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THE use of cash has grown for the second year in a row, amid worries that more businesses are refusing to accept notes and coins. Cash was used in 19.9 per cent of all UK transactions in 2023 — up from 18.8 per cent the previous year, according to British Retail Consortium figures. The increase is a shift from a long-running trend of people switching to digital payments and debit cards. The BRC credited the rise to the cost-of-living crisis — with many people finding it easier to budget their outgoings in physical cash. The Treasury Select Committee is examining if there should be rules to force businesses to accept cash, amid a rise in the number of outlets that have already switched to contactless only. There are growing concerns they exclude many vulnerable people. A submission to the inquiry by VISA found that in 2019 over 15 per cent of people with an income under £10,000 a year relied completely on cash to pay for goods and services, compared with less than 2.5 per cent of all higher income groups READ MORE BUSINESS NEWS But there are also warnings that cash-only businesses such as nail bars and car washes are fuelling modern slavery and illegal immigration . Bas Javid, director general of immigration enforcement at the Home Office , said at the weekend some businesses rejected card payments to disguise illegal working. The Select Committee yesterday heard that physical cash is essential for victims and survivors of economic and domestic abuse . Deidre Cartwright, of Surviving Economic Abuse, told MPs: “It’s a means for them to escape an abuser — especially when that abuser can track them through a bank account.” Most read in Business Concerns have also been raised about a growing number of council car parks that only accept payments made using unreliable phone apps . Ron Delnevo, of the Payment Choice Alliance, told the hearing: “I know older friends who’ve stopped going to places because they couldn’t park without an app.” By Dame Meg Hillier SHOULD there be rules to force certain businesses and services to always accept physical cash? My committee heard from a carer to a wife with MS, who relies on cash to put money aside for bills. A supermarket worker told of the difficulty partially sighted customers have paying digitally at checkouts. Charity Mencap stressed how people with learning disabilities often use cash to guard from card scams. But corner shops have argued they should make their own decisions, and stress the cost of handling cash. The previous Government said no to rules for cash. We are yet to hear if this Government feels the same. NUKE KID ON THE BLOCK A 500-ton steel reactor was fitted into Britain’s first nuclear power station in 30 years yesterday. The 42ft reactor pressure vessel was installed at Hinkley Point C in Somerset , which EDF says will generate power for three million homes . The project, which is due to start generating power in 2029, has been hampered by political wrangling, Covid and supply chain problems. The delayed start has caused concerns about Britain’s energy security. EDF and Centrica yesterday said they will keep four ageing nuclear power stations running to ensure there is a low blackout risk. Chris O’Shea, chief executive of Centrica, said: “Power generation that doesn’t depend on the sun shining and the wind blowing is essential to keeping the lights on.” BURBERRY has launched legal action against B&M in a trademark dispute. B&M had sold “Furberry” branded pet items, including dog bowls, toys, blankets, mats and beds this year. The items featured a print with red, white and black checks on a beige background, strikingly similar to Burberry’s famous check print. It says the discount chain was falsely representing its goods as Burberry, Sky News reported. OZ CALL FOR MINE GIANT RIO MINING giant Rio Tinto has come under fresh attack from an activist investor pushing it to scrap its main London listing and focus on Australia instead. Palliser Capital yesterday published an open letter to Rio Tinto’s board arguing the dual-listed structure has been a “failure for shareholders”. The UK hedge fund, which has a £197million stake in the miner, urged it to follow BHP and drop its dual listing. The loss of Rio Tinto would be a big blow to the London Stock Exchange and many pension tracker funds would be forced to sell stock if it was no longer in the FTSE 100 . The Exchange is in crisis after facing the worst exodus of firms in 14 years, with 45 companies removed from the market in takeovers, according to Bloomberg. The value of the UK PLC market is shrinking because there have not been any big listings to replace the losses. BRITAIN has hit “peak petrol” and the number of cars needing to be filled up at the pumps will almost halve over the next decade, says a report. Auto Trader estimates there were 18.7million petrol cars this year, but that will slump to 11.1million by 2034. It predicts a “seismic shift” towards electric vehicles as they become cheaper, from 1.25million EVs to 13.7million in the next decade. It expects the share of EVs to rise to 23 per cent next year, below the Government’s eco-mandate of 28 per cent. Budget gloom THE services industry has almost ground to a halt since the Budget, with firms hiking prices and freezing hiring and investment to cover costs, a survey found. READ MORE SUN STORIES Business confidence has slumped to its lowest in two years, the influential S&P UK services purchasing managers index revealed yesterday. S&P Global's Tim Moore said: “Worries about the impact of policies in the Budget were widely reported as leading to a gloomier assessment of investment prospects and the broader UK economic outlook.”phmacao legit 。

When Donald Trump floated the idea of slapping 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, it was more than just a shot across the bow—it was a cannonball aimed squarely at North America’s deeply entwined trade ecosystem. U.S. oil producers are warning that a tariff on heavy oil imported from Canada would raise consumer prices at the pump. Some pundits are dismissing these threats as political bluster, while others are cautioning not to shrug off the notion entirely. If enacted, these tariffs could strain trilateral relations built over decades. On the other hand, a push for tariffs could open the door to elusive trade negotiations that could reposition the hierarchy of global oil players. Canada, the U.S.’s largest foreign oil supplier, is . Over 60% of U.S. imported crude comes from north of the border, much of it the heavier kind that U.S. refineries are designed to process. A tariff could make that oil 25% pricier overnight, sending prices at the pump to uncomfortably high levels. It could also create a difficult situation for US refiners who are set up to run this heavy crude as a balance the lighter Texas output. Mexico wouldn’t fare much better. With 11% of U.S. crude imports coming from south of the border, tariffs could prompt retaliation and fuel a tit-for-tat trade war, further destabilizing markets. It could also just as easily bring negotiators to the table to talk trade terms. Unfortunately for Mexico, the peso is already backfooted, shedding 2.3% against the dollar in a single day. Tariffs on oil imports often translate to higher costs for refiners, reduced supply options, and ultimately, inflated prices for everything from gas to heating oil—at least short term. The American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers have already sounded the alarm, urging leaders to avoid policies that could undermine the U.S.'s energy edge. Longer term, however, tariffs could act as a lever to address deeper issues in trade dynamics. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.comGoogle's northwest Omaha data center just recently started operations, though it is not finished, a company spokesman said Monday. It is among Nebraska's three data center project sites that over five years has seen nearly $4.4 billion in capital investment. This year's investment was reported to be $930 million, the company said at a media event. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — Now five years since Google built a physical presence in Nebraska, the tech giant on Monday announced its latest annual spend on infrastructure across the state: $930 million. The 2024 capital investment makes for a total so far of about $4.4 billion in Nebraska data centers to help meet growing demand for Google Cloud, artificial intelligence innovations and services such as the company’s search, maps and workspace programs, said spokesman Dan Harbeke. Just within the past few months, he said, Google’s sprawling data center site in northwest Omaha became operational but is not finished growing. Its newest data center project in Lincoln remains under construction on roughly 580 acres. And the original Google campus in Nebraska, a Papillion project that broke ground on 275 acres in late 2019, has continued to expand in various ways. “We’re effectively continuing to build out those footprints,” said Harbeke, regional head of public policy and external affairs. “We are not announcing any new sites this year but we are announcing continued growth and expansion across all three sites here in Nebraska.” Also during a news event Monday, Google announced a different kind of investment — philanthropic donations to support workforce development. Such contributions are separate and in addition to construction improvements, Harbeke said. Google.org , for instance, granted $250,000 to the University of Nebraska Foundation to support AI research and education across its campuses. Earlier this month, Google’s philanthropic arm also provided Creighton University with a $250,000 grant to support the private university’s efforts to prepare students for expanded uses of artificial intelligence. Company officials on Monday also described a $100,000 donation to the Lincoln Public Schools Foundation’s Spark Summer Camp program, which targets elementary school students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. NU President Jeffrey Gold said the university gift underscores the shared commitment to harnessing the power of AI to ensure Nebraska is on the cutting edge of research, teaching and use. “Our hope is that this investment in Nebraska will lead to opportunities for economic growth and innovation,” Gold said. Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said investment in programs such as Spark underscores the Capital City’s “growing reputation” as a place for innovation and opportunity. “Google is helping to prepare Lincoln’s students and workforce for a rapidly evolving future,” she said. Google officials declined to provide detail on how the $930 million breaks down between data center sites. They also declined to disclose the number of employees per site but in a media statement said more than 120 jobs for Nebraskans have been created since 2019, in a variety of full time and external supplier roles, including computer technicians, engineers, maintenance and food service jobs. Harbeke said Google has started to see worker mobility and advancement within the state and the Omaha metro area, which includes the more established Council Bluffs plant. “We’re five years into our Nebraska footprint ... you’re seeing that movement among Googlers across these sites, which has been really neat to see,” Harbeke said. “One of the folks who is going to be leading our Lincoln campus worked out of our Papillion site.” U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., who joined Google officials Monday, said the Google technology investment gives the state a “competitive global advantage.” “These are the jobs of the future and they’re coming here to Nebraska,” he said. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., called Google a driver for secure U.S. infrastructure. “The importance of innovation in national security and AI between the public and private sectors cannot be understated and we’re working on that right here in Nebraska,” he said. Karen Dahut, CEO of Google public sector, said the Google data centers are essential to delivering cutting-edge products to a wide range of organizations that include government and educational institutions as well as the individual consumer. The computer-filled hubs are the engines that power technology and make local and global connections happen 24-7, Google said in a report about data centers . They are where Gmail and YouTube videos live. They are what keep the internet up and running. “We are grateful for the partnership from leaders across Nebraska as we have grown within the state,” Dahut said. “I look forward to exploring more opportunities to bring the power of Google Cloud’s technology to support the important missions of the public sector.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Originally published on nebraskaexaminer.com , part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange . Get local news delivered to your inbox!

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Pittsburgh Steelers ' star edge rusher TJ Watt had a truly dominant 2023 season, finishing with 48 solo tackles, 20 assists, 19 sacks, three fumble recoveries, and one interception in 17 games. It was a one-of-a-kind year, and many pundits believed TJ should have been rewarded with the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Award. Despite his impressive stats, the award went to Cleveland Browns star pass rusher Myles Garrett, who finished behind TJ in nearly every key metric used to measure a defensive player's impact. TJ’s brother, JJ Watt, shared his thoughts on the snub , but he remained respectful when discussing Garrett’s greatness. JJ acknowledged Garrett’s talent and downplayed the controversy, taking a mature approach to the situation. However, Garrett, known for his competitive nature, took the opportunity to fire back after a dominant outing against Pittsburgh on Thursday night, using the Watt brothers' comments as fuel for his three-sack, one-forced fumble performance. "I only speak positively about Myles Garrett.. I've literally never said a single bad thing about the guy" ~ @JJWatt #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/tybDEQMLjP Garrett's recent comments have shown a cocky edge, as he has subtly jabbed at both TJ and JJ. JJ, appearing on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, was asked about Garrett’s trash talk. While JJ maintained his respectful stance, it was clear that Garrett’s words hadn’t gone unnoticed, and the rivalry between the Watt brothers and Garrett is far from over. "What happened? I am curious," JJ said. "I have literally never said a bad thing about the guy. What happened? Find one negative comment I have ever said about the man. Please I literally only speak positively about him." JJ Watt has every reason to be confused by Garrett's claim that he gave him fuel. All JJ did was support his brother, TJ, with facts, not take shots at Garrett. Yet, Garrett twisted JJ’s words to create motivation, despite the respectful nature of JJ’s comments. "I mean I have gone on this show and praised him before," JJ said. "I have gone on CBS and praised him before and I have tweeted many positive things about him. The guy is an unbelievable player, I have never once in my life said he is not a phenomenal player. Same the other way, like TJ has never said anything either. I am very confused why... like there is zero negativity towards Myles Garrett. He is a great football player." JJ seemed a bit frustrated by Garrett twisting his words, especially since all JJ did was support his brother, TJ, with facts. In fact JJ even pointed out the social media post he sent out when the award was announced. JJ's post on social media couldn't have been more respectful. Everybody is asking for my opinion on DPOY. I get it. The problem is I have no interest in tearing down MG. Myles is a phenomenal player, I’m a big fan and he’s had an incredible career so far. I can acknowledge that while also wondering what more TJ could have possibly done. pic.twitter.com/wSWpKVBntl Garrett appeared upset that the Watt brothers overshadowed his award win, but some would argue that if your thunder was stolen, it was for good reason. The stats clearly pointed to TJ having a better defensive season in 2023, but Garrett still took home the award. Steelers' TJ Watt And Brother JJ Did Nothing Wrong Both JJ and TJ handled the situation with respect and have every right to stand up for what they believe is right or wrong. Garrett, of course, has the right to claim it motivated him. While Garrett may feel good after his dominant performance, TJ is still the favorite to win DPOY in 2024, and his team is 8-3. Meanwhile, Garrett’s Browns are 3-8, yet Garrett is celebrating . TJ will likely be fueled by this and could have the last laugh. It's surprising how much Garrett seemed to be bothered by JJ standing up for his brother. One thing is for sure, Garrett hasn't handled the situation with as much respect as the Watt brothers did. This article first appeared on SteelerNation.com and was syndicated with permission.E! may get a commission if you purchase something through our links. Learn more. Black Friday is here, and Nordstrom is already turning up the heat with its sale extravaganza. Ahead of November 29, the fan-favorite retailer is serving jaw-dropping deals across every category—think swoon-worthy apparel , accessories , beauty must-haves , and even home decor . Pro tip: With inventory flying off the (virtual) shelves, you'll want to shop sooner rather than later to snag everything on your wishlist. From up to 70% off closet staples to cult-favorite fragrances and Staub cookware steals , Nordstrom’s Black Friday sale has it all. Highlights include deep discounts on beloved labels like Tory Burch and can’t-miss markdowns on cozy winter vests . Our commerce editors have done the heavy lifting, curating the crème de la crème of this year’s sale. So, whether you're refreshing your wardrobe or tackling holiday gifting , these deals are too good to pass up. Shop the best finds below before they’re gone! Treasure & Bond Crewneck Cotton Blend Cardigan When it comes to winter essentials, you can never go wrong with a cozy cardigan . Snag this one for only $24 right now! Good American Good 90s Relaxed Fit Jeans High-quality jeans that'll stick with you through everything ? Yes, please! This relaxed pair from Good American is trendy and pairs well with all your staple pieces. Circus NY by Sam Edelman Zuri Stud Ballet Flat Studs are back baby, and we're rocking this affordable ballet flat throughout every season. At only $49, they're a major steal. The North Face Hydrenalite Down A-Line Vest This chic padded puffer vest will keep you warm thanks to its lightweight 600-fill power down and is easy to layer. Ray-Ban 62mm Gradient Lens Aviator Sunglasses If it's time to finally swap out your old pair of sunglasses for new ones, these Ray-Ban Aviator ones are totally add-to-cart-worthy . Trust us, they're going to sell out soon at that BF price! SKIMS Soft Lounge Mock Neck Long Sleeve Top SKIMS on sale? Yes, we're not joking. Score your favorite long-sleeve top for only $40. UGG Discoquette Slide Slipper It wouldn't feel like Fall without a pair of UGG slippers , that's why we're adding this Discoquette pair to our carts ASAP. Choose from five colorways. Tory Burch Mini Miller Leather Crossbody Bag Shopper-loved and Editor-loved, Tory Burch bags are always on our radar. This crossbody is a definite must-have for the holiday season. The best part? There's room for all your essentials (including snacks). Staub 4-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven This compact, versatile Dutch oven is a coveted item on everyone's wishlist for a reason. It's chic AND worth the splurge. GreenPan Reserve Set of 2 Nonstick Frying Pans These two smooth and professional-grade frying pans are perfect for any chef on your list who's looking for a kitchen upgrade. Our Place Night & Day Set of 4 Tall Glasses Sip in style all day long with vibrant, handblown glasses that are as durable as they are dazzling—and bonus, they stack neatly to free up precious cabinet space! UGG Coastline Faux Fur Throw Blanket Wrap yourself in luxury with this irresistibly soft throw , featuring plush faux fur on one side and a sleek, silky finish on the other—so cozy, you’ll want one for every room (and maybe a backup too). Calvin Klein Washed Percale Duvet & Shams Set Turn your bed into a dreamy retreat with this cotton percale duvet cover and shams , garment-washed for that irresistibly soft, lived-in feel your cozy setup deserves. Maison Margiela Replica By the Fireplace Eau de Toilette Fragrance This unisex perfume went viral for a reason—it bottles up the cozy vibes of sitting by the fireplace with smoky wood and roasted chestnut notes. Spoiler: It’s mega-sexy and totally worth the splurge (trust us). Kate Sommerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops On the hunt for a new sunscreen? These Kate Sommerville SPF drops leave no white cast and have a lightweight, fast-absorbing formula that feels luxe on the skin. RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek Lip & Cheek Color RMS Beauty nails it again with this multitasking Lip2Cheek color that hydrates while delivering buildable, natural color for lips and cheeks—thanks to a dreamy blend of buriti oil, shea, and cocoa butter. Looking for more Black Friday deals? Then check out everything on sale at Anthropologie . Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving in the United States, traditionally marking the start of the holiday shopping season. The term "Black Friday" originated in the 1960s and refers to the point in the year when retailers begin to turn a profit, moving from being "in the red" (indicating losses) to "in the black" (indicating profits). Retailers offer significant discounts and promotions, attracting millions of shoppers looking for the best deals. Online Black Friday deals can often be just as good, if not better, than in-store deals. Many retailers offer exclusive online discounts and free shipping options. Plus, shopping online allows you to avoid crowds and shop from the comfort of your home. Trust us, we recommend not storming the local Macy’s and instead finding the best deals from us. To prepare for Black Friday, start by making a shopping list of items you want and compare prices in advance to catch the best deals. Be sure to bookmark your favorite retailers and set up accounts for faster checkout. Sign up for our E! Insider Shop newsletter for exclusive access to deals, and follow us on Instagram for real-time updates on flash sales. While Black Friday 2024 will take place on November 29th, many brands start their sales online on Thanksgiving evening or even days prior, allowing shoppers to take advantage of deals before the official day begins. So far, Coach , Lululemon , and Michael Kors have already marked down tons of items. However, these deals won't last forever—most sales will continue through Cyber Monday, while some may end sooner depending on stock availability. Be sure to shop early to avoid missing out on your favorite items! We have already put together a list of the best deals to shop this Black Friday , featuring all of our favorite brands and products. If you’re looking for a specific brand, we've seen incredible discounts from Dyson , Nordstrom Rack , Kate Spade , Lululemon , and many others. Whether you're shopping for stylish activewear , luxury handbags , or classic wardrobe staples , these brands are offering some of the most impressive deals of the season.

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TAMPA, Fla. — New guidance from Florida’s top health official could lead to an increase in cavities and other dental issues, especially among children and low-income communities, health experts are warning. Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo last month advised communities against adding fluoride to their drinking water citing studies in Canada and Mexico that found a correlation between high levels of the chemical and lower IQ scores in children. It comes after Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of Health and Human Services, posted on social media that Trump would push to remove fluoride from drinking water on his first day in office. Several communities in Florida, including Collier County and the city of Winter Haven, had already bucked scientific consensus about the substance’s effectiveness in reducing tooth decay and have voted to stop adding fluoride to their water supplies. Naples could be about to join them. But public health experts and dentists say the studies cited by Ladapo are based on exposure to larger quantities of the substance than the 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water that was set as the national drinking water standard in 2015 . Water fluoridation is supported by the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Florida Dental Association. “It’s disheartening to hear Dr. Ladapo’s misinformed and dangerous comments regarding community water fluoridation,” American Dental Association president Brett Kessler, president of the American Dental Association, said in an email. The Florida Dental Association sends member dentists and its own experts to local government meetings to advocate for the continuation of water fluoridation when the practice comes up for a vote. “We find it discouraging to say the least,” Jeff Ottley, president of the Florida Dental Association, said of Ladapo’s new guidance. “Water fluoridation has been proven for over 75 years to be safe at optimal levels to reduce tooth decay by at least 25% in children.” Ottley added that Florida has the second lowest reimbursement rate for dentists who treat children covered through Medicaid. It means very few dentists will take Medicaid patients. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral often found in water at low levels. More than 70% of communities nationwide add fluoride to drinking water based on federal government recommendations first established in the 1950s. More than 70% of Florida communities follow those recommendations, according to Florida Department of Health data . The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called its contribution to the decline in cavities one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century. That success is because fluoride that is consumed through water is used by children’s body as they grow teeth, said Isaac Garazi, a dentist and the owner of Garazi Periodontics and Dental Implants in Miami. The mineral results in stronger enamel more resistant to the bacteria that causes decay. Garazi pointed to the Canadian communities of Windsor and Essex, which in 2019 voted to put fluoride back in drinking water six years after removing the mineral. The decision came after local health organizations reported a 51% increase in the percentage of children who had either dental decay or needed urgent dental treatment over a two-year period through 2017 compared to the most recent years when fluoride was present in the water supply. “As a dentist who grew up without this benefit, and has seen an entire generation grow up without dental decay, I say to dental schools and pediatric dentists, get ready; you will be in tremendous demand,” Garazi said. Ladapo guidance cites studies in Mexico and Canada that showed a correlation between fluoride levels found in the urine of mothers during pregnancy and IQ levels of children measured when they were older. The Canadian study found a 4.49 point lower average IQ score among boys aged 3 and 4 born to mothers with elevated fluoride levels. The Canadian study states that the findings show a possible case for reducing fluoride intake during pregnancy. The Mexican study concludes that more research is needed to determine the cause of high fluoride levels in urine. Neither study calls for the end of water fluoridation. Ladapo also points to a study that states that many municipalities in several European countries have stopped adding fluoride to their drinking water. But Mary Rose Sweeney, a professor at the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin and one of the authors of the study, disagreed with how Ladapo represented her work. “As Dr Ladapo cited our 2018 report in his guidance document, I would like to point out that while several EU countries ceased adding fluoride to water, none of these countries cited evidence of harm or adverse effects as the reason for discontinuing the practice,” she said in an email to the Tampa Bay Times. The study was funded was funded by the Irish Water Institute at Dublin City University where Sweeney previously worked as a professor. It calls for caution by those considering the merits of water fluoridation. “Politicians/elected representatives should act on evidence before advocating for the removal of fluoride from community water schemes which could have potentially serious personal and economic consequences particularly for disadvantaged children,” it states. Ladapo’s guidance also says that the wide availability of fluoride through other means, like toothpastes, mouthwash and in-office dental applications, may mean some pregnant women and children are receiving more fluoride than necessary. But studies have shown that children in lower-income homes are less likely to brush their teeth regularly, meaning the removal of fluoride from drinking water would have a greater impact in those homes. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Ladapo in 2021, the second year of the pandemic. Ladapo had made a name for himself with columns in the Wall Street Journal expressing skepticism about the safety of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. As the state’s top health official, he was frequently gone against the consensus of medical science to back DeSantis, including recommendations against getting newer versions of the COVID-19 vaccine and supporting Florida’s ban on gender dysphoria treatment for children. Ladapo’s guidance on water fluoridation is not binding. Decisions on what goes into drinking water supplies are the remit of elected officials in cities and counties. Pinellas County commissioners voted 4-3 in October 2011 to stop adding fluoride to drinking water. The move made national headlines and was credited with causing the election defeat of two Republican commissioners who supported the measure. The new board voted 6-1 to resume fluoridation in 2012. The lone nay vote came from Commissioner Norm Roche. Now a Tallahassee resident, Roche said it was ironic to see that two big issues of his time in office — water fluoridation and the Rays stadium — are still being hotly debated a decade later. His position remains the same, he said. “Our task is safe, clean drinking water,” he said. “Anything added to that mission — a chemical or an additive — needs to meet the strictest of standards and be subject to heavy scrutiny.” ©2024 Tampa Bay Times. Visit tampabay.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Fresh rallies in Georgia after PM said 'won battle' with pro-EU protesters

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Charles Barkley Destroys LeBron James' GOAT Claim With Simple ArgumentWASHINGTON — A top White House official said Wednesday at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations were impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could grow. The U.S. believes the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. She added that Biden was briefed on the findings and the White House “made it a priority for the federal government to do everything it can to get to the bottom this.” The Chinese embassy in Washington rejected the accusations that it was responsible for the hack Tuesday after the U.S. federal authorities issued new guidance. “The U.S. needs to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries and refrain from using cyber security to smear and slander China,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. The embassy did not immediately respond to messages Wednesday. White House officials believe the hacking was regionally targeted and the focus was on very senior government officials. Federal authorities confirmed in October that hackers linked to China targeted the phones of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, along with people associated with Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. The number of countries impacted by the hack is currently believed to be in the “low, couple dozen,” according to a senior administration official. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the White House, said they believed the hacks started at least a year or two ago. The suggestions for telecom companies released Tuesday are largely technical in nature, urging encryption, centralization and consistent monitoring to deter cyber intrusions. If implemented, the security precautions could help disrupt the operation, dubbed Salt Typhoon, and make it harder for China or any other nation to mount a similar attack in the future, experts say. Neuberger pointed to efforts made to beef up cybersecurity in the rail, aviation, energy and other sectors following the May 2021 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline . “So, to prevent ongoing Salt Typhoon type intrusions by China, we believe we need to apply a similar minimum cybersecurity practice,” Neuberger said. The cyberattack by a gang of criminal hackers on the critical U.S. pipeline, which delivers about 45% of the fuel used along the Eastern Seaboard, sent ripple effects across the economy, highlighting cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the nation’s aging energy infrastructure. Colonial confirmed it paid $4.4 million to the gang of hackers who broke into its computer systems as it scrambled to get the nation's fuel pipeline back online.

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