Trump–Netanyahu Talks Aim to Revive Gaza Ceasefire and Address Iran, Hezbollah Tensions 
Lavrov Says Russia Holds Strategic Initiative in Ukraine as Settlement Talks Continue 
Trump Administration Audits Somali-Origin Citizenship Cases Amid Fraud Allegations 
MSF Faces Possible Ban From Gaza as Israel Enforces New Aid Registration Rules 
Australia Orders Independent Review After Bondi Mass Shooting, Albanese Resists Royal Commission Calls 
China Conducts Largest-Ever Live-Fire War Games Around Taiwan Amid Rising Cross-Strait Tensions 
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Drone Plot Against Putin as Peace Talks Face New Strain 
Boeing Secures $8.6 Billion Pentagon Contract for F-15 Jets for Israel 
Kremlin Says Ukrainian Drone Attack Hardens Russia’s Stance on Peace Talks 
U.S. Government Agrees to Review Frozen NIH Diversity Research Grants After Legal Challenge 
U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Three Intellexa-Linked Executives Amid Spyware Controversy 
Salvador Nasralla Challenges Honduras Election Results Amid Fraud Allegations 
Peruvian Shamans’ New Year Ritual Predicts Illness for Trump, Fall of Maduro, and Global Political Shifts 
Bukele Signals Willingness to Extend Power as El Salvador’s Term Limits Are Scrapped 
Ukraine Drone Attacks Target Moscow and Western Russia, Injure One Civilian 
Lockheed Martin Secures $92.8M AEGIS Sustainment Contract from U.S. Navy 
U.S. Questions Russia’s Claim of Ukrainian Drone Attack on Putin Residence 
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected many Americans not only in terms of health but also financially. As businesses struggle to stay afloat at this time, President Joe Biden’s administration announced changes in eligibility of PPP loans.
Biden administration officials announced that there will be revisions made to the main COVID-19 aid program that will be aimed at small businesses owned by people or communities of color. For two weeks, the Small Business Administration will be accepting applications for forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loans for companies that have less than 20 employees so as to ensure that they are not overcrowded by larger firms. The revisions come as small business bankers say that the demand for PPP loans is slowing down as the companies begin reopening.
Administration officials also noted that there are still many small businesses owned by minorities in low-income areas that have yet to receive federal aid. These recent changes seek to make it easier for companies with no employees - meaning sole proprietors, self-employed, and independent contractors - that could not qualify for aid due to business cost reductions.
The SBA will make changes in the rules to match with the approach that was used to allow farmers and ranchers to receive federal aid. The program will allocate $1 billion for businesses without employees in low-income and moderate-income areas, 70 percent of businesses in these areas are owned by people of color.
As well, the SBA will also include new guidance to assure that legal US residents who are not citizens like green-card holders will not be excluded from the program. The Biden administration will also eliminate exclusions that will restrict a business owner who still has student loans from availing of the program.
This week, Biden, first lady Dr. Jill Biden, vice president Kamala Harris, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff all participated in a candle vigil ceremony at the White House to mark the 500,000 deaths from the coronavirus. Biden addressed the nation, once again urging the country to unite in order to fight the pandemic.
“I ask all Americans to remember those we lost and those we left behind. But as we all remember, I also ask us to act, to remain vigilant, to stay socially distanced, to mask up, get vaccinated when it’s your turn,” said Biden.
