News from April 2024
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
In a recent announcement, SEA.AI, a prominent player in the maritime industry, revealed its ambitious plans to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to transform the sector. Sarah Chang, the CEO of SEA.AI, expressed her enthusiasm for the groundbreaking initiative, stating, "We are excited to lead the maritime industry into a new era of efficiency and safety."At the core of SEA.AI's strategy is an advanced AI system designed to analyze complex maritime data in real-time. John Smith, Lead Engineer at SEA.AI, highlighted the system's capabilities, emphasizing, "Our AI...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken held a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud in Riyadh, as confirmed by Spokesperson Matthew Miller. The meeting focused on critical issues in the region, with a particular emphasis on humanitarian assistance and ceasefire efforts in Gaza.During the meeting, the Secretary stressed the importance of sustaining the increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza and achieving an immediate ceasefire that secures the release of hostages. The discussions also highlighted the need to prevent further...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken recently held a crucial meeting in Riyadh with several Arab Foreign Ministers and other key figures to address pressing issues in the Middle East. The meeting, which took place on Apr 29, 2024, centered on critical matters concerning the region, particularly focusing on the situation in Gaza.According to Spokesperson Matthew Miller, discussions during the meeting revolved around the urgent need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza. "They discussed the importance of a sustained increase in humanitarian assistance to address the dire...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled its plan for promoting the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in automated and algorithmic systems by state, local, tribal, and territorial governments in the administration of public benefits. The department highlighted the potential of AI advancements to improve the delivery of public benefits programs.According to the HHS, "Recent advances in the availability of powerful artificial intelligence (AI) in automated or algorithmic systems open up significant opportunities to enhance public...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
The Department of Labor has taken significant steps to protect critical Affordable Care Act consumer protections through the rescission of the Association Health Plan Rule. The Employee Benefits Security Administration issued a final rule aimed at reinforcing healthcare protections for consumers in plans offered by small employers or available for purchase on the individual market.According to Assistant Secretary for Employee Benefits Security Lisa M. Gomez, the decision to rescind the 2018 rule comes after the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia invalidated...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has been awarded an annual procurement scorecard rating of “A+” by the Small Business Administration (SBA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. This prestigious recognition reflects HUD's exceptional performance in reaching small business and socio-economic prime contracting and subcontracting goals.HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman expressed pride in the achievement, stating, "This achievement underscores our unwavering commitment to fostering economic growth and empowering small businesses." She further...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
In a comprehensive analysis of the filibuster's historical and contemporary impact on civil rights, it is revealed that the filibuster has been instrumental in obstructing critical legislation aimed at advancing racial justice and protecting voting rights in the United States.Throughout history, the filibuster has been utilized to suppress the rights of Black and brown Americans. From the 1890s when it was first used to deny civil rights to communities of color, to the 1950s and 1960s when Southern Democrats obstructed landmark civil rights legislation, the filibuster has...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has taken significant steps to boost America's global leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) by announcing a series of initiatives aimed at promoting innovation, enhancing national security, and addressing the climate crisis. These actions are part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda and are aligned with the Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of AI.According to U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm, "Artificial intelligence can help crack the code on our toughest challenges...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken held a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as reported by Spokesperson Matthew Miller. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.During the meeting, Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Fidan discussed crucial matters concerning the conflict in the region. They explored efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire to secure the release of hostages and alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. Spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized, "The Secretary emphasized that it...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo expressed her support for Singapore's transition to its fourth generation of political leadership during a meeting with Singaporean Minister of Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong. The two officials affirmed their commitment to advancing bilateral cooperation under the U.S.-Singapore Partnership for Growth and Innovation (PGI).The discussion between Secretary Raimondo and Minister Gan also focused on the potential for collaboration to enhance semiconductor supply chain resilience and support Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises in...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen addressed the Committee on Ways & Means of the U.S. House of Representatives, highlighting the significant strides made in the economic landscape under the Biden Administration. Yellen expressed gratitude for the opportunity to testify and stated, "The Biden Administration has driven a historic economic recovery over the past three years."Yellen emphasized the administration's focus on reducing household expenses and enhancing economic opportunities, stating, "President Biden and I are taking additional actions to bring down the...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
FinCEN, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, will be hosting a webinar on beneficial ownership information reporting requirements. The webinar aims to provide valuable insights into compliance with the Corporate Transparency Act. The Corporate Transparency Act mandates that numerous companies operating in the United States disclose information to FinCEN regarding their ultimate beneficial owners or controllers. In light of this requirement, a FinCEN representative will lead the virtual information session to guide participants on...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) passionately advocated for rural communities, domestic energy production, and public land access during his recent testimony before the House Committee on Rules. Westerman highlighted the importance of several bills aimed at advancing these causes, including H.R. 615, H.R. 764, H.R. 2925, H.R. 3195, H.R. 3397, and H.R. 6285.In his testimony, Westerman emphasized the need to reverse restrictions imposed by the Biden administration, such as lead bans affecting hunting and fishing opportunities in...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
WASHINGTON, April 29, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small has announced a new wave of economic development investments in rural and Tribal communities through the Rural Partners Network (RPN).Since its launch two years ago, the Biden-Harris Administration's RPN initiative has been instrumental in ensuring that historically underserved communities receive their fair share of federal funding. Deputy Secretary Torres Small highlighted the significant progress made by the Rural Partners Network, stating, "In just two years, the...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero is set to take part in a significant event focusing on derivatives and climate. The Commissioner's participation in the upcoming roundtable hosted by the MSCI Sustainability Institute underscores the importance of discussing these critical issues.The event is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 29, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (London/GMT) and 4:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. (USA/EDT) virtually at MSCI London, 10 Bishops Square, London E1 6EG.According to a press release, Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero will be contributing...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
The final results from the annual survey of foreign portfolio holdings of U.S. securities at the end of June 2023 were released today, as reported by the Treasury website. The survey, conducted jointly by Treasury, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, revealed some insightful data.According to the survey, the value of foreign portfolio holdings of U.S. securities as of June 30, 2023, was $26,872 billion. This amount was broken down into $13,719 billion held in U.S. equities, $11,967 billion in U.S. long-term debt...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 29, 2024) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, expressed its support for legislation introduced by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (AL) and Rep. Warren Davidson (OH-08) to repeal the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The legislation aims to relieve small businesses from burdensome reporting requirements related to beneficial ownership information.Jeff Brabant, NFIB Vice President of Federal Government Relations, highlighted the significance of repealing the CTA, stating,...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the winners of the 34th National Science Bowl®, a nationwide academic competition that tests students' knowledge in all areas of science and mathematics. Students from Lexington High School in Massachusetts and BASIS Independent Bellevue in Washington emerged victorious in this prestigious competition.U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm congratulated the winning teams, stating, "Congratulations to the wonderfully brilliant minds from BASIS Independent Bellevue and Lexington High School for winning the 2024...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
The recent meeting of the Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee held on April 30, 2024, saw various discussions and recommendations put forth by key stakeholders in the financial sector.Under Secretary Liang expressed gratitude to outgoing Vice Chair Colin Teichholtz for his service to the committee at the beginning of the meeting. This set the tone for a series of discussions on debt management and Treasury priorities.During the meeting, it was noted that primary dealer estimates for the next three fiscal years were slightly lower than previous estimates, with a...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 29, 2024
Netflix has just unveiled an array of new Polish titles set to premiere on the streaming service in 2024, featuring a mix of fresh faces and well-known creators. The upcoming lineup includes a variety of productions, from miniseries to films, promising diverse and captivating storytelling for audiences.One of the anticipated releases is "Project UFO," a mini-series directed by Kasper Bajon, known for his previous work on hits like "High Water." This series will delve into the 1980s to investigate an alleged UFO landing in a remote village, offering a thrilling narrative...
