Nancy Pelosi to arrive in Taiwan amid escalating tensions as US Navy deploys warships

White House Announces Biden Will Deliver State of the Union Address Next Month

White House Announces , Biden Will Deliver State of the Union , Address Next Month. On January 13, the White House announced that President Joe Biden will deliver a State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday, February 7. ABC reports that Biden accepted new House Speaker Kevin McCathy's invitation to make his first address to Congress since Republicans took control of the House. ABC reports that Biden accepted new House Speaker Kevin McCathy's invitation to make his first address to Congress since Republicans took control of the House. The president has accepted it and looks forward to delivering the State of the Union address. We truly appreciate the kind invitation by Speaker McCarthy, Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, via ABC. McCarthy tweeted a copy of his letter to the president, noting that it was his "solemn obligation" to make the invitation as the new Speaker of the House. The American people sent us to Washington to deliver a new direction for the country, to find common ground, and to debate their priorities, Kevin McCarthy, Speaker of the House, via Twitter. ABC reports that McCarthy's invitation to the president has a sharply contrasting tone compared to last year's invitation from former speaker Nancy Pelosi. Since becoming House Speaker, McCarthy told Congress that it must investigate potential mishandling of classified documents by Biden, news of which surfaced last week. In 2021, Biden's State of the Union address came just days after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine and as the United States headed into its third year of the pandemic. In 2021, Biden's State of the Union address came just days after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine and as the United States headed into its third year of the pandemic. At the time, Biden reportedly highlighted his administation's efforts to combat rising inflation and enacting what he called "a unity agenda for the nation."

House Committee Votes To Release Redacted Trump Tax Returns

House Committee Votes To , Release Redacted Trump Tax Returns. CBS News reports that the House Ways and Means Committee voted 24-16 on Dec. 20 to release the records. Portions of six years of Trump's tax returns will be made available to the public. Democrats pointed to the fact that nine of the last 10 presidents, the exception being Trump, released their tax returns. The idea that somebody is making millions of dollars and can get away without paying their taxes by avoiding — in an unprecedented way — their tax liability, while single moms who are trying to take care of their kids are being audited, is absolutely unacceptable, Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson, via statement. Means Committee chair Richard Neal said it will take a "few days" since sensitive information must first be redacted. . Neal also called for legislation that would force presidents to submit to annual audits of their taxes. Speaker Nancy Pelosi agreed and called on the House to quickly take up the legislation since Republicans will gain control of the chamber in January. Republican Rep. Kevin Brady called the decision "a dangerous new political weapon that overturns decades of privacy protections for average taxpayers in the era of political targeting.". CBS News reports that a 2020 'New York Times' article found that Trump only paid $750 in federal taxes in 2017 and 2018

Senate Votes to Ban TikTok From US Government Devices

Senate Votes to Ban TikTok , From US Government Devices. Senate Votes to Ban TikTok , From US Government Devices. CNN reports that the Senate unanimously approved the No TikTok on Government Devices Act on Dec. 14. The bill, proposed by Sen. Josh Hawley, aims to curb information-security risks. U.S. officials contend that TikTok user data could potentially be retrieved by the Chinese government due to its relationship with parent company ByteDance. U.S. officials contend that TikTok user data could potentially be retrieved by the Chinese government due to its relationship with parent company ByteDance. A House companion bill was introduced by Rep. Ken Buck last year, but it has not yet been approved by the House Oversight Committee. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says lawmakers are reviewing the bill's language before deciding whether the chamber will vote on the legislation. A TikTok spokesperson commented on the Senate's passage of the bill. . Once again, Sen. Hawley has moved forward with legislation to ban TikTok on government devices, a proposal which does nothing to advance U.S. national security interests, TikTok spokesperson, via CNN. We hope that rather than continuing down that road, he will urge the Administration to move forward on an agreement that would actually address his concerns, TikTok spokesperson, via CNN. CNN reports that at least seven states plan to ban TikTok on government devices, . but the newly-proposed legislation would apply to the federal government's workforce. . but the newly-proposed legislation would apply to the federal government's workforce.

House Approves Imposing Deal on Unions to Avoid Rail Strike

House Approves, Imposing Deal on Unions , to Avoid Rail Strike. On November 30, the United States House voted to head off a nationwide rail strike, approving legislation that forces unions to accept a disputed deal reached in September. Associated Press reports that the bill will now head to the Senate for approval before President Biden can sign off on it. Associated Press reports that the bill will now head to the Senate for approval before President Biden can sign off on it. Without the certainty of a final vote to avoid a shutdown this week, railroads will begin to halt the movement of critical materials like chemicals to clean our drinking water as soon as this weekend, Joe Biden, President of the United States, via Associated Press. Let me say that again: without action this week, disruptions to our auto supply chains, our ability to move food to tables, and our ability to remove hazardous waste from gasoline refineries will begin, Joe Biden, President of the United States, via Associated Press. According to business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, every day that rail service was halted would deliver a $2 billion blow to the economy. . The legislation imposes a deal that was voted down by four of the 12 rail unions. . Politically powerful labor unions have criticized Biden and Democratic leaders' support for intervening in a contract dispute and blocking a strike. . Politically powerful labor unions have criticized Biden and Democratic leaders' support for intervening in a contract dispute and blocking a strike. . In response to the concerns of the rail unions, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi added a second vote to offer seven days of paid sick leave per year for union rail workers. In response to the concerns of the rail unions, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi added a second vote to offer seven days of paid sick leave per year for union rail workers. Quite frankly, the fact that paid leave is not part of the final agreement between railroads and labor is, in my opinion, obscene, Jim McGovern, Democratic House Representative for Massachusetts, via Associated Press. Quite frankly, the fact that paid leave is not part of the final agreement between railroads and labor is, in my opinion, obscene, Jim McGovern, Democratic House Representative for Massachusetts, via Associated Press. It should be there and I hope it will be there at the end of this process, Jim McGovern, Democratic House Representative for Massachusetts, via Associated Press

'Porcupine Strategy: Know about Taiwan's plan to deter Chinese aggression |Oneindia News*Explainer

Taiwan is bolstering its defence strategy and policies to prep itself for any sudden Chinese aggression. The threat of sudden Chinese attack has loomed over Taiwan for around 70 years now. And with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this possibility can’t be completely ruled out. Infact, China had sent its 47 fighter planes across Taiwan Strait last month in order to make its intentions crystal clear. As precautionary measures, Taiwan has announced quite a few steps in order to make itself more prepared in case the dragon decides to spew fire. In this video, we first explain the ‘Porcupine Strategy’ that Taiwan says can help protect it….and then outline the most recent steps announced by it. But before that, don’t forget to like, share and subscribe to Oneindia. #Porcupinestrategytaiwan#ChinaTaiwanconflict#ChinaTaiwanattack

Earth’s Inner Core May Be Reversing Its Rotation, Study Suggests

Earth’s Inner Core , May Be Reversing Its Rotation, Study Suggests. According to a study published Jan. 23 in 'Nature Geoscience,' . our planet's inner core may be reversing after it temporarily stopped rotating. Researchers think it could be part of a 70-year cycle, with the inner core changing direction every 35 years, that may affect Earth's magnetic field and the length of days. After examining data, researchers think the inner core may have made another rotation reversal in the 1970s. We see strong evidence that the inner core has been rotating faster than the surface, [but] by around 2009 it nearly stopped. Now it is gradually mov[ing] in the opposite direction, Xiaodong Song, geophysicist, Peking University in Beijing, via 'Science News'. However, 'Science News' reports that other researchers think the inner core may change its rotation every three years. Others propose that the inner core doesn't move at all. Overall, researchers say more studies are needed to figure out what's going on with Earth's inner core. In all likelihood, it’s irrelevant to life on the surface, but we don’t actually know what’s happening. It’s incumbent on us to figure it out, John Vidale, geophysicist, the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, via 'Science News'

WHO to investigate Indian and Indonesian firms in cough syrup deaths | Oneindia News *News

A report by the South China Morning post quoted researchers from the University of Hong Kong who predicted that by January 31st 92 percent of the population in Beijing will be infected by the deadly Covid-19 virus. #Covid-19 #ChinaCoronavirus #Beijing

China Covid-19 outbreak: 92 percent of Beijing to fall prey to the virus | Oneindia News *News

A report by the South China Morning post quoted researchers from the University of Hong Kong who predicted that by January 31st 92 percent of the population in Beijing will be infected by the deadly Covid-19 virus. #Covid-19 #ChinaCoronavirus #Beijing

US State Secretary Anthony Blinken to visit China likely on 5-6 February | Oneindia News *News

An official spokesperson said that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to China early next month. The spokesperson added that the details of his visit are being worked out. On Wednesday, at his daily news conference, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that the challenge that North Korea poses to the Indo-Pacific region and beyond will be on the agenda when the Secretary of State visits Beijing. #AntonyBlinken #NedPrice #China