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☆ Peter Thiel was an FBI informant. Here's how you could become one.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Billionaire megadonor and Trump supporter Peter Thiel became an FBI informant in 2021, Insider reported. What does an FBI informant do? The main responsibility of an FBI informant is, as the name suggests, to provide information and intelligence to the bureau. According to an internal FBI guide, the FBI can recruit lawyers, reporters, clergy members, prison officials, and even minors and individuals who live overseas. They "will be either an 'FBI source' or a 'former FBI source' and, in turn, his or her conduct or misconduct will reflect upon the FBI."

Persons: megadonor, Trump, Peter Thiel, —, J.D, Vance, Blake Masters, Charles Johnson, Johnson, Thiel, Johnathan Buma, They'll, it's Organizations: FBI, Service, Intercept, intel, CHS Locations: Arizona, Silicon, Los Angeles

☆ Blinken Warns of Heightened Threat to U.S. Forces
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. expects further attacks on its forces in the Middle East, following the recent series of drone incursions in Syria and Iraq and the interception of missiles and drones by a U.S. missile-guided destroyer in the Red Sea. “In fact, we expect that there's a likelihood of escalation, escalation by Iranian proxies directed against our forces, directed against our personnel,” Blinken said Sunday on NBC’s Meet The Press. Blinken expanded on what he said were U.S. efforts to deter Iran or others entering the conflict, with two carrier strike groups, missile defense systems and other resources in the area or being sent to the region. “We don't want to see a second or third front develop,” he said. His comments followed similar concerns expressed earlier Sunday by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Persons: Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, Blinken, ”, Lloyd Austin Organizations: U.S ., Press, U.S . Defense Locations: Syria, Iraq, U.S, Red, Iran

They were addressing a hastily arranged gathering dubbed the Cairo Peace Summit that included leaders and foreign ministers from Europe, Africa and beyond. More than 4,100 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's counteroffensive, amid a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Arab countries have voiced anger at Israel's unprecedented bombardment and siege of Gaza, home to 2.3 million people and one of the most densely populated places on earth. Shortly before the summit opening, trucks loaded with humanitarian aid began entering the Rafah crossing into Gaza. Egypt has been trying for days to channel humanitarian relief to Gaza through the crossing, the one access point not controlled by Israel.

Persons: Mutasem, Abbas, Jordan's Abdullah, Israel's, Jordan's King Abdullah, Mahmoud Abbas, Olaf Scholz, Rishi Sunak, Emmanuel Macron, Abdel Fattah al, Sisi, King Abdullah, Jordan, William Maclean, Tomasz Janowski, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Cairo Peace Summit, European Union, West Bank, British, Israel, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza City, Jordan's Abdullah CAIRO, Gaza, Cairo, Europe, Africa, United States, Israel's, Gaza ., Egypt's, Sinai, Egypt

[1/3] Yemenis gather during a pro-Palestinian protest to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Sanaa, Yemen, October 20, 2023. Some demanded military action against Israel, others said Arab states should consider using other methods to stop the bombardment of Gaza. Egypt borders Gaza but has not been able to negotiate an opening of its crossing to allow in aid. Hundreds of people marched in central Tunis, a smaller protest than ones that have rallied there against Israel's Gaza campaign in recent days. On Iraq's border with Jordan, hundreds of supporters of Iran-backed paramilitary groups staged a sit-in to voice support for Gaza, brought in by bus.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Mohammed Gomaa, Souhail Ben Nasser, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Marisa, Hussein Samir, Suleiman al, Nafisa Eltahir, Amina Ismail, Tarek Amara, Ali Kucukgocmen, Ahmed Eljechtimi, Angus McDowall, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Houthi Media, REUTERS, Israel, Gaza, U.S ., Indonesian, U.S, Iran, Bulent Usta, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Sanaa, Yemen, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, AMMAN, CAIRO, Jakarta, Tunis, Israel, Palestinian, Beyazit, Palestine, Cairo, Morocco, Western Sahara, America, Asia, U.S, Kuala Lumpur, Jaipur, Mumbai, Iraq, Tehran, Baghdad, Iran, Khalidi, Amman, Nafisa, Istanbul, Rabat

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Bears quarterback Justin Fields is not expected to need surgery for his dislocated right thumb, coach Matt Eberflus said Friday. As expected, Fields was ruled out for Sunday's game against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders (3-3). It appears that Fields, at least for now, will avoid injured reserve, Eberflus said. He’ll be week to week and we’ll know more Monday. That’s where it is right now with Justin.”Fields needs to be able to achieve specific benchmarks in his recovery before returning.

Persons: Justin Fields, Matt Eberflus, Fields, Tyson Bagent, Eberflus, ” Eberflus, He’ll, Justin, ”, ” Bagent, Bagent, DJ Moore, Luke Getsy, ” Getsy, “, Getsy, he’s, Eddie Jackson, Jackson, Darnell Wright, Jaquan Brisker, Brisker, ___ Organizations: Ill, — Bears, Las Vegas Raiders, Chicago, That’s, Minnesota Vikings, NFL, Bears, Division, Shepherd University, rookie's Senior Bowl Locations: LAKE FOREST

☆ With a trove of declassified images, the US is shining a light on risky Chinese maneuvers it says could lead to war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The US has released a trove of declassified photos and videos of Chinese intercepts of US aircraft. Risky intercepts have caused accidents before, and there's growing fear an accident now could lead to war. AdvertisementAdvertisementA Chinese jet during "a coercive and risky" intercept of US plane over the East China Sea in April 2022. AdvertisementAdvertisementA Chinese jet during "a coercive and risky" intercept of a US plane over the South China Sea in June 2022. A Chinese jet conducting "a coercive and risky" intercept of a US plane over the South China Sea in January 2022.

Persons: —, Ely Ratner, That's, Ratner, Iain Huddleston, John Aquilino, Aquilino, Liu Pengyu, Liu, Lloyd Austin, I've, Michael Chase, Chase, Amanda Hsiao, Hsiao, Xi Jinping Organizations: US, Service, US Defense Department, US Air Force, Pacific Command, Pentagon, PLA, Canadian, Canadian Air Division, Canadian NORAD, People's Liberation Army, Embassy, Washington DC, Southern Theater, Maritime, US Defense Department Experts, China, Crisis, US Defense Department China, South China Locations: China, East China, North Korea, South, East, Washington, Beijing

☆ Interception of Canadian military plane by Chinese jets was unacceptable -Ottawa
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Bill Blair is sworn in as Canada’s Minister of National Defence, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sits, during a cabinet shuffle at Rideau Hall, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, July 26, 2023. REUTERS/Blair Gable/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOTTAWA, Oct 16 (Reuters) - The interception of a Canadian military plane by Chinese fighter jets over international waters on Monday was unacceptable, dangerous and reckless, said Defence Minister Bill Blair. In June 2022, Canada's military accused Chinese warplanes of harassing its patrol aircraft as they monitored North Korea sanction evasions, sometimes forcing Canadian planes to divert from their flight paths. In May, the Pentagon said a Chinese fighter jet carried out an "unnecessarily aggressive" maneuver near a U.S. military plane over the South China Sea in international airspace. The encounter followed what Washington calls a recent trend of increasingly dangerous behavior by Chinese military aircraft.

Persons: Bill Blair, Justin Trudeau, Blair Gable, Blair, David Ljunggren, Ismail Shakil, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: National Defence, Rideau Hall, REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, Canada's Global, North, Canadian, Global, Pentagon, Washington, Thomson Locations: Ottawa , Ontario, Canada, Canadian, North Korea, China, People's Republic of China, Ottawa, Chinese, U.S, South

Keep reading if you want to know how to watch the Giants vs. Bills live stream on Sunday Night Football. For $6.99 per month, NFL+ offers live streams for all local broadcasts and primetime games, including Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, and Thursday Night Football. Feel free to bookmark our guide to Sunday Night Football live streams for the most up-to-date information each week. Week 6: Giants vs. Bills, Oct. 15 (NBC, $5.99 on Peacock)Week 7: Dolphins vs. Eagles, Oct. 22 (NBC, $5.99 on Peacock)Week 8: Bears vs. Chargers, Oct. 29 (NBC, $5.99 on Peacock)Week 9: Bills vs. Bengals, Nov. 5 (NBC, $5.99 on Peacock)Week 10: Jets vs. ET (NBC, $5.99 on Peacock)Week 12: Ravens vs. Chargers, Nov. 26 (NBC, $5.99 on Peacock)Week 13: Chiefs vs. Packers, Dec. 3 (NBC, $5.99 on Peacock)Week 14: Eagles vs. Cowboys, Dec. 10 (NBC, $5.99 on Peacock)Week 15: Ravens vs. Jaguars, Dec. 17 (NBC, $5.99 on Peacock)Week 16: Bengals vs. Steelers, Dec. 23 at 3 p.m.

Persons: Daniel Jones, Josh Allen, Peacock, You'll, ExpressVPN, NFL RedZone Organizations: Giants, Bills, Buffalo Bills, Football, NBC, Sunday, NFL, NFL Network, NFL Films, NFL Shop, Insiders, Night, Dolphins, . Eagles, . Chargers, Bengals, Jets, . Raiders, Broncos, Seahawks, Ravens, Chiefs, Packers, . Cowboys, . Jaguars, Steelers, . Vikings Locations: New York, United States, DAZN

☆ Hamas is testing the layers of Israel's sophisticated air-defense network. Here's how it fends off threats.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Israel confirmed using its David's Sling air-defense system to intercept a Hamas rocket on Friday. Iron DomeIsrael's Iron Dome defense missile system is on alert, stationed close to the southern Israeli town of Sderot on October 12, 2023. Iron Dome has a reported intercept success rate of around 90%, but some inbound threats do manage to break through. US Missile Defense AgencyThe upper layer of Israel's air-defense network consists of Arrow systems. The Patriot is a top US air and missile defense system and is capable of engaging ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft, drones, and loitering munitions.

Persons: Israel, —, Daniel Hagari, Jack Guez, Tamir, Sebastian Scheiner, Brian Kimball Organizations: Service, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, country's Missile Defense Organization, Getty, IDF, Iron, Pentagon, Sling Air Defense, Hatzor, Base, Sunday, David's, AP, Interceptor, US Missile Defense Agency, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Arrow, Patriot US Army Patriot, US Defense Department, Tech, Patriot Locations: Israel, Gaza, Sderot, AFP, U.S, Iranian, Lebanon, Finland, Washington, Midia, Romania, US, Ukrainian

☆ Neighbors app floods police inboxes with alerts that have nothing to do with crimes
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Lam Thuy Vo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

People can use Neighbors to publish footage alongside their posts; when the posts are forwarded to police officers, officers can click through to view the accompanying media. "All posts and comments on Neighbors are publicly viewable on the Neighbors feed by users and public safety agencies alike. As with Poole, other LAPD officers The Markup identified as using Neighbors to keep tabs on crime did not respond to requests for interviews. To familiarize LAPD officers with the platform, the company organized in-person training sessions as well as video calls. In this dataset, at least 26 LAPD officers posted in Neighbors at least once and received responses from users.

Persons: —, Poole, Craig Newmark, Detective Poole, Albert Fox Cahn, isn't, It's, Cahn, Ring, Mai Nguyen, Nguyen, Sarah Brayne, Peter Polack, Jamie Siminoff, didn't, Siminoff, Shaquille O'Neal, Neighbors, Andrew Guthrie Ferguson, Andrea Han, Drake Madison Organizations: Service, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Police Department, Ring News, LAPD, NYCity, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, CUNY, NBC, University of Texas, Employees, Intercept, Ebay, Neighbors Public Safety Service, Neighbors, Ring's, Los Angeles, Guardian, American University Washington College of Law, Data, didn't, Network Locations: Jeffry, United States, Neighbors, Angeles, Austin, Los, Shadow, Tuna, North Hollywood, RVs, Panera

The New York Jets celebrated Nathaniel Hackett's return to Denver by rallying past the Broncos 31-21 on Sunday behind Breece Hall's 72-yard touchdown run and Bryce Hall's 39-yard game-sealing scoop-and-score off Russell Wilson's fumble in the final minute. That gave Hackett, the Jets' offensive coordinator who was fired after going 4-11 as Denver's head coach last season, a measure of satisfaction. Then, Wilson led the Broncos to a touchdown and 2-point conversion to make it 24-21 late in the fourth quarter. Fans streamed to the exits after that turnover and it was eerily mostly empty while Jets players hugged Hackett on the sideline. Breece Hall's long TD run up the middle came on the Jets' second snap of the second half and put them ahead for good at 15-13.

Persons: Nathaniel Hackett's, Breece, Bryce Hall's, Russell Wilson's, Hackett, Sean Payton, Wilson, Payton, excoriating Hackett, Kevin James, Patrick Surtain II’s, Zach Wilson’s, Garrett Wilson, Quincy Williams, Russell Wilson, Bryce Hall, Adam Trautman, Michael Burton's, Hall's, Robert Saleh, Hall, Zach Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Alijah Vera, Tucker, Jones, ___ Organizations: New York Jets, Broncos, Jets, USA, Alijah, D.J, NEXT Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday . Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs Locations: Denver

For Lachlan Murdoch, this moment has been a long time coming. On Thursday, his father Rupert Murdoch announced that in November he'll step down as the head of his two media companies: News Corp. and Fox Corp. Lachlan will become the chair of News Corp. while remaining chief executive and chair at Fox Corp., the parent of Fox News Channel. In Murdoch World, as in the fictional world of the Roy family, seemingly sure things can go sideways in an instant, particularly when unexpected opportunities arise. Lachlan Murdoch has lived that first hand. Lachlan Murdoch has drawn criticism from media watchdogs for what many called Fox News' increasingly conspiratorial and misinformation-promoting broadcasts.

Persons: Lachlan Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan, James, Elisabeth, Rupert, Rupert Murdoch's, ”, Roy, Paddy Manning, Roger Ailes, ” Manning, “, I'm, Murdoch, Manning, Lachlan Murdoch's, James ., Ailes, Fox, Smartmatic, Kathryn Murdoch Organizations: News Corp, Fox Corp, Fox News Channel, Murdoch, Princeton, Fox News, News, British, Voting Systems, AP Locations: London, New York City, Australia, Australian, U.S

☆ NFL roundup: Chiefs get back on winning track against Jaguars
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

Mahomes threw touchdown passes to Skyy Moore and Travis Kelce as the Chiefs (1-1) rebounded from a season-opening 21-20 loss to the Detroit Lions. Jones threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Saquon Barkley and an 11-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Hodgins, then drove New York 56 yards to Graham Gano's winning 34-yard field goal with 19 seconds remaining. In his third NFL start -- all Washington wins -- Howell completed 27 of 39 passes to fuel the Commanders' rally. Seahawks 37, Lions 31 (OT)Geno Smith connected with Tyler Lockett on a 6-yard touchdown pass in overtime to give visiting Seattle a victory over Detroit. Burrow aggravated his right calf injury on his second touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter.

Persons: Patrick Mahomes, Morgan Tencza, Mahomes, Skyy Moore, Travis Kelce, Kelce, Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, Jones, Trevor Lawrence, Christian Kirk, wideouts Zay Jones, Calvin Ridley, Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, Isaiah Hodgins, Graham Gano's, Joshua Dobbs, Kyler Murray, James Conner, Sam Howell, Brian Robinson, Howell, Robinson, Russell Wilson, Mary, Brandon Johnson, Benjamin St, Juste, Courtland Sutton, Wilson, Sean Payton, Geno Smith, Tyler Lockett, Smith, Lockett, Kenneth Walker, Riley Patterson, Jared Goff, Goff, Tre Brown, Gardner Minshew, Anthony Richardson, Richardson, Minshew, C.J, Stroud, Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Josh Allen, Allen, James Cook, Gabe Davis, Jimmy Garoppolo, Josh Jacobs, Davante Adams, Arthur Smith, Younghoe Koo, Bijan Robinson, Koo, Desmond Ridder, Drake London, Jordan Love, Jayden Reed, Ryan Tannehill, Nick Folk, Derrick Henry, Nick Westbrook, Cameron Dicker's, Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Burrow, Jackson, Nelson Agholor, Tee Higgins, Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Justin Fields, Fields, fumbling, Joe Tryon, Shoyinka, White, Dak Prescott, Brandon Aubrey, Prescott, Aaron Rodgers, Achilles, Zach Wilson, Garrett Wilson, Christian McCaffrey, San, Brock Purdy, Nacua, Matthew Stafford Organizations: Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, EverBank, Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Kansas, Jaguars, Giants, Cardinals, New York, Arizona, Broncos, Washington, NFL, Denver, Seahawks, Lions, Seattle, Detroit, Colts, Texans, Indianapolis, Houston, Bills, Raiders, Buffalo, Falcons, Packers, Atlanta, Green, Chargers, Tennessee, Los Angeles, The Chargers, Ravens, Bengals, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Buccaneers, Bears, Tampa Bay, Bucs, Tampa, Cowboys, Jets, Dallas, New, 49ers, Rams, Los, Thomson Locations: Jacksonville , Florida, USA, New York, Denver, Las, Orchard Park, N.Y, Green Bay, Green, Los, Nashville, Tenn, Tennessee, Tannehill, Ikhine, Cincinnati, Chicago, Tampa Bay, Arlington , Texas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Inglewood , Calif

☆ Moscow has been surrounded by air defenses for a century, but they were never designed to stop the drones Ukraine is using now
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( David Hambling | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

In recent months, Moscow has seen high-profile drone attacks thought to be launched by Ukraine. Moscow has had air defenses for a century, but they haven't been designed for what Ukraine is doing. This is actually the inner defensive ring: The A135 system originally had an outer ring of 51T6 Gorgon missiles with megaton-class warheads. STR/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesAs far back as this January, Russian planners realized that Moscow was wide open to drone attacks. AP PhotoThe first drones hit Moscow in May, with waves of subsequent attacks continuing through July, August and September.

Persons: Yuriy Shipilov, Sefa, David Hambling Organizations: Ukraine, Service, UK's Ministry of Defense, Central Press, Kremlin, Ballistic, US Safeguard, Sprint, Spartan, Anadolu Agency, Getty, 1st Air Defense Army, National Security, Russian Federation, Aerospace Defense, Ministry of Defense, SA, Defense Ministry, Arsenal, Fatherland, Moscow Investigators, AP, Aviation, Forbes, The, New, Popular Mechanics, WIRED Locations: Moscow, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Filatov Lug, Lug, American, North Dakota, Soviet, Crimea, Syria, Libya, Russian, London

☆ Cuba says its citizens were recruited to fight with Russia in Ukraine — but the government is only cracking down now 'because they got caught,' former counterintelligence officer says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Lauren Steussy | Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Cuban government says it's cracking down on efforts to recruit citizens to fight with Russia. But Cuba experts say it's likely that Cuba, a longtime Kremlin ally, was involved in these efforts. AdvertisementAdvertisementAndrés Albuquerque, a Miami-based political analyst, said it's also possible Russia worked alongside the Cuban government to recruit citizens. The recruitment in Cuba — as well as similar efforts in June in Kazakhstan — comes as Russia faces a manpower crisis. Just this past June, Cuba's Army Corps General Álvaro López Miera met with his Russian counterpart, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, in Moscow.

Persons: Chris Simmons, Simmons, they've, Cuba didn't, it's, Putin, Albuquerque, Cuba —, Fidel Castro, Álvaro López Miera, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu Organizations: Service, Cuban, Russia, Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Defense Intelligence Agency, NPR, Defense, Western Military District, New York Times, Times, Kazakhstan —, Cuba's Army, Russian Locations: Cuban, Russia, Cuba, Kremlin, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Russian, Albuquerque, Miami, Kazakhstan, Soviet Union, War, Moscow

☆ Ukrainian intercepts show Russian soldiers’ anger at losses, disarray
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

Story contains strong languageUkraine’s counteroffensive was in its second month when Andrey, a Russian soldier, called his wife to say his unit was taking heavy casualties. The expletive-laden intercepts, shared with Reuters by a Ukrainian intelligence source, provide a rare - albeit partial - glimpse into the conditions of some Russian soldiers as Kyiv prosecuted a major counteroffensive, which started in early June, two military analysts told Reuters. Ukraine has acknowledged that its efforts to recapture territory have been hindered by vast Russian minefields and well-prepared defensive lines. The Ukrainian intelligence source said they illustrated the challenges facing Russian soldiers but did not elaborate on how the recordings were selected. In the excerpts, several soldiers used profane language to describe Russian units that had taken heavy casualties and had been unable to retrieve their wounded.

Persons: Andrey, ” Andrey, “, Neil Melvin, Vladimir Putin, SBU, ” Maxim, Anna, Kupiansk, Maxim, Putin, ”, Elena, Alexei, “ Everyone’s, Dmitry Medvedev, Tom Balmforth, Filipp Lebedev, Eve Watling, Daniel Flynn Organizations: Security Service of Ukraine, Reuters, International Security, Royal United Services Institute, Russia’s Defence Ministry, Ukrainian General Staff, Lyman, Russia’s 52nd Regiment, U.S . Defence Intelligence Agency, “, ” Reuters, Russian Security Council Locations: Russian, Soviet, Soviet Union, Ukraine, Russia, London, Irkutsk, Russia’s, Afghanistan, Rubizhne, Ukraine’s, Luhansk

☆ The U.S. government is investing $22 million into developing surveillance clothing that includes shirts, pants, and underwear that can record video and audio
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The federal government has a $22 million surveillance clothing program, according to The Intercept. The initiative will develop shirts, pants, socks, and underwear that can record audio and video. In other words, funding moonshots like underwear that's as stretchable and washable as normal underwear, but can also record your every move. Some are worried, though, that the SMART ePANTS program could lay the groundwork for more invasive forms of surveillance. She added, "now suppose SMART ePANTS detects a chemical on your skin — imagine where that can lead."

Persons: Dawson Cagle, Cagle, Annie Jacobsen, they're, IARPA Organizations: Apple, Oura, Textile Systems, SMART, Intercept, Smart, National Intelligence, Intelligence, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, SMART ePANTS, United, TSA

☆ House Oversight Democrats ask GOP to subpoena Affinity Partners, Jared Kushner's $3 billion Saudi-backed private equity fund
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Mattathias Schwartz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Shortly after leaving the White House, Jared Kushner got $2 billion in funding from the Saudi government for his private-equity fund. Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince who developed close ties to Kushner, pushed the deal through, the New York Times reported. Now, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are asking the GOP to investigate with the same zeal they've applied to Hunter Biden. The letter puts special focus on a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. AdvertisementAdvertisementBut MBS, who chairs the fund, intervened to push the deal through, according to the Times' repoAffinity Partners now has an office in Miami.

Persons: Jared Kushner, Mohammed bin Salman, Kushner, they've, Hunter Biden, Jamie Raskin, Joe Biden's, Raskin, Donald Trump's, James Comer, Comer, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Lockheed Martin, Jamal Khashoggi, Abraham, Austin Hacker, Hacker Organizations: White, New York Times, Service, Democratic, GOP, Affinity Partners, White House, Democrats, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, MBS, Trump, Intercept, The New York Times, Lockheed, National Security Council, Saudi, Times, Abraham Accords, Trump White House, Affinity, CNN Locations: Saudi, Wall, Silicon, Maryland, Saudi Arabia, Miami

The two discussed President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's offer to mediate the conflict during a short meeting in the coastal city of El Alamein, an initiative Burhan said he welcomed, according to an Egyptian presidency statement. In brief comments from El Alamein, Burhan said he wanted to end the war, but did not mention the possibility of talks. "We ask the world to take an objective and correct view of this war. This war was started by a group that wanted to take over power, and in the process it has committed every crime that could come to mind," Burhan said. The RSF has denied the accusations but said that any of its fighters found involved in abuses would be brought to justice.

Persons: Burhan, Sisi, Abdel Fattah al, General Abdel Fattah al, RSF, Khalid Abdelaziz, Nafisa Eltahir, Mohamed Waly, Maggie Michael, Clauda Tanios, Jacqueline Wong, Andrew Heavens, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Rapid Support Forces, United, MSF, Nafisa, Thomson Locations: Egypt, Nyala, Sudan, El Alamein, Saudi Arabia, United States, El, Alamein, El Geneina, West Darfur, Western, Khartoum, South Darfur, Dubai, Cairo

NORAD scrambled 2 fighter jets after an aircraft flew too close to President Joe Biden's vacation spot. The jets fired flares near the civilian pilot to get their attention. No information about the civilian aircraft or its pilot was released. AdvertisementAdvertisementF-16 intercepts of civilian aircraft that venture too close to where the president is are not uncommon. For instance, NORAD sortied F-16 fighter aircraft to intercept a Cessna, popping flares in the process, after it entered the temporary restricted airspace while Biden was delivering a speech in California last October.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Anthony Guglielmi, Olivia Dalton, Biden, John Kirby, Noble, NORAD's Organizations: NORAD, Service, Aerospace Defense Command, Coast Guard, US, Cessna, UN, White, National Security Locations: Wall, Silicon, Lake Tahoe, Washington, Canada, Virginia, California, New York City, Arizona, DC

Russian authorities reported attacks by two drones in the Moscow region, which they said were intercepted by air defense forces. Falling debris from the interception injured two people, officials said. Denmark and the Netherlands announced their plan to donate a number of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, drawing condemnation from Russian officials who warn the move will only escalate the war. Meanwhile, flights at four airports in the Moscow region were briefly suspended, with several flights rerouted for "civil safety", local authorities said. Kyiv has not commented on the attack.

Organizations: Russian Defense Ministry Locations: Moscow, Denmark, Netherlands, Ukraine, Kyiv

☆ Elaine Yu — Reporter at The Wall Street Journal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Elaine Yu | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Elaine YuElaine Yu is a financial reporter for The Wall Street Journal’s Hong Kong bureau. She has covered topics ranging from cryptocurrencies and casinos to business and political developments in Hong Kong and China. Elaine was previously a correspondent for Agence France-Presse, and has written for publications including the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Intercept and the Columbia Journalism Review. Her work has been recognized by a New York Press Club Award and named a finalist for the Mirror Awards.

Persons: Elaine Yu Elaine Yu, Elaine Organizations: Agence France, Presse, New York Times, Yorker, Columbia, New York Press Locations: Hong Kong, China

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried is in an 'inhumane' Brooklyn jail often criticized for its condition, and where Ghislaine Maxwell previously complained of rodents
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sam Bankman-Fried was remanded to the Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, on Friday. Ghislaine Maxwell complained of cockroaches and rodents when she was being held there. Sam Bankman-Fried is currently in a Brooklyn jail notorious for its poor conditions. Bankman-Fried is now being held in the Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, records from the Federal Bureau of Prisons show. MDC Brooklyn most recently made headlines as the facility where Ghislaine Maxwell and R. Kelly were held.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Ghislaine Maxwell, Lewis Kaplan, Caroline Ellison's, Kelly, banged, Judge Kaplan Organizations: Metropolitan Detention Center, Reuters, New York Times, Federal Bureau of Prisons, MDC Brooklyn, Intercept, MDC, of Prisons Locations: Brooklyn, Maxwell's

☆ U.S., Japan to develop hypersonic missile interceptor - Yomiuri
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Tim KellyTOKYO, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Japan and the U.S. will agree this week to jointly develop an interceptor missile to counter hypersonic warheads being developed by China, Russia and North Korea, Japan's Yomiuri newspaper said on Sunday. Officials at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs could not be reached for comment outside business hours. Unlike typical ballistic warheads, which fly on predictable trajectories as they fall from space to their targets, hypersonic projectiles can change course, making them more difficult to target. An agreement would be the second such collaboration in missile defence technology. Washington and Tokyo developed a longer-range missile designed to hit warheads in space, which Japan is deploying on warships in the sea between Japan and the Korean peninsula to guard against North Korean missiles strikes.

Persons: Marine's Camp Foster, Tim Kelly TOKYO, Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Biden, Yoon Suk, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Yasukazu Hamada, Tim Kelly, William Mallard Organizations: U.S, Marine's, REUTERS, Japan's Yomiuri, Japanese, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yomiuri, North Korean, Thomson Locations: Ginowan, Okinawa, Japan, U.S, China, Russia, North Korea, Camp David, Maryland, Washington, Tokyo

☆ Fact Check-Clip of Greta Thunberg calling to ‘save the banks’ omits context
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A video from a 2019 Greta Thunberg interview shows the Swedish climate activist saying that bank bailouts are evidence that the world has enough money to address climate change. A clip shared out of context from this interview showing Thunberg saying, “if we can save the banks, then we can save the world,” has circulated online with the suggestion that her priorities had shifted from the planet to saving banks. “The only way to save the planet is to save the banks,” reads a Facebook post (here). “The money is there, if we can save the banks, then we can save the world… I mean, if there is something we are not lacking in this world, it’s money,” Thunberg said. A cropped clip showing Greta Thunberg saying, “if we can save the banks, then we can save the world,” was not a statement in defense of banks.

Persons: Greta Thunberg, ”, Thunberg, Naomi Klein, ” Thunberg, Read Organizations: Twitter, Global, Intercept, Reuters Locations: Swedish

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