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Review: In a fierce novel about Appalachia, the handlers are worse than the snakes

Amy Jo Burns' novel, "Shiner," illuminates an Appalachia whose men "pray for God to show Himself while our wives wash their husbands' underpants."




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Joe Exotic Signs Deal For Fashion Line, Merch Sells Out Immediately

Joe Exotic is getting some sweet revenge as the face of a new fashion line ... because the "REVENGE" collection is already selling like hotcakes!!! The 'Tiger King' star officially signed a deal with streetwear brand Odaingerous April 30, and his…




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Friday Feedback: Undercutting the DEA

Experts react to role of distributors, legislation in opioid crisis




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Merck names Doina Ionescu as UK and Ireland general manager

Dr Mike England joins as medical director for UK & ROI




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Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Announces Teleconference Forum with FTC Chairman Simons on May 11

Washington, D.C. – Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) today announced that the Subcommittee will hold a teleconference forum on Monday, May 11, at 12 p.m. (EDT) with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Joseph J. Simons to discuss critical consumer protection issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant consumer protection concerns that fall under the purview of the FTC, including COVID-19 related scams, price gouging, privacy and data security issues, and more,” Schakowsky and McMorris Rodgers said.  “We look forward to hearing from Chairman Simons about the steps FTC is taking to ensure consumers are protected during this pandemic.”      This forum is open to the press.  Credentialed reporters interested in listening to the forum live should RSVP to Evan.Gilbert@mail.house.gov by 5 pm on Friday, May 8.   ###




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Almac Discovery collaborates with Merck on DUB targets

The partnership will focus on generating novel small-molecule inhibitors against specific DUB targets for treatment of a range of diseases.




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Supercomputer simulations present potential active substances against coronavirus

Several drugs approved for treating hepatitis C viral infection were identified as potential candidates against COVID-19, a new disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. This is the result of research based on extensive calculations using the MOGON II supercomputer at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU). One of the most powerful computers in the world,




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BRIEF—Merck invests in AI chip start-up SynSense

Germany’s science and technology company Merck KGaA today announced its investment in SynSense (formerly…



  • China/Companies
  • mergers and acquisitions/Digital Pharma/Germany/Merck KGaA/Pharmaceutical/Switzerland/SynSense

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FiercePharmaAsia—Gilead's Japanese remdesivir nod, licensing talks; Lilly-Junshi COVID-19 antibody pact

Gilead Sciences' remdesivir, now called Veklury, has won a fast Japanese nod in SARS-CoV-2. The Big Biotech's scouting licensing partners to ramp up supply around the world. Eli Lilly has signed on China's Junshi Biosciences to develop neutralizing antibodies against the novel coronavirus. And more.




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Five Maryland Commercial Fishermen Plead Guilty to Illegally Overfishing Striped Bass

Five St. Mary’s County, Md., commercial fisherman pleaded guilty today to illegally overfishing striped bass also known as rockfish.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Houston’s Methodist Hospital to Pay U.S. More Than $9 Million to Resolve Allegations of Overcharging Medicare

Methodist Hospital in Houston has agreed to pay the United States $9.99 million to settle allegations that it defrauded the federal Medicare program. The settlement resolves allegations that Methodist improperly increased charges to Medicare patients in order to obtain enhanced reimbursement from Medicare.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Mexican Man Sentenced to 24 Years for Sex Trafficking of Minors and Transportation for the Purpose of Commercial Sex

Jorge Flores-Rojas, 44, an undocumented Mexican national, was sentenced to 24 years in prison by Chief Judge Robert J. Conrad, Jr. in Charlotte, N.C., for two counts of sex trafficking of minors and one count of interstate transportation of an adult for purposes of commercial sex. Flores-Rojas pled guilty to the charges on Oct. 7, 2008.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Two More Commercial Fisherman Plead Guilty to Illegal Harvesting of Rockfish

Two commercial fisherman pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Md., to violations of the Lacey Act, the federal law that prohibits individuals from transporting, selling or buying illegally harvested fish, in this case striped bass or rockfish.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Maryland Commercial Fisherman Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Harvesting of Rockfish

Thomas L. Hallock, a commercial fisherman licensed in Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Md., to 12 months in prison, for illegally overfishing striped bass also known as rockfish. He was also fined $4,000 and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $40,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to the benefit of the Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass Restoration Account.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Owner of Korean Commercial Cargo Vessel & Chief Engineer Plead Guilty to Marine Pollution Related Charges

STX Pan Ocean Co. Ltd. (STX), headquartered in Seoul, Korea, and the owner of the commercial cargo ship, M/V Ocean Jade, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy as well as falsifying and failing to properly maintain records meant to ensure compliance with maritime pollution laws. The chief engineer of the M/V Ocean Jade, Hong Hak Kang, a Korean citizen, also pleaded guilty today to failing to maintain environmental records and making false statements.



  • OPA Press Releases

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More Commercial Fishermen Sentenced for Illegal Harvesting of Rockfish

Three more commercial fishermen were sentenced this week in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Md., for illegally harvesting and under-reporting their catch of striped bass, also known as rockfish. The sentencings are part of the on-going prosecution of individuals and wholesalers who have participated in a black market to overfish and under-report rockfish catch from the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding waterways, which is the largest spawning ground for striped bass on the East Coast.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Another Commercial Fisherman Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Harvesting of Rockfish

Keith A. Collins, a commercial fisherman licensed in Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Md., to 13 months in prison for illegally overfishing striped bass also known as rockfish. He was also fined $4,500 and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $70,569 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to the benefit of the Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass Restoration Account.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Father and Son Commercial Fishermen Plead Guilty to Illegal Harvesting of Rockfish

A father and son pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Md., to illegally over fishing striped bass, also known as rockfish, from 2003 through 2006.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Southern Union Company Is Penalized $18 Million for Illegally Storing Mercury at a Rhode Island Site

A federal judge today assessed the Southern Union Company $18 million for illegally storing mercury at a company-owned site in Pawtucket.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Justice Department Settles Lawsuit Alleging Retaliation by City of Fort Pierce, Florida

“Our nation’s civil rights laws ensure that every individual can go to work each day without fear of discrimination based on the color of their skin,” said Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Attorney General Eric Holder Testifies Before the House Appropriations Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee

"Although unprecedented challenges and new demands have emerged, our key priorities remain clear," Attorney General Holder said.




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Attorney General Eric Holder Testifies Before the Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies

"Thank you for this opportunity to discuss the President’s Fiscal Year 2011 Budget for the Department of Justice and to provide an update on the department’s progress, key priorities and future plans," said Attorney General Holder.




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Operator of Commercial Ship Inspected in Port of Tampa Fined $725,000 for Oil-Pollution Related Crime

Aksat Denizcilik Ve Ticaret A.S., a Turkish corporation that operated the commercial ship M/T Kerim, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tampa, Fla., to two felony counts for knowingly failing to fully and accurately maintain an oil record book, which tracks pollutant discharge.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. to Pay Total of $16.5 Million for Overcharging the United States

Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. has agreed to pay the United States an additional $3,718,770, bringing the total paid to resolve civil claims arising from the company’s cost charging practices on some of its contracts with the government to $16,570,018.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Intercare Health Systems (Ex-Owner of City of Angels Medical Center) Agrees to $10 Million Consent Judgment for Medicare and Medi-Cal Fraud Scheme in Los Angeles

The United States has obtained a $10 million consent judgment against Intercare Health Systems Inc., formerly doing business as City of Angels Medical Center, for a Medicare and Medi-Cal fraud scheme in Los Angeles.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Three Pennsylvania Men Charged with Conspiracy to Purchase and Distribute Large Quantities of Illegal Drugs in Undercover Operation

Three Pennsylvania men were charged today with conspiracy to possess and intending to distribute oxycodone, ecstasy and marijuana.



  • OPA Press Releases

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United States Files Counterclaims and Crossclaims in Small Business Administration Loan Fraud Case

The United States filed False Claims Act counterclaims against Saehan Bank and crossclaims against Steve Yong Kim and Young Soon Kim in the Northern District of Oklahoma.



  • OPA Press Releases

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New York Merchant Bank Pleads Guilty to FCPA Violation; Bank Chairman Pleads Guilty to Failing to Disclose Control of Foreign Bank Account

– The Mercator Corporation, a merchant bank with offices in New York, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Manhattan, N.Y., to one count of making an unlawful payment to a senior government official of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).



  • OPA Press Releases

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Justice Department Sues American Express, Mastercard and Visa to Eliminate Rules Restricting Price Competition; Reaches Settlement with Visa and Mastercard

The Department of Justice announced today that it filed a civil antitrust lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York challenging rules that American Express, MasterCard and Visa have in place that prevent merchants from offering consumers discounts, rewards and information about card costs, ultimately resulting in consumers paying more for their purchases.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Attorney General Holder Speaks at the Visa, Mastercard, American Express Press Conference

"Today, the Department of Justice, along with seven state attorneys general, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit in the Eastern District of New York challenging rules that Visa, MasterCard and American Express have put in place that prevent merchants from providing discounts to consumers."




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Illinois Commercial Print Broker Pleads Guilty to Making False Statement to the Government Printing Office

An Illinois commercial print broker pleaded guilty today to making false statements in a bid submitted to the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO).



  • OPA Press Releases

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Testimony by Attorney General Eric Holder Before the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science

"Today, I come to you on behalf of my colleagues – the more than 117,000 dedicated men and women who serve our nation’s Justice Department in positions and offices all around the world. Above all, I come to you on behalf of my fellow citizens."




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Attorney General Eric Holder's Statement Before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies

"As I have said often, no aspect of our work is more important – or more urgent – than protecting the safety of the American people and strengthening our national security."




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United States Files Counterclaims Against KBR Alleging False Claims and Kickbacks

In response to a pending lawsuit from Kellogg Brown & Root Services Inc. (KBR) in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the Department of Justice has filed counterclaims alleging that KBR managers had received kickbacks from a dining facility subcontractor in violation of the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Act.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Prepared Statement of Laurie Robinson, Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs, Before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies

Chairman Wolf, Ranking Member Fattah and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee, I’m very pleased to be here to discuss the President’s 2012 budget request for the Office of Justice Programs.




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Justice Department Files Antitrust Lawsuit to Stop VeriFone from Buying Hypercom and Entering into Anticompetitive Divestiture Agreement with Ingenico

The Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today to block the proposed acquisition by VeriFone Systems Inc. of Hypercom Corp.



  • OPA Press Releases

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NASDAQ OMX Group Inc. and IntercontinentalExchange Inc. Abandon Their Proposed Acquisition of NYSE Euronext After Justice Department Threatens Lawsuit

The NASDAQ OMX Group Inc. and IntercontinentalExchange Inc. abandoned their joint bid to acquire NYSE Euronext after the Department of Justice informed the companies that it would file an antitrust lawsuit to block the deal.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Justice Department Announces ADA Settlement with Intercity Bus Company, Megabus

The Justice Department today announced a comprehensive settlement agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with intercity bus service providers Megabus USA LLC., and Megabus Northeast LLC.



  • OPA Press Releases

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VeriFone, Hypercom and Ingenico Abandon Plans to Divest Point of Sale Business to Ingenico Following Justice Department Lawsuit

VeriFone Systems Inc., Hypercom Corp. and Ingenico S.A. have abandoned plans for Hypercom to divest its U.S. point-of-sale business to Ingenico.



  • OPA Press Releases

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New England Commercial Fisherman Charged with Lacey Act Crimes for Illegally Harvesting Striped Bass

Daniel B. Birkbeck, 46, of North Stonington, Conn., was charged today in federal court with trafficking in and falsifying records for illegally harvested Atlantic Striped Bass.



  • OPA Press Releases

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New England Commercial Fisherman Charged with Lacey Act Crimes for Illegally Harvesting Striped Bass

Daniel B. Birkbeck, 46, of North Stonington, Conn., was charged today in federal court with trafficking in and falsifying records for illegally harvested Atlantic Striped Bass.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Department of Justice Disrupts International Cybercrime Rings Distributing Scareware

Today the Department of Justice and the FBI, along with international law enforcement partners, announced the indictment of two individuals from Latvia and the seizure of more than 40 computers, servers and bank accounts as part of Operation Trident Tribunal, an ongoing, coordinated enforcement action targeting international cybercrime.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney Speaks at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

"To help you evaluate our achievements, I want to talk about developments at the Division on a variety of fronts—including civil merger and non-merger enforcement, international efforts, and competition advocacy work," said Assistant Attorney General Varney.




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Justice Department Reaches Settlement with VeriFone and Hypercom After Gores Group is Determined to be Acceptable Buyer for Point-of-Sale Terminals Business

The Department of Justice announced today that, in order for VeriFone Systems Inc. to complete its acquisition of Hypercom Corp., it must divest Hypercom’s U.S. point-of-sale terminals business to an entity sponsored by Gores Group LLC, a private equity fund.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Former Fort Pierce, Fla., Detective and Tax Preparer Sentenced for Tax Fraud

The owner of First Premium Financial Services and a former employee were sentenced today to federal prison for conspiring to defraud the United States in connection with fraudulent tax returns they prepared for clients.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Philadelphia Woman Convicted for Role in Fraudulent Commercial Driver’s Licenses Scheme

After a five-day trial, a federal jury in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania found Irina Rakhman, 54, guilty of conspiracy to produce fraudulent identification documents.



  • OPA Press Releases

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U.S. Pharmaceutical Company Merck Sharp &

American pharmaceutical company Merck, Sharp &.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission Meet with Chinese Ministry of Commerce on Merger Enforcement Matters

Acting Assistant Attorney General Sharis Pozen of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Jon Leibowitz today met with a delegation from China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) to discuss antitrust merger enforcement.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Four Romanian Nationals Charged with Allegedly Participating in Multimillion Dollar Scheme to Hack into and Steal Credit Card Data from U.S. Merchants

Adrian-Tiberiu Oprea, 27, of Constanta, Romania; Iulian Dolan, 27, of Craiova, Romania; Cezar Iulian Butu, 26, of Ploiesti, Romania; and Florin Radu, 23, of Rimnicu Vilcea, Romania, were charged in a four-count indictment filed in the District of New Hampshire with conspiracy to commit computer fraud, wire fraud and access device fraud.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Pennsylvania Husband and Wife Sentenced to Prison for Fraudulent Commercial Driver’s Licenses Scheme

A Pennsylvania husband and wife were sentenced yesterday to 30 months and 24 months in prison, respectively, for their participation in a scheme to provide out-of-state residents with Pennsylvania driver’s licenses and Pennsylvania commercial driver’s licenses.



  • OPA Press Releases