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When asked by the Post at a State Department press briefing if the US anticipated this reaction from Beijing and how the federal government viewed Beijing’s move, deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel did not have a comment to share immediately. In announcing Beijing’s decision on Monday, China’s commerce ministry cited national-security concerns, ratcheting up what had so far been measured reactions to Washington’s attempts to block Beijing access to the most advanced technologies. It came a day after the US Commerce Department expanded existing export controls on chipmaking equipment produced by American companies at foreign facilities. The US also blacklisted about 140 Chinese entities, accusing them of acting on behalf of Beijing.
President-elect Donald Trump’s top spy picks appear to be enjoying an increasingly receptive Senate GOP, as they make the rounds huddling with senators in a bid to shore up support for their confirmations. Director of National Intelligence designee Tulsi Gabbard has faced heightened scrutiny over her 2017 visit to Syria, but GOP senators appear to be downplaying that. Meanwhile, almost no Senate Republican appears to have publicly voiced reservations about CIA director designee John Ratcliffe. “I think that’s an outstanding pick,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) mused to reporters Wednesday about Ratcliffe, who he considers a friend. “I think he’s going to be one of the more boring confirmation hearings we will have, which I think is OK with him.” Ratcliffe, a former congressman, served as Trump’s DNI during the tail-end of his first administration, previously was confirmed by the Senate with no Republicans opposed to him, despite Democratic resistance. The aspiring CIA director had garnered far less attention than some of Trump’s other staffing selections. Initially, Gabbard proved to be one of the more controversial choices, with some Republicans admitting to some skepticism about the former Democrat. “We’ll have lots of questions. She met with Bashar Assad. We’ll want to know what the purpose was,” Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) told CNN shortly after Gabbard was announced. Lankford, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, met with Gabbard Monday and indicated to reporters that he was comfortable with her explanations. “We talked about her Syria visit, you know, talked about some of the things with Snowden and some of her previous comments,” Lankford explained to reporters, per the Washington Times Gabbard had met with former Syrian tyrant Bashar al-Assad in 2017, while a sitting congresswoman from Hawaii. Assad’s oppression of his people was widely known at the time as were accusations that he deployed chemical weapons against his people. She openly questioned the intelligence community’s assessments that he was behind a gas attack later that year which had drawn a kinetic response from the Trump administration. That had left some defense and intelligence luminaries enraged, with former National Security Adviser John Bolton and other critics casting her as an Assad apologist. However, she also denounced Assad as a “brutal dictator.” The former Democrat, turned Republican previously backed legislation to drop charges against Edward Snowden, an ex-National Security Agency contractor who leaked troves of classified information. Consternation about Syria resurfaced in the wake of Islamist rebel group group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) Saturday toppling of the Assad regime. “I want to address the issue that’s in the headlines right now. I stand in full support, wholeheartedly agree with the statements that President Trump has made over these past few days with regards to Syria,” she told reporters this week. Trump had posited that the fall of Assad was emblematic of how “Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now” and urged Russia to pursue a ceasefire with Ukraine. “I believe she is a very bright person,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), one of the more hawkish Republicans, posted on X after meeting with Gabbard. “I have a lot of deference for presidential cabinet nominations because I believe every president deserves their team.” Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), who overlapped with Gabbard in the House, outright jumped to her defense amid the political slings and arrows directed her way. “They came after Tulsi Gabbard trying to call her a Russian agent, come on, give me a break. She’s a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army,” Mullin told reporters Tuesday. “I think the Democrats are they’re gonna continue to try to find somebody that they’re gonna go after.” While many Republicans have admitted to significant disagreements with Gabbard, they have generally seemed leery of crossing Trump. “I obviously differ a great deal in a number of areas with both her judgment and her background and experience, but what I do trust is the Senate process,” House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio), told CBS News’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday. As a congressman, Turner will not have to weigh her confirmation, but should she get through, he will have to work with her on key intelligence matters. Ultimately, Gabbard and Ratcliffe can only afford to lose up to four votes from Senate Republicans who are poised to get a 53 to 47 majority starting in January, although that margin will drop briefly when Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) leaves the upper chamber to prepare for his own confirmation hearings after being nominated as secretary of state. Many key potential swing votes such as Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have been fairly guarded with their views on Gabbard since she was named. Some have also caveated that their views are subject to change based on the developments in the confirmation process. But at least for now, it appears the prospects of getting Trump’s spy bosses through the Senate are looking brighter.NYT Tech Guild reaches agreement with leadership after years of bargainingNoble Corporation plc announces major shareholder notification
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This handout from the South Korean Presidential Office taken on December 3, 2024 shows South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol delivering a speech to declare martial law in Seoul. – South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 3 declared martial law, accusing the opposition of being “anti-state forces” and saying he was acting to protect the country from “threats” posed by the North. (Photo by Handout / South Korean Presidential Office / Agence France-Presse) Seoul, South Korea — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who declared martial law on Tuesday, was elected in 2022 as a conservative political novice promising a tougher line on North Korea. He has not had an easy ride, taking office with some of the lowest approval ratings of any democratically elected South Korean president. READ: What we know about South Korea’s martial law Those ratings dropped even further to 19 percent in the latest Gallup poll last week, with many expressing dissatisfaction over his handling of the economy and controversies involving his wife, Kim Keon Hee. In declaring martial law the South Korean leader accused the opposition of being “anti-state forces” and said he was acting to protect the country from “threats” posed by the North. Observers and allies have been left scrambling to make sense of the sudden move. Born in Seoul in 1960, Yoon studied law and went on to become a star public prosecutor and anti-corruption crusader, playing an instrumental role in former president Park Geun-hye being convicted of abuse of power. As the country’s top prosecutor in 2019, he also indicted a top aide of outgoing president Moon Jae-in in a fraud and bribery case that tarnished that administration’s image. The conservative People Power Party (PPP), in opposition at the time, liked what they saw and convinced Yoon to become their presidential candidate. READ: South Korean parliament defies president, lifts martial law declaration He duly won in March 2022, beating Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, but by the narrowest margin in South Korean history. Yoon was never much loved, and a series of scandals — including his administration’s handling of a deadly Halloween crush of 2022 — have further eroded his popularity. Critics have blamed Yoon’s administration for food inflation, a lagging economy, and increasing constraints on freedom of speech. He was also accused of abusing presidential vetoes, notably to strike down a bill that would have paved the way for a special investigation into his wife’s alleged involvement in stock manipulation. Yoon suffered further reputational damage last year when his wife was secretly filmed accepting a designer handbag worth $2,000 as a gift. Yoon insisted it would have been rude to refuse. His mother-in-law, Choi Eun-soon, is serving a one-year prison sentence for forging financial documents in a real estate deal. She is due to be released in July. Yoon was earlier this year the subject of a petition calling for his impeachment, which proved so popular the parliamentary website hosting it experienced delays and crashes. Local media have reported that Yoon is particularly inspired by British wartime prime minister Winston Churchill. As president, Yoon has maintained a tough stance against Pyongyang and bolstered ties with Seoul’s traditional ally, the United States. Last year, he famously sang Don McLean’s “American Pie” during his visit to the White House, to which US President Joe Biden responded, “I had no damn idea you could sing.” But his efforts to restore ties with South Korea’s former colonial ruler, Japan, did not sit well with many at home, as the issue remains sensitive in the country. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . The return of former US president Donald Trump — who had historic but ultimately failed summits with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un while in office — may create another layer of tension, experts say.
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Celebrate the dedication of the agency's top dogs from across the country WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today released the 2025 TSA Canine Calendar, an annual tradition honoring the agency's more than 1,000 explosives detection canines working across the United States. The 2025 is now available for immediate download. TSA uses canines as a critical component of its multilayered security strategy. Each year, about 300 new canine recruits complete an intensive 16-week training program at the , located at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio, Texas. During training, these highly skilled canines are paired with their handlers, master the art of detecting a variety of explosives odors, and socialize to adapt to busy transportation environments before reporting to their permanent duty stations. The 2025 TSA Canine Calendar highlights 13 extraordinary canines selected from more than 80 entries submitted by TSA teams nationwide. Each month features photos and fun facts about these canine heroes. This year's lineup includes: The calendar features Cutest Canine Contest winner, Barni, a five-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer explosives detection canine at San Francisco International Airport. Barni combines a calm and professional demeanor with a sweet and playful side and enjoys chasing squirrels, greeting his four-legged co-workers and playing fetch with a squeaky ball. TSA canines and their handlers are vital in detecting explosives and deterring threats across all transportation modes. These teams exemplify dedication, teamwork, and unwavering commitment to transportation security and keeping the traveling public safe. For a behind the scenes look at what it is like to be an explosives detection canine handler, see our Visit for more information about TSA's Explosives Detection Canine Program. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Transportation Security AdministrationNoneHormel: Q4 Earnings Confirm It's Better To Own The Retailer Than The Brand (Downgrade)
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