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Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) Vice President of International Affairs Dak Hardwick has expressed approval for the U.S. Treasury Department's inclusion of AIA recommendations in the guidance for Section 45X of the Inflation Reduction Act.

The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have released new residential sales data for September 2024. The sale of new single-family homes reached a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 738,000. This figure is a 4.1 percent increase from the revised August rate of 709,000 and a 6.3 percent rise compared to September 2023's estimate of 694,000.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken several actions over the past year to address lead exposure in New York and New Jersey, marking Children's Health Month and Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. The agency has pursued three judicial enforcement cases and 15 administrative actions focusing on violations impacting underserved or overburdened communities. These cases involve breaches of the Toxic Substances Control Act Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule, Lead-Based Paint Activities Rules, and the Safe Drinking Water Act.

On October 24, 2024, coinciding with National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new standards aimed at reducing lead paint dust exposure in homes and childcare facilities built before 1978. These regulations are part of President Biden's comprehensive strategy to safeguard families and children from lead exposure.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry in Texas have seized heroin valued at over $566,000 in a recent enforcement action. This significant discovery highlights the ongoing drug threat faced by frontline CBP officers.

Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal announced that the company has filed two new sets of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to gain clarity on regulatory agencies' approaches to digital assets. Grewal made this announcement in an October 21 post on X.

A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida has indicted Raul Gorrin Belisario, a Venezuelan television news network owner, for his involvement in an alleged $1.2 billion money laundering scheme. The funds were reportedly obtained corruptly from Venezuela’s state-owned energy company, Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), with bribes paid to Venezuelan officials.

In 2024, the State Department set a new record in U.S. passport processing for the third consecutive fiscal year. The department issued approximately 24.5 million passport books and cards, surpassing last year's figures by half a million.

Sebastián Incháustegui, an attorney at Universidad Panamericana, said that cartel violence and influence are at peak levels as Mexico recently passed an amendment potentially giving cartels more power over the country’s judicial system. Incháustegui made this statement on September 19.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Norfolk, Virginia, have successfully recovered six pieces of heavy equipment that were stolen from Massachusetts and bound for Guinea. The equipment was initially taken from a rental company in Woburn, Massachusetts, before being shipped out of Newark, New Jersey. It was later found in a shipping container in Spain and returned to Norfolk.

Netflix has marked its tenth anniversary in Australia with the opening of a new office in Sydney. The office, located on the traditional land of the Gadigal people in Chippendale, aims to strengthen Netflix's presence and commitment to Australian storytelling.

Global tech trade association ITI has unveiled its AI Security Policy Principles, offering detailed recommendations for policymakers to enhance the cybersecurity of AI models and systems. This initiative is particularly pertinent given the current election climate in the U.S. and worldwide.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan is set to visit Durham, North Carolina, on Wednesday, October 23, to celebrate the introduction of 38 new electric school buses in the Durham Public School District. This initiative is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, which aims to deliver environmental benefits and create job opportunities across the country.

The Lenfest Institute for Journalism has announced a new collaboration with OpenAI and Microsoft to explore the use of artificial intelligence in local journalism.

Today, the global tech trade association ITI expressed approval of the final rules released by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Credit (AMIC). This credit is part of the Biden Administration’s CHIPS and Science Act, aiming to attract an estimated $24 billion investment in semiconductor manufacturing and equipment within the United States.

Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) President and CEO Eric Fanning expressed support for the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) new rulemaking on powered-lift integration. The FAA's recent announcement addresses the incorporation of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technologies into the National Airspace System.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Laredo Port of Entry have apprehended a man wanted on a felony warrant issued by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. The arrest took place following a coordinated effort between CBP and state officials.

The Department of Defense (DoD) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) have announced the approval of the first group of Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) Licensees and Green Light Approved investment funds under the Small Business Investment Company Critical Technology Initiative (SBICCT Initiative). This group aims to invest over $2.8 billion into more than 1,000 portfolio companies.

On October 20, 2024, officers from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), stationed at the Camino Real International Bridge in Eagle Pass, Texas, apprehended a man wanted for a felony warrant related to child sex offenses. The individual was identified as Gerardo Gutierrez Ramos, a 57-year-old Mexican citizen.

The Justice Department has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to implement President Biden's Executive Order 14117, aimed at preventing access to sensitive personal data and U.S. government-related data by countries of concern. This move addresses national security threats posed by efforts from certain nations to exploit Americans' sensitive information.

The United States has welcomed a new investment in Brazil's Serra Verde rare earth elements project. The investment comes from Denham Capital and the Energy and Minerals Group from the United States, along with Vision Blue Resources from the United Kingdom. This initiative is expected to bolster global rare earth supply chains.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry recently seized heroin valued at over $267,000. The incident occurred on October 19 when a 2015 Ford van was subjected to a secondary inspection at the Camino Real International Bridge. During this examination, which involved a CBP canine and non-intrusive inspection technology, officers found five packages containing nearly 16 pounds of alleged heroin inside the vehicle.

The Biden-Harris administration has announced a significant loan guarantee to support the development of solar and energy storage facilities in Puerto Rico. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through its Loan Programs Office (LPO), is providing a $861.3 million loan guarantee for the construction of two photovoltaic solar facilities equipped with battery storage and two standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the municipalities of Guayama and Salinas.

Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya visited Kyiv, Ukraine, on October 18, 2024. During her visit, she expressed unwavering U.S. support to various Ukrainian officials including Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna and Minister of Veterans Affairs Natalia Kalmykova. She also engaged with leaders from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and other anti-corruption bodies.

Sebastián Incháustegui, an Attorney at Law from Universidad Panamericana, has expressed concerns about the current state of cartel violence in Mexico. He attributes this escalation to a recent constitutional amendment that he believes could potentially empower cartels within the country's judicial system. Incháustegui published his commentary on September 19.