DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ US soldier arrested in Russia to be detained for two months
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Caitlin Danaher | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —An American soldier arrested in Russia on suspicion of theft will be detained for two months, a Russian district court said Tuesday. A Russian Foreign Ministry representative told Russian state media TASS on Tuesday that the case is “not related to politics or espionage.”“As far as we understand, this is a purely domestic crime. The arrest comes at a time of huge tension between the US and Russia as the war with Ukraine continues. The soldier was stationed in South Korea when he took leave to travel to Russia on his own, according to another US official. “I am deeply concerned by reports that a US Army officer has been detained in Russia,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul said Monday.

Persons: –, Gordon Black, Evan Gershkovich, Marine Paul Whelan, Michael McCaul, “ Putin, —, ” CNN’s Natasha Bertrand, Oren Liebermann, Kylie Atwood Organizations: CNN, Russian Foreign Ministry, TASS, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, US State Department, Street, Marine, US Army, ”, Foreign, State Department Locations: American, Russia, Russian, Pervomaisky, Vladivostok, Ukraine, South Korea, Cavazos, Texas

☆ Inside the White House’s monthslong push for Ukraine aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Arlette Saenz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Sullivan followed up four days later with a call to Johnson to highlight the measures in place to track aid in Ukraine. They spoke often with Johnson’s staff, including meetings at the White House and on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, White House chief of staff Jeff Zients, Ricchetti and Goff spoke with Schumer and Jeffries and their staff almost daily to strategize on how to push Ukraine aid forward. Biden and Johnson spoke by phone the next day as the speaker briefed him on his plan to move the aid package forward. “We discussed the contents of the next US military aid package,” Zelensky said.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Joe Biden, Johnson –, speakership, Biden, Johnson, Vladimir Putin, Jake Sullivan, Shalanda Young, Sullivan, Taiwan –, Hamas, Putin, ” Biden, Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, “, ”, Steve Ricchetti, Richetti, Shuwanza Goff, Ricchetti, Goff, Jeff Zients, Schumer, Jeffries, Young, McConnell, Michael McCaul, Intelligence Michael Turner, Bill Burns, Ukraine Bridget Brink, Chip Roy, Texas, Ralph Norman of, Biden’s, Anita Dunn, Jon, Lloyd Austin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Donald Trump’s, Burns, ” Zelensky Organizations: Washington CNN, Ukraine, White House, GOP, Management, Senate, Biden, Russia, House Democratic, White, Capitol, House Foreign, Intelligence, CIA, Republican, The Defense Department, House Republicans, National Intelligence, Democratic, CNN Locations: Ukraine, Europe, Russia, Israel, Taiwan, Ricchetti, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Washington ,, Johnson’s

I think providing aid to Ukraine right now is critically important,” the speaker added. House TVThe speaker’s embrace of Ukraine aid represents a remarkable evolution for Johnson, who voted against funding for the country as a rank-and-file member. Johnson drags his feetJohnson did not come to his decision on how to handle foreign aid quickly. “Slow,” New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said when asked how Johnson handled Ukraine aid. In recent weeks, allies counseled Johnson to keep the former president in the loop on his potential foreign aid plans.

Persons: Manu Raju ”, Johnson, Mike Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, Jeffries, Taiwan –, Michael McCaul, “, ” Johnson, Derrick Van Orden, Matt Gaetz, ”, Johnson –, Kevin McCarthy, –, Joe Biden, Donald Trump’s, Mike Pompeo, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Bill Burns, Marjorie Taylor Greene, ” Jeffries, Biden, Mitch McConnell, Gregory Meeks, Patrick McHenry of, Trump, Johnson’s, ” Trump, Eli Crane, McCarthy, Bob Good, Johnson “, Greene, Al Green, Van Orden, Gaetz, I’m, ” Van Orden, Chip Roy’s, Bob Good’s, Kent Nishimura, Paul Gosar, Johnson’s speakership, We’re, we’ve, Tom Cole of, ” Cole, “ There’s, Warren Davidson, CNN’s Haley Talbot, Morgan Rimmer Organizations: GOP, CNN, Democratic, Louisiana Republican, Foreign, ”, Florida Republican, Senate, Republican, Ukraine, CIA, Naval Academy, Israel, Internal Revenue Service, New York Rep, House Foreign Affairs, Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, Lago, Arizona, Democratic Rep, Navy, Navy Seals, Wisconsin Republican, Capitol, Democrats, Republicans, GOP Rep, ” Veteran GOP Locations: Iran, Israel, Ukraine, Washington, Louisiana, Taiwan, Florida, American, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Patrick McHenry of North, Iranian, Virginia, Texas, Wisconsin, House, Arizona, Tom Cole of Oklahoma, Ohio

☆ McCaul commends Speaker Johnson’s transformation following foreign aid vote
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Avery Lotz | Michelle Shen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul applauded House Speaker Mike Johnson Sunday for bringing foreign aid legislation to his chamber’s floor, characterizing the move as “a profile in courage.”“I am so proud of the speaker, Mike Johnson,” the Texas Republican, who has been a staunch supporter of passing additional foreign aid, said on ABC’s “This Week.” “He went through a transformation. At the end of the day, a profile in courage is putting the nation above yourself, and that’s what he did. Asked if he believes Johnson’s job is in jeopardy following the successful vote, McCaul argued “stock in Mike Johnson has gone way up” and that the speaker has “garnered a lot of respect” from both sides of the aisle. But Trump has not commented publicly about the package the House passed on Saturday and has previously expressed support for Johnson’s speakership. “What (Trump) wants is for a lifeline to be given to Ukraine,” McCaul contended, “so that when he gets into office … he can then negotiate and save it.”

Persons: Michael McCaul, Mike Johnson, ”, ‘, ’, Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, —, ” McCaul, “, McCaul, Donald Trump, Trump Organizations: CNN — House Foreign, Texas Republican, Senate, Republicans, firebrand Rep, House, Louisiana Republican, CNN, House Republicans, Russia, NATO, Johnson’s Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Louisiana, United States

☆ How Mike Johnson Got to ‘Yes’ on Aid to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Catie Edmondson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For weeks after the Senate passed a sprawling aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, Speaker Mike Johnson agonized over whether and how the House would take up funding legislation that would almost certainly infuriate the right wing of his party and could cost him his job. He huddled with top national security officials, including William J. Burns, the C.I.A. He met repeatedly with broad factions of Republicans in both swing and deep red districts, and considered their voters’ attitudes toward funding Ukraine. And finally, when his plan to work with Democrats to clear the way for aiding Ukraine met with an outpouring of venom from ultraconservatives already threatening to depose him, Mr. Johnson, an evangelical Christian, knelt and prayed for guidance. “I want to be on the right side of history,” Representative Michael McCaul of Texas, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, recalled the speaker telling him.

Persons: Mike Johnson agonized, William J, Burns, Johnson, “, Michael McCaul of Organizations: Senate, U.S . Naval Academy, Ukraine, Foreign Affairs Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Michael McCaul of Texas

☆ By passing Ukraine aid, the accidental speaker became an unlikely Churchill
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —Republican Speaker Mike Johnson showed political courage that is rare in Washington and notable legislative skill for an inexperienced leader in forcing a long-delayed $60 billion aid bill for Ukraine through the House of Representatives on Saturday. And 112 Republicans — a majority of the conference — voted against the Ukraine bill. And any Republican speaker propped up by Democrats might hemorrhage support among GOP lawmakers and be forced to resign. “As we deliberate on this vote, you have to ask yourself this question: Am I Chamberlain or Churchill?” he said. The accidental speaker makes an unlikely Churchill, but on Saturday he proved to be a far more daring and substantial figure than many of his Republican and Democratic critics previously believed.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, Vladimir Putin, Ronald Reagan, Joe Biden’s, “, Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, ”, ” CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen, Putin, —, Biden, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene, Johnson —, Kevin McCarthy’s, Marc Molinaro, CNN’s Manu Raju, Trump, Zelensky, Trump’s, Hakeem Jeffries, Mike Quigley, It’s, ” Quigley, Chuck Schumer, Jeffries, Mike McCaul, ‘, it’s, McCaul, Chamberlain, Churchill Organizations: CNN, West, GOP, America, MAGA, United States House, Representatives, Ukraine, Republican Party, Trump, Republicans, Georgia, Mar, Democratic, Congressional Ukraine Caucus, Illinois Democrat, Foreign, Texas Republican, Republican Locations: Washington, Ukraine, Russian, Louisiana, United States, Russia, Europe, Iran, China, Israel, Taiwan, Mexico, Georgia, New York, Kyiv, Texas, Nazi Germany

☆ Senate dismisses two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security secretary, ends trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before the House Homeland Security Committee about the Biden Administration's FY2025 budget request in the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill on April 16, 2024 in Washington, DC. Senators voted to dismiss both articles of impeachment and end the trial, with Democrats arguing that the articles were unconstitutional. Still, Republicans similarly moved to dismiss former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial in 2021, weeks after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Johnson had said he would send them to the Senate last week, but he punted again after Senate Republicans said they wanted more time to prepare. The impeachment trial is the third in five years.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Joe Biden, impeaching Mayorkas, Mike Johnson, Mayorkas, Schumer, Chuck Schumer, William McFarland, Kevin F, Mark Green, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Michael McCaul, Clay Higgins, Ben Cline, Andy Biggs, Michael Guest, Laurel Lee, Harriet Hageman, Andrew Garbarino, Pfluger, Democratic Sen, Patty Murray, Murray, Missouri Sen, Eric Schmitt, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Donald Trump's, McConnell —, Trump, Johnson, he's, I'm, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump Organizations: Homeland, House Homeland Security, Biden, Cannon, Republicans, House Republicans, Democrats, —, Republican, of Homeland, Democratic, National Archives, Capitol, Senate, Democrat, Tennessee Rep, Congress Locations: Washington , DC, Mexico, U.S, WASHINGTON, Texas, Washington, Missouri, Ky, New York, New York City, Ukraine, Mayorkas

☆ Some House Republicans need this reminder that Russia is not their friend
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —There is a major disconnect between two CNN stories on Wednesday about Russia and the US. While it is mostly Republicans who oppose additional funding for Ukraine, they are still a minority, even within their own party. In February, 22 Republicans in the Senate joined all but three Democrats to form a 70-vote majority in favor of the funding. Asked about that propaganda comment by Tapper earlier this month, Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, agreed. The two appeared together at Mar-a-Lago last week, and Johnson has bought into Trump’s proposal to structure some Ukraine aid as a loan rather than direct aid.

Persons: Sean Lyngaas, ”, Mike Johnson, Johnson, “, ” Johnson, CNN’s Jake Tapper, “ We’re, Matt Gaetz, Chip Roy didn’t, he’s, it’s, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Defense Lloyd Austin, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Tucker Carlson, Vladimir Putin, Ralph Norman, Thomas Massie, Chip Roy, Tom Williams, It’s, Liz Cheney, Donald Trump, Michael McCaul, Puck, Tapper, Mike Turner of Ohio, ” Turner, Greene, Ken Buck, Moscow Marjorie ”, Putin, Trump Organizations: CNN, Capitol Hill, GOP, White, Conservative, Ukraine, Republicans, Senate, Florida, ” Texas, Defense, Republican, Fox News, Putin, Texas Republican, Foreign Affairs, House Intelligence, Trump, Mar, Lago Locations: Russia, Texas, Russian, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Wyoming, Colorado

☆ House sends Mayorkas impeachment articles to the Senate
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Annie Grayer | Priscilla Alvarez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —House Republicans have sent to the Senate two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a step that launches a trial in the Senate as GOP lawmakers seek to highlight President Joe Biden’s handling of immigration policy. House Republicans do not have the votes or concrete evidence to impeach Biden given their razor-thin majority, leaving that separate impeachment inquiry stalled. GOP arguments for impeachment and pushback from constitutional expertsWhen Johnson originally informed Schumer he would be sending the impeachment articles over to the Senate, he laid out why he believed a Mayorkas impeachment was justified. “These articles lay out a clear, compelling, and irrefutable case for Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ impeachment,” Green said in a statement provided to CNN. “I think that what the House Republicans are asserting is that Secretary Mayorkas is guilty of maladministration,” Garber said.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Joe Biden’s, Mayorkas, Biden, —, impeaching Biden, ”, Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Trump, Ian Sams, Johnson, Schumer, Mark Green of, Alejandro Mayorkas ’, ” Green, systemically, Samuel Alito, Ross Garber, ” Garber, “, Michael Chertoff, George W, Bush, Jonathan Turley, Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, “ I’m, CNN’s Manu Raju, I’ve, –, John Thune, ” Johnson, Pro Tempore Patty Murray, Michael McCaul of, Andy Biggs of, Clay Higgins, Ben Cline of Virginia, Michael Guest of, Andrew Garbarino, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Pfluger, Harriet Hageman of, Laurel Lee, CNN’s Ted Barrett, Morgan Rimmer Organizations: CNN — House Republicans, Homeland, Senate, Democratic, Republicans, Homeland Security, Biden, House Republicans, DHS, ’, Louisiana Republican, Truth, White, CNN, Congress, Tulane University, Republican, Senate Democratic, Mayorkas, Pro Tempore Locations: Louisiana, Mark Green of Tennessee, Washington, Michael McCaul of Texas, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Clay Higgins of Louisiana, Michael Guest of Mississippi, New York, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Texas, Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, Laurel Lee of Florida

☆ Exclusive: State Department officials told House investigators they created Afghanistan withdrawal plans from scratch
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Kylie Atwood | Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The State Department has continued to publicly defend its decision making around the NEO as well as the ending of the war. Milley and retired Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, who were in charge of the US military during the withdrawal, blamed the State Department for not ordering a NEO sooner. The State Department officials did not weigh in on whether calling a NEO sooner would have had a substantial impact, as this would have preceded their arrival in Afghanistan. Although the State Department has faced sharp criticism from the Defense Department – most recently in a congressional hearing with retired Gens. Coordination with the militaryAnd on the ground, as they grappled with the frenzied and fluid situation, State Department officials and service members at Hamid Karzai International Airport were regularly coordinating.

Persons: John Bass, Jim DeHart, Jayne Howell, Michael McCaul’s, McCaul, Biden, ”, Mark Milley, ” Howell, DeHart, ” Bass, Hamid, Bass, Wendy Sherman, Washington . Howell, I’m, Howell, “, Trump, Anna Moneymaker, Milley, Kenneth McKenzie, McKenzie, Vedant Patel, “ It’s, Defense Department –, Gens, Kenneth McKenzie –, ” DeHart, didn’t Organizations: CNN, State Department, House Foreign Affairs, Republican, Department, Foreign Affairs, Chiefs, House Foreign, ”, DC, State, Department of Defense, Airport, Foreign Service Institute, Pentagon, Biden, Joint Chiefs, Staff, US, US Central Command, ” State Department, Defense Department, Hamid Locations: Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghan, Ukraine, Kabul Afghanistan, Washington ., Turkey, Rayburn, Washington , DC, extremis

☆ House Speaker Mike Johnson remains undecided on best path ahead on Ukraine aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Lauren Fox | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —House Speaker Mike Johnson is pledging to act on Ukraine aid when lawmakers return to Washington next week, but behind the scenes the Louisiana Republican is still undecided on the best path forward and keenly aware of his narrow majority and the threat to his speakership that looms. “He’s got a gun to his head right now,” Rep. Don Bacon, a swing-district Republican, said of the speaker. Greene and Johnson are expected to talk later this week, but the Georgia Republican has remained steadfast in her opposition to Ukraine aid. Given fierce conservative opposition and a narrow margin, it’s possible Johnson could need to bring any Ukraine aid bill to the floor under a suspension of the rules. In recent days, Johnson has also floated the idea of easing natural gas exports, but it’s not clear that would do much to assuage conservative backlash against Ukraine aid.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, “ He’s, ” Rep, Don Bacon, Churchill, ” Johnson, Mitch McConnell, –, Mike McCaul, “, Mike, Chip Roy, Matt Gaetz, I’ve, he’s, they’d, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene, ” Greene, ”, Brian Fitzpatrick, Fitzpatrick, It’s, John Kirby, CNN’s Haley Talbot, Manu Raju Organizations: CNN —, Louisiana Republican, ”, Republican, GOP, Republican Rep, Fox News, CNN, Georgia Republican, Democratic, House, White, National Security Communications Locations: Ukraine, Washington, Louisiana, Russia, Israel, Taiwan, Texas, Pennsylvania, Gaza

CNN —The Biden administration is close to approving the sale of as many as 50 American-made F-15 fighter jets to Israel, in a deal expected to be worth more than $18 billion, according to three people familiar with the matter. Since Hamas’ attack on Israel in October, which killed over 1,200 Israelis, the US has made more than 100 foreign military sales to Israel. Most of those have fallen under the specific dollar amount that requires a notification to Congress, an official familiar with the matter previously told CNN. A congressional aide told CNN that House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul has also approved the transaction to proceed to formal congressional notification. “What you hear about the frustrations within the administration over the Israel policy, it is real,” one US diplomat told CNN on condition of anonymity.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Sen, James Risch, Michael McCaul, Ben Cardin, Greg Meeks, Biden administration’s, Joe Biden’s, “, ”, Israel won’t, Josh Paul, Matthew Miller, Israel what’s, Pat Ryder, ” Steven Katz, Katz Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Biden, Democratic, House Foreign Affairs, Foreign, State Department, Republican, Senate Foreign Relations, House Foreign, Congressional Research Service, UN, The State Department, State Department’s Bureau, Political, Military Affairs, ”, Pentagon, Army, Defense, U.S, National Intelligence Locations: Israel, Gaza, State, Washington , DC, United States, “ Israel, Iran

WASHINGTON (AP) — For over a month, House Speaker Mike Johnson has sat on a funding package that would send desperately needed ammunition and weaponry to Ukraine, mulling how best to gain a grasp of what is expected to be a difficult lift in the House. The Republican speaker has indicated he will attempt to push for approval of tens of billions in wartime funding for Ukraine, as well as Israel, once the House returns in April. “We'll turn our attention to it and we won't delay on that,” the Louisiana representative said of the Ukraine package at a news conference last week. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a far-right Republican from Georgia, has filed a motion to vacate Johnson as speaker and warned him not to put Ukraine funding on the House floor. Before becoming speaker, Johnson was deeply skeptical of approving funding for Ukraine and voted repeatedly against it.

Persons: Mike Johnson, “, Johnson, Gregory Meeks, Marjorie Taylor Greene, ” Greene, ” Johnson, Ronald Reagan, ”, Michael McCaul, Greene, Don Bacon, Shelby Magid Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, Ukraine, NATO, Rep, House Foreign Affairs Committee, Capitol, Senate, Kyiv, Republicans, Democrats, Senior Republicans, House Foreign Relations, CBS, House, Eurasia Center, Atlantic Council Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Louisiana, Russia, Kyiv, Georgia, Gaza, Washington, “, Europe

☆ Marjorie Taylor Greene's threat to oust Mike Johnson could backfire and allow Congress to pass more Ukraine aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Marjorie Taylor Greene is threatening to oust Mike Johnson from the speakership. It could actually backfire on her — and make it more likely that Ukraine aid gets passed. Democrats could easily save Johnson, and many have named a vote on Ukraine aid as their price. So by filing her resolution on Friday in protest of Johnson's handling of government funding, Greene just handed a whole lot of leverage to House Democrats. Or it could mean individual votes on Ukraine and Israel aid, as Johnson has indicated he would like to see.

Persons: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Mike Johnson, Johnson, —, Greene, Johnson —, Abigail Spanberger, Matt Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, McCarthy, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, doesn't, Hakeem Jeffries, Mike McCaul Organizations: Service, Marjorie Taylor Greene of, House Democrats, GOP, Senate, Democratic, Republican, House Republicans, Rep, CNN, House Foreign Affairs Committee, CBS Locations: Ukraine, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Georgia, Johnson, Israel, Virginia, Florida, Alexandria, Cortez of New York, Cortez

☆ U.S. assessing if China's SMIC broke U.S. rules to make Huawei chip
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A logo hangs on the building of the Beijing branch of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) on December 4, 2020 in Beijing, China. When asked by Representative Michael McCaul if SMIC broke U.S. export rules to produce the sophisticated chip, Alan Estevez, who oversees export policy, said "potentially yes. Questions have surfaced about whether SMIC illegally obtained U.S. tools to make the chip. That comes amid growing pressure from China hardliners to take action against the two companies since Huawei unveiled a new phone powered by a sophisticated chip manufactured at SMIC in August. When asked about SMIC's ability to produce the chip for Huawei using American tools, Estevez said, "I can't talk about any investigations that may or may not be going.

Persons: Biden, SMIC, Michael McCaul, Alan Estevez, Estevez, Trump, Donald Trump Organizations: Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, Visual China, Getty, Commerce Department, Huawei, SMIC Locations: Beijing, China

☆ TikTok aside, Congress has its eye on the U.S. money going into China
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The House Select Committee on the CCP, established in January last year, led the legislative act to essentially ban TikTok in the U.S. if its Chinese parent ByteDance doesn't sell the popular social media app. watch nowThe House select committee in February also published a report alleging U.S. venture capital firms invested billions "into PRC companies fueling the CCP's military, surveillance state and Uyghur genocide." Similar research detailing the links between U.S. capital, venture firms in China and Chinese tech startups has started making its rounds in major media outlets since late 2023. The Senate in July overwhelmingly passed a bill that would have required U.S. investors in advanced Chinese technology to notify the Treasury Department. The Biden administration in August issued an executive order aimed at restricting U.S. investments into semiconductor, quantum computing and artificial intelligence companies citing national security concerns.

Persons: Ken Cedeno, that's, Mike Gallagher, Gallagher, Andrew King, King, Biden, Michael McCaul, Gregory W, Meeks Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Reuters, The U.S, Congress, Chinese Communist Party, CNBC, House Armed, Technologies, Innovation, Intelligence, CCP, Future, Ventures, Treasury Department, Treasury, Foreign, China's Ministry of Commerce, Financial Regulatory Administration Locations: Washington , U.S, Reuters BEIJING, The, China, United States, U.S, Beijing, San Francisco

☆ Netanyahu’s response to Schumer widens rift in US-Israeli relations
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

But the gulf in trust and goals between Israel and Hamas has thwarted hopes for a breakthrough for weeks. He’s opposing the people of Israel,” Netanyahu said. Despite a fearsome onslaught in Gaza, Hamas is far from defeated. Latest developments also raise the question of whether Schumer’s stinging criticism augurs a shift to more pressure on Netanyahu from Biden. We support Israel.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, CNN’s Dana Bash, Chuck Schumer –, –, Netanyahu, “, we’re, ” Netanyahu, ”, It’s, Sen, Schumer, he’s, castigate Schumer, snubbing, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Schumer’s, John Kirby, Netanyahu don’t, Kirby, they’ve, Ghazi Hamad, Al, Israel, …, Barack Obama, Donald Trump –, it’s, Republican Sen, Mike Rounds, Michael McCaul, acquiescing, Nancy Pelosi –, Israel –, “ Chuck Schumer’s, ” Pelosi Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Hamas, Union, Democratic, White, National Security Communications, ABC, Republican Party, GOP, Netanyahu’s Likud, Republican, Office, White House, Foreign, Fox, Texas Republican, Democratic Party ”, Israel, Former, California Democrat, World Health, Palestinian Authority Locations: Gaza, Washington, Israel, “ State, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Hamas, York, Rafah, ”, Arabiya, United States, Iran, Dakota, Texas, California

Speaker Mike Johnson told Republican senators during their closed-door retreat Wednesday that he was committed to finding a path ahead for Ukraine aid in the House of Representatives, a sign GOP senators took to mean that aid to the embattled country isn’t yet dead in Congress. McCaul said Johnson will put such a House foreign aid bill on the floor after the appropriations process is done. McCaul dismissed the concept of sending Ukraine aid through a discharge petition, saying he is “worried” about that approach, highlighting instead the REPO Act and formatting aid as a loan. “You know, it feels like Speaker Johnson makes up his strategy one or two days at a time. “Speaker Johnson doesn’t need to make up a new plan.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Sen, Markwayne Mullin, Johnson, wouldn’t, Michael McCaul, Ukraine –, Donald Trump, McCaul, ” McCaul, “ I’ve, Republican Sen, Lindsey Graham, ”, Roger Wicker of, “, ” “, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Thom Tillis, we’ve, Mitch McConnell, ” McConnell, “ We’ve, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy, Johnson doesn’t, that’s, CNN’s Morgan Rimmer Organizations: Republican, CNN, Republicans, House Foreign, Texas Republican, GOP, Senate Armed Services Committee, Kentucky Republican, Democratic, “, Senate, ” Republican Locations: Ukraine, Oklahoma, Texas, West Virginia, Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Israel, Taiwan, North Carolina, Russia, Connecticut, Arkansas

☆ Eyeing China, Senior US Lawmaker Vows to Back Funding for Pacific Islands
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

The Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Palau agreed to new 20-year funding programs with the United States last year under which Washington provides economic assistance, while gaining exclusive military access to strategic swaths of the Pacific that China covets. McCaul said he has advocated for a $900 million package for COFA, but was open to other numbers. The U.S. Senate this week passed a $95 billion foreign aid supplemental spending bill for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan that did not include the COFA funding. McCaul said he would work to ensure the money was included in whatever is voted on in the House, likely in mid-March. We're not just going to rubber-stamp the Senate supplemental," he said.

Persons: Michael McCaul, McCaul, Patricia Zengerle, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, U.S . House, Representatives Foreign, U.S, Christian Science Monitor, Federated, United, Washington, Free Association, Senate Locations: Pacific, China, Federated States, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

☆ Marjorie Taylor Greene would have a major role in DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas' impeachment trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is set for one of the highest profile roles of her short career. Greene would be one of 11 House impeachment managers if the chamber votes to impeach DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. House managers are responsible for formally presenting arguments to the Senate during a trial in which senators become akin to jurors. Sen. Lindsey Graham was one of the House managers for then-President Bill Clinton's trial. On Monday, Greene spent part of the day fighting with Rep. Jim McGovern, the top Democrat on the House rules committee.

Persons: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene, Alejandro Mayorkas, Mayorkas, —, Biden, Sen, Lindsey Graham, Bill Clinton's, Adam Schiff, Donald Trump's, Kevin McCarthy's, speakership, Hunter Biden, Jim McGovern, McGovern, Mark Green, Mike McCaul of, Andy Biggs of, Clay Higgins Lousiana, Ben Cline of, Michael Guest of, Andrew Garbarino, Pfluger, Harriet Hageman of, Laurel Lee Organizations: Service, Republican, GOP, Homeland, Senate, Republicans, Biden, California Democrat, House Democrats, Democrats, Twitter, House Homeland Security, House Foreign Affairs, Rep Locations: California, Washington, Mike McCaul of Texas, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Ben Cline of Virginia, New York, Texas, Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, Laurel Lee of Florida

US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies during a Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on October 31, 2023. WASHINGTON — Members of the House Homeland Security Committee are meeting Tuesday to discuss the Republican-led impeachment articles against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. House Republicans accuse Mayorkas and the Biden administration of disregarding federal laws on immigration and seek to make Mayorkas the second Cabinet official impeached in U.S. history. According to the first impeachment article set forth by House Republicans, Mayorkas "has willfully and systemically refused to comply with Federal immigration laws." The second impeachment article accuses him of breaching the "public trust" and "knowingly" obstructing "lawful oversight of the Department of Homeland Security."

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Mayorkas, Biden, systemically, Mark Green, Donald Trump, Green, Mayorkas's, Bennie Thompson, Thompson, —, Michael McCaul, Marjorie Taylor Greene, … We're, MAGA, Dan Goldman, Goldman, Joe Biden, President Trump, Glenn Ivey, impeaching, I've, Don Bacon, Nick LaLota, He's, … He's, LaLota, — Rebecca Kaplan Organizations: Homeland, Senate Homeland Security, Government, Capitol, WASHINGTON —, House Homeland Security, Republican, Republicans, House Republicans, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security, Rep, Congress, United, Constitution, Mayorkas, DHS, Democrats Locations: Washington ,, U.S, Texas, D, New York, Cuba

The Homeland Security Committee is scheduled to vote Tuesday on two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas, a former federal prosecutor, as border security becomes a top issue in the 2024 elections. Trump, on the campaign trail and in private talks, has tried to squelch the Senate’s border security deal. “He has what’s coming to him.”The House impeachment hearings against Mayorkas sprinted ahead in January while the Republicans’ impeachment inquiry into Biden over the business dealings over his son, Hunter Biden, dragged. “House Republicans have produced no evidence that Secretary Mayorkas has committed an impeachable offense,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. If the House does agree to impeach Mayorkas, the charges would next to go the Senate for a trial.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Biden, Mayorkas, Donald Trump's, Mike Johnson, “, Trump, Joe Biden, ” Mayorkas, Mark Green of, —, Mayorkas “, ”, Michael McCaul, Hunter Biden, Hakeem Jeffries, Jeffries, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene, William Belknap Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Republicans, impeaching Homeland, Homeland Security, GOP, Mayorkas, Senate, Republican, Trump, House Foreign Affairs Committee, Democratic, Rep Locations: U.S, Mexico, Las Vegas, South Carolina, Mark Green of Tennessee, Cuba, Texas, New York

☆ Reaction to Drone Strike on US Troops in Jordan
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three U.S. service members were killed and as many as 34 wounded, United States officials said on Sunday, after a drone attack in Jordan that they linked to Iranian-backed militants. REPUBLICAN FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP"The drone attack on a U.S. Military Installation in Jordan, killing 3 American service members, and wounding many more, marks a horrible day for America ... This brazen attack on the United States is yet another horrific and tragic consequence of Joe Biden's weakness and surrender." MITCH MCCONNELL, US SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER"Last night, the cost of failure to deter America's adversaries was again measured in American lives. CHUCK SCHUMER, US SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER"We mourn the deaths of the three service members killed by a drone attack in Jordan from an Iran-backed militant group.

Persons: JOE BIDEN, DONALD TRUMP, Joe Biden's, LLOYD AUSTIN, MICHAEL MCCAUL, MITCH MCCONNELL, CHUCK SCHUMER, HAKEEM JEFFRIES, Jordan, ISRAEL KATZ, ROGER WICKER, Biden, JACKY ROSEN, Susan Heavey, Kanishka Singh, Emily Rose, Hatem Maher, Heather Timmons, Matthew Lewis, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: WASHINGTON, United, DEMOCRATIC, REPUBLICAN, U.S, America, HOUSE, DEMOCRAT ON Locations: United States, Jordan, Iranian, Israel, Gaza, Iran, U.S, REPUBLICAN, Egypt, Hashemite Kingdom

Lawmakers have conveyed as much directly to the White House, a US official told CNN. Biden met with House and Senate lawmakers at the White House on Wednesday to outline what is at stake for Ukraine. House Speaker Mike Johnson makes a statement alongside Reps. Mike Turner, Mike Rogers and Mike McCaul on January 17, outside the White House. Privately, some US and Western officials say there could be as many as five more years of fighting. In the near term, Ukraine may be able to hang on, albeit in a stalemate, without US support, a Western intelligence source said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Jake Sullivan, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Mike Johnson, I’ve, ‘, ’ ” Johnson, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, ”, ” Biden, Mike Turner, Mike Rogers, Mike McCaul, Samuel Corum, Donald Trump, Trump, Mike Quigley, CNN Max, “ He’s, Putin, outlast, “, Sen, Lindsey Graham, Michael McCaul, ” Said, Kostiantyn, don’t, Volodymyr Zelensky, Gitanas Nauseda, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ints Kalnins, ” Zelenskyy, ” Trump, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, frontloading Organizations: CNN, Ukraine, White, Pentagon, Defense, National Intelligence, White House, NATO, Republicans, Getty, Kyiv, ” Democratic, Administration, Trump, Republican, Biden, Ukrainian National Guard, Army Tactical Missile Systems, Reuters, Russian Central Bank Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan, Kyiv, Europe, Ukrainian, Kreminna, Donetsk Oblast, Moscow, Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Sevastopol, Melitopol, Vilnius, Lithuania, New York City, West

☆ Morning Bid: Treasuries on cusp of best month since 2008
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Let's start with Treasuries because, if this were sports, we'd be calling it a comeback for the ages. Now, with some encouraging hints from Fed officials, 10-year notes are poised to celebrate their best month since the 2008 global crash, with yields down 61 basis points for November so far. Yields on two-year paper are down 31 bps just this week, the steepest drop since the U.S. mini-banking crisis in March. The European Union has inflation data of its own later on Thursday and analysts suspect the risks are for a downside surprise following subdued readings from Germany and Spain. The dollar index looks set for its worst month since November last year, with a loss so far of 3.7%.

Persons: Kevin Lamarque, Wayne Cole, Let's, we'd, Governor Waller, dovishness, Powell, Williams, Lagarde, Greene, Governor Bunge, Edmund Klamann Organizations: U.S . Treasury, REUTERS, Fed New, European Union, China PMI, BoE Monetary, CPI, PPI, Chicago PMI, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Wayne, U.S, Germany, Spain, China, BoE, EU, Chicago

Search resuls for: "McCaul"

25 mentions found