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☆ Takeaways from the Biden-Xi summit, where low expectations were met
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

U.S. President Joe Biden shakes hand with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Woodside, California, U.S., November 15, 2023. The Biden administration is worried about scores of what it calls “unprofessional” operations by Chinese planes and ships near US assets. Biden balances his job as commander in chief with huge political risksBiden knew his meeting with Xi would unleash a political firestorm. Biden had huge political incentives to make this summit a success but also needed to show he was tough on Xi. Meeting low bars at a moderately successful summit will not change the fundamentals of their rivalry.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Xi Jinping, Biden, Xi, ” Biden, ” Xi, China’s, Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, “, Nancy Pelosi’s, Sen, Jim Risch, lacerated Biden, Bill Clinton’s, George H.W, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump’s, it’s, ” Sue Mi Terry, George W, Bush, Barack Obama, CNN’s Erin Burnett, reaffirmation, “ I’m, that’s, ”, he’d, he’s Organizations: CNN, Economic Cooperation, United, US Air Force, Soviet Union, People’s Liberation Army, Republican, Senate Foreign Relations, US, Biden, South Carolina Gov, Florida Gov, GOP, Barack Obama National Security Council, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Congress, New York Times, Trump Locations: San Francisco, perilously, Asia, China, United States, ., Woodside , California, U.S, Taiwan, Chinese, Hainan, Soviet, Ukraine, Moscow, Syria, The Idaho, Beijing, George H.W . Bush, Iowa, Washington

MOSCOW, Nov 8 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Wednesday that strategic dialogue with the United States over nuclear weapons was "definitely necessary" but that such talks could not happen while Washington was "lecturing" Moscow. Russia and the United States, by far the biggest nuclear powers, have both expressed regret about the steady disintegration of arms control treaties which sought to slow the Cold War arms race and reduce the risk of nuclear war. When asked about the prospect of strategic dialogue on nuclear weapons with the United States and the West, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said:"Dialogue is unequivocally necessary. When asked about the remarks, the Kremlin's Peskov said: "Patrushev is the secretary of the Security Council. "As for the Russian Federation, we have a (nuclear) doctrine where everything is clearly spelled out.

Persons: Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Nikolai Patrushev, Peskov, Guy Faulconbridge, Andrew Osborn Organizations: Tuesday, NATO, West, Kremlin, Cuban Missile, Soviet Union, U.S, Russian Security, Security, Russian Federation, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, United States, Washington, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine

Given the U.S. gives Israel $3.8 billion a year in military aid, Sanders said, "We have a right to say, 'Sorry, you need a new military strategy.'" Israeli officials say Hamas uses civilians and hospitals as cover and prevents civilians from leaving combat zones. Multiple U.S. officials say they have been able to influence its conduct in the war somewhat. At the time it was the most military aid the U.S. had given any country. U.S. lawmakers who back a ceasefire support Israel eradicating the Iranian-backed Hamas, but some say Israel's strategy will backfire.

Persons: Joe Biden, Leah Millis, Biden, Bernie Sanders, Israel, Sanders, CNN's, Joe Biden's, Antony Blinken, Blinken, ”, Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, Aaron David Miller, Raphael Cohen, ” Cohen, Pramila Jayapal, Obama, Simon Lewis, Humeyra Pamuk, Doina, Steve Holland, Heather Timmons, Howard Goller Organizations: Franciscan Action, Palestinian, REUTERS, United Nations, Independent U.S, Hamas, Union, Democratic, State Department, U.S, Republicans, Rand Corporation, Thomson Locations: Israel, Washington , U.S, Gaza, U.S, Washington, Baghdad, London, United States, Ukraine, Russia, Saudi Arabia, East, Iran

9 Alabama returned to the top 10 after falling out in mid-September, which snapped a streak of 128 top-10 appearances that dated back to 2015. The number of major upsets to Top 25 teams overall in college football this season remains minimal. IN-N-OUTIowa dropped out of the Top 25 after its second loss of the season and was replaced by No. JMU is in its second season playing in the Bowl Subdivision, the highest level of Division I, leaving the Dukes ineligible to play for the Sun Belt Conference title and a bowl game. Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season.

Persons: Nick Saban, “ That's, They've, James Madison, Duke, Tim Reynolds, Ralph D, Russo Organizations: Associated Press, Bulldogs, Southern, Wolverines, Michigan State, NCAA, Ohio State, Penn State, The Nittany Lions, Buckeyes, Florida State, Oklahoma, Alabama, Crimson Tide, Tennessee, ” Tide, Volunteers, Cavaliers, FBS, Clemson, Duke, Duke . North Carolina, Atlantic Coast Conference, Tigers, Dukes, Sun Belt Conference, James, Air Force, Tulane, American Athletic Conference . Air Force, SEC, ACC —, The Ducks, Utes, Louisville, Basketball, Cardinals, ACC, AP Locations: Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, Florida, Washington, Texas, Oregon, Washington , Oklahoma, North Carolina, Virginia, Duke . North, Miami, Sunday's, Utah

☆ Oil price spikes on Israel war. Here’s what a wider conflict might mean
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

London CNN —Global oil prices climbed 4% Monday over fears that the unprecedented weekend attack on Israel by Hamas could escalate into a regional conflict embroiling oil-producing nations. The [attack] itself has no effect on the oil market directly,” Homayoun Falakshahi, a senior oil analyst at data provider Kpler, told CNN. Tighter oil sanctions? Should Washington decide to tighten the sanctions screw once more, “current flows to the global oil market might be compromised,” he added. “That would be a complete game-changer for the oil market,” Falakshahi said.

Persons: Brent, Israel, ” Homayoun, ”, Jon, “, Benjamin Netanyahu, Oded, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, Simone Tagliapietra, Bruegel, —, Tehran —, ” Falakshahi, “ it’s, Tobias Borck, Borck, Artemis Moshtaghian Organizations: London CNN —, Global, CNN, National, United Nations, Hamas, Washington, United Arab, Royal United Services Institute for Defence, Security Locations: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, Washington, United States, Palestine, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Brussels, Ukraine, Hong Kong, China, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Gulf, Hormuz, Lebanese, Tehran, Shebaa Farms, Lebanon, “

☆ At WTO, growing disregard for trade rules shows world is fragmenting
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A logo is seen at the World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters before a news conference in Geneva, Switzerland, October 5, 2022. Those depositing cases include China, Dominican Republic, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, South Korea and the United States. The result is a growing disregard for global trading rules among WTO members. Countries have taken advantage of exceptions to WTO rules, such as for national security used by the United States to limit metal imports and some Gulf states to restrict trade with Qatar. Beijing has restricted exports of critical minerals, while Washington has sought to prevent Chinese access to U.S. technology, with national security trumping global trading rules.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, ”, Alan Wolff, Donald Trump, Keith Rockwell, Biden, Ngozi Okonjo, Philip Blenkinsop, Emma Farge, Christina Fincher Organizations: World Trade Organization, REUTERS, WTO, Reuters, Reuters Graphics, European Union, Foundation, Washington, Thomson Locations: Geneva, Switzerland, China, Dominican Republic, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, South Korea, United States, Ukraine, North America, Washington, Qatar, Beijing, U.S, Lake Geneva, Indian

☆ Less ethical US foreign policy requires new logic
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and rising tensions with China are now driving U.S. foreign policy, and ethical considerations have taken a back seat. Even so, groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are concerned. But the United States considers all to have poor records when judged against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. While it may make sense for the United States to choose the lesser evil, it is now unclear what role human rights play in American foreign policy. Although he didn’t connect this idea to human rights, that seems to be part of the thinking.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Joe Biden, Evan Vucci, Biden, Antony Blinken, ”, Modi, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Blinken, It’s, Peter Thal Larsen, Thomas Shum Organizations: Indian, U.S, Bharat, REUTERS Acquire, Reuters, Amnesty, Human Rights, U.S ., Saudi Crown, Universal, United, United States, Reuters Graphics, Seven, Washington, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, China, Asia, Beijing, Moscow, U.S, Hanoi, United States, Riyadh, Russia, United, East, Europe, Afghanistan, Iraq

Along with ramping up its domestic arms production, Moscow is turning to an old ally with a vast arsenal — North Korea. That would be a remarkable reversal from the 1950-53 Korean War, when the Soviet Union provided the communist North with weapons and ammunition. Shoigu became the first Russian defense chief to visit North Korea since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. “Russia is hoping that North Korea could swiftly establish support channels to provide it with war materials like ammunition, bombs and other supplies,” Hong said. U.S. officials have cast Moscow’s reach for North Korean weapons as a reflection of Russian military problems.

Persons: Kim Jong, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Putin, Kim Jong Un, ”, Alexander Gabuev, Shoigu, Kim, Dmitry Peskov, ” Kim, Hong Min, Hong, Wagner, Jake Sullivan, ” Sullivan, embolden Kim, Dmitry Medvedev, “, Emma Burrows, Kim Tong Organizations: United, North, Soviet Union, Russian Defense, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Kremlin, Moscow, Korean People’s Army, Seoul’s Korea Institute for National Unification, House, Washington, Strategic, International Studies, Ukrainian, Russian, Royal United Services Institute, Russia’s Security, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, North Korea, United States, Soviet, Soviet Union, Pyongyang, Korea, Russian, Hong, U.S, United Nations, ” Washington, Iran, Ukrainian, Tallinn, Estonia, Seoul

☆ U.S.-India relationship has reached new heights as the two align across policy areas, USTR says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Katherine Tai, U.S. Trade Representative on the first day of the three-day B20 Summit in New Delhi, India. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the U.S.-India relationship is reaching new heights as the two align "across all the policy areas." "It's certainly true that today, this relationship is experiencing new heights." The U.S. and India are closer now than ever before, but that relationship could be further strengthened. "Many of [these tariffs] have been pending for years and we've agreed to bury the hatchet on those," Tai said.

Persons: Katherine Tai, Tai, CNBC's Martin Soong, Narendra Modi's, Joe Biden, we've Organizations: Katherine Tai , U.S . Trade, U.S . Trade, U.S ., Washington, B20, Indian, U.S Locations: Katherine Tai , U.S, New Delhi, India, U.S

☆ Spreading State Restrictions on China Show Depths of Distrust in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Alan Rappeport | More About Alan Rappeport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

They are likely to pose another challenge for the administration, which has dispatched several top officials to China in recent weeks to try to stabilize economic ties. But while Washington may see a relationship with China as a necessary evil, officials at the state and local levels appear determined to try to sever their economic relationship with America’s third-largest trading partner. “The shift that we have seen to the states is relatively recent, but it’s gaining strength.”One of the biggest targets has been Chinese landownership, despite the fact that China owns less than 400,000 acres in the United States, according to the Agriculture Department. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a powerful interagency group known as CFIUS that can halt international business transactions, reviewed the proposal but ultimately decided that it did not have the jurisdiction to block the plan. However, the Air Force, citing the mill’s proximity to a U.S. military base, said this year that China’s involvement was a national security risk, and local officials scuttled the project.

Persons: ”, Mario Mancuso, Kirkland & Ellis Organizations: Kirkland &, Agriculture Department, Fufeng USA, Foreign Investment, Air Force Locations: China, United States, Washington, American, Grand Forks, N.D, U.S

☆ U.S.-led naval group warns ships to avoid Iranian waters to avoid seizure
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Attendees hold flags from Iran and the United States as Iranian Americans from across California converge in Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 11, 2020. REUTERS/ Patrick T. Fallon/ File PhotoDUBAI, Aug 13 (Reuters) - A U.S.-led naval coalition in the Gulf has warned ships in the region to stay away from Iranian waters to avoid possible seizure, the U.S. Navy said. "The International Maritime Security Construct is notifying regional mariners of appropriate precautions to minimise the risk of seizure based on current regional tensions, which we seek to de-escalate," Commander Timothy Hawkins, spokesman for the Bahrain-based U.S. Fifth Fleet, said late on Saturday. "Vessels are being advised to transit as far away from Iranian territorial waters as possible." The United States would release some Iranians from U.S. prisons as part of the deal, Iran's mission to the United Nations has said.

Persons: Patrick T, Timothy Hawkins, Yousef Saba, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Navy, Fifth Fleet, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Iran, United States, California, Los Angeles , California, U.S, DUBAI, Hormuz, Washington, Tehran, South Korea, Bahrain, Oman, United

☆ War with China would be an 'onslaught' like the US hasn't faced in decades
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Jake Epstein | Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

War would also have severe consequences for China and US allies in the Western Pacific. Any war with China would be fought on multiple fronts — from the air and sea to the web and financial markets. The US maintained this capacity for decades, but America's manufacturing prowess has atrophied since the end of the Cold War. Control of the Pacific would be a crucial part of any war with China, and Beijing boasts the world's largest navy. Cash warsWhile a military conflict between the US and China is only a hypothetical, the two countries are already competing on the economic battlefield.

Persons: Joe Biden, Mark Milley, Dan Blumenthal, it's, Blumenthal, Ujian, didn't, Glenn O'Donnell, Forrester, stymie, Ann Wang, William Alan Reinsch, Reinsch, Russia —, Scott Kennedy, Kennedy, aren't, Ramping, Jake Epstein, Jacob Zinkula Organizations: US, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Armed, US Navy, American Enterprise Institute, US Department of Defense, US Marine Corps, Pentagon, Navigation Plan, Ford, Nimitz, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Beijing, Russia, Columbia University, Marine Locations: China, Western, Beijing, Pacific, Taiwan, South China, America, Nebraska, Pearl, Normandy, Mongolia, Ukraine, Russian, Nanchang, Liaoning, Shandong, Fujian, wean, Washington, United States, Japan, Philippines, Netherlands

☆ China and the US are talking -- but can they work together?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Beijing views Washington as bent on suppressing its development and global rise, while Washington has proclaimed the need to protect its national security and the world order from an increasingly authoritarian and assertive China. Washington last year imposed sweeping curbs on exports of critical technology to China in the name of security, and Beijing has responded with export controls of its own. China has refused US overtures to restore those ties, apparently until Washington removes sanctions against its defense minister Li Shangfu. US climate envoy John Kerry during a meeting with top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi in the Great Hall of the People on July 18, 2023 in Beijing, China. But all this doesn’t mean there’s no room to work together, according to Shanghai-based international relations scholar Shen Dingli.

Persons: Nancy Pelosi, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, Janet Yellen, John Kerry, Li Qiang, Wang Yi, –, ”, Chong Ja Ian, “, Suisheng Zhao, Kerry, Wang, ” Yellen, Li, Li Shangfu, Shi Yinhong, Florence Lo, Shen Dingli, ” Shen, Shen, Blinken, ” Blinken, Xi, Qin Gang, Yun Sun, Chong Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Washington, US, Treasury, National University of Singapore, US Air Force, Air Force, South Carolina . U.S . Air Force, Department of Defense, Reuters, Center for, Cooperation, University of Denver, China’s Communist Party, Renmin University, of, CNN, ”, Economic Cooperation, Foreign, China Program, Stimson, “ Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, Ukraine, United States, China, Taiwan, Bali, —, South Carolina . U.S, Washington, Center for China, South, Shanghai, Asia, Singapore

☆ South Korea asks China to play 'constructive role' against North's threats
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

It is a common interest of Seoul and Beijing for North Korea to stop provocations and return to dialogue, his office said. Relations between South Korea and China have also worsened since China's ambassador last month warned South Korea against making a wrong bet when it comes to Sino-U.S. rivalry. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol had already angered China in April by saying the Taiwan issue was not merely an issue between China and democratically governed Taiwan, but a "global" issue similar to North Korea. "It is hoped that the South Korean side will abide by the one-China principle and handle it prudently and properly." China is willing to work with South Korea on rebuilding mutual trust and pushing their strategic partnership back to a healthy track, Wang said.

Persons: Jin, Wang Yi, Yoon Suk Yeol, Wang, Soo, hyang Choi, Ryan Woo, Christina Fincher, Devika Syamnath, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Korea's Foreign, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, United Nations Security Council, South, ASEAN, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, China, Pyongyang, Jakarta, Seoul, Beijing, North Korea, Russia, Washington, Moscow, emboldening North Korea, South Korea, U.S, Taiwan

☆ In rare UN appearance, North Korea defends missile launch
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile is launched from an undisclosed location in North Korea in this image released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on July 13, 2023. The 15-member Security Council met after North Korea said it tested on Wednesday its latest Hwasong-18 ICBM, adding the weapon is the core of its nuclear strike force. "We categorically reject and condemn the convening of the Security Council briefing by the United States and its followers," North Korea's U.N. North Korea last spoke at a council meeting on its nuclear and ballistic missile programs in December 2017, diplomats said. North Korea - formally known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) - has been under U.N. sanctions for its missile and nuclear programs since 2006.

Persons: Kim Song, Jeffrey DeLaurentis, NATO DeLaurentis, Washington, China's U.N, Zhang Jun, Zhang, Michelle Nichols, Mark Porter, Deepa Babington Organizations: North, Korean Central News Agency, KCNA, REUTERS UNITED NATIONS, Security, Democratic People's, U.S, United Nations, NATO, DPRK, Thomson Locations: North Korea, United States, U.N, Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK, Pyongyang, Russia, China, Britain, France, South Korea, Washington, Beijing, Moscow, emboldening North Korea, CHINA, U.S, NATO, China's

News analysisPresident Biden and the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, with G7 leaders at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Wednesday. Mr. Zelensky has never pushed for Ukrainian NATO membership while the war is raging, nor has anyone else. Mr. Zelensky has never pushed for Ukrainian NATO membership while the war is raging. “I think the win here for Ukraine is the sort of cultural acceptance that Ukraine belongs in NATO,” he said. Image French President Emmanuel Macron has moved from opposition to Ukrainian membership in NATO to strong support for it.

Persons: Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, ”, Zelensky, Mauricio Lima, John Kornblum, Mr, Kornblum, “, Emmanuel Macron, Michal Baranowski, François Heisbourg, ” Ben Wallace, Macron, Ludovic Marin, Jens Stoltenberg, Russia —, Olaf Scholz, Germany, Doug Mills, Camille Grand, Heisbourg, Ukraine can’t, ” Lara Jakes Organizations: NATO, Lithuania — NATO, Kyiv, Ukraine, Central, Ukrainian NATO, Grad, The New York Times, Ukraine Council, German Marshall Fund, “, ”, Washington, Agence France, Russia, New York Times, Ukraine —, European Council, Foreign Relations Locations: Vilnius, Lithuania, VILNIUS, Turkey, Ukraine, NATO, Ukrainian, American, Germany, France, Warsaw, “ Ukraine, Bucharest, French, United States, Bratislava, Central Europe, Russia

☆ Opinion: Uganda anti-LGBTQ law is outrageous. Here’s the smart way to fight it
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Opinion Brett Bruen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

But perhaps most importantly in this context, it actually serves to further erode LGBTQ rights around the world. Putin has used attacks on LGBTQ rights as a way to try to appeal to African leaders, suggesting Russia is more aligned with their conservative values. Slapping stiff sanctions on Kampala will reinforce this rhetoric and allow the anti-LGBTQ attacks he’s using to gain greater strength. Instead, we should look at how to prominently elevate and sustain the focus on LGBTQ rights in our relations with Uganda as well as with these other nations. We should invite more Ugandan musicians, artists and actors to collaborate with leading American LGBTQ cultural figures.

Persons: Brett Bruen, Obama, Yoweri Museveni, doles, Brett Bruen CASME, Biden, George Santos, ” Santos, Ugandans, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Putin, Sen, Ted Cruz, Saddam Hussein Organizations: Inc, Georgetown University, Obama White House, CNN, State Department, United Arab, Ugandans, Twitter, Facebook Locations: American, Ivory Coast, Venezuela, Iraq, Madagascar, Uganda, United States, Kampala, East, Russia, Zimbabwe, Africa, China, Washington, Moscow, Beijing, Russian, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Brunei, Eritrea

LONDON, June 1 (Reuters) - Even if the U.S. dollar's singular dominance as global currency of choice is in fact ebbing, it may not automatically lead to a weaker dollar exchange rate - and could periodically mean the opposite. The big advantage of large dollar reserve holdings alongside wide commercial usage and trade in dollars overseas was clear. But the issue is typically read in markets as a reason to bet on a weakening dollar exchange rate - or even to pump alternatives such as gold or crypto tokens. Of course, that was a global economy riven with fixed dollar exchange rate pegs that supercharged the transmission of Fed policy, most of which have since been dismantled. That may be a world many countries prefer if they are sure of viable alternatives - but may not mean a weaker dollar.

Persons: chomping, Alan Greenspan's, Janet Yellen, Yellen, Mike Dolan, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Federal, OASIS, Fed, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters, Twitter, Thomson Locations: U.S, United States, Washington, China, Ukraine, Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa, Iran, Venezuela, outflows

Jake Sullivan, White House national security adviser, speaks during an interview at an Economic Club of Washington event in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, April 14, 2022. The White House described the meeting between Biden's national security advisor Jake Sullivan and China's top diplomat Wang Yi as "candid, substantive and constructive." The White House said it aims to keep up open communication with China, as Washington increasingly sharpens its rhetoric around Beijing's policies around the globe. The White House has said that it has not observed Beijing providing military assistance to the Kremlin for its fight in Ukraine. Such brinksmanship weakens our national security," the former Pentagon chiefs wrote in a letter.

☆ US push for UN censure of North Korea appears to stall -diplomats
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

UNITED NATIONS, May 8 (Reuters) - U.N. Security Council negotiations on a U.S. push for the 15-member body to condemn North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches appear to have stalled after diplomats said China and Russia had stopped engaging. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in February she would pursue a formal presidential statement - one step below a resolution - to condemn North Korea's actions and urge diplomacy. North Korea's formal name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Russia and China, veto powers along with the United States, Britain and France, have said more sanctions will not help and want such measures to be eased. China and Russia blame joint military drills by the United States and South Korea for provoking Pyongyang, while Washington accuses Beijing and Moscow of emboldening North Korea by shielding it from more sanctions.

Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Avril Haines testifies during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on "Worldwide Threats" at the U.S. Capitol in Washington May 10, 2022. In January, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen notified Congress that the U.S. government started to use extraordinary measures to fend off default. Since 1960, Congress has raised the debt ceiling 78 separate times under both Republican and Democratic presidents. Read more: What is the debt ceiling? Such brinksmanship weakens our national security," the former Pentagon chiefs wrote in a letter.

☆ US confiscates Iran oil cargo on tanker amid Tehran tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

As oil markets remain jittery, the cargo seizure is the latest escalation between Washington and Tehran after years of sanctions pressure by the U.S. over Iran's nuclear program. Tehran says its nuclear program is for civilian purposes while Washington suspects Iran wants to develop a nuclear bomb. Iran has previously responded tit-for-tat following seizures of Iranian oil cargo." Last year the U.S. tried to confiscate a cargo of Iranian oil near Greece, which prompted Tehran to seize two Greek tankers in the Gulf. In a step likely to exacerbate tensions, 12 U.S. senators on Thursday urged President Joe Biden to remove Treasury Department policy hurdles that have prevented the Department of Homeland Security from seizing Iranian oil shipments for more than a year.

☆ NATO slams Putin rhetoric on nuclear weapons in Belarus
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Dan Peleschuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

KYIV, March 27 (Reuters) - NATO castigated Vladimir Putin over his nuclear rhetoric a day after the Russian president said he planned to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, escalating a standoff with the West. "Russia's nuclear rhetoric is dangerous and irresponsible," NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said on Sunday. We have not seen any changes in Russia's nuclear posture that would lead us to adjust our own." Tactical nuclear weapons refer to those used for specific gains on a battlefield rather than those with the capacity to wipe out cities. Analysts at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said the risk of escalation to nuclear war "remains extremely low."

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, March 25 (Reuters) - The banking crisis set off by the swift collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SIVB.O) has exposed a sharp disconnect between Washington and Wall Street. Some critics are asking whether the Biden administration could have contained the crisis with aggressive actions at the start. FINDING A BUYER FOR SVBThe failure of the nation's 16th largest bank caught regulators off guard. The banking industry itself is not united on how to reassure depositors. The banking industry is searching for sweeping relief to calm markets, while Washington is discussing how to prevent the next crisis.

☆ Mistakes by the US's top spies allowed China to turn a deadly mid-air collision into an intelligence coup
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( James Bamford | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +36 min

On April 1, 2001, a US EP-3 spy plane collided with a Chinese fighter jet over the South China Sea. One of eleven left in the fleet, the tired 1960s-era spy plane bristled with porcupine-like antennas. Within minutes, however, the fighters had reached the lumbering spy plane, and while Zhao Yu hung back about a half-mile, Wang Wei rapidly closed in. In severe trouble, he immediately radioed the base, telling them he was unable to maneuver and being sucked in by the spy plane. "You are not allowed aboard the aircraft," Osborn said.

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