Emergency

Ethiopian Government Uses State of Emergency as a Tool for Silencing Dissent and Violating Human Rights, says Amnesty International

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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The Ethiopian government has come under fire for using the state of emergency as a means to suppress dissent and silence opposition voices. Amnesty International has accused authorities of arbitrarily detaining politicians critical of the government and journalists, while also highlighting the lack of transparency and violation of basic rights. The state of emergency was initially implemented in August 2023 amidst escalating violence in the Amhara region between government forces and the Fano militia. The emergency measures granted authorities broad powers, including the ability to arrest suspects without a court warrant, … Read more

Detained and Released: Immigration Crimes Bear No Jail Time Under Emergency Laws

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MELBOURNE, Australia – Two dozen individuals who were released from immigration detention have been charged with crimes, although none of them have been imprisoned under emergency laws. In December 2023, the government rushed through powers that allowed the responsible minister to apply for community safety or supervision orders. These orders granted the authorities the ability to lock up or closely monitor individuals who had been released from detention. However, as of January 31, no applications had been made to enforce these powers. The release of 149 people was triggered by a High Court ruling on … Read more

California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Deputy Director Accused of Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Resulting in Delays for Wildfire Victims

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Sacramento, California – A lawsuit filed at Sacramento County Superior Court accuses a deputy director for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) of sexual harassment and claims that retaliation resulted in a delay in state support for wildfire victims. The plaintiff in the case, identified as Kendra Bowyer, alleges that she experienced a year of inappropriate comments and advances from deputy director Ryan Buras, including non-consensual touching and trying to enter her bed while she was sleeping. The lawsuit also accuses Cal OES of failing to respond to previous reports of harassment … Read more

Toronto Senior Narrowly Escapes Serious Fraud Attempt With ‘Emergency Scam’

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London, Ontario – A senior in Ontario was targeted by what fraud experts refer to as the “emergency scam,” a scheme that preys on individuals by creating a fake crisis to exploit their emotions and convince them to transfer money without questioning the story. Tom Szczesniak, a 76-year-old resident of Toronto, was almost scammed when he received a phone call from someone claiming to be a lawyer named “Alan Miller.” The caller informed Szczesniak that his son had been in a car accident, but assured him that his son was okay. The scammer proceeded to … Read more