Tuesday morning news: January 8, 2019

President Trump to address border security, government shutdown from Oval Office » President Trump is set to speak to the nation tonight from the Oval Office to lay out his case for a wall along the southern border.

All of the major broadcast and cable news networks have signed on to carry the address. Democrats aren’t happy about it and are demanding the networks give equal time Democratic leaders. No word yet on which, if any, networks will do so.

The president will address the country at 9 p.m. Eastern Time.

China-U.S. trade talks resume » Trade talks resumed Monday between the United States and China. The two countries are facing a March deadline to strike a new deal amid a ceasefire in their ongoing trade war.

Though neither side has changed its stance, the world’s two biggest economies are voicing optimism. And Jacob Parker with the US-China Business Council said China is sending positive signals.

PARKER: We’re seeing an acceleration of many of the policies that China’s committed to implementing to fall within this 90-day negotiating period, indicating that at least China is making signals to show that there’s an opportunity for progress here. 

For example, new purchases of U.S. soybeans and commitments from the Chinese government to import more U.S. rice.

The U.S. and China have hit one another with hundreds of billions of dollars in trade tariffs but both sides agreed to postpone further tariffs amid trade talks.

China may be feeling more pressure to make a deal. In the quarter ending in September, its economy grew at the slowest rate since the Great Recession,  6.5 percent. China’s also now dealing with weakened auto sales and a real estate slump.

Navy challenges Chinese maritime claims » Meantime, as trade talks continued on Monday, China voiced its anger over a U.S. Naval operation. WORLD Radio’s Leigh Jones has more.

LEIGH JONES, NEWS EDITOR: A Navy destroyer, the USS McCampbell, sailed through the South China Sea on Monday close to islands disputed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

It was the Navy’s first freedom of navigation operation of 2019. It was intended to challenge China’s claims of sovereignty over virtually the entire South China Sea.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters on Monday that China dispatched planes and ships to demand the Navy ship leave waters around the Paracel Islands.

Lu said China “made stern complaints with the U.S.” He said the Navy mission infringed “on China’s sovereignty,” and undermined peace and stability.

He added that China and the U.S. have a responsibility to create a good atmosphere for trade talks.

Reporting for WORLD Radio, I’m Leigh Jones.

Justice Ginsburg misses oral arguments » Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg missed oral arguments Monday for the first time in more than 25 years as she recuperates from last month’s cancer surgery.

Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said the 85-year-old justice is recuperating and working from home after having two cancerous growths removed from her left lung in December. Doctors found no other signs of disease and said no further treatment was planned.

Woman sentenced to life as a teen in killing wins clemency » Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam on Monday granted clemency to a woman sentenced to life in prison for murder when she was 16 years old. Cyntoia Brown will be released on parole in August.

Brown says she was a sex trafficking victim when she shot a man in the head in 2004. He had picked her up at a drive-in theater in Nashville to have sex with her.

Brown’s attorney Charles Bone thanked everyone who pushed for her release and thanked the governor for his decision.

BONE: We’re here today because of two people. We’re here today because of Governor Haslam, and we’re here today because of Cyntoia Brown. There is nobody like Cyntoia Brown. 

Haslam said Brown “committed, by her own admission, a horrific crime at the age of 16. Yet, imposing a life sentence on a juvenile that would require her to serve at least 51 years before even being eligible for parole” is too harsh. He added that Brown has taken “extraordinary steps” to rebuild her life.

Cyntoia Brown said in a statement… “We truly serve a God of second chances and new beginnings. The Lord has held my hand this whole time and I would have never made it without Him.”

Clemson crushes Alabama for College Football national title » The Clemson Tigers are national champions.

Clemson defeated the defending champs, the Alabama Crimson Tide, in last night’s College Football championship game.

It was an unexpected beatdown by Clemson, crushing Alabama 44 to 16. And with last night’s win, they become the first team to finish 15-and-0 in 121 years.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney…

SWINNEY: And all the credit, all the glory goes to the good Lord number one, and number two, to these young people.

Freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence turned in a strong performance, leading Clemson to a 31-to-16 halftime lead. In the second half, freshman wide receiver Justyn Ross took over with a stunning display of acrobatic catches and the Tiger’s defense shut down hopes of an Alabama rally.

This was Clemson’s second championship in the last three years.

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon) President Donald Trump pauses while speaking on the South Lawn of the White House as he walks from Marine One, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, in Washington.

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