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☆ U.S. Justice Dept. to review Memphis police after Tyre Nichols' killing
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( Kanishka Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department will participate in a review of the Memphis Police Department after the death of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man fatally beaten by officers in the Tennessee city last month, according to city officials. The review was disclosed in a bulletin by Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday. Memphis police on Friday fired a sixth officer involved in the death of Nichols. The Justice Department's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services will take part in the review, the city said.

REUTERS/Alyssa PointerFeb 1 (Reuters) - As soon as next week, the Memphis City Council will consider a raft of reforms aimed at curtailing police violence after the brutal beating of Tyre Nichols by five officers following a traffic stop. But after Nichols' beating and subsequent death made Memphis the latest emblem of police brutality against Black Americans, city leaders are facing more pressure than ever to shore up police accountability and hiring standards. "We cannot allow this moment to pass us by when activism coupled with concern from the community is at its peak," Memphis City Councilman J.B. Smiley Jr. said. Memphis activist LJ Abraham said she hopes Nichols’ case will persuade the council to take demands for bolder reforms more seriously. In recent years, city leaders have sought to boost the department's officer ranks, which dwindled as violent crime spiked.

☆ U.S. unemployment system still plagued by delays 3 years after pandemic-era downturn
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Patrick T. Fallon | Afp | Getty ImagesThese days the U.S. unemployment system is somewhat of an anomaly. At the pandemic-era nadir, just 52% got a "timely" first payment of unemployment insurance, for example. Unemployment claims spiked as businesses closed amid stay-at-home orders to contain the virus' spread. States get funding based on their administrative workload, like the volume of claims states are paying. That's especially true for one CARES Act program, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

☆ 3 signs Biden's Education Department has not 'efficiently or effectively' taken steps to overhaul the student-loan repayment system, according to the inspector general
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Education Department plans to revamp the student-loan servicing system. But a report from the Inspector General found it has not been preparing to do so effectively. Last week, the Education Department's Office of Inspector General released a report analyzing Federal Student Aid's (FSA) efforts to transition the current repayment system to a new one, known as Next Generation (Next Gen) Loan Servicing. Additionally, it recommends that FSA develop a policy that requires a budget request be completed and approved prior to moving forward with any changes to the student-loan servicing system. The exact timeline for when borrowers will experience the revamped student-loan servicing system is unclear at this point, especially as the administration is working to implement other significant changes.

☆ U.S. FAA names experts to review Boeing safety culture after fatal crashes
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 5 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Thursday it had named 24 experts to review Boeing’s safety management processes and how they influence Boeing’s safety culture after two fatal 737 MAX crashes killed 346 people. Boeing did not immediately comment Thursday, but has previously emphasized it has made reforms to its safety culture that cost the company billions of dollars. In September, the FAA finalized a policy to protect aviation employees who perform government certification duties from interference by Boeing and others. In May, the FAA opted to renew Boeing's Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) program for three years rather than the five years Boeing sought. The FAA continues to subject Boeing to enhanced oversight, inspecting all new Boeing 737 MAXs and 787s before they can be delivered.

☆ U.S. Postal Service can continue to deliver prescription abortion medication - DOJ
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Postal Service (USPS) can continue to deliver prescription abortion medication despite a June 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned a landmark abortion rights decision, the Justice Department said on Tuesday. Mifepristone is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to induce an abortion up to 10 weeks into a pregnancy. It must be followed by a second drug, misoprostol. A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment on the opinion. Restrictions on the abortion medication lifted in 2021 had been in place since the FDA had approved the drug in 2000.

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried could face extradition from the Bahamas to the US: Here's how, legal experts explain
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Sindhu Sundar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Its founder Sam Bankman-Fried has mounted a media tour apparently from the Bahamas, where he's said to still live. US prosecutors have powerful tools to charge and summon defendants living overseas, experts said. If the US government ultimately succeeds in bringing criminal charges against him, prosecutors have legal tools to extradite him to the US, legal experts told Insider. The US would file its extradition application through the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs, which oversees those requests. In this case, it's not likely that a potential securities fraud case would allow another nation to put terms on its extradition.

☆ Crypto exchange Kraken settles U.S. investigation over alleged Iran sanctions violations
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 28 (Reuters) - Crypto exchange Kraken has agreed to pay a fine to settle civil liability related to apparent violations of sanctions on Iran, the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control said on Monday. As part of the settlement with OFAC, Kraken will pay about $362,000, and "invest an additional $100,000 in certain sanctions compliance controls." "Even before entering into this resolution, Kraken had taken a series of steps to bolster our compliance measures," Santori added. According to the OFAC statement, Kraken's platform processed 826 transactions for users located in Iran between roughly October 2015 to June 2019. In October, the Treasury Department had also fined crypto exchange Bittrex Inc $29 million in fines for "apparent violations" of sanctions on certain countries and anti-money laundering law.

☆ Factbox: U.S. offers new details on plan to cap Russian oil prices
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Crucially, though, the guidance does not yet state what the price cap will be, something that the United States is still hashing out with its partners. Here are key points from the latest guidance:START AND STOP"While shipping and insurance are covered services, these costs are distinct from the price cap on Russian oil," the guidance stated. Any oil purchased or docked after those times, however, will need to adhere to the price cap. In addition, the price cap only applies to the first "landed" sale outside of Russia, meaning the first point at which the cargo comes ashore. They include trading and commodities brokers, and companies involved in financing, shipping, insurance, flagging, and customs brokering.

☆ U.S. watchdog will review FAA oversight of key Boeing 737 MAX features
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - A U.S. government watchdog said on Thursday it will review the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversight of two safety features on the Boeing 737 MAX. The Transportation Department's Office of Inspector General (OIG) said Thursday it will audit the FAA's oversight of the inclusion of MCAS, a key airplane software feature in the 737 MAX design, that was cited as a contributing factor in two fatal MAX crashes that killed 346 people. OIG will also review FAA oversight of the inoperability of Angle of Attack disagree alerts on the majority of the MAX fleet in 2019. Reporting by David Shepardson Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S., UK to deepen cooperation on Russia, other sanctions -statement
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 17 (Reuters) - The United States and Britain will further their cooperation on sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine as well as on other targets, top financial officials for the two allied nations said in a joint statement on Monday. "Over time, we expect to realize the benefits of our collaboration not only in relation to the sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but also across other common sanctions regimes," Andrea Gacki, the head of the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, and Giles Thomson, the head of Britain's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, wrote. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Susan Heavey, Editing by Franklin PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ The Treasury Department’s internal watchdog is looking into how DeSantis paid for migrant flights to Martha’s Vineyard
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is The Evening Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

An internal government watchdog is looking into whether Florida misused federal funds to pay for migrant flights to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, last month under a program backed by Gov. Delmar also said the inspector general’s office would review what restrictions are in place for using the money, including interest earned, for immigration-related activities. Markey, who was among the group that signed on to the Sept. 16 letter demanding a probe, applauded the inspector general in a statement Wednesday. DeSantis has insisted that no laws were broken and pledged to continue his administration’s $12 million program to relocate migrants. "Reviews by Treasury are typical and, as stated by the OIG, are ‘part of its oversight responsibilities.’”NBC News has asked the Treasury Department for comment.

☆ Crypto exchange Bittrex to pay $29-mln penalty to U.S. Treasury Department
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 11 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department said on Tuesday that cryptocurrency exchange Bittrex Inc had agreed to pay $29 mln in fines for "apparent violations" of sanctions on certain countries and anti-money laundering law. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) had levied fines of about $24 million and $29 million, respectively, on Bittrex. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterEffectively, Bittrex will have to pay a penalty of about $29 million. FinCEN said its investigation found that from February 2014 through December 2018, Bittrex did not maintain an effective anti-money laundering program. Bittrex in an emailed statement to Reuters said it was "pleased to have fully resolved" the matter with OFAC and FinCEN on mutually agreeable terms.

☆ U.S. economic growth revised up; gap between GDP and GDI narrows sharply
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The economy contracted 2.8% in 2020, revised up from the previously published 3.4% decline. Revisions showed GDI rebounding 5.5% in 2021, revised down from the previously published 7.3%. The gap between GDI and GDP, also known as the statistical discrepancy, is the sum of measurement errors in estimating the respective components of GDP and GDI. SUBSIDIES A CHALLENGEWith GDP revised higher and GDI lower, the statistical discrepancy narrowed to -0.6% of GDP in 2021. Overall, the GDP revisions to data from the fourth quarter of 2016 through the fourth quarter of 2021 did not change the economic picture.

Trump's lawyers, however, have stopped short of stating in court that he declassified the documents, though they have not conceded that they are classified. Trump's lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Dearie pressed Trump's lawyers to make clear whether they plan to assert that the records had been declassified as Trump claims. Trump's lawyers proposed Dearie to serve as special master. Dearie on Thursday asked trump's lawyers to provide any evidence backing this up.

WASHINGTON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department said on Tuesday some satellite internet equipment can be exported to Iran, suggesting that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk may not need a license to provide the firm's Starlink satellite broadband service in the country. Musk said on Monday the company will ask for an exemption from sanctions against Iran. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterSome people on Twitter had asked Musk to provide the satellite-based internet stations. "For any exports not covered by existing authorizations, OFAC welcomes applications for specific licenses to authorize activities supporting internet freedom in Iran," the statement added. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Kanishka Singh and Daphne Psaledakis in Washington\ Editing by Alistair BellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ A Texas farm owned by one of the US' biggest potato growers paid over $1.3 million in back wages to workers after denying them overtime pay
▼ + stars: | 2022-02-21 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A farm in Texas owned by one of the US' biggest potato growers didn't pay overtime premiums, the DOL found. The DOL says it had since recovered more than $1.3 million in back pay for almost 500 warehouse workers. The Dalhart, Texas farm – operated by Blaine Larsen Farms, one of the US' biggest potato growers – also failed to properly report an outbreak of COVID-19, the DOL said. The department said that it had recovered almost $1.35 million in back wages for the warehouse workers. The labor department said it also investigated Larsen Farms twice in 2020.

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