News from April 2024
By Federal Newswire | Apr 18, 2024
The Defense Innovation Board (DIB) convened its Spring Board Meeting virtually on April 17th, 2024. Chaired by Mr. Mike Bloomberg, the meeting, which commenced at 12:30 pm Eastern Time, focused on crucial studies and insights shared by key stakeholders and experts.The Allies and Partners study, exploring DoD's collaboration with allies and partners, delved into various aspects such as capability integration, technology sharing, and fostering trust. Mr. Sander Oude Hengel, Defense Cooperation Attaché at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, highlighted challenges...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 18, 2024
Commissioner Kristin N. Johnson is set to deliver a keynote address at the upcoming Institute of International Finance’s carbon markets gathering. The event, scheduled for Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. (ET), will take place at the Institute of International Finance located at 1333 H Street, NW, Suite 800E, Washington, DC 20005.The gathering aims to discuss recent themes and developments in carbon markets, with Commissioner Johnson's address expected to provide valuable insights into this crucial topic.
By Federal Newswire | Apr 18, 2024
WASHINGTON – Global tech trade association ITI has expressed its stance on the U.S. Senate's consideration of H.R. 7888, the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act. In a statement issued by ITI's Senior Vice President of Policy and General Counsel John Miller, the association highlighted its support for the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA 702) for protecting national security.Miller emphasized the importance of lawmakers understanding the implications of a specific amendment in the U.S. House-passed bill that alters the...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 18, 2024
The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $447,952 in back wages and damages for 60 workers after a federal investigation found that a Kern County employer had denied them overtime pay. The affected employees were excluded from overtime eligibility, leading to a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.According to Wage and Hour Division District Director Cesar Avila in Sacramento, "The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to ensuring that all workers receive a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work." The division was able to recover $223,976 in unpaid overtime wages...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 18, 2024
WASHINGTON—The Heritage Foundation welcomed Shane McCullar to its Board of Trustees following his election. McCullar, a stalwart conservative, expert financier, real estate broker, and chief executive, is now part of the esteemed board overseeing the organization.Barb Van Andel-Gaby, the Chairman of the Heritage Board of Trustees, expressed her excitement about McCullar's addition to the board, highlighting his exceptional business accomplishments and dedication to his community and country. She stated, "I am thrilled to welcome Shane McCullar to the Board of Trustees....
By Federal Newswire | Apr 18, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 18, 2024) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has voiced its strong support for legislation aimed at preventing an electric vehicle (EV) mandate that could impact small businesses. NFIB's Senior Vice President for Advocacy, Adam Temple, emphasized the importance of allowing businesses and consumers to make their own choices, stating, "Small business owners believe that businesses and consumers should be free to make their own decisions on which vehicle works best for their needs and operations."Temple further explained the...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 18, 2024
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey expressed, “Alabama children deserve the best start possible, and these funds will help us support early childhood educators in an efficient, developmentally-appropriate way … This grant will support the scaling of high-quality programs of early childhood care and education, so we can ensure our children are prepared for further education, a career and a lifetime of success.”Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee stated, “The strength of our early childhood sector has direct impacts on our core goals to increase educational achievement to Massachusetts’ level...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 18, 2024
Award-winning international film stars Shu Qi and Sinje Lee are set to make their first appearance in a Netflix series with Chinese-language revenge thriller, The Resurrected. The dark and suspenseful series follows the journey of two desperate mothers as they resurrect a deceased ringleader of a telecommunication fraud scheme to avenge their kidnapped daughters.Shu Qi, portraying Wang Hui-chun in the series, admits, “Viewers can anticipate the complexity of Wang Hui-chun’s morally-ambiguous character. Beyond being a mother, Hui-chun constantly struggles with the moral...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 18, 2024
Apr 18, 2024WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced updates to its policies for wind and named storm insurance coverage required for multifamily properties financed with an FHA-insured mortgage. This move comes as part of HUD’s efforts to tackle the escalating insurance costs faced by property owners due to the increasing frequency and severity of storms attributed to climate change.HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman emphasized the importance of these revisions, stating, "The increased frequency and intensity of extreme...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 18, 2024
The United States and Ukraine recently collaborated to host the second U.S.-Ukraine Partnership Forum in Washington, D.C. During the event, Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker emphasized the importance of solidifying Ukraine's economic future, stating, "The United States is supporting Ukraine's economic resilience through key sectors, such as infrastructure, energy, and manufacturing."The Forum brought together leaders in business, government, and policy to explore ways to help Ukraine recover from the impacts of Russia's ongoing...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 18, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Chairman Mike Gallagher and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have revealed the alarming findings of their bipartisan investigation into American financial institutions' involvement with People’s Republic of China (PRC) companies. The investigation focused on the world’s foremost index provider, MSCI, and the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, along with a broader examination of the U.S. financial industry.According to...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 18, 2024
In response to Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel, the United States is taking sweeping actions against several actors involved in Iran’s UAV program, suppliers and customers of one of Iran’s largest steel producers, and Iranian automobile companies with connections to U.S.-designated entities Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).The Department of the Treasury is imposing sanctions on 16 individuals and two entities that are enabling Iran’s UAV production and testing, as well as proliferation to actors...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 18, 2024
Secretary Deb Haaland announced at the National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration in Albuquerque the availability of up to $95 million through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for projects to bolster water resources, advance ecosystem health, and support resilience in communities facing climate change impacts. Haaland emphasized the importance of nature in the fight against climate change, stating, “Nature is our best ally in the fight against climate change.”Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton expressed the agency's commitment to...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 18, 2024
El Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. recuperó $447,952 en salarios y compensación por daños a operador de tres tiendas de alimentación del condado de Kern para 60 trabajadores después de que una investigación federal descubrió que el empleador ilegalmente negó pagar como sobretiempo las horas trabajadas por encima de 40 en una semana laboral.Según el director distrital de la División de Horas y Salarios, Cesar Avila, en Sacramento, "El Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. se compromete a garantizar que todos los trabajadores reciban un sueldo justo por una jornada de trabajo...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 18, 2024
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) recently released a Financial Trend Analysis focusing on patterns and trends related to Elder Financial Exploitation (EFE). According to FinCEN's analysis, there were 155,415 filings over a one-year period totaling approximately $27 billion in EFE-related suspicious activity."FinCEN has long recognized the threat that Elder Financial Exploitation poses and the need to protect the older adult population from financial abuse," stated FinCEN Director Andrea Gacki. She also expressed gratitude...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 18, 2024
Netflix has officially begun production of The Witcher Season 4 and shared a sneak peek of the cast together from the recent table read. The streaming giant has also confirmed that there will be a Season 5 of The Witcher, which will be the final season of the series. The upcoming seasons will adapt the remaining books by Andrzej Sapkowski, promising an epic and satisfying conclusion to the hit fantasy drama.According to showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, "It is with huge pride that we begin shooting our penultimate Season of The Witcher with a stellar cast, including...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 18, 2024
Chairman Rostin Behnam is set to deliver a keynote address at the upcoming 2024 Europe-US Symposium. The event is scheduled to take place on April 18, 2024, from 3:35 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (EDT) at the JW Marriott Hotel located at 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004.According to a press release, Behnam's keynote address is highly anticipated at the symposium, which aims to foster discussions and collaborations between Europe and the United States. The event serves as a platform for experts and leaders from both regions to exchange ideas and insights on various...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 18, 2024
Commissioner Kristin N. Johnson will participate as a lead discussant at the Institute of International Finance’s AI & Data Roundtable. The event, scheduled for Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. (ET), will take place at the Offices of WilmerHale in Washington, DC.The Roundtable will feature AI leaders, policymakers, and financial service executives for a dialogue about new developments in artificial intelligence, links with data policy, and implications for growth and opportunity. It aims to bring together experts in the field to discuss the latest advancements and...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 18, 2024
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Agency for International Development have announced a significant initiative to provide emergency food assistance to those in need globally. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and USAID Administrator Samantha Power revealed that $1 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation funding will be utilized to purchase U.S.-grown commodities for this purpose.Secretary Vilsack emphasized the importance of American farmers in this effort, stating, "America’s farmers are the most productive and efficient in the world, and we rely on them to...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 18, 2024
The Biden-Harris Administration, through the Department of the Interior, has announced a final rule aimed at guiding the balanced management of America's public lands. The newly finalized Public Lands Rule is designed to enhance the health and resilience of public lands amidst a changing climate, conserve wildlife habitat, facilitate responsible development, and recognize cultural and natural resources on public lands.Secretary Deb Haaland emphasized the importance of this rule, stating, “Today’s final rule helps restore balance to our public lands as we continue using...
