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☆ Hungary's Ruling Party Submits Bill on 'Protecting National Sovereignty'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling Fidesz party submitted a bill on "protecting national sovereignty" to parliament on Tuesday to defend against what it called undue political interference by foreign persons or groups. The bill would set up a separate authority to explore and monitor risks of political interference and recommend changes in regulations. It would also punish banned foreign financing for parties or groups running for election with up to three years in prison. "Hungary's sovereignty is impaired -- and it also carries a heightened risk to national security -- if political power gets into the hands of persons or organisations dependent on any foreign power, organisation or person," the bill said. Orban, who has a two-thirds majority in parliament that allows Fidesz to change any legislation, scored his fourth landslide victory in 2022.

Persons: Viktor Orban's, Orban, Ursula von der Leyen, Boldizsar Gyori, Josie Kao Organizations: European Union, Communist, Fidesz, EU, Ukraine Locations: BUDAPEST, Hungarian, Hungary

☆ Shanghai Industrial Investment: Another executive in China being investigated by corruption watchdog
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Another business leader in China is being probed by the country’s anti-graft watchdog, in a sign of an ongoing crackdown in the world’s second largest economy. Zhou Jun, president of state-owned Shanghai Industrial Investment, is under investigation by the Shanghai Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, a branch of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), according to a CCDI statement Monday. Shanghai Industrial Investment’s business spans infrastructure, property and pharmaceuticals. Just this month, the CCDI said it was investigating Zhang Hongli, a former senior executive vice president at the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. That was followed by a report by Chinese state-owned media outlet Cover News that tech entrepreneur Chen Shaojie had become unreachable, citing unconfirmed reports that he was being investigated.

Persons: Zhou Jun, CCDI, Zhou, ”, Zhang Hongli, Chen Shaojie, Chen, Tencent, Fred Hu Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Shanghai Industrial Investment, Shanghai Municipal Commission, Central Commission, Shanghai Industrial, Industrial, Commercial Bank of China, CNN, International, Bloomberg, Primavera Capital Locations: China, Hong Kong, Shanghai

☆ What do we know about China's new financial watchdog?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BEIJING, Nov 21 (Reuters) - China's Central Financial Commission (CFC), a new regulator with Premier Li Qiang as its head, held a meeting on Monday and urged stronger supervision of risks in the financial sector as Beijing accelerates efforts to become a "major financial power". The CFC was set up for the top-level design, development and supervision of the financial sector, strengthening "unified leadership on financial work", according to a restructuring plan published by state media in March this year. The CFC has recruited many officials from the central bank and the finance ministry, financial news outlet Caixin reported earlier this month. The appointments indicate that both officials, who are close confidants of President Xi Jinping, will play important roles in shaping China's financial policies. He was also appointed as party chief of a separate Central Financial Work Commission (CFWC), which has been set up to strengthen the ideological and political role of the party in China's overall financial system.

Persons: Li Qiang, Premier Li, Li, Lifeng, Xi Jinping, Wang Jiang, Xia Xiande, Xi, Ziyi Tang, Kevin Yao, Ryan Woo, Sumeet Chatterjee Organizations: Financial Commission, Communist Party, CFC, WHO, THE, Financial Work, China Everbright Group, Analysts, Reuters, National Financial Regulatory Administration, State Council, People's Bank of China, prudential, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, China, Lincoln

☆ Election victory of Argentina's Milei greeted globally by mix of hostility and support
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Steven Grattan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Asked for his reaction on Tuesday, Mexico's leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he respected the voters' verdict, but added that he believed Milei's win is unlikely to alleviate Argentina's problems. But other leftist Latin American leaders were more supportive. Chilean President Gabriel Boric and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva both extended best wishes to Milei. Lula's congratulations came despite Milei's harsh criticism of the Brazilian leader on the campaign trail, where at one point Milei labeled Lula an "angry communist" and corrupt. Milei found enthusiastic support among right-wing populists, including former U.S. President Donald Trump and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who Lula narrowly defeated last year.

Persons: Javier Milei, Alberto Fernandez, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Milei's, Lopez Obrador, Evo Morales, Gustavo Petro, Gabriel Boric, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Milei, Lula's, Lula, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro, I'm, Argentina's, Nayib Bukele, Bukele, Steven Grattan, David Alire Garcia, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Peronist, Colombian, Ukraine, U.S, Sao Paulo, Thomson Locations: China, Argentina, Buenos Aires, Venezuela, Colombia, Chilean, Moscow, Russia, Beijing, Sao

Don’t suppose the imminent end of the political career of the dreadful Representative George Santos rises to the level of holiday cheer. Bret Stephens: It’s a depressing world, Gail, so we need to find cheer wherever we can, and the House Ethics Committee report on Santos does make for delightful reading. and was noted as ‘Botox’ in expense spreadsheets ….” Santos would have been around 32 years old at the time. Gail: You’re right. Gail: I can see how Biden felt a little cornered when a reporter asked him if he still believed Xi was a dictator.

Persons: Gail Collins, Bret, George Santos, Bret Stephens, Gail, Santos, ” Santos, You’re, Joe Biden, Xi, “, ”, Antony Blinken, Biden Locations: Communist

☆ Brazil's Lula wishes luck and success to new Argentine president
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRASILIA, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva extended best wishes to the newly elected government in Argentina, without making direct mention of President-elect Javier Milei, who has previously criticized Lula and labeled him an "angry communist." Brazil will always be available to work together with our Argentine brothers," he wrote on Sunday on X, formerly Twitter. On Tuesday, leftist Lula had said that Argentina, the country's third-largest trading partner, should choose a president who supports democracy and the Mercosur trading bloc. He has also criticized the South American common market Mercosur and said Argentina would "follow its own path." He met with Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad in Brasilia earlier this year to discuss mechanisms to secure imports by Buenos Aires.

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Javier Milei, Lula, Argentine, Sergio Massa, Fernando Haddad, Haddad, Marcela Ayres, Lisa Shumaker, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Twitter, Mercosur, Economy, Brazilian Finance, Reuters, Thomson Locations: BRASILIA, Argentina, Brazil, Argentine, Mercosur, Brasilia, Buenos Aires

☆ Brazil's Lula Wishes Luck and Success to New Argentine President
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva extended best wishes to the newly elected government in Argentina, without making direct mention of President-elect Javier Milei, who has previously criticized Lula and labeled him an "angry communist." Brazil will always be available to work together with our Argentine brothers," he wrote on Sunday on X, formerly Twitter. On Tuesday, leftist Lula had said that Argentina, the country's third-largest trading partner, should choose a president who supports democracy and the Mercosur trading bloc. He has also criticized the South American common market Mercosur and said Argentina would "follow its own path." He met with Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad in Brasilia earlier this year to discuss mechanisms to secure imports by Buenos Aires.

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Javier Milei, Lula, Argentine, Sergio Massa, Fernando Haddad, Haddad, Marcela Ayres, Lisa Shumaker, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Reuters, Twitter, Mercosur, Economy, Brazilian Finance Locations: BRASILIA, Argentina, Brazil, Argentine, Mercosur, Brasilia, Buenos Aires

☆ ‘Faces of Sanxingdui’: Bronze Age relics shed light on mysterious ancient kingdom
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Christy Choi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Hong Kong CNN —A golden face with patinaed turquoise eyes stares out of the darkness. Currently on display at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, they may appear Mayan or Aztec to the untrained eye, but these over-3,000-year-old sculptures weren’t unearthed anywhere near Mesoamerica’s ancient civilizations. Archaeologists from the Sanxingdui Museum say the city was established some 4,800 to 2,800 years ago, until it was abandoned around 800 BC for unknown reasons. 'Kneeling figure with a twisted head', bronze, at the Hong Kong Palace Museum in Hong Kong, China on September 26, 2023. A figure on display at the Hong Kong Palace Museum.

Persons: Shu, Sanxingdui, Noemi Cassanelli, Shen Bohan, China’s, Qin Shi Huang, Wang Shengyu, ” Wang, would’ve, what’s, Qin, ”, Henry Tang, Ian Johnson, ’ ”, CNN Johnson, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong, Hong Kong Palace Museum, Sanxingdui, CNN, Sipa, Army, Palace Museum, UNESCO, Kowloon Cultural, Hong Kong’s, China Studies, Foreign Relations, Chinese Communist Party, People’s Locations: China, Hong Kong, Chengdu, Sanxingdui, China's Sichuan province, Noemi, Sichuan, Shu, Kowloon, People’s Republic, People’s Republic of China, Republic of China

In an appearance the same day on the “Guy Benson Show” on Fox News Radio, Ms. Haley blamed the app for sowing sympathies for Hamas on some college campuses and stoking anti-American views. In a statement posted on X, TikTok responded to Ms. Haley by saying that the circulation of bin Laden’s letter violated the platform’s rules that ban support for terrorism, and it was policing related content accordingly. Mr. Trump, her former boss, continues to be the overwhelming front-runner, but Ms. Haley, a former South Carolina governor, is trying to overtake Gov. At a town hall for her campaign in Iowa on Thursday, Ms. Haley continued to press on TikTok and brought up the letter by bin Laden. For them to be here,” Ms. Schroeder said after hearing from Ms. Haley.

Persons: Nikki Haley ratcheted, Osama bin Laden, Haley, Donald J, Trump, ”, Guy Benson, “, Laden, TikTok, Ms, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ramaswamy, DeSantis, “ Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison, ” Ms, bin Laden, you’ve, ’ ”, “ That’s, Linda Schroeder, Schroeder Organizations: U.S, Republican, United Nations, Chinese Communist Party, Fox News Radio, World Trade Center, Pentagon, New York Times, Gov, TikTok, CNBC Locations: Israel, America, U.S, South Carolina, Florida, Miami, Iowa, Waverly, China, Russia, Iran, TikTok, Dubuque

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Sometimes it can be easy to forget that President Joe Biden's original foreign policy priority was reasserting American influence in Asia. "The United States remains vital to the future of the region, and the region is more vital than ever to the United States of America," he told a gathering of business executives during one of the summit's many receptions. “From here in San Francisco, America reaches out all across the Pacific, building bridges mightier than the Golden Gate,” he said. Protesters calling for a cease-fire in Gaza shut down all vehicular traffic heading into San Francisco over the Bay Bridge. “We will be glad to see a confident, open, ever-growing and prosperous United States,” he said.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Biden, “ That’s, He's, Donald Trump, ”, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kishida Fumio, Xi Jinping, Xi, “, ” Biden, Yun Sun, Aisha Nizar, San Francisco ”, ___, Colleen Long Organizations: FRANCISCO, Ukraine, Republican, Economic Cooperation, South Korean, Chinese Communist Party, U.S, Xinhua, China Program, Stimson, Palestinian Youth Movement, Biden wasn't, China, Associated Press Locations: American, Asia, Russian, Israel, San Francisco, United States, United States of America, Europe, America, China, Beijing, Bali , Indonesia, Iran, San Francisco ., Washington, Ukraine, Gaza, Bahrain, Fiji, Japan, Mexico, Peru

Chinese President Xi Jinping waves as he walks with U.S. President Joe Biden at Filoli estate on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Woodside, California, U.S., November 15, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSAN FRANCISCO/HONG KONG, Nov 16 (Reuters) - When Chinese President Xi Jinping met executives for dinner on Wednesday night in San Francisco, he was greeted with not one, but three standing ovations from the U.S. business community. All three were outcomes the United States had sought from China rather than the other way around, said two people briefed on the trip. Biden administration officials have acknowledged that creating functional military relations won't be as easy as semi-regular meetings between defense officials. That's not going to be a favor to us," one senior Biden administration told Reuters in October in the run-up to the Xi-Biden meeting.

Persons: Xi, Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Xi Jinping, Alexander Neill, Biden, Nancy Pelosi's, hotlines, Craig Singleton, That's, China's, Drew Thompson, Vladimir Putin, it's, Li Mingjiang, Michael Martina, Greg Torode, Trevor Hunnicutt, Antoni Slodkowski, Laurie Chen, Don Durfee, Tom Hogue Organizations: U.S, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, FRANCISCO, United States, Communist Party, Hawaii's, Commerce Department, Biden, Republican, ., Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Reuters, Pentagon, National University of Singapore, Analysts, Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Thomson Locations: Filoli, Asia, Woodside , California, U.S, HONG KONG, San Francisco, United States, United, China, Beijing, Chinese, Taiwan, Washington, Russia, Singapore

“Planet Earth is big enough for the two countries to succeed,” Xi told Biden. Before leaving for California, Kishida told reporters a meeting with Xi had not yet been decided on. The aura of goodwill generated by the meeting was marred somewhat, however, by a comment by Biden. “I feel that China-U.S. relations have eased, and maybe the next step will be cooperation,” said Xu Jiaguang a 31-year-old firefighter. ___Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and video producer Caroline Chen in Beijing contributed to this report.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi, lunching, they’re, ” Xi, Biden, ”, Jeff Liu, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Madoka Fukuda, ” Biden, Mao Ning, Xu Jiaguang, Gao Kexin, Mari Yamaguchi, Caroline Chen Organizations: Foreign, South, . Security, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Kookmin Ilbo, Economic Cooperation, Communist Party . Tokyo, Tokyo's Hosei University, Foreign Ministry, China -, U.S, Associated Press Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, California, China, Beijing, U.S, Taiwan Strait, North Korea, Seoul, Pyongyang, Russia, South Korea, Japan, Asia, San Francisco, United States, China - U.S, Tokyo

TAIWANThe two leaders had a "substantial" discussion on Taiwan, with Xi telling Biden that Taiwan was the biggest, most dangerous issue facing the two superpowers, a senior U.S. official told reporters. LEADER TO LEADER TALKSBiden said he and Xi agreed to high-level communications. "He and I agreed that each one of us can pick up the phone call directly and we'll be heard immediately," Biden told reporters after the meeting. China and the United States should set an example for other countries, Xi told Biden, according to Chinese media, and promote cooperation on trade, agriculture, climate change and artificial intelligence. FENTANYLBiden and Xi agreed to cooperate on addressing the source of the opioid fentanyl, a leading cause of drug overdoses in the United States, the U.S. official said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, China's Xi Jinping, Biden, Xi, Nancy Pelosi, Defense Lloyd Austin, we'll, Jeff Mason, Trevor Hunnicutt, Andrea Shalal, Heather Timmons, Stephen Coates Organizations: Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, Taiwan, U.S, Defense, Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Filoli, Asia, Woodside , California, U.S, San Francisco, TAIWAN, Taiwan, China, Beijing, United States, IRAN, Iran

☆ Biden stands by comment that Xi is a 'dictator' hours after their first meeting in a year
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

WOODSIDE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 15: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks at a news conference at the Filoli Estate on November 15, 2023 in Woodside, California. The news conference follows a meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' week, their first since meeting at the Indonesian island resort of Bali in November 2022. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)U.S. President Joe Biden has again called his Chinese counterpart a dictator — a move that could potentially unravel the progress made between the world's two leading powers. Shortly after his first meeting with China President Xi Jinping in a year, Biden responded to a question on whether he stood by his June comment labeling Xi a dictator. "Well, look, he is," Biden said Wednesday after the two leaders met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in San Francisco.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Xi Jinping, Kent Nishimura, —, Xi, He's Organizations: Economic Cooperation, APEC, China Locations: WOODSIDE , CALIFORNIA, Woodside , California, Asia, Indonesian, Bali, San Francisco

☆ US-China military hotlines are reopening to prevent things like risky run-ins from triggering a full-blown crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The US and China will resume military-to-military communications, Biden announced Wednesday. The US and Chinese militaries often operate in close proximity to one another, and there have been some risky run-ins. AdvertisementThe US and China are resuming military-to-military communications, the US and China said Wednesday after more than year of mostly radio silence. USINDOPACOMThe spike in risky and dangerous intercepts reported by US officials began before China officially cut off mil-to-mil comms. DoD officials, too, have said opening lines between the US and China would "ensure competition does not veer into conflict."

Persons: Biden, —, Joe Biden, People's Republic of China Xi Jinping, Nancy Pelosi's, USINDOPACOM, That's, Ely Ratner, China's Xi, Xi, he's, CNN's MJ Lee Organizations: Pentagon, Service, of Defense, PLA, U.S ., China Defense, China, Maritime, People's Liberation Army, US Air Force, US, DoD, Pacific Command, PRC, US Defense Department, Foreign Ministry Locations: China, People's Republic of China, San Francisco, Iran, U.S, Taiwan, United States, Hainan, South China, South, US

☆ American CEOs serve China’s Xi a too-rich dessert
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Lauren Silva Laughlin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Nov 16 (Reuters Breakingviews) - America’s corporate chieftains were thrilled to see China’s President Xi Jinping at Wednesday’s gala dinner in San Francisco. So thrilled that they gave him a standing ovation, according to Reuters. He has defended China’s stance on Taiwan, equating the self-governing island’s relationship with the People’s Republic to Hawaii’s position vis-à-vis the United States. The standing ovation is just a new, cringeworthy way to follow the money. Xi received a standing ovation as he entered the room and before and after he took the stage, the report said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, Xi, Tim Cook, Larry Fink, Steve Schwarzman, Ray Dalio, Bridgewater, Tesla, Elon Musk, Apple’s Cook, Ding Xuexiang, Howard Schultz, Biden, “, John Foley, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Reuters, Apple, Blackstone, ”, China, Xi, Thomson Locations: Filoli, Asia, Woodside , California, U.S, San Francisco, BlackRock, China, United States, Taiwan, Republic, Schwarzman, Beijing

☆ China's not-so-special economic zone embodies a harsh new reality
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( David Kirton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

REUTERS/David Kirton Acquire Licensing RightsSHENZHEN, China, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Tony Xiong is among the latest arrivals to the glitzy office towers in the newest part of Shenzhen, built to showcase China's economic miracle. Office workers are not the only ones grumbling about the unattractiveness of Qianhai, a special economic zone where Chinese dreams of global financial might and economic prosperity that once seemed inevitable are now darkened by half-empty skyscrapers and shopping malls as well as barely used motorways. And that's before China's tallest skyscraper of over 1,000 metres and a cluster of other towers are completed. With China entering a new era of sluggish growth, Qianhai may never reach the international status to which it aspires. The Qianhai Authority and China's State Council Information Office did not respond to Reuters requests for comment on the local and macro economic challenges.

Persons: David Kirton, Tony Xiong, Qianhai, Knight Frank, Antonio Fatas, Deng Xiaoping's, Xi Jinping, Xi, Zhiwu Chen, incentivised, Witman Hung, I've, Brian Miller, Klaus Zenkel, it's, Bill Deng, Zhang, James Pomfret, Marius Zaharia, David Crawshaw Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Authority, Communist Party, University of Hong, Qianhai Authority, HSBC, UBS, Standard Chartered, Chamber of Commerce, Greater, Thomson Locations: Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, Rights SHENZHEN, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, China's, Qianhai, University of Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Hengqin, Macau, Nansha, South China, Greater Bay Area, . Hong Kong

And in one word, the cloak lifted on a carefully orchestrated summit and revealed the significant lingering tensions between the two countries. By most accounts, the first in-person meeting of the two leaders in a year was productive and resulted in agreements and lengthy discussions that signaled a return to relatively smooth relations. A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry called the comment “extremely wrong and irresponsible political manipulation” without mentioning Biden by name. Political Cartoons View All 1253 ImagesIt’s not the first time Biden has called Xi a dictator. Previously, he used the term after the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon in February.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Biden, ”, He’s, ” Biden, Xi, “, what’s, John Kirby Organizations: House Locations: Beijing, U.S, China

☆ Xi tells US firms China ready to be partner and friend
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Michael Martina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Xi received a standing ovation as he entered the room, and two more before and after he took the stage to speak. "Whatever stage of development it may reach, China will never pursue hegemony or expansion, and will never impose its will on others. China does not seek spheres of influence, and will not fight a cold war or a hot war with anyone," Xi said. China and the U.S. reached an agreement to curb fentanyl production in earlier talks between Xi and Biden. Analysts have said Xi's speech alone is unlikely to dramatically alter U.S. business sentiment about China.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Carlos Barria, Xi, Joe Biden, Biden, Tim Cook, Laurence Fink, Broadcom's, Hock Tan, Ray Dalio, Albert Bourla, Gina Raimondo, Mike Gallagher, Gallagher, Gary Dvorchak, Dvorchak, Michael Martina, Valerie Insinna, Stephen Nellis, Lisa Baertlein, Niket, Ethan Wang, Liz Lee, Stephen Coates Organizations: National Committee, China Relations, China Business Council, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Apple, BlackRock, Pfizer, SAN FRANCISCO, U.S, Beijing, Congress, Bridgewater Associates, Commerce, U.S . House, Representatives, Muslim, U.S ., Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, China, United States, San Francisco, Beijing, Washington, China . U.S, Iowa

☆ Analysis: Xi signals shift in tone for China on US – but can it last?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

This reversal comes as China grapples with a troubled economy and is keen to highlight Xi as a powerful and capable world leader. Xi’s opticsOn Chinese state media and across social media platforms, where the hashtag #Planet-Earth-Is-Big-Enough-For-Both-China-And-The-US was trending, the broad perception appeared to be of a job well done. The positive coverage of the event was a break from the typical rhetoric critical of the US that often plays across Chinese state and social media. US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping walk together during their bilateral meeting. “China will eventually achieve reunification, and will inevitably achieve reunification,” Xi was quoted as saying — another line that was also trending on Chinese social media following the meeting.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Biden, ”, Antony Blinken, Mao Ning, It’s, Xi, “, Xi’s, Alfred Wu, Lee, Wang Yi, Wang, ” Wang, ” Xi, Tim Cook, Elon Musk, Brendan Smialowski, Liu Dongshu, Biden’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Foreign Ministry, Lee Kuan Yew, of Public Policy, China’s, Economic Cooperation, Apple, Tesla, Getty, Communist Party, Beijing, City University of Hong Locations: China, Hong Kong, United States, Beijing, Washington, Bay, San Francisco Bay Area, Taiwan, Singapore, California, America, Asia, AFP, City University of Hong Kong

☆ Iraq becomes EBRD shareholder, Senegal and Ghana apply to join
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People walk past the new headquarters of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Canary Wharf, London, Britain, September 14, 2023. REUTERS/Alishia Abodunde/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Iraq has become the 74th member of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the multilateral lender said on Thursday, while Ghana and Senegal have also applied to join. Iraq first submitted its request to join the bank in 2018, and its shareholder status enables it to apply to become a recipient economy, which would unlock EBRD finance and policy support. "When the time comes, we are looking forward to starting work in Iraq, applying our expertise to developing its economy," EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso said in a statement. Renaud-Basso told Reuters that Senegal and Ghana had submitted applications to join the bank in the latest sign of its push into sub-Saharan Africa.

Persons: Alishia, Odile Renaud, Basso, Renaud, Libby George, Marc Jones, Christina Fincher Organizations: European Bank for Reconstruction, REUTERS, Reuters, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: Canary Wharf, London, Britain, Iraq, Ghana, Senegal, Saharan Africa, Benin, Ivory Coast, Europe, East, North Africa, Asia

U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Filoli estate on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Woodside, California, U.S., November 15, 2023. Biden held a solo news conference after four hours of talks with Xi on the outskirts of San Francisco. At the end of the news conference, he was asked whether he still held the view that Xi was a dictator, something he said in June. When Biden made a similar dictator reference in June, China called the remarks absurd and a provocation. Xi told Biden that the negative views of the Communist Party in the United States were unfair, a U.S. official told reporters after the meeting.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, Biden, Xi, He's, Mao Zedong, Steve Holland, Heather Timmons, Stephen Coates Organizations: Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, National People's Congress, Communist Party, U.S, Thomson Locations: Filoli, Asia, Woodside , California, U.S, Rights WOODSIDE , California, Beijing, San Francisco, United States, San Francisco ., Tibet, Hong Kong, China, Wednesday's

☆ Video shows the moment Antony Blinken winces after Biden calls China's Xi a dictator, upending months of careful diplomacy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

President Joe Biden and China's Xi Jinping sought to smooth relations at a meeting Wednesday. Yet hours after the carefully choreographed event, Biden described Xi as a "dictator." AdvertisementA video has captured the moment US Secretary of State Antony Blinken winces after President Biden calls Chinese leader Xi Jinping a "dictator". REPORTER: "Would you still refer to President Xi as a dictator?" AdvertisementBlinken appeared to be taken aback, having laid the groundwork for Wednesday's meeting with months of careful diplomacy.

Persons: Joe Biden, China's Xi Jinping, Biden, Xi, Antony Blinken's, —, Antony Blinken winces, Xi Jinping, He's, BIDEN, — Moshe Schwartz, Biden's, Blinken, Marco Carnelos, Mao Ning Organizations: Service, APEC, Chinese Communist Party, Reuters Locations: China, San Francisco, Italian, Taiwan

☆ Lawmakers want to know if China had anything to do with Apple's decision to cancel Jon Stewart's show
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Apple was asked by a House committee to explain its decision to cancel Jon Stewart's show. "The Problem with Jon Stewart," which streams on Apple TV+, was canceled last month. AdvertisementLawmakers have asked Apple to explain why "The Problem with Jon Stewart" was recently canceled. AdvertisementAfter being told he must be "aligned" with the company on topics, Stewart and Apple decided to go their separate ways. "If Jon Stewart can potentially be impeded from offering commentary on the CCP, what does this mean for less prominent personalities?".

Persons: Apple, Jon Stewart's, Jon Stewart, —, Tim Cook, Stewart, Ding Xuexiang Organizations: Apple, Chinese Communist Party, Service, New York Times, Communist Party, CCP, Getty, Business Locations: China, Beijing, Xinhua

☆ PANDA WATCH: More Pandas might be coming to the US after multiple zoos had to send theirs away, China's top leader teases
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

General Secretary Xi Jinping opened the door to returning giant pandas to US zoos. Xi's comments come as all giant pandas at US zoos will soon be sent to China. Xi's comments came as lease agreements with US zoos are set to expire with no immediate replacement, meaning all giant pandas currently in the nation will soon return to China. The Atlanta Zoo is currently the only zoo in the US left with giant pandas. Advertisement"Recently, the three pandas at Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington D.C. have returned to China.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Xi, Joe Biden, —, Chinese Communist Party Xi Jinping, Xi's, Pat Nixon Organizations: Service, Chinese Communist Party Xi, Atlanta Zoo, Smithsonian National Zoo, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Washington Post, Biden Locations: China, Beijing, United States, Washington , DC, San Diego, Memphis, Washington

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