World

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to visit Moscow next week, offering a major diplomatic boost to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the same day the International Criminal Court announced it wants to put the Russian leader on trial for alleged war crimes. Xi’s visit was the latest sign of Beijing’s emboldened diplomatic ambitions, and came amid …

San Francisco (AP) — Payments of $5 million to every eligible Black adult, the elimination of personal debt and tax burdens, guaranteed annual incomes of at least $97,000 for 250 years and homes in San Francisco for just $1 a family. These were some of the more than 100 recommendations made by a city-appointed reparations committee tasked with the thorny …

Russia’s noncompliance with the New START Treaty, and its claimed suspension of the treaty, are unfortunate and irresponsible steps, the United States said on Wednesday.  According to the State Department, mutual compliance with New START strengthens the security of the United States, our allies and partners, Russia, and the world.  Russia’s claimed suspension of the New START Treaty is legally …

United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry today hosted a virtual Ministerial meeting of the Major Economies Forum (MEF) on energy and climate in preparation for a MEF leaders meeting to be convened in April by President Biden.  The discussion focused on further actions the major economies can take individually and jointly to accelerate efforts toward keeping a …

International Technology Security and Innovation Fund (ITSI Fund) appropriated under the United States CHIPS Act of 2022 provides the Department of State with $500 million ($100 million per year over five years, starting in Fiscal Year 2023).  According to the United States Department of State, this funding is available to the Secretary of State to provide for semiconductor supply chain …

New York (AP) — Regulators rushed Friday to seize the assets of one of Silicon Valley’s top banks, marking the largest failure of a U.S. financial institution since the height of the financial crisis almost 15 years ago. Silicon Valley Bank, the nation’s 16th-largest bank, failed after depositors hurried to withdraw money this week amid anxiety over the bank’s health. …

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has been invited to testify before a New York grand jury that has been investigating hush money payments made on his behalf during his 2016 presidential campaign, according to one of his lawyers. Trump attorney Joseph Tacopina confirmed Thursday that the Manhattan district attorney’s office has invited the former president to testify …

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping was awarded a third five-year term as the nation’s president Friday, putting him on track to stay in power for life at a time of severe economic challenges and rising tensions with the U.S. and others. The endorsement of Xi’s appointment by the ceremonial National People’s Congress was a foregone conclusion for a …

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched a massive barrage of missiles and drones that hit residential buildings and critical infrastructure across Ukraine on Thursday, killing six people and leaving hundreds of thousands without heat or electricity. The largest such attack in three weeks also put Europe’s largest nuclear plant at risk by knocking it off the power grid for hours …

At the Our Ocean Conference (OOC) in Panama, the United States highlighted new and recently launched global initiatives totaling more than USD 800 million to protect “our ocean and assist developing countries.” Assistance to developing countries ranges from supporting the creation of marine protected areas and helping partner countries secure and enforce their marine resources, to improving the resilience of …