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The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated two individuals and five entities for facilitating weapons procurement for Ansarallah, commonly known as the Houthis. Additionally, OFAC has designated one individual and one company, and identified one vessel involved in commodity shipments that fund Houthi weaponry.

On June 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the "National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics." This initiative is part of President Biden’s comprehensive approach to addressing climate change, food security, environmental justice, and promoting a circular economy.

Washington – The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) have issued a letter signed by three other associations in anticipation of a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing. The hearing will address cybersecurity risks that have compromised numerous government agency servers. Microsoft’s Vice Chairman and President, Brad Smith, is expected to respond to questions regarding Microsoft's security incidents.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has adopted several new public health policies aimed at improving the health of various populations across the United States. These policies, decided on the final day of voting at the AMA Annual Meeting, address healthcare in minority rural communities, biotin supplement awareness, tobacco product regulation, youth e-cigarette access, nicotine analogue products regulation, and cybersecurity for physician practices.

A California man was sentenced to two years in prison for submitting more than $1 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for prescription drugs that were never dispensed to beneficiaries.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has adopted new policies aimed at addressing the health challenges faced by Native American communities. Ilse R. Levin, D.O., MPH & TM, a member of the AMA Board of Trustees, emphasized the importance of these initiatives, stating: “These policies emphasize the unique health challenges facing Native Tribes and how the government can respond. The AMA has long supported efforts to bring American Indian and Alaska Native health up to the general population level. To reach that goal, tribes must have access to nutrition programs, treatment...

OVW conducted a live web-based pre-application information session for its Fiscal Year 2024 Restorative Practices Pilot Sites Program solicitation. During the presentation, OVW staff reviewed this program’s requirements, discussed the solicitation, and allowed for a brief question-and-answer period.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed an update to its cleanup plan for the Durham Meadows Superfund Site in Durham, Connecticut. The proposed update, referred to as an "Explanation of Significant Differences" (ESD), will not alter the scope, performance, or cost of the original 2005 cleanup plan.

Captain Abdurrahman Korkmaz, 37, pleaded guilty today to a two-count information charging him with violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and obstructing proceedings. Korkmaz, a Turkish national, was the captain of the PS Dream, a Panama-flagged motor tanker. The two related companies that operated the PS Dream pleaded guilty last month to environmental crimes.

Policymakers are preparing to modernize the primary legislation that funds and regulates the United States' workforce development system. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), first passed in 2014 with bipartisan support, is approaching its 10th anniversary. Federal legislators are considering reauthorization to ensure the law continues to train and connect American workers with good, safe, sustainable jobs.

The week of June 3 witnessed notable debuts in the film and television industry. The action thriller "Under Paris" from France premiered at the top of the Non-English Films List, amassing 40.9 million global views. Richard Linklater's screwball comedy "Hit Man," co-written with star Glen Powell, debuted atop the English Films List with 10.8 million views in its first three days.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland marked the third anniversary of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) by convening senior leaders from the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, and State to discuss ongoing efforts against human smuggling at the southern border. Over three years, JTFA has led to over 300 arrests and more than 240 convictions in the United States.

As President Joe Biden’s first term approaches its conclusion, his administration faces the imperative of advancing three key international climate policies to foster a 21st-century clean energy economy and mitigate severe climate change impacts. The Center for American Progress (CAP) has released two reports detailing these priorities.

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) today launched a global challenge aimed at advancing scientific research to address nutrition security, climate change impacts, and equity for underserved communities. The “Nourishing Next Generation Agrifood Breakthroughs” Innovation Challenge will fund transdisciplinary teams led by early-career scientists to catalyze new discoveries and transformative research addressing critical societal challenges.

A new analysis by the Center for American Progress (CAP) indicates a historic decline in gun violence for the second consecutive year. The study, covering data up to April 30, 2024, suggests that early trends often predict annual outcomes. It examines gun violence trends in the 100 most populous cities and all 50 states.

Senior officials from the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice convened today to mark the third anniversary of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), a national effort aimed at investigating and prosecuting human smuggling at the southern border. The meeting, attended by senior leaders from various departments, highlighted JTFA's expansion into Colombia and Panama to address human smuggling in the Darién region.

The upcoming months will feature several major international sporting events, including the Men’s UEFA EURO 2024 in Germany and the Olympic & Paralympic Games Paris 2024. Athletes and fans worldwide will use various apps to connect during these events. While most interactions are expected to be positive, there is a likelihood of abusive behavior. In response, multiple protections have been implemented across these platforms to safeguard users.

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is hosting its annual Fly-In on Capitol Hill this week, with events scheduled for June 11-12. Small business owners from across the country have traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in advocacy programs and meet with lawmakers to discuss critical issues impacting their operations.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced updates today to assist eligible Veterans, active-duty Service members, and surviving spouses using VA-guaranteed home loan benefits in remaining competitive in the housing market. The update allows these individuals to pay for certain real estate buyer-broker fees when purchasing a home.

The Justice Department announced today a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the New York State Court System, Office of Court Administration (OCA), to improve access to the Rockland County, New York, Drug Treatment Court for people with limited English proficiency (LEP). The department enforces Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin by recipients of federal financial assistance. Prohibited discrimination may include a failure to provide meaningful language access.

Today, the global tech trade association ITI, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), and the Federal IPv6 Task Force convened leading experts from the U.S. government and tech industry for a day-long summit focused on government IT modernization. The event covered how AI, cybersecurity, advanced computing, the next generation of internet, and other emerging technologies can be leveraged to improve government efficiency, bolster innovation, enhance government services, and foster public-private collaboration.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Andersen’s Sales and Salvage Inc., located at 1490 E 8th St., Greeley, Colorado, regarding alleged violations of the Clean Air Act related to refrigerant releases. The consent agreement and final order require the company to pay a $195,000 penalty for these infractions.

The Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) has joined 20 other organizations in a letter to the House Rules Committee, opposing an effort to add a bill to the National Defense Authorization Act. The bill in question would extend copyright coverage to standards even after they are incorporated by reference into a regulation and thus become enforceable law.

Apple is set to introduce new features across its suite of services this fall with the release of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, visionOS 2, and tvOS 18. The updates will include enhancements to Apple Maps, Apple Pay, Apple Music, and Apple Fitness+, among others.

U.S. Representative Chip Roy (R-Texas), along with 12 fellow Congressmen, stated that the American people should be informed about the "scope of the threat" from an incident involving an attempted breach at Marine Corps Base Quantico by two Jordanian nationals, one of whom is on the terror watch list. The group of legislators made this statement to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in a letter dated May 28.