Biden names national security official to oversee global health security January 8, 2021 President-elect Joe Biden plans to add a senior national security official to oversee global health security. This government position was cut by the Trump administration in 2018, two years prior to the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Biden’s transition team in a statement released today said it would hire former White House national security official [...]
Before the Bell: Equities and copper are on a roll January 8, 2021 Equity markets in Europe and the US enjoyed rallies yesterday as traders bought stocks on the back of the view that the future Biden administration will be keen to use stimulus packages to support the economy. In late December, lawmakers signed off on a $900bn relief package but in October, Nancy Pelosi, of the Democrats, [...]
Defending the rulebook: Overcoming America’s Darkest Day January 7, 2021 This is a time for elemental thoughts. Following one of the darkest days in the history of the American Republic, when an armed mob set in motion by Donald Trump marched on the capitol, ransacking it, and pressured lawmakers to overturn the 2020 election results (words I never, ever thought I’d write), it is time [...]
Before the Bell: Bulls in control, calm restored to Capitol Hill January 7, 2021 The disturbance at Capitol Hill derailed the process of certifying the Biden electoral victory for a number of hours last night but was then resumed so the final confirmation of Biden’s win should be relatively straightforward. Moreover, the FTSE 100 had a stellar run yesterday as it closed up more than 3 per cent and [...]
Democrat wins US senate race in Georgia in major coup for Joe Biden January 6, 2021 Democrat Raphael Warnock has won the Senate runoff election in Georgia, handing US President-elect Joe Biden’s party the chance to seize control of the Senate ahead of his entry to the White House later this month. Warnock, a former pastor from Atlanta, has defeated Republican incumbent Kelly Loeffler to become the first Black senator in [...]
The tragedy of America’s foreign policy establishment December 25, 2020 Anthony Blinken was a cut above the rest personally. Well-educated, good-looking, quietly ironical (and quite funny), absorbed in the work at hand, and keenly intelligent, Tony seemed to be in it for the Republic, rather than himself — a rarity in a town built on often unearned self-promotion. Read more: Joe Biden could favour Ireland [...]
Joe Biden receives Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine live on US television December 21, 2020 President-Elect Joe Biden received the Covid-19 vaccine on US television tonight as the country ups its immunisation efforts. A masked Biden, 78, was injected in his left arm in a hospital in Delaware. Experts had suggested that the President-Elect was fully vaccinated before his inauguration on January 20. “The administration deserves credit for getting this [...]
Congress in race against time to finalise $900bn US stimulus deal late tonight December 21, 2020 A stimulus deal for the US economy, including direct cheques of $600 to many Americans, is set to be voted on tonight in Washington. Bipartisan agreement was finally found over the weekend on the deal, which has been the subject of tortuous negotiation and delay over recent weeks. The deal must be signed by midnight [...]
Biden names top economic advisers as Arizona, Wisconsin certify vote results December 3, 2020 Biden officially names Janet Yellen as Treasury secretary, setting stage for a more diverse White House
Biden urged to take on Big Tech amid lobbying fears November 30, 2020 US president-elect Joe Biden has been urged to confront Big Tech amid concerns about the number of tech executives linked to the incoming administration. Thirty-two advocacy groups today penned a letter to Biden urging him to hold companies such as Google, Facebook and Amazon to account, arguing that their business practices harmed American consumers and [...]