Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Door supervisor convicted after working with a suspended licence
A man has been convicted for working at a Cambridgeshire venue with a suspended Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence.
Amadu Tavares was working at No6 Cocktail Bar in St Neots on Friday 10 May 2024 when Cambridgeshire Police carried out licence checks on door staff. They found that his licence had previously been suspended by the SIA on 10 April 2024.
He was invited for interview under caution with SIA investigators on 11 July 2024 and again on 31 July 2024 however failed to attend for interview on either date.
Tavares appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on 15 January 2025 where he entered a guilty plea for offences contrary to Section 3 of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. He received a £200 fine, an £80 victim surcharge and had to pay £280 towards prosecution costs, totalling £560.
Nicola Bolton, Criminal Investigations Manager at the SIA, said:
Our priority is public protection. We carefully review the actions of licence holders and suspend or revoke licences when necessary to keep people safe.
Mr Tavares chose to ignore the suspension of his licence, putting public safety at risk and undermining the integrity of the industry. The sentence handed down by the court will serve as a strong reminder that non-compliance has serious consequences.
Background
By law, security operatives working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence. Information about SIA enforcement and penalties can be found on GOV.UK/SIA.
Section 3 – engaging in licensable conduct without a licence
The SIA is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA’s main duties are the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS).
President Donald J. Trump is determined to make the American pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries great again — both as a matter of national security and to unleash unprecedented prosperity for American workers.
Gilead Sciences became the latest industry leader to announce a massive new investment in its U.S. operations with an $11 billion boost to its planned U.S.-based spending.
The company joins a host of others in expanding their domestic footprint to align with President Trump’s vision:
New Jersey-based Johnson & Johnsonannounced a $55 billion investment in manufacturing, research and development, and technology.
Roche, a Swiss drug and diagnostics company, announced a $50 billion investment in its U.S.-based manufacturing and research and development.
New Jersey-based Bristol Myers Squibbannounced a $40 billion investment in research, development, technology, and manufacturing.
Indiana-based Eli Lilly and Companyannounced a $27 billion investment to more than double its domestic manufacturing capacity.
Novartis, a Swiss drugmaker, announced a $23 billion investment to build or expand ten manufacturing facilities across the U.S.
Illinois-based AbbVieannounced a $10 billion investment over the next ten years to support volume growth and add four new manufacturing plants to its network.
New Jersey-based Merck & Co.announced it will invest a total of $9 billion over the next several years after opening a new $1 billion North Carolina manufacturing facility — including a new state-of-the-art biologics manufacturing plant in Delaware.
Merck Animal Healthannounced an $895 million investment to expand their manufacturing operation in Kansas.
New York-based Regeneron Pharmaceuticalsannounced a $3 billion agreement with FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies to produce drugs at its North Carolina facility.
California-based Amgenannounced a $900 million investment in its Ohio-based manufacturing operation.
Illinois-based Abbott Laboratoriesannounced a $500 million investment in its Illinois and Texas facilities.
ESTABLISHING A NEW PARADIGM FOR OUR SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP: Today, on the 80th anniversary of Victory Day for World War II, President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a historic trade deal, providing American companies unprecedented access to the UK markets while bolstering U.S. national security. This is a great deal for America.
President Trump: “The deal includes billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports, especially in agriculture, dramatically increasing access for American beef, ethanol, and virtually all of the products produced by our great farmers.”
“The UK will reduce or eliminate numerous non-tariff barriers that unfairly discriminated against American products.”
“This is now turning out to be, really, a great deal for both countries.”
Prime Minister Starmer: “This is going to boost trade between and across our countries. It’s going to not only protect jobs, but create jobs, opening market access.”
This trade deal will significantly expand U.S. market access in the UK, creating a $5 billion opportunity for new exports for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and producers.
This includes more than $700 million in ethanol exports and $250 million in other agricultural products, like beef.
It commits the countries to work together to enhance industrial and agricultural market access.
It closes loopholes and increases U.S. firms’ competitiveness in the UK’s procurement market.
It ensures streamlined customs procedures for U.S. exports.
It establishes high standard commitments in the areas of intellectual property, labor, and environment.
It maximizes the competitiveness and secures the supply chain of U.S. aerospace manufacturers through preferential access to high-quality UK aerospace components.
It creates a secure supply chain for pharmaceutical products.
The reciprocal tariff rate of 10%, as originally announced on Liberation Day, is in effect.
The United States will agree to an alternative arrangement for the Section 232 tariffs on UK autos.
Under the deal, the first 100,000 vehicles imported into the U.S. by UK car manufacturers each year are subject to the reciprocal rate of 10% and any additional vehicles each year are subject to 25% rates.
The United States also recognizes the economic security measures taken by the UK to combat global steel excess capacity and will negotiate an alternative arrangement to the Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum.
This deal creates a new trading union for steel and aluminum.
This U.S.-UK trade deal will usher in a golden age of new opportunity for U.S. exporters and level the playing fields for American producers.
Today’s action also sets the tone for other trading partners to promote reciprocal trade with the United States.
A FRAMEWORK TO BOLSTER ECONOMIC SECURITY: President Trump continues to advance the interests of the American people, enhancing market access for American exporters and lowering tariff and non-tariff barriers to protect our economic and national security.
On April 18, President Trump had a call with Prime Minister Starmer to discuss our bilateral trade relationship.
U.S. total goods trade with the UK was an estimated $148 billion in 2024.
The UK average applied agricultural tariff is 9.2% while the U.S. average applied agricultural tariff (prior to April 2) was 5%.
The UK maintains certain tariff and non-tariff barriers that restrict market access and create an unfair playing field for American workers and businesses.
For example, the UK imposes tariffs that can exceed 125% on meat, poultry, and dairy products on top of maintaining non-science-based standards that adversely affect U.S. exports.
On April 2, 2025, Liberation Day, President Trump imposed a 10% tariff on all countries to address unfair trade practices that have contributed to America’s trade deficit and imbalances in order to better protect American workers and our national security.
A MILESTONE IN ADVANCING AN AMERICA FIRST TRADE POLICY: Since Day One, President Trump challenged the assumption that American workers and businesses must tolerate unfair trade practices that have disadvantaged our workers and businesses for decades and contributed to our historic trade deficit.
Reversing these conditions and addressing the lack of reciprocity in America’s trade relationships will bring about a new Golden Age and Make America Great Again.
President Trump continues to advance the interests of the American people, enhancing market access for American exporters and lowering tariff and non-tariff barriers.
The Economic Prosperity Deal with the United Kingdom is a critical step forward in a special relationship to promote reciprocal trade with a key ally and partner.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04)
For over 100 years, the National Park Service has been a diligent steward of the beautiful lands our nation is blessed with. In 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant established Yellowstone as the very first National Park, setting precedence for future generations to preserve and enjoy the incredible natural beauty that our country so uniquely boasts. From the beautiful Cape Cod National Seashore to the desert lands of the Saguaro National Park and the glacial majesty of Denali National Park, our country is second to none in its beauty.
But of course, we can’t forget the Natural State’s own National Park, housed right here in the Fourth District. With its rich history and natural beauty, it’s no surprise people from all over the country and world come to visit Hot Springs National Park. Locals and visitors enjoy beautiful mountain views, 26 miles of hiking trail, and the thermal springs that inspired the city’s name. In 1832, forty years before Yellowstone was even dubbed a National Park, Hot Springs was named the first Federal Reservation in the United States – receiving protection under federal law most notably due to its natural resources. Finally, in 1921, Hot Springs received its beloved title as a National Park.
Most National Parks require visitors to trek far beyond the nearest city limits to enjoy its beauty. But the uniqueness of Hot Springs is that it’s right here in the middle of town – stunning views, both natural and architectural, make this town unique – offering up an abundance of outdoor opportunities for all who visit. As an avid outdoorsman, it’s especially exciting to take advantage of the outdoor opportunities like biking and the twenty-six miles of hiking trails the Park has to offer.
Early explorers of this region were drawn to the great potential the geothermal springs offered as a mecca for health benefits. After decades of construction, Bathhouse Row became a popular destination, even receiving the title of National Historic Landmark District in 1987. While the bathhouses aren’t all under use today, some are still enjoyed as tourist attractions as an emporium and even a brewery – where they make use of the geothermal springs for their production process. Whether you’re enjoying the health benefits of the thermal waters through spas, outdoor natural pools, or public fountains, there is no question that Hot Springs offers natural resources unlike any other in the country. I am immensely proud to represent this historic location – and my beloved hometown – in Congress.
As the Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, there are plenty of opportunities to advocate for and champion legislation that have direct impacts on the Fourth District. Last Congress, I introduced the EXPLORE Act, which was signed into law, that encourages the expansion of outdoor recreation opportunities our great nation has to offer. Much of this legislation was inspired by a great love of the outdoors which was established right here in Arkansas. Most notably, this law improves public land access, modernizes the technology used to improve visitor experiences, restores campgrounds and modernizes infrastructure – all things that greatly benefit Hot Springs National Park and other Parks across the country.
As we wrap up a week designated to celebrating our majestic National Parks, may this serve as a reminder for all the beauty our public lands have to offer, and may we take the time to appreciate our natural resources and do our part in stewarding our land well in order for it to be enjoyed by future generations, just as much as we have been blessed to enjoy it in our own day.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04)
After the 119th Congress was sworn in on January 3, House Republicans hit the ground running to deliver on their promise to the American people to lower the cost of living, reduce frivolous government spending, secure our borders, and unleash energy dominance. Since then, every House committee has been working diligently to meet those demands and this week, we kicked off one of the most important steps in the reconciliation process with full committee markups.
Before any of this can happen, however, certain House committees are instructed to draft their recommendations to meet the instructions outlined by the budget resolution. Once each committee has passed their legislation package, they will then be submitted to and ultimately combined together by the Budget Committee to become “one big, beautiful bill” that will then make its way to the House Floor for a vote.
House Republicans have been working for months to finalize legislation that will reduce taxes and cut spending, and now we find ourselves in the first wave of reconciliation markups across several committees. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee, it was exciting to participate in our full committee markup, where we were tasked with reducing the federal deficit by no less than $10 billion, and our reconciliation package certainly reached that goal.
In fulfilling our mandate to bolster President Trump’s border and national security agenda, the committee is providing historic funding to the U.S. Coast Guard to stop the flow of illegal drugs and migrants from entering the country, bolstering the security of our communities and nation. In addition, the committee is providing funds to modernize our severely outdated air traffic control (ATC) technology, ushering our ATC systems into the modern era and strengthening the aviation community. We’re also putting our focus on cutting wasteful spending, rescinding funding for seven unnecessary Green New Deal style programs that were created in the Inflation Reduction Act. And lastly, the committee is ensuring that EVs no longer get a free ride and must begin contributing to the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) to support our nation’s highway system.
As House Republicans work together to restore fiscal sanity, protect our borders, and ensure American energy dominance, we will certainly continue in these efforts to close out the reconciliation process, deliver on the mandate from our constituents, and ultimately create a budget that puts Americans – and Arkansans – first.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Aleksi Ylönen, Professor, United States International University
More than three decades after unilaterally declaring independence from Somalia, Somaliland still seeks international recognition as a sovereign state. Despite a lack of formal acknowledgement, the breakaway state has built a relatively stable system of governance. This has drawn increasing interest from global powers, including the United States. As regional dynamics shift and great-power competition intensifies, Somaliland’s bid for recognition is gaining new currency. Aleksi Ylönen has studied politics in the Horn of Africa and Somaliland’s quest for recognition. He unpacks what’s at play.
What legal and historical arguments does Somaliland use?
The Somali National Movement is one of the main clan-based insurgent movements responsible for the collapse of the central government in Somalia. It claims the territory of the former British protectorate of Somaliland. The UK had granted Somaliland sovereign status on 26 June 1960.
The Somali government tried to stomp out calls for secession. It orchestrated the brutal killing of hundreds of thousands of people in northern Somalia between 1987 and 1989.
But the Somali National Movement declared unilateral independence on 18 May 1991 and separated from Somalia.
This subsided only after the politician Mohamed Egal consolidated power. He was elected president of Somaliland in May 1993.
Egal made deals with merchants and businessmen, giving them tax and commercial incentives to accept his patronage. As a result, he obtained the economic means to consolidate political power and to pursue peace and state-building. It’s something his successors have kept up with since his death in 2002.
What has Somaliland done to push for recognition?
Successive Somaliland governments continue to engage in informal diplomacy. They have aligned with the west, particularly the US, which was the dominant power after the cold war, and the former colonial master, the UK. Both countries host significant Somaliland diaspora communities.
The US and the UK have for decades flirted with the idea of recognising Somaliland, which they consider a strategic partner. However, they have been repeatedly thrown back by their respective Somalia policies. These have favoured empowering the widely supported Mogadishu government to reassert its authority and control over Somali territories.
This Somalia policy has been increasingly questioned in recent years, in part due to Mogadishu’s security challenges. In contrast, the Hargeisa government of Somaliland has largely shown it can provide security and stability. It has held elections and survived as a state for the last three decades, though it has faced political resistance and armed opposition.
The government has also engaged in informal foreign relations with the United Arab Emirates. The Middle Eastern monarchy serves as a business hub and a destination of livestock exports. Many Somalilanders migrate there.
Somaliland maintains representative offices in several countries. These include Canada, the US, Norway, Sweden, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Taiwan. Hargeisa has alienated China because it has collaborated with Taiwan since 2020. Taiwan is a self-ruled island claimed by China.
On 1 January 2024, Somaliland’s outgoing president Muse Bihi signed a memorandum of understanding with Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed for increased cooperation. Bihi implied that Ethiopia would be the first country to formally recognise Somaliland. The deal caused a sharp deterioration of relations between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu.
Abiy later moderated his position and, with Turkish mediation, reconciled with his Somalia counterpart, President Hassan Mohamud.
What’s behind US interest in Somaliland?
The US, like other great powers, has been interested in Somaliland because of its strategic location. It is on the African shores of the Gulf of Aden, across from the Arabian Peninsula. Its geographical position has gained currency recently as Yemeni Houthi rebels strike maritime traffic in the busy shipping lanes. Somaliland is also well located to curb piracy and smuggling on this global trade route.
In 2017, China, which had become the main foreign economic power in the Horn of Africa, set up a navy support facility in Djibouti. This encouraged closer collaboration between American and Somaliland authorities. The US played with the idea of establishing a base in Berbera, which hosts Somaliland’s largest port.
With Donald Trump winning the US presidential election in 2024, there were reports of an increased push for US recognition of Somaliland. This would allow the US to deepen its trade and security partnerships in the volatile Horn of Africa region.
Since March 2025, representatives of the Trump administration have engaged in talks with Somaliland officials to establish a US military base near Berbera. This would be in exchange for a formal but partial recognition of Somaliland.
What are the risks of US recognition of Somaliland?
Stronger US engagement with Somaliland risks neglecting Somalia.
US recognition would reward Hargeisa for its persistent effort to maintain stability and promote democracy. However, it could encourage other nations to recognise Somaliland. This would deliver a blow to Somali nationalists who want one state for all Somalis.
– Somaliland’s 30-year quest for recognition: could US interests make the difference? – https://theconversation.com/somalilands-30-year-quest-for-recognition-could-us-interests-make-the-difference-255399
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Indian Cardinal Oswald Gracias and Pakistani Cardinal Joseph Coutts left St. Peter’s Basilica together yesterday, May 7, after the conclusion of the Mass “pro eligendo Romano Pontifice.” Cardinal Gracias (81) leaned on Cardinal Coutts (79), who extended his arm and conversed with his confrere. The image vividly expressed the desire for peace and the existing relationship of the community, while military tensions between the two countries of origin, India and Pakistan, increased and clashes continued, particularly in the disputed region of Kashmir. When asked for a statement and an appeal for peace, the two Cardinals told Fides: “In the General Congregation before the Conclave on May 6, the entire College of Cardinals issued a public appeal for peace, citing scenarios such as Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. The appeal also includes the expression ‘in many other parts of the world,’ and this certainly includes the current situation between India and Pakistan, in which we implore the Lord for a just and lasting peace.”Meanwhile, Theodore Mascarenhas, Bishop of the diocese of Daltonganj, in the Indian state of Jharkhand, who has just returned from a meeting of the Executive Commission of the Bishops’ Conference of India (CCBI) with about thirty other Indian bishops, told Fides: “At this meeting, we mentioned and focused our thoughts on the serious scenario of tensions between India and Pakistan. Our appeal is always a call for peace: we call for de-escalation, because war is always a defeat and serves no one. All problems, even those between states, can be resolved without violence. We bishops are united when we say and exhort our communities: Let us pray for peace.” On the ground, observers fear an escalation, as Pakistan has reportedly repelled Indian drone attacks on nine cities, including Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi, far from Kashmir. India, for its part, has evacuated thousands of people from villages near the highly militarized border between the two countries in the disputed Kashmir region. In the preceding days, 31 Pakistani civilians, including women and children, were killed in Indian missile attacks on nine locations in Kashmir and Pakistani Punjab as part of “Operation Sindoor,” which India said targeted facilities of “terrorist groups.” Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif promised revenge for the attacks by India, which now claims to have shot down Pakistani drones, stoking fears of a wider conflict between the two nuclear-armed states. According to the Indian Foreign Ministry, 13 civilians were killed and 59 wounded in the gun battles on the Kashmir border. The new wave of attacks and retaliatory strikes between India and Pakistan threatens to reignite the open conflict between the two countries, which has its roots in the 1947 partition. Since then, the two nations have fought three wars and there have been numerous firefights along the border in Kashmir, a predominantly Muslim region claimed by both countries since independence from the British Empire. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 8/5/2025)
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Srikakulam (Agenzia Fides) – An initiative launched by the Salesian missionaries in the Diocese of Srikakulam aims not only to shape the conscience of young people but also to impart skills needed to enter the world of work. The diocese is located in one of the poorest districts of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.In a social context where youth unemployment is high in India, with approximately 42 out of 100 young people unable to find work in their preferred field, the missionaries’ initiative, implemented as part of a festival with cultural events and meetings with local businesses, proved not only to be a form of “employment agency” but also a moment that gave new hope to more than 500 young people from rural areas and their families.During the three-day event, jointly organized by DISHA, the career counseling and placement service of the Salesian Province of India-Hyderabad, the Don Bosco Job Placement Network, and the Diocese of Srikakulam, the young people also participated in sessions focused on communication, decision-making, emotional intelligence, goal setting, and teamwork, all aimed at helping the young people succeed in job interviews.Theater performances, songs, and various artistic performances complemented the training sessions and gave the young people the opportunity to showcase their talents. The artistic performances also addressed social issues relevant to the community, such as unemployment and migration. At the end of the festival, over 300 young people received job offers on site from the 15 participating companies from various sectors (including healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and IT services). (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 8/5/2025)
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Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Martin Bekker, Computational Social Scientist, University of the Witwatersrand
The problem is simple: it’s hard to know whether a photo’s real or not anymore. Photo manipulation tools are so good, so common and easy to use, that a picture’s truthfulness is no longer guaranteed.
The situation got trickier with the uptake of generative artificial intelligence. Anyone with an internet connection can cook up just about any image, plausible or fantasy, with photorealistic quality, and present it as real. This affects our ability to discern truth in a world increasingly influenced by images.
I teach and research the ethics of artificial intelligence (AI), including how we use and understand digital images.
Many people ask how we can tell if an image has been changed, but that’s fast becoming too difficult. Instead, here I suggest a system where creators and users of images openly state what changes they’ve made. Any similar system will do, but new rules are needed if AI images are to be deployed ethically – at least among those who want to be trusted, especially media.
Doing nothing isn’t an option, because what we believe about media affects how much we trust each other and our institutions. There are several ways forward. Clear labelling of photos is one of them.
Deepfakes and fake news
Photo manipulation was once the preserve of government propaganda teams, and later, expert users of Photoshop, the popular software for editing, altering or creating digital images.
Today, digital photos are automatically subjected to colour-correcting filters on phones and cameras. Some social media tools automatically “prettify” users’ pictures of faces. Is a photo taken of oneself by oneself even real anymore?
The basis of shared social understanding and consensus – trust regarding what one sees – is being eroded. This is accompanied by the apparent rise of untrustworthy (and often malicious) news reporting. We have new language for the situation: fake news (false reporting in general) and deepfakes (deliberately manipulated images, whether for waging war or garnering more social media followers).
Misinformation campaigns using manipulated images can sway elections, deepen divisions, even incite violence. Scepticism towards trustworthy media has untethered ordinary people from fact-based accounting of events, and has fuelled conspiracy theories and fringe groups.
Ethical questions
A further problem for producers of images (personal or professional) is the difficulty of knowing what’s permissable. In a world of doctored images, is it acceptable to prettify yourself? How about editing an ex-partner out of a picture and posting it online?
Would it matter if a well-respected western newspaper published a photo of Russian president Vladimir Putin pulling his face in disgust (an expression that he surely has made at some point, but of which no actual image has been captured, say) using AI?
The ethical boundaries blur further in highly charged contexts. Does it matter if opposition political ads against then-presidential candidate Barack Obama in the US deliberately darkened his skin?
Would generated images of dead bodies in Gaza be more palatable, perhaps more moral, than actual photographs of dead humans? Is a magazine cover showing a model digitally altered to unattainable beauty standards, while not declaring the level of photo manipulation, unethical?
A fix
Part of the solution to this social problem demands two simple and clear actions. First, declare that photo manipulation has taken place. Second, disclose what kind of photo manipulation was carried out.
The first step is straightforward: in the same way pictures are published with author credits, a clear and unobtrusive “enhancement acknowledgement” or EA should be added to caption lines.
The second is about how an image has been altered. Here I call for five “categories of manipulation” (not unlike a film rating). Accountability and clarity create an ethical foundation.
The five categories could be:
C – Corrected
Edits that preserve the essence of the original photo while refining its overall clarity or aesthetic appeal – like colour balance (such as contrast) or lens distortion. Such corrections are often automated (for instance by smartphone cameras) but can be performed manually.
E – Enhanced
Alterations that are mainly about colour or tone adjustments. This extends to slight cosmetic retouching, like the removal of minor blemishes (such as acne) or the artificial addition of makeup, provided the edits don’t reshape physical features or objects. This includes all filters involving colour changes.
B – Body manipulated
This is flagged when a physical feature is altered. Changes in body shape, like slimming arms or enlarging shoulders, or the altering of skin or hair colour, fall under this category.
O – Object manipulated
This declares that the physical position of an object has been changed. A finger or limb moved, a vase added, a person edited out, a background element added or removed.
G – Generated
Entirely fabricated yet photorealistic depictions, such as a scene that never existed, must be flagged here. So, all images created digitally, including by generative AI, but limited to photographic depictions. (An AI-generated cartoon of the pope would be excluded, but a photo-like picture of the pontiff in a puffer jacket is rated G.)
Degrees of photo manipulation.Martin Bekker
The suggested categories are value-blind: they are (or ought to be) triggered simply by the occurrence of any manipulation. So, colour filters applied to an image of a politician trigger an E category, whether the alteration makes the person appear friendlier or scarier. A critical feature for accepting a rating system like this is that it is transparent and unbiased.
The CEBOG categories above aren’t fixed, there may be overlap: B (Body manipulated) might often imply E (Enhanced), for example.
Feasibility
Responsible photo manipulation software may automatically indicate to users the class of photo manipulation carried out. If needed it could watermark it, or it could simply capture it in the picture’s metadata (as with data about the source, owner or photographer). Automation could very well ensure ease of use, and perhaps reduce human error, encouraging consistent application across platforms.
Of course, displaying the rating will ultimately be an editorial decision, and good users, like good editors, will do this responsibly, hopefully maintaining or improving the reputation of their images and publications. While one would hope that social media would buy into this kind of editorial ideal and encourage labelled images, much room for ambiguity and deception remains.
The success of an initiative like this hinges on technology developers, media organisations and policymakers collaborating to create a shared commitment to transparency in digital media.
– How to tell if a photo’s fake? You probably can’t. That’s why new rules are needed – https://theconversation.com/how-to-tell-if-a-photos-fake-you-probably-cant-thats-why-new-rules-are-needed-252645
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
FBI Arrests 205 Alleged Child Sex Abuse Offenders in Five-Day Nationwide Crackdown—Nine Arrests in the Commonwealth of Kentucky
LOUISVILLE, KY—In an unprecedented nationwide operation to protect our children and mark April’s National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the FBI announces Operation Restore Justice, a five-day, sweeping FBI initiative to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators across the country in coordination with all 55 of our FBI field offices.
As part of this operation, the FBI Louisville Field Office obtained 10 federal indictments. Six subjects were arrested, three of whom were already in state custody will be transferred to federal authorities, and one subject remains outstanding. One of the indictments remains under seal. They include the following:
Jason Back, 42, of Salyersville, Kentucky, was charged with online enticement of a minor.
Jesus Chavez, 32, of Somerset, Kentucky, was charged with five counts of producing child pornography.
Jordan A. Cobb, 33, of Salyersville, Kentucky, was charged with online enticement of a minor and cyberstalking of a minor.
Austin Hawk, 25, of Pittsburg, Kentucky, was charged with transporting a minor across state lines with the intent to engage in sexual activity.
Nathan Smith, 30, of Manchester, Kentucky, was charged with two counts of distribution of child pornography, one count of receiving child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.
Michael Moon, 47, of Annville, Kentucky, was charged with one count of receiving child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Timothy Ray Dale, 63, of Paris, Kentucky, was charged with one count of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Finley Wooton, 32, of Hyden, Kentucky, was charged with the attempted production of child pornography.
“I’d like to commend FBI Louisville’s Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force on their dogged pursuit of perpetrators of child sexual abuse. While the FBI’s work to identify, investigate, and apprehend these predators never stops, our increased efforts over the last month during Operation Restore Justice resulted in removing some of our community’s most heinous criminals,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office. “FBI Louisville, in lockstep with our law enforcement partners, will continue to use every available resource to protect America’s most vulnerable populations, especially our children.”
Last week alone, the FBI arrested 205 subjects and rescued 115 children across the country during the surge of resources deployed for Operation Restore Justice. The subjects arrested in this operation included those in positions of public trust—law enforcement, members of the military, and teachers. Others are your neighbors, proving that criminal activity can be found even in the most familiar places. They’re accused of various crimes, including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking.
The FBI proactively identifies individuals involved in child sexual exploitation and the production of child sexual abuse material through our far-reaching, nationwide network of personnel and law enforcement partners. The Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) program provides a rapid, proactive, and comprehensive capacity to counter all threats of abuse against children. This capacity leverages partnerships within the FBI’s 89 Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Forces (CEHTTFs) across the country. For more information about the crimes investigated by the FBI as well as the variety of resources we provide to protect and keep children safe, please visit:
This QR code will take you directly to the Parents, Caregivers, Teachers: Protecting Your Kids page listed above:
As always, the FBI urges the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected crime against a child to 911 and local law enforcement immediately, as well as the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), online at tips.fbi.gov, or by contacting your local FBI field office.
McALLEN, Texas – A 18-year-old Edinburg resident has been charged with possession a firearm on school property, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Kinzey Lira is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nadia S. Medrano at 10 a.m.
The criminal complaint filed May 6 alleges authorities learned Lira was carrying a firearm on school property. The investigation revealed Lira allegedly had a Glock 9mm pistol and a loaded magazine in his backpack, according to the charges.
If convicted, Lira faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Guerra is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Baltimore, Maryland – After a five-day trial, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict against Osman Malik Sesay, 32, of Gambrills, Maryland. Sesay was found guilty of a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition; conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; maintaining a drug involved premises; and possession of firearms — including a machinegun — in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes.
The conviction for possession of a machinegun in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of 30 years imprisonment. Sesay faces an additional mandatory consecutive sentence of five years imprisonment for possessing another firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking on a previous date.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the verdict with Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan, Federal Bureau of Investigation – Washington Field Office, Criminal and Cyber Division; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Chief Amal E. Awad, Anne Arundel County Police Department; and Chief Malik Aziz, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).
According to the evidence presented at trial, between November 13, 2020, and continuing until at least July 16, 2021, Sesay conspired with others in a drug trafficking operation involving the bulk distribution of marijuana. Sesay used multiple fake identifications — and at least four stolen luxury vehicles and seven firearms, including two equipped with machinegun conversion devices — to facilitate his drug trafficking operation. He also leased apartments under fake names to store his drugs, proceeds, and firearms.
Anne Arundel County Police Department and PGPD Washington Area Vehicle Enforcement (W.A.V.E.) Auto Theft Unit detectives observed Sesay operating stolen vehicles in March 2021. On April 29, 2021, W.A.V.E. detectives arrested Sesay in Prince George’s County, Maryland, driving a stolen Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged.
During the arrest, authorities found that Sesay possessed more than $14,000 in U.S. currency and a fraudulent Maryland driver’s license. The fraudulent Maryland driver’s license was associated with a fraudulently rented apartment in Lanham, Maryland, where Sesay stored his drugs. Sesay also had a Glock 26 firearm in the glove compartment of the stolen vehicle, which Sesay possessed in furtherance of his drug trafficking. The Glock 26 firearm had a machinegun conversion device attached.
Then on June 30, 2021, after he was released on bond pending trial, a PGPD Guardian Helicopter captured surveillance footage of Sesay conducting a drug transaction out of a stolen Corvette in a Washington, D.C. school parking lot. On July 16, 2021, law enforcement executed search warrants on Sesay’s fraudulently rented apartments in Lanham, Maryland, and Gambrills, Maryland.
Sesay used the fraudulently rented apartment in Lanham, Maryland as a stash house for his drugs, and used the fraudulently rented apartment in Gambrills, Maryland to store more drugs, cash, and firearms. In total, law enforcement recovered approximately 90 pounds of marijuana. Evidence showed that Sesay transported marijuana across the country on a commercial airplane using fake identification.
Law enforcement also recovered more than $40,000 in U.S. Currency and six firearms, five of which were loaded, from the apartment in Gambrills, Maryland. And officers seized the stolen Corvette, a stolen Audi A7 sedan, and a stolen Land Rover Range Rover Velar that Sesay used as part of his drug trafficking operation. Inside the vehicles, law enforcement recovered more marijuana. Additionally, law enforcement discovered a loaded Glock 30 firearm with a machinegun conversion device attached — which Sesay possessed in furtherance of his drug trafficking — inside the stolen Corvette. As a convicted felon, Sesay is prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition.
Sesay faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of life in prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking on April 29, 2021; a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum of life for possessing firearms, including a machinegun, in furtherance of drug trafficking on July 16, 2021; a maximum of five years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance; a maximum of five years in prison for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; a maximum of 20 years in prison for maintaining a drug involved premises; and a maximum of 10 years in prison each for two felon in possession of firearms and ammunition charges. U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox scheduled sentencing for July 29, 2025, at 12 p.m.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, ATF, Anne Arundel County Police Department, and PGPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick D. Kibbe and Brooke Y. Oki who are prosecuting the federal case.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Springfield man was sentenced yesterday to 30 years and four months in prison for his efforts to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, from at least October 2019 through October of 2022, Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa, 35, collected and sent money to female ISIS members in Syria to benefit ISIS in various ways, including by financing the escape of female ISIS members from prison camps and supporting ISIS fighters. Chhipa would raise funds online on various social media accounts. He would receive electronic transfers of funds and travel hundreds of miles to collect funds by hand. He would then convert the money to cryptocurrency and send it to Turkey, where it was smuggled to ISIS members in Syria.
“This defendant directly financed ISIS in its efforts to commit vile terrorist atrocities against innocent citizens in America and abroad,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This severe sentence illustrates that if you fund terrorism, we will prosecute you and put you behind bars for decades.”
“Those who fund and facilitate terror bear the same responsibility as those who carry out attacks,” said Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Mohammed Chhipa knowingly and persistently collected and provided a considerable amount of money to fund the violence of an organization bent on forcing their extremist ideology on others. That he did so from a nation that holds individual freedom sacrosanct is unconscionable.”
“With this sentencing, this defendant will pay the price for helping finance ISIS, a brutal terrorist organization,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This is more proof that the FBI will investigate and work with our DOJ partners to hold accountable anyone who assists ISIS or other terrorist groups. Whether you are a fighter or send money, these activities are illegal and against the national security interests of the United States.”
“Mr. Chhipa transferred more than $185,000 to members of a designated terrorist organization,” said Steven J. Jensen, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office. “Such funds could have been used to enable terrorist operations and attacks targeting innocent U.S. citizens at home and abroad. Today’s sentencing underscores the FBI’s commitment to severing these streams of funding and keeping the American people safe.”
His primary co-conspirator was an ISIS member residing in Syria who was involved in raising funds for prison escapes, terrorist attacks, and ISIS fighters.
Over the course of the conspiracy, Chhipa sent over $185,000 in cryptocurrency.
In December 2024, a federal jury convicted Chhipa of one count of conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization and four counts of providing and attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony T. Aminoff and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda St. Cyr for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Andrew John Dixon and former Trial Attorney Andrea Broach for the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-97.
ALBUQUERQUE – A Dulce man has been charged by indictment with assault following an alleged incident that left the victim with severe injuries.
According to court documents, on February 1, 2025, James William Julian, 25, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, assaulted and seriously injured John Doe.
Julian is charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted, Julian faces up to 10 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Jicarilla Apache Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meg Tomlinson is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces today that federal prosecutors have charged 125 defendants with immigration-related offenses during the second quarter of fiscal year 2025, ending March 31, 2025. More than 100 of the defendants were charged by grand jury indictments and the others were charged by criminal complaint. One hundred nineteen of the defendants were charged with illegally reentering the United States.
During the same period, 58 cases were resolved by guilty pleas, and 62 defendants were sentenced for illegal reentry or other immigration-related offenses.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to enforcing federal immigration laws,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and prosecute anyone who illegally enters the United States or violates our nation’s laws.”
These newly charged cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
In March 2025, Horus Samuel Marquez Villatoro, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to three years and nine months in federal prison for illegal reentry by a removed alien and for possession of a firearm and ammunition by an alien illegally in the United States. According to court documents, Marquez Villatoro was removed from the United States on three previous occasions before reentering unlawfully sometime after 2019. In January 2024, he was found in Hillsborough County in possession of a Glock 17 9mm pistol, an extended magazine, and more than 100 rounds of ammunition.
In March 2025, Ricardo Fermin Sune-Giron, a citizen of Guatemala, who was living in the United States illegally under an assumed name, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for conspiracy to traffic in firearms, firearms trafficking, dealing in firearms without a license, and possessing firearms as an illegal alien. According to court documents, between 2023 and April 2024, Sune-Giron was a member of a large-scale firearms trafficking operation. He recruited straw purchasers to illegally buy firearms—including Glocks, rifles and AK-47s—from licensed federal firearms dealers across Florida. After obtaining the firearms, Sune-Giron and his co-conspirators smuggled them overseas, shipping them to countries including the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Between 2023 and 2024, Sune-Giron and his co-conspirators trafficked more than 1,000 firearms. Several of these firearms were later recovered at crime scenes. In April 2024, ATF and HSI agents in Tampa and Orlando executed three coordinated search warrants at three residences in the Orlando area, including Sune-Giron’s residence. There they recovered approximately 57 firearms, 30 empty gun boxes, approximately $16,000 in cash, ammunition, and money counters.
In March 2025, Elmer Edini Chavarria-Morales, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States after removal. According to court records, Chavarria-Morales was convicted of rape in Indiana state court in 2018 and was deported from the United States later that year. Chavarria-Morales reentered the United States and was convicted of illegal reentry in the Southern District of Texas in 2021. Chavarria-Morales was removed to Honduras again in November 2022. In April 2024, Chavarria-Morales was again found in the United States after he was arrested by the Daytona Beach Police Department for a domestic violence assault.
In February 2025, Yudelkis Portes, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States after removal. According to court documents, Portes was convicted of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft in February 2013 and deported from the United States to the Dominican Republic. Following her deportation, Portes illegally reentered the United States and was found in the Middle District of Florida.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A study published in JAMA Network Open looks at proximity to Golf Courses and the risk of Parkinson’s Disease.
Prof David Dexter, Director of Research, Parkinson’s UK, said:
“This study suggests an association between pesticides and Parkinson’s, however there are some important limitations in the methodology to be aware of. Firstly, Parkinson’s starts in the brain 10-15 years before diagnosis and the study didn’t only use subjects who permanently lived in the area. This would not only affect participants’ exposure, but also suggests their Parkinson’s could have started before they moved around a golf course. The population was also not matched for location with 80% of the Parkinson’s subjects living in urban areas, compared to only 30% of controls, hence other factors like air pollution from motor vehicles etc could also account for some of the increases in Parkinson’s incidence. Additionally, no analysis was made of the drinking water for pesticide levels. Once again, this lessens the validity of the claim of pesticide exposure because the studies have not been carefully controlled.”
Dr Katherine Fletcher, Research Lead at Parkinson’s UK, said:
“Parkinson’s is complex. The causes of the condition are unclear and are likely to involve both genetic and environmental factors. Many studies have investigated whether pesticides increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s in different populations around the world. The results have been varied, but overall suggest that exposure to pesticides may increase the risk of the condition. However, the evidence is not strong enough to show that pesticide exposure directly causes Parkinson’s. This study supports the association between pesticides and Parkinson’s. However, it’s quite reductive and doesn’t take into account how someone might have been exposed to pesticides at their workplace or whether they have a genetic link to the condition.
“In Europe and the UK, the use of pesticides are strictly controlled, and some – like paraquat – are banned, due to concerns about their wider health and environmental impacts. So, the risk of exposure to these for most people is extremely low.”
‘Proximity to Golf Courses and Risk of Parkinson Disease’ by Krzyzanowski et al. was published in JAMA Network Open at 16:00 UK time on Thursday 08th May 2025.
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.9198
Declared interests
Prof David Dexter: “The author declares that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence their comment reported in this article.”
Dr Katherine Fletcher:“The author declares that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence their comment reported in this article.”
overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of “Triple Three Triple One” – a new real-time emergency and weather alert system – as part of the State’s Hurricane Preparedness Week recognition efforts. Managed by the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES), this text option allows New Yorkers to text their county of residence to 3-3-3-1-1-1 to begin receiving real time emergency and weather alerts and updates directly to their phones. In New York City, text the name of your borough with no spaces. The system is not case sensitive. If you want all of metro New York, text NewYorkCity. Additionally, State-initiated hurricane preparedness activities include initiating the distribution of $15 million in flood-related equipment to counties and conducting specialized training for State emergency operations personnel.
“My highest priority is the safety of New Yorkers, especially during times of severe and unpredictable emergency events,” Governor Hochul said. “To best prepare for inclement weather – especially as hurricane season approaches – I am encouraging all New Yorkers to sign up for alerts so they can remain safe and vigilant when high-impact events occur.”
It’s easy to get started and free to sign up. New Yorkers can simply text the name of the county they’d like to receive alerts for to 3-3-3-1-1-1. Once the text message is sent, users will automatically be enrolled and begin receiving emergency and weather alerts when they occur in their selected county. In New York City, text the name of your borough with no spaces. For example, StatenIsland. For the entire New York City metro area, text NewYorkCity. The system is not case sensitive. Users can also register to receive alerts for multiple counties by texting additional county names, one at a time. This will allow residents to stay up to date on alerts in areas where their loved ones may live. It is free to sign up for Triple Three Triple One and the service is available on all cellular carriers. Standard text messaging and data rates may apply.
New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “As Hurricane Season approaches, the launch of Triple Three Triple One alerting gives New Yorkers access to another tool that they can use to help keep themselves and their loved ones prepared for and safe during severe weather. And, it’s an additional way that we can assist our local emergency management partners. I encourage everyone to take a moment right now and text their county name to Triple Three Triple One.”
In addition to launching the Triple Three Triple One text alerts, New York State recently signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with 51 counties to provide them with $15 million of flood-related equipment and supplies. The equipment, being procured by DHSES includes pumps, generators, chain saws, and flood barrier technology.
Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. On April 3, Colorado State University released its preseason hurricane forecast, calling for above average activity in the tropical Atlantic with 17 named storms, nine hurricanes, and four major hurricanes predicted. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is expected to release the 2025 Hurricane Outlook later in May.
In December 2023, Governor Hochul announced the creation of New York’s State Weather Risk Communication Center (SWRCC) at the State University of New York at Albany. The Center is a first-of-its kind operational collaboration between university researchers and state emergency managers and serves as a clearinghouse for critical weather information. It also works to develop tools to help emergency managers make informed decisions to help protect communities and examines how communicating extreme weather risks to the public can be improved.
New York State Weather Risk Communication Center Director Dr. Nick Bassill said, “Being prepared is crucial when it comes to extreme weather. New York is no stranger to the impacts hurricanes can have on our communities, so have a plan made ahead of time to ensure the safety of yourself and your loved ones in the event of an emergency. Follow trusted news sources such as the National Weather Service and state and local government alerts, so you can respond accordingly when severe weather strikes.”
The National Weather Service said, “Everyone should learn their risk by considering the threats from tropical storms. Threats include storm surge, flooding from heavy rain, strong winds, tornadoes and rip currents. All of these threats can occur far from the center of a storm so pay attention to the latest forecasts and be alert for warnings.”
State agencies undertake a number of activities to prepare for hurricane season including:
The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services operates the State Office of Emergency Management (OEM). OEM routinely assists local governments, voluntary organizations, and private industry through a variety of emergency management programs including hazard identification, loss prevention, planning, training, operational response to emergencies, technical support, and disaster recovery assistance.
In April, OEM launched a weeklong State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Training and Simulation initiative created to introduce new staff to the major functions of the EOC. This initiative included EOC simulations, including one simulation focused on responding to a forecasted tropical storm. This training builds understanding across State OEM personnel so that during a real activation teams are prepared to respond accordingly.
DHSES also conducts the Citizen Preparedness Corps training program, along with the New York National Guard and the American Red Cross. The course provides an introduction to responding to a natural or human-caused disaster. Participants are advised on how to properly develop family emergency plans and stock up on emergency supplies. To date, more than 400,000 people have been trained.
The Department of Public Service reports New York’s utilities have approximately 5,500 workers available statewide to engage in damage assessment, response, repair and restoration efforts across New York State in the event of a hurricane or a major storm. Utilities maintain agreements with external contractors who may be able to assist in restoration efforts. Department of Public Service staff track utilities’ work throughout all events and work to ensure appropriate staffing for regions that experience the greatest impact.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s hurricane preparedness efforts take place year-round. New and renewed assets are designed to meet or exceed the agency’s climate resilience guidelines, which consider the potential risks of climate change out to 2100. Across the agency’s airports, a host of flood protection measures have been implemented, including flood walls, flood rated doors, and deployable shields. At LaGuardia Airport, electrical substations, pumps, and newly constructed terminals have been elevated or protected to reduce the risk of hurricane flooding, even as sea levels rise. Other flood mitigation projects include installation of flexible floodproof barriers at the Holland Tunnel portals and a water intrusion protection system to seal off the iconic World Trade Center site from coastal storm surge. The Port Authority’s Office of Emergency Management tracks storm development, projecting eventual impacts on the New York and New Jersey region, and communicating with each Port Authority facility, where staff use customized information to respond to rapidly changing conditions.
For more information, visit the Hurricane Safety page on the DHSES website.
Headline: Governor Stein Announces PPG Will Establish Cleveland County Manufacturing Center Creating 110 Jobs
Governor Stein Announces PPG Will Establish Cleveland County Manufacturing Center Creating 110 Jobs lsaito
Raleigh, NC
Today Governor Josh Stein announced that PPG will create 110 jobs in the City of Shelby. The company reports it will invest $380 million to establish a new manufacturing center in Cleveland County, marking the return of the PPG brand name to Shelby, where the company first established a facility in the 1950s.
“PPG knows what I know: North Carolina is the #1 state for manufacturing in the Southeast,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Our state’s workforce is our greatest asset, and I will continue to advocate for more training and education programs so that employees can build a career and employers have the well-trained people they need to get to work.”
PPG (NYSE: PPG) is an American Fortune 500 company and global supplier of paints, coatings, and specialty materials. The company operates in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $15.8 billion in 2024. PPG’s aerospace business is a leading provider of innovative solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and aftermarket customers, such as airlines and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities for commercial, general aviation, and military segments. The company’s aerospace portfolio includes advanced coatings, sealants, transparencies, packaging, chemical services, engineered materials, and specialty products designed to enhance the performance, durability, and safety of aircraft. The company’s new project in Shelby will establish a modern manufacturing facility to produce the full line of PPG’s aerospace coatings and sealants.
“PPG’s investment in this new manufacturing facility demonstrates the significant demand growth for our world-class technologies and our continued commitment to serving our aerospace customers,” said Tim Knavish, PPG chairman and chief executive officer. “By modernizing and digitizing our facilities, PPG will continue to embody our purpose – to protect and beautify the world – while contributing to the growth and innovation of the aerospace sector.”
“It’s great to see another top manufacturing company select North Carolina as a place to do business,” said Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “It’s also gratifying to see a company like PPG, with its historical ties to the region, once again become part of the strong and vibrant community of Shelby. I look forward to the great things to come from this renewed partnership.”
Although wages will vary depending on the position, the average salary for the new jobs will be $66,861. The average wage in Cleveland County at the time of the company’s grant application was $48,310.
A performance-based grant of $300,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will help facilitate PPG’s project into Cleveland County, based on a company investment of $221.8 million and the creation of 62 jobs. The OneNC Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. All OneNC grants require a matching grant from local governments and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.
“PPG is a name held in high regard in our area, and we’re all excited to open the next chapter of this partnership for our region and for our state,” said Representative Kelly Hastings. “We welcome these new jobs and investment to our region, and I am especially proud that my mom is a PPG retiree.”
“Bringing PPG back to Cleveland County and Shelby took a lot of effort by many people and organizations working behind the scenes,” said Senator Ted Alexander. “Our community looks forward to supporting the company as they re-establish operations in our area.”
Partnering with the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina on this project were the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, the Commerce Department’s Division of Workforce Solutions, Cleveland Community College, Cleveland County, the City of Shelby, and the Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership.
Headline: North Carolina’s Top Paramedic Team for 2025 is Cape Fear Valley Cumberland EMS
North Carolina’s Top Paramedic Team for 2025 is Cape Fear Valley Cumberland EMS stonizzo
GREENSBORO
The Cape Fear Valley Cumberland EMS team of Jessica Haines and Hannah Thompson claimed the top honors at the 33rd annual North Carolina Paramedic Competition held on Sunday, May 4, in Greensboro, earning the state title for the first time.
Jessica Haines (left) and Hannah Thompson (right) of Cape Fear Valley Cumberland EMS receive the plaque from Tom Mitchell, Chief of the NC Office of Emergency Medical Services, commemorating their victory in the North Carolina Paramedic Competition State Championships held in Greensboro on May 4.
Cape Fear Valley Cumberland EMS were among the top six teams from across the state in this year’s competition at the annual NC Emergency Medical Services Expo — an educational conference for paramedics, EMTs and county emergency services directors to sharpen their skills with presentations from faculty from across the state and the U.S.
The Cumberland EMS team outperformed the 2024 returning champions, Harnett County EMS, as well as four other regional champion duos who earned their respective spots following competitions in March in Brunswick, Catawba, Cumberland, Johnston and Surry counties. Those teams included Mecklenburg EMS and Whiteville Rescue as well as two Surry County EMS crews.
All six teams were held in sequestration before emerging to respond to the same, true-to-life mock emergency. This year’s scenario involved managing three critical patients at the scene of a high school football game. They initially had to manage a seriously injured player with a collapsed lung on the field. Soon after the coach became ill, after having taken too much of his blood pressure medication. Finally, an argument broke out between the inebriated father and mother of the injured player, resulting in the mother being stabbed. Competing teams were challenged to respond to all of these individual crises as part of the mock emergency.
Tom Mitchell, chief of the N.C. Office of Emergency Medical Services, announced the winning team to much applause and congratulations from the winners’ peers during the Expo’s closing banquet held Tuesday evening.
“These incredible EMS teams work hard all year to prepare for this event and for their day-to-day duties,” Mitchell said. “Just like in this competition, these paramedics never know what they may face when responding to the needs of North Carolinians. Their extensive training results in improved quality of care for all residents and visitors who may experience illness or injury in an emergency situation.”
During the competition, each team has just 12 minutes to assess, treat and stabilize the mock scenario’s victims. They must respond quickly while using their training, education and expertise to provide appropriate care to the victims. All teams are judged on the professionalism of their response and ranked on the categories of communications, patient rapport, attitude, organization and conduct.
The competition is viewed by hundreds of their peers gathered in the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center’s Guilford Ballroom, which had been transformed into a high school football field.
The annual competition serves as a training opportunity for the participating EMS teams as well as the paramedics and emergency medical technicians who closely observe each group’s analysis and response to the scenario.
Through the Office of Emergency Medical Services, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services works to foster emergency medical systems, trauma systems and credentialed EMS personnel to improve in providing responses to emergencies and disasters. For more information, visit ncems.org.
El equipo de EMS de Cape Fear Valley Cumberland de Jessica Haines y Hannah Thompson reclamó los máximos honores en la 33ª Competencia Anual de Paramédicos de Carolina del Norte celebrada el domingo 4 de mayo en Greensboro, ganando el título estatal por primera vez.
Cape Fear Valley Cumberland EMS estuvo entre los seis mejores equipos de todo el estado en la competencia de este año en la Exposición anual de Servicios Médicos de Emergencia de Carolina del Norte, una conferencia educativa para paramédicos, EMT y directores de servicios de emergencia del condado para mejorar sus habilidades con presentaciones de profesores de todo el estado y los EE. UU.
El equipo de Cumberland EMS superó a los campeones de 2024 que regresaron de Harnett County EMS, así como a otros cuatro dúos de campeones regionales que ganaron sus respectivos puestos después de las competiciones en marzo en los condados de Brunswick, Catawba, Cumberland, Johnston y Surry. Esos equipos incluían Mecklenburg EMS y Whiteville Rescue, así como dos equipos de EMS del condado de Surry.
Los seis equipos fueron aislados antes de emerger para responder a la misma emergencia simulada real. El escenario de este año implicó el manejo de tres pacientes críticos en la escena de un partido de fútbol de la escuela secundaria. Inicialmente tuvieron que gestionar una situación de un jugador gravemente herido con un pulmón colapsado en el campo, poco después de que el entrenador se enfermara, después de haber tomado demasiada medicación para la presión arterial. Finalmente, estalló una discusión entre el padre y la madre ebrios del jugador lesionado, lo que provocó que la madre fuera apuñalada. Los equipos competidores tuvieron el desafío de responder a todas estas crisis individuales como parte del simulacro de emergencia.
Tom Mitchell, jefe de la Oficina de Servicios Médicos de Emergencia de Carolina del Norte, anunció el equipo ganador con muchos aplausos y felicitaciones de los compañeros de los ganadores durante el banquete de clausura de la Expo celebrado el martes por la noche.
“Estos increíbles equipos de EMS trabajan duro todo el año para prepararse para este evento y para sus tareas diarias”, dijo Mitchell. “Al igual que en esta competencia, estos paramédicos nunca saben lo que pueden enfrentar al responder a las necesidades de los habitantes de Carolina del Norte. Su amplia capacitación da como resultado una mejor calidad de atención para todos los residentes y visitantes que pueden experimentar enfermedades o lesiones en una situación de emergencia”.
Durante la competencia, cada equipo tiene solo 12 minutos para evaluar, tratar y estabilizar a las víctimas del escenario simulado. Deben responder rápidamente mientras utilizan su capacitación, educación y experiencia para brindar la atención adecuada a las víctimas. Todos los equipos son juzgados por la profesionalidad de su respuesta y clasificados en las categorías de comunicación, relación con el paciente, actitud, organización y conducta.
La competencia es presenciada por cientos de sus compañeros reunidos en el salón de baile Guilford del Joseph S. Koury Centro de Convenciones, que se había transformado en un campo de fútbol de la escuela secundaria.
La competencia anual sirve como una oportunidad de capacitación para los equipos participantes de EMS, así como para los paramédicos y técnicos médicos de emergencia que observan de cerca el análisis y la respuesta de cada grupo al escenario.
A través de la Oficina de Servicios Médicos de Emergencia, el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte trabaja para fomentar los sistemas médicos de emergencia, los sistemas de trauma y el personal acreditado de EMS para mejorar la prestación de respuestas a emergencias y desastres. Para obtener más información, visitencems.org.
A Springfield, Virginia, man was sentenced yesterday to 364 months in prison for his efforts to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, from at least October 2019 through October 2022, Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa, 35, collected and sent money to female ISIS members in Syria to benefit ISIS in various ways, including by financing the escape of female ISIS members from prison camps and supporting ISIS fighters. Chhipa would raise funds online on various social media accounts. He would receive electronic transfers of funds and travel hundreds of miles to collect funds by hand. He would then convert the money to cryptocurrency and send it to Turkey, where it was smuggled to ISIS members in Syria.
“This defendant directly financed ISIS in its efforts to commit vile terrorist atrocities against innocent citizens in America and abroad,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This severe sentence illustrates that if you fund terrorism, we will prosecute you and put you behind bars for decades.”
“With this sentencing, this defendant will pay the price for helping finance ISIS, a brutal terrorist organization,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This is more proof that the FBI will investigate and work with our DOJ partners to hold accountable anyone who assists ISIS or other terrorist groups. Whether you are a fighter or send money, these activities are illegal and against the national security interests of the United States.”
“Those who fund and facilitate terror bear the same responsibility as those who carry out attacks,” said U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Mohammed Chhipa knowingly and persistently collected and provided a considerable amount of money to fund the violence of an organization bent on forcing their extremist ideology on others. That he did so from a nation that holds individual freedom sacrosanct is unconscionable.”
His primary co-conspirator was an ISIS member residing in Syria who was involved in raising funds for prison escapes, terrorist attacks, and ISIS fighters.
Over the course of the conspiracy, Chhipa sent over $185,000 in cryptocurrency.
In December 2024, a federal jury convicted Chhipa of one count of conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization and four counts of providing and attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony T. Aminoff and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda St. Cyr for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Andrew John Dixon and former Trial Attorney Andrea Broach of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.
SAN JOSE, Calif. , May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Technology Credit Union (Tech CU) today welcomed two new leaders to its executive team: Terri Giannetti as Chief Marketing Officer and Josh Bluhm as Chief Lending Officer. These hires underscore Tech CU’s continued focus on growth, innovation, and delivering a strong member experience.
As Chief Marketing Officer, Giannetti will be responsible for developing and executing strategies to drive lead generation, sales conversion, market share growth, member retention, and brand awareness. She brings over 27 years of leadership experience across the financial services and retail industries, most recently serving as Chief Experience Officer at Seattle Credit Union. There, she led a 72-person team spanning marketing, brand, retail, contact center, and facilities.
“Terri’s extensive background in marketing, customer segmentation, data analytics and member experience, paired with her leadership at both credit unions and well-known retail brands, makes her an ideal fit to lead our marketing strategy,” said Todd Harris, CEO of Tech CU. “Her ability to align marketing and operational goals will be essential as we continue building momentum toward our current and future goals.”
Additionally, Josh Bluhm has been promoted to Chief Lending Officer and officially joined Tech CU’s Executive Team. In this role, he will continue overseeing Consumer and Strategic Lending while focusing on growth and operational excellence.
Bluhm brings over 27 years of banking and financial services leadership experience, with expertise spanning consumer lending, credit risk, and operations. Prior to becoming Chief Lending Officer, he served as Senior Vice President and Head of Retail Credit Risk and Operations at Tech CU, where he played a key role in creating operational efficiencies, implementing a strong consumer credit risk strategy, and driving lending growth. Earlier in his career, he held leadership positions at Peoples Bank and Whatcom Educational Credit Union.
“Josh has demonstrated outstanding leadership and vision, particularly in executing a thoughtful structure for our new lending division,” said Harris. “His commitment to performance and collaboration has made a big impact, and I’m confident he will continue to elevate our lending programs as part of the executive team.”
Bluhm was promoted to Chief Lending Officer in late 2024 and has since led the integration of new reporting lines, roles, and process redesign to support Tech CU’s evolving lending strategy.
For more information about Tech CU, visit www.techcu.com.
About Tech CU Tech CU is a $4.7 billion Bay Area credit union. As a federally insured not-for-profit organization, Tech CU has invested its resources to deliver superior rates, lower fees, and outstanding service and member benefits for more than 60 years while also supporting quality of life in local communities. It serves more than 200,000 members throughout the United States and provides financial products for all stages of its members’ lives, including personal banking, wealth management, private banking, commercial lending, and business banking. To learn more, please visit www.techcu.com.
LOS ANGELES, May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Practice AI™, a leader in AI-powered legal technology, today announced the launch of its groundbreaking Lemon Law Demand Letter feature on AI Demands™. The innovative platform automates and streamlines the demand letter generation process. Specifically created for lemon law attorneys, this new tool empowers legal professionals to generate comprehensive and ready-to-send demand letters in mere minutes, effortlessly.
Practice AI™ Lemon Law Demand Feature transforms the traditionally time-consuming task of drafting lemon law demands by allowing attorneys to simply upload repair orders, purchase orders, and other crucial case documents. The platform’s advanced AI analyzes the information, extracting vital details about vehicle defects, case facts, and potential settlement demands.
This AI-driven system automatically identifies recurring mechanical issues and constructs a compelling legal argument tailored to the specifics of each case. Our software ensures demand letters are not only thorough but also strategically optimized for a strong legal claim.
The feature significantly reduces the time and effort associated with drafting lemon law claims. Attorneys can now forgo the manual review of extensive repair records, allowing them to concentrate on critical case strategy and client advocacy. This powerful tool enhances accuracy, ensures adherence to legal standards, and boosts overall efficiency. Attorneys now have the ability to achieve faster case resolutions and improved outcomes for their clients.
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With the introduction of Lemon Law Demands to the Practice AI platform, CEO Hamid Kohan shared his vision: “Our goal is to empower lemon law attorneys with the tools they need to work faster and more efficiently while maintaining the highest standards of legal precision.”
Practice AI actively engages with industry leaders and legal practitioners, reinforcing its commitment to transformative change in legal services and fostering strategic partnerships to explore new solutions.
Practice AI™ delivers AI-powered solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of the legal industry. The company’s innovative platforms streamline legal processes, improve accuracy, and enable attorneys to focus on delivering exceptional client service. For more information about AI Demands, visit Practice AI or contact us below.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Practice AI
Address: 21731 Ventura Blvd. #175, Woodland Hills, CA 91364
More than three decades after unilaterally declaring independence from Somalia, Somaliland still seeks international recognition as a sovereign state. Despite a lack of formal acknowledgement, the breakaway state has built a relatively stable system of governance. This has drawn increasing interest from global powers, including the United States. As regional dynamics shift and great-power competition intensifies, Somaliland’s bid for recognition is gaining new currency. Aleksi Ylönen has studied politics in the Horn of Africa and Somaliland’s quest for recognition. He unpacks what’s at play.
What legal and historical arguments does Somaliland use?
The Somali National Movement is one of the main clan-based insurgent movements responsible for the collapse of the central government in Somalia. It claims the territory of the former British protectorate of Somaliland. The UK had granted Somaliland sovereign status on 26 June 1960.
The Somali government tried to stomp out calls for secession. It orchestrated the brutal killing of hundreds of thousands of people in northern Somalia between 1987 and 1989.
But the Somali National Movement declared unilateral independence on 18 May 1991 and separated from Somalia.
This subsided only after the politician Mohamed Egal consolidated power. He was elected president of Somaliland in May 1993.
Egal made deals with merchants and businessmen, giving them tax and commercial incentives to accept his patronage. As a result, he obtained the economic means to consolidate political power and to pursue peace and state-building. It’s something his successors have kept up with since his death in 2002.
What has Somaliland done to push for recognition?
Successive Somaliland governments continue to engage in informal diplomacy. They have aligned with the west, particularly the US, which was the dominant power after the cold war, and the former colonial master, the UK. Both countries host significant Somaliland diaspora communities.
The US and the UK have for decades flirted with the idea of recognising Somaliland, which they consider a strategic partner. However, they have been repeatedly thrown back by their respective Somalia policies. These have favoured empowering the widely supported Mogadishu government to reassert its authority and control over Somali territories.
This Somalia policy has been increasingly questioned in recent years, in part due to Mogadishu’s security challenges. In contrast, the Hargeisa government of Somaliland has largely shown it can provide security and stability. It has held elections and survived as a state for the last three decades, though it has faced political resistance and armed opposition.
The government has also engaged in informal foreign relations with the United Arab Emirates. The Middle Eastern monarchy serves as a business hub and a destination of livestock exports. Many Somalilanders migrate there.
Somaliland maintains representative offices in several countries. These include Canada, the US, Norway, Sweden, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Taiwan. Hargeisa has alienated China because it has collaborated with Taiwan since 2020. Taiwan is a self-ruled island claimed by China.
On 1 January 2024, Somaliland’s outgoing president Muse Bihi signed a memorandum of understanding with Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed for increased cooperation. Bihi implied that Ethiopia would be the first country to formally recognise Somaliland. The deal caused a sharp deterioration of relations between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu.
Abiy later moderated his position and, with Turkish mediation, reconciled with his Somalia counterpart, President Hassan Mohamud.
What’s behind US interest in Somaliland?
The US, like other great powers, has been interested in Somaliland because of its strategic location. It is on the African shores of the Gulf of Aden, across from the Arabian Peninsula. Its geographical position has gained currency recently as Yemeni Houthi rebels strike maritime traffic in the busy shipping lanes. Somaliland is also well located to curb piracy and smuggling on this global trade route.
In 2017, China, which had become the main foreign economic power in the Horn of Africa, set up a navy support facility in Djibouti. This encouraged closer collaboration between American and Somaliland authorities. The US played with the idea of establishing a base in Berbera, which hosts Somaliland’s largest port.
With Donald Trump winning the US presidential election in 2024, there were reports of an increased push for US recognition of Somaliland. This would allow the US to deepen its trade and security partnerships in the volatile Horn of Africa region.
Since March 2025, representatives of the Trump administration have engaged in talks with Somaliland officials to establish a US military base near Berbera. This would be in exchange for a formal but partial recognition of Somaliland.
What are the risks of US recognition of Somaliland?
Stronger US engagement with Somaliland risks neglecting Somalia.
US recognition would reward Hargeisa for its persistent effort to maintain stability and promote democracy. However, it could encourage other nations to recognise Somaliland. This would deliver a blow to Somali nationalists who want one state for all Somalis.
Aleksi Ylönen is affiliated with the Center for International Studies, Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, and is an associate fellow at the HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The problem is simple: it’s hard to know whether a photo’s real or not anymore. Photo manipulation tools are so good, so common and easy to use, that a picture’s truthfulness is no longer guaranteed.
The situation got trickier with the uptake of generative artificial intelligence. Anyone with an internet connection can cook up just about any image, plausible or fantasy, with photorealistic quality, and present it as real. This affects our ability to discern truth in a world increasingly influenced by images.
I teach and research the ethics of artificial intelligence (AI), including how we use and understand digital images.
Many people ask how we can tell if an image has been changed, but that’s fast becoming too difficult. Instead, here I suggest a system where creators and users of images openly state what changes they’ve made. Any similar system will do, but new rules are needed if AI images are to be deployed ethically – at least among those who want to be trusted, especially media.
Doing nothing isn’t an option, because what we believe about media affects how much we trust each other and our institutions. There are several ways forward. Clear labelling of photos is one of them.
Deepfakes and fake news
Photo manipulation was once the preserve of government propaganda teams, and later, expert users of Photoshop, the popular software for editing, altering or creating digital images.
Today, digital photos are automatically subjected to colour-correcting filters on phones and cameras. Some social media tools automatically “prettify” users’ pictures of faces. Is a photo taken of oneself by oneself even real anymore?
The basis of shared social understanding and consensus – trust regarding what one sees – is being eroded. This is accompanied by the apparent rise of untrustworthy (and often malicious) news reporting. We have new language for the situation: fake news (false reporting in general) and deepfakes (deliberately manipulated images, whether for waging war or garnering more social media followers).
Misinformation campaigns using manipulated images can sway elections, deepen divisions, even incite violence. Scepticism towards trustworthy media has untethered ordinary people from fact-based accounting of events, and has fuelled conspiracy theories and fringe groups.
Ethical questions
A further problem for producers of images (personal or professional) is the difficulty of knowing what’s permissable. In a world of doctored images, is it acceptable to prettify yourself? How about editing an ex-partner out of a picture and posting it online?
Would it matter if a well-respected western newspaper published a photo of Russian president Vladimir Putin pulling his face in disgust (an expression that he surely has made at some point, but of which no actual image has been captured, say) using AI?
The ethical boundaries blur further in highly charged contexts. Does it matter if opposition political ads against then-presidential candidate Barack Obama in the US deliberately darkened his skin?
Would generated images of dead bodies in Gaza be more palatable, perhaps more moral, than actual photographs of dead humans? Is a magazine cover showing a model digitally altered to unattainable beauty standards, while not declaring the level of photo manipulation, unethical?
A fix
Part of the solution to this social problem demands two simple and clear actions. First, declare that photo manipulation has taken place. Second, disclose what kind of photo manipulation was carried out.
The first step is straightforward: in the same way pictures are published with author credits, a clear and unobtrusive “enhancement acknowledgement” or EA should be added to caption lines.
The second is about how an image has been altered. Here I call for five “categories of manipulation” (not unlike a film rating). Accountability and clarity create an ethical foundation.
The five categories could be:
C – Corrected
Edits that preserve the essence of the original photo while refining its overall clarity or aesthetic appeal – like colour balance (such as contrast) or lens distortion. Such corrections are often automated (for instance by smartphone cameras) but can be performed manually.
E – Enhanced
Alterations that are mainly about colour or tone adjustments. This extends to slight cosmetic retouching, like the removal of minor blemishes (such as acne) or the artificial addition of makeup, provided the edits don’t reshape physical features or objects. This includes all filters involving colour changes.
B – Body manipulated
This is flagged when a physical feature is altered. Changes in body shape, like slimming arms or enlarging shoulders, or the altering of skin or hair colour, fall under this category.
O – Object manipulated
This declares that the physical position of an object has been changed. A finger or limb moved, a vase added, a person edited out, a background element added or removed.
G – Generated
Entirely fabricated yet photorealistic depictions, such as a scene that never existed, must be flagged here. So, all images created digitally, including by generative AI, but limited to photographic depictions. (An AI-generated cartoon of the pope would be excluded, but a photo-like picture of the pontiff in a puffer jacket is rated G.)
The suggested categories are value-blind: they are (or ought to be) triggered simply by the occurrence of any manipulation. So, colour filters applied to an image of a politician trigger an E category, whether the alteration makes the person appear friendlier or scarier. A critical feature for accepting a rating system like this is that it is transparent and unbiased.
The CEBOG categories above aren’t fixed, there may be overlap: B (Body manipulated) might often imply E (Enhanced), for example.
Feasibility
Responsible photo manipulation software may automatically indicate to users the class of photo manipulation carried out. If needed it could watermark it, or it could simply capture it in the picture’s metadata (as with data about the source, owner or photographer). Automation could very well ensure ease of use, and perhaps reduce human error, encouraging consistent application across platforms.
Of course, displaying the rating will ultimately be an editorial decision, and good users, like good editors, will do this responsibly, hopefully maintaining or improving the reputation of their images and publications. While one would hope that social media would buy into this kind of editorial ideal and encourage labelled images, much room for ambiguity and deception remains.
The success of an initiative like this hinges on technology developers, media organisations and policymakers collaborating to create a shared commitment to transparency in digital media.
Martin Bekker receives funding from the National Research Foundation in South Africa.
Around 100,000 members of Vancouver’s Filipino community and other residents recently gathered to take part in the Lapu Lapu street festival to celebrate Filipino culture. This vibrant community celebration ended in tragedy when a vehicle was driven at high speed through the festival.
Eleven people were killed in the April 26 attack, and dozens injured in what acting police chief Steve Rai called the “darkest day in the city’s history.”
And, as is now common following high-profile tragedies, the Lapu Lapu festival attack has been accompanied by a number of crowdfunding campaigns by and for its victims.
A memorial for the victims of the Lapu Lapu tragedy. (J. Snyder), CC BY
Helping after disaster
Many of these crowdfunding campaigns are hosted by GoFundMe, which has set up a dedicated hub for these fundraisers. A week after the attack, the 16 campaigns on this hub had raised more than $2.3 million.
Dozens of other fundraisers on GoFundMe have raised additional money for various causes and groups associated with the tragedy and Vancouver’s Filipino community. Other crowdfunding platforms have also hosted related crowdfunding campaigns.
Crowdfunding is a way for the public to help those in need in concrete ways while also expressing their shock and sadness over tragic events. People from across the world have taken advantage of crowdfunding’s accessibility to learn about victims and join the outpouring of support.
This support can be large and consequential. A campaign for Andy Le, a teenager who lost his family at the festival attack, has received more than $500,000 in donations. As a result of this support, Le has in turn pledged to donate half that money to other victims.
This viral, international support has meant these campaigns are likely able to raise vastly more money than would be possible through traditional, purely local and offline activities.
Teenager Andy Le, who lost his family in the Lapu Lapu attack, redistributes the funds raised in an online campaign.
Fraud and fundraising
But while the online nature of crowdfunding allows for a global response to high-profile tragedies, the relatively impersonal nature of crowdfunding has its downsides. Our research has demonstrated that crowdfunding sometimes attracts fraudulent campaigns.
High-profile events that spur numerous campaigns and massive financial support are particularly attractive to fraudsters. Unfortunately, this has been the case with the Lapu Lapu festival tragedy. In one case, a GoFundMe campaign fraudulently raised more than $57,000, ostensibly to return the body of “Reyna Dela Peñato” to the Philippines after her death at the festival and to support her sons.
Communities can provide mutual support by detecting these fraudulent campaigns, especially in tight-knit communities like Filipinos in Vancouver. In the case of the fraudulent campaign for “Reyna Dela Peñato,” it was flagged by Raquel Narraway, a Vancouver resident who had been compiling information on fundraisers. Narraway was able to marshal her connections to the local Filipino community to show that the campaign was not genuine.
GoFundMe does its own vetting as well, identifying some campaigns as “verified” after contacting organizers.
However, responding to actual and potential fraud creates new burdens on victims to prove their legitimacy to the public and crowdfunding platforms. Local community members are in turn taken away from grieving to investigate these campaigns. These policing activities inject a level of distrust into fundraising that is less present when giving takes place between people with pre-existing connections.
Growing challenges
While the problem of fraud in crowdfunding isn’t new, changes to the practice of crowdfunding may make it harder to detect. The advent of large language models or artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT have made it easier for crowdfunding campaigners to edit their campaign narratives to appeal to a wider pool of potential donors.
Crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe are also pushing AI features directly into their platforms to “enhance” these campaigns and help campaigners “connect with more donors.” These features may be especially appealing to people whose first language is not English, as may be the case with some victims of the Lapu Lapu festival attack.
While the AI-ification of crowdfunding creates a more level playing field for campaigners, it may also make fraud easier to commit and harder to detect. This will be true if generating fake campaigns is easier using chatbots and if legitimate campaigns use AI and take on a less authentic voice.
Online crowdfunding isn’t going anywhere, and for many victims of the Lapu Lapu festival attack, it has enabled them to ease some of the burden from that terrible day. However, we should be aware that crowdfunding isn’t a purely beneficial tool for people in need. Without proper oversight, it may develop in ways that are even more problematic.
Jeremy Snyder receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Valorie A. Crooks receives funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada, BC Women’s Health Research Institute and MITACS..
CT scans are a vital part of modern medicine. Found in every hospital and many clinics, they give doctors a fast and detailed look inside the body – helping to diagnose everything from cancer and strokes to internal injuries. But a new study suggests there may be a hidden cost to our growing reliance on this technology.
The study, published in Jama Internal Medicine, warns that CT scans performed in the US in 2023 alone could eventually lead to over 100,000 extra cancer cases. If the current rate of scanning continues, the researchers say CT scans could be responsible for around 5% of all new cancers diagnosed each year.
That figure has raised concerns. Especially when you consider that the number of CT scans done in the US has jumped by 30% in just over a decade. In 2023, there were an estimated 93 million CT exams carried out on 62 million people.
The risk from a single scan is low – but not zero. And the younger the patient, the greater the risk. Children and teenagers are especially vulnerable because their bodies are still developing, and any damage caused by ionising radiation may not show up until many years later.
That said, over 90% of CT scans are performed on adults, so it’s this group that faces the largest overall impact. The most common cancers linked to CT exposure are lung, colon, bladder and leukaemia. For women, breast cancer is also a significant concern.
What makes this latest estimate so striking is how much it has grown. In 2009, a similar analysis projected around 29,000 future cancers linked to CT scans. The new number is over three times higher – not just because of more scans, but because newer research allows for a more detailed analysis of radiation exposure to specific organs.
The study also makes an eye-catching comparison: if things stay as they are, CT-related cancers could match the number of cancers caused by alcohol or excess weight – two well-known risk factors.
Not all scans carry the same level of risk. In adults, scans of the abdomen and pelvis are thought to contribute the most to future cancer cases. In children, it’s head CTs that pose the biggest concern – especially for babies under the age of one.
Often life-saving
Despite all this, doctors stress that CT scans are often life-saving and remain essential in many cases. They help catch conditions early, guide treatment and are crucial in emergencies. The challenge is making sure they’re only used when really needed.
Newer technologies could help reduce the risk. Photon-counting CT scanners, for example, deliver lower doses of radiation, and MRI scans don’t use radiation at all. The researchers suggest that better use of diagnostic checklists could also help doctors decide when a scan is necessary, and when a safer alternative like MRI or ultrasound might do the job.
It’s worth noting that this study doesn’t prove CT scans cause cancer in individual people. The estimates are based on “risk models” – not direct evidence. In fact, the American College of Radiology points out that no study has yet linked CT scans directly to cancer in humans, even after multiple scans.
Still, the idea that radiation can cause cancer isn’t new. It’s scientifically sound. And with the huge number of scans being done, even small risks can add up.
CT scans save lives, but they’re not risk-free. As medical technology evolves, so too should the way we use it. By cutting down on unnecessary scans, using safer alternatives where possible, and keeping radiation doses as low as practical, we can ensure CT scans continue to help more than they harm.
Justin Stebbing, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10)
Washington, D.C. – Earlier this week, on International Day of the Midwife, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), reintroduced the Maternal and Infant Delivery: Wellness, and Integration with Vital Expertise Support (MIDWIVES) for Servicemembers Act.
U.S. Representatives Emily Randall (WA-06), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), and Jen Kiggans (VA-02) co-led the bipartisan midwifery legislation.
The bill would increase access to maternity care for servicemembers and their families by extending midwifery care to those enrolled in TRICARE through a 5-year pilot program. This legislation expands access to midwifery care and gives the Department of Defense the option to permanently expand coverage if the pilot program is successful.
“It is our job to support our servicemembers, and this includes providing help before, during and after childbirth,” said Strickland. “This bill expands midwifery care options, giving servicemembers and their families the care that they deserve.”
“As our troops and their families serve our nation, they deserve access to the very best care, especially if they are looking to start or expand their family,” said Ciscomani. “As a dad of six I can tell you, planning to welcome a child to your family is an exciting time. However, serving in the military or having a spouse in uniform can pose additional difficulties for mothers-to-be. This is why I once again joined Rep. Strickland in a bipartisan effort to expand access to midwifery care for military spouses and women in uniform who are enrolled in TRICARE to ensure they can receive the care they need.”
“Sexual and reproductive health care is essential, and we have a responsibility to ensure that service members and their families can access the care they deserve,” said Randall. “Expanding midwifery services through TRICARE is a critical step toward closing the dangerous gaps in maternal health care that too many people — especially those who serve our nation— are forced to navigate.”
“As a Navy veteran and former nurse practitioner, I know firsthand the importance of high-quality, accessible maternal care for our military families,” said Kiggans. “The MIDWIVES for Service Members Act is a commonsense, data-driven solution that expands care options under TRICARE, improves outcomes for mothers and babies, and helps reduce strain on military healthcare systems. I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan effort to better support those who serve by delivering the care they and their families deserve.”
The MIDWIVES for Servicemembers Act is endorsed by: American Association of Birth Centers (AABC), American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), National Association of Certified Professional Midwives (NACPM), Birth Center Equity (BCE), Policy Institute for Community Birth and Midwifery (PICBM), True North Birth Center, and the National Partnership on Women and Families.
“As a retired military spouse, a mother who relied on TRICARE during my own pregnancies, and a midwife who has supported countless families, I know firsthand the unique challenges military families face. Being restationed—sometimes well into pregnancy—often means starting over and scrambling to find a new provider in areas already facing serious shortages. For the past year and a half, I’ve been advocating for a solution which has become The MIDWIVES for Service Members Act. Midwives provide safe, evidence-based, and compassionate care that meets families where they are. This bill will not only improve continuity of care for military families—it will expand access to high-quality maternity care nationwide. I’m deeply grateful to Representatives Strickland, Ciscomani, Randall, and all the supporters of this bill for recognizing the urgent need to better serve our nation’s heroes and their loved ones—no matter where duty takes them,” said Ashley Jones, Licensed Midwife and Executive Director of True North Birth Center please.
“The MIDWIVES for Servicemembers Act directly addresses a critical gap in maternity care for military families by expanding TRICARE to include all credentialed midwives. By recognizing Certified Professional Midwives and Certified Midwives as authorized providers, this bill not only increases access to care, especially in underserved areas, but also affirms the right of military families to choose safe community-based care. With over half of U.S. birth centers staffed by CPMs, this legislation will dramatically expand access to midwifery-led birth center services. NACPM strongly supports this bill as a meaningful, evidence-based solution that honors the dignity, autonomy, and well-being of our nation’s servicemembers and their families,” said Cassaundra Jah, Executive Director of the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives.
“The National Partnership for Women & Families applauds the reintroduction of the MIDWIVES for Servicemembers Act, which would provide more care options for servicemembers, especially ones that reside in rural or maternity care shortage areas,” said Amani Echols, Senior Manager for Maternal & Infant Health at the National Partnership for Women & Families. “Research shows that midwifery care provides equal or better care and outcomes compared to physician care on many fronts. For example, midwifery care results in higher rates of spontaneous vaginal birth, higher rates of breastfeeding, higher satisfaction with care, and lower overall costs. Passage of the MIDWIVES for Servicemembers Act is an integral step towards improving maternal and infant health.”
“Expanding midwifery coverage for service members is a lasting investment in families,” says Leseliey Welch, Co-Founder and CEO of Birth Center Equity. “Evidence shows that the midwifery model of care leads to excellent outcomes including lower rates of interventions like cesarean sections and episiotomies, and increased patient satisfaction. Midwifery care also emphasizes a personalized, relationship-centered approach, fostering trust and empowerment for the birthing person.” With this bill, says Welch, “we hope that more and more service members will gain access to birth centers, the only health care facilities based in the midwifery model of care.”
“The American Association of Birth Centers is proud to support the Midwives for Servicemembers Act. Expanding coverage to include certified professional midwives and certified midwives will significantly improve access to midwifery-led birth center care. We commend Rep. Marilyn Strickland, Rep. Emily Randall, Rep. Juan Ciscomani, and Rep. Jen Kiggans for their leadership in advancing high-quality maternity care for our service members and their families,” said Trinisha Williams, President of AABC.
“Certified Professional Midwives and Certified Midwives at freestanding birth centers stand ready to serve military families, but Tricare doesn’t currently reimburse for their care. The Policy Institute for Community Birth and Midwifery is deeply grateful to Congresswoman Strickland for introducing the Midwives for Service Members Act, which would ensure these nationally certified providers are reimbursed. As military hospitals close maternity units and care deserts grow, midwives and birth centers are vital to filling the gap and ensuring military families aren’t left without options, said Mary Lawlor, CPM, Executive Director, Policy Institute for Community Birth and Midwifery.”
“The American College of Nurse-Midwives urges policymakers to support the Midwives for Service Members Act to ensure that military families have access to the full range of high-quality maternity care options, including midwifery services. Expanding access to certified midwives and certified professional midwives within the Military Health System is a cost-effective, evidence-based strategy to improve maternal health outcomes, enhance patient satisfaction, and address longstanding disparities in access to care for those who serve our country,” said Michelle Munroe, retired Army Colonel, and CEO of the American College of Nurse-Midwives
You can read the full bill text here.
Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10)serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is Whip of the New Democrat Coalition, Secretary of the Congressional Black Caucus, and is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22)
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today alongside Congresswoman Fischbach (MN-7), reintroduced the More Opportunities for Moms to Succeed (MOMS) Act, which will provide critical support to new moms during and after their pregnancy, empower women to choose life, and help them to raise happy, healthy babies.
“Being pro-life means supporting mothers and their babies during every phase of life. The MOMS Act offers vital resources and assistance during pregnancy and the earliest stages of motherhood and childhood to ensure mothers and babies receive the care and support they deserve. We must ensure that all mothers receive the physical, emotional, and financial support necessary to carry their pregnancies to term, support themselves and their newborn babies, and ultimately choose life,” said Congresswoman Tenney.
“For many women, finding out you are unexpectedly pregnant comes with fear, and for some, abortion may feel like the only option. I am committed to empowering all women and ensuring they feel supported in choosing life,” said Congresswoman Fischbach. “The MOMS Act supports women before, during, and after they give birth. It improves access to resources and makes sure women have everything they need right at their fingertips to help them confidently carry to term and raise their child. As we go into Mother’s Day weekend, I am so proud to introduce legislation that supports new mothers and their children.”
Music could provide a breakthrough in assessing consciousness levels in children who have suffered significant brain injuries, according to new research published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.
Children with disorders of consciousness rely on those caring for them to provide all aspects of their daily living, including hydration, nutrition, washing and dressing.
There is currently a lack of tools to assess consciousness in children aged between two and 18, and assessing awareness in children is complicated by neurodevelopmental changes that occur as the child ages.
To tackle this, researchers at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), The Children’s Trust and Temple University have developed the MuSICCA (Music therapy Sensory Instrument for Cognition, Consciousness and Awareness) tool, which involves using musical stimulation to enable the patient to show how conscious they are.
The music is specially selected for the patient and a qualified music therapist performs this live to the patient, manipulating different aspects of the music depending on how the patient responds. The idea is to give the patient the best chance of showing what they can do.
The music therapist observes the child’s behaviours and records these observations against a set of scales. MuSICCA then produces a diagnosis of the level of consciousness.
As part of the study, researchers invited a group of participants including music therapists, family members of children affected by brain injuries, and healthcare professionals to evaluate MuSICCA.
Participants in the study took part in question and answer sessions following a demonstration of the tool and were asked to rate how much they agreed or disagreed with two statements: On initial review, MuSICCA appears to be an assessment of consciousness and awareness; and on initial review, MuSICCA appears to be suitable for use with children and young people. Participants were also asked to comment on the strengths and weaknesses of MuSICCA.
All participants agreed with both statements, with 85% strongly agreeing with each.
“Children with disorders of consciousness are often almost completely dependent on others to meet their needs. Their therapists, nurses and caregivers must interpret very subtle behaviours to help them understand their needs.
“There is often great uncertainty when determining this, which makes it so important to find a reliable way of assessing levels of consciousness in these young people. Currently, there are very few ways of doing this.
“MuSICCA allows the music therapist to conduct a rigorous assessment of the patient’s response to various musical stimuli, giving the therapist a picture of the patient’s level of consciousness and the strengths and weaknesses of their responses. The information from MuSICCA is easy to communicate to the rest of the care and medical teams and can support families in understanding what they can do to support their child’s recovery.
“This study strongly suggests that MuSICCA is a suitable and comprehensive assessment method, highlighting its strengths in providing guidance, involving caregivers, and supporting clinical teams.”
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Xinhua | 08. 05. 2025
Keywords: wto,us duties,eu intends,urgent,trial,european union will appeal,thursday declared,dispute resolution,consultations,us measures,duties,usa,request,organization,violate,opinion
BRUSSELS, May 8 (Xinhua) — The European Union will ask the World Trade Organization (WTO) for consultations to resolve disputes with the United States over U.S. “mirror tariffs” and duties on cars and auto parts, the European Commission said Thursday, saying the U.S. tariffs violate fundamental WTO rules. -0-
Source: Xinhua
Breaking News: EU to initiate WTO case over US tariffs Breaking News: EU to initiate WTO case over US tariffs
