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FBI Director Christopher Wray on Wednesday warned Congress about a range of threats against the U.S., from Chinese hackers to heightened terrorist risks after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. The FBI director has long warned about the Chinese government’s hacking capabilities. Cyberattacks and disinformation warfare can work in tandem, Wray warned. He also noted that AI can enhance foreign adversaries abilities to collect personal data and feed it into disinformation and influence operations. Heightened Terrorist Risk“We are, since Oct. 7, in a heightened threat environment from various forms of terrorist risk,” Wray warned, alluding to Hamas’ attack on Israel last year.

Persons: Christopher Wray, ” Wray, ” TikTok, Wray, ”, “ Organizations: Wednesday, U.S, Chinese Communist Party, FBI, Intelligence Locations: Israel, U.S, China, PRC, Iran

☆ Chinese hackers are determined to 'wreak havoc' on U.S. critical infrastructure, FBI director warns
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Chinese government hackers are busily targeting water treatment plants, the electrical grid, transportation systems and other critical infrastructure inside the United States, FBI Director Chris Wray will tell House lawmakers on Wednesday in a fresh warning from Washington about Beijing's global ambitions. "China's hackers are positioning on American infrastructure in preparation to wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities, if or when China decides the time has come to strike," Wray will say. The comments align with assessments from outside cybersecurity firms including Microsoft, which said in May that state-backed Chinese hackers have been targeting U.S. critical infrastructure and could be laying the technical groundwork for the potential disruption of critical communications between the U.S. and Asia during future crises. The following month, Mandiant said that suspected state-backed Chinese hackers had used a security hole in a popular email security appliance to break into the networks of hundreds of public and private sector organizations globally. The Chinese government has lashed out at the committee, demanding that its members "discard their ideological bias and zero-sum Cold War mentality."

Persons: Chris Wray, Wray, Mandiant, they're, Mike Gallagher of Organizations: Chinese Communist Party, Microsoft, U.S, Republican Rep Locations: United States, Washington, China, Asia, Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin

WASHINGTON (AP) — Chinese government hackers are busily targeting water treatment plants, the electrical grid, transportation systems and other critical infrastructure inside the United States, FBI Director Chris Wray will tell House lawmakers on Wednesday in a fresh warning from Washington about Beijing's global ambitions. “China’s hackers are positioning on American infrastructure in preparation to wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities, if or when China decides the time has come to strike,” Wray will say. The comments align with assessments from outside cybersecurity firms including Microsoft, which said in May that state-backed Chinese hackers have been targeting U.S. critical infrastructure and could be laying the technical groundwork for the potential disruption of critical communications between the U.S. and Asia during future crises. The following month, Mandiant said that suspected state-backed Chinese hackers had used a security hole in a popular email security appliance to break into the networks of hundreds of public and private sector organizations globally. The Chinese government has lashed out at the committee, demanding that its members “discard their ideological bias and zero-sum Cold War mentality.”

Persons: Chris Wray, Wray, “, ” Wray, Mandiant, they’re, Mike Gallagher of Organizations: WASHINGTON, Chinese Communist Party, Microsoft, U.S, Republican Rep Locations: United States, Washington, China, Asia, Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin

☆ Maryland won a tentative victory in the race for a new FBI headquarters, a potential economic boon for a majority Black county near DC
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

"And he recognized the importance of the FBI for Maryland and in particular for Prince George's County." Related storiesPrince George's County, the majority-Black county directly to the east of Washington, DC, has for years had one of the most affluent Black populations of any jurisdiction in the country. But compared to Northern Virginia localities like Fairfax County, which has been an economic powerhouse for decades, Prince George's County hasn't enjoyed a similar level of economic development. "We have 4% of leased federal office space in Prince George's County," Hoyer told me, while also pointing out that the county is home to roughly 20% of the Washington region's federal workers. "We're absolutely convinced that everything was done properly," Hoyer told me.

Persons: Wes Moore, Steny Hoyer, —, Edgar Hoover, Ben Cardin, Chris Van Hollen, Hoyer, Robert Mueller, Mueller, Moore's, George's County, Prince, Prince George's County hasn't, ERIC BARADAT, Moore, Christopher Wray, We're, I've Organizations: GSA, FBI, Gov, Virginia, Service, Metro, Maryland Gov, Maryland, Democratic Rep, Democratic, eventual, Prince, Getty, Washington, Marine Corps Base Quantico, General Service Administration Locations: Maryland, Virginia, Greenbelt , Maryland, Prince George's County, Maryland Sens, George's, Black, Washington, Northern Virginia, Fairfax County, AFP, Prince George's, Fairfax

☆ China and cybercriminals are targeting American AI companies, FBI Director Wray says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-09 | by ( Ian Thomas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

American companies like Google , Microsoft , and OpenAI are currently driving the cutting edge of generative artificial intelligence development across the globe. However two of U.S.'s top national security leaders said that AI lead is under attack from foreign cybercriminals and nation-states like China. "Eighteen of the 20 most successful AI companies in the world are American," FBI Director Christopher Wray told CNBC's Morgan Brennan during a CNBC CEO Council virtual roundtable on Tuesday. "Generative AI, in the world of cyberattacks, is what I would describe as taking kind of junior varsity athletes and making them varsity," Wray said. But while much of the discussion around AI in the cybersecurity space has centered on how AI is enhancing both attackers and defenders, Wray said the FBI is also focused on "defending American AI [research and development], American innovation in AI."

Persons: Christopher Wray, CNBC's Morgan Brennan, Wray, General Paul Nakasone, Nakasone Organizations: Google, Microsoft, CNBC, Cyber Command, National Security Agency, Central Security Service Locations: China, U.S

☆ FBI chief to urge Senate panel to renew US global surveillance power
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Andrew Goudsward | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FBI Director Christopher Wray attends a House Homeland Security Committee hearing examining worldwide threats to the U.S., on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 15, 2023. “Stripping the FBI of its 702 authorities would be a form of unilateral disarmament,” Wray will tell the Democratic-led Senate Judiciary Committee during an oversight hearing, according to excerpts of his testimony released by the FBI. A bipartisan team of U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation last month to impose new limits on searches of Americans' communications and prohibit so-called "backdoor" searches which invoke foreign intelligence justifications to spy on Americans. Wray plans to tell the Senate panel that the FBI will be “good stewards of our authorities,” citing reforms he said the FBI has already made in response to criticism of law enforcement’s use of the law. Reporting by Andrew Goudsward Editing by Don Durfee and Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Christopher Wray, Elizabeth Frantz, ” Wray, Wray, Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s, Hunter, Andrew Goudsward, Don Durfee, Kim Coghill Organizations: Homeland Security, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Foreign Intelligence, Democratic, FBI, U.S, U.S . Capitol, Thomson Locations: U.S, Washington , U.S, United States, Iran, China

☆ FBI director says bureau is working ‘around the clock’ against potential attacks inspired by Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Hannah Rabinowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

FBI Director Christopher Wray said Tuesday that the bureau is working “around the clock” to “identify and disrupt” potential attacks by individuals inspired by the Hamas attacks on October 7. “Given the steady drumbeat of calls for attacks by foreign terrorist organizations since October 7th, we’re working around the clock to identify and disrupt potential attacks by those inspired by Hamas’s horrific terrorist attacks in Israel,” Wray said in his opening remarks before the Senate Judiciary Committee at a hearing Tuesday. His comments echo previous warnings of threats to the United States. He made similar remarks to other congressional committees. The law enables the US government to obtain intelligence by targeting non-Americans overseas who are using US-based communications services.

Persons: Christopher Wray, “, we’re, ” Wray, ”, Wray, we’ve Organizations: FBI, Foreign Intelligence Locations: Israel, United States

☆ Watchdog to Probe FBI Headquarters Selection Process
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Sadie Gurman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

FBI Director Christopher Wray has cited a potential conflict of interest in the site-selection process. Photo: elizabeth frantz/ReutersWASHINGTON—A government watchdog is launching an investigation into how the Biden administration chose a suburban Maryland site for the FBI’s new headquarters after Director Christopher Wray and Virginia lawmakers accused a political appointee of inappropriately interfering with the siting decision. Robert Erickson, acting inspector general for the General Services Administration, told lawmakers Thursday his office would immediately probe the decision to relocate the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s main campus to Greenbelt, Md., after a decadelong drama that engulfed the site-selection process.

Persons: Christopher Wray, elizabeth frantz, Biden, Robert Erickson Organizations: Reuters WASHINGTON, General Services Administration, Federal Bureau Locations: Maryland, Virginia, Investigation’s, Greenbelt, Md

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Texas man who was the first arrest by a Justice Department task force that investigates threats to election workers has been sentenced to two years in prison over posts made following the 2020 election, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday. Chad Christopher Stark, 55, was accused of posting threatening messages on Craigslist about killing government officials in Georgia. “Christopher Stark threatened the lives of multiple election workers in an attempt to prevent them from doing their job,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement. Political Cartoons View All 1273 ImagesStark’s arrest was the first by the Justice Department's Election Threats Task Force, which was launched in 2021 amid a rising tide of violent threats against people who count and secure the vote. The threats followed former President Donald Trump making repeated unproven claims that election fraud cost him the 2020 presidential election.

Persons: —, Chad Christopher Stark, Stark, “ Christopher Stark, Christopher Wray, ”, Donald Trump Organizations: WASHINGTON, Justice Department, Justice, Force Locations: Texas, Georgia, Austin

☆ Stuart Seldowitz: Former Obama administration official arrested after video shows Islamophobic language spewed at food vendor
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Artemis Moshtaghian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“You support killing little children,” Seldowitz says to the vendor in one video. In another video, Seldowitz asks the man whether he’s familiar with Egypt’s General Intelligence Service, better known as the Mukhabarat. When asked via email for additional comment on the videos, Seldowitz said, “Happy to talk (Wednesday). Mohamed Attia, of the Street Vendor Project, said the vendor told him he did not instigate the conversation with Seldowitz. New York City Councilmember Julie Menin reached out to the organization and reported the incidents to police, Attia said.

Persons: CNN —, Obama, Stuart Seldowitz, Seldowitz, ” Seldowitz, Christopher Wray, We’re, “ Mukhabarat, Prophet Mohammed, Islam, “, Barack Obama’s, hasn’t, ”, Mohamed Attia, Attia, Mohamed, doesn’t, “ Mohamed, ” Attia, Julie Menin, ” Menin Organizations: CNN, National Security Council, NYPD, Seldowitz, New York City Police Department, Defamation League, Egypt’s General Intelligence Service, Daily, Hamas, City & State, National Security Council South, Directorate, Gotham Government Relations, New, New York City Locations: New York City, Manhattan, Israel, Egypt, New, New York

☆ Passing at home, failing abroad: Grading Mike Johnson's first month as speaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

In late October, House Republicans settled on a little-known congressman as their next leader. AdvertisementMike Johnson has been the speaker of the House for just under a month now following a testy race to succeed ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Johnson's so-called "laddered" approach has been heavily criticized by congressional Democrats, Republicans, and even the White House, who called it an "unserious proposal." AdvertisementSection 702: FailFBI Director Christopher Wray speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018, in Washington. AdvertisementWith just over a month left until the authorization expires, though, Johnson's been mum on the topic since becoming speaker.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, —, Johnson, here's, Tom Brenner, McCarthy, Biden, Tom Emmer, Elise Stefanik, Steve Scalise, Alex Wong, Volodymyr Zelensky, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Mandel Ngan, Michael McCaul, McCaul, Sandy Huffaker, Congress didn't, Christopher Wray, Evan Vucci, Jim Jordan, Johnson's, Patrick McHenry, Win McNamee, who's, he'd, McCarthy's Organizations: Republicans, Business, Service, The Washington, Getty, House Republican, Capitol, House Republicans, Internal Revenue Service, Democratic, White, Congress, Republican, Foreign Affairs Committee, American Farm Bureau Federation, Texas Farm Bureau, Foreign Intelligence, Associated Press, GOP Rep, FBI Locations: Israel, Gaza, Washington , DC, Ukraine, AFP, Mexico, Taiwan, California, Texas, Washington

director, said on Wednesday that the bureau had opened a slew of investigations into Hamas as it tries to thwart potential attacks and stymie financial support for the militant group. He added, “We’ve kept our sights on Hamas and have multiple investigations into individuals affiliated with that foreign terrorist organization.”Among those killed on Oct. 7 were about three dozen American citizens, with another 10 unaccounted for. In a heated exchange, Mr. Wray said neither F.B.I. “The answer is, emphatically not,” Mr. Wray said, his temper rising. “Your day is coming, Mr. Wray,” he said.

Persons: Christopher A, Wray, Mr, “ we’ve, “ We’ve, ” Mr, ”, Clay Higgins, peddled, Higgins Organizations: Homeland Security, Hamas, Islamic, Governmental Affairs, Republican, Capitol Locations: United States, Israel, Islamic State, Al Qaeda, Gaza, Louisiana

☆ Hate groups leverage advances in artificial intelligence to stoke antisemitism amid tensions surrounding Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Donie O'Sullivan Curt Devine Allison Gordon | Donie O'Sullivan | Curt Devine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Hate groups and far-right internet trolls have seized on the tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas war, while leveraging advances in artificial intelligence to further stoke antisemitism in the United States. “We’ve seen a real concerning ideological convergence between far-right communities online and pro-Hamas sentiment,” said Ben Decker, CEO of Memetica, a threat analysis company that monitors online hate. Karen Dunn, an attorney who sued the people responsible for the violence at the deadly 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, told CNN the hate groups “hate everybody, but they hate the Jews the most.”Antisemitism is a commonality that can unite multiple different and competing hate groups, which can then metastasize into hate directed at others, she said. Minadeo, the hate group’s leader, was sentenced this month to 30 days behind bars in Florida, after distributing the antisemitic fliers. Since the October 7 attack on Israel, hate groups also have attempted to latch onto the pro-Palestinian movement to push their own antisemitism-promoting agenda.

Persons: “ We’ve, ”, Ben Decker, Christopher Wray, Memetica, Decker, Karen Dunn, “, ” Dunn, ” Decker, “ It’s, I’m Jon Greenblatt, Jonathan Greenblatt, Greenblatt, ” Jon Minadeo, David Shapiro, “ Heil, Carla Hill, – Organizations: CNN, Defamation, Hamas, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Capitol, DHS, National Justice Party, 4chan, Meta, YouTube, Microsoft, Carnegie Mellon, ADL, Goyim Defense, Third, “, Extremism, CNN Center, Minadeo, Palestine Locations: Israel, stoke, United States, Charlottesville , Virginia, Charlottesville, Calabasas , California, Calabasas, council, Covid, California, Iowa , Massachusetts, Oregon, Fairfax , Virginia, Atlanta, Florida, Palm Beach, Missoula , Montana, Arizona

☆ 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

☆ FBI Accuses Biden Appointee of Bias in Selection of Headquarters Site
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Sadie Gurman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

‘We have concerns about fairness and transparency in the process and GSA’s failure to adhere to its own site selection plan,’ FBI Director Christopher Wray wrote to staff. Photo: Chris Machian/Associated PressA final pick this week for a new Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters in the Maryland suburbs was supposed to end a decadelong drama that had engulfed the site-selection process. Instead, it looks like it’s only heating up. In a sharply worded note to employees Thursday, the usually taciturn FBI Director Christopher Wray blasted the General Services Administration’s decision-making process and said a Biden appointee might have inappropriately interfered with the outcome.

Persons: Christopher Wray, Chris Machian Organizations: Federal Bureau of Investigation, General Services, Biden Locations: Maryland

☆ Israel’s cyber defense chief tells CNN he is concerned Iran could increase severity of its cyberattacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

So far, suspected Iranian hackers appear to have had minimal impact on their publicly claimed targets in Israel in the last month. But Portnoy said those hackers have been relatively quiet in the latest Israel-Hamas war (Israeli airstrikes have decimated internet infrastructure in Gaza.) “There is a gap between their [cyber] capabilities and their rhetoric,” the official told CNN, referring to Iran-backed hackers. “Even the successful, real cyberattacks are probably not going to be about the actual attack,” John Hultquist, Mandiant’s chief analyst, told CNN. This campaign is “maybe the most sophisticated we have seen from Iran on a technological level,” Sergey Shykevich, threat intelligence group manager at Check Point, told CNN.

Persons: “, ”, Gaby Portnoy, ” Portnoy, Portnoy, –, Christopher Wray, ” Wray, ” Eric Goldstein, CrowdStrike, ” John Hultquist, “ It’s, Solomon, Israel, Adam Meyers, CrowdStrike’s, ” Meyers, Sergey Shykevich Organizations: CNN, Israel National Cyber Directorate, Lebanese, Hezbollah, Palo Alto Networks, Hamas, Infrastructure Security Agency, FBI, Boston Children’s Hospital, ” CNN, Iranian, United Nations, “, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, East, Iranian, Syria, Iraq, Tehran, –, Palo, Gaza, Palestine, China, Russia

NEW YORK (AP) — Fans of hip-hop, country, pop, funk, R&B and rock all have reason to cheer the 2023 class entering the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Missy Elliott, Kate Bush, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Chaka Khan, “Soul Train” creator Don Cornelius and the late George Michael will be inducted into the hall on Friday night in New York City. Also entering the hall are The Spinners, Rage Against the Machine, DJ Kool Herc, Link Wray, Al Kooper and Elton John’s longtime co-songwriter Bernie Taupin. Elliott becomes the first female hip-hop artist in the rock hall, which called her “a true pathbreaker in a male-dominated genre.” Taupin makes it into the rock hall 29 years after his writing partner, John. Cornelius, who died in 2012, was celebrated for creating a nationally televised platform for African American music and culture.

Persons: Missy Elliott, Kate Bush, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Chaka Khan, Don Cornelius, George Michael, DJ Kool Herc, Link Wray, Al Kooper, Elton John’s, Bernie Taupin, John, Brandi Carlile, Dave Matthews, H.E.R, Chris Stapleton, Stevie Nicks, Adam Levine, Carrie Underwood, LL, Miguel, Queen Latifah, Sia, There's, Taupin, Elliott, ” Taupin, Bush, didn’t, ” Bush, Michael, Sam Smith, Lil Nas, Troye Sivan ”, Nelson, Crow, Kool Herc “, “, ”, Mary J, Blige, Erykah Badu, Janelle Monáe, Wray, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, Cornelius, ___ Mark Kennedy Organizations: Roll Hall of Fame, Disney, World Records, Spinners, ABC Locations: New York City, Brooklyn, St, Vincent, American

☆ Jordanian arrested in Houston spoke about ‘martyrdom,’ made statements that support ‘killing individuals of particular religious faith,’ judge’s order says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Alisha Ebrahimji | John Miller | Sabrina Shulman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Details, including the specific target, time or place for the gathering, were not immediately clear in the court documents. Abuayyash applied for asylum in the US after his nonimmigrant visa expired in 2019, according to the affidavit. He’s authorized to work in the US until August 2025, and is not allowed to “possess or use firearms or ammunition,” it states. Abuayyash was “plotting to attack a Jewish gathering,” a law enforcement source told CNN. This headline has been updated to attribute a quote to the judge’s order.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Sohaib Abuayyash, Abuayyash, He’s, Abuayyash “, Christina A, Bryan, Defendant, “, CNN’s Josh Campbell, Christopher Wray, ” Wray, Houston who’d, ” Christina Garza Organizations: CNN, Hamas, FBI, Court, Southern, Southern District of, United States, DHS, National Counterterrorism Center, Homeland Security, Governmental Affairs Locations: Houston, United States, Israel, Palestinian, Southern District, Southern District of Texas

☆ Opinion: The shocking resurgence of antisemitism
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

She is a weekly opinion contributor to CNN, a contributing columnist to The Washington Post and a columnist for World Politics Review. Frida Ghitis CNNA few of the rioters carried Palestinian flags, underscoring the obvious link between the attack and the war between Israel and Hamas. In terrifying scenes, the rampaging crowd, some shouting “Allahu akbar,” surrounded passengers, pressuring them to prove they were not Jewish. Universities have become hotbeds of antisemitism, with Jewish students fearing for their safety. (Police have since arrested a Cornell student after he allegedly threatened to kill Jewish students.)

Persons: Frida Ghitis, “ Allahu akbar, ”, —, Christopher Wray, Michael Koplow, “, Simon Sebag Montefiore, Stalin, Hitler, “ I’m, Olaf Scholz, Biden, Israel, that’s, It’s, Vladimir Putin, Rabbi Alexander Boroa, — “ Hitler Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, Frida Ghitis CNN, Hamas, Makhachkala Uytash, United Nations General Assembly, Universities, Cornell University, Ivy League, Police, Cornell, The Cooper Union, Israel, Republican, Boston Marathon, Federation of Jewish Locations: Dagestan, Russian, Tel Aviv, Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Makhachkala, Russian Republic of Dagestan, Palestine, New York, menacingly, Austria, South Africa, Nicaragua, Germany, Venezuela, Milan, Hamburg, Berlin, Australia, Argentina, Russia, China, United States, Caucusus, Moscow, Ukraine, Washington

Cornell University student Patrick Dai is accused of making online threats against the school's Jewish community. David Bauder/APAfter the threats were posted Sunday, Cornell University police ramped up patrols and increased security for Jewish students and organizations, the agency said. At Cornell, Jewish students make up about 22% of the student body, with about 3,000 undergraduate and 500 graduate Jewish students, according to the school’s Hillel organization. “Jewish students on campus right now are unbelievably terrified for their lives,” Molly Goldstein, co-president of the Cornell Center for Jewish Living, told CNN. “The virulence and destructiveness of antisemitism is real and deeply impacting our Jewish students, faculty and staff, as well as the entire Cornell community.

Persons: Patrick Dai, Dai, “, Gabrielle DiBella, DiBella, Christopher Wray, Biden, he’s, beheadings, ” Dai, Miranda, Dai’s, Cornell, David Bauder, Kathy Hochul, Hillel, Cornell Hillel, ” Molly Goldstein, ” Cornell, Joel M, Malina, ” Malina, ”, Martha E, Pollack, ” Pollack, Hochul, it’s, CNN’s Wolf, “ We’re, CNN’s Jessica Xing, Elizabeth Wolfe, Paul P, Murphy, Maria Campinoti, Dakin Andone, Chris Boyette, Andy Rose, Caroll Alvarado, Artemis Moshtaghian, Michelle Watson Organizations: New York CNN, The Cornell University, Ivy League, New York’s Northern District, Prosecutors, US, Cornell University, Israel, CNN, Palestinian, Defamation League, Cornell, FBI, Dai, Pittsford Mendon High School, Cornell Police Department, New York, New York State Police Department, Cornell University's Center, Jewish, Cornell University police, New York State Police, Gov, Cornell Center for Jewish, “ Cornell University, ” Cornell University, ” New Locations: Syracuse, New York, West, Broome County, Israel, United States, Pittsburgh , Minnesota, Rhode Island, Ithaca , New York, Cornell’s, Pittsford , New York, Pittsford, Ithaca, Cornell, ” New York, Muslim, Dai

☆ The F.B.I. says the Israel-Hamas war raises the potential for an attack against Americans in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Eileen Sullivan | More About Eileen Sullivan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Several foreign terrorist organizations have called for attacks against Americans since Oct. 7, when Hamas gunmen carried out a gruesome attack against Israel that killed 1,400 people, Mr. Wray said. Islamic State, also known as ISIS, called for attacks on Jewish communities in the United States and Europe; the Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah, threatened to attack American interests in the Middle East; and Al Qaeda also issued a specific call to attack the United States, Mr. Wray said. Mr. Wray said that the man, who prosecutors identified as Sohaib Abuayyash, 20, had been studying how to build bombs and posted details online about his support for killing Jewish people. Mr. Wray’s testimony came as threats to Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities in the United States have been on the rise since the war began on Oct. 7. Between Oct. 7 and Oct. 23, there were 312 antisemitic acts in the United States, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

Persons: Christopher A, Wray, Mr, Al Qaeda, “, ”, Abuayyash, Wray’s, Glenn Thrush Organizations: U.S, ISIS, Prosecutors, Defamation League, Grand Central, Islamic Relations Locations: Israel, United States, Islamic State, Europe, Lebanese, Houston, Palestinian, New York

☆ A new wave of antisemitism threatens to rock an already unstable world
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Jennifer Smith | Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Outbursts of antisemitism have often been harbingers of societies in deep trouble and omens that extremism and violence are imminent. Biden on Monday unveiled new measures to tackle antisemitism on college campuses and senior officials underscored the need to combat anti-Jewish hate. A widening problem in the United StatesIn recent years, antisemitism has often been driven in the United States by far-right groups. But reaction to the deepening crisis in Israel and Gaza has shown that antisemitism is also boiling on the far-left. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday tried to pinpoint the moment at which opposition to Israeli policies crosses into antisemitism.

Persons: –, Israel, Kathy Hochul, Cornell, Molly Goldstein, ”, “, United States —, Joe Biden, Biden, ” John Kirby, Christopher Wray, ” Wray, Donald Trump, Israel’s, Chuck Schumer, Monday, “ I’m, ” Jonathan Greenblatt, Kasie Hunt, CNN Max, ’ Organizations: CNN, Cornell University, Ivy League, Cornell, Police, New York Gov, Democrat, Cornell Center for Jewish, Beverly Hills, National Security, Jewish American, Israel Defense Forces, Defamation, ADL, Department of Justice, West Bank, New York Democrat, Defamation League Locations: Gaza, United States, New York, Israel, Beverly, Europe, America, Russia’s, Dagestan, Ukraine, al Qaeda, United States of America, Charlottesville , Virginia, Palestinian, Chicago, “ State, Russia

"The actions of Hamas and its allies will serve as an inspiration the likes of which we haven't seen since ISIS launched its so-called caliphate several years ago," Wray said. The remarks came during a hearing before the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee focused on threats to the United States. The number of attacks on U.S. military bases overseas by Iran-backed militia groups have risen this month, Wray said. Cyber attacks against the U.S. by Iran and non-state actors will likely worsen if the conflict expands, he said. During the hearing, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said that hate directed at Jewish students in the U.S. following the start of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza has added to an increase in antisemitism.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Christopher Wray, Christine Abizaid, Wray, General Merrick Garland, Ted Hesson, Doina Chiacu, Andrew Goudsward, Chizu Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Homeland, FBI, National Counterterrorism, Senate Homeland Security, Governmental Affairs, Capitol, ISIS, U.S . Senate Homeland Security, U.S, United Nations, Jewish, White, U.S . Justice Department, Thomson Locations: United States, Washington , U.S, WASHINGTON, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Arab, Iran, Washington

“We’re all a little star-struck, to be honest,” said Timothy Magner, the president of the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, who corrected himself to use the new “speaker” title to refer to Mr. Johnson. (Multiple friends and colleagues said he has a knack for impressions of politicians, which they cited as evidence of a sense of humor.) “He would tell you he’s never surprised by God’s ordinance,” she added. “And the thing about Mike is — he means that answer.”Some constituents said that they, too, were among the many Americans learning about Mr. Johnson this week. In Opelousas, in the southern slice of his district, Shawana Johnson, 43, said she heard of him for the first time through a canvassing text message on Wednesday.

Persons: “, ”, Timothy Magner, Johnson, Washington acclimates, Mary, Patricia Wray, he’s, Mike, Shawana Johnson Organizations: Greater, Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce Locations: Greater Shreveport, Louisiana, Opelousas

☆ Watchdog Says Trump Didn’t Influence Decision on F.B.I. Headquarters
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Glenn Thrush | More About Glenn Thrush | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Justice Department’s inspector general found no evidence that President Donald J. Trump had improperly pressured the F.B.I. to rebuild its headquarters on its current site, the crumbling J. Edgar Hoover Building in Washington, according to a report released on Tuesday. The investigation began four years ago after some Democrats expressed concern over the bureau’s abrupt decision in late 2017 to scrap plans to build a $3 billion suburban campus for its 10,000 employees. But investigators determined that the decision was most likely motivated by funding and logistical issues, not by an effort by Mr. Trump to personally intervene to protect his property in downtown Washington from a possible rival. witnesses, including the bureau’s director, Christopher A. Wray, told the inspector general that they had been given authority to determine the location of the new headquarters.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Edgar Hoover, Christopher A, Wray Organizations: Edgar Hoover Building, Justice Department Locations: Washington

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