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The US Senate voted 60-40 to pass a deal to reopen the government after the longest-ever shutdown, as several Democrats joined Republicans, sparking backlash within their party.

End to US government shutdown in sight as stopgap bill advances to House

The US Senate voted 60-40 to pass a deal to reopen the government after the longest-ever shutdown, as several Democrats joined Republicans, sparking backlash within their party.

The longest-ever US government shutdown moved forward Monday toward an eventual resolution, after several Democratic senators broke ranks to join Republicans in a 60-40 vote passing a compromise deal -- sparking intra-party backlash.
Since October 1, the first day of the shutdown, more than a million federal workers have been unpaid, while government benefits and services have been increasingly disrupted.
Severe impacts on air traffic have begun to mount in recent days, with more than 1,000 flights canceled daily, raising the political pressure to end the stalemate.
"We'll be opening up our country very quickly," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, adding: "the deal is very good."
With the stopgap funding bill passed through the Senate, the legislation moves to the House of Representatives for a vote, which like the Senate is controlled by Republicans. The chamber could vote on the bill as early as Wednesday to send it to Trump's desk.
"It appears to us this morning that our long national nightmare is finally coming to an end, and we're grateful for that," House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Monday.
"At least some Democrats now finally appear ready to do what Republicans and President Trump and millions of hardworking American people have been asking them to do for weeks."
The House -- which Johnson has kept out of session throughout the standoff -- would be called back this week, he said.
"I'd like to vote tonight after the Senate is done, but it takes everybody a while to get back" for a vote, Johnson told broadcaster CNN.
 - Obamacare -
At the heart of the Senate standoff was Democrats' demand to extend health insurance subsidies expiring at the end of the year. Republicans insisted any negotiation occur after the government is re-opened.
Millions of Americans who have purchased health insurance through the "Obamacare" program would see their costs double if the subsidies are not extended.
Sunday's breakthrough agreement would re-open the government through January, with some programs funded for the full fiscal year, and reverse some of the Trump administration's firings of federal workers.
The bill notably would restore funding for the SNAP food aid program, which helps more than 42 million lower-income Americans pay for groceries.
While the Senate's Republican leadership has agreed to hold an eventual vote on health care, it does not ensure the insurance subsidies will be extended.
"After 40 days of uncertainty, I'm profoundly glad to be able to announce that nutrition programs, our veterans, and other critical priorities will have their full-year funding," Senate Majority Leader John Thune said late Sunday.
While leaders were rushing to move the bill through Congress, it could still take days to make its way to Trump's desk. Tuesday is a national holiday.
 - Divided Democrats -
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, one of eight Democratic caucus members who backed the measure, said the Senate "took a big step forward towards protecting the health care of tens of millions of Americans."
She said the agreement would grant Democrats, despite being in the minority, the power to call a vote on health care legislation.
However, with the extension of the subsidies not guaranteed, the move has angered party members who preferred to keep holding out.
"Pathetic," California Governor Gavin Newsom posted on X in reaction to the announced agreement.
Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer voted no, saying he could "not in good faith" support a measure "that fails to address the health care crisis."
"This fight will and must continue," he vowed.
Some lawmakers criticized Schumer himself for failing to keep the Democrats united.
"Tonight is another example of why we need new leadership," Massachusetts Representative Seth Moulton said Sunday.

US lawmakers reached a bipartisan agreement to restore federal funding and end the record 40-day government shutdown that crippled operations and air travel.

U.S. Senate Advances Bill Amid Government Shutdown Debate

Senate Moves to End Shutdown Amid Healthcare Clash

US lawmakers reached a bipartisan agreement to restore federal funding and end the record 40-day government shutdown that crippled operations and air travel.

US senators reached a bipartisan deal Sunday that would resume federal funding and end a shutdown which has stretched to a record 40 days and forced many government operations to grind to a halt.
The deal between Democratic and Republican senators -- just the first step to halting the shutdown -- came as authorities warned US air travel could soon "slow to a trickle" as thousands more flights were cancelled or delayed over the weekend.
Outlets including CNN and Fox News reported lawmakers had reached a stopgap agreement to fund the government through January after wrangling over health care subsidies, food benefits and President Donald Trump's firings of federal employees.
As news of the breakthrough emerged, Trump told reporters when he arrived at the White House after a weekend at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida: "It looks like we're getting very close to the shutdown ending."
The Republican-led Senate swiftly held a procedural vote Sunday aimed at moving the legislative measure forward, and the vote appeared to have support from enough Democrats to advance.
Once it clears the Senate, it would need to pass the House of Representatives, also in Republican control, and then head to Trump's desk for his signature -- a process that could take days.
Earlier Sunday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that if the shutdown continued, the number of flights being snarled or cut would multiply while Americans gear up to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday later this month.
By Sunday evening, the number of cancellations of flights within the United States and to and from the US had surpassed 2,700, with nearly 10,000 delays, according to data from tracking platform FlightAware.
Airports that were particularly hard hit included the three New York City area airports, Chicago's O'Hare, and Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta.
Newark's Liberty International Airport -- a major northeastern US hub -- was among the worst-hit. At New York's LaGuardia Airport more than half of all outbound flights were delayed.
 - Splits over health care -
Without a deal, Duffy warned that many Americans planning to travel for the November 27 Thanksgiving holiday would "not going to be able to get on an airplane, because there are not going to be that many flights that fly if this thing doesn't open back up."
It could take days for flight schedules to recover after the shutdown is finally ended, and federal funding -- including salaries -- starts to flow again.
Sunday marked the third day of flight reductions at airports nationwide, after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers working without pay.
According to lawmakers, the bill would restore funding for the SNAP food stamp program which helps more than 42 million lower-income Americans pay for groceries.
It would also reverse Trump's firings of thousands of federal workers over the past month, and assure a vote on extending health care subsidies that are set to expire at the end of this year.
"This deal guarantees a vote to extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, which Republicans weren't willing to do," Senate Democrat Tim Kaine said in a statement.
The bill -- a so-called continuing resolution (CR) to keep government funded at pre-shutdown levels -- "will protect federal workers from baseless firings, reinstate those who have been wrongfully terminated during the shutdown, and ensure federal workers receive back pay" as required by law, he added.
But many Senate Democrats are opposed to the deal, including the chamber's top Democrat Chuck Schumer, who expressed anger that it offers a vote for extending the health care subsidies instead of extending them directly.
"I can not in good faith support this CR that fails to address the health care crisis," Schumer told the chamber, adding: "This fight will and must continue."

The Senate approval ended months of uncertainty about whether the US would continue to back Kyiv in its fight against Russia.

US Senate clears $95.3 billion package for Ukraine, Israel, other allies

The Senate approval ended months of uncertainty about whether the US would continue to back Kyiv in its fight against Russia.

The US Senate has voted overwhelmingly to provide a USD 95.3 billion aid package to Ukraine and Israel and to strengthen the security of America and its allies in the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan.
The final approval on Tuesday night by the Senate ends months of uncertainty and delays about whether the US would continue to back Kyiv in its fight against Russian aggression.
The bill was passed in a bipartisan vote of 79-18.
The bill passed on Tuesday by the House of Representatives earlier now heads to the White House for President Joe Biden to sign it into law.
&ldquo;I will sign this bill into law and address the American people as soon as it reaches my desk tomorrow so we can begin sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week,&rdquo; Biden said in a statement.
&ldquo;The need is urgent: for Ukraine, facing unrelenting bombardment from Russia; for Israel, which just faced unprecedented attacks from Iran; for refugees and those impacted by conflicts and natural disasters around the world, including in Gaza, Sudan, and Haiti; and for our partners seeking security and stability in the Indo-Pacific,&rdquo; he said.
The bill broadly has four parts: First, a USD 60.8 billion Ukraine aid measure, a USD 26.4 billion bill for Israel and humanitarian relief, a USD 8.1 billion package for Taiwan and other Indo-Pacific region allies and a "sidecar" bill dealing with issues ranging from TikTok to frozen Russian assets.
The bill gives USD 23.2 billion to replenish stocks of US weapons and equipment sent to Ukraine through presidential drawdown authority and to expand defence industrial base and it allocates USD 13.8 billion in direct support for the Ukrainian military. It directs the president to transfer long-range tactical missiles, known as ATACMS, to the Ukrainian Army, unless the president determines that doing so would be detrimental to US security interests.
The bill gives USD 5.4 billion to replenish stocks of US weapons and equipment delivered to Israel and to expand the defence industrial base, USD 5.2 billion for Iron Dome, David&rsquo;s Sling and Iron Beam defence systems and USD2.4 billion for US Central Command operations in the Middle East.
It also allocates USD 9.2 billion for humanitarian assistance in Gaza, Haiti, Sudan, Ethiopia, Congo and other conflict zones. However, no funds can be transferred to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency; certification is required that no funding is diverted to Hamas.
On the Indo-Pacific the bill allocates USD 3.3 billion to develop US submarine infrastructure, including dry dock construction; USD2 billion in assistance for Taiwan, the Philippines and other regional allies to purchase US weapons and equipment.
To replenish US stocks of weapons and equipment sent to the region and expand the defence industrial base USD 2 billion was allocated; USD 542 million for US Indo-Pacific Command operations and USD 250 million for World Bank International Development Association loans and grants.
Among other things, the bill requires Chinese-owned ByteDance Ltd. to divest its stake in TikTok within one year of enactment or US app stores and internet hosting services would be barred from carrying the product.
It bans data brokers from selling Americans&rsquo; personal information to countries such as China, Russia, Iran and North Korea or organisations controlled by those governments.
The bill authorises the seizure of frozen Russian assets in the US for transfer to a &ldquo;Ukraine Support Fund&rdquo; for economic assistance and creates an international fund to receive frozen Russian assets from foreign partners to compensate Ukraine.
It also imposes sanctions on Iranian oil exports and ballistic-missile technology as well as Iranian leaders; on Hamas and affiliated organizations; and on individuals involved in the trafficking of Captagon.
The components of the bill are nearly identical to one that passed the Senate with bipartisan support in February. It includes USD 60.8 billion for Ukraine; USD 26.4 billion for Israel and humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones, including Gaza; and USD 8.1 billion for the Indo-Pacific region.
Nine Republicans who opposed the Senate-passed aid legislation in February supported the bill this time.
When Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma changed his vote on Tuesday, this time agreeing to advance the legislation, Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the minority leader, gave him a thumbs-up on the Senate floor.
&ldquo;Seventy-five per cent of the bill, the total funding, stays within the United States,&rdquo; Mullin said on Newsmax, explaining his support for the bill.
&ldquo;That&rsquo;s what a lot of people don&rsquo;t realise. This goes to our defence industry; this goes to replenishing our munitions.&rdquo;
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Garcetti added that he was "ready & eager" to begin his service representing USA's "critical interests in India".

Eric Garcetti's first reaction after being cleared as USA's new India envoy

Garcetti added that he was "ready &amp; eager" to begin his service representing USA's "critical interests in India".

In his first public reaction after being confirmed as America's next ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti said that he was "thrilled" with the US Senate's "decisive and bipartisan decision to fill a critical post that has been vacant for long".
Garcetti added that he was "ready &amp; eager" to begin his service representing USA's "critical interests in India".
Garcetti's nominated as the US envoy to India was confirmed by the Senate on 15 March 2023.
Also Watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/usa-s-new-ambassador-to-india-eric-garcetti-s-nomination-confirmed-by-senate-1678931655563">USA's new ambassador to India: Eric Garcetti's nomination confirmed by Senate</a>

Garcetti, who is the former mayor of Los Angeles and President Joe Biden's close aide, secured 52 votes in his favour while 42 voted against him.

USA's new ambassador to India: Eric Garcetti's nomination confirmed by Senate

Garcetti, who is the former mayor of Los Angeles and President Joe Biden's close aide, secured 52 votes in his favour while 42 voted against him.

The United States of America will finally be sending a full-time ambassador to India after a gap of more than two years.
The US Senate on 15 March confirmed Eric Garcetti as the country's next envoy to India. Garcetti, who is the former mayor of Los Angeles and President Joe Biden's close aide, secured 52 votes in his favour while 42 voted against him.
His nomination was pending since July 2021 over a controversy that he ignored sexual harassment complaints at the mayor's office.
Last week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 13-8 in favour of his nomination.
&ldquo;The relationship between India and the US is a strong one, and one of great strategic, economic, and cultural importance. Founded on shared values, supported by growing economic and trade ties, and strengthened by the Indian diaspora here in the US, this partnership continues to hold significant promise for the future," Senator Mark Warner, Co-Chair of Senate India Caucus, said.
"As co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, I am glad that there will finally be a Senate-confirmed ambassador in New Delhi," Warner said.
(With PTI inputs)
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The White House said that Garcetti, the former mayor of Los Angeles, is "well qualified" and USA's relationship with India is "crucial and consequential".

For India, Joe Biden renominates Eric Garcetti as US envoy after Senate stalled his confirmation in 2022

The White House said that Garcetti, the former mayor of Los Angeles, is "well qualified" and USA's relationship with India is "crucial and consequential".

US President Joe Biden on 3 January 2023 renominated Eric Garcetti as Ambassador to India with the White House hoping that his candidature would be confirmed by the US Senate this year.
The White House said that Garcetti, the former mayor of Los Angeles, is "well qualified" and USA's relationship with India is "crucial and consequential".
Eric Garcetti's confirmation as envoy to India was stalled in the US Senate in 2022 over allegations that he ignored sexual harassment charges against one of his top aides at the Mayor's office.
"Eric M. Garcetti, of California, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of India," the White House said after sending the nomination to the Senate.
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"Confirmation of Mayor Garcetti, who was voted out of committee unanimously and with strong bipartisan support to serve as ambassador to India. And that's important as we're talking about bipartisanship, as we're talking how we're going to move forward. And this is what you saw with his particular nomination," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
"So, we see this as he is well qualified, Mayor Garcetti, to serve in this vital role, and we're hopeful that the full Senate will confirm him promptly. Again, he was voted out of committee unanimously with strong bipartisan support," Jean-Pierre said.
(With PTI inputs)

The U. S. Senate approved a $740 billion economic package  — also known as the Inflation Reduction Act  — as Democrats overcame months of political infighting to deliver the centrepiece to President Biden’s long-stalled economic agenda.

U.S. Senate passes Biden’s mega health, climate bill; House to vote next

The U. S. Senate approved a $740 billion economic package  — also known as the Inflation Reduction Act  — as Democrats overcame months of political infighting to deliver the centrepiece to President Biden’s long-stalled economic agenda ahead of the crucial campaign season. 

Barely more than one-tenth the size of Biden&rsquo;s initial $3.5 trillion Build Back Better initiative, the current package aims to combat climate change, lower healthcare costs, raise taxes on some billion-dollar corporations and reduce the federal deficit. &nbsp;

The U. S. Senate has approved a $740 billion economic package &nbsp;&mdash; also known as the Inflation Reduction Act &nbsp;&mdash; after Vice President Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote &nbsp; Democrats pushed their election-year economic package to Senate passage Sunday, a hard-fought compromise less ambitious than President Joe Biden&rsquo;s original domestic vision but one that still meets deep-rooted party goals of slowing global warming, moderating pharmaceutical costs and taxing immense corporations.
The estimated $740 billion package heads next to the House, where lawmakers are poised to deliver on Biden's priorities, a stunning turnaround of what had seemed a lost and doomed effort that suddenly roared back to political life. Democrats held united, 51-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote.
&ldquo;It's been a long, tough and winding road, but at last, at last, we have arrived,&rdquo; said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., ahead of final votes.
&ldquo;The Senate is making history. I am confident the Inflation Reduction Act will endure as one of the defining legislative measures of the 21st century.&rdquo;
Republican amendments shunned
Senators engaged in a round-the-clock marathon of voting that began Saturday and stretched late into Sunday afternoon. Democrats swatted down some three dozen Republican amendments designed to torpedo the legislation. Confronting unanimous GOP opposition, Democratic unity in the 50-50 chamber held, keeping the party on track for a morale-boosting victory three months from elections when congressional control is at stake.
&nbsp;&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s gonna pass,&rdquo; Biden told reporters as he left the White House early Sunday to go to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, ending his COVID-19 isolation. The House seemed likely to provide final congressional approval when it returns briefly from summer recess on Friday.
The bill ran into trouble midday over objections to the new 15% corporate minimum tax that private equity firms and other industries disliked, forcing last-minute changes.
Inflation Reduction Act a win for Democrats
Despite the momentary setback, the &ldquo;Inflation Reduction Act&rdquo; gives Democrats a campaign-season showcase for action on coveted goals. It includes the largest-ever federal effort on climate change &mdash; close to $400 billion &mdash; caps out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors on Medicare to $2,000 a year and extends expiring subsidies that help 13 million people afford health insurance. By raising corporate taxes, the whole package is paid for, with some $300 billion extra revenue for deficit reduction.
Barely more than one-tenth the size of Biden&rsquo;s initial 10-year, $3.5 trillion rainbow of progressive aspirations in his Build Back Better initiative, the new package abandons earlier proposals for universal preschool, paid family leave and expanded child care aid. That plan collapsed after conservative Sen. Joe. Manchin, D-W.Va., opposed it, saying it was too costly and would fuel inflation.
Nonpartisan analysts have said the &ldquo;Inflation Reduction Act&rdquo; would have a minor effect on surging consumer prices.
Bill would hurt job creation: Republicans
Republicans said the measure would undermine an economy that policymakers are struggling to keep from plummeting into recession. They said the bill's business taxes would hurt job creation and force prices skyward, making it harder for people to cope with the nation's worst inflation since the 1980s.
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&ldquo;Democrats have already robbed American families once through inflation, and now their solution is to rob American families a second time," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., argued. He said spending and tax increases in the legislation would eliminate jobs while having an insignificant impact on inflation and climate change.
Overnight &lsquo;vote-a-rama&rsquo;
In an ordeal imposed on all budget bills like this one, the Senate had to endure an overnight &ldquo;vote-a-rama&rdquo; of rapid-fire amendments. Each tested Democrats' ability to hold together a compromise negotiated by Schumer, progressives, Manchin and the inscrutable centrist Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.
Progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., offered amendments to further expand the legislation's health benefits, and those efforts were defeated. Most votes were forced by Republicans and many were designed to make Democrats look soft on U. S.-Mexico border security and gasoline and energy costs, and like bullies for wanting to strengthen IRS tax law enforcement.
Before the debate began Saturday, the bill's prescription drug price curbs were diluted by the Senate's nonpartisan parliamentarian. Elizabeth MacDonough, who referees questions about the chamber's procedures, said a provision should fall that would impose costly penalties on drug makers whose price increases for private insurers exceed inflation.
It was the bill's chief protection for the 180 million people with private health coverage they get through work or purchase themselves. Under special procedures that will let Democrats pass their bill by a simple majority without the usual 60-vote margin, its provisions must be focused more on dollar-and-cents budget numbers than policy changes.
But the thrust of their pharmaceutical price language remained. That included letting Medicare negotiate what it pays for drugs for its 64 million elderly recipients, penalizing manufacturers for exceeding inflation for pharmaceuticals sold to Medicare and limiting beneficiaries' out-of-pocket drug costs to $2,000 annually.
The bill also caps Medicare patients' costs for insulin, the expensive diabetes medication, at $35 monthly. Democrats wanted to extend the $35 cap to private insurers but it ran afoul of Senate rules. Most Republicans voted to strip it from the package, though in a sign of the political potency of health costs seven GOP senators joined Democrats trying to preserve it.
The measure's final costs were being recalculated to reflect late changes, but overall it would raise more than $700 billion over a decade. The money would come from a 15% minimum tax on a handful of corporations with yearly profits above $1 billion, a 1% tax on companies that repurchase their own stock, bolstered IRS tax collections and government savings from lower drug costs.
Sinema forced Democrats to drop a plan to prevent wealthy hedge fund managers from paying less than individual income tax rates for their earnings. She also joined with other Western senators to win $4 billion to combat the region's drought.
Several Democratic senators joined the GOP-led effort to exclude some firms from the new corporate minimum tax.
The package keeps to Biden's pledge not to raise taxes on those earning less than $400,000 a year.
It was on the energy and environment side that compromise was most evident between progressives and Manchin, a champion of fossil fuels and his state's coal industry.
Clean energy would be fostered with tax credits for buying electric vehicles and manufacturing solar panels and wind turbines. There would be home energy rebates, funds for constructing factories building clean energy technology and money to promote climate-friendly farm practices and reduce pollution in minority communities.
Manchin won billions to help power plants lower carbon emissions plus language requiring more government auctions for oil drilling on federal land and waters. Party leaders also promised to push separate legislation this fall to accelerate permits for energy projects, which Manchin wants to include a nearly completed natural gas pipeline in his state.
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On the face of it, it's a farm facility, making corn oil, starch, and other products from corn kernels. But behind the walls sit sinister spies, tracking military drones, and trying to intercept confidential communication.
This is the worry gripping America, after a Chinese company bought large tracts of land near a US military base. China's Fufeng Group bought 300 acres of farmland in Grand Forks, North Dakota recently. The land was sold by 3 locals for $2.6 million.
The plot is 19 km, or a 20-minute drive, from a major military base. The Grand Forks base is a sensitive drone facility managed by the US Air Force. The Air Force Base reportedly houses some of America's most sensitive drone technology, and also a new space networking centre. The networking centre is "the backbone of all US military communication across the globe", according to a US senator who spoke to CNBC.
ALSO WATCH | China launches drone ship: Why India needs to develop its own AI-powered automated warship
A US Air Force officer has warned that drone and satellite transmissions could easily be surveilled from the Chinese factory. Major Jeremy Fox reportedly said that passive receiving equipment like antennae could be used for spying.
These antennae would simply need to be tuned to the right frequencies to intercept drone and space-based communication. Transmissions to and from the base could easily be collected. To add to the threat, this passive signal collection would be undetectable by the US.
The Air Force officer raised alarm about the espionage threat in an internal memo. Major Fox reportedly said that data collection by China would "present a costly national security risk". He warned that the case may cause grave damage to US strategic advantages, and that it fits a pattern of Chinese subnational espionage. Major Fox accused Beijing of using commercial economic development projects to get close to Defense Department facilities.
ALSO WATCH | Flying cars: how US Air Force wants to use eVTOL in conflict; move after losing drone race to China?
However, the US Air Force has not taken an official position on the matter. The force called Major Fox's comments his personal effort to raise awareness of potential vulnerabilities.
But the soldier's worries have been mirrored by US politicians. Republican Senator Kevin Cramer, who represents North Dakota, said that he doesn't want the Chinese Communist Party doing business in his "backyard". Senator Cramer said America underestimates Beijing's capability to collect data and use it in "nefarious ways".
Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Mark Warner, is also worried about Chinese spying. Commenting on the North Dakota situation, the Democrat party leader said that America should be "seriously concerned" about Chinese investments near sensitive US facilities.
The allegations have agitated China. Fufeng USA's COO has insisted that there is no possibility of espionage from the North Dakota plant.The company has insisted that the $700 million project is just a corn milling plant The company says that it is helping the local community by creating 200 direct jobs, and other opportunities like logistics.
The Chinese government has also entered the debate, with an official telling the New York Post that Chinese firms investing abroad are told to obey local laws. Beijing criticised USA's 'generalisation of the concept of national security and abuse of state power". China also sought a fair and just environment for its companies in the US.
This case is not just important for America, but also pertinent for countries like India which have seen tension with China rise in recent years.
The Indian government has in the past raised the issue of Chinese companies being misused to threaten India's national security. A ban on multiple Chinese apps, including PUBG, was imposed due to alleged stealing and transmission of user data.
In such a situation, Delhi might need to keep an eye on Chinese investments in India, especially near military installations.

China using factories in USA to spy? $2.6 million land deal near Air Force drone base sparks worry

A Chinese company's purchase of farmland near a sensitive US Air Force drone base in North Dakota has sparked worries of espionage.

On the face of it, it's a farm facility, making corn oil, starch, and other products from corn kernels. But behind the walls sit sinister spies, tracking military drones, and trying to intercept confidential communication.
This is the worry gripping America, after a Chinese company bought large tracts of land near a US military base. China's Fufeng Group bought 300 acres of farmland in Grand Forks, North Dakota recently. The land was sold by 3 locals for $2.6 million.
The plot is 19 km, or a 20-minute drive, from a major military base. The Grand Forks base is a sensitive drone facility managed by the US Air Force. The Air Force Base reportedly houses some of America's most sensitive drone technology, and also a new space networking centre. The networking centre is "the backbone of all US military communication across the globe", according to a US senator who spoke to CNBC.
ALSO WATCH | <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/china-launches-drone-ship-why-india-needs-to-develop-its-own-ai-powered-automated-warship-1654705540355" target="_blank">China launches drone ship: Why India needs to develop its own AI-powered automated warship</a>
A US Air Force officer has warned that drone and satellite transmissions could easily be surveilled from the Chinese factory. Major Jeremy Fox reportedly said that passive receiving equipment like antennae could be used for spying.
These antennae would simply need to be tuned to the right frequencies to intercept drone and space-based communication. Transmissions to and from the base could easily be collected. To add to the threat, this passive signal collection would be undetectable by the US.
The Air Force officer raised alarm about the espionage threat in an internal memo. Major Fox reportedly said that data collection by China would "present a costly national security risk". He warned that the case may cause grave damage to US strategic advantages, and that it fits a pattern of Chinese subnational espionage. Major Fox accused Beijing of using commercial economic development projects to get close to Defense Department facilities.
ALSO WATCH | <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/flying-cars-how-us-air-force-wants-to-use-evtol-in-conflict-move-after-losing-drone-race-to-china-1655733438504" target="_blank">Flying cars: how US Air Force wants to use eVTOL in conflict; move after losing drone race to China?</a>
However, the US Air Force has not taken an official position on the matter. The force called Major Fox's comments his personal effort to raise awareness of potential vulnerabilities.
But the soldier's worries have been mirrored by US politicians. Republican Senator Kevin Cramer, who represents North Dakota, said that he doesn't want the Chinese Communist Party doing business in his "backyard". Senator Cramer said America underestimates Beijing's capability to collect data and use it in "nefarious ways".
Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Mark Warner, is also worried about Chinese spying. Commenting on the North Dakota situation, the Democrat party leader said that America should be "seriously concerned" about Chinese investments near sensitive US facilities.
The allegations have agitated China. Fufeng USA's COO has insisted that there is no possibility of espionage from the North Dakota plant. The company has insisted that the $700 million project is just a corn milling plant The company says that it is helping the local community by creating 200 direct jobs, and other opportunities like logistics.
The Chinese government has also entered the debate, with an official telling the New York Post that Chinese firms investing abroad are told to obey local laws. Beijing criticised USA's 'generalisation of the concept of national security and abuse of state power". China also sought a fair and just environment for its companies in the US.
This case is not just important for America, but also pertinent for countries like India which have seen tension with China rise in recent years.
The Indian government has in the past raised the issue of Chinese companies being misused to threaten India's national security. A ban on multiple Chinese apps, including PUBG, was imposed due to alleged stealing and transmission of user data.
In such a situation, Delhi might need to keep an eye on Chinese investments in India, especially near military installations.

The US Senate has unanimously approved a resolution seeking investigations of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his regime for war crimes over the invasion of Ukraine.
The bipartisan measure strongly condemns the "violence, war crimes and crimes against humanity” being carried out by Russian military forces under Putin's direction.
It encourages international criminal courts to investigate Putin, his security council and military leaders for possible war crimes.
Last week, US Vice President Kamala Harris embraced calls for an international war crimes investigation of Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, citing the “atrocities” of bombing civilians, including a maternity hospital.
The Senate resolution calls for the US and others to seek investigations of Putin and his regime at the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice for potential war crimes

Ukraine War: US Senate unanimously passes resolution condemning Putin as 'war criminal'

The US Senate has unanimously approved a resolution seeking investigations of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his regime for war crimes over the invasion of Ukraine.
The bipartisan measure strongly condemns the "violence, war crimes and crimes against humanity&rdquo; being carried out by Russian military forces under Putin's direction.
It encourages international criminal courts to investigate Putin, his security council and military leaders for possible war crimes.
Last week, US Vice President Kamala Harris embraced calls for an international war crimes investigation of Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, citing the &ldquo;atrocities&rdquo; of bombing civilians, including a maternity hospital.

Ukraine Invasion: US Senate condemns the "violence, war crimes and crimes against humanity&rdquo; being carried out by Russian military forces under Putin's direction

The US Senate has unanimously approved a resolution seeking investigations of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his regime for war crimes over the invasion of <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/human-trafficking-fears-as-refugees-flee-war-in-ukraine-1647075784041">Ukraine</a>.
The bipartisan measure strongly condemns the "violence, war crimes and crimes against humanity&rdquo; being carried out by Russian military forces under Putin's direction.
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/politics/punjab-cm-a-very-special-swearing-in-for-aam-mann-bhagat-singh-s-village-all-decked-up-1647399181211">Ukraine War: Here's why US think India will be on wrong side of history over Russian invasion</a>
It encourages international criminal courts to investigate Putin, his security council and military leaders for possible war crimes.
Last week, US Vice President Kamala Harris embraced calls for an international war crimes investigation of Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, citing the &ldquo;atrocities&rdquo; of bombing civilians, including a maternity hospital.
The Senate resolution calls for the US and others to seek investigations of Putin and his regime at the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice for potential war crimes.
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/ukraine-war-nato-head-says-russia-may-use-chemical-weapons-against-ukraine-1647415634837">Ukraine War: NATO head says Russia may use chemical weapons against Ukraine</a>

In the first Cabinet defeat, US President Joe Biden on Tuesday abandoned his plan for Neera Tanden to be White House budget director. The pullback came after a massive pushback from key senators who made it clear that were not going to vote for Tanden. The centrists on both sides of the political aisle opposed Tanden over several of her previous tweets in which she disparaged lawmakers. "I have accepted Neera Tanden's request to withdraw her name from nomination for Director of the Office of Management and Budget," Biden said in a statement. Neera Tanden would have been the first Indian-American to hold the key post.

Joe Biden withdraws Indian-American budget chief pick after Senate pushback

In the first Cabinet defeat, US President Joe Biden on Tuesday abandoned his plan for Neera Tanden to be White House budget director after Senate pushback

Biden withdraws Indian-American budget chief pick after Senate pushback

In the first Cabinet defeat, US President Joe Biden on Tuesday abandoned his plan for Neera Tanden to be White House budget director. The pullback came after a massive pushback from key senators who made it clear that were not going to vote for Tanden. The centrists on both sides of the political aisle opposed Tanden over several of her previous tweets in which she disparaged lawmakers. "I have accepted Neera Tanden's request to withdraw her name from nomination for Director of the Office of Management and Budget," Biden said in a statement. Neera Tanden would have been the first Indian-American to hold the key post.

Trump nominee Barrett confirmed to US Supreme Court

In a big win for Donald Trump just days before the polls, the US Senate confirmed conservative jurist Amy Coney Barrett as the Supreme Court's newest justice on Monday

In a big win for Donald Trump just days before the polls, the US Senate confirmed conservative jurist Amy Coney Barrett as the Supreme Court's newest justice on Monday. The deeply divided chamber voted 52 to 48, largely along party lines in the Republican-controlled Senate. Barrett is the third Trump nominee to reach the high court which now has a six-to-three conservative majority. 48-year-old Barrett, who is a religious conservative, replaces late justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the liberal icon and women's rights advocate who died on September 18 at age 87.

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