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☆ China's biggest problem is a 'lack of confidence,' Standard Chartered CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

"China's biggest problem to me is a lack of confidence. External investors lack confidence in China and domestic savers lack confidence," Bill Winters, CEO of emerging markets-focused bank Standard Chartered, told CNBC's Dan Murphy Monday during a panel discussion. "But I think China is going through a major transition from old economy to new economy," Winters added. Investors are closely watching China, whose stock market gyrations, deflation problem and property woes are casting a shadow over the global growth outlook. Property and related industries account for about 25% of China's gross domestic product.

Persons: Bill Winters, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Winters Organizations: Chartered, International Monetary Fund Locations: DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, China

☆ Half of Gen Z workers think ChatGPT gives better career advice than their manager, survey says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Allie Kelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

To retain Gen Z talent, companies should emphasize mentorship and learning in the workplace. AdvertisementWhen some Gen Z workers need career advice, they think ChatGPT will offer better guidance than their managers. In fact, 44% of Gen Z respondents said they are considering quitting their jobs in the next six months. Gen Z workers are looking for learning and development, not just money, from their jobs, according to research by The Standard. And, when young workers feel disconnected from their managers, they likely feel disconnected from their employers.

Persons: —, Gen Z, Zers, Gen Zers, Gen Xers, Gen Organizations: Service, Workplace Intelligence

The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021 drove millions into poverty and hunger after foreign aid stopped almost overnight. “Women and girls have been disproportionately affected by the healthcare crisis, particularly because of Taliban abuses,” said the report. “The loss of foreign development aid and Taliban rights violations have caused a catastrophic health crisis in Afghanistan that is disproportionately harming women and girls,” the report quoted Fereshta Abbasi, Afghanistan researcher at Human Rights Watch, as saying. Fifteen of the interviewees, 12 women and three men, were with Afghans who had sought health care. The rights group also talked to Afghan healthcare officials, 10 women and eight men.

Persons: ”, Fereshta Abbasi, Abbasi Organizations: Rights Watch, NATO, Food Program, Human Rights Watch, HRW, Mercy Corps Locations: ISLAMABAD, New York, Afghanistan, Samangan

☆ Migratory species are in a shocking state of decline, landmark UN report shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Angela Dewan | Rachel Ramirez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Migratory species include some of the most iconic animals on the planet, like elephants. Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty ImagesBaby Leatherback sea turtles head to the sea at sunset on Indonesia's Lhoknga Beach in February 2023. Those activities also fragment migratory species’ pathways, sometimes making it impossible for them to complete their journeys. Around 58% of the monitored locations recognized as important for migratory species are facing what the CMS says are unsustainable levels of pressure from humans. “Migratory species have a special role in nature as they don’t recognize political boundaries,” said Anurag Agrawal, professor of environmental studies at Cornell University.

Persons: They’ve, Yasuyoshi Chiba, Chaideer Mahyuddin, Didier Brandelet, Kristin Laidre, Amy Fraenkel, Scott Gibbons, Zheng Yuanjian, Carl de Souza, Sergio Pitamitz, Wolfgang Kaehler, ” Inger Andersen, ”, Anurag Agrawal Organizations: CNN, UN, Convention, Animals, Getty, McCormick, United Nations Environment, Cornell University Locations: Asia, Alaska, Kimana, Kenya, AFP, Beach, Greenland, Elsehul, South Georgia, longline, Chicago, Lake Michigan, Xinhua, Mongolia, UN, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

☆ US F-16s are exceeding the expectations of Ukraine's pilots, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukrainian pilots training on US F-16s are "very impressed" with the fighter jets, a report said. The Ukrainian service of the Voice of America report cites a Ukrainian Air Force pilot. AdvertisementUkrainian pilots are "very impressed" with US F-16 fighter jets, the Ukrainian service of the Voice of America reported. It will still be several months before they see action against Russian forces, a Ukrainian Air Force spokesman said. AdvertisementDespite this, it noted that "the effort spent training Ukrainian pilots, ground crews, and logisticians to operate and maintain these aircraft will have long-term value."

Persons: —, Pat Ryder, Grant Shapps, we're, Rustem Umerov, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mads Claus Rasmussen, Ritzau Scanpix Organizations: Ukrainian Air Force, US Air Force, Service, Air Force, Pentagon Press, Britain's Royal Air Force, UK Defence, Armed Forces, Ukraine's Defense, Russia, Russian, Getty, The Telegraph, US Air, AIM, Atlantic Council Locations: Europe, Denmark, Ukraine, AFP, Netherlands, Norway

☆ Cuba Charges 30 Over Massive Chicken Heist
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba has charged 30 people for stealing 133 tonnes of chicken and selling them on the street in a rare major heist at a time of food shortages in the communist-run nation. The chicken had been earmarked for Cuba`s "rationbook" system introduced after the late Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution to provide subsidized staples for all. Rigoberto Mustelier, director of government food distributor COPMAR, said the quantity stolen was the equivalent of a month`s ration of chicken for a medium-sized province at current distribution rates. The amount of chicken available via the rationbook has fallen sharply in recent years as economic crisis has brought scarcities of food, fuel and medicines. Authorities did not say when the chicken theft took place, but noted it likely occurred between midnight and 2 a.m., when they detected fluctuations in the temperature of the cold storage facility.

Persons: Fidel Castro's, Rigoberto Mustelier, Dave Sherwood, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: TV, Authorities Locations: HAVANA, Cuba, Havana, Cuban

Hur cleared Biden of criminal wrongdoing in the 345-page report but inserted many unflattering references to Biden personally – calling him a "well-meaning, elderly man" with trouble remembering things. The Best Political Cartoons on Joe Biden View All 270 ImagesThe White House came back to the issue Friday with a fury. He noted that on Page 2 of the report, Hur argued that Biden "willfully" retained materials – but "buried way later on Page 215," the report said there was a shortage of evidence to support that. "I would call it a backhanded exoneration of President Biden. Former federal prosecutor Barbara McQuade said Hur "seems to go out of his way to smear Joe Biden.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Joe Biden's, Robert Hur, Donald Trump, Merrick Garland, Hur, Biden, –, Beau, Joe Biden, Harris, Ian Sams, Sams, It's, Norm Eisen, Eisen, Barbara McQuade, McQuade, Trump, Garland Organizations: White, Biden, Trump, Former Justice Department, Department, GOP Locations: Israel, Maryland

The report comes as access to sensitive taxpayer information has sparked calls for investigations — and calls for reform on taxes for the wealthy. Littlejohn had applied to work as a contractor to get Trump’s tax returns and carefully figured out how to search and extract tax data to avoid triggering suspicions internally, prosecutors said in court documents. Werfel said that since the agency has received funding through Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act, it has been able to markedly improve the security of sensitive information, including audit trail deficiencies. “Our data security and environment is dramatically better today than it was in 2017 to 2020 when this unauthorized access occurred," Werfel said. "And it’s dramatically better today because we now have the resources to make the right investments to strengthen our data security.

Persons: Daniel Werfel —, —, ”, “, TIGTA, Charles Edward Littlejohn of, Donald Trump, Littlejohn, Jason Smith, Werfel, Lindsay Whitehurst Organizations: WASHINGTON, IRS, Treasury, Associated Press, Charles Edward Littlejohn of Washington, Charles Edward Littlejohn of Washington , D.C, New York Times, Associated Locations: Charles Edward Littlejohn of Washington ,

Washington CNN —The White House on Friday did not rule out the possibility of releasing the transcript of President Joe Biden’s interviews with special counsel Robert Hur about his handling of classified documents, with the caveat that any classified information would have to be redacted. But pressed on whether Biden would support a release, Sams didn’t rule it out. Polling has shown that Biden’s age is the top concern from Democrat voters who otherwise support his policies. Those concerns have been amplified in the past week, as Biden has confused contemporary European leaders with leaders who ruled decades ago. He said that Hur told Biden he wanted him to “try to recall to the best of your abilities.”“That’s often what prosecutors would tell witnesses,” Sams said.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Robert Hur, Ian Sams, Biden, Sams, “, ”, Sams ’, Kamala Harris, –, ” Harris, Harris, Hur, ” Hur, ” Biden, ” Sams, ‘, ” “, Biden “ Organizations: Washington CNN, Biden, White Locations: Israel, “, willfulness

Classified documents were found in a damaged cardboard box in President Joe Biden's cluttered Delaware garage, near where golf clubs hung on the wall. Trump, on the other hand, is scheduled to stand trial on charges alleging he hoarded classified documents at his Florida estate and thwarted government efforts to get them back. At look at the similarities and differences between the Biden and Trump investigations:WHAT KINDS OF DOCUMENTS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? Trump is accused of not only hoarding classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, but trying to hide them from investigators and working to block the government from clawing them back. “Most notably, after being given multiple chances to return classified documents and avoid prosecution, Mr. Trump allegedly did the opposite,” the report said.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Donald Trump's, Robert Hur, Biden, Trump, Jack Smith, ! ” Biden, Hur, Barack Obama, Obama, Investigators, ” TRUMP, HUR, BIDEN, “, —, Virginia —, It's, accidently, ”, Biden —, Walt Nauta, Carlos De Oliveira, ____ Richer Organizations: Maryland, Trump, Biden, BIDEN, FBI, Prosecutors, House, Mar, Penn Biden Center, University of Delaware, Justice Department Locations: Delaware, U.S, Florida, Afghanistan, Biden's Delaware, Mar, Virginia, willfulness, clawing, Bedminster, Lago, Boston

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has imposed financial restrictions on the main U.N. agency providing aid in the Gaza Strip, a measure which prevented a shipment of food for 1.1 million Palestinians from reaching the war-battered enclave, the agency's director said Friday. The U.N. food agency defines a famine as when 30% of children are malnourished, one-fifth of households face acute food shortages and two of every 10,000 people are dying from hunger or malnutrition. UNRWA, which serves about 6 million Palestinians whose families were displaced during the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948, denies the charges. UNWRA is the main provider of aid to Palestinians in Gaza, but Israeli bombardment and combat between Israel and Hamas has made much of the territory too dangerous for aid convoys to cross. Israel alleged last month that 12 employees of the aid agency participated in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in southern Israel.

Persons: — Israel, Philippe Lazzarini, Israel, Juliette Touma, Touma, Bezalel Smotrich, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, didn't, Lazzarini, “ Organizations: JERUSALEM, UNRWA, Food, Israel, Bank Leumi, Hamas, Food Program Locations: Gaza, Israel, U.S, Turkey, Ashdod, Port Said, Egypt, Rafah

☆ Japan's stock markets are on a tear. Will 'zombie’ firms threaten the bull run?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

What are zombie companies? Japan's "zombie" problem has been around for a long time, said William Pesek, author of the book "Japanization: What the World Can Learn from Japan's Lost Decades." Raising the borrowing cost will put these zombie companies at risk of bankruptcy and bailouts, which could have a broader impact on the economy if there are job losses. "But the aid program has led to an increase in the number of 'zombie' companies that would otherwise have been unable to continue operating," the report added. Japan's stock markets have also been testing new highs since 2023, and higher interest rates could halt the bull run.

Persons: Adam Pretty, William Pesek, we've, Pesek, CNBC's Martin Soong, Warren Buffett's, Warren Buffett, Kazuo Ueda, Ueda Organizations: Getty, Bank of Japan, Tide, Asia Times, Japan Times, CNBC, Nikkei Locations: TOKYO, JAPAN, Roppongi Hills, Tokyo, Japan, Asia

☆ Zyn confirms that business is booming in the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. While shipments to retailers and distributors can outpace actual consumer sales of the pouches, those year-over-year growth numbers indicate that Zyn sales are booming in the US. A spokesperson for Philip Morris International told Business Insider that "the best thing anyone worried about their health can do is to quit, or never start, using nicotine. "ZYN is marketed exclusively to current adult nicotine consumers as an alternative — with cigarettes being the most harmful nicotine product," the spokesperson added.

Persons: —, Philip Morris, Zyn, It's, Chuck Schumer Organizations: Service, Philip Morris International, Swedish, Business, GOP, PMI

☆ Meta removes Facebook and Instagram accounts of Iran’s Supreme Leader
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Rosa Rahimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Meta has removed the Facebook and Instagram accounts of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to Meta, the accounts have been disabled, which means they are permanently removed. “We have removed these accounts for repeatedly violating our Dangerous Organizations & Individuals policy,” a Meta spokesperson told CNN. Meta did not give a specific reason as to why Khamenei’s account fell under the Dangerous Organizations and Individuals Policy. “We expect the threat posed by Iran’s cyber and influence operations will grow as the conflict persists,” the Microsoft Threat Intelligence report said.

Persons: Ali Khamenei, Biden, ”, Mahsa Alimardani, Meta, “ Organizations: CNN, Meta, Facebook, Iran’s, Organizations, US State Department, Foreign Terrorist Organization, Microsoft, ” Microsoft, Intelligence Locations: Iran, Yemen, Israel, Tehran, “, Iranian, UAE, Canada

☆ U.S. lawmakers accuse five VC firms of investing $3 billion in Chinese companies linked to military activities
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Rep. Mike Gallagher, center, chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, speaks at a news conference following a GOP caucus meeting at the Republican National Committee offices in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 28, 2023. He is joined by fellow Republicans Rep. Elise Stefanik, left, and Majority Whip Steve Scalise. Sequoia Capital China, Qualcomm Ventures and three other venture capital firms plowed at least $3 billion into Chinese tech companies that support Beijing's military and its repression of minorities in Xinjiang, a U.S. congressional report alleged on Thursday. Reuters could not reach the venture capital firms for comment. The White House did not respond to requests for comment.

Persons: Mike Gallagher, Elise Stefanik, Steve Scalise, Biden Organizations: Chinese Communist Party, Republican National Committee, Washington , D.C, Sequoia Capital China, Qualcomm Ventures, Representatives, Republican, GGV, GSR Ventures, Walden International, U.S, Embassy Locations: Washington ,, Sequoia Capital, Xinjiang, U.S, China, People's Republic of China, Washington

☆ Trump Calls His Classified Documents Case ‘Selective Persecution’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Michael Gold | Glenn Thrush | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Former President Donald J. Trump, who faces a criminal case accusing him of illegally retaining classified documents, blasted on Friday a special counsel’s decision not to charge President Biden for his handling of classified material, accusing prosecutors of an unfair double standard. “You know, look, if he’s not going to be charged, that’s up to them. But then I should not be charged,” Mr. Trump said at an event in Harrisburg, Pa. “This is nothing more than selective persecution of Biden’s political opponent: me.”Mr. Trump’s speech, at a forum hosted by the National Rifle Association, were his first public remarks on the matter since the special counsel, Robert K. Hur, released a report stating that, although Mr. Biden had “willfully” retained and disclosed classified material after his vice presidency had ended, no criminal charges were warranted. Mr. Trump said he had cooperated “with the very hostile and unfriendly feds” more than Mr. Biden, a claim unsupported by any evidence. Mr. Hur’s report said the president fully cooperated with his investigation, while Mr. Trump has been accused of misleading the government for months over the classified documents in his possession.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Biden, he’s, Mr, Robert K, Hur, “, ”, Hur’s Organizations: National Rifle Association Locations: Harrisburg, Pa

The unredacted report found that Biden carelessly handled classified materials after he left the vice presidency, even sharing classified materials with the ghostwriter for his autobiography. But the report by special counsel Robert K. Hur recommended that Biden not be prosecuted, since the evidence was not powerful enough to charge him. It was that headline Biden himself seized on Wednesday afternoon as he rallied fellow Democrats at their retreat in Leesburg, Virginia. "I was especially pleased to see the special counsel make clear the stark differences in this case and Donald Trump," Biden added, referring to the 40 -count indictment against the former president. Trump is facing serious legal consequences because of his classified documents case, but Biden may face serious political damage from the special counsel's report on his handling of classified materials.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Beau, Robert K, Hur, Donald Trump, Trump, –, Jack Smith, ’, Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Nikki Haley, Richard Sauber Organizations: Justice Department, Republicans, GOP, United Nations Locations: Leesburg , Virginia, Afghanistan, Leesburg, Israel

"There's some attention paid to some language in the report about my recollection of events," Biden said in a hastily called news conference at the White House. How in the hell dare he raise that?” Biden said, turning emotional as he often does when he speaks of Beau Biden, who died of a brian tumor in 2015. The report said Biden would not be charged, noting there was not sufficient evidence to prove he had willfully intended to retain the documents. The report was written by special counsel Robert Hur, a Trump appointee brought in by Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate Biden in this case. Before the unredacted report was released, Biden lawyer Robert Bauer sent a scathing letter to Hur on the personal comments about Biden.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, ” Biden, Beau Biden, brian, Donald Trump, Robert Hur, General Merrick Garland, Robert Bauer, Hur, Bauer, ’, Jamie Raskin Organizations: Department, Justice, White, Department of Justice, Biden, Trump, Republicans, GOP, Fox News, Maryland Democrat Locations: Gaza, Mexico, Maryland

☆ Special counsel report specifically cites Biden's age and poor memory as a reason he wasn't charged
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Special Counsel Robert Hur investigated President Joe Biden's improper document storage for a year. It specifically cites Biden's declining memory and old age as reasons not to prosecute. AdvertisementUS Special Counsel Robert Hur's newly released report cites President Joe Biden's memory and advanced age as a reason not to charge him for mishandling classified documents. "Nonetheless, the most important decision the Special Counsel made—that no charges are warranted—is firmly based on the facts and evidence." The special counsel's report comes as Republican leaders and some Democrats have raised alarms about the president's age cognitive abilities.

Persons: Robert Hur, Joe Biden's, —, Robert Hur's, Biden's, Donald Trump, Biden, White, Richard Sauber, weren't Organizations: Service, Sauber Locations: willfulness

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Banking troubles again roil markets
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Nikkei ralliesAsia markets mostly rose Thursday, while Japan's Nikkei led gains and hit fresh 34-year highs. Russian oilIndia's energy minister claimed "the world is grateful to India for buying Russian oil," adding the move keeps global crude prices affordable. The country's refiners have been snapping up discounted Russian oil since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Persons: China's, VCs, Son's SoftBank, David Gibson Organizations: New York Community Bank, CNBC, Nikkei, Japan's Nikkei, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Nintendo Analysts, Nintendo Locations: Hicksville , New York, Asia, India, Ukraine

☆ OpenAI's Altman in Talks to Raise Funds for Chips, AI Initiative - WSJ
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) -OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is in talks with investors, including the UAE, to raise funds for a tech initiative to boost the world's chip-building capacity and expand its ability to power AI, among other things, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. The project could require raising as much as $5 trillion to $7 trillion, the report added, citing people familiar with the matter. Altman's fundraising plans are aimed at solving constraints to OpenAI's growth, including the scarcity of artificial intelligence (AI) chips required to train large language models behind systems such as ChatGPT, the WSJ reported. War in Israel and Gaza View All 206 ImagesThe Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has forecast a 13.1% jump in global chip sales to $595.3 billion this year, compared with a drop of about 8% in sales in 2023. The amounts Altman has discussed are outlandishly large by the standards of corporate fundraising, the report added.

Persons: Sam Altman, Altman, Gnaneshwar Rajan, Rashmi Aich Organizations: Reuters, Wall Street, Microsoft, Semiconductor Industry Association, SIA Locations: UAE, Israel, Gaza, OpenAI, Bengaluru

The special counsel report found that Biden willfully retained classified information, including top secret documents, and knew he was in possession of some documents as far back as 2017. House Oversight Committee Republicans, who have separately investigated Biden’s handling of classified documents, criticized Hur’s report before it was even released or delivered to Congress. “Most notably, after being given multiple chances to return classified documents and avoid prosecution, Mr. Trump allegedly did the opposite.” Hur wrote. “Among the places Mr. Biden’s lawyers found classified documents in the garage was a damaged, opened box containing numerous hanging folders, file folders, and binders,” the report said. The photos included in Trump’s charging documents showed how he allegedly stored classified documents in various places at his Mar-a-Lago estate, including a ballroom, bathroom shower and his bedroom.

Persons: Robert Hur’s, Joe Biden, Biden, Hur, ”, Donald Trump, Biden Hur, Biden’s, “, ” Hur, “ Mr, Tom Emmer, ” Emmer, X, Biden “, Hur’s, – Biden, Trump, Jack Smith, Smith, ’, Richard Sauber, Bob Bauer, Bauer, ” Bauer, CNN’s Hannah Rabinowitz, Evan Perez, Melanie Zanona, Annie Grayer Organizations: Washington CNN, flouting, Department, FBI, Trump, Republicans, GOP, Investigators, Biden, ”, Capitol, Judiciary, Department of Justice, Mar, White, National Archives, ” Sauber, flouted Locations: Biden’s Wilmington , Delaware, Afghanistan, Virginia, Delaware, Biden’s, Lago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Special Counsel Robert Hur on Thursday released his long-awaited report on President Joe Biden's handling of classified documents, concluding that Biden had “willfully” retained and disclosed highly classified materials when he was a private citizen. The special counsel report will hardly be helpful to Biden on that count. Biden’s memory was significantly limited” in interviews with the special counsel office as well as with a ghostwriter that Biden worked with. In his interview with the special counsel’s office, Hur writes, Biden twice appeared confused about when his term as vice president ended. Still, Trump can now cite special counsel Robert Hur’s finding that Biden retained and disclosed highly classified materials.

Persons: Robert Hur, Joe Biden's, Biden, “, ”, Donald Trump's, Hur, stashed, Weeks, —, he's, Beau’s, ‘, General Karl Eikenberry, Eikenberry, Mr, approvingly, Obama, it's Trump, Trump, Robert Hur’s, Jason Miller, Jack Smith’s, Hillary Clinton’s, James Comey, Clinton, Thursday’s Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democratic, Trump, FBI, Biden, TRUMP, Republican, White, U.S . Capitol, State Department Locations: Afghanistan, Delaware, Lago, Florida, Washington

☆ North Korea Leader Kim: We Will Wipe Out Enemies if They Use Force -KCNA
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Kim made the comments during a visit to the defence ministry on Thursday, rallying soldiers to uphold the ideology of the ruling Workers' Party and defend the country with their lives, KCNA news agency reported. "If enemies try to use force against our country, we will make the bold decision to change history and not hesitate to use all our super power to wipe them out," KCNA quoted him as saying. Kim repeated his vow to never hold dialogue or negotiations with South Korea, which he said was his country's "enemy No. 1," and said the policy of powerful military readiness was the only way to ensure peace and security for North Korea, KCNA said. North Korea has marked the foundation of its military on Feb. 8 and last year held a large military parade at midnight showcasing its largest intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Persons: Jack Kim SEOUL, Kim Jong Un, Kim, KCNA, Ae, Jack Kim, Chris Reese, Jamie Freed Organizations: Workers ' Party Locations: South Korea, North Korea, Seoul, Korea

President Joe Biden "willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice presidency," according to a special counsel's final report released Thursday. But the special counsel, Robert Hur, said he was declining to prosecute Biden over his handling of classified documents about military and foreign policy in Afghanistan, and other material. "Our investigation uncovered evidence that President Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice presidency when he was a private citizen," Hur wrote. "We conclude that no criminal charges are warranted in this matter," the report said. "We reach the same conclusion even if Department of Justice policy did not foreclose criminal charges against a sitting president."

Persons: Joe Biden, Eisenhower, Robert Hur, Biden, Hur, General Merrick Garland, Donald Trump, Trump Organizations: of Justice, White House, FBI Locations: Afghanistan, Palm

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