Thailand sees Chinese tourism soar as visa requirement dropped
Bangkok, Thailand – Bangkok’s Chinatown, lit up by red-lanterns and decorative banners to celebrate the Lunar New Year holidays, is bustling. As the region welcomed the Year of the Dragon last weekend, ethnic Chinese Thais thronged temples to light candles and pray for good fortune. Inside the glowing red interior of Wat Mangkon Kamalawat – the largest Chinese temple in Bangkok – women wore traditional cheongsam dresses and took photos with their loved ones. Outside, in the hustle and bustle of Yaowarat Road, lion dancers performed as visitors – Thais and legions of tourists – crowded the street, sampling the food and shopping from stalls in the market. Many were from China, with official figures showing hundreds of thousands of Chinese nationals chose to spend the holiday, which began on February 10, in Thailand where they no longer need to get a visa. “Destinations in Southeast Asia traditionally rely on a strong Lunar New Year holiday to kick-start the tourism calendar,” Gary Bowerman, a tourism analyst in Kuala Lumpur, told Al Jazeera. “Thailand has positioned itself astutely to capture outbound travel demand from China with its bilateral visa waiver and aggressive marketing into the Chinese market led by the prime minister. This resonates well with Chinese tourists and has encouraged Chinese airlines to add more capacity over [the] Chinese New Year.” A lion dance on the streets of Bangkok [Tommy Walker/Al Jazeera] Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin started his push to lure more arrivals from China in September when he announced a temporary visa waiver for Chinese tourists. The short-term agreement soon became permanent after Thailand and China signed an indefinite mutual visa exemption for their nationals to visit each other’s country starting from March 1. Nithee Seeprae, deputy governor for marketing at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, says Chinese arrivals have been encouraging. “It’s very exciting and [a] successful Chinese New Year, and it is a positive sign for the new visa waiver between China and Thailand because it brings more confidence for the Chinese tourists,” he told Al Jazeera. “Now we got 27-28,000 tourists [arriving each day] since the 1st of February, it is almost back to normal before Covid. Last year, at the same time, it was 7-8,000. Last month 500,000 [China visitors arrived].” Thailand’s government spokesman Chai Wacharonke said on Saturday that four million tourists had arrived in the country from January 1 to February 8, including more than 730,000 Chinese. Based on Nithee’s approximate figures, Chinese arrivals could reach one million by the end of the month. “We have promotions with online travel agents, and [we] coordinate with normal travel agents to create a roadshow in the big cities in China. Also, the flights are back to 90 percent [capacity] like before the pandemic because of the visa waiving. We [are trying] to coordinate with influencers and key opinion leaders from China to create the content experience in Thailand,” he added. More initiatives planned Phuket, in southern Thailand, has seen an influx of arrivals in recent weeks. Yaowarat Road in Bangkok’s Chinatown is packed with food stalls and shops [Tommy Walker/Al Jazeera] The island hotspot is expected to welcome 49,000 tourists a day through the international airport during the Chinese New Year period until February 16, according to local media. The festival falls in the middle of Thailand’s high season, which usually runs from November to March, and is a major holiday for mainland China. Ranjeet Viswanathan, the director of sales and marketing at the luxury Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort, said occupancy was even higher than many had hoped. “This year has started with a bang. Every hotel has seen better-than-expected results in January and this continues in February. Our hotel has been doing over 92 percent in occupancy since January 1,” he told Al Jazeera. Chinese tourists make up about 12 percent of the resort’s business and the number of travellers in 2024 so far is five percent higher than a year ago. According to the Chinese calendar, 2024 is the Year of the Wood Dragon, which can be a time for new ideas, projects and prosperity. Chinese visitors have long been crucial to the Thai travel industry, but even with the jump in arrivals, the numbers remain well below 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic. In that year, Chinese visitors made up more than 11 million of the record 39 million tourists who visited Thailand. Last year, there were more than 3.5 million Chinese arrivals, but that still fell short of the five million predicted by Thai officials. Experts put the lower-than-expected numbers down to China’s own economic issues and domestic travel trends. The mass shooting in a Bangkok shopping mall in September that killed one Chinese national, and the release of the Chinese blockbuster movie No More Bets, a film depicting scams in Southeast Asia, may have also played a part. The Thai government under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has introduced visa-free travel for Chinese tourists [File: Sakchai Lalit/AP Photo] But the recent surge of Chinese visitors to Thailand shows China’s outbound travel is recovering, according to Bowerman, the tourism analyst. “Strong demand for travel to Thailand from China in the first two months of 2024 suggests that this year will be very different for outbound travel from China compared to 2023,” he said. Thai tourism officials have forecast more than eight million arrivals from China by the end of 2024. The tourism authority’s Nithee is already working on luring more visitors from China and is in talks to arrange new flight routes from China into Thai cities including Udon Thani in the northeast and Hat Yai in the south. He is optimistic Thailand is on track to meet its arrivals target by the end of the year. “It is really promising. We have to keep an eye on these situations and get more confidence for tourists and do more promotion,” he added. Adblock test (Why?)
Montana conservative firebrand withdraws from Senate race after Trump endorses opponent
Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., suspended his bid for the Montana Senate on Thursday, telling Fox News Trump was a factor that led to his decision. Rosendale, a notable conservative firebrand, announced he was running for Senate last Friday, in an effort to unseat Democrat Sen. Jon Tester. Just six days later, Rosendale has withdrawn from the race as his bid stirred up the state’s Republican primary race where he was going to be challenging former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy for the nomination. Sheehy, a first-time candidate, gained endorsements from Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., Gov. Greg Gianforte, and former President Donald Trump. CONSERVATIVE FIREBRAND ANNOUNCES RUN FOR KEY BATTLEGROUND SENATE RACE BEING TARGETED BY DEMS “…with Trump endorsing my opponent and the lack of resources, the hill was just too steep,” Rosendale said. “I spoke with Sen. Daines earlier this week and we both agree that this is the best path forward for Republicans to regain the majority in the U.S. Senate.” Rosendale said he planned to run for Senate and to win both the primary and general election, but the same day he announced his bid, Trump announced his endorsement of Sheehy. FORMER NAVY SEAL SAYS DEMS MEDDLING IN HIS SENATE RACE ‘TO DISTRICT MONTANA VOTERS’ FROM ‘TWO-FACED’ OPPONENT Despite not getting the endorsement, Rosendale said he will continue to be a supporter of Trump. When he did not get the endorsement, he had to calculate his chances of winning without a Trump endorsement. “This race was already going to be tough, as I was fighting against Mitch McConnell and the rest of the Republican establishment in Washington,” he said. “But I felt like I could beat them, as the voters do not agree with them choosing who would be the next U.S. Senator from Montana.” DONALD TRUMP ENDORSES ‘AMERICAN HERO’ TIM SHEEHY IN BATTLEGROUND SENATE RACE Rosendale added he would be back home in Montana with his family over the next few days to consider what he will pursue next. Sheehy turned to social media after learning the news of his opponent’s withdraw from the race. “Matt, Montana is grateful for your service and for showing Washington, D.C. what it means to hold the line on reckless spending,” Sheehy said in a post on X. “I know working together, we’ll win this race and defeat Jon Tester.”
Fox News Politics: Judge and fury
Welcome to Fox News’ Politics newsletter with the latest political news from Washington D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail. What’s Happening? – Fulton County DA Fani Willis shocks in raucous courtroom testimony – Date set for first Trump criminal trial – Nearly half of Americans think Biden should be replaced as Dem nominee Embattled Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis took the stand to testify against allegations she had an “improper” affair with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, which could derail her case against former President Donald Trump. Willis was notably agitated and at points raised her voice during a raucous several hours of testimony. At one point, Willis held up a printed copy the allegations against her in both hands and turned to the judge yelling, “it is a lie!” Willis also called defense attorney Ashleigh Merchan’s interests “contrary to democracy.” Judge Scott McAfee presiding over the proceeding, called for a five-minute recess at one point. When court was back in session he told lawyers to stop “talking over each other” and cautioned Willis, saying: “We have to listen to the questions as asked. And if this happens again and again, I’m going to have no choice but to strike your testimony.” Willis is expected back on the stand Friday for further testimony. Trump had his own courtroom drama Thursday. He appeared in a Manhattan court for a pretrial hearing in the criminal “hush-money” case against him, where the judge set a date for the beginning of the first trial on criminal charges. The trial is set to start March 25, a few weeks after Super Tuesday but before the end of the GOP primary. Trump said he would be campaigning in the evening after attending the trial. “I’ll be here during the day and I’ll be campaigning during the night. Biden should be doing the same thing but he’ll be sleeping,” Trump said outside the courtroom. ‘BADLY TAINTED’: Trump reacts to dramatic Fani Willis testimony …Read more ROMNEY FOR VP?: Sen. Joe Manchin floats potential running mates in hypothetical third party presidential bid …Read more EXTRA AMMUNITION: Haley takes aim at Trump as trial of former president to start next month …Read more ONE YEAR LATER: Haley’s final stand against Trump? …Read more GUN CONTROL: Biden, Harris call for gun control in separate comments after deadly shooting at Kansas City Chiefs’ parade …Read more ‘DEFERRED ENFORCED DEPARTURE’: White House announces Palestinians will be protected from deportation …Read more HUR TO TESTIFY: Special counsel to appear before House committee after report revealing Biden memory issues …Read more DOUBLING DOWN: Sen. JD Vance’s office spars with Pence group over ‘impeachment time bomb’ in foreign aid bill …Read more ‘ILL ADVISED’: Cotton demands information from DOD on contract with Chinese-owned company …Read more TAKING TIME: Republican Speaker Johnson on $95B Ukraine, Israel bill: House will not be ‘rushed’ …Read more SHUTTING IT DOWN: Capitol Police arrest pro-Palestinian demonstrators inside Cannon House Office Building …Read more ‘SLUSH FUND’: GOP lawmaker reveals how he will target progressives to pay for foreign aid package …Read more 2024 SUCCESSION?: Nearly half of Americans think Biden could be replaced as Dem nominee: poll …Read more ‘POISED TO ATTACK’: FBI Director Wray warns allies of hacking by Chinese proxy groups …Read more EYES IN SPACE: US launches missile detection satellites into orbit amid concerns about Russian weapons …Read more ALABAMA VOTES: After LGBTQ lecture, Alabama Senate votes for more oversight of Department of Archives and History …Read more ‘ESTABLISH THE RECORD’: Testimony to begin on possible da Fani Willis disqualification …Read more TRUMP IN COURT: Trump to appear in New York City court for hearing in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg case …Read more Subscribe now to get Fox News Politics newsletter in your inbox. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
FBI informant charged with giving false information about Hunter Biden in 2020
Special Counsel David Weiss has charged an FBI informant with giving false information after he alleged that Joe Biden and Hunter Biden were paid millions in exchange for their help firing the Ukrainian prosecutor who was investigating the Ukrainian energy firm Burisma Holdings, according to court documents unsealed Thursday. Alexander Smirnov, 43, is charged with making a false statement and creating a false and fictitious record during FBI interviews. Prosecutors say Smirnov was arrested at the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada Wednesday after a federal grand jury returned an indictment. He was scheduled to appear in federal court in the District of Nevada later Thursday. According to the indictment, Smirnov gave “false derogatory information” to the FBI despite “repeated admonishments that he must provide truthful information and that he must not fabricate evidence.” The indictment says Smirnov told an FBI agent in March 2017 that he had a phone call with Burisma’s owner concerning the firm potentially acquiring a U.S. company and making an initial public offering (IPO) on a U.S.-based stock exchange. In reporting this conversation to the FBI agent, Smirnov said Hunter Biden was a board member of Burisma, though this was publicly known. BIDEN, NOT SPECIAL COUNSEL HUR, BROUGHT UP SON’S DEATH IN QUESTIONING In June 2020, Smirnov is accused of having told the FBI, for the first time, about two meetings he had four to five years prior, in which executives associated with Burisma supposedly admitted that they hired Hunter Biden to “protect us, through his dad, from all kinds of problems.” During this meeting, the indictment alleges that Smirnov said the executives paid $5 million to each of the Bidens while Joe Biden was still in office. The indictment alleges that Smirnov falsely claimed the Bidens were paid so that Hunter Biden, with his dad’s help, could take care of a criminal investigation being conducted by the then-Ukrainian Prosecutor General, Viktor Shokin, into Burisma. The indictment alleges that this information given by Smirnov in June 2020 was a fabrication. Prosecutors say Smirnov did have contact with Burisma executives in 2017, but when Joe Biden was out of public office and had no ability to influence U.S. policy and after the Ukrainian Prosecutor General had been fired in February 2016. The indictment alleges that Smirnov transformed his “routine and unextraordinary” business contacts with Burisma in 2017 and later bribery allegations against Joe Biden after expressing bias against him and his presidential candidacy. FBI DIRECTOR SAYS CHINESE HACKERS ARE ‘POISED TO ATTACK’ AS INFILTRATIONS REACH ‘FEVER PITCH’ Smirnov is accused of repeating some of his false claims during an interview with FBI agents in September 2023, while changing other bits of information, and promoting a new false narrative after claiming to have met with Russian officials. If convicted, Smirnov faces a maximum of 25 years in prison. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley were approached by a whistleblower last summer who alleged that the FBI was in possession of a document — an FD-1023 form, dated June 30, 2020 — which explicitly detailed information provided by a confidential human source alleging Biden, while serving as vice president, was involved in a multi-million-dollar scheme with a foreign national in exchange for influence over policy decisions. The source told Fox News Digital that the confidential human source was used by the FBI for “at least several years” before the FD-1023 form, and was “found to be highly credible” by the FBI. Comer said Thursday that FBI Director Christopher Wray refused a request from him and Grassley last summer for the public release of the form because the bureau “claimed it would jeopardize the safety of a confidential human source who they claimed was invaluable to the FBI.” Comer said the bureau informed him that the source was “credible and trusted, had worked with the FBI for over a decade, and have been paid six figures.” “The FBI’s actions in this matter are very concerning. The FBI had this form for years and it appears they did nothing to verify the troubling claims contained within the record until Congress became aware of and demanded access to them,” Comer said. Comer said the FBI’s FD-1023 form is not being used in an impeachment inquiry against the president. The impeachment inquiry, he said, “is based on a large record of evidence, including bank records and witness testimony, revealing that Joe Biden knew of and participated in his family’s business dealings.” “Just this week, we had another witness confirm Joe Biden was the brand being sold by the Bidens around the world. President Biden continues to lie to the American people about this matter and the American people demand the truth and accountability for any wrongdoing. We will continue to follow the facts to propose legislation to reform federal ethics laws and to determine whether articles of impeachment are warranted.” The FBI declined to comment when reached by Fox News Digital.
Trump calls ‘badly tainted’ Fulton County case ‘a scam’ after DA Fani Willis’ courtroom drama
EXCLUSIVE: Former President Trump says the charges against him Fulton County, Georgia, “have to be dropped,” telling Fox News Digital that the case is a “scam” while District Attorney Fani Willis testified publicly about an allegedly “improper” affair she had with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. Willis took the stand in Georgia Thursday to defend her relationship with Wade, whom she hired in 2021 to help prosecute the former president in a sweeping racketeering case related to the 2020 election. Trump co-defendant Michael Roman alleged in court filings last month that Willis should be disqualified from the case, claiming that she financially benefited from hiring Wade because of their personal relationship. Both Willis and Wade confirmed their relationship under oath in court Thursday, but testified that the romantic involvement began in early 2022 after Wade’s contract in the Trump case began. JUDGE WARNS FANI WILLIS OVER OUTBURSTS IN HEATED TESTIMONY “There is no case here,” Trump told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview during Willis’ testimony. “It is so badly tainted. There is no case here. There was a perfect phone call. It was perfect. But by going after Trump, she’s able to get her boyfriend more money than they ever dreamed possible.” Trump blasted Willis as “disgraced.” “The case will have to be dropped,” he told Fox News Digital. “There’s no way they can have a case. The whole thing was a scam to get money for the boyfriend.” Trump said the case is another example of “election interference,” pointing to Wade’s trips to the White House. “This all comes out of the White House. Don’t forget Wade, the lover, he spent hours at the White House,” Trump said. “This is all a weaponization of politics.” He added: “It’s all about trying to stop somebody who is killing them in the polls, and it is a sad thing to watch for our country.” Trump said charges brought against him are just “a weaponization of law enforcement.” “And you’re seeing it now because they got caught,” he said. “The two lovers got caught.” But Trump said the Fulton County case, like the others in separate jurisdictions, are “all the same.” “This is a total breakdown of law and order and a total breakdown of justice — it is weaponization at a level that nobody’s seen before. Nobody’s seen anything like this,” Trump told Fox News Digital. Willis charged Trump out of her investigation into his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in the state. Trump was charged with one count of violation of the Georgia RICO Act, three counts of criminal solicitation, six counts of criminal conspiracy, one count of filing false documents and two counts of making false statements. He pleaded not guilty to all counts. Fulton County prosecutors have proposed that the trial begin on Aug. 5. Trump spent Thursday morning in a New York City courtroom for a hearing related to charges related to alleged hush-money payments brought against him by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. New York Judge Juan Merchan denied Trump’s request to dismiss the case altogether, and scheduled the trial to begin on March 25 in New York City. Trump pleaded not guilty to all 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. Meanwhile, on Friday, New York Judge Arthur Engoron is expected to hand down his ruling in the trial stemming from New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit against Trump, his family and his business empire. GEORGIA WHISTLEBLOWERS LINING UP TO TESTIFY AGAINST FULTON COUNTY DA FANI WILLIS, STATE LAWMAKER SAYS James sued Trump, his family and his business empire, claiming he inflated his financial statements and deceived banks. Trump has denied any wrongdoing. The former president has repeatedly said his assets were actually undervalued. Trump has repeatedly said his financial statements had disclaimers, requesting that the numbers be evaluated by the banks. “Letitia James is worse than this one,” Trump said, referring to Willis. “Letitia James campaigned on ‘I will get Trump’—that’s a bigger scam than this one.” “We’re definitely gonna sue him, we’re gonna be a real pain in the a–,” James once told a supporter on video. James also once said Trump was an “existential threat,” and said “the No. 1 issue in this country is defeating Donald Trump.” “Nothing else matters,” James said. Trump told Fox News Digital that the judge, Engoron, will “do whatever Letitia James wants.” “This has nothing to do with the law,” Trump said. “It has to do with politics.” Trump also pointed to the ruling last month in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case, which requires him to pay Carroll more than $83 million in damages after he denied allegations he raped her in the 1990s. Trump was never charged with rape. “A woman that I have absolutely no idea—I have never heard of her— and she is getting $90 million?” Trump said. “We were abused in that case by a bully judge— a Democrat. And that’s another one— this is all the same stuff.” Trump then pointed to “Deranged” Special Counsel Jack Smith, who charged him in two separate cases, in two separate jurisdictions—one related to 2020 election and Jan. 6 in Washington D.C., and another related to his retention of classified records in Florida. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges. “It’s all corrupt stuff. It is all politics–using the law to try to stop a party that is substantially ahead, and a particular person that’s substantially ahead in every poll—including against Biden,” Trump told Fox News Digital. “This is all meant to stop me.”
Public utilities regulator and third Republican enters race for North Dakota’s lone U.S. House seat
A longtime public utilities regulator announced her candidacy on Thursday for North Dakota’s lone U.S. House seat. Republican Julie Fedorchak has sat on the state’s three-member Public Service Commission since 2013. She has won three statewide elections, most recently in 2022 with over 71% of the vote. NORTH DAKOTA LT. GOV. TAMMY MILLER ENTERS GUBERNATORIAL BID AGAINST CONGRESSMAN Fedorchak told a crowded room of Republican state officials, lawmakers and party faithful at GOP headquarters in Bismarck that she would focus on energy, agriculture and the country’s financial well-being. She said she would like to serve on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, using her knowledge from her work on the regulatory panel “to help rein in runaway agencies and support energy policies that recognize the fundamental role energy plays in public safety, our economy and national security.” “The simple principles we follow in North Dakota that work well across our state government are the same fundamentals that will help us overcome the mountain of challenges our nation faces,” Fedorchak said. North Dakota has an open race for its House seat because Republican Rep. Kelly Armstrong, first elected in 2018, is running for governor. Other Republican House candidates include former state representative Rick Becker, a plastic surgeon, and former state senator Tom Campbell, a potato farmer. Democrat Trygve Hammer, a military veteran, also is running. A Democrat hasn’t won a statewide election in North Dakota since 2012. North Dakota’s dominant Republican Party will endorse candidates for statewide offices and congressional seats at its convention in April in Fargo. Voters in the June primary election will nominate candidates for November. Fedorchak told reporters she intends to seek the GOP endorsement at the convention but will run in the primary. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP If elected, she would be the first woman to represent North Dakota in the U.S. House.
In her reelection bid, Rep. Shawn Thierry tests whether Democrats will tolerate anti-LGBTQ votes
The Houston Democrat voted for three anti-LGBTQ bills last year, which could make her more vulnerable as she fights for reelection.
Wisconsin lawmakers weigh crackdowns on AI-generated political ads, child porn
Wisconsin lawmakers were set to vote Thursday on proposals to regulate artificial intelligence, joining a growing number of states grappling with how to control the technology as November’s elections loom. The Assembly was scheduled to vote on a bipartisan measure to require political candidates and groups to include disclaimers in ads that use AI technology. Violators would face a $1,000 fine. More than half a dozen organizations have registered in support of the proposal, including the League of Women Voters and the state’s newspaper and broadcaster associations. No groups have registered against the measure. SOUTH DAKOTA BILLS CRIMINALIZING AI CHILD PORN, XYLAZINE, HEAD TO NOEM’S DESK Another Republican-authored proposal up for a floor vote in the Assembly would make producing and possessing child pornography produced with AI technology a felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Current state law already makes producing and possessing child pornography a felony with a 25-year maximum sentence, but the statutes don’t address digital representations of children. No groups have registered against the bill. A third bill on the Assembly calendar calls for auditors to review how state agencies use AI. The measure also would give agencies until 2030 to develop a plan to reduce their positions. By 2026, the agencies would have to report to legislators which positions AI could help make more efficient and report their progress. The bill doesn’t lay out any specific workforce reduction goals and doesn’t explicitly call for replacing state employees with AI. Republican Rep. Nate Gustafson said Thursday that the goal is to find efficiencies in the face of worker shortages and not replace human beings. “That’s flat out false,” Gustafson said of claims the bills are designed to replace humans with AI technology. AI can include a host of different technologies, ranging from algorithms recommending what to watch on Netflix to generative systems such as ChatGPT that can aid in writing or create new images or other media. The surge of commercial investment in generative AI tools has generated public fascination and concerns about their ability to trick people and spread disinformation. States across the U.S. have taken steps to regulate AI within the last two years. Overall, at least 25 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia introduced artificial intelligence bills last year alone. NEW HAMPSHIRE AG TRACES ROBOCALLS WITH ‘AI-GENERATED CLONE’ OF BIDEN’S VOICE BACK TO TEXAS-BASED COMPANIES Legislatures in Texas, North Dakota, West Virginia and Puerto Rico have created advisory bodies to study and monitor AI systems their state agencies are using. Louisiana formed a new security committee to study AI’s impact on state operations, procurement and policy. The Federal Communications Commission earlier this month outlawed robocalls using AI-generated voices. The move came in the wake of AI-generated robocalls that mimicked President Joe Biden’s voice to discourage voting in New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary in January. Sophisticated generative AI tools, from voice-cloning software to image generators, already are in use in elections in the U.S. and around the world. Last year, as the U.S. presidential race got underway, several campaign advertisements used AI-generated audio or imagery, and some candidates experimented with using AI chatbots to communicate with voters. The Biden administration issued guidelines for using AI technology in 2022 but they include mostly far-reaching goals and aren’t binding. Congress has yet to pass any federal legislation regulating AI in political campaigns.
Defense Secretary Austin says US, NATO prepared to defend ‘every inch’ of territory of member states
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday reaffirmed NATO’s mission to defend “every inch” of territory of its members as Russia continues to pose a threat despite being bogged down in a war with Ukraine. The remarks came as NATO defense ministers met in Brussels to discuss a range of issues, including Moscow’s invasion and how to further strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defense. “The United States will continue to stand with our NATO allies and to defend the sovereignty and the territory of every alliance member — every inch of it, as President Biden has repeatedly made clear. Our commitment to Article Five remains ironclad,” Austin said in a statement. NATO ALLIANCE TO EXCLUDE UKRAINE FROM UPCOMING SUMMER SUMMIT, US AMBASSADOR SAYS Article Five refers to the notion that an attack on a NATO member is considered an attack on all members. Defense spending among the 31 NATO member states has been a point of contention. Each nation has pledged to spend 2% of its GDP on defense. In 2014, only three successfully hit that target. This year, 18 are expected to, said NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg. “Since the Investment Pledge was made in 2014, European Allies and Canada have added more than $600 billion US dollars for defense,” he said Wednesday. “So we are making real progress.” THE ANTI-US AXIS OF CYBER CHAOS OF RUSSIA, CHINA, IRAN AND NORTH KOREA IS UNDERWAY AND BIDEN NEEDS TO ACT Former President Trump has railed against NATO members for not contributing their fair share to military spending and, instead, relying on the U.S. for assistance. While addressing supporters on Saturday at a rally in Conway, South Carolina, Trump recalled his time as president when he told an unidentified NATO member that he would withhold U.S. support and encourage Russia to do as it wishes. “‘You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent?’” Trump recalled saying. “‘No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills.’” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In response, Stoltenberg warned against the dangers of dividing the U.S. and Europe. “Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the U.S., and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk,” he said. Austin said the U.S. and its allies are prepared to stand by Ukraine “for the long haul” and for NATO allies. “America’s network of allies and partners worldwide — built and sustained by wise administrations of both parties in the decades since the nightmare of World War II — remains a core strategic strength that no rival can match and that none should doubt,” he said.
White House says Russian tech is not something used to attack humans or cause physical destruction on Earth
White House national security advisor John Kirby told reporters that a national security threat brought forward by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, R-Ohio, is related to an anti-satellite capability Russia is developing, though he dodged many questions regarding the classified information. Fox News later learned that the intelligence related to Russian nuclear capabilities in space which could threaten satellites, including potentially knocking out U.S. military communications and reconnaissance. On Wednesday, Turner released a statement saying that “the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has made available to all Members of Congress information concerning a serious national threat.” In the letter, Turner requested Biden declassify all information relating to the threat so that Congress, the Administration and U.S. allies can openly discuss the actions needed to respond to the threat. HOUSE INTEL CHAIR TURNER WARNS OF ‘SERIOUS NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT,’ URGES BIDEN TO DECLASSIFY Kirby addressed the threat during a White House press briefing Thursday, saying the anti-satellite capability Russia is developing is not active and has not been deployed. While Russia’s pursuit of the capability is “troubling,” he said, there is no threat to anyone’s safety. “We are not talking about a weapon that can be used to attack human beings or cause physical destruction here on Earth,” Kirby told reporters. “That said, we’ve been closely monitoring this Russian activity and will continue to take it very seriously.” BIDEN’S MEMORY STRUGGLES COULD IMPERIL NATIONAL SECURITY, DEFENSE EXPERTS WARN: ‘NOT ONLY WEAK BUT CONFUSED’ Biden has reportedly been fully informed of the situation by his national security team and has directed a series of actions, including briefings for congressional leaders, and direct diplomatic engagement with Russia, U.S. allies, partners and other countries that have interests at stake. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was expected to meet with House leadership and committee chairs to brief them on the latest analysis of the Russian pursuit. Kirby also said the Senate will be briefed on the matter when they are back in session on Feb. 25. “We make decisions about how and when to publicly disclose intelligence in a careful, deliberate and strategic way, in a way that we choose,” he said. “We’re not going to be knocked off that process regardless of what, in this particular case, has found its way into the public domain. I can assure you that we will continue to keep members of Congress, as well as our international partners and all of you and the American people, as fully informed as possible.” US LAUNCHES MISSILE-DETECTING SATELLITES INTO ORBIT AS CONCERNS ABOUT RUSSIA IN SPACE GROW As to the type of technology, Kirby said intelligence officials are analyzing the information available and could not speak specifically to it, only to say it is not an active capability and has not yet been deployed. He was pushed on whether the information was approved by the Biden administration, as an hour before the press briefing the Intelligence Committee put out a notice saying the language had been approved by the administration. “If there’s a presumption here that somehow the administration gave a green light for this information to get public yesterday…that is false. That did not happen,” Kirby said. “We were eventually going to get to a point where we were going to be able to share it with the American people, and we still will as appropriate. As I said in my opening statement, we’ll keep you informed as we can.” Kirby told reporters any anti-satellite capability should be of concern because there are private and public satellites circling Earth every day, assisting with communications, transportation and more. He explained that any potential possibility to take out a satellite that provides services to the people of Earth should be of concern to anyone. Kirby also pointed out that astronauts in low orbits could be at risk from anti-satellite capability, putting human lives at risk. On Thursday, the U.S. launched multiple satellites capable of detecting global missile launches into orbit, less than a day after Turner raised concerns of Russia’s space-based weapons capability. The launch, overseen by billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX, includes six satellites in total. Two belong to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and four others are with the Space Development Agency (SDA). Anders Hagstrom and Brooke Singman of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.