White House News in Chinese - About (weebly.com)
FEBRUARY 18, 2021
White House Daily Briefing (Audio Only)
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki held her daily news conference over the phone due to the winter weather in the Washington, DC area. She was joined by Homeland Security Advisor and Deputy National Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall.
White House Daily Briefing (Audio Only)
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki held her daily news conference over the phone due to the winter weather in the Washington, DC area. She was joined by Homeland Security Advisor and Deputy National Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall.
Overnight Defense: NATO expanding troops in Iraq
Feb. 18 - NATO will expand its security training mission in Iraq by thousands of troops following a deadly rocket attack on a military air base earlier this week.
The 30-member alliance will increase its personnel in Iraq from 500 to around 4,000, a move to prevent the war-torn country from becoming a breeding ground for terrorists, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced Thursday.
“ISIS still operates in Iraq and we need to make sure they’re not able to return,” Stoltenberg told reporters at the end of a two-day virtual NATO defense ministers meeting.
What the increase means:
He said NATO’s efforts will now include more Iraqi security institutions and areas beyond Baghdad, though their presence “is conditions-based and increases in troop numbers will be incremental.”
He added that the Iraqi government had made a request for the expanded mission, which will begin in the coming months. more details
Feb. 18 - NATO will expand its security training mission in Iraq by thousands of troops following a deadly rocket attack on a military air base earlier this week.
The 30-member alliance will increase its personnel in Iraq from 500 to around 4,000, a move to prevent the war-torn country from becoming a breeding ground for terrorists, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced Thursday.
“ISIS still operates in Iraq and we need to make sure they’re not able to return,” Stoltenberg told reporters at the end of a two-day virtual NATO defense ministers meeting.
What the increase means:
He said NATO’s efforts will now include more Iraqi security institutions and areas beyond Baghdad, though their presence “is conditions-based and increases in troop numbers will be incremental.”
He added that the Iraqi government had made a request for the expanded mission, which will begin in the coming months. more details
Rocket attack hits US and coalition forces in Erbil, Iraq
Feb 16, 2021
A civilian contractor was killed and a US service member was injured along with eight other contractors when rocket fire landed on coalition forces near Erbil International Airport in Iraq, said Col. Wayne Marotto, the spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve.
Feb 16, 2021
A civilian contractor was killed and a US service member was injured along with eight other contractors when rocket fire landed on coalition forces near Erbil International Airport in Iraq, said Col. Wayne Marotto, the spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve.
U.S. ‘Prepared’ for Talks with Iran
Feb. 18 - On February 18, the United States told its European allies that it was ready for talks with Iran over returning to the 2015 nuclear deal. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met with the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany to discuss Iran, Yemen, ISIS and Iraq, among other issues. “If Iran comes back into strict compliance with its commitments under the [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action], the United States will do the same and is prepared to engage in discussions with Iran toward that end,” read a joint statement released after the virtual meeting. But the Biden administration reiterated its demand that Tehran return to compliance before Washington rejoined the deal.
The four diplomats urged Iran to abandon its threat to suspend compliance with the Additional Protocol, a voluntary agreement that grants international inspectors greater access to declared nuclear sites. “The E3 and the United States are united in underlining the dangerous nature of a decision to limit [International Atomic Energy Agency] access, and urge Iran to consider the consequences of such grave action, particularly at this time of renewed diplomatic opportunity,” the joint statement read.
The four diplomats also criticized Iran’s past breaches of the deal, particularly its decision to enrich uranium up to 20 percent and to produce uranium metal. “These activities have no credible civil justification,” the statement read. “Uranium metal production is a key step in the development of a nuclear weapon.” Iran resumed enriching uranium to 20 percent on January 4 and announced that it would produce uranium metal on January 13. more details
Feb. 18 - On February 18, the United States told its European allies that it was ready for talks with Iran over returning to the 2015 nuclear deal. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met with the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany to discuss Iran, Yemen, ISIS and Iraq, among other issues. “If Iran comes back into strict compliance with its commitments under the [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action], the United States will do the same and is prepared to engage in discussions with Iran toward that end,” read a joint statement released after the virtual meeting. But the Biden administration reiterated its demand that Tehran return to compliance before Washington rejoined the deal.
The four diplomats urged Iran to abandon its threat to suspend compliance with the Additional Protocol, a voluntary agreement that grants international inspectors greater access to declared nuclear sites. “The E3 and the United States are united in underlining the dangerous nature of a decision to limit [International Atomic Energy Agency] access, and urge Iran to consider the consequences of such grave action, particularly at this time of renewed diplomatic opportunity,” the joint statement read.
The four diplomats also criticized Iran’s past breaches of the deal, particularly its decision to enrich uranium up to 20 percent and to produce uranium metal. “These activities have no credible civil justification,” the statement read. “Uranium metal production is a key step in the development of a nuclear weapon.” Iran resumed enriching uranium to 20 percent on January 4 and announced that it would produce uranium metal on January 13. more details
FEBRUARY 18, 2021
House Speaker Weekly Briefing
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) held her weekly legislative briefing on Capitol Hill. She spoke about creating a commission looking into the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, saying it would closely resemble the 9/11 Commission and have subpoena power. She also said the federal government should provide help for Texas as the state deals with the aftermath of a recent deadly storm.
House Speaker Weekly Briefing
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) held her weekly legislative briefing on Capitol Hill. She spoke about creating a commission looking into the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, saying it would closely resemble the 9/11 Commission and have subpoena power. She also said the federal government should provide help for Texas as the state deals with the aftermath of a recent deadly storm.
