The State Department said Tuesday that indirect talks with Iran over its nuclear program remain “positive” after an attack on an Iranian nuclear facility last week threw the negotiations into jeopardy. State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters Tuesday that indirect talks through intermediaries in Vienna are ongoing but a full return to the Obama-era Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) remains a long way off. “I would just say generally that the talks have continued in Vienna, as we know. The United States and Iran, we have, together, a stated, common objective of returning to mutual compliance with the JCPOA. We have been engaged constructively in a diplomatic process to achieve that goal. I think it continues to be fair to say that the talks have been business-like, they have been positive,” Price said. ADVERTISEMENT “Yes, there has been some progress, but there remains a long road ahead. I think it’s fair to say that we have more road ahead of us … [Read more...] about US says Iran negotiations are ‘positive’
Iran
The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by Facebook – All US adults now eligible for COVID vaccines
Presented by Facebook via GIPHY To view past editions of The Hill's 12:30 Report, click here: http://bit.ly/1M1mIfw To receive The Hill's 12:30 Report in your inbox, please sign up here: http://bit.ly/1Tt4hqN --> A midday take on what's happening in politics and how to have a sense of humor about it.* *Ha. Haha. Hahah. Sniff. Haha. Sniff. Ha--breaks down crying hysterically. The Hill’s 12:30 Report: All U.S. adults now eligible for COVID vaccine | Greece opens to tourists | NASA flies helicopter on Mars | Biden holds bipartisan infrastructure meeting | Rep. Steve Stivers Steven (Steve) Ernst Stivers The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - All US adults now eligible for COVID vaccines GOP Rep. Steve Stivers plans to retire Former Ohio health director won't run for Senate MORE retires | House to vote on DC statehood | Closing arguments in Derek Chauvin trial | 2024 hopefuls court House conservatives NEWS … [Read more...] about The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by Facebook – All US adults now eligible for COVID vaccines
Survey Says Pandemic Is Taking Toll on Press Freedom
PARIS - Media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders, RSF, says the coronavirus pandemic has helped to curb press freedom and spread disinformation, with a shrinking number of countries offering favorable environments for journalism. Reporters Without Borders’ latest Press Freedom Index offers little good news about the state of today’s media. While it shows little change from last year, the overall indicator of world press freedom has dropped significantly in recent years. The Nordic countries, along with Costa Rica, are again high up on the index, with Norway ranked first for the fifth year running. North Korea again placed last, at 180, with Turkmenistan, China and Djibouti right behind. Significantly, RSF found, the coronavirus pandemic has helped to exacerbate repression. Pauline Ades-Mevel is a spokeswoman for the group. "This year’s index, which evaluates the press freedom in 180 countries, shows that journalism — which is arguably the best vaccine against the virus … [Read more...] about Survey Says Pandemic Is Taking Toll on Press Freedom
From exit strategy to exit timetable in Afghanistan
Many experts were shocked by President Biden Joe Biden Obama, Clinton reflect on Mondale's legacy Biden, Harris commend Mondale in paving the way for female VP Mondale in last message to staff: 'Joe in the White House certainly helps' MORE ’s decision to withdraw all U.S. forces from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, 2021. NATO and partner forces, which now outnumber U.S. forces, also will depart. Citing changes in the spread of terrorism and the need to redeploy forces elsewhere, the president declared “that it is time to end America’s longest war. It’s time for American troops to come home.” His statement reflected frustration with bringing the war to a conclusion, but the Washington Post called it “ the easy way out .” Biden went from conditions-based policy to calendar-based policy. As in the Vietnam and Iraq wars, what started as an exit strategy once again has become an exit timetable. A U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan will not end the “forever war.” It will … [Read more...] about From exit strategy to exit timetable in Afghanistan
Japan needs to stand stronger with the US to defend Taiwan — and itself
China constantly seeks out ways to complain about perceived slights and provocations as pretexts for its own aggressive behavior. It is both victimization paranoia and a form of information warfare that keeps the West on the defensive. True to form, it objected even to the innocuous reference to Taiwan at last week’s summit meeting between President Biden Joe Biden Obama, Clinton reflect on Mondale's legacy Biden, Harris commend Mondale in paving the way for female VP Mondale in last message to staff: 'Joe in the White House certainly helps' MORE and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. Neither leader’s prepared remarks even mentioned Taiwan, out of deference to the Japanese side. Biden’s opening statement was modest: “Prime Minister Suga and I affirmed our ironclad support for U.S.-Japanese alliance and for our shared security. We committed to working together to take on the challenges from China, and on issues like the East China Sea, the South China … [Read more...] about Japan needs to stand stronger with the US to defend Taiwan — and itself
