Pride and stubbornness are hindering the US and China from resolving their trade dispute, impacting global commerce. The US insists China initiate talks, while China demands respect, leading to a stalemate. Both countries are seeking alternative trade partners as tensions rise, with nations like India caught in the middle, and the US scrutinizing transshipments via third countries to evade tariffs.
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Tragedy struck a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany. A car drove into the crowd. Two people died, including a child. Sixty-eight others were injured. A Saudi Arabian national was arrested at the scene. Authorities are investigating the incident as a terror attack. The city is in shock.
Comedian Chelsea Handler, in an interview at a music festival in Austin, humorously dismissed the idea of dating Elon Musk for the sake of the country. “I mean did anyone vote for Elon Musk to be the president?’ she said. “I mean, can’t we come together—Republicans and Democrats—and say we don’t want that. Can’t we agree on that at least?†the comedian said expressing her disapproval of Elon Musk's presence in the government affairs.
Her refusal to accept clemency is a bold statement of her disapproval of Trump and his role in the events of January 6. In an interview, Hemphill expressed that accepting the pardon would be an affront to the Capitol Police and the rule of law. “It’s an insult to the Capitol Police, to the rule of law, and to the nation,†she said. “If I accept a pardon, I’m continuing their propaganda, their gaslighting, and all their falsehoods about Jan. 6.â€
Effingham County state court Judge Stephen Yekel was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on his last day in office. Authorities believe the incident occurred the night before. Yekel had served the legal profession for over 45 years and had attempted to resign after losing his re-election bid.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced his resignation amid pressure from populist opposition groups after a court annulled the presidential election. Iohannis, in office since 2014, will step down on February 12. The election was canceled after far-right candidate Calin Georgescu won the first round amid allegations of Russian interference. A new vote is set for May. Clashes erupted in Bucharest following the announcement.
Sukhi Singh Chahal, leader of The Khalsa Today, applauded Tulsi Gabbard on her Senate confirmation as DNI. An interfaith coalition urged media for balanced reporting, addressing anti-Hindu bias and unfair portrayals of Hindu organizations like the Science of Identity Foundation.
The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged, indicating potential future cuts. Economic growth is slowing, and inflation persists above the 2% target, currently at 2.5%. Tariffs are influencing inflation through higher import costs. The Fed will reinvest more in Treasury securities to stabilize markets. Consumer sentiment is cautious as inflation may rise to 3% by year-end, driven by import taxes.
US President Trump may meet Russian President Putin soon to discuss ending the Ukraine conflict, as Trump believes Putin wants to stop the fighting. High-level talks in Riyadh, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are planned, though details about Russian and Ukrainian participation remain unclear.
Conservative commentator and writer Ann Coulter said H-1B workers can not leave a company and are actually preferred not because they are highly skilled but because they are "indentured servants" which the techs want. The comment came amid a major row over Vivek Ramaswamy's criticism of American culture in which he justified why American companies hire more foreigners for tech roles.