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☆ The New Pick for Attorney General
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-22 | by ( Matthew Cullen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Pam Bondi, who Donald Trump tapped last night for attorney general after former Representative Matt Gaetz dropped his bid, is arriving on the national stage with a smaller profile and less political baggage than Gaetz. Bondi began working as an assistant state attorney in the Tampa area in the 1990s, before becoming Florida’s first female attorney general in 2011. Like Gaetz, Bondi is a Trump loyalist. She served on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment and oversaw the filing of voting-related lawsuits in battleground states. He has vowed to purge the agency of what he calls “deep state” foes — suggesting an end to the department’s longstanding practice of independence.

Persons: Pam Bondi, Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz, Bondi Organizations: Republican, U.S ., Trump, Justice Department Locations: Tampa, U.S, Bondi

He was the founder of Apple Daily, a pro-democracy, anti-Beijing newspaper that was forced to shut down in 2021. The trial, which began in December 2023, is the most high-profile prosecution of a Hong Kong media figure since the city was handed over from British to Chinese control in 1997. Like all national security trials in Hong Kong, Lai’s trial does not have a jury and is presided over by three judges picked from a national security committee that is approved by Hong Kong’s leader. “Jimmy Lai is a key instigator of anti-China activities, and his collusion with external forces to disrupt Hong Kong and incite division is well-known,” China’s foreign ministry office in Hong Kong said in a statement last week. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Hong Kong at 135 out of 180 places in its annual press freedom ranking.

Persons: Jimmy Lai, hasn’t, Hong Kong’s, Joshua Wong, “, Donald Trump, Lai, Keir Starmer, Xi Jinping, “ We’re, Jimmy Lai’s, ” Starmer, Xi, Daniel Suen, ’, Chiu Mei, “ Lai, ”, Chris Lau, CNN Lai, Trump Lai, Mike Pence, Trump, you’re, ” Lai, Hong, Anthony Kwan, John Lee, Lee, Trump’s, Hugh Hewitt, I’ll Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Apple, White, Apple Daily, Getty, Hong, CNN, “, ” Prosecutors, Kowloon Law, Trump, Beijing, Hong Kong . Police, ” Police, HK, Hong Kong Locations: Hong Kong, China, Britain, British, Brazil, AFP, Beijing, Kowloon, Washington, “ Hong Kong, China , Hong Kong, Hong

☆ Hong Kong 47: Democracy leaders sentenced to lengthy jail terms in largest national security trial as Beijing tightens grip
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Chris Lau | Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Benny Tai, a prominent legal scholar and veteran protest leader, received the longest prison term of 10 years – the toughest sentence to date handed down under the national security law. But since the national security law came into effect in 2020, Hong Kong’s political and legal landscape has been transformed. The administration of outgoing US President Joe Biden was also critical of Bejing’s crackdown in Hong Kong, even as it tried to recalibrate ties with Beijing. John Burns, emeritus professor at the University of Hong Kong, said the cumulative changes have reduced the city’s autonomy and citizens’ participation in politics. “The new regime has restricted human rights in Hong Kong, rights that Hong Kongers used to enjoy.

Persons: Hong Kong’s, Joshua Wong, “, –, Benny Tai, Wong, Gwyneth Ho, Leung Kwok, Claudia Mo, teared, ” –, Chris Lau, Lee Yue, ”, Hong, Donald Trump’s, Joe Biden, Trump, Raphael Wong Ho, John Burns, Hong Kongers, Hong Kong, John Lee –, ” Lee Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong, CNN Landmark, Police, Washington, Beijing, CNN, Legislative Council, University of Hong, Authorities, Communist Party Locations: Hong Kong, Kowloon, Beijing, British, China, University of Hong Kong, Hong

☆ What is the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 that Trump says he will invoke
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Catherine E. Shoichet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

“I think a very strong argument could be made that in those situations, the Alien Enemies Act can be employed,” he says. French nationals were the original target lawmakers had in mind when they passed the Alien Enemies Act. Buyenlarge/Archive Photos/Getty ImagesWhen has the Alien Enemies Act been used before? The Alien Enemies Act does allow individuals to bring lawsuits challenging their detention, Reisz says. Some Democratic lawmakers have tried to repeal the Alien Enemies Act in recent years.

Persons: Donald Trump, John Adams, ” Trump, “, Trump, John Moore, ”, haven’t, Woodrow Wilson, Katherine Yon Ebright, Brennan, Ebright, ” Ebright, Rebecca Noble, Jean Lantz Reisz, isn’t, ” Reisz, …, ” George Fishman, Fishman, couldn’t, ” Fishman, Mae Ngai, Brennan Center’s Ebright, Ngai, —, ” Ngai, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, it’s, ‘, ’ ” Ebright, Reisz, you’re, Frederic J . Brown, Biden, He’s, ” Sen, Mazie Hirono Organizations: CNN, ”, Republican Party, New York University, Border Patrol, University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law, Department of Homeland Security, Center for Immigration Studies, Columbia University, German, Department of Justice, National Archives, Customs, Getty, Trump, Democratic Locations: France, United States, Mexico, Springs , California, New Mexico, “, Prescott Valley , Arizona, Fort Douglas , Utah, AFP, China, Hawaii

☆ Elon Musk worries free speech advocates with his calls to prosecute researchers and critics
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-13 | by ( David Ingram | Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

He cited X's increasing compliance with foreign governments' demands to censor content on the platform and the lawsuits against the Center for Countering Digital Hate and Media Matters. X has a pending lawsuit against Media Matters and a pending appeal in a lawsuit that X lost against the Center for Countering Digital Hate. The ACLU, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University filed an amicus brief in support of the Center for Countering Digital Hate. The feud between Musk and the Center for Countering Digital Hate has continued. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, also criticized the Center for Countering Digital Hate on Thursday, sending the organization a demand for documents related to the "Kill Musk's Twitter" language.

Persons: Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Anna Moneymaker, Musk, Victoria Nuland, Nadine Strossen, Trump, Strossen, they're, Aaron Terr, Terr, there's, Michael Gerhardt, Chapel Hill, —, X, Charles Breyer, Imran Ahmed, Elon, Ahmed, Jim Jordan Organizations: Republican, State Department, Center, American Civil Liberties Union, New York Law School, SpaceX, Justice Department, Foundation, Rights, Hate, Media, NBC News, NBC, Media Matters, University of North, Chapel, Department, The Justice, District, ACLU, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Columbia University, Racket, Federal Government Locations: Butler , Pennsylvania, University of North Carolina, U.S, Ohio

“Any disputes Musk has with his critics should play out in the court of public opinion, not a court of law,” Terr said. Musk and representatives at X did not respond to requests for comment on his calls for prosecution. Musk and X have sometimes found allies among members of Congress or state attorneys general who have launched investigations. “The First Amendment obviously protects both Musk and his critics in making public pronouncements about each other,” he said in an email. The feud between Musk and the Center for Countering Digital Hate has continued.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, Victoria Nuland, ”, ” Musk, Donald Trump, Nadine Strossen, Trump, Strossen, they’re, ” Aaron Terr, ” Terr, there’s, Michael Gerhardt, Chapel Hill, —, X, Charles Breyer, Imran Ahmed, “ Elon Musk, “, ” Ahmed, Ahmed, Jim Jordan, Travis Brown, Brown, Aaron Greenspan, PlainSite, Greenspan, Jack Sweeney, Sweeney, Taylor Swift, he’s, “ Trump Organizations: State Department, Center, American Civil Liberties Union, New York Law School, “, SpaceX, Justice Department, Foundation, Rights, Hate, Media, NBC News, NBC, Media Matters, University of North, Chapel, Department, The Justice, District, ACLU, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Columbia University, Constitution, Racket, Twitter, Federal Government, World Federation, Internet, Wired, Washington Post Locations: University of North Carolina, U.S, Ohio, Texas, San Francisco

HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s top leader on Tuesday warned President-elect Donald Trump not to interfere in the Chinese territory’s internal affairs after he said he would “100%” free the imprisoned pro-democracy activist and tycoon Jimmy Lai. He said Hong Kong, whose government denies that judicial independence is under threat, also valued the rule of law. “In these respects, I hope that all countries will respect the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and avoid political interference that could affect the judiciary and normal commercial activities in Hong Kong,” he said. Hong Kong also enacted its own national security legislation in March. Pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai being escorted out of court in Hong Kong in 2021.

Persons: Hong Kong’s, Donald Trump, Jimmy Lai, Lai, Hong, Trump, Hugh Hewitt, I’ll, Lee, ”, “, Hong Kong, . Lai, John Burns, ” Burns, ” Lai, Burns, Sen, Marco Rubio, ” Lee Organizations: Apple, Hong, Administrative, AFP, Getty, University of Hong, NBC News, “, Trump, Republican, Fraser Institute Locations: HONG KONG, Hong, China, Hong Kong, United States, U.S, Beijing, British, ., University of Hong Kong, ” Hong Kong, Washington , New York, San Francisco, Vancouver, Singapore

SEOUL, South Korea — As foreign governments prepare to deal with a second Trump administration, at least one key U.S. ally is hoping to make headway on the fairway. Last month, the U.S. and South Korea agreed on a new five-year cost-sharing plan for the U.S. troops. Maintaining a strong security alliance with the U.S. is especially important for South Korea given the growing hostility from nuclear-armed North Korea. That in turn could lead South Korea and even Japan to consider whether they need nuclear weapons of their own. Stella Kim reported from Seoul, South Korea, and Jennifer Jett reported from Hong Kong.

Persons: Trump, Yoon Suk, “, Donald Trump, Yoon, ”, Shinzo Abe, David Boling, Chung Sung, Abe, Abe “, Boling, ” Yoon —, ” Jeremy Chan, “ I’ve, Yoon doesn’t, he’s, ” Chan, Lydia Ko, Ko, Shigeru Ishiba, ” Boling, Chan, Choi Sang, mok, Joe Biden, Brendan Smialowski, Kim Jong, Stella Kim, Jennifer Jett Organizations: NBC, South, Eurasia Group, Trump, House, Paris Olympics, Japanese, U.S, South Korean Finance, Seoul, Getty Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, U.S, Florida , New Jersey, Virginia, North Korea, Japan, New York, Seoul, United States, East Asia, China, Northeast Asia, New Zealand, Scotland, Korea, Chiba, AFP, Hong Kong

“There’s no white knight coming,” a federal law enforcement official told NBC News, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe the posture of federal authorities in the coming weeks, after Election Day. Law enforcement officials across the country said they believe the 2024 election will have a more sustained drumbeat of partisan rhetoric and disinformation than the 2020 election. The FBI has also set up a National Election Command Post at headquarters specifically to focus on election threats, as is standard practice in an election year. Two law enforcement officials expressed some concern that a federal response to any serious election issues could be chaotic and involve a “hodgepodge” of different state, local and federal law enforcement agencies and local election entities. Four other current and former law enforcement sources said they worried that disinformation and conspiracy theories could affect some segments of the law enforcement community, especially in parts of the country where Trump has significant support.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, “ We’ve, Rebecca Weiner, —, Attorney General Merrick Garland, “, General Merrick Garland, Chip Somodevilla, Jan, — “, Garland, Department’s, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON —, U.S . Capitol, NBC News, New York Police, Democrat, FBI, Justice Department, Trump, Infrastructure Security Agency, The Justice Department, Department, Attorney, Getty, Law, Department of Homeland Security, Capitol, Force Locations: ”, U.S, ” Federal, China, Iran, Russia, stoke

☆ Former Acting U.S. Trade Representative: Trump’s Tariffs Are a Terrible Idea
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( Miriam Sapiro | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

As a former acting U.S. trade representative who also served on the National Security Council, I’ve engaged in international economic policymaking firsthand. Trump’s main economic idea is to indiscriminately impose tariffs on U.S. trading partners, but it is American importers, exporters and consumers who will pay the price. When Trump last levied tariffs, the EU, Canada, China and other trading partners imposed their own tariffs in retaliation. While President Joe Biden left most of Trump’s tariffs against China in place, he managed to negotiate agreements that led to the easing of many retaliatory measures. As president, Harris would lead an economy that helps everyone, not just those at the very top.

Persons: you’re, it’s, you’ve, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, I’ve, Harris, Shawn Fain, “, ” Harris, Harris ’, Trump, Smoot, Hawley, Mitch McConnell, “ I’m, Trump’s, Davidson, Joe Biden, Biden Organizations: National Security Council, United Auto Workers, Democratic Party, Republican, Foundation, European Union, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, ”, Harley, EU Locations: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, America, China, U.S, EU, Canada

☆ NASA chief and Democratic lawmakers urge investigation into reports of Musk-Putin conversations
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-27 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Wall Street Journal reported that Elon Musk and Vladimir Putin have shared secret calls since 2022. A former DoD analyst said that a relationship like this could pose national security concerns. Because of his work with the federal government via SpaceX, Musk holds a security clearance that gives him access to some classified information. "The security clearance adjudication process looks at several factors, and undue foreign influence is just one of those factors," Stransky, now a partner at Thompson Hine law firm, said. The existence of an ongoing Musk-Putin relationship would be further complicated by the billionaire tech leader's recent foray into US politics.

Persons: Elon Musk, Vladimir Putin, —, Bill Nelson, Musk, Putin, Nelson, Semafor, Adam Smith, aren't, Sen, Jeanne Shaheen, Smith, Shaheen, Dmitry Peskov, Steven Stransky, Thompson, Stansky, Robert English, Xi, Trump, he's, Tesla Organizations: Street Journal, Washington, Service, Democratic, SpaceX, Business, NASA, Department of Defense, House Armed Services Committee, Politico, Defense Department, New, New Hampshire Democrat, Senate Foreign Relations, Senate Armed Services Committee, DoD, National Reconnaissance Office, astronautics, Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security, National Security Council, Central, University of Southern, Trump Locations: New Hampshire, University of Southern California, Taiwan

☆ As Harris turns 60, Democrats cast Trump as old and ‘unhinged’
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-20 | by ( Eric Bradner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Vice President Kamala Harris turns 60 on Sunday – and, her campaign wants voters to know, that makes her 18 years younger than Donald Trump. Harris’ campaign is increasingly questioning the former president’s mental and physical fitness in the final weeks of the 2024 presidential race. “He’s becoming increasingly unstable and unhinged, and it requires that response,” Harris told reporters Saturday in Detroit. Top Harris allies have also leaned into the strategy of casting Trump as old and mentally unfit in recent days. “He’s talking about Hannibal Lecter, he’s talking about this, he’s talking about that.”Trump, at times, seems to tie migrants who seek asylum in the United States to the character of Lecter being detained at an insane asylum.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Harris, “ He’s, ” Harris, “, Joe Biden, Biden –, Trump, ”, Harris ’, Trump’s, David Plouffe, CNN’s Dana Bash, “ I’ve, that’s, he’s, Tim Walz, ” Walz, Barack Obama, loonier Donald Trump, ” Obama, Hannibal Lecter, ” Trump, Lecter, hasn’t, Obama, grandpa, Veronica Stracqualursi, Aaron Pellish, Ebony Davis, Andrew Millman, Betsy Klein Organizations: CNN, Trump, Fox News, NBC News, Politico, Minnesota Gov, Lambs, Capitol Locations: Detroit, Grand Rapids , Michigan, United States, Pittsburgh, Arizona, Tucson, Mexico

Donald Trump overcharged Secret Service agents protecting him and his family for rooms at his hotel in Washington while he was president, a new report from House Democrats alleges. The report points specifically to Nov. 28, 2017, when the Secret Service paid $600 apiece for several rooms for agents guarding Trump’s son Eric and his wife, Lara. On the same night, records show, more than 80 rooms were rented out at the Trump hotel at less than $600 a night. Craft booked rooms at the Trump hotel on 20 nights over the 11-month period, spending close to $30,000. But emails the committee obtained from the State Department show she insisted she stay at the Trump hotel.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Trump's, —, Trump’s, Eric, Lara, Kelly Craft, Craft, Albert Pirro, Jeanine Pirro, Pirro, “, Mazars Organizations: Secret, Democrats, Trump International, NBC News, Trump, Trump Corporation of jacking, Secret Service, Democratic, Trump Cabinet, United Nations, State Department, Fox News, Trump Corporation, Republicans Locations: Washington, Trump's Washington, Canada, Craft, Maryland, Doral, Florida

☆ Fact check: Debunking Trump’s October lying spree about immigration
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +23 min

Harris’ approach to the border: Trump falsely claimed of Harris: “She was saying the other day, ‘Yes, oh yes, we want to have a border.’ The first time she ever said it. The legal status of immigrants in Springfield: Trump falsely claimed, “They just dropped 30,000 illegal aliens in Springfield, Ohio.”This is false in more than one way. And while there is no official tally of the number of immigrants in Springfield, Trump’s “30,000” figure exceeds local estimates. More about immigrants in Springfield: Trump claimed that immigrants in Springfield are on “probation,” and he added, “Probation is for prisoners.” This is false in two ways. The word “caravan”: Talking about migrant caravans, Trump repeated his false claim that he invented the term: “The caravan.

Persons: Donald Trump, Kamala Harris ’, Harris, Trump, Joe Biden, ”, ” Biden, Alejandro Mayorkas, Biden, ” Harris, didn’t, “, ‘, it’s, –, Kamala Harris, It’s, Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton, ” James Hathaway, that’s, they’re, “ That’s, Ohio Sen, JD Vance, Trump’s, Mike DeWine, Vance, Chris Cook, ” Roberto Briceño, ” Trump, ” Helen Fair, hasn’t, Mike Coffman, ” Coffman, They’ve, Honduras –, Barack Obama, Obama’s, Harris “, Aaron Reichlin Organizations: Washington CNN, White, Homeland, Trump, Biden, Department of Homeland Security, ICE, Immigration, Customs, FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Congress, House Republicans, Refugee, Asylum, University of Michigan, UN, YES, ” Republican Ohio Gov, New York Times, US, “, CNN, Venezuelan, of, . Migrants, Democratic, Institute for Crime & Justice, Research, Birkbeck , University of London, Republican Aurora, Central, Customs Enforcement, El Salvador, Homeland Security, American Immigration Council, ICE hasn’t Locations: El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, United States, Texas, Arizona, Afghanistan, ”, That’s, Mexico, U.S, Springfield , Ohio, Univision, Springfield, Ohio, “, Cuba, Vietnam, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Lebanon, Venezuela, Caracas, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, United Kingdom, Colorado, Venezuelan, Aurora, America

An army of political propaganda accounts powered by artificial intelligence posed as real people on X to argue in favor of Republican candidates and causes, according to a research report out of Clemson University. The network identified by the Clemson researchers included at least 686 identified X accounts that have posted more than 130,000 times since January. Many of the accounts were removed from X after NBC News emailed the platform for comment. In Arizona’s Republican congressional primary, the accounts supported Blake Masters over Abraham Hamadeh. A search on X for that hashtag shows only one other tweet, from 2018, has used it.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Pepe, Darren Linvill, They’re, Frank LaRose, Bernie Moreno, Blake Masters, Abraham Hamadeh, didn’t, —, Sen, Sherrod Brown, ” OpenAI, Kai, Cheng Yang, ”, Yang, ChatGPT, Elon Musk, Musk, ” Linvill, Larry Norden, “ There’s, ” Norden, “, Norden, Clemson’s, Eric Hartford, Hartford Organizations: Republican, Clemson University, Clemson, NBC, NBC News, Democratic, Clemson’s Media, “, Ohio Republican Senate, Trump, GOP, Hamadeh, Northeastern University, Ohio Republican, Center for Justice, United, Social Locations: American, Montana , Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, ”, China, Taiwan, Iran, Russia, Ukraine, United States, U.S

☆ Trump campaign connected with Elon Musk’s X before it blocked links to hacked materials
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Liam Reilly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Former President Donald Trump’s campaign connected with Elon Musk’s X last month to discuss hacked Trump campaign materials circulating on the social media platform before X blocked links to the files and banned the independent journalist who published the materials, a person familiar with the matter told CNN. A person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday that the Trump campaign had a conversation with X officials about the hacked materials before Klippenstein was banned and links to his newsletter were blocked. The person said the campaign did not push X officials to remove links to the materials and that X had made the decision. The New York Times first reported the Trump campaign’s correspondence with X officials in an article on Musk “going all in” to elect Trump. In July, Politico flagged that its reporters had received emails from an individual offering a similar trove of private documents from inside the Trump campaign.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Elon Musk’s, Ken Klippenstein, Sen, JD Vance, Trump, Klippenstein, Klippenstein’s Instagram, Hunter Biden, Musk, reelect Trump, Tucker Carlson, Kamala, Harris, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, Elon, CNN, Trump, New York Times, X, Politico, Times, Washington Post, New York, Hunter Biden . Company, Twitter, PAC Locations: New York, ”, New, Pennsylvania

☆ Trump promises new tax relief for car loan interest and citizens living abroad
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-10 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Former President Donald Trump unveiled yet another set of targeted tax break proposals on Thursday, doling out more promises of relief as Election Day draws ever closer. Speaking before the Detroit Economic Club on Thursday, Trump promised to make the interest paid on car loans fully tax deductible, similar to the popular existing deduction for mortgage interest. They raped our country.”One tax expert questioned why Trump would limit the benefit just to car loans. “Once and for all, I’m going to end double taxation on our overseas citizens,” he said in a video released Thursday. Currently, some Americans living abroad must pay taxes to both the United States and to the country where they reside.

Persons: Donald Trump, doling, Trump, ”, “, Howard Gleckman, ” Gleckman, “ You’ve, Kamala Harris, CNN’s Ali Main Organizations: CNN, Detroit Economic, NAFTA, Trump, Brookings Tax, Security, Congress, Committee, Budget Locations: Michigan, Mexico, Canada, Shanghai, Sterling Heights, ”, United States

Hezbollah has also been accused of obstructing the election of a new president, leaving Lebanon leaderless for the past two years. A pro-Iranian Hezbollah supporter holds up a poster of assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, on Thursday. While some Lebanese believe Hezbollah hijacked Lebanon’s political system, it also held it up. Lebanon has already suffered a year of lower-level fighting between Israel and Hezbollah along its southern border. But Lebanese political leaders are still relishing Hezbollah’s decline, he said, even some among the group’s Shia Muslim co-religionists.

Persons: Hassan Nasrallah, ” Fouad Siniora, ”, Rafik Hariri, Marwan Naamani, Sarah Zaaimi, Firas Maksad, “, ” Maksad, Nabih Berri, Jeffrey Feltman, Berri, Israel –, ” Ibrahim Moussawi, —, Siniora Organizations: NBC News, United, Getty, Hezbollah, Hariri, & Middle, Middle East Institute, WikiLeaks, Security, Keystone, —, The Washington Institute Locations: BEIRUT, Lebanon, Israel, Beirut, Iran, United Nations, Lebanese, Syria, AFP, Washington, U.S, Paris, Tehran, Riyadh, Jerusalem, “

☆ NYC Mayor Eric Adams faces ‘possible’ additional charges in corruption case, federal prosecutor says
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-02 | by ( Kara Scannell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Additional charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams are “possible” and it’s “likely” there will be additional defendants charged as part of the alleged scheme in the federal corruption case, a prosecutor said Wednesday at a court hearing. Federal prosecutor Hagan Scotten said they have evidence that Adams attempted to tamper with a witness in the investigation. The federal prosecutor revealed new information about the investigation, saying it began in the summer of 2021 before Adams became mayor. The additional defendants could be charged in a superseding indictment or in a separate case, Scotten added. Assistant US Attorney Hagen Scotten speaks in Manhattan federal court, as attorney Alex Spiro, center, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams, right, look on Wednesday.

Persons: Eric Adams, it’s, Hagan Scotten, Adams, Scotten, Alex Spiro, Hagen Scotten, Elizabeth Williams, Dale Ho, Spiro, hasn’t, Democratic Sen, Bob Menendez’s, ”, – Organizations: New, New York CNN, New York City, FBI, Democratic, City Hall Locations: New York, Manhattan, New, Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Turkish, New York City

His supporters have dubbed Marwan Barghouti the “Palestinian Nelson Mandela” in the hope that after more than two decades behind bars, he can emulate the late South African leader and make the journey from prisoner to national unifier. At that time, Palestinian militants carried out deadly suicide bombings and shootings inside both Israel and the Palestinian territories, targeting buses, restaurants and hotels. “He’s someone who creates something out of nothing, and he believes in education for the Palestinian people,” Arab Barghouti added. Palestinian protesters wave flags and placards bearing portraits of Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti in 2015. “Ami Ayalon and others have said Marwan Barghouti may be the one leader who can be an effective partner for peace,” he said.

Persons: Yasser Arafat, Marwan Barghouti, Nelson Mandela ”, Ami Ayalon, Mahmoud Abbas, Yahya Sinwar, “, ”, Arab, Barghouti, Father Germanos, masterminding, Arafat, Fatah, William Campbell, Marco Longari, Abbas, ” Mira Al, he’s, Osama Hamdan, Abbas Momani, Ayalon, Shin, I’m, Sen, Chris Van Hollen, “ Ami Ayalon, Israel, Gilad Shalit, They’re, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Barghouti’s, Fadwa, ‘ I’m, ’ Organizations: Bank, West Bank, Palestinian Center, Policy, Survey Research, Hamas, American Embassy, NBC News, U.S . Office, Palestinian Affairs, Prosecutors, European Council, Foreign Relations, Brigades, Fatah, ., “, Getty, West, Palestinian Authority, State Department, Senate Foreign Relations, NBC, National Organization of Locations: RAMALLAH, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Israel, Gaza, American, Tel Aviv, Fatah, West Bank, Kobar, Aqsa, AFP, Palestinian, East Jerusalem, ”, Palestine

U.S. officials have privately said that Trump's campaign was the victim of the attack. Former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally on Sept. 24, 2024, in Savannah, Ga. Brandon Bell / Getty ImagesUnsolicited emails that included the stolen material from Trump’s campaign were then sent to associates of his Democratic political rival. The hack against the Trump campaign is just the latest example of an increasingly brazen approach by Iran that includes alleged murder plots against dissidents and defectors on American soil and an assassination threat against former President Trump, U.S. officials and analysts say. For more than two months, hackers who stole the documents have tried to persuade the American media to write about or publish the files they stole. “I’m just not a believer of the news media as an arm of the government, doing its work combating foreign influence.

Persons: Donald Trump, Brandon Bell, Masoud Jalili, Seyyed Ali Aghamiri, Roger Stone, “, Joe Biden’s, Trump, Matthew Olsen, Olsen, —, Sen, JD Vance, Ken Klippenstein, ” Klippenstein, “ I’m, General Merrick Garland, Kent Nishimura, Robert, ”, Robert persona’s, Konstantin Kalashnikov, Elena Afanasyeva, Tenet Organizations: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Getty, Democratic, CIA, Defense Department, United Nations, FBI, National Intelligence, Infrastructure Security Agency, Justice Department, NBC News, department’s National Security Division, Trump, Beijing, U.S, NBC, Department of Justice, Justice, YouTube, RT, Tenet Media Locations: Washington, Savannah , Ga, Iran, Fars, U.S, Russia, China, American, R, Ohio, Tennessee

☆ Threads joins X in blocking posts to apparently leaked documents about JD Vance
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( Katie Notopoulos | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Threads is blocking links to an article that may contain links to leaked documents about JD Vance. AdvertisementThreads is following X's lead, blocking links to purportedly leaked documents about vice presidential candidate JD Vance. Meta says the links could come from hacked or leaked sources — and it's blocking them because of the potential connection. ThreadsThreads is now blocking links to the post, too. Threads posts that contain a link to Klippenstein's Substack article aren't being removed, but the link isn't clickable.

Persons: JD Vance, X, —, Meta, Trump, Ken Klippenstein, Klippenstein, Hunter Biden, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Sen, Jim Jordan Organizations: Meta, Service, FBI, Independent Locations: Iran

☆ Turkish Airlines offered to charge Eric Adams $50 for two business-class seats worth $15,000, prosecutors say
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-26 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Eric Adams took perks and donations from the Turkish government for years, prosecutors say. "It is very expensive because it is last minute," the airline manager texted the Adams staffer, according to the indictment. AdvertisementThe Adams staffer pushed the manager to charge a more realistic-sounding price, prosecutors say. The Adams staffer asked for "$1,000 or so," noting that Adams' "every step is being watched right now." The Turkish Airlines manager also offered to set up Adams in the Four Seasons, which the Adams staffer deemed "too expensive."

Persons: Eric Adams, wasn't, Adams, —, Damian Williams Organizations: Service, Turkish Airlines, Prosecutors, Turkish, United Nations, Cosmopolitan Suite, Regis Locations: Turkish, New York City, Turkey, Istanbul, Manhattan, Regis Istanbul, New York, France

☆ American Companies' China Profits Are Declining; Increased War Chance
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-22 | by ( Linette Lopez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

Without the promise of profits, American firms are also becoming less willing to go to bat for China — to reinforce the idea that China's market is crucial to the success of their futures. No demandAfter pandemic lockdowns ended in 2023, the Chinese economy experienced what is known on Wall Street as a "dead cat bounce." What money Chinese consumers are still able to spend is increasingly going to companies that grew up in their home country. Related storiesWhat money Chinese consumers are still able to spend is increasingly going to companies that grew up in their home country. It gives corporations, already under financial pressure as China's economy declines, even less reason to act as interlocutors encouraging stability between Washington and Beijing.

Persons: Washington —, Xi Jinping, Lee Miller, lockdowns, They're, Xi, Yi Gang, Michael Pettis, Tesla, Elon Musk, it's, Ball, Jamie Dimon, It's, China's, Goldman Sachs, Ray Dalio, seeping, Miller, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Harris, —, Trump, Biden, we're, Cordell Hull Organizations: Apple, Nike, Chinese Communist Party, People's Bank of, Carnegie Endowment, China Business Council, Starbucks, Street, Bridgewater Associates, Beijing, East Asia State Department, CCP, Trump, State Department, Republicans, Financial, Broadcom, Nvidia, Biden Administration Locations: China, America, Beijing, Washington, American, South China, Taiwan, People's Bank of China, Shanghai

☆ Elon Musk's X is the least-trusted Big Tech company, according to a survey — on par with the US government
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-21 | by ( Lauren Edmonds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewAmericans think Elon Musk's X is as trustworthy as the US government. EMARKETER, a market research company owned by Business Insider's parent company, shared the survey data on Friday. AdvertisementEven fewer — only 28% of respondents — however, trusted X, the same percentage that trusted the US government. Musk's post immediately drew backlash for promoting political violence, prompting him to delete it and defend himself, calling it a "joke." The US Secret Service told Bloomberg News it is "aware" of Musk's post and is investigating the matter.

Persons: —, Elon Musk's, TikTok, Musk, Yoel Roth, Elon Musk, Slaven Vlasic, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris haven't Organizations: Service, Big Tech, Business, Google, Netflix, Twitter, Bloomberg, European Jewish Association, Getty, Secret Service Locations: American, Israel, Gaza, Brazil

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