Lin Feng contributed to this report WASHINGTON — A senior official in the U.S. Department of State said Wednesday the security concerns the government has raised related to Chinese telecommunications firms Huawei and ZTE extend to all companies headquartered in China, saying they are effectively "under direction" of the Chinese Communist Party. "It's very important to distinguish how Western democracies operate relative to their private sector companies and vendors, and how the Chinese government operates with its companies," Ambassador Robert L. Strayer, deputy assistant secretary for Cyber and International Communications and Information Policy, said during a conference call with reporters. Chinese companies don't have the ability to mount a legal challenge to directives from the government, he said. "They don't have the ability to go to court," he said. "They're basically under direction — what we call extra-judicial command — of the Communist Party of China ... to take … [Read more...] about US Official Voices Broad Concerns Over China-Based Companies
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GM looking to build second battery factory in US
General Motors is reportedly looking into opening its second U.S. battery factory in a partnership with South Korean chemical company LG Chem in an effort to expand its electric vehicle production. A spokesperson for GM told the Wall Street Journal that the automobile company was looking into building a second battery and that a decision could be made within the first half of this year. The Journal reports that GM and LG are leaning closer to choosing Tennessee as the location for its factory, though a final decision has yet to be made. A $2.3 billion battery factory by the two companies is already underway in Ohio, the Journal notes and a second factory will likely be of similar investment and scope. ADVERTISEMENT GM announced a breakthrough in battery technology last year that it said would help electric vehicles rival diesel-fueled vehicles within the next five years. GM executive vice president Doug Parks claimed that the new battery could hold twice as much … [Read more...] about GM looking to build second battery factory in US
Pentagon prevented immediate response to mob, says Guard chief
The D.C. National Guard chief on Wednesday told lawmakers he would have “immediately” activated his forces to assist U.S. Capitol Police on Jan. 6 if his authority had not been restricted by the Pentagon. “I would have sent them there immediately as soon as I hung up,” Commanding Gen. William Walker told lawmakers on the Senate Rules Committee and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee at a hearing evaluating the security breakdown that occurred when a pro-Trump mob attacked the Capitol. “My next call would have been to my subordinate commanders, to get every single guardsman in this building and everybody that's helping the Metropolitan Police...to the Capitol, without delay." ADVERTISEMENT Walker on Wednesday told lawmakers about a Jan. 5 letter from acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller that restricted his ability to deploy the Quick Reaction Force and seek approval from higher ups before moving his National Guard forces. Walker called the … [Read more...] about Pentagon prevented immediate response to mob, says Guard chief
House-passed election bill takes aim at foreign interference
A sweeping elections bill passed by the House on Wednesday night would boost cybersecurity measures and focus on countering foreign interference efforts like the kind that affected the 2016 and 2018 elections. The bill, which the House passed on a mostly party-line vote of 220-210, marks a major effort by Democrats to tackle both voting reforms, such as increasing access to the polls through use of mail-in ballots, and cybersecurity upgrades. Among issues included in H.R. 1 is a requirement that states use voter-verified paper ballots as part of the election process, a move supporters have pointed to as a vital safety net to check votes in the event of election tampering. ADVERTISEMENT It also allocates funding to enable the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to give grants to states to replace outdated and potentially insecure voting machines, along with authorizing funds for states to carry out election audits. Further, states would be required to take … [Read more...] about House-passed election bill takes aim at foreign interference
Colorado farmers grow more food on less water amid rising competition
KEENESBURG — While farmers around him give up control over water used for a century to irrigate crops, Marc Arnusch is crouching in a thick cornfield inspecting blue digits on his new sensor. The third-generation farmer installed it to measure exactly the level of moisture in soil right at the roots of his corn. He’s also considering underground tubes that emit water only upon contact by roots. This technology, made for farming in the Israeli desert, Agriculture across Colorado and the West continues to use 85 percent of total water supplies. But growing numbers of farmers are shifting toward greater efficiency, replacing ditch-and-flood irrigation with center-pivot sprinklers and tubes that emit tiny drops. Colorado officials say they’re counting on such increased efficiency and conservation as the state readies for an increase in people and industry — with a projected annual shortfall of 163 billion gallons . State water planners anticipate farmers will be able to … [Read more...] about Colorado farmers grow more food on less water amid rising competition