Joe Biden Prepares to Claim Victory in U.S. Presidential Race
Democrat Joe Biden appeared close to winning the U.S. presidential election, media said, despite claims by President Donald J. Trump that Democrats rigged the vote.
Congress
US advancing new sale of advanced-grade military drones to Taiwan
A $600 million deal for the sale of four MQ-9 SeaGuardian advanced US aerial drones to Taiwan has passed a key stage in Congress and is ready for final approval, Reuters reports. One of several other current US sales of advanced military equipment to Taiwan, the deal is expected to further increase tensions with China.
Austria Terror Attacks Leave Several Dead and Wounded
Austrian police rushed towards central Vienna after shots were fired near a synagogue, killing at least one person and injuring others, authorities said.
White House informs Congress of plans to sell as many as 50 F-35s to UAE
The Trump administration has updated Congress of its intent to sell F-35 advanced fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates, a ranking House Democrat announced on Thursday.
Bipartisan bill on sale of bunker-buster bombs to Israel
A bipartisan bill to be presented in Congress this week requires the US Defense Department to consider selling bunker-buster bombs to Israel, the Times of Israel (ToI) reported Tuesday. The bill would be part of an effort to bolster Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge in the Middle East, a policy which the US is legally bound to maintain.
China threatens sanctions as State Department approves further arms deal to Taiwan
The Pentagon announced Monday that the US State Department has approved a further potential sale of 100 Boeing-made Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems to Taiwan in an arms deal which could be worth up to $2.37 billion, Reuters reports.
Ted Cruz leads proposed amendment to prevent Supreme Court-packing
Six Republican Senators have proposed a constitutional amendment to prevent Democrats from “packing” the Supreme Court, the Hill reported Monday.
John Ratcliffe rejects Adam Schiff claims that Hunter Biden laptop is part of Russian disinformation operation
President Trump’s spy chief repeatedly shot down claims by Democrats such as House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff that the purported emails from Hunter Biden’s laptop published by the New York Post were part of a Russian disinformation effort.
Supreme Court nominee says court should not try and make policy
US Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett will tell senators at her confirmation hearing that the court should leave policy-making to Congress and to Presidents, VOA News reports. The strongly conservative President Trump nominee appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee for four days of hearings starting Monday.
White House moves forward on three arms sales to Taiwan
The White House is moving forward with three sales of advanced weaponry to Taiwan, sending in recent days a notification of the deals to Congress for approval, three sources familiar with the situation said on Monday.
Trump tweets that US troops in Afghanistan should be home by Christmas
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the remaining American troops in Afghanistan “should” be home in the US by Christmas, Politico reports. In February this year, the US and the Taliban agreed that American soldiers would withdraw from Afghanistan in spring 2021.
FBI Is Stonewalling Congressional Oversight On Hunter Biden
The FBI is refusing to provide answers to a congressional inquiry pertaining to Hunter Biden’s potentially criminal overseas business activity revealed in a Senate report last month that chronicles the Biden family’s conflicts of interest abroad.
Federal deficit tripled to $3.1 trillion in fiscal year 2020, largest as share of the economy since World War II
The federal deficit for fiscal year 2020 was $3.1 trillion, triple last year’s figure, the Congressional Budget Office estimated Thursday.
Trump breaks off coronavirus stimulus deal with Hill Democrats until after Nov. 3
President Trump on Tuesday ended talks with congressional Democrats about another coronavirus relief package, saying negotiations won’t resume until after the Nov. 3 elections.
Antisemitism Overshadows 30th Anniversary Of German Reunification
Germany’s government has condemned the latest anti-Semitic attack that overshadowed the 30th-anniversary commemoration of the reunification of Germany.
Armenia Ready To Discuss Ceasefire As Conflict Escalates
Armenia says it is ready to discuss a ceasefire in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, where heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces in recent days has killed dozens and left scores wounded. The announcement comes amid international calls to end the most significant escalation in years.
Prosecutor reviewing Mueller investigation also looking into FBI handling of Clinton Foundation allegations
The prosecutor appointed by the Department of Justice (DoJ) to review the Mueller Russia investigation is also looking into how the FBI dealt with allegations of political corruption at the Clinton Foundation, the Hill reported Thursday. US Attorney John Durham reportedly requested documents and interviews related to the Bureau’s investigation of the non-profit led by former President Bill Clinton and former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, sources told the New York Times.
Federal debt held by the public to exceed GDP by next year: CBO
The coronavirus pandemic and federal efforts to provide relief will significantly add to the federal debt in the years ahead, the Congressional Budget Office projected Monday.
FBI opens new Chinese investigation every 10 hours
The FBI is opening a new counterintelligence probe of Chinese-linked threats “every 10 hours,” bureau Director Christopher Wray told Congress on Thursday, underscoring the threat Beijing poses to U.S. interests.
Deficit swelled to record of over $3 trillion 11 months into fiscal year
The federal budget deficit swelled to a record of more than $3 trillion with one month left in the current fiscal year, the Treasury Department announced Friday.