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Conway Blocked from Testifying over Alleged Hatch Act Violations

June 25, 2019 Focus Washington

The White House will most likely not allow Kellyanne Conway to testify before the House Oversight and Reform Committee this week due to alleged Hatch Act violations. The administration cited “long-standing precedent” in a letter […]

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McConnell Expected to Meet with 9/11 First Responders

June 25, 2019 Focus Washington

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is set to meet soon with the first responders from 9/11 and discuss with them the renewal of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, ABC News reports. The outlet could […]

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Schiff Indicates He Could Support Impeachment

June 24, 2019 Focus Washington

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff signaled Sunday that should the White House defies a final court ruling requesting documents and testimony, he would back impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. “We may get there- […]

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Kushner Unveils Economic Part of Middle East Peace Plan

June 23, 2019 Focus Washington

The White House on Saturday outlined a $50 billion Middle East economic plan that would create a global investment fund to lift the Palestinian and neighboring Arab state economies, and fund a $5 billion transportation […]

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North Korea’s Kim Receives Personal Letter from Trump

June 23, 2019 Focus Washington

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un received a personal letter from U.S. President Donald Trump and will put serious thought into its content, North Korea’s state-run news agency KCNA said, Reuters informed. In a report published […]

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Trump Delays Deportation Raids, Wants Deal with Democrats

June 23, 2019 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump said on Saturday he would postpone mass deportation raids for two weeks as he seeks compromise with Democratic leaders on immigration issues, Reuters writes. The president was under pressure from Democrats to […]

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White House, Tehran Ease Tensions

June 22, 2019 Focus Washington

Rising tension between the U.S. and Iran eased at least temporarily on Friday after President Donald Trump said he called off a planned military strike in order to spare Iranian lives, a development that opened […]

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China State Media Urges U.S. to Drop Tough Trade Stance

June 22, 2019 Focus Washington

Instead of waging a trade war with China, the United States should drop its win-at-all-costs mentality and consider the interests of its own people as well as the global community, the official People’s Daily said […]

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U.S. Cities Brace for Immigration Raids, Vow Not to Cooperate

June 22, 2019 Focus Washington

U.S. cities expecting to be hit by a wave of immigration raids intended to deport recently arrived families who are in the United States illegally said on Friday they would not cooperate with federal authorities, […]

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Americans Aren’t Sure U.S. System Can Fix Long-Term Problems, Poll Shows

June 21, 2019 Focus Washington

Americans have little faith in the U.S. political system, can address long-term challenges, and are skeptical the nation remains committed to foundational tenets such as the free market, majority rule and tolerance, a Wall Street […]

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Trump Warns Tehran a U.S. Attack Is Imminent, Calls for Talks

June 21, 2019 Focus Washington

Iranian officials told Reuters on Friday that Tehran had received a message from U.S. President Donald Trump warning that a U.S. attack on Iran was imminent but saying he was against war and wanted talks […]

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Exxon’s $53bn Iraq Deal Hit by Contract Snags, Iran Tensions

June 21, 2019 Focus Washington

Just weeks ago, U.S. energy giant ExxonMobil looked poised to move ahead with a $53 billion project to boost Iraq’s oil output at its southern fields, a milestone in the company’s ambitions to expand in […]

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Businessman to Testify in Washington on Trump’s Moscow Tower

June 21, 2019 Focus Washington

Russian-born business executive Felix Sater will be interviewed by the U.S. House intelligence committee about his role in President Donald Trump’s effort to build a skyscraper in Moscow during the presidential election, the Washington Post […]

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China, U.S. to Resume Trade Talks, Beijing Warns Demands Must Be Met

June 20, 2019 Focus Washington

Top Chinese and U.S. officials will resume trade talks in accordance with the wishes of their leaders, but China hopes the United States will create the necessary conditions for dialogue, the Chinese commerce ministry said […]

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Biden is Democrats’ Top Choice in South Carolina

June 20, 2019 Focus Washington

Former Vice President Joe Biden is the top choice for his party’s nomination among South Carolina Democrats, according to the latest CBS News Battleground Tracker. But Democratic voters in the Palmetto are considering other candidates […]

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Middle East Clashes Increase Oil Prices

June 20, 2019 Focus Washington

Oil prices climbed sharply Thursday as tensions in the Middle East continued to spiral and the dollar fell, extending a period of high volatility for crude, The Wall Street Journal reported. Brent crude, the global […]

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New York Lawmakers Pass Law to Fight Climate Change

June 20, 2019 Focus Washington

New York state lawmakers passed early Thursday one of the nation’s most ambitious plans to slow climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050, Reuters informs. If signed into law, it would […]

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Chinese President Xi Arrives in North Korea

June 20, 2019 Focus Washington

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in North Korea on Thursday as Beijing looks to bolster its neighbor, hit by U.N. sanctions over its nuclear and missile programs, a week before Xi and President Donald Trump […]

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Washington Confirms Iranian Missile Shot Down U.S. Military Drone

June 20, 2019 Focus Washington

A U.S. military drone has been shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile while in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. officials said, BBC reports. Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said it shot down […]

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Rocket Strikes Near Foreign Oil Firms in Iraq

June 19, 2019 Focus Washington

A rocket hit a site in southern Iraq used by foreign oil companies on Wednesday, including U.S. energy giant ExxonMobil, wounding three people and threatening to further escalate U.S.-Iran tensions in the region, Reuters informs. […]

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President Trump Launches Reelection Campaign

June 19, 2019 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump formally launched his 2020 re-election campaign on Tuesday by presenting himself as the same political insurgent who shook up the Washington establishment four years ago and who is now a victim of […]

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Esper Named Acting Pentagon Chief as Trump Withdraws Shanahan Nomination

June 19, 2019 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump on Tuesday withdrew the nomination of Patrick Shanahan to be the permanent defense secretary, leaving the Pentagon in transition at a time of escalating tensions with Iran and questions about the role […]

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Trump and Xi to Discuss Trade at G-20 Summit in Japan

June 19, 2019 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to meet in Japan next week, lifting financial markets and spurring hopes for a trade truce that could stave off a fresh round of tariffs, The […]

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Foreign Spies Use Social Media to Target Government Contractors, FBI Warns

June 19, 2019 Focus Washington

The Federal Bureau of Investigations has sent a warning to private sector partners about foreign intelligence services using social media accounts to target and recruit employees with U.S. government clearance, ZDNet reports. “FIS [foreign intelligence services] […]

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Chinese, Russian Biometrics Companies to Be Excluded from U.S. Facial Recognition Test

June 19, 2019 Focus Washington

Biometrics companies from China and Russia could soon be excluded from an influential U.S. government accuracy test of facial recognition technology, in another move that could escalate an ongoing tech war between great powers, the […]

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Biden Clashes with Rival Democrats Warren and Sanders at First Debate

June 18, 2019 Focus Washington

Former Vice President Joe Biden, currently the Democratic frontrunner, clashed with his primary rivals on Monday over whether it is “naive” to try and work with and win over Republicans in a post-Donald Trump era, […]

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Xi Jinping to Make First Visit to North Korea Ahead of Trump Meeting

June 18, 2019 Focus Washington

Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to make his first state visit to North Korea this week, a surprise move that could rattle his relationship with President Donald Trump, who has twice met the North’s leader, […]

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Venezuela Frees Opposition Lawmaker Caro Ahead of U.N. Rights Chief’s Visit

June 18, 2019 Focus Washington

Venezuela on Monday freed opposition lawmaker Gilber Caro, who was detained in April in what allies said was a violation of his parliamentary immunity, the opposition-controlled National Assembly said on Twitter, Reuters writes. The move […]

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Iran Threatens It Will Breach Nuclear Deal Enrichment Limit

June 17, 2019 Focus Washington

Iran announced on Monday it would breach uranium enrichment limits in 10 days in a move that drew an accusation of “nuclear blackmail” from Washington, but it added that European nations still had time to […]

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Trump Campaign Set to Fire Pollsters After Leak of Poor Results

June 17, 2019 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump’s campaign has decided to purge some of its pollsters after a leak of dismal internal polls for the President that he denied existed, The New York Times informs. Just two days before […]

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