By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK L.A. Reid, the music executive known for helping develop superstars like Mariah Carey,

NEW YORK/LONDON The U.S. Federal Reserve may need to raise interest rates further to ensure inflation is contained,

US president Joe Biden labelled Xi Jinping a dictator during a political fundraiser in California on Tuesday night. The comments came a day after US secretary of state Antony Blinken visited Beijing to stabilize bilateral relations, that China said was at its lowest point since formal ties were established. Mr Biden also said Mr Xi was very embarrassed when a suspected Chinese spy balloon was blown off course over the US airspace early this year, making the remark about the Chinese leader when Mr Blinken said on Monday the "chapter" should be closed. It was, however, unclear why Mr Biden made the comment about his Chinese counterpart. "The reason why Xi Jinping got very upset in terms of when I shot that balloon down with two box cars full of spy equipment in it was he didn’t know it was there," Mr Biden said. "That’s a great embarrassment for dictators. When they didn’t know what happened. That wasn’t supposed to be going where it was. It was blown off course," Mr Biden added. Mr Biden also said China "has real economic difficulties". While Mr Xi, who met with US’s top diplomats on Monday, has not publicly responded to Mr Biden‘s comments, but they are unlikely to go down well in Beijing and could jeopardise efforts by both countries to bring their relationship back to a more stable footing after the balloon incident. Earlier, Mr Blinken and Mr Xi agreed in their meeting to stabilize the intense rivalry between Washington and Beijing so it did not veer into conflict, but failed to produce any breakthrough during the secretary of state’s rare visit to China. Mr Biden however, praised Mr Blinken’s work in attempting to repair the relationship between the two countries, adding that it would take time. Mr Biden told the fundraiser that US climate envoy John Kerry may go to China “pretty soon”. Mr Biden said he thought relations between the two countries were on the right path, and he indicated that progress was made during Mr Blinken’s trip – the first such visit by the US secretary of state in the last five years. “We’re not going to have success on every issue between us on any given day, but in a whole variety of areas, on the terms that we set for this trip, we have made progress and we are moving forward,” Mr Blinken said in Beijing on Monday. A day later, Mr Biden said that Mr Xi had been concerned by the so-called Quad strategic security group, which includes Japan, Australia, India and the United States. The US president said he previously told the Chinese counterpart that the US was not trying to encircle China with the Quad. "He called me and told me not to do that because it was putting him in a bind," Mr Biden said. “We’re just trying to make sure the international rules of air and sea lanes remain open.” Later this week, Mr Biden will meet Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and China is expected to be a topic of discussion between the two leaders. Additional reporting from the wires Read More Why haven't China and the U.S. agreed to restore military contacts? Modi US visit: Amnesty calls for human rights to be central in talks with Joe Biden Biden-Modi relationship built around mutual admiration of scrappy pasts, pragmatic needs US and China hold top-level talks, but their rivalry remains unchecked Biden is ready to fete India's leader, looking past Modi's human rights record and ties to Russia

A pro-Russian former politician in Ukraine is fighting for his life after being shot in his Crimea home, an official has said. Oleg Tsaryov, who was reportedly being lined to lead a puppet administration in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv after Russia’s invasion, is in intensive care in hospital, Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed official in southern Ukraine, said. He was reportedly shot twice at around midnight at his home in Crimea. “Oleg’s condition is very serious. He is currently in intensive care," Mr Rogov wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Sources told Reuters last year that Russia had been lining up Mr Tsaryov to head a puppet government in Kyiv after Moscow’s forces invaded on 24 February. Mr Tsaryov himself dismissed that possibility when The Financial Times reported it, citing US intelligence, ahead of the invasion. He told the paper at the time that the idea was "pretty funny" because he was just running a wellness business in Crimea and was "not important enough". Previously, Mr Tsaryov had been a member of the Ukrainian parliament and then speaker of the parliament of "Novorossiya", an entity formed after Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine broke away in 2014 and began fighting Ukrainian forces. News of the shooting comes amid continued fighting on the frontline where Russian troops have been executed for retreating from key battles. US intelligence said Russian soldiers had been fleeing the frontline in the Kremlin’s offensive in the eastern city of Avdiivka, Donetsk. “We have information that the Russian military has been actually executing soldiers who refuse to follow orders,” White House spokesperson John Kirby told a media briefing on Thursday. Ukrainian forces have been repelling the Russian onslaught on the frontline in Donetsk for several weeks since mid-October. Meanwhile, the alternative Black Sea export corridor will continue to function despite all threats, Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday morning. The presidential office reported that Mr Zelensky discussed the operation of the route as well as vessel insurance during a phone call with British prime minister Rishi Sunak. On Thursday, the Kyiv-based Barva Invest consultancy, British security firm Ambrey and a specialised outlet, Ukrainian Ports, reported that Ukraine had suspended use of the corridor due to a possible threat from Russian warplanes and sea mines. Additional reporting by agencies Read More War-weary mothers, wives and children of Ukrainian soldiers demand a cap on military service time Russia-Ukraine war: Putin’s troops ‘executed for retreating’ Abortion restrictions in Russia spark outrage as the country takes a conservative turn As the Turkish Republic turns 100, here's a look at its achievements and challenges ahead Russia is executing its own retreating soldiers as Ukraine offensive fails, says US White House says Russia is executing its own soldiers for not following orders

'RHOA' fans were disappointed as Sheree Whitfield defended herself for inviting 'messy old assistant' Anthony Gaskin who has been accused of assaulting Drew Sidora

By Laura Sanicola U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Sunday called on regulators to investigate a popular

Kyle Walker and Riyad Mahrez are both being targeted for big-money moves to the Saudi Pro League. Both players have 12 months remaining on their Manchester City deals.

Tarek El Moussa shares pro tips and tricks about real estate through his online workshops

The website looks like something that a generative AI system dreamed up: Lockheed Martin Apparel,

Families have filed a lawsuit against the Colorado funeral home that was allegedly sending families fake ashes and leaving at least 189 loved ones’ bodies to decay in Colorado facility

Oil was steady in Asia after rising more than 2% Tuesday on signs Russia is making good on

Austrian tycoon Rene Benko’s Signa Prime unit has approached investors over the last few days seeking up to