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July 28 (Reuters) - The United States and its partners are communicating with military leaders in Niger, a State Department spokesperson said on Friday, as Washington warned a military takeover could end U.S. cooperation with the nation. Coup leaders in Niger on Friday declared General Abdourahamane Tiani as the new head of state following the seventh military takeover in West and Central Africa in less than three years. Military leaders from ECOWAS nations and international partners including the United States are in communication with a broad array of military leaders in Niger," the State Department spokesperson said. So far in fiscal year 2023, the U.S. has provided nearly $138 million in humanitarian assistance for vulnerable populations in Niger, the State Department spokesperson said. The State Department spokesperson said there was no announcement about when she would travel to Niger.

Persons: Abdourahamane Tiani, John Kirby, Washington, Washington's, Biden, Kirby, Lloyd Austin, Kathleen FitzGibbon, Steve Holland, Daphne Psaledakis, Phil Stewart, Patricia Zengerle, David Ljunggren, Jonathan Oatis, Sandra Maler, Don Durfee, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: State Department, Friday, Military, White House, U.S . Agency for International Development, ., Pentagon, DoD, Department of Defense, The State Department, Thomson Locations: United States, Niger, Washington, West, Central Africa, U.S, Africa's, Niger . U.S

Here are answers to questions about U.S.-Niger ties:WHY IS NIGER IMPORTANT TO THE UNITED STATES? The country, located in the semi-arid Sahel region, plays an outsized role in the United States' Africa strategy. The State Department in March said Niger had "taken important steps to consolidate and strengthen its democracy." The State Department in March said the United States had plans to provide $101 million in bilateral assistance to Niger in fiscal year 2022, including assistance for food security, democracy and governance, and security. It is unclear how much the United States has given in security assistance specifically.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Washington's, Biden, Bazoum's, Vedant Patel, Niger, Bazoum, Wagner, Patel, Antony Blinken, Chris Coons, Mario Diaz, Balart, Daphne Psaledakis, Simon Lewis, Patricia Zengerle, Moira Warburton, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Don Durfee, Daniel Wallis Organizations: UNITED STATES, Islamic, State Department, ., West, The State Department, U.S, State, Embassy, Pentagon, AID, Republican, Thomson Locations: Niger, U.S, Washington, NIGER, United States, Africa, Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Chad, al Qaeda, Russia, Niamey

WASHINGTON/ROME, July 27 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden hosts Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White House on Thursday, with the Ukraine war and Italy's relations with China expected to be among the top items on the agenda. Meloni is also expected on Thursday to meet with Republican House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who has said he could consider an impeachment inquiry into Biden. The G7 formally launched an alternative to Belt and Road, the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, last year. Italy is planning to discuss with the U.S. how to support the development and stability of Africa, Meloni's office said, which will also be among the main topics of Italy's G7 presidency. Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington and Angelo Amante in Rome Editing by Don Durfee and Diane CraftOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden, Giorgia Meloni, Italy's, Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Meloni's, Meloni, Trevor Hunnicutt, Angelo Amante, Don Durfee, Diane Craft Organizations: Italian, White, Republican, Russia, Initiative, Partnership for Global Infrastructure, Investment, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, ROME, Ukraine, China, Italian, Washington, Beijing's, Italy, Beijing, Japan, Rome, North Africa, Africa

Washington-based analysts say Wang's return to the ministry should help China's foreign ministry resume normal operations after weeks of international speculation about Qin's fate. In the Chinese system, the top diplomat is not foreign minister but rather the director of the Chinese Communist Party's foreign affairs commission, a role Wang will continue to hold. Still, Wang's reappointment is a sign of problems in China's foreign policy establishment, said Blanchette. On Tuesday, content mentioning Qin was quickly removed from China's foreign ministry website after Wang's appointment. The tab on the website that typically holds the biography of the foreign minister simply read "Updating."

Persons: Wang Yi, Qin Gang, Xi Jinping's, Qin, Xi, Wang, Joseph Torigian, Vedant Patel, Blinken, Joe Biden, Rorry Daniels, Wang's, China's, Jude Blanchette, Craig Singleton, Michael Martina, David Brunnstrom, Don Durfee Organizations: Communist, American University, U.S . State Department, U.S, APEC, Asia Society Policy Institute, Communist Party, Washington's Center, Strategic, International Studies, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Thomson Locations: Washington, United States, Beijing, U.S, China, China's, Xi's, India, California, Taiwan, scold Washington, Lincoln

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 18, 2023. Despite Washington’s longtime status as Israel’s top ally and biggest weapons supplier, Biden appears to have few good options. The White House, in a terse statement, called the Knesset vote "unfortunate" and urged work toward a broad consensus. But U.S. officials have yet to set a date or concur with Israeli statements that they would meet at the White House in September. One White House official said Biden, having known Netanyahu for decades, can be especially blunt with him in private.

Persons: Joe Biden, Isaac Herzog, Evelyn Hockstein, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu, It's, Aaron David Miller, Mike Pence, Hugh Hewitt, Israel's, David Makovsky, Obama, Donald Trump, Herzog, Netanyahu’s, Tom Nides, Barack Obama, Miller, Matt Spetalnick, Steve Holland, Simon Lewis, Don Durfee, Grant McCool Organizations: White, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Israeli, Court, Israel, Democratic, Republican, Biden's Democratic Party, Washington Institute, West Bank, White House, U.S, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Israel, derailing, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Washington

☆ Senior US Treasury official to raise Russia grain deal in visit to Kenya, Somalia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Daphne Psaledakis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, July 24 (Reuters) - A top U.S. Treasury official will highlight Washington's efforts to facilitate Russian grain and fertilizer exports during a visit to Kenya and Somalia and stress that Moscow's exit from the Black Sea grain deal will hurt African states, a spokesperson said on Monday. This week's visit by Brian Nelson, Treasury's undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares to host African leaders in St. Petersburg on Thursday and Friday and promises them free Russian grain "to replace Ukrainian grain." BLACK SEA GRAIN DEALRussia quit the deal allowing Black Sea exports of Ukrainian grain last week, saying that demands to improve its own food and fertilizer exports had not been met, and that not enough Ukraine grain had reached the poorest countries under the Black Sea deal. Since Russia quit the deal and began attacking Ukrainian food-exporting ports on the Black Sea and Danube river, global wheat and corn futures prices have risen sharply. The Black Sea grain deal was brokered by the U.N. and Turkey a year ago to combat a global food crisis worsened by Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Persons: Brian Nelson, Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden, Nelson, Russia's, Daphne Psaledakis, Don Durfee, Cynthia Osterman, Sonali Paul Organizations: U.S, Treasury, Reuters, Biden, Islamic, Black, Thomson Locations: Kenya, Somalia, St . Petersburg, Nelson's, Africa, East Africa, U.S, Nairobi, Somalia's, Mogadishu, Islamic State, al Shabaab, Sudan, Russia, Ukrainian, Turkey, Ukraine, Moscow

King, an active-duty U.S. Army soldier serving in South Korea, sprinted into North Korea while on a civilian tour of the Demilitarized Zone on the border between the two Koreas. Washington is fully mobilized in trying to contact Pyongyang about him, U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said on Thursday, but North Korea had yet to respond. At that time, U.S. officials had just concluded an initial nuclear agreement with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il. Warmbier was eventually returned to the United States in a coma in 2017, but died days later. "Here's the response we got: one missile launch after another," referring to repeated North Korean missile tests.

Persons: Travis King, Christine Wormuth, Joe Biden, Trump, It's, Thomas Hubbard, Bobby Hall, Kim Jong Un's, Kim Jong Il, Hubbard, King, Mickey Bergman, Bill Richardson, Bergman, Jenny Town, Charles Robert Jenkins, ‘, Tae Yong, Otto Warmbier, Warmbier, Otto’s, Fred, He’s, Antony Blinken, Biden, Blinken, Simon Lewis, David Brunnstrom, Idrees Ali, Don Durfee, Stephen Coates Organizations: Army, U.S . Army, U.S, North, Koreans, United Nations Command, Richardson, . Army, Reuters, Aspen Security, Korean, Thomson Locations: United States, North Korea, South Korea, . Washington, Pyongyang, U.S, Washington, North, Korea, Koreans, Sweden, New York, Jenny, Korean, Korea's

The audit has not changed the U.S. Treasury's view that the bank must make reforms before the department will support disbursements from the Afghan Fund to Da Afghanistan Bank, or DAB, as the central bank is known, said a U.S. Treasury official on condition of anonymity. It also must prove that it has "adequate" controls against money-laundering and terrorism financing and install a "reputable" independent monitor, said the Treasury official. A Taliban administration spokesman and a spokesperson for the Afghan central bank did not respond to request for comment. Afghanistan remains mired in grave humanitarian and economic crises that some experts say has been worsened by U.S. restrictions hampering DAB's ability to perform key central bank functions, such as ensuring stable exchange rates and prices. Calling the audit a "preliminary assessment," the Treasury official said its "limitations" suggested that "more comprehensive third-party assessment efforts may be needed."

Persons: ”, disbursements, Shah Mehrabi, Mehrabi, Anwar ul, Haq Ahady, Jonathan Landay, Charlotte Greenfield, Don Durfee Organizations: U.S ., Afghan, Da, Da Afghanistan Bank, Treasury, Federal Reserve Bank of New, DAB, U.S . Agency for International Development, USAID, U.S, Afghan Fund, State Department, The State Department, Reuters, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, ISLAMABAD, U.S, Da Afghanistan, Swiss, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Afghan, Washington, United States, Afghanistan, American

She was among some 40 other tourists who were walking around and taking photos in the moments before King made a dash to North Korea. "I don't think anyone who was sane would want to go to North Korea, so I assumed it was some kind of stunt," she told Reuters. North Korea is likely to milk the border crossing by a U.S. soldier for propaganda purposes but will probably not be able to gain political leverage, analysts and a former North Korean diplomat said. The notable exception was U.S. college student Otto Warmbier, who died in 2017 shortly after being released from a North Korea prison. Still, analysts suggested that King's stay in North Korea could be lengthy.

Persons: Travis T, King, Carl Gates, Gates, Travis, Sarah Leslie, Leslie, Tae Yong, Andrei Lankov, Otto Warmbier, Lankov, It's, Victor Cha, Josh Smith, Matt Spetalnick, Don Durfee, Sandra Maler Organizations: U.S . Army, The Korea Times, U.S, Cavalry, Korean, Force, National Defense Service, Korean Defense, Overseas Service, Daily, Joint Security Area, Reuters, South, Korea Risk Group, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, WASHINGTON, South Korea, Washington, North, Seoul, Fort Bliss , Texas, North Korea, Racine , Wisconsin, New Zealander, U.S, North Korean, Korea, Korean, Korea's, Pyongyang

[1/2] Israeli President Isaac Herzog looks on during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, not pictured, in Washington, DC, on October 25, 2022. Stefani Reynolds/Pool via REUTERSWASHINGTON, July 19 (Reuters) - Israeli President Isaac Herzog will address Congress on Wednesday, completing a visit aimed at reassuring the United States that Israel's democracy remains strong despite government attempts to overhaul the country's judicial system. The invitation was extended by the leaders of Congress last year to mark the 75th anniversary of Israel's founding. Biden had held off extending the invitation out of concern over Jewish settlements and the planned judicial overhaul. Proponents of the Israeli government's judicial overhaul say the country's Supreme Court has become too interventionist and that the change will facilitate effective governance.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, Antony Blinken, Stefani Reynolds, Joe Biden, Herzog, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Biden, Chaim Herzog, Herzog's, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Jamaal Bowman, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Omar, Isaac Herzog’s, Narendra Modi's, Netanyahu, Barack Obama's, Patricia Zengerle, Don Durfee, Howard Goller Organizations: REUTERS, Israeli, U.S . House, Senate, West Bank, Washington, Twitter, Capitol, —, Indian, Democrats, Republicans, Democratic, White, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, REUTERS WASHINGTON, United States, Israel, Washington, Palestinian, Alexandria, Barack Obama's Iran

Herzog, who as head of state plays a largely ceremonial role, begins his two-day Washington visit on Tuesday when he meets U.S. President Joe Biden before addressing a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday. Herzog will also meet Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, a senior administration official said. Biden and Herzog last met at the White House in October. On Monday, Biden invited Netanyahu to the United States for an official visit later this year. SPEECH BOYCOTTSIn Congress, U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar said on Twitter "there is no way in hell" she would be at Wednesday's speech.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Herzog, Netanyahu's, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Biden, Netanyahu, Ilhan Omar, Isaac Herzog’s, Omar, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Narendra Modi's, Barack Obama's, Primila Jayapal, Israel, Jayapal, Patricia Zengerle, Steve Holland, Richard Cowan, David Morgan, Don Durfee, Howard Goller Organizations: Democratic, West Bank, White, Twitter, —, Indian, Democrats, Republicans, Senate, Democratic House, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, Washington, Iran, United States, Israel, Barack Obama's Iran

☆ U.S. to announce $1.3 bln in military aid for Ukraine -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Mike Stone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, July 18 (Reuters) - The United States will announce a new pledge to buy $1.3 billion worth of military aid for Kyiv in its conflict with Russia in the coming days, two U.S. officials said. The previously unreported weapons package includes air defenses, counter-drone systems, exploding drones and ammunition, one of the U.S. officials said. The United States is using funds in its Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) program, which allow President Joe Biden's administration to buy weapons from industry rather than pull from U.S. weapons stocks. The Pentagon has provided more than $10.8 billion in security assistance for Ukraine under the USAI in fiscal 2023, in seven separate tranches. Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington Editing by Don Durfee and Angus MacSwanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden's, AVEVEX, Australia's DroneShield, Washington, Mike Stone, Don Durfee, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Kyiv, Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, L3Harris Technologies, AeroVironment Inc, U.S . Department, Ukraine Defense Contact, Pentagon, Thomson Locations: United, Russia, United States, Ukraine, U.S, Kyiv, California, Washington

☆ Human Rights Watch reports new evidence of Ukrainian use of banned landmines
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko/File PhotoWASHINGTON, June 30 (Reuters) - Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Friday that it uncovered new evidence of the indiscriminate use by Ukrainian forces of banned anti-personnel landmines against Russian troops who invaded Ukraine in 2022. "The Ukrainian government’s pledge to investigate its military’s apparent use of banned anti-personnel mines is an important recognition of its duty to protect civilians," Steve Goose, Human Rights Watch's arms director, said in a statement. Russia did not join the treaty and its use of anti-personnel mines "violates international humanitarian law ... because they are inherently indiscriminate," the report said. Anti-personnel mines are detonated by a person's presence, proximity or contact and can kill and maim long after a conflict ends. Those rockets each indiscriminately disburse 312 PFM-1S anti-personnel mines, said the report.

Persons: demine, Alexander Ermochenko, Steve Goose, Jonathan Landay, Don Durfee, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Rights Watch, Ukrainian, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Donetsk, Ukrainian, Washington, Russian, Izium, Kyiv

☆ Most Americans support US arming Ukraine, Reuters/Ipsos poll shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Jonathan Landay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, June 28 (Reuters) - Solid majorities of Americans support providing weaponry to Ukraine to defend itself against Russia and believe that such aid demonstrates to China and other U.S. rivals a will to protect U.S. interests and allies, according to a Reuters/Ipsos survey. The two-day poll that was concluded on Tuesday charted a sharp rise in backing for arming Ukraine, with 65% of the respondents approving of the shipments compared with 46% in a May poll. Eighty-one percent of Democrats, 56% of Republicans and 57% of independents favor supplying U.S. weapons to Ukraine, according to the latest poll. Some right-wing Republican lawmakers have opposed continuing U.S. military support for Ukraine. The online Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted nationwide, collecting responses from 1,004 adults, including 400 Democrats and 383 Republicans.

Persons: Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Joe Biden's, William Taylor, Taylor, Biden, Vladimir Putin, Jonathan Landay, Jason Lange, Don Durfee, Grant McCool Organizations: Reuters, U.S, U.S . Institute of Peace, Republican, Ukraine, NATO, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russia, China, U.S, Russian, United States

☆ Russian general Surovikin was sympathetic towards Wagner rebellion, US officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, June 28 (Reuters) - General Sergei Surovikin, the deputy commander of Russia's military operations in Ukraine, was sympathetic to mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's weekend rebellion, U.S. officials said on Wednesday, though it was unclear if he actively supported it. As the rebellion began, Surovikin publicly urged fighters of the Wagner private militia to give up their opposition to the military leadership and return to their bases. The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Surovikin had advance knowledge that Prigozhin was planning a rebellion. U.S. officials and Western officials said Prigozhin had been stockpiling weaponry ahead of the mutiny attempt. The U.S. officials suggested he must have believed he had enough firepower and sympathy within the Russian military to carry out his uprising.

Persons: Sergei Surovikin, Yevgeny Prigozhin's, Prigozhin, Wagner, Surovikin, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Joel Schectman, Don Durfee, Grant McCool Organizations: Wagner Group, New York Times, U.S, Kremlin, Russian, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, U.S, Ukrainian, Moscow, Russian, Chechnya, Syria, Western, Belarus

☆ Armed man killed in gunfire exchange near US consulate in Saudi Arabia
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, June 28 (Reuters) - Two people were killed when an armed man exchanged fire with Saudi Arabian security authorities near the U.S. consulate building in Jeddah, leading to the deaths of the gunman and a security guard, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday. No Americans were harmed in the incident, a State Department spokesperson said in a statement. "The U.S. Embassy and Consulate remain in contact with Saudi authorities as they investigate the incident," the State Department spokesperson said. In 2016, a suicide bomber was killed and two people were wounded in a blast near the compound. And in 2004, five people stormed the U.S. consulate with bombs and guns, killing four Saudi security personnel outside and five local staff within.

Persons: Al Saud, Yomna Ehab, Simon Lewis, Jasper Ward, Sharon Bernstein, Grant McCool, Don Durfee, Leslie Adler, Lincoln Organizations: Saudi, U.S . State Department, State Department, American Consulate, Makkah Region, Investigations, U.S . Embassy, Consulate, U.S, Thomson Locations: JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, U.S, Jeddah, American, Jeddah Governorate, Makkah, al Qaeda

☆ Russia mercenary threat revives concern over nuclear arsenal security
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Jonathan Landay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

To be sure, U.S. officials say they do not see an immediate threat to the security of Russia's strategic and tactical weapons. "We have not seen any changes in the disposition of Russian nuclear forces," said a National Security Council spokesperson in response to questions from Reuters. U.S. intelligence agencies said in their 2023 Annual Threat assessment that "Russia's nuclear material security ... remains a concern despite improvements to material protection, control, and accounting at Russia's nuclear sites since the 1990s." Russia’s nuclear arsenal is the world’s largest, estimated in 2022 at 5,977 warheads by the Federation of American scientists, compared to an estimated 5,428 held by the U.S. “This has always been a super-high (U.S.) intelligence collection priority and the command and control of nuclear weapons in Russia,” said Hoffman.

Persons: Wagner, Alexander Ermochenko WASHINGTON, group's, Wagner's, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin's, Marc Polymeropoulos, you’re, Ramzan, Kadyrov, Daniel Hoffman, Dmitry Peskov, Hoffman, “, Putin, ”, Jonathan Landay, Don Durfee, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Southern Military District, REUTERS, CIA, National Security, Reuters, Federation of, U.S, Thomson Locations: Rostov, Don, Russia, Moscow, Washington, Europe, Eurasia, U.S, Washington . U.S, Ukraine, United States

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend an official state dinner at the White House in Washington, U.S., June 22, 2023. Biden and Modi gathered with CEOs including Apple's (AAPL.O) Tim Cook, Google's (GOOGL.O) Sundar Pichai and Microsoft's (MSFT.O) Satya Nadella. Modi, who has appealed to global companies to "Make in India," will also address business leaders at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. Modi praised Gopalan for keeping India "close to her heart" despite the distance to her new home, and called Harris "really inspiring." On Friday evening, Modi will address members of the Indian diaspora, many of whom have turned out at events during the visit to enthusiastically fete him, at times chanting "Modi!

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Elizabeth Frantz WASHINGTON, Modi, Biden, Tim Cook, Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, Sam Altman, OpenAI, Sunita Williams, Anand Mahindra, Mukesh Ambani, Farwa Aamer, John Kirby, Kirby, India's, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Harris, Shyamala Gopalan, Gopalan, Steve Holland, Simon Lewis, Jeff Mason, Trevor Hunnicutt, Don Durfee, Grant McCool Organizations: India's, White, REUTERS, Indian, U.S, NASA, Mahindra Group, Reliance Industries, Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, FedEx, MasterCard, Adobe, South China Seas, South, Asia Society Policy Institute, White House, Washington, State Department, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Washington, China . U.S, India, United States, CHINA, Beijing, China, South, South Asia, New Delhi, Taiwan, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, American

☆ Ambitious plans for US-India technology sharing face hurdles
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( David Brunnstrom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Standing in the way are strict U.S. rules governing export of defense technology, including International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Ely Ratner, assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific affairs, has stressed the need to break down barriers to technology sharing with allies and partners, including India. But one congressional aide said efforts to speed technology sharing with India would face "an uphill battle" both in the U.S. Congress and at the U.S. State Department, where officials have a specific obligation to protect U.S. technology. "There are concerns about (technology sharing) in the Australia context and there would be more concerns in the India context," he said. Rick Rossow, an India expert at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies, said approval processes for advanced defense technology transfer were "onerous but not impossible."

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Elizabeth Frantz WASHINGTON, Biden, Ely Ratner, Democrat Mark Warner, Republican John Cornyn, Bill Greenwalt, Greenwalt, ITAR, Rick Rossow, David Brunnstrom, Mike Stone, Patricia Zengerle, Don Durfee, Deepa Babington Organizations: India's, White, REUTERS, United, Indian, General Electric Co, Center, New, New American Security, TECH, U.S . Senate India Caucus, Democrat, Republican, U.S . Congress, U.S . State Department, Pentagon, GE, State Department, U.S . Missile Technology Control, Washington's Center, Strategic, International Studies, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, United States, India, New Delhi, Asia, U.S, Britain, Australia, New American, Russia, Ukraine, Delhi

☆ Indian PM Modi to meet CEOs as Washington visit concludes
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend an official state dinner at the White House in Washington, U.S., June 22, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth FrantzWASHINGTON, June 23 (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet U.S. and Indian business leaders in Washington on Friday, the final day of a state visit marked by pledges of deeper U.S.-India cooperation on areas including space, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. 2 position in the White House, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The White House also announced plans to cooperate on quantum computing, scientific research and technological innovation, alongside plans to manufacture weapons in India. On Friday evening, Modi will address members of the Indian diaspora, many of whom have turned out at events during the visit to enthusiastically fete him, at times chanting "Modi!

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Elizabeth Frantz WASHINGTON, Modi, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, India's, Biden, Simon Lewis, Don Durfee, Grant McCool Organizations: India's, White, REUTERS, Indian, U.S, State Department, Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, FedEx, MasterCard, Adobe, Tech Mahindra, Congress, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Washington, India, American, Delhi, China, Beijing, Taiwan, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine

WASHINGTON, June 20 (Reuters) - Dozens of his fellow Democrats urged U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday to raise human rights issues with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Washington this week, according to a letter sent to Biden. Modi left for Washington on Tuesday for a visit projected as a milestone in ties between the two countries. Washington hopes for closer ties with the world's largest democracy, which it sees as a counterweight to China, but rights advocates worry that geopolitics will overshadow human rights issues. The State Department's annual report on human rights practices released in March listed "significant human rights issues" and abuses in India. But when asked last month about human rights concerns in India, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Biden believes: "This is an important relationship that we need to continue and build on as it relates to human rights."

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Biden, Modi, Chris Van Hollen, Pramila Jayapal, Karine Jean, Pierre, Patricia Zengerle, Don Durfee, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, Indian, Washington, Democratic, Representatives, White, Reuters, United, Bharatiya Janata Party, Biden, White House Press, Thomson Locations: Washington, India, United States, China

☆ Trump lacked power to declassify secret nuclear arms document, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Jonathan Landay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Former U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks following his arraignment on classified document charges, at Trump National Golf Club, in Bedminster, New Jersey, U.S., June 13, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky/File PhotoWASHINGTON, June 18 (Reuters) - Even when he was president, Donald Trump lacked the legal authority to declassify a U.S. nuclear weapons-related document that he is charged with illegally possessing, security experts said, contrary to the former U.S. president’s claim. The special status of nuclear-related information further erodes what many legal experts say is a weak defense centered around declassification. “The president is the executive branch and so he can declassify anything that is nuclear information,” he said. And it takes forever,” said Thomas Blanton, director of the National Security Archive.

Persons: Donald Trump, Amr Alfiky, Trump, ”, Steven Aftergood, David Jonas, Elizabeth Goitein, it’s, Thomas Blanton, Jonathan Landay, Don Durfee, Amy Stevens, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: U.S, Trump National Golf Club, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Atomic Energy, Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Federation of Atomic Scientists, Prosecutors, Trump, Republican, Atomic Energy Act, DOE, Pentagon, AEA, U.S . National Nuclear Security Administration, Brennan Center for Justice, Constitution, DOD, National Security, Thomson Locations: Bedminster , New Jersey, U.S, declassify, declassification, United States, Florida

☆ Amid US-China rivalry, a landmark science deal faces new scrutiny
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Michael Martina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

"Extending the Science and Technology Agreement between the U.S. and China would only further jeopardize our research and intellectual property," said Representative Mike Gallagher, the Republican chair of a congressional select committee on China. "The administration must let this outdated agreement expire." "It is hoped that the U.S. side will expedite the internal review before the expiration of the agreement," he said. Given the state of U.S.-China ties, trying to renegotiate could derail the agreement, they said. Proponents of renewing the deal argue that without it, the U.S. would lose valuable insight into China's technical advances.

Persons: Florence Lo, Antony Blinken, Mike Gallagher, Liu Pengyu, Joe Biden, Kurt Campbell, Denis Simon, Anna Puglisi, Michael Martina, Don Durfee, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, WASHINGTON, ., China Science, Technology, Science, U.S, State Department, National Security Council, Hudson Institute, University of North, Chapel Hill, Georgetown University's Center for Security, Emerging Technology, Thomson Locations: China, U.S, United States, Beijing, Washington, Pacific, University of North Carolina, East Asia

Having failed to revive a 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Washington hopes to restore some limits on Iran to keep it from getting a nuclear weapon that could threaten Israel and trigger a regional arms race. An Iranian official said: "Call it whatever you want, whether a temporary deal, an interim deal, or a mutual understanding - both sides want to prevent further escalation." U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Rob Malley has also met Iran's ambassador to the U.N. after months of Iran refusing direct contact. The Western official said the key U.S. objective was to keep the nuclear situation from worsening and to avoid a potential clash between Israel and Iran. U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, a Republican, wrote to President Joe Biden on Thursday saying "any arrangement or understanding with Iran, even informal, requires submission to Congress".

Persons: Donald Trump, Matt Miller, Washington, Brett McGurk, Ali Bagheri Kani, Iran Rob Malley, miscalculate, Michael McCaul, Joe Biden, Parisa, John Irish, Arshad Mohammed, Ramu Ayub, Simon Lewis, Daphne Psaledakis, Don Durfee, William Mallard Organizations: U.S . Congress, State Department, U.S . National Security, International Atomic Energy Agency, U.S, . House Foreign, Republican, John, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, PARIS, United States, Iran, Russia, Washington, Israel, Tehran, U.S, de, Ukraine, Oman, Ali Bagheri Kani . U.S, IRAN, ISRAEL, Parisa Hafezi, Dubai, Paris, Saint Paul , Minnesota

☆ Blinken heads to Beijing hoping to calm fears of a US-China break
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Humeyra Pamuk | Thomson Reuters | Humeyra Pamuk Is A Senior Foreign Policy Correspondent Based In Washington Dc. She Covers The U.S. State Department | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Blinken will hold meetings in China on June 18-19 and may meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, sources said. He will be the highest-ranking U.S. government official to visit China since Biden took office in January 2021. That followed a tense evening phone call with Blinken on Tuesday during which Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang told the U.S. to stop meddling in China's affairs. So even going through the motions has some utility for both Washington and Beijing." Particularly worrisome for China's neighbors has been its reluctance to allow regular military-to-military talks between Beijing and Washington, despite repeated U.S. attempts.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Xi Jinping, Biden, Qin Gang, Wang Wenbin, Joe Biden, Andrew Small, Marshall, Tsai Ing, Stephane Dujarric, EYEING BIDEN, Xi, Emanuel Macron, Blinken's, Janet Yellen, Gina Raimondo, Yun Sun, Humeyra Pamuk, David Brunnstrom, Laurie Chen, Martin Pollard, Michelle Nichols, Ben Blanchard, Don Durfee, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Blinken, Foreign, Washington, French, U.S, Treasury, China Program, Stimson, Economic Cooperation, APEC, Biden, Thomson Locations: Beijing, United States, China, U.S, Asia, Taiwan, Taiwan Strait, Washington, Bali, Europe, East, Africa, Saudi Arabia, India, San Francisco, New York, Taipei

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