Articles by Focus Washington

Cooperation between vaccine makers will increase in 2021, according to the head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, who welcomed the recent announcement of a combined trial for the two candidates being developed by Russia and […]

Facebook Slams Apple Privacy Change Again, Suggesting It Will Kill Free Apps

The day after launching an attack on Apple’s upcoming privacy change, Facebook is running another ad prompting consumers to consider whether they would pay for apps that are currently free, CNBC reported. Facebook on Wednesday […]

Dollar Gets Global Beating as Stimulus, Brexit Boost Risk Appetite

The dollar fell to its lowest in over two years against major currencies on Thursday after the Federal Reserve stuck to its current policy guns while hopes for more U.S. stimulus and a post-Brexit trade […]

Tokyo Raises COVID-19 Alert to Highest as Medical Crunch Looms

The Japanese capital Tokyo, faced with acute strains on its medical system from the COVID-19 pandemic, raised its alert level to the highest of four stages on Thursday as the number of new cases spiked […]

U.S. Airlines Closing in on New Government Assistance Package

U.S. airlines are on the brink of receiving a four-month extension of a government assistance program that is expected to provide another $17 billion to fund payroll costs, congressional aides told Reuters. A roughly $900 […]

Moderna’s Coronavirus Vaccine Faces U.S. FDA Expert Panel Review

A panel of outside advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to endorse emergency use of Moderna Inc’s coronavirus vaccine during a meeting on Thursday, as the nation prepares to roll out […]

Joe Biden's social spending bill approved by House Dems

Biden Transition Start Delayed, Challenges Persist

Former Obama administration officials and outside groups say a growing list of challenges in the transition process are likely to impede President-elect Joe Biden’s entry into office, The Hill reports. The transition itself started later […]

U.S. Congress Wrangles Over Details of Coronavirus Economic Aid as Deadline Approaches

After months of feuding and with a weekend deadline fast approaching, U.S. congressional negotiators were wrangling over details of a $900 billion COVID-19 aid bill that leaders have vowed to pass before going home this […]

French President Macron Tests Positive for COVID-19, Forcing Leaders to Self Isolate

French President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for coronavirus, his office said on Thursday, sparking a track and trace effort targeting EU leaders and senior officials who met him in recent days, Reuters writes. “The […]

U.S. Prosecutors are Investigating Hunter Biden’s Taxes

President-elect Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden, a focus of attacks from President Donald Trump and his Republican allies during the campaign for the White House, said on Wednesday the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Delaware is […]

Bitcoin Breaks Above $20,000 for the First Time Ever

Bitcoin breached the $20,000 level for the first time in history Wednesday, as crypto enthusiasts pointed to increased demand from institutional investors for the red-hot digital currency, CNBC informed. The world’s most-valuable virtual currency traded […]

Cuomo Warns a January Economic Shutdown Is Possible as COVID Cases Soar to Springtime Records

New York’s non-essential businesses may be forced to close again in January if the state doesn’t clamp down on escalating coronavirus cases, which have soared in recent weeks to record levels not seen since the […]

Biden to Pick Former Michigan Governor Granholm to Be Energy Secretary

President-elect Joe Biden is expected to pick former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm to be secretary of energy in his administration, according to two people familiar with the decision, CNBC writes. Granholm, 61, was Michigan’s first […]

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.

Stock Index Giant MSCI to Remove Some Chinese Stocks Under U.S. Pressure

Global investors are turning cautious on investing in some Chinese companies named in a U.S. government executive order, CNBC reported. MSCI, one of the largest stock index companies in the world, announced Tuesday that it […]

protection against coronavirus infection

U.S. COVID-19 Immunization Rollout Expands as Officials Avow Vaccine’s Safety

The United States expanded its rollout of the newly approved COVID-19 vaccine to hundreds of additional distribution centers on Tuesday, inoculating thousands more healthcare workers in a mass immunization expected to reach the general public […]

Hackers Used SolarWinds’ Dominance Against It in Sprawling Spy Campaign

On an earnings call two months ago, SolarWinds Chief Executive Kevin Thompson touted how far the company had gone during his 11 years at the helm, Reuters writes. There was not a database or an […]

Biden Taps Former Rival Pete Buttigieg for U.S. Transportation Secretary

President-elect Joe Biden announced Pete Buttigieg on Tuesday as his nominee to lead the U.S. Transportation Department, making him the first of Biden’s Democratic rivals for the presidency to land a role in his Cabinet, […]

Biden Hits Campaign Trail in Georgia After Top Republicans Acknowledge His Win

Hours after speaking with Republican Senator Mitch McConnell and vowing to try to work together, President-elect Joe Biden urged Georgians on Tuesday to oust McConnell as majority leader by electing the two Democratic candidates in […]

U.S. Congressional Leaders Report Progress in Talks for Fresh COVID-19 Aid

U.S. congressional leaders reported substantial progress on Tuesday after two meetings of top Democrats and Republicans to end a months-long standoff on coronavirus relief and finalize a funding bill to avert a government shutdown, Reuters […]

Biden to Be Sworn Into Office in Largely Virtual Event as COVID-19 Rages

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be sworn into office on Jan. 20 on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, but the inaugural festivities will be largely virtual due to the COVID-19 […]

Moderna Nears U.S. Authorization for COVID-19 Shot With FDA Staff Endorsement

Moderna Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine appeared set for regulatory authorization this week after U.S. Food and Drug Administration staff endorsed it as safe and effective in documents released Tuesday, Reuters reported. The coronavirus pandemic has killed […]

Bipartisan Group Releases COVID Relief Bill as Congress Faces Pressure to Send Help

Congress faces more pressure than ever this week to pass another coronavirus relief bill, CNBC reported. Lawmakers’ ability to break a longstanding logjam and send more help will play a massive role in how much […]

Romney Not Surprised by Barr’s Resignation

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, told CNBC that he is “not surprised” upon hearing news of Attorney General William Barr’s resignation from the Justice Department. “It was clear that being part of the [Trump] administration was […]

Fed Will Be Tested in 2021 as Vaccines Boost U.S. Economic Outlook

If 2020 was the year the Federal Reserve overhauled its game plan for supporting the U.S. economy, 2021 will be the year its new approach gets tested should a coronavirus vaccine deliver the lift that […]

U.S. Tech Giants Face 6-10% Fines as EU Set Rules to Curb Their Power

Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Alphabet unit Google may have to change their business practices in Europe or face hefty fines between 6-10% under new draft EU rules to be announced on Tuesday, Reuters informed. The […]

First Americans Vaccinated as U.S. Death Toll Passes 300,000

A New York City intensive care unit nurse on Monday became the first person in the United States to receive a coronavirus vaccine, saying she felt “healing is coming,” as the nation’s COVID-19 death toll […]

U.S. Homeland Security, Thousands of Businesses Scramble After Suspected Russian Hack

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and thousands of businesses scrambled Monday to investigate and respond to a sweeping hacking campaign that officials suspect was directed by the Russian government, Reuters informed. Emails sent by […]

U.S. Attorney General Barr Steps Down as Trump Election Defeat Confirmed

U.S. Attorney General William Barr will step down next week, he said on Monday, shortly after the Electoral College confirmed President Donald Trump’s loss to Democratic President-elect Joe Biden, Reuters informed. Barr, who had angered […]

Electoral College Confirms Biden Win

President-elect Joe Biden delivered a forceful rebuke on Monday to President Donald Trump’s attacks on the legitimacy of his victory, hours after winning the state-by-state Electoral College vote that officially determines the U.S. presidency, Reuters […]

December 14, 2020 Focus Washington

U.S. Imposes Iran-Related Sanctions on Two Individuals

The United States on Monday blacklisted two Iranian officials who it accused of involvement in the March 2007 disappearance of Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent who the United States believes was abducted in Iran […]