Il voulait faire preuve de générosité, mais c’est raté. Le quintuple Ballon d’Or Lionel Messi a offert ses chaussures à crampon pour une oeuvre de charité lors d’une interview TV accordée à la chaîne égyptienne MBC Masr. Depuis, la colère gronde dans le pays.

Ce n’est pas le geste qui choque mais l’objet en lui-même. Samedi dernier, Lionel Messi aurait mieux fait de rester chaussé pendant l’interview donnée à la star des présentatrices égyptiennes Mona El-Sharkawy. Comme le veut la tradition de l’émission Yes, I’m famous, chaque invité doit en effet laisser à la présentatrice un objet personnel, vendu aux enchères par la suite pour une oeuvre de charité.

Mais en voulant faire don de ses chaussures à crampon plutôt que de son maillot, le footballeur argentin s’est attiré la foudre des Egyptiens. Loin de se sentir touchés par le geste de l’athlète, les Egyptiens se sentis humiliés, écrasés par son offre. Certains de ses détracteurs se sont montrés particulièrement virulents, comme le présentateur TV Said Hasasin : “Cela humilie tous les Egyptiens et je n’accepte pas cette humiliation (…) En sept mille ans de civilisation, nous les Egyptiens, n’avions jamais été autant humiliés. Je te frapperai avec les chaussures, Messi.”

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Le footballeur, sacré trois fois soulier d’or, n’a pas encore réagi à la polémique. Ambassadeur de l’UNICEF, le sportif argentin qui évolue au FC Barcelone avait l’année dernière fait don de 445 000 euros au fonds des Nations unies pour l’enfance. Il a aussi créé une fondation à son nom qui travaillent avec plusieurs institutions pour venir en aide aux enfants d’Argentine et d’Espagne.

Crédits photos : NIVIERE/SIPA

A quelques semaines du match d’ouverture de l’Euro 2016, le nouvel hymne des supporters des Bleus vient d’être dévoilé à travers un clip que Le Parisien publie aujourd’hui sur son site internet.

Pour patienter avant les premiers échanges de ballon, vous pouvez déjà vous échauffer sur l’hymne officiel créé par le groupe Skip the Use à l’attention des supporters des Bleus. Adapté de la chanson I was made for lovin’ you babe du groupe Kiss, ce nouveau tube s’intitule I was made for lovin’ you, my team.

Le chanteur du groupe, Mat Bastard a expliqué au Parisien qu’il n’était à la base pas un fan de football mais que le reste du groupe l’était et que certains joueurs de l’équipe faisaient partie de son cercle de connaissances. Soutenir les Bleus était aussi pour le groupe une façon d’encourager celle belle aventure: “Skip, c’est un peu comme une équipe de foot: il y a des objectifs, une hygiène de vie. Pour nous, c’est plus une histoire humaine que sportive finalement.”

On espère en tout cas que cet hymne entraînant portera chance à l’équipe, tout comme I Will Survive lors de la Coupe du monde de football de 1998. Skip The Use espère en tout cas que la chanson fera danser tous les supporters et leur donnera envie de se rendre aux matchs.

Enregistré en pleine nuit dans un stade éclairé par les lumières des projecteurs, le clip met en scène des supporters joyeux et unis, un drapeau tricolore à la main. La musique rentre immédiatement dans la tête. On compte déjà les jours avant le début de ce grand évènement sportif !

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Accusée par les internautes d’avoir photoshopé son corps dans le clip de Fergie pour afficher des proportions irréelles, Kim Kardashian assure n’avoir eu recours à aucune retouche. A la croire, elle devrait sa silhouette à un corset.

Dès que le dernier clip de Fergie « M.I.L.F $ » a été diffusé sur YouTube, une image a particulièrement choqué les internautes. Vers la fin de la vidéo, Kim Kardashian, qui joue les guest stars, apparaît vêtue d’un micro-short en jean. Or sa taille est particulièrement fine, en comparaison avec ses hanches, plutôt plantureuses. C’est donc tout naturellement que sa silhouette, pour le moins disproportionnée, avait suscité l’incrédulité du public.

Logiquement soupçonnée d’avoir été photoshopée, Kim Kardashian a dans un premier temps répliqué sur son compte Twitter, en partageant la vidéo accompagnée de la légende « Vie de Corset ». Ce mercredi, elle a donné un petit peu plus d’explications. « Je porte un short en latex avec un corset fermé dans le dos qui ceinture ma taille pour la rendre terriblement mince. B. Akerlund, la styliste, a fait un travail merveilleux. Le short taillé sur mesure a l’air d’être en jean ! Ma taille a l’air tellement fine que mes hanches semblent extrêmement larges. C’est une styliste géniale ! », a-t-elle écrit sur son site internet. Et d’ajouter, pour bien faire taire les critiques : « On appelle ça du stylisme, pas photoshop. LOL ».

Dans la dernière vidéo de Fergie, qui marque le grand retour de la chanteuse des Black Eyed Peas,Chrissy Teigen, Alessandra Ambrosio, Amber Valletta et Ciara jouent les mamans sexy aux côtés de Kim Kardashian. L’occasion pour la star de L’incroyable famille Kardashian, 35 ans, de montrer qu’elle a retrouvé la ligne après la naissance de Saint West, âgé de 6 mois.

A handful of small companies on Friday violated long-standing tech industry norms by testifying publicly against the world’s largest tech firms, alleging for the congressional record that Google, Apple, Amazon and Facebook have hamstrung and harmed their businesses for years.

Executives with companies that rely on Big Tech — like Sonos, a smart speaker company, and Popsockets, which used to rely on Amazon to sell their mobile device accessories — alleged the digital marketplace is inherently unequal as long as the largest companies are allowed to ruthlessly pursue profit at the expense of smaller businesses.

Many small-to medium-sized businesses around the world rely on Amazon, Google and Apple to sell and promote their products. But now, amid growing government scrutiny of Big Tech’s unprecedented size and power, those companies are going public with their stories of mistreatment and exploitation by their larger-than-life business partners.

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“It is apparent that the dominant platforms are increasingly using their gatekeeper power in abusive and coercive ways,” said Rep. David CicillineDavid Nicola CicillineHillicon Valley: Biden calls for revoking tech legal shield | DHS chief ‘fully expects’ Russia to try to interfere in 2020 | Smaller companies testify against Big Tech ‘monopoly power’ Smaller companies testify against Big Tech’s ‘monopoly power’ Living in limbo may end for Liberians in the US MORE (D-R.I.), the chairman of the House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee, which held the hearing on Big Tech in Colorado on Friday.

“It is far too common to hear horror stories from startups and other small businesses about how a dominant platform’s abrupt changes have destroyed their business,” he added. 

The hearing featured four tech executives who said their companies have suffered due to an unequal partnership with one of the four Big Tech firms.

Patrick Spence, the CEO of Sonos, alleged that Google stole his company’s intellectual property and wielded its dominant market position to crush Sonos’s core product as Google entered the smart speaker market. David Barnett, the founder and CEO of Popsockets — the company that creates removable grips for smart phones — discussed his firm’s fractured relationship with Amazon, Popsockets’ top customer until a series of disputes led Popsockets to break off its relationship with the online retail giant.

David Heinemeier Hansson, the co-founder and chief technology officer of Basecamp, took Google to task for requiring companies to buy their way to the top of its powerful search results. And Kirsten Daru, the vice president and general counsel of Tile, discussed her concerns that Apple knocked her company out of the market when it created a product to directly compete with Tile’s trackers.  

“Help us, Congress,” Hansson said. “You’re our only hope.” 

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Spence told the small group of lawmakers that innovation by small businesses is “endangered.” 

“I’m concerned that the market conditions that allowed us to innovate and thrive over the past two decades are being endangered by the rise of a small group of companies with unprecedented power,” Spence said.

The House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee has spent months collecting documents and testimony from small-to medium-sized businesses as it investigates Big Tech’s market dominance. So far, the small group of antitrust staffers have amassed millions of documents and continue to negotiate with the largest companies to obtain information to bolster their probe.

Cicilline, who has promised the investigation will wrap up within the next few months, told reporters last week that he plans to haul in the top tech CEOs to discuss how their companies operate. He already met privately with Facebook CEO Mark ZuckerbergMark Elliot ZuckerbergHillicon Valley: Biden calls for revoking tech legal shield | DHS chief ‘fully expects’ Russia to try to interfere in 2020 | Smaller companies testify against Big Tech ‘monopoly power’ Michigan governor urges Zuckerberg to enforce community guidelines after hate speech, threats surface Smaller companies testify against Big Tech’s ‘monopoly power’ MORE last year.

The hearing on Friday was markedly bipartisan, as Cicilline and subcommittee Vice Chairman Joseph Neguse (D-Colo.) mostly saw eye-to-eye with Rep. Ken BuckKenneth (Ken) Robert BuckSmaller companies testify against Big Tech’s ‘monopoly power’ The Hill’s Morning Report – Sponsored by AdvaMed – House panel expected to approve impeachment articles Thursday House passes bill that would give legal status to thousands of undocumented farmworkers MORE (R-Colo.). So far, House Judiciary’s antitrust investigation has touted equal participation by Republicans and Democrats on the committee, including the chairman and ranking member of the full panel. 

Buck said he is in favor of “small government” and noted he’s “concerned about government interfering in the marketplace.” But he added that he felt the companies are merely asking to “compete fairly” with the larger players.

Google, Amazon and Apple in statements vehemently denied the allegations from companies like Tile and Popsockets, claiming their stories are misleading or overblown. 

Google spokesman Jose Castaneda said the allegations from Sonos, which is suing Google in two federal court systems for intellectual property theft, are “misleading.” Sonos is alleging that Google infringed on five of their patents. 

“Our technology and devices were designed independently,” Castaneda said. “We deny their claims vigorously, and will be defending against them.”   

During the hearing, Spence said Google and Amazon are engaged in “predatory pricing” as they sell their smart speakers for very low prices that companies like his cannot afford.

And Amazon, responding to Barnett’s claims, called Popsockets a “valued retail vendor.” At the hearing, Barnett alleged Amazon took more than a year to address concerns that Popsockets was finding up to 1,000 fake versions of its products on Amazon’s online marketplace per day. And he said there is a “power asymmetry” when Amazon partners with smaller retailers.  

“Popsockets has been a valued retail vendor at Amazon and also supplies its products directly to other major retailers,” Amazon said in a statement. “We sought to continue working with Popsockets as a vendor to ensure that we could provide competitive prices, availability, broad selection and fast delivery for those products to our customers. Like any brand, however, PopSockets is free to choose which retailers it supplies and chose to stop selling directly through Amazon.” 

Apple, meanwhile, defended the software updates that have harmed Tile as an effort to create more privacy for users who use the iPhone.

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“Apple has not built a business model around knowing a customer’s location or the location of their device,” the company said in a statement. Tile’s representative at the hearing said Apple “exploited its market power” when it created Find My, an app that helps people find lost items, like Tile’s core product. 

Tile’s Daru said Apple has implemented software updates that harmed Tile’s ability to function on iOS, pointing out Apple owns the hardware and software that Tile relies on.

“It’s like playing a soccer game: You might be the best team in the league, but you’re playing against a team that owns the field, the ball, the stadium and the entire league,” Daru said. “They can change the rules of the game in their own favor at any time.” 

Facebook declined to comment. 

By the end of the hearing, each of the executives argued the government should step in to take on Apple, Google, Amazon and Facebook. 

“It would be great if the government at some level stepped in and said, ‘Massive companies that are systematically violating intellectual property rights of small players are targets for the government,'” Barnett said. 

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Hansson, of Basecamp, said the internet has been “colonized by a handful of big tech companies.” He said it’s time for Congress to intervene. 

The House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee is expected to publish a report about digital marketplace concerns, accompanied by tech antitrust legislation, in the first half of 2020.  

Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersSanders to headline Iowa event amid impeachment trial Hill.TV’s Saagar Enjeti rips Sanders over handling of feud with Warren On The Money — Presented by Wells Fargo — Sanders defends vote against USMCA | China sees weakest growth in 29 years | Warren praises IRS move on student loans MORE (I-Vt.) released a video on Friday explaining his vote Thursday against the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement trade deal (USMCA), saying that it included “not a single damn mention” of climate change. 

“There is not one reference to the words climate change,” Sanders said in the video posted to Twitter. “Here you have a major trade agreement which in fact will make it easier for the large oil companies to destroy our planet.”

He also repeated his concerns that it could result in U.S. jobs being outsourced to “low-wage” countries. 

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Sanders, who was one of only 10 senators to oppose the deal that overwhelmingly passed the Senate on Thursday, had previously expressed concerns about it, including during Tuesday night’s presidential debate. 

“Every major environmental organization has said no to this new trade agreement because it does not even have the phrase ‘climate change’ in it,” he said. “And given the fact that climate change is right now the greatest threat facing this planet, I will not vote for a trade agreement that does not incorporate very, very strong principles to significantly lower fossil fuel emissions in the world.”

Sanders split on the issue with fellow progressive candidate Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth Ann WarrenSanders to headline Iowa event amid impeachment trial Hill.TV’s Saagar Enjeti rips Sanders over handling of feud with Warren On The Money — Presented by Wells Fargo — Sanders defends vote against USMCA | China sees weakest growth in 29 years | Warren praises IRS move on student loans MORE (D-Mass.), who expressed support for the deal during the debate, saying that “it will give some relief to our farmers.”

The Democratic senators who joined Sanders in opposing the agreement on Thursday included Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerSanders defends vote against USMCA: ‘Not a single damn mention’ of climate change Schumer votes against USMCA, citing climate implications Senators are politicians, not jurors — they should act like it MORE (N.Y.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Kamala Harris (Calif.), Ed Markey (Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.), Jack Reed (R.I), Brian Schatz (Hawaii). Also voting “no” was GOP Sen. Pat ToomeyPatrick (Pat) Joseph ToomeyNSA improperly collected US phone records in October, new documents show Overnight Defense: Pick for South Korean envoy splits with Trump on nuclear threat | McCain blasts move to suspend Korean military exercises | White House defends Trump salute of North Korean general WH backpedals on Trump’s ‘due process’ remark on guns MORE (Pa.).

USMC-NAY: Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerSchumer votes against USMCA, citing climate implications Senators are politicians, not jurors — they should act like it GOP senator: 2020 candidates must recuse themselves from impeachment trial MORE (D-N.Y.) and other Democrats announced Thursday they would not support the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), citing the proposed deal’s failure to address climate change.

“Despite the fact that it includes very good labor provisions, I am voting against USMCA because it does not address climate change, the greatest threat facing the planet,” Schumer said in a statement.

“Instead of advancing global climate security by outlining binding and enforceable climate commitments from all three countries, the Trump administration provides significant incentives for manufacturers to move their business and their jobs from the U.S. to Mexico, where clean air and clean water regulations are much weaker,” he continued.

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Schumer made his announcement shortly before the Senate was set to vote on the revised North American trade deal on Thursday. The measure overwhelmingly passed the upper chamber in an 89-10 vote after the House signed off on it in December following months of closed-door negotiations.

Several other Democrats opposed the trade deal citing climate concerns, including Sens. Kirsten GillibrandKirsten GillibrandOvernight Energy: Schumer votes against USMCA, citing climate impact | Republicans offer details on their environmental proposals | Microsoft aims to be carbon negative by 2030 Here are the 10 senators who voted against Trump’s North American trade deal Team Trump criticizes Sanders for vote against USMCA MORE (N.Y.), Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisOvernight Energy: Schumer votes against USMCA, citing climate impact | Republicans offer details on their environmental proposals | Microsoft aims to be carbon negative by 2030 Here are the 10 senators who voted against Trump’s North American trade deal Team Trump criticizes Sanders for vote against USMCA MORE (Calif.), Ed MarkeyEdward (Ed) John MarkeyOvernight Energy: Schumer votes against USMCA, citing climate impact | Republicans offer details on their environmental proposals | Microsoft aims to be carbon negative by 2030 Here are the 10 senators who voted against Trump’s North American trade deal Schumer votes against USMCA, citing climate implications MORE (Mass.), Sheldon WhitehouseSheldon WhitehouseOvernight Energy: Schumer votes against USMCA, citing climate impact | Republicans offer details on their environmental proposals | Microsoft aims to be carbon negative by 2030 Senate Democrats launch investigation into Trump tax law regulations Here are the 10 senators who voted against Trump’s North American trade deal MORE (R.I.), Jack ReedJohn (Jack) Francis ReedOvernight Energy: Schumer votes against USMCA, citing climate impact | Republicans offer details on their environmental proposals | Microsoft aims to be carbon negative by 2030 Here are the 10 senators who voted against Trump’s North American trade deal Schumer votes against USMCA, citing climate implications MORE (R.I), Brian SchatzBrian Emanuel SchatzOvernight Energy: Schumer votes against USMCA, citing climate impact | Republicans offer details on their environmental proposals | Microsoft aims to be carbon negative by 2030 Here are the 10 senators who voted against Trump’s North American trade deal Schumer votes against USMCA, citing climate implications MORE (Hawaii) and Bernie SandersBernie SandersEx-Obama official on Sanders-Warren feud: ‘I don’t think it played out well for either of them’ Former Vermont Governor: Sanders ‘will play dirty’ Hill.TV’s Krystal Ball rips Warren over feud with Sanders MORE (I-Vt.).

Sanders mentioned climate change as a factor in his opposition to the trade deal during Tuesday’s night’s debate, only to be cut off by the moderator who promised to address climate change later.

“But they’re the same,” Sanders.

Gillibrand called the deal a “missed opportunity to address the urgent threats we face from climate change. It fails to close loopholes for corporate polluters or set binding, enforceable standards to protect clean air and water.” 

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew WheelerAndrew WheelerOvernight Energy: Schumer votes against USMCA, citing climate impact | Republicans offer details on their environmental proposals | Microsoft aims to be carbon negative by 2030 Schumer votes against USMCA, citing climate implications EPA appeals board is unconstitutional without reform MORE defended the deal’s climate credentials on Twitter, saying it “provides some of the strongest environmental protections ever negotiated in a free trade agreement, including important provisions to combat marine litter.”

Numerous Senate Democrats have announced their support for the deal, including progressive figures such as Brown and Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth Ann WarrenEx-Obama official on Sanders-Warren feud: ‘I don’t think it played out well for either of them’ Former Vermont Governor: Sanders ‘will play dirty’ Hill.TV’s Krystal Ball rips Warren over feud with Sanders MORE (D-Mass.), a Democratic presidential candidate.

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Read more about the Democratic opposition here.

 

HAPPY THURSDAY! Welcome to Overnight Energy, The Hill’s roundup of the latest energy and environment news.

Please send tips and comments to Rebecca Beitsch at rbeitsch@thehill.com. Follow her on Twitter: @rebeccabeitsch. Reach Rachel Frazin at rfrazin@thehill.com or follow her on Twitter: @RachelFrazin.

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GIVE US THE DEETS: House Republicans offered new details about their plans for environmental legislation after Democrats rolled out their own sweeping proposal last week, though leadership said the move was not a response to the Democrats’ plan.

At a Thursday morning meeting first reported by The Hill, lawmakers pitched their colleagues on a variety of approaches that could be incorporated into the eventual package. 

House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Greg WaldenGregory (Greg) Paul WaldenOvernight Energy: Schumer votes against USMCA, citing climate impact | Republicans offer details on their environmental proposals | Microsoft aims to be carbon negative by 2030 Republicans offer details on environmental proposals after Democrats roll out plan Overnight Energy: Cost analysis backing BLM move comes under scrutiny | Republicans eye legislation to rival Dems’ climate plan | Report claims top global risks all climate-related MORE (R-Ore.) told The Hill that the proposals would build upon a legislative package already endorsed by the minority, ranging from “forestry ideas” to investing in new research and planting trees.

“This really I think sets the stage for our involvement not only in climate but other environmental related issues,” he said. 

House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Ranking Member Garret GravesGarret Neal GravesOvernight Energy: Schumer votes against USMCA, citing climate impact | Republicans offer details on their environmental proposals | Microsoft aims to be carbon negative by 2030 Republicans offer details on environmental proposals after Democrats roll out plan Republicans eye legislation to rival Democrats’ sweeping climate plan MORE (R-La.) told The Hill that at the meeting, Republicans discussed a mix of both old and new bills. 

He said that a package, which could come out in the coming months, could include investing in research and development as well as efforts to make communities more resilient to the effects of climate change.

Thursday’s meeting follows the announcement of a broad package being developed by Democrats that requires 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2050, a mandate that includes a clean energy credit trading system. The transportation sector would also have to be emissions free by 2050 through increasingly tight vehicle standards. 

Buildings and industry would also be required to use materials from more eco-friendly sources and meet stricter building codes under the Democratic plan. 

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The Republican effort is being led by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin Owen McCarthyOvernight Energy: Schumer votes against USMCA, citing climate impact | Republicans offer details on their environmental proposals | Microsoft aims to be carbon negative by 2030 Republicans offer details on environmental proposals after Democrats roll out plan GOP leaders encourage retiring lawmakers to give up committee posts MORE (R-Calif.), whose office stressed in a Wednesday email to The Hill that it was not a response to the Democrats’ proposal. 

“This is a policy conference to discuss how conservative solutions have been the greatest driver of emissions reductions in the world and how these principles are the road map for a cleaner environment here at home and around the globe,” McCarthy spokesman Matt Sparks said by email. 

Graves told The Hill that at the meeting, GOP lawmakers also talked about “concerns related to some of the proposals that have been proffered on climate” by Democrats. He cited economic factors and possible reliance on foreign fuels. 

Environmental advocates, however, criticized the Republican conference based on the party’s past record on the issues. 

“Let’s get real: Congressional Republicans and Donald TrumpDonald John TrumpLev Parnas implicates Rick Perry, says Giuliani had him pressure Ukraine to announce Biden probe Saudi Arabia paid 0 million for cost of US troops in area Parnas claims ex-Trump attorney visited him in jail, asked him to sacrifice himself for president MORE just blocked a package of clean energy tax credits from being included in the year-end tax and budget deal,” Sierra Club global climate policy director John Coequyt said in a statement. 

Read more about their plans here. 

 

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MICROSOFT’S CARBON PUSH: Tech giant Microsoft announced Thursday it would seek to be carbon negative by 2030.

“The world’s climate experts agree that the world must take urgent action to bring down emissions. Ultimately, we must reach “net zero” emissions, meaning that humanity must remove as much carbon as it emits each year,” the company said in a release.

“While the world will need to reach net zero, those of us who can afford to move faster and go further should do so. That’s why today we are announcing an ambitious goal and a new plan to reduce and ultimately remove Microsoft’s carbon footprint.”

The plan involves increasing its own internal carbon price while imposing it for the first time on its suppliers.

The company will also shift to renewable electricity and an all-electric vehicle fleet.

 

OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY: 

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Toxic refinery leaks imperiled Philadelphia residents, E&E News reports

Florida moves to purchase land to protect Everglades from oil drilling, we report

Germany agrees timeline, compensation for coal phase-out, The Associated Press reports

 

ICYMI: Stories from Thursday…

Schumer votes against USMCA, citing climate implications

Republicans offer details on environmental proposals after Democrats roll out plan

Florida moves to purchase land to protect Everglades from oil drilling

Eleven U.S. troops were injured in the Iranian missile strike on two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops earlier this month launched in retaliation for the killing of a top general.

Defense One reported Thursday that the U.S. service members were airlifted to Kuwait and Germany where they received treatment for traumatic brain injuries and underwent further tests.

“Out of an abundance of caution, some service members were transported from Al Asad Air Base, Iraq to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, others were sent to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, for follow-on screening,” Col. Myles Caggins, a spokesman for U.S. military command in Baghdad, told the news outlet.

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“When deemed fit for duty, the service members are expected to return to Iraq following screening. The health and welfare of our personnel is a top priority and we will not discuss any individual’s medical status,” the statement continued.

At least some of the service members were thought to have suffered concussions in the attacks, according to a separate unnamed official.

“About a week after the attack some service members were still experiencing some symptoms of concussion,” the official said, adding: “We only got wind of this in the last 24 hours.”

The Trump administration previously had stated that no U.S. or Iraqi casualties were reported after the attacks, which occurred days after a U.S. airstrike killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani, head of Iran’s Quds forces, outside of Baghdad International Airport.

President TrumpDonald John TrumpLev Parnas implicates Rick Perry, says Giuliani had him pressure Ukraine to announce Biden probe Saudi Arabia paid 0 million for cost of US troops in area Parnas claims ex-Trump attorney visited him in jail, asked him to sacrifice himself for president MORE addressed the nation following the strikes, stating that Iranian forces were backing down and indicating that further military action would not be taken unless provoked by Iran.

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Former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenSanders to headline Iowa event amid impeachment trial Hillicon Valley: Biden calls for revoking tech legal shield | DHS chief ‘fully expects’ Russia to try to interfere in 2020 | Smaller companies testify against Big Tech ‘monopoly power’ Hill.TV’s Krystal Ball on Sanders-Warren feud: ‘Don’t play to the pundits, play to voters’ MORE called for revoking a key legal protection for online companies in an interview with The New York Times released Friday.

The presidential hopeful railed against Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which gives platforms legal immunity for content posted by third-party users while also giving them legal cover to take good-faith efforts to moderate their platforms, when asked about his concerns with Facebook.

“[The Times] can’t write something you know to be false and be exempt from being sued. But he can,” Biden told the Times editorial board, referring to Facebook CEO Mark ZuckerbergMark Elliot ZuckerbergHillicon Valley: Biden calls for revoking tech legal shield | DHS chief ‘fully expects’ Russia to try to interfere in 2020 | Smaller companies testify against Big Tech ‘monopoly power’ Michigan governor urges Zuckerberg to enforce community guidelines after hate speech, threats surface Smaller companies testify against Big Tech’s ‘monopoly power’ MORE.

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“The idea that it’s a tech company is that Section 230 should be revoked, immediately should be revoked, number one. For Zuckerberg and other platforms.”

Biden’s firm stance against the legal protection breaks with the other Democratic nomination contenders, some of whom have been critical of the law but none of whom have called for it to be “revoked.”

“It should be revoked because it is not merely an internet company,” Biden said when pressed about the importance of the law. “It is propagating falsehoods they know to be false, and we should be setting standards not unlike the Europeans are doing relative to privacy.”

His comments suggest that Biden may want to revoke protections from Facebook, rather than removing the law entirely. The Hill has reached out to Biden’s campaign for clarification.

As president, Biden would not be able to unilaterally remove Section 230. His comments suggest, however, that he would be willing to expend political capital to press Congress into acting on the internet law.

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Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have increasingly raised concerns about the statute, floating potential amendments to it. Sen. Josh HawleyJoshua (Josh) David HawleyBiden calls for revoking key online legal protection House poised to hand impeachment articles to Senate Pelosi set to send impeachment articles to the Senate next week MORE (R-Mo.) introduced legislation last year that would require platforms prove they are politically “neutral” before receiving Section 230 protections.

Former Rep. Beto O’RourkeBeto O’RourkeBiden calls for revoking key online legal protection Trump mocks Booker over suspended presidential campaign Julián Castro endorses Warren in 2020 race MORE (D-Texas), who suspended his presidential campaign last year, was the first Democratic contender to defend making changes to Section 230 as part of his platform.

This is not the first time Biden has criticized Section 230 protections in the context of Facebook.

“I, for one, think we should be considering taking away [Facebook’s] exemption that they cannot be sued for knowingly engaged on, in promoting something that’s not true,” he told CNN in November. 

Biden has been increasingly critical of Facebook since the platform declined to remove an ad run by President TrumpDonald John TrumpNational Archives says it altered Trump signs, other messages in Women’s March photo Dems plan marathon prep for Senate trial, wary of Trump trying to ‘game’ the process Democratic lawmaker dismisses GOP lawsuit threat: ‘Take your letter and shove it’ MORE‘s reelection campaign accusing the former vice president of using his office to pressure Ukrainian officials to drop an investigation into Burisma. His son Hunter Biden sat on the board of the company. 

Facebook has since defended its policy to not fact-check political ads several times, essentially allowing politicians to lie on its platform with limited exceptions.

The social media giant declined to comment on Biden’s comments to the Times, but pointed The Hill to testimony from Facebook’s vice president of global policy management Monika Bickert last week.

When asked about Section 230 by Sen. Roy BluntRoy Dean BluntSenate GOP mulls speeding up Trump impeachment trial Biden calls for revoking key online legal protection GOP threatens to weaponize impeachment witnesses amid standoff MORE (R-Mo.), Bickert described it as an “important part of my team being able to do what we do” which “gives us the ability to proactively look for abuse and remove it.”

Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) in a new interview likens the Green New Deal proposed by House progressives to “a slogan” and a type of “marketing tool.”

“Something that is very well intentioned, but, I think, bogus,” he said in an interview with The Atlantic published Friday.

The former governor acknowledged that the legislation may generate new buzz for combatting climate change, but added, “[t]o me, the only thing that really matters is: How do we move forward with our goals? And this means that we stop increasing the amount of greenhouse gases and pollution that we put out there.”

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Schwarzenegger, a former Republican governor who championed major energy and environmental reform in California before leaving office in 2011, said the rest of the country should follow the Golden State’s example.

“[M]y point always was that there’s only one deal, and that is the California deal,” he said.

“We in California have shown that it can be done, and we have shown how to do it. And therefore, if the nation really wants to be serious in reducing greenhouse gases by 25 percent like we did, all they have to do is copy us. That’s what states are supposed to do, to be the laboratory for the federal government, and just have the federal government copy very good ideas done by various states,” he added.

A vocal critic of President TrumpDonald John TrumpNational Archives says it altered Trump signs, other messages in Women’s March photo Dems plan marathon prep for Senate trial, wary of Trump trying to ‘game’ the process Democratic lawmaker dismisses GOP lawsuit threat: ‘Take your letter and shove it’ MORE‘s climate policies, Schwarzenegger has also sought to distance himself from others in the GOP on the issue and emphasized in the Atlantic interview that he sees himself aligned with a different type of Republican Party than the one controlling the White House.

“I think I’m a true Republican,” he said. “If you look at Ronald Reagan or President Nixon or President Lincoln, these were people that were fighting for equality. I’m inclusive. I see myself as that. I see myself as a Ronald Reagan Republican, someone that is very, very good with protecting the economy, but also good at protecting the environment.”

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad WolfChad WolfHillicon Valley: Biden calls for revoking tech legal shield | DHS chief ‘fully expects’ Russia to try to interfere in 2020 | Smaller companies testify against Big Tech ‘monopoly power’ Acting DHS secretary says he expects Russia to attempt to interfere in 2020 elections House to investigate Trump ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy MORE said Friday that his agency “fully expects” Russia to attempt to interfere in U.S. elections in 2020.

“As we saw in 2016, we fully expect Russia to attempt to interfere in the 2020 elections to sow public discord and undermine our democratic institutions,” Wolf said during an event hosted by the Homeland Security Experts Group in Washington, D.C.

Wolf also highlighted cyber threats from China and Iran. 

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According to the report compiled by former special counsel Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) Swan MuellerSchiff: Trump acquittal in Senate trial would not signal a ‘failure’ Jeffries blasts Trump for attack on Thunberg at impeachment hearing Live coverage: House Judiciary to vote on impeachment after surprise delay MORE and to findings by the U.S. intelligence community and the Senate Intelligence Committee, Russia launched a sweeping interference effort in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election, using both hacking and disinformation tactics. 

Wolf, who has served as acting secretary since November, stressed that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other federal agencies have taken measures to prepare for potential Russian interference efforts since 2016, and pointed to the 2018 midterm elections as being “the most secure elections in the modern era.”

“Let me be clear: We are prepared,” Wolf said. “More importantly, the state and local officials who run our elections are prepared. We are working with our federal partners to make sure those officials on the front lines of our elections have the information and the tools they need to combat Russian interference.” 

He also noted that the issue of election security is “front of mind” for the full federal government, including the White House, and that agencies are “laser-focused” on securing the 2020 elections.

Despite this focus, Wolf acknowledged that “100 percent security is never realistic.” But he touted reforms made since 2016 that means that “over 90 percent of votes cast in 2020 will have a corresponding paper ballot.”

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The use of voting machines that print out a paper record of how an individual voted has been a security upgrade touted by experts as a way to prevent foreign interference and to check the accuracy of the vote tally. While many states have switched to these types of machines, according to a report put out by New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice last year, about 16 million Americans are expected to vote in 2020 on machines with no paper record. 

Beyond election security, Wolf also used his speech on Friday to discuss cyber threats from countries including China, which Wolf described as the “most persistent nation state threat in the cyber realm.”

“Through cyber espionage and other activities that impact our economic prosperity and intellectual horsepower, it is pursuing a long-term ‘whole-of-nation’ effort to threaten and undermine the United States,” Wolf said of China. “While we value our partnership with Beijing to promote global prosperity, we are working to hold Chinese bad actors accountable for their malign activities.”

Potential Iranian cyberattacks on the U.S. have also been a concern since the beginning of 2020 following the targeting and killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. 

Wolf addressed this issue during his Friday speech, emphasizing that while there is currently “no credible, specific threat to the homeland,” DHS is “operating with an enhanced posture” in order to counter any physical or cyberattacks.

He pointed to a bulletin issued by DHS’s National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) last week as being a resource for information on Iranian threats. 

“As the NTAS bulletin mentions, we remain especially vigilant regarding cyber-enabled attacks from Iran against a range of U.S.-based targets — including our critical infrastructure,” Wolf said.

The speech marked one of the first times Wolf has publicly addressed his priorities for DHS.

Wolf is the third person to lead DHS in the past year, having stepped into the role of acting secretary in November following the departure of former acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan, who in turn took over after former Secretary Kirstjen NielsenKirstjen Michele NielsenActing DHS secretary says he expects Russia to attempt to interfere in 2020 elections House Homeland Security rip DHS’s ‘unacceptable’ failure to comply with subpoena Trump puts Kushner in charge of overseeing border wall construction: report MORE resigned in April.