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☆ Labor unions, domestic manufacturing groups launch coalition to reform de minimis import loophole
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

-WASHINGTON — Labor unions, domestic manufacturers, business associations and other interest organizations on Wednesday announced a bipartisan coalition to target an import loophole allowing billions of un-taxed goods into the U.S."The coalition we have assembled is a testament to the mounting pressure to close the de minimis loophole," Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., said. The ranking member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade is working in conjunction with the new Coalition to Close the De Minimis Loophole. CBP said it processed over 1 billion de minimis shipments in FY '23, according to a report last modified on March 1. The company has been valued at over $66 billion according to a November report, while PDD reported third-quarter revenue of $9.44 billion that month. "Our industry has lost astonishingly 10 plants in five months as a result of the de minimis loophole," Glas told reporters.

Persons: Rep, Earl Blumenauer, minimis, Blumenauer, Mike Gallagher, Gallagher, Neal Dunn, Sherrod Brown, Marco Rubio, Dunn, Dan Bishop, Rosa DeLauro, Conn, Shein, PDD, Kim Glas, Glas Organizations: Port, WASHINGTON — Labor, Wednesday, Trade, Coalition, Chinese Communist Party, U.S . Customs, CBP, CNBC, House CCP Committee, PDD Holdings, National Council of Textile Organizations, AFL, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Coalition for, Prosperous Locations: China, Port of Los Angeles, Long Beach , California, U.S, United States, Sens, Ohio, Singapore, Prosperous America

☆ Analysis-As China's Xi Summons 'New Productive Forces', Old Questions Linger for Economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

By James Pomfret, Kevin Yao and Ellen ZhangHONG KONG/BEIJING (Reuters) - Facing its deepest economic challenges in years, China's leadership has tasked ministries and local governments with implementing a new mantra from President Xi Jinping: unleash "new productive forces". Beijing hopes the “new productive forces” campaign will strengthen China at a time when geopolitical pressures including steps by the United States to “decouple” or “de-risk” have curtailed access to foreign technology. "To support innovation, we should give people more freedom to think and talk, because many innovations result from the collision of ideas. The new mantra was also taken up by China's state planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission. Its annual report on Tuesday pledged support for industries including satellite internet applications, China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, and research into nuclear fusion.

Persons: James Pomfret, Kevin Yao, Ellen Zhang HONG, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Xi’s, Xi, Tianchen Xu, Li, Steve Tsang, Ellen Zhang, Nick Macfie Organizations: Communist Party, Party, Reuters, Economist Intelligence Unit, SOAS China Institute, National Development, Reform Commission Locations: Ellen Zhang HONG KONG, BEIJING, China, China’s, Beijing, United States, London, Pearl

☆ China’s New Economic Agenda, a Lot Like the Old One: Takeaways
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Alexandra Stevenson | Chris Buckley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

China’s annual legislative meeting — the National People’s Congress, when Communist Party leaders promote their solutions for national ills — opened for business. The event is a chance for the leaders to signal the direction of the economy and outline how and where the government will spend money in the coming year. Despite their reluctance to spend, China’s top leaders said the economy would grow around 5 percent this year. The growth target and other policies came in a report given to the annual session of the legislature. 2 official, Li Qiang, and is the marquee event in a weeklong gathering dominated by officials and party loyalists.

Persons: —, China’s, Li Qiang Organizations: People’s Congress, Communist Party Locations: Beijing

☆ Xi's growing paranoia and secrecy are signs of just how badly China's economy is doing
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Under Xi Jinping's rule, China's economy has slowed after decades of growth. After decades of growth, China's economy is slowing, with a property market crisis causing consumer debt, deflation, a slowdown in spending, and an unemployment crisis. Xi walks a tightropeAs well as moves to close down scrutiny, the Party is unveiling ambitious measures to boost China's economy. But analysts say China continues to face deep economic problems. China's growth target, which is in line with last year's official growth figures, appears modest in comparison to the 10% annual growth it has experienced on average for the past few decades.

Persons: Xi, Premier Li Qiang, —, Xi Jinping, Xi doesn't, Jonathan Ward, Ward, Ali Wyne, Li, Vladimir Putin's Organizations: Premier, Analysts, Service, Communist Party, The New York Times, Hudson Institute, Chinese Communist Party, Crisis, BBC Locations: China, Beijing, Vladimir Putin's Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Moscow, Tehran

☆ Opinion: America isn’t cool anymore. Just ask the French
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Opinion Euny Hong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

I asked her excitedly in French, “What do you think about the abortion rights thing?”“C’est fou, hein?” she said. She continued, “Trump, he wants to reverse abortion rights. Unbelievable.”“Oh!” I said, “I meant about how France is writing abortion rights into the Constitution.”“Oh that?” she said, less excitedly. On the other hand, French women were allowed to open their own checking accounts in 1965 — horrific until you realize that their American counterparts were not granted that right until 1974. But compared to today’s America, France looks like the version of a feminist utopia that could only be dreamed of by Greta Gerwig’s Barbie universe.

Persons: Roe, Wade, Laurence Rossignol, Le Monde, Rossignol, fou, hein, ”, “ Trump, “, Alexis De Tocqueville, America “, Barack Obama, George Floyd, Derek Chauvin, —, Congrès, I’ve, ” Claude Malhuret, she’d, Gabriel Attal, Greta Gerwig’s Organizations: CNN, CNN — America, US, Democracy, Communist, Minnesota, American, Equality, Fraternity Locations: Paris, America, France, French, Spain, Communist China, Versailles

☆ China sets GDP target of 'around 5%' for 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING — China set a growth target of "around 5%" for 2024, according to the "Government Work Report" released Tuesday. The targets for GDP and other economic indicators were published as part of the opening of the National People's Congress annual meeting. The work report emphasized the need to "ensure both high-quality development and greater security," preventing risks and maintaining social stability, among other tasks. The work report said that "internal drivers of development are being built up," but added the country should be "well prepared for all risks and challenges." More than 2,800 delegates attended the opening of the National People's Congress annual meeting in Beijing on Tuesday.

Persons: Li Qiang, Louise Loo Organizations: Economic, National People's, National Bureau of Statistics, Communist Party of China's, National People's Congress, IMF, Oxford Economics Locations: Davos, Switzerland, BEIJING, China, Beijing

The work report presented Tuesday by Premier Li Qiang to the National People’s Congress outlined plans for modest increases in overall spending and a hefty 7.2% jump in funding for the military. Li's work report is designed to showcase for the nation achievements in the past year and convey the top leadership's priorities for this year. Photos You Should See View All 60 ImagesApart from the ambitious growth target, “There is no reform, no liberalization, no action plan and no messaging of reassurance,” he said. — Another 10.4 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) will go to upgrading industries and modernizing manufacturing. “We will work to build China's self-reliance and strength in science and technology,” the report said.

Persons: it’s, Premier Li Qiang, Li, Xi Jinping's, James Zimmerman, ”, Tianchen Xu, What's, —, Xu, ” Lynn Song Organizations: BEIJING, Premier, National People’s, Communist, American Chamber of Commerce, Economist Intelligence Unit, Baidu, Greater China, ING Economics, — Locations: China, Beijing, Washington, Hong Kong, Greater

☆ TikTok faces more heat in Washington, as House members introduce legislation demanding ByteDance divestiture
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The bill says TikTok is controlled by a foreign adversary and poses a threat to U.S. national security. Earlier attempts to ban TikTok in the U.S. appear to have stalled, leaving some states like Montana to try and impose their own bans. The Pew Research Center released a survey in December showing that support for a U.S. government ban on TikTok is declining. The survey showed that 38% of U.S. adults support a TikTok ban as of October compared to 50% in March. WATCH: The Biden campaign joins TikTok, despite ban on app on government phones.

Persons: Mike Gallagher, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Gallagher, ByteDance, Shou Zi Chew, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, TikTok, Biden's, Z Organizations: Lawmakers, TikTok, U.S, Chinese Communist Party, Apple, Google, Pew Research Center, Biden Locations: U.S, TikTok, Washington ,, United States, Montana

☆ Japan’s Nikkei 225 stock index surpasses 40,000 for the first time
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index jumped above 40,000 for the first time on Monday, extending a historic rally that analysts say has just begun. The milestone comes just days after it had set a record closing high of 39,098.68, eclipsing its previous 1989 peak. Optimism regarding semiconductors boosted Taiwan’s stock market as well, with benchmark Taiex hitting an all-time high on Monday, led by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Premier Li Qiang is set to announce China’s 2024 growth target on Tuesday and is also likely to unveil more stimulus measures to revive the sagging economy. Analysts widely expect the policymakers to set this year’s growth target at around 5%.

Persons: ”, Jefferies, “, chipmaker, Kospi, Hong, Li Qiang, Stephen Innes Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Nikkei, Nasdaq, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Nvidia, Investors, National People’s Congress, NPC, Communist Party’s Politburo Locations: Hong Kong, Japan, Beijing, Shanghai, China

☆ Chinese leaders to hold annual 'Two Sessions' meeting as debate about bazooka-like stimulus swirls
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Edgar Su | ReutersBEIJING — China is set this week to kick off its annual parliamentary meetings, which investors are watching closely for signals on economic stimulus. China's economic policy is typically set at an annual meeting in December by leaders within the ruling Communist Party of China. GDP and other economic targetsThe Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, an advisory body, is set to kick off its annual meeting on Monday. "On balance, the additional fiscal impulse this year, assuming a bazooka-like fiscal package is not forthcoming, is unlikely to be particularly large." China's foreign minister and premier typically hold press conferences during the parliamentary meetings, which generally end in mid-March.

Persons: Edgar Su, Wang Jun, Wang, Zong Liang, Louise Loo, Loo, Goldman Sachs, Bank of China's Zong Organizations: of, Initiative, Reuters, Huatai Asset Management, CNBC, Communist Party of China, U.S, Political Consultative Conference, National People's, Oxford Economics, Industry, Information Technology, Science, Technology, Housing, Bank of, Communist Party's, Communist Party of Locations: Beijing, China, Reuters BEIJING, U.S . Federal, RMB3.8tn, Bank of China's

☆ ‘Two sessions’: China’s key political gathering gets underway as leaders try to repair broken economic confidence
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Xi is under the spotlight as economic pain has sparked growing frustration within China. Xi has also overseen a political shakeup in his own ranks, further marring the start of the new term. Those challenges may not pose a threat to Xi, who is China’s most powerful and authoritative leader in decades. But the two sessions provide an important platform for China’s notoriously opaque government to broadcast its strategy for economic, social and foreign policies and announce key indicators including China’s economic growth target, its budget deficit limit and military spending for the coming year. Analysts widely expect Li to reveal a relatively ambitious growth target of “around 5%,” showing that policymakers are still focused on economic growth, even as challenges pile up.

Persons: —, Xi Jinping, Xi, ”, Chen Gang, Li Qiang, It’s, Xuezhi Guo, Guo, Wang Yi, Qin Gang, Li Shangfu, Li, Qin, Pedro Pardo, Neil Thomas, Premier Li, Asia Society’s Thomas, “ Organizations: Beijing CNN —, Communist, National University of Singapore’s East Asian Institute, Getty, of, National People’s, Guilford College, Observers, Washington, Asia Society, Center for Locations: China, Beijing, Chongqing, AFP, Taiwan, China's, Henan, Center for China, Asia

But the de minimis rule also has powerful defenders. China's exports grew only 0.6% last year, but the bright spot was cross-border e-commerce, which includes but is not limited to the de minimis packages. In a January meeting with Mayorkas, the National Council of Textile Organizations complained about unfair trade practices, including the de minimis rule. It is unclear how much fentanyl and other illicit drugs may be slipping undetected into the country in the small packages. On a recent Friday morning at Chicago's O'Hare airport, small parcels that had arrived by mail from overseas were on conveyor belts going through X-ray machines for inspection.

Persons: Lindsey Puls, Puls, ”, Alexander Mayorkas, Earl Blumenauer of, ” Blumenauer, Sen, John Thune, LaFonda Sutton, Burke, Charles Benoit, Benoit, Mayorkas, Videojournalist Melissa Perez Winder, Haleluya Hadero Organizations: WASHINGTON, Will, Homeland, National Foreign Trade Council, FedEx, UPS, DHL, eBay, South Dakota Republican, Customs, Custom, China’s Communist Party, Coalition for, Prosperous, National Council of Textile Organizations, National Association of Police, Border Protection, Investments Locations: China, U.S, Shiocton , Wisconsin, Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, Shein, Singapore, Chicago, United States, Prosperous America, Chicago's, New York

But Mr. Li maintained that China was on the right track. China had “withstood external pressures and overcome internal hardships,” Mr. Li told the National People’s Congress, a Communist Party controlled body that approves laws and budgets. “The economy is generally rebounding.”The National People’s Congress, a choreographed weeklong event, typically focuses on the government’s near-term initiatives, especially economic objectives. China’s growth goal, and the ways that the government is attempting to achieve it, are under intense international scrutiny this year. Communist Party leaders are trying to restore confidence in China’s long-term prospects and to harness new drivers of growth, such as clean energy and electric vehicles.

Persons: Li, ” Mr, Li’s Organizations: Stock, National People’s Congress, Communist Party, People’s Congress Locations: China

☆ Silicon Valley's elite are moralizing about the future of AI
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

It has reignited the savior complex of Silicon Valley's biggest personalities too. AdvertisementThough some questions are being asked about how much of a case Musk has here, the whole saga has offered plenty of incentive to Silicon Valley's more opinionated leaders to moralize on the future of AI. The open option — in theory at least — champions AI models that are transparent about how they're trained and collectively developed by a global community of developers. (2) Big companies, small companies, independent developers, and open source communities should be free to pursue AI. But which side of the battle the rest of Silicon Valley's AI leaders fall on will be watched just as closely.

Persons: —, Elon, Sam Altman's OpenAI hasn't, OpenAI —, they're, Meta, Sam Altman, Andrew Caballero, Reynolds, Marc Andreessen, Vinod Khosla, Andreessen, shouldn't, isn't, 2VqL6T5qZe, Marc Andreessen 🇺🇸 ( Organizations: Service, Microsoft, OpenAI, Business, Getty, Manhattan, Chinese Communist Party, Big Locations: China, San Francisco, jure

☆ China might have a friendlier face now, but it's not giving up on its aggressive Wolf Warrior diplomacy, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The move has also fueled speculation about the end of Wolf Warrior diplomacy. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty ImagesChina is also aware that the shock value of Wolf Warrior diplomacy brings diminishing returns. "I think the limits of wolf warrior diplomacy are apparent," Loh said. The Wolf Warrior will be backThat said, Wolf Warrior diplomacy will return, depending on the issue at hand, said Loh. LEAH MILLIS/Getty ImagesSo why did Liu tell reporters and academics in New York that Wolf Warrior diplomacy would never return?

Persons: —, Liu Jianchao, Liu, China's, Antony Blinken, ROBERTO SCHMIDT, Ian Ja Chong, Chong, Zhao Lijian, Zhao, Rather, Stanley Rosen, Rosen, you'll, Zhao dismissively, Nancy Pelosi's, Anthony Kwan, Pan Chengxin, Donald Trump's, Pan, Dylan Loh, Xi Jinping, Biden, Xi, BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI, Loh, Qin Gang, LEAH MILLIS Organizations: Service, Communist Party's International Department, of Foreign, Business, US, AFP, Getty, National University of Singapore, Foreign Ministry, University of Southern, China Institute, U.S . House, Deakin University, Nanyang Technological University of Singapore, Getty Images, Chinese Foreign Locations: New York, China, West . China, Beijing, University of Southern California's US, Maryland, Ukraine, Weibo, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, Gaza, AFP, Getty Images China, West

☆ Hot on the trail of cherry blossoms — peak times for 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Forrest Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Editor’s note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. CNN —In travel news this week: Circling the calendar for peak cherry blossoms, a very rare peek at post-pandemic North Korea and the insightful confessions of a Vegas habitué. While peak bloom can still be up in the air, the dates for the National Cherry Blossom Festival are solidly locked down: March 20-April 14. Meanwhile, Japanese forecasters are out with their own cherry blossom, or sakura, predictions. 02:06 - Source: CNNIn the best of times, a visit to communist North Korea was a rarity.

Persons: Brandon Griggs, He’s, Willy Wonka Organizations: CNN, Washington , D.C, Bloom Watch, National Cherry Blossom, –, Air Albania, AAA Locations: Korea, Netherlands, France, Washington ,, Japan, Wharf, Kochi, Tokyo, wintry Sapporo, Dubai, Atlanta, Air, London, India, United States, North Korea, Russia, Pyongyang, Masikryong, North, Las Vegas, Sin

☆ China calls on foreign businesses to share their problems as investment slumps
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

While the Commerce Ministry meeting did not reveal much new progress on the 24 measures to support foreign business that were announced last summer, attendees said they were able to share specific challenges about doing business in China. The ministry said representatives from more than 60 foreign businesses and 9 associations attended Wednesday's roundtable. Foreign direct investment into China has fallen to its lowest level in three years, according to official data, amid geopolitical tensions and slowing growth in the country. Hart said that it's hard for companies not yet in China to complete due diligence and approve new investments. Biden, who faces re-election this fall, has emphasized the need to compete with China while finding areas of cooperation.

Persons: Aly Song, MofCom, Jens Eskelund, Eskelund, Michael Hart, Hart, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Biden Organizations: Chinese Communist Party, Reuters, Reuters BEIJING — China's Ministry of Commerce, Commerce Ministry, EU Chamber of Commerce, Cyberspace Administration of, China's Ministry of Commerce, American Chamber of Commerce, U.S, U.S . Transportation Department Locations: China, U.S, Yiwu, Zhejiang province, Reuters BEIJING, Beijing, Cyberspace Administration of China, San Francisco

☆ China PMI: Factories send mixed signals about the economy, pressing Beijing to do more
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

But the Caixin manufacturing PMI — which focuses on smaller, private companies — rose to 50.9 in February, up from 50.8 in January, according to S&P Global, which compiled the survey. The divergence in the output and new order sub-indexes is likely related to differences in geographic and sector coverage, as the Caixin PMI covers more southern regions, they said. “Overall, the manufacturing sector continued to improve in February,” said Wang Zhe, senior economist at Caixin Insight Group, in a statement that accompanied the Caixin PMI data. “Looking ahead, the focus should be on the effectiveness of the measures [announced previously by Beijing to boost growth],” Wang said. “Fiscal policy will lead the way,” HSBC analysts said Friday.

Persons: ” Goldman Sachs, ”, Wang Zhe, ” Wang, Xi Jinping, Lintao Zhang, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, National Bureau of Statistics, P, National People’s Congress, PMI, Caixin Insight, “, of People, Communist Party’s Politburo, NPC, Xinhua, HSBC Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Southern China, Guangdong, Zheijang, ” China

Boat tours around Kinmen are still operating, though under a closer watch by Taiwan’s coast guard. Officers visit each boat before they set sail and warn captains not to stray into Chinese waters. “In the past, whenever a mainland ship crossed the median line (into Taiwan’s waters), our cannons would fire toward it without warning,” Hung said. On Monday, five Chinese coast guard ships entered prohibited or restricted waters around Kinmen, but left shortly after being warned away by Taiwan’s coast guard, according to a Taiwan minister. Last week, Chinese coast guard officers boarded a Taiwanese tour boat for inspection, an unprecedented move that startled passengers on board.

Persons: ”, Hung Ho, cheng, Hung, Mao Zedong’s, Chiang Kai, John Mees, Kinmen, ” Hung, Sam Yeh, Kuan, ” Kuan, Chang, Wu Chia, chiang Organizations: Taiwan CNN —, Residents, Mao Zedong’s Communist, Nationalist, CNN, Mao’s Communist, Taiwan, Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council, Tourism Association Locations: Kinmen, Taiwan, China, China’s, Beijing, It’s, Staten Island, “, Taipei, Xiamen, AFP, Taiwanese, China's Xiamen

☆ Biden to issue executive order aimed at protecting Americans’ sensitive data from China, other 'hostile countries'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

U.S. President Joe Biden will issue an executive order Wednesday intended to safeguard the personal data of American citizens from countries deemed hostile. The executive order centers on the business of selling people's personal information, in which companies and so-called data brokers collect and trade data. The order focusses on specific, sensitive information like genomic data, biometric data, personal health data, geolocation data, financial data and other kinds of personally identifiable information. The executive order will direct the Department of Justice to issue several regulations intended to protect sensitive data. "American privacy concerns in the data broker industry are not new, and existing laws do not sufficiently protect Americans' data from misuse," the letter said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Mitch McConnell, Mike Johnson, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Biden Organizations: White, Chinese Communist Party, Department of Justice, of Homeland Security, United States Telecommunications Services, U.S, Oracle, Trump, Biden Locations: Washington , DC, U.S, China

☆ The Authorities Don’t Need A.I. When Your Neighbors Will Narc on You
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Annalee Newitz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Prisoners living under these towers never know whether the guards are looking at them, but they have to assume that they are being watched. This setup, Foucault explained, is a powerful metaphor for modern civilization: Our lives are circumscribed by a fear that invisible authorities have us in their sights. Two new books about state surveillance in the 21st century, one focused on China and the other on the United States, make it clear that Foucault was right. In China, as Minxin Pei explains in “The Sentinel State,” a centralized Communist government uses new tech to extend a centuries-old system of bureaucracy that rewards intelligence gleaned from informants and spies. And in the United States, Byron Tau’s “Means of Control” documents how a federal democracy formed shady alliances with private companies to collect data on its citizens.

Persons: Byron Tau, Minxin Pei, Michel Foucault, ”, Jeremy Bentham, Foucault, Byron Tau’s “ Organizations: Alliance of Tech, American Surveillance, Byron Tau THE, “ The Sentinel State, Communist Locations: China, French, United States, “

☆ Opinion: Why a leap day birthday is the best
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Opinion Lev Golinkin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Editor’s Note: Lev Golinkin writes on refugee and immigrant identity, as well as Ukraine, Russia and the far right. And yet, it’s a choice my mom faced when I was born on 10-something p.m. on leap day. It turns out communists aren’t the only ones wary of leap day birthdays. Svetlana Golinkin, newborn Lev Golinkin, and maternity ward staff, Kharkov (now called Kharkiv), USSR, March 2, 1980. I refuse to indulge the garbage notion of leaping leap day.

Persons: Lev Golinkin, aren’t, Svetlana Golinkin, Lev, I’ve, “, ”, Kyle, I’m, I’ll, Samuel Golinkin, There’s, Bridget, Patrick, there’s, Patrick wasn’t, you’ll Organizations: CNN, aren’t Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Soviet Union, Kharkov, Kharkiv, USSR, Boston

☆ Nikolai I. Ryzhkov, Soviet Premier Who Presided Over Economic Chaos, Dies at 94
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Robert D. Mcfadden | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Nikolai I. Ryzhkov, a premier of the Soviet Union who in 1990 took the brunt of the blame for economic chaos that engulfed the last years of Communist rule, leading to the nation’s political collapse and the end of the Cold War, has died. His death was confirmed on Wednesday by Valentina Matvienko, the head of the Federation Council, Russia’s upper chamber of Parliament, in a statement on Telegram. Starting as a welder in a factory in the Urals, Mr. Ryzhkov rose as a party loyalist with economic expertise to peaks of success as a protégé of the last leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail S. Gorbachev. The general secretary of the Communist Party, Mr. Gorbachev in 1985 named Mr. Ryzhkov as chairman of the Council of Ministers — a title more commonly known as premier — the second-most-powerful post in the Soviet hierarchy.

Persons: Nikolai I, Valentina Matvienko, Ryzhkov, Mikhail S, Gorbachev, Ministers — Organizations: Soviet Union, Federation Council, Communist Party, Ministers Locations: Soviet, Urals, Soviet Union

☆ Opinion: We must help Ukraine now or fight costlier wars later
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Opinion Mark T. Esper | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Whether Congress chooses to provide the continued financial support Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan desperately need will go a long way toward answering this question. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper testifies during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on July 9 in Washington, DC. Without renewed US support, the arms pipeline to Ukraine will continue to dwindle over the coming months, directly impacting what happens on the battlefield. Politics must be set aside, and politicians who spurn allies, coddle autocrats and argue for American retrenchment should be ignored. Leadership is a heavy cross to bear, indeed, but the benefits of doing so — especially in the face of clear threats — will always outweigh the costs and favor the United States.

Persons: Mark, Esper, Trump, Russia resurges, Defense Mark Esper, Greg Nash, Vladimir Putin’s, Israel dismantles, Joe Biden, Anatolii Stepanov, Putin, Xi Jinping, coddle autocrats Organizations: Times, The McCain Institute, CNN, Defense, Armed, Funds, Communist, NATO, Ukraine, Taiwan Locations: Russia, Ukraine, United States, Israel, Taiwan, Washington , DC, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Communist China, Kyiv, Moscow, Russian, Kostyantynivka, Donetsk, AFP, China, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Washington, Iran, Afghanistan, East

☆ The dangerous parallels between Putin’s ambitions in Ukraine and Xi’s claims on Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Will Ripley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

What is happening is to a certain extent, an element of a civil war,” Putin claimed. The island remained a Japanese colony for half a century until the end of World War II, when it came under the control of China’s ruling Nationalist government. Today Xi is expanding China’s military at a pace the world hasn’t seen in a century – since before World War Two. Long-time China analyst Steve Tsang, author of “If China Attacks Taiwan,” once told me that Xi’s military build-up is, by comparison, larger than Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan combined. Many here in Taiwan fear it’s only a matter of time before Xi, like Putin, puts his words into action.

Persons: Taiwan CNN —, Kolas Yotaka, Tucker, Vladimir Putin, “ Putin, Xi, ”, Putin, Xi Jinping, ” Yotaka, –, Jens Stoltenberg, “, ” Stoltenberg, it’s, ” China’s, Russia –, Carlson, ” Putin, Critics, Chiang Kai, shek, ” Xi, He’s, Tsai Ing, Steve Tsang Organizations: Taiwan CNN, Taiwan Presidential, Taiwan –, NATO, Munich Security, Communist Party, Russia, Observers, Nationalist, Communists, Taiwan’s National Chengchi, Democratic Progressive Party, Taipei, Xi, Navy, Global China, Atlantic Council, Taiwan Relations Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, Ukraine, Beijing, China, Russia, Soviet, Ukrainian, Soviet Union, Japan, Republic of China, Taiwan Strait, United States, Hong Kong, Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, Washington

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