GRAND FORKS — The latest defense authorization bill expands mental health care access for North Dakota’s military service members and adds new provisions for countering threats posed by unmanned drones. Those are among the provisions touted by North Dakota’s two U.S. senators in the annual National Defense Authorization Act. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law Monday after it passed by divided votes in the House and Senate. ADVERTISEMENT Language in the latest NDAA includes an order to establish a counter-UAS task force combatting drone incursions onto U.S. military bases and several provisions for current service members’ mental health care, including measures singling out pilots of U.S. combat drones. Drone incursions have been reported in recent weeks over U.S. military bases in England and Germany, while residents of several eastern states have reported seeing numerous unidentified lighted drones flying overhead, though U.S. officials say most of the latter incidents have been manned aircraft. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said the NDAA “helps formalize what (the Defense Department) is already doing” to combat unwanted drone use, citing the counter-UAS goals of Project ULTRA and ongoing efforts to integrate drones into U.S. airspace at the Northern Plains UAS Test Site. Project ULTRA — which stands for UAS logistics, traffic, research and autonomy — seeks to boost national security and operational efficiency of unmanned aerial system operations. “The interesting thing about Grand Forks is we’ve built an ecosystem where, I’ve talked about us being the tip of the spear against China; we’re the tip of the spear in developing drone and counter-drone,” Hoeven said. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., has championed a provision that expands the number of mental health providers certified under military health insurance provider TRICARE. Cramer said he pushed for the expanded access in response to a pair of suicides among Grand Forks Air Force Base personnel in the past several years. “The standards to join TRICARE are so stringent now, they don’t take into account that some states like North Dakota only have certain accreditations and certifications that are available to them,” Cramer said. “If you don’t get the right credential — it’s not that it’s a better credential, just the right one — your providers don’t meet the standard for TRICARE.” ADVERTISEMENT He’s also pushed for a provision creating a combat status identifier for pilots of remotely piloted aircraft involved in combat operations. Cramer cited as inspiration the 119th Wing of the North Dakota National Guard, which flies MQ-9 Reaper unmanned planes. “Our remote pilots are treated differently when it comes to things like PTSD potential or depression or mental health challenges as the result of, say, a kill shot,” he said. “I wanted to make sure the remote pilots are given the same type of consideration as somebody that’s in the cockpit of an airplane.” This year’s NDAA also authorizes $1.9 million in planning and design funding for maintenance on Grand Forks Air Force Base’s runway — one of Cramer’s pet projects — and reauthorization for the Space Development Agency’s mission, including its recently-established Operations Center North at Grand Forks Air Force Base. Hoeven said his office is working to appropriate another $450 million toward an advanced fire control system built off the SDA’s network of low-Earth orbit satellites. Other North Dakota-specific provisions in this year’s NDAA include authorization for funding to update the UH-72 Lakota helicopters used by the North Dakota National Guard and funding authorization to modernize Minot Air Force Base’s nuclear capabilities. Policy measures, like more provider options for mental health care or the counter-UAS task force, became law with the passage of the NDAA. ADVERTISEMENT However, NDAA provisions that require funding — like nuclear modernization or the runway study — will need to pass in a separate defense appropriations bill. “An authorization just says that it’s approved,” Hoeven explained. “In defense appropriations, we allocate the dollars to do it, and if we don’t provide those dollars for the NDAA, for those authorizations or programs, then obviously they don’t advance.” The federal government is currently operating at last year’s funding levels via a continuing resolution set to expire in March. Congress will have to attempt to pass a defense appropriations bill before then or pass another continuing resolution. The NDAA usually passes with significant bipartisan support. This year, however, the bill passed with significant dissent from both House and Senate Democrats after a last-minute amendment by House Speaker Mike Johnson added language barring TRICARE from covering some gender-affirming care for transgender children of service members. Both Hoeven and Cramer expressed support for Johnson’s amendment, which blocks gender-affirming care “that could result in sterilization” — though medical professionals say hormone therapy (like puberty blockers) generally does not cause infertility. Cramer said providing gender-affirming care did not support military readiness and dismissed concerns about the mental health impact of denying that care to minors. “(The amendment) has a much lower priority than caring for people who are stressed out by the fact that they’re a warfighter,” he said. “We need them to be healthy, we need them to be ready for war, and puberty blockers, gender-affirming care, just simply don’t do either of those things.” ADVERTISEMENT Hoeven said gender-affirming care was hurting military readiness and recruiting and decried providing gender-affirming care as a “social experiment,” a phrase also used by Cramer. President-elect Donald Trump is widely expected to reinstate a ban on transgender service members in the U.S. Armed Forces, as he did in his first administration. North Dakota’s U.S. senators also dismissed concerns that the Johnson provision could affect bipartisanship or productivity in the next Congress. The Senate ultimately passed the NDAA 85-15, while less than half of the House’s Democrats supported the act. More Democrats attacked Johnson’s last-minute addition while saying they felt compelled to vote for the broader bill. “I’m hopeful Democrats will come around and join us with what we’ve always done with our military, which is support our professional, great men and women in uniform who do such an outstanding job, not a bunch of social policies that shouldn’t be in there,” Hoeven said. He also said he expects the embattled House speaker, who holds one of the smallest House majorities in history, to be reelected next year. ADVERTISEMENT Cramer called this year’s NDAA a loss for the political left but said he “wouldn’t read a whole lot” into the dissent, pointing out the bill had continued its decades-long streak of passing into law despite partisan gridlock. The 118th Congress, which ends Jan. 3, has been called one of the least productive Congresses in decades, and is by some counts the least productive in U.S. history.As the Syrian conflict continues to unfold, the impact on refugees and the heightened terrorism risk remain critical concerns that require ongoing attention and action. The international community must remain vigilant, proactive, and united in addressing the complex challenges emanating from the Syrian crisis to ensure the well-being and security of populations affected by the conflict.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says a new chapter for Syria can begin that's free of terrorism and suffering for its people. In a social media post on X on Sunday, Trudeau said the fall of the Assad dictatorship "ends decades of brutal oppression." Syrian President Bashar Assad fled the country on Sunday and is now reported to be in Moscow, bringing to a dramatic close his nearly 14-year struggle to hold onto control as his country fragmented in a brutal civil war. The toppling of Assad comes after opposition forces entered the Syrian capital of Damascus, ending half a century of rule by his family. Trudeau said Canada is monitoring the transition closely, and he urged "order, stability, and respect for human rights." Ottawa is urging Canadians to avoid all travel to Syria and to consider leaving the country if it's safe to do so. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre told a news conference on Sunday that Assad "was a puppet for the tyrants of Tehran." "He has carried out genocides against the Sunni people in his own country, and now he appears to have been toppled," Poilievre said in Ottawa. Poilievre said it's unknown who will replace Assad, adding it isn't Canada's fight and that he doesn't believe Canada should get involved. "We should stand with our allies, including Israel, against the terrorists. We should focus on protecting our own country." Ottawa describes the security situation as volatile, and said the Damascus and Aleppo airports as well as some border crossings are closed. An updated travel advisory from the Canadian government warns people to avoid the Middle Eastern country due to what it calls "ongoing armed conflict, terrorism, criminality, arbitrary detention, torture and forced disappearance." Canada has urged its citizens to leave Syria since November 2011, and its embassy in Damascus suspended its operations in 2012. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2024. — With files from The Associated Press. The Canadian PressFLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein will be activated from injured reserve and will play against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich announced Friday that Zuerlein is returning after missing seven games with a knee injury to his left, non-kicking leg. He had been shaky before the injury, but the Jets have since been unsettled at the position, with Riley Patterson, Spencer Shrader and Anders Carlson all filling in. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Algert Global LLC lifted its position in Tiptree Inc. ( NASDAQ:TIPT – Free Report ) by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 47,629 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 570 shares during the period. Algert Global LLC’s holdings in Tiptree were worth $932,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Copeland Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Tiptree during the 3rd quarter valued at $56,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Tiptree during the second quarter worth about $48,000. Quest Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Tiptree in the third quarter worth about $149,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company purchased a new position in Tiptree during the 2nd quarter valued at about $176,000. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC increased its holdings in Tiptree by 98.5% during the 3rd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 12,541 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $245,000 after purchasing an additional 6,223 shares during the period. 37.78% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, StockNews.com lowered Tiptree from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Tiptree Trading Up 1.3 % NASDAQ:TIPT opened at $22.79 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $20.52 and a 200-day moving average price of $18.81. Tiptree Inc. has a 12 month low of $14.96 and a 12 month high of $24.09. The stock has a market cap of $844.51 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.49 and a beta of 1.30. Tiptree Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 25th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 18th were given a dividend of $0.06 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 18th. This represents a $0.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.05%. Tiptree’s payout ratio is 24.74%. Tiptree Profile ( Free Report ) Tiptree Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides specialty insurance products and related services primarily in the United States. It operates through two segments: Insurance and Mortgage. The company offers niche; commercial lines insurance products, including professional liability, general liability, contractual liability protection, property and other short-tail, and alternative risks insurance products; and personal lines insurance products, such as credit protection surrounding loan payments. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TIPT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Tiptree Inc. ( NASDAQ:TIPT – Free Report ). 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CWTI Provides Revised Update on Canada Postal Strike Delay Mailing of the Company’s 2024 Annual General Meeting MaterialsAs the investigation into the incident continues, the authorities have emphasized the seriousness of obstructing emergency services and have pledged to take strict action against individuals found guilty of such misconduct in the future. The incident has prompted a reevaluation of emergency response protocols and the implementation of measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Ghaus Bahauddin Zakariya stop restored at Jang Shahi Railway Station The representational image shows a passenger train of the Pakistan Railways. — PR website/File The Pakistan Railways has restored the Ghaus Bahauddin Zakariya Express stop at the Jang Shahi Railway Station after efforts of social leaders in Jang Shahi. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); During a visit to the station, FGR Mazhar Shah, Pakistan Railways CEO Aamir Baloch and Karachi DS Railways Nasir Khalili conducted an inspection of the facility on Friday. On this occasion, local social leaders Ghulam Hussain Shah, Abdul Qadir Shaikh, Munir Brohi, Abdul Rehman Brohi, Ramzan Brohi and Mudassir Jokhio met the railway officials. They requested the restoration of the train stop and a station reservation quota. Responding promptly, the CEO announced temporary restoration of the stop and assured the leaders that the reservation quota would be reinstated. During the visit, the railway officials emphasised the importance of improving Pakistan Railways' revenue, stating that increased income would enable permanent restoration of more train stops. They highlighted the urgent need for strengthening national institutions and shared that effective measures were being implemented to enhance railway services. Providing affordable and efficient travel facilities remained a top priority for the Pakistan Railways, the said. As a gesture of appreciation, social leaders presented the Railway officials Sindh's traditional Ajrak.But what truly sets Greenwood apart is his incredible efficiency in front of goal. With a goal-scoring record that rivals some of the most prolific strikers in the world, Greenwood has demonstrated a level of consistency and accuracy that is rare in such a young player. His quick adaptation to the challenges of playing in a new league and his ability to perform at the highest level week in and week out have been truly impressive.