cnbc--2020-07-07--Deutsche Bank hit with $150 million penalty for relationship to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein

New York state financial regulators said Tuesday that they have slapped Deutsche Bank with a $ 150 million penalty `` for significant compliance failures '' in the bank 's dealings with accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein , a now-dead investor , as well as with two client banks .
The New York State Department of Financial Services said that Deutsche Bank , which agreed to the payment under a consent order , `` failed to properly monitor account activity conducted on behalf of the registered sex offender despite ample '' public information about Mr. Epstein 's earlier criminal misconduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Epstein 's alleged procurer , Ghislaine Maxwell , was arrested on federal charges that accuse her of helping him get access to and groom underage girls so he could sexually abuse them .
The state said it was the first enforcement action by a regulator against a financial institution for dealings with Epstein .
The consent order covers Deutsche Bank 's relationship with Epstein , and correspondent banking relationships with Danske Bank Estonia and FBME Bank .
Deutsche Bank maintained a relationship Epstein , as well as with `` related individuals and entities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' when the bank ended its dealings with him after the Miami Herald published a series of stories about a federal nonprosecution deal that Epstein obtained in 2008 in Florida .
Over time , the German company handled more than 40 accounts related to Epstein and related people and entities .
The Financial Services Department said that because of the bank 's oversight failure with Epstein , the `` bank processed hundreds of transactions totaling millions of dollars that , at the very least , should have prompted additional scrutiny in light of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transactions include payments to people who were publicly alleged to have been Epstein 's co-conspirators in sexually abusing young women , and settlements totaling more than $ 7 million and payments to law firms of more than $ 6 million `` for what appear to have been the legal expenses of Mr. Epstein and his co-conspirators , '' the department said .
Other payments were made `` to Russian models , payments for women 's school tuition , hotel and rent expenses , and ( consistent with public allegations of prior wrongdoing ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European surnames , '' according to the department .
Also noted were Epstein 's `` periodic suspicious cash withdrawals — in total , more than $ 800,000 over approximately four years , '' the department said .
All of these transactions occurred in the months and years after August 2013 , when , in preparation for Epstein 's accounts being shifted to Deutsche Bank , a junior relationship coordinator on the Epstein account prepared a memorandum for a relationship manager at the bank to be sent to the bank 's then co-head of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief operating officer of the wealth management Americas unit , the consent order notes .
That memo contained information about Epstein 's prior state sex crime case in Florida , noting he was charged with soliciting an underage prostitute in 2007 , that he served 13 months of his 18-month sentence , and that Epstein was accused of paying young women for massages in his Florida home , the consent order said .
`` It also highlights that Mr. Epstein was involved in 17 out-of-court civil settlements related to his conduct in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said of the memo .
In an email to the two bank executives who included the memorandum as an attachment , the relationship manager `` noted how lucrative the relationship could be , stating `` [ e ] stimated flows of $ 100-300 [ million ] overtime [ SIC ] ( possibly more ) w/ revenue of $ 2-4 million annually over time , '' the consent order said .
`` In the same email , [ the bank 's relationship manager ] proposed that all Epstein-related accounts be for 'entities ' affiliated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ' '' the consent order noted .

New York state financial regulators said Tuesday that they have slapped Deutsche Bank with a $150 million penalty "for significant compliance failures" in the bank's dealings with accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, a now-dead investor, as well as with two client banks.
The New York State Department of Financial Services said that Deutsche Bank, which agreed to the payment under a consent order, "failed to properly monitor account activity conducted on behalf of the registered sex offender despite ample" public information about Mr. Epstein's earlier criminal misconduct.
The big settlement comes days after Epstein's alleged procurer, Ghislaine Maxwell, was arrested on federal charges that accuse her of helping him get access to and groom underage girls so he could sexually abuse them.
The state said it was the first enforcement action by a regulator against a financial institution for dealings with Epstein.
The consent order covers Deutsche Bank's relationship with Epstein, and correspondent banking relationships with Danske Bank Estonia and FBME Bank.
Download Deutsche Bank's consent order here.
Deutsche Bank maintained a relationship Epstein, as well as with "related individuals and entities from August 2013 until December 2018," when the bank ended its dealings with him after the Miami Herald published a series of stories about a federal nonprosecution deal that Epstein obtained in 2008 in Florida. Over time, the German company handled more than 40 accounts related to Epstein and related people and entities.
The Financial Services Department said that because of the bank's oversight failure with Epstein, the "bank processed hundreds of transactions totaling millions of dollars that, at the very least, should have prompted additional scrutiny in light of Mr. Epstein's history."
Those transactions include payments to people who were publicly alleged to have been Epstein's co-conspirators in sexually abusing young women, and settlements totaling more than $7 million and payments to law firms of more than $6 million "for what appear to have been the legal expenses of Mr. Epstein and his co-conspirators," the department said.
Other payments were made "to Russian models, payments for women's school tuition, hotel and rent expenses, and (consistent with public allegations of prior wrongdoing) payments directly to numerous women with Eastern European surnames," according to the department.
Also noted were Epstein's "periodic suspicious cash withdrawals — in total, more than $800,000 over approximately four years," the department said.
All of these transactions occurred in the months and years after August 2013, when, in preparation for Epstein's accounts being shifted to Deutsche Bank, a junior relationship coordinator on the Epstein account prepared a memorandum for a relationship manager at the bank to be sent to the bank's then co-head of the wealth management Americas group and the chief operating officer of the wealth management Americas unit, the consent order notes.
That memo contained information about Epstein's prior state sex crime case in Florida, noting he was charged with soliciting an underage prostitute in 2007, that he served 13 months of his 18-month sentence, and that Epstein was accused of paying young women for massages in his Florida home, the consent order said.
"It also highlights that Mr. Epstein was involved in 17 out-of-court civil settlements related to his conduct in the 2007 conviction," the consent order said of the memo.
In an email to the two bank executives who included the memorandum as an attachment, the relationship manager "noted how lucrative the relationship could be, stating "[e]stimated flows of $100-300 [million] overtime [SIC] (possibly more)w/ revenue of $2-4 million annually over time," the consent order said.
"In the same email, [the bank's relationship manager] proposed that all Epstein-related accounts be for 'entities' affiliated with Mr. Epstein, 'not personal accounts,'" the consent order noted.


cnbc--2020-07-07--Trump heads to U.S. military's Southern Command in Florida as coronavirus cases surge

`` We 're deploying additional Navy destroyers , combat ships , aircraft , and helicopters ; Coast Guard cutters and Air Force surveillance aircraft , doubling our capabilities in the region , '' he added , flanked by national security officials .
`` In cooperation with the 22 partner nations , U.S. Southern Command will increase surveillance , disruption and seizures of drug shipments and provide additional support for eradication efforts which are going on right now at a record pace , '' Trump said during an April 1 White House briefing .
In April , the Trump administration announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to disrupt the flow of drugs into the United States .
The anti-drug operations , a Trump campaign promise , have also led to efforts to outfit the U.S.-Mexico border with a wall .
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will meet Friday with leaders of the U.S. military 's Southern Command , the combatant command on the front lines of America 's effort to curb drug trafficking , the White House confirmed Tuesday .
U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions after announcing U.S. naval moves against Venezuela and narcotic traficking as National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General Bill Barr and U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper listen during the daily coronavirus response briefing at the White House in Washington , U.S. , April 1 , 2020 .
During June alone , U.S. Southern Command reported the interception of more than 35,014 pounds of suspected cocaine with an estimated value of $ 546 million .
The trip to Doral , Florida , comes as the Sunshine State reports a steady surge of coronavirus cases , a trend that challenges the Trump administration 's push to reopen the U.S. economy .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the highest single-day total since the pandemic began in December , according to the state health department .
And while the state is dealing with an uptick in cases , Florida 's Republican Gov .
Ron DeSantis has previously said he will not close businesses again or issue a statewide mask mandate to slow the spread of the deadly virus .
The president 's trip comes a week after Vice President Mike Pence met with and praised DeSantis for reopening the state and for implementing an `` innovative '' response to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to thank you for your efforts to open up Florida again ... Florida being an economic engine for the United States , played a key role , '' Pence said during an event at the University of South Florida Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation in Tampa , Florida .
`` I also want to say , Governor , that we fully support your prudent steps in working to slow the spread and the rise in cases that are impacting Florida today , '' Pence added .
The White House has repeatedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested on a daily basis for the coronavirus and have only produced negative results .

"We're deploying additional Navy destroyers, combat ships, aircraft, and helicopters; Coast Guard cutters and Air Force surveillance aircraft, doubling our capabilities in the region," he added, flanked by national security officials.
"In cooperation with the 22 partner nations, U.S. Southern Command will increase surveillance, disruption and seizures of drug shipments and provide additional support for eradication efforts which are going on right now at a record pace," Trump said during an April 1 White House briefing.
In April, the Trump administration announced expanded counternarcotics operations near Central America in order to disrupt the flow of drugs into the United States. The anti-drug operations, a Trump campaign promise, have also led to efforts to outfit the U.S.-Mexico border with a wall.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will meet Friday with leaders of the U.S. military's Southern Command, the combatant command on the front lines of America's effort to curb drug trafficking, the White House confirmed Tuesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions after announcing U.S. naval moves against Venezuela and narcotic traficking as National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr and U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper listen during the daily coronavirus response briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 1, 2020.
During June alone, U.S. Southern Command reported the interception of more than 35,014 pounds of suspected cocaine with an estimated value of $546 million.
The trip to Doral, Florida, comes as the Sunshine State reports a steady surge of coronavirus cases, a trend that challenges the Trump administration's push to reopen the U.S. economy.
On Saturday, Florida reported 11,445 coronavirus cases, the highest single-day total since the pandemic began in December, according to the state health department. And while the state is dealing with an uptick in cases, Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has previously said he will not close businesses again or issue a statewide mask mandate to slow the spread of the deadly virus.
The president's trip comes a week after Vice President Mike Pence met with and praised DeSantis for reopening the state and for implementing an "innovative" response to the unprecedented health pandemic.
"I want to thank you for your efforts to open up Florida again ... Florida being an economic engine for the United States, played a key role," Pence said during an event at the University of South Florida Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation in Tampa, Florida.
"I also want to say, Governor, that we fully support your prudent steps in working to slow the spread and the rise in cases that are impacting Florida today," Pence added.
The White House has repeatedly said that both Trump and Pence are tested on a daily basis for the coronavirus and have only produced negative results.


cnbc--2020-07-07--GOP operative Roger Stone begs Trump for pardon or sentence commutation as prison surrender looms

Roger Stone , former adviser to Donald Trump 's presidential campaign , center , arrives federal court in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on Thursday , Feb. 20 , 2020 .
Faced with an order to report to prison next week , longtime Republican operative Roger Stone on Tuesday begged President Donald Trump for either a pardon or a commutation of his 40-month criminal sentence .
`` I want the president to know that I have exhausted all my legal remedies and that only an act of clemency will provide justice in my case and save my life !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Bloomberg reporters , according to a news story by the outlet .
That message came a day after The New York Times reported that Trump is likely to pardon Stone , or otherwise prevent his friend and political ally from having to go to prison by commuting his sentence .
After this article was published , Stone , in a scathing Instagram post , disputed the idea that he `` begged '' Trump for clemency , and used an expletive to refer to one of the article 's reporters .
`` Anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have not 'begged ' the president for anything , '' Stone wrote .
`` I was so completely railroaded by brain-dead Robert Mueller 's dirty cops that I have openly said that I am praying for clemency from the president . ''
Mueller , who is a former FBI director , as the special counsel tasked with investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election lodged criminal charges against Stone .
Stone wrote in an email to CNBC , `` I have a policy of only answering questions from real legitimate reporters— @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am most familiar with your past 'reporting ' on me . ''
`` Not at all different than what I have said in dozens of radio , cable interviews , podcasts , '' Stone said , referring to his request for clemency from Trump .
`` Saw your story — point out the word 'BEG ' in my statement ? ''
Trump tweeted in June that `` Roger was a victim of a corrupt and illegal Witch Hunt , one which will go down as the greatest political crime in history .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' That tweet came in response to conservative activist Charlie Kirk , who had written , `` Never forget : Roger Stone will serve more time in prison than 99 % of these rioters destroying America All because he supports Donald Trump .
This is n't justice .
RT for a full pardon of Roger Stone ! ''
Two weeks ago , Trump retweeted a post that said , `` IT 'S TIME TO # PardonRogerStone . ''
Stone , 67 , was convicted at a trial last fall in federal court in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress , witness tampering and obstruction .

Roger Stone, former adviser to Donald Trump's presidential campaign, center, arrives federal court in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020.
Faced with an order to report to prison next week, longtime Republican operative Roger Stone on Tuesday begged President Donald Trump for either a pardon or a commutation of his 40-month criminal sentence.
"I want the president to know that I have exhausted all my legal remedies and that only an act of clemency will provide justice in my case and save my life!" Stone said in a text message to Bloomberg reporters, according to a news story by the outlet.
That message came a day after The New York Times reported that Trump is likely to pardon Stone, or otherwise prevent his friend and political ally from having to go to prison by commuting his sentence.
Tweet
A White House spokesman declined to comment.
After this article was published, Stone, in a scathing Instagram post, disputed the idea that he "begged" Trump for clemency, and used an expletive to refer to one of the article's reporters.
"Anyone who reads my statement can clearly see I have not 'begged' the president for anything," Stone wrote. "I was so completely railroaded by brain-dead Robert Mueller's dirty cops that I have openly said that I am praying for clemency from the president."
Mueller, who is a former FBI director, as the special counsel tasked with investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election lodged criminal charges against Stone.
Stone wrote in an email to CNBC, "I have a policy of only answering questions from real legitimate reporters— of which you are not one. I am most familiar with your past 'reporting' on me."
"Not at all different than what I have said in dozens of radio, cable interviews, podcasts," Stone said, referring to his request for clemency from Trump. "Saw your story — point out the word 'BEG' in my statement?"
Trump tweeted in June that "Roger was a victim of a corrupt and illegal Witch Hunt, one which will go down as the greatest political crime in history. He can sleep well at night!"
That tweet came in response to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who had written, "Never forget: Roger Stone will serve more time in prison than 99% of these rioters destroying America All because he supports Donald Trump. This isn't justice. RT for a full pardon of Roger Stone!"
Tweet
Two weeks ago, Trump retweeted a post that said, "IT'S TIME TO #PardonRogerStone."
Stone, 67, was convicted at a trial last fall in federal court in Washington, D.C., of lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstruction.


cnbc--2020-07-07--Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro tested positive for the coronavirus Tuesday , shortly after the presidential palace said he had been displaying symptoms associated with the disease .
Bolsonaro announced his diagnosis to journalists , saying he had begun feeling ill on Sunday , multiple outlets reported .
The president reportedly also confirmed that he is taking hydroxychloroquine , a malaria drug touted by President Donald Trump as a possible preventive treatment for the disease , as well as azithromycin .
Neither drug has been proven to be an effective prophylactic or treatment for Covid-19 .
The right-wing leader , 65 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus in recent months , describing it as nothing more than `` a little flu . ''
He also suggested that his past as an athlete would make him immune to the worst symptoms of the disease .
Brazil has suffered one of the world 's worst outbreaks of the coronavirus , with more than 1.6 million confirmed cases of Covid-19 and over 65,000 related deaths , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
South America 's largest country is second only to the U.S. for the highest number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Eduardo Bolsonaro , tweeted his own confirmation of the diagnosis and said it is `` without further complications , '' a translation of his post shows .
`` But the president will come out of this , '' the younger Bolsonaro tweeted .
`` The treatment with chloroquine is very effective at the beginning of the disease . ''
The government confirmed to NBC News on Monday that Bolsonaro had been feeling unwell and was running a fever of 38 degrees Celsius ( about 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit ) .
Bolsonaro had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emerged , the presidential palace told NBC .
Last month , a judge ordered Bolsonaro to wear a face mask in public , something he has frequently failed to do .
However , a separate court order later rescinded this ruling .
On Saturday , Bolsonaro was pictured alongside Todd Chapman , the U.S. ambassador to Brazil , and several others at the U.S. embassy in Brasilia .
Brazil 's Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo posted a photo of the meeting on July 4 , showing Bolsonaro , Chapman and others gathered around a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The U.S. embassy in Brasilia did not immediately respond to CNBC 's request for comment on Bolsonaro 's diagnosis .
Bolsonaro has insisted throughout the pandemic that maintaining social distancing and avoiding public gatherings are unnecessary when it comes to tackling the spread of the virus .
Instead , Bolsonaro has claimed that abiding by these guidelines will negatively impact the country 's economic recovery .
In April , Bolsonaro fired his health minister , Luiz Henrique Mandetta , who supported social distancing restrictions and had reportedly received high marks from the Brazilian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The president had in March tested negative for Covid-19 after his press secretary , Fabio Wajngarten , was diagnosed with the virus .
Days earlier , Wajngarten , Bolsonaro and other Brazilian officials had traveled to Trump 's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach , Florida , where an Instagram photo showed them dining in close proximity .
Trump and Vice President Mike Pence , who also attended that gathering , were not immediately tested after Wajngarten 's diagnosis was revealed .
Trump said at the time that he was `` not concerned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delegation , and then-White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said that Trump and Pence did not require testing because they `` had almost no interactions '' with Wajngarten .
Trump and Pence have since repeatedly tested negative for the coronavirus , according to the White House .
Bolsonaro is not the first world leader to be infected with the virus : United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson , who tested positive in April , suffered symptoms so severe that he was transferred to an intensive care unit for multiple days .

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro tested positive for the coronavirus Tuesday, shortly after the presidential palace said he had been displaying symptoms associated with the disease.
Bolsonaro announced his diagnosis to journalists, saying he had begun feeling ill on Sunday, multiple outlets reported.
The president reportedly also confirmed that he is taking hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug touted by President Donald Trump as a possible preventive treatment for the disease, as well as azithromycin. Neither drug has been proven to be an effective prophylactic or treatment for Covid-19.
The right-wing leader, 65, has consistently downplayed the threat of the virus in recent months, describing it as nothing more than "a little flu." He also suggested that his past as an athlete would make him immune to the worst symptoms of the disease.
Brazil has suffered one of the world's worst outbreaks of the coronavirus, with more than 1.6 million confirmed cases of Covid-19 and over 65,000 related deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
South America's largest country is second only to the U.S. for the highest number of confirmed cases.
The president's son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, tweeted his own confirmation of the diagnosis and said it is "without further complications," a translation of his post shows.
"But the president will come out of this," the younger Bolsonaro tweeted. "The treatment with chloroquine is very effective at the beginning of the disease."
Eduardo Bolsonaro TWEETS
The government confirmed to NBC News on Monday that Bolsonaro had been feeling unwell and was running a fever of 38 degrees Celsius (about 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit). Bolsonaro had been tested for the virus after his symptoms emerged, the presidential palace told NBC.
Last month, a judge ordered Bolsonaro to wear a face mask in public, something he has frequently failed to do. However, a separate court order later rescinded this ruling.
On Saturday, Bolsonaro was pictured alongside Todd Chapman, the U.S. ambassador to Brazil, and several others at the U.S. embassy in Brasilia.
Brazil's Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo posted a photo of the meeting on July 4, showing Bolsonaro, Chapman and others gathered around a table, not wearing face masks.
Araujo TWEET
The U.S. embassy in Brasilia did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on Bolsonaro's diagnosis.
Bolsonaro has insisted throughout the pandemic that maintaining social distancing and avoiding public gatherings are unnecessary when it comes to tackling the spread of the virus. Instead, Bolsonaro has claimed that abiding by these guidelines will negatively impact the country's economic recovery.
In April, Bolsonaro fired his health minister, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, who supported social distancing restrictions and had reportedly received high marks from the Brazilian people for his handling of the pandemic.
The president had in March tested negative for Covid-19 after his press secretary, Fabio Wajngarten, was diagnosed with the virus. Days earlier, Wajngarten, Bolsonaro and other Brazilian officials had traveled to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, where an Instagram photo showed them dining in close proximity.
Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who also attended that gathering, were not immediately tested after Wajngarten's diagnosis was revealed. Trump said at the time that he was "not concerned" about his contact with the Brazilian delegation, and then-White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said that Trump and Pence did not require testing because they "had almost no interactions" with Wajngarten.
Trump and Pence have since repeatedly tested negative for the coronavirus, according to the White House.
Bolsonaro is not the first world leader to be infected with the virus: United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who tested positive in April, suffered symptoms so severe that he was transferred to an intensive care unit for multiple days.


cnbc--2020-07-07--Federal media agency's employee review sparks fears of another staff purge

President Donald Trump 's pick to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media could be on the brink of making another staffing purge .
Michael Pack , CEO of the federal agency , has instructed his team to start requesting and reviewing copies of employment agreements of longtime senior officials , according to people with knowledge of the matter .
The review , which recently was initiated by Pack and his new leadership team , is meant to target senior managers at Radio Free Asia , Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as it is considered an ongoing private matter .
One person noted that one of Pack 's deputies has been looking for copies of corporate board meeting minutes dating back at least two years .
The decision to look into the agreements with senior officials comes just weeks after Pack installed Trump loyalists in top posts and fired heads of the entities under the agency .
Several of the posts affected were at networks currently seeing their employment agreements reviewed .
Pack has moved ahead with installing interim network heads , including Jeffrey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and now leads the Office of Cuba Broadcasting .
Pack himself also once worked with Bannon on multiple film projects .
It 's unclear what exactly Pack is looking for within his review , but several people familiar with the effort fear that this could be leading to another round of cuts .
They also worry that it is another example of how the new CEO is trying to turn the media groups into more conservative news outlets .
An employment agreement often lays out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the expectations of a job and sometimes a time frame of employment .
A spokesman for agency did not dispute the review and would not rule out future overhauls at the agency .
`` CEO Pack is examining all aspects of the taxpayer-funded USAGM , which has been beleaguered by an absence of effective leadership for many years , '' the spokesman said Monday .
`` The president , the American people , and the Senate — which confirmed him to a three-year term last month — want him to carry out bold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clashing with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle .
Some , particularly Democrats , question whether he has the authority to make such changes .
Sen. Bob Menendez , D-N.J. , the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations committee , which reviewed and confirmed Pack 's nomination , called on the State Department inspector general to investigate whether the Pack broke a long standing rule when he fired the network heads .
A group of bipartisan senators , including Republicans Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham , co-authored a letter to Pack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions .
They said they intend to review the agency 's funding .
Pack also was ensnared in a lawsuit brought on behalf of the Open Technology Fund , an internet freedom organization under his agency .
The lawsuit argued that Pack 's termination of people in leadership positions was unlawful .
But a judge recently ruled in favor of the CEO , suggesting he had the authority to take such actions .

President Donald Trump's pick to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media could be on the brink of making another staffing purge.
Michael Pack, CEO of the federal agency, has instructed his team to start requesting and reviewing copies of employment agreements of longtime senior officials, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
The review, which recently was initiated by Pack and his new leadership team, is meant to target senior managers at Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, according to the people, who declined to be named as it is considered an ongoing private matter.
One person noted that one of Pack's deputies has been looking for copies of corporate board meeting minutes dating back at least two years.
The decision to look into the agreements with senior officials comes just weeks after Pack installed Trump loyalists in top posts and fired heads of the entities under the agency. Several of the posts affected were at networks currently seeing their employment agreements reviewed.
Pack has moved ahead with installing interim network heads, including Jeffrey Shapiro, who was reportedly an ally of former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and now leads the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. Pack himself also once worked with Bannon on multiple film projects.
It's unclear what exactly Pack is looking for within his review, but several people familiar with the effort fear that this could be leading to another round of cuts. They also worry that it is another example of how the new CEO is trying to turn the media groups into more conservative news outlets. An employment agreement often lays out a person's salary, benefits, the expectations of a job and sometimes a time frame of employment.
A spokesman for agency did not dispute the review and would not rule out future overhauls at the agency.
"CEO Pack is examining all aspects of the taxpayer-funded USAGM, which has been beleaguered by an absence of effective leadership for many years," the spokesman said Monday. "The president, the American people, and the Senate — which confirmed him to a three-year term last month — want him to carry out bold and meaningful changes."
Pack is clashing with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Some, particularly Democrats, question whether he has the authority to make such changes.
Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, which reviewed and confirmed Pack's nomination, called on the State Department inspector general to investigate whether the Pack broke a long standing rule when he fired the network heads.
A group of bipartisan senators, including Republicans Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham, co-authored a letter to Pack, signaling their displeasure with his latest decisions. They said they intend to review the agency's funding.
Pack also was ensnared in a lawsuit brought on behalf of the Open Technology Fund, an internet freedom organization under his agency. The lawsuit argued that Pack's termination of people in leadership positions was unlawful. But a judge recently ruled in favor of the CEO, suggesting he had the authority to take such actions.


cnbc--2020-07-08--The U.S. has granted more than 1,000 travel ban exemptions to pro athletes

Alex Pietrangelo # 27 of the St. Louis Blues holds the Stanley Cup following the Blues victory over the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on June 12 , 2019 in Boston , Massachusetts .
The U.S. has offered more than a thousand professional athletes exemptions to proclamations barring their entry into the country , as the administration pushes for the return of professional sports , a person familiar with the matter told CNBC .
So far , the Department of Homeland Security has issued 1,703 exemptions , a person familiar with the situation told CNBC , requesting anonymity because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DHS in May announced it would exempt foreign athletes from the limitations it is imposing on foreign travel into the country .
President Donald Trump has spoken frequently of his desire for professional sports to return .
Leading the exemption count is Canada with 414 exemptions , 285 of which were for the National Hockey League .
In all , the NHL secured 506 athlete exemptions , the most of any sport .
It was followed by Major League Baseball at 308 , International Motor Sports Association at 207 and the Professional Golf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received 176 exemptions , while the Ladies Professional Golf Association got 142 .
The exemptions come as global tensions have heightened .
The U.S. has clamped on other travel into the country and announced new rules for international students .
The administration has continued tough talk on China , which Trump has frequently blamed for the spread of the disease .
Delayed seasons , though , have threatened ticket revenue for powerful team-owners .
They have also cut through the advertising sales at entertainment companies like Comcast 's NBCUniversal and Disney 's ESPN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed economic benefits , but equally important , they provide community pride and national unity , '' said Acting Secretary Chad Wolf when announcing the planned exemptions in May .
`` In today 's environment , Americans need their sports .
It 's time to reopen the economy and it 's time we get our professional athletes back to work . ''
But plans to bring back sports have been challenged , as athletes at Major League Baseball , the National Basketball Association and the National Football league have all tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push back training camps for a number of teams because of delayed testing results from a Utah laboratory running the diagnostics .
The NBA , which secured 33 exemptions , has said it still plans to resume its season at its Orlando campus this month , despite a recent increase in Covid-19 cases in Florida .
A total of 18 sports leagues were granted exemptions , including the Sports Car Club of America and the World Boxing Organization .
If any exempted athlete tests positive for coronavirus prior to arriving in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they test negative .

Alex Pietrangelo #27 of the St. Louis Blues holds the Stanley Cup following the Blues victory over the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on June 12, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts.
The U.S. has offered more than a thousand professional athletes exemptions to proclamations barring their entry into the country, as the administration pushes for the return of professional sports, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC.
So far, the Department of Homeland Security has issued 1,703 exemptions, a person familiar with the situation told CNBC, requesting anonymity because the data is not yet public.
The DHS in May announced it would exempt foreign athletes from the limitations it is imposing on foreign travel into the country. President Donald Trump has spoken frequently of his desire for professional sports to return.
Leading the exemption count is Canada with 414 exemptions, 285 of which were for the National Hockey League.
In all, the NHL secured 506 athlete exemptions, the most of any sport. It was followed by Major League Baseball at 308, International Motor Sports Association at 207 and the Professional Golf Association at 198.
Major League Soccer received 176 exemptions, while the Ladies Professional Golf Association got 142.
The exemptions come as global tensions have heightened. The U.S. has clamped on other travel into the country and announced new rules for international students. The administration has continued tough talk on China, which Trump has frequently blamed for the spread of the disease.
Delayed seasons, though, have threatened ticket revenue for powerful team-owners. They have also cut through the advertising sales at entertainment companies like Comcast' s NBCUniversal and Disney's ESPN.
"Professional sporting events provide much needed economic benefits, but equally important, they provide community pride and national unity," said Acting Secretary Chad Wolf when announcing the planned exemptions in May. "In today's environment, Americans need their sports. It's time to reopen the economy and it's time we get our professional athletes back to work."
But plans to bring back sports have been challenged, as athletes at Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association and the National Football league have all tested positive for the virus.
The MLB had to push back training camps for a number of teams because of delayed testing results from a Utah laboratory running the diagnostics.
The NBA, which secured 33 exemptions, has said it still plans to resume its season at its Orlando campus this month, despite a recent increase in Covid-19 cases in Florida.
A total of 18 sports leagues were granted exemptions, including the Sports Car Club of America and the World Boxing Organization.
If any exempted athlete tests positive for coronavirus prior to arriving in the U.S., they will be denied entry until they test negative.
Disclosure: Comcast is a parent company of CNBC
CNBC's Jabari Young contributed to this report


cnbc--2020-07-08--Trump threatens to cut funding for schools, slams CDC reopening guidelines as too tough and expensiv

Trump threatens to cut funding for schools, slams CDC reopening guidelines as too tough and expensive

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump ramped up his pressure campaign to get public schools to fully reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic , tweeting Wednesday that he may withhold federal funding from schools that do not resume in-person classes this fall .
The tweet was the latest step in an administration-wide effort to convince schools nationwide that the risks of not reopening for in-person classes outweigh those posed by the coronavirus pandemic , which has reached record levels across the country in recent weeks .
The lion 's share of school funding in America comes from states and municipalities , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the White House is exploring ways to use the next coronavirus relief bill to tie the slice of school funding that does come from Washington to the pace of different schools ' reopenings .
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday , Vice President Mike Pence confirmed that the Trump administration is looking to the upcoming Phase 4 coronavirus relief bill as a potential way to exert leverage over schools .
`` As we work with Congress on the next round of state support , we 're going to be looking for ways to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get kids back in school , '' said Pence .
Shortly after Trump 's first tweet about defunding schools , the president pivoted to attacking his own administration 's health guidelines for reopening schools , calling them tough , expensive and impractical .
But instead of laying out a plan to enable schools to meet the existing CDC guidelines , Pence said that next week the CDC will `` be issuing five new documents . ''
These documents will include new guidelines on preparing communities for school reopenings , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caregivers , '' and `` symptom screening considerations '' for students and teachers .
`` As the president said today , we just do n't want the guidance to be too tough , '' Pence told reporters .
`` That 's why the CDC will be issuing more guidance going forward , because we know each school system has unique capabilities and different facilities . ''
Reopening schools is also a key component of helping the U.S. economy get back on solid footing after record breaking job losses this spring .
More than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States , and the near blanket closures of schools and daycare centers in March and April forced millions of parents to become teachers overnight , often on top of holding down their own full-time jobs .
But with the traditional start of the school year just weeks away , there are still few concrete plans in place on either the state or the federal level to help schools determine how best to reopen safely .
And now , with daily rates of new coronavirus cases soaring , parents and educators are growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to make in-person school safe enough to convince both students and teachers to return to the classroom .

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump ramped up his pressure campaign to get public schools to fully reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic, tweeting Wednesday that he may withhold federal funding from schools that do not resume in-person classes this fall.
TRUMP TWEET
The tweet was the latest step in an administration-wide effort to convince schools nationwide that the risks of not reopening for in-person classes outweigh those posed by the coronavirus pandemic, which has reached record levels across the country in recent weeks.
The lion's share of school funding in America comes from states and municipalities, and not from the federal government. Nonetheless, the White House is exploring ways to use the next coronavirus relief bill to tie the slice of school funding that does come from Washington to the pace of different schools' reopenings.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence confirmed that the Trump administration is looking to the upcoming Phase 4 coronavirus relief bill as a potential way to exert leverage over schools. "As we work with Congress on the next round of state support, we're going to be looking for ways to give states a strong incentive and encouragement to get kids back in school," said Pence.
Shortly after Trump's first tweet about defunding schools, the president pivoted to attacking his own administration's health guidelines for reopening schools, calling them tough, expensive and impractical.
TRUMP TWEET 2
But instead of laying out a plan to enable schools to meet the existing CDC guidelines, Pence said that next week the CDC will "be issuing five new documents." These documents will include new guidelines on preparing communities for school reopenings, as well as "decision making tools for parents and caregivers," and "symptom screening considerations" for students and teachers.
"As the president said today, we just don't want the guidance to be too tough," Pence told reporters. "That's why the CDC will be issuing more guidance going forward, because we know each school system has unique capabilities and different facilities."
Reopening schools is also a key component of helping the U.S. economy get back on solid footing after record breaking job losses this spring. More than 50 million children attend school in the United States, and the near blanket closures of schools and daycare centers in March and April forced millions of parents to become teachers overnight, often on top of holding down their own full-time jobs.
But with the traditional start of the school year just weeks away, there are still few concrete plans in place on either the state or the federal level to help schools determine how best to reopen safely.
And now, with daily rates of new coronavirus cases soaring, parents and educators are growing increasingly anxious about whether there is any way to make in-person school safe enough to convince both students and teachers to return to the classroom.


cnbc--2020-07-08--Supreme Court says Trump administration can let religious employers deny birth control coverage unde

Supreme Court says Trump administration can let religious employers deny birth control coverage under Obamacare

The Supreme Court on Wednesday voted 7-2 to uphold Trump administration rules to allow employers with sincere moral or religious objections to deny employees access to free contraceptive coverage .
The rules broadened a carve-out to the contraceptive coverage mandate included in the Affordable Care Act , the health-care overhaul commonly known as Obamacare .
According to government estimates , the religious exemption would lead to possibly as many 125,000 women losing their coverage .
Justice Clarence Thomas , who authored the majority opinion , wrote that the Trump administration `` had the authority to provide exemptions from the regulatory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conscientious objections . ''
`` The only question we face today is what the plain language of the statute authorizes , '' Thomas wrote .
`` And the plain language of the statute clearly allows the Departments to create the preventive care standards as well as the religious and moral exemptions . ''
Thomas ' opinion was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Samuel Alito , Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh .
Justice Elena Kagan wrote separately to explain her vote with the majority , and was joined by Justice Stephen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sonia Sotomayor dissented .
The Supreme Court challenge came after Pennsylvania and New Jersey had successfully halted implementation of the regulations in the lower courts .
The states argued that the federal government failed to follow the legal protocol known as notice-and-comment in creating the rules .
The states said that if the rules went into effect , they would be saddled with increased costs to run their taxpayer-funded family-planning programs .
A federal district court sided with the states and prevented the new rules from going into effect .
That decision was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court of Appeals , based in Philadelphia .
The Trump administration , via the Department of Justice , and the Roman Catholic nonprofit Little Sisters of the Poor , asked the Supreme Court to reverse those rulings .
The Justice Department told the court that the exemptions are required by the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act , which prohibits the government from substantially burdening religious exercise unless it can show that it is using the `` least restrictive means '' to further a compelling government interest .
Thomas declined to say whether the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the RFRA .
`` In light of our holding that [ Obamacare ] provided a basis for both exemptions , we need not reach these arguments , '' he wrote .
In a concurrence , Alito said that he would have found that the RFRA required the exemptions , noting that by failing to do so , the majority left room for continued challenges .
Alito 's concurrence was joined by Gorsuch .
`` We now send these cases back to the lower courts , where the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pursue their argument that the current rule is flawed on yet another ground , '' he wrote .
`` This will prolong the legal battle in which the Little Sisters have now been engaged for seven years — even though during all this time no employee of the Little Sisters has come forward with an objection to the Little Sisters ' conduct . ''
Kagan , joined by Breyer , wrote that she also foresaw additional litigation — and that it was quite possible that the administration would lose .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law 's demand for reasoned decisionmaking , '' Kagan wrote .
`` That issue remains open for the lower courts to address . ''
Kagan wrote that , on that front , the exemptions `` give every appearance of coming up short . ''
The application of the exemptions to publicly traded companies and to `` those without any religious need for it '' raised questions about whether they were reasonable , Kagan wrote .
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a statement that `` this fight is not over . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ religious groups to provide contraception — organizations like the Little Sisters are already exempt , '' Shapiro said .
`` Our case is about an overly broad rule that allows the personal beliefs of CEOs to dictate women 's guaranteed access to contraceptive medicine . ''
Ginsburg , joined by Sotomayor , slammed the court 's decision in dissent , writing that in the past , the court had `` taken a balanced approach , one that does not allow the religious beliefs of some to overwhelm the rights and interests of others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` Today , for the first time , the Court casts totally aside countervailing rights and interests in its zeal to secure religious rights to the nth degree , '' Ginsburg wrote .
`` Today 's Supreme Court ruling is a big win for religious freedom and freedom of conscience , '' McEnany said in a statement .
`` Since Day One , the Trump Administration has sought to lift burdens on religious exercise for people of all faiths .
As the Supreme Court has previously stated , protecting the ability of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dictates of their conscience is part of 'the best of our traditions , ' '' McEnany said .
`` The Court 's decision today carries forward that noble tradition . ''
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement that the ruling was `` a major victory for President Trump 's defense of religious liberty and protects Americans of faith who provide vital healthcare and social services to millions of Americans , especially the needy and vulnerable . ''
The ultimate impact of the decision could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential contest .
Katherine Franke , the faculty director of the Law , Rights , and Religion Project at Columbia University , said an irony of the case was that `` it does give the federal government very broad powers . ''
`` If Trump is voted out of office , and the Biden administration is voted in , I would predict the first thing they will do is reinstate a broad contraceptive mandate , '' she said .
The cases are Donald Trump v. Pennsylvania , No .
19-454 , and The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Paul Home v. Pennsylvania , No .
19-431 .
In a separate case , the court ruled 7-2 on Wednesday in favor of two religious schools that argued they should not have to face job discrimination lawsuits brought by ex-teachers .

The Supreme Court on Wednesday voted 7-2 to uphold Trump administration rules to allow employers with sincere moral or religious objections to deny employees access to free contraceptive coverage.
The rules broadened a carve-out to the contraceptive coverage mandate included in the Affordable Care Act, the health-care overhaul commonly known as Obamacare. According to government estimates, the religious exemption would lead to possibly as many 125,000 women losing their coverage.
Justice Clarence Thomas, who authored the majority opinion, wrote that the Trump administration "had the authority to provide exemptions from the regulatory contraceptive requirements for employers with religious and conscientious objections."
"The only question we face today is what the plain language of the statute authorizes," Thomas wrote. "And the plain language of the statute clearly allows the Departments to create the preventive care standards as well as the religious and moral exemptions."
Thomas' opinion was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. Justice Elena Kagan wrote separately to explain her vote with the majority, and was joined by Justice Stephen Breyer. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor dissented.
The Supreme Court challenge came after Pennsylvania and New Jersey had successfully halted implementation of the regulations in the lower courts. The states argued that the federal government failed to follow the legal protocol known as notice-and-comment in creating the rules.
The states said that if the rules went into effect, they would be saddled with increased costs to run their taxpayer-funded family-planning programs.
A federal district court sided with the states and prevented the new rules from going into effect. That decision was affirmed by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Philadelphia.
The Trump administration, via the Department of Justice, and the Roman Catholic nonprofit Little Sisters of the Poor, asked the Supreme Court to reverse those rulings.
The Justice Department told the court that the exemptions are required by the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which prohibits the government from substantially burdening religious exercise unless it can show that it is using the "least restrictive means" to further a compelling government interest.
Thomas declined to say whether the Trump administration's rules were required by the RFRA.
"In light of our holding that [Obamacare] provided a basis for both exemptions, we need not reach these arguments," he wrote.
In a concurrence, Alito said that he would have found that the RFRA required the exemptions, noting that by failing to do so, the majority left room for continued challenges. Alito's concurrence was joined by Gorsuch.
"We now send these cases back to the lower courts, where the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey are all but certain to pursue their argument that the current rule is flawed on yet another ground," he wrote. "This will prolong the legal battle in which the Little Sisters have now been engaged for seven years — even though during all this time no employee of the Little Sisters has come forward with an objection to the Little Sisters' conduct."
Kagan, joined by Breyer, wrote that she also foresaw additional litigation — and that it was quite possible that the administration would lose.
"I question whether the exemptions can survive administrative law's demand for reasoned decisionmaking," Kagan wrote. "That issue remains open for the lower courts to address."
Kagan wrote that, on that front, the exemptions "give every appearance of coming up short."
The application of the exemptions to publicly traded companies and to "those without any religious need for it" raised questions about whether they were reasonable, Kagan wrote.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a statement that "this fight is not over."
"Our case was never about requiring religious groups to provide contraception — organizations like the Little Sisters are already exempt," Shapiro said. "Our case is about an overly broad rule that allows the personal beliefs of CEOs to dictate women's guaranteed access to contraceptive medicine."
Ginsburg, joined by Sotomayor, slammed the court's decision in dissent, writing that in the past, the court had "taken a balanced approach, one that does not allow the religious beliefs of some to overwhelm the rights and interests of others who do not share those beliefs."
"Today, for the first time, the Court casts totally aside countervailing rights and interests in its zeal to secure religious rights to the nth degree," Ginsburg wrote.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany celebrated the ruling on Wednesday.
"Today's Supreme Court ruling is a big win for religious freedom and freedom of conscience," McEnany said in a statement.
"Since Day One, the Trump Administration has sought to lift burdens on religious exercise for people of all faiths. As the Supreme Court has previously stated, protecting the ability of people to worship and live according to the dictates of their conscience is part of 'the best of our traditions,'" McEnany said. "The Court's decision today carries forward that noble tradition."
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement that the ruling was "a major victory for President Trump's defense of religious liberty and protects Americans of faith who provide vital healthcare and social services to millions of Americans, especially the needy and vulnerable."
The ultimate impact of the decision could be shaped by the outcome of November's presidential contest.
Katherine Franke, the faculty director of the Law, Rights, and Religion Project at Columbia University, said an irony of the case was that "it does give the federal government very broad powers."
"If Trump is voted out of office, and the Biden administration is voted in, I would predict the first thing they will do is reinstate a broad contraceptive mandate," she said.
The cases are Donald Trump v. Pennsylvania, No. 19-454, and The Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. Pennsylvania, No. 19-431.
In a separate case, the court ruled 7-2 on Wednesday in favor of two religious schools that argued they should not have to face job discrimination lawsuits brought by ex-teachers.


cnbc--2020-07-08--Pompeo takes aim at Chinese tech firms over data theft concerns

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a news conference at the State Department in Washington , U.S. , July 8 , 2020 .
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday that the Trump administration would seek to block the Chinese government 's efforts aimed at stealing American citizens ' private information through telecommunications and social media .
`` The infrastructure of this next 100 years must be a communications infrastructure that is based on a Western ideal of private property and protection of private citizens information in a transparent way , '' the nation 's top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He accused Chinese hardware and software companies of not following this model .
Pompeo 's remarks come two days after he said the U.S. was looking at banning TikTok as well as other Chinese social media apps citing national security concerns .
He explained in a Monday interview with Fox News that the Trump administration will examine the infrastructure of Chinese social media apps as it did with Chinese telecommunication giants Huawei and ZTE .
`` The comments that I made about a particular company earlier this week fall in the context of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Communist Party , '' Pompeo told reporters at the State Department , referencing TikTok .
`` We are now evaluating each instance because we believe the U.S. citizens data that they have on their phones or in their system or in their health-care records , we want to make sure that the Chinese Communist Party does n't have a way to easily access that , '' he added .
Read more : TikTok beefs up lobbying team as U.S. government scrutiny intensifies Pompeo , who has previously described Huawei and other Chinese state-backed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese intelligence , '' did not elaborate on the steps the Trump administration would take to protect American citizens ' private information .
In November , the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States began an inquiry into TikTok over cybersecurity concerns .
In December , the Defense Information Systems Agency advised that all Department of Defense personnel should not use the Chinese-owned social media platform , citing a `` potential risk associated with using the TikTok app . ''
A year prior , the Pentagon halted sales of Huawei and ZTE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the world citing national security concerns .
Read more : Pentagon : 'Huawei is too close to the government' U.S. officials have long complained that Chinese intellectual property theft has cost the economy billions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs and that it threatens national security .
Beijing maintains that it does not engage in intellectual property theft .
In a blistering address Tuesday , FBI Director Christopher Wray described Chinese espionage and intellectual property theft against the United States as `` one of the largest transfers of wealth in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could not be higher , and the potential economic harm to American businesses and the economy as a whole almost defies calculation , '' Wray said of the Chinese government during an address at the Hudson Institute .

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a news conference at the State Department in Washington, U.S., July 8, 2020.
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday that the Trump administration would seek to block the Chinese government's efforts aimed at stealing American citizens' private information through telecommunications and social media.
"The infrastructure of this next 100 years must be a communications infrastructure that is based on a Western ideal of private property and protection of private citizens information in a transparent way," the nation's top diplomat said at the State Department. He accused Chinese hardware and software companies of not following this model.
Pompeo's remarks come two days after he said the U.S. was looking at banning TikTok as well as other Chinese social media apps citing national security concerns. He explained in a Monday interview with Fox News that the Trump administration will examine the infrastructure of Chinese social media apps as it did with Chinese telecommunication giants Huawei and ZTE.
"The comments that I made about a particular company earlier this week fall in the context of us evaluating the threat from the Chinese Communist Party," Pompeo told reporters at the State Department, referencing TikTok.
"We are now evaluating each instance because we believe the U.S. citizens data that they have on their phones or in their system or in their health-care records, we want to make sure that the Chinese Communist Party doesn't have a way to easily access that," he added.
Read more: TikTok beefs up lobbying team as U.S. government scrutiny intensifies
Pompeo, who has previously described Huawei and other Chinese state-backed tech companies as "Trojan horses for Chinese intelligence," did not elaborate on the steps the Trump administration would take to protect American citizens' private information.
In November, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States began an inquiry into TikTok over cybersecurity concerns.
In December, the Defense Information Systems Agency advised that all Department of Defense personnel should not use the Chinese-owned social media platform, citing a "potential risk associated with using the TikTok app." A year prior, the Pentagon halted sales of Huawei and ZTE mobile phones and modems on military bases around the world citing national security concerns.
Read more: Pentagon: 'Huawei is too close to the government'
U.S. officials have long complained that Chinese intellectual property theft has cost the economy billions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs and that it threatens national security. Beijing maintains that it does not engage in intellectual property theft.
In a blistering address Tuesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray described Chinese espionage and intellectual property theft against the United States as "one of the largest transfers of wealth in human history."
"The stakes could not be higher, and the potential economic harm to American businesses and the economy as a whole almost defies calculation," Wray said of the Chinese government during an address at the Hudson Institute.


cnbc--2020-07-08--TikTok beefs up lobbying team as U.S. government scrutiny intensifies

A TikTok logo is seen on a mobile device in Mountain View , California on November 2 , 2019 as a photo illustration .
TikTok is bulking up its lobbying team as the U.S. government intensifies its oversight of the social media company , which is owned by Chinese firm Bytedance .
The hires include people with deep experience in government and public policy .
One of the new hires , Michael Hacker , confirmed the appointments .
Starting this week in the company 's public policy office are : • Hacker , who previously worked as senior advisor to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Michael Bloom , who last worked as senior vice president of the Internet Association • Carolyn Lowry , who worked as an associate in the public policy group at law firm K & L Gates • Dayo Simms , a privacy professional who last worked for Uber • Albert Calamug , a policy advisor with a track record in the defense and aerospace industry , including 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps .
Kim Lipsky , who was staff director of the Senate Committee on Commerce , Science , and Transportation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer .
They are joining on the heels of Michael Beckerman , former CEO of powerful lobbying group the Internet Association , who started at the company this spring .
`` Michael Beckerman is a best-in-class government relations professional with more than 15 years experience , '' said Hacker , the former Clyburn advisor .
`` When he got the job , he asked me if I 'd consider coming to help him . ''
The hiring spree comes as the TikTok app has enjoyed an explosion in popularity , particularly with adolescents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing choreographed dances and viral challenges .
As Americans have been forced indoors by the pandemic , it has become the most downloaded app of the year .
With that growth comes scrutiny , particularly as politicians on both sides of the aisle are looking closely at all of technology companies ' size , access to data and privacy protections .
TikTok 's Chinese ties have made it particularly vulnerable to such inquiries .
Last year , the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States began an inquiry into the application over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use it to threaten U.S. national security .
President Donald Trump told Gray TV 's Greta Van Susteren that the administration is looking at banning TikTok , citing its size and his dissatisfaction with how China has handled the coronavirus .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo previously told Fox News that the U.S is `` looking at '' banning TikTok and other Chinese social media apps .
On Wednesday , he told reporters the administration is looking broadly at technologies owned by foreign companies , rather than targeting one in particular .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new law that grants the Chinese government sweeping powers , including tighter control over online content .
TikTok and has announced plans to exit the Hong Kong market , as other technology companies have put data requests there on hold .
TikTok has previously said that U.S. user data is stored in the United States , with a backup in Singapore .
The company also said that its data centers are located entirely outside of China , and none of its data is subject to Chinese law .

A TikTok logo is seen on a mobile device in Mountain View, California on November 2, 2019 as a photo illustration.
TikTok is bulking up its lobbying team as the U.S. government intensifies its oversight of the social media company, which is owned by Chinese firm Bytedance.
The hires include people with deep experience in government and public policy. One of the new hires, Michael Hacker, confirmed the appointments.
Starting this week in the company's public policy office are:
Hacker, who previously worked as senior advisor to House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C.
Michael Bloom, who last worked as senior vice president of the Internet Association
Carolyn Lowry, who worked as an associate in the public policy group at law firm K&L Gates
Dayo Simms, a privacy professional who last worked for Uber
Albert Calamug, a policy advisor with a track record in the defense and aerospace industry, including 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Kim Lipsky, who was staff director of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation until last July, joined earlier this summer.
They are joining on the heels of Michael Beckerman, former CEO of powerful lobbying group the Internet Association, who started at the company this spring.
"Michael Beckerman is a best-in-class government relations professional with more than 15 years experience," said Hacker, the former Clyburn advisor. "When he got the job, he asked me if I'd consider coming to help him."
The hiring spree comes as the TikTok app has enjoyed an explosion in popularity, particularly with adolescents and young adults who enjoy recording themselves doing choreographed dances and viral challenges. As Americans have been forced indoors by the pandemic, it has become the most downloaded app of the year.
With that growth comes scrutiny, particularly as politicians on both sides of the aisle are looking closely at all of technology companies' size, access to data and privacy protections. TikTok's Chinese ties have made it particularly vulnerable to such inquiries.
Last year, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States began an inquiry into the application over concerns Beijing could access its data and use it to threaten U.S. national security.
President Donald Trump told Gray TV's Greta Van Susteren that the administration is looking at banning TikTok, citing its size and his dissatisfaction with how China has handled the coronavirus.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo previously told Fox News that the U.S is "looking at" banning TikTok and other Chinese social media apps. On Wednesday, he told reporters the administration is looking broadly at technologies owned by foreign companies, rather than targeting one in particular.
The tough words come after Hong Kong announced a new law that grants the Chinese government sweeping powers, including tighter control over online content.
TikTok and has announced plans to exit the Hong Kong market, as other technology companies have put data requests there on hold.
TikTok has previously said that U.S. user data is stored in the United States, with a backup in Singapore. The company also said that its data centers are located entirely outside of China, and none of its data is subject to Chinese law.
-- CNBC's Arjun Kharpal contributed to this report.


cnbc--2020-07-08--Trump impeachment witness Alexander Vindman retires from Army after promotion was held up

WASHINGTON — Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman , who provided lawmakers with some of the most damaging testimony during President Donald Trump 's impeachment proceedings , submitted his retirement paperwork Wednesday .
The 45-year-old Vindman , who served 21 years in the military and was up for a promotion , was thrust into the spotlight when he was called before the House to testify about Trump 's dealings with Ukraine .
`` Today I officially requested retirement from the US Army , an organization I love .
My family and I look forward to the next chapter of our lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vindman 's lawyer alleges that since testifying in the impeachment saga late last year , the lieutenant colonel was bullied by Trump and his proxies and that `` his future within the institution he has dutifully served will forever be limited . ''
`` Through a campaign of bullying , intimidation , and retaliation , the President of the United States attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose : Between adhering to the law or pleasing a President , '' Vindman 's lawyer David Pressman said in a statement .
`` LTC Vindman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Today our country loses a devoted soldier , but it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure it does not lose the values he represents , '' wrote Pressman , a former U.S .
Ambassador to the U.N. Security Council .
The White House , the Pentagon and the U.S. Army did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Last week , Sen. Tammy Duckworth , D-Ill. , said she would put a hold on the more than 1,000 military promotions until Secretary of Defense Mark Esper provided assurances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blocked .
`` Lt. Col. Vindman 's decision to retire puts the spotlight on Secretary of Defense Mark Esper 's failure to protect a decorated combat Veteran against a vindictive Commander in Chief , '' Duckworth said in a statement Wednesday .
`` Secretary Esper 's failure to protect his troops sets a new , dark precedent that any Commander in Chief can interfere with routine merit-based military promotions to carry out personal vendettas and retaliation against military officers who follow duly-authorized subpoenas while upholding their oath of office and core principles of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House in December in connection with his request to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden , who is a Democratic presidential contender , and his son Hunter .
Trump 's request , made during a July 25 phone call , came as he was withholding military aid to Ukraine that had been appropriated by Congress .
In his testimony during impeachment hearings , Vindman said he was `` concerned '' about the nature of the call .
Vindman , who was the National Security Council 's top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was `` improper for the president of the United States to demand a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen and political opponent . ''
Trump was acquitted by the GOP-led Senate in February .
That same month , Vindman was escorted out of his third-floor office across from the White House and reassigned to the Department of the Army .
Vindman 's twin brother was also escorted from his post at the White House .
Hours before Alexander Vindman was escorted from his office , Trump had said of the Purple Heart recipient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him . ''
`` Do you think I 'm supposed to be happy with him ? ''
Trump asked reporters .
`` I 'm not . ''
The president then suggested that the Pentagon should consider disciplinary action against Vindman .
`` He is over with the military , '' Trump said after Vindman 's removal from the White House .
`` We sent him on his way to a much different location and the military can handle him any way they want . ''
When pressed if the Defense Department would seek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the agency would `` welcome back all of our service members , wherever they serve , to the assignment they 're given . ''
`` We protect all of our persons , service members from retribution or anything , anything like that , '' Esper said , adding that he had just issued a memo to all Department of Defense employees and military personnel to `` uphold DoD 's longstanding tradition of remaining apolitical . ''

National Security Council Director for European Affairs Alexander Vindman arrives for a closed-door deposition at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on October 29, 2019. Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images
WASHINGTON — Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who provided lawmakers with some of the most damaging testimony during President Donald Trump's impeachment proceedings, submitted his retirement paperwork Wednesday. The 45-year-old Vindman, who served 21 years in the military and was up for a promotion, was thrust into the spotlight when he was called before the House to testify about Trump's dealings with Ukraine. "Today I officially requested retirement from the US Army, an organization I love. My family and I look forward to the next chapter of our lives," Vindman wrote on Twitter. Vindman's lawyer alleges that since testifying in the impeachment saga late last year, the lieutenant colonel was bullied by Trump and his proxies and that "his future within the institution he has dutifully served will forever be limited."
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"Through a campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation, the President of the United States attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose: Between adhering to the law or pleasing a President," Vindman's lawyer David Pressman said in a statement. "LTC Vindman's patriotism has cost him his career. Today our country loses a devoted soldier, but it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure it does not lose the values he represents," wrote Pressman, a former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Security Council. The White House, the Pentagon and the U.S. Army did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last week, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., said she would put a hold on the more than 1,000 military promotions until Secretary of Defense Mark Esper provided assurances that Vindman's promotion was not being blocked. "Lt. Col. Vindman's decision to retire puts the spotlight on Secretary of Defense Mark Esper's failure to protect a decorated combat Veteran against a vindictive Commander in Chief," Duckworth said in a statement Wednesday. "Secretary Esper's failure to protect his troops sets a new, dark precedent that any Commander in Chief can interfere with routine merit-based military promotions to carry out personal vendettas and retaliation against military officers who follow duly-authorized subpoenas while upholding their oath of office and core principles of service."
Impeachment drama
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, National Security Council Director for European Affairs, arrives to testify before the House Intelligence Committee in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill November 19, 2019 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee | Getty Images
Trump was impeached by the House in December in connection with his request to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, who is a Democratic presidential contender, and his son Hunter. Trump's request, made during a July 25 phone call, came as he was withholding military aid to Ukraine that had been appropriated by Congress. In his testimony during impeachment hearings, Vindman said he was "concerned" about the nature of the call. Vindman, who was the National Security Council's top Ukraine expert, said he felt it was "improper for the president of the United States to demand a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen and political opponent." Trump was acquitted by the GOP-led Senate in February. That same month, Vindman was escorted out of his third-floor office across from the White House and reassigned to the Department of the Army. Vindman's twin brother was also escorted from his post at the White House. Hours before Alexander Vindman was escorted from his office, Trump had said of the Purple Heart recipient: "I'm not happy with him." "Do you think I'm supposed to be happy with him?" Trump asked reporters. "I'm not." The president then suggested that the Pentagon should consider disciplinary action against Vindman. "He is over with the military," Trump said after Vindman's removal from the White House. "We sent him on his way to a much different location and the military can handle him any way they want." When pressed if the Defense Department would seek to punish Vindman, Esper told reporters that the agency would "welcome back all of our service members, wherever they serve, to the assignment they're given." "We protect all of our persons, service members from retribution or anything, anything like that," Esper said, adding that he had just issued a memo to all Department of Defense employees and military personnel to "uphold DoD's longstanding tradition of remaining apolitical."


cnbc--2020-07-08--Supreme Court shields religious schools from discrimination suits brought by teachers

The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 on Wednesday in favor of two religious schools that argued they should not have to face employment discrimination lawsuits brought by former teachers .
The case concerned the `` ministerial exception '' to employment discrimination laws that protects religious employers from certain lawsuits brought by employees .
It was brought by two Catholic schools in California that were hit with discrimination lawsuits by teachers whose employment was terminated .
`` The religious education and formation of students is the very reason for the existence of most private religious schools , and therefore the selection and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools rely to do this work lie at the core of their mission , '' Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the court .
`` Judicial review of the way in which religious schools discharge those responsibilities would undermine the independence of religious institutions in a way that the First Amendment does not tolerate , '' he wrote .
Alito 's opinion was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas , Stephen Breyer , Elena Kagan , Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh .
Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exception prevented them from facing those lawsuits , but the teachers countered that they should not qualify as ministers under the 2012 Supreme Court precedent that established the rule .
In that case , Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church & School v. EEOC , the Supreme Court outlined four factors for lower courts to consider when weighing whether an employee qualified as a minister .
Those factors included a formal religious title , whether the title reflected ministerial training , whether the employee presented herself as a minister , and whether the employee 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Panels of the 9th U.S Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the teachers , allowing them to move forward with their lawsuits .
The appeals court judges reasoned that , while the teachers ' work did involve teaching religion , they did not meet all of the criteria required for the exception to apply to them .
The schools brought the cases to the Supreme Court , asking the justices to reverse the lower court decisions .
`` The ministerial exception is a fundamental part of the architecture of church-state relations in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a lawyer at the nonprofit Becket , in a filing submitted on behalf of one of the schools .
`` The Ninth Circuit 's aberrant rulings have severely weakened this critical constitutional protection across a wide swath of the nation . ''
Alito wrote that in the Hosanna-Tabor case , the top court had not created a `` rigid formula '' for determining when an employee qualified under the ministerial exception .
Instead , the opinion had `` identified circumstances that we found relevant in that case . ''
Sotomayor wrote in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the majority 's `` simplistic approach has no basis in law and strips thousands of schoolteachers of their legal protections . ''

The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 on Wednesday in favor of two religious schools that argued they should not have to face employment discrimination lawsuits brought by former teachers.
The case concerned the "ministerial exception" to employment discrimination laws that protects religious employers from certain lawsuits brought by employees. It was brought by two Catholic schools in California that were hit with discrimination lawsuits by teachers whose employment was terminated.
"The religious education and formation of students is the very reason for the existence of most private religious schools, and therefore the selection and supervision of the teachers upon whom the schools rely to do this work lie at the core of their mission," Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the court.
"Judicial review of the way in which religious schools discharge those responsibilities would undermine the independence of religious institutions in a way that the First Amendment does not tolerate," he wrote.
Alito's opinion was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissented.
The schools argued that the ministerial exception prevented them from facing those lawsuits, but the teachers countered that they should not qualify as ministers under the 2012 Supreme Court precedent that established the rule.
In that case, Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church & School v. EEOC, the Supreme Court outlined four factors for lower courts to consider when weighing whether an employee qualified as a minister.
Those factors included a formal religious title, whether the title reflected ministerial training, whether the employee presented herself as a minister, and whether the employee's responsibilities include "important religious functions."
Panels of the 9th U.S Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the teachers, allowing them to move forward with their lawsuits. The appeals court judges reasoned that, while the teachers' work did involve teaching religion, they did not meet all of the criteria required for the exception to apply to them.
The schools brought the cases to the Supreme Court, asking the justices to reverse the lower court decisions.
"The ministerial exception is a fundamental part of the architecture of church-state relations in this country," wrote Eric Rassbach, a lawyer at the nonprofit Becket, in a filing submitted on behalf of one of the schools. "The Ninth Circuit's aberrant rulings have severely weakened this critical constitutional protection across a wide swath of the nation."
Alito wrote that in the Hosanna-Tabor case, the top court had not created a "rigid formula" for determining when an employee qualified under the ministerial exception. Instead, the opinion had "identified circumstances that we found relevant in that case."
Sotomayor wrote in a dissention opinion joined by Ginsburg that the majority's "simplistic approach has no basis in law and strips thousands of schoolteachers of their legal protections."


cnbc--2020-07-08--Trump to host trade-focused dinner with executives from FedEx, Lockheed, Ford and others

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Mexico ’ s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador as he arrives for meetings at the White House in Washington , U.S. , July 8 , 2020 .
The attendees will include FedEx Chairman and CEO Fred Smith , UPS Executive Chairman David Abney , Intel CEO Bob Swan and Lockheed Martin CEO James Taiclet , according to a partial list obtained by CNBC .
Executives from Sempra , Shell , Ford , Nucor and others are also slated to attend , according to the list .
President Donald Trump and his administration will discuss trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. and Mexico in conjunction with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador 's visit to Washington on Wednesday , CNBC has learned .
A total of around 20 business leaders from Mexico and the U.S. will participate in the dinner , a White House pool reporter said later Wednesday , citing the Mexican Foreign Ministry .
The list of Mexican executives includes multibillionaire Carlos Slim , along with 10 others , according to the pool reporter .
The working dinner with business and political leaders — a rarity during the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement , the revamped trade deal that Trump signed into law in January .
The accord replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement , or NAFTA , which had been in place since the mid-1990s and was heavily criticized by Trump .
Lopez Obrador is set to arrive at the White House at 2 p.m .
ET and participate in a bilateral meeting with Trump shortly afterward , according to a scheduling email from the White House .
Trump will host the working dinner with Lopez Obrador at 6:45 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Justin Trudeau was reportedly also invited to Washington to celebrate the trade agreement between the three nations , but he declined to attend .

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador as he arrives for meetings at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 8, 2020.
The attendees will include FedEx Chairman and CEO Fred Smith, UPS Executive Chairman David Abney, Intel CEO Bob Swan and Lockheed Martin CEO James Taiclet, according to a partial list obtained by CNBC. Executives from Sempra , Shell, Ford , Nucor and others are also slated to attend, according to the list.
President Donald Trump and his administration will discuss trade during a dinner with numerous executives from the U.S. and Mexico in conjunction with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's visit to Washington on Wednesday, CNBC has learned.
A total of around 20 business leaders from Mexico and the U.S. will participate in the dinner, a White House pool reporter said later Wednesday, citing the Mexican Foreign Ministry. The list of Mexican executives includes multibillionaire Carlos Slim, along with 10 others, according to the pool reporter.
The working dinner with business and political leaders — a rarity during the coronavirus pandemic — will focus on cross-border trade and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the revamped trade deal that Trump signed into law in January. The accord replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, which had been in place since the mid-1990s and was heavily criticized by Trump.
Lopez Obrador is set to arrive at the White House at 2 p.m. ET and participate in a bilateral meeting with Trump shortly afterward, according to a scheduling email from the White House. Trump will host the working dinner with Lopez Obrador at 6:45 p.m., the schedule says.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was reportedly also invited to Washington to celebrate the trade agreement between the three nations, but he declined to attend.


cnbc--2020-07-08--FBI chief slams Chinese cyberattacks on U.S., calls it 'one of the largest transfers of wealth in hu

FBI chief slams Chinese cyberattacks on U.S., calls it 'one of the largest transfers of wealth in human history'

WASHINGTON — In blistering remarks Tuesday , FBI Director Christopher Wray slammed the Chinese government for its use of espionage and cyberattacks against the United States which has amounted to what he called `` one of the largest transfers of wealth in human history . ''
`` The stakes could not be higher , and the potential economic harm to American businesses and the economy as a whole almost defies calculation , '' Wray said of the Chinese government during an address at the Hudson Institute .
`` To achieve its goals and surpass America , China recognizes it needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the sad fact is that instead of engaging in the hard slog of innovation , China often steals American intellectual property and then uses it to compete against the very American companies it victimizes , in effect , cheating twice , '' he said , adding that the Chinese government targets `` research on everything from military equipment to wind turbines . ''
When asked if the United States had an estimate on the financial damage the Chinese government has caused on the American economy , Wray said he did n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added that `` every figure I 've seen is breathtaking . ''
`` Confronting this threat effectively does not mean we should n't do business with the Chinese , does not mean we should n't host Chinese visitors , it does not mean we should n't welcome Chinese students or coexist with China on the world stage , '' Wray explained .
`` It does mean that when China violates our criminal laws and international norms , we are not going to tolerate , much less enable . ''
Wray 's comments come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Pompeo 's threat to ban TikTok as well as other Chinese social media apps citing national security concerns .
The nation 's top diplomat explained in a Monday interview with Fox News that the Trump administration will examine the infrastructure of Chinese social media apps as it did with Chinese telecommunication giants Huawei and ZTE .

WASHINGTON — In blistering remarks Tuesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray slammed the Chinese government for its use of espionage and cyberattacks against the United States which has amounted to what he called "one of the largest transfers of wealth in human history."
"The stakes could not be higher, and the potential economic harm to American businesses and the economy as a whole almost defies calculation," Wray said of the Chinese government during an address at the Hudson Institute.
"To achieve its goals and surpass America, China recognizes it needs to make leaps in cutting edge technology, but the sad fact is that instead of engaging in the hard slog of innovation, China often steals American intellectual property and then uses it to compete against the very American companies it victimizes, in effect, cheating twice," he said, adding that the Chinese government targets "research on everything from military equipment to wind turbines."
When asked if the United States had an estimate on the financial damage the Chinese government has caused on the American economy, Wray said he didn't know of an exact number, but added that "every figure I've seen is breathtaking."
"Confronting this threat effectively does not mean we shouldn't do business with the Chinese, does not mean we shouldn't host Chinese visitors, it does not mean we shouldn't welcome Chinese students or coexist with China on the world stage," Wray explained. "It does mean that when China violates our criminal laws and international norms, we are not going to tolerate, much less enable."
Wray's comments come on the heels of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's threat to ban TikTok as well as other Chinese social media apps citing national security concerns. The nation's top diplomat explained in a Monday interview with Fox News that the Trump administration will examine the infrastructure of Chinese social media apps as it did with Chinese telecommunication giants Huawei and ZTE.


cnbc--2020-07-08--UK unveils back-to-work bonus scheme and restaurant discounts for all citizens

U.K. Finance Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a back-to-work bonus scheme for businesses bringing furloughed employees back to work , and a 50 % restaurant discount for all citizens through the month of August .
In a de-facto `` mini-budget '' unveiled Wednesday , Sunak told the House of Commons that the jobs retention scheme , which has subsidized wages for 9.3 million furloughed workers , will be tapered down to end in October .
Businesses will receive £1,000 ( $ 1254.55 ) bonuses per furloughed worker retained through January earning at least £520 per month .
Ahead of Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ending the furlough scheme in October would give rise to a much-feared unemployment crisis .
However , Sunak claimed the scheme `` ca n't and should n't go on forever '' and labeled calls for a further extension to the furlough scheme `` irresponsible . ''
`` We have to be honest .
Leaving the furlough scheme open forever gives people false hope that it will always be possible to return to the jobs they had before , and the longer people are on furlough , the more likely it is their skills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harder to get new opportunities , '' Sunak argued .
Mike Bell , global market strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management , said that while the economy will benefit from today 's proposals , they would not be enough to offset the hit from the winding down of the furlough scheme .
`` Removing the furlough scheme before activity has recovered is like building three quarters of a bridge and not finishing it because it is becoming expensive , '' Bell said in reaction to the budget .
`` Prematurely winding down the scheme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of people , particularly in the worst affected sectors such as hospitality and retail . ''

U.K. Finance Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a back-to-work bonus scheme for businesses bringing furloughed employees back to work, and a 50% restaurant discount for all citizens through the month of August.
In a de-facto "mini-budget" unveiled Wednesday, Sunak told the House of Commons that the jobs retention scheme, which has subsidized wages for 9.3 million furloughed workers, will be tapered down to end in October. Businesses will receive £1,000 ($1254.55) bonuses per furloughed worker retained through January earning at least £520 per month.
Ahead of Wednesday's update, economists had warned that ending the furlough scheme in October would give rise to a much-feared unemployment crisis. However, Sunak claimed the scheme "can't and shouldn't go on forever" and labeled calls for a further extension to the furlough scheme "irresponsible."
"We have to be honest. Leaving the furlough scheme open forever gives people false hope that it will always be possible to return to the jobs they had before, and the longer people are on furlough, the more likely it is their skills could fade and they will find it harder to get new opportunities," Sunak argued.
Mike Bell, global market strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management, said that while the economy will benefit from today's proposals, they would not be enough to offset the hit from the winding down of the furlough scheme.
"Removing the furlough scheme before activity has recovered is like building three quarters of a bridge and not finishing it because it is becoming expensive," Bell said in reaction to the budget.
"Prematurely winding down the scheme risks having merely delayed job losses for millions of people, particularly in the worst affected sectors such as hospitality and retail."