China retaliates at US chip restrictions by banning shipment of key materials
The global chip war is ramping up with China banning exports of key materials to the United States. The move comes in response to the Biden administration tightening the country’s access to American technology.
China’s Ministry of Commerce announced Tuesday, Dec. 3, that it will stop shipping rare minerals and metals used to make military components, semiconductors, batteries, electronics and solar panels. That includes gallium, germanium, antimony and graphite.
The Biden administration expanded its technology curbs to China on Monday, Dec. 2, prohibiting the sale of certain types of chips and machinery, and adding more than 100 companies to a restricted-trade list.
This is the third move by President Joe Biden in the past three years to prevent China from acquiring and making advanced computer chips, citing national security threats to the U.S.
The chips are used for powering artificial intelligence and supercomputers that can be used to launch cyber attacks and design new weapons.
“Such practices seriously undermine the international economic and trade order, disrupt the stability of global production and the supply chain, and harms the interests of all countries,” a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Chinese industry groups are now calling for Chinese companies to purchase chips within China or from countries other than the United States, saying American chip products are no longer safe and reliable.
The groups did not go into detail on the issues with U.S. chips.
This all comes ahead of President-elect Donald Trump taking office next month. He has indicated he would continue to pressure China’s tech industry by hiking tariffs on Chinese goods.
Georgia’s violent protests continue for 5th day as president pleads for help
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili pleaded with Western powers on Monday, Dec. 2, to back what she called “a national movement” in support of the country becoming a member of the European Union (EU). The protests come after a tense parliamentary election.
Zourabichvili’s plea came shortly before protesters and police reignited clashes on Monday that have raged for five days straight since Georgia’s lawmakers decided to suspend talks to join the European Union last week, and questions over October’s parliamentary election results remain.
The EU has expressed concerns over giving Georgia membership status, citing the country’s recent adoption of pro-Russian authoritarian laws such as restrictions on “foreign agents.” The body also passed a resolution criticizing the results of the Georgian elections and called for new elections to be held.
Zourabichvili told Reuters that Western allies need to send a “very clear message” that they view the election results as illegitimate. The Georgian president accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of using Russian tactics to suppress freedom of speech, and of rigging the elections in October.
Zourabichvili’s time as president is set to end in January. However, she has vowed to stay in office until a “legitimate Parliament” can choose a new president.
Meanwhile, Russia denies interfering in Georgia, and Georgia’s ruling party contends that the results of the elections were legitimate.
However, thousands of Georgians apparently do not see it the same way as they once again assembled outside Parliament on Monday night with police firing water cannons and protesters throwing fireworks.
Dozens of people have reportedly been injured during the civil unrest and hundreds of protesters have been arrested.
The U.S. State Department has condemned what it says is excessive force on behalf of Georgian authorities against activists, and European diplomats have reportedly stepped down in protest over the allegedly violent crackdown by police and the Georgian government.
Bible sales surge, driven by first-time buyers and new versions
Bible sales are seeing a resurgence in the United States, a move publishers attribute to people questioning the future and reaching for the Book of God for answers. The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association said it has seen a dramatic increase in first-time readers.
According to newly released data from Circana Bookscan, Bible sales were up 22% through the end of October in comparison to the same time last year.
More specifically, The Wall Street Journal said in 2023, more than 14 million were sold. In the first 10 months of this year, 13.7 million copies have already sold.
In contrast, overall print book sales remain almost motionless with an increase of less than 1% this past year.
The issue is also drawing more attention online with social media influencers posting their own spiritual journeys and finding religion, while using their platforms to document the comfort they’ve found when turning to scriptures or biblical passages.
Back in March, President-elect Donald Trump also endorsed the $59.99 “God Bless the USA Bible,” however, those sales were not included in Circana Bookscan’s data.
According to The Wall Street Journal, publishers are trying to appeal to every type of interest when it comes to studying the Bible. They’ve released both digital and print formats for first-time readers.
These new editions of the Bible rely on visual components like maps, charts and biographies of biblical characters to connect with readers and keep them engaged in the content.
Another focus publishers are honing in on is the diversity of interest through demographics. National publisher Tyndale Housing is targeting college students as they see a rise in engagement from Gen Z. They said younger generations are seeking a stronger sense of stability and guidance in the world around them.
The growing demand for Bibles is in stark contrast to the Pew Research Center’s data that shows America is growing more secular with 28% of adults stating they don’t affiliate with a religion. Many describe themselves as agnostic, atheist or “nothing in particular.”
China warns it will take action if US implements new chip control measures
China is putting out a warning that it plans to take action if the United States enforces new chip control measures. This comes after reports said the Biden administration could come out with new export procedures by the end of the week.
Reuters reported the U.S. Chamber of Commerce told its members the plan includes adding as many as 200 Chinese chip companies to a trade blacklist which would prevent most U.S. suppliers from shipping to them.
China’s Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yadong said China strongly opposes what he claims is the U.S. broadening the concept of national security and the “abuse” of control measures targeting Chinese companies.
The U.S. tightened controls on semiconductors over fears that China could use the technology to strengthen its military.
“These actions severely disrupt international economic and trade order, destabilize global industry security and harm the cooperative efforts between China and the U.S.,” Yadong said.
It’s not clear what actions China would take, but Yadong said the country would do what it needed to protect the rights of Chinese companies.
The reported changes are a reversal after the Biden administration signed a bipartisan bill in 2022 providing incentives for chipmakers to set up manufacturing in the U.S., committing $53 billion to boost U.S. competitiveness with China.
The chips are an important component for several products including electronics, vehicles, medical devices and defense systems.
There are also concerns the revitalization of the semiconductor industry will be impacted when President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January 2025.
“That chip deal is so bad,” Trump said on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast in October. “We put billions of dollars for rich companies to come in and borrow the money and build chip companies here.”
Trump said he plans to put up to 60% tariffs on goods from China and a tax of at least 10% on all other imports.
Mexico’s president refutes Trump’s claim she promised to close the border
President-elect Donald Trump said Mexico has agreed to stem the tide of migrants flowing into the United States, but Mexico’s president is now saying that’s not quite accurate. And Amazon workers are using Black Friday to make a statement about their labor situation. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.
Mexico’s president refutes Trump’s claim she promised to close the border
As President-elect Donald Trump gets ready to return to office, he’s already making moves to follow through on some of his biggest campaign promises. After announcing this week his plans to impose tariffs on goods from China, Canada and Mexico, he turned his attention to another hot-button issue: immigration.
It’s a bit of a case of “he said, she said” after Trump had a call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday, Nov. 27. President-elect Trump posted on his Truth Social platform after the call saying Sheinbaum agreed to stop migration into the U.S. through Mexico, “effectively closing our southern border.”
Sheinbaum appeared to contradict Trump in a post of her own on X, saying in part, “Mexico’s position is not to close borders…”
She did, however, lay out Mexico’s “comprehensive strategy” for addressing the migration issue. In a separate post on X, Sheinbaum said during the call, she told President-elect Trump, “No caravans are arriving at the border because they are being attended to in Mexico.”
En nuestra conversación con el presidente Trump, le expuse la estrategia integral que ha seguido México para atender el fenómeno migratorio, respetando los derechos humanos. Gracias a ello se atiende a las personas migrantes y a las caravanas previo a que lleguen a la frontera.…
The two leaders also talked about how they’re addressing the U.S. fentanyl crisis.
The call was scheduled after Trump unveiled plans to slap 25% tariffs on all imports from Mexico to the U.S. as part of the effort to stem the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. through Mexico.
Not only would that impact the prices of avocados and agave — both very popular in the U.S. — Mexico’s economy secretary said Wednesday 88% of all North American pickup trucks come from Mexico. Sheinbaum then suggested Mexico could retaliate with tariffs of its own.
“I hope he rethinks it,” Biden said. “I think it’s a counterproductive thing to do. You know, one of the things you’ve heard me say before is that we are – we have an unusual situation in America. We’re surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and two allies: Mexico and Canada. The last thing we need to do is begin to screw up those relationships.”
Economists forecast Trump’s planned tariffs would increase prices for American shoppers, costing the average U.S. household about $2,600 per year, according to an estimate from the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Israel and Hezbollah both claim ceasefire violations
Barely three days into a 60-day ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, both sides are claiming violations.
Yesterday, Hezbollah had a precision-guided missile manufacturing site—today, they don’t.
Hezbollah’s largest precision-guided missiles manufacturing site, 1.4km wide and 70m underground, was struck and dismantled by IAF fighter jets yesterday.
Lebanese authorities also said two people, who were trying to return to southern Lebanon, were shot and wounded by Israeli forces. Lebanon’s health ministry said they were civilians, but the IDF claimed they were suspected of violating terms of the truce.
The agreement, brokered by the United States and France, includes an initial two-month ceasefire during which Hezbollah militants will withdraw north of the Litani River and Israeli forces are to return to their side of the border.
Thousands of Amazon workers to strike from Black Friday to Cyber Monday
Amazon workers in more than 20 countries, including the U.S., are on strike on some of the busiest pre-Christmas shopping days across the world. It started on Black Friday, Nov. 29, a day for bargain hunters to score some of the biggest discounts from stores across the country as holiday shopping kicks into high gear.
Organizers told the United Nations the so-called “days of resistance” are to hold Amazon accountable for alleged labor abuses, as well as “environmental degradation and threats to democracy.” According to ABC News, the strike could delay holiday deliveries.
The organizers said this is their fifth year of labor action against Amazon during the beginning of the holiday shopping season.
In a statement, Amazon said the group that organized the strikes is being “intentionally misleading” and promoting a “false narrative.” Management said the company offers great pay and benefits.
Canada sues Google over control of online ads
Canada’s antitrust watchdog said it is suing Google over alleged anti-competitive conduct in the company’s online advertising business. They’re calling for Google to sell off two of its ad tech services and pay a penalty.
The Competition Bureau said it’s necessary because an investigation into Google found the company “unlawfully” tied together its ad tech tools to maintain its dominant market position. Google insists the online advertising market is a highly competitive sector and is fighting the allegations.
This comes just a week after the U.S. Department of Justice asked a federal judge to force Google to sell its Chrome web browser, saying it continues to crush the competition through its dominant search engine.
America facing a live Christmas tree shortage again
As millions of Americans get ready to begin their search for the perfect Christmas tree, growers are having historic challenges getting them to sale lots, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The day after Thanksgiving is usually the biggest day for live tree sales, but since Thanksgiving came so late this year, it’s a very short selling season. On top of that, a nationwide shortage is expected thanks to severe weather across the country this year, such as a northeastern drought and North Carolina floods caused by Hurricane Helene. North Carolina is the second-biggest supplier of Christmas trees in the country.
Shoppers bought roughly 21.6 million real Christmas trees in the U.S. last year, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. The Department of Agriculture said the number of trees harvested in the U.S. has declined 30% since 2002, while the American population has grown 16% over the same period.
Alaska native air drops Thanksgiving turkeys to families in remote areas
In the most remote parts of Alaska a Thanksgiving turkey is hard to come by. So, one woman made sure families in roadless parts of the state had their holiday feast.
Pilot Esther Keim calls it “Alaska Turkey Bomb.” She flies in a small plane to off-the-grid homes and air drops frozen turkeys for families to enjoy for Thanksgiving.
Keim said it’s a tribute to a family friend who did the same thing for her family when she was growing up.
She started the tradition in 2022 after somebody that she knew told her they did not have much of a holiday dinner — and no turkey at all. Since then, she has delivered 30 to 40 turkeys every year to families living in remote areas of Alaska.
3 Americans imprisoned in China for years are now free after agreement
Three Americans imprisoned in China for years have been released and are coming home to the United States. The White House announced on Wednesday, Nov. 27, the agreement between Washington, D.C., and Beijing in the final weeks of President Joe Biden’s presidency.
The exchange is reportedly part of a prisoner swap with the U.S. releasing unidentified Chinese nationals, although the White House would not confirm those details.
The United States says the freed Americans were wrongfully detained and one had been facing a death sentence on drug charges. The other two U.S. citizens were imprisoned for alleged espionage and one faced a life sentence.
The U.S. said the White House had brought up the release of the three Americans over the past several years, including earlier this month when Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Cooperation Summit in Peru.
The release of the three Americans comes just months after Beijing released a pastor from California who spent nearly two decades in prison after being convicted of contract fraud.
US pushing Ukraine to draft younger troops, increase manpower: Report
The White House is pushing Ukraine to swiftly build up its troop numbers by changing conscription laws to include soldiers as young as 18 years old down from its current age requirement of 25 years old. The revelations shared by an anonymous senior Biden administration official who told The Associated Press on Wednesday, Nov. 27, the United States believes that Ukraine desperately needs more troops more than it needs more weaponry to fight off Russian forces. The official said that it’s just “pure math.”
The Biden administration has already dedicated nearly $60 billion in security aid to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s invasion in 2022 and reportedly expects to send billions more before President Joe Biden leaves office in late January 2025.
The United States reportedly argues that Ukraine has the weapons and must now ramp up its manpower.
The White House official said Ukraine estimates it will need around 160,000 more troops but the White House believes that the country will need more than that number.
European allies have also expressed concerns that Ukraine lacks manpower and say soon Ukraine will no longer be able to continue to maintain control of the Kursk Region.
Ukraine has previously expanded the draft pool by lowering the age of draft-eligible men from 25 years old to 27 years old.
Some Ukrainians are reportedly worried that lowering the minimum age of conscription could deplete the already war-ravaged workforce of the country.
Ukraine reportedly has more than a million soldiers currently enlisted in the military.
US requests for abortion pill access surge at Canadian nonprofit
A Canadian nonprofit that helps women get the abortion pill in countries with restrictions said it has seen a major surge in requests from the United States following the presidential election. Women on Web said it had 35 requests per day coming from the United States before the election. In the days after, it received four times the amount, totaling 145 per day.
The group’s executive director said most of the inquiries came from women who were not pregnant, but wanted the drug in case abortions are harder to access in the U.S. after President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
While Women on Web does not provide direct access to the pill, it connects women to doctors and pharmacies that can prescribe and give the drug.
Providing abortion pills before someone is pregnant is a practice called advance provision, which reduces delays in getting the medication in places where women face barriers.
Obstetrics and gynecology doctor Daniel Grossman told The Canadian Press it’s a very common FDA-approved practice but emphasized patients need to get follow-up medical care within 14 days of taking the pill.
Shield laws can legally protect providers who mail pills to states where they are banned. However, according to legal analysts, the cases can still be challenged in court.
Anti-abortion group Students for Life Action recently urged Trump to outlaw telehealth for abortion pills when he takes office, and endorsed Project 2025, a far-right think-tank policy paper that proposes reversing the FDA’s approval of the abortion pill and criminalizing mailing the drug.
Trump has said he plans to veto a federal abortion ban, adding the issue should be left to the states.
US fugitive on the run for more than 2 decades arrested in Wales
A U.S. fugitive on the FBI’s “Most Wanted Terrorist” list has been caught in the United Kingdom after more than two decades on the run. Authorities in Wales reportedly arrested Daniel Andreas San Diego on Monday, Nov. 25, in an operation involving Britain’s national intelligence agencies and the FBI.
San Diego, who is considered a domestic terrorist by the FBI, now awaits extradition to the United States. He was federally indicted in 2004 on two counts of destroying or attempting to destroy property with explosives and two counts of using a destructive device in a crime of violence.
The FBI accuses San Diego of openly promoting violence in the name of animal rights. The charges San Diego faces are in connection with a bomb blast at biotechnology company Chiron Inc. near Oakland, California, in 2003.
Investigators found a second bomb that they deactivated and believed was to target first responders. Law enforcement also accuses San Diego of planting a third bomb at another California business a month later.
No one was injured in any of the incidents.
The group Revolutionary Cells claimed responsibility for the attacks on a pro-animal rights website, saying that it targeted the companies because of alleged connections to Huntingdon Life Sciences, which has been condemned by animal rights activists over its use of animal testing.
Huntingdon Life Science was part of a merger in 2015 to form what is now Inotiv.
FBI Director Christopher Wray praised the arrest on Tuesday, Nov. 26, vowing that “No matter how long it takes, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable.”
Cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah holding so far
The cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah marks a step toward peace in the Middle East, but what happens now in Gaza where Israel is still at war with Hamas? And rain or shine — but not wind — revelers get ready to celebrate in New York City at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024.
Cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah holding so far
A cease-fire deal between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon is holding, so far.
President Joe Biden announced the deal — which the United States and France helped broker — on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Israel and Hezbollah have agreed on an initial 60-day cease-fire, which sets the stage for a lasting truce.
Already, long-displaced residents of parts of Lebanon have started returning to their homes, hopeful the tenuous agreement will be extended beyond two months. That’s despite the Israeli military warning people to stay away from previously evacuated areas.
Israel has said if Hezbollah breaks the cease-fire agreement, it will attack.
Following the directive of the political echelon, the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon took effect at 04:00 today, and the IDF has been operating accordingly. IDF troops are stationed at their positions in southern Lebanon.
Over the past hour, the IDF identified a vehicle with…
During the 60-day truce, Hezbollah fighters are to retreat at least 25 miles from the border with Israel and Israeli forces will withdraw from Lebanese territory.
The agreement does not address the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, another Iran-backed militant group, in Gaza. However, Hamas has said it is ready for a truce.
“So, now Hamas has a choice to make,” President Biden said on Tuesday. “Their only way out is to release the hostages, including American citizens, which they hold. In the process, bring an end to the fighting, which would make possible a surge of humanitarian relief. Over the coming days, the United States will make another push with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.”
Biden told reporters he’s hopeful he’ll help achieve a cease-fire in Gaza before the end of his term in January. If not, President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East, though he has not yet said how.
Trump picks nominations for NIH, trade
President-elect Trump has kept busy this holiday week. On Tuesday night, he announced new picks to join his administration.
Among them, Trump nominated Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to serve as the director of the National Institutes of Health. As head of the NIH, the Stanford University professor would work alongside Trump’s pick for health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Bhattacharya, who also has a doctorate in economics, became known for opposing lockdown restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) November 27, 2024
Trump also selected Jamieson Greer to lead the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Greer is no stranger to the department, having served as chief of staff to the trade representative during Trump’s first term — which saw tariffs imposed on Chinese goods and the signing of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement.
Greer served as a lawyer in the Air Force and is currently a partner in international trade at the law firm King and Spalding.
Both of these nominations will need Senate confirmation.
Australia’s House passes bill to ban kids under 16 from social media
The bill would make platforms such as Tiktok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to $50 million ($33 million USD) for failing to prevent young children from holding accounts.
Australia’s communications minister Michelle Rowland introduced a world-first law into Parliament on Thursday that would ban children younger than 16 from social media, saying online safety was one of parents’ toughest challenges. pic.twitter.com/K0zui1wHLv
The legislation passed 102-13 in Australia’s House of Representatives and now moves on to the Senate. If the bill becomes law, social media companies would have one year to figure out how to implement the age restrictions before they are enforced.
More than 3,000 fake name-brand electric guitars seized in California
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it seized more than 3,000 fake electric guitars in Southern California. CBP said the knockoffs were destined for the e-commerce market, just in time for holiday gift shopping.
CBP said if the guitars were real, they would be worth about $18 million. Most of the fakes look like Gibson brand guitars, but some were supposedly from other well-known companies such as Fender.
Federal authorities would not release any details about suspects in the investigation or where the counterfeit guitars came from.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to go on, rain or shine
A Macy’s spokesperson told the New York Post the parade will proceed regardless of wet weather — good news for the expected 3.5 million people who will be along the parade route and the estimated 30 million watching at home. However, wind could pose a problem.
The spokesperson told the Post, “Based on the city’s guidelines, no giant character balloon will be operated when there are sustained wind conditions exceeding 23 miles per hour and wind gusts greater than 34 miles per hour on the parade route.”
So far, according to weather reports, the winds should not be a problem, and all 32 balloons should be able to fly. New ones this year include Minnie Mouse and Spider-Man, which is marking its return to the parade for the first time in a decade.
Happy Thanksgiving from Straight Arrow News
With Thursday being Thanksgiving, as you get ready to gather around the table with your family, we wanted to take this time for you to get to know ours a little better. In the video above, members of our Straight Arrow News team have special messages about what they’re thankful for this holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!