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NEW YORK (AP) — Trevor Noah is ready to face one of the toughest audiences of his career — the millions watching as he once again hosts the Grammy Awards. The telecast — with SZA having a leading nine nominations — will be Noah's fourth consecutive hosting gig for the awards. He said he's looking forward to the live performances, especially ones by nominated artists Burna Boy, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa and Travis Scott. “I always love seeing artists who have an innate understanding of how different and powerful the live experience is, and I think Burna Boy is one of those artists,” Noah said. Noah says he's enjoying his life post-"The Daily Show," which includes hosting the interview podcast “What Now?

Persons: — Trevor Noah, Noah, Burna Boy, Billie Eilish, Travis Scott, “, ” Noah, he's, “ I’m, Wanda Sykes, Chris Rock, Sarah Silverman, Dave Chappelle, “ I’ve, he’s, Chappelle, I’ve, ”, Jo Koy, ” Harvey Mason Jr, “ There’s, There’s, Mason, Trevor Noah ”, Dwayne “, ” Johnson, Bill Gates, Kerry Washington, Maria C, Sherman, ___ Mark Kennedy Organizations: Associated Press, CBS, Paramount, Crypto.com, SZA, Golden Globes, “, Recording Academy, Press Locations: Los Angeles, Dua Lipa

ATLANTA (AP) — Naithan George scored a go-ahead layup with 7.7 seconds remaining and Georgia Tech beat No. 3 North Carolina 74-73 on Tuesday night to end the Tar Heels' 10-game winning streak. North Carolina called a timeout with 4.6 seconds remaining, but Davis missed a last-second jumper, prompting Georgia Tech fans to celebrate by rushing onto the court. Georgia Tech claimed its third home win over a Top 25 team after beating No. Georgia Tech: Visits North Carolina State on Saturday.

Persons: — Naithan George, RJ Davis, George, Davis, Georgia Tech's Ebenezer Dowuona, Kyle Sturdivant, Miles Kelly, Cormac Ryan, Kelly, Sacko, Elliot Cadeau, Harrison Ingram's, Jalen Washington, Harrison Ingram, Baye, Dowuona, Duke, ___ Organizations: ATLANTA, Georgia Tech, Carolina, North, Atlantic Coast Conference, ACC, Mississippi State, Heels, Jackets, North Carolina, Southern Conference, Saturday . Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, AP Locations: North Carolina, Georgia, Carolina

☆ Truck Makers Team Up to Push for Electric Vehicle Chargers
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jack Ewing | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

There are more than four million electric vehicles on American roads, but fewer than 1,000 of them are heavy-duty trucks. On Tuesday, the three largest truck makers plan to announce a push to remedy that deficit by calling on governments and utilities to help them build many more places to charge big rigs. Daimler Truck, which owns Freightliner; Navistar, which is controlled by Volkswagen; and Volvo Trucks have formed an association to push for chargers, improvements to the electricity grid and other measures they say are needed to promote battery- or hydrogen-powered trucks. The new organization, Powering America’s Commercial Transportation, will be based in Washington and also be open to suppliers, nonprofit organizations and other groups. The Inflation Reduction Act, which Democrats passed in 2022, provides $1 billion for electric trucks, including tax credits of up to $40,000 for companies that buy them, as well as subsidies for charging infrastructure.

Organizations: Daimler, Freightliner, Volkswagen, Volvo Trucks, Transportation Locations: Washington

☆ Europe should brace for ‘harsh decisions’ if Trump is re-elected, says ECB’s Lagarde
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Europe should prepare for possible threats to its economy — including new US tariffs on its exports — if Donald Trump returns to the White House, according to European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde. “Let us prepare for potential tariffs, for potential harsh decisions that would be unexpected. The transatlantic relationship was strained during Trump’s first term, not least by a tit-for-tat trade spat between Washington and Brussels. That dispute saw the United States impose tariffs on EU steel and aluminum, to which the EU responded with tariffs on $3 billion worth of US goods, including whiskey, motorcycles and denim. The United States is the EU’s biggest source of foreign direct investment.

Persons: Donald Trump, Christine Lagarde, Mr Trump, ”, CNN’s Richard Quest, ” Lagarde, Trump, Trump’s, Lagarde, “ Organizations: London CNN, White, European Central Bank, United, EU, Republican, Ukraine, Russia, Trade, Trump, French, France, NATO Locations: Europe, United States, Washington, Brussels, Paris

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has made it clear the U.S. will strike back after a deadly drone attack killed three service members and wounded more than 40 at a small base in Jordan over the weekend. On Tuesday, Biden bluntly said “yes” when asked if he'd decided how to respond to the attack. Target options range from inside Iran, including on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, to Iranian ships at sea and Tehran-backed militia groups and key militant leaders in Iraq and Syria. HIT MILITIA GROUPS AGAINThe most likely move would be to hit Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria again. Hawkish Congress members said Biden should directly target Tehran for the deadly attack on the base in Jordan.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, he'd, “ That’s, ”, John Kirby, ” Biden, Quds, Gen, Qassem, Asad, Avi Melamed, ” Melamed, Jordan, Pat Ryder, Mohammed Shia, Sudani, Sen, Lindsay Graham, Sara Jacobs, Bradley Bowman, Jim Risch, —, Farnoush Amiri, Mike Pesoli, Joshua Boak, Sagar Meghani, Kevin Freking, Abby Sewell Organizations: WASHINGTON, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Quds Force, National Security, Force, U.S, Embassy, Middle, HIT, Pentagon, CONGRESSIONAL, HOW, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Republican, Senate Foreign Relations, Associated Press Locations: U.S, Jordan, Iran, Gaza, Tehran, Iraq, Syria, IRAN, Baghdad, Iranian, Hill, Davos, Washington, Beirut

☆ Oil prices edge lower as Hamas considers truce proposal, market monitors U.S. response to attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A view of a gas station which ran out of fuel due to Israeli attacks in Rafah, Gaza on October 25, 2023. The West Texas Intermediate contract for March dropped 79 cents, or 1.03%, to trade at $75.99 a barrel. Oil prices edged lower on Tuesday as Hamas considers a temporary truce in Gaza and the market waits to see how the U.S. will respond to a deadly attack on its soldiers in the Middle East. Biden said the U.S. would hold those "responsible to account at a time and in a manner our choosing." "We're not looking to escalate the tensions any more than they already have been escalating."

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh, Brent, Joe Biden, Biden, Lloyd Austin, John Kirby, Kirby Organizations: New York Times, West Texas Intermediate, Traders, Security, White Locations: Rafah, Gaza, U.S, Jordan, Iran, Syria, Iraq, United States, Washington, Tehran

In her 14-page order, Brooklyn Federal Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall traced the evolution of hip-hop over five decades, referencing tracks from over a dozen artists before ultimately finding the lyrics inadmissible. “From the genre’s nascence as an oral tradition, rap artists have played the part of storytellers, providing a lens into their lives and those in their communities,” Hall wrote. The use of rap lyrics in criminal prosecutions has become a contentious subject in several high-profile cases, including the ongoing racketeering trial of Young Thug. Defense lawyers have claimed the government dragged its feet in indicting Washington and Jordan, making it harder for them to defend themselves. Both men have pleaded not guilty, as has a third defendant who was charged this past May and will be tried separately.

Persons: Jay can’t, Karl Jordan Jr, gunning, Jay, Jason Mizell, LaShann, ”, Prosecutors, Jordan, Hall, Nas, Vince Staples, Joe, Queen Latifah, Jason Aldean, Young, Ronald Washington, Mizell Organizations: Brooklyn Federal Locations: York, Brooklyn, indicting Washington, Jordan

☆ Exclusive: Xi promised Biden China wouldn’t interfere in 2024 election
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In a meeting this past weekend in Bangkok with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan again brought up the topic. Wang offered Sullivan the same assurance Xi had given Biden months prior — that Beijing would not meddle in the American election this fall, the source said. The White House National Security Council declined to comment on whether election interference came up in the Biden-Xi and Sullivan-Wang meetings. CNN has reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry for comment. Last week, a senior National Security Agency official told reporters that the agency had not yet seen signs of any notable new foreign influence operations aimed at the 2024 election.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Xi, Biden, Wang Yi, Jake Sullivan, Wang, Sullivan, Hillary Clinton’s, ”, “, Chris Krebs, ” Krebs, Brendan Smialowski, Antony Blinken, CNN’s Natasha Bertrand Organizations: CNN, Chinese Foreign, Democratic National Committee, FBI, Justice Department, White House National Security, Biden, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Microsoft, of, National Security Agency, US, Infrastructure Security, Economic Cooperation, APEC, Getty Locations: China, California, Bangkok, Beijing, Taiwan, Russia, Iran, Asia, Woodside , California, AFP, Washington, Chinese

☆ U.S. Needs to Work With Greater Intensity in the Pacific - NZ for Min
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

“Pillar two (of AUKUS) is the examination we're going to look at beginning tonight and tomorrow and going forward," he told Reuters in an interview. New Zealand has had a nuclear free policy since the 1980s and there has been no indication this will change. Peters also said the U.S. had neglected the Pacific since the Second World War, and that had created a vacuum that others had filled. "They've have certainly upped their game, but they need to work with greater intensity on the immediate problems at the ground level of many of the island nations,” he said. Peters did not mention China by name, but jostling between Washington and Beijing for influence in the Pacific has increased in recent years over issues including security, defence, aid and infrastructure.

Persons: Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON, Winston Peters, Peters, ”, Lucy Craymer, Lincoln Organizations: Reuters, Foreign, Pacific Locations: New Zealand, Australia, Britain, U.S, Washington, Wellington, “, China, Beijing

☆ Boeing was once known for safety and engineering. But critics say an emphasis on profits changed that
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +22 min

Boeing is back in the headlines for all the wrong reasons again after the Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 incident. Boeing workers participating in a "Quality Stand Down" at Boeing's 737 Max factory in Renton, Washington on January 25, 2024. One of the first Boeing 737 Max jets on the production line at the company's manufacturing facility in Renton, Washington, U.S., on Monday, Dec. 7, 2015. The airlines around the world that have already bought Boeing planes basically need to keep using those models, whatever the problems. Commercial pilots are certified on specific models and are not able to easily move from single-aisle to widebody versions of Boeing jets, let alone between a Boeing and an Airbus jet.

Persons: I’m, Dave Calhoun, we’ve, ”, “, Calhoun, Max, Jason Redmond, Stan Deal, Ed Pierson, McDonell Douglas, Critics, ” Ron Epstein, McDonnell Douglas, Jim McNerney, Tammy Duckworth, Aaron Schwartz, ‘ We’re, Richard Aboulafia, Joshua Drake, Boeing Calhoun, Bank of America’s Epstein, it’s, Pierson, Max ”, Robert Clifford, people’s, ” Calhoun, David Ryder, Aboulafia, Boeing’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Boeing, Alaska Airlines, National Safety Transportation Board, Pilots, Max, Alaska Air, Getty, Foundation for Aviation Safety, CNN, “ Boeing, Bank of America, General Electric, Procter, Gamble, McKinsey, Co, GE, Associated, Pentagon, Capitol, FAA, Airbus, Joshua Drake Photography, Blackstone Group, Nielsen, Bank of, Aviation, Bloomberg, Ethiopian Aircraft Accident, US National Transportation Safety Board, Internal Locations: New York, Renton , Washington, AFP, Alaska, Soviet Union, Pacific, Chicago, Seattle, Washington, DC, Mobile , Alabama, Wichita, Oklahoma, Carolina, South Carolina, Calhoun, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Renton , Washington , U.S

The Direct File pilot program is rolling out in stages. The agency estimates that several hundred thousand taxpayers are eligible for the initial rollout in the 2024 tax season. Four other states that have a state income tax also are part of the pilot program — Arizona, Massachusetts, California and New York. In those four, state tax agencies will help people directly file their state taxes as well. “Direct File is one step toward getting the IRS in line with 21st century tax administration,” Olson said.

Persons: “, Danny Werfel, Nina Olson, ” Olson, Werfel, Tania Mercado, ” Robert Nassau, preparers, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON, IRS, Center for Taxpayer Rights, Organization for Economic Cooperation, Development, Republicans, Intuit, Low, Clinic, Syracuse University College of Law Locations: Florida , New Hampshire , Nevada , South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas, Washington, Wyoming, Arizona , Massachusetts, California, New York, Germany, Japan

☆ Jam Master Jay murder jury views graphic crime scene photos in death of Run-DMC DJ
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Laura Italiano | Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"He died instantly," prosecutor Miranda Gonzalez told jurors, shot in the head at such close range, his hair was singed. Then, "as quickly as they came, they fled," she told jurors. AdvertisementMizell "had a tremendous amount of blood already pooled on the floor," the detective told jurors. "It was an ambush, an execution, motivated by greed and revenge," Gonzalez told jurors. AdvertisementProsecutors allege that before Mizell's death, Mizell told Washington that Washington would not be involved in the drug distribution in Maryland, which led the suspects to plot to kill Mizell.

Persons: —, Jason William Mizell —, Jay —, Miranda Gonzalez, Karl ", Jordan Jr, Ronald, Tinard, James Lusk, Lusk, Tony Rincon, Mizell, Gonzalez, Mizell's, Artie McConnell, Jay Bryant, Jason Mizell, Seth D, DuCharme, Washington, Jordan, he'd, John Diaz, Ezra Spilke Organizations: Service, Business, Queens, of, Jordan, EMS, Eastern, Prosecutors, Associated Press . Locations: New York, Washington, of New York, Jordan, Jamaica, Queens, Rincon, Maryland, Associated Press . Washington

☆ 2023 income tax return: Here’s what you need to know before you file
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

New York CNN —Come Monday, the IRS will start accepting and processing 2023 federal income tax returns. Pull out your return from last year: Your 2022 tax return will give you a good starting point for figuring out what documents you need to have handy to fill out this year’s return, said Tom O’Saben, director of tax content and government relations at the National Association of Tax Professionals. Here is a list of the most common and costly tax return mistakes the IRS has seen over the years. Lastly, the program cannot be used to file your state returns, so you’ll have to do that separately but your state may have its own free file program. (More details on the federal Direct File program are here.)

Persons: Tom O’Saben, you’ve, ” O’Saben, O’Saben, didn’t, you’re, filers, Katie Lobosco, Tami Luhby Organizations: New, New York CNN, IRS, Patriots, National Association of Tax, Social Security, Child, filers, Social Locations: New York, Maine and Massachusetts, brokerages, Arizona , California, Florida , Massachusetts, Nevada , New Hampshire , New York, South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas, Washington and Wyoming

☆ Jam Master Jay’s life and death and the long search for the Run-DMC DJ’s killers
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Eric Levenson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

With Jam Master Jay scratching the turntables as DJ, they created a new sound and street look, with their Adidas gear, leather jackets, gold chains and black Kangol hats. Jason Mizell (Jam Master Jay), Joseph Simmons (Run) and Darryl McDaniels (DMC) pose at the Grammy Awards in the 1980s. The coffin of Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay was carried out of Allen A.M.E Cathedral after his funeral on November 5, 2002. Seth DuCharme, acting US attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced charges in August 2020 against two men in the killing of Jam Master Jay. In a statement, Jam Master Jay’s son Jesse Mizell and the Mizell family thanked those who had reached out in support.

Persons: Jay, Ronald Washington, Karl Jordan Jr, Jason Mizell, Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, Aerosmith, ” Jay, Tricky, ”, ’, “ King, wasn’t, “, Allen A.M.E, Hanny Ray Abrams, Jordan, Mizell, Seth DuCharme, Brendan McDermid, Seth D, DuCharme, ” DuCharme, Jesse Mizell, Jay Bryant, Bryant, Cesar de Castro Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Queens, Adidas, Stone, DJ Times, Duo, Hulton, Hall of Fame, MTV, of Fame, Allen A.M.E Cathedral, Getty, Eastern, of, Reuters Locations: New York City, Brooklyn, Jamaica, Queens, Allen, AFP, of New York, Washington, Jordan, Reuters Jordan

MANASSAS, Va. (AP) — It was President Joe Biden's first big campaign rally of the year, a chance to spotlight the issue of protecting abortion rights. Instead, at least a dozen times during Biden's 22-minute speech, demonstrators scattered throughout the audience rose to shout out demands for a cease-fire in Gaza. Joe!”“They feel deeply,” Biden said of the demonstrators, who were pulled from the room by security personnel. The Democratic president is increasingly contending with protests inside and outside his events from progressives upset about his administration's support for Israel in its offensive in Gaza. Biden campaign communications director Michael Tyler said Biden's response to demonstrators shows he's “a president who understands and respects Americans' fundamental First Amendment rights to peacefully protest."

Persons: Joe Biden's, Joe, ”, ” Biden, Niki Thomas, Biden, Cornell Belcher, Donald Trump, Israel, John Kirby, “, Michael Tyler, he's “, “ Joe Biden, Tyler, Trump, Mother Emanuel, I’ve, Zeke Miller, Josh Boak, Michelle L, Price Organizations: Democratic, Israel, Health Ministry, Biden, UAW, Republican, House, AP VoteCast, Associated Press Locations: Va, Gaza, Virginia, Israel, United States, American, Tel Aviv, New, Iowa, New Hampshire, Indianola , Iowa, Rochester , New Hampshire, Manchester , New Hampshire, Palestine, Washington, New York

☆ Biden risks deepening Middle East conflict with pressure to respond to deadly troop attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

How each party proceeds in the coming days could significantly alter the trajectory of the Israel-Hamas war and the broader tensions it has sparked in the Middle East. The issues have been the subject of hours of intense Situation Room discussions and high-level talks between the leaders. Already, Biden was coming under pressure to ratchet up the scale of American counterattack. American officials have said they have used backchannels to convey to Iran and its proxies that the attacks on US troops must stop. American officials said they were cautiously optimistic that the talks were moving in the right direction, and that an agreement could soon be in reach.

Persons: Jordan —, ’, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, We’ve, Adam Smith, ” Smith, ”, Smith, Biden, Sen, Lindsey Graham of, ” Sen, John Cornyn of, Lloyd Austin, Jake Sullivan, Bill Burns, Sunday’s, Burns, Elissa Slotkin Organizations: CNN, Hamas, United, ”, House Armed Services Committee, Iran, Sunday, “ Target, Defense, CIA, Michigan Democrat Locations: States, Gaza, Israel, France, Washington, Tehran, United States, Iran, Jordan, South Carolina, Iraq, Syria, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, John Cornyn of Texas, “, “ Target Tehran, Paris, Qatar, Egypt, Michigan

Now Jay’s case is the first of those killings to go to trial. Opening statements are set for Monday in the federal murder trial of Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington, who were arrested in 2020. Jay, born Jason Mizell, formed Run-DMC in the early 1980s with Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and Joseph Simmons, known as DJ Run and Rev. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesThey were the first rappers with gold and platinum albums and a Rolling Stone cover. He considered Jay to be family, since the DJ grew up across the street from Jordan's father, his defense wrote.

Persons: Jay, Karl Jordan Jr, Ronald Washington, “, ”, Seth DuCharme, gunning, Jason Mizell, Darryl “, ” McDaniels, Joseph Simmons, Aerosmith, ” Jay, people's, Tricky, Tupac Shakur, Prosecutors, Washington, Jordan, wasn't, Susan Kellman, Jay —, Judge LaShann DeArcy, Jordan's, Mark DeMarco, Jordan “ Organizations: Brooklyn U.S, Adidas, MTV, Roll Hall of Fame, Police, Prosecutors, DJ, Playboy, Authorities, New York Daily News Locations: Washington, Jordan, Hollis, Queens, York, Angeles, Shakur’s, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, indicting Washington, Maryland, Jordan's

But the meeting failed to resolve any of their major differences, many of which have international implications. In a White House statement Saturday on the meeting, Sullivan stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory and in recent years has shown its displeasure at political activities in Taiwan by sending military planes and ships. Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party largely campaigned on self-determination, social justice and a rejection of China’s threats. Sullivan highlighted that although Washington and Beijing are in competition, both sides have to “prevent it from veering into conflict or confrontation,” it added.

Persons: Wang Yi, Jake Sullivan, Wang, Joe Biden, ” Wang, Sullivan, Xi Jinping, Lai Ching Organizations: BEIJING, U.S . National, Democratic Progressive Party, U.S, China - Locations: Washington, Taiwan, Thai, China, U.S, Bangkok, Malta, Vienna, Taiwan Strait, Ukraine, East, North Korea, South China, Myanmar, Beijing

☆ North Korea Fired Multiple Cruise Missiles off East Coast
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Hyonhee ShinSEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea fired multiple cruise missiles off its east coast on Sunday, its second such launch in less than a week, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. "While strengthening surveillance and vigilance, our military is cooperating closely with the United States and monitoring additional signs and activities from North Korea," it said in a statement. The latest launches came days after North Korea fired what it called a new strategic cruise missile called "Pulhwasal-3-31", suggesting it is nuclear capable. North Korea is stepping up confrontation with the United States and its allies, but officials in Washington and Seoul say they have spotted no signs Pyongyang intends to take imminent military action. North Korea carried out its first test of a cruise missile with possible nuclear strike capabilities in September 2021.

Persons: Shin, Kim Jong, KCNA, Hyonhee Shin, Kim Coghill Organizations: Korea's, Chiefs of Staff, South Korean, North, South Locations: Shin SEOUL, North Korea, United States, Washington, Seoul, Pyongyang, Russia, South Korea, North

WASHINGTON (AP) — By any standard, the past 18 months have been remarkable for getting wrongfully detained Americans home. For all the releases of wrongly detained Americans, several dozen remain imprisoned or held hostage, often by a hostile government. In some instances, there have been few signs of progress, and families have sometimes seen the foreign countries that are holding their loved ones release other detainees — but not yet their relatives. In September, five Americans jailed for years in Iran walked free in a deal that saw the release of nearly $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets. Despite the administration’s recent spate of success with other detainees, he said he was pragmatic about the absence of an obvious solution.

Persons: Brittney Griner, Harrison Li, Kai, Li, ”, he’s, “, ” Li, Roger Carstens, ” “ There’s, ” Carstens, Biden, Leonard ”, Nicolas Maduro, Paul Rusesabagina, Joe Biden, Kai Li, Xi Jinping, you’re, Maryam Kamalmaz, Majd Kamalmaz, Austin Tice, Carstens, there’s, He’s, Paul Whelan, we’re, Whelan’s, David, Whelan, don’t Organizations: WASHINGTON, Stanford, Biden, ., U.S, U.S ., FBI, United, Michigan Locations: Iran, Russia, Venezuela, China, Rwanda, ”, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Shanghai, United Nations, Washington, Beijing, Texas, Syria, United States, America, Kremlin

☆ Taiwan says China is still sending balloons to the island, which it calls an act of 'cognitive warfare'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewChina isn't letting up on its deluge of balloons on Taiwan, sending over another six high-altitude balloons on Sunday, according to the island's defense ministry. But Taiwan said on January 6 that China is using the balloons in a campaign of harassment. Tensions between Taiwan and China are growing as William Lai Ching-te was elected president of the island on January 13. Lai's party, the Democratic Progressive Party, has long campaigned on resisting China and preparing for the threat of war. AdvertisementChina's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

Persons: —, China hasn't, Axios, it's, William Lai Ching, te Organizations: Service, Business, Taiwanese Defense Ministry, People's Liberation Army, Pentagon, Democratic Progressive Party Locations: China, Taiwan, Pingtung City, Taipei, Washington, Beijing, South Carolina

☆ IRS set to launch its free tax-filing pilot program for some taxpayers. Here's what to expect
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Known as Direct File, the agency's free filing software pilot will begin as an invitation-only service for a group of government workers before rolling out to certain taxpayers in 12 states by mid-March. Direct File comes after a feasibility report authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act. Internal Revenue ServiceDirect File is 'starting small' with 12 statesThe IRS Direct File pilot intentionally starts with a limited group of taxpayers with relatively simple filings, according to IRS officials. While Direct File won't cover state returns, Arizona, Massachusetts and New York residents can immediately continue to state filing by importing Direct File data. While only certain taxpayers can use Direct File, the bilingual software includes built-in live chat support with IRS assistors.

Persons: Daniel Werfel, Kevin Lamarque, Laurel Blatchford, Danny Werfel, Werfel Organizations: Reuters, U.S . Department, Treasury Department, IRS, CNBC, Internal Revenue, Social Locations: Arizona , California, Florida , Massachusetts, Nevada , New Hampshire , New York, South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas, Washington and Wyoming, Arizona , Massachusetts, New York, California

☆ MoveOn Will Spend $32 Million to Back Biden and Other Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Reid J. Epstein | More About Reid J. Epstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

1 thing that unifies MoveOn members is their desire to defeat the radical right and prevent them from gaining governing power,” Ms. Epting said. Founded in 1998 to resist Republican efforts to impeach President Bill Clinton, MoveOn has become ingrained in the progressive firmament in Washington and across the country. Ms. Epting is now a key player in the Democratic endeavor to stop the centrist group No Labels from fielding a 2024 presidential candidate. In its effort to help Mr. Biden and other Democrats, MoveOn intends to target voters who became eligible to vote or became more active voters after Mr. Trump won the presidency in 2016. This group, which MoveOn calls “surge voters,” tends to vote for Democrats but is less tuned in to political news.

Persons: Ms, Epting, “, ”, Bill Clinton, MoveOn, Biden, Trump Organizations: Democratic Locations: Washington

Unlike in most European countries, the president of Finland holds executive power in formulating foreign and security policy, particularly when dealing with countries outside the European Union like the United States, Russia and China. “Clearly, the main task of the president is to steer foreign policy,” said Teivo Teivainen, professor of world politics at the University of Helsinki. Finland became the Western military alliance’s 31st member in April last year, much to the annoyance of Russia and President Vladimir Putin. Under the Finnish Constitution, the president decides on foreign and security policy issues together with the government. Late last year, Finland closed its border with Russia after some 1,300 migrants without proper documentation or visas arrived across the frontier just months after Finland joined NATO.

Persons: ”, Teivo Teivainen, —, Sauli Niinistö, Alexander Stubb, Pekka Haavisto, Haavisto, Jussi Halla, Olli Rehn, Niinistö, Vladimir Putin, Teivainen, Petteri, Putin, Washington —, ” Niinistö Organizations: HELSINKI, NATO, Union, University of Helsinki, Bank of Finland, Kyiv —, Hamas, Helsinki, Washington, YLE, Nordic, Kremlin Locations: Nordic, Ukraine, Russia, United States, China, Sunday’s, Finland, Ukraine —, Moscow, Sweden, Finland’s, Finnish, Moscow , Washington, Beijing, Baltic, Vainikkala

☆ IRS set to launch its free tax filing pilot program
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Katie Lobosco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Washington CNN —When tax filing season opens on January 29, some taxpayers will have the option of filing their 2023 federal tax returns with a brand new, government-run system. The law required the IRS to complete a cost and feasibility study about developing a free, electronic tax filing system, which it released in May. If the pilot program is successful, Direct File could eventually rival competing services in the private market. This screenshot shows the Internal Revenue Service's free tax filing pilot. It offers step-by-step guidance, in both English and Spanish, to taxpayers filing their federal tax returns by posing questions about their income and tax situations.

Persons: Danny Werfel, haven’t, Biden Organizations: Washington CNN, IRS, Democrat, Congress, Internal Revenue, Social Security, Taxpayers, Republicans Locations: Arizona , California, Florida , Massachusetts, Nevada , New Hampshire , New York, South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas, Washington and Wyoming

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