GOING DEEP BENEATH ANTARTIC ICE TO EXPLORE NEW WORLDS

Photo:  Lake In Anatartica. Credit:  NASA-Ames. Chris McKay.

FROM: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

In a Scientific and Engineering Breakthrough, NSF-funded Team Samples Antarctic Lake Beneath the Ice Sheet
Samples may contain microbes from an ecosystem isolated for thousands of years, with implications for the search for life elsewhere in extreme environments

January 28, 2013
In a first-of-its-kind feat of science and engineering, a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded research team has successfully drilled through 800 meters (2,600 feet) of Antarctic ice to reach a subglacial lake and retrieve water and sediment samples that have been isolated from direct contact with the atmosphere for many thousands of years.

Scientists and drillers with the interdisciplinary Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling project (WISSARD) announced Jan. 28 local time (U.S. stations in Antarctica keep New Zealand time) that they had used a customized clean hot-water drill to directly obtain samples from the waters and sediments of subglacial Lake Whillans.

The samples may contain microscopic life that has evolved uniquely to survive in conditions of extreme cold and lack of light and nutrients. Studying the samples may help scientists understand not only how life can survive in other extreme ecosystems on Earth, but also on other icy worlds in our solar system.

The WISSARD teams' accomplishment, the researchers said, "hails a new era in polar science, opening a window for future interdisciplinary science in one of Earth's last unexplored frontiers."

A massive ice sheet, almost two miles thick in places, covers more than 95 percent of the Antarctic continent. Only in recent decades have airborne and satellite radar and other mapping technologies revealed that a vast, subglacial system of rivers and lakes exists under the ice sheet. Lakes vary in size, with the largest being Vostok Subglacial Lake in the Antarctic interior that is comparable in size to Lake Ontario.

WISSARD targeted a smaller lake (1.2 square miles in area), where several lakes appear linked to each other and may drain to the ocean, as the first project to obtain clean, intact samples of water and sediments from a subglacial lake.

The achievement is the culmination of more than a decade of international and national planning and 3 1/2 years of project preparation by the WISSARD consortium of U.S. universities and two international contributors. There are 13 WISSARD principal investigators representing eight different U.S. institutions.

NSF, which manages the United States Antarctic Program, provided over $10 million in grants as part of NSF's International Polar Year portfolio to support the WISSARD science and development of related technologies.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Cryospheric Sciences Program, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the private Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation also provided support for the project.

The interdisciplinary research team includes groups of experts in the following areas of science: life in icy environments, led by John Priscu, of Montana State University; glacial geology, led by Ross Powell, of Northern Illinois University; and glacial hydrology, led by Slawek Tulaczyk, of the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Sharing of expertise by the groups of disciplinary experts will allow the data collected to be cast in a systemic, global context.

The WISSARD team will now process the water and sediment samples they have collected in hopes of answering seminal questions related to the structure and function of subglacial microbial life, climate history and contemporary ice-sheet dynamics.

Video surveys of the lake floor and measurements of selected physical and chemical properties of the waters and sediments will allow the team to further characterize the lake and its environs.

The approach to drilling was guided by recommendations in the 2007 National Research Council-sponsored report aimed to protect these unique environments from contamination.

A team of engineers and technicians directed by Frank Rack, of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, designed, developed and fabricated the specialized hot-water drill that was fitted with a filtration and germicidal UV system to prevent contamination of the subglacial environment and to recover clean samples for microbial analyses. In addition, the numerous customized scientific samplers and instruments used for this project were also carefully cleaned before being lowered into the borehole through the ice and into the lake.

Following their successful retrieval, the samples are now being carefully prepared for their shipment off the ice and back to laboratories for numerous chemical and biological analyses over the coming weeks and months.

SPACE COMMAND HAS TIPS ON HAVING HEALTHY SUPER BOWL CELEBRATION

From:  Wikimedia.

FROM: U.S. AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND
Keep health, safety during Super Bowl celebration
by Staff Sgt. Julius Delos Reyes
50th Space Wing Public Affairs

1/30/2013 - SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo -- It's that time of the year again when families and friends celebrate an American national "holiday" Feb. 3, filled with merriment and food - the Super Bowl.

Though this year's celebration will pit Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers, fans of the losing teams will still take this opportunity to watch the biggest American sporting event.

As the second largest day for food consumption after Thanksgiving, it is essential for people to take health and safety into consideration, especially when hosting a party, preparing food or going out for a celebration.

"Keep healthy eating in mind and consume food in moderation while having fun," said Staff Sgt. Vanessa Arthur, Schriever Health and Wellness Center NCO in charge. "Have healthy options available because it will encourage people to eat them."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer tips on how to have a safe and healthy Super Bowl celebration.

Food consumption:
- When hosting a party, add healthy snacks to the menu instead of high fat foods. Eat healthy snacks before the celebration to prevent overindulging.
- Include fresh fruits and vegetables, such as apple halves or carrot sticks. There should be a variety in season.
- Many dips and dressings contain far more calories than people think. Limit portions or serve fat free or low fat dips and dressings.
- Offer foods and beverages low in fat, calories, sugars, salt and sodium.
- Serve foods and beverages that can be consumed by people with diabetes or on special diets.
- Consider food safety. Take steps to avoid serving recalled products and follow food safety guidelines to prevent illness.
- Follow rules of food safety: clean, separate, cook and chill.

Alcohol intake:
Alcohol is common during sports celebrations, especially during one of the biggest sporting events.
- Limit alcohol intake. Take steps to prevent guests from driving under the influence of alcohol.
- Only serve alcohol to guests 21 years of age and older.
- Plan ahead. Always designate a non-drinking driver before any party or celebration begins. Find unique ways to reward the driver at the party such as giving them a great spot to watch the game or letting them have the first pass at the table.
- Determine ahead of time when you'll stop serving alcohol, such as one hour before the end of the party or at the end of the third quarter of the game and begin serving coffee and dessert.
- Don't drink and drive or let others drink and drive.
- Be a helpful host by reminding guests to designate a sober driver and offer non-alcoholic beverages.

Safety:
Super Bowl parties can be fun but it's important to pay close attention to things that may cause injury and take precautions.
- Never leave children unattended.
- Avoid wearing clothing or costumes that block vision or restrict movement.
- Make sure pets can handle the excitement before placing them in new or strange situations.
- Never use generators, grills, camp stoves or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning devices inside the house, basement, garage or camper. Even when using these items outdoors, make sure they are not near an open window.
- Have a fire extinguisher nearby when cooking or using a grill in case there's an accidental flare-up.
- Have a first-aid kit in your home and vehicle to handle injuries like small cuts and bruises.
- Wear seatbelts.
- Wear appropriate protective gear when playing a pick-up game or riding bicycles, motorcycles and skateboards.

"It is essential to plan ahead to ensure the safety of the guests," said Tech. Sgt. Sarah Law, 50th Space Wing ground safety manager. "As always, be a wingman. Fans do not let fans drive drunk."

9-11 PRETRIAL ISSUES EXAMINED

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Commission Tackles Complex Pretrial Issues in 9/11 Case
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

FORT MEADE, Md., Jan. 31, 2013 - The judge presiding over pretrial hearings for five defendants charged with orchestrating the 9/11 terrorist attacks ruled today at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, that only he will have the authority to block audio feeds believed to contain classified information.

Army Col. James Pohl, wrapping up the latest round of hearings for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind behind the attacks, and four co-defendants admonished the unnamed "original classification authority" that had activated a censor button in the courtroom earlier this week.

The button sets off a flashing warning light and blocks the audio for anyone observing the proceedings via closed-circuit TV, as well as media who sit behind soundproof glass in the courtroom.

The Jan. 28 incident caught Pohl and others by surprise, and he subsequently ordered that information disclosed during about two minutes of static be admitted to the court record. He also ordered the government to disconnect technology that enables anyone but him and his security officer to activate the mute button.

"This is the last time an [original classification authority] or any third party can decide if it can be unilaterally decided," Pohl decreed. "The pubic has no unfettered right to access classified information. However, the only person who is authorized to close the courtroom is the judge."

Activation of the warning light prompted the defense team to question who may be listening in on and presumably censoring the proceedings, as well as their confidential discussions with their clients. David Nevin, Mohammed's lead defense attorney, submitted an emergency motion to halt the proceedings until the matter is resolved.

He expressed concern that confidential discussions between the defense team and defendants could be jeopardized. During a news conference following today's proceedings, Nevin, as an example of his concern, questioned why guards at the detention facility ask what language defense attorneys will use during meetings with their clients.

Army Brig. Gen. Mark Martins, chief prosecutor for the Office of Military Commissions, explained during the news conference that court feeds are used by court reporters to provide accurate records of the proceedings.

"The prosecution never listens to any confidential communications between the accused and their counsel," he said in a statement. "To do so would be a blatant violation of our professional responsibilities and our oaths to serve justice and would also implicate the court reporters in a breach of their oaths and neutral responsibilities. And let me be clear that there has never been any substantive or credible allegation that the prosecution listens to such conversations."

Navy Cmdr. Walter Ruiz, one of the defense attorneys, called the "invisible hand" that activated the mute button emblematic of the flawed commission system. Ruiz called it a "counterfeit system" that defies America's values, ideals and legal principles.

Much of the week's hearing -- which ran Jan. 28 and 29, recessed during Jan. 30 and wrapped up today -- involved complicated legal issues regarding procedures for the government to provide classified information to the defense team. Before receiving it, the defense must sign a memorandum of understanding agreeing to how that information will be handled.

The defense team also objected to requirements that they submit information about their witnesses in advance, telling Pohl it will disadvantage their cases by giving the prosecution advance notice of the approach they are taking.

Pohl acknowledged that nobody wants "trial by surprise," but ruled that the defense must articulate why they want any particular witness to testify.

In an unusual twist during this week's hearing, the defense attorneys asked Pohl to allow them to spend two nights in Camp 7, where the defendants are detained. They told the judge they hope to get a better sense of the conditions their clients are living under. Pohl did not rule on the request.

In addition to Mohammed, the other defendants are Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi. All five defendants were captured in Pakistan in 2002 and 2003 and have been confined at Guantanamo Bay since 2006.

They were charged during their arraignment in May 2012 with terrorism, conspiracy, attacking civilians, attacking civilian objects, intentionally causing serious bodily injury, murder in violation of the law of war, destruction of property in violation of the law of war, hijacking or hazarding a vessel or aircraft.

The prosecution has since requested that the conspiracy charge be dropped.

Exercising a right clarified earlier this week, all of the defendants opted to skip today's court proceedings. Pohl ruled, however, that they must attend the opening day of their next pretrial hearing Feb. 11.

A trial date has not been set. "Jury selection will take many months," as will the trial itself, Martins told reporters today. That's to be expected in complex criminal prosecutions, "particularly one with this much at stake," he added.

Defense attorney James Connell condemned what he called an uncharacteristically long and cumbersome commission process. He complained to reporters that this week's pretrial hearings, and those before them, had consumed "so much time and so much money," while "accomplishing so little."

Nevin defended the defense team's challenges to the commission system. Doing so, he said, ensures the process remains true to the spirit of U.S. law, seeks to "honor, rather than disrespect" the memory of those killed in the 9/11 attacks.

Family members who lost loved ones during 9/11 were mixed in their impressions of the system. Phyllis Rodriguez, who lost her son Greg on 9/11, told reporters that the case should be tried in U.S. federal court. This would make the process more open and transparent and allow more Americans to see the process, she said.

Rodriguez added that she opposes the death penalty and doesn't want any of the defendants to receive it.

Matthew Selitto, whose son Matthew was killed on 9/11, disagreed, calling Guantanamo Bay the appropriate venue for the commissions. Selitto told reporters he believes the defendants are getting a fair shot at justice. "There are not too many countries in the world today where they would get the chances they are being given," he said.

His wife, Loreen Selitto, said delays in the commission process are hurtful to families. She urged the legal teams to "do your jobs" and "get justice moving."

She said she felt pride seeing the men and women who serve at Guantanamo Bay. It demonstrated "the strength of my country and all you do to serve us," she said.

DEFENSE SECRETARY NOMINEE HAGEL TALKED OF VIETNAM PERSPECTIVE

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Hagel Says Vietnam Shaped Perspective on War
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2013 - Having seen war "from the bottom," President Barack Obama's nominee to be the next secretary of defense said today, that experience informs him as he looks at policy.

Former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel spoke about his experiences in Vietnam during his Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing.

Hagel and his brother Tom served together in Vietnam in 1968. It was the year of the Tet Offensive, and the young infantryman was wounded twice during his tour. "I saw it from the bottom," he said today. "I saw what happens. I saw the consequences and the suffering and horror of war."

More than 16,000 Americans died in Vietnam in 1968. Hagel said his experiences in Vietnam informed the decisions he made as a senator, and will continue to inform him if he is confirmed to succeed retiring Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta.

Hagel used his stance in regard to the surge in Iraq as an example. As a senator, Hagel opposed the surge. He felt it was a mistake, he told the Senate panel today.

"I did question a surge," he said. "It wasn't an aberration to me, ever. I always ask the question, 'Is this going to be worth the sacrifice?' Because there will be sacrifices."

The United States lost almost 1,200 service members during the surge and thousands of others were wounded, Hagel said. "Was it required? Was it necessary?" he asked. "I'm not sure. I'm not that certain that it was required. Now, it doesn't mean I'm right. It doesn't mean I didn't make wrong votes. But that's what guides me."

Questioning the need for a surge goes back to being an Army sergeant walking point in the Mekong Delta, Hagel said. "I'm not shaped, framed, molded, consumed by that experience," he said. "But it's part of me. ... We're all shaped by those experiences."

Hagel said he hopes his experiences in Vietnam will help him if he assumes the top job at the Pentagon. "I hope if I have the privilege of serving as secretary of defense, it will put someone in charge at the Pentagon ... who understands the realities and consequences of war," he said. "It doesn't mean I'm better. But that's who I am. I don't walk away from that."

The United States is the greatest military power on Earth, Hagel said, and America has been judicious and careful with its power.

"I want to make sure we continue to do that, as you all do," Hagel told the senators.

Good people can have honest differences, he told the committee.

"All I can do is my best based on my own experiences," Hagel said, "and ... reaching out, listening, learning, never knowing enough, understanding that circumstances change."

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL RASMUSSEN DISCUSSES SPENDING AT NEWS CONFERENCE

Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Secretary General: Hold Line on Spending, Boost Capabilities
By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2013 - Emerging powers increasing defense spending as NATO allies decrease theirs poses a risk to the alliance's military capacity and political credibility, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in Brussels today.

During a news conference at the alliance's headquarters, Rasmussen said NATO's 28 nations must hold the line on defense spending while working together to close gaps in capabilities.

Though these gaps, potentially widened by the rise of emerging powers, could limit Europe's ability to work with North America, Rasmussen acknowledged that sound fiscal policy also is sound security policy.

"Governments must reduce deficits and borrowing. You can't be safe if you are broke," the secretary general said. "But in turn, our prosperity rests on our security. We have to invest to keep our societies safe, because security threats won't go away while we focus on fixing our economies."

Defense spending decisions now will have an impact on the security of the next generation, the secretary general said.

"There is a price to pay for security," he added, "but the cost of insecurity is unacceptable."

In releasing his annual report, the secretary general highlighted the establishment of Patriot missile batteries to protect more than 3.5 million people against attacks in Turkey as a demonstration of significant improvement in the allies' ability to deploy and sustain forces in recent years.

"We have started this new year with a strong signal of solidarity with Turkey," he said. "This shows NATO's steadfast commitment to the security of allies, and it shows why defense matters."

MAN FROM DOMICAN REPUBLIC SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR ROLE IN IDENTITY TRAFFICKING

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Dominican National Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison for Leading Role in Identity Trafficking Scheme
A Dominican national was sentenced today to 63 months in prison for his leading role in trafficking the identities of Puerto Rican U.S. citizens and corresponding identity documents, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Rosa E. Rodríguez-Vélez of the District of Puerto Rico; Director John Morton of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Chief Postal Inspector Guy J. Cottrell of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Gentry Smith, Acting Director of the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS); and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Chief Richard Weber.

Rafael Joaquin Beltre-Beltre, 36, formerly of Caguas, Puerto Rico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí, in the District of Puerto Rico. In addition to Beltre-Beltre’s prison term, Judge Gelpí ordered him to forfeit $424,793 in illegal proceeds and ordered the removal of Beltre-Beltre from the United States to the Dominican Republic after the completion of his sentence. On Sept. 4, 2012, Beltre-Beltre pleaded guilty in Puerto Rico to one count of conspiracy to commit identification fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling for financial gain and one count of international money laundering.

Beltre-Beltre was charged in a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Puerto Rico on March 22, 2012. To date, a total of 53 individuals have been charged for their roles in the identity trafficking scheme, and 25 defendants have pleaded guilty.

Court documents allege that individuals located in the Savarona area of Caguas, Puerto Rico (Savarona suppliers), obtained Puerto Rican identities and corresponding identity documents. Other conspirators located in various cities throughout the United States (identity brokers) allegedly solicited customers and sold Social Security cards and corresponding Puerto Rico birth certificates for prices ranging from $700 to $2,500 per set. The superseding indictment alleges that identity brokers ordered the identity documents from Savarona suppliers, on behalf of the customers, by making coded telephone calls. The conspirators are charged with using text messages, money transfer services and express, priority or regular U.S. mail to complete their illicit transactions.

Court documents allege that some of the conspirators assumed a Puerto Rican identity themselves and used that identity in connection with the trafficking operation. Their customers allegedly generally obtained the identity documents to assume the identity of Puerto Rican U.S. citizens and to obtain additional identification documents, such as legitimate state driver’s licenses. Some customers allegedly obtained the documents to commit financial fraud and attempted to obtain a U.S. passport.

According to court documents, various identity brokers were operating in Rockford, Ill.; DeKalb, Ill.; Aurora, Ill.; Seymour, Ind.; Columbus, Ind.; Indianapolis; Hartford, Conn.; Clewiston, Fla.; Lilburn, Ga.; Norcross, Ga.; Salisbury, Md.; Columbus, Ohio; Fairfield, Ohio; Dorchester, Mass.; Lawrence, Mass.; Salem, Mass.; Worcester, Mass.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Nebraska City, Neb.; Elizabeth, N.J.; Burlington, N.C.; Hickory, N.C.; Hazelton, Pa.; Philadelphia; Houston; Abingdon, Va.; Albertville, Ala.; and Providence, R.I.

Beltre-Beltre admitted that he operated as a Savarona supplier and was a leader and organizer in the conspiracy. He also admitted that he and his co-conspirators sold personal identifying information pertaining to real Puerto Rican U.S. citizens, including minors, and that he knew some of the identities would be used to commit tax fraud and some would be used to fraudulently apply for U.S. passports. According to court documents, in June 2011, an unauthorized alien in Arlington, Va., applied for a U.S. passport using legitimate Puerto Rico identity documents that had been supplied by Beltre-Beltre. Law enforcement agents uncovered the fraudulent application and prevented the issuance of the U.S. passport.

On Jan. 11, 2012, Beltre-Beltre was arrested and found to be in possession of over 100 legitimate identity documents in other people’s names, in addition to four legitimate but blank Puerto Rico birth certificates. Beltre-Beltre admitted that at the time of his arrest he possessed a firearm with an obliterated serial number in relation to his identity trafficking and alien smuggling operation. Beltre-Beltre is the 12th defendant to be sentenced in this case.

The charges are the result of Operation Island Express, an ongoing, nationally-coordinated investigation led by the ICE-HSI Chicago Office and USPIS, DSS and IRS-CI offices in Chicago, in coordination with the ICE-HSI San Juan Office and the DSS Resident Office in Puerto Rico. The Illinois Secretary of State Police; Elgin, Ill., Police Department; Seymour, Ind., Police Department; and Indiana State Police provided substantial assistance. The ICE-HSI Assistant Attaché office in the Dominican Republic and International Organized Crime Intelligence and Operations Center (IOC-2) as well as various ICE, USPIS, DSS and IRS-CI offices around the country provided invaluable assistance.

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys James S. Yoon, Hope S. Olds, Courtney B. Schaefer and Christina Giffin of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, with the assistance of Acting Assistant Deputy Chief Jeannette Gunderson of the Criminal Division’s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, and the support of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Indiana, District of Connecticut, District of Massachusetts, District of Nebraska, Middle District of North Carolina, Southern District of Ohio, District of Rhode Island, Southern District of Texas and Western District of Virginia provided substantial assistance.

EPA PROPOSES 2013 PERCENTAGE STANDARDS FOR FOUR FUEL CATEGORIES

FROM U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
EPA Proposes 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing the 2013 percentage standards for four fuel categories that are part of the agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS2).

The proposal announced today will be open for a 45-day public comment period and EPA will consider feedback from a range of stakeholders before the proposal is finalized. EPA continues to support the use of renewable fuels within the transportation sector through the RFS2 program, which encourages innovation, strengthens American energy security, and decreases greenhouse gas pollution.

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) established the RFS2 program and the annual renewable fuel volume targets, which steadily increase to an overall level of 36 billion gallons in 2022. To achieve these volumes, EPA calculates a percentage-based standard for the following year. Based on the standard, each refiner and importer determines the minimum volume of renewable fuel that it must ensure is used in its transportation fuel.

The proposed 2013 overall volumes and standards are:

Biomass-based diesel (1.28 billion gallons; 1.12 percent)
Advanced biofuels (2.75 billion gallons; 1.60 percent)
Cellulosic biofuels (14 million gallons; 0.008 percent)
Total renewable fuels (16.55 billion gallons; 9.63 percent)

Overall, EPA’s RFS2 program encourages greater use of renewable fuels, including advanced biofuels. For 2013, the program is proposing to implement EISA’s requirement to blend more than 1.35 billion gallons of renewable fuels over the amount mandated for 2012.

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND GLOBAL ADVANCEMENT OF RIGHTS FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Presidential Memorandum on Promoting Gender Equality and Empowering Women and Girls Globally
Press Statement
Washington, DC
January 31, 2013
　

The Obama Administration has made it clear that advancing the rights of women and girls is critical to the foreign policy of the United States. This is a matter of national security as much as it is an issue of morality or fairness. President Obama’s National Security Strategy explicitly recognizes that "countries are more peaceful and prosperous when women are accorded full and equal rights and opportunity. When those rights and opportunities are denied, countries lag behind."

That’s why I’m so pleased about the Presidential Memorandum that President Obama signed yesterday, which institutionalizes an elevated focus on global women’s issues at the State Department and USAID and ensures coordination on these issues across the federal government. And it is so important that incoming Secretary of State John Kerry has expressed his support for the continued elevation of these issues in our foreign policy.

As I have said many times, protecting and advancing the rights of women are critical to solving virtually every challenge we face as individual nations and as a community of nations. We have made great progress, but there is more to do. This is the unfinished business of the 21st Century, and it is essential that it remains central to our foreign policy for years to come.

SBA SAYS HURRICANE SANDY LOAN APPROVALS EXCEED $1 BILLION

FROM: U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
SBA Hurricane Sandy Loan Approvals Surpass $1 Billion As Congress Makes Additional Funds Available for Recovery

WASHINGTON – Less than 90 days after Hurricane Sandy struck, the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $1.1 billion in disaster loans to 16,800 residents and businesses in the federally declared states affected by the storm. This milestone comes as Congress passed emergency legislation that will add $799 million to SBA’s disaster assistance program budget to help meet the demand for loans from Hurricane Sandy and future disasters.

"Getting money into the hands of individuals and businesses in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy continues to be one of our top priorities," said SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills. "My pledge to those affected by the hurricane is that SBA, working together with our local and federal partners, will help you rebuild. I am pleased Congress took the important step of appropriating much-needed funds to help us keep our promise."

Here’s how the supplemental appropriations will be used:

* $520 million for disaster loan subsidy costs, which would support $5 billion in SBA low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profit organizations;

* $249 million to cover the administrative costs of SBA disaster loan making and servicing;

* $20 million to support SBA’s resource partners—the Small Business Development Centers, SCORE, Women’s and Veterans Business Development Centers—as they provide assistance to businesses rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy;

* $10 million for additional administrative expenses, which include IT security and financial management costs related to SBA’s Hurricane Sandy response.

In terms of SBA disaster lending, Hurricane Sandy is the third largest disaster in U.S. history, followed by Hurricanes Katrina/Rita/Wilma (Aug./Sept. 2005, $10.8 billion) and the Northridge (CA) earthquake (Jan. 1994, $4 billion). The SBA currently has a disaster staff of 2,400 supporting the Hurricane Sandy response in seven states (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina) and Puerto Rico, as well as assisting in recovery efforts for other disasters nationwide.

Stress and the heart

Stress and the heart

USO PERFORMER IS DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN

Marine Corps Cpl. Rocio Sanchez left her career as a singer to enlist in the Marine Corps and is deployed to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. Marine Corps Cpl. Rocio Sanchez left her career as a singer to enlist in the Marine Corps and is deployed to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Deploys to Afghanistan
By Marine Corps Cpl. Timothy Lenzo
Regional Command Southwest

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan, Jan. 28, 2013 - Three years ago, Marine Corps Cpl. Rocio Sanchez was entertaining troops in Iraq with her vocals during USO shows. Now she is serving as an electronic key management systems clerk here.

"I traded in my high heels for combat boots and my microphone for an M-16," said Sanchez, currently deployed with Retrograde and Redeployment in support of Regional Command Southwest's Reset and Reconstitution Operational Group. "In May 2009, we went out to Iraq for a two-week tour."

Sanchez, from South Gate, Calif., already had made her decision to join the Marines before the tour. She joined the Marine Corps delayed entry program earlier that year.

"Looking back on it, I was sort of living a double life," Sanchez said. "I was doing the [pre-enlistment] functions, and at the same time preparing for the tour as a performer."

Shortly after the tour, Sanchez informed her band that she was joining the Marine Corps.

"I told my band I was sorry, but I had to do this," she said. "Since I was a little girl, I always wanted to be in the military, just like I had wanted to be a singer. I wanted to be four things when I was little: a teacher, a singer, a Marine and a police officer. I've done the first three so far."

Sanchez said she's met only one person who recognized her from her Iraq performance tour. While she was at Marine Corps recruit training, a drill instructor who had been in Iraq and attended her USO concert noticed her. Her commanding officer, Marine Corps Col. James Clark, said he was at one of the bases Sanchez visited, but that he did not attend the concert.

"From what I understand, she's a very good singer, but I know for a fact that she's a very good Marine," Clark said.

Many Marines are surprised to hear Sanchez was a USO performer -- until they hear her sing. "I heard her sing in church, and I told her maybe she should go on one of those shows, like 'The Voice,' and that's when the story came out," said Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Mark Neil, electronic key management system manager.

Sanchez no longer gets on a stage for service members, but that does not keep her from singing.

"Her voice is beautiful," said Neil, from San Diego. "She also sings around the office. I told her we are happy to have her in the Marine Corps, but I thought she could have made it as a singer."

Sanchez deployed to Afghanistan only a couple months after her first child, David Sanchez III, was born. Giving up a career as a singer was hard, she said, but leaving her son was harder.

"I left him when he was 6 months old," Sanchez said. "He couldn't even sit up by himself. That was the hardest thing I'd ever done in my life." David is at home with Marine Corps Sgt. David Sanchez Jr., Sanchez's husband a military policeman with the provost marshal's office at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.

For the singer-turned-Marine, deploying to Afghanistan was a necessity to grow as a leader and a Marine. When the opportunity came, she said, she jumped at the chance.

"I need to better myself in order to lead others," she explained. "I have to have that experience. I decided to join the Marine Corps, and I take responsibility for my job. I wasn't afraid to deploy, because I knew it was part of the job."

Sanchez has stepped into her job at Camp Leatherneck and has impressed the Marines around her with her maturity and work ethic.

"She hasn't missed a beat," said Clark, from Tollesboro, Ky. "She's been highly professional out here, and I'm really thankful she was willing to come. She's just a tremendous young lady, and someone the junior Marines can look up to. She is a great example of what hard work and dedication will get you."

BP EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION INC., TO PAY $4 BILLION FOR CRIMES RELATED TO DEEPWATER HORIZON DISASTER

Photo Credit:  NOAA

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Tuesday, January 29, 2013

BP Exploration and Production Inc. Pleads Guilty, Is Sentenced to Pay Record $4 Billon for Crimes Surrounding Deepwater Horizon Incident

Court Accepts Guilty Plea to Felony Manslaughter, Environmental Crimes and Obstruction of Congress Prior to Imposing Historic Sentence

BP Exploration and Production Inc. pleaded guilty today to 14 criminal counts for its illegal conduct leading to and after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, and was sentenced to pay $4 billion in criminal fines and penalties, the largest criminal resolution in U.S. history, Attorney General Holder announced today.

"Today’s guilty plea and sentencing represent a significant step forward in the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to seek justice on behalf of those affected by one of the worst environmental disasters in American history," said Attorney General Holder. "I’m pleased to note that more than half of this landmark resolution – which totals $4 billion in penalties and fines, and represents the single largest criminal resolution ever – will help to provide direct support to Gulf Coast residents as communities throughout the region continue to recover and rebuild."

"The Deepwater Horizon explosion was a national tragedy that resulted in the senseless deaths of 11 people and immense environmental damage," said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. "Through the tenacious work of the Task Force, BP has received just punishment for its crimes leading up to and following the explosion. The Justice Department will keep a watchful eye on BP’s compliance with the plea agreement’s terms, including the requirements of full cooperation with the department’s ongoing criminal investigation, implementation of enhanced safety protocols and adherence to the recommendations of two newly installed monitors. Should BP fail to comply, we will act swiftly and firmly."

BP’s guilty plea was accepted, and the sentence was imposed, by U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance of the Eastern District of Louisiana. During the guilty plea and sentencing proceeding, Judge Vance found, among other things, that the consequential fines imposed under the plea agreement far exceed any imposed in U.S. history, and are structured so that BP will feel the full brunt of the penalties. She also noted that the agreement provides just punishment and significant deterrence, requiring detailed drilling safeguards, monitors and other stringent, special conditions of probation so that BP’s future conduct will be closely watched.

BP pleaded guilty to each count charged in an information filed in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana, including 11 counts of felony manslaughter, one count of felony obstruction of Congress and violations of the Clean Water and Migratory Bird Treaty Acts. In its guilty plea today, BP admitted that, on April 20, 2010, the two highest-ranking BP supervisors onboard the Deepwater Horizon, known as BP’s "Well Site Leaders" or "company men," negligently caused the deaths of 11 men and the resulting oil spill. The company also admitted that on that evening, the two well site leaders observed clear indications that the Macondo well was not secure and that oil and gas were flowing into the well, but chose not to take obvious and appropriate steps to prevent the blowout. Additionally, BP admitted that as a result of the Well Site Leaders’ conduct, control of the Macondo well was lost, resulting in catastrophe.

BP also admitted during its guilty plea that the company, through a senior executive, obstructed an inquiry by the U.S. Congress into the amount of oil being discharged into the Gulf while the spill was ongoing. BP also admitted that the senior executive withheld documents, provided false and misleading information in response to the U.S. House of Representatives’ request for flow-rate information, manipulated internal estimates to understate the amount of oil flowing from the well and withheld data that contradicted BP’s public estimate of 5,000 barrels of oil per day. At the same time that the senior executive was preparing his manipulated estimates, BP admitted, the company’s internal engineering response teams were using sophisticated methods that generated significantly higher estimates. The Flow Rate Technical Group, consisting of government and independent scientists, later concluded that more than 60,000 barrels per day were leaking into the Gulf during the relevant time, contrary to BP’s representations to Congress.

According to the sentence imposed by Judge Vance pursuant to the plea agreement, more than $2 billion dollars will directly benefit the Gulf region. By order of the court, approximately $2.4 billion of the $4.0 billion criminal recovery is dedicated to acquiring, restoring, preserving and conserving – in consultation with appropriate state and other resource managers – the marine and coastal environments, ecosystems and bird and wildlife habitat in the Gulf of Mexico and bordering states harmed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This portion of the criminal recovery is also to be directed to significant barrier island restoration and/or river diversion off the coast of Louisiana to further benefit and improve coastal wetlands affected by the oil spill. An additional $350 million will be used to fund improved oil spill prevention and response efforts in the Gulf through research, development, education and training.

BP was also sentenced to five years of probation – the maximum term of probation permitted under law. The company is also required, according to the order entered by the court pursuant to the plea agreement, to retain a process safety and risk management monitor and an independent auditor, who will oversee BP’s process safety, risk management and drilling equipment maintenance with respect to deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. BP is also required to retain an ethics monitor to improve its code of conduct to ensure BP’s future candor with the U.S. government.

The charges and allegations pending against individuals in related cases are merely accusations, and those individuals are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The guilty plea and sentence announced today are part of the ongoing criminal investigation by the Deepwater Horizon Task Force into matters related to the April 2010 Gulf oil spill. The Deepwater Horizon Task Force, based in New Orleans, is supervised by Assistant Attorney General Breuer and led by Deputy Assistant Attorney General John D. Buretta, who serves as the director of the task force.

U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK GUARANTEES LOAN TO FINANCE SOLAR-MODULE EXPORTS TO MEXICO

One of the smaller step pyramids at the massive archaeological site of Teotihuacan (approximately 40km or 25mi northeast of Mexico City). Credit: CIA World Factbook.

FROM: U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
Ex-Im Bank Approves $780,000 Loan Guarantee To Finance U.S. Solar-Module Exports to Mexican Rooftop Solar-Power Project

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A U.S. solar-module manufacturer and a Mexican company are both benefiting from the support of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank). In a recently approved transaction, Ex-Im Bank will guarantee a $780,000, 10-year loan to be made by UPS Capital Business Credit to finance the export of photovoltaic (PV) solar modules from Suniva Inc. in Norcross, Ga., to a rooftop solar-power project of Grupo Metal Intra S.A.P.I. de C.V. (GMI). GMI is a leader in Mexico’s prefabricated-building industry.

The transaction is being made possible by utilizing medium-term buyer financing that is available to support smaller-scale renewable-energy projects in Mexico and in most other countries.

"With this authorization, Ex-Im Bank is continuing its strong support for Suniva’s high-efficiency exports that are sustaining high-quality jobs in Georgia," said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. "Our financing also benefits GMI, which will reap clean-energy savings for years to come. We hope to support many more such projects in Mexico and around the world."

Another GMI company, Intragreen Tecnología Sustenable, S.A.P.I. de C.V., will integrate the solar project and act as the provider of local services, including the project’s installation and connection to the grid. Ex-Im Bank’s medium-term guarantee will also support approximately $130,000 of related local costs.

The 500-kilowatt roof-top solar power project will be placed on the roof of GMI’s main production plant in the city of Querétaro. The project will be one of the largest rooftop solar-energy facilities in Mexico.

Since 2007, Suniva has used Ex-Im Bank’s buyer financing and working capital guarantees to support its exports to global markets that include Europe, India, Mexico and other countries in Latin America. Ex-Im’s financing has helped to sustain 190 jobs at Suniva’s manufacturing facility in Norcross, Ga.

"Suniva is very proud to partner with a leading and visionary organization like GMI/Intragreen in Mexico," said Suniva Chairman and CEO John Baumstark. "It is most fitting that the first major export and installation of our modules in Mexico is utilizing a guarantee from the U.S. Export-Import Bank with which we have a longstanding and valuable relationship."

"GMI has a long history of innovation and leadership in construction technology. Through our Intragreen subsidiary, we are continuing that tradition in renewable energy. We are grateful that Suniva, UPS Capital and Ex-Im Bank have joined us as a vital part of that vision," said Oscar Peralta Navarrete, chairman of the board of GMI.

Suniva’s technology was selected due to its high-efficiency rate of more than 16 percent at the module level that produces more power on limited surface areas. Suniva is also providing racking and inverters. The solar project is expected to generate 50 percent of GMI’s electricity needs and reduce GMI’s overall energy costs by at least 15 percent annually. GMI estimates that the energy savings will repay the investment in the solar panels in about seven years, while reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 677 tons per year.

Suniva is a U.S. manufacturer of high-efficiency crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) solar cells and high-power solar modules. Headquartered in the metropolitan Atlanta area, Suniva sells its advanced PV cells and modules globally. The company evolved from the work of Dr. Ajeet Rohatgi at the University Center of Excellence for Photovoltaics Research and Education (UCEP) at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

WOUNDED WARRIOR IS DOUBLE ARM TRANSPLANT PATIENT

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
DOD Program Gives New Hope to Double Arm Transplant Patient
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2013 - As a wounded warrior who lost all four limbs in Iraq shared news of his successful double-arm transplant yesterday, officials at the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine, which funded the research making it possible, say the investment will continue to bear fruit in giving new hope to wounded warriors.

Army Spc. Brendan Marrocco appeared yesterday with his medical team, led by Dr. W.P. Andrew Lee, chair of Johns Hopkins Hospital's plastic and reconstructive surgery department, to announce the successful Dec. 18 double transplant at the Baltimore hospital.

"I really don't know what to say, because it is such a big thing for my life," 26-year-old Marrocco told reporters as he demonstrated his ability to move his new left arm. His right arm has limited movement, but Marrocco said he's hoping to get more soon.

Standing proudly alongside other members of the surgical team was one of his surgeons, Navy Lt. Cmdr. (Dr.) Patrick L. Basile of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Basile is assistant chief and director of microsurgery and supervisor for rotating medical students at Walter Reed's plastic and reconstructive surgery department.

Marrocco, who enlisted in the Army in January 2008, deployed to Iraq nine months later with the 25th Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade, Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Regiment. He and his fellow soldiers had completed a night mission and were returning to Forward Operating Base Summerall on April 12, 2009, when their armored vehicle has hit by an explosively formed projectile -- a roadside bomb designed specifically to pierce armor.

The explosion, which severed Marrocco's carotid artery and severed all of his limbs, also killed one soldier and wounded another.

Quickly medevaced through Iraq to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and on to Walter Reed, Marrocco became one of the first quadruple amputees of the conflict to survive his wounds.

He had been wearing prosthetic limbs before the 13-hour surgery, the first of its kind at Johns Hopkins and only the seventh in the United States. His rehabilitation will continue for years, his surgical team explained, as his nerves slowly regenerate – one inch per month – and he gains the ability to use and control the arms and hands.

"I feel like I got a second chance to start over after I got hurt," Marrocco told reporters yesterday. "If feels amazing. It's something I was waiting for for a long time."

Excitement about the successful transplant, and its implications for other wounded warriors, rippled through the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command at Fort Detrick, Md., home of the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine. The Defense Department launched AFIRM in 2008 to advance research to treat wounded warriors suffering traumatic injuries, explained Army Col. (Dr.) John Scherer, director of the clinical and rehabilitative medicine research program.

One of the goals was to promote transplant procedures that were being conducted overseas, but typically not in the United States, he said. "We wanted to move the scientific field forward to make this an option, not only for wounded service members, but for anyone who may benefit from such a surgery," Scherer said.

Five years after AFIRM was established, Scherer said, he's excited to see that effort pay off in ways that can transform people's lives.

"This goes to the commitment we have to always do our best to do whatever we can to improve the care they get," he said. "This is pushing the boundaries of clinical medicine to improve on that care," he added, particularly when compared with options available just a few years ago.

AFIRM stands as a testament to America's pledge to stand by its wounded warriors, Scherer said.

"It is our duty to do whatever we can to repair these very severe injuries, to push the boundaries of medicine and to say, 'What we are doing currently is not good enough until we can actually restore the function of the tissue of the hand or arm that was lost,'" he said. "That is our main goal: to make that individual whole again and to do whatever we can, medically, to get there."

AFIRM is managed and funded through the Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, with additional funding from the Navy's Office of Naval Research, the Air Force Surgeon General's Office; the Department of Defense Office of Health Affairs; National Institutes of Health and the Veterans Affairs Department.

Their initial $100 million investment, spread over five years, has nearly tripled with local public and private matching funds, Scherer said.

REPUBLIC OF NARU'S INDEPENDENCE DAY

 

Map:  Republic Of Naru.  Credit:  CIA World Factbook.

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Republic of Nauru's Independence Day
Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
January 29, 2013

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of the Republic of Nauru on the 45th anniversary of your Independence this January 31.

Our two countries share a long history of friendship and cooperation on a broad range of issues, from strengthening regional security, to mitigating the environmental threats posed by climate change, to protecting fisheries and wildlife. Today, we are working together to strengthen democracy and build bridges of respect and friendship between nations around the world.

As you celebrate this special day, know that the United States stands with you in the spirit of our shared values and continuing cooperation. Congratulations and warmest wishes for peace and prosperity in the year to come.

Locator Map Of The Republic Of Naru.  Credit:  CIA World Factbook.

 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM CIA WORLD FACTBOOK

The exact origins of the Nauruans are unclear since their language does not resemble any other in the Pacific. Germany annexed the island in 1888. A German-British consortium began mining the island's phosphate deposits early in the 20th century. Australian forces occupied Nauru in World War I; it subsequently became a League of Nations mandate. After the Second World War - and a brutal occupation by Japan - Nauru became a UN trust territory. It achieved independence in 1968 and joined the UN in 1999 as the world's smallest independent republic

RECENT U.S. NAVY PHOTOS

 

FROM: U.S. NAVY
The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) fires a Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) during a live-fire exercise. Kearsarge is conducting amphibious squadron/Marine expeditionary unit integration in preparation for a scheduled deployment this spring. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Tamara Vaughn (Released) 130126-N-RJ834-189

An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from the Eightballers of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8 picks up stores from the Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10) during a vertical replenishment with the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions for Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kenneth Abbate (Released) 130129-N-OY799-111

 

SECRETARY OF STATE CLINTON'S REMARKS AT SIGNING OF DECLARATION OF LEARNING

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Remarks at Signing of the Declaration of Learning
Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Ben Franklin Room
Washington, DC
January 30, 2013
　

Thank you. Thank you all very, very much. This is one of the last events that I will have the great honor of doing as Secretary of State, and I can’t imagine a more important one, because of what this means for our ability to reach out and connect with not only our own students, but all of our citizens and people across the world.

I want to thank Marcee for her stewardship of the Diplomatic Reception Rooms. I want to thank Ambassador Capricia Marshall, our Head of Protocol. They have spearheaded what we call the Patrons of Diplomacy, and a number of you were part of that campaign and generously supported it. With your help, we established a permanent endowment to care for these rooms and their collections. And today, we launch this partnership to share them with the world.

Now, we have the centerpiece of the Diplomatic Reception Rooms here, as Marcee was telling you – the desk on which our founders signed the Treaty of Paris, ending the Revolutionary War with Britain and forever sealing our independence. Now, we rarely move this desk – (laughter) – from its spot in the John Quincy Adams Room just two doors away. We never move it off the
8th floor. We spent more time worrying about moving the desk – (laughter) – than we have probably on anything else in the last month.

So unfortunately, except for the thousands who availed themselves of the wonderful tours that we run here, very few people have actually seen it for themselves. But the Declaration of Learning I am about to sign will help transport the story and the significance of this desk along with many other pieces of our history to anyone with an internet connection.

Now, for educators, this partnership will offer valuable resources for students and all the lifelong learners out there. It will help bring history to life and, we hope, inspire them to learn and achieve even more. Some of the students who will explore the Diplomatic Reception Rooms online may even become interested in a career in diplomacy. So I want to thank all the institutions that are active partners in this ambitious initiative, the leaders who have committed the time and resources, and the many team members who will help make this goal a reality.

And I particularly want to thank all of our Patrons of Diplomacy. You really saw our vision. You have worked to realize that vision. We are immensely grateful. And our partners have selected diplomacy as the first topic for this collaboration because, after all, diplomacy is not something that is confined to the State Department or reserved for special occasions. In this complicated, connected world, diplomacy is a daily practical occurrence. It’s about people learning from each other and building understandings through the kinds of interactions that happen millions of times each day in person and online. In fact, I think we need to practice diplomacy from the lunch table to the board room to the government offices.

These rooms hold special significance for me. They have certainly been the backdrops for hundreds of diplomatic initiatives and celebrations and events every year. I’ve greeted heads of state, royalty, a fair number of celebrities. We’ve hosted peace talks, we’ve held strategic dialogues, we’ve opened the doors of the State Department to people from all over the world. And every time I see Ben Franklin up there watching over us, I’m reminded of the deep diplomatic history that we have built from our very beginnings. So it’s been a tremendous honor for me to be part of that history and to share the stories and even some of the lessons of American diplomacy with a global audience.

So now, I’d like to invite the leaders of our 13 institutional partners to stand with me as I sign this Declaration of Learning. We’ll take some pictures. After I sign it, we’ll all be able to take a deep collective breath out because the desk will be fine. (Laughter.) That is our plan and what we have prepared for, but please join me.

(The declaration was signed.)

FDIC WARNS CONSUMERS OF FRAUDULENT E-MAILS

FROM:  FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
E-mail Claiming to Be From the FDIC – January 30, 2013

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has received numerous reports of fraudulent e-mails that have the appearance of being sent from the FDIC. While the e-mails exhibit variations in the "From" and "Subject" lines, the messages are similar. The fraudulent e-mails are addressed to the attention of the “Accounting Department” and meant to notify recipients that that that “ACH and WIRE transactions” are being blocked until “a special security software” is installed. They then instruct recipients to go to a Web site for instructions on how to download the necessary files by clicking on a hyper-link provided (Note: the Web site addresses (URL) vary widely). This e-mail and link are fraudulent. Recipients should consider the intent of this e-mail as an attempt to collect personal or confidential information, or to load malicious software onto end users' computers. Recipients should not click on the link provided. The FDIC does not issue unsolicited e-mails to consumers or business account holders.

Daily Press Briefing - January 30, 2013

Daily Press Briefing - January 30, 2013

EPA BANNING POPULAR RODENT CONTROL PRODUCTS

Rat Looking For A Home.  Credit:  Wikimedia.

FROM: U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
EPA Moves to Ban 12 D-Con Mouse and Rat Control Products
Action Will Prevent Thousands of Accidental Exposures Among Children Each Year

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is moving to ban the sale of 12 D-Con mouse and rat poison products produced by Reckitt Benckiser Inc. because these products fail to comply with current EPA safety standards. Approximately 10,000 children a year are accidentally exposed to mouse and rat baits; EPA has worked cooperatively with companies to ensure that products are both safe to use around children and effective for consumers. Reckitt Benckiser Inc., maker of D-Con brand products, is the only rodenticide producer that has refused to adopt EPA’s safety standards for all of its consumer use products.

"Moving forward to ban these products will prevent completely avoidable risks to children, said James Jones, acting assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. "With this action, EPA is ensuring that the products on the market are both safe and effective for consumers."

The agency has worked with a number of companies during the last five years to develop safer rodent control products that are effective, affordable, and widely available to meet the needs of consumers. Examples of products meeting EPA safety standards include Bell Laboratories’ Tomcat products, PM Resources’ Assault brand products and Chemsico’s products.

The EPA requires rodenticide products for consumer use to be contained in protective tamper-resistant bait stations and prohibits pellets and other bait forms that cannot be secured in bait stations. In addition, the EPA prohibits the sale to residential consumers of products containing brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difethialone, and difenacoum because of their toxicity to wildlife.

For companies that have complied with the new standards in 2011, EPA has received no reports of children being exposed to bait contained in bait stations. EPA expects to see a substantial reduction in exposures to children when the 12 D-Con products that do not comply with current standards are removed from the consumer market as millions of households use these products each year.