EASTON, PA, UNITED STATES, September 11, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- After almost a decade of enduring the challenges of private practice—including pre-authorization hassles, insurance complications, and overhead costs—Dr. Chukwudi Ogbolu discovered a niche solution that significantly enhances the quality of care for the geriatric population.

In his role as Medical Director and attending physician at a local nursing facility, Dr. Ogbolu is happy with the percentages, offering 60% skilled nursing and 40% long-term care.

Dr. Ogbolu’s transition from private practice to a nursing home setting has been transformative. On the skilled nursing side, there’s high patient turnover, which brings in diverse cases and keeps the work environment dynamic. Conversely, the long-term care side allows Dr. Ogbolu to build lasting relationships with his patients, akin to his experience in private practice. This dual approach ensures that patients receive comprehensive, individualized care.

“Compared to private practice, the facility provides the office space, staff, medication, and testing,” Dr. Ogbolu shares. “It also reduced my practice overhead, in addition to making to making my revenue more predictable.”

A huge benefit of this new model is the availability of medications. “When I prescribe medication for a patient, it’s in the facility,” Dr. Ogbolu explains. “This allows me to administer it immediately and assess its effectiveness. This timely intervention is crucial in providing optimal care. It also reduces medication noncompliance.”

Dr. Ogbolu is part of a shifting trend in nursing homes, where having attending physicians on staff is becoming the norm. “In the past, nursing homes did not have medical doctors on staff. Today, patients arrive with an average of 27 medications. For example, a patient wit a knee injury will need physical therapy. We can’t do physical therapy until the patient is medically stable. Having an attending physician is increasingly a necessity,” Dr. Ogbolu notes.

Renowned for his excellent bedside manner, Dr. Ogbolu credits his compassionate approach to an intrinsic quality. “I think it’s just a gift; I didn’t learn it anywhere. I’ve always considered myself the last man on deck. I care for myself last in life, making sure that everyone around me is taken care of before worrying about myself,” he shares.

This selfless devotion has endeared him to both patients and colleagues alike. His ability to empathize and connect with patients on a personal level makes him an invaluable asset to the facility.

Despite his busy schedule, Dr. Ogbolu maintains a balanced life. A native of Nigeria, he stays in touch with family and still helps financially when needed. He follows a unique work regimen, which allows him to recharge and spend time with family and friends. “They’re not in medicine, so being around them and just shooting the breeze is really all I need,” he says.

Close Up Radio will feature Chukwudi Ogbolu, MD in a two-part interview with Jim Masters on Friday, September 13th at 1pm EST and with Doug Llewelyn on Friday, September 27th at 1pm EST

Listen to the show on BlogTalkRadio

If you have any questions for our guest, please call (347) 996-3389

For more information about Dr. Ogbolu, please visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/chudi-ogbolu-ab7bba68

Lou Ceparano
Close Up Television & Radio+1 631-850-3314email us hereVisit us on social media:Facebook

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In a federal court complaint, the FTC alleges that Care’s marketing messages about both the number of jobs available on their site and the amount workers could expect to be paid were deceptive.

Care has agreed to a settlement that will require it to turn over $8.5 million to be used to refund consumers harmed by their practices, as well as requiring the company to be able to back up the earnings claims it makes and be honest about the number of jobs available on their site.

“Care.com used inflated job numbers and baseless earnings claims to lure caregivers onto its platform, and used deceptive design practices to trap consumers in subscriptions,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection “The order announced today puts a stop to these unlawful practices, returns millions of dollars to consumers, and helps ensure an honest marketplace for families looking for care and caregivers looking for work.”

Care provides an online platform where people looking to hire workers for jobs like child and older adult care, care for people with special needs, and pet sitting can post jobs and where people looking for such work can contact potential employers. In order to contact job posters or job seekers, users are required to purchase an auto-renewing paid subscription.

Misleading Messages

According to the complaint, Care’s deceptive advertising entices consumers to buy subscriptions in order to apply for jobs. The deception has taken on two forms – vastly overstating the number of jobs available on the platform and making unsubstantiated claims about how much consumers could expect to earn through these jobs.

Care’s advertising frequently has included the number of jobs available on its platform—a number that is deceptively inflated by including jobs for which there is little to no chance a job seeker could be hired. Since at least 2019, Care has advertised millions of these jobs in an effort to entice care providers to pay for subscriptions to its platform, according to the complaint.

Care’s platform allows those looking for workers to join the site for free. When they answer a questionnaire, Care creates a job listing on its platform, but the only way for a job poster to see a worker’s job application is if both people have paid memberships; if the poster hasn’t purchased a paid membership, then there is no way they can hire someone who applies for their job. The lawsuit points to numerous complaints from consumers who expressed frustration at the number of jobs they applied for without hearing anything back.

In addition to the inflated job claims, the complaint also charges that Care deceived users about how much money consumers can earn when they get a job on the platform. In advertisements and landing pages, Care has touted hourly as well as weekly earnings totals that are designed to entice consumers into paying for subscriptions despite having little to no data to back up such earnings claims, according to the complaint.

The complaint cites one 2021 Care ad campaign on a third-party site saying “Childcare jobs from $18/hr,” while at the same time saying on its own website that, “On average, the national pay rate for babysitting jobs” and “The average rate for babysitters on Care.com” was between $13 and $14.25 per hour.

According to the complaint, Care has not actually tracked earnings for jobs found on its platform and has little to no credible information to back up its earning claims in its advertising and marketing. Care’s claims about earnings for specific types of work are based on an average of those specific types of jobs listed on its site, and Care does not track or know the actual pay rates negotiated between job seekers and job posters after they make contact off the site.

According to the complaint, Care continued these deceptive earnings claims even after receiving a Notice of Penalty Offenses related to earnings claims from the FTC in 2021.

Cancellation Interference

The complaint also alleges that Care has used a number of unlawful tactics, sometimes referred to as dark patterns, to prevent consumers – both job posters and job seekers – from being able to cancel their subscriptions.

When consumers try to cancel Care subscriptions, they must click through a number of unrelated links to find information about how to cancel. According to the lawsuit, consumers regularly complained about difficulties in finding the cancellation options, with many resorting to searching online for instructions on how to cancel.

Once consumers find their way to the cancellation “flow” for their paid subscription, they face multiple steps designed to impede them from successfully cancelling. In some cases, consumers run into multi-page questionnaires, confusing language, warnings about the effects of cancellation, and offers to buy other paid memberships before finally being able to successfully cancel. Care makes it much more difficult to cancel a paid subscription than a free subscription, which is a relatively simple two-step process, according to the complaint.

Settlement Requirements

Under the terms of the proposed settlement, Care will be required to:

• Turn over $8.5 million to the FTC to be used to provide refunds to consumers harmed by Care’s unlawful practices.
• Only make earnings claims that are true and that Care has evidence to back up.
• Only make claims about the number of jobs available on the site that are posted by users who can actually hire a potential worker.
• Be upfront with consumers about how communication on the site works before taking consumers’ money.
• Provide users with a simple cancellation method for any negative option subscriptions available on the site.

The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint and stipulated order was 5-0. The FTC filed the complaint and stipulated order in the U.S. District Courtfor the Western District of Texas.Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter issued a statement.

NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the named defendants are violating or are about to violate the law and that a proceeding is in the public interest. Stipulated final orders have the force of law when approved and signed by the District Court judge.

The staff attorneys on this matter are Edward Hynes and Erica Hilliard of the FTC’s Southwest Region.

SEATTLE, April 16, 2024 (Newswire.com) - Temporal, the creators of Durable Execution, recently onboarded its thousandth paying customer to Temporal Cloud after providing the service for just over a year. This number represents a small percentage of the companies that have adopted Temporal, with thousands more using it as freely available open source software. Organizations use Temporal to improve the reliability of their applications - such as distributed systems and AI applications - and to dramatically accelerate time-to-market for new apps, services and features. They turn to Temporal Cloud to ease management complexity of the service and to efficiently scale their investment in the platform.

Temporal Cloud was made generally available in October 2022 and has attracted over 1,000 marquee customers, including top-tier companies across a wide array of industries - like Nvidia, Snap, Netflix, and Alaska Airlines - as well as some of the most innovative, emerging startups globally such as Retool, Turo and Drata.

"Snap was an early adopter of Temporal Cloud and initially we used it for just a few workloads," said Saral Jain, Vice President, Software Engineering at Snap. "Today, Temporal is a critical part of our application stack that helps our 414 million daily active users express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together. Temporal also eases our ability to scale to deliver a consistent experience even through the increased demand during big moments, such as the Super Bowl or New Year's Eve. The Temporal team is a valued partner on our journey."

The co-founders of Temporal, Maxim Fateev and Samar Abbas, have been building on the concept of Durable Execution for almost 20 years while at AWS, Google, Microsoft and Uber. Temporal is the culmination of this work, and it presents a new development paradigm that makes code less complicated and fault tolerant. It eliminates dependence on many design patterns and plumbing code, traditionally used for managing state and reliability (such as retries, queues, sagas, state machines and timers); without these complexities, developers can spend time delivering features and enhanced business logic. 

"As developers, Samar and I have grappled with the complexities of system failures and infrastructure intricacies in our code for quite some time," revealed Maxim Fateev, co-founder and CEO of Temporal. "Temporal emerged from this frustration, and we are deeply honored that a multitude of developers and organizations now rely on it to significantly streamline their code and enhance their development journey. Temporal is quickly evolving into an essential building block of the modern application stack."

Temporal has become an engine to fuel new applications as it allows organizations to define workflows, reliably execute them and then easily scale as they become successful. It provides idiomatic language support across six programming languages so this complexity can be handled in code by developers.

"The adoption of Temporal by major global players is remarkable," observed Bogomil Balkansky, a partner at Sequoia Capital. "Nevertheless, Temporal isn't exclusively designed for large companies alone. We believe that every development team can harness Temporal's capabilities, which formed a significant aspect of our investment thesis. With Temporal, organizations can accelerate their development pace, stand toe-to-toe with industry giants, and successfully build and deploy complex distributed systems and in-demand AI applications."

For a list of Temporal case studies and customers, please visit the following www.temporal.io.

Source: Temporal

WASHINGTON - On Wednesday, June 26, the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) co-hosted a virtual roundtable to discuss federal government efforts to promote access to financial products and services while protecting the U.S. financial system from illicit actors and bolstering national security, as well as ensuring compatibility with consumer protection policies. The roundtable was led by Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI) Brian Nelson and CFPB Director Rohit Chopra.  Other senior leaders from the Treasury participated in the roundtable as well and helped outline U.S. Government current efforts while also identifying what further needed to be done.

Treasury’s De-Risking and Financial Inclusion Priorities and Progress

Under Secretary Nelson discussed Treasury’s 2023 National De-Risking Strategy, emphasizing that the inequitable curtailment of financial access is an area of pressing concern, while reinforcing the recommendations that Treasury laid out in the De-Risking Strategy to help address these issues.

He highlighted the 2022 statement on customer due diligence published by Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) in July 2022,[1] which reiterated Treasury’s longstanding position that no customer type represents a single level of uniform risk and that financial institutions are required to apply a risk-based approach.

He also underscored the impact of the historic general licenses issued or amended by TFI’s Office of Foreign Assets Control to support the flow of humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations across the globe. The United States took the global lead to issue and amend these general licenses to ease the delivery of humanitarian aid and ensure a baseline of authorizations for the provision of humanitarian support across many sanctions programs.

Notably, Under Secretary Nelson discussed how Treasury soon would be proposing an update to the requirements for anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) compliance programs, which would seek to help banks and other private sector firms be more effective and flexible in detecting and preventing illicit activity.   

Update:  On July 3, 2024, Treasury’s FinCEN issued a proposed rule to strengthen and modernize AML/CFT programs.  The proposed rule seeks to avoid one-size-fits-all approaches to customer risk that can lead to financial institutions declining to provide financial services to entire categories of customers. This proposal is consistent with a key recommendation in Treasury’s De-risking Strategy, which recommended proposing regulations to require financial institutions to have reasonably designed and risk-based AML/CFT programs supervised on a risk basis and taking into consideration the effects of financial inclusion. The proposed rule can be found on the Federal Register and written comments must be received on or before September 3, 2024. 

CFPB Priorities and Milestones

Director Chopra underscored the crucial importance of account access for financial inclusion and participation in society. Financial institutions have obligations to consumers under federal consumer financial law, in addition to their obligations to address fraud and illicit finance. For firms with careful, accurate programs, risk management and consumer protection are not in tension. However, overbroad policies or practices that affect ordinary consumers in addition to illicit actors may be unlawful.

As examples, Director Chopra described recent actions the CFPB has taken to address unlawful practices related to account closures, freezes, and denials. In November 2023, the CFPB took action against Citi for illegal discrimination against consumers the bank identified as Armenian American. The bank denied credit to consumers singled out as Armenian American due to a stereotype that this group of consumers was prone to crime and fraud. In December 2023, the CFPB took action against U.S. Bank for freezing tens of thousands of prepaid accounts for out-of-work consumers receiving unemployment benefits during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, without providing people a reliable and quick way to regain access. Consumers were unable to access their accounts for weeks or more at a time.

Director Chopra expressed concerns about the role played by third-party data brokers and screening companies, given the pivotal services they provide financial institutions, and about consumers’ inability to contest unexplained account closures.

He also called for more collaboration with stakeholders to ensure consumers are able to access bank accounts and other financial services.  

The Director encouraged attendees who encounter problems with account denial, closure, or freezing to submit a complaint to the CFPB. 

Feedback from the Community

Community leaders and consumer advocates – representing Muslim and Arab Americans, New Americans, justice-involved individuals and other individuals, business and non-profit organizations – shared remarks with Director Chopra and Under Secretary Nelson regarding their personal and community experiences with account denial, freezes or closures, and discussed steps that policymakers and financial institutions could take to address these issues. For account opening, speakers discussed how institutional customer identification protocols can create barriers to account access for consumers who may have difficulty obtaining state-issued ID but can establish their identity through other means. For the impact of de-risking practices on consumers with bank accounts, speakers highlighted how account freezes and closures can cause significant financial harm to consumers, non-profit organizations, and small businesses. They expressed concern about third-party entities providing inaccurate and biased information used by financial institutions. They also described difficulties with learning why their accounts were frozen or closed and being left with no opportunity for meaningful recourse with their financial institution. Stakeholders noted that the exclusion of consumers from basic, mainstream financial products such as deposit accounts can spread fear and uncertainty in communities and likely lead consumers to rely on higher-cost alternative providers that may present greater risks.  

*********

The roundtable concluded with Under Secretary Nelson stating that he welcomed comments on the proposed rule for AML programs after publication through the public comment process available online, and confirmed how informative he found the dialogue to be in shaping his understanding around de-risking. Director Chopra equally praised the information and context he gained during the roundtable, and reiterated the ask for individuals to reach out to the CFPB and submit a consumer complaint when they feel they might be the victim of discrimination or other unlawful practices.

###

The FTC first took action against Lanier Law in 2014 as part of a joint law enforcement sweep by federal and state authorities. In 2016, as a result of the lawsuit, the defendants were banned from the debt relief business and one of the scheme’s owners, Michael W. Lanier, was disbarred.

The FTC is sending checks to 322 consumers. Recipients should cash their checks within 90 days, as indicated on the check. Consumers who have questions about their payment should contact the refund administrator, Analytics, at 866-590-8211, or visit the FTC website to view frequently asked questions about the refund process. The Commission never requires people to pay money or provide account information to get a refund.

The Commission’s interactive dashboards for refund data provide a state-by-state breakdown of refunds in FTC cases. In 2023, FTC actions led to $324 million in refunds to consumers across the country.

Diplomatic ties between the United States and Mexico impact the lives of millions across both our nations profoundly. The new consulate facilities will serve as hubs for continued U.S.-Mexico cooperation on trade, security, and tourism, while building on our existing consular services, sustainability efforts, and cultural ties. The new buildings are part of a broader OBO effort to open four new consulate facilities in Hermosillo, Guadalajara, Merida, and Nogales, and a new embassy in Mexico City. Altogether, Mission Mexico is comprised of 10 diplomatic facilities.

Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico – On September 24, 2024, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar, Acting Principal Officer Timothy Stater, Governor of Sonora Alfonso Durazo, Mayor of Hermosillo Antonio Astiazarán, Sinaloa Minister of Economy Javier Gaxiola Coppel, and OBO Former Managing Director for Construction and Security Management Tracy Thomas presided over the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new U.S. Consulate Hermosillo. The ceremony included remarks by the dignitaries and a cultural performance.

The new consulate in Hermosillo was designed by Richärd Kennedy Architects and constructed by B.L. Harbert International, with the firm Page as Architect of Record. With a total investment of $230 million, $40 million of which went directly into the local economy, the project has had a tangible impact on economic growth and development in the region. The facility integrates advanced energy efficiency features, including solar panels, stormwater management systems, and water-conserving landscaping practices, demonstrating our commitment to sustainable construction.

Nogales, Sonora, Mexico – On September 25, 2024, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Salazar and former OBO Managing Director Thomas joined Consul General Michelle Ward; Sonora Governor Durazo; Mexican consuls from Phoenix, Tucson, Nogales, and Douglas, Arizona; representatives from U.S. Congressional offices; and the Mayors of Nogales on both sides of the U.S. Mexico border to dedicate the new U.S. Consulate Nogales. The ceremony consisted of dignitary remarks, unveiling of the dedication plaque, and a musical performance by the 323rd U.S. Army Band.

The new consulate in Nogales, designed by Ennead Architects with Page as the Architect of Record and constructed by BL Harbert International, involved a total investment of $203 million, with $70 million directly invested into the local economy. The facility has a similar emphasis on sustainability through shading elements, native landscaping, and renewable resources. Expanded consular services reinforce the vital economic and people-to-people ties between Arizona and Sonora, while the design and construction integrate local materials and art to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the region on both sides of the border.

The new facilities in Mission Mexico advance OBO’s mission to provide the most effective facilities for U.S. diplomacy abroad and will undoubtedly bear witness to the historic and important relationship between the people of Mexico and the people of the United States. Since the start of the Department’s Capital Security Construction Program in 1999, OBO has completed 182 new diplomatic facilities and has more than 50 active projects in design or construction worldwide.

For more information, please contact OBOExternalAffairs@state.gov or visit obo.state.gov and oboportfolio.state.gov/missionmexico.

The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals for the San Carlos Apache Tribe.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding also is available to the San Carlos Apache Tribe and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the Watch Fire.

Lastly, Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the San Carlos Apache Tribe.

Mr. Benigno Ruiz of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the Tribal Nation and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

###

Under the President’s order today, Federal funds for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance has been increased to 100 percent of the total eligible costs for a period of 90 days of the State’s choosing within the first 120 days from the start of the incident period.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE  FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

###

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION

KA ‘OIHANA HOʻOMALU KALAIMA A HOʻOPONOPONO OLA

JOSH GREEN, M.D.

GOVERNOR

KE KIAʻĀINA

TOMMY JOHNSON

DIRECTOR

KA LUNA HO‘OKELE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sept. 19, 2024

Missing Work Furlough Inmate from O‘ahu Community Correctional Center

HONOLULU — O‘ahu Community Correctional Center work furlough inmate Bobby M. Cotton failed to return to OCCC Module 20 from his job-seeking pass. He was supposed to return by 5 p.m. today, Sept. 19, 2024. Sheriffs and the Honolulu Police Department were notified.

Cotton, 51, is 5 feet, 6 inches tall, approximately 177 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. He is serving time for second-degree robbery. He now faces an additional escape charge when he is found. An escape charge is a Class C felony that is punishable by up to five years in prison, if convicted.

Cotton is a community custody inmate in the work furlough program with pass privileges. Community custody is the lowest classification status.

Anyone with information on Cotton’s whereabouts is asked to call 911 or state Sheriffs at 808-586-1352.

###

Media Contact:

Rosemarie Bernardo

Public Information Officer

Hawai‘i Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Office: 808-587-1358

Cell: 808-683-5507

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://dcr.hawaii.gov

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The145 is the ONLY online service dedicated exclusively to the aviation MRO market. They have made it their business for more than 20 years to not only list every possible repair source in the world but also to provide repair centers and customers of repair services with tools to help them grow their businesses. The145's unwavering commitment to the aviation MRO market now extends to the supplier side, aiming to enhance the supply chain. 

Vista-Quote is a uniquely powerful platform that offers a streamlined system for receiving, routing, and managing inbound RFQs. Its standout feature is the AI interpretation of freeform/plain text RFQs, which is an aviation industry first. Vista-Quote seamlessly integrates with various aviation ERP systems and legacy databases, making it the most comprehensive supplier RFQ and Quote management tool available.

With Vista-Quote, salespersons can generate professionally customized quotes quickly and easily in response to RFQs, saving users time and money. Vista-Quote works with The145.com marketplace through direct integration and accommodates many other inbound RFQ formats and quoting needs.

"We are confident that Vista-Quote will extend the value of The145.com services, making it even easier for suppliers to respond to requests for quotes," said Justin Spaulding, The145's President and CEO. "By streamlining processes and minimizing manual tasks, to enhancing collaboration between The145 customer and supplier, we can add value to all supply chain parties."

The145 customers will benefit from Vista-Quote's automated quoting capabilities, optional connectivity to legacy ERPs and databases, online customer quote acceptance mechanism, and direct integration with The145.com marketplace. "We are excited to partner with The145.com to offer this powerful new solution to the Aviation MRO sector. The145.com vision and customer focus align perfectly with our principles, making the partnership a great fit," said Paul Stewart, President of Ambry Hill Technologies.

To learn more about Vista-Quote and how it can transform your MRO Parts Sales, contact The145.com sales team at 1-888-820-8551, Ext. 708, email support@the145.com.

About The 145

The 145 is aviation's premier database for anything and everything repair-related. Whether you're looking for repair sources and repair cost information, need analytical data for capability development, or want the best digital medium to advertise to your customers strategically, The 145 has you covered. Contact The 145 at 1-888-820-8551, online at www.the145.com, or via email at support@the145.com. 

About Ambry Hill Technologies:

Ambry Hill Technologies is the creator of Vista-Quote.com and Vista-Suite.com. Headquartered in Cambridge, Minnesota, it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air T, Inc. (NASDAQ: AIRT), an industrious American holding company established in 1980, comprising over 15 companies with 700+ employees. Visit AmbryHill.com for more.

Source: Ambry Hill Technologies

All telemarketers calling consumers in the United States are required to download the numbers on the National DNC Registry to ensure they do not call consumers who have registered their phone numbers. The first five area codes are free to download, and organizations that are exempt, such as some charities and political callers, may obtain the entire list for free. Telemarketers must subscribe each year for access to the Registry numbers.

The cost of accessing a single area code in the Registry will be $80 in FY 2025, which is an increase of $2 from FY 2024. The maximum charge to any single entity for accessing all area codes nationwide is now $22,038 (up from 21,402 in FY 2024). The fee for accessing an additional area code for a half year will increase $1 from FY 2024, to $40.

The Commission vote authorizing publication of the Federal Register notice announcing the new fees was 5-0.

— Chaise Bennett

Chaise Bennett, owner of Recover Physical Therapy in Slidell, Louisiana, stresses the importance of a multidisciplinary approach when addressing migraines. "Migraines are complex, and their triggers can vary widely. By incorporating physical therapy into the treatment plan, it is possible to reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks, particularly for individuals who have contributing musculoskeletal factors."

Understanding the Musculoskeletal Connection

Migraines can stem from a variety of triggers, including stress, hormonal changes, sensory stimuli, and musculoskeletal issues. For many migraine sufferers, physical tension in the neck, shoulders, and upper back can exacerbate or even trigger migraine episodes. Physical therapy aims to address these contributing factors, focusing on muscle imbalances, poor posture, and joint dysfunctions that can lead to chronic headaches.

One of the primary ways physical therapy aids in migraine management is by identifying and treating musculoskeletal problems that place strain on the head, neck, and spine. Tight muscles, joint restrictions, or poor alignment can create tension in the body that may provoke or intensify migraines.

"Many individuals with migraines experience tightness in the muscles of the neck and shoulders, often without realizing it. Physical therapy works to release this tension, improve posture, and restore normal movement patterns, all of which can help reduce the occurrence of migraine episodes," explains Bennett.

Common Musculoskeletal Causes of Migraines

There are several musculoskeletal issues that can contribute to migraines, many of which can be addressed through physical therapy:

Tension in the Neck and Shoulders: Poor posture, stress, or repetitive movements can cause muscle tension in the neck and shoulders. This tension can trigger tension headaches, which may develop into migraines.

Cervical Joint Dysfunction: Misalignments or restricted movement in the cervical spine (the neck) can irritate nerves and muscles, leading to headaches or migraines.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction: Problems with the jaw joint, or TMJ, can cause muscle tension and pain that radiates to the head, often leading to migraines.

Poor Posture: Poor posture places excessive strain on the muscles and joints of the neck and upper back, contributing to muscle fatigue, tension, and headaches.

Physical Therapy Techniques for Managing Migraines

Physical therapy offers a range of techniques designed to reduce migraine frequency and severity by addressing the musculoskeletal factors that contribute to them. A customized treatment plan can be developed based on the individual's specific needs and migraine triggers. Below are some of the common physical therapy approaches used to manage migraines:

Manual Therapy

Manual therapy involves hands-on techniques designed to manipulate soft tissues and joints, relieving tension and restoring normal movement patterns. For individuals suffering from migraines, manual therapy can be particularly effective in reducing tension in the neck, shoulders, and upper back. Techniques such as soft tissue mobilization, myofascial release, and joint mobilization can relieve pressure on nerves and muscles, decreasing the likelihood of migraine attacks.

Postural Training

Improving posture is a key component of preventing musculoskeletal-related migraines. Physical therapists can assess an individual's posture and recommend corrective exercises and adjustments to alleviate strain on the neck and spine. By teaching patients how to maintain proper alignment throughout daily activities, postural training helps prevent muscle fatigue and tension that can trigger headaches.

Stretching and Strengthening Exercises

Specific exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles of the neck, shoulders, and upper back are essential for maintaining flexibility and reducing tension. Stretching exercises help lengthen tight muscles that may contribute to migraines, while strengthening exercises improve the stability of the spine and neck, helping to prevent muscle strain and dysfunction. A physical therapist can develop a customized exercise program based on the individual's unique needs and limitations.

Relaxation Techniques

Stress is a known trigger for many migraine sufferers. Physical therapists often incorporate relaxation techniques into treatment plans to help reduce the stress and muscle tension that can lead to migraines. Techniques such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and guided imagery may be recommended to promote relaxation and reduce the physical impact of stress on the body.

Ergonomic Adjustments

For individuals whose migraines are related to workplace posture or repetitive strain, ergonomic adjustments can play a significant role in reducing symptoms. Physical therapists can recommend changes to an individual's workstation, such as adjusting the height of a computer monitor or chair, to reduce strain on the neck and back. Proper ergonomics can prevent the development of tension that contributes to migraines.

Cervical and TMJ Treatment

Migraines that are linked to cervical spine dysfunction or TMJ issues can be effectively managed through targeted physical therapy techniques. Joint mobilization and manual therapy can help correct cervical spine alignment, while specific exercises and treatments can address TMJ dysfunction. By reducing the strain on these areas, individuals can experience relief from migraine symptoms.

Benefits of Physical Therapy for Migraine Management

Physical therapy offers several benefits for individuals managing migraines. One of the key advantages is the ability to address the root causes of musculoskeletal tension and dysfunction, rather than simply treating the symptoms. By focusing on the physical factors that contribute to migraines, physical therapy helps reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks over time.

In addition to improving musculoskeletal health, physical therapy promotes overall well-being by reducing stress, improving posture, and increasing mobility. These improvements can enhance an individual's ability to participate in daily activities and reduce the impact of migraines on their quality of life.

"Physical therapy is an important tool for individuals suffering from migraines, particularly those whose migraines are influenced by musculoskeletal issues. By addressing these factors, physical therapy can lead to lasting relief and a significant reduction in symptoms," Bennett adds.

Conclusion

Managing migraines through physical therapy offers a holistic approach to addressing both the symptoms and underlying causes of these debilitating headaches. By incorporating manual therapy, postural training, exercises, and relaxation techniques, physical therapy provides a comprehensive solution for reducing migraine frequency and intensity. Individuals experiencing migraines can benefit from a personalized physical therapy plan that targets the specific factors contributing to their condition.

Morgan Thomas
Rhino Digital, LLC+1 504-875-5036email us hereVisit us on social media:Facebook

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WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen met with the families of Americans taken hostage by Hamas as part of the October 7th terrorist attacks. The Secretary conveyed her unwavering support for the families and expressed her condolences to those whose loved ones have been killed. The Secretary also reiterated the President’s call for a hostage release deal. She reaffirmed Treasury’s commitment to continue targeting Hamas’s key sources of revenue, using all available tools and authorities, as well as encouraging similar action from our allies and partners. She also stressed Treasury’s longstanding focus on countering the financing of terrorism and preventing terrorist organizations--including Hamas and other Iran-backed terrorist proxy groups--from exploiting the U.S. and international financial systems. She provided an overview of Treasury’s efforts to increase pressure on Hamas and disrupt its international financial networks, including closely monitoring the group’s efforts to seek other sources of revenue.

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Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with PRC Director of the CCP Central Foreign Affairs Commission and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the margins of the 79th UN General Assembly in New York City. The two sides held candid, substantive, and productive discussions on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues. They emphasized the need to maintain open lines of communication.

Secretary Blinken emphasized the importance of using diplomacy to responsibly manage competition, to candidly discuss areas of difference, and to make progress on areas of cooperation that matter to the American people and the world. They discussed implementation of the 2023 Woodside Summit commitments, including counternarcotics cooperation to disrupt the flow of synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals into the United States, military-to-military communication, and talks on artificial intelligence risk and safety.

Secretary Blinken underscored the United States’ continued concern with PRC support for Russia’s defense industrial base and war of aggression against Ukraine and made clear the need for the PRC to address Russia’s threat to transatlantic security.  He emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and raised concerns about the PRC’s dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea.

Secretary Blinken reiterated that it remains a top priority to resolve the cases of American citizens who are detained or subject to exit bans in China.  He also raised human rights concerns, including with respect to Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong. The Secretary discussed concerns related to technology; U.S. policy remains designed to prevent advanced U.S. technologies from being used to undermine our national security. Both sides agreed to maintain contact, including on regional and global issues.

I write to you regarding the needs of the Nation.  As communities across the Southeast devastated by Hurricane Helene assess the extent of the damage, they are expecting their Federal Government to stand behind them in their most urgent time of need.  I have seen firsthand the devastation that Hurricane Helene brought to communities across the Southeast.  During my travels this week to North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia, I met with families, business owners, farmers, local and state officials, and first responders, all of whom shared with me their stories of survival—and resilience.  As leaders, we have a responsibility to ensure that everyone in communities ravaged by natural disasters will have the Federal resources they need and deserve to respond to and recover from deadly storms and other natural disasters.  

My Administration will be with those affected until the job is done, and we have a solemn obligation to provide confidence that the Federal Government will stand with them as they rebuild their lives and their communities.  Furthermore, this responsibility extends to the many communities around the Nation that are still rebuilding from previous disasters.

Over the past 10 days, including in the lead up to Hurricane Helene making landfall, my Administration has provided robust and well-coordinated Federal support for the ongoing response and recovery efforts.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Defense, and other Federal partners have quickly mobilized to support impacted citizens and communities in the six States where major disasters have been declared due to Hurricane Helene:  Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.  They are performing critical life-saving and life-sustaining missions and will continue to do so within present funding levels.  As with other catastrophic disasters, it will take some time to assess the full requirements for response and recovery efforts, and I fully expect that the Congress will do its part to provide the funding needed.

While FEMA has the resources needed for the immediate emergency response phase, at least one other agency does not.  Most urgently, the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) disaster loan program will run out of funding in a matter of weeks and well before the Congress is planning to reconvene.  I warned the Congress of this potential shortfall even before Hurricane Helene landed on America’s shores.  I requested more funding for SBA multiple times over the past several months, and most recently, my Administration underscored that request as you prepared a continuing resolution to fund the Government.  Now the need is even more urgent.  Small businesses and individuals in affected areas depend on disaster loans as a critical lifeline during difficult times.  In fact, for individual disaster survivors, SBA loans are often the largest source of Federal disaster recovery funds.  Renters and homeowners use these loans to repair and rebuild their homes as well as replace or repair damaged property including their personal vehicles, while businesses use them to cover basic operating expenses.  The Congress must act to restore this funding.

In addition, while FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund has the resources it requires right now to meet immediate needs, the fund does face a shortfall at the end of the year.  Without additional funding, FEMA would be required to forego longer-term recovery activities in favor of meeting urgent needs.  The Congress should provide FEMA additional resources to avoid forcing that kind of unnecessary trade-off and to give the communities we serve the certainty of knowing that help will be ongoing, both for the short- and long-term.

As the Congress heeds the call to assist the communities across the Nation recovering from Hurricane Helene, it must remember that many other communities are also in urgent need of disaster assistance.  As recently as this summer, my Administration requested that the Congress provide additional disaster assistance to many communities across America.  Many of the programs we requested to receive additional funding would also help response and recovery efforts related to Hurricane Helene.  This includes funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to respond to devastating fires in Maui and tornados in Mississippi, Iowa, and Oklahoma as well as funding for the Department of Transportation to support rebuilding roads and bridges across the Nation, including the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland.

I urge you to keep faith with those communities and provide the requested additional funding to rebuild housing infrastructure, to support farmers and ranchers with crop losses, to address impacted schools, and to repair damaged Federal highways.  In addition to FEMA’s ongoing support, these are the resources that communities need and deserve to fully respond to and recover from devastating events.

It is critical that Congress ensures that no critical disaster programs, such as the SBA disaster loan program, run out of funding during the Congressional Recess period.  I also urge that after the Congress comes back into session on November 12th, you will act with all appropriate speed and provide comprehensive disaster relief so that the people, families, businesses, and communities affected by Hurricane Helene—as well as those still recovering from past disasters—are not only made whole, but can proceed in a way to make them more resilient in the face of future extreme weather events and other disasters.

My Administration will keep the Congress apprised of efforts to assess the full resource requirements associated with Hurricane Helene, including for long-term rebuilding and resilience efforts, as those estimates become available.  I urge you to assist those impacted by this hurricane and every other disaster since the Congress last passed a comprehensive disaster package in 2022.  We must stand with these communities on their long road to recovery.

Sincerely,

                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The launch of their cybersecurity bundles also serves to retire the Threat Protector brand name that Telesystem acquired in August 2022. Moving forward, Telesystem’s cybersecurity product set will be branded #HackersSuck to take advantage of the success of the summit series and the associated brand activities. The ‘HackersSuck’ brand has gained tremendous popularity since its initial release last year. The company has been emphasizing, in a fun and authentic manner, the importance of remaining vigilant against cyber threats while also highlighting the truth that cybercriminals are indeed bad news. In line with their rebranding, Telesystem intends to continue its marketing campaign and emphasizes its commitment to providing high-quality cybersecurity training solutions.

“When we set out to launch our cybersecurity product set and brand it, we aimed for the center of the bullseye," said Telesystem’s Chief Revenue Officer Bruce Wirt. “When we use the word ‘hacker’, we’re referring to the black-hat hacker that seeks to destroy identities, ruin lives, destabilize economies, and take down organizations. Unfortunately, our branding has offended some of the many ethical hackers out there that are fighting with us against bad actors. The hackers that do all the good work of identifying the various flaws, deficiencies, and vulnerabilities, those doing the diligence of figuring out technical issues, learning new technologies and making them better, in no way do we want to degenerate your efforts. You all don't suck, you rock,” continued Wirt.

Telesystem will also offer advanced communication and collaboration services as an add-on to the bundle with the idea that a business can use Telesystem as a one-stop-shop for all of the vital components of an organization’s technology stack. Beyond the per-user bundled seat offerings, Telesystem offers a variety of security, networking, and communication services, including multiple levels of software defined networking (SD-WAN), secure access service edge (SASE), managed firewall, and unified communications (UCaaS), that can be tailored for the unique and specific needs of the organization that uses it.

“There are many organizations out there that place great emphasis on research and development and bring amazing products to market,” said Wirt. “Some of these great products and services are lacking the support and service levels that business owners expect and require. Telesystem aims to bring the best technology to our customers with a level of service and support that goes beyond the expectations of our most demanding customers. We believe that ‘IT is about trust’, and customers that buy from Telesystem will get reliability and experience at an affordable price.”

To learn more about the bundle components, the cybersecurity threat landscape, and best practices for staying connected and protected, organizations can register for one of Telesystem’s free #HackersSuck cybersecurity summits. Business leaders and technology sellers can register for in-person or virtual attendance at hackerssuck.com.

About Telesystem 

For over 30 years, Telesystem has been a trusted technology partner for SME and mid-market U.S.-based organizations, empowering businesses across the country with a range of innovative cybersecurity, networking and communication solutions designed to address the business-specific needs of each customer. Guided by strategic partnerships and a customer-centric mission, these customized solutions are backed by an end-to-end managed experience and 24/7 U.S.-based support team.     

Telesystem provides service to businesses in all areas of the United States. Their customers include hospitals, universities, local public and private school districts, banks, multi-location retail establishments and regional government offices, just to name a few.    

Source: Telesystem

Allison Spooner is the author of two novels, including The Things We Cannot Change: A Story about the Ghosts Created by Addiction, which releases this month.

“The Things We Cannot Change: A Story about the Ghosts Created by Addiction” offers a haunting and heartfelt narrative about healing and acceptance.

— Allison Spooner

A Personal Journey Reflected in Fiction
Spooner shared the emotionally charged process of writing this new book during her recent appearance on Expert Connexions. The Things We Cannot Change draws heavily on her personal experiences with loss and addiction, having lost her own father to alcoholism when she was just 15 years old.

“This is a book I’ve always known I would write,” Spooner explained in the interview. “I wanted to explore how addiction creates invisible wounds that don’t heal easily. Callie’s journey shows that even after someone is gone, the things we cannot change continue to shape who we are.”

The novel follows Callie, a college freshman trying to bury the painful memories of her father’s death from alcoholism a year prior. When she returns home for a break, she is confronted by her father’s ghost—both literal and metaphorical. Forced to face her unresolved feelings and the haunting memories she’s locked away, Callie embarks on a journey toward finding peace, learning that closure isn’t always about getting answers.

A Timely Release for National Recovery Month Spooner’s book launches at a pivotal moment, during National Recovery Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about mental health and substance use disorders. In her Expert Connexions appearance, Spooner reflected on the significance of this timing: “This month shines a light on recovery journeys and reminds us how many families are touched by addiction. I hope this book helps people feel less alone in their grief and healing.”

Praise for The Things We Cannot Change Bestselling author Sarah Arthur, in an early review, praises Spooner’s ability to bring nuance and empathy to her characters: “As in real life, I found myself rooting for everyone, frustrated with everyone, and astounded by the complex resiliency of families for whom addiction has been a wrecking ball. Allison Spooner has given her characters—and readers—a tremendous gift: The dignity of being human. Don’t miss it.”

Launch Event and Availability Spooner will celebrate the book’s release with a launch party on September 29, 2024, at Sycamore Creek Church’s Stage One in Lansing, Michigan, offering readers a chance to purchase signed copies before the official release. The book will be available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and via Spooner’s website, www.allisonspoonerwriter.com.

For a behind-the-scenes look at the book and Spooner’s writing process, watch her recent interview on Expert Connexions.

About the Author Allison Spooner is an award-winning author known for her ability to blend raw emotion with compelling narratives. Her previous work, The Lost Girl: A Neverland Story, garnered critical acclaim for its fresh reimagining of classic themes. In The Things We Cannot Change, Spooner draws from her passion for exploring mental health, trauma, and recovery, creating characters that resonate deeply with readers navigating their own journeys of healing.

For media inquiries, review copies, or to schedule an interview, please contact Allison Spooner’s team at allison@allisonspoonerwriter.com.

Allison SpoonerAuthorallison@allisonspoonerwriter.com

"The Things We Cannot Change" Featured on Expert Connexions

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The complaint filed by the FTC and the Florida Office of Attorney General alleges that RivX, along with its owner Antonio Rivodo and company executive Noah Wooten, have used deceptive claims of guaranteed income to entice consumers to pay $75,000 dollars or more to buy trucks that they often never received.

“Defendants tricked consumers into paying tens of thousands of dollars each with false promises that they would operate a trucking business for the consumer,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Instead of receiving the lucrative returns promised by defendants, many consumers lost their life’s savings. The FTC will continue to aggressively pursue those who prey on consumers with bogus earnings claims.”

According to the complaint, RivX offered business opportunities in the trucking industry, claiming that after consumers pay $75,000 or more, RivX would purchase a semi-truck in the consumers’ name and operate it on their behalf, securing loads, drivers, and managing all the logistics for the consumer. In its advertising and marketing, RivX makes numerous claims about how much money consumers can supposedly earn from the scheme, but according to the complaint, very few consumers have ever received trucks, and none have been able to recoup their investment, much less make any profit.

RivX, Rivodo, and Wooten claim consumers can make “passive income” totaling $5,000 to $7,000 every month from their truck, and have regularly guaranteed that consumers will make back all their money plus more, with the consumers’ entire trucking “business” being set up in as little as 60 days. In numerous online videos cited in the complaint, Rivodo has made baseless claims about the ease with which consumers will make substantial profits, such as:

• “We are making sure that that truck is operating, it’s consistently bringing in income, it’s covering all the expenses and it’s also leaving that amazing passive income every single month.”
• “This is a literally done-for-you business model. You are literally going to lift as little as a finger as you have to… this truck will literally just become a passive income asset.”
• “We want to make sure the results that we create for you [are] passive… that money’s going to come in like mailbox money, coming in every single month.”

RivX has littered the internet, according to the complaint, with videos featuring Rivodo making false claims on social media and other sites of guaranteed income. When consumers reach out to RivX, they hear more false income claims from Rivodo and Wooten and even receive documentation saying that if they fail to make the promised profits, RivX will return their initial investment.

According to the complaint, RivX, Rivodo and Wooten have pocketed millions of dollars from consumers while failing to provide anything approaching the profits they promised. In addition, the company’s contracts include unlawful provisions that make consumers liable for as much as $100,000 every time they publicly complain about the company or leave a negative review online.

In response to the FTC and Florida’s court complaint, a federal court has issued a temporary restraining order that halts the company’s operations and freezes the assets of RivX, Rivodo, Wooten and several associated companies that are part of the RivX operation or have profited from the illegal scheme.

The complaint charges the defendants with violating the FTC Act, the FTC’s Business Opportunity Rule, the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, and the Consumer Review Fairness Act.

The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint was 5-0. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Commissioner Andrew Ferguson issued a statement.

NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the named defendants are violating or are about to violate the law and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. The case will be decided by the court.

The staff attorneys on this matter are Angeleque Linville and Harold Kirtz of the FTC’s Southeast Region.

Washington – The U.S. Department of the Treasury today released Treasury International Capital (TIC) data for July 2024.  The next release, which will report on data for August 2024, is scheduled for October 17, 2024. 

The sum total in July of all net foreign acquisitions of long-term securities, short-term U.S. securities, and banking flows was a net TIC inflow of $156.5 billion.  Of this, net foreign private inflows were $141.8 billion, and net foreign official inflows were $14.7 billion.

Foreign residents increased their holdings of long-term U.S. securities in July; their net purchases were $134.7 billion.  Net purchases by private foreign investors were $162.0 billion, while sales by foreign official institutions were $27.3 billion.

U.S. residents decreased their holdings of long-term foreign securities, with net sales of $0.6 billion.

After including adjustments, such as estimated foreign portfolio acquisitions of U.S. stocks through stock swaps, overall net foreign purchases of long-term securities are estimated to have been $135.4 billion in July.

Foreign residents increased their holdings of U.S. Treasury bills by $16.2 billion.  Foreign resident holdings of all dollar-denominated short-term U.S. securities and other custody liabilities increased by $14.3 billion.

Banks’ own net dollar-denominated liabilities to foreign residents increased by $6.8 billion.

Complete data are available on the Treasury website at:

https://home.treasury.gov/data/treasury-international-capital-tic-system

About TIC Data

The monthly data on holdings of long-term securities, as well as the monthly table on Major Foreign Holders of Treasury Securities, reflect foreign holdings of U.S. securities collected primarily on the basis of custodial data.  These data help provide a window into foreign ownership of U.S. securities, but they cannot attribute holdings of U.S. securities with complete accuracy.  For example, if a U.S. Treasury security purchased by a foreign resident is held in a custodial account in a third country, the true ownership of the security will not be reflected in the data.  The custodial data will also not properly attribute U.S. Treasury securities managed by foreign private portfolio managers who invest on behalf of residents of other countries.  In addition, foreign countries may hold dollars and other U.S. assets that are not captured in the TIC data.  For these reasons, it is difficult to draw precise conclusions from TIC data about changes in the foreign holdings of U.S. financial assets by individual countries.

Press Notice TIC for September 2024

The grant will substantially improve the operation of the electrical grid and increase the availability of affordable and reliable electricity for households, businesses, and social institutions – without adding to the country’s debt burden. MCC’s partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone will help unlock the country’s economic potential, empower communities and businesses, and create a more prosperous and thriving Sierra Leonean citizenry.

As we work together to implement this transformational program, the United States welcomes Sierra Leone’s sustained commitment to democratic principles, including progress on implementation of the Agreement for National Unity, on electoral and constitutional reform, and on pursuit of justice and accountability for electoral violence.

The U.S. government remains steadfast in its support of building a more robust and resilient energy sector, strengthening democracy, and ensuring a brighter future for all the people of Sierra Leone.

Under the President’s order today, Federal funds for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance has been increased to 100 percent of the total eligible costs for a period of 90 days of the Commonwealth’s choosing within the first 120 days from the start of the incident period. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE  FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV

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On February 2, 2024, the FTC issued a notice of proposed rulemaking noting several proposed amendments to improve the Energy Labeling Rule, including new energy labels for air cleaners and other consumer product categories. In addition to submitting written comments, the NPRM invited interested parties to request an opportunity to present oral data, views, and comments on the proposed amendments.

In response, 28 of the 29 commenters submitted written comments. Dyson was the only commenter to request an opportunity to present oral comments. Its comments will address concerns it has about Department of Energy test procedures for the proposed air cleaner labels.

The Commission vote approving publication of the notice was 5-0. It is now available in the Federal Register.

The lead staffer on this matter is Hong Park in the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Natasha Owens at the America First Music Festival

Natasha debuted her new single, “Gimme a Cowboy,” which targets the war on men. The music video debuted last week and has racked up nearly 500,000 views on YouTube alone to date. Produced by GRAMMY-nominated and multiple Dove Award winner Ian Eskelin for Radiate Music, the new track is the first single from her untitled upcoming studio album.

"When you look at the cowboy creed of what a cowboy stands for, he is strong and he stands for honesty and integrity, he is hard working, loves his God, family and country, and he doesn’t apologize for any of those traits,” said Natasha at the time of the release. "That is the type of man that our men and boys need to have as role models. Women all over the world are screaming, 'Gimme a Cowboy!’”

Added Natasha: “This just felt like a song that we had to write. Over the past few years, confusion has been unleashed upon our society and there has been an all out war on men and the nuclear family. They tell men that they should apologize for being a man. They tell all of us that men can have babies. This is something that even science disagrees with. Our world today celebrates when a man gets into a boxing ring with a female and knocks her out. God made men and women to be different. Men and women have strengths and weaknesses that complement each other. They were never to be in competition with one another."

Natasha started the current trend of patriotic anthems topping the pop charts when her smash hit single “Trump Won," became a viral hit in 2023 amassing over 70 million social media impressions despite shadow banning and widespread reports of posts, retweets and shares being removed on nearly all platforms. The song shocked the music industry upon it's release, immediately debuting at #1 on iTunes before debuting at #5 on the BILLBOARD Digital Sales Chart and #2 on the BILLBOARD Country Digital Song Sales Chart. Former President Donald J. Trump repeatedly posted about the single at TruthSocial.

Her latest studio album, AMERICAN PATRIOT, is a bold, proud, powerful concept collection that bridges an unwavering love of country with the themes of faith and family that have always played a significant part in her artistry. The album includes notable tracks such as “America First” and "Stand for Life,” and the patriotic trend has continued with new singles "2nd Protects the First,” “Party People” and “The Star Spangled Banner.” She’s had extensive media coverage including appearances on Fox News, Newsmax, OAN, Huckabee, Real America’s Voice, War Room with Steve Bannon, The Eric Metaxas Show, Lindell TV with Mike Lindell, CNN, Al Jezeera, and HLN, among others.

For more information, visit www.NatashaOwensMusic.com.

Brian Mayes
Nashville Publicity Group+1 615-771-2040email us hereVisit us on social media:FacebookX

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BLOOMINGTON, Minn., July 17, 2024 (Newswire.com) - In a rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape, small businesses face many challenges in meeting customer expectations, particularly when it comes to last-mile delivery. The rising costs associated with the final stage of the supply chain often create obstacles for companies striving to compete with larger players.

Dispatch recognizes we have the ability to not only help enterprise and mid-market size businesses but that our delivery platform is also extremely valuable for smaller companies. Therefore, Dispatch is updating our on-demand delivery platform to allow small businesses to set up and self-serve in order to scale. Addressing this, Andrew Leone, CEO and Co-Founder of Dispatch, emphasizes the importance of leveraging logistics technology to enhance operational efficiency and reduce costs.

“The last mile is the most crucial part of the delivery journey, and for small businesses, it can be the most challenging and costly,” said Leone. “Dispatch is committed to creating technology that not only streamlines the delivery process but also makes it affordable and efficient for businesses of all sizes.”

Addressing the Cost Challenge 

One of the primary hurdles in last-mile delivery for small businesses is managing the costs associated with transportation, labor, and logistics. According to recent studies, last-mile delivery can account for up to 53% of the total supply chain spending, making it the most expensive part of the process. Dispatch’s technology offers a suite of solutions that addresses these challenges, including: 

• Real-Time Tracking: Tracking features and driver ETAs enable businesses to monitor deliveries closely, improving transparency and allowing for quick adjustments to unforeseen issues. 
• Algorithms & Artificial Intelligence (AI): Automating tasks, like route optimization, reduces the need for manual intervention — minimizing errors, lowering labor costs, and saving time. 
• Seamless Integration: Dispatch’s technology is designed to integrate with existing ERP, TMS, CRM, and eCommerce systems, unifying delivery operations and providing streamlined workflows and data accuracy. 

Empowering Small Businesses 

By harnessing the power of last-mile delivery technology, small businesses can compete more effectively in a market where customer expectations are higher than ever. “Our goal is to provide small businesses with the tools needed to meet these expectations and minimize costs,” Leone explained. “With Dispatch, small businesses can offer the same level of service as larger companies, building customer loyalty and driving growth.” 

For more information about Dispatch, please contact the media representative at pr@dispatchit.com. 

About Dispatch: 

Dispatch is the leading B2B last-mile delivery platform, replacing traditional courier services by offering a suite of software solutions for any size business. Dispatch simplifies last-mile delivery with a network of independent contractor drivers, delivery management software, and API integrations. Dispatch currently operates in more than 75 U.S. markets. For additional information, visit www.dispatchit.com. 

Source: Dispatch

— Chaise Bennett

Chaise Bennett, owner of Recover Physical Therapy in Slidell, Louisiana, emphasizes the importance of a tailored approach to postpartum recovery. "Each woman’s postpartum journey is unique, and physical therapy can be an essential component in addressing the specific challenges that arise after childbirth," Bennett explains. This press release will explore the benefits of physical therapy for postpartum recovery and how it can aid in restoring strength and function.

The Physical Challenges of Postpartum Recovery

Childbirth, whether vaginal or via cesarean section, places significant stress on the body. During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes numerous changes, including weight gain, altered posture, and the stretching of muscles and ligaments. The pelvic floor, abdominal muscles, and lower back are particularly affected, leading to common postpartum issues such as pelvic floor dysfunction, diastasis recti, and lower back pain.

Pelvic floor dysfunction is one of the most common issues faced by new mothers. The pelvic floor muscles, which support the bladder, uterus, and bowel, can become weakened or injured during childbirth. This can result in symptoms such as urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, and a feeling of heaviness or pressure in the pelvic area. Physical therapy can help strengthen these muscles, improve bladder control, and reduce pain.

Diastasis recti, the separation of the abdominal muscles, is another common concern. This condition occurs when the rectus abdominis muscles, which run vertically along the abdomen, separate to accommodate the growing uterus. After childbirth, many women are left with a gap in their abdominal muscles, which can lead to a protruding belly, lower back pain, and difficulty with certain movements. Physical therapy can provide targeted exercises to help close this gap, restore core strength, and improve overall function.

Lower back pain is also prevalent among new mothers, often due to the strain of carrying and caring for a newborn. The added weight of pregnancy, combined with the physical demands of early motherhood, can lead to muscle imbalances and postural issues. Physical therapy can address these issues by improving posture, strengthening the core and back muscles, and teaching proper body mechanics for lifting and carrying.

How Physical Therapy Supports Postpartum Recovery

Physical therapy for postpartum recovery is designed to address the specific needs of each woman, helping her regain strength, function, and confidence. A physical therapist will begin with a thorough assessment to identify any issues related to the pelvic floor, abdominal muscles, and overall musculoskeletal system. This assessment allows for the development of a personalized treatment plan tailored to the individual’s needs and goals.

For women experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction, physical therapy can include exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, improve coordination, and reduce symptoms such as incontinence and pain. Techniques such as biofeedback and manual therapy may also be used to enhance muscle function and relieve tension in the pelvic area.

In the case of diastasis recti, a physical therapist will guide the patient through exercises that target the deep abdominal muscles, such as the transverse abdominis. These exercises are designed to gradually close the gap between the separated muscles, restore core stability, and prevent further injury. Physical therapy also emphasizes the importance of proper breathing techniques and posture, which are crucial for supporting the healing process.

Lower back pain is addressed through a combination of strengthening, stretching, and posture correction exercises. A physical therapist will work with the patient to improve core strength, enhance flexibility, and correct any muscle imbalances that may be contributing to pain. Education on proper body mechanics is also provided, helping the patient avoid further strain while caring for her newborn.

Physical therapy also plays a key role in helping women return to their pre-pregnancy activities, whether that includes exercise, work, or daily household tasks. By gradually building strength and endurance, physical therapy can help new mothers regain their ability to engage in physical activities without pain or discomfort. This is particularly important for those who wish to resume exercise routines, as physical therapy can provide guidance on safe and effective ways to return to fitness.

The Emotional and Psychological Benefits

In addition to the physical benefits, physical therapy can also have a positive impact on a woman’s emotional and psychological well-being. The postpartum period can be a time of emotional vulnerability, and the physical changes that occur after childbirth can contribute to feelings of frustration, anxiety, or low self-esteem. Physical therapy offers a supportive environment where women can address their concerns, set achievable goals, and see tangible progress in their recovery.

By improving physical function and reducing pain, physical therapy can help new mothers feel more confident in their bodies and more capable of handling the demands of motherhood. The process of setting and achieving recovery goals can also provide a sense of accomplishment and empowerment, which is essential for mental health during the postpartum period.

Conclusion

Physical therapy is an invaluable resource for women recovering from childbirth, offering targeted solutions for common postpartum issues such as pelvic floor dysfunction, diastasis recti, and lower back pain. Through personalized treatment plans, physical therapy helps women regain strength, function, and confidence, allowing them to fully engage in their roles as mothers while taking care of their own health.

For those navigating the challenges of postpartum recovery, seeking the guidance of a physical therapist can make a significant difference in the journey toward regaining strength and well-being. Chaise Bennett and the team at Recover Physical Therapy in Slidell, Louisiana, are committed to supporting new mothers in this important phase of their lives, providing expert care and personalized treatment plans to help them achieve their recovery goals.

Morgan Thomas
Rhino Digital, LLC+1 504-875-5036email us hereVisit us on social media:Facebook

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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) announced an agreement to issue three guarantees worth $498 million under the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program, the largest issuance in the program’s history.

The CDFI Bond Guarantee program provides long-term, fixed-rate capital for projects in low-income urban, rural, and Native communities, and the guarantees will be issued on behalf of 10 Eligible CDFIs under the fiscal year (FY) 2024 program round. Nearly $3 billion has been guaranteed since the program began in 2010.

“Community Development Financial Institutions play an essential role to help businesses and organizations get off the ground and expand all over the country. Today’s historic announcement will increase their access to capital to help realize projects that expand housing supply, grow small businesses, and ensure access to health care and child care,” said U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. “Under the Biden-Harris Administration, we’ve made access to capital a top priority and worked with the CDFI Fund to significantly expand its efforts to help all communities grow and thrive.”

The FY 2024 program participants include:

Opportunity Finance Network will issue $173 million in bonds on behalf of the following seven Eligible CDFIs that will use funding for rental or owner-occupied housing, commercial real estate, day care centers, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Uses for housing funding include construction lending, mortgages, refinancing, and financing the development of rental housing and homeownership.

• Renaissance Community Loan Fund, Inc. (RCLF) will receive a $20 million bond loan to fund owner-occupied homes in Mississippi and Alabama. RCLF is headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi, and is a first-time recipient of a bond loan. 
• Greater Minnesota Housing Fund (GMHF) will receive a $25 million bond loan to fund rental housing in Minnesota. GMHF’s home office is in Saint Paul, Minnesota. GMHF has received three prior bond guarantees in 2017, 2019, and 2022. 
• Community Loan Fund New Jersey (LFNJ) will receive a $33 million bond loan to fund rental housing and commercial real estate, as well as fund small businesses, daycare centers, nonprofit organizations, and charter schools. LFNJ is headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey. LFNJ has received two prior bond loans in 2015 and 2019.
• Florida Community Loan Fund (FCLF) will receive a $30 million bond loan to fund rental housing and commercial real estate, health care facilities like urgent care centers and physicians’ offices, nonprofit organizations, and rental housing within the state of Florida. FCLF is headquartered in Orlando, Florida, and received one prior bond loan in 2017.
• Homewise will receive a $15 million bond loan to build commercial real estate and owner-occupied homes within the state of New Mexico, primarily Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Homewise is headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and received one prior bond loan in 2017.
• Community First Fund (CFF) will receive a $20 million bond loan to build rental housing and commercial real estate, as well as fund small businesses, daycare centers, nonprofit organizations, and charter schools in Pennsylvania. CFF is headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and received one prior bond loan in 2017.
• Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) will receive a $30 million bond loan to build rental housing and commercial real estate, as well as fund small businesses, daycare centers, nonprofit organizations, and charter schools. NFF is headquartered in New York City with geographic presence in New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Boston, and Oakland. NFF is a first-time applicant to the bond guarantee program.

Community Reinvestment Fund, USA (CRF) will issue a $150 million bond on behalf of the Community Development Trust (CDT). CDT plans to use the bond proceeds to fund charter schools and rental housing throughout the United States. CDT’s home office is in New York City and has received one prior bond issue in 2013.

CRF will also issue $175 million in bonds on behalf of the following two Eligible CDFIs:

• The Reinvestment Fund (TRF) will receive a $100 million bond loan to fund rental housing, commercial real estate, day care centers, health care facilities, nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and charter schools in Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Baltimore. TRF is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. TRF has received two prior bond issues in 2014 and 2016.
• IFF will receive a $75 million bond loan to fund rental housing, commercial real estate, day care centers, health care facilities, nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and charter schools in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. IFF is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and has received one prior bond issue in 2014.

Established by the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program responds to a critical market need—low-cost, long-term capital to spur economic growth and jump start community revitalization. Under the program, Qualified Issuers (CDFIs or their designees) apply to the CDFI Fund for authorization to issue guaranteed bonds worth a minimum of $100 million in total. The bonds provide Eligible CDFIs with access to substantial long-term, fixed-rate capital to reignite the economies of distressed communities.

The program enables Eligible CDFIs to execute large-scale projects, including the development of housing, commercial real estate, charter schools, daycare or health care centers, and rural infrastructure projects, among other asset classes. As of July 31, 2024, more than $1.7 billion in bond proceeds has been disbursed in 32 states and the District of Columbia.

###

2:03 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hi.  (Applause.) 

Oh, good afternoon, everybody.  Good afternoon.  Good afternoon.  It is my great honor to be with everybody this afternoon.

Matt, I want to thank you for your leadership and for all that you do for so many.

You know, everyone here, you all have chosen to live a life of service in the most extraordinary way.  And I’m so thankful to all of you — to Matt, for your leadership — and everybody here. 

And it is so good to be in the house of labor.  Thank you all.  (Applause.)  Thank you all.  Thank you all. 

And, you know, yours is a profession that is more than a profession.  It really is about a calling. 

You know, my — I was just telling Matt — my brother-in-law just retired as a firefighter in California.  So, for me, this is personal and it is professional.  I know what you guys do, and I know your character.  I know your families.  I know what it means for the whole community for you all to take on the lives that you have decided to live, and I’m so thankful to you.

You guys work long shifts with unpredictable hours in some of the most dangerous conditions.  You do so on behalf of people you’ve never met.  Sometimes, those people will never know your name, but because of what you do with such sincerity and the highest level of skill and professionalism, their lives are forever better.  And they always know and have the comfort of going to sleep at night knowing that should any tragedy come their way that you guys are out there and would be there.

It’s an extraordinary thing you do, and it’s a great gift that you have that you give.  And so, I am so thankful to you.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

And, of course, I am thankful for the union that supports you and your right to all that you deserve in terms of the wages and the benefits that you so rightly have earned.  (Applause.)

And I also want to thank the other brothers and sisters from labor who are here from UAW — (applause); IBE- — IBEW; LIUNA.  Where are your orange T-shirts?  I know you’re here somewhere.  I thank you all, all of you. 

So, look, just yesterday, we saw another example of the power of collective bargaining — right? — when the longshoremen and the U.S. Maritime Alliance came together, ended a strike, and reached an agreement on a record wage.  Right?  (Applause.)  They did good.  They did good. 

And I say, everywhere I go, look, collective bargaining benefits everybody.  And you know the — the term — and I’m looking at our young leaders who are here.  I’m so glad you guys are here.  (Applause.)  So, collective bargaining, it’s really — it’s just a basic logical point. 

So, here’s what it means.  It means that in any negotiation, you want the outcome to be fair.  Right?  We all want fairness, right?  Everybody wants fairness — or should. 

So, here’s the thing about collective bargaining.  If you want the outcome to be fair, you got to realize, if you’re requiring the one worker to negotiate against the big entity, do we really think that the outcome is going to be fair?  Probably not.  But if you let the workers together, as the collective, then negotiate against the big entity, it’s more likely that the outcome will be fair.  

That’s the basic point of collective bargaining.  That’s the basic point of why we want our unions to be able to do their work on behalf of workers every day, because we know when union wages go up, everyone’s wages go up.  (Applause.)  Yeah. 

And when union workplaces are safer, all workplaces are safer.  (Applause.) 

And the bottom line is: When unions are strong, America is strong.  (Applause.)  And our unions have always fought to make our nation, then, more equal, more fair, and more free. 

And in this election, in 32 days, everything we have fought for is on the line. 

This election is about two very different visions for our nation: one that is focused on the past, and ours that is focused on the future. 

We fight for a future where we protect the fundamental freedom to organize.  We fight for a future where workers, all workers, are treated with dignity and respect; a future where we tap into the ambition and the aspirations of the American people and build what I call an “opportunity economy” so that every American has an opportunity to buy a home, start a business, build wealth — intergenerational wealth for their family. 

Over the last three and a half years, our nation has seen historic small-business creation as an example of that focus. 

In Michigan alone, we have seen more than 500,000 new small-business applications.  And when I am president, I plan to build on that progress and that success, including by raising the start-up deduction — tax deduction for small businesses from $5,000 for — to $50,000 to help more entrepreneurs start a small business. 

I’ll tell you guys, my sister and I were raised by our mother, who worked very hard, and we lived on an apartment above a daycare center.  And it was run by and owned by the woman that we called our second mother, who lived two houses down.  She was a small-business owner, and her name was Ms. Shelton. 

And I grew up as a child knowing about who our small businesses are, right?  They’re leaders in the community.  They’re civic leaders.  They hire locally.  They train.  And so, that’s one of the reasons I’m focused on small businesses as part of how we lift up the middle class in America’s economy.

We need to also build more housing in America.  Housing is too expensive. 

My mother saved up for years, until I was a teenager, when she was able to buy our first home. 

And right now, we have a serious housing shortage in America, and that’s part of what is driving up costs.  And so, we are going to cut red tape, we’re going to work with the private sector, and we’ll build 3 million new homes by the end of my first term — (applause) — including — including providing first-time homebuyers with a $25,000 down payment assistance so they can just get their foot literally in the door to be able to invest in the American dream — (applause) — which not everyone has access to these days.

We need to lower the cost of living, because, look, our economy, while we’re making good progress — just this morning, in fact, we got a solid jobs report: over 250,000 jobs created last month, unemployment fell.  And just a few weeks ago, the Federal Reserve cut down interest rates, which is going to be great for a lot of folks.  But there’s still more work we need to do. 

Prices for everyday things like groceries are still too high.  You know it, and I know it.

And so, we have a plan to lower costs on everything from health care to groceries, including what I’ve done in my career as attorney general, which is we got to take on corporate price gouging. 

We got to take on what we need to do to understand that if you want to grow the middle class, we need more middle-class tax cuts.  And the tax cut that is part of my plan will give a tax cut to 100 million Americans. 

We need to expand Child Tax Credit, and I will do that to expand it to $6,000 so that for the first year of a child’s life, their parents have the resources that they need to be able to buy a crib or a car seat, and in that very critical stage of their child’s development, just be able to do more than get by but be able to get ahead. 

And I say all this to say, I will always put the middle class and working families first.  I come from the middle class, and I will never forget where I come from.  I will never forget where I come from.  (Applause.)

And we know we cannot have a strong middle class without American manufacturing. 

Over the last three and a half years, we brought manufacturing back to America.  We created 730,000 manufacturing jobs and announced the opening of more than 20 new auto plants in the United States.  And we did it by investing in American industry and American workers.

And I want to make sure that America, not China, wins the competition for the 21st century.  (Applause.)

So, under my plan, we will invest in the industries that built America, like steel, iron, and the great American auto industry — (applause) — yeah — so we can ensure that the next generation of breakthroughs, from advanced batteries to electric vehicles, are not only invented but built right here in America by American union workers.  (Applause.)

So, the election is in 32 days, and Americans have a big choice to make.  And I think it’s very important, then, to point out Donald Trump has a very different approach than mine. 

And let’s be real about who Donald Trump is.  Let’s be real.  This is a time for real talk. 

He was handed $400 million on a silver platter and filed for bankruptcy six times.  This is a man who has only ever fought for himself.  This is a man who has been a union buster his entire career, who has called union leaders, quote, “Dues Sucking” people.  And as president, he did not lift a finger to save the pensions of millions of American workers. 

We did.  We did.  (Applause.)

This is a man who sold promise after promise to American workers but never delivered, who said he supports so-called right-to-work laws “100 percent.”  Those are his words. 

He who joked and laughed about firing striking workers.  You remember that? 

AUDIENCE:  Yes.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Who rolled back labor standards and made it easier for companies that break labor laws to get federal contracts. 

And Donald Trump is a man who tried to cut funding for our first responders, including SAFER grants for firefighters. 

So, brothers and sisters, as we stand here in a house of labor, we will not be fooled.  We will not be gaslighted.  Donald Trump’s track record is a disaster for working people, and he’s trying to gaslight people all over our country.  But we know the facts and we know the truth: He is an existential threat to America’s labor movement.  Just look at his track record to know. 

He said he was the only one who could bring back America’s manufacturing jobs — Michigan knows what I’m about to say — then America lost nearly 200,000 manufacturing jobs when he was president, including tens of thousands of jobs in Michigan.  And those losses started before the pandemic, so we’re clear, making Donald Trump one of the biggest losers of manufacturing jobs in American history.  (Applause.)

And recall his record — his track record for the auto industry.  He promised workers in Warren that the auto industry would, quote, “not lose one plant” during his presidency.  Then American automakers announced the closure of six auto plants when he was president, including General Motors in Warren and Stellantis in Detroit.  Thousands of Michigan autoworkers lost their jobs. 

And now he is making the same empty promises to the people of Michigan that he did before, hoping you will forget how he let you down.  But we know, if he wins again, it will be more of the same. 

Everything he intends to do is spelled out in Project 2025.  If reelected, he intends to launch a full-on attack on unions and the freedom to organize.  He will ban public-sector unions, roll back workplace safety protections, and appoint a union buster to run the Department of Labor.

And on top of that, Donald Trump will give billionaires and the biggest corporations massive tax cuts like he did last time. 

He will cut Social Security and Medicare and impose what I call a Trump sales tax, a 20 percent tax on everyday goods and necessities, which will cost — the economists have said — which will cost the average American over $4,000 a year more. 

And if that weren’t enough, he intends to end the Affordable Care Act.  And even after he tried to repeal it time and time again when he was president, he still has no plan to replace it. 

Did you guys see the debate?  (Laughter and applause.)  “Concepts of a plan.”  He has “concepts of a plan.”  (Laughter.)  Come on. 

And, you know, I’ve said many times he is an unserious human — (laughter) — but the consequence of him is quite serious, because think about that: “concepts of a plan.” 

So, he’s going to threaten the health care and health coverage of 45 million people in America based on a concept — think about that — to take us back to when insurance companies could deny people with preexisting conditions.  You remember what that was like?

So, look, I’m here to say, and I think we all know: It’s time to turn the page.  It’s time to turn the page.  (Applause.)  We’re not going back. 

America is ready to chart a new way forward, because we are not going back. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  No, we’re not.  We’re not going back.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  No, we’re not.

And so, it all comes down to this.  We are here together because we know what is at stake.  And we are here together — and I’m looking at the young leaders — because we love our country.  We love our country.  (Applause.)  Yes, we do.  We love our country.

And I do believe it is the highest form of patriotism to then fight for the ideals of our country and to fight to realize the promise of America. 

We have 32 days to get this done, and we know this is going to be a very tight race until the very end.  And we are the underdog, so we have some hard work ahead of us.  But I know who’s here.  We like hard work.  Hard work is good work.  Hard work is good work.  (Applause.)

And we know what we stand for, so we know what to fight for.  We stand for opportunity, we stand for dignity, and we stand for the future.

And so, we know when we fight —

AUDIENCE:  We win!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we win. 

God bless you.  God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)

Thank you all.  Thank you.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

END                 2:20 P.M. EDT

Biologic drugs—which are composed of very large, complex molecules—treat serious medical conditions and are often one of the most expensive types of prescription medications. A biosimilar drug is like a generic drug in that it treats the same conditions as a reference biologic or brand-name drug with no clinically meaningful differences, including in safety and effectiveness.

Under the FDA draft guidance, the FDA is removing its prior recommendation that a biosimilar drug applicant must submit clinical switching studies to demonstrate that a biosimilar is interchangeable with the biologic reference drug. Instead, a biosimilar drug applicant may submit a statement to the FDA explaining why the existing data in a biologic license application would support the FDA’s designation of the drug as interchangeable. Once the FDA designates a biosimilar product as “interchangeable,” pharmacists can substitute that product for a biologic without prescriber intervention.

In its comment, the FTC supports FDA’s draft guidance, believing it will provide flexibility that may expedite the approval process and reduce the burden and cost of showing that switching a patient from a biologic to a biosimilar is safe and effective. The draft FDA guidance will also help combat marketplace confusion about the safety and efficacy of biosimilars, the FTC’s comment states. If implemented, the guidance would likely reduce barriers to entry and facilitate competition among biologic products by increasing the number of biosimilars designated as interchangeable.

According to the FTC, the draft FDA guidance is a step in the right direction to fully realizing the goals of the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 (BPCIA) to increase competition and innovation among biologics, which could lead to lower prices and increased choice for patients who depend on these life-saving medicines.

To ensure Americans receive increased access to interchangeable biosimilars, agencies must continue to monitor anticompetitive practices that, if left unchecked, could prevent patients from accessing biosimilars, the comment states. Contract terms that discourage generic drug insurance reimbursement, as revealed in the Commission’s Interim Staff Report on Pharmacy Benefit Managers, undermine goals of the BPCIA to increase competition and innovation among biologics, the comment states.

The Commission voted 5-0 to submit the comment to the FDA.

IRS Provides Tax Relief After Major Disasters

In the wake of devastating natural disasters, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has taken steps to provide tax relief to affected individuals and businesses.

TRAVERSE CITY, MI, UNITED STATES, October 16, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- In the wake of devastating natural disasters, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has taken steps to provide tax relief to affected individuals and businesses. This relief aims to ease the financial burden on those impacted by the recent calamities.

The IRS has announced that taxpayers in areas affected by major disasters, such as hurricanes, wildfires, and floods, may receive special assistance. This assistance includes extended tax filing and payment deadlines. Additionally, affected individuals and businesses may be granted relief from certain tax penalties and have access to expedited processing of requests for tax refunds.

For individuals and businesses located in the designated disaster areas, the IRS is offering flexibility regarding tax-related matters. This includes the ability to claim disaster-related casualty losses on a prior year's return, potentially resulting in an earlier refund. Moreover, the IRS is collaborating with state and local authorities to ensure that taxpayers receive the necessary support during these challenging times.

Furthermore, the IRS is taking steps to expedite the processing of requests for tax-exempt organization status for organizations providing disaster relief. This effort is aimed at enabling these organizations to swiftly provide aid to affected communities.

The IRS is encouraging taxpayers to take advantage of the available resources to help them navigate through the tax relief process. This includes accessing information on disaster-related tax relief on the IRS website and seeking assistance from tax professionals if needed.

As part of its commitment to providing support to disaster-affected areas, the IRS is working diligently to ensure that taxpayers receive the assistance they require. By offering tax relief and providing guidance on the available resources, the IRS aims to alleviate the financial strain faced by individuals and businesses in the aftermath of major disasters.

For more information about the tax relief measures available in the wake of major disasters, taxpayers are encouraged to visit https://nationaltaxreports.com/irs-provides-tax-relief-after-major-disasters/

Frank Ellis
Harbor Financialemail us hereVisit us on social media:LinkedIn

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SINGAPORE, July 18, 2024 (Newswire.com) - AirDroid Business is excited to announce that its device management solution now fully supports Windows devices. This significant update provides enterprises with enhanced capabilities for bulk device deployment & configuration, policy & kiosk management, application management.

“Modern organizations rely heavily on endpoints, and as the number of Windows devices accessing corporate networks from our customers increases, it has become increasingly challenging for IT teams to manage and secure them effectively,” said Jack Guo, CTO at AirDroid Business. “We’ve designed our solution to reduce the number of tools businesses need and simplify their tech stack. IT teams need a comprehensive endpoint management solution that unifies every device to keep employees productive and minimize risk.”

Policy management, which includes application blacklists and whitelists, password restrictions, device usage limits, browser configurations and more, has been significantly enhanced, enabling businesses to enforce and customize policies across Windows devices from a single dashboard. This ensures all devices comply with company standards and security protocols, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches. IT admins can tailor policies to fit specific business needs, ensuring each device operates within desired parameters while implementing stringent security measures to protect sensitive data and provent unauthorized device access.

AirDroid Business now includes Kiosk Mode for Windows devices, allowing businesses to lock down devices to a single application or a specific set of applications. This feature is particularly useful for environments like retail, hospitality, and education, where a controlled and secure user experience is paramount. Kiosk Mode ensures that devices are used solely for their intended purpose, enhancing security and reducing the risk of unauthorized use.

• Robust Application Management

The update includes robust application management tools, enabling businesses to manage and distribute apps across Windows devices effectively. This ensures productivity by keeping necessary applications available and up-to-date. Key benefits are efficient app distribution for quick deployment and updates, version control to prevent compatibility issues, and remote installation and updates to minimize downtime and reduce physical access needs.

AirDroid Business remains committed to providing comprehensive device management solutions that cater to the evolving needs of enterprises. By extending support to Windows devices, AirDroid Business continues to empower businesses with the tools they need to manage their device ecosystems efficiently and securely. This update underscores AirDroid Business's dedication to innovation and excellence in the realm of device management.

For more information about AirDroid Business and its new features, please visit www.airdroid.com/business.

About AirDroid Business

AirDroid Business, launched in 2018 by Sand Studio, is an enterprise-grade device management solution for attended and unattended Android & Windows devices. It is designed to improve the mobility and productivity of businesses of all sizes through remote access and control, device provisioning, policy application and management, kiosk mode, geofencing, and more.

Source: AirDroid

— Chaise Bennett

Chaise Bennett, owner of Recover Physical Therapy in Slidell, Louisiana, emphasizes the importance of addressing wrist and hand pain early to prevent further complications. "Wrist and hand pain can stem from many sources, including overuse, trauma, or conditions such as arthritis. It’s important to identify the underlying cause to develop an appropriate treatment plan," says Bennett.

Common Causes of Wrist and Hand Pain

Wrist and hand pain can develop from a range of causes, each with its own distinct set of symptoms and treatment requirements. Some of the most common causes include:

Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) Repetitive movements, particularly those associated with certain jobs or activities, can lead to repetitive strain injuries. Typing on a keyboard, using a mouse, or engaging in manual labor that involves repetitive hand movements are common culprits. Over time, these repetitive actions can inflame tendons, ligaments, and muscles, resulting in pain and discomfort in the wrist and hand.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome One of the most well-known causes of wrist pain is carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition occurs when the median nerve, which runs through the wrist, becomes compressed due to swelling or inflammation in the surrounding tendons. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome often include tingling, numbness, and pain in the thumb, index, and middle fingers.

Arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, can affect the small joints of the hands and wrists. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage between bones wears down, leading to pain and stiffness, while rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation in the joints. Both conditions can cause significant discomfort and limit hand function.

Tendinitis is inflammation of the tendons that connect muscles to bones. In the wrist and hand, tendinitis can develop due to overuse or trauma. De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, a type of tendinitis that affects the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist, is a common condition that causes pain when gripping or twisting the wrist.

Trauma to the wrist or hand, such as a fall or direct impact, can result in fractures or sprains. A wrist fracture typically involves a break in one of the small bones in the wrist, while a sprain occurs when the ligaments are stretched or torn. Both injuries can cause significant pain and require proper treatment to ensure healing.

In addition to carpal tunnel syndrome, other nerves in the wrist and hand can become compressed, leading to pain and dysfunction. Ulnar nerve entrapment, which affects the nerve that runs along the outer edge of the hand, can cause symptoms in the ring and pinky fingers.

Effective Treatments for Wrist and Hand Pain

The treatment for wrist and hand pain depends largely on the underlying cause, severity of symptoms, and individual needs. Chaise Bennett of Recover Physical Therapy notes, "A thorough assessment is crucial to determine the best course of action for treating wrist and hand pain. Treatment can involve a combination of therapies, exercises, and sometimes surgical intervention if necessary."

Rest and Immobilization In many cases, rest and immobilization of the affected area can help reduce inflammation and prevent further injury. Splints or braces are often used to keep the wrist and hand in a neutral position, allowing the tissues to heal.

Physical Therapy Physical therapy is a key component of the treatment plan for many wrist and hand conditions. A tailored therapy program can improve range of motion, strengthen muscles, and reduce pain. "Physical therapy focuses on restoring function and mobility while addressing the specific needs of the patient," explains Bennett.

Therapeutic exercises, stretching, and manual therapy techniques are commonly used to target the affected muscles and tendons. In cases of carpal tunnel syndrome, physical therapy may also include nerve gliding exercises to reduce compression on the median nerve.

Anti-Inflammatory Medications
Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be recommended to reduce inflammation and pain. In some cases, corticosteroid injections are used to provide more immediate relief from severe inflammation.

Ergonomic Adjustments For those whose wrist and hand pain is related to repetitive strain, ergonomic adjustments can play a significant role in reducing symptoms. Modifying workstations, adjusting posture, and using ergonomic tools can help alleviate pressure on the wrist and hand.

Surgical Intervention In cases where conservative treatments do not provide relief, surgical intervention may be necessary. For instance, carpal tunnel release surgery is a common procedure for individuals with severe carpal tunnel syndrome. The surgery involves cutting the ligament that is pressing on the median nerve to relieve pressure.

Similarly, individuals with severe arthritis may require joint replacement surgery to restore function and alleviate pain.

Preventing Wrist and Hand Pain

Preventing wrist and hand pain involves maintaining good posture, using proper ergonomics, and taking breaks from repetitive tasks. Strengthening exercises for the hands and wrists can also help reduce the risk of injury. Bennett emphasizes, "Early intervention is essential. Addressing wrist and hand pain as soon as symptoms arise can prevent more serious complications down the road."

Conclusion

Wrist and hand pain can have a significant impact on an individual's quality of life, but with the right diagnosis and treatment, relief is possible. Understanding the common causes and exploring the available treatment options can lead to better outcomes for those suffering from these conditions.

Morgan ThomasRhino Digital, LLC+1 504-875-5036email us hereVisit us on social media:Facebook

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In the first half of this year, according to preliminary data submitted to the FBI, the homicide rate continued to fall at record speed, declining by 22.7 percent, while the violent crime rate fell by 10.3 percent to its lowest level since 1969.  These record decreases follow the historic declines in crime in 2023, including the largest-ever decrease in the homicide rate.  The decreases are in no small part due to the hard work and courageous efforts of law enforcement across America. 

As President, public safety and crime reduction are top priorities for my Administration and me.  Since day one, my Administration has worked with law enforcement, mayors, and community leaders to do what we know works to keep people and communities safe.  Through my American Rescue Plan, we made the largest Federal investment toward public safety in our Nation’s history — delivering more than $15 billion in aid for local and State governments to keep law enforcement on the beat, retain and hire more police officers, pay overtime and bonuses, and expand benefits for disabled first responders.  States, counties, and cities have already invested that funding to make their communities safer, and we added billions more in grants through the Department of Justice to help cities invest in law enforcement and community violence interruption programs. 

I also know that being in law enforcement today is harder than ever — police are expected to respond to so many challenging situations, from drug overdoses and mental health crises to domestic violence, child abandonment, and more.  That is why my Administration has invested in increasing the number of crisis responders who work alongside police officers to respond to non-violent crimes.  We have made more investments in recruiting, retaining, and training officers.  I have called for funding that would put 100,000 more officers on the street who are trained in community policing.  Additionally, we need to invest more in technology and training to solve crimes faster and clear court backlogs, and we need more detectives to solve murders and more deputy United States Marshals to apprehend fugitives.

Police officers deal with unbelievable stress.  Every time an officer responds to a call, executes a warrant, or conducts a traffic stop, there is a tremendous risk:  the fear of ambush, the anxiety of not knowing what is behind that door, and the trauma of bearing witness to the most horrible tragedies imaginable.  That is why I have been laser-focused on providing officers with the mental health and wellness resources they need and deserve.  I also signed extended benefits for families of officers who have tragically died by suicide.

Our police officers are dedicated, honorable, and good people — they build trust with the communities they serve because they know that trust is the foundation of public safety.  Our communities are safer and stronger when our officers have the resources, training, and tools they need to do their jobs and walk the beat, getting to know the neighborhoods and the people they serve.  A lack of trust from the public means less public safety for all of us:  crimes do not get reported, witnesses do not come forward and cases do not get solved, victims suffer while perpetrators roam free, and justice goes undelivered.

When communities trust the police, crimes get solved faster.  That is why when Republicans blocked the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021, a bill that the Vice President coauthored while in the Senate, we took action.  I signed a historic Executive Order to set the gold standard for law enforcement.  In part, it requires Federal law enforcement agencies to develop best practices that attract, support, and retain officers who are representative of the communities they are sworn to serve.  We have also made historic investments in proven strategies to interrupt and prevent violence in the first place, including using trusted messengers who are trained to disrupt violence.  At the same time, I signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly three decades and have taken more executive actions to stop the flow of illegal guns than any other administration in history. 

There is more work to be done.  My Safer America Plan calls on the Congress to invest $37 billion to support law enforcement and crime prevention.  The plan would fund 100,000 additional police officers, invest $5 billion in community violence interventions, and enact commonsense gun safety reforms, such as a universal background check requirement and a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

There is no greater responsibility than keeping our families, neighborhoods, and Nation safe. During National Community Policing Week, we reaffirm our commitment to choosing progress over politics when it comes to supporting our law enforcement and ensuring the safety of our communities.  We honor the heroism, bravery, and sacrifice of our police officers.  And may we recommit to upholding one of our Nation’s most fundamental values:  justice for all.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 6 through October 12, 2024, as National Community Policing Week.  I call upon law enforcement agencies, elected officials, and all Americans to observe this week by recognizing ways to improve public safety, build trust, and strengthen community-police relationships.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

“We are excited to embark on this new chapter as SK tes, which symbolizes our joint commitment with SK ecoplant to provide innovative and sustainable services to our valued customers,” said CEO Terence Ng. 

The rebranding to SK tes reflects the shared values and vision of both companies and comes with a fresh new logo featuring the "wings of happiness", symbolizing the company’s dedication to customer happiness.   

While the logo and color scheme are changing, clients can expect the same high-quality services and unwavering commitment to customer experience, sustainability, and building lasting relationships based on trust and loyalty.  

This announcement follows the recent official opening of a leading-edge processing facility in Virginia, U.S. With this recent expansion SK tes now operates a network of over 40 facilities spanning 22 countries. This significant growth underscores TES’s commitment to delivering consistent, standardized, and certified services to clients from owned and operated facilities around the world.  

“We are laser-focused on delivering the highest level of managed deployment, IT asset repurposing, and recycling services for our clients,” emphasized Eric Ingebretsen, Chief Commercial Officer. “Rebranding to SK tes signifies our commitment to long-term growth and innovation, paving the way for new opportunities and reinforcing our position as industry leaders.” 

Earth Day, a day dedicated to appreciating and nurturing our planet, is the perfect day for the introduction of the new brand. The integration of SK tes with the SK brand is a strategic move that aligns with the broader SK vision of "A Happy Community Pursuing a Sustainable Future". By adopting the SK brand, SK tes is reinforcing that environmental responsibility is at the very core of its mission.  

Moreover, the theme of Earth Day 2024, 'Planet Vs. Plastics', resonates deeply with the strategic direction of SK tes in critical environmental sustainability areas like battery recycling and plastics innovation. These efforts are crucial in addressing the pressing global challenge of plastic pollution recapturing rare earth minerals. With this rebranding and strategic alignment, SK tes is set to make significant strides in its journey towards "sustaining tomorrow," embodying the essence of a happier, sustainable future for all. 

At the core of the SK tes brand are strong guiding principles, ensuring clients receive innovative solutions and exceptional customer service. As a compliance leader, SK tes is committed to managing regulatory requirements, minimizing data risks, and protecting client information. SK tes remains dedicated to sustainability, aiming to create a delightful working experience for clients while being environmentally friendly and socially responsible. 

About SK tes 
Since our formation in 2005, SK tes has grown to become a global leader in sustainable technology services and bespoke solutions that help clients manage the commissioning, deployment, and retirement of technology devices and components. We provide comprehensive services for technology devices throughout their lifecycle - from deployment to decommissioning to disposition - all the way through to recycling and end-of-life repurposing. This includes innovating new processes to leverage the value locked in assets if they are to be recycled, such as our proprietary lithium battery recycling process, which extracts scarce materials from used batteries at purity rates high enough that they can be reused in the manufacturing supply chain.   

We have made it our mission to make a decade of difference by securely, safely, and sustainably transforming and repurposing one billion kgs of assets by 2030. SK tes has over 40 owned facilities across 22 countries, offering unmatched service-level consistency, consistent commercials, lower logistics costs, local compliance experts in-region, support in local time zones and languages, and a deep understanding of transboundary movement globally.   

For more information, visit www.sktes.com.

Source: SK tes

As Prepared for Delivery 

Thank you, Josh, for your kind introduction, and to the Atlantic Council for having me. It is a pleasure to be here today.

In ten days, we’re going to have nearly the entire global financial policymaking apparatus descend on Washington, D.C. for the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings. Gatherings like these are a good reminder of the various times policymakers have come together for a big cause.  And, while international economic policy can be a contentious space, allow me to start with something we can all agree on: it’s important to remember your anniversary.

The anniversary I’d like us to remember today is of a previous gathering of finance ministers and financial policymakers: the anniversary of Bretton Woods. Eighty-years ago, a group of 730 delegates representing 44 countries met at the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire to hash out the future of the global economy. This was remarkably bold. The end of World War II was more than a year away. Paris was still under the grip of the Nazis. Yet even as they remained squarely focused on winning the war, the delegates at Bretton Woods understood that without planning, without reimagining the global economy and international system, they risked losing the peace. 

So today I’d like to reflect on the importance of the Bretton Woods institutions (The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank) and the international financial institutions writ large to U.S. economic security: that is, how they have lifted up the global economy and supported American strength and prosperity since their founding, how they stepped up through the crises of the past four years, and how we see their role in driving growth and prosperity in the years to come.

Why the Global Economy Matters to US Growth

When U.S. policymakers led in the creation of the Bretton Woods institutions, there was an altruistic motive to be sure.  Helping ensure robust global growth would be good for billions of people.  And that is still true.  Global growth has been the greatest anti-poverty program ever. As the world economy grew more than 250% over the last four decades, global extreme poverty rates fell from over 40% of the population to under 10%. But there was clearly a self-interested rationale as well. By supporting growth and helping fight crises, these institutions would help generate a more stable world. The hope was they could help prevent the economic collapse that came in the decades after World War I that many believe contributed to the rise of fascism and the start of World War II. 

And, a strong and stable global economy was seen as essential for a strong U.S. economy. The U.S. economy is the largest in the world. It is broad and diverse and can provide many of its needs – for example food and energy – domestically. But even the U.S. economy is not an island. 

Time and time again, the decades since Bretton Woods have corroborated this basic intuition of our predecessors at that conference about the importance of the global economy for U.S. growth. U.S. export growth, for example, has tracked growth in foreign GDP quite closely for many decades. This macroeconomic pattern reflects an existential imperative for U.S. businesses with significant exposures to global growth. This includes our largest firms, with for instance as much as 40 percent of all S&P 500 firms’ revenues derived from foreign markets in recent years.  Workers at these firms benefit from thisexposure: jobs in export industries have been shown to pay a wage premium of as high as 20 percent.

It is not just trade or foreign investment that depends on what happens in the rest of the world.  Our own investment levels are in many ways affected by global growth. There is strong empirical evidence that business investment follows an “accelerator” model in which increases in investment depend on increases in the rate of economic growth. To the extent that U.S. firms depend on the rest of the world for much of their revenues, their investment levels will depend on what they see as potential growth abroad.  And the evidence is that this effect of global growth on investment dynamics is significant (OECD 2015). 

The U.S. is roughly 16% of the global economy in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms and contributed 0.4 percentage points to real global growth in 2023. The strength of the U.S. economy was an upside surprise last year and helped drive global growth forward.  But, even in that circumstance, we comprised less than one seventh of total global growth. In addition, over the next half century, the UN estimates that virtually all population growth will occur in countries that are currently low- or lower-middle-income countries. It is essential that the global economy generate jobs and incomes where people are living.

We have also come to understand quite viscerally how crises that begin by threatening economies overseas ultimately impact American workers, families, and businesses. With the COVID-19 pandemic, a viral outbreak across the globe led to the sharpest drop to GDP since the Great Depression. It left many economies around the world smaller than they would have been on their pre-crisis growth trajectories – particularly when compounded by the effects of Russia’s unlawful war against Ukraine on global food and energy prices. Without a strong rebound in growth, we could simply be left poorer going forward than expected prior to these shocks. It is essential that we have institutions able to help the global economy rebound when a slowdown strikes.

Global financial markets are also obviously linked. A shock in the British bond market or yen borrowing or the near failure of a Swiss bank have all reverberated through global markets in the last two years.  And, financial crises with major global impacts have begun on nearly every continent over the last four decades at one time or another. 

The Global Economic Landscape

While the global economy has shown resilience over the last two years, it faces numerous challenges. There are geopolitical risks, changing demographics, and slow productivity growth in many economies. The United States has seen productivity growth rebound – even slightly above its pre-COVID rates – but that is an atypical experience across richer economies. The Biden-Harris Administration has placed an emphasis both on trying to recover from the COVID recession rapidly – generating a return to pre-recession trends faster than in previous recessions and faster than other major economies. It has also emphasized growth over the medium term.  Secretary Yellen has referred to this strand of policymaking as modern supply side economics, focusing on the ways in which proactive government policy can boost long run growth through investments, including in labor supply, human capital, public infrastructure, R&D, and sustainability. 

The world also faces a challenge coming from China’s current economic model. Having a very large economy with such high savings can cause spillovers unless there are domestic uses for much of that savings. Recently, China has been directing large sums towards investment in manufacturing, despite already being over 30% of global manufacturing. And, there appears to be a lack of domestic demand driving growth, potentially leading to a return to a reliance on exports for growth. A very large economy growing above the global growth rate based on exports is both unlikely to be successful and likely to cause spillovers to others. By focusing on manufacturing via nonmarket tools and subsidies despite China’s already outsized role, this also means China may be closing what has been a typical development path to many other countries eyeing low-cost manufacturing as the next stage of their development.  And by channeling the saving to particular sectors, this increases the likelihood of overcapacity and spillovers to other countries. 

It is critical that we use all the tools we have to combat forces that might be pushing the global economy towards slower growth. Global economic growth and stability are essential to our economic security, and the Bretton Woods institutions have played an important role in supporting these since their inception.

Historic, Conventional Role of the IFIs

The International Monetary Fund has earned the moniker of the world’s “financial firefighter,” stepping in to offer financing and policy advice to countries in times of economic crises. It is easy to look back and debate the Fund’s successes or missteps, but unquestionably, the global economic system we have today would have an IMF-shaped vacuum in its absence. If it did not exist today, we would create something just like it. It is worth recognizing how an institution initially charged with maintaining a system of fixed exchange rates has evolved to respond to generation-defining events, from the international debt crisis of the 1980s, the fall of the communist bloc and Asian financial crisis in the 1990s, to the global financial crisis and Eurozone crisis in recent decades. Beyond these global shocks, however, the Fund has also stepped in to help individual member countries at pivotal times – as they emerged from conflict or looked to respond to economic downturns, instability, and other shocks.

And the Fund’s role in the international monetary system goes far beyond responding in times of crisis. Through economic surveillance, technical assistance, and precautionary lending facilities, the Fund has also helped promote stability within the international monetary system, offered growth-catalyzing policy guidance, and bolstered countries’ resilience to shocks.

Similarly, The World Bank, initially established to support postwar reconstruction, has evolved to become an essential partner for countries. The World Bank Group’s constituent institutions have emerged as key sources of development finance. Its International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) is a key provider of financing, policy advice and technical assistance to middle-income countries across the globe. Its International Development Association (IDA) is the largest source of critical concessional financing and grants for low-income countries, including those affected by fragility and conflict.  And the Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) is a critical investor in developing country private sectors, and key player – along with the Bank’s insurance arm, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) – in mobilizing private investment in those countries.

Often working complementarily with the IMF, the World Bank is also a key purveyor of policy advice and technical assistance to help reduce poverty and advance sustainable and inclusive development. World Bank funding and support has translated into material quality of life improvements for billions of people across the globe, with just those projects currently underway at the Bank yielding improved educational and job opportunities for 280 million people, stronger food and nutrition security for 156 million, and more inclusive access to electricity for 100 million people, just to name a few. Their advice is likely just as important. A finance minister once said to me, “I need the financing, but the most important thing, I need to know where to spend the money and how to grow.”

And although they are not officially Bretton Woods institutions, the regional development banks – primarily founded in the 1950s and 1960s – have become critical sister institutions to the World Bank and the IMF, complementing and deepening the impact of the Bretton Woods system. 

The Last Four Years at the IFIs: Health, IMF, MDBs, Debt 

The importance of the IFIs to U.S. interests and U.S. economy continues, of course, today. There are those who have suggested the U.S. withdraw from these institutions; this would be a step backward for our economic security. Without U.S. leadership at the IFIs, we would have less influence and we would weaken these institutions. We cannot afford that. Consider how the IMF and World Bank sprung into action during the two crises that have defined the global economy the past four years – COVID-19 and Russia’s criminal war on Ukraine. 

Without the urgent work of the IFIs in responding to the pandemic and preparing for future ones, I am certain that the outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic would have been even more terrible and the economic aftershocks worse. 

The World Bank made over $275 billion in new commitments between mid-2020 to mid-2024, with more than half of those going to the poorest countries in the form of highly concessional loans or grants.  As part of this effort, the Bank made available $10.1 billion specifically for the purpose of getting vaccines to those who needed them. The urgent work of the World Bank also drew attention to the need to establish a permanent body that could respond to the world’s health crises the way financial authorities respond to the world’s financial crises. With our partners in Italy, Indonesia, and elsewhere, we answered that call by seeding this fund – the Pandemic Fund. As of today, the Pandemic Fund has approved over $450 million in funding for more than 40 countries. 

The IMF’s Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT), which lends to the world’s poorest countries, has provided $30 billion in zero-interest loans to 50 countries over the past four years alone. This funding helped stabilize vulnerable countries as the global economy was grinding to a halt due to the pandemic, and as inflation and interest rates spiked following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The PRGT also helped make sure that even as other creditors withdrew from the developing world, and as private creditors pulled out too, the IMF was there to help. Today’s financing pressures for developing economies would have likely been much worse absent the extraordinary financing support that IFIs extended since the onset of the pandemic. From 2020 to 2022, this collective support accounted for nearly 60 percent of the total net debt inflows to developing countries.

Earlier this year, Congress authorized us to lend to the PRGT at very little cost to taxpayers, and that loan will help this critical work continue in the years ahead.

The IMF has also innovated in the last four years, creating the Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST) to help countries deal with balance of payments shocks that can stem from longer-term challenges such as climate change and pandemic preparedness. We are encouraged that the IMF, World Bank, and World Health Organization recently announced principles of cooperation for supporting country RSF^[1] programs for pandemic preparedness, and we look forward to them operationalizing these quickly. The IMF also created the temporary food shock window in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent spike in food insecurity around the globe.  

These institutions play an essential role that world governments on their own could not fill in a timely way. 

Recent Innovations Still Underway

Another essential innovation at these institutions in the last four years has come from the “MDB Evolution” agenda to make the world’s leading providers of development finance – i.e., the multilateral development banks (MDBs), bigger and better. In just two years, there has been substantial progress.  The World Bank has declared a new mission – eliminating extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity on a livable planet – that recognizes the global challenges we face together and the way the MDBs must be at the forefront of meeting these challenges. MDBs have been hard at work on reforms to their visions, incentives, operations, and financial capacity, all of which are essential to responding to global challenges with sufficient speed and scale, and the G20 has estimated that reforms already identified could enable over $350 billion more in additional lending over the next decade across the MDB system. 

There is still much to be done, particularly in creating institutional incentives for realizing the Bank’s updated mission; improving pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response; addressing fragility and conflict; and boosting private capital mobilization, among other priorities. An additional important ongoing step in Evolution is deepening the work of MDBs as a system. 

Another important change in the international financial architecture in the last few years comes in the form of a new way to handle debt restructuring. The Common Framework, launched by the G20 in November of 2020, is intended to be a method to bring together creditors across the range of official bilateral and private creditors to finalize debt restructurings for low-income countries. The process has been frustratingly slow, especially at the start. Extensive effort has continued to work on the technical details of debt restructurings to make the process more transparent and swift. From our perspective, it would be helpful to have even more explicit timelines and procedures – so countries in distress know how they will be treated – as well as debt service suspensions during negotiations to avoid having delays lead to growing burdens. All creditors need to do their part in making sure a restructuring can occur in the timeliest and fairest manner possible. The World Bank and IMF play important roles both in anchoring the process with their debt sustainability analyses as well as providing crucial financial support to countries going through restructuring. 

The Work Ahead

As noted above, there are many risks to global growth going forward. As countries look to chart paths for their economies, it will be important for the World Bank and IMF to provide the critical advice countries need as to how they can navigate the near term, but also how they can take the steps they need to boost their long run potential. The IMF and World Bank will also need to provide deft policy surveillance and advice to address spillovers from China’s current economic policies.

An urgent issue we at the Treasury Department have been working with our partners to address is the financing challenges facing low- and middle-income countries. We see this work as being urgent: there are pressing needs for investment in these countries to support sustainable development, but recently, funds have been flowing out of – not towards – far too many countries.  

Low-income countries’ average annual spending on debt service has jumped from $20 billion between 2010 and 2020, to $60 billion today. As some of these countries face significant principal repayments in the months ahead, they – and the global debt architecture – may be put under significant strain.

That’s why we think it’s critical for the international community to establish a new Pathway for Sustainable Growth, a process for managing liquidity pressures as they arise. To be clear: if a country needs to restructure its debt, it should. But for the countries that are struggling under temporary financing challenges but for whom debt is sustainable over time, we are working with partners and the international financial institutions to find a better path. If you are a country committed to sustainable development and if you are willing to engage with the IMF and MDBs to unlock significant financing alongside significant reform measures, there needs to be a financing package from bilateral, multilateral, and private sector sources to bridge your liquidity needs in a way that is supportive of your sustainable long-run development. Some creditors may provide net present value-neutral reprofilings, other partners may provide new liquid budget support. We can also use the many tools at the MDBs or at many bilateral development finance institutions to encourage the private sector to stay invested on sustainable terms. It will be important for countries to step up with their own financing by mobilizing domestic resources. The World Bank and IMF can also help with domestic resource mobilization in important ways, as can technical assistance from many countries including Treasury’s Office of Technical Assistance.

For a plan like this to work, it will require hard work and innovation at the International Financial Institutions, and it is encouraging that the institutions have been thinking through these topics lately and putting out papers and blogposts on the ideas. The Annual Meetings represents a real opportunity to make concrete progress. It will be important for countries to have a better understanding of the tools that exist to help them through liquidity challenges, essentially a decision tree that lets countries and creditors understand what is available to countries under different conditions.

The IFIs will need to design their programs in a way that avoids having temporary fiscal adjustments lead to permanent harm due to cuts to important investments. Countries and IFI country teams need to be clear about what investments need to be protected, and they need to be confident the international financial system will step up and provide the required funding. It will be important for the IMF to emphasize when financing assurances are needed from creditors to smooth through a temporary financing challenge even when debt is sustainable. Creditors need to do their part, but in today’s complex sovereign debt landscape, the IMF plays the critical role of guide, and sometimes referee and air traffic controller. The World Bank, other MDBs, and the IMF will also need to use their new financing headroom to aggressively but responsibly support countries.

The responsibility will also fall to the shareholders of these institutions to support them. Many countries – including the United States – need to finalize domestic passage of the 16^th general review of quotas that puts the IMF’s resources on a more durable footing. The IMF and its shareholders must also come together to return the PRGT subsidy account to a self-sustaining model. Utilizing the earned income of the IMF above what is needed for precautionary balances presents a real opportunity to make sure that low-income countries have access to critical financing when they need it.

At the World Bank, countries need to follow through on commitments to boost the concessional lending capacity of the Bank. This fall, a crucial task will be securing a robust and impactful replenishment of IDA, the World Bank’s financing arm for low-income countries. The challenges of the past few years – particularly COVID and the spillovers from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – have put tremendous pressure on IDA’s borrowers. IDA has risen to this occasion, successfully scaling up disbursements by over 70% over the past four years and providing nearly $20bn in net positive financing flows last year. But all of this has also put pressure on IDA, too. It will take both donors stepping up and financial creativity to optimize the balance sheet to make sure we can deliver on this important goal.

Conclusion

The United States benefits immensely from growth abroad. We have an array of tools we use, from USAID’s direct support and programs, to DFC’s investments, to the Millenium Challenge Corporation’s large grants, to State Department engagement, and to technical assistance from Treasury and other agencies that help propel that growth. We use multilateral settings like the G7 and G20 to work with other countries to navigate crises and support policies that drive growth over time. We also help propel world economic growth through our trade and investment relationships with other countries and by pursuing strong economic policy in the United States as well.

But, the institutions created 80 years ago at a meeting in the mountains of New Hampshire remain essential to the mission of seeing living standards rise around the world. These institutions cost the United States very little in budgetary terms, especially relative to spending on defense or other global spending. Yet, they deliver immense value to the United States and to the world. One reason they are still so relevant is the constant re-invention – or evolution – of these institutions. They have made important strides in the last four years, and now we need to continue to challenge them and ourselves to create a better international financial architecture going forward.

### 

_{[1] Resilience and Sustainability Facility.}

Natural Disaster Victim Resources on IRS.gov

Natural disasters can strike without warning, leaving individuals and communities devastated in their wake.

TRAVERSE CITY, MI, UNITED STATES, October 16, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Natural disasters can strike without warning, leaving individuals and communities devastated in their wake.

In the aftermath of such events, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) plays a crucial role in providing support and resources to those affected.

Through its dedicated section on IRS.gov, the agency offers a comprehensive range of assistance for natural disaster victims, helping them navigate the complexities of tax-related matters during challenging times.

IRS.gov serves as a vital hub for individuals seeking guidance and relief in the aftermath of natural disasters. The platform provides valuable information on tax relief provisions, assistance programs, and critical updates for affected individuals and businesses. By offering a centralized resource for relevant forms, publications, and FAQs, IRS.gov empowers disaster victims to access the support they need with ease and efficiency.

Key Highlights of Natural Disaster Victim Resources on IRS.gov

1. Tax Relief Eligibility: The IRS website outlines eligibility criteria for tax relief, ensuring that disaster victims are aware of the available options and can take advantage of the relief provisions applicable to their situation. This essential information helps individuals understand their rights and access the relief they are entitled to.

2. Special Tax Considerations: Natural disasters often bring about unique tax implications, and the IRS website addresses these considerations comprehensively. From casualty losses to retirement plans and beyond, the platform equips individuals with the knowledge needed to navigate tax-related challenges in the wake of a disaster.

3. Filing and Payment Extensions: In recognition of the disruptions caused by natural disasters, the IRS provides extensions for filing tax returns and making payments. By accessing the relevant guidance on IRS.gov, individuals can stay informed about extended deadlines and avoid unnecessary penalties during an already challenging time.

4. Dedicated Support Resources: The IRS website offers a wealth of resources for natural disaster victims, including contact information for local IRS offices and disaster assistance centers. This ensures that individuals have access to personalized support and guidance as they work towards recovery and stability.

In conclusion, the resources available on IRS.gov stand as a lifeline for natural disaster victims, providing clarity, support, and relief in the face of adversity. By leveraging these invaluable resources, individuals and businesses can navigate the complexities of tax-related challenges with confidence, knowing that the IRS is committed to assisting them every step of the way.

To learn more about Natural Disaster Victim Resources on IRS.gov, visit https://nationaltaxreports.com/natural-disaster-victim-resources-on-irs-gov/

Frank Ellis
Harbor Financialemail us hereVisit us on social media:LinkedIn

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Iraq and the United States of America are connected  by a strategic relationship, and as a result of consultations and discussions with the leadership of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and its friendly member states, intensive discussions within the U.S.-Iraq Higher Military Commission, which worked diligently and professionally in intensive meetings over the past nine months, and after studying and evaluating the military and security situation in Iraq and the region, announce the following:

First:  Concluding the Coalition’s military mission in Iraq over the next twelve months, and no later than the end of September 2025, and transitioning to bilateral security partnerships in a manner that supports Iraqi forces and maintains pressure on ISIS.

Second:  As Iraq is a key member of the Coalition, and to prevent the return of the ISIS terrorist threat from northeast Syria, and subject to conditions on the ground and consultations among Iraq, the United States, and the members of the Coalition, the military mission of the Coalition operating in Syria from a platform determined in the HMC will continue until September 2026.

Third:  The Higher Military Commission commits to formulate the procedures necessary to achieve what is stated in the paragraphs above, the timing, and mechanisms to implement them, including procedures to ensure the physical protection of Coalition advisors present in Iraq during the transitional period, consistent with the Iraqi constitution and laws. Practical steps to implement these commitments have started.

Iraq thanks the Coalition for the backing and support provided to the Iraqi security forces to confront this common threat and secure ISIS’s territorial defeat in Iraq. At the forefront of these countries has been the United States of America, which stood with Iraq in difficult circumstances. The Coalition appreciates the role of Iraq and the great sacrifices of all Iraqi security forces in fighting this terrorist organization that posed a threat to the entire world. We stress the need to continue all efforts to ensure that the threat from this terrorist organization does not return in any way.

We look forward to strengthening relations between Iraq and the United States, in which both nations seek to advance security assistance and cooperation based on mutual respect, consistent with the U.S.-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement and the Iraqi Constitution, and foster an enduring bilateral partnership consistent with the Joint Statement between the United States and Iraq issued during the visit of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Sudani to Washington, D.C., on April 15-16, 2024 and the Joint Statement between the United States and Iraq following the second U.S.-Iraq Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue held in Washington, D.C. on July 22-23, 2024.

This historic transition marks one decade since the formation of the Coalition’s military mission in Iraq and Iraq continues to engage with the United States and other members of the Coalition to establish bilateral security relations where appropriate.

In furtherance of the safe and orderly conclusion of the Global Coalition’s military mission, the Government of Iraq reaffirms its commitment consistent with its international obligations, to protect international advisors present in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government.

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     When we came into office, Vice President Harris and I promised to give families some well-deserved breathing room so that families could care for their children without worrying about how they were going to pay the bills.  That is why my American Rescue Plan expanded the Child Tax Credit, which reduced child poverty by nearly half across the Nation.  That law also made our Nation’s biggest investment in child care ever, keeping businesses open and hundreds of thousands of child care workers employed to care for children.  To lower health insurance costs, I signed the Inflation Reduction Act, saving millions of families $800 per year on their health insurance premiums.  And we strengthened the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program to provide home visits from trained professionals, who can offer prenatal care and postpartum support to new mothers and ensure their children’s health and well-being needs are met.  We launched the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA to help better support pregnant and postpartum moms.  We also modernized the Thrifty Food Plan for the first time in nearly five decades so that millions more families can afford nutritious foods.  We are working to reduce the amount of sodium in food to help prevent children from experiencing high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke later in life.  At the same time, we are working to secure free and healthy school meals for every child — beginning with setting a goal to deliver free school meals to nine million more children by 2032.

     My Administration is also working to ensure our youth have access to the mental health care they need, making the largest investment in mental health ever.  This includes over $2 billion in funding, including $1 billion through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, to help schools across the country train and hire new mental health counselors.  We made it easier for schools to leverage Medicaid to deliver health care, including mental health care, to millions of children and youth.  And we launched 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which anyone can call, text, or chat to be connected to a trained crisis counselor, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

      Americans deserve to live in a safe community, free from the threat of violence — and when it comes to our Nation’s children, one of our most fundamental responsibilities is keeping them safe.  In the United States, firearms are the leading cause of death for children.  It is unacceptable.  Children are exposed to violence and worry about school shootings happening to them, and this exposure and fear can lead to negative consequences for their school life, mental health, and more.  That is why I signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years and have announced dozens of gun safety executive actions, including one that will improve the active shooter drills that nearly all students undergo.  I also established the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, overseen by Vice President Harris.  We have made significant progress, but we must do more.  I continue to call on the Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require safe storage of firearms, enact universal background checks, and end immunity for gun manufacturers. 

     Our Administration is also making historic investments to tackle the climate crisis, which is essential to protecting our children’s futures.  Every child should be able to turn on the faucet at home or school and have access to safe, clean water — that is why, through my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are working to replace every lead pipe in America.  My Inflation Reduction Act — the most significant investment in climate ever — is investing in air quality sensors so that we prevent communities from experiencing the harmful effects of pollution.  And we have recommitted to conserving 30 percent of all our Nation’s lands and waters by 2030 so that generations to come may enjoy them.

     Our children deserve to grow up in a country that cares about their health, happiness, and opportunities for success.  During Child Health Day, may we recommit to supporting our children and families so that they can thrive.  And may we continue to build a future where every child can reach their full potential. 

     The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 18, 1928, as amended (36 U.S.C. 105), has called for the designation of the first Monday in October as Child Health Day and has requested that the President issue a proclamation in observance of this day.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Monday, October 7, 2024, as Child Health Day.  I call upon families, child health professionals, faith-based and community organizations, and governments to help ensure that America’s children stay safe and healthy.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand thisfourth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The FTC’s 2012 order settled antitrust charges alleging that Coopharma harmed competition by negotiating, entering into, and implementing agreements among its member pharmacies to fix prices with insurers and PBMs. The FTC’s 2012 consent order, among several terms, prohibited Coopharma from entering into or facilitating agreements with pharmacies and prohibited Coopharma from facilitating information exchanges between pharmacies regarding contract terms with insurance payors.

In the petition, Coopharma has asked that the FTC either modify or rescind the order given changes in Puerto Rico’s law that have allowed for state oversight of health care provider cooperative negotiations with payors. Additionally, the petition states that given the increased dominance of PBMs and their ability to impose unfair contractual terms that harm independent pharmacies’ ability to compete, the 2012 order is unnecessary.

Coopharma, in its petition, states that the 2012 consent order has limited the ability of many independent pharmacies across Puerto Rico to obtain favorable contracting terms, leading to many pharmacies being forced out of business. The current order prevents Coopharma from negotiating lower costs for consumers with PBMs and prevents Coopharma from being able provide improved quality pharmacy services for residents of Puerto Rico, which can only be gained through equitable reimbursement and fair treatment under contracts with PBMs, the petition states. As the FTC recently recognized in its interim staff report on PBMs, PBMs often employ an arsenal of unfair tactics toward independent pharmacies, Coopharma said in its petition.

Coopharma’s petition further claims that the FTC’s decision to rescind prior guidance on PBMs, as well as state and federal investigation into PBM practices, also make the 2012 order unnecessary.

The FTC will publish Coopharma’s application in the Federal Register shortly. Instructions for filing comments appear in the published notice. Comments must be received 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Once processed, they will be posted on Regulations.gov. After the comment period closes, the Commission will vote on whether to approve the application.

YOYOKA's first album "For Teen” out now!

Drums sensation YOYOKA from Led Zepellin VIRAL VIDEO AND ELLEN TV SHOW RELEASES NEW ALBUM

YOYOKA first captured the world's attention at just 8 eight years old with her jaw-dropping drum cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times, Bad Times” which quickly went viral, showcasing technical prowess and musicality far beyond her years. YOYOKA appeared twice on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and has received praise from legendary musicians including Robert Plant, and Dave Grohl, and has performed with Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave's Tom Morello, Fall Out Boy, Narada Michael Walden, Jack Black and Cyndi Lauper, who have all lauded her incredible talent and passion for music.

As YOYOKA turns 15, she is taking the next step in her musical evolution with "For Teen," a collection of songs that highlight her skills as both a drummer and composer.

The album, which blends rock, pop, and alternative influences "For Teen" is a powerful and personal expression of YOYOKA's artistry. The special Birthday Album Release Concert will bring her original compositions to life, as well as feature some of her most beloved cover performances, in a dynamic showcase of her versatility. Fans can look forward to an exciting lineup of internationally known guest musicians joining YOYOKA on stage, enhancing the live experience with a wide range of musical styles.

About YOYOKA
YOYOKA has been playing the drums since she was just a year old. Born and raised in Hokkaido, Japan, she started performing live at 4 and formed a band with her family when she was 5. At the age of eight, YOYOKA covered Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times Bad Times”. The clip went viral and surprised the world when Robert Plant recognized her incredible ability.

She is also the youngest drummer ever selected as one of the “World’s Top 500 Drummers” by Drummerworld and was chosen as the youngest ever in Newsweek Japan’s “100 Japanese People the World Respects”. YOYOKA now lives in Los Angeles with her family.

For more information and media interview or show ticket requests, contact

Burke Allen/ Shaili PriyaAllen Media Strategies+1 703-589-8960email us hereVisit us on social media:FacebookXLinkedInInstagram

Good Times Bad Times - LED ZEPPELIN / Cover by 8-year-old YOYOKA

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91pz1E8pAOY[/embed]

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WASHINGTON — Today, the United States is expanding sanctions on Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical sectors in response to Iran’s October 1 attack on Israel, its second direct attack on Israel this year. This action intensifies financial pressure on Iran, limiting the regime’s ability to earn critical energy revenues to undermine stability in the region and attack U.S. partners and allies. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is identifying the petroleum and petrochemical sectors of the Iranian economy pursuant to section 1(a)(i) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13902, which allows Treasury to target a broader range of activities relating to Iran’s trade in petroleum and petrochemical products. E.O. 13902 provides authority to identify and impose sanctions on key sectors of Iran’s economy to deny the Iranian government financial resources that may be used to fund and support its nuclear program, missile development, terrorism and terrorist proxy networks, and malign regional influence. Pursuant to this determination, the Treasury may impose sanctions on any person determined to operate in the petroleum and petrochemical sectors of the Iranian economy. 

OFAC is also designating 10 entities in multiple jurisdictions and identifying 17 vessels as blocked property, pursuant to E.O. 13846, for their involvement in shipments of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products in support of the U.S.-designated National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and Triliance Petrochemical Co. Limited (Triliance). The U.S. Department of State is also designating six entities and identifying six vessels as blocked property pursuant to E.O. 13846 for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran. Collectively, these actions target a significant portion of the shadow fleet of tankers and illicit operators that move the Iranian regime’s petroleum exports. NIOC was designated pursuant to the counterterrorism authority E.O. 13224, as amended, on October 26, 2020, for its financial support to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – Qods Force. Triliance was designated pursuant to E.O. 13846 on January 23, 2020 for facilitating the sale of Iranian petroleum products from NIOC.

"In response to Iran’s attack on Israel, the United States is taking decisive action to further disrupt the Iranian regime’s ability to fund and carry out its destabilizing activity,” said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen.  “Today’s sanctions target Iranian efforts to channel revenues from its energy industry to finance deadly and disruptive activity—including development of its nuclear program, the proliferation of ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, and support to regional terrorist proxies—with dangerous consequences for the region and the world. We will not hesitate to take further action to hold Iran accountable.”

The United States is taking this action in the spirit of the Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum Act (SHIP Act), enacted as a part of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for the 2024 Fiscal Year (P.L. 118-50), which imposes sanctions against foreign persons involved in the trade of petroleum and petroleum products originating in Iran and was recently delegated by the President to the Departments of the Treasury and State.

IRAN’S GHOST FLEET 

Iran’s oil exports are enabled by a network of illicit shipping facilitators in multiple jurisdictions which, through obfuscation and deception, load and transport Iranian oil for sale to buyers in Asia. United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Max Maritime Solutions FZE (Max Maritime) has used vessels under its management to conduct multiple ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian oil with vessels affiliated with the U.S.-designated National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC), which moves Iranian oil for NIOC, and to transport that oil to refineries in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The Max Maritime-managed BENDIGO (IMO: 9289491) and CARNATIC (IMO: 9304655) conducted nearly a dozen ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian oil with NITC-affiliated vessels in 2023 alone. Much of this oil was later shipped to refineries in the PRC. Max Maritime also manages the SALVIA (IMO: 9297319), which has also transported Iranian oil to multiple refineries in the PRC. 

Max Maritime is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13846 for, on or after November 5, 2018, having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, NIOC. The BENDIGO, CARNATIC, and SALVIA are being identified as property in which Max Maritime has an interest pursuant to E.O. 13846. 

The LUNA PRIME (IMO: 9174220), formerly known as the Selene and owned and managed by Hong Kong-based Cathay Harvest Marine Ltd (Cathay Harvest), has also transported Iranian oil to multiple refineries in the PRC. The vessel also conducted a ship-to-ship transfer with a NITC vessel near Singapore to transport tens of thousands of metric tons of Iranian heavy crude oil. 

Cathay Harvest is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13846 for, on or after November 5, 2018, having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, NIOC, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13846. The LUNA PRIME is being identified as property in which Cathay Harvest has an interest pursuant to E.O. 13846.

Liberia-based Elza Shipping SA is the registered owner of the ELZA (IMO: 9221671) 

The ELZA was involved in the transfer of hundreds of thousands of barrels of condensate from a NITC vessel and also conducted a ship-to-ship transfer with a NITC vessel near Singapore to transport tens of thousands of metric tons of South Pars condensate. 

Elza Shipping SA is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13846 for, on or after November 5, 2018, having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, NIOC. The ELZA is being identified as property in which Elza Shipping SA has an interest pursuant to E.O. 13846. 

UAE-based Jazira Das International Oil Products Trading LLC has served as the consignee on falsified cargo documents, masking millions of barrels of NIOC Iranian crude as Emirati oil.  The company has also coordinated shipping activities for multiple NIOC oil shipments with U.S.-designated China Concord Petroleum Company, transporting millions of barrels of oil and obfuscating NIOC’s involvement in the shipments. 

Jazira Das International Oil Products Trading LLC is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13846 for, on or after November 5, 2018, having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, NIOC.

The Harry Victor Ship Management and Operation L.L.C. has managed a vessel that has transported multiple shipments of Iranian petrochemicals for Iran’s Triliance Petrochemical Co. Limited. Harry Victor Ship Management and Operation L.L.C. manages the vessels the GOODWIN (IMO: 9379703), ANHONA (IMO: 9354521), and WEN YAO (IMO: 9288095).

Harry Victor Ship Management and Operation L.L.C. is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13846 for, on or after November 5, 2018, having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Triliance Petrochemical Co. Limited. The GOODWIN, ANHONA, and WEN YAO are being identified as property in which Harry Victor Ship Management and Operation L.L.C. has an interest pursuant to E.O. 13846.

Marshall Islands-based Rita Shipping Inc is the registered owner and manager of the SPIRIT OF CASPER (IMO: 9224271). The SPIRIT OF CASPER has carried multiple shipments of Iranian oil to refineries in the PRC.

Rita Shipping Inc is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13846 for, on or after November 5, 2018, having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of NIOC. The SPIRIT OF CASPER is being identified as property in which Rita Shipping Inc has an interest pursuant to E.O. 13846.

PRC-based Derecttor Company Limited is beneficial owner, manager, and operator of the CRYSTAL ROSE (IMO: 9292228) and the manager and operator of the CARINA (IMO: 9240512). The CRYSTAL ROSE has transported hundreds of metric tons of Iranian oil on multiple shipments to China on behalf of NIOC and U.S.-designated China Concord Petroleum Co., Limited. The CARINA has transported shipments of Iranian oil to multiple PRC-based refineries. 

Derecttor Company Limited is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13846 for, on or after November 5, 2018, having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, NIOC. The CRYSTAL ROSE and the CARINA are being identified as property in which Derecttor Company Limited has an interest pursuant to E.O. 13846.

Malaysia-based Delnaz Ship Management Sdn Bhd is the manager and operator of the DIMITRA II (IMO: 9208215), which has been used by China Concord Petroleum Co., Limited to ship millions of barrels of Iranian oil from the NIOC to the PRC. The TYCHE I (IMO: 9247390), SATINA (IMO: 9308778), and CROSS OCEAN (IMO: 9251810) are additional vessels managed and operated by Delnaz Ship Management Sdn Bhd.

Delnaz Ship Management Sdn Bhd is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13846 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, NIOC. The DIMITRA II, TYCHE I, SATINA, and CROSS OCEAN are being identified as property in which Delnaz Ship Management Sdn Bhd has an interest pursuant to E.O. 13846.

Panama-registered Diamante Tankers Incorporated is the owner, operator, and manager of the AVENTUS I (IMO: 9280873), which has been in involved in the transfer of Iranian petroleum products.

Diamante Tankers Incorporated is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13846 for, on or after November 5, 2018, having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of NIOC. The AVENTUS I is being identified as property in which Diamante Tankers Incorporated has an interest pursuant to E.O. 13846.

Marshall Islands-registered Davina Shipping Inc is the owner, operator, and manager of the DAVINA (IMO: 9259367), which has delivered Iranian oil to the PRC.

Davina Shipping Inc is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13846 for, on or after November 5, 2018, having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of NIOC. The DAVINA is being identified as property in which Davina Shipping Inc has an interest pursuant to E.O. 13846.

STATE DEPARTMENT DESIGNATIONS

The U.S. Department of State is also taking action against a number of entities in multiple jurisdictions involved in the illicit movement of Iranian petroleum. 

Suriname-based Strong Roots Provider NV, Suriname-based Glazing Future Management NV, Suriname-based Engen Management NV, India-based Gabbaro Ship Services PVT LTD, Malaysia-based Alya Marine Sendirian Berhad, and Hong Kong-based Celia Armas Ltd are all being designated pursuant to E.O. 13846 for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran.

The vessel BERG 1 (IMO: 9262168) is being identified as property in which Strong Roots Provider NV has an interest pursuant to E.O. 13846.

The vessel VORAS (IMO: 9203265) is being identified as property in which Glazing Future Management NV has an interest pursuant to E.O. 13846.

The vessel HORNET (IMO: 9197844) is being identified as property in which Gabbaro Ship Services PVT LTD has an interest pursuant to E.O. 13846.

The vessels SHANAYE QUEEN (IMO: 9242118) and CAROL (IMO: 9070072) are being identified as property in which Alya Marine Sendirian Berhad has an interest pursuant to E.O. 13846.

The vessel OCTANS (IMO: 9224295) is being identified as property in which Celia Armas Ltd has an interest pursuant to E.O. 13846.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of these targets that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all dealings by U.S. persons or within the United States (including transactions transiting the United States) that involve any property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons.

In addition, persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals and entities designated today may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action. Non-U.S. persons are also prohibited from causing or conspiring to cause U.S. persons to wittingly or unwittingly violate U.S. sanctions, as well as engaging in conduct that evades U.S. sanctions. OFAC’s Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC’s enforcement of U.S. sanctions, including the factors that OFAC generally considers when determining an appropriate response to an apparent violation. Furthermore, unless an exception applies, any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction for any of the individuals or entities designated today could be subject to U.S. sanctions.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC’s Frequently Asked Question 897 here. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here.

Click here for identifying information on the entities designated today.

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SAN FRANCISCO, April 16, 2024 (Newswire.com) - Scarf, the leading platform for analytics for open source, today announced a groundbreaking integration with Common Room (commonroom.io), a global leader of customer intelligence platforms. This integration will give companies with open-source projects a more comprehensive understanding of their projects' usage, fostering stronger community ties, accelerating project growth, and discovering new purchase signals.

“Building thriving open-source projects requires a deep connection with the users who drive them forward,” said Scarf founder and CEO Avi Press. “Our integration with Common Room bridges the gap between open source and other signals, allowing corporations to find purchase intents.”

Scarf seamlessly integrates with existing open-source workflows, providing maintainers with valuable insights into project usage, adoption trends, and developer engagement. With the Common Room integration, these insights are enriched with rich customer data, enabling maintainers to:

• Identify target users and understand their needs: Analyze user demographics, behavior patterns, and pain points directly from Common Room.
• Personalize communication: Tailor outreach and marketing efforts based on user profiles and preferences.
• Build stronger relationships: Proactively engage with users and address their concerns with a personalized touch.
• Measure the impact of community initiatives: Track the effectiveness of outreach efforts and measure their impact on project adoption.

“Open-source usage is an important buying signal and one we are excited to be able to offer to our users,” said Bowen Pan, VP of Product at Common Room. “A Scarf integration gives our users the ability to add even more open-source usage signals to what they already have in Common Room to go to market intelligently.”

The Scarf and Common Room integration will be available soon. To learn more, visit https://about.scarf.sh/ or https://www.commonroom.io/.

Source: Scarf

H.R. 6513, the “Confirmation Of Congressional Observer Access Act of 2024” or the “COCOA Act of 2024,” which requires States to provide designated congressional election observers with full access to observe all elements of the administration of congressional elections.

Thank you to Representatives Carey, Morelle, and Steil for their leadership.

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With SupremeRAID v1.6, Double Failure Protection Guarantees Seamless Access to Vital Data, Empowering Customers With Reliability and Peace of Mind

SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 23, 2024 (Newswire.com) - Graid Technology, the award-winning data protection provider and developer of the only RAID card to offer customers access to the full performance of NVMe SSDs, is proud to announce its new software release, SupremeRAID v1.6. This new feature set addresses critical data integrity issues associated with double failures in RAID configurations.

A double failure occurs when a RAID system experiences a power outage or an unclean shutdown during the rebuilding of data from a previous disk failure. Traditionally, RAID systems utilize a persistent journal to log every I/O transaction and its corresponding parity. This method ensures that in-progress I/O operations and their parities can be recovered. The use of a single device to store this persistent journal has become a significant single point of failure and a bottleneck in modern NVMe SSD RAID configurations. Until now, this challenge has remained unaddressed in the market. With SupremeRAID v1.6, the distributed journal feature is designed to eliminate this single point of failure and significantly improve performance bottlenecks by distributing data and parity across all disks in a RAID group and redundantly journaling to provide maximum RAID stability with minimal impact on overall system performance.

"With data and parity already distributed across every disk in a RAID group," said Leander Yu, CEO of Graid Technology, "our new distributed journal feature is the perfect design to ensure maximum data integrity while maintaining high performance levels."

Graid Technology is excited to announce that it will commence the distribution of the SupremeRAID v1.6 beta version to its OEM customers and key global accounts in early May. The public release of SupremeRAID v1.6 is scheduled for late June. This new version will simultaneously be available for all Graid Technology products.

Graid Technology is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, with an R&D center in Taipei, Taiwan. Winners of the esteemed Tech Trailblazers Storage Award for 2023 and the 2023 Golden Award at the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance, SupremeRAID performance is breaking world records as the first NVMe and NVMeoF RAID card to unlock the full potential of your SSD performance: a single SupremeRAID card delivers 28 million IOPS and 260GB/s of throughput. For more information on Graid Technology, visit www.graidtech.com or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Source: Graid Technology, Inc.

BEIJING – The United States and the People’s Republic of China held the fifth meeting of the Economic Working Group (EWG) on September 19-20 in Beijing.  This was the second EWG held in China. 

Over two days of meetings, senior officials from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and China’s Ministry of Finance convened for a set of productive discussions and were joined by participants from other agencies.  The two sides opened the discussions by exchanging views on policies that support balanced growth in the domestic and global economies.  U.S. officials also continued discussions related to issues of concerns raised during Secretary Janet L. Yellen’s visit to China in April, including signs of increasing overcapacity in certain sectors of the Chinese economy, China’s non-market policies and practices and their impact on U.S. workers and firms, as well as Chinese firms’ support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.  The meeting sessions concluded with the two sides sharing views on domestic macroeconomic outlooks and discussions on areas of cooperation, including debt issues and financing challenges in emerging and developing economies.

While in Beijing, the Treasury delegation also met with Vice Premier He Lifeng, where they emphasized that Secretary Janet L. Yellen is pleased with the role the EWG plays in maintaining stability in the bilateral economic relationship by providing a resilient channel of communications on both areas of concern and areas for further cooperation.

The EWG is one of two working groups formed by Secretary Yellen and Vice Premier He Lifeng of the People’s Republic of China last September. The EWG is co-led by Jay Shambaugh, Under Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Treasury, and Liao Min, Vice Minister of Finance at China’s Ministry of Finance. The EWG reports directly to Secretary Yellen and Vice Premier He. 

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MEXICO CITY - On September 19, Assistant Secretary for International Finance Brent Neiman visited Mexico City, Mexico and met with senior officials from private and public institutions. Following up on Secretary Yellen’s trip to Mexico City in December 2023 and other bilateral conversations since, Assistant Secretary Neiman’s visit focused on concrete steps both sides can take to improve connectivity between respective payments systems.  His meetings also discussed other key aspects of the U.S.-Mexico economic relationship, and emphasized the importance of continued cooperation with Mexico’s new government.

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Percussion for Children for Ages 6 - 9 years

Bloomingdale's Advanced Orchestra for Ages 13 to Adult

Guitar Orchestra for Ages 10 - 14 years

Celebrate 60 Years of Music Education with Special Discounts on Fall Classes and Lessons at Bloomingdale School of Music

— Erika Atkins, Executive Director, Bloomingdale School of Music

Bloomingdale classes aim to educate students while instilling a sense of fun and passion for self-expression through music. The school offers lessons and classes 7 days a week for over 20 instruments for every type of student at all skill levels. Multiple genres from classical and jazz, to Broadway and pop music, are available. The fall semester begins on September 8, 2024, and enrollment is ongoing.

Sixtieth Celebration Sale - Students new to Bloomingdale who register for any class or lesson from September 8-30 can get $60 off in honor of the school’s 60th Anniversary. Must use the code BSM60 at check out.

For questions about classes and offerings, contact the Bloomingdale registration team seven days a week at 212-663-6021, or email registrar@bsmny.org.

About Bloomingdale School of Music: Founded in 1964, Bloomingdale School of Music is dedicated to the belief that music changes lives and that everyone should have access to high-quality music education regardless of economic status, race, religion, ability level, or gender. Bloomingdale is a music-driven community center where all are welcome to join and learn about music from top faculty. We are dedicated to our mission – to make music education accessible to all who want to learn – and remain focused on supporting this mission through our values. www.bsmny.org

Noelle Barbera, Director of Marketing and Development
Bloomingdale School of Music+1 212-663-6021email us hereVisit us on social media:FacebookXLinkedInInstagramYouTubeTikTok

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September 11, 2024, 14:59 GMT

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Union Health and THRH are proposing to merge under a proposed certificate of public advantage, also known as a COPA. The COPA could shield the proposed merger from antitrust scrutiny, leading to a deal that would likely impose higher costs and could lead to worse healthcare outcomes for Indiana patients, as well as lower wage growth for hospital workers, the comment states. In Vigo County, Ind., where the effects of the proposed merger would likely be felt most acutely by area patients and hospital workers, the merged entity would have a combined share of nearly 74% of all commercially insured inpatient hospital services.

Union Health and THRH filed a COPA application in September 2023, and then submitted additional information to the Indiana Department of Health in response to multiple information requests. The Indiana Department of Health has invited public comments, and will continue to accept them through Friday, September 6.

COPAs are regulatory regimes adopted by state governments that are intended to displace competition among healthcare providers. The FTC has a long history of advocating against the use of COPAs through comments and testimony submitted to state legislators and other stakeholders due to concerns that COPAs facilitate hospital consolidation and substantially reduce competition in healthcare markets.

Union Health’s proposed acquisition of THRH raises substantial risk of serious competitive harm and there is insufficient evidence to conclude that the potential harms from the merger would outweigh the claimed potential benefits, the FTC’s comment states.

The Indiana state legislature passed the Indiana COPA Act to allow hospital mergers that “may benefit the public by maintaining or improving the quality, efficiency, and accessibility of health care services offered to the public.” However, Union Health’s proposed deal with THRH would allow for anticompetitive consolidation in a highly concentrated market, thereby undermining the goal of improving healthcare services in the state, the FTC’s comment states. It is doubtful that the COPA regulatory conditions imposed by the Indiana Department of Health would effectively mitigate all of the potential anticompetitive harms to patients in the Terre Haute area – both in the near term and in the decades to come, the comment further adds. 

Additionally, FTC staff evaluated the financial conditions of Union Health and THRH, and concluded that both hospitals are financially stable and able to continue operations absent the proposed merger. FTC staff also performed a labor analysis and determined that the proposed merger would likely depress wage growth for registered nurses due to increased employer consolidation.

In recent years, FTC staff has seen a resurgence in COPA laws. In 2017, the FTC announced a policy project to assess the impact of COPAs on prices, quality, access, and innovation for healthcare services. This project has included research of past COPAs, a public workshop highlighting practical experiences with COPAs and related policy considerations, and an ongoing study of those that have been recently approved. The studies of past COPAs have revealed significant increases in commercial inpatient prices, as well as declines in quality of care. More broadly, access to affordable healthcare is of the utmost importance to American consumers. Promoting competition in the healthcare sector is a key priority for the FTC, including preventing anticompetitive hospital mergers.

The Commission vote to submit the staff comment to the Indiana Department of Health was 5-0. 

Pillar I – Conventionally-Armed, Nuclear-Powered Submarines

In March 2023, our nations announced a pathway to deliver Australia’s conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) capability, while setting the highest non-proliferation standard.   

We are steadily building Australia’s capabilities to steward and operate its own fleet of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines from the early 2030s.  The United Kingdom and the United States welcomed Australian naval officers and sailors into their submarine training schools and embedded Australian personnel into the UK Ministry of Defence and U.S. naval shipyards.  Our nations have made enormous strides towards the establishment of a rotational presence of U.S. and UK SSNs at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia as early as 2027.  Increased visits by U.S. SSNs to Australia have supported steady progress in Australian workforce development, and, in August 2024, Australian personnel demonstrated their progress through participation in the first maintenance activity conducted on a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine in Australia.

We have made significant investments to lift our respective submarine industrial bases.  The United Kingdom has made an initial allocation of nearly £4 billion to continue work on SSN-AUKUS, and £3 billion to expand production capabilities across its Defence Nuclear Enterprise.  The United States decided to invest USD 17.5 billion into its submarine industrial base.  Australia has committed to invest over AUD 30 billion in the Australian defense industrial base and make proportionate contributions to the United Kingdom and the United States to support the production of SSN-AUKUS and to accelerate the delivery of Virginia class submarines respectively.  In March 2024, Australia announced the selection of ASC Pty Ltd and BAE Systems to build SSN-AUKUS and ASC Pty Ltd to sustain Australia’s SSNs.  These respective investments and decisions will deliver thousands of highly skilled jobs across our three nations. 

In August this year, the AUKUS partners signed a historic international agreement for cooperation relating to naval nuclear propulsion.  Once it enters into force, this agreement will enable AUKUS partners to go beyond sharing naval nuclear propulsion information to include allowing the United States and the United Kingdom to transfer the material and equipment required for the safe and secure construction, operation, and sustainment of Australia’s conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines. 

The agreement reaffirms AUKUS partners’ existing non-proliferation obligations and Australia’s safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).  The agreement will make our non-proliferation commitments under AUKUS legally-binding between the partners.  Our nations continue to consult with the IAEA to develop a non-proliferation and safeguards approach that sets the highest non-proliferation standard.  

Pillar II – Advanced Capabilities

When AUKUS was first announced, we pledged to pursue information and technology sharing and unprecedented integration of our innovation communities, industrial bases, and warfighter capabilities in support of a shared goal to build the advanced capabilities needed to bolster deterrence in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific. 

This work is delivering as our Navies are strengthening undersea warfare capabilities by integrating the ability to launch and recover undersea vehicles from submarine torpedo tubes to deliver effects such as strike and reconnaissance.  We are also deploying advanced Artificial Intelligence algorithms across our shared military systems to process sonar-buoy data, assisting anti-submarine operators in making better decisions, faster.  We are strengthening maritime autonomy through a series of joint exercise and experimentation known as the Maritime Big Play, where we will conduct ground-breaking tests on the collective use of autonomous and un-crewed systems in maritime operations.  Together, we are making further strides in quantum technologies, cyber capabilities, hypersonics, and electronic warfare.

In April 2024 our Defense Ministers announced principles for additional AUKUS Pillar II partner engagement on specific projects where new partners could contribute to, and benefit from, AUKUS.  Following initial consultations this year and leveraging Japan’s deep technical expertise, AUKUS partners and Japan are exploring opportunities to improve interoperability of their maritime autonomous systems as an initial area of cooperation.  Recognizing these countries’ close bilateral defense partnerships with each member of AUKUS, we are consulting with Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea to identify possibilities for collaboration on advanced capabilities under AUKUS Pillar II.   

To promote innovation and realize the goals of AUKUS, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States have implemented momentous amendments to our respective export control regimes, including reforms to the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).  These critical reforms will facilitate billions of dollars in secure, license-free defense trade and maximize innovation across the full breadth of our defense collaboration and mutually strengthen our three defense industrial bases.

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WASHINGTON —U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Janet L. Yellen released the following statement on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) final guidance regarding the listing of voluntary carbon credit derivative contracts. 

“I commend Chair Behnam and the CFTC for the release of their final guidance to support high-integrity voluntary carbon markets (VCMs). The CFTC’s guidance will promote the integrity of carbon credits and enable greater liquidity and price transparency. I look forward to continued collaboration with the CFTC and other government agencies involved in shaping the development of responsible, high-functioning, and high-integrity VCMs as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious efforts to tackle the climate crisis and accelerate a clean energy transition that benefits all Americans.”

This final guidance comes a few months after the Department of the Treasury and Biden-Harris Administration released the Voluntary Carbon Markets Joint Policy Statement and Principles, which emphasized the importance of credit and market integrity in VCMs.

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