U.S.A.'s interesting latest news

Prepare for 2023 Open Enrollment If you don't have health insurance through a job, Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or another source, the Health Insurance Marketplace can help you get covered. Open Enrollment on HealthCare.gov begins November 1 and runs until January 15, 2023. Take these steps to make applying easier: Find out if you’re eligible to save money on coverage. Compare plans. Learn how to apply for coverage. Gather needed information to complete the application process.

 

FinCEN Analysis Reveals Ransomware Reporting in BSA Filings Increased Significantly During the Second Half of 2021

 

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today issued its most recent Financial Trend Analysis of ransomware-related Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) filings for 2021, indicating that ransomware continued to pose a significant threat to U.S. critical infrastructure sectors, businesses, and the public. The report focuses on ransomware trends in BSA filings from July-December 2021, and addresses the extent to which a substantial number of ransomware attacks appear to be connected to actors in Russia. 

News Release: https://www.fincen.gov/news/news-releases/fincen-analysis-reveals-ransomware-reporting-bsa-filings-increased-significantly

Financial Trends Analysis: https://www.fincen.gov/sites/default/files/2022-11/Financial%20Trend%20Analysis_Ransomware%20FTA%202_508%20FINAL.pdf

USDA Trade Mission to East Africa Underway  NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct. 31, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Dr. Jewel Bronaugh arrived today in Nairobi to launch a USDA agribusiness trade mission to Kenya and Tanzania. The U.S. delegation includes representatives from 32 agribusinesses and farm organizations who are looking to establish trade relationships and explore opportunities for U.S. agricultural exports to East Africa. “It is my great pleasure to lead this trade mission. Both Kenya and Tanzania are important growing markets and I look forward to strengthening our ties with both nations, and expand the opportunities for U.S. agricultural and food products exports,” said Bronaugh. “This is an exciting opportunity for U.S. agribusinesses and state representatives to learn firsthand about the local markets and build strong connections with their future partners in East Africa.” Trade mission participants will engage directly with potential importers, receive in-depth market briefings, and participate in site visits. Deputy Secretary Bronaugh will hold a media teleconference from Zanzibar, Tanzania on Nov. 4, at 9:30 a.m. ET. Credentialed reporters interested in participating should RSVP to press@usda.gov by 1 p.m. ET on Nov. 3, for dial-in instructions. ###

The following GAIN reports were released on October 28, 2022.

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Bangladesh: Grain and Feed Update

For marketing year (MY) 2022/23, Post's forecast for rice harvested area and production remain unchanged at 11.5 million hectares and 35.65 million metric tons (MT), the same as the USDA official forecasts. Post's wheat production forecast in MY 2022/23 also remains unchanged from Post's previous projection. However, Post's forecast for corn in MY 2022/23 fell slightly, based on Bangladesh's Department of Agricultural Extension revised crop production data. The prices of rice, wheat, wheat flour, and corn in local markets reached record highs due to higher international prices, increased freight costs, appreciation of the U.S. dollar, and high inflation. Post increased the trade year 2021/22 rice import estimate on the Bangladesh government's decision to purchase rice from Vietnam, Myanmar, and India under government-to-government agreements. Post reduced its MY 2022/23 wheat import forecast on higher import costs, lower consumer demand, and India's wheat export ban.

 

Ethiopia: Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Country Report

This report discusses regulatory requirements and standards that must be fulfilled to export food and agricultural products to Ethiopia. Pertinent information on applicable laws, regulations, directives, guidelines, procedures, and key regulatory contact details included. It is recommended that this report be read with the FAIRS Export Certificate Report for a comprehensive understanding of the import regulatory requirements and standards.

 

Ethiopia: Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report

This report summarizes the list of major export certificates, documentations, and other regulatory requirements to export food and agricultural products to Ethiopia. The report is organized using information obtained from publicly available sources published online as well as from industry contacts. Post strongly suggests this report be read with the FAIRS Country Report for a complete insight on Ethiopia’s import requirements, regulations, and standards.

 

European Union: Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Country Report

This report provides an overview of EU food and feed legislation currently in force for the EU. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) staff reviewed and updated all sections of this annual report. Special attention should be given to the changes on organics and wine labeling. For ongoing updates on developments in EU food and feed legislation, check the USEU FAS website at www.usda-eu.org.

 

European Union: FAIRS Export Certificate Report Annual

This guide provides an overview of health certificates needed for exporting plants, animals, foods, and other animal origin products to the European Union. U.S. regulatory agencies have been informed of the wide range of certificates changes that have occurred in the past months and have updated their export manuals to reflect those changes. Sections updated: All sections

 

Mexico: FAIRS Annual Country Report Annual

This document provides an overview of major Mexican agricultural and food-product laws and regulations, as well as related import standards and regulations. Some products may be subject to regulatory oversight by several different Government of Mexico (GOM) agencies. Post recommends that U.S. food and agricultural exporters work with experienced and established customs brokers and importers.

 

Mexico: FAIRS Export Certificate Report Annual

The competent Mexican authorities which regulate food and agricultural imports and/or require official U.S. export certificates include the Secretariat of Agriculture (SADER), Secretariat of Health (SALUD), Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), and the Secretariat of the Treasury and Public Credit (HACIENDA). Appendix 1 includes the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Processed Egg and Egg Products Export Certificate (LPS-234) and Processed Egg and Egg Products Export Certificate (LPS-234) in effect since January 1, 2022.

 

Thailand: Rice Price - Weekly

Export prices decreased 1-2 percent due to further weakening of the Thai baht.

 

For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.

Census Bureau Releases Map Illustrating 2020 Census Operational Quality Metrics for Counties and Tracts OCT. 31, 2022 — Today, the U.S. Census Bureau released the 2020 Census Quality Metrics Viewer. This map provides a visual tool for exploring the recently released operational quality metrics for counties and census tracts. The metrics show how the 2020 Census collected data within the counties and census tracts and can provide insight on the quality of the census. The metrics available for both individual counties and tracts provide the: Percentage of addresses that self-responded. Percentage of addresses that responded online. Percentage of self-responses that were submitted online. Percentage of occupied housing units in the Nonresponse Followup (NRFU) operation that were resolved through a census taker interviewing a member of the household. Percentage of occupied housing units in NRFU that were resolved through a census taker interviewing a proxy (such as a neighbor or landlord). Percentage of occupied housing units in NRFU that were resolved through administrative records. Two additional county-level metrics are available: Percentage of addresses in NRFU that provided only a population count to the census taker. Percentage of addresses that were unresolved and went to count imputation. (More information about that process is available in the blog, How We Complete the Census When Households or Group Quarters Don’t Respond.) More information, including technical documentation and a set of frequently asked questions, is available on the 2020 Census Data Quality webpage. No news release associated with this announcement. Tip sheet only. Read More About the Census Bureau We serve as the nation’s leading provider of quality data about its people and economy. The Census Bureau is the federal government's largest statistical agency. As the world’s premier statistical agency, we are dedicated to making our nation a better place. Policy-makers, businesses, and the public use our data to make informed decisions.