The Biden administration has announced that rural electric cooperatives and other energy providers will be able to apply for almost $11bn in grants and loans for clean energy projects. Approximately $9.7bn will go to rural electric cooperatives in support of deploying renewable energy, zero-emission and carbon capture systems. The remaining $1bn will be made available in partially forgivable loans for renewable projects. The money, which expands clean energy to rural communities, will bring new jobs to rural areas, according to White House advisor John Podesta. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association reports that rural electric cooperatives serve 42 million people and produce 22% of their energy from renewable sources.
The CSIS Economics Program and Interpret: China project recently held a panel discussion on Chinese views of the effectiveness of economic sanctions imposed on Russia by the US and its allies in response to the Ukraine crisis. The panel discussed what strategies and approaches Beijing might develop to counter or circumvent similar US-led action in the future. The discussion was based on recently translated primary source documents and included experts from the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the School of Global Policy and Strategy at the University of California San Diego, and the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The US Justice Department will announce the first enforcement actions undertaken by its innovative technology task force on Tuesday, according to the US Attorney's Office. The group was set up as a joint venture between the Justice Department and the Commerce Department to protect US technology from foreign hacking and other threats to national security.
The possibility of the US defaulting on its debts makes world leaders “look at the US and see a damning portrait. In this broken system, many elected officials do not respect the results of a presidential election and permit policy and ideological differences to stand in the way of honouring the government’s financial obligations”, warns an op-ed in The Financial Times. The editorial notes that the US needs a long-term solution where debt ceiling theatrics are replaced with coherent long-term budgeting. It highlights the fact that efforts by Democratic presidents to lower prospective deficits in the past have merely allowed Republicans to slash taxes when they returned to power; and that the Republicans are using threats of default to achieve cuts in spending and taxes rather than in deficits, for which they have been unable to secure decisive electoral victories. This in turn, makes it increasingly more likely that the crash will eventually happen.
Russia has claimed to have destroyed a key US-supplied Patriot air defence system in Ukraine with a hypersonic Kinzhal missile. If verified, the news would come as a costly blow to Ukraine. However, Kiev says that it managed to down all six "unstoppable" Kinzhal missiles fired overnight. The six Kinzhals were among 18 ballistic missiles Russia launched right after its drone and missile volleys this month, which Ukraine has been widely shooting down. It was the first time Ukraine had claimed to have taken down a volley of multiple hypersonic missiles.
China’s military has warned it is ready to “smash” Taiwan's independence, as the US reportedly prepares to accelerate the sale of defensive weapons and other military assistance to the self-governing island. China claims the 23 million-person island as its own territory and is prepared to bring it under its control by force if necessary. While China's actions thus far, including daily air and sea incursions around Taiwan, have had limited effect, analysts have warned of the likelihood of a major conflict involving all three sides and possibly US allies including Japan.
A conversation on Allied Burden Sharing in Ukraine, between the CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development and the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, has discussed the role of European partners in supporting Ukraine. While the US is the world's largest financier of foreign aid and military assistance for Ukraine, the country's European partners are contributing similar amounts on a per capita basis, with the US ranking tenth overall. European burden-sharing has also been substantial on energy and trade, with the continent suffering from vulnerability to global market dynamics and reductions in energy consumption, and potential trade disruption in areas such as food. To ensure Ukraine emerges victorious, the US and Europe will need to collectively carry these burdens.
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka is the subject of serious interest from Bayer Leverkusen and is more likely to leave the Emirates this summer, with advanced talks taking place between the Gunners and the German outfit. Xhaka is understood to be valued at around £13m and has reportedly been offered a lucrative long-term contract by Leverkusen. Xhaka joined Arsenal in 2016 and has been a constant presence in the team but has faced ups and downs with the fans, who have, in recent seasons, rebuilt their relationship with him.
The Biden administration is seeking to meet with the makers of the life-saving medication naloxone used to reverse opioid overdoses in an effort to increase access and reduce cost. The Office of National Drug Control Policy plans to have conversations with manufacturers to share the principle that the easier it is for people to access naloxone, the more lives can be saved. This is part of the administration's wider efforts to ensure naloxone is both accessible and affordable to everyone who may need it. Naloxone is seen as a key tool to help someone survive an opioid overdose.
The US State Department has condemned the arrest of former US mission employee Robert Shonov on allegations he illegally collaborated with foreigners, calling the claims "without merit". Shonov was employed by the US Consulate General locally in Vladivostok for more than 25 years before Russia ordered the termination of the local staff. He was then employed by a company contracted by the US embassy in Moscow. The US consulate in Vladivostok has been closed since 2020 amid worsening relations between Russia and the US.
Bill banning uranium imports from Russia passes US House subcommittee
Reuters
23-05-16 17:26
A bill that would prohibit Russian uranium imports to the US passed a committee in the House of Representatives, paving the way for it to become law. The US imported around 14% of its uranium from Russia in 2021, compared to 35% from Kazakhstan and 15% from Canada, with the US the source of around 5% of the mineral used domestically that year. The House bill includes waivers which would allow for Russia to export low-enriched uranium, provided alternative sources are not accessible for nuclear reactors or US nuclear energy firms and if shipments are in the national interest.
A conversation on Allied Burden Sharing in Ukraine, between the CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development and the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, has discussed the role of European partners in supporting Ukraine. While the US is the world's largest financier of foreign aid and military assistance for Ukraine, the country's European partners are contributing similar amounts on a per capita basis, with the US ranking tenth overall. European burden-sharing has also been substantial on energy and trade, with the continent suffering from vulnerability to global market dynamics and reductions in energy consumption, and potential trade disruption in areas such as food. To ensure Ukraine emerges victorious, the US and Europe will need to collectively carry these burdens.
State lawmakers in South Carolina, Nebraska, and North Carolina are pushing forward with abortion restrictions despite vocal opposition from Democrats and reproductive rights advocates. South Carolina's state House began debating a bill that would ban most abortions after six weeks, while Nebraska's legislature took up a package of bills that would restrict gender-affirming care and prohibit abortions beyond 12 weeks. In North Carolina, the Republican-controlled state Senate overrode Democratic Governor Roy Cooper's veto of a bill banning most abortions after 12 weeks, and the state House was expected to follow suit. These legislative maneuvers come in the wake of the Supreme Court's June decision to revoke federal abortion rights, which has led to an increase in GOP-led state legislatures passing near-total abortion bans.
The register of damages created by a summit of the Council of Europe will record Russia's "harm and destruction" in Ukraine, with the aim of using it for future compensation. The register will hold the tangible costs Russia has demanded from Ukraine over the last 15 months. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky used a video address to the summit to call for more air defence systems and missiles, as the register was launched in The Hague. Zelensky received defence pledges from France, Germany and Britain but is unable to equip Ukraine with advanced fighter aircraft.
Cleveland Guardians' All-Star third baseman, Jose Ramirez, has been placed on the bereavement list and hot-hitting infielder Brayan Rocchio has been recalled from Triple-A Columbus ahead of the team's three-game series against the White Sox. It is unknown how long Ramirez will be absent, though he had been batting .285, hitting four home runs and 22 RBIs. In Ramirez's absence, Josh Naylor will take his spot in the batting order, while Gabriel Arias will likely start at third. Rocchio, who has hit safely in 16 straight games, is being called up for the second time after he didn't make his debut in April.
Graham Rahal, son of 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby, has warned that he may retire if a competitive seat is not in his future. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL), the team he currently drives for, made major upgrades in personnel and opened a new state-of-the-art shop over recent years. RLL has expanded to three full-time cars and added Katherine Legge to its Indy 500 roster. Despite high hopes for this year, Rahal did not place in the first few races of the season including a pair of sixth-place finishes, only managing to qualify eighth at the recent Indy 500. RLL has redeemed hope with a strong opening weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Rahal is counting on the organisation to turn things around, but as of yet negotiations for his future contract have not begun.
A conversation on Allied Burden Sharing in Ukraine, between the CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development and the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, has discussed the role of European partners in supporting Ukraine. While the US is the world's largest financier of foreign aid and military assistance for Ukraine, the country's European partners are contributing similar amounts on a per capita basis, with the US ranking tenth overall. European burden-sharing has also been substantial on energy and trade, with the continent suffering from vulnerability to global market dynamics and reductions in energy consumption, and potential trade disruption in areas such as food. To ensure Ukraine emerges victorious, the US and Europe will need to collectively carry these burdens.
North Carolina's Republican-controlled legislature has voted to override Democratic Governor Roy Cooper's veto of a bill banning most abortions after 12 weeks. The Care for Women, Children and Families Act was passed by the state Senate along party lines on 4 May, but was subsequently vetoed by Cooper, who described it as a block to progress. The new law bans abortions at 12 weeks, mandates that those after that time be carried out in hospital and restricts the use of abortion pills after 10 weeks. Official figures indicate the number of abortions rose 37% in North Carolina after a 2020 Supreme Court ruling ended US-wide abortion rights.
Nolan Arenado hit a leadoff home run in the second inning of the St. Louis Cardinals' game against the Milwaukee Brewers, marking his fifth straight game with a homer. Arenado had not homered in five straight games since September 2015. He now has 999 RBIs in 1,424 games and could become one of only two primary third basemen since 1920, along with Eddie Mathews and Chipper Jones, to hit 300 home runs with 1,000 RBIs before 1,500 games.
The Detroit Tigers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0, with Michael Lorenzen having a season-high seven strikeouts in six innings. The Pirates, meanwhile, have lost 12 of their 14 games while scoring just 22 runs. Spencer Torkelson doubled twice and scored and knocked in a run, while Riley Greene had three hits. The Tigers' Eduardo Rodriguez will carry a streak of 19 1/3 scoreless innings into Wednesday’s contest, having allowed just two runs in his last six starts. Rich Hill will pitch the second game of the series for the Pirates.
