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Following are links to various U.S. government press releases.

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Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Turnable, twistable robots | NSF - National Science Foundation

Turnable, twistable robots | NSF - National Science Foundation

Carter Announces More U.S. Support for Afghan Forces

Carter Announces More U.S. Support for Afghan Forces: U.S. forces in Afghanistan now will be able to boost support for Afghan conventional forces with more firepower and by accompanying and advising them on the ground and in the air, Defense Secretary

Remarks at the 2016 Annual Session of the UNICEF Executive Board, U.S. Joint Statement on Audit | usun.state.gov

Remarks at the 2016 Annual Session of the UNICEF Executive Board, U.S. Joint Statement on Audit | usun.state.gov

U.S.-Norwegian Demining Initiative

U.S.-Norwegian Demining Initiative

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Remarks at the 46th Organization of American States General Assembly

Remarks at the 46th Organization of American States General Assembly

SEC.gov | Testimony on “Oversight of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission”

SEC.gov | Testimony on “Oversight of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission”

U.S.-Azerbaijan Open Skies Agreement Enters Into Force

U.S.-Azerbaijan Open Skies Agreement Enters Into Force

Readout of Secretary Carter

Readout of Secretary Carter: Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook provided the following readout:Secretary of Defense Ash Carter met with Turkish Minister of Defense Fikri Işık today on the sidelines of the NATO Defense

U.S. Support for UN Sustainable Development Goals Through the IAEA Peaceful Uses Initiative

U.S. Support for UN Sustainable Development Goals Through the IAEA Peaceful Uses Initiative

Monday, June 13, 2016

Future summers could be hotter than any on record | NSF - National Science Foundation

Future summers could be hotter than any on record | NSF - National Science Foundation

Remarks on the Election of Israel as Chair of the Sixth Committee for the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly | usun.state.gov

Remarks on the Election of Israel as Chair of the Sixth Committee for the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly | usun.state.gov

Remarks With Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides

Remarks With Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides

Creating printable, programmable machines | NSF - National Science Foundation

Creating printable, programmable machines | NSF - National Science Foundation

Remarks at a UN General Assembly Meeting on the Election of the President of the General Assembly for the 71st session | usun.state.gov

Remarks at a UN General Assembly Meeting on the Election of the President of the General Assembly for the 71st session | usun.state.gov

Remarks for Rumi Forum/Turkic American Alliance Iftar

Remarks for Rumi Forum/Turkic American Alliance Iftar

What can an undergrad learn from a robot? | NSF - National Science Foundation

What can an undergrad learn from a robot? | NSF - National Science Foundation

Friday, June 10, 2016

UN Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea

UN Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea

Republic of the Philippines Independence Day

Republic of the Philippines Independence Day

On the Occasion of the National Day of the Russian Federation

On the Occasion of the National Day of the Russian Federation

Defense Bill Concerns DoD, White House, Pentagon Press Secretary Says

Defense Bill Concerns DoD, White House, Pentagon Press Secretary Says: As the Senate debates its version of the National Defense Authorization Act this week, the Defense Department and the White House have concerns about the way the legislation now stands, Pentagon Press

Carter Unveils Next Wave of Force of the Future Initiatives

Carter Unveils Next Wave of Force of the Future Initiatives: Defense Secretary Ash Carter today announced the next steps in his Force of the Future initiative to modernize the rules and regulations that govern how the Defense Department recruits, develops and

Remarks With Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan

Remarks With Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Robots to provide a steadying hand at the right time | NSF - National Science Foundation

Robots to provide a steadying hand at the right time | NSF - National Science Foundation

Remarks at the New York Premiere of the Documentary “Out of Iraq” | usun.state.gov

Remarks at the New York Premiere of the Documentary “Out of Iraq” | usun.state.gov

Infographic: The making of a collaborative robot | NSF - National Science Foundation

Infographic: The making of a collaborative robot | NSF - National Science Foundation

SEC.gov | Consultant to Chinese Private Equity Firms Settles Insider Trading Charges

SEC.gov | Consultant to Chinese Private Equity Firms Settles Insider Trading Charges

Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing by the International Criminal Court on the Situation in Darfur | usun.state.gov

Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing by the International Criminal Court on the Situation in Darfur | usun.state.gov

On the Occasion of the Official Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

On the Occasion of the Official Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Behind the Myths: The Truth About Overtime

Behind the Myths: The Truth About Overtime: Last week we announced the most meaningful update to the nation’s white-collar overtime rules in more than 40 years. By raising the salary threshold under which white-collar salaried workers qualif…

Service robots are coming to help us | NSF - National Science Foundation

Service robots are coming to help us | NSF - National Science Foundation

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Pressure From Local Forces Restricts ISIL, Inherent Resolve Spokesman

Pressure From Local Forces Restricts ISIL, Inherent Resolve Spokesman: Local forces in Iraq and Syria are pressuring the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant at multiple points on the battlefield, restricting the terrorist army’s mobility and options, the Operation

United States and China Discuss Challenges of Civil Aviation at the 8th U.S.-China Strategic & Economic Dialogue

United States and China Discuss Challenges of Civil Aviation at the 8th U.S.-China Strategic & Economic Dialogue

Remarks to the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme | usun.state.gov

Remarks to the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme | usun.state.gov

On the Occasion of Portugal Day

On the Occasion of Portugal Day

Remarks on “Twenty-first Century Realism” at the Awarding of the 2016 Henry A. Kissinger Prize at the American Academy in Berlin | usun.state.gov

Remarks on “Twenty-first Century Realism” at the Awarding of the 2016 Henry A. Kissinger Prize at the American Academy in Berlin | usun.state.gov

World Oceans Day: Coral reefs falling victim to overfishing, pollution fueled by climate change | NSF - National Science Foundation

World Oceans Day: Coral reefs falling victim to overfishing, pollution fueled by climate change | NSF - National Science Foundation

World Oceans Day 2016

World Oceans Day 2016

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Flight of the RoboBee | NSF - National Science Foundation

Flight of the RoboBee | NSF - National Science Foundation

U.S.-China Press Statements

U.S.-China Press Statements

70th Anniversary of Accession to the Throne of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej

70th Anniversary of Accession to the Throne of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej

Press Availability in Beijing, China

Press Availability in Beijing, China

World Oceans Day: Deltas critical to food production, fisheries health, storm protection | NSF - National Science Foundation

World Oceans Day: Deltas critical to food production, fisheries health, storm protection | NSF - National Science Foundation

Remarks at the Meeting With Chinese President Xi Jinping

Remarks at the Meeting With Chinese President Xi Jinping

Consultation on People-to-People Exchange Plenary Session

Consultation on People-to-People Exchange Plenary Session

Monday, June 6, 2016

Press Secretary: Carter Wants to Push Harder in Counter-ISIL Effort

Press Secretary: Carter Wants to Push Harder in Counter-ISIL Effort: Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said Defense Secretary Ash Carter wants to push harder in the campaign to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Boko Haram Attacks in Bosso, Niger

Boko Haram Attacks in Bosso, Niger

Open Skies Treaty: Five Key Facts

Open Skies Treaty: Five Key Facts

Remarks at the World Affairs Council of Atlanta

Remarks at the World Affairs Council of Atlanta

S&ED Opening Session Remarks

S&ED Opening Session Remarks

Remarks at the EcoPartnerships Event

Remarks at the EcoPartnerships Event

DOJ ANNOUNCE WITH DUTCH OF ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AGAINST MAIL FRAUDSTERS TARGETING ELDERLY

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Justice Department and Dutch Authorities Announce Simultaneous Enforcement Actions Against International Mass-Mailing Fraud Schemes Targeting the Elderly

Thousands of U.S. Victims Defrauded Out of Over $18 Million Annually

The United States filed a civil complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York against an individual and two Dutch companies that allegedly engaged in multiple international mail fraud schemes that have defrauded elderly and vulnerable U.S. victims out of tens of millions of dollars, the Department of Justice announced.  The Department sought a temporary restraining order, which was entered by the court yesterday, as well as preliminary and permanent injunctions to prevent the defendants from further victimizing U.S. consumers.

According to the complaint, U.S. residents received fraudulent direct mail solicitations that falsely claimed that the individual recipient had won, or would soon win cash or valuable prizes or otherwise come into great fortune.  Victims sent payments through the U.S. and international mail systems to defendants Trends Service in Kommunikatie B.V. (Trends) and Kommunikatie Service Buitenland B.V. (KSB), both in Utrecht, Netherlands, and both owned and operated by defendant Erik Dekker, 54, of Langbroek, Netherlands.

At the same time that the Justice Department took this law enforcement action, Dutch law enforcement agents executed search warrants on the business address used by both companies and on Dekker’s home address.  The Dutch authorities also took control of the Dutch P.O. boxes used by the defendants to receive victim funds.  The coordinated U.S. and Dutch enforcement actions seek to immediately stop the use of Dutch P.O. boxes to receive payments from fraud victims and to immediately stop the defendants from continuing to victimize the elderly.  Learn more about the actions taken by Dutch authorities at: https://www.om.nl/actueel/nieuwsberichten/@94702/fiod-and-us-doj/ [external link]

“Schemes targeting elderly victims are increasingly international in scope, but geographic distance will not prevent us from seeking justice and holding bad actors accountable,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.  “Dutch authorities have done a great service to U.S. residents and elderly victims worldwide by addressing fraud facilitated within their borders.  The Justice Department will continue to work with our international law enforcement partners to put a stop to fraud schemes that exploit vulnerable Americans.”

“As alleged in the complaint, defendants act as the clearinghouses for multiple international mail fraud schemes, taking money from thousands of elderly and vulnerable victims not only in this district but also throughout the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Robert L. Capers for the Eastern District of New York.  “Together with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and our international partner, the Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Division of the Netherlands, we will track down, and stop, the schemes wherever they lead.”

“No one should ever be told they must pay a fee, or make a worthless purchase, to collect a prize,” said Inspector in Charge Regina L. Faulkerson of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Criminal Investigation Group.  “When that happens, it’s fraud - plain and simple - and Postal Inspectors work to keep those falsehoods out of the U.S. mail.”

The complaint filed June 1 in U.S. federal court in the Eastern District of New York alleges that, since at least 2012, Trends, KSB and Dekker have used P.O. boxes in the Netherlands to receive payments from various predatory mass-mailing fraud schemes.  Solicitations are mailed from locations around the globe to residents in the United States.  The solicitations purport to be personalized to each individual recipient, even though they are form letters mailed to hundreds of thousands of potential victims.  Some solicitations instruct recipients to pay a processing fee in order to receive lottery winnings or other prizes; other solicitations urge recipients to purchase goods or services based on false promises that they will guarantee future lottery wins.

As alleged in the complaint, victims responded to the solicitations by completing a form and submitting a payment, usually around $15 to $55, via U.S. mail.  The solicitations contain pre-addressed envelopes in which victims send payments.  The envelopes are addressed to P.O. boxes in the Netherlands.  Trends and KSB operate more than 50 of these P.O. boxes.  Like other so-called “caging services,” Trends and KSB open the payment envelopes, remove the contents, enter payment and other personal information from the victims into a database and handle victim payments.  The U.S. government estimates that U.S. victims mail more than $18 million annually to the defendants’ P.O. boxes.        

The government is seeking an injunction under the Anti-Fraud Injunction Statute immediately shutting down the defendants’ role in the fraudulent schemes in order to protect U.S. victims from further harm.  The injunctions sought by the United States would enjoin the defendants from using the U.S. mail or causing the U.S. mail to be used, to distribute the fraudulent solicitations or to collect victim payments, and from selling lists of American victims who have responded to the solicitations.  If granted, a permanent injunction would allow the U.S. Postal Service to intercept mail heading to the defendants, and return that mail—along with any money being sent to the defendants—to U.S. victims.

U.S. District Court Judge I. Leo Glasser for the Eastern District of New York set a hearing on the preliminary injunction on July 18 at 10 a.m.

The Justice Department’s case is being handled by Trial Attorney Kerala Thie Cowart of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, Assistant U.S. Attorney John Vagelatos of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York and Postal Inspector Joseph R. Bizzarro of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Southcom Commander: Illicit Networks Are Region’s Greatest Security Ch

Southcom Commander: Illicit Networks Are Region’s Greatest Security Ch: Navy Adm. Kurt W. Tidd, commander of U.S. Southern Command, said the Southcom area of responsibility has been characterized by the absence of ongoing armed conflict between nations for some time, but

Carter, Admirals Take Questions on China at Shangri-La Dialogue

Carter, Admirals Take Questions on China at Shangri-La Dialogue: Defense Secretary Ash Carter and two senior naval officers responded to reporters’ questions about China during the 15th annual International Institute for Strategic Studies Asia Security Summit in

Fights to Retake Fallujah, Manbij City From ISIL Begin

Fights to Retake Fallujah, Manbij City From ISIL Begin: U.S. Central Command spokesman Air Force Col. Pat Ryder said fights that started last week aimed at wrenching control of two major cities in Iraq and Syria from the hands of the Islamic State of Iraq

Remarks Before Meeting With Mongolian Foreign Minister Lundeg Purevsuren

Remarks Before Meeting With Mongolian Foreign Minister Lundeg Purevsuren

Friday, June 3, 2016

Benefits.gov website adds location-based technology to personalize, enhance user experience - United States Department of Labor

Benefits.gov website adds location-based technology to personalize, enhance user experience - United States Department of Labor: WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that the Benefits.gov – official federal government benefits website – now customizes the user’s search for government benefits based on the user’s location. By personalizing the content on government benefits and other information – and providing content most commonly requested – the site now provides a better and more efficient tool for its users.

Statement on the Leaders’ Summit on Refugees | usun.state.gov

Statement on the Leaders’ Summit on Refugees | usun.state.gov

US Department of Labor signs agreement to protect workers from misclassification with South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation - United States Department of Labor

US Department of Labor signs agreement to protect workers from misclassification with South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation - United States Department of Labor: Participants: U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour DivisionSouth Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation

Remarks at the United Nations International School Commencement Ceremony

Remarks at the United Nations International School Commencement Ceremony

Remarks at Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)

Remarks at Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

La Niña coming? Deep pool of cool water is making its way across tropical Pacific | NOAA Climate.gov

La Niña coming? Deep pool of cool water is making its way across tropical Pacific | NOAA Climate.gov

NOAA 2016 summer outlook: Where are the highest chances for a hot summer in the U.S.? | NOAA Climate.gov

NOAA 2016 summer outlook: Where are the highest chances for a hot summer in the U.S.? | NOAA Climate.gov

Community Resilience: Is Hawai‘i ready for the impacts from climate change?

Community Resilience: Is Hawai‘i ready for the impacts from climate change?: by Hawai'i Sea Grant

Dr. Bradley Romine is used to his phone ringing off the hook whenever unusually large swells hit parts of Oahu. Romine, a University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program (Hawai‘i Sea Grant) coastal hazards extension specialist seconded to the State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands (DLNR OCCL), is one of the first people homeowners turn to when the waves start lapping at their door and...

Classroom Discussion on Ocean Protection and Environmental Issues

Classroom Discussion on Ocean Protection and Environmental Issues