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Here’s what’s in the $886 billion defense bill

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:33:38 GMT

By Tami Luhby | CNNThe House and Senate have approved a $886.3 billion defense policy bill, which would provide the largest raise for service members in more than two decades, temporarily extend a controversial surveillance program and strengthen the US posture in the Indo-Pacific region to deter Chinese actions.The nearly 3,100-page National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2024 now goes to President Joe Biden for his signature. The package authorizes $28 billion, or about 3%, more than the previous fiscal year.The legislation outlines the policy agenda for the Department of Defense and the US military and authorizes spending in line with the Pentagon’s priorities. But it does not appropriate the funding itself.Also notable, the joint package does not include two controversial provisions related to abortion and transgender health care access, which were in the House defense policy bill that passed this summer. The House version would have prohibited the secretary of defens...

GM's Cruise robotaxi unit lays off 900 workers with investigation into San Francisco crash ongoing

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:33:38 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — General Motors' troubled Cruise autonomous vehicle unit is cutting over 900 jobs, about a quarter of its workforce, as it moves to reduce costs and remake itself after a series of safety problems in San Francisco.The subsidiary announced the cuts Thursday in a letter to Cruise's 3,800 workers from President and Chief Technical Officer Mo ElShenawy, who wrote that the layoffs are not the fault of the workers.The job cuts come a day after Cruise confirmed that nine key leaders are no longer with the company amid an ongoing investigation into an October crash involving one of its driverless robotaxis that forced it to suspend operations. New California laws bring changes to housing in 2024 “We are simplifying and focusing our efforts to return with an exceptional service in one city to start with," ElShenawy wrote. “As a result of our decision to slow down commercialization, we are restructuring to focus on delivering the improvements to our tech and vehicle performan...

Suspect out on bail arrested in connection to Millbrae 7-Eleven robbery

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:33:38 GMT

(KRON) -- A suspect in a robbery at a Millbrae 7-Eleven was arrested Wednesday following an investigation that led to a San Mateo hotel, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.Sheriff’s deputies responded to 401 El Camino Real on a report of a robbery at 7-Eleven. A store clerk was assaulted, resulting in facial injuries, after they confronted a thief who was attempting to steal merchandise, authorities said. After the assault, the suspect fled on foot and was unable to be located by sheriff’s deputies. Rain returning to Bay Area this weekend The suspect was identified as Tobias Tuuhetokasolofa, 34, of San Bruno, after an investigation of the 7-Eleven robbery, SMCSO said. Tuuhetokasolofa was released on bail for felony charges three days before the Millbrae incident.At 1:40 p.m. on Wednesday, the San Mateo Police Department alerted the sheriff’s office of another call involving the same suspect at a hotel. The two agencies collaborated in apprehending Tuuhetokasolofa a...

Sen. Elizabeth Warren Questions Meta Over Palestinian Censorship

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:33:38 GMT

In a letter sent Thursday to Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., calls on the Facebook and Instagram owner to disclose unreleased details about wartime content moderation practices that have “exacerbated violence and failed to combat hate speech,” citing recent reporting by The Intercept.“Amidst the horrific Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel, a humanitarian catastrophe including the deaths of thousands of civilians in Gaza, and the killing of dozens of journalists, it is more important than ever that social media platforms do not censor truthful and legitimate content, particularly as people around the world turn to online communities to share and find information about developments in the region,” the letter reads, according to a copy shared with The Intercept.Since Hamas’s October 7 attack, social media users around the world have reported the inexplicable disappearance of posts, comments, hashtags, and entire accounts — even though they did not s...

State Department Stuns Congress, Saying Biden Is Not Even Reviewing Trump’s Terror Designation of Cuba

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:33:38 GMT

As one of his final foreign policy acts as president, in January 2021 Donald Trump added Cuba to the list of “State Sponsors of Terror,” reversing the Obama administration’s 2015 determination that the designation was no longer appropriate. The incoming Biden administration pledged to Congress it would start the process of overturning Trump’s redesignation, which by statute requires a six-month review process. Yet in a private briefing last week on Capitol Hill, State Department official Eric Jacobstein stunned members of Congress by telling them that the department has not even begun the review process, according to three sources in the room.In the briefing, Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., inquired as to the status of the review. In order to remove Cuba from the list, statute requires at least a six-month review period. The news that the State Department had not even launched the review came as a surprise to McGovern and others in the room, and meant that the delisting couldn’t occur b...

The European Union has agreed to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, EU council president says

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:33:38 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union has agreed to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, EU council president says.Source

Moderna, Rivian rise; Apellis, Adobe fall, Thursday, 12/14/2023

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:33:38 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that are trading heavily or have substantial price changes on Thursday:Moderna Inc. (MNRA), up $10.61 to $89.21.The vaccine maker gave investors an encouraging update on a potential cancer vaccine being developed with Merck.Glaukos Corp. (GKOS), up $12.76 to $73.18.The glaucoma treatments developer received regulatory approval in the U.S. of its eye-condition drug iDose.Jabil Inc. (JBL), up $8.80 to $129.40.The electronics manufacturer beat analysts’ fiscal first-quarter earnings and revenue forecasts.Rivian Automotive Inc. (RIVN), up $2.01 to $21.69.AT&T will buy vehicles for its fleet from the electric vehicle maker.Apellis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (APLS), down $15.03 to $47.85.The biopharmaceutical company warned investors about the potential for a negative opinion on an eye condition drug from European regulators.Adobe Inc. (ADBE), down $37.22 to $587.04.The software company’s profit forecast for its current fiscal year disappointed investors.H...

These mountain towns have the best homes, if you have millions

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:33:38 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- If you're in the market for a mountain home with year-round activities, a new study found the best places, two of which are in Colorado. However, you're going to have to save up: The homes in these mountain towns are worth millions. It’s illegal to throw snowballs in these Colorado towns Architectural Digest found the top 10 best places to own a mountain home based on weather, distance to an airport, air quality, number of ski resorts and available entertainment and dining options.These are the top 10 places to own a mountain home:Red Lodge, Montana Telluride, ColoradoLake Placid, New YorkThomas, West VirginiaJoseph, OregonAspen, ColoradoKetchum, IdahoStowe, VermontThermopolis, WyomingCamden, MaineTelluride was named one of the best towns for mountain homes due to its year-round activities. Telluride has more than the winter, although it is home to two of the top ski areas in the state. AD specifically names its unique festivals and events in the summer and f...

From Meloni to Putin, Rishi Sunak’s global BFFs ranked

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:33:38 GMT

LONDON — Fancy joining a festival of right-wingers with Italy’s Giorgia Meloni?Rishi Sunak certainly does. The British Conservative PM will gather with fellow right-wing figures from across Europe at the four-day Atreju festival in Rome this weekend, where he’ll enjoy a bilateral with his Italian counterpart Meloni.Meloni, leader of the hard right Brothers of Italy Party, has become one of Sunak’s closest allies on the world stage. “They obviously get on, I think they came in at a similar time,” Sunak’s spokesperson told journalists Thursday.But not all of Sunak’s working relationships are quite so peachy. POLITICO ranked, entirely scientifically, his friendships with other world leaders.Giorgia MeloniFew world leaders appear as pally as Meloni and Sunak, whose catch-up at this weekend’s festival in Italy will be far from their first.The pair have also written a rare joint op-ed on tackling illegal migration — and are often pictured laughing...

4 Hamas members arrested in Germany, Netherlands over suspected terror plot against Jews

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:33:38 GMT

Four men allegedly part of a Hamas terror cell suspected of planning terror attacks against European Jewish institutions were arrested in Berlin and Rotterdam on Thursday, Germany’s federal public prosecutor’s office said. The four suspects are “long-standing members of Hamas” and “are closely linked to the military branch’s leadership” of the Palestinian militant group, the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.They are suspected of trying to acquire illegal weapons which were “due to be taken to Berlin and kept in a state of readiness in view of potential terrorist attacks against Jewish institutions in Europe,” the statement said.German authorities have cracked down on some Muslim and Palestinian groups in the country after Hamas’ surprise attacks on October 7 killed around 1,200 people on Israeli soil. Germany has seen a rise in antisemitism since the war began.In November, the German interior ministry banned the ...