WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 -- Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif. (40th CD), issued the following news release: Viktor Bout has sat in a Thai jail for more than two years with a U.S. extradition request pending. By Friday we will know if a notorious international arms dealer will head home to Russia to once again ply his deadly trade or land in New York to face terrorism charges. Will his extradition be a diplomatic win for the Obama administration and solidify U.S.-Thai security cooperation? Or will his releas  more

WAYNESBURG, Pa., Aug. 18 -- Waynesburg University issued the following news release: The mission of Waynesburg University often lives on through the actions of its alumni. Three recent graduates who shared a passion for running on the Waynesburg University cross country team have teamed together once again - this time to accomplish a drastic 10-day feat for causes that go beyond their own needs. During his sophomore year at Waynesburg University, Jack Haines ('09) shared the idea of runnin  more

PROVO, Utah, Aug. 18 -- Brigham Young University issued the following news release: While conducting impact analyses with microcredit borrowers in East Africa, Brigham Young University business alumnus Jason Fairbourne realized there was a problem. The people he met didn't have the resources to become self-reliant. Microcredit loans, which were touted as an answer to poverty, helped but weren't always effectively used. So Fairbourne developed a new concept -- one he calls "microfranchising."   more

OXFORD, Miss., Aug. 19 -- The University of Mississippi issued the following news release: Rachel Johnson of Fort Collins, Colo., a senior at the University of Mississippi, spent the spring semester in Quito, Ecuador, studying at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito. The study abroad further validates her decision to "get away from home and have a different college experience." Majoring in international studies and Spanish, Johnson is a member of both the Croft Institute for Internat  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of African Affairs issued the text of the following remarks: MR. CROWLEY: Good afternoon and welcome to the Department of State. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tomorrow will deliver remarks at a plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly on the humanitarian situation from the floods in Pakistan. The General Assembly meeting, which we think will take place at roughly 3:00 p.m. tomorrow, will be an opportunity to express solidari  more

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 19 -- The California Department of Food and Agriculture issued the following news release: New detections of the European Grapevine Moth in the Lodi area have led to an extension of the quarantine for the pest to San Joaquin County. Ninety-six square miles are now under quarantine there, bringing the total area under quarantine statewide to 1,995 square miles. The quarantine boundaries in San Joaquin County are, on the west, an imaginary line near Highway 12 and N  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- The office of Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., issued the following statement: "While I applaud President Obama for sticking to his redeployment timetable, more than 50,000 U.S. troops are still serving in harm's way in Iraq. I urge the president to redeploy those remaining troops as promptly and safely as possible so we can reduce the strain on our military and our budget. "While our departure from Iraq is taking much longer than it should, it does show that setting a  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news release: The chief of staff, Air Force announces the assignment of the following general officers: Maj. Gen. Harry D. Polumbo Jr., director, plans and programs, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va., to director, plans and programs, Headquarters U. S. Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany. Maj. Gen. Michael R. Boera, commanding general, Combined Air Power Transition Force, North Atlantic   more

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Aug. 19 -- The University of Virginia issued the following news release: Wahoos from Africa, Asia and Europe were the first to arrive on Grounds this week courtesy of the University of Virginia's unique shuttle service, UVaExpress, which transports international students from Dulles International Airport to the University in time for fall classes. Tuesday and Wednesday, 12 buses commuted from Charlottesville to Dulles and back, meeting planes as they arrived from poin  more

MILWAUKEE, Aug. 19 -- The Association of Equipment Manufacturers issued the following news release: Exports of U.S. agricultural equipment have increased each quarter of 2010, with midyear shipments totaling $4.9 billion, a gain of 4 percent compared to January-June 2009, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). The AEM off-road equipment manufacturing trade group consolidates U.S. Commerce Dept. data with other sources into global trend reports for members. "Over the  more

MILWAUKEE, Aug. 19 -- The Association of Equipment Manufacturers issued the following news release: Exports of U.S.-made construction equipment increased in the second quarter of 2010, and total construction machinery exports at midyear were $7.4 billion, a 15-percent gain overall compared to January-June 2009 numbers, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). The AEM off-road equipment manufacturing trade group consolidates U.S. Commerce Dept. data with other sources int  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 -- The National Farmers Union issued the following news release: Kansas Farmers Union (KFU) President Donn Teske recently returned from Africa, where he discovered farmers themselves have a lot in common regardless of where they live. Tekse traveled to the Republic of Senegal with the Farmer-to-Farmer Program, where he worked with local farmers who are working together to improve their agricultural practices and income. The program was sponsored by the U.S. Agency for   more

ROME, Aug. 19 -- United Nations' World Food Programme issued the following news release: Following two surveys (in May and June) indicating increased malnutrition rates - especially among young children -WFP began a major round of food distributions in August to feed 670,000 children with nutritious rations and to provide their families with a ration of staple foods. WFP has appealed for US$213 million to assist 7.9 million people until the end of the year. As of mid-August, WFP is 65 perc  more

WILMORE, Ky., Aug. 19 -- Asbury College issued the following news release: The Illuminated class along with 68 new and 13 returning members of the Awakened (Class of 2013), Zealous (Class of 2012), and Fearless (Class of 2011) classes brightened up a cloud-covered day at Asbury University on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010. The 353 new students, including 285 first-time freshmen, hail from 39 states and 13 countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, China, Cuba, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Kenya, Papa  more

NEW YORK, Aug. 19 -- The United Nations population Fund issued the following news release: Today, on World Humanitarian Day, UNFPA pays tribute to humanitarian aid workers who risk their lives to save the lives of others. In the past 10 years, aid workers have come under increasing fire as they strive to provide assistance and support to individuals and communities affected by crisis. Since January, UNFPA has responded to multiple emergencies including the devastating earthquakes in Haiti   more

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., Aug. 19 -- Purdue University issued the following news release: Purdue University's Varsity Glee Club will welcome students back to campus at the annual First Nighter concert on Aug. 27. Sponsored by Purdue Musical Organizations and the Purdue Student Union Board, the concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Purdue Memorial Union ballrooms. Doors will open at 7 p.m. It is free and open to the public. The concert will mark the year's first performance for the 62-memb  more

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 19 -- The California Department of Food and Agriculture issued the following news release: A quarantine is in place in Kern County, where invasive melon fruit flies have been detected in the Arvin/Mettler area. The quarantine measures 82 square miles and is bordered on the west by an imaginary line that intersects Copus Rd. halfway between Highway 99 and I-5; on the south by Legray Rd.; on the east by an imaginary line in the foothills between Rancho Rd. and Herrin  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 -- The office of Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) are seeking answers to an array of lingering questions about the circumstances surrounding the release of convicted Pan Am Flight 103 bomber Abdelbasset al-Megrahi from a Scottish prison one year ago tomorrow. In letters to Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond and British Prime   more

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y., Aug. 19 -- Vassar College issued the following news release: Six hundred and sixty-six freshmen selected from the largest applicant pool in Vassar College's history will begin classes on August 30. Vassar received 7822 applications for the class of 2014, and slightly less than 24 percent of the applicants were offered admission, making 2014 Vassar's most selective class ever. Nearly 35% of Vassar's new freshmen are students of color, the largest percentage in the college's  more