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☆ U.S. expected to report slowest job growth in six months
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +6 min

REUTERS/Bryan WoolstonThe Labor Department’s closely watched employment report on Friday will only cover the first two weeks of November, when the current wave of coronavirus infections started. “The November employment report may be the last ‘strong’ employment report for a while until a vaccine is widely available,” said Sam Bullard, a senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities in Charlotte, North Carolina. That would be the smallest gain since the jobs recovery started in May and a fifth straight monthly deceleration in job gains, leaving employment 9.621 million jobs below its February peak. The number of people out of work for more than six months surged by 1.2 million in October. Slower job and wage growth would lead to weakness in a proxy for take-home pay.

Persons: Bryan Woolston, ”, Sam Bullard, ” Nonfarm, hospitalizations, Sung Won Sohn, Payrolls, “, Dean Baker, Kathy Bostjancic Organizations: WASHINGTON, Kentucky, Center, REUTERS, Labor, Wells, Wells Fargo Securities, Republicans, Congress, Loyola Marymount University, Retailers, Institute for Supply Management, Industries, Center for Economic, Research, Oxford Economics Locations: Frankfort , Kentucky, U.S, Wells Fargo, Charlotte , North Carolina, United States, Los Angeles, Washington, New York

☆ U.S. Justice Department probed Kushner lawyer over alleged graft scheme: NYT
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department investigated whether a lawyer for Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Donald Trump, had been involved in a bribery scheme to win clemency for a man convicted of tax crimes, the New York Times said on Thursday. White House senior advisor Jared Kushner looks on at a U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign rally at Fayetteville Regional Airport in Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S., November 2, 2020. As part of the plan, a San Francisco real estate developer, Sanford Diller, would make an unspecified political contribution, it added. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell released an order that described what she called a “bribery-for-pardon” investigation. In October, Broidy pleaded guilty in a separate case to legally lobbying Trump to drop an investigation into a Malaysian embezzlement scandal.

Persons: Jared Kushner, Donald Trump, Donald Trump's, Carlos Barria, Abbe Lowell, Elliott Broidy, Trump, William Burck, ”, Hugh Baras, Sanford Diller, Diller, Burck, Baras, Beryl Howell, Broidy Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S . Justice Department, New York Times, White House, Fayetteville Regional Airport, REUTERS, ” Reuters, Lowell, Justice Department, San, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Twitter, U.S, District, Trump Locations: Fayetteville , North Carolina, U.S, Berkeley , California, San Francisco, Washington, Malaysian

☆ Gregory Meeks to become first Black American to chair House Foreign Affairs Committee
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Haley Talbot | Haley Talbot Is An Associate Producer In The Nbc News Washington Bureau. | Abigail Williams | ) www.nbcnews.com + 1.00 time to read: +1 min

Rep. Gregory Meeks won the approval of his Democratic colleagues Thursday to become the first Black American to chair the House Foreign Affairs Committee, one of the most powerful panels on Capitol Hill. “We've got to make sure that we get the State Department up and running,” Meeks, D-N.Y., told NBC News. He said the first thing the committee would do is work with expected incoming secretary of state, Tony Blinken. “How can you assure our diplomats that this won't happen again if we don't look into what did happen?” Meeks said, adding that included looking into the actions of the Trump administration and specifically Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Departing chair Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., also extended his congratulations.

Persons: Gregory Meeks, “ We've, ” Meeks, Tony Blinken, Meeks, Trump, Mike Pompeo, “, Joaquin Castro, Castro, Eliot Engel Organizations: Democratic, Foreign Affairs Committee, State Department, NBC News, Democratic Party, Texas Rep, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, U.S . State Department Locations: American, United States of America

☆ Biden says bipartisan coronavirus aid bill should be passed but will still need more
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.95 time to read: 1 min

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President-elect Joe Biden delivers a pre-Thanksgiving speech at his transition headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., November 25, 2020. REUTERS/Joshua RobertsWASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Joe Biden said on Thursday a bipartisan coronavirus aid bill should be passed but that he will have to ask for more once in office. During an interview with CNN alongside Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Biden said the $908 billion bill proposed by moderates in the U.S. Senate should be seen as a “start” to providing relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Persons: Joe Biden, Joshua Roberts WASHINGTON, Kamala Harris, Biden Organizations: REUTERS, CNN, Senate Locations: Wilmington , Delaware, U.S

☆ U.S. Democrats elect Meeks as first Black House foreign affairs chairman
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Patricia Zengerle | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.98 time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks (D-NY) speaks to the media on Capitol Hill in Washington, September 5, 2013. REUTERS/Larry Downing/File PhotoWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Democrats elected Greg Meeks on Thursday as the next chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, a position in which he is expected to work closely with President-elect Joe Biden’s administration on the Iran nuclear deal and other issues. Engel voted for the 2003 Iraq War and opposed President Barack Obama’s 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. The caucus vote was 148-78 for Meeks over Representative Joaquin Castro, who had campaigned for the post as a more progressive alternative to Meeks. Castro, currently vice chairman of the foreign affairs panel, said he looked forward to working with Meeks on common goals such as promoting diversity at the State Department and rejoining the Iran nuclear deal.

Persons: Gregory Meeks, Larry Downing, Greg Meeks, Joe Biden’s, Meeks, “, ” Meeks, New York Representative Eliot Engel, Engel, Barack Obama’s, Joaquin Castro, Castro, Donald Trump, Biden Organizations: Capitol, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, . House, House Foreign Affairs Committee, World Health Organization, Congress, New York Representative, Democratic, Israel, Democratic Party’s, State Department, Republican Locations: Washington, Iran, Iraq, United States, Tehran

☆ Trump unveils $207 million fundraising haul since election as he tries to overturn results
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Simon Lewis | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.97 time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: Signs by supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump hang outside the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, U.S. November 10, 2020. The post-election fundraising haul brought the combined fundraising of Trump committees between Oct. 15 and Nov. 23 to $495 million, the Trump campaign said. Biden has not released figures for the period, but was consistently raising more than Trump in the final months of the campaign. Trump has refused to concede defeat and alleged without evidence that Biden’s victory came thanks to widespread voter fraud. Soon after the election, Trump’s campaign began sending solicitations to supporters by email and text making pleas for donations to an “Official Election Defense Fund” to “protect the results and keep fighting even after Election Day.”The fine print made clear most of the money would go to other priorities, including retiring the debts of Trump’s campaign.

Persons: Donald Trump, Hannah McKay, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Bill Stepien, ” Trump, Trump’s, solicitations Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Republican National Committee, Trump, Election Locations: Washington , U.S

☆ Trump unveils $207 million fundraising haul after election in effort to overturn result
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Simon Lewis | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.99 time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: Signs by supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump hang outside the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, U.S. November 10, 2020. The post-election fundraising haul brought the combined fundraising of Trump committees between Oct. 15 and Nov. 23 to $495 million, the Trump campaign said. Biden’s campaign raised $112 million during the same period, according to a filing with the Federal Elections Commission on Thursday. Trump has refused to concede defeat and alleged without evidence that Biden’s victory came thanks to widespread voter fraud. Soon after the election, Trump’s campaign began sending solicitations to supporters by email and text making pleas for donations to an “Official Election Defense Fund” to “protect the results and keep fighting even after Election Day.”The fine print made clear most of the money would go to other priorities, including retiring the debts of Trump’s campaign.

Persons: Donald Trump, Hannah McKay, Donald Trump’s, Joe Biden’s, Trump, Bill Stepien, ” Trump, Trump’s, solicitations Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Republican National Committee, Trump, Federal, Commission, Election Locations: Washington , U.S

☆ America's Covid politics, historical revisionism and why Cold War conformity isn't the answer
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Mark Navin | Mark Navin Is A Professor Of Philosophy At Oakland University. | Katie Attwell | ) www.nbcnews.com + 0.00 time to read: +6 min

Why are people threatening violence against governors who propose even modestly restrictive public health measures? The short answer is that public health has become politicized, and political conflict makes us stupid. The short answer is that public health has become politicized, and political conflict makes us stupid. But it is a self-congratulatory fiction to attribute the public health compliance of earlier generations to a now-lost commitment to fairness and solidarity. It seems more likely that opposition to a foreign enemy — say, China — could cultivate longer-lasting common political commitments in a diverse America.

Persons: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Dan Kahan, Kahan, Jonas Salk's, Jim Crow Organizations: Yale, Polio Locations: Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Washington, Nuremberg, America, recommitment, China

☆ Trump is reportedly considering preemptively pardoning as many as 20 associates before leaving office
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com + 0.00 time to read: +6 min

President Donald Trump is considering preemptively pardoning as many as 20 close associates before he leaves office in January, Politico reported on Thursday. President Donald Trump is weighing issuing preemptive pardons to as many as 20 close associates, Politico reported on Thursday. Trump has expressed particular concern about a pair of fraud investigations that the New York attorney general's office and the Manhattan district attorney's office are conducting. Trump is likely more concerned about the New York investigations because while the president's pardon power is extraordinarily broad, it does not apply to state-level or local offenses. Both investigations — one civil and one criminal — are focused on the Trump family's business dealings, the Trump Organization, and the president's personal finances.

Persons: Donald Trump, preemptively pardoning, Rudy Giuliani, Trump, — Donald Jr, Eric —, Jared Kushner, Politico's, It's, Joe Biden, Giuliani, Marie Yovanovitch, Biden's, Hunter, Biden, Hunter Biden, That's Rudy, Robert Mueller's, Hillary Clinton's, Kushner, Paul Manafort, Eric Trump Organizations: Politico, New York Times, The New York Times, New, Trump, Trump Organization, Manhattan US, Office, CNN, FBI, Burisma Holdings, NBC News, Washington Post, Trump Jr, Senate Intelligence, Times, Manhattan Locations: New York, Manhattan, Washington, York, Ukraine, Russian, New, Ukrainian

☆ Dr. Fauci, the US's top infectious disease expert, shared a day in his life and it's exhausting just reading it
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com + 0.00 time to read: +6 min

We've sort of become like a new family unit," Dr. Fauci told HuffPost. In an interview with HuffPost, conducted the day before Thanksgiving, Dr. Fauci, who turns 80 next week, broke down his 18-hour schedule for that particular day. 5:10 a.m. to 6 a.m.: Dr. Fauci had a shower and a shave. 6:30 a.m. to 7 a.m.: Dr. Fauci taped a segment for ABC News' "Good Morning America." 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.: Dr. Fauci called in to WNYC-FM's "The Takeaway."

Persons: HuffPost, Anthony Fauci, Fauci, HuffPost's Jeffrey Young, Alex Azar, Francis Collins, Robert Redfield, Stephen Hahn, Christine Grady, Steve Bannon, Biden Organizations: National Institute of Allergy, ABC, National Institutes of Health, Washington, WNYC, Chicago TV, NIH, Infectious Diseases, Centers for Science, Coronavirus, Force, Bioethics, Trump White Locations: Chicago, Washington, Moderna

☆ U.S. Senate set to vote on Trump FCC nominee as soon as next week
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) logo is seen before the FCC Net Neutrality hearing in Washington February 26, 2015. That could stymie Democratic priorities on a number of issues at the FCC, including moving to restore the 2015 net neutrality rules overturned by the Trump FCC in 2017. Simington was approved along party lines by a 14-12 vote by the Commerce Committee on Wednesday over the objections of Democrats. President Donald Trump has railed against social media companies and demanded repeal of a social media protection known as Section 230 that is part of a 1996 law. Trump in May directed the Commerce Department to file a petition with the FCC seeking to curb legal protections for social media companies.

Persons: Yuri Gripas, Mitch McConnell, Nathan Simington, Simington, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, Michael O’Rielly, O’Rielly Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Senate, Trump, Federal Communications Commission, FCC, REUTERS, Commerce Department, Republicans, Democratic, Trump FCC, Commerce, Republican Locations: Washington, Georgia, Trump

☆ China has done human testing to create biologically enhanced super soldiers, says top U.S. official
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( Ken Dilanian | Ken Dilanian Is A Correspondent Covering Intelligence | National Security For The Nbc News Investigative Unit. | ) www.nbcnews.com + 0.00 time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON — U.S. intelligence shows that China has conducted "human testing" on members of the People's Liberation Army in hopes of developing soldiers with "biologically enhanced capabilities," the nation's top intelligence official said Friday. Specifically, the scholars explored Chinese research using the gene-editing tool CRISPR, short for "clusters of regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats." "Chinese military scientists and strategists have consistently emphasized that biotechnology could become a 'new strategic commanding heights of the future Revolution in Military Affairs,'" the scholars wrote, quoting a 2015 article in a military newspaper. The overall message of Ratcliffe's opinion piece is that China is a dangerous adversary that threatens American economic and national security. In an interview with Fox News, Ratcliffe urged President-elect Joe Biden to "be honest" about China.

Persons: National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, Ratcliffe, Captain America, Jean Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Tommy, Tiny, CRISPR, Elsa Kania, Wilson VornDick, VornDick, Joe Biden, Biden, Trump Organizations: WASHINGTON —, People's Liberation Army, National Intelligence, Republican, CIA, Universal, TriStar, Getty, Center, New, New American Security, U.S . Navy, Military Affairs, NBC News, Fox News Locations: WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON — U.S, China, Texas, New American, Republic of China, America, Beijing

☆ Factbox-The Biden Cabinet: President-elect begins to build a team
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +11 min

2 at the State Department and as deputy national security adviser in Obama’s administration. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: JAKE SULLIVANBiden’s national security adviser when he served as vice president to Obama, Sullivan also served as deputy chief of staff to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Haines held several posts at Columbia University after leaving the Obama administration in 2017. Senator and Secretary of State Kerry will act as “climate czar” in the Biden Administration. CHIEF OF STAFF: RON KLAINA longtime Biden adviser with experience in responding to the Ebola pandemic, Klain was picked for the chief of staff role that sets the president’s agenda.

Persons: Joe Biden, Joshua Roberts Biden, Obama, Jeff Zients, Vivek Murthy, JEFF ZIENTS Zients, Barack Obama, Biden, VIVEK MURTHY, Murthy, JANET YELLEN, Donald Trump, Tanden, CECILIA ROUSE Rouse, BRIAN DEESE, ANTONY BLINKEN, JAKE SULLIVAN, Sullivan, Hillary Clinton, ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS, Mayorkas, DACA, AVRIL HAINES, Haines, LINDA THOMAS, GREENFIELD, Greenfield, KERRY, State Kerry, ”, Kerry, Michele Flournoy, Flournoy, Bill Clinton, Biden’s, Jeh Johnson, Johnson, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Tammy Duckworth, Duckworth, Sally Yates, Yates, Doug Jones, Jones, Tommy Tuberville, Tom Perez, Xavier Becerra, Elizabeth Sherwood, Randall, Sherwood, Arun Majumdar, Stanford University’sfaculty, Jay Inslee, Inslee, Ernest Moniz –, Moniz, Heather McTeer Toney, Toney, Mary Nichols, Collin O’Mara, O’Mara, Michael Morell, Morell, Tom Donilon, Mandy Cohen, Cohen, David Kessler, Kessler, RON KLAIN, Klain Organizations: Reuters, Democratic, White House, REUTERS, Politico, Brookings Institution, Republican, Center, American Progress, Republicans, OF, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Obama, OF STATE, State Department, Immigration Services, Mayorkas, CIA, Columbia University, UNITED, GREENFIELD Biden’s, United Nations, Thomas, KERRY Former U.S, State, Biden Administration, Pentagon, Defense Department, Blinken, of Defense, Air Force, Clinton Administration, U.S, U.S . Central Command, Army, Senate, Justice Department’s Civil, Division, U.S . Senate, Georgia Institute of Technology, U.S . Department of, Google, Stanford, Clean, Force, California’s Air Resources Board, National Wildlife Federation, Delaware Department of Natural Resources, Environmental, CENTRAL, Beacon Global, North, North Carolina’s Health, Human Services Department, Centers, Medicare, Services, Food and Drug Administration, FDA Locations: Rehoboth Beach , Delaware, U.S, Obama’s, Paris, Cuba, United States, Black, Africa, Clinton, Illinois, Iraq, Thai, Alabama, Washington, Kenya, France, Portugal, Nigeria, Senegal, Asia, North Carolina’s

☆ Capitol Hill leaders make progress on Covid relief price tag, but policy disputes linger
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( Sahil Kapur | Sahil Kapur Is A National Political Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com + 0.00 time to read: +5 min

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers are growing optimistic about a coronavirus relief deal, as party leaders converged Thursday on a price tag after months of stalemate gave way to meaningful negotiations. But lingering policy disputes remain and leaders still hope to combine the Covid-19 relief into a government funding bill by the Dec. 11 deadline to avert a shutdown. A breakthrough came Wednesday when Pelosi and Schumer backed a $908 billion bipartisan measure as the basis for negotiations, lending support for a reduced price tag more palatable to Republicans than Democrats' previous $2.2 trillion offer. McConnell has insisted on liability protections for businesses and organizations from Covid-related lawsuits, which Democrats are resisting. "There are issues — in particular, the size of state aid, and the liability relief," he told reporters on Thursday.

Persons: Pelosi, Schumer, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Sen, Chris Coons, Lindsey Graham, we'll, Donald Trump, I've, it's, Trump, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, John Cornyn, Dick Durbin, We're, Cornyn, I'm, Tom Reed, Josh Gottheimer, Chip Somodevilla, Mitch McConnell's, Hakeem Jeffries, Jon Tester, Rob Portman, Kevin Cramer, Josh Hawley, Hawley, Chris Murphy, Conn Organizations: WASHINGTON, Lawmakers, Democrats, NBC, Capitol, Getty Locations: Ky, Covid, Texas, COVID, D, Ohio

☆ Trump administration adds China's SMIC and CNOOC to Defense blacklist
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( Alexandra Alper | Humeyra Pamuk | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Thursday added China’s top chipmaker SMIC and oil giant CNOOC to a blacklist of alleged Chinese military companies, a move likely to escalate tensions with Beijing before President-elect Joe Biden takes office. Slideshow ( 2 images )The Department of Defense designated a total of four additional companies as owned or controlled by the Chinese military, including China Construction Technology Co Ltd and China International Engineering Consulting Corp. The move, first reported by Reuters on Sunday, brings the total number of companies blacklisted to 35. The Chinese embassy in Washington, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) and China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Congress and the administration have sought increasingly to curb the U.S. market access of Chinese companies that do not comply with rules faced by American rivals, even if that means antagonizing Wall Street.

Persons: Trump, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Trump’s, Biden, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON, Department of Defense, China Construction Technology Co Ltd, China International Engineering Consulting Corp, Reuters, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, China National Offshore Oil Corp, CNOOC, U.S . Commerce Department, Communist Chinese Military, Pentagon, People’s Liberation Army, Giants, China Telecom, China Mobile, U.S, Vanguard Group, BlackRock Inc, U.S . House, Trump Locations: Beijing, China, Washington, crosshairs, U.S, Hikvision, American

☆ United States adds China's SMIC and CNOOC to Defense blacklist
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( Alexandra Alper | Humeyra Pamuk | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Thursday added China’s top chipmaker, SMIC, and oil giant CNOOC to a blacklist of alleged Chinese military companies, a move likely to escalate tensions with Beijing before President-elect Joe Biden takes office. Slideshow ( 2 images )The Department of Defense designated a total of four additional companies as owned or controlled by the Chinese military, also including China Construction Technology Co Ltd and China International Engineering Consulting Corp. The move, first reported by Reuters on Sunday, brings the total number of companies blacklisted to 35. SMIC said in a stock market statement that it strongly opposes the decision of United States Department of Defense, which reflects a fundamental misunderstanding by the U.S.administration regarding the end-uses of its business and technology. Shares of CNOOC’s listed unit CNOOC Ltd had fallen by nearly 14% percent following the Sunday report.

Persons: Trump, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, SMIC, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON, Department of Defense, China Construction Technology Co Ltd, China International Engineering Consulting Corp, Reuters, Republican, Embassy, Foreign Ministry, Offshore Oil Corp, United States Department of Defense, CNOOC, U.S . Commerce Department, Biden, Democratic, Communist Chinese Military, Pentagon, People’s Liberation Army, Giants, China Telecom, China Mobile, U.S, Vanguard Group, BlackRock Inc, U.S . House, Trump Locations: Beijing, China, Washington, Hong Kong, crosshairs, U.S, Hikvision, American

☆ U.S. regulatory panel warns pandemic driving 'elevated' financial risks
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.96 time to read: 1 min

FILE PHOTO: Pedestrians cross Connecticut Avenue amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Washington, U.S., November 24, 2020. REUTERS/Tom BrennerWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Risks to U.S. financial stability remain elevated as the coronavirus pandemic continues, a U.S. regulatory panel said on Thursday, warning that a potential wave of bankruptcies and a collapse in the commercial real estate market could weigh heavily on smaller banks. The annual report from the Financial Stability Oversight Council urged regulators to remain vigilant for weaknesses across financial markets, pointing to March turmoil in short-term funding markets as an example of where problems can flare up.

Persons: Tom Brenner WASHINGTON Organizations: REUTERS Locations: Connecticut, Washington , U.S, U.S

☆ Iran likely to hold off on retaliation over scientist's killing -U.S. envoy
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( Humeyra Pamuk | Matt Spetalnick | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iran is unlikely to retaliate over the assassination of a prominent nuclear scientist before the inauguration of Joe Biden in case it jeopardizes any future sanctions relief, the top U.S. envoy on Iran told Reuters on Thursday. FILE PHOTO: Members of Iranian forces carry the coffin of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh during a funeral ceremony in Tehran, Iran November 30, 2020. “If they want sanctions relief, they know that they’re going to need to enter some kind of negotiation after January 20, and it’s got to be in their minds that they don’t want to... undertake any activities between now and Jan 20 that make sanctions relief harder to get,” he said. In retaliation, Tehran gradually breached the deal’s restrictions on its nuclear program. Biden has said he will return the United States to the deal if Iran resumes compliance.

Persons: Joe Biden, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, REUTERS Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Elliott Abrams, Biden, Donald Trump, it’s, ”, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Trump, Abrams Organizations: WASHINGTON, Reuters, Iranian Defense Ministry, West Asia News Agency, REUTERS, Jan Locations: Iran, Tehran, Israel, Venezuela, “, United States, Washington, Islamic Republic

☆ Vitol to pay $95.7 million to settle fraud, market manipulation charges
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.98 time to read: 1 min

FILE PHOTO: A sign is pictured in front of the Vitol Group trading commodities company building in Geneva October 4, 2011. REUTERS/Denis BalibouseWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Energy and commodities trading firm Vitol Inc has agreed to pay $95.7 million to settle charges of corruption-based fraud and attempted market manipulation, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission on Thursday. Houston-based Vitol did not admit or deny the charges, but agreed to pay the civil penalties related to making bribes and offering kickbacks to employees of certain state-owned entities in Brazil, Ecuador and Mexico in exchange for “preferential treatment and access to trades,” the regulator said.

Persons: Denis Balibouse WASHINGTON, Vitol Organizations: Vitol, REUTERS, Energy, Vitol Inc, U.S . Commodity Futures, Commission, Houston Locations: Geneva, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico

☆ Trump spy chief labels China biggest threat to freedom since World War Two
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( Mark Hosenball | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +5 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. intelligence official stepped up the Trump administration’s harsh attacks on Beijing on Thursday, labeling China the biggest threat to democracy and freedom worldwide since World War Two and saying it was bent on global domination. Beijing has frequently called on U.S. leaders to dial back their rhetoric on China, which it blames on fear of China’s growing role in the world. Ratcliffe alluded to reports collected by U.S. intelligence agencies that Chinese representatives have sought to interfere in U.S. domestic politics. Now let’s all be honest about China,” Ratcliffe told Reuters after the article was published. On Thursday, the Trump administration restricted travel to the United States by members of China’s ruling Communist Party and their families.

Persons: John Ratcliffe, Andrew Harnik, National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, Ratcliffe, Trump, ”, Rob, Donald Trump’s, Biden, Xi, “, ” Ratcliffe, China’s, Hacking, ” Bonnie Glaser, Joe Biden Organizations: WASHINGTON, Trump, Capitol, National Intelligence, Wall Street, Republican, of, Communist Party, U.S, Center for Strategic, International Studies Locations: Beijing, China, R, Washington , U.S, U.S, America, ”, Washington, Hong Kong, South China, Xinjiang, Ratcliffe, United States, Asia

☆ Trump signing order on principles for U.S. government AI use
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com + 0.76 time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said President Donald Trump is signing an executive order on Thursday setting guidance for federal agency use of artificial intelligence that aims to foster public acceptance of the technology in government decision making. U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a medal ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S. December 3, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan ErnstThe order directs agencies to prepare inventories of AI-use cases throughout their departments and directs the White House to develop a roadmap for policy guidance for administrative use of AI. Some U.S. states and cities have raised concerns about AI applications, especially possible algorithmic bias in the use of facial-recognition software by law enforcement. “A crucial question will be how to subject such tools to meaningful accountability,” the report said.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jonathan Ernst, Michael Kratsios, “, Trump, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, White, REUTERS, Stanford, New York University Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S

☆ Trump signs order on principles for U.S. government AI use
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com + 0.99 time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday setting guidance for federal agency use of artificial intelligence in government decision-making. U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a medal ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S. December 3, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan ErnstThe White House said Trump was setting nine principles for the design, development, acquisition and use of AI in government in an effort “to foster public trust and confidence in the use of AI, and ensure that the use of AI protects privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.”The order directs agencies to prepare inventories of AI-use cases throughout their departments and directs the White House to develop a road map for policy guidance for administrative use. Michael Kratsios, U.S. chief technology officer, said the order “will foster public trust in the technology, drive government modernization and further demonstrate America’s leadership in artificial intelligence.”The Trump administration has made artificial intelligence a priority, earlier issuing guidance to federal agencies aimed at limiting “overreach” in regulating the use of AI by private companies, while urging agencies to use AI to eliminate outdated regulations. Some U.S. states and cities have raised concerns about AI applications, especially possible algorithmic bias in the use of facial-recognition software by law enforcement.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jonathan Ernst, Trump, Michael Kratsios, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, White, REUTERS, Stanford, New York University Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S

“Just like the Rose Garden, the virus won’t touch the powerful,” one State Department official said sarcastically, referencing the White House event that became a super-spreader. Pompeo himself will host holiday parties on December 15 and 16, an official confirmed. The Washington Post first reported on Pompeo’s plans to invite hundreds to holiday parties. The State Department did not answer questions about how guests could consume the government-provided food and cocktails while wearing masks. The White House will host as many as 20 receptions in the next few weeks before Christmas.

Persons: Mike Pompeo, “, it’s, Trump’s, Pompeo, Joe Biden’s, Biden, “ Multilateralism, that’s, ” Pompeo, Trump, Dr, Anthony Fauci, MSNBC’s “ Andrea Mitchell, ”, Stephanie Grisham Organizations: WASHINGTON, State, White, Blair House, NBC News, State Department, America, NBC, Department, Washington Post, ”, Fox, U.N, The State Department, Naval Observatory Locations: United States of America

☆ Exclusive: Biden must use sanctions as leverage against Venezuela's Maduro, U.S. envoy says
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( Matt Spetalnick | Humeyra Pamuk | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +4 min

Abrams also threatened further U.S. sanctions against anyone responsible for “electoral fraud” in Venezuelan congressional elections scheduled for Sunday. “They are really up against the wall,” Abrams said, referring to the economic impact of U.S. sanctions on Maduro and his allies. “And we’ve got a lot of leverage; we should use it ... My policy advice (to the Biden administration) would be no giveaways to Maduro.”Biden’s transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Despite Trump’s campaign of sanctions and diplomatic pressure, Maduro has remained in power, backed by the OPEC nation’s military and supported by Russia, Cuba, China and Iran. The ballot could pave the way toward Venezuela’s opposition losing control of the National Assembly, which would complicate Guaido’s standing based on his position as the speaker of the congress.

Persons: Biden, Nicolas Maduro, Elliott Abrams, Andrew Harnik, Donald Trump’s, Joe Biden, Abrams, ” Abrams, we’ve, Maduro, Maduro’s, Trump, GUAIDO Abrams, Juan Guaido, Guaido, “, ” Guaido Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, State Department, REUTERS, Reuters, Maduro’s Socialist Party, OPEC, National Assembly Locations: Venezuela, Washington , U.S, Iran, Washington, U.S, Russia, Cuba, China, United States

☆ Justice Department accuses Facebook of discriminating against U.S. workers
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: 1 min

FILE PHOTO: A 3D-printed Facebook logo is seen placed on a keyboard in this illustration taken March 25, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department accused Facebook of discriminating against U.S. workers on Thursday, saying in a new lawsuit the social media giant has given hiring preferences to temporary workers who hold H-1B visas.

Persons: Dado Ruvic Organizations: REUTERS, WASHINGTON, U.S . Justice, Facebook, U.S

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