News from November 2023
By Federal Newswire | Nov 22, 2023
A truck concealing 354 pounds of methamphetamine was recently seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) officers at the Paso Del Norte international crossing in El Paso. The large drug bust occurred on November 18, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement officials in controlling the cross-border drug trade.
By Federal Newswire | Nov 22, 2023
On November 15, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), joined by more than 200 manufacturers and industry partners, converged on Capitol Hill to press lawmakers to pass a Miscellaneous Tariff Bill before the end of 2023. U.S. manufacturers have been operating without an MTB for almost three years, putting them at a disadvantage to foreign competitors. This event took place as part of the NAM's ongoing effort to support US businesses and sustain domestic competitiveness.
By Federal Newswire Report | Nov 22, 2023
SEC Commissioner Mark T. Uyeda delivered a keynote address on Nov. 17 at the 26th annual Japan–U.S. Symposium, emphasizing the crucial role of regulators in maintaining the strength of the U.S. and Japanese capital markets.
By Federal Newswire | Nov 22, 2023
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has provided its annual report to Congress, which includes information about its single-family mortgage insurance programs for the fiscal year 2023 and actions taken by the FHA Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund (MMI Fund), an entity that supports this work. This detailed account was presented on Wednesday, shedding light on the measures taken by FHA to promote homeownership.
By Federal Newswire | Nov 22, 2023
Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world, announced on Nov. 21 that it reached a settlement with the U.S. government over compliance violations, allowing the exchange to continue operating. The company said that it made mistakes as it grew in an evolving industry, but this settlement marks a new chapter of learning and growth. This landmark resolution serves as a testament to Binance's commitment to rectifying its past missteps and establishing stronger regulatory compliance.
By Federal Newswire | Nov 22, 2023
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer has led a bipartisan letter urging the Biden administration to use blockchain to determine the scope of digital asset fundraising by the terrorist organization Hamas. Emmer said in a Nov. 15 post on X, formerly Twitter, that he sent the letter alongside U.S. Representatives Patrick McHenry, Ritchie Torres, and French Hill.This recent initiative took place in the United States on November 15th.
By Federal Newswire | Nov 22, 2023
The Blockchain Association, a nonprofit advocating for "pro-innovation" policies for the digital asset industry, announced on X, formerly Twitter, that a group of cryptocurrency experts with U.S. military and national security backgrounds has sent a letter to Congressional committee leadership outlining their concerns with the misrepresentation of crypto's role in terror financing. This announcement was made in an attempt to address the prevailing misconceptions surrounding the use of cryptocurrencies.
By Federal Newswire | Nov 22, 2023
Stuart Alderoty, the chief legal officer of the crypto company Ripple, said U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler's recent remarks are false in light of the prosecution Ripple has faced from the SEC. Gensler's remarks came ahead of the 2023 Securities Enforcement Forum on Oct. 25, and he shared a clip of them on X on Nov. 16. These statements have ignited a debate about accountability and regulatory fairness in the crypto industry.
By Federal Newswire Report | Nov 22, 2023
An organization representing major credit card companies issued a strong rebuke of claims made against the industry in a video by the New York Times.
By Federal Newswire | Nov 22, 2023
Israel and Hamas say they will uphold a cease-fire for hostages to be released, however the situation is likely to remain fluid until the cease-fire begins. This tense political climate primarily revolves around Gaza and heavily involves key figures in the U.S. Department of State.
By Federal Newswire | Nov 22, 2023
Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world, announced on Nov. 21 that it has reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). As part of the resolution, CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) will step down from his role after acknowledging that he "made mistakes" in the company’s early days. The settlements come as Binance seeks to move past historical compliance violations.
By Federal Newswire | Nov 22, 2023
Sam Altman is set to return as OpenAI's CEO after a long weekend of leadership upheaval. The decision follows employee unrest and Microsoft's job offer to Altman. OpenAI announced on Twitter late Friday night the agreement for Altman's return and a new board.
By Federal Newswire | Nov 22, 2023
The Federal Trade Commission is suing in federal court to prevent John Muir Health from acquiring sole ownership of San Ramon Regional Medical Center, LLC from majority owner Tenet Healthcare Corporation. The FTC alleges the proposed $142.5 million deal would eliminate competition between the two, leading to a rise in healthcare costs for consumers.
By Federal Newswire | Nov 22, 2023
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) have announced that the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry will hold a hearing to consider the nominations of Dr. Basil Ivanhoe Gooden and the Honorable Summer K. Mersinger.Dr. Basil Ivanhoe Gooden has been nominated to be the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development, while the Honorable Summer K. Mersinger has been nominated to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.The hearing is scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 30,...
By Federal Newswire | Nov 21, 2023
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has ordered Toyota Motor Credit to pay $60 million for illegal lending and credit reporting misconduct. This comes as a response to the company's actions that include directing customers to dead-end cancellation hotlines, withholding refunds, and tarnishing credit reports with false data. Details of this issue have been outlined in an official announcement.
By Federal Newswire | Nov 21, 2023
The Securities and Exchange Commission charged Kraken for operating their crypto trading platform unregistered. This incident represents an effort to tighten control over crypto platforms by the authorities, especially in the United States.
By Federal Newswire | Nov 21, 2023
Three federal agencies worked in conjunction last week to lead removal flights of undocumented migrants to Latin America and India. This inter-agency initiative was part of an effort to enforce immigration laws and establish consequences for illegal entry into the United States.
By Federal Newswire | Nov 21, 2023
Thom Fischer, CEO of Electron Hydro, LLC, will have to pay over a $1 million civil penalty after the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that the company violated the Clean Water Act. The settlement arises from an incident in 2020 involving inappropriate installation of artificial turf at a construction site.
By Federal Newswire | Nov 21, 2023
A group of undocumented individuals were not able to thwart off being apprehended by Laredo Border Patrol agents despite utilizing a tactic they hoped would allow them to avoid detection, according to Chief Patrol Agent Joel Martinez. The incident occurred when the migrants attempted to conceal their tracks by wearing carpet on the soles of their shoes.
By Federal Newswire | Nov 21, 2023
Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley had an eventful weekend when it came to arrests and seizures, according to Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez. This occurred as part of their ongoing effort to secure the border region.
