United States

Military air defense command NORAD tracks Santa in annual tradition

Military air defense command NORAD tracks Santa in annual tradition

Dec. 24 (ZFJ) — NORAD, with 68 years of experience following Santa, is once again tracking the jolly good man. Anyone interested can view Santa’s location on noradsanta.org or call in to the North American Aerospace Defense Command at 1-877-HI-NORAD. If they can’t reach a human on the line due to the volume of calls, they’ll receive an automated message reporting Santa’s position and a reminder to call back later to talk to someone.
FEMA to conduct nationwide emergency alert test

FEMA to conduct nationwide emergency alert test

EDISON, N.J., Oct. 2 (ZFJ) — The federal government will test two national emergency alert systems on Wednesday, Oct. 4, starting at about 14:20 (2:20 p.m.) EDT. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, in conjunction with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct the two-part test. The first portion will test Wireless Emergency Alerts, which are directed at cell phones. For 30 minutes, cell towers will broadcast the message “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System.
US, South Korea, and Japan agree to increase defense, economic cooperation at summit

US, South Korea, and Japan agree to increase defense, economic cooperation at summit

Aug. 21 (ZFJ) — President Joe Biden, South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol, and Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to increase defense and economic cooperation among their countries at a Camp David summit on Friday, Aug. 18. This meeting is the first-ever standalone summit between the leaders of Japan, South Korea, and the United States. Japan and South Korea continue to have disputes over former Imperial Japan’s colonial rule from 1910-1945.
US Navy commissions littoral combat ship USS Canberra in Australia

US Navy commissions littoral combat ship USS Canberra in Australia

July 24 (ZFJ) — The U.S. Navy commissioned Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Canberra (LCS 30) at the Royal Australian Navy’s Fleet Base East in Sydney on Saturday, July 22, marking the first time a U.S. ship entered service at a foreign port. It is the second American ship named for Australia’s capital. The first was a Baltimore-heavy class cruiser, renamed in honor of the Australian heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra, which was lost at the Battle of Savo Island in WWII when defending U.
Indian prime minister secures work visa changes for skilled workers in US visit

Indian prime minister secures work visa changes for skilled workers in US visit

June 26 (ZFJ) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his recent visit to the United States, and President Joe Biden announced a pilot for the expansion of capacity for H-1B and L-1 visas with the domestic renewal of temporary work visas. The loosening of visa restrictions aims to increase the amount of skilled workers and students immigrating to the U.S. Currently, this pilot launch is only applicable to the H-1B and L-1 visas, which both admit skilled workers.