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☆ Chinese hackers breached email accounts of top U.S. diplomats
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

(Photo by Leah MILLIS / POOL / AFP) (Photo by LEAH MILLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)China-linked hackers breached the email account of U.S. The hackers also accessed the email account of Daniel Kritenbrink, the assistant Secretary of State for East Asia, who recently travelled with Secretary of State Antony Blinken to China, said NBC, citing two U.S. officials familiar with the matter. CNBC reached out to China's Foreign Ministry for comment but has yet to hear back. The beach was limited to the diplomats' unclassified email accounts, NBC said adding that Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo's email account was also accessed in the breach, as previously reported. The news, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, further fuels the fallout for the U.S. of the alleged Chinese hack first revealed last week.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Central Foreign Affairs Commission Wang Yi, Leah MILLIS, LEAH MILLIS, China Nicholas Burns, Daniel Kritenbrink, Commerce Gina Raimondo's Organizations: Central Foreign Affairs Commission, Getty Images, NBC News, State, NBC, CNBC, China's Foreign, Commerce, Wall Street Journal, U.S Locations: Diaoyutai, Beijing, China, East Asia

☆ Minneapolis police agree to court-enforced reforms 3 years after George Floyd protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Rachel Nostrant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] A pedestrian walks past a mural near the closed Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct on the third anniversary of the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., May 25, 2023. The agreement approved July 13 by Hennepin County District Court Judge Karen Janisch provides for an independent community commission to oversee the Minneapolis Police Department and mandates policing reforms. "No, I don’t think it’s going to be enough.”Under the July 13 agreement, Minneapolis city and police officials have 60 days to put together implementation teams. Her department had conducted its own investigation into Minneapolis police after last year announcing it had found probable cause to believe that the Minnesota Human Rights Act had been violated. It worked with the city and its police department on the agreement approved by Judge Janisch.

Persons: George Floyd, Leah Millis, Karen Janisch, Derek Chauvin, Floyd, Toussaint Morrison, Rebecca Lucero, Judge Janisch, Rachel Nostrant, Donna Bryson, Aurora Ellis Organizations: REUTERS, Hennepin, Minneapolis Police Department, Minneapolis police, Department's Civil Rights, Minnesota Department of Human Rights, Minnesota Department of Human, Minnesota Human, Thomson Locations: Minneapolis, Minneapolis , Minnesota, U.S, Minnesota, Hennepin County

☆ Smoke will keep pouring into the US as long as fires are burning in Canada
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Alaa Elassar | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Massive fires burning in remote areas – like some of those currently burning in northwestern Quebec – are often too out of control to do anything about. Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images Smoke from wildfires in Canada shrouds the view of the Statue of Liberty on Friday in New York. Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images Smoke and haze is seen from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, June 27. Matt McClain/The Washington Post/Getty Images Smoke from Canadian wildfires obscures the visibility in Pittsburgh on June 8. Another issue is the increase in the wildfires are caused by climate change, and are simultaneously making climate change worse.

Persons: ” Robert Gray, you’ve, they’re, “ There’s, don’t, ”, Daniel Perrakis, ” Gray, Shiraaz Mohamed, Gray, “, ” Perrakis, Ed Jones, David Dee Delgado, Gary Hershorn, Haze, Gene J, Jim Watson, Megan Smith, Kamil Krzaczynski, Cpl Marc, Andre Leclerc, Drew Angerer, Shannon Stapleton, Ronald Reagan, Saul Loeb, Matt McClain, Emmalee Reed, Hannah Beier, Mandel Ngan, New York City, Timothy A, Clary, Mike Segar, John Minchillo, Shanita Hancle, Seth Wenig, Matt Rourke, Ting Shen, Matt Slocum, Amr Alfiky, John Meore, Leah Millis, George Washington, Peter Carr, Yuki Iwamura, Kareem Elgazzar, Carlos Osorio, Frank Franklin II, Merrily Cassidy, Spencer Colby, Jason Rock, BJ Fuchs, Anne, Sophie Thill, we’ve, it’s Organizations: CNN, Canadian Forest Service, Firefighters, Getty, ” “, Nature Conservancy, Rockefeller Center, North, Corbis, PNC Park, Major League Baseball, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Traffic, Chesapeake, Lincoln Memorial, USA, People, Canadian Forces, Reuters, BC, Service, Xinhua, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Post, Bloomberg, Capitol, Trade, AP Transit, T, Alberta Wildfire, New, New York City, Getty Images Workers, Citizens Bank, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, Empire, George Washington Bridge, New York State Thruway, Cincinnati Enquirer, Cape Cod Times, Anadolu Agency, Canadian Press, AP, Wildfire Service, Communications, Space, NASA, Reuters Firefighters, Kamloops Fire Rescue, Shining Bank Locations: Wisconsin, Vermont, North Carolina, Canada, Quebec, Canadian, British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, France, AFP, New Jersey, Manhattan, New York, North America, New, Pittsburgh, Stevensville , Maryland, Washington ,, Chicago, Lake Michigan, Mistissini, Ronald Reagan Washington, Arlington , Virginia, Washington, Philadelphia, Elmont , New York, Baltimore, Evansburg , Alberta, Brooklyn , New York, Piermont , New York, Fort Lee , New Jersey, George, West Nyack, New York's, New York City, Cincinnati, Rock Harbor, Massachusetts, Cape Cod, Ottawa, Fort Nelson, Shelburne County , Nova Scotia, Communications Nova Scotia, Shelburne , Nova Scotia, Fort St, John, Kamloops, Shining Bank , Alberta, Lytton

Thwarted by the conservative-leaning court, Biden told reporters that his administration would pursue student loan relief through a different avenue, the Higher Education Act. In a 6-3 decision earlier on Friday, the Supreme Court blocked Biden's plan to cancel $430 billion in student loan debt. "I believe the court's decision to strike down my student debt relief program was a mistake, was wrong. About 53% of Americans supported Biden's original student loan forgiveness program, while 81% of Democrats did so, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed this year. "Americans saw right through this desperate vote grab, and we are thankful that the Supreme Court did as well."

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, I'm, Leah Millis, Elizabeth Warren, Democrat Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Miguel Cardona, “, Ronna McDaniel, Steve Holland, Jeff Mason, Rami Ayyub, Andrea Shalal, Trevor Hunnicutt, Timothy Ahmann, Jonathan Oatis, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Higher, The Education Department, Republicans, Democratic, Education Department, Progressive, White, REUTERS, Twitter, Democrat, Reuters, Republican, Education, Republican National Committee, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Washington

☆ U.S.-China tech battle entering its 'primetime' — and generative A.I. could be the next frontier
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

AI, which is seen as a critical technology by both nations, will likely be dragged into the battle between the two sides. Washington's attention is now likely to turn to generative AI. Generative AI relates to applications such as ChatGPT which are able to generate content when prompted by users. Generative AI is based on so-called large language models, meaning it is trained on huge amount of language in order to be able to understand and respond to prompts from users. China's generative A.I.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Antony Blinken, Leah Millis, Abishur Prakash, Donald Trump, Paul Triolo, Albright Stonebridge, Biden, Triolo, China hasn't, Blinken, China's Xi Organizations: U.S, AFP, CNBC, Chips, Science, Nvidia, Microsoft, Baidu, Alibaba, Washington, Micron Locations: U.S, China, Washington, Toronto, Beijing

☆ Ukraine offensive 'slower than desired', Zelenskiy says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends through video link as British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak looks on during the Ukraine Recovery Conference at the Intercontinental O2 Hotel in London, Britain, June 21, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis/PoolSummary Don't expect a 'Hollywood movie', Zelenskiy saysKyiv says troops consolidating earlier gainsKYIV, June 21 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that progress in Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russian forces was "slower than desired" but that Kyiv would not be pressured into speeding it up as its troops advance through dangerous minefields. Reuters has visited some villages recaptured by Ukrainian forces and confirmed an advance of several kilometres. The BBC quoted Zelensky as saying the military push was not going easily because 200,000 sq km (77,220 sq miles) of Ukrainian territory had been mined by Russian forces. Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told the conference Kyiv was hoping for more than $6 billion from the event.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Rishi Sunak, Leah Millis, Zelenskiy, It's, Zelensky, Hanna Maliar, Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine's, Peter Graff, Angus MacSwan Organizations: British, Intercontinental O2 Hotel, REUTERS, Russian, Reuters, BBC, Kyiv, Washington, Ukraine's, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, London, Britain, Kyiv, Russia, Moscow, Pyatikhatky

☆ U.S. to provide $1.3 billion of additional aid to Ukraine, says Blinken
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, June 21 (Reuters) - The United States will send $1.3 billion more in aid to Ukraine to help the conflict-hit country overhaul its energy grid and modernise its ports, railways and other infrastructure, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday. "Recovery is about laying the foundation for Ukraine to thrive as a secure, independent country, fully intergrated with Europe, connected to markets around the world," Blinken told the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London. "With the support of the U.S. Congress, we will provide more than $1.3 billion in additional aid to help Ukraine toward that goal." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during the Ukraine Recovery Conference at the Intercontinental O2 Hotel in London, Britain, June 21, 2023. The new aid comes on top of more than $20 billion in economic and development assistance the United States has provided to Ukraine, Blinken said.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Leah Millis, William James, Sarah Young, Sachin Ravikumar Organizations: Conference, U.S . Congress, Intercontinental O2 Hotel, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: United States, Ukraine, Europe, London, Britain, States

☆ As growth stalls for the U.S. and China, Blinken talked up economic ties in high-stakes Beijing trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Leah Millis | Afp | Getty ImagesBEIJING — Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored the importance of the economic aspects of the bilateral U.S.-China relationship during his high-stakes trip to Beijing earlier this week. The German Chamber of Commerce in China said that during her Beijing trip, Baerbock visited German company Flender, a gearbox manufacturer. Chairman Colm Rafferty and Vice Chair Roberta Lipson attended the meeting with Blinken on behalf of AmCham China. Slowing growthRegulatory challenges aside, a more pressing issue for businesses is slower economic growth in China and the U.S. in the last few months. He said the growth of major economies such as China is in the U.S. interest and described the economic relationship as "vitally important."

Persons: Antony Blinken, Xi Jinping, Leah Millis, Blinken, Michael Hart, Hart, Annalena Baerbock, Baerbock, Colm Rafferty, Roberta Lipson, AmCham, Xi, Gabriel Wildau, Teneo, Central Foreign Affairs Office Wang Yi, Qin, Trump, Yellen, Joe Biden, it's, Biden Organizations: of, People, Afp, Getty, BEIJING —, State Department, American Chamber of Commerce, CNBC, German, of Commerce, The U.S . Department, State, Communist, Central Foreign Affairs Office, Qin Gang, U.S . Federal Reserve Locations: Beijing, BEIJING, U.S, China, AmCham China, The, China U.S, Taiwan

[1/2] Chinese President Xi Jinping looks on as he meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (not pictured) in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, June 19, 2023. Biden also said Xi was very embarrassed when a suspected Chinese spy balloon was blown off course over U.S. airspace early this year, making a personal comment on the Chinese leader when Blinken said on Monday the "chapter" should be closed. It was unclear why Biden made the comments on Xi - China's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong after he secured a precedent-breaking third term as president and head of the Communist Party. Biden said on Tuesday that Xi had been concerned by the so-called Quad strategic security group, which includes Japan, Australia, India and the United States. The U.S. president said he previously told Xi the U.S. was not trying to encircle China with the Quad.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Antony Blinken, Leah Millis, Joe Biden, Biden, Xi, Blinken, Mao Zedong, John Kerry, Narendra Modi, Trevor Hunnicutt, Ryan Woo, Kanishka Singh, Stephen Coates Organizations: U.S, of, People, REUTERS, Communist Party, Indian, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, , California, BEIJING, California, Washington, Japan, Australia, India, United States, U.S

☆ 'Hell of a job': Biden's reaction and 5 other takeaways from Blinken's trip to China
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Leah Millis | Afp | Getty ImagesU.S. President Joe Biden said Secretary of State Antony Blinken "did a hell of a job" in Beijing. His comments came after Blinken's high-profile diplomatic mission to China, aimed at soothing strained ties with Beijing. In a surprise meeting, Blinken met Chinese President Xi Jinping for a 35-minute meeting toward the end of his two-day visit. He is the highest-level American official to visit China in nearly five years. Here are other takeaways from Blinken's trip to China:Progress madeBiden wasn't the only one who saw progress in the talks.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Xi Jinping, Leah Millis, Joe Biden, Biden, Blinken, Wang Yi, Qin Gang, Xi, Blinken's, Qin, Mark Hannah, Hannah, Bonnie Gasler, Gasler, Wang, Robert Daly, Wilson, Daly, Taiwan Blinken, CNBC's Organizations: of, People, Afp, Getty, Beijing, U.S, U.S . State Department, State Department, Eurasia Group Foundation, CNBC, German Marshall Fund, Tech, China, Institute, East China, Taiwan, Taiwan Relations Locations: Beijing, China, U.S, Bali, Washington, Taiwan, South, East

☆ North Korea criticises Blinken's China visit as 'begging trip'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with China's Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Wang Yi (not pictured) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, June 19, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis/PoolSEOUL, June 21 (Reuters) - North Korea on Wednesday criticised U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's recent visit to Beijing as a "begging trip" to ease tensions in what it called a policy failure to pressure China. Blinken said after the meeting on Monday that he urged China to encourage North Korea to stop launching missiles as Beijing holds a "unique position" to press Pyongyang to engage in dialogue. "In a word, the U.S. state secretary's recent junket can never be judged otherwise than a disgraceful begging trip of the provoker admitting the failure of the policy of putting pressure on China," the commentary said. Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi; Editing by Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Central Foreign Affairs Commission Wang Yi, Leah Millis, State Anthony Blinken's, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Blinken, Jong Yong Hak, Daniel Kritenbrink, Soo, hyang Choi, Sonali Paul Organizations: China's, Central Foreign Affairs Commission, REUTERS, Wednesday, U.S, State, East Asian, Pacific Affairs, Thomson Locations: Diaoyutai, Beijing, China, Pool SEOUL, North Korea, U.S, Pyongyang, U.S ., United States, Japan, India, Australia, Britain, South Korea, Seoul, South

☆ Blinken to wrap up rare visit to China, may meet Xi Jinping
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | 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: +3 min

BEIJING, June 19 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet China's top diplomat and perhaps its president on Monday, the final day of a rare visit to Beijing aimed at preventing the strategic rivals' many disagreements from further deteriorating relations. But China also made clear that Taiwan is the most important issue, and a potentially dangerous one. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, June 18, 2023. Making the first visit to China since U.S. President Joe Biden took office, Blinken stressed "the need to reduce the risk of misperception and miscalculation" in his talks with Qin, the State Department said. It could also set the stage for talks between Xi and Biden at multilateral summits later in the year.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Qin Gang, Qin, Wang Yi, Xi Jinping, Sunday's, Leah Millis, Joe Biden, Blinken's, Janet Yellen, Gina Raimondo, Xi, Biden, Humeyra Pamuk, Dominique Patton, Katharine Jackson, Arshad Mohammed, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Foreign, State Department, China's Foreign, REUTERS, Washington, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, U.S, China, Taiwan, Washington, Diaoyutai, China . U.S

☆ Blinken in China for rare trip amid frosty ties and dim hopes for progress
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | 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

Having postponed a February trip after a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew over U.S. airspace, Blinken is the highest-ranking U.S. government official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. The two made small talk as they walked in, Qin asking Blinken in English about his long trip from Washington. After heading into a meeting room, neither Blinken nor Qin made comments in front of reporters who were briefly allowed in. During his stay through Monday, Blinken is also expected to meet with China's top diplomat Wang Yi and possibly President Xi Jinping. [1/8] U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken shakes hands with China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, June 18, 2023.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Qin Gang, Blinken, Qin, Hua Chunying, Wang Yi, Xi Jinping, Blinken's, Janet Yellen, Gina Raimondo, Xi, Biden, I'm, Leah Millis, Pool, We're, Humeya Pamuk, Dominique Patton, Mike Stone, William Mallard, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Foreign, House, China's Foreign, REUTERS, Pool Biden, State Department, Washington, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, American, China, U.S, Beijing's Diaoyutai, Washington, Bali, Xi Jinping ., Diaoyutai, Indonesian, Taiwan, North Korea, United States, Tokyo

☆ Take Five: Skip, stop or go?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

REUTERS/Leah Millis/File PhotoJune 9 (Reuters) - It's a week of the central bank heavies with the U.S. Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and Bank of Japan meeting. The Fed is tipped to stop with rate hikes (for now), the ECB, to keeping going (for now), while the BOJ remains in stop mode (for now). U.S. inflation numbers, Chinese data and a crunch moment for UBS and Credit Suisse means there's plenty happening. 1/ A LOT GOING ONMarkets get not one but two headline events with U.S. May inflation data out on Tuesday as the Fed kicks off its two-day meeting. For now, markets price in just one more increase this year, an outlook investors seem comfortable with, judging by the recent strong performance of U.S. stocks.

Persons: Leah Millis, Li Gu, Kevin Buckland, Ira Iosebashvili, Yoruk, Noele, Kazuo Ueda, Ueda, culls, Dhara Ranasinghe, Rae Wee, John O'Donnell, John Stonestreet Organizations: Federal Reserve, REUTERS, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and Bank of Japan, ECB, UBS, Credit Suisse, U.S, Reuters, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Li, Shanghai, Tokyo, New York, Amsterdam, Zurich, China, China's, Swiss, Singapore, Frankfurt

☆ Climate crisis: Russia's war in Ukraine is undermining global efforts to tackle emissions, new report finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The report, titled Climate Damage Caused by Russia’s War in Ukraine, follows on from a first interim assessment presented at the UN COP27 climate conference in November 2022. Nearly 22 million metric tons of planet-heating pollution came from warfare, almost 20% of the total emissions attributable to the conflict, the report found. “We probably will only be able to really get a more accurate estimate once the war is over,” de Klerk said. “The biggest chunk of the emissions are still in the future reconstruction of Ukraine,” de Klerk said. The report authors even calculated the extra planet-warming pollution created by airlines rerouting flights to avoid Russian and Ukrainian airspace.

Persons: “, ” Lennard, Klerk, It’s, ” de Klerk, Leah Millis, de Klerk, James Appathurai, ”, Rachel Kyte Organizations: CNN, UN, Firefighters, Reuters, Aris Mssinis, Getty, Global, Fletcher School, Tufts University, “ Locations: Ukraine, Belgium, Russia, Nemyshlianski, Kharkiv region, Russian, Avdiivka, Donetsk, AFP, Europe, Ukrainian

☆ Biden to tout bipartisan debt ceiling deal in first Oval Office address
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Jeff Mason | Thomson Reuters | Jeff Mason Is A White House Correspondent For Reuters. He Has Covered The Presidencies Of Barack Obama | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during debt limit talks with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 22, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File PhotoWASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) - U.S. presidents have generally reserved an address from the White House's Oval Office for the most significant, and dramatic of events: the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, for example, or the Challenger space shuttle explosion. On Friday, however, President Joe Biden plans to make his first Oval Office speech after more than two years as president about a crisis that was averted. Former President Barack Obama made remarks from the Oval Office in the aftermath of the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf Coast. But the Friday night address is his first from the Oval Office, a setting that highlights the power and authority of the presidency, as Biden seeks a second term against a growing field of Republican candidates.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Leah Millis, Biden, Ronald Reagan, George W, Bush, Barack Obama, Jeff Mason, Heather Timmons, Alistair Bell Organizations: U.S, White, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Challenger, Democrat, Senate, Union, Capitol, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Washington, Gulf

"The risk of a downgrade is exacerbated every time Congress flirts with the debt ceiling," said Calvin Norris, Portfolio Manager & US Rates Strategist at Aegon Asset Management, who sees another downgrade as still a risk. Economic damage from the 2011 and 2013 debt ceiling battles had a chilling impact. Rating agency Fitch and other smaller agencies recently placed the U.S. credit rating under review. Reuters GraphicsCASCADE EFFECTInvestors use credit ratings as one of the metrics to assess the risk profiles of governments and companies. In the 2013 debt ceiling crisis the legislative standoff did not cause a rating downgrade, although Fitch placed its rating under review.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, Leah Millis, Calvin Norris, Wendy Edelberg, Edelberg, Fitch, William Foster, ”, Andy Sparks, Olivier d'Assier, Peter Crane, MSCI's Sparks, Davide Barbuscia, Megan Davies, Nick Zieminski Organizations: U.S, White, REUTERS, Senate, Republicans, Aegon Asset Management, AAA, Government, Office, The, Brookings Institution, Moody's, Moody’s Investors Service, Applied Research, Crane, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, United States, Washington, APAC, Qontigo

[1/7] Dev Shah, 14, reacts after winning the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition in National Harbor, Maryland U.S., June 1, 2023. REUTERS/Leah MillisJune 1 (Reuters) - Dev Shah, a 14-year-old boy from Largo, Florida, won the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday, nailing the word "psammophile," meaning an organism that thrives in sandy soils, in the 15th round of the contest's finals. Shah, a student at Morgan Fitzgerald Middle School, had correctly, and swiftly, spelled "bathypitotmeter" in the 14th round, but under spelling bee rules needed to land one more word to be declared winner. Shah, who was crowned champion in a hail of confetti before being joined on stage by his parents and other relatives, takes home $50,000 cash from E.W. Dev, whose hobbies include reading, tennis, playing the cello and solving math problems, tied for 51st place in the 2019 edition of the spelling bee, and tied for 76th place in 2021.

Persons: Dev Shah, Leah Millis, Charlotte Walsh, Shah, Webster, The Merriam, Dev, Harini Logan, Brendan O'Brien, Steve Gorman, Matthew Lewis, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Scripps, Spelling, National Harbor , Maryland U.S, REUTERS, Morgan Fitzgerald Middle School, Scripps Co, Encyclopedia, The, Webster, ION, ESPN, Thomson Locations: National Harbor , Maryland, Largo , Florida, Arlington , Virginia, Encyclopedia Britannica, Merriam, Washington ,, San Antonio , Texas, Chicago, Los Angeles

☆ US National Spelling Bee finalists vie for championship
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Brendan O'Brien | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Competitors are adjusted by a person who is off camera as they celebrate moving to the semifinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition in National Harbor, Maryland U.S., May 31, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File PhotoJune 1 (Reuters) - Eleven of the sharpest young spellers in the U.S. will compete on Thursday in the finals of the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee, having survived three early rounds by nailing words like "zwitterion" (a type of molecule) and "polissoir" (a polishing tool). The finalists, who range from 11 to 14 years old, beat out a field of 220 other competitors who participated in the three-day contest, held in National Harbor, Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C. Scripps Co (SSP.O), the bee's sponsor, plus further monetary prizes and reference works from Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster. Last year, Harini Logan, 14, from San Antonio, Texas, correctly spelled 22 words during a 90-second spell-off to claim the top prize.

Persons: Leah Millis, Webster, The Merriam, Aryan Khedkar, Vikrant Chintanaboina, Harini Logan, Brendan O'Brien, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Scripps, Spelling, National Harbor , Maryland U.S, REUTERS, Scripps Co, Encyclopedia, The, Webster, ION, ESPN, Thomson Locations: National Harbor , Maryland, U.S, Washington ,, Encyclopedia Britannica, Merriam, Waterford , Michigan, San Ramon , California, San Antonio , Texas, Chicago

☆ Explainer: What is the U.S. debt ceiling?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Jason Lange | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

WHEN WAS THE DEBT CEILING REACHED? IS THE DEBT CEILING GOOD FOR ANYTHING? Few counties in the world have debt ceiling laws and Washington's periodic lifting of the borrowing limit merely allows it to pay for spending Congress has already authorized. Others argue the debt ceiling itself violates the U.S. Constitution. In a 2011 showdown, House Republicans successfully used the debt ceiling to extract sharp limits on discretionary spending from Democratic President Barack Obama.

☆ Biden, McCarthy debt deal would speed up Mountain Valley gas pipeline
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden hosts debt limit talks with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 22, 2023. REUTERS/Leah MillisWASHINGTON, May 28 (Reuters) - U.S. energy company Equitrans Midstream Corp's (ETRN.N) long-delayed $6.6 billion Mountain Valley natural gas pipeline could win federal approval as part of Washington's debt limit deal. The pipeline is backed by Democratic West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, whose vote is often needed since the Democrats hold a thin majority in that body. The pipeline, which would unlock gas supplies from Appalachia, the country's biggest shale gas basin, still needs review and permitting including in West Virginia. Mountain Valley is owned by units of Equitrans, NextEra Energy Inc (NEE.N), Consolidated Edison Inc (ED.N), AltaGas Ltd (ALA.TO) and RGC Resources Inc (RGCO.O).

[1/3] U.S. President Joe Biden hosts debt limit talks with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 22, 2023. Here's what we know so far:A CAP ON DISCRETIONARY SPENDINGThe deal would suspend the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling until January of 2025, allowing the U.S. government to pay its bills. Republicans have told their members that non-defense discretionary spending would be cut to 2022 levels, apart from veterans' healthcare, which would remain fully funded. The U.S. government will spend $936 billion on non-defense discretionary spending in 2023. However, other sources say the deal codifies relief from student loan payments while Biden's executive action providing up to $20,000 of debt relief per borrower is under review by the Supreme Court.

[1/3] U.S. President Joe Biden hosts debt limit talks with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 22, 2023. REUTERS/Leah MillisWASHINGTON, May 27 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and House Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Saturday reached an agreement in principle to lift the debt ceiling that would trim some U.S. federal spending. Here's what we know so far:A CAP ON DISCRETIONARY SPENDINGThe deal would suspend the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling until January of 2025, allowing the U.S. government to pay its bills. In exchange, non-defense discretionary spending would be capped at current year levels in 2024 and increased by only 1% in 2025. INCREASED DEFENSE SPENDINGThe deal is expected to boost defense spending to around $885 billion, in line with Biden's 2024 budget spending proposal.

☆ Debt ceiling deal will be 'transformational' for Americans, McCarthy says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Ashley Capoot | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. President Joe Biden hosts debt limit talks with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 22, 2023. REUTERS/Leah MillisHouse Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Sunday that the tentative deal House Republicans have reached with the White House to address the nation's debt ceiling will be "transformational" for the American public. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that failing to raise the debt ceiling by early June could result in "economic chaos." Some House Republicans, like Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, have been vocal critics of the deal on social media. McCarthy on Sunday encouraged members of Congress to read the bill when it's released before taking a stance.

☆ The U.S. isn't the only country with a debt ceiling. Here's how Denmark avoids the drama
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-24 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

U.S. President Joe Biden hosts debt limit talks with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 22, 2023. Yet in Denmark — the only other democracy with a similar type of nominal debt ceiling — barely anybody knows it exists. Separation of church and state While the U.S. debt ceiling restricts government borrowing to a particular figure, most other economies set debt limits as a percentage of GDP. The Danish debt ceiling, or "gældsloft," was implemented as a constitutional requirement in 1993 after a restructure of the country's government, and set at 950 billion Danish kroner ($137.5 billion). Denmark is the only other country in the world with a debt ceiling comparable to that of the U.S., but it never causes the same political crises that Washington frequently faces.

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