Yellen sees ‘progress’ in rocky US-China ties, expects more communication

By Andrea Shalal BEIJING (Reuters) -U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said 10 hours of meetings with senior Chinese officials in recent days were “direct” and “productive”, helping stabilise the superpowers’ often rocky relationship as her four-day Beijing trip ended. Before departing China on Sunday, Yellen said the United States and China remained at odds on…

Read More

The 21 new cardinals named by Pope Francis on Sunday

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis announced on Sunday that he would induct 21 churchmen to the high rank of cardinal in September. The following are set to become cardinals: Cardinal Electors under 80 1 – Archbishop Robert Prevost, American, Vatican official, head of the Dicastery for Bishops 2 – Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, Italian, Vatican…

Read More

Russia calls on NATO to discuss Ukraine nuclear plant at summit

(Reuters) – Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday that the leaders of the U.S.-led transatlantic NATO defence alliance should discuss Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant at their summit this week. NATO leaders will meet in Vilnius on July 11-12 to tackle a wide range of topics, from divisions over Ukraine’s membership bid and…

Read More

NATO flexes muscle to protect Vilnius summit near Russia, Belarus

(This July 8 story has been refiled to remove extraneous word ‘vehicles’ in paragraph 6, and change ‘measures’ to ‘equipment’ in paragraph 8) By Andrius Sytas KANIUKAI, Lithuania (Reuters) – NATO has turned Vilnius into a fortress defended by advanced weaponry to protect U.S. President Joe Biden and other alliance leaders meeting next week only…

Read More

U.S. calls Pan Gongsheng China’s central bank ‘head’, suggesting unannounced promotion

By Andrea Shalal BEIJING (Reuters) – The United States has repeatedly referred to a senior Chinese central banker as the head or acting head of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) in recent days, appearing to confirm his expected elevation to the top post. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen referred to PBOC Deputy Governor Pan Gongsheng,…

Read More

Israeli protests reignite as Netanyahu pushes new justice bill

By Rami Amichay TEL AVIV (Reuters) – Israel’s business hub Tel Aviv saw the biggest anti-government protest in weeks on Saturday against a renewed push by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-right coalition to overhaul the justice system. Tens of thousands demonstrated across the country, with the rally in Tel Aviv drawing crowds far larger than…

Read More