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☆ Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Texas are major beneficiaries of US aid to Ukraine, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Biden Administration has circulated a map showing the states that have benefited from Ukraine aid. President Biden hopes to convince Congress to continue sending aid to Ukraine to help combat Russia's invasion. Three out of eight Republican members of Congress from Pennsylvania, three out of six from Arizona, and 18 out of 25 from Texas have been voting against sending aid to Ukraine, Reuters reported. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has recently become a surprise advocate for increasing aid to Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal reported. AdvertisementDespite previously voting against sending more aid to combat Russian President Vladimir Putin's invading forces, Johnson has used his position as speaker to publicly label Ukraine aid a key priority.

Persons: Biden, —, Biden's, Joe Biden, JONATHAN ERNST, Getty, Mike Johnson, Vladimir Putin's, Johnson, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Biden Administration, Service, Capitol, Republicans, Reuters, Reuters . Pennsylvania, Street Journal, Congress, America, America . Patriot, Artillery, US Department of Defense, DoD Locations: Ukraine, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Texas, Israel, Gaza, Russia, Reuters ., Europe, America, Pennsylvania , Ohio , Texas

☆ Opinion: The principle that animated Henry Kissinger’s foreign policies
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Fareed Zakaria | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Editor’s Note: Fareed Zakaria hosts “Fareed Zakaria GPS,” airing at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. CNN —Henry Kissinger, who died this week at 100, may have been the most famous foreign policy practitioner in modern American history. And yet, admired or despised, he managed to hold the world’s attention long after his power waned. The Vietnam War was over. It particularly irked him that the liberal elites who had been enthusiastically in favor of the Vietnam War in 1967 became his most vicious critics within a few years.

Persons: Fareed Zakaria, “ Fareed Zakaria, CNN — Henry Kissinger, Kissinger, Martin Luther King, Jr, Robert Kennedy, Egypt, Fareed Zakaria Kissinger, Hitler, Goethe, Stalin, reread Spinoza, Henry Kissinger, Henry Kissinger’s Organizations: CNN, doer, The, Israel, Pakistan Locations: America, The United States, Vietnam, Soviet, Washington, Beijing, China, Israel, Taiwan, Moscow, United States, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Chile, Indonesia, Germany, optimists, European, Japan, Europe

☆ Three more journalists killed in Gaza in Israeli offensive, relatives say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Palestinians mourn local journalists Hassouna Sleem and Sary Mansour, who were killed in an Israeli strike on a house, at a hospital in the central Gaza Strip November 19, 2023. The CPJ, whose list covers journalists killed on both sides of the conflict although most have been in Gaza, said it seeks at least two sources to verify each death. Reuters could not independently verify this report or the report of the other two journalists killed this weekend. One of the journalists on CPJ's list of those killed is Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah who was killed in Lebanon near the border with Israel on Oct. 13. In addition to Jadallah, two freelance journalists - Hassouna Sleem and Sary Mansour - were killed on Saturday in an Israeli assault on Bureij refugee camp, in the centre of the Gaza Strip, their relatives and Palestinian health officials said.

Persons: Hassouna Sleem, Sary Mansour, Stringer, Sherif Mansour, Belal, Jadallah, Issam Abdallah, Hassouna, Edmund Blair Organizations: REUTERS, Protect Journalists, Journalists, Reuters, Press, Thomson Locations: Gaza, New York, Israel, CPJ's, East, North Africa, Palestine, Gaza City, Zeitoun, Lebanon

☆ Make America Build Again
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +37 min

America is the sixth-most-expensive place in the world to build subways and trolleys. The solutions will cost trillions of dollars and require a pace of building unseen in America since World War II. Perhaps the single most pressing question we face today is: How do we make America build again? "For this class of projects, federal environmental laws are more the exception." The prospect of overhauling our hard-won environmental laws might feel like sacrilege to anyone who cares about the Earth.

Persons: Anne, Marie Griger's, Griger, —, They're, Obama, I'm, we've, We've, I'd, It's, Matt Harrison Clough, Jamie Pleune, AECOM, Joe Biden's, There's, David Adelman, David Spence, Spence, James Coleman, NECA, Coleman, everyone's, Danielle Stokes, Nobody, Bill McKibben, Mother Jones, McKibben, Michael Gerrard, Columbia University —, they've, David Pettit, it's, Zachary Liscow, That's who's, Adam Rogers Organizations: RES Group, Environmental, Infrastructure Investment, Jobs, Land Management, Forest Service, University of Utah, Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, Brookings, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, White, University of Texas, Greenpeace, Natural Resources Defense Council, Act, NEPA, Berkeley, University of California, University of Southern, Southern Methodist University, Ecosystems Conservation, GOP, Biden, Motorola, Telecommunications, Conservatives, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC, University of Richmond, UC Berkeley, USC, Star, Sabin, Climate, Columbia University, Natural Resources Defense, Republicans, Democrats, Management, Budget, Yale Law School Locations: Panama, Colorado, . California, Los Angeles, San Francisco, China, America, Washington, , Wyoming, Nantucket, New England, San Francisco ., University of Southern California, California, New York, Florida, Southern California, Las Vegas

☆ APEC Summit Biden Aims to Fortify Ties With Asian Nations at Summit in San Francisco
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Katie Rogers | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +12 min

Image President Xi Jinping of China spoke to a crowd of U.S. business executives at a dinner in San Francisco on Wednesday evening. “There are hundreds and hundreds of activists —” Crowd: “Go home Xi Jinping!” “— who are coming together from all corners of this nation.” “We are really upset. 1 question for us is: Are we adversaries or partners?” Mr. Xi asked. Mr. Orlins said the Chinese had prepared three versions of a speech Mr. Xi could deliver that night. After Wednesday’s events with Mr. Biden, Mr. Xi picked the friendliest one.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Carlos Barria, Xi, —, Xi Jinping doesn’t, ”, ” “, Jinping, Josh Edelson, Xi —, Mr, Tim Cook, Larry Fink, BlackRock, Jerry Brown, Elon Musk, ” John L, Holden, Biden, Doug Mills, ” Michael Hart, Jim Wilson, Angus, Gina M, Raimondo, “, Ms, “ I’m, Stephen A, United States — Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, Deng, It’s, ” Mr, Orlins, “ They’re, Jeff Chiu, Biden’s Organizations: Visit, Credit, Agence France, Hyatt Regency, Apple, Boeing, Pfizer, Nike, FedEx, Elon, McLarty Associates, San Francisco . Credit, New York Times, U.S, American Chamber of Commerce, ., Mr, National Committee, United, China Relations, Associated, U.S ., China Business Council, Economic Cooperation, Consulate Locations: China, U.S, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Tibet, United States, California, Filoli, San Francisco ., ”, Iowa, Asia, Pacific

☆ 'True European': Former top Czech diplomat Schwarzenberg dies
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

PRAGUE, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Former Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, one of the leading figures in the country's post-Communist era, has died, officials said on Sunday. Schwarzenberg was born into a prestigious Czech family and became a senior aide to his friend Vaclav Havel after the former dissident won the country's first free election in 1990. He later served twice as foreign minister between 2007 and 2013. The Vaclav Havel Library, which Schwarzenberg co-founded, said he died on Saturday, calling him a "patriot and true European". Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said on X that Schwarzenberg was an "unwavering advocate" of democracy and the European idea.

Persons: Karel Schwarzenberg, Schwarzenberg, Vaclav Havel, Miroslav Kalousek, Havel, Alexander Schallenberg, Milos Zeman, Jason Hovet, Jan Lopatka, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Vaclav Havel Library, Communists, Television, Foreign Ministry, Austrian, Thomson Locations: PRAGUE, Czech, Europe, Vienna, Czech Republic, Schwarzenberg, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Central European

☆ Opinion | The Laws of Campus Culture War
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( David French | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +15 min

They represent the moral and philosophical foundations for the concrete constitutional rules of culture war that directly apply on campus. One of the most powerful and compelling arguments for free speech in American history was born out of mob suppression. In 1860, Frederick Douglass wrote his “Plea for Free Speech in Boston” after a violent mob shut down an antislavery event. Every college and university — public or private — that receives federal funds has an affirmative duty to protect students’ civil rights. In the recent past, schools have sometimes been too enthusiastic about stopping harassment, defining the term so broadly that university anti-harassment policies actually violate students’ free speech rights.

Persons: George Washington, ”, “, Abraham, ” Washington, Johnson, Watts, they’re, Deactivating, Frederick Douglass, ” Douglass, Biden, Davis, VI, Scott Alexander’s, it’s, — Organizations: State University System of, Justice, Cooper Union, Cornell University, Trees School, . Ohio, Klan, Hamas, Civil, of Education, Cornell, Democratic Locations: State University System of Florida, Palestine, New York City, Ithaca, N.Y, ”, United States, America, Newport, R.I, Texas, Terminiello, Chicago, Brandenburg, ., Ohio, “, Gaza, Florida, Boston, Monroe County

Partial results with two-thirds of the voting districts reporting their results also showed the opposition parties with a clear lead. The earlier results tend to come from rural areas and small towns, with large cities where opposition parties do better reporting their results later. The Ipsos poll showed that three centrist opposition parties that campaigned on a promise to reverse the illiberal drift of the government had together secured 249 seats in the 460-seat lower house of parliament, or Sejm, a clear majority. “No matter how you look at it, we won,” Law and Justice campaign manager Joachim Brudziński said Monday in an interview on RMF FM radio. Even if the opposition parties take power, they will face difficulties in putting forward their agenda.

Persons: Ipsos, Viktor Orbán, Robert Fico, “, Magdalena Chmieluk, ”, Douglas Wake, Jacek Kucharczyk, ” Kucharczyk, Mateusz Morawiecki, Joachim Brudziński, Andrzej Duda, Duda, haven't, Kamysz, Donald Tusk, Tusk, Elżbieta, Cezary Tomczyk, ” Tomczyk, Kucharczyk, Pietro De Cristofaro, Kwiyeon, Raf Casert Organizations: European Union, Law, Justice, Russia's, Organization for Security, Cooperation, Institute of Public Affairs, Associated Press, ”, RMF, Third Way, Civic Coalition, European, Third, EU Locations: WARSAW, Poland, Poland's, Ukraine, Wroclaw, EU, Brussels, Berlin, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, Europe, Warsaw, Rome, Belarus

☆ Taiwan urges progress on EU investment deal as bloc courts chip firms
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Ben Blanchard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Taiwan National Development Council Minister Kung Ming-hsin poses during an interview with Reuters in Taipei, Taiwan, April 23, 2021. Taiwan has repeatedly pushed for the conclusion of a Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) with the EU, saying it would help encourage more Taiwanese investment, especially from chip companies. The EU identified Taiwan as a candidate for a BIA in 2015, but no talks have taken place on the issue. "On the basis of this mutual trust... can you tell EU headquarters, on the BIA, can it start, effectively moving it forward?" A Taiwanese government official said last month that Taiwan is seeking other trade agreements with the EU given the BIA is a "long shot".

Persons: Taiwan National Development Council Minister Kung Ming, hsin, Ben Blanchard, Development Council Minister Kung Ming, Tsai Ing, Tsai, John Stonestreet Organizations: Taiwan National Development Council Minister, Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, European Union, BIA, European, EU, Development Council Minister, Trade Organisation, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp, chipmaker, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Taipei, Rights TAIPEI, EU, Europe, Asia, China, Beijing, Germany

☆ Biden to deliver speech on democracy, legacy of Sen. John McCain in Arizona
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

President Joe Biden is set to deliver a speech Thursday in Phoenix, Arizona, on the state of democracy and to honor his late friend, Republican Sen. John McCain. It is the fourth such speech on democracy Biden has made during his presidency, the first of which was delivered on the first anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Biden is set to say that McCain was representative of the old guard of Republicans and was willing to put his country over his party. The friendship continued after McCain lost the 2008 presidential contest to Barack Obama, whose vice president was Biden. "Not every Republican — not even the majority of Republicans — adhere to the extremist MAGA ideology," Biden plans to say.

Persons: Joe Biden, Walter E, Republican Sen, John McCain, Biden, MAGA, Donald Trump, McCain, Barack Obama, Republican —, Republicans —, I've Organizations: Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Washington Convention Center, Washington , D.C, Republican, Capitol, Arizona State University, McCain Institute, American, McCain, Democratic, White, House, Trump, Senate, Republicans, Republican Party, American Democracy, GOP House Locations: Washington ,, Phoenix , Arizona, America, New York, California

His most substantive comment on Trump’s myriad legal issues was a sarcastic remark about his mugshot in the Fulton County, Georgia, case. Defending democracy is an issue Biden allies believe remains deeply resonant with voters, almost three years after the 2020 contest. A White House official noted Arizona was a state that has toggled between Democratic and Republican leadership. “President Biden will talk about his conviction that we must not walk away from the sacrifices generations of Americans have made to defend our democracy,” the official said. “It’s well past time for President Biden to see the border crisis first hand and for the administration to do its job, secure the border, and keep Arizona safe.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, he’s, MAGA, ” Biden, Sen, John McCain, “, ”, Biden, Joe Biden’s, Republican Sen, Trump, Hunter, –, “ I’m, “ MAGA, Jon Meacham, Thursday’s, – Biden, Biden harkened, McCain, McCain’s, Cindy, Katie Hobbs, Kyrsten Sinema –, Beau Organizations: Washington CNN, Republican Party, MAGA Republican, Department, Republican, Trump, White House, Biden, Gettysburg, McCain, White, GOP, Republicans, MAGA Republicans, Broadway, Democrats, Democratic, Democrat Locations: America, Arizona, Fulton County , Georgia, East, Tempe , Arizona, ”, Michigan, Chicago, Silicon Valley, Washington, Hanoi

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced several support measures for Ukraine, including military, economic and humanitarian assistance, while also pledging an additional show of diplomatic backing through steps intended to punish Russia over the war. Canada will provide Ukraine with 50 armored vehicles, including armored medical evacuation vehicles built in London, Ontario. The multiyear support also will include a financial contribution to a U.K.-led consortium delivering air defense equipment to Ukraine, Trudeau said. Canada’s monetary support will continue into the 2024 fiscal year, while the governments also have signed a free trade agreement, Trudeau said. “We stand here absolutely united in our defense of democracy and our condemnation of (Russian President) Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked, unjustified and unconscionable invasion of Ukraine,” Trudeau said.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, “ We’re, ” Trudeau, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Joe Biden, Trudeau, Vladimir Putin’s Organizations: Canadian, Ukrainian, Ottawa, U.S, General, Russian Central Bank, Leopard Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Ottawa, Washington, Canada, London , Ontario, russia, ukraine

She refers to the overhaul as a “judicial coup,” saying it risks facilitating the “de facto annexation of the West Bank without any critique or any review” from the Supreme Court. The cabinet includes a number of West Bank settlers in powerful positions, and the agreement that brought together the government calls for extending Israel’s sovereignty in the West Bank, effectively a call for annexation. Under Netanyahu’s far-right government, Israel has approved a record number of housing units in West Bank settlements, Peace Now said in a July report. “Did the Supreme Court protect Palestinian rights in the West Bank? More recently in 2017, Israeli security forces bulldozed nine homes built on private Palestinian land in the West Bank settlement of Ofra.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, West Bank haven’t, Sawsan, Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s, Israel, Israel doesn’t, ” Zaher, Eliav, ” Lieblich, Zaher, Ahmed Tibi, Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben Gvir, Tibi, ” Tibi, ” Gershon Baskin, Bond, ” Baskin, “ Organizations: CNN, West Bank, Legal Center, Arab, Rights, United Nations, Israel Democracy Institute, Tel Aviv University, Palestinian Authority, Supreme Court, Court of Justice, Israel’s, Israeli, Court Locations: Palestinian, Israel, West Bank, East Jerusalem, Jerusalem, West, The Hague, Dura, Qara, Ofra

“The attacks on our democracy are happening on all fronts,” said Nicole Austin-Hillery, president & CEO of the foundation. Several speakers also criticized the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision earlier this year ending affirmative action in college admissions. LaTosha Brown, co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund, drew on the struggle for civil and voting rights as inspiration to push back harder against restrictive laws and to expand the ability to vote. She noted how Black Americans had once been denied even the ability to learn to read and write. ___The Associated Press coverage of race and voting receives support from the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation.

Persons: ”, Nicole Austin, “, Ron DeSants, Damon Hewitt, ” Hewitt, LaTosha Brown, You’ve, Stacey Plaskett, Donald Trump, Jonathan Logan Organizations: WASHINGTON, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Black Caucus, Republican, Black, U.S, ’, Civil, Fund, Virgin Islands, Department, Associated Press, Jonathan Logan Family Foundation, AP Locations: U.S, ”, Florida, U.S .

Maura Healey of Massachusetts, a liberal Democrat, has declared a state of emergency, activated the National Guard and started petitioning the White House for help. The migrants on state-funded buses from Texas are a fraction of the total number arriving in northern cities. Some of those migrants have family in New York, while others are attracted to the city’s history of welcoming immigrants. Still, the rising clamor is creating a rare convergence between the two parties, which for years have fought in seemingly parallel political universes. Endless Republican news conferences at the border and threats to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, were dismissed as political bluster.

Persons: Maura Healey, Star ”, “, Alejandro Mayorkas, shouldn’t, ”, Josh Riley, Marc Molinaro, Riley, Biden Organizations: Massachusetts, Democrat, National Guard, White House, Star, Republican, Democratic, Hudson Valley Republican, ”, Republicans Locations: Texas, . Texas, New York City, New York, Washington, Albany, Hudson

☆ Meta rejects recommendation to suspend former Cambodia PM from Facebook
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Hun Sen speaks at a press conference at the National Assembly after a vote to confirm his son, Hun Manet, as Cambodia's prime minister in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, August 22, 2023. Meta, in a written statement, agreed to take down the video but said it would respond to the board's recommendation to suspend Hun Sen after a review. Cambodia barred the 22-member oversight board from the country, declaring the recommendation was "political" in nature. Hun Sen remains influential in Cambodia and after stepping aside vowed to stay in politics for at least another decade. Cambodia's Ministry of Post and Telecommunications on its Facebook page on Tuesday "congratulated" Facebook for its decision and reiterated that the Meta oversight board was still unwelcome.

Persons: Hun Sen, Hun Manet, Cindy Liu, Hun, Fanny Potkin, Martin Petty Organizations: National Assembly, REUTERS, Meta, Cambodian People's Party, Facebook, Cambodia's Ministry of Post, Telecommunications, Thomson Locations: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

LONDON, Aug 25 (Reuters) - In an investment world trumpeting new-found ethical and sustainability guidelines, the seeming indifference of markets to democratic credentials still remains stark. There's little doubt that emerging market risks are many and rising for Western investors. What's more, there were as many emerging economies in its sample with relatively low bond spreads in the group with very low V&A scores as the group with very high V&A scores. If you removed those two wipeouts, screening just for V&A democratic values made much less difference to the bottom line. "Taking heed of these geopolitical risks could be the crucial difference between securing your returns or ending up with nothing."

Persons: Morgan's, Eamon Aghdasi, Mina Tomovska, Saker Nusseibeh, Nick Macfie Organizations: U.S ., Hermes, Financial, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE, Egypt, Argentina, Ukraine, Taiwan, Boston, Belarus, Washington

☆ Ukrainian lawmaker says GOP debate comments on reducing military aid ‘concerning and upsetting’
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Ukrainian lawmaker Lesia Vasylenko on Thursday said some U.S. Republican presidential candidate comments over support for her country are concerning. "With some of the United States politicians claiming that they will reduce the support to Ukraine, well, that's actually quite concerning, and upsetting in a way because the United States [is] the country that has been the strongest supporter of democracy and has been the baseline for democracy," Vasylenko told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe," in response to statements made during the inaugural debate of Republican presidential candidates on Wednesday. The issue sharply divides the nine leading GOP contenders for the top U.S. job. During the Republican discussion, outspoken entrepreneur and political newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy said he would not support additional aid to Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion, calling U.S. support for Ukraine "disastrous" and a distraction from domestic issues. Ramaswamy was rebuked by opponent Nikki Haley, a former ambassador to the United Nations, who has argued for the provision of equipment and ammunition to Ukraine.

Persons: Lesia Vasylenko, Vasylenko, CNBC's, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, we're Organizations: Republican, United, United Nations, Republicans, CNBC Locations: Ukraine, United States, Ukrainian

☆ China's defense minister Li Shangfu warns against 'playing with fire' on Taiwan during Russia meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —China’s defense minister Li Shangfu on Tuesday warned against “playing with fire” when it comes to Taiwan in a veiled jab at the United States as he addressed a security conference in Russia. Speaking at the Moscow Conference on International Security, Li said attempts to “use Taiwan to contain China,” would “surely end in failure,” according to state-run news agency Xinhua. China’s ruling Communist Party claims the self-governing democracy of Taiwan and has vowed to take control of it, by force if necessary. The visit is Li’s second to Russia since assuming his role as defense chief earlier this year. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has also drawn increased attention to Taiwan as a potential security flashpoint in Asia.

Persons: CNN —, Li Shangfu, “, Li, China’s, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Sputnik, Sergei Shoigu, William Lai, Lai, ” Organizations: CNN, Moscow Conference, International Security, Xinhua, Communist Party, Washington, Senior, US, Taiwan Locations: Taiwan, United States, Russia, China, Ukraine, Taipei, Moscow, Belarus, ”, Iran, Myanmar, Beijing, “, Xinhua, Russian, Alaska, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Paraguay, New York, Asia

In a region of Africa where authoritarianism has been rising, Niger seemed to be on a different path of democracy and partnership with the United States. Declan Walsh, chief Africa correspondent for The Times, explains how a military coup has now put all of that in jeopardy and why Niger’s allies still think it’s possible to reverse that coup.

Persons: Declan Walsh Organizations: The Times Locations: Africa, Niger, United States

☆ Taiwan will not back down to threats, Taiwan VP says on US trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Taiwan's Vice President William Lai speaks during a luncheon in New York City, New York, U.S., in this handout picture released on August 14, 2023. Lai told a supporters lunch in New York on Sunday that "if Taiwan is safe, the world is safe, if the Taiwan Strait is peaceful, then the world is peaceful", according to Taiwan's presidential office. China considers Taiwan its most important diplomatic issue, and is a constant source of friction between Beijing and Washington, which is the island's most important international backer and arms supplier. Lai's speech was attended by Ingrid Larson, managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan, a U.S. government-run non-profit that carries out unofficial relations with Taiwan. China carried out war games around Taiwan in April after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen returned from California where she met U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy while also on a transit on her way back from Central America.

Persons: William Lai, Lai, Ingrid Larson, Tsai Ing, Kevin McCarthy, Ben Blanchard, Lincoln Organizations: Taiwan Presidential, REUTERS, American Institute, U.S, Eastern Theatre Command, Liberation Army, Taiwan, Central America, Thomson Locations: New York City , New York, U.S, Taiwan, REUTERS TAIPEI, Beijing, China, United States, Paraguay, San Francisco, New York, Washington, Republic of China, People's Republic of China, Taipei, California, Central

CNN —Taiwan will never back down in the face of growing threats from China, the island’s vice president and presidential hopeful said Sunday during a transit through the United States, defying Beijing’s condemnation of his trip. William Lai, a front-runner in Taiwan’s presidential race in January, made a stop in New York en route to Paraguay, where he will attend the inauguration of its new president Tuesday. “When Taiwan is safe, the world is safe, and when there is peace on the Taiwan Strait, there will be world peace,” Lai said, according to Taiwan’s presidential office. In March, Taiwan’s President Tsai transited in California and met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, despite warnings and threats from Beijing. Following Tsai’s trip, China launched three days of live-fire military drills around Taiwan.

Persons: William Lai, Lai, Taiwan’s, ” Lai, ”, Xi Jinping, Tsai Ing, Tsai, Xi, “, Kevin McCarthy Organizations: CNN, Communist Party, US, Democratic Progressive Party, Harvard, Kuomintang, China’s Communist Party, Taiwan’s Locations: Taiwan, China, United States, New York, Paraguay, “, Taiwan Strait, ”, San Francisco, Beijing, California

☆ Taiwan will not back down to threats, its vice president says on U.S. trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Taiwan will not be afraid nor back down in the face of authoritarian threats, the island's vice president told supporters on a U.S. visit that Beijing has condemned, while reiterating a willingness to talk to China. William Lai, also frontrunner to be Taiwan's next president at January elections, is in the United States on what is officially a transit stop on his way to Paraguay for the inauguration of its new president. Taiwan and the United States both say the stopovers, including one in San Francisco on the way back, are routine, but China has denounced them and called Lai a separatist "troublemaker." Lai told a supporters lunch in New York on Sunday that "if Taiwan is safe, the world is safe, if the Taiwan Strait is peaceful, then the world is peaceful," according to Taiwan's presidential office. "No matter how great the threat of authoritarianism is to Taiwan, we absolutely will not be scared nor cower, we will uphold the values of democracy and freedom," he said.

Persons: William Lai, Lai Organizations: Kuomintang, KMT Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, U.S, Beijing, China, United States, Paraguay, San Francisco, New York

☆ Opinion: Why Republicans are turning against aid to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Adam Kinzinger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

In the CNN poll published Friday, 55% of all respondents said that Congress should stop authorizing new military aid for Kyiv. Worse, from my perspective, is the shameful fact that Republicans are far more likely to favor an end to aid than Democrats. He also has said the US should prioritize school safety over Ukraine aid. Certainly, the CNN poll suggests a measurable level of Democratic support for military solutions to geopolitical crises. Official opposition to Ukraine aid is most significant in Congress, which does play a role in what happens to the flow of assistance.

Persons: Adam Kinzinger, Kinzinger, —, SSRS, Reagan, pollsters, Trump, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Hitler, Charles Coughlin, Joe Biden’s, Hunter, ” Trump, Republicans ’ Biden, Hunter Biden, Dominic Tierney, Ron DeSantis, ” DeSantis, Mike Pence, Chris Christie Organizations: CNN, Republican, House Foreign Affairs, Air National Guard, Russia, Kyiv, Republicans, Ukraine, White, Fox News, FBI, DOJ, IRS, Swarthmore College, Florida Gov, Twitter, Trump, Former New Jersey Gov, GOP Locations: Illinois, Russia, Russian, Ukraine, Soviet Union, The, Iraq, Afghanistan, America, Florida, Iowa, Kyiv

☆ Opinion: Alabama Republicans’ defiance keeps an ugly history alive
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Opinion Nicole Hemmer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Nicole Hemmer Courtesy Nicole HemmerTheir new map is out, and it makes clear that the Republican-controlled legislature in Alabama has flouted the court order. That started to change in 1938, when the court began to lay the groundwork for the civil rights jurisprudence of the mid- 20th century. APAs the court came to embrace civil rights, racial conservatives began to defy it. Join us on Twitter and FacebookThe courts historically have faced White resistance whenever they have sided with Black civil rights. That tells us less about the court and more about the political power — and impunity — still wielded by pro-discrimination forces, decades after the Civil Rights Movement.

Persons: Nicole Hemmer, Carolyn T, Robert M, “, Who, Kay Ivey, ”, Dred Scott, Sandford, Plessy, Ferguson, Harlan Stone, Brown, White, — Organizations: Rogers Center, Vanderbilt University, “ Partisans, Conservative, CNN, Black, Republican, Republican Gov, Alabama Republicans, Civil, Graymont Elementary School, AP, National Guard, Twitter, Civil Rights Movement, Trump Republicans Locations: Alabama, “, United States, Birmingham , Alabama, In Massachusetts

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