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The House on Wednesday passed a $895 billion measure that authorizes a 1% increase in defense spending this fiscal year and would give a double-digit pay raise to about half of the enlisted service members in the military. The bill is traditionally strongly bipartisan, but some Democratic lawmakers opposed the inclusion of a ban on transgender medical treatments for children of military members if such treatment could result in sterilization. The bill passed the House by a vote of 281-140 and will next move to the Senate, where lawmakers had sought a bigger boost in defense spending than the current measure allows. Lawmakers are touting the bill’s 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for others as key to improving the quality of life for those serving in the U.S. military. Those serving as junior enlisted personnel are in pay grades that generally track with their first enlistment term. Lawmakers said service member pay has failed to remain competitive with the private sector, forcing many military families to rely on food banks and government assistance programs to put food on the table. The bill also provides significant new resources for child care and housing. “No service member should have to live in squalid conditions and no military family should have to rely on food stamps to feed their children, but that’s exactly what many of our service members are experiencing, especially the junior enlisted,” said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. “This bill goes a long way to fixing that.” The bill sets key Pentagon policy that lawmakers will attempt to fund through a follow-up appropriations bill. The overall spending tracks the numbers established in a 2023 agreement that then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached with President Joe Biden to increase the nation’s borrowing authority and avoid a federal default in exchange for spending restraints. Many senators had wanted to increase defense spending some $25 billion above what was called for in that agreement, but those efforts failed. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who is expected to serve as the next chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the overall spending level was a “tremendous loss for our national defense,” though he agreed with many provisions within the bill. “We need to make a generational investment to deter the Axis of Aggressors. I will not cease work with my congressional colleagues, the Trump administration, and others until we achieve it,” Wicker said. House Republicans don’t want to go above the McCarthy-Biden agreement for defense spending and are looking to go way below it for many non-defense programs. They are also focused on cultural issues. The bill prohibits funding for teaching critical race theory in the military and prohibits TRICARE health plans from covering gender dysphoria treatment for children under 18 if that treatment could result in sterilization. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the ranking Democratic member of the House Armed Services Committee, said minors dealing with gender dysphoria is a “very real problem.” He said the treatments available, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, have proven effective at helping young people dealing with suicidal thoughts, anxiety and depression. “These treatments changed their lives and in many cases saved their lives,” Smith said. “And in this bill, we decided we’re going to bar servicemembers’ children from having access to that.” Smith said the number of minors in service member families receiving transgender medical care extends into the thousands. He could have supported a study asking medical experts to determine whether such treatments are too often used, but a ban on health insurance coverage went too far. He said Speaker Mike Johnson’s office insisted upon the ban and said the provision “taints an otherwise excellent piece of legislation.” Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, called the ban a step in the right direction, saying, “I think these questions need to be pulled out of the debate of defense, so we can get back to the business of defending the United States of America without having to deal with social engineering debates.” Smith said he agrees with Roy that lawmakers should be focused on the military and not on cultural conflicts, “and yet, here it is in this bill.” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, said his team was not telling Democrats how to vote on the bill. “There’s a lot of positive things in the National Defense Authorization Act that were negotiated in a bipartisan way, and there are some troubling provisions in a few areas as well,” Jeffries said. The defense policy bill also looks to strengthen deterrence against China. It calls for investing $15.6 billion to build military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. The Biden administration had requested about $10 billion. On Israel, the bill, among other things, includes an expansion of U.S. joint military exercises with Israel and a prohibition on the Pentagon citing casualty data from Hamas. The defense policy bill is one of the final measures that lawmakers view as a must-pass before making way for a new Congress in January. U.S. stock indexes got back to climbing on Wednesday after Donald Trump used his image as a successful New York The House on Wednesday passed a $895 billion measure that U.S. stock indexes drifted lower Tuesday in the runup to
The left-wing media and their political allies have developed a new strategy in their eternal quest to oppose Donald Trump, this time seeking to drive a wedge between him and Elon Musk. Musk’s instrumental efforts in getting Trump elected have both endeared him to the right and put a target on his back from the left. Most recently, leftist luminaries like MSNBC’s Joy Reid have taken to mockingly referring to the Space X founder as “President Musk” in an attempt to get under Trump’s skin. Reid’s lead prompted a number of Democratic lawmakers to steal the line. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin and Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro are all amongst a group of politicians who parroted Reid. The accusations stemmed from Musk’s vocal opposition to an early version of the House’s continuing resolution to fund the government. The version Musk initially opposed was over 1,500 pages long and included what many GOP politicians referred to as “ pork barrel ” spending inclusions such as a “ Feral Swine Eradication ” program and an earmarked fund to provide juvenile delinquents with driver’s licenses. Musk was hardly the only person to speak out against the bill. Scores of Republican lawmakers voiced their opposition, ultimately leading to the quadruple-digit page bill being scrapped in favor of a much shorter resolution. DeLauro, and others, however, credited Musk with influencing the GOPers who did not want a 1,500 page bill to pass before anyone could read it. “They got scared because President Musk told them, President Musk said ‘don’t do it! shut the government down!'” DeLauro told House members while the body debated the bill Dec. 19. JUST IN: 🇺🇸 Elon Musk slams Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. “The crazy lady with the purple hair is the top House Dem in charge of spending taxpayer money” pic.twitter.com/sPtg9tw1yU — Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) December 20, 2024 The narrative seeped into each and every far reach of the leftwing echo chamber. MSNBC’s Chris Hayes described Trump and Musk as engaged in a “co-presidency,” a term New York Rep. Dan Goldman took issue with, claiming Musk is the sole President. “Elon Musk has Donald Trump in a vise.” Rep. Dan Goldman says “we need to face the reality: right now we have President Elon Musk”. (Video: MSNBC) pic.twitter.com/32b1is1A0n — Mike Sington (@MikeSington) December 20, 2024 The efforts to thrust Musk into a leading role and divide him from Trump, while perhaps not entirely successful as of yet, did manage to catch Trump’s eye. He addressed them in a Sunday speech at Turning Point USA’s AmFest in Phoenix, Arizona. (RELATED: Media’s Elon Musk Propaganda Hides The Real Truth Behind His Sacrifice) “He’s not gonna be President, that I can tell you,” Trump told the crowd after complimenting Musk’s Starlink satellites. “I’m safe, you know why? He can’t be, he wasn’t born in this country,” Trump said, laughing. Trump: [Elon Musk] is not going to be president. That I can tell you. I’m safe. You know why? He can’t be. He wasn’t born in this country pic.twitter.com/YpgcGZ0jF4 — Acyn (@Acyn) December 22, 2024 While Trump appeared to maintain a jovial attitude in the face of the divide and conquer strategy, there are signs of cracks appearing between his MAGA base and the Musk-friendly Silicon Valley newcomers to the Trump Train. Chief among the concerns splitting the two sides is a raging online debate about H1B visas. The H1B visa, the largest visa category in the U.S., allows employers to hire skilled foreign workers and “authorizes the temporary employment of qualified individuals who are not otherwise authorized to work in the U.S.,” according to the Department of Labor. Musk appeared to take the pro-H1B side, replying “correct” to a user’s assessment that a slowdown in skilled immigration could lead to a decrease in American innovation. Correct — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 26, 2024 Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) co-head Vivek Ramaswamy co-signed the viewpoint Thursday, defending the implementation of H1B’s and claiming they’re necessary because native-born Americans participate in a culture of mediocrity. “Our American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long (at least since the 90s and likely longer). That doesn’t start in college, it starts YOUNG. A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math Olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers,” Ramaswamy tweeted. The reason top tech companies often hire foreign-born & first-generation engineers over “native” Americans isn’t because of an innate American IQ deficit (a lazy & wrong explanation). A key part of it comes down to the c-word: culture. Tough questions demand tough answers & if... — Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) December 26, 2024 The tweet echoed sentiments Musk eloquated on Christmas day, when he wrote “The number of people who are super talented engineers AND super motivated in the USA is far too low.” Musk appeared to call for “ double ” the number of foreign-born engineers. MAGA loyalists like radio host Jesse Kelly pushed back. (RELATED: Democrats’ New Attack On Trump And Musk All But Doomed To Backfire) “White kids with great college degrees cannot find jobs and most cannot even get a return phone call. That is happening. It’s all around me. And when that’s happening, you’re never gonna sell legal immigration to people. Ever. Period,” he wrote Thursday. White kids with great college degrees cannot find jobs and most cannot even get a return phone call. That is happening. It’s all around me. And when that’s happening, you’re never gonna sell legal immigration to people. Ever. Period. — Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) December 26, 2024 With 337 H1B petition approvals for the fiscal year 2022, Musk’s Tesla ranked 27th in U.S. companies for H1B visa sponsorships. Despite his role in the ongoing back-and-forth, Musk and Trump still appear to enjoy a good relationship for the time being. BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 19: Elon Musk speaks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket on November 19, 2024 in Brownsville, Texas. SpaceX’s billionaire owner, Elon Musk, a Trump confidante, has been tapped to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency alongside former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Brandon Bell/Getty Images Trump reposted a tweet from Musk on his Truth Social platform, co-signing Musk’s statement about the legacy media’s impending downfall on Christmas Day.Share Tweet Share Share Email What if you could secure a life-changing return by investing early in a cryptocurrency with tremendous growth potential? Cryptocurrencies have sparked countless success stories, and every once in a while, a project comes along that reshapes the narrative entirely. Today, we’re exploring three intriguing developments in the crypto world: the surging momentum of Near Protocol, the steady advancements of Polkadot, and the presale of Qubetics ($TICS), a project gaining attention as one of the best cryptos for massive return potential. This article will delve into the latest Qubetics, Near Protocol, and Polkadot updates. Qubetics Wallet: Your Gateway to Seamless Crypto Management The cryptocurrency market thrives on innovation, and Qubetics stands out with its revolutionary approach to crypto wallets. The Qubetics Wallet offers a secure, user-friendly solution for managing digital assets across various platforms. Designed to make cryptocurrency more accessible, this wallet supports iOS, Android, and desktop, catering to users regardless of device preferences. What makes the Qubetics Wallet remarkable? It simplifies asset management while providing an intuitive interface that even beginners can navigate confidently. Users can effortlessly store, manage, and transact with $TICS tokens and other assets, empowering them to take control of their financial futures. To keep up with its growing community, Qubetics recently hosted an AMA session , where they provided deeper insights. Check it out to learn more about why this wallet is redefining convenience and security in the crypto space. Near Protocol: Sharding Its Way to Success Near Protocol is making headlines as its native token, NEAR, experiences a notable resurgence. Following a low of $3.41 in September, NEAR has surged by an impressive 57% , currently trading at $5.22 on Gate.io. This upward trend included an eight-week high of $5.36, showing strong support at $5.20. What’s driving this rally? Increasing open interest enhanced total value locked (TVL), and the implementation of blockchain sharding are key factors. Sharding, a technological innovation to improve scalability, has placed Near Protocol in the spotlight, reinforcing its bullish outlook. As the market watches closely, NEAR is undoubtedly one to follow. Polkadot: Building Momentum with Parachains Polkadot is weathering a phase of mixed market sentiment, with its current price hovering around $5.20. While resistance at $5.50 has kept its growth in check, analysts remain optimistic about its trajectory. A short-term rise to $6.50 is within reach if the token garners sufficient trading volume. Beyond price action, Polkadot continues to strengthen its ecosystem. Developments in parachain auctions and staking rewards are solidifying its long-term value proposition. These upgrades position Polkadot as a vital player in DeFi and Web3 spaces, with the potential to achieve double-digit prices in 2024. Polkadot remains a token of interest as the community rallies behind these advancements. Qubetics Presale: The Investment Opportunity You Can’t Miss If there’s one thing fuelling excitement in the crypto community, it’s the ongoing Qubetics presale. Currently, in Phase 12, the presale offers a compelling opportunity for early investors, with a 10% price increase per phase and a 20% final-stage surge. At present, $TICS tokens are available for $0.031, with over $5.5 million already raised—a testament to the project’s popularity. The numbers are astonishing. Analysts predict that $TICS could soar to $10–$15 post-mainnet launch. At a $10 price point, today’s investors could enjoy an eye-watering ROI of 32,028.61%, while a $15 valuation could drive that return to 48,092.91%. These staggering figures make Qubetics a top contender among the best cryptos for massive return potential. Time is ticking, and with each passing week, the cost of entry rises. The presale is not just an event—it’s a gateway to what could be life-altering gains. Conclusion: Why Qubetics Stands Out Among Crypto Titans Near Protocol and Polkadot are demonstrating their strengths through price recoveries and ecosystem growth in a market buzzing with potential. However, Qubetics emerges as the project to watch, thanks to its innovative ecosystem, practical wallet, and presale excitement. Analysts’ projections of monumental returns underscore its position as one of the best cryptos for massive return potential. For investors seeking an opportunity that combines vision, community, and profit, Qubetics is setting the stage. With its presale offering unparalleled growth prospects, now is the moment to act. Don’t wait too long—opportunities like this don’t stay on the table forever. For More Information: Qubetics: https://qubetics.com Telegram: https://t.me/qubetics Twitter: https://x.com/qubetics Related Items: Blockchain , Qubetic Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you 6 Best New Meme Coins to Buy Now for Explosive Gains – Don’t Miss These Moonshots! 4 Top Picks for the Best Altcoins to Join for 2025 (Expert Insights) Hilbert Group Integrates Liberty AI to Redefine Digital Asset Management CommentsUnder the patronage of HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, the Ministry of Defence yesterday launched the Defence Digitalisation Compass at Ahmed bin Mohammed Military College. The compass objective is to transform the Qatar Armed Forces into an efficient, information-driven, knowledge-based and networked organisation, and to foster digital acumen in its workforce. "The Digitalisation Compass marks a fundamental shift in the armed forces' work culture and perspective, shaping how to leverage technologies to operate and gain advantage in a global information environment and modern battlespace. It aligns with and responds to high-level guidance from the country's Defence and National Security Strategies. It will also be supported through other subordinate strategies," said HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs. The Defense Digitalisation Compass also aligns with Qatar's national security strategies and the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3), which aims to support Qatar National Vision 2030. This vision has identified digital technology as a key sector for developing the country's long-term capabilities in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and robotics. The Defence Digitalisation Compass focuses on the systematic modernisation of systems and technological infrastructures, as well as the work processes and methodologies adopted by the Ministry of Defence to maximise the use of available resources and capabilities, thereby improving performance and efficiency. It will also help the armed forces become more adaptable, innovative, and capable of fully utilising their joint capabilities in all areas. HE Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces, Lt. Gen. (Pilot) Jassim bin Mohammed al-Mannai, said the successful implementation of the Defence Digitalisation Compass would ensure an enhanced level of readiness, effectiveness and interoperability in the country's armed forces. HE the Chief of Staff added, ""In today's world, armed forces have already become more reliant on technology, but future conflicts will heavily depend on critical technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics and cloud computing, to name but a few." His Excellency pointed out that the Qatari Armed Forces must transition to a data-driven, technology-reliant force and better equip with the latest digital information, operating systems, and best practices to consistently achieve success. HE the Chief of Staff explained that digital transformation heralds a new era of creativity and revolution in the defence field, paving the way for investment in human talent, new weapons, and systems, thereby enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of military operations, adding that this will also increase the situational awareness of the armed forces and improve their joint capabilities to respond to threats in increasingly complex operational environments. (QNA) Related Story Labour Ministry accorded MS AI Excellence Award Qatar celebrates World Soil Day
Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to state murder and other chargesUS lawmakers voted Wednesday after fraught negotiations to move forward with a contentious 2025 defense budget that raises troops' pay but blocks funding of gender-affirming care for some transgender children of service members. The centerpiece of the $884 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) -- which was green-lit by the Republican-led House of Representatives but still needs Senate approval -- is a 14.5 percent pay increase for junior enlisted service members and 4.5 percent for other personnel. But talks over the 1,800-page-plus text were complicated by a last-minute Republican intervention to prevent the military's health program from covering gender-affirming care for children of service members if it results in "sterilization." "Citizens don't want their tax dollars to go to this, and underaged people often regret these surgeries later in life," Nebraska Republican Don Bacon told CNN. "It's a bad hill to die on for Democrats." Gender-affirming health care for children is just one of multiple fronts in the so-called "culture wars" that polarize US politics and divide the country, with Republicans using the issue as a cudgel against Democrats in November's elections. The funding block angered progressives, and prompted the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee to come out against the legislation. "As I said a few days ago, blanketly denying health care to people who need it -- just because of a biased notion against transgender people -- is wrong," Adam Smith, who represents a district in Washington state, said in a statement. "The inclusion of this harmful provision puts the lives of children at risk and may force thousands of service members to make the choice of continuing their military service or leaving to ensure their child can get the health care they need." Smith slammed House Speaker Mike Johnson for pandering to "the most extreme elements of his party" by including the transgender provision. The must-pass NDAA -- a bill that Congress has sent to the president's desk without fail every year since 1961 -- cleared the chamber in a 281-140 vote and now moves to the Senate, with final passage expected next week. The topline figure is one percent above last year's total and, with funding from other sources, brings the total defense budget to just under $900 billion. Some foreign policy hawks on the Republican side of the Senate wanted $25 billion more for the Pentagon but they are still expected to support the bill. "The safety and security of the American people is our top priority, and this year's NDAA ensures our military has the resources and the capabilities needed to remain the most powerful fighting force on the planet," Johnson told reporters. ft/mlm
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will chair a meeting of the cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations today, amid increasing calls for his resignation. A mid-day adjustment to Trudeau's itinerary was issued by the Prime Minister's Office and notes he will take part in the meeting virtually, though a specific time wasn't listed. It's been a chaotic week for the governing Liberals, starting with Chrystia Freeland's cabinet resignation just hours after she was set to table the fall economic statement. Freeland and new Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc have previously spoken with the media at the conclusion of these cabinet committee meetings. The committee was reformed following Donald Trump's re-election, and a chief topic of discussion at the meetings has been border security after the incoming president threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian products. Several Liberal MPs publicly called for Trudeau to step down as Liberal leader since Freeland's resignation, and the NDP has joined the other major opposition parties in saying it no longer has confidence in the minority Liberal government. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 23, 2024 David Baxter, The Canadian PressDr. Donald R. Hopkins: Jimmy Carter worked tirelessly to eradicate a deadly parasite in Africa
Membership of UK's anti-immigration Reform party surpasses Conservatives
After tree roots infiltrate a prominent Eagle River Water & Sanitation District pipe, repair uses specialized technology to solve the problem