Focus Washington September 2019

Trump Wanted to Double Tariffs Against China After Retaliatory Measures

September 4, 2019 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump was allegedly outraged by China’s retaliatory measures last month that he wanted to double tariffs on imports from the country, before deciding on a lower increase, said three sources with knowledge of […]

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Walmart Will no Longer Sell Ammunition for Assault-Style Weapons, Draws Criticism from NRA

September 4, 2019 Focus Washington

Retail giant Walmart has decided to stop selling ammunition for assault-style rifles and handguns, a decision that follows two deadly shootings at its stores in early August. Recent mass shootings have actualized the issue of […]

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Pentagon Advances Plan to Divert $3.6bn in Military Funds to Construction of Border Wall

September 4, 2019 Focus Washington

Defense Secretary Mark Esper has approved plans to shift $3.6 billion in military construction funds for nearly a dozen different projects to built or fortify parts of the wall along the U.S.’ southern border. In […]

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Trump Blasts ABC for Reporting on his Tweet that Dorian could Impact Alabama

September 3, 2019 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump on Monday bashed at ABC News for its reporting on the President’s tweet that Hurricane Dorian was expected to impact Alabama. “Such a phony hurricane report by lightweight reporter @jonkarl of @ABCWorldNews,” […]

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Mattis Says He will Speak About Trump Foreign Policy Issues ‘When the Time Comes’

September 3, 2019 Focus Washington

Former Defense Secretary James Mattis on Tuesday stated that he will comment on President Donald Trump’s defense policy and strategy “when the time’s right.” “There will come a time when I speak out on strategic […]

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Trump Administration Officials Cannot Agree on CIA Presence in Afghanistan

September 3, 2019 Focus Washington

U.S. officials are reportedly unable to reach an agreement over whether to expand CIA presence in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of some of the troops the U.S. had in the country. The New York Times […]

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House Dems Plan to Hold Hearings on President’s Role in Hush-Money Payments

September 3, 2019 Focus Washington

House Democrats are considering holding hearings regarding President Donald Trump’s role in hush-money payments made to two women in order to keep them silent about alleged affairs they had with the President prior to him […]

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AG Barr Drafts New Death Penalty Law

September 3, 2019 Focus Washington

In the wake of a west Texas shooting rampage that killed seven people at the weekend, it has been revealed that the U.S. Attorney General, William Barr, has been drafting legislation to speed up the […]

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Chinese, U.S. Officials Cannot Agree on Schedule for Meeting

September 3, 2019 Focus Washington

As new tariffs took effect Sunday after Washington refused to postpone them, the United States and China found themselves struggling to set a concrete date for a meeting to resume trade talks later this month, […]

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Venezuelan Opposition Wants Norway Negotiations to Address Elections

September 3, 2019 Focus Washington

Norway-backed talks between Venezuela’s opposition and the government of President Nicolas Maduro must focus on elections, an opposition negotiator said on Monday, as the dialogue proceedings remain stalled after the government walked out, Reuters informed. […]

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North Korean, Chinese Top Diplomats Meet in Pyongyang amid Stalled Nuclear Talks

September 3, 2019 Focus Washington

The foreign ministers of China and North Korea have held talks in Pyongyang, with the two allies vowing to bolster bilateral ties and work closely on security issues amid the North’s stalled nuclear talks with […]

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France Will Use $15 Billion Bailout for Iran in Effort to Save Nuclear Deal

September 3, 2019 Focus Washington

A senior Iranian delegation arrived in Paris on Monday to work out the details of a financial bailout package that France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, intends to use to compensate Iran for oil sales lost to […]

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Hurricane Dorian Kills at Least Five in Bahamas, Turns to Florida

September 2, 2019 Focus Washington

Hurricane Dorian pounded the Bahamas on Monday, killing at least five people and inundating homes with floodwater ahead of its expected advance on the U.S. coast, where more than a million people were ordered evacuated, […]

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Musk Wins Tax Break for Tesla on China Visit

September 2, 2019 Focus Washington

Elon Musk is returning from China with a tax break for his electric car company. Chinese authorities announced on Friday that Tesla (TSLA) has won an exemption from a 10% purchase tax, which will reduce […]

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Death Toll in West Texas Mass Shooting Rises to 7

September 2, 2019 Focus Washington

The death toll in a west Texas mass shooting increased to eight Sunday, including the gunman, authorities said, the Los Angeles Times reported. Those killed ranged in age from 15 to 57 years old, Odessa […]

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Iran Threatens to ‘Take a Strong Step’ Away from Nuclear Deal

September 2, 2019 Focus Washington

An Iranian government spokesman warned Monday that the country would take a serious step back from the 2015 nuclear deal if Europe is unable to offer Iran new terms by the end of this week […]

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Bernie Sanders Proposes Canceling $81bn U.S. Medical Debt

September 2, 2019 Focus Washington

Presidential contender Bernie Sanders proposed a plan on Saturday to cancel $81 billion in existing past-due medical debt for Americans, but offered no details on how it would be financed, Reuters informs. Sanders, Vermont’s independent […]

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Democrats Urge McConnell to Bring Gun Debate to Senate Floor

September 2, 2019 Focus Washington

In the aftermath of the latest shooting in Texas that left seven people dead, Democratic leaders are calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to act on gun control and bring legislation to the chamber’s […]

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Washington Goes Ahead With New Tariffs on Chinese Goods

September 2, 2019 Focus Washington

Tariffs on clothing and other imports from China went into effect on Sunday, escalating the trade war in a move expected to squarely hit consumers, The Wall Street Journal reported. The U.S. tariffs of 15% […]

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Florida Issues Evacuation Orders Over Dorian Threat

September 2, 2019 Focus Washington

Hurricane Dorian continued to batter the Bahamas and Abaco Islands early Monday with winds up to 200 mph and extreme storm surges, according to the National Hurricane Center. The Category 5 storm has become the […]

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NYT: The High School Course China Accuses of Radicalizing Hong Kong

September 2, 2019 Focus Washington

They are sitting in orderly rows, wearing neatly pressed uniforms. But in this class, as they debate the merits of democracy and civil rights, Hong Kong high school students are prompting Beijing to worry that […]

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Trump Says He’s Never Heard of Category 5 Hurricane

September 2, 2019 Focus Washington

Ahead of the anticipated Hurricane Dorian, which made landfall in the Bahamas late Sunday, President Donald Trump told reporters at the Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters in Washington, D.C. that he has never heard of […]

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Beijing, Washington Kick off New Round of Tariffs in Trade War

September 1, 2019 Focus Washington

China and the United States began imposing additional tariffs on each other’s goods on Sunday, the latest escalation in a bruising trade war, but President Donald Trump said the sides would still meet for talks […]

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Dorian Strikes Bahamas as Second Strongest Atlantic Hurricane on Record

September 1, 2019 Focus Washington

Hurricane Dorian crashed into the Bahamas on Sunday as the second strongest Atlantic storm on record and inched closer to the U.S. mainland, with parts of Florida evacuating and Georgia and the Carolinas bracing for […]

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Pope Challenges World Leaders to Start with ‘Drastic’ Climate Change Action

September 1, 2019 Focus Washington

The Pope urged the governments to take serious actions towards climate change. The Hill reports that the Pope said that governments have a “responsibility” at the United Nations Climate Action Summit this month to show […]

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Russia Accuses Washington of Putting Ceasefire at Risk by Launching Strikes at Syria’s Idlib

September 1, 2019 Focus Washington

The Russian military stated that airstrikes in Syria’s Idlib de-escalation zone were carried out by the United States, causing casualties and endangering a ceasefire, Reuters reported on Sunday. The United States hadn’t warned Russia nor […]

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Five Killed, 21 Injured in West Texas Mass Shooting

September 1, 2019 Focus Washington

Several people, including three members of law enforcement, were shot this Saturday at a movie theater and on a highway in West Texas. It was reported that at least five people were killed. The Midland […]

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