Page 130 - United States
No high inflation or fiscal crisis in the US but …
Monetary base issued by the Fed had jumped from less than $1 trn before the GFC to more than $3 trn by early 2020 and then to about $5 trn by end of the year. But inflation has hardly gone up. Why?
Washington DC converted into garrison city ahead of Biden's inauguration
The area in and around Capitol Hill, a large part of Pennsylvania Avenue and the White House has been made out of bounds for the general public with eight-feet high iron barricades being erected
 "Washington DC converted into garrison city ahead of Biden's inauguration")
Trump admin slams China's Huawei, halting shipments from Intel: Report
The United States made the latest decisions during a half dozen meetings starting on Jan. 4
 "Trump admin slams China's Huawei, halting shipments from Intel: Report")
Parler app CEO, family go into hiding after receiving death threats
Parler is an alternative social media platform favoured by conservatives in the US
 "Parler app CEO, family go into hiding after receiving death threats")
US consumers spend $57 billion on video games in 2020 amid lockdowns
Spending on video games set a new record of $56.9 billion in 2020 in the US, according to a new report
 "US consumers spend $57 billion on video games in 2020 amid lockdowns")
US lawyers ask 2nd Circuit to nix Donald Trump from defamation suit
US Justice Department lawyers asked a federal appeals court to replace Trump with the United States as the defendant in a defamation lawsuit brought by a woman who says he raped her in the 1990s
 "US lawyers ask 2nd Circuit to nix Donald Trump from defamation suit")
Fairer way to help developing economies
The proposed Green New Deal in the United States and the European Commission's European Green Deal have laudable environmental goals but are too inward-looking
US President-elect Joe Biden unveils plan to speed Covid-19 vaccine rollout
According to a document released by his transition team, Biden would invoke the Defense Production Act to increase production of equipment needed to distribute the vaccines
 "US President-elect Joe Biden unveils plan to speed Covid-19 vaccine rollout")
Oil prices drop over 2% on China lockdowns, US stimulus concerns
Brent fell $1.32, or 2.3%, to settle at $55.10 a barrel
 "Oil prices drop over 2% on China lockdowns, US stimulus concerns")
Walmart head of US online business, Marc Lore, to step down by Jan-end
His exit comes at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has heated up the online shopping business, as customers turn to websites and apps to avoid the risks of visiting stores
 "Walmart head of US online business, Marc Lore, to step down by Jan-end")
Pro-Trump Capitol mob aimed to 'assassinate' elected officials: Prosecutors
The remarks came in a motion prosecutors filed late Thursday in the case against Jacob Chansley, the Arizona man who took part in the insurrection while sporting face paint
 "Pro-Trump Capitol mob aimed to 'assassinate' elected officials: Prosecutors")
The good doctor's mission: Atul Gawande sets out to reform US healthcare
Obamacare, he argues, has already provided a good starting point that can now be taken forward full-throttle with the new administration
 "The good doctor's mission: Atul Gawande sets out to reform US healthcare")
US imposes fresh sanctions on Iran in final days of Trump presidency
Washington blacklisted seven entities and two individuals in sanctions related to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and Iranian shipping entities
 "US imposes fresh sanctions on Iran in final days of Trump presidency")
Riot? Insurrection? Words matter in describing US Capitol siege
The language used by the American media to describe last week's Capitol siege proves words matter
 "Riot? Insurrection? Words matter in describing US Capitol siege")
Social media app Parler, suspended after Capitol riots, may not return: CEO
"It could be never," he said. "We don't know yet." The app said in a legal filing it has over 12 million users
Donald Trump struggles to build legal team as impeachment trial nears
Lawyers who defended him in the previous impeachment trial, including Jay Sekulow and White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, have said no this time, according to people familiar with the matter
Toyota settles US probe into delayed emissions defect reports for $180 mn
The $180 million fine is the largest civil penalty for violation of EPA's emission-reporting requirements
 "Toyota settles US probe into delayed emissions defect reports for $180 mn")
Trump administration set for its last auction of US oil drilling rights
Biden has said he would halt new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters, but he has not laid out a method or timeline for realizing that goal
 "Trump administration set for its last auction of US oil drilling rights")
Decoded: Donald Trump impeached, again; here's what happens next
This is the second time Trump has been impeached, a first in the history of American politics
 "Decoded: Donald Trump impeached, again; here's what happens next")
Bitter Senate impeachment trial of Trump could bog down Biden's first days
Trump became the first president in US history to be impeached twice when the House voted 232-197 on Wednesday to charge him with inciting an insurrection
