Photo Courtesy The Standard

The United States Justice Department has initiated charges against 47 individuals linked to a Sh30 billion fraud, with federal prosecutors terming it the largest case of Covid-19 pandemic fraud in the U.S.

The 47 are accused of obtaining, misappropriating, and laundering millions of dollars in program funds that were intended as reimbursements for the cost of serving meals to children.

According to the US Justice Department, the defendants exploited changes in the program intended to ensure underserved children received adequate nutrition during the COVID-19 pandemic, but instead of feeding the children, the accused enriched themselves by fraudulently misappropriating millions of dollars in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. 

The heinous fraud involved anti-hunger programs in Minnesota State, America, during the coronavirus pandemic between 2020 and 2021 where the suspects were billing the state for meals that were never served- through the Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.

Proceeds of the fraud were used to acquire luxury vehicles, jewelry, beach plots and purchase of real estate property in Kenya, Turkey and the United States, and to fund international travels.

“This was a brazen scheme of staggering proportions. These defendants exploited a program designed to provide nutritious food to needy children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, they prioritized their own greed, stealing more than a quarter of a billion dollars in federal funds to purchase luxury cars, houses, jewelry, and coastal resort property abroad.” said U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.

“Today’s indictments describe an egregious plot to steal public funds meant to care for children in need in what amounts to the largest pandemic relief fraud scheme yet,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray.

According to a statement by the US Justice Department, the 47 defendants were charged across six separate indictments and three criminal informations with charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and bribery. 

“To carry out the scheme, the defendants also created and submitted false documentation. They submitted fraudulent meal count sheets purporting to document the number of children and meals served at each site. The defendants submitted false invoices purporting to document the purchase of food to be served to children at the sites,” the statement read in part.

The youngest among the 47 inductees is Hamdi Hussein Omar, 26, of St. Paul, Minnesota, who was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Omar ran the Stigma-Free Waite Park site. This site claimed to have served more than 500,000 meals and received more than $1 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.

The investigations were successfully concluded through various multi-agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and the U.S Postal Inspection Service.

“Exploiting a government program intended to feed children at the time of a national crisis is the epitome of greed. As alleged, the defendants charged in this case chose to enrich themselves at the expense of children. Instead of feeding the future, they chose to steal from the future.” said Special Agent Justin Campbell.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph H. Thompson, Harry M. Jacobs, Chelsea A. Walcker, Matthew S. Ebert, and Joseph S. Teirab for the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the case while assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets. 

The Federal Child Nutrition Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is a federally-funded program designed to provide free meals to children in need. The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service administers the program throughout the nation by distributing federal funds to state governments. By Mate Tongola, The Standard

King Charles III ascended throne United Kingdom death mother Queen Elizabeth II coronation crown Prince Wales Royal family Monarchy Buckingham palace heir apparent line succession - Photo Courtesy/WPA Pool© WPA Pool

 

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, her eldest son ascended the throne to become King Charles III. The late Queen reigned for 70 years, having celebrated her Platinum Jubilee in June 2022, meaning she was the only monarch many people in Britain have ever known.

Britain is currently mourning the late Queen and while he has already ascended the throne, the coronation of the new King will not happen for some time.

But exactly when will the coronation take place and what will it mean for both the monarchy and the rest of the country?

When did Charles become King?

Upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday 8 September, Charles officially became King.

However, it is tradition to wait until a sufficient time period of mourning has taken place, before crowning the new sovereign. 

A large amount of preparation is also required to organise the ceremony.

The accession ceremony of King Charles III at St James's Palace - Jamie Lorriman/Daily Telegraph© Provided by The Telegraph

When is the coronation of King Charles III?

An official coronation date is yet to be announced, however the Telegraph reported that it is likely to be in spring or summer 2023, after a period of mourning for the late Queen.

The late Queen's coronation took place on 2 June 1953 following her accession on 6 February 1952, over a year after she ascended the throne.

What will be the process of the official coronation?

It is expected that the coronation of King Charles III will be designed in line with his vision for a smaller, more modern monarchy.

The King will be crowned alongside his Queen Consort, Camilla.

Sources have said that the ceremony will be shorter, smaller and less expensive than that of Queen Elizabeth II. It is also said it will be planned to be representative of different faiths and community groups - falling in line with the King's wish to reflect the ethnic diversity of modern Britain.

The coronation will include the oath required by statute and many of the ceremonies which were seen in the late Queen's service, such as anointing with consecrated oil, the delivery of the orb and the enthroning itself.

The coronation will include the oath required by statute and many of the ceremonies which were seen in the late Queen's service, such as anointing with consecrated oil, the delivery of the orb and the enthroning itself. - AP© Provided by The Telegraph

Just as Queen Elizabeth II, the King will be crowned with the St Edward's Crown, which is made of solid gold and features over 400 gemstones, including rubies, garnets and sapphires. 

Related video: King Charles says he's been "moved beyond measure" by the numbers of people who've come to pay their respects to his mother 

Over 8,000 guests from 129 nations travelled to Westminster Abbey for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 but, in contrast, guests at the King's coronation will be limited to 2,000 to accommodate health and safety restrictions.

The Archbishop of Canterbury will conduct the ceremony in Westminster Abbey, confirming Charles's acceptance of becoming King via the coronation oath.

The King will be asked if he will govern the United Kingdom and other nations of the Commonwealth with law and justice and if he will maintain Christianity in the nation.

He will be seated in the Coronation Chair, known as Edward's Chair, holding the sovereign's sceptre and rod, to represent his control of the nation, and the sovereign's orb, to represent the Christian world.

After being anointed, blessed and consecrated by the Archbishop, Charles will have the crown of St Edward placed on his head, officially crowning him as King Charles III. By Amira Arasteh, Telegraph

China International Book Trading Corporation Reading China Series 1 

China International Book Trading Corporation, released the first part of Reading China, a series of high-end interviews. This series of interviews focuses on "A Community of Shared Future for Mankind", "High-quality Development" and other key issues of concern to the international community, interviewing experts in international relations, politics and economics to explain their understanding of China's paths and development practices.

Three honorable guests, namely, Zoon Ahmed Khan, Research Fellow of Belt and Road Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, Harvey Dzodin, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization and Donatien Niyonzima, former Official Gazette Editor in the Office of the Prime Minister of Rwanda were invited to discuss together upon the topic of "A Community of Shared Future for Mankind". 

In the face of a complex international situation and the threat of cold war mindset and power politics, Chinese President Xi Jinping has delivered a keynote speech entitled "Work Together to Build a Community of Shared Future for Mankind" in January 2017 in the headquarter of the UN's office in Geneva. President Xi said "We should work together to build a world of common prosperity through win-win cooperation."

Zoon Ahmed Khan believed that developed countries need to understand that the prosperity of China and other developing countries is inevitable, and it is not hegemony that these countries seek.

In the context of a slow recovery in the world economy, complex changes in the international investment and trade landscape as well as multilateral investment and trade, President Xi Jinping has proposed the "Belt and Road Initiative" in 2013 as a major initiative to promote the interconnectivity between countries and economic integration across continents.

Harvey Dzodin expressed that it has been proven wrong that the "Belt and Road Initiative" will lead to a debt trap or that China is forcing developing countries to accept agreements; and he thinks that China does not want to dominate other countries in such a way, but rather to help participating countries prosper through a win-win cooperation.

Donatien Niyonzima said that the "Belt and Road Initiative" has opened up more possibilities for cooperation between China and his home country Rwanda in the areas of infrastructure development, education and even e-commerce.