US Strikes Houthi Targets In Yemen Used In Attacks On US Shipping: Pentagon

WASHINGTON, Dec 31: The US military said Tuesday its forces had hit Huthi targets in Yemen's capital that the Iran-backed rebels used to attack American warships and commercial vessels.

The attacks began Monday and were carried out by US Navy ships and aircraft that also struck Huthi-controlled coastal regions of Yemen, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

It also said US Navy and Air Force aircraft had destroyed "seven cruise missiles and one-way attack UAVs over the Red Sea," using an acronym for unmanned aerial drones.

"There were no injuries or damage to US personnel or equipment in either incident," it said.

One witness in Yemen's Huthi-controlled capital Sanaa reported several strikes in different locations.

Another reported raids on Sanaa on the Defense Ministry and having heard a powerful explosion.

Huthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam called the strikes "an American aggression" and "a blatant violation of the sovereignty of an independent state and a blatant support for Israel."

The rebels said earlier Tuesday that they had fired two missiles at Israel, hours after the Israeli military said it had intercepted a projectile launched from the country.

The Huthis control much of war-torn Yemen and have been firing missiles and drones at Israel, and at ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Chinese hackers breach US Treasury, stole unclassified documents in ‘major incident’

WASHINGTON, Dec 31: Chinese state-sponsored hackers breached the U.S. Treasury Department's computer security guardrails this month and stole documents in what Treasury called a "major incident," according to a letter to lawmakers that Treasury officials provided on Monday.

The hackers compromised third-party cybersecurity service provider BeyondTrust and were able to access unclassified documents, the letter said.

According to the letter, hackers "gained access to a key used by the vendor to secure a cloud-based service used to remotely provide technical support for Treasury Departmental Offices (DO) end users. With access to the stolen key, the threat actor was able to override the service’s security, remotely access certain Treasury DO user workstations, and access certain unclassified documents maintained by those users."

The Treasury Department said it was alerted to the breach by BeyondTrust on Dec. 8 and that it was working with the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the FBI to assess the hack's impact.

Treasury officials didn't immediately respond to an email seeking further details about the hack. The FBI did not immediately respond to requests for comment, while CISA referred questions back to the Treasury Department.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington rejected any responsibility for the hack, saying that Beijing "firmly opposes the U.S.'s smear attacks against China without any factual basis."

Jimmy Carter Dies At 100

WASHINGTON DC: Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who was the 39th President of the United States, died at his home in Plains, Georgia, on Sunday. He was 100. Mr Carter lived longer than any other US president and, after leaving the White House, earned a reputation as a committed humanitarian.

During his single White House term from 1977 to 1981, Carter struggled with a bad economy and the Iran hostage crisis but brokered peace between Israel and Egypt and pioneered renewable energy as a cheaper alternative to foreign oil. But, he became the first Democratic president since 1888 not to win reelection.

However, Carter was widely seen as a better former president than he was a president - a status he readily acknowledged. His decades of dedication to international humanitarian work after leaving the White House earned him a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He maintained a no-frills lifestyle and would be remembered for his early focus on climate change and concerns about growing divisions in the country.

US avoids government shutdown after bill passes

WASHINGTON DC, Dec 21: The US Senate has voted to pass a budget deal to avert what would be the first federal government shutdown since 2019, only hours after the lower House of Representatives approved the same legislation.

The budget deal was passed shortly after a midnight deadline with an overwhelming of margin of 85-11.

The bill does not include a demand from President-elect Donald Trump that lawmakers increase how much money the federal government can borrow, showing the limits of his ability to command lawmakers from his own party.

The bill now goes to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.

The Senate voted shortly after 00:30 (05:30 GMT), with most Democrats and Republicans supporting the measure.

Without a funding deal, millions of federal employees would have ended up either on temporary unpaid leave or left working without pay.

A shutdown would close or severely reduce operations for public services like parks, food assistance programmes and federally funded preschools, as well as limit assistance to aid-reliant farmers and people recovering from natural disasters.

The last government shutdown was during Trump's first term in 2019 and lasted 35 days - the longest in US history.

Lawmakers earlier this week had successfully negotiated a deal to fund government agencies but it fell apart after Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk called on Republicans to reject it.

The 118-page "American Relief Act, 2025" strips out a debt-limit provision that Trump had demanded, which was a sticking point for Democrats and some Republican budget hawks in an earlier draft bill.

The deal also removes measures sought by Democrats in the first version of the bill, including the first pay rise for lawmakers since 2009, federal funds to rebuild a bridge that collapsed in Baltimore, healthcare reforms, and provisions aimed at preventing hotels and live event venues from deceptive advertising.

It does include $100bn (£78bn) in disaster relief funds to help with hurricane recovery and other natural disasters, and allocates $10bn in aid to farmers.

Democrats in the House have criticised the involvement of Musk in the process, who they pointed out is an unelected billionaire.

Musk, who Trump has tasked with cutting government spending in his future administration, had lobbied heavily against an earlier version of the bill.

During the debate, Republicans said they looked forward to a "new era" with Trump taking office on 20 January and Republicans in control of both chambers of Congress. Currently, the Senate remains under Democratic control.

The budget wrangling left Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson bruised as he faced criticism from members of his own party over his handling of the process.

"We are grateful that everyone stood together to do the right thing and having gotten this done now as the last order of business for the year, we are set up for a big and important new start in January," Johnson told reporters after Friday's vote.

He also said that he had spoken frequently to both Trump and Musk during the negotiations.

US drops $10m reward for arrest of Syria’s new leader after Damascus talks

DAMASCUS, Dec 21: A senior diplomat has announced that the United States is dropping a $10m reward for the arrest of Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, after an uprising that toppled President Bashar al-Assad.

Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf made the announcement on Friday after she and other US officials visited the Syrian capital, Damascus, to hold talks with the new Syrian administration.

It was the first visit by US diplomats to Syria since al-Assad was removed from power earlier this month in a lightning offensive, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group.

The US, however, had designated HTS a “terrorist” organisation in 2018. Al-Sharaa — also known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani — is the group’s leader and was once aligned with al-Qaeda.

Leaf said the US decided to drop the reward for al-Sharaa after receiving “positive messages” during Friday’s discussions, including a promise to ensure that “terrorist” groups cannot pose a threat.

“Based on our discussion, I told him we would not be pursuing the Rewards for Justice reward offer that has been in effect for some years,” Leaf told reporters.

'Buy Oil And Gas From US, Or Else Steep Tariffs': Donald Trump Threatens Europe

WASHINGTON DC, Dec 20: Weeks before his oath-taking ceremony, Donald Trump has threatened the European Union with consequences, if it does not reduce the "tremendous" trade gap with Washington.

Trump has demanded that Europe buy most of its oil and gas from the US. He also said that if it doesn't, then there will be "TARIFFS all the way" - capitalising the word to show greater emphasis to it, implying they may be steep.

Writing on his platform Truth Social, Trump stated that "I told the European Union that they must make up their tremendous deficit with the United States by the large scale purchase of our oil and gas - Otherwise, it is TARIFFS all the way!!!"

Indian Investments Creating Jobs For Americans As Well: US Envoy Eric Garcetti

NEW DELHI, Dec 19: Indian companies secured USD 3.4 billion in deals and investments in the US in the past year alone at the SelectUSA Investment Summit, said US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti highlighting India's growing role in the US economy.

Speaking at the US-India Business Council (USIBC) hosted the event on the 'Promise and Prosperity of the US-India Relationship on Thursday, Garcetti commented on the broader impact of these investments and stated, "American investments create jobs for Indians - it is one of the most positive things in India today - but Indian investments are creating jobs for Americans as well."

Mentioning the SelectUSA Investment Summit, Garcetti stated, "Our collaboration has also led to some new pinnacles of economic integration. And the stats speak for themselves. In June, we had, for the second year running, the most delegates from any country in the world at our annual - led by my dear friend Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo - Select USA conference, where more people came from India than any other country in the world, two years running."

"In fact, this year the Indian delegation was the most from any country in history. They also had the most dollars of deals and investments in America: USD 3.4 billion last year as a result. Just at Select USA. And that doesn't capture all the Indian investments. These are investments in everything from steel in Texas, electrolyzers in North Carolina, steel plants that were closed down in Ohio and mines in Minnesota, services and biotech in New Jersey and of course in California, my home state. Investments in everything from agriculture and food products to high-tech innovations in AI and quantum," he added.

Notably, the SelectUSA Investment Summit is the highest-profile event in the United States to facilitate business investment by connecting thousands of investors, companies, economic development organizations (EDOs), and industry experts to make deals happen.

Emphasising the need to lower tariffs increase trade and make it more fair and equal, Garcetti stated "We need, together, to lower tariffs, not to see them go up. We need, together, to increase trade and to make it more fair and equal. We need to, together, make sure that there's training and talent that meets the needs of companies on both sides of the Indo-Pacific."

Highlighting the successful resolution of trade disputes between the two nations he stated, "From food and beverage to solar energy, the United States and India have overcome trade barriers. And as soon as I got here, and thanks to Minister Goyal, we sat down and got rid of every single one of the seven trade disputes that we inherited when it came to the US And India."

"Which meant that Indian metals could come back to the US more freely, and almonds and walnuts from my state, apples and lentils from Washington. Tens of millions, if not more than a hundred million of increased agricultural purchases here came as a result of that. And we not only dropped every outstanding dispute at the WTO that we had, we addressed nearly 70 market access, trade, and investment issues for US companies here in India," he added.

US, India strengthen Space partnership

HOUSTON, Dec 19: The United States and India are strengthening their space partnership, aiming to enhance cooperation in civil, security, and commercial space sectors, according to a joint statement released Tuesday.

The statement came after a visit by U.S. Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, and Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Kwatra to the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The trip highlighted the progress made since President Biden and Prime Minister Modi committed to deepening space cooperation in June 2023, a White House release stated.

Finer, Campbell, and Kwatra traveled to Houston to showcase the progress made in strengthening space cooperation, including under the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET). The two nations have reached a pivotal point in their collaboration across all sectors of space, following President Biden and Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to “reach new frontiers” in space cooperation and India’s signing of the Artemis Accords, the statement said.

During their visit, Finer and Campbell met with representatives from NASA, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), and industry leaders to discuss ways to further bolster the space partnership. They also reviewed recent achievements and outlined future goals for the partnership.

According to the release, the two nations are taking steps to further enhance cooperation, including the selection of two ISRO astronauts to train at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. This will be the first time American and Indian astronauts will train together for a mission to the International Space Station, with Axiom Space providing support. The mission, scheduled to launch as early as spring 2025, represents a major milestone in both the U.S.-India space partnership and in space exploration.

The U.S. and India have also finalized a Strategic Framework for Human Spaceflight Cooperation, a step designed to increase interoperability in space. The two nations are also working on a new agreement for advanced astronaut training.

The U.S. and India are collaborating on the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, which is expected to launch in early 2025 from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Center. NISAR will provide a comprehensive view of Earth’s surface, collecting data twice every 12 days.

The mission’s two radars, one from NASA and one from ISRO, will work in tandem to map the Earth’s surface motion, providing valuable insights for predicting and responding to natural hazards, measuring changes in infrastructure and resources, and addressing other global challenges.

Pak Developing Missiles That Eventually Could Hit US: White House Official

WASHINGTON DC, Dec 20: A senior White House official on Thursday said nuclear-armed Pakistan is developing long-range ballistic missile capabilities that eventually could allow it to strike targets well beyond South Asia, making it an "emerging threat" to the United States.

Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer's surprise revelation underscored how far the once-close ties between Washington and Islamabad have deteriorated since the 2021 U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

It also raised questions about whether Pakistan has shifted the objectives of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs long intended to counter those of India, the victor in three major wars they have fought since 1947.

Speaking to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Finer said Pakistan has pursued "increasingly sophisticated missile technology, from long-range ballistic missile systems to equipment, that would enable the testing of significantly larger rocket motors."

If those trends continue, Finer said, "Pakistan will have the capability to strike targets well beyond South Asia, including in the United States."

The number of nuclear-armed states with missiles that can reach the U.S. homeland "is very small and they tend to be adversarial," he continued, naming Russia, North Korea and China.

"So, candidly, it's hard for us to see Pakistan's actions as anything other than an emerging threat to the United States," Finer said.

His speech came a day after Washington announced a new round of sanctions related to Pakistan's ballistic missile development program, including for the first time against the state-run defense agency that oversees the program.

The Pakistani embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Islamabad casts its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs as deterrents against Indian aggression and intended to maintain regional stability.

Two senior administration officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the U.S. concerns with Pakistan's missile program have been long-standing and stemmed from the sizes of the rocket engines being developed.

The threat posed to the United States is up to a decade away, said one official.

Finer's comments, the officials said, were intended to press Pakistani officials to address why they are developing more powerful rocket engines, something they have refused to do.

"They don't acknowledge our concerns. They tell us we are biased," said the second U.S. official, adding that Pakistani officials have wrongly implied that U.S. sanctions on their missile program are intended "to handicap their ability to defend against India."

Finer included himself among senior U.S. officials who he said repeatedly have raised concerns about the missile program with top Pakistani officials to no avail.

Washington and Islamabad, he noted, had been "long-time partners" on development, counter-terrorism and security.

"That makes us question even more why Pakistan will be motivated to develop a capability that could be used against us."

Judge denies Donald Trump's bid to throw out hush money conviction

NEW YORK, Dec 17: A judge on Monday ruled that Donald Trump's conviction for falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal should stand, rejecting the US president-elect's argument that a recent Supreme Court ruling nullified the verdict, a court filing showed.

Trump's lawyers argued that having the case hang over him during his presidency would impede his ability to govern. He was initially scheduled to be sentenced on November 26, but Justice Juan Merchan pushed that back indefinitely after Trump defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 election.

In a 41-page decision, Justice Juan Merchan said Trump's "decidedly personal acts of falsifying business records poses no danger of intrusion on the authority and function of the executive branch."

Trump's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Prosecutors with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office, which brought the case, said there were measures short of the "extreme remedy" of overturning the jury's verdict that could assuage Trump's concerns about being distracted by a criminal case while serving as president.

The case stemmed from a $130,000 payment that Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen made to adult film actor Stormy Daniels. The payment was for her silence before the 2016 election about a sexual encounter she has said she had a decade earlier with Trump, who denies it.

A Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up the payment in May this year. It was the first time a US president - former or sitting - had been convicted of or charged with a criminal offense.

Trump Threatens To Cut Business Ties With Countries Refusing Immigrants

WASHINGTON, Dec 14: US President-elect Donald Trump is determined to not do business with countries that refuse to take back migrants.

"I'll get them into every country, or we won't do business with those countries," Trump said in an interview with Time magazine after being picked as the 2024 "Person of the Year". This is the second time he has been honoured with the title. He was recognised for his "historic comeback".

"I want them out, and the countries have got to take them back, and if they don't take them back, we won't do business with those countries, and we will tariff those countries very substantially," he added.

As Trump had already made clear by making border security and immigration policies the cornerstone of his campaign.

He said that he will make business "very hard" for countries that refuse to take back migrants, and they will be slapped with "substantial tariffs".

"Whatever it takes to get them out. I don't care. Honestly, whatever it takes to get them out. Again, I'll do it absolutely within the confines of the law, but if it needs new camps, but I hope we're not going to need too many because I want to get them out, and I don't want them sitting in camp for the next 20 years."

The soon-to-be 47th president also said that he does not want families to be separated, so regardless of their immigration status, parents and children will be deported together.

He reiterated that the US will let people in but only legally.

"We don't want people to come in from jails. We don't want the jails of Venezuela and many other countries, and not just South American countries. We don't want the jails to be opened up into our country. We're not accepting their prisoners. We're not accepting their murders. We're not accepting their people from mental institutions. We're not doing it", he said.

Trump emphasised that he intends to deport illegal immigrants by military force. "We'll get National Guard, and we'll go as far as I'm allowed to go, according to the laws of our country," he answered.

The Iranian Regime’s Weakness Is an Opportunity for the Trump Administration

By Daniel Twining

WASHINGTON D.C., Dec 11: The new administration should leverage the regime’s unpopularity as part of its ‘maximum pressure’ redux.

It is no exaggeration to say that Iran is an unrivaled agent of chaos, death, and destruction in the Middle East today. From the multi-front war on Israel to the plots to assassinate President-elect Trump, the Iranian dictatorship is fundamentally incompatible with global peace and security.

But the regime is not the same as the Iranian public. In fact, new polling from Iran supported by the International Republican Institute offers striking new evidence of just how far apart the Iranian people are from their rulers.

Nearly 80 percent of Iranians blame Iran’s foreign policy for the country’s economic problems, and 63 percent do not think it advances the well-being of ordinary citizens. Additionally, a plurality, 43 percent, believe that Iran’s foreign policy is contributing to tensions in the region.

What about the war on Israel? In fact, as many Iranians (42 percent) disapprove of Hamas’s assault on Israel as support it (43 percent). Iranians are also split on support for the so-called “Axis of resistance,” composed of its proxy forces spread across the region: Public support for providing them with financial assistance sits at 49 percent.

Despite five decades of violent anti-American brainwashing, two-thirds of Iranians (67 percent) support normalizing ties with the United States. What’s more, the percentage of Iranians who strongly support normalization with Washington (55 percent) outstrips support for the “Axis of resistance” (49 percent).

Perhaps confirming Republican criticism that the defunct nuclear deal was too generous to Tehran, 61 percent of poll respondents believe Iran should make an agreement with Western countries to resolve the issue. As the ayatollahs accelerate Iran’s illicit weapons program with an eye toward a nuclear breakout, it’s not at all clear their exhausted public would support it, with most Iranians instead favoring accommodation with Washington.

Iranian youth are the greatest potential agents of change given their dissatisfaction with the status quo. Among 18- to 29-year-olds, 76 percent do not believe that officials care about the issues that matter to them, 77 percent do not see prosperity in their future, and 74 percent would prefer to emigrate from Iran.

The data are clear: Iran’s rulers are badly out of step with their citizens. The Iranian people do not want conflict with America or to live in a state of warfare with their neighbors. They overwhelmingly believe Iranian foreign policy has damaged their economic prospects, and a majority do not approve of the war on Israel. Young people in particular are sharply critical of a government that does not answer to them or offer any prospects for a better future. Indeed, the tremendous popular support for the pro-democracy “Women, Life, Freedom” protests of the past two years testifies to the deep desire for change and disgust with the Iranian regime.

With a second Trump administration preparing to reprise its “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, these trends offer an obvious opportunity to further isolate this noxious regime from its citizens. If the regime finally falls under the weight of popular pressure, a successful democratic transition would have the potential to fundamentally transform Iran, the region, and the world for the better — and could provide the greatest boon to American interests since the collapse of communism.

The regime’s increasingly audacious attempts to bring violence to our own shores underscores the urgency of an aggressive approach. From the multiple assassination attempts on American soil of dissident Masih Alinejad to Tehran’s efforts to murder President-elect Trump, the Iranian regime has clearly felt emboldened in its shadow war on the United States.

After four years of disinterest from the outgoing administration, the Trump team ought to support freedom fighters as part of its Iran strategy. This should include harsher targeted sanctions on the officials responsible for oppressing the Iranian people, exposing the regime’s rampant corruption, disrupting Iran’s lucrative black-market oil trade and supply of weaponry to Russia’s war machine through sanctions and interdiction, equipping pro-democracy activists with the tools they need to build broad coalitions, and using offensive cyber tools to tear down the dictatorship’s internet firewall and thus enabling Iranians to access information about the true nature of the regime.

The scale of the threat posed by Iran demands the deployment of every tool at our disposal. Like all dictatorial regimes, Tehran fundamentally fears its own people. As the incoming administration prepares its new “maximum pressure” campaign, they would do well to consider the untapped power of the Iranian people.

@ Daniel Twining is the President of the International Republican Institute

‘Disappointing’: US denies BJP's allegations of backing anti-India agenda

NEW DELHI, Dec 7: The United States on Saturday rejected the Bharatiya Janata Party's allegations that organisations funded by the US State Department and elements within the American “deep state” were behind efforts to destabilise India through targeted attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and business tycoon Gautam Adani.

A spokesperson from the US embassy called the allegations “disappointing” and emphasised that the US government has consistently been a strong advocate for media freedom globally.

The BJP claimed on Saturday that the US deep state collaborated with the media portal OCCRP (Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project) and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to undermine India's image.

The BJP had pointed to Gandhi's use of OCCRP reports to criticise the Adani Group and accuse it of having ties with the government.

“It's disappointing that the ruling party in India would make these kinds of accusations,” the US embassy spokesperson said.

“The US government works with independent organisations on programming that supports professional development and capacity building training for journalists. This programming does not influence the editorial decisions or direction of these organisations,” the official said.

The OCCRP, headquartered in Amsterdam, is a media platform that largely focuses on stories relating to crime and corruption.

The BJP had referred to a French media report and said it revealed that OCCRP is funded by the US State Department's USAID, along with other “deep state figures” like George Soros and the Rockefeller Foundation.

Trump warns ‘there will be all hell to pay’ if Hamas hostages aren't released before he assumes office

WASHINGTON, Dec 3: Donald Trump has warned that “there will be all hell to pay in the Middle East” if the Hamas hostages are not released before he assumes office. The president-elect also said that “those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit” after he becomes president.

In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “Everybody is talking about the hostages who are being held so violently, inhumanely, and against the will of the entire World, in the Middle East - But it’s all talk, and no action! Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity. Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!”

As many as 97 of the 251 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 last year remain in Gaza, it is believed. This includes bodies of at least 35 confirmed dead by the Israel Defense Forces.

On Monday, the IDF confirmed that Cpt. Omer Maxim Neutra, 21, was killed in the attack, and his body is now being held in Gaza. Until now it was believed that Neutra, a “lone soldier” from New York, was alive and being held hostage.

The IDF said that Neutra’s death was declared by the Military Rabbinate based on findings and new intelligence information. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent his condolences to the family of the deceased young man.

“Omer was a man of values, blessed with talents and a Zionist in every sense of the word,” Netanyahu reportedly said in a statement. “He immigrated to Israel to enlist in the IDF, chose a combat path and was chosen to command and lead.”

The Israeli PM added that Israel “will not rest or be silent until we return him home for a Jewish burial, and we will continue to act resolutely and tirelessly until we return all of our hostages.”

Biden Pardons Son In 2 Criminal Cases

WASHINGTON, Dec 2: US President Joe Biden said on Sunday he had pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of making false statements on a gun background check and illegally possessing a firearm and pled guilty to federal tax charges.

"Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter. From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department's decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted," he said in a statement released by the White House.

The White House had said repeatedly that Biden would not pardon or commute the sentences of his son, a recovering drug addict who became a target of Republicans, including President-elect Donald Trump.

"No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter's cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son," Biden said.

Hunter Biden faced sentencing for the false statements and gun convictions on Wednesday. In September he pled guilty to federal charges of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes while spending lavishly on drugs, sex workers and luxury items. He faced sentencing in that case on December 16.

"I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction - mistakes that have been exploited to publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport," Hunter Biden said in a statement on Sunday, adding he had remained sober for more than five years.

"In the throes of addiction, I squandered many opportunities and advantages ... I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted and will devote the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering."

The president, whose son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015, said his opponents had sought to break Hunter with selective prosecution.

US Approves $320 Billion F-16 Fighter Planes, Radar Systems To Taiwan

WASHINGTON, Dec 1: The United States on Friday said it had approved the possible sale of spare parts for F-16 fighter planes and radar systems to Taiwan, in a deal valued at $320 million.

The proposed sale consists of equipment in existing US military stocks, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement.

"This proposed sale serves US national, economic and security interests by supporting the recipient's continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability," the DSCA said.

"The proposed sale will improve the recipient's ability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of the recipient's fleet of F-16 aircraft."

China insists self-ruled Taiwan is part of its territory and opposes any international recognition of the island and its claim to be a sovereign nation.

The United States, while not recognising Taiwan diplomatically, is a major international backer.

The proposed sale includes "spare parts and support for F-16 aircraft" and "Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar spare parts and support," DSCA said.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States requested the purchase and deliveries were estimated to begin next year, it added.

The deal was approved by the State Department, with the DSCA providing the required notification to Congress on Friday.