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Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., arrives for President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy's meeting with U.S. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)WASHINGTON — Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., announced Tuesday that he is dropping the bulk of his monthslong hold on hundreds of military nominations. Tuberville told reporters that he has lifted his hold on all military promotions three-star and below, amounting to over 400 promotions. Tuberville told reporters. Tuberville had signaled last week that he might drop some of his holds on military promotions "very soon."

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy's, Bill Clark, WASHINGTON — Sen, Tuberville, Nikki Haley, Lloyd Austin, Chuck Schumer, John Thune Organizations: U.S, Senators, Inc, Getty Images, Alabama Republican, Defense, Pentagon, GOP, Tuberville's, Republicans Locations: Ukraine, Israel

☆ Ukraine’s US lifeline is hanging by a thinning thread
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

In a grave blow to its prospects, Ukraine aid has now been embroiled by Republicans in a separate imbroglio over immigration. While Ukraine’s survival is at stake, so is the reputation of the United States as a global leader. Johnson may struggle to retain his tenuous hold on his job if he uses Democratic votes to pass a Ukraine funding package. The Ukraine aid package is now caught in the most intractable US political issue — immigration. “We are at a moment in history.”But a group of Republican senators who normally back Ukraine aid signaled Monday they couldn’t move forward without immigration changes attached to the measure.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, Joe Biden, Israel —, “, Jake Sullivan, Vladimir, ”, Sullivan’s, Shalanda Young, Mike Johnson, United States Oksana Markarova, CNN’s Wolf, Volodymyr Zelensky, Lloyd Austin, Zelensky, Donald Trump, Putin, Trump –, Republican Sen, Jim Risch of, “ Vladimir Putin, …, he’s, outlasting, ” Risch, Ben Hodges, ” Hodges, Johnson, Biden, Chuck Schumer, Texas Sen, John Cornyn Organizations: CNN, White, of Management, GOP, Wing, Kremlin, Trump, Republican, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, Halifax International Security, US Army, of, Republicans, Democratic, New York Democrat, Texas, Ukraine, US Defense Department, Internal Revenue Service, – Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Russian, U.S, United States, Russia, Moscow, North Korea, Iran, Kyiv, Washington, China, Jim Risch of Idaho, Canada, Ret, — Washington, Berlin, Paris, London, of America, Europe, Crimea, Ukrainian, Mexico, Taiwan

☆ Tuberville says he will release Senate holds on confirming military nominations three-star and below
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Lauren Fox | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama said Tuesday he is releasing the bulk of his holds for Senate votes to confirm military promotions. The move comes after he faced bipartisan pressure to cease his blanket hold on military promotions over a Defense Department reproductive rights policy. Tuberville’s hold started in March and delayed the confirmations of more than 450 top military nominees. Tuberville made the announcement that he was backing off the military holds with the exception of fewer than a dozen four star promotions during Senate lunch. We didn’t get as much out of it as we wanted,” Tuberville said.

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Tuberville, Tuberville’s, Schumer, “, ” Tuberville, didn’t, ” CNN’s Haley Britzky Organizations: Capitol, Defense, Republicans Locations: Alabama

Residents, many of whom had moved there to flee earlier attacks in the Israel-Palestinian conflict, said they could hear tank fire and feared a new Israeli ground offensive was building. The Israeli military earlier ordered people to evacuate some areas in and near the city, but made no announcement of any new southern ground assault. "The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) continues to extend its ground operation against Hamas centres in all of the Gaza Strip," spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters in Tel Aviv. GROUND OFFENSIVE FEAREDGaza residents said earlier on Sunday they feared an Israeli ground offensive on the southern areas was imminent. Tanks had cut off the road between Khan Younis and Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza, effectively dividing the Gaza Strip into three.

Persons: Alexander Ermochenko, Khan Younis, Daniel Hagari, Eylon Levy, Younis, United States —, —, Kamala Harris, Isaac Herzog, Mahmoud Abbas, Harris, Israel, Osama Hamdan, Deir, Suhaib Salem, Nidal, Mohammed Salem, Maayan Lubell, Ari Rabinovich, Emily Rose, Maggie Fick, Andrew Mills, Nandita Bose, Idrees Ali, Steve Holland, Phil Stewart, David Lawder, Lincoln Organizations: Hamas, Pentagon, Palestinian, IDF, Israel Defence Forces, U.S . Defense Department, Yemen's, Reuters, United, Tanks, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Khan, U.S, Sea, Pentagon Iran, GAZA, CAIRO, Tel Aviv, Gaza City, Yemen's Iran, Hamas, Rafah, Gaza's, Beit Lahiya, United States, Lebanon, Egypt, Cairo, Jerusalem, Beirut, Doha, Dubai, Washington

☆ Trump’s avalanche of dishonesty: Fact-checking 102 of his false claims from this fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +111 min

Below is a fact check of 102 of Trump’s false claims from the 12 speeches. But contrary to Trump’s claim, it’s not true that people had been attempting for decades to create such an initiative. Trump’s aid to farmersIn speech after speech, Trump claimed that he had given US farmers $28 billion from China. Even if the poll result is off, it’s clear that Trump’s claim that “nobody wants them” is not true. He said he was an airline pilot.”Facts First: Trump made a false claim while mocking Biden for making false claims.

Persons: Donald Trump, –, Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, “, ”, Mexico’s, ‘ Trump, Defense Department –, ” Theresa Cardinal Brown, CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez, ” Trump, I’ve, Todd Harrison, Harrison, It’s, Trump’s, ” Ben Cahill, Nobody, Jimmy Carter’s, Barack Obama, isn’t, El Salvador –, Obama, we’d, Obama’s, Webster, Covid, Wuhan ”, They’d, they’d, you’d, Scott Gottlieb, ” Gottlieb, Trump Trump, it’s, Abraham, Aaron David Miller, Miller, Dana El Kurd, Qasem Soleimani, they’ve, we’re, We’re, ’, Iran haven’t, ” Matt Smith, Biden’s, Smith, Ali Vaez, Kpler, Biden Trump, Iran “, Democrats ”, that’s, Jimmy Carter, Carter “, Carter, ‘, Hillary Clinton, Kari Lake, Bill Gates, Gates, ” Chris Wallace, Chris Wallace, Hunter Biden, “ Chris Wallace, ‘ He’s, ‘ ” Trump, Wallace, “ you’re, “ Biden, ‘ You’re, Wallace interjected, Rather, you’ve, ’ ” Pavel Molchanov, Raymond James &, ” Molchanov, Tim Woody, Woody, autoworkers, CNN’s Ella Nilsen, Joe Biden’s, Erin Mellon, Gavin Newsom, Mellon, ” Vonette Fontaine, Biden “, CNN’s Matt Egan, Egan, ” Biden, Europe Trump, United Kingdom “, Brent, Pavel Molchanov, Raymond James, Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy, De Haan, Matt Smith, Matt Egan, Afghanistan Trump, we’ve, Krista Wiegand, Wiegand, ” Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Qasem, Bibi, Netanyahu, Soleimani, Asad, Mark Milley, Hezbollah Trump, Steven Cheung, John Kirby, Cheung, Kirby, Iran’s, ” Ali Vaez, Joseph Amon, Washington –, Faiq Zidan, Zidan’s, Zidan, Abu Mahdi al, China Trump, Ukraine Trump, Letitia James, James, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Matthew Colangelo, You’re, Bragg, Colangelo, Tanya Chutkan, I’m, Jack Smith, Bill Clinton, That’s, everybody’s, Letitia James –, Al Capone’s, Al Capone, Capone, Brad Schwartz, CNN couldn’t, Schwartz, Eliot Ness, MAGA, “ MAGA, …, White, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Inflation Trump, Bacon, Joe, PolitiFact, Trump . Howard Gleckman Organizations: Washington CNN —, CNN, Republican, Trump Trump, Republican Jewish Coalition, Department, ISIS, Trump’s, Democratic, Congress, Defense Department, former Defense Department, Center, US Customs, Trump, American Enterprise Institute, Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Energy Security, Center for Strategic, International Studies, US, IHS, Islamic, The State Department, Customs Enforcement, Policy Institute, ICE, El Salvador, ”, Merriam, The New York Times, Food and Drug Administration, FDA, Abraham Accords, United Arab Emirates, West Bank, Hezbollah, State Department, Carnegie Endowment, International, Arab Center Washington DC, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force, Obama, US International Trade Commission, Washington Post, U.S . International Trade Commission, New England lobstermen, England lobstermen, Americas, Crisis, government’s Energy, Administration, Washington Free Beacon, Energy Information Administration, Democrats, Biden, Electoral, Georgia, Michigan, Carter, Democrats can’t, Republicans, Alabama, Arizona, Fox News, ” Energy, Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Wildlife, Alaska Industrial Development, Export Authority, Raymond James & Associates, Wilderness Society, Cox Automotive, Pew Research Center, New York Times, National Oceanic, California Gov, California, American Petroleum Institute, Union, West, Energy, American Automobile Association, AAA, GasBuddy, New Hampshire, Houston, Keystone XL, Obama administration’s State Department, –, Foreign, Military, DoD, Afghan, Defense, Policy, Taiwan News, “, University of Tennessee’s Center for National Security, Foreign Affairs, Israeli, NBC, Jerusalem Post, Yahoo, Pentagon, ” CNN, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Post, National Security, Group, US government’s Defense Intelligence Agency, Narcotics Bureau, Global Health, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Justice Department, Washington, Judicial, Popular Mobilization Forces, Customs and, Middle East, Customs, Protection, CBP, Border Protection, Kiel Institute, European Union, New York, New, ExxonMobil, Trump University, Trump Foundation, Manhattan, Attorney, federal Justice Department, Department of Justice, Washington DC, Presidential Records, Presidential, Mar, Biden White, MAGA Republicans, Inflation, Heritage Foundation, Trump ., Brookings Tax, Urban Institute Locations: New Hampshire, New York City, Saudi, Florida, al Qaeda, New York, Texas, Iowa, Mexico, “, U.S, Houston, Iraq, Israel, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Nord, Germany, Russian, Trump’s, Russia, Ukraine, Europe, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, El, Washington, ”, ” In Texas, Covid, China, Wuhan, Italy, France, Abraham, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Palestine, Afghanistan, Somalia, Pakistan, New England, England, Kpler, Malaysia, Oregon, Alabama, Maricopa County, Arizona, Arizona’s, Moscow, Alaska, East, South Carolina, California, “ California, West Virginia, Virginia, United Kingdom, West Texas, “ U.S, Los Angeles, Venezuela, Mississippi , Louisiana, Canada, United States, Paris, Taiwan, “ China, Iranian, that’s, –, Singapore, Iraqi, San Diego, Kiel, York, Manhattan, York’s, Chicago, Philadelphia, Georgia, Qaeda

WASHINGTON (AP) — As record numbers of migrants surge at the southern U.S. border, many seeking asylum, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has told Congress the country's “broken” immigration system is in need of a top-to-bottom update. It comes as Mayorkas, the face of the administration’s immigration policy, bears down the threat of impeachment proceedings from House Republicans over what they view as failed border policies. “We’re at a point for three years we’ve been saying, ‘When are we going to secure the country? On Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson told GOP senators behind closed doors that he needs real border security changes as part of Biden's broader war funding package. During recent hearings, Mayorkas told Congress the administration is working to manage the situation, even as Congress has failed to update the immigration system for decades.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Biden, “ We’re, ”, Republican Sen, James Lankford of, “, we’ve, Vladimir Putin's, Vanessa Cárdenas, Biden's, Thom Tillis, Mike Johnson, Chuck Schumer, Johnson, Mitch McConnell, ” “, ‘ We’re, ’ ” Schumer, they’ve, Donald Trump, Mayorkas, Sen, Alex Padilla, Dick Durbin of, Elliot Spagat, Seung Min Kim Organizations: WASHINGTON, Homeland, Republicans, House Republicans, Republican, Democrats, Eisenhower, Cato Institute, Congress, Defense Department, GOP, Associated Press, COVID, Capitol, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Press Locations: U.S, Ukraine, Israel, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Congress, North Carolina, Alex Padilla of California, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras

Linking Ukraine’s military assistance to U.S. border security interjects one of the most divisive domestic political issues — immigration and border crossings — into the middle of an intensifying debate over wartime foreign policy. Failure risks delaying U.S. military aid to Kyiv and Israel, along with humanitarian assistance for Gaza, in the midst of two wars, potentially undermining America's global standing. Rather than approve Biden’s request, which includes $61 billion for Ukraine, Republicans are demanding something in return. Democrats call these essentially nonstarters, and the border security talks are going slowly. Other Republicans, led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a Donald Trump ally, have drawn an even deeper line against Ukraine aid.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Joe Biden’s, ”, Luke Coffey, Andriy Yermak, Coffey, Vladimir Putin’s, Mitch McConnell, It’s, “, Sen, Chris Murphy, Conn, Biden, Tom Cotton, McConnell, Sabrina Singh, Democratic Sen, Jack Reed, Mike Garcia of, Garcia, Mike Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Donald Trump, Lolita C, Baldor, Ellen Knickmeyer, Stephen Groves Organizations: WASHINGTON, Hudson Institute, Republican, Associated Press, NORC, for Public Affairs Research, Biden, Republicans, Democrats, Senate, The Defense Department, Defense Department, Congressional Research Service, World Bank . National, Democratic, Senate Armed Services Committee, Russia, Kyiv, Navy, Rep Locations: Washington, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Mexico, U.S, Kyiv, Gaza, Ukrainian, United States, Kentucky, Russian, Rhode Island, ”, Mike Garcia of California, Iraq, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia

☆ Is the U.S. Ready for War?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Andy Kessler | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Wonder Land: For Hamas in Israel and Putin in Ukraine, killing the innocent is now part of the plan. Hamas terrorists used motorcycles and paragliders. Israeli soldiers use sophisticated Iron Dome antimissile systems and, to close off tunnels, “sponge bombs” that work like spray foam sealant from Home Depot . Is the U.S. ready for that kind of war? Current wars have exposed the Pentagon’s “brittleness and lack of resiliency, and that’s in part going back to the drawdown during the Clinton era.”

Persons: Putin, Mark Kelly Ukraine’s, Arkansas Sen, Tom Cotton —, “, ”, Clinton Organizations: Zuma, Home, Arkansas, 101st Airborne Division, Armed Services Committee, Defense Department Locations: Israel, Ukraine, U.S, Iraq

☆ Defense secretary Austin arrives in Kyiv in surprise visit meant to reemphasize support for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrived in Kyiv on Monday, in a surprise trip to Ukraine to reemphasize the US’ support for the embattled country amid other pressing challenges abroad. “The message that I bring you today, Mr. President, is the United States of America is with you,” Austin told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. What happened here in Ukraine – that not only matters to Ukraine but it matters to the rest of the world. A senior defense official said Austin intended to speak with Ukrainians about their requirements for security assistance. There’s probably nothing more important than that.”Austin’s trip comes just days before he will host the 17th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, virtually from the Pentagon.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, ” Austin, Volodymyr Zelensky, “, Austin, Ukraine’s, Israel’s, Sabrina Singh, ” Organizations: CNN, Defense, Defense Department, Hamas, Pentagon, Ukraine, Embassy Kyiv, Ukraine Defense Contact Group Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, United States, America, United States of America, ”, Russia

☆ White House slams Musk 'antisemitic rhetoric,' says 'foolish' to drop SpaceX contracts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Leah Millis | ReutersThe White House is not moving away from Elon Musk's SpaceX or Starlink technology despite condemning Musk for pushing antisemitic comments on social media, National Security Counsel spokesman John Kirby said Monday. White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., November 20, 2023. The Pentagon has commissioned Starlink technology to provide internet coverage to Ukraine, as the country's defensive war against Russia rages on. In September, Musk's SpaceX won a separate Pentagon contract for Starshield, a military-specific version of Starlink that is still under development. In the past, senators have scrutinized the Defense Department's dependence on Musk's technology.

Persons: Elon Musk, Chuck Schumer, Leah Millis, Musk, John Kirby, Kirby, I'm, Musk's SpaceX, SpaceX's, Joe Skipper Organizations: Intelligence, Senate, U.S, Capitol, Elon Musk's SpaceX, National Security, Musk's, White, National Security Council Strategic Communications, Reuters, Twitter, Apple, Disney, Comcast, CNBC, Pentagon, Russia, Starshield, SpaceX, Federal Aviation Authority, Boca Chica Locations: Washington , U.S, Ukraine, Texas, Brownsville , Texas, U.S

☆ US-China military hotlines are reopening to prevent things like risky run-ins from triggering a full-blown crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The US and China will resume military-to-military communications, Biden announced Wednesday. The US and Chinese militaries often operate in close proximity to one another, and there have been some risky run-ins. AdvertisementThe US and China are resuming military-to-military communications, the US and China said Wednesday after more than year of mostly radio silence. USINDOPACOMThe spike in risky and dangerous intercepts reported by US officials began before China officially cut off mil-to-mil comms. DoD officials, too, have said opening lines between the US and China would "ensure competition does not veer into conflict."

Persons: Biden, —, Joe Biden, People's Republic of China Xi Jinping, Nancy Pelosi's, USINDOPACOM, That's, Ely Ratner, China's Xi, Xi, he's, CNN's MJ Lee Organizations: Pentagon, Service, of Defense, PLA, U.S ., China Defense, China, Maritime, People's Liberation Army, US Air Force, US, DoD, Pacific Command, PRC, US Defense Department, Foreign Ministry Locations: China, People's Republic of China, San Francisco, Iran, U.S, Taiwan, United States, Hainan, South China, South, US

☆ Senate sends funding bill to Biden's desk, averting a government shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Scott Wong | Kate Santaliz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Senate on Wednesday night passed a stopgap funding bill, punting the GOP's spending fight and the threat of a government shutdown until after the holidays. The funding bill next heads to President Joe Biden's desk for his expected signature. The CR is designed to buy more time for House Republicans to pass appropriations bills and for House and Senate negotiators to reach a deal on funding. The House has passed seven of the twelve annual appropriations bills that fund the government for a full fiscal year, while the Senate has passed three. Johnson and his leadership team sent House lawmakers home for the Thanksgiving holiday early on Wednesday after two appropriations bills ran into trouble.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Jack Reed, Joe Biden's, Schumer, Mike Johnson's, Johnson, Scott Perry, we're, I've, we've, Hakeem Jeffries, Jeffries, — Frank Thorp V, Garrett Haake Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Republicans, New, Agriculture, Transportation, Housing, Urban Development, Veterans Affairs, Defense Department, House Republicans, House, Caucus, Democrats, Congressional Black Caucus Locations: Washington, Israel, Ukraine, D

☆ Pentagon fails audit for sixth year in a row
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Mike Stone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The Pentagon failed an independent audit of its accounting systems for the sixth consecutive year, a Pentagon official said Wednesday. "Things are showing progress, but it's not enough," Mike McCord, the Defense Department's chief financial officer, told reporters. The Pentagon is striving for a "clean" audit but that is still years away, McCord said. To conduct the audit, 1,600 auditors conducted 700 site visits and assessed $3.8 trillion in assets and $4 trillion in liabilities, the Pentagon said. Required by law, the annual audit assesses the record-keeping processes for the Pentagon's weapons systems, military personnel and property around the world.

Persons: Mike McCord, Defense Lloyd Austin, McCord, Mike Stone, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Pentagon, Defense, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Washington

☆ EV maker Canoo slashes spending for second half of 2023, forecasts smaller loss
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A view shows the Canoo logo on a Canoo LV (Lifestyle Vehicle) electric vehicle outside a manufacturing site in Livonia, Michigan, U.S. November 29, 2022. The EV maker expects capital expenditure of $30 million to $40 million in the second half of 2023, compared with its prior forecast range of $70 million to $100 million. Canoo projects core loss to be between $85 million and $105 million for the second half, versus its previous range of $120 million to $140 million. Adjusted loss per share was 6 cents, compared with LSEG estimates of a 12-cent loss. Its cash and cash equivalents were $8.3 million as of Sept. 30, compared with $5 million in the preceding three months.

Persons: Rebecca Cook, Canoo, Tony Aquila, EVs, Aquila, Samrhitha, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: REUTERS, Ford, General Motors, U.S . Defense Department, Walmart, NASA, Thomson Locations: Livonia , Michigan, U.S, Oklahoma, Bengaluru

According to the Pentagon's most recent report on China's military power, Beijing has “denied, canceled or ignored” military-to-military communications and meetings with the Pentagon for much of last year and this year. In an effort to improve transparency and communication, defense leaders from the two countries were meeting regularly. He and other defense chiefs, Joint Chiefs chairmen and regional high-level U.S. commanders routinely traveled to China over the next decade, and Chinese defense leaders came to the Pentagon. The Pentagon routinely complained that there was little tangible progress in the press for greater transparency in China’s military ambitions and its burgeoning defense budget. But the lack of communications heightened worries about an increase in what the Pentagon calls risky Chinese aircraft and warship incidents in the past two years.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, “, Robert Gates, ”, Chuck Hagel, Hagel, China's, Obama, Trump, Nancy Pelosi’s, Pelosi, Newt Gingrich, Carolyn Bartholomew, Bonnie Lin, ” Lin, Tara Copp Organizations: WASHINGTON, Economic Cooperation, Military Maritime, U.S, Pentagon, Defense Department, Chiefs, Yuchi, Pacific ., Beijing, The Defense Department, China Economic, Security, China, Center for Strategic, International Security, Associated Press Locations: Asia, San Francisco, China, Beijing, U.S, Singapore, South China, South, America's, Taiwan, Russia, Ukraine, Syria, Washington

☆ Why the U.S. military is investing billions in directed-energy weapons
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Brad Howard | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy the U.S. military is investing billions in directed-energy weaponsDirected energy weapons such as lasers and high powered microwaves may soon be used to defend against drones and rockets on the battlefield. These futuristic sounding weapons are part of a new wave of devices produced from billions of dollars in research and development from the Defense Department. But how close is the U.S. military to using these weapons in the field?

Organizations: U.S, Defense Department Locations: U.S

☆ Speaker Mike Johnson Faces Big Test in Averting Government Shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Katy Stech Ferek | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

The U.S. government narrowly averted shutting down—again. WSJ explains why the growing divide in Congress is leading to threats of a shutdown nearly every year. Photo illustration: Madeline MarshallWASHINGTON—House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) is headed into a major test on Tuesday with a possible vote on his proposal temporarily extending government funding through early next year, as lawmakers moved to get legislation to President Biden’s desk ahead of a looming government shutdown this weekend. Lawmakers missed their initial annual deadline of Sept. 30 to finish that work, prompting the need for an initial extension to Nov. 17 and now another one.

Persons: —, Madeline Marshall, Mike Johnson, Biden’s Organizations: —, Defense Department, Lawmakers

☆ New Speaker Confident of Bipartisan Support in Plan to Avert Shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Katy Stech Ferek | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

WSJ explains why the growing divide in Congress is leading to threats of a shutdown nearly every year. Photo illustration: Madeline MarshallWASHINGTON—House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) expressed confidence that he would get broad bipartisan support Tuesday for his proposal to temporarily extend government funding and avoid a partial shutdown this weekend. Johnson’s two-step plan is scheduled for a vote later Tuesday that will require a two-thirds supermajority for approval. Lawmakers missed their initial annual deadline of Sept. 30 to finish that work, prompting the need for an initial extension to Nov. 17 and now another one.

Persons: —, Madeline Marshall, Mike Johnson Organizations: —, Defense Department, Lawmakers

The Rules Committee voted 9-7 - along party lines - to send the resolution for a vote in the full Senate. The resolution would temporarily sidestep Tuberville's holds by allowing many promotions to be considered by the Senate simultaneously. Under Senate rules, one lawmaker can hold up nominations even if the other 99 all want them to move quickly. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, a member of the Rules Committee, said productive discussions with Tuberville about reaching a deal to ease his holds were under way. Just last week, the senator objected to quick approval of the promotions of 364 officers.

Persons: Tommy Tuberville, Jonathan Ernst, Tommy Tuberville's, Donald Trump, Roe, Wade, sidestep Tuberville's, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Tuberville, Schumer, Patricia Zengerle, Jonathan Oatis, Bill Berkrot Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic, Republican, Democrats, Pentagon, Senate, Marine Corps, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S

President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, will talk in the San Francisco Bay Area on Wednesday for their second in-person meeting. The meeting is sure to cover many high-stakes topics, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict. While the meeting is noteworthy, the Biden administration is keeping expectations low given that the two countries disagree on many subject areas. Political Cartoons on World Leaders View All 228 Images“We're not talking about a long list of outcomes or deliverables,” a senior administration official told reporters on a Sunday call. “We're going to cover a whole range of topics that are potentially contentious,” a senior administration official said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Biden, “ We’re, ” Biden, ”, Jake Sullivan, ” Sullivan, Biden “, “ We're, “ Organizations: San Francisco Bay Area, Economic Cooperation, U.S, Union, CBS, Defense Department Locations: San Francisco Bay, Ukraine, Israel, China, Asia, San Francisco, “ State, Pacific, U.S

☆ Avoiding a government shutdown is first major test for House Speaker Mike Johnson
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

House Republican held a Conference meeting to discuss party agenda. WASHINGTON — The government could shut down at the end of the week — unless House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., can get his contentious stopgap funding bill passed. The passage of a bipartisan stopgap measure is what prompted former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's ouster in October. Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Monday said the continuing resolution is driven by the "irresponsible" conservative House Freedom Caucus. Johnson said on Saturday that the continuing resolution places House Republicans "in the best position to fight for conservative victories" by separating it from debates over supplemental funding.

Persons: Mike Johnson, WASHINGTON —, Kevin McCarthy's, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Monday, Wasserman Schultz, Chip Roy, Karine Jean, Pierre, Saturday, Jean, Johnson Organizations: U.S, Capitol, House Republican, WASHINGTON, Democratic, Caucus, Fla, State and Defense, White House, Republican, Republicans, Food and Drug Administration Locations: Washington ,, Israel, Texas, Mexico, Ukraine, Southern, Jan

☆ Five US Service Members Killed in Aircraft Crash in Mediterranean -Defense Department
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Five U.S. service members were killed on Friday when their aircraft crashed into the Mediterranean Sea during a refueling training mission, the U.S. Defense Department said on Sunday. Search and rescue operations involving nearby U.S. military aircraft and ships immediately followed the crash and an investigation into its cause is under way, U.S. European Command said in a statement. U.S. European Command, which handles American military operations in Europe and parts of the Middle East, reported the accident on Saturday. "We can definitively say that the aircraft sortie was purely related to training and there are no indications of hostile activity," it said. Identities of the victims will not be released until next of kin notifications are completed, the command said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Katharine Jackson, Andrea Shalal, Scott Malone, Grant McCool, Sandra Maler Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, U.S . Defense, U.S . European Command Locations: U.S, Israel, Europe

☆ As Biden and Xi gear up for a high-stakes meeting, experts have low expectations
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Megan Lebowitz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Senior U.S. administration officials detailed a handful of agenda items during a briefing with reporters. "We're not talking about a long list of outcomes or deliverables," a senior administration official told reporters. Even in recent days, Chinese officials were hesitant to confirm that Xi would attend the meeting with Biden. Biden and Xi's meeting also comes in the lead-up to Taiwan's 2024 presidential election in January, followed by the U.S. election. "We've been clear publicly and privately that interference in the Taiwan election is something we're extremely concerned about," a senior administration official said.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Xi, Colleen Cottle, Jude Blanchette, They've, Thomas Fingar, Fingar, Biden, Wang Wenbin, Karine Jean, Pierre, Jean, Oriana Skylar Mastro, Ely Ratner, Ratner, We've, we've, Li Shangfu, Li, David Sacks, Sacks, Xi's Organizations: Global China, Atlantic Council, Senior, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Stanford University, National Intelligence Council, White, U.S ., American Enterprise Institute, NBC News, Defense, Biden, China, Council, Foreign Relations, U.S, Washington Locations: Nusa Dua, Indonesian, Bali, U.S, China, Taiwan Strait, South China, San Francisco, People's Republic of China, Taiwan

☆ Philip Schlamberg: Final US combat death of World War II was Jewish teen in Japan
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

“The Last Fighter Pilot” says when the service saw those scores, Schlamberg was offered his pick of jobs and chose to be a fighter pilot. During that trip, he saw Japanese war veterans up close and felt a kinship, he said. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty ImagesFitting endingsYellin died in December 2017, shortly after “The Last Fighter Pilot” was published. In the foreword to “The Last Fighter Pilot,” Yellin recounted how World War II’s end was fitting for the times. “And that the final combat life in the defense of freedom would be laid down by a teenage Jewish fighter pilot who had not yet learned to even drive a car.”

Persons: Emperor Hirohito, Jerry Yellin, Philip Schlamberg, Yellin, Schlamberg, “, ” Yellin, Hirohito, ”, Phil, they’d, Ian Hitchcock, I’m, “ I’m, ” Schlamberg, Andrew Caballero, Reynolds, Melanie Sloan, ” “, ” Sloan, Philip, Sloan, Don Brown, he’d, Schlamberg’s smarts, Jerry Yellin’s, ‘ I’m, ’ ”, Yellin’s, Michael, ’, ” Michael Yellin, Saul Loeb, Helene, Robert, Taro Yamakawa, Yamakawa, “ Yellin Organizations: CNN, US Army Air Corps, US Defense Department, Nazi, US, 78th Fighter Squadron, National Archives, Iwo, Fighter Squadron, American, T150 Defence Force Air, Culpeper Regional Airport, Getty, Abraham Lincoln High School, Army Air Corps, Memorial, of, Monuments, New, Montclair Local, Arsenal, Democracy, US Air Force, Arlington National Cemetery, “ Locations: Tokyo, Nazi Germany, Europe, Brooklyn, Iwo Jima, Ukraine, East, Sudan, Myanmar, United States, Nagasaki, Japan, Hiroshima, Utah, Townsville, Australia, Culpeper, Brandy Station, Virginia, AFP, Honolulu, Honolulu , Hawaii, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, New Jersey, America, Washington ,, Arlington, Pacific, New York

☆ A Wall Street banker bought a coal mine sight unseen that could contain $37 billion worth of rare earth minerals
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Over a decade ago, a Wall Street banker bought a coal mine to sell coal. Turns out, the mine contains rare earth elements that could be worth tens of billions of dollars. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn 2011, Randall Atkins, a former Wall Street banker, bought a mine outside of Sheridan, Wyoming, sight unseen, The Wall Street Journal reported. In May, Ramaco announced that Atkins' Brook Mine contains one of the largest unconventional deposits of rare earth elements in the US. Early this year, the White House announced it plans to invest $32 million in domestic rare earth and other mineral projects.

Persons: —, Randall Atkins, Atkins, Ramaco, REE, REEs, David Becker, Patty Webber, They're, haven't, Shannon Anderson Organizations: Wall Street, Service, Street Journal, Casper Star, Tribune, DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory, International, Inc, Resources, Reuters, Geological Survey, Wyoming Public, Defense Department, White House, Sheridan Press Locations: Sheridan , Wyoming, Atkins, Wyoming, China

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