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☆ Trump has reportedly pardoned his former chief strategist Steve Bannon
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-20 | by ( Julie Gerstein | Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com + 0.00 time to read: +4 min

President Donald Trump has pardoned his former campaign CEO and chief strategist Steve Bannon, The New York Times reported. President Donald Trump has pardoned his former White House chief strategist and campaign CEO Steve Bannon, The New York Times reported late Tuesday, citing White House officials. Sources told The Times Trump added Bannon to his list of executive clemency grants at the "last minute." After the election, Bannon was named chief strategist and senior counselor to the president, a role he held for eight months. Bannon, meanwhile, joins a long list of Trump allies who have received pardons and commutations under this president's White House tenure.

Persons: Donald Trump, Steve Bannon, Bannon, Trump, Times Trump, Trump's, Breitbart, Brian Kolfage, Andrew Badolato, Timothy Shea, Audrey Strauss, schemed, Guo Wengui, Anthony Fauci, Christopher Wray, Joe Biden, It's Organizations: The New York Times, White House, White, Times, Trump, Prosecutors, Manhattan, Twitter, National, of Allergy, Infectious, Bloomberg, Capitol, House Democrats, Department Locations: Italy, Mexico, United States, Westbrook , Connecticut

☆ Trump issues pardons and commutations in a final wave of executive clemency grants before leaving office
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-20 | by ( Sonam Sheth | Lauren Frias | ) www.businessinsider.com + 0.00 time to read: +5 min

President Trump issued pardons and commutations on Tuesday as one of his final actions in office. President Donald Trump issued a slow trickle of pardons and commutations late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, as one of his final acts before he leaves office on Wednesday. Names on the list included:George Papadopoulos, a former Trump campaign foreign policy aide who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in the Mueller probe. Alex van der Zwaan, a Dutch lawyer who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in the Mueller probe. Former Republican congressman Chris Collins, who pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI and conspiring to commit securities fraudFormer Republican congressman Duncan Hunter and his wife, Margaret, who pleaded guilty to misusing campaign funds.

Persons: Trump, commutations, Donald Trump, Ivanka, Jared Kushner, Department's, Steve Bannon, Kwame Kilpatrick, Lil Wayne, Elliott Broidy, Mark Holden, Alice Johnson, George Papadopoulos, Mueller, Alex van der, Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Charles Kushner, Jared's, Steve Stockman, Chris Collins, Duncan Hunter, Margaret, Michael Flynn Organizations: Washington Post, The New York Times, The New York Times Former Detroit, Reuters, RNC, The, The Times, Koch Industries, White House, CNN, Trump, FBI, Republican, Federal, Commission, Former Republican, Blackwater, Border Patrol, Justice Department, Fox News, America Locations: The Washington, Dutch, Baghdad's

☆ 11 members of the Gambino crime family pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and obstruction of justice
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-20 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com + 0.00 time to read: +5 min

Members of the Gambino crime family pleaded guilty to money laundering and wire fraud, the DOJ said. 11 members of the Gambino organized crime family recently pleaded guilty to a bevy of crimes including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and obstruction of justice, according to the Department of Justice. The Gambino crime family is one-fifth of the "five families" of New York's Italian-American mafia, also known as "La Cosa Nostra." Prior to Campos and Fiore's pleas, another nine members of the Gambino crime family pleaded guilty in federal court. Prosecutors have yet to sentence Simonlacaj and members of the Gambino crime family.

Persons: Gambino, Andrew Campos, Vincent Fiore, Campos, Fiore's, Fiore, John Simonlacaj, Seth D, Richard Martino, Martino, Frank, Renato, Ronny, Barca, Jr, Department of Labor Andrew Campos, George Campos, Department of Labor James Ciaccia, Department of Labor Carlos Cobos, Sr, Benito, Benny, Dizenzo, Mark, Michael, Perkins, Tarul, Department of Labor John, John Si, Smiley, Simonlacaj, Francesco, Franky Boy, Cali, Anthony Comello, Francesco Cali, Cobos, DiZenzo, Kocaj, Frank Tarul, Michael Tarul Organizations: DOJ, CWC, Corp, Department of Justice, Cosa Nostra, U.S ., of, Department of Labor, Prosecutors, Barca Locations: Cosa, Eastern, of New York, Staten Island, Cali

☆ Dry, warm weather fuels unusual January fires in Northern California
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-19 | by ( Alicia Victoria Lozano | Alicia Victoria Lozano Is A Los Angeles-Based Digital Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com + 0.00 time to read: +4 min

High winds, dry vegetation and unseasonably warm weather fueled several wildfires in Northern California on Tuesday as hundreds of residents were forced to evacuate, state fire officials said. One of the two new wildfire starts in Santa Cruz County this morning visible on the Mt. The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported at least a dozen fires in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties over the last 24 hours. In the first few weeks of 2021, California has recorded 71 vegetation fires compared to 39 this time last year, according to Cal Fire. The five-year average for this time of year is 45 fires, Sanchez said.

Persons: Issac Sanchez, We've, Sanchez, hite, arkin Organizations: NBC Bay, Facebook, California Department of Forestry, Cal Fire, Santa Cruz Sentinel, of Water Resources, National Weather Service, Oakland Locations: Northern California, Santa Cruz County, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Santa, California, Sierra Nevada, Southern California, San Francisco

☆ N.Y.C. now largest U.S. city to grant LGBTQ businesses access to minority contracts
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-19 | by ( Dan Avery | ) www.nbcnews.com + 0.00 time to read: +5 min

New York City now recognizes LGBTQ-owned companies as minority-owned businesses, making them eligible for billions in city contracts, as well as access to consulting, mentorship, educational programs and other resources. “New York City has a legacy of leadership in promoting inclusivity at every level of public life,” Justin Nelson, the chamber’s president, said in a statement. The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, commonly referred to as NGLCC, said its members alone contributed more than $1.15 billion to the economy in 2015. In 2015, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio set a 10-year goal to award $25 billion in city contracts to minority-owned businesses by 2025. “The LGBT business community is a stimulus to the American economy,” Torres, now a U.S. senator, told reporters at the time.

Persons: ” Justin Nelson, Bill de Blasio, Jonathan Lovitz, ”, Councilmember Ritchie Torres, ” Torres, Corey Johnson, Torres ’, Councilmember Daniel Dromm, ” Dromm, “, ” Lovitz, Obama, Biden, Elizabeth Bibi Organizations: New York City’s Department of Small Business Services, National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Business Enterprise, “, Philadelphia, LGBT Chamber of Commerce, NBC News, Small Business Services, Yorkers, Human Rights, PSB Research, ” HRC, NBC, Twitter, Facebook Locations: York City, New, inclusivity, New York City, ” New York, Chicago, Baltimore, Los Angeles, Nashville , Tennessee, California , Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, United States, America, U.S, Asian Pacific, American, New York

☆ NYPD commissioner defends police response at MLK march
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-19 | by ( Janelle Griffith | Janelle Griffith Is A National Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com + 0.00 time to read: +4 min

James' lawsuit includes dozens of examples of alleged misconduct during the demonstrations after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. Videos posted to social media showed people clashing with police at a march that began at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. NYPD attacking protesters at City Hall Park pic.twitter.com/BHtH76kyde — Isabelle Leyva (@isabelle_leyva) January 19, 2021Police Commissioner Dermot Shea defended the police response in an interview with the news channel NY1. "When you march from Brooklyn over a bridge, you try to shut down the traffic on the bridge," he said Tuesday. The protesters crossed the roadway and headed into the public area of City Hall Park, she said in an interview Tuesday.

Persons: Martin Luther King Jr, Letitia James, James, George Floyd, Dr, King, BHtH76kyde — Isabelle Leyva, Dermot Shea, Shea, ”, Isabelle Leyva, Leyva Organizations: New York City Police Department, Barclays Center, Protesters, City, NY1, AG, New York City, Twitter, Brooklyn, City Hall Park, Riot Locations: Minneapolis, Brooklyn, we're, New York, Manhattan, City Hall

☆ After Trump, Biden pick of Gen. Lloyd Austin is exactly who's needed to revive the Pentagon
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-19 | by ( Larry R. Ellis | Larry R. Ellis Is A Retired U.S. Army General Who Served As The Commander Of The U.S. Armed Forces Command Following His Assignment As The Deputy Chief Of Staff For Operations | Plans Of The Department Of The Army. | ) www.nbcnews.com + 0.00 time to read: +6 min

Why all the fuss about the confirmation of retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin as President-elect Joe Biden’s choice for secretary of defense? Austin retired in 2016; therefore, he needs a waiver to serve as secretary. That is why I’m proud to support Austin’s nomination for defense secretary. Negotiation within the confines of civilian leadership is an essential part of the process. He has spent his career working with foreign governments and civilians; he obviously comprehends the principle of civilian military control expressed in our founding documents.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Joe Biden’s, Austin, Austin —, Donald Trump’s, Mark Milley, CENTCOM, Austin doesn’t Organizations: Congress, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 82nd Airborne Division, Mountain Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, Joint Staff, Army, U.S . Central Command, Islamic State, Austin Locations: Austin, Iraq, East, U.S, Russia, China, Iran, America

☆ Tyson Foods settles more of chicken price-fixing litigation
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-19 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Tyson Foods Inc agreed to settle price-fixing litigation by consumers who accused it of illegally conspiring to inflate prices in the $65 billion chicken industry. It came eight days after Tyson agreed to settle related antitrust claims by purchasers who bought chickens directly from the Springdale, Arkansas-based company. Pilgrim’s Pride Corp, owned mainly by Brazil’s JBS SA, agreed on Jan. 11 to pay $75 million to settle claims by direct purchasers of chickens. A few smaller producers have settled related claims. The case is In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, No.

Persons: Lucas Jackson, Tyson, Brazil’s Organizations: Reuters, Tyson Foods Inc, REUTERS, Kroger Co, Walmart Inc, Pilgrim’s Pride Corp, Brazil’s JBS SA, Perdue Farms Inc, Sanderson Farms, U.S . Department of Justice, Antitrust Litigation, Court, Northern District of Locations: New York, Chicago, Springdale , Arkansas, Denver, Northern District, Northern District of Illinois

☆ Democrat Wyden wants Thursday vote on Yellen as U.S. Treasury secretary
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-19 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com + 0.99 time to read: 1 min

Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) speaks during a Senate Finance Committee hearing to examine the expected nomination of Janet Yellen to be Secretary of the Treasury on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 19, 2021. Andrew Harnik/Pool via REUTERSWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senator Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, said he would push for a Thursday vote to confirm former Fed Chair Janet Yellen as the next Treasury secretary. “As we continue to deal with the worst economic crisis in a century, it’s critically important that she be leading the Treasury Department as soon as possible,” Wyden said in a statement on Tuesday after Yellen’s confirmation hearing.

Persons: Ron Wyden, Janet Yellen, Andrew Harnik, ” Wyden Organizations: Treasury, Capitol, REUTERS WASHINGTON, U.S . Senate Finance, Treasury Department Locations: Washington , U.S

☆ After Trump 'onslaught': What LGBTQ advocates want from Biden's first 100 days
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-19 | by ( Jo Yurcaba | Jo Yurcaba Is An Associate Editor At Nbc Out. | ) www.nbcnews.com + 0.00 time to read: +11 min

“On my mortgage, I had to put the wrong gender, because they wouldn't let me select my actual gender,” Box told NBC News. LGBTQ people and advocates are gearing up to hold Biden to his promises in the first 100 days of his presidency. Others want him to immediately undo the ban on transgender people serving in the military and a variety of other Trump administration policies that rolled back protections for LGBTQ people. For instance, the Trump administration removed references to LGBTQ people from federal agency websites. “All of these steps that have been taken by the Trump administration were really focused on effectively erasing LGBTQ people, trying to suggest that LGBTQ people don't exist,” David said.

Persons: “, “ I've, it's, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Trump, Mitch McConnell, ” Mara Keisling, McConnell, ”, Alphonso David, ’, ” David, ” Keisling, Heather McNama, Nyman, Nancy Nyman, Nancy Nyman Nancy Nyman, David, Kamal Fizazi, Fizazi, Bostock, VII, Keisling, they're, ‘ Organizations: NBC News, Democratic, Republican, Democrats, White House, American Civil Liberties Union, Democrat, National Center, Trans, Human Rights, of Housing, Urban Development, of Health, Human, Department of Health, Human Services, Human Rights Watch, Trump, Biden, Civil, Obama, Trans Lifeline, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Dallas, Texas, U.S, America, Ky, Los Angeles, New York City, Africa, East, Southeast Asia, United States, Clayton County , Georgia

☆ UPDATE 1-Treasury nominee Yellen says markets should determine value of dollar
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-19 | by ( Andrea Shalal | David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +2 min

“I believe in market-determined exchange rates. The value of the U.S. dollar and other currencies should be determined by markets,” said Yellen, former chair of the Federal Reserve. Yellen did not endorse a strong dollar on Tuesday. Yellen also gave no examples of countries that she believed were manipulating their currencies. The Treasury also added India, Thailand and Taiwan to a list of trading partners it says may be deliberately devaluing their currencies against the dollar.

Persons: Jan, Janet Yellen, Joe Biden’s, ” Yellen, “, ”, Yellen, Donald Trump, Biden, Andrea Shalal, David Lawder, Chizu Nomiyama, Sonya Hepinstall Organizations: Treasury, U.S ., Federal Reserve, Senate Finance, Treasury Department Locations: WASHINGTON, U.S, United States, Switzerland, Vietnam, India, Thailand, Taiwan, China

☆ Anonymous donor gifts $40 million for 50 future civil rights lawyers
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-19 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com + 0.00 time to read: +4 min

ATLANTA — The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund launched a $40 million scholarship program on Monday to support a new generation of civil rights lawyers, dedicated to pursuing racial justice across the South. With that whopping gift from a single anonymous donor, the fund plans to put 50 students through law schools around the country. In return, they must commit to eight years of racial justice work in the South, starting with a two-year post-graduate fellowship in a civil rights organization. “The donor came to us,” said Sherrilyn Ifill, president of the Legal Defense and Educational Fund. “The donor very much wanted to support the development of civil rights lawyers in the South.

Persons: ”, Sherrilyn Ifill, Thurgood Marshall, ” Ifill, Martin Luther King Day, Constance Baker Motley, Brown, Bernice King, “, Janai Nelson, Nelson, Cecilia Marshall, Joel Motley, he's, litigators ” Organizations: ATLANTA, NAACP Legal Defense, Educational Fund, Legal Defense, Marshall, Columbia University Law School, of, Justice Department, of Education, Facebook, Twitter Locations: New York, Washington, Atlanta, “

☆ Biden's choice for U.S. homeland security chief pledges to confront 'domestic extremism'
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-19 | by ( Mica Rosenberg | Kristina Cooke | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

Slideshow ( 5 images )“The threat of domestic extremism is one of the greatest challenges that the Department of Homeland Security confronts,” Mayorkas told the Senate Homeland Security Committee in a confirmation hearing before Biden is set to take office on Wednesday. One of the first major challenges for Mayorkas would be delivering on Biden’s promises to reverse many of the restrictionist immigration policies put in place by Trump. He also faces the prospect of thousands of migrants traveling in caravans through Central America arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border. He highlighted his heritage as a Cuban immigrant in his opening statement to the Senate committee. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency under Obama.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Alejandro Mayorkas, ” Mayorkas, Biden, Mayorkas, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, ”, “ Organizations: YORK, U.S . Department of Homeland Security, U.S . Congress, Department of Homeland, Senate Homeland Security, Department of Homeland Security, U.S . Capitol, Republicans, Trump, Central America, Immigration, Customs Enforcement, ICE, U.S . Citizenship, Immigration Services, Obama Locations: Central, U.S, Mexico, United States, Cuban, California

☆ Police investigating nooses found at Illinois school over MLK Jr. weekend as possible hate crime
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-19 | by ( Doha Madani | Doha Madani Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +1 min

Authorities are looking at two nooses found at an Illinois high school over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend as a potential hate crime. The nooses were hanging from metal bleachers at an outdoor field at the York Community High School, the Elmhurst Police Department said Monday in a statement. “The adults removed the ropes themselves and took them away with the intent to give them to school administrators later,” the department said. “School Administrators were contacted on Monday and informed Elmhurst Police Investigators.”Two messages were placed on the ropes with tape, police said. Please!”Monday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday created to celebrate the slain civil rights leader's work to end racial segregation and promote equality for all Americans.

Persons: Martin Luther King Jr Organizations: York Community High School, Elmhurst Police Department, “, Elmhurst Police Investigators, NBC Locations: Illinois, Elmhurst, City

☆ Oath Keepers militia members arrested for role in U.S. Capitol siege
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-19 | by ( Sarah N. Lynch | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Virginia man with an apparent leadership role in the far-right militia group known as the “Oath Keepers” was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly “planning and coordinating” the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol, the Justice Department said. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File PhotoThomas Edward Caldwell, 65, of Clarke County, Virginia, is one of several members of the Oath Keepers named in a criminal complaint as having participated in the Capitol riots by President Donald Trump’s supporters. Other affiliates of the Oath Keepers group who were charged include Jessica Watkins, 38, of Champaign County, Ohio, who the criminal complaint said referred to herself on her Parler account as the “C.O. (commanding officer) of the Ohio State Regular Militia,” Donovan Ray Crowl, also of Ohio, and Jon Schaffer, a guitarist for the Indiana heavy metal band Iced Earth who was photographed during the riot wearing an Oath Keepers cap. Michael Sherwin, the top federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., has said he suspects hundreds will face charges in the investigation, which is unprecedented in size and scope.

Persons: ”, Shannon Stapleton, Thomas Edward Caldwell, Donald Trump’s, Jessica Watkins, ” Donovan Ray Crowl, Jon Schaffer, Schaffer, Caldwell, ” Watkins, Crowl, Watkins, “, President Trump, Michael Sherwin, Timothy Hale Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S . Capitol, Justice Department, Trump, Capitol, REUTERS, Ohio State Regular Militia, Indiana, Southern Poverty Law Center, ”, Southern, Southern District of Ohio, FBI, Washington , D.C, Cusanelli, U.S . Army, Nazi, YouTube, Prosecutors Locations: Virginia, Clarke County , Virginia, Champaign County , Ohio, Ohio, Crowl, Washington, U.S, D.C, Southern District, Washington ,, New Jersey

☆ Explainer: How Biden could use his whole government to take on climate change
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-19 | by ( Valerie Volcovici | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +5 min

FILE PHOTO: Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden arrives to speak about modernizing infrastructure and his plans for tackling climate change during a campaign event in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., July 14, 2020. "Every agency is a climate agency now," said Sam Ricketts, co-founder of Evergreen Action, an advocacy group that advised Biden’s transition team on climate change. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYThe Energy Department will lead the charge on clean energy research and development programs, including advanced nuclear, fusion, battery and biofuel technology. "I think the Treasury Department is going to be a pretty big player on climate," said Christy Goldfuss, former White House Council on Environmental Quality under Obama who co-authored Climate 21, a roadmap for the Biden transition team to mobilize federal agencies to tackle climate change. Biden has also said in his climate plan that he will form an environmental and climate justice division within the DOJ to prioritize climate change and environmental justice.

Persons: Joe Biden, Leah Millis, Biden, Sam Ricketts, Donald Trump, Trump, Dodd, Frank Wall, Christy Goldfuss, Obama, ”, John King Jr, Kate Konschnik Organizations: WASHINGTON, Incoming U.S, Defense Department, Treasury, Democratic U.S, REUTERS, Democratic, Environmental Protection Agency, Evergreen, EPA, DEPARTMENT, Interior Department, Interior . DEPARTMENT OF, Energy Department, The Defense Department, Biden, TREASURY, Treasury Department, White House Council, Environmental, Agriculture Department, The Education Department, Obama . JUSTICE, The, Department, DOJ Locations: Wilmington , Delaware, U.S, United States

☆ Average U.S. air fares fall to lowest price after COVID-19 pandemic
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-19 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: 1 min

FILE PHOTO: A United Airlines passenger jet lands at Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey, U.S. December 6, 2019. REUTERS/Chris Helgren/File Photo/File PhotoWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Average U.S. airfare prices in the three months ending in September fell to the lowest inflation-adjusted price since the government began tracking the issue in 1995, the Transportation Department said Tuesday. The average ticket price was $245, down 30% over the same period in 2019 and down 7% over the second quarter, when average prices were $262 a ticket. Prices have declined as air demand has fallen sharply, especially for business travel. U.S. airlines reported 27 million passengers in the third quarter, down from 86 million passengers a year earlier.

Persons: Chris Helgren Organizations: United Airlines, Newark Liberty International Airport, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Transportation Department Locations: New Jersey, U.S

☆ In parting shot, Trump administration accuses China of 'genocide' against Uighurs
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-19 | by ( Humeyra Pamuk | David Brunnstrom | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +4 min

“I believe this genocide is ongoing, and that we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uighurs by the Chinese party-state,” Pompeo said in a statement. China has been widely condemned for its Xinjiang complexes, which it describes as “vocational training centers” to stamp out extremism. The rare U.S. determination follows intensive internal debate after Congress passed legislation on Dec. 27 requiring the U.S. administration to determine within 90 days if China had committed crimes against humanity or a genocide. Biden’s campaign declared, before the Nov. 3 U.S. election, that genocide was occurring in Xinjiang. Faith leaders, and activists have said crimes against humanity, including genocide, are taking place.

Persons: Trump, ”, Mike Pompeo, Joe Biden, Thomas Peter, Pompeo, “, ” Pompeo, Donald Trump’s, Daniel Russel, Biden, Barack Obama, Adrian Zenz Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, REUTERS, Chinese Communist Party, China’s, Asia, Biden, . Security, Faith, U.S . State Department, Islamic, Trump Locations: China, Xinjiang, Beijing, Huocheng County, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, U.S, Washington, ”, United States, Bosnia, Rwanda, Iraq, Darfur, Sudan, Myanmar

☆ Iran blacklists Trump, U.S. officials as his term nears end
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-19 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump tours medical equipment distributor Owens & Minor in Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S., May 14, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos BarriaDUBAI (Reuters) - Iran blacklisted U.S. President Donald Trump and several current and former senior U.S. officials on Tuesday over what it called “terrorist and anti-human rights” acts, a move widely regarded as symbolic. Tehran’s move, announced on the last full day of the Trump administration, allows the seizure of any assets in Iran of sanctioned individuals. Among officials sanctioned by Iran were Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; ex-Defense Secretary Mark Esper; Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the Foreign ministry said in a statement carried by state media. The officials were blacklisted “for their role in terrorist and anti-human rights activities against Iran and its citizens”, Foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said.

Persons: Donald Trump, Carlos Barria, Trump, Mike Pompeo, Mark Esper, Christopher Miller, Steven Mnuchin, Gina Haspel, John Bolton, Brian Hook, Elliott Abrams, Andrea Gacki, Saeed Khatibzadeh, Joe Biden Organizations: Owens, Minor, REUTERS, Carlos Barria DUBAI, Reuters, U.S, Central Intelligence, National Security, Treasury Department Locations: Allentown , Pennsylvania, U.S, Iran, United States, Venezuela, Washington

☆ U.S. blacklists oil traders, tankers for undermining Venezuela sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-19 | by ( Brian Ellsworth | Marianna Parraga | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +4 min

“Those facilitating the illegitimate Maduro regime’s attempts to circumvent United States sanctions contribute to the corruption that consumes Venezuela,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a news release. It said the “principal actors” were Alessandro Bazzoni, Francisco D’Agostino and Philipp Apikian, as well as oil trading firms including Elemento Ltd and Swissoil Trading SA. Washington first imposed sanctions on PDVSA limiting its oil sales in early 2019, which cut off its main destination for exports, the United States. The measure was followed last year by sanctions on two units of PDVSA’s main trading partner, Russia’s Rosneft, as well as shipping sanctions blacklisting tankers involved in the transportation. Venezuela’s information and oil ministries, PDVSA, Libre Abordo, Schlager and Elemento did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, regime’s, Steven Mnuchin, ”, Alessandro Bazzoni, Francisco D’Agostino, Philipp Apikian, Russia’s, Swissoil, Joaquin Leal Jimenez, Olga Maria Zepeda, Veronica Esparza, Elemento, Leal, Esparza, Tuesday’s, Tareck El, Alex Nain Saab Moran, El Aissami, Saab, Bazzoni, Apikian, Maximo, INEA Organizations: MEXICO CITY, U.S . Treasury Department, ”, Treasury, Foreign Assets Control, Elemento, Swissoil Trading SA, Washington, U.S . FBI, Schlager Business Group, Libre, Saab, PDVSA, Ship Management, Management Locations: CARACAS, MEXICO, United States, Venezuelan, Asia, American, Washington, Venezuela, Mexico, PDVSA, D’Agostino, Cape Verde ., Swissoil, Cape Verde, Ukraine, Sierra

The second impeachment of President Donald Trump has concluded, not with a bang, but with a whimper. What is needed, rather, is criminal prosecution. Trump previously suffered impeachment for deploying unlawful means to remain in power — using his office to leverage Ukraine to investigate then-Democratic opponent Joe Biden’s family. That impeachment did not deter Trump from abusing his power again, nor should we believe that this one will deter anyone else. By imposing a personal and direct punishment upon Trump, criminal prosecution will force future leaders to think twice about threatening that essential precondition of any functional republic: the peaceful transfer of power.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden’s, ”, “ you’ll, Rudy Giuliani, “ Let’s, Liz Cheney, Trump “, Fitzgerald, Laurence Tribe Organizations: Democratic, Electoral College, U.S, Supreme, Capitol, House Republican Conference, Trump, Nixon, . Department of, Harvard Law, Justice Department Locations: Ukraine, United States, Georgia, Washington, Wyoming

☆ U.S. imposes sanctions on Russian vessel helping to build Nord Stream 2 pipeline
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-19 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday slapped sanctions on a vessel helping to build the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to take Russian natural gas to Europe via Germany. The department said it imposed the sanctions on the Russian pipe-laying ship “Fortuna” and its owner, KVT-RUS, under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

Persons: Fortuna Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S . Treasury Department Locations: Europe, Germany, Fortuna ”, KVT

☆ U.S. imposes sanctions on Russian vessel involved with Nord Stream 2 pipeline
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-19 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.99 time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday imposed sanctions on a ship involved in building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to take Russian natural gas to Europe via Germany, as Washington seeks to raise pressure on the project on President Donald Trump’s last full day in office. The department said it imposed the sanctions on the Russian pipe-laying ship “Fortuna” and its owner, KVT-RUS, under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Nord Stream 2, designed to double the capacity of the existing Nord Stream undersea gas pipeline, would bypass Ukraine, depriving it of lucrative transit fees. U.S. President-elect Joe Biden has opposed Nord Stream 2 in the past, but it is unclear if he could compromise on the issue after taking office on Wednesday. “We’re taking note of the announcement with regret,” Germany’s Economy Ministry spokesman in Berlin said on Monday, after the United States gave it early word of the sanctions.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Fortuna, Joe Biden, “, Uniper Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S . Treasury Department, Ministry, United, Gazprom, Shell Locations: Europe, Germany, Washington, Fortuna ”, KVT, Nord, Ukraine, Moscow, United States, Berlin

☆ U.S. FTC chair says he will resign along with senior staff
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-19 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Joseph Simons testifies at Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the proposed budgets for the FCC and the FTC on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., May 7, 2019. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Federal Trade Commission Chairman Joseph Simons said on Tuesday that he would resign effective Jan. 29, along with members of his senior staff. The five-member FTC is also losing Democratic Commissioner Rohit Chopra, who has been nominated to head the Consumer Financial Protection Board. Under Simons’ tenure, the agency filed one of the several government antitrust lawsuits aimed at reining in Big Tech. The FTC’s lawsuit against Facebook, filed last month, accused the social media giant of seeking to either buy or crush smaller competitors.

Persons: Joseph Simons, Kilcoyne, Simons, Rohit Chopra, Rebecca Slaughter, Noah Phillips, Christine Wilson, Alden Abbott, Ian Conner, Andrew Smith, Andrew Sweeting, Bilal Sayyed Organizations: . Federal Trade Commission, FCC, FTC, Capitol, REUTERS, . Federal Trade, Democratic, Consumer Financial, Facebook, Democrat, of Consumer, Justice Department Locations: Washington , U.S, Kilcoyne WASHINGTON, Big Tech

☆ U.S. exempts aid groups from blacklisting of Yemen's Houthis
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-19 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.98 time to read: 1 min

FILE PHOTO: Houthi soldiers walk past the the U.S. embassy's gate following a demonstration against the United States over its decision to designate the Houthis a foreign terrorist organisation, in Sanaa, Yemen January 18, 2021. REUTERS/Khaled AbdullahWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has exempted various aid groups, including the United Nations and the Red Cross, from Yemen-related sanctions, according to a notice posted to the U.S. Department of Treasury website on Tuesday. The exemptions to the blacklisting of Yemen’s Houthis aim to allow aid groups to support humanitarian projects, democracy building, education and environmental protection, according to the notice.

Persons: Khaled Abdullah WASHINGTON Organizations: REUTERS, United, United Nations, U.S . Department of Treasury Locations: U.S, United States, Sanaa, Yemen

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