Month: December 2020

Deep Dive (Dec. 31): Over 100 Lawmakers to Challenge Electoral College Votes

2020 is drawing to a close and this year’s New Year’s Eve celebrations are quite different. Times Square iconic ball drop will not have crowds this year. What happened to those $2,000 stimulus checks? The bill to increase the stimulus checks gets blocked again but this time it wasn’t Mitch McConnell. And President Trump is…


Video: 2021 New Year Celebration at New York’s Times Square


LIVE: 2021 New Year Celebration at New York’s Times Square


‘One and Free’: Australia Changes One Word in National to Be More Inclusive

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on New Years Day announced a change to the national anthem in an effort to reflect a “spirit of unity” by acknowledging Indigenous people’s history and togetherness through the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor-General David Hurley confirmed the amendment to “Advance Australia Fair” on Thursday, the government said in a statement. Effective from…


Aussie PM Respects States’ COVID-19 Border Closures

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he understands people’s frustration with coronavirus border closures as long queues form at the New South Wales-Queensland border but respects the decisions of state and territory leaders. A flurry of new border restrictions in recent days has brought long queues of travellers heading from NSW to Victoria following outbreaks…


Trump Extends Visa Restrictions Through March to Protect American Workers

President Donald Trump on Thursday extended restrictions on green cards and work visas, saying the measures are needed to protect American workers amid an economy battered by the CCP virus. The restrictions, which were issued in April and June in the form of presidential proclamations, were set to expire on Dec. 31 but will be…


Two Victorians Positive for Virus, Travelled to New South Wales

Two more Victorians with reported links to a bayside Thai restaurant have tested positive to coronavirus in New South Wales (NSW). The duo left Victoria on Dec. 30 and travelled to the south coast, visiting a hotel and cafe before getting tested in NSW, that state’s chief health officer Kerry Chant said on Friday. The…


China in Focus (Dec. 31): The Ongoing CCP Virus Pandemic: Recap

We revisit the top ten China news stories from the year. The CCP, or Chinese Communist Party, virus originated from Wuhan, quickly sweeping across the globe. Beijing has now been covering up the true situation of the pandemic for more than a year. Floods cause food shortage China’s most severe flooding in decades drove millions…


In New Year’s Speech, Taiwan President Again Reaches out to China

TAIPEI—Taiwan is ready to have “meaningful” talks with China as equals as long as they are willing to put aside confrontation, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Friday, offering another olive branch to Beijing in her New Year’s speech. Democratic Taiwan, claimed by China as its sovereign territory, has come under increasing pressure from Beijing, which…


Pence Asks Judge to Reject Push to Expand His Powers to Decide Electoral College Votes

Vice President Mike Pence asked a federal judge on Thursday to reject an effort to give him “exclusive authority” to decide which Electoral College votes should be counted during the upcoming joint session of Congress. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) and other Republicans last week filed a lawsuit against Pence, requesting that the court grant Pence power to…