The FINANCIAL -- The Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) at an open board meeting on December 16 approved a $2.24 billion operating budget for next year. The Board also released financial reports for its Deposit Insurance Fund for the third quarter 2008.

The FINANCIAL -- The Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on December 16 issued a final rule to improve the FDIC's ability to monitor and evaluate risks in certain insured depository institutions with qualified financial contracts (QFCs), as well as assure preparedness if such institutions fail.

The FINANCIAL -- The EBRD and IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, are supporting the development of sustainable energy sources in Bulgaria, providing €198 million in loans to construct a 156-megawatt wind farm that will help the country promote clean energy and reduce its dependency on fossil fuels.

The FINANCIAL -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is extending a $300 million loan to help the Philippine government improve the integrity and efficiency of its justice system.

The FINANCIAL -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing a $200 million loan to Indonesia to support efforts to sustain the country's economic growth and reduce poverty.