White House News (白宮消息)

5/10/2021

Cyberattack Forces U.S. Energy Pipeline To Go Offline | NBC Nightly News
May 10, 2021

Hackers attacking Colonial Pipeline are linked to Russia, CNN alleges
It was reported earlier that the group of hackers known as DarkSide could be associated with the attack

May 10, NEW YORK - Hackers behind the cyber-attack against the largest US pipeline company Colonial Pipeline can be related to Russia, CNN said on Sunday, citing a former senior cyber official.

It was reported earlier that the group of hackers known as DarkSide could be associated with the attack. The group is allegedly "originating from Russia," CNN reported. "DarkSide typically targets non-Russian speaking countries," CNN said, citing the source.

"The attack has led the White House to form an interagency working group over the weekend to prepare for various scenarios, including whether additional steps need to be taken to mitigate any potential impact on fuel supply," CNN reported, citing a White House official.

Russia repeatedly denied US allegations of malicious behavior in cyberspace. The US groundlessly alleges that Russia makes cyber-attacks against its resources and does not want to cooperate in cyberspace, Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev said earlier. source from

Russian warships interfere with U.S.-Ukraine joint naval drills in Black Sea

May 10 - On May 8, Russian warships interfered with joint naval exercises of the United States and Ukraine which were held about 100 nautical miles from Odesa, reported Ukrainian State Border Guard Service on its website.

On Saturday morning, the flagship of the Ukrainian Maritime Guard Grigory Kuropatnikov was joined in the Ukrainian waters by the U.S. Coast Guard ship Hamilton.

It is noted that the American partners arrived in Ukraine on a friendly visit, which will include joint maneuvers at sea, joint trainings to exchange experience in monitoring and assault operations, as well as a meeting of Coast Guard representatives to discuss ensuring safety of navigation.

American and Ukrainian ships practiced coherence of actions working as part of an international tactical group. The Ukrainian State Border Guard Service specified that the drills were tracked by Russian ships.

The Russian ships announced fictitious coordinates of closed areas, demanding that the U.S. and Ukrainian ships leave them. They maneuvered dangerously and tried to reduce area used for the drills of Ukrainian and the U.S. ships. The Russian ships did not respond to any communication through international maritime security channels.

“The audacious violations of international maritime law were carefully recorded and documented by Ukrainian border guards. Today, Grigory Kuropatnikov and USCGC Hamilton remain in the Black Sea, continuing joint exercises. The U.S. ship's visit to the port of Odessa is scheduled for May 10,” the Ukrainian Defense State Border Guard Service said.

On April 27, USCGC Hamilton entered the Black Sea.

On the same day, Russia sent its cruiser Moskva for exercises in the Black Sea.

On May 4, the Russian Federation reported that a Russian corvette followed USCGC Hamilton in the Black Sea. source from

Russian criminal group suspected in Colonial pipeline ransomware attack
The group, known as DarkSide, is relatively new, but it has a sophisticated approach to extortion, sources said.

May 10, WASHINGTON — A Russian criminal group may be responsible for a ransomware attack that shut down a major U.S. fuel pipeline, two sources familiar with the matter said Sunday.
The group, known as DarkSide, is relatively new, but it has a sophisticated approach to the business of extortion, the sources said.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Sunday that the White House was working to help Colonial Pipeline, the Georgia-based company that operates the pipeline, to restart its 5,500-mile network.

The system, which runs from Texas to New Jersey, transports 45 percent of the East Coast's fuel supply. In a statement Sunday, the company said that some smaller lateral lines were operational but that the main lines remained down.

"We are in the process of restoring service to other laterals and will bring our full system back online only when we believe it is safe to do so, and in full compliance with the approval of all federal regulations," the company said... more

May 9, 2021
Secretary of Commerce Raimondo on Jobs and President Biden's Infrastructure Plan
On CBS “Face The Nation,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo talked about the April 2021 jobs report and President Biden’s infrastructure plan.

May 9, 2021
Representative Jim Banks on House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney
Representative Jim Banks (R-IN), during an appearance on Fox News Sunday, talked about why he thinks Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY) should be replaced as House Republican Conference chair.

May 9, 2021
House Majority Whip James Clyburn on Jobs Report
House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC), during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” talked about the April 2021 jobs report and getting more people back to work in his state.

5/08/2021

White House News (白宮消息) | May 8th, 2021

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Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin
Biden confirms his readiness to meet with Putin

Biden noted that a specific place and time of the summit is being worked out

May 8 - US President Joe Biden confirmed that he expects to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the near future. It was reported by Voice of America.
Biden noted that a specific place and time of the summit is being worked out.

"I am confident that we are able to do this [hold the meeting]. We do not have a specific time or place. This is being worked out," Biden said, answering the question if the summit could take place in June.

Biden also noted that the desire to hold the meeting was not related to the fact of the concentration of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine.

“This did not affect my desire to hold a one-on-one meeting. - But if you noticed that he (Putin) had more troops earlier, he pulled out the troops. The troops are still (in the border area), but they have become much smaller, than a month ago," the US President said.

Meanwhile, head of the President Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak states that the president of Ukraine and the US are interested in the bilateral meeting.

He stated that the meeting of the presidents was discussed during the visit of US State Secretary Antony Blinken to Ukraine.
According to Yermak, the presidents of both countries are interested in it.

Related Articles:

Invaders violate ceasefire in eastern Ukraine 11 times

Over the past day, May 7, the armed formations of the Russian Federation violated the ceasefire in the Joint Forces Operation area in eastern Ukraine 11 times.

May 8 - "In particular, the Russian occupation forces fired 120mm and 82mm mortars, hand-held antitank grenade launchers, and heavy machine guns at Ukrainian positions near Pisky (11km north-west of Donetsk); 122mm artillery, 120mm mortars, automatic easel grenade launcher, and small arms – outside Shumy (41km north of Donetsk); 120mm mortars – near Novhorodske (35km north of Donetsk); heavy machine guns – not far from Verkhniotoretske (22km north-east of Donetsk) and Nevelske (18km north-west of Donetsk); hand-held antitank grenade launchers – in the area of Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk); automatic easel and hand-held antitank grenade launchers – outside Novotoshkivske (53km west of Luhansk); under-barrel grenade launchers – near Vodiane (94km south of Donetsk)," the press center of the JFO Headquarters reports.

In addition, in the area of Pivdenne (40km north-east of Donetsk), the invaders used hand-held antitank grenade launchers to deliver POM-2 mines.

No combat losses among Ukrainian troops were reported over the past day.
The Ukrainian side of the Joint Control and Coordination Center (JCCC) informed the OSCE SMM about the violations committed by the armed formations of the Russian Federation.

As of 07:00 on May 8, two ceasefire violations were recorded. In particular, the enemy opened fire from 122mm artillery and 120mm mortars near Pivdenne, and from small arms – not far from Avdiivka. No combat losses were reported. source from

美国要军事援助乌克兰？G7搞“小圈子”暴露战略焦虑 20210507 |《今日关注》CCTV中文国际
May 8, 2021

Benelux countries support Ukraine's sovereignty
Foreign ministers of Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg visit Ukraine

May 8, MOSCOW - Foreign ministers of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg reiterated their support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

At a news conference, following a meeting with his counterparts from Belgium Sophie Wilmes, the Netherlands Stef Blok, and Luxembourg Jean Asselborn, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba thanked them for showing solidarity "in the face of the Russian aggression."

"We discussed the Crimea platform (summit) that will take place. We expect the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg to take part in it," Kuleba said, noting that the ministers visited the Lugansk region on Friday and received first-hand information about the situation in Donbas.

"I urge all our partners to put more pressure on Russia to be constructive in the talks," Kuleba said, adding that the Normandy format still works but Ukraine wants it to be more active.

For her part, Wilmes noted that this was the first visit of Benelux countries under the presidency of Belgium, which in turn showed Benelux countries' support for Ukraine.

"As ministers, we read reports, but reading reports and meeting people there (in Donbas) face-to-face is very different, from this point of view, the visit was very useful," she said.

"Two issues are important. First, the Minsk agreement is the only reliable way to resolve the crisis, and all parties must adhere to it. Second, dialogue should be the only solution. We also welcome the Crimean platform for Crimea to be on the international agenda," Wilmes said, reiterating Benelux countries' unwavering support for Ukraine's internationally recognized borders and territorial integrity.

Asselborn noted that the Benelux countries would continue to support the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

He voiced concern over the limitation of the mobility of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine from both confronting sides, adding that the implementation of reforms in Ukraine is important, and the political will in this regard is on the right track.

Asselborn also said the issues of the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) were discussed at the meeting, and added: "The EU has done a lot on this issue, but it is not enough, we must speed up the process so that the whole world, including Ukraine, can get vaccines."

"I also appreciate the cooperation of the Ukrainian government in relation to the downed MH-17 plane (in 2014), a tragedy that struck both countries, it is important to keep it on the agenda for the establishment of justice," Dutch Foreign Minister Blok said, joining the "full support (for) Ukraine's sovereignty" voiced by other ministers. source from

5/07/2021

White House News (白宮消息) | May 7th, 2021

2 - White House News in Chinese (weebly.com)

Mitch McConnell speaks to reporters following the weekly Republican policy luncheon, November 5, 2019
MITCH MCCONNELL VOWS TO BLOCK BIDEN’S ENTIRE AGENDA JUST TO BE A DICK

May 6 - Something you’ve probably picked up on by now is that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell literally cares about nothing but amassing and maintaining power. Whereas even some of the worst people in Washington typically have something they care about beyond power for power’s sake, or a set of beliefs to guide them, the Kentucky lawmaker truly has none. “Give up,” someone who knows McConnell well told The New Yorker’s Jane Mayer last year when she set out to find “the larger principles or sense of purpose that animates” the senator. “You can look and look for something more in him, but it isn’t there. I wish I could tell you that there is some secret thing that he really believes in, but he doesn’t.”

Perhaps to remind people that, despite being an elected official ostensibly sent to D.C. to work on behalf of the Americans who pay his salary, he doesn’t give a fuck about anything but his own interests, McConnell on Wednesday told reporters that while he could spend his time helping to end the pandemic, or aiding the economic recovery, or stopping mass shootings, he’s actually got something else in mind: blocking Joe Biden’s entire agenda.

“One hundred percent of my focus is standing up to this administration,” the Kentucky Republican said at a press conference in his state in response to questions about fighting among House Republicans. “What we have in the United States Senate is total unity from Susan Collins to Ted Cruz in opposition to what the new Biden administration is trying to do to this country,” he said, referring to his colleagues from Maine and Texas. What sort of things has Biden proposed that McConnell is dead set on opposing? In a word, everything... continue to read

MAY 6, 2021
President Biden Delivers Remarks on Infrastructure and Jobs Proposal
President Biden traveled to Lake Charles, Louisiana to highlight his administration’s economy and jobs proposal dubbed the American Jobs Plan. The president spoke about the potential benefits of his proposal and the need to increase the corporate tax rate.

Remarks by President Biden on the American Jobs Plan
MAY 06, 2021

Lake Charles Sea Wall
Lake Charles, Loauisiana

THE PRESIDENT: Well, Mr. Mayor, Governor, thank you. It’s good to be back in Lake Charles. I’ve been here a number of times over the years as Senator and then as Vice President.

The first time I came down here — with a guy named Russell Long, who I served with — I was 29 — please, sit down, everybody.

I was 29 years old when I got elected, and I went to see Russell Long. And he said, “Son…” — I’d made my stops to all the senior senators, which was what you do in those days — and I — he said, “Son, sit down. Sit down.” And he pounded at his desk.

And I sat down, and he said — he said, “How much money did you spend on your campaign?” And I said, “Well, sir…” — and this is going to shock you. I said, “About…” — I said, “A little over $285,000, but then I had to borrow some money and — to get through it. And I just won, barely, by less than — less than a half a percentage point.”

And he said, “Well…” — he said, “It’s a good thing you won.” And I said, “How is that?” He said, “Well…” — he said, “You got yourself a $38,000 deficit.” (Laughter.) And I said, “Yes, sir.” And he said, “Well, if you hadn’t won, you’d just have a plain old deficit. Now you can have a deficit party.” (Laughter.) God, I miss — he was amazing. An amazing guy.

And both of you are amazing. Mr. Mayor, you’ve got a great city. And as I said, I’ve been here — I’ve been here more than once, and it’s good to be back. And I — it’s hard to believe that — that you got — you got hit as badly as you have within the timeframe you have. And I used to spend some time with Randy; he got hit a little bit, but not like you did — not like you have. And, Gov, you know, we have to build back. We have to build back better.

One of the things that — that I’m proud of is, in the first 100 days that I became President, we have created more jobs in that period of time than any administration in history. But the way I look at that, that’s just the down payment getting us back with the American Recovery Act [Rescue Plan]. Just getting us back and getting people — a lot of that had to do with getting people vaccinated, getting 600 million doses of the — of the vaccine, and getting people in a position where it was available.

But now it’s about rebuilding America — rebuilding in a way that it has resilience. And the folks who are going to rebuild it are those folks right over there: unions. They’re going to rebuild it in a way that we’re going to provide good jobs. (Applause.)

Well, look, it’s — as I said, it’s good to be back, Governor Edwards and Mayor Hunter. And I also want to thank President Reine — the union president of AFL-CIO, head of the — head of the — there you are. I couldn’t find you.

And, folks, there’s a — when it comes to bridges and roads and the like, I’ve never seen a Republican or a Democrat road. I just see roads... more

White House Releases Fact Sheets to Highlight Nationwide Need and Impact of the American Families Plan
MAY 06, 2021 • STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

Today, the White House released fact sheets that highlight the need for and impact of the investments proposed by President Biden in the American Families Plan in states and territories across the country. The American Families Plan is a once-in-a-generation investment in the foundations of middle-class prosperity: education, health care, and child care.
The fact sheets highlight how many families would benefit from free community college and universal pre-K, the high costs of child care, the number of workers who lack access to paid family leave, and the thousands of dollars families and workers would save in tax cuts and credits.

Individual fact sheets for each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and other territories are linked below.

These fact sheets are the latest in a series from the White House highlighting the benefits of the American Families Plan for communities, in addition to a series of fact sheets on the American Jobs Plan. Fact sheets on how the American Families Plan advances racial equity and supports rural America have been released in recent weeks.

A Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to the Stabilization of Iraq
MAY 06, 2021 • STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency with respect to the stabilization of Iraq declared in Executive Order 13303 of May 22, 2003, is to continue in effect beyond May 22, 2021.

Obstacles to the orderly reconstruction of Iraq, the restoration and maintenance of peace and security in the country, and the development of political, administrative, and economic institutions in Iraq continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 with respect to the stabilization of Iraq. source from

Psaki plans to step down as US presidential press secretary

May 7 - Jen Psaki, press secretary for US President Joe Biden, plans to step down in this capacity in about a year, CNN reported.

According to Psaki, she had talked with the Biden transition team about a roughly one-year term in this capacity. "I think it's going to be time for somebody else to have this job, in a year from now or about a year from now," she told on the podcast of journalist David Axelrod in an interview, whose recording has been posted on the CNN website. source from

5/06/2021

White House News (白宮消息) | May 6th, 2021

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Biden on implementation of American Rescue Plan — 5/5/21
President Biden delivers remarks on his administration's implementation of the American Rescue Plan.

Remarks by President Biden on His Administration’s Implementation of the American Rescue Plan
MAY 05, 2021

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Earlier today, I — I visited a restaurant here in town, Las — I’m going to mispronounce it — Las Geme- — Las Gelameas [Gemelas]. And — which is a pilot program for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund and an important piece of the American Rescue Plan.

One of my goals with the American Rescue Plan is to make sure that we get this law’s benefits quickly and directly to the American people.

So before I say a bit more about what we’re doing to support our nation’s restaurants, let me provide an update on what is happening through the American Rescue Plan right now, as I speak.

First is providing checks in pockets and shots in arms. More than 163 million Rescue payments have already gone out. These are checks — direct payments of up to $1,400 — that, for a typical family of four making about $110,000, means a $5,600 check you’ll get. By the time all of the money is distributed, more than 85 percent of American households will have received a check.

The Rescue Plan is also funding vaccine administration and distribution. It’s a big reason why we were able to administer over 220 million shots in my first 100 days — a pace unmatched by any other nation in the world or in prior mass vaccinations in all of American history.

You know, it’s helped schools reopen safely. It’s helping childcare centers stay in business. It’s helping families pay for childcare.

The Rescue Plan is delivering food and nutrition assistance to millions of Americans facing hunger. And hunger is already sharply down in the United States.

It’s also providing rental assistance to keep people from being evicted from their homes, it’s making healthcare more affordable, it’s cutting child poverty in this country in half, and the list goes on. And the message is clear: Help is here.

And the bottom line is this: The American Rescue Plan is working. America is getting vaccinated. Job creation is soaring. The economy is growing. And our country is on the move again. more

Biden administration backs waiving of vaccine intellectual property protections

May 6 - President Joe Biden’s administration is throwing its support behind efforts to waive intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines in an effort to speed the end of the pandemic. United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced the US government’s position in a Wednesday statement, amid World Trade Organisation talks over easing global trade rules to enable more countries to produce more of the life-saving vaccines. source from

MAY 5, 2021
White House Daily Briefing
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack held a briefing on the Biden administration’s policy agenda. Secretary Vilsack talked about addressing food insecurity in the American Families Plan and providing aide to minority-owned farms. When asked about Facebook’s independent board’s decision to uphold the ban on former President Trump, the press secretary would not comment on his social media use but said the platforms have a responsibility to address disinformation and misinformation on their sites.

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, May 5, 2021

MS. PSAKI: Hi, everyone.

Q Hi, good afternoon.

MS. PSAKI: Good afternoon. Okay. We have another special guest joining us today: Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

As you all know, this is Secretary Vilsack’s second turn at the Department of Agriculture, which he led in the Obama-Biden administration from 2009 through 2017, making him the longest-serving member of President Obama’s Cabinet.

In those years, Secretary Vilsack fought to put Americans back to work by investing in rural infrastructure, renewable energy, and large-scale conservation partnerships. Under his leadership, USDA introduced healthier food choices in school meals to benefit 50 million children, and expanded free and reduced-price lunches for millions of kids.

Prior to his appointment — or nomination and confirmation, I should say — Secretary Vilsack served two terms as the Governor of Iowa, in the Iowa State Senate, and as the Mayor of Mount Pleasant, Iowa.

With that, I will turn it over to the Secretary, who will be — take a few questions once he concludes his remarks.

SECRETARY VILSACK: Jen, thanks very much. It’s certainly a pleasure to be here today with all of you.

I’m here primarily to talk about food and nutrition security. And you may think that that is just about food and nutrition security, but, in fact, it’s about a lot more than that.

When you understand that 25 percent of America’s workforce is directly or indirectly impacted by the food and ag industry, that it represents a significant percentage of our GDP, that educational achievement is somewhat dependent on youngsters having healthy and nutritious food as they begin their school year and school day, and the fact that it is a noted effort in reducing poverty, food and nutrition security becomes an important issue. And certainly, we’ve seen the impact of that during the course of the pandemic. more

Psaki Pushes Back on McConnell Saying His Focus Is To Stop the Biden Administration

May 6 - White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki is pushing back on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) after he said his focus is on stopping the Biden administration.

A reporter mentioned during a White House press briefing on Wednesday McConnell said, “100% of my focus is on stopping this new administration.”
She asked Psaki, “Are you concerned that it will be difficult to work with Republicans when you have these kinds of statements coming from their leader?”

Psaki replied, “I guess the contrast for people to consider is 100% of our focus is on delivering relief to the American people, on getting the pandemic under control and putting people back to work and we welcome support and engagement and work with Republicans on that.”

She continued, “The president has extended an open arm to that. The door to the Oval Office open.” source from