Federal Government Sues Volkswagen Over Emissions Evasion

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The Department of Justice today sued Volkswagen in federal court in Detroit over the car maker's installation of software to evade U.S. emissions standards.

The DOJ said in a statement that the suit "alleges that nearly 600,000 diesel engine vehicles had illegal defeat devices installed that impair their emission control systems and cause emissions to exceed EPA’s standards, resulting in harmful air pollution." The department is asking the car maker to stop using the devices, to mitigate excess emissions, and to pay civil penalties.

The allegations largely match up with what environmental regulators have accused Volkswagen of starting in September of last year, when the Environmental Protection Agency alleged that Volkswagen had installed devices that circumvent emissions standards for nitrogen oxides in its cars with two-liter engines from 2009 to 2015. Subsequently, the EPA alleged that Volkswagen had installed devices to evade U.S. emission standards in cars with larger engines and Porsches. In November, Volkswagen admitted to installing the devices "in all of its U.S. 3.0 liter diesel models since 2009."

The EPA said that the vehicles emit 40 times the amount of nitrogen oxide as prevailing clean air standards allow.

U.S. Department of Justice / Via justice.gov

“With today’s filing, we take an important step to protect public health by seeking to hold Volkswagen accountable for any unlawful air pollution, setting us on a path to resolution,” Cynthia Giles, an EPA official, said in a statement.

The complaint covers almost 500,000 two-liter engine cars sold from the 2009 model year onward, and 85,000 three-liter engine cars.

“Today’s complaint is the first stage in bringing Volkswagen to justice for failing to disclose the defeat device while seeking certification for its diesel vehicles from EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality in Ann Arbor, Michigan,” U.S. Attorney Barbara McQaude said in a statement.

The complaint specifically accuses Volkswagen of violating the Clean Air Act by selling cars whose performance and design didn't match up with what it had told the EPA and the California Air Resources Board when getting them certified. It also says investigation into VW’s emissions "were impeded and obstructed by material omissions and misleading information provided by VW entities."

Volkswagen is already the defendant is several class action suits. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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SOURCE: BuzzFeed

Global Stocks Slide After Chinese Markets Fall

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A new year for global stock markets has seen the reemergence of an old pattern, with huge declines in the Chinese stock markets echoing all over the world.

After the CSI 300 — a composite of the stock exchanges in Shenzen and Shanghai — fell by more than 300 points by the early afternoon, the Chinese stock markets closed thanks to rules to prevent fast, dramatic changes in stock prices.

But that didn't stop stocks from sliding all over the rest of the world. The Nikkei 225, a Japanese stock index, fell more than 3%, while the Stoxx 600, a European index, is down over 2%. And just like in past stock seizures that started in the East, it has lapped up in the United States.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened down just over 350 points, about 2%, while the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ composite both opened down around 2% as well.

According to data from Bloomberg, today was was the 14th worst day for the CSI 300. The last time the Chinese index fell more than 7%, on August, 25, the S&P 500 closed down 1.4%.

Markets were battered by both weak data on the Chinese manufacturing sector — which Nomura described as "pointing to economic contraction." Oil prices also ticked up following diplomatic tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

SOURCE: BuzzFeed

Oregon Sheriff Says Militia Group Is Hoping To Overthrow The Government

“These men came to Harney County claiming to be part of militia groups supporting local ranchers, when in reality these men had alternative motives,” Harney County Sheriff David Ward said in a statement Sunday.

Rebecca Boone / AP

As an armed militia group remained in control of a federal building in rural, southeastern Oregon on Sunday, the local sheriff said their motive was not solidarity with local ranchers, but rather an attempt to spark a larger movement to overthrow the government.

The group — estimated by reporters to be between 12 and 25 men — seized the headquarters of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge on Saturday following a protest in support of two local ranchers in the town of Burns, about 30 miles away. Among them was Ammon Bundy, the son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who had previously clashed with federal Bureau of Land Management.

No federal employees were inside the building at the time, and authorities said they do not believe other areas of Harney County are in danger. Still, Harney County Sheriff David Ward asked residents to stay away from the refuge as well as the militia men.

"We are currently working jointly with several organizations to make sure the citizens of Harney County are safe and this issue is resolved as quickly and peaceful as possible," Harney said in a statement on Sunday.

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SOURCE: BuzzFeed