Blog Verité

Tsai Ing-wen noted a “range of cooperation with the U.S.,” in comments that followed a recent Wall Street Journal report that a small contingent of Marines and a special-operations unit had been training Taiwanese forces.

Security experts said the launch of the Agni-5 missile, the only one in India’s arsenal capable of reaching Beijing, was a pointed reminder to China that the South Asian nation has the firepower to fight back if border tensions flare

Manchin, McConnell huddle on Senate floor amid Biden spending battle  New York Post Biden says U.S. will ‘own the future’ with Build Back Better, but disagreements among Democrats remain, imperiling plan  Yahoo News Democrats release text of massive social spending bill  Fox News

Tensions have soared in recent weeks over Taiwan, the self-governing democracy claimed by China — and allied with the United States. How far the tensions will accelerate — and what the US response will be — is hotly debated among

Biden arrives at the Vatican for audience with Pope Francis in a symbolic meeting for America’s second Catholic president  CNN Vatican cancels live TV broadcast of Biden greeting pope  Yahoo News What will President Biden and Pope Francis talk about?  National Catholic Reporter

POLITICO Playbook: Why Joe Biden already won – POLITICO  Politico Biden says U.S. will ‘own the future’ with Build Back Better, but disagreements among Democrats remain, imperiling plan  Yahoo News Democrats release text of massive social spending bill  Fox News It’s crunch time

By John O’Donnell FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Afghanistan’s Taliban government is pressing for the release of billions of dollars of central bank reserves as the drought-stricken nation faces a cash crunch, mass starvation and a new migration crisis. Afghanistan parked billions

Four charts that show just what’s at stake at the COP26 climate summit  NPR Pope calls on world leaders to provide ‘effective responses’ to climate change – BBC News  BBC News Ahead of Glasgow climate conference, India and China dim hopes for

Corporate America is making some gains in expanding its commitment to diversity. According to a new study from The Conference Board, 2021 marks the first time that a majority of S&P 500 companies—59%—have disclosed the racial makeup of their boards.

‘Just give us our money’: Taliban push to unlock Afghan billions abroad  reuters.com Four U.S. Intelligence Agencies Produced Extensive Reports on Afghanistan, but All Failed to Predict Kabul’s Rapid Collapse  The Wall Street Journal As US freezes funds, a harsh winter awaits