USA

Federal and State Financial Regulatory Agencies Issue Interagency Statement on Supervisory Practices Regarding Financial Institutions Affected by the California Wildfires and Straight-Line Winds January 14, 2025 Washington, D.C. – The Federal Reserve Board (FRB), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), … Read more

Federal Reserve Discount Rate Meetings: November 18, December 9, and December 18, 2024 Introduction The Federal Reserve (FRB) released the minutes of its discount rate meetings held on November 18, December 9, and December 18, 2024. These meetings were held to discuss the path of the discount rate, a key interest rate that the FRB … Read more

North Macedonia – Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions January 14, 2025 U.S. Department of State The U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 1 Travel Advisory for North Macedonia, indicating that travelers should Exercise Normal Precautions. Crime: North Macedonia has a low crime rate, but petty crimes such as pickpocketing and theft do occur, … Read more

Defense Innovation Board Recommendations Continue to Advance National Security Efforts Washington, D.C. — The Department of Defense (DoD) announced on January 14, 2025, that the Defense Innovation Board (DIB) has made significant progress in implementing recommendations that are enhancing national security capabilities. The DIB, established in 2016, is a group of experts from industry, academia, … Read more

Biden Administration Approves Student Debt Cancellation for Over 5 Million Americans Washington, D.C., January 13, 2025 – President Joe Biden today announced the approval of student debt cancellation for over 5 million Americans, fulfilling a major campaign promise. The announcement comes after months of legal challenges and negotiations, and marks a significant step towards addressing … Read more

President Biden Speaks with Qatari Emir on Regional Issues and Energy Security On January 13, 2025, President Biden engaged in a phone conversation with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, to discuss regional stability and energy security. Regional Issues The leaders discussed the ongoing situation in the Middle East, including the … Read more

Statement from President Joe Biden on the Wildfires Across Los Angeles The White House January 13, 2025 18:20 ET STATEMENT ON THE WILDFIRES ACROSS LOS ANGELES President Joe Biden today released the following statement on the devastating wildfires across Los Angeles: “I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and the devastation caused by … Read more

White House Announces Names for Aircraft Carriers CVN 82 and CVN 83 Washington, D.C. – January 13, 2025 – The White House has released a statement from President Joe Biden announcing the names of two new aircraft carriers: CVN 82 will be named the USS Doris Miller and CVN 83 will be named the USS … Read more

President Biden Amends California Disaster Declaration Washington, D.C. – On January 13, 2025, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. amended the major disaster declaration for the State of California to authorize additional federal disaster assistance. The original declaration, signed on January 9, 2025, provided federal assistance for emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, for all … Read more

When the Only Thing You Can Eat Can Kill You, Having More Gene Copies Can Help January 13, 2025 Washington, D.C. – A new study published today in the journal Nature has found that having more copies of a certain gene can help animals survive on a diet that is toxic to most other animals. … Read more