White House News (白宮消息) | Sep. 8, 2020

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New York Times' 1619 Project

Sep. 8 - In August 2019 the New York Times Magazine published the 1619 project, a collection of essays, photo essays, short fiction pieces and poems aimed to 'reframe' American history based on the impact of slaves brought to the US.

It was published to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of enslaved Africans in the English colonies.

It argues that the nation's birth was not 1776 with independence from the British crown, but in August 1619 with the arrival of a cargo ship of 20 to 30 enslaved Africans at Point Comfort in the colony of Virginia, which inaugurated the system of slavery.

The project argues that slavery was the country’s origin and out of it 'grew nearly everything that has truly made America exceptional.'

That includes economic might, industry, the electoral system, music, public health and education inequities, violence, income inequality, slang, and racial hatred...     more

Donald Trump claimed on Monday that he opposes schools teaching the New York Times' 1619 Project because it seeks to 'change our history' and slammed protesters for tearing down Confederate monuments across the US. During a press conference Trump was asked about instructors using the project to teach slavery in America and whether he wanted the subject to be taught. In response, the president said: 'I want everybody to know everything they can about our history. I am not a believer in cancel culture, the good or the bad, if you don't study the bad it could happen again. So I do want that subject studied very carefully and accurately.' Trump then claimed: 'But, we grew up with a certain history and now they're trying to change our history. Revisionist history, That's why they want to take down our monuments, take down our statues.' The president was referring to the removal of several Confederate monuments amid the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.

'I don't believe in cancel culture': Trump says he opposes schools teaching The 1619 Project because people are trying to 'change our history' and slams protesters for tearing down Confederate monuments

White House News (白宮消息) | Sep. 7, 2020

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Escalating tensions lead to fears of US/China conflict over Taiwan

Numerous Chinese and US military exercises, Taiwan missiles tracking Chinese fighters and worsening China-US ties have all sounded alarm bells. Stock photo

Sep. 6 - Mounting tensions between the US and China have led to fears of a confrontation over Taiwan.
Numerous Chinese and US military exercises, Taiwan missiles tracking Chinese fighters and worsening China-US ties have all sounded alarm bells.

In the last three weeks, China has announced four separate exercises along its coast, from the Bohai Gulf in the north to the East and Yellow Seas and South China Sea, along with other exercises it said were aimed at "the current security situation across the Taiwan Strait".

Meanwhile, Taiwan, claimed by China as its "sacred" territory, said its surface-to-air missiles had tracked approaching Chinese fighters - details Taiwan does not normally give - as US Health Secretary Alex Azar was visiting the island this month.
Addressing the Chinese exercises, Taiwan's defence ministry said on Tuesday the closer Chinese jets get to the island the "more actively" Taipei would respond, though it would "not escalate conflict" nor "trigger an incident".

The United States sent another warship through the Taiwan Strait this month, a few days after a US carrier group conducted an exercise in the disputed South China Sea. This week China complained a US spy plane had observed Chinese live-fire exercises.

Chinese military expert Ni Lexiong, a retired professor at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, said it could be the first time multiple Chinese exercises were taking place at the same time.

"By simultaneously conducting drills in the three seas, it means China is testing its ability to fight enemies coming from three directions at the same time - for example from Taiwan, from Japan and from the US from the south," he said.

"Historically, frequent drills are a clear predictor of war."

Taiwan-based security and diplomatic sources say the chances of "firing off a shot while polishing the gun" - a Chinese saying for an accidental encounter setting off a broader conflict - are rising mainly because of increased US and Chinese military activity in the region.

"Neither side wants to start a conflict," said a Western diplomat looking into military activities across the Taiwan Strait. "But the frequent activities do increase the chances of an accidental conflict."

China's defence ministry and Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to requests for comment; neither did the Pentagon nor US State Department.     source

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【精華】美債、就業、企業獲利全跛腳！道瓊崩跌川普得意忘形吹爆牛皮？　
摸不透金正恩反出「美人計」套情報？
Sep 6, 2020

White House News (白宮消息) | Sep. 6, 2020

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Several boats have sunk and multiple are 'in distress' at a Trump Boat Parade on Lake Travis, Texas, authorities said. The Travis County Sheriff's Office on Saturday said it's responding to 'many boats in distress' on the lake, located 20 miles northwest of Austin. Authorities said they have received calls from throughout the parade route including Paradise Cove, West Beach, Point Venture and Hurst Creek, according to KVUE. No injuries or deaths have been reported as of 3pm, local time. Organizers of the event had promoted the parade on Facebook, inviting boats of 'all shapes and sizes' to participate. 'Decorate your boats in patriotic colors and fly as many Trump flags as she can handle,' the post read. More than 2,500 people planned to attend and more than 5,800 were interested, according to the event page.

Multiple vessels sink in rough conditions taking part in a Trump Boat Parade on Lake Travis in Texas - as nationwide MAGA celebrations kick off for the Labor Day weekend

Sep. 6 - Rescuers were seen bringing passengers to safety near Emerald Point after their boat became flooded with water. 
Lake Travis, a reservoir on the Colorado River, is known for its hazardous sailing conditions at times and has been the site of dozens of boating accidents over the years.

A total of 29 boating deaths were reported on the 65-mile long lake in 2018, according to Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Authorities said they have been unable to confirm how many boats are in need of help or have sunk due to the overwhelming amount of calls they've received.
 
The Austin-Travis County EMS also confirmed it has not received any calls regarding medical emergencies and therefore is not assisting at the lake.  
 
'ATCEMS has not been requested to respond to any of them. If this changes, we’ll provide an update', they said in a statement on Twitter...     more

【完整版】才喊美國幸運有我當總統美股就崩　
川普要中印衝突越燒越旺背後藏鏡人？2020.09.04《新聞龍捲風》
Sep 5, 2020

White House News (白宮消息) | Sep. 5, 2020

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U.S., Taiwan agree to promote alternatives to Chinese supply chain

Sep. 4 - Taipei, Sept. 4 (CNA) The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) have agreed to work closer together to restructure the global supply chain and make it more resilient, in an apparent attempt to avoid overreliance on China, especially in the ICT and medical sectors.

The agreement was made public in a joint statement issued on Friday by the AIT, the de facto U.S. embassy in Taiwan, and TAITRA, a Taiwanese government-supported trade promotion organization.

According to the statement, the partnership will focus on encouraging partners to bring supply chains closer to home or situate them in like-minded economies, and ensuring that supply chains are secure and free from political coercion...     more

Why the EU is going cold on China
The five-country visit of China’s chief diplomat have underlined how relations with the EU have deteriorated in just a few months

Sep. 4 - It was, as the politburo might put it, a charm offensive with Chinese characteristics. The five-country trip to Europe by China’s foreign minister Wang Yi – his first foreign travel since February – was ostensibly a routine tour to strengthen relations between Beijing and key European capitals, but coming at a time of such acute tension between China and the United States, it was very clearly designed to pre-empt any signs of a joint EU-US front against Beijing. On each stop, Wang warned pointedly of the dangers of a “new Cold War” between east and west.

But while mending fraying relationships was the objective, the travels of China’s chief diplomat merely underlined how EU-China relations have deteriorated in just a few months.

In Berlin, Wang threatened Czech senate speaker Milos Vystrcil for his recent visit to Taiwan, saying Vystrcil would “pay a heavy price for his shortsighted behaviour”. That earned Wang a rebuke from Heiko Mass, Germany’s foreign minister, who, at a joint press conference, said that “in the European Union we deal with our international partners together and with respect, and threats do not fit into that approach”. Germany is China’s biggest trading partner and, under Angela Merkel, has been slow to criticise it in public. The same is true of Italy...     more

White House News (白宮消息) | Sep. 4, 2020

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Labor Day is a United States national holiday, honoring working people, their contributions, achievements and sacrifices in pursuit of national prosperity and well-being. It is held annually on the first Monday of September.

https://www.calendarpedia.com/when-is/labor-day.html

This Labour Day, remember the workers who died because of Donald Trump's deadly pandemic response

Sep. 3 - From windows and rooftops through the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions around the world cheered essential workers on the frontlines who daily risked contracting this highly contagious disease. Janitors, grocery store workers, drivers, warehouse workers, letter carriers, food delivery people, teachers and transit workers, along with the doctors, nurses, and hospital staff caring for patients, all became heroes as the worst pandemic in a century swept the planet. Thousands of these frontline workers died.

As we celebrate Labor Day, traditionally marked by cookouts and beaches followed by the return to school, we should honor these fallen heroes -- by wearing masks, social distancing, and fighting for a science-driven course correction to this country's catastrophic pandemic response. President Donald Trump must invoke the Defense Production Act, making hundreds of millions of free masks and tests available, coupled with contact tracing, isolation and quarantine...     more

https://rabble.ca/columnists/2020/09/labour-day-remember-workers-who-died-because-donald-trumps-deadly-pandemic?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rabble-news+%28rabble.ca+-+News+for+the+rest+of+us%29

Mark Zuckeberg says he told Donald Trump his rhetoric is 'problematic'
Facebook CEO says platform will ban political ads week prior to election

Sep. 4 - Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said he told Donald Trump that his rhetoric is "problematic" during an appearance on CBS "This Morning."

Mr Zuckerberg said the exchange occurred during past discussions the men have had.

"I have had certain discussions with him in the past and where I've told him that I thought some of the rhetoric was problematic," Mr Zuckerberg said. "If I did talk to him, you know, be clear about how - just the importance of making sure that people have confidence in the election."

On Thursday, Facebook announced new measures to prevent election interference in the 2020 US election.

Mr Zuckerberg said the policies would apply to Mr Trump as well. The president has formerly had his posts fact checked and flagged for containing misleading or incorrect information.

"This will definitely apply to the president once this policy goes into place, and it will apply to everyone equally," he said.
Under the new policies, Facebook will ban any new political advertisements from the platform in the week prior to the election. Existing ads will still be played on the platform, however...     more