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Former CIA Officer Arrested for Alleged Unauthorized Disclosure of National Defense Information and Obstruction of Justice

A former CIA officer was arrested today on charges that he illegally disclosed national defense information and obstructed justice.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Former NSA Senior Executive Pleads Guilty to Unauthorized Access of Government Computer

Former National Security Agency (NSA) senior executive Thomas A. Drake pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Baltimore to a one-count criminal information charging him with unauthorized access of an NSA computer.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Dover Chemical Corporation in Ohio to Pay $1.4 Million for Unauthorized Production of Chemical Substances

Dover Chemical Corporation has agreed to pay $1.4 million in civil penalties for the unauthorized manufacture of chemical substances at facilities in Dover, Ohio, and Hammond, Ind.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Statement of the Attorney General on the Passage of the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act

The Attorney General made the following statement today on the Senate’s approval of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).



  • OPA Press Releases

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Justice Department Settles Religious Discrimination Lawsuit Against New York City Transit Authority

The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement with the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) to resolve allegations that the NYCTA is engaged in a pattern or practice of religious discrimination.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Statement of Attorney General Eric Holder on the Assignment of U.S. Attorneys to Lead Investigations of Possible Unauthorized Disclosures of Classified Information

Attorney General Eric Holder issued the following statement today on the assignment of U.S. Attorneys to lead investigations of possible unauthorized disclosures of classified information.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Rose Acre Farms in Indiana Alleging Discrimination Against Work-Authorized Non-Citizens

The Justice Department announced today the filing of a lawsuit against Rose Acre Farms Inc., a major U.S. egg producer based in Seymour, Ind., alleging that Rose Acre engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination against work-authorized non-citizens in the employment eligibility verification process.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Justice Department Settles with Sacramento, Calif., Public Library Authority Over Inaccessible “E-Reader” Devices

The Justice Department announced today that it and the National Federation of the Blind have reached a settlement with the Sacramento Public Library Authority in Sacramento, Calif., to remedy alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The agreement resolves allegations that the library violated the ADA by using inaccessible Barnes & Noble NOOK electronic reader devices in a patron lending program.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission Sign Memorandum of Understanding with Indian Competition Authorities

The U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) signed an antitrust memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Government of India Ministry of Corporate Affairs and the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to promote increased cooperation and communication among competition agencies in both countries.



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Court Security Contractor to Pay $1.8 Million to Resolve Allegations That Guards Did Not Undergo Authorized Firearm Qualification Testing

New Mexico-based Akal Security, Inc., one of the largest providers of security services at federal courthouses, agreed to pay $1,875,000 to resolve allegations that it failed to appropriately conduct firearms testing in the Northern District of California.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Florida’s Technological Research and Development Authority Pays $15 Million to Resolve False Claims Allegations

The Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA) has agreed to pay $15 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act in connection with grants from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the Department of Commerce, the Justice Department announced today. TRDA, which was created by the Florida legislature as a special district, owns and operates a system of incubator facilities to nurture small businesses by providing low-rent office space and business development assistance.



  • OPA Press Releases

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U.S., Pennsylvania and Scranton, Pa., Sewer Authority Settle Violations of Sewage Overflows

The United States and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania announced today a settlement with the Scranton Sewer Authority (SSA) resolving alleged Clean Water Act violations involving sewer overflows to the Lackawanna River and its tributaries/



  • OPA Press Releases

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Statement by Attorney General Eric Holder on the House Passage of the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act

Attorney General Eric Holder issued the following statement today on the House passage of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Court Authorizes Service of John Doe Summons Seeking the Identities of U.S. Taxpayers with Offshore Accounts at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce’s FirstCaribbean International Bank

The Justice Department announced that late yesterday a federal court in San Francisco entered an order authorizing the Internal Revenue Service to serve a John Doe summons seeking information about U.S. taxpayers who may hold offshore accounts at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce FirstCaribbean International Bank.



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Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against the Reading, Pa. Parking Authority for National Origin Discrimination and Retaliation

The Justice Department announced today the filing of a lawsuit against the Reading Parking Authority in the city of Reading, Pa., alleging that the Reading Parking Authority discriminated against former employee Henry Perez, as well as other current and former employees, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by subjecting them to harassment based upon their national origin.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Courts Authorize Service of John Doe Summonses Seeking Identities of Persons Using Payment Cards in Norway

The Justice Department announced that federal courts in Minnesota, Texas, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Virginia and California have entered orders over the past week authorizing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to serve John Doe summonses on certain U.S. banks and financial institutions, seeking information about persons who have used specific credit or debit cards in Norway.



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Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Ruston, La. Public Housing Authority Alleging Race Discrimination in Housing Practices

The Justice Department today announced that it has filed a lawsuit alleging that the Housing Authority for the City of Ruston, La., has engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination against African-American tenants, in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act.



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Court Authorizes IRS to Issue Summonses for Records Relating to U.S. Taxpayers with Offshore Bank Accounts

Five Banks Directed to Produce Records for Accounts at Zurcher Kantonalbank, The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited and Affiliates



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Justice Department Settles Discrimination Lawsuit Against Reading Parking Authority in Pennsylvania

The Department of Justice announced today that it has entered a consent decree with the Reading Parking Authority (RPA) in the City of Reading, Pa., which, if approved by the court, will resolve a lawsuit filed by the United States on June 27, 2013.



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Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Signs Agreement That Will Bring It into Compliance with the Clean Air Act

Under an agreement announced today by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice, the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (VIWAPA) will come into compliance with air pollution control requirements in the federal Clean Air Act at its Estate Richmond Generating Facility located on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.



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Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Louisiana Crane Company Alleging Discrimination Against Work-authorized Immigrants

The Justice Department announced today the filing of a lawsuit with the Executive Office for Immigration Review against Louisiana Crane Company LLC (Louisiana Crane), which is headquartered in Eunice, Louisiana.



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Hawaii Man Sentenced to 87 Months Imprisonment for Communicating Classified National Defense Information to Unauthorized Person

Benjamin Pierce Bishop, 60, a former Honolulu, Hawaii, civilian defense contractor and retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to serve 87 months imprisonment and three years’ supervised release for willfully communicating classified national defense information to a person not authorized to receive it and unlawfully retaining classified national defense information at his home.



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RE: UDI Requirements under an Emergency Use Authorization

From : Communities>>Regulatory Open Forum
I disagree with Richard. I just had a conversation with the COVID-19 hotline (11:45 am, May 7) and asked about this issue after having read an update from the FDA that said UDIs for EUA devices are waived and GMPs are under limited enforcement. The person I spoke with said the update is correct and that UDIs are waived for EUA devices.  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.  Bob Bard ------------------------------ Robert Bard JD, RAC [Managing Director] South Lyon MI United States - [More]




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RE: UDI Requirements under an Emergency Use Authorization

From : Communities>>Regulatory Open Forum
Bob, I stand corrected; if you confirmed with FDA that is good.  From what I was reading and seeing (I must have missed that update) there was nothing addressing UDI or no UDI.for EUA products.  (Personally I am a bit surprised at this since the whole concept of UDI is traceability and they waive this for emergency use products - when there is an issue this is where UDI becomes so important.  Shrugs.) ------------------------------ Richard Vincins RAC Vice President Global Regulatory Affairs --- [More]




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RE: UDI Requirements under an Emergency Use Authorization

From : Communities>>Regulatory Open Forum
Hello Richard, Yesterday, I received a follow up from the Hotline (CDRH-EUA-Templates ) to my query. I was reminded that the waiver to good manufacturing practice and labeling requirements were included in the individual authorization letter. The person responding to my question concerning the UDI requirement provided the following: UDI is not specifically noted; however we are not enforcing UDI during the emergency. The specific authorization letter I was reviewing was for [More]




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Delegation of Authority Log: Tips for Monitors

We may call them “site inspections”, but it’s not the site that’s being inspected when a regulator visits; it’s the Principal Investigator. Though a PI typically delegates study tasks to other staff members, he or she remains solely responsible for the conduct of the study. In fact, the ICH E6(R2) addendum adds two new sections to the international guidance that emphasize PI supervision.

That’s what makes the Delegation of Authority (DoA) log so important and why regulatory inspectors care about it so much. A DoA log serves as evidence that a PI has assigned study tasks only to those staff members with the education, training, and experience to carry them out. If delegates are unqualified to perform their tasks, subject safety could be at risk and it’s highly likely that the study data would be unusable.



Monitors – you can really make a big contribution here. At the outset of the study, you can verify that your PI has made appropriate delegations and the DoA log is complete. You can cross-match the log with training records, CVs, licenses, and source documents and correct any problems as early in the study as possible. Then, throughout the study, you can verify that the DoA log is being maintained.

Coverage
Without referencing any other site document, monitors can spot two types of DoA log omissions.

(1) Missing Assignments. Are there study tasks to which no one has been delegated? The tasks in a DoA log are often represented by a short code to conserve space. A legend at the end of the log translates the code into its corresponding task. Monitors can compare the legend to the DoA log entries to see if any tasks are omitted.


(2) Gap in Assignments. Due to staff turnover, reassignment, leaves of absence, etc., delegation for a task frequently does not last the duration of the entire study. A column in the DoA log indicates the delegation start and stop date.  Monitors can check to make sure that when the delegation for a task ends for one staff member, it is picked up by another.

Qualifications
Once you’re satisfied the DoA log completely covers all tasks for the duration of the study, you can check to make sure delegates have the necessary qualifications. You’ll want to compare the log with training records, CVs, and medical licenses from the regulatory binder.
  • Has the staffer charged with recording vital signs during a subject visit been formally trained to take blood pressure? Is it documented?
  • Did an incoming pharmacist receive protocol training prior to the start date of his study assignments?
  • Does state law allow a registered nurse to dispense investigational product, or is a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant required? Does the protocol require only an M.D. conduct certain procedures? Does the DoA log show the requirement is being followed?

Study Procedures
Even after the focus of the monitoring visit moves past the DoA log itself, you should revisit the log during source document review.
  • Have any study tasks been conducted by staff members who have not received official delegation to do so?
  • Perhaps the protocol requires a blinded IP dispenser. If so, has the delegated dispenser conducted any other study procedure?


PI Oversight
The PI is responsible for ensuring subject safety, compliance with the regs and the protocol, and control of the investigational product. That obligation cannot be delegated away. PI oversight is critical to a successful study, and the DoA log is where PI oversight starts.

Procedures that are performed by unqualified or ineligible personnel put both study participants and study data at risk. These are the very things regulatory inspectors work to guard against. Good monitors know it and make verifying the DoA log a priority.

__________________
A version of this article originally appeared in InSite, the Journal of the Society for Clinical Research Sites.




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The pandemic shows WHO lacks authority to force governments to divulge information, experts say

The WHO has come under criticism for its deferential tone toward China, but the organization denies it withheld information about COVID-19.




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Author Correction: Particle physics at accelerators in the United States and Asia




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Author Correction: Quantum metasurfaces with atom arrays




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Author Correction: Enhanced energy coupling for indirect-drive fast-ignition fusion targets




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Author Correction: From melanocytes to melanomas




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Author Correction: A structural model for microtubule minus-end recognition and protection by CAMSAP proteins




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Author Correction: Metabolic activity analyses demonstrate that Lokiarchaeon exhibits homoacetogenesis in sulfidic marine sediments




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Author Correction: Morphing electronics enable neuromodulation in growing tissue




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Author Correction: A complete domain-to-species taxonomy for Bacteria and Archaea




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Author Correction: Genetic circuit design automation for the gut resident species <i>Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron</i>




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Author Correction: Guidance for quantitative confocal microscopy




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Author Correction: Quantum wave–particle superposition in a delayed-choice experiment




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Author Correction: Management of IBD during the COVID-19 outbreak: resetting clinical priorities




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Author Correction: Insights into parathyroid hormone secretion




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Author Correction: Vitamin lipid nanoparticles enable adoptive macrophage transfer for the treatment of multidrug-resistant bacterial sepsis




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Recovery after traumatic thoracic- and lumbar spinal cord injury: the neurological level of injury matters




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Author Correction: “Dysfunctions” induced by Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery are concomitant with metabolic improvement independent of weight loss




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Why Authoritarianism is Bad for Science, But Bigotry is Even Worse

There have been many protests against the Citizenship Amendment Bill (now Act), and there will be many more. This piece of legislation strikes at the heart of the Constitution, seeking to make India another country altogether. It is thus that so many people from so many different walks of life have raised their voices against [...]




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Author Correction: Comprehensive molecular characterization of mitochondrial genomes in human cancers




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Author Correction: <i>Cdkn1a</i> deletion improves stem cell function and lifespan of mice with dysfunctional telomeres without accelerating cancer formation




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Author Correction: Proteomic and interactomic insights into the molecular basis of cell functional diversity




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Author Correction: Climate change: an enduring challenge for vector-borne disease prevention and control




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The coronavirus has led to more authoritarianism for Turkey

Turkey is well into its second month since the first coronavirus case was diagnosed on March 10. As of May 5, the number of reported cases has reached almost 130,000, which puts Turkey among the top eight countries grappling with the deadly disease — ahead of even China and Iran. Fortunately, so far, the Turkish death…

       




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Susan A. Thornton

Susan A. Thornton is a retired senior U.S. diplomat with almost 30 years of experience with the U.S. State Department in Eurasia and East Asia. She is currently a senior Fellow and research scholar at the Paul Tsai China Center at Yale University Law School; director of the Forum on Asia-Pacific Security at the National…