News from May 2024
By Federal Newswire | May 17, 2024
Citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, who was sentenced to four years in prison for reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, was due to be released on May 13th. However, it appears that she has not regained her freedom as expected. It is speculated that she has been illegally detained by the Shanghai Public Security Bureau after her release, but friends and supporters have no way of knowing her exact whereabouts.
By Federal Newswire | May 17, 2024
María Milagros Charbonier-Laureano, a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, and her husband, Orlando Montes-Rivera, were sentenced today for their involvement in a multi-year theft, bribery, and kickback conspiracy scheme. The couple was found guilty of fraudulently inflating the salary of a legislative assistant in exchange for a portion of the inflated salary.
By Federal Newswire | May 17, 2024
The Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) has announced the election of former Vice Chair, Dr. Justinian Rudelson Ben-Adam, as the new Board Chair. The board has accepted the resignation of Nury Turkel, the previous Chair.
By Federal Newswire | May 17, 2024
Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs, Ramin Toloui, recently completed a diplomatic tour from April 22 to May 3. His journey spanned Japan, the Republic of Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore, California, and New York. The objective of his travel was to bolster bilateral relationships and promote trade and economic opportunities with these nations.
By Federal Newswire | May 17, 2024
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew has issued a statement on the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024, which was released today by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA). In his statement, Larew expressed anticipation for the upcoming week's markup and the continuation of the farm bill process.
By Federal Newswire | May 17, 2024
The recent engagements between the United States and Nigeria underscore the importance of their partnership, as they represent two of the world's most populous presidential democracies. Deputy Secretary Kurt Campbell and Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf M. Tuggar have been instrumental in advancing mutual economic, governance, and security priorities. These efforts were particularly evident during the April 29-30 U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission in Abuja, the 16th U.S.-Africa Business Summit from May 6-9 in Dallas, Texas, and Foreign Minister Tuggar’s May 14-17 visit to...
By Federal Newswire | May 17, 2024
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited Turn Around Columbus, a nonprofit organization in Columbus, Georgia, on May 17, 2024. The organization is committed to investing in youth development and creating opportunities for the next generation of entrepreneurs, farmers, and community leaders. During his visit, Secretary Vilsack emphasized the Biden-Harris Administration's dedication to developing new markets, generating revenue, and supporting agriculture both in Georgia and across the nation.
By Federal Newswire | May 17, 2024
Tulsi Gabbard, a former US Representative from Hawaii, stated that nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have been profiting significantly from the border crisis by housing illegal immigrants, drawing a comparison between them and cartels. Gabbard made this statement on May 14.
By Federal Newswire | May 16, 2024
The House Committee on Rules has announced its intention to consider the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century (FIT21) Act. The bill is expected to be put to a floor vote later this month.
By Federal Newswire | May 16, 2024
A legislative proposal, known as the "Enhancing National Frameworks for Overseas Critical Exports Act" (ENFORCE Act), has been introduced by a small congressional group led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas). The proposed legislation aims to update the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA) by granting the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) the authority to impose export controls on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies that could potentially threaten national security.
By Federal Newswire | May 16, 2024
Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero is scheduled to address the National Futures Association’s (NFA) Board of Directors at their Spring meeting. The event will take place on Thursday, May 16, 2024, from 1:15 pm to 1:45 pm (EDT). The venue for this significant gathering is the St Regis, located at 923 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006.
By Federal Newswire | May 16, 2024
KYIV – Deputy Secretary Adeyemo met with key members of the Verkhovna Rada during his visit to Kyiv. The discussions focused on ongoing efforts by the international coalition to provide Ukraine with necessary resources for defense, including mobilizing over $85 billion in budget support from the United States and international partners, as well as more than $24 billion in early recovery and reconstruction assistance.
By Federal Newswire | May 16, 2024
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been recognized as one of the top 10 fastest rising research institutions in North America, according to the esteemed Nature Index. The VA's long-standing history of medical breakthroughs includes the development of the CAT scan, the pacemaker innovation, and the execution of the first-ever liver transplant. In recent years, VA researchers have contributed significantly to critical initiatives such as COVID-19 response, women’s health, telehealth, suicide prevention, the PACT Act, President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot, among others.
By Federal Newswire | May 16, 2024
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the appointment of eight new members to its team, under the Biden-Harris Administration. These individuals will be working closely with U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm in addressing climate change and aiding the United States in achieving President Biden’s ambitious clean energy goals.
By Federal Newswire | May 16, 2024
The Department of Labor announced a significant expansion of MigrantWorker.gov and its Spanish version, TrabajadorMigrante.gov. These websites provide valuable information to help protect the rights of all American workers, regardless of their immigration status.
By Federal Newswire | May 16, 2024
Today, as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s Infrastructure Week, Acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior Laura Daniel-Davis visited New Mexico to announce a $25 million grant from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The funding is earmarked for cleaning up legacy pollution in the state. New Mexico plans to use this grant to plug approximately 117 orphaned oil and gas wells, remediate four sites, and complete surface restoration at 33 locations.
By Federal Newswire | May 16, 2024
Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen delivered remarks at TechQuartier in Frankfurt, Germany, on May 16, 2024. In her speech, she highlighted the innovative approaches to climate, clean energy, and sustainable finance being pioneered by TechQuartier’s members.
By Federal Newswire | May 16, 2024
Small businesses have expressed disappointment over the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Community Financial Services Association of America, Limited. The court ruled that the funding mechanism for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is in compliance with the Constitution’s Appropriations Clause.
By Federal Newswire | May 16, 2024
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the availability of $12 million in additional funds aimed at improving job quality and expanding access to good jobs in critical industries. This initiative places an emphasis on training for jobs in the care economy, such as home, elder, and childcare.
By Federal Newswire | May 16, 2024
The United States has imposed sanctions on five Russia-based individuals and entities, alleging their involvement in the transfer of military equipment and components between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Russian Federation. This move is seen as a violation of the UN arms embargo on the DPRK. The US asserts that Russia has increasingly relied upon the DPRK for munitions to wage its war on Ukraine, using dozens of DPRK-supplied ballistic missiles against Ukrainian targets.
