Democrats include $490M for PBS, $157M for Congress security, and $437M for European bank in shutdown bill

$490 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) This funding supports PBS, NPR, and local public media stations. It’s a standard line item in annual appropriations, but its inclusion during a shutdown has drawn criticism from Republicans who argue it’s non-essential.

$157 million for Capitol Police and congressional security enhancements This covers physical security upgrades, personnel expansion, and emergency preparedness for members of Congress and Capitol facilities.

$437 million for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) This is part of the U.S. commitment to international development finance. Critics argue it’s unrelated to domestic funding needs during a shutdown.

https://www.democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/fy26_democratic_continuing_resolution_text.pdf

Government shutdown expected to extend into next week as Congress remains deadlocked

Where things stand

• Stalemate continues: The government shutdown is now expected to extend into next week. Congress still appears to be deadlocked on a funding plan, and the Senate isn’t scheduled to hold any votes until next Tuesday.

• Missed pay for troops: It now seems likely that military members won’t get their next paychecks, which were on schedule to go out next Wednesday. House Speaker Mike Johnson signaled Republicans won’t support a standalone bill to pay the troops, and Democrats say the missed checks won’t be enough to end shutdown alone.

• Trump’s schedule: Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is getting a medical exam at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center this morning. Later today, Trump is expected to announce another effort to lower drug prices, according to a person familiar with the matter.

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/government-shutdown-news-10-10-25

https://citizenwatchreport.com/democrats-include-490m-for-pbs-157m-for-congress-security-and-437m-for-european-bank-in-shutdown-bill/

China just announced a port fee on all US ships docking at Chinese ports.

China has hit U.S.-owned vessels docking in the country with tit-for-tat port fees, in response to the American government’s planned port fees on Chinese ships, expanding a string of retaliatory measures before trade talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Vessels owned or operated by American companies or individuals, and ships built in the U.S. or flying the American flag, would be subjected to a 400 yuan ($56) per net ton fee per voyage if they dock in China, China’s Ministry of Transport said on Friday.

The fees would be applied on the same ship for a maximum of five voyages each year, and would rise every year until 2028, when it would hike to 1,120 yuan ($157) per net ton, the ministry said. They would take effect on Oct. 14, the same day when the United States is due to start imposing port fees on Chinese vessels.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-hits-us-ships-with-retaliatory-port-fees-before-trade-talks/ar-AA1OdDDa

Lostprophets Singer Ian Watkins Dead at 48 After Prison Attack

Convicted pedophile was serving 29-year jail sentence when he was attacked by fellow inmates Saturday

West Yorkshire Police confirmed Watkins’ death and said detectives from the homicide and major inquiry team have begun an investigation after prison staff were called to an assault on a prisoner on Saturday morning and found Watkins dead at the scene.

The details of the attack are yet to be revealed, but Sky News says he was attacked with a knife, while The Sun claims he had his throat slashed after inmates were unlocked from their cells this morning.

Watkins was previously attacked at the jail in August 2023 by three other prisoners, an incident that left him with neck injuries which required hospital treatment. England’s HMP Wakefield is considered one of the country’s most notorious prisons, and dubbed the “Monster Mansion” as its residents include serial killers, murderers and pedophiles.

Watkins was jailed in December 2013 after admitting a string of horrific sex offenses – including the attempted rape of a fan’s baby; a trial judge later said that the charges against Watkins “plumbed new depths of depravity.” (During trial, it was revealed that the password to encrypted files on Watkins’ computer was “I FUK KIDZ.”)

Watkins was initially arrested in September 2012 after police executed a drugs search warrant at his home in Pontypridd and seized a large number of computers, mobile phones and storage devices.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lostprophets-singer-ian-watkins-dead-prison-attack-1235445522/

Hamas Says Tony Blair Not Welcome In Gaza Following Ceasefire

Hamas has warned that Tony Blair would not be welcome in any role in governing Gaza following the commencement of a ceasefire in the enclave. Speaking to Sky News, senior Hamas official Basem Naim said he welcomed US President Donald Trump's involvement in bringing about an end to the two-year war.

However, he said that there could be no role for the former British prime minister in the governance of Gaza, despite Trump's previously announced support for Blair's involvement. "When it comes to Tony Blair, unfortunately, we Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims, and maybe others around the world have bad memories of him," Naim said. "We can still remember his role in killing, causing thousands or millions of deaths to innocent civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq."

As official envoy for the Middle East Quartet (US, Russia, European Union and UN) between 2007 and 2015, Blair was also previously tasked with attempting to bring about a solution to the Palestine-Israel question, something he was unable to achieve.

Last month, various media outlets reported that Blair was in discussions to lead a transitional authority in the Gaza Strip as part of a US-backed plan for post-war governance. The plan would establish a transitional authority in Gaza for up to five years, excluding both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.

Under the reported proposal, the authority would hold "supreme political and legal authority" over Gaza during the interim period. Hamas has rejected the involvement of Blair in governing Gaza, citing in part his previous failures in the region.

Thousands of Palestinians began returning to northern Gaza on Friday after a ceasefire took effect, following Israel and Hamas's approval of a deal to "end the war" and exchange prisoners.

The Israeli military said the ceasefire officially began at 12pm local time (9am GMT) after the completion of its withdrawal to agreed-upon lines of the first phase. There was no immediate comment from Hamas. The Israeli government ratified the agreement on Friday morning, just hours after Hamas announced that a deal had been reached.

Israel's public broadcaster, Kan, on Thursday published a leaked copy of the agreement's first phase signed in Egypt, which states that the war would "immediately end" once approved by Israel.

Trump is expected to visit Egypt over the weekend to attend an official signing ceremony, followed by a visit to Israel on Monday.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/hamas-says-tony-blair-not-welcome-gaza-following-ceasefire

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