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[1/2] A child casts a ballot on behalf of a voter at a polling station during Hungarian parliamentary elections in Veresegyhaz, Hungary April 3, 2022. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsARLINGTON, Virginia, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Private spy firm Black Cube was behind a hidden video campaign that used LinkedIn to target Hungarian activists and journalists leading to last year's election in the central European country, the professional networking site said on Thursday. A researcher for Microsoft-owned (MSFT.O) LinkedIn said Black Cube, based in Israel, created a network of fake personas that used bogus job postings to connect with their targets on the platform. Black Cube did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. The operation attributed to Black Cube by LinkedIn began in 2020 and targeted at least 12 activists and journalists who have been critical of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Persons: Leonhard Foeger, Mona Damian, Damian, Harvey Weinstein, Viktor Orban, Orban, Amnesty International Hungary Orsolya Jeney, Rohac, Raphael Satter, Rod Nickel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Politico, Hungarian, Reuters, Amnesty International, American Enterprise Institute, Thomson Locations: Veresegyhaz, Hungary, Rights ARLINGTON , Virginia, Israel, Arlington , Virginia, Hungary's, Amnesty International Hungary, Washington

☆ 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

☆ Hungary's Orban says EU must not start membership talks with Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban looks on as he attends a European Union leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium October 27, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBUDAPEST, Nov 10 (Reuters) - The EU must not start membership talks with Ukraine, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told state radio on Friday, stressing this was Hungary's "clear stance" on the issue. EU countries' leaders are due to decide in mid-December on whether to accept the Commission's recommendation to invite Kyiv to begin membership talks as soon as it meets final conditions. "Membership talks must not be started, this is the clear Hungarian stance," Orban said, adding that Brussels "owed Hungary money." Investors have been eyeing Budapest's talks with Brussels over the EU funds very closely.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Johanna Geron, Nationalist Orban, Orban, Budapest's, Krisztina, Jason Neely, Christina Fincher Organizations: European Union, REUTERS, Rights, EU, European Commission, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, EU, Ukraine, Hungary, Budapest

The relaxed sanctions could lead to $1.4 billion in additional income for Venezuela over the next six months, analyst firm Sintesis Financiera said in a report. The additional oil income is expected to arrive gradually, partly though the redirection of exports. "The contribution will go to social spending and services." The government has traditionally increased social spending, public sector salaries, food distribution and housing construction projects ahead of elections, though national income has been limited over the last five years because of the sanctions and problems at PDVSA. Public spending has fallen to 15% of gross domestic product from 40% a decade ago, according to economic analysts.

Persons: Gaby Oraa, Nicolas Maduro, Sintesis Financiera, PDVSA, Jose Vielma, PSUV, Ecoanalitica, Oswaldo Ramirez, Jose Guerra, Maduro, Mayela Armas, Deisy, Julia Symmes Cobb, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Venezuelan Finance Observatory, Thomson Locations: Petare, Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS, Venezuelan, United States, Washington

Smoke rises as displaced Palestinians take shelter at Al Shifa hospital, amid the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, in Gaza City, November 8, 2023. International institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in Gaza, such as Doctors Without Borders, are also due to attend. There will be a discussion to set up a maritime corridor to use sea lanes to ship humanitarian aid into Gaza and see how ships could be used to help evacuate the wounded. Without buy-in from Israel or Hamas for a pause there is little prospect of things moving quickly. "This is a first rate humanitarian issue and the international community has to discuss this topic as part of a humanitarian discussion on Gaza."

Persons: Doaa, Israel, John Irish, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Gaza, Israel, Islamists, Palestinian, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Al Shifa, Israel, Gaza City, Paris, PARIS, Gaza, France, Egypt, Jordan, Russia

☆ Exclusive: China authorities ask Ping An to take controlling stake in Country Garden, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Ping An has "not been asked by (the) Government to takeover Country Garden. Country Garden declined to comment. Country Garden shares were up 4% in afternoon trade. The insurer had as of Aug. 11 a 4.99% stake in Country Garden, according to Hong Kong stock exchange data. Country Garden had total liabilities of 1.4 trillion yuan ($190 billion) at the end of June.

Persons: Damir Sagolj, Ping, Li Qiang, Ping An, Ma Mingzhe, Ma, Peter, Yang Huiyan, Yang, Anne Marie Roantree, Antoni Slodkowski, Don Durfee, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Ping An Insurance, Global Mobile Internet Conference, National Convention Center, REUTERS, Ping An Insurance Group, HK, Council, Ping An, Reuters, Government, China, Information, Country Garden, People's Bank of China, Financial Regulatory Administration, Shenzhen Metro, Peking University Founder, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, China's, Guangdong province, Guangdong, Hong Kong, GUANGDONG, Shenzhen, Ping An

☆ Maine Election Results
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

This initiative would require all consumer-owned electricity providers in Maine, and some quasi-governmental entities, to obtain approval from a majority of voters in a statewide referendum in order to borrow more than $1 billion. It was put forth by opponents of Question 3, which, if passed, would create a consumer-owned utility.

Locations: Maine

☆ Polimorphic uses AI to cut down on admin faced by local governments. Check out the 16-slide deck it used to raise $5.6 million.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Riddhi Kanetkar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Polimorphic, a startup using AI to help improve governmental workflows, has raised $5.6 million from early-stage fund M13. "A lot of services require you to either come in person or mail in PDFs or checks. "We're really focused on helping make that customer service easier, more efficient, but then also magical for constituents," he said. "So when you think about the opportunities AI provides, is the opportunity for governments to be able to provide critical services," he said. Check out the 16-slide pitch deck used to secure the fresh funding.

Persons: it's, Parth Shah, Shah, Latif Peracha, Polimorphic Organizations: Shine Locations: New York

☆ ‘The reaction is extreme’: Palestinians fear arrest if they voice sympathy for Gaza civilians
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | Zeena Saifi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

“I was not even considering for a moment that they would be coming for me,” she told CNN. “When arrests are done in this way… it’s unfathomable,” he told CNN. If you want to talk about the truth here, you’re not allowed,” Adli, another Palestinian resident of Jerusalem, told CNN. Fatina Abu Sneineh, Dua’s mother, told CNN she was terrified when her daughter was taken. CNN has asked the Israel Police for comment on the arrest of Ibrahim Abu Sneineh, but has received no reply.

Persons: Dua Abu Sneineh, – barged, “, ”, Abu Sneineh, Abu, ” Abu Sneineh, Abu Sneineh’s, Pavel Nemecek, Israel, ” Abeer Baker, Baker, ” Baker, Abu Amneh, Ali Jadallah, God ”, ” Abu Amneh, Jawad Boulos, Boulos, it’s, Yasser, you’re, ” Adli, Adli, CNN, Justice Yariv Levin, Moshe Arbel, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Fatina Abu Sneineh, Dua, hasn’t, Ibrahim, ” Fatina, Aboud, Ibrahim Abu Sneineh Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, CNN, Facebook, Hamas, Israel Police, Palestinian Ministry of Health, Israel Defense Forces ’, Israel’s, Getty, Abu, Gaza, Israel, West Bank, Attorney’s, Ministry of Interior, Counter, Justice Locations: Jerusalem, East Jerusalem, Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, Ramallah, Anadolu, “, Tel Aviv, al, Aqsa

☆ Trump waited until after he left office to disclose trademarks he owns in China and Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Donald Trump disclosed that he owns hundreds of foreign trademarks in his ethics filings this year. Trump owns 114 trademarks in China — more than any other country by far, including the US. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)The final form Trump submitted during his presidency, dated January 15, 2021, disclosed Trump's financial interests in numerous overseas companies. The only indication of trademark holdings noted is his ownership of a company called "CHINA TRADEMARK LLC." AdvertisementAdvertisementIn his following OGE Form 278e form, filed on April 2023, as a presidential candidate, Trump disclosed a long list of foreign trademarks.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, —, Donald, Forbes, Alex Brandon, Joe Biden, Richard Painter, George W, Bush, Painter, who's, Joe Raedle, Ivanka Trump Organizations: Service, Hartsfield, Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Trump, Drinks Israel, United Arab Emirates, LLCs, The New York Times, Trump Tower, Times, Associated Press, Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund Locations: China, Russia, Venezuela, Iran, Cuba, Belarus, United States, CHINA, United Kingdom, Ukraine, El Salvador, Mexico, France, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Albania, sweeten, Saudi

☆ 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

☆ An ‘Israel Explainer’ Makes Her Country’s Case in America
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Katherine Rosman | More About Katherine Rosman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

“When a massacre occurs that is more barbaric than the world had seen in generations, people actually say, ‘Well, but Israel kind of deserves that,’” Ms. Tishby said. Ms. Tishby, who said she was fired by the Israeli government after criticizing the Netanyahu administration, says she welcomes the debate. “Israel is fighting the West’s war.”And in an Instagram video post that included footage of the plane that crashed into the World Trade Center, Ms. Tishby spoke to the camera. Ms. Tishby was born in Tel Aviv and raised in a politically active, progressive family. She served in the Israel Defense Forces, in what might be thought of as the Israeli U.S.O.

Persons: ’, Tishby, “, Noa, ”, Simone Zimmerman, Netanyahu, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sean Hannity, Al, Israel influencer, Ritchie Torres, ‘, Noa Tishby’s, Gideon Raff, Dafna Organizations: Fox, Hamas, World Trade, Israel, Showtime, Israel Defense Forces Locations: Israel, Gaza, Mexico, United States, Iran, America, New York, Tel Aviv, Hebron, Ramat Aviv

Many civil society leaders told CNBC the order does not go far enough to recognize and address real-world harms that stem from AI models — especially those affecting marginalized communities. "One of the thrusts of the executive order is definitely that 'AI can improve governmental administration, make our lives better and we don't want to stand in way of innovation,'" Venzke told CNBC. Mitchell wished she had seen "foresight" approaches highlighted in the executive order, such as disaggregated evaluation approaches, which can analyze a model as data is scaled up. Even experts who praised the executive order's scope believe the work will be incomplete without action from Congress. For example, it seeks to work within existing immigration law to make it easier to retain high-skilled AI workers in the U.S.

Persons: Kamala Harris applauds, Joe Biden, Maya Wiley, Biden, Kamala Harris, Cody Venzke, Venzke, Margaret Mitchell, Mitchell, Joy Buolamwini, Divyansh Kaushik, Kaushik Organizations: White, Conference, Civil, Human, CNBC, American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU, League, Federation of American Locations: Washington ,, Washington , DC, New York, U.S

☆ Iran's appointment to chair UN rights meeting draws condemnation
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Emma Farge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

GENEVA, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The United States and rights groups complained on Thursday that it was "insulting" to allow Iran's envoy to chair a U.N. human rights council meeting in Geneva, citing violations by Iranian authorities, especially those against women. "Any discussion led by representatives of a regime that continually, and with impunity, infringes upon its own citizens’ human rights is not just fruitless, but an insult to our shared ideals," she added. The two-day meeting called the "social forum" is an annual meeting that aims to improve dialogue between governments and civil society groups, with this year's theme devoted to technology and human rights. Farideh Karimi, an Iranian woman who is president of Women's Human Rights International Association, said her organisation wrote to democratic countries asking them not to attend. Some non-governmental organisations took part, with Justice for Iran criticising Iran's ban on U.S. and UK COVID-19 vaccines.

Persons: Geneva Ali Bahreini, Michèle Taylor, Bahreini, Farideh, Gabrielle Tetrault, Farber, William Maclean Organizations: Reuters, Rights International Association, Thomson Locations: GENEVA, United States, Geneva, Islamic Republic, Iran, Asia, Pacific, China, Cuba, Venezuela, Iranian

Blocking users is a function often employed on social media to stifle critics. The justices, hearing about three hours of arguments, focused on spelling out the circumstances for deciding whether public officials were acting in their personal capacity when blocking critics or engaged in a "state action." Conservative Justice Samuel Alito cited a hypothetical town manager who puts a municipal seal on his own social media page and tells citizens to express their views. Under this test, Mooppan argued, the social media activity of his clients was not governmental. Some justices asked whether requiring public officials to include disclaimers on their personal pages making clear their social media activity is not governmental would help disentangle their private and public capacities.

Persons: Samuel Alito, Alito, Hashim Mooppan, Mooppan, Elena Kagan, Donald Trump, " Kagan, Evelyn Hockstein, Trump, Joe Biden's, Michelle O'Connor, Ratcliff, T.J, Zane, Christopher, Kimberly Garnier, Kevin Lindke, James Freed, Freed, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Brett Kavanaugh, Victoria Ferres, Ferres, John Kruzel, Andrew Chung, Will Dunham Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Supreme, Twitter, Facebook, Conservative, Liberal, REUTERS, Poway Unified School District, Circuit, Appeals, City, Thomson Locations: California, Michigan, Poway , California, Port Huron, Washington , U.S, San Francisco, Cincinnati, New York

☆ Nordic Countries to Cooperate More on Returning Migrants to Countries of Origin
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Johannes BirkebaekCOPENHAGEN (Reuters) - The Nordic governments intend to step up their cooperation to return immigrants without legal residence in the region to their countries of origin, ministers from the five countries said in a joint press conference in Copenhagen on Tuesday. However, the Danish model has become more popular as anti-immigration voices have gained traction across the Nordic region. The ministers of Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland have agreed to strengthen cooperation between diplomatic personnel in charge of returning migrants from the respective Nordic countries to their country of origin. The five countries also have agreed to arrange joint flights to take illegal residents to a third country through the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex. Lastly, the ministers agreed to "assist stranded irregular migrants in North Africa," who they say will be offered assisted voluntary return to their home countries and assistance in re-establishing themselves in the third country.

Persons: Johannes Birkebaek COPENHAGEN, Ulf Kristersson, Maria Malmer Stenergard, Mari Rantanen, Johannes Birkebaek, Louise Rasmussen, David Gregorio Organizations: Nordic, United Nations, of, European Border, Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, Agency, International Organisation for Migration Locations: Copenhagen, Denmark, Danish, Nordic, Swedish, Finland, Finnish, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, North Africa, Europe, Africa

"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

☆ Nevada man charged with threatening Jewish US senator
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Greg Nash/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - A Las Vegas man faces federal criminal charges after threatening to kill Democratic U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen, who is Jewish, in a series of messages to her office vowing to "finish what Hitler started," according to court documents and the Justice Department. Rosen's office on Tuesday confirmed she was the target of the threats, adding, "Threats against public officials should be taken seriously." Miller was charged with one count of threatening a federal official and faces a Nov. 13 court hearing following his arrest last week, the Justice Department said. In his messages, the Nevada man cited Israel's actions in its war with the militant group and threatened to "exterminate" the lawmaker, calling her "subhuman," the criminal complaint said.

Persons: Jacky Rosen, Greg Nash, Hitler, John Miller, Miller, Rosen, Susan Heavey, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Senate Homeland Security, Governmental Affairs, Washington , D.C, Rights, Democratic U.S, Justice Department, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, Nevada, Israel, United States, Las Vegas

Israel has said Gaza's militant Hamas rulers have a command post under the hospital, without providing much evidence. The Israeli military had no immediate comment when asked about reports of strikes near Shifa. Casualties on both sides are expected to rise sharply as Israeli forces and Palestinian militants battle in dense residential areas. Despite the Israeli offensive, Palestinian militants have continued firing rockets into Israel, with the constant sirens in southern Israel a reminder of the threat. Israel says its strikes target Hamas fighters and infrastructure and that the militants operate among civilians, putting them in danger.

Persons: Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, —, ” Mahmoud, Abdallah Sayed, Netanyahu, Yehia Sinwar, Daniel Hagari, ” Netanyahu, ”, ” Hagari, ___ Magdy Organizations: Hamas, Tanks, Communications, Residents, Shifa, Palestinian, Gaza Health Ministry, Health Ministry, U.S, West Bank, Palestinian Health Ministry Locations: DEIR, Gaza, Gaza's, Israel, Gaza City, Shifa, ”, gunning, Palestinian, U.N, Egypt, Syria, Iran, The U.S, Iraq, Cairo, ___, israel

☆ Israel, It’s Time to Consider a Cease-fire - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Thomas L. Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +12 min

I am watching the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza today and thinking about one of the world leaders I’ve most admired: Manmohan Singh. The cost of occupying Gaza could overstretch the Israeli military and economy for years to come. Israel should keep the door open for a humanitarian cease-fire and prisoner exchange that will also allow Israel to pause and reflect on exactly where it is going with its rushed Gaza military operation — and the price it could pay over the long haul. Israel built an impressive society and economy, even if flawed, and Hamas took nearly all of its resources and built attack tunnels. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.

Persons: I’ve, Manmohan Singh, Singh, Shivshankar Menon, “, ” Menon, ”, Menon, Israel’s, It’s, Israel —, —, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Yoav Gallant, Netanyahu, ’ ’, Gaza —, Shin Bet, excusing, don’t Organizations: Pakistan Army, Abraham Accords, Economist, Hamas, United, West Bank, Shin Bet, European Union, Democratic Party, U.S . House, Bank, Gaza, New York, Facebook, Twitter Locations: Israel, Gaza, Pakistani, India, Mumbai, Pakistan, Abraham, United States, Mexico, European, U.S, Washington

☆ US halts exports of most civilian firearms for 90 days
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. has stopped issuing export licenses for most civilian firearms and ammunition for 90 days for all non-governmental users, the Commerce Department said on Friday, citing national security and foreign policy interests. The Commerce Department declined to comment beyond the posting on its website. U.S. companies that sell firearms, including Sturm Ruger & Co. (RGR.N), Smith & Wesson Brands (SWBI.O) and Vista Outdoor (VSTO.N), could be impacted by the export ban. Overseas customers include distributors and stores that sell firearms. The pause does not affect previously issued export licenses, Commerce said.

Persons: Joshua Roberts, Johanna Reeves, Reeves, Sturm, Smith, Chris Sanders, Karen Freifeld, Sandra Maler Organizations: of Commerce, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Commerce Department, Dola, Export, Sturm Ruger, Co, Wesson Brands, Overseas, Commerce, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Washington, Ukraine, Israel

☆ Three Baltic Pipe and Cable Incidents 'Are Related', Estonia Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Finnish police have named the Chinese-owned and Hong-Kong-flagged container carrier NewNew Polar Bear as the prime suspect in damaging the Balticconnector Finland-Estonia gas pipeline early on Oct. 8. NewNew Polar Bear sailed over the Estonia-Sweden cable 133 kilometres before reaching the pipeline damage site. It then crossed the Estonia-Finland cable 32 kilometres after the gas pipeline, according to MarineTraffic. NATO has stepped up patrols in the Baltic sea after the incidents, and Norwegian navy has shadowed NewNew Polar Bear as it sailed over country's key pipelines. China is willing to provide necessary information in accordance with international law regarding an investigation on damage to a Baltic Sea gas pipeline, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday at a regular press briefing.

Persons: Andrius Sytas, Kaja Kallas, Nerijus, David Evans Organizations: Nerijus Adomaitis, Reuters, Estonian, NATO Locations: Nerijus, Nerijus Adomaitis VILNIUS, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Hong, Kong, Helsinki, Tallinn, Estonian, Russia, MarineTraffic, Baltic, China, Vilnius, Oslo

☆ US Halts Exports of Most Civilian Firearms for 90 Days
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. has stopped issuing export licenses for most civilian firearms and ammunition for 90 days for all non-governmental users, the Commerce Department said on Friday, citing national security and foreign policy interests. The Commerce Department declined to comment beyond the posting on its website. U.S. companies that sell firearms, including Sturm Ruger & Co., Smith & Wesson Brands and Vista Outdoor, could be impacted by the export ban. Overseas customers include distributors and stores that sell firearms. The pause does not affect previously issued export licenses, Commerce said.

Persons: Johanna Reeves, Reeves, Sturm, Smith, Chris Sanders, Karen Freifeld, Sandra Maler Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Commerce Department, Dola, Export, Sturm Ruger, Co, Wesson Brands, Vista, Overseas, Commerce Locations: U.S, Washington, Ukraine, Israel

☆ Wall Street’s glum rainmakers deserve more love
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( John Foley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Morgan Stanley’s (MS.N) investment banking revenue in the third quarter was its worst since 2009, at just over $1 billion. The rapid rise in interest rates, which makes traditional lending more lucrative for so-called universal banks, adds to the glum aura around investment banking. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsInvestment banking isn’t the biggest part of any bulge-bracket firm’s revenue, but it’s disproportionately profitable. Goldman made nearly $8 billion more from investment banking in 2021 than in the last four quarters. Declining volatility in markets is great for deals, but it’s nowhere near as good for banks’ trading desks, which tend to thrive on choppy conditions.

Persons: Caitlin Ochs, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley’s, Goldman, Morgan Stanley, James Gorman, Jane Fraser, David Solomon, they’re, Peter Thal Larsen, Oliver Taslic Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Reuters, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, JPMorgan, Citigroup, Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics Investment, Hamas, Goldman, Bank of America, Barclays, Citi, Thomson Locations: New York City, New York, U.S, catnip, Israel, China

More than 20 countries have called for a ban or moratorium on deep-sea mining ahead of Monday's opening of a nearly two-week meeting of the U.N. International Seabed Authority’s council. Companies including Samsung and BMW also have pledged to avoid using minerals mined from the deep sea. “Sea mining is one of the key environmental issues of our time, and this is because the deep sea is among the last pristine areas of our planet,” said Sofia Tsenikli, from the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, a Netherlands-based alliance of environmental groups. But scientists and environmental groups argue that less than 1% of the world’s deep seas have been explored, and they warn that deep sea mining could unleash noise, light and suffocating dust storms. The International Seabed Authority, which is tasked with regulating deep international waters, has issued more than 30 exploration licenses.

Persons: ”, Sofia Tsenikli, Bobbi, Jo Dobush, Emma Wilson, ” Wilson Organizations: JUAN, —, Wednesday, Companies, Samsung, BMW, Conservation Coalition, International Energy Agency, The Ocean Foundation, Authority, China, Clarion, Associated Press, ISA Locations: Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Netherlands, U.S, Hawaii, Mexico

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