Month: February 2020

Federal health officials scrambled Friday to get coronavirus testing up and running in every state, as the Trump administration signaled it may also invoke a 70-year-old defense law to guarantee the availability of protective gear […]

Virus’ Effect on World Economy Grows

The coronavirus outbreak’s impact on the world economy grew more alarming on Saturday, even after President Donald Trump denounced criticism of his response to the threat as a “hoax” cooked up by his political enemies, […]

Pope Francis Resumes Individual Official Audiences, Cancels Group Meetings

Pope Francis, who has been suffering from what the Vatican says is a “slight indisposition,” resumed official audiences with individuals in his residence on Saturday but three with groups were canceled, Reuters informs. A statement […]

Erdogan Asks Putin to Step Aside in Syria

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that he had asked President Vladimir Putin for Russia to step aside in Syria and leave Turkey to deal with Syrian government forces alone, after 34 Turkish soldiers […]

U.S.-Taliban Set to Sign Troop Withdrawal Deal

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo landed in Qatar’s capital city, Doha on Saturday to witness the signing of a historic deal with Taliban insurgents in an effort to end the 18-year war in Afghanistan, Reuters […]

Biden Seeks Decisive South Carolina Win

Former Vice President Joe Biden seeks a decisive victory in South Carolina’s Democratic primary on Saturday to resuscitate his presidential hopes, while Bernie Sanders aims to cement his status as the leading candidate for the […]

February 28, 2020 John Ganjei

LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Roger Stone Pardon – South Carolina Update – Super Tuesday States – New National Numbers

Your Daily Polling Update for Friday, February 28, 2020 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 45%Down 1 from yesterday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on four polls, ranging from 43% (Reuters) to 47% (Rasmussen). Without these […]

Wall Street Eyes Worst Week Since Financial Crisis on Pandemic Fears

Wall Street’s main indexes were on track for their worst week since the 2008 global financial crisis on Friday as the selloff deepened on fears that the fast-spreading coronavirus could lead to a recession, Reuters […]

Iranian Supreme Leader Thanks Health Workers on Dedication amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei released a taped video statement on February 27, responding to the coronavirus crisis in the country, thanking officials and healthcare workers and expressing hope to overcome the epidemic, Radio Farda […]

Riyadh, Washington Join Forces Backing Syria Opposition in Idlib

The U.S. and Saudi officials met in Riyadh to discuss their mutual support for the Syrian opposition forces in Idlib, American officials said in a tweet, Middle East Monitor reported. The embassy made the announcement on […]

Israel Strikes in Syria for Second Time in One Day

Israeli helicopters struck Syrian military positions in the Quneitra province in the Syrian Golan Heights and wounded three Syrian soldiers, Syria’s official news agency SANA reported overnight Thursday, Haaretz reported. Earlier Thursday, Syrian state TV […]

Sanders’ Appeal Tested in Moderate Virginia on Super Tuesday

Representative Elaine Luria is the kind of up-and-comer the Democratic Party would like to keep in Congress, The Associated Press writes. But the former Navy commander with a moderate bearing, who flipped a coastal Virginia […]

Turkey Will Not Stop Syrian Refugees Reaching Europe After Troops Killed

Turkey will no longer stop Syrian refugees from reaching Europe, a senior Turkish official said, as Ankara responded on Friday to the killing of 33 Turkish soldiers in an air strike by Syrian government forces […]

Investment Advisors Worry U.S. Response to Coronavirus Is Too Little Too Late

Investment-advisors are increasingly worried that U.S. authorities are not doing enough to prevent a widespread outbreak of coronavirus in the country, potentially adding further downside to already-battered markets, Reuters writes. Their criticisms include the number […]

Coronavirus Spreads in Three Continents

Countries on three continents reported their first cases of the coronavirus on Friday as the world prepared for a pandemic and investors dumped equities in expectation of a global recession, Reuters reported. Share prices were […]

Saudi Aramco Open to Share Sales Abroad to Fuel Economic Plans

Saudi Arabia is planning to sell more stakes in state-owned oil producer Saudi Aramco as it looks to raise money to fuel an economic diversification plan, chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan said, Bloomberg reported. The kingdom, which […]

U.S. Forces Return to Saudi Arabia to Deter Attacks by Iran

Nearly 17 years after U.S. troops largely pulled up stakes from the kingdom, the U.S. is now back in force, The Wall Street Journal reported. In a base of tents in the desert about 60 […]

February 27, 2020 John Ganjei

LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Coronavirus – South Carolina Update – Virginia – Colorado – Washington

Your Daily Polling Update for Thursday, February 27, 2020 TRUMP PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL: AVERAGE 46%Same as yesterday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on four polls, ranging from 43% (Reuters) to 52% (Rasmussen). Without these extremes, […]

Britain on Trade Collision Course With EU

Britain unveiled a negotiating mandate on Thursday for talks with the European Union that puts it on a collision course with Brussels, saying it was ready to walk away if “good progress” was not made […]

World Scrambles to Curb Fast-Spreading Coronavirus

The coronavirus’ rapid spread in Iran, Italy, South Korea and elsewhere left alarmed governments and people across the globe rushing on Thursday to implement emergency measures, Reuters informs. For the first time, new infections around […]

Labor Union Unveils $150mn Campaign to Help Defeat Trump

One of the nation’s largest labor unions is unveiling plans to invest $150 million in a nationwide campaign to help defeat President Donald Trump, a sweeping effort focused on eight battleground states and voters of […]

Saudi Arabia Halts Pilgrimages Over Virus

Saudi Arabia on Thursday halted travel to the holiest sites in Islam over fears about a viral epidemic just months ahead of the annual hajj pilgrimage, a move that came as the Mideast has over […]

Coronavirus Clouds Apple’s Timeline for New iPhones

Travel restrictions to China because of the coronavirus have come just as Apple Inc’s engineers usually jet off to Asia to perfect the production of this fall’s new iPhones, former employees and supply chain experts […]

Trump Says Coronavirus Risk in U.S. Is Low

President Donald Trump told Americans on Wednesday that the risk from coronavirus remained “very low,” and placed Vice President Mike Pence in charge of the U.S. response to the looming global health crisis, Reuters writes. […]

Trump Campaign Sues New York Times Over Russia Opinion Piece

President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign said on Wednesday it was filing a libel suit accusing the New York Times of intentionally publishing a false opinion article that suggested Russia and the campaign had an overarching […]

Court Allows Trump to Withhold Funds From ‘Sanctuary’ Jurisdictions

President Donald Trump’s administration can withhold millions of dollars in law enforcement funds from states and cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Wednesday, Reuters informs. The […]

February 26, 2020 John Ganjei

LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Last Night’s Debate – Sanders Leads National, California Polls

Your Daily Polling Update for Wednesday, February 26, 2020 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 46%Same as yesterday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on four polls, ranging from 43% (Reuters) to 51% (Rasmussen). Without these extremes, […]

February 26, 2020 Focus Washington

Brazil Confirms First Coronavirus Case in Latin America

Brazil’s government confirmed on Wednesday that a 61-year-old Brazilian man who traveled to Italy this month has Latin America’s first confirmed case of the new coronavirus spreading worldwide, The Associated Press reported. “We will now […]

February 26, 2020 Focus Washington

Trump to Detail U.S. Coronavirus Efforts

President Donald Trump pushed back Wednesday against criticism that his administration isn’t doing enough to meet the coronavirus threat, as lawmakers called for giving disease fighters much more money than the $2.5 billion the White House […]

February 26, 2020 Focus Washington

Wall Street Bounces After Virus-Driven Selloff

U.S. stocks attempted a recovery on Wednesday after a rocky start to the week that shaved off more than 6% from the main indexes on growth concerns stemming from a global spread of the coronavirus, […]