State of emergency in Crimea as Ukraine focuses pressure on ‘jewel in Putin’s crown’ 
Russia’s Deadly Kyiv Missile and Drone Attack Kills 27 as Zelensky Urges Faster Air Defense Support 
Russia Claims Capture of Kostiantynivka as Putin Pushes Donetsk Offensive 
South Korea Warns Won Is Undervalued, Boosts FX Coordination With Japan 
France Battles Mediterranean Wildfires as Heatwave Fuels Fire Risk 
Russian Attacks Kill Three in Eastern Ukraine as Civilian Casualties Mount 
US Resumes Dollar Shipments to Iraq After Months-Long Suspension 
Trump Dedicates Theodore Roosevelt Museum, Unveils New Air Force One Ahead of America’s 250th Anniversary 
US-Iran Doha Talks Show Limited Progress as Hormuz Shipping Remains Key Focus 
US Envoy Urges Taiwan to Build ‘Hornet’s Nest’ Drone Defense Against China 
OpenAI Proposes 5% U.S. Government Stake Amid AI Policy Talks 
DHS Investigates Cyber Breach in Homeland Security Information-Sharing Network 
Trump Administration Declines USMCA Renewal, Opens Talks on New Trade Changes 
Trump Reports $1.4 Billion in Crypto Income as Digital Assets Become Top Wealth Source 
US Ambassador Prioritizes Cook Islands Critical Minerals, Warns of China’s Pacific Influence 
NRC Proposes Radiation Rule Changes to Boost U.S. Nuclear Power Expansion Under Trump 
Trump Administration to Launch Voluntary AI Standards for Frontier Models 
In the midst of a recovering economy in the US, there has also been an increase in gas prices as well as inflation. US President Joe Biden has asked the Federal Trade Commission to ramp up its investigation into possible anti-consumer behavior by major oil and gas companies.
The White House is pushing to try and lower gas prices even as the global oil supply determines the prices of gas and heating oils. Biden told FTC chair, Lina Khan, in a letter Wednesday to double down on its efforts to get to the bottom of possible illegal activity being done by oil and gas companies. Biden previously asked the FTC back in August to probe for possible illegal activity that is causing the increase in gas prices that play a part in inflation.
“The Federal Trade Commission has the authority to consider whether illegal conduct is costing families at the pump. I believe you should do so immediately,” Biden wrote.
“I do not accept hard-working families paying more for gas because of anti-competitive or otherwise potentially illegal conduct,” the US leader continued, citing that gas prices are still increasing at the pump despite the price of unfinished gasoline lowering the previous month. Biden also noted that two major gas and oil companies were set to nearly double their net income today than in 2019.
The FTC spokesperson responded that they were also concerned about the issues raised in Biden’s letter to Khan. They added that they were looking into the issue.
“I, therefore, ask that the Commission further examine what is happening with oil and gas markets and that you bring all of the Commission’s tools to bear if you uncover any wrongdoing,” wrote Biden.
In other related news, Biden said Thursday that the US is considering boycotting the 2022 Winter Olympics that will take place in Beijing. The boycott is in protest of China’s human rights abuses, which would keep diplomats but not athletes from the games. Biden made the announcement as he hosted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the Oval Office.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that there was no set timeline for a decision by Biden on whether to go through with a possible boycott of the games.
