Alexei Navalny, a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, appeared in court on Monday to face new charges of extremism that could extend his prison term by decades. The trial is expected to last several days, with a verdict expected in the coming weeks. Navalny has denied the charges, calling them "absurd" and "politically motivated."
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Mike Pence expressed hope that Donald Trump would accept the 2020 election results, and Asa Hutchinson said that if Trump is re-elected and convicted, he may try to pardon himself. Pence also said he was doubtful about running for president if Trump had accepted the results.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has held two days of meetings with Chinese officials to attempt to ease tensions between the two countries. Both sides have expressed a willingness to talk, but have shown little inclination to compromise on their hardened positions. It is unclear if any progress has been made in their discussions.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken Visits Beijing in Attempt to Reduce Escalating U.S.-China Tensions
Secretary of State Antony Blinken Visits Beijing in Attempt to Reduce Escalating U.S.-China Tensions
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Beijing to reduce the escalating tensions between the United States and China. The visit was originally planned for February, but was postponed due to a Chinese surveillance balloon incident. Despite the visit, the prospects for any significant breakthrough on the most pressing issues between the two countries are slim. The visit is seen as an opportunity for the two countries to discuss their differences and find a way to reduce the tensions between them, but it is unclear if the visit will be successful in achieving any meaningful progress.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) has launched an investigation into a mysterious bribery allegation against President Joe Biden, asking the FBI to make public its analysis of the tip. The allegation relies on uncorroborated claims from a foreign national and a trusted FBI informant, and President Biden has denied any wrongdoing. Former President Donald Trump has suggested that the Justice Department had indicted him as a distraction from the "Biden bribery scheme." Raskin believes that the public deserves to know the truth and has asked the FBI to make its analysis public.
President Joe Biden is set to hold his first major political rally since launching his reelection campaign on Saturday, where he will be joined by union members to promote his pro-labor record. The rally will focus on the core principles of Biden's economic message, which is centered around boosting the middle class. Biden's approval ratings remain high, with a recent Gallup poll showing 59% of Americans approve of his job performance, the highest approval rating for a president at this point in their term since 1991.
The PGA Tour and LIV Golf, a Saudi-backed upstart league, have proposed a surprise deal which has raised concerns from top Democrats in the Senate and House. Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, the widow of Jamal Khashoggi, has spoken out on the matter, saying that her late husband would agree that the people of Saudi Arabia shouldn't be penalized. The Treasury Department is now tasked with investigating the deal to determine whether it should be allowed to go through.
The Biden administration has delayed punitive economic measures against China and played down Beijing’s intensifying intelligence-gathering in order to revive diplomatic talks between the two governments. Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Michael Cloud have urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to secure the release of a Texas businessman on death row in China, as Blinken embarks on the highest-level diplomatic visit to China since 2018. The Biden administration is hoping to mend relations with Beijing in order to discuss a range of issues, from trade to human rights.