DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers remarks on PEPFAR at World AIDS Day event hosted by the Business Council for International Understanding in Washington, U.S. December 2, 2022. A deadline to renew long-term funding for the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) passed on Saturday, despite a stop gap deal reached to avoid a government-wide shutdown. Smith insisted that PEPFAR should not be reauthorized unless it barred nongovernmental organizations that used any funding to promote or provide abortion services. Advocates say PEPFAR does not fund or provide abortion services and that none of its money goes directly or indirectly to fund abortion services. The State Department says more than $100 billion has been spent on the global HIV/AIDS response through the program, which has saved 25 million lives.

Persons: Antony Blinken, PEPFAR, Jonathan Ernst, Matthew Miller, Miller, Biden, George W, Bush, Chris Smith, Smith, Simon Lewis, Patricia Zengerle, Alistair Bell Organizations: Business Council, International, REUTERS, United, U.S, State, President’s, AIDS Relief, PEPFAR, Republican, The State Department, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, United States, Congress, U.S, Washington, Africa, PEPFAR

Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) speaks at a committee meeting after assuming the chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the U.S. Capitol on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Craig Hudson/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - The chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee vowed on Saturday to block military aid and arms sales to Egypt if it does not take concrete steps to improve human rights in the country. Much of the aid has been withheld in recent years over concerns about human rights abuses under the government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. But President Joe Biden's administration announced this month it had decided to waive human rights restrictions on $235 million of the aid, citing security benefits to the U.S. It is currently withholding $85 million of the aid, a fraction of the $1.3 billion a year allocated for Egypt.

Persons: Ben Cardin, Craig Hudson, Gregory Meeks, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Cardin, Abdel Fattah al, Joe Biden's, Matt Spetalnick, Patricia Zengerle, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Senate Foreign, U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Senate Foreign, Democratic U.S, Representatives Foreign, State Department, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Democratic, Washington, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Egypt, Washington, Israel

WASHINGTON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - The Senate Foreign Relations Committee's new chairman on Thursday said he would look at Turkey's $20 billion Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) F-16 fighter jet deal and that more issues than Sweden's ascension to NATO would affect the decision on lifting his predecessor's longstanding hold. Cardin said he had discussed Sweden's NATO accession with Turkish officials at a NATO ambassador's meeting on Wednesday. Leaders of the U.S. Senate and House foreign affairs panels review every major foreign arms sale. "Menendez being out of the picture is an advantage," Erdogan was quoted as telling reporters by Turkish media. The top Republican on the Senate panel, Senator Jim Risch, has put a hold on arms sales to Hungary over the issue.

Persons: Lockheed Martin, Ben Cardin, Cardin, Bob Menendez, Tayyip Erdogan's, Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Erdogan, Sweden's, Jim Risch, Patricia Zengerle, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Relations, Lockheed, Turkish, NATO, U.S . Senate, Kurdistan Workers Party, Republican, Thomson Locations: NATO, Sweden, Greece, Ankara, Stockholm, Turkey, Finland, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Budapest

Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on "Accountability for Russian Atrocities in Ukraine", on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., May 31, 2023. It is the second time Cardin, a senior senator known for human rights advocacy, replaces fellow Democrat Menendez in committee leadership. Cardin also stepped in from April 2015 to February 2018 after Menendez faced federal corruption charges that were later dropped. Less hawkish than Menendez, Cardin has focused on human rights throughout his career, notably by authoring the Magnitsky Act, named for a lawyer who exposed corruption in Russia before dying in prison. Passed in 2012 and expanded globally in 2016, the act allowed the U.S. government to sanction individuals involved in human rights violations, not just governments.

Persons: Ben Cardin, Julia Nikhinson, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Cardin, Barack Obama's, Joe Biden's, Patricia Zengerle, Timothy Gardner Organizations: Foreign, Russian Atrocities, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Senate Foreign Relations, Democratic, Communist, Obama's, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Washington , U.S, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, Egypt

REUTERS/Mike Segar Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Charges that Senator Bob Menendez accepted bribes in exchange for wielding his influence to aid the Egyptian government prompted calls in the U.S. Congress on Tuesday for the Biden administration to rethink $235 million in military aid to Cairo. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Middle East subcommittee, said he hoped the committee would investigate the allegations and Egypt's involvement. "I have not talked to colleagues about this yet, but obviously this raises pretty serious questions about Egypt, Egypt's conduct," he said. The indictment against Menendez also says he had close relationships with members of Egypt's intelligence services and held meetings to discuss U.S. military aid. He has stepped down temporarily from his role as chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Mike Segar, Bob Menendez, Biden, Chris Murphy, Menendez, Murphy, Joe Biden's, Don Beyer, Beyer, Patricia Zengerle, Tom Hogue Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Congress, Democratic, Relations, Foreign Relations, Egypt Human Rights Caucus, U.S . Senate, CNN, Thomson Locations: Jersey, Union City , New Jersey, U.S, Cairo, Egypt, Washington

"The alleged facts are so serious that they compromise the ability of Senator Menendez to effectively represent the people of our state," Murphy - who would appoint a temporary replacement for Menendez should he resign - said in a statement. "Behind the scenes, Senator Menendez was doing those things for certain people - the people that were bribing him and his wife," Williams said. A lawyer for Nadine Menendez, 56, who has been married to the senator since 2020, said she denied wrongdoing and would "vigorously defend" against the allegations in court. MENENDEZ HAS FACED OTHER PROBESThe investigation marks the third time Menendez has been investigated by federal prosecutors, although he has never been convicted. Bob and Nadine Menendez also each face one count of conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right.

Persons: Bob Menendez, Menendez, Chuck Schumer, Joe Biden, Phil Murphy, Murphy, Prosecutors, Damian Williams, Williams, Nadine Menendez, MENENDEZ, Robert Menedez, Jonathan Ernst, Ben Cardin, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Ted Stevens, Larry Craig, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Bob, Hana, Washington, Uribe, Daibes, Luc Cohen, Jonathan Stempel, Patricia Zengerle, Matt Spetalnick, Simon Lewis, Makini Brice, Andrew Goudsward, Tom Hals, Mark Porter, Daniel Wallis, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: U.S, Jersey businessmen, U.S . Senate, Foreign, Democratic, U.S . House, Representatives, Benz, Capitol, REUTERS, Republican, U.S . Department of Agriculture, New, Menendez, Daibes, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, Jersey, U.S, Manhattan, Egypt, Ukraine, China . New Jersey, New Jersey, Washington , U.S, Cuban American, Cuba, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Alaska, Idaho, United States, Washington, New York

Menendez said he decided to step down temporarily as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Menendez has been a crucial partner for Biden on these and other foreign policy priorities. "Like him or dislike him, Menendez has played an incredibly influential role when it comes to shaping U.S. foreign policy," said Daniel Vajdich, a Republican former Foreign Relations Committee staffer. Vajdich noted that Menendez's departure adds to uncertainty on Capitol Hill about foreign policy, given sharp divisions among Republicans, who control the House of Representatives, on issues like aid to Ukraine. Under Senate Democratic Conference rules, any member charged with a felony must give up his or her committee leadership position.

Persons: Bob Menendez, Elizabeth Frantz, Joe Biden, Menendez, Biden, Daniel Vajdich, Vajdich, Ben Cardin, Karine Jean, Pierre, Suzanne Wrasse, Jim Risch, Risch, Barack Obama's, Patricia Zengerle, Don Durfee, Timothy Gardner Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Democratic, Senate Foreign Relations, Justice Department, Russian, Senate, Ukraine, Republican, Foreign Relations, Hill, Republicans, White House, Senate Democratic Conference, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Ukraine, China . U.S, New Jersey, China, United States, UKRAINE, Kyiv, Iran

Senator Robert Menedez (D-NJ) walks to the Senate floor for a procedural vote at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. September 20, 2023. The investigation marks the third time Menendez has been investigated by federal prosecutors, but he has never been convicted. Prosecutors said Hana, who is originally from Egypt, arranged dinners and meetings between Menendez and Egyptian officials in 2018 at which the officials pressed Menendez on the status of U.S. military aid. Menendez at a meeting in 2018 told Hana non-public information about the status of the aid, prosecutors said. Hana then texted an Egyptian official, "The ban on small arms and ammunition to Egypt has been lifted," according to the indictment.

Persons: Robert Menedez, Jonathan Ernst, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Joe Biden, Prosecutors, Damian Williams, Nadine Menendez, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Uribe, Daibes, Hana, Egypt’s, Jon Corzine, Clifford Case, Luc Cohen, Jonathan Stempel, Simon Lewis, Andrew Goudsward, Tom Hals, Mark Porter Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, New Jersey businessmen, U.S . Senate, Foreign Relations, Prosecutors, NBC, Benz, Hana, State Department, U.S . Department of Agriculture, USDA, New, Republican, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, WASHINGTON, New Jersey, U.S, Manhattan, Egypt, Ukraine, China, United States, Washington, New York

The Senate backed President Joe Biden's nomination of Brown to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by 83 to 11. He will be only the second Black officer to chair the Joint Chiefs after Colin Powell two decades ago. Brown and other military officials had said Tuberville's blockade of hundreds of military promotions could have a far-reaching impact across the armed forces, affecting troops and their families and harming national security. Schumer's procedural motion did not address hundreds of other military promotions still being delayed by Tuberville's action. The Senate's approval of military promotions is usually smooth.

Persons: Joe Biden, Charles Brown Jr, Brown, Evelyn Hockstein, Charles Q, Joe Biden's, Colin Powell, Chuck Schumer, Tommy Tuberville, Tuberville, Lloyd Austin, Schumer, Austin, Randy George, Eric Smith, Patricia Zengerle, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Chris Reese, Christopher Cushing Organizations: U.S, Air Force, U.S . Joint Chiefs of Staff, White, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Senate, U.S . Air Force, Republican, Senate, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Chiefs, Pentagon, Defense Department, Defense, Black U.S, Army, Marine Corps, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Pacific, China

The massive bill - this year's National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA - authorizes a record $886 billion in military spending. The Senate passed its version of the bill, without such provisions, by 86-11. Representatives from the two chambers will now conference in order to iron out differences between the two versions of the legislation and write a final bill. That in turn must pass both chambers before being sent to the White House for President Joe Biden to sign into law or veto. It is one of the few major pieces of legislation that Congress passes every year, having become law annually since 1961.

Persons: Julia Nikhinson, Joe Biden, Patricia Zengerle, Bill Berkrot Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . House, Pentagon, Senate, Republican, Democratic, White House, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Ukraine

Last month, Biden asked Congress to approve $40 billion in additional spending, including $24 billion for Ukraine and other international needs and $16 billion in disaster relief, testing the country's willingness to keep supporting Ukraine during its counteroffensive against Russian invaders. The Republican-majority House is divided, with many Republicans backing the aid but some of the party's farthest-right members calling for an end to the Ukraine assistance. Citing Republican sources, CNN and other news outlets reported that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is considering legislation including the disaster aid but leaving out the Ukraine funding. The White House issued a statement urging McCarthy to back the supplemental spending request and contrasting him with Senate Republicans. "Like Senate Republicans, Speaker McCarthy should keep his word about government funding," White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement.

Persons: Julia Nikhinson, Joe Biden's, Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Putin, Chuck Schumer, Vladimir, Mitch McConnell, Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, McCarthy, Andrew Bates, Patricia Zengerle, Jeff Mason, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Don Durfee, David Gregorio Our Organizations: U.S . Capitol Police, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Congress, Ukraine, Republican, Republicans, CNN, Democratic, ., National, White, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Ukraine, U.S, Kyiv

The U.S. Capitol dome is seen from the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., April 19, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger/file Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 5 (Reuters) - The Democratic and Republican leaders of the U.S. Senate expressed support for continued assistance for Ukraine on Tuesday, as lawmakers returned to Washington facing a tight deadline for passing spending bills. And this month we'll have the chance to do that with supplemental appropriations for urgent national security and disaster relief priorities," Republican leader Mitch McConnell said. Biden's request for Ukraine aid comes as lawmakers face an Oct. 1 deadline to pass at least a short-term spending bill or face an embarrassing government shutdown. Reporting by Patricia Zengerle, additional reporting by Katharine Jackson; editing by Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sarah Silbiger, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, they've, Donald Trump, Patricia Zengerle, Katharine Jackson, Grant McCool Organizations: U.S, Russell Senate, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic, Republican, Senate, Ukraine, White, Kyiv, Thomson Locations: Russell, Washington , U.S, Washington, Ukraine

Taiwanese flags are seen at the Ministry of National Defence of Taiwan in Taipei, Taiwan, December 26, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Aug 30 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has approved a military transfer to Taiwan under the Foreign Military Financing, or FMF, program normally used for sovereign states, according to a notification sent to Congress. The Taiwan notification was first reported by the Associated Press. FMF, the largest military assistance account managed by the State Department, provides primarily grant assistance to foreign governments for the purchase of U.S. defense equipment and military training under the Foreign Military Sales program. The United States, Taiwan's most important arms supplier, last month announced a Taiwan weapons aid package worth up to $345 million.

Persons: Ann Wang, Joe Biden's, Michael McCaul, McCaul, FMF, Patricia Zengerle, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Ministry of National Defence, REUTERS, Rights, Foreign, Reuters, Associated Press, Representatives Foreign, Chinese Communist Party, State Department, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Taipei, Beijing, Washington, China, United States, U.S

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Aug 10 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden asked Congress to approve about $40 billion in additional spending on Thursday, including $24 billion for Ukraine and other international needs, $4 billion related to border security and $12 billion for disaster relief. Trump, the front-runner in the race to be the Republican presidential nominee in 2024, has been sharply critical of U.S. support for Ukraine in the war. FIRST UKRAINE REQUEST SINCE REPUBLICANS TOOK HOUSERepublicans narrowly control the House, where Speaker Kevin McCarthy signaled in June that any request for more assistance for Ukraine would face an uphill path through Congress. The House and Senate last approved aid for the Kyiv government - $48 billion - in December, before Republicans took control of the House. The request includes $13.1 billion for the Department of Defense, including $9.5 billion for equipment for Ukraine and replenishment of U.S. equipment stocks already sent to Kyiv.

Persons: Joe Biden, George E, Jonathan Ernst, Donald Trump, pare, Chuck Schumer, Biden, America’s, Vladimir Putin, Schumer, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Shalanda Young, Russia's Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Andrea Shalal, Patricia Zengerle, David Shepardson, Doina Chiacu, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: George, Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical, REUTERS, White, Washington, Trump, Republican, Ukraine, Democratic, FIRST, HOUSE, Kyiv, Republicans, World Bank, Department of Defense, Department of State, U.S . Agency for International Development, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, Thomson Locations: Salt Lake City , Utah, U.S, Ukraine, Kyiv, Russian, United States, Russia, China, FIRST UKRAINE, Niger

[1/2] The BlackRock logo is pictured outside their headquarters in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., May 25, 2021. BlackRock has said all of its investments in China and around the world comply with U.S. law, and that it will continue engaging with the select committee on the issues it raised. Republicans formed the select committee when they took control of the House in January, part of an effort to raise awareness about issues behind growing tensions with China. A hard line toward China is one of the few policies with bipartisan support in the deeply divided U.S. Congress. The committee does not write legislation, but makes policy recommendations and can subpoena executives and officials.

Persons: Carlo Allegri, BlackRock, Mike Gallagher, Gallagher, MSCI, Raja Krishnamoorthi, They're, Krishnamoorthi, Michael Martina, Patricia Zengerle, Don Durfee Organizations: REUTERS, BlackRock, Reuters, Republican, PLA, People's Liberation Army, Republicans, Congress, FBI, Thomson Locations: BlackRock, Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, China, MSCI, Dysart , Iowa, Washington, Iowa

WASHINGTON, July 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate passed a sweeping bill setting policy for the Department of Defense on Thursday, setting up a showdown with legislation passed by the Republican-led House of Representatives with "culture war" amendments eliminating abortion rights and diversity protections. The Democratic-controlled Senate passed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, by 86 to 11, with strong support from both Democrats and Republicans. The Senate's Democratic majority leader, Chuck Schumer, said the hard-right provisions in the House bill would not become law. Democrats control only a narrow 51-49 seat majority in the Senate, but senators from both parties have said they do not want social issues to stand in the way of the defense bill becoming law. The Senate passed dozens of its own amendments, including some addressing competition with China.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Schumer, Joe Biden, Patricia Zengerle, Sandra Maler, Diane Craft Organizations: U.S, Senate, Department of Defense, Republican, Democratic, National Defense, Republicans, Ukraine, White House, Thomson Locations: China

The 100-member Senate backed the amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by 91 to 6. The NDAA sets policy for the Department of Defense and is expected to become law later this year. "We need this type of outbound investment notification to understand just how much... critical technology we are transferring to our adversaries via these capital flows. The Senate bill must then be reconciled with a bill passed in the House of Representatives earlier this month. That compromise measure must pass both chambers and be signed by President Joe Biden to become law.

Persons: Bob Casey, Republican John Cornyn, Casey, Joe Biden, Patricia Zengerle, Jamie Freed Organizations: U.S, Senate, National Defense, Department of Defense, Congress, Democratic, Republican, Thomson Locations: China

The new aid package, which was first reported by Reuters, will include for the first time U.S. furnished Black Hornet surveillance drones made by Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies (TDY.N). The Norwegian-built Hornet is being used in Ukraine through donations by the British and Norwegian governments, the company said. More than $43 billion in U.S. military aid has been provided since Russia's invasion in 2022. Commenting on the aid announcement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted Russia's attacks on Ukraine ports and Ukrainian infrastructure since withdrawing from the Black Sea Grain Initiative last week. The Black Sea grain deal was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey a year ago to combat a global food crisis worsened by Russia's invasion.

Persons: Russia grinds, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Mike Stone, Patricia Zengerle, Ismail Shakil, Katharine Jackson, Matthew Lewis, Grant McCool Organizations: U.S . Department of Defense, Ukraine, Reuters, Teledyne FLIR Defense, Teledyne Technologies, British, Systems, U.S . Army, Patriot, Air Missile Systems, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Stryker, Carriers, Authority, United, European Union, Thomson Locations: Russia, Norwegian, Ukraine, United States, United Nations, Turkey, Britain, Washington, Ottawa

[1/2] Israeli President Isaac Herzog looks on during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, not pictured, in Washington, DC, on October 25, 2022. Stefani Reynolds/Pool via REUTERSWASHINGTON, July 19 (Reuters) - Israeli President Isaac Herzog will address Congress on Wednesday, completing a visit aimed at reassuring the United States that Israel's democracy remains strong despite government attempts to overhaul the country's judicial system. The invitation was extended by the leaders of Congress last year to mark the 75th anniversary of Israel's founding. Biden had held off extending the invitation out of concern over Jewish settlements and the planned judicial overhaul. Proponents of the Israeli government's judicial overhaul say the country's Supreme Court has become too interventionist and that the change will facilitate effective governance.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, Antony Blinken, Stefani Reynolds, Joe Biden, Herzog, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Biden, Chaim Herzog, Herzog's, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Jamaal Bowman, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Omar, Isaac Herzog’s, Narendra Modi's, Netanyahu, Barack Obama's, Patricia Zengerle, Don Durfee, Howard Goller Organizations: REUTERS, Israeli, U.S . House, Senate, West Bank, Washington, Twitter, Capitol, —, Indian, Democrats, Republicans, Democratic, White, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, REUTERS WASHINGTON, United States, Israel, Washington, Palestinian, Alexandria, Barack Obama's Iran

WASHINGTON, July 19 (Reuters) - Leaders of the U.S. Senate said on Wednesday they expected a sweeping defense policy bill to pass the chamber with strong bipartisan support, which could mean a clash with a largely party-line bill approved by the House of Representatives. The House passed its NDAA on Friday by a narrow 219-210, after Republicans added culturally conservative amendments addressing hot-button social issues. The vote was almost entirely along party lines, a departure from typical bipartisan support for a bill that has passed every year since 1961. That would not win the approval of the Democratic-controlled Senate, where a majority of lawmakers, including some Republicans, support abortion rights. The contrast is glaring, and we hope, hope, hope, hope that the House takes a lesson from the Senate and works in a productive way so we can pass these important bills."

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Schumer, Joe Biden, Patricia Zengerle, Katharine Jackson, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S . Senate, Representatives, Democratic, Republicans, Republican, Democrats, Senate, NATO, White House, Thomson Locations: Washington

Herzog, who as head of state plays a largely ceremonial role, begins his two-day Washington visit on Tuesday when he meets U.S. President Joe Biden before addressing a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday. Herzog will also meet Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, a senior administration official said. Biden and Herzog last met at the White House in October. On Monday, Biden invited Netanyahu to the United States for an official visit later this year. SPEECH BOYCOTTSIn Congress, U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar said on Twitter "there is no way in hell" she would be at Wednesday's speech.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Herzog, Netanyahu's, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Biden, Netanyahu, Ilhan Omar, Isaac Herzog’s, Omar, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Narendra Modi's, Barack Obama's, Primila Jayapal, Israel, Jayapal, Patricia Zengerle, Steve Holland, Richard Cowan, David Morgan, Don Durfee, Howard Goller Organizations: Democratic, West Bank, White, Twitter, —, Indian, Democrats, Republicans, Senate, Democratic House, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, Washington, Iran, United States, Israel, Barack Obama's Iran

Blinken told reporters that he had sent a letter to every member of the Senate urging swift confirmation of dozens of nominees for State Department positions. The nominations are being held back by Republican Senator Rand Paul while he seeks information from the administration on the origins of COVID-19. The department said it currently has 62 nominees outstanding with the Senate, including 38 ambassadorial nominees. Separately, nominations for more than 250 positions in the U.S. military are also being delayed by a single Republican - Senator Tommy Tuberville. Most nominations are approved by Senate committees, and eventually reviewed by the full Senate, which is controlled by Biden's fellow Democrats.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Joe Biden's, Blinken, Rand Paul, Paul, Tommy Tuberville, Tuberville, Patricia Zengerle, Simon Lewis, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: State Department, Republican, Senate, Defense Department, Thomson Locations: U.S

The fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, which sets policy for the Pentagon and authorizes $886 billion in spending, was approved 219-210. The vote was largely along party lines, a departure from the typical bipartisan support for a bill that has passed every year since 1961. The House voted 221 to 213 for an amendment that would reverse the Defense Department's policy of reimbursing expenses for service members who travel to obtain an abortion. The House also voted 222-211 to prohibit the Pentagon from paying for gender-affirming surgeries and hormone treatment. UPCOMING SENATE DEBATEHouse Republicans were able to pass their amendments without Democratic support, but such provisions would die in the Senate, where President Joe Biden's fellow Democrats hold a 51-49 majority.

Persons: Wade, Barry Loudermilk, Adam Smith, Joe Biden's, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Patricia Zengerle, Richard Cowan, David Morgan, Ismail Shakil, David Gregorio Our Organizations: U.S . House, Department of Defense, Republicans, Pentagon, Republican, U.S, Supreme, House Republicans, House Armed Services Committee, Democratic, Senate, eventual, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: China, Ukraine, Russia

The Republican-led House Rules Committee paved the way overnight for the chamber to vote on the amendments, angering Democrats who accused the majority party's far-right wing of injecting "culture wars" issues into the must-pass bill. The inclusion of divisive social issues could complicate the measure's chances of passing, if any of the amendments make it into the final bill. Republicans have only a 222-212 seat majority in the House and Democrats have a 51-49 majority in the Senate. The House could pass its version as soon as Friday, but the Senate is not expected to vote on its bill until later this month. Republican House Rules Committee Chairman Tom Cole said he expected a bipartisan compromise.

Persons: Joe Biden, Tom Cole, Patricia Zengerle, David Gregorio Our Organizations: U.S . House, National Defense, Pentagon, Republican, Kyiv, Senate, Republicans, Democrats, White House, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russia

WASHINGTON, July 12 (Reuters) - Democratic and Republic senators renewed an effort to block any U.S. president from leaving NATO on Wednesday, as leaders of the alliance attended an eventful summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. The joint resolution, seen by Reuters, is a fresh effort by Congress to prevent the president from withdrawing from the alliance without the Senate's approval. Lead sponsors include Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees, and Republican Senator Marco Rubio, vice chairman of the intelligence committee, who is also a senior member of the foreign relations panel. The current president, Democrat Joe Biden, has been a strong supporter of NATO, backing its expansion and working with other members, especially on the response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He is expected to celebrate its unity over Ukraine in a speech at the Vilnius summit on Wednesday.

Persons: Tim Kaine, Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, Kaine, Joe Biden, Patricia Zengerle, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Democratic, NATO, Reuters, Atlantic Treaty, Congress, Foreign Relations, Armed Services, Republican, Thomson Locations: Vilnius, Lithuania, United States, Atlantic, Washington, DC, Ukraine, Kyiv

Search resuls for: "Patricia Zengerle Has Reported More Than Countries"

25 mentions found