
Senate Moves Closer to Ending Government Shutdown
US senators have taken the initial step towards ending the government shutdown, signaling progress in resolving the impasse.
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US senators have taken the initial step towards ending the government shutdown, signaling progress in resolving the impasse.

US Senators Richard Blumenthal and Elizabeth Warren have raised concerns over Saudi Arabia's $55 billion investment in EA, questioning potential foreign influence, national security risks, and the impact on EA's independence, amid broader concerns about Saudi Arabia's international image and human rights record.

U.S. senators Roger Wicker and Deb Fischer visited Taiwan for high-level talks on security and trade, prompting China to criticize the visit as a threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrity, amid ongoing tensions over U.S. arms support to Taiwan.

US senators Warren and Banks have warned Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang against meeting with Chinese companies that may undermine US chip export controls during his upcoming trip to China, citing concerns over supporting China's military and circumventing export restrictions, especially as Nvidia plans to release cheaper AI chips for China.

A bipartisan delegation of U.S. senators visited Hungary to urge the government to approve Sweden's NATO bid, which Hungary has delayed for over 18 months. The senators announced a joint resolution condemning Hungary's alleged democratic backsliding and calling for the approval of Sweden's integration into NATO. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán indicated that the dispute with Sweden is nearing a conclusion and suggested that the ratification might happen at the beginning of the spring session of Parliament. The resolution also criticizes Orbán's warm relations with Russia and China, as well as Hungary's resistance to EU sanctions on Russia. Hungary's government has adopted an adversarial stance toward the U.S., accusing it of attempting to influence Hungarian public life.
A bipartisan delegation of US senators visited Hungary to urge the government to approve Sweden's NATO bid, with mounting pressure on Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's administration to act after delaying the move for over 18 months. The senators announced a joint resolution condemning alleged democratic backsliding in Hungary and urging the government to lift its block on Sweden's integration. Orbán indicated that Hungary's legislature might soon relent, but no members of the Hungarian government accepted invitations to meet the delegation. The resolution also criticizes Orbán's warm relations with Russia and China, as well as Hungary's resistance to EU sanctions on Russia.

A bipartisan delegation of US senators visited Hungary and urged the government to approve Sweden's NATO bid, criticizing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's delay in ratifying the move. The senators announced a joint resolution condemning alleged democratic backsliding in Hungary and pressuring Orbán to lift the block on Sweden's integration. Orbán indicated that Hungary's legislature might soon relent, but the government declined to meet the visiting senators. The resolution also criticizes Hungary's warm relations with Russia and China, as well as its adversarial stance toward the US.

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is urging Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to immediately ratify Sweden’s application to join NATO, as Hungary is the only NATO member that hasn't yet backed Sweden’s membership bid. U.S. Senators have warned that Hungary's inaction risks damaging its relationship with the United States and NATO, and have raised the prospect of imposing sanctions on Hungary for its conduct. Orbán, who has long promised that Hungary wouldn't be the last NATO member to approve Sweden’s application, has cast doubt on Ukraine’s ability to defeat Russia's invasion, leading to increased tensions within the alliance.

Massachusetts U.S. Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, along with Rep. Ayanna Pressley, are advocating to prevent the closure of a Walgreens store in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood, expressing concerns about the impact on the community's access to essential services. The representatives have sent a joint letter to Walgreens' CEO, questioning the decision to close stores in neighborhoods serving Black, Brown, and low-income communities without providing adequate notice or alternatives. Walgreens has stated its commitment to the Roxbury community and its patients, but the senators remain determined to address the issue and advocate for the affected communities.

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley reported significant delays in aid delivery to Gaza due to stringent and seemingly arbitrary Israeli inspections at border crossings. Despite international pressure and a U.N. resolution, the flow of essential supplies remains far below pre-conflict levels, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The senators observed a warehouse full of rejected items, including essential medical equipment and called for a simplified aid process that balances security concerns with the urgent humanitarian needs of Gaza's population. Israeli officials acknowledge the delays but suggest that international agencies should improve their logistics, while aid workers face severe challenges in distributing the limited aid that does enter Gaza.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address U.S. senators via a video call to emphasize the importance of approving emergency military aid for Ukraine. With Republican support for funding Ukraine's war effort waning and an emergency funding package stalled in Congress, the Democratic-led Senate is set to vote on Wednesday on whether to approve over $61 billion in Ukraine-focused assistance as part of a $106 billion national security package. Senator Chuck Schumer invited Zelensky to brief lawmakers, and the Ukrainian leader is expected to provide updates on the fighting and stress the urgency of maintaining American financial and military support.

US Senators Rick Scott and Elizabeth Warren have requested salary information from the Federal Reserve's inspector general, Mark Bialek, in an effort to make the role more independent. Concerns have been raised about potential conflicts of interest, as Bialek's salary is tied to the compensation of the Fed officials he investigates. The senators propose appointing the inspector general through presidential appointment and Senate confirmation. The request comes as Congress seeks tighter oversight of banking regulators following recent bank failures. Bialek has faced criticism for his handling of a securities trading scandal, but he has defended his agency's independence and investigative capabilities.

Two US Senators, Elizabeth Warren and Chris Van Hollen, have written a letter to the US Department of Justice (DOJ) requesting an investigation into cryptocurrency exchange Binance for potentially making false statements to lawmakers. The senators allege that Binance may have lied about its business practices, including whether its affiliate Binance.US was a separate entity. This comes after the US Securities and Exchange Commission filed a lawsuit against Binance and its CEO for the sale of unregistered securities and commingling of customer funds.

US Senators Bob Menendez and Jim Risch are reintroducing a bill that would allow them to monitor El Salvador's adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender. The bill would require the State Department to create reports on how the move impacts El Salvador's cybersecurity, economic stability, and democratic governance. The lawmakers are also interested in seeing how effectively El Salvador can combat illegal activities, such as money laundering. El Salvador made history in 2021 by adopting Bitcoin as legal tender, and the government heavily invested in Chivo, its federal digital wallet, as well as BTC ATMs around the country.

Seven US senators have written to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, raising concerns about the company's use of forced arbitration clauses in employee and consumer contracts. The senators argue that these clauses prevent discrimination claims and consumer safety complaints from being brought to court. The senators cited numerous incidents of alleged racial and sexual harassment, as well as complaints about Tesla's vehicles and its Full Self-Driving Beta software. The senators sought answers to detailed questions by June 8 about Tesla's use of forced arbitration.