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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves as he prepares to depart Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport en route to Beijing, on April 25, 2024. The U.S. and China will hold their first high-level talks on artificial intelligence within the "coming weeks," U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Friday, providing no update over the future of Chinese social media giant TikTok. During wide-ranging talks with Chinese officials in Beijing, Blinken said the two sides had agreed to the first U.S.-China intergovernmental dialogue on AI to discuss the risks and safety concerns surrounding the emerging technology. The U.S. imposed restrictions on Beijing's ability to access high-end tech and is moving close to banning social media app TikTok, unless its Chinese parent ByteDance sells it. Speaking at a press conference, Blinken said that TikTok "did not come up" in the talks.

Persons: Antony Blinken, State Anthony Blinken, Blinken Organizations: State, U.S Locations: Shanghai Hongqiao, Beijing, U.S, China

☆ The US and China are engaging more. But that doesn't mean they trust each other more, an analyst said.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

US and China's engagements don't mean they trust each other more, said Eurasia Group's Ian Bremmer. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . But just because they're talking more doesn't mean that they actually trust each other more, an analyst said on Wednesday. Earlier this month, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visited China, seeking cooperation in areas beneficial to both countries. Advertisement"It's always better to have more engagement, more conversations — especially when you don't trust each other," Bremmer said.

Persons: Ian Bremmer, —, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, there's, Bremmer, Janet Yellen, Lloyd Austin, State Anthony Blinken, William Lai — Organizations: Service, Eurasia Group, Bloomberg, APEC, Defense, State Locations: Eurasia, Ian Bremmer . Washington, China, Taiwan, San Francisco, US, Washington, Taiwan —, Beijing

☆ The US is eyeing sanctions that could cut off some Chinese banks from the rest of the world
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US is drafting sanctions on Chinese lenders, The Wall Street Journal reported. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Previously, the threat of US secondary sanctions has already sparked a pullback in Chinese-Russian financial dealings, including restricted yuan payment transactions. New sanctions could go as far as cutting China from accessing the US dollar, the linchpin currency used in global trade.

Persons: —, hasn't, State Anthony Blinken, Wang Webin Organizations: Street Journal, Service, Lawmakers, Street, Center for Strategic, International, Washington, State, Reuters Locations: China, Russia, Washington, Beijing, Moscow, Ukraine, Russian, Western, Europe

☆ Haiti’s prime minister is resigning. Will that bring calm to the gang-ravaged country?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Caitlin Stephen Hu | Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

In Henry’s place, a transitional council will be established and endowed with some powers of the presidency – including the ability to name a new interim prime minister. It is unclear how long it could take to establish a transitional council to begin the transfer of power, though Haiti’s former PM Claude Joseph told CNN that it could be created within 24 hours. The big question is whether these changes can bring calm to Haiti, and put a stop to the terrible violence tearing apart Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince. Talks with regional leaders continued, leading into the emergency CARICOM meeting on Monday. The United States will contribute $300 million to the Kenyan-led multinational security mission, Blinken said after attending the CARICOM meeting on Monday.

Persons: CNN —, Ariel Henry, Henry, Claude Joseph, Jimmy “, Henry’s, Cherizier, Odelyn Joseph, Romaine LeCoeur, Fanmi, Petit, Jimmy Cherizier, Viv Ansanm, “ ’ Viv Ansanm ’, ” Cherizier, Guy Philippe, Philippe, ”, “ we’re, State Anthony Blinken, William Ruto, “, ” Blinken, Mia Mottley, Will Ariel Henry, Blinken Organizations: CNN, CNN — Haiti’s, Caribbean, US State Department, AP, United Nations, Initiative, Transnational, CARICOM, Montana Group, Petit Dessalinnes, United Nations Security, Kenyan, senior State Department, State, State Department Locations: Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Kenya, Port, Prince, Swiss, EDE, CARICOM, “, Barbados, United States

☆ The US mocked Russia for its motley cast of allies in Ukraine. It's not laughing any more.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

They didn't have the defensive positions prepared," RAND defense researcher Bruce W. Bennett told Business Insider. To work with North Korea, Putin has contravened UN Security Council resolutions he himself signed onto. "If Russia failed to achieve success in Ukraine, meaning it got pushed out of Ukraine, is Putin going to survive physically?" Operating like this "really emboldens North Korea, Iran, and any other autocratic state," said Sanner. AdvertisementIn supplying weapons, Kim Jong Un's regime is unlikely to be driven by a dislike of Ukraine, Bennett said.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Bruce W, Bennett, Putin, State Anthony Blinken, Mark Milley, Grant Shapps, Beth Sanner, that's, Joseph Byrne, Kim Jong Un, John Herbst, Byrne, ALEXANDER KAZAKOV, Kim, Sergei Lavrov, Kim Jong, would've, Russia's, it's, we're Organizations: Service, RAND, Business, State, Joint Chiefs of Staff, UK Defence, Trump, Biden, Atlantic, Royal United Services Institute, REUTERS, Atlantic Council, Putin, Ukraine —, US, UN, New York Times, North Locations: Ukraine, Iran, North Korea, Pyongyang, Russia, Komsomolsk, Khabarovsk Region, South Korea, Korea, Moscow, KCNA

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s House of Representatives has ramped up pressure on the United States and Britain to end the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange by passing a motion calling for the Australian citizen to be allowed to return to his home country. Independent lawmaker Andrew Wilkie moved the motion on Wednesday one week ahead of Britain’s High Court of Justice hearing Assange’s appeal against extradition to the United States on espionage charges. Leaders of both the government and the opposition have publicly stated that the United States’ pursuit of the 52-year-old had dragged on for too long. Assange’s brother Gabriel Shipton on Thursday welcomed the lawmakers' vote, adding that his notorious sibling could potentially be extradited to the United States next week. Senior opposition lawmaker Dan Tehan said the motion did not reflect his party’s wish that the prosecution progress more quickly.

Persons: Julian Assange, Andrew Wilkie, Anthony Albanese, Assange, Gabriel Shipton, he’ll, ” Shipton, Wilkie, Albanese, Australia’s, Joe Biden, State Anthony Blinken, Dan Tehan, ” Tehan, Tehan, Chelsea Manning, Manning, Barack Obama Organizations: —, Independent, Australian, Ecuadorian Embassy, House, U.S, State, WikiLeaks, Army, Manning’s Locations: MELBOURNE, Australia, United States, Britain, Britain’s, Ecuadorian, London, Sweden

☆ Bukele Landslide Shifts El Salvador to One-Party State, Amplifies Democracy Fears
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

By Sarah Kinosian and Nelson RenteriaSAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - The landslide re-election of El Salvador President Nayib Bukele was cheered by supporters of his gang crackdown, but has worried opponents who fear the country is sliding into a de facto one-party state. El Salvador had "made history" for electing a single party "in a fully democratic system," he said. But rights groups said they are worried about where the country is headed and forecast further curbs on civil rights. They are just grateful he crushed the gang violence plaguing El Salvador for decades and that they can go outside after dark again. "Democratic spaces are closing in El Salvador, civil society is closing down and there is an environment of fear to speak out," said Claudia Ortiz, a lawmaker who has clashed with Bukele and ran for the upstart Vamos party.

Persons: Sarah Kinosian, Nelson, Nayib Bukele, Bukele, El Salvador, Gabriela Santos, State Anthony Blinken, Daniel Ortega, Gladis Munoz, Claudia Ortiz, Nelson Renteria, Drazen Jorgic, Christian Plumb, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: SALVADOR, Reuters, El Salvador, U.S, Human Rights, University of Central America, El, State, Bukele Locations: El Salvador, U.S, Central America, El, Nicaragua, Venezuela

☆ Videos show African ethnic groups rounded up in Sudan’s Darfur region
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Sarah Dean | David Mckenzie | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Members of African ethnic groups in Sudan’s Darfur region appear to have been rounded up by members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and other Arab militias, according to videos and images verified and geolocated by CNN. The RSF on Saturday announced it had taken over the main army base in El Geneina (the 15th division headquarters), close to where these videos were filmed. Ethnic related killings have intensified since fighting broke out mid-April between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, according to witnesses and aid groups operating in the region. MSF said at its hospital in Adré, a 27-year-old man told them he fled El Geneina with 16 other people, but their group was attacked on the road to Chad. It comes after US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called for an “immediate cessation of attacks” in El Fasher in North Darfur.

Persons: “, Toby Harward, El Geneina, Médecins, ”, Nabila Abdel Rahman, Stephanie Hoffmann, Dominique Hyde, ” Hyde, RSF “, RSF, State Anthony Blinken, El Fasher, ” Blinken, CNN’s Sarah Dean, David McKenzie, Allegra Goodwin Organizations: CNN, Rapid Support Forces, Saturday, Reuters, Twitter, Sudanese Armed Forces, SAF, United Nations, MSF, UN, UNHCR, US State Department, African Union, State Department, State, Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces Locations: Sudan’s Darfur, El Geneina, West Darfur, fatigues, Darfur, Chad, Ardamata, Ardamata , West Darfur, Sudan, El, Arab, Ardmata, Adré, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United States, El Fasher, North Darfur, South Africa, London

Market-churning economic news is lacking this week, but that doesn’t mean Wall Street and the economy can rest easy. The political news heats up, with Donald Trump set to testify in his civil fraud trial in New York. And elections take place across the country on Tuesday that could show where the country stands politically one year out from the 2024 election. Meanwhile, a softer-than-expected jobs report on Friday had some analysts saying the economy was headed for a downturn. “The unemployment rate rose just a tenth to 3.9% in October versus September which the BLS called little changed,” he said.

Persons: Donald Trump, State Anthony Blinken, Bond, ”, Julia Pollak, ” Pollak, ” Chris Rupkey, Powell, ” Powell, “ Organizations: GOP, Hamas, State, West Bank, Federal Reserve, ZipRecruiter, Fed, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, BCA Research Locations: New York, Miami, Israel, Iraq, Turkey, Washington

☆ Blinken tells Lebanon it would be affected by being drawn into Israel conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks in Tel Aviv, Tuesday Oct. 17, 2023, after an overnight meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 21 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati it was important to respect the interests of his people, who would be affected if the country were drawn into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the State Department said on Saturday. Spokesperson Matthew Miller said the call took place on Friday. Blinken also affirmed U.S. support for the Lebanese people and noted growing concern over rising tensions along Lebanon's southern border, Miller said in a statement. Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Daniel WallisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Jacquelyn Martin, State Anthony Blinken, Najib Mikati, Matthew Miller, Blinken, Miller, David Ljunggren, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Israeli, State, State Department, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv

☆ CEO apologizes for Israel remarks after 4 days of backlash and conference dropouts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The founder of tech conference Web Summit apologized for "profound hurt" over his Israel remarks. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe founder of European tech conference Web Summit has apologized for the "profound hurt" caused by his comments criticizing the West's support for Israel, which triggered several high-profile withdrawals from the event. AdvertisementAdvertisementGil Dibner, general partner at Angular Ventures, said it was "a time that calls for moral clarity" after canceling his speaking engagement at Web Summit. Dropouts increased, and within 24 hours the number of Israel-based speakers at Web Summit dropped from at least five to zero, according to Insider analysis. Other speakers lined up for Web Summit include Meta's Nick Clegg, as well as comedian Amy Poehler and actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Persons: Israel, Paddy Cosgrave, —, I'm, Garry Tan, Ravi Gupta, Cosgrave, State Anthony Blinken, Moshiel Biton, hadn't, Biton, Gil Dibner, Nick Clegg, Amy Poehler, Joseph Gordon, Levitt, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Service, Israel, Sequoia Capital, State, Web, Angular Ventures, Web Summit, Hamas, West Bank Locations: Gaza, Hamas, Lisbon, Portugal, Israel

An Israeli Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) is obscured as it whips up dust near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 15, 2023. Gaza authorities say more than 2,200 people have been killed there, a quarter of them children. Iran has spoken of "far reaching consequences" if Israel's "war crimes and genocide" are not stopped. The message came late on Saturday after Axios reported that Tehran had told Israel - in a message sent via the U.N. - that it would have to respond if Israel carries out its expected ground offensive. He also said he wanted to make sure the civilian population that remained in Gaza had access to food, water and safe shelter, telling CNN that Israeli officials recently restored access to water in parts of Gaza.

Persons: Ronen, Axios, Jake Sullivan, John Kirby, Sullivan, Joe Biden, Biden, Lindsey Graham, Abdel Fattah El, State Anthony Blinken, Nandita Bose, Katharine Jackson, Christopher Bing, Raphael Satter, Lisa Shumaker, Heather Timmons, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Carrier, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, White House, CBS, White House National Security, Fox News, White, Republican, State, Department, NBC, CNN, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Lebanese, Iran, Tehran, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, U.S, Washington

While a Hamas spokesman told the BBC that Iran did assist in the attack, officials in Tehran have denied responsibility while praising the outcome. "If you had a large end-of-year bonus payment coming your way, might you start spending more money in the meantime? “This money belongs to the Iranian people, the Iranian government, so the Islamic Republic of Iran will decide what to do with this money,” Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told NBC News. While the Biden administration renewed talks with Iran to reenter the pact, the discussions have led nowhere and U.S. negotiators publicly walked away. Though not believed to be directly connected, some analysts have speculated that the Biden administration move to free up the $6 billion could have been an incentive to continue talking even as Tehran slowed the pace of development of a nuclear weapon.

Persons: Trump, State Anthony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Richard Goldberg, Matthew Kroenig, Joe Biden, Nikki Haley, Ebrahim Raisi, ”, Biden, Adrienne Watson, Aaron David Miller, Obama, –, Donald Trump Organizations: White, Hamas, Biden, BBC, Treasury Department, “, ”, State, Israeli, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Wall, Georgetown University, GOP, NBC News, Former State Department, –, Trump, U.S Locations: Israel, Iran, Tehran, South Korea, Qatar, Tel Aviv, Gaza, Islamic Republic of Iran, Washington, U.S

☆ Israeli Troops Massed on Border, Poised to Storm Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Lauren Camera | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

Israeli forces prepared to storm into Gaza on Thursday, staging tanks and troops along the border ahead of what’s expected to be a brutal and bloody boots-on-the-ground operation that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been promising for days. The death toll in Gaza stands at roughly 1,400 people, including many Palestinians who are not aligned with Hamas. The Israeli defense minister pledged to wipe Hamas "off the face of the earth." Israeli forces can also expect rockets, anti-armor attacks and even the use of human shields when they enter Gaza. The Israeli government would need to decide whether to potentially leave a weakened Hamas behind in Gaza or to overthrow its de facto administration.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu, Israel –, It’s, Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, ”, Bill Roggio, Joe Biden, Bibi, ” Biden, “, State Anthony Blinken, Blinken, ” Blinken, Biden, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Israel Organizations: Unity, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, ”, State, State Department, Israel, Center for Strategic, International Studies Locations: Gaza, Israel, “, Detroit, Tel Aviv, Blinken, Iran, Lebanon, American, “ Israel

CNN —The Biden administration has yet to find a smoking gun linking Iran directly to planning and executing the attack on Israel this weekend, US officials told CNN on Sunday. However, there’s no denying Iran’s history of aiding Hamas, officials said. “Of course Iran is in the picture,” one US official told CNN. “They’ve provided support for years to Hamas and Hezbollah.”In the immediate aftermath of the attack, senior US officials maintained that it was too early to determine whether Iran had any direct role in planning and supporting Hamas’ attack. One congressional source said that given the sophistication of the attack, Iran would have had a role, since Hamas does not have the ability to buy weapons at this scale.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, “ They’ve, ”, “, State Anthony Blinken, we’ve, Blinken, haven’t Organizations: CNN, Democratic, “, State, Press Locations: Iran, Israel, “ State

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken visited Ukraine’s capital Wednesday where he was expected to announce more than $1 billion in new American funding in a display of Washington’s unflagging support for Kyiv’s fight. Blinken arrived in Kyiv for an overnight visit hours after Russia launched a missile attack on the city. On the train journey to Kyiv, Blinken met with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, also on an official visit, to discuss the war. After arriving in Kyiv, Blinken laid a wreath at the city's Berkovetske cemetery to commemorate members of the Ukrainian armed forces who lost their lives defending the country. Blinken’s visit comes after some of Ukraine’s allies have privately expressed concern that Ukrainian troops may fail to reach their objectives.

Persons: State Anthony Blinken, Blinken, ” Blinken, “ We’re, Dmitry Peskov, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mette Frederiksen, Matthew Miller, Rustem Umerov, Serhii Popko Organizations: —, State, State Department, Kremlin, Russia, Danish, Washington, Initiative, U.S . State Department Locations: KYIV, Ukraine, Ukraine’s, London, Russia, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Odesa, Crimean Tatar, Russian, Polish, U.S, russia, ukraine

☆ Iran expands stock of near-weapons grade uranium, IAEA reports no progress
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Francois Murphy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Iran and the IAEA announced an agreement in March on re-installing surveillance cameras introduced under a deal with major powers in 2015 but removed at Iran's behest last year. Only a fraction of the cameras and other monitoring devices the IAEA wanted to set up have been installed. Iran's production of uranium enriched to up to 60% has slowed to around 3 kg a month from about 9 kg a month previously, a senior diplomat said. "Of course, Iran claims (the slowdown in enrichment to up to 60%) as a positive, but more HEU (highly enriched uranium) is still more HEU," one Western diplomat said. CAMERAS WITHOUT FOOTAGEIran's stock of uranium enriched to 60% is now almost three times the roughly 42 kg that by the IAEA's definition is theoretically enough, if enriched further, to produce a nuclear bomb.

Persons: Rafael Grossi, State Anthony Blinken, Francois Murphy, Andrew Cawthorne, Ed Osmond, William Maclean Organizations: Reuters, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Governors, State, Agency, Thomson Locations: Iran, VIENNA, Tehran, United States, U.S, centrifuges, Isfahan, Esfahan

☆ US companies are finding China increasingly 'uninvestible', commerce secretary Gina Raimondo says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Joseph Wilkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

US companies are finding China increasingly "uninvestible", according to commerce secretary Gina Raimondo. "Increasingly I hear from businesses, China is uninvestible because it's become too risky," she said, according to Bloomberg. And then there's a whole new set of concerns, the sum total of which is making China feel too risky for them to invest," Raimondo added. AdvertisementAdvertisementUS firms are contending with new anti-spying laws introduced by Xi Jinping's Politburo, as well as more competition from state-funded Chinese companies. "It doesn't mean when we talk, I'm going to compromise or concede," Raimondo added.

Persons: Gina Raimondo, They're, Raimondo, it's, they've, Xi Jinping's, State Anthony Blinken, Janet Yellen, Joe Biden's, John Kerry Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, Xi Jinping's Politburo, State Locations: China, Wall, Silicon, Beijing, Shanghai, outflows

☆ U.S. approves shipments of F-16s to Ukraine in major gain for Kiev
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Even so, Air Force Gen. James Hecker, commander of U.S. air forces in Europe and Africa, told reporters in Washington he did not expect the F-16s to be a game-changer for Ukraine. Ukrainian air forces supporting infantry are using decades-old Soviet-era planes, which are vulnerable to air-to-air missile attacks from Russian fighter jets, Capt. Danish Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen said Friday that the training of Ukrainian pilots is starting this month. A coalition of 11 Western countries — the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and the United Kingdom — pledged in July to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s. In other developments:— Russian air defenses stopped drone attacks on central Moscow and on the country's ships in the Black Sea, officials said Friday, blaming the attempted strikes on Ukraine.

Persons: James Hecker, Yevgen, Rakita, Jake Sullivan, State Anthony Blinken, Jakob Ellemann, Jensen, —, Joe Biden's, Abrams, Joseph Schulte Organizations: Air Force, NATO, NATO Air Policing, United, Kyiv, 18th Army Aviation Brigade, Associated Press, State, Danish, Sukhoi Locations: Netherlands, United States, Denmark, Ukraine, Washington, Europe, Ukrainian, U.S, Africa, Russia, Russian, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, United, Moscow, Hong Kong, Istanbul

[1/5] China's Vice Premier He Lifeng and French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire attend the China-France Economic and Financial Dialogue at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, July 29, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas PeterBEIJING, July 29 (Reuters) - China hopes France can "stabilise the tone" of EU-China relations, vice-premier He Lifeng told a senior French minister in Beijing on Saturday, as European leaders debate how to "de-risk" but also cooperate with the world's second-largest economy. "It is hoped that France will stabilise the tone of friendly cooperation between China and the EU," He said in opening remarks before an afternoon of discussions at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guest house, adding that China believes its bilateral ties with France "have a good foundation". "It is essential to think about the expansion and deepening of economic and financial cooperation between France and China," La Maire said. "We would like to welcome major new investments from China to French territory."

Persons: Lifeng, Bruno Le Maire, Thomas Peter BEIJING, State Anthony Blinken, Janet Yellen, Le Maire, La Maire, Joe Cash, Layli Foroudi, Liz Lee, Lincoln, Giles Elgood Organizations: China's, Finance, France Economic, REUTERS, Economy, Beijing's, U.S, State, Economic, European Union, Union, Huawei, Thomson Locations: French, China, France, Diaoyutai, Beijing, EU, United States, Russia, Paris

☆ Mercenaries return to bases after challenge to Putin's authority
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Ending their short-lived mutiny, fighters of the Wagner group began heading back to their bases late on Saturday in return for guarantees for their safety. Their commander, Yevgeny Prigozhin, will move to Belarus under the deal mediated by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Peskov said Lukashenko had offered to mediate, with Putin's approval, because he had known Prigozhin personally for around 20 years. She said the swift ending of the turmoil indicated that Putin's rule would not be undermined by it alone. Russia's ministry of digital affairs recommended that IT, telecoms and media companies give employees the day off on Monday.

Persons: Belarus Wagner, Vladimir Putin's, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Alexander Lukashenko, Antony Blinken, Putin, Lukashenko, Prigozhin, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Joe Biden, Justin Trudeau, Biden, Trudeau, Zelenskiy, State Anthony Blinken, NBC's, Anton Vaganov, Dmitry, Oleg, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Sergei Shoigu, Valery Gerasimov, Marina Miron, Antonio Tajani, Messaggero, Brian Taylor, Russia's, Gareth Jones, Philippa Fletcher, Frank Jack Daniel, Jane Merriman, Chris Reese Organizations: Kremlin, U.S, Russia's Security, Canadian, Twitter, State, Press, Rostov, Reuters, Sunday, Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics, Defence Ministry, King's College London's Defense Studies Department, Syracuse University, Thomson Locations: Belarus, Rostov, ROSTOV, VORONEZH, Russia, Russian, Moscow, Ukraine, China, Bolshevik, Africa

☆ Opinion: Biden is taking a calculated risk on India’s Modi
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Indeed, Biden will likely be accused of hypocrisy for playing down issues of human rights and democracy erosion under Modi, both accusations that Modi claims are false. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden meet at the Oval Office, in September 2021. Though Modi’s administration denies it, human rights organizations say discrimination against Muslims has worsened under Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. Officials say Biden will raise the issue of India’s human rights record and democracy backsliding, but it’s likely they will be downplayed. After all, putting human rights publicly at the heart of relations with Saudi Arabia did little more than open the region’s door to China.

Persons: Frida Ghitis, Narendra Modi, Modi, Joe Biden, Biden, Sarahbeth Maney, Rahul Gandhi, “ Modi, Gandhi, It’s, “, Vladimir Putin, State Anthony Blinken, ” Biden, Facebook Modi – Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, Indian, Frida Ghitis CNN, United Nations, White House, White, Bharatiya Janata Party, Journalists, Freedom House, State, Twitter, Facebook, Capitol Locations: United States, India, France, South Korea, Washington, Gujarat, Ukraine, China, Australia, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Pacific, New York

☆ North Korea criticises Blinken's China visit as 'begging trip'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with China's Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Wang Yi (not pictured) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, June 19, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis/PoolSEOUL, June 21 (Reuters) - North Korea on Wednesday criticised U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's recent visit to Beijing as a "begging trip" to ease tensions in what it called a policy failure to pressure China. Blinken said after the meeting on Monday that he urged China to encourage North Korea to stop launching missiles as Beijing holds a "unique position" to press Pyongyang to engage in dialogue. "In a word, the U.S. state secretary's recent junket can never be judged otherwise than a disgraceful begging trip of the provoker admitting the failure of the policy of putting pressure on China," the commentary said. Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi; Editing by Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Central Foreign Affairs Commission Wang Yi, Leah Millis, State Anthony Blinken's, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Blinken, Jong Yong Hak, Daniel Kritenbrink, Soo, hyang Choi, Sonali Paul Organizations: China's, Central Foreign Affairs Commission, REUTERS, Wednesday, U.S, State, East Asian, Pacific Affairs, Thomson Locations: Diaoyutai, Beijing, China, Pool SEOUL, North Korea, U.S, Pyongyang, U.S ., United States, Japan, India, Australia, Britain, South Korea, Seoul, South

☆ Podcast: Blinken meets Xi and Chinese bankers rein it in
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is in China for a much-anticipated visit – but with few real breakthroughs expected. Berkeley tried to buoy enrollment of Black students without affirmative action. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. Further ReadingBlinken to wrap up talks in China, may meet Xi before leavingHow U.C. Berkeley tried to buoy enrollment of Black students without affirmative actionAnalysis: China bankers told to shun flashy clothes, 5-star hotels in austerity driveOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: State Anthony Blinken, Berkeley Organizations: Apple, Google, Reuters, State, Thomson Locations: China, U.C

☆ Ahead of Blinken's Beijing visit, Singapore urges the U.S. and China to stave off conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

SINGAPORE — Singapore renewed calls for China and the U.S. to cool tensions, warning of "great costs and hardship across the world" if these feuding global powers do not step back from the brink. The comments come as U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is reportedly preparing to visit Beijing for talks this week. China rejected U.S. defense officials' request for dialogue at a security summit in Singapore two weeks ago. "Unbridled and unchecked competition with no guardrails will generate great costs and hardship, across the world. "It is every country's interest, especially the U.S. and China, to develop a new architecture that enables inclusive and sustainable development."

Persons: State Anthony Blinken, —, Heng Swee Kiat, Heng Organizations: U.S, State, Asia New Vision Locations: Beijing, Singapore, China, U.S, SINGAPORE — Singapore, South Carolina, Asia, Taiwan Strait, South, ASEAN

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