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How Harris and Trump differ on artificial intelligence policy
Read full article: How Harris and Trump differ on artificial intelligence policyArtificial intelligenceās growing visibility in everyday life has made it a popular discussion topic but hasnāt yet elevated it to a top election concern for American voters.
Billionaire Frank McCourt says he's putting together a consortium to buy TikTok
Read full article: Billionaire Frank McCourt says he's putting together a consortium to buy TikTokBillionaire businessman and real estate mogul Frank McCourt says heās putting together a consortium to purchase TikTokās U.S. business.
Mnuchinās interest in TikTok and distressed NY bank echoes his pre-Trump investment playbook
Read full article: Mnuchinās interest in TikTok and distressed NY bank echoes his pre-Trump investment playbookSteven Mnuchin is a former U.S. Treasury secretary who said this week that he is interested in buying TikTok, just days after his investment firm led a $1 billion deal to inject life into a beaten-down bank.
Former Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin says he's putting together investor group to buy TikTok
Read full article: Former Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin says he's putting together investor group to buy TikTokFormer Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says heās going to put together an investor group to buy TikTok after the House passed a bill that would ban the popular video app in the U.S. if its China-based owner doesnāt sell its stake.
Embattled New York Community Bancorp gets $1 billion cash infusion, adds Steven Mnuchin to its board
Read full article: Embattled New York Community Bancorp gets $1 billion cash infusion, adds Steven Mnuchin to its boardEmbattled New York Community Bancorp is getting a lifeline of more than $1 billion as a group of investors plug cash into the troubled bank.
How a little-known agency holds power over TikTok's future
Read full article: How a little-known agency holds power over TikTok's futureUnder pressure from the U.S. government, TikTok is now facing the music with the possibility of a nationwide ban if it defies a government order to sell to an American company ā unless the popular social media app can convince a high-powered panel that its data security restructuring plan sufficiently guards against national security concerns.
Jan. 6 takeaways: Final revelations from investigation
Read full article: Jan. 6 takeaways: Final revelations from investigationInterview transcripts released by House investigators in recent days give further insight into the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and the weeks leading up to it, as Donald Trump tried to overturn his defeat in the presidential election.
Trump ally Tom Barrack acquitted of foreign agent charges
Read full article: Trump ally Tom Barrack acquitted of foreign agent chargesA Donald Trump loyalist has been acquitted at a federal trial in which he was accused of using his access to the former president to secretly promote the interests of the United Arab Emirates.
House committee reaches deal to get Trump financial records
Read full article: House committee reaches deal to get Trump financial recordsA House committee seeking financial records from former President Donald Trump has reached an agreement that ends litigation on the matter and requires his accounting firm to turn over certain records to the panel.
House Jan. 6 panel interviews Mnuchin, pursues Trump Cabinet
Read full article: House Jan. 6 panel interviews Mnuchin, pursues Trump CabinetThe House Jan. 6 committee has interviewed former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and is in negotiations to talk to several other former members of Donald Trumpās Cabinet.
Jan. 6 panel deepens probe to Trump Cabinet, awaits Thomas
Read full article: Jan. 6 panel deepens probe to Trump Cabinet, awaits ThomasThe House Jan. 6 committee plans to interview more former Cabinet secretaries and is prepared to subpoena conservative activist Virginia āGinniā Thomas, whoās married to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, as part of its investigation of the Capitol riot and Donald Trumpās role.
Justice says IRS must give Trump tax returns to Congress
Read full article: Justice says IRS must give Trump tax returns to CongressThe Justice Department says the Treasury Department must provide the House Ways and Means Committee former President Donald Trumpās tax returns, apparently ending a long legal showdown over the records.
Beware of budget gimmicks in push for massive spending deals
Read full article: Beware of budget gimmicks in push for massive spending dealsSenators negotiating two colossal bills that would deliver more than $4 trillion for infrastructure, health care, environment and other initiatives keep insisting both bills will be fully paid for.
Fed to sell off assets from an emergency loan program
Read full article: Fed to sell off assets from an emergency loan programThe Federal Reserve says it will start selling off the holdings of one of its emergency lending programs created last year to stabilize financial markets at the height of the pandemic crisis.
Yellen says regulatory panel to look at 2020 market turmoil
Read full article: Yellen says regulatory panel to look at 2020 market turmoilYellen told members of the Financial Stability Oversight Council that she wants the panel to examine what needs to be done to better protect the financial system from further turmoil. āAlmost exactly one year ago, the pandemicās outbreak caused significant stress in the economy and in the financial system,ā Yellen told the panel during its public session. AdYellen said the examination of last yearās financial market turmoil would include a review of potential reforms for money market mutual funds and the operation of hedge funds. Yellen said the councilās review would also address ways to make the Treasury securities market more resilient to future disruptions. āOur financial system must be prepared for the market and credit risks of these climate-related events.ā
Powell says economy recovering but Fed support still needed
Read full article: Powell says economy recovering but Fed support still neededPowell says the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic has progressed more quickly than expected. āThe recovery is far from complete, so, at the Fed, we will continue to provide the economy the support it needs for as long as it takes," Powell said. In his testimony, Powell said that the lending programs established by the Fed had helped to unlock almost $2 trillion in credit to support businesses, cites and states. AdThose Fed programs have expired, but Congress earlier this month approved an additional $1.9 trillion relief package that had been pushed by the Biden administration. Powell said that the Fed would soon close down its remaining emergency lending programs although it has announced that it was extending its Paycheck Protection Program lending facility for another quarter to support more loans to small businesses.
Effort to put Tubman on $20 bill restarted under Biden
Read full article: Effort to put Tubman on $20 bill restarted under BidenWith a change of administrations, it looks like Harriet Tubman is once again headed to the front of the $20 bill. Obama administration Treasury Secretary Jack Lew had selected Tubman to replace Andrew Jackson, the nations seventh president, on the $20 bill. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)WASHINGTON ā With a change of administrations, it looks like Harriet Tubman is once again headed to the front of the $20 bill. Obama administration Treasury Secretary Jack Lew had selected Tubman to replace Andrew Jackson, the nation's seventh president, on the $20 bill. Under the schedule Mnuchin announced in May 2019, the redesigned $20 bill would not have come out until 2028 with final designs for the bill not announced until 2026.
The Latest: Trump orders US flags lowered to honor officers
Read full article: The Latest: Trump orders US flags lowered to honor officersTrump cites Capitol Police Officers Brian D. Sicknick and Howard Liebengood. ___4 p.m.Citigroup is pausing all federal political donations for the first three months of the year in light of Wednesdayās deadly siege on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had already ordered flags at the Capitol lowered to half-staff in Sicknickās honor and calls were growing for President Donald Trump to do the same at the White House. Trump supporters who were angry over his loss to Democratic President-elect Joe Biden stormed the Capitol on Wednesday. Toomey was interviewed Sunday on CNNās āState of the Unionā and NBCās āMeet the Press.ā___12:15 a.m.President Donald Trump is facing growing Democratic momentum to impeach him a second time.
Democrats plan lightning Trump impeachment, want him out now
Read full article: Democrats plan lightning Trump impeachment, want him out nowāWe must take action,ā House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared on a private conference call with Democrats. Trump has not publicly made such threats, but officials warn of grave danger if the president is left unchecked. Asked about impeachment, he said, āThatās a decision for the Congress to make.āThe Democrats are considering lightning-quick action. Another leading Republican critic of Trump, Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, said he would ādefinitely considerā impeachment. The House impeached Trump in 2019, but the Republican-led Senate acquitted him in early 2020.
Israel postpones Netanyahu's trial amid virus lockdown
Read full article: Israel postpones Netanyahu's trial amid virus lockdown(Emil Salman/Pool via AP)Israel has postponed the next hearing in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial because of a tightened coronavirus lockdown that began Friday. Israel has seen a recent surge in cases despite unleashing one of the world's fastest vaccination campaigns. Israel was already in its third national lockdown since the start of the pandemic. Israel has reported 474,000 cases since the start of the pandemic, including 3,565 deaths. It currently has more than 60,000 active cases, and officials had warned that without the tightened lockdown its medical facilities could be overwhelmed.
Sudan says it signs pact on normalizing ties with Israel
Read full article: Sudan says it signs pact on normalizing ties with IsraelJustice Minister Nasredeen Abdulbari signed the deal with visiting U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, according to the prime minister's office. Abdulbari said Sudan welcomed āthe rapprochement" with Israel and other countries as well as the beginning of diplomatic relations. Although Sudan is not a regional powerhouse, establishing ties with Israel is deeply symbolic. During his visit, Mnuchin met with Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, head of the ruling sovereign council, and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in August became the first top U.S. diplomat to visit Sudan since 2005, when Condoleezza Rice visited.
What you need to know about who will receive a second stimulus check and when
Read full article: What you need to know about who will receive a second stimulus check and whenEveryone who is eligible for a stimulus check but has yet to receive it is probably wondering when thatās going to happen. The IRS has a tool that allows Americans to check the status of their second stimulus payment. Checks started hitting bank accounts as early as last Tuesday and still continue to be sent out via direct deposit. IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said last week that the IRS is āworking swiftly to distribute this second round of payments as quickly as possible. You could be eligible to receive a Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 taxes if you did not receive the full amount of the economic stimulus payments.
Trump push on $2K checks flops as GOP-led Senate wonāt vote
Read full article: Trump push on $2K checks flops as GOP-led Senate wonāt voteSenate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., walks off of the Senate floor on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. Opening the Senate on Thursday, McConnell called the House-passed bill matching Trump's $2,000 request āsocialism for rich peopleā who don't need the federal help. The Republican-led Senate acquitted the president in 2020 of the charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Trumpās push for $2,000 checks gained sudden momentum when dozens of House Republicans joined Democrats in approving the measure Monday. But the GOP leader has scheduled no votes on his measure and it would be unlikely to have enough support in Congress to pass.
2020: A year where the fist-bump became mainstream greeting
Read full article: 2020: A year where the fist-bump became mainstream greetingFor a fist bump ā the official greeting of 2020, and probably beyond. ... That fist bump was, āI see you, I hear you, Iām connecting with you, but Iām keeping you safe.āāSafety is the primary reason why the status of the fist bump elevated big-time this year. But let's face it: They lack the coolness of the fist bump. āWell, it was a fist bump because of the situation, but still, how many people can say they got a congratulatory fist bump from Jack Nicklaus?āThis year, probably more than ever. But a fist bump is still good.
Second stimulus payments of $600 are officially on the way for most Americans, government says
Read full article: Second stimulus payments of $600 are officially on the way for most Americans, government saysTreasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said some of the $600 payments were sent to bank accounts as early as Tuesday night. (2/2) ā Steven Mnuchin (@stevenmnuchin1) December 29, 2020The second round of the economic impact payments will head to the majority of Americans who received a payment earlier this year when the pandemic hit. Americans earning up to $75,000 will qualify for the direct $600 payments, which are phased out at higher income levels, and there's an additional $600 payment per dependent child. The Economic Impact Payment Card will be sent in a white envelope that prominently displays the U.S. Department of the Treasury seal. For more information about Economic Impact Payments and the 2020 Recovery Rebate, key information will be posted on IRS.gov/eip.
Trump push on $2K checks flops as GOP-led Senate won't vote
Read full article: Trump push on $2K checks flops as GOP-led Senate won't voteSenate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., walks back to his office on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. The roadblock set by Senate Republicans appears insurmountable. For a second day in a row, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer tried to force a vote on the bill approved by the House meeting Trumpās demand for the $2,000 checks. āWhat weāre seeing right now is Leader McConnell trying to kill the checks ā the $2,000 checks desperately needed by so many American families,ā Schumer said. āThe Senate Republicans risk throwing away two seats and control of the Senate,ā Newt Gingrich, the former congressional leader, said on Fox News.
Senate GOP blocks Democratic push for President Trumpās $2K checks
Read full article: Senate GOP blocks Democratic push for President Trumpās $2K checksāThereās one question left today: Do Senate Republicans join with the rest of America in supporting $2,000 checks?ā Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said as he made a motion to vote. The showdown over the $2,000 checks has thrown Congress into a chaotic year-end session just days before new lawmakers are set to be sworn into office for the new year. Saying little, McConnell signaled an alternative approach to Trump's checks that may not divide his party so badly, but may result in no action at all. For now, the $600 checks are set to be delivered, along with other aid, among the largest rescue packages of its kind. Biden supports the $2,000 checks and said Tuesday the aid package is merely a ādown paymentā on what he plans to deliver once in office.
House approves Trump's $2K checks, sending to GOP-led Senate
Read full article: House approves Trump's $2K checks, sending to GOP-led SenateWhile Democrats favored bigger checks, Congress had settled on smaller $600 payments in a compromise over the big year-end relief bill Trump reluctantly signed into law. The vote was a stunning turn of events from just days ago, when House Republicans blocked Trump's demands during a Christmas Eve session. After the robust House vote, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer warned, āThere is no good reason for Senate Republicans to stand in the way.āāThereās strong support for these $2,000 emergency checks from every corner of the country," Schumer said in a statement. The bipartisan bill negotiated by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had already passed the House and Senate by wide margins. Most House Republicans simply shrugged off Trump's push, 130 of them voting to reject the higher checks that would pile $467 billion in additional costs.
GOP blocks $2,000 checks as Trump leaves COVID aid in chaos
Read full article: GOP blocks $2,000 checks as Trump leaves COVID aid in chaosThe congressional Republican leaders have been left almost speechless by Trumpās year-end scorching of their work. Instead, Washington is now hurtling toward a crisis with COVID aid about to collapse, as the president is at his Mar-a-Lago club. Many have opposed larger $2,000 checks as too costly and poorly targeted. Even if the House is able to approve Trump's $2,000 checks on Monday, that measure would likely die in the GOP-controlled Senate, which is due back in session on Tuesday. The year-end package Trump railed against as a ādisgraceā is the product of months of work.
Trump golfs in Florida as COVID relief hangs in the balance
Read full article: Trump golfs in Florida as COVID relief hangs in the balanceWEST PALM BEACH ā President Donald Trump spent his Christmas golfing in Florida as a government shutdown looms and COVID relief hangs in the balance. Trump, at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach for the holidays, had no events on his public schedule after throwing the future of a massive COVID relief and government funding bill into question. It said only: āDuring the Holiday season, President Trump will continue to work tirelessly for the American People. āAt a meeting in Florida today, everyone was asking why arenāt the Republicans up in arms & fighting over the fact that the Democrats stole the rigged presidential election?ā Trump tweeted Thursday. He has been egged on by allies like his lawyer, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, who accompanied the president to Florida aboard Air Force One.
Trump golfs in Florida as COVID relief hangs in the balance
Read full article: Trump golfs in Florida as COVID relief hangs in the balanceWEST PALM BEACH ā After tossing a grenade that threatens to blow up a massive COVID relief and government funding bill and force a government shutdown in the midst of a pandemic, President Donald Trump spent his Christmas Eve golfing in Florida. Failure to agree on the bill could deny checks to millions of Americans on the brink. Reporters were given no details of his schedule for the day, but told that, āAs the Holiday season approaches, President Trump will continue to work tirelessly for the American People. The idea was swiftly rejected by House Republicans during a rare Christmas Eve session, leaving the proposal in limbo. In Florida, Trump continued to rail against the results, complaining to members that he had been robbed of the election and voicing frustrations about the year-end spending bill.
GOP blocks $2,000 checks as Trump leaves COVID aid in chaos
Read full article: GOP blocks $2,000 checks as Trump leaves COVID aid in chaosThe congressional Republican leaders have been left almost speechless by Trumpās year-end scorching of their work. Instead, Washington is now hurtling toward a crisis with COVID aid about to collapse, as the president is at his Mar-a-Lago club. Many have opposed larger $2,000 checks as too costly and poorly targeted. Even if the House is able to approve Trump's $2,000 checks on Monday, that measure would likely die in the GOP-controlled Senate, which is due back in session on Tuesday. The year-end package Trump railed against as a ādisgraceā is the product of months of work.
With a video filmed in secret, Trump keeps sowing chaos
Read full article: With a video filmed in secret, Trump keeps sowing chaosPresident Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)WASHINGTON ā The video message that plunged Washington into chaos was filmed in secret. On Wednesday, few Republicans or even White House staffers knew what Trump plans next, in a return to the around-the-clock chaos of his first months in office. āThere are mixed signals from the White House leaving more confusion than calm,ā Biden noted on Wednesday. Trump personally played little role in the negotiations, though the White House had initially sent signals that he would sign the bill.
What the new COVID relief package means for your money
Read full article: What the new COVID relief package means for your moneyThe $900 billion package includes $600 one-time checks for those earning under $75,000 half of what people received from the original pandemic relief package, known as the CARES Act. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)A second wave of federal coronavirus relief totaling $900 billion could begin flowing to millions of Americans as soon as the yearās end, nearly nine months after Congress passed the original pandemic relief package known as the CARES Act. Hereās what the COVID relief package ā part of a $2.3 trillion spending bill passed by Congress and now awaiting the presidentās signature ā could mean for you, your family, your home or your business. If you have not hit your maximum by March 14, the legislation says pandemic unemployment assistance will continue until April 5, 2021. The first coronavirus relief package launched the pause, known as forbearance, and it was extended twice by President Donald Trump.
Report: March turbulence shows need for financial reforms
Read full article: Report: March turbulence shows need for financial reformsFILIE - This June 6, 2019, file photo shows the U.S. Treasury Department building at dusk in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)WASHINGTON ā A top government financial oversight panel says that the turbulence in financial markets last spring has exposed problems in the operation of money market funds that will need to be corrected before the next crisis hits. āWe must now consider reforms to ensure this vulnerability does not threaten financial stability,ā he said. While the 2008 bout of instability led to a number of reforms, the new report said that this year's problems highlighted the need for further action. The President's Working Group on Financial Markets is led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and includes Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and the heads of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
US deepens sanctions on Syria, targets Assad's in-laws
Read full article: US deepens sanctions on Syria, targets Assad's in-lawsFILE - A supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad waves a Syrian flag as she looks over a crowd gathered to show support for their president in Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, March 29, 2011. (AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi, File)The Trump administration on Tuesday announced more sanctions on Syria, intensifying pressure on President Bashar Assad to end the countryās vicious, nearly decade-long conflict. The new sanctions target Syria's central bank, Assad's in-laws, and others. Other targets include Lina Mohammed Nazir al-Kinayeh, whom Treasury identified as an official in Assadās presidential office, her husband and their businesses. The latest sanctions follow U.S. enactment a year ago of legislation known as the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act.
$900B COVID relief bill passed by Congress, sent to Trump
Read full article: $900B COVID relief bill passed by Congress, sent to Trump(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)WASHINGTON ā Congress passed a $900 billion pandemic relief package that would finally deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and resources to vaccinate a nation confronting a frightening surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths. The bill approved Monday night went to President Donald Trump for his signature, which was expected in the coming days. The relief package, unveiled Monday afternoon, sped through the House and Senate in a matter of hours. The bill combines coronavirus-fighting funds with financial relief for individuals and businesses. Democrats and Senate Republicans prevailed in a bid to use bookkeeping maneuvers to squeeze $12.5 billion more for domestic programs into the legislation.
Congress approves $900B COVID relief bill, sending to President Trump
Read full article: Congress approves $900B COVID relief bill, sending to President TrumpThe bill goes to President Donald Trump for his signature, which is expected in the coming days. The relief package, unveiled Monday afternoon, sped through the House and Senate in a matter of hours. The Senate cleared the massive package by a 92-6 vote after the House approved the COVID-19 package by another lopsided vote, 359-53. The bill combines coronavirus-fighting funds with financial relief for individuals and businesses. Democrats and Senate Republicans prevailed in a bid to use bookkeeping maneuvers to squeeze $12.5 billion more for domestic programs into the legislation.
Congress seals agreement on COVID relief, government funding
Read full article: Congress seals agreement on COVID relief, government fundingThe House was expected to vote on the legislation on Monday, said a spokeswoman for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md. The House would pass a one-day stopgap spending bill to avert a government shutdown at midnight Sunday. āThere will be another major rescue package for the American people,ā Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in announcing the agreement for a relief bill that would total almost $900 billion. It combines COVID-19 relief with a $1.4 trillion government-wide funding plan and lots of other unrelated measures on taxes, health, infrastructure and education. The Fedās emergency programs provided loans to small and mid-size businesses and bought state and local government bonds.
Congress seals agreement on $900 billion COVID relief bill
Read full article: Congress seals agreement on $900 billion COVID relief billU.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is seen at the U.S. Capitol at night after negotiators sealed a deal for COVID relief Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Washington. āThere will be another major rescue package for the American people,ā Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in announcing the agreement for a relief bill that would total almost $900 billion. Still, delays in finalizing the agreement prompted the House to pass a one-day stopgap spending bill to prevent a government shutdown at midnight Sunday. It combined $900 billion for COVID-19 relief with a $1.4 trillion government-wide funding plan and lots of other unrelated measures on taxes, health, infrastructure and education. It also would carry numerous clean energy provisions, $7 billion to increase access to broadband, $4 billion to help other nations vaccinate their people, $14 billion for cash-starved transit systems, Amtrak and airports.
Fight over Fed powers stalls $900 billion aid plan
Read full article: Fight over Fed powers stalls $900 billion aid planWASHINGTON ā An arcane battle over emergency Federal Reserve powers foiled efforts on Saturday to lock down an agreement on an almost $1 trillion COVID-19 economic relief package. The deadlock was just the latest stumble in a partisan, months-long fight over pandemic relief and the lack of progress is backing lawmakers once again up against a government shutdown deadline Sunday night. Lawmakers on both sides said a provision by Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., that would curb emergency Federal Reserve powers was the sticking point. At issue are Fed emergency programs, launched amid the pandemic this spring, that provided loans to small and mid-size businesses and bought state and local government bonds. Under the Dodd-Frank financial reform law passed after the Great Recession, the Fed can only set up emergency programs with the support of the treasury secretary.
Asian shares climb on hopes US to finally get more stimulus
Read full article: Asian shares climb on hopes US to finally get more stimulusAsian shares are higher Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 on hopes the U.S. Congress may finally deliver fresh aid to help businesses and families weather the pandemic. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)Shares were mostly higher in Asia on Thursday, buoyed by hopes the U.S. Congress may finally deliver fresh aid to help American businesses and families weather the pandemic. Benchmarks rose in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai but fell in South Korea. Congressional leaders appeared late Wednesday to be on the brink of a COVID-19 economic aid package that would extend help to individuals and businesses and ship coronavirus vaccines to millions. Negotiators were working on a $900 billion package that would revive subsidies for businesses hit hard by the pandemic, help distribute new vaccines, fund schools and renew soon-to-expire jobless benefits.
Close but not yet: Deal near on COVID-19 economic aid bill
Read full article: Close but not yet: Deal near on COVID-19 economic aid billWASHINGTON ā Congressional negotiators closed in Wednesday on a $900 billion COVID-19 economic relief package that would deliver additional help to businesses, $300 per week jobless checks, and $600 stimulus payments to most Americans. But lawmakers briefed on the outlines of the aid bill freely shared them. President-elect Joe Biden is eager for an aid package to prop up the economy and deliver direct aid to the jobless and hungry, even though the package falls short of what Democrats want. The frightening, record surge in COVID caseloads and deaths, combined with troubling economic indicators, however, is mandating an agreement, though the emerging package contains less economic stimulus than the March aid bill. With Congress otherwise getting ready to close up shop, lawmakers are eager to use the relief package to carry other unfinished business.
Asian stocks advance after stimulus talks lift Wall St
Read full article: Asian stocks advance after stimulus talks lift Wall StShares rose in Asia on Wednesday after revived hopes for more aid for the U.S. economy broke a four-day losing streak on Wall Street. Overnight, the S&P 500 gained 1.3% as investors grew hopeful that Washington can get past its partisan divide to deliver more aid to the struggling economy. The S&P 500 rose 47.13 points to 3,694.62. Small-company stocks did especially well, a sign that investors are feeling more optimistic about prospects for the economy. Still, the S&P 500 remains near its record set a week ago.
Negotiators report progress on long-delayed COVID aid bill
Read full article: Negotiators report progress on long-delayed COVID aid billMcConnell is playing a strong hand in the lame-duck session and is pressuring Democrats to drop a much-sought $160 billion state and local government aid package. McConnell says he'll drop a demand for provisions shielding businesses from COVID-19-related lawsuits, a key priority, if Democrats agree to drop the $160 billion state and local aid package. āWeāve got to get people a lifeline.āManchin is an architect of a bipartisan $748 billion aid package that is aimed at serving as a template for the leadership talks. A state and local aid package was part of the almost $2 trillion CARES Act that passed the Senate unanimously in March. The $150 billion aid package to states and large cities evoked little controversy then, but many Republicans are adamantly against the idea now, though any additional aid would also go to smaller municipalities left out of the prior round.
Democrats squeezed as COVID-19 relief talks continue
Read full article: Democrats squeezed as COVID-19 relief talks continueThis should not be Congressā last COVID relief bill, but it is a strong compromise that deserves support from both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate," said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del. The Kentucky Republican is pressing a lowest-common-denominator approach that would drop the lawsuit shield idea for now if Democrats agree to drop a $160 billion state and local aid package. Several Democrats appeared at the bipartisan news conference endorsing the $748 billion package. One is a $748 billion aid package containing money for struggling businesses, the unemployed, schools and vaccine distribution. Negotiations on the $1.4 trillion catchall spending bill are āessentially finished," said a congressional aide participating in the talks.
US Embassy says Sudan no longer on list of terror sponsors
Read full article: US Embassy says Sudan no longer on list of terror sponsorsThe U.S. Embassy in Khartoum said the administration removed Sudan from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, a move that could help the African country get international loans to revive its battered economy and end its pariah status. The embassy said in a Facebook post that the removal of Sudan from the list is effective as of Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. Delisting Sudan from the state sponsors blacklist is a key incentive for the Sudanese government to normalize relations with Israel. According to a Facebook post by the embassy, Sudan's removal was effective as of Monday. Delisting Sudan is also a key incentive for the government in Khartoum to normalize relations with Israel.
Trump, Congress avert shutdown, buy time for COVID-19 talks
Read full article: Trump, Congress avert shutdown, buy time for COVID-19 talks(Sarah Silbiger/Pool via AP)WASHINGTON ā President Donald Trump signed a temporary government-wide funding bill into law on Friday, averting a federal shutdown at midnight and buying Congress time for on-again, off-again talks on COVID-19 aid. The talks are stalled but there is universal agreement that Congress won't adjourn for the year without passing a long-delayed round of pandemic relief. Sending direct cash payments to households was not included in the bipartisan proposal or a lower cost plan from Senate Republicans that has failed twice. The bipartisan group tried to marry those two provisions as a compromise. It would send a $600 direct payment to most Americans but eliminate a $300-per-week employment benefit favored by the bipartisan group of Senate negotiators.
Watchdog raises possible Kushner link to $700M rescue loan
Read full article: Watchdog raises possible Kushner link to $700M rescue loanThe taxpayer-funded loan was made on the grounds that the company's operations are critical for maintaining national security. The panel members questioned the decision to deem YRCās business vital to national security. Ramamurti asked Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin whether he had had contacts with Kushner or his staff regarding the YRC loan. He called the loan to YRC āa fast-tracked, extremely generous loan that just so happened to helpā Apollo as YRCās creditor. To qualify for the national security aid, companies should be performing under defense contracts of the highest national priority or operating under top-secret security clearance.
US jobless claims jump to 853,000 amid resurgence of virus
Read full article: US jobless claims jump to 853,000 amid resurgence of virusThat's when two jobless aid programs that the federal government created in the spring are set to expire. The second program is the one that extends jobless aid for 13 weeks. A bipartisan group of senators has proposed to extend the supplemental aid for four months and add $300-a-week in federal jobless aid. But Mnuchinās proposal includes no funding for supplemental unemployment aid payments, drawing sharp objections from Democrats in Congress. He was able to cover all his bills when the federal government provided an extra $600 in jobless aid.
Congress stuck, McConnell resists state aid in COVID-19 deal
Read full article: Congress stuck, McConnell resists state aid in COVID-19 dealThe GOP leader criticized ācontroversial state bailoutsā during a speech in the Senate, as he insists on a more targeted aid package. McConnellās staff conveyed to other negotiators itās āunlikelyā the trade-off proposed by the bipartisan group would be acceptable, as COVID aid talks continue, according to a person granted anonymity to discuss the talks. The bipartisan lawmakers held another virtual ādinner groupā meeting late Thursday to try to prop up the deal. Democratic leaders had wanted far more in state and local aid, but were accepting of the lower $160 billion. It would send a $600 direct payment to most Americans but eliminate a $300-per-week employment benefit favored by the bipartisan group of Senate negotiators.
Lawmakers act to avert shutdown, buying time for COVID talks
Read full article: Lawmakers act to avert shutdown, buying time for COVID talksThe 343-67 vote sent the one-week bill to the Senate, where it's expected to easily pass before a deadline of midnight Friday to avert a partial government shutdown. meanwhile, are placing their bets on a bipartisan group of senators who are trying to iron out a $908 billion package. āThe bipartisan group provided a good foundation kind of a place to start from. And hopefully, the negotiations are real negotiations on what can ultimately pass the House, the Senate, and get signed," Thune said. President-elect Joe Biden is pressing for as much pandemic relief as possible, though he's not directly involved in the talks.
New White House offer adds $600 checks to COVID-19 relief
Read full article: New White House offer adds $600 checks to COVID-19 reliefTreasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin made the offer to Pelosi late Tuesday afternoon, he said in a statement. Mnuchin reached out to Pelosi after a call with top congressional GOP leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who remains at odds with Democratic leaders over COVID-19 relief. The $916 billion Mnuchin offer, the separate ongoing talks among key rank-and-file senators, and the shifting demands by the White House all add up to muddled, confusing prospects for a long-delayed COVID-19 aid package. McConnell said Congress will not adjourn without providing the long-overdue COVID-19 relief. Pelosi blasted McConnell's offer as an attempt to undercut the bipartisan group whose framework she supports as a foundation for the negotiations.
Asian stocks mixed after Wall St slips near record high
Read full article: Asian stocks mixed after Wall St slips near record highIn this photo provided by the New York Stock Exchange, specialist James Denaro works at his post on the trading floor, Thursday Dec. 3, 2020. U.S. stocks are inching further into record heights Thursday, as Wall Street continues to coast following its rocket ride last month powered by hopes for coming COVID-19 vaccines. The company told The Wall Street Journal testing and setting up a supply chain took longer than expected. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 slipped to 3,666.72. Brent crude, used to price international oils, was 91 cents higher to $49.62 per barrel in London.
Optimism growing for COVID relief bill as pressure builds
Read full article: Optimism growing for COVID relief bill as pressure buildsI think weāre both interested in getting an outcome, both on the omnibus and on a coronavirus package,ā McConnell said. Some conservatives, including Republicans from COVID hotspots like North Dakota and Iowa, said they were comfortable with an aid package carrying the almost $1 trillion price tag. Added Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.: āThereās a bipartisan package for $908 billion that will really help people." Biden is supporting an additional aid package that's as large as possible now. Any relief package would be attached to a $1.4 trillion year-end spending bill required to avert a government shutdown next weekend.
Fed and Treasury urge Congress to approve more virus relief
Read full article: Fed and Treasury urge Congress to approve more virus relief(Greg Nash/Pool via AP)WASHINGTON ā Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin urged Congress to approve COVID-19 relief funds without further delay, though Democrats continued to attack a decision by Mnuchin to allow five Fed lending programs to expire during the pandemic. In his most direct comments so far, Powell told the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday that it's āvery importantā for Congress to provide economic support. Without more assistance, Powell said, people will lose their homes and small businesses will fail. āWe are hearing from all over that small businesses are really under pressure," Powell told lawmakers. āThere is no justifiable reason for taking these tools away,ā Rep. Maxine Waters, chair of the House panel, told Mnuchin.
Biden, top Democrats swing behind bipartisan virus aid bill
Read full article: Biden, top Democrats swing behind bipartisan virus aid billBiden said the developing aid package "wouldnāt be the answer, but it would be the immediate help for a lot of things.ā He wants a relief bill to pass Congress now, with more aid to come next year. He has acknowledged that another infusion of aid to states and local governments, a key Pelosi demand, probably will pass eventually. His top deputy, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said GOP leaders might agree to merging the bipartisan proposal with McConnell's bill. Any relief package would be attached to a $1.4 trillion year-end spending bill required to avert a government shutdown next weekend. Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin struggled over a relief bill for weeks before the November election, discussing legislation of up to $2 trillion.
Mnuchin defends shut down of Fed emergency loan programs
Read full article: Mnuchin defends shut down of Fed emergency loan programs(AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool)WASHINGTON ā Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is defending his decision to close down a number of emergency Federal Reserve loan programs at a time when coronavirus cases are surging. Mnuchin argued that the programs he decided not to extend into next year were being lightly utilized. He said the $455 billion allocated for those Fed loan programs could be better used elsewhere if Congress moved the funds into relief programs for small businesses and unemployed workers. āYou appear to be trying to sabotage our economy on the way out the door,ā Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, told Mnuchin. The Treasury and the Fed announced on Monday that four other lending programs the Fed has been using would be extended through March.
Senate GOP leader sticking with partisan COVID relief plan
Read full article: Senate GOP leader sticking with partisan COVID relief planThe Kentucky Republican made the announcement after President-elect Joe Biden called upon lawmakers to pass a downpayment relief bill now with more to come next year. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi resumed talks with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin about a year-end spending package that could include COVID relief provisions. Lawmakers' bipartisan effort comes after a split-decision election delivered the White House to Democrats and gave Republicans down-ballot success. Pelosi and Mnuchin were discussing COVID relief and other end-of-session items, including a $1.4 trillion catchall government funding bill. Pelosi and Mnuchin grappled over a relief bill for weeks before the November election, discussing legislation of up to $2 trillion.
Unveiling economic team, Biden pledges, 'Help is on the way'
Read full article: Unveiling economic team, Biden pledges, 'Help is on the way'He picked liberal advisers who have long prioritized the nationās workers and government efforts to address economic inequality. Biden repeatedly evoked his work as vice president when the Obama administration oversaw the economic recovery following the 2008 financial crisis, noting that many of those on his newly formed economic team worked closely with him then. āWe might have to ask Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote a musical about the first secretary of the treasury, Hamilton, to write another musical about the female secretary of the treasury,ā Biden joked. The president-elect also selected Wally Adeyemo to be Yellenās deputy, which would make him the first Black deputy treasury secretary. As he has in recent weeks, Biden repeated calls for Congress to pass immediate pandemic relief funding even before he takes office.
Asian shares mixed after S&P 500 sets fresh record high
Read full article: Asian shares mixed after S&P 500 sets fresh record highAsian markets are mixed after the U.S. benchmark S&P 500 set another record. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)BEIJING ā Asian shares advanced Wednesday after Wall Street kicked off December with more milestones, as a broad rally pushed the S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite to new highs. Overnight, the S&P 500 gained 1.1% to 3,662.45, with Big Tech companies and banks driving a big part of the rally. Members put off from Tuesday to Thursday a meeting with non-OPEC oil producers like Russia, who have been coordinating their actions with the cartel in recent years to increase their influence. The pandemic has sapped demand for fuel across the economy, leading oil producers to cut back production this year to keep prices from sagging even further.
Congress returns with virus aid, federal funding unresolved
Read full article: Congress returns with virus aid, federal funding unresolvedThe only absolute must-do business is preventing a government shutdown when a temporary spending bill expires on Dec. 11. But it may be difficult to overcome bitter divisions regarding a long-delayed COVID-19 relief package that's a top priority of business, state and local governments, educators and others. Time is working against lawmakers as well, as is the Capitol's emerging status as a COVID-19 hotspot. That's a typical way to deal with a handoff to a new administration, but McConnell and Pelosi are two veterans of the Capitol's appropriations culture and are pressing hard for a catchall spending package. The aid remains out of reach despite a fragile economy and out-of-control increases in coronavirus cases, especially in Midwest GOP strongholds.
Analysis: Biden prioritizes experience with Cabinet picks
Read full article: Analysis: Biden prioritizes experience with Cabinet picksPresident-elect Joe Bidens first wave of Cabinet picks and choices for his White House staff have prized staying power over star power, with a premium placed on government experience and proficiency as he looks to rebuild a depleted and demoralized federal bureaucracy. President-elect Joe Biden has prized staying power over star power when making his first wave of Cabinet picks and choices for White House staff, with a premium placed on government experience and proficiency as he looks to rebuild a depleted and demoralized federal bureaucracy. āCollectively, this team has secured some of the most defining national security and diplomatic achievements in recent memory ā made possible through decades of experience working with our partners,ā Biden said Tuesday as he unveiled his national security team. His choice for national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, was the deputy to that post under President Barack Obama. ___EDITOR'S NOTE ā Jonathan Lemire has covered the White House and national politics for The Associated Press since 2013.
Asian shares mostly rise on virus vaccine, Yellen hopes
Read full article: Asian shares mostly rise on virus vaccine, Yellen hopesThe latest vaccine developments are also helping to raise hopes that some normalcy will eventually be restored to everyday life and the economy. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% to 3,577.59 on Monday. Roughly 73% of the stocks in the S&P 500 rose. Even with its weekly decline last week, the S&P 500 is on track for a 9.4% gain this month. The string of upbeat news about vaccine development has been butting up against increased caution as the virus continues to threaten the economy.
Asian stocks rise ahead of US economic data amid virus fears
Read full article: Asian stocks rise ahead of US economic data amid virus fearsBEIJING ā Asian stocks rose Monday as investors looked ahead to quarterly U.S. economic data amid unease about anti-coronavirus curbs on business and wrangling over the American presidential election. Investors looked ahead to third-quarter U.S. economic growth data due out Wednesday after Wall Streetās benchmark S&P 500 index ended last week down as rising infection numbers collided with optimism about a possible vaccine. He noted U.S. economic data are ābeginning to wobble a bit.āThe Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.6% to 3,397.32 while the Hang Seng in Hong Kong lost 0.2% to 26,388.89. Those hopes have been tempered by the reality of the weeks or months required to test, produce and distribute a possible vaccine even if it is successful. Also Monday, Singapore revised up its third-quarter economic growth to a contraction of 5.8% over a year earlier, an improvement from the previous estimate of a 7% drop.
Wall Street slips amid worries about worsening pandemic
Read full article: Wall Street slips amid worries about worsening pandemicIn this photo provided by the New York Stock Exchange, a trader works on the floor during the IPO of Omnichannel Acquisition Corporation, Friday, Nov. 20, 2020. U.S. stocks are pulling a bit lower in midday trading Friday as worries about the worsening pandemic weigh on rising optimism about a coming coronavirus vaccine. (Courtney Crow/New York Stock Exchange via AP)
Mnuchin denies trying to hinder incoming administration
Read full article: Mnuchin denies trying to hinder incoming administrationMnuchin on Friday, Nov. 20 denied that he is trying to limit the choices President-elect Joe Biden will have to promote an economic recovery by ending several emergency loan programs being run by the Federal Reserve. Mnuchin said his decision was based on the fact that the programs were not being heavily utilized. āWe're not trying to hinder anything,ā Mnuchin said in a CNBC interview. Private economists argued that Mnuchin's decision to end five of the emergency loan facilities represents an economic risk. In his letter to Powell, Mnuchin said that he is requesting that the Fed return to Treasury the unused funds appropriated by Congress.
Mnuchin rejects renewal of some Fed emergency loan programs
Read full article: Mnuchin rejects renewal of some Fed emergency loan programsUnder law, the loan facilities required the support of the Treasury Department, which serves as a backstop for the initial losses the programs might incur. Mnuchin said that he is requesting that the Fed return to Treasury the unused funds appropriated by Congress for operation of the programs. In public remarks Tuesday, Powell made clear that he hoped that the loan programs would remain in effect for the foreseeable future. The future of the Main Street and Municipal Lending programs has taken on greater importance with President-elect Joe Bidenās victory. Neither program has lived up to its potential so far, with the Municipal Lending program making just one loan, while the Main Street program has made loans totaling around $4 billion to about 400 companies.
Post-election rancor clouds chances for COVID relief bill
Read full article: Post-election rancor clouds chances for COVID relief billāItās most unfortunate that the Republicans have decided that they will not respect the will of the people,ā Pelosi told reporters. Trump hasn't talked or tweeted much about COVID since the election, and has instead focused on grievances about the results. āWe need another COVID relief bill," said moderate GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. Congress virtually unanimously passed a $1.8 trillion COVID rescue bill in March, but top leaders and the administration have fought for months over what another installment of relief should entail. Pelosi and Schumer, meanwhile, continue to press COVID relief proposals like more than $400 billion in aid to state and local governments that McConnell won't go for.
Tech losses drive Wall Street down again, ending grim week
Read full article: Tech losses drive Wall Street down again, ending grim weekBEIJING ā Wall Street closed out another punishing week Friday with the S&P 500 posting its first back-to-back monthly loss since the pandemic first gripped the economy in March. The S&P 500 dropped 1.2% and ended the week with a 5.6% loss, its worst in seven months. President Donald Trump often cites the stock market as a barometer of his administrationās performance on the economy. A similar trend has been occurring across the market: Stocks are not getting the bounce they usually do after reporting results that beat analysts' expectations. A measure of fear in the U.S. stock market, the VIX index, flipped between small gains and losses before rising 1.1%.
Pelosi, Trump administration trade blame over virus aid
Read full article: Pelosi, Trump administration trade blame over virus aidPelosi sent Mnuchin a letter faulting Republicans for the failed talks, which ground on for three months and cratered in the final days before the election. āAs the coronavirus surges and the stock market plummets, we are still awaiting the Trump Administrationās promised responses on multiple items of critical importance,ā Pelosi wrote. The White House said Pelosi is uninterested in compromising on major issues. Recent weeks of secretive talks have been accompanied by lots of optimistic rhetoric from Pelosi and at times from her administration counterparts ā but no results. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell advised Trump against a deal before the election, warning it would divide Republicans.
Asian shares fall back after Wall Street rebound
Read full article: Asian shares fall back after Wall Street reboundAsian stocks sank Friday as investors looked ahead to next week's U.S. presidential election and weighed the chances of economic stimulus from Washington and Europe. Investors have been dismayed by the lack of progress in talks between the White House and Congress on new U.S. stimulus. The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo fell 0.8% to 23,146.37 and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong lost 0.3% to 24,521.86. On Wall Street, the benchmark S&P 500 index rose 1.2% to 3,310.11, helped by a rebound for tech stocks as the market steadied after its worst drop in four months. The index fell 3.5% on Wednesday on worries an upsurge in coronavirus infections could drag down the economy again.
Asian stocks fall on worries over rising virus cases, US aid
Read full article: Asian stocks fall on worries over rising virus cases, US aidPeople wearing face masks walk past a bank's electronic board showing the Hong Kong share index in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020. Asian shares headed lower Wednesday on worries about rising virus counts and Washington's inability to deliver more aid to the economy. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)Asian shares headed lower Wednesday on worries about rising virus counts and Washington's inability to deliver more aid to the economy. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 0.3% in morning trading to 23,420.93, while South Korea's Kospi declined 0.2% to 2,325.22. The U.S. dollar weakened to 104.30 Japanese yen from 104.41 yen late Tuesday.
Trump: Sudan to join UAE, Bahrain in recognizing Israel
Read full article: Trump: Sudan to join UAE, Bahrain in recognizing IsraelIn exchange, Trump notified Congress on Friday of his intent to remove Sudan from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. Previously, the Trump administration engineered diplomatic pacts between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain ā the first since Jordan recognized Israel in the 1990s and Egypt in the 1970s. āThis is one of the great days in the history of Sudan,ā Trump said, adding that Israel and Sudan have been in a state of hostilities for decades, even if they had not been in direct conflict. āToday, Khartoum is saying yes to peace with Israel, yes to recognition of Israel and yes to normalization with Israel," Netanyahu said. "This is a new era, an era of true peace ā peace that is proceeding and widening with additional Arab countries.
US stocks shake off a wobbly start and end mostly higher
Read full article: US stocks shake off a wobbly start and end mostly higherU.S. stock indexes closed mostly higher Friday, though the S&P 500 posted its first weekly loss in four weeks. Treasury yields remained near their highest levels since June. Before this week, the S&P 500 had notched a weekly gain three weeks in a row. American Express fell 3.6% and chipmaker Intel sank 10.6%, the biggest decline in the S&P 500, after reporting weakness in its data center business. Treasury yields dipped but remain near their highest levels since June.
Asian shares, US futures gain after last Trump-Biden debate
Read full article: Asian shares, US futures gain after last Trump-Biden debateShares were mostly higher in Asia on Friday after President Donald Trump and his challenger former Vice President Joe Biden faced off in their second and final debate before the Nov. 3 election. āMeanwhile, discussion relevant to the post-election economic outlook was limited, particularly from President Trump." U.S. stock futures shifted from modest losses to less than 0.1% gains in the debate's aftermath. India's Sensex rose 0.3% and shares rose in Southeast Asia. Align Technology, which makes Invisalign teeth straighteners, surged 35% for the biggest gain in the S&P 500 after its earnings report blew past Wall Streetās expectations.
Pandemic relief talks inch ahead but McConnell is resistant
Read full article: Pandemic relief talks inch ahead but McConnell is resistantThe architect of the Senate measure, McConnell, isnt claiming the vote will advance the ball. said Senate GOP Whip John Thune of South Dakota. The Pelosi-Mnuchin talks also involve pandemic jobless aid, the second round of $1,200 direct payments, and money for schools, testing and vaccines. Senate Republicans are recoiling at both the size of the measure and Pelosi's demands, even as Trump is beating the drums for an agreement. But the Senate GOP bill has failed once before, and Trump himself says it's too puny.
McConnell warns White House against COVID relief deal
Read full article: McConnell warns White House against COVID relief dealCongress is past the point at which it can deliver more coronavirus aid soon, with differences between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Republicans and President Donald Trump proving insurmountable. McConnell on Tuesday told fellow Republicans that he has warned the White House not to divide Republicans by sealing a lopsided $2 trillion relief deal with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi before the election ā even as he publicly said he'd slate any such agreement for a vote. said Senate GOP Whip John Thune of South Dakota. Senate Republicans are recoiling at both the size of the measure and Pelosi's demands, even as Trump is beating the drums for an agreement. But the Senate GOP bill has failed once before, and Trump himself says it's too puny.
Deadline looms, but COVID relief deal may be far off
Read full article: Deadline looms, but COVID relief deal may be far offShe said the two sides would take stock on Tuesday, which she has staked out as the deadline if a deal is to be reached before the election. Pelosi is angling for the best deal she can get ā maybe thatās now, maybe itās later. And if history is any guide, prospects for a deal in the lame-duck session after the election could be dim. But the Senate GOP bill has failed once before, and Trump himself says it's too puny. For months she has been promising a COVID relief package of more than $2 trillion stuffed with Obama-era stimulus ideas.
US, Israeli envoys fly to Bahrain to advance nascent ties
Read full article: US, Israeli envoys fly to Bahrain to advance nascent tiesThe national flags of Bahrain, Israel and America, flutter in near the Israeli flag carrier El Al plane that will fly an Israeli delegation, accompanied by U.S. aides, to Bahrain to formalise relations and broaden Gulf cooperation, at Ben Gurion airport in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020. (Ronen Zvulun/Pool Photo via AP)
Israel, Bahrain sign deal establishing formal ties
Read full article: Israel, Bahrain sign deal establishing formal ties(Ronen Zvulun/Pool Photo via AP)JERUSALEM ā Israel and Bahrain on Sunday agreed to establish formal diplomatic relations, making the small Gulf country the fourth Arab state to normalize ties with Israel. While the UAEās deal with Israel formally established ties, the agreement with Bahrain was less detailed and included a mutual pledge to follow suit. āToday we made the first formal step in bringing closer ties between the countries,ā Ben-Shabbat said. Egypt and Jordan are the only other two Arab states to sign diplomatic treaties with Israel, in 1979 and 1994, respectively. Other Arab countries could follow suit, with analysts and insiders pointing to Sudan, Oman and Morocco as possibilities.
IMF warns global economy could be permanently scarred
Read full article: IMF warns global economy could be permanently scarredWASHINGTON ā The global economy's recovery from the pandemic recession is tentative and uneven and āmarked by significant uncertaintyā as confirmed coronavirus cases spread in many countries, international finance ministers warned Thursday. āThe crisis threatens to leave long-lasting scars on the global economy, such as weaker productivity growth, heavier debt burdens, heightened financial vulnerabilities and higher poverty and inequality,ā the IMF panel said. The IMF panel urged the G-20 to go further and adopt at a meeting next month a framework for managing the crushing debt burdens of many low-income countries. Eric LeCompte, executive director of the international aid group Jubilee USA Network, said more debt relief and and other steps must be taken. China, a major creditor country, has been criticized by international aid groups for not doing enough to grant debt relief to low-income countries.
Asian shares mixed amid 2nd wave coronavirus, election fears
Read full article: Asian shares mixed amid 2nd wave coronavirus, election fearsAsian shares were mixed on Friday as investors weighed concerns about the U.S. presidential election and an economic stimulus package, on top of fears of flaring outbreaks of coronavirus. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)BEIJING ā Asian shares were mixed on Friday as investors weighed concerns about the U.S. presidential election and an economic stimulus package, on top of fears of flaring outbreaks of coronavirus. Investors are also looking ahead to the release of data on the Chinese economy next week. Coronavirus infections are rising in Europe, prompting governments in France and Britain to impose new measures to contain the outbreak. Stocks have been mostly climbing this month, but have pulled back this week as ongoing talks between Democrats and Republicans on an economic stimulus package have foundered.
Asian stocks follow Wall St lower as stimulus hopes fade
Read full article: Asian stocks follow Wall St lower as stimulus hopes fadeStocks are pulling slightly higher in the early going on Wall Street, Wednesday, Oct. 14, as investors pore over another batch of earnings reports from big U.S. companies. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)Asian stocks followed Wall Street lower on Thursday as hopes U.S. leaders will agree on a new economic stimulus before the Nov. 3 presidential election faded. The Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.1% to 3,337.51 and the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo fell 0.5% to 23,517.63. On Wall Street, companies that rely on consumer spending, banks and technology and communication stocks bore the brunt of the selling. Wells Fargo dropped 6% after its earnings were lower than Wall Street expected.
McConnell slates October revote on GOP COVID relief plan
Read full article: McConnell slates October revote on GOP COVID relief planThey say anything short of their multi-trillion-dollar wish list, jammed with non-COVID-related demands, is āpiecemeal' and not worth doing," McConnell said in a statement. Under Senate rules, McConnell can call for a revote on the September legislation, which was filibustered by Democrats as insufficient. She defended her hardline position on a Tuesday conference call with fellow Democrats, claiming Democrats have more leverage than ever. Talks on the latest potential round of COVID relief began in July, collapsed in August, and were revived last month. They then cratered again on Saturday after Trump's latest $1.8 trillion proposal took heavy fire from both Democrats and Trump's GOP allies.
White House virus aid offer is panned by Pelosi, Senate GOP
Read full article: White House virus aid offer is panned by Pelosi, Senate GOPScott Applewhite)WASHINGTON ā A new White House coronavirus aid offer got bad reviews from both ends of the political spectrum on Saturday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., rejected the most generous Trump administration plan to date as āone step forward, two steps back." The White House had boosted its offer before Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Pelosi spoke on Friday afternoon. The White House says its most recent offer before that was about $1.6 trillion. It's clear from Saturday's Senate GOP conference call that the skepticism or outright opposition hasn't changed.
White House ups virus aid offer, resumes talks with Pelosi
Read full article: White House ups virus aid offer, resumes talks with PelosiTrump on Friday took to Twitter to declare: āCovid Relief Negotiations are moving along. The White House says its most recent prior offer was about $1.6 trillion. White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told reporters Friday that ādevelopments are positiveā and that āthe bid and the offer have narrowedā in advance of a the telephone conversation later Friday between Pelosi and Mnuchin. āWe do need another rescue package," McConnell said. The White House is short-staffed and dealing with infections among its employees.
Stocks climb, closing out biggest weekly gain in 3 months
Read full article: Stocks climb, closing out biggest weekly gain in 3 monthsThe benchmark index ended the week with a 3.8% gain, its strongest rally since early July. On Friday the White House increased its offer to $1.8 trillion, up from $1.6 trillion, according to a Republican aide familiar with the plan. If the Democrats sweep the White House, Senate and House of Representatives, the thinking is that theyāll likely approve stimulus for the economy. Airline stocks climbed at the start of trading, only to drop quickly and then rise again. European markets rose, while Asian indexes ended mixed.
In 25th Amendment bid, Pelosi mulls Trump's fitness to serve
Read full article: In 25th Amendment bid, Pelosi mulls Trump's fitness to serveSpeaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., meets with reporters at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. Negotiations between Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin for an additional coronavirus aid package were abruptly halted last week by President Donald Trump. Just weeks before the Nov. 3 election, Pelosi said Trump needs to disclose more about his health after his COVID-19 diagnosis. It all came in a head-spinning series of tweets and comments days after he returned to the White House after his hospitalization with COVID-19. The White House presented a $1.6 trillion counter offer.
In 25th Amendment bid, Pelosi mulls Trump's fitness to serve
Read full article: In 25th Amendment bid, Pelosi mulls Trump's fitness to serveSpeaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., meets with reporters at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. Negotiations between Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin for an additional coronavirus aid package were abruptly halted last week by President Donald Trump. Just weeks before the Nov. 3 election, Pelosi said Trump needs to disclose more about his health after his COVID-19 diagnosis. It all came in a head-spinning series of tweets and comments days after he returned to the White House after his hospitalization with COVID-19. The White House presented a $1.6 trillion counter offer.
In about-face, Trump seeks to salvage parts of virus aid
Read full article: In about-face, Trump seeks to salvage parts of virus aidThe stock market fell precipitously after Trump pulled the plug on the talks but was recovering Wednesday after he floated the idea of piecemeal aid. Pelosi told reporters that āall the president wants is his name on a checkā for direct aid payments. Pelosi had been demanding a host of Democratic priorities on food aid, unemployment benefits, help for renters and homeowners, and aid to state and local governments. Republicans charged that she was dragging out the talks to deny Trump a political victory before the Nov. 3 election. Early rounds of virus aid passed by overwhelming margins as the economy went into lockdown in March.