Loyal soldier Pence torn between Trump, Constitution
Vice President Mike Pence finds himself in the most precarious position of his tenure as he prepares to preside over Wednesday’s congressional tally of Electoral College votes.
Associated Press
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Contribution by Amazon’s Bezos tops list of richest charitable gifts in 2020
Nike founder Phil Knight and his wife, Penny, made the second- and third-largest donations last year, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual list of top donations.
Vaccination drive enters new phase in United States, Britain
The first Americans inoculated against COVID-19 began rolling up their sleeves for their second and final dose Monday, while Britain introduced another vaccine.
Stocks fall as trading starts for year of great expectations
The S&P 500, which ended 2020 at an all-time high, slid 1.5% after earlier dropping as much as 2.5%. It was the benchmark index’s biggest decline since late October.
Three corporate giants ending venture to address health care costs
Haven, which was formed in 2018 by Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan to attack soaring costs, will cease operations by the end of February.
Fiat Chrysler, Peugeot shareholders approve merger
The merged company, to be called Stellantis, will be the world’s fourth-largest auto business. The merger combines legacy car companies that helped write the industrial histories of the United States, France and Italy.
Fauci: Vaccinations ramping up after slower-than-expected start
Dr. Anthony Fauci expressed optimism that the momentum will pick up by mid-January and that ultimately the U.S. will be vaccinating 1 million people a day.
Pelosi narrowly reelected speaker, faces difficult two years
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., accused Pelosi of leading “the least productive Congress in nearly 50 years,” and said there was a clear message in last November’s elections, when Republicans gained seats by defeating a dozen Democratic incumbents.
Republican leaders squabble over ‘scheme’ to undo election for Trump
President Donald Trump has enlisted support from a dozen Republican senators and up to 100 House Republicans to challenge the Electoral College vote when Congress convenes in a joint session to confirm President-elect Joe Biden’s 306-232 victory.
Minority-owned companies waited months for loans, analysis shows
The SBA did not address the timing of loans to minority-owned businesses, but said $133 billion, or 25%, of PPP funding went to companies in economically disadvantaged areas known as Historically Underutilized Business Zones, and 27% went to low and moderate-income neighborhoods.
In a first, Congress overrides Trump veto of defense bill
The bill affirms a 3% pay raise for U.S. troops and guides defense policy, cementing decisions about troop levels, new weapons systems and military readiness, personnel policy and other military goals.
S&P 500, Dow close at record highs as tumultuous 2020 ends
Wall Street closed out a tumultuous year for stocks with more record highs Thursday, a fitting coda to the market’s stunning comeback from its historic plunge in the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic.
Microsoft says hackers viewed source code, didn’t change it
Microsoft said Thursday in a blog post that hackers tied to a massive intrusion of dozens of U.S. government agencies and private companies sneaked further into its systems than previously thought.
Tennessee bombing spotlights vulnerable voice, data networks
The Christmas Day bombing in downtown Nashville led to phone and data service outages and disruptions over hundreds of miles in the southern United States, raising new concerns about the vulnerability of U.S. communications.
Some businesses thrived, many lagged during pandemic in 2020
The pandemic created winners and losers in the business world in 2020. Here’s a look at those that benefitted from the health crisis and those that faltered.
Claims for jobless benefits hit lowest level in four weeks
In Indiana, 12,732 people filed initial unemployment claims in the week ended Dec. 26, up from an adjusted number of 12,234 the previous week.
China OKs first homegrown vaccine as COVID-19 surges globally
The Sinopharm vaccine, like the AstraZeneca one, could be easier for countries around the world to handle since they can be stored at normal fridge temperatures.
2020 finally ending, but New Year’s revelries muted by virus
This New Year’s Eve is being celebrated like no other, with pandemic restrictions limiting crowds and many people bidding farewell to a year they’d prefer to forget.
China clamps down in hidden hunt for coronavirus origins
More than a year since the first known person was infected with the coronavirus, an AP investigation shows the Chinese government is strictly controlling all research into its origins while actively promoting fringe theories that it could have come from outside China.
Stocks hold on to modest gains, marking another Dow record
Stocks have been mostly grinding higher in recent weeks, with indexes setting new highs, amid optimism that coronavirus vaccinations will pave the way in coming months for the economy to escape from the pandemic’s grip.