Top News Stories for Today – Jan 7, 2018
Top News Stories for Today – Jan 7, 2019
US, China holding fresh trade talks
US and Chinese negotiators are holding trade talks Monday in Beijing as the world’s two largest economies seek a resolution to an ongoing tariff fight. The meetings are due to last for two days, and both sides are expressing optimism. US President Donald Trump said last week, “I think we’ll have a deal with China,” while Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the negotiators would have “positive and constructive discussions.”
Last year, Trump imposed tariff hikes of up to 25 percent on $250 billion of Chinese goods. That move prompted China to respond with its own tariff increases on $110 billion of US goods. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to halt any further tariff increases for 90 days beginning January 1.
Trump stands by wall money demand
The partial US government shutdown reached its 17th day Monday with President Donald Trump retaining his demand for money to build a border wall and House Democrats preparing votes on new bills aimed at opening shuttered agencies. As a new work week began in the United States, several hundred thousand government workers remained at home while hundreds of thousands more are continuing to report for work with no idea when they will receive their next paycheck.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said this week she will hold votes on individual spending bills to re-open closed agencies. She said the priority would be the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service, “an action necessary to make sure working families received their tax refunds on schedule.” VOA
No abrupt withdrawal of US troops from Syria
US National Security Adviser John Bolton is due to hold talks Monday in Turkey as the Trump administration seeks assurances that Turkish forces will not target Kurdish fighters allied with American forces.
The visit to Turkey comes a day after Bolton said protection for the Kurdish fighters who have helped battle Islamic State militants was one of the necessary conditions for a US withdrawal of its 2,000 troops in Syria. VOA
2019 Golden Globes winners
There were several surprise wins at the 76th annual Golden Globes Sunday, hosted by Sandra Oh and Andy Samberg. Bohemian Rhapsody won Best Motion Picture — Drama and its star, Rami Malek, took home the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama. Green Book won Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy, while The Wife’s Glenn Close won Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama, Roma’s Alfonso Cuarón won Best Director — Motion Picture, and Vice’s Christian Bale won Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy.
The Americans picked up a statue for Best Television Series — Drama and The Kominsky Method for Best Television Series — Musical or Comedy. Legendary comedic actress Carol Burnett also received the inaugural Carol Burnett Award for her lifetime achievement in television, and Jeff Bridges was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award. The Week
Tesla breaks ground on Shanghai Gigafactory
Tesla broke ground Monday on its Shanghai Gigafactory as part of the electric-car maker’s plan to localize production of vehicles to be sold in the world’s biggest auto market. The factory, Tesla’s first outside the US, will start production in China of its Model 3 and a planned crossover by the end of the year, CEO Elon Musk tweeted.
“Affordable cars must be made on same continent as customers,” Musk wrote on Twitter ahead of a ceremony at the plant site, where he joined the city’s mayor and other local government officials. The Gigafactory is China’s first wholly foreign-owned car plant. It reflects China’s shift toward opening its car market even as it faces a trade war with the US The Week
Thailand vows not to deport Saudi woman
Thailand’s immigration police chief says a Saudi woman who fled her family at the weekend will be given temporary entry to the country. Thai immigration officials had tried to return Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, to Kuwait, where her family is. She refused to board a flight to Kuwait City on Monday, and barricaded herself into her hotel room at Bangkok airport. The teenager said she believed her family would kill her if she went back because she had renounced Islam.
The Thai authorities said her status would be assessed by the UN refugee agency. “My brothers and family and the Saudi embassy will be waiting for me in Kuwait,” she told Reuters. “My life is in danger. My family threatens to kill me for the most trivial things.” Rights groups including Human Rights Watch have expressed grave concerns for Ms Mohammed al-Qunun, who arrived at Bangkok’s international airport on a flight from Kuwait. She had travelled to Thailand for a connecting flight to Australia, where she hoped to seek asylum. BBC