Latest news with #UnitedStatesDepartmentofJustice
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Justice Department accuses two Chinese researchers of smuggling 'potential agroterrorism weapon' into US
FILE PHOTO: United States Department of Justice logo and U.S. flag are seen in this illustration taken April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Justice Department accuses two Chinese researchers of smuggling 'potential agroterrorism weapon' into US WASHINGTON - U.S. federal prosecutors have accused two Chinese nationals of smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen that had the potential to be used as an agricultural terrorism weapon into the United States for research. The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday identified the pathogen as Fusarium graminearum, a fungus it said was classified in scientific literature as a potential agroterrorism weapon. In a statement it said that the fungus causes "head blight" in some crops and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses globally each year. According to an FBI criminal complaint, Zunyong Liu, 34, a researcher currently in China, brought the fungus into the United States while visiting his girlfriend, Yunqing Jian, 33, in July 2024. He admitted to smuggling in the fungus so he could conduct research on it at a University of Michigan laboratory where his girlfriend worked, according to the complaint. The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment. According to the complaint, an examination of electronic communications between the two indicated that they discussed shipping biological materials and research being done in the laboratory prior to Liu's arrival. Jian and Liu were accused in the complaint of conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements and visa fraud. Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, said the pair's actions "posed an imminent threat to public safety." Jian was expected to appear in court in Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday. A judge appointed a public defender, who could not be immediately reached for comment, to represent Jian. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Chinese Nationals Smuggled Fungus That Causes Liver Damage Into US: DOJ
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Two Chinese nationals allegedly smuggled in a fungus described as a "potential agroterrorism weapon," a press release issued by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Tuesday said. According to the release, Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, were arrested and face charges of conspiracy, smuggling goods into the country, false statements, as well as visa fraud. The Jian and Lui are a couple, according to the release. The fungus they are charged with smuggling is called fusarium graminearum. It can cause a disease called "head blight" that infects major staple crops such as wheat, barley, maize and rice, the release said. Both humans and animals exposed to fusarium graminearum can experience liver damage, birth defects and vomiting. Jian is accused in the complaint of having "loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party." She was given funding for research on the fungus by the Chinese government. According to the release, Jian's boyfriend Liu has been doing research on the fungus at a Chinese university he works for. Liu is accused of lying about bringing the fungus in through the Detroit Metropolitan airport. Jian is scheduled to appear in court in Detroit on these charges Tuesday. This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Keysight to divest Spirent units to VIAVI as part of US consent agreement
FILE PHOTO: United States Department of Justice logo and U.S. flag are seen in this illustration taken April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo (Reuters) -Electronic equipment maker Keysight Technologies on Tuesday said it will divest Spirent Communications' high-speed ethernet and other business lines to VIAVI Solutions as part of a consent agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. On Monday, the DOJ required Keysight to divest three of Spirent's businesses, including high-speed ethernet, network security, and channel emulation business lines, to address antitrust concerns tied its acquisition of the British telecommunications firm for a purchase originally valued at $1.5 billion. (Reporting by Raechel Thankam Job in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
US requires Keysight to divest tech assets before buying UK-based Spirent
FILE PHOTOS: United States Department of Justice logo and U.S. flag are seen in this illustration taken April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo (Reuters) -The U.S. government will require Keysight Technologies to divest three of Spirent Communications' businesses to resolve antitrust concerns before it buys the British company, a purchase originally valued at $1.5 billion. In filings on Monday in the Washington, D.C., federal court, the U.S. Department of Justice said the divested assets include Spirent's high-speed ethernet testing, network security testing, and radio frequency channel emulation businesses. Keysight said in March it planned to sell those businesses to Viavi Solutions, once known as JDS Uniphase, for as much as $425 million in cash. The Justice Department said Keysight and Spirent together account for 85% of the high-speed ethernet testing market, more than 60% of the network security market, and more than 50% of radio frequency channel emulation. It said a merger without the divestitures might substantially lessen competition and harm customers. Keysight and Spirent did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Based in Santa Rosa, California, Keysight agreed in March 2024 to buy Crawley, U.K.-based Spirent for 1.16 billion British pounds, now about $1.57 billion. Viavi had agreed earlier that month to buy Spirent, but was outbid by Keysight. ($1 = 0.74 pounds) (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Honduran man sentenced for immigration crime in West Virginia
LEWISBURG, WV (WVNS) — A Honduran citizen was sentenced in West Virginia for an immigration crime. According to a press release from the United States Department of Justice, on Thursday, May 29, 2025, 43-year-old Nolvin Alfredo-Diaz, also known as 'Alfredo Diaz' and 'Nolvin Alfredo Diaz,' who was a Honduran citizen, was sentenced to three years in prison for reentry of a removed alien. Honduran man pleads guilty to immigration crime in West Virginia The press release stated that Alfredo-Diaz was illegally living in the Lewisburg area of Greenbrier County, and at the end of his sentence he will be given to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation proceedings. According to the press release, Alfredo-Diaz was arrested in Lewisburg by ICE agents on August 21, 2024, and he revealed that he was in the U.S. illegally and was a Honduran citizen. Alfredo-Diaz also acknowledged that he was deported from the U.S. in the past and that he did not have any documents in his possession that would legally allow him to be in the U.S. The press release stated that Alfredo-Diaz's fingerprints matched two previous removals from the U.S. to Honduras. He was removed from the U.S. on December 27, 2006 after a felony conviction for heroin possession on September 25, 2006 and felony cocaine possession on December 20, 2007, in Denver County, Colorado. Raleigh County man arrested after reportedly rear-ending an unmarked sheriff's car On July 21, 2010, he was found in Canon City, Colorado, and on August 5, 2010 he was removed from the United States to Honduras, according to the press release. The United States Department of Justice's press release stated that Alfredo-Diaz did not have the Secretary of U.S. Homeland Security's permission to reapply for admission to the United States for the previous times he was removed, and he did not look to find other legal ways to reenter the U.S. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston, who thanked the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for their work on the investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
