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Deadly Pakistan train hijack: What happened, and what’s next?

Deadly Pakistan train hijack: What happened, and what’s next?

Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan’s security forces are locked in what they describe as a “complex operation” against a group of separatists who attacked a train earlier on Tuesday. The train was traveling from Quetta, the provincial capital of the southwestern province of Balochistan, to Peshawar, the capital of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Fighters belonging to the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group seeking Balochistan’s secession from Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack. They targeted the Jaffar Express as the train was passing through a series of tunnels near Sibi city, about 160km (100 miles) from Quetta. While security sources have said that their military operation was under way, authorities also confirmed that a group of passengers safely made their way to a smaller station near the site of the attack. Rana Farrukh, a Pakistan Railways official in Quetta, said that nearly 70 passengers, including women, children, and the elderly, reached the Panir railway station, approximately 6km (4 miles) from the attack site. Advertisement “They completed the journey on foot, following the railway track,” Farrukh told Al Jazeera, without providing further details about the passengers. The train was passing the Bolan Pass area, which is a rugged, mountainous region, when it was attacked. Here is what we know so far about the attack, the current situation and what is the background behind the decades-long conflict between separatist groups and the Pakistani state in Balochistan. What happened to the Jaffar Express? The train was carrying more than 400 passengers, including many women and children, as well as dozens of security personnel. It departed from Quetta at 9am (04:00 GMT) on Tuesday morning, embarking on a journey of more than 1,600km (994 miles) through Punjab to reach its final destination in Peshawar. The trip takes roughly 30 hours, with stops at around 30 stations across the country. Railway officials said the attack occurred around 1pm (08:00 GMT) as the train passed through the Bolan Pass. The area is home to several tunnels, originally constructed during British colonial rule. Who claimed responsibility, and how has the government responded? The BLA, which has carried out numerous attacks in the province over the past several years, claimed responsibility for the assault. In a statement, the group claimed they had killed at least six military personnel and blown up the railway track, forcing the train to a halt. The BLA warned that any military operation in response would have “severe consequences”. The attackers claimed that passengers on the train were hostages now — though dozens of passengers later reached Panir. Advertisement The Pakistani military has not so far issued any official statement regarding the claims, and it did not respond to queries from Al Jazeera. Shahid Rind, a provincial government spokesperson, said authorities had imposed an emergency in hospitals in Sibi, the nearest city, in essence placing all medical professionals there on alert to attend to any victims of the attack. Government officials also strongly condemned the attack. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also expressed prayers for the recovery of the injured. “The beasts who fire on innocent passengers do not deserve any concessions,” Naqvi’s statement read. What do we know about casualties, and how is the government responding? Hospitals in Quetta and Sibi are on high alert, but no injured passengers had been brought there until late on Tuesday night. Railway officials said mobile connectivity in the remote, rugged terrain is virtually nonexistent, making it difficult to get timely updates. Security sources claim the attackers are using some women and children as human shields, preventing an all-out offensive against them. Authorities have also warned of an online disinformation campaign aimed at spreading panic. Why has there been a surge in attacks in Balochistan? Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province by area but the least developed, with a population of 15 million people. Despite being rich in minerals and natural resources, including copper and gas, the province has long been the site of conflict between the local population and the government. Advertisement Baloch separatists, who demand independence from Pakistan, accuse the state of abducting and persecuting those who speak out against it. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $62bn mega-development project launched a decade ago, has added another layer of complexity to the conflict. The BLA has carried out numerous attacks on Chinese interests, including at Gwadar Port, the flagship project of CPEC. Several Chinese citizens have been killed in these attacks. In recent months, Balochistan has witnessed a dramatic surge in violence. Last month, at least 18 soldiers were killed in a BLA attack in Kalat city. Earlier in March, a female suicide bomber detonated herself, also in Kalat, killing a law enforcement officer. The Jaffar Express has also been targeted multiple times. Last year, BLA fighters blew up a section of the track, halting the train service for two months. In November, a suicide bombing at Quetta’s railway station targeted the train just before departure, killing at least 30 people, including security personnel. How has the BLA enhanced its capabilities? Analysts believe the BLA’s growing strength reflects the state’s failure to counter BLA fighters and its reliance on outdated strategies. Malik Siraj Akbar, a Balochistan specialist based in Washington, DC, said the BLA has evolved from carrying out small-scale attacks, such as targeting individuals or sabotaging pipelines, to large-scale operations. “The group now undertakes major attacks, like the recent assault on a passenger train. This shift reflects both its increasing audacity and its confidence that the government lacks the capability to contain them, let alone pursue them effectively after such high-profile acts of terrorism,” Akbar told Al Jazeera. Advertisement Rafiullah Kakar, a political analyst specialising in Balochistan affairs, said the BLA has strengthened its command structure, giving field militants more direct control over operations. “Additionally, access to advanced weaponry, some of which was left behind by US forces in Afghanistan, has enhanced the group’s firepower, making their attacks more lethal and sophisticated,” Kakar told Al Jazeera. Why has the state failed to curb the

High-profile Dem jumps into crowded California governor’s race amid past office controversies

High-profile Dem jumps into crowded California governor’s race amid past office controversies

Democratic former Rep. Katie Porter announced her bid for governor of California on Tuesday via an Instagram video saying the Golden State needs “a little bit of hope and a whole lot of grit, fresh blood and new ideas [and] leaders with the backbone to fight for what’s right.” Porter, 51, served three terms in Congress – winning her Orange County seat by upsetting GOP Rep. Mimi Walters in 2018. She ran unsuccessfully for the Senate seat now held by Sen. Adam Schiff, D–Calif., and her district is now represented by Dave Min, a Democrat.  The former congresswoman was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and grew up on a farm before moving to the Pacific coast. Gov. Gavin Newsom is term-limited, though all eyes in California are on whether former Vice President Kamala Harris also jumps into the race. PORTER DENIES FIRING STAFFER FOR CATCHING COVID-19 AS TEXT MESSAGES SURFACE AND GO VIRAL Porter told the Los Angeles Times that a Harris bid could clear the left flank of those assembled thus far. “If Vice President Harris were to choose to run, I am certain that that would have a near field-clearing effect on the Democratic side,” Porter said. Harris is said to be seriously considering a run in Sacramento after losing the 2024 presidential election. A source close to Harris previously told Fox News Digital the ex-veep has told allies she will decide by the end of summer on whether to launch a gubernatorial campaign. The Times also described Porter as a prolific fundraiser, while the former lawmaker’s gregarious nature was projected to make inroads among Californians upset at President Donald Trump’s election. In her announcement, Porter referenced Trump and alleged he would seek to enrich himself and his circle while in the White House. California has a unique “jungle primary” system where the two top vote-getters, regardless of party, will face off in the general. Sometimes that results in two Democrats competing in November. In Schiff’s case, former MLB star Steve Garvey gained enough Republican support to challenge the Burbank Democrat – only to strike out in the end. Porter’s entry also brings with it her colorful history in the House of Representatives.  Sasha Georgiades, a Wounded Warrior fellow who had worked in Porter’s office, alleged she had made rude and racist comments to staff and “ridiculed people for reporting sexual harassment.” KATIE PORTER USED ‘RACIST LANGUAGE’, RIDICULED PEOPLE FOR REPORTING SEXUAL HARASSMENT, EX-STAFFER CLAIMS Georgiades also said Porter ridiculed people after they had reported sexual harassment in her office as well as “made fun of individuals whose parents passed away from COVID.” “Basically told the individual to grow up,” Georgiades said regarding the case of a staffer who had reported sexual harassment in Porter’s office. Reports also surfaced in late 2022 that Porter “made multiple staffers cry” and that one staffer was allegedly fired after she and the lawmaker caught COVID-19.  “Sasha – I cannot allow you back in the office, given your failure to follow office policies,” Porter wrote the next day on July 9, in texts shared on a “Dear White Staffers” X page and previously reported by Fox News Digital.  “Cody will be in touch about having your personal effects shipped or delivered to your home, and will lay out your remote work schedule and responsibilities for your last few weeks.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Porter reportedly denied the allegations at the time. Porter also wore a “Batgirl” costume to the House of Representatives while lawmakers were voting on Trump’s first impeachment on Oct. 31, 2019 – Halloween. Other top names include Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on the Democratic side and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco as the first major Republican –  amid a dozen or so candidates total. When reached for comment, the Porter campaign directed Fox News Digital to its previous statements on the matter. Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

White House: Rubio reserves the right to revoke green card or visa of anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil

White House: Rubio reserves the right to revoke green card or visa of anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Tuesday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio reserves the right to revoke former Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil’s green card or visa. Leavitt said that under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the secretary of state has the right to revoke a green card or a visa for individuals who are “adversarial to the foreign policy and national security interests of the United States of America.”  “And Mahmoud Khalil was an individual who was given the privilege of coming to this country to study at one of our nation’s finest universities and colleges, and he took advantage of that opportunity, of that privilege, by siding with terrorists, Hamas terrorists, who have killed innocent men, women and children,” Leavitt said at the White House press briefing. “This is an individual who organized group protests that not only disrupted college campus classes and harassed Jewish American students and made them feel unsafe on their own college campus, but also distributed pro-Hamas propaganda fliers with the logo of Hamas. That is the behavior and activity that this individual engaged in.” Leavitt said the Department of Homeland Security provided her with those fliers, which she says were distributed with the help of Khalil on the Columbia University campus and are now on her desk. TRUMP VOWS ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIVIST MAHMOUD KHALIL WAS ‘FIRST ARREST OF MANY TO COME’ She said she considered bringing them to the briefing but decided against it because she “didn’t think it was worth the dignity of this room to bring that pro-Hamas propaganda.”  “This administration is not going to tolerate individuals having the privilege of studying in our country and then siding with pro-terrorist organizations that have killed Americans,” Leavitt said. “We have a zero-tolerance policy for siding with terrorists. Period.”  A senior State Department official told Fox News that Rubio found Khalil’s “presence and activities in the U.S. would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States and would compromise a compelling U.S. foreign policy interest, rendering him deportable under Section 237 (a)(4)(C) of the INA [Immigration & Nationality Act].”  The official said Section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act broadly contains grounds for which an alien who is in the U.S. after having been admitted or having had his or her status adjusted to that of lawful permanent resident may be removed.  Fox News is told that Section 237 (a)(4)(C) is a rarely used provision of the law that gives the secretary of state the power to seek to deport “[a]n alien whose presence or activities in the United States the Secretary of State has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States…” The senior State Department official stressed this is about national security, not free speech.  Khalil, who was a graduate student at Columbia until December, was taken into custody Saturday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at his university-owned apartment in New York and transported to a detention center in Louisiana.  Khalil was born in Syria to Palestinian parents and entered the U.S. to attend Columbia in 2022. He subsequently got married to an American citizen, who is now eight months pregnant, according to the Associated Press. New York City Mayor Eric Adams was asked at his own media availability earlier Tuesday about Khalil’s “due process,” but the Democrat said he wishes his own due process was considered when the Biden Justice Department brought a corruption case against him. “What I’m finding surprising is the level of support you’re all displaying. But I didn’t see that support for me,” Adams told reporters. “Even after we saw the emails and text messages that there’s a potential [that] this is politically motivated.”  ICE AGENTS ARREST ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIVIST WHO LED PROTESTS ON COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CAMPUS FOR MONTHS Adams told reporters, “Don’t be inconsistent in your call for justice, cover those text messages.” “That shows that it was potentially politically motivated,” Adams said of his own case, which the Trump DOJ asked a judge to drop. “The same enthusiasm I’m getting for you, we should be enthusiastic for everyone. And again, the federal government does immigration and they’re doing the investigations, and we need to make sure that it is done in a fair way. That is done.”  A federal judge in New York City on Monday blocked Khalil’s deportation. A hearing is set for Wednesday to weigh motions from his lawyers claiming ICE violated his constitutional rights and asking for him to be moved back to New York.  Trump applauded Khalil’s apprehension, saying it is “the first arrest of many to come,” while some Democrats are criticizing the move. “We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country — never to return again.” Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the second-highest ranking Democrat in the chamber, called Khalil’s detention “straight-up authoritarianism.”  Hundreds of protesters demonstrated in New York City on Monday night demanding Khalil’s release and calling for a nationwide walkout of classes is set for noon Tuesday to protest what they deem “genocide” against the Palestinian people and the Trump administration’s plan to cut federal funding to colleges that permit “illegal” protests.  That student walkout failed to materialize as of early Tuesday afternoon, but a small group of protesters were seen on the steps of Columbia’s campus chanting in favor of Khalil’s release.  The U.S. Department of Education, meanwhile, sent letters to 60 colleges and universities on Monday saying they were under investigation for alleged “antisemitic discrimination” and could lose funding.  The Trump administration recently canceled $400 million in grant funding for Columbia. “Cutting funding to @Columbia’s cancer research doesn’t fight antisemitism, but it does advance Trump’s fight to control higher education in the United States,” House Judiciary Democrat Rep. Jerry Nadler, of

Risch, GOP lawmakers demand Olympic committee comply with Trump order to ban trans athletes in women’s sports

Risch, GOP lawmakers demand Olympic committee comply with Trump order to ban trans athletes in women’s sports

EXCLUSIVE: More than two dozen Senate and House Republicans are demanding the International Olympic Committee (IOC) align its policies with President Donald Trump’s executive order to safeguard the opportunities of female athletes on the Olympic stage, Fox News Digital has learned. Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Jim Risch, R-Idaho, and Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, along with more than two dozen Republican lawmakers, penned a letter, exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital, to IOC President Thomas Bach Tuesday. Their letter comes just a week before the committee is scheduled to meet to elect its next president and discuss the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympic Games, which are set to take place in Los Angeles.  BONDI WARNS THREE STATES TO COMPLY WITH LAW KEEPING BOYS OUT OF GIRLS SPORTS OR FACE LEGAL ACTION  “The United States looks forward to hosting the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and to welcoming the accomplished athletes who have worked and sacrificed to reach the pinnacle of their respective sports,” the lawmakers wrote. “As the International Olympic Committee (IOC) prepares to elect new leadership, we write to express the critical need for increased protection of the rights of female athletes to fair, safe competition.” “In the United States, we honor our female Olympians,” the lawmakers continued. “These athletes, and so many others, have inspired generations of young women around the world to compete and excel. Their legacy underscores the vital importance of fairness in women’s sports at every level of competition. Future Olympians are counting on the IOC to protect the opportunities of women and girls to contribute to this proud tradition.” “To do so, the IOC must base eligibility for women’s athletic competitions on biological sex,” they wrote. “Allowing biological males to compete in women’s categories undermines competitive opportunities, safety, and respect for female athletes.” TRUMP VOWS HOMELAND SECURITY WILL PREVENT TRANSGENDER ATHLETES FROM ENTERING THE COUNTRY FOR 2028 LA OLYMPICS In February, Trump issued an executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” and affirmed the position that the U.S. “must preserve fairness, safety, and equal opportunity for female athletes.” “In preparation for the 2028 Summer Olympics, commitment from the IOC to protect women’s sports is paramount,” the lawmakers wrote. “As members of Congress, we stand united with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Trump in calling on the IOC to amend its standards and safeguard the opportunities of female athletes on the Olympic stage.” The lawmakers urged the IOC to “reaffirm” its commitment to “upholding the integrity of women’s Olympic competitions and ensure that only biological women and girls are allowed to compete in female sports categories.” “The Olympic Games should be a model for integrity in sports, and the next IOC president must firmly defend the rights of dedicated female athletes,” they wrote. “We look forward to your leadership on this critical issue and demand that the next IOC president preserve the fundamental principles of fair competition.” GOP Sens. Mike Crapo, Jim Banks, Marsha Blackburn, Steve Daines, Lindsey Graham, Josh Hawley, Jim Justice, James Lankford, Tim Sheehy and Tommy Tuberville also signed onto the letter. GOP Reps. Lauren Boebert, Vern Buchanan, Tim Burchett, Kat Cammack, Dan Crenshaw, Brad Finstad, Craig Goldman, Mark Green, Ashley Hinson, Mike Kennedy, Nick LaLota, Blake Moore, Riley Moore, Austin Pfluger, John Rose and Claudia Tenney also signed onto the letter. In 2021, the IOC released a revised policy recommendation in which individual sports bodies were asked to apply certain parameters with a particular focus on “fostering gender equality and inclusion” when establishing policies. For the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the IOC rolled out its “Framework on Fairness, Inclusion and Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations” policy. The framework included principles such as prevention of harm, nondiscrimination, fairness, no presumption of advantage, evidence-based approach, primacy of health and bodily autonomy, stakeholder-centered approach, right to privacy and periodic reviews. It replaced a 2015 policy that required athletes transitioning from male to female to declare their gender identity as female, which could not be changed for a minimum of four years, and show testosterone levels below 10 nmol/L for “at least 12 months prior to her first competition.” The previous policy replaced the IOC’s first policy on transgender athlete participation established ahead of the 2004 Games in Athens, which required athletes to undergo surgery in order to compete in events in line with their gender identity. The IOC did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Meanwhile, Trump vowed that his executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports would also apply to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. In February, during the signing ceremony, the president announced that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem would prohibit any transgender athletes attempting to compete as women from entering the country for the Olympics in 2028. Trump said he will instruct Noem “to deny any and all visa applications made by men attempting to fraudulently enter the United States while identifying themselves as women athletes try and get into the Games.”

UK police arrest man over oil tanker and cargo ship collision in North Sea

UK police arrest man over oil tanker and cargo ship collision in North Sea

One sailor presumed dead after crash, unidentified man detained on suspicion of ‘manslaughter’. Police in the United Kingdom have arrested a man “on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter” after a collision in the North Sea between a cargo vessel and a tanker. Humberside Police said on Tuesday that the 59-year-old was detained in connection with the previous day’s crash between Portuguese cargo ship Solong and the US-flagged Stena Immaculate oil tanker that caused an explosion and set the vessels ablaze. The man, who was not named by police, has not been charged. Junior transport minister Mike Kane said in Parliament that a crew member from the Solong was presumed dead and that it was “unlikely” the drifting cargo ship would stay afloat. The remaining 36 crew members from the two vessels were brought safely ashore in the port of Grimsby, about 150 miles (240 kilometres) north of London, with no major injuries. Authorities and operators of the vessels have yet to offer an explanation of how the crash happened, or why multiple safety systems on board modern vessels failed to prevent the crash. Advertisement Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson said in a statement that Humberside Police were playing a lead role in the “investigation of any potential criminal offences which arise from the collision”. “Extensive work has already been carried out, and we are working closely with our partners to understand what happened, and to provide support to all of those affected,” he said. Earlier on Tuesday, a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had said there did not appear to be any suggestion of “foul play”. Environmental damage Greenpeace UK expressed “serious concerns” on Tuesday about environmental damage from the collision, which had occured “close to environmentally sensitive areas”. The Stena Immaculate was operating as part of the US government’s Tanker Security Program, a group of commercial vessels that can be contracted to carry fuel for the military when needed. Its operator, US-based maritime management firm Crowley, said that it was carrying 220,000 barrels of Jet-A1 fuel in 16 tanks, at least one of which was ruptured. It is feared the jet fuel cargo could pollute the sea, harming large colonies of protected seabirds in the area, including puffins and gannets and the fish on which they feed. There had been fears that the Solong was carrying sodium cyanide, but shipping company Ernst Russ, which manages the vessel, said that was not the case. Four empty containers on board that “previously contained the hazardous chemical” will “continue to be monitored,” it added. Advertisement The UK coast guard agency said on Tuesday that the Solong was “still alight”, while the fire on board the Stena Immaculate had “greatly diminished”. It said the Solong was drifting south, away from the tanker, and a half-mile (about one kilometre) exclusion zone had been put in place around both ships. Adblock test (Why?)

Ukrainian drone barrage hits Russia as peace talks begin

Ukrainian drone barrage hits Russia as peace talks begin

NewsFeed The Ukrainian military launched its largest drone barrage to date against Russia as talks got underway with US officials in Saudi Arabia. Moscow said Kyiv’s strikes on civilian targets undermine the effort to settle the war, despite its own history of hitting civilian infrastructure. Published On 11 Mar 202511 Mar 2025 Adblock test (Why?)

Syrian president launches probe into deadly fighting

Syrian president launches probe into deadly fighting

NewsFeed Syria’s president has promised an investigation into days of recent violence that led to the deaths of hundreds of people including civilians, after gun battles between pro-Assad fighters and Syrian security forces. Here’s what we know. Published On 11 Mar 202511 Mar 2025 Adblock test (Why?)

Pentagon clips civilian employees’ credit cards in line with DOGE cuts

Pentagon clips civilian employees’ credit cards in line with DOGE cuts

The Defense Department effectively barred civilian employees from traveling or making taxpayer-funded purchases, according to new memos.  The spending limit on government-issued travel and purchase cards for federal civilian employees was reduced to $1, according to instructions posted on the Defense Department’s website. “DoD civilian employees must cancel all future non-exempted official travel reservations, and those currently on non-exempted travel must return to their respective permanent duty stations as soon as feasible,” the memo states. Civilian employee travel that directly supports military operations or a permanent change in station is exempted, according to one memo.  HEGSETH DIRECTS DOD CIVILIAN WORKFORCE TO COMPLY WITH MUSK’S DOGE PRODUCTIVITY EMAIL A parallel memo effectively froze civilian credit cards used to purchase anything from office supplies to items priced up to $10,000.  It came after a Feb. 26 executive order from President Donald Trump that activated the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) cost-saving efforts to make “government employees accountable to the public.” It stipulated that agencies would need to submit reports to justify travel needs for government employees.  “Once an agency’s system is in place, the Agency Head shall prohibit agency employees from engaging in federally funded travel for conferences or other non-essential purposes unless the travel-approving official has submitted a brief, written justification for the federally funded travel within such system,” the order stated.  PENTAGON LOSING CUTTING EDGE ON WEAPONS INNOVATION, NEEDS ‘MASSIVE KICK IN THE PANTS,’ SAY DEFENSE LEADERS It also called for agency credit cards to be frozen for 30 days except for the use of funds for “disaster relief or natural disaster response benefits or operations or other critical services as determined by the Agency Head.” The restrictions come as the Pentagon is firing 5,400 civilian employees still in their probationary period and instituting a hiring freeze to reduce 5-8% of the 764,000-member civilian workforce.  The Pentagon, in coordination with DOGE, identified an initial $80 million in wasteful spending, according to chief spokesperson Sean Parnell.  Most of the funds were related to DEI and climate initiatives.  It’s a small fraction of the agency’s $840 billion budget, but DOGE efforts just began in recent weeks. The Pentagon last week initiated a review of its contracting practices and demanded agencies build a central system for contracts, grants and other expenditures. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “My staff and I are presently conducting this review to determine where we might achieve efficiencies to save American taxpayers’ money while executing contracting operations in support of our nation’s defense,” John Tenaglia, the Pentagon’s principal director of defense pricing, contracting and acquisition policy, wrote in a memo last week.  “Per the EO, Components are directed to forgo issuing new contracting officer warrant appointments to DoD civilian staff members until March 28, 2025, the duration of the review period.”