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2022-06-04 15:04:00 Chinese President instructed to help Russia without violating sanctions

Chinese President Xi Jinping has instructed his advisers to figure out how to help Russia financially without violating sanctions.

"We understand [Moscow's] predicament. But we cannot ignore our own situation. China will always act in the interests of its people," the official said. Open / Comment

2022-06-04 14:00:10 Biden and Saudi crown prince planning to meet later this month

President Joe Biden and Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, are planning to meet later this month after 2 key deals were reached on Thursday following months of diplomatic heavy lifting by the US.

Speaking Friday, Biden confirmed a meeting with Prince Mohammed and other Arab world leaders was possible in the coming weeks, though insisted there were "no direct plans."

And he defended the prospect of meeting the crown prince, insisting it did not represent a turnabout from his onetime stance that Saudi Arabia be made a "pariah" for its human rights record.

"I have been engaged in trying to work with how we can bring more stability and peace in the Middle East and there is a possibility that I would be going to meet with both the Israelis and some Arab countries at the time - including, I expect, would be Saudi Arabia, would be included in that if I did go," Biden said. Open / Comment

2022-06-03 21:00:06 GOP gubernatorial candidate Mastriano cooperates with January 6 committee - to an extent

Pennsylvania GOP gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano has handed over some documents to the House select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol in response to a subpoena he received in March, his attorney told.

But there were clear limits to what Mastriano shared, raising questions about whether the panel will seek more information from one of former President Donald Trump's staunchest allies.

Mastriano, a state senator, has also agreed to sit down for a voluntary interview with the committee, according to his attorney Tim Parlatore, who told that his client is "happy to provide the information he has, aside from things that would be inappropriate due to legislative privilege." Open / Comment

2022-06-03 19:02:00 Switzerland has blocked the transfer of Piranha III armored vehicles from Denmark to Ukraine

The Danish authorities sent a formal request to the Swiss State Secretary of Economy (SECO) for the transfer of Swiss-made equipment and were refused, SRF news agency reports citing sources.

Switzerland explained its decision by the implementation of the law on neutrality. The Swiss government has also taken an obligation to transfer military equipment to Switzerland only with the permission of the Swiss side, the agency noted. Open / Comment

2022-06-03 17:25:00 Polish authorities will stop paying food and housing allowances to all Ukrainian refugees, except those with disabilities, pregnant women and families with many children from June 1

"The government, in a special presentation on assistance to refugees from Ukraine, initially guaranteed it for the first 60 days. A month ago it extended the period for another 60 days. However, it's over. We pay huge social funds: from 300 zlotys each and 500 zlotys for each child, plus other social benefits. We want to encourage Ukrainians to be active. Four months of full protection is, in our opinion, enough time." Open / Comment

2022-06-03 15:21:00 From luxury hotels to containers: Bulgaria started resettling Ukrainian refugees

The refugees themselves showed where they are being relocated from the Bulgarian hotels. Open / Comment

2022-06-03 14:00:17 Biden to make speech on guns Thursday

President Joe Biden will deliver a speech on guns Thursday night as the US confronts another mass shooting, the White House said.

The speech will take place at 7:30 p.m. ET at the White House.

The remarks will amount to Biden's most fulsome speech about guns since a massacre at a Texas elementary school last week.

Since then, a string of additional mass shootings have unfolded in states across the country, including at a Tulsa, Oklahoma, medical center on Wednesday. That shooting left five dead, including the gunman.

Biden has selectively waded into the debate over gun control but has stopped short of endorsing any specific legislative action to prevent further carnage.

On Wednesday, the President expressed scant optimism that Congress would agree on new gun control legislation, even as a bipartisan group of senators meets to weigh options.

"I served in Congress for 36 years. I'm never confident, totally," Biden said. Open / Comment

2022-06-02 21:00:07 FBI director blames Iran for 'despicable' attempted cyberattack on Boston Children's Hospital

Iranian government-backed hackers were behind an attempted hack of the Boston Children's Hospital computer network last year, FBI Director Christopher Wray alleged Wednesday, calling it "one of the most despicable cyberattacks I've ever seen."

The FBI was able to help thwart the hackers before they did damage to the hospital's computer network, according to Wray, but he cited it as an example of the potential high-impact hacking threats that the US faces from the governments of Iran, Russia, China and North Korea.

"We cannot let up on China or Iran or criminal syndicates while we're focused on Russia," Wray said in a speech at Boston College.

The hack, which took place in June 2021, saw the attackers exploit popular software made by California-based firm Fortinet to control the hospital's computer network, according to US officials. Open / Comment

2022-06-02 19:32:00 The United Kingdom and the European Union have agreed on a coordinated ban on insurance for ships carrying Russian oil. The move would close Moscow's largest insurance market, Lloyd's of London, and "severely limit its ability to export crude oil," and could "force it to seek insurance opportunities in smaller, less developed markets." Greece and Cyprus agreed to the proposal for such a ban after the U.K. pledged to follow suit. Open / Comment

2022-06-02 17:21:00 U.S. President Joe Biden's administration will provide Ukraine with a guided missile system capable of hitting targets over 40 miles (64.4 km) away Open / Comment