Focus Washington by Focus Washington

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

November 26, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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

November 26, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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Man beats lumber store employee over mask rule

CDC Expected to Shorten COVID Quarantine Time

November 25, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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

November 25, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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Biden to Begin Receiving Classified Presidential Daily Briefings

November 25, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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

November 25, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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Trump Plans to Pardon Former Aide Michael Flynn

November 25, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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

November 25, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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

November 25, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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Officials Urge Americans to Stay Home Over Holiday

November 25, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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US admin discusses raising the debt ceiling

Stocks Hit Record High as Biden Transition, Vaccines Brighten Outlook

November 25, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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Joe Biden's social spending bill approved by House Dems

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

November 25, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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Biden Cabinet Picks May Face Rough Republican Reception in Senate

November 24, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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Paul Ryan Says Trump Should Accept that Election is Over

November 24, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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

November 24, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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Saudi Aramco Says Customers Unaffected by Houthi Attack on Jeddah Facility

November 24, 2020 Focus Washington

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, […]

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

November 24, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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

November 24, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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Stocks and Oil Ride High on Biden Transition and Vaccine Hopes

November 24, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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

November 24, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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

November 24, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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Trump Administration Gives Green Light to Proceed With Biden Transition

November 24, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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White House Plans Holiday Parties as Americans Urged to Stay Home

November 23, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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

November 23, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

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Trump Loses Lawsuit That Sought to Block Pennsylvania Win for Biden

November 23, 2020 Focus Washington

A federal judge in Pennsylvania on Saturday dismissed a lawsuit by President Donald Trump’s campaign that sought to block that state’s certification of millions of voters, which is expected to confirm a win for President-elect […]

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Dow Futures Rise 200 Points to Kick off the Week Despite Jump in Coronavirus Cases

November 23, 2020 Focus Washington

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were higher in early morning trade on Monday, even as Covid-19 cases rise in the U.S. and abroad, CNBC reported. Futures contracts tied to the Dow advanced 209 points. S&P […]

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Biden Push to Restore U.S. Global Role Starts With Blinken

November 23, 2020 Focus Washington

President-elect Joe Biden is moving forward on his campaign pledge to restore America as a leader on the global stage and lean on experts, tapping veteran diplomats for key posts even as President Donald Trump […]

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Netanyahu Secretly Met Saudi Crown Prince, Pompeo in Saudi Arabia on Sunday

November 23, 2020 Focus Washington

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly flew to Saudi Arabia on Sunday to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and visiting U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Israel’s Kan public radio and Army Radio said […]

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protection against coronavirus infection

COVID-19 Shots May Reach First Americans by Mid-December

November 23, 2020 Focus Washington

U.S. healthcare workers and others recommended for the nation’s first COVID-19 inoculations could start getting shots within a day or two of regulatory consent next month, a top official of the government’s vaccine development effort […]

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Biden Marches Forward With Cabinet, Trump Hopes Likely to Fade in Key States

November 23, 2020 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump’s increasingly tenuous efforts to reverse his election loss to President-elect Joe Biden could be dealt a lethal blow on Monday, as Biden turns to the task of building his cabinet, Reuters informed. […]

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