Former Vice President Joe Biden and the directors of the three main U.S. intelligence agencies submitted so-called “unmasking” requests for information about Michael Flynn contained in highly classified intelligence reports, according to documents released Wednesday.
The documents show that an unmasking request was made in Biden’s name on Jan. 12, 2017. Similar requests were made under the names of James Comey, John Brennan and James Clapper, the former directors of the FBI, CIA and Office of the Director of National Intelligence, respectively. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson released the list on Wednesday. Richard Grenell, the acting director of national intelligence, declassified the list of names last Thursday, and provided them to the senators this week.
It is not clear whether Biden or the other intelligence chiefs saw the documents related to Flynn. The document released on Wednesday said that the unmasking requests were made under 16 different government officials’ names. “Below is a list of recipients who may have received Lt. Gen Flynn’s identity in response to a request processed between 8 November 2016 and 31 January 2017 to unmask an identity that had been generically referred to in an NSA foreign intelligence report,” the document stated. “While the principals are identified below, we cannot confirm they saw the unmasked information.”
Days after the call, FBI and Justice Department officials began discussing whether Flynn violated the Logan Act, an obscure law that prohibits American citizens from negotiating with foreign governments regarding U.S. government policy.
The Justice Department filed a motion to drop the case against Flynn May 7 for making false statements to the FBI regarding his conversations with Kislyak.
Flynn pleaded guilty on Dec. 1, 2017, to the false statements charge. The Justice Department filed its motion to drop charges against Flynn citing new FBI documents discovered in the case.
Should the unmaskers go to jail? Reply to this email and let us know what you think!!!!!
Largest Solar Project to Date
The current administration is continuously portrayed in the media as being pro-carbon fuel and rabid climate deniers, but then something like this happens to completely blow up that narrative.
The Trump administration on Monday approved the construction and operation of the Gemini Solar Project, which could be the eighth-largest facility in the world with an estimated $1 billion investment, according to Energy Live News. The Nevada facility, which will be built in the Mojave desert will be the largest solar project in US history.
Arevia Power out of California is the developer on the project and when completed,it is expected to generate enough electricity to power 260,000 homes in Las Vegas, help supply energy markets in Southern California, and employ up to 1,100 people during its construction phase.
Thanks to its 690-megawatt photovoltaic solar energy capacity, it is estimated to generate enough renewable electricity to annually offset the greenhouse gas emissions of about 83,000 cars. Final completion of the massive project at the Nevada desert is scheduled for 2022.
Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, said: “Despite the challenges of the coronavirus, we’re pleased to see that Nevada will soon be home to one of the biggest solar projects in the world.”
The project won federal approval despite controversy over its environmental footprint. Local reports and studies show it will devastate animal habitats in the desert, saying that over 1,200 federally threatened Mojave desert tortoises will be impacted and need to be relocated.
A Potential Gilead (NASDAQ: GILD) Win
Cipla Limited Wednesday announced that it has signed a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences, Inc. for the manufacturing and distribution of the potential COVID-19 treatment medicine Remdesivir, which has been issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
This agreement is part of Cipla’s efforts to build up global access to treatments for patients infected by the coronavirus. According to the agreement, Cipla will be permitted to manufacture Remdesivir, and market it in 127 countries including India and South Africa under Cipla’s own brand name. Gilead Sciences, Inc. will teach Cipla how to manufacture the drug on a large scale. Cipla’s extensive geographical and commercial footprint will help make this therapy accessible to more patients and markets.
The EUA will allow broader use of Remdesivir to treat hospitalized patients with severe symptoms of COVID-19. The EUA is based on available posiitve data from two global clinical trials; one on patients with moderate COVID-19 symptoms an one with severe symptoms.
Multiple additional clinical trials of Remdesivir are in process right now as a potential treatment for COVID-19. Remdesivir continues to be an investigational drug that has not been fully approved by the FDA.
Commenting on the partnership, Umang Vohra, MD and global CEO, Cipla Limited, said, “As the world is faced with the COVID-19 crisis, it is imperative that we collaborate and fight this virus together. We are pleased to partner with Gilead for this cause and take this treatment to patients across countries after the required regulatory approvals.
“At Cipla, it is our continuous endeavor to ensure that no patient is denied access to life-saving treatments. Our partnership with Gilead represents this unwavering commitment and is a significant step towards saving millions of lives impacted by the pandemic.”
Gilead’s stock recently rallied 3.6% in 3 days and could be poised to go higher off this deal, as Remdesivir clinical trial results continue to pour in and deals like this one begin to bear fruit.
Kia is Going for Speed (in Charging Times)
Porsche-grade technology will come to Kia in the 2020s. The South Korean company is planning to launch at least 11 electric cars globally by 2025, and it confirmed some will come with an 800-volt charging system that promises to reduce weight and charging times.
Currently, the only production car out there with 800-volt charging technology is the Porsche Taycan (the production version of the Audi E-Tron GT concept is getting it as well). Kia plans to bring it to the masses when it releases its next-generation electric cars in the European market in 2021. It hasn’t detailed the models yet, but they claim one will “blur the boundaries between passenger and sport utility vehicles,” a not-so-subtle hint that the segment-bending Imagine concept (pictured) unveiled in 2019 is headed to production.
Building electric cars on a purpose-designed platform makes integrating technology like an 800-volt charging system, much easier and less expensive. Kia also wants to bring electric cars to the masses, so it will also offer 400-volt charging (which is widely available in 2020) to keep costs in check. It predicted motorists who drive more will pay extra for the 800-volt system, because it will deliver “sub-20-minute high-speed” charging times when plugged into a compatible station, while those who don’t suffer from range anxiety will be able to save money by selecting a 400-volt system.
“Certain models, particularly those aimed at more cost-conscious buyers, will offer 400-volt charging capability; 800-volt charging won’t simply be reserved for Kia’s flagship models, however, but where it most closely matches the usage profile of a particular model line,” said Pablo Martinez Masip, the director of product planning and pricing for Kia’s European division. He added both systems can be charged at home or in public.
Kia hasn’t revealed when the United States will get Kia EV’s.
Grandma in The Plastic Bubble
In the unprecedented times we currently find ourselves it’s only normal to want to hug the people you love. But with stringent social distancing measures in place to stop the spread of coronavirus it isn’t possible to spend time with our loved ones like we usually would. So, one mum came up with a “brilliant” idea which meant her parents could hug their grandchildren, without putting anyone at risk.
Lauren Doris captured the moment they reunited and shared it to TikTok – but the video is so heartwarming it’s making people cry. She wrote: “So I made this so my mum and dad could hug their grandchildren.” Lauren taped plastic sheets to the door so her parents could hug their grandchildren. In the comment section she explained that her mum is of a high risk so it was vital that preventative measures were put in place before she brought her children round to see them.
Lauren ripped white, almost see-through plastic bags at the seams to create the separation and taped additional plastic bags to the middle of the door for her parents to put their arms in. After Lauren posted the video it received two million views on TikTok, and racked up 303,000 likes, with thousands of people praising her “amazing idea” in the comment section.
One person said: “This made me cry. I miss my grandparents so much. This is so sweet of you.” Another added: “Heartwarming.” And a third said: “This is beautiful. Made me cry. Kept away from my mum for six weeks to protect her and she died three weeks ago, never got to hug her.”