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The U.S. Congress early on Saturday overwhelmingly passed a $1.2 trillion budget bill, keeping the government funded through a fiscal year that began six months ago and sending it to President Joe Biden to sign into law and avert a partial shutdown. The vote on passage was 74-24. Key federal agencies including the departments of Homeland Security, Justice, State and Treasury, which houses the Internal Revenue Service, will remain funded through Sept. 30 after the bill was passed in the Democratic-majority Senate. But the measure did not include funding for mostly military aid to Ukraine, Taiwan or Israel, which are included in a different Senate-passed bill that the Republican-led House of Representatives has ignored. The business community welcomed the passage of the spending bill and committed to continue working with policymakers to advance legislation that would enhance tax breaks for businesses and low-income families. "A fully operational U.S. government provides important stability for American businesses, workers and families," Business Roundtable CEO Joshua Bolten said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing to work with Members of Congress to advance sound policies, including the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act." Senate leaders spent hours on Friday negotiating a number of amendments to the budget bill that ultimately were defeated. The delay pushed passage beyond a Friday midnight deadline. But the White House Office of Management and Budget issued a statement saying agencies would not be ordered to shut, expressing confidence that the Senate would promptly pass the bill, which it did. While Congress got the job done, deep partisan divides were on display again, as well as bitter disagreement within the House's narrow and fractious Republican majority. Conservative firebrand Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene threatened to force a vote to remove Speaker Mike Johnson, a fellow Republican, for allowing the measure to pass. The 1,012-page bill provides $886 billion in funding for the Defense Department, including a raise for U.S. troops. Biden, a Democrat, has indicated he will sign it. Johnson, as he has done more than 60 times since succeeding his ousted predecessor Kevin McCarthy in October, relied on a parliamentary maneuver on Friday to bypass hardliners within his own party, allowing the measure to pass by a 286-134 vote that had substantially more Democratic support than Republican. For most of the past six months, the government was funded with four short-term stopgap measures, a sign of the repeated brinkmanship that ratings agencies have warned could hurt the creditworthiness of a federal government that has nearly $34.6 trillion in debt. "This legislation is truly a national security bill - 70% of the funding in this package is for our national defense, including investments that strengthen our military readiness and industrial base, provide pay and benefit increases for our brave servicemembers and support our closest allies," said Republican Senator Susan Collins, one of the main negotiators. Opponents cast the bill as too expensive. "It's reckless. It leads to inflation. It's a direct vote to steal your paycheck," said Senator Rand Paul, part of a band of Republicans who generally oppose most spending bills. The last partial federal government shutdown occurred during Donald Trump's presidency, from Dec. 22, 2018 until Jan. 25, 2019. The record-long interruption in government services came as the Republican insisted on money to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico and was unable to broker a deal with Democrats. GREENE LASHES OUT The new budget bill passed the House with 185 Democratic and 101 Republican votes, which led Greene, a hardline conservative, to introduce her measure to oust Johnson. That move had echoes of October, when a small band of hardliners engineered a vote that removed McCarthy for relying on Democrats to pass a stopgap measure to avert another partial government shutdown. They had been angry at McCarthy since June, when he agreed with Biden on the outlines of the fiscal 2024 spending that were passed on Friday. McCarthy's ouster brought the House to a halt for three weeks as Republicans struggled to agree on a new leader, an experience many in the party said they did not want to repeat as the November election draws nearer. And Greene said she would not push for an immediate vote on her move to force Johnson out. "I filed a motion to vacate today. But it's more of a warning than a pink slip," the Georgia Republican told reporters. Indeed, some Democrats said on Friday that they would vote to keep Johnson, if he were to call a vote on a $95 billion security assistance package already approved by the Senate for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. That measure is unlikely to come up anytime soon, as lawmakers will now leave Washington for a two-week break. Pockets of Republican opposition to more funding for Ukraine have led to fears that Russia could seriously erode Kyiv's ability to continue defending itself. Life is unlikely to become easier for Johnson anytime soon, with the looming departure of two members of his caucus - Ken Buck and Mike Gallagher - set to whittle his majority to a mere 217-213 in a month's time. At that point, Johnson could afford to lose only one vote from his party on any measure that Democrats unite to oppose.

The Islamic State (IS) jihadist group said Saturday four of its militants carried out an attack on a concert hall in a Moscow suburb that Russian authorities said killed at least 133 people."The attack was carried out by four IS fighters armed with machine guns, a pistol, knives and firebombs," IS said on one of its Telegram channels.The militant group said its fighters killed "dozens of Christians" as part of its "raging war" with countries it said were fighting Islam.The jihadists had already said on Friday night they carried out the attack, and claimed their fighters had "returned to base safely".The Kremlin, which has not reacted to the militant group's claim, said 11 people had been arrested "including four terrorists" involved in the attack.Russian officials have suggested the attackers had links to Ukraine, a claim labelled as "absurd" by Kyiv.Russia is fighting IS in Syria and the jihadist group has also had a presence in the Muslim-majority Russian republics of Ingushetia, Dagestan and Chechnya.The group has carried out attacks in Russia but has never before said it was behind such a major atrocity.

“The Nifty IT sector has faced downward pressure for the past few days. However, stalwarts like TCS and HCL Tech exhibit resilience on longer-term charts, suggesting potential buying opportunities amid corrections. We remain watchful of Nifty IT's ability to hold the 100-day moving average; sustaining above it could signal further buying interest,” says Rajesh Palviya of Axis Securities. Edited excerpts:ET Now: What is your assessment of the current market conditions? We observed from derivatives data that Nifty found solid support at 21,900. Additionally, market breadth displayed bullish tendencies. Do you anticipate a continuation of the relief rally or is consolidation also probable?Rajesh Palviya: This week, both indices experienced a breakdown of crucial support levels. Nifty briefly dipped below its 50-day moving average, while Bank Nifty breached the 100-day moving average. However, robust recovery in recent trading sessions has pushed both indices back above the 50-day moving average, indicating a positive near-term outlook. As long as both indices defend this level, the trend is likely to remain bullish. Call-put concentration suggests 22,000 remains a key resistance area, with significant put writing between 21,900-22,000. Sustaining above 22,000 could trigger short-covering, potentially driving Nifty towards 22,250-22,300. Currently, our stance is bullish, recommending a buy-on-dips strategy with 21,900 as a stop-loss for Nifty and 46,500 for Bank Nifty. We anticipate further recovery towards 47,200 for Bank Nifty leading up to the March series expiry.ET Now: Could you shed light on the recent performance of the IT index, particularly in light of Nifty IT hitting a two-month low and being the top sectoral loser for the week? Is this decline temporary or indicative of a deeper downturn? Furthermore, what strategy would you suggest for navigating this sector, especially considering the contrasting performance of midcap and largecap IT stocks like Coforge and Infosys?Rajesh Palviya: The Nifty IT sector has faced downward pressure for the past few days. Currently hovering near its 100-day moving average at around 35,100, a breach of this level could lead to further declines towards 34,700-34,600. However, stalwarts like TCS and HCL Tech exhibit resilience on longer-term charts, suggesting potential buying opportunities amid corrections. We remain watchful of Nifty IT's ability to hold the 100-day moving average; sustaining above it could signal further buying interest. For traders, monitoring levels around 35,100 is crucial. Preferred picks include TCS and HCL Tech, provided they hold crucial support levels.ET Now: Amid sectors like automobiles, capital goods, and real estate witnessing significant movements, what are your insights? Could you recommend potential stocks from these sectors?Rajesh Palviya: Nifty Auto continues its bullish trajectory, with stocks like Maruti, Bajaj Auto, and Mahindra & Mahindra trading near all-time highs. Maruti presents an opportunity for another rally towards 12,600-12,800, with a stop-loss at 12,100. Similarly, Bajaj Auto shows promise with a near-term target of 9,300 and a stop-loss at 8,750. Mahindra & Mahindra, despite recent corrections, remains strong on longer-term charts, with an upside potential towards 1950-2000 and a stop-loss at 1830.ET Now: How do you foresee the performance of PSU stocks, particularly in the energy and banking sectors? Could you suggest potential trading strategies?Rajesh Palviya: PSU stocks have witnessed a robust recovery, indicating further upside potential. Key stocks like Canara Bank and BHEL exhibit strong buying interest, with targets towards 590-600 and 2% stop-losses. Overall, as long as Nifty holds above 22,000, we anticipate continued recovery in the PSU basket. Investors can consider adding these stocks to their portfolio, with CPSE ETF also presenting an attractive option with a target around 85 and a stop-loss at 76.ET Now: Lastly, which stocks are on your radar for next week's trading? Could you share your bullish picks?Rajesh Palviya: As we approach the March series expiry, several stocks are trading near all-time highs. Pidilite stands out with a target of 3015 and a stop-loss at 2920. JSW Energy exhibits recovery potential towards 545, with a stop-loss at 506. Additionally, Indus Towers shows promise with a near-term target of 295 and a stop-loss at 266.

Air Force One with President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton aboard was on its final approach to Manila on Nov. 23, 1996, when their U.S. Secret Service detail received alarming intelligence: an explosive device had been planted on the motorcade route into the Philippines capital. Acting swiftly, the agents switched to a back-up route to the Clintons' hotel, foiling a suspected al Qaeda attempt to assassinate the president of the United States minutes after his arrival for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. As the motorcade crawled along the traffic-clogged alternate route, Filipino security officers recovered a powerful bomb on a bridge the convoy would have taken and an SUV abandoned nearby containing AK-47 assault rifles, four retired agents told Reuters. The assassination attempt, which appears to be one of al Qaeda's earliest attempts to strike the U.S., was mentioned briefly in books published in 2010 and 2019. Now, eight retired secret service agents - seven of whom were in Manila - have given Reuters the most detailed account to date of the failed plot. Reuters found no evidence of a U.S. government investigation into the attempt on Clinton's life. The news agency also could not independently determine if intelligence agencies conducted classified probes. For some of the Secret Service agents interviewed by Reuters, the events in Manila have left unanswered questions. "I always wondered why I wasn't kept back to stay in Manila to monitor any investigation," said Gregory Glod, the lead Secret Service intelligence agent in Manila and one of seven agents who spoke out for the first time. "Instead, they flew me out the day after Clinton left." "There was an incident," said Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. "It remains classified." He declined to say what, if any, actions the United States took in response. Clinton did not respond to multiple attempts to reach him through his spokesperson and the Clinton Foundation. Former CIA director Leon Panetta, who was Clinton's chief of staff at the time, said he was unaware of the incident but that an attempt to kill a president should be investigated. "As a former chief of staff, I'd be very interested in trying to find out whether somebody put this information to the side and didn't bring it to the attention of people who should have been aware that something like that happened." Under a 1986 law it is a crime for a foreign extremist organization to attempt to kill any U.S. national overseas. Prosecution requires authorization from the attorney general - the late Janet Reno in 1996 - which would then trigger an FBI investigation. The FBI declined to comment on the Manila assassination attempt. Four former U.S. officials, including the ambassador in Manila at the time, Thomas Hubbard, confirmed the foiled attack to Reuters but said they were also unaware of any U.S. investigation or follow-up actions. Thirteen years after Osama bin Laden's death, al Qaeda is a diminished force. But the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas "mobilized efforts to radicalize and recruit new followers within Muslim communities in Europe," a U.N. panel of experts wrote in a Jan. 29 report, citing al Qaeda propaganda supporting Hamas. OMINOUS INTELLIGENCEGlod said a U.S. intelligence agency later assessed that the plot was set up at bin Laden's behest by al Qaeda operatives and the Abu Sayyaf Group, Filipino Islamists widely considered an arm of al Qaeda. He declined to identify the agency. Reuters was unable to confirm the assessment and the CIA declined to comment. According to a 2022 International Crisis Group report, the group is in disarray, with only a handful of its leaders still alive. The office of the Philippines' president, Department of Foreign Affairs and the National Police did not respond to requests for comment. Four of the Secret Service agents who spoke to Reuters noted that Ramzi Yousef - the al Qaeda-linked mastermind of the first World Trade Center attack in 1993 and a nephew of September 11 architect Khalid Sheikh Mohammed who had trained Abu Sayyaf militants - was in Manila days before a 1994 visit by Clinton. Yousef is serving a life sentence plus 240 years in a federal "supermax" prison in Colorado. An FBI memorandum of its first interview with Yousef after his 1995 arrest noted that he surveyed sites in Manila that media reported Clinton would visit. Yousef "indicated that he considered placing an improvised explosive device in a location along the motorcade route," it said. Yousef ultimately concluded there was too much security and insufficient time for an attack, the memo said. Three of the Secret Service agents said they believed that Yousef instead was preparing for the 1996 attack, pointing out that the date of the APEC summit was known in late 1994. "I knew he (Yousef) was sort of an advance team," said Glod, citing his familiarity with intelligence reports. Yousef's lawyer, Bernard Kleinman, told Reuters that while "it's conceivable" that Yousef was in Manila in 1994 to begin the foiled 1996 plot against Clinton, he doubted that he did, describing his client as a bragger who made "himself much, much greater than he may have actually been." The threat posed by al Qaeda and Yousef was just one of the unsettling elements confronting the Secret Service's advance security team, the three agents recalled. The Philippines was battling communist and Islamist insurgencies. Police discovered a bomb at Manila airport and another at the summit conference center in Subic Bay several days before the Clintons' arrival. The U.S. State Department warned of threats against American diplomats in Manila the day before the First Couple flew in. Glod told Reuters the Manila assignment was "the worst advance I had ever done in terms of (threat) intel." The dangers were highlighted for Clinton before the visit in top-secret President's Daily Briefs, according to a military aide, retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Colonel Robert "Buzz" Patterson, who accompanied Clinton on the trip. DEVICE ON A BRIDGEIt was late evening when Clinton flew into Manila. As Air Force One descended, Secret Service agent Daniel Lewis relayed the intelligence to the Secret Service team at the airport about a "device on a bridge" on the main route to The Manila Hotel. Buckled into his seat outside the Clintons' cabin, Lewis Merletti, who led Clinton's protective detail and later became Secret Service director, said he came to the same conclusion after a call from a U.S. intelligence officer whose name he didn't know disclose warning of a communications intercept mentioning a "wedding across a bridge." He said he recalled an intelligence report several years earlier that identified "wedding" as "terrorist code for an assassination." The planned motorcade route showed three bridges on the main route to the Clintons' hotel. "That's it. We're changing the route," he remembered saying over a secure radio link to Glod, who confirmed Merletti's recollection of the event. The bomb intended for Clinton was found atop an electrical box on a bridge along the original route, said Merletti, Lewis and Glod, who retired from the Secret Service in 1998, 2003 and 2011, respectively. Glod was rehired in 2017 as a law enforcement instructor before leaving in October 2023. Reuters video footage of Clinton's arrival shows bomb disposal experts wiring an explosive to the side of an electrical box on a bridge and detonating it. No bomb is seen atop the box. Filipino security personnel also recovered a red Mitsubishi Pajero abandoned at the far end of the bridge, the agents said. They said the AK-47 assault rifles found inside suggested that the attackers planned to block the span with the vehicle and fire on the motorcade. The next morning, Glod and Merletti said they were briefed on the plot by a U.S. intelligence official at the U.S. embassy and shown photos of the device. It comprised armor-piercing rifle-propelled grenades atop a box containing TNT wired to a Nokia phone rigged as a detonator, they said. Lewis and Craig Ulmer, who was the agent in charge of the Manila ground team, said they also later saw the photos. Dennis Pluchinsky, a retired State Department terrorism analyst who learned of the foiled plot in 2020 while researching a history of anti-U.S. terrorism, noted that in 1995 Clinton issued Presidential Decision Directive 39 committing to "deter, defeat and respond vigorously to all terrorist attacks" against Americans at home or abroad, and "apprehend and prosecute" those responsible. It was not until after 220 people died in al Qaeda bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in August 1998 that Clinton responded with cruise missile strikes. Those failed to stop bin Laden from planning fresh attacks.