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☆ Senate passes reauthorization of a key U.S. surveillance program after midnight deadline
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

After its midnight deadline, the Senate voted early Saturday to reauthorize a key U.S. surveillance law after divisions over whether the FBI should be restricted from using the program to search for Americans' data nearly forced the statute to lapse. The legislation approved 60-34 with bipartisan support would extend for two years the program known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. "If you miss a key piece of intelligence, you may miss some event overseas or put troops in harm's way," Sen. Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said. One of the major changes detractors had proposed centered around restricting the FBI's access to information about Americans through the program. "I think that is a risk that we cannot afford to take with the vast array of challenges our nation faces around the world," Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Friday.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Alejandro Mayorkas, Joe Biden's, Jake Sullivan, Biden, Ayman al, Sen, Marco Rubio, shouldn't, General Merrick Garland, Garland, Schumer, Dick Durbin, Durbin, Democratic Sen, Mark Warner Organizations: Homeland, U.S, Capitol, Foreign Intelligence, White House, FISA, Republican, Senate Intelligence, Justice Department, United, Justice, Biden, U.S . Capitol, Democratic Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, harm's, United States

☆ CIA director warns Ukraine could lose war with Russia by the end of the year unless US sends more aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Katie Bo Lillis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —CIA Director Bill Burns on Thursday warned that unless US sends more military support, Ukraine could “lose” the war against Russia by the end of the year. His comments mark one of the starkest warnings to date from the Biden administration on the stakes in Ukraine as Congress debates whether to approve a long-delayed aid package to Kyiv. In an effort to satisfy divided factions of the GOP, some of whom support and some of whom oppose aid for Ukraine, he has split the legislation into separate bills and the Ukraine aid portion is expected to come up for a vote on Saturday night. That would still be deemed “a loss.”Burns detailed the dire need for basic ammunition that Ukraine faces on the battlefield. He recounted two battalions — 2,000-plus man units — that had “15 artillery rounds per day” and “a grand total of 42 mortar rounds,” respectively.

Persons: Bill Burns, “, Biden, Burns, —, George W, ” Burns, ”, Putin, Mike Johnson Organizations: CNN, CIA, US, Senate Intelligence Committee, — “, Bush, Israel, GOP, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv, — “ Ukraine, Israel, Moscow, Crimea, Ukrainian, Russian

Within days, millions of TikTok videos using music from Universal artists went mute, and since then guessing which side would blink first has become a media-business parlor game. Backing this up, one study found that TikTok users reported experiencing higher levels of flow than Instagram users. Corey Basch, who analyzed 100 popular TikTok videos with the hashtag mentalhealth for a 2022 study, emerged concerned about the looping effect of the algorithm. Cerave Sales increased by more than 60 percent in 2020 after skin care became a lockdown pastime and TikTok users discovered the drugstore mainstay. Cat Crack Catnip It briefly sold out in 2021 after TikTok users posted videos of their cats going crazy for it.

Persons: randos, TikTok, you’ve, Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, ”, “ Wonka, Barbie, “ Oppenheimer, —, goofing, cavorting, Sue Fleishman, Z’s Walter Cronkite, Spehar, Donald J, Trump, he’s, Caitlin Clark’s, Joe Biden, Justin Bieber, Abbie Richards, Richards, Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X, Fleetwood Mac, Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Drake, Swift, ByteDance, can’t, Mark Warner, hasn’t, Al, ear on, Li Organizations: Fleetwood Mac, Facebook, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, White, Pew Research Center, YouTube, The New York Times, Kansas City Chiefs, Media, Colgate, Universal Music Group, ByteDance, Intelligence Committee, e Locations: United States, Beijing, Biden’s, TikTok, Singapore, View, Calif, China, American

☆ Sen. Tom Cotton encourages drivers to drag Gaza cease-fire protesters from blocked roads
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Tom Cotton (R-AK) speaks during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats to American security, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., March 11, 2024. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., on Tuesday doubled down on earlier comments encouraging people stuck in traffic caused by cease-fire protests to "take matters into their own hands" and forcibly remove the demonstrators from the roads. Cotton posted a video on X on Tuesday showing people dragging protesters off the roads by their legs and their jacket hoods, tossing them to the curb to let cars through. "How it should be done," the senator wrote in the post. On Monday, traffic came to an hourslong standstill on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and in major cities including Chicago, Seattle and New York as demonstrators planted themselves on the roads to draw attention to the war in Gaza.

Persons: Tom Cotton, Sen, Cotton, let's Organizations: Intelligence, Capitol, Fox Locations: Washington , U.S, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, New York, Gaza, Arkansas

NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Trade Commission is investigating TikTok over its data and security practices, a probe that could lead to a settlement or a lawsuit against the company, according to a person familiar with the matter. In its investigation, the FTC has been looking into whether TikTok violated a portion of federal law that prohibits “unfair and deceptive” business practices by denying that individuals in China had access to U.S. user data, said the person, who is not authorized to discuss the investigation. FTC spokesperson Nicole Drayton and TikTok declined to comment on the investigation, which was first reported by Politico. The agency is nearing the conclusion of its investigation and could settle with TikTok in the coming weeks. Lawmakers and intelligence officials have said they worry the platform could be used by the Chinese government to access U.S. user data or influence Americans through its popular algorithm.

Persons: TikTok, Nicole Drayton, there’s, Mark Warner, Marco Rubio, Lina Khan, ByteDance, hasn’t Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Politico, TikTok, Justice Department, Republican, Buzzfeed, Buzzfeed News, The Financial Times, Senate Locations: Washington, U.S, Beijing, China

☆ Middle East Crisis U.N. Trucks Get Food Aid Directly Into Northern Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Lars Dolder | Adam Rasgon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

“We are not near a deal, meaning that we are not seeing both sides converging on language that can resolve the current disagreements,” Mr. al-Ansari said, without going into detail. Hamas has demanded a comprehensive cease-fire and complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Mr. Mardawi said Hamas also wanted a “just deal” that would result in the exchange of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons for hostages held by militants in Gaza. The Israeli government has said it must wipe out Hamas’s military and administrative capabilities in Gaza before agreeing to end the war. “If not, Hamas will regroup, rearm and reconquer Gaza, and then we’re back to square one.

Persons: ” Israel, Majed al, Ansari, “, ” Mr, Mahmoud Mardawi, Mr, Mardawi, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Netanyahu, William J, Burns, ” Organizations: Qatari, United, Hamas, The New York Times, CNN, Senate Locations: Israel, Gaza, Qatar, Egypt, United States, Gazan, Rafah, rearm

☆ US intelligence report states Netanyahu’s viability to lead Israel is in jeopardy
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Katie Bo Lillis | Michael Conte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The US intelligence community assesses Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “viability as a leader” to be “in jeopardy,” according to its annual report on the national security threats facing the United States that was presented to Congress on Monday. The intelligence report notes that the Israeli population broadly supports the destruction of Hamas. It offers an around-the-world unclassified snapshot of how the intelligence community views the panoply of national security threats facing the United States. Beijing, according to the report, has more than tripled its export of goods with potential military use to Russia since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. China has provided “economy and security assistance to Russia’s war in Ukraine through support to Russia’s defense industrial base, including by providing dual-use material and components for weapons,” the report states.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, ”, ” Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Biden, Netanyahu, Israel, “, Chris Wray, I’ve, ” Wray, Sen, Mark Warner of, Republican Sen, Jim Risch of, ” Warner, ” Risch, “ I’ve, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Bill Burns, Burns, Ukraine “, you’re, ” Burns Organizations: CNN, ISIS, Hamas, Senate, Congressional, Republican, Warner, Democratic, National Intelligence, CIA Locations: United States, Israel, Gaza, Mark Warner of Virginia, Jim Risch of Idaho, Ukraine, Russia, Beijing, Moscow, China

☆ Trump's lawyers are hunting for the identities of secret consultants who approved Russiagate Pulitzer Prizes
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

AdvertisementIn an overlooked lawsuit, Donald Trump's lawyers are exhibiting a habit from his White House days: Hunting for anonymous sources. At each turn, a lawyer for the Pulitzer Board members stopped their clients from answering. The journalists whom Trump's lawyers deposed did, however, offer some characterization of the "consultants" who conducted the reviews. The Pulitzer Prize Board is hosted by Columbia University, in Manhattan, which manages the small organization's payroll and offers institutional support. Chad Bowman, a Ballard Spahr attorney representing the Pulitzer board members, directed Business Insider to court filings.

Persons: Donald Trump, —, Donald Trump's, Trump, Pulitzer, Robert Mueller, Quincy Bird, Katherine Boo, Boo, Chad R, Bowman, Ballard Spahr, don't, Marjorie Miller, Miller, Weber, Crabb, Wein, Neil Brown, David Remnick, Nicole Carroll, Lee Bollinger, Kevin Merida, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Lee C, Bollinger, David Ake Trump's, Gail Collins, John Daniszewski, Bird, Daniszewski, Dana Canady, doesn't, Bebeto Matthews, Collins, we've, John Durham, Hillary Clinton, James Comey, Brown, Chad Bowman, Ballard, Evan Vucci Trump, Christopher Steele, Jeff Gerth's, Gerth, You've Organizations: Service, Business, The New York Times, Washington Post, American, The Washington Post, Pulitzer, Times, Post, PAC Trump, Columbia University, Mar, Poynter Institute for Media Studies, Tampa Bay Times, New Yorker, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, Global Enterprise, New, AP, Katherine Boo , New York Times, Trump, Republican, Columbia Locations: Russia, Chad, Manhattan, Florida, USA, New York City, Mar, Katherine Boo ,, New York, Palm Beach , Florida, United States, Washington, DC

☆ Speaker Mike Johnson faces critical decision on Ukraine aid as international pressure grows to act
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Melanie Zanona | Annie Grayer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Speaker Mike Johnson is facing international criticism over his lack of swift action on Ukraine aid, which is ratcheting up pressure to make a critical decision that will not only have massive implications for his rookie speakership but also for Ukraine’s ongoing war effort against Russia. “If there is a Mike Johnson plan, there aren’t any House Republicans that are aware of its existence.”The pressure cooker Johnson is facing has exposed some frustration over how he has approached his speakership. At a time when House Republicans are looking to their leader to make a decisive choice, the speaker has instead elevated members to bring forward their own ideas without articulating his own preferences. “Ukraine is in desperate need of the US aid, passed by an overwhelming bipartisan vote on the floor of the United States Senate. “We’re looking at a number of options on our leadership team.”Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has repeatedly hammered Johnson over his inaction.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, –, Alexei Navalny, Kevin McCarthy, Donald Trump, Sen, J.D, Vance, Johnson —, Warren Davidson, ” Davidson, Virginia Sen, Mark Warner, ”, Ben Cardin, “, ” Cardin, It’s, Brian Fitzpatrick, someone’s, Mitch McConnell, Vladimir Putin, ” Johnson, Steve Scalise, Trump, ” Scalise, Joe Biden, ” Biden, NATO … I’ve, Biden, Chuck Schumer, Putin “, Vladimir Putin’s, ” Schumer, it’s, There’s, Mike Turner, ” CNN’s Alex Marquardt Organizations: CNN, Russia, Democratic, Congress, Global, Security, Republicans, Republican, NATO, GOP, Caucus, languishes, Senate Intelligence, United, United States Senate, Senate, NATO …, New, New York Democrat, House Intelligence, Ohio Republican, Press, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Warren Davidson of Ohio, “, Munich, United States, Russia, Pennsylvania, Baltic, Florida, New York, Washington

The company also has promised to wall off U.S. user data from its parent company through a separate entity run independently from ByteDance and monitored by outside observers. TikTok says new user data is currently being stored on servers maintained by the software company Oracle. The AP-NORC poll shows TikTok users — about 170 million in the U.S., most of whom skew younger — are less likely to be worried about the app sharing American users' data, reflecting a previously felt generational divide. The Biden campaign has said it is using a separate cellphone for TikTok to isolate the app from other communications and was taking additional steps for protection. The poll also found that about 6 in 10 U.S. adults — and 41% of daily TikTok users — are “extremely or very concerned” about the amount of time children and teenagers spend on TikTok.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, TikTok, ”, Dan Ives, Biden, Mark Warner, ” Warner, “, Alex Haurek, Vivek Ramaswamy, influencers, —, it’s, Linley Sanders, ___ Organizations: The Associated Press, NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, U.S, Oracle, Foreign Investment, Commerce Department, Wedbush Securities, European Union, Senate, Virginia Democrat, Republican, Union Locations: U.S, Beijing, Virginia, India, Washington

☆ Rubio dismisses concerns about Trump’s NATO remarks as backlash mounts
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Avery Lotz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —GOP Sen. Marco Rubio defended former President Donald Trump’s controversial comment that he would encourage Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” to a NATO member country that didn’t meet defense spending guidelines. Rubio went on to note that the US did not leave NATO during Trump’s presidency — though Trump made private threats about withdrawing multiple times, according to The New York Times. “Donald Trump is not a member of the Council on Foreign Relations,” Rubio told CNN’s Jake Tapper. NATO has a target that each member country spends a minimum of 2% of gross domestic product on defense, and most countries are not meeting that target. They’re attacking Donald Trump,” Rubio said.

Persons: GOP Sen, Marco Rubio, Donald Trump’s, “ That’s, that’s, Rubio, —, Trump, “ Donald Trump, ” Rubio, CNN’s Jake Tapper, “, ”, ” Trump, haven’t, “ Trump’s, Nikki Haley’s, Michael, They’re, Donald Trump, Tapper, Sen, John McCain —, ” —, CNN’s Serena Golden, Kate Sullivan Organizations: CNN, GOP, NATO, Florida Republican, CNN’s, Trump’s, The New York Times, Foreign Relations, Senate Intelligence, White House, Biden Locations: Russia, Florida, CNN’s State, Conway , North Carolina

☆ Biden officials confront limits of federal response in exercise preparing for 2024 election threats
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Carolyn Kaster/AP/FileUS national security officials have to weigh whether publicly calling attention to disinformation might inadvertently amplify the very message they’re trying to bat down. In both scenarios, federal officials favored a muted public response, largely choosing to let state and local governments take the lead. State and local officials run elections and are more trusted voices in their communities, but how can federal officials act decisively to support them? “It’s a trick box,” said Adam Hickey, who worked on election security issues for the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “[W]e prioritize tabletop exercises that integrate the range of cyber, physical, and operational threats election officials may encounter,” Conley said in a statement to CNN.

Persons: “, ”, —, Carolyn Kaster, there’s, Biden, Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, Joe Biden, deepfakes, ” Sen, Mark Warner, Kevin Dietsch, Francisco Aguilar, ” Aguilar, Donald Trump’s, Adam Hickey, Hickey, Cait Conley, DHS’s, ” Conley, –, ” CNN’s Evan Perez, Natasha Bertrand, Donie O’Sullivan, Katie Bo Lillis Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, Biden White, Jeffersonville Masonic, New Hampshire, Foreign Ministry, ”, Senate, Committee, White, Senate Intelligence, Virginia Democrat, Republican, Trump, Capitol, Justice Department’s National Security, “, Justice Department, Department of Homeland, National Security Council, US Army, DHS’s Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Security Agency Locations: China, Jeffersonville, Jeffersonville , Ohio, American, Woodside , California, Nevada, Russia, Iran, Russian, Iranian

☆ Apple knew AirDrop users could be identified and tracked as early as 2019, researchers say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Washington CNN —Security researchers warned Apple as early as 2019 about vulnerabilities in its AirDrop wireless sharing function that Chinese authorities claim they recently used to track down users of the feature, the researchers told CNN, in a case that experts say has sweeping implications for global privacy. AirDrop lets Apple users who are near each other share files using a proprietary mix of Bluetooth and other wireless connectivity without having to connect to the internet. A Chinese tech firm, Beijing-based Wangshendongjian Technology, was able to compromise AirDrop to identify users on the Beijing subway accused of sharing “inappropriate information,” judicial authorities in Beijing said this week. The Chinese tech firm, Wangshendongjian Technology, that claimed to have exploited AirDrop appeared to have used some of the same techniques first identified by the Darmstadt researchers in 2019, said Alexander Heinrich, one of the German researchers. “Now that Chinese security agencies are exploiting this vulnerability, it’s a tough political problem for Apple.”

Persons: Apple, “, ”, Benjamin Ismail, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, ” Rubio, Milan Stute, Sascha Meinrath, Palmer, Alexander Heinrich, ” Heinrich, Kenn White, Heinrich et al, ” White, Sen, Ron Wyden, ” Wyden, “ Apple, Qi An Xin, Dakota Cary, SentinelOne, Ismail, would’ve, Matthew Green Organizations: Washington CNN —, CNN, Apple, Bluetooth, Technology, Republican, Senate Intelligence Committee, Technical University of Darmstadt, Penn State University, Wangshendongjian Technology, ” Apple, Oregon Democrat, Beijing, Olympic, Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, “ Locations: China, Washington, Hong Kong, Beijing, Florida, Germany, Darmstadt, Oregon, cyberattacks, Dakota

☆ Five senators ask Biden to impose China travel ban after respiratory illness cases
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Five Republican senators led by Marco Rubio on Friday asked President Joe Biden's administration to ban travel between the United States and China after a spike in Chinese respiratory illness cases. In recent months, the United States and China have been steadily increasing flights between the countries, that are still far below 2019 levels. The United States lifted the unprecedented travel restrictions for fully vaccinated international visitors starting in November 2021, including from China. The United States rescinded a separate requirement air travelers test negative before arriving in June 2022. The United States in January started requiring air passengers to get negative COVID tests after Beijing's decision to lift its stringent zero-COVID policies and lifted the requirements in March.

Persons: Joe Biden, Evelyn Hockstein, Marco Rubio, Joe Biden's, Rubio, Maria Van Kerkhove, Donald Trump, David Shepardson, Chizu Organizations: CS, REUTERS, Rights, Republican, Friday, Senate Intelligence, World Health Organization, China, Program, Embassy, Thomson Locations: Pueblo , Colorado, U.S, United States, China, Washington, States

"Hell on Earth has returned to Gaza," said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian office in Geneva. Israeli assaults since have laid waste much of Gaza, which Hamas has ruled since 2007. Sirens blared across southern Israel as militants fired rockets from the coastal enclave into towns. U.S. AND HAMAS TRADE ACCUSATIONSThe United States blamed Hamas for the renewed fighting, saying it had failed to produce a new list of hostages to release. The United States is working on a plan with Israel to minimize harm to civilians in any military operation in southern Gaza, a senior U.S. official said.

Persons: Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Jens Laerke, Martin Griffiths, Israel, Antony Blinken, Mark Warner, Washington, Crescent, Gazans, Khan, Mohammed Abu, Suhaib, Nidal, Mohammed Salem, Humeyra Pamuk, Ari Rabinovich, Emily Rose, Andrew Mills, David Brunnstrom, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, United Nations, Hamas, Tel, Hezbollah, Reuters, Democratic U.S, Senate Intelligence, Palestinian, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, GAZA, Geneva, QATAR, Qatar, Radwan, Tel Aviv, Lebanon, Iran, Lebanese, States, Jerusalem, Washington, United States, Israeli, Rafah, Egypt, U.S, Khan Younis, Khan, Suhaib Salem, Cairo, Doha

☆ Sen. Marco Rubio: TikTok should be demonetized unless China hands over algorithm
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida and ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, during a hearing in Washington, D.C., on March 8, 2023. WASHINGTON — Social media giant TikTok should be demonetized in the U.S. unless the Chinese government hands over its algorithm, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said Wednesday. "It is time to ban Beijing-controlled TikTok for good," Rubio said in a December 2022 statement on his bill. More than 150 million Americans use TikTok and nearly five million businesses advertise on the platform, according to the company. "What companies in the world is that algorithm going to be beneficial to in the long term?"

Persons: Marco Rubio, Sen, " Rubio, Rubio, TikTok, It's, Mike Gallagher, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Angus King Organizations: Republican, Senate Intelligence, Washington , D.C, WASHINGTON — Social, Summit, BuzzFeed, Financial Times, Chinese Communist Party, Senate, Sen, CNBC PRO Locations: Florida, Washington ,, U.S, Beijing, ByteDance, Taiwan, New York, China, Russia, Maine

☆ US to brief senators on foreign online influence focused on Israel, Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Smoke rises above Gaza, as seen from southern Israel, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, November 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden's administration is holding a joint classified briefing for members of the U.S. Senate Intelligence and Commerce committees Wednesday on recent foreign online influence focused on Israel/Gaza and the Ukraine conflict. The bill was introduced by Senate Intelligence Committee chair Mark Warner and Republican John Thune and 24 other senators in March called the Restrict Act. Warner said some misinformation social media posts suggest the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas did not happen or were started by Israel. Republican Senator Jerry Moran, who backs the Restrict Act, told Reuters recent online misinformation "will be another impetus" to get Congress to act.

Persons: Alexander Ermochenko, Joe Biden's, Mark Warner, Republican John Thune, Warner, Jerry Moran, Maria Cantwell, TikTok, Josh Hawley, Janet Yellen, Biden, David Shepardson, Diane Craft, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Senate Intelligence, National Intelligence, Biden, Senate Intelligence, Republican, Warner, Reuters, Senate, Guard, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet Wednesday in California for talks on trade, Taiwan and managing fraught U.S.-Chinese relations in the first engagement between the leaders of the world's two biggest economies in nearly a year. Thousands of protesters are expected to descend on San Francisco during the summit. Thousands of people protesting climate destruction, corporate practices, the Israel-Hamas war and other issues are expected to descend on San Francisco during the summit. San Francisco Police Department Chief Bill Scott said his department expects several protests a day but doesn't know which ones will materialize where and when. ___Associated Press writer Janie Har in San Francisco and Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed reporting.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Biden, Xi, Karine Jean, Pierre, ”, Janet Yellen, Lifeng, Tsai Ing, Nancy Pelosi's, ” Biden, Bill Scott, Janie Har, Ken Moritsugu Organizations: WASHINGTON, Economic Cooperation, White, APEC, U.S ., Biden, Communist Party, Democratic, U.S, Beijing, Senate Intelligence, Pentagon, San Francisco Police Department, Associated Press Locations: California, Taiwan, Asia, San Francisco, U.S, China, San Francisco Bay, Beijing, United States, North Korea, Pyongyang, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Tehran, Israel, Bali , Indonesia, Taipei, American, South China, Philippines, States

☆ How the GOP muzzled the quiet coalition that fought foreign propaganda
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Kevin Collier | Ken Dilanian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +14 min

A once-robust alliance of federal agencies, tech companies, election officials and researchers that worked together to thwart foreign propaganda and disinformation has fragmented after years of sustained Republican attacks. The most recent setback came when the FBI put an indefinite hold on most briefings to social media companies about Russian, Iranian and Chinese influence campaigns. "We're having some interaction with social media companies," Wray said. "The symbiotic relationship between the government and the social media companies has definitely been fractured." Tech companies are still sharing their findings with each other, a Meta spokesperson told NBC News.

Persons: Christopher Wray, Wray, Sen, Mitt Romney, they're, Mark Warner, Warner, Hillary Clinton's, Barack, CISA, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Hunter, Mark Zuckerburg, Hunter Biden, didn't, Biden, Nina Jankowicz, Jankowicz, Jen, Jim Jordan, Kara Swisher, we're, Elon Musk, wasn't Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Washington , D.C, GOP, FBI, Force, NBC News, Senate Homeland Security Committee, Justice Department, Committee, Republican, Infrastructure Security Agency, Department of Homeland Security, Microsoft, Senate Intelligence, Kremlin, Internet Research Agency, Facebook, Twitter, National Security Agency, Democrats, New, Digital, Republicans, Homeland Security, Wired, Rep, Tech Locations: Washington ,, Silicon Valley, R, Utah, Russia, Iran, China, U.S, Illinois, CISA, New York, Missouri, Louisiana, Ohio, Israel

☆ Mossad, CIA chiefs meet Qatar PM in Doha on Gaza hostage deal -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mary F. Calvert/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsDOHA, Nov 9 (Reuters) - The CIA and Mossad chiefs met with the Qatari prime minister in Doha on Thursday to discuss the parameters of a deal for hostage releases and a pause in Hamas-Israel fighting in the Gaza Strip, a source briefed on the meeting told Reuters. Sheikh Tamim was accompanied by the Qatari prime minister. The statement said the purpose of the visit was to discuss the situation in Gaza. Unlike Qatar, the UAE has had diplomatic relations with Israel since a U.S.-brokered normalisation agreement in 2020. Reporting by Andrew Mills; writing by Maha El Dahan; editing by Toby Chopra and Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: William Burns, Mary F, David Barnea, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman, Thani, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Tamim, Andrew Mills, Maha El, Toby Chopra, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Central Intelligence Agency, Intelligence, REUTERS, Rights DOHA, CIA, Reuters, Qatari, Wednesday, United Arab, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Doha, Israel, Gaza, Qatar, Qatar's, United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, UAE, U.S

☆ Senators urge US to take steps to boost battery production, citing China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Workers are seen at the production line of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EV) at a factory in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, China August 28, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer/ File photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Two influential Democratic U.S. senators urged the Energy Department to take steps to boost U.S. battery manufacturing and next-generation battery research, citing China's dominance and export controls, according to a letter seen by Reuters. China dominates the global EV battery supply chain including production of graphite - the single largest component. The letter wants a committee briefing by Dec. 1 "on ongoing research and development of next-generation battery technologies." China accounts for 70% of the global production of lithium-ion batteries, the letter said, noting of five critical minerals required for most lithium-ion batteries, China "controls between 60-100% of the mining or refining for these minerals."

Persons: Stringer, Mark Warner, Joe Manchin, China's, Jennifer Granholm, David Shepardson, Leslie Adler, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Democratic U.S, Energy Department, Reuters, Senate, Energy, Pentagon, Department of Defense, Thomson Locations: Huzhou, Zhejiang province, China, United States, Asia, U.S

☆ F.C.C. Moves Toward Restoring Net Neutrality Rules, Igniting Regulatory Fight
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Cecilia Kang | More About Cecilia Kang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Why It MattersBy voting to move ahead with a proposal to restore net neutrality, the F.C.C. The agency will then be able to police broadband providers for net neutrality violations, consumer harm and security lapses. Background: What is net neutrality? Telecom companies have also argued that net neutrality rules could lead to regulatory creep and the regulation of broadband rates. What Critics SayRepublican lawmakers are fighting the move to restore net neutrality rules.

Persons: ” Jessica Rosenworcel, Tim Wu, Barack Obama’s F.C.C, Donald J, Trump, Rosenworcel, USTelecom, Brendan Carr, Mr, Carr Organizations: Netflix, Skype, Telecom, Democrat, Broadband, House Energy, Commerce, Verizon, and, Republican Locations: Columbia, cybersecurity

☆ House, Senate Intelligence Committee Leaders Back Israel on Hospital Blast
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate intelligence committees said they had been briefed on the intelligence related to the deadly blast at the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza and concluded that it wasn’t the result of an Israeli military action.

Organizations: Republican, Democratic, Al, Ahli Arab Hospital Locations: Ahli, Gaza

One update from September 28 warned, based on multiple streams of intelligence, that the terror group Hamas was poised to escalate rocket-attacks across the border. An October 5 wire from the CIA warned generally of the increasing possibility of violence by Hamas. Intelligence assessments are written by the intelligence community to inform policy makers and enable them to make decisions. For example, Israeli officials failed to recognize routine Hamas training exercises as a sign that the group was preparing an imminent attack. It’s also possible that the Hamas operation was more successful than the group anticipated, one former intelligence official and another source familiar with current intelligence said.

Persons: Biden, ”, Mostafa Alkharouf, Bill Burns, William Burns, Amanda Andrade, Rhoades, —, Defense Lloyd Austin, Valentin, Eli, Ghnassia, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, “ Israel, Joe Biden, Israel, Jake Sullivan, Susan Walsh, ” Sullivan, ” Tzachi, It’s, “ Organizations: Washington CNN, Palestinian, Hamas, CIA, CNN, West Bank, Getty, White House, Georgetown School of Foreign Service, Intelligence, intel, Defense, Biden, Kibbutz, Shin, New York Times, National Intelligence, White, The, Festival Locations: Israel, CNN Israel, Gaza, Anadolu, Eastern, Washington ,, Kibbutz Be'eeri, Jerusalem, Shin Bet, Israel’s, Washington, Israeli

☆ Laphonza Butler’s ascent to the Senate is a key moment for Black LGBTQ representation, advocates say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Chandelis Duster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“It’s about time,” Franco-Clausen, co-chair of the National Black Justice Coalition’s Good Trouble Network, an initiative that aims to advance policies that benefit the Black LGBTQ+ community, told CNN. She is currently the only Black woman serving in the Senate, and the third ever to serve in the chamber. But Franco-Clausen said she hopes the California senator will usher in a new era of representation. Among Democrats, 52 Black women have served in the House and three have served in the Senate. David Johns, the executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, said he believes Butler’s presence in the Senate is reflective of the work of previous Black LGBTQ+ political leaders.

Persons: CNN — Shay Franco, Clausen, Laphonza Butler, Franco, Sen, Dianne Feinstein, “, ” Franco, Coalition’s, Butler, ”, Kamala Harris –, Feinstein, Gavin Newsom, Charles Schumer, Alex Padilla, Tom Williams, Feinstein … Laphonza, “ Sen, Dianne Feinstein’s, ” Butler, Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, Barbara Lee, Hillary Clinton’s, Kamala Harris ’, who’s, Arnulfo De, Arnulfo De La Cruz, “ Laphonza, Laphonza, Shirley Chisholm, Melanie Campbell, David Johns Organizations: CNN, National Black, Network, Senate, San Francisco, of Supervisors, Committee, Senate Intelligence, Inc, Getty, Washington , D.C, Democratic, Congressional Black Caucus, House Democratic, Jackson State University, University of California, Regents, National Children’s Defense, Service Employees International Union, SEIU, Center for American Women, Republican, Victory, National Coalition, Black, National Black Justice Coalition Locations: California, D, Washington ,, Mississippi, Arnulfo De La, Congress

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