10/25/18
These pages are a modest attempt to provide up-to-date news that is relevant to the areas of mathematics, education, computer science or information technology. Reader should keep in mind that old links often disappear.
TechNews for the week: October 25; October 23; October 21;
War, Politics and Reports (Also, see Finance and Economics)
U.S. reduced its troop strength by 2,000 in Afghanistan over the past year; Pelosi, congressional delegation make unannounced trip to Afghanistan in outreach to allies;
Erdogan's Ambitions Go Beyond Syria. He Says He Wants Nuclear Weapons; Turkey removes three top Kurdish mayors in major crackdown;
Kurdish group PKK pens open letter rebuking Trump's comparison to ISIS; Trump on ISIS: 'It was me … who captured them';
Russia, Turkey agree to jointly remove Kurdish fighters along Turkey's border in northern Syria as U.S. withdraws troops;
Trump says U.S. will lift sanctions on Turkey, calling cease-fire in Syria 'permanent'; Trump declares victory in northeastern Syria as Russian troops move in;
Trump's claim the Saudis will pay '100 percent of the cost' to protect oil facilities; Saudi Prince Tells U.S. Congress to Get Over Its Frustrations;
For Trump the Dealmaker, Troop Pullouts Without Much in Return; McConnell resolution prods Trump to keep troops in Syria;
Bibi exposes 'secret plan,' Gantz and Liberman: 'you failed'; Netanyahu can't form a government, opening door for Israeli president to tap political rival to build a coalition;
UN expert calls for ban on Israeli products from settlements;
Iran Prepares For War With Israel -Part 1 and Part 2;
Tens of thousands protest in Hong Kong despite police ban and attack on key organizer;
Kim orders South's buildings at resort in North be destroyed;
Parliament votes to withhold full approval of Brexit deal; Boris Johnson Forced to Seek Brexit Extension After Rebuke from Lawmakers;
Parliament denies Boris Johnson support for fast-tracked Brexit deal, making it unlikely that Britain will leave E.U. by Oct. 31;
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, frustrated in his Brexit push, says he will ask for a Dec. 12 election;
Grudgingly, E.U. Looks Set to Grant Brexit Extension to Jan. 31Looks Set to Grant Brexit Extension to Jan. 31;
Argentina's economy is collapsing. Here come the Peronistas;
Democrats introduce 'THUG Act' to block funding for G-7 at Trump resort; White House says Trump resort will host G-7 at cost but doesn't say how much that will be;
Trump tweets that his Doral golf resort in Miami will no longer host next year's G-7 summit after criticism;
Judge rules DOJ improperly redacted court filing related to Mueller probe; House Judiciary Committee can see redacted materials from Mueller grand jury;
Justice Dept. investigation of Russia probe is criminal in nature, person familiar with case says;
State Department probe of Clinton emails finds no deliberate mishandling of classified information;
Putin and Hungary's Orban helped sour Trump on Ukraine; Longtime Nunes staffer fed Ukraine info to Trump; Justice Department Distances Itself From Giuliani;
Democrats Slow Impeachment Timeline to Sharpen Their Public Case; Trump slams Democrats and chides Republicans as allies criticize his erratic impeachment response;
Trump calls impeachment inquiry a 'lynching' as a key witness testifies; Firestorm continues over Trump's lynching tweet;
U.S. envoy says he was told Trump wanted Ukraine aid to be contingent on public declaration to investigate Bidens, 2016 election;
In Hungary, a Freewheeling Trump Ambassador Undermines U.S. Diplomats;
Impeachment testimony starts after 5-hour delay caused by Republicans who staged a demonstration and barged into a secure facility;
Trump calls William Taylor a 'Never Trumper,' accuses own administration of hiring people opposed to his presidency;
Read the Trump Administration's Warning Letter to Laura Cooper;
Ukraine Knew of Aid Freeze by Early August, Undermining Trump Defense;
White House delayed Ukraine trade decision in August, a signal that U.S. suspension of cooperation extended beyond security funds;
White House Aides Feared That Trump Had Another Ukraine Back Channel;
Democrats say whistleblower's testimony is unnecessary as other witnesses come forward;
Here's the quid pro quo proof, Lindsey Graham; Graham introduces resolution condemning House impeachment inquiry;
Shifting explanations from White House alarm some in GOP;
In court hearing, Trump lawyer argues a sitting president would be immune from prosecution even if he were to shoot someone;
White House sought to cut anti-corruption programs abroad despite Trump’s claims that it is a top issue;
State Dept. Was Granted $120 Million to Fight Russian Meddling. It Has Spent $0;
Justice Dept. Sues California to Stop Climate Initiative From Extending to Canada;
Senate kills Democratic attempt to overturn Trump tax rules;
Federal judge holds DeVos in contempt in loan case, slaps Education Department with $100,000 fine;
'I'm in charge of the Hatch Act': Trump lashes out at chief of staff over potential ethics violations;
Trump's Cabinet meetings have become about everything but the business of his Cabinet;
Weekend tweets: Trump Misnames His Defense Secretary among other errors;
The Trump Organization is considering selling its D.C. hotel business;
After weeks of criticism, Warren says she will release a plan to pay for Medicare-for-all;
Trump Campaign Floods Web With Ads, Raking In Cash as Democrats Struggle;
Colorado votes on tax regime embraced by conservatives;
House GOP to Run in 2020 on Reducing the Debt They Helped Grow;
The Student Vote Is Surging. So Are Efforts to Suppress It;
Math, science and technology:
Security issues
Memo Warns White House Could Be 'Electronically Compromised'; Defense Department Official Says China Has 'Concerning' Leads Over U.S. in Tech;
Russian cyberattack unit 'masqueraded' as Iranian hackers; Islamic State is using TikTok to spread propaganda videos;
Dark Web Site Taken Down without Breaking Encryption; Details of the Olympic Destroyer APT, it was Russia, not China or North Korea;
Security Researchers Find Hidden Ads in Google Play Store Apps;
Calculating the Benefits of the Advanced Encryption Standard;
Public Voice Launches Petition for an International Moratorium on Using Facial Recognition for Mass Surveillance;
Math and science
Google scientists say they've achieved 'quantum supremacy'; the paper; Scientists, Engineering Students Use CubeSats For Research;
Sandia Labs Developing Satellite Protection Systems; Raytheon Delivers First Anti-Drone Laser To Air Force;
China To Test Next Commercial Rockets In 2020, 2021;
Texas Models Use Of Wind Resources;
"Attribution Science" Seeks To Assign Blame To Companies For Climate Change;
Running with Bad Knees Might Be OK After All;
Web, computing and technology issues
Facebook takedowns show new Russian activity targeted Biden, praised Trump; Facebook And The First Amendment: Policing Free Speech On The Platform;
FTC Stops Misleading Social Media Marketing Tactics at Two Firms; Senators Question Whether TikTok Poses National Security Risks;
Bipartisan Lawmakers Criticize Apple for Censoring Apps in China;
How to manage or delete what Google knows about you; How to turn on Gmail dark mode; How to stop robocalls for good;
Latest Firefox Brings Privacy Protections Front and Center Letting You Track the Trackers;
Update Complete: U.S. Nuclear Weapons No Longer Need Floppy Disks;
Using Old Cellphones to Listen for Illegal Loggers;
SC News and Politics
MLB's plan to cut 40 minor league teams could impact Charleston RiverDogs;
Charleston City Council moves toward limiting 'fill and build' development practices;
Company wanting to blast-test for oil on SC's coast asks Trump to ignore state's refusal;
Business and Economics
U.S. deficit hit $984 billion in 2019, soaring during the Trump era;
Estate Taxes Are Easy to Flee, but They Still Help States; Government Loophole Gave Oil Companies $18 Billion Windfall;
Economists rush to help Warren solve 'How do you pay for it?' on Medicare-for-all;
Donald Trump and Republicans fear revamped Nafta will be stalled;
South Korea caves to Trump and drops 'developing' status at WTO;
U.S. Commerce chief: U.S.-China trade deal doesn't need to be inked in November; China, US agree to keep yuan exchange rate stable as part of trade deal;
Russia Ready To Seize Control Of The World's Largest Oil Reserves; Brazil narrows field to China, Russia, France for Angra 3 nuclear partner;
UAW members approve new labor contract with GM, ending 40-day strike;
Boeing's Crisis Grows: Tense Meetings, Falling Stock, Angry Lawmakers;
Toyota To Unveil EVs As It Attempts To Catch Up In Battery-Electric Game; Tokyo Motor Show: Lexus debuts 'Electrified' concept with augmented reality, drone support;
Defense Secretary Esper Recuses Himself from JEDI Cloud Contract Review; Pentagon awards controversial $10 billion cloud computing deal to Microsoft, spurning Amazon;
Drone Delivery Is One Step Closer To Reality;
Other news
There's an effective and progressive solution for climate change. Why won't Democrats embrace it?;
Education:
Some Parents, Former Students Push Back On Implementation Of California's New Science Standards; HBCUs Risk Disaster Amid Rising Costs;
Some Older Americans Fault Millennials For Taking On Student Debt;
Trump administration let nearly $11 million in student aid go to unaccredited for-profit colleges; Democrats' Bill would make for-profit colleges ineligible for federal student loans;
Two-Thirds Of College Students Have Purchased Books Written By Their Professors;
Enrollment in Computer and Information Sciences Up Despite Overall Decline; Economists Call For More Humanities Majors;
Washington State High School Uses Drones To Teach Algebra; Preparing Today's Students for an AI Future;
10/18/18
TechNews for the week: October 18; October 16;
War, Politics and Reports (Also, see Finance and Economics)
The four biggest foes of America that gain from Trump's Syria pullout ; Trump's decisions on Syria bear all the hallmarks of his 'America First' foreign policy;
Turkey Mistakenly Shells U.S. Special Forces in Syria; U.S. forces say Turkey deliberately launched artillery rounds near them in Syria;
U.S. troops evacuate another Syrian town as Turkish-led forces advance, potentially marooning other U.S. soldiers;
Turkey battles Syrian Kurds for control of key border town ; using Israeli-upgraded tanks in anti-Kurd offensive in Syria;
Trump orders withdrawal of all U.S. forces from northern Syria, days after Pentagon downplays possibility;
U.S.-allied Kurds strike deal to bring Assad's troops back into Kurdish areas, dimming prospect of further U.S. presence in Syria;
Syrian government troops deploy to towns near Turkish border for the first time in years after deal with Kurds; retake territory long held by U.S. allies;
Russia Prepares the Way for Bashar al-Assad's Brutal Endgame in Northern Syria; Russia Bombed Four Syrian Hospitals;
Russia announces its units are patrolling between Turkish and Syrian forces around city of Manbij following pullout of U.S. troops;
ISIS Rears Its Head, Adding to Chaos as Turkey Battles Kurds;
Trump calls for cease-fire in northern Syria and imposes sanctions on Turkey; Turkey rebuffs U.S. calls for truce in Syria, demands Kurdish fighters disarm;
Turkish president Erdogan allegedly threw Trump letter in the garbage; Erdogan says Turkey hasn't 'forgotten' Trump's 'tough guy' letter on Syria invasion;
Pence says U.S., Turkey agree to 5-day ceasefire in Syria to let Kurds withdraw after U.S. pullout triggered violence;
Fighting continues in Syria despite Turkish agreement to halt offensive; Turkish Proxies Appear to Be Using White Phosphorus in Syria;
U.S. Indicts Turkish Bank on Charges of Evading Iran Sanctions;
Iran launches Turkey border exercise after Erdogan invades Syria ; British experts in Iran to upgrade Arak reactor;
Sending More Troops to Saudi Arabia won't make up for backing out of Syria and failing to stand up to Iran;
Pelosi describes Trump's 'very serious meltdown' during White House meeting on Syria; Trump trashes Mattis in meeting over Syria;
House passes resolution condemning Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. military from northern Syria;
Can Israel trust the U.S. after Syria withdrawal;
Netanyahu's turn is counting down without any progress; Pompeo to visit Netanyahu Friday to offer assurances over U.S. Syria pullout;
Trump envoy Jared Kushner to lead U.S. delegation to Israel; Israeli police arrest Palestinian officials in Jerusalem;
China Denied U.S. Lawmakers Visas Over Taiwan Visit; Under New Rule, Chinese Diplomats Must Notify State Dept. of Meetings in U.S.;
With No End to Unrest in Sight, Hong Kong's Economic Pain Deepens;
E.U. and U.K. leaders say New Brexit deal has been reached; A Brexit Deal in Hand, Boris Johnson Faces an Uphill Struggle in Parliament;
Federal judges rule against Trump in 3 cases on executive powers; Trump renews claim that he is immune from criminal investigation in effort to block Manhattan DA probe;
Giuliani Is Said to Be Under Investigation for Ukraine Work; Giuliani ran a shadow foreign policy to personally benefit Trump, ex-adviser testifies;
Giuliani pressed Trump to eject Muslim cleric from U.S., a top priority of Turkish president; What could happen to Giuliani and others who defy congressional subpoenas ;
Former Trump attorney says Giuliani kept book of Ukraine contacts; How two Soviet-born emigres made it into elite Trump circles;
Mulvaney emerges as a key facilitator of the campaign to pressure Ukraine;
Mulvaney confirms Ukraine aid withheld in part over request to investigate Democrats, despite Trump's denial of a quid pro quo;
White House directed 'three amigos' to run Ukraine policy, senior State department official tells House investigators;
Trump's envoy to testify that 'no quid pro quo' came from Trump;
Pentagon chief vows to cooperate with impeachment probe;
Gordon Sondland, Trump envoy and key figure in impeachment probe, faces criticism over $1 million, taxpayer-funded home renovation;
U.S. ambassador to the E.U. tells House impeachment investigators Trump urged him and others to work with Giuliani on Ukraine;
Trump complains about closed-door depositions as another witness testifies;
Perry to Resign as Energy Secretary; Perry won't say if he'll comply with deadline on subpoenaed documents in Trump impeachment inquiry ;
Trump to nominate Energy Dept. deputy Dan Brouillette to succeed Rick Perry as secretary;
Foreign Business Ties: The Trump Sons Have Plenty Too;
Barr investigates the investigators of Russian meddling; Rome University at Heart of Trump Inquiry Becomes a Vortex of Intrigue;
Acting homeland security secretary Kevin McAleenan steps down; No refugees allowed? Trumps plan to give states and cities a veto prompts an outcry;
Trump administration issues plan to lift limits on logging in the largest intact temperate rainforest in North America;
Analysis: Impeachment has put Trump in a different place. He's showing it every day; Inside Trump's Botched Attempt to Hire Trey Gowdy;
Trump inverts time, invents conversations to thwart impeachment; Trump misleads and exaggerates to make his case against impeachment;
After two weeks of closed-door testimony, a clearer portrait of Trump’s role emerges ;
Trump hits 13,435 misleading or false claims as day 1,000 draws near ;
Trump has awarded next year's G-7 summit of world leaders to his Miami-area resort;
Trump threatens to sue CNN, seeks 'substantial' payment over damages;
This historically accurate model predicts Trump in a landslide; Barring a turnout surge, strong economy favors Trump in 2020;
U.S. Today: the winners and losers from Tuesday's Democratic debate; Washington Post: the debate's winners;
Elizabeth Warren, Candidate With the Plans, Needed One for All the Incoming Attacks;
High court to decide constitutionality of consumer watchdog bureau;
Census Bureau confirms Trump wants drivers' records tied to citizenship;
Ohio Was Set to Purge 235,000 Voters. It Was Wrong About 20%;
Kansas lawmaker who left GOP running for Senate as Democrat; Gov. Edwards of Louisiana Forced Into Runoff With Republican;
Minneapolis Mayor Slams Trump For Cheapskate Behavior;
Violent Video Was Product of Right-Wing Provocateurs and Trump Allies;
Math, science and technology:
Security issues
October Crypto-Gram Newsletter, cracking passwords, malware, fraud and more;
Medicare Fraudsters Now Tap Telemedicine In Medical Equipment Scams; Feds indict 35 in cancer genetic testing fraud;
U.S. Carried Out Secret Cyber Operation Against Iran After Saudi Attack; Chinese Communist Party Has Access to Data on 100 Million Cellphones;
WAV audio files are now being used to hide malicious code; Adding a Hardware Backdoor to a Networked Computer;
Using Machine Learning to Detect IP Hijacking;
Factoring 2048-bit Numbers Using 20 Million Qubits;
Math and science
Researchers Propose Satellite Technology To Dodge Space Junk; Various Companies Have Developed Technology To Monitor Condition Of Railway Tracks;
5,000-year-old NYC-style metropolis uncovered in northern Israel; Archaeologists discover more than 20 sealed coffins just as the ancient Egyptians left them;
Deep-sea explorers find sunken warship from key WWII battle;
Tribal Map of America Shows Whose Land You're Actually Living On;
Researchers Use Japanese Paper Art For Healing The Human Body; The Science of How Our Minds and Our Bodies Converge in the Healing of Trauma;
New Study Shows Fast Food Increases Body's Exposure To PFAS Chemical;
Web, computing and technology issues
YouTube Allows Violent Parody Video of Trump Shooting Journalists;
Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg defends allowing politicians to lie in ads; Zuckerberg Defends Meetings with Conservative Politicians, Pundits;
New technology in the world of dental care.;
10 Tips to Avoid Leaving Tracks Around the Internet;
SC News and Politics
Supreme Court lets US stop work on $8B SC nuclear fuel plant;
Business and Economics
U.S. deficit grew 77% in first quarter of 2019; Failed Senate vote sets up big fight over border wall, budget;
QE4 "Not A QE" Begins: Fed Starts Buying $60BN In Bills Per Month Beginning Next Week; Fed Reserve: Sub-zero interest rates could be problematic in U.S;
Medicare is a good deal for most older folks, but it's neither free nor easy;
Trump announces partial trade deal with China, lifting hopes that tensions could ease;
Mnuchin describes U.S.-China's 'fundamental' trade agreement; China wants another round of talks before signing phase one of the trade deal; Doubts emerge about deal;
Trump's China Deal Leaves the Global Economy as Uncertain as Ever; A Brazen Scheme, and a Minor Penalty, for Winning Business in China;
U.K., EU Reach New Brexit Deal;
Sharp Cuts in Immigration Threaten U.S. Economy and Innovation;
Trump And Warren's Agreement On Middle East Policy Could Challenge Energy Markets; Shrinking The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve Risks A Spike In Global Energy Prices;
Text messages show Boeing knew of 737 Max's 'egregious' problems in 2016; Boeing and F.A.A. Faulted in Damning Report on 737 Max Certification;
Autoworkers and General Motors reach tentative deal to end massive strike; G.M. Strike Won't End Until Workers Vote on Deal;
Ford Applies For Vehicle-Launched UAV Patent; Ford Announces EV Charging Network;
Hyundai Announces Investment In Autonomous Vehicles As South Korea Says Country Will Lead Autonomous Future;
Closure of Arizona plant symbolizes the demise of coal and its human toll;
EPA Biofuel Proposal Criticized By Biofuel And Oil Industry Groups;
Permian Basin Growth Poses Challenges For Electricity Providers; Texas Cities Threaten Lawsuit Over Permian Highway Pipeline;
Billionaire governor's family farms get subsidy;
Fitbit Partners With Bristol-Myers Squibb-Pfizer Alliance On Wearable Device;
Finance
6 Surprising Facts About Retirement;
Other news
George Will: The spiraling president adds self-impeachment to his repertoire;
Hamilton pushed for impeachment powers. Trump is what he had in mind.; Five myths about Mike Pence;
I Ran the VA Under President Trump Until He Fired Me. Our First Trump Tower Meeting Was a Job Interview Unlike Any Other;
Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge just became the first marathon runner to break the 2-hour barrier;
The last time Washington's baseball team advanced to the World Series;
Slow walking at 45 'a sign of faster ageing';
Education:
California is first state to mandate later start times for students in middle school and high school;
'Students Learn Best in Their Preferred Learning Style,' and Other Neuromyths;
Student tracking, secret scoring: How college admissions offices rank prospects before they apply;
Tax Reform Law Complicates FAFSA; House Democrats unveil higher education plan to lower college costs;
Business School Deans Call For Urgent Immigration, H-1B Overhaul;
Why Higher Ed Should Pay Attention to Basketball's Sudden China Problem;
The Heavy, Unseen Labor of Writing Reference Letters;
10/11/18
TechNews for the week: October 11; October 9; October 7;
War, Politics and Reports (Also, see Finance and Economics)
North Korea disputes Washington claim of 'good discussion,' gives deadline for the end of the year for new U.S. approach; US denies North Korean nuclear talks failed;
Saudi Arabia and Iran Make Quiet Openings to Head Off War; Iran says missiles struck one of its oil tankers in the Red Sea;
Pentagon to deploy nearly 2,000 troops to Saudi Arabia to boost defenses against Iran;
Hong Kong brought to a standstill as city braces for more unrest after ban on face masks;
Iraqi protesters vent their rage as violent government crackdown spirals;
U.S. starts withdrawing troops from northern Syria as Turkey readies offensive ; Syrian Kurds see U.S. betrayal and warn fight against ISIS is now in doubt;
McConnell warns Trump against withdrawing U.S. forces from northern Syria, urges him to 'exercise American leadership';
Turkey's Erdogan announces start of military offensive in northern Syria; rejects Trump's threats amid conflicting U.S. signals over Syria offensive;
Furor over Syria began with troubling Trump phone call and White House statement; Pentagon won't take over Islamic State prisons if U.S.-allied Kurdish forces withdraw;
Trump dismisses concerns about leaving Kurds at the mercy of Turkey;
Turkish forces push deeper into Syria as Kurds fight back; Trump defends Syria strategy citing his 'unmatched wisdom' — and threatens to 'obliterate' Turkish economy;
Israelis Watch U.S. Abandon Kurds, and Worry; Palestinian president says to discuss elections with Hamas, factions;
Israeli officials wrap up Netanyahu's pre-indictment hearing; Israel's Gideon Saar challenges lengthy Netanyahu Likud rule;
Pay freeze at the UN? Trump administration owes the United Nations $1 billion; Rights Groups Miss Out on Millions in Foreign Aid Due to U.S. Spending Restrictions;
Russia looks for leverage as Ukraine slides deeper into impeachment probes;
Barr's review of Russia investigation wins Trump's favor. Those facing scrutiny suspect he's chasing conspiracy theories.;
Rudy Giuliani gives bizarre Fox News interview before posting angry 4.54am tweet;
Two business associates of Giuliani have been arrested and are in custody; Graham Asks Giuliani to Testify in New GOP-Led Probe on Ukraine;
Texts reveal how US diplomats lobbied Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden; A Ukrainian oligarch has seized upon the Trump administration’s attacks on Biden to fight extradition;
Trump asked Tillerson to help broker deal to end U.S. prosecution of Turkish trader represented by Giuliani;
House Democrats subpoena White House for Ukraine documents as part of impeachment inquiry;
Pompeo says he sent response to House investigators, but subpoenaed documents remain undelivered;
2nd Official Is Weighing Whether to Blow the Whistle on Trump’s Ukraine Dealings;
Mounting evidence buttresses facts in whistleblower complaint; Whistleblower's team now representing 'multiple' officials;
House committees subpoena Pentagon chief and acting director of Office of Management and Budget for documents in impeachment inquiry;
At least four national security officials raised alarms about Ukraine policy before and after Trump call with Ukrainian president;
House Democrats subpoena Energy Secretary Perry for documents in impeachment inquiry;
House panels to issue subpoena to Gordon Sondland, ambassador to E.U., after Trump administration blocks deposition to Congress;
Ousted ambassador tells Congress that Trump pressured State Dept. to remove her;
Trump's defiance of oversight presents new challenge to Congress's ability to rein in the executive branch;
The White House's scathing and legally questionable impeachment letter, annotated; Trump's claims of executive immunity lead to criticism he is acting above the law;
White House says it will not cooperate with House impeachment inquiry, ratcheting up constitutional clash;
New revelations about Trump test Pelosi's narrow impeachment strategy ;
Trump's Latest Impeachment Strategy Appears To Be Making William Barr The Scapegoat;
Judge orders White House to preserve records of Trump's dealings with foreign leaders;
Trump reportedly left staffers 'genuinely horrified' in his phone calls with Putin, Saudi Arabia; Kremlin questions veracity of report on Trump-Putin calls;
Judge rules Trump must give tax returns to Manhattan District Attorney; Treasury inspector general to review handling of Trump's tax returns;
Appeals court rules Congress may seek 8 years of Trump's business records from his accounting firm;
New financial reports show Losses deepen at Trump's Scotland properties;
Supreme Court weigh case over unanimous verdicts; U.S. Supreme Court tosses challenge to Republican-drawn Ohio congressional maps;
Trump orders 'substantial' cut in National Security Council staff; Trump to Sign Order Reining in 'Rogue Agencies' Rulemaking;
Nearly 1 million migrants were arrested along the Mexico border in fiscal year 2019, the most since 2007;
White House says Immigrants who can't prove they have health coverage will be denied visas;
How the president and his allies, chasing 2020 ammunition, fanned a political storm;
Trump turns to schoolyard taunts in impeachment battle; uses vulgarity, calls for Romney's impeachment after senator criticizes president's China, Ukraine appeals;
Minneapolis arena backs off on rally security costs after Trump campaign cries extortion, threatens to sue;
Trump attacks Bidens in personal and coarse terms at Minnesota rally;
The famously secluded Amish are the target of a Republican campaign to drum up Pennsylvania votes for Trump;
McConnell fundraises off impeachment, says effort will fail 'with me as majority leader';
Biden says Trump has 'indicted himself by obstructing justice,' in his most direct call for president's impeachment;
Elizabeth Warren pregnancy smear shows how poisoned the media world is;
U.S. judge balks at Justice Dept. bid to deny House access to Mueller grand jury materials;
Shep Smith out at Fox News — two days after Bill Barr's meeting with Rupert Murdoch;
Math, science and technology:
Security issues
Security Officials Say Top Secret Russian Unit Seeks to Destabilize Europe; Details on Uzbekistan Government Malware: SandCat;
A secret Russian assassination squad has proven 'they can get to anyone' in Europe but there's just one problem — they're really sloppy about it;
New Reductor Nation-State Malware Compromises TLS; Illegal Data Center Hidden in Former NATO Bunker;
Judge says FBI’s search for information on Americans was in violation of the law;
Defense Intelligence Agency employee charged with leaking classified information to journalists;
Wi-Fi Hotspot Tracking; New Unpatchable iPhone Exploit Allows Jailbreaking;
Cyber Threats Could Be "The Achilles Heel" For Autonomous Vessels;
Edward Snowden's Memoirs;
Math and science
Nobel Prize in physics awarded for research on exoplanets and the structure of the universe;
Scientists who developed lithium-ion batteries were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for creating ‘a rechargeable world’;
UC Irvine Researchers Develop Machine Learning Model To Predict Final Size Of Wildfire;
Web, computing and technology issues
A Facebook policy lets politicians lie in ads, leaving Democrats fearing what Trump will do; Won't Stop Showing Trump Campaign Ad About Biden Conspiracy;
A spice company spent more money on impeachment ads on Facebook than anyone not named Trump;
Supreme Court Rejects Appeal in Case Over Website Access for Blind;
Apple Removes App That Helps Hong Kong Protesters Track the Police;
Windows patch causes more pain: Start Menu, boot and printer problems surface;
Business and Economics
Federal deficit estimated at $984B, highest in seven years; A $40 Billion Pile of Leveraged Loans Is Battered by Big Losses;
New York Fed extends daily repo operations to November 4; Central bank will buy more Treasury bonds soon to prevent a cash crunch, but this is 'not QE';
Fed Votes to Lighten Regulations for All but the Largest Banks; Tech Giants Shift Profits to Avoid Taxes. There's a Plan to Stop Them.;
For the first time in history, U.S. billionaires paid a lower tax rate than the working class last year;
Four Takeaways on Trump's New Medicare Executive Order; The Trumponomics experiment is failing before our eyes;
A Trump Policy Shift Gives Farmers in Key 2020 States 'Exactly What We Wanted'; US-China trade war forcing many farmers to take 2nd jobs to make ends meet;
Stocks extend declines as China-U.S. trade war gathers steam; China Trade Talks Restart as White House Explores Escalation Options;
White House looks at limiting Chinese stocks in government pension funds;
Trump Signs "Limited" US-Japan Trade Deal; South Korea Is Getting Hit Hard Thanks to Iran Oil Sanctions;
H-1B Visas "On Table" During US-India Talks; Rich Foreigners "Prefer EB-5 Over H-1B";
U.S. Using Trade Deals to Shield Tech Giants From Foreign Regulators;
Pushed by Security Concerns and Trump, Germany Weighs a New Fuel;
GM-UAW Talks Hit Wall; GE to freeze pensions for about 20,000 U.S. workers to cut debt; The GM strike is really about the switch to electric cars;
Some Emphasize Necessity Of America Modernizing Its Infrastructure Before Autonomous Transportation Overhaul;
Battle for PG&E Hinges on Rival Plans and Uncertain Costs;
Airbus Sold 41 Jets In September, Poised For Record Fourth Quarter; Boeing Receives First 737 MAX Order Since April, Deliveries Fall;
Trump's fast-tracking of oil pipelines hits legal roadblocks;
IMF says The world needs a massive carbon tax in just 10 years to limit climate change;
Conflict Theory;
Other news
I helped classify calls for two presidents. The White House abuse of the system is alarming;
Democrats and Republicans Aren't Just Divided. They Live in Different Worlds;
I Stopped Working Out Daily. Here's What Happened;
Education:
Students will be able to retake sections of ACT next year — without repeating entire exam;
Students Of Defunct For-Profit College Ask Judge To Hold DeVos In Contempt; Bill Would Require Accreditors To Flag Failing Colleges Sooner;
Result Of Schools Going Test Optional For Admissions Appears Uncertain; Colleges Taking Drastic Steps To Survive, Boost Enrollment;
New Report Sees Georgia Math Pilot As Promising Effort To Raise Math Achievement;
Substituting Computer Science For Math May Not Prepare Students For College, STEM Careers;
Writing is Thinking: Learning to Write with Confidence;
Alaska Board Suspends Consideration of Controversial Merger; Anatomy of a Polite Revolt in Columbia's English Department;
10/4/18
TechNews for the week: October 4; October 2; Sept 30;
War, Politics and Reports (Also, see Finance and Economics)
Afghans go to the polls amid spike in violence to vote on a new president; Both Afghan Candidates Claim the Lead Even Before Votes Are Tallied;
Pakistan, Afghan Taliban call for resumption of peace talks;
Hong Kong's Status as Neutral Ground at Risk as China Asserts Power; Hong Kong protester shot as police disperse anti-China protests on National Day;
US and North Korea to resume negotiations over denuclearisation; North Korean Missile Delivers a Message: There's Little Japan Can Do;
John Bolton has finally spoken, and he put up a big warning sign about Trump and North Korea;
Xi Jinping Has Embraced Vladimir Putin—for Now; Diamonds, Warlords and Mercenaries: Russia's New Playbook in Africa;
US Treasury lifts sanctions on Russian businessman who attempted to influence 2018 midterm elections;
Houthis say they killed or wounded 500 Saudi-led coalition fighters and captured 2,000;
Major firms are returning to Saudi Arabia a year after Khashoggi's killing; Former Sen. Bob Graham Says U.S. Should Not 'Ignore' Saudi Role In Khashoggi's Death;
Amid tensions with Iran, U.S. Air Force shifts Middle East command center from Qatar to South Carolina;
U.S. Officials Warn of Rising Threat From Qaeda Branch in Northwest Syria;
Netanyahu to meet centrist rival in last-ditch bid to form unity government; Israeli unity gov't talks falter after Netanyahu rival rejects meeting;
Israel's parliament sworn in without new government; Palestinians to resuming taking Israeli collected tax money;
A look at the legal trouble facing Israel's Netanyahu; Netanyahu indictment could follow as Israel begins hearing to review corruption case;
E.U. rejects new British Brexit proposal, raising prospect of chaotic break within weeks;
How a Fringe Theory About Ukraine Took Root in the White House; 'The New Berlin Wall': Why Ukraine Is Central to the Scandal;
Amateur pro-Trump 'sleuths' scramble to unmask whistleblower: 'Your president has asked for your help;
Trump told Russians at infamous 2017 meeting that he wasn't concerned about Moscow's interference in U.S. election;
U.S. special envoy to Ukraine resigns after Trump's call with Ukrainian president prompts impeachment inquiry;
Staring down impeachment, Trump sees himself as a victim of historic proportions; Republican lawmaker denounces Trump's tweet predicting 'civil war' if he's impeached;
Trump demands to meet whistleblower and accuses Adam Schiff of "treason"; Trump suggests intel chairman's arrest for 'treason';
Whistleblower in federal protection over safety fears, letter shows;
Stephen Miller's heated interview: Trump 'is the whistleblower'; Kevin McCarthy and the 'but not impeachable' defense of Trump;
House committees subpoena Giuliani for Ukraine documents as part of impeachment inquiry;
Attorney General William Barr said to have urged foreign governments to aid probe of CIA, FBI activities related to 2016 election;
Former Ukrainian prosecutor says Giuliani repeatedly pushed him to investigate the Bidens;
Rudy Giuliani: Trump lawyer immediately contradicts himself after claiming he would not cooperate with impeachment investigation;
Pompeo says State Dept. officials won't show up for scheduled impeachment depositions this week; Democrats accuse Pompeo of trying to illegally 'intimidate' witnesses;
Trump amps up attacks on whistleblower as some Republicans call for a more strategic response;
Donald Trump claims impeachment inquiry against him is a 'coup' designed to 'take away Power of the People';
House Democrats to subpoena White House for documents in its impeachment inquiry focused on Ukraine; Pompeo confirms he was on Trump's call with the leader of Ukraine;
Trump urges China to investigate the Bidens, despite impeachment inquiry over a similar request to Ukraine;
Election Commission chair warns Trump asking foreign countries for help against Biden violates law;
Trump involved Pence in efforts to press Ukraine's leader, but aides say vice president was unaware of pursuit for dirt on Bidens;
State Department texts show Trump wanted Ukraine's president to launch investigations before face-to-face meeting;
Trump's ex-envoy tells lawmakers Giuliani was warned that Ukrainian claims of Bidens' misconduct were not credible;
Trump's removal would require GOP dissidents. But those who speak out are targeted;
Giuliani consulted on Ukraine with imprisoned Paul Manafort via a lawyer;
Analysis: Don't expect Trump to accept impeachment results; As Impeachment Moves Forward, Trump's Language Turns Darker;
Trump to tell Pelosi that White House won't cooperate on impeachment until the full House votes;
White House Classified Computer System Is Used to Hold Transcripts of Sensitive Calls;
Odd markings, ellipses fuel doubts about the 'rough transcript' of Trump’s Ukraine call;
White House staff reportedly needed to 'babysit' Trump's phone calls with world leaders because he was often unprepared;
State Dept. questions more than 100 former Clinton aides about emails;
Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump crying foul on media reaction to Hunter Biden as father pushes corruption claim;
McConnell reaffirms he has 'no choice': Senate will take up impeachment if it passes House;
As Trump and GOP try to dismantle Affordable Care Act, evidence suggests law has made people healthier;
Republican Rep. Chris Collins resigns House seat ahead of guilty plea to insider-trading charges;
IRS whistleblower said to have reported concerns that Treasury Dept. appointee attempted to interfere in audit of Trump or Pence;
There's another whistleblower complaint. It's about Trump's tax returns; Deutsche Bank Says It Has Tax Returns for 2 Trump Family Members;
Judge temporarily blocks California law aimed at Trump's tax returns;
Judge upholds voter ID, strikes parts of 2017 voting law;
The Interior Secretary Wants to Enlarge a Dam. An Old Lobbying Client Would Benefit;
Acting homeland security chief frustrated and isolated - even as he delivers what Trump wants at the border; Shoot Migrants' Legs, Build Alligator Moat: Trump's Ideas for Border;
Homeland Security Dept. Affirms Threat of White Supremacy After Years of Prodding;
'A presidency of one': Key federal agencies increasingly compelled to benefit Trump;
Pelosi hopes Trump can work with Congress on trade pact despite impeachment inquiry;
U.S. Supreme Court to tackle gay rights, guns, abortion and Trump; Supreme Court agrees to rule on abortion restrictions, setting up contentious election year debate;
RNC solicited money for Trump's reelection with forms that look a lot like the official census;
CNN won't run two Trump campaign ads, citing 'demonstrably false' claims;
How a tough impeachment vote could threaten the GOP's Senate majority;
Math, science and technology:
Security issues
Iran-linked group tried to hack U.S. 2020 presidential campaigns;
NSA on the Future of National Cybersecurity; New Research into Russian Malware; Chinese Site with 'Backdoor' to Android Apps for Huawei Shut Down;
Researchers Find New Malware Strain That Attacks Web Apps;
Supply-Chain Security and Trust; FDA Warns that Hackers Could Take Control of Medical Devices; Measuring the Security of IoT Devices;
Egypt Is Using Apps to Track and Target Its Citizens;
Math and science
SpaceX CEO Debuts New Mars Rocket Prototype, Expects Missions Within Months;
Science Says Do These 5 Things Every Day to live longer; Just Being Outside Can Improve Your Psychological Health, and Maybe Your Physical Health Too;
Web, computing and technology issues
Ahead of 2020, Facebook Falls Short on Plan to Share Data on Disinformation; Facebook Denied 'Concrete Consumer Harm' in Cambridge Analytica Scandal;
FBI Runs Facebook Ads Targeting, Recruiting Russian Spies; Justice Department Wants Access to WhatsApp's Encrypted Messages;
Amid Anti-Corruption Protests, 75% of Internet Shut Down in Iraq;
Federal Privacy Law Unlikely, Forcing Companies to Confront Calif. Law;
Everything you need to know about Microsoft's new 10X OS; 9 Ways to Instantly Free Up Space on Your Phone;
SC News and Politics
South Carolina Republican Party gets sued for canceling its 2020 presidential primary;
Final Dutch Dialogues report recommends using water to Charleston's advantage ; The Full Report;
Business and Economics
U.S. economy added just 136,000 jobs in September, fueling fears that trade war pain has snowballed; US manufacturing sector falls to lowest level in 10 years;
Trump is heading into reelection with a deep manufacturing recession;
Fannie and Freddie to be allowed to keep more capital; The New York Fed Chief Is Facing His Biggest Test. Here's His Response;
The federal government has dramatically expanded its exposure to risky mortgages, echoing concerns before Great Recession;
Tax Law's Cap on State and Local Deductions Is Upheld by Court; Democrats' Plans to Tax Wealth Would Reshape U.S. Economy;
WTO rules U.S. can impose tariffs on $7.5 billion in goods because European Union gave illegal subsidies to Airbus; EU Considering All Options On Plane Subsidies;
White House Weighs Blocking Chinese Companies From U.S. Exchanges; US pulling investment from China would be an 'unmitigated disaster';
Global Trade Is Deteriorating Fast, Sapping the World's Economy;
$129 Billion Puerto Rico Bankruptcy Plan Could Be Model for States;
As Steelmaker Shuts Plant, Governor Points to Tariffs; U.S. Coal Giant That Pressed Trump for Bailout Faces Default;
UAW Rejects GM Offer; Automaker Idles Mexico Plant;
Ryanair To Ask Boeing To Absorb Any EU Tariffs; FAA orders urgent inspections on some Boeing 737s for wing-related cracks;
Court largely backs Trump administration's move to scrap net neutrality, dealing blow to tech giants and consumer advocates; But States can set own net neutrality rules;
IG harshly criticizes Drug Enforcement Administration for allowing opioid makers to dramatically increase production;
Americans Understand Gravity Of Climate Change, But Fear Cost Of Fighting It;
Trump Administration's Opposition To Wind Energy A Contrast To Industry Growth;
A new Senate report is the latest threat to NRA's tax-exempt status — and maybe its survival ;
Finance
Low-Cost Investing Can't Get Any Lower Than Free;
Collateral Damage From Negative Interest Rates;
What is a 'Yield Curve'?
Other news
The gas tycoon and the vice president's son: The story of Hunter Biden's foray into Ukraine;
How to Boost Your Running Cadence;
Education:
UCI Launches 2-Year Study on Value of College Education; Higher-education Global Newsletter; Can the Lecture Be Saved?
Alaska's Accreditor Issues a Warning to the System; National Association For College Admission Counseling Modifies Ethics Code;
Only half of S.D. students proficient in English; less than half in math and science; FAFSA Mandatory For High School Graduation In Illinois, Louisiana, Texas;
White supremacist group's stickers posted around College of Charleston as national campus campaign ramps up ;
College-Crime Reports Are Breaking Records This Year. Blame Years-Ago Abuses by Campus Doctors;
East Carolina U.'s Interim Chancellor Is Placed on Leave After Drinking at Student Hangout;
Georgia Engineering Program Appealing To Student Athletes;
California's Athlete-Compensation Law Is Now Official, Posing a Serious Challenge to the NCAA;