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BALTIMORE (AP) — A Pennsylvania man has been charged with illegally flying a drone over Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium during the AFC championship game between the Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs last month, prompting security to temporarily suspend the game, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced Monday. Matthew Hebert, 44, of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, was charged with three felony counts related to operating an unregistered drone, serving as an airman without a certificate and violating national defense airspace on Jan. 28. In November, the administration said it would investigate a drone that briefly delayed a Ravens-Bengals game. Hebert, who was wearing a Ravens jersey was visiting the home of friends in Baltimore for the football game, said he didn’t know about restrictions around the stadium during the game, according to the affidavit. He faces a maximum of one year in federal prison for willfully violating United States national defense airspace.

Persons: Matthew Hebert, Chadds, Hebert, David Rodski Organizations: BALTIMORE, T, AFC, Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Attorney’s, District of Maryland, NFL, MLB, Federal Aviation Administration, Bengals, Maryland, FBI, States Locations: U.S, Chadds Ford , Pennsylvania, Baltimore

☆ A Pennsylvania man who took drone selfies at a stadium and delayed an AFC Championship game now faces up to 4 years in prison: prosecutors
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A man who delayed an NFL game while taking drone selfies now faces federal charges, prosecutors said. Matthew Hebert, 44, mistakenly thought he was allowed to fly his drone at the time, per prosecutors. AdvertisementA 44-year-old man faces up to four years in federal prison after he flew a drone over a National Football League game in Baltimore, federal prosecutors said on Monday. Hebert flew the drone at around 330 feet for about two minutes, and took at least six photos of himself and the stadium, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said Hebert "relied exclusively on the DJI application" to know if he was allowed to fly the drone.

Persons: Matthew Hebert, —, Chadds, Hebert, Prosecutors, DJI Organizations: NFL, Service, National Football League, T, Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, AFC Championship, Justice Department, NFL Security, Baltimore Sun, State, Federal Aviation Administration, Ravens, Chiefs, States National Defense, Business Locations: Baltimore, Chadds Ford , Pennsylvania

☆ Why Yemen’s Houthi rebels welcome conflict with the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Since mid-November the rebels have been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Strait of Bab al-Mandab. The Red Sea is a vital waterway that connects to the Suez Canal, through which 10% to 15% of world trade passes. In its fight, the Houthi group has distracted from Yemen’s humanitarian crisis, shored up domestic and international support, and made its name known among those who knew little to nothing about the movement, they say. That narrative has taken hold among those who oppose the Gaza war the world over. Yemen’s civil war began in 2014, when Houthi forces stormed the capital Sanaa and toppled the internationally recognized, Saudi-backed government.

Persons: Abdel Malek al, Houthi, ”, Allah, Thomas Juneau, ” Juneau, ’, Ahmed Nagi, Juneau, Israel, “, Biden, Netanyahu, ” Mohamed Ali al, Nagi, ” Nagi, ” Mohammed Ali Al, Yemen's Houthi, ” “ Houthis, Nadwa, Yemenis, ” Dawsari Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Hezbollah, Yemeni, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa, Canada’s Department of National Defense, Yemeni Armed Forces, European Union, NATO, United, Crisis, UN, BBC, Political Council, Galaxy Leader, Getty, Middle East Institute Locations: Constantinople, Istanbul, United States, Saudi, Israel, Gaza, Bab, Suez, Iran, China, India, Tehran, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Red, Solidarity, Aden, Instagram, US, United Kingdom, Brussels, Saudi Arabia, tatters, Yemen's province, Hodeida, AFP, America, Washington ,

☆ Former CIA employee sentenced to 40 years in prison after carrying out largest data leak in agency’s history
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Rob Frehse | Mark Morales | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A former CIA employee was sentenced to 40 years in prison after carrying out the largest data leak in the agency’s history, the US Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York announced Thursday. He was also found guilty in 2023 of receiving, possessing and transporting child pornography, according to the US Attorney’s Office. He had worked as a computer engineer within the CIA’s Center for Cyber Intelligence, and created cyber tools that could grab data undetected from computers. A year later, investigators said Schulte stole cyber tools and source code and transferred them to WikiLeaks, according to court records. Schulte, who also allegedly lied to CIA and FBI investigators to cover his tracks, was arrested in August 2017 on child pornography charges.

Persons: CNN —, Joshua Schulte –, –, Schulte, “ Joshua Schulte, Damian Williams, ” Williams, Joshua Schulte, Elizabeth Williams, James Smith Organizations: CNN, CIA, US, Office, Southern, of New York, WikiLeaks, CIA’s, Cyber Intelligence, FBI, AP “, Investigators Locations: New York

In repelling disinformation, Chinese and domestic, Taiwan offers an example to other democracies holding elections this year. And when the election results came out, they thought something was up,” said Eve Chiu, the editor-in-chief of Taiwan’s FactCheck Center, a nonprofit journalism organization. Taiwan's FactCheck Center debunked multiple videos of alleged voter fraud, including another one in which voting officials make a human error caught on camera. Taiwan has been able to effectively respond to Chinese disinformation in part because of how seriously the threat is perceived there, according to Kenton Thibaut, a senior resident fellow and expert on Chinese disinformation at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab. Others like, Taiwan FactCheck Center, are careful to not take government money so as to preserve their independence, said Chiu.

Persons: miscounting, “, ”, Eve Chiu, Ko Wen, Taiwan's FactCheck, Kenton Thibaut, Thibaut, Alexander Tah, Ray Yui, Yui, ” Yui, Charles Yeh, Chiu, Donald Trump, they’re, Jim Ludes, Ko, DoubleThink, GaChuDao, Wu, ___ Wu, Didi Tang Organizations: WASHINGTON, Taiwan’s, Taiwan People’s Party, Facebook, DoubleThink, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan can’t, Atlantic, Forensic Research, Associated Press, Taiwan FactCheck Center, Google, Media, ”, Pell Center for International Relations, Salve Regina University Locations: Taiwan’s, China, Taiwan, India, Mexico, Russia, America, Kenton, U.S, United States, Iran, Bangkok

☆ Opinion: Donald Trump wins against Nikki Haley, but loses it
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Opinion Cnn Contributors | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +24 min

The problem with this approach is that most Republican voters do not want an alternative to Trump; they overwhelmingly back him. At least that’s what the Nikki Haley campaign said after finishing second to former President Donald Trump in the New Hampshire primaries on Tuesday. Democratic nominee Bill Clinton and third-party candidate Ross Perot exploited that division in the Republican Party against Bush in the fall. The Republican Party is united behind Trump, and with optimal conditions for an opponent like Haley, Trump was still unstoppable. “Democrats deserve options, and it’s not clear at all that President Biden can beat Donald Trump.

Persons: Raul A, Reyes, Nikki Haley’s, Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, bode, Reyes CNN Haley, Trump, Haley, “, CNN’s Dana Bash, That’s, it’s, Trump …, Nikki, –, She’s, Paul Begala, Donald Trump’s, Paul Begala CNN Trump, Joe Biden, Reagan, Bush, Bill Clinton’s, Clinton, Ana Marie Cox, Ana Marie Cox Faith Fonseca, ” Trump, Biden, Jamal Simmons, Biden’s, he’s, Dean Phillips, Jimmy Carter, Edward Kennedy, Kennedy, Carter, Republican Ronald Reagan, George H.W, Pat Buchanan, Bill Clinton, Ross Perot, Eugene McCarthy’s, Lyndon Johnson, Marianne Williamson, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Pramila, Kamala Harris, Daniel McCarthy, John McCain, George W, Ron DeSantis, Biden —, ”, Rizwan Virk, Williamson, Sanders, Andrew Yang, Dean Philips, Yang, ” Rizwan Virk, Patrick T, Brown, Barack Obama, Dozens, Scott Walker, Jeb Bush, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, Texas Sen, Ted Cruz, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, John Kasich, Cruz, Sophia A, DeSantis, Nelson Stephanie Honikel, Harris, Nelson, Tuesday’s, Phillips ’, Phillips, Arick, Michael Bloomberg Organizations: CNN, GOP, South Carolina Gov, Republican, Reyes CNN, Trump, Independents, Polling, White, USA, Twitter, New, South, Biden, diehard Republicans, New Hampshire, Republican Party, Bush Republicans, NATO, Republicans, Democratic, Minnesota Rep, Hamas, Washington Rep, Former South Carolina Gov, mavericks, New Hampshire Democratic, Florida Gov, The, Syndicate, Democratic Party, Democrat, Labs, MIT, Physics, Eastern, Arizona State University’s College of Global Futures, Wisconsin Gov, Ohio Gov, Public Policy Center, Economic, Florida’s, America, Trump Party, Congressional, UN, Tuesday’s New, Tuesday’s New Hampshire Democratic, Democratic National, Biden –, Medicare, New York Locations: Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, America, Granite, Trump, Michigan, New Hampshire , Iowa, Austin, Israel, Vietnam, Granite State . South Carolina, Gaza, Yemen, Ukraine, Vermont, Wisconsin, Florida, Texas, Ohio, New York, Washington , DC, Virginia, Minnesota, Tuesday’s New Hampshire, Hampshire

☆ US identifies 2 Navy SEALs declared dead after operation off Somali coast
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The two Navy SEALs who the US Navy declared dead after they went missing while conducting an operation on January 11 off the coast of Somalia have been identified as Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher Chambers who was 37 and Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram who was 27, the US Navy announced Monday. Blake Chaney, commander of Naval Special Warfare Group 1, said in a statement that Chambers and Ingram “were exceptional warriors, cherished teammates, and dear friends to many.”“Chris and Gage selflessly served their country with unwavering professionalism and exceptional capabilities,” Chaney said. According to biographies provided by Naval Special Warfare Command, Chambers, from Maryland, enlisted in the Navy in May 2012 and had served with SEAL units on the West Coast since 2014. Ingram, from Texas, enlisted in September 2019, immediately going into pre-special warfare training after completing boot camp at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois. “During this expansive search operation, airborne and naval platforms from the US, Japan, and Spain continuously searched more than 21,000 square miles to locate our missing teammates.

Persons: Christopher Chambers, Nathan Gage Ingram, Capt, Blake Chaney, Chambers, Ingram “, ” “ Chris, Gage selflessly, ” Chaney, Ingram, CENTCOM, ” CNN’s Natasha Bertrand Organizations: CNN, Navy, US Navy, Special Warfare, NSW, Warfare, Central Command, US, Special Warfare Command, Marine, Recruit Training Command, Terrorism, Medal, National Defense Service, Numerical Meteorology, Oceanography Center, U.S . Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command, University of San, Oceanography, Naval Research Locations: Somalia, West Coast, Iran, Yemen, Maryland, Texas, Lakes , Illinois, Japan, Spain, University of San Diego

The alleged strike targeted the Mazzeh neighborhood in Syria’s capital, home to several diplomatic missions including the Iranian embassy, according to Syrian authorities. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) identified the four others killed as military advisors Ali Aghazadeh, Hossein Mohammadi, Saeed Karimi and Mohammad Amin Samadi. Their presence in Syria had been “at the official invitation of the Syrian government,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, noted in a statement on social media. Louai Beshara/AFP/Getty ImagesRegional spillover fearsThe attack in Damascus comes amid concerns that Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza is spiraling into a regional war. Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi on Saturday vowed to “punish” Israel for the Damascus missile strike.

Persons: Israel “, “, Hojjatollah Omidvar, Iran’s, Ali Aghazadeh, Hossein Mohammadi, Saeed Karimi, Mohammad Amin Samadi, Nasser Kanaani, Louai Beshara, Tehran’s, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Matt Miller, ” Miller, Ebrahim Raisi, ” Israel, ”, CNN’s Kareem Khadder Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Syrian Ministry of Defense, Israel Defense Forces, Network, Quds Force, Revolutionary Guards, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Security, Getty, Economic, Israel, Palestinian Ministry of Health, State Locations: Damascus, Syria’s, Iranian, Mazzeh, Syria, AFP, Gaza, Iraq, Tehran, Lebanon, Yemen, Red, Davos, Palestinian, Ramallah, The, Israel

☆ Opinion: Why New Hampshire isn’t Haley’s only shot to be the GOP candidate
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

She is a weekly opinion contributor to CNN, a contributing columnist to The Washington Post and a columnist for World Politics Review. Nikki Haley is facing what seems to be her do-or-die moment going into the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday. Is there any way that Haley can win the nomination without plunging her sword into any of Trump’s gigantic vulnerabilities? But there’s another way Haley can emerge victorious. The odds now strongly favor Trump’s nomination.

Persons: Frida Ghitis, Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, Frida Ghitis Tanya Malott “, ”, Ron DeSantis, Haley, Bill Barr, Trump, Xi Jinping, Jake Tapper, hasn’t, –, Trump’s, John Prideaux, it’s, she’s Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, Republican, South Carolina Gov, New, Iowa, Florida Gov, Trump, GOP, UN, NATO, Biden, Economist Locations: New Hampshire, Iowa, Granite, South Carolina, America

☆ Xi Jinping is in a battle with China's own military, and the outcome could drag the US into WWIII
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Xi Jinping is in a struggle with China's military, purging senior commanders to reshape it. A Chinese invasion somewhere like Taiwan could drag the US into a Third World War, one analyst said. AdvertisementXi Jinping is fighting with China's own military, seeking to purge commanders he sees as unwilling or unable to go to war, military analysts told Business Insider. Since taking power in 2012, Xi has overhauled China's military by cutting deep into its personnel, seeking to improve military-civilian cooperation, and reshaping its structure, among other reforms. A Chinese invasion in East Asia would drag Western countries into something larger, he predicted.

Persons: Xi Jinping, —, Gordon Chang, Chang, Xi, Liu Yazhou, Joel Wuthnow, Wuthnow, Biden, Vladimir, Jinping Organizations: Service, Gatestone Institute, Air Force, BI, Center, Chinese Military Affairs, National Defense University, China's, Force, PLA, Navy, NBC News, APEC, WWIII Locations: Taiwan, China, Washington , DC, India, Japan, East China, Philippines, South China, San Francisco, Ukraine, Russia, insurgencies, Africa, Gaza, Red, Persian Gulf, East Asia, Israel, United States

☆ Biden Strikes the Houthis, at Last
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

The '2023 Reagan National Defense Survey' highlights China as the greatest national security threat to the U.S. and finds strong support for arming Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Images: Zuma Press/AFP/Getty Images Composite: Mark KellyThe press is reporting that Thursday’s U.S.-British strikes against the Houthis in Yemen risk escalating the current conflict in the Middle East. The conflict was already escalating. The question has been whether the U.S. and its allies would respond to Houthi efforts, backed by Iran, to hijack commercial shipping and shoot at the U.S. Navy. The Houthis have been using these weapons depots, radars and launch sites to “endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways,” as the White House said in a statement.

Persons: Mark Kelly, Biden’s Organizations: Reagan National Defense Survey, Zuma Press, Getty, U.S . Navy, White Locations: China, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, U.S, Yemen, Iran, ”

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Ruling-party candidate Lai Ching-te emerged victorious in Taiwan’s presidential election on Saturday, a result that will determine the trajectory of the self-ruled democracy’s contentious relations with China over the next four years. Beijing strongly opposes Lai, the current vice president who abandoned his medical career to pursue politics from the grassroots to the presidency. It's the first time a single party has led Taiwan for three consecutive four-year presidential terms since the first open presidential election in 1996. Its candidate, Hou Yu-ih, also had promised to restart talks with China while bolstering national defense. Evelyn Ni traveled from China especially to get a taste of Taiwan’s election.

Persons: Lai Ching, Lai, Tsai Ing, Hou Yu, Hou, “, I’m, David Chiau, Ko Wen, Ko, Chen Binhua, Beijing wouldn't, ” Chen, Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, Evelyn Ni, Tony Chen, ”, Xi Jinping, Stacy Chen, Gabrielle Reid, Sung Organizations: Democratic, Nationalist, KMT, ih, Taiwan People’s Party, DPP, Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office, Biden, Associated Press Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Beijing, Japanese, United States, Taipei, Russia, Ukraine, South China

☆ U.S. export controls need to 'change constantly' even if it's tough for businesses, Secretary Raimondo says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING — More controls on tech exports to China will be coming as needed, despite business concerns, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told CNBC in an exclusive interview. "We have to change constantly," Raimondo told CNBC's Morgan Brennan over the weekend on the sidelines of the Reagan National Defense Forum. They want a clear line in the sand," the commerce secretary said. "The truth of it is though, technology changes, China changes and we have to keep up with it." In October 2022, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security announced sweeping export controls that restrict the ability of companies to sell certain advanced computing semiconductors or related manufacturing equipment to China.

Persons: Gina Raimondo, Raimondo, CNBC's Morgan Brennan, " Raimondo, it's Organizations: . Commerce, CNBC, Reagan National Defense, U.S . Department of Commerce's, of Industry, Security Locations: BEIJING, China

Almost 16,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its campaign in October, following Hamas’ terror attack on Israel on October 7, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health. Israel believes it has killed “several thousand” Hamas militants, an Israeli official said. Israeli officials have indicated that that is their intention, one of the officials said. Senior US officials have been careful not to publicly criticize Israel and are increasingly insisting that their strategy of counseling Israel to target Gaza more deliberately and surgically has delivered some results. “I do believe that they have listened,” Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters on Sunday when asked whether Israel is listening to the US.

Persons: Israel, Lloyd Austin, Austin, ”, Israel can’t, Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, “, Kamala Harris, John Kirby Organizations: CNN, US, Israeli Defense Forces, Reagan National Defense Forum, Israel, Gaza Ministry, Health, Biden, National Security Council, Hezbollah, Senior, IDF, Israel Defense Forces, National Security Locations: Gaza, Israel, Lebanese, Iraq, Afghanistan

☆ Sen. Graham says he has ‘lost all confidence’ in Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Avery Lotz | Jack Forrest | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham on Sunday called Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin “naive” for believing further civilian casualties in Gaza could produce even more insurgents and said he has “lost all confidence” in him. “He’s so naive, I mean I just lost all confidence in this guy,” Graham told CNN’s Dana Bash, adding later, “This is a radicalized population. And if you drive them into the arms of the enemy, you replace a tactical victory with a strategic defeat,” Austin said. Graham, on “State of the Union,” disagreed: “Strategic defeat would be inflaming the Palestinians? “No Republican is telling Israel to change your military tactics.”

Persons: GOP Sen, Lindsey Graham, Defense Lloyd Austin “, “, ” Graham, CNN’s Dana Bash, Austin, ” Austin, Graham, ”, US Central Command “, Ashraf Al, Stanley McChrystal, Kamala Harris, Jordan, ” “, Harris Organizations: CNN, GOP, Defense, Reagan National Defense, West Bank, Union, South Carolina Republican, Army, US Central Command, Israel, Hamas, of Health, United Arab, Republican Locations: Gaza, Israel, “ State, Austin, saidSaturday, ”, Dubai, Egypt, United Arab Emirates

File photo: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin looks on as he attends the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus in Jakarta, Indonesia, November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/Pool/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin delivered perhaps his strongest remarks to date on Saturday over Israel's need to protect civilians in Gaza, calling them the center of gravity in Israel's war with Hamas and warning over the risks of their radicalization. "So I have repeatedly made clear to Israel's leaders that protecting Palestinian civilians in Gaza is both a moral responsibility and strategic imperative." The United States has rushed military assistance to Israel, including air defenses and other munitions. "The United States will remain Israel's closest friend in the world.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Willy Kurniawan, Lloyd Austin, he's, Austin, Israel, Austin's, Phil Stewart, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Defense, ASEAN Defense Ministers, REUTERS, Rights, . Defense, Reagan National Defense, West Bank, Islamic State, United, Palestinian, Pentagon, U.S, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Gaza, Austin, Simi Valley , California, Israel, United States, U.S, Iran

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday denounced those who advocate “an American retreat from responsibility” and said sustained U.S. leadership is needed to help keep the world as safe, free and prosperous as possible. He also urged Congress to end the partisan gridlock that has stalled the federal budget and war spending. Those who “try to pull up the drawbridge,” he said, undermine the security that has led to decades of prosperity. Political Cartoons View All 1277 Images“You’ll hear some people try to brand an American retreat from responsibility as bold new leadership,” Austin said. About 100 hostages were freed as part of the truce, but about 140 remain held by Hamas and others in Gaza.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, “, Austin, ” Austin, Donald Trump’s “, Vladimir Putin, Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Tuberville Organizations: —, Reagan National Defense, Senate Armed, Committees, Senate, Administration, Pentagon, Republicans, Senior, Hamas Locations: SIMI VALLEY, Calif, United States, Simi Valley, Israel, Ukraine, Austin, Europe, Israeli, Gaza

☆ Crypto ally Rep. Patrick McHenry fights for industry-backed regulation bill
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Emily Wilkins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON — One of crypto's most powerful allies in Congress is fighting this week to make sure that an industry-backed regulation bill gets tacked on to the must-pass defense funding legislation. If he is successful, Rep. Patrick McHenry's (R-N.C.) hardball tactics could hand the cryptocurrency industry a big win. The bill is intended to clarify how crypto is regulated by federal agencies. But McHenry's bill has never been put to a vote in the full House, let alone in the Senate. Instead, McHenry, who chairs the Financial Services Committee, is pushing to attach his bill to the massive annual Pentagon funding measure the National Defense Authorization Act.

Persons: Patrick McHenry, Patrick McHenry's, McHenry Organizations: Chamber, WASHINGTON —, Financial Services, Defense, Congressional Locations: Washington ,

In truth, negotiators have been working for months and hope to release the text of a final bill as soon as this week. The National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, is one of the few major pieces of legislation Congress passes every year, a practice started in 1961. The Democratic-led Senate's version of the bill, which passed with broad support from both parties, did not address such issues. "The House bill includes several provisions to require accountability from this administration and to end the 'woke' policies being forced on service members by left-wing bureaucrats," Rogers said. Representative Adam Smith, the top House Armed Services Democrat, called for compromise, saying, "Threatening the ability of DoD to function as we force our way to get what we want is a dangerous game to play."

Persons: Leah Millis, Mike Rogers, Rogers, Adam Smith, Patricia Zengerle, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: U.S . Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, House Armed Services Committee, National Defense, Ukraine, Republican, Democratic, Republicans, Armed Services Democrat, DoD, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - U.S. budget wrangling could further delay funding approval for new agreements with Pacific island nations meant to counter Chinese influence, creating an opportunity for Beijing in the strategically vital region, congressional and other sources say. But congressional sources say this looks impossible as lawmakers argue over spending priorities, raising concerns that a further delay could create an opening for China, which has been wooing financially strapped Pacific economies. "It's feeling pretty dead in the NDAA context," the source said, adding that focus had turned to finding other legislation to secure the COFA funding. "It is really incomprehensible given the amount we're talking about ... why Congress cannot get its act together," Yun said. "What we risk is China getting in where we really don't want them – in places like Palau, RMI, FSM.

Persons: Mike Pompeo, Jonathan Ernst, Biden, Mike Johnson's, Joseph Yun, Yun, David Brunnstrom, Michael Martina, Patricia Zengerle, Don Durfee, Daniel Wallis Organizations: U.S, Pohnpei International, REUTERS, Rights, Federated, Marshall, RMI, Washington, Free Association, National Defense, Reuters, Republicans, Natural Resources, Foreign Affairs, New Republican, Biden, State Department, White House National Security Council, Thomson Locations: Pohnpei, Kolonia, States, Micronesia, Pacific, Beijing, Federated States, Palau, China, Ukraine, U.S, Hawaii, Philippines, Washington

☆ How the U.S. courted the Philippines to thwart China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +14 min

What followed was two trips to the United States in less than a year for Marcos, and visits to the Philippines by high-ranking Biden administration officials. Marcos’ predecessor, the populist firebrand Rodrigo Duterte, was openly hostile to the United States and attempted to bring his country closer to communist China during his six-year term. For the United States, cementing alliances in the Asia-Pacific region is likewise crucial to keeping China in check. China’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement to Reuters, characterized China and the Philippines as “close neighbors across the sea” with a common interest in friendship. At the time, he said the cancellation of his visa was the latest in a list of “gripes and disrespect” by the United States.

Persons: Ferdinand “ Bongbong ” Marcos Jr, Joe Biden, Marcos, Gregorio Maria Araneta III, “, ” Araneta, Biden, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, Julio Amador III, Marcos ’, Rodrigo Duterte, China’s, Xi Jinping, ” Marcos ’, Ferdinand Marcos Sr, ”, Marcos family’s, Washington, Duterte, China “, Becca Wasser, Wasser, Barack Obama, Xi, “ I’ve, ” Duterte, Ronald “ Bato, dela Rosa, Dela Rosa, gripes, Toribio Adaci, hadn’t, Blake Herzinger, Herzinger Organizations: Reuters, U.S, Defense, ., Party, China, U.S . State Department, ” Reuters, Philippine, United, Foreign Ministry, ” ‘, People’s Liberation Army, Center, New, New American Security, CNAS, U.S . Department of Defense, U.S ., Initiative, Philippines National Economic Development Authority, United States, Philippine National Police, Washington, Forces, VFA, Mutual, China’s, U.S . Pacific Fleet, Cooperation Locations: Philippines, Philippine, Manila, United States, U.S, China, America, Asia, Taipei, Taiwan, Beijing, South, East Asia, Pacific, Washington, Hawaii, South China, It’s, American, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New American, Taiwan . U.S, Duterte, China’s, Guangdong

☆ Biden to invoke Cold War-era law to boost medical supplies
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at a dinner hosted by the Human Rights Campaign at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, U.S., October 14, 2023. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 27 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden will invoke a Cold War-era measure to boost investment in U.S. manufacturing of medicines and medical supplies that he has deemed important for national defense, the White House said. Biden will authorize the Department of Health and Human Services to use powers under the Cold War-era Defense Production Act to enable investments in "essential medicines," the White House said in a statement. The areas of investment also include "medical countermeasures," which include supplies that diagnose, prevent, or treat diseases related to chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attacks. He is holding his first meeting of a new White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience on Monday.

Persons: Joe Biden, Ken Cedeno, Biden, Lael Brainard, Jason Lange, Jeff Mason, Sonali Paul Organizations: Human, Washington Convention Center, REUTERS, Rights, of Health, Human Services, White, Democrat, White House Council, Economic Council, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S

☆ Why doesn’t the US have more passenger trains?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Today, the United States’ passenger rail system is an echo of its former self, with swathes of the network unused or surrendered to freight. In 1970, President Richard Nixon signed the Rail Passenger Service Act, which removed the requirement that private rail companies provide passenger service. Mike Segar/ReutersBut many American towns and cities have lost access to passenger trains. Can passenger trains make a comeback? A passenger rides an Amtrak train passing near the Pacific Ocean on November 9, 2021 near Oceanside, California.

Persons: you’ll, Biden, ”, Miguel Medina, JP Morgan, Jay Gould, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Christian Wolmar, “, Yonah Freemark, Bing Guan, Freemark, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Harvey Weber, Paul Hammond, Hammond, Richard Nixon, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Mike Segar, Ulysses S, Grant, Al Drago, Joe Biden, ” Freemark, Robert Puentes, It’s, ” Puentes, Mario Tama, Brightline, Carline Jean, Tony Coscia Organizations: Los Angeles CNN, Washington , D.C, Brightline, Miami, US Department of Transportation, du, Getty, Amtrak, US, Transcontinental Railroad, Central Pacific Railroad, Union Pacific Railroad, Railroad, CNN, Bloomberg, United States Senate, Newsday, Colorado Railroad Museum, Rail, Service, Hall, Pennsylvania, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Washington DC, Eno Center for Transportation, Private, Las, Passengers, West Palm Beach, Fort, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Tribune Locations: Europe, Asia, America, United States, Boston, Washington ,, Orlando, California, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Swedish, Paris, AFP, France, Japan, China, Promontory Point , Utah, Compton , California, American, Levittown , New York, Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Indiana, Ohio, Baltimore, Baltimore , Maryland, Potomac, Delaware, Oceanside , California, South Florida, Las Vegas, West Palm, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, South

☆ Philippines, Australia start sea, air patrols in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Earvin Perias/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Nov 25 (Reuters) - The Philippines and Australia began their first joint sea and air patrols in the South China Sea on Saturday, days after Manila took similar steps with the U.S. as Pacific nations warily eye an increasingly assertive China. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The Philippines is ramping up efforts to counter what it describes as China's "aggressive activities" in the South China Sea, which has also become a flashpoint for Chinese and U.S. tensions around naval operations. The patrols will be carried out in the West Philippine Sea, said Philippine Department of National Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong, using Manila's term for waters in the South China Sea that fall within its exclusive economic zone. China has accused the Philippines of enlisting "foreign forces" to patrol the South China Sea and stirring up trouble.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Anthony Albanese, Earvin, China's, Richard Marles, Marcos, Marles, Arsenio Andolong, Karen Lema, William Mallard Organizations: Australia's, Rights, Australia, ., Philippine, Australian Defence Force, Armed Forces, Philippine Department of National Defense, South China, Toowoomba, Cooperative, Thomson Locations: Manila, Philippines, Rights MANILA, South, China, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, South China, U.S, West Philippine, Philippine, United, Taiwan, West Philippine Sea

☆ Philippines, Australia Start Sea, Air Patrols in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines and Australia began their first joint sea and air patrols in the South China Sea on Saturday, days after Manila took similar steps with the U.S. as Pacific nations warily eye an increasingly assertive China. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The Philippines is ramping up efforts to counter what it describes as China's "aggressive activities" in the South China Sea, which has also become a flashpoint for Chinese and U.S. tensions around naval operations. The Philippines and the United States concluded three-day joint sea and air patrols on Thursday, starting in waters near Taiwan, a democratically governed island that China claims as its own, and ending in the West Philippine Sea. China has accused the Philippines of enlisting "foreign forces" to patrol the South China Sea and stirring up trouble.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, China's, Richard Marles, Marcos, Marles, Arsenio Andolong, Karen Lema, William Mallard Organizations: Australia, ., Philippine, Australian Defence Force, Armed Forces, Philippine Department of National Defense, South China, Toowoomba, Cooperative Locations: MANILA, Philippines, South, Manila, China, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, South China, U.S, West Philippine, Philippine, United, Taiwan, West Philippine Sea

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