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DETROIT – US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao exchanged barbs on trade, investment and export policies in talks on Thursday described by Ms Raimondos office as candid and substantive.

Their meeting in Washington was the first US-China Cabinet-level exchange in months, after a string of trade and national security irritants derailed plans for re-engagement between the worlds two largest economies.

The two had candid and substantive discussions on issues relating to the US-China commercial relationship, including the overall environment in both countries for trade and investment and areas for potential cooperation, the US Commerce Department said in a statement.

Secretary Raimondo also raised concerns about the recent spate of PRC (Peoples Republic of China) actions taken against US companies operating in the PRC, it added.

Mr Wang raised key concerns about United States policies towards China, including on semiconductors, export controls and reviews of foreign investments, a Chinese Commerce Ministry statement said.

Both sides agreed to establish and maintain open communication channels, with Ms Raimondos office saying that would help responsibly manage the relationship.

Chinas Commerce Ministry said the communications would allow exchanges on specific economic trade concerns and cooperation matters.

Mr Wang is also expected to meet US Trade Representative Katherine Tai on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation trade ministers meeting in Detroit that wraps up on Friday.

US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged more frequent communication at a Group of 20 summit in Indonesia last November to avoid US-China tensions from spilling into a new Cold War.

But those plans suffered several setbacks, starting with the downing of an alleged Chinese spy balloon in US coastal waters.

These irritants continued through on Sunday, when Group of Seven (G-7) leaders pledged to resist Chinas economic coercion and Beijing responded by declaring US memory chipmaker Micron Technology a national security risk, banning its sales to key domestic industries.

The ban followed a series of raids on American consultancies in China.

On Monday, Mr Wang met representatives of American companies in Shanghai, including Johnson & Johnson, 3M, Dow, Merck and Honeywell, according to Chinas Commerce Ministry, telling them that China will continue to welcome US-funded enterprises to develop in China and achieve win-win results.

China has complained about the growing number of US export restrictions on advanced semiconductors and high technology goods that could have military applications and security reviews that discourage Chinese investment in the US.

Mr Wangs trip to the US comes after Group of Seven (G-7) leaders met in Hiroshima, Japan, at which Mr Biden and other G-7 leaders said they would de-risk without decoupling from the worlds second-largest economy in everything from chips to minerals.

Ms Raimondo, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen have all expressed interest in visiting China. REUTERS More On This Topic Biden sees thaw in US-China ties shortly, says G-7 wants to de-risk, not decouple US and China not in Cold War, reality is more complex: Experts at Singapore forum

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UK

Woman’s body found close to where two sisters vanished in Scotland

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Woman's body found close to where two sisters vanished in Scotland

The body of a woman has been recovered from the River Dee close to where two missing sisters disappeared in Aberdeen.

Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both aged 32, were last spotted on CCTV in the city’s Market Street at Victoria Bridge at about 2.12am on Tuesday 7 January.

The women were seen crossing the bridge and turning right on to a footpath next to the River Dee in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club.

On Friday, it was confirmed a woman’s body had been recovered from the water east of the club.

Although the body is yet to be formally identified, Police Scotland said the family of Henrietta had been informed.

The force added there were “no apparent suspicious circumstances”, with searches ongoing for Eliza.

The Police Scotland dive and marine unit, along with other specialist officers, are carrying out further searches of the river and the riverbanks between Queen Elizabeth Bridge and Victoria Bridge.

A Police dive boat on the River Dee at Aberdeen harbour during the ongoing search for missing sisters, Eliza and Henrietta Huszti. The pair were last seen on CCTV on Market Street at Victoria Bridge, Aberdeen, at about 2.12am on Tuesday January 7. Picture date: Tuesday January 14, 2025.
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A police dive boat pictured on the River Dee at Aberdeen Harbour earlier this month. Pic: PA

A Police dive boat on the River Dee at Aberdeen harbour during the ongoing search for missing sisters, Eliza and Henrietta Huszti. The pair were last seen on CCTV on Market Street at Victoria Bridge, Aberdeen, at about 2.12am on Tuesday January 7. Picture date: Tuesday January 14, 2025.
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Pic: PA

Superintendent David Howieson said: “Our thoughts are with the Huszti family today. We are keeping them fully updated following this recovery and the further search activity which is ongoing.

“Our priority remains finding both of the sisters and search has focused on the River Dee and will do so in the coming days.

“We are carrying out further searches of the river in the area where the body was recovered this morning.

“The river in this area is tidal and conditions are challenging but we will continue to search and make every effort to locate both of the sisters.

“We have sought guidance from a number of experts and this will continue to inform our search activity.”

Investigating officers previously said there had been “no evidence” of the women leaving the immediate area and there had been nothing to suggest “suspicious circumstances or criminality”.

The police revealed that the sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – visited the bridge where they were last seen about 12 hours before they disappeared.

They also sent a text message to their landlady on the morning they vanished, indicating they would not be returning to the flat.

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Superintendent Howieson added: “We know how much of an impact this has had in Aberdeen and much further afield.

“We have had a positive response from the public to our appeals and I would like to thank everyone who has already come forward to date.

“I would again urge anyone with any information which could help our investigation to get in touch.”

Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
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Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland

Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
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Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland

In a statement released via Police Scotland earlier this month, the family said: “This has been a very worrying and upsetting time for our family.

“We are really worried about Eliza and Henrietta and all we want is for them to be found.”

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UK

Manhunt as police appeal for former footballer to return to prison

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Manhunt as police appeal for former footballer to return to prison

A former footballer has been recalled to prison.

Leon Jeanne, 44, played for a number of clubs including Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City, breaking into the QPR first team in 1998.

South Wales Police issued a brief appeal on its Facebook page saying he is wanted back in prison.

It said: “Leon Jeanne, age 44, from Cardiff. Recalled to prison. Give reference 2500002271.”

Former England international Peter Crouch once named Jeanne among the players who didn’t make it to the level he expected.

He told the Daily Mail in 2020 that Jeanne “looked like he could go far but it never happened”.

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In 2015, Jeanne was one of six men convicted of conspiring to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis, and sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Police said a gang of six men plotted to bring hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of drugs into Gloucestershire from London, Cardiff and Birmingham, the BBC reported at the time.

Jeanne’s son, Rafel, was one of three people who died in a car crash in Cardiff in March 2023.

Jeanne’s stint in prison on drug offences was not his last run-in with the law, and he has also faced convictions including dangerous driving and threatening behaviour, Wales Online reported.

Police did not specify why he has now been recalled to prison.

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Environment

Wheel-E Podcast: JackRabbit’s solar charger, Cowboy e-motos, more

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Wheel-E Podcast: JackRabbit's solar charger, Cowboy e-motos, more

This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes a new solar charging kit from JackRabbit, a reversal on a plan to double the power limit for e-bikes in the UK, China is pushing to replace lithium-ion battery e-bikes with lead acid battery alternatives, the Dallas Cowboys all got new electric motorcycles, UBCO enters receivership, and more.

The Wheel-E podcast returns every two weeks on Electrek’s YouTube channel, Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter.

As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.

After the show ends, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:

We also have a Patreon if you want to help us to avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.

Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the Wheel-E podcast today:

Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 10:00 a.m. ET (or the video after 11:00 a.m. ET):

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