Month: November 2020

Bitcoin has plunged by close to $3,000 in less than 24 hours after hitting highs not seen since the end of 2017, CNBC writes. The price of bitcoin was trading at $19,374 at 1:45 p.m. […]

Trump Rants About Overturning the Election Even as Administration Begins Transition to Biden

President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for President-elect Joe Biden’s electoral victory to be overturned, and spread unproven claims of voter fraud while falsely insisting he won a series of key swing states that went […]

Trump Order Could Spark Mass Firings of Civil Servants, Lawmakers Warn

U.S. government civil servants could face mass firings under an October executive order before President Donald Trump leaves office and Democratic lawmakers, watchdog groups and unions are mobilizing to block the move, Reuters informed. Leaders […]

World Shares Hold Close to All-Time Highs

European shares were mixed on Thursday and world shares held near all-time highs after a strong Asian session in which market euphoria around COVID-19 vaccines, Joe Biden’s U.S. presidential election win and hopes for further […]

Rising U.S. Weekly Jobless Claims, COVID-19 Cases Point to Slowing Economic Recovery

The number of Americans filing first-time claims for jobless benefits increased further last week, suggesting that an explosion in new COVID-19 infections and business restrictions were boosting layoffs and undermining the labor market recovery, Reuters […]

Biden Urges Safe Thanksgiving Amid Pandemic

President-elect Joe Biden pleaded with Americans on Wednesday to take steps to remain safe over the Thanksgiving holiday as COVID-19 cases soared, Reuters reported. Biden gave a presidential-style speech acknowledging people’s fatigue with restrictions amid […]

U.S. Supreme Court Backs Religious Groups Over New York Virus Curbs

The U.S. Supreme Court late on Wednesday backed Christian and Jewish houses of worship challenging New York state’s latest restrictions in novel coronavirus hot spots, Reuters writes. The court on a 5-4 vote granted requests […]

Iran Economy Could Rebound to 4.4% Growth if U.S. Sanctions Lifted

Iran’s economy could grow 4.4% next year if U.S. President-elect Joe Biden lifts sanctions that have contributed to a deep three-year recession, although the COVID-19 crisis could limit foreign investment, the Institute of International Finance […]

Man beats lumber store employee over mask rule

CDC Expected to Shorten COVID Quarantine Time

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is considering shortening it’s recommended two-week quarantine period for people who have come in contact with people who have it — a change welcomed by some medical […]

Trump Pardons Former Adviser Flynn, Who Pleaded Guilty in Russia Probe

President Donald Trump on Wednesday pardoned his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who had twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, Reuters […]

Biden to Begin Receiving Classified Presidential Daily Briefings

President-elect Joe Biden will begin receiving the classified presidential daily briefing, a spokesman for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence confirmed to NBC News on Tuesday. “Following the statutory direction of the Presidential […]

Trump’s Tariffs Could Give Biden ‘Leverage’ Over China, Former White House Trade Negotiator Says

President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs have created “leverage” that the incoming Biden administration could use to get the outcomes it wants on the international stage, said former top White House trade negotiator Clete Willems, CNBC […]

Trump Plans to Pardon Former Aide Michael Flynn

President Donald Trump has told allies he plans to pardon his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during an investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 […]

Yellen Would Need Congress to Approve Use of Clawed-Back Fed Loan Funds, Treasury Says

President-elect Joe Biden’s Treasury secretary will need Congress to approve re-use of $455 billion in funds that the Trump administration is taking back from Federal Reserve and other pandemic lending programs, the Treasury said on […]

U.S. Officials Plan to Release 6.4 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Doses in First Distribution

U.S. officials said on Tuesday they plan to release 6.4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses nationwide in an initial distribution after the first one is cleared by regulators for emergency use, Reuters informed. Officials from the […]

Officials Urge Americans to Stay Home Over Holiday

U.S. health officials and politicians pleaded with Americans on Tuesday to stay at home over the Thanksgiving holiday and abide by constraints placed on social and economic life as record coronavirus caseloads pushed hospitals to […]

US admin discusses raising the debt ceiling

Stocks Hit Record High as Biden Transition, Vaccines Brighten Outlook

Global shares reached record highs on Wednesday after the Dow Jones broke 30,000, with investors relieved at the prospect of a smooth handover of power after the U.S. presidential election and confident a COVID-19 vaccine […]

Joe Biden's social spending bill approved by House Dems

Biden Promotes Fresh Foreign Policy Approach, Says ‘America Is Back’

President-elect Joe Biden said on Tuesday the United States will be “ready to lead” again on the global stage, turning the page on Republican President Donald Trump’s “America First” policies as he pledged to work […]

Biden Cabinet Picks May Face Rough Republican Reception in Senate

Republican members of the U.S. Senate fired warning shots to President-elect Joe Biden that they may be prepared to stand in the way of his Cabinet appointments, despite the long-held tradition of a new president […]

Paul Ryan Says Trump Should Accept that Election is Over

Former Republican Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, on Tuesday stated that President Donald Trump needs to move forward with a peaceful transfer of power to President-elect Joe Biden. According to Politico, Ryan, during a […]

British Telcos May Be Fined 10% of Revenues for Using Huawei Gear Under New Law

British telcos could face large fines if they fail to tighten security in their networks under a new law being announced in Parliament on Tuesday, CNBC informed. The proposed Telecommunications Security Bill is designed to […]

Saudi Aramco Says Customers Unaffected by Houthi Attack on Jeddah Facility

An official from the Saudi Aramco oil company on Tuesday said customers were unaffected by an attack that came from Yemen’s Houthi group at a petroleum products distribution plant in the north of Jeddah city, […]

U.S. States Prepare Second Antitrust Lawsuit Against Google for December

A bipartisan group of U.S. states plans to file an antitrust lawsuit against Google as early as next month, according to two people briefed on the matter, potentially beating a more widely anticipated lawsuit from […]

Bitcoin Hits $19,000 for First Time in Three Years, All-Time High in Sight

Bitcoin hit $19,000 on Tuesday for the first time in nearly three years, homing in on its all-time high of just under $20,000, Reuters informed. The world’s most popular cryptocurrency was last up 3.2% at […]

Stocks and Oil Ride High on Biden Transition and Vaccine Hopes

Stocks, oil and risk currencies gained on Tuesday as the formal go-ahead for U.S. President-elect Joe Biden to begin his transition burnished a November already boosted by COVID-19 vaccines, Reuters writes. European markets tracked gains […]

Biden to Name Yellen to Treasury to Lead U.S. From Sharp Economic Downturn

President-elect Joe Biden is expected to nominate former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen as U.S. Treasury secretary, breaking a 231-year gender barrier and putting a seasoned economist and labor market expert in charge of leading […]

U.S. Holiday Travelers Voice Dread, Determination as They Defy COVID-19 Warnings

Millions of Americans appeared to be disregarding public health warnings and traveling ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, likely fueling an alarming surge in coronavirus infections before a series of promising new vaccines are expected to […]

Trump Administration Gives Green Light to Proceed With Biden Transition

After weeks of waiting, President Donald Trump’s administration on Monday cleared the way for President-elect Joe Biden to transition to the White House, giving him access to briefings and funding even as Trump vowed to […]

November 23, 2020 Focus Washington

White House Plans Holiday Parties as Americans Urged to Stay Home

The White House plans to hold indoor holiday receptions in the coming weeks despite ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks and the advice of public health professionals urging Americans to sacrifice their normal holiday gatherings to curb the […]

November 23, 2020 Focus Washington

Biden Names Team to Steer U.S. Foreign Policy in Post-Trump Era

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on Monday named the key members of his foreign policy team, tapping trusted aide Antony Blinken to head the State Department and take the lead in rebuilding Washington’s relationships in Europe […]