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☆ IRS free tax filing program launches in 12 pilot states. Here's what to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

After weeks of testing with roughly 1,500 returns, Direct File, a free tax filing program from the IRS, is now fully open in 12 pilot states, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. While the pilot focuses on "simple tax situations," the Treasury estimates the pilot could cover about one-third of tax situations for 19 million taxpayers. "Dozens of countries have provided free tax options to their citizens for years," Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo said during a press call on Monday. "American taxpayers who want to file their taxes for free directly with the IRS should have that option." More from Personal Finance:Trump vs. Biden: What a presidential election rematch could mean for your taxesTax pros brace for 'tidal wave' of crypto tax scrutiny from the IRS.

Persons: Wally Adeyemo, Biden, Adeyemo Organizations: U.S . Department of, Treasury, Finance, Trump, Economic Security

☆ Equal Pay Day highlights an up to $1.2 million salary shortfall for women of color
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Based on today's wage gap, a woman just starting out will lose $399,600 over a 40-year career, according to the National Women's Law Center. The pay gap worsens significantly for Black and Latina women. For Black women, the lifetime wage gap adds up to $884,800, and for Latina women, the losses total $1,218,000, the nonprofit advocacy group found. Why the gender pay gap persistsThere is no single explanation for why progress toward narrowing the pay gap has mostly stalled, according to a separate report by the Pew Research Center. What it takes to achieve progressNo "one thing" is going to close the wage gap, Tucker said.

Persons: Jasmine Tucker, Tucker, Ofronama Biu, Biu Organizations: Census, National Women's Law, National Women's, Center's, Black, Latina, Pew Research Center, Urban Institute, Employers

☆ Promises Donald Trump has made so far in his campaign for a second term
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Piper Hudspethblackburn | Piper Hudspeth Blackburn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Trump also said in that campaign video that he would cut funding for schools that teach critical race theory and gender ideology. Health careLast November, Trump promised to replace the Affordable Care Act, known colloquially as Obamacare, in a series of posts on Truth Social. Trump also vowed in a June 2023 campaign video to reinstate his previous executive order so that the US government would pay the same price for pharmaceuticals as other developed countries. The former president added in a campaign video that he would stop lobbyists and government contractors from pushing senior military officials toward war. We will reverse almost all of them,” Trump said in a campaign video.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Immigration Trump, Trump, ”, “, ” “ We’ll, ” Trump, Education Trump, Obamacare, Biden, ” “, Antonin Scalia, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, ‘ Everybody’s, ’, ‘, he’s, Energy Trump, “ We’re, ” “ It’s, Equity “, CNN’s Tami Luhby, Kate Sullivan, Kristin Holmes Organizations: CNN, Republican, Immigration, Des Moines Register, ATF, FBI, DHS, Hamas, Department of Defense, Education, of Education, of Justice, Department of Education, Health, Trump, Democrats, Trump Administration, Justice, CIA, Department, U.S, Attorneys, Soros District, Marxist, National Guard, Department of Justice, NATO, Cities, Environmental Protection Agency, Energy, Trade, Trump Reciprocal Trade, Economy Trump, Black Conservative, Rifle Association, Legislative Action, Equity Locations: United States, Israel, America, United States of America, State, Washington , DC, Washington, NATO, American, South Carolina, Russia, Ukraine, New Hampshire, New, China, Michigan, Des Moines , Iowa

☆ 2 Scientists in Canada Passed On Secrets to China, Investigations Find
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Ian Austen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Two scientists who worked at Canada’s top microbiology lab passed on secret scientific information to China, and one of them was a “realistic and credible threat to Canada’s economic security,” documents from the national intelligence agency and a security investigation show. Canadian universities can now be disqualified from federal funding if they enter into partnerships with any of 100 institutions in China, Russia and Iran. The release of the documents was the subject of a prolonged debate in Parliament that began before the last federal election, in September 2021. Opposition parties asked to see the records at least four times and found the Liberal government to be in contempt of Parliament in 2021. The government filed a lawsuit in an attempt to keep the records hidden, but dropped it when the vote was called.

Persons: Xiangguo Qiu, Keding Cheng Organizations: Commons, Liberal Locations: China, Russia, Iran

☆ China making 'concerted effort' to dominate critical US ports equipment, Biden official says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

SUZHOU, CHINA - FEBRUARY 27: A gantry crane hoists vehicles for export at Taicang Port's International Container Terminal on February 27, 2024 in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province of China. Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, told CNBC that Biden's executive order is a wake-up call for the port and supply chain industry. "The bottom line is that today's high-tech cranes can collect data and that is why this executive order is so important," said Seroka. "It's no secret that China has both the capability and the intent to challenge the rules based trade system. The Biden administration has positioned the executive order as part of a "whole government approach" in securing the nation's ports.

Persons: Biden, Christa Brzozowski, ZPMC, Gene Seroka, Brzozowski, Carlos Gimenez, John Vann, Vann, Wayne R, Arguin Jr, Arguin Organizations: Taicang, Getty, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security, Coast Guard, Transportation, Maritime Security, Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co, Capitol, CNBC, Cyber Security Operations Center, Guard, White, Resilience, of Commerce, Defense, Coast Guard Cyber Command, US Coast Guard, U.S Locations: SUZHOU, CHINA, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China, Capitol, United States, U.S, Republic of China, Shanghai, Beijing, Capitol Hill, of Los Angeles, Los Angeles

☆ Space nukes are raising tensions between Moscow and Washington. Here’s what you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Kari Bingen director of the aerospace security project and senior fellow in the international security program at the Centre for Strategic International Studies. Space-based anti-satellite nuclear weapons — or so-called space nukes — are a type of weapon designed to damage or destroy satellite systems. "It's an indiscriminate weapon," Bingen said. The deployment of a space-based nuclear weapon would mark a major advancement of Russia's military capabilities and a serious escalation of geopolitical tensions. Kari Bingen director of the aerospace security project and senior fellow in the international security program at the Centre for Strategic International Studies.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Alexander Ryumin, Mike Turner, Joe Biden, It's, Kari Bingen, Bingen, Juan Barreto, Putin, CNBC's Silvia Amaro Organizations: Sputnik, Chelyabinsk, Afp, Getty, U.S, White, CNBC, . House Intelligence, Bloomberg, Centre, Strategic International Studies, Analysts, Strategic International, United Nations Office, Outer Space Affairs, Elon Musk, Reuters, U.S ., Space Foundation, The, NATO, General, Saturday, Munich Security Conference Locations: Russian, Chelyabinsk Region, Chelyabinsk, Washington, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, China, Bogota, U.S, The U.S

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

☆ Europe is nervous about a potential Trump win. China sees an opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

China – which has not condemned Russia’s invasion and claims impartiality in the conflict – has also emerged as a key lifeline for the sanctions-hit Russian economy. In Europe, this has galvanized concerns about China’s own global ambitions and played a role in the European Union’s ongoing push to recalibrate its policy toward China. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell reiterated the EU’s “expectation that China refrains from supporting Russia,” in a meeting with Wang Friday. “As long as war in Ukraine continues, EU policies toward China will move into closer alignment with the US. As president, Trump not only voiced skepticism of the system of US alliances in Europe, but leveraged tariffs on European steel and aluminum, sparking retaliatory measures on US goods from Europe.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Wang Yi, Wang, Donald Trump, Trump, ” Wang, Alexey Navalny, Vladimir Putin’s, “, ”, Noah Barkin, Maxym Marusenko, Putin, Xi Jinping, –, Jens Stoltenberg, Josep Borrell, Christoph Heusgen, Dmytro Kuleba, Xi, hasn’t, It’s, Kuleba, Vladimir Putin, Xie Huanchi, Yu Jie, ‘, Liu Dongshu, “ Wang Yi, China …, ” Liu, Emmanuel Macron, GMF Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Munich, Washington, NATO, German Marshall Fund of, Communist Party, Wang Friday, Bloomberg, CNN, China’s, Ministry, ”, Ukrainian, Security, Beijing, Peace, Getty, ’ Observers, US, Chatham House, City University of Hong, “, White Locations: China, Hong Kong, States, Europe, Ukraine, Beijing, Munich, Moscow, Russia, United States, Russian, Ukraine's Kharkiv, West . China, Taiwan, EU, ”, China’s, Asia, Pacific, ” Beijing, Switzerland, Xinhua, London, Spain, France, City University of Hong Kong’s, Washington, York

☆ China Foreign Minister Warns Against Decoupling at Munich Security Conference
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi warned the West that it would be making a historical mistake if it sought to decouple from China in the interests of reducing risk. "Whoever tries de-sinicization in the name of de-risking would be making a historical mistake," Wang said in a speech on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference. His comments came amid calls over the last year from the United States and the European Union to reduce their dependence on China. During a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the conference on Friday, the Chinese foreign minister also stressed that "making 'de-risking' into 'de-China', and seeking 'decoupling from China'" will only backfire on the U.S. itself". Photos You Should See View All 33 ImagesThe plans highlight "de-risking", the EU's policy of reducing economic reliance on China, which the bloc regards with suspicion due to its close ties to Russia.

Persons: Wang Yi, Wang, Antony Blinken, Albee Zhang, Ryan Woo, Giles Elgood Organizations: Munich Security Conference, European Union, U.S, European Commission, China's Chamber, Commerce Locations: BEIJING, China, United States, de, U.S, Russia

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

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

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

☆ Giving new babies a savings account can help curb wealth gaps and make college feasible. One Democrat wants to make it federal law.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Bob Casey wants to set up automatic savings accounts for every baby in the US. AdvertisementSen. Bob Casey wants to chip away at wealth inequality and set up kids to be able to build wealth. Casey, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, is introducing legislation that would create Child Savings Accounts nationwide. Those accounts spurred parents to open additional savings accounts for their children, and, by 2019, the average account balance was $3,243. Multiple studies on "baby bond" policies, automatic accounts with money deposited into them, find that they can help narrow racial wealth gaps.

Persons: Sen, Bob Casey, —, they'd, Casey, that's, Cory Booker, Ayanna Pressley Organizations: US, Service, Earned, Joint Economic, CNBC Locations: Pennsylvania, Oklahoma

☆ Ken Griffin says Chinese invasion of Taiwan could spark a new Great Depression
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ken Griffin told CNBC that a war over Taiwan could spark a new Great Depression. AdvertisementKen Griffin has warned that a war over Taiwan could spark a new Great Depression. The Citadel founder told CNBC that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would have "catastrophic" consequences for both the American and Chinese economies. And by catastrophic I think you're looking at Great Depression circumstances," Griffin told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" during the MFA Network conference in Miami on Tuesday. Those chips are used in every part of our economy," Griffin told CNBC.

Persons: Ken Griffin, —, Griffin, CNBC's, Lai Ching, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden Organizations: CNBC, Service, Citadel, Network, Boeing Locations: Taiwan, Miami, Beijing, China

☆ Chinese hackers are determined to 'wreak havoc' on U.S. critical infrastructure, FBI director warns
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Chinese government hackers are busily targeting water treatment plants, the electrical grid, transportation systems and other critical infrastructure inside the United States, FBI Director Chris Wray will tell House lawmakers on Wednesday in a fresh warning from Washington about Beijing's global ambitions. "China's hackers are positioning on American infrastructure in preparation to wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities, if or when China decides the time has come to strike," Wray will say. The comments align with assessments from outside cybersecurity firms including Microsoft, which said in May that state-backed Chinese hackers have been targeting U.S. critical infrastructure and could be laying the technical groundwork for the potential disruption of critical communications between the U.S. and Asia during future crises. The following month, Mandiant said that suspected state-backed Chinese hackers had used a security hole in a popular email security appliance to break into the networks of hundreds of public and private sector organizations globally. The Chinese government has lashed out at the committee, demanding that its members "discard their ideological bias and zero-sum Cold War mentality."

Persons: Chris Wray, Wray, Mandiant, they're, Mike Gallagher of Organizations: Chinese Communist Party, Microsoft, U.S, Republican Rep Locations: United States, Washington, China, Asia, Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin

WASHINGTON (AP) — Chinese government hackers are busily targeting water treatment plants, the electrical grid, transportation systems and other critical infrastructure inside the United States, FBI Director Chris Wray will tell House lawmakers on Wednesday in a fresh warning from Washington about Beijing's global ambitions. “China’s hackers are positioning on American infrastructure in preparation to wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities, if or when China decides the time has come to strike,” Wray will say. The comments align with assessments from outside cybersecurity firms including Microsoft, which said in May that state-backed Chinese hackers have been targeting U.S. critical infrastructure and could be laying the technical groundwork for the potential disruption of critical communications between the U.S. and Asia during future crises. The following month, Mandiant said that suspected state-backed Chinese hackers had used a security hole in a popular email security appliance to break into the networks of hundreds of public and private sector organizations globally. The Chinese government has lashed out at the committee, demanding that its members “discard their ideological bias and zero-sum Cold War mentality.”

Persons: Chris Wray, Wray, “, ” Wray, Mandiant, they’re, Mike Gallagher of Organizations: WASHINGTON, Chinese Communist Party, Microsoft, U.S, Republican Rep Locations: United States, Washington, China, Asia, Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin

FBI Director Christopher Wray on Wednesday warned Congress about a range of threats against the U.S., from Chinese hackers to heightened terrorist risks after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. The FBI director has long warned about the Chinese government’s hacking capabilities. Cyberattacks and disinformation warfare can work in tandem, Wray warned. He also noted that AI can enhance foreign adversaries abilities to collect personal data and feed it into disinformation and influence operations. Heightened Terrorist Risk“We are, since Oct. 7, in a heightened threat environment from various forms of terrorist risk,” Wray warned, alluding to Hamas’ attack on Israel last year.

Persons: Christopher Wray, ” Wray, ” TikTok, Wray, ”, “ Organizations: Wednesday, U.S, Chinese Communist Party, FBI, Intelligence Locations: Israel, U.S, China, PRC, Iran

☆ FBI shuts down China's 'Volt Typhoon' hackers targeting U.S. infrastructure
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Justice Department and FBI identified the attacks and shut down aspects of the Volt Typhoon malware, Wray said. Microsoft in May warned that Volt Typhoon hackers had been active since 2021 and were targeting U.S. cyber infrastructure. The hacks have become increasingly sophisticated, Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said at the hearing. She explained that Chinese hackers are able to "live within a computer's operating system" in a way that makes them difficult to identify. In July, Chinese hackers also compromised the email accounts of the U.S. ambassador to China and other officials.

Persons: Christopher Wray, Wray, they're, that's, Shou Zi Chew Organizations: FBI, Justice Department, Microsoft, Infrastructure Security Agency, Communist Party, NBC News, British Locations: China, U.S, London, Taiwan

☆ Citadel's Ken Griffin says the economy looks ‘pretty damn good right now’
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The market has managed to put behind the "economic anxiety" it faced as recently as the fourth quarter of 2023, according to Citadel CEO Ken Griffin. "The [Federal Reserve] can start to cut rates come this summer, and we will see unemployment touch up a little bit. But the overall economy looks pretty damn good right now," Griffin told CNBC's Leslie Picker on Tuesday at the MFA Network event in Miami. However, Griffin noted that the current level of federal spending has created an economy that "feels really good right now," but could come at a cost. It's creating [a] bit of euphoria right now, but it will come with a hangover," said Griffin.

Persons: Ken Griffin, Griffin, CNBC's Leslie Picker, Griffin's, Dow Organizations: Citadel, Federal, Fed, U.S, Dow Jones, CNBC PRO Locations: Miami, Taiwan, China, U.S

TORONTO (AP) — A Canadian judge has ruled that the government’s use of the Emergencies Act to quell weeks of protests by truckers and others angry over COVID-19 restrictions in 2022 was unreasonable and unconstitutional. In the decision released Tuesday, Federal Court Justice Richard Mosley said the invocation of the Emergencies Act led to the infringement of constitutional rights. Political Cartoons View All 253 Images“I conclude that there was no national emergency justifying the invocation of the Emergencies Act and the decision to do so was therefore unreasonable,” Mosley wrote. Freeland said it was a hard decision to invoke the act but called the protests a serious threat to public safety, national security and Canada's economic security. The protests were first aimed at a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers.

Persons: Hill, Justin Trudeau’s, Richard Mosley, ” Mosley, Chrystia Freeland, Freeland, Trudeau Organizations: TORONTO, Canadian, Justin Trudeau’s Liberal, Convoy, Police, Federal, Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Ottawa, Canada’s, Rights, Freedoms Locations: Ottawa, U.S, Canada, Coutts , Alberta, Montana, France , New Zealand, Netherlands, Windsor , Ontario, Detroit

☆ Tensions With Iran Add to Pakistan's Economic Challenges
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Pakistan conducted strikes inside Iran, targeting separatist Baloch militants two days after Tehran said it had attacked the bases of another group within Pakistani territory. It is undergoing a tough $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout programme that pulled it from the brink of default last summer. Pakistan's international bonds fell after its foreign ministry said it conducted strikes inside Iran on Thursday, two days after Tehran attacked the bases of another group within Pakistani territory. Earlier in the day, Pakistan's benchmark share index fell 1.6% after Pakistan said it conducted strikes inside Iran, before recovering some ground. Pakistan's economic ties with Iran, while not huge, are important for Islamabad as it struggles to supply its western- most regions in Balochistan with critical commodities, including fuel and electricity.

Persons: Aneel Salman, Salman, Pakistan's, Hasnain Malik, Ariba Shahid, Karin Strohecker, Amanda Cooper, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Baloch, Monetary Fund, Liquified Petroleum Gas, Islamabad Policy Research Institute, Pipeline Locations: KARACHI, LONDON, Pakistan, Iran, Tehran, Tradeweb, Islamabad, Balochistan, Afghanistan, Russia, India, Karachi, London

☆ Dean Phillips, Bill Ackman, a $1 Million Gift and a Website Tweak
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Rebecca Davis O Brien | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The campaign website for Representative Dean Phillips, the Minnesota Democrat mounting a long-shot primary challenge to President Biden, has a policy platform that signals liberal bona fides tempered by a Midwestern businessman’s practicality. It includes headers like “Climate Action,” “Women’s Health and Economic Security” and “Immigration Reform.”Sometime on Tuesday, one header was changed. Gone was “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” In its place: “Equity and Restorative Justice.”The text beneath the header — including acknowledgments of racial disparities and vague promises to ensure equal opportunity — was untouched. But the tweak was nonetheless significant. Even more so was its timing: On Saturday, Mr. Phillips had received the endorsement of William A. Ackman, the billionaire investor who in recent months has become an outspoken critic of so-called D.E.I.

Persons: Dean Phillips, Biden, ”, —, Phillips, William A, Ackman, Phillips’s, Martin Luther King’s Organizations: Minnesota Democrat, Economic Security, Equity, PAC Locations: Minnesota

☆ FBI and CISA warn companies to be wary of using Chinese-made drones over national security risks
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN —Chinese-made drones “continue to pose a significant risk to critical infrastructure and US national security” and companies should be wary of using them, the FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warned in a new memo issued Wednesday. “Our nation’s critical infrastructure sectors, such as energy, chemical and communications, are increasingly relying on [unmanned aerial systems] for various missions that ultimately reduce operating costs and improve staff safety,” said CISA Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security Dr. David Mussington in a statement. The Department of Homeland Security has been warning about the risks posed by Chinese-made drones, which dominate the global market for commercial drones, for years. “CISA and the FBI rightly point out the risk, and more importantly, how to mitigate these known cyber risks. It’s clear that the United States government has deemed Chinese-made drones a threat to security as China’s dominance of the electronics supply chain, including drones, is harming U.S. national security interests.”

Persons: ”, David Mussington, DJI, Brian Harrell, we’ve, “ CISA Organizations: Washington CNN, FBI, Infrastructure Security Agency, CNN, Infrastructure Security, PRC’s, Civil Fusion, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, US Army, U.S Locations: China, People’s Republic of China, United States, Canada, DJI

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s president-elect, has vowed to safeguard the island’s de-facto independence from China and further align it with other democracies. Lai, 64, emerged victorious in the election Saturday on the island of 23 million people that China claims as its own. He is currently vice president with the Democratic Progressive Party, which has rejected China’s sovereignty claims over Taiwan. Lai has vowed to strengthen the island’s defense and economy, which depends heavily on trade with China. As vice president, Lai helped promote Taiwan’s interests internationally.

Persons: — Lai Ching, Lai, ”, Lai Ching, Sung, Joe Biden, Camp David, Antony Blinken, Mike Johnson, ” Lai, Tsai Ing, Bi, Hsiao, Shinzo Abe, ___ Adam Schreck, Seung Min Kim Organizations: Democratic Progressive Party, Atlantic Council, America, White, Camp, Street, Harvard, U.S . Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Taiwan Strait, Beijing, New York, San Francisco, Paraguay, U.S, People’s Republic of China, Maryland, Taipei, Ukraine, Tainan, United States, Japan, Bangkok, Washington

☆ Supply chains, trade top agenda for Yellen Mexico trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen hosts Leaders from Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP) countries at the Treasury Department in Washington, DC, on November 3, 2023. WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will travel to Mexico City this week to strengthen economic ties with America's top trading partner, the Treasury Department said Monday. Yellen will meet with Mexican counterparts, including President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, from Dec. 5-7 on creating supply chains spanning the bordering nations to spur job growth and bolster economic security, according to a release. Imports and exports between the U.S. and Mexico reached nearly $600 billion so far in 2023, per the International Trade Administration, and exceeded $850 billion in 2022, according to Treasury. Direct investments between the nations include manufacturing, wholesale trade, real estate and finance and insurance, according to the U.S. Trade Representative.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Yellen, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping Organizations: Americas Partnership, Economic Prosperity, Treasury Department, WASHINGTON —, Mexican, U.S, International Trade Administration, Treasury, U.S . Trade, Jalisco Nueva Generacion, U.S . Locations: Washington ,, Mexico City, Mexico, United States, Jalisco, U.S

☆ NATO navies are worried about Russia using its unique weapons to pick a fight on territory nobody controls
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Constantine Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Recent damage to undersea pipelines and cables in Europe has raised concern among NATO members. AdvertisementThe emphasis on defending underwater infrastructure is visible in the alliance's operations. The annual Dynamic Messenger exercise includes a focus on protecting critical underwater infrastructure and involves information exchanges between alliance militaries and private-sector actors. OLE BERG-RUSTEN/NTB/AFP via Getty ImagesProtecting underwater infrastructure is no simple task, however. AdvertisementThe situation becomes more complicated because underwater infrastructure often passes through international waters, muddling the legal framework around its protection and making a response harder.

Persons: —, David Cattler, Shawn Coover, Adm, Ben Key, Jens Köhler, JEF, Andrey Luzik, Key, Constantine Atlamazoglou Organizations: NATO, Service, Finnish Border Guard, REUTERS, Steam, US Marine Corps, Staff, British Royal Navy's, Royal Navy, Getty, Joint Expeditionary Force, Norwegian Coast Guard, OLE BERG, Russia Ministry of Defense, Directorate, Fletcher School of Law, LinkedIn, Twitter Locations: Europe, Russia, NATO's, Estonia, Finland, Baltic, Norway, Norwegian, Germany, Ukraine, Hiddensee, Nordic, AFP, Severomorsk

☆ UNICEF Chief: Gaza Soon Faces a “Public Health Catastrophe” - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Catherine Russell | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Inside, I was met with a sea of patients, health care workers and the displaced. These children, Gaza’s youngest — as well as those in utero — are especially vulnerable to the burgeoning crisis of malnutrition and the prospect of starvation. These conditions, when combined with displacement and overcrowding in shelters, can quickly lead to disease outbreaks that threaten everyone, especially malnourished children. And without clean water, health care facilities cannot provide effective treatment to those in need, nor can they maintain basic infection prevention and control measures. Gaza’s children have endured far too much death and suffering already.

Persons: Wahida, Khan Younis, Balah Organizations: Nasser Hospital, United Nations, Hamas Locations: Afghanistan, Gaza, Khan, Deir al

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