Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Manhattan DA Bragg Sues Rep. Jordan Over House Probe of Trump Investigation

Manhattan DA Bragg Sues Rep. Jordan Over House Probe of Trump Investigation

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has filed a federal lawsuit against Republican House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, accusing him of attempting to interfere in his office's prosecution of former president Donald Trump by compelling current and former prosecutors to divulge information about the ongoing investigation.

Chicago Selected to Host 2024 Democratic National Convention

Chicago Selected to Host 2024 Democratic National Convention

Chicago has been chosen as the host city for the 2024 Democratic National Convention, beating out New York and Atlanta. This decision comes after three state Democratic Party chairs united to push for Chicago's bid, citing a record number of Democrats elected to Illinois' General Assembly, Judge Janet Protasiewicz's state Supreme Court win in Wisconsin, and Michigan's earlier downvote of a decades-old abortion ban.

Senate Majority Leader Introduces Resolution Condemning Trump's Call to Defund FBI and DOJ

Senate Majority Leader Introduces Resolution Condemning Trump's Call to Defund FBI and DOJ

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has announced plans to introduce a resolution condemning former President Donald Trump's call to defund the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Justice (DOJ), labeling it a "baseless, self-serving broadside against the men and women who keep our nation safe." The resolution is set for introduction when the Senate reconvenes from recess next week.

Biden's First Overseas Trip Amid Rising European Tensions and Ancestral Homecoming

Biden's First Overseas Trip Amid Rising European Tensions and Ancestral Homecoming

As President Joe Biden departs for his first overseas trip since February, Europe faces a host of rising political and security threats, alongside the constant demands of a grinding war in Ukraine and a court ruling aimed at further restricting abortion access. The White House has scrambled to respond to the leak of strategic documents while ensuring that Biden remains briefed as he travels abroad.

Chinese Tech Giants and US Government Grapple with AI Regulation

Chinese Tech Giants and US Government Grapple with AI Regulation

Chinese technology giants, including Baidu and Alibaba, have jumped on the bandwagon of generative artificial intelligence (AI) products such as ChatGPT. As these companies work to catch up with their American counterparts like OpenAI and Google, they face a new hurdle: regulation in accordance with China's socialist values.

South Korean Official Dismisses Alleged Spying Reports as "Utterly False"

South Korean Official Dismisses Alleged Spying Reports as "Utterly False"

South Korean official Kim Tae-hyo has vehemently dismissed reports of alleged spying on allies, calling the accusations "utterly false." He also stated that Pentagon documents containing details about internal discussions among South Korean officials were either "untrue" or "altered." The United States government is working to manage the diplomatic fallout following these leaks, with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin holding phone talks with his South Korean counterpart.

South Korea Fines Google $31.88 Million for Blocking Mobile Video Games on Competitor's Platform

South Korea Fines Google $31.88 Million for Blocking Mobile Video Games on Competitor's Platform

South Korea's antitrust regulator, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC), has imposed a fine of 42.1 billion won ($31.88 million) on Google for obstructing the release of mobile video games on a rival platform. The KFTC stated that between June 2016 and April 2018, Google strengthened its market dominance and harmed local app market One Store's revenue and value by requiring video game developers to exclusively release their titles on Google Play in exchange for providing in-app exposure.

Louisiana State Rep. Jeremy LaCombe Switches to Republican Party

Louisiana State Rep. Jeremy LaCombe Switches to Republican Party

Louisiana state Representative Jeremy LaCombe has announced his departure from the Democratic party, registering as a Republican instead. This marks the third Democrat in just a month to make such a move and follows North Carolina lawmaker Tricia Cotham's announcement that she will not be joining the Republican Party.

China Ends Combat Readiness Patrol Around Taiwan, Tensions Remain High

China Ends Combat Readiness Patrol Around Taiwan, Tensions Remain High

China has declared the end of a three-day "combat readiness patrol" around Taiwan following President Tsai Ing-wen's return to the island nation after meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. Despite this announcement, tensions remain high as eight Chinese ships continue to linger in waters surrounding Taiwan.

Major Leak at Pentagon Reveals Sensitive Information on NATO vs. Russia Proxy War in Ukraine

Major Leak at Pentagon Reveals Sensitive Information on NATO vs. Russia Proxy War in Ukraine

The Pentagon is currently investigating a significant leak that details sensitive information regarding the next stage of the NATO vs. Russia proxy war in Ukraine, as well as shared war plans with FVEY – the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. The leaked documents suggest that the Pentagon may have released critical intel data to prevent a nuclear war with Russia, but there could be more alarming implications.

Alibaba Cloud Unveils ChatGPT-style Product Tongyi Qianwen at 2023 Summit

Alibaba Cloud Unveils ChatGPT-style Product Tongyi Qianwen at 2023 Summit

Alibaba Cloud, the cloud computing subsidiary of Chinese tech giant Alibaba, announced its new ChatGPT-style product Tongyi Qianwen during the 2023 Alibaba Cloud Summit on Tuesday. The artificial intelligence (AI) powered service will initially be deployed on DingTalk, Alibaba's workplace communication software, and Tmall Genie, a provider of smart home appliances.

China's Consumer Inflation Slows in March, Producer Prices Contract Further

China's Consumer Inflation Slows in March, Producer Prices Contract Further

China's consumer inflation slowed down in March despite a pickup in economic activity, driven by falling food prices. The country recorded the slowest pace of consumer inflation since September 2021 as its Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose only 0.7% year-on-year compared to a 1.0% annual gain observed in February.

UK Government Announces "Swap to Stop" Scheme for Pregnant Women and Smokers

UK Government Announces "Swap to Stop" Scheme for Pregnant Women and Smokers

The UK government is set to unveil a groundbreaking package of measures aimed at reducing smoking rates in England, including offering free e-cigarettes to pregnant women and financial incentives of up to £400 for those who quit smoking during pregnancy. The initiative, known as "swap to stop," was announced by Health Minister Neil O'Brien and is believed to be the first program of its kind worldwide.

Bank of Korea Holds Interest Rate Steady Amid Domestic and Global Risks

Bank of Korea Holds Interest Rate Steady Amid Domestic and Global Risks

The Bank of Korea announced on Thursday that it will keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged, maintaining a cautious stance in light of the numerous risks facing both the domestic economy and global banking-sector turbulence. The decision to hold steady comes as no surprise to most economists who expected the central bank to adopt a wait-and-see approach before making any significant moves.

Old National Leadership Team Offers Support in Louisville, Kentucky

Old National Leadership Team Offers Support in Louisville, Kentucky

In the wake of a recent tragedy, OnB CEO Jim Ryan and other members of the Old National Leadership team have traveled to Louisville, Kentucky to offer support to affected individuals and their families. The team has been actively involved in providing assistance during these trying times and plans to continue offering support in the days ahead.

California Senator Proposes "Ebony Alert" System for Missing Black Women and Children

California Senator Proposes "Ebony Alert" System for Missing Black Women and Children

California Democrat Senator Steven Bradford has introduced a bill proposing an “Ebony Alert” system to specifically assist in locating missing black women and children. Sponsored by the NAACP California Hawaii State Conference, the initiative aims to launch a notification system that informs people about missing black children and young women.

Tennessee Three Continue Fight Against Expulsion and Racism in State Legislature

Tennessee Three Continue Fight Against Expulsion and Racism in State Legislature

The Tennessee Three, a group of lawmakers expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives by the Republican majority, continue to battle against their expulsion and shed light on the racism that led to their removal. Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville), a member of the Tennessee Three, has accused the state's Republican House Speaker, Rep. Cameron Sexton (R-Cumberland), of leading a "white supremacist system."

Florida Rep. Webster Barnaby Accused of Using Anti-Trans Rhetoric

Florida Rep. Webster Barnaby Accused of Using Anti-Trans Rhetoric

Florida Representative Webster Barnaby has come under fire for his recent remarks, which have been deemed anti-transgender, anti-education, and anti-free school lunch rhetoric. Speaking at the state capital while discussing Florida House Bill 1521, legislation aimed at regulating restroom use by transgender individuals in public spaces such as schools and restaurants, Barnaby made offensive comparisons between transgender people and "mutants" from comic book movies.

Donald Trump Returns to New York for Deposition in $250 Million State Civil Case

Former President Donald Trump is expected to return to New York City this week for a deposition in a $250 million state civil case over financial records, where he will face questions regarding alleged fraud within his businesses. Unlike previous legal challenges, this lawsuit does not involve criminal charges against the former president.

Latitude Financial Refuses to Pay Ransom Following Cyber Attack

Latitude Financial Refuses to Pay Ransom Following Cyber Attack

Latitude Group Holdings Ltd (LFS.AX) announced it will not pay a ransom to the hackers responsible for last month's cyber attack, citing potential harm to customers and encouragement of future attacks. The company has taken its platforms offline while working on restoring regular business operations.