Treasury's just-released Climate Action Plan establishes five priority actions to strengthen and build upon Treasury's climate resilience and adaptive capabilities: (1) rebuilding programs and capabilities that may have atrophied or stagnated in recent years; (2) addressing climate change impacts and vulnerabilities across the range of Departmental operations, including administrative, manufacturing, and law enforcement activities; (3) ensuring a climate-focused approach to managing Treasury's real property portfolio footprint; (4) enabling procurement management to fully consider climate change realities; and (5) providing, measuring, and accounting for a financial investment approach appropriate to the Department's climate objectives.

1. Mortgage rates may slide even more 2. Home prices and sales will rise 3. Housing counselors will be in demand 4. Millions of renters may be evicted 5. Homes will go to well-off buyers 6. Black households will fall further behind 7. Suburbs may grow at cities' expense 8. Ability-to-repay rule may be revised

A report on stablecoins, now circulating among top officials, will kick off a Biden administration bid to bring federal oversight to digital assets

Household incomes are growing Upper-income households have seen more rapid growth in income Income growth has been most rapid for the top 5% of families The wealth of American families is currently no higher than its level two decades ago The wealth divide among upper-income families and middle- and lower-income families is sharp and rising The richest are getting richer faster Income inequality in the U.S has increased since 1980 and is greater than in peer countries

"Fun" facts about the current state of payday lending in the US

"Fun" facts about the current state of payday lending in the US

Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have revealed results suggesting that personalized deep brain stimulation (DBS) can produce a sustained antidepressant effect by targeting a brain circuit linked to low mood.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday finalized a rule that will slash the use of a potent climate-warming gas commonly used in refrigerators and air conditioners by 85% over the next 15 years, a move that will help halve greenhouse gas emissions this decade. he EPA and White House also announced on Thursday that the administration will take an interagency approach to prevent the illegal trade, production, use, and sale of HFCs and prepare for enforcement actions to punish violations of the law.

Australia has lost about 30% of its koalas over the past three years, hit by drought, bushfires and developers cutting down trees

A new set of case studies and best practice examples to help cities reduce emissions has been launched by the World Economic Forum and Accenture.

Outlines progress of the 2011-2020 plan--mostly indicating UN and Aichi Biodiversity Targets have not been met.

Rainforest Alliance is working worldwide with famers not just to reduce impact (sustainability), but to achieve regeneration in areas of biodiversity; waterways; climate-smart agriculture; integrated soil, weed, and pest management; and improved productivity and livelihoods.

2020 Mobile Money Milestones: >300 Mobile Money providers; 1.2 billion accounts; Africa: 55.2% of all providers; 43% of new accounts (2020) in sub-Saharan Africa

Gates Foundation report on the impact of Mobile Money on Poverty. Good stats and evolution.

Global Sales Brands (Mercedes, IKEA, Walmart, Amazon)-companies with extensive data about their consumers will use fintech to offer financial services to customers, profiting from good risk and pushing bad risk to banks and insurance companies. So far this year, investors have poured $4.25 billion into embedded finance startups, almost three times the amount in 2020

This looks like a press release to generate buzz inasmuch as there are not talks in place; however, worth watching. Nexi (NEXII.MI) is interested in working on a digital version of the euro, but there are no formal talks with the European Central Bank (ECB), the Italian payment group's corporate and external affairs director Saverio Tridico said on Friday.

Britain, taking a cautious view of cryptoassets and wanting to ensure they are backed by sufficient capital, may establish rules prior to the Basel Committee's finalization of guidance

Global regulators worry the rise in privately operated currencies could undermine their control of the financial and monetary systems, increase systemic risks, promote financial crime and hurt investors. In the United States, President Joe Biden's regulators have launched several efforts to rein in cryptocurrencies.

- By 2050 nearly 2.5 billion people are projected to have some degree of hearing loss and at least 700 will require hearing rehabilitation. - Over 1 billion young adults are at risk of permanent, avoidable hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices. - An annual additional investment of less than US$ 1.40 per person is needed to scale up ear and hearing care services globally. - Over a 10-year period, this promises a return of nearly US$ 16 for every US dollar invested.

"I have seen one fool's gold rush from up close in the lead up to the 2008 financial crisis. It feels like we may be on the cusp of another with cryptocurrencies (crypto) and decentralized finance (DeFi). The 2008 crisis holds lessons that can help industry and regulators chart a better path and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past."