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☆ My $500,000 Home Renovation Turned Into a Real-Estate Nightmare
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Christine Chitnis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

What was supposed to be a yearlong $140,000 renovation ballooned into three excruciating years that cost us more than $500,000 — and the work is still not finished. But as my husband and I soon discovered, unless you've made a plan, legal protections for homeowners are close to nonexistent. Every time our contractor turned up the temperature, we grimly adjusted to the reality of our demise. Knowing the cardinal rule of home renovation — never pay in full until the job is over and inspected — we grew suspicious. Despite completing several home-improvement and renovation projects with her husband over the years, she lacked the confidence to DIY the renovation of her newly purchased 6,500-square-foot home.

Persons: Arcadis, you've, Christine Chitnis, wasn't, It's, We've, Amanda Jane Jones, Jones, David Jensen, Greenberg Traurig, He'd, Jensen, Lisa DiAntonio, DiAntonio, hadn't, what's, Condé Organizations: Homeowners, Harvard's, for Housing Studies, Department of Business, American Institute of Architects, Vogue, The New York Times Locations: Rhode Island, North America, Northern Michigan, Michigan, Utah, New Jersey, Andover , Massachusetts

☆ Scammers stole more than $400,000 from a woman through an elaborate Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes scam: police
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Scammers reportedly tricked a woman into believing she won $3 million, then stole $400,000 from her. AdvertisementScammers in Florida tricked a woman into thinking she won $3 million, then stole $400,000 from her bank account. AdvertisementDuring Friday's press conference, Judd said the scammers targeted an elderly woman with early signs of dementia. They told her she won $3 million in a Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes, and that she needed to pay them taxes, Judd said. The Federal Trade Commission says the best way to spot a sweepstakes scam is to look at what the party offering the money asks you to do next.

Persons: Scammers, —, Michael Lawrence, Max Richards, Grady Judd, Lawrence, Richards, Judd, Polk Organizations: FTC, Service, Fox, Federal Trade Commission Locations: Florida, Polk County, Polk

☆ China sees foreign threats ‘everywhere’ as powerful spy agency takes center stage
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

But among the crowds you and I together are protecting national security,” the narrator concludes. Chinese soldiers look at a poster promoting national security in the southwestern city of Beihai on National Security Education Day on April 15, 2024. CFOTO/Future Publishing/Getty ImagesAccording to the MSS, foreign spies are omnipresent and infiltrating everything – from mapping apps to weather stations. But China’s spy agency has gradually stepped out of the shadows as Xi makes national security a key priority. “Shenyin Special Investigation Squad” is a comic series based on real-life counterespionage operations, according to China's spy agency.

Persons: –, “, ”, Xi, Xuezhi Guo, Sheena Chestnut Greitens, Xi Jinping, Greg Baker, Mao Zedong, Greitens, Chen Yixin, Chen, “ Chen, ” Greitens, Xi –, denigrate, Bain, Alex Plavevski, Guo, influencers, China’s, can’t, James Zimmerman, Perkins Coie, Zimmerman, ” Zimmerman Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, National Security Education, “, Ministry of State Security, National Security, Publishing, CIA, National, Education, Capitol, Guilford College, Asia, University of Texas, Getty, Communist Party, FBI, National Security Propaganda, CCTV, Ministry of State, China’s National Security Commission, Group, China Development Forum, Perkins Coie LLP, ”, MSS Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beihai, British, American, Beijing, Austin, AFP, Zhejiang province, Shanghai, New York, overreaching

☆ More than half of the US Air Force's B-2 stealth bombers just staged a mass fly-off
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

B-2 Spirit stealth bombers executed a mass fly-off earlier this week during a major exercise. AdvertisementMore than half of the US Air Force's B-2 Spirit stealth bombers conducted a large-scale exercise earlier this week, staging a massive fly-off. For a long time, it was the only stealth bomber in the world, but the US is making progress on a new stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider, which achieved its first flight in November last year. AdvertisementAs a penetrating strike stealth bomber, the B-21, the US military has said, is expected to "form the backbone of the future Air Force bomber force." A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing takes off at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., April 15, 2024.

Persons: —, Hailey Farrell, Northrop Grumman, Matthew S, Domingos Organizations: Whiteman Air Force Base, Service, US Air, 509th Bomb, . Air Force, Vigilance, Air Force, Northrop Locations: Mo, Missouri, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan

☆ FBI on alert for threats to the Jewish community ahead of Passover, director says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Josh Campbell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Federal law enforcement is on alert for any potential threats to the US Jewish community ahead of the start of the Passover holiday, FBI Director Christopher Wray told a group of nationwide security officials Wednesday. Speaking at an event hosted by the Secure Community Network, a Jewish community nonprofit safety and training organization, Wray said threats to the US Jewish community had already been elevated before Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, but the number of FBI hate crime cases tripled in the wake of the incident. The Jewish civil rights advocacy group tracked 8,873 antisemitic incidents in the United States in 2023 – the highest number of incidents reported since the organization began tracking data in 1979. “We’ve seen – since October 7 – a rogues’ gallery of foreign terrorist organizations call for attacks against the United States and our allies,” said Wray, including calls by global terrorist groups “to target Jewish communities both in the United States and Europe.”In addressing Jewish community security officials, Wray also called out state-sponsored threats. “After the last few days, in particular, the threat posed by Iran itself is very real,” he said.

Persons: Christopher Wray, “, –, ” Wray, Wray, ”, Michael Masters, “ We’ve, CNN’s Jack Forrest, Nicole Chavez Organizations: CNN, Secure Community Network, Defamation League, ” Locations: Israel, United States, Europe, Iran, Syria, “

☆ Opinion | Donald Trump and American Justice
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The former and possibly future president of the United States is now on trial in Lower Manhattan, the first criminal prosecution of an American elected to the nation’s highest office. Donald Trump, who relentlessly undermined the justice system while in office and since, is enjoying the same protections and guarantees of fairness and due process before the law that he sought to deny to others during his term. It may be the only one of the four criminal cases against the former president that comes to trial before the November election. Mr. Trump is no victim. A guiding principle of the American experiment is that the law applies to everyone equally.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump Locations: United States, Lower Manhattan

☆ Opinion: Skimpy Olympic uniforms for women are an outrage
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Opinion Danielle Campoamor | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Nike’s new Olympic outfit designs for the US women and men were revealed last week, and the track and field uniforms have rightly been met with intense criticism. Just look at what Caitlin Clark, Dawn Staley and this year’s women collegiate basketball players did for the NCAA. For the uninitiated, prior to the settlement the women were earning as little as 40% of what the men were paid, despite winning four World Cup championships. A woman, Simone Biles, is the most decorated gymnast of all time, winning an astounding 37 World and Olympic medals… and she’s not done competing. Instead, while male athletes are simply referred to as “athletes,” we are “women athletes” who must shave and trim, wax and pluck our way into the hearts and minds of… men.

Persons: Danielle Campoamor, CNN —, Danielle Campoamor Ashley Batz, Leslie Jones, Katie Moon, ” Katelyn Hutchison, ” Jaleen Roberts, ” Lauren Fleshman, “, Fleshman, Caitlin Clark, Dawn Staley, Simone Biles, —, I’m, ” Organizations: NBC, CNN, Olympics, Paris Games, NPR, Nike, Air, University of Kentucky, NCAA, US Soccer, Team USA, Go Locations: Paris

Katherine Moseby wanted to be clear: She does not hate cats. Very smart.”That was precisely the problem, said Dr. Moseby, the principal scientist and co-founder of Arid Recovery, a conservation nonprofit and wildlife reserve in South Australia. Cats are not native to Australia, but they have invaded nearly every corner of the country. But feral cats were absolutely out there, Dr. Moseby said, and they had a taste for the tiny, threatened marsupials that lived at Arid Recovery. Over the previous few nights, a “pest control contractor” — a robustly bearded sharpshooter equipped with an all-terrain vehicle and powerful spotlight — had been riding through the Arid Recovery reserve, shooting cats.

Persons: Katherine Moseby, Moseby, ”, — Organizations: University of New Locations: South Australia, Australia, University of New South Wales

☆ Nike says there are less-skimpy options for its Olympic outfits after athletes called them sexist
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Nike said it's just one of many options — and competitors will have access to tailoring. AdvertisementNike's new uniform for female track and field athletes at this year's Olympics may be a bit too skimpy for athletes, some of whom called the high-cut outfits sexist. But the sportswear brand said it's actually offering an array of choices for athletes — with tailoring options on hand at this year's games. Related storiesIt reignited a familiar debate on social media surrounding uniforms for female athletes. In addition to an array of choices, the company told BI it will have tailoring options for Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

Persons: it's, —, Lauren Fleshman, Tara Davis, Katie Moon, Anna Cockrell Organizations: Nike, Service, New York Times, Times, Olympic, Paralympic Locations: Paris, Woodhall

☆ How the Columbia disaster changed the future of spaceflight
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The CNN Original Series “Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight” uncovers the events that ultimately led to disaster. The tragedy killed seven astronauts as the Columbia shuttle disintegrated upon its return to Earth on February 1, 2003, due to damage the vehicle sustained during launch. Changes at NASA were necessary, according to a formal investigation about the Columbia disaster published six months after the accident. Cultural changes: ‘Safety days,’ review boards and round tablesColumbia marked the second deadly mishap for the shuttle program after the space shuttle Challenger exploded during launch in January 1986. Following the Columbia disaster, NASA grounded its remaining fleet of three shuttles as the space agency sought to parse what went wrong.

Persons: ”, “, ” Wayne Hale, Rick D, Evelyn Husband, Bill Readdy, Bruce Weaver, Hale, ” Hale, Garrett Reisman, ” Reisman, Ilan Ramon, Reisman, —, NASA didn’t, SpaceX’s, Kevin Dietsch Organizations: CNN, Shuttle Columbia, Sunday, Columbia, SpaceX, NASA, Space Shuttle Columbia, Kennedy Space Center, Getty, Endeavour, Atlantis, International Space, Elon, Boeing, Columbia —, Challenger, International Space Station, Vigilance, ” Locations: Russia, AFP, California, Israel, Columbia

☆ Egg prices are rising again. An outbreak of bird flu could make things worse
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington CNN —Egg prices have now been steadily rising for months, and your omelette could become even more expensive as poultry farms around the country deal with an outbreak of bird flu. While egg prices are down from a record $4.82 in January 2023 — after a widespread bird flu outbreak ravaged farms in the prior year — they’re now at the highest level since April 2023. Cal-Maine did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment on what the bird flu outbreak means for its egg prices. Bird flu has been detected at other farms across the country. Michigan’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development announced Tuesday that it found evidence of bird flu at a commercial poultry facility in Ionia County.

Persons: — they’re, Sid Miller, they’ve, “ Organizations: Washington CNN, Maine Foods, Cal, Michigan’s Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Companies, “ Cal Locations: Cal, Texas, Maine, Sunny, Ionia County, Texas , Kansas, Minnesota

☆ Knowing my husband's location was great. Then, I caught him in a lie and became obsessed with checking it constantly.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Carolyn Wynnack | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

I caught him in a lie and I became obsessed with tracking where he was. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementMy husband and I were married a little over seven years the first time either of us shared our location with the other. I became obsessed with tracking his locationWe vowed to rebuild our relationship, but I became obsessed with tracking his location, watching it — and him — religiously. Our marriage ended not long after, its demise not caused, but also not avoided, by the transparency offered by a shared location.

Persons: —, We'd Organizations: Service, Vigilance, Google Locations: Seattle, Arizona

☆ Nigerian Army Hunts for Kidnapped Students, Parents Seek Answers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( March | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

The source said the army's Kaduna-based One Division was leading the operation and "will soon have the bandits in their sights". "The security agencies and the state government are working tirelessly to ensure the freedom of all the abducted students and pupils. We are making progress," said Muhammad Shehu Lawal, a spokesperson for Kaduna state governor, without giving details. Photos You Should See View All 60 ImagesThe mass kidnapping last Thursday, the first since July 2021, shattered the dusty town of Kuriga, 90 km from Kaduna state capital, with parents waiting for answers from authorities. According to Lagos-based consultancy SBM Intelligence 4,500 people have been kidnapped throughout Nigeria since Tinubu took office last May.

Persons: Garba Muhammad, Hamza Ibrahim, Muhammad Shehu Lawal, Bola Tinubu, Bala Ibrahim, Ibrahim, Tinubu, Ikemesit Effiong, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Reuters, SBM Intelligence, Security Locations: Hamza Ibrahim KADUNA, Nigeria, Kaduna, Nigerian, Kuriga, Chibok, Borno, Niger, Birnin, Lagos

☆ A Doctor Approaches Covid Differently, Four Years After the Pandemic Began - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Daniela J. Lamas | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Walking through the intensive care unit is often a lesson in how much there is to fear. But now I am no longer afraid that the virus will leave me seriously ill, and the pandemic is a receding memory. Nearly four years after the World Health Organization’s declaration of a pandemic, the coronavirus is still with us. There is also the persistent threat of long Covid, the debilitating symptoms that can persist after an initial infection. On March 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began recommending that Americans with Covid no longer need to remain isolated for five days after falling sick.

Persons: Covid Organizations: Health, Centers for Disease Control, Prevention

☆ Educators teaching AI literacy to students should include ethics in their lesson plans, scholars say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Ngozi Nwanji | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

While some optimists focus on AI's benefits in education, others fear that using AI in classrooms could catalyze cheating and misinformation. This is where AI literacy can be useful. Created within the Stanford Graduate School of Education, CRAFT is a collaborative effort of Stanford education researchers, software developers, and curriculum developers. Lee also told BI that AI literacy in classrooms "should involve recognition of where AI can be effective and where it requires extra vigilance." He said the school also hopes to grow CRAFT's teacher codesign fellowship through which fellows develop AI literacy lessons.

Persons: —, OpenAI, Victor Lee, Lee, Matthew Ratz, Ratz, ChatGPT, Erin Reddick, who's, Reddick, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Organizations: Stanford, Service, Allied Market Research, Arizona State University, ASU, Stanford Graduate School of Education, Montgomery College, TED, Ratz, Houghton Locations: North America, Jasper, Houghton Mifflin

☆ Duke's 3-year fraud investigation into Dan Ariely has ended, and the star professor still has a job. Does he want it?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Kate Taylor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

For years, the Duke professor Dan Ariely was at the top of his game. Three professors behind the blog Data Colada reported evidence of fake data in a 2012 paper Ariely coauthored on honesty pledges. "When people do take a risk and they succeed, everybody enjoys it," Ariely told BI. In 2010, Ariely told NPR that two dentists examining the same teeth for cavities would agree only 50% of the time, citing research from Delta Dental. While the board originally said it would "unanimously stand in support of President Gay," Gay stepped down in early January in response to the backlash.

Persons: Dan Ariely, Dan Ariely's, Jesse L, Martin, Ariely, Duke, sniffed, they'd, James B, —, they're, Francesca Gino, Ariely's, Marc Tessier Lavigne, Claudine Gay, Prince Andrew ., he's, Brad Swain, He's, Gordon Pennycook, Sean Gallup, Nick Brown, who's, Michael Sanders, who'd, Sanders, Gino, Aimee Drolet Rossi, Rossi, she'd, Amir, wasn't, hasn't, I've, haven't, isn't, would've, Claudine Gay's, Andrew Lichtenstein, Bill Ackman, Gay, Harvard, doesn't, Gay should've, Brown, Cornell Watson, who've, wouldn't Organizations: Google, NBC, UCLA, Duke, Business, Harvard Business, TED, Irrational, Cornell, Getty, Burda, King's College London, New York Times, NPR, Delta Dental, Higher Education, Hartford, Ariely, Harvard, University, Universities, BI, Colorado's, King's College Locations: Buckingham Palace, British, Hartford, Gaza, Montana

☆ Opinion: The biggest potential danger from the Hur report is one no one’s talking about
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Opinion Gary Ross | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Over the past year, we’ve seen an alarming wave of current or former senior government officials who reportedly failed to properly safeguard classified information. The clearest threat is that our adversaries can more easily gain access to classified material and the sensitive information it contains. This increases the likelihood that an adversary would succeed in accessing any classified documents stored at these locations. Our adversaries are not the only ones observing how well we safeguard sensitive information. Finally, US intelligence community employees, bound by the same oath to safeguard classified information, may come to question the seriousness of their obligation.

Persons: Gary Ross, Ross, we’ve, Donald Trump’s Mar, Joe Biden, Mike Pence, Pence, Trump, Robert Hur’s, Biden, ” Organizations: Texas, Bush School ,, Department of Defense, Office, National Intelligence and Department of Homeland Security, Bush, CNN, Biden, Justice Department, Trump, of Justice, US, US Justice Department, Lago Club . US Department of Justice, CIA, Intelligence Service Locations: Bush School , Washington, DC, United States, Delaware

☆ Opinion: The Hur report points to a huge danger that one no one’s talking about
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Opinion Gary Ross | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Persons: Gary Ross, Ross, we’ve, Donald Trump’s Mar, Joe Biden, Mike Pence, Pence, Trump, Robert Hur’s, Biden, Hur, ” Organizations: Texas, Bush School ,, Department of Defense, Office, National Intelligence and Department of Homeland Security, Bush, CNN, Biden, Justice Department, Trump, of Justice, US, US Justice Department, Lago Club . US Department of Justice, CIA, Intelligence Service Locations: Bush School , Washington, DC, United States, Delaware

☆ I'm afraid of flying but travel anyway. Here are 3 things that help combat my aerophobia.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Milena Nigam | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

For 30 years, however, I've suffered from a severe fear of flying. I did so many things before flyingThe strategies I used to depend on were based on manufacturing control over things out of my control. Here are 3 things that have helped me control my fear of flyingFriends and family like to list statistics for me. I know flying is safer than driving. When the plane bounces through turbulent air, I tell myself, "I feel scared, but what I'm doing is actually very safe."

Persons: —, I've, It's, I'd, what's, lightheaded, Imodium, They've Organizations: Service Locations: California , Montana, Massachusetts, India, Pittsburgh, Boston

Trump is aiming to wrest control of the RNC by muscling Whatley through in an orchestrated ouster of the organization's current chair, Ronna McDaniel. Yet for much of his professional life, Whatley's political sensibilities appeared to align far more closely with the party’s mainstream and corporate establishment. Later, he clerked for a federal judge in North Carolina before departing for Washington as Bush campaigned for the presidency. And a lot of people in North Carolina don’t think he was elected fair,” said Anderson Clayton, chairwoman of the North Carolina Democratic Party. Art Pope, a North Carolina businessman and major conservative donor, said Whatley was well-equipped to lead the organization.

Persons: Michael Whatley, Donald Trump zeroed, Whatley, Trump, George W, Bush, “, ”, John Kane Jr, MAGA, muscling Whatley, Ronna McDaniel, Joe Biden, Sigal Chattah, Whatley's, Jesse Helms, ” Whatley, Sen, Elizabeth Dole, HBW, Anderson Clayton, Pope, Donald Trump's Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican National Committee, North, North Carolina GOP, longtime Washington, RNC, Trump, McDaniel’s, Watauga High School, Notre Dame, Republicans, Conservative Political, Department of Energy, North Carolina Republican, Patriot, Resources, Keystone XL, U.S, Consumer Energy Alliance, Chevron, ExxonMobil, British Petroleum, North Carolina Republican Party, Republican Party, North Carolina Democratic Party, Democratic National Committee, Republican National Locations: North Carolina, Whatley's, Nevada, Notre, Washington, Broward County , Florida, Bush's, Alberta, Canada, Ohio , Wisconsin, South Carolina, Carolina

☆ North Korea Fires Multiple Cruise Missiles off Its East Coast -South Korea Military
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea fired multiple cruise missiles off its east coast on Wednesday, South Korea's military said. The missiles were launched about 9 a.m. Wednesday (0000 Tuesday GMT) off the eastern coastal city of Wonsan, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. "While strengthening surveillance and vigilance, our military is cooperating closely with the United States and closely monitoring additional signs and activities from North Korea," the JCS said in a statement. (Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Gerry Doyle)Photos You Should See View All 22 Images

Persons: Hyonhee Shin, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Joint Chiefs of Staff Locations: SEOUL, North Korea, Wonsan, United States

☆ Biden officials confront limits of federal response in exercise preparing for 2024 election threats
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Carolyn Kaster/AP/FileUS national security officials have to weigh whether publicly calling attention to disinformation might inadvertently amplify the very message they’re trying to bat down. In both scenarios, federal officials favored a muted public response, largely choosing to let state and local governments take the lead. State and local officials run elections and are more trusted voices in their communities, but how can federal officials act decisively to support them? “It’s a trick box,” said Adam Hickey, who worked on election security issues for the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “[W]e prioritize tabletop exercises that integrate the range of cyber, physical, and operational threats election officials may encounter,” Conley said in a statement to CNN.

Persons: “, ”, —, Carolyn Kaster, there’s, Biden, Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, Joe Biden, deepfakes, ” Sen, Mark Warner, Kevin Dietsch, Francisco Aguilar, ” Aguilar, Donald Trump’s, Adam Hickey, Hickey, Cait Conley, DHS’s, ” Conley, –, ” CNN’s Evan Perez, Natasha Bertrand, Donie O’Sullivan, Katie Bo Lillis Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, Biden White, Jeffersonville Masonic, New Hampshire, Foreign Ministry, ”, Senate, Committee, White, Senate Intelligence, Virginia Democrat, Republican, Trump, Capitol, Justice Department’s National Security, “, Justice Department, Department of Homeland, National Security Council, US Army, DHS’s Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Security Agency Locations: China, Jeffersonville, Jeffersonville , Ohio, American, Woodside , California, Nevada, Russia, Iran, Russian, Iranian

☆ Wray’s stunning warning points to a new age of US vulnerability
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“The CCP’s dangerous actions, China’s multi-pronged assault on our national and economic security, make it the defining threat of our generation,” Wray said. Xi promised Biden China wouldn’t interfere in the 2024 presidential election at that meeting, CNN reported exclusively this week. The high-level diplomatic contacts continued last week when national security adviser Jake Sullivan met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Bangkok. “This is the cyberspace equivalent of placing bombs on American bridges, water treatment facilities and power plants,” he said. “If you have a cyberattack on that sort of technology, it could affect all signals at once,” Geddes said.

Persons: Christopher Wray, Rick Geddes, ”, Wray, Xi, ” Wray, Joe Biden, Biden, Biden China wouldn’t, Jake Sullivan, Wang Yi, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Mike Gallagher of, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Paul Nakasone, Gallagher, Geddes, ” Geddes Organizations: CNN, Cornell, Chinese Communist Party, Communist Party, CCP, South China, –, Capitol, Republican, Democrat, US Cyber Command, “ Locations: Washington, Beijing, United States, China, Taiwan, South, Xi Jinping’s China, California, Biden China, Bangkok, Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, Illinois

☆ FBI director warns that Chinese hackers are preparing to ‘wreak havoc’ on US critical infrastructure
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Hannah Rabinowitz | Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —FBI Director Christopher Wray on Wednesday warned that Chinese hackers are preparing to “wreak havoc and cause real-world harm” to the US. Chinese government-backed hackers, Wray said, are targeting things like water treatment plants, electrical infrastructure and oil and natural gas pipelines, Wray said. The Chinese hackers are working “to find and prepare to destroy or degrade the civilian critical infrastructure that keeps us safe and prosperous,” Wray said. The hearing comes in the wake of a big push by US and Chinese officials to ease tensions in the relationship between the two superpowers. We have made it easy on them,” Jen Easterly, who leads the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, told lawmakers.

Persons: Christopher Wray, “, ” Wray, Wray, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Xi, “ China’s, Jen, Paul Nakasone, ” Nakasone, CNN’s Evan Perez Organizations: CNN, Chinese Communist Party, National Security Agency, Infrastructure Security Agency, FBI, Justice Department Locations: China, Taiwan, America

☆ Is It Safe to Travel to the Bahamas? Here’s What You Need to Know.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Shannon Sims | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Drawn by clear turquoise waters and miles of white-sand beaches, around seven million travelers visit the Bahamas each year, but a new warning about increased violence on the island nation has raised alarm over the safety of visiting there. On Jan. 24, the U.S. Embassy in Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, issued a security alert advising U.S. citizens “to be aware that 18 murders have occurred in Nassau since the beginning of 2024. On Jan. 26, the State Department issued a travel advisory increasing the Bahamas’ security risk assessment from Level 1 (“Exercise normal precautions”) to Level 2 (“Exercise increased caution”). Many tourism-reliant countries, including Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, currently have Level 2 warnings, and most travelers experience safe and enjoyable vacations. The tourism industry in the Bahamas contributes around 70 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, and employs half the country’s work force.

Persons: “ Organizations: U.S, Embassy, State Department, U.S . Department of Commerce Locations: Bahamas, Nassau, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic

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