Sen. Blackburn: China wants an excuse to bully Taiwan
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) has vowed to stand by Taiwan amid high tensions between the island and China.
International
Biden admin. launches airstrike in Syria, welcomes nuclear talks with Iran & to send $3B to Ukraine
Air-strikes in Syria, nuclear negotiations with Iran and more aid to Ukraine are all on the Biden administration’s foreign policy agenda this week.
Biden signs protocols supporting Finland, Sweden NATO membership
Thanks to Joe Biden, Sweden and Finland are inching closer to becoming part of NATO. In his latest attempt to spite Russia amid the Ukraine crisis, President Biden moved to bolster the geo-political power of NATO.
Biden: Hopeful, working hard on release of Brittney Griner
President Biden weighed in on the Brittney Griner case after the American basketball star was sentenced to nine years in a Russian jail on drug smuggling and possession charges. Speaking to the media from the White House Friday, Biden appeared optimistic about securing her release.
Amnesty International: Ukraine govt. endangers civilians, violates laws of war Russian diplomats
The London-based human rights group Amnesty International revealed the Ukraine government used prohibited tactics in its war with Russia.
Biden admin. declares Monkeypox ‘public health emergency’
The Biden administration declared Monkeypox a public health emergency. In a press briefing Thursday, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra called on Americans to take Monkeypox seriously as the US posted more than 7,000 cases. The disease has been spreading in the US since May and cases are expected to continue to rise.
VP Harris touts $1B in so-called climate crisis aid
The White House has continued its climate crusade by pumping millions into grant programs. While speaking at Florida International University in Miami on Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris pledged grants worth $1 billion to go towards addressing extreme weather events that she attributes are due to climate change. The Biden administration will be dispersing these funds to 343 towns and cities nationwide. The funds are intended to address a variety of natural disasters and may be used at the discretion of local jurisdictions.
Secy. Blinken: No place in the world for nuclear tensions
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, derided America’s adversaries for allegedly derailing an international nuclear weapons treaty. The Biden Administration sounded the alarm on rival countries who aim to abuse nuclear power. While speaking at the United Nations Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference on Monday, Blinken stressed that intimidation by nuclear powers has no place in the world.
Reports: Al-Qaeda leader killed in Kabul drone strike
The Biden administration claimed they have killed the latest leader of Al-Qaeda in Kabul. According to reports Monday, citing unnamed intelligence sources, the CIA conducted a “successful drone strike” that killed Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Report: Chinese Embassy pressures US lawmakers
The Chinese Embassy in Washington has reportedly warned US lawmakers not to join House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on her possible trip to Taiwan. According to NBC News on Thursday, cited Congressman Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) claimed that Chinese diplomats are trying to pressure lawmakers into preventing Pelosi from going to Taiwan.