Today, U.S. District Court Judge Mark A. Goldsmith for the Eastern District of Michigan accepted Hino Motors, Ltd.’s guilty plea to a one-count criminal information charging it with having engaged in a multi-year criminal conspiracy to defraud both the U.S. government and American consumers and illicitly smuggle goods into the country. Judge Goldsmith also sentenced Hino, a Toyota subsidiary, to pay a criminal fine of $521.76 million, serve a five-year term of probation — during which it is prohibited from importing any diesel engines it has manufactured into the United States — and implement a comprehensive compliance and ethics program and reporting structure. The court also entered a $1.087 billion forfeiture money judgment against the company.
According to court records, between 2010 and 2019, Hino Motors, Ltd. engineers submitted and caused to be submitted false applications for engine certification approvals in violation of the federal Clean Air Act. Hino Motors, Ltd. engineers regularly altered emission test data, conducted tests improperly and fabricated data without conducting any underlying tests. The engineers also submitted fraudulent carbon dioxide emissions test data, which resulted in false fuel consumption values being calculated for its engines, and failed to disclose software functions that could adversely affect engines’ emission control systems. As a result of the fraud, Hino Motors, Ltd. imported and sold over 105,000 non-conforming engines between 2010 and 2022. These engines were primarily installed in heavy-duty trucks manufactured and sold by Hino nationwide.
“Hino unlawfully imported over 105,000 engines that did not comply with U.S. emissions standards and lied about what it was doing. Hino’s criminal conduct gave it an unfair business advantage over other law-abiding companies, including American companies, and generated over $1 billion in gross proceeds,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We are committed to upholding the rule of law by prosecuting fraud and enforcing our Clean Air Act emissions standards.”
“Our office is steadfast in its commitment to holding corporate actors accountable when they lie to government regulators, illicitly smuggle goods into our county, and then fraudulently sell those goods to American consumers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck for the Eastern District of Michigan.
“Hino falsely certified compliance with the Clean Air Act so that it could profit off Americans by sending illegal, polluting engines into the United States,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Jeffrey Hall for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Today’s plea and sentencing demonstrates that companies who intentionally evade our nation’s environmental laws, including by fabricating data to feign compliance with those laws, deserve punishment and will be held criminally accountable.”
“By pleading guilty, Hino Motors, Ltd. has admitted to orchestrating a deliberate and years-long fraud scheme that put profit over principle,” said Acting Assistant Director James C. Barnacle Jr. of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division “It doesn’t matter how complex the scheme is, the FBI is committed to holding individuals and organizations responsible for their actions.”
Special agents of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and FBI’s Detroit Field Office investigated the criminal case.
Senior Trial Attorney Banumathi Rangarajan of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew J. Yahkind for the Eastern District of Michigan handled the criminal prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gjon Juncaj handled the criminal forfeiture matters.
Shaoping Wen and her son, Xu Wang, were sentenced on March 18, 2025, for their roles in operating massage parlors that operated as fronts for commercial sex operations, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
In September 2024, Wen, 65, and Wang, 42, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Lubbock, Texas, for conspiracy to commit interstate travel and use of interstate facilities in aid of racketeering enterprises and other offenses related to the operation of illicit massage parlors in Texas and New Mexico and money laundering. According to court documents, Wen owned and operated at least seven massage parlors where Asian women engaged in illegal commercial sex. Wang operated the parlors on Wen’s behalf when Wen was out of state.
Shaoping Wen pled guilty to conspiracy to commit interstate travel and use of interstate facilities in aid of racketeering enterprises in November 2024. She was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, to be followed by a one-year term of supervised release. Wen was also ordered to forfeit $291,990.88 in U.S. currency and pay a money judgment of $1,771,360 to the United States.
Xu Wang pled guilty to misprision of a felony in November 2024 and was sentenced by Judge Kacsmaryk to time served (362 days), to be followed by a one-year term of supervised release.
Court documents revealed that, on at least 10 occasions between June 2023 and February 2024, undercover officers purchased massages for varying dollar amounts at Wen’s parlors in Texas and New Mexico. The officers were generally greeted by lingerie-clad women who agreed to have sex with them for an additional fee of between $140 and $200. Several of the women used translation apps to negotiate for sexual services. When the women were arrested for prostitution, they identified themselves as Chinese citizens and listed their occupation as simply, “laborer.” On several occasions, Wen or Wang facilitated payment of the arrested women’s cash bond.
Officers also observed Wen’s vehicle transporting Asian females directly from the airport to her massage parlors. Neighbors said the women never left the building. Searches of the premises revealed beds placed on the floors, suggesting the women lived at the massage parlors.
On at least one occasion, a passerby heard a woman screaming and entered the parlor to check-in. He reported seeing three women between the ages of 30 and 50 dressed in provocative clothing.
Officers found the massage parlors advertised on sites often used to advertise for commercial sex. The ads included photos of partially naked women and promoted “100% sexy” girls who “like to spend time with nice upscale gentlemen.” They advertised the “girlfriend experience,” “porn star experience,” and “fantasy outfits on request.” Prostitution is illegal in Texas and New Mexico.
In March 2024, Wen’s seven illicit massage parlors were searched. During the search, law enforcement located further evidence that the women were residing in the parlors, as well as condoms and other items indicative of sexual activity, and approximately $291,990.88 in U.S. currency. Casino records revealed that Wen frequently traveled to California to launder the proceeds of her illicit massage parlor businesses. From between January 2018 and August 2023, Wen cashed out approximately $1,771,360 in chips from the casino.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency, Homeland Security Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Lubbock Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, HSI’s Albuquerque Field Office, the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Wolfforth Police Department, the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, the Carlsbad Police Department, the Roswell Police Department, the Clovis Police Department, the Roswell Fire Department, the Carlsbad Fire Department, the Lubbock County District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam prosecuted the case.
MINNEAPOLIS – Two individuals have been convicted by a federal jury for their roles in a $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally-funded child nutrition program, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
“Aimee Bock and Salim Said took advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to carry out a massive fraud scheme that stole money meant to feed children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “The defendants falsely claimed to have served 91 million meals, for which they fraudulently received nearly $250 million in federal funds. That money did not go to feed kids. Instead, it was used to fund their lavish lifestyles. Today’s verdict sends a message to the community that fraud against the government will not be tolerated.”
“Stealing from the federal government is stealing from the American people – plain and simple. The egregious fraud uncovered in the Feeding our Future case represents the blatant betrayal of public trust. These criminals stole hundreds of millions in federal funding meant to feed hungry children during a crisis and instead funneled it into luxury homes, cars and lavish lifestyles while families struggled,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “The FBI will not allow criminals to rob federal programs and walk away unscathed. We will expose their schemes, dismantle their networks, and ensure they face the full weight of justice.”
“Aimee Bock, Salim Said, and others took advantage of a global pandemic to rob food programs, aimed at serving those in need, of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars during a time when so many people were struggling,” said Ramsey Covington, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “Instead of overseeing the distribution of meals to low-income children, Bock’s organization enabled meal site operators to commit fraud. This verdict is the product of dedicated investigators and prosecutors to bring accountability to those who brazenly stole from the American public. IRS Criminal Investigation is deeply committed to working with our partner agencies to combat these types of fraud schemes and ensure our American tax dollars serve their intended purpose.”
“Today’s verdict reaffirms how critical a role the U.S. Postal Inspection Service plays in protecting the American consumer from these types of fraudulent schemes and in ensuring that the nation’s U.S. mail stream is not used by criminals to prey upon our citizens and programs intended to aid those in need during difficult times. The bold egregious nature in which these fraudsters victimized our children and programs intended to feed them during a world-wide pandemic illustrates their callous disregard for human decency and overall greed,” Bryan Musgrove, Inspector in Charge of the Denver Division stated. “This investigation is a tremendous example of how the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and our FBI law enforcement partners can work side by side in an effort to bring these fraudsters to justice.”
Historically, the Federal Child Nutrition provided meals to children in school-based programs or activities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) waived some of the standard requirements for participation in the Federal Child Nutrition Program. Among other things, the USDA allowed for-profit restaurants to participate in the program, as well as allowed for off-site food distribution to children outside of educational programs. As proven at trial, Aimee Bock, 44, was the founder and executive director of Feeding Our Future, a nonprofit organization that was a sponsor participating in the Federal Child Nutrition Program. Salim Said, 36, former co-owner of Safari Restaurant, was jointly tried with Bock. Together, they oversaw a massive fraud scheme carried out by sites under Feeding Our Future’s sponsorship.
As proven at trial, Feeding Our Future employees recruited individuals and entities to open Federal Child Nutrition Program sites throughout the state of Minnesota. These sites, created and operated by Bock, Said, and others, fraudulently claimed to be serving meals to thousands of children a day within just days or weeks of being formed. Bock and Said created and submitted false documentation, including fraudulent meal counts consisting of fake attendance rosters purporting to list the names and ages of the children receiving meals at the sites each day. Feeding Our Future submitted these fraudulent claims to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and then disbursed the fraudulently obtained Federal Child Nutrition Program funds to their co-conspirators involved in the scheme.
To accomplish their scheme, Bock and Said created dozens of shell companies to enroll in the program as food program sites, and to receive and launder the proceeds of their fraudulent scheme. In exchange for sponsoring these sites’ fraudulent participation in the program, Feeding Our Future received more than $18 million in administrative fees to which it was not entitled. In addition to the administrative fees, Feeding Our Future employees solicited and received bribes and kickbacks from individuals and companies sponsored by Feeding Our Future. Many of these kickbacks were paid in cash or disguised as “consulting fees” paid to shell companies created by Feeding Our Future employees to make them appear legitimate.
As proven at trial, Said’s Safari Restaurant reported approximately $600,000 in annual revenue in each of the three years prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2020, Safari Restaurant enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. By July 2020, Said claimed to be serving meals to 5,000 children per day, seven days a week. In total, Said claimed to have served over 3.9 million meals to children from the Safari Restaurant food site between April 2020 and November 2021. Said also claimed that Safari Restaurant provided more than 2.2 million meals to other food sites involved in Feeding Our Future’s fraud scheme.
In total, Feeding Our Future opened more than 250 Federal Child Nutrition Program sites throughout the state of Minnesota, and in doing so, went from receiving and disbursing approximately $3.4 million in federal funds in 2019 to nearly $200 million in 2021. Throughout the course of their scheme, Feeding Our Future fraudulently obtained and disbursed more than $240 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. The defendants used the proceeds of their fraudulent scheme to purchase luxury vehicles, residential and commercial real estate in Minnesota as well as property in Ohio and Kentucky, real estate in Kenya and Turkey, and to fund international travel.
After a six-week trial, Bock was convicted on four counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of bribery, and one count of conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery. Said was convicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, eight counts of bribery, one count conspiracy to commit money laundering and five counts of money laundering.
The case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph H. Thompson, Matthew S. Ebert, Harry M. Jacobs, and Daniel W. Bobier are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.
Released by: Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading
The Minns Labor Government has moved to make it easier for more qualified workers from interstate to operate in NSW after the passing of new laws last night expanding Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) to more industries.
From 1 July 2025, conveyancers, real estate and property agents, and automotive industry workers from interstate will be allowed to work in NSW without having to get a separate NSW licence.
The AMR scheme supports workers and businesses across Australia by facilitating worker movement between states by reducing red tape and removing the need to apply and pay for another licence.
Under AMR, interstate licensees must also meet relevant mandatory compensation fund obligations while working here.
The Minns Labor Government has acted carefully to ensure consumers across the state are protected by the same regulatory enforcement as people licenced to work in these industries in NSW.
The laws passed by the Minns Labor Government allow NSW Fair Trading to calculate and collect compensation fund contributions from conveyancers, property and stock agents, and motor dealers and repairers, ensuring customers can seek compensation as a last resort if they suffer a financial loss caused by an interstate operator.
From 1 July 2025, conveyancers, real estate and property agents, and automotive occupations will join the range of trades and professions already covered under the AMR scheme, including electrical, tow trucks, some construction trades, and traffic control industries.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong:
“This legislation recognises the licenced interstate workers we need and supports both workers and businesses across Australia by removing red tape and reducing costs, which will allow NSW businesses access to a larger employment market.
“With more occupations now added since the Automatic Mutual Recognition scheme was introduced in 2021, it now allows more workers greater movement across industries with similar national standards, while still maintaining and protecting consumer rights.”
Police are investigating a fire at a Pennington business premises in the early hours of this morning.
Police and fire crews were called to the corner of Addison Road and Fortisgreen Avenue about 5.15am on Thursday 20 March by reports of a building fire.
Fire crews have worked quickly to extinguish the fire and prevented it spreading to neighbouring premises.
There are no reports of injury.
Detectives and fire cause investigators will enter and examine the premises later this morning.
Northbound traffic on Addison Road is restricted and diverted around the scene due to emergency service activity. Motorists are advised to find an alternate route to avoid delays.
Anyone who saw or heard any suspicious activity in the area this morning, or has any CCTV or dashcam footage of any vehicles in the area from around 5am, is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au
Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal highlighted thatthere remains significant untapped potential for economic and trade expansion.Shri Goyal, addressed the 10th CII India-LAC Conclave today at New Delhi, emphasizing the growing importance of India’s economic engagement with the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region.
He said, the India-LAC partnership is not just about business but also about cultural exchanges, shared traditions, and a collective commitment to preserving heritage. He noted that the passion for festivals, sporting spirit, and rich histories of both regions provide a strong foundation for enhanced economic collaboration. He underscored that the conclave serves as an excellent platform for fostering enduring economic ties and deeper people-to-people connections between the two regions.
He called for ambitious targets, aiming to double trade volumes in the next five years by focusing on sectors such as engineering, healthcare, renewable energy, critical minerals, tourism, agriculture, gems and jewelry, and digital services.
Shri Goyal outlined several key areas for deeper cooperation, including trade expansion through preferential trade agreements with MERCOSUR and bilateral agreements where necessary. He emphasized the need for collaboration in renewable energy, highlighting the LAC region’s vast lithium reserves and proposing joint ventures in lithium processing, battery manufacturing, and electric mobility. He also pointed to India-Brazil cooperation in biofuels and the potential for ethanol-powered vehicles. Agriculture and food security were also identified as crucial areas of partnership, with India and the LAC region complementing each other’s needs through investments in climate-resilient agriculture, post-harvest storage, cold chain logistics, and value-added food processing. Additionally, Shri Goyal stressed the importance of improving trade infrastructure through enhanced shipping routes, direct air connectivity, and digitalizing customs procedures to streamline market access. He called for expanding sectoral engagement beyond traditional industries, urging collaboration in pharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, and high-end manufacturing.
Shri Goyal acknowledged the global economic slowdown and supply chain disruptions but emphasized that India remains committed to strengthening economic ties with the LAC region. He urged governments, businesses, and institutions to seize emerging opportunities and move beyond incremental progress toward transformative growth.
In conclusion, Shri Goyal reaffirmed India’s commitment to fostering a dynamic and mutually beneficial partnership with the LAC region, built on trust, cooperation, and shared prosperity.
The Competition Commission of India has invited comments from public in respect of proposed combination between Bharat Forge Limited and AAM India Manufacturing Corporation Private Limited.
On 23rd October, 2024, the Competition Commission of India (Commission) received a notice given by the Bharat forge Limited (BFL) under sub-section (2) of Section 6 of the Competition Act 2002 for the proposed acquisition of one hundred per cent (100%) shareholding of AAM India Manufacturing Corporation Private Limited (AAMCPL) and full and sole control over the Target [including e-axle assembly lines that the Target will acquire from AAM Auto Component (India) Private Limited (AAM Auto)] by BFL (Proposed Combination) [Collectively, BFL and AAMCPL are referred to as ‘Parties’].
BFL is a global provider of safety and critical forged components and solutions to various sectors including automotive, railways, defence, construction, mining, aerospace, marine, and oil & gas. Certain promoters of BFL, through BF Investments Ltd., have 48.99% and 35.52% equity shareholding in Meritor HVS (India) Limited (MHVSIL) and Automotive Axles Limited (AAL) (collectively referred to as ‘Affiliate JVs’), two joint ventures with Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC (acquired by Cummins Inc. in 2022), in India. AAMCPL is a company incorporated in India and is primarily engaged in the business of manufacture and sale of axles for commercial vehicles (CVs) in India. Affiliate JVs are also engaged in the manufacture and sale of axles for CVs in India.
The Commission is of the prima facie opinion that the proposed combination is likely to have an appreciable adverse effect on competition and, accordingly, has directed the Parties, in terms of Section 29(2) of the Competition Act, 2002, to publish details of the combination for bringing the combination to the knowledge or information of the public and persons affected or likely to be affected by such combination.
The Parties have already published the details of the proposed combination in all India editions of four newspapers viz., Mint, The Financial Express, Hindustan Times and The Indian Express on 19th March 2025 and the same is also hosted on the website of the Parties. The said details are also available on the website of the Commission (www.cci.gov.in).
As per the provisions of Section 29(3) of the Act, the Commission invites comments/objections/ suggestions in writing, from any person(s) adversely affected or likely to be affected by the proposed combination. The same may be addressed to the Secretary, Competition Commission of India, Competition Commission of India, 9th Floor, Office Block – 1, Kidwai Nagar (East) New Delhi: 110023, India or through email: secy@cci.gov.in, within ten days from the date of publication of details of the proposed combination.
The Commission is not likely to consider unsubstantiated objections.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy, chaired the meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of Ministry of Heavy Industries on 19.03.2025. The meeting was attended by Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries & Steel, Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, Members of the Committee, Shri Kamran Rizvi, Secretary, MHI along with Dr. Hanif Qureshi, Additional Secretary, Shri Vijay Mittal, Joint Secretary, MHI, Shri S.J. Sinha, Advisor, NITI Aayog, other senior officials from the ministry.
During the meeting, presentations and discussions were held on ” Manufacturing of Heavy Electrical Equipment” and “Encouragement of Electric Vehicles.” The discussions focused on strategies to accelerate EV adoption, enhance the manufacturing ecosystem, and strengthen the domestic production of heavy electrical equipment to support the growing demand for sustainable transportation and infrastructure.
Addressing the meeting Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy said “Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India is making transformative strides in Amrit Kaal, aiming to become a global industrial powerhouse. The “Viksit Bharat 2047” vision positions India as a leading manufacturing and export hub, fostering economic resilience, technological leadership, and industrial self-reliance. Manufacturing contributes 17% to GDP, playing a key role in economic growth, with engineering, capital goods, automotive, and renewables among the high-impact sectors.”
Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy said The Ministry of Heavy Industries is working with the vision statement: “To have a globally competitive, green, and technology-driven heavy industry manufacturing sector, including automotive and capital goods sectors, which propels growth and job creation.” Schemes such as Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector (Phase I & II), FAME, PLI for Automotive & Advanced Chemistry Cell, and PM E-DRIVE have been launched with the goal of building a strong domestic manufacturing ecosystem.
During the meeting Union Ministers of State for Heavy Industries & Steel, Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma said “A globally competitive manufacturing sector is India’s greatest potential to drive economic growth and job creation. Several key initiatives, such as the National Manufacturing Policy and PLI scheme, have been launched to enhance India’s manufacturing potential.”
Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma said “When it comes to the mobility sector, the Ministry of Heavy Industries has taken deliberate and forward-looking steps to ensure that the transition to electric mobility is seamless, sustainable, and inclusive. A series of progressive initiatives have been instrumental in shaping this transformation, including FAME-II, PM E-DRIVE, PLI schemes for Auto and Advanced Chemistry Cells, the PM e-Bus Sewa-Payment Security Mechanism, and the Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India. Each of these initiatives plays a crucial role in boosting local manufacturing, strengthening charging infrastructure, supporting public transport electrification, and fostering innovation in the EV sector.”
The participants were briefed about-
Manufacturing of Heavy Electrical Equipment:
The Ministry of Heavy Industries continues to play a vital role in strengthening India’s manufacturing ecosystem, particularly in the Heavy Electrical Equipment sector. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), a key entity under MHI, has been at the forefront of this development, contributing significantly to indigenization and self-reliance in the sector.
Key Highlights:
The Indian manufacturing sector accounts for 17% of GDP and employs over 27.3 million workers as of FY24.
Government initiatives such as “Make in India” and the PLI Scheme have catalysed growth in the sector.
BHEL has developed a comprehensive portfolio of products, including power generation and transmission equipment, along with industrial solutions.
The company has been actively contributing to the renewable energy sector, particularly in solar and wind energy, in alignment with India’s clean energy goals.
Encouragement of Electric Vehicles:
The Indian automotive industry plays a pivotal role in the nation’s economy, contributing 6.8% of GDP and generating approximately 30 million jobs. The government’s sustained efforts to promote electric mobility have led to remarkable progress, with over 19 lakh EVs registered in 2024, marking a significant increase from 15 lakh in 2023. India’s proactive initiatives are not only accelerating the adoption of EVs domestically but also positioning the country as a key player in the global EV market.
Key Government Initiatives:
Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) Scheme: Over 7,400 electric buses have been sanctioned under the FAME initiative, significantly enhancing sustainable urban mobility.
Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: With a total outlay of ₹25,938 crore over five years, the PLI scheme is driving India’s manufacturing competitiveness in the automobile and auto-component sector.
Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India (SMEC): This initiative aims to attract investments from leading global EV manufacturers and establish India as a manufacturing hub for electric vehicles.
PM E-DRIVE Scheme: With an allocation of ₹10,900 crore, this scheme promotes EV adoption while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reinforcing India’s commitment to sustainable mobility.
The meeting appreciated the government’s commitment to accelerate the transition to clean energy, fostering a robust domestic manufacturing ecosystem, as well as positioning India as a global leader in EVs and heavy electrical equipment. The Ministry of Heavy Industries remains dedicated to implementing policies that drive innovation, sustainability, and economic growth.
India Plans Chandrayaan-4 Mission with Advanced Docking, Lunar Sample Collection: Dr. Jitendra Singh in Lok Sabha Of the four astronauts undergoing rigorous training for the upcoming human mission “Gaganyaan” one of them, Group Captain Shukla, has been selected to join the mission to the International Space Station
Chandrayaan-4 to Pioneer Lunar Docking Tech as India Eyes 2040 Moon Mission
PM Narendra Modi’s letter to Sunita Williams conveyed his good wishes and extended her invitation to visit India
Posted On: 19 MAR 2025 4:56PM by PIB Delhi
Of the four astronauts undergoing rigorous training for the upcoming human mission, “Gaganyaan” one of them, Group Captain Shukla, has been selected to join the mission to the International Space Station, while others remain in an intensive preparatory phase to ensure mission success.
This was stated in the Lok Sabha today by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh. He asserted that India’s space ambitions are set to reach new heights in reply to a question , while revealing crucial details about the upcoming Chandrayaan-4 mission. The mission, which will feature multiple advanced docking technology and lunar sample collection, is poised to be a major step toward India’s goal of establishing its own space station by 2040.
Beginning his reply in the Lok Sabha to a discussion on Chandrayaan 4 and India’s Space missions, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh shared with the House that Sunita Williams had landed back on the surface of Earth this morning at 3.27 AM after spending more than 300 days in the Space and our message of congratulations was put out by the social media soon thereafter around 4 AM defining this “as a moment of glory, pride and relief”.
The Minister referred to PM Narendra Modi’s letter to Sunita Williams in which he had conveyed his good wishes and extended her invitation to visit India. He also recalled that when Sunita came to India last time in 2007, he had met Shri Modi who was then the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the importance of Chandrayaan-4 in strengthening India’s space capabilities. “This mission will not just be about landing on the Moon but also about mastering docking and undocking procedures, a key requirement for future interplanetary missions and space station operations,” he said. The Minister further noted that India’s long-term objective includes sending an Indian astronaut to the Moon, with Chandrayaan-4 serving as a precursor to that historic feat.
The mission will involve two launch vehicles carrying five components in total. These modules will execute complex manoeuvres, including docking in Earth’s orbit before proceeding to the Moon. Upon reaching lunar orbit, the modules will separate, with the descender collecting samples while the ascender returns to dock with the remaining modules. The return module will then make its way back to Earth, simulating key aspects of crewed lunar missions.
Dr. Jitendra Singh also touched upon the broader applications of space technology in governance and development. He emphasized that space-based innovations are now integrated into urban planning, disaster management, healthcare, and agriculture, demonstrating how India’s advancements in space science are benefiting the general public.
Additionally, he addressed queries about India’s first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, confirming that the selected four astronauts are undergoing rigorous training. While one astronaut, Group Captain Shukla, was selected to participate in a mission to the International Space Station, the others remained in an intensive preparatory phase to ensure mission success.
India’s space program has gained global recognition, and with Chandrayaan-4, the country aims to take another significant leap. As the mission takes shape, it is expected to further cement India’s standing in the global space race and pave the way for future deep-space exploration.
The various components of ongoing research projects, such as ACROSS, O-SMART, PACER, SAGE, and REACHOUT, under the PRITHVI scheme are inter-dependent. The overarching scheme of PRITHVI holistically addresses all the components to improve the understating of the Earth System Sciences and to provide reliable services for the country. These integrated R&D efforts will help in addressing the grand challenges of weather, ocean, climate, seismological and geological hazards and explore the living and non-living resources for their sustainable harnessing.
Ministry of Earth Sciences supports international collaborative projects of mutual interest under PRITHVI scheme. For the evaluation of collaborative proposals from global scientific institutions, a joint expert committee is set up, which evaluates and recommends the proposal.
Deep Ocean Mission was launched in 2021 with a total budget outlay of Rs 4,077 crores to be implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. It is a multi-disciplinary programme with activities encompassing six verticals, namely a) Development of Technologies for Deep Sea Mining and Manned Submersible, Underwater Vehicles and Underwater Robotics for exploring and harnessing ocean resources, b) Development of Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services, c) Technological innovation for exploration and conservation of deep-sea biodiversity, d) Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration, e) Energy and Freshwater from the Ocean, and f) Advance Marine Station for Ocean Biology. Survey has been conducted at potential sites of multi-metal hydrothermal sulphide mineralization along the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges using autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in March 2024 at ten locations, of which two locations of active and two locations of inactive vents showing sulphide mineralisation have been identified.
In order to enhance India’s capacity to address climate change impacts through improved understanding of the atmosphere-ocean-pole interactions, a number of activities have been carried out, including augmentation of the existing observational networks on land, poles and in oceans, augmenting the High-Performance Computing (HPC) facility, improving understanding of weather and climate processes and enhancing prediction capabilities by developing improved earth system models, Training and Research at MoES Institutes, as well as Collaborative Research. Further, the Ministry has recently launched Mission Mausam with the goal of making Bharat a “Weather-ready and Climate-smart” nation to mitigate the impact of climate change and extreme weather events and strengthen the resilience of communities.
This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Matsya-6000 is India’s flagship human submersible aimed to carry three persons to a depth of 6000 meters, developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, as part of the Samudrayaan project of the Deep Ocean Mission launched by the Government of India in 2021.
Matsya- 6000 (2.1-meter diameter personnel sphere) which houses the crew is made of a Titanium alloy and maintains an inside pressure of 1 atmosphere (atm). Further, the personnel sphere spherical pressure hull is tested to bear 720 bars of pressure, which is 1.2 times more than the pressure expected at 6000 meters. All human safety parameters are continuously monitored during the operations and are communicated to the ship-based Mission Control Centre through an acoustic modem, with the pilot communicating updates through the Underwater Acoustic Telephone every 30 minutes. It is designed for operations of up to 12 hours, with an emergency endurance of up to 96 hours, supported by a DNV-certified Human Support and Safety System (HSSS). DNV (Det Norske Veritas) is an internationally accredited registrar and classification society headquartered in Norway. The HSSS maintains the oxygen level at 20 per cent, the CO2 level at less than 1000 ppmv (part per million by volume), and controls humidity by measurement sensors to ensure human life comfort and safety.
The submersible is designed to perpetually float unless made to dive through water filling in its ballast tanks. It has three different combinations of weight drop mechanisms for ascending to the surface to maintain the safety. It has additional emergency power, control, and communication devices for emergency scenarios.
Matsya-6000 is equipped with an Underwater Acoustic Telephone that has been operated and tested for operations up to 10,000 meters depth of human operation vehicles, in addition to a sub-phone rated for 500-meter depth operations. The voice communication is designed to be utilized every 30 minutes with the submersible pilot and the Mission Control Centre so that continuous communication is ensured.
NIOT has signed MoU with the IFREMER (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea), France, facilitating scientific knowledge exchange and participation with the French human scientific submersible for 6000 meters depth named NAUTILE.
This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Español Your six-month-old puppy, Hoover, will eat anything that isn’t tied down. Like many dog owners, you know chocolate can be dangerous to your pooch. But you may not know that if Hoover sticks his nose in your handbag and eats a pack of sugarless chewing gum, the consequences could be deadly. Sugarless gum may contain xylitol, a class of sweetener known as sugar alcohol. Xylitol is present in many products and foods for human use, but can have devastating effects on your pet. If you think your dog may have eaten a product containing xylitol, call your vet, emergency clinic, or animal poison control center right away. Over the past several years, the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received several reports—many of which pertained to chewing gum—of dogs being poisoned by xylitol, according to Martine Hartogensis, a veterinarian at the FDA. The most recent report was related to “skinny” (sugar-free) ice cream. And you may have heard or read news stories about dogs that have died or become very ill after eating products containing xylitol , which also may be known as birch sugar or wood sugar. Other Foods Containing Xylitol Gum isn’t the only product containing xylitol. Slightly lower in calories than sugar, this sugar substitute is also often used to sweeten sugar-free candy, such as mints and chocolate bars, as well as sugar-free chewing gum. Other products that may contain xylitol include:
breath mints baked goods cough syrup children’s and adult chewable vitamins mouthwash toothpaste some peanut and nut butters over-the-counter medicines dietary supplements sugar-free desserts, including “skinny” ice cream
Xylitol can be used in baked goods, too, such as cakes, muffins, and pies — often because the baker is substituting another sweetener for sugar, as in products for people with diabetes. People can buy xylitol in bulk to bake sweet treats at home. In-store bakeries also are selling baked goods containing the sweetener. Some pediatric dentists also recommend xylitol-containing chewing gum for children, and these products could end up in a dog’s mouth by accident. It’s a good idea to keep all such products well out of your dog’s reach. Why is Xylitol Dangerous to Dogs, but Not People? In both people and dogs, the level of blood sugar is controlled by the release of insulin from the pancreas. In people, xylitol does not stimulate the release of insulin from the pancreas. However, it’s different in canines: When dogs eat something containing xylitol, the xylitol is more quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, and may result in a potent release of insulin from the pancreas. This rapid release of insulin may result in a rapid and profound decrease in the level of blood sugar (hypoglycemia), an effect that can occur within 10 to 60 minutes of eating the xylitol. Untreated, this hypoglycemia can quickly be life-threatening, Hartogensis says. A note to cat and ferret owners: Xylitol does not seem to be as dangerous for cats and other pets. Cats appear to be spared, at least in part, by their disdain for sweets. Ferret owners, however, should be careful, as ferrets have been known to develop low blood sugar and seizures, like dogs, after eating products containing xylitol. Symptoms to Look For in Your Dog
Symptoms of xylitol poisoning in dogs include vomiting, followed by symptoms associated with the sudden lowering of your dog’s blood sugar, such as decreased activity, weakness, staggering, incoordination, collapse and seizures. If you think your dog has eaten xylitol, take him to your vet or an emergency animal hospital immediately, Hartogensis advises. Because hypoglycemia and other serious adverse effects may not occur in some cases for up to 12 to 24 hours, your dog may need to be hospitalized for medical monitoring. What Can You Do to Avoid Xylitol Poisoning in Your Dog? Dr. Hartogensis says, “Check the label for xylitol in the ingredients of products, especially ones that advertise as sugar-free or low sugar. If a product does contain xylitol, make sure your pet can’t get to it.” In addition:
Keep products that contain xylitol (including those you don’t think of as food, such as toothpaste) well out of your dog’s reach. Remember that some dogs are adept at counter surfing. Only use pet toothpaste for pets, never human toothpaste. If you give your dog nut butter as a treat or as a vehicle for pills, check the label first to make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol.
You Can Help the FDA by Reporting Safety Issues The FDA wants to know if your pet encounters safety issues with a product, and/or unanticipated harmful effects that you believe are related to a product. “Timely reporting of problems enables FDA to take prompt action,” Hartogensis says. Each report is evaluated to determine how serious the problem is and, if necessary, additional information may be requested from the person who filed the report. You can report problems related to both human and pet foods and treats at the Safety Reporting Portal. Want to spread the word about xylitol? Here’s a poster you can print out to give to your veterinarian or pet shop owner, or perhaps your child’s school. back to top
BOSTON – The former leader of the Lynn Chapter of the Trinitarios gang pleaded guilty today to racketeering charges.
Aaron Diaz Liranzo, a/k/a “Sosa,” 26, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. U.S. Senior District Court Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for June 25, 2025. Diaz Liranzo was arrested and charged in February 2025 at which time he was the Leader of the Lynn Chapter of the Trinitarios.
The Trinitarios is a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Trinitarios adhere to a Magna Carta, employ an internal hierarchy to or organize and execute violence, and undertaken extensive efforts to maintain the secrecy of the organization and its members.
In February 2025, federal racketeering charges were unsealed against 22 leaders and members of the Trinitarios. The charges were the result of a multi jurisdictional investigation, which began in the aftermath of four murders as well as a series of attempted murders and shootings that took place in Lynn in 2023, allegedly committed by the Trinitarios criminal enterprise and its members. Diaz Liranzo is the sixth Defendant to plead guilty.
During a period from at least 2021 through 2025, Diaz Liranzo served as the Primera or Number One of the Lynn Chapter of the Trinitarios. Diaz Liranzo admitted to participating in a shooting that took place in March 2019 that targeted multiple rival gang members outside of a Lynn nightclub. The victims were lured there by another member, who posed as a woman who needed a ride. Equipped with a firearm and knowledge of the victims whereabouts and vehicle they were driving, the defendant travelled to the nightclub and opened fire at the vehicle, discharging at least six rounds. During the incident, Diaz Liranzo shot two of the three victims seated in the car. Both victims suffered life-threatening injuries, but ultimately survived the incident.
The charge of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity (also known as “racketeering conspiracy” or “RICO conspiracy”) provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; and Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Redd made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office; the Rockingham County District Attorney’s Office (NH); and the Andover, Boston, Lawrence, Peabody and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CHICAGO — A former employee of the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia was sentenced today to a year in federal prison for stealing millions of dollars’ worth of Masters golf tournament merchandise and memorabilia and selling it to online brokers.
RICHARD BRENDAN GLOBENSKY, 40, of Evans, Ga., pleaded guilty last year in U.S. District Court in Chicago to a federal charge of transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman today ordered Globensky to pay $3,448,842 in restitution to Augusta National.
The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Art Crime Team.
Globensky admitted in a plea agreement that he stole the merchandise and memorabilia from 2009 to 2022 while he was employed by the club as a warehouse assistant. The merchandise included Masters shirts, hats, flags, watches, and other goods, while the memorabilia included historically significant items, such as the Green Jackets awarded to tournament winners Arnold Palmer, Gene Sarazen, and Ben Hogan. Globensky sold the merchandise to an online broker in Florida for a total of approximately $5.3 million. He sold the historically significant memorabilia to the same broker, as well as to the broker’s associate, for nearly $300,000. The brokers later re-sold the stolen merchandise and memorabilia, often at significant markups from the amounts paid to Globensky. At least one of the stolen items was purchased by a collector in Chicago.
During the last six years of the crime, Globensky spent more than $370,000 to purchase five vehicles and a motorboat, as well as more than $160,000 for Walt Disney-themed vacations and related activities. Globensky also spent nearly $600,000 on construction of a custom-built residence in Georgia and approximately $32,000 at luxury retailer Louis Vuitton.
“The funds Globensky obtained enabled him and his spouse to live a lifestyle far beyond their means,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hayes argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “The manner in which he spent the proceeds suggests greed was his primary motivation for committing the offense.”
DEL RIO, Texas – A federal jury in Del Rio convicted Nicacio Arellano-Garcia today for one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and one count of illegal alien transportation placing lives in jeopardy.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Arellano-Garcia, 34, of Mexico, conspired to transport five illegal aliens with codefendant Alexander Galvez-Zelaya, 30, of Honduras, and other facilitators. Arellano-Garcia served as the foot guide, while Galvez-Zelaya was the driver.
Arellano-Garcia walked the five illegal aliens through the brush for two days. One of the illegal aliens fainted just before getting picked up by Galvez-Zelaya and, at some point before or entering the vehicle, the alien died. A medical examiner later confirmed the deceased illegal alien died from a combination of dehydration and environmental exposure to walking in the brush.
On Feb. 11, 2024, the illegal aliens and the foot guide were picked up in the vehicle driven by Galvez-Zelaya. A high speed chase with law enforcement ensued when a Zavala County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop for defective license plate lighting. Galvez-Zelaya exceeded speeds of 100 miles per hour and crashed into a private property fence near La Pryor. Both Arellano-Garcia and Galvez-Zelaya were arrested and confirmed to be illegally present in the United States.
Galvez-Zelaya pleaded guilty Nov. 4, 2024 to one count of conspiracy to transport aliens placing lives in jeopardy and is scheduled to be sentenced May 28. Both defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison for each count.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Warsame Galaydh and Matt Kass are prosecuting the case.
This case is 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 Neighborhood (PSN).
Headline: Straight Talk and NASCAR Return for the Straight Talk Wireless 400 with Groundbreaking NASCAR Pit Crew Member Brehanna Daniels
MIAMI – Straight Talk Wireless, a leading prepaid brand covered by Verizon’s 5G network and sold at Walmart, is bringing the excitement back to the Homestead-Miami Speedway as the Straight Talk Wireless 400 NASCAR Cup Series race makes its highly anticipated return on Sunday, March 23. As the Entitlement Sponsor of the race and an Official Wireless partner of NASCAR, Straight Talk is delivering an unforgettable experience with exclusive access for fans both on and off the track.
As part of this year’s “Real Unlimited Fan Experience,” Straight Talk Wireless partnered with Brehanna Daniels, the first ever Black female NASCAR Tire Changer and Cup Series pit crew member, in a social media campaign to bring a lucky fan (and three friends) closer to the action. Through the #WintoWaveSweepstakes, Brehanna explained how fans could enter for a chance to win a VIP experience at the Straight Talk Wireless 400 —including:
Serving as the Honorary Starter and waving the Green Flag to kick off the race.
Circling the speedway at top speed and joining the drivers during the Drivers Meeting.
Walking Pit Lane and meeting their favorite drivers face-to-face.
Watching the race from the rooftop where the spotters work their magic, getting a peek inside the broadcast booth, and enjoying the race from premium seats.
After the checkered flag drops, the opportunity to be in Victory Lane and celebrate with the winner of the Straight Talk Wireless 400.
“It is an honor to partner with Straight Talk Wireless, a brand that shares my passion for breaking barriers and creating unforgettable experiences,” said Brehanna Daniels. “Throughout my career, I’ve cherished connecting with the NASCAR community and building relationships through the sport. This partnership allows us to create unique opportunities for fans to engage with NASCAR and make lasting memories together.”
“At Straight Talk Wireless, we believe in delivering real, unlimited experiences —just like our customers expect from their wireless service, said Nancy Clark, President of Verizon Value. As an official partner of NASCAR, we’re committed to making the sport more accessible to fans. Partnering with Brehanna Daniels makes this even more special –she’s a trailblazer, and together, we’re excited to offer our NASCAR-loving audience a unique chance to get closer to the action and create unforgettable memories.”
More Ways to Experience The Excitement
In addition to the #WinToWaveSweepstakes, fans can get in on the action early at the NASCAR® on Tour event presented by Straight Talk Wireless at Walmart. This high-energy tailgate will set the stage for the Straight Talk Wireless 400 with an unforgettable pre-race celebration at the Walmart store located at 13600 SW 288th St, in Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday, March 21, from 3-7 pm.
Fans can expect all the excitement of our in-store events —plus delicious food trucks, a live DJ, and special NASCAR driver appearances. Live music will cap off the night, taking the celebration to the next level, and making it the ultimate way to kick off race weekend.
The “NASCAR on Tour” series, held exclusively in Walmart parking lots, brings fans closer to the sport across key markets, including Pennsylvania, Miami, Nashville, Charlotte, Atlanta, South Carolina, Wilkesboro and Augusta. For more information, visit www.straighttalkracingtour.com
Tune in on Sunday, March 23rd on FOX Sports 1 at 3 pm ET to catch all of the exciting action of the Straight Talk Wireless 400. Don’t miss out on this incredible event—tickets are still available for purchase by phone at 1-866-409-7223 or online at www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com.
For more information on Straight Talk Wireless, visit www.straighttalk.com.
About Straight Talk Wireless
Straight Talk Wireless provides quality no-contract wireless solutions to value-conscious consumers and is available exclusively at Walmart, Walmart.com, and Straighttalk.com.
Straight Talk is part of the Verizon Value portfolio of prepaid brands, which includes Total Wireless, Visible, Tracfone, Simple Mobile, SafeLink, Walmart Family Mobile, and Verizon Prepaid.
Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis
Washington, D.C.— U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) introduced the Highway Funding Flexibility Act which frees up money stuck in accounts intended to fund Biden’s radical EV charger initiative and directs those funds to pay for projects critical for travel and commerce throughout Wyoming.
“For far too long, the people of Wyoming were forced to endure Biden’s radical EV mandates that dedicated their hard-earned tax dollars toward Green New Deal initiatives that do not effectively serve the state of Wyoming,” said Lummis. “My legislation frees up these funds to address Wyoming’s actual transportation needs without adding to the national debt, rather than forcing Biden-era EV mandates on the Cowboy State.”
Under the Biden administration, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided $5 billion for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program ($1 billion annually from FY22-FY26), and $2.5 billion from FY22-FY26 for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program, totaling $7.5 billion.
In February, President Trump paused this ill-conceived program, giving Congress the ability to redirect appropriated funds stuck in the accounts.
Despite the hefty price tag and the Biden administration’s desire to force its ill-fitting EV mandate on Wyoming, the funds remain virtually untouched in Wyoming and other states. The Highway Funding Flexibility Act ensures the state of Wyoming can use these existing funds to pay for Wyoming’s highway infrastructure needs, including roads, bridges, truck parking, and wildlife crossings. The bill’s scope for eligible activities includes engineering, design, construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, restoration, and rehabilitation.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 46-year-old Santa Rosa resident has been sentenced for possession with intent to distribute nearly six kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jossue Omar Gonzalez pleaded guilty Aug. 6, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Gonzalez to serve 168 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard evidence of Gonzalez’s long criminal history that included two prior federal convictions for the same offense. In handing down the sentence, Judge Ramos noted the seriousness and repetitive nature of his criminal conduct.
On Oct. 22, 2023, Jonathan Anthony Lopez, 38, of Rio Hondo, approached the Sarita checkpoint driving a red Mitsubishi Mirage when a K-9 alerted. Authorities referred the vehicle to secondary inspection where they discovered 5.99 kg of cocaine hidden behind the rear seat of the vehicle.
The investigation linked Gonzalez to the cocaine bundles. Authorities also found a video of Gonzalez purchasing the packaging material wrapped around the drugs the day prior to the offense in the same red Mitsubishi.
Lopez also pleaded guilty and was previously sentenced to 120 months in prison.
Gonzalez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.
The world had its eyes on Sydney in 2000. A million people lined the harbour to ring in the new millennium (though some said it was actually the final year of the old one) on January 1.
US television reporters called it “the biggest party in Australian history”. Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, whose corporation seemed to represent the coming age, was among those watching on.
Sydney offered not only a world-leading party, but also a litmus test for the much-feared Y2K bug, which threatened to knock planes out of the sky and bring the global economy to a halt. Australia and New Zealand were said to be the “tripwire for the world’s computer systems”.
It was fine in the end, although plenty of work had in fact been undertaken behind the scenes to make Australia’s systems more millennium-proof than they might have been.
This was arguably the defining feature of Australia in the year 2000: a confident display for the world concealing a lot of angst and uncertainty. Australia was the “oldest continent on Earth”, the US broadcasters told their viewers, but it was “much more of an Asian nation”, and much closer to the rest of the world “thanks to technology”.
Those confident claims would probably have surprised many Australians. Theirs was an old country trying to keep up with a new, interconnected world, and also a relatively young one trying to reconcile itself with the ancient cultures that its settler forebears had dispossessed.
A curated Australia
In September, the world’s sporting and political elite, followed by a train of journalists, arrived in Sydney for the 2000 Olympic Games. It had been years in the making, and every level of government was involved. There were no fewer than 47,000 volunteers.
There was something for everyone in the well-curated opening ceremony. The event opened with the crack of a stockman’s whip and a fleet of flag-waving bushmen on horseback. There were highly sanitised displays of European arrival, pastoral settlement and a tribute to an armour-clad colonial Victorian bushranger that must have baffled those viewers watching from abroad who had not seen a Sidney Nolan painting before.
Ancient stories and new cultural sensibilities were on display too. There were stylised performances of the Dreaming, striking First Nations dances and the distinctive sounds of the didgeridoo. A section entitled “Arrivals” recognised the importance of migration in the nation’s story.
A young Aboriginal sprinter, Cathy Freeman, lit the cauldron in what became one of the iconic images of the year. The cauldron’s hydraulics unfortunately got stuck as it ascended, and the flame was mere seconds from snuffing out in what could have been a global embarrassment. But big ambitions incur big risks.
This global performance of Australian-ness was arrestingly simple: that of a nation confident in its own diversity and capable of catering to everyone’s tastes.
Even the musical selections seemed to reconcile the needs of the youth (with performances from a young Vanessa Amorosi and even younger Nikki Webster), and the more mature (represented by John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John).
Australia’s athletes had their best ever showing with 58 medals, including Freeman’s own gold.
Not quite comfortable, not quite relaxed
The Olympics masked as much as they revealed.
In 2000, many white Australians still weren’t sure if theirs was, or should be, a multicultural society.
The reactionary Pauline Hanson was out of parliament for the time being, but her One Nation Party had won 7.5% of the vote in New South Wales in the March 1999 state election, and nearly 23% of the vote in Queensland the year before.
Eight weeks before millennium day, Australians had roundly rejected two referendum proposals, one to become a republic, and for a Constitutional preamble that, among other things, recognised Indigenous Australians as “the nation’s first people”.
But whether Hanson liked it or not, her lifetime had coincided with great demographic and social change.
In 1976, roughly 1.8% of the population said they were born in Asia or the Middle East. In the 2001 census, 1.6% of the population were born in China or Vietnam alone, and many more were the descendants of migrants from these places.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population had more than doubled over the same period, while those identifying as Christian decreased from nearly 79% in 1976 to 56% in 2001.
This increasingly diverse Australia claimed to be on a journey to “reconciliation”. That process had been sorely tested during the nasty debates about land rights and the Stolen Generations.
Corroboree 2000, held on May 27 in Sydney, saw the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and the nation’s political leaders present their visions for the next phase of national healing. The leaders symbolically left their handprints on a “reconciliation canvas”.
The following day, 250,000 Australians walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in a moving display of togetherness. John Howard, the prime minister, declined to participate.
But his treasurer, Peter Costello, made a point of showing up for a similar event in Melbourne that December, leading Victorian Liberals and another 200,000 or so Australians.
Their different approaches showed that the past was still a troubling present. Howard rebuffed suggestions of a treaty between Indigenous and settler Australians and maintained his refusal to apologise on behalf of the Commonwealth to the Stolen Generations, though all the states had done so by this time.
The idea of such an apology was not as popular then as it seemed later on. The prime minister was sensitive to the fact that his was “an unpopular view with a lot of people”, but an opinion poll in The Australian newspaper showed a majority of voters were opposed to a national apology.
Two survivors of the Stolen Generations, Peter Gunner and Lorna Cubillo, sued the Commonwealth for damages in 2000, giving their opponents the chance to challenge the legitimacy of their experiences. None of this looked like a nation that was as “comfortable and relaxed” as Howard had hoped it would be under his watch.
Border politics
Australian collective memory often gravitates toward 2001, the year of the Tampa affair and the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York.
But Australia’s border was already highly politicised in 2000.
In January, a boat arrived from Indonesia carrying 54 Christians fleeing religious conflict. They spent ten weeks at Port Hedland Immigration Detention facility, from which 39 went back to Indonesia and only 15 moved on to Adelaide to build new lives.
Port Hedland and other detention centres made the news for all the wrong reasons. There were riots, hunger strikes and multiple breakouts. Authorities responded with upgraded security perimeters, character checks, and strip searches without warrants.
Frustrated refugees set fire to South Australia’s Woomera facility, which former prime minister Malcolm Fraser publicly condemned as a “hell-hole”.
In an end-of-year reflection for The Age newspaper, Gary Tippet said there had been a “touch of mean-spiritedness” about the handling of it all. Chris Wallace rightly suggests 2000 was a crucial moment in the “march towards an absolute offshore, extraterritorial approach” to refugees in Australia.
In the intervening quarter-century, Australian officials have made mean-spiritedness an art form at the border and on the seas.
First-rate democracy, third-rate economy
Compared to the many legal challenges that came out of the US presidential contest in November 2000, Australia’s elections looked pretty smooth and sensible. The US seemed to have a backward democracy grafted onto its world-leading, information-age economy.
Australia looked the opposite: a first-rate democracy with what looked increasingly like a “branch-office economy”.
Reformers had tried for 20 years to make Australia efficient and competitive, but as one editorial in The Australian Financial Review explained, the country still suffered from its “old economy image”.
Certainly, Australia still sold its minerals and farm products to the world in exchange for quality cars and cutting-edge computers.
With global capitalists still enthralled by the global tech boom (though it was soon to become the “tech wreck”), they had little need for the Aussie dollar.
The currency’s value declined through the year to just 50 US cents, and it would fall further in the following months. On its own, this mattered little, but a quarter of negative growth at the end of the year meant, as Paul Kelly later wrote, an “election-year recession” seemed a “real threat”.
In the meantime, the much-debated Goods and Services Tax took effect around midnight on June 30 (a few hours later for businesses trading through the night).
The 10% consumption tax was a big deal. Costello said in his memoir the “prices of three billion products were to change all at the same time”.
The measure was politically brave, but soon became unpopular, helping raise petrol prices and alienate small business owners.
The punters were pretty confident the Howard government was heading for defeat in 2001. They were wrong.
Between the old and new
The pace of social change accelerated from 2000.
In the 2021 census, 2.6% of the population said they were born in India, and a further 3.2% in China and Vietnam. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians had more than doubled over two decades, such that they made up 3.2% of the total population in 2021.
People increasingly related to their economy differently, too. Half of the workforce had been unionised in the 1980s, but coverage fell to roughly a quarter in 2000 and just 12.5% in 2022.
These and other changes make our politics look different from that of 25 years ago. Nailbiter elections are now more common than thumping majorities and attitudes toward the once-feared “minority government” have softened.
For all that, many of the challenges of 2000 are still with us.
Many Australians are less tolerant of overt racism than they once were, but the 2023 Voice referendum and our offshore detention regime remind us that race still matters in this country.
Kevin Rudd apologised to the Stolen Generations in 2008, but Treaty and Truth-Telling are left unresolved.
And for all our talk about human capital and the digital economy, resources make up a much higher share of our total export mix today than in 2000.
A quarter-century on, Australia is still caught between the old and the new.
Dr Joshua Black is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The Australia Institute.
Pictou County District RCMP is asking for the public’s help in identifying a person of interest following a suspicious incident that occurred in Pictou.
Yesterday, at approximately 10 p.m., RCMP officers responded to a report of an attempted abduction in the area of Denoon St. Investigators learned that an 18-year-old woman was walking home when she was approached by a man who offered her a ride. When the woman declined, the man exited his pickup truck and attempted to grab her.
The victim was not physically injured and ran for help.
The man of interest is described as white and in his 60s. At the time of the incident, he had a long white beard and was wearing a camouflage hat with an antlers emblem on the front, a camouflage jacket, and khaki pants.
The vehicle of interest is described as a white Ford extended cab pickup with a black push bar. The truck was heavily rusted, had a very loud exhaust, and had a burned-out passenger headlight.
Anyone with information about this incident, or with security camera footage of the area, is asked to contact the Pictou County District RCMP at 902-485-4333. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.
A 31-year-old Stephenville man remains under investigation by Bay St. George RCMP for a number of crimes committed on March 17, 2025.
Shortly after 5:00 a.m. on Monday, a pickup truck was stolen from a business on Utah Drive and, around the same time, during a break and enter at a nearby business, generators and a number of propane tanks were stolen.
While investigating the above matters, at approximately 7:00 a.m., police received a report of a stolen all-terrain vehicle (ATV) in Fox Island River. A 2022 Can AM Outlander was stolen from a residential property. The property owner witnessed the theft and followed the suspect. Police attempted to stop the operator of the ATV, who fled the area on the stolen side by side.
Shortly before 11:00 a.m., Bay St. George RCMP recovered the stolen pickup truck in a snow bank near Crane Place in Stephenville. The abandoned vehicle was left running and was seized as part of the investigation.
Shortly after this, the stolen Can Am Outlander ATV was observed by its owner, traveling along the T’railway. Police attended the area and, with the assistance of the owner, the ATV was located and recovered in Heatherton. The suspect was arrested nearby without further incident.
Following these crimes, Bay St. George RCMP received a report of a second ATV that was stolen sometime overnight from a residential property in Point Au Mal, a 2019 black and blue 800 Can Am Commander XT.
Police are continuing to look for the stolen property, including generators, currently of an unknown make or model, propane tanks and the 2019 Can Am Commander. An image of the Can Am Commander side by side ATV is attached.
The investigation is continuing with charges anticipated.
Anyone having information about these crimes or the current location of the stolen property is asked to contact Bay St. George RCMP at 709-643-2118. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.
Most of the United States’ major climate regulations are underpinned by one important document: It’s called the endangerment finding, and it concludes that greenhouse gas emissions are a threat to human health and welfare.
The Trump administration is vowing to eliminate it.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin referred to the 2009 endangerment finding as the “holy grail of the climate religion” when he announced on March 12, 2025, that he would reconsider the finding and all U.S. climate regulations and actions that rely on it. That would include rules to control planet-warming emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane from power plants, vehicles and oil and gas operations.
But revoking the endangerment finding isn’t a simple task. And doing so could have unintended consequences for the very industries Trump is trying to help.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announces plans to reconsider more than 30 climate regulations.
As a law professor, I have tracked federal climate regulations and the lawsuits and court rulings that have followed them over the past 25 years. To understand the challenges, let’s look at the endangerment finding’s origins and Zeldin’s options.
Origin and limits of the endangerment finding
In 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Massachusetts v. EPA that six greenhouse gases are pollutants under the Clean Air Act and that the EPA has a duty under the same law to determine whether they pose a danger to public health or welfare.
The court also ruled that once the EPA made an endangerment finding, the agency would have a mandatory duty under the Clean Air Act to regulate all sources that contribute to the danger.
The Court emphasized that the endangerment finding was a scientific determination and rejected a laundry list of policy arguments made by the George W. Bush administration for why the government preferred to use nonregulatory approaches to reduce emissions. The court said the only question was whether sufficient scientific evidence exists to determine whether greenhouse gases are harmful.
The finding was challenged and upheld in 2012 by the U.S. District Circuit for the District of Columbia. In that case, Coalition for Responsible Regulation v. EPA, the court found that the “body of scientific evidence marshaled by the EPA in support of the endangerment finding is substantial.” The Supreme Court declined to review the decision. The endangerment finding was updated and confirmed by the EPA in 2015 and 2016.
Challenging the endangerment finding
The scientific basis for the endangerment finding is stronger today than it was in 2009.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s latest assessment report, involving hundreds of scientists and thousands of studies from around the world, concluded that the scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is “unequivocal” and that greenhouse gases from human activities are causing it.
According to the National Climate Assessment released in 2023, the effects of human-caused climate change are already “far-reaching and worsening across every region of the United States.”
Summer temperatures have climbed in much of the U.S. and the world as greenhouse gas emissions have risen. Fifth National Climate Assessment
During President Donald Trump’s first term, then-EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt considered repealing the endangerment finding but ultimately decided against it. In fact, he relied on it in proposing the Affordable Clean Energy Rule to replace President Barack Obama’s Clean Power Plan for regulating emissions for coal-fired power plants.
What happens if the EPA revokes the endangerment finding?
For the Trump administration to now revoke that finding, Zeldin must first recruit new members of the EPA’s Science Advisory Board to replace those dismissed by the Trump administration. Congress created the board in 1978 to provide independent, unbiased scientific advice to the EPA administrator, and it has consistently supported the 2009 endangerment finding.
Zeldin must then initiate rulemaking in compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act, provide the opportunity for public comment and respond to comments that are likely to be voluminous. This process could take several months if done properly.
If Zeldin then decides to revoke the endangerment finding, lawsuits will immediately challenge the move.
Even if Zeldin is able to revoke the finding, that does not automatically repeal all the rules that rely on it. Each of those rules must go through separate rulemaking processes that will also take months.
Zeldin could simply refuse to enforce the rules on the books while he reconsiders the endangerment finding.
However, a blanket policy abdicating any enforcement responsibility could be challenged in lawsuits as arbitrary and capricious. Further, the regulated industries would be taking a chance if they delayed complying with regulations only to find the endangerment finding and climate laws still in place.
His first argument is that the 2009 endangerment finding did not consider costs. However, that argument was rejected by the D.C. Circuit Court in Coalition for Responsible Regulation v. EPA. Cost becomes relevant once the EPA considers new regulations – after the endangerment finding.
Moreover, in a unanimous 2001 decision, the Supreme Court in Whitman v. American Trucking Associations held that the EPA cannot consider cost in setting air quality standards.
A repeal could backfire
Repealing the endangerment finding could also backfire on the fossil fuel industry.
States and cities have filed dozens of lawsuits against the major oil companies. The industry’s strongest argument has been that these cases are preempted by federal law. In AEP v. Connecticut in 2011, the Supreme Court ruled that the Clean Air Act “displaced” federal common law, barring state claims for remedies related to damages from climate change.
However, if the endangerment finding is repealed, then there is arguably no basis for federal preemption, and these state lawsuits would have legal grounds. Prominent industry lawyers have warned the EPA about this and urged it to focus instead on changing individual regulations. The industry is concerned enough that it may try to get Congress to grant it immunity from climate lawsuits.
To the extent that Zeldin is counting on the conservative Supreme Court to back him up, he may be disappointed.
In 2024, the court overturned the Chevron doctrine, which required courts to defer to agencies’ reasonable interpretations when laws were ambiguous. That means Zeldin’s reinterpretation of the statute is not entitled to deference. Nor can he count on the court overturning its Massachusetts v. EPA ruling to free him to disregard science for policy reasons.
Patrick Parenteau does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
British start-up wins £1 million AI prize for breakthrough slashing materials development from years to days
A British AI-driven innovation that dramatically speeds up the development of materials used in wind turbines and electric vehicle batteries has won the UK government’s £1 million Manchester Prize.
Manchester Prize winner announced.
Polaron awarded £1 million for revolutionary AI technology transforming materials innovation.
Breakthrough expected to fast-track new materials for energy, infrastructure, and electric vehicles.
Manchester Prize helping to unlock AI innovation to drive growth as part of government’s Plan for Change.
A British AI-driven innovation that dramatically speeds up the development of materials used in wind turbines and electric vehicle batteries has won the UK government’s £1 million Manchester Prize.
Advanced materials are essential to modern life, from metal alloys reinforcing bridges and skyscrapers to batteries powering electric vehicles. Yet, developing them has traditionally been slow, costly and unpredictable.
Polaron, a spin out from Imperial College London, speeds up the development of these materials from years to days – which could be game-changing for the government’s Plan for Change to get Britain building, deliver economic growth and accelerate net zero through British innovation.
It will receive £1 million in UK government funding to further develop its groundbreaking AI solution which uses microstructural images – the microscopic features of a material visible under a microscope – to rapidly analyse and predict how materials will perform. This new approach helps manufacturers create stronger, lighter and more efficient materials for clean energy, transport and infrastructure.
Secretary of State Peter Kyle said:
Polaron exemplifies the promise of AI and shows how, through our Plan for Change, we are putting AI innovation at the forefront.
AI could generate £400 billion to our economy over the next five years, supporting trailblazing companies like Polaron is essential to achieving that vision.
Technologies like these will help us meet our net zero targets while creating new jobs and opportunities for working people. Our commitment is clear – we are fully embracing AI to drive growth, improve public services and position the UK as a global leader in AI innovation. 1
The Manchester Prize rewards innovative AI solutions addressing major societal challenges, with the first round focused on energy, environment, and infrastructure. Nearly 300 teams from across the UK competed in its first year, with ten finalists each receiving £100,000 and support to further develop their innovations.
Polaron’s win comes on the back of the UK government’s new blueprint for AI, which will unleash the technology to help deliver a decade of national renewal. Harnessing innovative AI solutions like this is key to realising the government’s Plan for Change and demonstrates the transformative potential of AI, not only to drive breakthroughs in industry but also to transform public services and improve the lives of citizens across the country.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:
Our Plan for Change will deliver economic growth, and for that to succeed we need to support companies such as Polaron across the UK in delivering the cutting-edge materials of the future, supported by our Industrial Strategy.
This government is determined to embrace each and every opportunity of new technologies like AI, which will not only help British companies develop products we can use at home but also open up access for them to export them overseas.
The government has already taken steps to accelerate how game changing technologies and innovations can be put into the hands of the British public – announcing the new Regulatory Innovation Office which will reduce burdens for businesses hoping to bring new products and services to market. This will involve supporting regulators to update regulation, speeding up approvals, and ensuring regulators can work seamlessly together – bulldozing barriers to innovation to help grow the economy.
The Manchester Prize was launched in December 2023 by the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) and is delivered in partnership with Challenge Works. It supports UK AI innovations which will help to tackle some of society’s biggest shared challenges.
The second round of the Manchester Prize was launched in November 2024, focussed on ‘AI for Clean Energy Systems’. The 10 finalists selected to receive £100,000 will be confirmed in Spring, before a panel of judges selects the winner who will secure a £1 million grand prize to further support their innovation.
Austin, TX – Members of the U.S. Marshals-led Lone Star Fugitive Task Force March 13 arrested a man sought for murder that occurred Dec. 21, 2024, in Austin.
Juan Carlos Rodriguez-Gomez, 26, was a suspect wanted by the Austin Police Department for a homicide that occurred in the 2500 block of Huntwick Road, where a victim was reported to have been shot inside a vehicle in the parking lot.
Austin police arrived on scene and located the male victim, who had sustained life-threatening gunshot wounds, and was pronounced deceased, despite lifesaving attempts.
On Feb. 16, the Austin Police Department, Homicide Unit, obtained a warrant for Rodriguez-Gomez in the City of Austin Municipal Court and requested immediate assistance from the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in the Austin Division.
On March 13, after members of the task force developed information that indicated Rodriguez-Gomez was residing in the 15200 block of Sparks Road in Manor, the suspect fled on foot into a wooded area and was arrested by a swarm of task force officers, with vital assistance provided by the Austin Police Department, Air Support Division.
Rodriguez-Gomez was transferred to the Austin Police Department and booked into the Travis County Jail where he will await further judicial proceedings.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Rodriguez-Gomez, a Mexican national, is an undocumented immigrant from Mexico with no legal status in the United States.
Members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in Austin –
Austin Police Department-Tactical Intelligence Unit Round Rock, and San Marcos Police Department Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson County Sheriff’s Office Texas Attorney General’s Office Texas Department of Criminal Justice OIG Texas Department of Public Safety U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement U.S. DHS/Homeland Security Investigations
Supporting HTEC’s construction of a hydrogen liquefier facility in British Columbia
March 19, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario
Canada has a long and proud history of being a reliable global supplier of energy. As the world looks for dependable energy partners, the government is ensuring Canada continues to lead. That is why we are investing in projects that make our economy cleaner and stronger.
Today, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced a $49 million investment in HTEC through the Strategic Innovation Fund. It will support the company’s $472 million project to build and operate a facility that will capture and liquefy 15 tonnes per day of industrial by-product hydrogen in North Vancouver, turning waste into a valuable, clean fuel.
The facility will allow for cost-effective distribution of low-carbon hydrogen to HTEC’s refuelling station network in British Columbia and Alberta. It is a key component of HTEC’s H2 Gateway program, which includes up to 20 hydrogen refuelling stations, three hydrogen production facilities and a fleet of 100 hydrogen heavy-duty fuel cell electric trucks. The project will also bring significant benefits to British Columbia by maintaining up to 500 jobs and supporting co-op hiring and collaborations within the hydrogen ecosystem.
Once completed, the North Vancouver project will be the first full value chain ecosystem for heavy-duty fuel cell electric trucks in Canada. Over the next three decades, global demand for clean hydrogen is expected to increase tenfold. Matching supply and demand for hydrogen will facilitate the large-scale adoption of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles. This will not only decarbonize commercial trucking but also help position Canada as a leader in hydrogen technologies and sustainable practices.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A central Ohio man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to federal crimes related to three separate armed bank robberies.
Hussein A. Mohamed, 27, of Dublin, pleaded guilty to three counts of committing bank robbery, three counts of conspiring to commit bank robbery, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
Mohamed admitted to committing three armed bank robberies in Columbus within a week in April 2024.
According to court documents, on April 11, 2024, Mohamed robbed the Telhio Credit Union on North Hamilton Road. He wore a dark Patagonia sweatshirt, light ripped jeans, white covid mask and black winter hat. Mohamed showed the bank teller a note on his cell phone that demanded cash and indicated he had a gun.
On April 16, 2024, Mohamed committed two separate armed robberies.
First, at approximately 4pm, he robbed a Fifth Third Bank on Bethel Road. He wore a red sweatshirt, light jeans, blue covid mask and black New Balance shoes. Again, he showed the teller a note on his phone demanding money and indicating he had a gun.
About 45 minutes later, he committed another bank robbery, this time at Huntington Bank on North High Street. Mohamed had changed clothes between the robberies.
At this final robbery, Mohamed showed his phone to one bank teller, who provided him with cash. He then told another teller to empty her drawer. When that victim told Mohamed she did not have any money in her drawer, Mohamed pulled a black firearm from the waist area of his pants, racked the slide on the handgun, and forced the tellers into the vault room while making threats.
For reach of the three robberies, Mohamed conspired with another individual who was present in the vehicle used to travel to and from the robberies.
Law enforcement officials recovered the clothing that Mohamed wore at each robbery, a loaded handgun, Mohamed’s wallet and identification at an apartment on Merriwick Crossing Drive in Columbus.
He was arrested in May 2024.
Bank robbery is a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Conspiring to commit bank robbery carries a potential maximum penalty of five years in prison. Brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence is punishable by a mandatory seven years and up to life in prison, to run consecutively to any other sentence imposed. Congress sets minimum and maximum statutory sentences. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Damoun Delaviz and Elizabeth A. Geraghty are representing the United States in this case.
Herzliya Israel, March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Beamr Imaging Ltd. (NASDAQ: BMR), a leader in video optimization technology and solutions, today announced that Beamr Cloud video service is now available to members of NVIDIA’s startup and ISV programs at special rates, helping accelerate their AI development and deployment with high-quality, high-performance, GPU-accelerated video operations. The program members can learn more and request the benefit through the NVIDIA Inception and NVIDIA Connect member portals.
“Our high-impact engagement with NVIDIA expands with this new offering to over 22,000 startups and ISVs in the NVIDIA Inception and Connect programs,” said Beamr CEO, Sharon Carmel. “We look forward to delivering our high-quality, high-performance solutions to program members across industries leveraging video at scale – including media and entertainment, user-generated content, machine learning, autonomous vehicles, and more”.
The NVIDIA Inception program helps startups accelerate innovation and growth with developer resources and training, preferred pricing on NVIDIA products, and opportunities for VC exposure. NVIDIA Connect is a free program that helps ISVs shorten time-to-market through training on the latest accelerated computing technologies, expert guidance, and exclusive pricing on NVIDIA hardware and software.
Beamr Cloud, available on Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), delivers high-efficiency, scalable video processing, reducing video file size by 30%-50% while lowering CDN, networking and storage costs for VoD and live up to 4K resolution at 60 frames per second (4Kp60). As GPUs are the pixel domain of AI, Beamr enriches videos with AI-powered capabilities, such as visual enhancement and super resolution, in real time during the transcoding process. It supports all major video formats (AVC, HEVC, AV1) and simplifies video modernization to advanced codecs.
About Beamr
Beamr (Nasdaq: BMR) is a world leader in content-adaptive video optimization and modernization. The company serves top media companies like Netflix and Paramount. Beamr’s inventive perceptual optimization technology (CABR) is backed by 53 patents and won the Emmy® award for Technology and Engineering. The innovative technology reduces video file size by up to 50% while guaranteeing quality.
Beamr Cloud is a high-performance, GPU-based video optimization and modernization service designed for businesses and video professionals across diverse industries. It is conveniently available to Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) customers. Beamr Cloud enables video modernization to advanced formats such as AV1 and HEVC, and is ready for video AI workflows. For more details, please visit www.beamr.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this communication may include, among other things, statements about Beamr’s strategic and business plans, technology, relationships, objectives and expectations for its business, the impact of trends on and interest in its business, intellectual property or product and its future results, operations and financial performance and condition. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “aim,” “should,” “will” “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting the Company, reference is made to the Company’s reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including, but not limited to, the risks detailed in the Company’s annual report filed with the SEC on March 4, 2025 and in subsequent filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law. investorrelations@beamr.com
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on March 18, 2025, to a charge of bank robbery, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Mark Laughner, 38, pleaded guilty to Count One of the Indictment before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on May 16, 2024, Laughner entered a Reserve Township bank wearing a baseball cap and neck gaiter that covered his mouth and nose and instructed the teller to give him all of her large bills. After the teller handed over the $100 and $50 bills from her cash drawer, the defendant demanded the teller provide more cash quickly or he would shoot her in her face. Laughner left the bank with $1,370 in U.S. currency and was ultimately identified through the utilization of surveillance recordings as well as witness interviews.
Allegheny County Police Department (ACPD) detectives obtained a warrant for Laughner’s arrest, and, on May 20, 2024, attempted to apprehend the defendant when detectives observed Laughner in the passenger seat of a vehicle outside of a Pittsburgh fire station. As detectives converged on the vehicle with their emergency lights activated, the driver exited the vehicle and Laughner jumped from the passenger side of the vehicle into the driver’s seat, where he began fleeing detectives by driving in reverse at a high rate of speed. Ignoring multiple verbal commands to stop, Laughner came within inches of striking two ACPD detectives before stopping and exiting the vehicle in the middle of the street and fleeing on foot. Using a police K-9 unit, law enforcement apprehended Laughner after finding him hiding in thick brush.
Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for July 22, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Allegheny County Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Laughner.
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.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on March 18, 2025, to a federal firearm charge, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Tyland Witherspoon, 28, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV to one count of felony possession of a firearm and ammunition.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on June 19, 2024, Witherspoon—who was previously convicted of a felony—was found to be in possession of a firearm and ammunition while the sole occupant of a vehicle in the Northview Heights area of Pittsburgh. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Judge Stickman scheduled Witherspoon’s sentencing for July 28, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Witherspoon remains detained pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Witherspoon.
Home » Latest News » Solar panel scheme to help more residents save money and protect the planet
More households in the Canterbury district will have the chance to save money and protect the planet through renewable energy as part of the latest round of Solar Together Kent.
The group-buying scheme will reopen on Monday 31 March and offers residents cut-price high-quality solar panels and installation from trusted, qualified installers.
Retrofitting battery storage will also be available as part of the scheme for those who have already invested in solar panels and are looking to get more from the renewable energy they generate.
To date, Solar Together has installed over 38,900 solar panels in Kent, reducing carbon emissions by 87,100 tonnes over 25 years – equivalent to more than 47,370 cars off the road in that time!
Cllr Mel Dawkins, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “This new round of Solar Together comes just at the right time as energy prices are set to rise once again.
“Investing in renewable energy now will not only protect you from future energy price increases caused by volatile global markets but can also help put money back in people’s pockets through selling electricity back to the grid.
“On top of that, using solar panels to power your home will reduce your carbon dioxide or CO2 emissions and help you contribute to building a sustainable future.
“Uptake for the scheme in our patch has been brilliant so far, with 245 low-carbon systems being installed to date, and I hope to see that continue in this latest round.”
People can register their interest for free on the Solar Together website from 21 March until June this year. There is no obligation at this stage to take up the scheme and they can change their mind.
Soon after, pre-approved solar panel installers will bid for the work in a reverse auction – the best price wins.
Everyone who registered will be contacted with the best panels for their particular roof, including the cost and specification, by summer 2025.
If they choose to accept the recommendation, the details of their installation will be confirmed with a technical survey and a date will be set for install.
Telephone and email help desks will also be on hand throughout the process to help households make the right decision for them.
More than 8,000 households will receive a letter from the council about the Solar Together scheme between April and May.
