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☆ Wife of Sen. Bob Menendez Draws Scrutiny in Federal Probe
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Corinne Ramey | James Fanelli | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Bob Menendez has been a U.S. senator since 2006 and is chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Federal prosecutors investigating U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez are examining whether his wife received gifts or services from individuals who sought favors from the New Jersey politician, according to people familiar with the matter. The U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York has subpoenaed associates of Mr. Menendez’s wife, Nadine Arslanian , whom he married in 2020, the people said. Subpoenas issued in recent months have asked for information about both Ms. Arslanian and Mr. Menendez, according to the people.

☆ Memorable Moments From Nancy Pelosi’s Political Career
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Ariel Zambelich | Natalie Andrews | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

November 14, 2002Mrs. Pelosi celebrates her victory in an intraparty election to be the new House minority leader for the 108th Congress with Reps. Robert Menendez and James Clyburn, making her the first woman to lead a party in the U.S. Congress. Alex Wong/Getty

☆ A fatal strike in Poland involving a 'Russian-made missile' could pose biggest test yet to Biden's vow to defend 'every inch' of NATO territory
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Poland is a NATO member, and there's rampant speculation about the implications of this incident. The reported strike could pose a major test to Biden's vow to defend "every inch" of NATO territory. Biden's vow could be facing its biggest test yet following fatal strike in Poland, a NATO ally, that the Polish foreign ministry said involved a "Russian-made missile." "When it comes to our security commitments and Article 5 we've been crystal clear that we will defend every inch of NATO territory," Pentagon spokesperson Brig. To fire missiles at NATO territory!

☆ A top Senate Democrat warns that if Russia is behind the fatal strike in Poland then it's 'definitely an enlargement' of the Ukraine war and raises questions for NATO: report
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( John Haltiwanger | Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A US intelligence official told The AP that Russian missiles landed in Poland and killed two people. Poland is a NATO member, which means an attack against it could trigger a response from allies. Sen. Bob Menendez told Politico that the attack could mark an escalation of the Ukraine war. Obviously, if it was intentional, that has all kinds of consequences to it," Menendez told Politico. It stipulates that an attack against one NATO country, such as Poland, is considered an attack against all members of the alliance.

☆ Erdogan says Republican Senate control would help Turkey's F-16 buy: media
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ISTANBUL, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Turkey's effort to complete its purchase of F-16 jets would be "much easier" if Republicans end up controlling the U.S. Senate, President Tayyip Erdogan was quoted by Turkish media as saying on Saturday. "My hope is that the next month is filled with some good news and we progress in a very positive direction on the F-16 issue," state-run Anadolu and other media quoted Erdogan as telling reporters on a flight from Uzbekistan. "If the Republicans claim the few seats they need in Senate, things will be much easier for us." While the F-16 purchase has critics and supporters in both parties, Bob Menendez, Democratic chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, could stand in the way given his repeated criticism of Turkey's human rights record under Erdogan. Erdogan said in September that he had received "positive" feedback from two U.S. senators he met in New York on their potential support for the F-16 sale.

☆ Federal Prosecutors Probe New Jersey’s Sen. Bob Menendez
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( James Fanelli | Corinne Ramey | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Justice Department is investigating Sen. Bob Menendez , according to a representative for the New Jersey Democrat, five years after federal public-corruption charges against him fell apart. “Senator Menendez is aware of an investigation,” said Michael Soliman , a political consultant and adviser to Mr. Menendez, adding that he didn’t know the scope of the probe. “As always, should any official inquiries be made, the senator is available to provide any assistance that is requested of him or his office.”

Dozens of federal grand jury subpoenas have been issued in the past several months as part of the federal criminal investigation involving several people in New Jersey and the powerful Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Menendez, three people familiar with the matter told NBC News. Two people familiar with the matter said one of the entities involved in the investigation is IS EG Halal of Edgewater, New Jersey. According to a filing by Lustberg, federal agents seized cellphones, computers, tablets, USB drives, business documents, notepads, a photo album, $5,943 dollars in cash, jewelry and Hana’s passport. The court filings do not specify why federal investigators conducted the search, and NBC News could not confirm whether it was tied to the current investigation involving Menendez. Federal prosecutors decided in 2018 not to retry him.

☆ Lawmakers urge tech CEOs to do more to help Iranian protesters circumvent internet censorship
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A bipartisan group of 13 lawmakers urged several U.S. tech CEOs to do more to help Iranian people stay connected to the internet as their government seeks to censor communications amid ongoing protests. The lawmakers said these types of tools would help Iranian citizens stay connected to the internet in secure ways amid government-imposed shutdowns and reduce their reliance on domestic infrastructure. The availability of multiple secure communications tools would make it harder for the Iranian regime to shut down all of them at once, they wrote. A Google spokesperson said in a statement the company is working on ways to "ensure continued access to generally available communications tools like Google Meet and our other Internet services." The Facebook-owner had made Instagram and WhatsApp available in Iran, but the services have been restricted by the government.

☆ Sen. Warren says big banks fail to prevent 'rampant' fraud on payment platform Zelle, urges CFPB to tighten regulations
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Truist reported 9,455 fraud and scam claims on Zelle in 2020 and 22,045 in 2021, according to the senator. Its customers are on track to make 160,977 scam and fraud claims on Zelle in 2022. The value of the scam and fraud claims received by PNC, Truist, U.S. Bank and Bank of America exceeded $90 million in 2020. The data that Wells Fargo released revealed that customers reported fraud and scams on Zelle at a nearly 2.5 times higher rate in 2022 than in 2019. "And that is more than twice as high for Wells customers compared to customers of other banks," Warren wrote.

WASHINGTON — Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., is under federal criminal investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan, according to two people familiar with the matter and a spokesperson for the senator. "Senator Menendez is aware of an investigation that was reported on today, however he does not know the scope of the investigation," Menendez’s adviser Michael Soliman said Wednesday in a statement. News of the investigation was first reported by the website Semafor. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment. He has served in the Senate since 2006 and previously served in the House.

☆ I toured a 'haunted' Airbnb in Salem that costs $1,300 a night. I was charmed by its bright pink living room, but the feeling of a ghostly presence was uncanny.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( Ann Matica | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

I was thoroughly charmed by the house, which blended old styling with new. While some rooms felt unsettling to walk through, I'd love to return one day as an Airbnb renter. Next time, though, I'll bring a large group of friends — just in case there are any spirits lurking around. Jakob Menendez

☆ I own a 'haunted' Airbnb in Salem. From what guests tell us, the ghosts are friendly.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Ann Matica | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Phil Marchand grew up in the "Henry Derby House" in Salem and said the third floor feels eerie. Marchand turned the house into an Airbnb for $1,295 a night and said guests claim to see ghosts. The house I rent on Airbnb was built in 1838 in Salem, Massachusetts. A lot of guests who have stayed at the house say it's haunted. When I lived in the house, there was definitely an eerie feeling to itA hallway on the "haunted" third floor.

☆ Microsoft, Apple, Meta, other big U.S. firms run ads urging Congress to protect 'Dreamers' as DACA fades
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Julia-Ainsley-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Julia Ainsley | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

“Collectively, we represent the backbone of an American economy facing tremendous workforce challenges as a result of the pandemic. Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that DACA was illegal but allowed more than 600,000 current DACA recipients to keep their status while a lower court reviewed a new DACA rule the Biden administration put forward. He is predicted to rule against the new DACA rule ultimately, because he found its previous iteration illegal. “Tragically, the 5th Circuit and courts have made it clear that not only did they rule the current DACA rule is illegal, but the new DACA rule will be illegal, too,” said Todd Schulte, the president and executive director of FWD.US, a group that has advocated for DACA to continue. “Now, no one trusts Democrats of the Biden administration to actually enforce the law and crack down on illegal immigration.

☆ I own a famously 'haunted' Airbnb in Salem. The spooky reputation keeps it booked all Halloween — here's how we run it.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Ann Matica | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Phil Marchand is the owner of the historic Henry Derby House in Salem, Massachusetts. In 2015, he turned the bed and breakfast he was running into an Airbnb that caters to large groups. The Henry Derby House was built in 1838 in Salem, Massachusetts. The room off of the kitchen that Phil and Jocelyn Marchand lived in while running the bed and breakfast. If we don't end up moving back into the house at some point, we'll probably keep it as an Airbnb.

☆ Biden will act 'methodically' in re-evaluating Saudi relationship
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden will act "methodically" in deciding how to respond to Saudi Arabia over oil output cuts, but options include changes to U.S. security assistance, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday. Sullivan, speaking on CNN, said no changes to the U.S.-Saudi relationship were imminent as Biden re-evaluates it. Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called for a halt to most U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia after the OPEC+ move. Biden's options "include changes to our approach to security assistance to Saudi Arabia, but I'm not going to get ahead of the president. "The use of a nuclear weapon on the battlefield in Ukraine is the use of a nuclear weapon on the battlefield in Ukraine.

☆ Biden warns there will be 'consequences' for Saudi Arabia after oil production cut
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is The Evening Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

President Joe Biden warned Tuesday that Saudi Arabia would face "consequences" after OPEC+ last week announced the biggest cut in oil production since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Senior Democrats on Capitol Hill have condemned the decision by Saudi Arabia, the de facto leader of the oil-producing alliance, to reduce the global supply of petroleum. "There’s going to be some consequences for what they’ve done with Russia," Biden said of Saudi Arabia in an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper. Asked by Tapper whether it's time for the U.S. to rethink its relationship with Saudi Arabia, Biden said, "Yes." Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee, called on the Biden administration Monday to "immediately freeze" U.S. cooperation with Saudi Arabia.

☆ Biden threatens 'consequences' for Saudi Arabia after OPEC cut, but his options are limited
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Washington has since the 1940s provided billions of dollars in military and security aid to Saudi Arabia. A file photo of cannisters containing Patriot missiles to intercept missiles fired at Saudi Arabia or its neighboring countries. We must pull all US troops out of Saudi Arabia, stop selling them weapons & end its price-fixing oil cartel." "The White House has few good options despite Biden's warning of 'consequences' after the cut," he said, noting U.S. lawmakers' threats of anti-trust legislation and removal of U.S. military assets from Saudi Arabia. While both courses of action would send a clear message, this could backfire for both the U.S. and for crude prices.

☆ Democratic senator seeks 'freeze' on U.S.-Saudi cooperation after OPEC cuts production
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is The Evening Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is calling on the Biden administration to "immediately freeze" U.S. cooperation with Saudi Arabia after OPEC+ announced it would reduce daily oil production. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia chose the latter in a terrible decision driven by economic self-interest," Menendez said. “The United States must immediately freeze all aspects of our cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including any arms sales and security cooperation beyond what is absolutely necessary to defend U.S. personnel and interests,” he added. The alliance said it would cut oil production by 2 million barrels a day, which is likely to increase gas prices. 2 Democrat in the Senate, accused Saudi Arabia of “conspiring with Vladimir Putin to punish the U.S. with higher oil prices” last week.

☆ Biden re-evaluating U.S. relationship with Saudis after OPEC decision -official
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 11 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden is re-evaluating the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia after OPEC+ announced last week that it would cut oil production, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday. "And certainly in light of the OPEC decision, I think that's where he is." Biden is willing to work with Congress on the future of Saudi relations, Kirby added. Biden was disappointed in the OPEC+ decision, Kirby said, and "he's willing to work with Congress to think through what that relationship ought to look like going forward." "And I think he's going to be willing to start to have those conversations right away.

☆ Senior U.S. senator wants 'freeze' on Saudi cooperation, blasts Riyadh
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( Patricia Zengerle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"The United States must immediately freeze all aspects of our cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including any arms sales and security cooperation beyond what is absolutely necessary to defend U.S. personnel and interests," Senator Bob Menendez said in a statement. "As Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I will not green-light any cooperation with Riyadh until the Kingdom reassesses its position with respect to the war in Ukraine. "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia chose the latter in a terrible decision driven by economic self-interest." The leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs committees review major international arms deals, which generally do not go ahead without their approval. Saudi Arabia is the largest customer for U.S.-made military equipment.

☆ A top Senate Democrat threatens to block US cooperation with Saudi Arabia as MBS deepens ties with Putin
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Bob Menendez threatened to block cooperation with Saudi Arabia. Menendez went on to excoriate Saudi Arabia, OPEC's leading member, accusing it of helping "underwrite Putin's war through the OPEC+ cartel." The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia chose the latter in a terrible decision driven by economic self-interest," Menendez said. Relations between the US and Saudi Arabia have been on shaky ground for years, largely since the brutal 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi by agents of the Saudi government. On the campaign trail, President Joe Biden pledged to make Saudi Arabia a "pariah" over Khashoggi's murder.

☆ Student-loan borrowers still need answers from Biden on these 3 things before payments resume next year, according to a Democratic senator
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-13 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Bob Menendez lauded Biden's recent $20,000 student-loan forgiveness announcement. But he said borrowers still need more answers before payments resume next year. He wants additional details on the PSLF waiver and income-driven repayment plans. Biden promised loan forgiveness on the campaign trail, and Menendez said it marks "an important step towards restoring faith in the American Dream." The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) waiver.

☆ Asistenţa SUA pentru Afganistan va înceta dacă talibanii preiau puterea, avertizează senatori americani
▼ + stars: | 2021-04-28 | by ( Publika.Md - Aici Sunt Știrile | ) www.publika.md time to read: +2 min

În numeroasele aspecte, talibanii par să se afle "în momentul de faţă într-o situaţie mai bună din punct de vedere militar decât în orice alt moment din 2001 încoace", relevă o analiză realizată în luna martie de serviciul pentru cercetări al Congresului. "Unii oficiali afgani ar bănui că talibanii intenţionează să rămână la masa negocierilor până când se vor asigura că SUA se retrag complet din Afganistan, după care vor profita de avantajul pe care îl au în teren pentru a prelua controlul asupra ţării prin forţă", conform aceleiaşi analize.După anunţul preşedintelui Joe Biden privind retragerea tuturor militarilor americani din Afganistan până pe 11 septembrie a.c., membri ai Congresului sunt preocupaţi nu doar în ce priveşte impactul acestei retrageri asupra operaţiunilor antiteroriste ale SUA, ci şi asupra viitorului statut al femeilor şi minorităţilor din Afganistan, precum şi asupra miliardelor de dolari din banii contribuabililor americani oferiţi anual acestei ţări ca ajutor extern.Congresmeni din întregul spectru politic american sunt pesimişti în ce priveşte capacitatea guvernului de la Kabul de a rezista în faţa talibanilor, fără o prezenţă militară a SUA. Or, dacă talibanii răstoarnă guvernul civil, aşa cum au făcut în anii 1990 după retragerea sovietică, există serioase preocupări că această grupare fundamentalistă va încerca să elimine progresele înregistrate în ce priveşte accesul fetelor şi femeilor la educaţie şi reprezentarea lor în societate. "Nu cred, în niciun caz, că Senatul SUA va susţine continuarea asistenţei pentru Afganistan, în cazul în care talibanii îşi asumă un rol conducător, ce pune capăt progreselor societăţii civile şi privind drepturile femeilor", a spus Menendez.Săptămâna trecută, secretarul de stat al SUA Antony Blinken a anunţat că departamentul său va aloca anul acesta aproape 300 de milioane de dolari ca asistenţă civilă suplimentară pentru Afganistan.Zalmay Khalilzad a asigurat în cursul audierii că în discuţiile sale cu participanţii la negocierile de pace din Afganistan a subliniat că "problema drepturilor omului şi în special ale femeilor este a doua după terorism pe scara importanţei politice în SUA".

Persons: afgani, Joe Biden, SUA ., îşi, SUA Antony Blinken Locations: SUA, Afganistan, american, Kabul

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