DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ As Social Security faces looming fund depletion, there's fierce debate over whether a commission can help
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

"A vote for a commission is a vote to cut Social Security," the man shouted before he was escorted off the floor. How the last major reforms, in 1983, came togetherPresident Ronald Reagan signs the Social Security Act Amendment into law on April 20, 1983. The changes involved taxes on Social Security benefits, increases to payroll tax rates, a future increase to the retirement age and a near-term postponement of cost-of-living adjustments. Social Security Commission Chairman Alan Greenspan, left, shakes hands with Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, prior to a Social Security hearing on Feb. 15, 1983. Lawmakers divided on best path forwardToday, lawmakers are divided on the best path forward to address Social Security.

Persons: —, Scott Peters, Peters, Bill Huizenga, Joe Manchin, Mitt Romney, — Rep, John Larson, Connecticut —, It's, " Larson, Larson, Nancy Altman, Ronald Reagan, Alan Greenspan, Greenspan, Jim Baker, Reagan, Tip O'Neill, Robert M, Ball, O'Neill, Sen, Charles Grassley, Bob Dole, John Danforth, Altman, Bruce D, Schobel, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, California —, they're, Hakeem Jeffries, Conn, Brian Higgins, Jimmy Gomez, Jeffries, Dan Kildee, Richard Neal, Tom Williams Organizations: iStock, Social, Social Security, AARP, CNBC, Rep, Democratic, Corbis, National Commission, Social Security Reform, Greenspan, Federal Reserve, House, White, Finance, Economic Policy Institute, Republican, Greenspan Commission, Senate Finance, Bettmann, Getty, Congress, Democratic House, White House, Democrats, Security, Capitol Visitor Center, CQ, Inc Locations: Sens, R, Utah, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Iowa, California, D

☆ Samsung faces probe after two chip workers exposed to radiation, authorities say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Samsung at the Mobile World Congress 2023 on March 2, 2023, in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images)South Korean authorities are investigating Samsung, after assessing that two workers at one of the tech giant's plants were exposed to radiation. The two patients, who are hospitalized, were showing "abnormal" symptoms of radiation exposure in their fingers, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission in South Korea said in a Google-translated statement on Wednesday. The prospective radiation exposure incident took place at Samsung's Giheung plant, which is around 25 miles south of the South Korean capital of Seoul. The exact cause of the radiation exposure is not known at this time, with the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission carrying out an ongoing probe.

Persons: Joan Cros Organizations: Samsung, Mobile, Getty Images, Nuclear Safety, Security Commission, CNBC Locations: Barcelona, Spain, South Korea, Samsung's, Seoul

☆ Chuck Schumer and bipartisan group of senators unveil plan to control AI – while investing billions of dollars in it
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

It also instructs multiple Senate committees to come up with guardrails for AI to address some of its biggest risks, such as AI-enabled discrimination, job displacement and election interference. “Harnessing the potential of AI demands an all-hands-on-deck approach and that’s exactly what our bipartisan AI working group has been leading,” Schumer said Wednesday. “This roadmap represents the most comprehensive and impactful bipartisan recommendations on artificial intelligence ever issued by the legislative branch,” Young said Wednesday. Schumer has described regulating artificial intelligence as a challenge for Congress unlike any other, vowing a swift timeline measured in months, not years. But policy analysts, and some congressional aides, doubt whether Congress can pass significant legislation regulating AI in an election year.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Schumer, ” Schumer, New Mexico Democratic Sen, Martin Heinrich, Republican Sens, Mike Rounds, Todd Young, ” Young, ” Organizations: CNN, European Union, National Security, Artificial Intelligence, New, New Mexico Democratic, Republican, South, Todd Young of Indiana, EU Locations: New York, New Mexico, South Dakota

☆ Social Security Administration to expand access to certain benefits through several upcoming changes
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Kate_sept2004 | E+ | Getty ImagesUpdates to definition of public-assistance householdThe agency on Thursday announced a new rule to expand the definition of a public-assistance household. Now, households that receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, payments and those where not all members receive public assistance will be included. "By simplifying our policies and including an additional program geared towards low-income families, such as the SNAP, we are removing significant barriers to accessing SSI," Social Security Commissioner Martin O'Malley said in a statement. SNAP is the first public income maintenance benefit to be added to the public-assistance household definition since 1980, according to the Social Security Administration. Other rule changes to help beneficiariesThe Social Security Administration is also working to address outdated practices through two other rules that are set to go into effect on Sept. 30.

Persons: Martin O'Malley, Darcy Milburn, Milburn, Brown Organizations: Assistance, SNAP, SSI, Social Security Administration, Social, Social Security, National Disability Institute, SSA

☆ Eric Schmidt shares 4 reasons why China is behind the US in AI
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt said the US is "way ahead of China" in AI development. Schmidt cited chip shortages and more English language material to train AI models. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementFormer Google CEO Eric Schmidt thinks the US is "way ahead of China" when it comes to AI. Following his departure, Schmidt has invested in various AI companies, including Anthropic.

Persons: Eric Schmidt, Schmidt, — Organizations: Google, Service, Bloomberg, Department of Defense's Innovation, National Security, Artificial Intelligence, Business Locations: China

☆ Eric Schmidt says China trails behind the US in AI for these 4 reasons
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Persons: Eric Schmidt, Schmidt, — Organizations: Google, Service, Bloomberg, Department of Defense's Innovation, National Security, Artificial Intelligence, Business Locations: China

☆ Social Security now expected to run short on funds in 2035, one year later than previously projected, Treasury says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Valerie Macon | Afp | Getty ImagesThe trust funds the Social Security Administration relies on to pay benefits are now projected to run out in 2035, one year later than previously projected, according to the annual trustees' report released on Monday. The Social Security trustees credited the slightly improved outlook to more people contributing to the program amid a strong economy, low unemployment and higher job and wage growth. "This year's report is a measure of good news for the millions of Americans who depend on Social Security, including the roughly 50% of seniors for whom Social Security is the difference between poverty and living in dignity — any potential benefit reduction event has been pushed off from 2034 to 2035," Social Security Commissioner Martin O'Malley said in a statement. What reports reveal about Social Security, MedicareSocial Security's new 2035 depletion date applies to its combined trust funds. The Medicare Hospital Insurance trust fund — used to fund Part A benefits — saw the biggest improvement in this year's trustees report.

Persons: Valerie Macon, Martin O'Malley, O'Malley, — Organizations: Social Security Administration, Afp, Getty, Social Security, Social, Medicare, Insurance Trust, Disability Insurance Trust, Medicare Hospital Insurance, Insurance Trust Fund, Department Locations: Burbank , California

☆ 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

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. lawmakers are raising alarms about what they see as America’s failure to compete with China in biotechnology, warning of the risks to U.S. national security and commercial interests. Bills have been introduced in the House and Senate to bar “foreign adversary biotech companies of concern” from doing business with federally funded medical providers. Photos You Should See View All 33 ImagesCritics of the legislation warn that restrictions on Chinese companies would impede advances that could bring a greater good. “It’s not just a supply chain battle or a national security battle or an economic security battle; I would submit it’s a moral and ethical battle,” Gallagher said. He said any restrictive U.S. measures should be tailored to address military concerns and concerns about genomic data security.

Persons: walling, ”, Abigail Coplin, Rachel King, Mike Gallagher, Gallagher, “ It’s, ” Gallagher, “ we’re, Biden, Tom Bollyky, Bollyky, Ray Yip, Yip, “, Anna Puglisi, Puglisi, ” Puglisi, BGI, WuXi AppTec, Dake Kang Organizations: WASHINGTON, — U.S, Biotechnology, Bills, Embassy, Biden, Vassar College, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, National Security Commission, Emerging Biotechnology, U.S . Senate, Chinese Communist Party, Wisconsin Republican, “, Bloomberg, Council, Foreign Relations, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Georgetown University’s Center for Security, Emerging, The Defense Department, Commerce Department, Associated Press Locations: China, U.S, ”, South China, Wisconsin, Boston, United States, WuXi, Beijing

☆ Germany's Scholz Asks Poland to Clarify Cash-For-Visas Affair
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday called on the Polish government to clarify allegations about a cash-for-visas deal for migrants that has roiled Polish politics, as a debate about immigration heats up in Germany. Arrivals to Poland could easily cross into other European Union countries given that borders are open. "The visa scandal that is taking place in Poland needs to be clarified," Scholz said on Saturday at an event. Scholz hinted that Germany could take steps to control the border with Poland. In recent years, Germany has already coped with floods of migrants and asylum seekers from Syria and Ukraine.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Nancy Faeser, Zbigniew Rau, Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, Andreas Rinke, Tom Sims, Clelia Oziel Organizations: BERLIN, Union, Polish, Home Affairs, EU Locations: Polish, Germany, Poland, Syria, Ukraine

☆ Germany's Scholz asks Poland to clarify cash-for-visas affair
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz addresses a ministerial level meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the crisis in Ukraine at U.N. headquarters in New York, September 20, 2023. Arrivals to Poland could easily cross into other European Union countries given that borders are open. "The visa scandal that is taking place in Poland needs to be clarified," Scholz said on Saturday at an event. Scholz hinted that Germany could take steps to control the border with Poland. In recent years, Germany has already coped with floods of migrants and asylum seekers from Syria and Ukraine.

Persons: Germany's, Olaf Scholz, Brendan McDermid, Scholz, Nancy Faeser, Zbigniew Rau, Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, Andreas Rinke, Tom Sims, Clelia Organizations: United Nations Security Council, REUTERS, Rights, Union, Polish, Home Affairs, EU, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, U.N, New York, Polish, Germany, Poland, Syria

Like his predecessors, Xi wields power through his control of the Communist Party, the military and the government. One-Man Party Xi overturned term limits, erased factions and installed loyalists to establish sweeping control of the Communist Party. When Xi first took power in 2012, few in the Politburo Standing Committee, the most powerful group in China, had close ties with him. Party leaders often set broad policy, and government ministries and agencies refined and implemented their goals, sending feedback to the leaders. You Are Being Watched The world’s biggest and most pervasive surveillance system ensures that nobody can easily challenge the power Xi has amassed.

Persons: Xi, Mao, Deng, –, Deng Xiaoping, Alibaba, Jack Ma Organizations: Communist Party, Man, Companies Locations: China

☆ Republicans and Democrats agree Social Security reform needs to happen. But they're divided on how
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Advocates for a bipartisan commission argue the approach may help smooth out the differences between the parties. But whether a bipartisan commission is the answer to Social Security's funding woes is the subject of fierce debate. Social Security benefit cuts unpopular, poll showszimmytws | iStock | Getty ImagesA new poll from Social Security Works and Data for Progress of 1,191 likely voters highlights one big concern about that approach — that it would require benefit cuts. 'It has to be done in a bipartisan way'Any changes to Social Security will require bipartisan agreement. "You don't want Social Security to become a partisan issue," said Bill Hoagland, senior vice president at the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Persons: Tom Cole, Jake LaTurner, Cole, Danielle Deiseroth, Nancy Altman, Altman, Bill Hoagland, Hoagland Organizations: Istock, Getty, Social Security Commission, Democrats, Social Security, iStock, Progress, actuaries, Greenspan, Center Locations: Kansas

☆ Xi Jinping says China's national security is faces a 'complex and grave' situation
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“The complexity and difficulty of the national security issues we now face have increased significantly,” Xi said Tuesday at a meeting of the party’s National Security Commission, state news agency Xinhua reported. Since coming to power a decade ago, Xi has made national security a key paradigm that permeates all aspects of China’s governance, experts say. He has expanded the concept of national security to cover everything from politics, economy, defense, culture and ecology to cyberspace. Under Xi’s notion of “comprehensive national security,” China has introduced a raft of legislation to protect itself against perceived threats, including laws on counter-terrorism, counter-espionage, cybersecurity, foreign non-government organizations, national intelligence and data security. In Hong Kong, a sweeping national security law was imposed by Beijing to stamp out dissent after huge democracy protests roiled the city.

Persons: Xi Jinping, ” Xi, “, Xi, Bill Bishop, Mintz, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, party’s National Security Commission, Xinhua, Bain & Company, Mintz Group, Astellas Pharma Locations: Hong Kong, Communist, Beijing, China, People’s Republic of China, American

☆ South Korea experts say more study needed on Japan's nuclear water plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] South Korea's Nuclear Safety and Security Commission Chairperson Yoo Guk-hee announce the results of their inspection of Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant during a press conference at Government Complex Building in Seoul, South Korea. South Korea's inspection team for... Read moreSEOUL, May 31 (Reuters) - South Korean nuclear safety experts who visited Japan's wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant said on Wednesday that detailed analysis was needed to verify Japan's plan to release tonnes of contaminated water from it into the sea. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear station, about 220 km (130 miles) northeast of Tokyo, was destroyed by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami in 2011, triggering three reactor meltdowns. The 21-member South Korean team had focused during its six-day trip on water purification, transport and release equipment, as well as sampling and analysis facilities. The International Atomic Energy Agency is also conducting a safety review of Japan's plan to release the water.

Persons: Yoo Guk, Japan's, Yoo, Yoon Suk Yeol, Fumio Kishida, Hyonhee Shin, Robert Birsel Organizations: Safety, Security, Nuclear Safety, Security Commission, South Korean, International Atomic Energy Agency, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, SEOUL, Fukushima, Tokyo, Japan

☆ A.I. poses existential risk of people being 'harmed or killed,' ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-24 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt said he sees "existential risks" with artificial intelligence as the technology gets more advanced. Artificial intelligence could pose existential risks and governments need to know how to make sure the technology is not "misused by evil people," former Google CEO Eric Schmidt warned Wednesday. Speaking at The Wall Street Journal's CEO Council Summit in London, Schmidt said his concern is that AI is an "existential risk." "And existential risk is defined as many, many, many, many people harmed or killed," Schmidt said. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI which developed ChatGPT, admitted in March that he is a "little bit scared" of artificial intelligence.

☆ AI's impact on warfare will be as big as nuclear weapons', says ex-Google CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt said AI could have as big of an effect on warfare as nuclear weapons did. Schmidt told Wired that the US military must deploy AI tools in combat to compete with world powers. AI could be what is needed to lead that change, Schmidt told Wired. In fact, AI technology — drones with sensors, for example — may be just as impactful as nuclear weapons when it comes to changing the state of warfare, he said. Technologies like Istari can be used to build a stronger US military that can out-compete forces in countries like China, Schmidt told Wired.

☆ Seniors urge Congress to protect Social Security, Medicare ahead of State of the Union
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

President Joe Biden speaks about protecting Social Security, Medicare, and lowering prescription drug costs, during a visit to OB Johnson Park and Community Center, in Hallandale Beach, Florida, on Nov. 1, 2022. Kevin Lamarque | ReutersSocial Security and the debt ceiling debateThe future of Social Security and Medicare have increasingly come up in the debate around the debt ceiling. Both Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have vowed to keep changes to Social Security and Medicare off the table. That would include Social Security's pension and disability, Medicare Part A and highway trust funds. Social Security changes require bipartisan support

☆ Some GOP lawmakers aren't quite ready to take Medicare and Social Security out of the debt limit battle — even after Kevin McCarthy said the matter is 'off the table'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Kevin McCarthy previously said cuts to Medicare and Social Security are out of debt ceiling negotiations. But some House Republicans are eyeing creating panels to evaluate those programs in a debt limit deal, per Bloomberg. McCarthy and Biden met last week to discuss raising the debt limit, and Biden maintains it should be bipartisan. "If you read our Commitment to America, all we talk about is strengthening Medicare and Social Security. As Bloomberg reported on Monday, though, some House Republicans are still looking at including those programs in debt limit talks.

☆ Google's ex-CEO Eric Schmidt tapped for federal biotech commission that allows members to keep biotech investments
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Eamon Javers | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

On Dec. 30, leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services committees announced the selection of former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and 11 others to serve on a new federal commission on biotechnology. The appointment, however, doesn't require commission members to divest their own personal biotech investments — even as they help shape U.S. policy overseeing the industry. The person didn't say when Schmidt made the decision to donate profits, adding that he hasn't yet named any recipient charities. The new federal commission will likely have a say in steering such investments over the two years of its lifetime. Schmidt's biotech investments are relatively recent.

☆ A top FTX exec blew the whistle on Sam Bankman-Fried's moves just 2 days before the crypto exchange's collapse
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

An FTX exec told authorities about potential illegality at the crypto exchange 2 days before its bankruptcy. He worked for Alameda between 2019 and 2021 before joining FTX Digital Markets, the crypto exchange's Bahamas division. Like Democratic Party donor Bankman-Fried, Salame has high-profile political ties: his partner is failed far-right Republican congressional candidate Michelle Bond. Bond's congressional candidate financial disclosure report showed that she received $400,000 in consulting fees from FTX Digital Markets when unsuccessfully campaigning to represent New York's 1st Congressional District. Read more: FTX's Bahamas unit paid co-CEO's MAGA Republican congressional candidate girlfriend $400,000

Warren said she was concerned about reports alleging Schmidt leveraged his positions on two federal advisory committees "to further his own personal financial interests." Those reports could suggest the Defense Department did not adequately apply federal conflict of interest rules "and therefore failed to protect the public interest" in Schmidt's case, wrote the Massachusetts Democrat. There was no indication that Schmidt broke any ethics rules or did anything unlawful while chairing the commission. Both advisory boards are subject to conflict-of-interest rules under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. "I am concerned by press reports indicating the Department may not have adequately followed FACA conflict of interest rules and therefore failed to protect the public interest."

☆ Movement to ban TikTok: What midterms could mean for future of app
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( David Ingram | David Ingram Covers Tech For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

The effort to ban TikTok is back, and it could gain more strength after the midterm elections. Alex Brandon / AP fileExperts said there’s a steep hill to climb for those who want a total TikTok ban, but the midterms could provide a push. The renewed push for a TikTok ban or forced sale is taking place while the company is in negotiations with the Biden administration on a potential written security agreement. TikTok says it believes the agreement would address not only privacy concerns but how the app moderates content. Rubio is co-sponsoring legislation to ban TikTok from all U.S. government devices.

☆ How Google's former CEO Eric Schmidt helped write AI laws in Washington without publicly disclosing investments in AI start-ups
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Eamon Javers | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +18 min

'Conflict of interest'Schmidt's investment was just the first of a handful of direct investments he would make in AI start-up companies during his tenure as chairman of the AI commission. Altogether, Schmidt and entities connected to him made more than 50 investments in AI companies while he was chairman of the federal commission on AI. To Poulson, Schmidt was simply given too much power over federal AI policy. The new entity would continue the work of the congressionally created federal commission, with many of the same goals and much of the same staff. More than a dozen staffers from the federal commission followed Schmidt to the new private sector project.

Promoted despite facing difficulties in leading China's capital, Cai is much like another Xi ally elevated to the Standing Committee, Shanghai Party Secretary Li Qiang. Cai and Li on Sunday joined a long list of Shanghai and Beijing Party bosses that have been promoted to the Standing Committee. Cai was promoted in 2014 to general office deputy director at the Beijing-based National Security Commission, a body founded and chaired by Xi. In 2017, just weeks after the 19th Party Congress, Cai faced loud public criticism over the forced eviction of migrant workers on Beijing's outskirts. A decade later, during a Beijing Party committee meeting on cyberspace and ideology hosted by Cai, no mention was made of citizens using social media to hold officials accountable.

Search resuls for: "Security Commission"

25 mentions found