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☆ U.S. targets global sanctions evasion network supporting Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Daphne Psaledakis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on 22 individuals and entities in multiple countries that it accused of being tied to a global sanctions evasion network supporting Russia's military-industrial complex. The action targeted a sanctions evasion network that the Treasury said is led by Russia and Cyprus-based arms dealer Igor Zimenkov, who, along with his son, Jonatan, were hit with sanctions on Wednesday. The network has engaged in projects connected to Russian defense capabilities, including supplying high-technology devices after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Treasury said. Washington also accused certain members of the network of supporting state-owned Russian defense entities under sanctions. GBD Limited, another company in the network targeted in the sanctions, has attempted to supply weapons systems to an African government, Treasury said.

☆ U.S. opens embassy in Solomon Islands, Blinken says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - The United States has opened an embassy in the Solomon Islands after a 30-year absence as it seeks to boost diplomatic relations in the Pacific as a counter to China. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced plans to open a diplomatic mission in the Pacific island nation during a visit to the region last year. The last U.S. embassy in the Solomons closed in 1993 amid post-Cold War budget cuts and the United States was represented there by an ambassador based in Papua New Guinea. In a statement on Wednesday, Blinken said the State Department informed the Solomon Islands' government that the opening of the new embassy in the capital Honiara became official as of Jan. 27. The reopening of the embassy in the Solomons comes as Washington has been negotiating the renewal of cooperation agreements with three key Pacific island nations, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau.

REUTERS/Evelyn HocksteinWASHINGTON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department was searching President Joe Biden's second home, a beach house in Rehoboth, Delaware, on Wednesday as part of its investigation into improper storage of classified materials from his time as vice president. The search by FBI agents appears to represent an expansion of the probe into Biden's handling of classified documents. It has stripped him and fellow Democrats of a weapon against former President Donald Trump, who also had classified documents found at his home. Classified documents have also been found in the home of Trump's former vice president, Mike Pence, giving some political cover to Biden. It is unlawful to knowingly or willfully remove or retain classified material, although no current or former president or vice president has been charged with wrongdoing.

☆ Biden to ask McCarthy to show Republican budget in White House meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden will release his proposed budget on March 9, the White House said on Tuesday, setting a deadline before his meeting with the Republican House speaker on Wednesday to discuss the nation's spending. Biden will ask Kevin McCarthy to release a budget plan in the meeting, and to pledge to meet the nation's debt obligations, according to a White House memo seen by Reuters. Asked what his message will be for McCarthy, Biden told reporters on Monday: "Show me your budget, I’ll show you mine." REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein 1 2McCarthy responded with an admonition to Biden to not rule out negotiations before their White House meeting. The showdown over the growing U.S. debt threatens to roil the global economy if the United States defaults.

☆ 'Show me yours' - Biden to push McCarthy on Republican budget
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden delivers an economic speech at SteamFitters UA Local 602 in Springfield, Virginia, U.S., January 26, 2023. Biden will ask Kevin McCarthy to release a budget plan in the meeting, and to pledge to meet the nation's debt obligations, according to a White House memo seen by Reuters. Asked what his message will be for McCarthy, Biden told reporters on Monday: "Show me your budget, I’ll show you mine." McCarthy responded with an admonition to Biden to not rule out negotiations before their White House meeting. The showdown over the growing U.S. debt threatens to roil the global economy if the United States defaults.

NEW YORK, Jan 30 (Reuters) - A grand jury is hearing evidence in New York over former President Donald Trump's role in hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. A grand jury could lay the groundwork for possible criminal charges against the former president by the Manhattan district attorney's office. Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified before the grand jury, one source told Reuters. Pecker was seen entering the lower Manhattan building where the grand jury is empaneled, according to the New York Times, which first reported on the grand jury on Monday. The moves are an indication that the district attorney, Alvin Bragg, is closer to a decision on whether to charge Trump.

Asked if the United States would provide the jets, Biden told reporters at the White House on Monday, "No." The Russian state news agency TASS quoted him as saying Russian forces were making advances there, but "not clear-cut, that is, here there is a battle for literally every meter." Ukraine still controls Maryinka and Vuhledar, where Russian attacks were less intense on Monday, according to Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov. In central Zaporizhzhia region and in southern Kherson region, Russian forces shelled more than 40 settlements. Zelenskiy is urging the West to hasten delivery of its promised weapons so Ukraine can go on the offensive.

☆ U.S. Rep. Santos to recuse himself from committee assignments
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] U.S. Rep. George Santos (R-NY) passes by members of the news media after telling a Republican party conference that he will recuse himself from House committee assignments as he returns to his office on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 31, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn HocksteinWASHINGTON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - U.S. Representative George Santos, who has admitted to fabricating much of his resume, told fellow Republican lawmakers on Tuesday he would not serve on committees for now, lawmakers said. House of Representatives' Speaker Kevin McCarthy said the freshman lawmaker asked if he could recuse himself from his committee assignments while he works to clear up an ethics cloud. "The voters have elected him," McCarthy told reporters. Santos, who announced his decision in a closed-door meeting with fellow Republican lawmakers, has rebuffed calls for his resignation, saying he would vacate his seat only if he loses the next election.

Jan 30 (Reuters) - The case involving former President Donald Trump's role in hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign will go before a grand jury on Monday, the New York Times reported, citing people with knowledge of the matter. The Manhattan district attorney's office will start presenting its evidence in the case, the newspaper reported, which would lay out the groundwork for any criminal charges against Trump. A witness in the case, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, was seen entering the lower Manhattan building where the grand jury is empaneled, the Times reported. The publisher had offered to help Trump by buying rights to unflattering stories and never publishing them. The moves are an indication that the district attorney, Alvin Bragg, is closer to a decision on whether to charge Trump.

☆ U.S. secures deal with Netherlands, Japan on China chip export limit- Bloomberg
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan addresses the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S. September 30, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - The United States has secured a deal with the Netherlands and Japan to restrict exports of some advanced chip-making machinery to China in talks that concluded on Friday, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Officials from the Netherlands and Japan were in Washington discussing a wide range of issues in talks led by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan. John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, earlier said the officials were talking about issues that are "important to all three of us." When asked about the Bloomberg report, the White House declined to comment beyond Kirby's earlier remarks.

☆ Biden picks Jeff Zients as next chief of staff -statement
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden on Friday picked his former COVID-19 policy coordinator, Jeff Zients, to be the next White House chief of staff, citing his expertise in health care and the economy. Zients will replace Biden's current chief of staff Ron Klain, the statement said. "I’ve seen Jeff Zients tackle some of the toughest issues in government," Biden said in a statement announcing the move. Klain, a longtime aide and adviser to Democratic presidents and vice presidents, has been chief of staff to Biden since he took office in January 2021. White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients delivers remarks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 13, 2021.

☆ U.S. sees urgent need for de-escalation in Israel, West Bank -White House
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] John Kirby, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, answers questions during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., January 25, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - The United States is deeply concerned about recent violence in Israel and the West Bank and believes there is an urgent need for all parties to de-escalate in the region, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Friday. "I also deeply regret the loss of innocent life and the injuries that that were incurred by civilians," Kirby said. "We're certainly deeply concerned by this escalating cycle of violence in the West Bank. Kirby said he will discuss a range of issues, including the need for calm in the West Bank.

☆ U.S. Representative Schiff sets sights on fellow Democrat Feinstein's Senate seat
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Kanishka Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Schiff joined other California Democrats aiming for the seat currently held by Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein. U.S. Representative Katie Porter launched her U.S. Senate campaign this month. The Washington Post has reported that Representative Barbara Lee was also planning to run for the seat. The new Republican House Speaker, fellow Californian Kevin McCarthy, has blocked Schiff from serving on the prestigious panel again. Schiff, a prominent House Democrat who was first elected in 2000, gained national attention for his high-profile role in the 2020 Trump impeachment trial.

☆ U.S. designates Russian firm Wagner Group as criminal organization
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday formally designated Russian private military company the Wagner Group as a transnational criminal organization, freezing its U.S. assets for helping Russia's military in the Ukraine war. Last month the White House said the Wagner Group had taken delivery of an arms shipment from North Korea to help bolster Russian forces in Ukraine, in a sign of the group's expanding role in that conflict. *A Russian graveyard reveals Wagner’s prisoner armyReporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Tim AhmannOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ National Archives asks former U.S. presidents, VPs to check for classified documents- CNN
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The National Archives asked former U.S. presidents and vice presidents on Thursday to re-check their personal records for any classified documents or other presidential records after the discovery of such documents in the possession of former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence, CNN reported. The National Archives and Records Administration, or NARA, sent a letter to representatives of former presidents and vice presidents from the last six presidential administrations covered by the Presidential Records Act (PRA), the report added. A spokesman for former President Barack Obama told Reuters when asked about possible classified documents that his office had been given a "clean bill of health" by the National Archives. Former President Jimmy Carter did not receive a letter from the National Archives, since the Presidential Records Act took effect after he left office. The National Archives has come under criticism from Republicans who say it has not been transparent in the documents cases.

☆ Blinken to visit Middle East amid heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Simon Lewis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers remarks during a visit to NASA headquarters with Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other U.S. and Japanese officials (not pictured) in Washington, U.S., January 13, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Egypt, Israel and the West Bank from Sunday to Tuesday to discuss heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians as well as the war in Ukraine with regional leaders, the State Department said. The decades-old status quo allows only Muslim worship at the compound, a site also revered by Jews. While Israel has condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it has limited its assistance to Kyiv to humanitarian aid and protective gear. Reporting by Simon Lewis; additional reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

WASHINGTON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday stepped up sanctions against the Wagner Group, labeling the Russian mercenary company fighting in Ukraine as a transnational criminal organization responsible for widespread human rights abuses. The U.S. Treasury Department, as part of action targeting dozens of people and entities in an effort to degrade Russia's ability to wage the war, said it designated Wagner Group as a "significant transnational criminal organization" on Thursday. It had previously designated Wagner under its Russia and Ukraine sanctions programs. "These images were gathered in order to enable Wagner combat operations in Ukraine," Treasury said. He said the United States assesses Wagner has about 50,000 personnel deployed to Ukraine, including 40,000 convicts recruited from Russian prisons.

The decisions by Washington and Berlin come as the Western allies help Ukraine prepare for a possible spring counter-offensive to try to drive Russia out of territory it has seized. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said any Abrams shipments would be a waste of money as they "burn" like other tanks in Ukraine. The total cost of a single Abrams tanks can vary, and can be over $10 million per tanks when including training and sustainment. "I am certain that many experts understand the absurdity of this idea," the Kremlin's Peskov said about the Abrams tanks. "The United States was willing to make a significant commitment to assist them in making theirs," the source said.

☆ White House adviser Sullivan will support two-state solution in Israel trip -Kirby
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan was holding meetings in Israel on Wednesday and will stress the U.S. commitment to a two-state solution in the Israel-Palestinian dispute during his visit, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday. Sullivan will also underscore the U.S. commitment to Israel's security and discuss regional challenges including Iran, Kirby said at a news briefing. Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ White House calls Lavrov's Holocaust comparison 'truly offensive'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - The White House on Wednesday called Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's statement comparing the United States' assembly of a coalition to take on Russia to Adolf Hitler's actions to eradicate Jews in Europe "truly offensive." "It's almost so absurd that it's not worth responding to, other than the truly offensive manner in which he tried to cast us in terms of Hitler and the Holocaust," White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters. Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and Doina Chiacu; Writing by Katharine Jackson; Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ White House ask House Republicans to "come clean" on McCarthy deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The White House asked House Republicans on Tuesday to reveal details of concessions made by Representative Kevin McCarthy to far-right fellow Republicans in exchange for their support in his run for the top speaker position. White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said McCarthy promised a vote on a 23% national sales tax in exchange for support from some of the holdouts, as reported by media outlets. McCarthy also supported abortion restrictions and allowed House Republicans to use the threat of a U.S. debt default to force President Joe Biden and his fellow Democrats in Congress to agree to certain spending cuts, Bates said. "An unprecedented tax hike on the middle class and a national abortion ban are just a glimpse of the secret, backroom deals" McCarthy made to win the speaker's gavel, he said. McCarthy was elected speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 7 after making extensive concessions to right-wing members of his party that raised questions about the party's ability to govern.

☆ Santos to be removed from U.S. Congress if he broke campaign finance laws, committee chairman says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - U.S. Representative George Santos, who lied about much of his resume and life story, will be removed from Congress if found to have broken campaign finance laws, fellow Republican and House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said on Sunday. Now, if he broke campaign finance laws, then he will be removed from Congress." House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said he will leave Santos' fate to the Ethics Committee and voters. "It is one thing for a candidate such as Mr. Santos to induce voters to support him based on a web of lies," Goldman wrote in his letter. "But it is altogether something else if the top levels of Republican leadership knew about Mr. Santos' lies during the campaign and chose to be complicit."

☆ House Speaker says Democrats should cap spending to avoid U.S. debt default
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on Sunday he believes Democrats would agree to cap government spending to avoid a U.S. debt default and he wants to discuss the idea with President Joe Biden. Republicans now in control of the House have threatened to use the debt ceiling as leverage to demand spending cuts from Biden's Democrats, who control the U.S. Senate. McCarthy pointed to the Trump-era agreement by U.S. lawmakers' in 2019 to suspend the statutory debt limit on Treasury Department borrowing until a later date as evidence that such compromise is possible. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said on Sunday he hoped debt default could be avoided but put the onus on Democrats to agree to spending cuts. Congress created the debt ceiling in 1917 to give the government greater borrowing flexibility, and must approve each increase to ensure that the United States meets its debt obligations and avoids a catastrophic default.

☆ Republicans want Biden home visitor logs - but not Trump's
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Doina Chiacu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Republicans have sought to compare the Biden documents case with that of former President Donald Trump, who faces a federal criminal probe of how he handled classified documents after he left the White House. Comer said he would not seek visitor logs for Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence, where more than 100 classified documents were found in an FBI search. There is no legal requirement that U.S. presidents disclose visitors at their home or at the White House. The Biden administration reinstated disclosures of official guests to the White House and released its first batch of records in May 2021. TRUMP VS. BIDEN DOCUMENT ISSUESRepublicans in the U.S. House of Representatives launched an investigation on Friday into the Justice Department's handling of improperly stored classified documents possessed by Biden.

☆ Santos will be removed from Congress if he broke campaign-finance laws, committee chairman says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - U.S. Representative George Santos, who lied about much of his resume and life story, will be removed from Congress if found to have broken campaign finance laws, fellow Republican and House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said on Sunday. "It's not up to me or any other member of Congress to determine whether he can be kicked out for lying. Now, if he broke campaign finance laws, then he will be removed from Congress." At least six of his fellow Republican representatives from New York have joined the calls for him to step down. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said he will leave Santos' fate to the Ethics Committee and voters.

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