South
US Defense Secretary Austin meets Cambodia's top officials in pursuit of stronger ties with China's ally
- U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin traveled to Cambodia to push for stronger military ties with China’s closest ally in Southeast Asia.
- Prior to meeting with the defense secretary and prime minister, Austin was in Singapore at the Shangri-La defense forum where he met with his Chinese counterpart. The U.S. and China are working to repair communications.
- Cambodia’s close ties with China and the United States’ criticism of what it sees as Cambodia’s poor human rights record have left U.S.-Cambodia relations cold in recent years.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin traveled to Cambodia on Tuesday to push for stronger military ties with China’s closest ally in Southeast Asia.
Austin met his Cambodian counterpart, Tea Seiha, and Prime Minister Hun Manet during a one-day visit to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s Defense Ministry said in a statement. It said Austin’s visit would strengthen the ongoing good cooperation between the countries that has lasted more than 70 years.
Austin arrived from Singapore, where he attended the Shangri-La defense forum and held talks with his Chinese counterpart, Adm. Dong Jun, as the U.S. and China gradually work to repair lines of communications between their militaries that could be critical as tensions continue to rise between the two in the Indo-Pacific region.
CAMBODIA ARMY BASE EXPLOSION THAT KILLED 20 WAS LIKELY CAUSED BY MISHANDLING MUNITIONS, MILITARY OFFICIAL SAYS
U.S. relations with Cambodia have been frosty for years, in large part because of Phnom Penh’s close ties with China, and particularly China’s military presence at a navy base in the Gulf of Thailand that has been upgraded with Beijing’s assistance. Washington has also been vocal about what it sees as Cambodia’s poor human rights record, which has seen continuing clampdowns on political dissidents and critics.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, left, poses for photographs with Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha, right, at the Defense Ministry in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on June 4, 2024. (Heng Sinith/Pool Photo via AP)
Cambodian officials deny China will have any special basing privileges and say their country maintains a neutral defense posture.
The visit was Austin’s first visit to Cambodia since Hun Manet became prime minister last year, succeeding his father Hun Sen, who held office for 38 years. The handover has led to speculation of a reset in U.S.-Cambodia relations, though so far Hun Manet has maintained his father’s policies.
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Hun Manet was Cambodia’s army commander before becoming prime minister last August. Both Austin and he graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point — Austin in 1975 and Hun Manet in 1999, as Cambodia’s first cadet there.
Austin also held separate talks Tuesday with Hun Sen, who is now the president of the Senate.
From Cambodia, Austin will go to France to attend events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the World War II D-Day landing, the U.S. Defense Department said.
Dallas, TX
Dallas weather: Severe storms bring hail and tornado threats | See timing
DALLAS – Severe thunderstorms are forecast to return to North Texas late Tuesday, bringing threats of damaging hail, high winds and localized flooding. While the primary concerns are wind and hail, a few tornadoes cannot be ruled out.
Tuesday Forecast
Dallas weather: Mar. 10 morning forecast
We have another chance of severe storms starting Tuesday afternoon. Meteorologist Ali Turiano has your forecast and everything you need to know ahead of the storms.
Scattered showers and storms are expected to develop as a dryline to the west moves into the region. Storm conditions are expected to intensify as the day progresses.
The greatest concerns remain damaging winds and large hail. The leading edge of the storm front will likely be the most intense, with the potential for straight-line winds and brief spin-up tornadoes.
LIVE Radar: Dallas-Fort Worth
Dallas Storms: Timing and Impact
The highest potential for severe weather in the Metroplex is from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., though lingering activity could continue until 2 a.m. Wednesday. Residents are advised to seek shelter immediately if a warning is issued for their area.
7-Day Forecast
A final round of storms is expected Wednesday, primarily between noon and 7 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. These storms carry a threat of half-dollar-sized hail and damaging winds.
Behind this system, North Texas will dry out and briefly cool off. Sunny skies return Thursday with a high in the mid-60s. Temperatures will then warm into the upper 70s on Friday before a sunny weekend with highs in the low 80s.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the National Weather Service and FOX 4 forecasters.
Miami, FL
Eliott Rodriguez, former CBS News Miami anchor, announces run for Congress
Former CBS News Miami anchor and longtime South Florida resident Eliott Rodriguez announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress in Florida’s 27th Congressional District on Tuesday morning.
He will now embark on a campaign that’s centered on lowering the high cost of living, restoring accountability in Washington, D.C., and bringing people together to deliver results for families in Miami-Dade, his campaign said in the announcement.
“I didn’t plan to run for Congress,” Rodriguez said in his announcement. “But I cannot stay silent. For 48 years, you trusted me to tell the truth and listen to your stories. Today, like so many families, I am concerned that Washington is not delivering for South Florida. My parents taught me that citizenship is not just a right – it is a responsibility. And now, I am answering that call.”
Why is Eliott Rodriguez running for Congress?
In his announcement, Rodriguez explained why he decided to run for Congress. He said the decision was deeply personal.
In recent months, he said he’s spoken with families, seniors, small business owners and young people who are struggling to afford to stay in a community they love.
“South Florida has now become one of the least affordable housing markets in the United States, with families here spending more of their income on rent and mortgages than almost anywhere in the country,” Rodriguez said in his announcement.
According to the campaign, Florida’s 27th Congressional District is widely viewed as one of the most competitive battlegrounds in the country.
In the race for Congress, Rodriguez will challenge incumbent María Elvira Salazar.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta ranks 78th on WalletHub’s most diverse cities list
ATLANTA – A new study suggests Atlanta may not be as diverse as many people might expect — at least when compared with cities across the country.
What we know:
According to a new report from WalletHub, Atlanta ranked 78th out of 501 U.S. cities in an analysis measuring diversity across several categories. Researchers looked at five main factors including socioeconomic, cultural, economic, household and religious diversity.
Atlanta performed best in religious diversity, ranking 9th, and socioeconomic diversity, where it came in 45th. But the city placed 178th for cultural diversity and landed near the bottom — in the 400s — for both household diversity and economic diversity.
It’s worth noting the study focused only on the city of Atlanta and did not include the broader metro area, which could paint a different picture of the region’s diversity.
By the numbers:
Some other Georgia cities also appeared on the list. Sandy Springs ranked 38th, Roswell placed 57th, and Columbus came in at 103rd. Meanwhile, Johns Creek ranked 94th overall and finished 500th in income diversity, one of the lowest marks in that category.
Dig deeper:
The study found the most diverse cities in the country were Silver Spring, Maryland; Gaithersburg, Maryland; Arlington, Texas; Germantown, Maryland; and Houston, Texas. At the other end of the list were Bangor, Maine; Brattleboro, Vermont; North Platte, Nebraska; Keene, New Hampshire; and Rochester, Nebraska.
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