Articles by Focus Washington

Bitcoin soared above $50,000 on Tuesday to an all-time high, adding steam to a rally fuelled by signs that the world’s biggest cryptocurrency is gaining acceptance among mainstream investors and companies, Reuters reports. Bitcoin hit […]

Saudi Arabia Eyes Dubai’s Crown With HQ Ultimatum

Saudi Arabia has raised the stakes in a competition with freewheeling Dubai for foreign talent and cash, Reuters informed. From 2024, the Saudi government will stop giving state contracts to companies and commercial institutions that […]

US and China will meet for the first time at a high level since Russia's attack on Ukraine as Biden tries to get Beijing's help with the war.

China Overtakes U.S. as Europe’s Main Trading Partner for the First Time

China dethroned the U.S. to become Europe’s top trading partner for the first time last year, data from the European statistics office has shown, CNBC reported. European Union exports to China grew by 2.2% last […]

Cuomo Acknowledges Withholding New York Nursing Home Pandemic Death Toll from Lawmakers, Public

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo acknowledged on Monday that his office should not have withheld data on COVID-19 nursing home deaths from state lawmakers, the public and press – falling short of an apology a […]

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm urged major American oil refiners to increase capacity and decrease exports of refined goods ahead of the winter

U.S. Oil Wells, Refineries Shut as Winter Storm Hits Energy Sector

A deep freeze across the United States is taking a toll on the energy industry in the largest U.S. crude-producing state, halting Texas oil wells and refineries on Monday and forcing restrictions from natural gas […]

Actions made to combat the delta version should still be successful in combating the newly discovered omicron variation, according to World Health Organization officials.

WHO Has Alerted Six African Countries after Ebola Outbreaks

The World Health Organization has alerted six countries to watch out for potential Ebola cases after fresh outbreaks in Guinea and Democratic Republic of Congo, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday, Reuters informed. Guinea declared a […]

Biden to Pitch Stimulus Bill in Wisconsin, U.S. State Hard Hit by Pandemic

President Joe Biden will travel to Wisconsin on Tuesday to press his case for a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill in the political battleground state that helped secure his victory in last year’s presidential election, […]

TikTok’s U.S. Ad Business Roars Back as Trump’s Threats Recede

Accused by the Trump administration of being a front for the Chinese government, TikTok’s ad business looked bleak last July, Reuters writes. Big brands backed off on spending even as TikTok executives offered refunds to […]

North Korean Hackers Tried to Steal Pfizer Vaccine Know-How, Lawmaker Says

South Korea’s intelligence agency has said North Korea attempted to steal information on coronavirus vaccines and treatments by hacking Pfizer Inc, a lawmaker briefed by the agency said on Tuesday, Reuters reported. Digital espionage targeting […]

The nation's increasingly polarized politics are instilling new concerns in lawmakers and employees, as seen by Saturday's scheduled Capitol demonstration in support of those jailed on charges connected to the Jan. 6 Capitol disturbance

AP: Dozens Charged in Capitol Riots Spewed Extremist Rhetoric

In a text message, a radicalized Trump supporter suggested getting a boat to ferry “heavy weapons” across the Potomac River into the waiting arms of their members in time for Jan. 6, court papers say, […]

Biden Has Long-Term Plans to Bring Back Jobs

President Joe Biden is facing a daunting task – there are just over 10 million Americans currently unemployed, with 4 million of those facing long-term unemployment, CNBC writes. In addition, 4.3 million have left the […]

U.S. Enters NATO Meetings as China and Russia Threats Loom and War in Afghanistan Drags On

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will meet with members of the world’s most powerful military alliance on Wednesday for the first time since joining the Biden administration, CNBC reported. NATO meets Wednesday and Thursday to […]

Biden, Reflecting on Senate Acquittal of Trump, Says ‘Democracy Is Fragile’

President Joe Biden said on Saturday that the Senate’s acquittal of former President Donald Trump for inciting an insurrection was a reminder that democracy was fragile, and every American had a duty to defend the […]

Biden to Discuss Pandemic, Economy and China in Friday G7 Meeting

President Joe Biden will hold his first event with other leaders from the Group of Seven nations in a virtual meeting on Friday to discuss the coronavirus pandemic, the world economy and dealing with China, […]

Bitcoin Rally Falters Just Short of $50,000 as Investors Take Profit

Bitcoin stalled just short of the $50,000 mark on Monday and other cryptocurrencies slipped, as investors took profit from a record-breaking rally that is being driven by a worldwide shift in investor and public attitudes […]

Elon Musk Says He Supports Top Dogecoin Holders Selling Most of Their Coins

Billionaire Elon Musk said on Sunday that he supports major holders of the meme-based digital currency dogecoin selling most of their coins, adding that he felt too much concentration in dogecoin was the “real issue”, […]

Global Shares Hit New Peak, Oil up on Middle East Tensions

Global shares rose for the 11th day in a row to hit a fresh peak on optimism about the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and new fiscal aid from Washington, while tensions in the Middle East […]

US admin discusses raising the debt ceiling

Dollar on Back Foot as Market Optimism Lifts Riskier Currencies

The safe haven dollar started the week pinned near two-week lows on Monday, as optimism about COVID-19 vaccine rollouts and a planned $1.9 trillion U.S. stimulus package drove up riskier currencies and stock markets across […]

Suu Kyi Detention Extended as Protests Continue in Myanmar

Myanmar’s military leaders have extended their detention of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose remand was set to expire Monday and whose freedom is a key demand of the crowds of people continuing to […]

Support Grows for Capitol Riot Inquiry After Trump Acquittal

A day after former President Donald Trump won his second Senate impeachment trial, bipartisan support appeared to be growing for an independent Sept. 11-style commission into the deadly insurrection that took place at the U.S. […]

White House Cites ‘Deep Concerns’ about WHO COVID Report

The White House on Saturday called on China to make available data from the earliest days of the COVID-19 outbreak, saying it has “deep concerns” about the way the findings of the World Health Organization’s […]

New York Police Flood Subway after Spate of Stabbings Leaves Two Dead

New York City police deployed hundreds more officers to the subway system on Saturday after a string of stabbing attacks apparently targeting the homeless left two people dead, Reuters reported. New York City Police Commissioner […]

McConnell Says Trump ‘Morally Responsible’ for Capitol Riot

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called Donald Trump “practically and morally responsible” for his supporters’ deadly attack on the Capitol, only moments after voting to acquit the Republican former president on an impeachment charge […]

U.S. Senate Acquits Trump of Inciting Deadly Capitol Riot

The U.S. Senate acquitted Donald Trump on Saturday of inciting the mob that stormed the Capitol last month, sparing him from conviction in his second impeachment trial in a year despite broad condemnation of his […]

The ports and waterways funding comes from President Joe Biden's infrastructure plan, which was signed into law by Congress last year

U.S. Tells G7 That It Is Back at the Table to Help with Global Recovery

U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration told allies on Friday it was re-engaging with them to help steer the global economy out of its worst slump since the Great Depression, a contrast with the go-it-alone approach […]

Stimulus Prospects Could Boost the Stock Market and Interest Rates in the Week Ahead

The prospects of a big government spending program could continue to boost the stock market and put upward pressure on interest rates in the week ahead, CNBC reported. Earnings season is beginning to wind down, […]

Biden Launches Review of Guantanamo Prison, Aims to Close It Before Leaving Office

President Joe Biden’s aides have launched a formal review of the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, reviving the Obama-era goal of closing the controversial facility with the aim of doing so before […]

Miami Mayor Sees Bitcoin Move as Way to Attract Tech

The city of Miami is seeking to embrace bitcoin in its operations, a move that could bring dividends in terms of attracting technology companies, Mayor Francis Suarez said on Friday, Reuters writes. The city commission […]

Trump Lawyers Portray Impeachment Trial as Democratic Score-Settling

Donald Trump’s lawyers said on Friday Democrats had provided no evidence the former president incited last month’s deadly U.S. Capitol riot and had used his second impeachment trial to settle political scores, Reuters writes. Trump […]

Oxford University to Test COVID-19 Vaccine Response Among Children for First Time

The University of Oxford has launched a study to assess the safety and immune response of the COVID-19 vaccine it has developed with AstraZeneca Plc in children for the first time, it said on Saturday, […]