Source: United States Navy
WASHINGTON NAVY YARD, District of Columbia — Rear Adm. Dean VanderLey, commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) and chief of Civil Engineers emphasized the importance of industry partnerships, alternative construction methods, and engaging with Congress during an executive leadership panel at the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Capital Week conference last week in Rockville, Maryland.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Robert Lawson, Associate Professor in Sociolinguistics, Birmingham City University
Netflix hit Adolescence has ignited conversations across the UK about contemporary masculinity, online radicalisation and violence against women and girls. It has also raised questions about the interventions needed at home, in schools and by the government to counter the seductive power of harmful content on social media.
The series suggests the key to solving some of these issues is parents and teachers understanding the “manosphere”. This is a collection of websites, influencers and communities where men talk about “men’s issues”. But, as I’ve explored in my research, anti-women and anti-feminist sentiment also prevails.
In an interview about the series, Adolescence writer Jack Thorne says:
Jamie is not a simple product of the ‘manosphere’. He is a product of parents that didn’t see, a school that couldn’t care and a brain that didn’t stop him. Put 3,000 kids in the same situation and they wouldn’t do what he did. Yet spend any time on forums on 4chan or Reddit, spend any time on most social media platforms and you end up, quite quickly, in some dark spaces. Parents can try to regulate this, schools can stop mobile phone access but more needs to be done.
Successive UK governments have attempted to counter online misogyny and violence against women and girls through legislation and public education schemes. But what would really work?
Adolescence attaches much importance to language and emojis used by teens to obscure meaning, though there is undoubtedly some creative license behind the depictions of the emojis used to mean “incel” (involuntary celibate).
But focusing on “slang parents and teachers need to know” is misguided. Every generation finds ways of talking about their lives in coded ways. And teen language is frequently tied to moral panics about what it potentially hides. Research has shown that regular, open and supportive conversations between parents and children are much more important.
The prime minister has suggested that Adolescence should be shown in schools. And Netflix has made the series available to secondary schools across the UK.
In December 2024, education minister Bridget Phillipson announced new teaching guidance about incel culture and online misogyny. She argued that it was “vital to recognise the signs of these dangerous ideas as early as possible”.
It’s encouraging to see the government take these issues seriously, but there are pitfalls. Teachers are under substantial pressure, struggling with workload and staffing. How many have the capacity to lead meaningful and supportive discussions, especially with limited training on these topics?
Some research suggests that female teachers encounter explicit misogyny in their classrooms. This makes it even more difficult to facilitate conversations about gender and violence. Sessions on countering misogyny also pose the danger of alienating boys, making them feel like they are being vilified for the actions of other men and boys.
Ultimately, interventions to reduce gender-based violence and misogyny need a “whole-school” approach that integrates gender equality across the curriculum, rather than isolating it within relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) classes. This content could also be covered in initial teacher training courses.
Researchers have developed resources to challenge dangerous gender norms for use in schools, community groups and other forums. These include toolkits from Dublin City University, University of Liverpool and the MascNet research network, which focus on improving critical thinking, unpacking dominant ideas of masculinity and reflecting on different ways of being a man.
My own work on A-level English curricula also offers suggestions. Improving digital literacy is key to helping young men identify the mechanisms of manipulation in the content they consume and resist the siren call of manosphere influences. This can encourage young men to rethink their assumptions about gender politics and masculinity, with the ultimate aim of reducing gender-based violence.
Other discussions have focused on recruiting more male teachers and the importance of models of masculinity based on caring, empathy and emotional vulnerability. Again, these are appealing solutions, but the evidence that male role models improve outcomes for young people is mixed.
Perhaps the trickiest debate concerns the regulation of media and technology. Adolescence writer Thorne has backed the UK following Australia’s approach to ban social media for under-16s, and some argue the government should ban smartphones for teenagers entirely. Experts say that such bans could do more harm than good.
The UK’s new online safety laws may go some way to holding social media companies to account for moderating illegal or harmful content and algorithms through fines. This covers intimate image abuse, cyberflashing and some other forms of online misogyny, but there are likely to be gaps when it comes to male supremacist and manosphere content.
And there are serious concerns about how the law will affect free speech and undermine privacy online.
The problem with many of these strategies is that they fail to acknowledge the material reality of many young boys’ lives. There have been significant cuts over the past 20 years to youth provision, from clubs and community centres to mental health support.
Boys’ prospects in terms of educational attainment and secure employment lag behind girls’. These inequalities become even more pronounced across regions and social classes, and won’t be solved by banning social media.
Add to this disconnected communities and a potent combination of insecurity, precarity and frustrated expectation, it is no surprise that many young men find solace in an online world which gives them validation, belonging and a sense of community.
Thankfully, a number of organisations offer better solutions. Charities like Beyond Equality, the Manhood Academy, AndysManClub and Progressive Masculinity have provided outreach, mentoring and mental health provision for boys and young men across the UK for years.
Similarly, the S.M.I.L.E-ing Boys Project supports boys from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities to develop their emotional intelligence, with positive outcomes in terms of navigating relationships and interpersonal conflict. Government investment would help these organisations reach more young men, alongside improving access for underserved communities.
Adolescence has started some important conversations among parents, teens and politicians. But to make a difference in how young men navigate the world, how they deal with rejection, and how they negotiate the difficulties that life throws at them, these conversations need to be backed up with investment and concrete action.
Robert Lawson is a Research Fellow in the Institute for Research on Male Supremacism.
– ref. What politicians could actually do about the issues raised in Adolescence – https://theconversation.com/what-politicians-could-actually-do-about-the-issues-raised-in-adolescence-252978
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ernesto Castañeda, Professor, and Director, Center for Latin American and Latino Studies, American University
The U.S. State Department declared on Feb. 20, 2025, that the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, as well as some Mexican drug cartels, are now considered foreign terrorist organizations.
Is the new label warranted?
Tren de Aragua is at the center of a controversial immigration case that the Supreme Court is going to consider.
The Trump administration is using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to justify deporting more than 100 of the 238 Venezuelan and Salvadoran male immigrants it sent to a prison in El Salvador on March 15. The administration says that these immigrants are members of gangs such as Tren de Aragua and are foreign enemies, so they can be sent away with just an order from the White House.
The administration uses a checklist of items, including physical markers like tattoos, to determine these individuals’ association with Tren de Aragua. Although in reality, the Tren de Aragua gang members do not use any specific tattoos.
Family members and lawyers representing some of the Venezuelan immigrants say that they are not actually associated with the gang, and that some of them were living in the U.S. legally.
I am an expert on immigration, and I think it is important to understand why classifying Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization has sparked debate among observers.
One important reason is that Tren de Aragua is primarily a profit-driven group, not an ideological one – placing the organization more firmly in the transnational organized crime category rather than a political terrorist group.
Tren de Aragua originated as a small prison gang in the early 2000s within Tocorón prison in Venezuela’s state of Aragua, located near the country’s capital, Caracas.
Over the past 25 years, Tren de Aragua has expanded rapidly across South and Central America, and evolved into a transnational criminal organization under the leadership of Hector Guerrero Flores. Also known as Niño Guerrero, Flores is a 41-year-old Venezuelan who first served time in Tocorón prison in 2010 for killing a police officer before he escaped for the first time in 2012. His current location is not known.
Flores is wanted by the U.S. and Colombia for various crimes related to expanding the group’s criminal network throughout South and Central America.
Today, an estimated 5,000 people are affiliated with Tren de Aragua, which is mainly focused on human trafficking and other crimes targeting migrants. The gang has also been linked to other criminal organizations in Latin America and is involved with extortion, kidnapping, money laundering and drug smuggling. The number of active members in the United States is in the low hundreds, and clearly the great majority of Venezuelans here are not members.
Tren de Aragua has expanded in part because of its ability to exploit weak governance within the state of Aragua, and eventually across Venezuela, which faces political instability and a weak economy. An expansion beyond Venezuela has allowed the gang to connect with other transnational criminal networks.
Most accepted definitions of terrorism say it is a kind of violence, usually used against civilians, motivated by political and ideological beliefs and goals. Tren de Aragua does not fit that definition. It does not have a political ideology and therefore is not an actual terrorist organization.
The U.S. government considers a foreign terrorist organization a foreign group that engages in terrorist activity, or plans to do so, in a way that threatens the security of U.S. nationals or the country more broadly.
Tren de Aragua is among the eight groups that the State Department first classified as foreign terrorist organizations in the first few months of 2025 after Donald Trump’s inauguration. The other new groups put on the list primarily include Latin American drug trafficking organizations, like the Mexican Sinaloa cartel.
While transnational criminal organizations and foreign terrorist organizations both engage in violence and illicit activities, their end goals are different.
Foreign terrorist organizations such as al-Qaida and the Islamic State group seek political, religious or ideological change – or all three – as they try to use violence to reshape the political landscape of their regions.
Tren de Aragua, as well as other transnational criminal groups like MS-13 – which originated in Los Angeles but now operates throughout the Americas – and the Sinaloa cartel, carry out illegal, violent activities across borders in order to make money.
These groups do not have political or ideological motives beyond creating conditions to maximize their own profits. They do not aim to take political power in the U.S. or elsewhere, or try to remake society in their own image. That is beyond their purview and capabilities.
Properly distinguishing between terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations is crucial for devising effective policies and responses to their violence. Mislabeling these groups can lead to inappropriate responses such as putting aside civil liberties, due process and human rights.
Incorrectly classifying Tren de Aragua and other criminal groups as terrorist organizations could shift U.S. foreign policy and resources toward counterterrorism efforts and away from decreasing the power and violence exercised by organized crime and drug cartels in many parts of Latin America.
However, the way in which many Venezuelans and other immigrants have been deported from the country over the past few months without passing through immigration court seems to indicate that the main rationale for the talk about alien enemies and these terrorist designations is to aid in the goal of mass deportations, rather than to fight domestic or international terrorism.
If the U.S. truly wants to curb undocumented immigration and reduce drug and human trafficking, then I believe that it should ensure that its classification of these organizations is accurate and aligned with its actual objectives.
Melissa Vasquez, a graduate student at American University studying international affairs and the Northern Triangle in Central America, contributed to this piece.
Ernesto Castañeda 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.
– ref. The Trump administration says Tren de Aragua is a terrorist group – but it’s really a transnational criminal organization. Here’s why the label matters. – https://theconversation.com/the-trump-administration-says-tren-de-aragua-is-a-terrorist-group-but-its-really-a-transnational-criminal-organization-heres-why-the-label-matters-252793
Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
Detectives investigating a vicious assault in Plaistow have released an image of a man they want to identify.
The incident happened at approximately 19:20hrs on Wednesday, 26 February as the victim – a man aged in his 50s – was waiting at a bus stop in Barking Road, near the junction with Tunmarsh Lane, E13.
The male suspect walked up behind him and slashed him across the face with a knife before walking off. No words were exchanged prior to the incident and the victim did not recognise his attacker.
The victim was taken to hospital for treatment but has been left with a large scar.
Detective Constable Karen Barker leads the investigation and said:
“This appears to have been a completely unprovoked attack which could easily have had far more serious consequences. We are appealing to anyone who was in this area of Barking Road around the time of the incident, or any road users with camera footage who may have captured the suspect or the incident, to come forward and speak to us. This person is extremely dangerous and needs to be caught.”
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote ref: 01/7208073/25. You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan Police Service to charge a man following an investigation by detectives.
The Met has issued a charge and requisition to Russell Brand, 50 (04.02.1975), of Oxfordshire, in connection with the following offences –
Detectives began investigating in September 2023 after receiving a number of allegations, which followed reporting by Channel 4’s Dispatches and The Sunday Times.
It is alleged that –
Russell Brand will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 2 May.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy from the Metropolitan Police who is leading the investigation said: “The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers.
“The Met’s investigation remains open and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police. A dedicated team of investigators is available via email at CIT@met.police.uk.
“Support is also available by contacting the independent charity, Rape Crisis at 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line.”
We urge responsible reporting in line with guidance from the Attorney General’s Office. Editors, publishers, and social media users should take legal advice to ensure they are in a position to fully comply with the obligations to which they are subject under the common law and Contempt of Court Act 1981.
The charges relate to four separate women.
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
RCMP NL is warning residents of a type of scam currently in circulation where scammers are using Facebook Marketplace to target users selling items and sending them fake email money transfers (EMT).
Recently, reports have been made about residents being defrauded through a phishing scam on Facebook. Here is how the scam is conducted:
Here are some red flags to watch out for:
How can you protect yourself?
Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it is. If you are unsure whether who you are speaking with on the phone, online, or even in person is legitimate or not, don’t be afraid to say no, leave the conversation, or get a second opinion.
RCMP NL encourages the public to discuss financial and digital safety with elders and vulnerable adults in their family or community. For more information on phishing, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/scams-fraudes/phishing-hameconnage-eng.htm
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
Planning and innovation play crucial roles when it comes to the end of a nuclear reactor’s life. Decommissioning activities, set to increase in the coming years as ageing nuclear power plants are retired, include decontamination and dismantling of structures, leading to the removal of regulatory controls so that a facility and site may be reused. In this video, you will learn how decommissioning activities are carried out effectively and safely, including the example of one such project currently underway in the French town of La Hague, where a former fuel processing plant is being decommissioned.
This video was first published in 2023 for the International Conference on Nuclear Decommissioning.
Source: US State of Connecticut
Five years ago, thanks to a federal program that distributes surplus military equipment to local police, Bridgeport acquired a heavily armored vehicle capable of withstanding a mine blast. Other places like Bristol, Hartford, New London, and Willimantic also got one.
As local media published town-by-town lists of the night vision goggles, rifles, thermal scopes, underwater sound equipment, reconnaissance cameras, and other armored vehicles acquired under the program, Connecticut legislators voted to henceforth prohibit the acquisition of certain military items.
In a post-George Floyd world, when citizens nationwide openly question the use of police force and officers often find themselves an unwelcomed presence in neighborhoods, simple transparency, like those town-by-town lists, is paramount, says one UConn researcher.
It’s also the thing most in danger, as what he calls “police finance organizations” introduce secrecy and a rising amount of dark money into policing.
“Police departments are funded largely by taxpayers through municipal budgets, but we’ve found there’s a lot of other money going to police that you don’t know about or have control over as a voter or taxpayer,” says sociologist Simon Yamawaki Shachter, an assistant professor at UConn. “When you don’t know what’s going into a police budget, that raises questions about who the police are working for. Is it the community that pays taxes or someone else?”
Shachter and researchers from Harvard University and the University of Chicago introduce the new concept of police finance organizations in their paper, “The Social Structure of Private Donations to Police,” published recently in Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World.
In it, they define such organizations as simply private entities that give resources to police. These private entities, however, aren’t subject to the same level of scrutiny as police departments, through freedom-of-information requests and public annual reports for example.
Among the larger category of police finance organizations, they say there are three smaller types: “connectors,” “boosters,” and “havens.”
In most cases, taxpayers and voters don’t know this is happening. — Simon Yamawaki Shachter
Police connectors are entities that generally are in major U.S. cities and provide resources to multiple police departments, oftentimes serving as hubs between parts of the private funding network.
Police boosters, on the other hand, give only to a single department and tend to be hyperlocal in their fundraising and giving. Police havens, though, are organizations that operate as a savings account for departments, that is, taking in private donations as deposits and making withdrawals to give to departments upon need or request.
“While police finance organizations sound fine at face value, what’s interesting is that people can make their own tax-deductible gifts to police departments without an intermediary,” Shachter explains. “So, it’s curious why these organizations need to exist in the first place if people can just go to their local police department and write them a check. Why does there need to be this extra organization in the middle?”
These organizations, he says, often are incorporated as nonprofits, and as 501(c)3s are not required to disclose donor lists, limiting the public’s knowledge of where the funding originated from. Not only don’t they have to report their donors, they’re also not subject to freedom-of-information laws, so even a written request doesn’t get the information.
Nearly 1,000 police finance organizations nationwide
Shachter says the New York City Police Foundation, founded in 1971, was the first major private organization to support police, and even as others popped up over the years, their popularity was slow to grow until about 2015 when their number exploded.
Police benevolent associations were not part of the study, Shachter notes, and weren’t considered police finance organizations because they’re a function of police unions and work to support officers, not general policing, namely equipment and training.
Using information from GuideStar Candid, Shachter and the other researchers found thousands of entries just from the keywords “police,” “sheriff,” “law enforcement,” and “trooper” in tax filer names, mission statements, program accomplishments, expense descriptions, and addresses.
They worked to winnow down the dataset and figure there are 961 police finance organizations nationwide, which, Shachter says, is a conservative estimate based on various limitations in the data and other roadblocks researchers hit.
They managed to discern, however, that between 2014 and 2019, police finance organizations had a revenue of $480 million, of which $396 million went to police havens, $56 million to police connectors, and $28 million to police boosters, according to the study.
The average donation to a police haven was $22,243 – a skewed number thanks to a handful of multimillion-dollar gifts, the study says, explaining that havens often gave money to individual officers, provided nonmaterial gifts to departments, facilitated discounted purchases by departments, and offered free loans of equipment.
Those giving the most have strong political agendas and are trying to exert policy influence in different ways. — Simon Yamawaki Shachter
Havens also exchanged $5 million among themselves through 80 individual donations, “creating a shadow network of internal financial exchanges,” the study says.
Shachter says police finance organizations find all sorts of ways to secretly pass support to departments, including by donating to individual officers. If gifts are less than $5,000 per officer, the donation needn’t be disclosed.
This means, for instance, the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation was able in 2020 to give that department 3,330 bulletproof vests and 1,720 vest covers by marking them for individual officers without having to report the $1.47 million donation, the study says.
Two years prior in 2018, a different organization, the Chicago Police Foundation, purchased “special classes for CPD,” but details on what those classes were for aren’t readily available, a fact that’s not surprising to Shachter. The study notes that its disclosure at all was likely a mistake.
“Most of the police departments and most of the organizations we studied are using this money for whatever they want, going around any public process,” Shachter says. “We have no idea what’s being offered in these trainings. We just know they’re held and that police go to them.”
Gifts from billionaire donors
From youth programming and defibrillators to shields and even a helicopter, donations run the gamut.
“Most of the gifts are very benign, supporting the health of canines and medical training for officers, things I think we all support and say should be part of public budgets,” Shachter says. “But if you look at the amount of money that moves through these organizations, it appears far more nefarious. Those giving the most have strong political agendas and are trying to exert policy influence in different ways.”
Study researchers found three private donors who gave significant support.
Howard Buffett, son of billionaire Warren Buffett, gave to police finance organizations in Illinois, which led to the ouster of the director of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board over ethical concerns.
In Arizona, the younger Buffett made donations and became an active member of the Assist Team, giving him direct access to police and allowing him to develop a relationship with U.S. Border Patrol, according to the study.
Founder of the hedge fund Citadel Kenneth Griffin himself disclosed gifts to police finance organizations, offering a combined $35 million to the University of Chicago Crime Lab in 2018 and 2022, the study says, noting that Griffin openly tied the gifts to mayoral, gubernatorial, and national policy. Because the University of Chicago is a private institution, it did not have to disclose the gift.
And billionaires Laura and John Arnold, outspoken supporters of law enforcement, funded in 2016 a pilot surveillance drone program through a police haven supporting Baltimore police, the study says. When the community learned of the surveillance program, it was immediately shut down.
There’s no doubt, Shachter says, that big donors are using their gifts to influence local, state, and national policy conversations.
“Our goal with this study is to take the first step of shining a light on this area of dark money and then try to make it more transparent. We would love changes to the IRS tax code to require better reporting, like gifts to individual officers. They should report that just like other public officials,” he says.
“In most cases, taxpayers and voters don’t know this is happening,” he continues. “City councils don’t even know, and if they’re not aware of these off-the-book line items how can they appropriately budget? There are so many ways these organizations are purposely avoiding transparency and that gives us reason for alarm.”
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Four people have been sentenced for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy operating in Berkeley, Morgan, and Hampshire Counties.
According to court documents and statements made in court, 26 people were charged in 2023 in connection with the drug trafficking organization, led by Dorian Scott Burks and Andrew Ross Hose. The conspirators worked together to sell large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. The investigation recovered drugs, firearms, and thousands of dollars.
Those sentenced this week are:
All defendants in the case have been convicted. Burks, age 29, of Jeannette, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 262 months in prison in January 2025. Hose, age 40, of Bunker Hill, West Virginia, will be sentenced on May 5, 2025.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Source: US Global Legal Monitor
On April 24 at 3 p.m. EDT, the Law Library of Congress and the American Bar Association will cohost our annual Law Day celebration with a Zoom-based panel discussion.
Please register here.
This year, the American Bar Association’s 2025 Law Day theme is “The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One.” As the American Bar Association explains:
The Constitution enshrines our collective responsibility to one another, and the 2025 Law Day theme urges us to take pride in a Constitution that bridges our differences to bring us together as a united nation. Our civic lives tie us together as one “We,” whether through legislative efforts that serve the common good, through military service, or by working together, every day, to fulfill the promise of E pluribus unum, or “out of many, one.”
This panel discussion will explore how law, specifically constitutionalism, has been used to promote unity in nations around the world, exploring this theme from a comparative constitutional law framework, where we will explore the intricacies of constitutional design, focusing on how different nations create, revise, and enforce their constitutions. This program will examine the processes by which constitutions are drafted, highlighting the roles of founding documents, legal frameworks, and the negotiation processes that reflect a nation’s values and aspirations. The panel will discuss how constitutions evolve over time, whether through formal amendments, judicial interpretation, or societal shifts, and how these changes impact governance. The enforcement mechanisms that ensure constitutions remain a living document—through judicial review, political processes, and institutional checks—will also be critically analyzed, providing a deeper understanding of the balance between legal stability and necessary reform. Through this comparative lens, this program will shed light on the diverse approaches to constitutional governance across the globe.
The program will be introduced by the American Bar Association President William R. Bay and the Law Librarian of Congress, Aslihan Bulut.
The moderator is Dr. Alejandro Ponce. Dr. Ponce is the Executive Director of the World Justice Project (WJP), leading its global efforts to advance the rule of law through research, data-driven insights, and strategic initiatives.
Dr. Ponce, a trained economist, has been instrumental in shaping WJP’s research agenda since its early years. As Chief Research Officer (2012–2025), he played a key role in developing the WJP Rule of Law Index and led the creation of major data products, including country and thematic diagnostics, environmental rule of law indicators, legal needs surveys in over 100 countries, and the first study to quantify the global justice gap. He also led WJP’s expansion in Mexico and the European Union, launching subnational justice indicators, advancing criminal justice research, and overseeing documentary film productions.
Before joining the World Justice Project, Ponce worked as a researcher at Yale University and as an economist at the World Bank and the Mexican Banking and Securities Commission. He has conducted research in the areas of behavioral economics, financial inclusion, justice indicators, and the rule of law, and has been published in collected volumes as well as top academic journals such as the American Economic Review and the Journal of Law and Economics. Ponce is a frequent speaker on the rule of law at international conferences and policy forums and travels the world to help a wide variety of stakeholders turn rule of law data into action. He holds a B.A. in economics from ITAM in Mexico and an M.A. and Ph.D. in economics from Stanford University.
The panelists include:
Law Library of Congress Senior Foreign Law Specialist Tariq Ahmad. Tariq’s work at the Law Library of Congress covers mostly South Asian common law jurisdictions, particularly India and Pakistan. He takes a particular research interest in religion and law issues in the South Asia region. Tariq holds an LL.M. degree in international law from American University Washington College of Law and an LL.B. from University College London.
Dr. Zachary Elkins. Professor Elkins’ research focuses on issues of democracy, institutional reform, research methods, and national identity, with an emphasis on cases in Latin America. He is currently completing a book manuscript, “Steal this Constitution: The Drift and Mastery of Constitutional Design,” which examines the design and diffusion of democratic institutions. Much of his research is on the origins and consequences of national constitutions. With Tom Ginsburg (University of Chicago), Professor Elkins co-directs both the Comparative Constitutions Project, an NSF-funded initiative to understand the causes and consequences of constitutional choices, and the website Constitute, which provides resources and analysis for constitutional drafters in new democracies. Elkins earned his B.A. from Yale University, an M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, and his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.
Professor Mortimer Sellers. M.N.S. Sellers is Regents Professor of the University System of Maryland, the highest honor in the Maryland Academic System. He is also Director of the University of Baltimore Center for International and Comparative Law (CICL), honorary President of the International Association for the Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy (IVR), President-Elect of the American Society of Comparative Law, Director of Studies of the American Branch of the International Law
Association and Counsellor to the American Society of International Law.
Professor Sellers has written and edited seventeen books and innumerable articles on international law, comparative law, constitutional law, the philosophy of law, and legal history. He is the general editor of several book series, including the Cambridge University Press series ASCL Studies in Comparative Law (with David Gerber) and the Cambridge University Press series ASIL Studies in International Legal Theory (with Michael Cooper). He is the editor with Stephan Kirste of The IVR Encyclopedia of the Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy, and with Gary Bell of the second edition of the International Encyclopedia of Comparative Law.
Professor Sellers received his doctorate and civil law degrees from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar and T.H. Green Fellow. He received his bachelor’s degree (summa cum laude) and law degree (cum laude) at Harvard University, where he was a Frank Knox Fellow and John Harvard Scholar and received the Edwards Whitaker and Detur prizes. He is an elected member of the International Academy of Comparative Law and of the International Association of Constitutional Law. Professor Sellers has been The H.L.A. Hart Fellow in Jurisprudence at University College, Oxford, Research Fellow of the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law in Heidelberg, and a visiting professor at the
Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed Jose Luis Romero Diaz, a citizen of Ecuador with a final order of removal, to Ecuador, March 25. Romero is a foreign fugitive wanted by law enforcement authorities in Ecuador for rape, trafficking in controlled substances and theft.
“Romero’s removal underscores ICE Philadelphia’s critical role in protecting our communities from those who present a significant danger to public safety. Through diligent enforcement of immigration laws, ICE prioritizes the apprehension and removal of individuals who are wanted for serious crimes,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Philadelphia acting Field Office Director Brian McShane.
The U.S. Border Patrol arrested Romero Nov. 20, 2023, near El Paso, Texas, for entering the United States without inspection or parole by an immigration official. The next day, the Border Patrol served him a notice to appear and released him on his own recognizance.
An immigration judge in New York ordered Romero removed from the United States to Ecuador in absentia March 20, 2024.
The New York Police Department arrested Romero for robbery causing physical injury Nov. 2, 2024. These charges remain pending.
Romero reported to the ICE New York field office in New York, New York, and requested copies of his immigration documents Jan. 14. ICE New York arrested him that same day and transferred him to ICE Philadelphia at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, where he remained prior until his removal.
Members of the public with information can report crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
Learn more about ICE Philadelphia’s mission to increase public safety in our Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia communities on X: @EROPhiladelphia.
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Update: Thanks to information received from the public, the woman has been identified.
Clarenville RCMP is investigating a theft at Shoppers Drug Mart in Clarenville that occurred on March 25, 2025. A significant quantity of cosmetic products was stolen.
On Tuesday, Clarenville RCMP received the report of the theft. An unknown woman entered the store and departed without paying for various cosmetic items. The items are valued between $2000.00-$3000.00.
Clarenville RCMP is seeking assistance from the public in identifying the woman, who was captured on the store’s surveillance. An image is attached.
The investigation is continuing.
Anyone who can identify the woman or who has information about this crime or the current location of the stolen property is asked to contact Clarenville RCMP at 709-466-3211. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.
Source: City of Portsmouth
Last Friday (28 March) Bradley Willis-Chambers was sentenced to 24 months suspended for two years, 220 hours of unpaid work, and ten days of rehabilitation activity.
Willis-Chambers was found guilty at Portsmouth Crown Court in January 2025 of fraudulent trading between 8 April 2022, and 22 February 2023, against four victims to a value of £35,132.48.
Cllr Lee Hunt, cabinet member for Community Safety, Leisure and Sport at Portsmouth City Council, said:
“We welcome this conviction. Justice doesn’t end at sentencing; working with the police and partners Portsmouth City Council will go after rogue traders using the full weight of the law to win justice, gain compensation for victims and fight this form of criminal activity. This sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime and our determination to stamp it out.”
A financial investigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 is ongoing, aimed at recovering funds obtained by Willis-Chambers and to compensate the victims of his fraudulent activities. Additionally, Portsmouth City Council is seeking a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) to prevent Willis-Chambers from actions that could expose consumers to further risk. The terms of the CBO are yet to be finalised.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of a rogue trader incident, we urge you to report it to The Citizens Advice Consumer Service at 08082231133 and Action Fraud at 0300 123 2040.
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –
This year Russia will celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Center for Religion and Law Faculty of Law HSE University held a round table “Connection of Times. Holy War – Special Military Operation. Contribution of Religious Associations to Achieving Victory.” Representatives of different faiths met to recall history and discuss how clergy can support Russians today.
“The topic that will be discussed today is very important for everyone, for each of us. Everyone is involved in what is happening now throughout the country,” said Dmitry Kuznetsov, Director of the Higher School of Law and Administration at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, opening the event. “But this topic is also deeply historical for us, so I am sure that today we will rely on our roots and talk about the present and, in many ways, predict the future that we need to build together in order to continue strengthening state sovereignty, so that the constitutional principles of interaction between religious associations are fully implemented.”
Svetlana Nuzhdina, Director of the Center for Religion and Law at the Faculty of Law at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, noted that representatives of the heirs of those religious communities that supported the Russian people and forged victory during difficult times for the country were invited to participate in the round table, and this experience must be remembered and understood today.
She also read out a greeting from HSE Rector Nikita Anisimov to those gathered.
“Our country is multi-confessional, and this is its strength. During the difficult wartime, all religious communities of our Motherland showed themselves to be true patriots. The spiritual support of the Red Army soldiers at the front and home front workers undoubtedly helped us resist the enemy and prevent us from being broken in difficult times. The interaction between the state and religious organizations in those years must be studied, including in light of the events associated with the special military operation. I am confident that the discussions that will unfold at this round table will allow us to comprehend the lessons of the past and apply them to the present,” the rector’s greeting reads.
Hegumen Serapion (August Mitko), Deputy Director Higher School of Law and Administration, the scientific director of the Center for Religion and Law of the Faculty of Law of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, noted that the last three years have become a test not only for the entire Russian people, but also for religious organizations. For the first time in a very long time, different sides in the conflict are justifying their case with religious arguments. “Many religious organizations have joined the anti-Russian campaign. What is happening is not only a challenge to security, not only a political one, but also a spiritual challenge. In addition to victory on the battlefield, there is also a spiritual victory and a spiritual defeat. Now we must understand that this Russophobia, hatred is not just a challenge to Russia, it is a challenge to our faith. We believe in truth, in goodness and in love, and we must preserve both true faith and love,” he emphasized.
Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus’ of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church Korniliy (Konstantin Titov) told the participants of the round table about the feats that believers accomplished during the Great Patriotic War, saving Moscow from the enemy army. “We constantly pray for help for our soldiers,” he said.
Rabbi Aaron Gurevich, head of the Department of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia for interaction with the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation, said that since the beginning of the Second World War, the Jewish community, which is on the side of the Russians, has found itself under double pressure. In his opinion, European politicians, who are now setting the agenda, instead of dealing with the internal problems of their countries, stubbornly oppose Russia, trying to take quasi-revenge for the defeat of their fathers and grandfathers in the Great Patriotic War.
A person who helps gets much more than the one who receives help, reminded the mufti of the Moscow Region of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia Denis Mukhutdinov. “When you immerse yourself in the process of providing help, when you begin to live this process, such a concept as someone else’s grief is erased for you. Each story that you learn becomes your own, and you learn to feel and empathize and, as a religious figure, begin to convey this to your flock,” he said.
The head of the Department of Education and Science of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation, Ilgizar Davletshin, raised the issue of organizing and developing an institute for training military clergymen under special programs. This issue is very important for all faiths, he noted.
Archpriest Yevgeny Lishchenyuk, head of the Service for Spiritual and Psychological Assistance to Participants in Combat Operations and Their Families at the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Service, director of the St. Anthony Smirnitsky Charitable Foundation, said that more than 20,000 clergy have already been to the front. Just like their flock, they find themselves on the front lines, many have been injured, and some have died.
Vice-Rector for Social and Missionary Work at the Orthodox St. Tikhon’s Humanitarian University, Philipp Ilyashenko, spoke about the tasks of religious education. This is not only helping soldiers and those who returned from the front, but also educating students.
The head of the public relations department of the Western Russian Union of Seventh-day Adventist Christians, Evgeny Ekimov, noted the importance of the contribution of home front workers to the victory and the need to highly value their work.
Maria Mchedlova, head of the Department of Comparative Political Science at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at RUDN University and chief research fellow at the Institute of Sociology at the Federal Research Sociological Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, discussed how social service is changing today. She noted that compassion and consolation are needed not only by direct participants in the SVO, but also by their relatives who remain in the rear, and especially by those who have lost loved ones. “True believers pray not to destroy the enemy, but for the human to triumph,” she emphasized.
Crises lead to spiritual revival, noted the head of the Center for the Study of Religion and Society Problems of the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Deputy Director of the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences for Research Roman Lunkin. According to him, each of the difficult events for the country was experienced hand in hand by the spiritual and secular authorities, and this led to a fairly large-scale rethinking and restructuring of public consciousness.
The war has moved from the historical to the value plane, emphasized the adviser to the head of the Federal Agency for Nationalities Aikaz Mikaelyan. “This is the most key value factor, because the memory of the Great Patriotic War is part of the family identity of each person. Every family in our country has such a memory. This is a large set of family values that unites us, the entire post-Soviet space. It is precisely this value understanding, work with young people – only this can guarantee victory,” he emphasized.
Also speaking at the round table were the Chairman of the Central Spiritual Administration of Buddhists Geshe Yonten Lodoy (Sergey Kirishov), the Chairman of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists Petr Mitskevich, the head of the apparatus, the responsible secretary of the Spiritual Council of the Russian United Union of Christians of the Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals) Dmitry Taranov, a teacher at the Zaoksky Adventist University Dmitry Fokin, and the representative of the Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, priest Gevorg Vardanyan.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
RCMP-RNC Joint Forces Operation (JFO) West seized a quantity of cocaine, cash, and pills at a recent traffic stop in Corner Brook. Four individuals were arrested for possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine.
As part of an ongoing investigation, on April 2, 2025, JFO West, with the assistance of RCMP NL’s General Investigation Section and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary’s Patrol Services, stopped the vehicle within the city of Corner Brook.
The driver of the vehicle, 45-year-old Sandra Callahan of Corner Brook, showed signs of alcohol impairment and refused to comply with a breath demand provided as part of an impaired driving investigation. An occupant of the vehicle, 25-year-old Bobby Sheppard of Deer Lake, resisted arrest and was found in breach of a probation order.
Inside the vehicle, officers located and seized approximately 1.5 ounces of cocaine, a large quantity of various pills, a quantity of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), cash and other items consistent with possession for the purpose of drug trafficking.
Callahan and Sheppard appear in court today both charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. Callahan is additionally charged with refusal of a breath demand. Sheppard is additionally charged with resisting arrest and breach of probation.
Two other individuals were released from custody and are set to appear in court at a later date to answer to charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine.
The investigation is continuing with further charges possible.
JFO West, which includes dedicated police officers from both the RCMP and RNC, targets drug trafficking and organized crime on the west coast of the province.
If you are a resident on the province’s west coast and you suspect there is drug trafficking in your neighbourhood, JFO West wants to talk with you. You can remain anonymous while speaking directly with a police officer by contacting the JFO West designated drug line at (709) 637-4221.
Residents in other areas of the province are encouraged to contact their local police detachment to report illegal drug activities.
Source: United States AFRICOM
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael E. Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command, testified yesterday before the Senate Armed Services Committee, delivering the command’s 2025 posture statement and highlighting the strategic importance of the African continent.
“Everything we do has one overarching goal in mind: achieving peace through strength,” Langley said during his opening remarks. “This requires three things – a clear understanding of national security threats, a robust and dependable network of like-minded allies and partners, and appropriate resourcing to match military requirements.”
Providing his assessment of the terrorist threat in the region to committee members, Langley discussed the persistent and growing risk to regional and global security from violent extremists including ISIS, which he said is directing global operations from Somalia and al Shabaab.
“Left unchecked, they will have a direct effect on the homeland.”
Addressing the intent and goals of the strategic competitors in Africa, Langley described the Chinese Communist Party intent on using Africa to become the global hegemon and a Russian Federation that seizes opportunity created by chaos and instability.
“In order to protect our homeland and United States interests. We must deter these nations and their malign actors from their goals on the African continent,” he said.
Asked about tools the command needs to be effective, Langley explained that USAFRICOM continues to leverage security cooperation as a primary tool to build operational independence among African partners; and that exercises such as FLINTLOCK, AFRICAN LION, and OBANGAME EXPRESS enhance military readiness, promote interoperability, and reinforce strong bilateral and multilateral relationships across all domains.
“As a posture-limited theater, we establish strength and work towards peace by enhancing the security capabilities of our African partners through a robust system of alliances. Exercises, training events, security cooperation, and foreign military sales programs are the backbone of our military activities on the continent,” Langley said.
Langley wrapped up his testimony by underscoring the importance of capabilities such as airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and counter-unmanned aerial systems in counterterrorism efforts. The command, he said, “seeks to match these capabilities against current and emerging threats to ensure the security of our forces while advancing American interests.”
The full statement and hearing can be viewed on the U.S. Africa Command website.
U.S. Africa Command, one of 11 U.S. Department of Defense combatant commands with an area of responsibility covering 53 African states, more than 800 ethnic groups, over 1,000 languages, vast natural resources, a land mass that is three-and-a-half times the size of the U.S., and nearly 19,000 miles of coastland. Working alongside its partners, AFRICOM counters transnational threats and malign actors, strengthens security forces and responds to crises.
Source: US Consumer Product Safety Commission
Release Date: March 12, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today announced that Matthew Campbell has joined the agency as its new General Counsel.
Campbell is an experienced litigator and most recently served in the Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In that role, he represented the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in a number of administrative law challenges under the Administrative Procedures Act.
Prior to his government service, Campbell was a partner at the law firm of Winston & Strawn LLP where he co-chaired the firm’s product liability and mass tort practice. There, he focused on products liability and other complex commercial litigation matters and developed deep knowledge of various legal and regulatory issues affecting product safety.
“Matt brings more than two decades of experience in complex commercial litigation to CPSC,” said CPSC’s Acting Chairman Peter Feldman. “The agency, and the American consumers we are charged to protect, will benefit greatly from Matt’s leadership. I thank him for his willingness to serve.”
Campbell holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary and a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Release Number
25-185
About the U.S. CPSCThe U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
For lifesaving information:
Report an unsafe product
The link you selected is for a destination outside of the Federal Government. CPSC does not control this external site or its privacy policy and cannot attest to the accuracy of the information it contains. You may wish to review the privacy policy of the external site as its information collection practices may differ from ours. Linking to this external site does not constitute an endorsement of the site or the information it contains by CPSC or any of its employees.
Click Ok if you wish to continue to the website; otherwise, click Cancel to return to our site.
Source: US Consumer Product Safety Commission
Release Date: March 06, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today announced that Brien Lorenze has joined the agency as its new Executive Director. In this role, Lorenze serves as the chief operating officer of the agency and is responsible for its programmatic, operational, and administrative functions. He also manages the agency’s regulatory portfolio and supervises CPSC’s efforts to identify and reduce hazards to consumers.
Lorenze has more than two decades of experience leading start-ups and established organizations focusing on strategy, collaboration and addressing complex technical challenges. He most recently served as a senior advisor in the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Prior to that, he was Chief Data Officer for the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, which was created by Congress in 2020 to provide oversight of pandemic relief spending.
Prior to entering public service, Lorenze served as a principal at Deloitte, where he held several roles, including leading the Global Public Sector advisory business and founding a cloud-based solution that used advanced data analytics to detect waste, fraud, and abuse. He also held leadership positions at BearingPoint and IBM Global Services.
“Brien is an extremely accomplished executive with experience in the public and private sectors. He understands how large organizations work and how to make them work better,” said CPSC’s Acting Chairman Peter Feldman. “The future for agencies like CPSC will require us to leverage technology to make our work more effective and more efficient. We are lucky to have Brien join CPSC to help lead our efforts at such an important moment.”
Lorenze received a Master of Public Administration from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science in Business at the University of Colorado-Boulder.
Release Number
25-175
About the U.S. CPSCThe U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
For lifesaving information:
Report an unsafe product
The link you selected is for a destination outside of the Federal Government. CPSC does not control this external site or its privacy policy and cannot attest to the accuracy of the information it contains. You may wish to review the privacy policy of the external site as its information collection practices may differ from ours. Linking to this external site does not constitute an endorsement of the site or the information it contains by CPSC or any of its employees.
Click Ok if you wish to continue to the website; otherwise, click Cancel to return to our site.
Source: US Consumer Product Safety Commission
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today that Commissioner Peter A. Feldman has been named Acting Chairman of the agency effective immediately. The Commission elected Feldman to serve as Vice Chairman on January 13, 2025, and in accordance with CPSC’s statute he assumed the role of Acting Chairman when Alex Hoehn-Saric stepped down as Chair on January 21.
“I am excited to take on this new role at the Commission, and I am grateful for the support of my fellow Commissioners,” said Feldman. “American families should have confidence that CPSC is hard at work for them. Those who violate the law or import dangerous goods from abroad should be on notice: this Commission is focused and resolved to enforce our statutes.”
Feldman has served on the Commission since October 5, 2018, after being nominated by President Donald J. Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate to complete the remainder of a term expiring in October 2019. He was re-nominated and confirmed to a subsequent seven-year term that will expire in October 2026. During his tenure, Feldman has focused attention on the flood of Chinese consumer goods that violate federal law and has worked to strengthen the agency’s ability to address the challenges of the modern marketplace.
Prior to joining the Commission, Feldman was Senior Counsel to the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. He served as a key advisor to the Committee Chairman, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), and was instrumental in drafting and negotiating bipartisan legislation and conducting oversight and investigations of CPSC, and the Federal Trade Commission.
As a staffer for former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH), Feldman worked directly on the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGBA), a landmark safety bill that addresses regulations to protect young children. The VGBA advances one of CPSC’s core safety initiatives, Pool Safely, which includes a public education campaign and grant program to support drowning prevention initiatives at the state, local, and tribal level.
Feldman attended Colgate University and graduated with a B.A., cum laude. He received his J.D., cum laude, from American University’s Washington College of Law and is a member of the Maryland Bar.
LINK TO FULL BIO
About the U.S. CPSCThe U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
For lifesaving information:
Source: US Consumer Product Safety Commission
Amazon Ordered to Implement Notification and Refund Remedies for Products Distributed by Amazon
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) unanimously issued a Decision and Order, concluding its administrative litigation with Amazon.com, Inc., a global e-commerce company with $575 billion in revenue. The Decision and Order outlines steps Amazon must take to notify purchasers and the public about hazardous products for which the Commission determined Amazon was a distributor under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA).
In July 2024, the Commission determined in a unanimous vote that Amazon was a “distributor” of certain products that are defective or fail to meet federal consumer product safety standards, and therefore bears legal responsibility for their recall. The Commission also determined that the products, listed on Amazon.com and sold by third-party sellers using the Fulfilled by Amazon program, pose a “substantial product hazard” under the CPSA. More than 400,000 products are subject to this Order: specifically, faulty carbon monoxide (CO) detectors, hairdryers without electrocution protection, and children’s sleepwear that violated federal flammability standards.
Today’s Order requires Amazon to implement the following:
Notification:
On the day CPSC publishes the recall releases, Amazon must notify the public by posting the recall releases to Amazon.com; notify original purchasers directly via email and by providing information regarding the recalls on each purchaser’s “Your Orders” page.
Amazon must provide one round of notice of the recalls to Fulfilled by Amazon participants that sold the subject products.
Incentive to Remove Products from Commerce:
Amazon must issue a full refund in the amount of the purchase price to any consumer who submits proof of destruction or disposal of a subject product.
Maintaining Records of Recalls:
Amazon must maintain the recall releases on the “Recalls and Product Safety Alerts” webpage on amazon.com for a minimum of five years.
Amazon must submit monthly progress reports for five years and maintain records of its actions to comply with the Order for the same period.
Further information regarding the recalls will be available to consumers on Amazon.com and CPSC.gov once the Order goes into effect.
Overview
On July 14, 2021, the Commission authorized an administrative complaint against Amazon alleging that the company distributed certain products that pose a substantial product hazard. The matter was initially tried before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) who ruled that Amazon was a “distributor,” that the products present a substantial product hazard, and that Amazon must take certain steps, including issuing recalls, to protect the public from the hazardous products. Both parties appealed the ALJ’s ruling to the Commission, which considered the record in the case and heard oral argument.
In a Decision and Order issued on July 29, 2024, the Commission determined that Amazon distributed certain products that pose a substantial product hazard under the CPSA, and therefore bears legal responsibility for their recall. Amazon was subsequently ordered to submit proposed plans to notify purchasers and the public about the hazardous products, and to remove the products from commerce and from consumers’ possession by incentivizing their return or destruction.
With today’s Decision and Order, the Commission has approved notification and action plans that require Amazon to notify purchasers and the public about the product hazards and provide incentives (refunds) to consumers to remove the products from commerce by destroying them.
This Order has an effective date of January 26, 2025.
Background Information
Chair and Commissioner Statements:
Media Contacts:
Pamela Springs – PSprings@cpsc.gov; 301-504-7425
Nychelle Fleming – Nfleming@cpsc.gov; 301-504-7063
About the U.S. CPSCThe U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
For lifesaving information:
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for information in relation to an aggravated robbery that occurred in Alice Springs earlier today.
Around 11:15am, a 24-year-old female reported to police that she had been assaulted by a group of three while she was walking along Larapinta Drive near Bloomfield Street at around 11am.
It is alleged that an adult male, a male teenager and a female teenager approached the victim and attempted to take her handbag. The victim was pulled to the ground in the struggle and the offenders allegedly kicked her repeatedly to the head and stomped on her lower leg.
One of the offenders allegedly stole cash from the victim’s handbag before the group fled towards the Alice Springs CBD.
A motorist driving past stopped and rendered assistance to the victim, who was subsequently conveyed to Alice Springs Hospital for treatment.
The offenders remain outstanding, and investigations are ongoing.
Police urge anyone with information, including those with CCTV footage or dash cam footage, to contact police on 131 444. Please quote reference P25091793. Anonymous reports can also be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 53-year-old male in relation to driving and drug offences in Nakara last week.
Early last week, police received a number of reports in relation to vehicles hooning and conducting burnouts on the residential streets of Nakara and Casuarina areas.
On Wednesday 26 March 2025, Darwin Traffic Operations members located one of the vehicles of interest and apprehended the driver at the front of his residence In Nakara.
While speaking to the driver, a strong smell of Cannabis was detected emanating from his residence.
A search warrant was subsequently obtained and executed at the residence by members of Darwin Traffic Operations and the Drug and Organised Crime Squad.
During the search, a commercial quantity of cannabis was located, along with a trafficable quantity of cannabis plants and four Oleoresin Capsicum Sprays, which are a prohibited weapon in the Northern Territory.
The male was arrested and charged with the following:
Senior Sergeant Devrim Kanyilmaz said, “The actions of this individual are unacceptable.
“Not only does hooning put other road users at risk, but the supply and distribution of an illicit substance can cause significant harm to the community.
“The NT Police Force will continue to work tirelessly to disrupt criminal behaviour and protect the community.”
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force has charged a 34-year-old man in relation to alleged sexual intercourse with a young person.
The man was an employee at a Top End school, and is alleged to have been having sexual intercourse with a student enrolled at the same school. The man is not a member of the teaching staff.
The alleged offender was arrested yesterday and has been charged with Sexual intercourse – young person (by person in position of authority).
He was remanded in custody overnight to appear in Darwin Local Court today.
Detectives from the Child Abuse Taskforce are continuing to investigate.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for information after an aggravated robbery occurred in Coolalinga overnight.
Around 11:20pm, police received reports that a 16-year-old male was allegedly threatened with an edged weapon for his keys and wallet outside a gym on Fairweather Crescent.
The male and female offenders subsequently fled the scene in the victim’s Mitsubishi Outlander.
Strike Force Trident have carriage and investigations are ongoing.
Police urge anyone with information about the incident to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number P25091342. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Source: US State of Hawaii
Posted on Apr 3, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom
STATE OF HAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI
DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
KA ʻOIHANA O KA LOIO KUHINA
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
KE KIAʻĀINA
ANNE LOPEZ
ATTORNEY GENERAL
LOIO KUHINA
HAWAI‘I COUNTY POLICE DETECTIVE FOUND GUILTY OF PERJURY
News Release 2025-50
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2025
HILO, Hawai‘i – William Brown, a detective in the Vice Division of the Hawaiʻi County Police Department, was found guilty of Perjury, a class C felony offense, following a bench trial by Judge Peter K. Kubota on April 2, 2025.
Brown was found guilty of knowingly making a false statement while under oath, to a grand jury proceeding before the Circuit Court of the Third Circuit, while employed as a Hawaiʻi County Police detective.
The false statement involved his interview with a suspect in a case where drugs were found in a vehicle. During the interview, the suspect stated multiple times that the only item she brought into the vehicle with her was her cell phone. The majority of the drugs found in the vehicle were in a black bag which also contained a pink stuffed animal pencil type case. Brown then testified falsely during the grand jury that the suspect claimed to have brought both her cell phone and the pink stuffed animal case into the vehicle with her.
Deputy Attorney General Albert Cook, who handled the prosecution of the case stated, “Our legal system is designed to find the truth. When witnesses lie, it undermines our legal system and perverts the quest for justice. The Department of the Attorney General is committed to protecting the integrity of the criminal justice system and will prosecute those who commit perjury.”
Sentencing is set for May 23, 2025, before the Honorable Peter K. Kubota. Brown faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
# # #
Media contacts:
Dave Day
Special Assistant to the Attorney General
Office: 808-586-1284
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov
Toni Schwartz
Public Information Officer
Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General
Office: 808-586-1252
Cell: 808-379-9249
Email: [email protected]
Source: US State of Hawaii
Posted on Apr 3, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom
STATE OF HAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI
DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
KA ʻOIHANA O KA LOIO KUHINA
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
KE KIAʻĀINA
ANNE LOPEZ
ATTORNEY GENERAL
LOIO KUHINA
HAWAI‘I JOINS MULTISTATE LAWSUIT AGAINST UNLAWFUL EXECUTIVE ORDER TO IMPOSE VOTING RESTRICTIONS
Lawsuit Asserts Voting Restrictions Are Not Authorized by the U.S. Constitution or Congress
News Release 2025-49
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2025
HONOLULU – Attorney General Anne Lopez today joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, the federal Election Assistance Commission, and other Trump Administration officials over Executive Order No. 14248 (the Elections Executive Order), an unconstitutional attempt to impose sweeping voting restrictions across the country.
Among other things, the Elections Executive Order attempts to force state election officials to impose documentary proof of citizenship requirements when Americans seek to register to vote. It also seeks to upend well-established state procedures for counting ballots.
According to the lawsuit, the president has no constitutional power to rewrite state election laws by decree, nor does the president have the authority to modify the rules Congress created for elections. The coalition’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, explains that the power to regulate elections is reserved to the states and Congress and therefore, the Elections Executive Order is ultra vires, or beyond the scope of presidential power, and violative of the separation of powers.
The attorneys general ask the court to block the challenged provisions of the Elections Executive Order and declare them unconstitutional and void.
“The Elections Executive Order intrudes on Congress’ and the states’ power over elections,” said Attorney General Anne Lopez. “This unlawful effort to usurp election authority will irreparably harm the states and interfere with the lawful exercise of the right to vote.”
The challenged provisions include:
The state of Hawaiʻi is represented in this litigation by Special Assistant to the Attorney General Dave Day and Solicitor General Kalikoʻonālani Fernandes.
In filing today’s lawsuit, Attorney General Lopez joins the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin. The litigation was led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford.
A copy of the complaint can be found here.
# # #
Media contacts:
Dave Day
Special Assistant to the Attorney General
Office: 808-586-1284
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov
Toni Schwartz
Public Information Officer
Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General
Office: 808-586-1252
Cell: 808-379-9249
Email: [email protected]
Source: US State of Hawaii
Posted on Apr 3, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom, Office of the Governor Press Releases
STATE OF HAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
KE KIAʻĀINA
GOVERNOR GREEN APPOINTS NEW CHIEF JUDGE FOR INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
Hawai‘i’s Female Judges will Outnumber Males by Summertime
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2025
HONOLULU — Governor Josh Green, M.D., today announced the appointment of Karen T. Nakasone as the new Chief Judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals (ICA). Nakasone will fill the vacancy left by the elevation of Judge Lisa M. Ginoza to Associate Justice of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court.
“It is my pleasure to name Karen as Chief Judge of the ICA. Her hard work and stellar track record demonstrate that she has earned the appointment, and the comments of profound support submitted by her peers confirm that she is the right choice,” said Governor Green.
Nakasone has served on the ICA as an associate judge since she was sworn in on November 2, 2020. Initially appointed to the Circuit Court on O‘ahu by former Governor Neil Abercrombie on November 1, 2011, she served as a trial judge for nine years, in both the Civil and Criminal Divisions.
Earlier in her career Nakasone served as law clerk to ICA Judge Simeon R. Acoba Jr., then worked for 15 years as a criminal trial and appellate lawyer for the State Office of the Public Defender.
Judge Nakasone is a Pacific Century Fellow, class of 2008, and was named among the Best Lawyers Under 40 by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association in 2009.
A graduate of the Boston University School of Law and Bryn Mawr College, Nakasone also attended the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and studied abroad at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan, on an Okinawan Prefectural Government scholarship from the Hawai‘i United Okinawa Association. Her high school alma mater is Hawai‘i Baptist Academy.
“Serving as Chief Judge on the second highest court of the state of Hawaiʻi is a tremendous honor, challenge and responsibility,” Nakasone said. “I am grateful for this opportunity to continue serving the people of Hawaiʻi on a court that I care very deeply about. I thank Governor Green for this appointment and look forward to the Senate confirmation process.”
Based on the gender totals on the bench today, the Governor’s four newest appointments will have 41 women and 38 men seated in the Judiciary.
According to the American Bar Association, there is widespread disparity across state and federal courts. “It has always been my priority to achieve male and female balance on the bench — and to get there with great attention to each appointee’s qualifications and careful deliberation, much the same way a judge makes decisions,” the Governor said. “Hawai‘i can be proud that we have so many well-qualified female judges. Young women who aspire to legal careers can see clearly in our courts, the heights that can be attained.”
A photo of Judge Nakasone can be found here.
# # #
Media Contacts:
Erika Engle
Press Secretary
Office of the Governor, State of Hawai‘i
Office: 808-586-0120
Email: [email protected]
Makana McClellan
Director of Communications
Office of the Governor, State of Hawaiʻi
Cell: 808-265-0083
Email: [email protected]
Source: Eurojust
Over 70 judicial practitioners coming from 28 countries gathered at Eurojust for the second symposium on victims’ rights. The event brought together practitioners and representatives from national and EU bodies over two days to exchange best practices and discuss the challenges associated to victims’ rights in cross-border cases. Focussed discussions on victims of trafficking in human beings, terrorism, migrant smuggling and online investment frauds allowed for the identification of specific challenges and best practices to overcome them.
Without a proper identification of victims, their rights to information, support and compensation are significantly undermined. Eurojust set up its Victims’ Rights Working Group to bring together the Agency’s expertise in this field. Eurojust is uniquely positioned to facilitate information exchange on victims and help prevent and solve conflicts of jurisdiction while finding concrete solutions for victims across the European Union, such as ensuring their right to compensation.
In this year’s edition, practitioners shared their experience in relation to securing the identification and the buy-in of key victims to build solid investigations. They also acknowledged that victims of cyber-enabled crimes are specifically hard to identify due to the complexity of such cases which typically involve multiple jurisdictions. Techniques to minimise the risk of secondary victimisation were also presented by support services along with testimonials of victims. Minimising the risk of crime under-reporting was emphasised by proactively supporting victims, facilitating their reporting and ease of access is pivotal, through for example designated portals.
Best practices to incentivise victims to come forward, report crimes and contribute to prosecutions and investigations were presented. The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), and representatives of the European Commission contributed towards how the identification of victims can be fostered at an EU level, ensuring victims’ fundamental right to access justice. Finally, a joint report recently published by the EIGE and Eurojust on the European Protection Order was presented. The European Protection Order is a unique judicial cooperation instrument aimed at ensuring cross-border protection of victims in the EU.
The Victims’ Rights Symposium reinforces Eurojust’s commitment to enshrine victims’ rights in its operational and strategic work. Eurojust plans to complement this year’s edition with a Symposium dedicated to procedural rights of victims in 2026 and the right to compensation of victims in 2027.
Source: Government of Samoa
PRESS RELEASES FROM CABINET: JANUARY TO BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY 2025
1: MINISTRY OF CUSTOMS AND REVENUE SEPARATED
Cabinet has approved the separation of the Ministry of Customs and Revenue into two Ministries. This includes;
i. Ministry of Customs.
ii. Ministry of Revenue.
Border protection remains a significant component of national efforts to combat transnational organized crimes such as illicit drugs and arms smuggling and trafficking, and all other unlawful activities targeted to penetrate our national borders. This requires effective customs monitoring of all goods entering our borders.
At the same time, revenue collection through compliance with Samoa’s taxation laws is important. These functional responsibilities are currently undertaken by the Ministry for Customs and Revenue. However, the separation will enable demarcation of Customs functions from Revenue collection functions, with emphasis on effective compliance and border protection.
Relevant preparations are currently underway for implementation including legislative, staffing, and budgetary requirements. The separation will be effective from the next Financial Year 2025-2026.
2: MINISTRY OF POLICE, PRISONS AND CORRECTIONS SERVICE SEPARATED
Cabinet has approved the demarcation of the Ministry of Police from Prisons and Corrections Service. The two agencies were initially seceded in January 2015 as a result of government organisational reforms and departmental arrangements. The Samoa Prisons and Corrections Service operated for four years until 2020 when Parliament passed a legislative amendment to the Prisons and Corrections Service Act, signaling to re-merger of the Ministry of Police, Prisons and Corrections Service. This was in response to ongoing systemic and operational challenges which impacted the Samoa Prisons and Corrections Service.
The distinct functions of the Police and Prisons and Corrections Services are critical, but separate in priorities and legislative focus. This separation will enable the Police to focus on law enforcement and security, and the Prisons and Corrections Service to prioritize prisons and corrections rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for inmates, and improved prison and access services such as medical support.
Preparations are in progress to ensure the separation takes effect as scheduled for the 2025-2026 financial year.
3: MOU SIGNED FOR MEDICAL TREATMENTS IN INDIA
Cabinet has approved the signing of two Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Samoa’s Ministry of Health and the Medican Services Company, to coordinate medical treatments for Samoan patients referred under the Samoa Medical Treatment Scheme for treatments in India. The two hospitals included in these MOU are the Artemis Medicare Services Limited and Fortis Hospital Limited, which are based in India. This expands the existing network of hospitals supporting Samoa’s Overseas Medical Treatment Scheme.
The inclusion of the two hospitals will provide more options for Samoa to effectively place Samoan patients in facilities that not only offer the required treatment, but also ensure cost-effectiveness.
4: TELECOMMUNICATION LICENSE FOR SPACEX TO OPERATE IN SAMOA
Approval has been granted to issue telecommunication license to an American Company ‘Space Exploration Technologies Corp’ or SpaceX to operate in Samoa, following thorough assessment conducted by the Office of the Regulator. This license allows Starlink Samoa Ltd, a subsidiary of SpaceX registered in Samoa, to provide Internet services and relevant equipment for Samoa. Starlink Samoa Limited is a new venture added to current Internet service providers in Samoa including the Computer Services Limited, Digicel, and Vodafone.
Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) is critical to improving telecommunication, online systemic support, timely and effective service delivery, boosting support for education and health, science and research, and business and innovation. Government is committed to bolstering ICT services for Samoa that are reliable, consistent and affordable.
Negotiation with Starlink led by the Office of the Regulator has completed, which now enables users in Samoa to purchase equipment and to pay monthly subscriptions in Samoan Tala. An alternative is also available to those who prefer to pay their subscriptions in cash, if they do not have the means to do online purchase.
5: EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT (ECD) FRAMEWORK APPROVED
Cabinet has approved the Framework for Early Childhood Development. This framework, has been designed in a multi-sectoral approach, laying the groundwork for a coordinated effort to improve early childhood development throughout Samoa.
The ECD Framework provides for the creation of a National ECD Advisory Board, responsible for overseeing the ongoing implementation and evaluation of the framework. This board will include representatives from key ministries, such as the Ministry of Women, Community, and Social Development (MWCSD), the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Their collaborative efforts will ensure a unified strategy that integrates health, education, and social services for young children.
The ECD Framework establishes a transformative pathway forward, ensuring that the youngest members of Samoa’s society have access to the necessary resources and support to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
6: NATIONAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION POLICY APPROVED
The first National Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy for Samoa was approved by Cabinet this week. The Policy aims to leverage science and technology through research and innovation.
It is designed to enhance students’ access to scientific equipment and technology to advance scientific research and innovation. It seeks to create more opportunities for Samoa through strong scientific methodologies, technology and innovation to support national development priorities.
The Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (SROS) and the National University of Samoa (NUS) co-lead the implementation of this policy in partnership with other government, private and civil society organistions in Samoa.
7: NATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION POLICY APPROVED
Cabinet at its meeting this week approved the National Crime Prevention Policy. The policy is being developed to strengthen strategic areas and measures, systems and programmes designed to prevent crimes. The Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration is the lead agency working closely with government, private and non government organisations in the Law and Justice Sector.
The Policy requires review of current legislation in view of enforcement and statutory penalites. It also targets counseling and educational programmes customized for crime prevention, public awareness, assistance for victims, and repercussions for perpetrators.
The policy calls for national participation and commitment to address crime prevalence in Samoa. Partnerships among government, private, civil society, churhces and village councils is central to the successful implementation of this policy.
** END **
Source: Government of Samoa
MAEA.
Friday 17 January 2025
TERMINATION OF ASSOCIATE MINISTERS’ APPOINTMENTS
In accordance with section 3(b) of the Parliamentary Under Secretaries Act 1988, appointments as Associate Ministers for the Members of Parliament provided hereunder, have been terminated with immediate effect. This emanates from the issue of confidence in the Prime Minister to continue to work with the Associate Ministers, and the Associate Ministers’ expression of no confidence in the Prime Minister’s leadership.
These include;
i. Tagaloatele Pasi Poloa, Associate Minister Commerce, Industry and Labour.
ii. Fuiono Tenina Crichton, Associate Minister Communications and Information Technology.
iii. Maiava Fuimaono Tito Asafo, Associate Minister Agriculture and Fisheries.
iv. Seuamuli Fasi Toma, Associate Minister Women, Community and Social Development.
v. Hon. Tu’u’u Anasi’i Leota, Associate Minister Police, Prisons and Corrections.
vi. Agaseata Valelilo Tanuvasa Peto, Associate Minister Education and Culture.
vii. Tea Tooala Peato, Associate Minister Health.
viii. Magele Sekati Fiaui, Associate Minister of Finance, initially appointed as Associate Minister of Communication and Information Technology.
ix. Fo’isala Lilo Tu’u Ioane, Associate Minister Health.
x. Fesola’i Apulu Tusiupu Tuigamala, Associate Minister Justice and Courts Administration.
xi. Ale Vena Ale, Associate Minister Customs and Revenue.
xii. Masinalupe Makesi Masinalupe, Associate Minister Customs and Revenue.
xiii. Manuleleua Paletasala Tovale, Associate Minister Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The termination of Fepuleai Faasavalu Faimata Su’a’s appointment as Associate Minister for Police, Prisons and Corrections was issued and made effective from 24th November 2023.
The functions and responsibilities of the Executive Arm of Government continue under the leadership of the Prime Minister – Hon Fiame Naomi Mataafa, and Cabinet.
The issue of confidence in the Prime Minister’s leadership rests with Parliament. It is not a responsibility of a political party.
END.
