Focus Washington by Focus Washington

UK to Resume Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia

July 8, 2020 Focus Washington

The UK government will resume arms sales to Saudi Arabia after a High Court ruling put a temporary suspension on exports last year, Sky News reported. An internal government review into the use of weapons […]

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Saudi Arabia’s 6-Point Plan to Jumpstart Global Economy

July 8, 2020 Focus Washington

Saudi Arabia, in its capacity as president of the G20 group of nations, has unveiled a six-point business plan to jump start the global economy out of the recession brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, […]

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Trump Vows to Pressure Governors to Reopen Schools in the Fall

July 7, 2020 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the White House plans to pressure state governors and educators to reopen schools in the fall, despite a soaring rate of coronavirus infections in several states and an overall […]

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Brazilian President Bolsonaro Catches Coronavirus

July 7, 2020 Focus Washington

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Tuesday he tested positive for the novel coronavirus after months minimizing the severity of the pandemic and defying medical experts, even as the virus killed more than 65,000 people […]

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U.S. Withdrawal From WHO to Take Effect July 2021

July 7, 2020 Focus Washington

The United States will leave the World Health Organization on July 6, 2021, the United Nations said on Tuesday after receiving formal notification of the decision by President Donald Trump more than a month ago, […]

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Trump Says Democrats Want to Keep Schools Shut ‘for Political Reasons’

July 7, 2020 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump took a stand that schools have to reopen this fall in a series of tweets Monday afternoon, accusing Democrats of wanting to keep schools shut “for political reasons,” Fox News informed. “SCHOOLS […]

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Biden-founded Law Firm, as Well as a Company Tied to Pelosi, Received PPP Funds, Docs Show

July 7, 2020 Focus Washington

A prominent Delaware law firm founded by presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for between $150,000 and $350,000, according to records released Monday by the Treasury Department and the Small […]

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China Told Citizens to Buy Stocks, Boosting Market

July 7, 2020 Focus Washington

Strategists say two factors are helping give legs to the global stock market’s Monday morning surge – bullishness about China and the view that central banks will backstop markets, CNBC reports. A front-page editorial in […]

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Hundreds of Scientists Claim Coronavirus Is Airborne, Ask WHO to Revise Recommendations

July 7, 2020 Focus Washington

Hundreds of scientists say there is evidence that the novel coronavirus in smaller particles in the air can infect people and are calling for the World Health Organization to revise recommendations, the New York Times […]

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U.S. Tech Giants Suspend Review of Hong Kong Data Requests

July 7, 2020 Focus Washington

Facebook, Google and Twitter have suspended processing government requests for user data in Hong Kong, they said on Monday, following China’s establishment of a sweeping new national security law for the semi-autonomous city, Reuters writes. […]

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North Korea Won’t Sit Down With U.S., Pyongyang Says

July 7, 2020 Focus Washington

North Korea has no intention to sit down with the United States and urged South Korea to “stop meddling,” a senior diplomat said on Tuesday, just as a U.S. envoy was due to visit Seoul […]

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Pompeo Says U.S. Could Ban Chinese Social Media Apps

July 7, 2020 Focus Washington

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said late on Monday that the United States is “certainly looking at” banning Chinese social media apps, including TikTok, Reuters writes. “I don’t want to get out in front of […]

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U.S. Pandemic Aid Program Save 51.1 Million Jobs

July 7, 2020 Focus Washington

A high-profile pandemic aid program protected about 51.1 million American jobs, the Trump administration said on Monday, as it revealed how $521.4 billion in taxpayer cash was injected into small businesses but also into the […]

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Hospitalizations Jump 50% in California as Coronavirus Infections Rise

July 7, 2020 Focus Washington

New coronavirus cases soared in California over the July Fourth weekend, stressing some hospital systems and leading to the temporary closure of the state capitol building in Sacramento for deep cleaning, officials said on Monday, […]

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Susan Rice Blasts Trump over Russian Bounties: ‘I Don’t Buy This Story that he Was Never Briefed’

July 6, 2020 Focus Washington

Former National Security Adviser Susan Rice slammed President Donald Trump’s claims that he was never briefed about reports that Russian intelligence operatives offer bounties to Taliban-linked militants in Afghanistan for the killing of U.S. troops, Fox […]

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Bolton Questions How Much Time Trump Spends Watching TV Versus Listening to Advisers

July 6, 2020 Focus Washington

John Bolton on Sunday continued to criticize President Donald Trump amid their ongoing feud – this time by suggesting that Trump spends more time watching television than he does listening to his advisers, Fox News informed. “I think […]

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Iran Nuclear Facility Fire Could Set Back Atomic Program

July 6, 2020 Focus Washington

A fire that broke out at Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility on Thursday has caused significant damage that could slow the development of advanced centrifuges, an Iranian nuclear official said on Sunday, CNBC reported. Iran’s top […]

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Saudi Arabia Extends Validity of Exit, Entry Visas for Expats

July 6, 2020 Focus Washington

The Saudi Ministry of Interior (MoI) has announced King Salman’s approval to extend several visa and residence initiatives for expatriates free of charge, Arab News reported. An official source in the MOI said that this […]

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U.S. Needs Unified Approach to Tackle Rising Coronavirus Cases, Experts Claim

July 6, 2020 Focus Washington

The United States needs a unified approach to tackle the rising cases of coronavirus infection and people should not get a false sense of security that a vaccine is just around the corner, infectious disease […]

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Asia Stocks Rise as Investors Shrug off Virus Worries

July 6, 2020 Focus Washington

Asian stock markets rose Monday as investors shrugged off rising coronavirus cases in the United States and some other countries Benchmarks in Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia advanced, The Associated Press reported. Markets […]

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Israel Feels Exposed as U.S. Drops Satellite-Imaging Cap

July 6, 2020 Focus Washington

An Israeli official flagged a possible security risk on Monday following a U.S. move to allow American providers to sell clearer satellite images of Israel and the Palestinian territories, Reuters writes. Under a 1997 U.S. […]

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Trump Plans New Hampshire Rally as He Works to Re-Energize Campaign

July 6, 2020 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump plans an outdoor rally in New Hampshire on Saturday, the campaign’s second of the coronavirus era following one in Tulsa, Oklahoma, last month that failed to draw the crowds his advisers predicted, […]

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Too Early to Tell Whether GOP Convention in Florida Will Be Held, Official Says

July 6, 2020 Focus Washington

A top Trump administration health official said on Sunday it was not clear whether it will be safe to hold the Republican National Convention in Jacksonville next month, as Florida sees record numbers of coronavirus […]

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Rising U.S. Coronavirus Cases Overshadow July 4 Celebrations

July 6, 2020 Focus Washington

Rising coronavirus cases in 39 U.S. states cast a shadow over the nation’s Fourth of July celebrations as health experts worried that holiday parties will cause a further spike in infections that could overwhelm hospitals, […]

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Florida and Texas Report Record Surge of New Coronavirus Cases

July 5, 2020 Focus Washington

Florida and Texas hit a record number of daily coronavirus cases on Saturday, respectively reporting 11,445 and 8,258 new cases in the last 24 hours, according to figures released by the states’ health departments, CNBC […]

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WHO Halts Hydroxychloroquine, HIV Drugs in COVID Trials

July 5, 2020 Focus Washington

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday that it was discontinuing its trials of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and combination HIV drug lopinavir/ritonavir in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 after they failed to reduce mortality, […]

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Kanye West Announces U.S. Presidential Bid on Twitter

July 5, 2020 Focus Washington

American rapper Kanye West, a vocal supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, announced on Saturday that he would run for president in 2020 in an apparent challenge to Trump and his presumptive Democratic rival, former […]

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Trump Vows to Defeat ‘Radical Left’ in July Fourth Speech

July 5, 2020 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump on Saturday vowed to defeat the “radical left,” in an Independence Day speech at the White House that condemned recent protests against monuments to historical figures as attempts to destroy the United […]

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July 4 Celebrations Go Virtual as COVID-19 Cases Surge

July 5, 2020 Focus Washington

On a holiday weekend that would typically draw crowds to watch fireworks, march in parades and wave the red, white and blue, many Americans kicked off Independence Day exactly where they have been for months: […]

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More Than 2,100 Hate Incidents Against Asian Americans Reported During Pandemic

July 4, 2020 Focus Washington

More than 2,100 anti-Asian American hate incidents related to COVID-19 were reported across the country over a three-month time span between March and June, according to advocacy groups that compile the data. The incidents include […]

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