The Daily Populous

Wednesday December 9th, 2020 evening edition

image for Ilhan Omar Rips Congress for Approving $740.5 Billion Bill to 'Appease Defense Contractors' While Skimping on Covid Relief

"Thousands of Minnesotans are struggling to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads.

We should be investing our resources here at home—not increasing our already exorbitant Pentagon budget.".

Omar was one of just 37 House Democrats to oppose the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed by a vote of 335-78—a veto-proof majority.

"This bill further commits our servicemembers to escalations abroad—including a now-two-decade old unpopular war in Afghanistan," Omar said.

If Congress can afford to spend $740.5 billion on a Pentagon Authorization bill, we can afford stimulus checks for the American people.

Congress should focus on responding to the urgent needs of the American people—not passing a bill to appease defense contractors. pic.twitter.com/ib705TRddY — Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) December 9, 2020.

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) joined Omar in voting against the NDAA on Tuesday, declaring that Congress "should be cutting down the Pentagon's budget—not increasing it... »

Another lawyer on the Trump team, Jenna Ellis, tests positive for the virus.

Authored by nytimes.com
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Jenna Ellis, a senior legal adviser to President Trump, has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a White House official familiar with the situation.

She is the latest in a string of officials connected to Mr. Trump who have tested positive.

Mr. Trump said on Monday that he had spoken to Mr. Giuliani and he was doing “very well.”. »

Germany blocks Chinese takeover of satellite firm on security concerns - document

Authored by uk.reuters.com

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany has blocked the takeover of satellite and radar technology firm IMST by a subsidiary of state-controlled missile maker China Aerospace and Industry Group (CASIC) due to national security concerns, a government document showed on Tuesday.

Berlin views IMST as an important provider of satellite communication, radar and radio technology, and its know-how is crucial for national security, according to the government document seen by Reuters.

IMST’s expertise is also needed for the construction of critical infrastructure in the future, including 5G and 6G networks, the document said. »

Brexit-backing billionaire will build his SUV in France, not the UK

Authored by edition.cnn.com
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Daimler's DMLRY Ratcliffe is the founder of Ineos, a chemicals company, and has a fortune worth nearly $28 billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index .

The SUV, which is named after the London pub in which it was conceived, will enter production late next year.

Ineos had been planning to produce the SUV at a new plant in Bridgend, Wales, creating 500 jobs. »

Dogs may never learn that every sound of a word matters

Authored by ttk.elte.hu
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This might be a reason why the number of words dogs learn to recognize typically remains very low throughout their life.

Dogs can distinguish human speech sounds (e.g. “d”, “o” and “g”) and there are similarities in the neuronal processing of words between dogs and humans.

To test this idea, the researchers developed a procedure for measuring electrical activity in the brain non-invasively on awake, untrained, family dogs. »