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☆ Taiwan says trade deal would show U.S. support in face of China pressure
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com + 0.99 time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI (Reuters) - A bilateral trade deal between Taiwan and the United States would reinforce U.S. support for the democratic island in the face of “unrelenting intimidation” from China, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said on Friday. FILE PHOTO: Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen delivers a speech during National Day celebrations in front of the Presidential Building in Taipei, Taiwan, Oct. 10, 2020. Tsai said she was thankful for bipartisan support from U.S. politicians for such a deal. “Such an agreement would further enhance our close economic and trade partnership, and also reinforce America’s support for Taiwan in the face of unrelenting intimidation from across the Strait,” she added. Tsai alluded to the incoming administration, saying: “As we move towards 2021, the Taiwan-U.S. partnership holds enormous opportunities for growth”.

Persons: Tsai Ing, Ann Wang Taiwan, Tsai, ”, “, Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, American Legislative Exchange Council, Leadership, Taiwan - Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, United States, China, Taipei, U.S, Taiwan Strait, Taiwan - U.S

☆ Analysis: Is a post-COVID currency war coming?
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Marc Jones | Elizabeth Howcroft | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +5 min

In Sweden, whose crown is this year’s best-performing currency, the central bank unexpectedly increased its money-printing programme last week. (Graphic for Emerging market currency rebound: )ROOM TO BOOMIt is not only the expectation that COVID-19 vaccines will normalise trade, travel and commodity prices driving the trend. (Graphic for MSCI EM FX index 2012 and 2020: )IIF chief economist Robin Brooks doubts even that kind of move would trigger a full-blown currency war. Nevertheless, he thinks the euro and the yen will be shoved higher, requiring the European Central Bank and Bank of Japan to respond. “Our concern is the speed of the adjustment,” Thailand’s central bank governor, Sethaput Suthiwart-Narueput, said last week.

Persons: Bernadett Szabo, “, ”, Manik Narain, splurged, Joe Biden’s, Pramol Dhawan, Narain, Brazil’s Guido Mantega, Morgan Stanley, Robin Brooks, ” Brooks, Sethaput Organizations: ., Swiss, REUTERS, Institute of International Finance, UBS, FX, Citi, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and Bank of Japan Locations: Budapest, Western, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Sweden, Brazilian, Turkish Lira, South, Russian, China, U.S, India

☆ Some Sino-U.S. relations damage 'beyond repair', China state media warn
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Brenda Goh | Se Young Lee | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

(Reuters) - Some damage to Sino-U.S. ties is “beyond repair” amid a new wave of Trump administration measures to counter China, Chinese state media warned, amid growing rancour underlined by an ugly Twitter spat between a U.S. senator and Chinese journalists. FILE PHOTO: Chinese and U.S. flags flutter near The Bund, before U.S. trade delegation meet their Chinese counterparts for talks in Shanghai, China July 30, 2019. Relations between the two countries are being shifted to “a dangerous path”, the editorial said. The Democrat told the New York Times this week that he would not remove existing tariffs set by the Trump administration against China for now. Senator Marsha Blackburn and China Daily journalist Chen Weihua underscored persistent animosity.

Persons: Aly, China Daily, Joe Biden, Cui Tiankai, ”, Meng Wanzhou, Biden, Trump, Marsha Blackburn, Chen Weihua, Blackburn, China “, Chen, ” Blackburn, Xi Jinping’s, ” Hu Xijin Organizations: Reuters, Bund, REUTERS, Chinese Communist Party, Twitter, Reuters U.S, Huawei, Democrat, New York Times, U.S, China Daily, Republican, China’s Global Times Locations: U.S, China, Shanghai, United States, Canada, Xinjiang, Hong Kong

☆ Biden says bipartisan coronavirus aid bill should be passed but will still need more
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.95 time to read: 1 min

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President-elect Joe Biden delivers a pre-Thanksgiving speech at his transition headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., November 25, 2020. REUTERS/Joshua RobertsWASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Joe Biden said on Thursday a bipartisan coronavirus aid bill should be passed but that he will have to ask for more once in office. During an interview with CNN alongside Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Biden said the $908 billion bill proposed by moderates in the U.S. Senate should be seen as a “start” to providing relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Persons: Joe Biden, Joshua Roberts WASHINGTON, Kamala Harris, Biden Organizations: REUTERS, CNN, Senate Locations: Wilmington , Delaware, U.S

☆ U.S. sets single day records for cases; California readies new clamp down
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Sharon Bernstein | Maria Caspani | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +5 min

More than 211,762 new cases and 2,858 deaths were confirmed as of Thursday evening by a Reuters tally. The stay-at-home restrictions will begin with 48 hours’ notice and remain in place for at least three weeks once they are ordered. The public health crisis has taken on more dire dimensions following a week of Thanksgiving holiday celebrations in which millions of Americans disregarded warnings against traveling and large gatherings. Health experts predict that an even greater surge could kill about 3,000 people a day over the next two months. And if there’s repercussions along down the line I am going to say that it’s worth taking that risk.”

Persons: California’s, Hospitalizations, Gavin Newsom, ” Newsom, Shannon Stapleton, ”, Cruz Resendiz, Robert Redfield, ” Redfield, Mike DeWine, Gretchen Whitmer, Barack Obama, George W, Bush, Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, Anthony Fauci, Biden, “, Nina Lyons Organizations: United, Reuters, San, Roseland Community Hospital, REUTERS, West Hollywood, “, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, Midwest, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Former U.S Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, United States, Southern California, San Francisco Bay, California, U.S, Sacramento, Roseland, Chicago , Illinois, West, State, Michigan, Former, Pittsburgh

☆ U.S. Democrats elect Meeks as first Black House foreign affairs chairman
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Patricia Zengerle | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.98 time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks (D-NY) speaks to the media on Capitol Hill in Washington, September 5, 2013. REUTERS/Larry Downing/File PhotoWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Democrats elected Greg Meeks on Thursday as the next chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, a position in which he is expected to work closely with President-elect Joe Biden’s administration on the Iran nuclear deal and other issues. Engel voted for the 2003 Iraq War and opposed President Barack Obama’s 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. The caucus vote was 148-78 for Meeks over Representative Joaquin Castro, who had campaigned for the post as a more progressive alternative to Meeks. Castro, currently vice chairman of the foreign affairs panel, said he looked forward to working with Meeks on common goals such as promoting diversity at the State Department and rejoining the Iran nuclear deal.

Persons: Gregory Meeks, Larry Downing, Greg Meeks, Joe Biden’s, Meeks, “, ” Meeks, New York Representative Eliot Engel, Engel, Barack Obama’s, Joaquin Castro, Castro, Donald Trump, Biden Organizations: Capitol, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, . House, House Foreign Affairs Committee, World Health Organization, Congress, New York Representative, Democratic, Israel, Democratic Party’s, State Department, Republican Locations: Washington, Iran, Iraq, United States, Tehran

☆ Trump unveils $207 million fundraising haul since election as he tries to overturn results
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Simon Lewis | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.97 time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: Signs by supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump hang outside the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, U.S. November 10, 2020. The post-election fundraising haul brought the combined fundraising of Trump committees between Oct. 15 and Nov. 23 to $495 million, the Trump campaign said. Biden has not released figures for the period, but was consistently raising more than Trump in the final months of the campaign. Trump has refused to concede defeat and alleged without evidence that Biden’s victory came thanks to widespread voter fraud. Soon after the election, Trump’s campaign began sending solicitations to supporters by email and text making pleas for donations to an “Official Election Defense Fund” to “protect the results and keep fighting even after Election Day.”The fine print made clear most of the money would go to other priorities, including retiring the debts of Trump’s campaign.

Persons: Donald Trump, Hannah McKay, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Bill Stepien, ” Trump, Trump’s, solicitations Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Republican National Committee, Trump, Election Locations: Washington , U.S

☆ Trump unveils $207 million fundraising haul after election in effort to overturn result
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Simon Lewis | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.99 time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: Signs by supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump hang outside the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, U.S. November 10, 2020. The post-election fundraising haul brought the combined fundraising of Trump committees between Oct. 15 and Nov. 23 to $495 million, the Trump campaign said. Biden’s campaign raised $112 million during the same period, according to a filing with the Federal Elections Commission on Thursday. Trump has refused to concede defeat and alleged without evidence that Biden’s victory came thanks to widespread voter fraud. Soon after the election, Trump’s campaign began sending solicitations to supporters by email and text making pleas for donations to an “Official Election Defense Fund” to “protect the results and keep fighting even after Election Day.”The fine print made clear most of the money would go to other priorities, including retiring the debts of Trump’s campaign.

Persons: Donald Trump, Hannah McKay, Donald Trump’s, Joe Biden’s, Trump, Bill Stepien, ” Trump, Trump’s, solicitations Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Republican National Committee, Trump, Federal, Commission, Election Locations: Washington , U.S

☆ US mayors expect 'dramatic' cuts with public schools hit the worst — and the US Senate's stimulus package is unlikely to help
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Charles Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

A survey of 130 US mayors found that 45% expect to make or see serious cuts to public education spending due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An equal number expect cuts in parks and recreation, transportation budgets, and social services. The vast majority of mayors surveyed said the federal government's response to the pandemic was inadequate. Nearly half of America's mayors expect to see "dramatic" cuts to public school budgets in the coming months, with an equal number attributing their cities' economic struggles at least in part due to an inadequate federal response. "This year, while we still hear glimmers of optimism, their pessimism in the face of a once-in-a-century pandemic is palpable," Wilson said.

Persons: Vox, Mitch McConnell, El, Graham Wilson, Wilson, Joe Biden's, Trump, Otis Rolley Organizations: Boston University, El Paso's Republican, Boston University's Initiative, Rockefeller, Equity, Economic Opportunity Initiative

☆ Joe Biden throws his support behind the $908 billion compromise relief package while emphasizing he will press for more aid after his inauguration
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Joseph Zeballos-Roig | ) www.businessinsider.com + 0.00 time to read: +4 min

President-elect Joe Biden threw his support behind a compromise relief plan in a CNN interview. The relief plan appeared to gather more momentum on Capitol Hill after months of inaction from lawmakers. President-elect Joe Biden came out in favor of the $908 billion compromise relief package, though maintaining he would seek more federal aid after he is sworn in on January 20. Biden's comments come as lawmakers debate the scope and components of another relief package. He said the compromise relief plan "at best, is only going to be a down payment for what's going to happen early next year."

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, CNN's Jake Tapper, cobble, Joe Biden's, Trump, Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, McConnell Organizations: CNN, Capitol, Congressional Democratic, Republican, Kentucky Republican, White

☆ Judge denounces conduct at for-profit ICE detention facility, accuses official of lying to cover up 'deliberate indifference' to the lives of immigrants during pandemic
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Charles Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

US Judge Vince Chhabria on Thursday accused an ICE official of lying to cover up the "deliberate indifference" to the lives of immigrants at a privately-run detention center. Over the summer, over half of those detained at the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center contracted COVID-19. It also requires facility staff to segregate detainees who have tested positive in separate dorms. Bree Bernwanger, an attorney with the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights in San Francisco, argues that the behavior documented by Judge Chhabria should be a lesson to President-elect Joe Biden and his team. "The new administration should take heed of the court's observation that ICE and GEO have lost the right to be trusted."

Persons: Vince Chhabria, Chhabria, Alexander Pham, Williams Mattias Rauda, Bree Bernwanger, Judge Chhabria, Joe Biden, Bernwanger Organizations: Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center, GEO Group, Visit, Court, American Liberties Union, US Immigration, ICE, GEO, ACLU, Lawyers, Committee, Civil Rights Locations: Bakersfield , California, Northern California, COVID, Nothern District, California, Verde, Mesa Verde, San Francisco

☆ Trump is reportedly considering preemptively pardoning as many as 20 associates before leaving office
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com + 0.00 time to read: +6 min

President Donald Trump is considering preemptively pardoning as many as 20 close associates before he leaves office in January, Politico reported on Thursday. President Donald Trump is weighing issuing preemptive pardons to as many as 20 close associates, Politico reported on Thursday. Trump has expressed particular concern about a pair of fraud investigations that the New York attorney general's office and the Manhattan district attorney's office are conducting. Trump is likely more concerned about the New York investigations because while the president's pardon power is extraordinarily broad, it does not apply to state-level or local offenses. Both investigations — one civil and one criminal — are focused on the Trump family's business dealings, the Trump Organization, and the president's personal finances.

Persons: Donald Trump, preemptively pardoning, Rudy Giuliani, Trump, — Donald Jr, Eric —, Jared Kushner, Politico's, It's, Joe Biden, Giuliani, Marie Yovanovitch, Biden's, Hunter, Biden, Hunter Biden, That's Rudy, Robert Mueller's, Hillary Clinton's, Kushner, Paul Manafort, Eric Trump Organizations: Politico, New York Times, The New York Times, New, Trump, Trump Organization, Manhattan US, Office, CNN, FBI, Burisma Holdings, NBC News, Washington Post, Trump Jr, Senate Intelligence, Times, Manhattan Locations: New York, Manhattan, Washington, York, Ukraine, Russian, New, Ukrainian

☆ Biden, Harris interview: 'I will be a full partner' with Joe Biden, says Kamala Harris
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com + 1.00 time to read: 1 min

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris tells CNN's Jake Tapper that she will be "a full partner" with President-elect Joe Biden , and that she will be involved on every issue that impacts the American people.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Jake Tapper, Joe Biden

☆ TikTok saga will ultimately reach a 'peaceful resolution': Jefferies analyst
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com + 0.97 time to read: 1 min

TikTok saga will ultimately reach a 'peaceful resolution': Jefferies analystA Biden administration may be "slightly more friendly" in handling the ongoing saga, says Brent Thill of Jefferies.

Persons: Biden, Brent Thill, Jefferies Organizations: Jefferies

☆ U.S. Senate set to vote on Trump FCC nominee as soon as next week
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) logo is seen before the FCC Net Neutrality hearing in Washington February 26, 2015. That could stymie Democratic priorities on a number of issues at the FCC, including moving to restore the 2015 net neutrality rules overturned by the Trump FCC in 2017. Simington was approved along party lines by a 14-12 vote by the Commerce Committee on Wednesday over the objections of Democrats. President Donald Trump has railed against social media companies and demanded repeal of a social media protection known as Section 230 that is part of a 1996 law. Trump in May directed the Commerce Department to file a petition with the FCC seeking to curb legal protections for social media companies.

Persons: Yuri Gripas, Mitch McConnell, Nathan Simington, Simington, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, Michael O’Rielly, O’Rielly Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Senate, Trump, Federal Communications Commission, FCC, REUTERS, Commerce Department, Republicans, Democratic, Trump FCC, Commerce, Republican Locations: Washington, Georgia, Trump

☆ President-elect Biden says he has asked Fauci to stay on and join COVID-19 team
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.97 time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - President-elect Joe Biden has asked top U.S. infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci to continue in his job and serve as Biden’s chief medical adviser and on the COVID-19 team after Biden takes office on Jan. 20, Biden said on Thursday. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, spoke to Biden and his team preparing to deal with the virus on Thursday, Biden said in an interview with CNN. Biden also said he would get the COVID-19 vaccine when Fauci says it is safe and would be happy to take it publicly. “It’s important to communicate to the American people it’s safe, safe to do this,” he said. “I’m going to ask the public for 100 days to mask,” Biden said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Anthony Fauci, Biden, Fauci, “, he’s, ”, I’m, ” Biden Organizations: National Institute of Allergy, CNN, Reuters Locations: WILMINGTON, Del, U.S

☆ Biden says he has asked Fauci to stay on and join COVID-19 team
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.97 time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - President-elect Joe Biden has asked top U.S. infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci to continue in his job and serve as Biden’s chief medical adviser and on the COVID-19 team after Biden takes office on Jan. 20, Biden said on Thursday. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, spoke to Biden and his team preparing to deal with the virus on Thursday, Biden said in an interview with CNN. “I asked him to stay on in the exact same role as he’s had for the past several presidents, and I asked him to be a chief medical adviser for me as well and be part of the COVID team,” said Biden. Biden also said he would get the COVID-19 vaccine when Fauci says it is safe and would be happy to take it publicly. “It’s important to communicate to the American people it’s safe, safe to do this,” he said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Anthony Fauci, Biden, Fauci, “, he’s, ”, I’m, ” Biden Organizations: National Institute of Allergy, CNN, Reuters Locations: WILMINGTON, Del, U.S

☆ China has done human testing to create biologically enhanced super soldiers, says top U.S. official
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( Ken Dilanian | Ken Dilanian Is A Correspondent Covering Intelligence | National Security For The Nbc News Investigative Unit. | ) www.nbcnews.com + 0.00 time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON — U.S. intelligence shows that China has conducted "human testing" on members of the People's Liberation Army in hopes of developing soldiers with "biologically enhanced capabilities," the nation's top intelligence official said Friday. Specifically, the scholars explored Chinese research using the gene-editing tool CRISPR, short for "clusters of regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats." "Chinese military scientists and strategists have consistently emphasized that biotechnology could become a 'new strategic commanding heights of the future Revolution in Military Affairs,'" the scholars wrote, quoting a 2015 article in a military newspaper. The overall message of Ratcliffe's opinion piece is that China is a dangerous adversary that threatens American economic and national security. In an interview with Fox News, Ratcliffe urged President-elect Joe Biden to "be honest" about China.

Persons: National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, Ratcliffe, Captain America, Jean Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Tommy, Tiny, CRISPR, Elsa Kania, Wilson VornDick, VornDick, Joe Biden, Biden, Trump Organizations: WASHINGTON —, People's Liberation Army, National Intelligence, Republican, CIA, Universal, TriStar, Getty, Center, New, New American Security, U.S . Navy, Military Affairs, NBC News, Fox News Locations: WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON — U.S, China, Texas, New American, Republic of China, America, Beijing

☆ Factbox-The Biden Cabinet: President-elect begins to build a team
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +11 min

2 at the State Department and as deputy national security adviser in Obama’s administration. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: JAKE SULLIVANBiden’s national security adviser when he served as vice president to Obama, Sullivan also served as deputy chief of staff to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Haines held several posts at Columbia University after leaving the Obama administration in 2017. Senator and Secretary of State Kerry will act as “climate czar” in the Biden Administration. CHIEF OF STAFF: RON KLAINA longtime Biden adviser with experience in responding to the Ebola pandemic, Klain was picked for the chief of staff role that sets the president’s agenda.

Persons: Joe Biden, Joshua Roberts Biden, Obama, Jeff Zients, Vivek Murthy, JEFF ZIENTS Zients, Barack Obama, Biden, VIVEK MURTHY, Murthy, JANET YELLEN, Donald Trump, Tanden, CECILIA ROUSE Rouse, BRIAN DEESE, ANTONY BLINKEN, JAKE SULLIVAN, Sullivan, Hillary Clinton, ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS, Mayorkas, DACA, AVRIL HAINES, Haines, LINDA THOMAS, GREENFIELD, Greenfield, KERRY, State Kerry, ”, Kerry, Michele Flournoy, Flournoy, Bill Clinton, Biden’s, Jeh Johnson, Johnson, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Tammy Duckworth, Duckworth, Sally Yates, Yates, Doug Jones, Jones, Tommy Tuberville, Tom Perez, Xavier Becerra, Elizabeth Sherwood, Randall, Sherwood, Arun Majumdar, Stanford University’sfaculty, Jay Inslee, Inslee, Ernest Moniz –, Moniz, Heather McTeer Toney, Toney, Mary Nichols, Collin O’Mara, O’Mara, Michael Morell, Morell, Tom Donilon, Mandy Cohen, Cohen, David Kessler, Kessler, RON KLAIN, Klain Organizations: Reuters, Democratic, White House, REUTERS, Politico, Brookings Institution, Republican, Center, American Progress, Republicans, OF, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Obama, OF STATE, State Department, Immigration Services, Mayorkas, CIA, Columbia University, UNITED, GREENFIELD Biden’s, United Nations, Thomas, KERRY Former U.S, State, Biden Administration, Pentagon, Defense Department, Blinken, of Defense, Air Force, Clinton Administration, U.S, U.S . Central Command, Army, Senate, Justice Department’s Civil, Division, U.S . Senate, Georgia Institute of Technology, U.S . Department of, Google, Stanford, Clean, Force, California’s Air Resources Board, National Wildlife Federation, Delaware Department of Natural Resources, Environmental, CENTRAL, Beacon Global, North, North Carolina’s Health, Human Services Department, Centers, Medicare, Services, Food and Drug Administration, FDA Locations: Rehoboth Beach , Delaware, U.S, Obama’s, Paris, Cuba, United States, Black, Africa, Clinton, Illinois, Iraq, Thai, Alabama, Washington, Kenya, France, Portugal, Nigeria, Senegal, Asia, North Carolina’s

☆ Trump administration adds China's SMIC and CNOOC to Defense blacklist
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( Alexandra Alper | Humeyra Pamuk | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Thursday added China’s top chipmaker SMIC and oil giant CNOOC to a blacklist of alleged Chinese military companies, a move likely to escalate tensions with Beijing before President-elect Joe Biden takes office. Slideshow ( 2 images )The Department of Defense designated a total of four additional companies as owned or controlled by the Chinese military, including China Construction Technology Co Ltd and China International Engineering Consulting Corp. The move, first reported by Reuters on Sunday, brings the total number of companies blacklisted to 35. The Chinese embassy in Washington, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) and China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Congress and the administration have sought increasingly to curb the U.S. market access of Chinese companies that do not comply with rules faced by American rivals, even if that means antagonizing Wall Street.

Persons: Trump, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Trump’s, Biden, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON, Department of Defense, China Construction Technology Co Ltd, China International Engineering Consulting Corp, Reuters, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, China National Offshore Oil Corp, CNOOC, U.S . Commerce Department, Communist Chinese Military, Pentagon, People’s Liberation Army, Giants, China Telecom, China Mobile, U.S, Vanguard Group, BlackRock Inc, U.S . House, Trump Locations: Beijing, China, Washington, crosshairs, U.S, Hikvision, American

☆ United States adds China's SMIC and CNOOC to Defense blacklist
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( Alexandra Alper | Humeyra Pamuk | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Thursday added China’s top chipmaker, SMIC, and oil giant CNOOC to a blacklist of alleged Chinese military companies, a move likely to escalate tensions with Beijing before President-elect Joe Biden takes office. Slideshow ( 2 images )The Department of Defense designated a total of four additional companies as owned or controlled by the Chinese military, also including China Construction Technology Co Ltd and China International Engineering Consulting Corp. The move, first reported by Reuters on Sunday, brings the total number of companies blacklisted to 35. SMIC said in a stock market statement that it strongly opposes the decision of United States Department of Defense, which reflects a fundamental misunderstanding by the U.S.administration regarding the end-uses of its business and technology. Shares of CNOOC’s listed unit CNOOC Ltd had fallen by nearly 14% percent following the Sunday report.

Persons: Trump, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, SMIC, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON, Department of Defense, China Construction Technology Co Ltd, China International Engineering Consulting Corp, Reuters, Republican, Embassy, Foreign Ministry, Offshore Oil Corp, United States Department of Defense, CNOOC, U.S . Commerce Department, Biden, Democratic, Communist Chinese Military, Pentagon, People’s Liberation Army, Giants, China Telecom, China Mobile, U.S, Vanguard Group, BlackRock Inc, U.S . House, Trump Locations: Beijing, China, Washington, Hong Kong, crosshairs, U.S, Hikvision, American

Democrats picked Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney on Thursday to lead their campaign organization into the 2022 elections. Maloney, who in 2013 became the first openly gay member of Congress from New York, will now become the first LGBTQ person to chair the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which helps to recruit House candidates, raise money and provide campaign guidance. “Now, it’s time for House Democrats to unite and go forward together. Cardenas, 57, is a four-term House lawmaker who has led Bold Pac, the fundraising arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. The 2022 election looms as a difficult one for House Democrats.

Persons: Sean Patrick Maloney, Maloney, “ I’m, ” Maloney, ” Alphonso David, “, ” David, Mondaire Jones, Ritchie Torres, Tony Cardenas, Cardenas, Cheri Bustos, ”, Joe Biden Organizations: Democratic Congressional, Committee, Twitter, House Democrats, Human Rights, Senate, Black Democrats, Trump, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Cheri Bustos of Illinois, Republican, Progressives, GOP, Democratic, NBC, Facebook Locations: New York, New, Hudson Valley, Tony Cardenas of California, Cheri Bustos of, South Florida

☆ Iran likely to hold off on retaliation over scientist's killing -U.S. envoy
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( Humeyra Pamuk | Matt Spetalnick | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iran is unlikely to retaliate over the assassination of a prominent nuclear scientist before the inauguration of Joe Biden in case it jeopardizes any future sanctions relief, the top U.S. envoy on Iran told Reuters on Thursday. FILE PHOTO: Members of Iranian forces carry the coffin of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh during a funeral ceremony in Tehran, Iran November 30, 2020. “If they want sanctions relief, they know that they’re going to need to enter some kind of negotiation after January 20, and it’s got to be in their minds that they don’t want to... undertake any activities between now and Jan 20 that make sanctions relief harder to get,” he said. In retaliation, Tehran gradually breached the deal’s restrictions on its nuclear program. Biden has said he will return the United States to the deal if Iran resumes compliance.

Persons: Joe Biden, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, REUTERS Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Elliott Abrams, Biden, Donald Trump, it’s, ”, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Trump, Abrams Organizations: WASHINGTON, Reuters, Iranian Defense Ministry, West Asia News Agency, REUTERS, Jan Locations: Iran, Tehran, Israel, Venezuela, “, United States, Washington, Islamic Republic

☆ Wisconsin Supreme Court rebuffs Trump challenge to election results
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( Makini Brice | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +1 min

A poll worker gestures while processing absentee ballots Milwaukee Central Count the night of Election Day in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., November 3, 2020. Trump’s team filed the petition, which challenged Wisconsin’s election results and sought to invalidate 221,323 absentee ballots, directly to the state’s top court on Tuesday. President-Elect Joe Biden won the majority of votes in Wisconsin, edging Trump out by about 20,000 votes, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Wisconsin’s top court, in denying the petition, said the parties could pursue a case in a lower court. The petition alleged Wisconsin election officials were directed to fill in missing information on ballot envelopes, issued absentee ballots without receiving applications and allowed people to improperly claim a “confined” absentee voting status.

Persons: Bing Guan, Donald Trump’s, Trump’s, Joe Biden, Trump Organizations: Milwaukee Central Count, REUTERS, Wisconsin Supreme, Commission, Biden Locations: Milwaukee , Wisconsin, U.S, Wisconsin, Trump, Madison

☆ Trump spy chief labels China biggest threat to freedom since World War Two
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-03 | by ( Mark Hosenball | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +5 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. intelligence official stepped up the Trump administration’s harsh attacks on Beijing on Thursday, labeling China the biggest threat to democracy and freedom worldwide since World War Two and saying it was bent on global domination. Beijing has frequently called on U.S. leaders to dial back their rhetoric on China, which it blames on fear of China’s growing role in the world. Ratcliffe alluded to reports collected by U.S. intelligence agencies that Chinese representatives have sought to interfere in U.S. domestic politics. Now let’s all be honest about China,” Ratcliffe told Reuters after the article was published. On Thursday, the Trump administration restricted travel to the United States by members of China’s ruling Communist Party and their families.

Persons: John Ratcliffe, Andrew Harnik, National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, Ratcliffe, Trump, ”, Rob, Donald Trump’s, Biden, Xi, “, ” Ratcliffe, China’s, Hacking, ” Bonnie Glaser, Joe Biden Organizations: WASHINGTON, Trump, Capitol, National Intelligence, Wall Street, Republican, of, Communist Party, U.S, Center for Strategic, International Studies Locations: Beijing, China, R, Washington , U.S, U.S, America, ”, Washington, Hong Kong, South China, Xinjiang, Ratcliffe, United States, Asia

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