Biden’s $1.9 trillion Covid stimulus package passed by Congress February 27, 2021 President Joe Biden scored his first legislative win as the House of Representatives passed his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package early on Saturday morning, though Democrats faced challenges to their hopes of using the bill to raise the minimum wage. Democrats who control the chamber passed the sweeping measure by a mostly party-line vote of [...]
US governors urge Biden to pressure semiconductor firms on global shortage of automotive chips February 26, 2021 A bipartisan group of eight governors from U.S. automotive states urged President Joe Biden today to do more to press semiconductor firms to address a global shortage of automotive chips that has cut some vehicle production. Governors of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Kansas, South Carolina, Alabama and Missouri co-wrote a letter to Biden asking him [...]
US to maintain Trump decree aimed at limiting China tech deals February 26, 2021 The Biden administration plans to maintain new rules that were introduced by former President Trump take effect despite US business objections, according to the Wall Street Journal this evening. The rules focus on technology mergers and acquisitions. The rule, initially proposed in November, will allow the US Commerce Department to ban technology-related business deals that it [...]
US distances itself from Saudi Arabia as White House mulls arms restrictions, Khashoggi sanctions February 26, 2021 The Biden administration is recalibrating its relationship with Saudi Arabia, one of the United States’ closest allies in the Middle East. A State Department official reportedly told congress earlier today that it will be announcing new sanctions on Saudi Arabia in response to the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The Biden administration also declassified [...]
United States may boycott 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing February 25, 2021 The White House has not made a final decision on whether the US will participate in the Winter Olympics in Beijing, a decision that could see the United States boycott the games in 2022. “There hasn’t been a final decision made on that and of course we would look for guidance from the U.S. Olympic [...]
Biden approves major disaster declaration for Texas following crippling storm crisis February 20, 2021 President Joe Biden has approved a disaster declaration for Texas, clearing the way for more federal funds after a devastating storm raged across the southern United States. The action makes federal funding available to individuals across the state, including assistance for temporary housing and home repairs and low-cost loans. Millions of residents in the Lone Star [...]
US braces for higher inflation amid pandemic recovery, warns Fed February 17, 2021 The US is trialling ways of bracing the American public for higher inflation rates as a fresh presidency attempts to heal an economy crippled by the ongoing pandemic, according to the Federal Reserve. Minutes released today from a lengthy policy meeting held by the US central bank last month revealed that Fed officials were prepared [...]
Before the Bell: Bitcoin goes through the roof as positive investor sentiment persists February 9, 2021 Bitcoin was driven to fresh record highs overnight – it traded above $47,000 – on the news that Tesla bought $1.5bn worth of the cryptocurrency. In the same announcement, the electric vehicle manufacturer revealed that it intends to accept the digital currency as a method of payment too. “One of the criticisms of Bitcoin is [...]
Trump uses impeachment response to spout election fraud consipracy February 2, 2021 Former President Donald Trump, who is banned from Twitter, tonight found a new outlet to air his unfounded claims about voter fraud, using his legal response to impeachment charges against him in the US Congress as a vehicle for his conspiracy theory.
Covid-19 pummels US economy in 2020; performance weakest in 74 years January 28, 2021 The U.S. economy contracted at its sharpest pace since World War Two in 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic depressed consumer spending and business investment, pushing millions of Americans out of work and into poverty. The Commerce Department’s snapshot of fourth-quarter gross domestic product on Thursday also showed the recovery from the pandemic losing steam as the year wound down amid a resurgence [...]