Republicans are criticizing the Biden administration’s lukewarm response to the protests against strict zero-Covid policies in China–though there appear to be signs the country is easing those restrictions. The administration said it backed the right of the people to peacefully protest in China and around the world but stopped short of criticizing Beijing’s leadership. Republicans…

Just weeks ago, Elon Musk introduced then withdrew Twitter Blue, the program that allows any user to buy a blue checkmark for their account. Local government agencies across the country are concerned. Mainly about the changes affecting their ability to effectively communicate with the public using Twitter. “There is a reality now that someone could…

The collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX is unprecedented, and in some ways, unbelievable. As the firm seeks bankruptcy protection, at least $1 billion in customer funds is missing, according to a Reuters report. A bankruptcy court filing revealed debtors have been in contact with the U.S. attorney’s office, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures…

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, said it’s hard to be him. Musk made the comment while speaking to the B20 business forum ahead of the G20 Summit. It’s likely hard to juggle being the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and Twitter, but critics say some of Musk’s problems are self-induced, particularly the current kerfuffle over…

According to an update to TikTok’s privacy policy published earlier this week, data for users in the European Union, United Kingdom and Switzerland can be accessed by staff in China, among other countries. In Wednesday’s update, the social media platform said staff access is given “based on a demonstrated need to do their job,” and…

The Department of Homeland Security was founded after the Sept. 11 terror attacks in 2001. The goal of the agency was to prevent another terrorist attack. However, as the war on terror wound down, DHS has found new targets to investigate: Americans on social media. Reporting by The Intercept shows DHS started to shift its…

Just over six weeks into her new role as British prime minister, Liz Truss announced her resignation Thursday. The announcement makes Truss’s reign as prime minister, lasting 44 days in total, the shortest in British history. “I recognize though, given the situation, I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative…

Excerpted from Peter’s Oct. 10 “Zeihan on Geopolitics” newsletter: I’m going to be discussing some disturbing aspects of the Ukraine War today. Consider this your parental advisory.   In the aftermath of the Russia’s failed Kyiv offensive, the world became aware of the omnipresent nature of Russian war crimes. The Russian retreat exposed a raft…

California is moving forward with a plan to ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles. The new plan does not ban the sale of used gas-powered vehicles. California is the largest auto market in the United States, and one of the largest in the world. Therefore, when California moves ahead with sweeping changes, the world…

A member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard has been charged with developing a plot to murder former National Security Adviser John Bolton. The Justice Department announced Shahram Poursafi, working on behalf of the IRGC, tried to pay an American resident $300,000 to “eliminate” Bolton.  The Justice Department said the plot was likely designed as a…