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It is responsible for about one-third of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. The new methane rule will help ensure that the United States meets a goal set by more than 100 nations to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030 from 2020 levels, Regan said. The EPA rule is just one of more than 100 actions the Biden administration has taken to reduce methane emissions, Zaidi added. The plan marks the first time the U.S. government has directly imposed a fee, or tax, on greenhouse gas emissions. The oil industry has generally welcomed direct federal regulation of methane emissions, preferring a single national standard to a hodgepodge of state rules.

Persons: —, Biden, Joe Biden, Michael Regan, Ali Zaidi, Regan, ” Regan, Zaidi, Harris, Harold Wimmer, Wimmer, David Doniger, ”, Obama, I'm, Fred Krupp Organizations: WASHINGTON, Environmental Protection Agency, United Nations, United Arab Emirates, Oil, UN, United States, Biden, Harris Administration, American Lung Association, EPA, Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund Locations: Dubai, United Arab, U.S, Paris, Scotland, Egypt, United

The Biden administration has been trying to jump-start the domestic supply chain for electric vehicles so cleaner cars can be made in the United States. But the experience of one Texas company, whose plans to help make an all-American electric vehicle were upended by China, highlights the stakes involved as the administration finalizes rules governing the industry. Huntsman Corporation started construction two years ago on a $50 million plant in Texas to make ethylene carbonate, a chemical that is used in electric vehicle batteries. It would have been the only site in North America making the product, with the goal of feeding battery factories that would crop up to serve the electric vehicle market. But as new facilities in China came online and flooded the market, the price of the chemical plummeted to $700 a ton from $4,000.

Persons: Biden, ”, Peter R, Huntsman, “ I’d Organizations: Huntsman Corporation Locations: United States, Texas, China, North America

☆ Au Revoir, Au Pairs
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Kristina Rasmussen | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Seeking safety and opportunity in America, she applied for and was accepted into the U.S. au pair program, lived with us for two years and learned to love this country. The State Department essentially wants to end the au pair program, which connects more than 21,000 foreigners with American families a year. The forthcoming mandate would require employers to treat au pairs more like traditional employees, though the program was designed to combine cultural exchange and child care. Families currently can pay an au pair a weekly stipend of about $200 and pitch in for things like college tuition. An au pair can cost as little as $20,000, a bargain compared with other child-care options for families with several kids.

Persons: Liza, Biden, finalizes Organizations: State Department Locations: Ukraine, Russia, America, U.S

☆ Biden Finalizes Significant Overhaul in Federal Regulations
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Jim Tankersley | More About Jim Tankersley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden administration has overhauled how the federal government assesses the costs and benefits of regulation and some government spending programs, clearing a path for more aggressive efforts to fight climate change and help the poor. Officials at the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, a branch of the Office of Management and Budget, finalized a new and complicated set of rules on Thursday. They would change how federal agencies tally and weigh the potential value and harm of new regulations related to climate change, taxation, the distribution of disaster relief assistance and more. The federal government has long used so-called benefit-cost analysis when setting regulations that cover business activity, environmental pollution and much more. Its rules guiding those regulations were last changed during the George W. Bush administration, prompting many economists to complain that officials were not taking updated economic data and cutting-edge research into account when issuing regulations that can have vast consequences immediately and in the future.

Persons: Biden, George W, Bush Organizations: White, Office of Information, Regulatory Affairs, Management, Budget

☆ US Farm Agency Finalizes Rule to Require Outdoor Access for Organic Chickens
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Leah DouglasWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday issued long-awaited final regulations to standardize living conditions of organic livestock and require that chickens raised organically have regular access to outdoor pasture. The rule will close loopholes that allowed some organic egg producers to meet outdoor access requirements for organic egg-laying hens with open-air porches, rather than pasture. "It's fair to say that this is the most significant update in organic regulations in over 30 years," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on a call with reporters. The USDA received more than 40,000 written comments on a draft version of the rule, Vilsack said, many dealing with the provisions that dictate minimum indoor and outdoor space requirements for livestock. Producers must comply with the rule within a year, but have five years to comply with certain provisions like the outdoor access requirement for laying hens.

Persons: Leah Douglas WASHINGTON, Tom Vilsack, Vilsack, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Chellie Pingree, ‘, Pingree, Leah Douglas, Tom Polansek, Chris Reese Organizations: U.S . Department of Agriculture, USDA, Producers, Democratic Locations: Maine, U.S, Europe, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Washington, Chicago

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/goldman-sachs-finalizes-deal-to-unload-specialty-lender-at-steep-loss-6c359928

Persons: Dow Jones, sachs Organizations: goldman

☆ U.S. Finalizes Rules to Keep Chip Funds Out of China
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Ana Swanson | More About Ana Swanson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden administration on Friday issued final rules that would prohibit chip companies vying for a new infusion of federal cash from carrying out certain business expansions, partnerships and research in China, in what it described as an effort to protect United States national security. The new rules aim to prevent chip makers who benefit from U.S. grants from passing technology, business know-how or other benefits to China. The final restrictions will prohibit firms that receive federal money from using it to construct chip factories outside of the United States. They also restrict companies from significantly expanding semiconductor manufacturing in “foreign countries of concern” — defined as China, Iran, Russia and North Korea — for 10 years after receiving an award, it said. The rules also prevent companies that receive funding from carrying out certain joint research projects in those countries, or licensing technology that would raise national security concerns to those countries.

Persons: Biden Organizations: United, North Korea — Locations: China, United States, U.S, Iran, Russia, North Korea

☆ US finalizes rules to prevent China from benefiting from $52 billion in chips funding
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The regulation is the final hurdle before the Biden administration can begin awarding $39 billion in subsidies for semiconductor production. The landmark "Chips and Science" law provides $52.7 billion for U.S. semiconductor production, research and workforce development. The regulation prohibits funding recipients from significantly expanding semiconductor manufacturing capacity in foreign countries of concern for 10 years. The final rules prohibit material expansion of semiconductor manufacturing capacity for leading-edge and advanced facilities in foreign countries of concern for 10 years. The final rule ties expanded semiconductor manufacturing capacity to adding cleanroom or other physical space, defining material expansions as increasing production capacity by more than 5%.

Persons: Florence Lo, Biden, Gina Raimondo, Raimondo, David Shepardson, Kim Coghill Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Commerce Department, Commerce Department, Thomson Locations: China, U.S, Russia

☆ Instacart CEO Fidji Simo will have stock worth a minimum of $13.4 million when the delivery company goes public, while the company's shoppers just got their minimum pay slashed to $4 per order
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Instacart CEO Fidji Simo's shares of the company are set to be worth at least $13.4 million once it goes public. Instacart's shoppers make as little as $4 per batch in base pay after the company cut the minimum in July. As with many IPOs, that price range could change before the company goes public. Along with some shares she previously owned, that brings Simo's total to 515,647 shares she is expected to hold after Instacart goes public. AdvertisementAdvertisementSimo could also receive an additional 900,000 shares of Instacart stock in the coming years if the company's market capitalization reaches certain goals.

Persons: Fidji Simo's, Instacart, Fidji Simo, Simo Organizations: Service, SEC Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ British American Tobacco finalizes Russia exit with sale to local managers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Stefan Sykes | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

British American Tobacco has finalized its exit from Russia about 18 months after it pledged to do so in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. However, other global tobacco giants are still doing business in the country, including Japan Tobacco International and Philip Morris International . London-based BAT is a key player in the global tobacco market with business operations in more than 100 countries. It controlled nearly 25% of Russia's tobacco market, which is the fourth largest in the world, according to Reuters. The buyer is a consortium led by members of BAT Russia's management team, which will wholly own the Russian and Belarusian businesses, BAT said.

Persons: Philip Morris Organizations: British, Tobacco, BAT, Japan Tobacco International, Philip, Philip Morris International . London, Camel, Reuters, BAT Russia's, ITMS Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Newport, Russian

☆ Canoo finalizes incentive package with Oklahoma, Cherokee Nation
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A view shows a Canoo LTV (Light Tactical Vehicle) electric vehicle, produced for the U.S. Army, at a manufacturing site in Livonia, Michigan, U.S. November 29, 2022. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File PhotoAug 14 (Reuters) - Electric-vehicle startup Canoo (GOEV.O) said on Monday it finalized incentive agreements with the state of Oklahoma and the North American tribe Cherokee Nation, for an estimated value of $113 million over 10 years. As part of the agreements, Canoo said it has already started hiring for its vehicle assembly facility in Oklahoma City and the battery manufacturing factory in Pryor. Canoo, which will invest more than $320 million at both its facilities in the state, had entered into a long-term lease agreement for the vehicle manufacturing facility in Oklahoma City earlier this year. Reporting by Tanya Jain and Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra EluriOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Rebecca Cook, Canoo, Tanya Jain, Akash Sriram, Krishna Chandra Organizations: LTV, U.S . Army, REUTERS, Cherokee, Department of Commerce, Thomson Locations: Livonia , Michigan, U.S, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Pryor ., Bengaluru

☆ Wells Fargo expects to pay $1.8 billion to help refill FDIC fund
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Wells Fargo Bank branch is seen in New York City, U.S., March 17, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File PhotoNEW YORK, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Wells Fargo (WFC.N) said on Tuesday it expects to pay $1.8 billion to help replenish a government deposit insurance fund that was drained of $16 billion this year after three banks collapsed. Under a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) proposal, Wells Fargo estimates it will face a pretax "special assessment" of $1.8 billion, which it will pay when the FDIC finalizes the rule, it said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday. Banking giants are likely to bear most of the costs of replenishing the fund, the FDIC said in May. Wells Fargo also said that separate proposals on U.S. capital rules could lead it to rejig its balance sheet.

Persons: Wells, Wells Fargo, Nupur Anand, Lananh Nguyen, Matthew Lewis, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, FDIC, . Banking, Thomson Locations: Wells Fargo Bank, New York City, U.S, New York

☆ Buy stocks like Amazon, which are undervalued and underappreciated ahead of earnings, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Investors combing for value ahead of another big week of earnings should look no further, according to analysts. CNBC Pro looked through top Wall Street research to find stocks that are underappreciated as earnings season continues. Meanwhile chatter around the stock remains mostly balanced and positive, according to UBS. "We model an ~8% 5-yr. EPS CAGR and rate the stock buy as we believe this growth potential remains underappreciated," Serna said. ... We model an ~8% 5-yr. EPS CAGR and rate the stock buy as we believe this growth potential remains underappreciated."

Persons: Mauricio Serna, Lee, Wrangler, Serna, Jason Kupferberg, it's, Kupferberg, Matt Niknam, DigitalBridge, Niknam, Baird, Jassy, DBRG, Morgan Stanley Organizations: CNBC Pro, Kontoor Brands, International, Kontoor Brands UBS, UBS, Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, TAM

☆ Pacific Seabed Mining Delayed as International Agency Finalizes Rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( Eric Lipton | More About Eric Lipton | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The effort to postpone the start has been led by nations including Costa Rica, Chile and France. The three nations urged other countries that are members of the Seabed Authority’s governing council to agree that no permit authorizing mining in international waters should be granted until regulations are finalized. “We are on the side of the ocean,” said Gina Guillén Grillo, Costa Rica’s representative to the Seabed Authority who has helped lead the opposition to seabed mining. While the Seabed Authority continues its work to determine environmental standards, as well as a royalty rate that will be paid by the mining contractors, among other matters, the Metals Company will continue to lobby other nations, Mr. Barron said. The Metals Company and Nauru, along with the delegation from China, which also has been aggressively pursuing seabed mining, pushed unsuccessfully at last week’s meeting for the Seabed Authority to set a goal of finalizing the regulations by 2024.

Persons: ”, Gina Guillén Grillo, Costa, ” Gerard Barron, Barron, Mr Organizations: Metals, Metals Company, The Metals Company Locations: Costa Rica, Chile, France, Nauru, Indonesia, Congo, China

☆ Trump's bid to block Georgia election probe rejected by state's top court
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Joseph Ax | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Council Bluffs, Iowa, U.S., July 7, 2023. REUTERS/Scott Morgan/File PhotoJuly 17 (Reuters) - Georgia's top court on Monday rejected former President Donald Trump's latest effort to block an investigation into whether he and his allies illegally sought to interfere with the state's 2020 election, weeks before prosecutors are expected to seek formal charges. Court records showed the Georgia Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the petition, filed last week by Trump's lawyers, that had sought to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and to quash a special grand jury report that recommended indictments against certain individuals. Willis has indicated to local officials that she will seek indictments in the case from a regular grand jury in August. Trump's lawyers previously filed a separate petition asking the state judge who oversaw the grand jury to quash its report and disqualify Willis from the case.

Persons: Donald Trump, Scott Morgan, Donald Trump's, Fani Willis, Willis finalizes, Willis, Trump, Georgia's, Joe Biden's, Joseph Ax Organizations: U.S, Republican, REUTERS, Georgia Supreme, Fulton, Trump, New, Thomson Locations: Bluffs , Iowa, U.S, Georgia, Fulton County, New York

☆ Bank of America Reports Big Profit Jump on Higher Interest Rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Stacy Cowley | More About Stacy Cowley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

The NumbersBank of America reported a profit of $7.4 billion last quarter, up nearly 20 percent from the year before. Revenue grew more than 10 percent, to $25.2 billion in the second quarter. Customer spending on credit and debit cards rose 3 percent, to $226 billion, the bank said. Notably, the lender’s investment-banking business rebounded in the second quarter, after a sharp drop in deal-making had cast a chill over the industry. Last week, Bank of America was fined $150 million by two federal regulators for charging its customers improper fees and denying them promised sign-up bonuses.

Persons: Mr, Borthwick, Takeaways Brian Moynihan, “, ”, “ That’s, Alastair Borthwick, “ We’ve, that’s, Wells Fargo, Banks, Goldman Sachs, They’ll Organizations: Bank of America, Revenue, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Western Alliance Locations: U.S

On Tuesday, the Biden administration announced it’s moving to implement a cybersecurity labeling program aimed at helping consumers pick out trustworthy tech products that are rated as more secure than the competition. Products certified under the new program may come with a QR code that links to a national database affirming its participation, the administration added in a release. “This new labeling program would help provide Americans with greater assurances about the cybersecurity of the products they use and rely on in their everyday lives,” the administration said in a statement. “It would also be beneficial for businesses, as it would help differentiate trustworthy products in the marketplace.”The government proposal comes two years after President Joe Biden signed an executive order calling for an “‘energy star’ type of label” for tech products. “Market forces alone were never going to be sufficient to force manufacturers to step up and deliver more secure devices,” he said.

Persons: Biden, it’s, —, cybersecurity, ”, Joe Biden, Dave DeWalt, “ We’ve Organizations: CNN, National Institute of Standards, Technology, NIST, House, Products, Twitter, PayPal, Federal Communications Commission, FCC, Colonial Pipeline, Companies, Amazon, Cisco, Google, LG, Logitech, Samsung, Consumer Technology Association

July 14 (Reuters) - Two U.S. senators are pursuing a legislative plan to track U.S. investments in China, as the White House works to complete long-awaited action that would also restrict investment in certain, highly targeted sectors. The Biden administration, meanwhile, is finalizing an executive order that would also restrict certain investment in sectors including advanced semiconductors, quantum computing and artificial intelligence. A senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the aim was to wrap up legal and other reviews of the outbound investment order by Labor Day. Reuters reported in February that the proposed order was likely to track restrictions on artificial intelligence chips, chipmaking tools and supercomputers, among other technologies, imposed on exports to China in October. The senators' proposed legislation was filed as an amendment to the annual National Defense Authorization Act.

Persons: Bob Casey, Republican John Cornyn, Casey, Biden, Janet Yellen, Joe Biden, Karen Freifeld, Andrea Shalal, Susan Heavey Organizations: White, Democratic, Republican, Labor, Treasury, Reuters, National Defense, U.S . House, Republicans, Thomson Locations: China

☆ China finalizes first-of-its-kind rules governing generative A.I. services like ChatGPT
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Chinese regulators on Thursday finalized first-of-its-kind rules governing generative artificial intelligence as the country looks to ramp up oversight of the rapidly-growing technology. The powerful Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said it worked with several other regulators to come up with the new regulation that will come into effect on Aug. 15. Generative AI is a fast-growing area of technology in which artificial intelligence services are able to generate content such as text or images. ChatGPT, developed by U.S. firm OpenAI, is the most well-known example and allows users to prompt the chatbot and receive replies to queries.

Organizations: Cyberspace Administration of China, U.S

☆ Netherlands, home to a critical chip firm, follows U.S. with export curbs on semiconductor tools
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The U.S. has been putting pressure on the Netherlands to block exports to China of high-tech semiconductor equipment. Susan Walsh | AFP | Getty ImagesThe Netherlands on Friday announced new export restrictions on advanced semiconductor equipment amid U.S. pressure to cut China off from key chipmaking tools. Since then, the U.S. has been ramping up pressure on key chipmaking nations and allies like the Netherlands and Japan, to introduce export restrictions of their own. The Dutch government was on the fence but in March laid out restrictions on the export of advanced semiconductor equipment. This will give them the time they need to adapt to the new rules," Dutch Trade Minister Liesje Schreinemacher said in a statement.

Persons: Mark Rutte, Joe Biden, Susan Walsh, hobble, Liesje Schreinemacher, ASML Organizations: AFP, Getty, Friday, Companies, Washington, Trade Locations: Netherlands, U.S, China, ASML, Japan

☆ FAA finalizes rule to beef up cockpit security on new planes
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Gregory Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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The Biden Administration’s signature drug pricing reform, part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), aims to save $25 billion through price negotiations by 2031 for Americans who pay more for medicines than any other country. The first ever Medicare drug price reduction process begins in September, when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services(CMS) identifies its 10 most costly drugs. Reuters has seen responses to CMS from five of the world's top drugmakers raising legal concerns with the law and the agency's proposed roadmap. Former CMS head Andy Slavitt, who now works at a venture capital company focused on healthcare, said the Medicare agency would have consulted lawyers. One said the Medicare roadmap, which did not go through a formal process with proposed and final rules, could be challenged in court for being unlawful as well.

☆ LIV Golf finalizes all 12 team rosters for second season
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

February 21 - LIV Golf announced its 12 rosters of four-players teams for the upstart league's second season Monday night, making official the reported signings of Thomas Pieters, Danny Lee, Dean Burmester and Brendan Steele. 35 in the Official World Golf Ranking as of this week, joined Bubba Watson's team, RangeGoats. Players who finished in the top 24 of the 2022 Invitational Series were guaranteed spots for the 2023 LIV Golf League, according to a press release. "In less than a year, LIV Golf has reinvigorated the professional game and laid the foundation for the sport's future. In 2023, the LIV Golf League comes to life," LIV CEO and commissioner Greg Norman said in a statement.

☆ Canada finalizes deal for Lockheed's F-35 fighter jets in C$19 bln project
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning IIs fly side by side with Republic of Korea Air Force F-35s as part of a bilateral exercise over the Yellow Sea, Republic of Korea, July 12, 2022. OTTAWA, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Canada has finalized a deal to buy 88 F-35 fighter jets from U.S. defense company Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) in a C$19 billion ($14.2 billion) project to replace its aging fleet of fighter aircraft, the Canadian government said on Monday. The purchase of F-35 stealth fighters would mark the largest investment in the Canadian Air Force in more than 30 years. The F-35 fighter deal announcement coincides with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's trip to Mexico on Monday for the North American leaders' summit where he will meet U.S. President Joe Biden. The C$19 billion project includes cost of infrastructure set-up, weapons and other related expenses in addition to the price of planes.

☆ FDA finalizes rule expanding availability of abortion pills
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday finalized a rule change that broadens availability of abortion pills to many more pharmacies, including large chains and mail-order companies. Still, the rule change’s impact has been blunted by numerous state laws limiting abortion broadly and the pills specifically. Legal experts foresee years of court battles over access to the pills, as abortion-rights proponents bring test cases to challenge state restrictions. Two drugmakers that make brand-name and generic versions of abortion pills requested the latest FDA label update. The FDA in 2000 approved mifepristone to terminate pregnancies of up to 10 weeks, when used with a second drug, misoprostol.

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