Month: December 2019

Tesla bucked a downturn in the world’s biggest electric-vehicle market as new-car registrations soared 14-fold last month in China, giving the Model 3 maker some momentum as it prepares to begin deliveries from its multibillion-dollar […]

Washington Watching Pyongyang for ‘Christmas Gift’ Missile Launch

Washington is closely watching Pyongyang for signs of a possible missile launch or nuclear test in the coming days that officials are referring to as a “Christmas surprise”, The Associated Press reported. A significant launch […]

Xi: China Won’t Allow Foreign Forces to Interfere in Hong Kong, Macau

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday China would never allow foreign forces to interfere with its special regions of Hong Kong and Macau, as he swore in a new pro-Beijing government for the gambling […]

Pentagon to Stockpile Rare Earth Magnets for Missiles, Fighter Jets

The U.S. military plans to stockpile rare earth magnets used in Javelin missiles and F-35 fighter jets, according to a government document seen by Reuters, a step that critics say does little to help create […]

Buttigieg Under Fire Over Fundraising at Democratic Debate

Rising Democratic candidate Pete Buttigieg came under attack during a debate among U.S. presidential hopefuls on Thursday, as his rivals questioned the 37-year-old mayor’s thin political resume and criticized his fundraising from wealthy donors, Reuters […]

Iraq Protests Take Toll on Economy

With wisps of smoke still rising from the remnants of another night of violence, the workers came in the morning to salvage what merchandise they could from the torched warehouses in Baghdad’s central commercial district, […]

December 19, 2019 John Ganjei

LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Anti-Semitism – China Trade War – Congress – Feelings About the Candidates

Your Daily Polling Update for Thursday, December 19, 2019 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 46%Same as yesterday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on four polls, ranging from 44% (WSJ/NBC) to 49% (Rasmussen). Without these extremes, […]

Putin Defends Trump on Impeachment

Russian President Vladimir Putin defended President Donald Trump following impeachment, arguing Trump was being attacked by “the party that lost the elections.” According to ABC News, Putin said in his annual press conference Thursday that […]

Trump Pushes on Ukraine Conspiracy because Putin Told him: Report

President Donald Trump is set on attempting to prove Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election, and according to a new report he was convinced of the idea by Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to The […]

Russia, Iran Affirm Closer Ties Despite U.S. Threat for Sanctions

Russia and Iran have confirmed they are working on closer ties regarding bilateral security, as well as their mutual efforts in Syria, despite a bill passed by U.S. lawmakers which means new sanctions for the […]

Erdogan Says 50,000 Syrians Fleeing Idlib to Turkey

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that 50,000 people were fleeing Syria’s northwestern region of Idlib to Turkey, and slammed Muslim nations for not supporting his plans to resettle refugees in other parts of […]

US and China will meet for the first time at a high level since Russia's attack on Ukraine as Biden tries to get Beijing's help with the war.

Beijing Coordinating With Washington On Trade Deal’s Phase 1

China and the United States are in touch over the signing of their Phase 1 trade deal, China’s commerce ministry said, which will see lower U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods and higher Chinese purchases of […]

Ilhan Omar Urges Washington to Investigate Turkey over Alleged War Crimes

Representative Ilhan Omar urged the State Department to launch an investigation against Turkey, claiming that the nation’s armed forces have used chemical weapons on civilians, a possible war crime that occurred during Turkey’s incursion into […]

Pelosi Refuses to Send Impeachment Articles to Senate

Nancy Pelosi decided not to send the impeachment articles to the Senate, CNN reported. “That would have been our intention, but we’ll see what happens over there,” the House Speaker said during a news conference […]

WSJ/NBC News Poll: Americans Evenly Divided on Trump Removal

The three-month House inquiry has failed to build majority support among Americans for or against impeaching President Donald Trump, leaving the nation evenly divided, 48% to 48%, on whether to remove the President from office, […]

Court Says Warrant Not Always Needed for NSA Surveillance of Americans

The U.S. government may collect information about U.S. citizens without obtaining a warrant if the information is gathered inadvertently while legally carrying out surveillance of non-nationals abroad, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Wednesday, Reuters […]

Pelosi Stokes Impeachment Trial Uncertainty

Minutes after the House impeached President Donald Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi threw uncertainty into the process by refusing to say, repeatedly, when or whether she would send two articles to the Senate for a […]

Trump Impeached in a Historic Vote by the House

The House of Representatives voted Wednesday night to impeach President Donald Trump, making him only the third president to be charged with high crimes and misdemeanors and face a Senate trial that could remove him […]

Germany Bans ‘Conversion Therapy’ for Minors

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman on Wednesday said that Germany will ban “conversion therapy” for minors. According to The Associated Press, the controversial practice, which aims at changing a person’s sexual orientation, will be banned due […]

December 18, 2019 John Ganjei

LUNCHTIME POLITICS: American Views of Foreign Leaders – Prez Trial Heats – Biden Holds Lead

Your Daily Polling Update for Wednesday, December 18, 2019 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 46%Same as yesterday RON’S COMMENT: New polls have come in and President Trump is holding at 46%, which is the highest he’s […]

House to Vote on Trump’s Impeachment

House kicked off the Wednesday debate before the historic vote to impeach President Donald Trump on two articles. The President is charged with abusing office and Congress obstruction, making him the third president of the […]

Former FBI Attorney Says ‘Being Quiet Isn’t Making This Go Away’

FBI’s former attorney Lisa Page openly voiced her opinion about her treatment, including by President Donald Trump after text messages between her and former FBI agent Peter Strzok were made public, adding that she has […]

Giuliani Says Trump ‘Very Supportive’ of His Investigation in Ukraine

Rudy Giuliani, the personal attorney of President Donald Trump, spoke with CNN in a phone interview in which he said that he and the President are “on the same page” concerning the lawyer’s ongoing investigation into […]

No Lead on Trump’s Letter to Pelosi

Attorney of the White House did not take the lead on President Trump’s scathing letter to House Speaker Pelosi, in which he is accusing Democrats of “interfering in America’s elections” by pushing their impeachment efforts, The Hill reported. The […]

Congress Approves Sweeping Military Housing Overhaul

The U.S. Congress on Tuesday approved the largest overhaul to the American military’s housing program in more than two decades, vowing to end slum-like living conditions and hold private landlords and defense officials accountable for […]

Trump Lashes Out at Pelosi, Democrats

On the eve of his expected impeachment in the U.S. House of Representatives, President Donald Trump accused Democrats of pursuing an “illegal, partisan attempted coup” and declaring war on American democracy as they seek to […]

Saudi Arabia, UAE Convinced Russia for OPEC+ Cuts at Abu Dhabi F1 Race

Saudi Arabia turned to its Gulf ally the United Arab Emirates when it needed help convincing Russia to sign on to deeper oil supply cuts at this month’s OPEC meeting, Reuters informed. The UAE’s de-facto […]

Russian Spy Ship Conducting ‘Erratic Maneuvers’ off U.S. Coast

A Russian spy ship is conducting “erratic maneuvers” while operating off the southeast coast of the United States, officials told CNN. The surveillance ship, the Viktor Leonov, has been present along the coast of South […]

Conservative Trump Critics Form Super PAC to Battle President in 2020

A small group of President Donald Trump’s fiercest conservative critics, including the husband of the president’s own chief adviser, is launching a super PAC designed to fight Trump’s reelection and punish congressional Republicans deemed his […]

Former Pakistan President Musharraf Sentenced to Death for High Treason

Former Pakistan President and military ruler Pervez Musharraf has been sentenced to death in absentia for high treason following a six-year legal case, CNN reported. A three-member special court in Islamabad on Tuesday convicted Musharraf […]