Author: Curtis Harrera

Australia’s universities are central to the delivery of the new Australia-United States innovation alliance announced today by Prime Minister Albanese and President Biden. Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson welcomed the opportunities to partner closely with government and industry to deliver the priorities outlined in the alliance. “Universities have a key role to play in this new era of strategic cooperation between Australia and the United States,” Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson said. “Prime Minister Albanese and President Biden have acknowledged our role in taking the alliance to new heights by committing to stronger cooperation in research and education…

In Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Administrator Samantha Power chaired the C5+1 Regional Connectivity Ministerial with the governments of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. During the ministerial, Administrator Power announced an additional $14.3 million in U.S. assistance to the regional programming demonstrating as part of the deepening partnerships between the United States and Central Asian countries. To enhance regional connectivity and cooperation, the C5+1 governments agreed to deepen collaboration to increase trade and reduce greenhouse gas emissions: Supporting Greener Energy Use USAID will increase collaboration with the Central Asian countries and exchange carbon emission reduction strategies. These include expanding opportunities…

ST PAUL, Minn. — Raptor fans across the U.S. – and the globe – will have some extra time on their hands this spring to do something other than stare at their computer screen and wait for eagle eggs to hatch. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says plans to install a camera near a new eagles’ nest have run into delays, and it is unlikely that the enormously popular “EagleCam” will be up and running in time for the 2024 nesting season. EagleCam fans will recall the sad event last April when the tree limb holding the nest of…

The U.S. will once again deport migrants to Venezuela as a way to deter migration from the embattled South American country, senior Biden administration officials told reporters on Thursday. The deportation flights, which came after talks between U.S., Colombian and Mexican officials, will resume in the coming days. Immigration officials have already identified Venezuelans in U.S. custody who will go on these first flights. Senior administration officials say the move is intended to discourage migration via the Darien Gap, a dangerous stretch of jungle in Panama that migrants must cross in order to continue the journey from Colombia into Central…

A 2nd New Unit – the Vulnerable Communities Task Force – Will Address Scams Aimed at Groups that Historically Have Had Less Access to Law Enforcement LOS ANGELES – United States Attorney Martin Estrada today announced the formation of the Corporate and Securities Fraud Strike Force, a new section that will focus on complex corporate crimes, abuses by company insiders and offenses that impact the nation’s financial system. Working with authorities at federal law enforcement agencies, the Corporate and Securities Fraud Strike Force is designed to expand and prioritize complex corporate and securities fraud investigations, some of which will involve corporate…

LOS ANGELES – A San Fernando Valley man who was the leader of a conspiracy that stole more than $800,000 in COVID-19 jobless benefits has been sentenced to 97 months in federal prison, the Justice Department announced today. Robert Mirumyan, 31, of Porter Ranch, was sentenced by United States District Judge Percy Anderson, who also ordered him to pay $804,579 in restitution. Mirumyan pleaded guilty in June to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, admitting that he oversaw a scheme that used stolen identities to apply for COVID-era unemployment insurance (UI) benefits from the California Employment Development Department (EDD).…

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres ahead of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly. The Secretary and the Secretary-General discussed a wide array of issues, including the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine, and the security situation in Haiti. They discussed U.S. priorities for the General Assembly, including reinforcing the core principles of the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, modernizing the UN to address 21st century challenges, and our efforts to advance the UN’s…

Lansing, N.Y. — A man was arrested Monday after an investigation revealed he stole $250,000 from a Central New York dairy, deputies said. Scott Brenchley, 44, of Lansing, stole the money over the span of a year from Aurora-Oakwood Dairy, said Cayuga County deputies. He was working at the business as a financial controller, deputies said. The investigation into the stolen money took over a month, deputies said. It ended with a search warrant at Brenchley’s house as well as his arrest, deputies said. Source : Syracuse

The CIA wants to share what it knows about world space programs. Some of what it knows, anyway. The United States Central Intelligence Agency, better known as the CIA, has released a new entry in its World Factbook that catalogues the programs and milestones of space agencies around the world. Over 90 countries and the European Union are represented in the new Space Programs section of the agency’s factbook, spanning from Algeria to Zimbabwe. A CIA spokesperson told Space.com that, due to the increased visibility of space programs around the world, there is a need for the agency to provide “sound, reliable background information” for…

Situation at a glance: On 4 August 2023, the United States International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point informed PAHO/WHO of a human infection with a novel influenza A(H1N2) variant virus identified in the State of Michigan. This was confirmed by Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction at the United States (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on August 2. The case was not hospitalized and is recovering from the illness. Investigations by local public health officials identified swine exposure by the patient at an agricultural fair. Additional public health response efforts including enhanced surveillance for cases is undergoing.…