Month: January 2021

Georgia’s two Senate runoff elections were held on Tuesday, and Democrats are a step closer to take control of the U.S. Senate as Raphael Warnock became the projected winner over Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler.  Democrat Jon Ossoff is also currently in the lead against Republican Sen. David Perdue, though the race is still too close to call.  

As of 2 a.m. ET Wednesday, the Associated Press projected Warnock the winner over Atlanta pastor Loeffler. Warnock made history with his election win, becoming the first Black Democrat elected as a U.S. senator from a state in the South and only the 11th Black senator in the history of the nation. He becomes the first Democrat to win a U.S. Senate race in Georgia in 20 years.

Ossoff surged ahead of Perdue by more than 8,500 votes after trailing much of the night due to votes counted from Democrat-heavy DeKalb County.  “When all the votes are counted we fully expect that Jon Ossoff will have won this election to represent Georgia in the United States Senate,” Ossoff campaign manager Ellen Foster said in a statement. The Perdue campaign said the race is “an exceptionally close election that will require time and transparency to be certain the results are fair and accurate and the voices of Georgians are heard…We believe in the end, Senator Perdue will be victorious.”

Warnock’s victory gives Democrats 49 seats in the Senate, one shy of creating a 50-50 tie with Republicans, which would effectively give Democrats control because Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would be the tie-breaking vote. A win for Ossoff would give Democrats their coveted 50th seat. A possible Senate sweep in Georgia would give Democrats control of the Senate for the first time since 2004.

Warnock defeats Loeffler in Georgia, keeping alive Democrats’ hopes of taking Senate, NBC News projects

Via www.nbcnews.com

The Senate race between Republican David Perdue and Democrat Jon Ossoff is too close to call.

01/06/2021 4:21 AM

 

Editorial credit: Matt Bannister / Shutterstock.com

On Tuesday, President Trump signed an executive order banning transactions with the companies behind eight Chinese apps. The order prohibits certain future transactions with the companies associated with the apps Alipay, CamScanner, QQ Wallet, SHAREit, Tencent QQ, VMate, WeChat Pay and WPS Office.

The order stated: “The United States has assessed that a number of Chinese connected software applications automatically capture vast swaths of information from millions of users in the United States, including sensitive personally identifiable information and private information, which would allow the [Peoples Republic of China] and [Chinese Communist Party] access to Americans’ personal and proprietary information.”  As a result of the order, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said the department will “begin implementing the E.O.’s directives, including identifying prohibited transactions related to certain Chinese connected software applications.”

National security adviser Robert O’Brien said the order was issued in response to Chinese government policies requiring all companies to “support the Chinese Communist Party’s political objectives” in an attempt to “co-opt or coerce civilian enterprises into assisting the People’s Liberation Army.”

Trump signs order banning transactions with eight Chinese apps including Alipay

Via www.reuters.com

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order banning transactions with eight…

01/05/2021 6:44 PM

 

Editorial credit: rafapress / Shutterstock.com

Iran announced on Monday it would boost uranium enrichment, moving it to a target goal of 20%, well above the 3.67% cap placed under the multinational agreement during the Obama administration. President Donald Trump walked away from the agreement in 2018.

According to Iranian media outlet IRNA, Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei said that Iran has started the pre-processing stage of gas injection at its Fordow nuclear site, adding that the first UF6 enriched uranium would be produced later in the day.

Iran agreed to the uranium enrichment limits in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with the United States, Russia, China, France, Russia, Britain, and Germany. While the other countries have remained part of the deal, Iran has chipped away at its restrictions since the Trump administration’s departure. Before the announcement, Iran was enriching its uranium stockpile up to about 4.5%, just above the agreement’s 3.67% cap. Even at 20%, it is well below 90% for it to be considered weapons-grade. Iran has long denied its nuclear program was meant to make weapons.

Iran starts 20% uranium enrichment, seizes tanker in strait

Via abcnews.go.com

Iran has begun enriching uranium up to 20% at an underground facility and seized a South…

01/04/2021 9:29 PM

 

Editorial credit: Gabriel Petrescu / Shutterstock.com

On the final day of campaigning for two U.S. Senate runoffs in Georgia. President-elect Joe Biden appeared in Atlanta to support Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate, Jon Ossoff and David Warnock. Biden said electing Democrats would guarantee that the Senate under a new Democratic majority would revisit the $2,000 stimulus payments opposed by Senate Republicans.

President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence also visited the state during the day as control of the Senate hung in the balance. The two arrived after controversy caused by release of a recording of a phone call made by Trump to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, asking him to “find” the votes necessary to overturn Joe Biden’s victory in the state. 

Earlier Monday, a Georgia election official said Trump was spreading “misinformation and disinformation” saying the president’s claims were, “all easily, provably false.” President-elect Biden was certified as the winner of the election in Georgia after a recount and audit. Biden won the state’s 16 electoral votes, with 306 votes overall, surpassing the 270 needed to win. Trump garnered 232.

Pence, Biden warn of high stakes in Georgia runoff

Via www.dailynews.com

Republicans need just one victory to maintain Senate control and force Biden to contend with…

01/04/2021 7:21 PM

 

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A suspect was taken into custody after a shooting at a church in East Texas on Sunday morning. Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said Sunday that the person killed in the shooting was the pastor of Starville Methodist Church. Another person was undergoing surgery for a gunshot injury and a female victim was injured in a fall. 

Police had been pursuing the suspect on Saturday night in a car chase when the suspect crashed his car through a yard near the church. Law enforcement searched the area for about two hours but found no sign of the man. At 9:21 a.m. on Sunday the pastor opened the door to the bathroom and confronted the man, who had been hiding in the church, said Smith. The pastor drew a firearm and told the suspect to stop, at which point the suspect disarmed the pastor and shot him with his own weapon.

Police say they do not believe the shooting was a “church-related or religion-related offense,” noting the suspect was seen holding a red bank bag when he encountered the pastor. Texas Gov. Abbott issued a statement offering condolences to the victims and their families, adding that the state is “working closely with first responders and local officials to ensure that the justice is served and that the Starville community has the resources it needs during this time.”

Sheriff: Pastor dead, 2 hurt in shooting at Texas church

Via abcnews.go.com

A suspect who fled the Starrville Methodist Church in Winona has been arrested.

01/03/2021 4:05 PM