Category: The United States

US Returns 30 Ancient Artifacts, Stolen in the Late 20th Century, to Cambodia

The United States returned 30 stolen artifacts to Cambodia on Monday after more than five years of investigation into “an organized looting network” that reportedly sold the pieces to international buyers. Ricky J. Patel, a special agent with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s investigative unit, said the artifacts were stolen from Cambodian temples and…


US, Indonesia to Hold Large-Scale Joint Military Drill in Sumatra

Indonesia and the United States will conduct a large-scale military exercise next week to enhance their combined interoperability capabilities, with 11 other nations participating as partner nations or observers. The annual Garuda Shield exercise will be conducted on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan from August 1 to 14. It aims to bolster the…


US to Bolster Cooperation With Japan in Semiconductors, Economic Security

The United States and Japan vowed on Friday to bolster cooperation in promoting economic security and building supply chain resilience in response to challenges posed by China and the Russia-Ukraine war. Top officials from both countries met in Washington for the inaugural “two-plus-two” talks, during which they unveiled a plan to launch a new joint…


US Recovers $500,000 From North Korea-Backed Hackers Targeting Hospitals

The U.S. Department of Justice said on July 19 that it seized about $500,000 in cryptocurrency that two American medical centers had paid to North Korean state-backed hackers after a ransomware attack. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said the seized funds include ransoms paid by health care providers in Kansas and Colorado in 2021 and 2022,…


US, South Korea to Expand Cooperation in Foreign Exchange, Price Cap on Russian Oil

The United States and South Korea have agreed to expand cooperation in stabilizing the foreign exchange market and capping the price of Russian oil to alleviate rising global inflation. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen met with South Korean Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss economic security and measures for strengthening supply…


Taiwan Welcomes Fifth US Arms Sale Under Biden’s Administration

The Taiwanese government on Friday welcomed its fifth prospective arms deal with the United States under the Biden administration. In a statement, Taiwan’s Presidential Office said the deal includes the purchase of spare parts for tanks and combat vehicles, including contractor logistical and technical support, worth $108 million. “[The deal] will not only help maintain…


US Destroyer Sails Near Disputed Islands in South China Sea, Drawing Anger From China

The United States sent a destroyer through the disputed South China Sea on July 13, infuriating China, which condemned the move as an attempt from the United States to “militarize” the region. The USS Benfold was sailing near the disputed Paracel Islands—which China calls the Xisha Islands—as part of the U.S. Navy’s “freedom of navigation…


US Destroyer Sails Near Disputed Islands in South China Sea, Draws China’s Anger

The United States sent a destroyer through the South China Sea on July 13, infuriating China, which condemned the move as an attempt by the United States to “militarize” the region. The USS Benfold sailed near the disputed Paracel Islands—which China calls the Xisha Islands—as part of the U.S. Navy’s “freedom of navigation operation,” the…


US Deploys F-35 Stealth Fighters to South Korea for Joint Military Drills

The United States deployed six F-35A stealth fighters to South Korea for joint military drills to demonstrate U.S.-South Korea deterrence amid North Korea’s growing nuclear threat. The six aircraft departed from the Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska on Tuesday. The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said they would join several other U.S. and South Korean…


US Envoy Urges China to ‘Stop Telling Russia’s Lies’

The U.S. ambassador to China on July 4 criticized the Chinese foreign ministry for spreading “Russian propaganda” and disinformation, denying Beijing’s assertion that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) instigated the Russia–Ukraine war. Speaking at the World Peace Forum in Beijing, U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns called the Russian war against Ukraine “the greatest threat to…