Antony blinken

WASHINGTON (AFP): US President Joe Biden talked with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for the first time in seven months Thursday (Sept 9), urging they ensure that "competition" between the two powers does not become "conflict," the White House said. During the call, Biden's message was that the United States wants to ensure "the dynamic remains competitive and that we don't have any situation in the future where we veer into unintended conflict," a senior US administration official told reporters. In Beijing, state broadcaster CCTV reported that the phone call was "candid, in-depth" and covered "extensive strategic communication and exchanges on China-US relations and issues of mutual concern," and that US policy on China has caused "serious difficulties." This was the leaders' first call since February, when they talked for two hours, shortly after Biden took over from Donald Trump. The Biden administration official said the latest call lasted 90 minutes. US-China relations ... » Learn More about Biden, Xi talk to avoid US-China ‘conflict:’ White House

WASHINGTON (Bloomberg): American firms in China are hoping for a meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping this year, according to a new survey, as they look for relief from trade barriers raised during the Trump era. More than 60% of American Chamber of Commerce in China members surveyed cited the need to restore regular visa services for business executives and their families, according to a survey released by the group on Friday (Sept 10). Still, the results suggested companies realised that it was necessary to first improve ties that have remained tense despite Biden’s defeat of former President Donald Trump in November. While the chamber didn’t disclose the names of the 125 companies that participated in the survey last month, its membership includes the Chinese branches of some of America’s best-known brands, such as Boeing Co, Coca Cola Co. and Walt Disney Co. "The state of the overall US-China relationship is as important as ever to the business community, ... » Learn More about US firms in China want Biden-Xi summit to lift trade barriers

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has expressed the Philippine government’s gratitude to the United States for its continued assistance to the country’s COVID-19 response, including an additional $11.3 million to help bankroll its vaccination program, testing and contact-tracing efforts. Locsin flew to Washington and met with his US counterpart, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on Thursday afternoon (Friday in Manila), said a statement issued by the US state department. The two top diplomats were set to discuss various matters on security and diplomatic relations involving the two allies, such as the renewal of the Philippines’ Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States. The United States has provided a total of $39 million in assistance to the Philippines since the pandemic broke out last year. —Marlon Ramos Subscribe to our global nation newsletter ... » Learn More about Locsin thanks US for pandemic aid

About 1,000 people, including Americans, have been stuck in Afghanistan for days awaiting clearance for their charter flights to leave, an organizer told Reuters, blaming the delay on the US State Department. The confusion was the latest flashpoint following a chaotic US military withdrawal completed after the Taliban seized power in Kabul on August 15, after the Western-backed government collapsed. Exasperated by the delays, the organizer said the State Department had failed to tell the Taliban of its approval for flight departures from the international airport in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif or validate a landing site. "They need to be held accountable for putting these people's lives in danger," said the organizer, who sought anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. Reuters could not independently verify the details of the account. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, challenged the idea that Americans were at ... » Learn More about Over 1,000 await flight clearance to leave Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif – organizer

FILE US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Photo by JOHANNA GERON / POOL / AFP) WASHINGTON — The United States on Friday condemned the sentencing of several Hong Kong democracy activists for their roles in protests that triggered a crackdown on dissent by China, again accusing Beijing of denying Hong Kongers freedoms they were promised. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the charges against the activists “politically motivated” and demanded the release of “those detained or imprisoned for exercising their fundamental freedoms.” Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai was jailed for 14 months on Friday along with four other veteran activists. Martin Lee, who is known as the “father of democracy” in Hong Kong, received a suspended sentence. The sentencings on Friday were the latest in a relentless and successful campaign by China to silence dissent since the protests in 2019. Blinken called the sentencings an example of how authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong “undermine ... » Learn More about US condemns sentencing of HK activists on ‘politically motivated’ charges

Indonesia eases Covid-19 restrictions in Bali but borders will be tightened Indonesia has eased its Covid-19 restrictions on the popular tourist island of Bali, although international travellers will face stricter protocols on arrival to help curb the spread of new variants, a senior minister said on Monday (Sept 13). Tourist spots in most parts of the island will now accept visitors, as long as they adhere to strict protocols, such as proving their vaccination status on a government-verified phone app, maritime and investment minister Luhut Panjaitan told a virtual conference. "The rapidly improving Covid-19 situation in Java and Bali has caused the PPKM level to decline faster than we expected," Mr Panjaitan told the conference, referring to Indonesia's system of social mobility restrictions. READ MORE HERE Britain's Prince Andrew to challenge US court jurisdiction in accuser's lawsuit Britain's Prince Andrew plans to challenge a US court's jurisdiction over a civil ... » Learn More about While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Sept 14

The United States (U.S.), the United Kingdom (UK), the European Union (EU) and Canada have taken joint action on Mar. 23 (Singapore time) against Chinese officials for human rights abuses against Uyghurs in the Xinjiang province of western China. In the first such sanctions undertaken against members of the Chinese government in three decades, T he Guardian reported that the sanctions, which will be carried out in parallel, specifically target the officials involved in the mass internment of the Uyghur people. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken stated that two such officials would be sanctioned in connection with "serious human rights abuses" in Xinjiang. The U.S. is designating two People’s Republic of China officials under our Global Magnitsky sanctions in connection with serious human rights abuses in Xinjiang. We stand united with the UK, Canada, and the EU in promoting accountability for those who abuse human rights. — Secretary Antony Blinken ... » Learn More about US, UK, EU & Canada sanction Chinese officials for ‘serious human rights abuses’ in Xinjiang