Mattis confirms decision made on path forward in Afghanistan

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis confirmed Sunday that a decision has been made on a military strategy in Afghanistan, where more than 8,000 troops already are based in the longest-running war in U.S. history. Speaking to reporters on a military plane en route to meetings in Jordan, Mattis said it is up to President Donald Trump to announce the details of a review of U.S. policy in Afghanistan and South Asia.

Biden hails Amtrak upgrades headed to Hornell Alstom Updated at

Amtrak is receiving a $2.45 billion loan from the federal government to buy new trains that will be built in Hornel, upgrade tracks and make platform improvements along the busy Northeast corridor, the largest such loan ever by the Department of Transportation, officials announced Friday. Vice President Joe Biden, a champion of Amtrak who rode the corridor's trains almost daily during his more than three decades in the Senate, joined Amtrak officials and deputy transportation secretary Victor Mendez in making the announcement at the Wilmington, Delaware, station named for Biden.