Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)
House Votes Unanimously to Expand the Scope of Bipartisan Task Force on Trump Assassination Attempt
Purview of Task Force now includes the second assassination attempt on Republican Presidential Nominee
Washington, September 20, 2024
WASHINGTON — Today, following the second assassination attempt on President Trump’s life, the House of Representatives voted unanimously to expand the investigative purview of the Bipartisan Task Force to Investigate the Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump to include the second assassination attempt.
Speaker Johnson released the following statement after the unanimous consent request was agreed to:
“There’s no leader in American history who has been attacked as aggressively as Donald Trump, and yet remained so strong and resilient. Today, the House is rising to meet this historic moment by voting to formally expand the purview of the task force to include the second assassination attempt on his life. The American people deserve answers and accountability for the many security failures that have led to these events – and this Congress will deliver.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)
WASHINGTON — This week, the Republican-led House took several important steps to expose and fight the woke agenda of the Biden-Harris Administration.
“This week, the House passed three comprehensive anti-woke legislative packages, along with several key individual bills, to counter the woke, wasteful, and weaponized agenda of the Biden-Harris Administration. Americans want our banks to be fiduciaries, not social justice warriors. And they want our schools to be places of education, not indoctrination. These key pieces of legislation expose the Democrats radical agenda that’s hurting our students, our banks, and our country,” Speaker Johnson said.
“From enhancing transparency at the SEC and safeguarding retirement plans so Americans can secure their futures without interference from radical agendas, to challenging divisive DEI mandates that prioritize identity over merit and protecting free speech on our college campuses – House Republicans are working to restore common-sense and accountability in our federal government.”
Below is a complete list of legislative packages and individual bills passed this week:
H.R. 5339 – Protecting Americans’ Investments from Woke Policies Act
H.R.5339 – RETIRE Act
H.R.5338 – No Discrimination in My Benefits Act
H.R.5337 – Retirement Proxy Protection Act
H.R.5340 – Providing Complete Information to Retirement Investors Act
H.R. 3724 – End Woke Higher Education Act
H.R.3724 – Accreditation for College Excellence Act
H.R.7683 – Respecting the First Amendment on Campus Act
H.R. 4790 – Prioritizing Economic Growth Over Woke Policies Act
H.R.4790 – Guiding Uniform and Responsible Disclosure Requirements and Information Limits Act
H.R.4655 – Businesses Over Activists Act
H.R.4767 – Protecting Americans’ Retirement Savings from Politics Act
H.R.4823 – American FIRST Act
H.R. 5717 – No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act
H.J. Res. 136 – Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny Hoyer (MD-05), U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, and Jamie Raskin (all D-MD) recently met with the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus Chair Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins, the Maryland Black Caucus Foundation and members of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus at the U.S. Capitol to discuss federal priorities for the state. The meeting covered vital issues such as education equity, Black maternal health, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs, federal funding for the Francis Scott Key Bridge, and more. The meeting was the group’s first Congressional Delegation meeting on Capitol Hill and followed the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference in D.C held the week before. Maryland has the largest Black caucus of all state legislatures in the country.
Congressman Steny Hoyer, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, and Congressmen John Sarbanes, Jamie Raskin, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-MD) met with the Maryland Black Caucus Foundation and members of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus.
“Maryland’s Legislative Black Caucus has invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing Black Marylanders across our state today,” said Congressman Hoyer. “I was pleased to have the chance to meet with our partners in the Maryland General Assembly to discuss how we can help Maryland’s Black community get ahead in the months and years ahead. From improving Black maternal health to supporting our HBCUs to rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Team Maryland will continue our work in both Congress and the General Assembly to promote equity and opportunity in our state and beyond.”
“Any opportunity to discuss priorities with Maryland’s Legislative Black Caucus is a welcome opportunity. Maryland’s HBCUs are leading the state in entrepreneurship, our minority business community is an engine of economic growth, and we are one of the most diverse states in the country. We celebrate and embrace that diversity,” said Senator Cardin. “The issues that uniquely impact Black and minority communities affect our entire state and nation, and we continue to support federal policies that create more equitable pathways to success for these communities.”
“One of the keys to our Congressional delegation’s success is our close collaboration with our counterparts in Annapolis. It was a privilege to welcome the formidable Maryland Legislative Black Caucus to the Hill to discuss our efforts on important issues like improving Black maternal health, supporting HBCUs, investing in minority-owned businesses, providing universal early education, and helping communities across the state thrive. Together, we will keep working to deliver on these priorities for our mutual constituents,” said Senator Van Hollen.
“The issues highlighted by Maryland’s Legislative Black Caucus are critical to our Maryland communities and to Americans across the country. I am proud of the diversity of leadership in our state, and we are stronger because of it. Team Maryland remains committed to advancing policies at the federal level that build a more just, inclusive and equitable future for all,” said Congressman Sarbanes.
“It was powerful to welcome Chair Wilkins and the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland to Capitol Hill for the first of what we anticipate will be a series of compelling discussions with my colleagues and me,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “There is a strong activist legacy inherited by any member of a Black Caucus. As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, we must continue to work alongside one another and advance the work of Black legislators who have come before us,” he concluded.
“On Team Maryland, close partnerships among federal, local and state officials help us deliver for communities across our state,” said Congressman Raskin. “That’s why I was delighted to join my fellow delegation members in welcoming Maryland’s Legislative Black Caucus, led by MoCo’s own Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins, to the Capitol for a conversation about education equity and civil rights, Black maternal health, federal funding opportunities and more. Marylanders depend on our continued collaboration, with leaders in Washington, Annapolis, and across the state working together to ensure our people have access to the resources, programs and opportunities to achieve their dreams.”
“It was a historic day for the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. We had a productive meeting with our Congressional Delegation where we discussed issues of critical importance to the state. We’re excited about future opportunities to come together and collaborate, moving forward, to ensure that Maryland’s residents are being served at every level of government,” said Delegate Wilkins.
Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet introduced and voted to pass the bipartisan resolution formally recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15th through October 15th. The resolution passed unanimously.
“¡Feliz Mes de la Herencia Hispana! Colorado’s rich Latino community defines our state and has helped make it the best place to live,” said Hickenlooper.
“There is so much to celebrate about the Hispanic community’s deep roots in Colorado,” said Bennet. “This month, I’m grateful for the contributions of the more than 1.2 million Hispanic Americans who call our state home.”
In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson first commemorated Hispanic Heritage by designating “Hispanic Heritage Week.” President Ronald Reagan expanded the celebration in 1988 for a full month. Hispanic Americans are the country’s largest racial or ethnic minority group, representing more than 65 million people and comprising nearly a fifth of the U.S. and Colorado’s population.
The text of the resolution is available HERE.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)
WASHINGTON — Speaker Johnson released the following statement after the House passed HR 5717, the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act:
“While the Biden-Harris Administration was busy opening our borders to allow illegal aliens to flood into American communities, sanctuary cities were providing them with things like with free housing and healthcare – at the same time shielding them from federal law enforcement. Every municipality should obviously prioritize serving their own citizens instead of illegal aliens.
“But since sanctuary jurisdictions refuse to make the right choice and protect Americans, Congress is standing up for the people of this great nation. As its name suggests, the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act ensures no federal funding can be used to bail out cities, counties, and states that drain their budgets, breaking the law and catering to illegals who don’t have the right to be here.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)
Speaker Johnson Commends House Passage of Legislation Increasing Security for Presidential Candidates
Washington, September 20, 2024
WASHINGTON— Speaker Johnson released the below statement after the House passed the Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024, days after the second assassination attempt on Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
“It is surreal to say that there was a second attempt on Donald Trump’s life in less than two months. The current situation is dangerous, and he needs and deserves increased Secret Service protection to ensure his safety amid the significant threats he faces. With the passage of the Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024, the House is requiring the Secret Service Director to apply equal standards when determining the number of Secret Service agents assigned to protect sitting presidents and major candidates for president and vice president. With just 46 days left until Election Day, the Senate should immediately vote on this legislation and send it to Biden’s desk for his signature.”
The growth rate of corporate lending remained high (1.9% in August, 2.3% in July). Funds were attracted by companies from a wide range of industries, mainly for working capital financing.
Mortgages, according to preliminary data, grew by a moderate 0.9% (0.7% in July). A slight increase was shown by the issuance of both market and preferential mortgages, where about 90% fell to the “Family Mortgage”.
Amid rising rates and tighter macroprudential regulation, consumer lending continued to slow, growing 1.3% in August after 1.4% in July.
Household funds in banks are actively growing (1.3%; in July: 1.1%), especially in term deposits in rubles due to high rates. Legal entities’ funds also increased (1.3%; in July: 1.6%), mainly ruble balances of exporting companies grew.
The banking sector’s profit (adjusted for dividends from subsidiary banks) amounted to 435 billion rubles, having increased mainly due to positive currency revaluation caused by the decline in the ruble exchange rate against the euro and the dollar.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
http://vvv.kbr.ru/press/event/?id=21026
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.
A 25-year-old woman from Nackawic, N.B., has died following a collision between two side-by-sides in Millville.
On September 14, 2024, at approximately 10:53 p.m., members of the Keswick RCMP detachment, the Millville Fire Department, and Ambulance New Brunswick responded to a report of a collision between two side-by-sides on Route 104, in Millville.
The collision is believed to have occurred when the first side-by-side, carrying two individuals was attempting to cross Route 104, when a second side-by-side travelling Southbound on Route 104 collided with it.
A 25-year-old woman, travelling in the first side-by-side, was transported to hospital with what were believed to be serious, life-threatening injuries, and has since passed away. The second occupant of the same side-by-side was also transported to hospital with what were to be non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the second side-by-side, believed to be the sole occupant, fled the scene before police arrived.
An RCMP Collision Reconstructionist attended the scene and is assisting to determine the cause of the crash.
Police are seeking the public’s assistance in relation to this collision. Anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may have information that could help further the investigation, is asked to contact the Keswick RCMP at506-357-4300. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App, or by Secure Web Tips atwww.crimenb.ca.
RCMP Halifax Regional Detachmentarrested an impaired driver travelling at a high rate of speed in Upper Sackville.
On September 12, at approximately 7:15 p.m., an officer with RCMP Southeast Traffic Services was conducting traffic enforcement on Hwy. 101 when an Acura TLX was observed on radar travelling at 144 km/h. A traffic stop was completed on the vehicle.
The driver, a 25-year-old Lower Sackville man, exhibited signs of impairment and provided roadside breath samples into an approved screening device, which resulted in a “fail”. He was arrested and transported to the Lower Sackville RCMP Detachment wherehe subsequently provided breath samplesthat registered at 140 mg% and 120 mg%.
The man was later released. He’s scheduled to appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court on October 30, at 9:30 a.m., to face charges of Operation while Impaired,Operation of a Conveyance 80mg% or over, Driving a Motor Vehicle with Obstruction on Window and Driving at a Speed that Exceeds the Posted Speed Limit by 31 km/h or More.
Road safety is a shared responsibility. If you suspect an impaired driver, it’s an emergency; call 911.
BEIRUT, 23 September 2024 – At least 21 children are among an estimated 270 people killed, and more than 1,000 injured in Israeli strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon on Monday, with all schools now closing and children terrified, said Save the Children.
The regional escalation is threatening the lives of more than 345,000 children near the border with families now desperately trying to flee to find safety for their children.
Jennifer Moorehead, Save the Children Lebanon Country Director said:
“Our worst nightmare is now becoming a reality. Children in Lebanon have felt the crushing anxiety of a looming war since last October, and in the last few days their lives have been turned upside down, with densely populated neighbourhoods bombed. Today is the deadliest day since last October.
We’re seeing strikes in dozens of towns, families desperately trying to flee with whatever they can carry, children crying, terrified by the sound of drones and fighter jets above their heads. Children are telling us that every loud sound makes them jump now. Whenever they hear a door slam or something drop, they get scared and think it’s another sonic boom. It feels like danger is everywhere, and they can never be safe.
We have staff and partners who have family members stuck in the south, with roads damaged by airstrikes. All schools across the country will be closed from tomorrow, impacting around 1.5 million children, with many schools in major cities and villages now being opened as temporary refugee shelters.
Many of those fleeing are already vulnerable, including women, children and refugee populations who have been living in displacement for months. This is a major, terrifying escalation but we have to remember that children in the south have been impacted by cross-border violence, living in fear for years.
Any further escalation of hostilities will mean an unacceptable loss of human life. As always, children will bear the brunt of conflict. We strongly urge all parties to respect international humanitarian law and to de–escalate this crisis immediately. All parties must protect civilians and focus on diplomatic efforts to bring a lasting peace to all communities in the region.”
Note to editors:
Save the Children has been working in Lebanon since 1953. Save the Children is responding to ongoing needs, particularly for those who have been displaced by the escalation of violence in southern Lebanon. Save the Children has supported 60,000 people, including 24,000 children in collective shelters and host families with cash, clean water, food parcels, learning materials, mental health and psychosocial support, hygiene and cleaning products, mattresses, pillows, blankets to families who fled their homes.
To calculate the percentage of children who are projected to be affected by cross-border violence, Save the Children used the number of people projected to be affected overall according to the UN, and cross checked it with the UN’s population data. The share of children out of the total population in Lebanon, according to data from the World Population Prospects 2022, Is 32.9%. 32.9% of 1050000 is equal to an approximate number of children totalling 345,450.
In the margins of the high-level week of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, the President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, met today with the Special Envoy for Climate Change and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the United Arab Emirates, Sultan Al Jaber.
The meeting focused on opportunities for investment and economic and technological collaboration between Italy and the United Arab Emirates, with particular regard to the renewables sector and interconnection projects.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to further discuss possible joint initiatives in Africa, as part of the Mattei Plan and the Rome Process on migration and development, with a focus on renewable energy, also by involving the respective private sectors active on the African continent.
My father dedicated over 40 years to active duty in the Navy, and with my mother, instilled a strong sense of purpose in me and my two sisters. So joining the Navy felt like a natural choice, taking my oath alongside other young recruits who also valued the importance of having a purpose.
As a woman, the leadership skills I gained in the Navy proved invaluable in navigating industries with underrepresented groups. Fast forward to today, and I’m proud to be part of Google Public Sector, which provides solutions for government agencies and educational institutions. Veterans have so much to offer, yet the transition back to civilian life can be challenging. Research confirms that veterans, despite their qualifications and strong leadership abilities, are often undervalued in the civilian workforce.
Our commitment to veterans
At Google Cloud, we’re determined to change this narrative. We believe veterans deserve a clear path to high-paying careers in cloud and AI. The demand for skilled professionals to lead digital transformations is high, and veterans have the dedication and leadership qualities to excel in these roles.
My Navy experience, coupled with my technical background, showed me the impact of helping others and serving my country. I keep this in mind both at Google Public Sector and in my interactions with customers. That’s why I’m proud to announce the launch of an important new program: Google Cloud Launchpad for Veterans.
Introducing Google Cloud Launchpad for Veterans
This new, no-cost training and certification process is designed to equip veterans in all roles and at all levels with the cloud knowledge and skills they need, and contribute to their current or future employer’s digital transformation strategy.
The three-week course kicks off with a two-day virtual Cloud Digital Leader training event on November 7 and 8, delivered by ROI Training instructor and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Patrick Haggerty. Participants will take part in interactive training sessions and a panel discussion with veterans from Google. After the virtual training event, they’ll receive a complimentary voucher for the Cloud Digital Leader exam. Attendees are encouraged to take the exam between November 15 through December 31, 2024. (The first 500 to pass the exam will receive a voucher for their very own Google socks!) If you need extra practice, we’re also offering optional exam prep sessions on November 15 and 22.
This program goes beyond just certification. You’ll gain the confidence to explain cloud fundamentals, identify the right Google Cloud solutions, and use cloud technology. You’ll understand how to modernize infrastructure and applications, and you’ll learn the essentials of cloud operations and security.
Register today
You served us. Now let us serve you with a path to rewarding cloud and AI careers. Register today and translate your military experience to a powerful career in cloud.
A new report from Force for Good – “Capital as a Force for Good: Shifting the Global Order Through the Mass Mobilization of Solutions” – finds urgent action is needed now to unlock progress and achieve the SDGs
It identifies ‘Nine Big Ideas’ that, if scaled globally, have the potential to unlock SDG progress from less than 66% today, to nearly 90% by the end of the decade, helping correct the annual SDG funding gap of US$14-17 trillion
Ideas include climate transition frameworks, AI-enabled connectivity, and universal digital financial services, through coordinated action across governments, the private sector and multi-lateral institutions, proposing a high-impact roll-out across the world
LONDON, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Force For Good: The world is failing to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and urgent action is needed to unlock progress and overcome the growing annual SDG funding gap, which now stands at US$14-17 trillion, a new report from Force for Good finds, US$112-136 trillion in total, up 10%, due to the costs of global climate transition and development needs in the Global South.
Today, only 16% of the goal’s 169 underlying targets are on track to be met by 2030, with 50% falling behind, and 30% regressing below their 2015 levels when the SDGs were kicked off, the report finds.
Nine ‘Big Ideas’, including climate transition frameworks, AI-enabled connectivity, and universal digital financial services, if scaled globally, have the cumulative potential to progress SDG achievement to nearly 90%, from less than 66% today, reigniting exponential progress.
“This report shows how the global order and the systems itself can be transformed by delivering solutions en masse across the planet, engaging everyone in this endeavour … By leveraging the strengths of governments, private companies, NGOS and mobilising the individual as an agent of change, we can create a sustainable, secure, and prosperous future,” said Ketan Patel, Chair of the Advisory Council.
The world’s failure to meet the goals is being driven by a series of interrelated economic, political, geopolitical and environmental shocks – including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and Gaza, the energy, cost-of-living and climate crises – interacting with one another to create a ‘polycrisis’ that is diverting attention and resources away from sustainable development.
A mass and fast roll out of the ‘Nine Big Ideas’, sponsored by appropriate champions across government, private sector or multi-lateral institutions, working with the United Nations, can make a transformative impact on developing countries, while benefitting the global economy.
While the mass mobilisation of solutions will take a global effort, the largest developing countries, particularly India, China, and Brazil, account for two-thirds of the world’s sustainable development potential. These countries represent the first wave of opportunity in a multi-wave project to realize the future faster.
Meeting the SDGs is a crucial step for the world in the transition to the next era of human civilization, building a platform on which further breakthroughs and technologies can create a sustainable, secure and superior future.
About Force for Good
Force for Good’s mission is to mobilize capital, resources, and ideas as a force for good in the world at a time of profound change. The organization’s Capital as a Force for Good Initiative engages the world’s leading financial institutions and other stakeholders, to promote sustainable development through the deployment of capital and solutions to address global issues and enable the transition to a better future.
The annual Capital as a Force for Good report, now in its fourth edition, is the result of collaboration with the United Nations and major global financial institutions, assessing the role of capital in addressing the world’s most pressing issues.
Institutions actively engaged include Bank of America, BlackRock, Bridgewater Associates, Citi, Credit Suisse, Fidelity Investments, First Abu Dhabi Bank, GIC Singapore, Goldman Sachs, Great-West Lifeco, HDFC Bank, HSBC, Investec Group, Japan Post Holdings, JPMorgan Chase, Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, Lloyds Banking Group, Morgan Stanley, Nomura, Nordea, Northern Trust, OMERS, Putnam Investments, Schroders, State Street, UBS, Wellington, and others.
ATLANTA (September 23, 2024) — On Monday, September 30,2024, at 10:00 a.m., the Senate Advancing Forest Innovation in Georgia Study Committee, chaired by President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy (R–Macon), will hold its second hearing.
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Monday, September 30, 2024
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: 450 State Capitol, 206 Washington St SW, Atlanta, GA, 30334
This event is open to the public andwill be live-streamed on the Georgia General Assembly websitehere.
ABOUT THE MEETING:
The Senate Advancing Forest Innovation in Georgia Study Committee examines how public policy can encourage investment in facilities that create sustainable manufacturing components, practices, and energy derived from Georgia-grown products.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:
We kindly request that members of the media confirm their attendance in advance by contacting Jantz Womack at senatepressinquiries@senate.ga.gov.
# # # #
Sen. John F. Kennedy serves as the President Pro Tempore of the Georgia State Senate. He represents the 18th Senate District which includes Upson, Monroe, Peach, Crawford, as well as portions of Bibb and Houston County. He may be reached at 404.656.6578 or by email atjohn.kennedy@senate.ga.gov.
“I heard that when you die, you can still hear people’s voices as they bury you—their prayers and their footsteps as they walk away from your final resting place,” says Karam.
Karam is receiving care at the hospital run by Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Amman, Jordan, where our teams provide reconstructive surgery for patients from countries experiencing war, such as Iraq, Yemen, and Gaza, Palestine.
On February 14, 2024, an Israeli airstrike obliterated Karam’s home in Gaza, killing everyone in his family except for his 7-year-old sister, Ghina, and his father, Ziyad. Karam was badly injured, with burns across his whole face and body.
“In the ambulance, I could feel the speed bumps but I couldn’t open my eyes,” Karam says. “I could still hear voices, so I was afraid that maybe I was already dead.”
That day, Al-Aqsa Hospital was overwhelmed with casualties after the bombing of Nuseirat camp in central Gaza by Israeli forces. When Karam arrived at the hospital, the emergency room team worked to resuscitate him, but they eventually had to move on to treat other patients because they, too, thought he was dead.
In the ambulance, I could feel the speed bumps but I couldn’t open my eyes. I could still hear voices, so I was afraid that maybe I was already dead.
Karam, 17, MSF patient
One hour later, Karam’s uncle, who worked as a nurse at Al-Aqsa Hospital, entered the emergency room and realized that his nephew was still breathing. He rushed Karam to the operating theater, where MSF staff performed CPR and emergency surgery, saving his life.
His father, Ziyad, is a psychologist for UNRWA and was working at a refuge center when their family home in Nuseirat was hit.
“When I found out about the strike, I rushed to Al-Aqsa, as my neighbor told me that Ghina and Karam had been taken there,” says Ziyad. “I got to the emergency room and there were bodies everywhere, all over the floor. I found Ghina with first-degree burns on her face, shoulders, and back.”
The impact of the bomb dropped on Ziyad’s home was so strong that all that remains of the house is a crater. The blast killed 13 members of Ziyad’s family, including his wife, his youngest son Mohammed, and his eldest son Tareq, who was stuck in Gaza due to the war while visiting from Russia, where he was studying dentistry.
“When Karam was brought into the emergency room, I didn’t notice it was my son,” says Ziyad. “He had no human features on him. There were no clothes left on him. His body was completely black. His eyes were closed.”
After stabilizing Karam, MSF and Ministry of Health staff at Al-Aqsa Hospital performed six rounds of plastic surgery on Karam’s severely burned body. For seven days he was in a coma.
Karam was later evacuated to the Emirati floating hospital in Al-Arish, Egypt and then was flown to MSF’s reconstructive surgery hospital in Amman, where he is currently receiving comprehensive rehabilitation, along with his sister and other patients who have been medically evacuated from Gaza.
Thousands in Gaza need specialized care but are trapped
The small number of patients from Gaza receiving vital rehabilitation at MSF’s hospital in Amman are barely a ripple on the surface of needs across the Gaza Strip.
“We know from our experience at the reconstructive surgery hospital in Amman, where we have treated people with war wounds from the region for nearly 20 years, that typically up to 4 percent of people who suffer war injuries will need reconstructive surgery,” says Moeen Mahmood Shaief, MSF head of mission in Jordan.
“In the case of Gaza, we are talking about nearly 100,000 people who have been injured since October 7, 2023. Therefore we are looking at up to 4,000 people in Gaza who need reconstructive surgery and comprehensive rehabilitation,” he says.
Almost 60 percent of medical evacuation requests are denied
According to OCHA, at least 41,000 people have been killed—not counting at least 10,000 still missing under rubble—in Gaza since the war started last year, and over 95,000 people have been injured, with at least 14,000 in need of medical evacuation.
However, the process that allows a wounded patient to be referred abroad for care is long and complicated. The Israeli authorities’ criteria for approving requests are unclear and patients often have to wait months for a response. Almost 60 percent of requests for medical evacuations from Gaza are turned down, according to the World Health Organization. This includes requests to evacuate wounded children and their caretakers, according to MSF.
MSF calls for medical evacuations without prejudice to Palestinians’ right to return
Thousands of Palestinians in Gaza require complex and sustained medical care that is unavailable in the Strip due to the collapse of its health system during the war. Israel must resume issuing medical referral permits for treatment in the West Bank and Jerusalem for severe cases that cannot be treated in Gaza. All medical referrals, patients, and their caregivers must be guaranteed safe, voluntary, and dignified return to Gaza.
“Of the eight cases for which we applied for medical evacuation in August, only three were approved with their caretakers by the Israeli authorities,” says Dr. Hani Isleem, MSF project coordinator for medical evacuations from Gaza.
“We will apply again for the next batch, but it is 100 percent clear that they will not approve all the patients. Perhaps they are suspicious of allowing adults to leave the Gaza Strip, but even that suspicion cannot explain the refusal to evacuate children.”
MSF calls on the Israeli authorities to ensure medical evacuations for Palestinians in need of specialized medical care, including their caregivers, and for other states to receive and facilitate treatment outside of Gaza, while ensuring that all patients and their caregivers are guaranteed safe, voluntary, and dignified return to Gaza.
Deema, 11, and her family were sheltering at their home in Gaza City when their neighbor’s house was hit by an airstrike on October 10, 2023. Deema was on the fourth floor, holding her baby nephew in her arms, when the building collapsed around them. She fell four stories to the ground floor.
“It was pitch black under the rubble,” says Deema. “I couldn’t open my eyes and could barely breathe. I couldn’t hear anyone and I couldn’t speak. There was dust and stones covering my face. I was convinced that I was going to die.”
“I managed to move my hand under the rubble and used a cable to signal to people that I was there,” she continues. “I remember hearing voices, and I felt air on my leg, and soon people were pulling me out and rushing me to the ambulance. To this day, they haven’t found my baby nephew.”
Seventy-five people were killed in the strike, including Deema’s 14-year-old brother, Hamza. Her younger brother, Hazem, was playing football outside and was also severely injured when the building collapsed. After the dust settled and rescue teams arrived at the scene, Deema and Hazem were rushed to Al-Shifa Hospital, where they received emergency medical care.
The most dangerous place in the world to be a child
Due to the incessant bombardment of Gaza City, Deema, Hazem, and their mother, Eman, stayed at Al-Shifa Hospital for six months. They were eating, sleeping, and receiving care there, along with thousands of other Palestinians who were taking shelter inside the hospital.
On March 18, 2024, Israeli forces surrounded the hospital, forcing the thousands of people inside to flee. In the chaos of the evacuation, Deema became separated from her mother and Hazem, who were forced to move south. Meanwhile, Deema managed to reunite with her father and took shelter with him at Asma’a School in Gaza City, where they remained for 45 days.
“We stayed in a classroom with around 50 families,” explains Deema. “We had almost no food or water, and there was no electricity or gas, so we had to light fires. My shoulder was broken, and I couldn’t move it at all and I was barely able to walk at that time.”
In early May, Deema was at last able to travel to the south of Gaza, where she was reunited with her mother and Hazem in Rafah. One week later they were medically evacuated, first to Egypt and then to MSF’s hospital in Amman, where Deema and Hazem continue to receive reconstructive surgery, physiotherapy, and mental health support.
As a result of the attack on her home, Deema suffered fractures to her right femur and shoulder as well as an open wound to her forehead. In Amman, the MSF physiotherapy team works with her daily to encourage her fractured bones to heal before the external fixator in her leg can be removed. With time, she hopes to be able to regain full function of her limbs.
“I wasn’t able to move my ankle or my arm when I first arrived in Jordan, but with the help of surgery and physiotherapy I can move them both again,” says Deema. “But it’s hard for me to think of the future as long as there is war in Gaza.”
MSF mental health teams at the Amman hospital have noted that before the start of the war, Palestinians from Gaza already suffered from depression and frustration, often related to unemployment, poverty, and high addiction rates, as well as to disabilities and amputations caused by previous wars. However, since the war started last October the mental health of Gazans has deteriorated dramatically.
“A lot of patients coming from Gaza to the Amman hospital are experiencing not only post-traumatic stress disorder, but even acute stress syndrome,” says Dr. Ahmad Mahmoud Al Salem, MSF psychiatrist at the hospital in Amman. “This means that the patients usually have a lot of nightmares and a lot of flashbacks, as well as low mood, insomnia, and avoidance of the whole memory.”
This is not a normal trauma. This is a huge, tormenting catastrophe, and psychologically their minds are unable to bear all of this stress.
Dr. Ahmad Mahmoud Al Salem, MSF psychiatrist
Many Palestinians in Gaza have witnessed the destruction of their homes and the killing of their families, and many have suffered life-changing injuries. On top of that, they are constantly learning of the loss of more family members and friends.
“This is not a normal trauma,” says Dr. Al Salem. “This is a huge, tormenting catastrophe, and psychologically their minds are unable to bear all of this stress.”
The mental health team at MSF’s hospital in Amman provide patients who have suffered acute trauma with comprehensive therapy. Children are offered one-on-one psychological support, as well as educational activities and occupational therapy to help them feel more empowered. The more severe cases are referred to Dr. Al Salem for psychiatric support and medication.
Longing for Gaza after medical evacuation: Abdul Rahman’s story
“Adolescents can suffer real misery, as they are just starting to form their personality and their identity,” adds Dr. Al Salem. “They are beginning to understand their place in the world and they are asking themselves: ‘Will I be productive one day, will I be attractive, will I be able to earn money?’”
According to Dr. Al Salem, adolescent patients who have suffered horrific, life-changing wounds will need long-term psychotherapy and support, not only to deal with painful memories and mental trauma, but to rebuild their sense of self-worth and learn to live with a disability.
“These kids need support to rebuild their self-worth and self-esteem,” says Dr. Al Salem. “But it takes time.”
For young Palestinian patients at MSF’s Amman hospital, the future remains dark and unclear. There is still no safe place in Gaza, and while they may be able to return to Gaza physically at some point, the prospects are bleak. All of them have lost family members, as well as their homes and their schools.
Deema wants to go back to school and to see her family, but not until the war is over and Gaza has been rebuilt.
“I would like to become an engineer,” says Deema. “I wish that Gaza could return to how it once was. We don’t want to be displaced or pushed out, we just want to go back to our lives before the war.”
I wish that Gaza could return to how it once was. We don’t want to be displaced or pushed out, we just want to go back to our lives before the war.
Deema, 11, MSF patient
Five months after the catastrophic attack on his home, Karam is walking again, he is able to move his left arm, and his left eye is slowly reopening—a nearly miraculous recovery considering he was originally thought dead by medical staff at Al-Aqsa Hospital.
Today, Karam is smiling as he lets go of his crutches in the physiotherapy department and grabs hold of the parallel stabilizing bars to take a few steps forward. Before the war he had wanted to become a dentist, like his older brother Tareq, but since he was injured, he is not sure if it will be possible.
“I’m taking it one step at a time,” says Karam. “If the war ends, God willing, we will head back to Gaza. It’s my country, it’s where I spent my whole life. My friends are there. But for now, I’m here and I want to get better, one second at a time.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)
Monterey, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) praised the progress being made to help reforestation efforts in our National Forests due to his REPLANT Act. Rep. Panetta authored the bipartisan and bicameral bill and ensured that it was included in the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that passed in the 117th Congress and was signed into law by President Joe Biden. The REPLANT Act mandates federal investment in the Reforestation Trust Fund that helps reduce the backlog of projects to plant more trees in burn-scarred areas. Since the REPLANT Act became law, the U.S. Forest Service has reforested 360,000 acres.
National Forests account for 193 million acres of land across the United States. These forests store 25% of the nation’s carbon, filter drinking water for 60 million Americans, are home to 3,000 species, host 159 million visitors annually, and contribute $13.7 billion to local economies. In 2021, the U.S. Forest Service had a reforestation backlog of 3.6 million acres, largely due to destructive wildfires and other hazards.
The REPLANT Act increased investments in reforestation projects on national forests and removed the previous $30 million annual cap in the Reforestation Trust Fund, making an average of $123 million available for reforestation each year.
“As stewards of our environment, it was long past time that we stopped talking about replanting our treasured National Forests and started taking action,” said Rep. Panetta. “I am not only proud to have authored the bipartisan REPLANT Act and have it signed into law, but I’m also very pleased to see that the landmark investments are having a significant impact in replanting and revitalizing our forests. We have more work to do when it comes to managing and protecting our environment, but the early results of the REPLANT Act should give us hope that the United States Congress can properly promote and perpetuate our National Forests.”
The goal of the REPLANT Act is to help reforest 4.1 million acres by planting 1.2 billion trees over the next 10 years. This level of reforestation is expected to sequester 758 million metric tons of carbon over the trees’ lifetimes, the equivalent of 85.3 billion gallons of gasoline, improve soil health and wildlife habitats, and create nearly 49,000 jobs over the next 10 years. Rep. Panetta led the REPLANT Act with Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and then Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) as well as Representative Mike Simpson (ID-02).
In addition to the REPLANT Act’s investments, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes key measures for climate and community resiliency, such as $3.37 billion for wildfire risk reduction, $27.65 billion to modernize energy grids, $7.7 billion to strengthen clean energy supply chains, and $55 billion to improve water infrastructure.
On the sidelines of the high-level week of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, met with the Special Envoy for Climate and Minister of Industry of the United Arab Emirates, Sultan Al Jaber.
At the center of the meeting were the opportunities for investment and economic and technological collaboration between Italy and the United Arab Emirates, with particular attention to the renewable energy sector and interconnection projects.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to deepen discussions on possible joint initiatives in Africa, within the framework of the Mattei Plan and the Rome Process on migration and development, with a focus on renewable energy also through the involvement of the respective private sectors active in the African continent.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
The reaffirmation of Alberta’s and Gangwon’s sister province relationship took place in a ceremonial signing between Premier Smith and Governor Kim Jin Tae of Gangwon State, Republic of Korea as part of the Governor’s official visit to the province from Sept. 21 to 25.
With this renewal, Alberta and Gangwon will strive to build on decades of co-operation by exploring opportunities to expand collaboration in health innovation and life sciences, technology and innovation, sustainable energy development, export growth, investment attraction and sport.
“This monumental occasion is not just an opportunity to look back at our shared achievements, but also to forge new, mutually beneficial ties together. Gangwon is a valuable friend and partner to our province, and through the reaffirmation of this historic agreement, we are setting the stage to ensure our deep-rooted ties continue to grow even deeper for years to come. I am excited for our continued collaboration, which will enhance trade and investment that grows our economies, secures opportunities for businesses and industries, and ensures a prosperous future for people in Alberta and Gangwon.”
“I vividly recall the news about the Gangwon-Alberta Sisterhood Agreement forged 50 years ago, and it is a great honor for me to serve as the Governor during this historical year. On the foundation of longstanding friendship and amity, Gangwon and Alberta now seek to expand their relationship into a robust economic partnership. In addition to the energy, bio-healthcare and sports that will be the part of this visit, we will continue to work closely with Alberta to facilitate substantive collaboration in other future-oriented industries as well.”
A memorandum of understanding establishing the sister province relationship between Alberta and Gangwon, Republic of Korea was originally inked on Sept. 3, 1974, and was the first ever international sister relationship for both Alberta and Gangwon.
Collaboration under this agreement has traditionally focused on education, culture and sport exchanges, but has expanded over the years to include research and business-to-business relations.
Quick facts
Alberta and Gangwon’s sister province relationship has been a catalyst for several successes over the past five decades. For example:
From 1974 to 2020, Alberta participated in numerous sports exchanges with Gangwon, including alpine and Nordic skiing, whitewater canoeing, wrestling, golf, boxing, soccer, tennis, team handball, fencing and cycling.
Since 1984, the University of Alberta’s Kangwon Teachers of Education Program has helped more than 600 Gangwon Province teachers hone their English language teaching skills.
In 2015, Alberta’s government provided support for an international research collaboration between the University of Calgary and Gangwon, with additional funding provided by Opti pharm-M & D, Inc., a Gangwon-based biomedical company. The project focused on improving early diagnosis for breast cancer by examining cancer cells and tissue samples to measure biomarker expression in real-time.
The Republic of Korea, known informally as South Korea, is an important economic partner for Alberta.
Bilateral trade between Alberta and South Korea totalled about $1.3 billion in 2023.
Alberta’s total exports to the region in 2023 totalled $940.6 million, and consisted primarily of energy, nickel, meat, wood pulp, canola oil and cereals.
Several major South Korean energy companies have Canadian headquarters in Calgary, including KOGAS, Korea National Oil Corp (KNOC) and SK Eco-Engineering.
Alberta has a strong and vibrant Korean community, with about 24,000 Albertans with ethnic or cultural origin to Korea.
Springdale RCMP is looking to arrest 39-year-old Andy Morey.
Morey is currently wanted on charges of Assault and Criminal Negligence. Please see the attached image of Morey.
Anyone having information on the current location of Andy Morey is asked to contact Springdale RCMP at709-673-3864. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visitwww.nlcrimestoppers.comor use the P3Tips app.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)
Congressman Salud Carbajal’s (CA-24) legislation to formally rename the U.S. Post Office on E. Battles Road in Santa Maria in honor of Larry Lavagnino — the City’s former Mayor, City Councilmember, and longtime resident — advanced out of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform by a unanimous vote and now moves to the House Floor for consideration by the full U.S. House of Representatives.
“Proud to see my bill to rename the Santa Maria Post Office in Honor of Mayor Larry Lavagnino passed out of committee and now moving to the House Floor,”said Rep. Carbajal.“Having worked closely with Mayor Lavagnino throughout his extensive career in local government, I can confidently say that this recognition is a fitting testament to his decades of dedicated public service to Santa Maria and the Central Coast.”
“I’m deeply honored and humbled,”said Mayor Larry Lavagnino.“I know there are many more deserving of this recognition but I am also very excited for my entire family. I only wish my mom and dad were around to witness this.”
“Moving any piece of federal legislation isn’t easy so I’m extremely grateful to Salud and his staff for getting this through committee. I can’t wait to see my dad’s face when we finally unveil the new sign,”said Supervisor Steve Lavagnino.
Larry Lavagnino served as Mayor of Santa Maria from 2002 to 2012, and as a Member of the Santa Maria City Council from 1996 to 2002.
During his time as Mayor, Santa Maria saw a significant number of improvements and additions, including a new library, multiple new fire stations, a new transit center, a new police department building, the expansion of the city’s wastewater treatment plant, and the widening of Santa Maria River Bridge and Highway 101.
On top of the above improvements during his tenure, Mayor Lavagnino was also able to help secure more than $46 million in federal funding for improvements to the Santa Maria River Levee, which protects thousands of homes and businesses in the area. He also helped bring about the Abel Maldonado Youth Center, which continues to provide a safe and welcoming space for teens.
Lavagnino is a graduate of Santa Maria Union High School and Allan Hancock College, and still lives four houses down from the Santa Maria home that he grew up in.
The legislation was unveiled in January of 2024 at Santa Maria City Hall with Santa Barbara County Supervisor, and son of the longtime Mayor, Steve Lavagnino, and current Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
SANTA ANA, California – A one-time Orange County man who is one of Romania’s most notorious criminals was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for stealing victims’ identities to withdraw money from their public-assistance accounts without their permission.
Florin Duduianu, 39, whose last known residence was in Mission Viejo, was sentenced by United States District Judge John W. Holcomb, who also ordered him to pay $1,850 in restitution.
Duduianu pleaded guilty on January 5 to three counts of bank fraud and unlawful use of unauthorized access devices. After a two-day bench trial, Judge Holcomb on January 23 found Duduianu guilty of two counts of aggravated identity theft.
“This defendant came to our country to victimize the neediest members of our society,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Our nation is not a piggy bank for foreign criminals, and those who think they can take advantage of our liberties to harm our people are sorely mistaken.”
“Duduianu stole money which was meant to serve as a critical lifeline to those most in need,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “It was a serious offense, and the FBI remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners across the globe to identify fraudsters like this defendant and hold them fully accountable for their crimes.”
In August 2023, law enforcement was conducting an operation to combat Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) fraud at various banks and ATMs in Placentia. Police saw Duduianu, accompanied by a passenger, drive up to a Wells Fargo ATM and make multiple withdrawals on different cards. Based on this information, officers pulled Duduianu over. Duduianu lied to the officers, telling them he was depositing, not withdrawing, money from the ATM.
During a search of Duduianu’s passenger, officers found four Visa gift cards, three Wells Fargo ATM receipts, and $1,850 in cash. The Visa gift cards were encoded with EBT card numbers. Those numbers were run through an EBT database, which showed that they belonged to four different people. Based on the Wells Fargo receipts, Duduianu used two of the cards to make three withdrawals totaling $1,850 from the ATM.
The FBI contacted the accountholders for the two EBT accounts from which Duduianu made withdrawals. The accountholders said that they did not know Duduianu or his car passenger and did not give permission to anyone to withdraw funds from their accounts.
During a search of Duduianu’s cellphone, law enforcement found dozens of photos and videos related to ATM skimming as well as tools and techniques used to skim EBT information. Law enforcement also found photos of large sums of cash and hundreds of EBT numbers from multiple states. In the chat history of Duduianu’s phone, the government found an article about EBT fraud that was sent from his phone to four other phone numbers.
On another smartphone law enforcement recovered during Duduianu’s arrest, law enforcement found additional videos related to ATM skimming. Phone records and EBT records showed that this phone was used to check the balance of the EBT accounts of the victims in this case, five days before Duduianu withdrew $1,850 from those same accounts.
“Until his arrest in this case…Duduianu was one of Romania’s ‘Most Wanted’ criminals and an INTERPOL fugitive,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “He leads the ‘Duduianu Clan,’ an exceptionally violent and influential
organized crime group and was previously convicted of attempted murder. In 2020, [Duduianu] fled Romanian prosecution following charges of robbery and blackmail.”
The FBI and the Placentia Police Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys David Y. Pi of the Major Frauds Section and Diane B. Roldán of the General Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon(PA-5)
Funding will expand port to increase shipping capacity and efficiency
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Scanlon (PA-05) today joined Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA), and Congressmen Dwight Evans (PA-03) and Brendan Boyle (PA-02) in announcing the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PhilaPort) is receiving a total of $217,000,000 in funding to expand the operational capacity of the SouthPort terminal. The operational expansion will create a new space for ships and expand onloading and offloading capacity and efficiency. This award is from the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (MEGA) Program, which was created and funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
“The Port of Philadelphia is a critical driver of good-paying jobs for our regional economy. I’m so pleased to see this critical funding coming to our region to bring more cargo to the Port,” said Rep. Scanlon.
“The infrastructure law is helping the port transport more goods, which will create good jobs in Southeastern Pennsylvania. This game-changing investment in PhilaPort will ensure that the port remains a critical force in the Nation’s supply chain and the Commonwealth’s economy.” said Senator Casey. “I will always fight to improve our shipping hubs to ensure that the Commonwealth’s waterways boost economic growth and create and sustain good jobs.”
“I’m proud to see this $217 million funding coming to the SouthPort terminal. By expanding the terminal and increasing capacity, the Department of Transportation is investing in Pennsylvania as a leader in trade and infrastructure and supporting the communities that rely on these jobs every day. I thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their continued investment in Pennsylvania’s future,” said Senator Fetterman.
“This funding will improve Philadelphia port infrastructure and will allow greater efficiency in handling and transporting goods. Most of all, this funding will create jobs by increasing trade, and enhancing global competitiveness. Philadelphia ports must always be kept updated and modernized to remain competitive in both the regional and global supply chain economy,” said Rep. Boyle.
“I was proud to vote for the Biden-Harris administration’s infrastructure and jobs law, and it’s again delivering for Philadelphia and the region with $217 million in federal funding – that is a major investment in our future!” said Rep. Evans.
The $217,200,000 investment from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). This funding will expand the port’s operational capacity by creating more space to for vessels to dock at the port and increasing on and offloading efficiencies. Specifically, this funding will support the construction of a second berth which will improve the port’s ability to on and offload goods from ships. Additionally, the funding will support infill construction, which will expand the port by approximately ten acres. This port expansion will ensure that the port can remain a competitive and efficient shipping hub.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
RIVERSIDE, California – A Northern California man and former soldier was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison for posting online videos of himself threatening to kill multiple military personnel at the Fort Irwin army base in San Bernardino County.
Christian Ernest Beyer, 42, of Petaluma, was sentenced by United States District Judge Suzanne S. Sykes.
Beyer pleaded guilty on June 28 to one count of sending threats by interstate communication.
“Mr. Beyer’s desire to carry out violence against members of our military and their families led to a federal prison sentence,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Our military servicemembers deserve better and we will continue to prosecute those who seek to harm public servants.”
“Today’s sentence is a stern reminder that anyone who harms innocent military members and their families will serve jail time,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force will continue to investigate all threats against those who bravely serve their country.”
According to court documents, in October 2023, Beyer published a video on his personal YouTube page. The video is approximately three minutes in length and contains multiple threats directed at four victims and their families. The victims were specific military personnel at Fort Irwin.
Beyer is an army veteran formerly stationed at Fort Irwin who was court martialed in 2021 for assault.
He has been in federal custody since November 2023.
The FBI investigated this matter as part of its Los Angeles Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Matt Coe-Odess of the General Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Armoni Moody (23, Davenport) with carjacking, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. If convicted on all counts, Moody faces a minimum mandatory penalty of seven years, up to life, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Moody that the United States intends to forfeit a SCCY firearm and assorted rounds of ammunition, which are alleged to have been used in the commission of the offense.
According to the indictment, on June 12, 2024, Moody used a firearm to commit a carjacking during which he took a vehicle from the victim with the intent to cause death and serious bodily harm. Prior to the offense, Moody had previously been convicted of robbery with a weapon on May 13, 2021. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
This case is part of the 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 for occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
MIAMI – On September 16, a tribal member pleaded guilty in federal court to assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to bodily harm, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
According to court records, on April 26, Sutanga Rex Cypress, 42, was arguing with the victim when Cypress brandished a firearm. Cypress then pointed the gun at the victim and shot the victim in the abdomen. The victim was airlifted to the hospital due to the severity of the injuries sustained by the gunshot.
Sentencing is set for December 9, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Becerra. Cypress faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for one count and up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the remaining counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines along with other mitigating, aggravating and statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI, Miami Field Office, and Chief Roland Pandolfi of the Miccosukee Police Department made the announcement.
FBI Safe Trails, Miami and Miccosukee Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Latoya C. Brown and Vanessa E. Bonhomme are prosecuting the case.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-20195-JB.
AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Parallels, a global leader in cross-platform solutions, today announced it has been named a Visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service. While included as an Honorable Mention in the 2023 version of the report, this is the first time Parallels has appeared as one of the placed vendors within the Magic Quadrant.
Parallels DaaS is a cloud-native, Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) solution that offers users secure and seamless access to their virtual applications and desktop environments anytime, anywhere. Parallels is identified as a Visionary in Gartner’s evaluation for its Ability to Execute and Completeness of Vision.
While Parallels DaaS is a new offering, it benefits from Parallels’ extensive experience in Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) through its more mature Parallels RAS (Remote Application Server) solution. Parallels RAS (Remote Application Server) is a flexible virtual application and desktop delivery solution providing a unified management platform that enables on-premises VDI, hybrid environments, cloud PCs, and physical endpoints.
A Gartner Magic Quadrant is a culmination of research in a specific market, giving end users a wide-angle view of the relative positions of the market’s competitors.
“We believe that our position as a Visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service is not only an accomplishment for Parallels, but also a testament to our commitment to simplifying the management of virtual machines and meeting the demands of the market,” said Prashant Ketkar, CTO at Parallels. “With Parallels DaaS, organizations receive an intuitive, user-friendly solution with simple licensing without sacrificing scalability and security.”
Gartner Attribution & Disclaimer Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service, By Stuart Downes, Eri Hariu, Mark Margevicius, Craig Fisler, Sunil Kumar, 16 September.
Gartner and Magic Quadrant are registered trademarks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
About Parallels Parallels is a global leading brand in cross-platform solutions that make it simple for businesses and individuals to use and access the applications and files they need on any device or operating system. Parallels helps customers leverage the best technology out there, whether it’s Windows, Mac, ChromeOS, iOS, Android, or the cloud. Parallels solves complex engineering and user-experience problems by making it simple and cost-effective for businesses and individual customers to use applications anywhere, anytime. For more information, please visit www.parallels.com.
Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced the Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act to provide free access to national parks and other public lands to all American fourth graders and their families through 2031.
“Introducing young Americans to our national parks inspires an appreciation for the lands and resources that help define our country. I’m proud to support this legislation that allows the next generation to discover our national treasures and explore the outdoors,” said Boozman.
“As a father and a former outdoor educator, I know firsthand how much of a difference getting outside can make for our kids,” said Heinrich, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “I’m so proud of the doors we have opened to our public lands for fourth graders and their families since we passed my Every Kid Outdoors Act into law five years ago. Now, we can double down on this successful program, turning our national parks and other public lands into outdoor classrooms with endless opportunities for children to learn and families to make new memories.”
Starting in 2015, the U.S. Department of the Interior has offered fourth graders and their families free entrance to all federally managed public lands. The authorization is scheduled to expire in 2026.
Full text of the Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act can be found here.
The Every Kid Outdoors program has successfully encouraged tens of thousands of children and their families to explore America’s public lands, waters, historic sites and national parks – more than 2,000 sites in all.
The Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act has widespread support with endorsements from The Wilderness Society, Sierra Club and Outdoor Alliance for Kids.
“Over the past nine years, hundreds of thousands of children have been able to enjoy our public lands with the support of the Every Kid Outdoors program. This program has helped to introduce and facilitate outdoors adventures and experiences to these children and their families during a critical formative period in their lives. The Outdoors Alliance for Kids is eager to see this program continue to benefit families and communities for generations to come,” said Julia Hurwit, Campaign Manager for Outdoors Alliance for Kids.
The Highland Council is asking any businesses, companies or organisations who are planning to hold any type of market, including Christmas or festive type markets, to contact the Licensing Service to check if they require a market operator’s licence.
If a licence is required, organisers will have to have applied for, and had this granted, prior to the market taking place.
Applications should be submitted at least four weeks before the proposed market date to allow sufficient time for processing.
There are certain exemptions from the requirement to be licensed for non-commercial markets. For example, if the market is to be organised by charitable, religious, youth, recreational, community, political or similar organisations.
If you wish to check if your market will require a licence, please do not hesitate to contact the Council’s Licensing team at licensing@highland.gov.uk