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A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

SECO did not disclose any additional details about potential meetings or any progress made. Parmelin's office stated it would announce any meetings \u201cin due course.\u201d On Sunday, it was revealed that Budliger Artieda would remain in Washington until Wednesday. The state secretary was in Washington two weeks ago.
31% tariff from Wednesday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

SECO Director Helene Budliger Artieda has been in the US since Sunday, participating in discussions. She is presently in Washington to organize a visit by President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO did not disclose any additional details about potential meetings or any progress made. Parmelin's office stated it would announce any meetings \u201cin due course.\u201d On Sunday, it was revealed that Budliger Artieda would remain in Washington until Wednesday. The state secretary was in Washington two weeks ago.
31% tariff from Wednesday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

The availability of advanced and powerful AI semiconductor chips is limited for companies from Switzerland, which is not regarded as an \u201cally\u201d in the US capital. Even before Trump assumed office, former President Joe Biden's administration imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO Director Helene Budliger Artieda has been in the US since Sunday, participating in discussions. She is presently in Washington to organize a visit by President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO did not disclose any additional details about potential meetings or any progress made. Parmelin's office stated it would announce any meetings \u201cin due course.\u201d On Sunday, it was revealed that Budliger Artieda would remain in Washington until Wednesday. The state secretary was in Washington two weeks ago.
31% tariff from Wednesday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

The issue of expenses remained vague. According to the newspapers, the contract also governs any lobbying against the 31% duties imposed on Swiss imports by US President Donald Trump<\/a>. According to the Tamedia newspapers, Akin Gump is the second largest in the Washington lobbying industry with an annual revenue of $65 million. The engagement became known due to a legal requirement in the US, under which the law firm must disclose the mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The availability of advanced and powerful AI semiconductor chips is limited for companies from Switzerland, which is not regarded as an \u201cally\u201d in the US capital. Even before Trump assumed office, former President Joe Biden's administration imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO Director Helene Budliger Artieda has been in the US since Sunday, participating in discussions. She is presently in Washington to organize a visit by President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO did not disclose any additional details about potential meetings or any progress made. Parmelin's office stated it would announce any meetings \u201cin due course.\u201d On Sunday, it was revealed that Budliger Artieda would remain in Washington until Wednesday. The state secretary was in Washington two weeks ago.
31% tariff from Wednesday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

SECO endorsed a Tamedia article that it had hired a lobbying firm in the US \u2013 the law firm Akin Gump \u2013 to assist Switzerland in gaining full access to AI chips. It did not provide further details on the mandate for the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (Akin Gump for short) when asked by the news agency Keystone-SDA on Tuesday. \"The specialized American law firm is supporting Switzerland on the 'AI chips, '\" it confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue of expenses remained vague. According to the newspapers, the contract also governs any lobbying against the 31% duties imposed on Swiss imports by US President Donald Trump<\/a>. According to the Tamedia newspapers, Akin Gump is the second largest in the Washington lobbying industry with an annual revenue of $65 million. The engagement became known due to a legal requirement in the US, under which the law firm must disclose the mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The availability of advanced and powerful AI semiconductor chips is limited for companies from Switzerland, which is not regarded as an \u201cally\u201d in the US capital. Even before Trump assumed office, former President Joe Biden's administration imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO Director Helene Budliger Artieda has been in the US since Sunday, participating in discussions. She is presently in Washington to organize a visit by President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO did not disclose any additional details about potential meetings or any progress made. Parmelin's office stated it would announce any meetings \u201cin due course.\u201d On Sunday, it was revealed that Budliger Artieda would remain in Washington until Wednesday. The state secretary was in Washington two weeks ago.
31% tariff from Wednesday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has engaged a U.S. lobbying <\/a>firm to secure full access to artificial intelligence chips for the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO endorsed a Tamedia article that it had hired a lobbying firm in the US \u2013 the law firm Akin Gump \u2013 to assist Switzerland in gaining full access to AI chips. It did not provide further details on the mandate for the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (Akin Gump for short) when asked by the news agency Keystone-SDA on Tuesday. \"The specialized American law firm is supporting Switzerland on the 'AI chips, '\" it confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue of expenses remained vague. According to the newspapers, the contract also governs any lobbying against the 31% duties imposed on Swiss imports by US President Donald Trump<\/a>. According to the Tamedia newspapers, Akin Gump is the second largest in the Washington lobbying industry with an annual revenue of $65 million. The engagement became known due to a legal requirement in the US, under which the law firm must disclose the mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The availability of advanced and powerful AI semiconductor chips is limited for companies from Switzerland, which is not regarded as an \u201cally\u201d in the US capital. Even before Trump assumed office, former President Joe Biden's administration imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO Director Helene Budliger Artieda has been in the US since Sunday, participating in discussions. She is presently in Washington to organize a visit by President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO did not disclose any additional details about potential meetings or any progress made. Parmelin's office stated it would announce any meetings \u201cin due course.\u201d On Sunday, it was revealed that Budliger Artieda would remain in Washington until Wednesday. The state secretary was in Washington two weeks ago.
31% tariff from Wednesday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

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\"We allowed Trump to appropriate those themes of draining the swamp when it's complete hypocrisy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","post_title":"Drain the Swamp Act calls for permanent ban on lobbyist influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"drain-the-swamp-act-calls-for-permanent-ban-on-lobbyist-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7529","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7504,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_content":"\n

Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has engaged a U.S. lobbying <\/a>firm to secure full access to artificial intelligence chips for the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO endorsed a Tamedia article that it had hired a lobbying firm in the US \u2013 the law firm Akin Gump \u2013 to assist Switzerland in gaining full access to AI chips. It did not provide further details on the mandate for the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (Akin Gump for short) when asked by the news agency Keystone-SDA on Tuesday. \"The specialized American law firm is supporting Switzerland on the 'AI chips, '\" it confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue of expenses remained vague. According to the newspapers, the contract also governs any lobbying against the 31% duties imposed on Swiss imports by US President Donald Trump<\/a>. According to the Tamedia newspapers, Akin Gump is the second largest in the Washington lobbying industry with an annual revenue of $65 million. The engagement became known due to a legal requirement in the US, under which the law firm must disclose the mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The availability of advanced and powerful AI semiconductor chips is limited for companies from Switzerland, which is not regarded as an \u201cally\u201d in the US capital. Even before Trump assumed office, former President Joe Biden's administration imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO Director Helene Budliger Artieda has been in the US since Sunday, participating in discussions. She is presently in Washington to organize a visit by President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO did not disclose any additional details about potential meetings or any progress made. Parmelin's office stated it would announce any meetings \u201cin due course.\u201d On Sunday, it was revealed that Budliger Artieda would remain in Washington until Wednesday. The state secretary was in Washington two weeks ago.
31% tariff from Wednesday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

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\n

\"We allowed Trump to appropriate those themes of draining the swamp when it's complete hypocrisy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","post_title":"Drain the Swamp Act calls for permanent ban on lobbyist influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"drain-the-swamp-act-calls-for-permanent-ban-on-lobbyist-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7529","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7504,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_content":"\n

Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has engaged a U.S. lobbying <\/a>firm to secure full access to artificial intelligence chips for the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO endorsed a Tamedia article that it had hired a lobbying firm in the US \u2013 the law firm Akin Gump \u2013 to assist Switzerland in gaining full access to AI chips. It did not provide further details on the mandate for the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (Akin Gump for short) when asked by the news agency Keystone-SDA on Tuesday. \"The specialized American law firm is supporting Switzerland on the 'AI chips, '\" it confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue of expenses remained vague. According to the newspapers, the contract also governs any lobbying against the 31% duties imposed on Swiss imports by US President Donald Trump<\/a>. According to the Tamedia newspapers, Akin Gump is the second largest in the Washington lobbying industry with an annual revenue of $65 million. The engagement became known due to a legal requirement in the US, under which the law firm must disclose the mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The availability of advanced and powerful AI semiconductor chips is limited for companies from Switzerland, which is not regarded as an \u201cally\u201d in the US capital. Even before Trump assumed office, former President Joe Biden's administration imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO Director Helene Budliger Artieda has been in the US since Sunday, participating in discussions. She is presently in Washington to organize a visit by President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO did not disclose any additional details about potential meetings or any progress made. Parmelin's office stated it would announce any meetings \u201cin due course.\u201d On Sunday, it was revealed that Budliger Artieda would remain in Washington until Wednesday. The state secretary was in Washington two weeks ago.
31% tariff from Wednesday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\"We allowed Trump to appropriate those themes of draining the swamp when it's complete hypocrisy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","post_title":"Drain the Swamp Act calls for permanent ban on lobbyist influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"drain-the-swamp-act-calls-for-permanent-ban-on-lobbyist-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7529","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7504,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_content":"\n

Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has engaged a U.S. lobbying <\/a>firm to secure full access to artificial intelligence chips for the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO endorsed a Tamedia article that it had hired a lobbying firm in the US \u2013 the law firm Akin Gump \u2013 to assist Switzerland in gaining full access to AI chips. It did not provide further details on the mandate for the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (Akin Gump for short) when asked by the news agency Keystone-SDA on Tuesday. \"The specialized American law firm is supporting Switzerland on the 'AI chips, '\" it confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue of expenses remained vague. According to the newspapers, the contract also governs any lobbying against the 31% duties imposed on Swiss imports by US President Donald Trump<\/a>. According to the Tamedia newspapers, Akin Gump is the second largest in the Washington lobbying industry with an annual revenue of $65 million. The engagement became known due to a legal requirement in the US, under which the law firm must disclose the mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The availability of advanced and powerful AI semiconductor chips is limited for companies from Switzerland, which is not regarded as an \u201cally\u201d in the US capital. Even before Trump assumed office, former President Joe Biden's administration imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO Director Helene Budliger Artieda has been in the US since Sunday, participating in discussions. She is presently in Washington to organize a visit by President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO did not disclose any additional details about potential meetings or any progress made. Parmelin's office stated it would announce any meetings \u201cin due course.\u201d On Sunday, it was revealed that Budliger Artieda would remain in Washington until Wednesday. The state secretary was in Washington two weeks ago.
31% tariff from Wednesday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

\u201cWe have to be the party that puts money out of politics, puts the special influence out of politics, opposes corruption,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\"We allowed Trump to appropriate those themes of draining the swamp when it's complete hypocrisy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","post_title":"Drain the Swamp Act calls for permanent ban on lobbyist influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"drain-the-swamp-act-calls-for-permanent-ban-on-lobbyist-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7529","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7504,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_content":"\n

Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has engaged a U.S. lobbying <\/a>firm to secure full access to artificial intelligence chips for the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO endorsed a Tamedia article that it had hired a lobbying firm in the US \u2013 the law firm Akin Gump \u2013 to assist Switzerland in gaining full access to AI chips. It did not provide further details on the mandate for the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (Akin Gump for short) when asked by the news agency Keystone-SDA on Tuesday. \"The specialized American law firm is supporting Switzerland on the 'AI chips, '\" it confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue of expenses remained vague. According to the newspapers, the contract also governs any lobbying against the 31% duties imposed on Swiss imports by US President Donald Trump<\/a>. According to the Tamedia newspapers, Akin Gump is the second largest in the Washington lobbying industry with an annual revenue of $65 million. The engagement became known due to a legal requirement in the US, under which the law firm must disclose the mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The availability of advanced and powerful AI semiconductor chips is limited for companies from Switzerland, which is not regarded as an \u201cally\u201d in the US capital. Even before Trump assumed office, former President Joe Biden's administration imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO Director Helene Budliger Artieda has been in the US since Sunday, participating in discussions. She is presently in Washington to organize a visit by President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO did not disclose any additional details about potential meetings or any progress made. Parmelin's office stated it would announce any meetings \u201cin due course.\u201d On Sunday, it was revealed that Budliger Artieda would remain in Washington until Wednesday. The state secretary was in Washington two weeks ago.
31% tariff from Wednesday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

\n

\u201cWe have to be the party that puts money out of politics, puts the special influence out of politics, opposes corruption,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\"We allowed Trump to appropriate those themes of draining the swamp when it's complete hypocrisy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","post_title":"Drain the Swamp Act calls for permanent ban on lobbyist influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"drain-the-swamp-act-calls-for-permanent-ban-on-lobbyist-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7529","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7504,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_content":"\n

Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has engaged a U.S. lobbying <\/a>firm to secure full access to artificial intelligence chips for the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO endorsed a Tamedia article that it had hired a lobbying firm in the US \u2013 the law firm Akin Gump \u2013 to assist Switzerland in gaining full access to AI chips. It did not provide further details on the mandate for the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (Akin Gump for short) when asked by the news agency Keystone-SDA on Tuesday. \"The specialized American law firm is supporting Switzerland on the 'AI chips, '\" it confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue of expenses remained vague. According to the newspapers, the contract also governs any lobbying against the 31% duties imposed on Swiss imports by US President Donald Trump<\/a>. According to the Tamedia newspapers, Akin Gump is the second largest in the Washington lobbying industry with an annual revenue of $65 million. The engagement became known due to a legal requirement in the US, under which the law firm must disclose the mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The availability of advanced and powerful AI semiconductor chips is limited for companies from Switzerland, which is not regarded as an \u201cally\u201d in the US capital. Even before Trump assumed office, former President Joe Biden's administration imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO Director Helene Budliger Artieda has been in the US since Sunday, participating in discussions. She is presently in Washington to organize a visit by President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO did not disclose any additional details about potential meetings or any progress made. Parmelin's office stated it would announce any meetings \u201cin due course.\u201d On Sunday, it was revealed that Budliger Artieda would remain in Washington until Wednesday. The state secretary was in Washington two weeks ago.
31% tariff from Wednesday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

Nevertheless, Khanna is adamant that Democrats need to recapture anti-corruption as a signature cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWe have to be the party that puts money out of politics, puts the special influence out of politics, opposes corruption,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\"We allowed Trump to appropriate those themes of draining the swamp when it's complete hypocrisy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","post_title":"Drain the Swamp Act calls for permanent ban on lobbyist influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"drain-the-swamp-act-calls-for-permanent-ban-on-lobbyist-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7529","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7504,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_content":"\n

Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has engaged a U.S. lobbying <\/a>firm to secure full access to artificial intelligence chips for the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO endorsed a Tamedia article that it had hired a lobbying firm in the US \u2013 the law firm Akin Gump \u2013 to assist Switzerland in gaining full access to AI chips. It did not provide further details on the mandate for the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (Akin Gump for short) when asked by the news agency Keystone-SDA on Tuesday. \"The specialized American law firm is supporting Switzerland on the 'AI chips, '\" it confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue of expenses remained vague. According to the newspapers, the contract also governs any lobbying against the 31% duties imposed on Swiss imports by US President Donald Trump<\/a>. According to the Tamedia newspapers, Akin Gump is the second largest in the Washington lobbying industry with an annual revenue of $65 million. The engagement became known due to a legal requirement in the US, under which the law firm must disclose the mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The availability of advanced and powerful AI semiconductor chips is limited for companies from Switzerland, which is not regarded as an \u201cally\u201d in the US capital. Even before Trump assumed office, former President Joe Biden's administration imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO Director Helene Budliger Artieda has been in the US since Sunday, participating in discussions. She is presently in Washington to organize a visit by President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO did not disclose any additional details about potential meetings or any progress made. Parmelin's office stated it would announce any meetings \u201cin due course.\u201d On Sunday, it was revealed that Budliger Artieda would remain in Washington until Wednesday. The state secretary was in Washington two weeks ago.
31% tariff from Wednesday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

But the bill seems to be mum on independent oversight mechanisms that would be immune to presidential pressure. And with Republicans holding the House, Senate and White House trifecta, the legislation has long-shot chances of moving forward without the blessing of Trump allies on Capitol Hill<\/a>. Without bipartisan support, legislative attempts to reinstate or strengthen ethics rules may have a hard time moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, Khanna is adamant that Democrats need to recapture anti-corruption as a signature cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWe have to be the party that puts money out of politics, puts the special influence out of politics, opposes corruption,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\"We allowed Trump to appropriate those themes of draining the swamp when it's complete hypocrisy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","post_title":"Drain the Swamp Act calls for permanent ban on lobbyist influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"drain-the-swamp-act-calls-for-permanent-ban-on-lobbyist-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7529","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7504,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_content":"\n

Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has engaged a U.S. lobbying <\/a>firm to secure full access to artificial intelligence chips for the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO endorsed a Tamedia article that it had hired a lobbying firm in the US \u2013 the law firm Akin Gump \u2013 to assist Switzerland in gaining full access to AI chips. It did not provide further details on the mandate for the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (Akin Gump for short) when asked by the news agency Keystone-SDA on Tuesday. \"The specialized American law firm is supporting Switzerland on the 'AI chips, '\" it confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue of expenses remained vague. According to the newspapers, the contract also governs any lobbying against the 31% duties imposed on Swiss imports by US President Donald Trump<\/a>. According to the Tamedia newspapers, Akin Gump is the second largest in the Washington lobbying industry with an annual revenue of $65 million. The engagement became known due to a legal requirement in the US, under which the law firm must disclose the mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The availability of advanced and powerful AI semiconductor chips is limited for companies from Switzerland, which is not regarded as an \u201cally\u201d in the US capital. Even before Trump assumed office, former President Joe Biden's administration imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO Director Helene Budliger Artieda has been in the US since Sunday, participating in discussions. She is presently in Washington to organize a visit by President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO did not disclose any additional details about potential meetings or any progress made. Parmelin's office stated it would announce any meetings \u201cin due course.\u201d On Sunday, it was revealed that Budliger Artieda would remain in Washington until Wednesday. The state secretary was in Washington two weeks ago.
31% tariff from Wednesday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

Though still in very preliminary stages, the intention would be to have the public integrity section of the justice department lead the way if the bill is passed, Khanna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the bill seems to be mum on independent oversight mechanisms that would be immune to presidential pressure. And with Republicans holding the House, Senate and White House trifecta, the legislation has long-shot chances of moving forward without the blessing of Trump allies on Capitol Hill<\/a>. Without bipartisan support, legislative attempts to reinstate or strengthen ethics rules may have a hard time moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, Khanna is adamant that Democrats need to recapture anti-corruption as a signature cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWe have to be the party that puts money out of politics, puts the special influence out of politics, opposes corruption,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\"We allowed Trump to appropriate those themes of draining the swamp when it's complete hypocrisy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","post_title":"Drain the Swamp Act calls for permanent ban on lobbyist influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"drain-the-swamp-act-calls-for-permanent-ban-on-lobbyist-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7529","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7504,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_content":"\n

Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has engaged a U.S. lobbying <\/a>firm to secure full access to artificial intelligence chips for the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO endorsed a Tamedia article that it had hired a lobbying firm in the US \u2013 the law firm Akin Gump \u2013 to assist Switzerland in gaining full access to AI chips. It did not provide further details on the mandate for the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (Akin Gump for short) when asked by the news agency Keystone-SDA on Tuesday. \"The specialized American law firm is supporting Switzerland on the 'AI chips, '\" it confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue of expenses remained vague. According to the newspapers, the contract also governs any lobbying against the 31% duties imposed on Swiss imports by US President Donald Trump<\/a>. According to the Tamedia newspapers, Akin Gump is the second largest in the Washington lobbying industry with an annual revenue of $65 million. The engagement became known due to a legal requirement in the US, under which the law firm must disclose the mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The availability of advanced and powerful AI semiconductor chips is limited for companies from Switzerland, which is not regarded as an \u201cally\u201d in the US capital. Even before Trump assumed office, former President Joe Biden's administration imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO Director Helene Budliger Artieda has been in the US since Sunday, participating in discussions. She is presently in Washington to organize a visit by President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO did not disclose any additional details about potential meetings or any progress made. Parmelin's office stated it would announce any meetings \u201cin due course.\u201d On Sunday, it was revealed that Budliger Artieda would remain in Washington until Wednesday. The state secretary was in Washington two weeks ago.
31% tariff from Wednesday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

We began with a meme coin. I mean, that was the most egregious violation. That's like having a<\/a> Swiss bank account in place, where individuals can simply purchase your meme coin, the world isn't aware of it, and they can approach you and prove that they did it,\" Khanna said. \"There is a complete regression on ethics standards, and, of course, the politicization of the civil service.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though still in very preliminary stages, the intention would be to have the public integrity section of the justice department lead the way if the bill is passed, Khanna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the bill seems to be mum on independent oversight mechanisms that would be immune to presidential pressure. And with Republicans holding the House, Senate and White House trifecta, the legislation has long-shot chances of moving forward without the blessing of Trump allies on Capitol Hill<\/a>. Without bipartisan support, legislative attempts to reinstate or strengthen ethics rules may have a hard time moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, Khanna is adamant that Democrats need to recapture anti-corruption as a signature cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWe have to be the party that puts money out of politics, puts the special influence out of politics, opposes corruption,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\"We allowed Trump to appropriate those themes of draining the swamp when it's complete hypocrisy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","post_title":"Drain the Swamp Act calls for permanent ban on lobbyist influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"drain-the-swamp-act-calls-for-permanent-ban-on-lobbyist-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7529","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7504,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_content":"\n

Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has engaged a U.S. lobbying <\/a>firm to secure full access to artificial intelligence chips for the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO endorsed a Tamedia article that it had hired a lobbying firm in the US \u2013 the law firm Akin Gump \u2013 to assist Switzerland in gaining full access to AI chips. It did not provide further details on the mandate for the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (Akin Gump for short) when asked by the news agency Keystone-SDA on Tuesday. \"The specialized American law firm is supporting Switzerland on the 'AI chips, '\" it confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue of expenses remained vague. According to the newspapers, the contract also governs any lobbying against the 31% duties imposed on Swiss imports by US President Donald Trump<\/a>. According to the Tamedia newspapers, Akin Gump is the second largest in the Washington lobbying industry with an annual revenue of $65 million. The engagement became known due to a legal requirement in the US, under which the law firm must disclose the mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The availability of advanced and powerful AI semiconductor chips is limited for companies from Switzerland, which is not regarded as an \u201cally\u201d in the US capital. Even before Trump assumed office, former President Joe Biden's administration imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO Director Helene Budliger Artieda has been in the US since Sunday, participating in discussions. She is presently in Washington to organize a visit by President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO did not disclose any additional details about potential meetings or any progress made. Parmelin's office stated it would announce any meetings \u201cin due course.\u201d On Sunday, it was revealed that Budliger Artieda would remain in Washington until Wednesday. The state secretary was in Washington two weeks ago.
31% tariff from Wednesday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

Khanna, one of a group of Congress members who accepts no political action committee and lobbyist contributions, said what he observes is hypocrisy in the current government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We began with a meme coin. I mean, that was the most egregious violation. That's like having a<\/a> Swiss bank account in place, where individuals can simply purchase your meme coin, the world isn't aware of it, and they can approach you and prove that they did it,\" Khanna said. \"There is a complete regression on ethics standards, and, of course, the politicization of the civil service.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though still in very preliminary stages, the intention would be to have the public integrity section of the justice department lead the way if the bill is passed, Khanna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the bill seems to be mum on independent oversight mechanisms that would be immune to presidential pressure. And with Republicans holding the House, Senate and White House trifecta, the legislation has long-shot chances of moving forward without the blessing of Trump allies on Capitol Hill<\/a>. Without bipartisan support, legislative attempts to reinstate or strengthen ethics rules may have a hard time moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, Khanna is adamant that Democrats need to recapture anti-corruption as a signature cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWe have to be the party that puts money out of politics, puts the special influence out of politics, opposes corruption,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\"We allowed Trump to appropriate those themes of draining the swamp when it's complete hypocrisy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","post_title":"Drain the Swamp Act calls for permanent ban on lobbyist influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"drain-the-swamp-act-calls-for-permanent-ban-on-lobbyist-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7529","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7504,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_content":"\n

Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has engaged a U.S. lobbying <\/a>firm to secure full access to artificial intelligence chips for the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO endorsed a Tamedia article that it had hired a lobbying firm in the US \u2013 the law firm Akin Gump \u2013 to assist Switzerland in gaining full access to AI chips. It did not provide further details on the mandate for the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (Akin Gump for short) when asked by the news agency Keystone-SDA on Tuesday. \"The specialized American law firm is supporting Switzerland on the 'AI chips, '\" it confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue of expenses remained vague. According to the newspapers, the contract also governs any lobbying against the 31% duties imposed on Swiss imports by US President Donald Trump<\/a>. According to the Tamedia newspapers, Akin Gump is the second largest in the Washington lobbying industry with an annual revenue of $65 million. The engagement became known due to a legal requirement in the US, under which the law firm must disclose the mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The availability of advanced and powerful AI semiconductor chips is limited for companies from Switzerland, which is not regarded as an \u201cally\u201d in the US capital. Even before Trump assumed office, former President Joe Biden's administration imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO Director Helene Budliger Artieda has been in the US since Sunday, participating in discussions. She is presently in Washington to organize a visit by President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO did not disclose any additional details about potential meetings or any progress made. Parmelin's office stated it would announce any meetings \u201cin due course.\u201d On Sunday, it was revealed that Budliger Artieda would remain in Washington until Wednesday. The state secretary was in Washington two weeks ago.
31% tariff from Wednesday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

Trump's campaign business \u2013 selling everything from gold-plated sneakers to diamond watches and branded Bibles \u2013 reflected a trend of profiteering off of political clout that Khanna's bill seeks to combat at the governmental level. The White House's recent easing of ethics guidelines is in contrast to his initial administration, when he first took away a five-year lobbying ban on outgoing officials \u2013 only to overturn those very same prohibitions on his last days in office in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Khanna, one of a group of Congress members who accepts no political action committee and lobbyist contributions, said what he observes is hypocrisy in the current government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We began with a meme coin. I mean, that was the most egregious violation. That's like having a<\/a> Swiss bank account in place, where individuals can simply purchase your meme coin, the world isn't aware of it, and they can approach you and prove that they did it,\" Khanna said. \"There is a complete regression on ethics standards, and, of course, the politicization of the civil service.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though still in very preliminary stages, the intention would be to have the public integrity section of the justice department lead the way if the bill is passed, Khanna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the bill seems to be mum on independent oversight mechanisms that would be immune to presidential pressure. And with Republicans holding the House, Senate and White House trifecta, the legislation has long-shot chances of moving forward without the blessing of Trump allies on Capitol Hill<\/a>. Without bipartisan support, legislative attempts to reinstate or strengthen ethics rules may have a hard time moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, Khanna is adamant that Democrats need to recapture anti-corruption as a signature cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWe have to be the party that puts money out of politics, puts the special influence out of politics, opposes corruption,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\"We allowed Trump to appropriate those themes of draining the swamp when it's complete hypocrisy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","post_title":"Drain the Swamp Act calls for permanent ban on lobbyist influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"drain-the-swamp-act-calls-for-permanent-ban-on-lobbyist-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7529","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7504,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_content":"\n

Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has engaged a U.S. lobbying <\/a>firm to secure full access to artificial intelligence chips for the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO endorsed a Tamedia article that it had hired a lobbying firm in the US \u2013 the law firm Akin Gump \u2013 to assist Switzerland in gaining full access to AI chips. It did not provide further details on the mandate for the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (Akin Gump for short) when asked by the news agency Keystone-SDA on Tuesday. \"The specialized American law firm is supporting Switzerland on the 'AI chips, '\" it confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue of expenses remained vague. According to the newspapers, the contract also governs any lobbying against the 31% duties imposed on Swiss imports by US President Donald Trump<\/a>. According to the Tamedia newspapers, Akin Gump is the second largest in the Washington lobbying industry with an annual revenue of $65 million. The engagement became known due to a legal requirement in the US, under which the law firm must disclose the mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The availability of advanced and powerful AI semiconductor chips is limited for companies from Switzerland, which is not regarded as an \u201cally\u201d in the US capital. Even before Trump assumed office, former President Joe Biden's administration imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO Director Helene Budliger Artieda has been in the US since Sunday, participating in discussions. She is presently in Washington to organize a visit by President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO did not disclose any additional details about potential meetings or any progress made. Parmelin's office stated it would announce any meetings \u201cin due course.\u201d On Sunday, it was revealed that Budliger Artieda would remain in Washington until Wednesday. The state secretary was in Washington two weeks ago.
31% tariff from Wednesday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

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\n

The congressman's bill is in direct response to Trump's move to revoke a Biden-era executive order on ethics regulations when he returned to office in January. The legislation would bar appointees from receiving gifts from registered lobbyists, require two-year cooling-off periods for officials entering and leaving government, and prohibit special \"golden parachute\" contributions from previous employers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump's campaign business \u2013 selling everything from gold-plated sneakers to diamond watches and branded Bibles \u2013 reflected a trend of profiteering off of political clout that Khanna's bill seeks to combat at the governmental level. The White House's recent easing of ethics guidelines is in contrast to his initial administration, when he first took away a five-year lobbying ban on outgoing officials \u2013 only to overturn those very same prohibitions on his last days in office in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Khanna, one of a group of Congress members who accepts no political action committee and lobbyist contributions, said what he observes is hypocrisy in the current government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We began with a meme coin. I mean, that was the most egregious violation. That's like having a<\/a> Swiss bank account in place, where individuals can simply purchase your meme coin, the world isn't aware of it, and they can approach you and prove that they did it,\" Khanna said. \"There is a complete regression on ethics standards, and, of course, the politicization of the civil service.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though still in very preliminary stages, the intention would be to have the public integrity section of the justice department lead the way if the bill is passed, Khanna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the bill seems to be mum on independent oversight mechanisms that would be immune to presidential pressure. And with Republicans holding the House, Senate and White House trifecta, the legislation has long-shot chances of moving forward without the blessing of Trump allies on Capitol Hill<\/a>. Without bipartisan support, legislative attempts to reinstate or strengthen ethics rules may have a hard time moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, Khanna is adamant that Democrats need to recapture anti-corruption as a signature cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWe have to be the party that puts money out of politics, puts the special influence out of politics, opposes corruption,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\"We allowed Trump to appropriate those themes of draining the swamp when it's complete hypocrisy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","post_title":"Drain the Swamp Act calls for permanent ban on lobbyist influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"drain-the-swamp-act-calls-for-permanent-ban-on-lobbyist-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7529","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7504,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_content":"\n

Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has engaged a U.S. lobbying <\/a>firm to secure full access to artificial intelligence chips for the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO endorsed a Tamedia article that it had hired a lobbying firm in the US \u2013 the law firm Akin Gump \u2013 to assist Switzerland in gaining full access to AI chips. It did not provide further details on the mandate for the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (Akin Gump for short) when asked by the news agency Keystone-SDA on Tuesday. \"The specialized American law firm is supporting Switzerland on the 'AI chips, '\" it confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue of expenses remained vague. According to the newspapers, the contract also governs any lobbying against the 31% duties imposed on Swiss imports by US President Donald Trump<\/a>. According to the Tamedia newspapers, Akin Gump is the second largest in the Washington lobbying industry with an annual revenue of $65 million. The engagement became known due to a legal requirement in the US, under which the law firm must disclose the mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The availability of advanced and powerful AI semiconductor chips is limited for companies from Switzerland, which is not regarded as an \u201cally\u201d in the US capital. Even before Trump assumed office, former President Joe Biden's administration imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO Director Helene Budliger Artieda has been in the US since Sunday, participating in discussions. She is presently in Washington to organize a visit by President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO did not disclose any additional details about potential meetings or any progress made. Parmelin's office stated it would announce any meetings \u201cin due course.\u201d On Sunday, it was revealed that Budliger Artieda would remain in Washington until Wednesday. The state secretary was in Washington two weeks ago.
31% tariff from Wednesday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

\"He campaigned on draining the swamp, and then he goes in there and he says, no, lobbyists can give gifts to White House staff,\" Khanna said. \"What I'm saying is that we must prohibit lobbyists from giving gifts to White House staff, not just this administration, but for all administrations in the future.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The congressman's bill is in direct response to Trump's move to revoke a Biden-era executive order on ethics regulations when he returned to office in January. The legislation would bar appointees from receiving gifts from registered lobbyists, require two-year cooling-off periods for officials entering and leaving government, and prohibit special \"golden parachute\" contributions from previous employers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump's campaign business \u2013 selling everything from gold-plated sneakers to diamond watches and branded Bibles \u2013 reflected a trend of profiteering off of political clout that Khanna's bill seeks to combat at the governmental level. The White House's recent easing of ethics guidelines is in contrast to his initial administration, when he first took away a five-year lobbying ban on outgoing officials \u2013 only to overturn those very same prohibitions on his last days in office in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Khanna, one of a group of Congress members who accepts no political action committee and lobbyist contributions, said what he observes is hypocrisy in the current government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We began with a meme coin. I mean, that was the most egregious violation. That's like having a<\/a> Swiss bank account in place, where individuals can simply purchase your meme coin, the world isn't aware of it, and they can approach you and prove that they did it,\" Khanna said. \"There is a complete regression on ethics standards, and, of course, the politicization of the civil service.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though still in very preliminary stages, the intention would be to have the public integrity section of the justice department lead the way if the bill is passed, Khanna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the bill seems to be mum on independent oversight mechanisms that would be immune to presidential pressure. And with Republicans holding the House, Senate and White House trifecta, the legislation has long-shot chances of moving forward without the blessing of Trump allies on Capitol Hill<\/a>. Without bipartisan support, legislative attempts to reinstate or strengthen ethics rules may have a hard time moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, Khanna is adamant that Democrats need to recapture anti-corruption as a signature cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWe have to be the party that puts money out of politics, puts the special influence out of politics, opposes corruption,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\"We allowed Trump to appropriate those themes of draining the swamp when it's complete hypocrisy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","post_title":"Drain the Swamp Act calls for permanent ban on lobbyist influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"drain-the-swamp-act-calls-for-permanent-ban-on-lobbyist-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7529","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7504,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_content":"\n

Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has engaged a U.S. lobbying <\/a>firm to secure full access to artificial intelligence chips for the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO endorsed a Tamedia article that it had hired a lobbying firm in the US \u2013 the law firm Akin Gump \u2013 to assist Switzerland in gaining full access to AI chips. It did not provide further details on the mandate for the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (Akin Gump for short) when asked by the news agency Keystone-SDA on Tuesday. \"The specialized American law firm is supporting Switzerland on the 'AI chips, '\" it confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue of expenses remained vague. According to the newspapers, the contract also governs any lobbying against the 31% duties imposed on Swiss imports by US President Donald Trump<\/a>. According to the Tamedia newspapers, Akin Gump is the second largest in the Washington lobbying industry with an annual revenue of $65 million. The engagement became known due to a legal requirement in the US, under which the law firm must disclose the mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The availability of advanced and powerful AI semiconductor chips is limited for companies from Switzerland, which is not regarded as an \u201cally\u201d in the US capital. Even before Trump assumed office, former President Joe Biden's administration imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO Director Helene Budliger Artieda has been in the US since Sunday, participating in discussions. She is presently in Washington to organize a visit by President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO did not disclose any additional details about potential meetings or any progress made. Parmelin's office stated it would announce any meetings \u201cin due course.\u201d On Sunday, it was revealed that Budliger Artieda would remain in Washington until Wednesday. The state secretary was in Washington two weeks ago.
31% tariff from Wednesday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

Page 48 of 75 Previous 1 … 47 48 49 … 75 Next

\n

The \"Drain the Swamp Act\" would make permanent law the ethics requirements already put in place by executive order, such as prohibitions on lobbyist gifts and \"revolving door\" restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"He campaigned on draining the swamp, and then he goes in there and he says, no, lobbyists can give gifts to White House staff,\" Khanna said. \"What I'm saying is that we must prohibit lobbyists from giving gifts to White House staff, not just this administration, but for all administrations in the future.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The congressman's bill is in direct response to Trump's move to revoke a Biden-era executive order on ethics regulations when he returned to office in January. The legislation would bar appointees from receiving gifts from registered lobbyists, require two-year cooling-off periods for officials entering and leaving government, and prohibit special \"golden parachute\" contributions from previous employers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump's campaign business \u2013 selling everything from gold-plated sneakers to diamond watches and branded Bibles \u2013 reflected a trend of profiteering off of political clout that Khanna's bill seeks to combat at the governmental level. The White House's recent easing of ethics guidelines is in contrast to his initial administration, when he first took away a five-year lobbying ban on outgoing officials \u2013 only to overturn those very same prohibitions on his last days in office in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Khanna, one of a group of Congress members who accepts no political action committee and lobbyist contributions, said what he observes is hypocrisy in the current government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We began with a meme coin. I mean, that was the most egregious violation. That's like having a<\/a> Swiss bank account in place, where individuals can simply purchase your meme coin, the world isn't aware of it, and they can approach you and prove that they did it,\" Khanna said. \"There is a complete regression on ethics standards, and, of course, the politicization of the civil service.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though still in very preliminary stages, the intention would be to have the public integrity section of the justice department lead the way if the bill is passed, Khanna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the bill seems to be mum on independent oversight mechanisms that would be immune to presidential pressure. And with Republicans holding the House, Senate and White House trifecta, the legislation has long-shot chances of moving forward without the blessing of Trump allies on Capitol Hill<\/a>. Without bipartisan support, legislative attempts to reinstate or strengthen ethics rules may have a hard time moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, Khanna is adamant that Democrats need to recapture anti-corruption as a signature cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWe have to be the party that puts money out of politics, puts the special influence out of politics, opposes corruption,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\"We allowed Trump to appropriate those themes of draining the swamp when it's complete hypocrisy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","post_title":"Drain the Swamp Act calls for permanent ban on lobbyist influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"drain-the-swamp-act-calls-for-permanent-ban-on-lobbyist-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7529","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7504,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_content":"\n

Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has engaged a U.S. lobbying <\/a>firm to secure full access to artificial intelligence chips for the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO endorsed a Tamedia article that it had hired a lobbying firm in the US \u2013 the law firm Akin Gump \u2013 to assist Switzerland in gaining full access to AI chips. It did not provide further details on the mandate for the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (Akin Gump for short) when asked by the news agency Keystone-SDA on Tuesday. \"The specialized American law firm is supporting Switzerland on the 'AI chips, '\" it confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue of expenses remained vague. According to the newspapers, the contract also governs any lobbying against the 31% duties imposed on Swiss imports by US President Donald Trump<\/a>. According to the Tamedia newspapers, Akin Gump is the second largest in the Washington lobbying industry with an annual revenue of $65 million. The engagement became known due to a legal requirement in the US, under which the law firm must disclose the mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The availability of advanced and powerful AI semiconductor chips is limited for companies from Switzerland, which is not regarded as an \u201cally\u201d in the US capital. Even before Trump assumed office, former President Joe Biden's administration imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO Director Helene Budliger Artieda has been in the US since Sunday, participating in discussions. She is presently in Washington to organize a visit by President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO did not disclose any additional details about potential meetings or any progress made. Parmelin's office stated it would announce any meetings \u201cin due course.\u201d On Sunday, it was revealed that Budliger Artieda would remain in Washington until Wednesday. The state secretary was in Washington two weeks ago.
31% tariff from Wednesday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

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California Congressman Ro Khanna is filing legislation that flips the president's own slogan back on him and would require White House staff to adhere to rigid anti-corruption protocols after Donald Trump<\/a> dismantled ethics guidelines put in place by his predecessor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \"Drain the Swamp Act\" would make permanent law the ethics requirements already put in place by executive order, such as prohibitions on lobbyist gifts and \"revolving door\" restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"He campaigned on draining the swamp, and then he goes in there and he says, no, lobbyists can give gifts to White House staff,\" Khanna said. \"What I'm saying is that we must prohibit lobbyists from giving gifts to White House staff, not just this administration, but for all administrations in the future.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The congressman's bill is in direct response to Trump's move to revoke a Biden-era executive order on ethics regulations when he returned to office in January. The legislation would bar appointees from receiving gifts from registered lobbyists, require two-year cooling-off periods for officials entering and leaving government, and prohibit special \"golden parachute\" contributions from previous employers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump's campaign business \u2013 selling everything from gold-plated sneakers to diamond watches and branded Bibles \u2013 reflected a trend of profiteering off of political clout that Khanna's bill seeks to combat at the governmental level. The White House's recent easing of ethics guidelines is in contrast to his initial administration, when he first took away a five-year lobbying ban on outgoing officials \u2013 only to overturn those very same prohibitions on his last days in office in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Khanna, one of a group of Congress members who accepts no political action committee and lobbyist contributions, said what he observes is hypocrisy in the current government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We began with a meme coin. I mean, that was the most egregious violation. That's like having a<\/a> Swiss bank account in place, where individuals can simply purchase your meme coin, the world isn't aware of it, and they can approach you and prove that they did it,\" Khanna said. \"There is a complete regression on ethics standards, and, of course, the politicization of the civil service.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though still in very preliminary stages, the intention would be to have the public integrity section of the justice department lead the way if the bill is passed, Khanna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the bill seems to be mum on independent oversight mechanisms that would be immune to presidential pressure. And with Republicans holding the House, Senate and White House trifecta, the legislation has long-shot chances of moving forward without the blessing of Trump allies on Capitol Hill<\/a>. Without bipartisan support, legislative attempts to reinstate or strengthen ethics rules may have a hard time moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, Khanna is adamant that Democrats need to recapture anti-corruption as a signature cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWe have to be the party that puts money out of politics, puts the special influence out of politics, opposes corruption,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\"We allowed Trump to appropriate those themes of draining the swamp when it's complete hypocrisy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","post_title":"Drain the Swamp Act calls for permanent ban on lobbyist influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"drain-the-swamp-act-calls-for-permanent-ban-on-lobbyist-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-13 11:35:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7529","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7504,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:01","post_content":"\n

Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has engaged a U.S. lobbying <\/a>firm to secure full access to artificial intelligence chips for the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO endorsed a Tamedia article that it had hired a lobbying firm in the US \u2013 the law firm Akin Gump \u2013 to assist Switzerland in gaining full access to AI chips. It did not provide further details on the mandate for the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (Akin Gump for short) when asked by the news agency Keystone-SDA on Tuesday. \"The specialized American law firm is supporting Switzerland on the 'AI chips, '\" it confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue of expenses remained vague. According to the newspapers, the contract also governs any lobbying against the 31% duties imposed on Swiss imports by US President Donald Trump<\/a>. According to the Tamedia newspapers, Akin Gump is the second largest in the Washington lobbying industry with an annual revenue of $65 million. The engagement became known due to a legal requirement in the US, under which the law firm must disclose the mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The availability of advanced and powerful AI semiconductor chips is limited for companies from Switzerland, which is not regarded as an \u201cally\u201d in the US capital. Even before Trump assumed office, former President Joe Biden's administration imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO Director Helene Budliger Artieda has been in the US since Sunday, participating in discussions. She is presently in Washington to organize a visit by President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECO did not disclose any additional details about potential meetings or any progress made. Parmelin's office stated it would announce any meetings \u201cin due course.\u201d On Sunday, it was revealed that Budliger Artieda would remain in Washington until Wednesday. The state secretary was in Washington two weeks ago.
31% tariff from Wednesday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her new visit comes just a few days after the US declared it would impose tariffs of 31% on Swiss imports. Since Saturday, all exports to the US have been<\/a> subject to a 10% duty. Starting Wednesday, country-specific tariffs will be applied, adding an extra 21% for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance ministers and central bank governors are scheduled to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from April 22 to 26. Swiss government ministers Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will be present. Martin Schlegel, chair of the Swiss National Bank, will also be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Switzerland hires top U.S. lobbyists to secure AI chip access amid tariff hike","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"switzerland-hires-top-u-s-lobbyists-to-secure-ai-chip-access-amid-tariff-hike","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-10 18:08:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7504","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7500,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:42","post_content":"\n

In an effort to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkey<\/a>, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Middle East<\/a> Eye reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu brought up the F-35 matter during several calls with Rubio in March and April. Netanyahu has privately stated he will pressure Trump against the F-35 sale but has not yet discussed it with him. Netanyahu has a range of issues to address with Trump, from unexpected tariffs imposed on Israel and potential nuclear negotiations with Iran to the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel\u2019s ongoing conflict with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel and Turkey\u2019s rivalry is intensifying in Syria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Israel targeted three military bases in the country, including Syria\u2019s Tiyas air base, commonly referred to as T4. The strikes occurred as Israel identified a narrow window of opportunity to attack the bases before Turkey moved its military assets in. Turkey is deploying a Hisar-type air defense system to the T4 base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s command of the bases is part of a pending defense agreement that Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating since December. The pact would involve Turkey providing air cover and military protection for Syria\u2019s new government, which currently lacks a functional military. Netanyahu and his counsels view Rubio as a strong ally in efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio and Turkey: A Closer Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubio is one of the leading Turkey critics in Trump\u2019s team. He was among the lone American officials who objected to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources revealed that Netanyahu has raised the F-35 matter with Rubio on several occasions, including during a call that took place prior to Rubio receiving his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Washington, DC on March 25. A transcript of the meeting issued by the State Department stated that the two men discussed \"close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria.\" Rubio and Fidan also shared a warm hug on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Republican Senator, Rubio took a significant interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. He legislated to enhance security and energy cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Rubio co-sponsored the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, which granted foreign military financing to Greece and lifted a prohibition on the sale of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece is the regional historical adversary of Turkey. Greece was invaded by Turkey in northern Cyprus in 1974 when an attempt at uniting it with Greece failed in a coup bid. More than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a country which is supported by no other UN member apart from Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have been increasingly worried about Turkey's growing influence in the region after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria by Islamist rebels towards the end of last year. With Ankara's allies already stationed<\/a> in Damascus, Greece and Cyprus are concerned that Turkey might follow a sea agreement it had made with Libya's Tripoli government. Greece and Israel have been strengthening their military ties for a decade, with US support, partly in response to that maritime deal with Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ties has intensified in response to Turkey\u2019s increasing influence in Syria. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on March 30, and Greece is in negotiations with Israel to acquire its Barak medium-range air defense systems.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Netanyahu lobbies US\u2019s Rubio to halt F-35 deal with Turkey","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"netanyahu-lobbies-uss-rubio-to-halt-f-35-deal-with-turkey","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-09 16:09:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7500","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7497,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:44","post_content":"\n

Serbia hired the American lobbying firm Blacksmith Capital because of the sanctions against NIS. The agreement with this company will be signed soon. Blacksmith will help Serbia with \"alignment with sanctions which were recently introduced in connection with the energy sector,\" states the document of the US Department of Justice, writes Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this agreement by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbia enlisted the American lobbying company Blacksmith Capital due to the sanctions imposed on NIS. The agreement with this firm is set to be signed soon. Blacksmith will assist Serbia in \"aligning with sanctions recently introduced in relation to the energy sector,\" according to a document from the US Department of Justice, as reported by Filip Rudi\u0107 for The New Economy. Serbia is represented in this deal by the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivica Koji\u0107, chief of staff to the President of Serbia, is identified as the official through whom Blacksmith was employed, according to the document. \"Blexamite's engagement with the Republic of Serbia was agreed upon orally. A formal written contract is expected to be signed<\/a> in the near future,\" the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports as to whether such a contract has been signed. The document also states that Blacksmith will \"participate in political activities\" to help Serbia adhere to the sanctions, states NE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srbijagas' CEO said that Serbian oil company NIS, whose majority shareholder is Russian Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, applied a second time to the U.S. for a sanctions waiver. Sanctions can lead to reduced crude supply for NIS, which has only one oil refinery in Serbia with a yearly capacity of 4.8 million tons that provides the majority of the needs of the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Russia's oil industry on January 10, with 45 days to sell stakes in NIS granted to Gazprom Neft. \"Their attorneys have informed OFAC they are seeking to be delisted from the sanctions list,\" declared Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic to the RTS public broadcaster. Srbijagas is also in a partnership with Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following NIS's first request for a sanctions waiver on February 4, OFAC extended the sanctions by 30 days on February 27 to give the company time to negotiate a resolution with the Russian firms. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred approximately 5.15% of its stake in NIS to Gazprom as a strategy to avoid sanctions. Bajatovic stated that this action should have been adequate to guarantee the lifting of the sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adjustments indicate that Gazprom Neft no longer holds an absolute majority in NIS. This follows a comparable situation in 2022, when the company evaded EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. However, it remained uncertain if a similar action would appease U.S. regulators.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Serbia hires U.S. lobbyists to navigate sanctions on Russian-backed NIS","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"serbia-hires-u-s-lobbyists-to-navigate-sanctions-on-russian-backed-nis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-08 21:14:45","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7497","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7487,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:47","post_content":"\n

Alphabet, Google, and Amazon have discovered a way to benefit from the tumultuous landscape of Elon Musk\u2019s government efficiency department, according to Bloomberg. The companies\u2019 lobbyists in Washington witness their greatest chance to attain a long-sought goal: breaking Microsoft\u2019s longstanding hold on the multi-billion-dollar government software market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon and Google are actively promoting this message through technology trade groups such as NetChoice, expanding their lobbying efforts and attributing the blame to Microsoft\u2019s extensive practices contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trade associations are contacting members of the congressional \u201cDOGE caucus,\u201d which consists of lawmakers backing Musk\u2019s initiatives, and DOGE representatives in several federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Haurek, a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cconcerning but unsurprising to see certain industry players trying to manipulate decision makers, through shadowy <\/a>front groups, rather than competing transparently on price and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google aims to expand its software offerings for government agencies. Many of which continue to depend on Microsoft\u2019s outdated productivity tools like Outlook and Word. To strengthen its position in federal cloud computing, Amazon contends that Microsoft has unfairly sidelined competitors by bundling its cloud services with its software offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is uncharted territory for these companies, whose connections within government agencies have little value when it\u2019s the amorphous group led by Musk <\/a>and mostly made up of young engineers calling the shots. Indications suggest that their initiatives, such as meetings with Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian, are beginning to yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 26, federal chief information officer Greg Barbaccia, previously an executive at Peter Thiel\u2019s Palantir, urged all federal agencies to compile a list of their licenses for the five largest software vendors, a list that Microsoft tops. Barbaccia described it as an effort to \u201cstop wasteful spending.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress is also undertaking a similar effort. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa and founder of the DOGE Caucus, serves as the lead co-sponsor for a piece of legislation that would direct federal agencies to streamline their software licenses and embrace new enterprise license agreements. Ernst, who mentioned in November that her initiative could potentially save around \u20ac680 million each year, did not reply to a request for comment. The House presented its version of the bill in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the DOGE in March, NetChoice- a group that includes Amazon and Google- stressed the need to address Microsoft\u2019s purported \u201cmonopoly\u201d in government software, asserting that it leads to increased prices and poor cybersecurity outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing with Microsoft, especially alongside Musk\u2019s team of Silicon Valley engineers, highlights its recent performance in cybersecurity. In 2023, hackers linked to the Chinese <\/a>government breached the company\u2019s cloud environment, affecting tens of thousands of individual emails from the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report from a government-appointed cyber advisory board in April 2024 criticized Microsoft sharply for the hack. Notably, victims of the breach included then-commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and officials from the State Department. Their emails were accessed right before a meeting between then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft's competitors saw the exposure as an irresistible opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetChoice and various tech organizations have aligned their outreach with DOGE\u2019s priorities, suggesting anti-Microsoft actions that aim to \u201csave taxpayers billions next year.\u201d Amazon and Google assert that Microsoft unfairly confines the government to lengthy, disadvantageous contracts, which could exclude billions in contracts from its rivals.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google & Amazon lobbies DOGE to challenge Microsoft on US federal contracts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-amazon-lobbies-doge-to-challenge-microsoft-on-us-federal-contracts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-07 20:57:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7487","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":48},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};

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Research Staff

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