IRS says Special 300 Dollars Tax Deduction helps most People give to Charity this Year – Even if they Don’t Itemize

U.S. Internal Revenue Service says Special $300 Tax Deduction helps most People give to Charity this Year – Even if they Don’t Itemize | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Internal Revenue Service [IRS] press release: November 25, 2020) WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers of a special new provision that will allow more people to easily deduct up to $300 in donations to qualifying charities this year. Following special tax law changes made earlier this year, cash donations of up to $300 made before December 31, 2020, are now deductible when people file their taxes in 2021. "Our nation's charities are struggling to help those suffering from COVID-19, and many deserving organizations can use all the help they can get," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "The IRS reminds people there's a new provision that allows for up to $300 in cash donations to qualifying organizations to be deducted from income. We encourage people to expl...

U.S. Department of Transportation publishes Air Travel Consumer Report: September 2020 and 3rd Quarter 2020 Numbers | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Department of Transportation press release: November 25, 2020)

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation today released its November 2020 Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR) on reporting marketing and operating air carrier data compiled for the month of September 2020. The full consumer report and other aviation consumer matters of interest to the public can be found at http://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer . The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency has resulted in significant changes to airline schedules and operations, contributing to airlines’ on-time performance and cancellation statistics in September 2020 and 3rd Quarter 2020. The 10 marketing network carriers reported 345,294 scheduled domestic flights in September 2020 compared to 398,470 flights in A...

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Recognized for Impact on Lives of Blue Water Navy Veterans | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs press release: November 25, 2020)

Washington - - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals has awarded the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Blue Water Navy (BWN) communications and outreach campaign with a 2020 MarCom Platinum Award.

The campaign increased awareness about the BWN Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 which extended the presumption of exposure to herbicides such as Agent Orange to Veterans who served in the offshore waters of the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. “VA supports BWN Veterans, their families and survivors around the country,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilke. “Ensuring Veterans and their families are aware of the benefits available to them is a priority ...

National Institutes of Health says Fourth Iteration of COVID-19 Treatment Trial underway| site |


(Information contained in National Institutes of Health [NIH] press release: November 25, 2020) The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the National Institutes of Health, today announced that the fourth iteration of the Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial (ACTT-4) has begun to enroll hospitalized adults with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who require supplemental oxygen. The NIAID-sponsored trial will enroll up to 1,500 patients at approximately 100 sites in the United States and other countries. Participants will be assigned at random to one of two treatment arms of equal size. One group will receive both dexamethasone, a corticosteroid available as a generic drug, and remdesivir, a broad-spectrum antiviral discovered and developed by Gilead Sciences, Inc., of Foster City, California. Remdesivir, also known as Veklury, was r...

National Institutes of Health says Fourth Iteration of COVID-19 Treatment Trial underway| site |


(Information contained in National Institutes of Health [NIH] press release: November 25, 2020) The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the National Institutes of Health, today announced that the fourth iteration of the Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial (ACTT-4) has begun to enroll hospitalized adults with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who require supplemental oxygen. The NIAID-sponsored trial will enroll up to 1,500 patients at approximately 100 sites in the United States and other countries. Participants will be assigned at random to one of two treatment arms of equal size. One group will receive both dexamethasone, a corticosteroid available as a generic drug, and remdesivir, a broad-spectrum antiviral discovered and developed by Gilead Sciences, Inc., of Foster City, California. Remdesivir, also known as Veklury, was r...

Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee, November 4-5, 2020 | site |



(Information contained in Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System press release: November 25, 2020)

The Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Open Market Committee on Wednesday released the attached minutes of the Committee meeting held on November 4-5, 2020.

The minutes for each regularly scheduled meeting of the Committee ordinarily are made available three weeks after the day of the policy decision and subsequently are published in the Board’s Annual Report. The descriptions of economic and financial conditions contained in these minutes are based solely on the information that was available to the Committee at the time of the meeting.

FOMC minutes can be viewed on the Board's website at http://www.federalreserve.gov/moneta...ccalendars.htm


Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee
November 4-5, 2020: HT...

American Hospital Association says, As COVID-19 Cases surge again, four Major Health Care Organizations release Updated Guidance on Maintaining Essential Surgery during the Ongoing Pandemic | site |



(Information contained in American Hospital Association press release: November 24, 2020)


As COVID-19 cases surge again, four major health care organizations release updated guidance on maintaining essential surgery during the ongoing pandemic


Joint roadmap addresses the dual need to meet health care demands for patients hospitalized with COVID-19, along with patients who need essential surgical services; calls for centralized coordinated governmental action to deploy necessary supplies


CHICAGO (November 24, 2020): Hospitals in many regions across the United States are now reporting near or at bed and ICU capacity due to the resurgence of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is presenting new...

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Issues Statement on European Central Counterparties Seeking to Register or Request Exemptions From the SEC | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission [SEC] press release: November 23, 2020) Washington D.C., Nov. 23, 2020 - - The Securities and Exchange Commission today issued a Policy Statement and Guidance focused on central counterparties (CCPs) authorized under the European Markets Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR) that may seek to access and operate in the U.S. securities markets. The Statement provides transparency into the Commission’s processes and highlights efficient ways that CCPs based in the European Union (EU) can register as a clearing agency or request exemptions from certain requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The SEC has a longstanding and collaborative relationship with its European counterparts with respect to supervision and enforcement of regulate...

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: November 24, 2020 | site |




(Information contained in U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA] press release: November 24, 2020)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced the following actions taken in its ongoing response effort to the COVID-19 pandemic:

• The FDA today published Face Masks, Including Surgical Masks, and Respirators for COVID-19, a comprehensive new page on FDA.gov with answers to frequently asked questions about face masks, surgical masks, and respirators. The topics covered in this new page include:
  • The basics on face masks, surgical masks, and respirators
  • Using face masks, surgical masks, and respirators
  • Shortages of face masks, surgical masks, and respirators during COVID-19
  • The Emergency Use Authorizations for face masks, surgical masks, and respirators
  • Manufacturing and importing face masks, surgical masks, and respirators during

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U.S. Reinforces Commitment to Secure, Stable, Democratic, and Self-Reliant Afghanistan at 2020 Conference | site |



(Information contained in U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesperson press release fact sheet: November 24, 2020)


The United States participated in the 2020 Afghanistan Conference on November 23-24, the sixth quadrennial gathering to coordinate international development support for Afghanistan. The conference was hosted virtually by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Government of Finland, and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. At the conference, the United States emphasized its commitment to a secure, stable, democratic, and self-reliant Afghanistan that is at peace with itself and its neighbors, and underscored the following:

• The United States has announced the availability of up to approximately $600 million in civilian assistance for Afghanistan for calendar year

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