NATO responds to Russian military activity with air and sea operations
NATO forces were on high alert over the weekend of Aug. 10, engaging in sophisticated monitoring of Russian military maneuvers close to Western territories. On Saturday, Aug. 10, a Russian spy plane equipped for electronic intelligence but unresponsive to radio contact breached international norms by entering the Baltic Sea airspace without a flight plan.
In response, German and Swedish fighter jets intercepted the intruding craft, a routine yet essential action for NATO’s ongoing air policing missions aimed at safeguarding the airspace over this geopolitically sensitive region.
Alarmstart im Ostseeraum! Zur Luftraumsicherung des #NATO Bündnissgebietes stiegen nacheinander die #QRA aus Laage, Schweden und der @NATO Mission #VAPB auf und begleiteten einen russischen Seeaufklärer IL-20M. Die Maschine flog ohne Flugplan und Kontakt zur zivilen… pic.twitter.com/iUQlrhC2nH
The Baltic Sea incident occurred one day after another in the North Pacific. It was a similarly tense scene, but again, the response was managed with precision. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley encountered a Russian Vishnya-class intelligence ship within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone near Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.
Opting for surveillance over direct contact, the Alex Haley monitored the Russian vessel’s eastward journey. These areas are becoming hotspots for military and research activities by Russia and China.
Together, these incidents show the delicate balance of international military diplomacy, highlighting the role of surveillance, readiness and adherence to international law. One wrong move made by either side could be the difference between starting a war or maintaining the status quo.
Russia and China patrolling together is ‘eyebrow raising’
For the first time, a pair of H-6 bombers from China were observed flying near Alaska, in a part of the skies known as the Air Defense Identification Zone, or ADIZ. An ADIZ is not sovereign airspace, but all craft are required to identify themselves in the interest of international security.
The Chinese H-6s flew alongside a pair of Russian Tu-95 bombers. These types of patrol flights aren’t uncommon, but what is noteworthy is the fact the Chinese and Russian bombers were seen together.
This is just the sort of topic tackled on Straight Arrow News’ Weapons and Warfare podcast. The show’s host, Ryan Robertson, spoke with Matt Shoemaker, a friend of the show and a former U.S. intelligence officer what he thought about the situation.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
Ryan Robertson: These kinds of things aren’t necessarily new. America does this, I mean, every country with a military does patrol missions, yeah?
Matt Shoemaker: Absolutely. Yeah. So the way that I saw this, the interesting side of things was not so much the Russians were doing it, as you mentioned that the Russians do this all the time. Actually, it’s almost on a weekly basis that they fly Tu-16s over the Pacific, somewhat close to Alaska, or sometimes all the way down to near California. Interestingly enough. The really interesting thing was the fact that the Chinese accompanied them this time. That was the thing that we have not seen before. And the Chinese, were using what’s called an H-6, which is just their knockoff version of the Tu-16. Interestingly enough, they reverse-engineered it, and pretty much just made a carbon copy of it on a lower quality basis. So yeah, the interesting thing is that the Chinese actually were working with the Russians for this.
Robertson: So the Chinese government said this is the ninth mission that the Chinese and the Russians have done together. Like you mentioned, it’s the first time we’ve seen it close to our borders. In your mind, what does that signify? Is this a turning point in the Chinese, the PLA Air Force?
Shoemaker: Yeah, the PLAAF. PLA-AF. Yeah, lots of fun. The best one is the PLAARF, the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, the PLAARF. In terms of what this means, the way that I see this is that military exercises are oftentimes a form of communication between leaders, that’s one element to it. So in some sense, it’s the leaders of countries talking to other leaders. And you can do multiple things at once. With regards to this, you can send multiple messages all at the same time. So that’s certainly one element: that the Russians and the Chinese leadership are signaling to the Americans, and to the American leadership, that they are cooperating in this regard.
It’s hard to tell right now if this is significant for the long term, because from one perspective, the Chinese and the Russians are very much at odds with each other. They tend to not like each other, you know? They went to war with each other 50 years ago, between the Soviets and the Communist Chinese. So even two communist countries went to war with each other. The Chinese certainly want what they call Greater Manchuria, what would be essentially the Kamchatka region of Russia, and giving them access to the Arctic and all that sort of stuff. They see that as historically theirs, so from that perspective, they certainly are at odds with each other. So it’s a little weird. From that perspective, to see the Russians and the Chinese working together. I think over the short to medium term it is somewhat concerning. And it’s going to require, I think, a much more robust response, from the American leadership in particular, that I don’t think has been there over the past few years. Yeah.
Robertson: Why do you feel that way? Why do you think that? Is it like a changing of the guard? Russia has always been the Boogeyman and now China’s taking over that role for America?
Shoemaker: Not so much that, it’s more that the Russian culture and to a certain extent, the Chinese culture themselves, respond to force. They respond to strength actually, is probably a better way of putting it. If they can take an inch, they’ll take a mile type mentality. And that’s just part of the cultures that are there. It’s certainly very opportunistic, to a certain extent.
So, when they interpret American diplomacy, oftentimes, they see a diplomatic sort of response as weakness more than anything. it is seen – if the Americans are intending it to be an olive branch, they’re going to more than likely interpret it as weakness if we’re not careful. And I think that’s what I’ve seen over the past two to three years in particular, if not longer. That’s the way that they’re interpreting these things. And we can go into greater discussion in terms of how that relates to something like Ukraine. That certainly has knock-on effects, but that’s why I see the leadership from the American side needs to be much more robust in this.
Robertson: You bet. Sort of a ‘Teddy Roosevelt speak softly, carry a big stick’ kind of mentality?
Shoemaker: Yes! Except for the Americans never speak softly. And we always speak in a loud voice and will wield that big stick.
Robertson: You kind of mentioned the fact that it’s surprising that the Chinese participated in this. It is the new thing, right? Are we in the U.S., with the level of our ISR capabilities… I mean, with the balloons last year, the spy balloons, we knew the spy balloons were being launched, we tracked it across the oceans, right? Can we ever really be surprised if China or Russia launches bombers at us? Because we have satellites over every part of their country, we monitor everything. Can America ever really be surprised when another country flies planes near us?
Shoemaker: Well on the one hand, the question somewhat assumes that we are always at the top of our game, and the information always makes its way up to the leadership and then leadership makes the best decision or very good decisions based off of that information. So, I think the question is assuming maybe perhaps a little bit too much.
But I would say that from a technical perspective, it is a little bit eyebrow raising, let’s put it that way. It’s simply because the Chinese have been very clear over the course of modern Chinese history that they do not want allies. They do not have friends. They have in a certain sense, colleagues, if you will. They have been very particular to say that they will not go into an alliance with anyone. So from a technical perspective, to get the logistics working together, it’s not terribly difficult, but it is something that is usually outside of their wheelhouse.
However, we also have seen in the past about two to three weeks, I believe it was, was the Chinese sent a military cohort to Belarus, to participate in Russian and Belarusian military drills from a land-based and army-based perspective there. So, I think this might be a continuation of that, on the Air Force side of things doing patrols. So, to see the logistics starting to be hammered out is something that we haven’t really seen before. And given the fact that the Chinese have explicitly stated that they don’t want allies, that is something that is concerning.
What I’m going to be looking at, over the next probably year or two, and following is these sorts of activities and how integrated the two end up becoming? Are they kind of just talking to each other when they both just, you know, send off these planes on a mission? Or is there some sort of streamlined sort of leadership role where one of them is playing second fiddle to the other for one mission, and you know, they kind of flip flop back and forth. Is there an integration there? Or are they kind of just working together sort of thing? So that’s what I’m really going to be looking at.
And the difference between the two, of course, if they’re just kind of working together, and they all have their own leaderships telling them what to do, but they’re in constant communication, that is certainly more than we’ve seen in the past. However, it does create some logistical problems if they ever tried to get into a hot war, because now you’re adding an extra layer of communication that could break down.
If they start integrating, then that would certainly be very much a concern for the Americans, because then the integration side of things, which the Americans tend to be much better at with regards to – especially to European allies, and all the training we’ve done through NATO with regards to that. Integration between the Russian and the Chinese would be very much a problem. I’m highly skeptical of that simply because neither of them really wants to start playing second fiddle to either of them. So yeah, that’s what I’m looking at over the course of the next probably year or so.
So, while China flying a pair of its knock-off Russian bombers near U.S. airspace isn’t all that concerning or unexpected on its own, the real risk factor lies in just how cozy Russia and China decide to get.
NORAD intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers off Alaska coast
On Wednesday, July 24, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) announced that fighter jets from Canada and the U.S. intercepted Chinese and Russian bombers off the coast of Alaska. The aircraft — two Russian TU-95s and two Chinese H-6s — were flying within the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, an area where aircraft must be readily identified for national security.
On Thursday, July 25, China’s Defense Ministry announced that the Chinese and Russian air forces conducted a “joint strategic aerial patrol in the relevant airspace of the Bering Sea,” as part of their ongoing annual military cooperation plan.
“This action is not aimed at third parties, it is in line with relevant international laws and international practices and has nothing to do with the current international and regional situation,” Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for China’s Defense Ministry, said.
These bombers stayed in international airspace and didn’t enter sovereign U.S. or Canadian territory. NORAD clarified that this kind of military activity, which also occurred in May, is routine and not considered a threat.
The command emphasized its commitment to monitoring such operations, ensuring North America’s airspace remains secure.
Netanyahu to meet with Biden following his speech to Congress
A day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech to Congress and President Joe Biden gave a primetime address on exiting the 2024 race, the two are set to meet in Washington, D.C. on July 25. And more details on what you need to know about breaking, the newest sport at the Olympic games. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, July 25, 2024.
Netanyahu to meet with Biden following his speech to Congress
Biden is expected to press Netanyahu in getting a hostage and ceasefire deal solidified. U.S. officials said it’s a critical moment in negotiations over the deal — something Biden said will be a priority with the time he has left in office.
Israeli negotiators were expected to travel to Qatar Thursday, but Netanyahu ordered them not to, saying he wanted to wait until after he meets with Biden before Israel goes back to the negotiating table.
After meeting with Biden, Netanyahu is expected to meet with Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. He’s set to meet with Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump on Friday, July 26.
In his address to Congress, Netanyahu thanked the U.S. for backing Israel’s war against Hamas with weapons support.
“The vast majority of Americans have not fallen for this Hamas propaganda,” Netanyahu said. “They continue to support Israel. And I want to say thank you America and thank you senators and House members who continue to support us, continue to support Israel, continue to support the truth and see through the lies.”
His speech was met with protests in and outside the Capitol building. Thousands of protesters gathered nearby, some burning an American flag and an effigy of Netanyahu.
Dozens of congressional Democrats also boycotted the address. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., held a sign reading “war criminal” while Netanyahu spoke on Wednesday, July 24.
President Biden addresses nation on decision to drop out of 2024 race
“The idea of America lies in voters’ hands,” Biden said about the 2024 election. “Nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition. So, I’ve decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. It’s the best way to unite our nation.”
For the remaining six months of his term, Biden said he plans to focus on the job of the presidency, including plans to continue lowering costs for families.
In his address, President Biden also reiterated his support for Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place at the top of the ticket.
“I made my choice,” Biden said. “I’ve made my views known. I’d like to thank our great vice president, Kamala Harris. She’s experienced. She’s tough. She’s capable. She’s been an incredible partner to me and a leader for our country.”
Harris is reportedly vetting around a dozen possible running mates, including governors, members of Congress, current cabinet secretaries and some people who don’t currently hold public office. Her pick is expected to be made public sometime before Aug. 7.
FBI: Gunman Googled JFK shooting a week before Trump assassination attempt
Alarming new information has surfaced about the assassination attempt on former President Trump. FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress on Wednesday, July 24, and revealed that a week before opening fire, Thomas Crooks, the gunman, looked up the shooting distance in the killing of President John F. Kennedy on the internet.
Specifically, Wray said Thomas Crooks Googled, “How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?”
The FBI director said these words are significant in terms of the shooter’s state of mind. An FBI analysis of Crooks’ laptop found he did the search on the same day he registered for Trump’s rally.
Wray also told lawmakers about a shocking security lapse in the sky. He said the gunman scoped out the ally site with a drone — possibly even live-streaming — just two hours before the former president took the stage.
A CBS News analysis found Crooks fired eight bullets in less than six seconds before being shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper.
House lawmakers have voted to create a new congressional task force in hopes of answering more questions about the events leading up to Trump’s near assassination. The legislation to approve the investigation passed by a vote of 416-0.
NORAD intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers off Alaska coast
NORAD detected, tracked, and intercepted two Russian TU-95 and two PRC H-6 military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on July 24, 2024. NORAD fighter jets from the United States and Canada conducted the intercept.https://t.co/EKg3G30lmW
— North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) July 24, 2024
Officials said the bombers did not enter U.S. airspace but did get close enough that the U.S. and Canada sent fighter jets to intercept them. According to NORAD, the incident was “not seen as a threat.”
A U.S. defense official said this was the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
NBA signs 11-year deal with Disney, NBC and Amazon
The NBA has confirmed where viewers will be seeing its games next season. After rejecting a $1.8 billion offer to keep airing games with Warner Bros. Discovery, the NBA signed an 11-year agreement with Disney, NBC and Amazon.
The deal is reportedly worth an estimated $76 billion. However, the agreement is likely to bring a legal showdown between the NBA and Warner Bros. Discovery. The media company said it believes the NBA can’t reject its offer and said it will take “appropriate action.”
For anyone doubting breaking being a sport, USA Breakin’s Ricardo Fernandez Jr. told Straight Arrow News there’s no reason to question. Fernandez is credited with creating the blueprint for competitive breaking competitions and can talk about its rich history dating back to its origins in the Bronx in the 1970s.
“We were breaking to the break of the record, so now you see where the name comes from, the record has a break and that break is the percussion drum part that was longated by the DJ,” Fernandez said.
Fernandez said breaking comes down to discipline and athleticism.
Some of the most athletic people in the world are Breakers. And in 2024 breakin’ culture will make its official debut as a sport at the Summer Olympic games in Paris, France. pic.twitter.com/wzWZ2K7xlj
“You take the athleticism and you put two individuals or a group to compete against each other constantly, you are already creating the atmosphere for it to become marketable,” he said. “Breaking, you have to be athletic to achieve what you see now.”
Team USA will be represented by four athletes called breakers: Jeffrey “B-Boy Jeffro” Louis, who wrote a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to get breaking to be part of the games just a few years ago; Logan Edra, who started breaking at age 7, was given the nickname “Logistix” by her father; Sunny Choi who picked up the sport while a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania; and Victor Montalvo, the first American to qualify, whose father and uncle were breaking pioneers.
Fernandez, known in the breaking world as B-boy Speedy Legs, has seen the sport evolve from his days of teaching it to kids in 1980s Miami to showing off his power moves in New York in the 1990s.
“I dedicated my life to breaking, in every aspect, in the art form, in the athleticism, in the competitiveness and also helped create the platform that would take it to the Olympics,” Fernandez said.
Fernandez started the B-Boy Masters Pro-Am, one of the first breaking competitions, as he tried to grow the sport and everything that comes with it. That includes the moves like top rock, the music from the DJ and the overall hip-hop culture that inspires the art form.
“I put together the first elements of how to judge it cause it was really hard to judge breaking because if I talked to some of the guys with whom I was down with in the beginning I know that they thought I was probably corny about implementing something like that,” Fernandez said.
Fernandez created a 5-element judging system, one he said is very similar to how the breakers will be judged at the Olympics. In Paris, breakers will be judged on musicality, vocabulary, originality, technique and execution.
Though Fernandez said some heated politics between organizations emerged during breaking’s path to the Olympics, he knows his sport’s place on the world’s biggest stage will help it grow even more.
“I believe when it gets exposure in the next two to three weeks, it’s going to be phenomenal,” Fernandez said. “I believe it’s going to create more opportunities not only for the first four athletes from the United States to make history, but also to create new outlets for the youth.”
Airlines sue Biden Administration over new fee disclosure rule
Several major U.S. airlines, including Delta, American, United, Hawaiian, JetBlue and Alaska, filed a lawsuit against the Transportation Department. The group filed the lawsuit in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday, May 10.
In April, the Biden administration unveiled new rules that apply to checked bag fees. These rules require airlines and ticket agents to be more upfront about fees for seat selection, baggage and changing flight reservations.
According to Reuters, the lawsuit claims that the new rule is “arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, and otherwise contrary to law.”
Airlines for America, a trade organization that represents several major U.S. airlines, released a statement asserting that airlines already disclose all fees and that the new rules will confuse customers and complicate the buying process.
A study conducted by travel experts at IdeaWorks found that the top 20 airlines in the world collected nearly $118 billion in extra fees in 2023. That number included $33 billion in bag fees.
As of now, the Transportation Department has not responded to the lawsuit. Southwest Airlines did not join the suit.
The Alaska ADIZ extends 150 miles beyond U.S. sovereign airspace, requiring foreign aircraft to identify themselves for national security reasons. NORAD confirmed that the Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not pose an immediate threat to U.S. or Canadian territories.
Russian state media described the flight as a training mission, noting that two Tu-95MS strategic bombers completed a routine 11-hour flight over the neutral waters of the Bering Sea near Alaska’s western coast, escorted by two Su-30SM fighter jets.
The 70-year-old Tu-95 bombers, capable of launching nuclear and conventional long-range strikes, are routinely used for cruise missile attacks on Ukraine. In April, Russian Tu-95s launched cruise missiles toward Ukraine, prompting Kyiv to issue a nationwide air alert.
The head of Kyiv’s military administration reported missiles targeting the capital in groups during three separate attacks over four days.
In Lviv Oblast, 20 missiles reportedly targeted “critical infrastructure.” Monitoring Russian military activity near U.S. airspace is a standard part of NORAD’s defense strategy, which includes deploying satellites, radars, and fighter jets to ensure national security. NORAD averages six to seven intercepts of Russian military aircraft per year since 2007.
NORAD noted that such missions are common and not considered threatening, with previous detections in the Alaska Air Defense Zone occurring on two separate occasions in February.
Renewable energy plan in Alaska could disturb thousands of acres of nature
Alaska’s wilderness is teeming with wildlife, as bears, moose, elk, and many more species all call this region home. However, beneath this vibrant ecosystem lies an extensive supply of metals, one that will require disturbing thousands of acres of nature to access.
The White House is expected to step in and put an end to the current plans of going after this metal deposit, despite the importance of these resources to the renewable energy transition.
The supply in question is located in a remote region of the state, where a 211-mile-long industrial road must first be built in order to make extracting any of it a possibility.
The proposed road, dubbed the Ambler Access Project, would cross hundreds of rivers and streams, as well as the tribal lands of several Alaska Native communities. Indigenous groups argue doing so would negatively impact the surrounding wildlife their people rely on. The groups said caribou migration patterns would be thrown off and important salmon spawning streams affected.
A 50-year right-of-way permit to move forward and build the road was issued by the federal government during former President Donald Trump’s final days in office. However, the current administration is now changing course. An upcoming environmental analysis of the project from President Joe Biden’s Interior Department will reportedly kill the proposed construction.
Meanwhile, investors in the project maintain these resources may actually need to be extracted anyways for the good of the environment. This is because the metals found here are vital for building renewable energy infrastructure.
According to a 2018 feasibility study, 159 million pounds a copper and 199 million pounds of zinc sit within the site.
Copper is among the most fundamental parts of constructing green energy technology, used to make things like solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles and power grids. Zinc is similarly essential to building these things, as the World Economic Forum calls the mineral “critical for a low-carbon economy.”
Together, copper and zinc are two of the planet’s top five most used metals, which is why their deposits in Alaska have already seen tens of millions of dollars spent in the effort to reach them. Should the Biden administration ultimately kill the project, a legal battle from companies trying to recoup some of those expenses may follow.
Energy Dept. unveils $366M plan for rural, tribal clean energy
Some homes in the United States are poised to receive electricity for the first time. This is part of a $366 million initiative spearheaded by the Department of Energy (DOE), which aims to introduce clean energy projects to rural and tribal communities across the nation.
“President Biden firmly believes that every community should benefit from the nation’s historic transition to a clean energy future, especially those in rural and remote areas,” U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said.“Thanks to the President’s Investing in America agenda, DOE is helping revitalize communities across America—ensuring thriving businesses, reliable access to clean energy, and exciting new economic opportunities, now and for generations to come.”
The Energy Department’s plan entails the installation of various clean energy infrastructure such as solar panels, hydropower facilities, microgrids, electric vehicle chargers, and more in areas with populations of 10,000 or fewer. Covering 17 distinct clean energy projects across 20 states and 30 tribal communities, the initiative hopes to address the longstanding disparity in energy access and affordability faced by these underserved regions.
“Overall, these projects are going to create more affordable and more reliable energy resources for the communities they’ll be serving,” Granholm said. “They’ll lower families’ energy bills and at the same time create good-paying jobs in their communities.”
According to federal government estimates, energy costs in rural and remote areas are approximately 33% higher than the national average. Meanwhile, an estimated 17,000 homes on tribal lands currently lack access to electricity, forcing residents to allocate significant portions of their annual incomes towards securing power.
About one-fifth of homes in the Navajo Nation and over a third of Hopi Indian Tribe homes do not have access to electricity. Nearly a third of homes that have electricity on Native American reservations in the U.S. report monthly outages.
“Many tribal communities, tribal nations generally pay higher than average rates for electricity,” said Wahleah Johns, the DOE head of Indian energy policy and programs. “They face a high energy burden and energy poverty.”
Among these planned projects, one aims to provide power to over 300 homes on tribal lands that have never before had access to electricity. Another initiative in New Mexico is projected to save residents up to $700 annually on their energy bills. In Alaska, a new hydroelectric system is set to replace a 70-year-old wooden dam, mitigating the local community’s complete dependence on diesel fuel.
These endeavors stem from the Biden administration’s Justice40 initiative, which aims to allocate 40% of federal clean energy investments to individuals residing in underrepresented and disadvantaged communities. However, some of these clean energy plans have faced pushback.
Native American tribes in Nevada and Arizona have been raising concerns about the protection of their lands and sacred sites amidst the renewable energy expansion. Additionally, recent regulatory decisions have granting Native American tribes enhanced authority to impede hydropower projects on their land have further complicated the landscape.
“For the most part, the renewable energy developers are repeating the mistakes that fossil fuel developers have made over the years,” said Marion Werkheiser, founding partner of Cultural Heritage Partners. “They’re not engaging with tribes early as potential partners and information sources during their planning process, and they are basically deferring their own relationship with tribes to the federal government.”
These developments have sparked apprehension about potential legal battles between tribal nations and the federal government in response to this latest Energy Department announcement.
Biden considers executive action to handle crisis at U.S.-Mexico border: The Morning Rundown, Feb. 22, 2024
President Biden is reportedly considering taking executive action for the migrant crisis at the southern border. And it’s the return of “panda diplomacy” as China plans to send two giant pandas to the U.S.
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Reports: Biden considering executive action to handle border crisis
President Joe Biden is considering taking executive action to get a handle on the migrant crisis at the southern border. According to multiple reports citing officials within the administration, the changes being considered are not yet finalized and would be weeks away from taking effect.
CNN reported the Justice Department is reviewing the proposed executive action to determine if it could withstand legal challenges. In January, U.S. border patrol reported more than 124,000 migrant encounters along the U.S.-Mexico border. According to federal data, apprehensions dropped 50% from December 2023 amid ongoing talks between the U.S. and Mexico.
The news of a possible executive action comes after Republicans blocked a bipartisan bill in the Senate addressing immigration reform and foreign aid. A White House spokesperson released a statement in response to these reports criticizing Republicans for rejecting the border security bill.
“No executive action, no matter how aggressive, can deliver the significant policy reforms and additional resources Congress can provide,” the spokesperson added.
Boeing replaces head of 737 Max program after midair mishap
Investigators believed bolts needed to keep the panel in place were missing when it left the Boeing factory. The FAA later limited Boeing’s production of 737 Max jets. In an email to employees, Boeing said several leadership changes were underway as the company focuses on ensuring every one of its planes meets or exceeds safety requirements.
Chipmaker Nvidia’s profits surge amid growing demand for AI
The California company makes chips for AI systems developed by Microsoft and Meta. Nvidia currently accounts for around 70% of all AI semiconductor sales. The company said revenue for the current quarter is expected to be $24 billion, an increase of 233% from 2023.
President Biden’s dog ‘bit staff 24 times in one year’
Secret Service records released recently have unveiled that President Joe Biden’s German shepherd, Commander, was involved in at least 24 biting incidents over the past year, more than what was initially reported. The disclosure, which includes 269 pages of related emails, sheds light on the severity and frequency of these incidents.
The emails document the concern among Secret Service agents, with at least 11 of these incidents necessitating medical attention. The situation has highlighted the challenges faced by security personnel in managing the First Family’s pet within the confines of the White House.
Commander, Biden's banished German shepherd, had at least 25 biting incidents in a year https://t.co/ntR2hK6jhB
Commander, a gift to Biden from his brother James in December 2021, had to be removed from the White House premises in October. The decision came after one particularly severe incident where a Secret Service agent was bitten and required medical treatment. The two-year-old German shepherd’s behavior has sparked discussions about pet management and safety protocols within the presidential residence.
China to send more pandas to US, bringing back panda diplomacy
The announcement came months after a family of pandas who had lived at the Smithsonian National Zoo since 1972 was sent back to China, and as the last remaining family of pandas living in the U.S. at the Atlanta Zoo is set to return to China next year. According to San Diego Zoo officials, if all goes to plan, the zoo could welcome the new pandas as soon as the end of summer 2024. In return, the Associated Press reports, zoos typically pay the China Wildlife Conservation Association $1 million per year.
At a meeting in San Francisco in November 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Biden reportedly talked about panda diplomacy, which has long been a part of U.S.-China relations. While those relations have been rocky, Xi said at the meeting that China would again begin to lend the U.S. pandas to strengthen relations between our “two peoples.”
Odysseus, @Int_Machines’ uncrewed Moon lander, is targeted to touch down at the lunar South Pole at 5:30pm ET (2230 UTC) Feb. 22. Watch live with us as this Moon delivery brings science instruments to study the region. https://t.co/7U0WfJG56bpic.twitter.com/9JXBdD4y6K
NASA paid $118 million for the private spacecraft to deliver six experiments, including a stereo camera and radio receiver. The agency will be live-streaming the landing on its NASA TV service. Odysseus hopes to be the first private spacecraft ever to touch down on the moon and the first American moon landing since 1972.
House Republicans fail to impeach Mayorkas, pass Israel funding bill: The Morning Rundown, Feb. 7, 2024
House Republicans fail to impeach the Homeland Security secretary and pass an Israel aid bill. And voters in Nevada send a message as a winner of the state’s GOP primary is declared. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024.
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House GOP fails to impeach Mayorkas, pass Israel funding bill
It was a busy night on Capitol Hill Tuesday, Feb. 6, and a rough one for House Republicans as two of their efforts failed to pass a full House vote, impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and a standalone Israel aid bill.
Democrats hope a bipartisan package in the Senate, including funding for Israel, Ukraine, and border security, will gain traction. However, its outlook is bleak, with Republicans challenging it in both chambers.
House Republicans also failed in their effort to impeach DHS Secretary Mayorkas over his handling of the border crisis, with four Republicans voting no, siding with Democrats that Mayorkas’ conduct does not constitute an impeachable offense.
A spokesperson for the DHS called the impeachment “baseless” and said it “should have never moved forward.” Despite the loss, GOP leaders say they plan to bring up the impeachment vote again soon.
Nikki Haley loses to ‘none of these candidates’ in Nevada primary
Former President Donald Trump did not compete in the primary, opting to participate in Thursday’s, Feb. 8, caucuses, which will award Nevada’s delegates to the winner. Haley becomes the first candidate for either the GOP or Democratic party to lose to the “none of these candidates” option since it was introduced in Nevada in 1975. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden easily won the state’s Democratic primary.
Mother of school shooter found guilty of involuntary manslaughter
Crumbley was convicted on four counts, one for each of the students who were killed during the mass shooting at Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021. Her son, Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 years old at the time, was sentenced to life in prison last year after pleading guilty to 24 charges, including first-degree murder.
The Associated Press reporting that prosecutors are asking for consecutive sentences on the four counts which means Crumbley is facing up to 60 years in prison. Crumbley’s sentencing is scheduled for April.
NTSB: Alaska Airlines flight was missing bolts before panel flew off
The panel that flew off an Alaska Airlines plane midflight in January 2024 was missing four bolts needed to keep it in place, according to a new report by the NTSB. Investigators said the panel, known as a door plug, likely left a Boeing factory without the bolts in place. The incident resulted in the FAA grounding all Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes.
A Boeing spokesperson said the company will review the findings and continue to work with investigators. The report came out on the same day the FAA’s top official, Michael Whitaker, testified before House lawmakers. He said the current inspection system is not working and the FAA will take appropriate actions to keep flying safe for all passengers.
Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson to interview Putin
The New York Times reported that the Kremlin has yet to confirm the interview is happening. Still, Russian state-run media has reported every move of Carlson’s trip to Moscow, only increasing anticipation of the potential interview. Carlson said that the interview will be aired unedited on his website and on “X.” Carlsom added that he also requested to interview Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
ESPN, Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery to launch sports streaming service
Most sports are a team effort; now, that same group mentality goes for streaming sports as three of the biggest broadcasters are banding together to form a new streaming service. Disney’s ESPN, the Fox Corporation, and Warner Bros. Discovery announced they will launch a new service in the fall to showcase their sports assets.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this report stated that the Oxford High School shooting occurred on Nov. 30, 2022 The shooting occurred on Nov. 30, 2021 and SAN has updated this report. SAN regrets the error.