Biden and Lula Meet at White House, Vowing to Guard Democracy
President Biden hosted Brazil’s new president on Friday in a refresh of the countries’ relations. The two leaders agree on the Amazon but are split on Ukraine.
United States
China, Still Trying to Play Down Balloon, Finds It’s Getting Harder to Do
Beijing has accused the United States of waging “information and public opinion warfare.” But analysts say a lack of credible messaging from China is not helping.
Your Friday Briefing: 20,000 Dead in Turkey and Syria
Also, new U.S. information about China’s spy balloon and North Korea’s newest missile.
What China’s Military Balloons Show About Its Spying Ambitions
Chinese military scientists have been looking for ways to make them more durable, harder to detect and even to serve as platforms that fire advanced weapons.
U.S. Aims to Curb Investment in China Amid Security Concerns
The Biden administration is preparing new rules that would restrict U.S. dollars from flowing to China.
Your Thursday Briefing: Frustration Mounts in Turkey
Also, Volodymyr Zelensky visits Britain and LeBron James breaks a record.
China Sends Spy Balloons Over Military Sites Worldwide, U.S. Officials Say
The balloons have some advantages over the satellites that orbit the earth in regular patterns. They fly closer to earth and can evade radar.
China Tries to Play Down Balloon Dispute With Censorship and Memes
Chinese propaganda also appears to be walking a fine line: looking tough for the crowd at home, without further derailing relations with the United States.
China’s Balloon Dispute Aims Attention at Xi’s Leadership
The flap with the United States raises concerns about how China wields its power in a climate where one wrong move could set off an accidental conflict.
China slams U.S. for shooting down suspected spy balloon: ‘Indiscriminate use of force’
Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng said he lodged a formal complaint with the U.S. Embassy on Sunday over the ‘U.S. attack on a Chinese civilian unmanned airship by military force.’