4/20/2021

White House News (白宮消息) | Apr. 20 , 2021

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US and EU Warning - Russia Massed over 150,000 Troops on Ukraine's Border

Apr. 20 - ​Russia has concentrated more than 150,000 troops on Ukraine’s border and in annexed Crimea, the EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell said on Monday after EU foreign ministers were briefed by Ukraine’s foreign minister.

“It is more than 150,000 Russian troops massing on the Ukrainian borders and in Crimea. The risk of further escalation is evident,” Borrell said, declining to give a source for the figure.


He said no new economic sanctions or expulsions of Russian diplomats were planned for the time being, despite saying that the military build-up on Ukraine’s borders was the largest ever.

In Washington, the Pentagon said the Russian military build-up was larger than that in 2014 and it was not clear that it was for training purposes.

The White House Press Secretary emphasized that the US had watched the increasing aggression of Russian forces on Ukraine’s border “over the course of the weekend.

​The United States also expressed its “deep concern” over Russia’s plans to block foreign naval ships and other vessels in parts of the Black Sea, State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.     source from



China buys about a third of the 1.2 million tonnes of hay Australia exports each year.
Australia's $160m hay exports to China under threat as permits lapse


Apr. 20 - ​Australian hay growers could be the next major industry frozen out by China, with Canberra-Beijing relations yet to thaw since a year-long diplomatic spat over the origins of the coronavirus.

Australia's hay exports to China, valued at $160 million annually, have practically ground to a halt this year, as dozens of crucial export permits which lapsed two months ago are still to be renewed by Beijing.

​With China buying about one-third of the 1.2 million tonnes of hay that Australia exports across the world each year, the pause in trade is hurting.     more

APRIL 19, 2021
White House Daily Briefing
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki held her daily press briefing, taking questions from reporters on a range of issues. Ms. Psaki was asked repeatedly about the seeming reversal of the Biden administration’s policy regarding refugee caps announced the previous Friday, and whether pushback from progressive leaders led to the change. “We never said we’re not raising the refugee cap,” she said, disputing there was any change in policy. The press secretary said there was an “important caveat” in the earlier announcement that if 15,000 admissions were reached, there would be a subsequent presidential determination to issue more admissions. “Let’s be clear, we are changing the policies of the last administration,” she said. Ms. Psaki also answered questions on the FDA’s pause in administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, President Biden’s infrastructure proposal, and whether the president believed the situation on the southern border was a “crisis.” 

'Fox is not news': New CNN morning anchor debuts with blistering takedown of right-wing network - Raw Story - Celebrating 17 Years of Independent Journalism

On her debut on CNN's morning segment, anchor Brianna Keilar tore into Fox News for its use of partisan chyrons to push far-right narratives against President Joe Biden.

Apr. 20 - "The chyrons, those headlines you see at the bottom of your screen? They are getting noticeably more creative," said Keilar. "Fox uses them to push their conspiracy theories that Biden is essentially senile ... other Fox banners imply that Biden basically belongs in a home, and one of their main experts literally called in from his retirement home in Florida. Another is this guy, the infamous Fox doc they have on to give a quote 'virtual medical examination' then reaching the evidence-free conclusion Biden is off his rocker, pushes the theory he is the puppet of a deep state."


​"Fox reliably provides the public disservice of pandemic disinformation, and sometimes it uses pictures," continued Keilar, showing a number of other Fox chyrons and graphics. "Top health officials shown in straight jackets ... one year into the pandemic, despite undeniable evidence that masks work, Fox's chief science officer, Mr. Karlsson suggests they're a national security risk with the new headline. When the new president marked one year of grief and loss, fox got impatient, saying how dare the president not wrap up before the power hour cockamamie commentary."     more


4/19/2021

White House News (白宮消息) | Apr. 19 , 2021

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Joe Biden is on track for the most impressive first 100 days of a U.S. presidency. The contrast should make Liberals blush

Apr. 16 - This will be the most impressive first 100 days of an American presidency since FDR invented the benchmark. Consider: $2 trillion pandemic package — done; Paris Accord reconnect and climate summit — done; first gun control package in three decades — done; fastest Cabinet approval in four presidencies — done. And on and on. Coming: Iran deal, climate deal and $3 trillion on infrastructure. Oh, and a new global tax system.

The contrast with even the vague promises, let alone the predictable underperformance, of their budget tomorrow should make every Liberal blush. Biden is not alone in setting new benchmarks and jumping on traditional political third rails. Angela Merkel broke decades of German obstinacy on EU-level grants and lending. President Macron erased the educational seat of power of the French elite, their national government academy. Mario Draghi is promising the most dramatic reform agenda for Italy ever. A club of transformational leaders appears to be emerging.

The leader of the club could not have been more improbable: good old, go along, get along, Joe Biden. Today’s Joe is not whom even Democrats thought they were electing. American pundits have expressed skepticism, then surprise, then hallelujahs. David Brooks, perhaps America’s most thoughtful conservative analyst, is iconic of this phenomenon with adulatory paeans of praise.

Why was this new Joe born? It has mystified many. Sage pundits point to four factors. There’s the pandemic, of course. The bitter reality that preaching bipartisanship may be good politics but is dead on arrival, so rush for the legislative finish line fast. Young mid-level officials care more about equality and inclusion, and are not afraid to break taboos like taxing the rich. Finally, there is the reality that Democrats have perhaps 18 months to get this done and visible, if they hope to survive the 2022 mid-terms.

This appears to be one of those moments like 1946, 1989 and 2009 when a crisis-driven unity lifts expectations of government performance across the developed world. It’s far from certain that the Trudeau government will be part of this consensus. However, it appears increasingly clear that Jagmeet Singh will have his moment, as the voice of those demanding deep change in equality, climate and inclusion. If he does not stumble, this should be the election that seals his leadership legacy.     more

WATCH LIVE ON APRIL 19 | 10AM ET | C-SPAN2
Derek Chauvin Trial for the Death of George Floyd, Day 15
Closing arguments begin in trial for Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, accused in the death of George Floyd.


Barry Brodd, a use-of-force expert, testifies in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis on April 13.
Pig's head thrown at former home of Chauvin defense witness

Barry Brodd, once a police officer in California, compared George Floyd's killing to an "accidental death."

Apr. 19 - Vandals threw a pig's head at the onetime home of a former California police officer who was a defense witness for Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis officer accused of killing George Floyd, police said.

The incident occurred early Saturday in Santa Rosa, California, at a house where the witness, Barry Brodd,used to live, Santa Rosa police said in a statement.

Police said Brodd appeared to have been targeted over his testimony.
"Mr. Brodd has not lived at the residence for a number of years and is no longer a resident of California," police said. "Because Mr. Brodd no longer lives in the city of Santa Rosa, it appears the victim was falsely targeted."

A person at the home found the head on the front porch, which was splattered with blood. People who were dressed in black fled as the person called 911, police said.

The same people are believed to have drenched a statue at a mall in animal blood about 45 minutes later and left a sign that read, "Oink Oink," police said. They are accused of felony vandalism and have not been identified.     source from

Monday
April 19, 2021


4/17/2021

White House News (白宮消息) | Apr. 17 , 2021

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APRIL 16, 2021
President Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Hold News Conference
President Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga held a joint news conference in the White House Rose Garden. Both leaders reaffirmed the commitment of partnership and shared values and answered questions on the Tokyo Olympic Games, climate change, relations with China and Iran, and the president’s gun control policy. 


Biden, Suga Hold 'Serious Talks' on China After Beijing Warns Japan to Stand Asid

Apr. 17 - President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga had "serious talks" about China hours after the country warned Japan not to escalate hostilities over a disputed territory.


Biden and Suga met at the White House on Friday, Biden's first in-person meeting with a foreign leader since becoming president. While many issues were discussed, the meeting was said to include a discussion on "the impact of China's actions on peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and the world," with the leaders sharing their "concerns over Chinese activities that are inconsistent with the international rules-based order, including the use of economic and other forms of coercion."

​"We committed to working together to take on the challenges from China and on issues like the East China Sea, the South China Sea, as well as North Korea, to ensure a future of a free and open Indo-Pacific," Biden said at a press conference following the meeting. "We're committed to defending and advancing our shared values, including human rights and the rule of law."     more

APRIL 16, 2021
White House Daily Briefing
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki held a briefing on the president’s agenda. She spoke about the recent shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, that left eight people dead. She went on to call for the Senate to pass House legislation on background checks. She also previewed President Biden’s meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, saying they would discuss a range of topics including climate change, North Korea, and the upcoming Olympics.


Press Secretary Jen Psaki brilliantly smacks down Newsmax reporter trying to get Black UN Ambassador fired

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki responded to a reporter from the right wing website Newsmax who asked if President Joe Biden will fire the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.


Apr. 17 - Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield joined the U.S. Foreign Service four decades ago, in 1982. Her extensive resume includes serving as United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Director General of the United States Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources, United States Ambassador to Liberia, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, among others.

She was confirmed for her current post by a highly partisan U.S. Senate in a strongly bipartisan 78–20 vote.

Newsmax White House Correspondent Emerald Robinson suggested President Joe Biden should bow down to any criticism or attacks from China, telling Psaki that Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield "essentially said that white supremacy is woven into our founding documents and principles."

"This statement," Robinson claimed, "is getting widely criticized as essentially parroting Chinese Communist Party talking points. So is the President going to remove her from her position as the representative before that body to promote United States values?"

Psaki, calmly, told her no.

"Is the President going to remove an African American woman with decades of experience in the Foreign Service who is widely respected around the world from her position as Ambassador to the UN? He is not," Psaki replied. "He is proud to have her in that position. She is not only qualified, he believes she is exactly the right person in that role at this moment in time. I have not seen her comments, I will say that there's no question that there has been a history of institutional racism in this country, and that doesn't require the UN ambassador to confirm that."    source from

APRIL 16, 2021
President Biden Meeting with Japanese Prime Minister
President Biden held a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. The leaders spoke briefly about the countries' common interests and the importance of the Indo-Pacific region.

President Joe Biden signs a series of executive orders on climate change, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Jan. 27, 2021
Biden's Earth Day Summit Aims for Reset on Climate Change


Apr. 17 - A "coming-out party for the United States on climate change."
That's how University of Maryland Center for Global Sustainability Director Nathan Hultman describes the virtual summit President Joe Biden is hosting with dozens of world leaders April 22-23.

After four years of disregard for the issue under former President Donald Trump, the summit will be "an opportunity for the U.S. to come back onto the scene to show it is taking climate change seriously," said David Waskow, International Climate Initiative director at the World Resources Institute, a Washington-based environmental research and advocacy group.

The White House said it will announce an "ambitious" 2030 target for greenhouse gas emissions before the summit. 
Advocates are calling for a 50% cut from 2005 levels, a "highly ambitious but still achievable" goal, Hultman said.  

​And it would show other major polluters that the largest cumulative contributor to global warming is ready to take action.  
"Certainly China is looking to see what the United States is going to do," Waskow said. "We know that some of these other countries — Japan, South Korea, Canada, India — are watching to see how the United States will move."      more

4/16/2021

White House News (白宮消息) | Apr. 16 , 2021

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APRIL 15, 2021
President Biden Delivers Remarks on Sanctions Against Russia
President Biden announced actions he was taking against Russia, including economic sanctions and the expulsion of several Russian officials, in response to the country’s interference in U.S. elections and involvement in cyberattacks - most notably the SolarWinds hack that targeted U.S. government agencies and corporations. “I was clear with President Putin that we could have gone further but I chose not to do so,” he said. “I chose to be proportionate. The United States is not looking to kick off a cycle of escalation and conflict with Russia. We want a stable, predicable relationship. If Russia continues to interfere with our democracy, I’m prepared to take further actions to respond.” President Biden said there were areas in which the U.S. and Russia could cooperate and said his team was working on setting up a summit between the two leaders that could take place in Europe over the summer. 


US President Joe Biden declared in a Thursday White House address that he would have taken more severe action against Russia over their alleged interference in the 2020 election and the SolarWinds hack, but instead opted for a more commensurate response.
Biden Says US Could Have Gone Further on Anti-Russia Sanctions, Chose to Be Proportionate


Apr. 16 - Biden told reporters that he had relayed his stance to Russian President Vladimir Putin, informing the world leader that the US "could have gone further but I chose not to do so, I chose to be proportionate", Sputnik reported
“If Russia continues to interfere with our democracy, I’m prepared to take further actions to respond. It is my responsibility as president of the United States to do so," Biden underscored. However, the commander-in-chief also emphasized that he has no intention to "kickoff a cycle of escalation and conflict with Russia".

"When I spoke to President [Vladimir] Putin, I expressed my believe that communication between two of us personally and directly was to be essential in moving forward to a more effective relationship and [Putin] agreed on that point," Biden recalled, highlighting that he wants a "stable, predictable relationship" with Moscow.

"My hope and expectation is we'll be able to work out a modus vivendi, and what is important is that we have direct talks and that we continue to be in contact," he said.

​“When President Putin called me in January after I was sworn in to congratulate me, I told him that my administration will be looking very carefully now that we have access to all the data at the issues to assess Russia’s role and then determine what response we would make,” he added.     more

APRIL 15, 2021
White House Daily Briefing
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki talks about President Biden’s agenda. She discussed newly-announced sanctions against Russia for its role in the SolarWinds hack, election interference, and human rights abuses. She said the sanctions were a fair response but acknowledged the U.S. and Russia still must work together on common interests. Other topics discussed included the COVID-19 vaccine, troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the American Jobs Plan. 
APRIL 15, 2021
U.S. Capitol Police Inspector General Testifies on January 6 Attack
U.S. Capitol Police Inspector General Michael Bolton testified before the House Administration Committee on his report on the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. When asked about why the order was given to Capitol Police not to use all available equipment, “such as heavier, less-than-lethal weapons,” Inspector General Bolton said through their review, Capitol Police leadership decided the heavier munitions were not to be used because “they could potentially cause life-altering injury, and/or death,” and misuse could result in these outcomes. However, Mr. Bolton said that any weapon placed in the hands of police officers could result in injury or death if proper training is not provided. They also discussed the need for consistent communication among federal law enforcement and approved security clearance for capitol police officers to share in classified intelligence pertaining to threats on the Capitol complex.


U.S. President Joe Biden, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga participate in a virtual meeting with leaders of Quadrilateral Security Dialogue countries March 12, 2021. 
Biden Hosts Suga, With China in the Foreground

The White House is pushing for strong anti-China rhetoric in the joint statement to follow today’s summit.

Apr. 16 - Biden Hosts Suga at White House Summit
U.S. President Joe Biden hosts Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga at the White House today, the first in-person visit of a world leader since Biden took office in January.
The two leaders have already been in close consultation as one half of the so-called Quad group of nations that includes India and Australia. The same theme of crafting a united regional front against China will be at the top of the agenda today.
Talking Taiwan...     more





4/15/2021

White House News (白宮消息) | Apr. 15 , 2021

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APRIL 14, 2021
President Biden Delivers Remarks on Afghanistan Strategy
President Biden announced the U.S. will begin removing troops from Afghanistan on May 1, 2021, and set a final date for removal by this September 11, which will be the twentieth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. In a speech from the White House Treaty Room, the president said he was the fourth to preside over the War in Afghanistan, “and I will not pass this responsibility onto a fifth.” He also said he had spoken to former President George W. Bush about his decision and remarked on their shared respect for military service members saying, “I’m the first president in 40 years who knows what it means to have a child serving in a war zone.” 



President Joe Biden warned the Taliban Wednesday he would hold them accountable on Afghanistan after the US exit and pressed nations including Pakistan to play supportive roles.
Biden Warns Taliban, Presses Pakistan as US Announces Afghan Exit


Apr. 15 - "We will hold the Taliban accountable for its commitment not to allow any terrorists to threaten the US or its allies from Afghan soil. The Afghan government has made that commitment to us as well," Biden said in a speech announcing an end to America's longest war, CNBC reported.

"We will ask other countries in the region to support Afghanistan, especially Pakistan, as well as Russia, China, India and Turkey," he added.

Biden announced he will withdraw US combat troops from Afghanistan by September 11, ending America’s longest war.
The removal of approximately 3,000 American service members coincides with the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks which spurred America’s entry into lengthy wars in the Middle East and Central Asia.

“It is time to end America’s longest war. It is time for American troops to come home,” Biden stated in his televised address from the White House Treaty Room, where former President George W. Bush announced military action against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in October 2001.

“I am now the fourth American president to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan. Two Republicans. Two Democrats. I will not pass this responsibility to a fifth,” Biden continued, adding that the US mission would be solely dedicated to providing assistance to Afghanistan and supporting diplomacy.

Biden added that he coordinated his decision with international partners and allies as well as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and spoke to former President George W. Bush. The withdrawal of US troops will begin on May 1. Following his remarks, Biden said he would visit Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place for Americans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.


In a statement following Biden’s speech, former President Barack Obama stated the United States had “accomplished all that we can militarily and that it’s time to bring our remaining troops home”.

Ghani noted he respects the US decision to withdraw its forces and Afghanistan’s military is “fully capable of defending its people and country”.

In February 2020, the Donald Trump administration brokered a deal with the Taliban that would usher in a permanent cease-fire and reduce further the US military’s footprint from approximately 13,000 troops to 8,600 by mid-July last year.

By May 2021, all foreign forces would leave Afghanistan, according to the deal. The majority of troops in the country are from Europe and partner nations. About 2,500 US service members are now in Afghanistan.

​Under the agreement, the Taliban promised it would stop terrorist groups from using Afghanistan as a base to launch attacks against the US or its allies and agreed to conduct peace talks with the central government in Kabul.

The announcement to leave Afghanistan comes on the heels of a Wednesday meeting between NATO allies and Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. NATO joined the international security effort in Afghanistan in 2003 and currently has more than 7,000 troops in the country.

“Our allies and partners have stood beside us shoulder to shoulder in Afghanistan for almost 20 years and we are deeply grateful for the contributions they have made to our shared mission,” Biden said, adding, “The plan has long been in together and out together.”

NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg stated Wednesday from the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels that the “drawdown will be orderly, coordinated and deliberate”.


“We went into Afghanistan together, we have adjusted our posture together and we are united in leaving together,” Stoltenberg said, adding, “Any Taliban attacks on our troops during this period will be met with a forceful response.”
The NATO mission in Afghanistan was launched after the alliance activated its mutual defense clause — known as Article 5 — for the first time in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

The wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria have cost US taxpayers more than $1.57 trillion collectively since September 11, 2001, according to a Defense Department report. More than 2,000 US service members have died in Afghanistan.
CIA Director William Burns acknowledged in testimony Wednesday before the Senate Intelligence Committee that Washington’s ability to act on threats emanating from Afghanistan will be diminished by the US withdrawal.
Burns said some US capabilities will remain in place.

“When the time comes for the US military to withdraw, the US government’s ability to collect and act on threats will diminish. That’s simply a fact,” Burns added. 

“It is also a fact, however, that after withdrawal, whenever that time comes, the CIA and all of our partners in the US government will retain a suite of capabilities, some of them remaining in place, some of them that we will generate, that can help us to anticipate and contest any rebuilding effort,” Burns continued.     source from

APRIL 14, 2021
President Biden Visits Arlington National Cemetery
President Biden visited section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, where veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are buried. He spoke briefly to reporters about his son Beau, who served in Iraq.
APRIL 14, 2021
White House Daily Briefing
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki discussed the administration’s agenda and other news of the day with reporters. Ahead of President Biden’s expected announcement of withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan, the press secretary fielded several questions on the topic. She said the president consulted with military leaders and regional experts before making his decision and believed the path forward is diplomacy. She also said the global terrorism threat has changed since the invasion in 2001 and the approach to counter terrorism must evolve. 



President Tsai Ing-wen (right) meets former US Senator Chris Dodd (Presidential Office)
Biden’s delegation to Taiwan a new form of US diplomacy


Apr. 15, TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The visit by U.S. President Joe Biden’s delegation to Taiwan has been lauded by an expert on China issues as a new form of American diplomacy that prioritizes substance over formalism.

Jerome Cohen, a law professor at New York University and senior fellow for Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations, commented in a series of tweets Wednesday (April 14) that the unofficial mission has set the example for “deemphasizing the formalities of interstate relations and instead focusing on the facts and functions.”

Given the distinctive status of Taiwan and the sensitivity of cross-strait relations, the approach can be “progressive without being unacceptably provocative,” he reckoned. Cohen also expressed hope that this strategy of informal interactions can continue.

Meanwhile, he pointed out that former U.S. Senator Chris Dodd, one of the emissaries visiting Taiwan and a good friend of Biden's, is reportedly a candidate for the new U.S. ambassador to China. He believes Dodd can assume a “broader, more flexible role” in the Biden administration.

The mission, which comprises Dodd and former Deputy Secretaries of State Richard Armitage and James Steinberg, arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday. It is seen by many as a sign of Biden’s commitment to the East Asian country.

​In her meeting with the elder statesmen on Thursday (April 15), Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) called for the resumption of the U.S.-Taiwan Trade and Investment Framework Agreement and closer bilateral cooperation on fighting disinformation and cognitive warfare. Meanwhile, China carried out what it termed “combat drills” near Taiwan in apparent protest.     source from