Hunter Biden made the promise in the run-up to President Donald Trump's impeachment over a scheme to have the Ukrainian president announce an investigation into Hunter and Joe Biden, while the Trump administration held up $400 million in Congressionally approved military aid. … [Read more...] about Hunter spends time with the ‘big guy’: President-elect Joe Biden is seen with troubled son with less than 48 hours to go until his inauguration
Tax and spending
Joe Biden’s Treasury nominee Janet Yellen tells Congress to act on ‘widespread devastation’ caused by COVID by passing $1.9tn package or face even longer recessions
• Help renters and small landlords make ends meet by providing an additional $30 billion in rental and critical energy and water assistance for hard-hit individuals and families. While the $25 billion allocated by Congress was an important down payment on the back rent accrued during this crisis, it is insufficient to meet the scale of the need. That's why President-elect Biden is proposing an additional $25 billion in rental assistance to provide much-needed rental relief, especially for low- and moderate-income households who have lost jobs or are out of the labor market. The president-elect is also proposing $5 billion to cover home energy and water costs and arrears through programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, for struggling renters. These funds will ensure that the hardest-hit renters and small landlords, including those in disadvantaged communities that have suffered disproportionately in terms of pollution and other environmental harms, aren't put … [Read more...] about Joe Biden’s Treasury nominee Janet Yellen tells Congress to act on ‘widespread devastation’ caused by COVID by passing $1.9tn package or face even longer recessions
How the pandemic made America’s richest even richer: Record-low interest rates, stock surges and quick job market rebound allowed top 20% of earners to pad their wallets while lowest-income workers continue to struggle
The survey, released in December, found that more than a third of US adults who have fallen behind on rent or mortgage payments are facing eviction or foreclosure in the next two months. … [Read more...] about How the pandemic made America’s richest even richer: Record-low interest rates, stock surges and quick job market rebound allowed top 20% of earners to pad their wallets while lowest-income workers continue to struggle
Cheaper UK holidays and meals out until April as VAT cut extended by Rishi Sunak
Part-time furlough with two-thirds of wages paid Cheaper hols and meals out until March due to VAT cut extension Extra time for businesses to pay Bounce Back Loans Self-employment grants extended and more time to pay tax bills VAT bills deferred or split over 11 months All coronavirus loans for businesses extended until end of 2020 Full list of businesses where VAT has already been cut … [Read more...] about Cheaper UK holidays and meals out until April as VAT cut extended by Rishi Sunak
Dwindling number of Africans own land
Gold mining in DRC, from the ore to the bar Encased in the rock A man kneels in front of a rock slab while breaking down gold ore with a grinding stone. Next, the remaining ore is manually ground down between two rocks to release the gold. This is a slow and arduous process; one plastic basin can take several hours to work through. Water carriers and ore porters are visible moving up and down the mine hill, in the background. … [Read more...] about Dwindling number of Africans own land