White House News in Chinese - About (weebly.com)
Russia's President Vladimir Putin with his Belarus counterpart Alexander Lukashenko on a yacht during the second day of their two-day summit.
Russia releases $500m loan to Belarus ahead of EU and U.S. sanctions
May 31 - Russia is releasing a second $500 million loan to Belarus to increase support for the country after it grounded a Ryanair flight and arrested a journalist, causing international outrage.
The announcement came after Russian President Vladimir Putin held a two-day summit with the Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Sochi, Russia.
The Russian president also agreed to increase flights between the two countries after other European airlines have attempted to avoid Belarus' airspace.
The money is part of a larger $1.5 billion loan promised to Belarus by Russia last year. Belarus received the first portion of $500 million in October.
The second installment will be given to Belarus by the end of June.
Belarus and Russia have become closer since Belarus used military jets to divert a European plane carrying a dissident journalist, 26-year-old Roman Protasevich.
The plane was forced to land in Belarus because of an alleged bomb threat, and the journalist and his Russian girlfriend, Sofia Sapega, were then arrested.
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Russia releases $500m loan to Belarus ahead of EU and U.S. sanctions
May 31 - Russia is releasing a second $500 million loan to Belarus to increase support for the country after it grounded a Ryanair flight and arrested a journalist, causing international outrage.
The announcement came after Russian President Vladimir Putin held a two-day summit with the Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Sochi, Russia.
The Russian president also agreed to increase flights between the two countries after other European airlines have attempted to avoid Belarus' airspace.
The money is part of a larger $1.5 billion loan promised to Belarus by Russia last year. Belarus received the first portion of $500 million in October.
The second installment will be given to Belarus by the end of June.
Belarus and Russia have become closer since Belarus used military jets to divert a European plane carrying a dissident journalist, 26-year-old Roman Protasevich.
The plane was forced to land in Belarus because of an alleged bomb threat, and the journalist and his Russian girlfriend, Sofia Sapega, were then arrested.
Related Articles:
What is the protocol for an airplane bomb threat?
Belarus airline chief says EU is 'mocking us' with airspace restrictions
Tbilisi gets a $300m Chinese facelift
May 30, 2021
President Biden Delivers Memorial Day Weekend Remarks in Delaware
President Biden spoke at an annual Memorial Day ceremony in New Castle, Delaware. He was introduced by Governor John Carney (D-DE).
President Biden Delivers Memorial Day Weekend Remarks in Delaware
President Biden spoke at an annual Memorial Day ceremony in New Castle, Delaware. He was introduced by Governor John Carney (D-DE).
Remarks by President Biden at an Annual Memorial Day Service
MAY 30, 2021 • SPEECHES AND REMARKS
Veterans Memorial Park
New Castle, Delaware
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Good morning, everyone. It’s good to be here on this solemn occasion with so many friends — Governor Carney, Senator Carper, Attorney Keneral- [sic] — General Kathy Jennings. General Berry, it’s good to see you. And thank you for everything you do for the Delaware National Guard.
By the way, I saw General Vavala this morning. He’s become not only a general, but a great friend. A great friend. He was at Beau’s memorial mass this morning. Thank you for being there, General. I appreciate it. (Applause.)
And, by the way, Hunter has had one shot — (laughter) — not two, and he’s just making sure everybody is okay.
Me and my family, we’ve tried to participate in this event every year because it’s an important tradition in the Delaware community. Even last year, in those early dark days of the pandemic, Jill and I didn’t want to let Memorial Day pass like every other day. And there was no event here, but we came to lay a wreath at the plaza. It was the first time we did any sort of event since the lockdown had begun in March because we were determined — determined — to honor the fallen, to pay tribute to the women and men who braved every danger, who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Because as a nation, we must always remember — always remember. We must remember the price that was paid for our liberties. We must remember the debt we owe those who have paid it, and the families left behind. My heart is torn in half by the grief. The communities were never whole again... more
MAY 30, 2021 • SPEECHES AND REMARKS
Veterans Memorial Park
New Castle, Delaware
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Good morning, everyone. It’s good to be here on this solemn occasion with so many friends — Governor Carney, Senator Carper, Attorney Keneral- [sic] — General Kathy Jennings. General Berry, it’s good to see you. And thank you for everything you do for the Delaware National Guard.
By the way, I saw General Vavala this morning. He’s become not only a general, but a great friend. A great friend. He was at Beau’s memorial mass this morning. Thank you for being there, General. I appreciate it. (Applause.)
And, by the way, Hunter has had one shot — (laughter) — not two, and he’s just making sure everybody is okay.
Me and my family, we’ve tried to participate in this event every year because it’s an important tradition in the Delaware community. Even last year, in those early dark days of the pandemic, Jill and I didn’t want to let Memorial Day pass like every other day. And there was no event here, but we came to lay a wreath at the plaza. It was the first time we did any sort of event since the lockdown had begun in March because we were determined — determined — to honor the fallen, to pay tribute to the women and men who braved every danger, who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Because as a nation, we must always remember — always remember. We must remember the price that was paid for our liberties. We must remember the debt we owe those who have paid it, and the families left behind. My heart is torn in half by the grief. The communities were never whole again... more
Construction project manager Gabrielle Ferro, second right, speaks with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, during a tour of an underground tunnel for the expansion of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport plane train tunnel
White House gives GOP one week deadline to reach a deal with Democrats on $1.7T infrastructure bill or Biden will go it alone
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Sunday time is running short for a bipartisan deal on infrastructure
May 31 - Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Sunday time is running short for a bipartisan deal on infrastructure, indicating that President Joe Biden will look to act without Republican support if there is no consensus when Congress returns from its Memorial Day break.
'
By the time that they return, which is June 7, just a week from tomorrow, we need a clear direction,' Buttigieg said. 'The president keeps saying inaction is not an option. And time is not unlimited here.' He said the American people 'expect us to do something.'
plans to meet with lead Republican negotiator, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, this coming week and says he remains open to hearing from other GOP senators who are working on different proposals. But Biden has been eying the dwindling timeline for a deal, with an early June hearing scheduled on a House transportation bill that is widely seen as a building block for the big package he favors.
Democratic senators also plan on moving forward on a sweeping infrastructure package 'with or without the support of Republican senators,' Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote to Democrats on Friday. Biden had originally set a Memorial Day deadline for reaching a deal before he let that deadline slip back.
The two sides remain far apart. Republican senators last week outlined a $928 billion infrastructure proposal as a counteroffer to Biden´s $1.7 trillion proposal, and they said they would not go along with his plans to raise the corporate tax from 21% to 28% to pay for new spending.
Republicans want to shift unspent COVID-19 relief dollars to help cover the costs, a nonstarter for many Democrats and a proposal that Biden is finding unworkable, a White House adviser told The Associated Press on Friday... more
White House gives GOP one week deadline to reach a deal with Democrats on $1.7T infrastructure bill or Biden will go it alone
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Sunday time is running short for a bipartisan deal on infrastructure
May 31 - Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Sunday time is running short for a bipartisan deal on infrastructure, indicating that President Joe Biden will look to act without Republican support if there is no consensus when Congress returns from its Memorial Day break.
'
By the time that they return, which is June 7, just a week from tomorrow, we need a clear direction,' Buttigieg said. 'The president keeps saying inaction is not an option. And time is not unlimited here.' He said the American people 'expect us to do something.'
plans to meet with lead Republican negotiator, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, this coming week and says he remains open to hearing from other GOP senators who are working on different proposals. But Biden has been eying the dwindling timeline for a deal, with an early June hearing scheduled on a House transportation bill that is widely seen as a building block for the big package he favors.
Democratic senators also plan on moving forward on a sweeping infrastructure package 'with or without the support of Republican senators,' Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote to Democrats on Friday. Biden had originally set a Memorial Day deadline for reaching a deal before he let that deadline slip back.
The two sides remain far apart. Republican senators last week outlined a $928 billion infrastructure proposal as a counteroffer to Biden´s $1.7 trillion proposal, and they said they would not go along with his plans to raise the corporate tax from 21% to 28% to pay for new spending.
Republicans want to shift unspent COVID-19 relief dollars to help cover the costs, a nonstarter for many Democrats and a proposal that Biden is finding unworkable, a White House adviser told The Associated Press on Friday... more
Belarusian exiles have stepped up lobbying in the wake of the arrest of the journalist Raman Pratasevich and his partner. Photograph: Niall
UK companies face pressure over links to Belarus regime
Rolls-Royce and British American Tobacco among firms that may take action in wake of Ryanair ‘hijacking’
May 31 - The role of UK companies in allegedly helping to prop up Europe’s so-called “last dictatorship” is coming under unprecedented pressure amid signs that lobbying by Belarusian exiles and others is paying off.
Rolls-Royce and British American Tobacco are among the firms that have responded to lobbying by the Belarusian diaspora and indicated they were willing to take action.
In the wake of the “hijacking” last Sunday of a Ryanair plane and the arrest of two passengers onboard, the Belarusian journalist Raman Pratasevich and his Russian girlfriend, activists in the UK have stepped up lobbying of the holders of Belarus bonds listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
But among the UK-based companies to have responded are some which have been alerted to alleged severe violations of workers’ rights to assemble, strike and form independent trade unions at Belarusian state-owned enterprises.
They include Rolls-Royce, which is a supplier of BelAZ, a Belarusian vehicle factory and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of large dump trucks. Rolls-Royce confirmed to the Guardian that it was investigating concerns raised about the relationship between its Power Systems business, based in Germany, and BelAZ.
“Depending on the outcome, we may choose to take action in relation to our existing and any future business relationship,” the company said. “We are guided by our values when considering such matters and, of course, we comply in full with any applicable sanctions.”
Protests have continued outside the offices of British American Tobacco over its connections with the state-owned Grodno Tobacco Factory (G...TF) Neman. The largest cigarette factory in Belarus makes cigarettes under licence for BAT.
“Britain is a window to the world. It is a high financial centre. It has an important role in trade despite Brexit. So we are stepping up our campaign,” said a spokesperson for the Professional Union of Belarusians in Britain. “BAT has been an important example, but we have also, for example, become aware of indications that some British companies are actually buying wood from Belarus and the figures there have been quite significant. We are going to investigate that as well.
“In terms of British business, their attitude so far has been pretty much along the lines of ‘as long as we can make money we do’. Many big companies have codes of conduct with pleasant-sounding wording, but there are questions about how they are employed in practice when it comes to Belarus.”
A BAT spokesperson said the company was committed to complying with all the applicable local and international legislative requirements as well as its own standards.
“In line with our commitment to respect human rights, this year we will undertake additional actions: BAT Belarus will be subject to an enhanced human rights due-diligence process; and the GTF Neman factory, as a supplier to the BAT Group, will be subject to an onsite workplace conditions assessment by our third-party audit provider”... more
UK companies face pressure over links to Belarus regime
Rolls-Royce and British American Tobacco among firms that may take action in wake of Ryanair ‘hijacking’
May 31 - The role of UK companies in allegedly helping to prop up Europe’s so-called “last dictatorship” is coming under unprecedented pressure amid signs that lobbying by Belarusian exiles and others is paying off.
Rolls-Royce and British American Tobacco are among the firms that have responded to lobbying by the Belarusian diaspora and indicated they were willing to take action.
In the wake of the “hijacking” last Sunday of a Ryanair plane and the arrest of two passengers onboard, the Belarusian journalist Raman Pratasevich and his Russian girlfriend, activists in the UK have stepped up lobbying of the holders of Belarus bonds listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
But among the UK-based companies to have responded are some which have been alerted to alleged severe violations of workers’ rights to assemble, strike and form independent trade unions at Belarusian state-owned enterprises.
They include Rolls-Royce, which is a supplier of BelAZ, a Belarusian vehicle factory and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of large dump trucks. Rolls-Royce confirmed to the Guardian that it was investigating concerns raised about the relationship between its Power Systems business, based in Germany, and BelAZ.
“Depending on the outcome, we may choose to take action in relation to our existing and any future business relationship,” the company said. “We are guided by our values when considering such matters and, of course, we comply in full with any applicable sanctions.”
Protests have continued outside the offices of British American Tobacco over its connections with the state-owned Grodno Tobacco Factory (G...TF) Neman. The largest cigarette factory in Belarus makes cigarettes under licence for BAT.
“Britain is a window to the world. It is a high financial centre. It has an important role in trade despite Brexit. So we are stepping up our campaign,” said a spokesperson for the Professional Union of Belarusians in Britain. “BAT has been an important example, but we have also, for example, become aware of indications that some British companies are actually buying wood from Belarus and the figures there have been quite significant. We are going to investigate that as well.
“In terms of British business, their attitude so far has been pretty much along the lines of ‘as long as we can make money we do’. Many big companies have codes of conduct with pleasant-sounding wording, but there are questions about how they are employed in practice when it comes to Belarus.”
A BAT spokesperson said the company was committed to complying with all the applicable local and international legislative requirements as well as its own standards.
“In line with our commitment to respect human rights, this year we will undertake additional actions: BAT Belarus will be subject to an enhanced human rights due-diligence process; and the GTF Neman factory, as a supplier to the BAT Group, will be subject to an onsite workplace conditions assessment by our third-party audit provider”... more
