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.
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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.
First reported U.S. case of virus variant triggers questions
It is common for viruses to undergo minor changes as they reproduce and move through a population. The fear is that mutations will become significant enough to defeat the vaccines.
United Kingdom OKs use of COVID-19 vaccine with easier storage
Britain on Wednesday authorized emergency use of a second COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the first country to greenlight an easy-to-handle shot that its developers hope will become the “vaccine for the world.”
McConnell seeking alternative route to $2,000 relief checks
President Donald Trump’s push for bigger $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks is on hold in the Senate after Republicans blocked a swift vote proposed by Democrats and split within their own ranks over whether to boost spending or defy the White House.
New U.S. dietary guidelines: No candy, cake for children under 2
The guidelines stop short of two key recommendations from scientists advising the government. Those advisers said in July that everyone should limit their added sugar intake to less than 6% of calories and men should limit alcohol to one drink per day.
U.S. stocks fall as investors turn cautious following records
Among the companies losing ground Tuesday was Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group Inc., which fell 2.6% after the shopping mall operator completed its $3 billion purchase of an 80% stake in rival Taubman Centers.
Boeing Max returns to U.S. skies with first passenger flight
Paying passengers were scheduled to board a Boeing 737 Max in Miami on Tuesday for the first time since safety regulators allowed the plane to fly again after two deadly crashes.
FAA outlines new rules for drones and their operators
Federal officials say they will allow operators to fly small drones over people and at night, potentially giving a boost to commercial use of the machines.
From Zoom to Quibi: Tech winners and losers of 2020
In many ways, 2020′s pandemic-induced isolation threw our dependence on technology into overdrive, snipping away at our real-life connections while bringing digital relationships to the fore. Here’s a look at the tech offerings that succeeded and those who didn’t.
House approves Trump’s $2K checks, sending to GOP-led Senate
The U.S. House voted overwhelmingly Monday to increase COVID-19 relief checks to $2,000, meeting President Donald Trump’s demand for bigger payments and sending the bill to the GOP-controlled Senate, where the outcome is highly uncertain.
Stocks close at new highs after signing of COVID-19 rescue package
U.S. investors cheered the U.S. aid package, restoring some of the optimism that drove global stocks to a record this month even as the pandemic escalated.
Southwest pulls threat of furloughs after relief bill signed
American and United Airlines, which together furloughed 32,000 employees in October, said Monday they will bring those workers back temporarily.
House set to vote on Trump’s $2,000 checks as GOP balks
Democrats who control the House favor the larger stipends, beyond the $600 payments included in the massive COVID bill. But the president’s push for more spending is forcing his Republicans allies who oppose the higher payments into a tough spot.
Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine to be studied in United States
The candidate made by Novavax Inc. is the fifth to reach final-stage testing in the U.S. Some 30,000 volunteers are needed to prove if the vaccine–a different kind than its Pfizer and Moderna competitors–really works and is safe.
Here’s what’s in $900B pandemic relief bill signed by Trump
The massive, year-end catchall bill that President Donald Trump signed into law Sunday combines $900 billion in COVID-19 aid with a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill and reams of other unfinished legislation on taxes, energy, education and health care.
Holiday sales tick up as shoppers invest in their homes
The increase fell short of predictions from the National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, which had expected sales to rise between 3.6% and 5.2% this year compared with 2019.
AstraZeneca says its vaccine should be effective against COVID-19 variant
British authorities have blamed the new virus variant for soaring infection rates across the country. They said the variant is much more transmittable, but stress there is no evidence it makes people more ill.
Census data: Indiana gained nearly 24K new Hoosiers in 2020
Adjacent Illinois’ population fell by 79,487 residents to 12.6 million, the second biggest loss nationwide after only New York state.