Tag: Government business and finance
‘Your Land’? Some Native Americans question inaugural song
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — On the first day of Joe Biden's presidency, Native Americans had reason to celebrate. Biden halted construction of the border...
Biden Cabinet: Buttigieg urges big funds for Transportation
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s nominee for secretary of transportation, Pete Buttigieg, was headed down a smooth path to quick confirmation, pledging to...
European Central Bank stimulus on track as economy struggles
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — With more than a trillion euros in stimulus still in the pipeline to the economy, the European Central Bank left...
US jobless claims decline to a still-high 900,000
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell slightly last week to 900,000, still a historically high level that points to...
Biden puts U.S. back into fight to slow global warming
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden returned the United States to the worldwide fight to slow global warming in one of his first official...
Keystone XL pipeline halted as Biden revokes permit
TORONTO (AP) — Construction on the long disputed Keystone XL oil pipeline halted Wednesday as incoming U.S. President Joe Biden revoked its permit on...
Trump pardons in California extend to former congressman
LOS ANGELES (AP) — When then-Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham admitted in 2005 to accepting $2.4 million in illegal gifts from defense contractors in exchange...
Trump’s pardon largesse a boon for well-connected fraudsters
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former congressman who pocketed millions of dollars in bribes from defense contractors. A Republican fundraiser who was paid handsome sums...
Music stars slam UK’s ‘shameful’ failure on EU touring rules
LONDON (AP) — Dozens of U.K. music stars including Elton John, Ed Sheeran and conductor Simon Rattle say musicians have been “shamefully failed” by...
China labels Pompeo ‘doomsday clown’ over genocide claims
BEIJING (AP) — China’s Foreign Ministry described outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday as a “doomsday clown” and said his designation...
Pompeo says China’s policies on Muslims amount to ‘genocide’
WASHINGTON (AP) — On his way out the door, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lashed out anew at China on Tuesday by declaring that...
Jack’s back: Chinese e-tycoon ends silence with online video
BEIJING (AP) — China’s highest-profile entrepreneur, Jack Ma, appeared Wednesday in an online video, ending a 2 1/2-month absence from public view that prompted...
Biden charts new US direction, promises many Trump reversals
WASHINGTON (AP) — Stop. Stabilize. Then move — but in a vastly different direction.
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Japan shares fall on pandemic worries as rest of Asia rises
TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher Wednesday, ahead of Joe Biden's inauguration as U.S. president. Japan's benchmark lost early gains as worries...
Extremists exploit a loophole in social moderation: Podcasts
Major social platforms have been cracking down on the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories in the leadup to the presidential election, and expanded...
Deal offers more banking services for California pot firms
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California cannabis industry group announced Tuesday that it reached an agreement with a state credit union that will provide...
Federal court strikes down major Trump climate rollback
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a last-minute slap at President Donald Trump, a federal appeals court struck down one of his administration’s most momentous climate...
UK: ‘Genocide’ clause to China trade deals narrowly defeated
LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson narrowly avoided a defeat in Parliament on Tuesday after lawmakers voted against a controversial proposal seeking...
Supreme Court takes on early stage of global warming case
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday seemed cautious about siding with oil and gas companies in a case involving global warming.
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Yellen pushes GOP senators on $1.9 trillion relief package
WASHINGTON (AP) — Janet Yellen, President-elect Joe Biden's choice as Treasury secretary, said Tuesday that the incoming administration would focus on winning quick passage...
Turkey slaps advertising ban on Twitter, Pinterest
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey on Tuesday slapped advertising bans on Twitter, Periscope and Pinterest over their non-compliance with a controversial new law that...
12 Kosovo officials acquitted of paying phony war veterans
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — A court in Kosovo on Tuesday acquitted a dozen former government officials of misusing public money in benefits payments to...
Thai leader threatens punishment for false vaccine news
BANGKOK (AP) — Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha warned Tuesday that his government will prosecute anyone who shares false information about coronavirus vaccines in...
Germany’s 2020 borrowing comes in well short of forecast
BERLIN (AP) — Germany borrowed 130.5 billion euros ($157.5 billion) last year as it loosened budget rules to help finance pandemic-related rescue and stimulus...
Yellen urges Congress to do more to fight pandemic recession
WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen is calling on Congress to do more to fight a deep pandemic-induced recession, saying the threats...
Biden’s test: Engineering economic boom in a partisan divide
BALTIMORE (AP) — When Joe Biden entered the White House as vice president, the economy was cratering. Job losses were mounting. Stocks were crashing....
Biden picks Chopra, Gensler for financial oversight roles
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden has chosen Rohit Chopra to be the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, tapping a progressive ally...
Canada OKs return of Boeing 737 Max aircraft
MONTREAL (AP) — The Boeing 737 Max can return to Canadian airspace beginning Wednesday, officials said, concluding nearly two years of government review after...
Facebook bows to Turkish demand to name local representative
ISTANBUL (AP) — Facebook announced Monday it has begun the process of assigning a legal entity in Turkey to comply with a controversial law...
UK seafood trucks protest at Parliament over Brexit red tape
LONDON (AP) — Trucks owned by U.K. shellfish firms descended on Britain's Parliament Monday to protest the Brexit-related red tape they claim is suffocating...
What Biden can and can’t get from an evenly divided Senate
WASHINGTON (AP) — So what does a 50-50 Senate get President-elect Joe Biden?
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N. Korea’s parliament rubber stamps new development plans
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea’s rubber-stamp parliament has passed decisions made by a major ruling party meeting where leader Kim Jong Un...
California COVID-19 benefits fraud could reach $9.8 billion
LOS ANGELES (AP) — California may have paid out nearly $10 billion in phony coronavirus unemployment claims — more than double the previous estimate...
Trump’s presidency not just a blip in US foreign policy
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden’s plan to scrap President Donald Trump’s vision of “America First” in favor of “diplomacy first” will depend on...
NRA declares bankruptcy, plans to incorporate in Texas
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The National Rifle Association announced Friday it has filed for bankruptcy protection and will seek to incorporate the nation’s most...
California bill would ban intersex surgery for young kids
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A California lawmaker is trying again to ban some medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex children until they are at least...
Stocks fall as economic pain deepens, rally runs out of gas
NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street closed out its first losing week in three with another drop on Friday after reports showed the pandemic...
Biden’s aid plan could revamp economy, prompt GOP resistance
BALTIMORE (AP) — The $1.9 trillion rescue plan unveiled by President-elect Joe Biden offers the chance to sculpt the U.S. economy toward the Democrats’...
Oil giant Total withdraws from US energy lobbying group
PARIS (AP) — French oil and gas company Total said it has decided to withdraw from energy association American Petroleum Institute because it disagrees...
The buck stops here: Dutch govt quits over welfare scandal
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and his entire Cabinet resigned Friday to take political responsibility for a scandal involving...
Pentagon says US has dropped to 2,500 troops in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military has met its goal of reducing the number of troops in Afghanistan to about 2,500 by Friday, a...
Biden taps former FDA chief Kessler to lead vaccine science
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden has picked a former Food and Drug commissioner to lead vaccine science in his drive to put 100...
Biden picks familiar faces for top roles at FEMA, CIA
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden is nominating New York emergency department commissioner Deanne Criswell to serve as the Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator...
Asian shares mixed following Biden speech, Wall St retreat
Asian shares were mixed on Friday after a late slide in several Big Tech stocks left major indexes lower on Wall Street.
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Most major US airlines ban guns in luggage for DC flights
Airlines and airports say they are stepping up security before next week's presidential inauguration, with Delta and other major airlines saying they will prohibit...
VIRUS TODAY: Unemployment claims in US rise to 965,000
Here’s what’s happening Thursday with the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S.:
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Powell signals Fed will keep aiding economy with bond buying
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell sought Thursday to tamp down any concerns that the Fed might soon withdraw some of its...
For first time in 5 years, US gas mileage down, emissions up
DETROIT (AP) — A new government report says gas mileage for new vehicles dropped and pollution increased in model year 2019 for the first...
Google muscles up with Fitbit deal amid antitrust concerns
SAN RAMON, Calif. (AP) — Google has completed its $2.1 billion acquisition of fitness-gadget maker Fitbit, a deal that could help the internet company...
US long-term mortgage rates rise; 30-year at 2.79%
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. long-term mortgage rates rose this week in an indication that the long period of record-low rates could soon be over....
Connecticut probing Amazon’s e-book deals with publishers
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut authorities are investigating whether Amazon's e-book deals with certain publishers are anticompetitive and violate antitrust laws, state Attorney General...
UK fishers cry foul as Brexit red tape leaves catch rotting
LONDON (AP) — British fishing communities were among the strongest supporters of Brexit. But now some say they face ruin because of new red...
US unemployment claims jump to 965,000 as virus takes toll
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of people seeking unemployment aid soared last week to 965,000, the most since late August and a sign that...
China demands US lift Xinjiang cotton, tomato import ban
BEIJING (AP) — China on Thursday demanded Washington drop a ban on cotton and tomato imports from its Muslim northwest over complaints they are...
Leaders like UK’s Johnson who wooed Trump face tricky reset
LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said a lot of nice things about Donald Trump over the years, from expressing admiration...
China 2020 exports up despite virus; surplus surges to $535B
BEIJING (AP) — China’s exports rose in 2020 despite pressure from the coronavirus and a tariff war with Washington, boosting its politically volatile trade...
Asian shares mixed after lackluster day on Wall Street
Shares were mostly higher in Asia on Thursday after a lackluster day on Wall Street, where major indexes spent the day drifting up and...
California heat, poor planning led to August power outages
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Energy regulators on Wednesday blamed blackouts last summer that affected hundreds of thousands of Californians on poor planning, electrical market...
Illinois replaces longest-serving legislative leader in US
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois House on Wednesday elected its first Black speaker to replace the longest-serving legislative leader in modern U.S. history,...
Proposed corporate tax hike in California would aid homeless
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A California coalition is proposing legislation to boost taxes on wealthy multinational corporations to raise more than $2 billion a...
Defiance of virus dining bans grows as restaurants flounder
BORING, Ore. (AP) — A line formed out the door during the lunch rush at the Carver Hangar, a family-owned restaurant and sports bar,...
YouTube suspends Trump’s channel for at least a week
HONG KONG (AP) — YouTube suspended U.S. President Donald Trump’s channel for at least a week amid concerns over “ongoing potential for violence,” making...
US budget deficit up 60.7% in first 3 months of budget year
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government's deficit in the first three months of the budget year was a record-breaking $572.9 billion, 60.7% higher than...
Ivanka Trump’s global women’s program halfway toward goal
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ivanka Trump's global women's development program is about halfway toward its goal of helping 50 million women in developing countries advance...
France’s hopes lift as US freezes tariffs over tech tax
PARIS (AP) — France’s government breathed a sigh of relief Friday after the U.S. indefinitely delayed tariffs on French cosmetics and other goods designed...
Asian stocks mixed after Wall St rebounds from uncertainty
BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets were mixed Wednesday after Wall Street rebounded, shrugging off uncertainty about a possible new attempt to impeach President...
India’s top court suspends implementation of new farm laws
NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s top court on Tuesday temporarily put on hold the implementation of agricultural reform laws and ordered the creation of...
Some Uber, Lyft drivers sue over California ballot measure
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Drivers for app-based ride-hailing and delivery services filed a lawsuit Tuesday to overturn a California ballot initiative that makes them...
Covered California nears 1.6 million enrollment amid virus
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Nearly 1.6 million people have purchased health insurance through Covered California, state officials said Tuesday, a number that reflects the...
IRS gets more relief payments out after delays
The IRS said that after initial problems, it is getting more of the second round of relief payments to taxpayers.
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Emmert: NCAA still expecting to get pay issue done in ’21
NCAA President Mark Emmert expressed frustration Tuesday with the delay in moving ahead with proposals surrounding athletes' ability to make money and to freely...
Right-wing app Parler booted off internet over ties to siege
The conservative-friendly social network Parler was booted off the internet Monday over ties to last week’s siege on the U.S. Capitol, but not before...
Twitter without Trump tumbles along with other tech shares
Shares of social media and other tech companies slid Monday, hit by fallout from the siege on the U.S. Capitol by supporter of President...
Stocks slip as Wall Street takes a breather after 4-day run
Stocks pulled back on Wall Street Monday as markets around the world paused following record-setting runs.
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Zimbabwe bans traditional funerals to battle COVID-19 spike
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe, battling a spike in new COVID-19 cases, has banned families from transporting their dead relatives between cities, as part...
Trump-supporting Christian leaders and their Sunday messages
Support for President Donald Trump has been consistently strong among evangelicals, with some professing that he has been the best friend Christians have had...
Parler squeezed as Trump seeks new online megaphone
President Donald Trump has been kicked off of most mainstream social media platforms following his supporters’ siege on the U.S. Capitol. But it remains...
Possible virus exposure for lawmakers sheltering during riot
WASHINGTON (AP) — House lawmakers may have been exposed to someone testing positive for COVID-19 while they sheltered at an undisclosed location during the...
New law cracks down on shell companies to combat corruption
MIAMI (AP) — For years as a federal prosecutor in New York, Daniel R. Alonso led teams that had to search through a maze...
Syria temporarily cuts supplies of fuel to meet shortages
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s petroleum ministry on Sunday blamed U.S. sanctions for forcing it to cut by up to 24% its distribution of...
Trump to visit U.S.-Mexico border to laud border wall
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is expected to travel to the U.S.-Mexico border on Tuesday to highlight his administration's work on the border...
Squelched by Twitter, Trump seeks new online megaphone
BOSTON (AP) — One Twitter wag joked about lights flickering on and off at the White House being Donald Trump signaling to his followers...
After DOJ warning, NCAA to delay vote on compensation rules
MIAMI (AP) — The NCAA is set to delay a potential landmark vote on legislation that would permit college athletes to be compensated for...
Twitter bans Trump, citing risk of violent incitement
Twitter banned President Donald Trump's account Friday, citing “the risk of further incitement of violence" following the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on...
The Latest: Seattle probes officers about Washington rally
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the fallout of the storming of the Capitol by a mob of pro-Trump loyalists (all times local):
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California governor’s budget booms despite pandemic problems
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California is again swimming in money.
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Newsom defends California business climate, status of rich
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gov. Gavin Newsom forcefully pushed back Friday on criticisms that California is becoming unfriendly for business, pointing to “all the...
California budget urges $90 billion for schools, reopening
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed Friday a $90 billion budget aimed at helping schools rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, as...
Stock market shakes off a slump to reach more record highs
Wall Street notched more milestones Friday as the market largely shrugged off another discouraging jobs report amid expectations that the incoming Biden administration will...
For nurses, California’s virus outbreak has a personal toll
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — For Caroline Brandenburger, the coronavirus outbreak that has overwhelmed California hospitals comes with a very personal toll.
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California budget plan includes $15 billion in one-time windfall as wealthier residents avoid effects...
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California budget plan includes $15 billion in one-time windfall as wealthier residents avoid effects of pandemic.
Fed transcripts show doubts about need for 2015 rate hike
WASHINGTON (AP) — Newly released transcripts show that many Federal Reserve officials had concerns in late 2015 over whether they were making a mistake...
Companies say post-Brexit rules are clogging up UK-EU trade
LONDON (AP) — Some businesses said Friday that costs and paperwork are hampering trade between Britain and the European Union as the reality of...
US loses 140,000 jobs, first monthly drop since spring
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers shed jobs last month for the first time since April, cutting 140,000 positions, clear evidence that the economy is...
California bypasses tough nurse care rules amid virus surge
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Nerissa Black was already having a hard time tending to four COVID-19 patients who need constant heart monitoring. But because...
Asian shares mostly up on Wall Street rally, stimulus hopes
TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher Friday on hopes for additional economic stimulus after U.S. Congress confirmed Joe Biden as the winner...
Biden picks Rhode Island Gov. Raimondo as commerce secretary
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden has picked Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo to lead the Commerce Department, helping set trade policy and promote...
Conservative media decry Capitol riot, but grievances remain
NEW YORK (AP) — Media outlets that appeal to conservatives offered condemnations, explanations and deflections following the U.S. Capitol riot by President Donald Trump's...
Ugandan police confront Bobi Wine during online briefing
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Police in Uganda confronted popular opposition presidential candidate Bobi Wine during his online press conference Thursday to announce a petition...
Media captures unprecedented storming of U.S. Capitol
NEW YORK (AP) — The storming of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump played out on television in searing fashion...
