Biden Defends Multi-Trillion Spending, Condemns Trump
Joe Biden used his first address to Congress as the 46th U.S. president to indirectly condemn his predecessor and sell multi-trillion budget plans for social programs and U.S. infrastructure.
Economy
Federal Reserve Holds Rates Steady, Shrugs Off Inflation Concerns
The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged Wednesday and repeated its view that the coronavirus pandemic will continue to weigh on the domestic economy even as conditions continue to improve.
Four Killed In German Clinic
German police say four people have been killed at a clinic in the eastern city of Potsdam, and a woman was detained. At least one person was seriously injured, German media reported.
Biden to call for $4 trillion in new spending during joint address to Congress
President Joe Biden is expected to call for $4 trillion in new federal spending during his joint address to Congress on Wednesday evening.
10 states sue Biden over ‘social cost’ executive order on climate change
Ten Republican-led states sued Thursday to block President Biden’s executive order that would require agencies to calculate the social cost of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide when enacting regulations.
US Jobless Claims Plunge to 576,000, Lowest Since Pandemic
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits tumbled last week to 576,000, a post-COVID low and a hopeful sign that layoffs are easing as the economy recovers from the pandemic recession.
U.S. intelligence report warns of looming ‘catastrophic’ shocks worldwide due to tech, disease
A U.S. intelligence report is warning of a potentially grim set of scenarios in which factors like environmental issues and technology disruptions could have a significantly destabilizing effect on the global order in the near future.
US Treasury chief calls for global minimum corporate tax
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Monday said she was working with G20 countries to adopt a global minimum corporate tax rate that would stem the erosion of government revenues.
France’s Macron Orders Third Lockdown, Closes Schools
President Emmanuel Macron ordered France into its third national lockdown Wednesday in an effort to slow a third wave of COVID-19 infecting his country.
Biden pushes $2T infrastructure spending plan
President Joe Biden unveiled Wednesday a $2 trillion infrastructure spending proposal he called the “Build Back Better” plan at an event in Pittsburgh.
COVID 19 Cases Plummet In Texas After Ending Mask Mandate
Coronavirus cases dropped to a record low in Texas after the U.S. state lifted its mask mandate, reopened businesses, and despite an influx of COVID-19 suffering migrants entering illegally, statistics show.
Israel’s Prime Minister Wins Election
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a chance to stay in power for a six-term despite facing corruption allegations as his party held the lead in elections, projections showed.
Netherlands Holding Elections Overshadowed By Pandemic Tensions
The Netherlands faces the first significant test of a European Union government’s COVID-19 policies this year. This week the nation is holding parliamentary elections amid one of the strictest lockdown measures in Europe.
House passes sweeping labor bill
The US House of Representatives passed a sweeping labor bill Wednesday, in an effort to increase workers’ rights in workplace disputes and help employees to unionize, Axios reports. While the bill passed 225-206 with five Republicans in favor, it still has to get through the Senate where it requires 60 GOP lawmakers to approve it.
Israel Reopens Amid Controversy
Israel reopened most of its economy Sunday as it removed many of its coronavirus lockdown restrictions introduced a year ago, after a controversial vaccination campaign.
Winter storms caused $155 billion in economic damages
Devastating coast-to-coast winter weather is estimated to have caused around $155 billion in economic damages, making it likely that February 2021 was the costliest in terms of weather impact in recent US history, UPI reports. The estimated economic damage costs for the entire 2020 Atlantic hurricane season were a comparatively small $60 billion to $65 billion.
House passes $1.9T pandemic bill on near party-line vote
The House approved a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill early Saturday in a win for President Joe Biden, even as top Democrats tried assuring agitated progressives that they’d revive their derailed drive to boost the minimum wage.
Netanyahu: We aim to open the economy completely in April
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a special statement from Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer ahead of Purim, in which he also listed the five stages until the full opening of the economy after the closure.
Thousands Flee Islamist Attacks In Mozambique (Worthy News In-depth)
Hundreds of thousands of people, including Christians, have fled ongoing deadly Islamist attacks shaking parts of Mozambique, and many face starvation, Christian aid workers, told Worthy News.
Weekly jobless claims rose to 861,000 last week, up from week before
The US Labor Department announced Thursday that the number of first-time jobless claims increased to 861,000 for the week ending Feb 13, around 13,000 more than the prior week, Just the News reports. The number of claims for last week reflects the global economy that continues to struggle under the impact of COVID-19.