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Chengdu, Sichuan Province – May 3, 2024: On the evening of April 24, 2024, a small group from Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church faced a disturbing incident as they were studying the Bible at a Christian’s home in Wuhou District. The peaceful gathering was interrupted when police from Jinyang Police Station raided the Bible study, demanding the registration of identity information from all present.Approximately twenty individuals, including police officers, auxiliary police, community workers, neighborhood committee members, and property management personnel, surrounded...

CDT filed comments on a “Know Your Customer” rule proposed by the Department of Commerce (DOC) earlier this week. The rule aims to help the federal government track, prevent, and prosecute malicious use of internet infrastructure in the United States. While supporting this goal, CDT emphasized the importance of privacy protections in the rule, particularly concerning the compelled disclosure provisions and record-keeping requirements.The proposed rule targets providers of "infrastructure as a service" (IaaS), which offer essential computing resources to consumers....

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the importance of addressing the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) by stating, “There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured.”FBI Director Christopher Wray affirmed the FBI's commitment to addressing the violence affecting Tribal communities, stating, “We will continue to prioritize our support of victims and will steadfastly pursue investigations into the...

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced disaster assistance for Oklahoma survivors following severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding that began on April 25, 2024. President Biden issued a major disaster declaration for the counties of Hughes, Love, and Murray.HUD's efforts include providing a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and offering mortgage insurance through programs like Section 203(h) for disaster victims. Homeowners affected by the disaster are...

The National Park Service has announced a solicitation for electronic comments on the significance of properties nominated before April 27, 2024, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places. Comments should be submitted electronically by May 20, 2024.

House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) has led a letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Director Martha Williams and National Park Service (NPS) Director Charles Sams, seeking additional information regarding the translocation of grizzly bears in the state of Washington. The letter expressed concerns about the impact of reintroducing grizzly bears to the North Cascades ecosystem despite opposition from local communities and stakeholders.The Committee raised issues with the Grizzly Bear Rule and related Final Environmental Impact...

"Communications Daily: Telecom Groups: FTC Should Focus AI Rules on Scammers, Not Industry"

Tech Policy Press: The FCC’s Big Fines Over Location Data Aren’t a Privacy Success Story

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, Japanese Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru, the Philippines Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III, convened in Hawaii on May 2 for a significant meeting aiming to promote a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.During the meeting, the Ministers and Secretaries expressed serious concerns about the situation in the East and South China Seas. They strongly objected to the use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels in the...

The Justice Department has taken legal action against Dieuseul Jean-Louis, also known as DJL Multiservices, by filing a civil injunction suit to prevent him from preparing federal tax returns for others. The complaint, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, accuses Jean-Louis of engaging in fraudulent activities related to tax preparation from 2019 to 2023.According to the complaint, Jean-Louis intentionally misrepresented customers' tax liabilities and exaggerated their refunds through various deceptive methods. This included falsifying...

The United States reveals the identity of and imposes sanctions on Dmitry Khoroshev, a senior leader of the LockBit ransomware group

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, Japanese Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III recently gathered for the United States-Japan-Australia Trilateral Defense Ministers' Meeting in Hawaii. The meeting marked the thirteenth of its kind and focused on the progress and cooperation outlined in the 2023 Joint Statement.The Ministers emphasized their commitment to promoting security, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, as stated by Marles, "The Ministers are united by...

The Biden-Harris Administration has announced a final rule aimed at updating the government-wide Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (Uniform Act), providing enhanced protections and assistance for individuals impacted by federally-funded projects. This significant update, the first in nearly two decades, focuses on ensuring fair compensation and moving assistance for those affected by such projects.U.S. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg emphasized the importance of the final rule, stating, “Congress passed the Uniform Act...

Chairman Mark Green (R-TN) of the House Homeland Security Committee has criticized Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas' Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan (CHNV) parole program. The program permits individuals deemed "inadmissible aliens" to enter the U.S., a practice that Green deems unlawful. He argues that it is "used to hide the worsening border crisis," citing new documents which reveal that since January 2023, the Biden Administration has facilitated the entry of 404,000 illegal immigrants into U.S. airports. Green issued this statement in a press release from the...

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will be hosting an online compliance webinar on May 14, 2024, at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the final rule banning noncompetes. According to the FTC, the rule prohibits the use of noncompetes for the majority of workers nationwide, with exceptions for existing noncompetes involving senior executives.The FTC's final rule states, "Employers are banned from entering into or attempting to enforce any new noncompetes, even if they involve senior executives." However, existing noncompetes for senior executives can still be enforced. Employers must...

Washington, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Technology Advisory Committee (TAC), sponsored by Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero, recently released a Report on Responsible AI in Financial Markets. The TAC, comprised of esteemed experts in AI, made five recommendations to the Commission on how to approach the evolving landscape of AI in financial markets.Commissioner Goldsmith Romero praised the Committee's approach and emphasized the importance of responsible AI practices in safeguarding financial markets. She highlighted the significance of...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today, May 2nd, that President Biden's "Investing in America" initiative will inject $3 billion to help each state and region identify and replace lead water pipes to prevent exposure to lead-contaminated drinking water. This funding is part of the bipartisan infrastructure law and will be provided through the EPA's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF)."EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan stated, 'Science clearly shows that there is no safe level of lead exposure, and the primary source of lead in drinking...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a significant allocation of $3 billion from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to assist every state and territory in identifying and replacing lead service lines, ultimately safeguarding public health and ensuring access to safe drinking water. The funding, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is channeled through the EPA’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program.EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan emphasized the urgency of addressing lead exposure, stating, “The science is clear, there is no safe...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced funding of $28,650,000 from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to assist South Dakota in identifying and replacing lead service lines, thus preventing exposure to lead in drinking water. This move is part of President Biden's commitment to replacing every lead pipe in the nation."EPA is dedicated to protecting the health of all South Dakotans by ensuring the water flowing into their taps is safe and reliable," said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. "Everyone deserves access to clean drinking...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced over $49 million in funding from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to assist Virginia in identifying and replacing lead service lines, ensuring safe drinking water and protecting public health. Lead exposure, particularly from lead pipes, can have severe health consequences, especially for children's brain development."EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan emphasized the importance of removing lead pipes promptly, stating, 'There is no safe level of lead exposure, and the primary source of harmful...

The Department of Labor has announced the award of $98 million in grants to 72 organizations in 30 states and Guam to provide training and employment services to young people, with a focus on increasing apprenticeships in high-demand careers. The grants aim to prepare young workers for quality jobs and strengthen the nation's workforce to meet industry demands.According to Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training José Javier Rodríguez, the YouthBuild grants will help young people acquire the skills and training needed to access the job opportunities created by...

EPA announces latest round of funding toward President Biden's commitment to replace every lead pipe in the nation, protecting public health and helping to deliver safe drinking waterBOSTON (May 2, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $28,650,000 from President Biden's Investing in America agenda to help Vermont identify and replace lead service lines, preventing exposure to lead in drinking water. Lead can cause a range of serious health impacts, including irreversible harm to brain development in children. To protect children and families,...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $28.7 million towards Arizona's efforts to identify and replace lead service lines, a crucial step in ensuring safe drinking water for residents. This funding, part of President Biden's commitment to replace every lead pipe in the nation, aims to protect public health and advance environmental justice.Martha Guzman, EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "Every single person living in Arizona deserves access to clean, safe drinking water and a...

Washington, D.C. — In a recent announcement, Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero revealed plans for an upcoming event titled "AI Day" to be hosted at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Technology Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting on May 2, 2024. The event will be held at the CFTC’s Washington, D.C. headquarters and is open to the public, either in person or through a live webcast on CFTC.gov."AI Day will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (EDT)," stated Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero, emphasizing the timing of the event.The main focus of AI Day will...

(Zhenxiong, Yunnan Province – May 2, 2024) Preacher Chang Hao's family, in a plea for justice, has sent an open letter to various courts outlining legal challenges faced by Chang Hao. Chang Hao, known for his Christian faith and advocacy for social justice, has been at the center of a legal battle characterized by allegations of misconduct and procedural irregularities.The family's open letter highlighted concerns about the treatment of Chang Hao throughout the legal process. It stated, "We are 'nobody' from the rural mountainous area, seeking help and appeal from...