Treasury warns that anti-woke banking laws like Florida's are a national security risk

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department is warning that state laws that restrict banks from considering environmental, social and governance factors could harm efforts to address money laundering and terrorism financing. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the letter sent...

Who is Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right minister who visited a contested Jerusalem holy site?

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel's far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, visited Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site on Thursday, a move that could threaten the delicate Gaza cease-fire talks. Itamar Ben-Gvir, an ultranationalist settler leader, said he had gone up...

China Communist Party policy meeting endorses leader Xi's high-tech vision for economy

BEIJING (AP) — China’s ruling Communist Party wrapped up a top-level meeting on Thursday by endorsing policies aimed at advancing the country’s technological power and fortifying its national security. A statement released when the four-day meeting ended provided only a...

Communist Party meeting ends with vows to promote 'Chinese-style' modernization and protect national security

China's Communist Party will signal its approach to the country's challenges at a meeting this week

BEIJING (AP) — China's ruling Communist Party started a four-day meeting Monday that is expected to lay out a strategy for self-sufficient economic growth in an era of heightened national security concerns and restrictions on access to American technology. While the meeting...

Biden administration to tax foreign-made steel and aluminum imports routed through Mexico

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum shipped from Mexico that were made elsewhere — an attempt to stop China from avoiding import taxes by routing goods through one of the United States' closest trading partners. Lael Brainard,...

U.S. to expand control of land sales to foreigners near 56 additional military sites

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. wants to expand a Treasury committee's jurisdiction to review land sales near U.S. military sites where foreigners are the buyers. New Treasury rulemaking would expand the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States' powers to review land...

Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong asks for a lesser sentence in landmark security case

HONG KONG (AP) — Prominent activist Joshua Wong asked for a lesser sentence in court Friday after he earlier pleaded guilty in Hong Kong's biggest national security case. Wong was one of 47 activists charged in 2021 under a Beijing-imposed national security law with conspiracy to...

Hong Kong court edges closer to sentencing democracy activists involved in unofficial primary

HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong court on Tuesday began mitigation hearings for prominent pro-democracy activists who were convicted under a national security law and now face up to life in prison. The activists were among 47 democracy advocates who were charged with conspiracy to...

Senior Blinken aide is taking a top job with Austin after Senate confirmation holdup

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Monday that one of his most senior aides is leaving for a top job with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and will be replaced by a brother of President Joe Biden’s national security adviser. State Department counselor...