Tag - us-congress

 
 

US CONGRESS

Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jul 1, 2020
Kentucky Democrats pick ex-fighter pilot to challenge Senate chief McConnell
Former fighter pilot Amy McGrath said on Tuesday she was ready to take on Senate Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell after edging out a Black progressive to clinch the Democratic nomination for the seat.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jun 27, 2020
U.S. slaps visa bans on Chinese officials in opening salvo over Hong Kong
The U.S. State Department imposed visa bans on Chinese Communist Party officials accused of infringing the freedom of Hong Kong citizens, in what a senior official described as the opening salvo in a campaign to force Beijing to back off from new restrictions on the city.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Jun 16, 2020
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar's father dies due to coronavirus
Father of Somalia-born U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar died on Monday night of complications from the novel coronavirus, local media reported.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 9, 2020
Trump to sign bill pressuring China over Uighur Muslim crackdown
U.S. President Donald Trump plans to sign legislation calling for sanctions on Chinese officials responsible for oppressing Uighur Muslims, a source familiar with the matter said on Monday without offering a time frame for the signing.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Crime & Legal
Jun 2, 2020
In a nod to #MeToo, China defines sexual harassment by law
Two years ago, Zhou Xiaoxuan publicly accused one of China's most recognizable people of groping and forcibly kissing her, setting off a firestorm in a country that did not specify sexual harassment as a legal offense.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
May 30, 2020
Transcripts confirm Michael Flynn talked about U.S. sanctions with Russian envoy
Newly declassified transcripts confirm that Michael Flynn, who became President Donald Trump’s first national security adviser, discussed U.S. sanctions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak before Trump’s inauguration.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
May 19, 2020
What to watch as China’s virus-delayed legislature finally convenes
Some events surrounding it will be held virtually, though, as the country recovers from the outbreak.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
May 19, 2020
U.S. Senate judiciary chairman seeks authority to subpoena spy chiefs
Graham's announcement comes after Trump revived an unfounded conspiracy theory that factions tried to undermine his campaign in 2016.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
May 16, 2020
Work-from-home Congress? U.S. House OKs proxy votes
Neither Civil War nor Great Depression nor any other national crisis has pushed the House to allow lawmakers to vote by proxy — without being "present,” as the Constitution requires. That's about to change during the coronavirus pandemic.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
May 15, 2020
U.S. Senate approves bill to pressure China over Uighur rights
The U.S. Senate approved legislation on Thursday calling on President Donald Trump's administration to toughen its response to China's crackdown on its Uighur Muslim minority, the latest push in Washington to punish China as Trump blames Beijing for worsening the coronavirus pandemic.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Science & Health
May 12, 2020
U.S. Senate joins calls for Taiwan to regain WHO observer status
The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a bill seeking the restoration of Taiwan’s observer status with the World Health Organization, escalating an international campaign to push back against Chinese efforts to isolate the island.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 9, 2020
U.S. lawmakers urge support for Taiwan at WHO, amid COVID-19 fight
The leaders of U.S. congressional foreign affairs committees wrote to nearly 60 countries on Friday asking them to support Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization, citing the need for the broadest effort possible to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Japan Times
WORLD
May 2, 2020
White House blocks top U.S. health official Anthony Fauci from testifying to Congress
Top U.S. health official Anthony Fauci will not testify next week to a congressional committee examining the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic, the White House said on Friday, calling it "counterproductive" to have individuals involved in the response testify.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Apr 29, 2020
Xi’s annual political pageant to start in late May after virus-caused delay
China’s plan to resume annual parliamentary sessions delayed by the coronavirus outbreak next month could be seen as a statement of the country’s commitment to get back to normal. The actual gathering may end up showing how much has changed.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / FOCUS
Apr 18, 2020
Voting by mail in the spotlight as U.S. Congress debates how to secure November elections
Congress is scrambling for ways to safeguard the Nov. 3 U.S. elections amid the coronavirus pandemic, with a partisan fight shaping up over a Democratic proposal to require states to offer the option of voting by mail.
WORLD
Apr 9, 2020
U.S. senators told to avoid Zoom over security concerns, FT reports
The U.S. Senate has told its members to not use Zoom's video conferencing app due to data security concerns, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, even as the company attempts to stem a global backlash against its fast-growing app.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 28, 2020
11 flyers amid a sea of seats: Airlines' woes dwarf U.S. aid
Miguel Diaz's JetBlue flight from New York to Orlando cost just $79 with a checked bag and was nearly empty. The 11 passengers each had a row of seats to themselves, spaced at least 6 feet (1.8 meters) apart to maintain social distancing.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Mar 21, 2020
U.S. senators defend selling shares before coronavirus crash
Two Republican senators defended themselves on Friday against heavy criticism, including calls that they resign, for selling substantial amounts of stocks before the coronavirus-induced market meltdown and after closed-door briefings on the outbreak.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Feb 29, 2020
New coronavirus case of unknown origin emerges in California as U.S. looks to curtail infections
The United States will invoke a federal defense law to boost production of masks, gloves, gowns and other items to protect against the new coronavirus, the Trump administration said, as a new case of unknown origin was confirmed in California on Friday.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Feb 29, 2020
Trump again nominates U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe as intelligence director
President Donald Trump said on Friday he again was tapping Republican Rep. John Ratcliffe to be the nation's top spy, naming a loyalist whose first nomination he had dropped last year amid questions about a lack of experience and possible resume embellishment.

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Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.