WASHINGTON -- "Republicans tried several ways to extend unemployment benefits. Democrats blocked them all," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, tweeted Friday.

In response, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, blamed Republicans for failure to act in more than 10 weeks.

"More than ten weeks ago, we passed the Heroes Act, which had a path to containing this virus with testing, tracing, treatment, mask wearing, sanitation. The Republicans said they wanted to 'take a pause.' Well, the virus didn't," Pelosi said Friday at a weekly press conference, referring to the 3-trillion-dollar relief package approved by House Democrats in May.

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BUENOS AIRES -- "Without a doubt, the increasing openness of China will mean important opportunities for Latin America," said Santiago Bustelo, a political scientist and researcher at the Center for Argentina-China Studies at the University of Buenos Aires.

"The increase in the quality of life of Chinese citizens will mean an increasing demand for imported products, of which Latin America can be an important supplier," said Bustelo, who is also a doctoral candidate in International Politics at Fudan University in Shanghai, China.

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BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Saturday that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Nepal relations and is willing to work with his Nepali counterpart, Bidhya Devi Bhandari, to push for continued advancement of the bilateral relationship.

In an exchange of congratulatory messages with Bhandari on the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Xi also said he is ready to work with Bhandari to bring greater benefits to the two peoples and make positive contributions to regional stability and development.

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BAGHDAD -- The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) welcomed on Friday Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi's announcement of setting June 6, 2021, a date for early elections.

"Early elections fulfill a key popular demand on the road to greater stability and democracy in Iraq," the UNAMI said in a statement.

"Properly conducted credible, free, fair and inclusive elections can re-energize the political system and build public confidence, giving the people a voice and realizing their aspirations for better representation," the statement quoted the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert as saying. Enditem

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