Wednesday, September 9, 2020

White House News (白宮消息) | Sep. 10, 2020


Trump acknowledges he intentionally downplayed deadly coronavirus, says effort was to reduce panic

Sep. 10 - ...“He knew and purposely played it down. Worse, he lied to the American people. He knowingly and willingly lied about the threat it posed to the country for months,” Biden said in front of the United Auto Workers training facility in Warren, Mich., where he delivered a speech on a “Made in America” plan for the economy.

Biden called Trump’s actions “a life and death betrayal of the American people.”

Trump said publicly that he did nothing wrong.

“So the fact is, I’m a cheerleader for this country. I love our country. And I don’t want people to be frightened,” Trump told reporters at the White House after announcing his potential Supreme Court nominees if he wins reelection. “I don’t want to create panic, as you say. And certainly, I’m not going to drive this country or the world into a frenzy. We want to show confidence. We want to show strength.”...
     source

September 9, 2020
House Hearing on Amtrak's Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
William Flynn, Amtrak president and CEO, said because of the coronavirus pandemic, the nation’s rail service will need more than $4B in additional federal funding for fiscal year 2021 in order to stay afloat, keep employees and continue public services. HIs comments came during a House Transportation subcommittee hearing examining Amtrak’s response to COVID-19. Others testifying included stakeholders and union officials.

Trump admitted to Woodward he downplayed coronavirus threat in early days of outbreak

Sep. 10 - "This is deadly stuff," Mr. Trump said. Three days later, the president said during an event with the nation's governors that "a lot of people think that goes away in April with the heat, as the heat comes in," adding the U.S. is in "great shape."

In another interview with Woodward on March 19, the president conceded that he was downplaying the threat of the virus in public.

"I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down, because I don't want to create a panic," Mr. Trump told Woodward. The Trump administration was slow to encourage wearing a mask in public, and the president himself repeatedly pushed states to reopen their economies in the spring, repeating as late as April that he believed the virus will "go away"...     more
White House Responds To Bob Woodward Tape Of Trump Speaking About Coronavirus | NBC News
Sep 9, 2020





Tuesday, September 8, 2020

White House News (白宮消息) | Sep. 9, 2020




This photo was taken September 5 in the Norwegian Sea as the Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) conducts a refueling at sea with the British RFA Tidespring (A136) replenishment tanker, and Royal Navy frigate HMS Sutherland (F81). Photo: Christine Montgomery / U.S. Navy

In a controversial move, Norway sails frigate into Russian economic zone together with U.K. and U.S. navy ships

This is the first time since the 90ties NATO surface warships are conducting maritime security operations inside the Russian exclusive economic zone in the Barents Sea without participating Northern Fleet ships.

Sep. 18 - ...The Royal Navy said in a statement this week the operation is aimed “to maintain peace in the region” …and… “The UK, US, Denmark and Norway are working together to boost readiness to operate in the High North and increase resilience in an area which is vital to UK interests.”

A U.S. 6th Fleet statement of September 7 underlined the importance of conducting sustained operations in vital waterways in the Arctic.

“Our maritime advantage continues to be out strong, cohesive partnership,” said Vice Adm. Gene Black, commander of the 6th Fleet.


“Our forces are able to conduct sustained operations in the vital waterways in the Arctic because of the support and cooperation of our international partners, allowing us to be present together where and when it matters,” he said.

The waters east of the Varanger fjord is not totally new for the Norwegian Navy. Spokesperson Ivar Moen with the Joint Head Quarters says both frigates and Coast Guard ships have exercised outside the Kola Peninsula previously, but then in joint training with Russian Northern Fleet ships, and prior to 2014.

Russian navy ships have by several occations after 2017 exercised in Norway’s exclusive economic zone, both in the Barents Sea north of Finnmark and in the Norwegian Sea, west of Helgeland and Andøya, last year as a surprise part of exercise Ocean Shield.      source



Monday, September 7, 2020

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



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


Sunday, September 6, 2020

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



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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摸不透金正恩反出「美人計」套情報?

Sep 6, 2020



Saturday, September 5, 2020

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

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
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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



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