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☆ U.S. senators to move forward with infrastructure bill on Sunday
▼ + stars: | 2021-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.96 time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Aug 1 (Reuters) - U.S. senators are expected to move forward on Sunday on a sweeping $1 trillion package for roads, rail lines and other infrastructure, with text of a bill due to be delivered. The bipartisan group working on the legislative text said it would be ready on Sunday, U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor on Saturday night. Senate votes so far have been on a shell bill that will incorporate the actual legislation once it is complete. Supporters, including Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, have been optimistic about the bill's chances of becoming law. Democrats have included those measures in a separate $3.5 trillion package, which they will seek to pass without Republican support.

Persons: Elizabeth Frantz, Chuck Schumer, Joe Biden's, Mitch McConnell, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Makini Brice, Edmund Klamann Organizations: U.S . Capitol, REUTERS, Senate Democratic, Republicans, Democratic, Republican, Progressives, Thomson Locations: Washington , DC, Senate

REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Aug 1 (Reuters) - U.S. senators said they expect to see final text on Sunday for a sweeping $1 trillion package for roads, rail lines and other infrastructure, predicting final passage later this week. Senate votes so far have been on a shell bill that will incorporate the actual legislation once it is complete. Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, told CNN that the infrastructure bill should win strong support. Senate Democrats would need every vote in their party to pass the measure under special budget rules that allow for a simple majority - including Manchin's. The massive infrastructure package is President Joe Biden's top legislative priority.

Persons: Elizabeth Frantz, Susan Collins, Collins, Joe Manchin, Joe Biden's, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Makini Brice, Edmund Klamann, Ross Colvin, Andrea Ricci Organizations: U.S . Capitol, REUTERS, Republican, CNN, Republicans, America, West, West Virginia Democrat, Senate, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Washington , DC, Maine, Senate, West Virginia

REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Aug 1 (Reuters) - U.S. senators said they expect to see final text on Sunday for a sweeping $1 trillion spending package for roads, rail lines, communications networks and other infrastructure, predicting final passage later this week. "My hope is that we'll finish the bill by the end of the week," Collins said, adding that the measure is "good for America." The massive infrastructure package is one of President Joe Biden's top legislative priorities and would be the largest investment in U.S. roads, bridges, ports, and transit in decades. read moreBut Democrats have paired the "hard" infrastructure bill with a much-larger $3.5 trillion "reconciliation" budget bill that would boost spending on education, child care, climate change and other priorities of the party. Democrats may be able to pass the larger bill on their own under special budget rules that allow only a simple majorityManchin said that while the infrastructure bill should win strong support, he could not guarantee passage of the 'reconciliation' bill.

Persons: Elizabeth Frantz, Susan Collins, Collins, Joe Manchin, CBS's, Joe Biden's, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Makini Brice, Ross Colvin, Andrea Ricci Organizations: U.S . Capitol, REUTERS, Republican, CNN, Republicans, America, West, West Virginia Democrat, Senators, Democrats, Democratic, Representatives, Thomson Locations: Washington , DC, Maine, West Virginia, U.S

Vehicles are parked outside the U.S. Capitol building the morning the Senate returned to session in Washington, DC, U.S., July 31, 2021. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Aug 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Sunday worked to finalize legislation to forge ahead with a sweeping $1 trillion spending plan for roads, rail lines, high-speed internet and other infrastructure, with some senators predicting final passage later this week. "My hope is that we'll finish the bill by the end of the week," Collins said, adding that the measure is "good for America." BIGGER SPENDING TRAINBut Democrats have paired the "hard" infrastructure bill with a much-larger $3.5 trillion "reconciliation" budget bill that would boost spending on education, child care, climate change and other priorities of the party. Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat whose support is pivotal to the party's spending plans, said that while the infrastructure bill should win strong support, he could not guarantee passage of the reconciliation bill.

Persons: Elizabeth Frantz, Chuck Schumer, Joe Biden's, Jon Tester, Susan Collins, Collins, Brian Deese, Deese, Schumer, Joe Manchin, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, David Lawder, Ross Colvin, Andrea Ricci Organizations: U.S . Capitol, REUTERS, U.S, Senate, Republican, CNN, Republicans, America, Senators, Fox, West Virginia Democrat, Democratic, Representatives, Thomson Locations: Washington , DC, U.S, Maine

"This is a really important bill because it takes our big, aging and outdated infrastructure in this country and modernizes it. "I’ve got real concerns with this bill," Republican Senator Mike Lee said in a floor speech. It was not yet clear whether senators outside the bipartisan group that negotiated the bill will offer amendments that could possibly upset the delicate coalition that was cobbled together. Sunday night's developments capped months of negotiating, and infighting, among several groups of senators and the White House. Initially, Biden said he was seeking about $2 trillion in a bipartisan bill, an amount that Republicans rejected as wasteful and unnecessary.

Persons: Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Rob Portman, I’ve, Mike Lee, Elizabeth Frantz, Biden, Arizona Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, Portman toiled, Schumer, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Michael Martina, David Lawder, Arshad Mohammed, Diane Craft, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Democratic, Senators, New, New York Democrat, Republican, Vehicles, U.S . Capitol, REUTERS, Representatives, Republicans, White, Arizona Democrat, Thomson Locations: New York, Washington , DC

☆ Trump lashed out after documents were released showing him pressuring Justice Department officials to overturn the election
▼ + stars: | 2021-08-01 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

Donald Trump lashed out after the release of documents showing him pressuring DoJ officials. The documents show Trump urging them to say last year's election was "corrupt." Trump repeated the election fraud claims that are at the center of his bid to overturn the election. Yuri Gripas-Pool/Getty ImagesIn his statement, Trump said the documents do not show he attempted to overturn the election yet repeated his election fraud claims and offered no new evidence to show they are credible. We created a searchable database of more than 329 top staffers to show where they all landedTrump has pushed his election fraud "Big Lie" since losing the contest last year.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden's, Jeffrey Rosen, Rosen's, Richard Donoghue, Yuri Gripas, Trump's, Rosen Organizations: DoJ, Trump, Service, Justice Department, Democrats, House, Capitol Locations: Washington , DC, United States

☆ Elon Musk's brain computer start-up raises $205 million from Google Ventures and others
▼ + stars: | 2021-07-30 | by ( Sam Shead | ) www.cnbc.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

Yasin Ozturk | Anadolu Agency | Getty ImagesElon Musk's brain-machine interface company, Neuralink, has raised $205 million from investors including Google Ventures, Peter Thiel's Founders Fund, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Total investment in the company now stands at $363 million, according to start-up tracker Crunchbase. Founded in 2016, Neuralink is trying to develop high-bandwidth brain implants that can communicate with phones and computers. People are in effect already "cyborgs" because they have a tertiary "digital layer" thanks to phones, computers and applications, he said during a Clubhouse discussion in February. The digital layer he refers to could be anything from a person's iPhone to their Twitter account.

Persons: Elon Musk, Yasin Ozturk, Peter Thiel's, Sam Altman, Neuralink, —, quadriplegics, Musk Organizations: SpaceX, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Google Ventures, Fund Locations: Washington , DC, United States, Dubai

☆ Prosecutors offer plea bargain to Jan. 6 riot suspect on pre-trial detention
▼ + stars: | 2021-07-30 | by ( Mark Hosenball | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, July 30 (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors have offered a plea bargain to a defendant facing felony charges related to the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot who worked at a security guard at a U.S. Navy base, a judge was told on Friday. Defense lawyer Jonathan Crisp said he had not had an opportunity to discuss the plea offer with his client. Earlier this month, the Washington, D.C., federal appeals court rejected a defense request that Hale-Cusanelli be released on bail. In another riot-related hearing, Federal Judge Reggie Walton ordered a mental health assessment of Daniel Goodwyn, a San Francisco-based web developer described in an FBI affidavit as "self-proclaimed member of the Proud Boys" militia group. Goodwyn expressed unwillingness to wearing a mask when officials visited him to verify his pre-trial release compliance.

Persons: Elizabeth Frantz, Katharine Fifield, Trevor McFadden, Timothy Hale, Jonathan Crisp, Hale, Cusanelli, Cusanelli’s, Hitler, Reggie Walton, Daniel Goodwyn, Goodwyn, Donald Trump, Joe Biden's Organizations: U.S . Capitol, of Columbia, REUTERS, Elizabeth Frantz Companies, NAVY, Federal, Capitol, U.S . Navy, U.S, Naval Weapons, National Guard, D.C, Service Locations: Washington , DC, U.S, WASHINGTON, Colt's, , New Jersey, Washington, San Francisco

☆ Pending home sales drop in June — more evidence of a housing turnaround
▼ + stars: | 2021-07-29 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +2 min

Pending sales of existing homes in June, which are measured by signed contracts, fell 1.9% month-to-month, according to the National Association of Realtors. Pending sales are a forward-looking indicator of closed sales in one to two months. "Pending sales have seesawed since January, indicating a turning point for the market," said Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist in a release. Regionally, pending sales increased 0.5% in June compared with May and were up 8.7% from a year ago. In the South, pending sales fell 3% monthly and 4.7% from June 2020.

Persons: Lawrence Yun, George Ratiu, Yun Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Realtor.com Locations: Washington , DC

☆ Congress passes $2.1 billion bipartisan bill for Capitol security and Afghan visas
▼ + stars: | 2021-07-29 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

Congress on Thursday approved a $2.1 billion spending bill that would address security concerns at the U.S. Capitol, and bolster federal efforts to relocate Afghans that aided U.S. forces during the war in Afghanistan. The spending bill includes roughly $1 billion for Capitol security to cover costs incurred during the insurrection, and ensure the Capitol is protected in the future. It also allocates $300 million for security measures at the Capitol, such as upgraded window, door and security camera upgrades. In May, the House passed a separate $1.9 billion security spending bill in response to the Jan. 6 insurrection, which provided roughly $44 million for Capitol Police. Unlike the House bill, however, Leahy said the newly passed spending bill does not include the creation of a rapid response force to support Capitol Police.

Persons: William, Billy, Evans, Joe Biden, Democratic Sen, Patrick Leahy of, Sen, Richard Shelby of, Donald Trump, Leahy, Washington —, Chuck Schumer Organizations: Capitol, Capitol Police, U.S . Capitol, Democratic, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Republican, National Guard, The New York Times, Metropolitan Police Department, Times, U.S Locations: U.S, Washington , DC, Afghanistan, Richard Shelby of Alabama, Washington

☆ Fed establishes standing repo facilities to support money markets
▼ + stars: | 2021-07-28 | by ( Jonnelle Marte | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.98 time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Chris Wattie/File Photo(Reuters) - The Federal Reserve announced on Wednesday it will establish separate domestic and international standing repo facilities to backstop money markets during times of stress. The domestic standing repo facility, or SRF, will conduct daily overnight repo operations against Treasury securities, agency debt securities and agency mortgage-backed securities. The Fed began intervening in money markets in September of 2019 when reserves in the banking system fell too low, leading to a spike in short-term borrowing rates. Setting up permanent repo facilities may lessen the need for the Fed to be reactive when markets are disrupted and could help to keep short-term rates within the central bank’s target range. The domestic standing repo facility will initially be open to primary dealers, a list of two dozen financial institutions that are trading counterparties with the New York Fed.

Persons: Chris Wattie Organizations: Federal Reserve, REUTERS, repo, Treasury, New York Fed, Fed Locations: Washington , DC, U.S

"I would want to see some strong job numbers" in the coming months before reducing the $120 billion in monthly bond purchases the Fed continues to make, he told reporters. The Fed's policy statement, issued after the end of a two-day policy meeting, reflected that confidence as the central bank continues debating how to wind down its bond purchases. There appeared to be progress in that discussion, though no clear timetable for reducing the bond purchases. That should translate into strong job growth, Powell said, and eventually allow the Fed to move away from its crisis-era programs. The S&P 500 (.SPX) index, which was modestly lower before the release of the policy statement, ended the session flat.

Persons: Powell, Jerome Powell, Chris Wattie, Karim Basta, Treasuries, Howard Schneider, Jonnell Marte, Paul Simao Organizations: Federal Reserve, REUTERS, Fed, III Capital Management, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Treasuries, Washington , DC

☆ Biden pushes for stronger cybersecurity in critical infrastructure, wants companies to do more
▼ + stars: | 2021-07-28 | by ( Amanda Macias | ) www.cnbc.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

The memo will include directives for federal departments, while the administration is also calling for tougher action from private companies. The memorandum directs the Departments of Homeland Security and Commerce to develop "cybersecurity performance goals for critical infrastructure." The White House action follows a steady drumbeat of ransomware attacks that have directly impacted Americans and hampered logistics and services in the United States. Ransomware attacks involve malware that encrypts files on a device or network that results in the system becoming inoperable. The FBI has previously warned victims of ransomware attacks that paying a ransom could encourage further malicious activity.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris Organizations: Child Tax, WASHINGTON, of Homeland Security, Commerce, Colonial Pipeline, U.S ., FBI Locations: Washington , DC, United States, Florida, Russian, East, bitcoin

☆ Review of U.S. federal oil, gas leasing program being finalized internally -Haaland
▼ + stars: | 2021-07-27 | by ( Valerie Volcovici | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.93 time to read: +1 min

Rep. Deb Haaland, D-NM, speaks during a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing on her nomination to be Interior Secretary on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, U.S. February 23, 2021. Graeme Jennings/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoWASHINGTON, July 27 (Reuters) - A highly anticipated review by the U.S. Interior Department of the federal oil and gas leasing program is undergoing final internal review and should be released "very soon," Interior Secretary Deb Haaland told a Senate hearing on Tuesday. Haaland had said previously that the review would be completed by "early summer." The Biden administration earlier this year stopped holding government drilling auctions, pending the review, but a federal judge last month ruled that his leasing freeze was unlawful.

Persons: Deb Haaland, Graeme Jennings, Joe Biden, Haaland, Biden, John Barrasso, Valerie Volcovici, Franklin Paul, Dan Grebler Organizations: Energy, Capitol, WASHINGTON, U.S . Interior Department, Republican, Interior Department, Thomson Locations: Washington , DC, U.S, Wyoming

☆ India ready to engage with Blinken on human rights, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2021-07-26 | by ( Sanjeev Miglani | ) www.reuters.com + 1.00 time to read: +2 min

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the media prior a meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar at the State Department in Washington, DC, U.S. May 28, 2021. Ahead of Blinken's first trip as Secretary of State, the State Department said he will discuss India's human rights record as well as a religion-based citizenship law that the Modi government enacted two years ago that Muslims see as discriminatory. read moreIndian foreign ministry sources said that issues such as human rights and democracy were universal and extended beyond a particular country or culture. One source said India was a long-standing pluralistic society and was open to engaging with "those who now recognise the value of diversity". India and the United States are building close political and security ties to push back against China's growing assertiveness in the region and both sides have said Blinken's trip is aimed at further boosting cooperation.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Saul Loeb, Washington, Narendra Modi's, Modi, Dean Thompson, Sanjeev Miglani, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: External Affairs, State Department, U.S, Indian, State, South, Central, Thomson Locations: Washington , DC, DELHI, India, United States, China

☆ Chasten Buttigieg says he and Pete couldn't afford more than a 1-bedroom apartment in DC
▼ + stars: | 2021-07-26 | by ( Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

Chasten Buttigieg told The Washington Post that DC is "almost unaffordable." "We couldn't afford the one-bedroom-plus-den," Chasten told The Post. Chasten moved to the city with his husband Pete six months ago. The former middle school drama teacher moved from South Bend, Indiana to Washington, DC in January for his husband Pete Buttigieg's new job as President Joe Biden's transportation secretary. "We couldn't afford the one-bedroom-plus-den," Chasten told The Post.

Persons: Chasten Buttigieg, Chasten, Pete, Pete Buttigieg's, Joe Biden's, Zillow, Henry's Organizations: Washington Post, Service, Post, Personnel Management, Democratic Locations: South Bend , Indiana, Washington , DC, Washington ,, South Bend, Lake Michigan, Traverse City, Washington, DC

☆ Some Americans with 'long Covid' may qualify for federal disability resources, Biden says
▼ + stars: | 2021-07-26 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com + 0.00 time to read: +4 min

President Joe Biden on Monday announced that some Americans experiencing long-term effects of Covid may qualify for disability resources and protections from the federal government. "We are bringing agencies together to make sure Americans with long Covid, who have a disability, have access to the rights and resources that are due under disability law," Biden said during his remarks. This means individuals with "long Covid" symptoms that rise to a disability are entitled to resources and protection from discrimination under federal disability laws. But "long Covid" symptoms are not consistent and it is unknown how many people have the condition. Most people who contract Covid recover within a few weeks, but reports of "long Covid" symptoms have been growing amongst Americans.

Persons: Joe Biden, Tyree Brown, Sen, Pat Leahy, Tony Coelho, Steny Hoyer, Kamala Harris, Nancy Pelosi, Biden Organizations: Disabilities, White, Monday, Garden, Health, Human Services, Department of Justice, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Department of Education, HHS, Labor Department, Research, FAIR Health Locations: Rose, Washington , DC

The federal minimum wage was last raised on July 24, 2009 — 12 years ago. Polling shows that most Americans want a $15 minimum wage, and voters across the political spectrum reflected that: In 2020, red state Florida voted for Donald Trump to get another term — and voted a $15 minimum wage into law. Raising the minimum wage, though, remains politically popular, with poll after poll showing Americans support a higher wage. "I haven't seen any dampening of interest in raising the minimum wage by voters at large in any way. The amount of things Congress must address is piling up for September, making a federal minimum wage increase very unlikely before then.

Persons: Harry Potter, Prince, hasn't, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Joe Biden's, Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, I'm, Elizabeth Warren of, Tom Carper of, Tom Carper, Anna Moneymaker, Arindrajit Dube, Dube, Tim Kaine, Virginia, Kaine, Joe Biden, Mitt Romney, Scott Applewhite, Kyrsten Sinema, Joe Manchin, HuffPost, Romney, Tom Cotton, Republican Sen, Rob Portman, Ron Wyden, I've, Wyden, Zach Moller Organizations: Service, Facebook, Democrats, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Finance, Getty, Institute, University of Massachusetts, Capitol, AP, Republican, GOP, Senate Finance Locations: Florida, Tom Carper of Delaware, Washington , DC, Amherst, Sens

☆ Trouble is brewing for a Georgia county's investigation into Donald Trump
▼ + stars: | 2021-07-23 | by ( Camila Dechalus | ) www.businessinsider.com + 0.00 time to read: +10 min

Muhammad said that while the Trump investigation is a big deal, so is the spike in crimes in her community. She has previously declined to comment on whether the lack of staff and funding would harm her ability to investigate Trump. In addition to the Georgia investigation, Trump is under scrutiny in New York, where prosecutors earlier this month formally charged the Trump Organization and its longtime chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, with tax-related crimes. For more than a decade, Willis worked as an assistant district attorney under Paul Howard, Georgia's first Black district attorney. Willis has tasked the public-integrity unit, now called the anti-corruption unit, with taking charge of the Trump investigation.

Persons: Fani Willis, Donald Trump, Willis, Brad Raffensperger, Trump, Michael Moore, Obama, Keisha Lance Bottoms, Megan Varner, Brenda Muhammad, Muhammad, Robb Pitts, Deborah Scott, Clint Rucker, Fulton, Allen Weisselberg, Robert Mueller's, John Bazemore, Cynthia Cartwright, Kenneth Secret, Paul Howard, Georgia's, Howard, Read, Peter Odom Organizations: Fulton, Middle, Middle District of, Atlanta, FBI, Atlanta Police Department, Fulton County, Trump, Trump Organization, Capitol, Howard University, AP, Washington Post, Daily, Associates Locations: Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, Washington ,, New York, Middle District, Middle District of Georgia, Fulton, United States, Arizona, Washington , DC, Black

☆ Yellen wants debt limit raised by Aug. 2, warns U.S. may need 'extraordinary measures' to avoid default
▼ + stars: | 2021-07-23 | by ( Thomas Franck | ) www.cnbc.com + 0.00 time to read: +4 min

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen answers questions during the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing to examine the FY22 budget request for the Treasury Department on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, June 23, 2021. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Friday warned Congress that her department will need to embark on "extraordinary measures" on August 2 to prevent the U.S. government from defaulting if lawmakers are unable to strike a deal to raise or extend the debt ceiling. The message between the Treasury secretary and the House speaker is a required formality should the outstanding debt of U.S. near its statutory limit. While the extraordinary measures have been deployed in the past to prevent a default, it's unclear how long Yellen's emergency capital will last in the face of unprecedented stimulus efforts sparked by the Covid-19 crisis. The letter is "standard practice for Treasury secretaries when a debt limit is going to be reimposed," Psaki said Friday afternoon.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Nancy Pelosi, Yellen, Pelosi, Jen Psaki, Psaki, Republicans gridlocked, Chuck Schumer, Joe Biden's, Mitch McConnell, —, Kevin Breuninger Organizations: Treasury, Treasury Department, Capitol, Republicans, White, Democrats, Punchbowl News Locations: Washington , DC, United States, Ky

☆ U.S. Treasury's Yellen tells development banks to mobilize private capital for climate fight
▼ + stars: | 2021-07-22 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com + 0.99 time to read: +3 min

The Treasury said in a statement that Yellen, White House climate envoy John Kerry and the heads of the major development banks discussed ways to "maximize" private capital for climate change finance and re-evaluate the banks' internal incentives and practices toward that end. Yellen will reconvene the group "to discuss their concrete plans in October" on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings. Among potential initiatives discussed at the meeting were banks' moving beyond their traditional development finance to help countries develop green bond markets and create "enabling environments" to attract more private climate investments. In addition to the World Bank Group, the institutions participating in the meeting were the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Inter-American Development Bank. World Bank President David Malpass tweeted that there was "a good discussion of climate change" during the meeting.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Greg Nash, John Kerry, Yellen, David Malpass, David Lawder, Leslie Adler, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Treasury, Treasury Department, Capitol, WASHINGTON, . Treasury, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction, Inter, American Development Bank, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Washington , DC, White, Venice, Italy, Paris, Washington

U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh arrives at the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, U.S. January 20, 2021. Win McNamee/Pool via REUTERSWASHINGTON, July 22 (Reuters) - A group of U.S. Democratic Senators on Thursday said that newly released materials show the FBI failed to fully investigate sexual misconduct allegations against U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh when he was nominated to the court in 2018. The senators, including Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Chris Coons of Delaware, said a letter they received from FBI Director Chris Wray last month shows the FBI gathered over 4,500 tips relating to Kavanaugh without any apparent further action by investigators. "If the FBI was not authorized to or did not follow up on any of the tips that it received from the tip line, it is difficult to understand the point of having a tip line at all," the Democratic lawmakers said in a letter to Wray sent on Wednesday night, which they released to the public on Thursday.

Persons: Brett Kavanaugh, Joe Biden, Win McNamee, Sheldon Whitehouse, Chris Coons, Chris Wray, Kavanaugh, Wray Organizations: Supreme, U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Democratic, FBI Locations: Washington , DC, U.S, REUTERS WASHINGTON, Rhode Island, Chris Coons of Delaware

☆ Here's what Biden's free community college plan would cost—and what it would save students
▼ + stars: | 2021-07-22 | by ( Abigail Johnson Hess | ) www.cnbc.com + 0.00 time to read: +5 min

In the United States, nearly six million people, about 1 out of 4 college students, attend a community college. Advocates say Biden's proposal could save community college students money and give other students the chance to cut down on college costs by transferring to a traditional four-year college after their first two years. She points out that the majority of community college students qualify for federal and state grants and scholarships. This means many community college students are getting a small surplus, though not close to enough to cover books, supplies and living expenses. For this reason, Akers is skeptical of how impactful a tuition-free community college policy would be.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Beth Akers, George W, Bush, it's, Akers, Anthony Carnavale, Carnavale, Clinton, Hillary, Bernie, Elizabeth Organizations: American, Grants, College Board, CNBC, American Enterprise Institute, of Economic Advisers, The College Board, Georgetown Center, Education, White, Commission, Technology, Adult Education, National Commission, Employment Locations: Washington , DC, United States, Germany, Japan

☆ India's true COVID-19 death toll may be closer to 4 million — 10 times higher than the official count — according to a new study
▼ + stars: | 2021-07-21 | by ( Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +2 min

A new study estimated India's true COVID-19 death toll may be closer to 4 million people. Researchers estimated that, in total, India's true death toll between January 2020 and June 2021 was between 3.4 and 4.7 million people, with up to 4 million of those deaths being solely due to COVID-19. India's official COVID-19 death toll is more than 400,000, The New York Times reported. The Indian government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been routinely criticized for under-counting COVID-19 deaths during different surges and for refusing lockdown measures. "True deaths are likely to be in the several millions, not hundreds of thousands, making this arguably India's worst human tragedy," the study's authors wrote.

Persons: Narendra Modi's, Narendra Modi Organizations: Service, Center for Global Development, Washington , DC, New York Times Locations: India, Washington ,

☆ New bill would make some companies report cyber attacks to the government
▼ + stars: | 2021-07-21 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com sentiment -0.99 time to read: +2 min

Saul Loeb | Pool | ReutersA new bill unveiled Wednesday would make some companies tell the government when they've been hacked. The bipartisan Cyber Incident Notification Act is a response to the recent attacks on SolarWinds, which impacted government agencies, and Colonial Pipeline, which disrupted American access to fuel across a large region. The problem is, under federal law, companies don't have to report these incidents. The bill introduces a new disclosure requirement for federal agencies, federal contractors and critical infrastructure companies to notify the Department of Homeland Security when they identify a breach of their systems. That way, companies can report incidents quickly and allow the government to act efficiently where needed.

Persons: Mark Warner, Saul Loeb, they've, anonymize, Marco Rubio, Susan Collins, Brad Smith, FireEye Organizations: Democrat, Intelligence, Capitol, Reuters, Colonial Pipeline, of Homeland Security, DHS Locations: Virginia, Washington , DC, Maine

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