DHS says it just deported a charter plane full of Chinese immigrants
The Biden administration announced it deported a chartered plane full of Chinese nationals back to the People’s Republic of China. In a press release, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement “conducted its second charter removal flight to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) of Chinese nationals this year.”
The first removal of Chinese nationals was conducted in June this year in what DHS called “the first large charter removal flight since 2018.” In that same month, DHS said it was working with China to reduce irregular migration “and to disrupt illicit human smuggling through expanded law enforcement efforts.”
In 2023, U.S. border officials apprehended over 37,000 Chinese nationals at the southern border, a tenfold increase compared to the previous year, The Associated Press reported in July.
In fiscal year 2024, almost 56,000 Chinese migrants were encountered at U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico between ports of entry, the government reported.
“Intending migrants should not believe the lies of smugglers—Chinese nationals without a legal basis to remain in the United States are subject to swift removal,” Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.
DHS said it will continue to enforce U.S. immigration laws and pursue tough consequences for those who unlawfully enter the country.
It’s unclear how many Chinese nationals were on the chartered flight. In June, 116 Chinese nationals were removed from the country.
Why deportations are an ‘economic disaster’ and other immigration truths
There are likely more than 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. today without authorization. On the campaign trail, former President Donald Trump has promised to enact “mass deportations” to remove unauthorized immigrants. Trump said he would use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which has not been used since internment camps during World War II.
The American Immigration Council, an advocacy group in favor of expanding immigration, estimates that a single mass deportation operation would cost at least $315 billion, a “highly conservative estimate.” A longer-term operation would cost nearly $1 trillion over a decade.
“But actually, the direct costs of implementing the deportation aren’t even the worst,” said Zeke Hernandez, Wharton School professor and author of “The Truth About Immigration: Why Successful Societies Welcome Newcomers.” “Think of it this way: All of a sudden, businesses have about 11 to 12 million fewer consumers. Is that what we want? Businesses have 11 to 12 million fewer workers to fill critical jobs in key areas; areas that are essential for our economy, like construction.”
“It really would be an economic disaster,” Hernandez said. “And not only do we have to speculate about that, we actually have many historical precedents where we have done exactly that.”
All of a sudden, businesses have about 11 to 12 million fewer consumers. Is that what we want?
Zeke Hernandez, author, “The Truth About Immigration”
The last official count of 11 million unauthorized immigrants in 2022 included 4 million Mexicans; roughly 4 million more from the Caribbean and Central and South America; 1.7 million from Asia; and 1.3 million from Europe, Canada, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania. The Census numbers have not been updated to reflect ongoing migration at the U.S.-Mexico border since 2022.
Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt says a majority of Americans “want mass deportations of illegal immigrants and trust President Trump most on this issue.”
In a recent Gallup poll that has tracked Americans’ immigration preferences since 1965, 55% of respondents said they preferred immigration levels be decreased, compared to 16% who said they should be increased and 25% who said they should stay the same. It’s the highest amount of Americans reporting a desire to decrease immigration levels since the month following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Hernandez said the shifting attitude is understandable given the negative immigration rhetoric from politicians and the media.
It’s not just that you have a few bad apples coming in, it’s that our system for bringing in apples is completely screwed up.
Zeke Hernandez, author, “The Truth About Immigration
“One of the big surprises of the last year or so is that both the Right and the Left have now taken a fairly aggressive message about the border and about how the influx of immigrants is really doing us damage,” he told Straight Arrow News.
Hernandez cited Democratic mayors who used to be pro-immigration, now taking a stance on limiting immigration. Many of those mayors are facing budget constraints from an unexpected influx of migrants. While these arrivals cause short-term pain points, Hernandez argues that long-term economic benefits are around the corner.
“Immigrants contribute five big economic benefits to every country and community they arrive to,” he said. “And those would be, one, investment, two, innovation, three, talent, four, consumption, and five, taxes. And those are the inputs to any prosperous economy.”
That’s not to say America’s immigration system isn’t in need of a major overhaul.
“It’s not just that you have a few bad apples coming in, it’s that our system for bringing in apples is completely screwed up,” Hernandez said.
In an extended interview with SAN, Hernandez draws on 20 years of research to give fact-based explanations on the impacts of legal versus unauthorized immigration, skilled versus low-skilled migrants, immigration storylines of villain versus victim and why both are wrong, and the changes he would apply to the U.S. immigration system. You can watch the entire conversation in the video above.
FEMA experiencing severe staffing shortage ahead of Milton: Report
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is experiencing a severe staffing shortage as Hurricane Milton approaches Tampa. The New York Times reported only 9% of the agency’s staff are available to respond to natural disasters. Despite that, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the agency is ready.
“We have the personnel,” Secretary Mayorkas said on MSNBC Monday, Oct. 7. “FEMA likes to say it is FEMA flexible. We can respond to multiple events at a single time.”
Mayorkas said FEMA has 900 personnel positioned in Florida, including staff responding to Hurricane Helene, search-and-rescue teams and the Army Corps of Engineers.
The Times report stated 9%, or 1,217 personnel, is far lower than the 25% of staff that were prepared to deploy to an emergency at this point in the Hurricane season over the last five years.
The Times pointed out that even in 2017, when there was a trifecta of hurricanes — Harvey, Irma and Maria — FEMA still had a staffing reserve of 19%.
FEMA is currently responding to more than 100 disaster declarations including tornadoes in Kansas, the watch fire in Arizona, flooding and landslides in Vermont, and historic flooding in North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
Florida is now preparing for its second major hurricane in three weeks, and many of the areas that are already under a major disaster declaration are now under evacuation orders.
US investigates Chinese hackers’ breach of major telecom providers
Chinese hackers breached major U.S. telecommunications providers, including Verizon, AT&T and Lumen, in what U.S. officials believe to be a wide-reaching espionage operation. The hackers, linked to China’s Ministry of State Security, may have accessed sensitive information related to U.S. surveillance and federal wiretap requests, raising significant national security concerns.
The FBI, along with U.S. intelligence agencies and the Department of Homeland Security, launched an investigation into the breach, which officials said could have broader implications beyond federal wiretaps.
The hackers reportedly exploited vulnerabilities in the telecommunications networks, including reconfiguring Cisco routers, to gain undetected access and extract sensitive data, according to officials familiar with the matter.
The operation, referred to internally as “Salt Typhoon,” shared similarities with previous Chinese cyber campaigns, such as the 2010 “Operation Aurora” that targeted U.S. companies, but it is distinct from the more recent “Volt Typhoon” operation, which infiltrated critical U.S. infrastructure.
In the Volt Typhoon breaches, hackers gained access to energy, water and transportation systems, potentially preparing for disruptive attacks in the event of a future U.S.-China conflict.
U.S. officials have not yet determined the full extent of the breach or the specific data obtained by the hackers. However, early reports suggested it may have included information regarding lawful intercept systems used in criminal and national security investigations.
The U.S. government previously responded to similar incidents by taking control of compromised routers and devices used by Chinese state-backed hackers to spy on U.S. organizations.
Despite shared global interests in cybersecurity, officials expressed frustration over China’s refusal to cooperate in addressing these ongoing cyber threats. U.S. officials have raised concerns about Beijing’s commitment to global cybersecurity collaboration.
China’s embassy in Washington dismissed the allegations, accusing the U.S. of spreading disinformation to secure government contracts and funding for intelligence agencies.
“In fact, China is one of the main victims of cyberattacks,” a Chinese embassy spokesperson said in a statement.
The spokesperson also claimed the U.S. was fabricating evidence against Beijing.
The breach is the latest in a series of cyber espionage campaigns attributed to China. In addition to infiltrating U.S. telecommunications and critical infrastructure, Chinese hackers have also conducted disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining confidence in Western institutions.
As investigations continue, U.S. officials are working to assess the scope of the damage and any potential impact on national security.
Biden won’t extend legal status for Venezuelan immigrants
The Biden administration will not extend the temporary legal status for Venezuelan citizens who were allowed to enter the United States if they had a financial supporter, according to a CBS News report. The Venezuela parole program began in October 2022 and was expanded in January 2023 to include Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua. As of August, 530,000 individuals were allowed into the country through the program, including 117,000 Venezuelans.
President Biden started the program hoping it would reduce illegal immigration. It required an application, vetting, and proof of finances from the sponsor. Additionally, the immigrant ultimately had to buy their own commercial plane ticket to get into the country. Those approved were allowed to live and work here for two years.
Department of Homeland Security officials told CBS News they will not extend the status for those who are here, so Venezuelans who arrived when the program first started will soon see their legal status expire. They will receive notices instructing them to apply for another form of legal status or leave the country.
Parolees from Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua didn’t join the program until January 2023, so they have three more months until their legal status expires. The government has not made a decision as to whether it will be extended.
It’s unclear what will happen to Venezuelans who are unable to obtain another form of legal status. Venezuela currently rejects deportees from the United States, so it may be difficult for the federal government to remove them from the country. They will all lose their right to work legally.
DHS says biggest Election Day threat comes from domestic extremists
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is warning of potential Election Day violence targeting poll workers, government officials and voters. The assessment from the department on Wednesday, Oct. 2, said that the biggest threat comes from lone domestic extremists.
The agency believes that criminals may be driven to violence by racism, bigotry, anti-government rhetoric, conspiracy theories, the Israel-Hamas war and the 2024 presidential election itself.
The report notes that domestic violent extremists “driven by various anti-government, racial, or gender-related motivations” are responsible for at least four attacks in the United States, which led to one death between September of 2023 through July of 2024.
The report also said that two “homegrown violent extremist” attacks, partially motivated by Israel’s war against Hamas, also took place.
U.S. authorities have reportedly foiled at least 10 additional “domestic violent extremist” and “homegrown violent extremist” plots. In recent months, threats of violence against election officials have also seen an uptick.
DHS officials said they are aware of the approaching one-year anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, which they say may add “more fuel to an already challenging and heightened threat environment.”
The department said it is in communication with state and local law enforcement to enhance security on and before Election Day.
Outside forces are also reportedly a threat. DHS asserts foreign terrorist organizations may inspire attacks on the U.S. Additionally, Iran is also on the agency’s radar after officials said that it threatened former President Donald Trump’s life.
New details in special counsel’s 2020 election case against Trump
We’re getting our most in-depth look so far at Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into former President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election. And there’s new skin in the game in the battle over who actually caught Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024.
New details in special counsel’s 2020 election case against Trump
The new filing, revealed Wednesday, Oct. 2, also claims Trump was “fundamentally” acting as a private candidate and not the President of the United States when he sought to overturn his loss.
The latest court filing comes in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling this past summer that said Trump had immunity for official actions taken while still in office. The filing also alleges the former president knew his claims about the 2020 election being stolen were lies, but he spread them anyways as a ploy to stay in power.
It also includes evidence of Trump’s phone usage during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021 — when, it claims, the former president was scrolling Twitter. The filing also claims Trump pressured then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject Electoral College votes.
“This was a weaponization of government and that’s why it was released 30 days before the election,” he said. “And it’s nothing new in there, by the way, nothing new. They rigged the election. I didn’t rig the election. They rigged the election.”
The new filing was unsealed just 33 days before the election coming up on Nov. 5.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to four criminal charges, accusing him of a conspiracy to obstruct the congressional certification of the election, attempting to defraud the U.S. out of accurate results and interfering with Americans’ voting rights.
At least 6 killed in Israeli strike on central Beirut
It comes after Israeli forces suffered their deadliest day on the Lebanese front since clashes with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah started almost a year ago. At least seven Israeli soldiers died in Israel’s recent offensive.
Lebanese health officials say in addition to those killed, at least seven more people were wounded in what Israel says was a precise strike on Lebanon’s capitol, which happened not far from the Lebanese prime minister’s office.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army says it downed at least two drones and more than two dozen rockets fired from Lebanon Thursday.
FEMA warns of funding shortages for Hurricane Helene relief efforts
The death toll from Hurricane Helene has risen to at least 191 across six states, making it the second-deadliest U.S. Hurricane in the past 50 years, behind Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The storm hit Florida last week before sweeping through the southeast, causing widespread flooding and devastation, especially in North Carolina, where at least 95 people have died.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing critical supplies like meals, water, and generators, but Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has warned FEMA lacks sufficient funding to sustain relief efforts throughout the entire hurricane season. He stressed the need for additional funding, noting FEMA is meeting immediate needs but might not have the resources to continue if another storm hits.
Hurricane season runs from June through November, with most storms occurring in September and October.
Congress recently replenished $20 billion for FEMA’s disaster relief fund, but lawmakers may need to reconvene before the election to approve more money if necessary.
Since Helene hit, more than 150,000 households have registered for FEMA assistance and that number is expected to grow as damage assessments continue.
Prosecutors ask for indefinite delay in would-be Trump assassin’s trial
Federal prosecutors have asked for an indefinite delay in scheduling the trial for the man charged in an apparent assassination attempt on former President Trump. They say they’ve collected a “massive” amount of evidence since the Secret Service, with the help of local police in Florida, arrested Ryan Routh last month after authorities say an agent spotted him with a gun outside the Mar-a-Lago golf course where the former president was playing.
Prosecutors have asked the judge in the case to officially designate the case as “complex,” saying they’ve interviewed hundreds of witnesses across various states and have thousands of videos to review from electronic devices they’ve seized. They also say more than 100 outstanding subpoena returns are still pending.
According to the filing, Routh’s defense attorneys did not oppose the prosecutors’ request to delay the trial date. Routh’s lawyers have entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, on the attempted assassination charges.
ATF says broken power line caused deadly Maui wildfire
We now know what caused the massive and deadly wildfire in Maui, Hawaii that claimed 102 lives and caused more than $5 billion in damage. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives has classified the fire as accidental, saying it started when a re-energized broken power line sparked, igniting the fire in an unmaintained vegetation area.
ATF also ruled out the possibility there had been two separate fires saying definitively, “This, in fact, was one fire.”
More than 100 people died and flames destroyed much of the historic city of Lahaina. The fire also sparked other investigations centered on police response and the response from state and Maui county agencies.
Second fan files lawsuit over Ohtani’s historic home run ball
The battle over Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball has intensified. A second fan filed a lawsuit claiming ownership of the valuable souvenir.
The ball, hit during Ohtani’s historic Sept. 19 game for the L.A. Dodgers against the Miami Marlins, has reached about $1.5 million in auction bids.
Joseph Davidov, who filed the latest lawsuit in Florida, claims he had possession of the ball before another fan jumped on him, causing it to roll into the hands of Chris Belanski, who later auctioned it. Davidov is seeking more than $50,000 in damages.
This follows 18-year-old Max Matus’ earlier lawsuit, alleging Belanski forcibly took the ball from him during a scramble in the stands. Both fans are pursuing rightful ownership of the ball, which celebrates Ohtani’s achievement as the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.
The ongoing legal disputes have delayed the auction, with a court hearing scheduled for Oct. 10. The ball’s rising value has garnered widespread attention, rivaling the $1.5 million sale of Aaron Judge’s American League record-breaking 62nd home run ball in 2022.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs accused of witness tampering, intimidation; bail denied
A U.S. district judge upheld a decision on Wednesday, Sept. 18, to deny hip-hop superstar Sean “Diddy” Combs bail after accusations of witness tampering. Combs’ legal team claimed that the rapper could post a $50 million bond, but Judge Robyn Tarnofsky denied the request on Tuesday, Sept. 17. She said, even if bond were posted, she couldn’t “reasonably assure his return to court or the safety of the community, or a lack of witness tampering.”
Authorities believe that Combs tried to silence people who might speak out against him. U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter Jr. upheld the decision to deny bail after an appeal from Combs’ legal team.
Prosecutors said since being sued in November by his ex-girlfriend, who accused him of years of physical and sexual abuse, Combs has tried to get in touch with her and other witnesses who have received grand jury subpoenas, as well as a person he allegedly harmed. He reportedly called or texted one of the potential witnesses 58 times over a period of four days.
Prosecutors argue that Combs’ power and influence give him the ability to “intimidate” witnesses and victims. Prosecutors said that witnesses they interviewed expressed a fear of Combs.
Combs’ defense contends that he did not know he was under a criminal investigation when he contacted the witnesses and victims, and do not see it as an “obstruction of justice,” adding, that he is not a threat to flee and has “earned” the court’s trust.
Combs is indicted on accusations that he ran a “criminal enterprise” through his businesses, which involved sex trafficking, kidnapping, arson and forced labor. The indictment alleges Combs “abused, threatened and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires.”
Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Senate may subpoena DHS for ‘stonewalling’ Trump assassination probe
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said he’s “ready, willing and able” to subpoena the Department of Homeland Security if it fails to provide more information about the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Blumenthal is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Investigations which has been looking into the first attempt on Trump’s life in Pennsylvania.
“I think it’s tantamount to stonewalling in many respects,” Blumenthal said. “The Department of Homeland Security has to be more forthcoming, not only to me, but to the American people. And it has to do it quickly or it will fuel the conspiracy theories that are so dangerous to our democracy as well as undermining its own credibility.”
Blumenthal wants the information from DHS because it oversees the Secret Service. The senator said the agency is failing to provide documents, witnesses and other evidence.
“We have told them repeatedly about our frustration. I’m deeply dissatisfied and disappointed,” Blumenthal said. “I am reaching the point of total outrage.”
Blumenthal previously said a report summarizing the findings of Congress will be issued very soon. He believes Americans will be shocked and appalled by the lapses and failures in Pennsylvania.
The acting director of the Secret Service recently told Congress the budget is strained and they need more personnel. Meanwhile, President Biden said the Secret Service needs more help and former President Trump said they need more people on his detail.
Lawmakers are considering extra funding for the agency as they work to avoid a government shutdown. But many lawmakers think the agency is doing a poor job of using the resources it already has.
“We need answers more than the Secret Service needs money,” Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said.
“Are they too overworked? Do they have too many things to deal with given the workforce they have? Should they have more agents? The answer is yes,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said.
“The Secret Service has a management issue in the use of its money and manpower. Until it does better in accountability and management, it will continue to be short on resources,” Blumenthal said.
Congress gave the Secret Service $3.1 billion for the current fiscal year. Senate leadership said if the service requests more for next year, they will provide it.
Suspect in Trump apparent assassination attempt went undetected for 12 hours
New details emerge on the suspect in the second apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump, including how long he went undetected near the former president’s golf club. And Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been arrested on federal charges. We have the latest on what’s ahead for the hip hop mogul. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024.
Suspect in apparent assassination attempt went undetected for 12 hours
Authorities said the suspect in this past weekend’s apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump went undetected near Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida for 12 hours before being noticed by a Secret Service agent. The suspect was caught pointing a rifle through the bushes.
The agent fired at the suspect, 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, who fled the scene only to be taken into custody a short time later. A local sheriff’s office released body camera video showing his arrest.
Routh was charged Monday, Sept. 16, with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He did not enter a plea during an appearance in a federal courtroom.
In a Monday afternoon press conference, Secret Service Acting Director Ron Rowe, Jr. said Routh did not fire any shots at the agent and never had Trump in his line of sight.
Rowe and the FBI agent in charge, Jeffrey Veltri, said so far, there is no evidence showing the suspect knew Trump would be golfing that day. Veltri went into detail about the suspect’s criminal past.
“In 2002, as the United States attorney mentioned, the subject was charged and convicted in North Carolina for possession of a weapon of mass destruction,” Veltri said. “Law enforcement checks also revealed that from 1997 to 2010, the subject had numerous felony charges for stolen goods. I can also share with you that he was the subject of a previously closed 2019 tip to the FBI where it was alleged he was a felon in possession of a firearm.”
Veltri said the FBI passed along that information to authorities in Hawaii, where Routh lived. Rowe told reporters Trump’s plans to play golf on Sunday were “off-the-record” – meaning it was not part of the former president’s official schedule.
As new questions emerge about the Secret Service’s effectiveness following the second assassination attempt in just over two months, Rowe defended his agents, saying they were “rising for this moment.”
“Yesterday afternoon, this country was reminded of the heightened and dynamic threat environment that the United States Secret Service and its protectees face on a daily basis,” Rowe said. “Immediately following the assassination attempt of former President Donald J. Trump on July 13th, the Secret Service moved to increase assets to an already enhanced security posture for the former president.”
Rowe said the “highest levels of protection” were in place for the former president – as directed by President Joe Biden – including “counter-sniper team elements.”
Speaking to reporters on his way to an event in Philadelphia Monday, Biden said the Secret Service “needs more help.” A White House official said President Biden spoke to Trump on the phone Monday, conveying his relief that the former president was safe.
During an appearance on the social media site X Monday night, Trump spoke about hearing the gunshots fired by the Secret Service. He said the agent did a “fantastic job” and joked that he “would have liked to have sank that last putt.”
Routh’s next court appearance is set for Sept. 23 for a pre-detention hearing. His arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 30. Routh remains in custody as authorities continue their investigation.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs arrested on federal charges in New York
Hip hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was arrested on federal charges on Monday night. Sources close to the matter tell media outlets Diddy was not expecting the arrest.
Homeland Security took him into custody at the Park Hyatt Hotel on 57th Street in Manhattan.
It’s not yet clear what federal charges he’s facing. The indictment is expected to be unsealed Tuesday, Sept. 17, at his arraignment.
Combs is facing multiple sexual assault lawsuits and has been the subject of a federal human trafficking probe in the last year, which is why Homeland Security is involved. His lawyers said he has been cooperating with investigators.
Former lead engineer felt pressure to get ‘Titan’ ready
Tuesday is day two of the Coast Guard’s hearing into the Titan submersible implosion that killed all five people on board.
Monday, we learned one of the last messages sent from the doomed vessel, indicated there were no concerns. It read “all good here.” That text message was shown during a recreation of the submersible’s trip to the Titanic wreckage at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean in June 2023.
It came not long before the watercraft imploded, leaving all five people on board dead, including Stockton Rush — the co-founder of OceanGate, the company that owned the Titan.
The lead engineer for the vessel testified at Monday’s hearing saying he felt pressured by Rush to get it ready for the trip.
Former OceanGate Engineering Director Tony Nissen testified he stopped the submersible from going to the Titanic in 2019, telling Rush it was “not working like we thought it would.” Nissen was fired that year.
OceanGate’s co-founder, former operations director, and former scientific director are also supposed to testify in the hearing, which is expected to last about two weeks.
Meta bans Russian state media over ‘foreign interference activity’
Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta has banned Russian state media broadcaster RT, along with several other Kremlin-controlled outlets. Meta accuses them of using deceptive tactics to covertly influence operations online.
Before it was banned on Monday, RT had 7.2 followers on Facebook and one million on Instagram.
Meta’s move comes days after the Justice Department announced charges against two RT employees for funneling nearly $10 million into a U.S. company to create and promote content aligning with Russian interests.
Amazon ending remote work starting next year
Almost five years after the COVID-19 pandemic swept and ravaged the nation, as well as the world, and led to many people working from their homes, Amazon is ending remote work. Starting next year, corporate employees will be required to be back in the office five days a week.
This is the latest update to Amazon’s rules regarding remote work. Last year, the company changed its policy to mandate employees come back to the office at least three days a week.
Amazon has supposedly been marred by an inability to get things done with lots of meetings and layers of approval. CEO Andy Jassy called out that culture in a note to workers saying there are “pre-meetings for the pre-meetings for the decision meetings, a longer line of managers feeling like they need to review a topic before it moves forward.”
Jordan Chiles files appeal after being stripped of bronze medal
Chiles’ first individual Olympic medal was rescinded after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that her coach filed an inquiry during the floor exercises, which propelled Chiles to third place. But it was a few seconds too late.
Chiles has now appealed her case to the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland.
The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee supports Chiles and said they are determined to see she gets the recognition she deserves.