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Meta Plans to Expand AI Features in Europe

The Office of the Pardon Attorney today released a new version of its application for presidential pardons. This updated form is the result of a year-long collaboration with the Office for Access to Justice (ATJ) aimed at making the application more user-friendly and accessible. A pardon can assist those who have completed their federal sentences by providing relief from the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction.

The Justice Department announced a settlement agreement with Hawkins County Schools in Tennessee to resolve an investigation into allegations of race-based harassment targeting Black students. The investigation, conducted by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, found that incidents of harassment created a racially hostile environment. These incidents included a mock “slave auction” involving Black students, the repeated use of racial slurs by white students, and a “monkey of the month” campaign...

Washington, D.C. — Patrick Gaspard, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress (CAP), released a statement on the passing of Rasheed Malik, senior director of Early Childhood Policy at CAP.

Washington, D.C. — Last year, a think tank released Project 2025, a playbook proposing the elimination of federal transit funding. A new Center for American Progress (CAP) column explains how this proposal would impact local transit systems, affect tens of millions of Americans, and undermine economic growth.

Apple has announced significant software updates across its Home products, aiming to enhance entertainment and convenience for users. The updates include tvOS 18, which introduces new features like InSight and improvements to Enhance Dialogue and subtitles. These updates are available as developer betas today and will be released as free software updates this fall.

Apple has previewed watchOS 11, an update to its wearable operating system, designed to enhance health and fitness tracking through new features and personalization options. The update introduces the Vitals app, which consolidates key health metrics for better daily decision-making. It also includes a training load measurement feature to optimize workout intensity and duration.

Apple commenced its 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference today, unveiling new technologies and features during a keynote live-streamed from Apple Park to a global audience. Throughout the weeklong event, developers and students will have access to Apple experts and insights into new tools, frameworks, and features designed to enhance their apps and games.

Washington, D.C. – TechNet, the national bipartisan network of innovation economy CEOs and senior executives, has joined 21 other partners of the United for Privacy Coalition in a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The coalition urges Congress to include a single, uniform national privacy standard in the American Privacy Rights Act (APRA) to address the growing patchwork of state privacy laws.

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) recently highlighted its new mission statement with a series of events and initiatives focused on community-centered public safety strategies.

Following four days of elections across 27 EU countries, far-right parties have made notable gains, although the central political bloc of the EU remains intact. Johan Hassel, senior fellow and director of Global Progress at the Center for American Progress, responded with a statement:

The Justice Department and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the creation of a federal multi-agency task force to combat the illegal distribution and sale of e-cigarettes.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 10, 2024) – The Washington Times published an op-ed from NFIB President Brad Close this weekend, emphasizing the need for Congress to address two critical issues affecting small businesses ahead of NFIB’s 2024 Fly-In. Close highlighted the significance of the 20% Small Business Deduction and discussed the implications of new beneficial ownership reporting requirements.

Apple announced that its Vision Pro device will be available for pre-order in new countries and regions starting June 13, with availability beginning June 28. Customers in China mainland, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore can pre-order on June 13 at 6 p.m. PT. For Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, pre-orders start on June 28 at 5 a.m. PT with availability from July 12.

The United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) convened the third Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) in Seoul on June 10, 2024. Established to implement the Washington Declaration between the United States and Republic of Korea in April 2023, the NCG is a bilateral consultative body aimed at strengthening the U.S.-ROK Alliance and extended deterrence to contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.

Apple today introduced Apple Intelligence, a personal intelligence system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. This new system combines generative models with personal context to deliver relevant and useful intelligence. Integrated into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, Apple Intelligence utilizes Apple silicon to understand and create language and images, perform actions across apps, and simplify everyday tasks.

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a compliance agreement with the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC) to address claims of Clean Air Act violations at its bulk chlorine storage site in Saipan. Under this agreement, CUC is required to meet specific requirements within one year, including updating the facility’s Risk Management Plan (RMP) and addressing all areas of concern identified through prior EPA inspections.

Washington, D.C. — The upcoming G7 summit in Italy is seen as a crucial platform to reinforce democratic values and restore trust in international institutions through decisive action.

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) has released a report urging the next U.S. administration to adopt a comprehensive techno-economic policy agenda aimed at restoring the nation's global leadership in advanced industries, amid growing competition from China.

Apple today announced new updates across its platforms designed to empower users and maintain control over their data. The company introduced Private Cloud Compute, which extends iPhone’s security protections to the cloud, ensuring that user data is used only for specific requests and never stored or accessible by Apple.

Following an investigation by the Long Island district office of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, Brookhaven Irrigation Corp. and its operator Michael Coggins have been ordered to pay $120,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 29 current and former employees. The department alleged that the company willfully violated the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime pay and recordkeeping provisions from July 2019 to July 2022.

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA — Apple today previewed macOS Sequoia, the next version of its desktop operating system, introducing new productivity and intelligence features to Mac. Key additions include iPhone Mirroring, which expands Continuity by enabling full access to and control of iPhone directly from macOS. Safari receives an update with the new Highlights feature for easier information discovery on webpages. The new Passwords app simplifies password management.

A version of the Terrorist Finance Prevention Act (TFPA) has been attached to a must-pass intelligence authorization bill in the Senate. The TFPA requires the President to implement significant secondary sanctions against individuals in the crypto space involved with terrorist financing. These sanctions could apply to regulated financial institutions, such as custodial exchanges, and non-custodial entities referred to as "foreign digital asset transaction facilitators."

Apple has unveiled iPadOS 18, a significant update aimed at enhancing the versatility and intelligence of the iPad. The new operating system introduces several features designed for Apple Pencil, including a Calculator app with Math Notes and new handwriting tools in Notes. Users can now customize their Home Screen and Control Center more extensively, while the Photos app receives its most substantial redesign to date.

The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Digital Benefits Network (DBN) at Georgetown University’s Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation have announced a new collaboration. The initiative aims to develop digital identity guidelines to support public benefits programs, including those that assist beneficiaries in accessing and paying for food, housing, medical care, and other basic living expenses.