## China dissuaded Putin from using nuclear weapons in Ukraine – US secretary of state

Authored by pravda.com.ua

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that Russia had seriously considered using nuclear weapons in Ukraine, but China dissuaded it from doing so.

Details: Blinken said the US was "very concerned" that Putin appeared to have at least contemplated the nuclear option.

Quote from Blinken: "Even if the probability went from 5 to 15 per cent, when it comes to nuclear weapons, nothing is more serious...

...We have reason to believe that China engaged Russia and said: 'Don’t go there'.".

Details: Blinken suggested a similar dynamic might have occurred when the US informed China about Russia’s plans to launch a nuclear weapon into space.

He emphasised that Putin has faced a strategic defeat, with NATO now larger and better resourced than ever.

Background: US intelligence believes that Washington's decision to allow Ukraine to launch US-made weapons deep into Russia has not increased the risk of a nuclear attack by Russia. »

### George W. Bush's anti-HIV program is hailed as 'amazing' — and still crucial at 20

Authored by npr.org

George W. Bush's anti-HIV program is hailed as 'amazing' — and still crucial at 20.

Those working in the field remember watching the speech and wondering if this could be a much-needed turning point.

It's the largest health commitment ever made by any country, now totaling more than $100 billion in more than 50 countries. »

### China hits Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Boeing with export ban after US arms sales to Taiwan

Authored by independent.co.uk

China banned the export of dual-use products to over two dozen US defence contractors, targeting top players like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, as it objected to Washington’s latest arms sales to Taiwan.

Beijing imposed the ban on 28 US defence contractors, placing 10 of them on an unreliable entities list over weapons sales to Taiwan, the commerce ministry said on Thursday.

The export ban mimics last month’s sanctions on defence and aerospace entities involved in a previous sale of weapons to Taiwan. »

### ‘Civilization 7’s’ Historian Hopes Players Swap Their Controllers for Textbooks

Authored by fictionhorizon.com

The lead historian for Civilization 7, Dr. Sarah Bond, has a big wish for the game’s impact: she wants it to make players curious about history beyond the screen.

She hopes it acts as a ‘gateway drug,’ sparking enough interest to nudge players toward real-world history.

She hopes that when players notice these differences, they’ll feel curious enough to explore the real stories on their own. »

### Her Mental Health Treatment Was Helping. That’s Why Insurance Cut Off Her Coverage.

Authored by propublica.org

During that call, the insurance company psychiatrist concluded Moore had shown enough improvement that she no longer needed intensive treatment.

In 2019 alone, the U.S. spent more than $106.5 billion treating adults with mental illness, of which private insurance paid about a third.

ProPublica’s reporters want to talk to mental health providers, health insurance insiders and patients as we examine the U.S. mental health care system. »

## In pictures

## Also in the news

#### Yoon's team claims immunity from insurrection charges, citing Trump ruling

#### U.S. sees sharp decline in murders and other crimes in 2024

#### Brazil ex-official returns toilet she had removed from office

#### “There is no morality right now”: Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger on Donald Trump's GOP

#### Why Xi Jinping’s $85 billion legacy city is standing empty