ICH Q1A(R2) Stability Testing Guideline Finalized

The International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) has finalized its Q1A(R2) guideline on stability testing of new drug substances and products. This revised guideline, effective February 6, 2003, provides updated recommendations for stability testing protocols across different climatic zones.

ICH Guidelines Overview

The International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) provides guidelines across quality, safety, efficacy, and multidisciplinary areas. These guidelines aim to harmonize technical requirements for pharmaceutical registration globally.

Public Consultations on Drug Development Guidelines

The International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) is seeking public input on proposed guidelines related to drug development standards. This consultation aims to gather feedback on new and revised guidelines before their finalization.

PCAOB Censure and $50,000 Fine for Fruci & Associates II, PLLC

The PCAOB has censured Fruci & Associates II, PLLC, imposed a $50,000 civil penalty, and mandated remedial actions. The sanctions stem from findings that the firm violated PCAOB rules and quality control standards in audits of issuers like Clean Vision Corp. and Hammer Fiber Optics Holdings Corp.

PCAOB Censure and Registration Revocation of Zwick CPA, PLLC

The PCAOB has censured Zwick CPA, PLLC and its principal, Jack Zwick, revoked the firm's registration, and barred Zwick from the profession. The firm and Zwick were jointly and severally fined $50,000 for violations of PCAOB rules and standards in an audit of an issuer client.

PCAOB Bars Scott Reams, Fines $35,000, Allows Petition After Two Years

The PCAOB has granted Scott Reams' petition to terminate a bar imposed in December 2022, which included a $35,000 fine. Reams was found to have violated PCAOB rules in an audit engagement. The PCAOB has now consented to his association with a registered public accounting firm, subject to certain supervision requirements.

PCAOB Censure and Bar of Jeffrey Hoskow

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) has censured Jeffrey Hoskow and barred him from being an associated person of a registered public accounting firm. The sanctions stem from violations of PCAOB rules and standards concerning audit documentation.

PCAOB Grants Petition to Terminate Bar for Brandon R. Keyes

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) has granted Brandon R. Keyes' petition to terminate a bar imposed in December 2022. Keyes, previously barred and fined $35,000 for audit deficiencies, is now permitted to associate with a registered public accounting firm, Richey May & Co., LLP, under specific supervision requirements.

IRS Contingency Plan During Government Shutdown

The IRS released an updated Contingency Plan on January 15, 2019, recalling 57.4% of its employees to work during the government shutdown to ensure tax refunds are processed. The tax filing season will start on time on January 28, and the filing deadline remains unchanged.

AICPA Proposes Updates to Tax Services Standards

The AICPA is proposing updates to its Statements on Standards for Tax Services (SSTSs), affecting approximately 665,000 U.S. accountants. The proposed changes include revised guidance on data protection, reliance on digital tools, and tax representation services. The comment period closes on December 31.

Guidance on Mitigating Risks of Remote Audits

The AICPA & CIMA Insights Blog published an article discussing the risks associated with remote audits and proposing a hybrid approach to mitigate these challenges. The guidance aims to help auditors and clients navigate the complexities of remote auditing effectively.

FASB Standard Impacts Construction Revenue Recognition

The Financial Accounting Standards Board's (FASB) new revenue standard, effective for nonpublic entities in 2019, significantly impacts revenue recognition for the construction industry. The AICPA provides resources to help construction firms navigate these changes, focusing on 10 key considerations.

PCI SSC Meeting Advances Payment Security and AI Guidance

The PCI Security Standards Council held its North America Community Meeting, focusing on advancing payment security and launching AI guidance. The event brought together over 1,200 stakeholders to discuss evolving standards, best practices for AI in payments, and cross-industry collaboration.

PCI SSC Asia-Pacific Community Meeting on Payment Security

The PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) is hosting its annual Asia-Pacific Community Meeting in Bangkok on November 5-6, 2025. The event will bring together payment security experts to discuss evolving threats, new technologies, and best practices for preventing cyberattacks and fraud in the region.

PCI SSC Establishes India-South Asia Regional Engagement Board

The PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) has established its first Regional Engagement Board (REB) for the India and South Asia region, effective for 2025-2026. The board comprises 27 organizations from the payment industry to advise on payment security issues and promote awareness of PCI SSC standards.

PCI Security Standards Council Publishes Inaugural Annual Report

The PCI Security Standards Council has released its first-ever Annual Report, detailing progress in payment security during 2025 and outlining its vision for 2026. The report highlights advancements in standards, global collaboration, and the adoption of a product-led operating model.

AEP Ohio Transmission Line Rebuild Hearing

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has scheduled an adjudicatory hearing for AEP Ohio Transmission Company, Inc.'s Elliott-Lee 138 kV Transmission Line Rebuild Project. The hearing will take place on March 16, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio, to allow parties to present evidence regarding the application.

OFAC Issues Russia-related General License 134 on Crude Oil

The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued Russia-related General License 134, authorizing the delivery and sale of crude oil and petroleum products of Russian Federation origin loaded on vessels as of March 12, 2026. This license provides specific exceptions to sanctions for certain oil transactions.

Maine Privacy Bill Advances, Oregon AI Chatbot Bill Clears Legislature

Maine's legislature has advanced a comprehensive privacy bill, the Maine Online Data Privacy Act, through both chambers. Oregon's Senate Bill 1546, an AI chatbot safety bill, has also cleared its state legislature and is heading to the governor. Both bills represent significant state-level regulatory developments.

US House Committee Advances KIDS Act and Other Online Safety Bills

The U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce advanced the KIDS Act, Sammy's Law, and the App Store Accountability Act to a full House vote. These bills aim to enhance children's online safety by addressing issues like dangerous content, age verification, and app store policies.

EU AI Act Omnibus: New Compliance Deadlines and Deepfake Ban

Members of the European Parliament have reached a preliminary agreement on amendments to the EU AI Act, including extended compliance deadlines for high-risk systems and a ban on non-consensual deepfakes. The agreement aims to provide legal certainty and allow more time for technical standards and guidance development.

AI Training Compliance Guidance Post-SRB Ruling

This guidance analyzes the impact of the EU Court of Justice's Single Resolution Board ruling on AI training compliance for engineers. It outlines two pathways for compliance, emphasizing engineering choices in defining identifiability and data protection.

South Korea Overhauls PIPA with 10% Turnover Fines and CEO Accountability

South Korea has significantly amended its Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), introducing fines up to 10% of total turnover and assigning direct supervisory liability to CEOs. These changes, effective September 11, 2026, aim to strengthen deterrence and promote proactive data protection investment.

HITRUST CSF v11.6 Assessment Creation Deadline

HITRUST has announced deadlines for creating and submitting e1 and i1 assessments using CSF v11.6.0. The ability to create new assessments using v11.6.0 will be disabled on March 31, 2026, and submission will be disabled on June 30, 2026.

HITRUST CSF v11.6 Assessment Creation Deadline

HITRUST has announced that effective August 22, 2025, all new e1 and i1 assessments must be created using CSF v11.6.0. Existing assessments using v11.5.1 can still be submitted, with a future deadline to be announced.

HITRUST CSF v11.7.0 Release Notes

HITRUST has released version 11.7.0 of its Common Security Framework (CSF), effective December 18, 2025. This update includes new authoritative sources, consolidation of requirement statements, and modifications to the e1 and i1 assessment baselines.

HITRUST Assessment Handbook v1.2 Updates Released

HITRUST has released version 1.2 of its Assessment Handbook, introducing updates to procedures for evidence generation, testing expectations, reporting, and inheritance eligibility. These changes will be enforced for assessments submitted on or after April 15, 2026.

HITRUST 2025 H2 Threat Analysis on AI Tactics and Assessments

HITRUST released its 2025 H2 Cyber Threat Adaptive Report, indicating that its e1, i1, and r2 assessments effectively mitigate top attack techniques, including AI-driven tactics. The report analyzed threat indicators, intelligence articles, and breaches, mapping data to the MITRE ATT&CK framework.

AMA Survey on Trust in Health Information

A recent survey highlights that Americans continue to trust physicians and medical organizations, like the AMA, for health information, despite declining confidence in federal health agencies. The AMA emphasizes its commitment to providing accurate, evidence-based guidance to patients.

Physician AI Use Doubles, Confidence Grows Amid Skill Loss Concerns

The American Medical Association's latest survey reveals that 81% of physicians now use AI in their practices, a significant increase from 38% in 2023. While confidence in AI's clinical benefits grows, concerns persist regarding potential skill loss and patient interpretation of results without physician oversight.

MedPAC Recommends Medicare Physician Payment Increase

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) recommended that Congress increase Medicare physician payments by an additional 0.5 percent for 2027. The American Medical Association (AMA) welcomed the recommendation, highlighting the need for stable payments to protect patient access to care.

ISO 20022 Payments Standard Deadline Approaching

SWIFT has issued a notice reminding financial institutions that the ISO 20022 standard for cross-border payments will become mandatory on November 22, 2025, ending the coexistence period with older MT formats. Institutions must complete their migration and testing to avoid disruptions and potential charges.

ISO 20022: AI for Structured Postal Data Transition

SWIFT is providing an open-source AI solution to help financial institutions transition from unstructured to structured postal data for ISO 20022 payment messages. This is a mandatory change required by November 2026 to avoid message rejection and ensure data integrity for AML efforts.

ISO 20022 Becomes Standard for Cross-Border Payments

As of November 22, 2025, ISO 20022 is the mandatory standard for cross-border payments, replacing the MT message format. This change aims to enhance efficiency, data richness, and compliance for financial institutions worldwide, supporting G20 goals for international payments.

Accounting Standards Update 2025-08: Purchased Loans

The FASB has issued Accounting Standards Update 2025-08, amending Topic 326 (Credit Losses) concerning purchased loans. This update provides new guidance on accounting for credit losses on purchased loans, effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2025.

Accounting Standards Update 2025-09: Hedge Accounting Improvements

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2025-09, which provides improvements to hedge accounting. This update aims to enhance the accounting for derivatives and hedging activities under Topic 815.

ASU 2025-10: Government Grants Accounting for Business Entities

The FASB has issued ASU 2025-10, which provides new guidance on accounting for government grants received by business entities. This update introduces a new Topic 832 to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification, establishing a model for recognizing government grants. The guidance aims to align accounting practices for government grants with international standards.

Accounting Standards Update 2025-11: Interim Reporting Improvements

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2025-11, which provides narrow-scope improvements to interim reporting under Topic 270. This update aims to refine existing guidance without introducing significant new requirements.

FASB Accounting Standards Update 2025-12: Codification Improvements

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2025-12, which makes technical corrections and improvements to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. This update aims to enhance clarity and consistency in accounting guidance.

NAIC Announces 2026 Committee Leadership for Consumer Protection and Market Stability

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) announced its 2026 committee leadership. The announcement reaffirms the organization's commitment to advancing consumer protections, market stability, and innovation within the insurance landscape through collaborative state-based regulation.

McCarran-Ferguson Restoration Act Reaffirms State Insurance Regulation

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) supports the introduction of the McCarran-Ferguson Restoration Act, which would abolish the Federal Insurance Office (FIO) and reaffirm state-based insurance regulation. The act also aims to grant voting status to a state representative on the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC).

NAIC Auto Insurance Database Report 2022/2023

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has released its 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report. The report details national average premiums and incurred losses, noting a 14.42% increase in average premium per vehicle from 2022 to 2023.

Municipal Securities Dealer Participation and Concentration Trends

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) has released a report analyzing municipal securities dealer participation and concentration trends from 2016-2025. The report indicates a decline in the number of participating dealers, while trading concentration has shown mixed patterns depending on the metric used.

MSRB Rules for Municipal Securities Activities Updated

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) has updated its rules pertaining to municipal securities activities. The updates cover various aspects of regulated entity administration and professional qualification for dealers, municipal advisors, and bank dealers.

MSRB Advances Rule Modernization, Transparency, and Strategic Plan

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) held its quarterly board meeting, discussing advancements in rule modernization, market transparency initiatives, and its forthcoming FY 2026-2030 strategic plan. Key topics included retrospective rule reviews, harmonization with FINRA rules, and updates on the EMMA website.

ISDA and EMTA Publish 2026 FX Definitions for Derivatives

ISDA and EMTA have published the 2026 FX Definitions, consolidating previous documentation and updating market practices for FX derivatives. The new definitions aim to enhance market safety and efficiency, with an implementation target of November 2027.

ISDA Recommendations to Simplify EU Regulation

The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) has submitted a paper to the European Commission with eight recommendations to simplify EU derivatives regulation. The proposals aim to reduce operational complexity and compliance costs while maintaining high regulatory standards and enhancing the EU's attractiveness for derivatives activity.

UK BMR Reform Consultation Response

ISDA, GFXD, UK Finance, and LMA have jointly responded to HM Treasury's consultation on reforming the UK Benchmark Regulation (BMR). The response supports replacing the current UK BMR with a new regime that would regulate only benchmarks posing systemic risks.

ISDA: Safe, Efficient Markets for SFTs

The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) has published a paper outlining structural and regulatory drivers impacting Securities Financing Transactions (SFTs). The paper identifies advocacy priorities to support resilient SFT markets and addresses differences in frameworks for SFTs and derivatives.

FAQ: New Selection Process for Standard Reference Obligations (SROs)

The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) has published a new FAQ document detailing a revised selection process for Standard Reference Obligations (SROs). This FAQ provides guidance on the updated procedures for selecting SROs within the derivatives market.