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Arm Ukraine With Fanfare and Israel in Secret? That package will pay for billions of dollars of arms flowing to Ukraine, Israel and other nations. As soon as the bill became law, the administration issued new announcements about weapons shipments to Ukraine, but not about transfers to Israel. Press releases about military aid for Ukraine and Israel Since both wars began, the U.S. government has issued at least 126 press statements or updates describing military aid sent to Ukraine and just three describing military aid sent to Israel. Information on maritime support sent to … Ukraine IsraelInformation on air-based weaponry and drones sent to … Ukraine IsraelThere is another distinction worth noting.

Persons: Biden, Jonathan Ernst, Antony Blinken, ”, Josh Paul, Israel —, Ukraine Israel “, Daniel C, it’s, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Reuters, Israel Defense Forces, Israel . Press, U.S . Department of State, U.S . Department of State ; U.S . Department of Defense, Internet, State Department, Defense Department, State and Defense, Washington Post, Ukraine authorizations, Democratic Party, West Bank, White, New York, Facebook Locations: Israel, Ukraine, U.S, U.S . Department of State ;, Ukraine Israel, Gaza, American, Egypt, Russian, Rafah, Lebanon, Iran, Iranian, Syria, United States

☆ Fact check: Trump’s false courthouse claims about his trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Here’s a fact check of four of the claims he made about the trial. (For this particular article, we’ll leave aside the false claims he made in the courthouse about a variety of other subjects.) It is an armed camp to keep people away.” And he said in comments inside the courthouse on Thursday: “This courthouse is locked down; there’s not a person within five blocks.”Facts First: Trump’s claims are all false. Facts First: As he has before, Trump made Merchan’s gag order sound far broader than it is. The gag order does not prohibit Trump from declaring the case a sham or from sharing others’ claims that the case is a sham.

Persons: Donald Trump, Here’s, we’ll, Trump, it’s, Michael Cohen’s, Michael Cohen “, ” Cohen, “, ”, Cohen, Trump’s, ” Trump, Judge Juan Merchan’s, Merchan, you’re, “ I’m, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Bragg, Biden, Alvin Bragg’s, Matthew Colangelo, Colangelo Organizations: Washington CNN, New York Times, Trump, CNN, Monday, Republican, Intelligence, Manhattan, Attorney, Biden, Justice Department Locations: Lower Manhattan, Moscow, Russia, ”, Manhattan, York’s

☆ 'Nobody's getting wealthy on Social Security,' lawmaker says. The November election may influence the program's future
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Protect Social Security!" In 1983, when the last major Social Security reforms were enacted, there were no benefit enhancements, Larson argued. Today, annual earnings of up to $168,600 are subject to a 6.2% payroll tax toward Social Security paid by both workers and employers. Larson's plan also calls for closing loopholes that allow wealthy taxpayers to avoid paying Social Security taxes on other income. Larson said the public is well aware that Social Security benefits are theirs and they've paid for them.

Persons: Kean, Dave Kotinsky, Larson, they've, John Larson, Conn, Mark Wilson, Nancy Altman, Drew Ferguson, Ferguson, Jodey Arrington, Charles Blahous, Blahous Organizations: Getty, hasn't, Social Security, Security, Social, Capitol, Democratic, Republican, Republican House, Republicans, George Mason University Locations: Bridgewater , New Jersey, Jan, Georgia, Texas

☆ This little-known drone stock is poised to rally more than 56%, Raymond James says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions is seeing its business thrive amid accelerating defense spending stemming from global conflicts, according to Raymond James. He also raised his price target by $7, or 35%, to $27, suggesting the stock could climb 56% from Thursday's close. "Kratos provides content on most of the major western air defense systems," Gesuale said in a report to clients after the market closed Thursday. At the same time, NATO's orders for Multiple Air Defense Systems, $11 billion of which require Kratos materials over several years, could also boost the stock, he added. KTOS YTD mountain Kratos shares over the past year.

Persons: Raymond James, Brian Gesuale, Kratos, Gesuale Organizations: Kratos Defense, Security, Air Defense, NATO, Arrow Systems, Multiple Air Defense Systems Locations: Thursday's, Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, U.S

They call it an encirclement of their nation and say the United States is trying to constrain its main economic and military rival. The United States also has a new security agreement with Papua New Guinea. On Wednesday, Mr. Biden signed a $95-billion supplemental military aid and spending bill that Congress had just passed and that includes $8.1 billion to counter China in the region. In addition, the United States continues to send weapons and Green Beret trainers to Taiwan, a de facto independent island and the biggest flashpoint between the United States and China. A swarm of Chinese militia and Coast Guard vessels chased a Philippine Coast Guard ship in the South China Sea last year.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Biden, Antony J, Blinken, Yuri Gripas, ” Ely Ratner, Xi, ” Kurt Campbell, Joseph Wu, ”, “, Samuel J, Paparo Jr, Mr, Paparo, Carl Vinson, Richard A, Brooks, Trump, Lloyd J, Austin III, Chen Jining, Jes Aznar, David H, Berger, Obama, Tony Mcdonough, United States —, Admiral Paparo, China’s “ revanchist, we’re Organizations: Australian, U.S, Marines, United, Pentagon, Corps, Mr, White House, White, The New York Times, American, Marine, Green, China’s, Liberation Army, Seoul SOUTH, Pacific Command, People’s Liberation Army, Agence France, Nuclear Forces Treaty, Defense, Communist Party, Tokyo Okinawa, U.S . Navy, Coast Guard, Philippine Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Army, Philippines Luzon Partner, Australia Darwin Potential, NATO, Tomahawk Locations: Beijing, United States, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Japan, Okinawa, Taiwan, Asia, Pacific, U.S, China, Shanghai, South China, South Korea, Guam, Washington, Manila, Taipei, People’s Republic of China, Palau, West Papua, Seoul, Tokyo JAPAN CHINA Taipei TAIWAN Hong Kong, GUAM philippines MALAYSIA INDONESIA JAPAN CHINA TAIWAN, philippines GUAM, INDONESIA Seoul, GUAM philippines, MALAYSIA INDONESIA, Philippine, Moscow, Tokyo, Ryukyu Islands, South, Philippines Luzon, Luzon, Spratly, Australia, Canberra, Singapore, Darwin, Australia’s, . North Carolina, Virginia, Perth, United Kingdom, Navy’s, America

☆ Andrew Cuomo agrees to testify to Congress on Covid-19 nursing home advisory
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Jake Tapper | Piper Hudspethblackburn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Andrew Cuomo, after being subpoenaed last month, has agreed to testify to Congress about his controversial nursing home advisory from the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, Rep. Brad Wenstrup told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Friday. Cuomo has insisted that advisory was consistent with guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, his upcoming appearance before lawmakers is a sign of continuing scrutiny over his handling of long-term care facilities during the pandemic. The voluntary agreement means that Cuomo will participate with a transcribed interview rather than a deposition. Wenstrup told Tapper on Friday that the panel will also hear from Cuomo’s former secretary Melissa DeRosa and former commissioner of the New York State Department of Health Dr. Howard Zucker.

Persons: Andrew Cuomo, Brad Wenstrup, CNN’s Jake Tapper, “ Governor Cuomo, ” Wenstrup, “ I’m, Cuomo, Wenstrup, Rich Azzopardi, “, Letitia James, New York State Department of Health undercounted, Thomas DiNapoli, Tapper, CNN’s KFile, Melissa DeRosa, Howard Zucker, James ’, CNN’s Veronica Stracqualursi, Kaanita Iyer Organizations: CNN, Former New York Gov, Ohio Republican, Democratic, Centers, Medicare, Services, Centers for Disease Control, New York, New York State Department of Health Locations: ”

Has South Africa Truly Defeated Apartheid? U.S.A., 2020 – 63% U.K., 2019 – 62% 60% 49% 40% 20% 1994 2004 2014 2019 Sources: Collette Schulz-Herzenberg, "The South African non-voter: An analysis"; Konrad Adenaur Stiftung, 2020 (South Africa); Pew Research (United States and U.K.)On a continent where coups, autocrats and flawed elections have become common, South Africa is a widely admired exception. −4% −6% Sources: Harvard Growth Lab analysis of World Economic Outlook (South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa) and World Development Indicators (upper-middle-income countries). 50% unemployment rate 40% Black unemployment rate 30% The unemployment gap between Black and white South Africans remains wide. In 2022, about 6 percent of South Africans aged 18 to 29 were enrolled in higher education, according to Statistics South Africa.

Persons: Nelson Mandela, they’ve, Collette Schulz, Konrad Adenaur Stiftung, —, Walter Sisulu, Joao Silva, New York Times Jack Martins, ”, Mandela’s, Wandile Sihlobo, Johann Kirsten, Sihlobo, Kirsten, haven’t, Zinhle Nene, Peter Mokoena, “, Mokoena, Nokuthula Mabe, Mabe, Jacob Zuma, Chrispin Phiri, Cyril Ramaphosa, Israel, Sibusiso Zikode, Zikode, Mr Organizations: African National Congress, Pew Research, Human Sciences Research, World Bank, Black South, Charter, New York Times, University of Cape Town’s Liberty Institute of Strategic Marketing, Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Economic Empowerment, South, Harvard, Economic, Government, Black, Mr, Stellenbosch University . White, Statistics, Security, JOHANNESBURG Jobs, JOHANNESBURG Sandton Downtown, West University, Education, Statistics South, General Household Survey, of, Stellenbosch University, Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services, Institute for Security Studies, International Court of Justice Locations: Africa, South Africa, Black, States, Soweto, Kliptown, Johannesburg, South, Saharan Africa, Carletonville, JOHANNESBURG, Downtown Soweto, JOHANNESBURG Sandton, JOHANNESBURG Sandton Downtown Soweto, North, Mahikeng, Botswana, Statistics South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, Philippines, African, Germany, Russia, India, China, Ethiopia, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Ukraine, New York Times South Africa, Gaza, Durban, South Africa’s

☆ Talk of an Immigrant ‘Invasion’ Grows in Republican Ads and Speech
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Jazmine Ulloa | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A campaign ad from a Republican congressional candidate from Indiana sums up the arrival of migrants at the border with one word. He calls it an “invasion.”The word invasion also appears in ads for two Republicans competing for a Senate seat in Michigan. In West Virginia, ads for a Republican representative facing an uphill climb for the Senate say President Biden “created this invasion” of migrants. It was not so long ago that the term invasion had been mostly relegated to the margins of the national immigration debate. But now, the word has become a staple of Republican immigration rhetoric.

Persons: Biden “ Organizations: Republican Locations: Indiana, Michigan, New York, Missouri, West Virginia, Congress

☆ Opinion: $95 billion Israel-Ukraine aid package gives Biden huge leverage. He should use it
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Opinion Mark Hannah | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The $95 billion military aid package President Joe Biden signed Wednesday was a feat of tough-minded negotiation to get funding to Ukraine and Israel after months of congressional horse-trading. But if the aid inflates those countries’ war aims, it could discourage the kind of tough-minded negotiation that is the only way to end their wars. The new infusion of aid gives the US a lot of leverage with Ukraine and Israel. However, the recent aid package includes long-range missiles, or ATACMS, which suggests Ukraine is readying an offensive against Crimea. In Israel, putting conditions on military aid is a better idea.

Persons: Mark Hannah, Joe Biden, Mark Hannah Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Mark Milley, “, —, Israel, Biden, George W, Bush, Putin, Ukraine’s, Biden judiciously, Netanyahu, Henry Kissinger, Golda Meir, Kissinger, ” Kissinger, Russia shouldn’t Organizations: Institute for Global Affairs, Eurasia Group, CNN, Wednesday, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Palestinian Authority, Abrams Tanks, Crimea, Israel, Twitter Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Crimea, Washington, Ukrainian, Russia, Gaza, United States, Kippur, Tel Aviv, Soviet

☆ Federal Student Aid head Richard Cordray, tasked with FAFSA rollout, to step down
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Katie Lobosco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Washington CNN —The head of the Federal Student Aid office, which has faced criticism for the botched rollout of this year’s college financial aid form, will be stepping down. The announcement of Cordray’s departure comes as his office has been under fire for problems with a new version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, released late last year. “If there was a financial aid director, or even a college president, that delayed financial aid on their campus for up to six months, the professional price that would be paid for that would be pretty steep,” Justin Draeger, president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, told lawmakers. Cordray’s tenureAs the head of FSA, Cordray oversaw not only the FAFSA but also the entire $1.6 trillion federal student loan system. It also sued Navient, one of the biggest federal student loan servicers, for allegedly processing payments incorrectly.

Persons: Richard Cordray, Cordray, Justin Draeger, Virginia Foxx, Miguel Cardona, Cordray’s, Rich Cordray’s, ” Cardona, “, Rich, Obama, ” Cordray, Pell, Biden, Trump, Massachusetts Sen, Elizabeth Warren —, Navient, “ I’m, ” Warren Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal, Aid, CNN, Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, Education, Workforce, National Association of Student Financial, Republican Rep, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Democratic, National College, of Education, Public, Consumer Financial, Massachusetts, Corinthian Colleges Locations: North Carolina, Ohio

☆ Leader of Federal Student Aid Office Steps Down After College Admissions Crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Zach Montague | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The nation’s top student aid official is stepping down, the Education Department said Friday, after the disastrous rollout of a new financial aid form that upended the college admissions process for millions of students this year. Richard Cordray, who took over as the leader of the Federal Student Aid office in 2021, will hand over his duties in June, Education Secretary Miguel A. Cardona said in a statement. Mr. Cordray’s departure coincides with a fraught admissions season. College administrators, students and members of Congress across the political spectrum have rebuked the Education Department for mismanaging a redesign of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, throwing the usual college admissions process into disarray. In his role, Mr. Cordray also oversaw a variety of other programs, including many parts of the Biden administration’s sweeping vision of student debt relief for millions of borrowers through loan forgiveness and income-driven repayment plans.

Persons: Richard Cordray, Miguel A, Cardona, Cordray Organizations: Education Department, Federal, Aid, College, mismanaging, Biden

☆ Schumer Says Foreign Aid Victory Shows Congress Isn’t Broken
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Carl Hulse | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Chuck Schumer, the New York Democrat and majority leader, insists that Congress isn’t broken — it just has a stubborn glitch. As he celebrated approval this week of a major national security spending measure to aid Ukraine and Israel that took months of wrangling and strategizing, Mr. Schumer said the success of the package validated his view that bipartisanship can prevail once extreme elements on Capitol Hill are sidelined. “I don’t think that Congress is dysfunctional,” Mr. Schumer said in an interview. “It’s that there are some dysfunctional people in Congress, and we can’t let them run the show.”The majority leader said that the passage of the foreign aid bill, the renewal of a warrantless electronic surveillance program and the approval of government funding for the year have shown that Congress can still function if its damaging glitch — right-wing lawmakers invested in chaos — is dealt out.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Schumer, “, Mr Organizations: New York Democrat Locations: Ukraine, Israel

☆ All the data so far is showing inflation isn't going away, and is making things tough on the Fed
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Finally, consumers are dipping into savings to fund those purchases, creating a precarious scenario, if not now then down the road. With unemployment under 4%, it shouldn't be that surprising that prices aren't" going down, said Joseph LaVorgna, chief economist at SMBC Nikko Securities. So you might have a sticky inflation scenario." "If inflation remains higher, the Fed will be faced with the difficult choice of pushing the economy into a recession, abandoning its soft-landing scenario, or tolerating inflation higher than 2%," Sanders said. "To us, accepting higher inflation is the more prudent option."

Persons: Justin Sullivan, Joseph LaVorgna, LaVorgna, Donald Trump, Biden, Mike Sanders, Sanders Organizations: Getty, Federal Reserve, Commerce Department, Nikko Securities, National Economic Council, Madison Investments Locations: San Rafael , California, U.S

☆ South Africa’s democracy is turning 30 – but a silent crisis threatens its hard-fought gains
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( David Mckenzie | Sarah Dean | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Soweto, South Africa CNN —Seth Mazibuko strides into the intersection of Moema and Vilakazi Street in Soweto, gesturing to the spot that changed South African history. Cars are used as roadblocks on June 21, 1976, during unrest in Soweto, South Africa, stemming from protests against the use of Afrikaans in schools. But as South Africans celebrate 30 years of democracy this week, many educators and activists believe that there is a crisis hollowing out the country’s education system – a crisis that threatens democracy’s hard-fought gains. Despite substantial education funding, South African students consistently rank among the lowest in global assessments of literacy and numeracy skills. South Africa has the highest unemployment rate in the world and many university graduates struggle to enter the workforce.

Persons: South Africa CNN — Seth, ”, Mazibuko, Mike Mizleni, Prince Mulwela, Angie Motshekga, Motshekga, Nelson Mandela, Walter Dhladhla, it’s, Ann Bernstein, Bernstein, Morris Isaacson, “, ‘, ’, General, Mbali Msimanga, Atlegang Alcock, Mandela Organizations: South Africa CNN, Black South, Getty, Keystone, Hulton, “, Morris Isaacson High School, CNN, South, Basic, African National Congress, ANC, of Development, Enterprise, Corruption, South African Democratic Teachers Union, Cape Town Locations: Soweto, South Africa, Moema, gesturing, AFP, Africa, Canada, Kenya, Oshlange, Black, Durban, South Africa's, Johannesburg, Robben, Cape

☆ India’s farmers are up in arms again. Will it hurt Modi’s reelection campaign?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Vinay Dwivedi | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Narinder Nanu | AFP | Getty ImagesNEW DELHI — Farmers in India's Punjab state are raising the pitch of their ongoing protests, as the second phase of India's general elections starts Friday. Thousands of farmers continue to drum up support for their demands, foremost being a legal guarantee for minimum support prices for their produce. A Lokniti-CSDS survey earlier this month showed 59% of the respondents found the farmers' demands "genuine," while 16% deemed the protests a "conspiracy" against the government. CNBC did not immediately receive a response from India's Agriculture Ministry on queries pertaining to the farmers' demands. What India's farmers want

Persons: Narinder Nanu, Narendra Modi, Modi, Yogendra Yadav, Sanjay Kumar, Modi's, Kumar, it's, Jagjit Singh, Ayyakannu, Dallewal Organizations: AFP, Getty, DELHI — Farmers, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Modi's BJP, CNBC, India's Agriculture, Tamil Nadu, Morcha Locations: Amritsar, DELHI, India's Punjab, Punjab, Khanauri, Haryana, India, New Delhi, Delhi, Tamil, Varanasi, Tamil Nadu, Varansai, Uttar Pradesh, Samyukta

☆ Kim Jong Un tested a new rocket that could hit Seoul — and may aid Russia against Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Kim Jong Un oversaw tests for a rocket capable of hitting Seoul in South Korea, Bloomberg reported. Russia and North Korea have previously denied reports of an arms deal between the two nations. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok on April 25, 2019. Russia and North Korea have previously denied an arms deal exists between the two countries. Business Insider reported in October that North Korea was on track to become "one of Russia's most significant foreign arms suppliers."

Persons: Kim Jong Un, —, Yang, Vladimir Putin, Alexander Zemlianichenko, Simon Miles, Miles, Kelly Grieco, it's Organizations: Bloomberg, Service, Ukraine, Korean People's Army, Korean Central News Agency, Asan Institute, Policy Studies, NK News, North Korean, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Kremlin, Soviet Union, AP News, Business, pushback, US, Stimson Center Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Russia, Ukraine, North Korea, Korea, Russian, Vladivostok, Soviet

☆ Costo's quirky culture means the finance chief won't get his own parking spot
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Costco's new CFO won't inherit his predecessor's parking spot, as he hasn't served enough time there yet. Some employees have stayed at the company for over 30 years, and several execs started out working on the shop floor. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementCostco's CFO, Robert Galanti, retired in March after 40 years at the company, but the new CFO won't be so quick to fill in his parking spot. Reserved parking spaces at Costco are based on tenure rather than seniority, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Persons: hasn't, —, Robert Galanti, Gary Millerchip, Galanti, Ron Vachris, Todd Thull, John Conlon, he's, Craig Jelinek, " Jelinek, didn't Organizations: Costco, Service, Street Journal, Business Locations: Costco, Issaquah , Washington

☆ Trump's lawyer says presidents could get away with crimes if they aren't discovered until after they leave office
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Trump's lawyers say a president can get away with crimes if Congress doesn't find out about it while they're in office. If a president leaves before Congress can impeach and convict, they're home free, Trump's lawyers say. Related storiesIn oral arguments Thursday, Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked what would happen if potential criminal conduct wasn't discovered until after a president already left office. "What if the criminal conduct isn't discovered until after the president is out of office, so there was no opportunity for impeachment?" Smith didn't bring his indictment against Trump until the summer of 2023 — more than two years after Trump left office.

Persons: doesn't, they're, —, It's, Donald Trump, Trump's, John Sauer, don't, Trump, Jack Smith's, Amy Coney Barrett, wasn't, isn't, Sauer, Antonin Scalia, Smith didn't, Joe Biden's Organizations: Supreme, Service, US, US Senate, Trump

☆ Teamsters union endorses activist Ancora in Norfolk Southern proxy fight
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Activist Ancora on Thursday won the support of the BMWED Teamsters in the investor's efforts to oust Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw and a majority of the railroad's 13-person board. The labor group said it would back the activist's seven director nominees over Norfolk Southern management, a significant endorsement in an industry unusually dependent on union support. The support from the BMWED Teamsters, whose members build and maintain the track infrastructure that keeps Norfolk Southern trains moving, amounts to a sharp rebuke of Shaw and Norfolk Southern's board. Norfolk Southern and Ancora have been locked in a proxy contest for several months. Neuberger Berman, for example, is backing the activist and said that Norfolk Southern had a history of poor governance and that a boardroom change was needed.

Persons: Ancora, Alan Shaw, Shaw, Tony Cardwell, Cardwell, Jim Barber, Jamie Boychuk, Boychuk, Barber, It's, John Orr, Glass Lewis, Neuberger Berman Organizations: Thursday, Teamsters, Norfolk Southern, Norfolk, BMWED Teamsters, Labor, American Federation of Labor, Industrial Organizations, CSX, Ancora Locations: Norfolk Southern, Norfolk, U.S, East Palestine , Ohio, Washington

☆ TikTok suspends TikTok Lite rewards program in the EU amid regulatory scrutiny
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington CNN —TikTok said Wednesday it would suspend a controversial program in the European Union that has prompted growing alarm among EU regulators. The program at issue appears within TikTok Lite, a less data-intensive version of TikTok’s main app, and which contains a feature that rewards users with cash for engaging with TikTok content and app features. “TikTok always seeks to engage constructively with the EU Commission and other regulators,” TikTok said in a post on X. “We are therefore voluntarily suspending the rewards functions in TikTok Lite while we address the concerns that they have raised.”The EU warnings to TikTok reflected an exercise of new oversight powers granted by the Digital Services Act, the trading bloc’s recently enacted law governing online platforms. TikTok also faces further, additional fines of up to 6% of its global annual revenue if the TikTok Lite feature is determined to be in violation of the DSA.

Persons: Washington CNN — TikTok, TikTok, “, “ TikTok, ” TikTok, Joe Biden Organizations: Washington CNN, European Union, European Commission, EU Commission, Digital Services, TikTok, Commission, DSA, Wednesday Locations: European, Europe, United States, Israel, Ukraine

☆ Did Trump’s lawyers misquote George Washington? Here’s what the first president actually said
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Searching for some evidence that the Founding Fathers would have supported “absolute immunity” from criminal prosecution for former President Donald Trump, his lawyers have turned to George Washington. Washington’s thought does not end where Trump’s lawyers put the period. In his farewell address, the first president advised his fellow citizens that “Religion and morality” were the “great Pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and citizens." Another Washington historian, Alexis Coe, who wrote a recent biography, described the Trump lawyers’ view of Washington’s farewell address as “bonkers.” She thinks that rather than trying to seek exemption from laws, Washington would find ways around them. Anything that delays Trump’s prosecution is a clear win for the former president, who is playing for time until the November election.

Persons: Donald Trump, George Washington, Washington’s, Washington, inoculate Trump, John Sauer, “, John Avlon, “ Washington, ” Avlon, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Sauer, ”, Alexis Coe, –, Coe, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Trump, Will Trump, Trump’s, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, ” Gorsuch Organizations: CNN, US, Congress, gaslight, Trump . Washington, Trump, Constitutional Locations: United States, Washington, “, New York, Trump ., Pennsylvania

☆ Billions of dollars of Ukraine aid will be spent in the US. Here are the cities that could get a boost.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Senate passed a $95 billion spending package that included aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. AdvertisementOn April 23, the Senate passed a $95 billion spending package that included foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. In fact, an analysis of financial aid to Ukraine published in October by the website Breaking Defense found that a majority of the billions of dollars in Ukraine aid Congress had approved to date was ultimately spent in the US. The Ukraine aid is expected to be used to provide ammunition, artillery rounds, armored vehicles, and other weapons, the Associated Press reported. The factory, which is expected to employ 150 people when it opens, is expected to benefit from foreign aid to Ukraine.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Biden Organizations: Service, Ukraine, Defense, Ukraine —, Associated Press, Washington, BAE Systems, New York Times, Dynamics Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Pennsylvania , Alabama , Illinois, Florida, Washington, California , Arizona , Alabama, Texas, Russia, Gaza, China, York , Pennsylvania, Troy , Alabama, Peoria , Illinois, Aiken , South Carolina, Elgin , Oklahoma, Niceville , Florida, Endicott , New York, Scranton , Pennsylvania, Iowa, Dallas, Mesquite

☆ Tiktok ban: Chinese owner Bytedance denies it’s willing to sell as US ban looms
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

In the statement, Bytedance attached screenshots of the Information’s report, which cited three people with knowledge of deliberations. Under what is now US law, TikTok is forced to find a new owner within months or be banned from the United States entirely, its biggest market with 170 million users. The Chinese government has previously said it strongly opposes a forced sale of TikTok, and has the legal ability to do so. In particular, they worry that TikTok could share data with the Chinese government or manipulate content displayed on its platform. But as a China-based company, ByteDance is subject to a myriad of national intelligence, data security and cybersecurity laws.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, ByteDance, Joe Biden, Bytedance, TikTok, Shou Chew, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, “, ByteDance, National Intelligence Law Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, China, Israel, Ukraine, United States, India

☆ Blinken Tours China to Promote Some Ties, While the U.S. Severs Others
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Ana Swanson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

It all went to emphasize the kind of economic, educational and cultural ties that the United States is pointedly holding up as beneficial for both countries. But hanging over those pleasantries during his visit to China this week are several steps the U.S. is taking to sever economic ties in areas where the Biden administration says they threaten American interests. Even as the Biden administration tries to stabilize the relationship with China, it is advancing several economic measures that would curb China’s access to the U.S. economy and technology. It is poised to raise tariffs on Chinese steel, solar panels and other crucial products to try to protect American factories from cheap imports. The president signed it on Wednesday, though the measure is likely to be challenged in court.

Persons: Antony J, Blinken, Biden, ByteDance Organizations: New, Biden Locations: Shanghai, New York, United States, China, U.S, Beijing

☆ Energy Dept. Aims to Speed Up Permits for Power Lines
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Brad Plumer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden administration on Thursday finalized a rule meant to speed up federal permits for major transmission lines, part of a broader push to expand America’s electric grids. The pace of construction for high-voltage power lines has sharply slowed since 2013, and building new lines can take a decade or more because of permitting delays and local opposition. The Energy Department is trying to use the limited tools at its disposal to pour roughly $20 billion into grid upgrades and to streamline approvals for new lines. Under the rule announced on Thursday, the Energy Department would take over as the lead agency in charge of federal environmental reviews for certain interstate power lines and would aim to issue necessary permits within two years. Currently, the federal approval process can take four years or more and often involves multiple agencies each conducting their own separate reviews.

Persons: Biden Organizations: The Energy Department, Energy Department

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