News from December 2023
By Federal Newswire | Dec 6, 2023
Secretary of the Treasury, Janet L. Yellen, recently announced that the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on members associated with the Beltrán Leyva Organization for Fentanyl Trafficking.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 6, 2023
An undocumented migrant from Guatemala was saved from drowning by a Laredo Border Patrol agent on Friday.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 6, 2023
Pablo Clark Guillen, a 31-year-old member of the La Linea Cartel, was recently apprehended at his residence in El Paso, Texas. Guillen had eight outstanding warrants for his arrest and has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a controlled substance.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 6, 2023
U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Commissioner Kristin Johnson clarified that Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, was penalized for rule violations rather than fraudulent activities. Johnson made these remarks during a digital asset summit hosted by the Financial Times on Dec. 5.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 6, 2023
Kristin Smith, CEO of the Blockchain Association, a group committed to promoting innovation in the cryptocurrency sector, praised U.S. Representatives Larry Bucshon (R-IN) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) for presenting the bipartisan Deploying American Blockchains Act of 2023. In a statement released on December 5, Smith expressed her belief that the U.S. should be at the forefront of blockchain technology.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 6, 2023
A lawsuit filed by four Utah plaintiffs challenging the Biden Administration's recent monument designations was joined last month by Arizona legislative leadership. The parties in Utah filed the lawsuit in 2022 over the practical consequences of these proclamations harming various groups, including local businesses, miners, ranchers, and Native Americans.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 6, 2023
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III addressed Ukraine's capacity to continue resisting the Russian invasion during his address at the opening session of the Ukraine defense industrial base summit in Washington. The Department of Defense (DOD) was one of many departments at the two day event.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 6, 2023
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the provision of $208 million in assistance aimed at preventing guaranteed borrower foreclosures and supporting emergency loan borrowers.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 6, 2023
U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken recently issued a statement revealing that both factions involved in the Sudan conflict have perpetrated atrocities in Darfur. He stated that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have both committed grave atrocities since the onset of the Sudan conflict in April.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 6, 2023
Minnesota-based construction contractor, Wagner Construction Inc., is once again under scrutiny by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for repeated violations related to trenching and excavation hazards. Despite agreeing in 2021 to enhance safety measures for its employees, the company was found to have exposed workers to similar risks in June while replacing a residential water main and 20 separate curb stop valves for house connections in Minot, North Dakota.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 6, 2023
In the last month, Bitcoin's price has seen a surge of over 25%, reaching $44,000. This week alone witnessed a 16% increase in its value.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 6, 2023
Attorney General Merrick Garland has announced charges against four members of the Russia-affiliated military for war crimes. These charges are linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the alleged torture of an American resident in Ukraine.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 6, 2023
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has announced a partnership with Microsoft to employ AI and advanced data technology in tracking global carbon emissions, in line with the Paris Agreement. This collaboration will allow the UNFCCC to establish a global climate data hub for analyzing worldwide progress in emission reduction.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 6, 2023
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has unveiled a proposed article outlining the cybersecurity strategy for the medical sector. The conceptual paper delves into various strategies for mitigating cyber attacks that affect all stakeholders in hospital operations.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 6, 2023
Research indicates that increased social media use among individuals suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression can have detrimental effects on their mental health. This correlation between social media usage and mental health was discussed by Doctors Colleen Becket-Davenport and Matthew Price in a podcast produced by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 6, 2023
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has announced its collaboration with LeadershIP, an event platform dedicated to the analysis and discussion of intellectual property (IP) and innovation. The platform will continue to be guided by its founder, Dr. Kirti Gupta, who also serves as a Senior Adviser at CSIS.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 6, 2023
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has unveiled a strategy to enhance the security of faith-based communities in light of ongoing threats stemming from Middle East tensions. The DHS will leverage resources within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to bolster the security measures of religious groups.
By Federal Newswire | Dec 6, 2023
Senator Patty Murray, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has urged Senate Republicans to move forward on the national security supplemental bill. In her speech on the Senate floor, Senator Murray emphasized the importance of timely action in responding to urgent challenges across the world.Murray expressed concern about the potential message of weakness that delays in passing the bill could send to adversaries. She stated, "We cannot afford delays that tell our adversaries they can just wait us out." Murray emphasized the need for comprehensive action that...
By Federal Newswire | Dec 6, 2023
The House Judiciary Committee has celebrated the bipartisan approval of H.R. 6570, also known as the Protect Liberty and End Warrantless Surveillance Act. The bill was passed by a vote of 35 to 2 and will now move to the House Floor for further consideration.H.R. 6570 aims to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) for a period of three years, accompanied by significant reforms. Under the bill, all intelligence agencies and the FBI will be required to obtain a warrant from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) before...
By Federal Newswire | Dec 6, 2023
The Senate Budget Committee, led by Ranking Member Chuck Grassley and Chair Sheldon Whitehouse, has launched a bipartisan investigation into the effects of private equity ownership on hospitals in the United States. In their inquiry, the committee has sent letters to the CEOs of several companies, including Apollo Global Management, Lifepoint Health, Medical Properties Trust, Leonard Green & Partners, Prospect Medical Holdings, and Ottumwa Regional Health Center, a for-profit hospital in Iowa.The senators are seeking answers regarding questionable financial transactions...
