks to inform the consumer whether they would have Optus coverage where they lived.
It is alleged that Optus engaged debt collectors to pursue many of these consumers, despite knowing that they were subject to inappropriate or fraudulent sales conduct.
The alleged conduct involves 363 consumers from two Optus Darwin stores, 42 consumers from the Optus Mount Isa store and 24 individual consumers from store locations across Australia.
“We are taking this action against Optus and seeking consumer redress in relation to the hundreds of consumers affected by this alleged unconscionable conduct,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.
The ACCC began its investigation after receiving a referral from the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman about concerns regarding Optus’ sales practices to consumers experiencing vulnerability and/or disadvantage.
The ACCC is seeking declarations and orders for penalties, non-party consumer redress, publication orders, a compliance program, and costs.
Optus’ Darwin stores conduct
The ACCC alleges unconscionable conduct at Optus’ two licensee-operated stores in Darwin, where nearly all staff allegedly engaged in inappropriate sales conduct, encouraged by senior store management, during a two-year period to June 2023. The conduct included not carrying out coverage checks, despite some of the 363 impacted consumers being First Nations Australians from regional, remote and very remote parts of the Northern Territory where there was no Optus coverage available.
The ACCC’s allegations include that Optus staff manipulated credit checks, oversold and overpriced accessories, and sold consumers phones and plans they could not afford at the Darwin stores.
Optus’ Mount Isa store conduct
The ACCC also alleges Optus acted unconscionably by pursuing debts for at least 42 consumers from Mount Isa and remote areas of the Northern Territory, despite some senior executives knowing that those debts related to contracts for goods and services which were fraudulently created by a staff member at a licensee-operated Optus store in Mount Isa, without the knowledge of the affected consumers.
Optus’ conduct to individual consumers
The ACCC alleges Optus acted unconscionably in its dealings with 24 individual consumers by engaging in inappropriate sales conduct. This included by applying undue pressure and inducing the consumers to purchase a large number of goods and services.
The alleged conduct includes claims that sales staff manipulated credit check results without the consumers’ knowledge to sell goods and services that they could not afford, while failing to explain the terms and conditions of contracts in an understandable manner. Despite knowing about this alleged conduct, Optus pursued debt collection activities in many cases, and referred and sold the consumers’ debts to third party debt collection agencies.
In relation to four of these consumers, the ACCC also claims that Optus made false, misleading or deceptive representations that particular goods were ‘free’ when that was not in fact the case.
“Many consumers suffered financial harm, incurring thousands of dollars of debt and non-financial harm, such as shame, fear, and emotional distress about the debts or being pursued by debt collectors,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.
“Thankfully many consumers were supported by financial counsellors, carers and other advocates who gave their time and effort to support consumers to eventually seek resolution of Optus’ conduct.”
“We will take appropriate enforcement action against breaches of the Australian Consumer Law, and we pay particular attention to conduct that disproportionately impacts consumers who are experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage.”
An example of the alleged conduct includes a person living with an intellectual disability which impacts their ability to speak and understand financial matters went into an Optus store and was sold an expensive phone, a business phone contract under a false ABN, a new NBN internet plan and accessories, though their disability was evident to Optus staff. The person did not want or need the majority of these items, and was upset and embarrassed about the unwanted and expensive items they were sold. When the person’s representative went to the store to return the items, the Optus staff refused to cancel the contracts and it was only through the intervention of a financial counsellor that Optus cancelled the contracts.
Background
Optus is Australia’s second largest telecommunications provider. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singtel Optus Pty Ltd, a foreign owned private company.
In Australia, Optus’ stores are either:
owned and operated directly by Optus RetailCo Pty Ltd; or
owned and operated through third party licensees, through Retail License Agreements. For example, all Optus stores in the Adelaide region are owned and operated by Mavaya Pty Ltd, and all Optus stores in the Northern Territory, as well as several in regional Queensland, are owned and operated by Suntel Communications Pty Ltd.
The ACCC has commenced this proceeding with a Statement of Claim. The document available via the link contains the introduction section of the ACCC’s Statement of Claim in relation to this matter, which contains a summary of the ACCC’s case. We will not be uploading further documents.
Distinguished Member of Operations Staff Is Busy Making the World a Better Place
Suzy DiMont is a force to be reckoned with.
Suzy DiMont. Photo by Werner Slocum, NREL
Since she was hired at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in 2014, the Energy and Sustainability manager has evolved from an intern to a program manager and integral member of the Women’s Network Employee Resource Group (ERG). On the Intelligent Campus team, she is involved with all things sustainability, including the annual commuter survey, Site Sustainability Plan, and climate resilience planning and was also a key contributor to the NREL Smart Labs initiative, which NREL uses to meet sustainability goals.
DiMont is actively engaged in her community and is always looking for ways to give back. Annually, she participates in the Bike MS NREL team ride to raise funds for multiple sclerosis (MS) research. As a member of the Women’s Network, she regularly mentors NREL peers and helps enable pathways for the professional advancement of women.
Earlier this year, DiMont was named a Distinguished Member of Operations Staff for her “dedication to advancing NREL’s mission and making meaningful strides toward a sustainable and clean energy future.” As a member of the Intelligent Campus Program, she is the primary point of contact with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Golden Field Office and manages NREL’s electric vehicle supply equipment rollout and cost recovery program and NREL’s energy and water utility billing.
When asked if she ever gets time to rest amid numerous projects, leadership roles, and community engagement activities, DiMont responded, “I do rest, I do rest. Well, I have a toddler now, so I don’t rest.”
Then, always finding a way to make others shine, DiMont said, “It’s not just me doing it. I couldn’t do it by myself. I work with a lot of really great people all over the lab.”
During her decade at the laboratory, DiMont has collaborated with diverse groups across NREL and is constantly getting involved with new projects related to sustainability. Although this line of work may seem custom fit, her path from student to educator to engineer to Sustainability manager was far from linear.
Suzy DiMont, husband Neil, and Kosol Kiatreungwattana on their first Bike MS Ride. Photo by Suzy DiMont, NREL
A Lifelong Love for Learning
As a child, DiMont did not long to settle into a perfect career. Instead, her innate curiosity sparked a desire to learn and participate in as many activities as possible.
“I don’t know if I ever really had a dream that I wanted to work,” DiMont said. “I always had a dream that I wanted to learn. I really liked school, I liked all topics, I liked everything. Math, reading, art, history, science—I wanted to do all of it.”
DiMont’s desire to be a well-rounded learner drew her to a liberal arts education at Hamilton College in New York.
At Hamilton, she explored a variety of majors—psychology, art, French, and archeology—before landing on anthropology and mathematics.
Her first job after college was teaching math at the Solebury Boarding School in Pennsylvania. The role was intimidating because, although DiMont was a lifelong learner, she had no practice developing formal lesson plans for grade schoolers. She learned how to write tests that were appropriately challenging for students and experienced the joys of being a dorm mom for the girls on campus. DiMont also realized teaching was not her calling.
After leaving Solebury, DiMont joined AmeriCorps, an independent U.S. government agency focused on service and volunteerism, and began working for the “I Have a Dream” Foundation. DiMont worked with students at under-resourced schools on dropout prevention and helped the students, known as “dreamers,” realize their aspirations and connected them with support.
One of DiMont’s former dreamers, Anakary Valenzuela, is now a business support administrative associate for NREL’s Mechanical and Thermal Engineering Sciences (MTES) directorate. She remembers meeting DiMont as a sophomore at Centaurus High School in Lafayette, Colorado.
Valenzuela had been a dreamer since second grade and was all too familiar with the influx of AmeriCorps members who served for a year then moved onto the next opportunity. DiMont was different. She stayed with the program for three years—long enough to see the cohort of students graduate high school—and she took a genuine interest in the lives of students she mentored.
When Anakary Valenzuela was a student, the “I Have a Dream” Foundation hosted an event to celebrate high school graduation. Photo from Casie Zalud Photography
“She was the best AmeriCorp we ever had,” Valenzuela said. “I would go to her for advice. She would mentor me. [She was] my counselor, my friend. She would always stay extra hours to talk to us if it had to do with homework or college prep or advising us on what type of college we should go to or major [we should declare]. And then she would drive us home.”
Their friendship extended well beyond Valenzuela’s high school graduation as DiMont informally mentored Valenzuela throughout college and encouraged her to apply at NREL. After Valenzuela was hired, DiMont encouraged her to get involved with the Women’s Network and Hispanic and Latinx Alliance and invited her to ERG meetings and dinners to make friends and build her network.
“She inspires me to do more. I feel like I am part of her family,” Valenzuela said. “I can always count on her, she’s always been there. I don’t know how she does everything, but I’m so grateful that we crossed paths in this lifetime.”
From Educator to Engineer
During her three years with AmeriCorps, DiMont realized she could pursue her dual loves for mathematics and community engagement with a career in engineering. Working with low-income students exposed disparities in the lack of access to civil infrastructure. She saw engineering as a way to make infrastructure and transportation equitable for all.
DiMont enrolled in the Engineering and Developing Communities graduate program at the University of Colorado (CU) Boulder. DiMont got involved in the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, known as the RASEI program, now a joint program between NREL and CU Boulder.
The university was DiMont’s introduction to NREL, via one of the laboratory’s vocal supporters: former NREL research technician Marc Landry.
“What an incredible human,” DiMont said. “He would not stop talking about NREL and what a wonderful place it was … an unbelievable mind.”
During one of the first events DiMont attended as an intern in 2014, Xcel Energy awarded NREL the Self-Direct Achievement Award. Photo from Suzy DiMont, NREL
During graduate school, DiMont pondered a career in international development work. She and her then boyfriend, now husband, traveled to Bolivia with a South Dakota Engineers Without Borders program to participate in a water development project. Although the work was important, she felt it was better to stay in Boulder.
“To do international development work well, you have to be part of that community, and you have to invest in that community and spend time there and be there,” DiMont said. “You can’t just swoop in with technology. It’s not kind; it’s not effective.”
After hearing Landry sing NREL’s praises for so many years, DiMont decided to apply for a sustainability internship at NREL.
‘Sustainability Is a Marathon, not a Sprint’
As DiMont evolved from an intern into her current role, much of her work folded into the Intelligent Campus program, which leverages NREL campuses to advance research and achieve operational excellence by deploying cutting-edge control and analytics technology. Or in DiMont’s words, her job “sits at the intersection of research and making things happen.”
She focuses on creating programs and strategies to implement changes regarding energy efficiency, the kind of energy NREL uses, and getting to net zero. However, DiMont acknowledged that “sustainability is a marathon, not a sprint.” For NREL to achieve its sustainability goals, the right folks—including researchers, subject matter experts, communicators, and technicians—need to come together and stay excited about work ahead.
“A lot of what we do won’t have an impact for a while. That’s why it’s important to keep a generational lens,” DiMont said. “It’s not always easy, but having a great team makes it possible. They can commiserate with you, they support you, they back you up.”
The NREL Waste Reduction and Pollution Prevention Team was recognized for a DOE Sustainability Award in 2016. Right to left: Ali Mohagheghi, Kenneth Proc, Kevin Donovan, Ellen Fortier, Laura Justice, Nancy Stovall, Laurie Snyder, Suzy DiMont and Susan Chadwick. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL
Making the World a Better Place for All
When it comes to making the world a better place, for DiMont, that starts with making NREL a better place. As an early member of the Women’s Network, Suzy advocates for diversity in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). The Women’s Network is one of NREL’s 11 ERGs and provides a platform for promoting women in leadership and the workforce.
“I think the Women’s Network is so important, because there is still, especially in research in STEM, so much discrimination against women, people of color, women with intersectional identities, folks that are marginalized in some way,” DiMont said.
For many, the biggest hurdle is staying in a career field if you see few people who look like you or share your experiences.
“It’s a huge loss, because these are the fields where we need a diversity of thought, people that don’t see the world the same way, that think about problems differently, people that lead differently,” DiMont said. “You need that diversity in a field where you’re looking for innovation and new things. To reach everyone on the planet, you must have that diversity to be successful.”
During her tenure at NREL, DiMont has witnessed major changes in the ways NREL promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion and credits much of this change to NREL’s women in leadership, such as Bobi Garrett, NREL’s former chief operating officer, and Julie Baker, deputy laboratory director for Laboratory Operations.
Suzy DiMont and her child Sebastian. Photo from Suzy DiMont, NREL
“It’s incredible to be around these powerful women,” DiMont said. “It’s very inspiring.”
As a mother, DiMont wants to make the world a better place for her child. Living in a world impacted by climate change causes many to feel anxious and depressed about the future. For DiMont, knowing that humans caused climate change means humans are also part of the solution. She hopes to impart this optimism onto the next generation.
“I want my child to live in a world where he sees engineers and expects them to be women,” DiMont said. “I want him to feel like he has agency and can be part of these solutions.”
It is a lot of work and the job is not easy, but for DiMont, making the world better for the next generation is what it is all about.
“When do I rest?” DiMont asked. “I’ve got this time to do what I can do with it. I put in my energy when I can, then I unplug. I unplug and put my energy in other places. It’s just about being present for the things you are doing in that moment.”
Learn more about NREL’s commitments to sustainability and resilience.
Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) welcomed a combined $4,570,920 for two projects in New Mexico from the U.S. Department of Transportation to strengthen the nation’s supply chain, reduce costs, and grow New Mexico’s economy.
$4,000,000 will help San Juan County and the Navajo Nation complete the planning for a proposed freight rail line connecting Farmington and Gallup.
$570,920 will help the City of Clovis enhance safety and reduce traffic delays at two railway crossings.
“Thanks to our Infrastructure Law, we’re delivering the funds needed to kick-start planning for a freight rail line from Farmington to Gallup and improve railway crossings in Clovis. Combined, these investments will strengthen our nation’s supply chain, grow local economies, lower transportation costs, create high-quality jobs New Mexicans can build their families around, and improve safety for our communities,” said Heinrich. “I’m pleased to welcome these federal investments, and I remain committed to securing more investments to connect rural communities to the abundant opportunities ahead.”
“Across our state, New Mexicans rely daily on our railways for travel and to keep our economy running,” saidLuján. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this $4.5+ million in federal funding will deliver much-needed railway safety enhancements in Clovis and help construct a new rail line within the Navajo Nation to expand regional rail service in Northwestern New Mexico. I’m proud to welcome these two grants that will both boost railway service and drive economic development for Clovis, the Navajo Nation, and their surrounding communities. I will continue to fight to bring federal dollars home to New Mexico to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of passenger and freight rail.”
“Every time I go to the Four Corners, local leaders emphasize the importance of connecting the region with rail. The Four Corners area is a major economic center of our state, and the funding we’re announcing today is the beginning of our work to make sure our rail infrastructure is ready to meet that potential across San Juan and McKinley Counties,” said Leger Fernández. “I am happy that this funding also includes improvements to safety and efficiency of freight in Clovis. With the support of the CRISI program, we can begin the critical work needed to build stronger connections and drive growth in rural New Mexico.”
“I am thrilled about the recent allocation of two significant federal grants from the Federal Railroad Administration’s CRISI program, which will greatly enhance rail safety and connectivity in New Mexico,” saidStansbury. “These two grants reflect our commitment to investing in infrastructure prioritizing safety and economic growth. I am grateful for the support from the Federal Railroad Administration and look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition as we work together to build a safer New Mexico!”
“Federal investments like this bring vital safety and economic benefits to communities across New Mexico. With this funding, we’re improving railway safety, cutting down delays, and connecting New Mexicans to opportunities that drive economic growth and quality jobs,” saidVasquez. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are building a stronger, safer transportation network. I’m proud to welcome this funding to bring more jobs and opportunities to our rural communities.”
“The award of grant funding takes a prospective freight rail line study further than any study in the past and is further proof of the importance of collaboration between tribal, local, state, and federal partners to open doors to economic opportunities. We are appreciative of assistance from New Mexico’s federal delegation and excited for future economic growth opportunities in San Juan County and the Four Corners region,” saidJohn T. Beckstead, San Juan County Commission Chairman.
“The Federal CRISI Grant brings San Juan County and the City of Farmington one step closer to having competitive transportation and economic development. This is an important step in growing our regional economy,” said Tim Gibbs, Four Corner Economic Development CEO.
The grants are awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, which provides funding for projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail. The CRISI Program received significant, additional investments from the Infrastructure Law – legislation passed by Democrats in the N.M. Congressional Delegation.
The N.M. Delegation sent a letter of support to the U.S. Department of Transportation supporting the grant for San Juan County that is being announced today. This grant will prepare the Four Corners Rail Project for final design proposals and planning.
In May 2020, Heinrich and Luján wrote a letter of support for San Juan County’s application for a Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant, which applicants of the CRISI Program are required to be approved for.
Members of the N.M. Delegation sent a letter of support to the U.S. Department of Transportation urging the support of the grant for the City of Clovis that is being announced today. This grant will enhance safety and reduce traffic delays at two railway crossings including modifications to the Norris Street railroad crossing and construction of a new grade-separated crossing at MLK Jr. Boulevard.
Below is a breakdown of the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration funding:
Project Name
Recipient
Award Amount
Project Description
Clovis, N.M. Corridor Improvement Project
City of Clovis
$ 570,920
The proposed project was selected for Project Development and includes activities for one grade crossing separation and improvements to a second at-grade crossing along the BNSF Railway line in Clovis, New Mexico. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety and improving system and service performance as the project will reduce blocked crossings. The City of Clovis and BNSF Railway will contribute the 53 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural Areas.
Four Corners Freight Rail Project
San Juan County
$ 4,000,000
The proposed project was selected for Project Development and includes activities to develop a new rail line to connect the Farmington, New Mexico Area to the BNSF Railway corridor near Gallup across San Juan County and McKinley County, New Mexico. The proposed project is a partnership between San Juan County, the Navajo Nation, and the New Mexico Department of Transportation, and most of the project is located within the Navajo Nation. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing resilience and improving system and service performance as the project will provide a viable freight transportation modal alternative to highway trucking, opportunities to simplify the supply chain, and enable new, rail-dependent economic development opportunities thereby imparting benefits to the Navajo Nation and surrounding communities. San Juan County will contribute the 20 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural Areas.
For more information from San Juan County on the proposed Four Corners Rail Project, please click here.
Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
PHOTOS/VIDEOS
CLOVIS, N.M. — Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) participated in a groundbreaking ceremony to begin construction on a new 21,000 square foot terminal at Clovis Regional Airport (CVN). The new terminal at Clovis Regional Airport is fully funded by a $15.7 million grant and a $3.5 million grant from the Infrastructure Law — legislation passed by Democrats in the N.M. Congressional Delegation — and a Heinrich-led $3.5 million Congressionally Directed Spending award that is advancing in the Fiscal Year 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill that passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee in July.
These three investments, totaling $22,700,000, are making it possible for Clovis to complete the new terminal.
The terminal at Clovis Regional Airport will better connect the community, improve travelers’ experiences, create high-quality jobs, and grow local economies across New Mexico.
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) speaks at a groundbreaking ceremony to begin construction on a new terminal at Clovis Regional Airport (CVN), October 29, 2024.
“When we invest in New Mexico’s airports, we invest in the people who rely on these facilities to do business in our state, create jobs, and contribute to our economy,” said Heinrich. “I am proud to have secured funding from the Infrastructure Law to fully construct Clovis Regional Airport’s new terminal and I will keep fighting to secure more investments to improve airports all across New Mexico — improving travelers’ experiences, creating high quality jobs New Mexicans can build their families around, and driving our state’s economic growth for the future.”
“Thanks to our work on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this $22 million investment will create good jobs, connect families across the region, and drive economic vitality for communities across eastern New Mexico,” said Leger Fernández. “Today’s groundbreaking at the Clovis Regional Airport gets us closer to connecting eastern New Mexico to new economic opportunities and supporting the region’s growth. This new terminal isn’t just about creating a strong foundation for the future of Clovis — it’s about creating a strong foundation for the future of eastern New Mexico. I also want to thank Senator Heinrich for his leadership as he champions rural projects like this one in the Senate Appropriations Committee.”
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) participate in a groundbreaking ceremony to begin construction on a new terminal at Clovis Regional Airport (CVN), October 29, 2024.
The Infrastructure Law is delivering billions of dollars in historic infrastructure investments to New Mexico.
The Infrastructure Law is set to invest $4.3 billion in formula funding alone for at least 337 vital projects in New Mexico. Some of the projects and priorities that have already received federal funding from the Infrastructure Law include:
$1.8 billion for New Mexico’s roads and bridges.
$379 million over five years, based on formula funding, for New Mexico’s public transit. To date, New Mexico has been allocated $147.2 million to improve public transportation options across the state in Fiscal Year 2022.
$710 million for clean drinking water in New Mexico.
$362.3 million for infrastructure resilience, including $23.4 million through the Army Corps of Engineers for flood mitigation in New Mexico.
$160 million, the first installment of funding from the Infrastructure Law, to support the completion of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System pipeline in Eastern New Mexico.
$3 billion across Indian Country to help Tribes deploy broadband infrastructure.
$52.4 million for capping orphaned oil and gas wells and reclaiming abandoned mine lands and $20.7 million has been allocated to cleaning up Superfund and Brownfield sites across New Mexico.
$38 million over five years, based on formula funding, to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state.
$74.9 million for clean energy, energy efficiency, and power in New Mexico.
$50 million for airports across New Mexico.
$33 million for clean and low emission buses in New Mexico.
The Infrastructure Law is also helping 173,000 New Mexico households save on broadband. For eligibility on internet programs, visit GetInternet.gov.
For more information, click here to see a map of funding and announced projects in New Mexico through the Infrastructure Law.
Find a fact sheet of the investments New Mexico has received through the Infrastructure Law here.
Senior officer terminated following Professional Standards investigation
Wednesday, 30 October 2024 – 5:00 pm.
A senior police officer’s employment has been formally terminated following an extensive Professional Standards investigation into internal complaints of sexual misconduct at a Christmas function with colleagues in Hobart in December 2023. The officer, an inspector of police, was dismissed under section 30(1) of the Police Service Act 2003, which determines that a commissioned officer can be terminated if the Commissioner does not have confidence in their suitability to continue as a police officer. Commissioner Donna Adams said that Tasmania Police was committed to delivering a policing service in line with our Values of Accountability, Integrity, Respect and Support. “The Tasmanian community has high expectations of its policing service, and we are entrusted with significant powers to perform our duties to keep people safe. The conduct of every police officer can impact on the community’s confidence in police to deliver this service,” she said.
Cumberland District RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 31-year-old Matthew Eugene Bishop. He was last seen at approximately 7:30 p.m. on October 29; he’s believed to have been involved in a collision on Hwy. 104 in Westchester Valley.
Bishop has brown hair and blue eyes. He’s approximately 5’7″ tall, 135 pounds. No clothing description is available.
When someone goes missing, it has deep and far-reaching impacts for the person and those who know them. We ask that people spread the word through social media respectfully.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Matthew Bishop is asked to contact Cumberland District RCMP at 902-667-3859. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.
Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
Las Vegas, Nev. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) applauded that the State of Nevada will receive more than $47 million from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to upgrade Nevada’s water infrastructure. The grants will fund projects in Nevada that manage wastewater, protect freshwater resources, and deliver safe drinking water to homes, schools, and businesses.
“All Nevadans deserve access to clean, safe drinking water, and I’m proud to see these funds coming to Nevada to make critical improvements to our water infrastructure,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’ll continue working in the Senate to deliver essential resources to protect our water supply for generations to come.”
“All Nevadans deserve access to clean water, which is why I’ve been working across party lines to make historic investments to improve our water infrastructure,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to announce millions of dollars to protect our water supply and deliver safe drinking water for families, communities, and Tribes in Nevada.”
The funding comes from two EPA grants. Nearly $26 million will support updates to Nevada’s water infrastructure secured through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen helped pass. More than $21 million comes through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to ensure communities across the country have access to clean water and updated water infrastructure.
Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen worked to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to create good-paying jobs and upgrade Nevada’s infrastructure, including the state’s water infrastructure. They recently announced $10 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to enhance the safety and functionality of the Marlette Lake Dam. They secured $30 million from the Bureau of Reclamation for the Truckee Meadow Water Authority to make Northern Nevada’s water supply more drought resilient. Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen also fought for the passage of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act, which will improve water infrastructure in the Tahoe Basin.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by Dr the Hon Ngan Man-yu and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (October 30):
Question:
It has been reported that the sales activities of duty-not-paid cigarettes (illicit cigarettes) have become increasingly rampant in recent years. Lawbreakers have employed adolescents with little life experience to distribute illicit cigarette leaflets, commonly known as “dim sum sheets”, in public housing estates, and there are even “cheap whites promotion teams” wearing tops printed with the brand names of “cheap whites” (i.e. illicit cigarettes packaged in the same way as duty-paid cigarettes) to promote illicit cigarettes to smokers in busy areas. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the following information on illicit cigarette cases intercepted at source by the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) in the past three years: the number of such cases, the number of persons involved in such cases, and the market value of the illicit cigarettes involved; what measures the authorities have put in place to step up efforts to intercept at source the smuggling of illicit cigarettes into Hong Kong;
(2) of the following information on the law enforcement operations conducted by C&ED to combat illicit cigarette activities in the past three years: the number of such operations, the number of cases detected, the number and dutiable value of the illicit cigarettes seized, the number and age distribution of persons arrested (with a breakdown by seller and buyer), and the penalty imposed on the convicted persons;
(3) regarding the recruitment of young people by lawbreakers to promote illicit cigarettes, whether C&ED and the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health have received the related reports, and of the relevant follow-up situations; what measures C&ED and TACO have put in place to prevent young people from participating in the promotional and trafficking activities of illicit cigarettes;
(4) as it has been reported that lawbreakers have set up websites to advertise illicit cigarettes on the Internet, and to advertise and sell illicit cigarettes through social media platforms and instant messaging applications (e.g. Facebook, Instagram and Telegram), what measures C&ED and TACO have put in place to intercept such advertising and sales activities, and whether it has assessed the effectiveness of such measures;
(5) of the total number of reports on suspected illicit cigarette activities received by C&ED through its 24-hour hotline, dedicated crime-reporting email account or online form in the past three years, and the relevant follow-up situations; and
(6) whether C&ED and TACO have considered, by drawing reference from the policy on combating abuses of public housing, setting up a financial reward mechanism for reporting to encourage members of the public to report the sale of illicit cigarettes, so as to reduce the promotional and trafficking activities of illicit cigarettes in public housing estates?
Reply:
President,
Tobacco products are dutiable commodities. Tobacco duty is payable by importers or manufacturers according to the specified rates under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109). To protect Government revenue, the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) has been combating smuggling and trading of illicit cigarettes on different fronts. As for matters relating to tobacco control, they are mainly enforced by the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health according to the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371).
Upon consultation with the Health Bureau, the consolidated reply to the question is as follows:
(1) C&ED has been closely monitoring the control points and illicit cigarettes activities in the city closely, and has strengthened intelligence exchange with the Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies with a view to intercepting illicit cigarettes at source. The relevant numbers on interception of illicit cigarettes at various control points by C&ED from January 2021 to September 2024 are set out below:
Year Number of cases Number of persons arrested Number of illicit cigarettes seized (million) Estimated market value ($million)
Note 1: The significant increase in the number of cases and arrests as compared with 2022 is mainly due to the large increase in the number of incoming passengers intercepted at control points for possessing tobacco products exceeding the duty-free quantity after the full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland.
(2) From January 2021 to September 2024, C&ED has conducted 11 large-scale special operations to combat illicit cigarette activities at various control points, as well as telephone-ordering activities for or distribution of flyers of illicit cigarettes at public rental housing estates (PRH). In addition, C&ED has been closely monitoring the latest development in the market and strengthened intelligence gathering. If a retailer is found to be selling duty-not-paid cigarettes, C&ED will take resolute enforcement actions. The enforcement figures of C&ED in combating illicit cigarettes through various channels (including daily inspections, interception at various control points, large-scale special operations, etc.) from January 2021 to September 2024 are set out below:
Year Number of cases Number of persons arrested Number of illicit cigarettes seized (million) Estimated market value ($million) Duty payable ($million)
Note 2: The significant increase in the number of cases and arrests as compared with 2022 is mainly due to the large increase in the number of incoming passengers intercepted at control points for possessing tobacco products exceeding the duty-free quantity after the full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland, and the seven large-scale special operations conducted by C&ED in 2023 and 2024.
The number of arrested persons involved in buying or selling illicit cigarettes from January 2021 to September 2024 are set out below:
Year Arrested persons Age distribution
Sellers Buyers Total 20 or below 21 to 40 41 to 60 61 or above
2021 259 206 465 13 99 172 181
2022 117 301 418 26 98 165 129
2023 185 401 586 28 145 222 191
2024 (Up to September) 244 262 506 15 86 207 198
During the above period, the penalties imposed by the court on illicit cigarette cases ranged from a minimum of $200 (involving 200 illicit cigarettes) to a maximum of imprisonment of 18 months (involving about 12 million illicit cigarettes).
(3), (4) and (6) According to the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (the Ordinance), no person shall display or cause to be displayed any smoking product advertisement in any form. Any person who contravenes the prohibitions is liable on summary conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000, and in the case of a continuing offence, to a further penalty of $1,500 for each day during which the offence continues. The distribution of smoking product advertisements in PRH not only involves peddling of suspected duty-not-paid smoking products, but also affects the law and order and management of the estates. Hence, TACO has all along been co-operating with the relevant departments with a view to combating these illegal activities more effectively. A co-operation mechanism has been established among TACO, the Police and the Housing Department to conduct enforcement actions against illegal activities of distributing smoking products advertisements in PRH. Since January this year, the relevant departments have conducted over 220 joint operations in PRH in Hong Kong. During the operations, in addition to patrolling the estates, officers from TACO also provided information to the estate security workers and residents on how to deal with suspected violation. They were also reminded to observe the laws and not to purchase smoking products from unknown sources. TACO will refer any suspected cases of illicit cigarettes that involve violations of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance to C&ED for further investigation.
Regarding the allegation that some people are distributing illicit cigarettes on the streets, under the Ordinance, no person may give smoking product to another person for promotion or advertisement. Any person who contravenes the prohibitions is liable on summary conviction to a maximum fine of $25,000. TACO has conducted multiple proactive inspections at relevant locations. No illegal activity has been found so far. TACO will closely monitor activities contravening the Ordinance (including those promoting or advertising smoking products), which include arranging covert inspections and taking enforcement actions on an ongoing basis. In addition, TACO will also conduct online inspections. If online smoking product advertisements suspected of contravening the law are found, TACO will request the relevant internet service providers and social media platforms to remove the relevant content.
From January 2023 to August 2024, TACO issued 124 summonses and 43 warning letters regarding offences of displaying or distributing smoking product advertisements, and removed around 2 550 websites and social media accounts/posts involving advertisements of smoking products. Since 2021, 14 offenders have been convicted of the offence related to distributing smoking product advertisements, with a maximum penalty of $8,000.
In addition, C&ED has also been conducting online inspections targeting suspected sale of illicit cigarettes. When suspected cases are found, C&ED will immediately express concerns to and follow up with the relevant websites or social media platforms, including blocking the accounts concerned and removing the relevant illicit cigarettes advertisements. From January to September 2024, a total of 429 relevant advertisements have been removed.
In order to combat illicit cigarettes in a more effective manner and protect non-smokers from tobacco hazards, the Government announced its plan in June this year to implement the next-phase tobacco control measures. They include the introduction of a duty stamp system in order to differentiate duty-paid cigarettes from duty-not-paid ones; to require proofs that tobacco products sold at a price lower than the tobacco duty are duty-paid; and to increase the maximum penalty for dealing with, possession of, selling or buying duty-not-paid cigarettes. The Government expects that the above measures will strengthen the deterrent effect and enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies in combating illicit cigarettes. At present, the Government has no plan to introduce financial incentives for reporting illicit cigarette cases. However, C&ED will seriously follow up on reports of suspected illicit cigarette activities.
(5) The numbers of reports on suspected illicit cigarettes activities received by C&ED through different channels from January 2021 to September 2024 are set out below:
Year Reports
2021 3 054
2022 3 526
2023 3 476
2024 (Up to September) 5 640
C&ED will follow up each report and refer it to frontline staff for investigation if necessary. Since the investigations are confidential, C&ED will not disclose their progress and details.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
2024 Edition of “Hong Kong Annual Digest of Statistics” published 2024 Edition of “Hong Kong Annual Digest of Statistics” published ***************************************************************************
The 2024 Edition of the “Hong Kong Annual Digest of Statistics” was published by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (October 30). The Digest is available for downloading at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1010003&scode=460). The Digest is a comprehensive and convenient collection of official statistics. It contains some 300 statistical tables on a wide range of topics, including: – Population- Labour- External trade- National income and Balance of Payments- Prices- Business performance- Innovation and technology- Energy- Housing and property- Government accounts, finance and insurance- Transport, communications and tourism- Education- Health- Social welfare- Law and order- Culture, entertainment and recreation- Environment, climate and geography This Digest aims to provide key annual statistical series on various aspects of the social and economic developments of Hong Kong. Most of the data series presented reflect the latest situation covering a time span of the last decade, enabling readers to understand the trends of development in recent years. Descriptions of the scope of the statistical data and definitions of the terms used in this Digest are provided in the “Concepts and methods” in each chapter. Enquiries about the “Hong Kong Annual Digest of Statistics” can be directed to the Statistical Information Dissemination Section (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 5073; email: gen-enquiry@censtatd.gov.hk).
Ends/Wednesday, October 30, 2024Issued at HKT 16:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by Professor the Hon Chan Wing-kwong and a reply by the Under Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee, in the Legislative Council today (October 30):
Question:
It has been reported that there are currently many premises in the community claiming to be pain treatment centres, etc., boasting that they can provide clients with services such as “bone manipulating” and pain treatment, but some members of the public are injured after receiving services provided by persons who are suspected to be non-healthcare professionals at these premises. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it knows the number of the aforesaid premises and, among them, the number of those which have applied for licences for private healthcare facilities (PHFs);
(2) of the number of complaints made against the aforesaid premises and the follow-up situations in the past three years; among them, the number of cases involving unlicensed medical practice, and the respective numbers of persons prosecuted and convicted; and
(3) as it is learnt that some premises which have not applied for PHFs licences are presenting an image of licensed healthcare facilities through means such as promotion and furnishings in order to mislead consumers, of the measures the authorities have put in place to caution members of the public against seeking inappropriate treatments for certain medical conditions, so as to safeguard their health?
Reply:
President,
In consultation with the Security Bureau, I provide a consolidated reply as follows:
Premises providing pain relief services in the community can be classified into three categories:
(1) involving healthcare services which should be provided by registered medical practitioners and/or dentists, e.g. prescription of painkillers or performance of surgical procedures etc.;
(2) involving healthcare services which should be provided by healthcare professions of other different disciplines; and
(3) not providing healthcare services, say conducting only massage which do not concern the practice of healthcare professionals.
These three categories of services are regulated by different legislations. As the premises under the aforementioned categories 1 and 2 provide healthcare services, they are regulated by relevant legislations on healthcare facilities and healthcare professions.
Since 2018, the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (Cap. 633) regulates premises where registered medical practitioners and/or dentists practise. Operators are required to obtain a licence or letter of exemption in order to operate private healthcare facilities. The existing law specifically covers premises of these two healthcare professions as their daily operation may very likely involve high-risk issues such as infection control and blood management, thereby requiring the most stringent regulatory system under a risk-based principle. In this connection, apart from being regulated by the specific legislations on healthcare professions, such premises are also regulated by the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance. As of the third quarter of 2024, there are 14 licensed private hospitals and 259 licensed day procedure centres in Hong Kong. The Government is also preparing to implement the clinic licensing regime under the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance and will make an announcement shortly.
Premises under category 2 involve healthcare services which are provided by healthcare professions of other multiple disciplines. By nature, services commonly known as “bone-manipulating” and “pain management” may be similar to the treatments provided by Chinese medicine practitioners, physiotherapists and chiropractors under their respective scope of practice. Depending on the actual services performed, relevant ordinances would come into play when healthcare services which must be provided by registered healthcare professionals are involved. This serves to prevent non-professionals from performing such acts so as to safeguard public health.
The provision of a service will be considered as practising Chinese medicine if it involves the performance of any act or activities on the basis of traditional Chinese medicine in general practice, acupuncture or bone-setting as stipulated in the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap. 549). Any person who is neither a registered nor listed Chinese medicine practitioner providing such service commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 6 and imprisonment for three years. By the same token, any person who practises the profession of a physiotherapist as stipulated in the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance (Cap. 359) without registration commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 2 and imprisonment for six months; whereas any person who is not listed in the register of registered chiropractors under the Chiropractors Registration Ordinance (Cap. 428) but practises chiropractic as defined in the Code of Practice by the Chiropractors Council commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 5 and imprisonment for one year.
During the period of 2021 to the third quarter of 2024, available records show that there were a total of 35 suspected cases of providing “bone-manipulating” or “pain management” services in contravention of the various ordinances on healthcare professionals. Of these, 3 cases were successfully prosecuted with conviction, while the others are still being processed or could not be successfully prosecuted possibly due to the individuals involved being subsequently proven to be registered healthcare professionals, etc. Members of the public should report to the Police if they suspect that someone is practising without registration or falsely using the title of a registered healthcare professional. The Department of Health (DH) as well as the statutory boards and councils of relevant healthcare professions will provide professional support to the Police as appropriate.
To prevent the public from seeking improper treatment of certain conditions regardless of the type of premises which provides such services, the Undesirable Medical Advertisements Ordinance (Cap. 231) prohibits/restricts the publication of advertisements that will likely lead to the use of any medicine, surgical appliance or treatment for the purpose of treating or preventing diseases or conditions specified in Schedules 1 and 2 to the Ordinance. These include any disease of the musculo-skeletal system, including rheumatism, arthritis and sciatica. The DH has put in place an established mechanism for screening advertisements. Appropriate actions will be taken in accordance with the law against any contravention of the Ordinance.
The Government urges members of the public not to casually believe the claims of being able to offer so-called “treatment” from random persons who are not registered or accredited as healthcare professionals. Since the professional qualifications and standards of these persons have not been attested, the safety and effectiveness of the so-called “treatment” cannot be assured. It may even worsen the condition or cause injury. Before receiving healthcare services, members of the public can browse the online registers of the statutory boards and councils of relevant healthcare professions to ascertain the qualifications of service providers. If members of the public have doubts about the qualifications of the healthcare professionals, they can also request the person concerned to provide relevant certification documents in order to better protect their safety.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Housing Department (HD) today (October 30) alerted members of the public to a fraudulent website (https://cashalwaysget_hk2024.site), which purports to be the website of the Cash Allowance Trial Scheme.
The fraudulent website seeks to obtain the personal and credit card information of members of the public. The HD emphasises that the fraudulent website has no connection with the Cash Allowance Trial Scheme” and has referred the case to the Police for follow-up.
Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the website concerned should contact the Police. For enquiries, please call the Cash Allowance Office hotline of the HD at 3105 3333.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The Secretary of State has approved an extension to Baroness Newlove’s term as Victims’ Commissioner from 17 October 2024 to 31 December 2025.
Baroness Newlove was initially appointed to the role without competition for a year from 17 October 2023 to allow for a further campaign fill the role substantively.
The Lord Chancellor decided not to continue with that campaign. Following consultation with the Attorney General and Home Secretary, the Lord Chancellor will readvertise the role later in 2024 with revised criteria which reflect the government’s vision for a strengthened role. To ensure there is no gap in cover in this vital role, The Lord Chancellor has extended Baroness Newlove’s term until 31 December 2025.
The Victims’ Commissioner independently promotes the interests of victims and witnesses, encourages good practice in their treatment, and regularly reviews the Victims’ Code which sets out the services victims can expect to receive.
Biography of the Victims’ Commissioner:
Baroness Helen Newlove is a community reform campaigner and activist. She came to prominence after her husband Garry Newlove was murdered outside the family home by a gang of youths, all alcohol and drug-fuelled, in 2007. After his death she campaigned to tackle anti-social behaviour and the underage and binge drinking culture.
Baroness Newlove was given a peerage in the 2010 Dissolution Honours list and sits in the House of Lords as Baroness Newlove of Warrington in the County of Cheshire.
She originally took up the post of Victims’ Commissioner on 4 March 2013, was reappointed for a second term in March 2016, and stepped down on 31 May 2019. She was succeeded by Dame Vera Baird.
On 5 March 2018, Baroness Newlove took up the office of Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords.
On 17 October 2023, Baroness Newlove was appointed as the government’s Victims’ Commissioner for a term of 12 months.
This appointment is made by the Secretary of State under Section 48 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, and is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The appointment has been made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.
Source: The White House
One year ago, President Biden issued a landmark Executive Order to ensure that America leads the way in seizing the promise and managing the risks of artificial intelligence (AI). The Executive Order directed sweeping actions to manage AI’s safety and security risks, protect Americans’ privacy, advance equity and civil rights, stand up for consumers and workers, promote innovation and competition, advance American leadership around the world, and more.
Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing that Federal agencies have completed on schedule each action that the Executive Order tasked for this past year—more than one hundred in all. Below are some of the Administration’s most significant accomplishments on managing AI’s risks and seizing its promise in the year since President Biden signed his Executive Order.
Managing Risks to Safety and Security:The Executive Order directed the boldest actions ever taken to protect Americans from a broad range of AI’s safety and security risks, including risks related to dangerous biological materials, software vulnerabilities, and foreign actors’ efforts to develop AI for harmful purposes. Over the last year, to protect safety and security, agencies have:
Used Defense Production Act authorities to require developers of the most powerful AI systems to report vital information, including results of safety and security testing, to the U.S. government. These companies have notified the Department of Commerce about the results of their red-team safety tests, their plans to train powerful models, and large computing clusters they possess capable of such training. Last month, the Department of Commerce proposed a rule to require the reporting of this information on a quarterly basis.
Led the way on AI safety testing and evaluations to advance the science of AI safety. The U.S. AI Safety Institute (US AISI) at the Department of Commerce has begun pre-deployment testing of major new AI models through recently signed agreements with two leading AI developers. The Department of Energy (DOE) developed and expanded its AI testbeds and evaluation tools, which it has already used to test models’ risk to nuclear security.
Developed guidance and tools for managing AI risk. The US AISI and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) at the Department of Commerce published frameworks for managing risks related to generative AI and dual-use foundation models, and earlier this month, AISI released a Request for Information on the responsible development and use of AI models for chemical and biological sciences. The Department of Defense (DoD) released its Responsible AI toolkit to align AI projects with the Department’s Ethical Principles.
Issued a first-ever National Security Memorandum (NSM) on AI. The NSM directs concrete steps by Federal agencies to ensure the United States leads the world’s development of safe, secure, and trustworthy AI; to enable agencies to harness cutting-edge AI for national security objectives, including by protecting human rights and democratic values; and to advance international consensus and governance on AI. This essential document serves as a formal charter for the AI Safety Institute, designating it as the center of the whole-of-government approach to advanced AI model testing, and will guide rapid and responsible AI adoption by the DoD and Intelligence Community. The NSM also directs the creation of a Framework to Advance AI Governance and Risk Management in National Security, which provides agile guidance to implement the NSM in accordance with democratic values, including mechanisms for risk management, evaluations, accountability, and transparency.
Finalized a framework for nucleic acid synthesis screening to help prevent the misuse of AI for engineering dangerous biological materials. The framework, developed by the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), encourages nucleic acid synthesis providers to identify gene sequences that could be used to pose national security risks, and to implement customer screening to mitigate the risks of misuse. Federal agencies will require that funding recipients obtain synthetic nucleic acids from vendors that adhere to the framework, starting in 2025. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has developed an initial framework with principles for evaluating the effectiveness of screening mechanisms going forward.
Launched a new Task Force on AI Datacenter Infrastructure. The Task Force provides streamlined coordination on policies to advance datacenter development operations in line with economic, national security, and environmental goals.
Identified measures—including approaches for labeling content and improving transparency—to reduce the risks posed by AI-generated content. The Department of Commerce submitted to the White House a final report on science-backed standards and techniques for addressing these risks, while NIST has launched a challenge to develop methods for detecting AI-generated content. President Biden has emphasized that the public has a right to know when content is AI-generated, and agencies are working to use these tools to help Americans to know that communications they receive from their government are authentic.
Combatted AI-generated image-based sexual abuse. Image-based sexual abuse—both non-consensual intimate images of adults and child sexual abuse material—is one of the fastest growing harmful uses of AI to date and disproportionately targets women, children, and LGBTQI+ people. This year, following the Vice President’s leadership in underscoring the urgent need to address deepfake image-based sexual abuse and a White House Call to Action to reduce these risks, leading AI developers and data providers made voluntary commitments to curb the creation of AI-generated image-based sexual abuse material. Additionally, the Department of Justice (DOJ) funded the first-ever helpline to provide 24/7 support and specialized services for victims of the non-consensual distribution of intimate images, including deepfakes. The Department of Education also clarified that school responsibilities under Title IX may extend to conduct that takes place online, including AI-generated abuse.
Established the AI Safety and Security Board (AISSB) to advise the Secretary of Homeland Security on the safe and secure use of AI in critical infrastructure. The AISSB has met thrice this year to develop a set of recommendations for entities that develop, deploy, and promote accountability for AI systems that assist in delivering essential services to millions of Americans. The work of the AISSB complements DHS’s first-ever AI safety and security guidelines for critical infrastructure owners and operators, which were informed by agencies’ assessments of AI risks across all critical infrastructure sectors. To help protect critical infrastructure further, the Department of Treasury released a report on managing security risks of AI use in the financial sector, and the Department of Energy released an assessment of potential risks to the power grid, as well as ways in which AI could potentially strengthen grid resilience and our ability to respond to threats.
Piloted AI for protecting vital government software systems. The Department of Defense and DHS conducted AI pilots to address vulnerabilities in government networks used, respectively, for national security purposes and for civilian governmental organizations.
Standing up for Workers, Consumers, Privacy, and Civil RightsAI is changing the products and services Americans buy, affecting jobs and workplaces, and introducing or exacerbating risks to privacy, equity, and civil rights. President Biden’s Executive Order stands up for Americans in each of these domains, and over the last year, agencies have:
Developed bedrock principles and practices, along with guidance, to help protect and empower workers as AI is built for and used in the workplace. The Department of Labor (DOL) released AI Principles and Best Practices for employers and developers to build and use AI in ways that center the wellbeing of workers and improve the quality of jobs. DOL also published two guidance documents to assist federal contractors and employers in complying with worker protection laws as they deploy AI in the workplace. In addition, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission released resources for job seekers and workers to understand how AI use could violate employment discrimination laws.
Protected patients’ rights and safety, while encouraging innovation, as AI is developed and deployed for healthcare. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) established an AI Safety Program to track harmful incidents involving AI’s use in healthcare settings and to evaluate mitigations for those harms. HHS has also developed objectives, goals, and high-level principles for the use of AI or AI-enabled tools in drug development processes and AI-enabled devices. Additionally, HHS finalized a rule that established first-of-its-kind transparency requirements for AI and other predictive algorithms that are part of certified health information technology. HHS also finalized a civil rights regulation, implementing Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, that requires covered health care entities to take steps to identify and mitigate discrimination when they use AI and other forms of decision support tools for care.
Published guidance and resources for the safe, secure, and trustworthy design and use of AI in education. In July, the Department of Education released guidance calling up on educational technology developers to design AI in ways that protect rights, improve transparency, and center teaching and learning. This month, the Department of Education released a toolkit to support schools and educational leaders in responsibly adopting valuable AI use cases.
Issued guidance on AI’s nondiscriminatory use in the housing sector, which affirms that existing prohibitions against discrimination apply to AI’s use for tenant screening and housing advertisements, while explaining how to comply with these obligations. Additionally, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau approved a rule requiring that algorithms and AI used for home valuations are fair, nondiscriminatory, and free of conflicts of interest.
Set guardrails on the responsible and equitable use of AI and algorithmic systems in administering public benefits programs. The Department of Agriculture’s guidance provides a framework for how State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments should manage risks for uses of AI and automated systems in critical benefits programs such as SNAP, while HHS released a plan with guidelines on similar topics for benefits programs it oversees.
Affirmed commitments to prevent and address unlawful discrimination and other harms resulting from AI. DOJ’s Civil Rights Division convenes federal agency civil rights offices and senior government officials to foster AI and civil rights coordination. Five new agencies also joined a 2023 pledge to uphold America’s commitment to fairness, equality, and justice as new technologies like AI become more common in daily life.
Advanced privacy protections to safeguard Americans from privacy risks that AI creates or exacerbates. In particular, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and DOE established a research network dedicated to advancing the development, deployment, and scaling of privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs), while NSF launched the $23 million initiative Privacy-preserving Data Sharing in Practice program to apply, mature, and scale PETs for specific use cases and establish testbeds to accelerate their adoption. Simultaneously, DOE launched a $68 million effort on AI for Science research, which includes efforts at multiple DOE National Laboratories and other institutions to advance PETs for scientific AI. The Department of Commerce also developed guidelines on evaluating differential privacy guarantees. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a Request for Information (RFI) on issues related to federal agency collection, processing, maintenance, use, sharing, dissemination, and disposition of commercially available information containing personally identifiable information. OMB also released an RFI on how federal agencies’ privacy impact assessments may be more effective at mitigating privacy risks, including those that are further exacerbated by AI and other advances in technology and data capabilities.
Harnessing AI for GoodOver the last year, agencies have worked to seize AI’s enormous promise, including by collaborating with the private sector, promoting development and use of valuable AI use cases, and deepening the U.S. lead in AI innovation. To harness AI for good, agencies have:
Launched the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) pilot and awarded over 150 research teams access to computational and other AI resources. The NAIRR pilot—a national infrastructure led by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in partnership with DOE and other governmental and nongovernmental partners—makes available resources to support the nation’s AI research and education community. Supported research teams span 34 states and tackle projects covering deepfake detection, AI safety, next-generation medical diagnoses, environmental protection, and materials engineering.
Promoted AI education and training across the United States. DOE is leveraging its network of national laboratories to train 500 new researchers by 2025 to meet demand for AI talent, while NSF has invested millions of dollars in programs to train future AI leaders and innovators. These programs include the EducateAI initiative, which helps fund educators creating high-quality, inclusive AI educational opportunities at the K-12 through undergraduate levels that support experiential learning in fields such as AI and build capacity in AI research at minority-serving institutions.
Expanded the ability of top AI scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to come to the United States, including by clarifying O-1 and H-1B visa rules and working to streamline visa processing.
Released a report on the potential benefits, risks, and implications of dual-use foundation models for which the model weights are widely available, including related policy recommendations. The Department of Commerce’s report draws on extensive outreach to experts and stakeholders, including hundreds of public comments submitted on this topic.
Announced a competition for up to $100 million to support the application of AI-enabled autonomous experimentation to accelerate research into—and delivery of—targeted, industry-relevant, sustainable semiconductor materials and processes.
Established two new National AI Research Institutes for building AI tools to advance progress across economic sectors, science, and engineering. The NSF-led AI Research Institutes launched in September will develop AI tools for astronomical sciences, with broader applications across scientific disciplines. Earlier this year, NSF also funded 10 inaugural Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines), seven of which include a focus on advancing AI.
Announced millions of dollars in further investments to advance responsible AI development and use throughout our society. These include $13 million invested by DOE in the VoltAIc initiative for using AI to streamline permitting and accelerate clean energy deployment, as well as $68M from DOE to fund AI for scientific research to accelerate scientific programming and develop energy efficient AI models and hardware. DOE has also launched the Frontiers in AI for Science, Security, and Technology (FASST) initiative roadmap and request for information to harness AI for scientific discovery, national security, energy and electric grid resilience, and other national challenges, building on AI tools, models, and partnerships. NSF, in partnership with philanthropy, announced an inaugural investment of more than $18 million to 44 multidisciplinary, multi-sector teams across the U.S. to advance the responsible design, development, and deployment of technologies including AI, ensuring ethical, legal, community, and societal considerations are embedded in the lifecycle of technology’s creation.
Issued a first-ever report analyzing AI’s near-term potential to support the growth of America’s clean energy economy. DOE’s National Laboratories also issued a long-term grand challenges report identifying opportunities in AI for energy over the next decade.
Released a vision for how AI can help us achieve our nation’s greatest aspirations. AI Aspirations sets forth goals to create a future of better health and opportunity for all, mitigate climate change and boost resilience, build robust infrastructure and manufacturing, ensure the government works for every American, and more. In furtherance of these goals, HHS launched CATALYST, a research and development program focused on the potential use of AI to better predict drug safety and efficacy before clinical trials start. In complement, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology also authored a report outlining AI’s potential to revolutionize and accelerate scientific discovery.
Published guidance addressing vital questions at the intersection of AI and intellectual property. To advance innovation the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has released guidance documents addressing the patentability of AI-assisted inventions, on the subject matter eligibility of patent claims involving inventions related to AI technology, and on the use of AI tools in proceedings before USPTO.
Bringing AI and AI Talent into GovernmentAI can help government deliver better results for the American people, though its use by Federal agencies can also pose risks, such as discrimination and unsafe decisions. Bringing AI and AI-enabling professionals into government, moreover, is vital for managing these risks and opportunities and advancing other critical AI missions. Over the last year, agencies have:
Issued the first-ever government-wide policy to strengthen governance, mitigate risks, and advance innovation in federal use of AI. OMB’s historic policy, M-24-10, requires agencies to implement concrete safeguards when using AI in a way that could impact Americans’ rights or safety. These safeguards include a series of mandatory risk management practices to reliably assess, test, and monitor AI’s impacts on the public and provide greater transparency into how the government uses AI. OMB’s policy also directs agencies to designate Chief AI Officers to coordinate the use of AI across their agency, while expanding and upskilling their AI workforce and removing barriers to adopting AI for all manner of purposes—from addressing climate change to advancing public health and safety.
Released a government-wide policy to advance responsible acquisition of AI by Federal agencies. M-24-18, published this month by OMB, helps ensure that when Federal agencies acquire AI, they have the information and tools necessary to manage risks, promote a competitive marketplace, and collaborate on strategic planning. This work directs the Federal government—the largest buyer in the U.S. economy—to advance AI innovation and risk management through responsibly exercising its purchasing power.
Hired over 250 AI practitioners into the Federal government through the AI Talent Surge. Tech talent programs ramped up hiring for AI talent, with the Presidential Innovation Fellows bringing on their first-ever AI cohort, DHS establishing their AI Corps with over 30 members onboarded to date, and the U.S. Digital Corps providing pathways for early-career technologists to join Federal service. AI talent has been instrumental in delivering on critical AI priorities, from using AI to deliver top-tier government services, to protecting the public’s rights and safety in the use of AI.
Established the Chief AI Officers Council to harmonize best practices and sharing of resources across the interagency to implement OMB’s guidance and coordinate the development and use of AI in agencies’ programs and operations.
Introduced expanded reporting instructions for the federal AI use case inventory to include identifying use cases that impact rights or safety and how the agency is addressing the relevant risks in line with OMB’s policies.
Bolstered the public interest technology ecosystem. Building on the AI Talent Surge, the White House announced funding across government, academia, and civil society to support education and career pathways that will help ensure government has access to diverse, mission-oriented technology talent.
Activated new hiring authorities to bring AI and AI-enabling talent into agencies. As part of the AI Talent Surge, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) granted new hiring authorities, including direct hire authorities and excepted service authorities, for agencies to rapidly bring on top-tier AI and AI-enabling talent, and released guidance on skills-based hiring and pay and leave flexibilities to best position agencies to hire and retain AI and AI-enabling talent. Additionally, OPM collaborated with partners to run three National Tech to Gov career fairs to connect the public with AI and tech jobs in government, surfacing roles from over 64 Federal, state, and local government employers to over 3,000 job seekers.
Advancing U.S. Leadership AbroadPresident Biden’s Executive Order directed work to lead global efforts to capture AI’s promise, mitigate AI’s risks, and ensure AI’s responsible governance. To advance these goals, the Administration has:
Sponsored and passed a landmark United Nations General Assembly resolution. The unanimously adopted resolution, with more than 100 co-sponsors (including the People’s Republic of China), lays out a common vision for countries around the world to promote the safe and secure use of AI to address global challenges.
Engaged foreign leaders on strengthening international rules and norms for AI, including at the 2023 UK AI Safety Summit and the AI Seoul Summit in May 2024, where Vice President Harris represented the United States. In the United Kingdom, Vice President Harris unveiled a series of U.S. initiatives to advance the safe and responsible use of AI, including the establishment of AISI at the Department of Commerce.
Announced a global network of AI Safety Institutes and other government-backed scientific offices to advance AI safety at a technical level. This network, which will formally launch in November at the inaugural network convening in San Francisco, will accelerate critical information exchange and drive toward common or compatible safety evaluations and policies.
Expanded global support for the U.S.-led Political Declaration on the Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy. Fifty-six nations now endorse the political declaration, which outlines a set of norms for the responsible development, deployment, and use of military AI capabilities. DoD has expanded the scope of its international AI Partnership for Defense to align global Responsible AI practices with the Political Declaration’s norms.
Developed comprehensive plans for U.S. engagement on global AI standards and AI-related critical infrastructure topics. NIST and DHS, respectively, will report on priority actions taken per these plans in 90 days.
Signed the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on AI and Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law. This first multilateral treaty on AI represents a powerful affirmation of the relevance of existing human rights obligations to AI activities and establishes a strong baseline in international law for responsible government use of AI. The United States’ signature reflects its commitment to ensuring that AI technologies are designed, developed, used, and governed in ways that promote respect for human rights and democratic values.
Led the development of a Joint Statement on Responsible Government Practices for AI Technologies. The Joint Statement, to which the 41 countries of the Freedom Online Coalition committed, calls on governments to develop, use, and procure AI responsibly, including by respecting international obligations and commitments, assessing impacts of AI systems, conducting ongoing monitoring, ensuring adequate human training and assessment, communicating and responding to the public, and providing effective access to remedy.
Launched the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse. The 15-country Global Partnership has advanced international policies to address online safety, and spurred new programs to prevent and respond to technology-facilitated gender-based violence, including through AI.
The Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development published resources to advance global AI research and use of AI for economic development. The AI in Global Development Playbook incorporates principles and practices from NIST’s AI Risk Management Framework to guide AI’s responsible development and deployment across international contexts, while the Global AI Research Agenda outlines priorities for advancing AI’s safe, responsible, and sustainable global development and adoption.
The table below summarizes many of the activities that federal agencies have completed in response to the Executive Order.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by Professor the Hon Priscilla Leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, in the Legislative Council today (October 30):
Question:
It has been reported that a chain fitness and beauty group suddenly announced its “temporary business suspension” last month. As at the middle of last month, the Consumer Council received a total of 3 861 relevant complaints, involving a total amount of nearly $130 million, with an average amount of about $33,000 per case, and the largest amount involved in a single complaint was about $1.81 million. Regarding protecting the rights and interests of consumers, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it will re-activate the legislative exercise to stipulate a statutory cooling-off period for beauty and fitness services consumer contracts; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) whether it will consider establishing new industry rules for the beauty and fitness industries, so as to protect the rights and interests of consumers; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(3) whether it will consider setting up an interdepartmental task force to roll out publicity and education programmes (especially targeting underprivileged groups such as poor elders), so as to help members of the public become smart consumers and avoid suffering losses; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is highly concerned about the recent incident involving the temporary business suspension suddenly announced by a chain fitness and beauty group, and has formed an inter-departmental dedicated investigation team to follow up. The dedicated investigation team, which comprises the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the Security Bureau, the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED), the Hong Kong Police Force (Police) and the Consumer Council (Council), continues to closely monitor the developments of the incident. In particular, the C&ED and the Police are conducting intensive investigation from the perspectives of offences regarding the unfair trade practices under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (Cap. 362) (the Ordinance) and whether other criminal offences are involved respectively.
The reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
(1) and (2) In view of the unfair trade practices involving prepaid mode of consumption (in particular the situation of fitness centres and beauty parlours using aggressive tactics to sell services that involve large amount of prepayments), the Government conducted a three-month public consultation in 2019 to solicit views on the proposal to stipulate a statutory cooling-off period for beauty and fitness services consumer contracts through legislation. However, shortly after the public consultation, there have been drastic changes in the social environment, economic situation and consumption sentiment since the second half of 2019.
We are aware that different sectors of the community have put forward various suggestions in respect of offering better protection to consumers who make prepayments (including stipulating a statutory cooling-off period, imposing a cap on the length of prepayment contracts and prepayment amounts, and setting up trust accounts), after this incident of the chain fitness and beauty group announcing temporary business suspension. We will conduct an in-depth study into different suggestions and consider their pros and cons and feasibility, with reference to the experience of this incident, other relevant factors (including the economic environment, the operating situation of relevant industries and relevant complaint and enforcement statistics) and the experience in other jurisdictions, with a view to formulating appropriate strategies to strengthen the protection of consumers’ rights and interests.
(3) Currently, various laws in Hong Kong protect consumers’ rights and interests. Among others, the Ordinance covers goods and services, and prohibits traders from subjecting consumers to unfair trade practices, including false trade descriptions, misleading omissions, aggressive commercial practices, bait advertising, bait-and-switch and wrongly accepting payment. The Ordinance is applicable to the trade practices of both physical and online traders.
The C&ED is the principal enforcement agency of the Ordinance, and adopts a three-pronged approach, covering enforcement actions, compliance promotion and publicity and public education, to combat unfair trade practices proactively. Meanwhile, the Council endeavours to study and promote the protection of consumers’ rights and interests, and carries out its statutory functions in accordance with the Consumer Council Ordinance (Cap. 216), including handling complaints from consumers and resolving disputes between consumers and traders.
The C&ED and the Council have been maintaining close communication with each other, and have been collaborating with other government departments and social service organisations, etc, to jointly promote the protection of the rights and interests of consumers (including the elderly and other vulnerable groups). They also adjust and strengthen the strategies and work in respect of publicity and public education, having regard to the complaints and the enforcement situation. Among others, the relevant publicity and public education work includes:
(i) Conducting talks and workshops for the elderly and other vulnerable groups (and their family members and carers), with a view to enhancing their understanding of common unfair trade practices and sharing with them tips about “smart consumption”, so as to prevent them from falling into sales pitfalls.
In particular, targeting common unfair trade practices, the C&ED conducts talks for the elderly and joins hands with the Police, District Councils and District Fight Crime Committees to carry out promotion by distributing promotional leaflets to the elderly, with a view to enhancing the elderly’s understanding of the Ordinance and awareness of “smart consumption”.
(ii) Conducting dedicated educational programmes to enhance the capability of the elderly and other vulnerable groups to guard against unfair trade practices.
In particular, the Council conducts the Educator Scheme for Senior Citizens, which provides consumer education training to soon-to-be retirees and retirees so as to equip them to host consumer educational talks for other elderly in the community. The Council’s Support Programme for Persons with Special Needs, through virtual reality role-play simulations that cover different scenarios (for example those about the sales pitfalls of fitness and beauty centres), allows persons with special needs to better grasp the skills for guarding against common sales pitfalls.
(iii) Disseminating consumer information to facilitate consumers to make informed consumption decisions.
In particular, the Council publishes product tests, service surveys, consumption tips and complaint case sharing, etc, in its CHOICE magazine, providing practical consumer information to different groups of consumers (including the elderly and other vulnerable groups).
Detectives are urgently appealing to the public for assistance in identifying family members of 18-year-old Issa Ali Musa Abdulrahman Barakat, who tragically lost his life following a fatal stabbing early on Monday morning.
Issa was found injured at around 06:00hrs on 28 October on Laitwood Road, SW12, and though emergency responders did all they could to save him, he sadly died in hospital later the same day.
On Monday, Salah Al-Mahmoodi [known as Salah Ahmed], 21 (02.01.03), of Wandsworth was arrested. He was charged on Tuesday, 29 October with Issa’s murder and is due to appear at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday, 30 October)
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, who is leading the investigation, said:
“Our hearts go out to Issa and his family, a young man whose life was cruelly taken far too soon. It is devastating to think that his family may not yet know of his tragic passing, and we want to find them so we can offer them both support and answers.
“Issa was a member of the Chadian community, and we hope that friends or extended family might help us in reaching his loved ones.”
Anyone with information should call police via 101 or post on X @MetCC quoting CAD 1017/28Oct.
Detectives investigating the deaths of two men in Herne Hill are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Two years ago, on Sunday, 30 October 2022, 23-year-old Guilherme Messias Da Silva and 27-year-old Lemar Urqhart died on Railton Road, Brixton.
Detective Chief Inspector Samantha Townsend, who leads the investigation, said: “It has been two years since this shocking incident and our thoughts continue to remain with the family and friends of Guilherme and Lemar.
“My team is working tirelessly to identify those responsible for their deaths and to get justice for the families. I am extremely grateful to those individuals who have already come forward to share information, but would urge anyone else who has information and has not yet spoken to us to come forward. No piece of information is too small.”
Police were called at about 19:50hrs on Sunday, 30 October 2022 to reports of gunshots heard in the Railton Road area.
Officers, including firearms officers, immediately attended the scene along London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance.
Despite the efforts of emergency services, both Guilherme and Lemar were found injured at the location and pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives believe two cars were driving in the Railton Road area when one of the cars was in collision with Guilherme’s moped before further colliding with parked vehicles.
Lemar then got out of one of the cars involved in the collision and was pursued by a man, armed with a firearm. The man shot Lemar and returned to his car before leaving the scene.
Lemar Urqhart’s family statement said: “Two years since our son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin and friend was tragically taken from us. Whoever said time is a healer, lied. The pain is unbearable & life will never be the same. Lemar was an integral part of the family and his death has rocked our family to the core. Every day we hope that new information is given to aid the arrest of the person/s who did this. We plead with anyone who has information to please come forward. Any information could be vital. Our family would be forever grateful to anyone who could help.”
Any witnesses or anyone with information should call police via 101 quoting CAD 6166/30Oct. Alternatively, speak to independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. They will not trace your call or your IP address.
Information can also be submitted via the Public Portal.
The Housing Department today alerted the public to a fraudulent website purporting to be the Cash Allowance Trial Scheme’s website and that seeks to obtain people’s personal and credit card information.
The fraudulent website is “https://cashalwaysget_hk2024.site”.
The department made it clear that the fraudulent website has no connection with the scheme and the case has been referred to Police for follow-up.
Anyone who has provided personal information to the website should contact Police. Call 3105 3333 for enquiries.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, led a delegation to attend the 2024 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Medical Products Administration Conference in Zhuhai today (October 30), and introduced the latest initiatives of developing Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub as put forth in “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address”.
Co-organised by the Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration, the Department of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, the Conference serves as a platform for Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao to share their work experience in drug regulation, enhance the work mechanism for collaboration on drug and medical device regulation in the GBA, and foster the innovation development of drug and medical device regulation in the region. Deputy Commissioner of the National Medical Products Administration Mr Zhao Junning also attended the Conference.
During the Conference, representatives from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao exchanged views on the current situation of regulation over drugs and medical devices in the three places, the mechanism for regulatory collaborations on drugs and medical devices in the GBA, the GBA standards for Chinese medicines (CM), as well as the feasibility of streamlining the registration and approval procedures for Hong Kong- and Macao-registered traditional proprietary CM for oral use for sale in the Mainland, and had an in-depth discussion on the way forward.
Professor Lo updated the attendees with the latest developments of Hong Kong’s healthcare policies put forward in “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address”, including complementing technological innovation with institutional innovation through expediting the reform of the approval mechanism for drugs and medical devices, strengthening biomedical technology research and development (R&D) and translation, and promoting the internationalisation of CM.
Professor Lo said, “The HKSAR Government is determined to develop Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub and expedite the provision of advanced diagnostic and treatment services to patients by leveraging the advantages of ‘one country, two systems’ and Hong Kong’s healthcare professional system, while actively integrating into the national development by dovetailing with the national initiative of fostering new quality productive forces in biomedical technology as set out in the Resolution of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization and the Development Plan for Shenzhen Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone. The HKSAR Government will enhance Hong Kong’s clinical trial capability and facilitate the translation of innovative biomedical research results into clinical applications by rendering firm support to innovation and application of advanced biomedical technology, with a view to attracting the world’s top-notch biomedical enterprises and R&D institutions to set up operations in Hong Kong.”
Members of the Hong Kong delegation include the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; Principal Assistant Secretary for Health Mr Gordon Chong; the Assistant Director of Health (Health Sciences and Technology), Dr Liza To; the Assistant Director of Health (Drug), Mr Frank Chan; and the Acting Assistant Director of Health (Chinese Medicine), Mr Robert Law. The delegation will return to Hong Kong this evening.
In July 2023, France outlined its defense spending plans for the next six years in the Military Planning Law (LPM) 2024-30, expanding the modernization initiatives kickstarted by LPM 2019-25 to reflect evolving geostrategic dynamics and better incorporate emerging technologies, including unmanned and space-based assets. Against this backdrop, France is expected to increase defense spending from $60.4 billion in 2024 to $67.8 billion in 2029, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Tristan Sauer, Senior Defense Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The deterioration of European security following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the importance of France’s strategic reforms, providing the impetus for further and more diversified investment in defense and security capabilities. The most recent spending commitments will allow French defense expenditures to surpass 2% of GDP and finally attain the minimum threshold recommended for NATO members.”
France’s armed forces continue to pursue modernization across the different operational domains. The largest amount of spending is being directed to the fixed-wing aircraft, missiles and missile defense systems, naval vessels, submarines, and armored vehicles market segments over the next several years. Between 2024-2034, France’s largest investments are for the international FCAS New Generation Fighter program ($17.9 billion), the SNLE 3G nuclear submarines ($17.3 billion), and various upgrades to the Rafale fighter jet program ($12.9 billion).
Sauer continues: “These investments are indicative of a renewed strategic focus on the commensurate rise of both great power competition and the risk of high intensity conflict. Procurement of conventional capabilities such as aircraft, naval assets, artillery, armored vehicles, and weapons systems is being supplemented with investment in cybersecurity as well as space systems to account for the increasingly diffuse and multi-domain nature of modern warfare.”
As with many western nations, France is facing recruitment issues leading to personnel shortages despite growing investment. GlobalData forecasts that France will spend $125.9 billion on military personnel between 2025-2029, though spending will only increase at a CAGR of 0.5%, which is far slower than the 1.26% CAGR achieved between 2020-2024.
Sauer concludes: “France’s continued investments in modernization and acquisition programs provide substance to the broader political refocus on strategic competition and its associated risks, with the nation’s growing defense industrial base providing growing opportunities for international engagement. However, much like with the US and other NATO allies, lackluster performance with regards to personnel recruitment and retention is indicative of a wider challenge, which current investments have thus far failed to overcome.”
Tonight the State Library celebrated the 50th anniversary of its prestigious research program by unveiling its largest-ever cohort of Fellows, awarding a total of $186,000 across eight categories.
Highlights include the announcement of the inaugural creative writing fellowship, a new Summer Fellows program and two artists-in-residence.
The 2025 Fellows are:
Inaugural IMAGO Fellow – Dr Sheila Ngoc Pham for ‘Fantasia: On Anne Spencer Parry and Australian fantasy and science fiction in the late 20th century’
CH Currey Memorial Fellow – Dr Dominic Kelly for ‘From Cold War to Culture War: Quadrant and Australian conservatism’
Nancy Keesing AM Fellow – Dr Clara Sitbon for ‘Piecing the Puzzle: Mapping the literary works of Carter Brown’
Dr AM Hertzberg AO Fellow – Dr Luciano Cardellicchio for ‘From Caravans to Schools, from Airplanes to Houses: Plywood innovation in the post-war construction sector of Australia’
Ross Steele AM Fellow – Dr Ruth Pullin for ‘From Sketchbook to Canvas: Eugene von Guérard’s sketchbooks and the making of pictures’
Merewether Fellow – Dr Nicholas Pitt for ‘Benevolent Cattle? A more-than-human history of the Hawkesbury Benevolent Society and the place of benevolence in the colonial project of NSW’
DS Mitchell Memorial Fellow – Dr Shirleene Robinson AM for ‘Mapping the Contribution, Strategies and Networks of Women in Australia’s First LGBTIQ+ Rights Groups, 1969–1974’
The Library also launched its new Summer Fellows Program with support from the Library Foundation. These nine tertiary students and creative practitioners will receive $1,000 each and the opportunity to acquire essential archival research skills for their future careers:
Phillip Bartlett: ‘A Possible Narrative of the Macquarie Chest’s Bottom Drawer’
Ira Friedberg: ‘Bad Times in Red Brick Flats’ Anita Gowers: ‘Pictures Frames in the State Library of NSW Picture Collections‘
Moon Kerr: ‘George Goodman’s Daguerreotypes of the Lawson Family’
Annabelle McEwen: ‘How the Body is Defined and Usurped via Visual Mediation’
Hamish McPherson: ‘Transgender Liberation in NSW 1950–2000’
Eloise Reddy: ‘1980–90s Cultural Planning and Contemporary Placemaking Discourse’
Bronwyn Rennex: ‘Ralph Clark and the Birds’
Suzanne Smith: ‘The Save Our Sons Movement during the Vietnam War’
The reinvigorated artist-in-residence program will see Michelle Arnott create a set of images of the Library and its surrounds using synthetic polymer paint, and Sarah Randall will produce a series of still-life paintings based on letters and diaries held within the Library’s collections.
Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary chaired the inter-ministerial meeting to bolster support for the Ministry of Rural Development’s Nayi Chetna 3.0 Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign to be launched on 25 November 2024, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
The month long campaign will run across all Indian States and Union Territories until December 23, 2024
The initiative will be led by DAY-NRLM’s Self-Help Group network
Posted On: 30 OCT 2024 2:31PM by PIB Delhi
The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) under the Ministry of Rural Development convened an inter-ministerial meeting yesterday to outline the strategic roadmap for ‘Nayi Chetna 3.0’ – the third edition of its National Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence.
Chaired by Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, Rural Development, the meeting brought together representatives from seven line ministries to discuss collaboration and action plans to raise awareness and reinforce response mechanisms against gender-based violence nationwide.
Smt. Smriti Sharan, Joint Secretary, Rural Development, commenced the meeting by presenting key findings from previous editions of the Nayi Chetna Campaign emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts, followed by an overview of the goals and structure for Nayi Chetna-3.0.
The month-long campaign will launch on November 25, 2024 and will run across all Indian States and Union Territories until December 23, 2024. The initiative will be led by DAY-NRLM’s Self-Help Group (SHG) network, embodying the spirit of Jan Andolan (people’s movement)
Led by the Ministry of Rural Development, the meeting saw participation from line ministries including the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Information and Broadcasting, Women and Child Development, Panchayati Raj, Youth Affairs, Social Justice and Empowerment and the Department of Justice. Discussions focused on fostering convergence to strengthen preventive efforts, improve access to support systems, and leverage each ministry’s expertise to drive the campaign’s objectives. A draft joint advisory delineating each ministry’s role was discussed and reviewed. The discussion threw light on the different forms of violence that could be prioritized and steps that could be taken to address these barriers.
In his remarks, Shri Charanjit Singh, Additional Secretary, Rural Development, commended the suggestions made during the meeting and called for formalizing the advisory to drive the campaign in mission mode.
In his closing remarks, Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh emphasized the necessity for a united approach across ministries to combat gender-based violence, fostering widespread social change.
The Nayi Chetna Campaign seeks to amplify awareness and drive informed action to address gender-based violence through grassroots initiatives. Since its inception, Nayi Chetna has mobilized millions nationwide, creating a substantial movement for gender equality and women’s empowerment. In its first year, the campaign reached 3.5 crore people, supported by multiple line ministries, while the second edition, Nayi Chetna 2.0, involved 5.5 crore participants across 31 States and Union Territories, with over 9 lakh awareness activities on gender-based violence conducted nationwide.
Question for written answer E-002194/2024 to the Commission Rule 144 Esther Herranz García (PPE), Dolors Montserrat (PPE), Herbert Dorfmann (PPE), Céline Imart (PPE), Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral (PPE), Daniel Buda (PPE), Rosa Estaràs Ferragut (PPE), Susana Solís Pérez (PPE), Antonio López-Istúriz White (PPE), Adrián Vázquez Lázara (PPE), Salvatore De Meo (PPE), Gabriel Mato (PPE), Isabel Benjumea Benjumea (PPE), Nicolás Pascual De La Parte (PPE), Raúl de la Hoz Quintano (PPE), Elena Nevado del Campo (PPE), Maravillas Abadía Jover (PPE), Pablo Arias Echeverría (PPE), Carmen Crespo Díaz (PPE), Pilar del Castillo Vera (PPE), Borja Giménez Larraz (PPE)
The Court of Justice of the European Union recently ruled in case C-438/23[1] that the criteria established by Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011[2] sufficiently protect consumers against misleading information even in cases of total substitution of the only component or ingredient that a consumer may expect to find in a food product referred to by a common or descriptive name that contains certain customary terms.
Problems have arisen from the use of customary terms typically associated with meat products, such as ‘burger’, ‘steak’ or ‘sausage’, to refer to vegetarian or vegan foods.
This judgment could lead to the fragmentation of the single market as it may allow Member States to establish differing legal definitions for such terms.
1.Is the Commission considering drafting a legislative proposal to harmonise the use of these terms at EU level?
2.Given that we are awaiting the proposal on front-of-pack food labeling, is the Commission considering including this issue in that proposal?
Submitted: 21.10.2024
[1] Judgment of 4 October 2024 – Protéines France and Others, C-438/23, ECLI:EU:C:2024:826.
[2] Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers (OJ L 304, 22.11.2011, p. 18, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2011/1169/oj).