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President Joe Biden said Monday that the U.S. is willing to intervene militarily should China forcibly try to take Taiwan. “Yes,” Biden said at a joint press conference in Tokyo when pressed on whether the U.S. would “get involved militarily to defend Taiwan” if necessary. “That’s the commitment we made.” “We agree with the ‘One China’ policy,” Biden continued. “We signed on to it, and all the attendant agreements made from there, but the idea that it can be taken by force, just taken by force, is [not] appropriate. It would dislocate the entire region and be another action, similar to what happened in Ukraine.” (RELATED: US Military Says Chinese Attack On Taiwan Accelerating As Taiwan Threatens War ‘To The Very Last Day’) The White House quickly sought to walk back the president’s comments. “As the President said, our policy has not changed,” a White House official said afterwards. “He reiterated our One China policy and our commitment to peace and stability across the … [Read more...] about White House Scrambles After Biden Promises War With China Over Taiwan

US President Joe Biden attends a working lunch with other G7 leaders to discuss shaping the global economy at the Yoga Pavilion, Schloss Elmau in Kuren, Germany, June 26, 2022. (Kenny Holston/Pool via REUTERS) WASHINGTON — The United States aims to raise $200 billion in private and public funds over five years to fund needed infrastructure in developing countries under a G7 initiative aimed at countering China’s multitrillion-dollar Belt and Road project, the White House said on Sunday. US President Joe Biden will unveil the plans, flanked by other Group of Seven leaders, some of whom have already unveiled their own separate initiatives, at their annual gathering being held this year at Schloss Elmau in southern Germany. Increasingly worried about China, G7 leaders first floated plans for the project last year, and are formally launching it now under a fresh title, “Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment” while dropping the moniker “Build Back Better World” … [Read more...] about US to raise $200 billion for G7 vs China’s Belt and Road

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Ukraine’s new American-made rocket-launchers apparently have fired their first shots at Russian forces. The first-ever documented fire-mission by the High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, comes as Ukrainian troops finally pull back from the ruins of Severodonetsk, an industrial city with a pre-war population of 100,000 that was the last major free settlement east of the Donets River in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region before Kyiv ordered the retreat. The attritional battle rages on in Donbas. Ukrainian forces are reconsolidating Lysychansk, Severodonetsk’s sister city on the west bank of the Donets River. Russia’s advantage in heavy artillery so far has been the decisive factor in the Donbas campaign. Ukraine’s growing HIMARS arsenal could blunt that advantage. HIMARS is a truck-mounted, six-round launcher for 220-millimeter-diameter rockets. The rockets can fly as far as 44 miles with 200 pounds of … [Read more...] about The Ukrainians’ American-Made Rockets Blast The Russians For The First Time

Hillary Clinton’s politically appointed State Department information technology manager had no national security experience and may have enjoyed a 55 percent pay hike after Clinton departed as secretary of state in February 2013, according to a Daily Caller News Foundation investigation. Bryan Pagliano joined Clinton in 2009 as a top-level IT strategist and adviser. He previously was IT director of Clinton’s unsuccessful campaign for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. The White House personnel office must approve political appointees before they are hired. Pagliano was hired as a GS-15 even though he had no national security experience or security clearance. He was paid $140,000 annually at the outset but that was reduced to $136,000 in 2011 and 2012, according to the Asbury Park Press, which posts federal compensation data. In addition to his government salary, Pagliano also received compensation directly from the Clinton family, but did not list it on his annual … [Read more...] about Hillary’s Highly Paid IT Guru At State Department Had No National Security Experience

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline The leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized nations have vowed to raise $600 billion within the next five years to fund infrastructure projects in developing countries, an effort designed to compete for influence in the developing world with the similar Belt and Road program launched by China in 2013. Key Facts The Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment will help create “ quality, sustainable infrastructure ” that will strengthen the world’s supply chains, result in economic opportunities for American workers and advance U.S. national security interests, according to the Biden administration. The U.S. alone will contribute $200 billion to the effort through grants, federal financing, and leveraging private sector investments, the White House said. Officials said the program will focus on four priorities: creating sustainable infrastructure that is resilient to climate … [Read more...] about G-7 Leaders Launch $600 Billion Infrastructure Push To Rival Chinese Influence

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin This year’s Fourth of July is set to be the top holiday weekend to travel with nearly half (46%) of summer travelers planning to vacation over Independence Day, according to Vacasa’s 2022 Summer Travel Trends report . Vacasa’s search data also revealed the following destinations as the most popular spots for 2022: Bethany Beach, DE; Alabama Gulf Coast, AL; Outer Banks, NC; Cape Cod, MA; Oregon Coast, OR. In order to impress their guests, hotels and resorts throughout the country are planning spectacular fireworks displays ranging from a “Free as a Bird” experience to a “Big Bay Boom.” Mohonk Mountain House , New Paltz, New York With its picturesque setting in the Hudson Valley and situated on a private glacial lake with views of the Catskill Mountains, this Victorian castle resort provides a one-of-a-kind mountain retreat for a Fourth of July celebration. With activities like tomahawk throwing, family … [Read more...] about Resorts To Offer Spectacular Independence Day Celebrations

You know the place, even if you haven’t been there. advertisement advertisement From the outside, it has a spare, severe look. But inside, past the flower stall and barbershop, the vibe is serene and hushed. Long tables and worn leather chairs invite people to cluster; the scent of locally roasted coffee mixes with the sound of the nearby photo booth, whirring in the background. There are vintage records on the shelves and slinky indie pop on the speakers, and the late afternoon sunlight makes puddles on the century-old wood floor. The feeling is both of the moment and timeless. To a remarkable extent, this place, the Ace Hotel, is the brainchild of a single man, a lean, mop-haired native of the Pacific Northwest named Alexander Calderwood. A kind of hipster polymath, he was able to look around the corners of culture and see what was coming years, if not decades, before everyone else. In his 20-year career, Calderwood cofounded a barbershop, a … [Read more...] about Behind Ace Hotel Founder Alex Calderwood’s Creative Life And Untimely Death

The necklace comprises three rows of graduated natural, salt-water pearls interspaced with faceted crystal discs along with a gold clasp set with old cut diamonds. A three-strand natural pearl necklace has recently been sold for Rs 6.25 crore at an online auction. The necklace comprises rows of graduated natural, salt-water pearls interspaced with faceted crystal discs along with a gold clasp set with old cut diamonds. The jewellery crafted with natural pearls in two different shades is an extremely rare find due to its size, auction house AstaGuru stated in a release. Owing to their scarcity, natural pearls jewellery continues to be highly sought after by collectors of vintage and heirloom jewellery. The auction also showcased another five-row natural pearl necklace which was sold for Rs 1.48 crore. The necklace comprised 453 pieces of graduated natural pearls and featured features Art Deco gold terminals set with diamonds. A red Burmese ruby bead necklace was … [Read more...] about Rare natural pearl necklace sells for whopping Rs 6 crore at online auction

ROME, June 26 (Xinhua) -- A special one-off "East Meets West" classical music concert was held Saturday evening at Rome's iconic opera house, with Chinese and Italian musicians enthralling the audience with an impressive performance. At the Rome Opera House, the most important music hall in the Italian capital, the 1,600-seat venue was mostly full, and several of the pieces performed attracted extended rounds of applause. The program is a centerpiece of the China-Italy Year of Culture and Tourism, featuring seven performances from both Italian and Chinese composers and focusing on young musicians. The event was part of the first full season of the opera house in its home facility since it closed for the coronavirus pandemic. Other performances since 2020 had been held in outdoor venues. The nearly two-hour selection, conducted by Qian Junping, got underway with a performance of "Jasmine Flower" from Italian composer Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot. "Nessun dorma" (None shall … [Read more...] about Feature: “East Meets West” concert featuring Chinese, Italian compositions held in Rome

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Meow Wolf opened its first permanent installation in 2016 in Santa Fe. Known as the “House of Eternal Return,” it instantly became a nation-wide sensation due to its interactive and unexpected exhibits. What makes Meow Wolf so different than a typical art installation is that it’s not something you look at; it’s something you immerse yourself in. The exhibit creates a world that visitors walk through and engage with, allowing (and encouraging) interaction in a choose-your-own-adventure type experience, complete with secret passages and other hidden gems. One of the most famous examples in Santa Fe is a washer/dryer that, when opened, reveals a slide that visitors can use to access a room of lost socks below. In this way, the experience of visiting Meow Wolf is different than anything before it. The success has prompted more installations to be built around the country, including what’s called “Convergence Station” … [Read more...] about Where To Stay and What To Do When Visiting Meow Wolf In Denver