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☆ US slaps sanctions on Iranian, Chinese targets over Tehran's missile, military programs
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Daphne Psaledakis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York and China's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. China has been a major buyer of Iranian oil despite U.S. sanctions designed to choke off these exports. Washington targeted centrifuge sales to Parchin Chemical Industries (PCI), dual-use metals sales to its intermediary, P.B. Co., Ltd, which the Treasury accused of selling centrifuges and other equipment and services worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to PCI with P.B. Sadr and PCI, as well as the other companies, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Persons: Davoud Damghani, Brian Nelson, Sadr, Zhejiang Qingji, Daphne Psaledakis, Doina Chiacu, Susan Heavey, Arshad Mohammed, David Brunnstrom, Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: . Treasury, Armed Forces Logistics, Terrorism, Financial Intelligence, United Nations, Parchin Chemical Industries, PCI, Zhejiang Qingji, P.B, Treasury, Hong, Hong Kong Ke.Do International Trade Co, Qingdao Zhongrongtong Trade, Co, Thomson Locations: United States, Iran, China, Hong Kong, Beijing, U.S, Washington, Tehran, New York, . Sadr, Zhejiang, Zhejiang Qingji Ind, Sadr, Qingdao

☆ U.S. Senate leader schedules classified AI briefings
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Artificial Intelligence words are seen in this illustration taken March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationWASHINGTON, June 6 (Reuters) - Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Tuesday he has scheduled three briefings for senators on artificial intelligence, including the first classified briefing on the topic. In a letter to colleagues on Tuesday, the Democratic leader said senators need to deepen their understanding of artificial intelligence. Schumer launched an effort in April to establish rules on artificial intelligence to address national security and education concerns, as use of programs like ChatGPT becomes widespread. However, is the most concrete step yet that the U.S. government may adopt new regulations to address rising concerns about generative AI.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, Doina Chiacu, Chizu Organizations: REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Democratic, White, Thomson

☆ Blinken set to travel to China for talks in coming weeks -US official
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, June 6 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is planning to travel to China for talks in the coming weeks, a U.S. official said on Tuesday, amid simmering tensions months after he canceled a planned trip over a suspected Chinese spy balloon. "We have no travel for the Secretary to announce; as we’ve said previously the visit to the People's Republic of China will be rescheduled when conditions allow," deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said. Bloomberg News first reported the planned visit. The top U.S. diplomat canceled a visit to Beijing earlier this year fter a suspected high-altitude Chinese spy balloon traversed the United States before being shot down by the U.S. military. Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Additional reporting by Simon Lewis; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing byOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Antony Blinken, we’ve, Vedant Patel, Trevor Hunnicutt, Simon Lewis, Doina Chiacu Organizations: U.S, State Department, Bloomberg News, U.S ., Thomson Locations: China, People's Republic of China, Beijing, United States, Taiwan, South China

☆ U.S. sanctions target Russian influence campaign in Moldova
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, June 5 (Reuters) - The United States imposed sanctions on Monday on members of a Russian intelligence-linked group for their role in Moscow's efforts to destabilize democracy and influence elections in Moldova, the Treasury Department said. The new sanctions target seven Russian individuals, some of whom maintain ties to Russian intelligence services, the department said in a statement. They include the group's leader, Konstantin Prokopyevich Sapozhnikov, who organized the plot to destabilize the government of Moldova in early 2023, it said. The group's members provoke, train and oversee groups in democratic countries and conduct anti-government protests, rallies, marches and demonstrations, it added. Brian Nelson, the department's undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said Monday's sanctions expose Russia's ongoing efforts to destabilize democratic nations.

Persons: Konstantin Prokopyevich Sapozhnikov, Yury Yuryevich Makolov, Gleb Maksimovich Khloponin, Aleksey Vyacheslavovich Losev, Svetlana Andreyevna Boyko, Vasily Viktorovich Gromovikov, Nicu Popescu, Brian Nelson, Doina Chiacu, Tim Ahmann, Will Dunham, Mark Porter Organizations: Treasury Department, European Union, Facebook, Thomson Locations: United States, Russian, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Canada

WASHINGTON, June 5 (Reuters) - Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged continued U.S. commitment to both Israel's security and a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict on Monday, but said the expansion of Jewish settlements would be an obstacle to peace. "Settlement expansion clearly presents an obstacle to the horizon of hope that we seek," Blinken said to muted response from the audience. They also undermine the basic daily dignity to which all people are entitled," Blinken added. "The United States has a real national security interest in promoting normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia," Blinken added. Reporting by Simon Lewis and Doina Chiacu; editing by Rami Ayyub, Bernadette Baum and Will DunhamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Joe Biden's, Israel's, Simon Lewis, Doina, Rami Ayyub, Bernadette Baum, Will Dunham Organizations: Israel, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, West Bank, Thomson Locations: Israel, Jerusalem, Israel's, Washington, Iran, Saudi Arabia, United States

☆ US ends probe of Pence documents with no charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice has closed its investigation into former Vice President Mike Pence without filing any charges related to classified documents found in his Indiana home, a department official said on Friday. The department notified Pence through a letter, the official added. Representatives for Pence, who served under former Republican President Donald Trump, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Pence's spokesman has said the former vice president has "fully cooperated" with the probe and Pence himself has publicly acknowledged what he called a mistake. A Justice Department special counsel, Jack Smith, is investigating Trump's handling of classified materials since leaving office in January 2021.

Persons: Mike Pence, Pence, Donald Trump, Pence's, Jack Smith, Joe Biden, Trump, Timothy Reid, Susan Heavey, Bill Berkrot Organizations: U.S . Department of Justice, National, NBC, CNN, Biden, Thomson Locations: Indiana, Trump's Florida

☆ Biden trips and falls during graduation ceremony, recovers quickly
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden addresses the graduation ceremony at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. June 1, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin LamarqueCOLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., June 1 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden tripped and fell after handing out the last diploma at a graduation ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Academy on Thursday, but got up quickly and walked back to his seat. The 80-year-old U.S. president fell forward, caught himself with his hands, then got up on one knee helped by three people. After Biden was helped up, he pointed behind him, seeming to indicate what he tripped over. Biden fell as he was dismounting his bicycle last June, after snaring a foot in a toe clip, but was uninjured.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Biden, Ben LaBolt, Donald Trump, Doctors, Steve Holland, Doina Chiacu, Heather Timmons, Tim Ahmann, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Air Force Academy, REUTERS, U.S . Air Force Academy, White House, Twitter, Republican, Thomson Locations: Colorado Springs , Colorado, U.S, Kevin Lamarque COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo, Russia, China

☆ Tape recording shows Trump acknowledging he kept classified document on Iran, CNN reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File PhotoWASHINGTON, May 31 (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors have a 2021 audio recording of former President Donald Trump acknowledging he kept a classified Pentagon document about a possible attack on Iran after leaving the White House, CNN reported on Wednesday. CNN did not listen to the recording but cited unidentified multiple sources describing it. Trump’s remarks indicated he would like to share the information but was aware of the limitations on his ability to declassify documents after leaving office, two sources told CNN. "Leaks from radical partisans behind this political persecution are designed to inflame tensions and continue the media’s harassment of President Trump and his supporters," Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said on Wednesday. The Justice Department is investigating whether Trump broke the law by retaining U.S. government records, some marked as top secret, after leaving office in January 2021.

Persons: Donald Trump, Brian Snyder, Trump, President Trump, Steven Cheung, Peter Carr, Jack Smith's, Justice Department's, Trump's, Doina Chiacu, Kanishka Singh, Tim Ahmann, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: U.S, Republican, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Federal, White House, CNN, Wednesday, Reuters, Trump, Justice Department, Justice, White, U.S . Capitol, Thomson Locations: Manchester , New Hampshire, U.S, Iran

☆ Blinken says "regrettable" that U.S., Chinese defense chiefs did not meet
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LULEA, Sweden, May 31 (Reuters) - It is "regrettable" that a possible meeting between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese defense minister Li Shangfu will not go ahead, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday. Blinken, speaking at a news conference in Sweden, repeated the importance of regular and open lines of communication with Beijing. China has declined a request from the United States for a meeting between their defense chiefs at an annual security forum in Singapore this weekend, media reported on Monday, a new sign of strain between the powers. The Pentagon on Tuesday said a Chinese fighter jet carried out an "unnecessarily aggressive" maneuver near a U.S. military plane over the South China Sea in international airspace, further adding to the already tense relations. "Chinese pilot took dangerous action in approaching the plane very, very closely," Blinken said, adding that there have been a series of such actions directed not only to the United States but to other countries as well.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Li Shangfu, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Philip Blenkinsop, Humeyra Pamuk, Doina Chiacu, Mark Porter Organizations: LULEA, U.S . Defense, Pentagon, Thomson Locations: Sweden, Beijing, China, United States, Singapore, Chinese, U.S, South, Taiwan, South China

☆ McConnell says he expects debt ceiling bill to pass House on Wednesday
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Jon CherryWASHINGTON, May 31 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said he expected the debt ceiling bill to pass the House of Representatives on Wednesday and come to the Senate as soon as Thursday. "We anticipate the bill passing and coming over to us as soon as tomorrow," McConnell told reporters at the U.S. Capitol. The U.S. House of Representatives is due to vote on Wednesday on a bill to lift the government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, a critical step to avoid a destabilizing default that could come early next week without congressional action. McConnell said he hoped the Senate could finish the bill on Thursday or Friday and thinks the bill should be supported. Reporting by Richard Cowan, Moira Warburton and Katharine Jackson; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jon Cherry WASHINGTON, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Richard Cowan, Moira Warburton, Katharine Jackson, Doina Chiacu, Chizu Organizations: U.S . Capitol, REUTERS, U.S, Senate Republican, U.S . House, Thomson Locations: Washington , DC

☆ Trump captured on tape acknowledging he kept a classified document on Iran -CNN
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, May 31 (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors have a 2021 audio recording of former President Donald Trump acknowledging he kept a classified Pentagon document about a possible attack on Iran after leaving the White House, CNN reported on Wednesday. CNN did not listen to the recording but cited unidentified multiple sources describing it. The recording shows Trump, who is seeking the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, understood he retained classified material after he left the White House in 2021, according to the cable television network. Trump’s remarks indicated he would like to share the information but was aware of the limitations on his ability to declassify documents after leaving office, two sources told CNN. Smith is investigating Trump's handling of classified documents, as well as efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Peter Carr, Jack Smith's, Smith, Democrat Joe Biden, Doina Chiacu, Kanishka Singh, Tim Ahmann Organizations: Federal, White House, CNN, Wednesday, Reuters, Trump, Justice Department, Democrat, Thomson Locations: Iran

☆ US slaps sanctions on Chinese, Mexican entities in fentanyl action
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Daphne Psaledakis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Treasury Department said it slapped sanctions on seven entities and six people based in China, as well as one business and three people based in Mexico. "Counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl constitute a leading cause of these deaths, devastating thousands of American families each year. We remain committed to using all authorities against enablers of illicit drug production to disrupt this deadly global production and counter the threat posed by these drugs." The Biden administration has been pushing for action as U.S. drug-related overdose deaths surpassed 100,000 in 2021, according to government estimates. Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Doina Chiacu and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Biden, Brian Nelson, Liu Pengyu, Washington, brazenly, Liu, Daphne Psaledakis, Doina Chiacu, David Brunnstrom, Sharon Singleton, Jamie Freed Organizations: Treasury Department, Terrorism, Financial, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, Washington, Reuters, Treasury, Thomson Locations: United States, China, Mexico, Beijing

May 26 (Reuters) - Deputy U.S. Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said on Friday that the U.S. government does not have the capability to "triage" payments if the debt ceiling is not raised, adding that invoking the 14th amendment to issue debt will not solve the government's challenges. After warnings of possible U.S. downgrades from credit ratings agencies, Adeyemo said he hoped that would not happen, but the debt ceiling standoff was already raising the cost of U.S. debt. He said government payment systems are not set up to allow payments to be delayed. "We don't have a Plan B that allows us to meet the commitments that we've made to our creditors, to our seniors, to our veterans, to the American people," Adeyemo said on CNN. Reporting by Doina Chiacu and David Lawder; Writing by David Lawder Editing by Doina ChiacuOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

WASHINGTON, May 19 (Reuters) - A second meeting on Friday between White House and Republican congressional negotiators on raising the federal government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling broke up with no progress cited by either side and no additional meeting set. Senior White House adviser Steve Ricchetti left the meeting room telling reporters that he was "not assessing" the talks. A meeting earlier on Friday ended abruptly with McCarthy telling reporters there had not been any "movement" from the White House toward Republican demands. Biden and McCarthy spent most of the year in an impasse with the White House insisting on a "clean" increase in the debt ceiling without conditions. They agreed to two-way talks, with the White House represented by Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Ricchetti.

WASHINGTON, May 19 (Reuters) - A second meeting on Friday between White House and Republican congressional negotiators on raising the federal government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling broke up with no progress cited by either side and no additional meeting set. "We had a very, very candid discussion talking about where we are, talking about where things need to be," Republican Representative Garret Graves told reporters following a brief meeting in the Capitol with White House officials. He echoed earlier remarks by House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy that progress needed to be made on changing the "trajectory" of U.S. government deficit spending. A second Republican negotiator, Representative Patrick McHenry, said McCarthy would be briefed on the status of the talks. Senior White House adviser Steve Ricchetti left the meeting room telling reporters that he was "not assessing" the talks.

A White House official confirmed the talks were resuming. "We've got to get movement from the White House and we don't have any movement yet," McCarthy told reporters during the pause in talks. A White House official said: "There are real differences between the parties on budget issues and talks will be difficult. Biden and McCarthy spent most of the year in an impasse with the White House insisting on a "clean" increase in the debt ceiling without conditions. A White House official said a deal remained possible.

WASHINGTON, May 19 (Reuters) - U.S. House Republicans and President Joe Biden's Democratic administration on Friday paused talks on raising the federal government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, rattling financial markets as the deadline to avoid default ticked closer. Talks at the Capitol broke up around midday, and there was no immediate word on when they would resume. A White House official said: "There are real differences between the parties on budget issues and talks will be difficult. Biden and McCarthy spent most of the year in an impasse with the White House insisting on a "clean" increase in the debt ceiling without conditions. Young and Ricchetti told reporters they were going to play it "by ear" as they departed the negotiating sessions, according to reporters for NBC News and ABC News.

WASHINGTON, May 19 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told bank CEOs on Thursday that more mergers may be necessary after a series of bank failures, CNN reported on Friday, citing two people familiar with the matter. The Treasury readout did not mention bank mergers, but CNN quoted sources as saying that consolidation was discussed. Yellen told Reuters in an interview in Japan last week that pressures on U.S. regional bank earnings may lead to more concentration in the sector and regulators will likely be open to such mergers. But the report that she gave a similar message directly to bank CEOs, alongside news that talks over the U.S. debt ceiling were at an impasse, had a significant impact on markets on Friday. Two-year Treasury yields initially dropped by some 11 basis points on Friday after the report, while benchmark 10-year yields fell by about five basis points.

☆ From sunglasses to milking machines, US halts more exports to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Karen Freifeld | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"You can't even ship contact lenses or sunglasses now," said Washington lawyer Kevin Wolf, a former Commerce official, as he reviewed the new rules. Wolf said "it would be simpler to describe the items that are not controlled for export to Russia." The targeted companies include aircraft repair and parts production plants, gunpowder, tractor and automobile factories, shipyards and engineering centers in Russia. The U.S. and a coalition of 37 other countries have imposed unprecedented export controls on Russia since its assault on Ukraine in February 2022. Last week, U.S. authorities arrested two Russian men living in Florida for allegedly sending U.S. airplane parts and components to Russian airlines in violation of export controls.

WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) - Vice President Kamala Harris and top White House economic adviser Lael Brainard said on Thursday that a default on the U.S. debt of $31.4 trillion would throw the American economy into a recession. In a conference call for Democratic activists, Harris and Brainard urged them to contact lawmakers to express opposition to a debt default that could be less than two weeks away. "A debt default could trigger a recession," she said. Negotiators for the White House and congressional Republicans met again on Capitol Hill to discuss their search for common ground on lifting the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, and plan to meet again on Friday, a White House official said. Brainard said the administration's goal, in its talks with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's team, is to work toward a reasonable, bipartisan budget agreement.

☆ Democratic senators urge Biden to use 14th Amendment to avoid debt default
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) - A group of U.S. Senate Democrats called on President Joe Biden to prepare to invoke the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment to avoid a debt default if negotiations with Republicans fail, according to a letter released on Thursday. Led by independent Bernie Sanders, who caucuses with the Democrats, the 11 lawmakers said while they appreciated Biden's efforts to find a bipartisan deal to lift the debt ceiling, Republicans in Congress were "not acting in good faith." "Using this authority would allow the United States to continue to pay its bills on-time, without delay, preventing a global catastrophe," they said. The periodic lifting of the federal government's borrowing limit allows the government to pay for spending Congress has already authorized. Reporting by Jasper Ward and Paul Grant; Editing by Doina ChiacuOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ethics official cites Alberta premier for violation, ahead of election
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

OTTAWA, May 18 (Reuters) - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith interfered with the judicial process, the Canadian province's ethics commissioner said in a ruling released on Thursday, two weeks before a provincial election that is expected to be hard fought. Ethics Commissioner Marguerite Trussler said Smith had breached conflict of interest laws by contacting the province's justice minister about the case of a Calgary pastor facing criminal charges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In statement on Thursday, Smith said she would seek legal advice on how a premier could talk to a justice minister about sensitive matters in the future. Last week Smith apologized for having compared Albertans vaccinated against COVID-19 with followers of Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany. In March, another UCP candidate resigned after claiming children are exposed to pornography in schools and teachers help them change their gender identities.

WASHINGTON, May 17 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden and top U.S. congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday underscored their determination to reach a deal soon to raise the federal government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling and avoid an economically catastrophic default. Asked by reporters at the Capitol whether it's possible to reach a debt ceiling deal by the time Biden returns from Asia on Sunday, McCarthy replied, "It's doable." On Tuesday, Biden and McCarthy met for about an hour at the White House with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. Biden plans a news conference in Hiroshima on Sunday before leaving to return to Washington, a White House official said. WORK REQUIREMENTSNegotiations are continuing over the longevity of any deal, work requirements for aid programs for the poor, including food subsidies, and spending caps.

WASHINGTON, May 17 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden and top U.S. congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy said on Wednesday they aimed to reach a deal by Sunday to raise the federal government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling and avoid an economically catastrophic default. "We're going to come together because there's no alternative," Biden told reporters at the White House. Asked by reporters at the Capitol whether it's possible to reach a debt ceiling deal by the time Biden returns from a trip to Asia on Sunday, McCarthy replied, "It's doable. On Tuesday, Biden and McCarthy met for about an hour at the White House with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. Asked on CNN if Biden wanted the debt limit agreement to last through 2025, White House spokesperson Karinne Jean-Pierre declined to answer.

"I think at the end of the day, we do not have a debt default," the Republican congressman said in an interview with CNBC. Financial markets appeared to be buoyed by Tuesday's discussions as McCarthy joined McConnell and the White House in pledging the U.S. would not fail to pay its debt obligations. WORK REQUIREMENTSNegotiations are continuing over the longevity of any deal, work requirements for aid programs for the poor, including food subsidies, and spending caps. Asked on CNN if Biden wanted the debt limit agreement to last through 2025, Jean-Pierre declined to answer. She also did not give details on negotiations over expanding work requirements for the two programs that provide food and cash aid to low-income families, which Republicans want to see included as part of a deal.

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