Houthis and Iranian university welcome expelled US students to join ranks
Protests across U.S. college campuses have captured the attention of many, including universities in Iran and Yemen. Now, those universities are reaching out to students and professors who may have been expelled over their activism.
“Students and even professors who have been expelled or threatened with expulsion can continue their studies in Shiraz University and I think that other universities in Shiraz and Fars province are prepared to do the same,” Iran’s Shiraz University President Mohammad Moreno said on Wednesday, May 1.
Houthi-ran Sanaa University in Yemen said the students could continue their education there, too. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militia, which has disrupted global shipping with attacks in support of Palestinians, welcome expelled students to join them as well.
In another show of support for college protesters, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip expressed gratitude, with demonstrators putting up thank-you notes directed at several American universities.
“It is wonderful,” said Abu Yusuf Al-Habeel, a displaced Palestinian. “We thank all the students at American universities who stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their cause.”
While some have commended the protesters’ efforts, Gilan Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations went the other way during a speech on Wednesday at the U.N. General Assembly.
Erdan characterized college protests against the war in Gaza as “the murderous cries of the pro-Palestinian mobs.” He also described the protests as “Nazi-like behavior.” In addition, he accused the U.N. of spreading “anti-Israel vitriol” and said the organization’s “days were numbered.”
Police warn of outside agitators, ‘chaos professionals’ co-opting college protests
Violent riots have erupted on American college campuses in the last week, with young adults protesting Israel and its ongoing war with Hamas. Police have arrested hundreds of protesters and new reports are shedding light on who is being arrested. Police say they’re not just arresting students but also “chaos professionals.”
Protesters have set up barricaded tent encampments on the campuses of Columbia, NYU, UCLA, Yale, Harvard, UT at Austin and others. Violent clashes have led to people being assaulted.
In one instance, a Jewish girl was beaten unconscious by a pro-Palestinian supporter at the UCLA riots.
Protesters illegally seized Hamilton Hall at Columbia University by scaling walls and smashing windows. Vandals also spray-painted and destroyed state property at UCLA.
Police officers in riot gear have arrested hundreds of agitators, and some colleges have had to cancel classes and graduation ceremonies.
Nearly half of the pro-Palestinian agitators arrested at Columbia University and the City College of New York were not students of those schools, according to New York City police. The New York Police Department said it had arrested 282 protesters on Thursday, May 2, and of those, 134 had zero affiliation with either school.
“It is our belief they are now actively co-opting what should be a peaceful gathering,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams, D, said. “This is to serve their own agenda. They’re not here to promote peace or unity or allow a peaceful display of one’s own voice. But they’re here to create discord and divisiveness, which is why I’m warning every student and every protester to walk away from this situation now.”
The New York Post reported one of the agitators arrested was identified as Lisa Fithian, a professional protester who has participated in several movements across the country since the 70s.
Police believe the outside agitators are guiding peaceful student protesters to follow their lead and use destructive and criminal methods to help radicalize the students.
“These once-peaceful protests are being exploited by professional outside agitators, and the safety of all students, faculty and staff are now a concern,” New York City’s police commissioner said.
Police in Austin, Texas, say they arrested 79 people on the campus of the University of Texas on Monday, April 29. Of those, 45 had no affiliation with the university.
President Joe Biden made remarks from the White House on May 2, saying he will always defend free speech and that violence will never be tolerated.
“This isn’t a moment for politics. It’s a moment for clarity,” Biden said. “So let me be clear. Peaceful protest in America, violent protest is not protected. Peaceful protest is. It’s against the law, and violence occurs. Destroying property is not a peaceful protest. It’s against the law. Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes and graduations — none of this is a peaceful protest.”
Biden also said the college protests and riots have not made him reconsider his Middle Eastern policies.
Violence on UCLA campus over war in Gaza forces cancellation of classes
Officials canceled classes at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), on Wednesday, May 1, after violent clashes between opposing groups of protesters erupted overnight. The confrontation began when pro-Israel protesters allegedly attempted to take apart barricades around a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus.
The escalation followed the university declaring the camps illegal on Tuesday night. UCLA also warned pro-Palestinian protesters of consequences if they refused to leave.
According to UCLA student Edgar Gomez, the situation quickly got worse as people tore down gates, threw water bottles and engaged in fighting. Protesters allegedly shoved, kicked and beat each other with sticks. Additionally, individuals reportedly used pepper spray during the fight.
Just before 1 a.m. local time, Mary Osako, the vice chancellor for UCLA’s Strategic Communications, issued a statement.
“Horrific acts of violence occurred at the encampment tonight and we immediately called law enforcement for mutual aid support,” Osako said. “The fire department and medical personnel are on the scene. We are sickened by this senseless violence.”
Police did not gain control of the situation until more than two hours after Osako released the statement, raising questions about the campus’s preparedness for such unrest.
“Things are not going well,” Gomez said. “People are, like, angry at each other. Lots of tensions are going on. I just hope things can get resolved and maybe with some negotiations going on or who knows what will happen. But I hope things get resolved right away.”
Wednesday morning, the scene returned to calm, but classes remained suspended. As a result, UCLA officials advised people to avoid the impacted area.
Meanwhile, in New York City, police broke up a demonstration at Columbia University. They entered a building filled with antiwar protesters and dispersed the crowd. The university requested police assistance after physical violence erupted.
These incidents came amid a broader movement on college campuses across the country as students protest Israel’s war in Gaza. Tent encampments calling for universities to sever ties with Israel or companies supporting Israel’s war in Gaza sprung up across the U.S.
Dozens arrested at Columbia as NYPD clears Hamilton Hall, encampments
Dozens of protesters were arrested after Columbia University calls in the NYPD. Dave and Buster’s is adding something new to its arcade games — a betting option. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, May 1, 2024.
Dozens arrested as NYPD clears Hamilton Hall, Columbia encampments
NYPD officers moved in a little after 9 p.m. at the university’s request, using a police vehicle with a ramp to access the second floor of Hamilton Hall after protesters had barricaded themselves inside.
Columbia’s president has requested the NYPD to remain on campus until at least May 17, two days after graduation, to “maintain order and ensure that encampments are not re-established.”
Columbia University said its decision to call in the police was in response to the actions of the protesters, not their cause.
Additionally, the NYPD was called to the City College of New York after it was reported that a large group of people marched from Columbia to its campus. At least 25 people were arrested there.
Speaker Johnson announces House crackdown on antisemitism on campuses
At a press conference, Johnson described the situation at Columbia University as “out of control” and urged President Joe Biden to adopt a firmer stance on the issue.
House Republicans are advocating for cuts in federal funding to colleges that host these protests and have initiated an investigation into how university administrations manage these demonstrations. They are also pushing for a congressional hearing with several university presidents to further address the situation.
Meanwhile, the House is preparing to vote on the “Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023.” This legislation aims to clarify the definition of antisemitism for the application of anti-discrimination laws, though it has encountered opposition from some Democrats over the act’s definition of antisemitism.
Trump fined $9,000 as trial continues with second week of testimony
Tuesday’s proceedings began with the judge fining Trump $9,000 for violating the judge’s gag order — $1,000 for each violation. The judge warned the former president that future violations could lead to jail time.
Jurors heard testimony from Gary Farro, the banker who assisted Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen in opening the account used to pay adult film star Stormy Daniels the $130,000 hush money payment at the center of the prosecution’s case.
Keith Davidson, a lawyer who represented Daniels, also testified about how he negotiated the deal between his client and Cohen.
The judge did make one decision in Trump’s favor on Tuesday, announcing there would be no court on May 17 so the former president can attend his son Barron’s high school graduation.
DEA will move to reclassify marijuana in historic shift
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is on the brink of a historic move that could reshape American drug policy. On Tuesday, April 30, the Associated Press reported that the agency is preparing to reclassify cannabis as a less dangerous drug, recognizing its medical uses and low potential for abuse.
The move comes after Biden’s call for a review of federal cannabis laws in October 2022. He also pardoned thousands of Americans convicted of simple possession.
Recent polls show growing support for legalization with 70% of adults in favor, according to Gallup.
However, not everyone is on board with the DEA’s decision. Former DEA Deputy Administrator Jack Riley expressed concerns about the potential risks, citing cannabis as a possible gateway drug.
Earlier mammogram screenings could save more lives
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends that women start getting mammograms every other year beginning at age 40, a shift from previous guidelines that advised starting at age 50.
While the American Cancer Society recommends annual screenings starting at age 45 and the American College of Radiology suggests beginning at age 40, the task force found that biennial screenings minimize the occurrence of false positives and unnecessary procedures without significantly compromising health outcomes.
Insurance companies often follow the task force guidelines for coverage, though most insurers already cover breast cancer screenings at the age of 40.
Dave & Buster’s to allow betting on its arcade games
Heading to Dave and Buster’s with your friends could soon earn you some money. The entertainment chain announced Tuesday, April 30, it will allow customers to wager on its arcade games.
The company is partnering with a gaming provider to create a betting feature in its app. There will be a limit to the size of the bets, but exactly how much has not been disclosed.
The betting function is expected to launch in the next few months.
Debates on college campuses over what makes a protest antisemitic
As the Israel-Hamas conflict continues in Gaza, protests on college campuses across the U.S. are drawing attention. The intentions of the protests have caused national debate, raising questions about antisemitism. Are the pro-Palestinian protests anti-Israel? Are the protests anti-Jew?
Answers vary largely depending on a person’s politics, which is one reason why there is such a divide in Americans’ opinions on what should happen next for the college campus protests.
There is a wide range of photos and videos online that tell different stories of what the protests look like. Some are of peaceful assemblies. In one video, demonstrators chant “free, free, free Palestine,” standing up for Palestinians who they feel Israel is committing genocide against.
However, there is other content surrounding the protests that have some Jewish students and staff claiming that the protests are not just anti-Israel, but also antisemitic.
There are some images showing students in Hamas headbands and images of students with a “final solution” poster — an expression used by Hitler meaning “exterminate all Jews.”
Crazy scene tonight at Columbia University: Jewish students came to the campus – and then this happened. The undergrad who filmed it told me: “We didn’t say a word. My friend had a Jewish star necklace. All of the sudden we’re surrounded, they’ve been circling us, threatening us” pic.twitter.com/VSxbq5Ovj2
Additionally, videos of students using threatening rhetoric have surfaced, leading to student suspensions. In one video, a student can be heard saying, “Why would we want people who are supporters of genocide to live?”
“Be glad, be grateful, that i’m not going out murdering zionists,” the student said.
Another element that makes the rhetoric divisive is that the two sides use the same words and slogans but with different intended meanings.
For example, “from the river to the sea” has become a battlecry for pro-Palestinian protesters who call it a “call for freedom and human rights.” However, it’s origin calls for the abolishment of Israel — an expression some Jews claim targets their lives.
The same applies for the word “intifada.” Pro-Palestinians call it a resistance movement, but history shows previous calls for intifada led to the slaughter of Jewish people.
As unrest fills college campuses, university leadership is left with the question: At what point does pro-Palestinian political speech turn into antisemitic hate speech?
Democratic state lawmakers in Georgia jointly condemned the decision as “a dangerous escalation to protests which were by all accounts peaceful and nonviolent.”
University presidents who are not taking action are also being called out.
“Unchecked antisemitism has become commonplace on Columbia’s campus,” a political ad from Republican lawmakers said. “The university’s inaction has left Jewish students abandoned.”
So the 2pm deadline President Shafik gave to vacate the encampment at @Columbia has come & gone.
And the response? Faculty has formed 'human chain' & signs are seen saying 'Columbia Will Burn'.
Shafik has lost control. This is what cowardice and absence of leadership gets you! pic.twitter.com/hrVsLoQPBe
At Columbia, the words “Columbia will burn” were written on notices that were sent to encampments alerting them to disperse. An academic building was vandalized and occupied by protesters.
The protests are invoking strong opinions from both political sides, and both prominent Democrats and Republicans have condemned protests that cross the line to antisemitic.
Student protesters take over Columbia building after deadline passes
Student protesters took over a building on the campus of Columbia University. And four law enforcement officers were killed while serving a warrant in Charlotte, North Carolina. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
Student protesters take over Hamilton Hall after Columbia’s deadline passes
Student demonstrators at Columbia University protesting the war in Gaza broke into a campus building and occupied Hamilton Hall, just hours after the university’s deadline passed for students to clear their pro-Palestinian encampment. The university sent an email to all students advising them to avoid campus.
Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Get The Morning RundownTM newsletter straight to your inbox!
A student protest group confirmed its members have “reclaimed” Hamilton Hall, barricading themselves inside. Students took over the same building occupied during a Vietnam protest in 1968 and hung up a banner reading “Hind’s Hall,” in reference to a 6-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza.
Images from the scene show the maintenance crew confronting the protesters inside the building and students forming a human chain blocking the entrance. The New York Police Department said its officers were stationed near the campus but not on the grounds.
The student protesters said they will remain at Hamilton Hall until the university meets their demands, including withdrawing funds for Israeli institutions.
Columbia President Minouche Shafik issued a statement telling protesters to “voluntarily disperse,” saying the encampment has created an “unwelcoming environment for many” of the school’s Jewish students and faculty.
Protesters are seeking the university to divest from Israel, something Shafik said the school will not do. However, in her statement, she said Columbia has offered to develop an expedited timeline for the university to review new divestment proposals from students and has offered to make investments in health and education in Gaza.
Now in its second week, the pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia are just one of several occurring at college campuses across the country. On Monday, April 29, arrests were made at encampments at the University of Texas and the University of Florida.
Meanwhile, Northwestern University announced it had reached an agreement with students to continue protests that comply with university rules and policies.
Four officers killed serving warrant during shootout at Charlotte home
Four law enforcement officers were killed Monday, April 29, in a shootout at a home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Those killed included a deputy U.S. marshal, two members of the North Carolina Department of Corrections and an officer with the Charlotte Police Department.
Authorities came under fire while trying to serve a warrant to a convicted felon for possessing a firearm.
Police said the armed suspect was shot dead after leaving the home. A second person also opened fire on the officers.
The police chief said many questions still need to be answered about what unfolded.
“Today’s an absolute tragic day for the city of Charlotte and for the profession of law enforcement,” Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said. “Today we lost some heroes who are out to simply keep our community safe.”
After the three-hour standoff came to an end, a woman and a 17-year-old male were found inside the home and taken in for questioning.
Three Charlotte police officers and a member of the Marshal Service Fugitive Task Force were also wounded in the incident.
FCC fines major wireless carriers nearly $200M for sharing data
A 2020 investigation revealed that the carriers had been distributing users’ geolocation details to third parties, including to prisons. T-Mobile and Sprint merged after the investigation began.
Today, we fined the nation’s largest wireless carriers for illegally sharing access to customers’ location information without consent & without taking reasonable measures to protect that information against unauthorized disclosure. https://t.co/bv65Fr6Dbl
Despite promising to end these practices in 2018, the FCC said the companies took more than a year to actually stop them.
In a statement, AT&T argued that the order is unjustified and lacks legal and factual basis. The company claimed it was unfairly blamed for another company’s violations and that its efforts to rectify the issue were overlooked.
T-Mobile stated that it stopped sharing data with location-based services through third-party aggregators over five years ago. The carrier emphasized its commitment to protecting customer data but called the FCC’s decision incorrect and the fine excessive.
A Verizon spokesperson expressed the company’s dedication to customer privacy, noting that they terminated the offending party, ended the program, and took steps to prevent similar incidents.
An investigation by our Enforcement Bureau found that carriers sold access to location data to third parties without customer consent and continued to do so without reasonable safeguards despite warning from the FCC.
This regulation, part of the 2021 infrastructure law, aims to save at least 360 lives and prevent 24,000 injuries annually. The decision follows a rise in traffic fatalities post-COVID-19 lockdowns, despite a recent 3.6% drop in road deaths in 2023.
Carmakers claimed that NHTSA rules requiring cars with automatic brakes to completely avoid contact with objects or people at high speeds were impractical.
We have a crisis of roadway deaths in this country—and today we’re taking a major step toward addressing this with our new rule on automatic emergency braking. pic.twitter.com/NRS8WJeA6o
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) April 30, 2024
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that the automatic braking mandate “will save hundreds of lives.”
The new rule also sets performance standards for these systems, requiring them to detect pedestrians in both daylight and at night, and to function effectively at speeds up to 90 mph.
With talks of a merger gaining traction, media giant Paramount has announced Bob Bakish is stepping down as the company’s CEO. In his absence, three Paramount executives will form a committee called “The Office of the CEO” to lead the company.
This committee consists of the presidents of CBS, Paramount Media Networks and Paramount Pictures. Bakish has been with the company for nearly three decades in roles including CEO of Viacom. He will remain with Paramount until October, working as a senior adviser.
U.S. Soccer announced Monday, April 29, the end of its joint bid with the Mexican Football Federation to host the 2027 soccer tournament, despite being one of three finalists as FIFA’s decision is just weeks away.
Instead, the groups will focus their efforts to secure the 2031 Women’s World Cup, saying the two countries will take lessons learned as they prepare to host the 2026 Men’s World Cup along with Canada.
In addition, the U.S. will also host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
This now leaves two remaining bids for the 2027 Women’s World Cup — one from Brazil and a joint bid from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.
Columbia University protests lead to remote learning ahead of Passover
Anti-Israel protests escalated on Columbia University’s campus over the weekend of April 20. In response, Columbia President Minouche Shafik announced the campus would switch to remote learning on Monday, April 22, out of concerns for student safety.
Shafik sent a letter in the middle of the night to the student body, saying the school is “in need of a reset.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, D, also released a statement to condemn the escalation of antisemitic rhetoric, referencing specific videos and instances of protesters with signs that read “Al Qasam’s next targets” and protesters shouting “we are Hamas” and “long live Hamas.”
“I condemn this hate speech in the strongest of terms,” Adams said. “Supporting a terrorist organization that aims to kill Jews is sickening and despicable.”
The White House also released a statement this weekend in response to the growing unrest at Columbia University.
“While every American has the right to peaceful protest, calls for violence and physical intimidation targeting Jewish students and the Jewish community are blatantly antisemitic, unconscionable, and dangerous — they have absolutely no place on any college campus, or anywhere in the United States of America,” Andrew Bates, White House deputy press secretary, said.
Rabbi Elie Buechler at Columbia has also urged Jewish students to leave campus, telling them to go home as soon as possible.
The events of the past few days have made it clear that Columbia University’s Department of Public Safety and the New York Police Department cannot guarantee Jewish students’ safety in the face of extreme antisemitism and anarchy.
“It deeply pains me to say that I would strongly recommend you return home as soon as possible and remain home until the reality in and around campus has dramatically improved,” Buechler said. “It is not our job as Jews to ensure our own safety on campus.”
Shafik said tensions on campus have been amplified by people from the outside of the university coming to campus to pursue their own agendas.
Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine posted on X their frustrations with “inflammatory individuals who do not represent” the group and reject “any form of hate or bigotry.”
The pro-Palestine movement began on campus after the university president testified on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, April 17, condemning antisemitism on campus. The university has upped its security, bringing in more than 100 additional personnel following NYPD arresting over 100 protesters on campus last week.
Some Jewish students have expressed safety concerns ahead of the first night of Passover. The Jewish holiday begins the evening of April 22.
Dozens detained during pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University
More than 100 students were arrested Thursday, April 18, at Columbia University during a pro-Palestinian protest on the campus’ main lawn. The arrests occurred as New York City police, in riot gear, dismantled a makeshift tent city that had been set up by the protesters without school permission after a second day of protest.
“I have determined that the encampment and related disruptions pose a clear and present danger to the substantial functioning of the University,” Shafik wrote. “With great regret, we request the NYPD’s help to remove these individuals. We understand that the first step in this process will be for NYPD to use its Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRAD) technology to inform the participants in the encampment that they must disperse and give them time to leave prior to taking any additional action.”
Students were held in buses before being taken to the police precinct.
“New Yorkers have every right to express their sorrow, but that heartbreak does not give you the right to harass others, to spread hate,” Mayor Eric Adams, D, said.
In a statement to the Columbia community, Shafik announced the suspension of all students participating in the protest, expressing regret over their refusal to resolve the situation peacefully.
“This morning, I had to make a decision that I hoped would never be necessary,” Shafik wrote. “I have always said that the safety of our community was my top priority and that we needed to preserve an environment where everyone could learn in a supportive context.”
Barnard College suspended three students, including Isra Hirsi, the daughter of Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, D, for their involvement in the ongoing protest.
The protests started on Wednesday, April 17, while Shafik testified on Capitol Hill, where she was accused of failing to respond to antisemitism on campus.
Israel carries out strike against Iran in response to drone attack
Israel struck back in its first military response to Iran since last weekend’s attack. The 12-person jury is selected in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, April 19, 2024.
Israel carried out strike against Iran in response to drone attack
Israeli forces struck back against Iran early Friday, April 19, morning following last weekend’s drone and missile barrage toward Israel, but details remain sparse in the aftermath.
Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Get The Morning RundownTM newsletter straight to your inbox!
Iranian officials reported their anti-aircraft systems intercepted three small drones near an air base and nuclear site in the province of Isfahan, causing no reported damage. Iranian army commander Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi said the explosions heard in the area were related to air defense actions against suspicious objects.
The United Nation’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed no damage to Iran’s nuclear sites following the incident. Iran temporarily closed its airports after the attack but they have since reopened.
While Israel has not officially commented on the attacks, several officials from Israel, Iran and the U.S. have confirmed the strike to multiple news outlets, marking Israel’s first military response to Iran’s assault that involved 300 missiles and drones, with 99% intercepted.
The direct attack by Iran was reportedly in retaliation for a suspected Israeli airstrike on Iran’s embassy in Syria earlier in the month, which killed seven officials, including a top general.
For nearly a week, Israel indicated plans to retaliate for Iran’s actions despite advisement against it from the U.S. and its allies. An Israeli official told The Washington Post the attack was intended to demonstrate Israel’s capability to strike inside Iran.
An Iranian official told Reuters that Iran has no plans to respond to Israel’s attack.
Congresswoman’s daughter among dozens detained at pro-Palestinian protests
More than 100 students were arrested Thursday, April 18, at Columbia University during a pro-Palestinian protest on the campus’s main lawn. The arrests occurred as New York City police, in riot gear, dismantled a makeshift tent city that had been set up by the protesters without school permission.
In a statement to the Columbia community, Shafik announced the suspension of all students participating in the protest, expressing regret over their refusal to resolve the situation peacefully.
The protests started on Wednesday, April 17, while Shafik testified on Capitol Hill, where she was accused of failing to respond to antisemitism on campus.
Full jury seated in Trump’s hush money trial
The historic hush money criminal trial of former President Donald Trump has seated its full jury, with the judge stating, “We have our jury,” after the 12th juror was selected during day three of the trial in New York on Thursday, April 18.
One alternate was chosen, with five more still needed. The judge expressed hope that jury selection would conclude Friday, April 19.
The day began with the dismissal of two of the seven jurors selected earlier in the week. One juror was dismissed after expressing doubts about remaining impartial after being questioned by family and friends. The second juror was excused after concerns arose about the truthfulness of his answers regarding whether he or any family members had been accused of a crime.
The judge replaced the two and then selected five others to complete the jury, including a speech therapist, a former wealth manager, a physical therapist and a product development manager.
Opening statements are tentatively scheduled for Monday, Aril 22.
FBI: Chinese threat to U.S. infrastructure is bold, unrelenting
FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the immediate threats China poses to U.S. national and economic security, highlighting U.S. critical infrastructure as a primary target during his speech at the Vanderbilt Summit on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats on Thursday, April 18.
Wray detailed the Chinese Communist Party’s drive for power, which motivates their strategies including the theft of intellectual property and technologies crucial to future economies.
“I’m talking about everything from indiscriminate hacking to economic espionage, to transnational repression, to fentanyl and the precursor chemicals that are coming out of China and ending up in our communities,” Christopher Wray, director of the FBI, said. “What we’re facing today is the CCP throwing its whole government into undermining the security of the rule of law world.”
Nearly a year ago, Microsoft reported that the cyber group Volt Typhoon had been secretly accessing critical infrastructure organizations in the U.S. since mid-2021. Security researchers from Microsoft and Google have linked the Volt Typhoon group to China. The group targets sectors such as communications, utilities, transportation, and government to spy on and infiltrate those networks.
Earlier this week, a spokesperson from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Volt Typhoon is not affiliated with China’s government but is a criminal ransomware group.
Netflix adds 9.3 million subscribers, will no longer report quarterly tally
On the same day Netflix announced it had added more than 9 million subscribers in the first quarter of the year amid its crackdown on password sharing. The streaming giant said it would no longer report subscriber numbers each quarter.
The 9.3 million additional subscribers far surpassed estimates, bringing the global total to nearly 270 million subscribers — a record high.
The company also reported over $9 billion in revenue, a 15% increase from a year ago. Netflix said it is switching to announcing subscriber additions only when major milestones are reached.
Netflix told investors that the company’s success should be assessed based on its revenue and operating margins, adding that time spent using the service is the best way to gauge customer satisfaction.
Taylor Swift’s latest album breaks Spotify record before being released
One of the most anticipated albums of all time is now available, breaking records even before its release just hours ago. Spotify reported Taylor Swift’s 11th studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” broke its record for the most pre-saved album in the streaming service’s history.
Swift’s latest album dropped overnight, with the Grammy winner surprising fans by announcing this release is a double album, sharing 15 extra songs with fans at 2 a.m.
No numbers have been disclosed yet on the success of “The Tortured Poets” album.
Swift’s 2022 album “Midnights” spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard charts and earned the Grammy for album of the year.
The first seven jurors are selected in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial, and historic rain in the United Arab Emirates leads to major flooding at the Dubai airport and across the region. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, April 17, 2024.
First 7 jurors selected in Trump hush money trial
The second day of the first criminal trial against a former U.S. president saw seven jurors selected, with opening arguments expected soon. Former President Donald Trump observed the process in a Manhattan courtroom as the first seven jurors for his hush money trial were chosen after debate over prospective jurors’ social media postings and their ability to be fair and credible.
The selected jurors include a salesman originally from Ireland who will serve as the foreman, an oncology nurse, two attorneys, an IT consultant from Puerto Rico, an ELA teacher and a software engineer for Disney.
Another 96 prospective jurors were sworn in before proceedings ended Tuesday, April 17. They will return Thursday, April 18, with today being an off day for the trial. The judge indicated that the full jury might be seated by week’s end, with opening arguments potentially beginning Monday, April 22.
Senators swear in as jurors Wednesday, April 17, for the impeachment trial against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The Senate will issue a summons to Mayorkas, informing him of the charges and requesting a written response; he is not required to appear.
House Republicans have charged Mayorkas with failing to enforce immigration laws and betraying public trust. House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized the need for a full trial to hold those responsible for the border crisis accountable.
Mayorkas, DHS and Democrats have called the charges baseless. With Democrats controlling the Senate, they are expected to attempt to dismiss the charges this week before full arguments are presented.
Columbia University president to testify on antisemitism on campus
Four months after a congressional hearing on antisemitism on college campuses led to the resignation of two Ivy League presidents, the president of Columbia University, Minouche Shafik, is set to appear before that same committee Wednesday, April 17.
Shafik, who was scheduled to testify at the House Education and Workforce Committee’s December hearing but could not due to a scheduling conflict, will respond to questioning on the university’s response to rising campus conflicts since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
In an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal titled “What I Plan to Tell Congress Tomorrow,” Shafik wrote of balancing free speech with protecting students, stating that “calling for the genocide of a people — whether they are Israelis or Palestinians, Jews, Muslims or anyone else — has no place in a university community.”
Bob Graham, former U.S. senator and Florida governor, dead at 87
Bob Graham, a prominent figure in Florida politics and a former U.S. senator, has died at 87 in Gainesville. He served as Florida’s governor from 1979 to 1987 and was a U.S. senator until 2005, focusing on education, the environment and immigration.
Known for his practical political style and “work days,” where he performed jobs like a short-order cook and bellhop to connect with voters, Graham also made an unsuccessful bid for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, emphasizing his opposition to the Iraq war.
Heavy rain leads to ‘historic weather event’ in United Arab Emirates
Historic flooding in the United Arab Emirates has led to the closure of Dubai’s airport and schools canceling classes. The rain began late Monday, and by Tuesday night, Dubai had received more than 6 inches of rain in over 24 hours, far surpassing the city’s average annual rainfall of just over 3 inches.
At least one person was killed in the floodwaters. The state-run news agency described the rainfall as a “historic weather event” that surpassed “anything documented since the start of data collection in 1949.” The storm also affected other parts of the Middle East, causing at least 19 deaths in Oman.
Participant Media shutting down after 20 years
After 20 years, Participant Media is closing its doors, the company’s founder Jeff Skoll announced Tuesday. The decision affects around 100 employees. Since its inception in 2004, Participant Media has been dedicated to creating films and TV shows aimed at inspiring social change.
The studio was behind Oscar-winning projects like “Spotlight” and “Green Book,” as well as films such as “Lincoln” and “Wonder,” the documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” and the Netflix series “When They See Us.”
In total, Participant won 21 Academy Awards and 18 Emmy Awards during its 20-year run.