Latest news with #USJusticeDepartment
The Age
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Age
Australia news LIVE: Labor to introduce student debt cuts and childcare reform; Albanese urged to go greener; Ozzy Osbourne dead at 76
Latest posts Latest posts 6.50am Ghislaine Maxwell to meet justice officials to discuss potential new evidence in Epstein saga By Michael Koziol Ghislaine Maxwell, the former socialite who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for conspiring with her friend Jeffrey Epstein to sexually exploit girls, is set to meet with the US Justice Department to discuss potential new evidence in the sex-trafficking saga. Deputy Attorney-General Todd Blanche – formerly President Donald Trump's lawyer – said he had approached Maxwell's counsel to see if she would speak with prosecutors, and anticipated meeting her 'in the coming days'. Maxwell's lawyer David Oscar Markus confirmed the discussions. The development instantly sparked speculation Trump could pardon Maxwell if she were to provide evidence that did not implicate the president, who is a former friend of Epstein, and whose presence in the so-called Epstein files has long been rumoured. Trump has come under intense pressure over the Epstein case in the past fortnight, especially from his Make America Great Again base, after the Justice Department and FBI said they would not release any more records from the investigation and the case was effectively closed. Trump's new submarine chief a critic of Australia By Michael Koziol The man leading Donald Trump's push to build more ships and submarines is a critic of Australia who has questioned whether Canberra can be trusted to stick with the AUKUS agreement, and whether it is ready to help the United States take on China. Jerry Hendrix, a retired navy captain who holds a senior role in the president's Office of Management and Budget, said last year that 'the Australians have been noticeably fickle' about AUKUS and queried if the deal had true bipartisan support. Meanwhile, with AUKUS under review by the Pentagon, the heads of a US congressional committee on China have written to the Trump administration to defend the agreement, arguing it would 'dramatically enhance' collective efforts to defend against Beijing's aggression. The letter to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is the second time in as many months that members of the US Congress from both sides of politics have written to the former Fox News host to defend AUKUS, underlining fears a US review of the pact will recommend major changes. 6.41am What's making news today By Daniel Lo Surdo Hello and welcome to the national news live blog. My name is Daniel Lo Surdo, and I'll be helming our live coverage this morning. Here's what is making news today: The Albanese government will set forth on executing the legislative agenda promised to voters when it introduces draft laws to reduce student debt and reform childcare on Wednesday. It follows a day of first speeches and ceremonial pomp in Parliament House as federal politicians convened in Canberra for the first time since Labor's crushing election victory in May. Albanese is facing one of his first major policy tests after his historic re-election as a business group led by Andrew Forrest's Fortescue has demanded a 75 per cent cut to Australia's emissions, and Labor's hand-picked climate adviser prepares to tell the government what its 2035 target should be. Ozzy Osbourne has died just weeks after his farewell show, aged 76. The death of the Black Sabbath lead singer has prompted an outpouring of grief from the music industry's biggest names, with Osbourne's family saying the musician was 'surrounded by love' at the time of his passing. The Australian sharemarket is set to rise again after Wall Street was on track to edge to another all-time high in late trading. It comes as US President Donald Trump extended his verbal attack on Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, who Trump thinks has kept interest rates too high, labelling Powell a 'numbskull' who will be 'out pretty soon'.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Australia news LIVE: Labor to introduce student debt cuts and childcare reform; Albanese urged to go greener; Ozzy Osbourne dead at 76
Latest posts Latest posts 6.50am Ghislaine Maxwell to meet justice officials to discuss potential new evidence in Epstein saga By Michael Koziol Ghislaine Maxwell, the former socialite who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for conspiring with her friend Jeffrey Epstein to sexually exploit girls, is set to meet with the US Justice Department to discuss potential new evidence in the sex-trafficking saga. Deputy Attorney-General Todd Blanche – formerly President Donald Trump's lawyer – said he had approached Maxwell's counsel to see if she would speak with prosecutors, and anticipated meeting her 'in the coming days'. Maxwell's lawyer David Oscar Markus confirmed the discussions. The development instantly sparked speculation Trump could pardon Maxwell if she were to provide evidence that did not implicate the president, who is a former friend of Epstein, and whose presence in the so-called Epstein files has long been rumoured. Trump has come under intense pressure over the Epstein case in the past fortnight, especially from his Make America Great Again base, after the Justice Department and FBI said they would not release any more records from the investigation and the case was effectively closed. Trump's new submarine chief a critic of Australia By Michael Koziol The man leading Donald Trump's push to build more ships and submarines is a critic of Australia who has questioned whether Canberra can be trusted to stick with the AUKUS agreement, and whether it is ready to help the United States take on China. Jerry Hendrix, a retired navy captain who holds a senior role in the president's Office of Management and Budget, said last year that 'the Australians have been noticeably fickle' about AUKUS and queried if the deal had true bipartisan support. Meanwhile, with AUKUS under review by the Pentagon, the heads of a US congressional committee on China have written to the Trump administration to defend the agreement, arguing it would 'dramatically enhance' collective efforts to defend against Beijing's aggression. The letter to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is the second time in as many months that members of the US Congress from both sides of politics have written to the former Fox News host to defend AUKUS, underlining fears a US review of the pact will recommend major changes. 6.41am What's making news today By Daniel Lo Surdo Hello and welcome to the national news live blog. My name is Daniel Lo Surdo, and I'll be helming our live coverage this morning. Here's what is making news today: The Albanese government will set forth on executing the legislative agenda promised to voters when it introduces draft laws to reduce student debt and reform childcare on Wednesday. It follows a day of first speeches and ceremonial pomp in Parliament House as federal politicians convened in Canberra for the first time since Labor's crushing election victory in May. Albanese is facing one of his first major policy tests after his historic re-election as a business group led by Andrew Forrest's Fortescue has demanded a 75 per cent cut to Australia's emissions, and Labor's hand-picked climate adviser prepares to tell the government what its 2035 target should be. Ozzy Osbourne has died just weeks after his farewell show, aged 76. The death of the Black Sabbath lead singer has prompted an outpouring of grief from the music industry's biggest names, with Osbourne's family saying the musician was 'surrounded by love' at the time of his passing. The Australian sharemarket is set to rise again after Wall Street was on track to edge to another all-time high in late trading. It comes as US President Donald Trump extended his verbal attack on Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, who Trump thinks has kept interest rates too high, labelling Powell a 'numbskull' who will be 'out pretty soon'.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Ghislaine Maxwell to meet justice officials as lawmakers sent home early to dodge Epstein files vote
Washington: Ghislaine Maxwell, the former socialite who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for conspiring with her friend Jeffrey Epstein to sexually exploit girls, is set to meet with the US Justice Department to discuss potential new evidence in the sex-trafficking saga. Deputy Attorney-General Todd Blanche – formerly President Donald Trump's lawyer – said he had approached Maxwell's counsel to see if she would speak with prosecutors, and anticipated meeting her 'in the coming days'. Maxwell's lawyer David Oscar Markus confirmed the discussions. The development instantly sparked speculation Trump could pardon Maxwell if she were to give evidence that did not implicate the president, who is a former friend of Epstein, and whose presence in the so-called Epstein files has long been rumoured. Trump has come under intense pressure over the Epstein case in the past fortnight, especially from his Make America Great Again base, after the Justice Department and FBI said they would not release any more records from the investigation and the case was effectively closed. Many MAGA supporters believe well-known Americans or members of the liberal elite are embroiled in the Epstein affair, and have demanded the documents be publicly released. Some do not believe the disgraced financier killed himself in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial. The FBI says there is no evidence of foul play. Trump, who denies any knowledge of Epstein's crimes and says the pair fell out in the 2000s, initially said he supported releasing the records. The White House furnished a group of right-wing podcasters and influencers with a select trove of documents in February, but these proved to contain little new information. Since then, Trump has played down the scandal, calling it 'boring' and queried why anyone would still be interested in the Epstein matter. He denounced his own supporters for buying into 'bullshit', and said the Epstein matter was a 'hoax' perpetuated by the Democrats. But amid continuing pressure, he asked Attorney-General Pam Bondi to unseal grand jury transcripts, which represent only a part of the evidence and must be approved by a judge, and release any 'credible' evidence.
The Age
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Age
Ghislaine Maxwell to meet justice officials as lawmakers sent home early to dodge Epstein files vote
Washington: Ghislaine Maxwell, the former socialite who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for conspiring with her friend Jeffrey Epstein to sexually exploit girls, is set to meet with the US Justice Department to discuss potential new evidence in the sex-trafficking saga. Deputy Attorney-General Todd Blanche – formerly President Donald Trump's lawyer – said he had approached Maxwell's counsel to see if she would speak with prosecutors, and anticipated meeting her 'in the coming days'. Maxwell's lawyer David Oscar Markus confirmed the discussions. The development instantly sparked speculation Trump could pardon Maxwell if she were to give evidence that did not implicate the president, who is a former friend of Epstein, and whose presence in the so-called Epstein files has long been rumoured. Trump has come under intense pressure over the Epstein case in the past fortnight, especially from his Make America Great Again base, after the Justice Department and FBI said they would not release any more records from the investigation and the case was effectively closed. Many MAGA supporters believe well-known Americans or members of the liberal elite are embroiled in the Epstein affair, and have demanded the documents be publicly released. Some do not believe the disgraced financier killed himself in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial. The FBI says there is no evidence of foul play. Trump, who denies any knowledge of Epstein's crimes and says the pair fell out in the 2000s, initially said he supported releasing the records. The White House furnished a group of right-wing podcasters and influencers with a select trove of documents in February, but these proved to contain little new information. Since then, Trump has played down the scandal, calling it 'boring' and queried why anyone would still be interested in the Epstein matter. He denounced his own supporters for buying into 'bullshit', and said the Epstein matter was a 'hoax' perpetuated by the Democrats. But amid continuing pressure, he asked Attorney-General Pam Bondi to unseal grand jury transcripts, which represent only a part of the evidence and must be approved by a judge, and release any 'credible' evidence.
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First Post
9 hours ago
- First Post
Chinese-born California researcher pleads guilty to stealing space-based missile tech
The stolen files included blueprints for infrared sensors used in space-based systems to detect nuclear missile launches and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles read more The US Justice Department said Monday (July 21) that a Chinese-born US researcher admitted guilt to stealing trade secrets, including technology for detecting nuclear missile launches. The man, identified as a 59-year-old Chenguang Gong, is a resident of San Jose, California. Gong was charged with transferring over 3,600 files from his employer, a research and development company, to his personal storage devices. In a central California district court, Gong pleaded guilty to one count of theft of trade secrets, facing up to 10 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for September 29. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Having become a US citizen in 2011, Gong briefly worked as an engineer in 2023 at a Los Angeles-area research and development company, which was not named, the Justice Department stated. The stolen files included blueprints for infrared sensors used in space-based systems to detect nuclear missile launches and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles, per the Justice Department. Additionally, Gong took blueprints for sensors enabling US military aircraft to detect incoming heat-seeking missiles and deploy countermeasures. 'The files Gong transferred include blueprints for sophisticated infrared sensors designed for use in space-based systems to detect nuclear missile launches and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles, as well as blueprints for sensors designed to enable US military aircraft to detect incoming heat-seeking missiles and take countermeasures, including by jamming the missiles' infrared tracking ability,' the Justice Department wrote in a press release. Between 2014 and 2022, while employed at various major US technology companies, Gong applied to join Chinese government-funded 'Talent Programs,' the Justice Department noted. These programs aim to recruit individuals with 'expert skills, abilities, and knowledge of advanced sciences and technologies' to bolster China's economy and military capabilities. 'Gong also transferred files containing trade secrets relating to the development of 'next generation' sensors capable of detecting low observable targets while demonstrating increased survivability in space, as well as the blueprints for the mechanical assemblies used to house and cryogenically cool the victim company's sensors. This information was among the victim company's most important trade secrets that are worth hundreds of millions of dollars,' the department noted. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
