Stories by Federal Newswire on Federal Newswire


Podcast discusses AI romantic companions' data privacy concerns

AI chatbots have become a significant part of daily life, with many people using them for various tasks. However, AI romantic companions, a specific type of chatbot, are not as widely recognized. These companions play a personal role for users, making data privacy practices crucial. Concerns arise because many developers lack mature privacy and security protocols, leaving sensitive user data unprotected.


U.S. Treasury targets international network financing Hamas

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has taken action against a significant international fundraising network supporting Hamas. The designations include three individuals, a sham charity, and a financial institution in Gaza controlled by Hamas. Additionally, a longstanding supporter of Hamas and nine associated businesses have been targeted.


Assistant Secretary Witkowsky leads delegations in Germany-Ghana dialogue

Assistant Secretary Witkowsky is set to lead an interagency delegation to Germany and Ghana. In Berlin, she will participate in the second U.S.–Germany Conflict Prevention and Stabilization Dialogue, hosted by Germany’s Director-General for Crisis Prevention, Stabilization, Peacebuilding, and Humanitarian Assistance. The discussions will focus on shared interests and cooperation under the U.S Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability.


Amanda Dory visits Europe for defense talks with allies

Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Ms. Amanda Dory, is set to visit Germany and the United Kingdom from October 7-9. According to Pentagon Spokesman Lt. Col. Garron Garn, USMC, her trip will begin in Berlin on October 7, where she will engage in a strategic dialogue with Dr. Jasper Wieck from Germany's Ministry of Defense.


Precision Castparts Corp settles export violations case with $3 million penalty

The U.S. Department of State has finalized an administrative settlement with Precision Castparts Corp. (PCC) of Lake Oswego, Oregon. This resolves 24 violations related to the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). The settlement follows a comprehensive compliance review by the Office of Defense Trade Controls Compliance within the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.


U.S. marks anniversary of October 7th attack with calls for hostage release

Today marks the anniversary of a significant tragedy that occurred on October 7, 2023. On that day, over 1,200 individuals, including 46 Americans and citizens from more than 30 countries, were killed by Hamas in what has been described as the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken reflected on this somber occasion.


DHS outlines safety measures during Hurricane Milton

During emergency events, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) collaborates with federal, state, local, and non-governmental partners to address the needs of people in potentially affected areas. In these situations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) emphasize that sites providing emergency response and relief are designated as protected areas.


Under Secretary Jenkins set for Tennessee and Illinois visits

Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Ambassador Bonnie D. Jenkins, is scheduled to visit Knoxville, Tennessee on October 8 and Chicago from October 10-11, 2024.


Mystery series "Don't Come Home" trailer reveals secrets of Jarukanant house

The trailer for the mystery series "Don't Come Home" has been released, unveiling clues about mysterious incidents at the Jarukanant house. The series follows Varee and her daughter Min as they return to their ancestral home, where unsettling events unfold. The plot thickens when Min disappears, leading a police officer to investigate suspicious clues tied to chilling secrets hidden within the old house.


Austin and Petri discuss US-Argentina defense ties and global security

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder has reported on a phone call between U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Argentine Minister of Defense Luis Petri. The conversation focused on strengthening the defense relationship between the United States and Argentina.


U.S. imposes sanctions on international supporters and sham charities linked to Hamas

The United States has announced new sanctions targeting international financial supporters of Hamas, marking one year since the group's attack on Israel. The sanctions aim to disrupt both external and domestic fundraising efforts for Hamas. According to a statement from Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson, these measures are directed at "a network of international financial supporters of Hamas, a Gaza-based financial institution controlled by Hamas, and a prominent Hamas supporter along with his businesses."


Netflix reveals Korean film lineup for 2025 at Busan International Film Festival

Netflix recently presented its 2025 Korean film lineup at the Busan International Film Festival. The event, titled "Next on Netflix: 2025 Korean Films," provided a glimpse into seven upcoming films. Vincent Taewon Kim, Director of Content (Film) for Netflix Korea, along with several filmmakers, discussed their projects and shared insights into their creative processes.


Norfolk CBP seizes dental supplies worth $450k for marking violations

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Norfolk, Virginia, have seized dental supplies valued at over $450,000. These goods, originating from China and destined for Baltimore, violated country of origin marking laws.


Treasury proposes tax exemption rules for tribally owned entities

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS have issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) clarifying the tax status of wholly-owned Tribal entities. According to this proposal, these entities, which are chartered or organized by one or more Tribes, will share the same federal tax status as their owning Tribes, making them exempt from federal income tax.


Energy leaders discuss response strategies following Hurricane Helene devastation

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm and Deputy Secretary David M. Turk recently held discussions with electricity sector leaders regarding the response to Hurricane Helene, which severely impacted communities in the Southeast and Appalachia. The Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council and Energy Government Coordinating Council have been actively meeting since September 25th to coordinate industry preparedness, response, and restoration efforts with federal partners.


New video series sheds light on U.S. appropriations process

Today, a new video series titled "Appropriations 101" was highlighted, featuring Interior and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson (R-ID). The initiative aims to provide insights into the appropriations process by bringing together key members of the committee. The first episode features Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK), where both discuss the development and passage of 12 bills each fiscal year.


Heritage Foundation criticizes U.S. policy on anniversary of attacks

The Heritage Foundation's national security experts released a statement on the anniversary of the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks in Israel. The attacks, carried out by Hamas, resulted in over 1,200 deaths and are considered the largest terrorist incident in Israel's history.


NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang announced as keynote speaker for CES 2025

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has announced that NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang will deliver a keynote at CES 2025. The event is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas from January 7-10, 2025, with Huang's address set for January 6 at 6:30 p.m.


Massachusetts business owner pleads guilty to payroll tax crimes

A Massachusetts business owner, Kenneth Marston of Kingston, has admitted guilt to charges of failing to collect and pay payroll taxes. The charges relate to his management of Bowmar Steel Industries Inc., a steel fabrication company, and Teleconstructors Inc., which specializes in cellular phone tower installations.


Smartsheet partners with AWS for enhanced AI-powered decision-making tool

Smartsheet has announced a partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to launch a new connector at its annual ENGAGE customer conference. This connector aims to synchronize data from Smartsheet into Amazon Q Business, a generative AI-powered assistant designed to facilitate decision-making by providing answers, summaries, and content generation based on enterprise data.