Lawmakers unlikely to advance border security, Ukraine funding legislation before Christmas
Lawmakers failed to finalize an agreement on border security framework over the weekend intended to be cemented in the national security supplemental package, as GOP lawmakers are tying border reform as a condition for passing aid to Ukraine. The upper chamber canceled part of its holiday recess to continue negotiations and schedule a vote on the aid package this week with a new border framework included, but that deal seems to be far from reach before Christmas. As talks are set to continue Monday, lead negotiators Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Sen. Krysten Sinema, I-Ariz., conducted negotiations over the weekend with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in Democrat Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office. SCHUMER ANNOUNCES SENATE WILL CANCEL PART OF HOLIDAY RECESS AS BORDER TALKS CONTINUE Sinema said “we’re making progress,” to reporters Sunday, although a written proposal had not been reached. “This is the most complicated area of law in the United States. It is very, very complex,” Sinema said. “You have to get it right. If you make a mistake, you fundamentally change law and in ways you don’t intend, and you have years and years of litigation. So it’s very important to be careful and to do it correctly. And that’s what we’re doing.” MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS AGAIN TOP 10K IN A SINGLE DAY AS LAWMAKERS EYE NEW BORDER LIMITS Murphy told reporters “nobody’s voting on this until they have time to review the text,” a complaint GOP lawmakers have sung loud, warning that even if a deal is reached this week, a rushed vote is not something they are willing to do. In a letter to Senate Republican Conference Chairman Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., 15 Republican senators requested a conference meeting to discuss the “rushed and secret negotiations with Democrats.” The senators also requested the meeting take place no earlier than the week of Jan. 8, when Congress is scheduled to return to the Hill after the holiday break. On Sunday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly sent a note to his colleagues that Schumer has a motion to reconsider the vote on the package’s “shell” – or the starting point for the supplemental bill – but there is no confirmation yet about that vote. “Without text and sufficient time to review it, it would not succeed,” McConnell said of the legislation. Lankford told Fox News Digital last week that if a deal is not reached quickly, then talks would continue in the new year. LANKFORD SAYS IF BORDER DEAL ISN’T REACHES SOON, NEGOTIATIONS WILL DELAY UNTIL THE NEW YEAR “The White House has been so slow in actually coming to the table and working through the issues,” Lankford said. “This all has to be right – if the whole system doesn’t work, then you can’t do a little bit of border security, you’ve got to actually manage the border,” Lankford said. Even if Schumer does bring a procedural vote to the floor this week to move the package forward, GOP senators signaled they would block it from advancing. For most legislation to pass in the upper chamber, 60 votes are needed. Then, it will still need to clear the GOP-led House, and Speaker Mike Johnson already indicated last week he would not force House members to rush a deal before Christmas. Talks have been ongoing with senators and Biden administration officials, as Republicans have refused to pass some $60 billion in additional aid to Ukraine unless it is tied to strict border security measures, such as immediate screenings for asylum processing, more detention beds and quicker expulsions for illegal entrants. The total amount of supplemental aid the White House first requested in October amounts to roughly $106 billion and includes $14 billion to assist Israel. CBS reported last week that the White House was willing to mandate the detention of certain migrants as their claims are considered, as well as a new Title 42-style authority. Title 42 was the COVID-era order that allowed for the rapid expulsion of migrants at the southern border until the Biden administration ended the policy in May.
Hispanic House Democrat joins Republicans in calling for ‘tougher measures at the border’
A House Democrat in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) is breaking from the group to call for “tougher” border security measures after the ongoing migrant crisis forced U.S. officials to suspend railway operations between Texas and Mexico in two cities. The statement by Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, whose district is anchored in Laredo, stands in stark contrast with the CHC’s position on the current border negotiations between Republicans and the White House. Cuellar said rail operations were being stopped in Eagle Pass and El Paso on Monday morning so Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) could “redirect personnel to process migrants.” “The crisis at our border is seriously affecting legitimate trade,” Cuellar wrote the evening prior. “This year alone, vehicle and rail operations have been suspended at multiple ports of entry due to an overwhelming number of migrants, worsening delays for truck drivers transporting goods and costing our economy millions.” THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS WAIT A FEW HOURS FROM EAGLE PASS, TEXAS TO CATCH TRAINS HEADED FOR SOUTHERN BORDER He finished, “Our border communities desperately need more federal resources, and we need tougher measures at the border. We must secure the border now.” CBP accused smugglers of using freight trains to bring people into the U.S. illegally in a statement on Sunday night announcing the planned closures for Monday at 8 a.m. local time. MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS HIT DAILY RECORD AT SOUTHERN BORDER, AS WASHINGTON STRUGGLES TO AGREE ON SOLUTIONS “CBP is continuing to surge all available resources to safely process migrants in response to increased levels of migrant encounters at the Southwest Border, fueled by smugglers peddling disinformation to prey on vulnerable individuals,” the statement said. “After observing a recent resurgence of smuggling organizations moving migrants through Mexico via freight trains, CBP is taking additional actions to surge personnel and address this concerning development, including in partnership with Mexican authorities.” It comes amid intense negotiations between Republicans and Democrats in both the White House and Senate over President Biden’s $110 billion supplemental aid package for Israel, Ukraine and other causes. 5,000 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS RELEASED EVERY DAY INTO US, ADMIN OFFICIALS PRIVATELY TELL LAWMAKERS Republicans have made clear they would not consider Biden’s request unless it was tied to stricter border security and asylum measures. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which is all-Democrat, released a statement last week urging Biden to show restraint in what he is willing to commit to in managing the border crisis. “We are deeply concerned that the President would consider advancing Trump-era immigration policies that Democrats fought so hard against – and that he himself campaigned against – in exchange for aid to our allies that Republicans already support,” they said. “Caving to demands for these permanent damaging policy changes as a ‘price to be paid’ for an unrelated one-time spending package would send a dangerous precedent.”
Suspect charged with DUI after Biden motorcade crash
The driver of a car that smashed into a parked SUV that was part of President Biden’s motorcade near his campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, has been charged with DUI, police said Monday morning. The crash happened Sunday evening when the sedan hit a U.S. Secret Service vehicle being used to close off intersections as Biden was walking from the campaign office to his waiting armored SUV. The sedan then tried to continue into a closed-off intersection, before Secret Service personnel surrounded the vehicle with weapons drawn and instructed the driver to put his hands up. Local Wilmington police were investigating the crash, which means the driver was not considered a serious threat to the president. Police said Monday that they have ruled the crash an accident. BIDEN’S DAUGHTER OWES THOUSANDS IN INCOME TAXES, LIEN DOCUMENTS SHOW Wilmington police said the 46-year-old driver has been charged with driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and inattentive driving. No further details about the driver were immediately provided. BIDENS PRIVATELY UPSET BY POOR POLL NUMBERS, PRESIDENT DELIVERED ‘STERN’ MESSAGE TO TOP AIDES: REPORT After the crash, a visibly stunned Biden was ushered into his waiting vehicle, where his wife was already seated, before being driven swiftly back to their home without further incident. Neither the president nor the first lady were harmed. President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden had just finished a meal with members of his re-election team at the time of the incident, according to the White House pool report. Fox News’ Sarah Tobianski, Bradford Betz and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
People ‘buried alive’ outside Gaza hospital during Israeli raid
NewsFeed Israeli forces are accused of using bulldozers to crush and bury Palestinians alive as they raided Kamal Adwan Hospital. Published On 18 Dec 202318 Dec 2023 Adblock test (Why?)
Norwegian tanker attacked in Red Sea from Houthi-controlled Yemen
US navy destroyer rushes to aid the targeted vessel amid spate of missile attacks threatening key trade route. A petrochemical tanker has been attacked in the Red Sea by projectiles fired from Yemen, with the Houthis claiming responsibility, saying they launched a drone attack on a cargo vessel. The M/V Swan Atlantic, a chemical and oil products tanker, was hit on Monday in the southern Red Sea by multiple projectiles launched from Houthi-controlled territory, United States officials said. The Iran-backed group has attacked numerous vessels over recent weeks, raising international concern over the threat to shipping in the region and to the wider global economy during the Israel-Gaza war. Owned by Norway’s Inventor Chemical Tankers, the ship was struck by one projectile. There were no injuries, according to the company. CEO Oystein Elgan told the Reuters news agency that the ship’s water tank had been damaged but all the vessel’s systems were operating normally. Inventor Chemical Tankers has no ties to Israel, he stated. Operator Uni-Tankers said the crew had brought a small fire under control. The ship was carrying vegetable oils and is sailing to Reunion Island. A report by British maritime authorities earlier on Monday suggested at least one other incident in the area of Yemen’s Mokha port although that remains unconfirmed. The destroyer USS Carney, which has been on patrol in the Red Sea to intercept drones and missiles in recent months, responded to the M/V Swan Atlantic’s distress call, US officials said. The US military’s Central Command said on Saturday that the USS Carney shot down 14 drones launched by Yemen’s Houthis over the Red Sea. Economic impact The Houthis, who rule much of Yemen, said the attacks are a show of solidarity with Palestinians. They have also fired drones and missiles at Israel. The group, which like Hamas is aligned with Iran, has pledged to continue until Israel stops attacking Gaza. The threat risks disturbing the global economy. Several shipping companies have announced they will suspend all journeys through the Red Sea due to the attacks. About 40 percent of international trade passes through the narrow strait between Yemen and northeast Africa, which leads northwards to the Red Sea, Israel’s southern port facilities and the Suez Canal. The increased threat has caused shipping insurance costs to jump by tens of thousands of dollars a day and raised oil prices. Oil major BP temporarily paused all transit through the Red Sea citing security concerns. The alternative route for ships avoiding the Suez Canal is to take the much longer trip around Africa. The US announced last week that it was in talks with other countries to set up a task force to protect the trade route. An Italian source on Monday reported that the country is considering joining a naval coalition to patrol the Red Sea. The Houthis have pledged to continue the attacks until Israel halts its bombardment of Gaza. However, in an initial indication of possible moderation, the group said on Saturday that real steps to ease the humanitarian crisis would contribute to “reducing the escalation”. Adblock test (Why?)
Who is Mallika Sagar, the IPL’s first female auctioneer?
Mumbai, India – Mallika Sagar’s introduction to the world of auctioneering came when, as a teenager in her hometown Mumbai, she read a book with a female auctioneer as its protagonist. “And, perhaps, a bit frivolously, I thought: ‘That’s what I want to be,’” she recollects with a chuckle. Three decades on, Sagar finds herself at the helm of making history. After a successful 23-year career in art auctioneering, she is set to become the first female auctioneer at the richest franchise cricket league in the world when she takes the stage at the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) 2024 auction in Dubai on Tuesday. More than 300 cricketers will go under the hammer during the daylong event, which will be a breakaway from a trend that has seen only men – Welshman Richard Madley, Briton Hugh Edmeades and India’s Charu Sharma – spearhead the event. “It’s extremely exciting to be asked to conduct an IPL auction,” Sagar told Al Jazeera during an hourlong chat at her Mumbai office last week. Sagar was born into a business family in the capital of India’s Maharashtra state and has lived in the city since her return, from the United States, where she graduated with a degree in the history of art. Now a specialist in modern art and an auctioneer at a privately-owned Mumbai-based auction house, she has long been a pathbreaker on the global art auctioneering circuit. In 2001, she became the first female auctioneer of Indian origin at the international art and luxury business Christie’s. ‘All about personality and skills’ Clad in a yellow drop-waist dress and with a cup of green tea in hand, Sagar explained how auctioneering is more down to personality and skills than gender. “You could be the most engaging male auctioneer, the most boring female auctioneer or vice versa – it’s about personality and skills.” The 48-year-old has been responsible for wielding the gavel at both the player auctions for the Women’s Premier League (WPL), India’s IPL-style five-team franchise tournament for women. “Sport is gendered, so to be part of something where women cricketers have a platform at the highest level and the chance to be financially independent doing what they love, was really special.” Being one of the few female auctioneers in India, Sagar acknowledged that the inaugural WPL auction in February may have been an unwitting stepping stone to bring her to the IPL auction, a far more scaled-up affair than its WPL equivalent. Learning the ropes – with kabaddi Sagar’s first stint at sport auctioneering came at the eighth edition of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), an Indian men’s professional franchise kabaddi tournament that ranks second behind the IPL most-watched sports league in the country. She admits sport auctioneering “was a new world” for her, given her longstanding association with art. “It did take a little bit of training, largely to change my approach,” she said. So what does it take to make a good auctioneer? “Depending on what you’re selling, you have to learn the mechanics of the auctioneering process and blend it with math, theatre and drama – all wrapped up in a smile!” The PKL experience, she said, warmed her up for the cricket auctions. Despite a foray into sport, steering a cricket auction at the WPL proved to be a different ball game. The scale of operations, including the requirements of catching the producer’s cue in the ear during live broadcast, added a different dimension to the job. [embedded content] ‘Can’t let your nervousness take over your job’ Sagar describes a usual auction as an “unknown” as it unfolds in real time. The ones in cricket often come with last-minute mic-ups or touchups with the makeup, frenzied bidding wars traversing multiple parties or, something as seemingly easy-to-do as figuring out where the franchises are seated based on the draw that allots them their order. Their dynamism warrants significant focus and flexibility. “You have to be alert and adaptable,” she said. “At times, despite your best efforts, there can be mistakes. You may get a syllable wrong when calling out hundreds of names. It’s best to acknowledge the error, apologise, fix it, and move on. “Regardless of the situation, you can’t panic. You cannot let your nervousness take over your job. Having composure as part of your skillset is a must.” Sagar swears by exercise and yoga to refuel quietude and strength of body and mind. “There’s nothing a downward dog or a headstand doesn’t fix,” she quipped. On auction eve, she retires early to avoid mental exhaustion during the all-important hours on the job the next day. The bedrock of a well-run auction, in her view, is being as even-keel as possible as an auctioneer, no matter the stature of the players on offer. “It’s important to present a newcomer with the same amount of energy as you would a star player,” she said. Among the other non-negotiables, Sagar places the utmost premium on knowing the subject – the order of the sets of players, similar to pieces of art. “You’ve got to pace out each name well and give it enough time,” she said. “Especially, when there’s a flurry of bids for them. “And when the frenzy slows down, give it a few seconds and ask the room, ‘Everybody sure? Last chance if you’d like to bid?’ Whether in art or cricket, rapid changes such as a last-minute raise of the paddle or a new entrant coming in are a given. It’s your job to factor them all in.” Has her preparation for the IPL auction been any different from the WPL’s? “No, because the basic formats are the same,” Sagar explained. “The key is to make sure you are familiar with the names. You don’t want to destroy someone’s name who’s coming up on a platform as prestigious as this – it’s their moment of glory, after all.” On Tuesday, as Sagar reels off over 300 such names, it will be as much her moment in the sun as
Iran points at Israeli-linked group as cyberattack disrupts fuel network
Tehran says Israel-linked Predatory Sparrow group is behind the disruption. A cyberattack has disrupted services at around 70 percent of Iran’s fuel stations, according to reports. The Israel-linked group Predatory Sparrow, or Gonjeshke Darande in Persian, claimed on Monday it was behind the disruption, according to Iranian state TV. Israel media outlets also reported the claim. “This cyberattack was carried out in a controlled manner to avoid potential damage to emergency services,” Predatory Sparrow said in its statement quoted by the Iranian media. A statement on the attack was shared from a new account with the group’s name opened in early December on X. Iran’s civil defence agency, which is responsible for the country’s cybersecurity, said it was still considering all possible causes for the disruptions as it investigated. Iranian state media added that the hacker group has in the past claimed cyberattacks against Iranian petrol stations, rail networks and steel factories. The fuel outages are the first such incident since 2021, when a major cyberattack in Iran disrupted the sale of fuel, causing long queues at stations across the country. Pump prices in Iran are heavily subsidised. Iran accused Israel and the United States of being behind those attacks. People wait at a gas station during gas station disruption in Tehran [Majid Asgaripour via Reuters] Stations operating manually The disruptions began early on Monday and were especially acute in Tehran. Many petrol stations have been forced to operate their pumps manually, Iranian media reported. “At least 30 percent of gas stations are working, with the rest gradually resolving the disruption in services,” Oil Minister Javad Owji said. Reza Navar, a spokesman for Iran’s fuel stations association, had told the semiofficial Fars news agency that a technical issue was behind the disruption. “A software problem with the fuel system has been confirmed in some stations across the country and experts are currently fixing the issue,” Navar said. Navar added that there was no fuel supply shortage but called on drivers to not go to fuel stations. The Ministry of Petroleum earlier told state TV that the disruption was not linked to plans to increase the price of fuel, a policy that caused widespread protests in 2019 and led to violent repression. State TV said petrol stations were seeking to provide fuel manually and that it would take at least six to seven hours to resolve the problems. Israel has not yet commented on the cyberattack. Israel’s unit on cyberattacks on Monday said Iran and Hezbollah were behind an attempted cyberattack on a hospital in northern Israel about three weeks ago. It said that the attack was thwarted but that the hackers were able to retrieve “some of the sensitive information stored in the hospital’s information systems”. Adblock test (Why?)
Why Chileans rejected conservative constitution, and what’s next?
Chileans on Sunday voted to reject a proposed conservative constitution, dismissing for the second time in a little over a year a replacement for the dictatorship-era charter. A progressive draft, which attempted to enshrine environmental protections and Indigenous rights, was rejected last September. The proposed constitution would have reinforced property rights and free-market principles. But the rejection wasn’t out of an abundance of love for the current document – which was seen as enabling some of the main structural issues dogging the South American nation. So, let’s take a look at the latest vote, why Chileans wanted to replace the current constitution, and what next. What was Sunday’s vote about? The proposed constitution was drafted by a committee dominated by the conservative Republican Party. Its tenets comprised reinforced property rights and free-market principles in addition to limits on immigration and abortion. After all the votes were counted, nearly 56 percent of Chileans were against the proposed constitution to replace the existing charter drafted during the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet, who oversaw the mass abduction and execution of his left-wing critics between 1973 and 1990. The country’s leftist president, Gabriel Boric, said the results showed that the country had become polarised and divided. “The country needs everyone,” Boric, who became Chile’s youngest-ever leader in 2021 at 35, said. What was the need for a new constitution? The three decades of democracy that replaced Pinochet’s rule have brought about political stability and economic growth, but rising inequality has frustrated many. Large-scale protests broke out in 2019, bringing students, pensioners, Indigenous peoples and women’s rights activists to the streets who were disillusioned with weak representation by traditional parties. They demanded a new constitution because policy changes were seen as unable to fully address their concerns. In October 2020, four out of every five Chileans voted for elected delegates to write a new constitution. Most of the 155 delegates were affiliated with the leftist political movement but were more closely aligned with social movements rather than established political parties. Many of them had never run for office before, let alone being elected. Half of them were women and 17 seats were dedicated to Indigenous representatives in line with parity rules. The result was a progressive text that mostly focused on social and economic rights, and also tried to improve gender equality and the environment. It was put to vote in September 2022, but was rejected even more resoundingly than Sunday’s text, with only close to 39 percent in favour. Almost all of the 15 million Chileans eligible are believed to have voted on both proposed texts as voting is mandatory. At the time, Chile found itself grappling with a worsening economic outlook and rising inflation amid the COVID-19 outbreak, and conservatives also used the opportunity to work against the proposed text, claiming it would, among other things, undermine property rights. [embedded content] Why was the new text rejected? “Unlike its predecessor, the new proposed constitution would move Chile to the right,” Jennifer Piscopo, a professor of gender and politics at the Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL), said. Piscopo said the text failed to reflect the views of most Chileans as it didn’t address underlying demands for greater social equality and economic opportunity that had sparked the constitutional process in the first place. The draft was tough on crime and immigration and did not create a framework for broader rights while it was seen as limiting hard-fought gains for women’s rights and LGBTQ rights. It was also rejected by Indigenous representatives. “By many accounts, this draft would have been more socially and economically conservative than the 1980 dictatorship-era constitution that Chileans are attempting to replace,” Piscopo said. “Still, the vote against the second draft does not necessarily mean that Chileans have clear or unified policy views for or against particular policy issues, whether it’s healthcare or abortion,” the RHUL professor said. “The two reject votes are as much expressions of discontent with what they perceive as unrepresentative processes as they are specific statements about policy.” Boris van der Spek, a Chile-based journalist, said the new text was too “radical” for Chileans, whose social and political needs are not being fully met and who remain divided between the political elite. “Chileans are fed up with their institutions and their politicians, so basically everything they propose gets rejected, regardless of whether it’s a right-wing or left-wing proposal,” he told Al Jazeera. He said the divide over Sunday’s vote was roughly the same as when Boric was elected with 55 percent of the vote, beating the candidate of the Republican Party that later devised the latest proposed constitution. “So, Chile is still divided over the same things, but the main reason [behind Sunday’s results] is that this proposal was just not adjusting to the reality of the Chileans,” said van der Spek. Chile voted today to reject the second proposed constitution, leaving in effect the current constitution that was drafted by Pinochet and has been amended ~50 times. Here are my observations from the field. 🧵 #PlebiscitoConstitucional2023 pic.twitter.com/XU26mZevTq — Dr. Sally Sharif (@Sally_Sharif1) December 18, 2023 Will there be another vote? President Boric had pledged before the vote that instead of opting for yet another vote, he would focus on long-term development. Another vote seems highly unlikely before his term ends in 2025. RHUL’s Piscopo said there’s voter fatigue and it’s unclear whether voters or political elites will have the appetite for yet another test at the ballots, but much will depend on the presidential election. “This election will likely pit Jose Antonio Kast, leader of the Partido Republicano, against a centrist or centre-left candidate. If the right wins the presidency and/or enough seats in Congress, they likely will enjoy enough veto power over regular political reform that they see no need to reopen the constitutional conversation,” she said. “If the left wins, they face more incentive to try – but will run up against voter fatigue, reducing the odds they can stir up sufficient
President el-Sisi declared victorious in Egypt election
DEVELOPING STORYDEVELOPING STORY, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has secured a third term as leader of the Middle East’s most populous nation, officials said, after the counting of votes in the election held on December 10 was finalised. Sisi won 89.6 percent of the vote, the National Elections Authority said on Monday. Polling had closed on Tuesday in Egypt after the three-day election in the Arab world’s most populous country. The vote, the result of which was in little doubt, took place as Egypt dealt with various crises, including the Israel-Hamas war in neighbouring Gaza and the country’s worst-ever economic crisis. The results strengthened Sisi’s power, which he took over after the 2013 overthrow of the country’s first popularly elected president, Mohamed Morsi. He was re-elected in 2018. In both previous elections he won with 97% of the vote. International monitors have criticised Egypt’s human rights record under Sisi’s rule, accusing the government of repressing political freedoms during a crackdown, in which rights groups say tens of thousands have been jailed. This is a developing story. More updates to follow. Adblock test (Why?)
Parliament Winter Session: 78 Opposition MPs, including 45 from Rajya Sabha, suspended
Earlier, 33 opposition MPs, including Congress leader Adhir Ranjan, TMC’s Saugata Roy and Kalyan Banerjee, and DMK’s TR Baalu, A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran were suspended from Lok Sabha for the remaining part of the winter session for “misconduct” and not obeying the directions of the Chair.