Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
DoJ stages large-scale rule of law drama “Rule of Law Academy – Adventure to the Stars” today and tomorrow The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, and the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, make their debut in “Rule of Law Academy – Adventure to the Stars”. Playing the roles of the Principal and Vice-principal of the Rule of Law Academy respectively, they lead students on a thrilling adventure to practise the spirit of respect, integrity, justice and law-abidingness in order to win the honor of “Rule of Law Star”, thereby conveying the important messages of “uphold justice, uphold the rule of law”.
By integrating knowledge and creativity with rich interactive elements, the drama aims to encourage students and parents to practise the spirits of integrity, mutual respect, equality and law-abiding awareness in their daily choices and actions, and to make rule of law education an integral part of family education.
The DoJ has launched the “Rule of Law through Drama” project since 2021. Through lively, interesting and interactive performances, students can learn the proper concept of the rule of law, enhance their law-abiding awareness and cultivate a law-abiding spirit. The project has been well received with over 300 drama performances presented for primary schools in various districts across the territory since its launch. Issued at HKT 21:01
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Commissioner of Police inspects passing-out parade of Police Cadet Training at HK Police College Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chow Yat-ming encouraged the cadets to uphold the core values of “Wisdom, Courage, Integrity, and Perseverance” and to embody the “Cadet Spirit” of the Police Cadet School. He recalled since the establishment of the Cadet School in 1973 until the completion of its historic mission in 1990, over 4 000 elites have been trained and most of them have joined the Force to serve the community.
Mr Chow mentioned the “Diploma of Applied Education – Police Cadet Training” Programme was launched in 2024. The Police Force collaborated with the Caritas Institute of Community Education, the Hong Kong College of Technology as well as the Hong Kong Institute of Technology to offer a programme equipping aspiring police recruits with comprehensive academic, physical, and psychological preparation.
Taught by experienced police officers, most of whom are Cadet School alumni, in the programme offered by the Police College, the curriculum features experiential learning and a “hell week” outdoor training, designed to strengthen cadets’ mentality and values, serving as a good preparation for the cadets to proceed directly to a 27-week foundation training at the Police College after completing the diploma, passing medical and character assessments.
Mr Chow highlighted that colleagues graduating from the Cadet School are loyal to missions and never give up. He commended the cadets for demonstrating resilience and teamwork, perfectly establishing the exemplary image and spirit of “Cadets” during their training. He encouraged cadets to transform the resilience and confidence gained from training into motivation for future challenges, and to uphold the principle of “acting with integrity even when alone,” always prioritise the public’s interests and embody the Force’s motto of “Serving Hong Kong with Honour, Duty and Loyalty.”
He expressed gratitude to the former Deputy Principals of the Cadet School and over 60 “Cadet” alumni present at the passing-out parade, commending their contributions to the Force and to Hong Kong, while highlighting the enduring unity of the “Cadet” community.
Mr Chow further inspired the cadets with the phrase “Physical strength is finite, but willpower is limitless”, encouraging them to remember their instructors’ teachings, cherish their camaraderie and uphold the proud traditions of the “Cadets”, while continue to contribute to Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability. Issued at HKT 13:54
At WAVES 2025, experts call for unified action against piracy, blending technology, law, and awareness Panel discussion highlights economic losses, cybercrime risks, and solutions combining enforcement and education
“Effective anti-piracy enforcement could drive a 25% increase in legal video service users”
Posted On: 03 MAY 2025 2:51PM by PIB Mumbai
Mumbai, 3 May 2025
At WAVES 2025, a panel discussion on “Piracy: Safeguarding Content through Technology” brought together global leaders in media, law, and cybersecurity to address one of the most pressing challenges facing the digital content economy. Moderated by Neil Gane, Vice President and Head of Asia Pacific at IP House, the conversation reflected the growing consensus that piracy is no longer a fringe concern but a mainstream threat demanding coordinated, multi-dimensional responses.
Vivek Couto, Managing & Executive Director of Media Partners Asia, underlined the economic cost of unchecked piracy. “Online piracy is expected to cost the industry over 10% in lost revenue between 2025 and 2029,” he said. “But effective anti-piracy enforcement could drive a 25% increase in legal video service users and unlock a US$ 0.5 billion boost in content investment, raising the total value to US$ 3.8 billion by 2029.” He urged stakeholders to reframe the piracy discussion from protection to potential, especially as India’s digital video economy scales.
Dr. Shruti Mantri, Associate Director at ISB Institute of Data Science, highlighted the intersection of digital piracy and cybercrime. “Piracy often involves malicious tools like trojans, ransomware, and spyware. Users between 18–24 years old are particularly vulnerable,” she said. She called for comprehensive public awareness campaigns and educational initiatives, noting that prevention must begin with informed consumers. She also announced a Digital Piracy Summit being organized by ISB in collaboration with CBI and Interpol on July 9–10.
Speaking on anti-piracy operations in the sports sector, Anurag Kashyap, Head of Anti-Piracy Operations at DAZN, explained the preventive approach. “Our strategy is built around the three Ds: detection, disruption, and deterrence. We start enforcement even before the event goes live,” he said. Invisible watermarking, he added, plays a pivotal role in tracking leaks.
Legal expert Anil Lale, Head-Legal at Jio Hotstar, stressed the importance of strong enforcement. “The biggest deterrent is prosecuting the pirates. Law enforcement must identify the source of leaks and stop playing catch-up,” he said. Prevention, he asserted, should be proactive rather than reactive.
Praveen Anand of Anand and Anand Associates emphasized that the solution lies in both technology and judicial reform. “Tools like AI, blockchain, and watermarking are crucial. But we must also make camcording difficult with measures like metal detectors. Timely legal action is essential to create deterrence,” he noted.
The panel converged on the need for a united front, where technology, legislation, enforcement agencies, and public awareness work in tandem to protect the future of digital content. WAVES 2025, through such discussions, continues to spotlight actionable strategies for the Media and Entertainment industry’s most pressing concerns.
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It’s believed the children wandered away from a home on Gairloch Rd. in Lansdowne Station.
The search for Lily and Jack continued through the night and will continue as necessary to support the missing persons investigation. Ground search and rescue teams and air services from the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association and the Department of Natural Resources are contributing assets.
“Search teams have been strategic and thorough in their work,” says Inspector Mike Ingles, Acting District Policing Officer. “They’re using a variety of tools and resources as they look for the children in the heavily wooded rural area. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Jack and Lily who hasn’t already spoken to police is asked to contact the Pictou County District RCMP.”
When the children were reported missing, a vulnerable missing persons alert was issued in Pictou County. As the children have not yet been located, a broadcast intrusive alert was issued today, at approximately 5:27 p.m., to Antigonish, Colchester, and Pictou counties.
Investigators continue to ask that the public avoid the search area to allow trained searchers to do their work.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Pictou County District RCMP at 902-485-4333. 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.
The Gitanmaax First Nation is implementing an Intervention Circle in the Gitxsan Territory to provide culturally appropriate supports for people at risk of harm, victimization or entering the justice system, and to help build a safer and healthier community.
The Intervention Circle will bring together community-based frontline service providers from the public-safety, health and social-service sectors. They work collaboratively to reduce the over-representation of Indigenous Peoples in the justice system by preventing crime, reducing harm and increasing community safety.
“It’s crucial that people have access to culturally sensitive supports when and where they need them,” said Garry Begg, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “Ensuring public safety and advancing meaningful, lasting reconciliation are interconnected. The Gitanmaax-led Intervention Circle will help people find culturally sensitive pathways to healing in their own community and prevent incarceration of Indigenous peoples.”
Community-centred Intervention Circles incorporate Indigenous social and cultural institutions with in-community service providers to connect vulnerable people with preventative supports.
“At Gitanmaax First Nation, we understand the importance of fostering a collaborative environment that reflects our values of unity, respect, and restorative justice,” said Jason Wong, chief executive officer, Gitanmaax First Nation. “We believe that every challenge presents an opportunity for growth and healing, and we are committed to addressing difficult situations with a focus on community wellness and reconciliation. By embracing a restorative-justice approach, we aim to bring people together, address underlying issues and promote healing over punishment.”
The Province is providing $50,000 to support the implementation of the Intervention Circle. The Province will also provide funding to train community partners participating in the Intervention Circle.
The Intervention Circle advances the Safer Community Action Plan’s goal of creating safe, healthy communities for everyone. It also responds to recommendations from several reports, including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the First Nations Justice Strategy.
Quote:
Judith Sayers, director, B.C. First Nations Justice Council —
“The B.C. First Nations Justice Council is grateful for the leadership of First Nations who are implementing Intervention Circles in their communities and advancing their self-determination over community safety, healing and justice. The aims of the B.C. First Nations Justice Strategy specifically support First Nations in the restoration of their justice systems and legal traditions. Intervention Circles allow First Nations to shift from punitive responses towards a proactive intervention model that integrates their culture, teachings and values. Through their Intervention Circles, Gitanmaax First Nation, along with Esk’etemc and Witset First Nations, are prioritizing the healing pathways and cultural needs of their at-risk members and are forging a new way forward for justice and healing in their communities.”
Quick Facts:
The Gitanmaax First Nation Intervention Circle is the third initiative of its kind in B.C.
Gitanmaax is one of six First Nation communities belonging to the Gitxsan Nation.
Indigenous people make up only 6% of British Columbia’s population but account for 35% of people in provincial custody.
The B.C. First Nations Justice Strategy is designed by and for Indigenous Peoples to reform the colonial justice system and revitalize Indigenous legal practices.
The strategy was endorsed by the Province and the B.C. First Nations Justice Council (BCFNJC) in 2020.
The Declaration Act Action Plan, developed in consultation and co-operation with Indigenous Peoples, outlines 89 specific actions every ministry in government will take to create a better province for Indigenous Peoples in B.C.
Learn More:
To read the B.C. First Nations Justice Strategy, visit: https://bcfnjc.com/landing-page/justice-strategy/
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Children enjoying a live show at Questacon. Photo credit VisitCanberra
In brief:
Canberra has plenty of activities and experiences for families.
This story lists accessible activities and spaces for families to visit.
Canberra is packed with family-friendly activities and experiences. Many of these attractions and spaces are inclusive for people with physical and sensory disability and access needs.
From events and galleries to gardens and playgrounds, there are lots of accessible activities to choose from.
Nature and outdoors
The National Arboretum Canberra is one of the world’s largest collections of rare, endangered and significant trees. This popular spot is also home to POD playground. You’ll also find the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection. There are disabled car parking spaces available across the Arboretum. You can also book to hire a free wheelchair.
Smooth, wide pathways connect key attractions such as the playground and café. There are also All Access paths and Grade 1 sealed paths with no steps to help you explore.
A visit to the fully accessible Boundless Playground is a must for kids’ fun. This all-abilities play space is next to Lake Burley Griffin. It is fully enclosed, has easy car parking and great toilet facilities.
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is a great place to see wildlife in a natural setting. It’s just a 40-minute drive from the city. Mobility-impaired visitors can hire an all-terrain wheelchair, known as a TrailRider.
Tidbinbilla also offers mobility access to many popular locations. These include The Sanctuary and the Eucalypt Forest. Both have:
accessible toilets
designated parking areas
paved footpaths for independent wheelchair access.
The Nature Discovery Playground has a bird’s nest swing suitable for very young children and people with limited mobility.
You can use the accessible pathways and ramps to get around the zoo. There are some sloped and gravel paths, though. The Adventure Land playground includes a wheelchair-accessible playhouse and two fully harnessed swings.
The Australian National Botanic Gardens is an amazing place to explore. It is home to an array of native plants. Visitors can hire a free wheelchair or electric mobility scooter. You can also book a seat on the wheelchair-friendly bus tour.
Little explorers love the Paperbark Treehouse. This has a ramp-accessible platform at the main level.
Looking for a place to cool off? Dickson Pool has something for the whole family to enjoy. The outdoor pool includes:
a splash park
a toddler pool
a learn-to-swim pool
a heated 50m pool with ramp access.
Galleries, attractions and museums
Questacon is known for its family-friendly experiences. It also has great options to make it an inclusive space.
All of Questacon’s galleries are accessible by ramp or a lift. Wheelchairs and prams are available for hire from the ticket desk.
Seating is available in each gallery. The Japan Theatre is wheelchair accessible and has a hearing loop in the first two rows.
A visit to Questacon can be a very stimulating experience. You can find noise cancelling headphones at the Information Desk and in each gallery.
Questacon also runs Access days. these offer a quieter environment for sensory sensitive visitors.
The museum has lift access to each of the three levels. There are also bookable wheelchairs and motorised scooters. There are large-print maps and tactile guides for vision-impaired visitors. You’ll find a hearing induction loop at the Information Desk.
The Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre is a fun playground for young children of all abilities. Quiet hours are run with reduced noise and sensory experiences. These are held from 3.30–4.45pm on the first Tuesday of the month.
The National Gallery of Australia has a range of free programs for people with disability and access needs. These include tours and workshops. There is an audio induction loop system in:
the main entrance
Gandel Hall
James Fairfax Theatre
Tim Fairfax Learning Gallery.
There are two braille brochures with tactile maps. These are the Gallery and for the Sculpture Garden. The Gallery also runs Sensory Sunday. This free monthly program is ideal for individuals who identify as neurodivergent.
The miniatures village Cockington Green Gardens is an iconic Canberra experience. It is also a wheelchair and walker accessible display.
It has granite paths and walkways. These accommodate a range of equipment. Wheelchairs and mobility scooters are available for hire.
Parliament House is a member of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program. This helps people with a disability or condition that may not be immediately apparent, to voluntarily share their needs for:
assistance
understanding
a helping hand.
Visitors can borrow Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyards and pins to wear during their visit.
All public areas of Parliament House are wheelchair accessible.
There is also an accessible toilet and change facility that caters for users with high support needs and their carers.
Events
The Canberra Theatre Centre provides a range of services for different abilities. Its inclusive performances help everyone experience the magic of theatre.
Contact the theatre directly to book tickets if you need assistance with your seating. This can include audio description, mobility or hearing assistance.
The theatre has FM radio assisted hearing units for patrons who need hearing assistance.
Selected performances are professionally signed by Auslan interpreters. Some Relaxed Performances are offered. These have been adapted for a range of audience members, including people with:
autism
sensory sensitivities
communication conditions
learning disabilities.
Heading to an event at Exhibition Park in Canberra? EPIC has accessible car parking spaces across the precinct and near all major buildings.
Extra parking areas may also be reserved depending on the nature and location of the event. All EPIC venues have accessible facilities, including toilets and showers.
Cheer on your favourite sports teams at Manuka Oval and Canberra Stadium. Wheelchair-accessible seating and lift access can help make your visit more comfortable. For guests who have sensory sensitivity, the Brumbies have introduced a Sensory Zone at Canberra Stadium during Super Rugby games.
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Dean Hritcko speaks to pharmacy students during their professionalism ceremony in 2019 (UConn Photo)
In 2019, Dean Hritcko took the stage to give a speech to students during their professionalism ceremony. Recently appointed, the Dean inspired ambitious pharmacy students to start their journey with passion and determination. The Dean’s goals have been clear from the start: “I look forward to leading the UConn School of Pharmacy through its accreditation cycle while continuing to grow its research, faculty, and stature.” After five years, the Dean has delivered on these promises and much more.
Dean Hritcko earned his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and his Pharm.D. from the Albany College of Pharmacy in New York. He has held numerous professional roles, including clinical pharmacy specialist in the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, district pharmacy supervisor, pharmacy manager, and registered pharmacist for CVS pharmacy. He also holds several professional certifications and affiliations, including with theAmerican Pharmacists Association and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
“I feel very passionate about the school itself and UConn, and I want to make sure that we continue on an upward trajectory.”
Dean Hritcko joined Husky Nation over 21 years ago, initially hired as the Director forExperiential Education. Over his two-decade-long journey at UConn, he has served in various roles: Assistant Dean of Experiential Education, Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs, Interim Dean, and finally Dean. When the previous dean of the School of Pharmacy stepped down, Hritcko saw an opportunity to step into this role and was eager to showcase his passion for the School in such an impactful way.
Headshot of Dean Hritcko (UConn Photo)
Dean Hritcko’s biggest challenge came in his first year when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Unable to conduct in-person lectures or labs, the School of Pharmacy and its students adapted to online teaching and learning. The transition back to in-person learning proved to be just as challenging, as both teachers and students were just becoming comfortable with online learning. Despite these difficult transitions, Dean Hritcko credits his phenomenal leadership team, faculty, and staff for their perseverance and adaptability.
When asked what he’s most proud of, Dean Hritcko passionately explains the new curriculum in the School of Pharmacy’s professional program, which was recently approved by the faculty. This curriculum change, now in the early stages of implementation, will help future students become better prepared for the demands of practicing as contemporary pharmacists. The Dean expects to see real change reflected in future North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) scores, a licensing board exam pharmacy students take to become licensed pharmacists.
In addition to the new curriculum, Dean Hritcko is grateful to celebrate the UConn School of Pharmacy’s 100thyear of excellence, innovation, and care in his leadership role. During the past century, the UConn School of Pharmacy has been at the forefront of education, innovative research, and health care.
“I happen to be here during the Centennial year, which is another great opportunity for our School to celebrate where we are now and where we want to go into the future.”
Throughout the last five years, the School of Pharmacy has seen tremendous growth in both its research and its opportunities to change pharmacy practice within Connecticut. As emphasized by Dean Hritcko, these advances are the result of phenomenal researchers and innovative pharmacy practice faculty who have influenced state regulations related to pharmacy practice.
Dean Hritcko with Jonathon the Husky
Raising over 17 million dollars for philanthropy, Dean Hritcko’s steady leadership has deepened the School’s enterprise, strengthened academic pathways, and has expanded its statewide impact. Under his leadership, the School has earned full eight-continued accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and updated the School’s Professional Program Curriculum.
The 2021 year was a testament to the excellence of UConn’s School of Pharmacy and Dean Hritcko’s leadership: the School received the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Lawrence C. Weaver Transformative Community while Dean Hritcko’s public engagement and health advocacy was celebrated and honored in the Hartford Business Journal and he received a Healthcare Heroes Award in the category of Community Service – Advocacy/Policy.
Looking to the next five years, Dean Hritcko aims to continue the School’s leadership in several areas, increase research capabilities for faculty in both practice and pharmaceutical sciences, facilitate further collaborations between faculty and the private industry (including working with companies and external entities), and find addition scholarship support for students. Additionally, the Dean looks forward to continuing to lead advocacy efforts in the areas of pharmacy practice and reimbursement for pharmacist services. By providing education to Connecticut’s legislators regarding pharmacist services and pharmacy education, the School will continue to exemplify UConn’s status as a land-grant university and its commitment to community impact.
Rooted in the accomplishments Dean Hritcko has achieved over the past five years, and in those he strives for in the next five years, is his passion for supporting students. In his various roles at UConn, the Dean has seen students struggle and strive to overcome numerous barriers, especially when affording a college education. By helping the students through scholarships and encouraging alumni and friends of UConn Pharmacy to contribute, the Dean has found a way to fulfill his passion for accessible education.
“It is our number #1 priority to help our students, in any way we can, to be successful.”
Dean Hritcko’s biggest takeaway from his time as Dean has been the people, “What they contribute to the success of our school is a privilege to be a part of.” These individuals have made the School successful, and the Dean is grateful to have worked with them. He will continue to value those around him in his next term while implementing his vision for all of what UConn Pharmacy is capable of!
“The foreign policy of the United States is conducted by President Donald J. Trump − not by a court − and no court in the United States has a right to conduct the foreign policy of the United States,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on April 14.
“Well I would never tell you that and you know who else I would never tell? A judge. Because the conduct of our foreign policy belongs to the president,” Rubio said.
Rubio made a similar point on April 14, posting on X, “No court in the United States has a right to conduct the foreign policy of the United States. It’s that simple. End of story.”
The legal cases of Abrego Garcia and other noncitizens deported to El Salvador are far from simple. Chimène Keitner, a scholar of international law and civil litigation, answers a few key questions about the power that U.S. judges actually have in these wrongful deportation cases.
Are these cases really about foreign policy or something else?
These wrongful deportation cases aren’t primarily about foreign policy, despite what Trump officials have said − they’re about the protection of individual rights, including the right to due process.
The Trump administration is arguing that courts cannot grant relief to individuals challenging their deportation and detention if those individuals are sent to another country and imprisoned there. Under that argument, even a wrongfully detained and deported U.S. citizen would be out of luck. That can’t, in my understanding, be right.
In Reid v. Covert, a foundational case from 1957, the Supreme Court made clear that the government cannot deprive U.S. citizens of due process by entering into an agreement with a foreign country.
Now, noncitizens are being detained in El Salvador under arrangements concluded between Rubio and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele in February 2025.
Following an April trip to El Salvador, U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, said that the U.S. will pay El Salvador $15 million to imprison the deported noncitizens − and that El Salvador is imprisoning these men only because the U.S. is paying for it.
What are other important elements to understand about these cases?
The Trump administration is arguing that a judge or the Supreme Court cannot order it to return noncitizens to the U.S., because detention operations in El Salvador, a sovereign country, are beyond the reach of U.S. courts.
However, the U.S. decisions to arrest, detain and deport noncitizens to El Salvador, and to pay for their incarceration there with U.S. taxpayer dollars, are not foreign policy decisions that cannot be reviewed by any judge.
They are, I would argue, governmental deprivations of the individual right to due process.
A U.S. court does not have power over the government of El Salvador. However, it can order the U.S. government to request an individual’s return. The Supreme Court has ordered the government to “facilitate” the return of Abrego Garcia.
The government has argued that “facilitate” in this context simply requires removing domestic U.S. legal obstacles. However, given that Abrego Garcia is being detained in El Salvador, any effective remedy would require the U.S. government to request his return under the detention agreement between the two countries.
Another federal judge made this clear in an April order requiring the government to make a “good faith request” to El Salvador to release a different wrongfully deported 20-year-old.
Meanwhile, Trump has stated that his administration is exploring the idea of extending the El Salvador detention agreement to encompass U.S. citizens. Judges have already expressed concern that U.S. citizens, including children, are being removed from the country “with no meaningful process.”
These actions cannot be shielded from judicial review on the grounds that they involve foreign policy.
President Donald Trump shakes hands with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele at the White House on April 14, 2025. Win McNamee/Getty Images
Could the Trump administration legitimately claim that judges cannot rule on its foreign policy decisions?
The Constitution gives foreign affairs powers to both the executive and legislative branches. Judges can’t conduct foreign policy. They can, however, decide cases that may affect foreign policy, especially when individual rights are at stake.
Another country’s involvement in a case doesn’t prevent U.S. courts from protecting individual rights.
Can these court orders to bring back wrongfully deported individuals be enforced?
The Trump administration is currently trying to portray judges as spreading “lawlessness” with these court orders, in the words of Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. But I would argue that the opposite is true. If the White House disagrees with an order by a district court or court of appeals, it can seek review by the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, it is obliged to obey lower court orders absent a stay, or pause, of their implementation.
Courts can do their part to reject claims that the executive branch is entitled to act without regard for legislative or judicial limits by issuing strongly worded orders and even holding officials in contempt. At the end of the day, however, only Congress is empowered to remove a president who refuses to comply with the law.
Chimene Keitner does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Department of Justice is presenting a drama titled “Rule of Law Academy – Adventure to the Stars”, aimed at promoting rule of law education to senior primary students and their parents, at the Cultural Centre’s Grand Theatre today and tomorrow.
The drama is part of the “Rule of Law through Drama” project and the two performances, marking Rule of Law Drama Day, are expected to attract about 2,000 attendees.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam and Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan will play the roles of the Principal and Vice-principal of the Rule of Law Academy respectively.
In the drama, they lead students on a thrilling adventure to learn about respect, integrity, justice and abiding by the law, conveying the message of “uphold justice, uphold the rule of law”.
By integrating knowledge and creativity with rich interactive elements, the drama aims to encourage students and parents to embody integrity, mutual respect, equality and law-abiding awareness in their daily choices and actions, and to make rule of law education an integral part of family education.
Since its launch in 2021, the “Rule of Law through Drama” project has involved over 300 drama performances for primary schools in various districts across the territory.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Harry Potter fans will love Quizzic Alley.
In brief:
Canberra is a haven for those who are into gaming, science, technology and fantasy.
This article lists the city’s most geek-friendly groups, activities and venues.
What makes a geek, you ask? Well, you might proudly identify as a geek if your interests align with any of the following:
technology
comics, manga or anime
niche hobbies (medieval combat, anyone?).
Canberra is a city that welcomes geeks with open arms. From Tuggeranong to Gungahlin, we’ve rounded up the best geek-friendly groups, activities and venues across Canberra.
The Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC) Visitor Centre
The CDSCC Visitor Centre has recently reopened. Visit to learn more about Australia’s role in the exploration of space. While you’re there, see a piece of the moon that’s more than 3.8 million years old.
Questacon
Australia’s National Science and Technology Centre is a fun, educational venue for people of all ages. Don’t miss CURIOSITY: Building Breakthroughs in LEGO® Bricks. It’s a hands-on exhibition that’s open until May 2025.
Geoscience Australia
Discover Earth science and be dazzled by the collection of minerals, fossils and meteorites. Visit the Education Centre for hands-on experiences, including holding a volcanic bomb and peering at glow-in-the-dark minerals.
School of Arms and Armour
Always fancied yourself the hero of a medieval tale? The School of Arms and Armour teaches the martial arts of medieval Europe. Think: fencing, wrestling, armour, swords and daggers.
The Barony of Politarchopolis
The Barony is the medieval Society for Creative Anachronism in Canberra. Some of their regular activities include:
scribes workshops
armoured combat
Ancient Arts Fellowship
If early medieval re-enactment is your cup of tea, the Fellowship is for you. They explore a range of historical activities, including:
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons ACT is a group that brings together the local Dungeons & Dragons community.
There are weekly Dungeons & Dragons events on Wednesdays at:
Virtual reality
Canberra offers a wide range of VR experiences, from mini games to escape rooms.
Some options include:
Quizzic Alley
Browse Australia’s biggest range of licensed Harry Potter merchandise. While you’re there, you can:
quaff a QBrew
get sorted into your rightful house
try your hand at driving the flying car.
Impact Comics
If a comic store has you acting like a kid in a candy store, you can’t miss Impact Comics. You’ll find a large range of:
kids’ comics
graphic novels
toys and models
Good Games
This shop is a haven for lovers of board games, tabletop games and puzzles. It’s more than just a store: it’s a gathering place for like-minded gamers. They run regular events for fans of:
Star Wars Unlimited
Magic: The Gathering
Jolt Games
Visit this Mitchell store to shop from:
role playing games
tabletop games
trading card games
boardgames
Plus, they have a dedicated gaming area where they host regular game nights and events.
Canberra Geek Markets
It’s more than just a market: it’s a free pop culture extravaganza. Shop for geeky merchandise from local and interstate creators. Meet likeminded geeks, comic artists and cosplayers.
Keep your eye on the Geek Markets website for market dates.
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About 1000 pro-Palestinian protesters marked World Press Freedom Day — May 3 — today by marching on the public broadcaster Television New Zealand in Auckland, accusing it of 18 months of “biased coverage” on the genocidal Israeli war against Gaza.
They delivered a letter to the management board of TVNZ from Palestine Solidarity Network (PSNA) co-chair John Minto declaring: “The damage [done] to human rights, justice and freedom in the Middle East by Western media such as TVNZ is incalculable.”
The protesters marched on the television headquarters near Sky Tower about 4pm after an hour-long rally in the heart of the city at a precinct dubbed “Palestine Square” in the Britomart transport hub’s Te Komititanga Square.
Several opposition politicians spoke at the rally, calling for a ceasefire in the brutal war on Gaza that has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians with no sign of a let-up.
Labour Party’s disarmament and arms control spokesperson Phil Twyford was among the speakers that included Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson and Ricardo Menéndez March.
All three spoke strongly in support of Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Davidson said the opposition parties were united behind the bill and all they needed were six MPs in the coalition government to “follow their conscience” to support it.
Appeals for pressure They appealed to the protesters to put pressure on their local MPs to support the humanitarian initiative.
Protesters outside the Television New Zealand headquarters in Auckland today. Image: Asia Pacific Report
In The Hague this week, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) heard evidence from more than 40 countries and global organisations condemning Israel over its actions in deliberately starving the more than 2 million Palestinians by blockading the besieged enclave for more than the past two months.
Only the United States and Hungary spoke in support of Israel.
Mutlaq al-Qahtani, Qatari Ambassador to The Netherlands, also said there were “new trails of tears in the West Bank mirroring Gaza’s fate”.
Israel executing ‘genocidal war’ against Gaza, Qatar tells ICJ. Video: Al Jazeera
Among the speakers in the Auckland rally, one of about 30 similar protests for Palestine across New Zealand this weekend, was coordinator Roger Fowler of the Auckland-based Kia Ora Gaza humanitarian aid organisation, who denounced the overnight drone attack on the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla aid ship Conscience in international waters after leaving Malta.
The ship was crippled by the suspected Israel attack, endangering the lives of some 30 human rights activists on board. Fowler said: “That’s 2000 km away from Israel, that’s how desperate they are now to stop the Freedom Flotilla.”
A protester placard declaring “TVNZ, you’re biased reporting is shameful. Where is your integrity?” Image: Asia Pacific Report
He reminded protesters that Marama Davidson and retired trade unionist Mike Treen had been on previous aid protest voyages in past years trying to break the Israeli blockade, but there was no New Zealander on board in the current mission.
Media ‘credibility challenge’ Journalist and Pacific Media Watch convenor Dr David Robie spoke about World Media Freedom Day. He paid a tribute to the sacrifices of 211 Palestinian journalists killed by Israel — many of them targeted — saying Israel’s war on Gaza had become the “greatest credibility challenge for journalists and media of our times”.
Many protesters carried placards declaring slogans such as “TVNZ your biased reporting is shameful. Where is your integrity?”, “Journalists are not targets” and “Caring for the children of Palestine is what it’s about.”
After marching about 1km between Te Komititanga Square and the TVNZ headquarters, the protesters gathered outside the entrance chanting for fairness and balance in the reporting.
“TVNZ lies. For the past 18 months they have been nothing but complicit,” said one Palestinian speaker to a chorus of: “Shame!”
He said: “Every time TVNZ lies, a little boy in Gaza dies.”
Another Palestinian speaker, Nadine, said: “Every time the media lies, a little girl in Gaza dies.”
The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) letter to Television New Zealand’s board. Image: Asia Pacific Report
Deputation delivers TVNZ letter A deputation from the protesters delivered the letter from PSNA’s John Minto addressed to the TVNZ board chair Alastair Carruthers but found the main foyer main entrance closed so the message was left.
Minto’s two-page letter calling for an independent review of TVNZ’s reporting on Palestine and Israel said in part:
“Over the past 18 months of industrial scale killing of Palestinians by the Israeli military in Gaza we have been regularly appalled at the blatantly-biased reporting on the Middle East by Television New Zealand.
“TVNZ’s reporting has been relentlessly and virulently pro-Israel. TVNZ has centred Israeli narratives, Israeli explanations, Israeli justifications and Israeli propaganda points on a daily basis while Palestinian viewpoints are all but absent.
“When they are presented they are given rudimentary coverage at best. More often than not Palestinians are presented as the incoherent victims of Israeli brutality rather than as an occupied people fighting for liberation in a situation described by the International Court of Justice as a “plausible genocide”.
“This pattern of systemic bias and unbalanced reporting is not revealed by TVNZ’s complaints system which focuses on individual stories rather than ingrained patterns of pro-Israel bias.
“Every complaint we have made to TVNZ has, with one minor exception, been rejected by your corporation with the typical refrain that it’s not possible to cover every aspect of an issue in a single story but that over time the balance is made up.
“Our issue is that the bias continues throughout TVNZ’s reporting on a story-by-story, day-by-day basis — the balance is never achieved. The reporting goes ahead just the way the pro-Israel lobby is happy with.”
The rest of the letter detailed many examples of the alleged systematic bias, such as failing to describe Gaza, West Bank and East Jerusalem and as “Occupied” territory as they are designated under international law, and failing to state the illegality of Israel’s military occupation.
Minto concluded by stating: “It is prolonging Israel’s illegal occupation, its apartheid policies, its ethnic cleansing and theft of Palestinian land. TVNZ is part of the problem – a key part of the problem.”
The letter called for an independent investigation.
Palestinian protesters at TVNZ headquarters while demonstrating against the public broadcaster’s coverage of the Israeli war against Gaza on World Press Freedom Day. Image: Asia Pacific Report
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wallace, Professor, School of Politics Economics & Society, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra
Superior campaigning by the Labor machine, a lift in the personal performance of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and a woeful campaign by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have seen Labor re-elected for a second term.
Albanese will go down as one of the luckiest Labor leaders in Australian political history. He faced two deeply unpopular and somewhat odd Coalition leaders – Scott Morrison in 2022 and Dutton in 2025 – and edged out both to first win, and now retain, power. Dutton even lost his seat.
Albanese was lucky, too, that the distress and dysfunction evident in the United States in the first 100 days of the Trump administration made voters reluctant to risk a version of that under the Trumpesque Dutton in Australia.
His luck was compounded by the Liberal team’s shocking underperformance, along with that of Dutton personally. Policy reversals, ineffective advertising and an overall lack of focus blighted their campaign from the outset.
In contrast, Labor National Secretary Paul Erickson and key party figures combined to ensure the government got the jump on the Coalition before the election was imminent. This included getting Albanese onto the hustings early in the new year, making policy announcements that demonstrated a commitment to build Australia’s future.
Albanese himself shook off the torpor evident since the failed Voice referendum campaign and presented a more energetic and congenial face to Australians than the awkward and floundering Dutton.
For the first time in many elections, Labor produced memorable, cut-through advertising with its “He cuts. You pay.” ad, designed to persuade voters they would be worse off under the Coalition.
The swing to Labor was a big turnaround in the fortunes of a party that only months ago looked at risk of struggling to achieve even minority government. As in last month’s Canadian election, the long shadow of Donald Trump helped secure victory for an incumbent government against a Trumpesque opposition.
Dutton flip-flopped under pressure between masking his usual right-wing approach and reverting to type with hardline positions of limited appeal to swinging voters. The more Australians saw of him during the campaign, the worse his net approval rating became.
The Coalition’s election postmortem is likely to hinge on the mystery of why, given the scores of interest rate rises since the previous election and misery experienced by so many Australians as a result, it did not simply hammer the cost of living as its return ticket to power.
It should also dwell on the lesson that a leader and policies that please local oligarchs and right-wing media echo chambers make winning the centre ground needed for election victory in Australia hard.
That one-third of Australians gave an independent or minor party candidate their first preference vote should be the focus of serious contemplation by the major parties, even by Labor in victory.
The crossbench will remain sizeable in the 150-member House of Representatives, though without the balance of power eagerly sought by the teal and orange independents. The Senate will continue to be a challenge for the government to get its bills through.
One clear message is that voters aren’t impressed by the leaders the major parties are offering.
Albanese campaigned well, and got better as the election went on. However, like Dutton, he remained in net negative approval territory. In the final Newspoll of the campaign, published on election day, Albanese and Dutton had –10% and –27% net approval ratings, respectively. Both leaders were a drag on their party’s vote.
Labor’s low primary, but emphatic two party-preferred vote signals Australians want it in office but expect more than tinkering around the edges. The Albanese government will be expected to come up with structural solutions that meet contemporary Australians’ real needs in this second term.
With his re-election as prime minister, Albanese can be confident and secure in his governing style, giving talented frontbenchers more scope to develop the deeper policy solutions Australians seek.
That increased security will also enable him to drop the petty persecution of rivals that gives voters an insight into the lesser side of the sunny personality he publicly presents.
Whether he does either of those things will remain to be seen.
Labor MPs will also have to play their role properly in this term of government.
Slavish quiescence to an all-powerful prime minister produces paltry results. Caucus needs to get elbows up with the re-elected Albanese and make sure he doesn’t clock off between elections like he appeared to at times last time around.
Chris Wallace has received funding from the Australian Research Council.
Detectives are appealing for the public’s help in identifying a man they wish to speak to following a reported rape on Dame Street, Islington on Monday, 28 March.
The man is described as Black with a slim build, in his late 20s.
He was captured on CCTV wearing all black clothing.
Detective Constable Stephanie Knight from the Met’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team in north London said:
“We have released this image today with the hope that someone will recognise this man. If you do, you must let us know who he is.
“Take a careful look and get in touch via 101, quoting 481/28MAR. The smallest bit of information could prove vital in the investigation. If you do see him, please do not approach and call the police on 999.”
The victim continues to be supported by specialist officers.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Former WESP participant Zhenjun and Infrastructure Canberra’s Rebekka Bjarnadottir, who hosted Zhenjun’s work placement in 2024.
In brief:
The ACT Government offers the Work Experience and Support Program (WESP) program.
It is for Canberrans from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds who do not have meaningful employment.
WESP includes office skills training and ACT Government work placement.
Program applications close on Sunday, 16 February 2025.
Have you heard of the ACT Government’s Work Experience and Support Program (WESP)?
The program is to support multicultural Canberrans who have been out of meaningful employment.
While WESP is highly competitive, many people don’t know it’s available, particularly those new to the ACT.
It runs for 12 weeks, and you still have time to apply for a place.
How could WESP help me?
Through WESP, you will receive free office skills training.
You will also complete a work placement in the ACT Government.
This gives you a chance to:
build your skills and knowledge
experience an Australian workplace
improve your job-seeking confidence
build a network of contacts in the ACT public service.
Former participant Zhenjun says he found the program useful.
“As a new immigrant to Canberra, I found job searching extremely challenging. It was difficult to compete without understanding Australian workplace culture and expectations.”
“WESP has greatly enhanced my employment prospects. It has been a turning point in my career journey in Australia,” he said.
About the program
The program runs full-time over 12 weeks. It includes:
4 weeks of free office skills training at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT)
8 weeks of work experience in an ACT Government agency. This is not paid work experience.
Once you finish the program, you will get a Certificate II in Workplace Skills from CIT.
While you will build great contacts, there is no guarantee of a job during or after the program.
Am I eligible?
To apply you must:
come from a culturally and linguistically diverse background
be an ACT resident
be able to commit to the program full-time over the 12 weeks.
have been unemployed, or not in meaningful employment.
If you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you must also have a visa that allows you to:
A missing youth who fell into the water at Eden Lake, Pictou County, has been located deceased.
On May 1, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Pictou County District RCMP, fire services and EHS were dispatched to a report of an overturned kayaker on Eden Lake. RCMP officers learned that two youths, known to one another, were paddling on the lake in separate kayaks when one of them overturned, submerging the kayaker.
Pictou County Fire services, Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) teams (Halifax GSAR, Pictou County GSAR, Strait Area GSAR, Colchester GSAR), a Department of Natural Resources helicopter, the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA), RCMP Air Services, RCMP RPAS (drone) operators, and the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team (URT) were involved in the search.
On May 2 at approximately 7:45 pm, URT divers located and recovered the remains of the youth. The Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service has been engaged. Criminality is not believed to be a factor.
Thank you to the Pictou County community for the support provided for this and other regional searches in recent day.
Our thoughts are with the youth’s family at this difficult time.
The Future of Education Equity Fund (Equity Fund) offers eligible families financial support to help with school essentials. It supports the more vulnerable families in our community.
Low-income families of students – from preschool through to year 12 – can receive a one-off, annual payment. This is to help cover the costs of schooling, such as:
uniforms
sport equipment and activities
tuition
music lessons.
The Equity Fund payments are $400 (preschool), $500 (primary school), and $750 (high school and college level, including CIT Year 11 and 12).
Equity Fund applications for the 2025 school year are now open.
Families can apply for all eligible students in their family in the one application, regardless of whether they attend different schools.
School staff are also able to help families to apply.
Applications close in November 2025.
Find out more about eligibility criteria and how to apply online.
Parent Portal
The Parent Portal is now available across all ACT public schools.
The portal allows secure sharing of information between parents/carers and teachers/schools online or via the Sentra for Parents app.
Parents and carers only need to sign up once, and can add multiple children to one account.
Are you concerned about your child’s development? The start of a new year is a good time to contact the Child Development Service, to access free drop-in clinics and assessments.
It includes a Grab and Go shopping list and tips for a waste-free lunchbox. You’ll also find tips on which food groups to include and how to swap for healthier options.
Looking for more healthy lunchbox tips? Try the Cancer Council’s Healthy Lunch Box Builder. It’s a great tool to help build a lunchbox so your child can get a healthy brain boost throughout the school day.
Free three-year-old preschool
ACT three-year-olds can now benefit from 300 hours of free preschool at over 140 locations.
This will save the average family around $1,329 a year.
In 2023 the ACT Government passed new legislation to make free period products available at a range of community locations across the ACT for anyone who needs them.
This includes at every ACT public school, which is something we already do as a system, and will continue to do.
Pads and tampons are available in ACT public high schools, colleges, and combined schools. Pads are available in ACT public primary schools.
They can be accessed at any time during the school day from the school front office.
The Education Directorate will continue to work with ACT Health to ensure age-appropriate information on menstrual hygiene is available for students through our schools.
Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. As students return to school, remember to slow down and stick to the 40 km/h limit around schools between 8am and 4pm.
Mobile speed vans and police regularly patrol school zones. Let’s all slow down and support kids’ safety.
Back to school with Transport Canberra
The regular bus network and timetable will return from Monday 3 February 2025 including dedicated school services and ‘S’ trips which divert into schools. Please check your timetable so you are prepared and ready.
Students can download the MyWay+ app and use the real time journey planner for a simply way to plan and pay for their trip to school.
All school students receive a discounted fare when using MyWay+. Student concession MyWay+ travel cards purchased in 2024 and 2025 have an extended expiry date until 1 January 2026. If you would like to check the concession status of a card, please create a MyWay+ account and link the travel card to it. Alternatively, go to a MyWay+ retail outlet to check.
You can get a new student concession MyWay+ travel card for your child from MyWay+ retail outlets. Please note that secondary and tertiary students must provide proof of concessions at time of purchase to get the correct concession applied to the card.
To top up their MyWay+ travel card please go to a MyWay+ retail outlet or top up online through a MyWay+ account or the ‘quick top up’ option on the portal.
Whilst Transport Canberra are not charging penalty fares at the moment, it wants to obtain the most accurate data possible and encourage best practice for all students. Please remember to tap on and off with the same device when your trip starts and ends.
*Secondary students will need to carry their student ID card with them when travelling on the bus and light rail if they are using a MyWay+ concession account/travel card.
Transport Canberra is working to improve the MyWay+ system by allowing primary account holders, like parents or carers, to link multiple MyWay+ accounts. This is about to undergo testing with the community prior to launching over the next couple of months.
Transport Canberra will be taking an educative approach whilst the community and its workforce adjust to the change. Please be assured that kids can continue to travel on buses and light rail services. No child will be left behind.
Parents of primary school students, please refer to your school’s pack for travel details.
You can also plan your trip back to school with Transport Canberra’s Journey Planner.
The start of the school year is a particularly busy time in Canberra’s school carparks and surrounding streets.
Unsafe and illegal parking reduces visibility for students and motorists. This creates a hazard when students cross the road.
Parking inspectors and license plate recognition vehicles will be out and about enforcing safe parking around schools.
For drop-offs and pick-ups, arrange a meeting spot, arrive after the rush, or park a little further away from the school and walk with your kids the rest of the way.
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A 22-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after a 33-year-old man was shot at an address in Newham.
Mohammed Abdullah Khan (02.07.2002) of Upton Lane, E7 was also charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and possession of a prohibited firearm.
Another man, 37-year-old Mohammed Qasim Khan (08.06.1987) of Sprowston Road, E7 was charged with grievous bodily harm and violent disorder.
Both men will appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, 3 May.
The charges relate to an incident which occurred in Dunbar Road, Newham at 14:42hrs on Tuesday, 29 April. Police were called to an altercation and arrived to discover one victim suffering from a gunshot wound and two victims with facial injuries.
All received treatment at the scene from the London Ambulance Service and were later taken to hospital where their injuries were deemed to be non-life-changing or life-threatening.
Both suspects were arrested shortly after the incident and remain in police custody.
Officers are now encouraging those with information to contact the Metropolitan Police on 101, quoting 4319/29Apr. Or report anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)
MIAMI – Raisha Kelly, 44, of Loxahatchee, FL was sentenced to sixty months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $443,895 in restitution by United States District Court Judge Federico A. Moreno. The sentence follows Kelly’s conviction for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.
Kelly recruited and conspired with multiple individuals to submit Payment Protection Program (PPP) loan applications that falsely and fraudulently misrepresented that the applicants had sole proprietorship businesses, and the amount of annual revenue received by these purported sole proprietorship businesses. In support of these applications on behalf of each individual, Kelly submitted falsified tax returns. Kelly orchestrated this scheme in return for a 25 percent kickback from the loan applicants. Kelly concealed her involvement in the scheme by creating a series of “dummy” email accounts for herself and each of the applicants—all to entirely disguise her own involvement in the false and fraudulent application. Kelly also applied for her own PPP loans in which she also falsely and fraudulently mispresented the amount of income her own business received. At trial, it was proven that the defendant made approximately $106,649 as a result of orchestrating this conspiracy involving thirteen individuals.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; Acting Inspector in Charge Steven L. Hodges of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division; Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG), Eastern Region; and Special Agent in Charge Mathew Broadhurst of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), Southeast Region, made the announcement.
USPIS, SBA-OIG, and DOL-OIG investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel Bernstein, Eduardo Gardea Jr., and Gabrielle Charest-Turken prosecuted it.
In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was enacted. It was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other sources of relief, the CARES Act authorized and provided funding to the SBA to provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDLs”) to eligible small businesses, including sole proprietorships and independent contractors, experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic to allow them to meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could otherwise have been met had the disaster not occurred. EIDL applications were submitted directly to the SBA via the SBA’s on-line application website, and the applications were processed and the loans funded for qualifying applicants directly by the SBA.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
On September 15, 2022, the Attorney General selected the Southern District of Florida’s U.S. Attorney’s Office to head one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please click https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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-20079.
A fourth man has been charged with murder following a fatal stabbing in Walworth on Monday, 14 April.
Zozoro Mohamed Olivier, 20 (14.10.2004) of Lorrimore Square, Southwark was charged on the evening of Friday, 2 May with the murder of Giovanny Rendon Bedoya.
He will appear at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, 3 May.
On Monday, 14 April at 21:16hrs police were called to Hillingdon Street, SE17 following reports of a stabbing.
Officers attended with London Ambulance Service paramedics who treated 21-year-old Giovanny for stabbing injuries.
Sadly, despite their best efforts, he was pronounced dead on scene.
Giovanny’s next-of-kin continue to receive support and updates from specialist officers.
Two people were arrested after allegedly driving a stolen car across the state at high speed.
Just before 7am on Saturday 3 May, police were alerted that a car stolen from a Cummins property, on the Eyre Peninsula, was being tracked by the owner.
The silver Kia was tracked as it travelled at extreme speeds across the Eyre Peninsula and through the Mid North of the State.
PolAir responded and headed to the area while police on the ground attempted to spike the vehicles tyres numerous times as it continued to head towards Adelaide.
The stolen Kia was located in Lysander Place, Salisbury East about midday and the two occupants ran from the vehicle.
It will be alleged the man discharged a small calibre firearm but was quickly apprehended by police. The man was taken to hospital for assessment prior to charging.
No shots were fired by police.
Fortunately, no police officers were injured during the incident.
The firearm has been seized by police.
A 31-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were arrested and will be interviewed by police. Investigations are continuing.
Anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage of this vehicle that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au
Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on President Trump’s fiscal year 2026 preliminary budget request, which proposes slashing critical investments in programs related to education, health, affordable housing, scientific research, environmental protection, and much more. The Trump administration says this proposal will cut domestic funding by $163 billion (-23%); however, the real cut may exceed $200 billion.
“President Trump’s budget is playing games with American lives. By attempting to defund the programs that help communities stay safe, families pay their bills and keep a roof over their heads, and doctors treat their patients, this administration is abandoning the people who have built our country. Make no mistake — this budget proposal will not ‘make America great again’ — it will set us back decades and make life harder for working families.
By slashing funding for basic needs like health programs, medical research, and nutrition aid, this proposal will make America sicker. By cutting billions of dollars for the Department of Education, removing investments to prevent violent crime, and divesting from agencies that protect our environment, it will make our country a worse place to live. And by eliminating affordable housing and energy assistance programs, divesting from small businesses, and gutting the funds that help economically distressed communities, it will make it harder for American families to survive.
This administration has made it clear: they’re willing to cut at least $163 billion in vital investments that benefit everyday Americans just to deliver trillions in tax breaks to billionaires and corporations. That’s not just misguided policy; it’s an insult to every hardworking, tax-paying American.
I am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress to firmly reject this dangerous proposal. We cannot stand idly by while the Trump administration eviscerates the programs that keep our country safe, healthy, and prosperous.”
Among other things, President Trump’s preliminary FY2026 budget request:
EDUCATION: Guts funding for the Department of Education by $12 billion (-15%). Eliminates and cuts dozens of elementary and secondary education programs (the vast majority of which are not specified), underscoring that President Trump’s vision for returning education to the states means state and local taxpayers will pay more to support students and educators at their local schools as a result of major cuts in federal funding. Eliminates several higher education programs, including TRIO, GEAR UP, Federal Work Study, Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS), and more, which help Americans pursue a postsecondary education and further their careers.
HOUSING: Eviscerates the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with a 43.6% cut.
Slashes HUD rental assistance programs by 42.8% while foisting responsibility over those programs onto state and local governments. Over 10 million Americans rely on HUD rental assistance, the vast majority of whom are seniors, people with disabilities, and children. This will rip the roofs off Americans’ heads and put even more families at risk of homelessness.
Eliminates or cuts federal programs most targeted to build more affordable housing and address this country’s housing supply shortage, including in Tribal country.
Eliminates the Community Development Block Grant that cities and towns across the country use to improve the quality of life for their citizens every day.
HEALTH: Slashes funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by $33 billion (-26%).
Cuts funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $18 billion or more than 40%—decimating funding for lifesaving medical treatments and cures.
Decimates funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by cutting $3.6 billion—hollowing out the agency’s ability to save lives and protect Americans from health threats.
Guts funding for substance use prevention and treatment and mental health services by $1 billion (roughly –15%) and eliminates the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration—the agency with expertise in tackling the substance use and mental health crises.
Slashes funding for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) by $674 million. CMS helps ensure over 100 million Americans have access to affordable, high-quality health insurance by overseeing Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Affordable Care Act marketplaces.
The limited budget materials do not detail President Trump’s proposed funding level for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is essential for protecting the safety of our food and drugs.
TITLE X: Eliminates the Title X program, which helps nearly 3 million patients get preventative care, birth control, cancer screenings, and more in every state.
LIHEAP: Eliminates the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps 6 million American households heat and cool their homes.
PRE-K: Eliminates all funding for Preschool Development Grants, which help states strengthen their early childhood education system and get parents the child care and pre-K they need. The limited budget materials released today don’t mention Head Start or the Child Care and Development Block Grant, but leaked budget documents show Trump wants to eliminate Head Start.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR: Slashes funding for DOL by $4.6 billion (-35%). Proposes to “Make America Skilled Again” by cutting workforce training programs that help Americans develop skills and secure good-paying jobs, by roughly a third. Eliminates Job Corps and the Senior Community Service Employment Program.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: Slashes the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) budget by at least $3.7 billion (-10%).
Guts funding for grants to help keep communities safe by over $1 billion (-26%).
Cuts funding for FBI salaries and expenses by $545 million (-5%), endangering our Americans’ safety.
Cuts funding for Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) salaries and expenses by $212 million (-7%), weakening the agency’s capacity to crack down on drug trafficking. Also proposes shuttering major DEA offices in countries around the world, noting that those countries “are equipped to counter drug trafficking on their own.”
Cuts funding for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) salaries and expenses by $468 million (-29%) as part of the administration’s ongoing attempt to dismantle the agency in charge of enforcing our country’s gun laws.
TRIBES: Slashes $911 million (-24%) for core Tribal programs that uphold the federal government’s legally-obligated and court-ordered trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal nations. This cut would decimate core Tribal programs including road maintenance, housing, and programs for children and families. The proposal would nearly eliminate funding for construction of Tribal schools, which are already too often dilapidated, and it cuts Tribal law enforcement funding by 20%.
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH: More than halves funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF) with a $5.2 billion (-57%) cut. Cuts funding for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science by $1.148 billion (-14%). These proposed cuts would decimate America’s edge in essential scientific research that will drive future economic growth.
EPA: Cuts funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by more than half by abandoning state and Tribal programs that build and maintain drinking water and sewer systems, starving states of longstanding federal funding provided to pay for states’ work enforcing federal laws, and decimating funding for cleaning up toxic Superfund sites. The request would also effectively eliminate research funding used to better understand the impacts on human health from polluted air and water and from toxic chemicals.
NATIONAL PARKS: Cuts $900 million (- 30%) from National Park Service operations, abandoning national parks that the administration says should suddenly be transferred to the states, while providing no funding for states to manage massive new obligations that such a dramatic move would entail. This would incentivize states to sell off public lands to the highest bidder, threatening valued open space and areas of natural and historical value to local communities.
AGRICULTURE: Guts funding for agricultural research, which is critical to ensuring American agriculture is competitive with the rest of the world and provides key resources to help farmers and ranchers prepare and adapt in an uncertain environment. Zeroes out foreign food aid that supports American farmers and is a lifeline for people living in extreme poverty across the world.
RURAL AMERICA: Slashes investments in core Rural Development programs by $721 million, including investments in safe drinking water, affordable housing, and resources to bolster the rural economy.
NUTRITION: Eliminates the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which provides food assistance to low-income individuals 60 years of age and older to supplement diets and addressing potential nutrient deficiencies. The preliminary budget request does not mention any of the other 16 Nutrition Programs, including WIC, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and the National School Lunch Program.
VETERANS: Without more details, it is unclear whether the President is proposing to shift tens of billions of dollars in funding for veterans’ care to mandatory funding (which Republicans have long vociferously opposed) or to decimate funding for non-medical care.
FOREST SERVICE: Cuts $1.386 billion (-22%) from the Forest Service, gutting grant funding for state and tribal wildfire risk reduction, volunteer fire departments, and much more. The proposal would cut at least 2,000 National Forest System staff positions, which will severely harm the Administration’s stated goals of improving forest management and increasing domestic timber production.
ARMY CORPS: Cuts funding for the Army Corps of Engineers by $2 billion (-23%), slashing funding used to maintain our nation’s ports and harbors.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE: Cuts funding for the Department of Commerce by $1.9 billion (-18%). Outright eliminates the Economic Development Administration (EDA), which helps economically distressed communities across America get ahead.
NOAA: Guts funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by $1.5 billion, which would eliminate all manner of programs that create good jobs, help local economies, and support ocean research, health, and coastal resilience. Proposes a reckless $209 million cut for NOAA’s weather satellites, which play a critical role in ensuring Americans have accurate weather forecasting and will result in a gap in observations when the current satellites retire early in the next decade.
ENERGY: Slashes funding for the Department of Energy overall by $4.7 billion (-9.4%). Guts funding for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs by $2.572 billion (-74%) and proposes to rescind $15.25 billion from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law energy programs, which will raise energy costs for American consumers by halting vital innovation and energy projects.
SMALL BUSINESSES: Slashes funding for SBA’s Entrepreneurial Development Programs by $167 million, proposing the elimination of nearly all programs, including programs that support veterans as they work to start and grow a small business.
FEMA GRANTS: Cuts funding for FEMA non-disaster grants that help communities prepare for disasters, support efforts to prevent violence and terrorism, prepare emergency responders, and more.
STATE DEPARTMENT & FOREIGN ASSISTANCE: Guts funding for the State Department and America’s international security, economic, and humanitarian assistance programs by $31.2 billion (-48%).
The United States already spends less than 0.2% of our GDP on diplomacy and foreign assistance, which is less than a third of the percent we spent under President Reagan’s peace through strength approach, and Trump is proposing to halve these critical investments.
Cuts funding for lifesaving and other humanitarian assistance by $4.7 billion (-54%), which will lead to preventable deaths and suffering across the globe, and threaten Americans’ safety and well-being by undercutting our efforts to stop disease outbreaks and prevent conflict. A cut of this magnitude will also lead to more migration of people fleeing poverty, conflict, and natural disasters.
Cuts funding for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement account by $1.3 billion (-91%) which helps prevent human trafficking, stop drug trafficking, and much more, with direct implications for American communities.
Slashes economic growth and development funding across multiple agencies and accounts by $6 billion (67%) and proposes the final dissolution of USAID.
Guts funding for global health initiatives by $6.2 billion (-62%).
Reneges on our treaty dues for the United Nations (UN), U.N. Peacekeeping operations, and a majority of other international organizations.
COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT: Eliminates all funding ($770 million) for community-based anti-poverty programs that help low income individuals and families access services to alleviate the causes of poverty.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS: Eliminates $291 million in funding for all current CDFI financial assistance awards, which help leverage private capital to support the development of child care centers, housing, health care facilities, and small businesses. Since 2010, CDFIs have financed over 1.3 million businesses and 557,000 affordable homes.
AMERICORPS: Eliminates AmeriCorps, which enables over 200,000 Americans to help serve communities across the country, including by responding to natural disasters, supporting veterans, fighting the opioid epidemic, helping older Americans age with dignity, and working in our schools, educating and supporting students.
CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING: Eliminates funding for CPB, ending support for more than 1,500 local public television and radio stations.
INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES: Eliminates funding for IMLS and the support provided to libraries and museums throughout the United States.
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION: Cuts funding for the Bureau by $600 million (-34%), gutting investments in key restoration projects.
CULTURAL GRANTS FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES: Completely eliminates the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, which provide funding for every state and every congressional district for cultural economic development and the creative economy.
NASA: Cuts NASA funding by $6 billion (-24%), the largest single-year cut to NASA in U.S. history, which would mark an incredible retreat for American leadership and ambition in space. Terminates the Artemis Campaign to establish a human presence on the Moon after the Artemis III mission. Slashes funding for the Science Mission Directorate by $3.43 billion (-47%), which would cancel numerous current and planned missions to better understand our universe, solar system, and Earth.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Eliminates funding to 27 states by zeroing out funding for 6 of 7 regional commissions, which provide grants in economically distressed communities for disaster mitigation, opioid crisis support programming, workforce training, and much more.
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE: Likely cuts IRS enforcement by nearly $2.5 billion (-89%). This significant reduction will help billionaire tax cheats game the system while working families continue to pay their fair share.
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
Boston (May 2, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today condemned the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) plan to cancel nearly 800 grants awarded under President Biden, which includes all environmental justice grants awarded and obligated by the agency. This news comes amidst ongoing battles in courts over whether the EPA had violated its legal obligations when clawing back funds through freezes and shutouts.
“The Trump administration’s plan to terminate hundreds of environmental justice grants is a shameful abandonment of communities nationwide that are working to address generations of historical pollution and underinvestment – efforts made possible by the very grants Trump and Zeldin are set on axing. The administration’s funding freezes have wreaked havoc on communities that are counting on federal investments to weather storms more safely, breathe cleaner air, drink cleaner water, live closer to green space, and save on utility bills,” said Senator Markey. “These callous cuts only force more chaos and uncertainty on small community groups and local environmental justice organizations working tirelessly to improve their communities and lead the fight for a livable future for all.”
Most of the grants set for termination are those issued by the Office of Environmental Justice and Civil Rights, EPA’s chief environmental justice arm currently being dismantled by the Trump administration. Funds set for termination include environmental justice funding that provides long-overdue resources like technical assistance and staff capacity for underinvested frontline and fenceline communities, including the Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC) and Community Change Grant programs.
Since January, EPA environmental justice grantees have been blindsided by sudden grant termination notices, grant freezes, or have been shut out of funding access portals without any warning. Since environmental justice grants are reimbursement-based and contracts require grantees to continue implementing their projects, many grantees have been forced to pay for costs out of pocket without assurance that they will be paid back. Additionally, significant, and sudden EPA staff cuts have left many grantees without proper lines of communication with the EPA about the status of their funds.
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 3, 2025.
‘Super antibodies’ for snake toxins: how a dangerous DIY experiment helped scientists make a new antivenom Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christina N. Zdenek, Associate Researcher, The University of Queensland Scientists in the United States have created a new snake antivenom using the blood of a man who deliberately built up immunity to snakebites by injecting himself with many different kinds of venom more than 800 times over
Human rights group calls for probe into attack on Freedom Flotilla ship Asia Pacific Report A human rights agency has called for an investigation into the drone attacks on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla aid ship Conscience with Israel suspected of being responsible. The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said in a statement that the deliberate targeting of a civilian aid ship in international waters was a “flagrant violation”
RSF condemns Israeli targeting of Gaza journalists – then slandering them in death Pacific Media Watch After a year and a half of war, nearly 200 Palestinian journalists have been killed by the Israeli army — including at least 43 slain on the job. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has brought multiple complaints before the International Criminal Court (ICC) and continues to tirelessly support Gazan journalists, working to halt
Final polls give Labor a clear lead before the election Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne With those who haven’t already cast a pre-poll vote ready to hit the polling places tomorrow, a final batch of polls give Labor a firm lead. The
Culture wars and costings: election special podcast with Michelle Grattan and Amanda Dunn Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra As we roll into the dying hours of the election campaign, the polls are suggesting a Labor win, although it is not yet clear if it will be in minority or majority. Chief Political Correspondent Michelle Grattan and Politics Editor
Keith Rankin Analysis – The Great World War 1914-1945: Germany, Russia, Ukraine Analysis by Keith Rankin. On Anzac Day we remembered World War One and World War Two, or at least the peripheral little bits of those imperial wars that New Zealand was involved in. There was and is little context given to how New Zealand got involved with such far-away wars which need never have become
What is iNaturalist? The citizen science app playing an unlikely role in Erin Patterson’s mushroom murder trial Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caitlyn Forster, Associate Lecturer, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Death cap mushrooms (_Amanita phalloides_) Jolanda Aalbers/Shutterstock The world has been gripped by the case of Australian woman Erin Patterson, who was charged with the murder of three people after allegedly serving them a
Fake news and the election campaign – how worried should voters be? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrea Carson, 2024 Oxford University visiting research fellow RIJS; Professor of Political Communication., La Trobe University shutterstock JRdes/Shutterstock The spread of electoral misinformation and disinformation is undermining democracies around the world. The World Economic Forum has identified the proliferation of false content as the leading short-term global
The MMR vaccine doesn’t contain ‘aborted fetus debris’, as RFK Jr has claimed. Here’s the science Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the United States’ top public health official, recently claimed some religious groups avoid the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine because it contains “aborted fetus debris” and “DNA particles”. The US is facing its worst measles
Scientists surprised to discover mayflies and shrimp making their bodies out of ancient gas Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul McInerney, Senior Research Scientist in Ecosystem Ecology, CSIRO The native shrimp _Paratya australiensis_ was among the species found to incorporate carbon from natural gas into their bodies in the Condamine River. Chris Van Wyk/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND What’s the currency for all life on Earth? Carbon. Every
New Zealand condemned for failing to make ICJ humanitarian case over Gaza genocide Asia Pacific Report The advocacy group Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa has condemned the New Zealand government fpr failing to make a humanitarian submission to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) hearings at The Hague this week into Israel blocking vital supplies entering Gaza. The ICJ’s ongoing investigation into Israeli genocide in the besieged enclave is
The Liberals’ women problem may seem intractable, but here’s what they could learn from the Teals Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Phoebe Hayman, PhD Candidate and Casual Academic in Politics, La Trobe University The impression of the Liberal Party as out of touch with women persists in this year’s election. The party’s “women problem” was brought into sharp focus by the backlash to its now-abandoned policy to stop
This NZ law aims to give people with criminal convictions a ‘clean slate’. It’s not working Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Plum, Senior Research Fellow, Auckland University of Technology Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock If you own a business, would you be willing to hire a person who has been convicted for a crime? Give them a chance when a background check shows they have a criminal record? The answers matter
Police have now reviewed completion rates for the swimming assessment that recruits are expected to undergo as part of their training at the Royal New Zealand Police College.
Since the start of the new 20-week curriculum in January 2024 a further three wings have missed the assessment. There are now 349 constables who will take the swimming assessment retrospectively.
Commissioner Richard Chambers said he is disappointed that the process in place to assess water skills has not been followed consistently.
“The swim assessment is designed to ensure recruits are aware of their abilities and limitations in water. This becomes important operationally to help them make good decisions if they need to respond to a critical water incident.
“While it is not currently a pass or fail requirement, it is an important component of preparing to be a police officer. The current process will be reviewed to ensure that all recruits are assessed in water skills before they leave the college. This review will include looking into whether swimming competency should return to being a pass or fail requirement prior to graduation.
“I have directed all 349 constables who have missed the assessment to complete it in their home Districts over the next four months.
“I am proud of the calibre of recruits that we have and am committed to ensuring that the high standards of entry and training for New Zealand Police are maintained.
“In this way we will continue to turn out the exceptional police officers that New Zealand is well known for and expects.”
Police have arrested two people in relation to an aggravated robbery at a Kawakawa property on Thursday night.
A 22-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were arrested last night and are facing a number of charges, including aggravated robbery, wounding, unlawful possession of ammunition and failing to answer to bail.
They will appear in Kaikohe District Court this morning.
BOSTON – An Assistant Admissions Director for Emmanuel College in Boston was arrested this evening and charged with soliciting an underage college applicant to engage in commercial sex with him.
Jacob Henriques, 29, of Boston, is charged in a criminal complaint with one count of Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor. He will appear in U.S. District Court in Boston on Monday May 5, 2025.
According to the charging document, Henriques used his position as an Assistant Admissions Director to allegedly gain access to the personal information of various admitted or prospective students, who he later contacted to solicit to engage in commercial sex with him. Specifically, on April 25, 2025, Henriques met with multiple admitted or prospective students. After meeting with at least three such students, Henriques allegedly gained access to their personal information and began contacting them, offering to “pay them for some fun,” offering to provide them with pornography, and, in some instances, sending them pornographic videos or images. It is alleged that Henriques began contacting a fourth victim after she formally committed to attend the college on April 25, 2025. He allegedly offered to pay her for “some fun” and began sending pornographic videos to her.
Henriques is charged with attempting to traffic a 17-year-old victim, who was a prospective student. Henriques allegedly reviewed the victim’s tour registration form, which contained her date of birth, just before giving her a tour of the college on or about April 25, 2025. Henriques asked the victim what grade she was in and the victim told Henriques what local high school she attended. Within hours of finishing the tour, it is alleged that Henriques began texting the victim on her phone number provided on her admissions form. Henriques allegedly offered to pay the victim $400 for “some fun” right now and told her that he had pornographic videos and pictures for her. Henriques continued to contact the minor victim that night, refusing to tell her who he was or how he got her number. He allegedly told the victim that “porn” and “$” was ready for her. Henriques then allegedly sent the minor victim five pornographic videos depicting men and women engaged in sex acts and asked her whether or not she wanted to participate in a “gangbang” and whether or not she wanted to have sex with him. It is further alleged that despite the victim rejecting Henriques’s offer multiple times, Henrique continued to text her telling her to let him know if she changed her mind and that he would buy her anything she wanted. Between April 25, 2025 and April 28, 2025, it is alleged that Henriques accessed the minor’s profile 47 times. After the victim blocked his phone number, Henriques allegedly began soliciting the victim via email.
The charge of attempted sex trafficking of a minor provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, with a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig E. Estes of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit is prosecuting the case.
If you believe that you may be a victim of the alleged crime, please reach out to the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force by filling out this short short form.
If you have information or questions about this investigation, or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking or child exploitation, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) joined 30 of her colleagues in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) urging Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg to reverse the abrupt cancellation of hundreds of public safety grants that serve crime victims and improve public safety in communities across the country. The letter calls on DOJ to provide information about its decision to cancel the grants.
The Senators wrote, in part: “On April 22, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs (OJP) notified hundreds of grant recipients across the country, without warning, that their funding had been terminated, effective immediately. Many of these grants are authorized by Congress and support programs that have enhanced public safety in communities rural and urban, affluent and poor, Democratic and Republican.”
The Senators continued: “As DOJ’s largest grantmaking component, OJP over the last several decades has supported crime victim assistance and compensation programs, juvenile justice and child protection activities, sex offender management efforts, criminal justice research, and crime statistics collection. These programs deliver critical resources to state, local, and community advocates who help people with addiction and protect kids, veterans, and victims of crime across the country.”
The Senators concluded: “Additionally, we advise that the Department restore immediately the grants terminated on April 22. The cursory termination of these programs imperils the public safety of the victims and communities that rely on these critical resources.”
The full text of the letter can be read here.
In her role as the former Chair of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee, Shaheen led efforts to fund programs that increase public safety and support New Hampshire’s law enforcement agencies. In the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding legislation, Shaheen secured $23,212,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending to help build safe and prosperous communities and other priorities.
Shaheen also champions efforts in the Senate to boost services and programs for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. In the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 CJS Subcommittee Appropriations bill, Shaheen secured and helped advance $739.5 million, the highest funding level ever, for grants authorized by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
