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The Justice Department has initiated legal action against the State of Virginia, its State Board of Elections, and the Virginia Commissioner of Elections. The lawsuit challenges a state program that aims to remove voters from election rolls too close to the upcoming November 5 general election, allegedly violating the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA).

The Department of Defense (DoD) has released the final rule for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Program, which is now available for public inspection on federalregister.gov. The rule is expected to be published in the Federal Register on October 15.

Now that Hurricane Milton has passed through Florida, causing significant destruction, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is actively assisting the affected residents. CBP's efforts include deploying aircraft, floodwater crews, and urban search and rescue teams.

On June 26, the Department of the Treasury and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) held a virtual roundtable to discuss efforts to enhance access to financial services while safeguarding the U.S. financial system from illicit activities. The event was led by Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson and CFPB Director Rohit Chopra, alongside other senior leaders from the Treasury.

UN member states have reached a consensus on recognizing the threat posed by the misuse of commercial spyware to democratic values and human rights. This decision was made during the 57th session of the Human Rights Council, marking a significant step in addressing concerns over surveillance technologies.

Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) President and CEO Eric Fanning has shared his views on the newly announced Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) rule. This rule, unveiled by the Department of Defense (DOD), marks a significant step in cybersecurity compliance for defense contractors.

The Interior and Security Ministers of the G7 have reaffirmed their commitment to tackling migrant smuggling and trafficking in persons. This initiative follows the launch of the G7 Coalition to Prevent and Counter the Smuggling of Migrants at the G7 Apulia summit. The ministers aim to intensify efforts against organized crime groups involved in these activities, while ensuring protection for migrants and victims, particularly women and girls.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has charged Greenview Associates L.P., Palmer Asset Management, LLC, and John Martin, property managers and landlord in Manchester, New Hampshire, with violating the Fair Housing Act. The charge alleges retaliation against a tenant who filed a Fair Housing complaint with HUD.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo held the final meeting of the current U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (TTAB) term, focusing on enhancing the nation's competitiveness in the travel and tourism sector. The industry plays a crucial role in the American economy, supporting 10 million jobs and generating $2.3 trillion in economic activity.

The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division recently held a meeting to discuss the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and civil rights. This marks the fourth gathering of its kind by the division, coinciding with the upcoming one-year anniversary of President Biden’s Executive Order on AI development and use.

Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Stanley Brown is set to visit Finland and Switzerland from October 14-18, 2024. During his trip, he will engage with senior civilian and military officials to address bilateral security cooperation and regional security matters.

Following the release of the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program final rule, the global tech trade association ITI has issued a statement. Leopold Wildenauer, Senior Manager of Public Sector Policy at ITI, commented on this development.

The United States has announced Tonga's endorsement and participation in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). This move aligns with efforts to further the counterproliferation objectives outlined in the PSI's Statement of Interdiction Principles. Tonga becomes the 115th nation to endorse the initiative and is one of nine governments to do so this year. The endorsement follows Tonga's involvement in PSI Exercise Pacific Protector, which was held in Sydney, Australia, from September 24-27, 2024.

The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) has submitted new recommendations to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) concerning its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program. This marks a continuation of ITI's ongoing involvement with the DoD's efforts to enhance cybersecurity measures within the defense sector.

The United States government is prioritizing the safety and security of Americans amid the volatile situation in Lebanon. Since September 28, 2024, over 5,000 airplane seats have been secured for U.S. citizens, their immediate family members, and lawful permanent residents wishing to leave Lebanon.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has extended the deadline for public comments on its Request for Information (RFI) regarding franchise agreements and franchisor business practices. Originally set for October 10, 2024, the new deadline is now October 24, 2024. This extension comes in response to disruptions caused by Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is distributing over $449,000 in refunds to consumers affected by a telemarketing scam orchestrated by American Vehicle Protection Corp. The company was involved in making deceptive calls nationwide, offering costly "extended automobile warranties" under false pretenses.

The Justice Department has announced a settlement with Citadel Federal Credit Union, which will see the credit union pay over $6.5 million to address allegations of redlining in predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods around Philadelphia. This marks the first time the department has reached such an agreement with a credit union, as part of its Combating Redlining Initiative.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo met with United Kingdom Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle in Rome, Italy. The meeting took place during the G7 Ministerial Meeting on Industry and Technological Innovation.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during the ASEAN-related meetings in Vientiane. This meeting took place as part of the tenth anniversary of the U.S.-Malaysia Comprehensive Partnership.

The Justice Department's Antitrust Division has announced its agreement with the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) decision to finalize changes to the premerger notification form and related instructions. These changes, which also affect the premerger notification rules under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act, represent the first significant update to the HSR form since 1978.

The Justice Department has initiated a civil lawsuit against Paul Bakhoum, the former Vice President for Operations at Ecosolargy Inc., a California-based corporation. The lawsuit accuses Bakhoum of making false statements to customs officials to evade paying duties on Chinese-manufactured solar panels imported into the United States.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached a settlement with Maui Varieties Ltd., operating as HouseMart, over allegations related to the illegal import and distribution of unregistered pesticides and misbranded pesticide devices. These products, marketed as disinfectants or antimicrobial health solutions, were sold through Daiso locations across Hawai‘i.

The U.S. Department of Labor has reached a settlement with El Mazatlan Inc., a Glasgow-based restaurant chain, requiring the company to pay $250,000 in penalties for violations of federal child labor laws. The investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division revealed that the restaurant employed a 13-year-old child and 37 teenagers aged 14 and 15 to work more hours than permitted by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

A team of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists at the Port of Brownsville successfully intercepted a pest previously unseen in the area. The interception took place on September 18 when two specialists conducted an inspection aboard a motor vessel arriving from Vietnam.